Top News:
Brian / TigerBlog:
Blogging the Detroit Tigers versus Philadelphia Phillies - 3/1/07 — Check back throughout the afternoon as I'll be providing details on the game as they happen. Game time is less then an hour away and Jamie Moyer will get the start for the Phillies. — ***UPDATE 1*** — Interesting lineup.
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Todd Zolecki / Philly.com:
Myers is open to being a closer — That could solve a pitching conundrum. — If Brett Myers is ever asked to close, he said yesterday, he would do it. — The Phillies begin their Grapefruit League schedule this afternoon against the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland with six starting pitchers on their roster.
Phil Sheridan / Philly.com:
Face facts: Phillies need to keep Rowand — CLEARWATER, Fla. - Pat Gillick needs baseball advice from sportswriters like he needs another shirt with palm trees on it. Then again, this advice isn't about baseball as much as it is about chemistry: — Don't trade Aaron Rowand.
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Glavine off to great start in spring — Lefty hurls two scoreless innings, allows just one baserunner — METS 4, CARDINALS 3 — Cardinals at the plate: Scott Rolen, who has a .493 career on-base percentage against Tom Glavine, was the only Cardinals batter to reach base against the left-hander; he was hit by a pitch.
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
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Kevin Kernan / Where's Kernan?:
BAT WRIGHT SECOND — David Wright batted in the two-hole today in the 4-3 win over the Cardinals. I think that is a better place for him than fifth, even though fifth is an RBI gold mine. — Paul Lo Duca was given a day off so that is why Wright batted second, but this is something Willie Randolph should think about.
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Performance-enhancing drugs are here to stay — Often when I'm a guest on a radio talk show, the host will preface a question about steroids by saying, "I'm sure you're tired of talking about this, but . . ." — Actually, I'm not tired of talking about steroids.
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Jack Curry / New York Times:
Steroid Inquiry Raises Doubts About Matthews — Before Tuesday, Gary Matthews Jr. was mostly known for parlaying a career-best season with the Texas Rangers into a five-year, $50 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels, and for being his father's son. — But now that Matthews …
Discussion:
Fire Lou Piniella!
Baseball America:
2007 Top 100 Prospects — We proudly present our annual list of the best young players in the game, the culmination of our offseason prospect rankings. — But this year we bring you the list with a twist. While we'd like to think that every player here will go on to big league success …
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Rangers give Young 5-year deal — All-Star shortstop's extension worth $80 million — egrant@dallasnews.com — SURPRISE, Ariz. - Michael Young will remain a Ranger until he's not so young anymore. — The club and its All-Star shortstop agreed early Thursday morning …
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T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rangers, Young to announce extension — Five-year deal for shortstop expected to be revealed Friday — SURPRISE, Ariz. — Michael Young will be with the Rangers through 2013. — Young has agreed to a five-year, $80 million contract extension with the Rangers, and an official announcement has been scheduled for Friday.
Jeff Goldberg / Hartford Courant:
In Debut, Schilling Leaves Wanting More — FORT MYERS, Fla. — Curt Schilling was too good for his own good. — Schilling was so efficient in his two scoreless innings in the Red Sox's exhibition opener Wednesday night, he was left wanting more. — Schilling threw 19 pitches, 15 strikes …
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Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Marching orders a success — Tucson - Seeking more power, Todd Helton switched to a slightly heavier bat this spring. It should come in handy in his new role as the Rockies' cleanup hitter. Manager Clint Hurdle has flip-flopped Helton with Matt Holliday, leaving the all-star outfielder in the fifth spot.
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Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Maddux, Wells more alike than you'd think … PEORIA, Ariz. — San Diego's pitchers were participating in some routine spring drills last week when one of the younger players asked David Wells if he had a cough drop to spare. Always happy to oblige, Boomer pulled a lozenge from his back pocket and handed it to his teammate.
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball
Associated Press:
Cain and Giants agree to 4-year contract — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) - Right-hander Matt Cain and the San Francisco Giants agreed Thursday to a four-year contract that includes an option for 2011. — "When you have an opportunity to cement a working relationship with a young man like Matt …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
DRaysBay:
DRays Bay Takes on Stuart Sternberg, Devil Rays Owner — This is an interview that needs no introduction and I'll let it speak for itself — RJ Anderson: So Mr. Sternberg, how does it feel to be an owner of a professional baseball franchise? — Stuart Sternberg: Feels great …
Dave Sessions / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Getting his groove back? — SURPRISE, Ariz. — All the progress Rangers pitcher John Koronka made as a rookie last season was just good enough to get him right back where he was a year ago. — Koronka became the Rangers' fifth starter after Adam Eaton was injured at the end of camp in 2006.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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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
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ESPN:
Gaijin no longer means 'outsider' — Sometime this spring (maybe it's already happened), Daisuke Matsuzaka, the apple of every Beantown eye, the superstar in waiting, the man of a thousand pitches, is going to feel like a fish out of water. Sometime this spring, when the cameras aren't rolling …
