Top Items:
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Nats Send Down Church, Make Watson the Starter — VIERA, Fla., March 28 — With less than a week to go before Opening Day, the Washington Nationals initiated another shake-up in a spring training full of mayhem on Tuesday, sending outfielder Ryan Church to Class AAA New Orleans …
Discussion:
Washington Times, BallWonk, Nasty Nats, District of Baseball, William F. Yurasko's …, Church of Baseball and Sports Scope
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Farid / THE BELTWAY BOYS:
CHURCH'S "BODY LANGUAGE" EARNS HIM DEMOTION TO NEW ORLEANS — [March 29th] — It took me nearly sixteen months to dislike Jim Bowden. It took me only one day to hate him. — There are always going to be disagreements between management and fans as to who makes the team out of spring training.
Brandon Kriner / The Curly W:
No Salvation for Church — Upon learning that Ryan Church had been sent down to the minors, I was tempted to write an expletive-laden indictment of Jim Bowden's failure as a general manager and as a human being. But then I realized that I did that last week, and I have to keep the content fresh …
Chris Needham / Capitol Punishment:A Tale Of Two Outfielders — Let's play a little game with two outfielders.
Thomas Boswell / Washington Post:
For Many Teams, Small-Ball Efforts Are Being Richly Rewarded — Welcome to the era of baseball on a budget. It's time for brains and judgment to have their day, not just juice and financial muscle. This period in the game's history is just beginning and none too soon.
Discussion:
Baseball Toaster
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Chris Needham / Capitol Punishment:
Boswell's An Idiot — Boswell has one of his big, sweeping columns that is written really purty and would make your great aunt wonder how Boz got to be so smart. But it's full of inaccuracies and distortions as Boz continues the sportswriter's tradition of distorting the facts to fit the hokey beliefs they already have.
Discussion:
The Nats Blog
Rob Rossi / PittsburghLIVE.com:
Pirates cut Bautista, 4 others — BRADENTON, Fla. - The Pirates got closer to their Opening Day roster limit today by making five moves. That leaves 30 healthy players in camp, with five cuts forthcoming before the team breaks camp this weekend. — Optioned to Class AAA Indianapolis …
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
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Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:Pirates Notebook: Perez not a member of Tracy's K club
Discussion:
Where have you gone …
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Kent's contract extended through '07 — Dodgers second baseman's new deal includes option for '08 — VERO BEACH, Fla. — The new direction of the Dodgers received its strongest endorsement yet Wednesday, when All-Star second baseman Jeff Kent signed a contract extension for 2007 with an option for 2008.
John Delcos / The Journal News:
Second-base job falls to Hernandez — JUPITER, Fla. — The Mets' Opening Day roster is gradually coming into focus. — On the day manager Willie Randolph decided on Brian Bannister as his fifth starter, it also became clear second base would go to another rookie — Anderson Hernandez.
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David Lennon / Newsday:Heilman sent to bullpen
Discussion:
New York Post, New York Times, Metsquire, www.transplantedmetsfan.com and Can't Stop The Bleeding
Chris Snow / Boston Globe:
Here are the outs in Red Sox lineup — SARASOTA, Fla. — The actual 25-man roster won't be submitted until it has to be, which is Monday, Opening Day itself. But the decisions have been made, the affected players told as much, the composition of the 2006 Red Sox effectively set.
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Relive the excitement of the 1986 Mets — New DVD offers an in-depth look at franchise's historic title run — NEW YORK — Next week on Opening Day, Jesse Orosco will once again climb the mound at Shea Stadium, peer at catcher Gary Carter, raise his right leg toward his chest and recreate …
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Injury may land Rangers' Eaton on DL — SURPRISE, Ariz. - The Rangers set their starting rotation Wednesday morning and watched the plan blow up early in the afternoon. — Not more than two hours after naming R.A. Dickey the fifth starter, solving one spring-long issue …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Nate Silver / baseballprospectus.com:
Lies, Damned Lies — PECOTA Breaks Hearts — I've done a lot of local radio over the past week or two, which means that I've broken a lot of hearts. No, Kansas City, not even the Good Witch of the North can bring Carlos Beltran back to the prairies, and no, Baltimore …
Greg Bishop / Seattle Times:
Eddie Guardado: The M's undisputed king of hijinks — PEORIA, Ariz. — Cristian Guzman could not stop itching. This went on for four days, until he found himself on the shoulder of a Minnesota freeway, outside of his car, scratching at his underwear like a man with the worst case of chicken pox in human history.
Bob Smizik / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Clear Channel interested in Pirates' rights — Broadcasting giant Clear Channel made it clear yesterday that it's interested in adding the Pirates to its radio sports lineup, which already includes the Steelers, Penguins and Pitt football and basketball. — KDKA holds the rights to Pirates games and has for more than 50 years.
Discussion:
Honest Wagner
Marc Katz / Dayton Daily News:
Dragons' roster taking shape despite injuries — Newly drafted pitcher Wood has strong outing — SARASOTA, FLA . The Dayton Dragons' roster on Tuesday moved closer to what it will look like on opening day, which was an interesting sight to new manager Billy Gardner Jr.
Mike Kiley / Chicago Sun Times:
Cubs to launch own Marshall plan — MESA, Ariz. — The revolving door got the best workout of all Tuesday at Cubs camp. — Erratic right-hander Todd Wellemeyer was traded to the Florida Marlins for two minor-league pitchers. Outfielder Marquis Grissom retired, opening a spot on the roster …
