Top News:
John Manuel / Baseball America:
2015 Organization Talent Rankings — As a cap to our offseason prospect rankings, we line up the minor league talent in every organization from 1-30. — The Baseball America annual organization talent rankings reflect the total worth of each farm system's prospects, where all players …
Discussion:
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Todd Feurer / CBS Chicago:
Cubs To Pay Tribute To Ernie Banks On Opening Night — CHICAGO (CBS) - They won't play two, but the Cubs will pay tribute to the late Hall of Famer Ernie Banks on Opening Night, covering the entire bleacher section with photos of “Mr. Cub.” — “When people walk into the ballpark on Opening Night …
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Nick Groke / Denver Post:
COLORADO ROCKIES / MLB — JOHN AXFORD LEAVES ROCKIES' SPRING TRAINING AFTER SON, 2, IS BIT BY A RATTLESNAKE — The Denver Post — Rockies relief pitcher John Axford isn't sure when he'll be able to return to the team full-time. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)
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Plain Dealer:
After a rocky start, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving now see the game together, their own way — Joe Vardon, Northeast Ohio Media Group By Joe Vardon, Northeast Ohio Media Group — That night, on Nov. 5, the Cavaliers fell to the Jazz 102-100 on Gordon Hayward's buzzer beater.
Discussion:
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Rob Bradford / Full Count:
Humberto Quintero will wait ‘a couple of more days’ to make decision on opt-out — FORT MYERS, Fla. — For a brief time, when news first came down that Christian Vazquez's right elbow was going to sideline the catcher for quite a while, Humberto Quintero thought there was a window to make the Red Sox' Opening Day roster.
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CBSSports.com, NESN.com and Over the Monster
Associated Press:
Tanaka Gives Up 3 Runs as Yankees Lose to Twins 3-1 — FORT MYERS, Fla. — Masahiro Tanaka gave up three runs in 4 1-3 innings Tuesday and declared himself healthy and ready for the season following the New York Yankees' 3-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins. — Tanaka struck out one and gave up a solo home run to Eduardo Escobar.
MLB:
Domonic Brown to start season on DL — Phillies outfielder Domonic Brown will miss the start of the season due to an Achilles injury that has sidelined him for nearly two weeks. — The Phillies informed Brown on Tuesday that he will start the regular season on the disabled list.
Discussion:
Phillies Nation and Yahoo Sports
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Waino rights himself against Marlins, will start opener — JUPITER, Fla. • Adam Wainwright allowed the leadoff man in each of the first five innings to hit safely on Tuesday. But only the first two of them scored as the Cardinals' ace righted himself and finished off 6 2/3 solid innings …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Red Sox's Betts drawing (really) big-name comparisons — FOX Sports — When the Red Sox's Shane Victorino recently compared Mookie Betts to the Pirates' Andrew McCutchen, I thought, “Whoa, slow down.” — To verify my opinion, I sought out a rival scout who followed the Red Sox this spring …
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Billy Witz / New York Times:
Baseball Working to Help Spanish-Speaking Players Express Themselves — TAMPA, Fla. — When Jose Pirela, a 25-year-old Venezuelan utility player for the Yankees, sat on a dugout bench last Tuesday to speak with more than a dozen reporters about the concussion he sustained two days earlier …
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Michael Klein / Philly.com:
Get set for the booze at Citizens Bank Park — Show Thumbnails — Take me out to the ball game. — Take me out to the ... bar? — Beer has been part of baseball forever. — But in a first this season, the Phillies and Aramark will sell cocktails and wine on the main concourse's …
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USA Today, The Good Phight and NBCSports.com
Nick Groke / On the Rox:
Charlie Culberson optioned to Rockies' minor-league side — TOPICS — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Charlie Culberson, who missed a chunk of Rockies spring training camp with a back injury, on Tuesday was optioned to Triple-A. — Culberson suffered a bulging disc in his back early in spring and missed more than two weeks.
Discussion:
Purple Row