Sal Frelick making rapid progress with Brewers, plus local updates from MLB pipelines
“Better Call Sal” is becoming a popular catchphrase among the Milwaukee Brewers fanbase. It even made its way to T-shirts. Just a few days ago, the message was more like, better call up Sal. The Brewers did promote their prized prospect, Sal Frelick, and he has not disappointed. He is...
Rob Manfred’s term as baseball commissioner extended until 2029 by MLB owners
NEW YORK — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred’s term was extended until 2029 on Wednesday by major league owners. The decision to give Manfred a third term in charge of the sport was made during a vote in a telephone conference call with the 30 team owners. The extension keeps Manfred...
No. 2 pick Dylan Crews gets $9M signing bonus from NationalsVideo
WASHINGTON — Outfielder Dylan Crews is getting a $9 million signing bonus from the Washington Nationals, the second-highest amount a drafted player has received. The 21-year-old LSU outfielder was taken by Washington with the second pick in the amateur draft on July 9, just after the Pittsburgh Pirates selected college...
Scott Rolen credits his parents, Fred McGriff thanks fellow players at Hall of Fame inductionVideo
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — The greatest moment of Scott Rolen’s 17-year career didn’t come during his 2006 World Series run with the St. Louis Cardinals or even during his outstanding first full season in 1997 with the Philadelphia Phillies, which earned him unanimous National League Rookie of the Year honors. For...
Scott Rolen and Fred McGriff to enter Baseball Hall of FameVideo
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Scott Rolen is an old-school baseball guy, but he’s grateful for the analytics of today’s game. They might have helped him get voted into the Hall of Fame. Rolen, making it on his sixth try, and Fred McGriff, elected unanimously by the Contemporary Baseball Era Players Committee,...
Rangers, MLB unveil logo for 2024 All-Star Game that will be bigger than 1995 game Texas’ hosted
ARLINGTON, Texas — The MLB All-Star Game has grown into a truly Texas-sized event since the last time the Rangers hosted the midsummer classic, and the countdown is on for next year’s festivities. Major League Baseball and the Rangers unveiled the logo Thursday for the 2024 All-Star Game at Globe...
How does MLB take over a local broadcast? Even with months of planning, it’s a mad scramble
Doug Johnson was answering emails at the Miami East hotel on May 30 when his phone rang with the call he had been awaiting for more than two months: Major League Baseball was taking over San Diego Padres’ television broadcasts the next day from financially troubled Diamond Sports. “Immediately headed...
Hall of Famer Johnny Bench apologizes for antisemitic remark at Cincinnati Reds event
CINCINNATI — Hall of Famer Johnny Bench apologized for an antisemitic comment made at an event to honor former Cincinnati Reds general manager Gabe Paul, who was Jewish, and others. Bench made the remark at an event attended by Paul’s daughter, Jennie Paul, on Saturday. Paul, who died in 1998,...
First Call: How 2 NFL signings may impact Steelers; injury update for key Pirates prospect
Monday’s “First Call” looks at how a pair of NFL signings may impact the Pittsburgh Steelers. There is positive news regarding a Pirates prospect. And we identify what Quinn Priester will be facing in his Major League Baseball debut for the Pirates. What’s in the ‘HOP’per The Tennessee Titans have...
Madden Monday: On Erik Karlsson trade talk, ‘everybody … is just waiting to see if San Jose cracks’
After a week off, “Madden Monday” is back at “Breakfast With Benz.” And two things haven’t changed at all since I last spoke with Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLIVE. The Pittsburgh Pirates keep losing, and we keep waiting to see what’s going on with the Penguins’ pursuit...
Mark Madden Hot Take: Angels have little choice but to trade Shohei Ohtani
MLB’s trade deadline is Aug. 1. The Los Angeles Angels are likely to deal Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani is the best player in baseball. Some think he’s the best ever. He hits, pitches, has charisma — he’s the total package. But the Angels are six games out of a wild-card spot...
MLB All-Star Game draws record-low viewership for 2nd year in row
NEW YORK — Baseball’s All-Star Game drew a record low in viewers for the second straight year. The National League’s 3-2 win over the American League in Seattle on Tuesday night was seen by 7,006,000 viewers on Fox, down from 7.51 million last year. The game drew a 3.9 rating,...
National League snaps All-Star Game losing streak, tops AL behind Elias Díaz homerVideo
SEATTLE — Elias Díaz hit a two-run homer off Félix Bautista in the eighth inning, and the National League snapped a nine-game losing streak in the All-Star Game with a 3-2 win over the American League on Tuesday night. The NL won for the first time since an 8-0 victory...
MLB experimenting with pearl white baseballs to rid sticky stuff problem
SEATTLE — Pristine white baseballs that would not require rubbing are under consideration by Major League Baseball as a way to solve the issue of pitchers using sticky substances for better grip. “We continue to work with the people at Dow Chemical on developing a tacky ball,” Commissioner Ron Manfred...
MLB open to consider increasing time on pitch clock in postseasonVideo
SEATTLE — Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred will consider increasing time on the pitch clock for the postseason but is reluctant to adjust an innovation the sport considers a great success. In the first season of the clock, the average time of a nine-inning game is 2 hours, 38 minutes, on...
Vladimir Guerrero joins dad as first father-son Home Run Derby winners
SEATTLE — Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. joined Vladimir Sr. to become the first father-son duo to win the All-Star Home Run Derby, beating Tampa Bay’s Randy Arozarena, 25-23, in the final round Monday night. Guerrero defeated Julio Rodríguez, 21-20, in the semifinals after the Mariners star hit a record 41...
$500 million? $600 million? Shohei Ohtani’s free agency the buzz of the All-Star GameVideo
SEATTLE — At some point, Shohei Ohtani will entertain the idea of talking about his pending free agency and what it could mean to the finances of baseball. But that didn’t stop others from pondering what could happen this offseason when, perhaps, the most unusual free agent in history hits...
Yankees hire Upper St. Clair native Sean Casey as hitting coach to replace fired Dillon Lawson
NEW YORK — The New York Yankees have hired 12-year big league veteran Sean Casey as their hitting coach for the remainder of this season, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal has...
LSU pair makes history at MLB DraftVideo
SEATTLE — After the Pittsburgh Pirates selected hard-throwing LSU right-handed pitcher Paul Skenes with the top pick in baseball’s amateur draft on Sunday night, Skenes’ Tigers teammate, Dylan Crews, went No. 2 to the Washington Nationals. It seemed to be a debate between Skenes and Crews for the top pick....
MLB strikeout numbers are stubbornly high despite rules changes
PHOENIX — MLB has made the games faster, the bases bigger and defense a little bit harder. Now, if it could only do something about those stubborn strikeouts. “Just move the mound back to about — oh, I don’t know — second base? Maybe fastballs only?” Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Jake...
Braves ace Max Fried makes rehab start at Triple-A Gwinnett, first appearance since May 5Video
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — Atlanta Braves ace Max Fried threw 35 pitches over 1 1/3 scoreless innings for Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday — his first appearance in more than two months. Fried, runner-up for the NL Cy Young Award in 2022, has been on the 60-day injured list recuperating from a...
3 Tigers pitchers combine to no-hit Blue Jays in 2-0 victory
DETROIT — Three Detroit Tigers pitchers combined to no-hit the Toronto Blue Jays in a 2-0 win on Saturday. It was the first combined no-hitter in Tigers history. Matt Manning (3-1) pitched 6 2/3 innings and Jason Foley got four straight outs. Tigers closer Alex Lange came in for the...
With Griffey’s help, MLB hosts HBCU All-Star Game hoping to create opportunity for Black playersVideo
SEATTLE — Ken Griffey Jr. holds a plethora of titles, especially in this part of the country. Hall of Famer. Cultural icon. The guy who made baseball in the Pacific Northwest relevant. Arguably, the greatest of his generation. He even holds a title in association with MLB as a special...
Is MLB’s pitch clock leading to better defense? Some players and coaches think so
MILWAUKEE — The pitch clock may be bothering players as they step to the plate, but they like it a whole lot better once they put on their gloves and take the field. While the rule changes put in place this year to speed up the pace of play have...
U mad, bro?: Penguins fans pipe up about Tristan Jarry’s contract; Pirates fans dial up draft takes
Many of us are coming off a four-day weekend. The rain finally stopped for the Fourth of July. And we are still more than a month away from the Pittsburgh Steelers really doing anything to get you upset. But that didn’t stop plenty of people from filling up my inbox...
