Dutch walk off vs. Taipei, advance to Round 2  —  Dutch center fielder Jurickson Profar drew a bases-loaded walk to help the Netherlands complete a wild late-inning comeback and punch a ticket to the second round of the World Baseball Classic with a 6-5 win over Chinese Taipei at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul …

Fashion Statement: Matheny cracks wise on home wins & haberdashery  —  The front of the Cubs' spring training T-shirt shows a meditative bear, wearing Ernie Banks' No. 14.  The slogan on the back — which is a mantra the team used during a January mini-camp — reads, “In Blue Out Red,” …

Oakland Raiders player Aldon Smith detained in San Francisco  —  SAN FRANCISCO (KTVU) — Suspended Oakland Raiders player Aldon Smith was detained Thursday morning in San Francisco after a vehicle he was a passenger in collided with a San Francisco police car near police headquarters, authorities said.

Rangers shut down Cashner after setback  —  SURPRISE, ARIZ.  —  Right-hander Andrew Cashner had a setback with the soreness in is right biceps and is becoming increasingly likely to open the season on the disabled list.  —  The former TCU star and native Texan was shut down by the Texas Rangers medical staff for at least a few days.

Cardinals, Pirates set to play in the ‘MLB Little League Classic’  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • Depending on the way the rotation turns, Cardinals righthander Lance Lynn could become the first Little League World Series alum to return to Williamsport, Pa., and start a game as a big-leaguer.

Socrates Brito Undergoes Surgery On Dislocated Finger  —  Diamondbacks outfielder Socrates Brito required surgery to repair an “open dislocation of the fourth finger on his left hand” this evening, the Diamondbacks announced.  A specific timetable for the 24-year-old's recovery has yet to be determined …

Manny Machado made dad proud by picking Dominican Republic  —  SARASOTA, Fla. — The World Baseball Classic is billed as a fierce competition pitting country against country with national pride on the line.  —  However, the motivation to compete runs even deeper than that for Baltimore …

Why the Phillies built an analytics think tank with non-baseball brains  —  Around the corner from the general manager's office on the second floor of Citizens Bank Park, through the conference room where some of the franchise's most important decisions are made, is a place unlike any other at the ballpark.

3 takeaways from Rays 9-7 loss to Colombia WBC team  —  3 takeaways from Rays 9-7 loss to Colombia WBC team:  —  * Tim Beckham is sizzling.  Beckham, who is cementing a role as at least a utility player (and potential opening day shortstop given Matt Duffy's slow recovery from heel surgery) …

Why Tim Tebow is good for baseball  —  Tim Tebow signs a ball for Mackenzie Demers before Wednesday's spring training game.  —  MORE FROM:  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — As Tim Tebow left the Mets' clubhouse Wednesday to go back to the minor league side, he saw Terry Collins and told the skipper, “See you Friday, coach.”

Bill Webb, Tailor of TV Baseball Excitement, Dies at 70  —  Bill Webb, whose direction of baseball broadcasts nationally for Fox Sports and locally for the Mets featured exceptional anticipation and rapid camera cuts to heighten tension, died Tuesday in Morristown, N.J.  —  He was 70.