Top News:
Agence France Presse:
Yankees' slugger Matsui getting married — TOKYO (AFP) — New York Yankees slugger Hideki Matsui, one of Japan's most eligible bachelors, will marry a 25-year-old former company worker, media reports said Thursday. — The 33-year-old outfielder, nicknamed “Godzilla” by his fans …
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Tyler Kepner / Bats:
Matsui Gets Married, and Not Just to Beat Jeter — There was a news release waiting for us in the press box today in Tampa. It was a statement from Hideki Matsui. Turns out he sneaked off to New York on Wednesday to get married. — Matsui - one of the all-time good guys for reporters - met with us outside the clubhouse.
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Bride of Godzilla stuns teammates — Matsui slips off unnoticed to New York to get married — TAMPA, Fla. — At the beginning of Spring Training, Bobby Abreu and Derek Jeter placed a friendly cash bet on the table, wagering which Yankees player would get married first: Abreu, who currently has a girlfriend, or Jeter, who does not.
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
The clock is ticking for the Captain
The clock is ticking for the Captain
Discussion:
Hot Stove New York
On the Mets beat:
Gotay in limbo — The Mets informed Ruben Gotay this morning that he is indeed on waivers and now must wait until later today or tomorrow to see if he is claimed. — Gotay was supposed to be on today's trip to Orlando, but with his duffel bag in front of him, he sat on his stool with tears in his eyes as he talked on his cell phone.
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Adam Rubin / Surfing the Mets:
Register clears waivers — Rule 5 pick Steven Register has cleared waivers, the Daily News has learned. The Mets are trying to work out a trade with the Rockies that would allow them to keep the reliever and place him in the minors. — SNY's Ron Darling will join the broadcast crew …
Scott Ostler / San Francisco Chronicle:
Barry? Barry who? It's as if he was never here — (03-26) 20:47 PDT — Ladies and gentlemen, Barry Bonds has left the building. — It's official, and historic, although not original. That announcement could have been made during the eighth inning of several Giants' home games last season.
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Henry Schulman / San Francisco Chronicle:
Zito, Giants beaten by Triple-A Fresno
Zito, Giants beaten by Triple-A Fresno
Discussion:
It is about the money, stupid
Pete Caldera / NorthJersey.com:
Hank bashes Canseco, backs A-Rod — Yankees general partner Hank Steinbrenner compares Alex Rodriguez to a modern-day Mickey Mantle in terms of ability. — In his spirited defense of A-Rod on Wednesday, Steinbrenner told The Record that “if [Sandy] Koufax, [Mickey] Mantle, [Babe] Ruth …
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Randy Miller / phillyBurbs.com:
Durbin put on waivers — Down to 11 healthy pitchers, the Phillies could drop to 10 by today after placing struggling reliever J.D. Durbin on waivers. — Apparently the Phils are pretty confident they'll be successful in their desperate search to add a veteran arm from outside the organization before Monday's season opener.
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Sean Gregory / Time:
Joe Torre in a New Uniform — He won four World Series managing the New York Yankees. Now he's looking for a title in Tinseltown as the new manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Joe Torre will now take your questions — After all those years in Yankees pinstripes, what did it feel like when you first put on a Dodgers uniform?
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DRaysBay:
Murton Very Available — Per the Chicago Sun-Times, Matt Murton is officially not a part of the Cubs' plans. Today Lou Piniella named Mike Fontenot as the final player on the five man bench, ruling out the possibility of Murton making the roster and going on to say that the Cubs will try to get him a spot on a major league team.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Chicago Sun Times, GoatRiders of the Apocalypse, Associated Press and Hardball
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Sports Illustrated:
Back with the D-Backs (cont.) — Around the camps — • The Indians are the latest to inquire about Freddy Garcia, who will wait until he regains full health before deciding where to pitch. By the time he's ready — perhaps June — just about anyone will be able to use him.
TR Sullivan / Postcards from Elysian Fields:
Opening Day lineup vs. Erik Bedard — Manager Ron Washington has set his Opening Day lineup. Here is what Erik Bedard will be facing — 2B Ian Kinsler — SS Michael Young — CF Josh Hamilton — 3B Hank Blalock — DH Milton Bradley — LF David Murphy — RF Marlon Byrd
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
Salcedo Story Takes Another Turn — The curious tale of Edward Salcedo has taken another strange turn. — Salcedo, a shortstop out of the Dominican Republic, was regarded as one of the hottest prospects coming out of last summer's international signing period, and at least …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
USA Today:
TBS breaks out new lineup for baseball — In its first new take on TV baseball in three decades, TBS has made key roster moves: adding Ron Darling and Buck Martinez, to be formally announced today, as game analysts. — Those analysts, TBS executive producer Jeff Behnke says …
Richard Durrett / Dallas Morning News:
Blister a minor setback for Texas Rangers' Mendoza — Pitcher will start the season on the DL, but should be back quickly — rdurrett@dallasnews.com — PEORIA, Ariz. - A blister on Luis Mendoza's right middle finger means he'll begin the season on the disabled list.
Dave Studeman / Hardball Times:
Ten Things I Didn't Know a while ago — We took a little bit of a break over the winter, but THT's Ten Things I Didn't Know Last Week column is ready to go another season. Many thanks to the two people who encouraged me to keep going a fourth year. — Some of these items will be old news to you, but I've got to start somewhere.