Top News:
Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Johnson`borderline' to start the season — · Unless Josh Johnson starts feeling better immediately and for the rest of spring training, the Marlins will open the season without him in the rotation. — Saturday, Johnson felt enough soreness in the inside of his forearm to bag a scheduled throwing session.
Discussion:
FishStripes
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Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Marlins' Lindstrom a man on a mission — JUPITER — Think you don't like it when religious folks come knocking on your door? Try having door after door slammed in your face. That's the reception Matt Lindstrom often got after he put his baseball career on hold to serve as a Mormon missionary in Sweden.
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Johnson's inactivity a concern for Marlins — JUPITER — With the Grapefruit League opener just four days away, right-hander Josh Johnson still hasn't thrown off a mound this spring, raising the likelihood that he won't be ready for the start of the season. — "You guys know the math.
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Notes: Mitre working his way back — Righty coming off disappointing 2006 due to shoulder injury — JUPITER, Fla. — Coming out of Spring Training a year ago, Sergio Mitre had emerged as the Marlins' No. 2 starter behind Dontrelle Willis. — The right-hander pitched the second game …
Discussion:
FishStripes
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Tiant isn't expecting call — Veterans vote due tomorrow — FORT MYERS, Fla. — Luis Tiant is not optimistic about his chances when the Hall of Fame Veterans Committee announces the results of its voting tomorrow. — Tiant is among those on a ballot of 27 former major league players nominated …
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Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Notes: Timlin prepared to take the lead — Tavarez, Pineiro, Donnelly to audition in Wednesday's game — FORT MYERS — Mike Timlin is two weeks shy of turning 41. He could never forget that because his age is brought up to him by nearly every reporter who comes in his path.
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Piniella encouraged by Wood's BP session — MESA, Ariz. — For all the new guys in camp for the Cubs, the star attraction during workouts Saturday was an old face. — More encouraging for the Cubs, it was a game face Kerry Wood took to the mound to throw to hitters for the first time this spring.
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NY Daily News:
Arms race puts Bernie out in cold — TAMPA - For what it's worth to Bernie Williams, it wasn't only his advanced age, diminished skills and the desire on the Yankees' part to make Jason Giambi a full-time DH that squeezed him off the roster and into likely retirement.
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Rays veterans want to see those game faces … ST. PETERSBURG - Manager Joe Maddon was not the only one bothered by the lack of professionalism in the Devil Rays clubhouse last season. — Several veteran Rays said Sunday the problem was widespread, most evident in terms of poor pregame preparation …
Newsday:
Wallace Matthews — Modest Omar in spotlight — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The Mets may not have gotten as far as they wanted to last year, but at least their general manager has arrived. — Omar Minaya had an appointment with Gary Smith last night. More accurately, the famously painstaking …
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Donnelly's deliveries can be biting — FORT MYERS, Fla. — He's got a World Series ring. He was the winning pitcher of the 2003 All-Star Game. His lifetime big league record is 23-8 with a 2.87 ERA. Major league batters have hit only .219 against him.
Discussion:
Surviving Grady
Jeff Goldberg / Hartford Courant:
Clement Will Start Throwing Next Week — FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Red Sox begin their exhibition season in a matter of days, but the player most excited to turn the calendar to March isn't going to be playing any time soon. — Matt Clement will be happy just to toss a ball, perhaps as early as next week.
Discussion:
Boston Herald
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Live, from Fort Myers, it's Dice-K — FORT MYERS, Fla. — One of the great things about the pre- game phase of spring training is "live batting practice." It's when hitters step into the batting cage and try to hit real big league pitching. The hurlers give them the courtesy of telling …
Discussion:
Dan Shaughnessy Watch
Mariano Rivera / Boston Globe:
Rivera closing the door on Sox — Yankees closer Mariano Rivera cannot envision himself pitching for the Red Sox after the 2007 season, according to the New York Times: "I don't think so," Rivera told Jack Curry on Saturday. "I respect the players and I respect the organization, but we've had so much happen between us.
