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Spring headlines: Domonic Brown sent to minors

Baseball is back! Here at Big League Stew, we'll take a quick dash around the league each morning in an attempt to keep you updated on all the springtime storylines.

Hope you have plenty of patience if you're among the dwindling numbers still aboard the Domonic Brown bandwagon. The Phillies optioned their top outfielding prospect to Triple-A on Friday morning, citing a need for the 24-year-old to work on both his offense and defense. Brown also struggled with injury this spring.

Still, it would appear that the expectations that Brown would be the superstar cornerstone of the Phils' next era have officially withered. After all, if he can't currently crack an opening day roster that likely includes Laynce Nix and Juan Pierre, what can we really expect of him?

Jeff Moorad's seemingly never-ending bid to take full control of the San Diego Padres finally did just that on Thursday with the former agent bowing to opposition from other owners and withdrawing his application for a control transfer of the team. The big winner of the day, Fox Sports' Jon Morosi writes, could be John Moores, who should be able to fetch a higher price in 2012 than when he started this entire process with Moorad in 2009.

• I could be mistaken, but it seems like the biggest position battle still remaining is the Atlanta Braves shortstop fight between Tyler Pastornicky and Andrelton Simmons. Pastornicky made a solid bid on Thursday, going 4 for 5 in a game against the Marlins.

• Kendrys Morales' return to the Angels lineup was a solid one as the designated hitter went 2 for 3 with no season-ending celebration.

• The Minnesota Twins are not a franchise that can throw away $14.5 million on optioning a Japanese infielder to Triple-A. So after reading Aaron Gleeman's take on Tsuyoshi Nishioka, it's really puzzling why they ever rolled the dice in the first place.

•The 2012 Giants can draw inspiration from ... the 1985 Royals?

• From Zack Greinke to George Kotteras, Miller Park Drunk tells you what drafting specific Brewers says about your fantasy baseball team.

• Tampa Bay's hottest spring fashion item goes on sale Friday.

Make sure you're ready for opening day ...
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