Top News:
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.
RELATED:
Tom Withers / Associated Press:
Foulke retires; Indians have one less closer … CLEVELAND // Reliever Keith Foulke, who was on the mound when Boston ended its 86-year World Series drought, retired Friday just as he was about to begin competing for a closer's job with the Cleveland Indians.
Discussion:
Mets Heads
Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Closer Foulke withdraws from camp — Right-hander to announce Major League retirement — WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Forget the two-man race for the Indians' closer's job. Keith Foulke has gracefully bowed out. — Surprisingly, Foulke is announcing his retirement Friday …
Discussion:
The POJO Dojo
Steve Silva / Extra Bases:
Foulke to retire — It looks like Keith Foulke is going to get closer to his home in Arizona after all: The former Red Sox reliever is retiring. — "While we are disappointed that Keith will not be pitching for the Indians this year, I have a tremendous amount of respect for him and the way he went …
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:
Keep Your Sox On In Brooklyn
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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.
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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 Svrluga / Washington Post:
A Skipper's First-Day Jitters
A Skipper's First-Day Jitters
Discussion:
Washington Times, William World News, Caps / Nats, Just A Nats Fan and The Nationals Enquirer
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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Sports Illustrated:
Baltimore pitcher injured in motorcycle accident, will miss 2007 season — SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) -Baltimore Orioles pitcher Jose Acevedo broke four ribs and his collarbone Friday in a motorcycle accident and is expected to miss the entire season, his Dominican winter league team said.
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
Monfort: O'Dowd contract extension on way
Discussion:
Purple Row
Baltimore Sun:
Sharp curve for Trachsel … FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. // Rather than sit around his house and watch television footage of pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training, Steve Trachsel decided to start making some weekend plans that didn't include baseball.
Jason Williams / TwinCities.com:
Wait till next year — Cuddyer, like Morneau, gets a one-year contract from the Twins — Terry Ryan believes he has a saving grace: — The Twins' general manager went just 1 for 3 this winter in his attempt to lock up the arbitration-eligible players who make up the heart of the batting order to multiyear contracts.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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.
Rocky Mountain News:
Ringolsby: Watch list is lengthy this year — TUCSON - With sun bearing down on Arizona and Florida, the heat is on: — Managerial hot seat — • Mike Hargrove, Seattle. Club president Howard Lincoln said at the end of last year that Hargrove and general manager Bill Bavasi will be on "the hot seat" in 2007.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Associated Press:
Nick Johnson still recovering from collision — VIERA, Fla. — Washington Nationals first baseman Nick Johnson, whose 2006 season ended with a broken right leg, still isn't sure when he'll be able to play again. — Johnson arrived at spring training Friday.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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 …
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Notes: No rush to extend Lo Duca — Veteran catcher's contract expires after 2007 season — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — General manager Omar Minaya says he will listen to what Paul Lo Duca and his agent have to say about a contract extension. But the Mets probably won't be in a rush to extend the contract of a 34-year-old catcher.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com