Top News:
Billy Witz / New York Times:
W.B.C. Championship Will Be a Study in Contrasts — LOS ANGELES — This World Baseball Classic has taken the languid pastime of springtime baseball and turned it into something else, as if the game were being viewed through a fun house mirror. — It has had outrageous defense …
Discussion:
Sportsnet.ca, The Big Lead, Lookout Landing and Bluebird Banter
RELATED:
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Marcus Stroman's choice puts United States' WBC hopes in his hands — LOS ANGELES - The pitcher starting for the United States in the championship game of the World Baseball Classic originally intended to play for Team USA's opponent, Puerto Rico. — In Sept. 2013, Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman tweeted,
Discussion:
Sportsnet.ca and baseballmusings.com
Doug Miller / MLB.com:
USA ousts Japan, in case you mist it! — LOS ANGELES — Throughout their first three World Baseball Classics, the United States' burly batting order had some of the most prodigious sluggers in the Major Leagues, but that never got the Americans to the tournament's final game.
Discussion:
New York Times, Halos Heaven and Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Kyle Glaser / Baseball America:
Team USA Beats Japan, Advances To WBC Finals For First Time — LOS ANGELES—The United States' pitching staff was derided as second-tier coming into the World Baseball Classic, a group of guys who didn't make up the best their country had to offer, or even the second-best in some circles.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball, Royals Review, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Federal Baseball, Camden Chat, Purple Row and McCovey Chronicles
Frank Fitzpatrick / Philly.com:
Dallas Green, first Phillies manager to win the World Series, dies at 82 — Dallas Green, 82, the bearish, blustering, boom box-throated manager who in 1980 whipped a talented but complacent Phillies team to the franchise's first world championship, died Wednesday, a team official confirmed.
Discussion:
Phillies Nation
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Vince Lara-Cinisomo / Baseball America:
Longtime GM and Manager Dallas Green Dies — Dallas Green, the first Phillies manager to win a World Series and later the general manager who brought Ryne Sandberg to the Cubs, died Wednesday. He was 82. — A cause of death was not announced, but Green had been receiving dialysis treatment …
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports
Marc Carig / Newsday:
Mets will face some tough decisions on Opening Day roster — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Normalcy is returning here soon, to be followed closely by anticipation. — After Tuesday's off day, just nine spring training games remain on the schedule, including a split-squad game. Opening Day looms less than two weeks away.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
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David Pinto / baseballmusings.com:
Team Offense, Milwaukee Brewers — The 2017 series on team offense continues with the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers finished tied for 11th in the National League and tied for twenty fifth in the majors in 2016 with 4.14 runs scored per game. — I am using RotoChamp as a source of default lineups.
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Brewers Release Joba Chamberlain, Ryan Webb — The Brewers have released veteran righties Joba Chamberlain and Ryan Webb, per a club announcement. Both had been signed to minor-league deals over the offseason. — Though he allowed only three runs in his eight spring frames …
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings and MLB Daily Dish
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Martinez to start Opening Night — JUPITER, Fla. • A pitching pairing worthy of Opening Day was going to be the feature of Wednesday's Cardinals exhibition with the Washington Nationals. But, a couple of hours before game time, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny was more specific about Carlos Martinez …
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Notes: First openly gay player David Denson retires from baseball — GLENDALE, Ariz. - Milwaukee Brewers minor-league first baseman/outfielder David Denson unexpectedly retired from baseball Monday but said the decision was unrelated to coming out in 2015 as the first openly gay player in affiliated baseball.
Discussion:
Miller Park Prospects, Brew Crew Ball and Outsports
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Versatility of Jurickson Profar has Rangers leaning toward short bench — TEMPE, Ariz. - The extra versatility of Jurickson Profar and Ryan Rua gives Rangers manager Jeff Banister the very real option of beginning the season with a shorter-than-usual three-man bench and extra bullpen reinforcements.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
