Top News:
Adam Kilgore / Nationals Journal:
Stephen Strasburg, Drew Storen to start in Class AA Harrisburg — The inevitable became official this morning when the Nationals optioned phenom Stephen Strasburg to Class AA Harrisburg, meaning baseball's best pitching prospect will not join the Nationals until late spring or midsummer.
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Strasburg's fate to be decided Saturday — Team meeting to determine if righty is ticketed for Minors — VIERA, Fla. — Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg made his third Spring Training start Friday night against the Cardinals at Space Coast Stadium, and it was a good one.
Associated Press:
Stephen Strasburg fans 8 in 4 innings as Nats top Cards 13-5 — VIERA, Fla. (AP) — Stephen Strasburg (FSY) watched two of his first 11 pitches sail out of the ballpark. He didn't flinch. — So much for the notion that the Washington Nationals' top pitching prospect can't handle a little adversity.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Adam Kilgore / Nationals Journal:
Stephen Strasburg's striking preference: groundball outs — Three starts, 9 innings, 149 pitches and 1 at-bat into his Washington Nationals career, Stephen Strasburg has basically been everything the Nationals hoped he would be. — For a bounty of reasons, Strasburg will certainly not be starting the season in major leagues.
Geoff Baker / Seattle Times:
Reds 6, Mariners 2: Don Wakamatsu rips umpire over Milton Bradley “witch hunt” — Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu just went off on Class AAA umpire Jon Merry for ejecting Milton Bradley in the fourth inning. — “To me, it's almost like a witch hunt,” he said.
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Doug Miller / MLB.com:
Lee has right lower abdominal strain — Left-hander could start the season on 15-day DL — PEORIA, Ariz. — Cliff Lee's eventful week took a painful turn Friday. — Lee, the 2008 American League Cy Young Award winner who was expected to be the club's No. 2 starter behind …
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Red Sox sign Embree to minor-league deal — The Red Sox, unhappy with their bullpen options, today signed 40-year-old lefty Alan Embree to a minor-league deal that included an invitation to spring training. — With veteran Brian Shouse not particularly impressive and prospect Dustin Richardson getting hurt …
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Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Alan Embree is returning to the Boston Red Sox after signing a minor-league deal — FORT MYERS, Fla. — Alan Embree emerged from the dugout wearing a Red Sox jersey with a familiar No. 43 on the back, looked around, and smiled. — “Fantasy camp,” Embree said. — Indeed.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
Steve Popper / NorthJersey.com:
Mets' John Santana all smiles after erratic outing against Twins — Mets third baseman David Wright, left, and starting pitcher Johan Santana get together after the Minnesota Twins second home run in the second inning in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Friday. — But he couldn't resist a smile …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
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Robert Cribb / Toronto Star:
Sabermetrics: Stats guru advising Blue Jays — There's no statistic too obscure for Blue Jays adviser Tom Tango, a self-taught, secretive superstar in the growing field of sabermetrics … Tom Tango, one of the Toronto Blue Jays' latest acquisitions, won't be pitching, catching or hitting for the club this season.
Associated Press:
Roy Oswalt to start Opening Day for the Houston Astros for 8th straight year — KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Roy Oswalt will be the Houston Astros' Opening Day starter for the eighth consecutive year, extending his club record when Houston opens its season against the San Francisco Giants on April 5 at Minute Maid Park.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Fred Claire / MLB.com:
Lajoie excels at scouting intangibles — Former Tigers GM publishes book about his career — There was a very interesting point that came out of the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference held recently in Boston. — In a panel discussion on baseball analytics, with some of the bright young minds …
Fox Sports:
Shame we can't see Dodgers' true potential — Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005. He appears weekly on MLB on FOX. — Defenders of Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt — the few that exist — point to the team's two straight appearances …
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