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4:00 PM ET, February 18, 2009

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 Top News: 
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Jeter to address media today  —  Yankees captain expected to discuss A-Rod revelations  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Derek Jeter had a front-row seat as Alex Rodriguez addressed the media on Tuesday at George M. Steinbrenner Field, joining the rest of the veteran Yankees as the star third baseman began to tell his side of the story.
RELATED:
Larry Fine / Reuters:   Yankees boss critical of Rodriguez's drugs explanation
Melissa Segura / Sports Illustrated:
Top Nats prospect falsified name, age … A top Washington Nationals prospect and recipient of the largest international signing bonus in team history is not who he appeared to be.  Esmailyn Gonzalez, who is listed as 19 years old on the team's roster, is actually 23-year-old Carlos Alvarez Daniel Lugo, four sources have told SI.com.
RELATED:
Chico Harlan / Nationals Journal:
Report: Prospect Lied About Age, Name [Updated]  —  In 2006, the Washington Nationals signed a shortstop from the Dominican Republic.  They gave him a bonus of $1.4 million.  They welcomed him with a press conference.  The unprecedented ceremony was meant not just to announce this particular signing …
ESPN.com:
Boston Red Sox owner John Henry renews salary cap call  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Boston Red Sox owner John Henry is renewing his call for a baseball salary cap.  —  Henry said Wednesday he thinks all owners would support an “enlightened” salary cap to improve competitive balance and that players might agree.
RELATED:
Chris Forsberg / Boston Globe:
Owners provide State of the Nation address  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Red Sox owners Tom Werner and John Henry and team president/CEO Larry Lucchino sat down for a 20-minute chat with the media this morning at the team's player development complex.  —  Among the notable topics were the upcoming season …
Discussion: SPORTSbyBROOKS
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Sox set for first full workout
Discussion: Over the Monster
David O'Brien / Atlanta Braves with David O'Brien:
Waiting for Griffey's arrival....  Lake Buena Vista, Fla. - And so we begin Day 4 of the Junior Watch, and if Ken Griffey Jr. isn't officially a Brave by the end of the day, please shoot me.  —  OK, I guess I should say I don't mean that literally.  You never know what sun …
RELATED:
Baltimore Sun:
Reports: Griffey to sign with Atlanta, not Seattle
Geoff Baker / Seattle Times:
Mariners' hopes fade as Ken Griffey Jr. nears deal with Braves
Mike Rose / On the Mets beat:
Shea demolition update  —  Shea will be gone, but not completely forgotten.  COO Jeff Wilpon said that home plate, the pitchers mound and the bases will be immortalized in the parking lot, which Shea's hallowed ground will hopefully become by April.  —  So good news — you can still do the DynaMets Dash.
RELATED:
Mike Nichols / MetsBlog.com:
Note: Shea Is Gone  —  David Lennon of Newsday reports, Mets COO Jeff Wilpon says the pitchers mound and the bases, including home plate, will be ‘immortalized in the parking lot.’  —  Update, 11:34 am:  —  According to William Valderrama, the last piece of Shea Stadium came down at 11:26 am EST.
Discussion: NJ.com
Dallas Morning News:
Tuesday's Texas Rangers notebook: Cordero audition  —  My favorite memory: Eddie Guardado  —  Eddie Guardado is the second-oldest player in camp at 38.  Guardado went way back to find his best baseball memory, and it came from his senior year of high school at Franklin High in Stockton …
Discussion: MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Dallas Morning News:
Andruw Jones hopes to revive career with Texas Rangers  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. - The drive from Duluth, Ga., to the Surprise Recreation Campus stretches nearly 2,000 miles and takes the average motorists a few days to complete.  —  Andruw Jones made the trek earlier this week …
Bart Hubbuch / New York Post:
BELTRAN AIM: ‘KILL’ HAMELS  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - Carlos Beltran drew a bull's-eye on Cole Hamels yesterday.  —  Adding yet more fuel to the ongoing war of words between the Mets and Phillies, the Met center fielder said he hopes the Amazin's “kill” the Philadelphia ace every time they face Hamels this season.
Discussion: 24 Hours From Suicide
RELATED:
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:   Beltran offers warning shot to Phillies
Joshua Robinson / New York Times:
Last Section of Shea Stadium Is Torn Down  —  Shea Stadium, the site of the Mets' two World Series victories, their many seasons of futility and a few historic concerts, met the fate of Ebbets Field and the Polo Grounds on Wednesday morning.  At 11:21 a.m., a demolition crew pulled down the final section …
Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers are in a mound of trouble with starting rotation  —  They should have held on to Brad Penny, as this year their choice for opening day starter is a guy coming off a broken leg or another coming off a sore shoulder.  —  T.J. Simers  —  I'm hoping Manny is spending this extra time …
RELATED:
Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Larry Bowa responds to Brad Penny's criticism
Rick Reilly / ESPN:
LIFE OF REILLY  —  It's time to right some wrongs, one MVP at a time.  —  John Grieshop/Getty Images  —  It's been tougher than a $4.99 steak.  Got chased by Dobermans eight times.  Had to hire five different sticky-fingered third-graders.  Broke into the wrong house twice.  —  But it's finally done.
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Forecast is hazy for Glaus  —  JUPITER, Fla. — The Cardinals staged their first full-squad workout Tuesday with only one position player not on the field.  —  Four weeks after surgery repaired damaged muscle near his right shoulder, third baseman Troy Glaus is not close …
RELATED:
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Carpenter is making progress
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
He really must change his tune  —  Young?  —  Alex Rodriguez kept going back to that.  He kept telling us he was young.  —  “I was 24-25.  It's part of being young and stupid.”  —  Twenty-four?  Twenty-five?  —  Young?  —  I kept thinking about my father-in-law.
RELATED:
Matt Maiocco / 49ers:
Niners: No interest in Michael Vick  —  The 49ers emphatically closed the door on any possibility imprisoned quarterback Michael Vick will suit up for the club in 2009 or beyond.  —  Coach Mike Singletary did not express interest in acquiring Vick during a question-and-answer session …
Eric Seidman / FanGraphs Baseball:
The Gagne Experiment Redux  —  Oh, how the markets change.  Last night, we took a look at Will Ohman, a lefty reliever coming off of the best season of his career, who may be in line to take a 40 percent paycut off of his $1.6 mil salary in 2008.  Today, our subject of discussion is Eric Gagne …
RELATED:
Polls / Brew Beat:
Spring surprise: Gagne back with the Brewers
Discussion: Brew Crew Ball, JSOnline and MLB Rumors
Joel Sherman / Hardball:
BRAVES SIGN KELLY JOHNSON  —  The Braves signed Kelly Johnson to a one-year, $2.825 million contract, avoiding arbitration, the Post has learned.  —  Johnson had asked for $3.3 million in arbitration and the Braves had countered at $2.35 million.  —  Johnson also can make $50,000 for each of 620 and 670 plate appearances.
Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
O's closing in on extension with Roberts  —  Sources: Club nearing 4-year deal with 2-time All-Star second baseman  —  FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - It appears that Brian Roberts, nearly traded on at least two different occasions during his Orioles tenure, will be staying put in Baltimore for several more seasons.
Sean McAdam / Boston Herald:
Who starts at shortstop?  Julio Lugo  —  FORT MYERS - On the face of it, the Red Sox [team stats] are holding an open competition for their starting shortstop job.  It's Julio Lugo [stats] vs. Jed Lowrie, and may the best man win.  —  Unless that man happens to be Lowrie.  Then, all bets are off.
Discussion: Boston Globe and The Bottom Line
 
