Top News:
Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Two new rules to be tested in Atlantic League — The independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball will experiment with two revolutionary rule changes in the 2021 season, limiting teams' use of the designated-hitter position to when their starting pitcher is in the game and lengthening …
Discussion:
Daily Breeze, MLB Trade Rumors, Bleacher Nation, Deadspin, MLB Baseball News …, NBCSports.com, Lone Star Ball and Boston Herald
RELATED:
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
MLB to have Atlantic League experiment with moving back mound, ‘double-hook’ DH — Major League Baseball has once again teamed with the independent Atlantic League to test rule changes, with the current set aimed at keeping starting pitchers in the game longer and creating more balls in play.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and baseballmusings.com
Washington Post:
In the minors, a major change as the Atlantic League plans to move the mound back a foot — The Atlantic League, a hotbed for innovation in baseball, will announce plans Wednesday to move the pitcher's mound back 12 inches from home plate this season, according to two people with knowledge of the arrangement.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Sports Illustrated
MLB.com:
MLB, Atlantic League announce experimental playing rules for 2021 Atlantic League season — MLB's Partner League will test ‘Double-Hook’ DH and pushed back pitching rubber in 2021 — Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) today jointly announced …
Discussion:
NBCSports.com
Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
Astros put five players on injured list due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols — The Houston Astros placed five players, including former All-Star infielders Alex Bregman and Jose Altuve, on the injured list Wednesday due to health and safety protocols, general manager James Click announced.
Discussion:
Detroit Free Press
RELATED:
Evan Petzold / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers outfielder Nomar Mazara leaves game vs. Astros with left abdominal strain — Detroit Tigers outfielder Nomar Mazara departed from Wednesday's game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park with a left abdominal strain. — The timetable for Mazara's return is unclear.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and MLB Trade Rumors
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Yankees to use spot starter against Rays on Friday to get starters extra day of rest — DUNEDIN, Fla. — The Yankees will give their starters an extra day of rest, using a spot starter to open the series with the Rays at Yankee Stadium on Friday night. They will start lefthander Jordan Montgomery …
Discussion:
New Jersey Online and Pinstripe Alley
YouGov:
All US states ranked from best to worst, according to Americans — There are endless rankings of the US states: whether they are the best places to live, the best places to do business, how much fun they are. Such judgements are made by economists, companies, and journalists - but what do Americans themselves think?
Discussion:
CBS Denver, CBS Los Angeles, New York Post and Chicago Sun-Times
Tarek Fattal / Daily News:
Daily News Boys Athlete of the Week: Kanan Kadjar, Chatsworth — Chatsworth's Kanan Kadjar is the Daily News boys athlete of the week after rushing for 218 yards and two TDs — Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now. — Daily News Boys Athlete of the Week
Discussion:
Press Telegram, SGV Tribune and Daily Breeze
Mike DeFabo / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Penguins players, coaches vaccinated during event at PPG Paints Arena — On Monday, the Penguins partnered with UPMC to vaccinate more than a thousand local residents against COVID-19. — The Penguins also offered the shot to players and coaches on a voluntary basis during the event at PPG Paints Arena.
Discussion:
PensBurgh, Greensburg Tribune-Review and CBS Pittsburgh
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Umpire Joe West is awarded $500,000 in defamation lawsuit against former player Paul Lo Duca — You can scream at him, curse at him, and call him names, but if you attempt to discredit veteran umpire Joe West's credibility, well, be ready to pay a lot bigger price than simply being thrown out of a game.
Discussion:
Deadspin, Associated Press, Bleacher Nation, New York Post and MLB Baseball News …
Associated Press:
Struggling Washington Nationals get back Kyle Schwarber, Josh Bell, Josh Harrison — WASHINGTON — Kyle Schwarber, Josh Bell and Josh Harrison were reinstated from the injured list Monday by the Washington Nationals, making the team's roster nearly whole again after a coronavirus outbreak …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
