“Two years ago, I played, and I was good. I go to Chicago, not good. I’ve been good my whole career. So, obviously, it was something with Chicago, not me.” Yesterday it was stats vs. scouts. Today it’s Bradley vs. Chicago. Enough with the Cub-related false dichotomies already. Can’t we all just agree that everyone…

Brett Cecil has been scratched from his scheduled spring training debut today after cutting his left thumb in what pitching coach Bruce Walton called “a kitchen-type accident.” That could mean Cecil sliced his thumb cutting bagels or it could mean he got into a brawl with Gordon Ramsay, because so far no further details have…

The Reds have Aroldis Chapman pitching in an intrasquad game today. They plan on having him make is real competitive debut on Monday.  But he’ll be in relief, and not starting. What gives, Dusty? “If we pitch him later, fans stick around and we sell more beer.” People wonder how Dusty Baker has stuck around…

I get tired of salary cap talk sometimes because I don’t think it’s worth spending so much mental energy debating something that is never, ever going to happen in Major League Baseball. Because of that, I usually limit myself to one big post on it a year, and I like to save it for the…

These two stories in the headline stack over at MLB.com today make me think that there was a memo sent around last week or something: 1. Family roots keep Hairstons grounded; 2. Family keeps Prince grounded: The Hairston story is more interesting simply because I don’t know as much about the Hairstons as I do…

No, Joe Girardi hasn’t announced it, but the Star Ledger’s Marc Carig has deduced as much from what Girardi said about the two slot yesterday. Girardi’s comments: “On-base is extremely important to me because the guys behind him can all hit the ball out of the ballpark. So, yes, you’d love to have a guy…

LaVelle Neal reports that Joe Mauer’s agent, Ron Shapiro, is in Fort Myers meeting with Twins’ execs today. Everyone is saying it’s a routine visit, but Neal reports that, yes, Shapiro and the Twins will be negotiating about Mauer, which they have been doing on and off for a few weeks now. Ominous note: Neal…

Major League Baseball sued the Upper Deck baseball card company about a month ago for releasing baseball cards with team logos and stuff without having a license to do so. The case settled yesterday.  All that’s missing from the settlement terms is a provision which requires Upper Deck’s CEO to be Bud Selig’s butler for…

Jose Reyes was supposed to suit up for the Mets in today’s game against the Cardinals, but he’s been scratched because his physical “raised a small concern with doctors” who want to do some additional blood work on him.  Reyes says he feels fine and its nothing serious. My guess: Midichlorian count is a little…

Red Sox phenom Casey Kelly made his debut yesterday.  He threw ten pitches against college kids.  Those pitches inspired 2700 words between the Globe’s Dan Shaughnessy and WEEI’s Alex Speier. Overkill? Sure, but if you’re like me you really can’t get enough info about young players. I’ve not had a chance to see Kelly pitch…

Joe Torre recently said that he’s going to manage in 2011 and his agent is currently negotiating with the Dodgers for an extension to make that so, but there’s no guarantee he’ll be back: “I’m sort of sorry I said I’m even doing it, to be honest with you,” Torre said. “I know what I…

Every year at about this time Bernie Williams makes a visit to Yankees camp. Every year at this time some reporter plays the “so, is Bernie really retired?” game, even though it’s obvious that he’ll never play again. In a way it’s like a happier version of those guys who keep pounding the “why won’t…

According to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times, the Dodgers agreed Wednesday evening to a minor league contract with veteran outfielder Garret Anderson. Teams were turned off this winter by Anderson’s less-than-impressive .268/.303/.401 batting line from the 2009 season.  He makes sense for the Dodgers, though, as a pinch-hitter and backup outfielder.  The 37-year-old…

That’s not a deceiving headline, is it?  Sorry.  Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmermann (with two n’s) underwent Tommy John surgery just last August, and yet he told Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post on  Wednesday afternoon that he wants to pitch this season. “I really want to get back this year and pitch,” said Zimmermann.  “I…

Joba Chamberlain, sidelined earlier this week with the flu, threw a successful bullpen session Wednesday and may be ready to make his spring debut as soon as Friday. “If he feels OK on Friday, we’ll pitch him,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi told The Journal News Wednesday evening. Chamberlain, 24, compiled a 4.75 ERA, a 1.54…

Rhyne Hughes and Josh Bell, who could be the corner infielders for Baltimore’s Triple-A Norfolk affiliate this year, had two-homer games in a 12-2 win over the Rays. With the wind blowing out to left at 15 mph, Nick Markakis and Tampa Bay’s Sean Rodriguez also homered in the contest. Hughes and Bell were blocked…

This afternoon the Diamondbacks officially announced their six-year, $51.5 million deal with Justin Upton. Here are the year-by-year salaries: Signing Bonus – $1.25 million 2010 – $500,000 2011 – $4.25 million 2012 – $6.75 million 2013 – $9.75 million 2014 – $14.25 million 2015 – $14.5 million Essentially the Diamondbacks have pre-paid around $21 million…

RHP Juan Serrano defected from Cuba last year, and today the Cubs signed him.  Bruce Levine of ESPN reports that it’s a $250,000 deal, which makes it a minor league thing unless teams are giving out half-season contracts now.  The team has yet to confirm, as physicals need to be passed and all of that…

The title kind of said it all, but that was Jones’ quote after today’s game against the Mets:  “I will be shocked if he doesn’t break camp with us.” Everyone who has watched his two games against the Mets so far is raving.  He’s hit the ball hard. He scored from second base on an…

Huston Street’s shoulder began hurting after throwing batting practice Friday, so the Rockies’ closer won’t appear in a game until next week at the earliest: It’s not a major deal. But it’s not minor, either. They are just extra cautious when you have a month before the season starts. We don’t have a timetable, but…