Baseball Page 1025 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights
Orioles Augment Drills With Fake Crowd Noise; Neighbors Call The Cops
Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter came up with a fun new spring training drill by forcing his players to field pop-ups while piping loud-ass fake crowd noise through the stadium's PA system. Unfortunately, some sensitive baby called the cops on them:...
Pittsburgh Pirates Want You To Know That They Do Not Support ISIS
Sky News published a photo today of Mohammed Emwazi, the London man believed to be the ISIS executioner known as "Jihadi John," in an old college photo wearing a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball cap. Thankfully, the team made a statement saying that they do not support Emwazi. Phew....
How Long Will Josh Hamilton Be Suspended?
I (and others) believe that Josh Hamilton should not be suspended, if only because every drug or alcohol relapse he's had has occurred when he's away from baseball. Many addicts need structure; every addict benefits from staying busy. But it's seemingly not a question of if the Angels outfielder wil...
Blue Jays' Michael Saunders Steps On Sprinkler, Needs Knee Surgery
Blue Jays fans received their sucker punch early this season. Outfielder Michael Saunders stepped on a sprinkler head in spring training, and now he needs surgery. He might be out until the All-Star break....
Here Are Some Houston Astros Just Chillin' With An Albino Python
"Broooo, lookit the size of that sucker!" I imagine one of the Astros exclaiming when Sunshine the Albino Python was brought in the room. "Haha, you scared bro?" another one probably quipped. "Nuh uh! If Britney can rock one around her neck, so can I!"...
Giancarlo Stanton Will Wear This Cool Face Guard
Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton took a fastball to the face last September. It was a scary moment, breaking multiple bones and teeth and ending his season, and Stanton wants to make sure it never happens again. He's going to wear this custom helmet and protective face guard, beginning today....
Report: Josh Hamilton Had Relapse Involving "At Least Cocaine"
Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton had a relapse that involved "at least" cocaine, according to CBS's Jon Heyman:...
Rusney Castillo Has Some Nifty Hair
Red Sox outfielder Rusney Castillo showed up to today's spring-training practice with some elaborate hair. He's going to look so much faster when he runs now....
Report: Josh Hamilton Facing "Disciplinary Issue"
Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton is meeting with MLB officials in New York over an unspecified "disciplinary issue," per Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times. There aren't yet any details about what prompted the meeting, but the team is reportedly preparing for a punishment to be handed down....
Rob Manfred Won't Rule Out A Shorter Baseball Season
Rob Manfred was talking only in the vaguest of senses: here is a proposal that hasn't been made, one that may have zero supporters, and even if it did, still probably would never happen. But it's still remarkable to hear an MLB Commissioner not immediately reject the idea of shortening the season:...
Alex Rodriguez Criticized For Showing Up Early To Camp
Yankees position players are scheduled to report to spring training on Wednesday. Alex Rodriguez showed up yesterday to start working out and running drills. Naturally, the New York Daily News, which has been leading the torches-and-pitchforks mob against Rodriguez for a long time, found someone who...
Madison Bumgarner Fulfills His Destiny
Here's Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner—a man who wore jeans to his wedding—dressed up as Paul Bunyan for the team's magazine. (The ox isn't blue, but close enough.) Bumgarner doesn't even look that goofy in the getup. He looks like he's found his calling....
Melvin Upton Explains His Name Change
Yesterday, MLB.com reported that Braves outfielder B.J. Upton will start going by his legal name, Melvin Upton Jr. That means it'll change on his uniform, on the scoreboard, even on his bats. Today, Upton reported to Braves camp and told reporters—some of whom still called him "B.J." out of habit—th...
CC Sabathia Gained A Bunch Of Weight, On Purpose
Yankees starter CC Sabathia (the epithet "Yankees ace" is probably long out-of-date, as he's coming off two very rough seasons) reported to camp at 305 pounds, about 30 pounds heavier than he was last spring. That's good, if only because he doesn't look like a stranger. But Sabathia believes his reg...
Gregg Zaun Shares Heartwarming Stories Of Cal Ripken Jr. Hazing Him
Notable doofus and former MLB catcher Gregg Zaun played his first two pro seasons with the Baltimore Orioles. Why mention that stint? While talking about ex-Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie (who was traded to Oakland last November) on a radio show this week, Zaun reminisced about his 1995 rookie...
Holy Crap, Jesus Montero Is In Shape
Hardball Talk has a running gag where they chronicle every instance of a player getting described as being in the "best shape of his life." In the case of Seattle's former wunderprospect Jesus Montero, this might be the first time that it's no exaggeration....
MLB Will Speed Up Games In 2015 With A Between-Innings Timer
As reported yesterday, MLB, the players' union, and the umpires' union have agreed on three rule changes to be implemented immediately, all with the express purpose of—and, I believe, a very good chance of—stopping baseball games from taking so damn long. It's official now, and we have the details....