Top News:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Burnett fine after being hit by foul ball — KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Nationals left-hander Sean Burnett was scheduled to pitch two innings in Wednesday's 8-7 loss to the Astros, but he only pitched one after he was struck on the left knee by teammate Nyjer Morgan's foul ball in the first.
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Reliever Kimball continues to impress — KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Right-hander Cole Kimball continues to show that he is deserving of a spot on the Nationals' Opening Day roster. He made his sixth relief appearance of the spring Wednesday, pitching two shutout innings in an 8-7 loss to the Astros.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Ramos could be starting catcher soon — KISSIMEE, Fla. — The Nationals have already announced that Ivan Rodriguez will be the Opening Day starting catcher against the Braves. However, members of the team's think tank believe that catcher Wilson Ramos is ready to take over the No. 1 role right now, according to a baseball source.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Espinosa OK after fouling ball off right foot — KISSIMEE, Fla. — A day after fouling a ball off his top right foot, Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa was seen limping in the Nationals locker room at Space Coast Stadium on Wednesday morning, but manager Jim Riggleman said Espinosa is going to be OK.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Zimmerman to use caution with groin injury — KISSIMEE, Fla. — Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman said his left groin injury isn't serious and he would play if the regular season was under way. Since it's Spring Training, Zimmerman is being cautious and will miss at least five games.
Matt Pepin / Boston Globe:
Jon Lester to start Red Sox opener — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Manager Terry Francona said today that Jon Lester would be the Opening Day starter for the Red Sox. — The season starts April 1 in Texas. Lester will oppose C.J. Wilson in the 4:05 p.m. game.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Over the Monster and The Mighty Quinn Media Machine
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Guy Curtright / ESPN:
2011 spring training: Terry Francona names Jon Lester Boston Red Sox opening starter — ORLANDO, Fla. — Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona made it official Wednesday morning, naming Jon Lester his Opening Day starter against the Rangers on April 1 in Arlington, Texas.
Discussion:
Bleacher Report and Boston Globe
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Spring training 2011: Daisuke Matsuzaka rebounds with 5 shutout innings for Boston Red Sox
Discussion:
Boston Globe and Yahoo! Sports
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Marty Marion dies; shortstop was MVP with '44 Cards — Marty Marion, known as “Mr. Shortstop” to a generation of St. Louis Cardinals fans, died of an apparent heart attack Tuesday night, according to his nephew, Scott Marion. — Mr. Marion was 93 and lived in Ladue.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, baseballmusings.com and Yahoo! Sports
JonPaulMorosi / mlbbuzz:
Details of Felix Hernandez's no-trade clause — File this one away for July. — Felix Hernandez has a 10-team no-trade clause in his contract with the Seattle Mariners. During this season, the right-hander will be able to block deals to the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox …
Discussion:
Seattle Times, MLB Rumors, HardballTalk, Bronx Baseball Daily and River Avenue Blues
Rory Paap / Hardball Times:
Pitching (almost) always wins championships — A bold couple of statements: The Giants should have been the favorites to win the 2010 World Series—Hint: they weren't. And if you're looking for a Cinderella story in 2010, the poor, inadequately-housed Oakland A's would be a good place to start.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Raising Matt Cain, HardballTalk and McCovey Chronicles
Andy McCullough / New Jersey Online:
Luis Hernandez quietly a contender at second base for Mets — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — He had circled Monday as a landmark in the Mets' search for a second baseman. Then manager Terry Collins could whittle down the field from four to two, and inch closer to deciding who stands next to shortstop Jose Reyes on Opening Day.
Discussion:
New York Post, NY Daily News, MLB.com, New York Times, Amazin' Avenue, ESPN, MetsMinorLeagueBlog.com and MetsBlog.com
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Nick Piecoro / USA Today:
Arizona Diamondbacks lose Dominican prospect due to false name — He said his name was Juan Collado and that he was 17 years old, and the Diamondbacks liked what they saw in the pitcher from the Dominican Republic. — This was two years ago, when his fastball was in the upper 80s with good movement …
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues and THE BOOK
Jeff Roberts / NorthJersey.com:
Tickets went on sale at Citi Field, but few fans showed up — NEW YORK — The guilt has begun to eat at Chuck Licastri, conflicted by the misery he plans to pass down to his little boy. — He has lived the painful life of a Mets' fan, suffering through the “heartbreaking” past few years.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, Mets Merized Online and HardballTalk
Matt Klaassen / FanGraphs Baseball:
Texas Is Boring, or Why Nelson Cruz Is Underhyped — Time for a classic Neyer-ism. Who are these two players? — From 2008 to 2010 — Player A: .315/.372/.542, 139 wRC+, 378 games, 1640 PA, 13.1 WAR — Player B: .292/.350/.555, 139 wRC+, 267 games, 1093 PA, 10.3 WAR
Discussion:
Rangers Blog and Lone Star Ball
Tom D'Angelo / Palm Beach Post:
Tony La Russa — baseball's oldest manager at 66 — maintains the fire as other older skippers retire — JUPITER — For Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, the revelation came during the 2,100-mile drive from St. Louis to California's Bay Area. — In a vehicle weighed down by trunks …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
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