Top News:
Tom Singer / MLB.com:
Several rule changes in effect for 2007 — Alterations address ties, pace of game, official scoring — Taking a red pencil to the game's rules for the first time in more than a decade, MLB's Playing Rules Committee has enacted several changes for the 2007 season. — Relax: It's still the game you know and love.
Discussion:
Yanksfan vs Soxfan
RELATED:
MLB.com:
Playing Rules Committee implements changes for 2007 season — A substantial number of changes made to the Official Baseball Rules by the Playing Rules Committee will be in effect at the Major League level during the 2007 season, it was announced today. — Under Major League Rule 25(c) …
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Notes: Nats interested in Belliard — Club reportedly targeting veteran free agent as reserve infielder — VIERA, Fla. — The Nationals lost a considerable amount of strength on the bench when they traded Marlon Anderson and Daryle Ward for prospects on Aug. 31.
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Johnson talks of June return to lineup — First baseman says his injured right leg, hip, quad 'weak' — VIERA, Fla. — Nationals first baseman Nick Johnson entered the club's dugout at Space Coast Stadium on Friday afternoon and jokingly grimaced in pain as he touched the two steps he needed to reach the playing surface.
Tom Withers / Associated Press:
Expected to close for Indians, Keith Foulke retires — CLEVELAND (AP) — Before he got a chance to finish another game, Keith Foulke closed his career. — Foulke, whose toss to first base for the final out ended an 86-year World Series title drought for the Boston Red Sox …
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George King / New York Post:
ROCKET: 80-20 I'LL RETIRE — According to Roger Clemens, the Yankees have a slim chance of adding him to their suspect pitching rotation sometime this summer. — Clemens yesterday told Houston television station KRIV there is an 80 percent chance he is going to end his Hall of Fame career by retiring.
Discussion:
Pride of the Yankees
RELATED:
ESPN:
Clemens says only 20 percent chance he will return — HOUSTON — Seven-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens has given himself just a 20 percent chance of returning to the mound next season. — "Koby [his son] asked me last night when we were working out, he was doing more of a workout than I was …
Discussion:
Oriole Post
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Spring Training: Lincoln shut down by elbow — Pirates moving Walker from catcher to third base — By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pirates have shelved their top pitching prospect and shifted one of their top hitting prospects.
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Associated Press:
Scuffing baseball could lead to 10-game suspension for non-pitchers — NEW YORK (AP) — A major league position player who scuffs or defaces a baseball would be ejected and receive an automatic 10-game suspension under changes approved Friday by the sport's playing rules committee.
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Devil Ray performs under pressure — ST. PETERSBURG - Infielder Ty Wigginton came through with a lot of big hits for the Devil Rays last season. But that was nothing like the way he delivered during the offseason. — When his wife, Angela, went into intense labor two weeks early …
Lee Jenkins / New York Times:
Frustrated Cubs Find Match in Fiery Piniella — Lou Piniella paced feverishly on the grass behind second base, his arms flailing, eyes bulging, and head bobbing so vigorously that it looked as though his new cap might fly away. — He had been on the field with the Chicago Cubs for about five minutes.
Washington Times:
Q&A with Matt Chico — Want more Nats? Check out Nats Home Plate. — Young left-hander Matt Chico is one-half the answer of a Washington Nationals trivia question: Who did the Nats receive from the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Livan Hernandez trade? — The D-backs traded Chico …
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.
John Schlegel / MLB.com:
Survey: Who will be this year's champ? — MLB.com asks managers, GMs who will win 2007 World Series — Ask baseball's GMs and managers at the beginning of Spring Training who they think will end up hoisting the World Series trophy in October, and you'll get a lot of the same prognostication …
