Top News:
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Bobby Valentine mocks Derek Jeter's ‘flip’ play, revels over how Jason Varitek ‘beat up’ Alex Rodriguez in 2004 — New Red Sox manager continues to tweak the Yankees — Jason Varitek and Alex Rodriguez duke it out during 2004 game at Fenway Park. — It took Bobby Valentine 10 years to get back into a major league dugout.
Discussion:
the joy of sox
RELATED:
Jon Krawczynski / Associated Press:
Valentine already tweaking the Yankees — FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP)—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 …
Discussion:
CBS New York, Associated Press and Boston Globe
Alex Speier / WEEI:
JASON VARITEK AND THE TRADE THAT CHANGED A FRANCHISE — FORT MYERS, Fla. - The end is now all but official for Jason Varitek, the only remaining act of his illustrious Red Sox career being the formality of the announcement of his retirement on Thursday. With the conclusion now imminent, the beginning merits reconsideration.
Discussion:
Over the Monster, HardballTalk, MLB Rumors, Lookout Landing and baseballmusings.com
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
'Tek supported: Teammates will miss captain
Fox Sports:
Braun should have quit while ahead — Turns out, The Collector has a name. And a reputation. And a story. — The PR battle Ryan Braun lamented is raging anew. For this, he has himself to blame. — I don't know if Braun knowingly used the synthetic testosterone that showed up in his October urine test.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
ESPN.com:
Collector in Braun case says he followed rules — A man identifying himself as the collector who took Ryan Braun's urine samples last fall said he followed the same protocol with the Milwaukee Brewers slugger as he had with hundreds of previous samples. — In an email sent Tuesday to ESPN …
Aaron Gleeman / HardballTalk:
Wisconsin man who collected Ryan Braun's urine sample issues statement “to set the record straight” — Dino Laurenzi, the Wisconsin man who was in charge of Ryan Braun's urine sample, issued the following lengthy statement following the overturning of Braun's suspension:
Discussion:
Baseball Nation
George A. King III / New York Post:
Joba throws off full mound at Yankees camp — TAMPA — It's only 5 inches higher than the half-mound Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain had been throwing off, but it represented a much larger step in his recovery from Tommy John surgery. — Tuesday morning in a George M. Steinbrenner Field bullpen …
Discussion:
It's About The Money and River Avenue Blues
RELATED:
Danny Knobler / CBSSports.com:
Nationals camp report: Harper decision might make all the difference — Harper needs to show the Nats he is well worth keeping around for the start of the season. — VIERA, Fla. — The Nationals say it's all about winning now. — They say it in a way that makes you think they believe it.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Brian Erni / MetsBlog.com:
Recap: Terry Collins conference call with bloggers — Tonight, Terry Collins held a conference call with Mets bloggers. Collins addressed the team's spring preparation, the impact of the new dimensions at Citi Field, the futures of Matt Harvey and Pedro Beato and his expectations for 2012.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue and The LoHud Mets Blog
RELATED:
Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
NY Mets' David Wright is unimpressed with Jeff Wilpon's ‘Underdog’ T-Shirt motivational tactics
NY Mets' David Wright is unimpressed with Jeff Wilpon's ‘Underdog’ T-Shirt motivational tactics
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MetsBlog.com
Mike Kerwick / NorthJersey.com:
Mets' Fred Wilpon says payroll cut was GM's decision
Mets' Fred Wilpon says payroll cut was GM's decision
Discussion:
NY Daily News, New York Post, Metropolis and MetsBlog.com
Tony Jackson / ESPN:
Mattingly: Dodgers are Yanks of LA, not Angels — GLENDALE, Ariz. — Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly, who spent his entire 14-year career as a major league player with the New York Yankees, said Tuesday that despite the major offseason moves and high expectations …
Discussion:
ESPN.com, True Blue LA and Yahoo! Sports
RELATED:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Prospect Solis to have Tommy John surgery — Nationals lefty expected to be ready for spring 2013 — VIERA, Fla. — Nationals left-hander Sammy Solis will need Tommy John surgery, according to general manager Mike Rizzo. — Solis will have surgery on the elbow next Tuesday.
Discussion:
Federal Baseball, Yahoo! Sports and Nats Insider
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:
Sliding Into Home, River Avenue Blues, Bronx Baseball Daily and It's About The Money
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Service Time Considerations For Top Prospects — Timing the debuts of top prospects is essential for MLB teams. No club wants to expose a player to top competition before he's ready, but keeping a player in the minors when he could be contributing at the big league level is hardly appealing either.
Discussion:
Red Reporter
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, Tag's Lines, The Crawfish Boxes and Yahoo! Sports
RELATED:
Brian McTaggart / Tag's Lines:
Astros move Myers to closer
Astros move Myers to closer
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes, HardballTalk, MLB Rumors and baseballmusings.com