Top News:
Mike Lupica / NY Daily News:
Milwaukee Brewers' Ryan Braun is acquitted, not exonerated over testosterone test — Commissioner's connection to Brewers raises questions — Ryan Braun gets off with no penalty after failing a test for performance-enhancing drugs. — Ryan Braun says he is innocent and that he is clean, that he never used synthetic testosterone.
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles, HardballTalk and Baseball Prospectus
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Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
In speaking, Braun proud of ‘integrity’ — PHOENIX — Addressing the media one day after he became the first Major Leaguer to successfully appeal a suspected violation of MLB's Drug Treatment and Prevention Program, Brewers star outfielder Ryan Braun said the ordeal has been the greatest challenge of his life.
ESPN:
Ryan Braun says testing process failed — Milwaukee Brewers slugger Ryan Braun said he won his appeal of a positive drug test and 50-game suspension because “the truth is on my side.” — “Today is for everybody who has ever been wrongly accused,” he said Friday at a news conference …
Discussion:
ESPN and baseballmusings.com
Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
Ryan Braun wins the appeal of his drug suspension
Ryan Braun wins the appeal of his drug suspension
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, MLB Daily Dish, 6-4-2 and baseballmusings.com
Mike Axisa / MLB Rumors:
Ryan Braun Wins Appeal, Will Not Be Suspended
Ryan Braun Wins Appeal, Will Not Be Suspended
Discussion:
It's About The Money, Brew Beat, MLB Daily Dish, Bluebird Banter, Brew Crew Ball, Lone Star Ball and Halos Heaven
Tim Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
NL MVP Ryan Braun wins appeal of drug test
NL MVP Ryan Braun wins appeal of drug test
Discussion:
South Side Sox and baseballmusings.com
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Braun wins appeal of 50-game suspension
Braun wins appeal of 50-game suspension
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, HardballTalk, FanGraphs Baseball and By Gosh, It's Langosch
Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
Ryan Braun wins appeal of positive drug test
Ryan Braun wins appeal of positive drug test
Discussion:
Disciples of Uecker, Pinstripe Alley, Red Hot Mama, Red Reporter, Deadspin and Baseball Nation
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Rick Caruso, Joe Torre withdraw bid to buy Dodgers — Caruso and Torre say in a letter to Major League Baseball that they are withdrawing their bid because of Frank McCourt's refusal to include the Dodger Stadium parking lots in the deal. — Rick Caruso, Joe Torre (Los Angeles Times)
Discussion:
Dodgers Blog, HardballTalk and 6-4-2
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Jim Souhan / Souhan on Sports:
Morneau speaks realistically about his future — Justin Morneau spoke on Friday morning in Fort Myers, and if you get past the usual optimism that every athlete offers when dealing with injuries, the news was not good. — Asked if he's contemplated his concussion symptoms ending his career, Morneau said:
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Baseball Nation, MLB Daily Dish and HardballTalk
Jon Krawczynski / Globe and Mail:
Justin Morneau hopeful concussion issues are behind him — Justin Morneau arrived at spring training for the Minnesota Twins hopeful that his concussion issues are finally behind him. However, the former AL MVP isn't making any guarantees because he knows he doesn't have many more treatment and recovery periods left in him.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Eddie Matz / ESPN:
Saviormetrics — Brandon McCarthy was almost out of baseball in 2010 when he reinvented himself by writing Moneyball's next chapter. Now he's one of the game's best pitchers. — ESPN The Magazine — Williams + Hirakawa — The A's think so highly of “MacNasty” that he'll earn $4.275 million this season.
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Pedroia still smarting from failures of 2011 — FORT MYERS, Fla. - He can laugh about it now, but it wasn't funny the night it happened. Dustin Pedroia was sitting at a table alongside Jacoby Ellsbury, preparing to be honored at the Gold Glove awards dinner in New York in November …
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Doug Padilla / ESPN:
Starlin Castro says he's innocent — MESA, Ariz. — Chicago Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro maintained his innocence in the face of a sexual assault complaint, saying Friday the entire incident has taught him a valuable lesson. — With Chicago police investing a possible sexual assault last Sept. 28 …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Associated Press:
Ryan Zimmerman wants deal soon — VIERA, Fla. — Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman hopes to have the framework of a new contract in place before Washington's first official full-squad workout of spring training. — He also repeated what he's said since being drafted by Washington in 2005 …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Max Marchi / Baseball Prospectus:
The Stats Go Marching In — While evaluating Jose Molina's defensive skills a couple weeks ago, we were able to assign a run value to four aspects of catcher defense: blocking errant pitches, preventing the opposing team from stealing bases, fielding short batted balls …
Marc Topkin / The Heater Feed:
Live from Port Charlotte: Zimmer meets bear — Friday morning at Rays camp started with an impromptu photo shoot. Also, 2B/RF Ben Zobrist reported to camp, which means all the rostered position players came in early. — But back to the event. Rays PR staff Andrew Heydt …
Marc Topkin / The Heater Feed:
Zobrist: “We're planning on winning World Series” — Rays 2B/RF Ben Zobrist is about as earnest and honest as they come, and he made it clear how he feels about the season after reporting to camp on Friday morning: — “It's exciting, a new year, 2012. We're planning on winning the World Series this year.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com:
Orioles add sports psychologist to staff — SARASOTA, Fla. — Continuing an offseason of interesting front-office hires and inter-organization movement, Dan Duqette, the Orioles' executive vice president of baseball operations, has added sports psychologist Seth Kaplan to provide mental-performance services …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Richard Sandomir / Bats:
Judge Defers Ruling on Mets' Madoff Case — A federal judge in Manhattan said Thursday that he would rule by March 5 on motions that could alter the face of the lawsuit against the owners of the Mets filed by the trustee for Bernard L. Madoff's victims. — Jed S. Rakoff, a United State …
Discussion:
Kranepool Society
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Howard Megdal / Capital New York:
The Mets owners keep peddling a story about new investors, but who's buying?
The Mets owners keep peddling a story about new investors, but who's buying?
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Robert MacLeod / Globe and Mail:
Vizquel has the knowledge, Jays have the need — DUNEDIN, FLA.— From Friday's Globe and Mail — Strict attention is paid even to the smallest of details when it comes to baseball's spring training. — Arriving at 7:30 a.m. at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium on Thursday …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
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