Fun with MLB photo day - SBNation.com

Don’t know who Mr. Zoombiya is?

With Upton out, Braves can get good look at CF options | Atlanta Braves blog

It’s not like Upton hasn’t been given ample opportunity to keep his job. I’d say he has no complaint if someone plays well in his absence and he doesn’t automatically get his job back.

Players union sees potential bargaining issue with Cubs-like spending restrictions | Chicago

This does seem to be a valid issue for the union. Essentially, the players are helping Ricketts pay for the team.

Sox scout booed at church in Northern Cal - Boston Red Sox Blog - ESPN Boston

Funny story linked in the Lauria article.

Sunday Notes: Valentine on Hamilton, Acta & Keri on the Expos, Leathersich, more

David Lauria’s latest.

Several aces may need to adjust to a low zone loss. | SportsonEarth.com

Sorry, it’s the right adjustment.

“A hitter can take as many swings as he wants,” Butcher said. “Pitchers are only allowed a certain amount of throws per day. So when you start tinkering with the strike zone, I think it’s a longer adjustment process for a pitcher to go through. I think it would be a tough adjustment and the wrong adjustment for the league.”

Who Is Responsible For A Called Strike?

Joe Rosales and Scott Spratt’s, both of Baseball Info Solutions, co-winning article of the Sloan Sports Analytics Conference top research paper. Their work suggests that pitch framing, which has traditionally rewarded most of the credit to catchers alone, is actually a function of three independent participants: the catcher, pitcher, and umpire.

Expanded use of instant replay was a major talking point of the 2014 MLB season, but balls and strikes are notable
exclusions to the list of ...

Alex Rodriguez Attends First-Base School, but a Key Item Is Absent

The Yankees’ grand experiment of spring training, teaching Alex Rodriguez to play first base, began with a rudimentary lesson: Don’t forget your glove.

The new first baseman’s glove that Rodriguez had to procure vanished Friday morning, leaving Rodriguez to do drills at the position with his third baseman’s glove.

What was most striking about Rodriguez’s first workout at first base was how disengaged he appeared to be. While other Yankees did the drills at close to game speed, ...

Washington Post: A Career In The Balance

Was blind but now can see?

Donatelli trains willing athletes to improve their vestibular system — colloquially known as the inner ear, the system that controls balance. That system aids the eyes in focusing on a target even while the body and head are moving. Dysfunction in the vestibular system can affect an athlete’s ability to see things in motion, such as a baseball hurtling his way while his head and body are rotating to hit it.

Head trauma can cause dysfunction in the vestibular ...

Blue Jays expect Saunders back early in season - Sportsnet.ca

Michael Saunders should be ready to rejoin the Toronto Blue Jays by mid-April rather than around the all-star break after the left-fielder had 60 percent of the meniscus removed from his left knee during surgery Friday.

In honor of the late Leonard Nimoy, the ‘Vulcan changeup’

Actor and cultural icon Leonard Nimoy died at the age of 83 on Friday. So in small celebration of the man and in keeping with our stated mission, let’s devote a few moments to the pitch Nimoy’s Mr. Spock inspired: the Vulcan changeup.

Sale fractures right foot in accident at home | MLB.com

Chris Sale sustained an avulsion fracture on the lateral side of his right foot in an accident at his home on Friday. The left-hander is expected to be sidelined three weeks before resuming baseball activities, according to the White Sox.

Forbes: Chicago Cubs Valuation Hits $1.8 Billion In Minority Sale Of Team

In 2009, the Ricketts family paid $845 million for the Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field, 25% of Comcast SportsNet Chicago and a small parcel of land outside the stadium. The owners recently recently raised a total of $150 million of equity to help fund the renovation of their ballpark by selling minority interests of the same assets to six investors, plus a tiny piece of land they subsequently bought for $20 million where there was a McDonald’s, for $2.25 billion, according to two people at ...

