Top News:
ESPN:
Dodger blues: LaRoche out 2 months; Nomar hit — VERO BEACH, Fla. — This wasn't the way the Los Angeles Dodgers envisioned the competition for starting third baseman would play out. — Andy LaRoche, who was vying with Nomar Garciaparra for the job, tore a ligament in his right thumb Friday …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
RELATED:
The Cheat / South Side Sox:
Did the market for Crede just get larger? — There has been talk that the Dodgers, who have an increasingly ineffective Nomar Garciapara and the injured Andy LaRoche (out 8-10 weeks) at 3B, have expressed interest in the Tigers' displaced 3B Brandon Inge. Like Robothal, I struggled to see how and why the Dodgers would make that move.
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Rivera's a Closer With an Open Heart — TAMPA, Fla. — The dollars were staggering, the richest deal for a closer, the reward for a decade of sterling service and the lightning still left in his right arm. — But the money was the least important part of Mariano Rivera's November.
Carter Gaddis / TBO.com:
Rays Exploring Contingency Plans For Rocco — ST. PETERSBURG - As OF Rocco Baldelli's uncertain availability continues to be an issue for the Rays, the contingency plans they've explored since before spring training began are coming more and more into play.
Anthony Rieber / On the Yankees beat:
Four down, 35 to go — The Yankees sent four pitchers to the minor-league camp before the game: — Daniel McCutchen (one scoreless inning in spring training) — Steven Jackson (one scoreless inning) — Steven White (six earned runs in three innings) — Scott Strickland (injured/didn't pitch)
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Vizcaino joins Cook in trainer's room — SURPRISE, ARIZ. — Because it's March 7, there's no panic. But the National League champions are dealing with their first adversity, beset by injuries. Reliever Luis Vizcaino, the club's top offseason acquisition, sat in the trainer's room with ice …
Alex Speier / Boston Herald:
Position fight pains Coco — CF: I've played hurt — FORT MYERS - The sore groin and the root canal that have sidelined him since March 2 seemed painful enough. But it is discomfort of another sort that is of even greater concern to Coco Crisp [stats].
Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
Set to pay a princely price tag — Attanasio aims to keep Fielder in Milwaukee — Phoenix - Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio said Friday that he did not think Prince Fielder's unhappiness with his current contract would affect the slugging first baseman's relationship with the club in the future.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
ESPN.com:
Beckett leaves game after back spasms flare up — FORT MYERS, Fla. — Josh Beckett's back went into spasm while warming up for Saturday's spring training game. The Boston Red Sox ace left without facing a Florida Marlins batter. — Beckett seemed to lose his footing on his last warmup pitch …
Amy K. Nelson / ESPN:
Road to recovery has been painfully slow for Liriano … FORT MYERS, Fla. — The future of the Minnesota Twins' franchise watched telenovelas (Spanish-speaking soap operas) for entertainment and comfort; he went out to eat, often alone, to avoid a kitchen he could not navigate …
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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Kevin Kernan / New York Post:
WEAPONS OF MASS DISTRACTION — YANKS WORRIED OVER JOBA'S FOCUS — This is a new season and a new set of Joba Rules. — Manager Joe Girardi and GM Brian Cashman made that clear yesterday. They want Joba Chamberlain to continue to be his outgoing self - but they also want to make sure …
Discussion:
WasWatching.com
NY Daily News:
Jose Canseco to meet with BALCO busting IRS agent about Roger Clemens — HOUSTON - The eyes of the federal government are not just on Texas. — As investigators cast a wide net to determine whether Roger Clemens perjured himself by swearing under oath that he had never used performance-enhancing drugs …
Discussion:
The MLB Source
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs to play on the South Side? Could happen — Wrigley rehab would force team into temporary home — MESA, Ariz. - The Cubs are hoping to play at least part of a season at U.S. Cellular Field during the proposed reconstruction of Wrigley Field, assuming they succeed in their plan …
Jim Street / MLB.com:
Notes: Lefties vying for relief role — Candidates include O'Flaherty, Jimenez and Feierabend — MESA, Ariz. — Manager John McLaren is taking a different approach in selecting a left-handed setup reliever than he used when arranging the numerical order of the starting rotation.
Discussion:
Lookout Landing
