Top News:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Playing time no idle chatter for White Sox — Guillen worries that Mackowiak will get rusty in early going — PHOENIX — Ozzie Guillen will face a tough task finding playing time for Rob Mackowiak during the first two weeks of the regular season. The White Sox have three off days ... and a crowded outfield.
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Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Notes: Russell may enter No. 5 race — Righty considered for rotation; Haeger unlikely to earn spot — PHOENIX — The wheel of fifth starter possibilities stopped on Charlie Haeger on Tuesday afternoon, as the knuckleballer faced the A's at Phoenix Municipal Stadium with seemingly every pitch having …
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox glad to ride dark horse — Russell stays in mix as Cooper, Guillen mull their 5th starter — PHOENIX — White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen pulled starter Charlie Haeger during the fourth inning of Tuesday's White Sox-Oakland game so he could look at some of his relievers in specific situations.
Chris De Luca / Chicago Sun Times:
Guillen likes what he sees in right-hander Russell — Russell has done that and more, pushing his way into the mix as a surprise candidate to break camp with the big-leaguers. — ''Adam Russell, enjoy the ride,'' manager Ozzie Guillen said Monday after another solid performance from the hard-throwing right-hander.
Discussion:
The Bard's Room
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats sign Astacio to Minor League deal — Veteran right-hander will start season at Triple-A Columbus — JUPITER, Fla. — In need of pitching depth down the road, the Nationals signed right-hander Pedro Astacio to a non-guaranteed Minor League deal on Tuesday.
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Lewis, Macias among Nationals' cuts — Lydon, Toca, Martinez also given unconditional release — VIERA, Fla. — Pitchers Colby Lewis and Luis Martinez, infielders Jose Macias and Jorge Toca and outfielder Wayne Lydon were unconditionally released on Monday by the Nationals.
Associated Press:
Uecker's Stalker Shows Up At Spring Training Game — PHOENIX — An attorney for a woman ordered to stay away from Brewers' broadcaster Bob Uecker said if Uecker wasn't at the spring training game that she attended Monday, then she wasn't violating the restraining order.
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
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Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Notes: Benitez, Julio eyed in deal — Marlins trying to land veteran reliver before Opening Day — JUPITER, Fla. — Pursuing trade options for a closer remains a real possibility for the Marlins. — Sources continue to say the team has interest in veterans Armando Benitez and Jorge Julio.
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Howard Ulman / Associated Press:
Ramirez auctioning off fancy grill on eBay — FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — How much would you pay to cook up a few steaks on a fancy grill? If you buy it from Manny Ramirez, prepare to shell out about $5,000 or more — but it comes with an autographed baseball.
Discussion:
Yanksfan vs Soxfan
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Tom Withers / Associated Press:
Indians hire formerly imprisoned sportscaster — WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - The Cleveland Indians are taking a chance on a sportscaster fresh out of prison for not paying taxes on gambling earnings. — SportsTime Ohio, a 24-hour TV network owned by the club, announced Tuesday …
Sports Illustrated:
It's anyone's ball game — Freeway World Series beckons as parity grips MLB — Here is a message for George Steinbrenner, Derek Jeter, Brian Cashman and everyone else who has bought in to the Yankees culture that the season is a failure if New York does not win the World Series: The '90s are so over.
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Mailbag: A fan's vote for veteran starters — Plus queries on moving to AL Central, altering the ballpark — All right, two weeks to go before Opening Day. Time for some predictions. Not me, you. Yes, you. For the next three weeks, Monday Morning Manager is going to give you a chance to give your predictions.
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Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Little given one-year contract extension — Dodgers manager rewarded for guiding club to playoffs in '06 — VERO BEACH, Fla. — Grady Little, the Dodgers' surprising hire as manager more than a year ago, was rewarded Tuesday for last season's on-field turnaround with a one-year contract extension.
Jim Molony / MLB.com:
Indians tab Carmona as fifth starter — Demotion of Miller ends competition for final rotation spot — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Adam Miller's re-assignment to Minor League camp Tuesday means the battle for the fifth spot in the Cleveland rotation is officially over.
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Scott Miller / CBS SportsLine.com:
Young Brew Crew thinking two-strike swing, playoffs — Miller: Five things to know — MARYVALE, Ariz. — Among the more unsavory news stories in recent weeks was the item that misconnected toilets in Milwaukee's Miller Park were flushing into the Menomonee River and, eventually, Lake Michigan.
Thomas Boswell / Washington Post:
Angelos Says Plenty — It's better to remain silent and be thought a meddlesome nightmare owner than to speak and remove all doubt. Now the Orioles and their fans know the truth. Peter Angelos hasn't changed. His silence in recent years, the claims of his organization …
MLB.com:
Brewers announce special savings for juniors, seniors and military — Free Terrace level tickets offered to active and retired military personnel — MILWAUKEE — For the third consecutive season, the Milwaukee Brewers will honor members of the United States Armed Forces through Stars …
