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 …
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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.
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 …
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
Discussion:
Hot Foot
Mike Silva / Gotham Baseball:Lastings Impressions — Lastings Milledge's recent comments …
Discussion:
the metropolitans
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Murcer's biopsy shows no cancer — Broadcaster plans to rest before returning to Yankees' booth — TAMPA, Fla. — Bobby Murcer received “great news” on Wednesday, as a biopsy performed on his brain revealed only scar tissue and no signs of cancer. — “We are very excited about this news,” Murcer said.
Discussion:
Pinstriped Scranton
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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.
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Taking Control of His Future — TAMPA, Fla. — Ian Kennedy was not the kind of kid who taped a strike zone to the side of a wall and threw at it all day long. He did not pester friends or family to catch him in the backyard. Kennedy loved to pitch, but there was no need to practice.
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Peter Scrivener / BBC:
GB's Olympic baseball dream ends — British Baseball has called UK Sport short-sighted after being forced to pull out of a final Olympic qualifying tournament which starts on Friday. — Team GB have been unable to raise the £40,000 needed to fund the trip to the competition in Taiwan …
Bob McManaman / Arizona Republic:
Unit might get in game next week — Left-hander Randy Johnson threw 36 pitches during a simulated two-inning batting-practice session against hitters before Tuesday's game in Surprise, and he could make his first Cactus League appearance at some point next week.
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Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Cano plans on Star turn in first half — TAMPA - Robinson Cano has hit .342 and .306 in the past two seasons, but he believes there's a lot of room for improvement. — Last season, Cano batted .274 before the All-Star break, then hit .343 in the second half.
Discussion:
iYankees
MLB.com:
Chat wrap: Frank Coonelly — Bucs' new president answers fans' questions … scubevol: Do you really think you can compete for a championship against the big-market clubs? — Coonelly: Absolutely. The Pirates will not use economics, our financial resources or the economic system of baseball as a crutch.
USA Today:
Yankee Stadium set to begin its final season — Plans to raze Yankee Stadium and auction off some of its contents are being put in place by the team and New York City, but don't make any plans for a big haul of memorabilia. — Once the Yankees are settled into their new Yankee Stadium …
Awful Announcing:
ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball Schedule — I hadn't seen this anywhere, so I figured I'd throw it up. If you've already seen this, please accept my sincerest apologies. Here is ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball schedule for the first 4 months of the MLB Season. Joe and Jon are back and these are the games they'll be butchering....
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Minor League Report: Wilkin Ramirez — Talented prospect looking to shake off past injury woes — LAKELAND, Fla. — Wilkin Ramirez likes to believe that if he works hard, everything will be fine for him one day. — Lately, these days are looking pretty good.
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] …
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Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Cano remains hot in Yankees' loss — Second baseman collects three hits; Chamberlain touched up — TWINS 7, YANKEES 5 — Twins at the plate: Delmon Young blasted a long solo homer in the second inning off the black batter's eye beyond the 408-foot mark in center field.
