Starting with the 2000 season, the team with the baseball’s best record has only claimed the championship four times — the Cubs in 2016, the Red Sox in 2014 and 2007 (they tied for the most wins both years) and the Yankees in 2009. MORE: NLCS storylines to watch Speaking of the Yankees, they were one of three teams to win at least 100 games this season, but they’re already out of the playoffs....
“The Pride of the Yankees” might as well be “The Surprise of the Yankees.” Up in Boston, “The Hunt for Red (Sox) October” is starting to raise some questions. Someone get Danny DeVito and Arnold Schwarzenegger on the phone, because with what Minnesota is doing, “Twins” might need a sequel. Baseball lends itself to Hollywood-type stuff, and this year has been no exception. Just look at two of baseball’s best in the Dodgers and Astros....
One of the most glorious things about the addition of a second wild-card team is the dreaded question of whether or not teams should stay in the race for it. With so many teams — the Mets, Nationals, Athletics, Rangers (???) — with valuable pieces they could ship away, there’s no shortage of teams that could decide to break it down or stay in it to make a run at the whole shebang....
That sparked a thought, and that thought sparked a poll idea. Bichette, as you know, is just one of several famous sons succeeding in a big way in the majors this season. I wondered what baseball Twitter people thought of those three — Bichette, Vlad Guerrero Jr. and Fernando Tatis Jr. — in terms of who would have the best career. So I put those three guys in a poll and added Pete Alonso because Twitter gives four options (but only four options, which is important to this story)....
From the explosive popularity of MLS to multi-billion dollar sales of NBA franchises, sport is a growth industry and Major League Baseball is no exception. In fact, Forbes’s most recent team value rankings pegs the year-over-year growth in total value of the 30 franchises at an astounding 48 percent. More and more of that value, it seems, is derived from the pure entertainment value of live sports and the fan interaction that is so important to all businesses these days....
Unlike MLB facilities, the doors for #TeamPessimism are not locked, and those of us who have gathered are free to leave at any time. The truth, though? As long as the MLB owners practice their substance-light version of performance negotiation and the gaps between the owners and MLBPA remain massive on key issues like the Competitive Balance Tax, though, it’s hard to see a reason to leave anytime soon. FOSTER: Unlike after 1994 strike, MLB has no saviors this time Wednesday was the tipping point....
Rather than simply prorate salaries to an 82-game (or thereabout) season, MLB wants to cut more than half of what players would typically be owed under their contracts. The league and its players are negotiating possible contract terms for an abridged 2020 season this week. Passan outlined the manner in which proposed cuts would impact both ends of the MLB earnings scale. Those slated to get $35 million this year — such as Nolan Arenado, Stephen Strasburg and Gerrit Cole — would receive less than $8 million under the league’s suggested terms....
MORE: Ranking the top 13 free-agent hitters availableTHE DETAILS: Morosi notes a payroll increase is looming for the Astros, who disappointed this past season after finishing second in the AL West and reaching the ALDS in 2015. Houston has one of the strongest farm systems and a slew of young talent but only two players signed beyond 2017. THIS PAST SEASON: Cabrera batted .316/.393/ .563 with 38 homers and 108 RBIs en route to his 13th consecutive All-Star selection....
Chicago is one of several teams interested in Diamondbacks outfielder David Peralta, according to The Athletic. The only question is whether Arizona decides to move Peralta. The Diamondbacks are currently second in the National League West at 46-45, but they are 1 1/2 games back of the second wild-card spot, and if the team goes on a losing streak after the All-Star break it very well could make some moves....
RUMOR: The Nationals are in trade talks with the Reds about second baseman Brandon Phillips. MORE: Best current players at each uniform number, 1-97 | Senator says Nats need to dump Papelbon REPORTED BY: Ken Rosenthal, Fox Sports THE DETAILS: The Nationals, who traded infielder Yunel Escobar to the Angels and are set to lose shortstop Ian Desmond as a free agent, are in need of infield depth. Phillips, a three-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner, would be an instant upgrade....
