Top News:
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.
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 …
Adam Kilgore / Boston Globe:
Kottaras's effort is eye-catching — He's nearly flawless in Wakefield's start — Against the Yankees' prospective Opening Day lineup, Tim Wakefield had his best spring outing: 5 2/3 innings, 4 hits, 1 run. (kathy willens/Associated Press) — TAMPA - Tim Wakefield kept Yankees off …
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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.
Discussion:
The Bottom Line
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.”
John Lowe / Detroit Free Press:
Willis in control, throws strikes — LAKELAND, Fla. — As he went to the mound at 10 o'clock Tuesday morning, Tigers left-hander Dontrelle Willis did so bolstered by encouragement from a distinguished neighbor. — The Tigers' spring base isn't far from the Atlanta Braves' camp …
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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.
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 …
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Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Whatever you do, don't hit a grand slam — Jesus Montero belted a grand slam against the Pirates on March 14 and was reassigned to the minor-league camp the next day. — Austin Jackson belted a grand slam today and guess what happened? He was reassigned to the minor-league camp as well.
Discussion:
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre …
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 …
Discussion:
DRaysBay
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 …
Bill Center / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Peavy's arrival quickly spurs more rumors of his potential departure — TEMPE, Ariz. - As soon as Jake Peavy arrived at the Padres' spring training camp Tuesday, the rumors started. — The Milwaukee Brewers, who have plenty of offense and prospects but are short on pitching, are now said to be interested in Peavy.
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Rockies shopping Torrealba, Baker — MESA, Ariz. — At this point, spring training is less about evaluation and more about shopping. Teams generally know what their team will look like on opening day, but they are still seeking to accessorize, swapping a belt for shoes, if you will.
Associated Press:
Timing of Tigers' home opener upsets Catholics … DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Tigers have upset some Roman Catholics who are unhappy that the club's home opener is scheduled during holy hours on Good Friday. — Traditional Christian belief says Jesus hung on the cross from noon to 3 p.m. on Good Friday.
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
MASNsports.com:
MASN Teams Up with Manny Acta to Give Nationals Fans More Access — Nationals fans will gain even more access to their favorite team in 2009, as Manager Manny Acta will answer fan questions and host a regular video blog in English and Spanish as part of a new interactive feature at MASNsports.com, the network announced today.
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
Marc Hulet / FanGraphs Baseball:
2009 Prospect Mine: New York Yankees — There is not a ton of depth in the upper levels of the system, but there are some impressive bats on the way - with one that could develop into a superstar. The Yankees organization, though, always seems to be able to squeeze every ounce of potential …