U mad, bro? Shut-in readers gnash teeth about Ben Roethlisberger; Mike Tomlin vs. Bill Cowher; MLB’s future
It appears the longer we stay locked inside because of coronavirus fears, the angrier our audience is getting. Yeah. Me, too. This week’s readers go after Mike Tomlin, Ben Roethlisberger, spitting baseball players and me. Mainly me. And I’m getting a little too pent up to let it go. “Treston”...
Astros manager Baker laments lack of black players on Jackie Robinson DayVideo
Houston manager Dusty Baker celebrated Jackie Robinson’s legacy on the 73rd anniversary of the fall of the major league color barrier and lamented the lack of African Americans in today’s game. “It’s frustrating because we’ve talked about it forever … but it seems like the numbers are dwindling instead of...
MLB commissioner Manfred says he will ‘turn over every stone’ for seasonVideo
NEW YORK — Rob Manfred wants MLB to be in position to take the field whenever government and health officials give the go-ahead. “I think it’s incumbent upon us to turn over every stone to try to play the game in 2020 if there’s any way we can in the...
NTSB report: Halladay had amphetamines in system, was doing acrobatics before fatal plane crashVideo
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Baseball Hall of Famer Roy Halladay had high-levels of amphetamines in his system and was doing extreme acrobatics when he lost control of his small plane and nosedived into Tampa Bay in 2017, killing him, a National Transportation Safety Board report issued Wednesday said. Halladay had...
First Call: Watt brothers star on ‘Tonight Show’; sports movie ideas for Stephen King’s list
For “First Call” Wednesday, we try to help out renowned horror writer Stephen King. And the Watt brothers take over “The Tonight Show.” The offseason of the Watt brothers continues. Steelers T.J. and Derek Watt joined older brother J.J. Watt during a segment on “The Tonight Show” Tuesday. It was...
Giants, A’s, Diamondbacks among MLB teams in coronavirus studyVideo
SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks are two of the MLB teams participating in a study of the coronavirus that will test hundreds of people — including players — from the various clubs for antibodies. Arizona and San Francisco confirmed they were participating. The Oakland Athletics...
Yankees co-owner Hank Steinbrenner dies at 63Video
NEW YORK — Hank Steinbrenner, the oldest son of George Steinbrenner and one of the four siblings who own the controlling shares of the New York Yankees, died Tuesday at age 63. The team said he died at home in Clearwater, Fla., because of a longstanding health issue. A chain...
MLB honoring Jackie Robinson Day with online tributes
NEW YORK — Forced from the field by the new coronavirus, Major League Baseball is moving its annual celebration of Jackie Robinson online. The Jackie Robinson Foundation is launching a virtual learning hub to coincide with the 73rd anniversary Wednesday of Robinson breaking the major league color barrier. CC Sabathia...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden: Steelers draft could have ripple effect; idea of remote MLB, NHL locations
Coming off of Easter Sunday, this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast looks at a different kind of resurrection. That of the entire sports world. When will we see it? And when we do, will we recognize it? Mark and I aren’t just talking about the mechanics of the leagues getting off...
Pittsburgh native, 4-time MLB All-Star second baseman Glenn Beckert dies at 79Video
CHICAGO — Glenn Beckert, a Pittsburgh native and four-time All-Star second baseman for the Chicago Cubs in the 1960s and ’70s, died Sunday. He was 79. Citing his family, the Cubs said he died of natural causes in Florida. Beckert attended Perry High School in Pittsburgh’s North Side, where he...
Report: MLB discusses new plan to relaunch based on teams’ spring training homesVideo
After MLB swiftly downplayed its lambasted Arizona relaunch plan, it has emerged with a new idea to bring baseball back as soon as possible in 2020, in spite of the coronavirus pandemic. The league has discussed using Arizona and Florida, which host MLB’s spring training games, as dual hubs for...
MLB players, including Pirates’ Cole Tucker, to play video game tourneyVideo
NEW YORK — Blake Snell, Juan Soto and Bo Bichette are among the baseball stars switching over to PlayStation with America’s pastime on hold. Thirty big leaguers — one from each team — have signed on to play a round-robin regular season on the “MLB The Show” video game with...
