Top News:
Will Leitch / GQ:
Is Baseball Ready for Bryce? — Dear MLB: Please don't muzzle the most entertaining prospect since Babe Ruth. Thank you, fans everywhere — “F**k!!!” This is Bryce Harper—the erstwhile pastime's answer to LeBron James, Mozart child prodigy of the great game.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, HardballTalk, Nats Enquirer and THE BOOK
Fox Sports:
Progress stalls on Cain's contract talks — The chances of the San Francisco Giants signing right-hander Matt Cain to a contract extension before Opening Day are rapidly diminishing. — Cain's representatives spoke Wednesday with Giants officials, and the two sides failed to make progress toward a deal …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, MLB Daily Dish and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Chuck Stark / Kitsap Sun:
Todd Linden gets another shot with the Giants
Todd Linden gets another shot with the Giants
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
On Baseball: San Francisco Giants Counting on Pagan and Cabrera
On Baseball: San Francisco Giants Counting on Pagan and Cabrera
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Cohen has strongest Dodger bid, plans to hire Tony La Russa — PHOENIX - Hedge-fund billionaire Steve Cohen emerged Wednesday as the strongest bidder to purchase the Los Angeles Dodgers, and plans to hire Tony La Russa to a key front-office position, according to two Major League Baseball officials familiar …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com and HardballTalk
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
NY Mets third baseman David Wright learns he has muscle tear, still expected to be ready for Opening Day — MRI reveals tear of muscle on left side of rib cage — David Wright is optimistic he'll be ready to face the Braves at Citi Field on April 5. — PORT ST. LUCIE …
Discussion:
NorthJersey.com, MetsBlog.com, New York Post and New York Times
RELATED:
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
Tampa Bay Rays' Hellickson shrugs off theory he was more lucky than good — Jeremy Hellickson says he knows he'll have to make some adjustments to hitters to continue his success in the majors. — Times] — PORT CHARLOTTE — Lucky would be winning the lottery.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, HardballTalk and DRaysBay
Joe Christensen / Minneapolis Star Tribune:
Baker's elbow a concern again for Twins — CLEARWATER, FLA. - Scott Baker's throwing elbow has become a concern for the Twins again. — Baker would have pitched Thursday, when the Pirates come to Fort Myers, Fla., but his inability to get loose in a B game against Pittsburgh last Saturday raised some red flags.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Twinkie Town
Seth Livingstone / USA Today:
MLB players, staff eager for new iPad release — PHOENIX - Opening Day is regarded as a holiday of sorts in baseball. But for many major league players and personnel, Friday's release of the new iPad is cause for celebration. — The tablet has ingrained itself into the fabric of the game …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Dan Lependorf / Hardball Times:
Is there a better way of comparing players between historical eras? — How do we compare players from different eras of baseball to each other? We can't just compare raw numbers, since baseball today is a wildly different game than baseball was in 1920. Was Barry Bonds' best season stronger than Babe Ruth's best?
Discussion:
THE BOOK
AJ Cassavell / MLB.com:
Kershaw dominant as Ellis, Kennedy go deep — GOODYEAR, Ariz. — By the time Clayton Kershaw took the mound Wednesday, the reigning Cy Young Award winner already had a three-run lead, and that was plenty. — The Dodgers ace posted zeroes and his offense kept bashing in a 9-1 Los Angeles victory …
Discussion:
True Blue LA
Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
Young guns impress on the hill for D-backs — Left-hander Corbin, top pick Bauer throw five scoreless innings — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The D-backs got a glimpse of their future Wednesday afternoon, and they liked what they saw. — Two of the club's top pitching prospects saw action …
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
John Schlegel / MLB.com:
Santana day to day with right shoulder bruise — GLENDALE, Ariz. — Angels right-hander Ervin Santana was struck in the upper right arm with a line drive off the bat of Alexei Ramirez of the White Sox and left Wednesday's game in the second inning. — Santana took the liner off the arm …
Discussion:
Halos Heaven and Yahoo! Sports
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
NY Mets pitching prospect Matt Harvey impresses again in outing Wednesday — Righthander's blazing fastball on display against minor leaguers as team brass watches — NY Mets' fireballing prospect Matt Harvey reaches as high as 96 mph on radar gun Wednesday.
Discussion:
New York Post and MetsBlog.com