2018 MLB Spring Training Look At All Teams-Trades-Rumours-Injuries ETC. !

[StarDust Bum]

New Arizona OF likely to start season on DL with pec injury
March 22, 2018

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) Arizona manager Torey Lovullo says outfielder Steven Souza Jr. likely will open the season on the disabled list after straining his right pectoral muscle while diving for a baseball in a spring training game Wednesday night.

Lovullo says Souza will be out ''a couple of weeks at least.''

The extent of the injury was discovered in an MRI on Thursday, and it was a relief to all concerned, especially to Souza, that it wasn't worse.

''After last night I was obviously in a little bit of pain and you never know what to think in those situations,'' he said. ''But after this morning we got some good news that I won't be gone too long.''

Souza was acquired from Tampa Bay in a three-team trade to add another big bat to help make up for the loss of J.D. Martinez from last year's team. Souza batted .239 with 30 home runs and 78 RBIs last season.

''He's a tough player. He tried to make a great play,'' Lovullo said, ''left it all out there and he's just going to need to recuperate a little bit and get out there as soon as he possibly can.''

Lovullo said the first two internal candidates he's looking at to replace Souza in right field are Chris Owings and Jarrod Dyson. Owings, originally a shortstop, has played in the outfield as well as at third and second. The speedy Dyson was signed as a free agent.

''C.O. was our starting shortstop last year, throws a quality at bat up there every single time,'' Lovullo said. ''Jarrod has been an everyday player at different portions of his career. So we feel very fortunate that we have that kind of depth now.''

Another possibility, Lovullo said, would be putting Yasmany Tomas in left field and moving Peralta to right. Tomas, who has had a good spring at the plate after being injured last year, is not a strong defender and has looked to be the odd man out if Arizona kept only four outfielders on its 25-man roster.

Souza has a reputation for aggressive defense and that didn't change in a spring training game that Arizona eventually lost 14-0 to San Francisco.

''This is my 11th year playing and I've never been injured in spring training,'' he said. ''Hindsight obviously I need to be a little wiser about what I'm doing but it's 11 years I dive and nothing like this has happened before. So I wasn't counting on something happening just because this is a spring training game. I just play a certain way.''

Of the play, he said, ''I landed and I felt something kind of weird in my shoulder, almost like a cramp, but not much pain or anything. When I got up to get the ball, my chest didn't want to cooperate. I felt my pec kind of grab so I just kind of rolled over.''

Souza, hurting all night, imagined the worst.

''You can imagine when you can't move your arm very well the situations try to play out in your mind,'' he said. ''It was pretty emotional last night, especially because I love the guys in that room over there. I love this team. And in my mind not being able to get out on the field with them was breaking my heart last night.''

He called his teammates unbelievable.

''I've been here, what, about a month now?'' he said. ''And I think every single guy in the locker room came in and asked me how I was doing, told me to keep my head up.''

Souza went to Lovullo Wednesday night to apologize for what he had done, and the manager said he would have none of it.

''You play the game at that speed and we love it,'' Lovullo said he told him, ''so please don't apologize to me.''

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Mariners' bullpen reeling after David Phelps tears UCL
March 22, 2018

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) David Phelps was ready to be a primary setup man for the Seattle Mariners ahead of closer Edwin Diaz this season. Manager Scott Servais is going to have to look elsewhere for that role now.

Phelps will have season-ending Tommy John surgery on Monday to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He was injured on the final pitch of his most recent outing on March 17 against the Los Angeles Angels.

Phelps was acquired from Miami last July and then did two stints on the disabled list for right elbow impingements. He had surgery in September to remove a bone spur from the elbow.

''I'd been feeling pretty good all spring, I finally felt locked in that last outing. I was throwing my fastball where I wanted to,'' Phelps said. ''Second to last pitch is when I felt something. Threw another one. ... I thought I felt a crack in the back of my elbow. I was hopeful maybe it was just scar tissue from my (September) surgery. Turns out what I thought was a crack was a pop.''

Phelps got two opinions and both confirmed the diagnosis. Following surgery, Phelps will do his rehab work in Seattle. The recovery time is typically 12 to 15 months.

''I'd never had any UCL issues before,'' Phelps said. ''It's incredibly frustrating. You came back from a surgery and you're healthy and you're really looking forward to helping the ball club win some games. We've got a really talented group out there. I was looking forward to being a part of it.''

Phelps, 31, was 2-1 with a 3.12 ERA in 10 appearances after being acquired from Miami. When healthy, he added experience and depth to an overworked Mariners bullpen. He helped Seattle go 6-1 in the first seven games in which he pitched.

''It's a blow. That's one of the things I was excited about with our club,'' Servais said of his bullpen. ''Felt very good about the group. Fortunately we've had some guys step up this spring.''

NOTES: SS Jean Segura's sprained right thumb is well enough to allow him to hit in the batting cage, which he did Thursday. Servais hopes to get him back into a game on Saturday. ... Suzuki will play in a minor league game Friday as he gets back to 100 percent from a right calf injury. ... Servais said he hopes to finalize the opening day roster by this weekend.

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Brewers say Logan, Miley to miss opening day with injuries
March 22, 2018

PHOENIX (AP) The Milwaukee Brewers say injured left-handers Boone Logan and Wade Miley won't be ready to pitch opening day.

Logan will start the season on the disabled list after an MRI revealed a left triceps strain, Milwaukee said Thursday.

The reliever threw only three pitches in the seventh inning of a game Wednesday before leaving with discomfort. Logan was 1-0 with a 4.71 ERA in 38 appearances with Cleveland last season.

Miley was also injured Wednesday, exiting his start in the fifth inning after trying to field a bunt. The team says an MRI showed a slight muscle tear in his left groin that will keep him from throwing for two weeks. The 31-year-old has been competing for a spot in Milwaukee's rotation.

Miley is in camp on a minor league contract and has an opt-out clause for Thursday. If he requests his release, Milwaukee has 72 hours to either let him go or add him to the 40-man roster. He would have to be on the 40-man to be placed on the disabled list. If Milwaukee puts him on the major league roster, he would earn $2.5 million on a one-year deal with up to $3.2 million in performance bonuses.

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Reds claim slugger Kennys Vargas
March 22, 2018

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) The Cincinnati Reds have claimed slugger Kennys Vargas off waivers from the Minnesota Twins.

The Reds announced the acquisition Thursday. The 27-year-old Vargas batted .253 with career highs of 11 home runs and 41 RBIs in 78 games last season. The 6-foot-5, 290-pound switch-hitter made all his starts with Minnesota at either first base or designated hitter.

