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12:45 AM ET, March 22, 2018

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Associated Press:
Giancarlo Stanton says he's prepared for New York-level scrutiny  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Giancarlo Stanton said he is prepared for the scrutiny he will attract during his first season with the New York Yankees.  —  “The good times will be magnified and so will the bad,” the slugger said Wednesday.
RELATED:
Daily Record:
Yankees option Tyler Austin to Class AAA Scranton as roster takes shape  —  The Yankees took another step in whittling down to their opening day roster, as Tyler Austin and several others were optioned to Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.  —  New York announced the moves during …
Discussion: Pinstripe Alley
Erik Boland / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Giancarlo Stanton prepared for scrutiny that comes with playing for Yankees
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Jacoby Ellsbury is trying to be optimistic about his active return to the Yankees
Discussion: Pinstripe Alley
Mark Didtler / Associated Press:   Yanks' Stanton says he's prepared for scrutiny in New York
New York Post:
Mets concerned about Zack Wheeler, whose spot is in jeopardy  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — Zack Wheeler is the logical choice to start the season in the Mets rotation if Jason Vargas isn't ready, but he is not a slam dunk.  —  Privately, Mets officials were concerned about Wheeler's last exhibition start …
RELATED:
David Lennon / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Michael Conforto takes healthy cuts as hope grows he can return before May 1
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:   Mets still have to settle on leadoff hitter, lineup and bullpen before end of spring
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mets' Jacob deGrom and Michael Conforto spend off day preparing for season
Discussion: NorthJersey.com
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mets facing St. Louis Cardinals three times before season-opening series
Discussion: Viva El Birdos
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Wong finally feels a sense of belonging  —  • On the practice field nearest their clubhouse Wednesday morning, early enough that shadows still played tricks on the batters' eyes, two Cardinals stepped into the cage for swings against rookie Alex Reyes.  —  One was Tommy Pham, his game-ready intensity lit.
RELATED:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Cardinals bringing back ‘biggest arm in camp’ for Grapefruit debut
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Carpenter, Ozuna homer back-to-back in 13-6 Cards win
Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
Is ‘bullpenning’ MLB's best path to 27 outs - or a gateway to ‘mediocrity’?  —  Finding the best path to 27 outs is perhaps baseball's most evolving and enduring puzzle.  Yet in many quarters, a permanent solution appears at hand.  —  “Some form of bullpenning,” Seattle Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto …
RELATED:
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Shohei Ohtani, Angels undaunted by rocky spring: 'He's going to wow us,' says Mike Trout
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Notebook: Cobb wraps up deal with Orioles  —  Pitcher Cobb wraps up deal with Orioles  —  Alex Cobb's comfort and familiarity with the American League East was the deciding factor in his decision to sign with the Baltimore Orioles.  —  “They used the AL East and the success I've …
RELATED:
Mike Berardino / Twin Cities:
Source: Twins place Kennys Vargas on waivers
Discussion: DRaysBay and MLB Trade Rumors
Ryan Divish / The Seattle Times:
Brutal blow for Mariners' bullpen: David Phelps lost for the season with Tommy John surgery  —  Phelps suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and will need season-ending surgery.  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — The 2018 season is done for David Phelps before it even started.
Discussion: MLB Daily Dish and Lookout Landing
RELATED:
ESPN:
Mariners' David Phelps to have Tommy John surgery, season over  —  Mariners reliever David Phelps has a torn UCL in his pitching elbow and will have season-ending Tommy John surgery, the team said Thursday.  —  The right-hander is expected to be sidelined 12-15 months.
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Aaron Judge hits two HRs, hitting his stride as Yankees opener nears  —  TAMPA, Fla. - Aaron Judge is getting that let's-start-the-season-already feeling.  —  “I feel ready to go,” Judge said after belting two home runs in Wednesday night's 9-4 Yankees win against the Orioles at Steinbrenner Field.
RELATED:
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:   Aaron Judge proves he is ready for regular season by hitting two home runs in Yankees' rout of Orioles
Associated Press:
Cubs' Darvish limits former club to 3 hits over 6 innings  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Yu Darvish looked as if he would stumble on the mound, yet still managed to unleash a pitch that struck out Drew Robinson of the Rangers.  —  “I got off-balance,” Darvish said through a translator.
RELATED:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:   Cubs starter Yu Darvish enjoys return to Surprise in beating former team Rangers
George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers lose to Braves, 3-2, in Francisco Liriano's up-and-down night … At Champion Stadium, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.  —  What happened: The Detroit Tigers lost, 3-2, to the Atlanta Braves. ....  The Tigers took a 1- lead in the first after Leonys Martin had a leadoff double and scored …
Discussion: Talking Chop
RELATED:
George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:   Ron Gardenhire: Buck Farmer in Detroit Tigers' bullpen plans
Associated Press:
Rays' catchers using wristbands amid rotation experiment  —  PORT CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Major League Baseball made game-calling more difficult for catchers this winter when it changed the rules governing mound visits.  For backstops with the Tampa Bay Rays, things got even trickier …
Discussion: baseballmusings.com and DRaysBay
George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' top 20 prospects: Forecasting their major league debuts  —  The Detroit Tigers are in full rebuild mode, which means the focus has shifted to who will be playing at Comerica Park in the future, rather than the 25 guys who will start this season in Detroit.
Richard Morin / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks spring training - 2018 … Perhaps the biggest story line throughout Diamondbacks spring training is the race to see who will be closing games for the team in 2018.  —  But the Diamondbacks relievers don't seem to be too concerned about it.  —  Take newly acquired right-hander Brad Boxberger for example.
Associated Press:
D-backs' Zack Greinke throws 60 pitches in return from groin injury  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — An even quieter than usual Zack Greinke declared his return to the mound Wednesday as simply “all right.”  —  The Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander threw 60 pitches in an intrasquad game on a back field at the team's spring training facility.
Roger Mooney / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays nearing decision on Venters  —  Yankees second baseman Neil Walker was headed to the batting cage Monday for a little pre-batting practice when he was stopped and asked what, if anything, did he remember from his two career at-bats against Jonny Venters.  —  “He was filthy,” Walker, hitless in those at-bats, said.
Jose M. Romero / Associated Press:
Brewers — including Hank as The Beast — re-enact ‘The Sandlot’ in video  —  Even before the start of the season, the Milwaukee Brewers have their first hit.  —  Milwaukee released a 2-minute, 35-second video celebrating the 25th anniversary of the movie “The Sandlot” last weekend …
Discussion: Brew Crew Ball
 