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 More News: 
On the Mets beat:
Castillo: “I'm a new man.”
Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Correia living a dream with Friars
Alyson Footer / MLB.com:
Astros not interested in Pudge
Discussion: MLB Rumors
MLB:
Chicago Cubs buyer selling 34 million shares of TD Ameritrade to finance deal
Chris Forsberg / Boston Globe:
What you're missing  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Some of the Red …
 Earlier Picks: 
Andrew Baggarly / Extra Baggs:
Tuesday's tidbits: Crede, Sandoval, Zito's canyoneering, etc.
Discussion: Twins Insider and MLB Rumors
Canadian Press:
Scorned Jose Canseco feels vindicated, wants apology from baseball
Discussion: Hardball Times
Ryan Suchomel / Iowa City Press Citizen:
McClelland: Steroids part of era
Discussion: Deadspin and Bugs & Cranks
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Stokes' hammy pops pen
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Giles doesn't expect personal issues to be a distraction for him or the team
Discussion: MLB Rumors and iYankees
 

 
From WeSmirch:

TMZ.com:
Original ‘Wheel of Fortune’ & ‘Love Connection’ Host Chuck Woolery Dead at 83

Mark Kennedy / Associated Press:
Chuck Woolery, smooth-talking game show host of ‘Love Connection’ and ‘Scrabble,’ dies at 83

TMZ.com:
‘The Slumber Party Massacre’ Star Michael Villella Dead at 84

 
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