Great moments in robot umpiring: After saying he wouldn’t challenge, Tarik Skubal challenged a 1-2 ball call in the first inning, got a strikeout out of it and then… Threw the ball around the infield himself.

Some Phillies tidbits: * Zack Wheeler will throw about 20 pitches in a live BP session tomorrow, Rob Thomson said. He'd then be scheduled for another "2-inning" live BP in a few days. * Taijuan Walker is back from the WBC and penciled in to start Sunday

Santa Claus is coming to town. In March. To see the Fanatic. How can you not be romantic about spring training

Best outing of the spring so far for Andrew Painter, 4 strikeouts and 9 swings and misses through 2 innings. 3 whiffs on his fastball, 3 on his slider, one on his sweeper and 2 swinging strikeouts on his changeup.

Fun fact: Today is Pete Alonso's first spring training game ever at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater. "Every place with lines and dirt in this whole county I've played baseball in - except here."

I laid this out for Tarik Skubal yesterday, and talked about how the 2028 Olympics will lay the groundwork to make this happen. You can read the whole column here www.nytimes.com/athletic/711...

Tell me this WBC idea - which I pitched in my column today - wouldn't be the greatest week of baseball of all time.

Tell me this WBC idea - which I pitched in my column today - wouldn't be the greatest week of baseball of all time.

“I think what needs to change is the timing.” New column: A plan to make the WBC the greatest sports show on earth! With an assist from the Olympics and a thumbs up from Tarik Skubal www.nytimes.com/athletic/711...

New from me: It's one thing to compare Tarik Skubal to Paul Skenes. It's another thing to compare him to Benedict Arnold. Here's how Skubal reacted to his detractors today: "It's just not fair." www.nytimes.com/athletic/710...

The bullpen side session heard round the world. Tarik Skubal, Team Tigers, back in Lakeland

New from me: By signing Jesús Luzardo, Phillies quadruple down on their rotation www.nytimes.com/athletic/710... via @NYTimes

New column: The Phillies have questions. But is "running it back" one of them? I dug in deep on that fun little topic www.nytimes.com/athletic/710...

New column from me: The Phillies have questions. But is "running it back" one of them? I dug in deep on that fun little topic www.nytimes.com/athletic/710...

New column from me: The Phillies have questions. But is "running it back" one of them? I dug in deep on that fun little topic www.nytimes.com/athletic/710...

Just posted: Braves still "stunned" by Jurickson Profar's suspension, Walt Weiss says www.nytimes.com/athletic/709...

More great moments in robot umpiring. Andy Fletcher just rang up back-to-back Orioles hitters on 3-2 pitches… And they both challenged. So Weston Wilson changed his K to a walk, but Sam Huff wasn’t as lucky (as you can see)

“I'm going to have to really focus on not being emotional.” It was his only his first start of his 22d spring. But Justin Verlander was back where it all began, getting a standing O before he'd thrown a pitch. I was there for his full-circle moment www.nytimes.com/athletic/709...

New from me: In his first spring start, Justin Verlander comes full circle with Detroit www.nytimes.com/athletic/709...

Baseball writes its own scripts. Justin Verlander made his first start for the Tigers in 9 years today. So what could go wrong? How about a Kristian Campbell 2-run homer before he'd gotten an out. Get me rewrite!

Aaron Boone has led his league in ejections 5 years in a row. He now has made ejection history that even Bobby Cox never made But is his streak in jeopardy now that ABS is in the house? “No, no, no, no, no. He’s leading the league. That’s what he does" www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

“I don't like to get ejected. He seems like he likes it.” New column: Can Aaron Boone keep his historic streak going of leading his league in manager ejections now that ABS is here? He says no. His fellow managers have other ideas www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

What's cooler than a spring training rainbow! 🌈

“I don't like to get ejected. He seems like he likes it.” New column: Can Aaron Boone keep his historic streak going of leading his league in manager ejections now that ABS is here? He says no. His fellow managers have other ideas www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

“He’s earned the right to yell at me.” New column: The Blue Jays didn’t “need” Max Scherzer 2.0. So why is he back in Toronto? Let’s talk about the magic of Mad Max www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

“I mean, it’s unbelievable.” It’s the must read baseball story of the day from Tyler. Incredible to learn what went into the series of bold managerial moves by Dave Roberts that won his team a World Series.

“He’s earned the right to yell at me.” New column: The Blue Jays didn’t “need” Max Scherzer 2.0. So why is he back in Toronto? Let’s talk about the magic of Mad Max www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

Max Scherzer's daughter wrote a heartfelt letter to the Blue Jays - and put a stamp on it. I wrote about why her parents never sent it. www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

He's back! Max Scherzer sighting in Blue Jays camp today. Official announcement not expected until tomorrow

Some guys in uniform just sign a baseball when they're asked to sign a baseball. But if a kid asks Aaron Boone to sign a baseball, he gets a whole conversation..: About baseball!

"I’ll remember it for the rest of my life” I'm unlocking today's column on Life After Game 7 for the Blue Jays so it's free for all to read These guys poured their hearts out, talking about the emotions stirred by that game. Great to tell their story! www.nytimes.com/athletic/707...

"I’ll remember it for the rest of my life” I'm unlocking today's column on Life After Game 7 for the Blue Jays so it's free for all to read These guys poured their hearts out, talking about the emotions stirred by that game. Great to tell their story! www.nytimes.com/athletic/707...

“I've never been in a room full of grown men who were all crying.” New from me: It’s possible the Blue Jays could be even better in ‘26 than they were in their magical run to the World Series. But first they had to cope with the shock of losing Game 7 www.nytimes.com/athletic/707...

“I've never been in a room full of grown men who were all crying.” New from me: It’s possible the Blue Jays could be even better in ‘26 than they were in their magical run to the World Series. But first they had to cope with the shock of losing Game 7 www.nytimes.com/athletic/707...

"Boys, it's launch day." -Tom Burgoyne, best friend of the Phanatic Big day in Clearwater! It's the 2026 debut of the legendary Hot Dog Launcher 31 seasons of propelling hot dogs through the sky. What a time to be alive

"I still have a lot to prove to myself." Bryce Harper opens up to @mattgelb.bsky.social This is the must-read story of the day www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...

"I still have a lot to prove to myself." Bryce Harper opens up to @mattgelb.bsky.social This is the must-read story of the day www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...

New from me: The robot umps are here! Here’s what to watch for this spring, including this fascinating question: What should an umpire say if the catcher asks, “Where was that pitch?” www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...

The Blue Jays now have a second baseman named Carlos Mendoza ... In a game being managed (in the other dugout) by a guy named ... Carlos Mendoza. Baseball!

Big moment here in Dunedin. Kazuma Okamoto just launched his first (spring) HR as a Blue Jay. 431 feet to CF, off the batter’s eye. There was some wind involved, but that’s not important now. This man has a sweet swing.

New from me: The robot umps are here! Here’s what to watch for this spring, including this fascinating question: What should an umpire say if the catcher asks, “Where was that pitch?” www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...

ICYMI Here's where to find my whole spring-preview series: Who's feeling the heat? www.nytimes.com/athletic/705... Traded this spring? www.nytimes.com/athletic/704... Best/worst subtractions www.nytimes.com/athletic/705... The whole survey! www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...

We almost had today’s Blue Jays-Phillies game end on a robot-off! Jays catcher Aaron Parker challenged this 1-2 pitch to Dante Nori that was called a ball. So it would have been game over if it had even right. But… Just a bit outside!

ABS challenge alert! The Phillies' first challenge of the ABS era is one you'll never see in the actual season 2 outs, nobody on, bottom of the first The catcher, Rafael Marchan, challenges a 1-and-0 ball-2 call ... and gets it wrong So one challenge left, 8 innings to go!

Fun fact: The next Saturday without a baseball game will be in November Feel warmer yet?

Who’s feeling the heat entering 2026? Let’s just say Bryce Harper and the Phillies come to mind. In the last installment of my annual spring preview survey, the voters weighed in on what players, front offices and managers are under the most pressure. www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

Christopher Sanchez, ace

Who’s feeling the heat entering 2026? Let’s just say Bryce Harper and the Phillies come to mind. In the last installment of my annual spring preview survey, the voters weighed in on what players, front offices and managers are under the most pressure. www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

Kazuma Okamoto, third baseman, Toronto Blue Jays First impression: soft hands over there

What's better than a spring training morning under the bluest sky on our planet