Check out Mini-Ballbug for simple mobiles or Ballbug Mobile for modern smartphones.
9:00 AM ET, March 31, 2012

Ballbug

 Top News: 
David Lennon / Newsday:
Pelfrey surprised job was on line  —  JUPITER, Fla. — For most players, it's difficult to pinpoint the exact moment when spring training switches from simply getting your work in to pitching for your job.  —  Not for Mike Pelfrey.  Not this year.  —  That precise moment occurred two days …
Discussion: MetsBlog.com
RELATED:
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
NY Mets center fielder Andres Torres says strained calf is better, but he feels ‘awkward’ in batter's box  —  Collins says Torres may not make it back for Opening Day, DL stint possible  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — First, the good news: Andres Torres batted four times in a minor-league game on Friday.
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
NY Mets left-hander Johan Santana to throw one final bullpen session that will determine if he'll pitch against the Atlanta Braves on Opening Day  —  If he's not ready for assignment, R.A. Dickey could take his place  —  Recovering from shoulder surgery, Johan Santana is still unsure if he'll be ready for opener.
Discussion: MetsBlog.com and New Jersey Online
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
NY Mets front office considered releasing Michael Pelfrey before Opening Day
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Pineda to have MRI on sore right shoulder  —  Velocity down, Yankees righty gives up six early runs  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Yankees right-hander Michael Pineda reported tightness behind his right shoulder on Friday and, after competing for a rotation spot all spring, could now begin the season on the disabled list.
Discussion: baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Wallace Matthews / ESPN:
TAMPA — New York Yankees right-hander Michael Pineda said he felt “a little sore” in the back of his right shoulder during an abbreviated outing Friday night in which he allowed six runs in 2-2/3 innings against the Philadelphia Phillies.  —  As ominous as that sounds, it was unclear if Pineda is injured or …
Discussion: New York Times and Lookout Landing
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Phillies grab big lead, can't hold off Yankees  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Michael Pineda's chances of breaking camp in the Yankees' rotation took a hit on Friday as the young right-hander was chased in the third inning of a 13-9 victory over the Phillies at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Discussion: Pinstripe Alley
Alex Pavlovic / Boston Herald:
Giants pitcher Barry Zito encouraged to watch Jamie Moyer  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. - The San Francisco Giants were shut out by Colorado Rockies left-hander Jamie Moyer twice this spring, and the clubhouse consensus was that it might be best if the team didn't see Moyer again for a while.
RELATED:
AJ Cassavell / MLB.com:
Moyer named No. 2 starter in Rox rotation  —  Tracy tabs 49-year-old lefty to pitch April 7 at Houston  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — At 49, Jamie Moyer is still defying the baseball logic of both age and velocity.  —  Rockies manager Jim Tracy announced on Friday that Moyer …
Troy Renck / On the Rox:
Rockies' Pomeranz will be skipped until 15th, cementing Moyer's spot
Discussion: Purple Row
Brian McTaggart / MLB.com:
Braves held to RBI double in loss to Astros  —  KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Bud Norris allowed four hits and one run in six strong innings in his final start of the Grapefruit League season and Chris Johnson had a pair of RBIs to lead the split-squad Astros to a 5-1 win over the split-squad Braves on Friday night at Osceola County Stadium.
Discussion: The Crawfish Boxes
RELATED:
MLB:
Source: Braves get Livan Hernandez
Fox Sports:   Braves sign RHP Hernandez for one year
Zach Links / MLB Rumors:
Royals, Alex Gordon Agree To Extension  —  6:10pm: The deal is worth $37.5MM over four years with a player option for 2016 at $12.5MM, tweets Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star.  Gordon will earn $6MM for 2012, $9MM for 2013, $10MM for 2014, and $12.5MM for 2015, Dutton tweets.
RELATED:
Bob Dutton / Kansas City Star:
Gordon agrees to new four-year contract for guaranteed $37.5 million
Discussion: baseballmusings.com
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Trout sent to Triple-A amidst trying spring  —  TEMPE, Ariz. — The Angels optioned star prospect Mike Trout — as well as long-shot rotation candidate Brad Mills — to Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday.  —  The move offered little in the way of surprise.  All it did was signal the end …
Discussion: Halos Heaven
RELATED:
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Isringhausen wins place in Angels bullpen
Discussion: Yahoo! Sports
Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com:
Cabrera returns with two doubles in victory  —  Tigers rally past Orioles behind Plagman's homer, triple  —  SARASOTA, Fla. — Tigers reserve outfielder Tony Plagman homered in the seventh to tie the score, then tripled home the go-ahead runs in the ninth to steal the spotlight …
Discussion: Camden Chat
Associated Press:
Darvish strikes out 11 in Rangers' 5-3 win  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.—Texas Rangers right-hander Yu Darvish did just fine without a scouting report on the Colorado Rockies.  —  He struck out 11 in six innings in a 5-3 victory over the Rockies on Friday night.  He allowed three runs and six hits and walked one.
Mike Puma / New York Post:
Dickey wants Mets to pick up option now  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — R.A. Dickey could be headed toward a more certain future with the Mets.  —  According to a source, team brass has already begun discussing various possibilities — with no resolution — on which direction to move with Dickey …
Discussion: Amazin' Avenue and MetsBlog.com
RELATED:
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
NY Mets keep Mike Baxter and Mike Nickeas on official roster, send Adam Loewen and others down to the minors
 
 Archived Page Info: 
This is a snapshot of Ballbug at 9:00 AM ET, March 31, 2012.

View the current page or another snapshot:


 
 See Also: 
Ballbug: site main
Ballbug River: reverse chronological Ballbug
Ballbug Mobile: for phones
Ballbug Leaderboard: Ballbug's top sources
 
 Subscribe: 
Ballbug RSS feed
 
 
 More News: 
Tony Jackson / ESPN:
Ted Lilly to open season on DL
Discussion: Yahoo! Sports
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Gordon, Loney lead way against Cubs
Discussion: Bleed Cubbie Blue
John Lott / National Post:
Blue Jays' Adam Lind on track to resume playing on Sunday
Discussion: Yahoo! Sports and Bluebird Banter
Michael Salfino / Wall Street Journal:
Reason to Believe Nova's Rookie Season Was a Fluke
 Earlier Picks: 
Jason McIntyre / The Big Lead:
Joe Posnanski is Leaving Sports Illustrated
Discussion: Deadspin
Josh Norris / Minor Matters:
Get your rosters here  —  A few players — mostly Charleston guys …
Boston Globe:
No recourse in Carpenter case
 

 
From WeSmirch:

TMZ.com:
Josh and Heather Altman Leaving ‘Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles’

Melena Ryzik / New York Times:
Shawn Mendes Walked Away From Stardom. He's Ready to Talk About It.

Riley Cardoza / Page Six:
John Legend's manager details ‘terrifying’ experience at Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs' NYE party

 
Sister Sites:

Techmeme
 Top news and commentary for technology's leaders, from all around the web
Mediagazer
 Top news and commentary for media professionals from all around the web
memeorandum
 What US political commentators are discussing online right now
WeSmirch
 The top celebrity news from all around the web on a single page