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Chicago – Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez wanted to hug, high-five and fist bump his players. After all, the defending World Series champions spent nearly four months apart before resuming workouts last week. Then, he remembered: Those are out. And just like crying, now there’s no spitting in baseball, either. […]

Phoenix – San Francisco catcher Buster Posey became the latest well-known player to opt out of the abbreviated 2020 season because of concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, joining Dodgers pitcher David Price and Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman on the sidelines. Later Friday, the Chicago White Sox said prized pitching […]

Chiba – In case anyone didn’t see the image on the scoreboard at Zozo Marine Stadium, Chiba Lotte Marines PA announcer Emi Taniho relayed the message loud and clear herself. « Welcome back. » After starting the season behind closed doors on June 19, NPB teams welcomed fans back into ballparks, in […]

Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Baseball has its answer to penalty kicks, overtimes and shootouts, and it figures to stir just as much debate as all those other tiebreakers. Major League Baseball will start each extra inning in this abbreviated, 60-game season by putting a runner on second base. The rule has […]

Hiroshima – Former Chiba Lotte Marines pitcher Randy « Jay » Jackson Jr. was arrested Friday on suspicion of cannabis possession at his home in Hiroshima. The 32-year-old American, who played for the Hiroshima Carp between 2016 and 2018 and joined the Chiba-based Marines this season, remained silent when asked about the […]

Nishinomiya, Hyogo Pref. – Justin Bour homered in his home debut at historic Koshien Stadium, lifting the Hanshin Tigers to a 2-1 Central League victory over the Yomiuri Giants on Thursday. Bour broke open a scoreless game in the seventh, blasting a slider up in the zone from Giants starter […]

Seattle – Japanese players, including those who are preparing for their major league debuts, took part in preseason training Wednesday, with the start of the dramatically altered 2020 season approaching later this month. Left-handed pitcher Yusei Kikuchi, who is entering his second season with the Seattle Mariners after an uneven […]

New York – As Major League Baseball cautiously tiptoes closer toward beginning its delayed 2020 season, several teams welcomed back players who might have been exposed to the coronavirus and the San Francisco Giants resumed workouts Wednesday after finally receiving the results of COVID-19 tests administered over the weekend. The […]

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – Jake Diekman has serious questions about Major League Baseball’s ability to pull off a season given the issues everywhere — getting timely test results, forcing delays and cancellations of workouts. For now, Diekman still plans to play. He must be extra careful given he has the autoimmune […]

NEW YORK – As baseball nears the two-week countdown to the start of its delayed season, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to keep more players, including Boston Red Sox projected opening day starter Eduardo Rodriguez, off the field. On Tuesday, one day after Major League Baseball released its 60-game schedule, there […]