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Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News/TNS

John Romano: Robot umps are on the way and Rays players seem happy with the idea

Sports / Baseball /

TAMPA, Fla. — First impression of baseball’s flirtation with an automated strike zone?

Bring it on!

Technically, it’s still in the experimentation stage this spring and won’t reach Major League ballparks before 2026 at the earliest, but this innovation should be getting close to no-brainer status. It’s quick. It’s not overly ...Read more

Cassidy Sparrow/Getty Images North America/TNS

Dodgers giving Korean rookie Hyeseong Kim every chance to succeed

Sports / Baseball /

LOS ANGELES — At the end of infield workouts most days during spring training, the Dodgers do a live-fungo drill in which every player has to field a ball cleanly and make an accurate throw to first base. If one fielder bobbles a grounder or makes an errant throw, they all have to start over again.

Whether it's rookie hazing, mettle testing, ...Read more

K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune/TNS

Jackson Merrill knows 'there's more to prove' in second season with Padres

Sports / Baseball /

PEORIA, Ariz. — Jackson Merrill might struggle in his second big-league season .

But …

When speaking of the cruel manner in which baseball treats most who play it, there seems to always be a “but” with Merrill.

Said Jake Cronenworth: “Yeah, 100% it’s going to be hard. All of us in this room have gone through that. The league makes...Read more

Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/TNS

Paul Sullivan: John Schriffen, the embroiled TV voice of the Chicago White Sox, vows to have a 'different tone' in 2025

Sports / Baseball /

GLENDALE, Ariz — It’s hard to say who took more heat on the South Side last year.

Was it Chicago White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, the owner who had to listen to “Sell the team” chants while sitting in his suite? Or was it Pedro Grifol, the manager who couldn’t buy a win or keep his job?

Perhaps it was the players who suffered ...Read more

Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS

'This kid is special.' Kenley Jansen eager to help Angels' Ben Joyce reach next level.

Sports / Baseball /

LOS ANGELES — Troy Percival, then a rookie setup man with 26 big-league appearances under his belt, watched from the visiting dugout in the Oakland Coliseum as Lee Smith, then the Angels' 37-year-old closer, gave up a walk-off grand slam to Mark McGwire in an 8-5 loss to the Athletics on June 30, 1995.

It was just the second blown save of a ...Read more

Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images North America/TNS

After near-death experience, Dustin May thrilled to be pitching: 'Like a new beginning'

Sports / Baseball /

PHOENIX — Dustin May screamed into his cap after blowing a 95-mph fastball by Oscar Gonzalez for an inning-ending strikeout on Sunday, and when the Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander returned to the dugout, he was engulfed in a sea of hugs and high-fives.

It seemed like an over-the-top celebration for throwing one scoreless inning in an 8-3 ...Read more

Al Bello/Getty Images North America/TNS

Bill Madden: Reminder to Juan Soto that it is still all about the pitching

Sports / Baseball /

NEW YORK — Before we dig into the “who’s better Mets or Yankees?” debate between Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, let’s get this out of the way: Despite his contention that he signed with the Mets because he thought they had the best chance to get to the World Series, we all know the real deciding factor for Soto was that the Mets gave him ...Read more

Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/TNS

Paul Sullivan: Impending ESPN-MLB divorce is another reminder that all good things must come to an end

Sports / Baseball /

MESA, Ariz. — The breakup of ESPN and Major League Baseball was a shocker to those of us who looked at the partnership as a match made in heaven, or at least the baseball equivalent in Dyersville, Iowa.

Since they presented their vows back in 1990, ESPN helped spread the gospel of baseball through the Steroids Era, the start of bat flipping ...Read more

Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune/TNS

Cubs betting on Pete Crow-Armstrong -- with a new number and starry hair -- to make an impact this season

Sports / Baseball /

MESA, Ariz. — The back of Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong’s jersey will look a little different this year.

All thanks to a friendly hoops challenge.

President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer likes fast-guy uniform numbers — the single digits that look sleek on the back of speedsters like Crow-Armstrong. So the football ...Read more

Michael Reaves/Getty Images North America/TNS

After exploring Twins ownership, Justin Ishbia turns attention to White Sox

Sports / Baseball /

FORT MYERS, FLA. — Justin Ishbia, the billionaire financier who had approached several former Twins players to be minority partners in a much-rumored effort to buy the Twins, will instead increase his minority stake in the White Sox, according to news reports on Friday.

