First Call: An Antonio Brown, Vontaze Burfict family feud; Austin Meadows stays hot
Wednesday’s “First Call” gives us the first “feud” between Antonio Brown and Vontaze Burfict. And the Raiders really did sign Richie Incognito. The worst first pitch ever. Another Austin Meadows homer. It’s time to play the feud Antonio Brown and Vontaze Burfict had their first family feud in Oakland. No,...
Woman delivers worthy candidate for ‘Worst First Pitches Ever’Video
There’s an old saying: “They couldn’t do that bad if they tried.” The adage was put on full display Tuesday night at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago. A woman, who was honored as the White Sox’s “Employee of the Month” threw out the ceremonial first pitch for the home team...
Phillies OF Odubel Herrera arrested in domestic case, put on leave
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Odubel Herrera has been placed on administrative leave by Major League Baseball following his arrest in a domestic violence case at an Atlantic City casino. The commissioner’s office put Herrera on leave Tuesday, a day after his arrest on an assault charge at...
Bill Buckner, forever known for error in 1986 World Series, dies at 69Video
BOSTON — Bill Buckner, a star hitter who became known for making one of the most infamous plays in major league history, died Monday. He was 69. He died after a long battle with Lewy body dementia, Buckner’s family said in a statement. The disease causes Alzheimer’s-like symptoms along with...
Cubs manager Maddon drops protest over Doolittle’s delivery
WASHINGTON — The Chicago Cubs dropped their protest over the pitching delivery of Washington reliever Sean Doolittle. Cubs manager Joe Maddon made the announcement before Sunday night’s game against the Nationals. Maddon came out twice in the ninth inning of a 5-2 loss Saturday night to complain to plate umpire...
Paul Newberry: Penny-pinching Rays running with big-market teams
They play in an architectural nightmare of a ballpark. They are treated like pariahs in their own community. They have to get by with one of baseball’s stingiest payrolls. Yet, somehow, the Tampa Bay Rays make it work. It’s one of the most compelling stories in sports, even if few...
Diehard Fan: Actor Bruce Willis hits BP, throws 1st pitch in PhiladelphiaVideo
Baseball has been called a humbling game. But on Wednesday after some feeble swings during batting practice and a less-than-average first pitch for the Phillies, baseball taught actor Bruce Willis not to quit his day job. Bruce Willis takes batting practice pic.twitter.com/mZJ1o5bDbI— Michael McGarry (@ACPressMcGarry) May 15, 2019 Willis, who...
President Trump boasts that Red Sox swept a sub-.500 team thanks to him
There’s a particular subset of Donald Trump tweets in which he tries to take credit for things for which he obviously deserves no credit. This is different than that genre of tweets in which Trump claims, retroactively, to have been right about something, a prolific genre of its own. Here,...
Giants’ Derek Holland calls injury ‘fake,’ rips front office
SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants weren’t pleased with Derek Holland’s results in the starting rotation, so they asked the struggling left-hander to pitch in relief. If Holland wanted to express frustration with the decision, manager Bruce Bochy and president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi have said their doors are always...
Revolving door working for New York Yankees
NEW YORK — Michael Tauchman reported to the New York Yankees for the first time before an exhibition game at Washington, three days before Opening Day and two days after he was acquired from Colorado in a trade. “Aaron Judge came over during batting practice, said, ‘Hey man, you’re here...
Rays pitcher Tyler Glasnow expected to miss 4-6 weeks with forearm strain
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays placed pitcher Tyler Glasnow on the 10-day injured list because of a mild right forearm strain that’s expected to sideline him four to six weeks. Glasnow left during the sixth inning of Friday night’s 4-3 loss to the New York Yankees with...
Cubs’ Addison Russell says he understands hearing boos
Addison Russell said he understands the booing he has heard since returning to the Chicago Cubs after his suspension for violating baseball’s domestic violence policy, calling it “a serious issue.” Russell received a mostly chilly reception when he started Wednesday against Miami in his first major league game since September....
With bullpen struggling, should Nationals consider using an opener?Video
The Washington Nationals are making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Manager Dave Martinez is having to answer tough questions after his team dropped to 14-22 with Wednesday afternoon’s 7-3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, which included a 6-0 deficit in the second inning. Injuries are part of the problem...
