BBTF’s baseball_hall_of_famer_john_smoltz_leads_latest_list_of_retired_mlb_stars_t Newsbeat

Web site Outage Postponed

I’ve method too many issues that also should be completed earlier than migrating the server. I’m going to maintain plugging and can replace after I’m prepared to maneuver the location.

UPDATE: Sorry, I’ve to push again the replace till subsequent Monday. Dwelling was far too busy this previous week. Issues get again to regular tomorrow. Hopefully the additional time will assist shorten the outage.

BBTF.org will probably be offline beginning Tuesday, August eighth at 9 AM EDT for a much-needed server migration and backend updates. The ETA to be again on-line is TBD. I’ll present updates on Twitter. 

Thanks on your endurance.

Baseball Corridor of Famer John Smoltz Leads Newest Listing of Retired MLB Stars to Signal with PBX

PBX Pickleball, the group that unites retired skilled athletes with the pickleball group, has signed Baseball Corridor of Famer John Smoltz, fellow Cy Younger Award Winner and 3x All-Star Eric Gangé, World Sequence Champ and All-Star Sport MVP J.D. Drew, 4x All-Star Russell Martin, 3x All-Star Jason Kendall, 2x All-Star Brian Roberts, 2x All-Star and World Sequence Champ Derrek Lee, 2x All-Star Jeff Cirillo, 4x Gold Glover and veteran MLB supervisor Mike Matheny, All-Star Russ Ortiz, and former MLB Supervisor of the 12 months Clint Hurdle as the most recent PBX Execs.

Smoltz, Gagné, Drew, Martin, Kendall, Roberts, Lee, Cirillo, Matheny, Ortiz, and Hurdle be part of an inventory of completed retired skilled athletes who will take part within the PBX …

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Alek Manoah Refused Triple-A Task, Unlikely To Pitch Once more In 2023

Alek Manoah’s disappointing 2023 season has reportedly come to an finish.

In response to Jeff Blair of the Sportsnet podcast Blair and Barker, Manoah did not report back to his Triple-A task in Buffalo as a result of he was upset on the Toronto Blue Jays’ determination to sideline him in favour of the crew’s different beginning pitchers.

“It appeared just like the Alek Manoah camp didn’t like the actual fact this selection was coming as a result of it was performance-related,” Blair stated. “Kevin, you and I’ve each witnessed this from a Main League stage to a Triple-A stage, when guys get despatched again and it’s performance-related, they’re just a little salty about it.”…

By refusing to report back to Buffalo, Manoah has allegedly misplaced the chance to pitch for the Blue Jays at a Main …

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Sources: Mets hiring David Stearns as president of baseball operations

The New York Mets are hiring David Stearns as their president of baseball operations, sources instructed ESPN on Tuesday, tabbing the architect of a number of division titles in Milwaukee to assist ship the primary World Sequence championship to Queens in almost 4 a long time.

Stearns, 38, has lengthy been rumored to take over the Mets after stepping down as Brewers president after the 2022 season and can formally start in early October, after the common season ends, sources instructed ESPN.

A New York native who grew up a Mets fan, Stearns was denied permission by the Brewers to speak concerning the Mets’ high baseball operations job after the 2021 season.

The Athletic: A former White Sox exec on skimming bonuses, crew possession, life after jail and extra

On Could 16, 2008, the White Sox fired senior director of participant personnel David Wilder, together with two scouts, as the results of an FBI investigation right into a bonus-skimming scandal within the Dominican Republic orchestrated by the trio. They have been discovered to have defrauded the Sox group of greater than $400,000, receiving kickbacks from signing bonuses and contract buyouts of Latin American gamers. It was a part of a wider investigation into the apply in Main League Baseball. Wilder ultimately pleaded responsible to mail fraud in federal courtroom, and in 2013, he was sentenced to 2 years in federal jail…..

Do you’re feeling such as you weren’t valued earlier than you began skimming?

That’s the rationale I began doing it. I bought handed over for a World …

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Report: Angels open to buying and selling Mike Trout if he desires out

The Los Angeles Angels are prepared to commerce Mike Trout if the All-Star outfielder requests one, based on a USA At present report.

Earlier this month, Trout stated he plans to debate the long run path of the group with crew administration within the offseason.

