Top News:
Sports Illustrated:
The myth behind the man — Matsuzaka says 'gyroball' not part of his arsenal — FORT MYERS, Fla. — Despite highly descriptive news reports, slow motion video and purported eyewitness accounts from major league hitters — well, the Florida Marlins' scrubs — Red Sox pitching sensation …
RELATED:
Murray Chass / New York Times:
Boston Got What It Wanted, or So It Seems — Maybe the move will wind up serving as the catalyst that vaults the Boston Red Sox to their first American League East title since 1995, but when they began their pursuit of Daisuke Matsuzaka last fall, one of their main motivations was to keep him from the Yankees.
Associated Press:
Here's the pitch — FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Jon Lester's next destination on his road back from cancer is Boston's minor league team in Greenville, S.C. — The left-hander is slated to make four rehabilitation starts for the Drive of the Class-A South Atlantic League to build his stamina and pitch count.
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Piniella chooses Miller over Prior — Ex-ace Iowa-bound after 5th starter battle — MESA, Ariz. — Mark Prior's start Wednesday at HoHoKam Park will be his last in a Cubs uniform for quite a while. — Manager Lou Piniella confirmed Tuesday that Wade Miller has sewn up the fifth starter's spot …
RELATED:
Roch Kubatko / Baltimore Sun:
Payton injury delays Perlozzo's final roster … FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. // Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo seems resigned to having left fielder Jay Payton begin the season on the disabled list with a left hamstring injury, which creates a second issue as Opening Day approaches:
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Jacobs, Willingham to share cleanup duties — FORT LAUDERDALE — Mike Jacobs hopes he'll develop into the same caliber of cleanup hitter as Gary Sheffield, Carlos Delgado and Derrek Lee - some of the more prominent hitters who have batted fourth for the Marlins over the years.
Discussion:
FishStripes
The Sporting Green / SFGate:
Dan Johnson out with hip injury — From Sporting Green A's beat writer Susan Slusser at Spring Training: — Just two days away from breaking camp, the A's were looking reasonably good from a health perspective, but on Tuesday, first baseman Dan Johnson was scratched from the lineup with a strained left hip flexor.
Jeff / Lookout Landing:
Brandon Morrow — I guess it's my turn to weigh in on this. — I have to admit, I've been going back and forth on the issue - at first I liked it, but that's because my first impressions are always shortsighted, and the more I thought about it, the more I started to side with the "send him to the minors" camp.
RELATED:
John McGrath / News, Sports, Entertainment:Morrow's bid for majors can touch a heart
Discussion:
U.S.S. Mariner
Alex Belth / Baseball Prospectus:
How the New York Yankees Can Win the World Series — Will talks with Alex Belth about the Yankees' chances on Baseball Prospectus Radio. Click to download the mp3. — Imagine the Yankees winning it all this year. I know it's a leap of faith, but go ahead and try. Okay, that didn't take long now, did it?
Sports Illustrated:
Z-Day (cont.) — So, given some of those hefty numbers and the certainty that, next winter, they'll probably be even heftier, both sides are busy burning up calculator batteries and wording contract proposals just right. Yet the question remains: Can Hendry and Zambrano …
Discussion:
On the Mets beat, Amazin' Avenue, MLB Trade Rumors, The FanHouse - Mlb, Chicago Tribune and River Ave. Blues
Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Union to look into Walker's release — Agent questions Padres' motives over action — PEORIA, Ariz. — Brian Carlin, the agent for infielder Todd Walker, said in a statement on Tuesday the Major League Baseball Players Association is looking into the Padres' decision to release the 33-year-old veteran.
RELATED:
Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Miller forced back onto the sidelines — Forearm strain opens bullpen door for Lara or Mastny — KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Matt Miller proved he was healthy enough to be named a member of the Indians bullpen. — And then, cruelly, he got hurt again. — Miller, who suffered a strain …
Discussion:
Tribe Report
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Rotation set, but concerns linger — Health, inexperience key issues facing Nats' starting five — VIERA, Fla. — The Nationals had 36 healthy pitchers in camp, and they were looking for four starters to follow right-hander John Patterson in the rotation.
Discussion:
Banks of the Anacostia
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Sheets named Opening Day starter — Capuano, Suppan, Bush and Vargas round out rotation — PHOENIX — Brewers manager Ned Yost told the parties involved two weeks ago, and on Tuesday, he finally went public with the worst-kept secret in camp. Ben Sheets will start the season atop Milwaukee's starting rotation.
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Anderson to open season with Sox — Youngster to serve as fourth outfielder after rough 2006 — TEMPE, Ariz. — There was no major celebration planned by Brian Anderson for Tuesday night after he received the official news from Ozzie Guillen that he would break camp as part of the White Sox 25-man roster.
Nate Silver / Baseball Prospectus:
PECOTA Projected Standings, AL and NL Central — This miniseries breaks down into three parts, canvassing the country from East to West. For each of the thirty clubs, I'm going to identify one player for whom I think the PECOTA forecast looks low ("Take the Over") based on statistical …
