Check out Mini-Ballbug for simple mobiles or Ballbug Mobile for modern smartphones.
12:30 PM ET, March 18, 2018

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Ben Frederickson / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals notebook: Pitcher Gant keeps impressing  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.  • The Cardinals' pitching plans are coming into focus as the season opener nears, and for now they project spring standout John Gant as quality insurance for the rotation.  He's headed for starts at Class AAA Memphis …
RELATED:
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Carp at third, Gyorko at second against Nationals  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • Cardinals manager Mike Matheny is deploying his infield Sunday as to what it will look when second baseman Kolten Wong has an off day.  —  Jedd Gyorko will move from third to second for the first time this spring …
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Cardinals pitchers combine to one-hit split-squad Braves in win
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Cardinals pitchers combine to one-hit Braves in win
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Cardinals take 3-0 lead against Braves
John Harper / The Charlotte Observer:
Signing Dallas Keuchel might be better Yankees option than Manny Machado  —  Since Aaron Judge brought it up...  Just kidding.  I have to admit I was rather stunned that Judge shared with reporters his “You'd-look-good-in-pinstripes” line to Manny Machado last week, considering how carefully he measures his every word.
RELATED:
John Harper / New York Daily News:   Despite Aaron Judge recruitment, signing Dallas Keuchel might be better Yankees option than Manny Machado
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:   Aaron Judge likely won't play any left field for Yankees this season
Associated Press:
Manny Machado: Aaron Judge's nudge to join Yankees no big deal
Discussion: Camden Chat and MLB Daily Dish
ESPN:
Mets left-hander Jason Vargas has broken right hand  —  New York Mets left-hander Jason Vargas has a broken bone in his non-pitching hand and will visit a specialist later Sunday, the team announced.  —  Vargas suffered a non-displaced fracture of the hamate bone in his right hand Saturday …
RELATED:
Matt Ehalt / NorthJersey.com:
Mets could trade Rafael Montero before the season starts
Discussion: Newsday and MLB Trade Rumors
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:   Mickey Callaway: Wilmer Flores playing left field can be ‘huge’ for Mets lineup
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Mets think Jason Vargas will be ready for start of season despite hand injury
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Final-week quandary for Rangers: What do with Colon?  —  SURPRISE, ARIZ.  —  All Saturday afternoon's game was, in the mind of the Texas Rangers and their Game 1 starting pitcher, was another Cactus League contest.  —  Bartolo Colon has been better than he was against the Kansas City Royals …
RELATED:
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Batting second for your Texas Rangers ... Joey Gallo?
Associated Press:
Notebook: A's starter Cotton to have Tommy John surgery  —  Oakland Athletics pitcher Jharel Cotton will undergo season-ending surgery on his right elbow.  —  Cotton had been diagnosed with a sprain and had a second scan taken on his elbow on Friday, then was told he would need Tommy John surgery.
Discussion: Lone Star Ball
Detroit Free Press:
Next Slide  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — After three hours and 26 minutes of spring training baseball on Saturday afternoon, after offering reporters some insight as to how the Tigers' roster might look come Opening Day by detailing how wide open the team's bullpen competition remains …
RELATED:
Detroit Free Press:
Next Slide  —  At Joker Marchant Stadium, Lakeland, Fla.
Discussion: Pinstripe Alley
Joel Colomby / Toronto Sun:
Fantasy Fare: On humidors and an outfield wall  —  A couple of stadium-related items to keep in the back of your mind when taking part in your league's draft or auction:  —  1) Chase Field in Arizona, home of the Diamondbacks, will store its baseballs in a moisture-absorbing humidor, in effect deadening the balls and reducing offence.
RELATED:
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:   Confused by Rays pitching plans? Well, it's complicated ....
Tim Healey / Newsday:
Yoenis Cespedes says he's healthy, ready for Opening Day  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Yoenis Cespedes declared himself fully healthy and ready for Opening Day after his first baseball action of the week Saturday.  —  The Mets leftfielder went 1-for-6 in a minor-league intra- squad game …
RELATED:
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:   Yoenis Cespedes laughs off wrist injury as he nears return, but keeping players healthy is no joke for Mets
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Kyle Schwarber's improvements evident in spring training  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Cubs manager Joe Maddon often uses information to supplement what he witnesses with his own eyes.  —  And his observations appear accurate after watching a svelte Kyle Schwarber double, triple and run the bases …
Mike Berardino / Twin Cities:
Ervin Santana still can't make a fist or grip a baseball post-surgery  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Tuesday will mark six weeks since Ervin Santana's surgery on his right middle finger, but he still has yet to resume gripping a baseball, much less throwing it.  —  “It's just exercise right now …
Mike Lupica / New York Daily News:
Mets fans are right to have hope entering this season, no matter how many ifs surround team  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — This was the other day in spring training, at the point when the spring training days start to run together in the run-up to the season.  Mickey Callaway, the new Mets manager …
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Pena's play, catching depth have created competition for Kelly at backup  —  St. Louis Cardinals catcher Francisco Pena blocks a ball while catching a bullpen session during St. Louis Cardinals spring training on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018, in Jupiter, Fla. Photo by Chris Lee, clee@post-dispatch.com
Carlos Monarrez / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' Alan Trammell took unconventional route to Hall of Fame  —  COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — When he was 11 years old, Alan Trammell would walk two miles through a canyon — past coyotes and dairy land — in order to sneak into San Diego Stadium and watch the Padres, one of Major League Baseball's four new expansion teams.
 
 Archived Page Info: 
This is a snapshot of Ballbug at 12:30 PM ET, March 18, 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: 
Ryan Divish / The Seattle Times:
Erasmo Ramirez's return to the Mariners could be pushed back a week or two
Tampa Bay Times:
For starters: Rays vs. Tigers, 1:05, with Archer on the mound
Mike Berardino / Twin Cities:
New Twins outfielder Jake Cave grew up a fan of Harmon Killebrew, Michael Cuddyer
Discussion: Twinkie Town
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays Journal: Miller had a field day, Pruitt bounces back, Gomez speeds up
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors
Chelsea Janes / Washington Post:
'There wasn't a dry eye': An eager Adam Eaton returns to the Nationals' outfield
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks spring training - 2018
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs' Jose Quintana in fine form, striking out 8 Indians in Las Vegas
 Earlier Picks: 
Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
Mike Tauchman's versatility, strong camp gives him strong shot at Rockies' roster
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors
Tom Haudricourt / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Next Slide  —  On the field: The Brewers, who hit into a triple …
Discussion: Brew Crew Ball and JSOnline
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
No discomfort as Cubs second baseman Javier Baez returns to action
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Eugenio Suarez's deal is ideal for the Cincinnati Reds
Keith Jenkins / Cincinnati.com:
Scott Schebler leads Cincinnati Reds over San Francisco Giants
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Justin Hancock and Anthony Bass making late bids for spot in Cubs bullpen
 

 
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

New York Times:
How to Be Real With Your Kids  —  Actor Penn Badgley reads the essay “Watching Them Watching Me” …

 
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