Top News:
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Papelbon takes closing argument — CLEARWATER, Fla. — Case closed. The Red Sox have a closer, and if Jonathan Papelbon has his way, he'll be making last call for at least the next 10 years. — According to the principals, the Red Sox determined that closing no longer posed the same medical risk …
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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.
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 …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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 …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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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 …
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Barry Svrluga / Nationals Journal:
Left-over bits and pieces — So I would post the lineups for the game against the Astros, but that would be ... well, about 14 hours too late. Quite a display by the boys last night in a 16-2 win. Yes, everybody could get caught up in Jesus Flores hitting .500 on the spring and Ryan Church taking …
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 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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Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
Selig hedges slightly on retirement — NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball commissioner Bud Selig hedged slightly on his retirement plans Thursday, saying he intends to leave in 2009 but that he's learned "never to say never." — The 72-year-old Selig has been in charge of baseball since 1992, when he became acting commissioner.
Discussion:
The Biz of Baseball
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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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.
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Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
McCann's the man for Braves — All-Star catcher agrees to six-year contract extension — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — 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.
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Dave Hoekstra / Chicago Sun Times:
'October' finds comedy in Cubs' futility — The docu-comedy "Chasing October" is a timeless proposition. Being a Cubs fan goes beyond October, November and into a burden that becomes Wrigley gum on life's shoe. — Inspired by a ghostly visit from Harry Caray, filmmaker Matt Liston set …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
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
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Spring Training: Burnett's bid for spot in pitching rotation is trickier than it seems — Pitcher Sean Burnett has been working this spring to regain his position in the Pirates' rotation. — By Paul Meyer, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — DUNEDIN, Fla. — Before there was Zach Duke, there was Sean Burnett.
