Top News:
David Lennon / Newsday:
Pelfrey vs. El Duque for Mets' fifth spot — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Heading into today's showdown with Mike Pelfrey in Fort Lauderdale for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, the Mets insist publicly that the job belongs to Orlando Hernandez. — With one important caveat, however.
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Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Mets might bid Gotay goodbye — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Ruben Gotay's Mets career may be over. Gotay was scratched from Thursday's Disney trip to face the Braves and instead was told he had been placed on waivers. He will find out Friday if he has been claimed by another team.
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New York Post
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Glavine Says He Retains Emotional Bond With the Mets — KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Tom Glavine had just finished answering questions about his new team, the Atlanta Braves, when he started asking some about his old one, the Mets: How serious is Moises Alou's injury? Is David Wright inundated with interview requests?
Discussion:
Mets Geek
Kat O'Brien / Newsday:
Yankees' Hideki Matsui gets married — Hideki Matsui shows a sketch of his new wife during a press conference at a hotel Thursday in Tampa. (The Associated Press/Kyodo News / March 27, 2008) — TAMPA, Fla. - Hideki Matsui, whose every move is watched closely by the Japanese media …
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Kat O'Brien / Newsday:
No setbacks for Pettitte during bullpen session — TAMPA, Fla. - Andy Pettitte, who was hampered by back spasms for a few days, had no setbacks after throwing a bullpen session Wednesday. — Pettitte, who originally was scheduled to start the Yankees' second regular-season game …
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Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Yankees ponder final roster cuts — Karsten's injury could open door for Igawa, Rasner — TAMPA, Fla. — The Yankees boarded more than 30 players on their charter flight south to Miami, partially based upon insurance in the event of injuries. This late in camp, an unlucky break …
CBS News:
The Red Sox' Stat Man And The Numbers Game — Bill James Tells 60 Minutes Mets' David Wright Would Be A Top Pick On His Dream Team — (CBS) Baseball has always been a game about statistics, something the Boston Red Sox took to a new level when they hired baseball statistics guru Bill James in 2002.
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MLB.com:
Yankees to play final home opener in current Yankee Stadium — The New York Yankees will open the 2008 Championship Season-the 106th in franchise history and the 84th and final season at the current Yankee Stadium-on Monday, March 31 vs. the Toronto Blue Jays at 1:05 p.m.
Aaron / AaronGleeman.com:
As hinted at last week, I've joined the staff at MinnPost, where my byline will appear in the sports section alongside the likes of former Minneapolis Star Tribune reporters Steve Aschburner and Jay Weiner, former City Pages editor G.R. Anderson, and frequent New York Times contributor Pat Borzi.
Discussion:
Hardball Times
George A. King III / New York Post:
JOE'S REUNION — DESPITE FIRING, GIRARDI ‘EXCITED’ TO FACE MARLINS — Dumped by the ugly duckling less than two years ago, Joe Girardi returns to Dolphin Stadium tonight with the prom queen on his arm. — Despite keeping the young Marlins in the wild-card chase into the final month …
Discussion:
iYankees
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Capuano opts against surgery for now — Lefty to try rehabbing injured elbow before making decision — MESA, Ariz. — The second opinion on Brewers left-hander Chris Capuano's injured elbow was different from the first, so Capuano apparently will opt for rehab instead of surgery.
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Rolen possibly sidelined until May — Broken finger places third baseman on DL, but 'it's fixable' — DUNEDIN, Fla. — Scott Rolen stood in a back room inside the Blue Jays' clubhouse on Thursday, weaving a gruesome tale about his recent hand injury. Casually mixed within the gory details …
Michael S. Schmidt / New York Times:
Trade-Off Looms on Mitchell Proposals — With all 30 major league teams about to begin the regular season, the players association and the commissioner's office continued efforts Thursday to reach an agreement on the Mitchell report's recommendations on performance-enhancing drugs.