2018 MLB Spring Training Running Thread

It seems a little weird to start it this year with so much offseason activity bleeding into spring training, but pitchers and catchers are reporting today. So shouldn't we move the discussion here?

 

Love seeing this thread title.

 

Feels a little empty without the annual picture of Fat Pablo at Red Sox camp.

 

So Terry Francona's dad (the original Tito) died. Apparently a bunch of people on Twitter think it's Terry who died (check the replies).



Always felt it was incredibly lazy that he just inherited his dad's nickname. The original Tito was a pretty good player.

 

They missed out on a commercial with Dos Titos eating Dostitos ...

 

This tweet does not make much sense. I understand what he is trying to say, but wow!

 

Manny Machado to Yanks has been discussed

Machado to the Bronx seems like a certainty, but as a non-Yankee fan I'd just as soon it not happen till he hits free agency next year. Meanwhile, "Ellsbury is due $68.4 million over the next three seasons."

One of the few times Boston lost out to a big-name FA and it worked out.

 

Basically just Rosenthal throwing darts at a board and coming up with some fantasy scenarios.

Yanks might as well see what they have with Andujar. If he pans out, they may not need Machado anyways.

 

This may not be of much comfort:

 

Red Sox are still paying Pablo Sandoval $18m this year and next.

Players wonder why they aren't receiving the usual long-term contracts.

 

Another less-fat player this spring:

Matt Kemp has lost over 40 pounds

The cynical Braves fan in me must remind you Kemp did this last year, then hurt his hamstring early in the season and appeared to gain all the weight back almost overnight. By the end of the year, he had pigeon shit on his shoulder he was such a statue in left field.

 

Baseball back on WGN radio.

White Sox announce deal with WGN Radio to broadcast games