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8:40 PM ET, March 20, 2012

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Jerry Crasnick / MLB:
Berkman: Selig ‘extorted’ Astros into AL move  —  KISSIMMEE, Fla. — St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lance Berkman said Tuesday that Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig “extorted” new Houston Astros owner Jim Crane into changing leagues as a precondition of the sale of the franchise in November.
RELATED:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Berkman tried to recruit Pettitte to Cards
Richard Durrett / ESPN:
Derek Holland signs 5-year deal  —  SURPRISE, Ariz.— Left-handed pitcher Derek Holland signed a five-year contract extension with the Texas Rangers on Tuesday morning.  —  The deal is worth $28.5 million, with club options for 2017 ($11 million) and 2018 ($11.5 million), a source said.
Discussion: baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Royals Acquire Jason Bourgeois, Humberto Quintero  —  5:36pm: Luhnow told reporters (including MLB.com's Brian McTaggart) that the player to be named later will be the “key component” of the trade (Twitter links).  Astros Sr. Director of Social Media Alyson Footer says it'll be a while before that player is named, however.
MLB:
Tigers 3B Cabrera has small fracture under eye  —  Miguel Cabrera Injured By Ground Ball  —  Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera was bloodied after taking a ground ball to the face.  —  Detroit Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera suffered a small fracture in the bone under his right eye …
Richard Durrett / ESPN:
Neftali Feliz exits with stiff shoulder  —  MESA, Ariz. — Texas Rangers right-handed starter Neftali Feliz did not come out to pitch for the fourth inning on Tuesday because of right shoulder stiffness.  —  The team said he will continue to be evaluated.  —  Feliz threw 49 pitches …
Discussion: FanGraphs Baseball
Philly.com:
David Murphy: Utley's career could be in jeopardy  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. - An era is supposed to last longer than elementary school.  Second basemen are supposed to last longer than senators.  Six years might be a long time between albums, but it can't be all the time we'll get to watch Chase Utley at his peak.
RELATED:
Aaron Gleeman / HardballTalk:
Padres sign Nick Hundley long term, block prospect Yasmani Grandal's path to the majors  —  Nick Hundley and the Padres have agreed to a multi-year contract that covers 2013 and 2014 while including a team option for 2015.  —  Hundley was already signed for $2 million this season …
Kieran Darcy / ESPN:
Pettitte on joining Yanks: I feel like I never left  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Andy Pettitte officially reported to Yankees camp on Tuesday, threw his first bullpen session, and said afterward, “I feel like I never left.”  —  “I am a little surprised that I felt as good as I did today …
Discussion: Yahoo! Sports
Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com:
D-Train signs Minors deal with Orioles  —  SARASOTA, Fla. — In the Orioles' continuing efforts to stockpile pitching, the club signed lefty Dontrelle Willis to a Minor League deal on Tuesday night.  —  Willis, who signed a non-guaranteed one-year deal with the Phillies this winter …
Discussion: Yahoo! Sports
Sports Illustrated:
Johnny Damon's strange new role: the best player without a job … Opening Day, two weeks in the offing stateside, likely will be without Johnny Damon in the big leagues for the first time since 1995, when he was a 21-year-old prospect in the Kansas City Royals system.
Discussion: MLB Rumors and The Yankee Analysts
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Vizcaino to miss '12 after Tommy John surgery  —  No. 2 Braves prospect had avoided operation in 2010 with rest  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — Arodys Vizcaino was not fortunate enough to again avoid Tommy John surgery.  Dr. James Andrews performed the season-ending elbow reconstruction operation …
Discussion: Lookout Landing
RELATED:
Bob Dutton / Kansas City Star:
Royals' Soria diagnosed with ligament damage in elbow
Discussion: Talking Chop and Bleacher Report
Marc Topkin / The Heater Feed:
Rays Maddon meets his idol: Joe Namath  —  Rays manager Joe Maddon said he rarely gets exicted about meeting someone, but he was Tuesday with the chance to talk with his childhood idol, Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath.  —  “'For me personally, it's quite a moment.
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Tigers flex muscle behind solid Verlander  —  Raburn, Young go deep; ace strikes out four in five innings  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — Ryan Raburn hit his sixth home run of the spring, providing offensive support behind Justin Verlander for the Tigers' third win over the Braves this spring, a 7-2 decision Tuesday at Joker Marchant Stadium.
Discussion: Bless You Boys
 
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 More News: 
Robbi Pickeral / ESPN:
Williams: UNC planning to be without Marshall
Adam McCalvy / Brew Beat:
Breakout day for Aoki  —  Brewers PR man Mike Vassallo …
Discussion: Bleacher Report and HardballTalk
Philly.com:
Aumont, Schwimer sent down
Discussion: Philliesflow.com
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Healthy Hanley looking like his old self again
Discussion: Fish Stripes
Bill Madden / NY Daily News:
Yankees GM Brian Cashman builds bench that other teams envy - especially shoestring budget NY Mets
Discussion: River Avenue Blues
Fox Sports:
A-Rod seeks refund after spree
Associated Press:
La Russa has a book deal
Discussion: Viva El Birdos
 Earlier Picks: 
Star-Telegram / Foul Territory:
Rangers Mike Napoli on C.J. Wilson's tweet: “It's not a prank”
Daniel Fromson / The Atlantic Online:
The Glove That Would Change the Game
Mark Polishuk / MLB Rumors:
Rangers Prefer To Keep Their Pitching Depth
Discussion: MLB Daily Dish
Greg Johns / MLB.com:
Ichiro, Montero, Seager go deep in slugfest
Associated Press:
Kershaw Works Into 6th Inning on 24th Birthday
 

 
From WeSmirch:

TMZ.com:
Kate Middleton Seen in New Video Enjoying Windsor Farm Shop with William

Richard Simmons:
I have some news to tell you.  Please don't be sad.  I am ....dying.  Oh I can see your faces now. …

Snejana Farberov / New York Post:
King Charles is not dead, despite Russian media ‘announcement’ forcing palace to scramble

 
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