Top News:
Ben DuBose / MLB.com:
Red Sox cruise behind five-run first, Beckett — Righty limits Astros to one hit in five innings in spring finale — HOUSTON — The Red Sox scored five first-inning runs off Astros starter Nelson Figueroa while Josh Beckett silenced Houston hitters, leading to a 10- exhibition victory …
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes and Surviving Grady
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Richard Dean / MLB.com:
Crawford leaves 70 tickets in return home — HOUSTON — Red Sox left fielder Carl Crawford, a native of Houston, left about 70 tickets for family and friends for Wednesday's exhibition game at Minute Maid Park. — Crawford has played in his hometown before — in exhibition games as a member …
Discussion:
Red Sox Monster, Over the Monster, Boston Globe and Sox #1 Fan dot com
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Strasburg, Harper get to visit Nationals Park — Young stars among non-active players in clubhouse at NatsFest — WASHINGTON — Bryce Harper, Cole Kimball, Derek Norris, Stephen Strasburg and Chien-Ming Wang were seen in the Nationals' locker room before attending NatsFest on Wednesday afternoon.
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Family to catch Broderick's Nats debut
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Gorzelanny's first start remains uncertain
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Almonte could see early action — CINCINNATI — The last man to win a spot on Milwaukee's Opening Day roster might not have to wait long to make his first Brewers start. Infielder/outfielder Erick Almonte might just be manager Ron Roenicke's choice to start in early-season games against left-handed pitchers.
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Peter Gammons / MLB.com:
What do we know? Not much — yet — Here are some predictions, but many variables sure to be at play — There was a day this spring when we were watching a game with a group of very smart baseball people and the discussion point was whether the Reds were the biggest favorite in any of the divisions.
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings
Joe Christensen / Minneapolis Star Tribune:
Twins up to date on stats, but not loud about it — 2011 BASEBALL PREVIEW The Twins pride themselves on scouting but say they also are in line with trends about statistics. — The Twins haven't been ignoring baseball's statistical revolution. They're just not out front talking about it all the time.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Richard Oliver / Houston Chronicle:
Clemens says he's ‘looking forward’ to his day in court — HUMBLE — After finishing his stint as a charity caddie for PGA Tour player Ryan Palmer this afternoon, Roger Clemens stopped to shake a few hands, slap a few backs and sign a few autographs. — Then, with a large group of media waiting …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
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Andrew Baggarly / Extra Baggs:
BREAKING NEWS: Brandon Belt wins spot on Giants' roster, will make big league debut on opening day (33) — Giants Manager Bruce Bochy went to the mat to keep Brandon Belt and the skipper got his wish. — Alex Pavlovic just reported via Twitter that Belt was informed he'll be on the team.
Discussion:
Bay City Ball, El Lefty Malo, HardballTalk and Paapfly.com
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Giants Designate Travis Ishikawa For Assignment — The Giants designated Travis Ishikawa for assignment, according to John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle (on Twitter). Rookie Brandon Belt made the Giants' Opening Day roster, bumping Ishikawa from the team.
Discussion:
Raising Matt Cain, Al's Ramblings and obsessivegiantscompulsive
Fox Sports:
MLB on FOX ready to tie one on — Walking out of Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia after the final game of the NLCS, I was grabbed by Jim Bernard, a FOX Sports VP. — “Are you ready to wear the bow tie?” Jim said. “We're getting you some in San Francisco.” — The what?
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Deadspin
Minneapolis Star Tribune:
Patrick Reusse: You can take your UZR and ... 2011 BASEBALL PREVIEW All the new-age stats in the world can't tell as much about a player as the eyes of a baseball lifer. — Jim Fregosi played his first pro game in 1959. He was an All-Star with the California Angels and a manager …
Discussion:
Joe Posnanski and Lone Star Ball
Bill James / Slate:
Shakespeare and Verlander … Like This Story … - The Government Is Suing Banks for Offenses That Regulators Knew About but Ignored- Why Are Simon Winchester's History Books So Popular? - Britney Spears' New Album Is Brilliantly Avant-Garde. Seriously.- Gamification Is the Worst …
Discussion:
THE BOOK