Latest news with #FoulTerritory
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Just hit him?' Former Red Sox debate whether Boston should throw at Rafael Devers
Things ended on a sour note between Rafael Devers and the Boston Red Sox. But did things get so back that the team would opt to hit their former star with a pitch when they meet this weekend? That was the topic tossed around by a pair of ex-Red Sox players on the show, 'Foul Territory.' Advertisement Appearing as a guest, former Boston closer Jonathan Papbelbon said he doesn't expect any smiles and handshakes with Devers when his old team comes to town to face his Papelbon on Friday. 'I think that they've cut the ties and I think all relationships are severed between everyone in that dugout, in the clubhouse and the front office with Raffy Defers,' Papelbon said. 'So I don't think there's going to be any smiles at all.' Co-host A.J. Pierzynski, who played for the Red Sox in 2014, took it a step forward by asking if Boston would consider plunking Devers with a pitch. Papelbon didn't think it would happen – not in today's game at least. Advertisement 'They don't do that anymore. Guys don't do it,' Papelbon said. Pierzynski and Papelbon agreed that, in years past, the possibility of the Red Sox throwing at a former disgruntled player would be on the table. Pierzynsky said that, if Red Sox Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez was around, then there 'would have been some action.' Papelbon said he'd been part of that type of scenario himself. The former closer said that then-manager Terry Francona told him to throw at Manny Ramirez after the slugger had been traded to the Chicago White Sox in 2010. 'I don't know if it's gonna happen or not. Maybe Alex Cora calls in somebody to drill him or not. I don't know, but I highly doubt it,' Papelbon said. Advertisement Pierzynski, who had a reputation for stirring the pot as a player, floated a scenario where the Red Sox 'accidentally' hit Devers in his first at-bat against his old team. Both players agreed that it would trigger a brawl, regardless of whether it was on purpose. 'Even if it's not accidental or not, (it) just hit him. Maybe on purpose or maybe not,' Papelbon said, We'll see how Devers and the Red Sox handle their reunion when the team takes on San Francisco Friday night. More Red Sox coverage Read the original article on MassLive.
New York Post
4 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Yankees flameout Clint Frazier decries ‘too many rocket scientists' running franchise
The Yankees' math never really added up for Clint Frazier. Frazier, who famously couldn't stick with the big league club after years as a top prospect, seemingly has lingering beef with the franchise and its analytically driven focus. 'I do feel like they hired a few too many rocket scientists to try to like make the lineup,' Frazier said on 'Foul Territory' on Thursday, 'instead of just like letting a former player or a guy that has more experience write the lineup.' Advertisement Foul Territory/ YouTube. He recalled to fellow ex-Yankee and podcast host Erik Kratz being told by one analyst that there is no such thing as 'players getting hot.' 'I could 55-for-55, and they would be like, 'he's not hot, he's going to cool down.' They believed you were what you were,' he said. 'And in my mind, I was like, that's not using your eyes… you gotta run with that sometimes.' Advertisement Frazier was a polarizing presence for the Yankees upon his arrival as a 21-year-old prospect from Cleveland in 2016 as part of the Andrew Miller trade — in part due to his flowing red locks. The Yankees relaxed their hair policy this season, giving Frazier one more qualm with his former franchise. Clint Frazier as a Yankee. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post Advertisement 'I was just highly offended man,' he said. 'I felt like I was one of the guys there trying to push the envelope. That felt personal.' Frazier never realized his potential over parts of five MLB seasons with the Bombers, struggling with multiple concussions and getting released in 2021 and bouncing from the Cubs to the Rangers to the White Sox, seeing his last MLB action in 2023. Advertisement Once the No. 53 prospect in top 100, Frazier's MLB days ended with a .235 batting average, 29 home runs and 101 RBIs over parts of 7 MLB seasons. Frazier officially retired last season after a run with the Charleston Dirty Birds in the Atlantic League.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Joe Maddon Defends Phillies' Rob Thomson's Nick Castellanos Decision
Joe Maddon Defends Phillies' Rob Thomson's Nick Castellanos Decision originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Ahead of the second game against the Miami Marlins, the Philadelphia Phillies lineup came out with a surprise omission. Nick Castellanos, the team's right fielder for the past three years, wasn't in the lineup. He had been benched. Advertisement Before the game, Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Castellanos said something inappropriate when he was pulled late in the game Monday night for a defensive substitution. Castellanos backed up that statement and moved forward past it. But, there were still a lot of Phillies fans irate at Thomson for benching Castellanos. The next day, during an appearance on Foul Territory, former MLB manager Joe Maddon defended Thomson's decision to bench Castellanos, emphasizing his enhanced respect for Thomson. "The situation with Rob, he had a choice there. He could've chosen not to say anything at all. He could've just taken what Nick said after the game, called him to the office, yelled at one another, and then figured it out after that. But he made up his mind to do what he did. I do respect what he did, that is, he was honest with the press. He didn't give it any executive talk, and I love that about him." Thomson's decision to bench Castellanos and come forward, not mincing words, was something that stood out to Maddon. He respected Thomson for his integrity in benching Castellanos, because if he had made up a random excuse, then there could've been more backlash. Advertisement It's been a tumultuous ride for the Phillies in 2025, with plenty of ups and downs. The Castellanos situation is another factor that will have an impact this year. Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson (59) walks off the field against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Hartline-Imagn Images However, based on how Thomson handled things, it's unlikely to carry over and have a massive impact down the stretch. Being honest with Castellanos and the media is a sign of a good manager. Maddon, someone who has years of experience managing MLB clubs himself, also acknowledged how vital Thomson's handling of the situation was. Managing a team and its diverse personalities is one of the toughest challenges in MLB. While plenty of fans may not have agreed with Thomson's approach, the outcome could have been far worse if he hadn't chosen transparency. Advertisement Maddon's assessment of Thomson's handling is correct; if he had botched this drama, the Phillies' season could have begun spiraling out of control. Related: Phillies' Nick Castellanos Sends Six-Word Message After Rob Thomson Benching Related: Phillies' Nick Castellanos Defended By Wife Jess on Social Media Amid Benching This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Orioles Trade Candidate Pokes Fun at Craig Breslow After Trading Away Rafael Devers
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Boston Red Sox traded Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants, but may have accidentally helped one of the Baltimore Orioles' best players. Devers is now the second-leading vote getter among designated hitters in the National League, according to MLB insider Bob Nightengale on Monday, after he was traded. Devers had 796,382 votes on Monday night. That would have been first among designated hitters in the American League, well ahead of Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Ryan O'Hearn, who had 353,029 votes on Monday. O'Hearn appeared on "Foul Territory" on Tuesday and made sure to make a joke at Craig Breslow's expense, thanking him for making him the top vote-getter. BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 2: Craig Breslow speaks as he is officially introduced as Chief Baseball Officer of the Boston Red Sox during a press conference on November 2, 2023 at Fenway Park in Boston,... BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 2: Craig Breslow speaks as he is officially introduced as Chief Baseball Officer of the Boston Red Sox during a press conference on November 2, 2023 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. More Maddie Malhotra/Boston"I just want to shoutout Craig Breslow real quick," O'Hearn said jokingly in a clip posted on the "Foul Territory" X account. "Appreciate you, man." The Orioles are 11 games under .500 and O'Hearn is going to be a free agent after the season. He has a .306/.386/.495 slash line in 59 games. He is a candidate to be traded as the Orioles are set up to be sellers at the deadline. The Orioles are not likely to trade away their younger stars. However, O'Hearn is 31 years old and could demand a big contract in the offseason. Spotrac projects him to earn a two-year, $28 million deal in free agency. If the Orioles do not intend to pay him, they could flip him for a prospect before the trade deadline. In reality, there is no guarantee that O'Hearn remains in the AL by the time the All-Star break rolls around. He could quickly find himself behind Devers in the All-Star voting again if he is dealt to an NL team. More MLB: Insider Reveals Red Sox's Reasons For Dumping Rafael Devers in Devastating Trade
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cubs Get Bad News on a Top Trade Target as Marlins Plan to Keep Sandy Alcantara
Cubs Get Bad News on a Top Trade Target as Marlins Plan to Keep Sandy Alcantara originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Chicago Cubs have a very easy-to-identify need leading up to the MLB trade deadline: starting pitching. With the Cubs losing Justin Steele for the rest of the year and Shota Imanaga in the middle of recovering from his injury, the Cubs have to address the starting rotation in the trade market. Advertisement One of their top options, however, may no longer be available. According to Robert Murray in an appearance on Foul Territory, the Miami Marlins might hold onto starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara. "I would not be surprised whatsoever if the Marlins held onto him," Murray said. "And try to wait until the offseason, or maybe next trade deadline, to try and trade him." Murray's overarching point follows the Marlins seeing how poorly Alcantara has done, and how it's affected his trade value. With Alcantara struggling in 2025, the Marlins won't get the same return that was initially speculated for the former Cy Young winner. Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara (22) delivers a pitch against the Colorado Rockies during the first inning at loanDepot Navarro-Imagn Images The Marlins ace has gotten off to a rough start to the 2025 season. In his first season back from injury, after missing all of 2024, Alcantara has a 7.14 ERA across 13 starts and 63 innings pitched. Advertisement Alcantara has struck out 50 batters in 2025, but he's also allowed 50 earned runs, which is the most in all of baseball. His terrible start to the year has Alcantara sitting at a negative 1.2 WAR, and an ERA+ of just 60. It's been an uncharacteristic season for Alcantara, who had previously never had a season above a 4.14 ERA as a starter. In 2022, Alcantara won the Cy Young, put up 8.0 WAR, and had a 2.28 ERA in an MLB leading 228.2 innings pitched. His talent is immense, and that's why his 2025 season has been such a shocker. But, for the Cubs, his poor season opened the door to a more affordable price. It initially was good news. However, Murray's report is a huge knock on the Cubs chances of landing the Marlins ace. With the Cubs now unlikely to land Alcantara, as the Marlins plan to keep him, they need to look elsewhere for a new starting pitcher. Advertisement Related: Cubs Linked to Diamondbacks Starter Amid Search for Justin Steele Replacement Related: Cubs Trade Idea Lands $64.5 Million Left-Hander from Lousy NL Team This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
