Top News:
Karen Guregian / Boston Herald:
Shoulder to lean on: Pap ready to be fallback closer — FORT MYERS - The closer situation has left Red Sox [team stats] fans tossing and turning at night. The Sox are wrestling with it, too, because it's a problem that hasn't been resolved during the first month of spring training. — Red Sox forum:
RELATED:
ESPN:
Cardinals manager arrested for DUI in Florida — JUPITER, Fla. — St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa was arrested early Thursday and charged with misdemeanor DUI after he was found asleep at the wheel in his running SUV at a green light. — La Russa's SUV was stopped at a light that …
RELATED:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
La Russa arrested on drunk-driving charge — JUPITER, Fla. — Cardinals manager Tony La Russa was jailed by the Palm Beach County sheriff's department early Thursday morning on charges of suspicion of driving under the influence, according to a police report obtained by the Post-Dispatch.
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Sosa remains Cub at heart — Fans' reaction mixed, but 'I'm so grateful for that city,' Rangers' No. 21 says of Chicago — MESA, Ariz. — Sammy Sosa got warm welcomes from Cubs general manager Jim Hendry, team president John McDonough and pitcher Carlos Zambrano on the field before his first game at HoHoKam Park in three years.
RELATED:
Ken Mandel / MLB.com:
Garcia leaves with right bicep tightness — Righty departs after one inning, returns to Clearwater for exam — DUNEDIN, Fla. — Hours after the Phillies announced that Jon Lieber would pitch out of the bullpen to start the season, starter Freddy Garcia left Wednesday night's game …
Discussion:
Associated Press, Blogging Baseball, Philling Station, I've Made a Huge Tiny Mistake and South Side Sox
RELATED:
ESPN:
Lieber might start season in Phillies' bullpen — CLEARWATER, Fla. — Ending weeks of speculation, Jon Lieber was told on Wednesday that he's going to the bullpen because the Philadelphia Phillies have six starters. — "I'm disappointed," Lieber said Wednesday. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't.
Discussion:
Oriole Post
Baseball America:
National League Preview — This should be the year that the Phillies finally get to the playoffs, the Brewers' youngster turn into winners and the Dodgers take another step forward. — EASTERN DIVISION — PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES — QUICK TAKE: After near misses the last four years …
RELATED:
Karen Guregian / Boston Herald:
Pedro: It's not over yet — Former ace talks rehab, Matsuzaka and all things Sox — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - The early returns favor the Red Sox [team stats], but Pedro Martinez isn't about to throw in the towel and concede that his former team made the right move by not signing him to a multi-year deal …
Discussion:
The Eddie Kranepool Society
Jon Weisman / Hardball Times:
Five Questions: Los Angeles Dodgers — Thrill of victory? Agony of defeat? The Los Angeles Dodgers had it all in the wide, wide world of 2006. They produced this decade's nominee for Game of the Century with September's 4+1 game: four consecutive solo home runs in the bottom of the ninth …
Discussion:
Dem Bums
RELATED:
Bob Dutton / Kansas City Star:
Berroa may lose his job — Royals officials are believed to be looking for an alternative at shortstop. — SURPRISE, Ariz. | Shortstop Angel Berroa's ongoing struggles have the Royals working overtime to find an alternative. Club officials are believed to have put together of list …
Discussion:
D-Town Baseball
Boston Herald:
MLB: Yankees won't extend A-Rod's contract — The Yankees don't intend to offer Alex Rodriguez a contract extension, leaving him the option of opting out of his deal after the season and becoming a free agent. — "He has a decision to make,"said Yankees general manager Brian Cashman.
Discussion:
Babes Love Baseball
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
How do the A's and Twins keep winning? — For a long time, the perception in baseball was money equals success. — We've always had a handful of counterexamples — teams that failed despite high payrolls and teams that thrived despite shoestring budgets — but the notion persisted.
Richard Sandomir / New York Times:
Baseball Lays Off Cable Operators' Pitch — Major League Baseball spurned a revised offer by leading cable operators yesterday to retain the Extra Innings package of out-of-market games, which may now become the exclusive satellite domain of DirecTV. — The rejection sets up two showdowns …
Discussion:
Deadspin
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Nationals want equal return for Cordero — The Rockies, seeking to acquire a setup man, are interested in Nationals closer Chad Cordero, but a trade appears unlikely, major-league sources tell FOXSports.com. — The Nationals have been scouting the Rockies in recent days …
Tracy Ringolsby / Rocky Mountain News:
Fogg auditions for starting role — Rockies trying to deal Kim, but interest minimal — TUCSON - Josh Fogg has made a strong case for the Rockies' fifth-starter job. — Now it's up to the Rockies to make room. — With spring training winding down, general manager Dan O'Dowd is trying …
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Better glove earns Cedeno roster spot — Shortstop's work with Trammell clicks — MESA, Ariz. — Ronny Cedeno struggled last year after being handed the starting shortstop job in the off-season and was considered a long shot to make the team when camp opened in mid-February.
Sports Illustrated:
NCAA Basketball Scouting Reports — The three dirtiest words around Astros camp this year: World Baseball Classic. — Last March, nearly four weeks before he normally would pitch in a meaningful game, closer Brad Lidge was called on to close a first-round game against Mexico in the inaugural WBC.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Notes: Nats make roster changes — Club adds Fick, Belliard to 40-man roster, cuts three others — JUPITER, Fla. — The Nationals trimmed their roster to 38 players and added to two others to their 40-man roster on Wednesday night. — Washington purchased the contracts of infielders Ronnie Belliard …
