Top News:
Michael Phillips / MLB.com:
Yanks ease VT back toward normalcy — Pride restored to college community as one-year mark nears — BLACKSBURG, Va. — To get to the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, follow the highway until it becomes a four-lane road, then follow that until it's a two-lane road, then drive a little while longer.
Discussion:
Sliding Into Home
RELATED:
Kobrien / On the Yankees beat:
A moving day — Hurrying to catch a plane, so I'm just going to post part of my story for tomorrow's paper: — BLACKSBURG, Virg. - The crowd of 5,500 that had gathered at Virginia Tech's English Field to watch their Hokies face the Yankees in an exhibition game grew silent as 32 large orange balloons were released into the air.
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:Yankees honored to visit Va. Tech
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog, ESPN, The Biz of Baseball, Associated Press, iYankees, River Ave. Blues and Sliding Into Home
David Lennon / On the Mets beat:
Who's No. 5? — Well, the Mets still aren't saying, which means that Orlando Hernandez has to somehow convince them he's capable of the fifth starter's job in the next two weeks. Today's simulated game was inconclusive. Hernandez topped out at 81 mph — no joke — and the majority …
RELATED:
John Fay / Reds Insider:
Rumors mill — The press room at Ed Smith Stadium also serves as the lunch room for media, scouts and front office people, so it's a breeding ground for rumors. — Here's one I heard today: The Reds are actively seeking a catcher. — That serves to reason. They've got to be concerned about David Ross' back.
Spring Training / Associated Press:
Union to examine lack of offers to Bonds — TEMPE, Ariz. (AP)—The lack of offers to Barry Bonds will be examined by the baseball players' association as part of its annual review of the free-agent market. — Less than two weeks before opening day, the 43-year-old home run king remains unsigned.
Boston Herald:
No. 2 Lester to arrive late — FORT MYERS - For Jon Lester [stats], there is a price to be paid for being named the Red Sox [team stats]' starter for their second regular-season game in Tokyo - he won't be joining his teammates on the flight to Japan. — Lester, who was announced yesterday …
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MLB.com:
Mets and Anheuser-Busch sign new multi-year marketing agreement for final year at Shea and for Citi Field — Budweiser and Bud Light become first “Signature Partners” at Mets' new home — FLUSHING — The New York Mets' home venue will change in 2009, but thanks to a deal announced today …
Discussion:
Mets Today
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Report from the minor league complex — Mariano Rivera vs. Class AA New Hampshire: — 2 innings — 0 hits — 0 runs — 0 walks — 4 strikeouts — 23 pitches / 16 strikes — “I felt good,” Rivera said after his first two-inning outing of the spring. “All of my pitches were in the strike zone.
MLB.com:
MLB.com looks to crown baseball's first millionaire fan — “Beat the Streak presented by Mitchum” launches with record-setting grand prize of $1 million — NEW YORK — MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, is offering fans the opportunity to challenge one of baseball's …
Discussion:
ShysterBall
The Smoking Gun:
Obama Business Strikes Out — Major League Baseball forces closure of online t-shirt operation — Major League Baseball has forced the closure of an online business run by a Barack Obama supporter who tweaked team logos to create t-shirts promoting the Illinois Democrat's presidential bid.
Discussion:
SPORTSbyBROOKS
David Lennon / Newsday:
Lo Duca, Milledge still have issues with Mets — Washington Nationals catcher Paul LoDuca (right) is still upset over how the Mets turned their back on him this winter. (Newsday/Kathy Kmonicek) — VIERA, Fla. - Whether or not the Mets consider the Nationals a threat in the NL East this season …
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, NorthJersey.com, On the Mets beat, Blastings! Thrilledge, NY Daily News and MetsBlog.com
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Barry Svrluga / Nationals Journal:Your chance to blog — about the ballpark
Discussion:
SPORTSbyBROOKS, Baseball Digest Daily, Washington Post, Federal Baseball and William World News
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Mailbag: Alternatives to Delgado? — Beat reporter Marty Noble answers Mets fans' questions — With Moises Alou unavailable and Carlos Delgado a question mark, what do you think of trading Ruben Gotay and a Minor League prospect, such as Robert Parnell, to the Orioles for outfielder Jay Payton and first baseman Kevin Millar?
Emma Span / Bronx Banter:
Many Ways To Have A Good Time — To be honest, I'm sick of spring training. Sure it's great, in the middle of winter, to get those first photos and videos of the players out in the sunshine... but it's sort of like watching a singer practice scales or something: interesting enough for a little while …
Discussion:
The Weblog That Derek Built
Le Anne Schreiber / ESPN:
New-and-improved SportsCenter throws Ombudsman curveball … In a column last summer, posted in response to the insipid, month-long Who's Now competition on SportsCenter, I broached the notion of ESPN's producing a crisp, clean half-hour evening edition of SportsCenter, focused on news and highlights …
