Texas Rangers win first World Series title with 5-0 victory over Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 5
Nathan Eovaldi pitched six gutsy innings, Mitch Garver broke a scoreless tie with an RBI single in the seventh and the Texas Rangers won their first World Series championship by beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-0 in Game 5.
Abreu gives up 2-run homer in Astros' Game 7 loss after suspension upheld but pushed to next year
Bryan Abreu gave up Nathaniel Loweโs two-run homer in the Houston Astrosโ 11-4 loss to the Texas Rangers in Game 7 of the AL Championship Series after his two-game suspension for intentionally throwing at Adolis Garcรญa delayed until the start of next season.
MLB game time drops 24 minutes to 2:40 with pitch clock. Players steal most bases since 1987
The average time of a nine-inning major league game dropped to 2 hours, 40 minutes in the first year of the pitch clock, a 24-minute decrease in a season of change that resulted in a spike in batting average and the most stolen bases in nearly 40 years.
Rangers drop from AL West lead as Twins win 7-6 in 13 innings, overcoming 5-run deficit
Jonathan Hernรกndez walked three batters in the 13th inning, among a season-high 10 walks by Texas pitchers, and the Rangers dropped out of first place in the AL West for the first time since early April with a 7-6 loss to the Minnesota Twins.
Ohtani becomes 2-way All-Star for 3rd straight year; 8 Braves selected for July 11 game
Shohei Ohtani became a two-way All-Star for the third straight year when he was picked for the American League pitching staff, and eight Atlanta Braves were chosen for the July 11 game in Seattle โ the most of any team since 2012.
Senators ask MLB why antitrust exemption needed in minors
Leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee have asked baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred to explain the impact of potential legislation stripping the sportโs antitrust exemption from covering the sportโs relationship with minor league players.
MLB tests pitch clock, anti-shift, bigger bases in minors
Pitchers, catchers and batters will be able to appeal calls from human umpires to โrobo umpsโ in the Low-A Southeast League this season, while pitch clocks, anti-shift rules and larger bases will be tried in the minors ahead of possible big league use in 2023.
MLB took its All-Star game out of Georgia to protest voting laws. Now Ted Cruz wants to strip it of its anti-trust immunity.
Abbott wonโt throw first pitch at Texas Rangers game after MLB moves All-Star Game out of Atlanta
Gov. Greg Abbott has declined an invitation to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the home opener of the Texas Rangers over Major League Baseballโs decision to move its All-Star Game from Atlanta in response to Georgiaโs new election integrity laws.
2 MLB players test positive for COVID-19 in past week
(AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter, File)NEW YORK โ Two major league players and two staff members were positive for COVID-19 during the past week among 13,978 tests, a 0.03% positive rate. The positive tests were among 11 of the 30 teams. Including intake testing upon arrival at spring training, there have been 33 positive tests โ 25 players, eight staff โ among 78,227 tests, a positive rate of 0.04%. The positive tests were among 18 teams. All players on 40-man rosters and players with minor league contracts invited to big league training camps are screened.
Super Bowl marks the latest event to see pioneering women achieve breakthroughs in sports
Line judge Sarah Thomas #53 looks on before Super Bowl LV between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Last monthโs Super Bowl LV in Tampa proved to serve as another breakthrough for women in sports, in a stretch of months thatโs been full of them. Locust and Javadifar followed in the footsteps of Katie Sowers, an assistant for the San Francisco 49ers who became the first woman to coach in a Super Bowl last year. Theyโre now added to the list of other women who have broken barriers in sports recently. In January, the Boston Red Sox hired Bianca Smith as a minor league coach, becoming the first Black woman to coach in professional baseball.
Astrosโ Baker gets COVID-19 vaccine after initial reticence
Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker Jr. walks out to the infield for the national anthem before Game 7 of a baseball American League Championship Series between the Houston Astros and the Tampa Bay Rays, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)HOUSTON โ Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker said he had been vaccinated against COVID-19 as the team began spring training Thursday. But the 71-year-old Baker, who is Black, understands the reticence of some in his community to get the vaccine because of this countryโs history with medical studies on Black people without permission. โI was very aware of the experiment and so was my mom and dad,โ Baker said. Though Baker decided getting the vaccine was right for him, he wonโt try to change the mind of people who are โstaunchly againstโ getting it.
San Antonio Missions reunite with Padres, sign 10-year development license
SAN ANTONIO โ Double-A baseball is returning to the San Antonio area courtesy of a familiar franchise. On Thursday afternoon, the San Antonio Missions announced via press release that they have signed a โprofessional development license (PDL) with San Diego Padresโ and will operate as their Minor League Affiliate for the upcoming season. โWe are excited to come to an agreement with the San Diego Padres,โ Missions President Burl Yarbrough said in the press release. We look to continue that success with San Diego for many years to come. We are thrilled to have professional baseball back in San Antonio for the 2021 season.โโWeโre thrilled to continue our established relationship with San Antonio,โ explained Padres Senior Director of Player Development Sam Geaney.
