Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said he pulled catcher Chance Sisco aside and told him, under no circumstances, should he be out on the field before the team took on the Red Sox in Baltimore. “I told Chance, I don’t want him hustling on and off the field. I want to see him walking,” Hyde said, via The Associated Press. “When you’re a catcher in these type of games, it’s not easy....
*=If necessary. American League Wild Card Game A’s or Mariners at Royals, 8 p.m. ET, Tuesday, Sept. 30 | TBS National League Wild Card Game Giants at Pirates, 8 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 1 | ESPN American League Division Series 1 Game 1: WC Game winner at Angels, Thursday, Oct. 2 | TBS Game 2: WC Game winner at Angels, Friday, Oct. 3 | TBS Game 3: Sunday, Oct. 5 | TBS...
This will be the first postseason matchup in major league history involving two black managers. Both men are proud to be involved. MORE: Top 50 players in MLB playoffs “It gives us some pride, in being African-American, to show people that not only can we do the job, but we can do the job better than most, especially this year,” Baker said at a news conference Thursday. “Hopefully, it motivates other organizations to get some African-American managers, also to motivate other players that are playing now, and former players that have managerial aspirations....
Right-hander Randy Dobnak will start Saturday, the team announced after Game 1 in New York. Dobnak, 24, is set to make his postseason debut against the team that hit the second-most home runs (306) in 2019, but Twins manager Rocco Baldelli is confident Dobnak can perform well on the big stage. “It’s a fine line. It was not an obvious move in any way,” Baldelli told reporters Friday when addressing his decision to start Dobnak....
Speaking of miserable, six playoff teams are already done. A short October experience is better than no October experience, but not by much. Especially when you’re one of those teams who spent the season dreaming of — expecting, even — a long October charge. Before the League Championship Series start — both Astros-Red Sox and Dodgers-Brewers should be outstanding — let’s look at the moments or the statistics or the decisions that signaled the end of the road for the six teams that have been eliminated....
The 30-year-old outfielder, who has spent the past two seasons with the Blue Jays, is a free agent, and the Royals and Reds have reportedly expressed interest. But FOXSports’ Ken Rosenthal Tweeted that sources told him the Giants may be interested in bringing back Cabrera. Major League Baseball slapped Cabrera with a 50-game suspension during the 2012 season after he tested positive for PED use. Although Cabrera finished serving the suspension in late September, the Giants opted not to add him to the roster for the postseason, which saw the Giants win the World Series....
Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. doesn't "suspect" the team will be making any major moves, according to CSNPhilly.com. As for the Orioles, who have the benefit of being near Burnett's Maryland home, MASNsports.com reports Burnett may not be interested in playing there. Burnett, 37, was considering retirement until reports last week said he wanted to come back and pitch in 2014. He pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates last season and may end up back there as the Bucs are the only team reportedly interested in him....
At this point, it’s still early enough for these players and teams to reverse course and change the trajectory of their 2022 campaign, but it’s also deep enough into the season to start to be seriously concerned. Let’s take a look at seven: three players and four teams. MORE: How your favorite MLB player’s signature ended up in your childhood baseball glove Marcus Semien, Rangers Yeah, this season been pretty brutal for Semien, who signed a seven-year, $175-million deal this offseason with the Rangers to play second base....
Speaking Wednesday to the New York Post, the unnamed scout suggested the outfielder and Heisman Trophy winner has run his course in his second sport, though he did praise the unwavering work ethic that has brought him this far. “I just think he’s reached his top, his zenith, as far as Triple-A,” the scout said. “I don’t think he’s a major league player, but I think he works extremely hard and he will run into some fastballs, and when I saw him he was really getting tied up inside and just striking out a lot and not making contact....
So it's no suprise that finding pitching will be a priority for the Angels this offseason. ESPN's Buster Olney reports L.A. may be willing to deal 1B Mark Trumbo and/or CF Peter Bourjos to get some arms. Trumbo, 27, has emerged as one of the AL's top power hitters, hitting 95 home runs over the last three seasons. He finished fourth in the league with 34 dingers while driving in 100 runs in 2013....
Where Beltran is headed remains an open question. But as with any player of his profile rumors are flying. Beltran entered the market after a strong season with the St. Louis Cardinals, helping them reach the World Series. His bat remains potent, and his defense is sharp both in terms of his glove and strong, accurate and fundamentally sound arm. The Cardinals tendered Beltran, and thus would be eligible for compensation should he sign with another team....
The Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham reported Monday that the Red Sox put their ace on the trading block shortly after receiving from Lester’s reps their vision of a long-term contract. It’s unlikely anyone would confirm that connection publicly, but the leaks of the contract proposal (it’s not known how much the reps are asking) and Lester’s possibly increased availability are suspicious. MORE: FoxSports.com’s trade deadline tracker | Giants not done...
Tampa Bay has “checked in” on Tigers slugger Nicholas Castellanos and spoken with the Giants about dealing for a reliever, according to reports from MLB Insider Jon Heyman and MLB Network. Castellanos, 27, is slashing .284/.342/.480 with 11 home runs and 36 RBIs in 93 games for Detroit this season. He will be a free agent after the season and has also been linked to the Cubs. Castellanos said last month he was not expecting to be with the Tigers long-term....
With the MLB playoff picture expanded to 12 teams this October, a number of teams could make a move to shore up lineups, bullpens and rotations to jump into contention over the closing months on the season. On the other hand, teams that are already in the hunt might not feel the need to give up prospects for rentals. While a big-splash trade can change the complexion of a lineup, it’s usually the smaller trades that help push teams to postseason contention and beyond....
General manager Brian Cashman told reporters earlier this week the team is compiling a list of names to pursue at the trade deadline. “It’s a process we’re working through, and we’ll see,” Cashman told reporters. “We’re certainly compiling a list of the names that are available that are obvious, and we’re compiling a list of the names that might become available.” Apparently, he values one of those name above all the others....
THE RUMOR: The Padres continue to push RHP James Shields on the trade market. MORE: A visual history of the Padres REPORTED BY: ESPN’s Buster Olney, via Twitter. THE DETAILS: Shields is only one season into a four-year, $75 million backloaded contract (San Diego owes him $63 million over the next three years). He’s less than a month from turning 34, and given his declining effectiveness the Padres clearly would like to spend the money elsewhere....
Is it creativity? Tradition? Design? Colors? That’s why ranking uniforms is so tough: There are so many factors that go into ranking a uniform, with the chief one being subjectivity. What looks nice to you might not look so great to someone else. MORE: Hey, MLB! When baseball returns, more mic’d-up broadcasts, please But it’s a bit easier in baseball considering there are no out-and-out bad uniforms in the league in 2020....
The 11-8 Atlanta victory came a day after Washington won with a similar margin of victory, 6-3, and was led by the efforts of Adam Duvall. He hit two home runs to help give the Braves enough of a cushion to withstand the seven runs scored by the Nationals in the final three innings. Along with the win, the Braves added a reliever to their bullpen. Atlanta picked up righty Chris Martin from Texas in exchange for former top prospect Kolby Allard....
The Cardinals topped the Reds 12-11 at Great American Ball Park, despite trailing 7-0 entering the sixth inning. St. Louis went on to tally a staggering 10 runs in the sixth to take control of the game and it didn’t look back. Jose Martinez and Paul DeJong each notched one home run for St. Louis while the Reds’ Ryan Lavarnway went 3 for 4 and tallied two home runs....
