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 …
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Keaton Moore / Fox Sports:
USA Shuts Out Puerto Rico to be Crowned the 2017 World Baseball Classic Champions — Keaton Moore/FanSided via Call to the Pen Fansided March 23, 2017 — And just like that, the United States stunned the Team Puerto Rico to win their first-ever World Baseball Classic championship.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and Fort Worth Star-Telegram
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!
USA ousts Japan, in case you mist it!
Discussion:
New York Times and Halos Heaven
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:
CSN Philly, Amazin' Avenue, The Good Phight and Yahoo Sports
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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:
Yahoo Sports and Phillies Nation
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
Cincinnati.com:
MRI shows no structural damage in the elbow of the Reds' Raisel Iglesias — GOODYEAR, Ariz. - An MRI showed a bone bruise in Raisel Iglesias' right elbow, but no structural damage, Reds manager Bryan Price. Iglesias is scheduled to begin a throwing program on Sunday, timing that could put his readiness for Opening Day in jeopardy.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and Redleg Nation
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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.
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
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
George A. King III / New York Post:
Yankees getting trade offers to fill sudden shortstop hole … CLEARWATER, Fla. — Taking the approach that the answer is always no until you ask the question, the Reds and Tigers contacted the Yankees to see if they had an interest in acquiring a shortstop after Didi Gregorius went down with a shoulder injury.
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, Beyond the Box Score, MLB Daily Dish and MLB Trade Rumors
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