Top News:
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Duncan, Cabrera, Gomes suspended — ‘Violent and reckless’ slide sparks discipline; Girardi fined — SARASOTA, Fla. — Yankees first baseman Shelley Duncan and outfielder Melky Cabrera were each suspended three games for their roles in Wednesday's bench-clearing incident against the Rays.
RELATED:
MLB.com:
Yankees, Rays disciplined — Discipline has been issued to six members of the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays as a result of the bench-clearing incident that occurred during the top of the second inning of their Wednesday, March 12th Spring Training game at Progress Energy Park, Home of Al Lang Field, in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Associated Press:
Duncan, Gomes, Cabrera suspended; Girardi fined — NEW YORK — Yankees center fielder Melky Cabrera and first baseman Shelley Duncan were suspended for three games each for their roles in Wednesday's spring-training fracas between New York and the Tampa Bay Rays.
Barry Jackson / MiamiHerald.com:
Sports bloggers weave a tangled web — Y ears ago, the only way sports fans could have their voices heard by the masses was calling a talk-radio show or writing a letter to the editor. — But expanding technology has provided myriad forums to vent and opine — whether it's launching blogs …
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Pena to start season on DL — Left fielder out at least four weeks with left oblique strain — VIERA, Fla. — Nationals left fielder Wily Mo Pena will likely start the 2008 season on the disabled list due to a Grade 2 strain of his left oblique. It's a significant tear in the muscle, and could take four weeks or more to heal.
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T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Byrd-to-Cubs deal not dead yet — Texas outfielder's slow spring doesn't deter potential suitors — SURPRISE, Ariz. — Rangers outfielder Marlon Byrd has one outspoken supporter. His name is manager Ron Washington and that support hasn't wavered, despite Byrd's slow start this spring.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
Red Sox tag Leicester, Sarfate in O's rain-shortened loss — Leicester surrenders two long home runs; Sarfate retires just one of six Boston batters — FORT MYERS, Fla. - Jon Leicester is viewed as a long shot to win the Orioles' fifth starter competition, so the last thing he can afford to do is let a good opportunity slip away.
RELATED:
Tony Massarotti / Boston Herald:One last drop for Mirabelli — Sox release Wake's catcher
Discussion:
Providence Journal, Basegirl, The Bottom Line, Boston Globe, Boston Dirt Dogs and Knuckle Curve
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:On the fast track? Colon solid in debut
Discussion:
Peter's Red Sox Forever
Sports Illustrated:
Jon Heyman: Rangers struck out for Santana and Hunter — Also in the Daily Scoop... SURPRISE, Ariz. — Several weeks before Johan Santana went to the Mets, the Texas Rangers came very close to making a blockbuster trade for the superstar pitcher, people familiar with those talks say.
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
More reaction from the Yanks (with audio) — Brian Cashman: “I'll take 25 Shelley Duncans. How about that?” — Derek Jeter: “If I were Shelley I wouldn't change the way I play the game. There's no reason to change the way he plays the game.” — Here's the audio from Shelley Duncan's interview.
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Walter Villa / Sports Illustrated:
Mets top prospect Martinez a keeper — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — He's the great Mets hope — the prospect New York refused to trade, not even for arguably the best pitcher in the major leagues. — He's the anti-Lastings Milledge — a young man who has earned the veterans' respect with his hard work and humble nature.
Discussion:
Hot Foot
Roch Kubatko / Baltimore Sun:
Trembley tries wooing two big Birds back to nest — Ripken open to manager's request; B. Robinson not interested in role with team — FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Orioles manager Dave Trembley received commitments from four of the organization's former players to work as spring instructors this year …
Discussion:
Oriole Magic
Extreme Brigs / From the Mixed up Files …:
What's In a Name? (MLB) — Apparently I have too much time on my hands these days. Either way, I won't make a big stink for an introduction. The following is a list of team nicknames in Major League Baseball and where those names come from. I started this research today on a whim and thought I'd share it with you.
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Dempster shaky; Lieber shines — Staff candidates offer two very different outings vs. Halos — ANGELS 6, CUBS 5 — Angels at the plate: Mike Napoli, who had one RBI in six games, hit an RBI triple in the second and scored on Dee Brown's double. Brandon Wood hit his third spring homer …
