Top News:
Mike Petraglia / MLB.com:
Matsuzaka shows his lighter side — Humble right-hander gives insight on what motivates him — FORT MYERS, Fla. — Without throwing a pitch, Daisuke Matsuzaka gave an entertaining performance at his City of Palms Park debut Thursday afternoon. — With about 150 reporters and photographers …
Discussion:
A Red Sox Fan …
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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
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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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.
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.
Discussion:
Uni Watch
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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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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 …
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Andrew Seligman / Associated Press:
Zambrano backs off threat to leave Cubs — MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Carlos Zambrano backed off recent comments that he would leave the Chicago Cubs as a free agent after this season if he doesn't get a multiyear contract during spring training. — Although he would rather get a new deal done by opening day …
Discussion:
Camden Chat
Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
Fierce competition behind plate — Three's a crowd with only two spots open — Tucson -Three catchers competing for two roster spots equals one intense position battle for the Rockies as they open spring training today. — One candidate is baby-faced Chris Iannetta, 24.
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score
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Tracy Ringolsby / Rocky Mountain News:
Monfort: O'Dowd contract extension on way — TUCSON - This is Dan O'Dowd's eighth spring training as general manager of the Rockies. — It most likely won't be his last. — O'Dowd and manager Clint Hurdle are in the final year of their contracts, the first time the Rockies …
Discussion:
Purple Row
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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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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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 …
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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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Maine will have to earn role — Right-hander has shown inability to pitch deep into games — PORT ST. LUCIE, FLA. — None of the assigned parking spaces has his No. 33. But his newly-located locker is there on Pitchers' Row. As John Maine sat on the stool Thursday …
Discussion:
Always Amazin'
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?
