Tag: MLB

Posted on

Sports Illustrated story details how a DIA employee stole memorabilia from several MLB teams

Sports Illustrated story details how a DIA employee stole memorabilia from several MLB teams

DENVER (KDVR) — Right after several things of MLB tools from a myriad of teams went missing after they performed from the Colorado Rockies in 2020, the investigation led to lots of lifeless ends until eventually the culprit was lastly caught, in accordance to a new short article by Sports Illustrated.

The 1st group to observe was the San Francisco Giants. Right after a collection in opposition to the Rockies in September 2020, the Giants uncovered that two jerseys, belonging to Johnny Cueto and Pablo Sandoval, have been lacking.

Then, just after that, the San Diego Padres observed that they were being lacking two jerseys that belonged to Fernando Tatis Jr., Sports Illustrated stated. A pair of batting gloves from Tatis was also lacking.

Afterwards, the Giants players’ jerseys were uncovered for sale on eBay, and the listing claimed the jerseys were being obtained when the crew was in Colorado. A number of days just after that, there was a further listing for the missing Padres gear.

Numerous choices were being seemed into, Athletics Illustrated reported, likely into depth about the precautions the Rockies commenced to just take as a result of the thefts. Staff have been seemed into and dominated out, as nicely.

The individual behind 1 of the listings informed law enforcement they purchased the memorabilia from someone else in get to resell it for a income.

The particular person they bought it from was discovered as a person who was, at the time, a employee at Denver International Airport.

In accordance to a law enforcement report attained by Athletics Illustrated, the suspect worked in loading and unloading equipment for non-public charter flights. The baggage handler stated they wore compression tights and sweatpants to pull off the thefts, stuffing jerseys in the tights and permitting the baggy sweatpants camouflage the bumps.

In all, the suspect took memorabilia from 4 teams: The Giants, the Padres, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Oakland Athletics.

Athletics Illustrated described the suspect was charged with a Class 4 felony, but later pleaded to a lesser demand and acquired a yr of probation.

FOX31 asked for police reviews for the circumstance but was advised there have been no documents related with it. A more glance into court records discovered they had been sealed on Monday, the exact day the Sporting activities Illustrated story was revealed.

Posted on

News: Pac-12, Bally Sports, Apple MLB Broadcasters

News: Pac-12, Bally Sports, Apple MLB Broadcasters

A new streaming business enters the Pac-12 media legal rights foray. Moreover an update on Bally Sports and their impending bankruptcy Apple Television+’s Friday Evening Baseball booths have been announced.

Apple reported to be in the mix for Pac-12 rights

According to New York Article columnist Andrew Marchand, Apple is producing a surprising late operate at the Pac-12 media rights. The information will come as the Pac-12 sees its current market dwindle. A mid-February Brett McMurphy report indicated that CBS & Turner have both withdrawn from the race. With the Large 10, Massive 12, SEC, and ACC all signing, or previously in, long expression offers, the Pac-12 is the previous significant convention remaining without the need of a Tv set companion contracted previous 2024. For Apple, this would mark a ongoing march into live sporting activities legal rights with Friday Evening Baseball and their new MLS deal starting off this 12 months. In accordance to Marchand, a Pac-12 offer with Apple would glance comparable to their agreement with MLS, with all online games remaining streamed on Apple Tv+. (Marchand 2.21)

Bally Athletics update

Following lacking their February 15 curiosity payment, the NBA, NHL, and MLB have been pinpointing their future methods with Diamond Athletics, mother or father enterprise of Bally Sports activities. The NBA, in a present of help, was located to have renewed their streaming deal for area electronic rights with Diamond Sporting activities in June 2022. The deal expires right after the 2024-25 period, just like their ESPN and Turner arrangement, creating the probable for a package offer for the league’s upcoming spherical of negotiations. The go stands in contrast to MLB’s method however, who have fashioned a “economic reform committee” according to a report from The Athletic. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred is also on the document as stating “We got to uncover a new product.” Throughout Diamond Sports’ 30-working day grace period of time, they are hoping to build a prepare that receives the NBA, MLB, and NHL on board. When it is in all the leagues very best interest that the restructuring is profitable – Diamond Sporting activities however owes teams their contracted legal rights costs – it is also obvious that the leagues are planning for a worst circumstance circumstance. (Ourand 2.20)