“When it’s introduced up within the offseason, you’ve clearly bought to speak about it, and give it some thought,” Trout instructed the Orange County Register. “I haven’t considered it but. There are going to be some conversations within the winter, for positive. Simply to see the path of every thing and what the plan is.”

Trout nonetheless has seven years and greater than $248 million left on a 12-year, $430 million contract he signed in 2019.

Nationals primed to make leap from rebuild to competition ahead of anticipated

The Nationals entered the season with low expectations and stumbled by means of the marketing campaign’s first half on the backside of the NL East at 36-53. Nonetheless, one thing modified following the All-Star break. Washington began to win sequence after sequence and has now posted a 28-25 document within the second half.

A younger core led by CJ Abrams, Keibert Ruiz, Lane Thomas, MacKenzie Gore, and Josiah Grey has helped flip a nook following a 107-loss marketing campaign final yr. The constructing blocks of the following good Nationals crew are beginning to present.

“We’re having far more of a enjoyable summer time masking this crew than I believed we have been going to,” longtime Nationals broadcaster Bob Carpenter instructed theScore in August. “I believed we have been going to need to be making excuses …

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Cubs calling up high prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong, sources say

The Chicago Cubs are calling up their high prospect, outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, sources instructed ESPN.

Crow-Armstrong, 21, is ranked fifteenth in ESPN prospect guru Kiley McDaniel’s newest high 50 prospects. He compiled an .876 OPS cut up between Double-A and Triple-A this yr, together with 20 dwelling runs and 37 stolen bases. He’s thought of the most effective defensive middle fielders within the minor leagues and can doubtless get an opportunity this week to roam spacious Coors Subject, the place the Cubs play a three-game sequence in opposition to the Rockies.

The son of the actress that performed the mother in “Little Huge League” is now a giant leaguer.

A’s Monetary Particulars Reveal John Fisher’s Declare Of $40 Million Losses For 2023

Whereas attendance is projected to be up for 2023, ticket and suite income is projected to be down greater than $5 million in comparison with 2022. This doubtless is available in two types: the variety of season ticket holders or suite holders has dropped in favor of decrease ticket gross sales. The A’s additionally donated your entire gate from the June 13 sport in opposition to the Rays – one of many “reverse boycott” video games – to charity.

So as to add, the A’s sponsorship income is projected to take a success dropping from almost $10 million in 2022 to $6 million in 2023.

On the plus facet, native media rights from their cope with NBC Sports activities California will probably be $67.988 million for 2023, up from $66.275 million.

When accounting for all native working income streams the A’s are …

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The NL Cy Younger Race Is Nonetheless Broad Open

Strider’s 3.83 ERA can be the very best of any Cy Younger honoree, forward of 1983 AL winner LaMarr Hoyt (3.66), 2001 AL winner Roger Clemens (3.51), and 2005 AL winner Bartolo Colon (3.48), all of whom completed first thanks largely to having notched 20 or extra wins. Adjusted for ballpark and league scoring ranges, Clemens’ 80 ERA- and Colon’s 82 ERA- are each considerably higher than Strider’s 86, which is no less than higher than Hoyt’s 88, in addition to the 87 of 1982 AL winner Pete Vuckovich (on a 3.34 ERA). Nonetheless, that ERA is the most important obstacle to voting for Strider, whose 6.28 runs per sport of offensive help has helped push his won-loss document to 16–5 nonetheless.

If not Strider, then who? One might level to Wheeler, …

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Yankees’ David Wells defends Brian Cashman, calls out gamers in Previous-Timers’ Day rant

“It all the time appears that the GM and managers are getting fired and blamed,” Wells stated. “If I used to be the GM, I might begin sending a message. I don’t care who it’s. If he’s within the stink gap, ship that son of a gun to Triple-A or Double-A and ship him a wake-up name. I don’t care how a lot cash they’re making. Ship a message to them and allow them to go sit down there and give it some thought.”

Wells proceeded to criticize the Yankees’ clubhouse tradition, in addition to their utilization of analytics — one thing that’s “ruining the sport.” The three-time All-Star and two-time World Sequence winner thinks the Yankees have an incredible crew with loads of expertise, however they don’t have the camaraderie essential to win.

“I am going into clubhouses, guys …

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Chas McCormick’s lack of taking part in time has some Astros vexed, speculating over weight

McCormick has appeared in 95 video games this season regardless of batting .289 with 20 dwelling runs.

Some, who spoke to the outlet, stated they’ve been annoyed by his inconsistent taking part in time.

