AP source: MLB owners approve plan to start season in JulyVideo
NEW YORK — MLB owners gave the go-ahead Monday to making a proposal to the players’ union that could lead to the coronavirus-delayed season starting around the Fourth of July weekend in ballparks without fans, a plan that envisioned expanding the designated hitter to the National League for 2020. Spring...
Why did Jay Glazer pivot so quickly after jabbing Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger?
In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden and I give you tons of sports. Even though there are no sports. Thankfully, the NFL continues to give us plenty of content during the covid-19 pandemic. The league’s schedule came out. Now the question becomes, will it actually be played, or...
Under 1% of MLB employees test positive for virus antibodiesVideo
NEW YORK — Just 0.7% of Major League Baseball employees tested positive for antibodies to covid-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus. Researchers received 6,237 completed surveys from employees of 26 clubs. That led to 5,754 samples obtained in the U.S. on April 14 and 15 and 5,603 records...
Report: MLB cutting this year’s draft to 5 rounds to save clubs bonus pool moneyVideo
NEW YORK — MLB will cuts its amateur draft from 40 rounds to five this year, a move that figures to save teams about $30 million. Clubs gained the ability to reduce the draft as part of their March 26 agreement with the players’ association, and MLB plans to finalize...
Despite July 1 optimism, MLB remains far from structured plan to open season: report
NEW YORK — Former major league infielder Trevor Plouffe sparked somewhat of a storm on Monday after he posted a dubious tweet that began with five simple words. “Want some good baseball news??” Plouffe asked, rhetorically. The 33-year-old then mentioned July 1 as a potential opening day for Major League...
In shortened MLB season, stars still had chance to shine in 1981Video
The season began with Fernandomania and ended with a classic World Series matchup between the Dodgers and Yankees. Mike Schmidt slugged his way to a second consecutive MVP, and Nolan Ryan pitched another no-hitter. But perhaps the best way to describe baseball in 1981 is by recounting Pete Rose’s pursuit...
Play ball: Korean baseball league begins in empty stadiums
SEOUL, South Korea — The new baseball season began in South Korea on Tuesday with the crack of the bat and the sound of the ball smacking into the catcher’s mitt echoing around empty stadiums. After a weeks-long delay because of the coronavirus pandemic, umpires wore protective masks and cheerleaders...
Tim Benz: Ideas for ESPN’s next docuseries after ‘The Last Dance.’ Cast your vote.
ESPN’s “The Last Dance” has been quite a hit. The 10-part documentary series on Michael Jordan and the Bulls of the 1990s is generating an incredible buzz. Pittsburgh Penguins Radio Network host Brian Metzer joined me for our usual “Breakfast With Benz” hockey podcast, and we spun the conversation into...
Baseball artists, writers shut out by coronavirus pandemicVideo
NEW YORK — Anika Orrock was all warmed up for her big pitch. On the mound at Yankee Stadium, tossing out the ceremonial first ball. On Tuesday night, though, the baseball illustrator and cartoonist will be far from the Bronx. Instead of starting off the Pittsburgh Pirates-New York Yankees game,...
‘The Wax Pack’ chronicles road trip inspired by baseball cards
NEW YORK — Brad Balukjian tore open a pack of 1986 Topps baseball cards, chewed the stale, brittle bubblegum and then planned a road trip most sports fans could only dream about. The college biology professor set out to meet every player whose image appeared on those old pieces of...
Nationals manager Martinez determined to celebrate ’19 World Series in front of fansVideo
WASHINGTON — No one knows for sure how, when and where — or, truly, even if — MLB will play games in 2020. Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez feels certain of this much: His team will wait to properly mark its World Series championship with spectators in the seats. “I’m...
Sources: MLB, umpires reach pay deal during coronavirus pandemic
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball and its umpires have reached a deal to cover a 2020 pay structure during the coronavirus pandemic, including a 50% cut in May and nothing more this year if no games are played. The sides struck an agreement late Thursday night, two people told...
