Interesting Baseball News Items That Do Not Warrant Their Own Thread

[Mr Coffee]

Cheetahs, having evolved to be able to run at such absurd speeds, are tremendously weak otherwide and their bodies have been known to basically collapse. 90% of cheetahs die within a few weeks of birth; thems seaturtle numbers. they're also subject to a lot of inbreeding that exacerbates their run-a-way speediness genes and other physical weaknesses.

I read this in David Attenborough's voice.

[SatchelPaigeYankee]

I read this in David Attenborough's voice.

inspired, I decided to hop on youtube. I came across this CRAZY video of this bird that can copy the sound of camera shutters and chainsaws.

[awy]

that's both sad and cool

[Eldee5]

http://espn.go.com/dallas/mlb/story/...angers-march-7

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Texas Rangers starting pitcher Yu Darvish will make his first Cactus League start on March 7 in Peoria, Ariz., against the San Diego Padres. He's expected to throw two innings.

Perhaps the best news for Darvish about that start: It won't require pitching through a screen like he's doing now as part of the pitchers' throwing live batting practice early in camp.

Darvish threw 36 pitches to hitters on Monday and said he felt "very good" about the performance, mainly because he could move the screen to the side a little bit. It's something he isn't fully comfortable using while he pitches.

Darvish showed off a full array of pitches on Monday, pounding the strike zone with his two-seamer, slider, splitter and changeup, among others. His movement impressed minor-league hitters Vincent DiFazio and Mike Bianucci.

"I was just happy to make contact a couple of times," DiFazio said.

Not that this is any surprise:
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-angelstakeoff

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP)—Albert Pujols hasn’t connected for his first homer and he’s already having a powerful impact on the Los Angeles Angels.

The superstar slugger, who signed a $240 million free agent contract with the club in December, has impressed his new teammates with an unparalleled work ethic so far in spring training. Pujols has been one of the first players to report each morning and one of the last to leave. Following the Angels’ first full-squad workout of camp Monday, when Pujols hit laser-beam line drives during batting practice, outfielder Torii Hunter said he gets “a great vibe” just being around the All-Star first baseman.

Hunter said he can learn how to become a better hitter just by watching Pujols swing in the batting cage.

[sweet_lou_14]

Please, Torii Hunter, just stop it. It's too late for you to learn how to become a better hitter.

[THEBOSS84]

Ken Rosenthal ‏ @Ken_Rosenthal Source: Molina five-year deal with #STLCards in $70M to $75M range. #MLB




Yadier signs an extension with STL.

[Eldee5]

http://plus.sites.post-gazette.com/i...s-compensation

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Some players get a watch when a veteran who joins the team takes their jersey number. Daniel McCutchen got a college fund.

For his unborn daughter, due in May.

A.J. Burnett, who took McCutchen's No. 34 jersey, will start a College America 529 plan for McCutchen's daugher, McCutchen said. Not quite yet -- the child has to be born first so she can get a Social Security number -- but soon.

"When a veteran comes in and takes a number, some of the guys usually get something," McCutchen said. "I know he has kids. He asked me what I wanted, I brought that up.

"Eighteen years from now, we’ll see what the market is."

McCutchen's a helluva negotiator!

[philleotardo]

Ken Rosenthal ‏ @Ken_Rosenthal Source: Molina five-year deal with #STLCards in $70M to $75M range. #MLB




Yadier signs an extension with STL.

Martin's price just went up.

[Axon]

Wasn't sure if this was Inside the Lines material, but an "inside source" in the Yankees disclaims interest in Josh Hamilton: http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/yan...-2013-outfield

[awy]

yea way way too much risk. when the payroll was expanding in the early 2000's, yankees had the stretching room to eat a bad contract of that size. but not now.

[wang+cano=future]

Ken Rosenthal ‏ @Ken_Rosenthal Source: Molina five-year deal with #STLCards in $70M to $75M range. #MLB




Yadier signs an extension with STL.

Yeah that extentension is bad news for trying to re-sign Martin or lure Montero here next offseason while trying to get under the $189 million payroll mark. Come on Romine!

[Yankeefan3783]

MLB playoffs now expanded to 10 teams. Seems more like game 163 then playoffs. Still think I'd rather keep it how it was then expanding like they did, but whatever.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/M...tseason-022912

[Pakimobzta]

Martin's price just went up.

Let him walk and get Montero to catch..... Miguel Montero

[Eldee5]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12060...cmpid=news.xml

Pirates starter A.J. Burnett was scheduled to return to Pittsburgh Wednesday night after fouling a ball off his right eye during a bunting competition Wednesday morning, the team announced.
Burnett will have further examinations on his right eye.
Burnett redirected the pitch, which came at medium speed from a pitching machine, toward his right eye socket and under the brim of his helmet. The ball made an audible sound as it struck his face and drew blood. A trainer stemmed the bleeding with a towel and Burnett left the field.

Wow, I hope he's going to be OK. That's scary.

[sweet_lou_14]

MLB playoffs now expanded to 10 teams. Seems more like game 163 then playoffs. Still think I'd rather keep it how it was then expanding like they did, but whatever.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/M...tseason-022912

This is baseball news that warrants its own thread.

[Big_E]

MLB playoffs now expanded to 10 teams. Seems more like game 163 then playoffs. Still think I'd rather keep it how it was then expanding like they did, but whatever.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/M...tseason-022912

Last year's exciting finish and Red Sox collapse never would have happened as both Boston and Tampa Bay would have made the playoffs.

[False1]

Last year's exciting finish and Red Sox collapse never would have happened as both Boston and Tampa Bay would have made the playoffs.

True, although many people hated the intro of the wildcard format and that scenario wouldn't have played out without a wild card either. I'm willing to give the new format a shot. Who knows, the excitement of an elimination game could add something, and it should motivate teams to gun for the division titles a little harder.

[pleasepassthesoup]

True, although many people hated the intro of the wildcard format and that scenario wouldn't have played out without a wild card either. I'm willing to give the new format a shot. Who knows, the excitement of an elimination game could add something, and it should motivate teams to gun for the division titles a little harder.

Joe Sheehan wrote a great article about what a stupid idea this is and it's definitely worth a read:
http://joesheehanbaseball.blogspot.c...wild-card.html

Basically, his point is that the way to fix the division not mattering is by getting rid of the wild card, not by adding another. If having the division be crucial matters to you, then don't let a second place team in. If it doesn't matter to you, leave things the way they are. I personally don't care whether or not the division matters, but if they're going to make the decision that it does, getting rid of the wild card has way less downside to the quality of the sport than adding an extra one and a coin-flip game.

[philleotardo]

But still keeping the moronic best-of-5 ?

[Donnybaseball72]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12060...cmpid=news.xml


Wow, I hope he's going to be OK. That's scary.

Why does he need to go through more sinus pain by flying to Pittsburgh? They don't have eye doctors in Florida???

[Mr Coffee]

Why does he need to go through more sinus pain by flying to Pittsburgh? They don't have eye doctors in Florida???

The Pirates probably have crappy insurance.

[snapple]

Hope AJ is okay. Really wanting him to do well over there.

I found a copy of Pittsburgh's insurance plan in regards to optometry.

[CalYankeeFan]

Hope AJ is okay. Really wanting him to do well over there.

I found a copy of Pittsburgh's insurance plan in regards to optometry.

That's messed up....

Good thing the trade wasn't contingent on AJ's ability to bunt.

[snapple]

It's a jab at Pittsburgh, not AJ*

[CalYankeeFan]

It's a jab at Pittsburgh, not AJ*

Understood....