Top News:
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
MLB making small changes to pitch clock rules, memo says — Major League Baseball is making slight changes to its new pitch clock rules but will not alter the most significant portions of the mandates that have shaved 25 minutes off game times this spring, according to a memo obtained by ESPN.
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Evan Drellich / The Athletic:
MLB could tweak new rules before Opening Day: Sources — Members of MLB's competition committee on Monday discussed tweaks to baseball's new rules, people briefed on the meeting told The Athletic, opening the door to potential rule modifications for Opening Day.
Gary Phillips / New York Daily News:
Luis Severino rebounds with sharp slider, recommends pitch clock tweaks — TAMPA — It looked as if Luis Severino's rocky camp would continue Tuesday after the pitcher surrendered a leadoff homer to Detroit's Kerry Carpenter, but the Yankees right-hander recovered for his best start of the spring.
Discussion:
Miami Herald, New Jersey Online, New York Post and MLB Baseball News …
Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
Shohei Ohtani strikes out Mike Trout as Japan edges Team USA for World Baseball Classic title — Ohtani whiffs his Angels teammate on a full-count slider for the final out in a matchup so many wanted to see, giving Japan a 3-2 victory over the defending champs for its first WBC crown since 2009
Discussion:
New York Post, SGV Tribune, Orange County Register, ESPN, MLB | NBC Sports, Reuters, Arizona Sports, USA Today, MLB Baseball News …, New York Daily News, True Blue LA, The Crawfish Boxes, Covering the Corner, Associated Press, Bucs Dugout, Mercury News, The Athletic, Bleacher Nation, Amazin' Avenue, Japan Times, MLB, Call to the Pen and PHNX
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Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
Japan plates 2 in ninth, ousts Mexico in World Baseball Classic — MIAMI — Munetaka Murakami, a Japanese Triple Crown winner who, at 23, is already among the best hitters in the world, thought about bunting. — It was the ninth inning, two runners occupied first and second base with nobody out …
USA Today:
World Baseball Classic final recap: Shohei Ohtani strikes out Mike Trout to close out Japan win over USA — For baseball fans, there's never really been this kind of drama this early in the spring. And now there's only one game left. — The defending champion team from the United States met …
Tim Healey / Newsday:
Brett Baty's spring training epiphany: There's no rush at third base — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — At the start of spring training, the story on Brett Baty was straightforward. Nobody doubted his ability to hit. There were plenty of questions about his defense.
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Mike Puma / New York Post:
Eduardo Escobar's Mets return comes with Brett Baty competition at third
Eduardo Escobar's Mets return comes with Brett Baty competition at third
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, New Jersey Online and Newsday
Apple:
“Friday Night Baseball” resumes on Apple TV+ on April 7 — Weekly doubleheaders begin with the Texas Rangers at the Chicago Cubs, and the San Diego Padres at the Atlanta Braves — Today Apple and Major League Baseball (MLB) announced that “Friday Night Baseball,” a weekly doubleheader …
Discussion:
Royals Review, Phillies Nation, Associated Press, Battery Power, Cubs Insider and The Athletic
Mike Lupica / New York Daily News:
Willis Reed was the beating heart of the champion Knicks — It couldn't have happened without all of them, without Clyde who played the game of his life in that Game 7 against the Lakers that May night in 1970, the night at Madison Square Garden when the Knicks finally won it all, 36 points from him and 19 assists and seven rebounds.
Discussion:
New York Post, Daily News, Mercury News, The Athletic, Associated Press and New Jersey Online
Kristian Winfield / New York Daily News:
Nets lose 4th in a row; rally late and fall short to Cavs, 115-109 — No wonder the Cavaliers want the Nets in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs this season. — If that hypothetical series goes anything like the Nets' 115-109 loss to the Cavaliers on Tuesday, Cleveland may as well own a first-round bye.
Discussion:
The Athletic, New York Post and Denver Post
Meghan Montemurro / Chicago Tribune:
Nazier Mulé, a 2-way prospect the Chicago Cubs drafted last year, will undergo Tommy John surgery — MESA, Ariz. — Chicago Cubs two-way prospect Nazier Mulé's professional baseball debut will be delayed. — Mulé is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery next week …
Discussion:
Cubs News, Cubs Insider and Bleacher Nation
Andrew Knoll / Daily News:
Kings ride 4-goal first period to rout of Flames — Drew Doughty and Viktor Arvidsson score in the opening period, Adrian Kempe has two goals and an assist and the Kings improve to 8-0-2 in their past 10 with an 8-2 win — The Kings turned in a forecheck-fueled, four-goal first period …
Discussion:
SGV Tribune, The Athletic and New York Post