Top News:
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Yankees are not too wild about proposed playoff format for MLB playoffs — One-and-done is too severe for some — New Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda seems to be enjoying workout at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa Thursday. — TAMPA — Major League Baseball's plan to add a second wild-card team …
Discussion:
Boston Globe, the joy of sox and ESPN
RELATED:
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Addition of Wild Card berths finalized for 2012 — Lower-seeded teams will host first two games of Division Series — The expansion of Major League Baseball's playoffs with the addition of two Wild Card teams and a play-in game in each league will begin this year.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com and Sliding Into Home
ESPN.com:
MLB, union agree to expand playoffs — Major League Baseball and the union have agreed to expand the playoff field by two teams to 10, a change that will take effect in October.
Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Wild Card expansion for 2012 talks ongoing — Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association are working toward a Thursday deadline to expand the playoffs by adding two additional Wild Card teams overall, creating a one-game first-round playoff in each league, beginning with the 2012 postseason.
Philly.com:
Inside the Phillies: Who needs sabermetrics? — Phillies evaluate players the old-fashioned way.
Discussion:
THE BOOK
RELATED:
Philly.com:
Inside the Phillies: Who needs sabermetrics? — Phillies evaluate players the old-fashioned way.
Discussion:
Baseball Nation, HardballTalk and Philliesflow.com
Jkiesewetter / TV and Media Blog:
Dummy Hoy movie script ready — Ellsworth “Dummy” Hoy (right) and 1940s Reds pitcher Ewell “The Whip” Blackwell at Crosley Field. — If Robert Redford was “The Natural,” who would be “The Silent Natural?” — Steve Sandy of Columbus has a screenplay ready for a movie about Dummy Hoy …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Associated Press:
A.J. Burnett out 2-3 months — BRADENTON, Fla. — Newly acquired Pittsburgh pitcher A.J. Burnett is expected to miss two to three months while recovering from surgery for a facial fracture, forcing the Pirates to rearrange their plans for Opening Day. — The Pirates had hoped Burnett …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
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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.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and Eye on Baseball
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
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
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 …
Discussion:
New York Post, NY Daily News and New Jersey Online
