Top News:
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
USA finds its identity at World Baseball Classic: ‘This is our team’ — LOS ANGELES - They didn't stop off to bleach their hair platinum blond Sunday afternoon, pull over to grab plantains for pre-game introductions, or do jumping jacks on the team bus. — It was a rather tranquil three-hour bus ride …
Discussion:
MLB.com, Purple Row, Fish Stripes and Forbes
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Tampa Bay Times:
Rays journal: Archer disappointed to be told not to join Team USA in WBC — PORT CHARLOTTE — RHP Chris Archer chose his words carefully, but it was clear he was disappointed to wake up early Sunday to a text telling him not to take his scheduled flight to Los Angeles because he wouldn't be pitching …
Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com:
Saturday night survive: USA-DR win or else!
Saturday night survive: USA-DR win or else!
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes, Lookout Landing, Bleed Cubbie Blue and Facebook
Kyle Glaser / Baseball America:
Puerto Rico Holds Off U.S., Clinches WBC Semifinals Spot - 2017 World Baseball Classic
Puerto Rico Holds Off U.S., Clinches WBC Semifinals Spot - 2017 World Baseball Classic
Discussion:
The Good Phight, The Crawfish Boxes and DRaysBay
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
CC Sabathia feels ‘good’ but admits he still isn't ready for season — TAMPA — CC Sabathia lowered his spring training ERA from 13.50 to 9.45 on Saturday. — Better. — But still not great. — Facing the Orioles' B squad, Sabathia gave up three runs on three hits in four innings …
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Erik Boland / Newsday:
Masahiro Tanaka excels again as Yankees no-hit Tigers
Masahiro Tanaka excels again as Yankees no-hit Tigers
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, Yahoo Sports and Newsday
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Cody Anderson To Undergo Tommy John Surgery — Indians right-hander Cody Anderson will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the 2017 season, the team announced (Twitter link via Jordan Bastian of MLB.com). Anderson made the decision after a second opinion confirmed both a sprain …
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, FanRag Sports and Let's Go Tribe
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals starting pitchers ‘have to be horses’ — Photo by Chris Lee, clee@post-dispatch.com — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. • Although he will be 18 months and one rebuilt ligament removed from the last major-league pitch he threw in anger, Lance Lynn has no interest in being coddled …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Detroit Free Press:
Next Slide — SARASOTA, Fla. - A day later, the Detroit Tigers are without a definitive answer on J.D. Martinez. — Though inside the visiting manager's clubhouse Sunday afternoon at Ed Smith Stadium, the outlook for the rightfielder's immediate playing future did not seem bright.
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
Paul Skrbina / Chicago Tribune:
Derek Holland on Kyle Schwarber's home run: ‘Hats off to Schreiber’ — White Sox pitcher Derek Holland reacts after allowing a home run to Kyle Schwarber during the team's 7-3 exhibition loss to the Cubs on Friday, March 17, 2017. (Paul Skrbina/Chicago Tribune) — Chicago Tribune
Discussion:
Fox Sports
Brian MacPherson / providencejournal.com:
Farrell: MLB to crack down on DL manipulation — FORT MYERS, Fla. — As welcome as was the shift to a 10-day minimum for stints on the disabled list, the loophole it opened was cavernous. A team with a depleted bullpen could stash a starting pitcher on the disabled list with a phantom injury …
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports and NBCSports.com
Tampa Bay Times:
Alex Cobb bracing himself for possible farewell season with Rays — PORT CHARLOTTE — Is there anything wrong with thinking about saying goodbye when you're not 100 percent sure you're leaving? — Alex Cobb is no dumb blond. He's savvy enough to know the history …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Vic Carucci / The Buffalo News:
Bills' Hauschka found Seahawks' decision to let him go ‘an interesting move’ — Stephen Hauschka doesn't feel comfortable discussing the subject. As with most kickers, it's always best to try to keep negative occurrences as far in the past as possible. — This one still stings, though. A lot.
Discussion:
ProFootballTalk and FanRag Sports
Observer-Reporter:
No surprises here. Roethlisberger leaning toward a return to Steelers — To the surprise of no one who has spent any amount of time at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is “leaning towards” returning to play in 2017. — Roethlisberger spoke …
Discussion:
FanRag Sports and ProFootballTalk
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Mets' Steven Matz, who's focused on holding runners, finally picks one off — PORT ST. LUCIE — Steven Matz just reacted. The lefthander allowed 20 stolen bases last season, contributing to the Mets' major-league-leading 135 bases stolen. So he focused on trying to hold runners better this spring.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports