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9:30 AM ET, March 19, 2018

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Rotoworld.com:
ST Daily: Polanco Gets Popped  —  The Twins made an unexpected run to the Wild Card Game last fall, fueled in part by a torrid final two months of the season from Jorge Polanco.  The shortstop batted .316/.377/.553 from the beginning of August until the end of the regular season …
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Baseball notes: Twins shortstop Polanco suspended for 80 games  —  Minnesota Twins shortstop Jorge Polanco was suspended 80 games for violating Major League Baseball's drug policy.  He tested positive for the drug Stanozolol, a performance-enhancing substance.
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:   Noah Syndergaard goes seven innings deep, impresses in likely final Grapefruit League start
Mike Puma / New York Post:
Jason Vargas surgery means Mets' old dream rotation is here
Discussion: Amazin' Avenue
Fred Kerber / New York Post:   Syndergaard was so ‘nasty’ he threw off Mets' plan for him
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:   Mets righty Noah Syndergaard ready for Opening Day after sensational effort
Ben Frederickson / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards shift their thinking, decide Kelly needs to play in Memphis — not wait in St. Louis  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • Before he watched members of last year's Class AAA club accept the rings they earned by winning the Pacific Gulf Coast League championship, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny made a prediction.
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Ben Frederickson / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Cardinals option catcher Kelly, pitcher Flaherty and four others
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Tigers' Ron Gardenhire blasts pitchers' lazy play: ‘Not acceptable’  —  The Detroit Tigers started Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, with individual pictures, followed by practice.  First rounder pitcher Alex Faedo faced major-league hitters for the first time, too.  Video by Kirthmon F. Dozier/DFP Wochit
RELATED:
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Mike Fiers' back issue could open spot in Detroit Tigers' rotation
Discussion: NBCSports.com
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Clayton Kershaw is turning 30, but he doesn't feel that old … No competitor, in any sport, is more focused than Clayton Kershaw.  On the days he pitches, there is no tolerance for distraction.  —  But this is spring training, where the atmosphere is lighter and the crowd sits extra close to the field.
RELATED:
Daniel Starkand / DodgerBlue.com:
Dodgers Spring Training Notes: Corey Seager Scheduled For Back-To-Back; Starting Rotation Order …
Discussion: True Blue LA
ESPN:
Players ready to crush their 2018 projections  —  Projections are tools, and like most tools, they're not perfect.  No matter how many sources of information you use, no matter how advanced the data, there always will be some players with specific situations that a computer projection system will have trouble with.
Ryan Ford / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers have two of MLB's highest-paid players by position  —  Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve reportedly agreed to a five-year, $151 million contract extension Friday.  When the extension kicks in for the 2020 season, Altuve will become the highest-paid second baseman in baseball …
Jerry CrasnickESPN Senior / ESPN:
Manny Machado finds comfort at shortstop as he prepares for his next big move  —  SARASOTA, Fla. — If Manny Machado were any more comfortable in spring training, he'd be carrying a hammock out to the field with him.  —  Six years after his last full-time exposure to playing shortstop …
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Carpenter on the move again for Cardinals  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • For the first time this spring, Matt Carpenter moved to third base and Jedd Gyorko started at second for the Cardinals on Sunday.  Carpenter later turned up for three innings at second base and Gyorko went back to third for three innings.
USA Today:
Twins shortstop Jorge Polanco suspended 80 games for steroids  —  With aspirations of returning to the postseason, the Minnesota Twins were hit with a devastating blow just weeks before opening day.  —  Starting shortstop Jorge Polanco, who had a breakout second half of the season in 2017 …
RELATED:
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Twins' Jorge Polanco Gets 80-Game Suspension
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds hope Plan A at short (Jose Peraza) works  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. - The Reds seem to have Plan B, C and D for shortstop.  —  But the best thing for the future and 2018 is for Plan A to work.  That is for Jose Peraza to play virtually every day and play well.
RELATED:
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
You can write Homer Bailey in as the Reds' Opening Day starter — just don't use ink yet
Discussion: MLB Daily Dish
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks spring training - 2018 … Paul Goldschmidt has been asked the question over and over the past five months.  He's heard it from reporters, teammates, coaches - he even heard it from a fan during a Q&A session at FanFest.  —  Did the elbow issue that cost him a week in September contribute to his poor finish?
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds top Arizona Diamondback 5-2 at Goodyear Ballpark  —  Cincinnati Reds left-hander Amir Garrett produced another strong outing Friday.  He's faced 16 batters this spring and struck out 10 of them.  The Enquirer/Adam Baum  —  CONNECT  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. - The Reds beat the Arizona Diamondback 5-2 at Goodyear Ballpark.
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Controversy-free spring was just what the White Sox needed  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Back in Sarasota, Fla., during the spring of 1996, White Sox camp was roiled early by the disappearance of Tony Phillips, who had signed as a free-agent over the winter.
Discussion: South Side Sox
RELATED:
David Pinto / baseballmusings.com:
Team Offense, Chicago White Sox
Tom Haudricourt / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Brewers will open with Stephen Vogt on the DL, leaving Piña and Bandy as their catchers  —  PHOENIX - The Milwaukee Brewers aren't sure when catcher Stephen Vogt will be able to play this season, but when he is ready, they want him on their club.  —  With that in mind …
Discussion: Brew Crew Ball
Jorge Castillo / Washington Post:
Finally healthy, Nationals reliever Tim Collins makes pitch for a big league return … WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Last summer, Tim Collins, after two Tommy John surgeries, two grueling rehabs and three years without throwing a pitch in a competitive baseball game, made his return on July 12 …
Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
Arenado brothers — Rockies' Nolan, Giants' Jonah — square off for first time  —  Nolan: “I would have had to tag him really hard”  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Rockies star third baseman Nolan Arenado admitted that the moment felt “a little weird.”  —  In the sixth inning of Sunday's Cactus …
Discussion: Purple Row
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Giancarlo Stanton beginning to feel comfortable in left field and Yankees' clubhouse as Opening Day nears  —  TAMPA — Ex-Marlin Giancarlo Stanton went into the visitors' dugout prior to Sunday's game and said hello to his former manager, Don Mattingly.  —  Stanton appeared to be in much better spirits …
Discussion: Fish Stripes
Tom Haudricourt / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Camp report: Chase Anderson settles in and Christian Yelich has big day at plate  —  On the field: Right-hander Chase Anderson got better and better as the game went on during his start against a split-squad Dodgers team.  After allowing two hits and three runs over the first two innings …
Discussion: Brew Crew Ball
 