If he were alive in 2021, baseball great Satchel Paige would have lots to celebrate
(Photo by The Stanley Weston Archive)If Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Satchel Paige were alive today (he died in 1982), 2021 would already be a great year for him. First came the news at the end of 2020 that MLB retroactively will give the Negro Leagues Major League status. During his induction speech at the Hall of Fame, he explained how he developed that rubber arm as a youngster playing minor league baseball in Canada. โWe played up in Canada and if I didnโt pitch every day, they didnโt want the ball club,โ Paige said during his speech, according to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. I pitched, in all, 165 ball games in a row because if I didnโt pitch, they didnโt want the club in town, let alone there.
AP source: Astros agree to $7M, 2-year deal with Castro
(AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)HOUSTON โ Catcher Jason Castro has agreed to a $7 million, two-year contract with the Houston Astros, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Thursday because the deal had not been announced. Castro played for both the Angels and the Padres last season where he appeared in 27 games and hit .188 with two homers and nine RBIs. He spent the previous three seasons with the Twins where he played 208 games and hit .229. Castro had his best years with the Astros where he 617 games and was named to the All-Star game in 2013.
AP source: Springer agrees to $150M, 6-year deal with Jays
A slow free agent market saw only 21 of 181 players who became free agents following the World Series enter Tuesday with finalized agreements. Toronto has been linked to most of the top free agents this winter, but now has the one it wanted most. It's not clear where the Blue Jays will begin the 2021 season. The Blue Jays have had to overpay free agents to play in Canada before, but the Springer contract will be just the second $100 million-plus deal in team history. Vernon Wells and the Blue Jays agreed to a $126 million, seven-year contract in 2006.
Can you bat 1.000 on this quiz about the designated hitter?
Former designated hitter David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox reacts during a team workout on February 20, 2020 at jetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Florida. Itโs likely on this day 48 years ago, there wasnโt much fanfare for a seemingly minor vote taken by owners of American League baseball teams. On Jan. 11, 1973, owners of American League clubs, by an 8-4 margin, voted to adopt the designated hitter. Last year, it was instituted in the National League for the first time, but only due to the shortened-season caused by the pandemic. Take this quiz and try to bat 1.000.
What happens to record book, now that Negro Leagues have been given Major League status?
But arguably the greatest player in the history of the Negro Leagues, Josh Gibson, hit .466 in 1943 for the Homestead Grays. Career batting average. The three players with the best career batting averages are Ty Cobb (.367), Rogers Hornsby (.358) and Joe Jackson (.356). There 24 known no-hitters from the Negro Leagues, according to author Dirk Lammers, which would raise the all-time total from 305 to 329. Numerous players who played in both the Negro Leagues from 1920-48 and the Major Leagues will have their stats padded.
Cashed Out: Rays manager roasted for pulling Snell in Game 6
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Blake Snell leaves the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the sixth inning in Game 6 of the baseball World Series Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)ARLINGTON, Texas โ Blake Snell turned away from his manager and yelled an expletive as Kevin Cash headed to the mound. The team that reached the World Series leaning largely on analytics was undone by the data โ and a decision sure to become part of October lore. Iโm not going to ask any questions, but he was pitching a great game," Betts said. It was the Cy Young Snell that pitched tonight.โCount Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, himself a frequent target for criticism over pulling starters, among those happy to see Snell go.
Baseball legend Joe Morganโs legacy includes remarkable season in San Antonio
Joe Morgan was an invaluable member of the โBig Red Machine,โ one of the most dominant lineups in Major League Baseball history. His legacy on the game of baseball is enormous, but before he made his mark on the biggest stage, Morgan had a brief, yet memorable, stint in San Antonio. The organization currently known as the Missions had rebranded themselves as the San Antonio Bullets in 1963, a decision that was made in tandem with their new association to the parent teamโs gun-themed name. In 1964, Joe had one of the best seasons in San Antonio baseball history while leading the San Antonio Bullets to a Texas League Pennant. pic.twitter.com/eMCyTWum1J โ San Antonio Missions (@missionsmilb) October 12, 2020With the Bullets, Morgan tore up the Texas League.
The 9@9: Coronavirus deaths; presidential debate; MLB playoffs
The 9@9: Coronavirus deaths; presidential debate; MLB playoffsPublished: September 29, 2020, 10:03 amThe 9@9 features some of the biggest stories making headlines at home, around the country and across the globe. Hereโs whatโs trending.
World Series at Arlington, first time at one site since 1944
NEW YORK โ The World Series will be played entirely at the Texas Rangersโ new ballpark in Arlington, Texas, as part of a bubble agreement between Major League Baseball and the playersโ association, the first time the sportโs championship will be played entirely at one site since 1944. As part of an agreement finalized Tuesday, the Division Series, League Championship Series and World Series will be part of a bubble designed to minimize exposure to the coronavirus, which decimated the regular season and limited it to a 60-game schedule for each club. The World Series will be at Globe Life Park in Arlington, a retractable roof stadium with artificial turf that opened this year adjacent to the Rangers' old ballpark. The American League Championship Series will be at San Diegoโs Petco Park, and the National League at Globe Life Park. The World Series was last played at one site in 1944 at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis, where the Cardinals beat the Browns 4 games to 2.
