Top News:
Bart Hubbuch / New York Post:
PELFREY POPPIN' — FIFTH-STARTER HOPEFUL COMES OUT FIRING — LAKELAND, Fla. - When it comes to the Mets choosing a No. 5 starter, consider yesterday a bit of foreshadowing. — While an ailing Orlando Hernandez was continuing his painfully slow pace back in Port St. Lucie …
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Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Mike Pelfrey sees need to get ahead — LAKELAND, Fla. - Mike Pelfrey started the Mets' Grapefruit League season on Wednesday by tossing two scoreless innings against the Tigers, perhaps baseball's best lineup, which sat only Gary Sheffield. The Mets lost the game, 4-2, when Willie Collazo allowed four runs in the seventh.
David Lennon / On the Mets beat:Pelfrey satisfied with Grapefruit debut
Discussion:
The 'Ropolitans
Mark Hale / New York Post:
FORMER MET ENJOYING GREEN-ER PASTURES — Shawn Green anticipated that it would happen. Now it's a done deal. — The right fielder, who played with the Mets for the last year and a half and spent parts of 15 seasons in the majors, told The Post yesterday that he has retired.
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Zumaya pleased by progress — Tigers reliever ahead of schedule after October surgery — LAKELAND, Fla. — Joel Zumaya came to camp on Tuesday expecting another day in the weight room. He ended up throwing a baseball for the first time in almost five months.
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Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
DeRosa to undergo heart procedure today; expected back soon — MESA, Ariz. — Cubs second baseman Mark DeRosa is scheduled to undergo surgery this morning to correct the heart arrhythmia that sent him to a Mesa hospital over the weekend. And barring a setback, the club expects he'll be ready …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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Kat O'Brien / Newsday:
Matsui prepared to yield to Yankees' needs — TAMPA, Fla. - Hideki Matsui wants to play leftfield for the Yankees. However, they more likely are penciling him in as a designated hitter, at least most of the time. — Matsui said yesterday that although he would prefer to be in the outfield …
Discussion:
iYankees
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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.
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Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Corpas locked, loaded Rockie — Colorado and the closer have agreed on a historic deal that could be worth $22 million. — TUCSON — Manny Corpas' knack for perfect endings has created the beginning of a long-term relationship with the Rockies. The Rockies agreed in principle Wednesday …
Geoff Baker / The Seattle Times:
What a switch: fan Batista meets his idol Kenny G — PEORIA, Ariz. — His entire winter had been spent front and center on some kind of stage. — Miguel Batista hopped around the United States, Ecuador, Panama and his native Dominican Republic, opening baseball parks …
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Nats play to tie with Marlins in opener — Milledge scores two runs in start of Graprefruit League slate — MARLINS 3, NATIONALS 3 — Marlins at the plate: Mike Jacobs blasted a two-run homer in the sixth inning off Rob Bell. Alfredo Amezaga, who singled to open the inning, also scored on the shot to right field.
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
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Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Milledge rips Mets again — LAKELAND, Fla. - From high-fiving fans, to showboating after meaningless home runs, to arriving late at the ballpark more than a few times, Lastings Milledge certainly stirred things up during his brief stay with the Mets. — And while he's with the Nationals now …
Matt Bouffard / Dugout Central:
Notes From The Battleground: Roy White Better Than Jim Rice? — As Spring Training has yet to really heat up yet, Volume 4 of Notes from the Battleground will take a retrospective look at the Yankee-Red Sox rivalry, going back to the 1970s - the last time the rivalry was as intense as it's been of late.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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.
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David Pinto / Sporting News:
La Russa, Yost have edge when pitchers bat eighth — Earlier this week, Milwaukee Brewers manager Ned Yost told reporters he might bat Jason Kendall ninth this season, behind the pitcher. On Tuesday, St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa announced his pitchers would bat eighth all season.
Allen Barra / Village Voice:
Softballs for Pettitte; Beanballs for Clemens — When are journalists (and baseball) going to ask Andy tougher questions? — Andy Pettitte's February 18 press conference was an afternoon of softball questions from a friendly home-crowd press. Sample: “If you had to do it all over again …
Discussion:
New York Post
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Notes: Fukudome makes plans to steal — Lee in Obama's corner; Ramirez, Soriano to sit Cactus opener — MESA, Ariz. — Kosuke Fukudome's career single-season high in stolen bases is 13, which he swiped in 2005 for the Chunichi Dragons. The No. 3 hitter in Japan does not run much …
Discussion:
Cobra Brigade
