Top News:
Danny Knobler / MLB.com:
Dutch on brink of semis after routing Cuba — TOKYO — Stacked with Major League stars, the Netherlands were a team to watch heading into the World Baseball Classic. Now the Dutch are on the verge of a return trip to the semifinals, and their lineup is clicking.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports and baseballmusings.com
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Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Angels' Mike Trout is open to playing for U.S. in WBC in the future
Angels' Mike Trout is open to playing for U.S. in WBC in the future
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, Halos Heaven and FanRag Sports
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
MLB drops the ball in ruling Mexico out of the World Baseball Classic
MLB drops the ball in ruling Mexico out of the World Baseball Classic
Discussion:
Phillies Nation, True Blue LA, Lookout Landing, Cubs Insider and baseballmusings.com
James Wagner / New York Times:
Mexico Protests Ruling Knocking It Out of World Baseball Classic
Mexico Protests Ruling Knocking It Out of World Baseball Classic
Discussion:
Bless You Boys, Brew Crew Ball, NESN.com and True Blue LA
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Bat-flip by Rangers' Odor in WBC miffs Astros' Bregman — SURPRISE, ARIZ — . Texas Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor drove in the go-ahead run Monday night for Venezuela in a win-or-go-home World Baseball Classic tiebreaker against Italy. — The box score shows only an RBI single …
Discussion:
Minor League Ball, MLB.com, The Runner Sports and Houston Chronicle
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Matt Young / Houston Chronicle:
Astros' Alex Bregman slams Rangers' Rougned Odor for WBC bat flip — The Astros-Rangers rivalry is starting a little early this season. — First, Astros fans were upset that Venezuela manager Omar Vizquel had most-hated Texas Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor in the starting lineup instead …
Discussion:
Fort Worth Star-Telegram and The Crawfish Boxes
Matt Gelb / Philly.com:
Phillies' Tommy Joseph plunked on hand; it's not broken — CLEARWATER, Fla. - Tommy Joseph has the seams imprinted on his left hand Tuesday to prove how much being hit by a baseball hurt, but an X-ray at least revealed no broken bones for the Phillies first baseman. — The team diagnosed Joseph with a bruised left hand.
Discussion:
Phillies Nation
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Meghan Montemurro / delawareonline:
Former No. 1 pick Mark Appel at career crossroads
Former No. 1 pick Mark Appel at career crossroads
Discussion:
FanRag Sports
Matt Gelb / Philly.com:
Phillies prospect Nick Williams homers, robs a home run in same inning
Phillies prospect Nick Williams homers, robs a home run in same inning
Discussion:
The Good Phight and Phillies Nation
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Chris Sale, 'happiest I've ever been in my life,' embraces Red Sox opportunity — FORT MYERS, Fla. - Dave Dombrowski, president of the Boston Red Sox, has a confession to make. — Pure and simple, he never cared for the guy. — Sure, Dombrowski didn't know him personally, never talked to him …
Discussion:
Over the Monster, Union-News, DRaysBay and NESN.com
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Tampa Bay Times:
Rays, Kevin Kiermaier nearing $50 million extension — PORT CHARLOTTE — The Rays and Kevin Kiermaier are working on a long-term deal that could keep the Gold Glove centerfielder under team control for at least six more years and be worth more than $50 million, the Tampa Bay Times has learned.
Discussion:
South Side Sox, FanRag Sports, Bleacher Nation, Lookout Landing, DRaysBay, MLB Trade Rumors, Sportsnet.ca, ESPN and Baseball Is Fun
Dan Martin / New York Post:
Gleyber Torres isn't making a demotion easy on Yankees — Gleyber Torres earlier in spring training. — Getty Images — More On: — PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — When Gleyber Torres tore up the Arizona Fall League last season at age 19, it was hard to predict what he would come up with as an encore.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
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Erik Boland / Newsday:
Yankees' young prospects having a ‘great’ spring training
Yankees' young prospects having a ‘great’ spring training
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Jennifer Rainwater / Fox Sports:
New York Mets' Noah Syndergaard's Mysterious Illness Revealed — New York Mets' Noah Syndergaard has been pitching this spring. — What you may not know is that the New York Mets' ace has been doing so while fighting a mysterious illness that multiple doctors couldn't diagnose.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Jared Diamond / Wall Street Journal:
The Gurus Behind Baseball's Search for the Perfect Swing — Independent hitting instructors have helped players such as Justin Turner and Josh Donaldson become feared hitters — Doug Latta teaches hitting at a nondescript industrial park in Northridge, Calif., in a facility that consists of just two batting cages.
Discussion:
FanRag Sports
Mike Florio / ProFootballTalk:
Cleveland may make a run at Kirk Cousins — Regardless of whether Kirk Cousins did or didn't demand or request or whatever a trade from Washington, Cousins may be getting one. — Per a league source, there's a growing belief in some circles that the Browns will try to acquire Cousins via trade.
Discussion:
Plain Dealer, Pro Football Rumors, FanRag Sports, Niners Wire, Niners Nation and NESN.com
Tampa Bay Times:
20 thoughts on the Rays after 30 days of spring — PORT CHARLOTTE — Twenty thoughts after watching 30 days of Rays spring training: — • Brad Miller has looked not just okay but pretty darn good thus far at second base, which was a huge question. — • Biggest disappointment?
Marc Carig / Newsday:
Mets' Jacob deGrom turns up the heat with effortless form … WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — When Jacob deGrom calls up video of what he considers to be one of his masterpieces, what he always notices first is how he made it all look so effortless. — He dominated the Cardinals that afternoon two years ago …