News Clips 12.20.13



Milwaukee Brewers News Clips

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Brewers head into spring training with many questions

Tom Haudricourt Journal Sentinel

Feb. 20, 2015

Phoenix — Spring training provides six weeks for major-league clubs to find answers to questions that will determine whether they are competitive for the postseason or destined to struggle.

And, make no mistake about it — every team has question marks as they open camp. There is no such thing as a perfect team. Some just have more questions than others.

The Brewers, who devolved from a seemingly sure-fire playoff team in 2014 to an 82-80 finish with a horrendous late-season collapse, have many questions to be answered over the next six weeks, such as:

■Will Ryan Braun's medically treated thumb hold up over the long haul and allow him to once again be one of the top offensive players in the National League?

■Can third baseman Aramis Ramirez, now in his mid-30s, avoid the leg and knee issues that plagued him in recent seasons and recover from his late-season fade in 2014?

■Which shortstop will show up this spring — the Jean Segura who became a first-year all-star in 2013 or the one who struggled for most of last season?

■With Yovani Gallardo now playing for Texas, how will a thin starting rotation hold up? Is Mike Fiers ready to put his up-and down past behind him and prosper over the long term? Will Jimmy Nelson fulfill his potential as the organization's top pitching prospect?

■Will anyone emerge as the primary bullpen closer? Jonathan Broxton once filled that role for the Dodgers but has been primarily a setup man in recent years. Will the Brewers finally pull off a trade for Philadelphia's Jonathan Papelbon or return Francisco Rodriguez to the fold?

■Are second baseman Scooter Gennett and leftfielder Khris Davis ready to be everyday, consistent contributors? They have been productive over stretches but their inexperience also has come forward at times.

■Can Jonathan Lucroy get ready for opening day while being limited by a hamstring strain that will prevent him from playing in games for several weeks? Does he have time to show he's the best right-handed alternative to Adam Lind at first base?

If Brewers fans are suitably nervous after contemplating those questions, no one can blame them. As with most teams in mid-markets with stretched payroll budgets, the margin for error is slight. The line between competing and stumbling is razor-thin.

But if most if not all of those questions result in positive answers, the outlook for the 2015 Brewers will brighten considerably. There is a lot of talent on this team, and if things break right there is no reason it can't be competitive for a playoff berth.

It's difficult to call a 150-day stay in first place last season a fluke, no matter how ugly the finish. But major-league baseball is a six-month gantlet, and no satisfaction was derived from the Brewers leading the pack for most of 2014, only to fall flat on their faces at the end.

"Hopefully, we have a group of guys that are pissed off about the way things ended last year," veteran starter Kyle Lohse said Friday as pitchers and catchers reported to camp. "We had an excellent 4½ months. I'm pissed. You don't get that many opportunities to get to the playoffs.

"Only a select few get that invite. We kind of let that one slip through our hands. There are so many things that can happen over 162 games. You don't know if you're going to get in that position again. When you have it that close, it should help drive you. Let's learn from it and not let that happen again."

If that collapse keeps a chip on the Brewers' shoulders throughout this season, the lesson learned could be beneficial. But manager Ron Roenicke, whose fate relies on the team shaking off that nightmare and bouncing back, doesn't intend to challenge his players to use it as motivation.

"I'll say something about it, but it's in the past," he said. "We need to learn from it, but we need to move on. Whether you start well or finish well, you've got to be consistent in what you do. Hopefully, things change a little bit this year."

Team principal owner Mark Attanasio and general manager Doug Melvin rolled the dice in a big way with their decision to keep the team mostly intact. They decided the five-month stay in first place was no mirage and attributed the late collapse solely to a team-wide offensive slump that won't be repeated.

If that calculated gamble fails, critics will emerge from all corners and the decision-makers will face the possibility that it's time to step back and reload. A half-dozen players on the final years of their contracts will become trade bait.

If things come together, Attanasio and Melvin will look like geniuses for not overreacting to the collapse. We should start getting the answers soon.

