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12:50 PM ET, February 20, 2009

Ballbug

 Top News: 
RELATED:
NY Daily News:
A-Rod's pal, the tainted trainer: Steroid-linked friend is banned by every MLB team  —  Embattled Yankee Alex Rodriguez has had a long relationship with a steroid-linked trainer who's been banned from major league clubhouses, four independent sources told the Daily News.
Chico Harlan / Nationals Journal:
Zimmerman Avoids Arbitration, Signs One-Year Deal  —  The contract Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman signed late last night didn't satisfy the ultimate goal — a long-term deal — but at least it erased the most immediate fear.  Because of the one-year, $3.325 million agreement …
RELATED:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats' Zimmerman avoids arbitration  —  Third baseman agrees to one-year deal with Washington  —  VIERA, Fla. — Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.325 million deal early Friday morning.  —  Zimmerman's arbitration hearing was scheduled for Friday afternoon.
Discussion: Federal Baseball
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Dodgers showing interest in Cabrera  —  Shortstop tells club he would be willing to move to second base  —  PHOENIX — The Dodgers, apparently uncertain they can work a deal for second baseman Orlando Hudson, have also begun talks with free-agent infielder Orlando Cabrera.
Thomas Boswell / Washington Post:
Bowden May Wind Up Paying Again  —  The bucks stop on Jim Bowden's desk.  All 1.4 million of them.  —  When that bill comes due, will the Nationals' general manager pay with his job?  —  For the moment, Bowden appears to have been the primary sucker in one of the most embarrassing scams ever used to defraud a baseball team.
RELATED:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Prospect sorry for withholding identity
Associated Press:
Milledge gives Dunn No. 44, changes to No. 85  —  VIERA, Fla. (AP) — There's a new Ocho Cinco in pro sports: Washington Nationals outfielder Lastings Milledge is switching to No. 85 after relinquishing his career-long No. 44 to new teammate Adam Dunn.  —  Milledge, who wore No. 44 with the Mets …
RELATED:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Milledge, Bergmann agree to deals
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:   Milledge hands over No. 44 to Dunn
Associated Press:
After Griffey: Spurned Braves try to move on  —  KISSIMMEE, Fla.: The Atlanta Braves emerged from the dugout as though it was just another spring training day.  The pitchers headed to the mound.  The hitters wandered in and out of the cage, taking their swings.
RELATED:
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
CC you in April: Lefty in line for opener  —  TAMPA - CC Sabathia won't make his first start of the spring until the Yankees play their 10th game, but the big lefthander is lined up perfectly to make a much more important start: Opening Day.  —  Sabathia will make his spring debut on March 6 …
RELATED:
Tom M. Tango / Hardball Times:
The color of clutch  —  I hope this is the last time I need to write an article devoted to clutch hitting.  —  The data  —  There have been many attempts to find evidence of clutch hitting.  All of these attempts focus on the same basic principle: compare a player's performance …
Discussion: THE BOOK
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Manuel takes opposite approach  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - Jerry Manuel preached a team-first approach and barely alluded to the Mets' consecutive September collapses when he addressed the players before Thursday's first full-squad workout.  Manuel's reference to past failures, according to the manager …
Discussion: MLB Rumors
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Braun sheds light on fashion venture  —  Brewers star distributes new line of hot-selling T-shirts  —  PHOENIX — He's a long way from New York's Fashion Week, but Ryan Braun was roaming the Brewers clubhouse this week distributing his new line of T-shirts, looking and sounding like Milwaukee's answer to Marc Jacobs.
Discussion: Bugs & Cranks
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Soriano staying put as leadoff man  —  Cubs slugger may drop down in spring as Piniella tinkers  —  MESA, Ariz. — Alfonso Soriano is back in the Cubs' leadoff spot.  —  Actually, Soriano never left.  On Monday, Cubs manager Lou Piniella said he was going to drop Soriano down in the order …
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
The Back Fields  —  The pitchers and infielders are working on how to cover a bunt (see below).  They each rotate in on the drill, the coach rolls out the ball, and they act out certain situations.  —  However, I'm not sure how they concentrate with the smell of burgers and dogs wafting in from the grill behind the backstop.
Discussion: Kranepool Society
Howard Bryant / ESPN:
MLB union bears share of burden  —  Donald Fehr, executive director of the MLB players' association, seems to have underestimated the effect steroid use would have on the legitimacy of players' achievements.  —  Bud Selig, the commissioner of baseball, has begun his offensive against the Major League Baseball Players Association.
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Rays news and notes  —  Loss of the day  —  Troy Percival found out someone broke into his Riverside, Calif., home and stole the TVs, his golf clubs and a 1955 Ford truck he spent three years restoring.  “They're going to have to sell it for pieces because everyone knows what it looks like,” he said.
Paul Hoynes / Plain Dealer:
Cleveland Indians drop Andy Marte; trade for reliever Juan Salas from Tampa Bay Rays  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The Andy Marte Era in Cleveland is all but over.  —  The Indians designated Marte for assignment today after acquiring right-hander Juan Salas from Tampa Bay for minor league infielder Isaias Valasquez.
RELATED:
Anthony Castrovince / CastroTurf:
Marte designated as Tribe trades for Salas
 
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 More News: 
Associated Press:
Judge bars use of drug tests in Bonds trial
Discussion: Hardball Times and Sabernomics
Brad Lefton / New York Times:
New Stage for Japan's Rising Pitching Star
Steven Goldman / Unfiltered:
Announcing the BP 2009 Book Tour
Bob Dutton / Kansas City Star:
Royals' Guillen out after removing ingrown nail himself
Discussion: Hardball Times and Bugs & Cranks
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Angels' Jered Weaver lags behind in spring schedule
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Mets unveil additional patch for caps
Discussion: Surfing the Mets and metsgrrl.com
 Earlier Picks: 
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves, Glavine reach agreement
Todd Zolecki / MLB.com:
Utley optimistic about Opening Day
Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
Cancer scare changes Davis for better
Discussion: MLB Rumors
Bart Hubbuch / Mets Blog:
Delgado: ‘Nothing illegal’
Discussion: MetsBlog.com
Fox Sports:
Rockies' Francis likely out for season with surgery
Chris Forsberg / Boston Globe:
Francona's daily briefing
Clay Davenport / Baseball Prospectus:
PECOTA Projected Standings
Discussion: whygavs.com and Bottom9 Baseball
 

 
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

People:
Sabrina Carpenter Was Turned Down for a Role on The Conners, Whitney Cummings Says: ‘Thank God We Said No’ (Exclusive)

 
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