M.L.B. Finalizes Plan to Provide Housing for Minor Leaguers

By BY JAMES WAGNER from NYT Sports An advocacy group called the deal a “historic victory,” but noted that there were issues that might need to be addressed.https://nyti.ms/3kV1qfr

M.L.B. Finalizes Plan to Provide Housing for Minor Leaguers

By BY JAMES WAGNER from NYT Sports An advocacy group called the deal a “historic victory,” but noted that there were issues that might need to be addressed.https://nyti.ms/3qSJo1f

A Flooded Stadium Went Viral, but the Home Team Didn’t Quit

By BY KEVIN ARMSTRONG AND BRIAN FRASER from NYT Sports The Somerset Patriots lost cars and equipment to Hurricane Ida’s aftermath — and had fish swimming in the on-deck circle — but the Yankees affiliate returned home a week later.https://nyti.ms/39e5Sjb

M.L.B.’s Top Prospects Are Busy Again

By BY TYLER KEPNER from NYT Sports Last year, the pandemic canceled the minor league season. Now, those lower leagues are testing grounds for new rules. And two key events, the Futures Game and the draft, have kicked off All-Star weekend.https://nyti.ms/2TYZGaS

The PawSox Moved, but Pawtucket Has Yet to Move On

By BY DAN BARRY AND RACHEL HULIN from NYT Sports As the Red Sox’ top minor league team took the field in Massachusetts on Tuesday, a proud old stadium in Rhode Island sat empty. A symbol of a fading era.https://nyti.ms/3fh2Ayt

More Steals, No Shifts and Robot Umps: ‘Our Fans Want the Action’

By BY TYLER KEPNER from NYT Sports Raul Ibanez, Michael Hill and Morgan Sword discuss the changes baseball is implementing in the minors in hopes of spicing up things in the majors.https://nyti.ms/3r8FD4e

Wayne Terwilliger Dies at 95; Baseball Was His (Long) Life

By BY RICHARD GOLDSTEIN from NYT Sports He began his career as a minor league player in 1948. He played and coached in the majors. He ended his career as a minor league coach in 2010.https://nyti.ms/36G7bqm

Baseball in Middle America: Fans Are In, Autographs Are Out

By BY TIM ARANGO AND TIM GRUBER from NYT Sports Major League Baseball will hold its delayed opening day this week, with no fans. In four American cities, though, professional baseball has already returned, pressing ahead in a season like no other.https://nyti.ms/32y6fTI

As Money Squabbles Delay M.L.B., Many Workers ‘Just Get Steam-Rolled’

By BY JAMES WAGNER from NYT Sports Without a union or safety net, scores of minor league players, stadium workers and club employees have borne the financial pain of the suspended M.L.B. season.https://nyti.ms/2YrWMK4

Minor League Baseball’s Opposition to Overhaul Softens in Pandemic

By BY JAMES WAGNER from NYT Sports Facing financial straits, Minor League Baseball officials seem increasingly open to proposals by Major League Baseball to revamp the farm system.https://nyti.ms/2WS6WTc

Future Players Take a Big Hit as M.L.B. Navigates a Crisis

By BY TYLER KEPNER from NYT Sports The baseball draft could be drastically reduced in a deal cut with the players’ union to address complications of the game’s suspension.https://nyti.ms/3brQP4o

How the Yankees’ Minor Leaguers Spent 2 Weeks in Quarantine

By BY JAMES WAGNER from NYT Sports A positive coronavirus test for a teammate meant every Yankees minor leaguer had to spend two weeks isolated in Florida. They got creative to keep busy and stay in shape.https://nyti.ms/2xpd4JE

Minor Leaguers Lack a Safety Net. A Plan Is Hatched to Champion Their Cause

By BY JAMES WAGNER from NYT Sports Players in the farm system have long been vulnerable because they lack a union, and the coronavirus pandemic has only complicated things for them. A nonprofit is aiming to change things.https://nyti.ms/2WvNbCk

M.L.B.’s War of Words With the Minors Hits a Boiling Point

By BY DAVID WALDSTEIN from NYT Sports Major league officials, dismayed by a public back-and-forth with the minor leagues over a proposal to significantly overhaul their joint system, delivered a pointed letter on Wednesday.https://nyti.ms/38LJNpO

Yankees Hire a Woman as a Minor League Hitting Coach

By BY LINDSAY BERRA from NYT Sports Rachel Balkovec, who has advanced degrees in movement and a string of minor league coaching jobs behind her, will join the organization in February.https://nyti.ms/35omYXN

These Farm Teams Fear an End to Feeding the Majors

By BY DAN BARRY from NYT Sports M.L.B. says its proposal to sever parent-club ties with 42 teams in its minor league system is necessary to improve conditions over all, but targeted clubs are worried about survival.https://nyti.ms/2psoUiE

How Popular Is Baseball, Really?

By BY JULIETTE LOVE from NYT Sports Despite a perceived decline, Major League Baseball, when viewed through the lens of ticket sales and television ratings, is not only popular, but primed for growth.https://nyti.ms/2oTU8Pw

Now Playing for the Syracuse Mets: Yesterday’s Stars, Not Tomorrow’s

By SETH BERKMAN from NYT Sports With a thin pipeline of prospects, the Mets have built the oldest Class AAA team in baseball.https://nyti.ms/33rsOHz

Now Announcing for the Oakland A’s, Donny Baarns

By KURT STREETER from NYT Sports A minor league baseball announcer featured in a New York Times article had hoped to one day get a break with the big leagues. He finally did, for one game.https://nyti.ms/2LUCaS5

Minor League Baseball Expands Pace-of-Play Rules

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS from NYT Sports Throughout the minors, extra innings will start with a runner at second base. And the pitch clock will be lowered from 20 seconds to 15 when there are no runners on.http://nyti.ms/2FIqeAO