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:
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.
Discussion:
Capitol Punishment
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, Yahoo! Sports and baseballmusings.com
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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
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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:
Surviving Grady, Over the Monster, Yahoo! Sports and The Mighty Quinn Media Machine
Evan Drellich / MLB.com:
Alderson: Too much focus on second base — FORT MYERS, Fla. — In just a few days' time, the gaggle of candidates the Mets have at second base could be trimmed. — “That's a possibility, yeah,” Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said Wednesday after a 4-3 loss to the Twins.
Discussion:
Sox #1 Fan dot com
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Andy McCullough / New Jersey Online:
Luis Hernandez quietly a contender at second base for Mets
Discussion:
New York Post, NY Daily News, MetsBlog.com, Amazin' Avenue, ESPN, MLB.com and MetsMinorLeagueBlog.com
David O'Brien / Atlanta Braves:
Doctors can't save Braves minor league manager's eye — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Surgeons could not save the left eye of Braves minor league manager Luis Salazar, who was hit in the face by a foul ball last week. — The former major league player had the eye removed during surgery Tuesday …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
Luis Salazar loses his left eye
Discussion:
Talking Chop and baseballmusings.com
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:
HardballTalk, Seattle Times, Bronx Baseball Daily, MLB Rumors and River Avenue Blues
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
In Long's mind, sky's the limit for Cano — TAMPA, Fla. — Robinson Cano has muscled his way into the discussion of the game's top second basemen, but his hitting coach believes there is even more to offer. — Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long said on Wednesday that he believes Cano could hit …
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
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Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Griffey says he retired for betterment of Mariners — PEORIA, Ariz. — Ken Griffey Jr. returned to the Mariners on Wednesday for the first time since his retirement this past June 2. He's back as a special consultant, and spoke about his decision to retire for the first time since then.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Grant Hill / The Quad:
Grant Hill's Response to Jalen Rose — “The Fab Five,” an ESPN film about the Michigan basketball careers of Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Chris Webber, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson from 1991 to 1993, was broadcast for the first time Sunday night. In the show, Rose, the show's executive producer …
Discussion:
Bleacher Report, SBNation.com, The Big Lead, NESN.com, Deadspin, USA Today, ESPN and Chicago Breaking Sports
Fox Sports:
Rookie Trumbo is Angels' secret weapon — TEMPE, ARIZ. — First, I interview Angels center fielder Torii Hunter. Then, I interview hitting coach Mickey Hatcher. — Both volunteer that rookie first baseman Mark Trumbo might redefine the baseball definition of “damage.”
Discussion:
Halos Heaven
John Schlegel / MLB.com:
Lincecum chewing up hitters, food at hefty pace — GLENDALE, Ariz. — Conventional wisdom says results don't carry much weight in Spring Training, but Giants ace Tim Lincecum is proving this spring that they really do, not just during the game but afterward.
Discussion:
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
