Check out Mini-Ballbug for simple mobiles or Ballbug Mobile for modern smartphones.
9:05 AM ET, February 21, 2018

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Janie McCAuley / Associated Press:
New MLB rule: Pitching change a must for 7th mound visit by coach or manager  —  Managers or coaches must make a pitching change if they head to the mound for the seventh time in a game under baseball's new pace of play rules.  —  Commissioner Rob Manfred and executive Joe Torre explained …
RELATED:
Bill Plunkett / Orange County Register:
Dodgers, Clayton Kershaw have ‘open dialogue’ with his opt-out looming  —  GLENDALE, Ariz. — Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw has said he isn't thinking about the clause in his contract which allows him to opt out and become a free agent next fall.  —  It would be unwise for the Dodgers' front office to take such an approach.
Discussion: DodgerBlue.com
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:   Column: Pace-of-play changes will be a work in progress
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:   Mound visit rules troublesome to Cubs catcher Willson Contreras
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:   Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred on Wrigley Field's chances for All-Star Game: ‘Stay tuned’
Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:
Agent Scott Boras stays course, calling free agent system ‘upside-down’  —  PEORIA, Ariz. - The San Diego Padres took the unusual step of announcing the terms of Eric Hosmer's new eight-year, $144 million contract, which includes an opt-out clause after the fifth season, and pointed out it's the largest agreement in franchise history.
Discussion: Halos Heaven, Gaslamp Ball and DRaysBay
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Notebook: Padres' Hosmer to wear No. 30 to honor Ventura
Jerry CrasnickESPN Senior / ESPN:   Eric Hosmer ready for leadership role with Padres, will wear No. 30 to honor Yordano Ventura
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Yankees Acquire Brandon Drury, D-Backs Acquire Steven Souza In Three-Team Trade With Rays  —  The Rays, Yankees and D-backs have agreed to a significant three-team trade that will send outfielder Steven Souza from Tampa Bay to Arizona, infielder/outfielder Brandon Drury from Arizona to New York and prospects to Tampa Bay.
RELATED:
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
Brandon Drury is an upside play at just the right price
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors
John Harper / New York Daily News:   If AL East race is determined by trade deadline, Yankees have edge over Red Sox
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Gary Sanchez swings away with Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge  —  TAMPA, Fla. - The Show moved to Field 2 on Tuesday afternoon, with fans watching behind a chain link fence as Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge blasted batting practice pitches at Yankees camp.  —  Oh, and Gary Sanchez was in the hitting group again too.
RELATED:
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:   Greg Bird wants to become more reliable presence, and Yankees need him to be just that
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:   Aaron Boone ‘trying to contain’ his excitement about managing Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar
Stephen Ruiz / Orlando Sentinel:
Players with ties to World Series teams seek fresh starts with Braves  —  Charlie Culberson did not receive a call-up to the Los Angeles Dodgers until early September last season.  —  No one could have predicted what was to come, especially the .500 postseason batting average in 16 at-bats …
Discussion: Talking Chop
RELATED:
Associated Press:   Astros' McCullers is back on mound with new rules in play
ESPN:
When will Tim Tebow play in the majors?  —  Is Tim Tebow a major leaguer?  According to New York Mets GM Sandy Alderson, the former NFL quarterback is all but bound for the bigs.  —  “Somebody asked me whether I think he'll be a major league player at some point,” Alderson said Sunday.
Associated Press:
Don Mattingly says Bryce Harper off base to critique Marlins' moves: ‘Take care of your own dugout’  —  JUPITER, Fla. — Marlins manager Don Mattingly says Washington Nationals slugger Bryce Harper should not be critiquing Miami's offseason moves.  —  EDITOR'S PICKS
Discussion: Federal Baseball
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Brewers owner Attanasio has eye on ending playoff drought  —  PHOENIX — Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio says his team has the roster to end the franchise's seven-year postseason drought without having to make another move.  —  The Brewers exceeded expectations last year after finishing …
Eddie MatzESPN Senior / ESPN:
Daniel Murphy trying to get knee 100 percent healthy before return  —  WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Daniel Murphy isn't sure whether he'll be ready for Opening Day as he continues to recover from offseason knee surgery.  —  “I'm generally optimistic that when they put me in the lineup …
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals coach Maddux puts the up in upside  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • On his first day back with the first team, former closer Jason Motte got a quick look at a new level the Cardinals want to take their pitchers.  Mike Maddux, in his first weeks with his fourth team as pitching coach …
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Garcia is emulating Descalso  —  • When Greg Garcia arrived at his first big-league spring training, one of the established players from the other side of the clubhouse walked over and introduced himself as Daniel.  —  “Like I didn't know who he was,” Garcia said.
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Yu Darvish makes quick favorable impression on new Cubs teammates  —  Chicago Tribune  —  After watching one of Yu Darvish's pitches during a batting-practice session Tuesday, Cubs slugger Kyle Schwarber merely said, “Oh, God.”  —  “Insane,” Willson Contreras added after catching Darvish's …
David Murphy / Philly.com:
The clock is ticking on Maikel Franco |  David Murphy  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — You can spend a lot of time waiting for something you once thought was there.  That's probably true in a lot of corners of life, but baseball is an especially maddening realm, success and failure swapping places …
Bradford DoolittleESPN / ESPN:
Man vs. third base: The real battles of spring training for all 30 teams  —  As an English major, I used to spend a lot of time thinking about the types of conflict in our stories and which ones would be best suited to the kind of work I planned to do.  Man vs. nature?  Man vs. man?  Man vs. self?
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Kris Bryant all about the art of the World Series ring, not individual honors  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The 2017 season seemed hollow to Kris Bryant, and not because he didn't win an individual award for the first time since reaching the major leagues in 2015.
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Bronson Arroyo in Cincinnati Reds Spring Training camp - sort of  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. - Bronson Arroyo is in Reds camp.  Well, let's rephrase that.  Bronson Arroyo is at Reds camp.  —  The newly retired Arroyo will be in Arizona for two weeks.  He'll spend some of that time with the Reds in some sort of capacity.
RELATED:
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:   Cincinnati Reds notes: Nick Senzel is the backup plan shortstop — with a caveat
ESPN:
Josh Donaldson expects to become free agent, not ‘eye to eye’ with Blue Jays on contact talks  —  Josh Donaldson expects to become a free agent next offseason after shutting down contract talks with the Toronto Blue Jays, saying that the sides do not see “eye to eye” on a long-term deal.
Discussion: Bluebird Banter
RELATED:
Steve Buffery / Toronto Sun:   Atkins optimistic Donaldson will sign with Blue Jays
 
