Top News:
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
With Japanese star, we've seen it all — A few questions: — How does one say "Yahoo" in Japanese? And at what point, precisely, did we become Orlando, Fla.? — We stopped eating and sleeping when Daisuke Matsuzaka flew to Boston to sign his contract back in December. We tracked his flight online.
Discussion:
Dan Shaughnessy Watch
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Howard Ulman / Associated Press:
Japanese star shows humor, directness, diplomacy — FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Daisuke Matsuzaka revealed Thursday that his first pitch to a spring training opponent will be a fastball. — He also revealed a side of his personality that could endear him to Red Sox fans even before he throws that pitch.
Discussion:
The Griddle
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Indians bullpen has one less option with Foulke out … Cleveland's bullpen was a disaster last season, the difference between the Indians being competitive or not, and the hope of general manager Mark Shapiro was to create as many options for manager Eric Wedge going into the 2007 season.
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Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
Manuel keeps laboring — Pat Gillick knows something about winning with a manager who is bland and often criticized by the public. He twice won the World Series in Toronto with Cito Gaston as his manager and now he's the Phillies general manager trying to do it with Charlie Manuel.
wtam.com:
PLAY BALL! — Indians pitchers and catcher report to Winter Haven — They're here! All of the pitchers and catchers had to be in "The Haven" by today. They'll have physicals tomorrow and be on the field Saturday for the first scheduled team workouts. Some guys did things today but they were limited drills.
Jim Baumbach / Newsday:
SPRING TRAINING: Moose to Carl: Show us — TAMPA, Fla. - Carl Pavano brushed aside questions about any work he needs to do in the clubhouse, saying his bad reputation among teammates is overhyped by the media. — "I think it's just something you guys have had fun with," Pavano said yesterday …
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NY Daily News:
Billy wants '06 season closed out — PORT ST. LUCIE - Billy Wagner had 40 saves in his first season in Flushing, but the closer wasn't impressed. "My numbers say I was good, but mentally I know I wasn't," Wagner said. "... What I'm looking for is the old Billy." — By that, Wagner means 1-2-3 innings.
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Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Schoeneweis's Jersey Isn't Just Any Number — After signing with the Mets, Scott Schoeneweis figured he had his big chance. Finally, after all these years, he could stop being No. 60. But when he walked into the clubhouse Wednesday evening and saw his new jersey, he recoiled.
David Lennon / Newsday:
Wagner gets a pen pal — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Tobacco Road takes a detour through the corner of the Mets' clubhouse at Tradition Field, where Billy Wagner and his new best friend, Scott Schoeneweis, pull up stools and talk Duke basketball. — Wagner never had met Schoeneweis before walking through the door yesterday.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Robinson Declines Celebration in His Honor — Former Washington Nationals manager Frank Robinson has declined an offer to be honored by the club during a game this May, according to team president Stan Kasten, who said officials hold out hope that Robinson will reconsider.
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Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Bonds, Giants agree; MLB approves — Slugger expected to report to training camp by Monday — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Barry Bonds contract odyssey has come to an end. The Giants announced on Thursday that the club and the left-handed-hitting slugger have signed off on his one-year …
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Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
New year, new hope for Penn … FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. // First, it was Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo who sought out pitcher Hayden Penn in the clubhouse this morning and gave the pitcher a brief pep talk, telling him to relax and be himself. — Moments later, hitting coach Terry Crowley visited Penn …
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Associated Press:
Lo Duca seeking contract extension with Mets — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — New York Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca is completely healthy following offseason thumb surgery — and he would love a contract extension. — "I've been vocal that I want to stay here," the four-time All-Star said Thursday after reporting to spring training.
Discussion:
Baseball Crank
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
No ribbing: Wood hurt — Odd (minor) injury, Big Z's arrival make for bizarre 1st day — MESA, Ariz. — The Cubs officially opened Camp Lou on Thursday with the kind of day that can only be described as Cub-like. — Carlos Zambrano met with reporters and announced he's close to signing …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Notes: Visa problem delays Soriano — Reliever expected to arrive in camp sometime next week — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — When Braves pitchers and catchers reported to camp at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex on Thursday, manager Bobby Cox had the opportunity to welcome many of his players.
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Jeff Sackmann / Hardball Times:
Ranking Organizations — If you want to rely on statistical measures, how do you rank a farm system? It's tough enough to compare two disparate prospects, let alone measure two entire organizations against each other. For John Burnson's Graphical Player 2007, I tried to overcome …
Discussion:
A CITIZEN'S BLOG
Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
Q&A with Jamie Walker — The Orioles signed Jamie Walker, a 35-year-old left-handed reliever, to a three-year, $12 million deal in the offseason. In response, his former Detroit Tigers teammate, Todd Jones, said of the Tennessee native: "$12 million is a lot of money, but $12 million in Tennessee?
Richard Barbieri / Hardball Times:
This Annotated Week in Baseball History: Feb. 11-17, 2006 — On Feb. 14 across the world, Valentine's Day is celebrated. So what better day to look back at some of the best and worst of baseball Valentines? — As with most history, there is much debate as to the history of Valentine's Day.
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
