Top News:
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
In historically bad taste here — Great player. — Total fraud. — Welcome home, Nomie. — I hate to be the fly in the punch bowl here, but yesterday's lovefest involving Nomar Garciaparra and the Red Sox was truly nauseating. If Nomar had been hooked up to a polygraph, the machine would have exploded.
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Marion Jones / Yahoo! Sports:
Retiring Garciaparra knows what might've been — I knew was post-Red Sox, post-Cubs, battle-scarred and creaky, yet still exuberant about putting on a major league uniform every day. It was 2006, he'd signed with his hometown Los Angeles Dodgers, and it was soon apparent Garciaparra deeply appreciated …
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Exhibition Game 9: Red Sox at Mets — Here are the lineups for today's game: — RED SOX (5-3) — Dustin Pedroia 2B — J.D. Drew RF — Jed Lowrie 3B — Lars Anderson 1B — Pitching: RHP John Lackey followed by LHP Felix Doubront, RHP Joe Nelson and RHP Junichi Tazawa. — METS (6-4)
Charles P. Pierce / Boston Globe:
Hello, goodbye — I am not opposed to Nice Happy Time Moments, per se.
Discussion:
YFSF
Mike Dodd / USA Today:
Mets' Jose Reyes out 2-8 weeks with thyroid problem — New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes needs to “to rest, refrain from athletic activity and make changes in his diet” following a diagnosis of hyperthyroid, the club said today. — On a conference call with New York reporters, Reyes' agent …
Discussion:
Faith and Fear in Flushing, The Musings and Prophecies …, My Summer Family and HardballTalk
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Tony Jackson / ESPN:
Giles retires after 15 seasons — GLENDALE, Ariz. — The battle for the Dodgers' left-handed pinch-hitting spot was reduced to two players on Thursday after non-roster outfielder Brian Giles, a 15-year veteran and two-time All-Star, retired from baseball. Giles was with the Padres last season but has not played since June 18.
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Globe and Mail:
Brian Giles cites knee pain in decision to retire — Veteran outfielder calls it quits — Brian Giles says the pain in his arthritic right knee is getting worse, and the 39-year-old outfielder informed the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday that he will retire.
Discussion:
Twinkie Town
George A. King III / New York Post:
Chamberlain falls further behind in race for No. 5 — LAKELAND, Fla. — Joba Chamberlain says he knows the deal when it comes to the fifth starter's spot in Joe Girardi's rotation. — Now he has to start pitching like it. — “I understand what's at stake,” Chamberlain said after getting spanked …
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Sam Borden / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Here's why you don't get caught up in stats
Discussion:
Bats, Pinstripe Alley, Mike Silva's …, BronxBanterBlog.com, The Sommer Frieze and Baseball & The Boogie Down
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Jerry Manuel determined to use Jenrry Mejia in short and frequent relief spurts for New York Mets — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - If Jenrry Mejia is assigned to the Mets' Double-A team, he's not going to be stretched out enough to immediately contribute in the Binghamton rotation.
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Norris among six Nationals reassigned — Estes, Guardado released; 53 players remain in camp — VIERA, Fla. — The Nationals reassigned pitchers Victor Garate, Logan Kensing, Joel Peralta and Ryan Speier, catcher Derek Norris and outfielder Jerry Owens to Minor League camp on Thursday.
Discussion:
MASNsports.com
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Troy Renck / All Things Rockies:
Helton agrees to two-year contract extension — TUCSON — Todd Helton has agreed to a two-year, $9.9-million extension taking him through 2013, and in all likelihood, allowing him to retire as a Rockie. As part of the contract, Helton will defer $13.1 million beginning next season, which gives the Rockies tremendous flexibility.
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Curtis Granderson wows Yankees, former Tigers teammates with spectacular catch — LAKELAND, Fla. - Former Tiger Curtis Granderson had two hits, made a great catch and received a warm ovation from Tigers fans during the Yanks' 9-8 exhibition victory over Detroit Wednesday.
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Richard Griffin / Toronto Star:
Selig and Co. should have their heads realigned — Major League Baseball, according to a Tom Verducci column at SI.com, seems to be considering a move that would allow the Blue Jays to escape the unbelievably tough AL East. It sounds good, but thankfully is a long way from reality.
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Minneapolis Star Tribune:
Is it time for Twins to ponder the unthinkable? — If negotiations on a new deal continue to lag, the Twins might be forced to consider trading the hometown hero rather than risk losing him as a free agent. — FORT MYERS, FLA. - It's mid-March and the race of the reluctant Minnesota stars is on:
Tom Krasovic / Fanhouse MLB Blog:
Sources: Kevin Towers Joining Yankees — Kevin Towers, the former Padres general manager, is joining the Yankees as a special assistant to general manager Brian Cashman, according to two major league sources. — Towers willl start with the Yankees next week in Tampa after being introduced on Tuesday.
Bob Dutton / Kansas City Star:
Royals Day in Camp | Rookie Blake Wood pitching his way to bullpen spot — If this was the Royals' last visit to venerable Hi Corbett Field, as seems likely, they went out in style. Zack Greinke and five relievers combined on a five-hit shutout Wednesday afternoon in a 5-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies in Tucson, Ariz.
Mark Cannizzaro / New York Post:
Tiger Woods will be back in two weeks — MIAMI — Tiger Woods has summoned someone even more significant than swing coach Hank Haney to help facilitate his wildly anticipated comeback. — Two sources in the golf community have told The Post that Ari Fleischer, the former presidential advisor …
George A. King III / NY Post:
Yankees favorite among five teams for Cuban shortstop — According to sources, the Yankees remain the favorites to sign Cuban shortstop Adeinis Hechavarria. — However, they have company in chasing the 21-year-old who defected from Cuba last year. — “There are five teams that are interested,” a source said.
