Notebook: Norris ‘honored’ to be with Cardinals  —  • The Philadelphia Phillies had a lefthanded pitcher named Tommy Underwood in the 1970s, and he had beaten the Cardinals five times in a row in 1975-76.  That's when general manager Bing Devine decided to acquire him at the trading deadline in 1977 …

Column: Joe Maddon is Chicago's most colorful and confident manager  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Baseball history always will laud manager Joe Maddon for changing the culture with the Cubs.  —  Now Maddon supplies it.  —  Creating a bizarre backdrop for the start of spring training in Mesa …

Matt den Dekker returns to Mets with minor-league deal  —  Matt den Dekker is back.  The Mets signed their former outfield prospect to a minor-league deal on Thursday morning with an invite to major-league spring training.  —  Den Dekker, 30, played in 80 games with the Mets from 2013-2014.

Ryon Healy has surgery on hand, out 4-6 weeks  —  Seattle Mariners first baseman Ryon Healy is expected to be sidelined four to six weeks after undergoing surgery to remove a bone spur in his right hand.  —  The Mariners made the announcement Thursday.  Healy had the surgery in Philadelphia on Wednesday.

Ohtani draws attention as Angels begin workouts  —  Shohei Ohtani emerged from the clubhouse and tipped his cap to the swarm of Japanese countrymen capturing his every move, cameras clicking a mile a minute.  —  He offered that signature smile, something Angels manager Mike Scioscia noticed right away …

Stars back on the field as pitchers, catchers begin workouts  —  Justin Verlander is looking forward to a full season with the Houston Astros, while the New York Mets are hoping for a healthier year for their starting staff.  —  The New York Yankees?  Well, this season may not be about their pitchers …

Mets pitching coach Dave Eiland will attempt to fix Matt Harvey  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Of all the members of the Mets' rotation, there are the most questions about Matt Harvey.  Once an ace, Harvey is now an unknown after back-to-back disappointing seasons and a string of surgeries and injuries.

No expectations for Detroit Tigers?  It might make them easier to watch  —  Watch as the Detroit Tigers' pitchers and catchers warm up with a game of catch on the first day of spring training on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018, in Lakeland, Fla. Video by Anthony Fenech/DFP

Kansas City got a second chance at the majors, and made it work  —  When the 2018 season concludes, the Royals will have closed the book on 50 years of competitive existence with an overall record under .500.  —  We'll get 'em in the next half-century.  —  But although they've posted …

Cincinnati Reds' pitcher Homer Bailey hoping to put frustration behind him  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Homer Bailey's look answers the question.  And the answer is:  —  “What the blank do you think?”  —  The question was about how frustrating the last 3 1/2 years have been.  —  “It gets very frustrating,” he says.

Stoneman Douglas assistant football coach Aaron Feis killed responding to shooting: ‘That is not firecrackers’  —  Sun Sentinel  —  Aaron Feis, an assistant football coach and security guard at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, was among the 17 people shot and killed Wednesday at the Parkland high school.

Facing a brimming free agent pool at spring training's start, MLBPA boss decries owners' ‘excuses’  —  The Washington Post  —  Tony Clark never envisioned his annual tour of spring training camps beginning where it did this week: Inside the gates of the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, at a camp without a name.

Cubs' bullpen dancing among new Chicago-related features in ‘MLB The Show 18’  —  Chicago Tribune  —  If your digital Cubs bullpen can't do the Running Man, what's the point of even playing the video game?  —  Sony's team thought as much, and added the bullpen pitchers' signature dance moves …

Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman looking to rebound from disappointing 2017 season  —  TAMPA — Aroldis Chapman is looking to rebound from last season, when he didn't come close to living up to his $86 million deal.  —  Chapman, who signed his five-year contract last offseason …

CC Sabathia: 'I'd be panicking' if I was still a free agent like Jake Arrieta  —  TAMPA — CC Sabathia knows exactly how he'd feel if he was in Jake Arrieta's shoes right now.  —  “I'd be panicking,” Sabathia said Thursday.  “I don't know him at all, but just to see guys in spring training getting ready …

Jay Bruce feels like he never left Mets, speaks highly of ‘great’ Mickey Callaway  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — Jay Bruce walked back into the Mets clubhouse around 9:30 on Thursday morning, and nothing about it felt strange to the returning right fielder.  —  “No, it was actually the opposite.

Diamondbacks at spring-training practice … Manager Torey Lovullo suggested Wednesday another position that will be open to competition in Diamondbacks' camp this spring: a corner outfield spot.  —  With A.J. Pollock entrenched in center and David Peralta holding down one of the corners …