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MLB category, Page 32

Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff, dies at 88
MLB preview 2023: New rules, big-money Mets, Shohei Ohtani’s walk year 
Baseball has transformed in the 145 days since Dusty Baker and the Houston Astros sealed the franchise’s second title in six seasons. As New York Mets owner Steve Cohen dominated an offseason that saw billions spent, the sport braced for a new world that includes pitch clocks, bigger bases, limits...
NL West Preview: Padres eager to take title from Dodgers 
The San Diego Padres don’t feel like little brother anymore to the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers. Buoyed by a stunning victory against the 111-win Dodgers in the NL Division Series and owner Peter Seidler’s fearless offseason spending, the Padres are poised to make a run at the NL West title...
AL East Preview: Aaron Judge, Yankees lead MLB’s deepest division 
From 1998-2003, the five AL East teams finished in the exact same order every season. Back then, the New York Yankees were dominant, the Boston Red Sox were contenders and everyone else was left chasing those teams — and that remained the status quo for a while. Consider this a...
NL Central Preview: Cardinals seek repeat without Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina 
Two familiar faces from St. Louis’ run to the NL Central title last season aren’t around anymore as the Cardinals attempt to become the division’s first repeat champion in six years. The retirements of Yadier Molina and Albert Pujols leave the Cardinals having to replace two likely Hall of Famers....
First Call: Another cornerback Steelers may consider in draft; bad night for Penguins in playoff race; Pirates bets
With the draft about a month away, we keep surfing through potential cornerback picks for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Penguins had a tough night when it came to their playoff chances. A former Pitt basketball rival now seems to have interest in transferring to the Panthers. And we look at...
NL East Preview: Braves, Phillies, Mets to duke it out again 
The National League East made a strong argument as the majors’ toughest division in 2022 and lines up as perhaps even better this season. The NL East boasted two 101-win teams: the Atlanta Braves, who won their fifth consecutive division title, and the New York Mets. A third playoff team...
Reports: Minor leaguers reach 5-year labor deal with MLB
NEW YORK — Baseball minor leaguers reached a historic initial collective bargaining agreement with Major League Baseball on Wednesday, according to multiple reports. As part of the five-year deal, MLB agreed during the contract not to reduce minor league affiliates from the current 120. The sides reached the deal two...
Vandergrift native, GCC grad Warren Schaeffer rises into role as Rockies 3rd-base coach
If Vandergrift’s Warren Schaeffer keeps this up much longer, he will be able to say that literally half his life has been spent in professional baseball. Since summer 2007, Schaeffer has been employed by the Colorado Rockies organization. That’s a lot of games — and a lot of Opening Days....
MLB Rookie of the Year odds show a couple of young hitters as favorites
BY ZACH EWING | Home Field Sports Unlike the other primary individual awards in Major League Baseball, the MVP and Cy Young, handicapping the Rookie of the Year race is difficult. You have to know young players coming up, international arrivals and playing-time situations. That’s no different in 2023, where...
What did players learn about MLB’s new rules this spring? 
PHOENIX — It was the defining moment of the recently finished World Baseball Classic Japan’s star pitcher Shohei Ohtani vs. United States slugger Mike Trout. Ninth inning. Two outs. One-run game. Team USA pitcher Merrill Kelly said the storybook scene was just as dramatic for the players in the dugout...
MLB The Show breaks barrier with Negro League players 
LOS ANGELES — MLB The Show has broken a video game barrier: For the first time, the franchise will insert some of the greatest Negro League players — from Satchel Paige to Jackie Robinson — into the 2023 edition of the game as playable characters. Video gamers are now able...
Trevor Bauer, shunned by MLB, introduced by Japanese team
YOKOHAMA, Japan — The Trevor Bauer era in Japan began Friday at an introductory news conference, where he pulled a blue and white Yokohama DeNA BayStars jersey over a white shirt and red tie. The 2020 Cy Young Award winner is in Japan on a one-year deal that could let...
