Top News:
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
If Yanks ask Posada, he'll tell 'em Joba should stay in the bullpen — TAMPA - Joba Chamberlain is being treated as a starting pitcher this spring, but one of the Yankees' veteran leaders believes the decision to take the flamethrower out of the setup role is a big mistake.
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Pete Caldera / NorthJersey.com:
Spring Training 2008 — For the Web's most comprehensive coverage of Spring Training, visit our Spring Training page. There you will find daily video reports on the Mets and Yankees. — Yankees — Meet Yanks' new pitching coach — TAMPA, Fla. — Before asking how someone …
Discussion:
Bombers Beat
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Wrapping up the second day of camp — Joe Girardi spent 30 minutes after the workout meeting with Kei Igawa. “Just trying to get to know him,” Girardi said. — The manager said that Igawa would compete for a starting role. — Routine second day in camp. Half the pitchers threw in the bullpen.
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, MLB.com, WasWatching.com, The Bronx Block, Pinstripe Alley and Bronx Liaison
Joe Lapointe / New York Times:
Transition Continues for Igawa and Yanks — TAMPA, Fla. — Even the wealthy Yankees are wary of wasting $46 million on one player, so they are not about to give up on Kei Igawa, the left-handed pitcher from Japan who was a disappointment in 2007, his first season in the United States.
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Carlos' Belt: Mets are best in East — PORT ST. LUCIE - The most soft-spoken Met made the biggest noise at camp so far with a pronouncement Saturday that should make him public enemy No. 1 in Philadelphia, leapfrogging Terrell Owens and J.D. Drew. — After revealing that he'll likely miss …
Discussion:
Faith and Fear in Flushing, We Should Be GM's, Phillies Nation, Babes Love Baseball and The700Level.com
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Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Mets limping into spring — PORT ST. LUCIE - They may be the newly self-declared “team to beat” of 2008, but the Mets continue to be gimpy this spring. — Carlos Beltran, who had surgery on Oct. 3 to clean out both knees, has yet to run full-throttle and may not participate in games until late in the Grapefruit League season.
Discussion:
The Ropolitans
ESPN:
Yankees' Cashman ‘not proud’ of highest payroll — The New York Yankees had a record payroll of $218.3 million in 2007. It's not going down this season, although GM Brian Cashman says he would like to rein it in. — “We are high,” Yankees GM Brain Cashman said in an interview with ESPN 1050 New York's Andrew Marchand.
Discussion:
NY Daily News, New York Daily News Blogs, River Ave. Blues, Bronx Liaison and Sliding Into Home
Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
Tulo gets in some ribbing — TUCSON — Last spring, rookie Troy Tulowitzki had to take it. This year, as a rich, budding star, he's dishing it out. — Saturday, Tulo's target was third baseman Garrett Atkins. — “Atkins doesn't do much over there,” Tulowitzki said with a sly grin.
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Notes: McCarthy, Gabbard ready to go — Benoit wants to share award; Rupe has best of Texas ink — SURPRISE, Ariz. — Right-hander Brandon McCarthy and left-hander Kason Gabbard each took the mound for the first time on Saturday. — Both threw 10 minutes without problems.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Notes: Middle infield intrigues Acta — Belliard, Guzman, Lopez to battle for two starting spots — VIERA, Fla. — Nationals manager Manny Acta said the most intriguing competition this spring is between middle infielders Ronnie Belliard, Cristian Guzman and Felipe Lopez.
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Sean McAdam / Providence Journal:
Varitek may be Red Sox' best catch — FORT MYERS, Fla. — When he's home in Georgia during the offseason, Jason Varitek tends to tune out the business of baseball. — He still keeps in touch with some teammates and maintains his conditioning, but otherwise remains blissfully ignorant about what's going on in and around the game.
George A. King III / New York Post:
URINE THE RIGHT PLACE! — Major League Baseball has increased the number of players from each team to be drug tested this spring. — In other years, MLB would test a handful of players during spring training. Yesterday at Legends Field, 28 Yankees were required to give urine samples to testers.
Discussion:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
A rare Steinbrenner sighting — As we were getting off the elevator at Legends Field this morning to go to the clubhouse, George Steinbrenner was waiting to go up to his office. — Big Stein looked good and smiled and said hello. Joel Sherman of the Post shook his hand and George said, “Good to see you, Joel.”
