Top News:
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Straw: ‘Hell yeah,’ I would've used 'roids — PORT ST. LUCIE - Darryl Strawberry would have taken steroids had they been widely available in the 1980s, the former Mets great said Tuesday. — “Hell, yeah, I would have used it. Are you kidding me?” Strawberry said in Mets camp, as he kicked off a week as a guest instructor.
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David Lennon / On the Mets beat:
Straw: “Hell yeah” I'd use steroids — Darryl Strawberry, like Alex Rodriguez, knows what it's like to be a lightning rod for controversy in New York. And he also understands the pressures and drive of a professional athlete, which is why he didn't hesitate to say that he would have taken steroids …
Discussion:
Hardball Times
Arthur Staple / Newsday:
A-Rod: I wish the Yankees had Jose Reyes — Even when Alex Rodriguez is trying to stay positive, things seem to turn out wrong. — A-Rod paid Mets shortstop Jose Reyes a high compliment today after the Dominican Republic's first exhibition game before the World Baseball Classic …
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David Lennon / Newsday:
Concerns about Castro put Pudge on radar — JUPITER, Fla. - The Mets were unsuccessful in their attempts to shop Ramon Castro this offseason, but they still remain very interested in Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez, according to a person familiar with the team's thinking.
Discussion:
Mets Minor League Blog, Mets Geek, NJ.com, On the Mets beat, Kranepool Society, MetsBlog.com, Mets Fever, MLB Rumors, Mets Merized Online, Hot Foot and Newsday
David Lennon / On the Mets beat:
No Santana for Opening Day — The Mets finally came to terms this afternoon with the reality that Johan Santana is not going to be their Opening Day starter for April 6 in Cincinnati. — Santana will have another bullpen session tomorrow morning, but the delay caused by the tightness …
Discussion:
Mets Blog, Surfing the Mets, Hardball, MetsBlog.com, Mets Fever, Mets Geek, The 'Ropolitans and Hot Foot
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ESPN.com:
Boston Red Sox pitcher Brad Penny scratched from start; J.D. Drew has injection in lower back — FORT MYERS, Fla. — Boston Red Sox pitcher Brad Penny was scratched from his first scheduled spring training start because of shoulder weakness, and right fielder J.D. Drew went to Boston for an injection in his lower back.
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Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
J.D.'s back is back — FORT MYERS, Fla. — Despite the protestations of both J.D. Drew and manager Terry Francona earlier in camp that the outfielder's back was not an issue, Drew was sent back to Boston to get an injection in his lower back. The injection, administered by Dr. Bill Palmer, was given yesterday.
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Pedro Martinez wants big contract or he'll retire and ‘go fishing’ … JUPITER, Fla. - Pedro Martinez wants to pitch in the majors this season, but the three-time Cy Young winner prefers retiring to his fishing boat if the alternative is accepting a Tom Glavine-like contract.
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Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Top prospect Holt ready to audition in exhibition games
Top prospect Holt ready to audition in exhibition games
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
R.J. Anderson / DRaysBay:
Evan Longoria Likely (Did Not) Have The Best Rookie Season By a Third Baseman. Ever. — Did you know, Evan Longoria's season was the third best by a rookie third baseman who played at least 100 games in history? Well, it's true. The filtering statistic of choice is OPS+ since raw numbers …
Discussion:
THE BOOK
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Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Spring Game 7: Team USA at Yankees — YANKEES — Pitching: Phil Hughes followed by Coke, Dunn, Veras, Hacker, Robertson, Texeira — TEAM USA — Pitching: Roy Oswalt followed by Jon Broxton, Matt Lindstrom, Brad Ziegler, Matt Thornton and LaTroy Hawkins. — Notes: The game will be on YES.
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Bonds' agent again shops for a contract to play in 2009 — PHOENIX — Barry Bonds, whose federal perjury and obstruction-of-justice trial has been indefinitely delayed, gave permission Monday for his agent to solicit interest from major league teams in hopes of resuming his career.
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Joel Sherman / Hardball:
YANKS SIGN KENNEDY AND ALBALADEJO — The Yankees completed the signing of their 40-man roster players by coming to terms with Jonathan Albaladejo ($220,000 in the minors/$403,075 in the majors); Francisco Cervelli ($65,000/$400,700); Wilkin De La Rosa ($23,500/$400,000); Michael Dunn …
Nolan Tanana / Three Days of Cryin':
Where Are They Now? — This is the first in what will hopefully become a series about Angels of yesteryear. — As we increasingly wax nostalgic, we got to thinking about how cool it would be to start a series of interviews with former Angels who, in one way or another, left their mark on the franchise.
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Wang gets back in step … KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The last time Chien-Ming Wang pitched against the Astros - against any team, for that matter - he suffered a foot injury that wrecked his 2008 season and helped send the Yankees spinning, too. So when Wang climbed the mound at Osceola County Stadium Monday …
Discussion:
My Pinstripes
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Andy Gray / Sports Illustrated:
Hastings: Cutler is an “arrogant little punk” and a “little bitch” — Denver TV analyst Scott Hastings joined Dan to discuss the Nuggets playoff run, the Broncos and other Denver news. —Jay Cutler lost Hastings' respect when he claimed his arm is stronger than John Elway's.
Andy Martino / Philly.com:
Agent: Phillies made offer to Ohman — The Phillies made an offer to free agent lefty reliever Will Ohman, and are engaged in ongoing negotiations with the pitcher, Ohman's agent tells the Inquirer. — We reported last month that Ohman and the Phillies had communicated …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors