Top News:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Strasburg gradually regaining arm strength — VIERA, Fla. — Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg continues to make progress following Tommy John surgery last September. He is now throwing 90 feet on flat ground and his arm strength is slowly coming back.
Discussion:
The Nationals Enquirer
RELATED:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Marrero improving on defensive side — VIERA, Fla. — Before this spring, Chris Marrero had a reputation of being an above-average hitter, but had problems on defense. During his Minor League career, Marrero had made 54 errors in 3,124 chances. — This spring has been a different story when it comes to Marrero's defense.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Wang to throw another 'pen session this week — VIERA, Fla. — Nationals head athletic trainer Lee Kuntz said Chien-Ming Wang's ailing right shoulder is making progress. — Over a week ago, Wang pitched in an intrasquad Minor League game, throwing one inning before leaving with a sore right shoulder.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Healthy Marquis feeling great this spring — VIERA, Fla. — Nationals right-hander Jason Marquis had another solid outing Monday afternoon in a 4-2 loss to the Tigers. — Marquis threw five innings and allowed one run on three hits. The run scored in the third, when Detroit's Cale Iorg scored on a double by Ryan Strieby.
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
This one was a night for sore eyes — FORT MYERS, Fla. — It felt like Game 1 of the American League Championship Series. Except for the fact that there were only 7,859 fans and the starting pitchers were Alfredo Aceves and 20-year-old Manny Banuelos. — But this was not your typical spring training game.
Discussion:
IT IS HIGH!
RELATED:
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Francona keeping options open on batting order — FORT MYERS, Fla. — The lineup the Red Sox used for Monday night's Grapefruit League contest against the Yankees could look a lot like the one that manager Terry Francona posts Opening Day against Rangers lefty C.J. Wilson on April 1.
Discussion:
Boston Globe and NESN.com
Marc Carig / New Jersey Online:
Yankees prospect Manny Banuelos gets chance to impress against Red Sox
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley and The Yankee Analysts
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Peavy's ties to Padres remain unbroken — GLENDALE, Ariz. — The uniform on his chest may say White Sox right now, but in some ways Jake Peavy will always be a Padre. — He still resides during the offseason in San Diego and this spring, he's staying in nearby Peoria where the San Diego club trains.
RELATED:
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon encouraging hair growth — FASHION STATEMENT: A Tommy Bahama collector's edition shirt is one of eight featuring big-league teams. — CLEARWATER — Things are about to get hairy with the Rays. — As he does in staging a long-drive contest before practice …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
King Felix to Yanks works for everyone — SURPRISE, ARIZ. — If I'm Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik, I'm calling my Yankees counterpart, Brian Cashman, and saying, “Sure, I'll talk about Felix Hernandez.” — Then I'm rattling off names: — Jesus Montero …
Discussion:
Mike Silva's …, The Yankee Analysts, Seattle Times, SBNation.com, HardballTalk, Lookout Landing and IT IS HIGH!
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
Plenty in Mets organization are ready to give up on Oliver Perez, but Dan Warthen isn't in that camp — PORT ST. LUCIE - At 9 a.m. on a chillier-than-usual Florida Friday, the Mets are dispersed among backfields behind their spring training stadium. Some are taking batting practice, others fielding ground balls.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Mets Fever and MetsBlog.com
Matthew Leach / MLB.com:
Theriot looks to recapture success of '08 — JUPITER, Fla. — Tony La Russa doesn't want Ryan Theriot to go up to bat this year looking to draw a walk. But as long as Theriot isn't being asked to hack away and hit for power, that's perfectly fine with the Cardinals' new shortstop.
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
Associated Press:
A's Closer Andrew Bailey Leaves With Sore Elbow — GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Oakland Athletics closer Andrew Bailey has left a spring training game against the Cleveland Indians with elbow discomfort. — Bailey, shut down at the end of last season with an elbow injury, faced three batters Monday.
Discussion:
Associated Press and Yahoo! Sports
David Murphy / Philly.com:
Amaro: No payroll space, rumors of trades “B.S.” — I don't have any empirical evidence to support the following statement, but it seems like every time Ruben Amaro Jr. makes a statement claiming the Phillies are limited in their ability to take on payroll, it is shortly followed by a transaction in which the club does just that.
Discussion:
Philly.com, Phillies Nation and MLB Rumors
Jim Armstrong / All Things Rockies:
Rockies Recap: Rockies 3, Reds 2 — Hits: Jhoulys Chacin worked five innings, allowing four hits and one run. His snapshot moment came in the third when, after hitting Drew Stubbs with a pitch and walking Brandon Phillips, he got N.L. MVP Joey Votto to ground out to first on a curveball. ...
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue and Purple Row
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
Johan Santana, New York Mets dispute report that team is ready to shut down ace's rehab schedule — PORT ST. LUCIE - The weekend was a frenzied one for Johan Santana. On Saturday, the injured ace joined Twitter and quickly collected nearly 5,000 followers, then hosted a nighttime fund-raising event for his foundation.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, New York Post, NorthJersey.com, Metropolis, MetsBlog.com, New Jersey Online, ESPN and HardballTalk
RELATED:
Mark J. Miller / Yahoo! Sports:
Mets' Santana disputes report of season “in jeopardy”
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
