ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 17: Fredi Gonzalez #33 of the Atlanta Braves converses with first base umpire Ed Hickox #15 after Christian Bethancourt #25 was called out to end the fourth inning against the Washington Nationals at Turner Field on September 17, 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

New pace of play rules will be enforced this year

0 comments by on 2/20/2015

On Friday, Major League Baseball unveiled three rules dedicated to speeding up the pace of the game during the 2015 season. The three new rules aren’t game changers, and should help eliminate some of the dead time that plagues the game. That’s a lot to digest, so here are the Cliffs Notes. -Batters must keep […]

Cliff Lee answered questions using a Magic 8-Ball

0 comments by TOC Locker on 2/19/2015

So, just how much of a circus is Phillies camp in Clearwater already? Today, Cliff Lee answered questions from reporters…and used a Magic 8-Ball to give his answers. Your browser does not support iframes. Cliff Lee, man. What a character. The wild thing is that the 8-Ball’s answers seemed to actually jive with what he […]

NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 08: Carlos Beltran #36 of the New York Yankees celebrates after hitting a grand slam in the sixth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Yankee Stadium on August 8, 2014 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

2015 season preview: New York Yankees

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The Yankees have finished in third and second place, respectively, during the past two seasons. As you know, that doesn’t cut it in the Bronx. Yet general manager Brian Cashman apparently had little to spend this winter, after throwing big money at four top free agents last year. Will the Yankees suffer for not getting […]

Danny Espinosa’s fu manchu is terrifying

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Players are reporting to Spring Training all across Florida and Arizona, and Washington Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa arrived with some extra facial hair. GOOD GOOGLY MOOGLY there’s a lot going on there. He actually kind of looks like Dan Uggla…just with some extra fuzz and smaller arms.

The Pirates are wearing awesome matte helmets this spring

0 comments by TOC Locker

One of the ways to my heart is when MLB teams make simple changes to their gear that look amazing. During Spring Training, the Pittsburgh Pirates will be wearing matte black helmets that look fantastic. So nice. More MLB teams need to follow this trend – the helmets look simply fantastic, and the Pirates should […]

TUSCALOOSA, AL – OCTOBER 18: Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees stands on the field prior to the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Texas A&M Aggies at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 18, 2014 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Frank Caliendo read A-Rod’s apology as Morgan Freeman

0 comments by TOC Locker on 2/18/2015

I’m not a huge Frank Caliendo fan, but his reading of Alex Rodriguez’s apology letter is an absolute riot. Check out Caliendo reading the letter in the voices of Morgan Freeman, Jon Gruden, and Chris Berman. I’m in tears, completely beside myself. This is incredible. Well done, Frank. [SBNation]

Athletics bargain Frank Thomas OAKLAND, CA – JULY 02: Frank Thomas #35 of the Oakland Athletics is congratulated by teammates after hitting a solo home run in the 2nd inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at McAfee Coliseum on July 2, 2006 in Oakland, California. The Diamondbacks defeated the A’s 3-1. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

The best MLB free agent bargains of the past 10 years

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With players reporting to spring training this week (and TOC beginning its season previews), the offseason is all but officially over. And with that, free agent signings have essentially come to an end — especially among the top talent available. Yet this is also the time of year that MLB clubs can find some good […]

Marcus Stroman and Jose Bautista of the Blue Jays TORONTO, CANADA – SEPTEMBER 8: Marcus Stroman #54 of the Toronto Blue Jays is congratulated on his complete-game victory by Jose Bautista #19 during MLB game action against the Chicago Cubs on September 8, 2014 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

2015 season preview: Toronto Blue Jays

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Our next stop on our journey through the AL East takes us north of the border, where the 22-year playoff drought of Canada’s lone Major League team has supposedly been close to being erased in recent years, only to see the team fall short due to injuries, bad luck and seemingly everything in between. Now, […]

LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 04: Pitcher Kenley Jansen #74 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches in the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals in Game Two of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 4, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers won the game 3-2. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Kenley Jansen may start the year on the DL after foot surgery

0 comments by TOC Locker on 2/17/2015

The Dodgers got some bad news on Tuesday – closer Kenley Jansen is expected to miss 8-12 weeks following foot surgery. That timetable puts his return, at the earliest, a week into the 2015 season. Here’s the official press release from the club via Dodger Thoughts. This morning at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, Dodger pitcher […]

NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 26: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees looks on from the bench in the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays on September 26, 2013 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Alex Rodriguez has apologized to baseball fans

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Let’s put the entire saga behind us, shall we? Alex Rodriguez released a hand-written apology on Tuesday to all baseball fans. You can view the whole apology here, but here’s the full text. To the Fans, I take full responsibility for the mistakes that led to my suspension for the 2014 season. I regret that […]

Evan Longoria and James Loney of the Rays ST. PETERSBURG, FL – MAY 6: Evan Longoria #3 and James Loney #21 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrate Longoria’s two-run home run during the first inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles on May 6, 2014 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)

2015 season preview: Tampa Bay Rays

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We talk about “lost seasons” all the time in sports, but 2014 truly was a lost, franchise-altering season for the Tampa Bay Rays. Tampa Bay got off to a horrid start in 2014, and were 31-48 on June 24th. Then, they caught fire, going on a 22-6 run to close within one game of .500…and […]

PHOENIX, AZ – FEBRUARY 28: Barry Zito #75 of the Oakland Athletics poses for a portrait during the Oakland Athletics Photo Day at Papago Park on February 28, 2005 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Barry Zito is attempting a comeback with the Athletics

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On Monday afternoon, long-time Oakland Athletics first baseman Jason Giambi retired. On Monday night, long-time Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Barry Zito rejoined the club on a minor league deal. The 36-year old Zito took 2014 off after concluding his seven-year deal with the San Francisco Giants, signed during the winter of 2006. Zito never had […]

BRONX, NY – MAY 29: Jason Giambi #16 of the Oakland Athletics looks on during batting practice prior to their MLB game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on May 29, 2000 in New York, New York. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Jason Giambi is calling it a career

0 comments by TOC Locker on 2/16/2015

Athletics, Yankees, Rockies, and Indians veteran Jason Giambi is retiring after 20 seasons in the majors. Giambi turned 44 in January, and spent the past two seasons with the Indians. He hadn’t been much a regular since he left the Yankees following the 2008 season. In a statement released to the New York Daily News, Giambi […]

3 Mar 1998: Chuck Knoblauch #11 of the New York Yankees in action during the Yankees 8-7 loss to the Houston Astros during Spring Training at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Florida. Mandatory Credit: Andy Lyons /Allsport

Chuck Knoblauch took a shot at Andy Pettitte

0 comments by TOC Locker

On Sunday, it was announced that the New York Yankees would be retiring Andy Pettitte’s #46 despite his admission of taking HGH. His former teammate, Chuck Knoblauch, took the opportunity to take a shot at Pettitte. Knoblauch was also an admitted PED user. Congrats to 46. Yankees retiring his number. Hopefully they don’t retire it […]

CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 6: Catcher Yan Gomes #10 celebrates with starting pitcher Corey Kluber #28 of the Cleveland Indians after the Indians defeated the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field on September 6, 2014 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians defeated the White Sox 3-1. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

The best 2015 win total bets

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This is one of my favorite columns to write each year, and it’s largely a meaningless one. In the middle of February, Nevada casinos begin to roll out their projected win totals for MLB teams, allowing bets to be placed on the over or under. Well, those over/unders were released on Friday, and it’s now […]

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