March 14

2018 – Minor League Baseball announces some changes to the rules that will be used throughout the minor leagues starting this season. First, there will be a limit of six mound visits per game in AAA, similar to the rule change just introduced in Major League Baseball; lower classifications will allow more visits: 8 in AA and 10 in Class A. A 15-second pitch clock will be introduced with the bases empty, and 20 seconds with men on base. Finally, a variation of the Schiller Rule will be used beginning in the 10th inning, as each half inning will start with the batter preceding the first batter of the inning already on second base. That last rule was already in use in some Rookie-class leagues.

The bidding to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers from bankrupt owner Frank McCourt is down to four groups. Surprisingly, all the groups with strong ties to baseball or to the Los Angeles, CA area have been eliminated, leaving hedge-fund billionaire Steve Cohen as the front-runner. He is expected to hire long-time major league manager Tony LaRussa in a senior executive position if his bid, rumored to be worth $1.6 billion, is successful.

The Royals suddenly find themselves short of catchers when expected starter Salvador Perez suffers a torn knee ligament while warming up Jonathan Sanchez prior to today’s Grapefruit League game. He plays one inning, then leaves in pain and will need to undergo surgery. The injury comes three weeks after another backstop, Manny Pina, had to undergo surgery for torn cartilage, leaving the Royals with only two experienced catchers, Brayan Pena and non-roster invitee Max Ramirez, both of whom have been career back-ups.

2011 – A’s closer Andrew Bailey leaves a game after experiencing discomfort while throwing. The team announces that he is headed to visit Dr. James Andrews in Alabama with what is described as “tightness in the forearm”. Bailey already underwent Tommy John surgery after tearing a ligament in his elbow in 2005, and missed the second half of last season with an elbow injury. The A’s will get some good news a day later when Dr. Andrews confirms that the injury is indeed only a strained forearm.

2010 – The Dodgers crush an All-Star team from the Chinese Professional Baseball League, 11 – 1, at Kaohsiung Stadium to complete their three-game tour in Taiwan. Josh Towers, Josh Lindblom and Jon Link, who are fighting for spots on the Dodgers’ pitching staff, all impress manager Joe Torre.

Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona agrees to a two-year contract extension that runs through the 2008 season.

The Washington Nationals can keep their nickname. Major League Baseball settles a lawsuit with a company that says it owns the trademark rights to the name Washington Nationals. Designs for a 41,000-seat ballpark for Washington are also unveiled by District of Columbia officials, a glass-and-steel structure clad in pale stone chosen to complement the world famous skyline of the nation’s capital.