“No, why (would) you even ask that?” Baker replied on Wednesday when requested if McCormick’s weight was a problem.

“That’s one thing that you simply’re all the time conscious of, what I imply. So long as it doesn’t have an effect on your efficiency, then it’s probably not that a lot of a priority.”

Baker did acknowledge that McCormick was taking part in with just a little extra weight on him this season.

The Astros outfielder stated that he placed on the load throughout his stint on the injured record.

“I really feel stronger. I like being this heavy,” McCormick stated. “I suppose if I …

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4 causes behind the Texas Rangers’ late-season collapse that has them outdoors the playoff bracket

1. The bullpen has been a catastrophe

Catastrophe is a powerful phrase however it’s acceptable right here. The Rangers held a lead in eight of the 15 losses throughout this 4-15 stretch. 4 instances that they had a lead within the seventh inning or later and 4 instances they blew a lead of no less than three runs, together with in three straight video games at one level. In two of the 4 wins, the Rangers blew a lead within the sixth inning or later, and needed to come again.

Flip even 4 of these eight leads into wins, and we’re speaking a few tolerable 8-11 stretch and the Rangers being in a wild-card spot, moderately than a disastrous 4-15 stretch that has them on the skin of the playoff bracket. The bullpen has been a legal responsibility all yr and it has been particularly unhealthy within the second …

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Sources: Rockies, Germán Márquez conform to 2-year extension

Proper-hander Germán Márquez and the Colorado Rockies are in settlement on a two-year, $20 million contract extension, sources instructed ESPN’s Jeff Passan on Friday.

The crew introduced the extension however didn’t disclose phrases.

Márquez, 28, had Tommy John surgical procedure in Could and can miss most of 2024….

Márquez will make $10 million each years with $10 million in potential efficiency bonuses for 2025, sources stated.

Colorado did have a $16 million contract choice on Márquez for 2024 with a $2.5 million buyout

Hochman: Mark McGwire’s 70-HR season, 25 years in the past, by means of eyes of opposing pitcher and STL native

At Busch Stadium II, McGwire hit No. 61 on his dad’s 61st birthday, 25 years in the past Thursday. And the following night time at Busch — Sept. 8, 1998, at 8:18 PM — McGwire turned the primary to ever hit No. 62. And it was in opposition to Sosa and the Cubs.

McGwire, after all, completed the season with 70. Sosa slammed 66. And so they rooted for one another alongside the best way. Their smiles on the skin have been pure. What was on the within positive wasn’t.

And so, like many issues in American historical past, it’s difficult. They broke seemingly unbreakable information however used performance-enhancing medication. And we followers have needed to navigate the feelings, compartmentalize the details, come to phrases with what’s in our hearts and in our heads. Sure, OK, perhaps that sounds just a little …

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The Athletic: MLB simply tweaked Triple A’s digital strike zone: What it’s essential know and why it issues

Let’s attempt to clear this up:

The “outdated” zone: Hopefully, you recall the piece we printed final month, what’s gone on whereas MLB was spending this season attempting out digital ball-strike expertise (aka “ABS” for Automated Ball-Strike System) throughout Triple A for the primary time. As a part of that experiment, the league additionally lowered the highest of the strike zone by about two inches. So has that decrease zone been a preferred change? Ha. Let’s simply say it’s been a zesty matter of nonstop chatter amongst hitters and pitchers in these leagues. Think about that.

The “new” zone: The magic phrase to explain what’s altering isn’t “greater” or “smaller.” It’s extra like “customized.” The league is now empowering its …

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“There may be some additional anxiousness”: How MLB handles safety, elevated threats

Ryan Walker wasn’t actually ready for the ugliness that may include professional sports activities. The San Francisco Giants reliever was a Thirty first-round draft decide, by no means remotely excessive profile till he bought to the majors.

It was then, after giving up a run in a Giants loss — a sport he entered with the crew already trailing — that Walker bought threats on social media: “You need to die.”  “I’ll discover your spouse and kill her.” “I hope your spouse by no means has a baby.”

The following day, Walker’s spouse, then pregnant with their first little one, bought related threats.

“You look on Instagram, there are normally all the time a couple of people who find themselves threatening you in some kind of a method, whether or not it’s you or your loved ones and even your children,”  Walker stated. …

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MLB Rumors: Stephen Strasburg’s Nationals Retirement Press Convention Canceled

The Washington Nationals reportedly gained’t be honoring Stephen Strasburg on Saturday in spite of everything.