Kyle Lohse: Brewers' 2014 collapse should be motivation

By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel

Feb. 20, 2015

Phoenix - Veteran starting pitcher Kyle Lohse says the Brewers should use their epic 2014 late-season collapse as motivation as they prepare for this season.

“Hopefully, we have a group of guys that are (ticked) off about the way things ended last year,” Lohse said Friday as pitchers and catchers reported to spring camp at Maryale Baseball Park. “We had an excellent 4 ½ months. I’m (ticked). You don’t get that many opportunities to get to the playoffs.

“Only a select few get that invite. We kind of let that one slip through our hands. There are so many things that can happen over 162 games. You don’t know if you’re going to get in that position again. When you have it that close, it should help drive you. Let’s learn from it and not let that happen again.”

The Brewers led the NL Central for 150 days last season before falling apart down the stretch. A 9-22 finish, tied mostly to a team-wide offensive slump, left them with an 82-80 record and out of the playoffs.

If that collapse keeps a chip on the Brewers’ shoulders throughout this season, the lesson learned could be beneficial. But manager Ron Roenicke, whose fate relies on the team shaking off that nightmare and bouncing back, doesn’t intend to challenge his players to use it as motivation.

“I’ll say something about it but it’s in the past,” he said. “We need to learn from it but we need to move on. Whether you start well or finish well, you’ve got to be consistent in what you do. Hopefully, things change a little bit this year.”

Brewers react to MLB's pace-of-play rules changes

By Todd Rosiak of the Journal Sentinel

Feb. 20, 2015

Phoenix – Major League Baseball along with the MLB Players Association on Friday announced several rules changes designed to speed up the pace of play.

Beginning in spring training batters must now keep one foot in the batter's box, except in certain circumstances, and there will also be timers measuring non-game action, break time between innings and pitching changes.

MLB began last fall looking at ways to speed up games, which averaged 3 hours 2 minutes this past season.

There were also a series of changes made to the instant replay system, most notably managers now being able to challenge a play from the dugout rather than approaching the umpire.

“These changes represent a step forward in our efforts to streamline the pace of play," commissioner Rob Manfred said. "The most fundamental starting point for improving the pace of the average game involves getting into and out of breaks seamlessly.

"In addition, the batter’s box rule will help speed up a basic action of the game.”

Batters were required to keep one foot in the box beginning in 2014 in the minor leagues, and the rule was also utilized in the Arizona Fall League. Swinging at a pitch, being forced out by a pitch, time out being granted by the umpire and wild pitches and passed balls are all acceptable reasons for batters to leave the box.

Jonathan Lucroy, who's no stranger to recent rules changes as the Milwaukee Brewers' catcher, isn't in favor of keeping batters in the box.

"It bothers me to see that because as a hitter when you rush in the game of baseball, it's not going to work out," he said. "I like taking my time, relaxing, gathering my thoughts. This game is tough enough without being up there rushing."

With regard to breaks, there now will be timers – one on the outfield scoreboard and the other behind home plate near the pressbox – that will count down from 2 minutes 25 seconds for locally televised games and 2:45 for nationally televised games immediately following the third out of each half-inning.

Pitchers will continue to be given at least eight warm-up pitches per inning, but now must forfeit any of those not thrown prior to 30 seconds remaining on the clock.

A clock timing pitchers between throws in games will be instituted in both Class AA and Class AAA beginning this season, but that measure has not yet been enacted in the major leagues.

"I understand trying to speed up the game," pitcher Kyle Lohse. "I mean, I don’t like sitting through a 3-, 3½-hour game on the bench. I get on some of our younger pitchers when they take too much time in between because you should already have an idea of what you want to do.

"There’s certain times in the game where you’ve got to slow it down, but still it shouldn’t take a minute between pitches. And there’s going to be situations where you have to slow the game down, where it’s going a little too quick and Billy Hamilton’s on base. The best way to slow him down is to hold the ball."

The changes will be enforced through a warning and fine system, with discipline resulting for flagrant violators. No fines will be issued in spring training or April of the regular season.

