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8:40 PM ET, March 21, 2018

Ballbug

 Top News: 
David Lennon / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Michael Conforto takes healthy cuts as hope grows he can return before May 1  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The southern tail of Wednesday's Nor'easter sent winds whipping through First Data Field, but the forceful gusts were no match for Michael Conforto, who blasted a pair of home runs …
RELATED:
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:   Mets' Jacob deGrom and Michael Conforto spend off day preparing for season
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:   Mets still have to settle on leadoff hitter, lineup and bullpen before end of spring
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mets facing St. Louis Cardinals three times before season-opening series
Discussion: Viva El Birdos
New York Post:   Mets concerned about Zack Wheeler, whose spot is in jeopardy
Matt Ehalt / NorthJersey.com:   Mets righty Matt Harvey ready for season after best outing of spring training
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  —  PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. - The dozens of reporters who stake out the Los Angeles Angels' parking lot each morning, awaiting Shohei Ohtani's arrival, staring at him while he dresses …
Tom Schad / USA Today:
Ex-pitcher Greg Reynolds, who broke hand punching naked LSD attacker, wins over $2 million  —  Former MLB pitcher Greg Reynolds believes his baseball career was cut short after he punched a naked man on LSD who was trying to break into his home in 2015.  —  On Monday, a California jury agreed …
Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:
Revived Gerrit Cole enjoying fresh slate with Houston Astros
Discussion: Brew Crew Ball
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 …
Mark Didtler / Associated Press:
Yanks' Stanton says he's prepared for scrutiny in New York  —  TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton says 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.
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:   Jacoby Ellsbury is trying to be optimistic about his active return to the Yankees
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals bringing back ‘biggest arm in camp’ for Grapefruit debut  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • The Cardinals expected everything about Jordan Hicks' spring training to be quick — his fastball, his rise, his athleticism — everything except for his exit.  —  The pitcher who manager Mike Matheny referred …
RELATED:
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Carpenter, Ozuna homer back-to-back in 13-6 Cards win
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Kelly ready to prove his point in Memphis
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Cards notebook: Waino dominates Mets (minor leaguers); Reyes raring to go
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.
RELATED:
David SchoenfieldESPN Senior / ESPN:
Alex Cobb fills a hole as Orioles try to keep up in AL East
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
Rob Longley / Toronto Sun:
Oh, Boy: New Jays reliever delivers in style after getting work visa  —  DUNEDIN — As a younger player in his native South Korea, Seung Hwan Oh was the ultimate closer, hence his nickname back then, ‘The Final Boss.’  —  The Blue Jays won't be looking for exactly that from their new reliever …
RELATED:
Rob Longley / Toronto Sun:   Seung Hwan Oh gets work visa, to make Blue Jays debut
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
Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
A's shut down A.J. Puk with biceps issue  —  PHOENIX - A.J. Puk, the prized prospect projected to be in the A's rotation at some point this season, has been shut down with biceps soreness, according to a source.  —  Puk received an MRI and there is no indication that the left-hander …
Discussion: Mercury News and MLB Trade Rumors
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs starter Yu Darvish enjoys return to Surprise in beating former team Rangers  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Yu Darvish's return to Surprise Stadium started with a chat down the right field line with a Rangers staff member and concluded with a tip of the cap to Rangers manager Jeff Banister.
George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
Ron Gardenhire: Buck Farmer in Detroit Tigers' bullpen plans  —  The Tigers' Ron Gardenhire is one of six new managers in MLB this season.  A look at the Class of 2018.  Video by Ryan Ford/DFP Wochit  —  CONNECT  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Opinions can change quickly in the final week of camp …
Thomas Boswell / Chicago Tribune:
Commentary: After bold, bland and cool, the Nationals' new manager says let's have fun  —  The Washington Post  —  The Washington Nationals have had a brash, audacious manger, Davey Johnson, who said, “World Series or Bust.”  They tried a bland middle-manager, Matt Williams, who pasted sampler slogans on the wall.
 
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 More News: 
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Mariners Claim Dario Alvarez From Cubs
Hunter Atkins / Houston Chronicle:
Astros' opponents feel like they have a license to steal
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
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' pitching prospect Matt Manning out with injury
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Is this the Yankees 25-man roster that will break camp?
Kansas City Star:
“The Royal Way:” Explaining the franchise's philosophy
 Earlier Picks: 
Mike Berardino / Twin Cities:
Source: Twins place Kennys Vargas on waivers
Discussion: DRaysBay and MLB Trade Rumors
Courier-Journal:
Fantasy Baseball: A dozen sleepers you can draft in the late rounds to make a difference
Tampa Bay Times:
For starters: Rays vs. Red Sox
Tania Ganguli / Los Angeles Times:
Isaiah Thomas is open to staying with the Lakers even in a backup role
Discussion: NESN.com and FanRag Sports
Chelsea Janes / Washington Post:
Where is Nationals reliever Koda Glover?
Discussion: Federal Baseball
Jeff Fletcher / Orange County Register:
Can you guess what Mike Trout hasn't done this spring?
Dan Martin / New York Post:
Yankees' plan to help Gary Sanchez limit mound visits revealed
Rotoworld.com:
Jose Can You See?  —  San Diego Padres OF Jose Pirela might …
 

 
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)

Jeff Conway / Forbes:
Olivia Colman Reflects On Her Beloved Career: ‘I Have Been Very Lucky’

Heidi Parker / Daily Mail:
Jennifer Aniston, 55, and Sandra Bullock, 59, are seen leaving a plastic surgery office in Connecticut that is known for facelifts and rhinoplasty

 
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