Top News:
Philly.com:
David Murphy: The Utley reality — CLEARWATER, Fla. - The first instinct is to doubt. And that is understandable. When the subject is injuries and the messenger is a professional sports team, you can find yourself longing for the transparency of an organization like the CIA.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Richard Durrett / ESPN:
Texas KOs Ryan-Ventura clip for Opening Day — SURPRISE, Ariz. — Texas Rangers public address announcer and in-game presentation guru Chuck Morgan said Thursday the video of the memorable moment of Nolan Ryan putting Robin Ventura in a headlock and punching him will not be shown opening weekend and probably only once all season.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, NESN.com and Deadspin
RELATED:
Greg Johns / MLB.com:
Moore breaks right wrist, likely out for spring — PEORIA, Ariz. — Hard-luck catcher Adam Moore received another blow on Thursday when the Mariners discovered the 27-year-old has a broken right wrist, suffered during Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Reds.
Discussion:
U.S.S. Mariner
RELATED:
Greg Johns / Mariners Musings:
Adam Moore suffers broken bone in wrist
Adam Moore suffers broken bone in wrist
Discussion:
HardballTalk, MLB.com and Lookout Landing
Fox Sports:
Cain can be among highest-paid pitchers — When Yadier Molina signed his $75 million extension, one rival agent called it a market correction, saying that too sizable a gap existed between the two largest contracts for catchers, Joe Mauer at $184 million and Victor Martinez at $50 million.
Discussion:
San Francisco Giants, MLB Rumors and McCovey Chronicles
John Harper / NY Daily News:
NY Mets must address Frank Francisco's problems throwing to bases — Team knows new closer struggles with short tosses — Frank Francisco has no problem throwing, unless it's to a base, and that's a problem. — PORT ST. LUCIE — In Frank Francisco's first spring training appearance …
Discussion:
NorthJersey.com, New York Times and MetsBlog.com
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Stubbs looks to strike back at his critics — Changes hitting approach after 200-strikeout season — PHOENIX, Ariz. - Reds center fielder Drew Stubbs has heard all of the cries from the armchair batting coaches. The directive to bunt more from fans and various media talkers far and wide has filtered down his way.
David Brooks / New York Times:
Hey, Mets! I Just Can't Quit You. — In 2005, I wrote a column saying that maybe it was time to abandon the New York Mets and become a fan of the Washington Nationals. My reasoning was sound. We were raising our kids in Washington. We had Nats season tickets. We were acquiring Nats paraphernalia.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com and Kranepool Society
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
New-look Nitkowski eyes spot on Mets — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Some minutes after Johan Santana vacated a mound at the Mets' Spring Training complex Thursday morning, a more anonymous figure began throwing without quite so much fanfare. It has been seven years since C.J. Nitkowski pitched …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com:
Beckett fires three shutout frames vs. Cardinals — Iglesias hits three-run triple in Red Sox's first spring loss — JUPITER, Fla. — A six-run eighth, highlighted by Shane Robinson's three-run double, lifted the Cardinals to a 9-3 win over the Red Sox on Thursday and gave …
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos, Boston Globe, Beyond the Box Score, Over the Monster and Yahoo! Sports
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Ubaldo, Tomlin can't contain Angels — GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The Angels used a burst of early offense, with Alberto Callaspo and Alexi Amarista delivering big hits against a pair of Indians starters, to pick up a 6-5 Cactus League victory over the Indians on Thursday afternoon at Goodyear Ballpark.
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe and Major League Bastian
Tim Kawakami / Talking Points:
GLENDALE, Ariz.-Caught up with A's GM/part-owner Billy Beane in the stands during the A's-Dodgers game here today. — Lots of sun. Lots of chatting. Beane was revved up and relaxed. — It's not reflected in the transcript, but I told Beane afterwards that he was the designated grown-up in the A's-Giants cold war over San Jose.
Brian McTaggart / Tag's Lines:
Luhnow sends apology to Rangers' Ryan, Daniels — Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow, who created a minor stir last week when he said, while speaking at an analytical conference, that the Texas Rangers were spending in the international market like “drunken sailors,” said Thursday he had sent …
Discussion:
Rangers Blog, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors