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 …
RELATED:
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
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:With Japanese star, we've seen it all
Discussion:
Dan Shaughnessy Watch
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.
Discussion:
The Griddle, Cursed To First, The House That Dewey Built, MLB Trade Rumors and Let's Go Tribe
RELATED:
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.
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.
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
RELATED:
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.
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.
RELATED:
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 …
RELATED:
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 …
RELATED:
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
RELATED:
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
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 …
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 …
RELATED:
Kat O'Brien / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Rangers' stars praise manager change, say team has playoff talent — First baseman Mark Teixeira, shortstop Michael Young and third baseman Hank Blalock are among the only Rangers mainstays after wholesale roster changes. Because they have lived the disappointment of missing the playoffs …
USA Today:
Johnson is healed and hungry for '07 season — PHOENIX — He stands in a parking lot, throwing to a kid behind a white station wagon. Dry-cleaning racks are behind him. A vacant lot, littered by tumbleweeds and separated by a barbed-wired fence, is to his left, a warehouse to his right.
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'
