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
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
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….
“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
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
DUNEDIN, Fla. — When Hyun-Jin Ryu strolled to the mound at a frigid TD Ballpark here on Thursday afternoon, his demeanour was similar to what it has often been at most stadiums anywhere during his professional career. Read More
Hyun-Jin Ryu a positive presence in Jays clubhouse as he makes spring debut — Toronto Sun.
The $80-million man and Blue Jays ace-starter-in-waiting may paint all corners of the strike zone with his wide array of pitches, but the calm precision in which he does his work is also a big part of his reputation.
So other than debuting in his Blue Jays uniform with No. 99 on the back and facing American League hitters for the first time, the specifics of his inaugural outing were of minimal concern. Let the record show, then, that Ryu logged two innings, threw 41 pitches and allowed three hits (including one home run) against a modest version of the Minnesota Twins, who made the long bus ride from Fort Myers.
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.
Trevor Bauer recently said that 70% of pitchers use foreign substances on balls
MLB to crack down on foreign substance use by pitchers — HardballTalk | NBC Sports
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.
Mookie Betts already is leaving a strong impression on his new teammates. The former Boston Red Sox outfielder was acquired by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Feb. 9 as part of a trade that sent him and David price to L.A. in exchange for Alex Verdugo, Connor Wong and Jeter Downs. And although he wasn’t…
How Mookie Betts Reportedly Shocked Dodgers With A Speech On This Topic — NESN.com
When you stand up in front of the team on the first day and essentially call everyone out, says he wants to hold everyone accountable for their effort — not just in the game, but in the workouts – that’s like, all right, you learn what he’s about really fast,” Turner told MLB.com. “Same principle (as Kirk Gibson’s team speech in 1988), just not critical of us. This was him saying this before he knew anybody. Just signs of leadership, it jumps out at you.”
Read more at: https://nesn.com/2020/02/how-mookie-betts-reportedly-shocked-dodgers-with-a-speech-on-this-topic/
No, they were not saying “Al-BOO-ve”
José Altuve loudly booed in his first spring training at bat — HardballTalk | NBC Sports
Derek Jeter wishes baseball could change the subject.
Jeter says Astros scandal is a “black eye” for baseball — HardballTalk | NBC Sports
The view from left field 