Top News:
Buster Olney / ESPN.com:
Sources: Good chance Alex Rodriguez can play with injury for New York Yankees … Hip surgery is the worst-case scenario for Alex Rodriguez, but the specialist who examined the Yankees' third baseman earlier this week indicated there is a very good chance that Rodriguez could play the whole season with the labrum tear, sources say.
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Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Spring Game 10: Tigers at Yankees (with Alex Rodriguez updates including Hal Steinbrenner's comments) — YANKEES — Pitching tonight: CC Sabathia followed by Alfredo Aceves, Jose Veras, Steven Jackson, David Robertson and Anthony Claggett. — TIGERS — Raburn RF — Polanco 2B
Ian O'Connor / NorthJersey.com:
PINSTRIPE POSTS — O'Connor: Better off without A-Rod?
PINSTRIPE POSTS — O'Connor: Better off without A-Rod?
Discussion:
Hardball Times
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Ransom likely to sub if A-Rod stays out
Ransom likely to sub if A-Rod stays out
Discussion:
Hardball, Newsday, Pinstripe Alley, New Jersey Online, New York Times, iYankees and YanksBlog.com
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Hip expert: A-Rod will need surgery
Hip expert: A-Rod will need surgery
Discussion:
The Sommer Frieze, New York Yankees Update, New York Times, The Yankee Universe, New Jersey Online, WasWatching.com, Fack Youk, Sporting News, Diamond Hoggers, YanksBlog.com, Sliding Into Home, This Purist Bleeds Pinstripes, Heartland Pinstripes, Baseball Musings, River Avenue Blues and MLB.com
Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Brewers monitoring outfield market — With Gwynn ailing, Milwaukee may be in need of reserve — GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Tony Gwynn Jr.'s lingering shoulder woes are prompting the Brewers to keep an eye on the free-agent market for outfielders. — “I would say very, very casually that we're keeping …
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Polls / Brew Beat:
Gagne to see Dr. Yocum, Crew season likely over — Eric Gagne will see noted orthopedist Lewis Yocum in Tempe, Ariz. on Saturday for a second opinion on his injured right shoulder. Whether or not Gagne opts for surgery, it appears extremely unlikely that he'll win a spot on the Brewers' big league roster.
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Heightened pressure now heaped on Teixeira — So Alex Rodriguez embarks on an uncertain course. The Yankees don't know if he'll be available Opening Day or in May. They don't know if he'll be available next week. His intention is to prepare and play each day until his hip …
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Darren Rovell / Sports Biz with Darren Rovell:
Major League Baseball Bans “A-Fraud” — Any fan hoping to make fun of New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez can no longer get a No. 13 Yankees jersey with the word “A-Fraud” on the back. — MLB.com has banned the new A-Rod nickname from the personalization feature on replica jerseys on MLB.com.
Adam Rubin / Surfing the Mets:
The wrap-up from Jupiter — The Mets beat the Cardinals, 5-4, Friday as Marlon Anderson's RBI single in the ninth scored Jose Valentin with the decisive run. Valentin went 3-for-4, while Anderson raised his spring average to .400 with a 2-for-2 game. — First-base ump Angel Hernandez gave …
Wayne Graczyk / MLB.com:
Korea makes grand statement in rout — Six-run first inning more than enough to down Chinese Taipei — TOKYO — Right-fielder Jin Young Lee belted a grand slam to cap a six-run first inning, and Keun Woo Jeong blasted a two-run shot in the bottom of the sixth to give Team Korea …
Tim Brown / Yahoo! Sports:
Angels' Guerrero is a year older than listed — Buzz up! — TEMPE, Ariz. - Los Angeles Angels outfielder Vladimir Guerrero said Friday he is a year older than his listed birth date, joining hundreds of players from the Dominican Republic who faked their ages when signing their first contracts with major-league teams.
Bill Simmons / ESPN:
The wait is over! The mailbag comes through — Jack from Swarthmore, Pa., e-mailed Wednesday just to say, “69 days! 69 days since your last mailbag! You're killin' me! For god sakes, I went through finals without a fresh mailbag to sink my teeth into. Over 1,500 hours of mailbag-less time.
Hal McCoy / Dayton Daily News:
Baker trying to get the right fit — When writers arrived at the media work room Thursday morning, Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker was seated at a table with a guy selling suits - expensive suits, I presume. — The guy is here every spring and players wander in to check out his goods, too.
Discussion:
MLB FanHouse
Alex Weprin / Broadcasting & Cable:
One Cancellation, One New Deal For Caliendo — TBS cancels ‘Frank TV’ while Fox Sports re-ups his NFL deal — It is good news and bad news for comedian Frank Caliendo. — TBS will not be bringing back his sketch comedy series Frank TV for another season, but he has a signed a new deal …
Susan Slusser / SFGate:
Strange morning here at Phoenix Muni and Duchscherer update — Generally, reporters meet with manager Bob Geren at 9:15 a.m. when the team starts stretching. It's nearly 10:30, still no sign of Geren, and Bobby Crosby didn't come out to stretch until after 10, so more than 45 minutes after the rest of the team.
Chris De Luca / Chicago Sun Times:
CUBS IN BRIEF: Lou says he could use extra IF — LAS VEGAS — Mike Fontenot and Aaron Miles are locks for at least a platoon at second base. Ryan Theriot will get most of the looks at shortstop. Fontenot and Miles can fill in at short and third. — But something doesn't add …
Surfing the Mets:
Lefty Martin out at least a week — Lefthander Tom Martin will be sidelined for at least a week, and seemingly longer, with a right calf injury. Martin wore a protective boot Friday morning in the clubhouse, though he said the discomfort had gone from a “10” when the injury occurred Thursday to a “4” after treatment.
Discussion:
Mets Fever