Top News:
Jan Hubbard / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Q&A with Tom Hicks — SURPRISE, Ariz. - Rangers owner Tom Hicks encountered a strong headwind as he flew into Arizona on Friday and because he was 30 minutes late, he missed the first team meeting conducted by new manager Ron Washington. — "I got a little tardy," Hicks said.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
RELATED:
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Rangers like Young at No. 3 — Switching batting order could amount to more run production — egrant@dallasnews.com — SURPRISE, Ariz. - Here's one way to heal a circumspect offense: insert the league's best clutch hitter into a prime run-producing spot.
Discussion:
Baseball Time in Arlington
Associated Press:
Sosa back with team that originally signed him — SURPRISE, Ariz. — Sammy Sosa arrived for spring training with the Texas Rangers early Friday morning, appearing to be in good shape and good spirits after a season out of the game. — The 38-year-old slugger, who ranks fifth on baseball's home-run list …
Discussion:
Batter's Box Interactive …
Tony Massarotti / Boston Herald:
Sox to Curt: Fat chance — Team sticks with wait-and-see tactic — FORT MYERS - When you really stop and think about it, Curt Schilling [stats] never had a chance. Not when he is 40 years old and just one in a strong class of potential free agent pitchers.
Discussion:
Boston Dirt Dogs
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Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Ace's breaking pitch appears to be outside — FORT MYERS, Fla. — Another bizarro day at the Red Sox spring training site. — At 7:30 a.m., Curt Schilling went on his user-friendly radio program to announce that contract extension talks had broken off and he'll be a free agent after the season.
Thomas Boswell / Washington Post:
Getting With the Times Could Hinder Future — The Nationals may no longer have Alfonso Soriano's 46 home runs. Maybe Nick Johnson won't be back until midseason after breaking the biggest bone in his body. And the smooth switch-hitting of Jose Vidro won't be on display at RFK. But look on the bright side.
Discussion:
Oleanders and Morning Glories
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Truth Seeker / CourierPostOnline.com:
Myers fires next derogatory shot at Mets — Phillies notebook — CLEARWATER, Fla — This is starting to get just a bit silly, or as the New York Daily News put it, "Sillie Phillie." In volley five of the give-and-take between the New York Mets and Phillies, the Mets' reaction was characterized as …
Associated Press:
El Duque sidelined with arthritic neck — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez has arthritis in his neck and will be sidelined for three or four days after receiving a cortisone shot. — El Duque, slated to be the No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine …
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Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Eckstein plays on, mindful of the business — JUPITER, FLA. — December 2004 burned a two-week hole in David Eckstein's eternal optimism. — It's still there. — Two years into his term with the Cardinals and eight months shy of possible free agency, Eckstein speaks enthusiastically …
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Slugger vows defense won't take a Holliday — Tucson - As Rockies position players arrive for physicals today, left fielder Matt Holliday discussed the health of his defense. — Holliday, an all-star and a Silver Slugger, knows he must get better. His glove caught plenty of flak last season …
RELATED:
Brooklyn Met Fan:
New Met Slogan Sucks! — When Metsy Betsy, a friend of BMF, mentioned how bad the new Met slogan was I had to see for myself. Sure enough when I went to Mets.com the utterly un-catchy phrase "Your Season Has Come" was splashed across the top of the team website. — "Your Season Has Come"???
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Uribe off the hook, reports to camp — Shortstop cleared in shooting, lawyer says — TUCSON, Ariz. — White Sox shortstop Juan Uribe reported to spring training Friday, looking fit and happy after a winter ordeal in his native Dominican Republic. — Uribe arrived late Thursday night …
Will Carroll / Baseball Prospectus:
Starting Pitchers, Part Two — There's no real need for much of an intro here, but if you really need one, just check out yesterday's. What holds true for the Ones and Twos in major league rotations is true for the Threes, Fours, and Fives. About all that's different for them in many cases is health …
Discussion:
TigerBlog
Janie McCauley / Associated Press:
Ortiz expects win fifth starter job for Giants — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Russ Ortiz expects nothing less than to be in San Francisco's rotation as the fifth starter this season. — That's why he returned to the comfort of his former club for 2007, and the Giants brought him back because they believe he can fill that void.
John Hickey / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Mariners Notebook: Book tells tale of Ichiro's plate production over six years — PEORIA, Ariz. — There is a book on Ichiro Suzuki, just like every player in baseball. — Most books tell a pitcher how to get a hitter out. This book doesn't do that. — His agent, Tony Attanasio, put this book together.
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Notes: Possible platoon not ideal — Outfield logjam may mean reduced playing time for some — PHOENIX — Geoff Jenkins is not the only Brewers outfielder who wants out if the team is planning a platoon. — Kevin Mench, who struggled mightily after a midseason trade from Texas to Milwaukee …
Michael Salfino / sny.tv:
Projecting the Mets' top three starters — As discussed, a look at market forecasts — The consensus view of the Mets is great offense, solid bullpen and shaky starting pitching, with Pedro Martinez's status questionable for 2007 and a return to the mound not expected at all until after the All-Star break.
