Top Items:
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Spring Training: Pitching uncertainties pointing to trade — Pirates' talks with Mariners include Pineiro — FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Pirates cut five more players yesterday, including standout third baseman Jose Bautista, but seem no closer to making several key decisions.
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Small ball is yielding big results — Time to play ball. Real ball, not the mutant, pharmaceutically enhanced monstrosity that supposedly saved the sport. — Some call it small ball. Others call it a return to fundamentals. Still others call it a pitching-and-defense revival.
Discussion:
FIRE JOE MORGAN
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Thomas Boswell / Washington Post:For Many Teams, Small-Ball Efforts Are Being Richly Rewarded
Discussion:
Baseball Toaster
ESPN:
Mitchell to head steroid investigation — Major League Baseball will investigate alleged steroid use by Barry Bonds and other players and plans to hire former U.S. Senate majority leader George Mitchell to lead the effort. — Mitchell will not be the lead investigator, but he will head the investigation effort.
Discussion:
I Bleed Cardinal Red
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Murray Chass / New York Times:
Selig Is Poised to Begin Steroids Inquiry — THERE'S no indication if he found it a page turner, but Bud Selig spent last weekend reading "Game of Shadows," the new book that details Barry Bonds's suspected use of performance-enhancing substances. There's no indication, either, if Selig became ill when he finished reading it.
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Mets Make Bannister's Day; Heilman to Bullpen — JUPITER, Fla., March 28 — In one corner of the Mets' clubhouse, Brian Bannister fired off blissful text messages to friends and family back in Arizona, preparing for his first workout as a genuine major leaguer.
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Steve Popper / northjersey.com:Mets give impressive rookie fifth spot in rotation
Discussion:
Mike's Mets
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 …
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Baseball Toaster:
Didn't See That Coming: Dodgers Extend Kent's Contract — Jeff Kent has hit 20 or more home runs in nine consecutive seasons and was the best second baseman in the National League last season. But at age 38, most - if not all - figured that after this season, he would give way to the Dodger youth movement.
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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
Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Phillips packs bags without destination — Indians prospect does not know details of a deal — WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Brandon Phillips slowly packed up his belongings and prepared to wave his final goodbye to the Chain of Lakes complex and the Indians organization.
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Notes: Soriano's transition continues — Slugger has found left field to be a difficult challenge thus far — VIERA, Fla. — Nationals slugger Alfonso Soriano said on Tuesday that he is still uncomfortable in the outfield. He has played seven games in left field so far.
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.
Associated Press:
Cleveland locks up another youngster in Sizemore — CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians locked up their center field position into the next decade, agreeing Wednesday to a $23.45 million, six-year contract with Grady Sizemore. — Sizemore's deal has the most guaranteed money for a player …
Discussion:
ATM REPORTS
Tim Evearitt / chattanoogan.com:
2006 Lookouts Team Will Be A Mixture Of Veterans And New Players — Three Players Are On Baseball America's Top Ten Prospect List — Although the opening day roster for the 2006 Lookouts may not be complete until the last day of spring training, it appears that the team will be a mixture …
Discussion:
Red Reporter
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 …
Bob McManaman / Arizona Republic:
Hill, Terrero stuck in limbo — TUCSON - It's the final week of spring training, which means catcher Koyie Hill and outfielder Luis Terrero are entering "here-today-gone-tomorrow" mode with the Diamondbacks. — Neither is going to make the 25-man roster and both are out of minor league options …
Discussion:
AaronGleeman.com
Associated Press:
Burnett will go on DL, missing two starts — TORONTO — A.J. Burnett won't make his first two starts of the season and will go on the disabled list. — Burnett threw off a mound on Tuesday for the first time since taking himself out of a game March 18 complaining about elbow pain.
Discussion:
ATM REPORTS
