Top News:
Jack Curry / New York Times:
Voice of Yankee Stadium Retires — The new Yankee Stadium will sound much different than the old one. Bob Sheppard, the public address announcer for the Yankees since 1951, has retired. — Paul Doherty, a friend and agent who has represented Sheppard, said Sheppard's son, Paul, told him about Sheppard's plans on Wednesday morning.
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog, The Voice of Yankees Universe, SPORTSbyBROOKS, New Jersey Online, River Avenue Blues, Yanks and more, MY BASEBALL BIAS, The Yankee Universe, The Mets Police, New Stadium Insider, WasWatching.com, Sliding Into Home, This Purist Bleeds Pinstripes, It is about the money, stupid, NY Super Blog and Watchdog
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Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Bombers deny Sheppard retiring report — NY Times story ‘untrue,’ says son of ‘Voice of Yankee Stadium’ — TAMPA, Fla. — One day after Bob Sheppard said that he was looking forward to announcing games at the new Yankee Stadium, The New York Times reported that Sheppard was planning to retire instead.
Discussion:
bronxbanterblog.com
Ken Belson / New York Times:
It's Going, Going ... Did You See Where It Went? — There is a reason baseball fans call them cheap seats, those perches far from home plate in the outfield, the upper decks and down the lines, often with obscured views of the game. — The Mets and the Yankees together have spent …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, Respect Jeter's Gangster, The Mets Police, Mariners Insider, Watchdog, bronxbanterblog.com and New York Post
Kobrien / On the Yankees beat:
False alarm: Sheppard NOT retiring — The Yankees have spoken to Paul Sheppard, Bob Sheppard's son and the supposed source for the news that Sheppard was retiring. Paul Sheppard said he had said no such thing, that is father is not ready to announce his retirement as PA announcer for the Yankees, though he will miss Opening Day.
Discussion:
Walkoff Walk
ESPN.com:
New York Yankees' Joba Chamberlain pleads guilty to DUI charge — LINCOLN, Neb. — New York Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain has pleaded guilty to a Nebraska charge of drunken driving and has been given probation. — After a plea deal, prosecutors dropped the second charge of driving with an open alcohol container.
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Wallace Matthews / Newsday:
Taking Joba out of Yanks' bullpen sets up failure — Joba Chamberlain had his best outing of the spring Tuesday,, limiting the Reds to five hits and two runs in 51/3 innings. He was so good, in fact, that he pitched the Yankees almost to the point where, ideally, Joba Chamberlain would come into the game.
Discussion:
The Bronx View Podcast …
Tyler Kepner / Bats:No Worries: Joba at 96 M.P.H.
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues, The Yankee Universe, Sliding Into Home, Bombers Beat, ESPN and The LoHud Yankees Blog
Bob Dutton / Kansas City Star:
Royals trade Gload to the Marlins and finalize their rotation — The Royals moved to trim their roster Wednesday morning by trading veteran first baseman Ross Gload to the Florida Marlins and asking release waivers on reliever Joel Peralta. — Manager Trey Hillman also confirmed Sidney Ponson …
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Bob Dutton / Kansas City Star:
Veteran Ponson appears set for Royals rotation — It doesn't matter, it seems, that veteran right-hander Sidney Ponson gave up seven runs in five innings Tuesday in a 7-2 loss to the Oakland A's. — The Royals seem ready, regardless, to anoint him as the fourth member of their rotation — albeit not officially.
Beck / Beck's Blog:
Porcello, Perry make team, Robertson in relief — Rick Porcello and Ryan Perry have a combined 38 games of professional baseball experience, none of it above Class A ball. But they'll have two spots on the Tigers' 12-man pitching staff. — In the end, talent won out over the experience.
Discussion:
Detroit Free Press, The Detroit Tiger Weblog, TigerBlog, Mack Avenue Tigers and Tiger Tales
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Marc Topkin / The Heater:
Izzy stays, says he needs only “a couple, few weeks” — UPDATE, 12:12: Isringhausen said he was very pleased to be able to stay with the Rays and - barring any setbacks from his September elbow surgery - should only need “a couple, few weeks” until he is ready to pitch in the majors.
Alan Schwarz / New York Times:
Ball-Strike Monitor May Reopen Wounds — JUPITER, Fla. — An improved camera system to monitor umpires' calls of balls and strikes will be used in all 30 major league stadiums starting opening day, ending the contentious QuesTec era but expanding the scope of baseball's oversight program.
Troy Renck / All Things Rockies:
Pulling for Pods; Jimenez to work minor league game — Tucson — It is awkward, strange. One day you are interviewing a guy, talking baseball, the next day his locker his empty. I have seen it happen for 13 years, and it never gets any easier. — Scott Podsednik was released today.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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David Murphy / Philly.com:
Phillies one of three teams interested in Sheff; Drabek out after 2 1/3 — Jim Leyland told Detroit reporters this morning that Gary Sheffield, the veteran slugger released yesterday by the Tigers, has received serious interest from three major league teams, one of them presumably being the Phillies.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Tony Massarotti / Boston Globe:
Beckett has final tuneup; Sox edge Pirates — BRADENTON, Fla. — Josh Beckett threw 88 pitches today in his final tuneup before his Opening Day start, giving up three earned runs in 3 2/3 innings, walking one, striking out four, and surrendering seven hits in Boston's 4-3 victory over the Pirates.
Discussion:
The Bottom Line
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Angels' Joe Saunders may be experiencing ‘dead arm’ — Manager Mike Scioscia says he is disappointed about his opening-day starter's outing Monday. Possible culprits include a tired arm and food poisoning. — Reporting from Mesa, Ariz. — Just what the Angels need, another potential problem with a starting pitcher.
Christina Kahrl / Unfiltered:
Keeping Score — Opening Day's right around the corner, and while that means a lot of logistical considerations for the teams, there are also a few key questions that those of us in the stands or the boxes have to give thought to as well. This might come across a bit of being a pitchwoman, but we've gotten a few e-mails like this:
Patrick Sullivan / Baseball Analysts:
NL West Preview — Today, Rich, Jeremy and I preview the NL West. You can find past previews below: — The numbers presented are the averages of each of the projection systems featured on the Fangraphs player pages. — Let's get to it. — CATCHER — AVG OBP SLG — Martin, R. .
Discussion:
Dodger Thoughts
New York Post:
A-ROD WANTS TO RETURN SOONER THAN EXPECTED; CASHMAN CAUTIOUS — SARASOTA, Fla. - Alex Rodriguez thinks he can return from hip surgery prior to May 15, and though the Yankees would certainly welcome their cleanup hitter back before then, GM Brian Cashman isn't betting on it.
Sam Borden / The Journal News:
Stadium laden with Trost's fingerprints — Long before Lonn Trost was given the responsibility of overseeing the construction of baseball's newest cathedral, he was charged with an equally demanding (though significantly less-expensive) architectural task: designing his own home.
Nate Silver / ESPN:
Defensive Shift — A few changes in the field can dramatically change your team's D ... for better or worse. — STAY AHEAD OF THE GAME Become an Insider Today — ESPN The Magazine — How did we, at Baseball Prospectus, predict that the Rays, who had never won more than 70 games in any season …
