Top News:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats liken Harper's injury to Brown's — Medium ankle sprain has top pick uncertain for Class A opener — VIERA, Fla. — Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said Bryce Harper's sprained left ankle is similar to the injury that teammate Corey Brown suffered this spring.
RELATED:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Center-field job likely between Ankiel, Morgan — VIERA, Fla. — The Nationals continue to say that center field is up for grabs between Rick Ankiel, Roger Bernadina and Nyjer Morgan, but a baseball source said the race is now between Ankiel and Morgan. The Nationals continue to lean toward Ankiel, according to the source.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Burnett could be part of closer by committee — VIERA, Fla. — Although Nationals left-hander Sean Burnett continues to be a quality reliever, it appears he will be part of a closer by committee. Manager Jim Riggleman indicated that he may need Burnett in the seventh or eighth innings.
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Tensions flare between Cards, Nationals
Tensions flare between Cards, Nationals
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Gaudin could be ticketed for Nats' bullpen
John Branch / New York Times:
Film Shows Babe Ruth, at Leisure and Up Close — HENDERSON, Nev. — Tom Stevens sat at a Starbucks in this Las Vegas suburb and watched his grandfather, Babe Ruth, cavort across the computer screen. — “I haven't seen anything like that,” he said. “It doesn't mean that there isn't other stuff out there, but I haven't seen it.”
Discussion:
HardballTalk and baseballmusings.com
Juliet Macur / New York Times:
With Silence, Bonds's Trainer Risks More Than Jail Time — SAN FRANCISCO — Greg Anderson, a childhood friend of Barry Bonds, was escorted into custody by federal marshals at United States District Court on Tuesday after refusing to testify in Bonds's perjury trial.
Discussion:
Bleacher Report
RELATED:
MLB.com:
Beltran feels OK after Minor League games — Mets outfielder goes 2-for-8 with homer, feels no knee pain — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Gauging the state of Carlos Beltran is never easy. Putting a timetable on a player who rarely looks more than one day in advance is more difficult still.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Jayson Stark / MLB:
Manny Ramirez has ear of Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon — Joe Maddon has taken a new approach with the volatile slugger — he's listening to him … CLEARWATER, Fla. — He's Manny Ramirez, and he isn't Joe Torre's problem anymore. Or Terry Francona's problem. Or Ozzie Guillen's problem.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Jayson Stark / MLB:
Spring training 2011: Philadelphia Phillies' Charlie Manuel confused by Luis Castillo's absence — CLEARWATER, Fla. — His name was on the lineup card. His locker had his name over it. His uniform hung on a rack. But as Tuesday morning was about to turn into Tuesday afternoon …
Discussion:
The Captain's Blog and ESPN
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Grapefruit Game 28: Rays at Red Sox — Here are the lineups: — RED SOX (12-14-1) — Ellsbury CF — Pedroia 2B — Crawford LF — Youkilis 3B — Gonzalez 1B — Ortiz DH — Drew RF — Varitek C — Scutaro SS — Pitching: RHP John Lackey, RHP Bobby Jenks …
Discussion:
FenwayNationWorld
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Sizemore, Weinhardt cut as Tigers trim roster — Second baseman, righty among five players sent to Minors — LAKELAND, Fla. — Scott Sizemore, viewed for a good stretch as seemingly the favorite to win the Tigers' second-base position, is headed back to Triple-A Toledo.
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
T.J. Simers / Los Angeles Times:
Marcus Thames can't field, can't hit righties, won't talk about it . . . are you excited yet? — (Rob Tringali / Getty Images / February 26, 2011) — New Dodgers left fielder hits a home run every 15.58 at-bats. Unfortunately, he gets very few of those, thanks to his defensive shortcomings …
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues, The Yankee Analysts and SBNation.com
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Kawakami tries to shake off trade talk — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Kenshin Kawakami is still attempting to ignore the fact the Braves are looking to trade him. Instead, the Japanese right-hander has remained focused on preparing for the upcoming season without having any idea where he might be pitching.
Discussion:
Talking Chop and HardballTalk
RELATED:
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Braves Still Hoping To Deal Kawakami
