Matt Garza Gives Brewers Pitchers Personalized Bathrobes

But when Matt Garza wanted to give his fellow Milwaukee Brewers starting pitchers a spring-training gift, he hit exactly the right note. He gave them all these oh-so-comfortable looking personalized robes. It’s one of those things you’d absolutely use but might never think to buy for yourself — the sign of a wonderful present.

Photos at link.

Mets ask Billy Bean to suit up, but how do players feel about gay player in baseball?

Cuddyer says he has never had a gay teammate that he has known of. Daniel Murphy says he has not either.

He too is ready for a gay teammate, he says. The Mets consulted players this winter before bringing Bean in and Murphy called the idea “forward thinking.” More than just listening to a seminor or speech, it was an opportunity to get to known an individual. He regretted that he had not had the chance to meet Bean yet.

Murphy, a devout Christian, said he would embrace Bean despite a ...

Reports: Wright confronts Syndergaard - Mets Blog - ESPN New York

This isn’t a good way for Noah Syndergaard to get in the news.

Time to embrace A-Rod, just like Yankees’ spring training fans | New York Post

Huh. Maybe they will be able to market his home run milestones after all.

Think it’s a coincidence A-Rod’s Grapefruit League return comes on a home game? It’s a sound business decision for the Yankees, who surely will sell more tickets and draw more eyeballs to YES than if they fielded a lineup without their most interesting player. Or if this didn’t mark his first game back after missing all of last season due to a suspension for illegal performance-enhancing drug usage and obstruction.

Jeff McKnight dies of leukemia at 52

Jeff McKnight, a versatile player who spent six seasons with the New York Mets and Baltimore Orioles, has died. He was 52.

McKnight’s family told the Mets that McKnight died Sunday after battling leukemia for 10 years. His father, Jim, who played for the Chicago Cubs briefly in the early 1960s, was born in Bee Branch, Arkansas.

Jeff McKnight made his big league debut with the Mets in 1989 and hit .233 with five home runs and 34 RBIs in 218 games. He singled in his final at-bat for the Mets in ...

Philly.com: Phillies lose to University of Tampa, 6-2.

UT, ranked No. 1 in Div. II, tied it at 2 when Phillies reliever Nefi Ogando walked in a run with the bases loaded. That prompted a mid-inning pitching change to Hector Neris, who promptly gave up a grand slam to UT shortstop Giovanny Alfonzo.

The Phillies loaded the bases in the ninth, but Cord Phelps grounded out to the pitcher to end it.

A couple of days old, but still a fun story.

Onetime AL Batting Champion Alex Johnson Dead at 72

Few players have been more enigmatic or controversial. In 1971, he became the center of the storm while playing for a team that became known as “Hell’s Angels.” Now Alex Johnson is gone at 72.

Man to walk from Steinbrenner Field to Yankee Stadium for charity

Richard J. Albero, a former naval officer and retired teacher, will begin his journey up the east coast on Monday, March 2, at 10:00 a.m. and he’ll be doing so primarily to honor his nephew, Gary Albero, who died in the Sept. 11 attacks in New York.

In conjunction with that effort, Albero also intends to raise $25,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project as a nod to Gary, who he describes as a charitable man who always put in the effort to raise awareness and funds for causes that were close to ...

Robothal: Walk away from $144 million? No sweat, Scherzer had it covered

The policy, Scherzer said, would have provided him with $40 million tax-free if he suffered any type of injury that prevented him from receiving an offer below the Tigers’ original $144 million proposal. Scherzer was covered if he injured his shoulder. He was covered if he required Tommy John surgery on his elbow. He was covered for every possible injury under a policy that he said cost him $750,000.

“Don’t get me wrong. I know finance. I know deferral money. I get all that. But this was the ...

Corey Hart slices foot stepping into a hot tub

Corey Hart got 3 stitches Sunday after slicing foot on hot tub. The good news is that Hart is only expected to be out for a few days.

OT: Soccer March 2015

Your abbreviated schedule for March, 2015

March 4: Spurs vs. Swans
March 10: Porto vs. Basel
March 11: Chelsea vs. PSG
March 15: Chelsea vs. Souton
March 16: Swansea vs. Liverpool
March 18: Dortmund vs. Juventus
March 18: Barca vs. Man City
March 22: Götterdämmerung

Current Table:
1. Chelsea, 26 GP, 60 Points.
2. Man City, 27 GP, 55 Points.
3. Arsenal, 27 GP, 51 Points.
4. Man United, 27 GP, 50 Points.
5. Liverpool, 27 GP, 48 Points.
6. Southampton, 27 GP, 46 Points.
7. Tottenham, 26 GP, 44 ...

Harper: Harvey on ‘Gaard duty, Noah sees Matt as Mets mentor - NY Daily News

Above the neck matters too.

The path. | Texas Rangers Blog | The Newberg Report

Some good stuff from Jamey Newberg.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 3-3-2015

Pittsburgh Press, March 3, 1915:

A letter from [Washington] Pitcher Bert Gallia, which reached Manager Griffith this morning, explains why the Texan has not reported at Charlottesville with the advance squad.

Gallia writes that his mother is dangerously ill, and that it may be several days before he can leave Woodboro, Tex., where he lives, for Charlottesville.

“Dear Mr. Griffith, Please excuse Bert’s absence. He is helping me recover from an illness. Signed, Gallia’s Mother.”

