Top News:
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Abreu out 2-3 weeks with injury — Veteran strains right oblique muscle during batting practice — TAMPA, Fla. — Yankees outfielder Bobby Abreu could miss two to three weeks with a strained right oblique muscle, freeing Spring Training at-bats for Melky Cabrera, but not free agent Bernie Williams.
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Associated Press:
Torre: Abreu injury doesn't open door for Bernie — TAMPA, Fla. — Yankees right fielder Bobby Abreu is expected to miss at least two weeks after straining his right oblique during batting practice Monday, an injury manager Joe Torre said won't cause the team to make a new push for Bernie Williams to report.
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Injury updates from Brian Cashman
Injury updates from Brian Cashman
Discussion:
Yanksfan vs Soxfan
Steve Popper / NorthJersey.com:
Peterson helps 'lost' pitcher gain new direction — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — When Oliver Perez arrived in New York last season, he admitted that he was lost. The simplest solution was for Rick Peterson to provide a map. — "If someone says to you, 'I'm lost,' what would be the first thing that you would respond?"
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Mailbag: What's Pedro value to Mets? — Beat reporter Marty Noble answers Mets fans' questions — The statistics you presented in the article about Pedro Martinez were startling, that the Mets' winning percentage in games he's started is not as good as their percentage in their other games.
Discussion:
Shea Faithful
Phil Sheridan / Philly.com:
New scouting tool - Google - nets pitcher — CLEARWATER, Fla. - Baseball scouts look everywhere, from the local high school team to the fields of Japan and Latin America, for prospects. — The Phillies may be the first team to find a player with a Google search.
Discussion:
Balls, Sticks, & Stuff
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Helton weighing in on hefty issue — Tucson - Weight and see. Welcome to Todd Helton's experiment this season. — Helton, mindful of critics and eager to rejuvenate his career, underwent a radical physical transformation, bulking up from his sickness-induced 200 pounds to approximately 230.
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Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Notes: Jacobs focuses on hitting lefties — Marlins first baseman batted .182 off southpaws during 2006 — JUPITER, Fla. — When games begin, Mike Jacobs hopes to get his share of cuts off lefties. — A year ago, Jacobs batted .182 (16-for-88) with two home runs and 11 RBIs off lefty pitching.
Discussion:
FishStripes
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Notes: Milledge's throw steals show — Outfielder's arm overshadows offense in intrasquad game — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The Mets still can swing the bats. The offseason has not changed that, evidenced by developments in the first intrasquad game Monday.
Andrew Glazer / Associated Press:
Honus Wagner baseball card sells for record $2.3 million — LOS ANGELES (AP) — The "Holy Grail of baseball cards," the famous 1909 Honus Wagner tobacco card once owned by hockey great Wayne Gretzky, has sold for a record-setting $2.35 million, the seller of the card said Monday.
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
60 seconds with Marlins' Chris Volstad — Starr writer Joe Capozzi spoke with former Palm Beach Gardens High standout Chris Volstad, the Marlins' top draft pick in 2005. — You had all four wisdom teeth pulled at once in October. Were you being punished? — For me it seemed like it was punishment.
Discussion:
FishStripes
Charlie Nobles / MLB.com:
Mulvey has all the tools to succeed — Tall, hard-throwing righty prospect drawing praise from Mets — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Kevin Mulvey is a rarity for a 21-year-old pitcher. The right-hander, who was the Mets' first pick — in the second round — of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft …
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Notes: Hardy happy to be back — Shortstop goes deep during Monday's intrasquad game — PHOENIX — Yes, it was "only" intrasquad. But it was a game, and that was good enough for Brewers shortstop J.J. Hardy. — Hardy, who couldn't bear to watch the Brewers over the final week of 2006 …
Jim Molony / MLB.com:
Notes: Many options against lefties — Right-handers Mesa, Grilli expected to fill void left by Walker — LAKELAND, Fla. — When the Tigers lost Jamie Walker to free agency over the winter, they lost their best lefty reliever and a pitcher who posted a 2.81 ERA in 56 games.
Discussion:
TigerBlog
Bob Herzog / Newsday:
Minor Leagues — Edgardo Alfonzo joins Ducks — Add former Mets All-Star Edgardo Alfonzo to the flock of Ducks who see the Long Island team in the independent Atlantic League as a stepping stone back to the majors. — The popular infielder known as "Fonzie" yesterday was acquired …