I don’t know what the big deal is. Al has me leading off three days a week and I don’t steal bases either.
- Joe Posnanski thinks that baseball fans (along with golf fans) are unique among sports fans in being resistant to rules changes, no matter how minor. From the list of stories over the past two days, I’d say “Really?” Sarcastically, of course.
- Posnanski also thinks the change in the intentional walk rule could mean we see even fewer IBBs, and that’s probably a good thing, if it happens.
- Grant Brisbee lists five things he’ll miss about four pitches wide. Seriously, if one of them is “booing by the home team fans,” . . .
- Dayn Perry also laments the passing of four wide pitches and explains what we’re going to miss.
- Craig Calcaterra thinks the new rule is not a big deal, but it’s dumb anyway.
- Several players expressed their disapproval of the new IBB rule and other potential pace-of-play changes.
- Jeff Sullivan notes that what he calls “the least-enforced rule in the sport,” the catcher’s balk, will go away with the new IBB rule.
- Jeff Passan notes that commissioner Rob Manfred is getting ready for a fight with the players over new rules changes.
- Tom Verducci is on Manfred’s side, saying that the sport must modernize to cut out dead time, whether the players like it or not. Personally, I used to watch Cubs games just to see Nomar Garciaparra adjust his batting gloves after every at-bat.
- Grant Brisbee understands the need for changes, but doesn’t understand the commissioner’s urgency or timing. He also worries about the unintended consequences of rules that aren’t fully thought-out.
- Yankees manager Joe Girardi thinks the game could be sped up by letting coaches communicate with players through radio earpieces. Not a bad idea, but they wouldn’t allow hitters to have them for fear that teams would be relaying signs. And teams would do that, no doubt.
- Marlins manager Don Mattingly just thinks we should bring back shame to the strikeout. I’m not sure how that works. Maybe players who strike out will have to wear an albatross around their neck for the rest of the game.
- In reference to the Dellin Betances brouhaha, Manny Randhawa argues that it’s past time that advanced metrics be used in arbitration hearings.
- A lot of veteran players are upset over MLB’s new focus on youth and how several veteran players with quality resumés had trouble finding work this winter. Of course they don’t like it.
- Jake Peavy hasn’t signed with anyone, but that’s because a series of off-the-field problems has him concentrating more on his children than on baseball. He hopes to return to the mound sometime this season, however.
- David Lauria talks with several GMs about the wisdom of picking a plan and sticking with it.
- Jon Heyman reports that members of the Romney family are looking at buying a minority share of the Yankees.
- The Giants have made their final mortgage payment on AT&T Park and now own the stadium free-and-clear.
- Michael Klopman has 30 under-the-radar stories for 2017.
- Anthony Castrovince has 10 things to love about spring games.
- Will Leitch lists the 25 active players with the highest career WAR number and look at how high they could go in the all-time rankings.
- Among those players is Ichiro Suzuki, who suffered a sore quad after a collision in the outfield during training. Amazingly, it was the first time in Ichiro’s 16-year major league career that he ever had to be treated in the training room.
- Tracy Ringolsby has some players who are free agents after 2017 who could be dealt by the trade deadline. He’s got Jake Arrieta on the list, although even he admits that’s unlikely. But he needed a pitcher.
- Jon Heyman gives offseason grades to each team. Once again, I expect the Cubs’ grade to be signed and returned by Epstein’s mother.
- Infielder Jonathan Villar turned down a contract extension offer from the Brewers.
- Doug Padilla explains how Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw continues to improve.
- Mariners outfielder Leonys Martin explained in court that he “feared for his life” from smugglers.
- John Perrotto writes Dexter Fowler is already making a good impression in Cardinals camp by giving the team something they’ve lacked for years: a personality.
- New Dodgers reliever Sergio Romo hopes that Giants fans still like him. He wants them to know it wasn’t his choice to leave the team.
- Kate Morrison argues that the Rangers starting rotation is their biggest weakness. Better trade for Matt Garza again.
- Indians manager Terry Francona wonders how long his health will allow him to manage.
- Red Sox outfielder Rusney Castillo is already in hot water for not running out a ground ball.
- The White Sox will retire Mark Buehrle’s number.
- Sanders Commings has signed with the Braves. Who is Sanders Commings? He’s a 27-year-old former NFL cornerback. As Ken Rosenthal notes, he might actually have the talent to succeed at baseball. He was drafted (late) by the Diamondbacks in 2008.
- Al already did this piece with the Cubs, but Dan Carson has some of the best photos from around the majors in spring training. There are some more Cubs photos in there, too.
- The Cardinals team-building exercise for 2017 was visiting an “escape room.”
- Mets pitcher Steven Matz went fishing and caught a shark. A big one.
- The Hall of Fame is honoring the iconic 1992 episode of The Simpsons, “Homer at the Bat.” (h/t Hardball Talk.)
- And finally, Jon Tayler looks at the roster of that Springfield softball teams and wonders if it wasn’t really cursed.
And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster.