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.
RELATED:
ESPN.com:
Report: Mets GM nixed idea of hiring McNamee — Brian McNamee, the former strength trainer for Roger Clemens and a primary figure in Major League Baseball's doping scandal, was close to becoming a member of the Mets' coaching staff last season, according to the New York Post.
Discussion:
Hot Foot
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.
David Lefort / Boston Globe:
Sox meet the President — Members of the 2007 World Series champion Red Sox gathered on the White House lawn this afternoon and were honored by President George W. Bush. — Among those missing from the proceedings was Manny Ramirez, whose absence was noted by Bush.
Discussion:
A Red Sox Fan …
RELATED:
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 …
RELATED:
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 …
RELATED:
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.
RELATED:
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 …
RELATED:
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:Yanks Aim for Giambi to Return to First
Discussion:
Respect Jeter's Gangster, Sliding Into Home, ShysterBall, WasWatching.com, Pinstripes, Pa and iYankees
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, Rays Anatomy, MLB Fleece Factor, DRaysBay and Rotoworld.com
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.
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Texas Rangers closer in jam over blog entry — egrant@dallasnews.com — SURPRISE, Ariz. - The exhibition season hasn't yet started, and already Texas Rangers closer C.J. Wilson has found himself in a jam. — In his own clubhouse. — Wilson recently made comments about his teammates' lack …
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.
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
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.
John Hickey / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Mariners Notebook: Solidly in Boone's corner — PEORIA, Ariz. — When former Mariners second baseman Bret Boone went public Monday to MLB.com about his battle with alcoholism and the seven months of sobriety that have fueled his comeback with the Washington Nationals at age 38, he made many in the Mariners clubhouse proud.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
