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9:50 AM ET, March 20, 2008

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Marlins' Willingham out to improve against lefties  —  One of the National League's best and one of its worst hitters against left-handed pitching in 2007 are Marlins.  —  Beginning Opening Day, Hanley Ramirez and Josh Willingham, respectively, hope to prolong and reverse the trends.
Discussion: Bottom9 Baseball
RELATED:
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Castillo, Cantu both may stay with Marlins  —  JUPITER — One morning last month in the early days of camp, Jose Castillo looked over at Jorge Cantu in the Marlins clubhouse and said, “Can you believe we're competing for job?”  —  With 11 days left in camp, the competition may be over, with the winner being both veteran infielders.
Carolina Bolado / Hardball Times:
Five Questions: Florida Marlins  —  It's difficult being a Marlins fan.  Yankees fans demand a championship each season; most Marlins fans would likely settle for a string of .500 or slightly better seasons with some occasional participation in a late-season race for the postseason.
Discussion: Bottom9 Baseball
Jackie MacMullan / Boston Globe:
It was a time for team unity  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. - One of the most bizarre days in spring training history begins yesterday at 8:45 a.m., when a somber Terry Francona plops himself down in the dugout at City of Palms Park and reveals he has just informed his coaches and staff that …
RELATED:
Maureen Mullen / MLB.com:
Delay shifts Dice-K to Minors game
Discussion: Red Sox Monster
Boston Herald:
Sox win standoff with MLB
Discussion: Yanksfan vs Soxfan
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Red Sox stipend dispute resolved
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Talks ongoing over coaches dispute
Boston Herald:
Sox win standoff with MLB
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.
RELATED:
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Joba knows his role  —  Yankees inform righty that he'll start season in bullpen  —  TAMPA, Fla. — The argument of whether Joba Chamberlain can best serve the Yankees out of their starting rotation or bullpen isn't settled — not by a long shot.  But for the purposes of Opening Day, the right-hander finally has his answer.
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Hughes ‘close’ despite struggles  —  Righty fine-tuning pitches in final weeks of Spring Training  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — Phil Hughes has never hung around a big league camp this long, but those who know his career path would recognize this as the point when the spring results always get a little wobbly.
Discussion: Sliding Into Home
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Blanco (finally) knocking at door  —  Kissimmee, Fla. — Every once in a while comes a player like Gregor Blanco, who has plenty of physical tools, puts up good numbers annually in competitive Latin American winter leagues, but has something that's keeping him stuck in the minor league system …
Discussion: Baseball Musings
RELATED:
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:   Marlins catcher Treanor likely to start on opening day
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Opening Day starter a question mark
Discussion: MLB Rumors, Mets Fever and FishStripes
Spring Training / Yahoo! Sports:
Bigbie exiled after breaking code  —  YOKOSUKA, Japan - The Year of the Rat in the Japanese zodiac started Feb. 7, about a week after Larry Bigbie arrived.  —  He came here with some fanfare, more than he had seen in his six years playing in the major leagues.
Chicagosports / Hardball:
Waiver move news to Uribe  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — The White Sox placed infielder Juan Uribe on waivers Wednesday, according to a major-league scout.  —  But Uribe, who didn't play against Colorado, and agent Martin Arburua were unaware of such a move.  The Sox made no announcement …
RELATED:
Joe Cowley / Chicago Sun Times:
Uribe waived? That's news to him
Discussion: vorosmccracken.com
Bart Hubbuch / New York Post:
MISSING IN ACTION  —  INJURIES SLOW NEW METS SCHNEIDER, CHURCH  —  Brian Schneider and Ryan Church already can hear the grumbling.  —  The two former Nationals acquired in the Lastings Milledge trade have yet to play their first game in New York, but they get the feeling Mets fans wonder …
Discussion: Newsday and MetsBlog.com
RELATED:
David Lennon / On the Mets beat:
Early word: No Schneider
Discussion: The 'Ropolitans
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
New deal is set for Wainwright  —  FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.  • The Cardinals' opening day starter and present-day ace Adam Wainwright is expected to sign a long-term contract today with the club that assures his place in its future.  —  The Cardinals plan to finalize and announce …
Discussion: Baseball Musings
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Papelbon hopes long flight proves to be a flop … FORT MYERS - The Red Sox [team stats] are all in.  —  The approximately 19-hour trip to Japan that the Red Sox embarked upon last night was going to feature an array of time-killing devices but the No. 1 diversionary tactic is going to be poker, the Texas Hold 'Em variety.
David Gassko / Hardball Times:
Batted balls and park effects  —  A few years ago, Dave Studeman and I exchanged a few dozen e-mails and a few hundred thoughts discussing park factors for batted balls.  The result was an entertaining article by Dave in The Hardball Times Annual 2006 that pointed out some of his more interesting findings …
Discussion: Friar Forecast
 
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 More News: 
Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com:
Homers sour Hughes' night vs. Bucs
Associated Press:
Dodgers' Garciaparra has broken bone in hand, may miss opening day
David Lennon / On the Mets beat:
Razor's edge  —  The Mets just announced their latest round …
Discussion: The 'Ropolitans
Jim Baumbach / Newsday:
Reggie: Steinbrenner belongs in Cooperstown
emedia.thetimes-tribune.com:
Cox impressive in spring debut
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Stark: Reds hope to get huge spark from Cordero
Discussion: Redleg Nation
 Earlier Picks: 
Minor League Ball:
Assessing Fernando Martinez
Discussion: The 'Ropolitans
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Coaches and staff will be compensated
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Back spasms sideline Kerry Wood
Henry Abbott / ESPN:
Pity the Security Guard
Brad Lefton / The Seattle Times:
Doctor: “Ichiro has a very fine prefrontal cortex”
Dchase / Brock for Broglio:
Interview With Voros McCracken
Discussion: ShysterBall and Knuckle Curve
 

 
From WeSmirch:

BBC:
Masterchef's Gregg Wallace steps aside after allegations

Kirsty Hatcher / People:
TikToker Jiare Schneider, 31, Found Dead in the Woods by Family After Being Missing for 10 Days

Nicki Gostin / Page Six:
Kate Middleton and Prince William mourn death of teen who lost cancer battle amid princess' own recovery

 
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