"They always tell you when you're struggling you need to slow the game down," Lucroy said. "This is not a fast-paced game. When you try to speed the game up, it makes it 20 times as hard. If a pitcher is rushed, I guarantee he won't make a good pitch. If a hitter is rushed, I guarantee you they won't have a good at-bat.

"We'll see how they enforce it."

Managers can now challenge plays from the dugout or top step of the dugout verbally or with a hand signal, although they'll have to leave the dugout to challenge an inning-ending call.

Additionally, a manager will retain his challenge after every call that is overturned. Last year, a manager retained his challenge after only the first overturned call.

A manager now must challenge plays at home plate to determine whether the rule governing collisions was violated, but now they can also review whether a runner left base early or properly touched a base while tagging up.

Also, during postseason games, regular-season tiebreaker games and the All-Star Game, managers will have two challenges.

Jonathan Lucroy encouraged by hamstring progress

By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel

Feb. 20, 2015

Phoenix - The plan is still for Jonathan Lucroy to take it easy in the early stages of spring camp but the Brewers catcher said Friday he is encouraged by the early progress with his strained right hamstring.

"The pain already has gone away," said Lucroy, who credited a platelet-enriched plasma infusion into the injury site for accelerating the healing. "Before, just standing around I would feel it. Now, it's already feeling a lot better. I think we're definitely making improvement. It's been a week and a half since I had (the infusion). I feel good.

"But we're just going to take it slow. There's no rush. You don't want to go out and test it right away. These things can be nagging. You've got to knock it out of there. We have time. I'll have plenty of time (to catch) bullpens."

When Lucroy's upper right hamstring continued to bother him during the offseason, he had an MRI performed a couple of weeks ago that revealed a slight tear in the hamstring tendon where it attaches to the hip. Officially, it's being called a mild hamstring strain.

Lucroy, who reported to camp Sunday to get in some early rehab work with his hamstring, still plans to participate regularly in batting practice and fielding drills, and eventually catch pitchers in bullpen sessions. He just won't play in games for some time because of the no-running edict.

"I can do everything except for sprinting, and I couldn't really sprint to begin with," Lucroy joked. "I played with it last year. I just have to cut down on my stolen bags.

"People are saying, 'Oh, you can't play.' Actually, I can. I'll just go over to the minor-league side and probably get three times as many at-bats as I will here. I actually like doing that because I can lead off every inning and just do a 75% jog (to first base)."

Pitchers and catchers reported to camp Friday. They will undergo physicals Saturday and have their first workout Sunday morning at Maryvale Baseball Park.

Remade rotation gets to work as Brewers report

With Gallardo gone, Lohse and Garza lead veterans to open spring

By Adam McCalvy /  | @AdamMcCalvy | February 20, 2015 

PHOENIX -- It was 8 degrees below zero when a large contingent of Brewers front-office officials lifted off the runway in Milwaukee on Thursday morning. A little more than 24 hours later, many of those same men stepped onto the freshly cut grass at Maryvale Baseball Park, where the temperature soared into the 80s.

Winter, your time is almost up. On Friday, Brewers pitchers and catchers reported for Spring Training.

It will be another six days before manager Ron Roenicke's full squad takes the field for its first official workout, but Friday marked a ceremonial start to the Brewers' 47th season as a franchise. will have it covered from the first warmup toss to the final exhibition pitch. The Brewers open the season on April 6 against the Rockies at Miller Park.

Among the storylines this spring:

• A post-Yovani Gallardo starting rotation that is part veteran (Kyle Lohseand Matt Garza) and part up-and-comer (Wily Peralta, Mike Fiers and Jimmy Nelson). Keeping that group healthy will be critical, since with the departure of Gallardo and swingman Marco Estrada, the Brewers appear to have less depth than in recent years.

"We've got five guys," Lohse said. "That's not something I really want to get into. We've got what we got here, and I feel good about what we've got. … We need these guys -- Fiers, Nelson, Wily -- just to do their part. If we stay healthy, I like our chances."

• An offense that returns almost entirely intact, but with a new boss in hitting coach Darnell Coles. He has history as a Minor League instructor and manager, so most Brewers hitters have already worked with Coles before.

