Indians’ Carmona says hitting Teixeira was an accident (Yahoo! Sports)

Cleveland Indians right-hander Fausto Carmona said Saturday he didn't mean to hit New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira with a pitch Friday night, which spurred a bench-clearing altercation between the two clubs. Carmona said he was trying to regain control by pitching...

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Video: Red Sox and Yankees minor leaguers brawl it out (Yahoo! Sports)

Before fans could settle into their seats for Friday night's South Atlantic League game between the Greenville Drive (Boston Red Sox affiliate) and the Charleston River Dogs (New York Yankees affiliate), a large bench clearing brawl broke out behind home … Continue reading →

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Yankees’ bench now a concern with inexperienced utility infielders: A fan’s view (Associated Content)

When Eric Chavez went down legging out a triple in the New York Yankees' game against the Detroit Tigers on May 5, there was immediate concern in New York. After getting off to a great start this season, Chavez's injury leaves a significant hole on the Yankees' bench.

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Lillibridge saves White Sox in 3-2 win over Yanks (AP)

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen discovered a new way to protect a late lead. He brought utility infielder Brent Lillibridge off the bench and then planted him in right field. Lillibridge made two spectacular catches in a row to save the White Sox in the ninth inning and Gavin Floyd pitched Chicago to a 3-2 victory Tuesday night over the suddenly slumping New York Yankees.

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Chavez and Jones giving a big boost to Yankees bench: A fan’s perspective (Associated Content)

As a New York Yankees fan, I am well aware of the damage both Andruw Jones and Eric Chavez have inflicted on New York in the past. Although both of these players seemingly have been around forever, they are not all that old in terms of today's game.

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Fill-in Chavez lifts Yankees over Rangers 6-5 (AP)

Eric Chavez has 230 home runs and a wealth of experience obtained during 13 major league seasons. That's not a bad bat to have ready on the bench. Chavez, filling in for an ailing Alex Rodriguez, singled home the tiebreaking run in the eighth inning and the New York Yankees hit three homers off previously untouchable Alexi Ogando to beat the Texas Rangers 6-5 on Sunday night.

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Fan perspective: Who should be the backup catcher for the Milwaukee Brewers? (Associated Content)

As spring training enters its final week, the Milwaukee Brewers still have some decisions to make regarding their bench. One of the roster spots still up for grabs is the backup catcher slot behind starter Jonathan Lucroy. Last season's backup catcher, George Kottaras, is up against veteran Wil Nieves, who was signed as a free agent over the winter. Nieves played for the Washington Nationals in 2010. Both players have had a good spring, which makes the choice a little more difficult for manager Ron Roenicke.

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Fan perspective: Erick Almonte is making a strong bid for a roster spot with Brewers (Associated Content)

The Milwaukee Brewers are looking for a right-handed hitter to come off the bench, and one of the leading candidates for the job is 33-year-old Erick Almonte. Through his first 16 Cactus League games (41 at-bats), Almonte is hitting .439 with three home runs and nine RBIs. Almonte can play first base or the outfield, meaning he can split outfield duty with left-handed hitting Mark Kotsay if Corey Hart hasn't recovered from his rib injury when the Brewers open the season March 31 in Cincinnati.

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Rollins ready to roll atop Phils lineup for Game 6 (AP)

Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins was batting leadoff for Game 6 of the NL championship series Saturday night after losing his regular spot in the postseason. Manager Charlie Manuel moved Shane Victorino, who had been hitting first, to the sixth spot. When Rollins, the 2007 NL MVP, is on his game, the Phillies are hard to stop.

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Baseball bids farewell to veteran managers (AP)

On his final day managing the Los Angeles Dodgers, Joe Torre went old school. "I did something that hasn't been done for years. I wrote out a lineup card. No computer today," he said Sunday, 29 years after his career on the bench began with the New York Mets. "I figured I wrote out the first one.

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