Top News:
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
It's as easy as 1-2-3 for Lester — Lefty's eight-pitch outing a small but meaningful step — FORT MYERS, Fla. — You can forget how big a guy he is. How big his hands are. How fluid his delivery is. How much poise he has for a pitcher who is 23 years old.
Discussion:
Surviving Grady
RELATED:
Jeff Goldberg / Hartford Courant:
No Drama Here: Lester Eases Back In — FORT MYERS, Fla. — Jon Lester was as unassuming on the mound Monday as the setting he pitched in. — Inside near-empty Hammond Stadium a little after 10 a.m., Lester pitched one inning of a B-game against the Twins.
Howard Ulman / Associated Press:
Dodgers 2, Red Sox 1 — FORT MYERS, Fla. —Josh Beckett is used to pitching in his new league. Hideki Okajima is starting to adjust. — Beckett pitched three shutout innings on Monday and Okajima added one scoreless inning for Boston before Los Angeles scored twice off relievers and the Dodgers beat the Red Sox 2-1.
Discussion:
Fenway Blogger
Bob Ryan / Boston Globe:
'Old school' is in session — Ex-Sox Little happy in LA — FORT MYERS, Fla. — True story. — It is spring training, 2002. I am sitting in the Red Sox dugout interviewing Carlos Baerga, who is hoping to catch on with the Sox. I am wrapping up the session when someone approaches us …
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Drew still a bit blue: Leaving LA hurtful — FORT MYERS - In a perfect world, J.D. Drew [stats] would have made the three-hour bus ride from Vero Beach yesterday and suited up in Dodgers blue. — Red Sox spring training: — Instead, batting fifth and playing right field for the Red Sox …
RELATED:
Maureen Mullen / MLB.com:
Drew's LA story — Sox right fielder cites job security, desire to not be traded — FORT MYERS, Fla. — Sitting in the clubhouse before Monday's game against the Dodgers, new Red Sox right fielder J.D. Drew talked about his decision to invoke the unorthodox opt-out clause that allowed …
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Notes: Shin splints sideline Hamilton — Outfielder will be rested against his former team — SARASOTA, Fla. — Opposing pitching has yet to slow down Reds outfielder Josh Hamilton this spring, but sore legs temporarily have. — Because he's been bothered by shin splints …
Discussion:
Redleg Nation
RELATED:
Jim Street / MLB.com:
Pie provides punch for Cubs — Outfielder rips three hits to help sink Mariners — CUBS 6, MARINERS 5 — Mariners at the plate: Center fielder Jeremy Reed had his first two hits of the Cactus League season, a two-run double during a four-run second inning, and a bunt single in the third.
RELATED:
Gregg Bell / Associated Press:Prior yanked, Wood great to begin dual Cubs' comebacks
Discussion:
Cub Town
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Guillen itching to bat Iguchi seventh — Likes idea of Erstad, Podsednik at top, 2nd baseman in RBI slot — MARYVALE, Ariz. — The Tadahito Iguchi experiment will continue at least through the middle of spring training, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said.
RELATED:
USA Today:
Nationals plant seeds on farm — VIERA, Fla. — On a hot and windy morning, prospect Chris Marrero takes 40 minutes of fly balls and grounders. Then he does defensive situations, steps in the batting cage and finishes by fielding another 70 balls. — Three hours later he and his teammates …
RELATED:
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:Nats See the Ghost of Pitching Future
Discussion:
William World News
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Notes: Young arms struggle — Williams, Redding both falter in exhibition loss to Braves — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Nationals right-handers Jerome Williams and Tim Redding are two of the 12 candidates vying for the fours spots in the starting rotation, but both were ineffective in a 14-5 loss to the Braves on Monday.
RELATED:
Dave Studeman / Hardball Times:
It's The Hardball Times 2007 Season Preview — by clicking... Pitchers are pitching, batters are batting, fielders are fielding and managers are mouthing platitudes. This sure seems like a good time for The Hardball Times to unveil its first-ever season preview.
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Mailbag: What's up down on the farm? — Fans curious about Teixeira, Francisco, Rangers rotation — Time to talk about the Minor Leagues before we get to the usual questions. But you can always talk about anything you want at Monday Morning Manager, now playing at Postcards from Elysian Fields.
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Making a case for the Padres defense — PEORIA, Ariz. - Catch the ball. If necessary, throw it to the right place. Padres fielders were better at those tasks than the competition tended to be last year. San Diego was first overall in defensive efficiency - converting balls in play into outs …
Baltimore Sun:
Agent optimistic Roberts will get extension … FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. // Mark Pieper, the agent for second baseman Brian Roberts, left Fort Lauderdale Stadium today after meeting with Orioles officials for over an hour, without a contract extension for the second baseman, but optimistic that one could get done soon.
Discussion:
Camden Chat
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Notes: Jones, Parra move past injuries — Suppan makes anticipated debut; Jenkins in a hitting groove — PHOENIX — A group was sitting in Brewers manager Ned Yost's office over the weekend and the subject of right-hander Mike Jones and left-hander Manny Parra came up.
Jason Williams / TwinCities.com:
Morneau willing to deal — AL MVP instructs agent to resume talks — FORT MYERS, Fla. — The American League's reigning Most Valuable Player could end up receiving another prize before the start of the regular season. — First baseman Justin Morneau said Sunday that he expects …
Discussion:
Twins Killings