What to make of the MLB coronavirus outbreak: And what to think about next, as start of college football looms
The first major college football games are a little more than a month away. COVID-19 flare-ups have shut down voluntary workouts throughout July at about two dozen major college football programs, including Ohio State, North Carolina, Kansas State and Houston. Because if thats the case, were not testing enough.Recent NCAA guidelines recommended testing college football players once a week during the season, within 72 hours of a game. There will be positive tests in other sports, too. There will be positive tests on campuses when students return and within athletics programs.
Cardboard fans? Masks? MLB is back, but it doesnโt look real -- these photos might weird you out
(2020 Getty Images)A lone Boston Red Sox employee eats a hot dog in the stands before a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park on July 26, 2020 in Boston. (2020 Getty Images)A peek at Tropicana Field during a game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Atlanta Braves on July 27, 2020 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (2020 Getty Images)A mask is placed on the Teammates Statue on Opening Day at Fenway Park on July 24, 2020 in Boston. (2020 Getty Images)A general view of of cardboard cutouts placed in the seats before the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on July 25, 2020. (2020 Getty Images)With information from the Associated Press.
Minnesota Twins Miguel Sano, Braves Freddie Freeman and More MLB Players Test Positive for COVID-19
The club announced Saturday that Sano is away from the team after testing positive for COVID-19. Twins utility man Willians Astudillo, righty Edwar Colina and infielder Nick Gordon have also tested positive. That means Sano & Co. had to give the Twins permission to announce they tested positive. Earlier on Saturday the Braves announced first baseman Freddie Freeman, closer Will Smith, and two others have tested positive for COVID-19. RELATED CONTENT:Coronavirus Reopenings: When Disneyland, the NBA and More Will Be BackNASCAR Driver Jimmie Johnson Tests Positive for CoronavirusNovak Djokovic Tests Positive for COVID-19 Following Adria Tour Events
Texas Rangers confirm several COVID-19 cases among staff, reports say
SAN ANTONIO Several front-office employees for the Texas Rangers baseball team have tested positive for COVID-19, leaving some staff terrified, according to reports. No players, coaches or operations personnel have tested positive for the virus, according to ESPN and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. In a statement, the Texas Rangers said health and safety are a top priority, and certain protocols are in place for employees. RELATED: Texas Rangers new stadium is complete, but Twitter users arent pleasedThe employees tested positive as workers headed back to Globe Life Field, the clubs new stadium. According to ESPN, the organization told employees that working from home was not an option, with exceptions for some.
Texas Rangers new stadium is complete, but Twitter users arent pleased
ARLINGTON, Texas Globe Life Field is officially ready to house the Texas Rangers, but many fans are taking to Twitter, claiming they are unhappy with the final results. The estimated $1.1 billion stadium was scheduled to open for the 2020 baseball season, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The team posted a video to Twitter on Tuesday, showing the completed exterior. However, many Twitter users responded to the post comparing the new facility to a grill, a Costco warehouse, a storage container and more. RELATED: Baseballs back: MLB sets 60-game sked, opens July 23, 24The games will take place in empty ballparks and the league said this will be the shortest season since 1878, the AP reports.
Players counter with 70-game season, 10 more than MLB
FILE - In this Feb. 19, 2017, file photo, Major League Players Association Executive Director Tony Clark, answers questions at a news conference in Phoenix. Commissioner Rob Manfred says there might be no major league season after a breakdown in talks between teams and the union on how to split up money in a season delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. As part of the union proposal, players would wear advertisement patches on their uniforms during all games for the first time in major league history. Both MLB and the union proposed starting the season on July 19, and players said it should end Sept. 30, three days later than management. Both sides would expand use of the designated hitter to games involving National League teams, and both sides would expand the playoffs to 16 teams this year.
Several MLB players and team staff test positive for Covid-19, per report
CNN Several Major League Baseball players and team staff have reportedly tested positive for Covid-19. It is unknown how many players or staff have tested positive, or which teams have been impacted, according to USA Today. The two sides are trying to hammer out complicated issues like player compensation, quarantine measures for players, and the number of games to be played. New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso added, "It's almost as if they planned it." CNN has reached out to MLB and the players' union for confirmation about this report.
Antonian graduate Brandon Beckel talks about his Texas Tech commitment
SAN ANTONIO Brandon Beckel made his commitment to attend Texas Tech last June after receiving attention at the area code tryouts a showcase for top prep talent with MLB scouts and NCAA coaches in attendance. Although Beckels senior season was cut short, he was still able to compile impressive numbers: 63 strikeouts and 10 hits allowed in 29 innings. His junior year he was a 1st Team All-District Selection and an All-State Honorable Mention.