Braves All-Star Freedie Freeman prayed ‘Please don’t take me’ during covid-19 fightVideo
ATLANTA — Freddie Freeman doesn’t know if he has time to be ready for the Atlanta Braves’ opener. Following a scary journey in his battle with covid-19, Freeman is grateful to even have a chance. On Saturday, the four-time All-Star revealed he had a high temperature of 104.5 degrees early...
Blue Jays not allowed to play games in Canada
TORONTO — The Blue Jays have been denied approval by the Canadian government to play in Toronto amid the coronavirus pandemic. Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino announced in a statement Saturday the federal government had denied the request, confirming what an official familiar with the matter had told The Associated Press...
Daniel Bard makes Rockies roster after seven-year absenceVideo
DENVER — Daniel Bard never ran from the mental hiccups that derailed a promising pitching career with the Boston Red Sox. Through a half-dozen comeback attempts since his last appearance in the big leagues in 2013, Bard couldn’t rediscover his control and finally settled into a job last year as...
Austin Meadows joins Tyler Glasnow as Rays’ only known coronavirus cases
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tampa Bay outfielder Austin Meadows has been placed on the injured list after testing positive for the coronavirus, the Rays announced Thursday night. Left-handed reliever Aaron Loup was added to the 40-man roster in place of Meadows, who was a first-time All-Star and batted .291 with...
Major league teams try to ramp up the competition in campVideo
Well-traveled Milwaukee Brewers first baseman-outfielder Logan Morrison figures it will be easy for him to adjust to games without spectators this season. “I played for the Rays and the Marlins, so I’m used to it,” Morrison said. The Brewers and other major league teams worked out again Monday in mostly...
Several rookies could have an impact in MLB’s abbreviated seasonVideo
CHICAGO — Baseball’s 60-game season is plenty of time for a young slugger or pitcher to play a pivotal role in a playoff run. Here is a closer look at a handful of rookies who could grab a starring role this year: • OF Luis Robert, Chicago White Sox: The...
2-time All-Star 2B Frank Bolling dies, hit last slam off Sandy KoufaxVideo
MOBILE, Ala. — Frank Bolling, a two-time All-Star second baseman and the last player to hit a grand slam off Sandy Koufax, has died. He was 88. Bolling died Saturday. He was diagnosed with cancer about five years ago, according to a notice posted by the funeral home handling the...
Blue Jays shift Vladimir Guerrero Jr. across diamond to first baseVideo
TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays are shifting Vladimir Guerrero Jr. across the diamond, moving the slugger to first base from third. Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said Guerrero feels comfortable at first and the team has Travis Shaw ready to play third. Montoyo also said Guerrero will see time...
Giants star catcher Buster Posey opts out of playing
Giants star catcher Buster Posey became the latest big-name player to skip this season because of concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, announcing his decision Friday. The six-time All-Star said his family finalized the adoption of identical twin girls this week. The babies were born prematurely, and Posey said after consultations...
New extra-inning MLB format stirs debate as teams plot strategyVideo
MILWAUKEE — Baseball has its answer to penalty kicks, overtimes and shootouts, and it figures to stir just as much debate as all those other forms of tiebreakers. MLB will start each extra inning in this abbreviated, 60-game season by putting a runner on second base. The rule has been...
First Call: Gerrit Cole’s pandemic problem, NHL TV schedule, robot fans, no Cleveland for Clowney
Thursday’s “First Call” features a pandemic problem for Gerrit Cole. Might we see robot fans at games? The potential rebooted NHL television schedule is interesting. And the Cleveland Browns appear to be out when it comes to Jadeveon Clowney. Covid conundrum for Cole Former Pirate Gerrit Cole made a simulated...
Sonny Gray moves to front of Reds’ rotation, will start openerVideo
CINCINNATI — Sonny Gray knows what it’s like to start a season opener in front of a crowd, having done it twice with Oakland. His third time will be the most different and memorable of all. Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell chose Gray to start the 60-game season and lead...
Yankees’ Gerrit Cole learns safety-protocol lesson in 1st intrasquad squadVideo
NEW YORK — Gerrit Cole couldn’t have expected the New York Yankees to take the ball away from him just one batter into his first home start in the Bronx. But the team’s new $324 million ace learned the hard way about one of baseball’s new coronavirus safety protocols Tuesday...
