Top News:
MLB.com:
Commissioner Rob Manfred's letter to fans — Rob Manfred is the 10th Commissioner of Major League Baseball. — Dear Fans: — On the night of August 14, 2014, I left a Baltimore hotel after being elected Commissioner of Baseball. As I began to reply to the overwhelming number …
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, Purple Row, ESPN, Royals Review, SBNation.com, Bleacher Report, World Series Dreaming and HardballTalk
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Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Robert Manfred Is Determined to Steer Young People Toward Baseball
Robert Manfred Is Determined to Steer Young People Toward Baseball
Discussion:
Fox Sports, Sportsnet.ca, Sporting News Feed RSS and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
M.L.B. Defends Fred Wilpon and His Financial Role
M.L.B. Defends Fred Wilpon and His Financial Role
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter, HardballTalk, Bless You Boys, Metsblog, MLB Trade Rumors, Amazin' Avenue, ESPN and NY Daily News
Paul Hagen / MLB.com:
Outgoing Commissioner given Long and Meritorious Service Award
Outgoing Commissioner given Long and Meritorious Service Award
Discussion:
Talking Chop and Amazin' Avenue
Matthew Cerrone / Metsblog:
Manfred defends Fred Wilpon's role on finance committee
Tim Dierkes / MLB Trade Rumors:
Reds To Extend Devin Mesoraco — 1:02pm: The Reds and Mesoraco have indeed reached an agreement on an extension, reports C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer (Twitter link). — 12:10pm: The Reds are nearing a multiyear extension with catcher Devin Mesoraco, MLBTR has learned.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Red Reporter and MLB Daily Dish
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Jerry Crasnick / MLB:
Rob Manfred's top five priorities
Rob Manfred's top five priorities
Discussion:
Royals Review, SBNation.com, Lone Star Ball and SI.com
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Indians ace ‘excited about getting going’ for 2015 season — Hall of Famer John Smoltz presents Indians pitcher Corey Kluber with the 2014 American League Cy Young Award during the 2015 BBWAA dinner — CLEVELAND — It sat near the edge of a table inside the training room within the Indians' clubhouse.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
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Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Progressive Field should be ready for Indians' April 10 home opener
Progressive Field should be ready for Indians' April 10 home opener
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Michael Lee / Washington Post:
Kobe Bryant wanted to sign with Washington Wizards, join Michael Jordan — When Kobe Bryant made his first public comments after signing a two-year extension in November 2013, the Los Angeles Lakers were in Washington and the future Hall of Famer held a news conference at Verizon Center …
Discussion:
ProBasketballTalk, SBNation.com, Bleacher Report and ESPN
Jenny Wilson / Hartford Courant:
Jury Picked In Aaron Hernandez Case; Trial Starts Thursday — FALL RIVER, Mass. - Opening statements are scheduled to begin Thursday in the murder trial of former New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez, the Bristol native whose once-promising career slammed to a halt in 2013 when he was accused of shooting his friend to death.
Discussion:
ProFootballTalk and Sporting News Feed RSS
Bill Madden / NY Daily News:
Yankees working to void milestone bonuses for Alex Rodriguez as he closes in on Willie Mays on home run list — A-Rod, who has 654 career home runs, needs to hit just six more to tie Willie Mays' 660 homers and become eligible for a $6 million bonus. He'll collect $6 million for everyone he passes on the all-time list.
Discussion:
USA Today, HardballTalk, CBSSports.com, Bleacher Report, Sporting News Feed RSS and baseballmusings.com
Nada Tawfik / BBC:
Baseball's toxic tradition of chewing tobacco — Cheeks bulging with chewing tobacco are a common sight on the baseball pitch. — Once described as the nation's religion, baseball has a special place in American culture. But there is a darker side: the cancer-causing tradition of chewing tobacco …
Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com:
Twins closer optimistic with new pitching coach, manager heading into 2015 season — 9/19/14: Glen Perkins is shut down for the remainder of the 2014 season after being diagnosed with a strained forearm and nerve irritation — MINNEAPOLIS — Twins closer Glen Perkins said he's fully recovered …
Discussion:
Baseball Essential
Bob Dutton / Mariners Insider:
Mariners notebook: Jackson looking to bounce back from disappointing year — SEATTLE — Familiarity can also breed contentment. That's Austin Jackson's view as he prepares for his first full season with the Mariners after two disappointing months last year following his July 31 arrival.
Discussion:
Lookout Landing, HardballTalk, MLB Trade Rumors and CBSSports.com
Bart Hubbuch / New York Post:
Mangold, Richardson slam Patriots on Deflategate: ‘Not surprised’ — GLENDALE, Ariz. — Consider Sheldon Richardson and Nick Mangold skeptics when it comes to the Patriots' claim of innocence in Deflategate. — “That's the Patriots,” Richardson, the Jets' opinionated defensive tackle …
Discussion:
ProFootballTalk, NOLA River and NESN.com
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
Hector Olivera Showcase Report — When it comes to 29-year-old Cuban second baseman Hector Olivera, three words come up often that aren't common to hear in the scouting community: — “I don't know.” — For the scouts who followed Olivera on the Cuban national team from 2008-10, they loved what they saw.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and Athletics Nation
Jim Shonerd / Baseball America:
CWS Champion Vanderbilt No. 1 In 2015 College Preseason Top 25 — A year after ending the season with the final No. 1 ranking, Vanderbilt opens the 2015 season ranked No. 1. — The defending national champion Commodores head up Baseball America's preseason Top 25 college rankings for the first time.
Discussion:
NOLA River
Michael Lecolant / Rising Apple:
Zack Wheeler must lead Mets turnaround against Washington Nationals — FOLLOW @#! /BTB_MIKEBHURST … There's a saying long popularized by wrestling great Ric Flare - in order to be the man, you gotta beat the man. — That holds true for Zack Wheeler and the New York Mets.
Discussion:
Metsblog