Top News:
Jeff Schultz / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Baseball's sold its soul — Good morning. You just missed Opening Day. — The Boston Red Sox and the Oakland Athletics played the first game of the major league season Tuesday morning (normal baseball earth time) in Tokyo. I imagine Japan will reciprocate this breach of tradition by opening the sumo season at Fenway Park.
RELATED:
Leitch / Deadspin:
Baseball Season Preview: Boston Red Sox — For the third consecutive season, we are proud to introduce the Deadspin Baseball Season Previews. Yes, baseball is awfully close now; heck, they're playing real games in Japan tomorrow. — Every weekday until the start of the season, a different writer will preview his/her team.
Associated Press:
Red Sox activate 1B Sean Casey, put RHP Josh Beckett on DL — TOKYO—First baseman Sean Casey's stiff neck improved enough for the Boston Red Sox to activate him for the first two games of the season against the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Hughes, Yanks happy with latest effort — Young right-hander rebounds from rocky spring outings — TAMPA, Fla. — Phil Hughes thought his latest outing was “one thousand times better,” and Yankees manager Joe Girardi wasn't about to question those mathematics.
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George A. King III / New York Post:
HUGHES PHIL-ING FANTASTIC — When talking about Generation Trey there are several voices who believe Phil Hughes is better than Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy. Last night Hughes delivered a performance to fuel that debate when he went five innings against the Phillies at Legends Field, gave up three runs and fanned six.
Discussion:
Highlander Origins
NY Daily News:
Harper: A-Rod regrets saying no to Mets — During spring training, Alex Rodriguez has mostly avoided discussion of his messy contract opt-out and offseason return to the Yankees, but apparently only because he didn't want to say something that might prove controversial, as is often his habit.
Discussion:
River Ave. Blues, NJ.com, Highlander Origins, Sliding Into Home, iYankees, The Bronx Stop and Mostly Mets
RELATED:
Leitch / Deadspin:
Source: Canseco Accuses A-Rod Of Steroid Abuse, Wife Coveting, In New Book — In the next week, you're going to see more of Jose Canseco that you likely have much desire to see. But Canseco has a new book coming out April 1, Vindicated: Big Names, Big Liars, and the Battle to Save Baseball …
Jim Baumbach / Newsday:
Maine continues to pitch well for Mets — FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - One week from now, every player's spring training statistics will be irrelevant, and that's a shame for John Maine. — The righthander has dominated the Grapefruit League this month, and that continued yesterday in the Mets' 1-0 win over the Orioles.
RELATED:
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
John Maine is man four job — FORT LAUDERDALE - John Maine will have to wait until the second series, in Atlanta, to take the mound. But he's the No. 4 starter in title only. — Maine's stellar spring continued when he blanked the Orioles for six innings Monday while surrendering just one hit …
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Blue Jays close to locking up OF Rios — 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 — Just over a year ago, the Blue Jays signed center fielder Vernon Wells through 2014.
RELATED:
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:Sources: Cubs pursuing ex-Blue Jay Johnson
Discussion:
Mets Geek, MLB.com, Baseball Time in Arlington, MLB Fleece Factor, Daily Herald and Cubs f/x
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Mets Commit to 5-Man Rotation, No Matter What — FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The Mets will not need a fifth starter until April 12. The two candidates for that role, Orlando Hernández and Mike Pelfrey, imploded during their outings Sunday. So, common sense says the Mets …
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Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Pettitte's back throwing wrench in plans — Yankees have options on table if lefty can't start season on time — TAMPA, Fla. — While Andy Pettitte settles for simply playing catch, the Yankees are preparing contingency plans in case their projected No. 2 starter is not available to make his first appearance of the season.
RELATED:
Chris Haft / MLB.com:
Frandsen injures Achilles tendon — Infielder could be sidelined for entire season — TUCSON, Ariz. — Giants infielder Kevin Frandsen faces the possibility of missing the entire season after suffering what is believed to be a ruptured left Achilles tendon Monday in a Minor League exhibition game at Scottsdale, Ariz.
RELATED:
Sports Illustrated:
When he's not taking care of Nationals' NCAA pool, Lo Duca can't wait for opener — VIERA, Fla. (AP) -Paul Lo Duca spent a good chunk of his Monday meticulously updating the NCAA tournament pool charts hanging in the home clubhouse at Space Coast Stadium. — There he was in the morning …
Discussion:
ShysterBall
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
DirecTV, out? — I've been getting emails from DirecTV customers, who've said that their packages (ESPN2 and NESN) are out. Not sure if this is affecting all customers, or just some, but apparently there are some very unhappy early risers. — Sorry about that.
Discussion:
SPORTSbyBROOKS
Sean Smith / Hardball Times:
Measuring defense for players back to 1956 (Part 2) — In January, I introduced the TotalZone system. Using data available from Retrosheet, I was able to create quasi-play-by-play defensive ratings for all players from 1956 on. — To measure a player's defensive performance …
