Top News:
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
The new MLB postseason — How expansion will affect September races, postseason schedule and much more — For 6½ decades, baseball invited only two teams to its postseason extravaganza. Those were the days. It's now 2012, and this sport has actually quintupled that number.
Discussion:
Phillies Nation
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Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com:
Addition of Wild Card berths finalized for 2012 — Lower-seeded teams will host first two games of Division Series — The expansion of Major League Baseball's playoffs with the addition of two Wild Card teams and a play-in game in each league will begin this year.
Discussion:
South Side Sox, MetsBlog.com and Sliding Into Home
Ben Walker / Associated Press:
MLB expands playoff format from 8 teams to 10 — NEW YORK, N.Y. - With less than a month to go before opening day, baseball at last decided who's in and who's out come October. — Now, even a third-place team can win the World Series. — Major League Baseball made it official Friday …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and Associated Press
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
MLB Approves Expanded Playoffs For 2012, Sill Lowest of Big-4 Sports — It took an extra day, but as anticipated, Major League Baseball and the MLB Players' Association today agreed to a 10-team format that includes two additional Wild Card Clubs and an elimination game in each League prior …
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Yankees are not too wild about proposed playoff format for MLB playoffs — One-and-done is too severe for some — New Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda seems to be enjoying workout at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa Thursday. — TAMPA — Major League Baseball's plan to add a second wild-card team …
Discussion:
Boston Globe, the joy of sox and ESPN
ESPN.com:
MLB, union agree to expand playoffs — Major League Baseball and the union have agreed to expand the playoff field by two teams to 10, a change that will take effect in October.
ESPN:
Cubs call Braun collector a pro … Several Chicago Cubs players spoke Friday in support of the man who collected Ryan Braun's urine sample, despite the fact his handling of the sample led to Braun's 50-game suspension being overturned by an arbitrator. — The legal team for the Milwaukee …
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Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Ryan Braun urine collector endorsed by Cubs
Discussion:
Eye on Baseball
Jkiesewetter / TV and Media Blog:
Dummy Hoy movie script ready — Ellsworth “Dummy” Hoy (right) and 1940s Reds pitcher Ewell “The Whip” Blackwell at Crosley Field. — If Robert Redford was “The Natural,” who would be “The Silent Natural?” — Steve Sandy of Columbus has a screenplay ready for a movie about Dummy Hoy …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Rob Baum / Globe and Mail:
Manny quiet, Montero shaken up in spring training opener — Manny Ramirez had a quiet debut for Oakland and Jesus Montero had a painful start for Seattle on Friday as the Mariners beat the Athletics 8-5 in an exhibition opener. — Ramirez saw only three pitches in two at-bats in his first game …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Setback for Crawford with wrist — FORT MYERS, Fla. — Carl Crawford's speedy return from surgery on his left wrist has hit a roadblock. — Crawford did not take any swings today and has been put on medication because of inflammation in his wrist. — “I'm always concerned when there's a setback.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and the joy of sox
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
After two weeks of drills, Sox set for spring slate — Following college twin bill Saturday, Boston to host Minnesota — FORT MYERS, Fla. — After two weeks of constant drill work, the Red Sox are ready for the fun part of Spring Training — playing actual games. — “That part is fun,” said second baseman Dustin Pedroia.
Discussion:
Over the Monster
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Healing Trumbo more comfortable at third — TEMPE, Ariz. — Instead of lazily shagging balls in the outfield while his teammates are taking batting practice, Mark Trumbo has made it a point to position himself at third base at Tempe Diablo Stadium, hoping to field as many hard-hit ground balls off the bat as possible.
Philly.com:
Inside the Phillies: Who needs sabermetrics? — Phillies evaluate players the old-fashioned way.
Discussion:
Baseball Nation, Philliesflow.com and HardballTalk
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