Top News:
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Papelbon to return as closer — Red Sox fill vacancy with last year's standout reliever — CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Red Sox announced a resolution to their much-discussed closer dilemma with a retro decision following Thursday's exhibition game against the Phillies: Jonathan Papelbon …
Discussion:
Projo SoxBlog, The Bronx Block, The Baseball Desert, Pinstripe Alley, Empyreal Environs and Boston Herald
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Curt Schilling / 38 Pitches:
Paps to the Pen — No it wasn't a rash decision brought about by uncertainty. I can promise you there were many meetings involving many people that occurred before this took place. — Paps wanted to close because that's where he felt he helped the team best, but he had no issues or problems being a starter either.
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Going back to 'pen a gamble for Papelbon — Here's the question: If the Red Sox had acquired a quality closer, would Jonathan Papelbon have been losing sleep at night, itching to return to his former role? — Doubtful. — Papelbon, 26, says otherwise. Maybe his return to closing will work out for the best.
Discussion:
Projo SoxBlog
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
In the end, Red Sox make logical choice — FORT MYERS, Fla. — No harm, no foul. — The Red Sox, who named Jonathan Papelbon closer yesterday, did their due diligence throughout spring training. They kicked the tires to see if someone could emerge as the closer, whether it was Joel Pineiro …
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 …
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Rangers' fifth starter still uncertain — Rotation's final piece remains a mystery; Young's return is brief — egrant@dallasnews.com — MESA, Ariz. - Fifth Starter Mystery Theater rolls on with another twist in the still unsolved case. — Kameron Loe was scratched from his scheduled start Thursday …
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Notes: Williams helps his cause — Righty nears solid rotation spot with another impressive outing — KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Right-hander Jerome Williams inched closer to joining the Nationals' starting rotation on Thursday. Williams had his second consecutive solid outing …
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
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Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Rule 5 Pickups Thriving — As the Washington Nationals roster continues to take shape, it is becoming clearer that the team is almost certain to carry a pair of players selected in December's Rule 5 draft — right-hander Levale Speigner and catcher Jesus Flores.
Discussion:
William World News
John Hickey / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Mariners Notebook: Good session for relievers — Rhodes further along than Putz in nursing sore elbow — TUCSON, Ariz. — There was a little unexpected pain when ailing relievers J.J. Putz and Arthur Rhodes threw on flat ground Wednesday morning. — The pair threw from distances up to 125 feet …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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John Brattain / Hardball Times:
Mirror Mirror — The death of former commissioner Bowie Kuhn caused a lot of reflection in baseball circles about his contributions (or lack thereof) to the sport. Kuhn will always be linked in the minds of many to his foil—Marvin Miller, former executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association.
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Associated Press:
All-Star McCann signs six-year deal with Braves — KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The Atlanta Braves made a long-term commitment to Brian McCann, agreeing Thursday to a $26.8 million, six-year contract with the All-Star catcher. — The deal with McCann, who has less than two years of major league service, includes a club option for 2013.
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Sports Illustrated:
Schilling unfiltered — Ace pulls no punches in joining baseball blogosphere — More than any other sport, baseball has always produced great writing, but the immediacy of blogs are ideally suited to baseball's long season. "This ain't football," Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver once said, "We do this every day."
Jeff Passan / Yahoo! Sports:
National disaster — VIERA, Fla. - Sometimes there are those telephone conversations you wish took place face to face. The person on the other end is so incredulous, so frustrated, so spitting angry that you know he is sporting a look - like the worst bitter-beer face known to man - words can't do justice.
David Gassko / Hardball Times:
Five Questions: Colorado Rockies — 1. Are the Rockies rebuilding yet again? — How many rebuilding plans have the Rockies had? Too many to count, for sure, at least not without upsetting every baseball fan in the state of Colorado. And it seems like yet again, the Rockies have decided to wait 'til next year.
Discussion:
Purple Row
Baseball America:
APR Spurs Proposal That Would Have Wide-Ranging Effects — Division I coaches were promised at January's American Baseball Coaches Association convention that big changes were on the way as a result of baseball's poor score in the NCAA's Academic Progress Rate. Two months later, it's clear that was more than just grandiose talk.
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Podsednik enjoys flashback to '05 — Leadoff man playing with confidence again after rough '06 season — TUCSON, Ariz. — While non-roster invitee Adam Russell has opened some eyes around White Sox spring camp, another late bloomer has created comparable excitement.