In response to Britt Ghiroli of The Athletic, the deliberate retirement press convention for the pitcher forward of Saturday’s sport in opposition to the Los Angeles Dodgers has been canceled….

As for the contract, Bob Nightengale of USA At present famous the Nationals nonetheless needed to pay the remainder of it out:

That contract is seemingly on the middle of the latest determination, as Ghiroli reported, “it was the Nationals who approached Strasburg about retiring and paying him the total quantity of his contract, sources briefed on the matter say. The crew desires to alter the phrases.”

How former Jumbo Shrimp Robert Garcia went from retiring to The Present

It was over. Robert Garcia was achieved, retiring. All he was ready for now was the Kansas Metropolis Royals submitting his paperwork.

Solely, they didn’t… And sitting at his desk at his new job in the actual world on a cool December day, Garcia’s cellphone buzzed. It was a former teammate alerting him that he had been chosen by the Miami Marlins within the minor league part of the Rule 5 draft. If Garcia wished it, his baseball profession was nonetheless on.

“I used to be not anticipating it (being chosen within the Rule 5 draft) in any respect,” stated Garcia. “I had truly retired, and I used to be at my job at my desk and bought a textual content from a buddy saying, ‘Hey, I’m going to overlook you.’ And I instructed him I used to be not coming again, and he was like, ‘Wait, you simply bought chosen within the …

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Anthony Rendon geese well being query with ‘no habla inglés’ brushoff

The Los Angeles Angels third baseman, who’s on the 60-day injured record with a shin harm, ducked a query Sunday on his well being.

Rendon stated, “No habla inglés in the present day,” earlier than placing on a hoodie and leaving the clubhouse, based on The Athletic’s Sam Blum.

That comes months after the 33-year-old Rendon was suspended for 4 video games by Main League Baseball after video of a bodily altercation with a fan in Oakland went viral.

The Angels slugger was recorded grabbing a fan by their shirt at Oakland’s O.co Coliseum after shedding the season opener to the Athletics, 2-1, showing to take a swipe at him — although he didn’t join.

How A lot Worth Did the Angels Lose By Going All-in?

All instructed, the go-for-it determination price them an estimated $27M in prospect capital. They not solely missed a golden alternative to beef up a nasty farm, however they completely decimated what was left of it. This may go away them bereft of younger affect expertise for years to come back.

To be truthful, they’ve promoted a couple of younger gamers to the major-league stage already (and have been one of the crucial aggressive groups to take action, calling up guys like Logan O’Hoppe, Zach Neto, and Nolan Schanuel). However the pipeline is dry.

So how a lot did the veteran waiver-wire dump salvage these losses?

Assuming any on-field manufacturing they might have obtained from these veterans would have been nugatory, since they’re out of competition, the one constructive right here is the …

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Guardians’ David Fry turns into first true place participant to pitch 4 innings since 1988 in blowout loss to Twins

Issues didn’t go properly for the Cleveland Guardians on Monday night time, however David Fry nonetheless made historical past at Progressive Subject.

The catcher and utility man threw 4 innings within the Guardians’ blowout 20-6 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Monday, which made him the primary true place participant to pitch 4 innings in a sport since 1988. Jose Oquendo was the final place participant to pitch greater than three innings that season for the St. Louis Cardinals, although he took the mound in a marathon 19-inning sport, per USA At present’s Bob Nightengale.

Fry allowed seven runs and 10 hits throughout his stint on the mound. All 64 of his pitches have been slower than 60 miles per hour, which set one other Main League Baseball document. No pitcher within the pitch monitoring period …

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Dodgers’ Julio Urias arrested on home violence fees

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias was arrested and charged with felony home violence fees late Sunday night time.

Urias, 27, was taken into custody after 11 p.m. Sunday night time and launched simply after 1 a.m. Monday morning on $50,000 bond.

Urias was beforehand concerned in a home violence incident in 2019, when he was accused of pushing a girl he was with.

The lefty was not charged, because the alleged sufferer instructed investigators she fell.

Urias was suspended 20 video games by MLB underneath the Home Violence, Sexual Assault, and Little one Abuse Coverage.

Younger Pitchers Have By no means Been Labored Much less, So Why Are They Nonetheless Getting Injured?

