Top News:
Catherine Treyz / CNN:
Explosive material accidentally left on school bus after training exercise — CIA leaves explosive material on school bus — The CIA used a school in Ashburn, Virginia, for canine explosive detection training while the campus was closed for spring break
Jack Fink / CBS Dallas:
Police: Mother Admits To Doing Drugs, Hitting 4-Year-Old Daughter Before Child's Death — GRAND PRAIRIE (CBS11) - Grand Prairie Police have released graphic details in the hours leading up to the death of four-year-old Leiliana Wright. — The arrest warrant affidavit against her mother …
WGN-TV:
Victim recording himself when shot, video posted to social media — Share Update: … CHICAGO — Video posted to social media appears to show a brazen Chicago shooting that left a man in critical condition. — The 31-year-old victim was recording himself Thursday afternoon …
Discussion:
WREG-TV, New York's PIX11, KFOR-TV and Fox 59
ESPN:
Team predictions for 2016 season — Which team is going to win the World Series in 2016? — We recently polled 31 ESPN experts for their team predictions (division winners, wild-card winners, League Championship Series winners and World Series winner) for the upcoming season.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Sources: Rangers still working on adding pitcher; Texas talking with Cleveland — Though there is nobody on the roster standing in his way, A.J. Griffin has not yet been officially named the Rangers' fifth starter. — With good reason: The club is still working to add more pitching depth.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, Baseball Prospectus, CBSSports.com, Lone Star Ball and MLB Trade Rumors
RELATED:
Marc Carig / Newsday:
Kevin Plawecki hopes to earn spot on Mets' 25-man roster — LAS VEGAS — Mets catcher Kevin Plawecki hasn't bothered finding a place to live this season. There's no point until he knows where to look. — Plawecki's suspense will end Friday, when the Mets expect to announce their 25-man roster …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
RELATED:
Nick Groke / Denver Post:
LeMahieu committed to helping team despite seeing fewear at-bats — The Denver Post — Second baseman DJ LeMahieu, trying to complete a double play against the Athletics in a Cactus League game at spring training, was an all-star last year and led the Rockies in hitting with a .301 batting average.
Discussion:
Purple Row and baseballmusings.com
Scott LauberESPN / ESPN:
Pablo Sandoval on benching: Right decision to help Red Sox win — Since the beginning of spring training, Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell has pledged to determine playing time based on performance, not contract status. — On Thursday, he backed up his words with action.
Discussion:
ESPN, Let's Go Tribe, FanGraphs Baseball and MLB Daily Dish
RELATED:
Mark Polishuk / MLB Trade Rumors:
Red Sox Name Travis Shaw As Starting Third Baseman, Pablo Sandoval To Bench
Red Sox Name Travis Shaw As Starting Third Baseman, Pablo Sandoval To Bench
Discussion:
Full Count, MLB Daily Dish, Over the Monster, Bluebird Banter and Let's Go Tribe
Rob Bradford / Full Count:
Pablo Sandoval: Starting Travis Shaw ‘the right decision to help the team win’
Pablo Sandoval: Starting Travis Shaw ‘the right decision to help the team win’
Discussion:
NESN.com, Fox Sports, The Big Lead, McCovey Chronicles and MLB Daily Dish
Tampa Bay Times:
Rays continue competition for final two roster spots — PORT CHARLOTTE — The Rays decided Thursday they were not ready to make the final decisions on setting their 25-man roster for Sunday's opener. — With 27 healthy players left in camp, they basically have four competing for the final two spots …
Discussion:
DRaysBay
Patrick Clark / FOX2now.com:
78-year-old grandmother goes viral after powerlifting 245lbs — WOOD RIVER, IL (KTVI) - “I don't want any Grandma jokes in this story,” says Shirley Webb, the Weightlifting Grandma. — You heard the woman, which means no lines about the 78 year old grams who can dead-lift one hundred eleven thousand one hundred thirty grams.
Discussion:
fox8.com
JP Morosi / Fox Sports:
Time is ripe for MLB to make decisions about return to Montreal — Whether MLB returns is approaching a critical time. — Vincent Ethier — More than 100,000 fans are expected at Montreal's Olympic Stadium this weekend to witness a pair of exhibition games between the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox.
Discussion:
DRaysBay and Al's Ramblings
Tampa Bay Times:
Are Rays sacrificing defense for offense? — PORT CHARLOTTE — In bringing in and keeping Hank Conger, Corey Dickerson, Brad Miller, Logan Morrison and Steve Pearce, the Rays made a concerted effort to improve their offense. — 2 Months Ago 3 Weeks Ago — 1 Month Ago
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and DRaysBay
Cincinnati.com:
Cave waived, but Reds' roster still in flux — GOODYEAR, Ariz. — As the Reds readied for their charter flight back from Arizona to Cincinnati following Thursday's 3-1 loss to the Indians, manager Bryan Price said the team's roster was still in flux. — Price said not all of the team's decisions …
Discussion:
redsminorleagues.com