Top News:
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Glavine slips into Opening routine; Ambiorix amazes — PORT ST. LUCIE - Still 38 days from the April 1 opener in St. Louis, the Mets have already placed Tom Glavine on a throwing program to ready him for that assignment. — Glavine will make his eighth career Opening Day start, and fourth in five years as a Met.
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Notes: Mets deal with 'own business' — Defending NL East champs disregard Rollins' comments — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Whether the Mets' reactions were genuine or couched to avoid a cross-state he-said, he-said, the defending National League East champions essentially dismissed challenging comments …
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Floyd: Willie was confused — The ex-Met says Randolph wanted to bunt in Game 7, but bench coach talked him out of it. — In the annals of Mets disappointments, last Oct. 19 ranks near the top. And within that crushing National League Championship Series Game 7 loss to the Cardinals, the bottom of the ninth hurts fans the most.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
David Lennon / Newsday:
Burgos' impression is fast — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — For those close enough to see Ambiorix Burgos throw batting practice yesterday, you didn't have to open your eyes to know how hard he was throwing. — All anyone had to do was listen to his pitches. The sound was unmistakable.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Mike Phillips / Miami Herald:
Johnson throws, says arm is `fine' — Right-hander Josh Johnson threw Wednesday as he tries to get ready for the season. Johnson (12-7, 3.10 ERA last season) had irritation in his right biceps/triceps area three weeks ago and was shut down. — He reported to spring training Saturday …
Discussion:
FishStripes
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Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Auction may be in plans — Ramírez will travel to Atlantic City, says ad — FORT MYERS, Fla. — While Manny Ramírez's teammates are scheduled to be working out here Saturday at the team's player development facility, the Red Sox left fielder is scheduled to appear …
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Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Notes: Manny's March 1 date confirmed — Superstar slugger granted clearance to deal with family issues — FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Red Sox confirmed on Wednesday that Manny Ramirez is dealing with a family issue and the star slugger has been granted clearance from the club to report to Spring Training on March 1.
Discussion:
Fenway Blogger
Lee Jenkins / New York Times:
The Japanese Gyroball Mystery — Most major league pitchers throw a fastball, a curveball, a slider and a changeup. Some mix in a sinker. The experimental ones use a knuckleball. None of them throws a gyroball, at least not on purpose. — For most of the past decade …
Discussion:
The Biz of Baseball
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Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
Finally, the gyroball mystery solved — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - The man who discovered the gyroball wanted to clear up something. The pitch, contrary to its legend that might as well have been cooked up with water from Loch Ness, does not dart 4 feet or dip 2 feet or do the Macarena before it reaches home plate.
Jeff Goldberg / Hartford Courant:
Ortiz's Salary Now A Bargain — But He's Happy With His Deal — FORT MYERS, Fla. — David Ortiz's daughter, Alexandra, turns 6 next month. The little girl loves getting presents, according to her Big Papi. — "When she sees a new box coming into the house, she's opening the box," Ortiz said.
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John Hickey / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Mariners Notebook: Unfazed Hargrove's focus is on team, not Ichiro news — PEORIA, Ariz. — Ichiro Suzuki's revelation that he might explore free agency after the season could have at least two implications for the Mariners clubhouse this year. — The season could proceed as if nothing happened.
Discussion:
U.S.S. Mariner
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Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Notes: Yost picks spring's first starter — Vargas gets nod in Cactus kickoff, but who'll go Opening Day? — PHOENIX — Brewers manager Ned Yost on Wednesday named a starting pitcher for the team's first game, but it was not the opener most fans are interested in.
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Thomas Boswell / Washington Post:
Numbers Might Add Up to One Shot in the Arm — VIERA, Fla. Go on and laugh at the Nats' starting pitchers now while you still have time. Get it out of your system. The surprise of camp so far is the growing realization that the mocked Washington rotation will be better than it was last year.
Jim Moore / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Go 2 Guy: Guardado still steamed at Grover — SARASOTA, Fla. — At the time, he seemed to take it well, as if he understood. Eddie Guardado knew he wasn't pitching well and could see why Mike Hargrove removed him from the closer role. — The Mariners manager said it was temporary …
David Lennon / Newsday:
Mets Spring Training Buzz — One annual rite of spring (training) is that anxious moment when batters finally step in the box to face pitchers, and that happened yesterday when the Mets had their first full-squad workout. Usually, the batters are the ones lagging behind …
Jorge Arangure Jr / Washington Post:
Benson and Orioles Meet to Clear the Air — At Issue Is Partially Torn Rotator Cuff — The first step in starter Kris Benson's rehabilitation program was to repair a potentially fraying relationship with the Baltimore Orioles. Benson, who has a partially torn rotator cuff …
Discussion:
Camden Chat
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Sheffield's trademark stroke settles in — Slugger receives warm welcome from new teammates — LAKELAND, Fla. — Gary Sheffield took his hugs. Then he took his hacks. — For someone who says he has never picked up a bat during the offseason, it was hard to tell on Wednesday.
