Top News:
Sports Illustrated:
Four more years — Guillen agrees to $48 million extension with Tigers — Tigers shortstop Carlos Guillen has agreed to a four-year, $48 million extension to stay in Detroit through 2011, SI.com has learned. — Guillen, who batted .320 with 19 home runs and 85 RBIs in 2006 in helping …
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Associated Press:
Guillen and Tigers agree to $48 million, 4-year extension — LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Shortstop Carlos Guillen and the Detroit Tigers agreed Friday to a $48 million, four-year contract extension through the 2011 season. — Guillen is making $5 million this season, the last of a $14 million, three-year deal.
Associated Press:
Johnny Pesky, Mr. Red Sox, loses spot in dugout — PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Boston Red Sox icon Johnny Pesky will have to leave the dugout during games this season because of a major league rule that limits the number of coaches allowed in uniform. — Red Sox manager Terry Francona said the team …
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Joseph Santoliquito / MLB.com:
Red Sox homer past Phillies — Ramirez, Pedroia, Drew, Youkilis deliver long balls — RED SOX 6, PHILLIES 5 — Red Sox at the plate: Manny Ramirez, Dustin Pedroia, J.D. Drew and Kevin Youkilis all homered, responsible for five of Boston's six runs. Youkilis' homer was a two-run shot, the other three were solo blasts.
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Zambrano's deal appears nearly sealed — Hendry optimistic he'll beat deadline — LAS VEGAS — Negotiations over Carlos Zambrano's contract extension heated up Friday with a face-to-face meeting between general manager Jim Hendry and the pitcher's agent, Barry Praver.
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Associated Press:
Cubs 8, Mariners 5 — CBS SportsLine.com wire reports — LAS VEGAS — Aramis Ramirez and Michael Barrett each had two-run homers to lead the Chicago Cubs over the Seattle Mariners 8-5 Friday night. — Ramirez and Barrett, who each went 2-for-4, both hit line-drive homers down the left-field line.
Associated Press:
Pirates cut Kolb, keep Kelly and Wasdin — BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Dan Kolb, a former All-Star closer with the Milwaukee Brewers, was reassigned to the Pittsburgh Pirates' minor league camp on Friday and is looking for another major league job. — The Pirates had until Friday to notify Kolb whether he would make their 25-man roster.
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John Perrotto / Baseball Prospectus:How the Pittsburgh Pirates Can Win the World Series
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Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Lies, darn lies ... and baseball statistics? — The inexact science of player evaluation is being changed by a new emphasis on statistical analysis, though character, and scouting, still count with many old-school types. — If you're a serious baseball fan, you know Ernie Broglio.
Discussion:
Dodger Thoughts
Tracy Ringolsby / Rocky Mountain News:
Rockies eager to see if spring success translates — COLORADO SPRINGS - The Rockies spent the spring getting a glimpse of their new- look lineup. — They liked what they saw. — They have speed at the top with center fielder Willy Taveras and second baseman Kaz Matsui.
Discussion:
Purple Row
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Preston Wilson says racial issues remain in baseball — MEMPHIS, TENN. — When it announced the first annual Civil Rights Game between the Cardinals and Cleveland Indians less than four months ago, Major League Baseball envisioned this weekend as a commemoration of the civil rights movement …
Discussion:
Lady At The Bat
Richard Durrett / Dallas Morning News:
Satisfying spring for Sosa — Thrilled to be playing ball again, he says, 'I'm ready to go for it' — FRISCO - Sammy Sosa said it was all the little things that he missed most after a year off from baseball. — He missed talking and joking with his teammates.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Tom D'Angelo / Palm Beach Post:
Major accomplishment — For Sissy Wood, the calls are part of her daily routine. — One as her husband, Jason Wood, is heading to the park. One after batting practice. One after the game. — During the spring, that means a 3:30 a.m. wake-up at her home in Fresno, Calif. "I'm a farmer's daughter," she says.
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Soriano staying in center—for now — Piniella predicts his fielding will improve — LAS VEGAS — Alfonso Soriano's transition to center field this spring has been rough, as befits a player who has spent most of his career at second base. — Asked before Friday night's game how much Soriano …
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Q&A with manager Ned Yost — Even at 8 a.m., after his eighth cup of coffee, it's difficult to get Brewers manager Ned Yost to talk about anything other than his favorite topic: Today. — He's a famously "one-day-at-a-time" kind of guy, to the chagrin of anyone trying to get his thoughts on the big picture.
Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
Notes: Owings named the No. 5 starter — Right-hander was a combined 16-2 in the Minors during 2006 — PEORIA, Ariz. — And the No. 5 starter will be... Micah Owings. — D-backs manager Bob Melvin announced after Friday afternoon's game that Owings will get the nod April 6 …
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
