Top News:
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Cook holds Yanks in check at JetBlue Park — FORT MYERS, Fla. — It might be a year or two before prospect Adam Warren becomes part of the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry. But the New York righty got the chance to pitch under the lights of JetBlue Park on Thursday night and made the most of it during a 4-4 tie in nine innings.
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Yahoo! Sports and Over the Monster
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Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Francona returns as a member of the media — FORT MYERS, Fla. — It was odd to see Terry Francona leaning against the dugout railing at JetBlue Park during batting practice wearing loafers, khakis and am ESPN golf shirt instead of a Red Sox uniform. — For the first time since his departure …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Over the Monster and Globe and Mail
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:
The LoHud Yankees Blog, MLB Rumors, HardballTalk and River Avenue Blues
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Ben Badler / Baseball America:
MLB Announces Start Of Its Own Dominican Amateur League — With an international draft potentially on the horizon, Major League Baseball is trying to get more involved in the process of organizing and showcasing amateur talent in Latin America. Today the league announced that it is starting …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
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
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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
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
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 …
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
Todd Zolecki / MLB.com:
Utley set to rejoin Phillies in camp — DUNEDIN, Fla. — Chase Utley could rejoin the team Friday in Clearwater. — He left the team Monday — he had been spotted this week in the Phoenix area — to visit an unnamed specialist about the chronic condition in his knees.
Discussion:
SI Tracking Blog
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:
River Avenue Blues, Pinstripe Alley, Baseball Nation and The Yankee Analysts
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
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.
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