First call: Steelers take CB in this mock draft; Marc-Andre Fleury to Game 7; wild MLB plays
In “First Call” Monday, the NFL Network has the Steelers thinking cornerback in Round 1. Three head-scratching plays over the wall across baseball on the same afternoon. And Marc-Andre Fleury falters in double overtime. Maybe Murphy The NFL Network had a big mock draft party over the weekend. Network host...
MLB all in on ‘letting the kids play,’ to dismay of some
When Tim Anderson spiked his bat and yelled toward his White Sox teammates, MLB’s self-described “spicy” Twitter account was among the first to weigh in. “LET THE KIDS PLAY,” proclaimed Cut4 , the offbeat arm of MLB’s social media portfolio with nearly 1 million followers. The tweet Wednesday included video...
Orioles’ Chris Davis ends 0-for-54 streak with big game
BOSTON — Chris Davis definitely kept the souvenir ball from this most elusive hit. Davis ended his record slump at 0 for 54 and drew applause from rival fans at Fenway Park, lining a single and two doubles while driving in four runs as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Boston...
Royals’ Billy Hamilton drops jaws on score from second base off sac fly
There’s fast and then there’s fast. Kansas City Royals outfielder Billy Hamilton showcased his motor to the baseball world Tuesday night when he scored off a sacrifice fly from second base. In the bottom of the third inning, shortstop Adalberto Mondesi belted a fastball from Mariners pitcher Marco Gonzales to...
Chris Davis sets record by going hitless in 47 straight at-bats
BALTIMORE — Chris Davis set the major league record for the longest hitless streak by a position player, going 0 for 47 during an unproductive run that began last year. Baltimore’s highly paid first baseman was retired in his first three trips to the plate Monday night against Oakland, leaving...
Cleveland blows no-hitter in 9th inning
The Cleveland Indians on Thursday night waited until the final inning of a game against the Toronto Blue Jays to sabotage what would have been the team’s first no-hitter in 38 years. Blue Jays shortstop Freddy Galvis said “No” to the no-no via a single to center field to start...
Indians give manager Terry Francona extension through 2022
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians may have some injury issues, bullpen worries and payroll problems. They’re set at manager. The club signed New Brighton native Terry Francona to a two-year contract extension on Wednesday through the 2022 season, giving him more security and a chance to become the longest tenured...
Former WPIAL stars Alex Kirilloff, Brendan McKay to start year in Double-A
Former WPIAL stars Alex Kirilloff and Brendan McKay, two of the top prospects in minor league baseball, will begin the 2019 season in the same league as they continue their path to the majors. Kirilloff, a former Plum star and the Minnesota Twins’ 2016 first-round pick, was assigned Monday to...
Brewers’ Yelich ties MLB record, hits walk-off winner against Cardinals
MILWAUKEE — Christian Yelich led the way for the Milwaukee Brewers, from his first swing to the last one of the game. So it was a pretty typical day for the reigning NL MVP. Yelich hit his fourth homer in the first inning and a two-run double in the ninth,...
MLB teams putting extra value on versatility
LAKELAND, Fla. — In his rookie season with the Detroit Tigers, Niko Goodrum spent time at first base, second base, third base, shortstop and both corner outfield spots. The next logical step was to try him in center field, and manager Ron Gardenhire did that during spring training this month....
Scherzer highest-paid player, Red Sox top payroll list again
NEW YORK — Washington pitcher Max Scherzer took over from Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout as baseball’s highest-paid player at $37.4 million and the World Series champion Boston Red Sox remained the sport’s biggest spender for the second straight year, according to a study of major league salaries by...
Brewers’ Lorenzo Cain takes away HR for final out against Cardinals
MILWAUKEE — Lorenzo Cain fired the ball high into the air and jumped up and down in the outfield, yelling and shaking his head from side to side. “I let them know. Not today,” a grinning Cain said. Not today, indeed. Cain soared above the wall to rob Jose Martinez...