Apple Television set+ MLB broadcasting adjustments

In mid-February, it was announced that Stephen Nelson, Katie Nolan, and Melanie Newman would not return for a next period of Apple Tv set+’s Friday Night time Baseball. Alternatively, Apple would be transferring to a far more traditional two-gentleman booth with manufacturer new broadcasters. An Andrew Marchand report verified that there would be two pairings: Wayne Randazzo and Dontrelle Willis, and Alex Faust and Ryan Spilborghs. Of the 4, only Faust, the Los Angeles Kings play-by-engage in announcer because 2017, is not a present-day normal MLB broadcaster or radio voice, whilst he has accomplished decide on online games for Fox Athletics and NESN in the earlier. (Marchand 2.20)

Posted on

MLB approves new rule to cut down on position players pitching ahead of 2023 season, per report

MLB approves new rule to cut down on position players pitching ahead of 2023 season, per report

The offseason is coming to an end and spring training is right around the corner. Spring training camps open across Arizona and Florida later this week, then, next weekend, the Cactus League and Grapefruit League seasons begin. Real live baseball is less than two weeks away, even if the games are meaningless.

When exhibition games begin, fans and players alike will get their first look at MLB’s newest rule changes. Specifically, there will be a pitch clock, larger bases, and a limit on extreme infield shifts. The new rules are all part of the league’s efforts to improve pace of play and create more action on the field by rewarding contact and encouraging more aggressive base running.

There is another, much more subtle rule change coming as well. According to ESPN, MLB’s joint competition committee has unanimously approved a rule change designed to reduce the number of position player pitching appearances. Last year, position players could pitch when the score was separated by at least six runs. Here’s the new rule, per ESPN:

Under the new guidelines, leading teams have to be up by 10 or more runs in the ninth inning in order to let a position player pitch while trailing teams can use a position player anytime it’s down by eight or more runs. Position players are also allowed to pitch anytime in extra innings.  

Not including Shohei Ohtani, there were a record 132 position player pitching appearances in 2022, or slightly less than one per day. That number was 89 in 2021. There were 93 position player pitching appearances total from 2010-15, and there were 57 total during the entire 1990s. Putting a position player on the mound used to be the ultimate humiliation. Now it’s a strategy.

Case in point: Hanser Alberto. The Los Angeles Dodgers put Alberto, a career utility infielder, on the mound 10 times last season, including eight times in wins. The new rule limiting position player pitchers to games their team is leading by at least 10 runs would have reduced that number to four, which is still a ton, but the new rule would have cut into the strategy quite a bit.

Point is, position players pitchers used to be a fun novelty, but now they’re commonplace even though position players don’t train to pitch and are at increased risk of injury, which is the MLBPA’s primary concern. The union is also concerned about players getting dinged by defensive stats, which could hurt them in arbitration.

MLB and the MLBPA  were motivated to get a new position player pitching rule in place that won’t outlaw the practice entirely, but will reduce the number of times it happens overall. It happened and that’s good news for the sport’s competitive landscape.

Posted on

MLB rumors: Yankees check in on Jacob deGrom; Cody Bellinger seeking one-year deal

MLB rumors: Yankees check in on Jacob deGrom; Cody Bellinger seeking one-year deal

While it’s possible there’s a minor flurry of moves here in the Major League Baseball offseason, Thanksgiving looms in a few days and that means it’s likely to be a slow week. Still, very few free agents have signed and most big names rumored to be on the trade block have thus far not been dealt. That means we’re bound to see a bevy of rumors this week. 

