Dream Bracket Semifinals Set: Yankees-Red Sox, Reds-Dodgers

The MLB Dream Bracket presented by DraftKings will resume Thursday with the Yankees and Red Sox as well as the Dodgers and Reds meeting in the semifinals. Both series will wrap up Friday, with select games broadcast live starting at 3 p.m. ET on MLB Network's Twitch, MLB.com and club sites.

St. Louis Official Site

Jim Frey Dies At 88

The Cubs legacy of Jim Frey, the former manager and general manager who died this week, includes two National League East titles and a questionable decision that might have prevented the Cubs from putting away the Padres in the 1984 playoffs.

Chicago Tribune

The Eccentric Guru Who Grew Matthew Liberatore In His Backyard

In his backyard, the bearded guru grew kale and southpaws.

Hochman

Ted Simmons Flexed Muscles Vs. Hall Of Fame Hurlers

As a catcher for the Cardinals, Ted Simmons helped Steve Carlton achieve his first 20-win season. As an opposing hitter, Simmons hit with power against Carlton.

RetroSimba

Lee Smith Enjoys Hall Of Fame Orientation Visit

Lee Smith's Hall of Fame journey ended in December with a call informing him he had achieved baseball's greatest individual honor. In his first trip to Cooperstown since, the joy was apparent throughout his whirlwind visit.

St. Louis Official Site

For Greg Garcia, Baseball Is In The Blood

In his final years at the ballpark, working special assignments for the Cubs into his late 80s, Dave Garcia’s vision had narrowed to a spyglass so he could only focus on a middle infielder, but not the corners. He saw the pitch but not what a hitter did with it. Decades as a player, coach, and manager had meant “he had seen — what? — an infinite number of innings?” his son said, so as Garcia’s sight eroded, another sense took over.

Post-Dispatch

Tom Henke's Early Retirement Might've Cost Him The Hall Of Fame

In September 1995, Tom Henke capped a triumphant final season.

Sports Illustrated

Monument Park Blazers Were Carlos Beltran's Idea

Despite playing less than three seasons with the Yankees, Astros slugger Carlos Beltran left his mark on the organization in a way he never imagined he would.

New York-A Official Site

Matt Holliday's Yankees Roots Run Deep

When Matt Holliday puts on the Yankees pinstripes for the first time in a big league game this year, it will mark the realization of a family dream, one that might have taken place decades ago if not for an even more important development.

New York-A Official Site

Lee Smith Misses Hall Of Fame In Final Year On Writers' Ballot

Whether Lee Smith will get into the Hall of Fame is now in the hands of the Eras Committee.

Chicago-N Official Site

Lee Smith Has A Hall Of Fame Resume, But The Timing Of His Career May Keep Him Out

Leading up to the announcement of the 2017 Baseball Hall of Fame class on Jan. 18, we're examining each of the 34 candidates on this year's BBWAA ballot. By way of reminder, a candidate must be named on at least 75 percent of submitted BBWAA ballots in order to be elected into the Hall of Fame.

CBS Sports

The Shohei Otani Minority Report

Let’s envision the ways teams could use a true two-way star

Beyond The Boxscore

Hall Of Fame Support Is Building For Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens

It won’t be this year and it may not be next, but the moment is approaching when Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens will both be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Bird Land

Lee Smith Makes Final Hall Of Fame Bid On BBWAA Ballot

It's closing time for Lee Smith. This year is the last in which the dominant right-handed pitcher will be eligible for the Hall of Fame through the Baseball Writers' Association of America ballot.

St. Louis Official Site

Matt Holliday An Intriguing Right-Handed Power Bat On The Market

Matt Holliday, OF, Cardinals — There’s always been that notion that the Cardinals know when it’s time to say goodbye. They reached that place with Holliday and announced they would not be picking up his $17 million option and would buy him out for $1 million. Holliday now becomes an intriguing player on the market who won’t be as costly as other righthanded power hitters such as Encarnacion.

Boston Globe

Ozzie Smith Back In Shape, Leading Annual Clinic

This was the 15th consecutive year that Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith led his "Play Ball with Ozzie" clinic.

St. Louis Official Site

Daily Bernie 4-5-16: Cardinals Game Two Recap, Jenifer Langosch Interview, Mike Matheny's In-Game Strategy Still Needs Work

A busy Wednesday on The Bernie Miklasz Show as the host breaks down Tuesday’s Cardinals loss and assesses Mike Matheny’s in-game decision making.

101 ESPN

Adam Wainwright Can Do Without The Bat Flips

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright, who admits he leans toward the old-school view, said he’s not a big fan of showy bat flips.

ESPN

Rollie Fingers Ranked #3 On Padres Closer List

We end my offseason project of naming the top five Padres at each position with identifying the top closers in the history of the franchise.

San Diego Official Site

Lee Smith Still Facing Uphill Climb For Hall Of Fame In 14th Year On Ballot

We're zeroing in on the Jan. 6 reveal of the BBWAA 2016 Hall of Fame class, one certain to include Ken Griffey Jr. and maybe another player or two. As we lead up to that announcement, CBS Sports' Eye on Baseball scribes are running through the serious candidates one day at a time.

CBS Sports