Alex Rodriguez and I have something in common: Neither of us met with federal investigators in regards to Canadian doctor Anthony Galea on Friday. “We’re going to continue to work together and cooperate,” he said. “I’m going to talk to the Feds and Major League Baseball shortly.”. Rodriguez wouldn’t say why he didn’t go, or…

Cliff Lee’s abdomen strain is not responding well to rest and a little throwing, so the team has decided to shut him down completely for five days.  It looks increasingly likely, then, that he will begin the season on the disabled list. According to the team, he would need a couple of bullpen sessions before…

Lou Piniella announced this afternoon that Tom Gorzelanny and Carlos Silva will begin the season in the Cubs’ rotation, with Jeff Samardzija and Sean Marshall both heading to the bullpen. “Unfortunately, we only have two spots,” Piniella said, which is funny considering that one of those spots is going to a guy who went 5-18…

Ian Kinsler suffered a high ankle sprain on March 11th, and hasn’t played since. While the team says that it’s been improving since then, they gave him a cortisone shot today.  The Rangers are uncertain if he’ll be available for Opening Day. Evan Grant at the Dallas Morning News is on it: he notes that…

Roy Oswalt left today’s start against the Pirates with a strained hamstring and MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart reports that he’s flying to Houston to be examined by team doctors. Oswalt told McTaggart that the injury is “nothing major” and something he “could have gotten through” had it been the regular season, but general manager Ed Wade…

The below video (wait until the one minute mark) will either make you really sad, or else it will make you feel like you felt when they pulled down Emperor Palpatine’s statue at the end of that enhanced version of Jedi.  Wait, that made me sad too because no damn way no Empire is going…

Earlier this week the Giants were said to be shopping Kevin Frandsen around and sure enough they just traded the 27-year-old infielder to the Red Sox for a player to be named later or cash. After missing all of 2008 with a ruptured Achilles’ tendon Frandsen hit .295/.352/.438 with 13 homers in 110 games at…

Between now and Opening Day, HBT will take a look at each of the 30 teams, asking the key questions, the not-so-key questions, and generally breaking down their chances for the 2010 season.  Next up: The Los Angeles Angels The big question: Did the Angels lose too much blood this winter? Chone Figgins is in…

As if he needed another injury to come back from, Mike Lowell limped off the field today after fouling a ball off his leg and has been diagnosed with a left knee contusion. Ian Browne of MLB.com notes that “Lowell immediately fell to the ground and appeared to be in considerable pain” before being helped…

Big day for prostitution news in baseball, as Susan Finkelstein, the Phillies fan who was charged with trying to trade a little slap and tickle for World Series tickets was acquitted on the prostitution beef last night, but was convicted of attempted prostitution by a Bucks County, Pennsylvania jury. Finally, the people of Bucks County,…

Just last week Dustin McGowan’s comeback from shoulder surgery was said to be going very well, but this morning manager Cito Gaston announced that he’s been shut down for at least two weeks. After watching McGowan pitch a two-inning simulated game last week Gaston noted that he “looked good” and “threw well, free and easy.”…

Between now and Opening Day, HBT will take a look at each of the 30 teams, asking the key questions, the not-so-key questions, and generally breaking down their chances for the 2010 season.  Hello, everybody, Harry Doyle here, welcoming all you Friends of the Feather to another season of Indians baseball! The big question: Are…

As a fat guy it amused me when the Dodgers re-signed Ronnie Belliard two months ago and included a clause that guaranteed his one-year, $825,000 contract only if the 5-foot-9 infielder weighed in at 209 pounds or less at some point during spring training. Sure enough Belliard weighed in at 208 pounds yesterday and earned…

If you have always been dying to pair up the image of my bald head and pasty skin with an annoyingly nasly voice, by all means, head over to Hotstove.com at 2PM Eastern today to hear me hold forth on the Mets, Joe Mauer, the teams that did the most and the least to improve…

In honor of Joe Torre starting Vicente Padilla on Opening Day (now official!), lar at Wezen-Ball gives us a list of the worst Opening Day starters of all time. Two thoughts: 1. I am absolutely tickled that Jack Morris makes the list. Take that Morris-for-the-Hall-of-Fame truthers! 2. I am happy to see that Rick Mahler…

Now that Jason Heyward has officially made the Braves it’s time to start thinking about what kind of rookie season he’s capable of putting together at age 20. Here are his projections from a few prominent sources: AVG OBP SLG OPS Baseball Prospectus .274 .345 .461 .806 Rotoworld Draft Guide .267 .343 .440 .783 Baseball…

Between now and Opening Day, HBT will take a look at each of the 30 teams, asking the key questions, the not-so-key questions, and generally breaking down their chances for the 2010 season.  Next up: Kansas City, Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! The big question: Is suicide the only hope for Royals fans? Baseball is supposed…

I really want to tell the fans of DC, Jim Bowden and Mike Rizzo thanks a lot for helping me out in many ways. I really grew up a lot because of those two guys. I also want to give a hug to Harolyn Cardozo and Willie Harris for the time that I needed people…

The Red Sox and Yankees average game times are the two longest in baseball, and when the two of them get together, forget it. Major League Baseball has asked the teams to try and move things along, but Jonathan Papelbon — asked about the issue by WEEI’s Rob Bradford — doesn’t understand why anyone thinks…

This morning I talked about how much fun it would be to see Pujols photoshopped into Royals and Mets jerseys. Ask, and ye shall receive, courtesy of my friends at Tauntr. I like the Royals one. With the crooked hat it’s like Pujols went all thug after signing with K.C. He’s from there so maybe,…