Top News:
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
No surgery for A-Rod — Yankees GM Brian Cashman just said Alex Rodriguez has a torn hip labrum and cyst. — They're trying rest and rehab. The cyst was drained. The hope is he'll keep playing. — More to come. — He's out of the WBC. — UPDATE, 3:51 p.m.: Surgery, if needed, would knock him out four months.
Discussion:
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Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Hip expert: A-Rod will need surgery — I just spoke to an expert, Dr. Robert Buly of the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. He is an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in hips. — Only last week, Dr. Buly presented back-to-back papers on treating this very injury with Dr. Marc Philippon …
Ian O'Connor / NorthJersey.com:
PINSTRIPE POSTS — O'Connor: Better off without A-Rod? — TAMPA — Alex Rodriguez was said to have been surprised when he got the grim news on his bum hip, surprised but eager to play on. Chances are, his determination will meet its match in human frailty.
Discussion:
Hardball Times
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Cashman audio from today — Here is Brian Cashman talking about Alex Rodriguez's bad hip. It's about 20 minutes: — In essence, there were two choices: surgery or rest, rehab and then surgery. The Yankees will try to get him through the season with rest and rehab.
Discussion:
Coast to Coast Baseball, Heartland Pinstripes, MY BASEBALL BIAS, Yanks and more and Baseball Insider
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:Rodriguez to Play With Hip Injury
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, River Avenue Blues, iYankees, WasWatching.com, SPORTSbyBROOKS, Bats and Only Baseball Matters
MLB:
Cleveland Indians outfielder Shin-Soo Choo cleared to play in World Baseball Classic — GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Shin-Soo Choo has been cleared by South Korea to play in the World Baseball Classic, though a sore left arm will limit him to designated hitter duties only in the first round.
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Newsday:
Mets' Tatis to replace A-Rod on Dominican team — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Fernando Tatis has agreed to be the replacement for Alex Rodriguez on the Dominican Republic team for the World Baseball Classic. — After A-Rod pulled out of the tournament with a torn labrum in his hip …
Associated Press:
Moises Alou says Classic will likely be his finale … JUPITER, Florida (AP) — Moises Alou says he'll likely turn down offers he has received to play this season, including one from the Philadelphia Phillies, and end his 18-year career after the World Baseball Classic.
Craig Calcaterra / Hardball Times:
Worldwide Draft — I missed this the other day, but in light of the problems in the Dominican, the chatter about a potential worldwide draft is increasing: … And there certainly are problems down there and in other countries not subject to the draft. It's worth noting, however …
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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Henry Schulman / SFGate:
Dave Roberts released — The Giants have just announced a move surprising in its timing. They have released outfielder Dave Roberts now to give him time to find a job elsewhere. The team will be on the hook for his $6.5 million salary in 2009. If another team signs him …
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Mark Newman / MLB.com:
Team USA reads Top Ten on Letterman — Appearing on the “Late Show with David Letterman” will not help you against Japan's pitching or Korea's fielding or Cuba's potent offense, but when 10 members of Team USA did that Thursday to read the Top Ten List for “reasons to watch the World Baseball Classic …
Discussion:
Nationals Journal
Ben Casselman / Wall Street Journal:
Luxury Strikes Out — Hi-def TV screens in bathroom mirrors. Celebrity chefs. Three of the most expensive sports arenas in history are about to open, and the timing couldn't be worse. — A rendering of the new Dallas Cowboys stadium in Arlington, Texas.
MLB:
St. Louis Cardinals, reliever Dennys Reyes agree to two-year, $3 million contract — ST. LOUIS — Left-hander Dennys Reyes and the St. Louis Cardinals have agreed to $3 million, two-year contract. — The move was first reported by ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.
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Will Weissert / Associated Press:
Cubans' baseball dreams take root on rocky fields — HAVANA — The pitch whistles in with such fury that the catcher screams and pulls off his glove, frantically shaking a left hand that's turning purple. — He has no catcher's mask or mitt, only an infielder's glove.
Discussion:
Hardball Times
goaztecs.cstv.com:
Play-by-Play — San Diego State at #11 San Diego - Play-by-Play — Score by Innings R H E — San Diego State..... 010 012 001 - 5 12 0 San Diego........... 011 000 001 - 3 8 2 —
Adam Rubin / Surfing the Mets:
The day at camp — Despite John Maine's early struggles, the Mets rallied to beat Italy 3-2 in a game in which the statistics don't count in the official spring totals. — The Mets scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth, with two players fighting for the outfield defensive specialist job vacated …
Jon Weisman / Dodger Thoughts:
Dodger beat writer Leung laid off — Really unfortunate news for those of you who, like me, live for every next tidbit of Dodger coverage: Diamond Leung, Dodgers beat writer for the Press-Enterprise and a pleasure to read, was among a group of writers laid off today.
Discussion:
Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness
