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ESPN.com:
Judge unseals Radomski affidavit … Grimsley Federal Agent's Affidavit Unsealed — As the Jason Grimsley affidavit was being unsealed in Arizona on Thursday, showing that the former journeyman pitcher did not name Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte as drug users, the equally notorious Kirk Radomski affidavit …
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The MLB Source
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ESPN:
Jeter warns against rush to judgment on Clemens — Two of Roger Clemens' teammates on the New York Yankees defended the embattled pitcher on Thursday, the same day his lawyer unleashed another attack on media reports linking the seven-time Cy Young Award winner with the use of performance-enhancing drugs.
ESPN.com:
Affidavit: Grimsley names Canseco, 3 others — Grimsley Federal Agent's Affidavit Unsealed — NEW YORK — Jose Canseco, Lenny Dykstra, Glenallen Hill and Geronimo Berroa were accused of using steroids by former major league pitcher Jason Grimsley in a federal agent's affidavit unsealed Thursday.
Discussion:
Sox and Pinstripes, Pinstripe Alley, Lady At The Bat, The LoHud Yankees Blog and Associated Press
Peter Botte / NY Daily News:
Brian Schneider wants cheaters caught — Brian Schneider has friends and former teammates who were named in the Mitchell Report, and he's replacing another, Paul Lo Duca, as the Mets' starting catcher. — On Thursday, Schneider displayed no sympathy for those implicated in baseball's ongoing performance-enhancing drugs mess.
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John Peterson / Mets Geek:
Who Are These Mets? — It's no secret that baseball is changing. Only four years after the publication of Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game, baseball is overrun by spreadsheet-using stat geeks. However, the best organizations are the ones that combine statistical analysis with a strong scouting base.
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Schneider changes Mets behind plate — New backstop known for defense, ability to handle pitchers — NEW YORK — Scouting report on Brian Schneider: Above-average arm, good receiver, take-charge guy, modest extra-base power, makes contact, troubled by left-handed pitching, no threat on the bases, knows the game, has a conscience.
Jack Curry / New York Times:
Election 2013 (or Later): Debates Already in Swing — The future is uncertain for Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. Bonds could end up in prison if he is found guilty of felony charges of perjury or obstruction of justice for lying to a grand jury about using steroids.
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Bob Klapisch / NorthJersey.com:
Gossage delivers hardball blast to Roger, Bonds — If anyone deserves a Hall of Fame soapbox this week, it's Goose Gossage, the can't-miss candidate on the 2007 ballot. The former Yankee reliever is all but inducted, having pulled in 71 percent of the vote last year.
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Tribune Co. to sell Cubs before season — New CEO also says naming rights to Wrigley might be sold — CHICAGO — Tribune Co.'s new CEO Sam Zell said the Cubs will be sold by Opening Day, and that he may sell naming rights to Wrigley Field because such rights could be “extraordinarily valuable.”
Ben K. / River Ave. Blues:
Olney: Yanks plan to start Joba in the pen — Scroll past the PED talk in Buster Olney's latest blog entry, and you will arrive at a tidbit about Joba Chamberlain. The Yankees, Olney reports, plan to start the season with Joba in the pen. They just can't quit him. … Our initial reaction is one of fear.
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Padres make case as front-runners for ex-Cubs ace Prior … The San Diego Padres appear to be the front-runner to sign pitcher Mark Prior, who figures to make a final choice among many offers very soon, perhaps within the next 24-48 hours. — The Padres have offered a modest base salary plus …
USA Today:
Final column wraps up a lifetime in baseball — After 25 years this is my final column for USA TODAY. There have been nearly 2,600 of them — some good, some awful, but none lacking my dedication and enthusiasm to inform and entertain our readers about the best game ever created.
YOU BEEN BLINDED:
ALEX RODRIGUEZ HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE — Back in the day.. Before Alex Rodriguez fired Scott Boras, before Alex Rodriguez opted out of his Yankees contract during the World Series, before Jose Canseco said he had steroid related dirt on A-Rod, before Alex was seen with the chick with the tig 'o bitties …
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Red Sox Monster
Associated Press:
Papelbon: Boss took bite of World Series history — BOSTON - The World Series ball is gone, and Jonathan Papelbon [stats] has an excuse: My dog ate it. — Farfetched or not, that's what the Red Sox [team stats] closer insists happened to the souvenir from the final out of Boston's sweep this year.
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Tim Dierkes / MLB Trade Rumors:
2009 MLB Free Agents — Presenting...your 2009 free agent class. It's fun to look ahead, even if many of these guys will be off the market a year from now. — I've categorized them by position; the player's 2009 age is in parentheses. If I saw someone as a possibility at more than one position I put them at both.
MLB.com:
Brewers acquire free agent Gabe Kapler — Veteran outfielder signs one-year contract — MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Brewers today signed outfielder Gabe Kapler to a one-year contract. The announcement was made by Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Melvin.
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