Category: MLB

Players are being sent home from spring training camps — HardballTalk | NBC Sports

In light of all the uncertainty involved at the moment, this makes a great deal of sense

Players are being sent home from spring training camps — HardballTalk | NBC Sports

This morning various team officials around baseball said that the plan was to keep spring training facilities open and for players to continue to come in, work out and train, at least at some level. After a day of meetings between the league and union officials that has changed. Players are now going home.

That’s the word from Jon Heyman, who says that an agreement has been reached between MLB and the MLBPA to that end. It’s possible, Heyman says, that some could remain, but formal workouts will not be held.

Underlying all of this, obviously, is the uncertain amount of time until play actually resumes — people inside the game are now saying that it’ll be no sooner than May — and the fact that players are concerned about their families and want to be home with them.

Given this development, it would also seem likely that before the season can begin, a second spring training will have to take place to get players back into game shape. Such mini-camps were held in the past after the resolution of work stoppages, usually lasting a week or two.

Blue Jays feel they can take early advantage of a battered AL East — Toronto Sun

DUNEDIN, Fla. – No one is about to suggest before the mid-point of March that the American League East is falling apart, but might it be a little more vulnerable these days? Read More

Blue Jays feel they can take early advantage of a battered AL East — Toronto Sun

Ryu all business as Blue Jays ace starter builds towards opening day — Toronto Sun

DUNEDIN, Fla. — He’s the undisputed ace of the Blue Jays starting pitching staff, but Hyun-Jin Ryu prefers not to think of himself in those terms. Read More

Ryu all business as Blue Jays ace starter builds towards opening day — Toronto Sun

Theo Epstein on the Cubs-Cardinals London Series: “As of now it’s on” — HardballTalk | NBC Sports

There are rumors it the London Series between the Cubs and Cardinals could be postponed due to coronavirus concerns

Theo Epstein on the Cubs-Cardinals London Series: “As of now it’s on” — HardballTalk | NBC Sports

The Shoe fits again as Blue Jays starter looks sharp in Grapefruit League debut — Toronto Sun

DUNEDIN, Fla. — There has been far too much injury rehab in pitcher Matt Shoemaker’s career, so every time he makes it back to a big-league mound after a successful recovery, you better believe he appreciates the moment. Read More

The Shoe fits again as Blue Jays starter looks sharp in Grapefruit League debut — Toronto Sun

There has been far too much injury rehab in pitcher Matt Shoemaker’s career, so every time he makes it back to a big-league mound after a successful recovery, you better believe he appreciates the moment.

And he savors it even more when it’s the first start of spring, everything feels good physically and the optimism of a strong new season ahead adds to the moment.

The Blue Jays starter experienced all that and more on Monday at TD Ballpark when he allowed just one hit over 2.2 shutout innings and struck out five in leading his team to a 4-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

“All of it. You say any of those words and they all fit,” Shoemaker said when asked whether he felt relief or reassurance in his first game-action since suffering a season-ending knee injury just five games into his 2019 season. “Most importantly, just really exciting. It’s been a while.

“You fight through injury and surgery and the just excited to be back out there. The excitement starts back up. You’re facing hitters.”

Shoemaker was confident he’d be able to pick up where he left off last season pitching some of the best ball of his career before the devastating injury took place on April 20th when he took a bad step in a defensive rundown. But there’s no replacing the confidence gained from getting out on the diamond and actually doing it.

“Overall (the anticipation) felt really normal, which is very good,” the 33-year-old Shoemaker said. “I’m excited every time I get to go out to pitch, (but) coming off an off season the intensity picks up the adrenaline picks up.

“We play baseball because we love it. It’s exciting to go out there and compete.”

More….

The Shoe fits again as Blue Jays starter looks sharp in Grapefruit League debut
https://torontosun.com/sports/baseball/toronto-blue-jays/the-shoe-fits-again-as-blue-jays-starter-looks-sharp-in-grapefruit-league-debut
The Shoe fits again as Blue Jays starter looks sharp in Grapefruit League debut

Members of Congress urge Curt Flood’s election to the Hall of Fame — HardballTalk | NBC Sports

“Flood sacrificed his own career so players after him could have free agency, leaving one of the biggest impacts on the game to this day.”

Members of Congress urge Curt Flood’s election to the Hall of Fame — HardballTalk | NBC Sports

Here’s What Chris Sale Had To Say About Starting 2020 Season On Injured List — NESN.com

Chris Sale’s arm is fine, but that won’t allow him to begin the season on time. The Boston Red Sox ace missed the start of spring trianing due to pneumonia. Given the fact that he’s coming off an injury-shortened season where he was an objectively unerwhelming pitcher, it makes little sense for the Red Sox…

Here’s What Chris Sale Had To Say About Starting 2020 Season On Injured List — NESN.com

No, the Astros aren’t being targeted for HBPs in spring training — HardballTalk | NBC Sports

The Astros lead the league in HBPs as a team with seven, but that’s just a coincidence. Pitchers haven’t been intentionally throwing at them.

No, the Astros aren’t being targeted for HBPs in spring training — HardballTalk | NBC Sports

On Wednesday, Astros third baseman Alex Bregman was hit by Cardinals pitcher Ramon Santos. It marked the seventh time an Astros batter had been hit in spring training exhibition games thus far, the highest total among all teams. As expected, teams are exacting revenge for the Astros’ cheating ways!

Well, not quite. The pitch Santos hit Bregman with was a 3-2 breaking ball that got away. Usually, if a pitcher is going to hit a batter as an act of revenge, he’ll attempt to do it with a first-pitch fastball.

José Altuve was also hit by a pitch against the Tigers on Sunday. The pitch, which looks to be the off-speed variety, appeared to graze his uniform as opposed to hitting him flush, so it was likely unintentional on the part of pitcher Nick Ramirez.

Other Astros to have been hit in spring training thus far: Alex De Goti, Aledmys Díaz, Osvaldo Duarte, Dustin Garneau, and Jake Meyers. Not exactly a who’s-who list of Code Breaker operatives.

Will some pitchers intentionally throw at the Astros this year? Almost certainly, despite commissioner Rob Manfred’s warning. Have they been doing it from the moment exhibition games began earlier this month? Certainly not.

A superstar under the radar, Blue Jays hope Vlad Guerrero Jr. will reap the rewards of a quieter spring — Toronto Sun

DUNEDIN, Fla. – Vlad Guerrero Jr. Is looking and feeling comfortable in the corner of the Blue Jays Spring Training clubhouse that in the past has been reserved for the team’s established star power. Read More

A superstar under the radar, Blue Jays hope Vlad Guerrero Jr. will reap the rewards of a quieter spring — Toronto Sun.