Slugger Mark Reynolds says he’s retiring after 13-year runVideo
PHOENIX — Slugger Mark Reynolds is retiring after hitting 298 homers over 13 seasons with eight teams. The 36-year-old made the announcement Thursday on SiriusXM Radio. When the free agent was asked whether he still was pursuing a new team, Reynolds said he’s “moved beyond that, I’ve retired.” He added...
Pirates 22nd most valuable MLB team, according to Forbes; Yankees topVideo
NEW YORK — Forbes estimates the New York Yankees are baseball’s most valuable franchise at $5 billion, up 9% over last year and 47% more than the No. 2 Los Angeles Dodgers at $3.4 billion. The Pittsburgh Pirates dropped 1% to $1.26 billion, 22nd in MLB. The Yankees are second...
Tim Benz, Jeff Erickson: Will golf lead return to TV sports?; Steelers draft trade talk; MLB Arizona idea
The biggest fantasy in the sports world right now is getting through this global pandemic and getting real games back on the field of play. But in lieu of that, Jeff Erickson of RotoWire and I do our weekly fantasy sports podcast anyway. We talk about how golf could lead...
College baseball talent level to go up with changes to MLB DraftVideo
As disappointing as it’s been to have the college baseball season shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic, Michigan coach Erik Bakich sees a silver lining. “I do think the coming years will be the deepest college baseball has ever been,” he said. Division I programs stand to benefit because...
Tim Benz: Play MLB games. Or don’t. But spare us the social distancing optics.
Try to keep up, baseball fans. Because you are reading a column that’s being written while stuck in “fast forward.” In an effort to avoid a covid-19-induced shutdown, Major League Baseball is considering playing the 2020 season exclusively in a league-wide, semi-quarantined state of existence throughout the Phoenix, Az., area....
Players, managers intrigued by MLB’s all-Arizona optionVideo
Boston’s Chris Sale, out for the season following Tommy John surgery, thought about the prospect of his teammates sequestered in the Phoenix area for an extended period if MLB and its players adopt an all-Arizona start to the season. “I don’t know if I could look at my kids just...
Ex-MLB player finishes medical school, primes to fight virusVideo
NEW YORK — If he wanted, Mark Hamilton could show off his World Series ring at work. But the fill-in first baseman for the 2011 champion St. Louis Cardinals prefers to keep that prize safe at home. “The surgical scrub tub, not the most conducive place to wear it,” Hamilton...
MLB, union discuss playing all games in ArizonaVideo
NEW YORK — Putting all 30 teams in the Phoenix area this season and playing in empty ballparks was among the ideas discussed Monday by Major League Baseball and the players’ association. The sides held a telephone call to talk about paths forward for a season delayed by the coronavirus...
Detroit Tigers Hall of Famer Al Kaline dies at 85Video
DETROIT — Fresh off the train and only 18 years old, Al Kaline ran into an immediate roadblock trying to join the Detroit Tigers. Called up to the majors, he couldn’t get past the security guards at Briggs Stadium. “I finally convinced them I was the guy who just signed...
Will Phillies’ Andrew McCutchen still be elite after return from knee surgery?Video
PHILADELPHIA — Andrew McCutchen batted .709 as a high school senior. Of the 1,501 players drafted in 2005, he was taken 11th by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He’s a five-time All-Star, a Gold Glove Award winner and the 2013 National League MVP. And he did it all after blowing out his...
Fields of green: Mild winter, no games aid ballpark grass
Nicole Sherry poked some holes in the turf at Camden Yards, cut the grass and then left the ballpark about the same time the Baltimore Orioles should have been wrapping up their season opener. “What a beautiful day it would have been for a ballgame,” said Sherry, the head groundskeeper...
First Call: ESPN spruces up Myles Garrett again; Stephen A. Smith rips Antonio Brown; 100-game MLB season?
Friday’s “First Call” illustrates ESPN’s unending desire to shine up Myles Garrett. Stephen A. Smith lowers the boom on Mr. Business is Boomin’. Check out Tom Brady’s new place in Tampa. We may have a 100-game Major League Baseball season. And O.J. Simpson gives us his review of “Tiger King.”...
Former MLB outfielder Jim Edmonds feeling better after coronavirus diagnosisVideo
Retired Angels and St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jim Edmonds reported late Wednesday he had tested positive for the novel coronavirus. In a video shared on his Instagram profile, Edmonds said he was “doing really well” and no longer exhibited symptoms of the covid-19 disease. He surmised he must have been...
