Major league roundup: Surging Astros haven't relied on confusing offense

Major league roundup: Surging Astros haven't relied on confusing offense
Quick hits on the latest baseball news: * The Houston Astros have a comfortable lead in the American League West, and they are doing it with a strong bullpen, two excellent starting pitchers and an all-or-nothing lineup that leads the league with 57 home runs. But they are certainly not doing it with a pesky offense that drives opponents crazy: They have a .302 on-base percentage and their .229 team average is the lowest in the league. Evan Gattis is hitting .188, George Springer .190, Luis...
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Quicker pace: Speed-up rules working with minor adjustments

Quicker pace: Speed-up rules working with minor adjustments
For six weeks, baseball's new pick-up-the-pace rules have been in place, and while the average time of game has been cut by nine minutes, the real question is this: Has anyone really noticed the quicker pace? "We don't want our players thinking about it,'' Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "But, there haven't been any issues.'' Toronto outfielder Jose Bautista agreed: "There's been no adjustments.'' And Orioles manager Buck Showalter wondered if a family of four who attends a...
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Focused Ramos ready to shed tag as injury-prone catcher

Focused Ramos ready to shed tag as injury-prone catcher
Catcher Wilson Ramos came to Washington in a 2010 trade with the Minnesota Twins. Since then, his career has been defined by a kidnapping incident in Venezuela, as well as injuries that put him on the disabled list for three consecutive seasons. But this season, that could all change. Ramos, 27, has a new lease on life. He's one of the Nationals' most consistent hitters. He's relaxed, healthy, and enjoying his job and life away from the field. He's dropped weight, feels strong and his body...
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With Roenicke out in Milwaukee, which managers remain on the hot seat?

With Roenicke out in Milwaukee, which managers remain on the hot seat?
And now, some comments about baseball's top news stories: * The Milwaukee Brewers fired manager Ron Roenicke even though the team seemed to be getting healthy and digging out from its April slump. The Brewers had won three of four when general manager Doug Melvin made the announcement Sunday night, but long-term the Brewers had been fading. They led the National Central by 6½ games at the end of June last season and were still only a game behind first-place St. Louis when September began....
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As season's first month nears end, answers to some pressing questions

As season's first month nears end, answers to some pressing questions
You have questions, we have the answers: Q: Are the Mets for real in the National League East or is this an April mirage? A: The Mets' start is a sign of their all-new can-do attitude. They won 79 games last season and came to spring training convinced they were a contender. And then, after they won two of three in their first series in Washington, they had a confidence-builder, beating a team they went 4-15 against in 2014. The Mets are winning even though their second-best pitcher, Zack...
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Latest legal twist only further clouds curious case of Barry Bonds

Latest legal twist only further clouds curious case of Barry Bonds
Barry Bonds' Hall of Fame chances have a new twist of confusion after his felony obstruction of justice conviction was overturned Wednesday by an appeals court in San Francisco. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco said there wasn't enough evidence to convict baseball's all-time home run leader. So Bonds is now an innocent man - at least legally. Bonds, 50, was convicted of obstruction in 2011. The legal win is one thing, but what about the court of public...
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Does frustrated Reds skipper Price have a legitimate gripe with media?

Does frustrated Reds skipper Price have a legitimate gripe with media?
Cincinnati Reds manager Bryan Price is generally a mild-mannered, stand-up guy. But on Monday, he lost his cool and took out his frustration on reporters, questioning their approach to the job. By now, it's standard knowledge that Price fired a certain expletive 77 times in a 5½-minute explosion at reporters and then threw them out of his office. Specifically, Price was angry at C. Trent Rosecrans, beat writer for the Cincinnati Enquirer, for reporting news that Price thought was putting...
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Miguel Gonzalez among reasons O's rotation is better than some might think

Miguel Gonzalez among reasons O's rotation is better than some might think
The terms "underrated" or "under the radar" are subjective and difficult to define, but they seem to fit well in describing the Orioles rotation, especially Miguel Gonzalez, who has two wins and a 2.55 ERA in his first three starts. The Orioles are seldom mentioned with the best rotations, even though their starters had the fifth-lowest ERA in the American League last season. The problem is they haven't had a serious Cy Young contender and the rotation doesn't have blazing fastballs or...
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Guys getting second chances have panned out well for resurgent O's

Guys getting second chances have panned out well for resurgent O's
In two of the last three seasons, the Orioles have made a trip to the postseason, thanks in part to a players, including Nate McLouth, Miguel Gonzalez and Steve Pearce, coming to Baltimore looking for a second chance to establish their careers. This season, the Orioles hope to win again following similar resurging story lines. Three players - Ubaldo Jimenez, Everth Cabrera and Travis Snider - who have come to Baltimore to re-establish themselves are likely to play key roles as the Orioles take...
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First week of a new season yields some interesting questions

First week of a new season yields some interesting questions
The first week of baseball is in the books. Six games doesn't amount to a hill of beans in the grand scheme of a baseball season. Still, there are questions and talking points from the early going: Q: The Blue Jays scored 23 runs in beating the Orioles two of three at Camden Yards. Is there any sizzle behind the Blue Jays being a trendy pick to win the American League East this season? Should the Orioles be concerned? A: No. The Blue Jays lineup is devastating with Jose Bautista, Jose Reyes,...
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First impressions from the first day of a new season

First impressions from the first day of a new season
Nothing says opening day more than Mets pitcher Bartolo Colon, right? Not exactly. Opening day conjures images of Clayton Kershaw's curveball, Adam Wainwright's heat and Justin Verlander's postseason bling. But Colon, the 41-year-old pitcher with a roundish body, pitched six strong innings in the Mets' 3-1 win versus the Nationals on Monday at quiet Nationals Park. The Mets' No. 5 starter was a surprising choice for the start because the Mets also have Jacob deGrom, the National League...
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Divisional preview: National League East

Divisional preview: National League East
After winning two of the last three National League East titles, and then losing in October's National League Division Series, the Nationals are on the hot seat of expectations. They've added $210 million pitcher Max Scherzer to what was already the best rotation in baseball. And with shortstop Ian Desmond and starters Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister eligible for free agency after the season, the Nationals have a sense or urgency. The Nationals won the division by 17 games last season with...
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Divisional preview: American League East

Divisional preview: American League East
After 94 wins last season and a division championship, the Orioles go into this season as defending American League East champions for the first time since 1998. New eras begin in Tampa Bay, with manager Joe Maddon gone, and New York, where shortstop Derek Jeter has retired. The Yankees are hoping for health all over the diamond, especially on the mound. The Tampa Bay Rays have a new-look lineup built around Evan Longoria, but chances are it will not be that scary. The Boston Red Sox have...
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Divisional preview: American League Central

Divisional preview: American League Central
With Cy Young-type starters and a punishing lineup, the Detroit Tigers have been the best team in the American League Central - if not the entire league - for four consecutive years. But that's all changing. The Tigers have taken a step back, especially with their rotation. The Kansas City Royals, defending AL champions, are without pitcher James Shields, but they added power bats to a strong bullpen, speedy lineup and tight defense. The Chicago White Sox added to their rotation, lineup and...
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Divisional preview: National League Central

Divisional preview: National League Central
With manager Joe Maddon, big-money pitcher Jon Lester and power-hitting prospect Kris Bryant, the Chicago Cubs are all the rage in the National League Central. But are they are a serious contender or merely hype? Have their young players matured enough to compete in what might be baseball's deepest division? The St. Louis Cardinals, who have won at least 90 games in four of the last six seasons, are as good as ever. The Pittsburgh Pirates have a reasonable chance to win a division after being...
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Divisional preview: American League West

Divisional preview: American League West
The Seattle Mariners are the trendy pick to win the American League West, and if they do, they would have their first division title since winning 116 games in 2001. But will the Mariners overtake the Los Angeles Angels, who won 98 games last season only to lose in the postseason's first round? Since winning the World Series in 2002, the Angels have been bounced in the postseason five times, four times in the first round, and once in the American League Championship Series. The Angels offense...
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Divisional preview: National League West

Divisional preview: National League West
The National League West will be a three-team race with the Dodgers, Padres and defending World Series champion Giants. The Dodgers have a revamped lineup, but their rotation is thin. The Padres have an all-new outfield, but the defense might be shaky. The Giants are banking on a healthy lineup to make up for the loss of Pablo Sandoval, who signed with Boston. San Diego will prevent the Dodgers from winning their third consecutive NL West title. The Dodgers will finish second followed by the...
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Marlins believe they can challenge Nats for NL East supremacy

Marlins believe they can challenge Nats for NL East supremacy
JUPITER, Fla. - In the last four seasons, the Miami Marlins have finished with 90, 93, 100 and 85 losses. Now, after a 15-win improvement last season, they're taking aim at challenging the Nationals in the National League East. "Absolutely, we think we have a chance to win the division,'' Marlins closer Steve Cishek said. "This team is playing unselfish baseball. It's a new attitude. The players are buying into it. This team is together. We have a chip on our shoulder. We're ready to...
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Answering questions about Rose's reinstatement request, rotation depth and more

Answering questions about Rose's reinstatement request, rotation depth and more
Here are answers to the questions making headlines in baseball: Question: Pete Rose, the all-time hits leader who was banned 25 years ago for betting on games he managed with the Cincinnati Reds, has asked new commissioner Rob Manfred to take a look at his case with a request for reinstatement. Is there a chance? Answer: No. Bringing Rose back would be great for Rose, but not for baseball. During the 1919 Black Sox scandal, gambling almost wiped baseball off the map. It would be difficult to...
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Questions and answers from spring training camps

Questions and answers from spring training camps
With spring training half over and three weeks until opening day, here are questions and answers regarding some of the storylines from Florida and Arizona: Question: Will the Cubs have power-hitting third base prospect Kris Bryant in the lineup when they open April 5 in Wrigley Field against St. Louis? Answer: Bryant, who hit 43 home runs at two minor league levels last season, has been blasting away in the Cactus League and into the headlines this spring, but the chances of the Cubs having him...
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