Ishbia, co-owner of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns with his older brother, Mat,...Read more

Megan Briggs/Getty Images North America/TNS

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza: Dedniel Nuñez will make Opening Day roster if healthy

Sports / Baseball /

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — If Dedniel Nuñez is healthy to start the season, he will be on the New York Mets’ Opening Day roster. Manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed that Saturday before the Mets opened their Grapefruit League slate at Clover Park.

“If he’s healthy, he’s on the team,” Mendoza said.

However, after pronator and flexor ...Read more

Rich Storry/Getty Images North America/TNS

Juan Soto homers in first at-bat with Mets in win over Astros

Sports / Baseball /

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Some hitters have a hard time finding their timing at the start of spring. Juan Soto is not just some hitter.

The star outfielder who signed a 15-year contract with the Mets over the winter drove a 2-1 fastball from left-hander Colton Gordon over Clover Park’s center field fence in his first at-bat in a Mets uniform ...Read more

Sam Navarro/Getty Images North America/TNS

'Scary moment, but it's all good': Dodgers' Bobby Miller on mend from liner to head

Sports / Baseball /

LOS ANGELES — The mere sight of a pitcher getting hit in the head by a line drive would make Bobby Miller so squeamish he couldn't bear to watch replays of such an incident, but the Dodgers right-hander had a different, somewhat masochistic, reaction to the 106-mph laser that hit him in the forehead on Thursday.

"I've probably watched it a ...Read more

Elsa/Getty Images North America/TNS

Yankees' Devin Williams: Old facial hair policy would've been free agency factor

Sports / Baseball /

TAMPA, Fla. — Count Devin Williams among those who are pleased with the Yankees’ updated facial hair policy.

The All-Star closer, acquired in a trade with the Brewers over the offseason without any say in the matter, said that the Bombers’ past ban on facial hair below the upper lip would have been a factor in free agency. The Yankees ...Read more

Julio Aguilar/Getty Images North America/TNS

Why Yankees star Aaron Judge is torn on facial hair policy change

Sports / Baseball /

TAMPA, Fla. — Aaron Judge only needed one word to explain how he’ll approach the Yankees’ amended grooming policy.

“No,” the smiling captain said Saturday when asked if he’ll grow a beard now that the Yankees are allowing “well-groomed” ones. Judge sometimes sports facial hair in the offseason, but he doesn’t plan on doing so ...Read more

Chris Coduto/Getty Images North America/TNS

Dodgers 'don't hate the idea' of MLB's automated ball/strike system

Sports / Baseball /

PHOENIX — Before the first-ever game at the Major League Baseball level to include an automated challenge system for reviewing balls and strikes, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had only one rule.

"I told Muncy not to challenge," Roberts joked of veteran third baseman Max Muncy, a notoriously selective hitter with a critical eye at the plate. "...Read more

Rich Storry/Getty Images North America/TNS

Juan Soto set for Mets spring opener vs. Astros at Clover Park

Sports / Baseball /

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Technically, Juan Soto has already worn a Mets uniform and there are photos to prove it. But come Saturday afternoon, he’ll wear blue and orange for the first time in front of fans when the Mets open their spring slate against the Houston Astros at Clover Park.

Spring training games are mostly forgettable, but the ...Read more

Julio Aguilar/Getty Images North America/TNS

Marcus Stroman has 'zero' regrets following bullpen comments as Yankees win spring opener

Sports / Baseball /

TAMPA, Fla. — After a planned one-inning start, Marcus Stroman said he has “zero” regrets about stating he would not pitch out of the bullpen this season.

The righty, the subject of trade rumors and apparent odd man out of the Yankees’ rotation, started the club’s spring training opener at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Friday. ...Read more

Yankees owner: Payroll 'almost identical' to 2024, supports salary cap and floor as Gerrit Cole questions it

Sports / Baseball /

TAMPA, Fla. — After discussing a trim to the Yankees’ facial hair policy, Hal Steinbrenner took questions about shaving payroll.

The owner, whose team lost last year’s World Series to the Dodgers, was asked if that’s his intention Friday. No team has reduced payroll the season after reaching the World Series since the thrifty Rays did ...Read more

Jose F. Moreno/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

Q&A: Kyle Schwarber on a possible extension and whether this Phillies core has an expiration date

Sports / Baseball /

CLEARWATER, Fla. — After spring training opened in 2022, the Phillies signed Kyle Schwarber to a four-year, $79 million contract. A quick check of the MLB home-run leaderboard since then:

— 157 — Aaron Judge

— 132 — Shohei Ohtani

— 131 — Schwarber

Nice company, isn’t it?

Schwarber, entering the final year of his contract, ...Read more