Manny "has" a sore hamstring...

PHOENIX -- Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez was scratched in his first scheduled spring training start because of tightness in his left hamstring.
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Ramirez had been in the lineup as a designated hitter for the Dodgers' exhibition against South Korea on Thursday. He was replaced by Mark Loretta.
Manager Joe Torre said he expects to use Ramirez as his designated hitter against Texas on Friday.
"He wanted to play today, and I didn't think there was much sense in doing that," Torre said after the Dodgers' 4-2 victory over South Korea.
Ramirez has been working out with the Dodgers since agreeing last week to a $45 million, two-year contract. He can void the deal after one season.
Ramirez told reporters that he felt some tightness in his left hamstring while running before batting practice. He plans to come in early Friday and get hot and cold whirlpool treatments. Manager Joe Torre told him to rest the hamstring another day as a precaution.
Ramirez expects to make his Cactus League debut Friday against Texas.
"It felt kind of tight when we were doing the drill from second to home,'' Ramirez said. "It's not a bad thing. I'll probably be in there tomorrow. It's not that bad.
"I'm not disappointed. We've got plenty of time to get ready, and that's in my favor. I'm going to take it day by day.''
Ramirez said he'll need about 40 to 50 at-bats to be ready for the season opener.
Information from The Associated Press and ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick was used in this report.

Here is just another case of Manny being Manny. We saw all sorts of these sagas when Manny was in Beantown. If Manny's hamstring was so tight, then why was he seen riding a big tricycle around the Dodger's Spring Training facility? I don't wish bad on Manny I really don't because I still like him. The only thing I do hope on is that L.A. gets a dose of this Manny being Manny on the bad end of the stick. We see him laugh and joke around, but when he fakes an injury in order not to play, we'll see what L.A. does then.

Hossa Nails the Board

ST. LOUIS -- Detroit Red Wings forward Marian Hossa was hospitalized for observation after crashing head-first into the boards after being checked in the first period of Tuesday night's game against the St. Louis Blues.
Hossa, who leads the team with 34 goals and 27 assists in 62 games, did not lose consciousness and had feeling in his limbs, team spokesman John Hahn said. The game was delayed for several minutes while Hossa lay prone near the end boards in the Blues' end.
In a text message to ESPN the Magazine's E.J. Hradek, Detroit GM Ken Holland said that Hossa will be traveling with the team to Denver Wednesday.
"I don't think he's playing tomorrow but he's flying with us," coach Mike Babcock said. "They're doing a bunch of tests on him and everything looks real good."
Hahn said a CT scan was negative.
Babcock had no complaints about Roman Polak's hit, describing it as a "bump" while Hossa was on one leg following through on a shot.
"He just kind of turned and hit the boards with his head," Polak said. "I don't want to injure the guy, I just want to play hard. I saw it and I didn't feel good after that."
Medical personnel took extra attention because Hossa missed the previous two games with a neck injury, Hahn added. Hossa was taken off the ice while strapped to a gurney.
"You're a little concerned, a little worried, but then we got a little update that he was OK," forward Daniel Cleary said. "The one thing we talked about was 'Let's take it to them, let's get this thing out-of-hand.'"
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Ok, I don't wish bad upon anyone because that is just unhuman and wrong. But Marian Hossa, if you just signed with the Bruins in the offseason like you were supposed too, you wouldn't have faced the Blues at this time and none of this would have happened. Hossa is a great player don't get me wrong, but he is greedy. With him signing with the Red Wings, this in time will hurt him next year.With the economy the way it is, Hossa's deal will be dead next year and he is going to be a bargain for someone. Good move, the boards in Boston will be waiting for you next time.

A-Roid Nails the Hip Bug

NEW YORK -- Alex Rodriguez has a new problem.
Hours after Rodriguez played Tuesday for the Dominican Republic in a tuneup for the World Baseball Classic, the New York Yankees announced he would get his ailing hip checked by a specialist.
An exam Saturday revealed a cyst in Rodriguez's right hip. The 33-year-old slugger is scheduled to visit Dr. Marc Phillipon on Wednesday in Vail, Colo.
"Alex has proven his durability throughout his career, and we will take every precaution and step necessary to ensure his health as we near the start of the 2009 regular season and beyond," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said in a statement.
Rodriguez's status for the WBC was uncertain. The Dominicans' first game is Saturday against the Netherlands in Puerto Rico.
It has been a rough spring training for the All-Star third baseman.
Rodriguez arrived at the Yankees' camp last month in Tampa, Fla., shortly after a report that he had positive for steroids in 2003. During a news conference, he admitted he had used performance-enhancing drugs in 2001-03, saying they came from the Dominican and were provided by his cousin.
The man identified as that cousin picked up Rodriguez in an SUV after the Yankees' first exhibition game against Toronto in Dunedin, Fla. The next day, the Yankees told Rodriguez that his cousin should not be anywhere near the team during spring training or the regular season.
Rodriguez met with Major League Baseball's Department of Investigations and Labor Relations Department for two hours on Sunday. MLB wanted to interview him about his use of banned substances, and the commissioner's office said Rodriguez was "cooperative."
Rodriguez went 1-for-3 with a double and scored Tuesday in the Dominicans' 10-1 win over the Florida Marlins in Jupiter, Fla. He left after 4½ innings, and did not disclose his ailment during postgame interviews.
Rodriguez felt tightness and stiffness in his right hip this spring and was examined by team physician Dr. Chris Ahmad on Saturday, the Yankees said. An MRI exam showed the cyst.
The club contacted Phillipon, a specialist at Steadman-Hawkins Clinic, and Wednesday was the first day the doctor could see Rodriguez at his office.
"We felt it was in everyone's best interest for the team and the player to send Alex to Dr. Phillipon, who is regarded as the leading expert in his field," Cashman said.

I wonder how this cyst developed? Was the continued use of steroids that A-Rod has admitted too? A cyst is a serious development that can happen in a body. A-Rod will most likely get this removed and have some slight side effects at the beginning of the season. Hopefully it's still lingering when the Sox come to town. Keep taking those roids A-Rod