MLB Network: Carlos Pena explains Effective Velocity (video)

Carlos Pena dives into the topic of effective velocity, or why all 90 mph fastballs aren’t created equally.

Baseball Prospectus | Prospectus Feature: A.J. Preller’s Offseason and the Toronto Precedent

Put me in the camp of those who think the Padres won’t compete in the NL West in 2015. They will be better than they were in 2014 but not good enough.

Arizona Diamondbacks’ Yasmany Tomas goes to work at third base

This does not sound hopeful.

I watched a little bit of his defensive work,” Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said. “I thought he worked really hard and that he’s getting there. We have a lot of guys over there who are really fundamentally sound, so he’s able to watch them and pick things up from them.”

Bobblehead collectors Phil Sklar and Brad Novak turn pro by launching National HOF and Museum

The resultant publicity increased the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s membership rolls, which now include individuals in more than 40 states. Membership, which can be had for as little as $20, includes perks such as free admission to the museum and the ability to vote in Bobblehead Hall of Fame elections. (Fifty bobbleheads will be inducted as part of the initial class, with four per year receiving the honor after that). To create additional revenue, Novak and Sklar have also begun designing ...

Deep dive from Ike Davis on Mets’ downfall, hope for future - NY Daily News

I still kinda like Ike.

2015-16 MLB International Bonus Pools - BaseballAmerica.com

Does anyone know how these numbers are determined?

Aramis Ramirez plans to retire after 2015 season

In 2,057 career games, Ramirez has hit .285/.344/.496 with 369 home runs and 2,186 hits. Ramirez has made three All Star games in his career, including last season when he was elected a starter by the fans.

Jeff Sullivan: Every single team has a chance ... yes, even the Phillies

“...just to re-state it, for the current record: one standard deviation of the difference between actual wins and projected wins is found here to be 8.7. That’s a 17-win window, around a central projection…”

Dodgers going organic this season

“We are the healthiest team in pro sports,” was written across the top of the menu at Camelback Ranch Thursday. That day’s lunch was organic seared pork chops, free-range herb seared chicken, organic baked potatoes and organic sautéed asparagus. Not exactly low-calorie, but fortifying and low on toxins.

Because nothing says healthy like pork and potatoes.

AJC: Braves center fielder Upton (foot) likely out at least 2 months

Melvin Upton Jr. will likely miss all of spring training after being diagnosed with inflammation of a bone in his left foot, and the Braves suddenly have another opening-day spot up for grabs.

Upton had X-rays Friday morning that showed some damage but weren’t definitive, then had an MRI exam that revealed he has sesamoiditis, or inflammation in a bone behind the ball of his foot.

The Braves said he would be in short leg cast for two weeks, then a walking boot for 4-6 weeks. He’s not ...

Juan Pierre officially announces his retirement

Juan Pierre, who sat out last season after struggling for the Marlins in 2013, has officially decided to retire at age 37.

A delayed goodbye from one of the game’s fastest men.

International Notes: Bonus Pools, Alvarez, Olivera – MLB Trade Rumors

Some info about Yadier Alvarez’s free agent status.

Los Angeles Angels slugger Josh Hamilton likely faces significant suspension | FOX Sports

Some details.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 2-27-2015

Washington Times, February 27, 1915:

Six major league ball teams are today en route to their training headquarters, and within a few days you fans will have the greatest kind of a feast over the news which is coming from the various camps regarding the development of the players.
...
The Athletics will [train] at Jacksonville, while the Brooklyns will proceed by rail to Daytona, and the Phillies to St. Petersburg, Fla.

The other teams which are traveling south today are the Chicago Cubs, who ...

What Rick Porcello learned while surrounded by aces in Detroit - WEEI | John Tomase

Rick Porcello talks about what he learned from the other starters in Detroit.

‘Tres Amigos’ lead new-look Red Sox’s scary offensive dynamo | New York Post

There is only one Laser Show.

A-Rod circus taking pressure off Gregorius at Yankees camp - NY Daily News

Jeter isn’t playing for the Yankees anymore?