Giancarlo Stanton homers in 1st Yankees at-bat | MLB.com

What a start!

MLB’s stat-crunchingest video game predicts a World Series win for L.A. - Polygon

OOTP recently released version 19. Although I’ve bought a few versions I haven’t played it much. The options are pretty daunting. Is there an easy way to import rosters managed somewhere else? (I’d like to sim out a league I play in Dynasty League Baseball.)

I’m also curious about online league play. Is there a way for people to play head-to-head live? I see a broadcast to the web option but it seems this is something for GM only leagues where the Commissioner sims the games.

I know a few ...

Top 26 Prospects: Philadelphia Phillies | FanGraphs Baseball

Fangraph’s prospect gurus really dropped the ball this year. The season has started and only 14 teams are done. They either have to get all teams done or just focus on the top 300 or so prospects. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a huge task. They need to involve more people if the goal is to be an alternative to Baseball America and MLB.com.

Kudos to Keith Law for doing such a great job by himself.

Texas Rangers: To bunt, or not to bunt? Against an extra Astro in the outfield, Joey Gallo may not want to change anything | SportsDay

Say it ain’t so Joey.

Rusty Staub, beloved Mets icon, dead at 73 | NYDN

In every way, Rusty Staub, the beloved Mets’ hitting icon, who passed away early Thursday morning at age 73, was bigger than life — a bigger-than-life baseball personality, humanitarian, gourmet chef, wine connoisseur, friend-to-all and, to the fans of Montreal, quite simply, “Le Grand Orange.”

Staub died at 12:30 a.m. Thursday at the Good Samaritan Medical Center in West Palm Beach due to multiple organ failure. He was initially admitted with pneumonia, dehydration and an infection and had ...

Greg Holland to sign deal with Cardinals

Finally.

Free-agent closer Greg Holland has agreed to a deal with the Cardinals pending a physical, president of baseball operations John Mozeliak told MLB.com. MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, who was first to report the sides were close, said the one-year deal is for a reported $14 million.

OMNICHATTER for OPENING DAY!, March 29, 2018

An Opening Day Quiz for Baseball Fans | Washington Post

“There’ll be two buses leaving the hotel for the park tomorrow. The 2 o’clock bus will be for those of you who need a little extra work. The empty bus will leave at 5 o’clock.” — Dave Bristol, Milwaukee Brewers manager, 1972

I hit .487 on this but I suspect most Primates will do considerably better. Also, copy-editing fun: I spotted two misspelled player names. How many can *you* find!

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 3-29-2018

Bridgeport Times, March 29, 1918:

The International League disbanded yesterday, after being in existence for 26 years. The meeting at which this action was taken was held behind locked doors and according to all the noises and occasional volleys of conversation which wafted through the transom there was a wide variance of opinion about what should be done.
...
The league disbanded by a vote of 6 to 2…The two votes, in favor of continuing, were cast by Richmond and Newark.

Toledo News-Bee, March ...

MLB 2018 Opening Day Games and Schedule Guide | MLB.com

It’s here! I had to take the day off as a religious holiday. Today it’s baseball, baseball, and more baseball. (OK, just about every day is baseball, baseball, and more baseball but I’m sure you get what I mean.)

Help! I married my dreaded baseball rival (a love story)

“You don’t mess with The Sluss”

At a gala on the eve of the 2012 All-Star Game in Kansas City, I spotted the retired Frank Thomas at the bar and introduced myself. (Tepid reaction.) I told him we’d recently enjoyed some of his Big Hurt Beer. (Tepid reaction.) And then I told him I’m married to Susan Slusser.

“Your wife is the best,” the 6-foot-5, 240-pounder said, more forcefully than I expected.

Yeah, well, you know, she loves the job and …

“THE BEST,” the Big Hurt said, ...

Joey Gallo, Josh Donaldson are the hitters of the modern era | SI.com

Embracing Ted Williams.

Update: Read this. Great piece by Tom Verducci.

C.J.: Baseball fans get their rankings in the paperback “In Pursuit of Pennants” - StarTribune.com

Dan should have stormed out of the interview when he was asked this question!!

Q: Do you ever find baseball games boring?

A: I have a 20-game season ticket to the Twins and I really enjoy going, but certainly I would say that these 3-2 counts start to get a little bit tedious. It’s nice to see the ball get put in play once in a while. I love watching games but games where there are a lot of strikeouts and walks get tedious. The pitcher-batter matchup has become much more the focus of ...

