Top News:
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Manny clocks in 'early': Silent slugger surprises Sox — FORT MYERS - The sun rose, and the sun set, and Manny Ramirez [stats] showed up yesterday to play baseball for the Red Sox [team stats], who once again opened their arms to their maddening, gifted slugger.
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Jackie MacMullan / Boston Globe:
As always, he's on his own schedule — FORT MYERS, Fla. — At precisely 9:54 a.m. yesterday, catcher Doug Mirabelli came cruising around the corner of the Red Sox clubhouse and stopped in his tracks. — "Whoa!" said Mirabelli, who looked as though he had seen a ghost. — No ghost.
Discussion:
Boston Sports Media Watch
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.
Discussion:
Blogging Baseball, Bronx Banter, The Weblog That Derek Built, Sports Scope and The Baseball Zealot
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Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Injury updates from Brian Cashman
Injury updates from Brian Cashman
Discussion:
Yanksfan vs Soxfan
NY Daily News:
Milledge throws & grows — PORT ST. LUCIE - The throw was a lightning bolt from right, a reminder that just because Lastings Milledge didn't live up to his phenom status last year, it doesn't mean he still can't be a star. — By itself, Milledge's throw in yesterday's intrasquad game …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
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Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
Reliever fires away — Balfour aiming for comeback — Phoenix - Normally a pitching coach doesn't like to see a pitcher "overthrow" on the mound. Mike Maddux made an exception Monday when right-hander Grant Balfour did it, however. — "It's good to see it with a guy coming off surgery …
Discussion:
Around the majors
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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 …
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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Murray Chass / New York Times:
As Season Approaches, Some Topics Should Be Off Limits — Things I don't want to read or hear about anymore: — ¶ Roger Clemens saying he hasn't decided if he will play this year or retire, and if he decides to play, which team he will play for. — Clemens is one of the greatest pitchers ever, the greatest of his era.
Jack Curry / New York Times:
Red Sox Bring in a Friendly Face to Greet Matsui — Hideki Okajima was so eager to discuss coming duels with his old Yomiuri Giants teammate that he waved his hands and nodded his head as he spoke. Okajima, a newly recruited left-handed reliever for the Boston Red Sox, was using Japanese …
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.
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
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Infield to Outfield to Pitcher's Mound — As a lanky 16-year-old third baseman playing in the Dominican Republic town of Salcedo, Jorge Sosa booted four or five balls during one game. After the game, when Paul Egins, a Colorado Rockies official, went over to talk to Sosa …
Michael O'Keeffe / NY Daily News:
It's a Bat Mitzvah! — Ex-Jewish stars to bring hardball to the Holy Land — Miracle Mets' outfielder Art Shamsky says he doesn't know much Hebrew, but he thinks he knows enough for his job in the new Israel Baseball League. — "I learned a few phrases: 'Atah eevair' means …
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Chris Constancio / Hardball Times:
The Best Young Shortstops of 2007 — This week, I will continue my position-by-position review of the game's best players by examining young shortstops. The following list differs from traditional prospect lists in two ways. First, anyone under 25 is eligible.
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