• Key players coming back from injuries, including catcher Jonathan Lucroy(hamstring), Ryan Braun (hand), Jim Henderson (shoulder) and Tyler Thornburg (elbow).

• The usual position battles on the bench and in the bullpen, where Henderson and Thornburg are bidding to return to previously significant roles. Early reports on each right-hander have been positive. Thornburg said Friday that he expects to take the field Sunday for the team's first official workout under no physical restrictions, though the final decision belongs to Brewers medical officials.

• Ongoing chatter about a trade for Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon or the signing of free-agent closer Francisco Rodriguez, both of whom remain available as camps open in Arizona and Florida. The Brewers have been linked to both, but so far have balked at the prices.

• Roenicke and GM Doug Melvin entering the final seasons of their contracts, working under owner Mark Attanasio, who expects the team to compete for a spot in the postseason.

Asked whether he could prognosticate what kind of team the Brewers would be this season, Lucroy said, "I wish. It's hard to say. We don't know about injuries. I think our pitching staff is going to be solid if guys pitch to their ability. I totally believe that."

Said Lohse: "I think we're going to be good. I think we're going to compete. We have a lot of guys with an ability to grind, and hopefully we have a group of guys who are ticked off about the way things ended last year."

The grind began Friday, when Maryvale Baseball Park came back to life.

Despite injury, Lucroy expects busy spring

By Adam McCalvy /  | February 20, 2015 

PHOENIX -- Encouraged by his progress since undergoing treatment for a right hamstring injury 10 days earlier, Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroymade the case Friday that he might actually get more work than usual this spring, despite being sidelined for a chunk of Cactus League games.

The prognosis calls for Lucroy to miss 4-6 weeks of Spring Training, but he has been working out at Maryvale Baseball Park since Sunday and participated all week in baseball drills that did not involve running. Lucroy expects to catch pitchers' bullpen sessions and take part in defensive drills as usual. He will refrain from running until cleared by the athletic training staff.

"There's no rush," Lucroy said. "I can do everything but sprint, which I couldn't really [do] to begin with."

Lucroy suffered a similar injury last August that flared up last month when he ramped-up his running. After an MRI scan and visits with two physicians, he was diagnosed with what the Brewers called a "mild strain" (technically, according to Lucroy, a slight tear to one of his hamstring tendons) and prescribed a platelet-rich plasma injection on Feb. 10.

As pitchers and catchers reported to camp Friday, Lucroy reported significant improvement.

"I've seen a lot of people say, 'Oh my God, he can't play.' Well, actually, I can," Lucroy said. "I'll just go on the Minor League side and probably get three times as many at-bats as I could over here. I actually like doing that. It's fun, because I can lead off or hit second every inning and to a 70 percent jog."

Even at the long end of his projected rehabilitation, Lucroy should be back to full health in plenty of time for the Brewers' April 6 season opener. In the meantime, the Brewers have two other catchers on the 40-man roster (Martin Maldonadi and Juan Centeno) plus four non-roster invitees Nevin Ashley,Parker Berberet, Cameron Garfield and Adam Weisenburger). Bullpen catcher Marcus Hanel also helps handle the workload during the busy early days of Spring Training.

Brewers give mixed reaction on new pace of game rules

Brewers give mixed reaction on new pace of game rules

By Adam McCalvy /  | February 20, 2015 

PHOENIX -- Brewers players offered mixed reactions Friday after Major League Baseball announced a series of new rules intended to speed the pace of game. Beginning this spring, league officials will enforce time limits between innings and pitching changes, and umpires will mandate that managers remain in the dugout to challenge a call, and that hitters keep at least one foot in the batter's box between pitches.

"Those measures are fine. I don't have an issue with that," said Brewers right-hander Kyle Lohse, a traditionally fast worked. "I thought they were going to do something with a pitch clock, which -- the game's not on a clock."

