Pitchers and Catchers Report - Baseball 2013

[Hayduke]

In other news, the Reds traded Didi Gregorius to Arizona just in time for his elbow to put him out of the game:
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/20...eral-ligament/

The Diamondbacks traded Trevor Bauer to the Indians and received shortstop Didi Gregorius back from the Reds in the three-team deal. But Didi is malfunctioning:

Didi Gregorius, considered Arizona’s shortstop of the future, has a right elbow injury that has prevented him from throwing or batting for the past month. Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers revealed the injury at a briefing with reporters Tuesday.

He said Gregorius felt discomfort in the elbow while working out a month ago in preparation for the World Baseball Classic. Gregorius was flown from his home in Curacao to Arizona, where an examination found a slight strain of the ulnar collateral ligament, Towers said.

There was no indication that Gregorius was injured before the trade and, indeed, he did not report any discomfort to the Reds. He was likely going to start the year in the minors anyway, but it has to be discouraging news when the guy you traded your top prospect for comes up achy the first day you lay eyes on him.

[bird jam]

Can you watch on your phone with that and does it buy you out of the blackouts? I noticed last year that the free game of the day video isn't available on AT Bat when it's a home game for the Reds (and presumably the Braves, too).

I read somewhere that they were going to be switching from the annual app model to a monthly subscription at roughly the same pricing.

I could be wrong because I've never subscribed (but am also considering it this year so I am following this discussion closely) but a guy I work with is an annual subscriber and has complained in the past that there is no way around MLB's byzantine blackout rules. It strikes me as absurd that we are considered "in the territory" of Cincinnati - and thus blacked out on MLBTV/Extra Innings - when most Reds games aren't on TV here. I can understand the Braves blackouts.

[Hayduke]

New Atlanta Braves Logo Features Gruesome Depiction Of Trail Of Tears

ATLANTA—Braves general manager Frank Wren announced Wednesday that the team’s new logo would feature a grim depiction of the numerous atrocities suffered by Native Americans on the Trail of Tears. “Since many felt that the screaming brave logo was offensive and insensitive, we decided that the Atlanta Braves’ emblem should encapsulate the brutal forced relocation of Native Americans,” said Wren, adding that the new symbol would feature a bleak illustration of starving members of the Cherokee nation succumbing to exposure and disease. “The young Cherokee girl dying from pneumonia at the center of the logo really captures the cruelty of forcibly removing Native Americans from their homelands to make room for white settlements. However, we feel that all 4,000 of the dead Native Americans in the design were rendered wonderfully.” In related news, the Cleveland Indians announced plans to honor the plight and discrimination of Native Americans by continuing to use the same logo.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/new...epictio,31284/

[Apeville]

Can you watch on your phone with that and does it buy you out of the blackouts? I noticed last year that the free game of the day video isn't available on AT Bat when it's a home game for the Reds (and presumably the Braves, too).

I read somewhere that they were going to be switching from the annual app model to a monthly subscription at roughly the same pricing.

You can watch on phone but blackouts still apply. No blackouts on radio, though- so it's kind of a win-win for me to get MLBTV, which I did get last year.

[Apeville]

I could be wrong because I've never subscribed (but am also considering it this year so I am following this discussion closely) but a guy I work with is an annual subscriber and has complained in the past that there is no way around MLB's byzantine blackout rules. It strikes me as absurd that we are considered "in the territory" of Cincinnati - and thus blacked out on MLBTV/Extra Innings - when most Reds games aren't on TV here. I can understand the Braves blackouts.

The Blackouts suck. And there are some rules about games on FOX on weekends that are stupid, but I just watch on FOX in that case, if have to. There are tricks to get around blackouts I have heard but am too lazy to try.

I am not a Reds fan but it blows when the Giants are playing in Cincy, for example. It's blacked out. I'm a Braves fan, too- and it seems like if the Braves aren't on ANY cable channel, you should be able to watch without blackout. It's not like scores of people are driving down to catch the games from TN. That being said, you can watch the game 90 minutes after it's over in either case. I often watch the games the next day anyway- and FF through parts of it.

In summary, despite the hassles, I find MLB.TV worth the cost. It's pretty awesome though potentially addicting. Plus, it keeps me off the streets.

[Hayduke]

UT lost their season opener to UNLV yesterday 10-9. Playing a double-header today @ 4:05pm & 7:05pm. In theory audio will be available live streaming at
http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-bas...ebl-sched.html

MLB Spring Training games start next Thursday!

[Headless Geisha]

I think we're gonna check out a UT game either Saturday or Sunday. And we'll be headed down to FLA next week! This will be my first trip to Spring Training.

[Hayduke]

Spring Training games start today* and MLB At Bat (no year now, just "At Bat") is ready just in time. It's a free app, but of course it doesn't do anything without a $19.99 subscription. Then you have to "link" the subscription to the app. I think this means you can use the account on your computer, but I'm just digging into it.

Reds @ 3:05 against the Indians. Tony Cingrani ,who pitched 5 Reds innings last year, starting. Alrighty then, Play Ball!


* Edit: three Cactus League games today. Grapefruit League starts tomorrow.

[Apeville]

I did the full-on plunge for MLB.TV, which includes the complete At Bat.

At Bat is one of those apps that really delivers and adds to the overall enjoyment of the game, if you ask me. Love having all the options of every single radio broadcast in real time. As a fan of baseball radio announcers, it's so VERY.

Plus, with the ole' iPad Mini and a pair of Walgreens 1.0 eye spectacles, I'm set. All I need is the games to start!

Going to some of the UT games this weekend, I'll be the trainspotting looking guy down the third base line bleachers.

[Apeville]

And we'll be headed down to FLA next week! This will be my first trip to Spring Training.

We expect a full report.