Vargas was designated for assignment by the Twins last week to make room when Jake Cave was acquired from the New York Yankees.

The Reds also optioned right-handers Jackson Stephens and Robert Stephenson to Triple-A Louisville and reassigned to minor league camp right-handers Dylan Floro and Tanner Rainey, left-hander Oliver Perez, catcher Joe Hudson, outfielders Ben Revere and Mason Williams and utility player Rosell Herrera.

[StarDust Bum]

With rookie manager, Mets ready to roll out prized pitchers
March 22, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) From the start of spring training in Florida, their lockers were lined up all in a row at one end of the rectangular clubhouse.

Left to right: Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom, Steven Matz, Zack Wheeler.

The dream rotation for the New York Mets - if only their health would cooperate.

More than a month later, with opening day in sight, those five prized pitchers are still feeling good and the Mets finally have a chance to roll out that entire quintet together for the very first time.

After hiring rookie manager Mickey Callaway and spending nearly $90 million to fill holes in free agency, New York (with fingers crossed) is counting on its homegrown power arms to lead the way this season.

''All of us are All-Star capable,'' Wheeler said.

Harvey, Matz and Wheeler struggled on the mound last year during their latest injury-stunted seasons, so they must rediscover the nasty stuff that looked so promising when they first arrived in the majors.

At the top of the rotation, Syndergaard and deGrom make for a terrific tandem that offers more certainty.

Syndergaard is back from a torn lat muscle that limited the hardest-throwing starter in the majors to 30 1/3 innings last season, while deGrom is coming off 15 wins and a 3.53 ERA with 239 strikeouts in 201 1/3 innings.

''The potential speaks for itself,'' new reliever Anthony Swarzak said. ''It's incredible, the stuff that's in that rotation. It's second to none, I think.''

To solidify a fragile group, general manager Sandy Alderson signed veteran lefty Jason Vargas, an 18-game winner with Kansas City in 2017. Vargas got hit by a line drive in spring training and had surgery for a broken bone in his right hand. He'll miss some time at the beginning of the season, perhaps assuring Wheeler an opportunity to start.

On offense, slugger Yoenis Cespedes returns after playing only 81 games last season because of leg injuries. All-Star outfielder Michael Conforto is targeting a May 1 return - maybe sooner - from surgery for a dislocated left shoulder.

Right fielder Jay Bruce was brought back as a free agent after the Mets traded him to Cleveland last August. He joins newcomers Todd Frazier and Adrian Gonzalez in a plodding lineup that boasts power.

''This has been our theme with the Mets: If we can be healthy, we can do some damage,'' lefty reliever Jerry Blevins said.

Early in camp, Callaway boldly proclaimed that if his club fails to ''do something special,'' the blame should fall on him.

''I think Sandy and the brass have done a great job getting this team to where we should be. Now it's our time to take care of the rest,'' Frazier said.

Things to know about the Mets heading into their opener Thursday at home against St. Louis:

---

HERE'S THE PITCH: Decimated by injuries, New York's talented staff fell apart last year and finished with a 5.01 ERA that ranked 28th in the majors. After making consecutive playoff appearances, including their run to the 2015 World Series, the Mets traded away veterans during the summer and tumbled to 70-92. The 42-year-old Callaway, a highly successful pitching coach in Cleveland, replaced Terry Collins, 68, the longest-tenured manager in Mets history. The team also overhauled its medical department and brought in new pitching instructor Dave Eiland, who held that job for World Series champions in 2009 (New York Yankees) and 2015 (Kansas City).

THE CAPTAIN AND THE QUARTERBACK: Mets captain and longtime third baseman David Wright is still trying to return from back and shoulder problems that have sidelined him since May 2016. After yet another medical setback, he hopes to begin baseball workouts in May, but his future is uncertain. Early in spring training, Alderson said he thought Tim Tebow would make it to the majors one day. The former NFL quarterback and 2007 Heisman Trophy winner was reassigned to minor league camp after going 1 for 18 (.056) with 11 strikeouts in seven big league exhibition games. The 30-year-old outfielder also was hampered by a left ankle sprain. He'll likely start the season at Double-A or a level lower.

BEST CASE: The starters pile up strikeouts, the sluggers pound home runs and most of them remain healthy as New York earns a wild card and maybe even pushes Washington for first place in the NL East.

WORST CASE: Injuries wreak havoc again, age takes a major toll and the back of the rotation is a mess as the Mets finish under .500 for the second straight season.

[StarDust Bum]

Cardinals' Wong running during spring training
March 22, 2018

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) Kolten Wong has six steals during in spring training - two shy of his total during the 2017 season.

''I figure if I can get into that rhythm now. I won't be able to lose it too fast when the season starts,'' the St. Louis Cardinals second baseman said. ''Obviously things kind of get drawn back a little bit.''

Wong has 53 regular-season stolen bases, including 20 in 2014. At one point projected a leadoff hitter, he likely will bat eighth when the season starts.

''I think I can still be aggressive - balls in the dirt, going first to third, different situations,'' Wong said.

He knows he needs to get on base more. He's hitting .176 in spring training after going 1 for 2 with a walk in Thursday's 8-2 victory over Atlanta.

''Just an understanding of who I am as a player kind of brings that sense of calmness,'' Wong said. ''Now I'm not trying to figure out what I want to be or what type of player I need to be now. I know what I can be - what makes me the most successful - and I'm sticking to it.''

Manager Mike Matheny notices the difference.

''I think he's handling things better, and to me that's maturity,'' Matheny said.

Wong hit a career-high .285 last year but had four homers - his lowest total for a full season - and his eight stolen bases.

''Whenever I get my time to steal, where ever I am in the lineup, I'm going to go,'' he said. ''I'm not going to be afraid or anything - just be aggressive and play the game.''

[StarDust Bum]

Bumgarner, Giants ready to rebound
March 22, 2018

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Madison Bumgarner learned a tough lesson and he's ready for a do-over. San Francisco's ace is as motivated as ever after the embarrassment of a dirt bike accident that cost him nearly three months and contributed to his club falling out of contention in a hurry.

Same goes for all of the Giants, fueled by an uncharacteristic 98-loss, last-place season.

The 2014 World Series MVP missed nearly three months after the dirt bike accident on April 20 during an off day in Colorado.

''Because of what happened to me last year, how we did last year, the whole combination of things and the group of guys that we've got here this year and the new staff ... the players that they brought in, I'm really excited,'' Bumgarner said. ''I feel like we've got a good chance to compete and win some games this year.''