Lohse added, "I understand trying to speed up the games. I don't like sitting there through a three and a half hour game on the bench. I get on some of our younger pitchers when they take too much time, because you should already have a good idea of what you want to do. There are certain times in a game where you have to slow it down, but it still shouldn't take a minute in between every pitch."

A handful of hitters surveyed were less enthusiastic about the batter's box rule, which has been enforced in the Minor Leagues in 2014.

"My thing is, if people are rushed, [the pitcher] is rushed, hitters are rushed, I think you're going to see a decline in the quality of play," catcher Jonathan Lucroy said. "I like to relax and gather my thoughts. This game is tough enough already."

Lucroy did not buy the argument that longer game times were equally a threat to the quality of the game.

"I think there's a lot more strategy in the game nowadays, and information," Lucroy said. "Back then, they would drink two beers and eat three hot dogs and they were ready to go. They'd go up there and hit and hack. Guys threw two pitches; a fastball and a curveball. That was it."

According to , Lucroy took the longest between pitches (25.8 seconds) among Brewers regulars, tied with Atlanta's Justin Upton for the sixth-most time in the Majors among batting title qualifiers. But it's a tricky stat, since that leaderboard is dotted with excellent hitters, including runaway "leader" Hanley Ramirez (28.1 seconds) and runner-up Victor Martinez (27.2 seconds) against whom pitchers would be understandably deliberate. Lucroy was that sort of hitter in 2014, when he batted .301 and finished fourth in National League MVP balloting.

Among Brewers, Carlos Gomez took the least time between pitches, averaging 22.4 seconds.

"No one wants the game to be slower," said second baseman Scooter Gennett (24.3 seconds). "But at the same time, there are things that we have to do as players, and my mind is not going to be on whether I'm taking too much time. My mind is going to be on the game."

Thornburg ready to pick up where he left off in 2014 Brewers righty feeling healthy after elbow issues derailed a promising start last year

By Adam McCalvy /  | @AdamMcCalvy | February 20, 2015 

PHOENIX -- Tyler Thornburg, whose sensational start last season in the Brewers' bullpen was derailed by an alarming right elbow injury, felt like one of the guys as pitchers and catchers reported for Spring Training on Friday.

When the team takes the field Sunday for its first formal workout, Thornburg does not expect to be under any physical restrictions.

"As far as I know," the right-hander said. "They haven't told me any different."

Though the final call still belongs to the Brewers' medical department. Players will undergo physicals off-site on Saturday, though Thornburg said he's undergone most of the necessary tests already, with "no red flags."

Thornburg was shut down last June with elbow pain and feared he was headed for Tommy John surgery in July, after the first of what would be two setbacks in his recovery from what was eventually diagnosed as a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament.

He had already successfully rehabbed a similar injury during his freshman year of high school, and again, doctors advised against surgery and what would have been a year-long rehabilitation.

By August, it was clear that Thornburg would not be able to return before the end of the season. He was prescribed a platelet-rich plasma injection and more rest. In November, he resumed a comeback that Thornburg hopes will carry him to Milwaukee's Opening Day roster.

"It wasn't until about 10 weeks after the PRP that I was able to move it around and started feeling like, 'OK, this may be OK,'" Thornburg said. "I feel incredibly blessed to have had that time."

A look at non-roster invitees: NL Central

[pic]

By David Schoenfield

We continue our scroll through some of the interesting non-roster names invited to spring training. In case you missed 'em, here are the AL East, AL Central, AL West and NL East. 

[pic]Chicago Cubs 

Kris Bryant will be added to the 40-man roster once he gets called up, probably a few weeks into April to save a season on his service time. ... Addison Russellreached Double-A last year, so don't be surprised if he also surfaces this season, especially if he plays well and Javier Baez struggles again. ... Daniel Bard has ties to Theo Epstein going back to their Red Sox days, but this is kind of a sad story. Bard pitched two-thirds of an inning in the minors last year and walked nine guys and hit seven (that's not a misprint). ... Reliever Gonzalez Germen was with the Mets the past two seasons. ... Pierce Johnson is another good prospect, lower on the radar than Bryant and Russell. The right-hander allowed just 60 hits in 91.2 innings in Double-A. He needs to improve his control to get a chance at a call-up. ... Outfielder Mike Baxter looks like Triple-A insurance. 

