Top News:
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Manny clocks in 'early': Silent slugger surprises Sox — FORT MYERS - The sun rose, and the sun set, and Manny Ramirez [stats] showed up yesterday to play baseball for the Red Sox [team stats], who once again opened their arms to their maddening, gifted slugger.
RELATED:
Jackie MacMullan / Boston Globe:As always, he's on his own schedule
Discussion:
Boston Sports Media Watch
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
In first look, Burgos appears quite striking — PORT ST. LUCIE - Ambiorix Burgos had an electric fastball, and spotty control, with the Royals. But the Mets feel they have a diamond in the rough with the upper-90s throwing righthander, who was obtained in the offseason for Brian Bannister.
RELATED:
NY Daily News:
Milledge throws & grows — PORT ST. LUCIE - The throw was a lightning bolt from right, a reminder that just because Lastings Milledge didn't live up to his phenom status last year, it doesn't mean he still can't be a star. — By itself, Milledge's throw in yesterday's intrasquad game …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Jan Hubbard / Dallas Star-Telegram:
It's a glove story for Botts now — SURPRISE, Ariz. — Jason Botts has played in only 30 major league games so he hasn't been the subject of several hundred newspaper articles. Nor has he been the darling of TV interviewers or the official mascot of the radio gods.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
RELATED:
Dave Sessions / Dallas Star-Telegram:
SPRING BREAK — Five tips for five positions — "Super-utility" man Desi Relaford has played every position but first base and catcher in the major leagues, so we asked him for tips for playing each role: — 1. Shortstop (467 games): The biggest thing is seeing the ball off the bat, but that's true at every position.
Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
Reliever fires away — Balfour aiming for comeback — Phoenix - Normally a pitching coach doesn't like to see a pitcher "overthrow" on the mound. Mike Maddux made an exception Monday when right-hander Grant Balfour did it, however. — "It's good to see it with a guy coming off surgery …
Discussion:
Around the majors
RELATED:
Murray Chass / New York Times:
As Season Approaches, Some Topics Should Be Off Limits — Things I don't want to read or hear about anymore: — ¶ Roger Clemens saying he hasn't decided if he will play this year or retire, and if he decides to play, which team he will play for. — Clemens is one of the greatest pitchers ever, the greatest of his era.
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Abreu out 2-3 weeks with injury — Veteran strains right oblique muscle during batting practice — TAMPA, Fla. — Yankees outfielder Bobby Abreu could miss two to three weeks with a strained right oblique muscle, freeing Spring Training at-bats for Melky Cabrera, but not free agent Bernie Williams.
Andrew Glazer / Associated Press:
Honus Wagner baseball card sells for record $2.3 million — LOS ANGELES (AP) — The "Holy Grail of baseball cards," the famous 1909 Honus Wagner tobacco card once owned by hockey great Wayne Gretzky, has sold for a record-setting $2.35 million, the seller of the card said Monday.
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Braves streak is over, but not hunger for October … LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — John Smoltz played in a golf tournament in Connecticut. Bobby Cox puttered around his farm. — Chipper Jones packed up to travel to the ranch in Texas. John Schuerholz headed for the office to begin the quest …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Jack Curry / New York Times:
Red Sox Bring in a Friendly Face to Greet Matsui — Hideki Okajima was so eager to discuss coming duels with his old Yomiuri Giants teammate that he waved his hands and nodded his head as he spoke. Okajima, a newly recruited left-handed reliever for the Boston Red Sox, was using Japanese …
Bob Dutton / Kansas City Star:
All Butler needs is glove — Royals' outfielder has a big-league bat; now he's working on his fielding. — This time. — It wasn't smooth, graceful or even particularly encouraging — except for the determination, which was evident and beyond question. — This drill, in fact, was extra work.
Discussion:
Royals Authority
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Spring fever or is prospect really special? — Cedric Hunter has team singing praises — PEORIA, Ariz. - The Padres were craving a new hot prospect after homegrown infielders Khalil Greene and Josh Barfield reached the major leagues. — They might have found one in the draft last June.
Discussion:
Ducksnorts
Phil Sheridan / Philly.com:
New scouting tool - Google - nets pitcher — CLEARWATER, Fla. - Baseball scouts look everywhere, from the local high school team to the fields of Japan and Latin America, for prospects. — The Phillies may be the first team to find a player with a Google search.
Discussion:
Balls, Sticks, & Stuff
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Cubs' Perry not accepting excuses — New hitting coach stressing disciplined aggressiveness — MESA, Ariz. — It's still early in Spring Training, so Derrek Lee can't give a complete scouting report on new Cubs hitting coach Gerald Perry. But Lee, who won a batting title in 2005 …
Discussion:
A League of Her Own
Tracy Ringolsby / Rocky Mountain News:
No shirt off his back - yet — Barmes offers his No. 12, but Finley is not in any rush — TUCSON - Rockies shortstop Clint Barmes was ready to defer to experience. — "He told me I could have (uniform) number 12," outfielder Steve Finley said. "It was nice of him …
