Top News:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Hanson superb before Braves awaken late — Starter tosses four strong innings; Parraz, Constanza clutch — VIERA, Fla. — The Nationals and Braves found themselves in a pitchers' duel on Wednesday afternoon before the Braves tied it in the ninth and eventually won it in the 10th, 3-2, at Space Coast Stadium.
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
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Evan Drellich / MLB.com:
Hughes completes five against Rays — PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Right-hander Phil Hughes let up two runs over five innings in Wednesday afternoon's 5-2 Yankees victory over the Rays, as his bid to be New York's fifth starter continued. — With the game tied at 2 entering the top of the ninth inning …
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
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Associated Press:
Hughes Solid in Start for Yankees — PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (AP) — Phil Hughes allowed only three hits — one, a two-run homer by Matt Jocye — in five innings, and the New York Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-2 Wednesday. — After walking Carlos Pena to lead off the bottom of the second inning …
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
A-Rod instrumental as Yanks' bats erupt
Howard Ulman / Globe and Mail:
New-look Red Sox hope to put collapse behind — The Red Sox begin their second century at Fenway Park with a lot of changes. Considering the way the first century ended, that's good. — Since missing the playoffs with the worst September collapse in baseball history …
Discussion:
Boston Globe and Over the Monster
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Dominic Massa / WWL-TV:
Mel Parnell, N.O. native and former Red Sox pitcher, dies at 89
Mel Parnell, N.O. native and former Red Sox pitcher, dies at 89
Discussion:
Over the Monster, Surviving Grady, Yahoo! Sports, baseballmusings.com, HardballTalk and NESN.com
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Shoppach goes deep in loss to Blue Jays
Shoppach goes deep in loss to Blue Jays
Discussion:
Boston Globe and Over the Monster
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
New setback for Carpenter — JUPITER, Fla. • Cardinals co-ace Chris Carpenter returned to St. Louis on Tuesday to be further examined by nerve specialists after experiencing renewed symptoms associated with a bulging cervical disc. — Carpenter, who threw live batting practice Sunday …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, Getting Blanked, HardballTalk and Baseball Nation
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Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com:
Carpenter shut down; likely to start year on DL
Mike Ozanian / SportsMoney:
The Business Of Baseball 2012 — Click for full photo gallery: Baseball's Most Valuable Teams — The National Pastime is flourishing thanks to cable companies' desire for live baseball programming. — The average Major League Baseball team rose 16% in value during the past year, to an all-time high of $605 million.
Discussion:
The Yankee Analysts, Bats, Los Angeles Times and baseballmusings.com
Associated Press:
Seattle's Hernandez Hit Hard in Final Spring Start — PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Felix Hernandez allowed seven earned runs over five innings in his final spring training start and the Seattle Mariners were roughed up by the Chicago White Sox 13-8 Wednesday. — King Felix gave up 10 hits in five innings and eight runs overall.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Seeking fifth-starter job, Oliver's rhythm off — Lefty prospect's control issues continue as he walks five — LAKELAND, Fla. — Andy Oliver is too young to be outrunning a reputation. — He's also trying to show he's not too young yet to hold down a rotation spot on a team that's expected to win.
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
Sports Illustrated:
Timmons, real-life Crash Davis, may finally get Hollywood ending … PHOENIX — Wes Timmons thought it was another march to the baseball gallows. — Eight of his A's teammates had already been cut from big-league camp in the previous 24 hours, so when he received a summons to the manager's office …
Discussion:
Beaneball and Athletics Nation
Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com:
Britton receives platelet rich plasma therapy — SARASOTA, Fla. — Zach Britton received two rounds of platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy on Wednesday, a new and increasingly popular procedure that he hopes will help heal the inflammation in his left shoulder that has plagued him since August.
Discussion:
Britt's Bird Watch
Tom Singer / MLB.com:
Burnett slated for simulated game Saturday — Righty hurls 52-pitch bullpen session, says eye, strength are good — BRADENTON, Fla. — A.J. Burnett's accelerating recovery from a facial fracture hit a different gear on Wednesday, when the right-hander made 52 pitches in his third comeback bullpen session …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Inbox: Does Washington get enough respect? — Reporter T.R. Sullivan answers Rangers fans' questions — Everybody says that Ron Washington's main asset is that he gets players to play hard, and during the playoffs last year they kept making a big deal about how excited he gets.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball