Top News:
Aaron / AaronGleeman.com:
Everyone, Meet Ramon Ortiz — As Dennis Green might say, Ramon Ortiz is who we thought he was. On January 22, when the Twins signed Ortiz to a one-year contract worth $3.1 million and handed him a spot in the starting rotation, I wrote the following:
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La Velle E. Neal III / Minneapolis Star Tribune:
Pain, no gain, no Crain — The news got worse for the Twins after the Indians' six-run first, with a key reliever, righthanded setup man Jesse Crain, headed for the DL. — CLEVELAND - Ramon Ortiz might need fixing, but Jesse Crain has broken down. — Crain, a key righthanded setup man …
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
The Mets See How Effective a Zambrano Can Really Be — So, this must have been what the Mets envisioned when they pictured a No. 38-wearing right-handed pitcher from Venezuela with the surname of Zambrano baffling hitters with his amazing stuff. Oh, wait.
Discussion:
NJ.com
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Ian Begley / NY Daily News:
Lastings' latest bad rap — Foul mouth strikes out — Lastings Milledge's rap has gone from bad to worse. — Milledge, who ticked off Met teammates last season with his on and off-the-field antics, has taken poor judgment to a new level, performing on a rap song that would make Don Imus blush.
Discussion:
On the Mets beat
Mike Fitzpatrick / Associated Press:
Chi Cubs 10, NY Mets 1 — NEW YORK (AP) — Aramis Ramirez hit a grand slam and Carlos Zambrano pitched eight sharp innings, sending the Chicago Cubs to a 10-1 rout of the New York Mets on Tuesday night. — Cliff Floyd had three hits and an RBI in his first start at Shea Stadium since spending …
Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Cabrera's weight an issue as slump expands — · Fair or not, just about any fan criticism of the Marlins these days includes Miguel Cabrera's physique among the root problems. — Cabrera is in a slump? Someone will say it's because he's fat. He made an error at third?
Discussion:
FishStripes
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Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Hermida back in right, but Jacobs will go on DL — · The Marlins' revolving door disabled list continued spinning Monday. — Enter Jeremy Hermida, exit Mike Jacobs. — The Hermida part of that equation became official when the Marlins recalled the right fielder …
Discussion:
Marlins Today
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Notes: El Duque's return draws closer — Pitcher throws in simulated game, could be back in two weeks — NEW YORK — Thursday's Mets starter may remain missing in action, but the man originally penciled in for that slot is not. — Orlando Hernandez tossed 60 pitches in a simulated …
Rob Maaddi / Associated Press:
Ruiz's ninth-inning HR lifts Phillies — PHILADELPHIA (AP) — For a rookie, Carlos Ruiz sure has the celebration part down perfect. — Ruiz hit a solo homer with two outs in the ninth inning to lift the Philadelphia Phillies over the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 on Tuesday night.
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John Romano / St. Petersburg Times:
Sternberg's blind ambition tour hits town — I blame Orlando. For Rocco Baldelli's hamstring. For the ball hit over B.J. Upton's head. For James Shields' pitch count. — Mostly, I blame Orlando for the stars in Stuart Sternberg's eyes. — He is a dreamer, your Devil Rays owner.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
USA Today:
Staying in Seattle a 'touchy subject' for Ichiro Suzuki — The wafer-thin Japanese ballplayer with the bewildering swing and intriguing style possesses uncommon ardor, athletic integrity and intelligence. As a bona fide baseball pioneer, he respects the national pastime as if he were an apple pie-and-mom American.
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball
Fox Sports:
Stats mean little in Spring Training — If you take a gander at the Spring Training statistics from any year, you'll find some interesting things. — The Nationals' Shawn HIll, for instance, has a 2.00 ERA after three starts. So may we rightly surmise that Hill is destined for a Cy Young campaign?
Discussion:
The Transaction Guy
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Jays' Litsch excels in debut — Rookie throws eight efficient innings in win over Orioles — TORONTO — Jesse Litsch stood in front of his first Major League locker with his arms crossed and smiled. After what just took place, the Blue Jays rookie could only describe his night one way.
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Stories of D-Backs' Callaspo, wife differ — A police document released Monday offered differing versions of alleged domestic-violence incidents involving Diamondbacks infielder Alberto Callaspo and his wife, a he-said, she-said report that depicts a violent and tumultuous home life.