Throughout the offseason, we will take a look at the hottest news and rumors. THE RUMOR: The Orioles and Pirates have renewed trade talks involving outfielder Travis Snider. REPORTED BY: Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun THE DETAILS: The two teams are discussing a deal that would send two minor leaguers to Pittsburgh for Snider. At least one of the minor leaguers would be a pitcher. LAST SEASON: The 27 year-old Snider hit ....
Despite the Rangers being on his no-trade list, the Red Sox first baseman waived his right and agreed to be traded to them on Friday, according to The Boston Globe. The Rangers will also receive cash (CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman reports it will be $1.5 million) to cover part of the remainder of Napoli’s $16 million salary for 2015. The Red Sox will receive a player to be named or cash, the Rangers announced....
Philadelphia has acquired infielder Brad Miller from the Yankees for cash considerations, according to multiple reports. Miller is batting .250 with one home run and four RBIs in limited time in MLB this season. He did not take an at-bat with New York in 2019 as he was picked up as a free agent in April soon after the Indians released him. He is a veteran of seven MLB season and has also spent time with the Rays and Brewers....
Morton and the Rays defeated the righty’s former team, the Astros, 4-2 on Friday to move to 1-1 on the season. The 35-year-old was the winning pitcher in Game 7 of the 2017 World Series that saw Houston win its first championship in franchise history. MORE: Watch ‘ChangeUp,’ a new MLB live whiparound show on DAZN He said before the game that it would be hard not to be emotional facing his former team....
Los Angeles claimed an 11-2 victory over the Red Sox in Boston, gifting Bellinger with a big-time win. Bellinger made his own wishes come true by going 2 for 4 at the plate with two RBIs. He also hit a home run, which tied him with Milwaukee’s Christian Yelich for the most in the league this year at 31. Bellinger even got some MVP chants at Fenway Park. Justin Turner and Max Muncy each recorded three hits in five at-bats on the night and also hit one home run apiece....
New York had its 25th consecutive game with a home run, which tied a franchise record set in 1941. The 1941 team also homered in 25 straight games in the month of June that season with Joe DiMaggio leading the way, hitting 10. This time around it was Gary Sanchez who set the pace with eight home runs during that span. But Saturday, it was Gio Urshela’s homer that kept the streak going against the Astros....
Bedoya, who opened the scoring in Philadelphia’s 5-1 thrashing of DC United, took his chance to send a message to the nation’s leaders. After scoring, Bedoya ran toward an on-field microphone and shouted: “Congress, do something now. End gun violence. Let’s go!” In response, MLS released a statement that didn’t mention Bedoya specifically but alluded to his actions: “The Major League Soccer family joins everyone in grieving for the loss of lives in Texas and Ohio, and we understand that our players and staff have strong and passionate views on this issue....
Rooney, bound for Derby County in England, was helpless as DC suffered a 5-1 loss to Toronto after extra time in the opening round of the MLS postseason Saturday. The former Manchester United and England captain agreed in August to a player-coach role with Championship outfit Derby ahead of his January return to England. But Rooney’s DC and MLS farewell did not go according to plan after his team conceded four extra-time goals away to Toronto at BMO Field....
The Vancouver Whitecaps are in first place in the Western Conference, a sentence you don’t normally read in September of any season. The Whitecaps have an unfortunate tradition of falling apart in the closing months of seasons, but Carl Robinson’s men have hit their stride, with a 4-0-1 run that has helped the Whitecaps edge in front of the Timbers for first place in the West. That’s why Vancouver’s match against the Columbus Crew is one of the big highlights of this weekend’s MLS action....
Matt Hamill, who had recently withdrawn from a main-event fight in World Series of Fighting 19, was traveling from Utica, N.Y., to visit relatives in Ohio when he encountered a woman driving the wrong way down Interstate 90 near Rochester. Hamill told MMAFighting.com the woman was swerving in and out of oncoming traffic. MORE: Lamas explains McGregor video origin | Pena pumped about her return “She was going slower but she was going on the wrong side of the street, and you could see her face, she was kind of drooling,” he said in an interview with the fighting website....