[pic]Cincinnati Reds 

Jason Marquis is still pitching? Yes he is. He had 72 strikeouts and 68 walks when he was last in the majors with the Padres in 2013. That ratio barely cut it in 1975, let alone 2015. ... Kevin Gregg is still pitching? Yes he is. He threw nine innings with the Marlins last year. He somehow has racked up 177 career saves despite never having an ERA below 3.40 in a full season. ... Neftali Soto was once a prospect of some note after hitting 30 homers at Double-A in 2011 at age 22, but now he's down to non-roster status. ... Outfielder Brennan Boesch raked at Salt Lake last season. ... Felix Perez is a Cuban outfielder you've never heard of. He hit .280/.325/.450 at Louisville. ... Hard-throwing Robert Stephenson is the club's top prospect and could surface in the rotation later in the season if he starts throwing more strikes. 

[pic]Milwaukee Brewers 

It has been nine years since Dontrelle Willis was last an effective major league pitcher but he's still hanging around, playing the sport he loves. He was last seen in the majors in 2011. ... Chris Perez has gone from All-Star closer to non-roster status in just a couple of years. He had a 4.27 ERA with the Dodgers in 2014 and has been plagued with home run issues in recent seasons. The lack of depth in the Milwaukee pen gives him a chance to make the team. ... Hunter Morris is a first baseman who hit 28 home runs in Double-A in 2012 and 24 in Triple-A in 2013, but just 11 last year in 330 at-bats. He also doesn't walk much or hit for a high enough average. Where have all the first-base prospects gone? ... The Dodgers acquired outfielder/second baseman/third baseman Matt Long from the Angels and then traded him to the Brewers. He hit .249/.340/.384 between Double-A and Triple-A and he's 28, so I'm not quite sure what the attraction is other than the positional flexibility. 

[pic]Pittsburgh Pirates 

Remember when the Pirates signed Jose Tabata to that long-term extension? They're still on the hook for $4 million this year and $4.5 million next year. He's theoretically fighting Corey Hart for a job as a right-handed bat off the bench, but Hart is on the 40-man roster so he'll probably win the job out of spring training. ...Tyler Glasnow is one of the top pitching prospects in the minors. He's only 21, hasn't pitched yet above Class A and the Pirates don't like to rush their pitchers -- but the rotation depth isn't all that great so don't be shocked to see him reach the majors if he dominates Double-A. ... Clayton Richard twice won 14 games for the Padres. ... Steve Lombardozzi got a lot of playing time with the Nationals in 2012-13 but didn't hit much at Norfolk in 2014. 

[pic]St. Louis Cardinals 

Carlos Villanueva hasn't had an ERA under 4.00 since ... 2007. He's the only major leaguer who can claim that feat while pitching in each of the past seven seasons. ... Stephen Piscotty is regarded as a top-100 prospect, but he looks like a fourth outfielder to me. He does make good contact but doesn't do much with it, hitting .288 with nine home runs at Triple-A. ... Minor league vet Scott Moore is now 31 and didn't hit much at Memphis in 2014. I always thought he deserved a better chance, but he's too old now. ... Lefty Tim Cooney is a back-end rotation candidate but could stick in the bullpen as well. 

More bobbleheads to nod at ballparks

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By Darren Rovell



The bobblehead will continue its run as baseball's greatest promotional item, as Major League Baseball teams will hand out at least 121 different bobbleheads this year.

It has been 16 years since the San Francisco Giants sparked the giveaway craze, handing out a Willie Mays bobblehead in 1999. But the wobbly creatures show no sign of slowing down. In 2010, only 80 different bobbleheads were handed out at MLB ballparks across the country.

"We give away a bobblehead, it automatically becomes a sellout," said Rick Schlesinger, chief operating officer of the Milwaukee Brewers, who will give out an MLB-high 12 bobbleheads this year, two of which need to be purchased with a special ticket.

