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8:10 PM ET, March 20, 2008

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Barry Svrluga / Nationals Journal:
John Patterson Released [With Update]  —  Dave Sheinin reports from Viera that the Nationals have released right-hander John Patterson.  —  Patterson, the Nationals' Opening Day starter in 2007, was limited to 15 starts in 2006 and '07 because of a series of nerve problems in his right arm and elbow.
RELATED:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Patterson released by Nationals  —  Right-hander cut from team due to ‘lack of performance’  —  VIERA, Fla. — Right-hander John Patterson was released by the Nationals on Thursday based on the pitcher's lack of performance.  The team would rather give a younger pitcher …
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Sox touch down safely … Good morning, America!  The Red Sox [team stats] have landed!  —  The Red Sox' charter flight to Japan for their seven-day visit - which will feature two exhibition games and the first two games of their 2008 World Series title defense - touched down safely in Tokyo at 12:16 a.m. Friday morning.
RELATED:
Rob Bradford / Bradford Files:
I need some anchor sleep
David Lefort / Boston Globe:
A look at the road ahead
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Papelbon hopes long flight proves to be a flop
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Time running out on Lofton's '08 hopes  —  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  —  Kenny Lofton is frustrated.  Four times since 2002, a contender has wanted him badly enough to trade for him.
Discussion: The Heater
RELATED:
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:   Lofton Turned Down Two Offers
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 …
RELATED:
Matthew Leach / MLB.com:   Wainwright signs long-term deal
Bill Chastain / MLB.com:
Management undecided on Longoria  —  Financial aspects might matter in prospect's future in Majors  —  ST. PETERSBURG — A decision must be made on Evan Longoria in the near future.  And all the Rays' top prospect has done this spring is play like a top prospect.
Discussion: Rays of Light
RELATED:
The Professor / Rays Index:
[EVAN LONGORIA] Dirtbag-O-Meter: 11 Days Until Opening Day
Discussion: Baseball Musings and 6-4-2
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
False start: Joba back to bullpen  —  TAMPA - Throw the rules out the window.  Joba Chamberlain is headed back to the bullpen.  —  Chamberlain, who achieved cult-hero status last season with his two-month stint as Mariano Rivera's setup man, received the news Wednesday during a meeting …
Discussion: NJ.com, My Pinstripes, NJ.com and MLB.com
RELATED:
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
Joba works in 'pen, but should start at end
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.
RELATED:
Joe Capozzi / Palm Beach Post:
Castillo, Cantu both may stay with Marlins
Baseball Crank:
2008 AL East EWSL Report  —  The third of six division previews, using Established Win Shares Levels as a jumping-off point.  Today: The AL East.  Notes on the EWSL method are below the fold.  —  Key: + (Rookie) * (Based on one season) # (Based on two seasons)  —  The Hated Yankees
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Reds reassign Bruce to Minors camp  —  Top-ranked outfield prospect will begin season in Triple-A  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Reds outfield prospect Jay Bruce got the news on Thursday he hoped he wouldn't get this spring.  —  Manager Dusty Baker and general manager Wayne Krivsky informed …
Discussion: Redleg Nation and FanHouse
Paul Meyer / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Spring Training: Morgan/McLouth competition may not be either/or situation  —  Yankees pitcher Billy Traber misses the tag, allowing Ryan Doumit to score from third last night.  The Yankees won the first night game at McKechnie Field, 12-9.  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — Pirates management …
Marc Hulet / Baseball Analysts:
What are their options?  —  As Major League Baseball's 2008 Spring Training begins to (mercifully) wind down, we are faced with six interesting stories related to players who are out of options.  —  To dumb down a complicated process: Clubs who have used up the three (and sometimes four) …
Discussion: umpbump.com
John Delcos / The Journal News:
Randolph unsure if Sanchez will be available for Opening Day  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Mets manager Willie Randolph made his strongest comments to date suggesting reliever Duaner Sanchez will not be on the Opening Day roster.  —  “Is he on the borderline of not being able to break with us?”
Neil Best / Watchdog:
Tina Cervasio joins MSG, MSG Plus  —  As expected, MSG announced the hiring of Tina Cervasio, late of NESN, as a host/reporter for MSG and MSG Plus.  —  She will co-shot “MSG, NY” and be a sideline reporter for Red Bulls games, among other things.
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Jays holding Ryan out of games  —  Toronto closer may not be ready to go by Opening Day  —  DUNEDIN, Fla. — B.J. Ryan's goal of returning to the Blue Jays' bullpen in time for Opening Day may have been a little too optimistic.  With less than two weeks remaining in the spring slate …
 
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 More News: 
Duk / Yahoo! Sports:
Ten interleague matchups that need to become annual
Curt Schilling / 38 Pitches:
Last, boring, uneventful day of camp.....
Discussion: Boston Globe and SOX & Dawgs
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
Selling the Drama: Red Sox, Collusion, and Barry Bonds
Duk / Yahoo! Sports:
In baseball they're called ‘clubhouse’ pools
Discussion: MetsBlog.com and Hot Foot
Mac Thomason / Braves Journal:
Random predictions  —  These are all off the top of my head, don't hold me to them.
Discussion: Brew Crew Ball and ShysterBall
Adam Rubin / Surfing the Mets:
Wright: Willie's our captain, not me
Discussion: MetsBlog.com and NY Daily News
Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:
State of the Systems, AL East
Discussion: WasWatching.com
Shinsano / eastwindupchronicle.com:
Personal Computer, You Are the Fantasy and We Are a Baseball Team Together
 Earlier Picks: 
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Nomar could swing bat by weekend
Joe / Mets Today:
Emergency Catcher  —  Not sure if anyone else “caught” …
Discussion: The 'Ropolitans
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Kerry Wood's back spasms raise Cubs closer questions again
Discussion: Cobra Brigade
USA Today:
Nationals hope Milledge and Dukes can overcome past
Associated Press:
Valentine says timing of MLB Japan trip ‘ludicrous’
Jackie MacMullan / Boston Globe:
It was a time for team unity  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. …
Spring Training / Yahoo! Sports:
Bigbie exiled after breaking code
 

 
From WeSmirch:

BBC:
Masterchef's Gregg Wallace steps aside after allegations

Madeleine Cummings / CBC News:
Veteran Edmonton actor Julien Arnold dies during performance at Citadel Theatre

People:
Nick Cannon Details His ‘Busy’ Thanksgiving Schedule as a Father of 12, Says He Has ‘a Bunch of Dinners’ to Attend (Exclusive)

 
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