Top News:
Erin Smith / Cambridge Chronicle & Cambridge …:
Red Sox mob beats up Yankees fan in Cambridge — The official start to the 2008 baseball season is about a month away, but the age-old rivalry between the Yankees and Red Sox is already getting ugly. — Cantabrigia blog: Share your thoughts — A group of men — some with Irish accents …
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Paul Quinlan / Palm Beach Post:
Red Sox scout accused of lewd behavior — PORT ST. LUCIE — A Boston Red Sox scout was arrested, accused of masturbating at the window of his hotel room in front of two women and two underage girls at the swimming pool, records show. — Jesse Levis, 39, faces two felony charges …
Sports Illustrated:
Heavy expectations (cont.) — Around the camps — • Before Manny Ramirez switched agents to Scott Boras, Ramirez dialed up his fellow South Florida resident Alex Rodriguez to make sure he was doing the right thing. Though A-Rod has said publicly that he disagreed …
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Sports Illustrated:
Heavy expectations (cont.) — Nonetheless, Sabathia appears to remain unfazed by the pressure of his walk year. He knows that whatever transpires, riches lie ahead. After a rough spring opener, he and his boyhood pal from Oakland, Dontrelle Willis, joked and compared notes outside the cramped visitors clubhouse here.
Discussion:
Bugs & Cranks
Dan Caesar / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Run of Bucks broadcasting Cardinals comes to an end — For the first time since 1960, there won't be a Buck in a Cardinals broadcast booth this year. — Joe Buck, who had been doing the play-by-play for a few Redbirds games on FSN Midwest in recent seasons, has decided not to return …
Ken Mandel / MLB.com:
Lopes to undergo cancer surgery — First-base coach will be away from team for at least six weeks — CLEARWATER, Fla. — Amid the sun and palm trees, distressing news lurked when the Phillies announced Monday that first-base coach Davey Lopes will undergo prostate cancer surgery later this month.
Bob Klapisch / ESPN:
Yankees buying into new way of doing things under Girardi — TAMPA, Fla. — From the day he walked into his new office at Legends Field, Joe Girardi has strived to put his own imprint on the Yankees — distancing himself from Joe Torre, without diminishing the legacy of the most successful Yankees manager of the past 50 years.
MLB.com:
Mets to make Shea Stadium smoke-free for final season — FLUSHING — The New York Mets today announced that Shea Stadium will become smoke-free during the Mets' final season in their longtime home. The 2008 smoking prohibition will encompass all areas within Shea, including the ramps.
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Lineup for today's game — Pitching — Notes: Mariano Rivera will throw batting practice at 10:30 a.m. in Tampa. He will get in his first game on Friday or Saturday. ... Hideki Matsui (stiff neck) will skip BP again today. Joe Girardi said Matsui could get in a game early next week.
Baseball Analysts:
Two on Two: 2008 AL West Preview — This week's edition of the annual Two on Two series focuses on the American League West. We were thrilled with the way last week's discussion on the NL West went, and we think we have assembled a similarly excellent ensemble for readers this week.
Discussion:
U.S.S. Mariner
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Inexplicably, the game has started again — It's raining at Knology Park. Not drizzling, raining. Yet they have started the game up again. Every starter for the Yankees is out except Shelley Duncan and Bernie Castro. — Phil Hughes threw 30 pitches under cover to complete his day.
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Moose caught in spring trap — KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Giving up five runs over two-plus innings is generally a cause for concern for a pitcher. Unless that outing takes place in the first week of March, of course. — To say that Mike Mussina was pleased with his performance against the Astros Monday …
Discussion:
NJ.com
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Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
PSL: Thoughts from Inside the Locker Room — ...the locker room is a strange but easy-going place...it's an awkward collision of men getting dressed for work, and other men standing around, looking around, wandering around with note pads and voice recorders waiting for something to happen...
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Rivera throws batting practice — Hung back at Tampa to watch Mariano Rivera throw live BP. — With pitching coach Dave Eiland watching closely from behind the mound, Rivera threw 36 pitches to Wilson Betemit, Francisco Cervelli and Jason Lane. — “I felt fine, it was good,” said Rivera …
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Notes: Gagne feeling good already — Reliever not worried about hand dryness in Ariz. weather — PHOENIX — After working a scoreless inning in a “B” game Monday morning, new Brewers closer Eric Gagne was on pace for about 10 appearances this spring. He said he only needs half that to be ready.
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