"Every year we think we might have exhausted the bobblehead craze here in Wisconsin, and it doesn't happen," Schlesinger said.

To weigh the effectiveness of a bobblehead promotion, the team has taken all the factors that affect game attendance -- from record to opponent to weather to day of the week -- and determined that a bobblehead promotion, on average, puts 7,000 more people in the seats at Miller Park. They've also been able to prove to their sponsors who put their names on the statuettes that it more than pays for itself in exposure.

Bobbleheads have evolved greatly since the days of the Mays giveaway. Not only do they look more like whom they're supposed to resemble, but the designs have gotten more intricate. So, too, has technology.

The bobblehead of Harry Doyle -- Bob Uecker's character from "Major League" -- has a chip in it that will feature three phrases from the movie. The Brewers announced the promotion earlier this week, and the 4,000 special tickets were snapped up so quickly the team put another 4,000 on sale, Schlesinger said.

There were 6,000 special tickets that enabled fans to pick up a bobblehead of catcher Jonathan Lucroy with a green light saber in his hand on "Star Wars" night. That sold out in its first 30 hours on sale.

"Bobbleheads appeal to a wide range of ages and demographics," Schlesinger said. "It's loved by kids and adults."

Other teams in love with the bobblehead are the Cincinnati Reds, who will give out nine bobbleheads, including three bobbleheads on one stand of the "Nasty Boys" -- relievers Norm Charlton, Rob Dibble and Randy Myers, who helped the team win the 1990 World Series.

The Los Angeles Dodgers will give out eight bobbleheads. So will the St. Louis Cardinals, including a talking one of Harry Caray for a home game against theChicago Cubs and a bobblehead that has Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina holding seven Gold Gloves and three platinum gloves.

"Our fans collect them year after year," said Megan Sommer, the team's manager of promotions and events. "They expect us to have them."

Other popular promotions, besides the usual cap and T-shirt, include the garden gnome. Teams will give out 12 gnomes this year, including the Dodgers, whose gnome promises to look like Tommy Lasorda. Nine replica rings -- commemorating either World Series titles or league championships -- will be given to fans who come through the turnstiles. Seven teams will give out fedoras.

Teams that have new Hall of Famers are not surprisingly promoting their proud past. No one is doing more than the Houston Astros, who are having four giveaway nights to honor Craig Biggio. Fans can get a replica Hall of Fame plaque, a jersey, a bobblehead and a T-shirt.

Baseball: MLB makes small pace of game changes, passes on bigger steps

3 hours ago  •  RONALD BLUM AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK — Major League Baseball is slowly addressing the lagging pace of games.

MLB and the players' association announced an agreement Friday to enforce the rule requiring a hitter to keep at least one foot in the batter's box in many cases. MLB also will post stadium clocks timing pitching changes and between-inning breaks starting in spring training, and it no longer will require managers to always come onto the field when they request video reviews by umpires.

But the sides limited penalties to warnings and fines, and not automatic balls and strikes. The fines don't start until May 1 and are capped at $500 per offense.

Many of the more radical ideas experimented with during the Arizona Fall League were not adopted, such as a 20-second clock between pitches, a limitation of pitcher's mound conferences involving catchers and managers, and no-pitch intentional walks.

Still, even the modest changes are too much for players, used to their routines and reluctant to alter them.

"If you rush a hamburger, it's not going to be completely done. There are going to be too many mistakes. You're going to rush the game. It would just be terrible. I don't think there needs to be a time limit," Miami Marlins pitcher Mat Latos said.

Said Chicago White Sox outfielder Adam Eaton: "I'm not a big fan. There's a lot of thinking involved. When a pitcher steps on the rubber, there's a lot going on. There's thinking in the dugout, the coaches, everyone. Why speed that up?"

Baseball has been contemplating the issue for nearly a decade. In February 2005, the batter's box rule was announced as an experiment in the minor leagues.

Still, the average time of nine-inning games as increased to a record 3 hours, 2 minutes last year, up from 2:33 in 1981.

Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander says the change will be tougher on batters than pitchers.

