In DC, Thomas Boswell noted Nationals GM & President of Baseball Operations Mike Rizzo is entering the final year of his contract, meaning he "will be a lame duck left dangling in his walk year" when the season starts. Rizzo's fingerprints are "on every inch of the organization." Many in DC, and around baseball, think that the "answer to a Rizzo contract extension, for several more years, is obvious: Of course." But he "wants to stay in DC so much that it may hurt his leverage" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/19).
RUNNING OUT OF PATIENCE: In Toronto, Rosie Dimanno noted Blue Jays fans "may have accepted the vagaries" of the '17 season that saw the team finish 76-86, but they "might not forgive the franchise" if '18 plays out similarly. Ticket sales have "been sluggish, with not even opening day against the Yankees sold out." In what has been the team's "most boring" offseason in memory, the Blue Jays "addressed blatant needs with analytics-weighed gambits." There is "potential pop in Toronto’s youthful brigade but little enthusiasm for supplanting veterans" (TORONTO STAR, 3/19).
FOLLOW BACK: THE ATHLETIC's James Fegan noted the White Sox' new social media campaign of "promoting a specific player every day was allegedly arranged by the players themselves." White Sox SS Tim Anderson: "That came from my social media manager, [White Sox 3B] Nicky Delmonico." Anderson said, "Just trying to keep active on social media and give the fans insight on what really goes on behind the scenes and kind of participate on the internet and let them know that, you know, we’re human too" (THEATHLETIC.com, 3/16).
ON THE LIST? The A's received nearly 300,000 ticket requests for their 50th anniversary free admission game next month, and President Dave Kaval said that there are "plans to whittle the list of attendees to the maximum capacity" at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, which "could run as high as 65,000 with standing-room only." Kaval said, “The key headline there is how excited people are about our 50 years in Oakland. We want to make sure we have a process in place so that everyone who wants to go to the game can go, and that it’s done in an acceptable fashion.” Meanwhile, the A’s "amnesty program for Giants hats -- they’ll exchange them for a new A’s cap -- remains in place" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 3/18).
