Top News:
George King / New York Post:
CARL TAKES A SUNDAY DRIVE — PAVANO PASSES TEST; TRADE RUMORS FLY — Johnny Damon sliced through the garbage that surrounds Carl Pavano's re-entry into the Yankees' universe. Tagged the "American Idle" for missing all of last year and the second half of the previous season, Pavano became a stranger in his own clubhouse.
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Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
AROD: Rodriguez says he's matured in NY — TAMPA, Fla. — Fans, for the most part, cheer him at the New York Yankees' spring training complex, but it's not easy being Alex Rodriguez in New York. — "It was very easy in Seattle," Rodriguez said of his first of three big-league stops (Seattle, Texas, New York).
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Jim Baumbach / AM New York:
Yankees — Sheff thinks A-Rod will benefit from speaking out — TAMPA, Fla. — For someone who never shies away from bold statements, Gary Sheffield's prediction this morning that Alex Rodriguez will have his best year in pinstripes was rather tame. — Sheffield's reasoning, however, was quite intriguing.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Nick Cafardo / Extra Bases:
Lester's take — Jon Lester, who pitched in game conditions for the first time since August (and for the first time since his cancer battle), talked about today's eight-pitch outing against the Twins: — "There were some nerves. I didn't know where the first pitch was going to go, but it was a strike. ...
TwinCities.com:
Santana sharing secrets with Silva — Twins ace is trying to teach teammate to throw changeup — FORT MYERS, Fla. — Johan Santana has been trying to get his Twins teammate and good buddy Carlos Silva to understand something: He can no longer make a living off the sinkerball.
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Life keeps piling on Navarro … ST. PETERSBURG - It would seem Dioner Navarro has been through enough. — There was the medically miraculous saga involving wife Sherley's recovery from a 2003 brain aneurysm. The frightening hit-and-run auto accident he and his family were involved …
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rockies' Hurdle: The quiet man — This spring, Colorado's manager has turned down the volume — Tucson - Manager Clint Hurdle last week officially began the last year of what could be his last contract managing the Rockies. Yet there exists no sense of urgency, only a startling transformation he promised in January.
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Tracy Ringolsby / Rocky Mountain News:Cockrell worked before with most of Rockies' hitters
Discussion:
Purple Row
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Sweet Lou quickly turning sour — MESA, Ariz. — The Cubs started the 1997 season with a National League-record 14 straight losses. — Ten years later, manager Lou Piniella is hoping to see his team win a Cactus League game before the end of spring training.
Discussion:
1060west.net
Deadspin:
Billy Packer, Information Dissemination Specialist — Of all the "Sweet Christ, Billy Packer is so full of equine excrement" moments, we have to say, the "Just Going For The Ball!" foul from Gerald Henderson on Tyler Hansbrough at the end of the Duke-UNC game is definitely near the top of the list.
Kevin Hench / Fox Sports:
Beane disciples ditch Moneyball ways — To paraphrase Woody Allen, it's better to be rich than poor, if only for financial reasons. — But what about baseball reasons? Hadn't Billy Beane blown up the idea of financial supremacy preordaining victory on the diamond?
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Olsen hopes 'wall drill' snaps skid — JUPITER — Scott Olsen says he's a better pitcher with his back against the wall. So, that's exactly the position in which the Marlins left-hander plans to put himself in hopes of reversing his 0-2 start. — After allowing three walks and three runs …
Discussion:
FishStripes
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Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Upton's throwing woes return and get plenty of company … ST. PETERSBURG - The team-record six errors the Devil Rays made in Sunday's 7-4 loss to Toronto were concerning enough that there will be extra fielding practice this morning. But most glaring was two were on throws from third by B.J. Upton …
Pat Borzi / New York Times:
Contrasting Auditions for Spot in Mets' Rotation — About 15 feet separated John Maine and Philip Humber in the cramped visitors' clubhouse at Fort Lauderdale Stadium. They were the last of the candidates for the Mets' starting rotation to make their first appearances of the spring …
Discussion:
MLB.com
Chicago Sun Times:
Sox in the desert — Three developing issues to follow heading into the week: — Front-runner: By allowing just one run in three innings, has Gavin Floyd solidified his grasp on the No. 5 starting-rotation spot? So far, Charlie Haeger has been the only competition.
Discussion:
South Side Sox
Carlos Gomez / Hardball Times:
Bringin' Some Serious Cheese: Matt Cain — THE POWERFUL MECHANICS OF MATT CAIN — Let's break him down, shall we? — TEMPO — You knew I'd start here, right? Needless to say, I certainly like how Cain goes about it. Once he gets going, he doesn't stop. Momentum is your friend.
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Angels' Moreno unhappy with uncertainty on Matthews — Owner says that he expects a resolution by opening day regarding the center fielder's alleged link to human growth hormone shipment. — TEMPE, Ariz. — Angels owner Arte Moreno said Sunday he would not let the uncertain situation …
Associated Press:
Signature pharmacists plead not guilty — ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Six people pleaded not guilty Monday to charges they operated a widespread Internet scheme that illegally sold steroids nationwide to clients that reportedly include professional athletes, celebrities and top bodybuilders.
Roch Kubatko / Baltimore Sun:
Back in control … FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. // The sound of a bullpen phone ringing. That's all it took for pitcher Rob Bell's heart to pound, his palms to sweat, his body to shake. — One call from his team's dugout, and his baseball life felt as if it were ripping apart at the seams.
Michael Wolverton / ESPN:
Does anything in spring translate to regular season? — They're already grumbling in Philadelphia. The Phillies, after a strong offseason that has elevated them to the status of NL East favorites, have started their exhibition season by losing four of their first five games.
Discussion:
Oleanders and Morning Glories