After six straight seasons with double-digit wins, more than 200 innings and 30-plus starts - the previous three years with 18, 18 and 15 victories - Bumgarner went 4-9 with a 3.32 ERA in 17 starts last season and threw just 111 innings to match his low total from 2010 when he came up in June.

''You talk to the players and you can see a different attitude coming into this spring with what's happened this offseason,'' manager Bruce Bochy said. ''And also the fact that it's a new slate and we're going to be healthy, so there's a lot of reason to be optimistic.''

San Francisco certainly figures Bumgarner and Johnny Cueto - who made only 25 starts last season - will return with strong seasons leading the rotation after being limited by injuries in 2017.

Even newcomers third baseman Evan Longoria and Andrew McCutchen understand the pain of losing so many games and the importance of pushing past that to contend again after a 64-98 season.

''I think they're going to be a huge key to our success this year,'' catcher Buster Posey said.

''You can only go up, right?'' Longoria said.

Here are things to look for as the Giants try to bounce back in a tough NL West:

HEALTHY BELT: First baseman Brandon Belt has endured a series of concussions over the past two seasons - and he didn't play after Aug. 4 last year.

''It's obvious we're hoping that we don't deal with this again,'' Bochy said. ''Because of the number of concussions, sure there's some concern. With that said, when you see Belt, he's just got a hop to his step, he looks so good, he's in a great frame of mind. He's looking forward to really getting back on the field. He missed two months. That's a long time.''

PENCE'S SHIFT: When the Giants acquired McCutchen from Pittsburgh, one of the first calls Bochy made was to Hunter Pence. The manager asked his right fielder to move to left.

Pence agreed to do whatever was needed.

''He's always been one of the best teammates probably that this game's ever seen,'' Bumgarner said. ''He wants to do whatever he can do to help us win. That's the kind of guys you've got to have to have a winning team.''

MELANCON'S CHANCE: Closer Mark Melancon will try to pitch a full season in the ninth inning after his disappointing first year in the Bay Area was cut short when he needed right forearm surgery in September.

He made 32 appearances over 30 innings with 11 saves.

BEST CASE: Longoria and McCutchen are still stars, Bumgarner and Cueto - who decided in November to stay put when he could have opted out of his contract - are an elite 1-2 punch and the Giants return to the playoffs.

''I don't think you can fill it in any more than putting a guy like Andrew McCutchen out there,'' Longoria said. ''He's made a huge impact on the players both young and old that he's played with and he's got nothing but a great reputation. So all of those things are very important and make everybody confident that he's going to be a great fit here.''

WORST CASE: An older team struggles to stay healthy again and it might be time to seriously consider a major rebuild. Posey is confident, and he can't wait to play with Longoria and McCutchen.

''There's a lot of teams that have backed up, punted and have gone the rebuilding route,'' Bochy said. ''I think you look at our core players it just makes sense to do what we're doing because we still feel like there's a nice window there for us to play winning baseball.''

[StarDust Bum]

Dodgers a threat to get back to WS
March 22, 2018

LOS ANGELES (AP) The Dodgers start a new season with an old burden: they haven't won a World Series since 1988.

Winning 104 games and owning baseball's best record last year didn't get it done.

However, the Dodgers bring back most of their roster and boast depth in the rotation and up and down the lineup. That should allow them to weather potential injuries and slumps.

First baseman Cody Bellinger and shortstop Corey Seager - the last two NL Rookies of the Year - provide a young spark, while outfielder Chris Taylor will be looking to follow up a solid season in which he emerged as an everyday player. Bellinger will get a full season at first after veteran Adrian Gonzalez was traded.

Yasiel Puig is coming off a career-high 28 home runs and his defensive excellence in right field remains intact, having salvaged his career in Los Angeles after being demoted to Triple-A in 2016 and nearly traded.

Dave Roberts enters his third season as skipper with a 195-130 record and two division titles to his credit after being hired without any managerial experience.

Here are some things to watch for this season:

BEST CASE: The Dodgers are favorites to win their sixth straight NL West title. That's after they lost to Houston in Game 7 of the World Series. There's little reason to think they can't get there again. Ace Clayton Kershaw anchors a deep rotation that features Alex Wood, Rich Hill, Kenta Maeda and Hyun-Jin Ryu. Closer Kenley Jansen had a career-best 1.32 ERA and 109 strikeouts against just seven walks last year.

WORST CASE: They won an MLB-best 104 games last season - helped by a 43-7 record from early June to early August - and if a World Series hangover is inevitable as history suggests, repeating that total could be difficult. Health is a huge part of the equation, and it's already an issue to start the season.

INJURY CONCERNS: 3B Justin Turner, the team's best hitter last year, is out indefinitely with a broken left wrist after being hit by a pitch in a spring game on March 19. He doesn't need surgery, so it could be only a matter of weeks before he returns, which is good news because the Dodgers are not the same team without him. LHP Julio Urias created a splash last year working limited innings, but he is out until at least May after having left shoulder surgery. RHP Tom Koehler, acquired as a free agent in the offseason, is out indefinitely with a shoulder strain.

INFO AGE: The Dodgers favor a statistic-based approach to almost everything. It's apparent in their rotation, with starters typically pulled after two times through an opposing lineup which helps avoid letdowns and provides extended rest. The team's starters had a collective ERA of 3.39, tops in baseball last year. But they tossed just 885 innings. On the hitting side, Roberts uses platoons and matchup-driven lineups to spread around playing time.

NEW FACE: Well, Matt Kemp is a familiar face to Dodgers fans. The 33-year-old slugger was acquired in a trade with Atlanta that allowed the Dodgers to unload the burdensome contracts of Gonzalez, Scott Kazmir and Brandon McCarthy. Kemp was rumored to be traded, but he's had a solid spring in which he hit .302 and has made himself part of the platoon in left field. He can also DH when needed.

PASSPORTS, PLEASE: The Dodgers will play a regular-season series against the San Diego Padres in Monterrey, Mexico, from May 4-6. The series counts as Padres home games. Four years ago, the Dodgers opened the season in Australia against Arizona.

[StarDust Bum]

FRIDAY, MARCH 23
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

PHI at PIT 01:05 PM
PHI -111
U 9.0

DET at ATL 01:05 PM
ATL -141
U 9.0

BOS at NYY 01:05 PM
BOS +160
O 9.5

STL at NYM 01:10 PM
STL +110
U 9.5

SEA at CHW 04:05 PM
CHW -120

MIL at CHC 04:05 PM
CHC -141

CIN at COL 04:10 PM
COL -135
U 11.0

OAK at LAA 04:10 PM
OAK +110
O 11.0

WAS at MIA 07:05 PM
WAS -116

ARI at CLE 09:05 PM
CLE -172

TEX at SD 09:40 PM
TEX +105
U 10.5

[StarDust Bum]

Bumgarner breaks hand when hit by line drive, needs surgery
March 23, 2018

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) For the second consecutive season, the San Francisco Giants will be without injured ace Madison Bumgarner for a while.

Bumgarner broke a bone in his pitching hand Friday when it was hit by a line drive off the bat of Kansas City's Whit Merrifield during a spring training game.

The Giants said X-rays showed the 28-year-old fractured the fifth metacarpal on the outside of his left hand. Bumgarner said the timeline for recovery is four to six weeks and he will have a pin inserted into his pinkie Saturday.

''It's tough. But I can handle it,'' Bumgarner said. ''These guys can handle it. This obviously was not what I was expecting out of my last start. But it happened and I can deal with it.''

Bumgarner, the 2014 World Series MVP, missed nearly three months with a shoulder injury last season after a dirt bike accident on April 20 during an off day in Colorado.

His latest setback is a huge blow to the Giants as they try to rebound from a surprising last-place finish in the NL West with 98 losses.

''It's just a downer. This was a short day. I feel for him,'' manager Bruce Bochy said. ''Obviously, we know what he means to us, but where he was, how well he's thrown the ball all spring. Unfortunately, you've got to deal with these things. But this one certainly was a downer today because we were all getting ready to go to San Francisco and now we've got to make some adjustments.''

After six straight seasons with double-digit wins, more than 200 innings and 30-plus starts, Bumgarner went 4-9 with a 3.32 ERA in 17 starts last season and threw just 111 innings.

Bochy wasn't ready to say whether right-hander Johnny Cueto would move into the No. 1 spot and pitch Thursday's opener at the NL champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Jeff Samardzija has a strained pectoral muscle that will shut him down for at least a week and likely force him to start the season on the disabled list.

''This is horrible news for us,'' Bochy said. ''There's nothing else we can do now except push on.''

Cheslor Cuthbert hit a solo home run off Bumgarner and had four hits. Pablo Sandoval hit his third homer for the Giants.

ELSEWHERE AROUND THE GRAPEFRUIT AND CACTUS LEAGUES

DODGERS 10, ROYALS (SS) 0

Clayton Kershaw stretched his scoreless streak to 21 1/3 innings with 6 2/3 innings in his final tuneup for Thursday's opener against San Francisco. He allowed a leadoff single to Jon Jay and no other hits. He struck out four and walked none in his first appearance since turning 30 on Monday. Ricky Nolasco, who signed with Kansas City on March 7, allowed eight runs, five hits and two walks over 2 2/3 innings in his first start.

RED SOX 5, YANKEES 0

Aaron Judge hit leadoff for the first time in his professional career and went 1 for 4. Masahiro Tanaka gave up one run and five hits in 5 2/3 innings. Boston's Sam Travis hit his sixth home run and Ivan De Jesus Jr. had three hits, including a home run.

CARDINALS 5, METS 1

Michael Conforto went 1 for 4 as a designated hitter on his first big league game action since surgery Sept. 6 to repair a tear in the posterior capsule in his left shoulder.

PHILLIES 8, PIRATES 2

Maikel Franco hit a two-run homer and a grand slam after entering with a .167 average in 48 at-bats. Aaron Nola allowed four hits in his last outing before his first opening-day start, at Cincinnati.

ORIOLES 6, RAYS (SS) 1

Baltimore opening-day starter Dylan Bundy yielded one run and five hits in five innings, and Chris Davis and Trey Mancini hit two-run homers. Kean Wong, a brother of Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong, had a pair of hits for the Rays.

RAYS (SS) 6, BLUE JAYS 5

Blue Jays starter J.A. Happ allowed two hits in four scoreless innings. C.J. Cron had three hits, and Rays closer Alex Colome fanned one in a perfect sixth.

TIGERS 11, BRAVES 3

James McCann doubled twice and drove in five runs. Detroit's Norris gave up three runs - two earned - three hits and four walks in five innings. Anibal Sanchez made his second start for Atlanta, allowing three runs and seven hits in five innings. Freddie Freeman hit his second homer.

ASTROS (SS) 2, TWINS 2

Ryan LaMarre's double leading off the ninth inning was the first hit for Minnesota and Tanner English followed his first homer. J.D. Davis hit a pair of solo homers, raising his total to five.

ROCKIES 8, REDS 2

Homer Bailey, picked to start the Reds' opener, allowed consecutive homers in the fourth to Nolan Arenado and Carlos Gonzalez. Bailey, limited to 26 starts over the past three seasons because of injuries to his forearm and elbow, gave up three runs and eight hits in five innings.

ATHLETICS 4, ANGELS 2

Albert Pujols hit his first spring training homer for Los Angeles. Jake Smolinski finished a single shy of hitting for the cycle for Oakland.

CUBS 4, BREWERS 3

Ian Happ hit his sixth homer. Tyler Chatwood allowed two runs, six hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings and also hit an RBI double.

MARINERS 5, WHITE SOX 5,

James Shields struck out three in three shutout innings. Dan Vogelbach hit his sixth homer, Kirk Nieuwenhuis hit a two-run homer and pinch-hitter Craig Dedelow had a tying three-run drive in the eighth.

[StarDust Bum]

B]SATURDAY, MARCH 24
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS[/B]

PHI at DET 01:05 PM
DET -125

TB at PIT 01:05 PM
TB +100

MIA at WAS 01:05 PM
WAS -227

HOU at BOS 01:05 PM
HOU +115

NYM at STL 01:05 PM
NYM +110

CLE at TEX 03:05 PM
CLE -147

CHW at LAD 03:05 PM
LAD -233

MIL at OAK 03:05 PM
OAK -120

SD at CIN 04:05 PM
CIN -125

MIN at BAL 06:05 PM
BAL -120

[StarDust Bum]

Sale, Duffy become latest aces forced to make early exits
March 24, 2018

Chris Sale and his fellow aces are having all sorts of trouble with these tuneup starts.

Sale was knocked off the mound by a line drive Saturday and exited with a bruised left hip. He said the injury wasn't serious and wouldn't jeopardize his opening day start for the AL East champions Thursday at Tampa Bay.

