Top News:
Mark Fainaru-Wada / ESPN:
Fainaru-Wada: Damning analysis on Clemens … An 18-page memorandum compiled by congressional staff members provides a damning analysis of statements given under oath by Roger Clemens — underscoring a perjury case that could be looming for the seven-time Cy Young winner.
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Congress seeks DOJ probe of Clemens' testimony — WASHINGTON — Roger Clemens' denial of steroid use warrants further investigation, Congress said Wednesday in asking the Justice Department to determine whether the star pitcher lied under oath in testimony to a House committee.
Matthew Leach / MLB.com:
Cards cut ties with Spiezio — Arrest warrant issued in California over December incident — JUPITER, Fla. — Just hours after news circulated that a warrant has been issued in Orange County, Calif., for the arrest of Scott Spiezio, the Cardinals released the utility man.
RELATED:
ESPN.com:
Cardinals release Spiezio after warrant issued — IRVINE, Calif. — Utilityman Scott Spiezio was cut by the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday, released after being charged in a six-count complaint involving drunken driving and assault in a December car crash.
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:
Lone Star Ball, Associated Press, Fox Sports, Rays of Light, Rays Index, Rotoworld.com, Rays Anatomy, DRaysBay and The Heater
RELATED:
Marc Lancaster / Rays Report:
Kazmir: I'll be ready by Opening Day — Scott Kazmir said today that he “definitely” plans to make his expected start Opening Day at Baltimore despite the strained left elbow he suffered yesterday. — “That's what we're shooting for,” he said. — Asked if the medical staff had discouraged …
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
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.
RELATED:
Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:Nationals Top 11 Prospects
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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 (Check out photos). — Slugger David Ortiz, an odd sight in eyeglasses, carried the World Series trophy into the ceremony.
Discussion:
A Red Sox Fan …
RELATED:
Phil Birnbaum / Sabermetric Research:Bill James website and “cursed” teams
Discussion:
Associated Press
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Sox talk with Garcia … FORT MYERS — Free agent starter Freddy Garcia, still looking for a job after shoulder surgery last August, visited the Red Sox [team stats] this morning. — The team said not to read much into the visit, but the Red Sox will no doubt do their due diligence …
Discussion:
SOX & Dawgs
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Chicagosports / Hardball:
DeRosa Update — MESA, Ariz.- Mark DeRosa will undergo a surgical procedure on Thursday to stop the irregular heartbeat that's been affecting him on and off since his teen-age years. — Cubs physician Stephen Adams said DeRosa will have an EPS (electrophysiology study) …
Aaron Fitt / Baseball America College Blog:
Alvarez Out Indefinitely With Broken Bone In Hand — Vanderbilt third baseman Pedro Alvarez, a two-time first-team All-American and the No. 1 prospect for the 2008 draft, will miss a minimum of six weeks after breaking a bone in his hand in Vandy's season opener against Oregon State on Friday.
Sports Illustrated:
Spring Hot Spot: Viera — Fiery Milledge reflects Nationals' untapped potential … VIERA, Fla. — On one side of the Nationals' clubhouse here at Space Coast Stadium — a clubhouse which, as clubhouses go, is way more Our Gang than Augusta National — young Lastings Milledge …
Discussion:
It's Mets For Me
Yankees Blog:
Tickets on sale Friday — Individual tickets for regular season home games will go on sale Friday, Feb. 29, online only at www.yankees.com. — Beginning Monday, March 3, tickets may be purchased at Yankee Stadium advance ticket windows, at area Ticketmaster outlets, via Ticketmaster by phone at …
Discussion:
This Purist Bleeds Pinstripes
Tom Van Riper / Forbes:
Santana Is No Savior — Fans of the New York Mets are still smiling over the late Christmas present from club executives last month: ace pitcher Johan Santana from the Minnesota Twins. — Still smarting after the Mets blew a late season lead in 2007 to miss the playoffs by a game …
Discussion:
NJ.com
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Tigers' bullpen stellar in opener — Grilli, Miner toss two shutout innings each in comeback win — TIGERS 4, METS 2 — Mets at the plate: Back-to-back singles and a walk in the opening inning set up Ramon Castro's sacrifice fly to score Angel Pagan. Anderson Machado tripled in Michael Abreu an inning later.

