‘The Future of Baseball’: Will Marlins’ Pitch-calling System Become the Norm?

A month into the season, the Miami Marlins’ polarizing pitch-calling system has received both commendation and criticism. But it has gone mostly to plan.  From the dugout, assistant pitching coach Rob Marcello uses his fingers to relay his desired pitch type and location to the catcher, who checks his wristband for the corresponding number before…

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Inside James Wood’s Low-Key Presence and High-Impact ‘Sky’s The Limit’ Bat

NEW YORK – Sitting on a gray couch in the Citi Field visitor’s clubhouse, James Wood studied a 64-square checkerboard.  This was the 23-year-old outfielder’s second game of chess of the afternoon. Moments before, Wood had just said the magic word — checkmate — to shortstop CJ Abrams, defeating his Washington Nationals teammate before moving…

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Former White Sox All-Star Alexei Ramírez Tested Positive for 4 Steroids at WBC

Fomer Chicago White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez tested positive for four anabolic steroids at the World Baseball Classic in March, where he set a record as its oldest ever player. The 44-year-old Cuban tested positive for “metabolites of mesterolone, metandienone, oxandrolone and stanozolol,” the International Testing Agency said Wednesday in announcing his provisional ban from…

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What’s Next for the Phillies After Firing Manager Rob Thomson?

Often, managers become the scapegoats for poorly-constructed teams missing the requisite talent to contend. Occasionally, though, an in-season change can spark a speedy turnaround.  In 2022, that’s exactly what happened when Rob Thomson took over for Joe Girardi after Philadelphia’s’ 22-29 start and went 65-46 the rest of the way, steering the Phillies to their first…

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