''I don't see anything lingering from this,'' Sale said. ''Looked a lot worse than it really is.''

Sale was hit by a liner off the bat of Houston's J.D. Davis in the first inning. He crumpled to the ground, then walked off the field under his own power.

On Friday, San Francisco ace Madison Bumgarner sustained a broken finger on his pitching hand when he was struck by a line drive. He will miss at least a month.

The same day, Tampa Bay star Chris Archer - set to pitch against Sale - was hit by a grounder in the forearm of his pitching arm and had to leave a minor league game.

Hours after Sale was hurt, Kansas City lefty Danny Duffy exited in the third inning because of shoulder tightness. He said he expected to be OK to start on opening day at home against the White Sox.

''I think the baseball gods know I can't stand spring training and they just wanted to give me a little bit more miserable time throwing here,'' Duffy said.

ELSEWHERE AROUND THE GRAPEFRUIT AND CACTUS LEAGUES

RED SOX 6, ASTROS 0

Eduardo Nunez had three hits for Boston and Xander Bogaerts hit his third home run. Derek Fisher had two hits for Houston.

YANKEES (SS) 8, BRAVES 3

Luis Severino made his final spring start for New York's split squad, pitching five innings and allowing two runs and two hits and two walks, striking out seven. Atlanta ace Julio Tehran went five innings, giving up two runs and three hits while fanning five.

Yankees first baseman Greg Bird was held out with a sore right foot, and is scheduled to be evaluated Monday in New York for inflammation. He is batting .154 and was limited to 48 regular-season games last season because of a lingering right ankle injury.

YANKEES (SS) 13, BLUE JAYS 6

Giancarlo Stanton hit his second home run for New York's split squad and Didi Gregorius homered for the fourth time. Jacoby Ellsbury went 0 for 2, leaving him at .076 this spring, and will start the season on the disabled list with an oblique injury. Randal Grichuk and Kevin Pillar homered for Toronto.

MARLINS 4, NATIONALS 3

Washington ace Max Scherzer got ready for opening day, pitching seven innings and giving up four runs and eight hits while striking out nine. Yadiel Rivera had three hits, drove in three runs and stole a base for Miami.

CARDINALS 8, METS 7

Michael Conforto played the field for the first time since shoulder surgery last year, starting in center and going 0 for 2 for New York. Todd Frazier had three hits for the Mets and Marcell Ozuna doubled twice for St. Louis.

The Mets sent Zack Wheeler to Triple-A after he posted an 8.10 ERA in 10 innings this spring.

PHILLIES 4, TIGERS 1

Opening day starter Jordan Zimmermann made his final start for Detroit, working five innings and giving up four runs and nine hits, striking out six.

Philadelphia released six-time All-Star Francisco Rodriguez after the reliever posted a 5.40 ERA in eight appearances this spring. The 36-year-old was guaranteed $2.5 million if he made the opening day roster.

PIRATES 7, RAYS 5

Josh Harrison doubled twice for Pittsburgh and David Freese had two hits. Ivan Nova allowed two runs in three innings. Blake Snell struck out eight in 5 2/3 innings for Tampa Bay.

INDIANS 10, RANGERS 3

Cleveland ace Corey Kluber allowed two runs and three hits in six innings. Roberto Perez had his fifth homer and Mike Napoli had two hits and stole a base. Cole Hamels pitched three scoreless innings for Texas and Elvis Andrus homered.

The Rangers released 44-year-old pitcher Bartolo Colon from his minor league contract. They might still renegotiate with him - Colon has pitched well this spring and could slot in as their fifth starter because Martin Perez will open the season on the disabled list.

Texas minor league coach and former big league slugger Howard Johnson was hit in the face by a line drive and carried from the dugout on a stretcher. He was taken to a hospital.

BREWERS 10, ATHLETICS 5

Christian Yelich homered, doubled and drove in four runs from the leadoff spot. Lorenzo Cain added an RBI single and is batting .450 in his first spring with Milwaukee.

Jonathan Lucroy lined out in his only at-bat and is 0 for 12 since signing with Oakland. Athletics slugger Khris Davis struck out in his lone trip and is hitting .114 in 44 at-bats.

WHITE SOX 7, DODGERS 3

Alex Wood went five innings for the Dodgers, permitting two earned runs and five hits. Avisail Garcia's sacrifice fly capped a four-run fifth for Chicago.

Austin Barnes homered for Los Angeles.

PADRES 6, REDS 2

Wil Myers, who homered, and Manuel Margot each had two hits for San Diego. Clayton Richard pitched three shutout innings for the Padres. Brandon Finnegan, competing for the fifth spot in Cincinnati's rotation, allowed two runs on six hits, working three innings. Amir Garrett, also trying for that last spot, entered in the fifth and allowed four runs in four innings while striking out six.

ANGELS 15, DIAMONDBACKS (SS) 9

Nick Ahmed hit a three-run double and walked three times for Arizona's split squad. Los Angeles starter Tyler Skaggs was roughed up, pitching three innings and surrendering four runs on four hit and five walks.

ROYALS 4, DIAMONDBACKS (SS) 4, 9 INNINGS

Zack Godley started for Arizona's split squad and pitched two-hit ball for seven innings, giving up a home run to Mike Moustakas.

Frank Schwindel hit a tying homer in the ninth for the Royals. He has 14 hits in his last 18 at-bats, including seven home runs. He started out the spring 0 for 19.

[StarDust Bum]

Sunday’s 6-pack

Over/under totals for pitching wins this year:

16.5 Max Scherzer

15.5 Justin Verlander

14.5 David Price

13.5 Kyle Hendricks

13.5 Noah Syndergaard

12.5 Johnny Cueto

Quote of the Day
“I really think it could be a record-type thing, this could be another 10 years. Coach (Saban) is extremely healthy, he takes care of himself and you know, people are supposed to lose things as they get up there in age but he doesn’t at all. He doesn’t slow down. He drives himself — he works harder than anyone in the building, regardless of whether it’s a 25-year-old or not. I think him stopping would only be because… by choice he wanted, not for any other reason. He ain’t going to slow down.”
Lane Kiffin, talking about Nick Saban

Sunday’s quiz
Who was the last offensive player the Jets drafted in the first round?

Saturday’s quiz
Lance Alworth, the great WR from the Chargers, was the first player from the AFL inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Friday’s quiz
Kevin Bacon played the losing lawyer in the climactic scene of A Few Good Men.

*********************

Sunday’s List of 13: Random weekend stuff…..

13) Loyola, Chi 79, Kansas State 62— Much like #11-seeds George Mason in 2006 and VCU in 2011, who both came from the CAA, Ramblers come from the relative obscurity of the MVC to make the Final Four. No one saw this coming.

Not only has Loyola won four NCAA tourney games, they had to win the MVC tournament or they would’ve been playing in the NIT.

Ramblers didn’t have to play #2-seed Cincinnati after the Bearcats blew a 22-point lead to Nevada. #1-seed Virginia lost to a damn #16-seed, and Loyola took advantage of all that.

Loyola’s first three NCAA tournament wins were by total of four points:
— Ramblers were down 60-55 with 2:46 left in first round vs Miami.
— Loyola needed a lucky bounce on a jumper with 0:03.6 left to nip Tennessee, 63-62
— Loyola was down 20-8 early against Nevada, hung on at the end of its 69-68 win.

12) By way of comparison, two of George Mason’s four NCAA tourney wins in 2011 were by double figures- they were an underdog in three of the four games.

VCU had to win an additional play-in game, but four of their five NCAA tourney wins were by double figure margins- they were an underdog in all five of those wins.

11) A final question on the George Mason/VCU thing; does Porter Moser jump for bigger money? He’ll be in demand. Neither coach at Mason/VCU bolted right away.

In 2006, Jim Larranaga was coach at George Mason; he went 107-59 at Mason the next five years, then jumped to Miami, the ACC and a lot more money.

In 2011, Shaka Smart was VCU’s coach; he went 109-35 the next four years before going to Texas and the big $$$ of the Big X.

10) Michigan 58, Florida State 54— Seminoles went 8:00 without a basket down stretch, then made some questionable decisions on who to foul in last 1:30.

Unusual stat; in the West Region final the last 21 years, underdogs are 17-4 vs spread.

9) I love a good coincidence; USC just hired an assistant basketball coach who has two sons, both of whom are 6-10 or taller and are both in high school. Go figure.

Trojans hired Eric Mobley, an AAU coach for the last 11 years. From ESPN.com:

“His oldest son, Isaiah, is a 6-foot-10 high school junior and the No. 44-ranked prospect in the Class of 2019, while his youngest son, Evan, is 6-foot-10 and considered one of the top players in the country in the Class of 2020.”

I wonder where they’ll go to college?

8) Steph Curry is out with Grade 2 MCL sprain; he might be back for the start of the playoffs.

7) Ferris State 71, Northern State 69— Fun game to watch, for the D2 national title.

Ferris State’s president played the clarinet in the school band during this game. I’m guessing the university president at Kentucky or Duke doesn’t still play in the school band.

Ferris State’s mascot is a bulldog; I’m disappointed they’re not the Ferris Wheels.

6) Dustin Johnson hit a golf ball 489 yards Friday; seriously, he was on a 573-yard par-5 and was 84 yards from the hole for his second shot.

5) It bothers me when baseball teams shift and leave third base totally uncovered; they’re just giving up a base hit to anyone with the basic ability to bunt.

I can see doing it against powerful lefties like Bryce Harper or Freddie Freeman, but against guys who aren’t so great, to me it is just overthinking something that is fairly simple. Maybe the analytics people are trying to justify their position by micromanaging too much.

4) Apparently it costs $30 to park at A’s games this season; for their four home games with the Giants, it’ll cost $50 to park unless you say “Go A’s!!!” at the gate. Trolling Giants’ fans seems a little immature. Paying $30 to park seems a bit excessive.

3) There are rumors around that Gonzaga will be jumping from the WCC to the Mountain West as early as next season, which would give the MW an even dozen teams. Gonzaga is supposed to announce their decision in the next two weeks.

2) #1-seed Kansas is an underdog to Duke today; the previous nine #1-seeds who got points in the regional final went 2-7 SU, 3-6 against the spread.

1) Few years ago, I was at an AAU basketball tournament at Bishop Gorman HS in Las Vegas; I’m sitting in bleachers watching this game when one of the coaches takes his cellphone out while play was going on, looks at a text message, then glares at the couple sitting in front of me and says:

“If you text me again, he’ll never get in!!!!”

Can’t make stuff like that up.

[StarDust Bum]

Braves release veteran left-hander Scott Kazmir
March 24, 2018

ATLANTA (AP) The Atlanta Braves have released Scott Kazmir after the left-hander fell short in his bid to win the No. 5 spot in the team's rotation.

The 34-year-old Kazmir was acquired with Brandon McCarthy and infielder Charlie Culberson in the Dec. 18 trade that sent outfielder Matt Kemp to the Dodgers.

McCarthy has won a spot in the rotation but Kazmir struggled in spring training. He couldn't claim a spot left vacant when Luiz Gohara sprained his left ankle.

Kazmir will earn $15,554,483 on the final year of his contract this season.

Anibal Sanchez, signed to a minor league contract late in camp, is a candidate to serve as the fifth starter at least until Gohara is healthy.

*******************

Red Sox SP Sale hit by liner, should be OK
March 24, 2018

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) This was not the sight the Boston Red Sox envisioned in Chris Sale's final spring training tuneup: Their ace crumpled on the ground, knocked off the mound by a line drive.

Sale quickly got up, flexed his leg a few times and walked off the field under his own power Saturday. The AL East champions called it a bruised left hip, and Sale said the injury wasn't serious and wouldn't jeopardize his opening day start Thursday at Tampa Bay.

''I don't see anything lingering from this,'' Sale said. ''Looked a lot worse than it really is.''

Sale was struck by a liner off the bat of Houston's J.D. Davis in the first inning. A day earlier, San Francisco ace Madison Bumgarner sustained a broken pitching hand when he was hit a line drive and will miss at least a month.

X-rays were negative.

''When it first hit me, it kind of got me in the hip, but got the nerve. So it shot all the way down to my foot. So, that's what kind of made me worried,'' he said. ''I was telling them when I was out there, `Give me a minute. It'll come back. I'll be fine.' They didn't want to wait, so came in here, got it evaluated, looked at, figured out nothing series, just a bruise.''

''It kind of just shocked me more than anything, that initial blow,'' he said.

The lanky left-hander considered himself fortunate.

''That's another reason we're thankful it hit me where it did,'' Sale said. ''I don't have a whole lot of padding anywhere on me, but if I'm going to get hit, somewhere in the hip or the butt's going to be the place to go. Better than a rib, arm, hand, even the face. So this was best-case scenario.''

Manager Alex Cora said he expects Sale to pitch the opener.

''I bet, yeah,'' Cora said. ''He was committed to throw more pitches in the game. I was like, `No you're not throwing.''

