Top News:
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
NY Mets' ace Johan Santana feels ‘strong’ but will not commit to Opening Day start on Thursday at Citi Field — Left-hander may or may not face Braves — Johan Sanata throws a good bullpen session, but his status for Opening Day is up in the air. — PORT ST. LUCIE …
Discussion:
New York Post, Newsday, MetsBlog.com, Amazin' Avenue, MLB Daily Dish, NorthJersey.com and Yahoo! Sports
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Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Johan Santana to start Mets' opener — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — After throwing an intensive bullpen session Saturday, New York Mets left-hander Johan Santana walked by manager Terry Collins and proclaimed: “You've got your pitcher for Thursday.” — A day later, after Santana met …
Discussion:
ESPN, Baseball Nation and Deadspin
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Mets make the call: Santana to start opener — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Months of guarded optimism have led to an ideal outcome for the Mets. Johan Santana will start Opening Day, as the team has hoped since the moment last season ended. — Team officials came to the final decision Sunday morning …
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Doubront, Bard in rotation; concern for Bailey — FORT MYERS, Fla. — Lefthander Felix Doubront was named the No. 4 starter of the Red Sox and righthander Daniel Bard the No. 5 this morning. — Doubront will start the first game in Toronto and Bard the second. Alfredo Aceves will pitch out of the bullpen.
Discussion:
the joy of sox
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Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Final: Red Sox 5, Twins 1 — FORT MYERS, Fla. — It's another sunny day in paradise as the Daniels Parkway Showdown between the Red Sox and Twins gets ready to start. — This will be the sixth (and final) time the teams will play this season. I think I've seen Denard Span play more than Adrian Gonzalez.
Discussion:
Twinkie Town
Bill Chastain / MLB.com:
Ciriaco paces offense with two runs scored
Discussion:
Boston Globe, MLB Daily Dish and Over the Monster
Associated Press:
Mets' Dickey Spiked While Covering 1st Base — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — New York Mets starter R.A. Dickey needed two stitches in his right heel after being spiked Sunday in a 9-2 loss to a split squad of Detroit Tigers. — Dickey was covering first base when Corey Jones stepped on him in the third inning.
Discussion:
Associated Press
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Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Prince's shot, McCann's slam lead split Tigers — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Most veterans grumble when asked to make a long Grapefruit League road trip, especially with a split squad in action at home. Prince Fielder instead made the most of his assignment, launching a booming home run Sunday …
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Peralta's homer backs up Fister's solid start — LAKELAND, Fla. — Jhonny Peralta went all of Spring Training last year without driving in a run. He's finishing Spring Training with a bang this year, slugging a two-run homer in the third inning to power the Tigers ahead for good in a 4-2 win …
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
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Brian McTaggart / MLB.com:
Castro eager for Astros' season to begin — LAKELAND, Fla. — In many ways, Jason Castro's return to Joker Marchant Stadium on Sunday signified just how far he has come since the previous time he set foot in the ballpark. That was on March 2, 2011, when Castro stepped awkwardly on first base …
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Ubaldo Jimenez drills Troy Tulowitzki, benches clear, Tulo leaves with elbow injury — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — A war of words turned ugly today as the Indians' Ubaldo Jimenez hit Rockies' shortstop Troy Tulowitzki in the left elbow with a fastball on the first pitch of his at-bat.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports, baseballmusings.com and The Big Lead
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Ranking the major league managers — Maddon, Leyland, and Scioscia push the right buttons in our annual rankings — With top-tier guys such as Tony La Russa and Terry Francona out of the picture this year, our annual managerial rankings present a challenge.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and MetsBlog.com
Mark Sheldon / Mark My Word:
Francisco traded to Braves — The Reds have traded 3B Juan Francisco to the Braves for J.J. Hoover, a Minor League right-handed pitcher. — Francisco, who batted .196 with four home runs this spring, was out of options and did not endear himself to the Reds for among other things …
Discussion:
Baseball America, Yahoo! Sports, Talking Chop, MLB Daily Dish, Red Reporter, Redleg Nation and MLB Rumors
Brendan Kennedy / Toronto Star:
Blue Jays starter Ricky Romero ‘sick of going home in October’ — CLEARWATER, FLA.—Ricky Romero is done with spring training. — So antsy to be rid of the exhibition season is the Blue Jays' ace lefty that after his final Grapefruit League start was cut short by a windy downpour, he was already looking beyond the regular season.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and Bluebird Banter
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