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 More News: 
Rich Hammond / Orange County Register:
Sam Darnold might have cemented status as No. 1 pick with impressive Pro Day display
Daryl Van Schouwen / Chicago Sun Times:
2018 will let White Sox know where rebuild stands
Discussion: South Side Sox
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Ian Happ has earned large chunk of leadoff duties to start season for Cubs
Bill Baer / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Wade Miley exits spring start with groin strain
Discussion: Brew Crew Ball
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Blue Jays Acquire Sam Gaviglio, Designate Matt Dermody
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Mariners Claim Dario Alvarez From Cubs
Rob Longley / Toronto Sun:
Oh, Boy: New Jays reliever delivers in style after getting work visa
 Earlier Picks: 
Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
A's shut down A.J. Puk with biceps issue
Discussion: Mercury News and MLB Trade Rumors
Hunter Atkins / Houston Chronicle:
Astros' opponents feel like they have a license to steal
Discussion: Federal Baseball
Tim KeownESPN Senior / ESPN:
The Dominant 20: Bonds refused to be less than the best
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs narrowing roster options as bullpen watch resumes
Clark Spencer / miamiherald:
Jose Fernandez's death put into motion a series of events that still impact Marlins today
Thomas Boswell / Chicago Tribune:
Commentary: After bold, bland and cool, the Nationals' new manager says let's have fun
 

 
From WeSmirch:

Miranda Siwak / Us Weekly:
50 Cent Is ‘Going for Sole Custody’ of His Son With Daphne Joy After She Was Named in Diddy Lawsuit (Exclusive)

People:
Rebel Wilson Recalls Romantic First Date with Fiancée Ramona: ‘I Think You Need to Come Back to My House’ (Exclusive)

Ryan Gajewski / The Hollywood Reporter:
Melissa Barrera on Getting Fired From ‘Scream’ and the Controversy That Followed

 
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