Pirates LHP Beimel to miss opening day (AP)
Pittsburgh left-hander Joe Beimel wont’ be ready for opening day, leaving the Pirates without their main offseason bullpen acquisition. Beimel has been hampered much of spring training by injuries to his forearm and elbow. The 33-year-old is healthy and has resumed throwing off a mound, but said Friday that he needs time to get into game shape.
Brewers acquire RHP Mitre from Yankees (AP)
The Milwaukee Brewers have traded outfielder Chris Dickerson to the New York Yankees for right-hander Sergio Mitre in an effort to bolster their banged-up pitching staff. The 30-year-old Mitre is 13-29 with a 5.27 ERA in seven seasons with the Cubs, Marlins and the Yankees. Mitre is 1-1 with a 5.73 ERA in 11 innings this spring training.
Dolphins: Parcells no longer with team (AP)
Bill Parcells is no longer affiliated with the Miami Dolphins and will tape a draft special for ESPN. Dolphins spokesman Harvey Greene said Thursday “he’s not associated with the team anymore in any official capacity.” Parcells turned control of Miami’s football operations over to general manager Jeff Ireland shortly before last season.
Coaches expect players will stay ready (AP)
With 31 NFL head coaches speaking their minds — New England’s Bill Belichick didn’t bother to show up for the coaches’ breakfast — there was unanimity on one issue: They all expect their players to stay ready during the lockout. “These are professionals who are dedicated to the game,” new Titans coach Mike Munchak said Tuesday at the annual owners meetings.
Some drivers in deep hole with new points system (AP)
Having Kevin Harvick lead two teammates into NASCAR’s Chase for the championship last year left team owner Richard Childress optimistic that one of his drivers could win the Sprint Cup title in 2011.
PGA Tour considers change of season-ending format (AP)
The PGA Tour is considering a change to the end of its season in which players who don’t make the FedEx Cup playoffs would compete for their cards in a series of tournaments against top Nationwide Tour players. PGA Tour spokesman Ty Votaw confirmed the policy board has given preliminary approval to the concept, although it is in the early stages of discussion.
Griffin’s 26 in 1st half power Clippers (AP)
Blake Griffin was unstoppable in the first half, then silent in the second. On this night, the Los Angeles Clippers didn’t need him. Griffin scored all of his 26 points in the first half and Los Angeles beat the Washington Wizards 122-101 on Saturday in a matchup between the last two No. 1 overall draft picks.
Cops probe Pats’ Meriweather on shooting (AP)
Police in Orlando want to talk to New England Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather about a shooting that injured two men outside a bar near his hometown, authorities said Thursday. The 27-year-old player was at the shooting in the early morning hours of Feb. 28 in Apopka, Fla., Orange County Sheriff’s department spokesman Capt.
Goodell, Pash cut lockout salaries to $1 (AP)
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and league general counsel Jeff Pash are slashing their salaries to $1 each during the lockout. Goodell and Pash promised in January they would take salary cuts if there was a work stoppage. Goodell earns about $10 million a year, including bonuses, and Pash nearly $5 million.
