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Philly.com:
Inside the Phillies: Who needs sabermetrics? — Phillies evaluate players the old-fashioned way.
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THE BOOK
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Philly.com:
Inside the Phillies: Who needs sabermetrics? — Phillies evaluate players the old-fashioned way.
Discussion:
Baseball Nation, HardballTalk and Philliesflow.com
Paul Hoynes / Plain Dealer:
Justin Masterson starts Opening Day: Cleveland Indians spring training briefing — GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The Indians have named Justin Masterson as their Opening Day starter for April 5 against Toronto at Progressive Field. — Manager Manny Acta announced the move Friday morning.
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Yahoo! Sports and Eye on Baseball
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Hal Steinbrenner wants to see Yankees' payroll shrink from $210 million to $189M by 2014 — Bombers paid $13.9M in luxury taxes in 2011 and $18M in 2010 — Hal Steinbrenner says Monday that the Yankees don't need to carry a $220 million payroll as long as the team does a good job in developing players.
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WasWatching.com
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Associated Press:
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Jason Varitek has officially announced his retirement, bringing to an end a beloved 15-year career with the Boston Red Sox. — Varitek made the announcement on Thursday night at the team's spring training facility in Fort Myers, Fla. Many of his teammates, his parents …
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Boston Globe, Baseball Nation and Over the Monster
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Drew feeling better but not ready to play — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — D-backs shortstop Stephen Drew is back to intermittent baseball activities, but he's nowhere near the point in his recovery from a shattered right ankle that he's ready to play, he told MLB.com on Thursday.
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit, Baseball Prospectus and HardballTalk
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Ryan Braun urine collector endorsed by Cubs — Despite the Ryan Braun case, Cubs outfielder Reed Johnson says that, for the most part, players trust Major League Baseball's drug-testing process. Jonathan Daniel~Getty Images — MESA, Ariz. — The Cubs might be closer …
Discussion:
Eye on Baseball
Mike Kerwick / NorthJersey.com:
Johan Santana takes another step, throwing live batting practice — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - On his languid walk to the gate in center field Thursday morning, accompanied by teammate Bobby Parnell, Johan Santana took a series of small steps. The stroll mirrored the way Santana has tried …
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New York Post, NY Daily News and New Jersey Online
Chris Haft / MLB.com:
Hard-throwing Hembree has bright future — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Accomplished pitchers are both born and made. Remember that as you follow the career journey of Heath Hembree, who appears inevitably bound for San Francisco. — Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing a little more than 200 pounds …
Associated Press:
Indians OF Grady Sizemore to miss 8-12 weeks — CLEVELAND - Grady Sizemore will start the season in a familiar spot - on the disabled list. — The oft-injured Cleveland Indians outfielder is expected to miss eight to 12 weeks with a back injury, the latest medical setback for a three …
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe and MLB Rumors
Fox Sports:
Jason Aldean works out with Braves — KISSIMMEE, FLA. (AP) — Jason Aldean circled the bases, touched home plate and collapsed next to the batting cage, pulling his cap over his face. — “After lunch, let's come back and do it again,” Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez joked.
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Associated Press
Carson Cistulli / FanGraphs Baseball:
Broadcaster Rankings (TV): #10 - #1 — 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 …
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Al's Ramblings