Top News:
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
You might want to sit down ... It looks like the Opening Day pitcher for the Yankees could be the Rajah of Rehab himself, Carl Anthony Pavano. — Mike Mussina pitched today and will start again on Thursday. Joe Torre just said they would not start him on April 2 on three days' rest.
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Associated Press:
Yanks put Wang on disabled list with hamstring pull — TAMPA, Fla. — With Chien-Ming Wang headed to the disabled list, Carl Pavano could end up being the New York Yankees' opening-day starter. — Wang, a 19-game winner last year and runner-up for the AL Cy Young Award, will begin the season on the DL with a right hamstring injury.
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Numbers Only Tell Part of the Story for Pavano — The catcher sees the whole field, which was useful for Jorge Posada in the bottom of the fifth inning Thursday at Ed Smith Stadium. Posada, the Yankees' catcher, looked to the mound and thought he saw a cluster of bubbles. Only bubbles do not buzz.
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Smith, Sele to join Park in bullpen — Korean righty would rather start; Pelfrey likely No. 5 starter — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The Mets' 2007 bullpen, likely to be a state of flux into the summer, on Saturday appears to have a semblance of definition for the first time.
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Macon Telegraph:
Notebook: Davies shuts down Phillies, eyes fifth spot — CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Atlanta Braves don't have too many roster decisions to make entering the regular season, but the one concerning their fifth starter - between Kyle Davies and Lance Cormier - is going to be a doozy.
Discussion:
Braves Journal
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Nats' Ace Not Used to Being the One — Never mind, the Washington Nationals say, that John Patterson's pitches sailed in and out, up and down, in the fourth inning Friday afternoon. Forget that he needed 30 pitches to get out of that inning, that he required 72 to get through his four-inning outing …
Discussion:
William World News
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Associated Press:
Royals send Berroa to Triple-A Omaha — SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals optioned shortstop Angel Berroa, the 2003 American League Rookie of the Year, to Triple-A Omaha on Saturday. — The demotion came one day after the Royals acquired Tony Pena Jr. in a trade with the Atlanta Braves.
Discussion:
MLB News Blog
Andrew Baggarly / Contra Costa Times:
Zito's complex diet plan is out-of-this-world fuel — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - What fuels Barry Zito? — Is it his desire to excel? Or the pressure of living up to a $126 million contract, the richest ever given to a pitcher? — Well, literally, what fuels Zito is a chocolate cherry muffin …
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Piniella puts light knock on Wood — Manager, pitcher disagree on roster — MESA, Ariz. — Kerry Wood and Mark Prior are ready to start the season with the Cubs. At least they think so. — Whether manager Lou Piniella agrees remains to be seen. One day after Prior returned from a 12 …
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Rangers send Volquez to Class A — Decision made in hopes that prospect will fix his control issues — egrant@dallasnews.com — SURPRISE, Ariz. - In an attempt to resurrect the career of once-prized prospect Edinson Volquez, the Rangers are sending him all the way back to Class A.
RELATED:
Barry Wittenstein / MLB.com:
Take a journey with a baseball legend — Biographical accounts of Buck O'Neil a guaranteed page-turner — Truth be told, a thousand writers probably could have traveled across the country with Buck O'Neil over the period of a year and written a book about it.
Tracy Ringolsby / Rocky Mountain News:
Rockies shake up roster — Sullivan, Barmes sent to Triple-A; Fogg No. 5 starter — TUCSON - The Rockies made a statement Friday that reinforced their belief that they upgraded their roster for the 2007 season. — Center fielder Cory Sullivan and shortstop Clint Barmes …
Roch Kubatko / Baltimore Sun:
O's Walker providing relief off field, too — FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. // A sign is taped to the back of a large glass beverage cabinet in the Orioles' clubhouse that faces reliever Jamie Walker's spring training locker. He can't turn his head to the left without staring directly at it.