"I hope it screws up their whole rhythm and everything," he said, jokingly.

MLB cannot make unilateral changes to playing rules without the consent of the players' union unless it gives one year prior notice, so an agreement was necessary for any 2015 alterations. The World Umpires Association also approved.

"The players believe that enforcing the rules that currently exist regarding between-inning breaks and plate appearances is the best way to address the issue of pace of play," union head Tony Clark said in a statement. "We're confident that today's announcements will have a positive impact on the pace of the game without jeopardizing the integrity of the competition."

The pitch clock will be used in the minor leagues at Double-A and Triple-A, where union approval isn't needed.

MLB said it is likely to announce only fines involving repeat flagrant violators. In the AFL, strikes and balls were called as penalties, and the average game time was reduced by 10 minutes.

The rule requiring hitter's keep a foot in the box contains many exceptions, including swinging at a pitch, getting forced out by a pitch, calling time, faking a bunt and wild pitches and passed balls.

"I think it's something that's going to take some time," San Diego Padres catcher Derek Norris said. "You've got guys playing for seven, eight years that have always stepped out of the box and taken a practice swing."

Clocks will be installed on or near outfield scoreboards and on facades behind home plate, near most press boxes. Inning breaks will be counted down from 2:25 for locally televised games and 2:45 for nationally televised games. Pitchers must throw their last warmup pitches before 30 seconds remaining, with exceptions if the pitcher or catcher is on base when the previous half-inning ends.

"These changes represent a step forward in our efforts to streamline the pace of play," said Rob Manfred, who took over from Bud Selig as commissioner last month. "The most fundamental starting point for improving the pace of the average game involves getting into and out of breaks seamlessly."

MLB will make a donation to the union's charitable foundation based on compliance with the new rules.

The sides also announced changes for the second season of expanded video review by umpires.

Managers no longer will have to leave their dugouts to call for replays, unless the play in question ends an inning and the defensive team must be kept on the field.

"I didn't like to run out there and as soon as I turn around, people are yelling from the dugout to go back," Cincinnati Reds manager Bryan Price said. "It's a waste of time. It's embarrassing. Nobody really wants to do it. If we can just hold the game and tell the umpires we want to just take a look at it. We only have 30 seconds to look at it, who cares if you're on the field or not?"

In addition, plays involving whether a runner left a base early or touched a base on a tag-up play will be subject to video review for the first time.

Managers also will retain the challenge for every overturned call, not just the first, and managers will have two challenges during tiebreaker and postseason games and the All-Star Game. A manager will be required to use a challenge to review violations of the home-plate collision rule, but the crew chief may call for a review from the seventh inning on if a manager is out of challenges.

Milwaukee Brewers add IF Donnie Murphy on minor-league deal

 by Phil Watson 6h ago

The Milwaukee Brewers announced Friday the signing of two minor-league free agents, infielder Donnie Murphy and catcher Beau Bishop.

 was reporting Murphy also received an invitation to spring training, the club’s player development office clarified that was not the case.

Murphy, who will be 32 next month, played in 45 games for the Texas Rangers last season, hitting.196/.268/.330 in 128 plate appearances with four home runs and 14 RBI.

He actually spent time in 2014 with four organizations. The Rangers claimed Murphy off waivers from the Chicago Cubs near the end of spring training and released him in early July. He was with the Cincinnati Reds organization for less than a month before he was released and signed by the Atlanta Braves organization.

He became a free agent in early November.

In parts of nine major league seasons, dating to 2004, Murphy is a lifetime .212/.279/.395 hitter with 33 home runs and 119 RBI in 335 games. At the big league level, he has played with the Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics, Florida/Miami Marlins and Cubs as well as with the Rangers last season.

He is a big strikeout/big swing sort of hitter, with 264 career punchouts against just 178 hits.

Murphy was a fifth-round pick by the Royals in 2002 out of Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, Calif.

Bishop, a native of New Zealand, spent two seasons in the Boston Red Sox organization and played last season in Australia. The 21-year-old hit .172/.213/.190 with six RBI in 18 games in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2012-13.

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