Top News:
NY Daily News:
Martino: Castillo woes run skin deep — PORT ST. LUCIE - Luis Castillo batted .302 in 2009, and played through injuries while many of his Mets teammates spent their summer on the disabled list. He was proud of this, and was stunned on Opening Day last year, when Citi Field fans booed him during introductions.
Discussion:
Hardball Times, Yahoo! Sports, MetsBlog.com, HardballTalk, Amazin' Avenue, Faith and Fear in Flushing, ESPN and Mets Merized Online
RELATED:
Michael Baron / MetsBlog.com:
Mets release Luis Castillo — After Luis Castillo was released, Sandy Alderson spoke with reporters, and you can hear that conversation by clicking play below: — During the interview, Alderson essentially said: — A variety of things went into the decision to release Castillo, but he wanted to see how he looked this spring.
Discussion:
Phillies Nation, MichaelGBaron.com and SNY
Associated Press:
Mets release 2B Luis Catillo … PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — The New York Mets have released second baseman Luis Castillo, although he is owed $6 million this year. — General manager Sandy Alderson informed Castillo of the decision Friday morning with approval from Mets owner Jeff Wilpon.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Riggleman anticipating Zimmerman's return — VIERA, Fla. — Nationals manager Jim Riggleman said he hopes third baseman Ryan Zimmerman can begin baseball activities later this week and appear in games sometime next week. Zimmerman has missed the last four games with a left groin strain.
RELATED:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Pudge, Espinosa scratched from lineup — VIERA, Fla. — Nationals catcher Ivan Rodriguez and second baseman Danny Espinosa were scratched from Friday's lineup against the Cardinals. Rodriguez is still nursing a calf injury, while Espinosa is nursing a right foot injury. The injuries are not considered serious.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats considering Broderick for long relief — VIERA, Fla. — The Nationals have to make decisions soon on right-handers Brian Broderick and Craig Stammen. — Entering Friday's action, Broderick, who is a Rule 5 Draft pick from the Cardinals, has allowed one run in 8 2/3 innings.
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Desmond could factor into Nats' leadoff mix — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The way Nationals manager Jim Riggleman explained it, Ian Desmond's ascension to the leadoff spot on Thursday was a matter of need, not a case of foreshadowing. After all, neither Nyjer Morgan nor Roger Bernadina …
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
RELATED:
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Joe Torre will return to the Bronx, make an appearance at Yankees Old-Timers' Day this season — TAMPA - Joe Torre is headed back to the Bronx. — No, the man who led the Yankees to four World Series titles isn't planning a return to managing, but he revealed Thursday that he will attend …
Discussion:
The Captain's Blog and HardballTalk
RELATED:
David Murphy / Philly.com:
Phillies Notebook: Polanco, Lidge improving; Utley sees specialist — CLEARWATER, Fla. - First, we'll give you the good news, at least as it is viewed from the Phillies' perspective. Placido Polanco, who left Tuesday's game against Toronto with a hyperextended elbow, is set …
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball
RELATED:
Buster Olney / ESPN:
The spring pain report
Discussion:
JSOnline, Chicago Breaking Sports and HardballTalk
Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com:
McGee might find some save opportunities — TAMPA, Fla. — When it was clear the Rays would develop lefty Jake McGee as a reliever this spring, he said he wanted to close. Manager Joe Maddon doesn't think that would be such a bad idea, even if he's not quite ready to hand the job to the 24-year-old.
RELATED:
Ken Rosenthal / mlbbuzz:
Notes from spring training — • The Rockies are beginning to look like they might have decent rotation depth — perhaps even enough to trade right-hander Aaron Cook once he is healthy. — Start with right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez, lefty Jorge De La Rosa and righties Jason Hammel and Jhoulys Chacin — a formidable front four.
Discussion:
The Yankee Analysts, Purple Row, U.S.S. Mariner, MLB Rumors and Sliding Into Home
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Castillo Hopes To Sign With Another Team — Luis Castillo told Newsday's Jim Baumbach that he intends to play Major League Baseball in 2011 (all Twitter links). The Mets released him this morning, but he plans to sign elswhere. — “I'm going to wait, go home and hope to catch on with another team,” Castillo said.
Discussion:
SBNation.com and Al's Ramblings
Associated Press:
Numbers Down in SEC After Changes to Aluminum Bats — Offensive numbers have plummeted on baseball diamonds around the Southeastern Conference. — The change to metal bats has reduced the once-gaudy deluge of hits and cut out the “cheap” homers that were synonymous with college baseball.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Matt Lentzner / Baseball Prospectus:
Looking at Pitches Through the Batter's Eyes — Believe it or not, most of our writers didn't enter the world sporting an @baseballprospectus.com address; with a few exceptions, they started out somewhere else. In an effort to up your reading pleasure while tipping our caps …
Discussion:
THE BOOK
Joel Sherman / NY Post: Hardball:
3UP: Contraction, Hughes, A-Rod — 1. I presented what I call my Michael Corleone theory to a person involved in baseball labor and I expected this person to laugh in sorrow for me and move on to the next subject. Shockingly, he told me that the theory - not associated with Michael Corleone's name - has actually been discussed.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
