Top News:
Scott Lauber / Boston Herald:
Terry Francona ‘still trying to stop bleeding’ — FORT MYERS — Terry Francona had made it almost all the way to his old spring training haunt Wednesday evening when he ran out of gas. — Francona was driving along Interstate 75 to Fort Myers to broadcast last night's Red Sox [team stats] …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
RELATED:
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:
Over the Monster and Yahoo! Sports
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Valentine blasts Girardi — FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Red Sox and Yankees played a 4-4 tie on Thursday night, the game ending after nine innings when New York manager Joe Girardi told the umpires he was out of pitchers. — Sox manager Bobby Valentine didn't buy it. — “They had plenty of pitching.
Discussion:
Deadspin, Pinstripe Alley and The Soxaholix
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Francona returns as a member of the media
Francona returns as a member of the media
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and Over the Monster
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
RELATED:
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
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Berkman upsets Selig, Cards — JUPITER, Fla. — Commissioner Bud Selig and the Cardinals didn't exactly take the Puma to the woodshed this week, but they wasted little time calling him on the carpet. — Cardinals first baseman Lance Berkman concluded two days of explanations Thursday …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, Baseball Nation and HardballTalk
Jfay / Cincinnati Reds:
Setback for Madson? — GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Reds closer Ryan Madson probably is not going to pitch in a minor league game today as planned. — The Reds aren't saying much about it. — “We're sorting it out,” Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said. “We'll let you know.”
Discussion:
Redleg Nation, Bleacher Report, baseballmusings.com, redsminorleagues.com and HardballTalk
Jim Armstrong / Associated Press:
Mariners, A's arrive in Japan for opening series — NARITA, Japan—The Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics arrived in Japan on Friday, five days before opening Major League Baseball's 2012 season at Tokyo Dome. — About 300 fans greeted the teams after they landed at Tokyo's Narita Airport …
Discussion:
MLB, 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.
David O'Brien / Atlanta Braves:
End of an era: Chipper says he'll retire after 2012 season — Vivlamore reporting from Florida. — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Chipper Jones is going out on his own terms. — The future Hall of Fame third baseman announced Thursday that the 2012 season will be the last of his playing career.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, Bats, Pinstriped Bible …, FanGraphs Baseball and The Big Lead
RELATED:
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Chipper Jones To Retire Following 2012 Season
Chipper Jones To Retire Following 2012 Season
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, baseballmusings.com, Talking Chop and Yahoo! Sports
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Soriano belts one of Cubs' four homers in win — Slugger hits fifth of spring; Mather, Stewart, Jackson go deep — SURPRISE, Ariz. — Alfonso Soriano hit his Cactus League-leading fifth home run, this one off of Rangers starter Colby Lewis, to help lead the Cubs to an 11-4 victory at Surprise Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
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:
Boston Globe, Camden Chat and Bollinger Beat
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Statistics don't paint defensive picture for Mets — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The Mets took the field earlier this week with their Opening Day lineup mostly intact for the first time this spring: A converted first baseman was starting in right field. Another natural first baseman was at second base, with yet another at catcher.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue