Review: ‘The 1998 Yankees’ revisits team 25 years later
“The 1998 Yankees: The Inside Story of the Greatest Baseball Team Ever,” by Jack Curry (Twelve) Twenty-five years ago this fall, the New York Yankees won the World Series for the 24th time, part of a six-year run in which they won baseball’s championship four times. Jack Curry, who now...
Cubs’ Smyly loses bid for perfect game on Peralta’s dribbler
CHICAGO — Drew Smyly’s bid for a perfect game for the Chicago Cubs was stopped by David Peralta’s infield single for the Los Angeles Dodgers leading off the eighth inning on Friday. Peralta’s hit dribbled up the third base line. Smyly and Yan Gomes each went for the ball, and...
Oakland A’s purchase land for new stadium in Las Vegas
OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland Athletics have signed a binding agreement to purchase land for a new retractable roof ballpark in Las Vegas after being unable to build a new venue in the Bay Area. Team president Dave Kaval said Wednesday night the team finalized a deal last week to...
First Call: ESPN reports Allen Robinson passes physical with Steelers; Pirates look to stay hot; ex-Pens score in playoffs
Thursday’s “First Call” has an update on the Steelers trade for Allen Robinson. The Pirates hope to kick another opponent while they are down. A pair of WPIAL baseball stars faced off in Oakland. And a pair of ex-Penguins scored for their team in the NHL playoffs, while another struggled...
Mets’ Max Scherzer ejected for sticky substance after umpire checkVideo
LOS ANGELES — Max Scherzer swore on his children’s lives he put nothing but sweat and rosin on his hands at Dodger Stadium. The umpires still ejected him Wednesday, telling the Mets ace his hand was too sticky to possibly be legal. The three-time Cy Young Award winner loudly proclaimed...
First Call: Jalen Carter may be gone before Steelers could trade up to draft him; WPIAL pitching star to make debut
Wednesday’s “First Call” takes another look at that Jalen Carter-to-the-Steelers conversation. A familiar name in the AFC North may get moved out. We examine the NHL television ratings for the regular season. And a WPIAL standout pitcher is getting called up to the Major Leagues. No crack at Carter? If...
MLB uses Atlantic League to test more rule changes
PHOENIX — Major League Baseball isn’t done tinkering with potential rule changes for the sport. The league announced a series of experimental rules Tuesday that will be used in the Atlantic League this season, including a designated pinch runner, “double-hook” designated hitter rule and further limitations on a pitcher’s ability...
First Call: Steelers coach Mike Tomlin watches son score at B.C.’s spring game; Gerrit Cole’s strong start continues
Monday’s “First Call” features the scouting destination of Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin this past weekend. We also look ahead to the Pirates’ next series. Plus, a former Pirate is off to a torrid start, a big transfer win for West Virginia’s basketball team, and America comes up clutch in...
MLB players find less time for small talk with pitch clock
DENVER — Home plate used to be a place where the sociable Brandon Crawford would touch base with catchers and umpires. Just a casual conversation to catch up: How’s the family? What’s up? That sort of thing. These days, the San Francisco Giants infielder keeps the chatter to a minimum....
Rays tie record with 13-0 start, rally to beat Red Sox 9-3Video
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays tied MLB’s post-1900 record for 13 consecutive wins to start a season, rallying to beat the Boston Red Sox, 9-3, on Thursday behind a seven-run fifth inning that Harold Ramirez began and capped with doubles. Tampa Bay matched the 13-0 start of...
First Call: A new Steeler has draft advice for the franchise; local MLB star signs big contract
A new Pittsburgh Steeler is giving out draft advice to the franchise. A Penn State alum is unhappy with his franchise tag. A local baseball star just hit it rich. And college hockey is catching on with ESPN viewers. All that in Thursday’s “First Call.” Pat Pete playing GM? Appearing...
Umpire hospitalized after being hit in head by relay throw
CLEVELAND — Umpire Larry Vanover is being evaluated for a concussion and other injuries at a hospital after being struck in the head with a relay throw during Wednesday’s game between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians. The 67-year-old Vanover was knocked down by the throw from Guardians All-Star...
Rangers SS Seager out at least 4 weeks with hamstring strain
ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager will miss at least four weeks after being placed on the injured list Wednesday with a left hamstring strain after getting hurt running the bases. General manager Chris Young said Seager had an MRI that showed a Grade 2 strain. Seager, who...
Salt Lake City group seeks MLB expansion team
SALT LAKE CITY — While Major League Baseball has no current plans to add teams, the family that used to own the NBA’s Utah Jazz says it wants an expansion franchise. The Miller family and the Larry H. Miller Company said Wednesday a coalition calling itself Big League Utah has...
Mt. Lebanon native Ian Happ, Cubs agree to $61 million, 3-year contract for 2024-26
CHICAGO — All-Star outfielder Ian Happ and the Chicago Cubs agreed Wednesday to a $61 million, three-year contract covering 2024-26. Happ, a Mt. Lebanon native, agreed in January to a $10.85 million, one-year contract. His new deal calls for a $3 million signing bonus payable June 1 and salaries of...
Confident Rays not surprised by 11-0 start to season
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The streaking Tampa Bay Rays are running out of superlatives to describe baseball’s best start in more than three decades. Remarkable, incredible, unbelievable — even crazy — are words players have used to describe the dominant, all-around team effort that has carried them to an 11-0...
Bottoms up! Some MLB teams extend beer sales to 8th inning
PHOENIX — Thanks to the pitch clock, the action is moving much faster at Major League Baseball games. It also means a little less time for fans to enjoy a frosty adult beverage. To combat that time crunch, at least four teams — the Arizona Diamondbacks, Texas Rangers, Minnesota Twins...
MLB batting average up 16 points, game time down 31 minutes
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball’s new rules designed to speed pace of play and encourage more action seem to be working through the first 1 1/2 weeks of the season. Batting average is up 16 points, stolen bases have spiked 30% and the average game time is down 31...
Going, going, gone: Study says climate change juicing homers
Climate change is making major league sluggers into even hotter hitters, sending an extra 50 or so home runs a year over the fences, a new study found. Hotter, thinner air that allows balls to fly farther contributed a tiny bit to a surge in home runs since 2010, according...
Minor-league pitcher calls Padres’ Fernando Tatis ‘cheater’ after monster HRVideo
A San Francisco Giants minor leaguer called Fernando Tatis Jr. a “cheater” on Twitter after the suspended San Diego Padres superstar hit a mammoth home run Wednesday night in a Triple-A game while on a rehab assignment. Kade McClure of the Sacramento River Cats responded to a tweet that included...
Plum grad McGough works way back to MLB after finding his footing in Japan
What’s longer: 6,585 miles, or 2,749 days? For Plum’s Scott McGough, it took (repeatedly) traveling the former to take a meandering route in figuratively navigating the latter. A four-year trip to Japan ultimately led McGough back to the major leagues, a level he hadn’t pitched at since Sept. 20, 2015....
AP exclusive: MLB average salary up 11% year after lockoutVideo
NEW YORK — A year removed from a labor lockout that postponed Opening Day, major league players are enjoying their biggest salary spike in more than two decades. The average MLB salary was up 11.1% to a record $4.9 million to start this season, the largest jump for the sport...
Rendon suspension reduced to 4 games by MLB, appeal droppedVideo
NEW YORK — Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon says he is dropping his appeal after his suspension was reduced to four games by Major League Baseball for his altercation with a fan last week. Rendon spoke before the Angels opened a series in Seattle on Monday night and...
MLB owners ratify minor league collective bargaining deal
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball owners unanimously approved an initial five-year labor contract with minor league players on Monday that will more than double player salaries. The agreement was reached last Wednesday and ratified by players on Friday. Minor league players formed a bargaining unit during a rapid 17-day...
MLB game times cut 30 minutes, steals double under new rules
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball’s new rules are working as hoped through the first four days of the season. The average game time has dropped by 30 minutes, stolen bases have doubled and batting average has increased by 16 percentage points compared to last year’s opening weekend. Games averaged...