Till 2020, each season since 1901 included no less than 11 certified pitchers 25 and underneath. Groups developed younger starters by letting them pitch. However the previous 4 seasons have seen solely seven, three, six and eight younger starters throw no less than one inning for each crew sport (162 in a full season). It’s not that they will’t do it. It’s as a result of they’re being skilled to pitch much less.

Contemplate Rodriguez, the Orioles’ righthander, who ranks within the high ninetieth percentile in velocity and the highest ninety fifth percentile in extension. With one month nonetheless to go, Rodriguez has began 26 video games this season (together with the minors), which already is three greater than in his earlier professional excessive. He has thrown 134⅓ innings, already 31⅓ innings greater than ever …

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New documentary highlights White Sox rebrand’s place in hip-hop historical past

Few baseball hats have impacted hip-hop tradition as a lot as the present White Sox cap that debuted within the Nineties.

Coinciding with the fiftieth anniversary of hip-hop—it was 50 years in the past that the cultural motion was born in The Bronx—the Chicago White Sox have produced Fitted in Black, a brief documentary highlighting the crew’s rebrand within the ‘90s and its intersection with hip-hop, popular culture and style.

The documentary discusses the period that led to the popularization of the White Sox cap and attire. The documentary additionally explores what the Sox hat symbolizes and the way it impacts the tradition and group of those that are nonetheless proud to put on the hat in the present day. The interview record is a star-studded group of members carefully tied to the White Sox …

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Yost’s perception, belief in these round him led to Royals Corridor of Fame

In response to Ned Yost, the second every thing modified for the Royals was within the seventh inning of the 2014 American League Wild Card Sport on Sept. 30, 2014.

The Royals have been down 4 runs to the A’s with Jon Lester on the mound, however Yost heard a murmur all through the house dugout that bought louder by the second.

“We’re not shedding tonight, to not this man,” Yost remembers listening to. “Let’s get on, let’s recover from. We’re not shedding this sport.”

The Royals scored three within the eighth and tied it within the ninth earlier than Salvador Perez’s walk-off hit within the backside of the twelfth. It was a historic second in Kansas Metropolis.

And for Yost?

“That was the second they went from considering they have been good to figuring out of their coronary heart that they have been …

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Reds place Hunter Greene on injured record with COVID-19 as circumstances rise within the area

Reds pitcher Hunter Greene gained’t be taking part in a sport for a short time. He was positioned on the injured record Thursday as a consequence of COVID-19.

The crew made the announcement Friday morning on social media.

COVID-19 is trending upward in Southwest Ohio and Kentucky. New circumstances are the very best they’ve been since February, based on newly launched knowledge.

5 days after the Reds touring celebration spent greater than 8 hours on their constitution airplane on a tarmac in PHX they’re experiencing a COVID outbreak.

Energetic and Cruz be part of Greene on COVID IL.

— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubMLB) September 1, 2023

Sources: MLB Gained’t Modify the Pitch Clock for the Postseason

The pitch timer in postseason play will stay unchanged from regular-season play. After a gathering of its Government Council, MLB knowledgeable the Competitors Committee on Friday afternoon that it’ll not be presenting any proposals to amend guidelines for postseason play this yr, based on a league official.

The notification is a sign that homeowners are happy with its pace-of-play initiatives and the way gamers have tailored to the brand new guidelines. Thanks largely to a timer, which requires a pitch inside 15 seconds with the bases empty and 20 seconds with runners, the typical time of sport has been reduce from 3:03 to 2:39.

As hitters have grown extra snug in utilizing one timeout per plate look, time of sport has crept up from 2:37 in …

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Yankees’ Steinbrenner enthusiastic about younger gamers, says crew will consider analytics division

The Yankees (65-69) are in peril of getting their streak of 30 consecutive profitable seasons finish this yr, and Steinbrenner stated each side of the crew will probably be seemed intimately going ahead.

“We’re going to take a really deep dive into every thing we’re doing,” Steinbrenner stated. “We’re wanting to herald presumably an outdoor firm to essentially check out the analytics facet of what we do. Baseball operations usually. We’re going to have some very frank conversions with one another. This yr was clearly unacceptable.”

Basic supervisor Brian Cashman known as the season “a catastrophe” final week. Cashman, 56, has been common supervisor since 1998 and agreed final December to a four-year contract. Aaron Boone took over as …

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