Top News:
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Coke to pitch out of the bullpen — I stopped Joe Girardi in the clubhouse today as I wanted to get some clarification on how they plan to use Phil Coke. — The verdict is ... reliever. — “He's a guy we see being able to pitch multiple innings out of the bullpen.
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Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Yankees ditch bats for pool cues — Girardi takes club to billiard hall to help build bonds, assuage distractions — TAMPA, Fla. — Joe Girardi was about 10 years old when the game of billiards taught him an important lesson in controlling his temper — namely that throwing a pool cue …
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
The Sandman rules in pool — The Yankees had two Eight-Ball tournaments. Mariano Rivera won both of them, once paired with Phil Coke and the second time with Andy Pettitte. — There will be some quotes and some photos shortly. — UPDATE, 3:00 p.m.: Via a pool reporter, some comments were obtained.
Discussion:
Sliding Into Home, The Voice of Yankees Universe, Heartland Pinstripes and River Avenue Blues
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:School's out for the Yankees — Joe Girardi just called off the workout.
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:We're gonna play some pool, skip some school, act real cool
Discussion:
Sox and Pinstripes
Screech's Best Friend / Nats320:
Stan Kasten Media Availability On Federal Investigation — At high noon—the media that covers Our Washington Nationals went into hyper-drive this Monday. Team President Stan Kasten let it be known that he would address their questions as to an ongoing Federal Investigation concerning …
Discussion:
NATIONALS NEWS NETWORK
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Chico Harlan / Nationals Journal:
Bowden Denies Wrongdoing [Updated] — Washington Nationals General Manager Jim Bowden this morning denied any wrongful practices in Latin American scouting, saying simply, “I'm innocent of any wrongdoing, and besides that I don't have any comment.” — Bowden is the highest-ranking baseball …
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Wells out with hamstring strain — Center fielder expected to miss one month after reaggravating injury — DUNEDIN, Fla. — The Blue Jays have experienced life without Vernon Wells before, and the club is preparing for precisely that once again this spring.
Chico Harlan / Nationals Journal:
Nationals Release Holdout Perez — The final line on Odalis Perez's second stint with the Washington Nationals: zero appearances, zero returned phone calls, zero benefit whatsoever. — Today, the Nationals released Perez, 31, terminating the waiting game that began almost two weeks ago …
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Joel Sherman / Hardball:
3 UP: GARCIA, MANUEL, CHURCH — 1. There is an assumption that Freddy Garcia is on track to be the No. 5 starter with the Mets. But not so fast. The early read in camp is that Garcia is still tight and not fully unleashing his surgically repaired right arm yet.
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Mike Rose / On the Mets beat:Church: “I'm the rightfielder” — In the wake of Sunday's comments …
Discussion:
Mets Merized Online
Nate Silver / MLB:
Baseball Prospectus: A-Rod likely to fall short of Bonds — We're less than two years removed from Barry Bonds' somber, strange and soulless quest to break Henry Aaron's lifetime home run record. Unfortunately, it seems history is getting ready to repeat itself.
Discussion:
MOUTHPIECE
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Darren Rovell / Sports Biz with Darren Rovell:
Mickey Mantle's “F-Bomb” Ball For Sale — I was surfing auction sites last night and I stumbled across a pretty unique item. It's a ball signed by New York Yankees great Mickey Mantle, but instead of the normal inscription like “536 HR's,” it says “F**k Yogi.”
KNSD-TV:
Hoffy Says “See-ya” in Full Page Ad — We have all received Christmas cards in the mail with family pictures front and center - but how often have you received a thank you card in the form of a full-page ad from a baseball star? — That is exactly what San Diegans woke up to Sunday morning …
Discussion:
AZ Snakepit
Tony Jackson / Inside the Dodgers:
Contract details for Orlando Hudson — OK, I'm giving you fair warning that this is going to give you a headache. I can't imagine what the conversation must have been like when Colletti and Ng were working these details out with O-Dawg's agent. But here it is:
Alyson Footer / MLB.com:
Berkman more comfortable in camp — Astros legend accepting leadership responsibility this spring — KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Soon after he signed his most recent contract a few years ago, Lance Berkman implied he might call it a career when that deal expired.
Discussion:
Bottom9 Baseball
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Dodgers deny latest Manny rumors — General manager Colletti: 'Nothing's changed in 48 hours' — PHOENIX — Despite wild radio rumors to the contrary, Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said Monday there is no contract agreement between the club and free-agent outfielder Manny Ramirez.
