Arod's 'cousin' identified

by ESPN:

As far back as anyone can remember, Yuri Sucart was always by Alex Rodriguez's side.

Sucart would tell anyone who would listen he was Rodriguez's cousin. But he was also Rodriguez's best friend, confidant and personal protector.

On Tuesday, when Rodriguez said in a nationally televised news conference from New York Yankees spring training in Tampa, Fla., that it was his cousin who provided and injected him with performance-enhancing drugs, it was Sucart to whom Rodriguez was referring, Sucart's wife, Carmen, confirmed to ESPN on Wednesday night.

Well... that didn't take long. This is the reason why people lie or tell half-truths to the media - because they'll hunt down any people that might be associated with a story.

- Baseball Analysts updated their recent study of the top 'peripheral' pitchers in the game by adding walk rates to strikeouts and grounders. It meant a drop for AJ Burnett, who walks a few too many, but an increase for CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte, who both placed among the top 10 (with Sabathia at the very top). Pettitte was that unlucky last year. (Bear in mind this study does not adjust for league or homepark, though that would probably work in Pettitte's favor anyway.)

- Hank Steinbrenner denounced Larry Lucchino's desire for a salary cap:

Along with a few other teams, we're basically baseball's stimulus package...

As long as we're doing that and giving all this money to other teams in revenue sharing, a staggering amount, we should be able to spend on salaries what we want to. Because of revenue sharing and because of the popularity nationwide, the Yankees are critical to baseball.

Say what you will about Hank, he's always good for a quote.