Top News:
NY Daily News:
Harper: Mets hoping for own Joba — PORT ST. LUCIE - This time of year, baseball people are always looking for the next phenom. But after what happened in the Bronx last season, there is a new way of defining that search. — Now they're looking for the next Joba.
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Joel Sherman / New York Post:
SWEATIN' IN THE SUNSHINE STATE — CAUTIOUS OMAR PASSED ON MCNAMEE — Had Omar Minaya simply accepted the endorsement of his manager and hitting coach before last season, the Mets would right now probably be at the heart of the ongoing steroid firestorm involving Brian McNamee.
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Kazmir checks out … Scott Kazmir walks off with head trainer Ron Porterfield, who conducted strength tests that encouraged the pitcher. — Times] — ST. PETERSBURG - The news on Rays ace Scott Kazmir's left elbow appeared relatively good Tuesday night - no serious injury …
Discussion:
Fox Sports, Rays of Light, Rays Index, The Heater, MLB Fleece Factor, DRaysBay, Rays Anatomy and Rotoworld.com
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ESPN:
Report: Rays' Kazmir out two weeks — Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Scott Kazmir will be sidelined about two weeks with stuffiness in his throwing arm, the St. Petersburg Times reported. — Kazmir, the Rays' ace, felt discomfort in his arm while warming up for an intrasquad game and walked off the mound to get an MRI.
Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:
Nationals Top 11 Prospects — Four-Star Prospects — Three-Star Prospects — Two-Star Prospects — Just Missing: Esmailyn Gonzalez, SS; John Lannan, LHP; Shairon Martis, RHP — 1. Chris Marrero, 1B — Bats/Throws: R/R — Drafted: 1st round, 2006, Monsignor Pace HS (FL)
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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Will Carroll / Baseball Prospectus:
Los Angeles Dodgers — Stan Conte came in to improve the injury situation for the Dodgers. The idea may be that Stan's a miracle worker, having held together much of the Giants' successful years with little more than athletic tape and hard work, but rebuilding what was once a proud, cutting-edge system takes longer than a year.
David Lennon / Newsday:
Bunt attempt by Wolverines irks Mets' Wagner — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Forget the Phillies. Billy Wagner nearly started a beanball war with the University of Michigan after one overzealous Wolverine tried to bunt on him in the fourth inning. With a runner on second and one out, centerfielder Kevin Cislo pushed his bunt foul.
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Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Ross Ohlendorf primed for bullpen — TAMPA - Reliever Ross Ohlendorf pitched well enough last September to earn a spot on the Yankees' postseason roster. Things didn't go so well in his one October appearance, as he allowed three runs in one inning of work in Game 1 against the Indians.
Discussion:
Replacement Level …
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Tyler Kepner / New York Times:Yanks Aim for Giambi to Return to First
Discussion:
Respect Jeter's Gangster, Sliding Into Home, ShysterBall, Pinstripes, Pa, WasWatching.com and iYankees
Rob Bradford / Bradford Files:
Freddy Garcia is in the house — Former All Star pitcher Freddy Garcia is in the Red Sox clubhouse. No confirmation regarding a signing and reports are that is he is simply being evaluated and no deal is imminent.
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Danny Knobler / MLive.com:
Zumaya's throwing, Rodney isn't — LAKELAND, Fla. — Joel Zumaya has started his throwing program. Fernando Rodney has stopped his. — Rodney said this morning that he had an MRI exam on his sore right shoulder on Tuesday, and that while the test showed no structural damage, Rodney won't throw again until next Monday.
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Brian Bruney ‘not scared to fail’ — TAMPA - New physique, new pitching coach, new attitude. Welcome to Brian Bruney's 2008 season. — Bruney's 2007 campaign didn't live up to the expectations many had for him after his impressive showing the year before.
Kat O'Brien / Newsday:
Yankees' Mussina advises kids Hughes, Kennedy — Yankee pitcher Mike Mussina, right, shares his wisdom with teammate Ian Kennedy during spring training Monday in Tampa. (Newsday / Audrey C. Tiernan) — TAMPA, Fla. - Mike Mussina requested that Ian Kennedy be given a locker next to his this spring training.
Nate Silver / Sports Illustrated:
Nate Silver: The Rays won't merely be better in '08, they'll be 22 wins better — Baseball history is littered with premature declarations about the rising hopes of young teams. There were, for instance, the 1987 Indians, of whom Sports Illustrated famously proclaimed, “Believe it!
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Ian O'Connor / Fox Sports:
Big, Bad Clemens really feeling the heat — Ian O'Connor was twice named the No. 1 columnist in America in his circulation category by the Associated Press Sports Editors. An archive of his columns at The Record (N.J.) can be found here. — Roger Clemens was going to stare down the truth tellers …
Peter Abraham / lohud.com:
Yankees prospect McCutchen pitching hard to clear his name — TAMPA, Fla. - Dan McCutchen knew it would be news; there was no avoiding that. But he wasn't prepared for the bold headline on the first page of the sports section of his hometown paper. — “McCutchen busted for steroids,” it said.
