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1:50 PM ET, March 14, 2017

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
MLB drops the ball in ruling Mexico out of the World Baseball Classic  —  Venezuela's Robinson Chirinos (28) scores during the World Baseball Classic game against Mexico at Charros de Jalisco Stadium in Guadalajara on March 12.  (Jose Mendez / EPA)  —  Americans might not take the World Baseball Classic …
RELATED:
Zach Buchanan / Cincinnati.com:
DeSclafani has UCL sprain, shut down four weeks  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Cincinnati Reds right-hander Anthony DeSclafani has a sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and will be shut down from throwing for at least four weeks.  The 26-year-old was diagnosed by team medical director …
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Fox Sports:
Rockies 1B Desmond breaks hand in spring game  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) The Colorado Rockies lost one of their biggest offseason acquisitions when Ian Desmond was hit by a pitch Sunday, breaking his left hand.  —  Desmond was plunked by Cincinnati right-hander Rookie Davis with a 93 mph fastball …
Discussion: Purple Row and baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Mark Polishuk / MLB Trade Rumors:
Ian Desmond To Undergo Surgery Following Left Hand Fracture
Discussion: Yahoo Sports
Meghan Montemurro / delawareonline:
Former No. 1 pick Mark Appel at career crossroads  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. - Mark Appel is running out of chances to prove he can be a starting pitcher in the big leagues.  —  CLOSE  —  RHP Mark Appel discussed whether he thinks about competition among young Phillies starters and if he's antsy to reach MLB.
Discussion: FanRag Sports
James Wagner / New York Times:
Mets Players at World Baseball Classic Reconnect With Roots  —  GUADALAJARA, Mexico — When Mets pitcher Seth Lugo speaks, the Louisiana in him becomes apparent.  There is a Southern accent and no hint that he has Puerto Rican roots.  He does not speak Spanish, and he had never …
Discussion: Talking Chop
RELATED:
Mark SaxonESPN / ESPN:
Yadier Molina blasts MLB over security for families at WBC
Eric Longenhagen / FanGraphs Baseball:
2017 Top 100 Prospects  —  Below is my list of the top-100 prospects in baseball.  Each prospect has a brief scouting summary here with links to the full team reports embedded in their names where applicable.  Those without links will have them added as I cover the remaining farm systems.
Matt Gelb / Philly.com:
Phillies prospect Nick Williams homers, robs a home run in same inning  —  SARASOTA, Fla. — The eighth inning of a mid-March Grapefruit League game is about as inconsequential as they come, but it will be hard this spring to top what Nick Williams did.  —  The Phillies outfield prospect bashed …
Discussion: Phillies Nation
David Laurila / FanGraphs Baseball:
Dick Williams on Innovation, Infrastructure, and a Reds Rebuild  —  A few weeks ago, Cincinnati Reds general manager Dick Williams was one of several executives to weigh in on the question: “How necessary is it for an MLB front office to pick a direction and stay the course?”
Matt Breen / Philly.com:
Phillies trade for ambidextrous pitcher Pat Venditte  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Phillies were able to add both a lefthanded and a righthanded pitcher to their bullpen competition on Sunday by acquiring ambidextrous reliever Pat Venditte in a trade with Seattle.  —  Venditte, 31, can throw with either hand.
Discussion: Phillies Nation
RELATED:
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Phillies, Mariners Swap Joey Curletta, Pat Venditte
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Braves Claim Kevin Chapman From Astros  —  The Braves announced on Monday that they've claimed left-handed reliever Kevin Chapman off waivers from the Astros.  Houston reportedly placed the 29-year-old Chapman on waivers over the weekend.  Atlanta had an open spot on its 40-man roster, so no corresponding move is necessary.
Erik Boland / Newsday:
Yankees' young prospects having a ‘great’ spring training … TAMPA, Fla. — Brian Cashman has been at it too long.  —  Too long to be fooled by spring training.  Too long to use strong March performances as predictors for the regular season.  —  Still, many of the young players the Yankees …
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Kris Bryant on his 2017 contract with Cubs: ‘I feel respected’  —  Photos of Kris Bryant, the 2016 National League MVP and the Cubs' second overall pick in the 2013 draft.  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Kris Bryant was grateful that the Cubs compensated him Friday with the largest contract ever given …
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
The Surprise Five: Thoughts from Sunday at Rangers camp  —  Andrew Cashner returned to Texas Rangers spring training Sunday morning after a long flight delay Saturday night because of storms that passed through the Metroplex.  —  He knew that the media wanted a piece of him as soon as the clubhouse opened …
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Rafael Montero, once Mets' top starting pitching prospect, could find himself in long relief  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — Rafael Montero sat at his locker in the Mets spring training clubhouse texting and checking social media on his phone last week.  Just to his left, in front of their row of lockers …
RELATED:
John Harper / New York Daily News:   Mets, led by starting pitchers, no longer need to prove they are contenders
 
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 More News: 
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
The Royals are ready for a fire sale they don't want
Discussion: Royals Review and MLB Trade Rumors
Tampa Bay Times:
Life after Evan Longoria for Rays? Something to talk about
Discussion: DRaysBay
 Earlier Picks: 
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
Tyler Thornburg endures rough adjustment to Sox' shoulder program
 

 
From WeSmirch:

TMZ.com:
Kate Middleton Seen in New Video Enjoying Windsor Farm Shop with William

Richard Simmons:
I have some news to tell you.  Please don't be sad.  I am ....dying.  Oh I can see your faces now. …

Snejana Farberov / New York Post:
King Charles is not dead, despite Russian media ‘announcement’ forcing palace to scramble

 
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