Gallia’s mom ...

Joey Votto to miss start of Reds’ Cactus League games

This isn’t particularly promising either.

Price said Votto hasn’t participated in all of the team’s field drills, but doesn’t expect the star first baseman to miss any significant time. There has been no decision yet on when Votto will begin playing in exhibition games, Price said.

“Those little things, I’m starting to get to the point where those, I’ll be able to join in on and really be a part of nearly everything,” Votto said.

Curt Schilling outs Yankees worker who allegedly posted vulgar tweets about daughter | NJ.com

These guys should not be shocked about the consequences for their terrible posts.

Houston Astros might have a problem, a good problem | FOX Sports

Maybe it’s not a good idea to sign minor leaguers to long-term contracts.

General manager Jeff Luhnow is invested in both youngsters; he signed Singleton to a five-year, $10 million contract last June, and acquired Marisnick from the Marlins last July 31 in the six-player Jarred Cosart trade. But the Astros, acting on a mandate from owner Jim Crane, also are trying to improve quickly, as evidenced by their active offseason and increase in payroll.

Detroit Tigers’ Jose Iglesias ‘really happy’ to return to field

Is this supposed to be encouraging?

Iglesias played one inning in today’s exhibition season-opening 12-2 win over Florida Southern. He made one put-out – a pop-up to end the the first – and took one at-bat – a groundout in the bottom of the first.

“It was a great feeling to get back out there and just being in the uniform is amazing,” he said.

Adam Dunn, Juan Pierre, and Why We Need WAR «

No, this is not the OTP thread.

Pierre and Dunn are the John Adams and Thomas Jefferson of their generation. They rose to prominence around the same time, became the focal points of rival factions, and, in their declining years, saw their differences reconciled. And finally, they exited the stage almost simultaneously, having left us in a far different place philosophically than we were when they arrived.

Tabata’s new swing is turning heads in Pirate City | pirates.com

So the Pirates extended him another lifeline, encouraging him to seek former short-lived teammate Marlon Byrd’s help in doctoring his swing. The Pirates have not given up on Tabata, because they can’t afford to—the contract he preserved by accepting those Minor League assignments pays him $4 million this season, making him the team’s fourth-highest-paid position player, whether he is on the team or not.

(REAL) SPRING TRAINING GAMES START TODAY

Actual MLB vs. MLB spring training games start today.

This has been an announcement.

Deadspin: “Sports Analytics” Is Bullshit Now

To that end, yes, of course, some teams invest more in analytical personnel, and some do a better job of integrating that into strategy, tactics, and method on the field or court. But try naming some and why, specifically, they’re successful. You’ll get as far as an accommodating owner or infrastructure, like the Mavericks or Rockets enjoy, or the efficiency of scale the Red Sox or New York Yankees can sometimes employ in turning small-market tactics loose with big-market ruthlessness (and ...

Royals hope new addition Alex Rios helps outfield defense remain baseball’s best

Aoki Dokey.

In Milwaukee during his first two big-league seasons, Aoki spent most of his time defending batters straight up, without much shading in either direction, Kuntz explained. Aoki preferred to charge in, rather than charge back, and glued himself to the same spot before almost every pitch.

The Royals operate a more fluid defense. Kuntz does not just ask his defenders to adjust from batter to batter. Sometimes he calls for shifts from pitch to pitch. Aoki was an “analytical” ...

Keri: The 30: Offseason Stock Report

Today, as a treat for everyone who’s (almost) made it through this cruel, frigid, never-ending winter, we’re going bigger, ranking and examining all 30 clubs.

Since the calendar has turned to 2015, we’re starting off fresh. Last year’s results don’t matter — sorry, Giants fans — and all teams are ranked based on how they look coming into the spring.

But before we begin, our standard disclaimer: If you disagree with these rankings or any of the 2015 rankings to come, remember ...

Yankees Rookie Nervously Tells A-Rod How Much He Used To Hate Him As A Kid

TAMPA, FL—Tentatively approaching the All-Star third baseman during a spring training workout Friday, New York Yankees rookie outfielder Tyler Austin reportedly worked up the courage to tell Alex Rodriguez how much he used to hate him as a kid. “Hey, Alex, I’m sure you get this from the younger guys all the time, but I just wanted you to know how much I hated your ####### guts when I was growing up,” Austin told the Yankees slugger, adding that he will “always remember” watching ...

OT: Monthly NBA Thread - March 2015

I estimate only 10-12 Primates care about the NBA, but with our own thread, we won’t detract from what this site is really about: the Great War.

Mariners’ shortstop battle about to escalate as Cactus League opener nears | The News Tribune

The Mariners shortstop battle begins.

The Mets’ intangible that has Terry Collins predicting playoffs | New York Post

Hope is a wonderful thing. Spring training is a wonderful time.

Full Count » Finally healthy, Dustin Pedroia proclaims ‘I’m not messing around’

I love this guy.

“I don’t care. Numbers are numbers,” said Pedroia, who hit a combined 16 home runs over the past two injury-plagued seasons. “We’re here to win the World Series. I don’t care about any of that. If people don’t know that by now ‘€¦ We won the World Series and I hit nine home runs and everyone said I lost my power. Well, I’ll lose my power if I win the World Series. What is everyone’s job here? Win. We don’t give a crap about anything else.”

Guerrero believes he can help contribute to Dodgers now | dodgers.com

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.