Top News:
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Two Van Slyke homers give Marlins 6-4 win over Cardinals — JUPITER, Fla. • Outfielder Oscar Mercado, in his first game wearing a Cardinals uniform, singled twice, scored a run and made a strong catch in right field Friday although the Cardinals lost their exhibition baseball opener to the Miami Marlins 6-4.
Discussion:
Fish Stripes
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Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Three young Cardinals stand out against Marlins — JUPITER, Fla. • The loudest statement, by far, was St. Louisan Scott Van Slyle's two-homer, five RBI performance for the Miami Marlins, who beat the Cardinals 6-4 in the baseball exhibition opener Friday.
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Van Slyke shows off shortened swing with long homers against Cardinals — JUPITER, Fla. • When Scott Van Slyke stepped into the cage in St. Louis this winter, the swing his father had suggested, the swing he needed to retool, the swing he needed to return to the majors found him without a search.
Associated Press:
Back tightness delays Carpenter's spring debut for Cards — JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Cardinals manager Mike Matheny isn't sure when first baseman Matt Carpenter will make his Grapefruit League debut. — Carpenter is battling back tightness. For the time being, he is in the hands …
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Ozuna to DH against former team in Cardinals' spring opener
Ozuna to DH against former team in Cardinals' spring opener
Discussion:
Fish Stripes
Jorge L. Ortiz / Chillicothe Gazette:
Elder Felix Hernandez ready to return to throne as Mariners ace: 'I'm still King Felix' — SportsPulse: The Houston Astros looked primed to repeat as World Series champs. Recent history suggests otherwise. USA TODAY Sports — CONNECT — PEORIA, Ariz. - Felix Hernandez …
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Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Giancarlo Stanton, Yankees hyped on his debut: ‘There was definitely a buzz’
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Aaron Boone's time to shine like he did during interview process — managerial debut was the first step
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Giancarlo Stanton after one spring training game with Yankees: ‘This is better’ than playing with Marlins
ESPN:
MLB teams wear hats to honor high school shooting victims — Spring training got off to a solemn start as MLB teams wore hats to honor Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 17 people were fatally shot nine days ago. — Stoneman Douglas baseball coach Todd Fitz-Gerald …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
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Jerry CrasnickESPN Senior / ESPN:
Rockies prospect, Parkland native gets to wear alma mater's ‘SD’ cap in spring training tilt
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Chill factor greets Cubs in Cactus League opener
Associated Press:
Callaway scratches Smith for Mets' opener — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Mickey Callaway had his first big managerial decision Friday, and it came down way before the New York Mets' first pitch was delivered by starting pitcher Zack Wheeler. — A day before when the Mets announced …
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Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Mickey Callaway ‘shocked’ Dominic Smith was late to first Mets spring training game
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Dominic Smith scratched from Mets lineup before first spring training game
Dominic Smith scratched from Mets lineup before first spring training game
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Associated Press:
Francisco Liriano agrees to 1-year, $4 million deal with Tigers — TAMPA, Fla. — Detroit agreed to a $4 million, one-year contract with left-hander Francisco Liriano, giving the Tigers added pitching depth. — The 34-year-old was 6-7 with a 4.62 ERA in 18 starts last season with Toronto …
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Yahoo Sports:
Exclusive: Federal documents detail sweeping potential NCAA violations involving high-profile players, schools — Documents and bank records obtained in discovery during the federal investigation into the underbelly of college basketball detail in meticulous fashion the expenditures …
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Notes: Christian Yelich, Lorenzo Cain get to stop talking about being Brewers and go play — PHOENIX - Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich weren't on the same field Friday but made their debuts as the Milwaukee Brewers played split-squad games to open Cactus League play.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
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Associated Press:
Alex Cora ‘not concerned’ Red Sox deal with J.D. Martinez not yet done — FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — The Boston Red Sox have still yet to finalize their contract with prized free agent J.D. Martinez. — Manager Alex Cora said after Boston's Grapefruit League exhibition opener against Minnesota …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Associated Press:
Rasmus makes new start with Orioles after baseball break — SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — Colby Rasmus is making a new start with the Baltimore Orioles after taking an eight-month break from baseball. — Rasmus signed a minor league contract with the Orioles this week, after abruptly leaving the Tampa Bay Rays in midseason.
Toronto Sun:
MLB pulls plug on runner-on-second rule for spring games — TAMPA, Fla. — A proposal collapsed that would have put a runner on second base to start the 10th inning of spring training games, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
Bob McManaman / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks slugger Christian Walker keeps running into walls at first base … CONNECT — Behind every door of Christian Walker's wild walk through the major leagues thus far, there has been a wall. Considering the position he plays and the four different organizations that …
Associated Press:
Oakland found closer in Treinen, part of bullpen revamp — MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Oakland found its closer in Blake Treinen last summer, and its bullpen transformation continued when it acquired offseason targets Yusmeiro Petit and Ryan Buchter this winter. — For a team that had 25 blown saves …