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Espn Com / MLB:
Baseball Tonight Clubhouse: Pudge and Pedro — Are they worth it? … PUDGE AND PEDRO — WORTH THE RISK? — Both Pedro Martinez and Ivan Rodriguez could help major league teams this season. After watching Martinez last year, I had real doubts whether he'd be a competitive major league pitcher again.
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Inbox: Time to bring back Pedro? — Beat reporter Marty Noble answers Mets fans' questions — I can't believe it's come to this, but I'm actually coming around to the idea of re-signing Pedro Martinez. At first, I was adamantly against re-signing him because I wanted to see Jon Niese in the fifth spot in the rotation.
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Thames sidelined by strained oblique — Tigers outfielder out a week; Treanor also taking breather — LAKELAND, Fla. — Tigers outfielder Marcus Thames is expected to miss about a week after he was diagnosed Wednesday with a strained abdominal muscle. Backup catcher Matt Treanor …
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Associated Press:
Chipper takes BP, eyes weekend return to WBC — TORONTO (AP) — Chipper Jones took swings from both sides of the plate and fielded grounders before the United States faced Venezuela on Wednesday and said he'll be ready to play when the second round of the World Baseball Classic begins Saturday in Miami.
Doug Miller / MLB.com:
Papelbon sounds off on Manny — Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon had strong words about former teammate Manny Ramirez in an interview in Esquire magazine's April issue. — “It just takes one guy to bring an entire team down, and that's exactly what was happening,” the right-hander told the magazine.
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Projo Sox Blog
JSOnline:
McGehee stating his case — By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel — Glendale, Ariz. - Even if Bill Hall recovers from his calf injury in time to be the Brewers' starting third baseman, as expected, there might be room on the roster for Casey McGehee.
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Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Looper on track to start season healthy — Righty, nursing strained oblique, throws successful bullpen session — PHOENIX — Brewers right-hander Braden Looper threw a bullpen session Wednesday for the first time since straining a muscle along his ribcage, and the team expects him to be in the starting rotation by Opening Day.
Yankees Blog:
Rivera ‘no doubt’ for opener — Closer Mariano Rivera threw 30 pitches in his first spring training batting practice session today. He will throw BP again Saturday then likely will make his first exhibition appearance early next week. — Rivera had surgery on the AC joint in his right shoulder last Oct. 7.
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William Neuman / New York Times:
Stadium Is Citi Field, but the Subway Stop Has Other Ideas — Citigroup is teetering, with a stock price lower than Johan Santana's earned run average and a brand synonymous with “bank bailout.” But its name will still grace the Mets' new ballpark, Citi Field, when the season starts next month.
David Lennon / Newsday:
HoJo survives because he's a hit with Mets players — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - - When the Mets decided to clean house in the midnight massacre of last June, one of the coaches who escaped the purge was Howard Johnson, whose bond with the franchise was a lifeline the others did not have.
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
CC lacks feel, but confident he'll find it — Ace yet to show top form in first Spring Training with Yankees — LAKELAND, Fla. — This was bound to happen. — Despite the money and the expectations and the hope for perfection, there was bound to come an outing in which CC Sabathia would be wholly ineffective.
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iYankees
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Troy Percival to begin measuring his readiness as Tampa Bay Rays closer — Troy Percival, fist-bumping catcher Dioner Navarro earlier this spring, is slated to pitch today. Percival was shut down and missed the postseason after three trips to the disabled list and had surgery on his back.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats' assistant GM discusses increased role since Bowden's resignation — Last Wednesday, the Nationals decided that their general manager position will remain vacant for the foreseeable future. — However, assistant general manager Mike Rizzo has principal responsibilities when it comes …
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Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Beckham will start — somewhere — First-rounder has shot at second for Sox, or could be sent down — PHOENIX — There is no truth to the rumor that Gordon Beckham healed the sick and consulted with President Barack Obama on the struggling economy during the White Sox off-day on Tuesday.
Jack Curry / New York Times:
Netherlands Sends Dominicans to an Improbable Exit in W.B.C. — SAN JUAN, P.R. —The Dominican Republic has some of the most talented baseball players in the world. Those players are proud, they are poised and they are passionate. But, on a tense Tuesday night, the Dominicans were also nervous.
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