Top News:
Kevin Kernan / New York Post:
OWNER: BOSOX CLOSER A ‘MOUSE’ — It's one thing for owners to have a little back-and-forth like John Henry and Hank Steinbrenner did recently in regard to Red Sox Nation vs. Yankees Universe. It's another for a young player to take a shot at an owner. — That's what Jonathan Papelbon, 27, did in criticizing Steinbrenner.
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Kevin Kernan / New York Post:
HANK: WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT — BABY BOSS HAS GIRARDI'S BACK — Don't mess with the Yankees. — That was Hank Steinbrenner's no-nonsense message yesterday. Steinbrenner made it clear that he is firmly in Joe Girardi's corner in the battle of aggressiveness with the Rays …
Discussion:
Associated Press, The Heater, Rays of Light, Green Pinstripes and New York Daily News Blogs
Mark Hale / New York Post:
GIRARDI: I BELIEVE MY PLAYER — SARASOTA, Fla. - Joe Girardi yesterday said he watched the replay of Shelley Duncan's slide from Wednesday and believes Duncan's explanation. — “Shelley told me that he tried to break up the play,” Girardi said. “I saw a similar slide that he made in Toronto …
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
After Receiving Suspension, Duncan Will Face Rays — SARASOTA, Fla. — The Yankees play two games Saturday, one in Lakeland against the Detroit Tigers and one at home against the Tampa Bay Rays. In scheduling Shelley Duncan for the Rays game, the Yankees are essentially daring Tampa Bay to escalate a feud.
Anthony Rieber / Newsday:
Mets' Valentin makes a major plea about his role — JUPITER, Fla. - Jose Valentin knows the Mets have made him no promises. He knows they signed Luis Castillo to a four-year contract to play second base. He also knows he signed a minor-league deal that allows the team to send him down if he doesn't make the Opening Day roster.
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Randolph closes in on opener — JUPITER, Fla. - With 16 days remaining until Opening Day, Willie Randolph believes the moment has arrived for his full squad to begin taking the field together. So the manager summoned Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado together into his office Friday's morning …
Discussion:
New York Post
Andy Katz / ESPN.com:
SEC moves tourney to Georgia Tech — The SEC will take the unprecedented move and have a team play twice in one day in order to conclude the storm-delayed conference tournament in Atlanta before the NCAA tournament selection announcement Sunday at 6 p.m. — Early Saturday morning …
Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers encounter unfinished business in China — Youngsters in China may not be familiar with baseball, but any child can appreciate the potential for noise with a pair of thundersticks. The fans were attending an exhibition game between the Dodgers and San Diego Saturday in Beijing.
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
Box Seat at Yankee Stadium Costs 1029% More Than in '67 — In 1967... Segregationist Lester Maddox was sworn in as Governor of Georgia, Superbowl I was played in the LA Coliseum with the Green Bay Packers defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10, the ABA was formed, Elvis Presley married Priscilla Beaulieu …
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Notebook: Reds have prospects to make noise — Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005. He appears weekly on the FSN Baseball Report and MLB on FOX. — add this — To be a surprise team, you need surprise players. The Reds might open with two in their starting rotation.
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Charlie Nobles / New York Times:
Mets' Schoeneweis Puts Painful Year Behind Him — JUPITER, Fla. — Scott Schoeneweis remembers that when he slipped on a just-watered field in Oakland during the 2005 season, his fellow Toronto pitchers buckled over in laughter. They did not realize that Schoeneweis had just sustained the worst injury of his career.
Anthony Rieber / Newsday:
Mets' Schneider may miss start of season — Mets catcher Brian Schneider admitted Friday that his right hamstring injury could prevent him from starting the regular season on time. (Newsday / David L. Pokress) — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Mets catcher Brian Schneider confirmed on Friday …
