Top News:
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
White Sox GM Williams won't sit still — Perhaps no general manager is trying harder than the White Sox's Ken Williams to stay ahead of the escalating market for starting pitching. — If, at first glance, Williams' logic appears elusive, so be it. After a moment's reflection — OK …
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Devil Rays could move young outfielders — NAPLES, Fla. - Notes from the general managers' meetings: — Judging from their aggressiveness in trade talks, the Devil Rays appear increasingly willing to trade one of their young outfielders — most likely Rocco Baldelli — for premium young pitching.
Justice B. Hill / MLB.com:
Sanchez injured, Bucs pitchers struggle — Batting champ leaves game with knee injury after third — PHILLIES 11, PIRATES 10 — Phillies at the plate: Ahead in the count in the third inning, Ryan Howard drove a fastball into the gap in right-center to knock in a pair of runs, which gave the Phillies a 3-0 lead.
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Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates Notebook: Eldred would welcome outfield try — By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — BRADENTON, Fla. — Brad Eldred in the outfield? — Sounds fine by him. — "Yeah, I can play there," he replied yesterday after hitting his fourth home run in as many games played …
Associated Press:
Pirates' Sanchez injures knee — Reigning N.L. batting champ scheduled for MRI — BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Reigning NL batting champion Freddy Sanchez sprained a ligament in his right knee Tuesday and left the Pittsburgh Pirates' 11-10, 10-inning loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Discussion:
Blogging Baseball
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:Spring Training: Should Sanchez be playing second?
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Sox overpower Marlins in 10th inning — Matsuzaka finishes strong in first Grapefruit League start — RED SOX 14, MARLINS 6, 10 innings — Marlins at the plate: Alejandro De Aza delivered a two-out RBI double in the ninth inning, forcing extra innings. Robert Andino added a two-run double in the three-run ninth.
Discussion:
Fenway Blogger
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Baltimore Sun:
O's open window for three years — FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. // From The Cover — If you, like the Orioles, are looking for a fresh start, it might be psychologically beneficial to view the next three years as the baseball equivalent of one of those windows of opportunity that open up for NFL teams …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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Roch Kubatko / Baltimore Sun:
In second outing, Trachsel raises some eyebrows … FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. // The last time Steve Trachsel faced the St. Louis Cardinals, he wore a New York Mets uniform and a look of dejection. — Trachsel allowed five runs in one inning in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series.
Discussion:
Oriole Post
Sports Illustrated:
Inside the Steroid Sting — SI's Luis Fernando Llosa and L. Jon Wertheim, on the scene for the Florida raids, continue to report on the ongoing investigation that promises to rock sports — The Palm Beach Rejuvenation Center is decidedly less exotic than its name might suggest.
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Tom D'Angelo / Palm Beach Post:
Marlins' Josh Johnson out for at least two months — JUPITER — Marlins right-hander Josh Johnson was diagnosed with an irritated ulna nerve that will keep him out for at least the first two months of the season. — Johnson, 23, was relieved with the news.
Discussion:
FishStripes
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Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Johnson out two months — Marlins' potential No. 2 starter sidelined by nerve irritation — JUPITER, Fla. — Tests revealed that Josh Johnson has ulnar nerve irritation in his right biceps area that will result in him being out at least two months. — The Marlins' 23-year-old right-hander underwent …
Discussion:
Marlins Journal
Thomas Boswell / Washington Post:
Nats' Starting Pitching Could Be a Real Problem — How do you establish a culture of leadership in a season of embarrassment? That's the challenge the Nationals face as they realize, less than a week into the exhibition season, that their starting rotation will probably ensure them a summer of biblical drubbings.
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Jeff Sackmann / Hardball Times:
The Best Benches in the American League — Of the four parts of every baseball team—starting lineup, bench, rotation, and bullpen—the bench is the least important. It probably isn't even close. — However, the difference between a good bench and a bad one is huge, especially as soon as injuries strike.
Bob Klapisch / ESPN:
Fuhgeddabout those post All-Star blues — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Hand on his heart, David Wright swears he wasn't trying to steal Alex Rodriguez away from the Yankees, or tell the Mets' front office how to build a dynasty to last through the next decade. — All Wright was doing when he offered …
RELATED:
Bob Klapisch / NorthJersey.com:Willie tinkers with hitting Wright after Reyes
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
CBS SportsLine.com:
Padres report: Notes, quotes — The Sports Xchange —SS Khalil Greene is still troubled by the sprained ligament in the middle finger of his left hand he suffered last Aug. 3. "It is a concern," Padres CEO Sandy Alderson admitted. Greene is requiring extra time to get the finger loose each day.
Discussion:
The Cub Reporter
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
At 88, a Hall of Famer Who's Still in There Pitching — The driver's door of the white Buick LaCrosse opened, and one of the senior members of the Baseball Hall of Fame stepped out briskly Tuesday morning. He was wearing the official Cleveland Indians uniform, buttoned to the top …
Winter Haven / Greenwich, Connecticut …:
Wang long on Ws, short on Ks — You've got Andy Pettitte's elbow, Mike Mussina's age, Kei Igawa's inexperience in the major leagues and Carl Pavano's ability to function as a responsible adult. — Valid concerns, all, about the Yankees' starting rotation.
