Abreu gives up 2-run homer in Astros' Game 7 loss after suspension upheld but pushed to next year
Bryan Abreu gave up Nathaniel Loweโs two-run homer in the Houston Astrosโ 11-4 loss to the Texas Rangers in Game 7 of the AL Championship Series after his two-game suspension for intentionally throwing at Adolis Garcรญa delayed until the start of next season.
MLB game time drops 24 minutes to 2:40 with pitch clock. Players steal most bases since 1987
The average time of a nine-inning major league game dropped to 2 hours, 40 minutes in the first year of the pitch clock, a 24-minute decrease in a season of change that resulted in a spike in batting average and the most stolen bases in nearly 40 years.
Red Sox say Tim Wakefield is in treatment, asks for privacy after illness outed by Schilling
The Boston Red Sox say announcer and former knuckleballer Tim Wakefield is undergoing treatment for a disease they did not specify and asked for fans to respect his privacy after his illness was outed without his consent by ex-teammate Curt Schilling.
Ohtani becomes 2-way All-Star for 3rd straight year; 8 Braves selected for July 11 game
Shohei Ohtani became a two-way All-Star for the third straight year when he was picked for the American League pitching staff, and eight Atlanta Braves were chosen for the July 11 game in Seattle โ the most of any team since 2012.
Netherlands tops Cuba 4-2; Panama beats Taiwan 12-5 at WBC
The 20-team World Baseball Classic got underway after a six-year absence with Panama defeating Taiwan 12-5 for its first win in tournament history and the Netherlands beating Cuba 4-2 in the opening Group A game as Didi Gregorius drove in the tying run and scored the go-ahead run.
Senators ask MLB why antitrust exemption needed in minors
Leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee have asked baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred to explain the impact of potential legislation stripping the sportโs antitrust exemption from covering the sportโs relationship with minor league players.
MLB tests pitch clock, anti-shift, bigger bases in minors
Pitchers, catchers and batters will be able to appeal calls from human umpires to โrobo umpsโ in the Low-A Southeast League this season, while pitch clocks, anti-shift rules and larger bases will be tried in the minors ahead of possible big league use in 2023.
MLB: Itโs deadline day to save opening day, 162-game season
Major League Baseball extended its deadline for salvaging opening day and a 162-game season until Tuesday at 5 p.m. after a marathon of 13 bargaining sessions over 16 1/2 hours produced progress toward a deal but left the sides still far apart.
MLB to relax virus protocols when 85% on field vaccinated
Mask use would be dropped from dugouts and bullpens, and electronic tracing devices would be eliminated when 85% of major league players and primary field staff are vaccinated against the coronavirus. AdNot many players have been vaccinated, according to MLB, but it expects the pace to increase after teams return to their home cities from spring training. Once the 85% threshold is reached, fully vaccinated players and staff would be able to eat and drink on flights. AdFully vaccinated people who have close contact with someone with COVID-19 would not have to quarantine unless they exhibit symptoms. Vaccinated players and staff would have the option to reduce PCR saliva testing to twice weekly, similar to Tier 2 staff, such as front office and clubhouse employees, owners and groundskeepers.
2 MLB players test positive for COVID-19 in past week
(AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter, File)NEW YORK โ Two major league players and two staff members were positive for COVID-19 during the past week among 13,978 tests, a 0.03% positive rate. The positive tests were among 11 of the 30 teams. Including intake testing upon arrival at spring training, there have been 33 positive tests โ 25 players, eight staff โ among 78,227 tests, a positive rate of 0.04%. The positive tests were among 18 teams. All players on 40-man rosters and players with minor league contracts invited to big league training camps are screened.
โIโm good, bro:โ Body camera video shows retired MLB player Johnny Damon failing field sobriety test
The initial officer focused his attention on getting Damon secured while a second officer arrived and took Mangon-Damon into custody. Damon repeatedly insisted that he and wife donโt want any problems. We are good people, Iโm telling you... weโre good people,โ Damon said. โHey bro, Iโm a good (expletive) guy and I know people are trying to target me because Iโm a Trump supporter,โ he said. AdโYeah, Iโm good bro,โ Damon said repeatedly.
