Top News:
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Two deaths in the Yankee family — Johnny Blanchard, a Yankee from 1955-65, passed away today. He was 76. — Blanchard played in five World Series, helping the Yankees win two of them. He was an outfielder and catcher. — The Yankees also lost Arthur Richman, the team's senior advisor of media relations.
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Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Yankees' ‘Super-Sub’ Blanchard dies — Was member of five World Series teams in New York — Johnny Blanchard, a member of five New York Yankees World Series clubs, died Wednesday of a heart attack in Minnesota. He was 76. — Nicknamed “Super-Sub,” Blanchard spent most of his career …
Charley Walters / TwinCities.com:
Shooter Now: Ex-Yankee Johnny Blanchard dies — Johnny Blanchard, a Minneapolis Central grad who went on to play six seasons with the New York Yankees and in five World Series, died early this morning of a heart attack at home in Wayzata at age 76. — Blanchard was a close friend and confidant of Hall of Fame teammate Mickey Mantle.
Bobbie Dittmeier / MLB.com:
Deal struck to sell Stadium memorabilia — Demolition of old Yankees ballpark reportedly to begin in April — Seats, foul poles, dugouts, urinals and numerous other items from the old Yankee Stadium will be sold to fans as part of a $10 million deal between the Yankees and New York City, the New York Post reported on Wednesday.
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Ross / New Stadium Insider:
New York Yankees Introduce The Caste System: Only Allow Field Level Ticket Holders To Roam The Field Level Concessions — The Yankees have finally updated the official “A-Z” guide to the new Yankee Stadium on their website. There will likely be many nuggets that we are able to draw from this comprehensive guide to the stadium.
Discussion:
Deadspin, Fack Youk, Field of Schemes, It is about the money, stupid and Scott Proctor's Arm
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Bullpen day for Smoltz — John Smoltz throws this morning in Fort Myers, Fla. (AP) — FORT MYERS, Fla. — Josh Beckett, out with Jon Lester to watch John Smoltz throw his first bullpen of his tenure with the Red Sox, paid a high compliment to his fellow starter.
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JSOnline:
Nixon released, Gamel optioned — By Anthony Witrado of the Journal Sentinel — Phoenix - Outfielder Trot Nixon was released this morning, a move that had manager Ken Macha a bit emotional - no tears, but some heartfelt words for a guy he considers a friend.
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Yanks remain open to trading Cabrera — Gardner's success in center gives club options with 2008 center fielder — The Yankees have apparently not given up on trying to trade center fielder Melky Cabrera. — With Brett Gardner coming along at that position, the club had been open to dealing him earlier in the offseason.
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Paul Hoynes / Plain Dealer:
CLEVELAND INDIANS — Baseball News, Schedule, Pictures, and More — Left-hander Scott Lewis named fifth starter by Cleveland Indians; Aaron Laffey demoted — GOODYEAR, Ariz. — GM Mark Shapiro was't kidding when he said the Indians would name their fifth starter “sooner rather than later.”
Joshua Robinson / New York Times:
Rays Won't Rush Price's Young Arm — FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Headphones hanging around his neck and iPod in hand, David Price tossed his duffel bag back into the hold of the Tampa Bay Rays' bus here last week. It was still early in the wet afternoon — Price had not even changed …
Jeff Zrebiec / Baltimore Sun:
Baez ruled out of rotation competition — Trembley tells RHP that if he makes the team, it will be out of the bullpen — FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Then, there were five. — The Orioles continued to whittle down the candidates for their rotation Wednesday, informing Danys Baez that if he makes the team …
John Perrotto / PiratesReport.com:
Tabata's wife arrested on kidnapping charge — JOHN PERROTTO — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. _ The wife of Pirates outfield prospect Jose Tabata has been arrested for kidnapping a 2-month-old girl in Plant City, Fla. — Amaila Tabata Pereira was found with 10-pound Sandra Cruz-Francisco standing …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, MLB.com, The Sommer Frieze, Bucs Dugout, Red Hot Mama, MLB FanHouse and Mondesi's House
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Sam Kennedy / 1UP.com:
Curt Shilling: Done With Baseball, Focused on MMO — Former Red Sox pitcher talks about his game studio and MMO at GamesBeat. — Following the announcement of his retirement from baseball yesterday, former Red Sox pitcher Curt Shilling spoke at the GamesBeat game conference in San Francisco about his next venture, 38 Studios.
Dick Kaegel / MLB.com:
KC wants Ponson to be under pressure — Club switches plan, will start righty against Mariners on Thursday — SURPRISE, Ariz. — Hang on. There's a change of plans for Royals pitcher Sidney Ponson. — Now Ponson is scheduled to face the Mariners on Thursday afternoon …
MLB.com:
New York Yankees announce passing of longtime baseball ambassador Arthur Richman — It is with deep sadness that the New York Yankees announce the passing of longtime baseball writer and executive Arthur Richman. He passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in New York City early …
Bill Plunkett / Angels blog:
Lackey will skip next start — John Lackey is the latest Angels starter to experience a physical ailment this spring. Lackey will not pitch Friday as scheduled after feeling some tightness in his forearm. — According to Angels manager Mike Scioscia, the problem is not serious and Lackey …
David Lennon / On the Mets beat:
At least the bullpen seems OK — Before Oliver Perez imploded again today, the bullpen trio of Frankie Rodriguez, J.J. Putz and Sean Green had a tuneup on Field 4. School was in session as the Mets' front office had dozens of their low-level minor leaguers camped out behind the backstop to watch and learn.
Discussion:
Mets Fever
Adam Kilgore / Boston Globe:
Final: Red Sox 2, Reds 1 — IT'S OVER (3:27, END 9, 2-1 RED SOX) — The Red Sox scored two in the ninth and notched a comeback victory at Ed Smith Stadium. — BUCHHOLZ OUT, PAPELBON IN (2:35, BOT 7, 1-0 REDS) — Jonathan Papelbon has replaced Buchholz.
Discussion:
The Bottom Line
