Marlins, Mets to play series in Puerto Rico
(Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:23:00 EDT)
Major League Baseball announced Thursday the Florida Marlins and New York Mets are switching their three-game set on June 28-30 from Miami to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Manny appears to be heating up
(Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:25:00 EDT)
Manny Ramirez's power returned, at least for his first-inning, two-run home run off Ryan Dempster in the Dodgers' 7-3 spring win over the Cubs on Thursday.

No problems with Jeter's throwing hand
(Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:39:00 EDT)
If Derek Jeter's throwing hand was bothering him at all while playing the field on Thursday, it came as news to manager Joe Girardi.

Washington admits drug use as player
(Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:45:00 EDT)
One day after admitting that he used and tested positive for cocaine one time last summer, Rangers manager Ron Washington found himself answering questions on Thursday about his use of marijuana and amphetamines during his playing career.

Hamilton empathizes with Washington
(Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:18:00 EDT)
Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton can empathize with what manager Ron Washington is going through, following his admission of past drug use.

Scully hospitalized after fall
(Fri, 19 Mar 2010 02:49:00 EDT)
Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully was hospitalized Thursday night in Los Angeles after falling at his home.

Knight: Cox will have hard time retiring
(Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:08:00 EDT)
Two years removed from a legendary career that included more wins than any other men's basketball coach in NCAA Division I history, Bobby Knight still occasionally yearns for the opportunity to taste that competitive fire that Braves manager Bobby Cox plans to say goodbye to at the conclusion of this upcoming season.

Quentin driven to become better hitter
(Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:21:00 EDT)
Carlos Quentin is a power threat for the White Sox, but the right fielder understands he can't focus on hitting home runs. He wants to become a better hitter and knows home runs will come.

Extension gives Reynolds 'peace of mind'
(Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:44:00 EDT)
Mark Reynolds officially signed his three-year contract extension with the D-backs on Thursday just prior to the team's game against the A's at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

Aramis scratched with lingering soreness
(Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:19:00 EDT)
Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez was scratched from Thursday's lineup because of soreness in his right triceps.

Bodley: For Francona, life is good
(Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:55:00 EDT)
After six seasons in Boston, Terry Francona is feeling comfortable with his role with the franchise, and he's feeling good about his team's chances in 2010.

Pena goes over the wall to snap 0-fer
(Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:08:00 EDT)
Carlos Pena entered Thursday night's game 0-for-Spring Training. But the situation changed quickly in the second inning, when Pena rerouted a 3-2 fastball over the right-field wall at Steinbrenner Field.

Lidge throws inning in Double-A game
(Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:23:00 EDT)
Brad Lidge -- who allowed three hits and one run in one inning in a Double-A Spring Training game Thursday -- figures he needs at least nine more appearances before he is ready to pitch in the regular season.

Under the lights, Nolasco's stuff electric
(Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:16:00 EDT)
Ricky Nolasco says he elevates his game "under the lights," and in the Marlins' only night game of the spring, he was lights-out, striking out seven in five stellar innings.

Gamel out indefinitely with shoulder injury
(Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:36:00 EDT)
An MRI scan on Wednesday revealed that Brewers third-base prospect Mat Gamel has what the team termed a "slight" tear in his latissimus dorsi. Brewers director of media relations Mike Vassallo reported that the team expects Gamel to be restricted from activity for six weeks.

Willis in good spirits after scoreless effort
(Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:48:00 EDT)
Manager Jim Leyland allowed Dontrelle Willis to stay in the game and escape from a jam, but he did not allow him to return for his fourth and final scheduled inning against the Astros. Instead, the left-hander headed to the trainer's room to receive treatment on his ailing back.

Lyon's shoulder fine after spring debut
(Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:57:00 EDT)
Now that Brandon Lyon is healthy, the closer competition can officially begin.