Baseball legend Hank Aaron dies at 86
ATLANTA โ Hank Aaron, who endured racist threats with stoic dignity during his pursuit of Babe Ruth but went on to break the career home run record in the pre-steroids era, died early Friday. The Atlanta Braves said Aaron died peacefully in his sleep. โHammerinโ Hankโ set a wide array of career hitting records during a 23-year career spent mostly with the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves, including RBIs, extra-base hits and total bases. WEST PALM BEACH, FL - MARCH 5: Hank Aaron #44 of the Atlanta Braves takes batting practice before an MLB Spring Training game on March 5, 1972 in West Palm Beach, Florida. โHammerinโ Hankโ set multiple hitting records during a 23-year career spent mostly with the Braves, including RBIs, extra-base hits and total bases.
Tommy Lasorda, fiery Hall of Fame Dodgers manager, dies at 93
Kim Ng is pictured with Tommy Lasorda during spring training in this 2005 file photo. LOS ANGELES โ Tommy Lasorda, the fiery Hall of Fame manager who guided the Los Angeles Dodgers to two World Series titles and later became an ambassador for the sport he loved during his 71 years with the franchise, has died. The Dodgers said Friday that he had a heart attack at his home in Fullerton. Resuscitation attempts were made en route to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly before 11 p.m. Thursday. Lasorda had a history of heart problems, including a heart attack in 1996 that ended his managerial career.
San Diego Padres have deal in place to get Blake Snell from Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Blake Snell throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning in Game 6 of the baseball World Series Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Two months ago, Blake Snell got yanked off the mound with a two-hit shutout going in the final game of the World Series. Now, the Tampa Bay Rays are ready to ship him out of town. The San Diego Padres are close to completing a blockbuster trade to acquire Snell from the defending AL champions. The Athletic was first to report the players headed from San Diego to Tampa Bay if the trade is finalized.
Breakthrough for women: Miami Marlins hire Kim Ng as GM
MIAMI โ Kim Ng started her Major League Baseball career as an intern, and three decades later she's still on the rise while shattering ceilings. Ng became the majors' highest-ranking woman in baseball operations when she was hired Friday as general manager of the Miami Marlins. โAfter decades of determination, it is the honor of my career to lead the Miami Marlins,โ Ng said in a statement. โWe look forward to Kim bringing a wealth of knowledge and championship-level experience to the Miami Marlins,โ Jeter said in a statement. โAll of us at Major League Baseball are thrilled for Kim and the opportunity she has earned with the Marlins,โ baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement.
Lowe homers twice, Rays hold off Dodgers 6-4 to even Series
After Lowe finally busted out in Game 2 of the World Series, the Rays and Dodgers are tied deep in the heart of Texas. Snell attacked with breaking pitches in the strike zone, not his usual pattern, against a Dodgers team that doesn't often chase. SHORT HOPSSnellโs nine strikeouts were the most in a World Series game by a pitcher who didn't last five innings. Dodgers: Buehler threw six shutout innings to win Game 6 of the NL Championship Series against Atlanta and force Game 7. His only previous World Series start was Game 3 against Boston in 2018, when he fired seven scoreless innings in the only game the Dodgers won.
Hall of Fame outfielder Lou Brock dies at age 81
FILE - In this April 9, 1965, file photo, Lou Brock, of the St. Louis Cardinals, poses in Missouri. The Cards were World Series champions in 1964 and 1967 and lost to the Detroit Tigers in seven games in 1968. Brock was even better in postseason play, batting .391 with four homers, 16 RBIs and 14 steals in 21 World Series games. For Brock, base stealing was an art form and a kind of warfare. He also made two damaging mistakes that helped cost St. Louis the 68 World Series.
Cardboard fans? Masks? MLB is back, but it doesnโt look real -- these photos might weird you out
(2020 Getty Images)A lone Boston Red Sox employee eats a hot dog in the stands before a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park on July 26, 2020 in Boston. (2020 Getty Images)A peek at Tropicana Field during a game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Atlanta Braves on July 27, 2020 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (2020 Getty Images)A mask is placed on the Teammates Statue on Opening Day at Fenway Park on July 24, 2020 in Boston. (2020 Getty Images)A general view of of cardboard cutouts placed in the seats before the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on July 25, 2020. (2020 Getty Images)With information from the Associated Press.