Bryce Harper overtakes Aaron Judge for MLB’s top-selling jersey
NEW YORK — The new No. 3 is the new No. 1. Major League Baseball says that Bryce Harper has the sport’s top-selling jersey, ending a two-year reign for Aaron Judge’s No. 99. Harper signed a $330 million, 13-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies this spring, and his new No....
Andrew McCutchen homers in 1st at-bat with Phillies in rout over Braves
PHILADELPHIA — Bryce Harper struck out twice in green Phanatic cleats in his $330 million debut and bowed to thousands of fans in No. 3 jerseys who gave him rousing standing ovations in the Philadelphia Phillies’ 10-4 win over the Atlanta Braves on Thursday. The other NL MVP pickup this...
Mets’ Jacob deGrom outduels Nationals’ Max Scherzer in opener
WASHINGTON — On a day that Jacob deGrom struck out 10 in six scoreless innings and Max Scherzer fanned 12, it was New York Mets newcomer Robinson Cano who decided the outcome with a homer, an RBI single and head’s-up throw to the plate. Interrupting a pair of performances befitting...
MLB moves into new era: No players left from 20th century
Four-man outfields. High-tech anti-spying rules. A starting pitcher facing just one batter in a playoff game. But beyond all the shifts, analytics and social media outreach, here’s the best way to tell MLB has zoomed into a new era: There’s not a single active player left from the 20th century....
MLB hopes to gain control of local broadcast deals
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball hopes to gain control of local broadcasting agreements involving its teams, the reason behind its bid to purchase regional sports networks from The Walt Disney Co. Disney acquired 22 RSNs as part of its $71 billion purchase of 21st Century Fox’s entertainment business this...
Mets, Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom agree to 5-year, $137.5 million deal
NEW YORK — NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom and the New York Mets have agreed to a $137.5 million, five-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The deal guarantees an additional $120.5 million over four seasons. The person spoke on condition of anonymity...
In data-driven age, ‘honor’ of Opening Day start still bigVideo
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — As spring training neared its conclusion, a reporter mentioned to Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez that Max Scherzer was not precisely on schedule to start on Opening Day. “He’s going to be lined up,” Martinez said with a laugh. “Come Thursday at 1:05, he’ll be...
National League preview: $300-million men could make big difference
The marquee storyline(s) of the NL East and West divisions differ now than from when spring training began. A pair of $300 million-plus contracts sure can change things. The Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres might or might not be great teams this season, but many eyes will be on...
NL Central preview: Every team (even the Pirates) in contention for playoffs
It might seem as if the Chicago Cubs have been dominating the NL Central in recent years, but is it really a dynasty when they’ve won the division just twice? The Cubs have averaged 97 wins per season over the past four years but twice had to settle for wild...
Ichiro walks off into history in ‘sayonara’ at Tokyo Dome
TOKYO — At times, it seemed as if he’d go on hitting forever. But Thursday night, a player who defined baseball at its very best on two continents for a generation, took his final swing. The great Ichiro has said “sayonara.” Now 45, Ichiro Suzuki left the Tokyo Dome field...
Ichiro walks off into history in ‘sayonara’ at Tokyo Dome
TOKYO — Ichiro Suzuki has said “sayonara.” The 45-year-old Seattle Mariners star announced his retirement Thursday night, shortly after waving goodbye at the Tokyo Dome during a 5-4 win over Oakland in 12 innings. Ichiro went 0 for 4 and was pulled from right field in the eighth, saluting his...
Trout, Angels finalize record $432 million, 12-year deal
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night announced their 12-year contract, a record deal that ties baseball’s top player to the Orange County club for what likely will be the rest of his career. A person with knowledge of the contract told The Associated...
Mariners top A’s in MLB opener in Japan
TOKYO — Ichiro drew all the cheers. Most everyone else on the Seattle Mariners did all the hitting. A crowd that came to salute Ichiro Suzuki in his homeland saw Domingo Santana deliver the biggest hit at the Tokyo Dome, a grand slam that sent Seattle over the Oakland Athletics,...
