MLB Bullets Is Turning Heads

I tried to limit the World Baseball Classic stories today, as I’m covering them elsewhere, but the story in baseball right now is Team Israel. I’m looking forward to the “BCB Editor showdown” tonight as my Team Netherlands takes on Al’s Team Israel.

• Cliff Corcoran has ten things to know about Team Israel.
• Rodger Sherman notes that Americans are dominating in the WBC—they’re just playing for Team Israel. Also more on “The Mensch on the Bench.”
• Here’s a look at the “superfans” of the World Baseball Classic, including one man who flew from Israel to Seoul to watch his beloved Team Israel. He also was at the games in Brooklyn last fall.
• I love this one. Check out Josh Zeid and Ryan Lavarnway of Team Israel taking a “foodie” tour of Seoul and trying out several Korean delicacies. The only one they didn’t like was the chicken feet.
• On to Team USA, Jim Leyland came out of retirement for the chance to wear “USA” on his chest and he wants to go out a winner in what he’s terming his absolutely final managerial stop.
• Howard Bryant says that the USA players skipping the WBC are missing a huge opportunity to become something bigger than the game.
• Ken Rosenthal talks with the players on Team USA and they tell him that the WBC matters a lot to them. Chris Archer also thinks Team USA can be an important symbol of a still-united America.
• Team Venezuela is hoping to put past disappointments and off-the-field strife behind them and win the WBC this time.
• John Manuel profiles Rob Cordemans, who has been a mainstay of the Netherlands pitching staff for the past 22 years.
• Major league veteran Bruce Chen shut down Team Cuba in the WBC last night for almost three innings wearing an interesting pair of comfortable shoes.
• Japan’s Nobuhiro Matsuda hit a home run yesterday and then led the crowd in a cheer.
• OK—WBC haters can start reading again. Writer Jeff Rivers talks about his love of baseball and the ten-year-old child he once was who loved the Phillies.
• Jeff Passan talks with Jose Bautista about his rough 2016 and his return to the Blue Jays.
• Craig Edwards has been looking at free agent contracts and writes something we already know: despite the warnings about signing free-agent pitchers over 30, Max Scherzer and Jon Lester have turned out to be bargains.
• Michael Baumann notes that the Nationals have a two-year window to win a World Series.
• Jeff Sullivan thinks the Marlins have put together a terrific bullpen for 2017 by not landing any big names.
• Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig’s home was robbed while he was in Arizona, but he doesn’t want to talk about it.
• Alex Rodriguez will become a full-time baseball analyst for Fox Sports. Honestly, I think he’s terrific at that.
• Angels (and Team Netherlands!) shortstop Andrelton Simmons talks about his native Curacao and adjusting to life in America.
• The Yankees are reportedly looking to trade utility player Rob Refsnyder.
• Craig Calcaterra thinks that the Yankees grooming policy was a dumb overreaction to the 1970s and needs to end.
• The Cardinals and Pirates are likely going to play a game in Williamsport, PA to honor the 70th anniversary of the Little League World Series.
• Rangers outfielder Delino DeShields is looking to rebound from a bad 2016.
• Will Leitch looks at which active players are among the greatest ever players for their team. As you might expect, no active Cub is currently among their top 24 all-time players. Maybe one day.
• Now that Vin Scully has retired, who is the longest-active baseball broadcaster? Bill Shaikin profiles Dodgers Spanish language broadcaster Jaime Jarrin, who called his first Dodgers games in their first season in Los Angeles in 1958.
• Eno Sarris examines the importance of pitchers to avoid being predictable.
• Somewhat related, Patrick Dubuque traces the parallels between the development of the game of chess and the sport of baseball, especially in light of the use of computers.
• Scott Lauber asks if Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts could become the face of two sports? We’ve profiled Betts’ love of bowling before, but the PBA is very interested in having Betts expand his profile in that sport as well. Betts is good enough at bowling to be a professional.
• Getting you up-to-date on the Twitter war between Noah Syndergaard and Mr. Met.
• Run, Padres, run! Bees!
• The Royals are giving out a Rusty Kuntz bobblehead this April. Heh, Beavis. Heh.
• The Mariners players hired a mariachi band to follow around outfielder Leonys Martin and serenade him on his birthday.
• And finally, this MLB quiz will tell you who your ideal Spring Training roommate is! Both Al and I are going to be moving in with Joey Votto! That should be fun, although neither one of us speaks Canadian.

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