Top News:
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Joba believes he'll begin in bullpen — Righty to discuss his role with Yanks' coaches Wednesday — TAMPA, Fla. — With less than two weeks remaining before the Yankees break camp, Joba Chamberlain believes that he will begin the year in New York's bullpen.
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New York Post:
YANKEES BEAT BOSTON 8-4 — PETTITTE HAS NO PROBLEM WITH ELBOW MUSCLE — Andy Pettitte gave the New York Yankees exactly what they wanted: a pain-free start. — Pettitte allowed three runs and three hits over 3 1-3 innings in the Yankees' 8-4 win over the Boston Red Sox on Monday.
Discussion:
Associated Press
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Dice-K will start opener; Lester in Game 2 — TAMPA, Fla. — Red Sox manager Terry Francona today announced his starting pitchers for the two regular season-opening games in Japan next week: Daisuke Matsuzaka gets the nod on Opening Day in his home country, and Jon Lester will start Game 2.
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Miller remains work in progress — Marlins lefty finds positives to build from in latest start — VERO BEACH, Fla. — He's still a work in progress, but 6-foot-6 Andrew Miller took some steps in the right direction on Sunday afternoon. — The 22-year-old Marlins left-hander showed improvement …
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Mychael Urban / MLB.com:
Linden learns he won't make club — Non-roster invitee was tearing up Cactus League pitching — PHOENIX — First baseman/designated hitter Mike Sweeney got half of the good news he's been hoping for Sunday when the A's informed him he'll be going to Japan with them Wednesday.
Boston Globe:
Beckett: No Japan trip — But he takes step forward on back — Red Sox ace Josh Beckett, who has been bothered by his back, threw from flat ground without pain yesterday and said, “Everything's good. I did everything I wanted to do.” (Charles Krupa/Associated Press)
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Steve Buckley / Boston Herald:
‘Upset’ Varitek moves on without Mirabelli
‘Upset’ Varitek moves on without Mirabelli
Discussion:
Associated Press
Rich Lederer / Baseball Analysts:
Categorizing Pitchers by Strikeout and Groundball Rates: Starters - 2007 Edition — It is no secret that the best outcome for a pitcher is a strikeout. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about that statement of fact. That's the way it has always been and that's the way it will always be.
Cubnut / The Cub Reporter (TCR):
Great Moments In Brian-Roberts-To-Cubs-Trade- Rumor History — “The first test of Andy MacPhail's authority as Orioles president of baseball operations will come if a rival club makes a strong push to acquire second baseman Brian Roberts. — “A year ago, Orioles owner Peter Angelos refused …
Ben McGrath / New Yorker:
NAILS NEVER FAILS — Baseball's most improbable post-career success story. … The first time I met Lenny Dykstra, the former Mets and Phillies star, he nearly stood me up for lunch at the St. Regis Hotel, in New York. Dykstra is a luxury-hotel junkie—a self-proclaimed “robes-and-room-service kind of guy.”
Discussion:
Faith and Fear in Flushing
Will Carroll / Baseball Prospectus:
Team Health Reports — Detroit Tigers — Finding Detroit rated this low seems kind of an oddball, down here in the land of the non-contenders (health division). Hearing that Kansas City or Washington ended up with a bunch of DL days doesn't surprise many people, but the Tigers?
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
David Hinckley / NY Daily News:
A farewell to Dodgertown — VERO BEACH, Fla. - Taking a left off State Highway 60 for the short, slow crawl into the parking lot at Dodgertown, I find the moment more or less matches my expectations. — The anger is gone. — The disappointment, no. — It still hurts.
Discussion:
The Biz of Baseball
Associated Press:
New study says HGH users not getting boost — NEW YORK (AP) — Athletes who take human growth hormone may not be getting the boost they expected. — While growth hormone adds some muscle, it doesn't appear to improve strength or exercise capacity, according to a review of studies that tested the hormone in mostly athletic young men.
Discussion:
Sliding Into Home
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Broken bat makes mess of Delgado — PORT ST. LUCIE - Carlos Delgado needed four stitches to close a bloody gash on his right forearm after he was speared by Brady Clark's broken bat as he led off third base in the third inning of Sunday's 7-4 split-squad win over the Tigers.
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