They weren’t buying it.

George Brett is one of only four players in history to achieve the trifecta of recording at least 3,000 hits, 300 homers and a .300 lifetime batting average. He played more than two decades, is the greatest player in Royals history and has the sixth-highest voting percentage all time in Hall of Fame balloting. But Brett also holds one more distinction — of his 317 home runs, not one came off of Nolan Ryan.

These were the days.

Mexico, a huge favorite in this qualifier, scratched out two runs in the first inning and then withstood an eighth-inning homer by Matej Hejma before escaping with a 2-1 victory over a resilient Czech Republic team on Thursday.

In what figures to be an entertaining matchup on the second day of the Panama City World Baseball Classic qualifier, Panama and Colombia will face off at 9 p.m. ET. But before the two heavyweights do battle, France and Spain will play each other at 2 p.m. ET in the first elimination match in Panama City.

By the end of play on Friday, either Nicaragua or host Mexico will have clinched a spot in the World Baseball Classic qualifier final in Mexicali, Mexico.

Playing in front of 11,744 spirited fans, Panama catcher Carlos “Chooch” Ruiz hit two home runs and collected four RBIs to lead his squad to a 9-2 win over France in the first round of the World Baseball Classic qualifier.

Reds prospect Alex Blandino hit a walk-off double in the bottom of the 10th inning to score two runs and give Nicaragua a thrilling 5-4 victory over Germany in the opener of the World Baseball Classic qualifier on Thursday at Estadio B-Air in Mexicali, Mexico.

Jarrett Parker launched his third home run of the spring and added an RBI double, as the Giants slugged their way to an 8-4 victory over the Padres on Thursday night at Peoria Sports Complex.

The express lane can be overrated. That’s what Joey Gallo has learned. So in his second trip to Spring Training with the Rangers, he’s taking his time and paying a little more attention to the details.

Why play second base tomorrow when you can serve as the designated hitter today? That was essentially the thinking that led Brewers manager Craig Counsell to bump up Gennett’s Cactus League debut to Thursday night, when Gennett singled, doubled and homered as Milwaukee’s DH in a 7-2 win over the Rangers.

Brewers right-hander Taylor Jungmann pitched four scoreless innings in a 5-2 victory over the Rangers on Thursday night.

Casey Weathers, yellow sneakers flashing, takes a few running steps and a crow hop before hurling a baseball with all his might into a sock net, which is a mere 30-ish feet away from his release point. A radar gun reading gets spit out on a monitor mounted on the wall: 107.8 mph.

A packed 17-game slate is scheduled for today, highlighted by the reigning National League champions celebrating the spring debut of their team captain.

Jon Lester has David Ross as his personal catcher. Could Jason Hammel be paired this season with Kyle Schwarber? The Cubs are considering a Hammel and Schwarber match, and on Thursday, the two gave manager Joe Maddon and pitching coach Chris Bosio more reasons to consider it.

A National League bench is no place to hide a Rule 5 Draft pick who isn’t quite ready for the Major Leagues. But Padres left fielder Jabari Blash has turned heads with his power and his patience this spring, and he’s doing his best to prove he’s ready for that chance.

Jorge Soler smacked a two-run homer and an RBI double, and Kyle Schwarber and Jason Heyward each added RBI triples to spark the Cubs to a 15-4 victory Thursday over the D-backs.