Top News:
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.
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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 billiards taught him an important lesson in controlling his temper. Throwing a pool cue into a piece of drywall …
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Fun and Fellowship on Girardi's Field Trip — TAMPA, Fla. — As long as he wears a crew cut, Joe Girardi understands that people will consider him a taskmaster. He is in better shape than most managers. He is well educated and meticulous in his preparation. The label is bound to stick.
Discussion:
iYankees
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
MLB investigators to meet with A-Rod this week — TAMPA, Fla. - Major League Baseball's investigations team intends to meet with Alex Rodriguez between tomorrow and Friday to discuss his recent confessions of illegal performance-enhancing drug use, a person familiar with the situation told Newsday.
Discussion:
Sliding Into Home
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MLB.com:
Boston Red Sox 2009 regular season game times to move from 7:05 p.m. to 7:10 p.m. — BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox today announced that start times for 2009 regular season games played at Fenway Park previously scheduled for 7:05 p.m. will be moved to 7:10 p.m. This time change …
Discussion:
A Red Sox Fan …
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Chris Forsberg / Boston Globe:
Take 5 — FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Red Sox tonight announced that all games at Fenway Park previously scheduled for 7:05 p.m. will now be played at 7:10 p.m. as the club moved back all its late games by five minutes for the 2009 regular season. — The time change will not affect games previously scheduled …
Chico Harlan / Nationals Journal:
Nats Ownership Encouraging Investigation Of Bowden — Washington Nationals General Manager Jim Bowden said on Monday that he has done nothing wrong. The federal investigators looking into Bowden still aren't so sure, a Major League Baseball source said. The Nationals, meantime …
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Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Jon Heyman: Ramirez, Dodgers closer, but deal still not imminent … PORT ST. LUCIE — Both Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers have done some compromising in recent days, according to people familiar with the negotiations, as the two sides seem to now understand that they aren't going to get exactly what they want in a potential deal.
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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.
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
St. Louis Cardinals' Brendan Ryan sidelined by sore wrist — JUPITER, FLA. — Cardinals infielder Brendan Ryan expects to miss the club's Grapefruit League opener and to be sidelined several days with a swollen tendon in his right wrist. Ryan, who is vying for either of the open jobs …
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs' Marmol takes pass on pitching for Dominican in World Baseball Classic — MESA, Ariz. — After a sleepless Sunday night, Carlos Marmol decided it was better for his career and his team to concentrate on closing for the Cubs than to represent his country in the World Baseball Classic.
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
New Mets Coach Is More Than Just a Name — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Razor Shines keeps 10 of his championship rings at his home in Austin, Tex. He wears the 11th, from the 2005 World Series champion Chicago White Sox, around the Mets' complex. He will receive No. 12 in a few months.
Jose De Jesus Ortiz / Houston Chronicle:
X-rays reveal small cheek fracture for Astros' Erstad — Outfielder not expected to miss much playing time — X-rays taken Monday revealed a small fracture on Darin Erstad's right cheekbone. — Resources — Sorry, your version of Flash doesn't support this video.
David Andriesen / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
M's outfield in good hands — PEORIA, Ariz. — For outfield defense, it's a scenario any manager would savor: a center fielder flanked by former Gold Glove-winning center fielders on either side. — And the Mariners' new man in the middle, Franklin Gutierrez, is capable of being the defensive equal …
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Macha sets up Brewers' spring rotation — Skipper says he won't name regular-season starters until March 25 — PHOENIX — Stressing that the order could change before Opening Day, Brewers manager Ken Macha set his Spring Training starting rotation on Monday and tabbed right-hander Jeff Suppan …
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Wellemeyer is making believers — February 23, 2009 - Cardinals pitcher Todd Wellemeyer throws to live hitters during Cardinals spring training at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla. (Chris Lee/P-D) — JUPITER, Fla. — Several times this spring manager Tony La Russa has illustrated …
