Top News:
Jon KrawczYnski / Globe and Mail:
Red Sox manager Valentine already tweaking rival Yankees — Bobby Valentine has only been wearing a Boston Red Sox uniform for about two weeks and he's already taking a few jabs at the archrival New York Yankees. — Many thought that the outspoken manager's arrival in Boston could add …
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Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Bobby V lauds Tek because he ‘beat up Alex’ … FORT MYERS, Fla. — Having already tweaked one Yankee, Derek Jeter, in his media session Tuesday, Boston Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine took the opportunity to poke another when asked to assess Jason Varitek, the catcher who will retire Thursday.
Discussion:
Boston Globe
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
‘Quiet’ is one word that says a lot about Gonzalez — FORT MYERS, Fla. - He is polite, aloof, and wildly talented. He is part Ted Williams, part Tim Tebow, and he doesn't care what we think. He's never going to get caught up in the noise of the Boston baseball experience.
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Jason Varitek to announce retirement from baseball on Thursday
Jason Varitek to announce retirement from baseball on Thursday
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Lookout Landing, Over the Monster, Red Sox Monster, FanGraphs Baseball, Hardball Times, Surviving Grady, New York Times, Yahoo! Sports, Associated Press, Pinstripe Alley, The Soxaholix, Cursed To First, MLB Daily Dish, ESPN, MLB Rumors, Full Count, Deadspin, Baseball Nation and the joy of sox
ESPN:
Report: Red Sox's Varitek will retire Thursday
Report: Red Sox's Varitek will retire Thursday
Discussion:
Boston Globe, VFTB, Baseball Nation and baseballmusings.com
Rob Bradford / WEEI:
AIRING IT OUT: ON THE MOUND AND OFF, JOSH BECKETT SEES NO REASON TO CHANGE
AIRING IT OUT: ON THE MOUND AND OFF, JOSH BECKETT SEES NO REASON TO CHANGE
Discussion:
Red Sox Monster, ESPN, Full Count and Over the Monster
Brian McTaggart / MLB.com:
Astros turn to Myers to be their closer — Veteran right-hander saved 21 games for Phillies in 2007 — KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The Astros' search for a closer ended with a surprise announcement Tuesday morning. — Veteran right-hander Brett Myers, a starter in all but one of his 10 Major League seasons …
Discussion:
Ultimate Astros, Yahoo! Sports, Tag's Lines and The Crawfish Boxes
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Brian McTaggart / Tag's Lines:
Astros move Myers to closer — The Astros' search for a closer ended with a surprise announcement Tuesday morning. — Astros manager Brad Mills told reporters veteran starting pitcher Brett Myers would be moved into the closer role, a position he held with the Phillies in 2007.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, baseballmusings.com and MLB Rumors
Fox Sports:
Source: Cards near extension for Molina — A year ago at this time, the St. Louis Cardinals held a news conference to discuss why they were unable to complete a long-term contract for first baseman Albert Pujols. — Everyone knows how that story ended — Pujols signed a 10-year, $240 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels.
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
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Chad Jennings / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Tuesday morning notes: Chamberlain on a full mound — For the first time since last season's Tommy John surgery, Joba Chamberlain pitched off a full mound this morning. He threw just 16 pitches, a typically light workload for a player getting on a mound for the first time.
Discussion:
Bronx Baseball Daily and baseballmusings.com
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New York Post:
Hughes chosen one in Yankees rotation battle — TAMPA — We can pretend there is a competition going on for the Yankees' No. 5 starter spot, but that is what it is. Pretend. The WWE stages more realistic battles. — The Yankees are saying it is Freddy Garcia vs. Phil Hughes.
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues, It's About The Money and Bronx Baseball Daily
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Bryan Hoch / Bombers Beat:
Pettitte: I could still do this (but I won't) — plus camp photos
Pettitte: I could still do this (but I won't) — plus camp photos
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
NY Mets' David Wright is unimpressed with Jeff Wilpon's ‘Underdog’ T-Shirt motivational tactics — Cartoon shirt gets under third baseman's skin — David Wright isn't thrilled with the “Underdog” T-shirt motivational ploy from ownership. — PORT ST. LUCIE — Can even Underdog save the Mets?
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MetsBlog.com
Carson Cistulli / FanGraphs Baseball:
Broadcaster Rankings (TV): #30 - #21 — Beginning in late November, we've spent much of the offseason asking readers to rate the television broadcast teams (on a scale of 1-5 for charisma, analysis, and then overall) for all 30 major-league clubs — with the intention, ultimately …
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter, HardballTalk and baseballmusings.com
Joe Capozzi / Fish Tank blog:
Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen: Don't be bleeping late for the National Anthem — Manager Ozzie Guillen says he doesn't have many rules for his players, but he was adamant about one: Be on time for the singing of the National Anthem. — “Stand up for National Anthem and don't be late,” …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and NESN.com
New York Times:
Drug Test Collector in Braun Case Says He Followed Protocol — The increasingly combative dispute between Major League Baseball and Ryan Braun grew louder Tuesday when Dino Laurenzi Jr., the drug test collector who handled Braun's urine sample in October, said that he followed protocol …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and Deadspin
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Kevin Goldstein / ESPN:
Free-agent fantasy — Would Trout, Harper and Moore get more on the open market than Darvish? — Baseball Prospectus — If there is one thing we learned from the $111.7 million (including posting fee) that the Texas Rangers spent on Yu Darvish this winter, it's this …
Discussion:
Baseball Nation
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Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:
Harper, Trout, and Moore: Free Agents?
Harper, Trout, and Moore: Free Agents?
Discussion:
6-4-2, MLB Rumors and Dodger Thoughts
Richard Durrett / ESPN:
Yu Darvish to make debut on March 7
Yu Darvish to make debut on March 7
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball, MLB and Yahoo! Sports
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Freeman may miss two weeks with achy knee — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman might be sidelined over the next two weeks as he rests a right knee injury that he suffered during Tuesday morning's workout at ESPN's Wide World of Sports Complex.
Discussion:
Talking Chop
D.J. Short / HardballTalk:
Scott Sizemore out for season with torn ACL in left knee — Scott Sizemore injured his left knee during a fielding drill on Saturday and the Athletics just announced that he'll miss the entire 2012 season due to a torn ACL. Jane Lee of MLB.com reports that the 27-year-old will be reevaluated in two weeks before surgery is scheduled.
Discussion:
Baseball Nation, Athletics Nation and Yahoo! Sports
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Jane Lee / MLB.com:
Ka'aihue relishes new opportunity with A's