Fauci says Marlins virus outbreak could endanger MLB season
Miami Marlins' manager Don Mattingly looks out from the dugout during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Saturday, July 25, 2020, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)MIAMI The Miami Marlins' coronavirus outbreak could endanger the Major League Baseball season, Dr. Anthony Fauci said Tuesday, although he doesn't believe games needs to stop now. More than a dozen Marlins players and staff members tested positive for COVID-19, stranding the team in Philadelphia and raising anew questions about MLB's attempts to conduct a season. The Marlins outbreak was the talk of baseball, and Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez choked on his words as he discussed the situation. Whether that was shutting down a part of the season, the whole season, that depends on the circumstances.
Marlins' home opener postponed as they deal with virus
Miami Marlins' manager Don Mattingly looks out from the dugout during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Saturday, July 25, 2020, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)MIAMI The Miami Marlins' home opener Monday night against Baltimore has been postponed as the Marlins deal with a coronavirus outbreak that stranded them in Philadelphia. The Marlins postponed their flight home Sunday night after their series finale against the Phillies. No reasons were given for the moves, but manager Don Mattingly said those who tested positive would be quarantined in Philadelphia. The Marlins' precarious health raised anew doubts about MLBs ability to finish the season during a pandemic.
Miami Marlins postpone trip home amid fear of virus outbreak
Miami Marlins' manager Don Mattingly looks out from the dugout during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Saturday, July 25, 2020, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)MIAMI The Miami Marlins scratched right-hander Jose Urena from his scheduled start Sunday in Philadelphia and delayed their postgame trip home amid concerns about a possible coronavirus outbreak within the team. No reason was given for Urena being scratched in the series finale, which Miami won 11-6. Manager Don Mattingly said the Marlins decided to wait until Monday to leave Philadelphia, and they plan to arrive in Miami hours before their home opener against Baltimore. Miami catcher Jorge Alfaro went on the injured list hours before the season opener Friday at Philadelphia.
Tampa Bay Rays like playoff chances during pandemic-shortened MLB season
... Theres going to be a lot of excuses thrown around by a lot of different players and teams. Eleven different pitchers earned at least one save in 2019, and the shortened season will pose new challenges. The Rays hold a team option for 2021, however the 36-year-old right-hander isnt sure how much longer he wants to play. With the minor league season cancelled because of the pandemic, the Rays hope the experience will be beneficial to his development. There arent many guys across baseball that possess the talent he has, Rays general manager Erik Neander said entering spring training.
Archaeologists mull whether graves lie near Tropicana Field
The Tampa Bay Times reports the University of South Floridas Florida Public Archaeology Network has registered the property with the state as a historic cemetery site. A survey would include rolling ground-penetrating radar that can detect graves across the full 12 acres. Thirty years ago, residents stepped forward when the city prepared to pave parking lots 1 and 2 for Tropicana Field. The city was unaware that the network filed the report, but said it is aware of the possibility that graves are still there. While we believe individuals buried there have been interred elsewhere, the mayor gave the green light to staff recently to begin the process of confirming this.
MLB cancels All-Star Game for 1st time since 1945
LOS ANGELES Dodger Stadiums 40-year wait to host the All-Star Game is going to last even longer. The game scheduled for July 14 was canceled Friday because of the coronavirus pandemic, and Dodger Stadium was awarded the 2022 Midsummer Classic. This will be the first time since 1945 that no game will be held. Travel restrictions because of World War II kept the game scheduled for Bostons Fenway Park and any player selections from taking place that year. The Dodgers hosted the only the Mid-Summer Classic in Dodger Stadium history in 1980, won 4-2 by the National League.
Players counter with 70-game season, 10 more than MLB
FILE - In this Feb. 19, 2017, file photo, Major League Players Association Executive Director Tony Clark, answers questions at a news conference in Phoenix. Commissioner Rob Manfred says there might be no major league season after a breakdown in talks between teams and the union on how to split up money in a season delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. As part of the union proposal, players would wear advertisement patches on their uniforms during all games for the first time in major league history. Both MLB and the union proposed starting the season on July 19, and players said it should end Sept. 30, three days later than management. Both sides would expand use of the designated hitter to games involving National League teams, and both sides would expand the playoffs to 16 teams this year.
AP source: MLB players offer 114-game season, no more pay cuts
Players proposed a 114-game regular season Sunday, up from 82 in managements offer, a person familiar with the plan told The Associated Press. But unlike MLB, the players proposal would extend the postseason about a month past its usual end. All players would have the right to opt out of the season under the union plan. Those who meet qualifications for high risk or reside with a person who qualifies as high risk would receive salary and major league service. Only players whose original 2020 salaries were $10 million or more would be subject to having money deferred.