Ripken Is Pitching This Time, but How Will Chinese Receive Him?
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When Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice named Cal Ripken Jr. a special sports envoy in August, the Hall of Fame infielder said he hoped to "plant a few seeds in different parts of the world and use baseball and sport to actually cross over cultural lines."
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The Sporting News - 1. Neither starting pitchers -- Boston's Jon Lester and Colorado's Aaron Cook -- have started a postseason game in the majors. Whoever can conquer his nerves gives his team the best shot at winning. Given that Lester will be pitching with a 3-0 series lead and staff ace Josh Beckett is in line for a Game 5 start, if necessary, Lester has more reasons to relax and let it go.
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After Red Sox manager Terry Francona said yesterday afternoon that Wednesday's starter was TBA (to be announced) - ordinarily, it would be Daisuke Matsuzaka's day - the Japanese righthander informed Japanese reporters he had been told he would be pitching Saturday.
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The Sporting News - Rockies hitters. Daisuke Matsuzaka will run up a high pitch count if the Rockies let him. If they swing early in the count, that means they're pressing. The temptation to do too much will be there since they've been struggling -- and since this will be the first World Series game at Coors Field.
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The Indians have added an infielder and brought back their closer, but their pursuit of a starting pitcher has not gone according to plan.
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DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers made the first splash in baseball's offseason as they addressed a pressing priority. Again. Detroit filled its No. 1 void Monday, acquiring shortstop Edgar Renteria and cash from the Atlanta Braves for two prospects.
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How do you explain a quarterback sneak in Chinese? How about a blitz, an onside kick, or a fair catch?
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Whether the Rockies decide to add Aaron Cook to their World Series roster remains uncertain.
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Doug Mientkiewicz was on the verge of bringing his good glove to the New York Mets. The ball is another story. The Mets were awaiting medical records Wednesday and hoped to finalize a trade to acquire the former Gold Glove first baseman from the Boston Red Sox for a minor leaguer who played Class-A ball last year.
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As American League teams get more familiar with Bobby Madritsch, they&#39;re learning what the Seattle Mariners already know about their sudden star.
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There is a chance the Orioles could benefit from yesterday&#39;s failed three-way trade between the Yankees, Dodgers and Diamondbacks.
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Maybe he read the wrong scouting report, and mixed up his Japanese pitchers. Maybe Barry Bonds was looking for the gyroball instead of the fastball that the Giants' slugger took from Hideki Okajima for a third strike in the eighth inning yesterday afternoon, with a game there to be won for the visitors.
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The New York Yankees haven&#39;t given up improving their pitching rotation yet, and they appear to be making moves with a certain tall left-hander in Arizona in mind.
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Detroit pitchers will try to get those infield throws down, Dice-K will make the transition to American-style baseball and Barry Zito will start justifying the $126 million that's become attached to his name. That's right: It's time for pitchers and catchers.
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While Daisuke Matsuzaka became the latest Red Sox pitcher yesterday to arrive here in advance of Friday's official reporting date for pitchers and catchers, outfielder Wily Mo Pe&#xF1;a is making plans that day to be in Phoenix for an arbitration hearing.
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First, Marco Scutaro. Now, Manny Ram&#xED;rez. It's not supposed to work this way. A starting pitcher is not supposed to pitch seven or eight innings and give up one solo home run -- and take the loss. It's certainly not supposed to happen two starts in a row.
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If Tim Hudson does not open the season in the Marlins rotation, AJ Burnett will. According to teams that have spoken with the Marlins, they are interested in trading Burnett only if they can acquire Hudson from the Oakland Athletics.