Even so, Sale gave Cora quite a scare.

''It's not what you want to see,'' Cora said. ''That's the thing about the late part of spring training, it's just a game anything can happen. We saw it the last few days in Arizona. You see that and you always think the worst. But, see how he reacts tomorrow and we go from there.''

''We'll see where he's at tomorrow,'' he said. ''If he needs a day, he needs a day. But we stretched him enough. Obviously he needs work before that. If he's pitching on Thursday, we'll make sure he gets his work and we go from there.''

Chris Archer was expected to start for the Rays - on Friday, he was hit by a grounder in the forearm of his pitching arm and had to leave a minor league game.

The Red Sox had been bringing Sale along slowly this spring - not because of an injury but because they are hoping to keep him stronger as the season goes on.

Sale led the majors with 308 strikeouts last season, going 17-8 with a 2.90 ERA in his first year with Boston. He started for the AL in the All-Star Game.

But the six-time All-Star, who turns 29 a day after the opener, struggled late in the season. In 11 starts in August and September, he went 7-4 with a 4.09 ERA, averaging six innings.

Over his eight-season career, he is 59-22 with a 2.74 ERA in 133 first-half starts and 32-36 with 3.28 after.

Sale went 0-2 in the AL Division Series against Houston, giving up nine runs in 9 2/3 innings. He started Game 1 and made a relief appearance later in the matchup.

Sale was planning to go six innings, with 80 to 90 pitches on Saturday.

''We're going to figure something out over tomorrow and the next day,'' he said. ''Try to build up arm strength to get to where we need to be for Thursday.''

The Red Sox already were looking at starting the season with a depleted rotation. Manager Alex Cora announced earlier Saturday that pitchers Drew Pomeranz and Eduardo Rodriguez will begin the season on the disabled list.

Boston knuckleballer Steven Wright has accepted a 15-game suspension under Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy.

**********************

Mets send RHP Zack Wheeler to minors
March 24, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) Mets pitcher Zack Wheeler will begin the season in the minors after squandering an opportunity to secure a rotation spot during spring training.

New York optioned the oft-injured Wheeler to minor league camp Saturday. The right-hander, who has made only 17 major league starts over the last three years, gave up 22 hits and compiled an 8.10 ERA in 10 Grapefruit League innings.

Wheeler will start the season with Triple-A Las Vegas. Seth Lugo is likely to open as the No. 5 starter for the Mets while newcomer Jason Vargas recovers from surgery for a broken bone in his right (non-pitching) hand.

''It was very difficult,'' manager Mickey Callaway said in Jupiter, Florida, where the Mets lost to the St. Louis Cardinals 8-7 in an exhibition game. ''I think that Wheeler's got a lot to offer the team. I think that we all feel - I think even Wheeler feels - that there's some things to work on. In my mind he needs to get out there and pitch consistently and I think being in the Triple-A rotation will allow him to do that.''

A highly touted prospect, Wheeler pitched pretty well for New York from 2013-14. He missed the next two seasons following Tommy John surgery and finally returned last year, going 3-7 with a 5.21 ERA in 86 1/3 innings. He lost his last five decisions and didn't pitch after July 22 because of a stress reaction in his right arm

[StarDust Bum]

Pitcher Bartolo Colon cut by Rangers, could rejoin them soon
March 24, 2018

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) The Texas Rangers have cut pitcher Bartolo Colon, but the popular 44-year-old could rejoin them soon.

The Rangers released Colon from his minor league contract. The team faced a Saturday deadline to either add the right-hander to their 25-man roster, cut him or pay him $100,000 to stick around for now.

Colon made five starts in spring training and had a 3.00 ERA in 18 innings. He was a combined 7-14 with 6.48 ERA for Atlanta and Minnesota last year.

Colon's contract called for $1.75 million if he pitched for Texas. The Rangers still have the option of renegotiating a new deal with Colon, and have shown interest in keeping him.

******************

Brewers set rotation, Guerra to minors
March 24, 2018

PHOENIX (AP) The Milwaukee Brewers have optioned Junior Guerra, their opening day starter a year ago, to Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Guerra has made five spring starts and is scheduled to pitch Sunday's Cactus League finale against the Chicago White Sox. The 33-year-old right-hander, who had a groin injury in the opener at Cincinnati last year, was hampered all season and finished with a 5.12 ERA in 70 1-3 innings. He has a 3.15 ERA in 20 spring innings.

Manager Craig Counsell said that pitcher Yovani Gallardo also has been told he will not make the team. Gallardo, 32, came up with Milwaukee in 2007 and spent eight years with the Brewers, starting the 2014 opener. He was 5-10 with a 5.72 ERA for Seattle last year.

Chase Anderson goes on opening day on Thursday against the Padres, and Zach Davies was already scheduled to start the Brewers' home opener April 2 against St. Louis.

Counsell said that Jhoulys Chacin and lefty Brent Suter will start the final two games of the opening series in San Diego. The fifth starter will be Brandon Woodruff, but he will work out of the bullpen in San Diego, Counsell said.

Counsell said Woodruff will start in the home series against the Chicago Cubs, who follow the Cardinals to Miller Park.

Outfielders Keon Broxton and Brett Phillips also have been optioned to the minors.

**********************

Yankees' Ellsbury to start season on DL
March 24, 2018

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Yankees outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury will start the regular season on the disabled list because of an oblique injury that sidelined him three weeks.

Ellsbury, who resumed playing Thursday, will remain at the Yankees' spring training complex when the team leaves Florida on Sunday for its final spring training game Monday at Atlanta.

''Get him 40, 50 at-bats,'' Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Saturday.

The Yankees open the regular season Thursday at Toronto.

Ellsbury is projected as a backup outfielder after losing the starting center field job to Aaron Hicks last season.

Ellsbury, 34, is guaranteed $21,142,857 in each of the next three seasons as part of a $153 million, seven-year contract that includes a $21 million team option for 2021 with a $5 million buyout.

Brett Gardner is the starting left fielder, and Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge will rotate between right field and designated hitter. Stanton also could get time in left when Gardner is rested, especially against left-handed pitchers.

Ellsbury hit .264 with seven homers and 39 RBIs in 112 games last season. He was sidelined from May 24 until June 26 after sustaining a concussion against the outfield wall while making a spectacular catch to rob Kansas City's Alcides Escobar.

Also, third baseman Brandon Drury, hit on the left elbow by a pitch Friday, will take batting practice Sunday and has no doubts about being ready for opening day. X-rays on the elbow were negative.

