Top News:
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Joe not cool with collision at plate — Elliot Johnson (r.) runs over Yankees minor-league catcher Francisco Cervelli in ninth inning of Saturday's exhibition game ... TAMPA - Joe Girardi was furious after Saturday's game against the Rays, and it had nothing to do with the final score.
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Bill Chastain / MLB.com:
Rays' Zimmer weighs in on collision — Veteran baseball man discouraged by Girardi's comments — ST. PETERSBURG — What happened Saturday remained a topic of conversation with the Rays when club senior baseball advisor Don Zimmer weighed in with his view Sunday.
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Beckett tweaks his back — As a precaution, he's scratched from start — FORT MYERS, Fla. - Red Sox ace Josh Beckett walked to the mound at City of Palms Park yesterday, threw one warm-up pitch, and put his hand to his lower back. He tried five more tosses before alerting catcher Jason Varitek …
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Tony Massarotti / Boston Herald:
Beckett iffy for Japan opener … While expressing optimism about the back injury that forced Josh Beckett [stats] to be scratched from his scheduled spring start yesterday, Red Sox [team stats] manager Terry Francona acknowledged today that the Red Sox will be cautious in determining whether to send Beckett to Japan later this month.
Gordon Wittenmeyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Marmol will close, OF will be acquired — SPRING TRAINING: CUBS — MESA, Ariz. — For all the position battles in camp, the most important one might be playing out in the general manager's office, where Jim Hendry is trying to put the Cubs in position to acquire an outfielder and a certain infielder from Baltimore.
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David Pinto / Baseball Musings:
Crisp Morning — The latest rumor sends Coco Crisp to the Cubs for Jason Marquis and a low level prospect. … Watching the Red Sox pitching moves this spring, signing Colon, looking at Freddy Garcia, and now a rumor about Marquis, I get the feeling they were woefully unprepared for adversity in the starting rotation.
Tom Haudricourt / JSOnline:
Braun making strides — Yost likes his quick progress — Phoenix - Ned Yost was asked Saturday morning if Ryan Braun's play in left field met his expectations this spring. — “No,” replied the Milwaukee Brewers manager. — What's this? Are red flags going up?
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
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T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Rangers sign right-hander Ponson — Veteran will challenge for spot in Texas' starting rotation — SURPRISE, Ariz. — The Rangers have signed veteran right-handed pitcher Sidney Ponson to a Minor League contract and added him to their Spring Training roster.
Dave Van Dyck / Chicago Tribune:
Rowand endorses Crede by the Bay — Says Giants would be prudent to deal for Sox's now-healthy 3rd baseman — TUCSON, Ariz. - Not many players who train in the Phoenix area actually beg for a one-day trip to Tucson, but the Giants' Aaron Rowand did. That gave him a chance to visit …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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Joe Cowley / Chicago Sun Times:2 teams later, Rowand still never far from Sox
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Cook slated for side session Sunday — TUCSON — Precaution turned to optimism Saturday regarding the health of key reliever Luis Vizcaino and starter Aaron Cook, while Jason Hirsh's shoulder remains sore, creating the possibility he won't be ready for the regular season.
NY Daily News:
Buzz about Bonds is Barry funny — PORT ST. LUCIE - The Mets have an immediate hole in left field, and a lineup currently devoid of power with multiple sluggers sidelined with nagging injuries. — But asked last night if there is any remote merit to stories suggesting a pursuit …
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Just paper Tigers - for now — Team appears loaded, but Leyland still wary — He hasn't quite reached the over-the-top passion of Jim Mora's infamous “playoffs?” rant, but Jim Leyland has heard just about enough of the “favorites” adulation regarding his team.
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Role in fraud ruins dreams for Texas Rangers' prospects — egrant@dallasnews.com — SAN PEDRO DE MACORIS, Dominican Republic - On Jan. 30, Omar Beltre, a tremendously talented Texas Rangers prospect, loaded his car for the biggest assignment of his career.
David Laurila / Baseball Prospectus:
Prospectus Q and A: Jeff Luhnow by David Laurila — Jeff Luhnow … David Laurila: After assuming your current role, you said that your joint responsibilities should eliminate the natural tension that exists between scouting and development. Can you expand on that?
