2013 – Elvis Andrus adds his name to the list of baseball’s most bizarre injuries, as he is scratched from the Rangers’ line-up before a Cactus League game because of “sensivity and muscle soreness” in his left shoulder, the result of an elaborate tatoo commemorating his late father, reaching from the top of his shoulder to his biceps.

ByTom

2013 – Elvis Andrus adds his name to the list of baseball’s most bizarre injuries, as he is scratched from the Rangers’ line-up before a Cactus League game because of “sensivity and muscle soreness” in his left shoulder, the result of an elaborate tatoo commemorating his late father, reaching from the top of his shoulder to his biceps.

Trying to make the Royals’ roster as a reliever, rookie P Donnie Joseph opens some eyes. After striking out the side in his first spring outing four days ago, he repeats the feat today against the Indians, needing only the minimum of 9 pitches to turn the trick.

ByTom

Trying to make the Royals’ roster as a reliever, rookie P Donnie Joseph opens some eyes. After striking out the side in his first spring outing four days ago, he repeats the feat today against the Indians, needing only the minimum of 9 pitches to turn the trick.

Russell Martin withdraws from Team Canada four days before the start of the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Signed by the Pirates as a free agent over the off-season, the veteran catcher had wanted to play shortstop in the tournament, but both the Bucs and the national team brass were cool to the suggestion. He is replaced on the roster by John Suomi, a veteran backstop with 12 minor league seasons of experience.

ByTom

Russell Martin withdraws from Team Canada four days before the start of the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Signed by the Pirates as a free agent over the off-season, the veteran catcher had wanted to play shortstop in the tournament, but both the Bucs and the national team brass were cool to the suggestion. He is replaced on the roster by John Suomi, a veteran backstop with 12 minor league seasons of experience.

2013 – Major League Baseball announces changes to its umpiring crews for the coming season, following the resignation of three veteran umpires, Derryl Cousins, Ed Rapuano and Tim Tschida, over the winter. Jim Joyce, Ted Barrett and Fieldin Culbreth are all named crew chiefs, while Vic Carapazza, Manny Gonzalez and Alan Porter are added to the full-time umpiring staff; all three have taken part in a number of games as fill-in umpires over the past few seasons.

ByTom

2013 – Major League Baseball announces changes to its umpiring crews for the coming season, following the resignation of three veteran umpires, Derryl Cousins, Ed Rapuano and Tim Tschida, over the winter. Jim Joyce, Ted Barrett and Fieldin Culbreth are all named crew chiefs, while Vic Carapazza, Manny Gonzalez and Alan Porter are added to the full-time umpiring staff; all three have taken part in a number of games as fill-in umpires over the past few seasons.

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The Yankees lose a big piece of their projected line-up when LF Curtis Granderson suffers a broken forearm

ByTom

2013 – The Yankees lose a big piece of their projected line-up when LF Curtis Granderson suffers a broken forearm after being struck by a pitch by Toronto’s J.A. Happ in the 1st inning of a Grapefruit League game in Tampa, FL. The Yanks’ most prolific home run hitter over the past two seasons is expected to be out for 10 weeks.

Their line-up already depleted by off-season trades, the Marlins lose another key player when C Jeff Mathis is struck by a foul tip off the bat of St. Louis’ Matt Holliday at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, FL. Mathis suffers a broken right collarbone, putting him on the shelf for six to ten weeks, while the Fish have no other catcher in camp with any major league experience to speak of.

ByTom

Their line-up already depleted by off-season trades, the Marlins lose another key player when C Jeff Mathis is struck by a foul tip off the bat of St. Louis’ Matt Holliday at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, FL. Mathis suffers a broken right collarbone, putting him on the shelf for six to ten weeks, while the Fish have no other catcher in camp with any major league experience to speak of.

The “bloody sock” by Schilling in Game 2 of the 2004 World Series is sold at auction for $92,613.

The “bloody sock” by Schilling in Game 2 of the 2004 World Series is sold at auction for $92,613.

ByTom

The famous “bloody sock” worn by P Curt Schilling in Game 2 of the 2004 World Series is sold at auction for $92,613. Schilling had loaned the item to the Hall of Fame, but had used it as collateral against a loan to set up his video game company, 38 Studios, which went bankrupt last year. Schilling defaulted on payments, prompting the bank to sell it in order to recover some of its loss.

2013 – A former Florida Marlins top prospect at third base in the 1990s, Josh Booty is back in baseball after winning a reality television show produced by the MLB Network called “The Next Knuckler”. Booty’s knuckleball wins him an invitation to spring training with the Diamondbacks. He is now 38 years old and was a star quarterback in college football after washing out of the major leagues. He will fail to earn a contract, however.

ByTom

2013 – A former Florida Marlins top prospect at third base in the 1990s, Josh Booty is back in baseball after winning a reality television show produced by the MLB Network called “The Next Knuckler”. Booty’s knuckleball wins him an invitation to spring training with the Diamondbacks. He is now 38 years old and was a star quarterback in college football after washing out of the major leagues. He will fail to earn a contract, however.

The Red Sox obtain OF/1B Mike Carp from Seattle for future considerations, one week after Carp was designated for assignment. They place OF Ryan Kalish, who is recovering from shoulder surgery, on the 60-day disabled list to clear a roster spot for their new acquisition.

ByTom

The Red Sox obtain OF/1B Mike Carp from Seattle for future considerations, one week after Carp was designated for assignment. They place OF Ryan Kalish, who is recovering from shoulder surgery, on the 60-day disabled list to clear a roster spot for their new acquisition.

Marlins OF Giancarlo Stanton is accidentally beaned by rookie Jose Fernandez in an intra-squad spring training game, but seems to be fine. Miami can ill afford to lose its last remaining star after dumping all of its other prominent players in the off-season.

ByTom

Marlins OF Giancarlo Stanton is accidentally beaned by rookie Jose Fernandez in an intra-squad spring training game, but seems to be fine. Miami can ill afford to lose its last remaining star after dumping all of its other prominent players in the off-season.