''I was excited to get that news,'' Drury said. ''I couldn't squeeze my hand at the time, it was just numb. I've been hit there before, so I've had that feeling before. So, I had that hope it was going to be good. Anytime you can't squeeze your hand or have that feeling, it's not good but it's better now.''

Drury plans to start wearing an elbow guard.

Notes: LHP Jordan Montgomery, who will start the home opener April 2 against Tampa Bay, will make his final spring training outing Tuesday in a minor league game. ... The Yankees optioned RHP Domingo German to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. German and RHP Luis Cessa will be starters in the minors. ... Cashman said RHP Jonathan Holder made the team as the 13th pitcher. ... OF Clint Frazier (concussion) is doing limited baseball drills.

***********************

Cards closer Gregerson on DL to open '18
March 24, 2018

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) St. Louis closer Luke Gregerson will begin the season on the disabled list with a hamstring strain, manager Mike Matheny said on Saturday.

Gregerson injured the hamstring during conditioning drills. He hasn't pitched in a Grapefruit League game since Tuesday, when he struck out two in an inning. There is no announced timetable for his return.

''Hamstrings are so difficult to predict,'' Matheny said.

The Cardinals signed Gregerson during the offseason to be their closer. He saved 31 games for Houston in 2015 and 15 more the following season.

Gregerson worked three perfect innings this spring for the Cardinals.

''He's frustrated, too,'' Matheny said. ''He's had a long career and been a guy that's been durable.''

Earlier this spring, Gregerson missed time because of oblique tightness. Matheny said he didn't believe the two issues were related.

''He bounced back pretty quick which is hopefully an indicator of how quickly he's able to bounce back from injury,'' Matheny said.

Without Gregerson, Matheny intends to select his closer on a game-by-game basis based on matchups. Righties Dominic Leone and Bud Norris, along with lefty Tyler Lyons, figure to be in the mix.

St. Louis acquired Leone in the offseason trade that sent Randal Grichuk to Toronto.

Entering Saturday's game against the New York Mets, Leone allowed only one run while striking out 11 in eight appearances this spring.

''He's got swing-and-miss stuff,'' Matheny said. ''The cutter in particular plays extremely well for me in the fact that it is a four-seam cutter. It's not something that you see or expect to move like it does. We're always looking for a guy with a pitch that may be different than what other people have.''

Lyons came through the St. Louis organization as a starter before moving to the bullpen. He appeared in 50 games for St. Louis last season. Entering Saturday, Lyons allowed three runs this spring.

The Cardinals signed Norris as a free agent after the start of camp. Primarily a starter throughout his career, Norris saved 19 games for the Angels last season.

St. Louis began the spring by stretching out Norris so he could potentially start or pitch in long relief, but moved him to the bullpen for the final two weeks.

''He's got good stuff,'' Matheny said.

*******************

Mets' Wright is baseball's lone captain
March 24, 2018

MESA, Ariz. (AP) Anthony Rizzo is a three-time All-Star and the 2017 winner of the Roberto Clemente Award, baseball's biggest honor for sportsmanship and community involvement. Jon Lester is a three-time World Series champion, and Jason Heyward organized the most important meeting in franchise history.

Plenty of leaders with the Chicago Cubs. No captain.

One of the most revered titles in sports is hanging by a thread in baseball, which treats its history with hallowed tones in almost every case, but doesn't seem the slightest bit concerned about the absence of the iconic C on the front of its uniforms. New York Mets third baseman David Wright is the majors' only captain on the eve of the season, and it's unclear if he will ever play again.

''Leadership is a taken role and people want to follow you just based on how you are, how you treat them, how well you listen, how well you interact daily, how much you really are into them as opposed to yourself,'' Cubs manager Joe Maddon said, ''and that becomes obvious. Leadership is taken, man. It's hard to just place that out there.''

The 35-year-old Wright was named the fourth captain in Mets history in 2013, joining Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter and John Franco. He made the last of his seven NL All-Star teams that same year before he was hampered by a series of injuries. He hasn't appeared in a major league game since 2016.

Wright declared right away that he wouldn't wear the C on the front of his jersey, so that special touch has been missing from baseball for a couple years.

''I'm not sure if there's a benefit to having a title and I've never been one to like come in here and say you have to listen to me because I'm the captain,'' Wright said. ''I would hope that if I have something to say that somebody would listen to me because of, you know, because of what I've hopefully displayed in the clubhouse and be considered kind of a leader in here.''

But Wright made no attempt to hide the significance of the title to him.

''I'll say it again, that to this day it's probably the biggest honor away from the field of my career,'' he said.

A variety of factors have contributed to the decline of captains. Many of the captains across sports spend most of their careers with a single team, but that has become a rarity in baseball. There also are no real responsibilities for the title.

Hockey captains serve as the team's liaison to the officials. NFL captains participate in the pregame coin toss. NBA captains also have specific responsibilities, but baseball barely mentions the word in its rulebook.

''There's no, like, formal meeting,'' Washington ace Max Scherzer said. ''It's not like football where you go out there and shake the other team's hands and you need captains to go do that. Baseball doesn't have that. So maybe that's why you don't see it. There's no coin toss.''

But the list of baseball captains still includes some of the biggest names in the history of the sport. Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Thurman Munson and Derek Jeter are on the list of 11 Yankees captains. Pee Wee Reese and Duke Snider with the Dodgers. Jimmie Foxx and Carl Yastrzemski for the Boston Red Sox. Willie Stargell, Barry Larkin and other Hall of Famers.

Jeter thought he did something wrong when then-Yankees owner George Steinbrenner called to make him captain in 2003.

''The boss, Mr. Steinbrenner usually only called if you were in trouble during the season,'' Jeter said. ''He called me, we were in Cincinnati, and said he wanted to name me the captain. It was a welcome phone call.''

The list of baseball captains underscores not only the special players to hold the title, but also the unique situations that led to their leadership position.

Rizzo, Lester and Heyward, who got the Cubs together during a key moment in Game 7 of their World Series win in 2016, could each serve as captain. But identifying one leader in Chicago's clubhouse at the possible expense of its other respected veterans likely would hurt the team more than help it. There are similar situations in several other clubhouses across the sport.

''Having a team captain could conceivably in some ways change the relationship between the manager and the coaches and the rest of the team,'' Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said.

''So, again, it's all about the people. It's not that it's a good idea or a bad idea, it's all about the people. It's not just the guy you're considering for that position but also everybody around him, your own players, the manager, the coaching staff. You really have to think of it in those terms.''