Top News:
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Red Sox to add ‘B’ game after rainout — Buchholz to stay on schedule after Friday's game cancelled — JUPITER, Fla. — Several Red Sox players made the 2 1/2-hour hike from their spring home in Fort Myers, Fla., to Roger Dean Stadium, only to find out shortly after arriving that it was for naught.
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Rob Bradford / Full Count:
Mets viewed Lackey a bigger health risk than Bay — FORT MYERS, Fla. — According to a major league source, the Mets viewed John Lackey as a bigger medical risk to sign at five years than they did committing to Jason Bay at four. — It should be noted that the Mets did have strong interest …
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Red Sox-Cardinals rained out — There will be no baseball today. The Red Sox-Cardinals game in Jupiter was rained out and is tentatively scheduled to be made up March 22 as part of a split-squad doubleheader. — Clay Buchholz, today's starter, will start tomorrow's game against the Pirates with Michael Bowden following him.
Discussion:
NESN.com
Ben Jedlovec / Hardball Times:
Brian Giles, Hall of Fame Class of 2016? — Ted Williams? Babe Ruth? Lou Gehrig? How about Brian Giles? — The Cleveland Indians drafted Brian Stephen Giles out of Granite Hills High School (just east of San Diego) in the 17th round of the 1989 draft.
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball
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MLB.com:
‘No regrets’: Giles calls it a career — Balky knee stops outfielder's comeback try with Dodgers — Brian Giles' right knee didn't feel right, so the veteran outfielder did what felt right. — Giles, 39, announced his retirement Thursday morning, a month after having signed …
Tony Jackson / ESPN:
Giles retires after 15 seasons
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball, Amazin' Avenue, Lookout Landing, River Avenue Blues, Bucs Dugout, Yahoo! Sports and MLB Daily Dish
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Ruben Tejada could be New York Mets shortstop on Opening Day in Jose Reyes' absence — PORT ST. LUCIE - The Opening Day shortstop for the Mets? With Jose Reyes expected to open the season on the disabled list, it very well could be Ruben Tejada. — The 20-year-old middle infielder hit .289 …
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, New York Mets Fan Blog, New Jersey Online, TedQuarters.net, Mets Fever and Surfing The Mets
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Bruce Levine / ESPN:
Guillen defends Latin players — GLENDALE, Ariz. — White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen responded on Thursday to comments Los Angeles Angels outfielder Torii Hunter made to USA Today about Latin players. — In the article, Hunter said: “People see dark faces out there, and the perception is that they're African-American.
Dave Sheinin / Nationals Journal:
The Nationals' draft plot thickens — For a while now, I've harbored a deep suspicion the Nationals would ultimately use their No. 1 overall draft pick this June on someone other than 17-year-old catcher Bryce Harper. It was an educated hunch, based on a few facts:
Jeff Sackmann / Hardball Times:
Should Carlos Gomez hit more ground balls? — Yesterday, Brewers beat reporter Adam McCalvy reported that Milwaukee would like new center fielder Carlos Gomez to keep the ball on the ground. At first blush, it makes sense. Gomez doesn't have much power, so he's unlikely to hit many home runs …
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
Inside How the Sale of the Texas Rangers Gets Done — It's been nearly a year since Tom Hicks began exploring the sale of the Texas Rangers. Hicks Sports Group, who is $525 million in debt, put the team up for sale in late March of last year. — When there is a debt component in play, there are creditors to contend with.
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Reds' Heisey follows a different arc — 17th-rounder has shot to stick — GOODYEAR, Ariz. - All the other rookies in the mix to make the Reds this year come with the usual pedigree. — They were drafted high, received big bonuses and were fast-tracked through the system. — Not Chris Heisey.
Curtis Pashelka / Mercury News:
Oakland A's oft-injured Eric Chavez rediscovers his stroke — PHOENIX — Eric Chavez looked like his old self during the A's game against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday as he hit two home runs, including one in the first inning to right-center field that manager Bob Geren estimated to be close to 500 feet.
