MLB

The vibe around the World Baseball Classic feels different this time. There’s anticipation. There’s excitement. There’s intrigue. I’m looking forward to it, which is kind of saying something. On the surface, it makes sense.

Seiya Suzuki was going to be one of five MLB players representing Japan in the World Baseball Classic, but on Monday he was a late scratch from the roster. Suzuki suffered an oblique injury that will keep him out for spring training and the World Baseball Classic.

This is the era of long-term contracts in baseball. Counting contracts that started with the 2019 season, 13 different players currently have deals that are at least 10 years in length.

Babe Ruth returned in November 1922 from a baseball barnstorming trip, described in The Sporting News as a “frosty tour of the sticks,” chastened by the relatively light attendance he drew.

The Commissioner’s Trophy is in the building. It’s just waiting for its moment. Baseball’s World Series trophy is one of the most recognizable pieces of hardware in sports. Adorned with its circle of flagpoles and a glowing exterior, it is not only one of the easiest to hold in sports, but also one of the most aesthetically pleasing.