Top News:
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Alou likely out until May — Outfielder will undergo surgery on Thursday to fix hernia — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Each new malady to hit the Mets this spring has prompted a response of “It's better to get it out of the way early” — or some variation on that theme — from manager Willie Randolph …
Discussion:
Mets Fever
RELATED:
David Lennon / On the Mets beat:
Alou out 4-6 weeks — The Mets just announced that Moises Alou will have surgery tomorrow to repair a hernia and will miss the next four to six weeks. Alou was sent back to New York earlier today for further tests after complaining of discomfort in the groin area and the Mets got word of the results this evening.
Mike Fitzpatrick / Associated Press:
Mets lose Moises Alou to hernia surgery — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla.—Moises Alou will have surgery for a hernia and miss the start of the season, the most serious in a string of recent setbacks for the depleted New York Mets. — After reporting discomfort in his right groin …
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Groin injury has Alou back in New York — Outfielder to undergo MRI, all of starting outfield sidelined — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The number of able bodies in the Mets' projected starting lineup has been reduced to two. Left fielder Moises Alou, already considered an injury risk …
Discussion:
Phillies Nation
ESPN:
Mets' Alou to have hernia surgery — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — New York Mets left fielder Moises Alou will have surgery for a hernia and miss the start of the season. — The oft-injured Alou left spring training camp Wednesday and was sent back to New York for tests on his sore right groin.
David Lennon / On the Mets beat:
Alou (groin) sent back to New York; Vargas hurting too — Moises Alou is headed to New York today after complaining of discomfort in the right groin area. The Mets decided to send him for more tests, including an MRI, after Alou didn't feel right following Monday's game against the Braves.
Discussion:
Hot Foot
Ed Price / NJ.com:
Report: Murcer's biopsy negative — According to the YES Network's Michael Kay, tests undergone on Bobby Murcer's brain showed a form of necrosis, or scar tissue from radiation treatments and not another cancerous tumor. The Yankees broadcaster underwent a brain biopsy at a Houston hospital on Monday.
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Bart Hubbuch / New York Post:
MAINE STREAM — PITCHER IS OK WITH MEAGER RAI$E — JUPITER, Fla. - John Maine couldn't agree on his salary with the Mets this year, so they decided it for him yesterday. — A 15-win season last season resulted in a mere $59,000 raise to $450,000 in 2008 for the young right-hander …
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Francona faces Torre without Red Sox-Yankees rivalry — FORT MYERS, Fla. - After four years as Boston's manager, Terry Francona can finally put his arm around Joe Torre behind the batting cage. — If Francona tried that when both led enemy squads in the intense Red Sox [team stats] …
RELATED:
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:Closer thinks team is saving too much
Discussion:
Providence Journal, The Bottom Line, The Joy of Sox, Peter's Red Sox Forever and Boston Herald
Michael O'Keeffe / NY Daily News:
Congressman Anthony Weiner asks FBI to end Roger Clemens investigation — America has bigger problems than Roger Clemens and steroids, Rep. Anthony Weiner said Wednesday. — The New York Democrat called on the FBI to end its investigation into whether the Rocket lied to Congress.
Kat O'Brien / Newsday:
Four combine for five perfect innings — DUNEDIN, Fla. - Phil Hughes got pulled from a perfect game again yesterday. — OK, so this one - a spring training game in which he didn't continue after a rain delay in the second inning - had little or nothing in common with the no-hitter …
RELATED:
Christopher Harris / ESPN:
30 Questions: What can we expect from the starting rotation? … Thirty teams, 30 burning fantasy questions. Throughout the preseason, we put one of these questions to an ESPN.com analyst for an in-depth look at the most interesting, perplexing or dumbfounding fantasy facet of each major league team.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
RELATED:
Jonah Keri / ESPN:
Kendrick sticking with his aggressive approach — Editor's note: This is the second in Jonah Keri's series of Q&As with players and executives from the Cactus League. His first Q&A was with Arizona GM Josh Byrnes — Howie Kendrick is a batting champion waiting to happen.
Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:
Organizational Rankings, Part 2 — Last Year's Ranking: 1 — Why They're Unchanged: Evan Longoria's full-season debut went even better than expected, and they added No. 1 overall pick David Price to the system. — Strengths: Yes. There are just tons of prospects everywhere …
The Heater:
Rays welcome Wiggy (and Astros) — Carl Crawford plows into Astros catcher Humberto Quintero at home in the fourth on a B.J. Upton double. Quintero was charged with an error for not holding onto the ball and Upton scored from second. [James Borchuck, Times]
John-YF / Yanksfan vs Soxfan:
Are You Smarter Than a Tenth Grader? — At the beginning of each season I present my players with a general baseball knowledge quiz. With our season set to begin this Friday, I thought it would be fun to see how our readers match up with a bunch of high school kids.
Discussion:
Yankees
