Top Items:
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
The Kid Is Now the Man — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla., March 29 — Anderson Hernandez's teammates did a double take when they saw him Wednesday morning, and it was not because they thought he had missed the bus. — Gone was the substantial Afro that Hernandez had nurtured, replaced by a shorter, more refined style.
RELATED ITEMS:
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Scouting the Mets — CATCHER — Paul Lo Duca (two years, $12.5 million) became a cost-effective alternative to free agents Bengie Molina and Ramon Hernandez. His ability to put the ball in play - only Juan Pierre has fewer strikeouts among active players with as many career at-bats - should be an asset hitting second.
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.
RELATED ITEMS:
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.
Mark Zuckerman / Washington Times:
Nats send Church down to New Orleans — VIERA, Fla. — The Washington Nationals optioned outfielder Ryan Church to Class AAA New Orleans yesterday, clearing the way for rookie Brandon Watson to be their starting center fielder. They then added veterans Royce Clayton and Daryle Ward to their 40-man roster.
RELATED ITEMS:
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Nats, Guillen Seek A Happy Balance — Team's Offensive Engine Can Be Combustible — VERO BEACH, Fla., March 29 — Jose Guillen is happy. He sits in front of his locker and he smiles. He jokes with teammates, ribs a clubhouse attendant, bounces into the office of Frank Robinson …
Discussion:
Washington Times, District of Baseball, MLB.com, William F. Yurasko's … and Church of Baseball
Kelsie Smith / Boston Globe:
Numbers cruncher — When it comes to baseball statistics, analyst Bill James wrote the books — LAWRENCE, Kan. — You can't MapQuest 445 Tennessee St. Not technically, anyway. — It's on a block that doesn't actually exist, the street ending where it runs into ''The Kaw" — what locals call the Kansas River.
St. Petersburg Times:
Maddon won't fret over starters' struggles — SARASOTA - Devil Rays manager Joe Maddon continues to say everything is fine, as do his starters. It is spring training, after all, and pitchers spend more time working on mechanics than worrying about statistics.
Ken Mandel / MLB.com:
Floyd's big spring lands him No. 5 slot — Brito, Tejeda demoted; Franklin or Madson going to bullpen — DUNEDIN, Fla. — The picture that shifts one of the two Ryans from the rotation to the bullpen came into sharper focus on Wednesday, when the Phillies eliminated three pitchers from the competition.
Brian Gunn / Hardball Times:
Five Questions: St. Louis Cardinals — 1. What roster changes have the Cardinals made? — Let's do this in chart form: — Hello Goodbye — Deivi Cruz Mark Grudzielanek — Braden Looper Abraham Nunez — What can we say about these newcomers as a group?
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Baker plans sitdown with 3 second basemen — TEMPE, Ariz.—Dusty Baker says he isn't concerned about the three-headed monster at second base, where Jerry Hairston appears to have the edge over Todd Walker and Neifi Perez. — Baker plans to talk to all three of them together in Las Vegas …
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.
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Phillips leads Yanks over Tigers — First baseman finishes 2-for-4 with walk, pair of runs scored — YANKEES 4, TIGERS 2 — Yankees at the plate: Russ Johnson had an RBI double to go with two walks, one of them a bases-loaded pass to plate Robinson Cano with the go-ahead run.
Discussion:
Replacement Level …
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Klesko likely to start season on disabled list — SURPRISE, Ariz. - Padres first baseman Ryan Klesko probably will begin the season on the disabled list, Manager Bruce Bochy said before today's spring training game against the Texas Rangers. — Klesko, recovering from a shoulder ailment …
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.
Basil / Federal Baseball:
Bowden interview with ESPN Radio — During the 8 pm ET hour, Jim Bowden appeared for a short segment on ESPN Radio, as a part of a nightly season preview feature. Somewhat hilariously, the radio call that was used in the bumper coming out from the "SportsCenter" update was:
