Minor League Ball daily discussion, February 22, 2017

Good morning everyone and welcome to the Minor League Ball daily discussion for February 22, 2017. Spring training games grow closer every day.

Here are some baseball news items I want to draw your notice to today:

****Ken Rosenthal at Fox Sports discusses the growing tension between Commissioner Rob Manfred and the MLBPA over pace-of-play issues. Anyone who remembers what baseball was like before 1994 will find this quote from a player disturbing:

One player said defiantly that Manfred “doesn’t realize the fight he is picking. Four years from now, he will see absolute wrath if he makes the moves himself.” The player added, “the union is listening to the players, and the players don’t want the changes.” He also said that baseball is offering the players nothing in return.

****On a less ominous note, Jeff Passan at Yahoo Sports describes new therapies such as stem cells being used by players to avoid Tommy John surgery.

****At Baseball America, Ben Badler gets the international prospect season started with a preview of players active a today’s showcase in the Dominican Republic.

I will have the American League Eastern Division sleepers posted later today, then will begin work on the 2017 MLB farm system rankings.