White House misspells Red Sox as ‘Red Socks’ for team’s Trump visit
A misspelling Thursday is irking some baseball fans. The Boston Red Sox were due for a visit with President Donald Trump at 3:45 in the afternoon but the White House misspelled the team’s name as “Red Socks” on the schedule. Ace White House staff work strikes again --> Glenn...
Must See: Red Sox’s Jackie Bradley robs Orioles’ Trey Mancini of walk-off homer
Red Sox outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. robbed Baltimore Orioles’ Trey Mancini in what would have been a walk-off homer Wednesday night. With one of the most sensational grabs you’ll see this year, Bradley raced to deep center, dug midway into the wall with his right cleat and reached over the...
Addison Russell rejoins Cubs after 40-game ban
CHICAGO — Addison Russell and the Chicago Cubs don’t believe the 2016 All-Star has become a completely changed man since his ex-wife accused him of physical and emotional abuse. They do believe he has made positive strides, and with the Cubs needing an infielder for a depleted roster, Russell has...
Corey Kluber hopes to return to Indians this season
CLEVELAND — Corey Kluber’s broken right arm isn’t all that’s hurting him. Less than a week after absorbing the impact of a 102 mph line drive during a start in Miami, Cleveland’s two-time AL Cy Young Award winner said Tuesday he still is coming to grips with his injury. “You...
Former Plum star Kirilloff off to hot start for Minnesota Twins’ Double-A affiliate
A wrist injury kept Alex Kirilloff out for the entire month of April. His performance since his return is backing up his breakthrough 2018 season. The former Plum baseball star is hitting .412 (7 for 17) in the five-game small sample size since his debut last week for the Pensacola...
Red Sox manager Alex Cora won’t visit White House
CHICAGO — Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora will not attend the ceremony at the White House on Thursday honoring the 2018 World Series champions. Cora cited the Trump administration’s response to Hurricane Maria in his native Puerto Rico as the reason for his decision. “The government has done some...
Skye’s the limit for A’s outfield prospect Bolt
Mike Bolt knew he was setting the bar pretty high when he decided to name his son “Skye.” “He had a lot of pressure right out of the gate,” Mike Bolt said with a laugh. Now, Skye is very much at the limit. The Oakland Athletics called up the switch-hitting...
Kyle Hendricks shuts out Cardinals on just 81 pitches in Cubs’ 4-0 win
CHICAGO — The sun was out at Wrigley Field for Friday’s series opener between the Cubs and Cardinals, though a cold, 12-mph wind was blowing in from left field, making it a pitchers’ day. Kyle Hendricks made the most of the elements, throwing a complete-game shutout in a 4-0 win....
First Call: What will Baltimore do with Trace McSorley?, Gronk’s acting, a monster homer
In Thursday’s “First Call,” Gronk’s acting debut. What the future holds for Trace McSorley in Baltimore. A bad break in Cleveland. And a bad fate for the Islanders? McSorley mash-up So, what are the Baltimore Ravens going to do with former Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley? It sounds like …...
Phil Rosenthal: For Cubs’ Addison Russell, Iowa a fitting purgatory
Iowa. That place where, in the movies at least, baseball players dead to the outside world briefly emerge from a purgatorial cornfield to play before vanishing again. Seems like the right spot for Addison Russell, whose 40-game suspension for violating MLB’s domestic-violence policy concludes this week. The Cubs, who continue...
Norwin graduate JJ Matijevic suspended 50 games by minor league baseball
Houston Astros prospect JJ Matijevic has been suspended 50 games under baseball’s minor league drug program following a second positive test for a drug of abuse. Selected by Houston with the 75th overall pick in the second round of the 2017 amateur draft, the 23-year-old Norwin graduate was hitting .240...
Braves acquire pitcher Jerry Blevins from A’s for $1
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves acquired left-hander Jerry Blevins from the Oakland Athletics on Sunday for $1. The 35-year-old Blevins made his Braves debut in Sunday’s 8-7 win over the Colorado Rockies, recording one out and walking one in the seventh inning. The Braves needed a left-hander for their bullpen...
