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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.
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Pavano likely to go Opening Day — With Wang on DL, door opens for maligned right-hander — TAMPA, Fla. — The Yankees learned Saturday that their Opening Day starter won't be Chien-Ming Wang, who will miss most of the season's first month with a Grade 1 strain of his right hamstring.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
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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T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Wright handed the fifth spot — Beats out Loe and Chen as final starter in the rotation — SURPRISE, Ariz. — The Rangers fifth starter derby is coming to a close. — The job is going to Jamey Wright. The Rangers just like his stuff and ability too much to risk losing him.
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KnoxNews:
Former baseball pro Bailey dies at 75 — Congressional aide, city councilman diagnosed with cancer 6 months ago — Ed Bailey, former professional baseball catcher and a Knoxville City Council member for 12 years, died at 10 p.m. Friday at Parkwest Medical Center. He was 75.
Discussion:
Cincinnati Reds
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Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
No one's future is secure … ST. PETERSBURG - Jorge Cantu was one of the most productive players in the major leagues in 2005 with 28 homers, 117 RBIs and a .286 average. Despite battling injury much of last season, he still finished third on the team with 62 RBIs and seventh with 14 homers.
Discussion:
RaysTalk
MLB.com:
Unit's debut offers D-backs promise — Ace left-hander gaining strength after offseason back surgery — TUCSON, Ariz. — These were only two innings in a "B" game, but Randy Johnson looked a lot like the Big Unit again. — Returning to Arizona and coming off of back surgery …
Discussion:
AZ Snakepit
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 …
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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