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 More News: 
Mike Debonis / Washington Post:
Spending bill could quash Minor League Baseball players' wage claims
Thomas Boswell / Washington Post:
Mike Rizzo waits on a contract extension from the Nationals, one he's easily earned
Kerry Crowley / Mercury News:
Why Bochy thinks left is the right spot for Giants' prospect Shaw
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays Journal: Optioning Banda narrows bullpen field, Archer change-up, more
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
First-pitch strikes key for Tyler Chatwood to succeed
Roger Mooney / Tampa Bay Times:
Time could finally be right for Wendle
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers' Perez on bull that caused fall: ‘I killed him and I ate him’
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
 Earlier Picks: 
Rob Longley / Toronto Sun:
Jays likely to tap Happ for opening day start
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Luis Severino continues to prep for Opening Day start, Estevan Florial reassigned to minor-league camp
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs' Joe Maddon willing to give Loyola a lift
Discussion: Chicago Tribune
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
While Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar failed to win jobs this spring, their opportunity with Yankees isn't far away
Discussion: Pinstripe Alley
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Martinez takes some lumps, overpowers some hitters, gets his work on backfields
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
New Cubs closer Brandon Morrow ‘ready’ for season despite limited appearances in spring
Rob Longley / Toronto Sun:
ARMED AND READY: Russell Martin breaks down Jays rotation
Discussion: Baseball Prospectus
 

 
From WeSmirch:

TMZ.com:
Dan Schneider Sues ‘Quiet on Set’ for Falsely Painting Him as Child Sex Abuser

People:
Pauly D Says His 10-Year-Old Daughter Is ‘Too Young’ for TikTok: ‘She Has Rules with the Phone’ (Exclusive)

Tamantha Ryan / Page Six:
Mo'Nique fuels years-long feud with ‘raggedy bitch’ Oprah Winfrey: I'm not ‘intimidated’ or ‘scared’

 
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