Top News:
Mike Puma / New York Post:
Mets' Pelfrey pitching with sprained ankle — Mets on Twitter — JUPITER, Fla. — Just one more reason it's been a spring training to forget for Mike Pelfrey: He has battled a high ankle sprain for most of camp. — The beleaguered Mets right-hander is refusing to use it as an excuse …
Discussion:
Kranepool Society and MetsBlog.com
RELATED:
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
NY Mets' Johan Santana is turning heads in camp as ace looks to Opening Day
NY Mets' Johan Santana is turning heads in camp as ace looks to Opening Day
Discussion:
New York Post, MetsBlog.com, New York Times and New Jersey Online
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Bay's willingness to play center opens options
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
Visa Approved For Yankees' Jose Rafael DePaula — A premium prospect who has been involved in one of the longest, most fascinating sagas in the Dominican Republic has taken a major step toward beginning his professional career. — Righthander Jose Rafael DePaula, who agreed to sign …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and River Avenue Blues
Baseball America:
2012 Organization Talent Rankings — Baseball America's annual organization talent rankings evaluate the overall value of each system's prospect-eligible players (no more than 130 at-bats, 50 innings or 30 relief appearances in the major leagues, without regard to service time).
Discussion:
Seattle Times, South Side Sox, River Avenue Blues and It's About The Money
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Weaver off against KC, but bats pick up ace — Morales has two hits in return; Aybar, Kendrick pace offense — TEMPE, Ariz. — Kendrys Morales had two hits in his first Major League game since May 2010, Erick Aybar and Howie Kendrick stayed hot at the top of the order …
Discussion:
Halos Heaven
Dex / Gaslamp Ball:
Jeff Moorad steps down, Tom Garfinkel to become new Padres CEO — OMG. — In what looks a lot like a strange switcheroo, Jeff Moorad is going to step down as CEO and become Vice Chairman of the Padres while Tom Garfinkel will move from Padres President to Padres CEO.
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles, Yahoo! Sports and baseballmusings.com
Mark Zuckerman / Nats Insider:
Nats pessimistic Morse will start season — Michael Morse has appeared in only three games this spring, all as DH. — JUPITER, Fla. — Michael Morse's chances of recovering from a lat injury in time for Opening Day appear to be dwindling after the Nationals left fielder recently underwent …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Federal Baseball, Bleacher Report and Nationals Buzz
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Dodgers partake in Ping-Pong to unwind — Much as on the mound, Kershaw dominates on the table — GLENDALE, Ariz. — In the middle of the Dodgers' clubhouse at Camelback Ranch-Glendale is a Ping-Pong table. — Since a Ping-Pong table helped thaw Cold War relations with China 40 years ago …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Associated Press:
Cards' Garcia strikes out nine in dominant outing — JUPITER, Fla.—St. Louis manager Mike Matheny liked what he saw from Jaime Garcia on Thursday. — Garcia struck out nine in five innings and the Cardinals roughed up Gio Gonzalez in a 9-0 win over the Washington Nationals.
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
SI predicts the Mets will finish last in the NL East — In this week's Sports Illustrated, the Mets are projected to finish last in the NL East with 75 wins. — Matthew Cerrone: Wow! I don't know, I just don't see the NL East this way. I'm not suggesting the Mets are the favorites …
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Chipper Jones To Retire Following 2012 Season — Chipper Jones' 19th season in the Major Leagues will also be the final one of his career. The Braves announced that their 39-year-old third baseman will retire following the 2012 campaign. — Larry Wayne ‘Chipper’ Jones has been a fixture …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, baseballmusings.com and Yahoo! Sports
Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com:
O's offense complements Chen's start in win — FORT MYERS, Fla. — Orioles left-hander Wei-Yin Chen tossed five strong innings, and Wilson Betemit and Chris Davis homered to lead Baltimore to an 11-1 win over the Twins on Thursday at Hammond Stadium. — Chen allowed just one run on four hits …
Discussion:
Camden Chat and Bollinger Beat
Dave Cameron / FanGraphs Baseball:
What Should the Yankees Do With Michael Pineda? — There probably hasn't been a bigger story in any camp this spring than Michael Pineda's missing velocity. After throwing 94-97 in Seattle last year, he's been 89-93 so far this spring, though he did pump a few 94 MPH fastballs in his most recent start on Tuesday.
Discussion:
Baseball Nation, Pinstripe Alley, River Avenue Blues and The Yankee Analysts