Daniel Vogelbach caps spring with home run

Will this spring’s Cinderella story turn into a pumpkin tomorrow?

Rays’ Nathan Eovaldi out with elbow injury

Who had March 28th in the pool?

Ringolsby: Collusion Or Common Sense?

The Cowboy’s take.

Smelly liquid floods area of field at Dodger Stadium, ending the Angels-Dodgers game

If Vin Scully had only waited a couple of more years to retire…  hearing him describe this would have been priceless.

2018 MLB Prediction thread!

With opening day tomorrow (FINALLY) it’s time to put your pride on the line! Who’s going to win? Who’s going to tank? Who will come closest to matching Mike Trout’s stratospheric WAR?  Link goes to the 538 projections, which take into account elo as well as the Davenport, Fangraphs, and PECOTA projection systems.  The Indians are tipped to win 99 games, which… I’ll take the under, thanks.

A’s top prospect A.J. Puk needs Tommy John Surgery

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 3-28-2018

Toledo News-Bee, March 28, 1918:

The International League has postponed its funeral—probably until today. The magnates are reluctant to shake off the shackles of baseball, and were to continue their sessions at league headquarters here today. Some of the magnates are hoping that the league may find a way to run in a curtailed sort of fashion.

No need to figure this out quickly, guys. It’s not like April is four days away or anything.

Guerrero hits walkoff hr in Montreal!

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. homered with two outs in the ninth inning to lift the Toronto Blue Jays over the St. Louis Cardinals 1-0 Tuesday night in the stadium where his father played much of his Baseball Hall of Fame career.

“I ain’t getting this one, boys.”

Mr. Microphone: As Seen on TV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RG0RGKBAkw

Update:  Even today, ballplayers like Albert Belle and Chris Truby targeted by false accusations

Albert Belle was arrested for two counts each of indecent exposure and DUI at a soccer game in Arizona Sunday, but a man who was there says the former baseball player was taking a piss behind the door of his car, only he pulled his pants all the way down. . . According to Swindells, a woman nearby was angered by the sight of Belle’s butt and said something about her kids being present, to which Belle replied, without turning around, “Don’t look, then. If you gotta go, you gotta go.”

The Flukiest Games Ever Pitched

They caught lightning in a bottle (and brought it with them on the mound)

The best MLB ballpark giveaways for 2018: Look at each team’s best free stuff - CBSSports.com

Want.

Kansas City Royals
The Royals generally have a strong promotional schedule and we can almost always find a good one related to the ever-lovable George Brett. How about this one? On May 19 vs. the Yankees, it’s a George Brett bobblehead. I mention the Yankees, because it’s not just any Brett bobble. It’s a pine tar bobblehead:

Free year of MLB.TV for T-Mobile customers

Tap “Redeem” via the T-Mobile Tuesdays App on the “Free Season of MLB.TV” offer

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 3-27-2018

Philadelphia Evening Public Ledger, March 27, 1918:

The latest from Outfielder Cy Williams via St. Pete is to the effect that there may have been chicanery in the deal by which it was proposed to send him to the Phillies. It states that there was no disagreement as to salary offered by President Baker, but that the fault for the misunderstanding on the part of the Philly club was due to the Cub management. The inference is as plain as a direct charge that the Cub management knew he had quit the ...

John Harper sits down with new Mets manager Mickey Callaway

Interesting interview.

Brewers: Not enough pitching, too many outfielders creates conflict

With 12-13 pitchers on rosters extra single position outfielders and first baseman aren’t easy to fit on a roster.

The Brewers aren’t counting on Ryan Braun to be an everyday outfielder, with plans to start him at first base in Thursday’s season-opener against the San Diego Padres. First baseman Eric Thames will be platooned at first base, playing primarily against right-handed starters. Domingo Santana, who hit 30 homers and drove in 85 runs last year, could be sitting when Braun is standing. ...Read More...

Jim Furtado Posted: March 27, 2018 at 08:27 AM | 16 comment(s)
  Beats: brewers

Report: Ronald Acuña turned down $30 million contract extension from Braves

He needs to stay healthy.

Arturo Marcano of ESPN Deportes reports that Braves outfield prospect Ronald Acuña turned down a $30 million contract extension from the Braves. This comes on the heels of recent extensions signed by Scott Kingery (six years, $24 million) and Ketel Marte (five years, $24 million).