NL Baseball

The St. Louis Cardinals Skip Schumaker didn't know what to think when Tony La Russa told him he was moving from the outfield to second base -- a position he has never played at the professional level -- this spring.
One thing he did know was that the move wouldn't be easy.

Baseball crowned a world champion at Dodger Stadium Monday night.
Yes, I know. It's only March. But maybe it's time to re-think the designation that we customarily, and thoughtlessly, bestow on the team that wins the championship of North American professional baseball each October.

The World Baseball Classic may save the sport from its home country. The Japanese and South Korean teams were a joy to watch in the first Classic three years ago, playing a brand of the game that has eroded in the United States after years of cartoonish sluggers pounding at its foundation.

It's not just the economy.
It's not just that silly World Baseball Classic, which proves nothing, except that the greedy suits that run baseball always can find ways to put a few more bucks in their coffers.
Yes, they're factors, the sick economy and bogus WBC.
Significant factors.

-- Editor's note: Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers sports columnist Ray McNulty covered the New York Mets, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies in the 1990s.

Newspapers didn't send out teams of reporters to investigate the use of steroids or other illegal, performance-enhancing drugs.
Not in the 1990s.

Baseball's exhibition season began last week, notably short one phone call from Denver.
It usually sounded something like this:
Mom: "Gregg?"
Me: "Hi, mom."
Mom: "Well, hot dog! The Rocks are playing again! Can you find a schedule for me?"

Huey Lewis and the News once had a big hit with "I Want a New Drug."
We pause here for jokesters to quip, "Hey, isn't that MLB's new theme song?"
Actually, that's been the theme song of the San Francisco Giants and their fans since Barry Bonds rode off into the sunset after the 2007 season.
Now the Giants have a new drug.

Mike Piazza says he enjoys coaching, but isn't quite sure he's ready to make a career of it.
The retired catcher serves as a hitting coach for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic, which was edged out by his former squad -- the New York Mets -- 3-2 in an exhibition game Thursday at Tradition Field.

All you can do is laugh.
But first put on your Manny wig.
All's finally well in Los Angeles, where the meandering saga of the Dodgers vs. Manny Ramirez-Scott Boras contract negotiations ended exactly where they began four months ago. Two years, $45 million.

Jason Schmidt threw only 10 of 21 pitches for strikes in last week's spring training "B" game. When a reporter asked about his command, he responded with barbs.
"Is that a question?" the veteran Los Angeles Dodger asked. "Really, you want to know?"
He laughed. He appeared happy.