Top News:
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.
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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 …
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
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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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.
Discussion:
New York Post, Baltimore Sun, Associated Press, Washington Post, SOX1FAN, Baseball's Steroid Era, Bugs & Cranks, FanHouse, MetsMole.com and NY Daily News
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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.
Discussion:
The Orange County DA Office, Halos Heaven, SPORTSbyBROOKS, MLB Fleece Factor, Babes Love Baseball and The Griddle
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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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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.
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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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
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 …
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.
Associated Press:
Coaches don helmets, but some unhappy with rule — KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Glenn Hubbard trotted on the field Wednesday wearing a helmet — and feeling downright ridiculous. — “You know what it feels like?” he asked before a spring training game. “Look at that kid over there.”
