Top News:
Associated Press:
Dodgers' Seager plays SS for 1st time since April — GLENDALE, Ariz. — Corey Seager played shortstop in a game for the first time since April 29, logging three innings for the Los Angeles Dodgers in a minor league exhibition. — The 2016 NL Rookie of the Year had surgery May 4 to repair …
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Jorge Castillo / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers' split squads defeat Reds and Padres at spring training — Dodgers 3, Cincinnati 3 (SS) — Dodgers 12, San Diego 0 — ON THE MOUND: Hyun-Jin Ryu started the first game against the Reds and gave up two runs on five hits in four innings before throwing a simulated inning in the bullpen.
Discussion:
True Blue LA
Jon Tayler / Sports Illustrated:
The Tao of Yasiel Puig: The Reds' New Star Riffs on Bat Flips, Life and His Rocky End With the Dodgers
The Tao of Yasiel Puig: The Reds' New Star Riffs on Bat Flips, Life and His Rocky End With the Dodgers
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and True Blue LA
Bill Plunkett / Orange County Register:
Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager takes big step in recovery
Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager takes big step in recovery
Discussion:
Daily Breeze, DodgerBlue.com, SGV Tribune and Daily News
Adam Grosbard / Orange County Register:
Jordan Roberts' game-winner completes Long Beach State's comeback win over Hawaii at Big West Tournament — ANAHEIM — An 18-point deficit in the opening minutes seemed to spell doom for Long Beach State against Hawaii in the Big West Tournament quarterfinals Thursday night.
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Bob Keisser / Orange County Register:
UC Irvine rides stingy defense past UC Riverside, into Big West tourney semifinals — ANAHEIM — Some teams play tough defense because it's a necessity. UC Irvine plays defense because it loves the sound of breaking an opponent's heart. — That has been the Anteaters' style since Russell …
Discussion:
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Theo Epstein is impressed by the Cubs' bullpen depth, and they'll need it after so many injuries — Who does what for the Cubs? A look at the franchise's organizational flowchart, from the front office to the dugout to the bullpen. — Chicago Tribune — After their pleas …
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Win now and win later: The Cubs and White Sox are eyeing different goals as opening day nears — Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish discusses his struggles with his fastball after a spring training game against the Rangers on March 14, 2019, in Mesa, Ariz. — Chicago Tribune
Bob Nightengale / Corpus Christi Caller-Times:
MLB's new rule could force pitching specialists to become extinct — MESA, Ariz. — The left-handed relief pitchers, particularly the specialists, fear it will cost them their jobs. — The managers believe it will ruin strategy. — And baseball traditionalists despise it.
Discussion:
DailyWorld.com, MLB Baseball News … and USA Today
RELATED:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
5 takeaways from Cubs spring training, including the future of left-handed specialists …
5 takeaways from Cubs spring training, including the future of left-handed specialists …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue and Lone Star Ball
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
MLB's new rule could force pitching specialists to become extinct
Charlotte Knights / The Charlotte Observer:
Gabriel Burns: Why can't Ronald Acuna be the 2019 MVP? — BY GABRIEL BURNS THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION — Tuesday was the typical afternoon for Ronald Acuna. Before homering in his second consecutive game, he drew oohs and awes in batting practice, twice putting balls over the mountainous scoreboard in center field.
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals narrow their focus to Hudson vs. Gant for final rotation spot — JUPITER, Fla. • With the Cardinals' search for a fifth starter narrowing and innings starting to vanish in Grapefruit League games, righthander John Gant went to the back fields for the team called a “reboot” of his schedule.
Stefan Stevenson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Why do managers and coaches sit outside the dugout during spring training games? — If you've ever watched a spring training baseball game you probably noticed it. — The manager and his coaches are typically sitting outside the dugout, closer to home plate, sitting in chairs, usually behind a protective netting.
Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
The Pete Alonso Dilemma: games in April count as much as games in September — PORT ST. LUCIE — Pete Alonso is the type of slugger Mets fans would pay to see from Opening Day to the end of his tenure. — The reality is, if the Mets hold Alonso in the minors until a few weeks into the regular season …
Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:
Former Indians OF Coco Crisp signs one-game contract with Lake Erie Crushers — Former Cleveland Indians outfielder Coco Crisp will play one game for the Lake Erie Crushers during the 2019 season. — CLEVELAND — Former Cleveland Indians outfielder Coco Crisp is set for a return to the baseball diamond, for a limited engagement.
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Joe Noga / Plain Dealer:
Which of the new MLB rules changes will impact the Cleveland Indians the most?
Which of the new MLB rules changes will impact the Cleveland Indians the most?
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe
Ken Davidoff / New York Post:
What Judge, Yankees think about HR Derby winner getting $1 million — TAMPA — A pinstriped update on the 2019 Home Run Derby, in the wake of Thursday's announcement there will be $2.5 million in prize money, including $1 million for the winner, added to the proceedings: —Aaron Judge is very likely out.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Daily Record:
Masahiro Tanaka is headed in the right direction toward Yankees' opening day start — TAMPA, Fla. — Above all, Masahiro Tanaka felt that Wednesday's start gave him an indication that things are moving in the right direction. — Nearly two weeks away from his scheduled opening day start …
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David Schoenfield / ESPN:
Predicting the next top-100 player for all 30 teams — This won't shock you if you have last year's standings memorized, but the premium talent in baseball isn't exactly spread evenly across the sport. The Yankees had nine players crack the MLB Rank top 100, the Astros had seven …
Discussion:
NESN.com
Don Brennan / Toronto Sun:
CHEAPSEATS: Improved discipline at the plate paying off for Blue Jays' Teoscar Hernandez — DUNEDIN, Fla. — Teoscar Hernandez did absolutely nothing at the plate on Thursday. — He didn't hit, he didn't walk. And, for the first time in 11 Grapefruit League games, he did not even reach base.
Rob Bradford / WEEI:
Nathan Eovaldi explains why there was little doubt he would land back with Red Sox — Nathan Eovaldi has been one of the revelations of Red Sox camp thus far. And to think some thought it would be a longshot that the pitcher would actually find himself living life in Fort Myers this time of year.
Discussion:
The Athletic, Over the Monster, NBCSports.com and NESN.com
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Justin Leger / NBCSports.com:
Red Sox pitcher Nathan Eovaldi doesn't miss a beat in spring debut
Red Sox pitcher Nathan Eovaldi doesn't miss a beat in spring debut
Discussion:
Over the Monster, The Athletic and MLB Baseball News …