Phillies’ Rhys Hoskins tears ACL, expected to miss significant time 
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins needs surgery for a torn ACL after injuring his left knee Thursday fielding a grounder in a spring training game and is expected to miss a significant amount of time. The Phillies did not say when Hoskins would have the surgery...
After player input, MLB allows some pitch clock delays
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball has clarified its new rules to allow umpires to delay the start of the pitch clock after big swings in which a hitter loses footing or when a pitcher covers first base, third or home, in addition to other clarifications announced Wednesday. The commissioner’s...
World Baseball Classic interest keeps growing despite injury risks
MIAMI — Shohei Ohtani’s strikeout of Mike Trout, Trea Turner’s go-ahead, eighth-inning grand slam against Venezuela, Japan’s walk-off semifinal win and Mexico’s comeback from a four-run deficit against Puerto Rico will be replayed over and over. Edwin Díaz’s season-ending knee injury and Jose Altuve’s broken finger will be discussed all...
Japan shuts down Team USA bats to claim 3rd World Baseball Classic championship 
MIAMI — Team USA manager Mark DeRosa felt confident in his team’s lineup no matter who would throw for Japan on Tuesday night. “It’s crazy deep and crazy good,” DeRosa said. It turns out so was Japan’s pitching staff. Japan used seven pitchers, starting with Shota Imanaga and finishing with...
MLB plans to announce rules tweaks on pitch clock before Opening Day 
MIAMI — MLB’s new pitch clock is going to undergo some timing adjustments before it is turned on for games that count. Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred called the changes “significant” but also described them as “clarifications” based on input from players. The alterations are likely to be announced Wednesday, eight...
United States routs Cuba to reach World Baseball Classic final 
MIAMI — Trea Turner homered twice to give him a tournament-leading four, and the defending champion United States romped over Cuba 14-2 on Sunday night to reach its second straight World Baseball Classic final. Paul Goldschmidt and Cedric Mullins also homered for the Americans, who scored in seven of eight...
Astros’ Jose Altuve breaks right thumb, needs surgery 
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Houston Astros star Jose Altuve has a broken right thumb and needs surgery after getting hurt in Venezuela’s 9-7 quarterfinal loss to the United States at the World Baseball Classic. The Astros said Sunday they will announce a prognosis for the second baseman after the...
MLB umpires will have a new view this season — on Zoom
NEW YORK — Umpires will have a new view this season: on Zoom. Major League Baseball struck a deal with Zoom Video Communications Inc. allowing on-field umpires to watch the replay operations center evaluating contested calls. MLB first adopted instant replay in September 2008 for home boundary calls and expanded...
Mets’ Edwin Díaz expected to miss season with torn patellar tendon
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz has a torn patellar tendon and is expected to miss the entire season after hurting his right knee while celebrating a victory in the World Baseball Classic. Mets general manager Billy Eppler said Díaz would undergo surgery Thursday. Without...
Mets’ Edwin Díaz hurts knee as Puerto Rico tops Dominicans in World Baseball Classic
MIAMI — New York Mets star closer Edwin Díaz injured his right knee celebrating a win Wednesday night that advanced Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic and eliminated the Dominican Republic. Díaz was taken off the field in a wheelchair in Miami soon after pitching a perfect ninth inning...
Joe Pepitone, flamboyant Yankees All-Star, dies at 82 
NEW YORK — Joe Pepitone, an All-Star and Gold Glove first baseman on the 1960s New York Yankees who gained renown for his flamboyant personality, hairpieces and penchant for nightlife, has died at age 82. Pepitone was living with his daughter Cara Pepitone at her house in Kansas City, Mo.,...
Hitting technology could help baseball’s struggling lineups
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Tim Anderson wanted to study his swing. After a season hampered by groin and hand injuries, the Chicago White Sox shortstop wanted to build a more fluid approach at the plate. That work brought him to Driveline Baseball, first at the company’s main facility in Washington, and...
Phillies’ Bryce Harper says he could return by All-Star break
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bryce Harper joined his teammates at spring training and hasn’t ruled out being back by the All-Star break following Tommy John surgery. “Things can change either way,” the two-time National League MVP Harper said Thursday. “I could be after, I could be before. But...


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