March 24, 2022

1. Mike Piazza will manage Italy in the 2023 World Baseball Classic

It’s a little questionable, all the WBC nationality stuff — Mike Piazza is not actually from Italy — but still, it’s a cool detail (and he played for team Italy in the inaugural 2006 tournament).

And there he was earlier this week, at Mets camp:

2. Transactions from around the league

Headlined today by two former Cardinals outfielders, on the move:

3. The spring training highlight of the day

Players mic’d up at the Phillies vs. Pirates game:

4. A good listen: Dave Roberts on The Dan Patrick Show

From this morning’s broadcast:

5. New York City will allow all players on the field

Kyrie Irving has had to sit out every Nets home game in Brooklyn, but with Opening Day coming for the Yankees and Mets — the rule has been changed.

6. Joey Votto rolled into spring training on a scooter

The king of style.

Here he was today after joining social media this week:

7. And Brandon Nimmo drives a humble car

8. The quote of the day: Nick Castellanos

9. Ji-Man Choi is helping with wildfires in South Korea

10. Former MLB writer Jonah Keri is going to jail

Disturbing story, from a guy who’d been in that celebrated circle of Grantland + Ringer + ESPN crowd.

11. Infamous Japanese league manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo changes his name to “Big Boss”

Nickname, into official registered league name.

12. Lastly, your 2022 ballpark fashion “highlight”

Emphasis on the high.