Let’s round up the rumors for Monday, Nov. 21. 

Yankees check in on deGrom? 

The Yankees have requested medical information on Jacob deGrom, according to SNY, though the report comes with the caveat that this doesn’t necessarily mean the Yankees are going to pursue deGrom in free agency. It seems as though this is merely a due-diligence-type request. 

The Yankees’ top priority this offseason remains bringing Aaron Judge back. Until then, they’ll likely continue to work backup, contingency plans that they hope won’t be needed. 

DeGrom, 34, has been one of the best pitchers in baseball since his debut in 2014 and he’s been outrageously good since the start of 2018 (2.05 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 876 K, 645 1/3 IP), but arm injuries have held him to 26 starts in the last two seasons combined. 

In addition to the Mets, the Braves and Rangers have also been mentioned as deGrom suitors. I’ll speculatively add the Dodgers, too. 

Bellinger wants one-year deal

Given that he’s a former MVP and only 27 years old, it might surprise some to learn that Cody Bellinger is seeking a one-year deal in free agency. That’s exactly the case, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, quoting Bellinger’s agent, Scott Boras. 

“I’ve already been offered multi-years,” Boras said. “Most likely, because of his age, we don’t want a multi-year.”

The rationale here is that Bellinger and Boras believe the 2020 shoulder injury lingered into 2021 and affected his performance even into 2022. They’d like a one-year deal to rebuild value before hitting free agency for a big payday on a long-term deal, then. 

It’s been quite a ride for Bellinger. He won MVP in 2019 with the Dodgers and then played through a separated shoulder through a portion of 2020. He had surgery to repair it in November of that year. He then hit .165/.240/.302 in 95 games in 2021 and .210/.265/.389 in 144 last season. The Dodgers non-tendered him Friday, sending him to free agency. 

There’s already been a ton of reported interest in Bellinger. Even though the Dodgers didn’t want to retain him — which seems like it should be a red flag, on the surface — he’s a plus defender in center field who can also handle first base. He runs the bases well, too, so even if he doesn’t hit, he could be helpful for many teams. He’s also not that far removed from hitting .305/.406/.629 with 47 homers and 115 RBI in his MVP campaign. 

The Blue Jays are one of the teams that have shown interest in Bellinger, reports Jon Morosi of MLB.com. The Cubs are another team connected to Bellinger, via The Athletic. 

Three teams showing interest in Haniger

Free agent outfielder Mitch Haniger has spent the overwhelming majority of his big-league career with the Mariners and a return there remains a possibility. There are other suitors, too, though. The Dodgers, Angels and Rangers are in talks with Haniger, according to Morosi. 

Haniger will be 32 next season and he’s shown major offensive upside when he’s been able to stay on the field. He had 39 homers and 100 RBI in 2021 and he has a 126 OPS+ in 530 games for Seattle. Of course, he only played in 63 games in 2019, missed 2020 and managed just 57 games last season. Interested teams will need to balance his offensive capabilities with his durability questions. 

D-Backs could deal from strength

As noted in Rosenthal’s column at The Athletic, the Diamondbacks have four left-handed-swinging center fielders in Corbin Carroll, Daulton Varsho, Alek Thomas and Jake McCarthy. As such, they are open for business to trade one of them. 

First off, fret not, D-Backs fans: Carroll is off limits. The 22-year-old former first rounder is someone they are looking to build around. 

Varsho is also unlikely to be moved, especially with him being able to play catcher, too. 

That leaves Thomas and McCarthy as the trade chips. 

Thomas, 22, hit .231/.275/.344 as a rookie last season, but there’s more upside there and he’s a great defender. McCarthy hit .283/.342/.427 (1118 OPS+) with 23 stolen bases and 2.4 WAR in 99 games last season, finishing fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting. 

If the D-Backs do deal Thomas and/or McCarthy, they are reportedly looking for right-handed power and big-league-ready pitching.