Top News:
Kevin Kernan / New York Post:
STILL SWINGING — SHEFF SOUNDS OFF ON GIRARDI, CLEMENS & TIGERS — LAKELAND, Fla. - Gary Sheffield yesterday described his monster swing as “violent, but level.” — Those swings would be both on and off the field. Sheffield has played for all kinds of managers dur ing his 20-year career …
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Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Johnny Damon likes Yankees' chances — TAMPA - Young pitchers? Old players? New manager? None of it matters to Johnny Damon. — As far as Damon is concerned, the Yankees are in prime position to return to the postseason for a 14th consecutive year, regardless of the question marks surrounding the team entering the spring.
Discussion:
Sliding Into Home
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Ramírez wants to stay — He leaves options in Red Sox' hands — Normally a man of few words, Manny Ramírez opened up to the media during an abbreviated visit to the training complex. (Jim Davis/Globe Staff) — FORT MYERS, Fla. - He didn't stay around for long. But it was long enough.
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Jeff Goldberg / Hartford Courant:
Manny, Red Sox Willing To Wait — FORT MYERS, Fla. — David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez were the only players who didn't participate in conditioning drills for position players Thursday afternoon. — Ortiz, coming off knee surgery, was excused. Ramirez, it appears, excused himself.
Sports Illustrated:
Mets Perez wins arbitration hearing — Mets starting pitcher Oliver Perez has won his arbitration hearing and will earn $6.5 million in 2008, SI.com has learned. — The Mets submitted a figure of $4.725 million for the 26-year-old lefthander. Perez earned $2.325 in 2007, going 15-10 with a 3.56 ERA.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
NY Daily News:
Photo looms as Roger woe — As the congressional committee that spent nine weeks considering Roger Clemens' attack on the Mitchell Report now quietly mulls referring the entire matter to the Justice Department, federal investigators seasoned in the anti-doping game are ready to hit the ground running.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
No more steaks for Fielder — Brewers star feels ‘amazing’ after becoming vegetarian — PHOENIX — Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder does not look like a vegetarian. So when people find out that he's giving it a try, they have approximately the same reaction.
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings
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NY Daily News:
Harper: Beltran takes second cut — PORT ST. LUCIE - The good news for the Mets is that as the rhetoric heats up, Carlos Beltran is not backpedaling from his uncharacteristic bit of bravado aimed at Jimmy Rollins and the Phillies last week. — In fact, the Quiet Man understands …
David Lennon / Newsday:
Notes: El Duque could retire after '08 — PORT ST. LUCIE - Orlando Hernandez talked about retirement yesterday for the first time, and anyone who glanced at his gnarly right foot could understand why. Hernandez, who said the odds of his quitting after this season are 50-50 …
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John Fay / Cincinnati Enquirer:
Wilson out of camp; Baker says no reason to go slow with Bruce — SARASOTA, Fla. - Craig Wilson, an outfielder and first baseman, is no longer in camp with the Reds. — Wilson, who was in camp Wednesday, apparently failed his physical. He had signed a minor-league deal with the Reds.
Discussion:
MLB Fleece Factor
NY Daily News:
Madden: Duncan getting his work in — TAMPA - You know this is a whole different kind of Yankee training camp when even Shelley Duncan is huffing and puffing and begging for mercy at the end of the day. — The running joke among the Yankee coaches who watched Duncan taking over 100 grounders …
Discussion:
iYankees
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Stark: Howard hits the jackpot … CLEARWATER, Fla. — What does it mean when a guy wins 10 million negotiable American dollars through the miracle of salary arbitration? — In Ryan Howard's case, says his buddy Jimmy Rollins, it means he can afford that Aston Martin DB9 James Bond-mobile he's had his eye on.
Bart Hubbuch / New York Post:
JOHAN TO FACE BATTERS — The moment the Mets have been waiting for arrives this morning. — Johan Santana told The Post he will throw to hitters today for the first time since the blockbuster deal that brought him to the Mets three weeks ago. — The Mets started full-squad workouts Wednesday …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Reds sign veteran starter Fogg — Right-hander agrees to one-year deal worth $1 million — SARASOTA, Fla. — For the Reds' younger rotation candidates, their chances of landing a starting spot just got harder. — Free agent right-hander Josh Fogg signed a one-year, $1 million contract.
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DRaysBay:
Chatting with Stu — It's that time of year again, it seems. DRays Bay, once again, gets the opportunity to ask Rays Principal Owner Stu Sternberg a few questions. This year, however, I opened up the floor to a couple other people (Cork Gaines from “Rays Index” and EricSanSan from …
