Top News:
Jim Baumbach / Newsday:
Mets' Castillo: I'm a different guy this season — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Luis Castillo hates thinking about the injury-plagued, beaten-down player he became last season. Despises it. Loathes it. Take your pick. — Heck, even the mere mention of the phrase “last year” makes him cringe.
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Valentin among seven cut by Mets — Veteran second baseman hopes to catch on with another team — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The composition of the Mets' Opening Day roster came into somewhat sharper focus Friday night, when the club removed seven players from its Spring Training roster.
Pat Borzi / New York Times:
Yankees Near Decision on Starting Cabrera or Gardner in Center — TAMPA, Fla. — Only secure players make this kind of remark to other secure players. That may say more about Brett Gardner's status with the Yankees than anything. — With the competition between Gardner and Melky Cabrera …
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Kobrien / On the Yankees beat:
Tie game, decisions — It's tied 1-1 after three innings. Derek Jeter led off the game with a double and went on to score on a Mark Teixeira single. CC Sabathia has allowed one run on four hits, with three strikeouts. — Joe Girardi said before the game that he wants to have the centerfield job settled by Sunday or Monday.
Adam Kilgore / Boston Globe:
The Sox set their rotation — FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Red Sox finalized two major pitching decisions (the first four starters and Justin Masterson's role) while leaving two others (the fifth starter and Clay Buchholz's role) open for now. — None of the developments, revealed by manager Terry Francona, are surprising.
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MLB.com:
Marlins acquire Paulino from Giants — Giants to get right-handed pitcher Hector Correa — JUPITER, FL — The Florida Marlins have acquired catcher Ronny Paulino from the Giants in exchange for minor league right-handed pitcher Hector Correa. The announcement was made by Marlins President of Baseball Operations Larry Beinfest.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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Chico Harlan / Nationals Journal:
Martis, Zimmermann Make Rotation; Pena Placed On Waivers — The Nationals this morning made a flurry of roster moves and decisions, finalizing their starting rotation, reassigning several veterans to minor league camp, and placing outfielder Wily Mo Pena on waivers. — Here's the skeletal breakdown:
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Federal Baseball, Nats Triple Play, NationalsPride.com and DC Pro Sports Report
Mychael Urban / MLB.com:
Duchscherer to start season on DL — Projected Opening Day starter will have surgery, miss at least six weeks — PHOENIX — A's right-hander Justin Duchscherer, a 2008 All-Star and Oakland's projected Opening Day starter when Spring Training opened last month, is headed for surgery …
Discussion:
Athletics Nation
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Adam Rubin / Surfing the Mets:
Mets drop seven from camp; Villone released, Valentin cut — Ron Villone has been released by the Mets, while pitchers Nelson Figueroa, Carlos Muniz, infielder Andy Green, outfielder Cory Sullivan and catcher Rene Rivera have been sent to minor-league camp. — UPDATE/ANALYSIS: Villone said he doesn't plan to retire. ...
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Cam Inman / Contra Costa Times:
Bochy's status doesn't bode well — THE A'S STEPPED UP this week — in between Lew Wolff's serial tauntings of the East Bay — and wisely extended manager Bob Geren's contract beyond this season. — Next up to the plate: The Giants. Or, specifically, their lame-duck manager, Bruce Bochy.
Discussion:
6-4-2
Denver Post:
Corpas' lifts his chances at closer job — PEORIA, Ariz. — Manuel Corpas answered back Friday. — In a tight race with Huston Street for the Rockies' closer job, Corpas threw a strong ninth inning against the Mariners. He allowed a single to Jeff Clement but was otherwise very sharp.
Discussion:
Purple Row
William Zinsser / New York Times:
Always, the Crack of the Bat — HANGING on my office wall is a baseball photograph taken in 1926. I bought it from an antiques dealer many years ago because I had never seen a picture that so perfectly distills the essence of the game; it almost looks staged.
Discussion:
BASEBALL HOT CORNER
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
pre-Game: Mets vs. Marlins at 1 PM — The Mets play today against the Marlins at 1 pm. — Livan Hernandez will instead pitch in a minor-league intrasquad game, while right-handed pitching prospect Dillon Gee gets the start against the Marlins, because Jerry Manuel specifically requested to see more of him.
Discussion:
Mets Minor League Blog
ESPN:
Female knuckleballer in Japan out of her league — Yeah. I'm sure this has a happy ending ... Hmmm, let's see ... five feet and 114 pounds ... what happens when the enemy hitters start dropping bunts into that tricky area between the pitcher's mound and the third-base line?
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings
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