Top News:
ESPN:
Red Sox will send Papelbon back to bullpen — The Boston Red Sox didn't have to search long for Mike Timlin's replacement as closer. — Two days after announcing that the 41-year-old Timlin will start the season on the disabled list, multiple team sources told ESPN's Erin Andrews …
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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 …
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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.
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 …
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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:
Discussion:
Fire Brand of the …, Surviving Grady, The Soxaholix, Peter's Red Sox Forever and Random Thoughts
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
McCann's the man for Braves — All-Star catcher signs six-year, $27.8 million contract extension — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Braves All-Star catcher Brian McCann has lived in Atlanta throughout most of his life, and it appears he'll continue playing there through at least the end of the 2012 season.
Geoff Young / Hardball Times:
Five Questions: San Diego Padres — I have no witty introduction. I have only questions. Here are five of them. — 1. Can Bud Black manage? — I'm sure the Padres hope so, but I don't know. None of us does, because he's never done it at any level.
Discussion:
The Padre Post
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Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Furcal injures ankle in collision — Dodgers shortstop collides with Repko in pursuit of blooper — VERO BEACH, Fla. — Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal was carted off the field with a left ankle injury sustained when he collided with center fielder Jason Repko in the first inning of Thursday's game against Baltimore.
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.
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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
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.
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Derek Jacques / Baseball Prospectus:
How the Tampa Bay Devil Rays Can Win the World Series — Will talks with Derek Jacques about the Devil Rays' chances on Baseball Prospectus Radio. Click to download the mp3. — Is there a fan base in America to whom the concept of Hope and Faith would seem more far-fetched than it would to supporters of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays?
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 …
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Yankees Want Rodriguez to Stay, but Won't Sweeten His Deal — Alex Rodriguez has often said he is proud of his contract, and it is easy to see why. It is not only the richest deal in baseball history, but it provides him a chance to make still more money for even more years.
Discussion:
Athletic Supporters
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 …
Jeff Sackmann / Beyond the Box Score:
2007 Team Preview: St Louis Cardinals — Coming: — Adam Kennedy, Kip Wells, Russ Springer, Ryan Franklin, Randy Keisler — Going: — Jeff Suppan, Ron Belliard, Jason Marquis, Jeff Weaver — The Cardinals In a Nutshell: — It's a sports truism that you don't count out last year's champs.
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