Hall of Famer Andre Dawson deals with coronavirus as morticianVideo
MIAMI — The man consoling mourners and directing his staff at Paradise Memorial Funeral Home might look familiar if he wasn’t wearing a mask. It’s baseball Hall of Famer Andre Dawson. Owning a funeral home took some getting used to, Dawson said Thursday, and now he’s adjusting to life as...
Baseball Hall of Fame cancels induction ceremonyVideo
Derek Jeter, Larry Walker and the rest of this year’s Baseball Hall of Fame class will have to wait another year for their big moment at Cooperstown. The Hall of Fame announced Wednesday it has canceled the July 26 induction ceremony because of the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, the class will...
MLB teams adjusting as pandemic affects draft preparation
The Detroit Tigers can feel certain about one thing: They have the No. 1 pick in the draft. What that MLB Draft will look like, when and where it will take place and how the selections will be made still isn’t clear. “It’s going to present different challenges, probably,” said...
Sources: Major League Baseball opening options include 3 regional divisions
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball is exploring various options that could allow the season to start if the medical situation allows, including a plan in which the 30 teams could be split into three regional divisions. Among the formats is one in which teams could be restricted to playing...
MLB reverses ticket policy, clearing way for teams to offer refunds to fans
With more than 400 major league games already called off because of the coronavirus outbreak, the league Tuesday reversed a policy that had restricted fans from widespread refunds on tickets to those games. On a conference call, Major League Baseball informed team officials that they no longer needed to advise...
Orioles 1B Trey Mancini expects to miss season to treat colon cancerVideo
BALTIMORE — Orioles outfielder Trey Mancini is undergoing chemotherapy for stage 3 colon cancer and expects to miss the season if major leaguers return this summer. Mancini had a malignant tumor removed shortly before turning 28 on March 18. He has been undergoing chemotherapy since April 13. “My treatment will...
MLB official testifies he thought commissioner Manfred would stop umpire Hernandez from working SeriesVideo
NEW YORK — A major league official testified he suggested Angel Hernandez be removed from consideration for the 2015 World Series because he did not think commissioner Rob Manfred would approve the umpire to work baseball’s premier event. Hernandez sued MLB in 2017, alleging race discrimination and cited his failure...
Steve Dalkowski, inspiration for ‘Bull Durham,’ dies at 80Video
Steve Dalkowski, a hard-throwing, wild left-hander whose minor league career inspired the creation of Nuke LaLoosh in the movie “Bull Durham,” has died. He was 80. He died Sunday at the Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain. His sister, Patricia Cain, said Friday he had several pre-existing conditions that...
Cubs foursome sharing house, experiences awaiting baseballVideo
CHICAGO — When the coronavirus pandemic stopped spring training last month, Ian Happ offered Nico Hoerner, Zack Short and Dakota Mekkes a place to stay if they wanted to remain in Arizona. That’s how “The Compound” was born. Happ, Hoerner, Short and Mekkes — four players from the Cubs’ organization...
Red Sox stripped of draft pick, Alex Cora suspended for 2020Video
NEW YORK — The Boston Red Sox were stripped of their second-round pick in this year’s amateur draft by MLB for sign stealing in 2018 and former manager Alex Cora was suspended through the 2020 postseason for his previous conduct as bench coach with the Houston Astros. Baseball commissioner Rob...
Minor league baseball prepared to accept losing 40 affiliatesVideo
NEW YORK — The minor leagues are prepared to agree to Major League Baseball’s proposal to cut guaranteed affiliations from 160 to 120 next year, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press, a plan that would that would impact hundreds of prospects and cut player development expenses....
Fans sue MLB, teams over ticket money, ask for class action
LOS ANGELES — A pair of fans in New York sued Major League Baseball, Commissioner Rob Manfred and the 30 teams, asking for their money back for tickets and for certification of class-action status. The lawsuit was filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles by Matthew Ajzenman, who...
MLB can cut pay, lay off managers, coaches starting May 1Video
NEW YORK — Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred made a move that allows teams to lay off or cut the pay of major and minor league managers, coaches, trainers and full-time scouts starting May 1. Manfred suspended uniform employee contracts that cover about 9,000 people, including general managers on some teams....
