Top News:
Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Pain stops Tankersley — Sore shoulder puts Opening Day in question — JUPITER—If left-hander Taylor Tankersley opens the season on the active roster, it probably won't be at full strength. — Tankersley, who hoped to make a bid for the closer's job, has been diagnosed with posterior capsulitis …
Discussion:
FishStripes
RELATED:
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Injuries mount for Marlins' staff — Tankersley shut down 5-7 days; Johnson worries grow — JUPITER, Fla. — Some of the Marlins' most promising young pitchers have injury concerns. — On Wednesday night, the Marlins confirmed that reliever Taylor Tankersley has left shoulder inflammation …
Discussion:
FishStripes
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Tankersley out for while — JUPITER' — Already down a starting pitcher, the Marlins opened Grapefruit League play Wednesday without a key reliever. — Left-hander Taylor Tankersley, who came into camp with a realistic shot at winning the closer's job, won't throw for at least five days …
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Schilling in fine form for Sox in opener — FORT MYERS, Fla. — "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Stopper." — That's the tune citizens of Red Sox Nation could have been humming after Curt Schilling's two innings in the inaugural game of the 2007 spring training season last night.
Discussion:
Dan Shaughnessy Watch
RELATED:
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Notes: Lester inches closer — Left-hander set to face Twins Minor Leaguers in 'B' game — FORT MYERS, Fla. — It won't be a full-blown Grapefruit League start. At least not yet. But Jon Lester finally has a date that he will pitch. And considering everything he has been through, that is no small step.
Discussion:
Fenway Blogger
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Lester has waited long enough — Return to game action is Monday — FORT MYERS, Fla. — Lefthander Jon Lester will make his 2007 spring training debut in a B game against minor leaguers Monday at 10 a.m. — "Obviously, it's a day to look forward to," Lester said yesterday.
NY Daily News:
Mets have aces up sleeve — No Zito, but plenty of good young arms — PORT ST. LUCIE - You could almost hear the zinger coming. The more Oliver Perez struggled in the Mets' spring training opener yesterday, the louder the grumbling among the paying customers grew.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
RELATED:
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Tigers get off to a fast start in opener — Starter Durbin retires six of the seven batters he faced — TIGERS 5, METS 4 — Tigers at the plate: Ryan Raburn led off the second inning with a home run to left against Oliver Perez. Omar Infante (double) and Sean Casey (sacrifice fly) drove in runs in the first.
Associated Press:
Inauspicious debut — Perez plunks SI photographer, rocked by Tigers — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — New York Mets pitcher Oliver Perez hit a Sports Illustrated photographer on a leg with one of his warmup pitches. His control improved, his results did not.
ESPN:
Report: Athletes received illegal 'roids via online ring — The West Coast had BALCO. Now the East Coast could be in the midst of its own steroid scandal. — An illicit steroid distribution network, which may be responsible for Internet sales of performance-enhancing drugs nationwide …
RELATED:
RADAR:
MARK CUBAN IN MEGABUCKS BID FOR CUBS — Billionaire blogger Mark Cuban is more serious about buying a major league baseball team than he's been letting on. The tech entrepreneur and Dallas Mavericks owner is set to offer $625 million to buy the Chicago Cubs from Tribune Co., according to a source familiar with the matter.
RELATED:
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
New Cub Marquis opens spring games — Righty channels Maddux as he begins journey with Chicago — MESA, Ariz. — Jason Marquis doesn't look like Greg Maddux, and doesn't have the same career numbers as Greg Maddux, but he has the same mindset. At least, that's Michael Barrett's take on the new Cubs pitcher.
RELATED:
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
60 seconds with Marlins outfielder Cody Ross — Staff writer Joe Capozzi spoke with Marlins outfielder Cody Ross, who batted against golfer Phil Mickelson in 2003. — JC: How did golfer Phil Mickelson end up pitching to you? — CR: I was with the Toledo Mud Hens and he spent a week there.
Discussion:
FishStripes
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Notes: Hall's outfit adds humor to camp — Outfielder lightens mood by unveiling spandex gear — PHOENIX — Who says Spring Training workouts aren't any fun? — Bill Hall injected some laughs into Brewers camp Wednesday morning, when the position players were timed in the 60-yard dash on a back field at Maryvale Baseball Park.
Murray Chass / New York Times:
Miller's Clout Goes Unrewarded by Veteran Voters — You'll excuse Marvin Miller, please, if he is more concerned right now about his left shoulder than he is about his vote count. — "Terry and I were in Florida in mid-December," Miller said, referring to his wife.
Discussion:
GROTA