Chipper makes mammoth statement
(Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:40:00 EDT)
Those concerns that Chipper Jones had about the feel of his right-handed swing seemed to evaporate when he deposited a Rich Hill fastball on top of the roof of a building located beyond the left-field wall at Roger Dean Stadium on Thursday afternoon.

Future may be now for Blue Jays' Snider
(Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:32:00 EDT)
Travis Snider made a statement Thursday, drilling a pair of towering home runs against the Orioles. So will the young outfielder be on the club's Opening Day roster? Cito Gaston seems to think so.

Fowler feeling comfortable with Rox
(Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:51:00 EDT)
Dexter Fowler, who turns 24 on Monday, skipped Triple-A and spent last season learning on the go. He is looking to improve upon a .266 batting average.

La Russa takes exception to comments
(Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:08:00 EDT)
Cardinals manager Tony La Russa expressed irritation on Thursday over a report that the Mets took exception to a couple of pitches from reliever Eduardo Sanchez in a recent Spring Training game between the two teams.

Orioles upping Wieters' spring workload
(Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:28:00 EDT)
Starting this weekend, Matt Wieters will again be a regular fixture behind the plate, with manager Dave Trembley saying on Tuesday that he will begin to increase the young catcher's workload in the final three and a half weeks of spring.

Optimistic Lilly returns to camp
(Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:35:00 EDT)
Cubs pitcher Ted Lilly, coming back from offseason arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder, threw to hitters for the first time on Thursday and could be ready for the rotation by mid-April.

Santana rounding into form for Halos
(Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:52:00 EDT)
Ervin Santana is trying to get back to the form that made him an All-Star in 2008.

Arizona legislature approves surcharges
(Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:12:00 EDT)
The Arizona House of Representatives on Thursday approved a Spring Training ticket surcharge plan designed to keep the Cubs in Mesa and generate more than $100 million for improvements to facilities across the Valley over the next 30 years.

Buchholz stays on schedule to earn job
(Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:30:00 EDT)
With the big league team off Thursday, right-hander Clay Buchholz toiled at the player development complex on the opposite end of Edison Avenue from City of Palms Park, in a Minor League game against a Twins' high Class A squad.

Lineup decisions coming into focus
(Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:42:00 EDT)
Manager Joe Torre hasn't announced that Clayton Kershaw will be his Opening Day starting pitcher and Blake DeWitt the Dodgers' primary second baseman, but it looks like he will soon.

Pavano feels better, more into routine
(Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:14:00 EDT)
Carl Pavano is working on improving upon what was a productive season for him in 2009. He's been able to get into a better rhythm and routine to push his body this spring.

MLB suspends two Minor Leaguers
(Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:31:00 EDT)
Two Minor Leaguers from the Dominican Summer League were suspended for violations of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, the Office of the Commissioner announced Thursday.

WADA calls for increased HGH efforts
(Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:15:00 EDT)
The World Anti-Doping Agency released a statement Thursday imploring Major League Baseball and the MLB Players' Association to step up efforts to test for human growth hormone, which currently only can be detected in blood samples.

Murphy counters hurdles with hard work
(Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:35:00 EDT)
Though it seems he's constantly on the hot seat, Mets first baseman Daniel Murphy doesn't pay much attention to his press clippings, knowing that his own hard work is the most important thing.

Injured Burriss mentoring Giants' prospects
(Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:20:00 EDT)
Ask a Minor League position player participating in his first Giants big league camp to name the veterans who have offered advice or insight, and you can predict who he'll almost certainly mention.

Offseason work has Soria ready for action
(Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:01:00 EDT)
Joakim Soria bypassed the warmer climate of his native Monclova, Mexico, this winter to stay in Kansas City for the birth of his daughter, and for the chance to work with strength and conditioning coordinator, Ty Hill.

Guzman to have surgery, out indefinitely
(Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:09:00 EDT)
After visiting with renowned orthopedic specialist Dr. James Andrews, Cubs reliever Angel Guzman has decided to have surgery to repair a significant tear in his right shoulder.