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Boston Globe:
Red Sox threatening Japan boycott if staff isn't paid — Red Sox manager Terry Francona (center) talks with Sean Casey (left) and Jason Varitek this morning in Fort Myers. The players are threatening to boycott the trip to Japan if staff isn't paid for the trip.
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ESPN:
Red Sox, MLB resolve dispute over coaches' pay — FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Boston Red Sox ended a threatened boycott Wednesday of their final spring training game in Florida, resolving a dispute over paying coaches for the season-opening trip to Japan. — The televised game against Toronto started …
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SOX1FAN, Yankees Chick, Beantown West, Catfish Stew, Boston Globe, The Biz of Baseball, Fire Brand of the …, Baseball Prospectus, Bugs & Cranks, Associated Press, Center Field, Bronx Liaison, Hot Foot, BOSTON IRISH, IT IS HIGH, IT IS FAR, IT IS, Gaslamp Ball, Over the Monster and Boston Herald
Boston Herald:
Sox win standoff with MLB — FORT MYERS - Opening Day will take place after all. — Threatening to boycott their trip to Japan because their coaches wouldn't be receiving the same kind of appearance fee as the players, the Red Sox [team stats] convinced Major League Baseball this afternoon …
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Coaches and staff will be compensated — FORT MYERS, Fla. - Here's what we know about the deal to compensate players. — A major league source said moments ago that all staff associated with the trip will be compensated. Not sure whether it's $40,000 or even more because the receipts from the trip will be split at the end.
Spring Training / Associated Press:
BoSox settle pay dispute, to go to Japan — FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP)—Fans at City of Palms Park were ready for Boston's final spring training game in Florida. The Red Sox weren't. — In an extraordinary move, Boston players voted to boycott a nationally televised exhibition …
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Red Sox stipend dispute resolved — Players sought payment for staff for Tokyo trip; will go to Japan — FORT MYERS, Fla. — A misunderstanding over whether the Red Sox coaching, training and clubhouse staffs would receive stipends for making a trip to Tokyo was resolved on Wednesday …
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:Youkilis addresses agreement for coaches
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Yanksfan vs Soxfan
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:A few things.... FORT MYERS, Fla - In what has been an eventful …
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SOX & Dawgs
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Breaking news: Joba to the bullpen — Joe Girardi said just a few minutes ago that RHP Joba Chamberlain would open the season in the bullpen. — He left open the possibility that Chamberlain will move into the rotation later this season. “His future will be as a starter,” Girardi said.
David Lennon / On the Mets beat:
Early word: No Schneider — For those of you looking forward to seeing Brian Schneider catch John Maine tonight on SNY (7:10 p.m.) I'm sorry to report that he will be nursing his strained right hamstring on the bench. Thank God for simulated games, eh? Schneider has appeared in a whopping total …
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The 'Ropolitans
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Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Back spasms sideline Kerry Wood — Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood has developed back spasms and was scratched from today's pitching assignment. This comes as Wood was declared the team's probable closer. — Manager Lou Piniella downplayed the significance of the injury, but Wood was examined …
Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
A's notes: Minor-leaguer De Los Santos hits 97 on gun — (03-18) 19:52 PDT Surprise, — Ariz. - Fautino De Los Santos, who might be the real prize in the Nick Swisher deal, made his first appearance for the A's, and several other potential Oakland players also made their spring debuts with the team.
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Dchase / Brock for Broglio:
Interview With Voros McCracken — Voros McCracken — has consulted with the Boston Red Sox front office, and won a World Series during his time with the team. He revolutionized pitcher evaluation methodology by discovering Defensive Independent Pitching Statistics (DIPS) in 1999.
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Ten people to avoid at the ballpark — I'll probably cover 120 or so games this season. But I also plan on attending at least four or five as fan. It's fun to watch a game and not have to worry about coming up with a story afterward. — There are few things better than watching a game in person with your buddies.
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Stark: Reds hope to get huge spark from Cordero … SARASOTA, Fla. — Of all the franchise-changing acquisitions in baseball this winter, here's the one that might have gotten the least hoopla: — Cincinnati Reds sign closer Francisco Cordero for four years, $46 million.
Minor League Ball:
Assessing Fernando Martinez — I get frequent questions from Mets fans about Fernando Martinez. How good will he be? How soon will he be ready? How much power will he develop? It sounds like a copout, but the most honest answer is that I simply don't know at this point.
John Romano / St. Petersburg Times:
Don't rush him: Rays would be wise to send Longoria back to Durham — His time is near, on that we can all agree. The tricky part is defining near. ¶ If you are Evan Longoria, then opening day sounds like the nearest thing to heaven. If you are a Rays fan, after seeing another Longoria home run …
David Murphy / Philly.com:
Phillies Notebook: Phillies' Jenkins shows home-run power — CLEARWATER, Fla. - How momentous was Geoff Jenkins' first home run of the spring? — “We know he can hit one now, don't we?” manager Charlie Manuel said. — The Phillies were actually well aware of that fact when they signed …
