MLB Spring Training Talk

[Rome]

The Red Cocks just sent Bronson Arroyo to the Reds for Willy Mo Pena.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060320/ap_on_sp_ba_ne/bbo_reds_red_sox_trade

[Geowhizzer]

The Nationals-Soriano situation escalates:

Soriano refuses to play outfield

[Rome]

He told them when they traded for him that he wasn't going to play the outfield under any circumstances.

They had every opportunity to flip him elsewhere and they would have gotten a pretty hefty premium for him if they had.

Now both sides are screwed. 

On the bright side, we can at least thank God that at least one team in the East has worse management than the Phillies...   

[SunMo]

Soriano agrees to play left field for Nationals

JUPITER, Fla. - Alfonso Soriano agreed to play left field Wednesday and was in the Washington Nationals' lineup for his first spring training game, two days after refusing to move from second base.

"It's a relief for everybody, it really is," manager Frank Robinson said before the Nationals played the Cardinals. "We get the distractions away from here and we can focus on baseball now and getting this ballclub tuned up and ready to go for opening day."

Robinson said he gave Soriano the option of not playing Wednesday and making his outfield debut on Thursday for a home game. But he said Soriano wanted to get started now.

"All I wanted to know from him was, was he willing to play left field," Robinson said. "He said he was ready to go, he wanted to get at-bats and get out there and play."

The Nationals did not have to wait long to see if Soriano fulfilled his commitment to play. He was batting leadoff.

Soriano was not immediately available for comment.

The Nationals got Soriano in an offseason trade with the Texas Rangers. He's made the AL All-Star team the last four years as a second baseman, but Washington wants him to change positions because they have an established second baseman, three-time All-Star Jose Vidro.

Soriano has been primarily a second baseman throughout his major league career, and played there for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic earlier this spring. He has never played the outfield in a major league game.

Soriano had been scheduled to make his first spring appearance on Monday night against the Dodgers. But after being listed on the lineup card in left field, he refused to play.

General manager Jim Bowden had threatened to put Soriano on the disqualified list, which would prevent him from playing, accruing service time and receiving his $10 million salary.

[BigEd76]

Thome finally homered today....twice

"It's about time. We've been waiting a month-and-a-half to see that."

[henchmanUK]

Thome finally homered today....twice

"It's about time. We've been waiting a month-and-a-half to see that."

[SunMo]

farging Red Sox...

MLB | Gathright, Tavarez Brawl
Mon, 27 Mar 2006 15:33:32 -0800

The Associated Press reports Tampa Bay Devil Rays OF Joey Gathright and Boston Red Sox RP Julian Tavarez were involved in a brawl after Tavarez stepped on Gathright's arm when he slid into home plate. Gathright pushed Tavarez's left knee. Tavarez punched Gathright in the left jaw, and the benches cleared.

[rjs246]

Non heteros.

[ice grillin you]

tavarez makes joaquin andujar look like john stockton

[ice grillin you]

Brushback pitch

Randy's love child blasts Yankee for shunning her

Standing at 6-feet-1, the love child of Randy Johnson, Heather Roszell, says 'it hurts' that the Yankee ace is suing her mom, Laurel Roszell (at right, in their home). 

Randy Johnson's teenage love child broke her silence yesterday - saying "it hurts" that the Yankees superstar has shunned her and is playing legal hardball with her mother.
Heather Roszell, 16, has never spoken to her millionaire dad and says her letters to him have mostly gone unanswered over the years.

"I'm not sure I even want to see him after what he's putting my mom through," said Roszell, a willowy, 6-foot-1 blond. "And I just don't think it's fair for children not to have a relationship with their parents."

The poised teen sat next to her mother, Laurel Roszell, in their airy redwood home framed by floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a lake in Washington State.

She hasn't watched her flamethrowing father's games on TV in years because it's too painful for her.

"I just don't like to watch him at all," said Heather Roszell, who once played basketball and volleyball.

"I don't have a relationship with him. It's upsetting."

The teen admitted she has done some research on Johnson's four other children, and said she would love to meet her half brothers and -sisters.

She even said that she might come to New York - but only if Johnson invited her to meet his other children.

"I would want to meet them, just so they know that I'm actually their sister," Heather said. "It's nice to know that I have other blood out there."

The existence of the Big Unit's love child was a well-kept secret for years, and Heather said she had only told her best friend about her famous dad.

But all that changed when Johnson, who makes $16 million a year, sued Laurel Roszell last month for less than $100,000 in back child-care payments.

Johnson, 42, has paid $5,000 a month in child support since 1997, but apparently objected when his ex-girlfriend asked for additional money to buy Heather a car and pay for community college costs.

He fired back by demanding she repay more than $70,000 in money earmarked for his daughter's day care, plus interest.

Johnson said in a statement Monday that he has met his financial obligations to his daughter and has worked to ensure she has a bright future.

At spring training camp yesterday, the 6-foot-10 southpaw told reporters: "It's a situation that my family has known about the whole time and just move on from here. It's a family matter so I just tend to keep it private."

Laurel Roszell said she had no regrets about dating Johnson in the late '80s when she was working at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California and he was a rookie with the Montreal Expos.

But she branded him a "hypocrite" for allegedly nickel-anddiming her and, even worse, refusing to communicate with their daughter.

"Randy hasn't really acknowledged her, that she's even alive," said Laurel Roszell, 46, who is married with another son. "He doesn't ask about her. It's very hard for her. It's sad."

Since the news hit the headlines yesterday, Heather has had to fend off prying questions from classmates and the curious stares of strangers.

"I don't like having to explain to people why I don't have a relationship with him," she said. "I don't like trying to explain my whole life in, like, 10 minutes."

Heather, who plans to go to college after graduating from high school next year, choked up as she said she had come to terms with a life never knowing her father.

"I just know that my mom is a really strong person, and she's going to take care of me," she said, blinking back tears.

Even after years of bitterness, Laurel Roszell said she still hopes Johnson will have a change of heart and reach out to his daughter. "It's her biological father," the mom said. "How could she say no?"

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

link?

[SunMo]

she's obviously trying to get paid, but he is such a scumbag

[hunt]

link?

you want to see the pic of the 6'1 willowy blond, don't you?

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

link?

you want to see the pic of the 6'1 willowy blond, don't you?

Who wouldn't?

[phattymatty]

farging Red Sox...
The Associated Press reports Tampa Bay Devil Rays OF Joey Gathright and Boston Red Sox RP Julian Tavarez were involved in a brawl after Tavarez stepped on Gathright's arm when he slid into home plate. Gathright pushed Tavarez's left knee. Tavarez punched Gathright in the left jaw, and the benches cleared.

that dude's crazy.