Video: 7’1″ vs. 6’8″ — the tallest pitcher-batter matchup ever

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By Craig CalcaterraMar 9, 2017, 5:37 AM EST

Early this morning Israel defeated the Netherlands in World Baseball Classic play 4-2. That puts Israel at a perfect 3-0 heading into the second round of the WBC, where they will now face either Japan or the winner of the Cuba versus Australia game in the second round.

While the game itself was the key attraction for WBC devotees, one particular at bat in the game was the highlight for gawkers like us. The matchup: pitcher the Dutch team’s Loek Van Mil, who has spent a decade bouncing around the minor leagues, primarily in the Twins organization, vs. Team Israel’s Nate Freiman, the former Oakland Athletic and minor league veteran. Van Mil is 7’1″ and Freiman is 6’8″. They faced off in the eighth inning of this game.

It looked like this:

 

While the walk to Freiman was somewhat anti-climatic, this is thought to be the tallest batter-pitcher matchup in baseball history.

Rockies pitcher Chad Bettis leaves camp after learning his cancer has spread

Getty Images
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By Craig CalcaterraMar 10, 2017, 4:53 PM EST

In December, Rockies pitcher Chad Bettis revealed that he underwent surgery for testicular cancer. In January it was reported that he was cancer free and that he’d report to Rockies camp in Scottsdale as scheduled.

Unfortunately, that report was premature: Bettis is leaving spring training to undergo chemotherapy after discovering that his testicular cancer has spread. There is no timetable for his return.

Bettis, who turns 28 next month, was expected to be at the top of the Rockies’ rotation this season after going 14-8 with a 4.79 ERA in 32 starts in 2016. That’s unimportant now. All that matters is that he get better.

Good luck, Chad.

Woman claiming to be in a “matrimonial relationship” with Tim Tebow arrested at Mets camp

Associated Press
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By Craig CalcaterraMar 10, 2017, 4:35 PM EST

The New York Daily News reports that a woman was arrested for trespassing after stalking Tim Tebow at the Mets’ spring training facility in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Michelle Marie Thompson, 36, was given a trespass warning on February 26. She ignored it and, two days later, was arrested after refusing instructions from the Port St. Lucie police to leave the area. Thompson, from Arvada, Colorado, told police that she was in a “romantic relationship” and a “matrimonial relationship” with Tebow. She remains in custody pending $750 bail.

Here’s hoping the woman in question gets some help if, as is often the case in situations like this, it turns out she needs it.