MLB Notebook - Enough With The Snow

It seems it hasn't stopped snowing yet in 2014. The year has begun with a bevy of heavy winter storms ranging across the country. However the boys of summer are prepping the warmer temps and themselves for another season, down south.

News & Notes

• Seven New Umpires Appointed Klemm Named Director of Instant Replay, Bill Miller, Jeff Nelson Promoted to Crew Chiefs Major League Baseball announced today that seven umpires have been named to the full-time Major League Umpiring staff. In addition, as another part of this season's expansion of instant replay, the Office of the Commissioner has appointed Justin Klemm as Director of Instant Replay.
  The process of replay expansion has increased the number of full-time Major League Umpires from 68 to 74. The seventh vacancy stemmed from last October's tragic passing of 21-year Major League Umpire Wally Bell. MLB's seven new umpires, all of whom have experience as call-up umpires during MLB's regular season and in Major League Spring Training, are:
  
  Two Major League Umpires, veterans Bill Miller and Jeff Nelson, have been promoted to Crew Chief. Miller, a graduate of UCLA, is a 15-year Major League Umpire who has received 12 career Postseason assignments, including the 2010 and 2012 World Series. Nelson, also a 15-year official in the Majors, has worked 13 Postseason events, including the 2005 and 2009 Fall Classics.     
• Braves Minor Leaguer Sears Suspended The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that Atlanta Braves Minor League catcher Orinn Sears has received a 50-game suspension without pay after testing positive for metabolites of Methandienone, a performance-enhancing substance in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
  
  The suspension of Sears, who is currently on the roster of the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Braves, will be effective at the start of the GCL season.
• Ryan Dempster announces he will not play in 2014 “I don’t feel like I am capable of performing to the ability and standard that I am accustomed to,” Dempster told Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal. “I feel it’s in the best interest of both the club but most importantly myself to step away from playing baseball at this time. The time is right. I’m not saying retirement but I definitely won’t be playing this season.”

Jim Fregosi, the 18-year Major League player, 15-year Major League manager and Special Assistant to the General Manager of the Atlanta Braves, passed away last week, he was 71.

Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig issued the following statement this afternoon regarding the passing of

"I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jim Fregosi, who contributed to the success of our Clubs for 53 years as an All-Star player with the Angels, a pennant-winning manager with the Phillies, a trusted scout with the Braves and many other capacities. The outpouring of support in recent days illustrates the vast respect that Jim earned in a great baseball life. The many Clubs that he touched are in mourning today.

"On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to Jim's wife Joni, his entire family and his many friends and admirers throughout our game."

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Old Faces In New Places

After a long off season of uncertainty veteran hurler AJ Burnett finally landed with the Phillies. The deal was official on Feb 16th, and was surprise to most. Burnett was a vital part of Pittsburgh's post season run in 2013, however sources say the Pirates and AJ were not even close to a deal.

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Ubaldo Jimenez is heading to Baltimore. The right hander, was once one of the most dominant arms in the game. However that period was brief and long since over. Last season with Cleveland Jimenez showed some promise. He won 13 games of the 32 starts he made, posting an impressive 3.32 ERA. The Orioles are hoping he can do that again in 2014.

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More WBOB Sports

• Two-time champ Mayorga hopes to tame Munoz in long-awaited return Feb. 21st at Twin River
  Former champ Johnson invades Rhode Island Feb. 21st 
• Cold, Hard Reality
  

• NFL Hall of Fame Class of 2014