Top News:
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Gyroball makes 'debut': Matsuzaka dazzles Marlins hitters — JUPITER, Fla. - The gyroball exists and Daisuke Matsuzaka throws it, at least that's what a couple of major league hitters were left thinking yesterday. — Red Sox forum: — In Matsuzaka's Red Sox [team stats] …
RELATED:
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Matsuzaka a major attraction — Fans, media swarm to see first outing vs. big leaguers — JUPITER, Fla. — We've had the first Daisuke Matsuzaka press conference, the first Dice-K bullpen session, the first live batting practice, and the first time he faced college hitters in a spring training game.
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Driven to frustration — JUPITER, Fla. — At quarter past 11 yesterday morning, there were only two people in uniform in the Red Sox clubhouse: starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka and coach Luis Alicea. The team bus was late, and it appeared Dice-K might have to beat the Florida Marlins all by himself.
Discussion:
Dan Shaughnessy Watch
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 …
Discussion:
Bucs Trade Winds
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Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Spring Training: Should Sanchez be playing second? — Minor injury highlights perils of moving batting champ — Freddy Sanchez is helped up by assistant trainer Mike Sandoval after getting injured in a collision with the Phillies' Rod Barajas yesterday in Bradenton, Fla.
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.
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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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
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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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
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Tom D'Angelo / Palm Beach Post:Marlins' Josh Johnson out for at least two months
Discussion:
FishStripes
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.
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.
Kat O'Brien / Newsday:
Mr. Laid-back can relax now — Damon says he felt pressure in first year after leaving Red Sox — WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Johnny Damon might be the last player one would expect to feel tense or put undue pressure on himself. — Damon is known as Mr. Laid-back, the guy who chills out everyone else.
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 …
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
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.