 Archived Page Info: 
This is a snapshot of Ballbug at 9:05 AM ET, February 21, 2018.

View the current page or another snapshot:


 
 See Also: 
Ballbug: site main
Ballbug River: reverse chronological Ballbug
Ballbug Mobile: for phones
Ballbug Leaderboard: Ballbug's top sources
 
 Subscribe: 
Ballbug RSS feed
 
 
 More News: 
Rob Tornoe / Philly.com:
Phillies spring training schedule: How to watch on TV, online stream
Nick Groke / Denver Post:
MLB's slow-playing free agent market drew Rockies' interest.  Jeff Bridich says he's looking into it.
Discussion: Purple Row and True Blue LA
Eduardo A. Encina / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles' continued pursuit for lefty outfield bat leading them to Colby Rasmus
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers spring training early impressions: A totally different feel
Chris Kuc / Chicago Tribune:
Hitters Group No. 4 — Eloy Jimenez, Luis Robert and Micker Adolfo — hopes to become a Big 3 for White Sox
Chris Kuc / Chicago Tribune:
What you see, likely what you will get for White Sox on opening day
 Earlier Picks: 
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Justus Sheffield, Chance Adams lead promising class of young Yankee arms
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
With Jason Vargas crowding rotation, Mets plan to start Zack Wheeler out of the bullpen: source
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
Julio Pablo Martinez Cleared To Sign
Discussion: Lone Star Ball
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Michael Conforto feeling confident in rehab, but Mets taking cautious approach
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Pirates Acquire Bryce Brentz
Discussion: Bucs Dugout
Associated Press:
Twins finalize deal with reclamation righty Anibal Sanchez
 

 
From WeSmirch:

Daily Star:
Scene where Gogglebox's George Gilbey, 40, tragically died as police cordon area

Eileen Reslen / Page Six:
Christine Quinn alleges ‘abusive’ husband Christian Richard threw dog poop at her, peed on her floor in violent outburst

Leyla Mohammed / BuzzFeed News:
Penn Badgley Got Honest About The Differences Between Being A Dad And A Stepdad As He Recalled Initially Struggling To Bond With His 15-Year-Old Stepson

 
Sister Sites:

Techmeme
 Top news and commentary for technology's leaders, from all around the web
Mediagazer
 Top news and commentary for media professionals from all around the web
memeorandum
 What US political commentators are discussing online right now
WeSmirch
 The top celebrity news from all around the web on a single page