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Associated Press:
NY Yankees 4, Pittsburgh 3 — TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Mike Mussina is finding his feel for pitching again. — The right-hander allowed one run and two hits in two innings for the New York Yankees in a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday. — "It felt strange," Mussina said.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
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Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Eldred homers, Castillo hurt in Pirates' loss to Yankees — By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — TAMPA, Fla. - Brad Eldred homered for a second consecutive game, but the Pirates lost, 4-3, to the New York Yankees today at Legends Field. — Eldred hit a full-count pitch …
Chris Girandola / MLB.com:
Pirates fall short late against Yankees — Eldred hits second spring homer, but Bucs unable to hold on — YANKEES 4, PIRATES 3 — Yankees at the plate: Hideki Matsui ripped a double in the first inning. Kevin Thompson had a double in the third, and Jorge Posada collected his first hit of the spring …
Discussion:
Pittsburgh Lumber Co.
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Guerrero feels 'good' about offense — Former MVP says team has plenty of big bats and the ability to make it to the World Series. — TUCSON, Ariz. — The Angels promised a big bat. They did not deliver, again. So, for the second consecutive season, Vladimir Guerrero could stand alone …
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Lyle Spencer / MLB.com:
Health issues won't deter Guerrero — Angels outfielder expects to have strong year with bat, glove — TUCSON, Ariz. — When the Angels talk about getting a leg up on the competition, they could be referring to the right one attached to seven-time All-Star Vladimir Guerrero's imposing frame.
Baltimore Sun:
O's dealt another dose of guilt by association — It is Groundhog Day all over again in Baltimore. — This time, cute little Jerry Hairston Jr. has poked his head out of the steroid suspicion hole, guaranteeing at least six more weeks of baseball's seemly endless performance enhancement scandal.
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Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
Roberts' agent, O's expected to talk … FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. // Mark Pieper, the agent for Brian Roberts , will be in town this weekend and is expected to meet with Orioles officials to try to construct a contract extension for the club's standout second baseman.
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Notes: Robertson makes great strides — Campusano throws two scoreless innings; Grilli roughed up — LAKELAND, Fla. — No more no-luck Nate. — It's not that Nate Robertson felt like he was cursed, or had enough of a crisis in confidence to think that he couldn't compete.
Discussion:
Roar of the Tigers
MLB.com:
Michael Barrett supports Derrek Lee's Project 3000 with new fundraising campaign and $50,000 donation — SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The 1st Touch Foundation is proud to announce that Michael Barrett of the Chicago Cubs has joined teammate Derrek Lee in his efforts to find a cure for Lebers Congenital Amaurosis.
Discussion:
GROTA
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Sosa breaks through in Rangers' win — Slugger picks up first hit of spring, an RBI single, vs. Royals — RANGERS 8, ROYALS 5 — Rangers at the plate: Sammy Sosa had his first hit of the spring, a run-scoring single to center field in his first at-bat in the opening inning.
Associated Press:
Lawyer: Matthews Jr. broke no laws, set to cooperate — LOS ANGELES — Gary Matthews Jr.'s lawyer is convinced the Angels' outfielder hasn't violated any laws or major league rules even though his name surfaced in a widespread steroids investigation that has resulted in nine arrests.
Forbes:
Best General Managers In Sports — The general manager is the most influential and scrutinized position in sports because he decides how the owner's money is spent on players. — Forbes.com's first-ever proprietary look at GMs in the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB grades each GM on two yardsticks.
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Dunn understands basis of 'mediocre' comment … SARASOTA, Fla. — It took a few days. But word finally reached big Reds bopper Adam Dunn on Saturday that Mike Schmidt can't understand why he strikes out so much. — Dunn's bemused response: "I can't either."
Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:
Systems Retrospective, American League — Next week, I'll begin the State Of The Systems series that served as my debut at Baseball Prospectus. Before that begins, however, let's look back at last year's columns. How did I do? For each team I selected one player I liked better than most …
Discussion:
MVN
