Top News:
John Tomase / Boston Herald:
Sheffield wanted in: 'Boston was my first choice' — LAKELAND, Fla. - Gary Sheffield desperately wanted to cross enemy lines. — The former New York Yankees slugger had only one team on his wish list as last season wound to a close, though he dared not disclose it.
Discussion:
the metropolitans
RELATED:
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Some growling by Tigers — It gets a bit wild after Beckett hits 2 batters — Umpire Marty Foster holds back Sox coach DeMarlo Hale; Tigers coach Lloyd McClendon does the same to Todd Jones in a fifth-inning scuffle. (PAUL SANCYA/ASSOCIATED PRESS) — LAKELAND, Fla. …
Discussion:
Fenway Blogger
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Drew puts on dancing shoes — Right fielder proves nimble at avoiding inside pitches — LAKELAND, Fla. — Red Sox right fielder J.D. Drew doesn't look anything like Vince Vaughn or Ben Stiller. But if there's ever a sequel to the slapstick comedy "Dodgeball," Drew could probably find himself a part.
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Power plus speed must equal wins — Tucson - It was under a tree that he planted the seed. — After Thursday morning's B game, Chicago White Sox slugger Jim Thome approached Rockies pitchers Aaron Cook and LaTroy Hawkins. — Thome praised Cook's slider and complimented Hawkins' changeup, a pitch he admittedly needs to use more.
Discussion:
Purple Row
RELATED:
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Another down day for Prior — SURPRISE, Ariz. — Just when it looked like Mark Prior's status on this year's Cubs staff couldn't sink any lower, the former rotation big shot pitched his way Saturday from contender for the fifth-starter job to dark horse. — Actually, he's behind the dark horse.
Jim Molony / MLB.com:
Lilly solid, Prior roughed up in loss — Fox hits two-run homer in ninth as Cubs' rally falls short — ROYALS 6, CUBS 5 — Cubs at the plate: Ryan Theriot and Jake Fox accounted for four of Chicago's eight hits, with Theriot driving in a run with a groundout in the seventh and Fox belting a two-run home run in the ninth.
Discussion:
CubsNet.com
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
How to Appeal to Baseball Fans? Advice: Don't Try — With the wisdom of his 57 years, the greatest third baseman in baseball history can reflect on his career as a cautionary tale for the greatest third baseman of today. — Mike Schmidt won multiple Most Valuable Player awards …
Discussion:
Ashburn Alley
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
'New beginning' Sosa's focus now — Though he says 'a lot of people' know only one side of his breakup with the Cubs, he doesn't want to talk about it — SURPRISE, Ariz. — While the ice is thawing in the long-running cold war between Mark Grace and the Cubs, and Steve Stone is back in good graces …
Discussion:
GROTA
Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
Tulowitzki injures wrist — Tucson - Troy Tulowitzki, the Rockies' prized rookie shortstop, will find out today if his injured right wrist is merely a bump in the road or a major roadblock. — Tulowitzki was hit in the wrist by a fastball thrown by Padres pitcher Doug Brocail in the fifth inning …
Discussion:
Purple Row
Mike Lupica / NY Daily News:
Hit them in the wallet — In the end, the Players Association in baseball, and its members, are really only passionate about one thing: Protecting guaranteed contracts, something they think should be covered by the Patriot Act. The Players Association used to stand for a lot of things, so many of them good and important.
Ted Miller / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Weaver could light way for M's — PEORIA, Ariz. — Yeah, as a matter of fact, Jeff Weaver does think about how he went from having a horrible, no-good, rotten, very bad season to earning the clinching victory in the World Series last October. — And, yeah, it feels pretty freaking good every time the memory lights up.
Discussion:
U.S.S. Mariner
Jim Salisbury / Philly.com:
On Baseball | Hurler injuries common: Phils should keep Lieber — CLEARWATER, Fla. - The cautionary tales are being written, right in the Phillies' own division. — Florida Marlins righthander Josh Johnson will be out two months with a nerve problem in his elbow.
Discussion:
Philliesflow
Karen Guregian / Boston Herald:
Chuckles in knuckles — FORT MYERS - This falls under the category of one of those wonderful and wacky scenes only witnessed at spring training. It's also one of those scenes where you really had to be there. — In a nutshell, Tim Wakefield [stats] broke in a new catcher for his vaunted knuckler yesterday.
Alyson Footer / MLB.com:
Astros offer Holdzkom back to Cubs — Rule 5 Draft selection could opt for free agency — KISSIMMEE, Fla, — Following the Astros' game with the Phillies on Saturday, general manager Tim Purpura and manager Phil Garner informed right-hander Lincoln Holdzkom that he cleared outright waivers …
Discussion:
The Cub Reporter
