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 …
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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.
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Wakefield finishes spring season in loss — Starter gives up three runs over six innings; Ortiz goes 1-for-3 — PIRATES 3, RED SOX 2 — Red Sox at the plate: David Ortiz went 1-for-3 with an RBI single. Julio Lugo had a hit, a run and a stolen base.
Discussion:
Fenway Blogger
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 …
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Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
For Lastings, injury erases upper hand — Read Adam Rubin's Surfing the Mets Blog — VIERA, Fla. - Lastings Milledge reached for the bat leaning against teammate Ruben Gotay's adjacent locker, gripped it despite the blue athletic wrap on his right hand and took a few faint mock swings.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rockies' rotation more suspicious than special — Tucson — Even before Arizona's Scott Hairston clobbered consecutive home runs to right, left and center field Tuesday, the Rockies' starting rotation was taking hits from all directions. — Talked to Yankees captain Derek Jeter …
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
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Mets Need Heilman in Bullpen More Than Ever — Aaron Heilman jogs out of the bullpen to "London Calling" by the Clash. It is an urgent song for a low-key reliever, and one that fans at Shea Stadium can expect to hear even more than the 74 times they did last season.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
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.
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?
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
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:
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