Craig Kimbrel looking to bounce back after tough debut with CubsVideo
CHICAGO — With just 60 games this season, the Chicago Cubs need Craig Kimbrel to be better than he was last year. Much, much better. The 32-year-old Kimbrel is looking to bounce back from one of the worst stretches of his stellar career. The seven-time All-Star closer never looked right...
First Call: DeSean Jackson’s anti-Semitic post, Joe West’s coronavirus confusion lead ‘week of dumb’
We need games back. Now! Because we need to start talking about dumb decisions by players, coaches, executives and officials on the field. Those things are a lot easier to digest than what they are saying in quotes and on social media. Wednesday’s “First Call” takes a look at this...
Players’ off-the-field behavior will have big impact on MLB seasonVideo
MIAMI — Reliever Nick Vincent signed last week with the Miami Marlins and settled in for two days of quarantine in his hotel room while awaiting clearance to join workouts. “That was a little bit different,” he said. “In 48 hours, you’re definitely a little stir-crazy.” Vincent spent a lot...
Andrew McCutchen says Yankees’ haircut policy should be addressedVideo
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Andrew McCutchen, who started his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates and donned long dreads for the first half of his career, recently said it is time the New York Yankees address their strict haircut and facial hair policy. Speaking on “The Sports Bubble with Jensen Karp,” McCutchen,...
Red Sox dogged by claims of racism, sexual abuse
NEW YORK — Last month, when former Major League All-star Torii Hunter said he’d been called the N-word “a hundred times” at Boston’s storied Fenway Park, the Red Sox were quick to back him up with a promise to fight racism. “Torii Hunter’s experience is real,” the team said in...
Nationals, Astros call off workouts because of covid testing delaysVideo
WASHINGTON — Baseball’s two World Series finalists canceled workouts Monday because of covid-19 testing delays that one executive worried could endanger the baseball season. The defending champion Washington Nationals and reigning American League champion Houston Astros called off their training camp practices after not receiving test results from Friday. The...
Ex-MLB pitcher Tyson Brummett, 3 others die in plane crash
AMERICAN FORK, Utah — A former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher and three others died in a plane crash in rural Utah. Ex-pitcher Tyson Brummett, 35, of Salt Lake City, was flying the small plane, which left from the South Valley Regional Airport in West Jordan and crashed near Box Elder Peak...
Braves’ Felix Hernandez opts out of season due to pandemicVideo
ATLANTA — Former Cy Young winner Felix Hernandez has opted out of the 2020 season, at least temporarily ending his bid to revive his career with the Atlanta Braves. Braves manager Brian Snitker said Sunday that Hernandez, 34, opted out due to the coronavirus pandemic. The decision was made after...
Indians manager Terry Francona favors nickname change for clubVideo
CLEVELAND — Cleveland manager Terry Francona won’t sidestep the hot-button topic any longer. He believes the Indians need to change their contentious nickname. “I think it’s time to move forward,” Francona said Sunday. The New Brighton native’s comments came two days after the Indians, amid a nationwide movement to erase...
Atlanta Braves give no indication of considering name change
ATLANTA — With teams in two sports taking a second look at names deemed offensive to Native Americans, the Atlanta Braves on Saturday gave no indication they are willing to consider a similar change. The Cleveland Indians said Friday they’re reconsidering their nickname following the furor over the NFL Washington...
Dodgers’ David Price won’t play this year because of virusVideo
Dodgers pitcher David Price will not play this season because of concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, delaying his Los Angeles debut until next year. The five-time All-Star became the latest player to opt out, posting Saturday on Twitter he wouldn’t participate in the 60-game season that’s scheduled to begin July...
Braves star Freddie Freeman, 3 teammates test positive for covid-19Video
ATLANTA — Atlanta Braves four-time All-Star Freddie Freeman, premier reliever Will Smith and two teammates tested positive for the coronavirus, a jarring hit to the NL East champions less than three weeks before the start of the pandemic-delayed season. “It will be a while before we can get him back,”...
