MLB Bullets Is Down This Spring

The big story in baseball is still the “Jew Crew” in Korea. I certainly hope that Josh Zeid and Ryan Lavarnway do their foodie tour of Tokyo now.

That Mexico-Italy game last night was wild. Congratulations to Iowa Cub John Andreoli, who homered in the first inning and hit a two-run, walk-off single that capped a 5 run ninth inning for Italy, who won 10-9. (That’s a picture of Andreoli hitting, by the way.)

• Team Israel beat the Netherlands to win Pool A of the World Baseball Classic. Jeff Passan has a great piece on how Team Israel came together and how they were “lox” to advance.
• Even the Jerusalem Post has noticed Team Israel’s success and that it presents a positive image of the country abroad. Although they do say it’s “Team Jew” and not really “Team Israel,” they also note that they don’t have a problem with this.
• In that Israel v. Netherlands game, Dutch pitcher Loek Van Mil, who is 7’1”, pitched to Nate Freiman, who is 6’8”. That is believed to be the tallest pitcher/batter matchup ever.
• Grant Brisbee took a look at Van Mil, who is 7’1” and throws 95 mph, and notes that Van Mil’s failure to make the major leagues is an instructive example of just how difficult major league baseball is. (Of course, Van Mil hasn’t yet given up hope of pitching in the majors one day.)
• Doug Padilla talks to Adrian Gonzalez about what representing Mexico in the WBC means to him. Also what Adrian Gonzalez means to Mexico, which is a lot.
• Ryan Dempster threw two innings for Canada against the Dominican Republic in the WBC Pool C opener. He gave up four runs in two innings. Nick Ashbourne thinks Dempster looked surprisingly good anyway, hitting 90-91 mph on the radar gun.
• John Perrotto notes that no team plays with more passion that Team Dominican Republic.
• Mariners teammates Robinson Cano and Nelson Cruz explain why playing for the Dominican Republic means so much to them.
• Dominican reliever Fernando Rodney pulled a giant, golden plantain out of his pants during introductions. No, that’s not a euphemism. Author Sean Newell notes that he was ambivalent about the WBC, but he’s starting to realize it’s a whole lot of fun.
• Less fun, but important. The Dominican team hang jerseys for the departed Yordano Ventura and Andy Marte in the dugout for each game.
• Jose Bautista hit a monster home run in the win over Team Canada. Travis Sawchik examines how Bautista is trying to beat the curse of age. Complete with a Dylan Thomas reference.
• This is not directly WBC-related, but it’s an important story of how major leaguers Gregory Polanco and Dee Gordon worked to bring water to one one of the poorest villages in the Dominican Republic. (Video) They also note how much baseball means to these people who have little except the sport.
• Commissioner Rob Manfred says that it’s unlikely that MLB will allow major league players to participate in the 2020 Olympics.
• Michael Baumann calls Manfred “the king of the vampires.” He means that as a compliment. Sort of.
• The on-again, off-again class action lawsuit against MLB on behalf of minor leaguers and their low wages is on again.
• In Spring Training, Diamondbacks pitcher Zack Greinke’s velocity is down this spring, and people are freaking out.
• Tommy Stokke is not worried about Greinke’s velocity.
• Dave Cameron has reasons to be optimistic and pessimistic about Greinke.
• Athletics pitcher Sonny Gray is going to start the season on the DL with a lat strain.
• The Rangers have shut down Andrew Cashner with bicep soreness.
• Diamondbacks outfielder Socrates Brito had surgery on a dislocated finger.
• Jon Heyman has 7 teams that could surprise people in 2017.
• Manny Randhawa previews six interesting rotation battles in Spring Training.
• Travis Sawchik asks if there is any hope for Brett Lawrie to get his career back on track.
• Bradford Doolittle has seven major leaguers who could break out by hitting the ball in the air more, like Daniel Murphy. (ESPN Insider Only)
• Ken Rosenthal reports that the Red Sox think so highly of rookie Andrew Benintendi, that they are thinking of batting him third in the lineup. They are already comparing him to Fred Lynn. And by “they,” I mean Jim Rice is doing that.
• A White Sox scout has been seen at Yankees camp, and people are freaking out.
• Anthony Castrovince looks at all the teams that have never won a World Series and their odds of doing it this year. Wait ‘till next year, Brewers fans.
• Jayson Stark notes that there is no rule about how managers signal that they want the automatic intentional walk and asks some (including Joe Maddon) how they intend to do it.
• Mike Oz continues his series of opening 1992 baseball cards with people by opening a pack with Joe Maddon.
• Cardinals manager Mike Matheny took a swipe at Joe Maddon and his use of slogans on T-Shirts.
• And finally, one lucky kid was allowed by Astros bullpen catcher Javier Bracamonte to throw a pitch off the bullpen mound before a game.

And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster.