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Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
MLB has a new issue with its baseballs (report)
There's a new inconsistency with MLB's baseballs. According to The Athletic, there has been more drag on the ball this season and fly balls are averaging 4 feet less than usual. Subsequently, home runs are at an eight-year low in full-time MLB ballparks. Advertisement While the league acknowledged the discrepancy, they said nothing intentional has changed with the Rawlings baseballs. 'For the last several seasons, MLB has made drag information available to the public online, which is updated daily during the season,' MLB spokesperson Glen Caplin told The Athletic in a statement. 'We are aware of an increase in average drag this season and have provided information to the Major League Baseball Players Association on this issue as our experts continue to study any potential causes beyond normal variability in a product made by hand with natural materials. There has been no change to the manufacturing, storage or handling of baseballs this year, and all baseballs remain within specifications.' In closed-door meetings, commissioner Rob Manfred has reportedly acknowledged the baseballs are behaving differently. It's something the MLBPA is keeping tabs on, too. 'The Players Association has been monitoring baseball behavior throughout the season, and recently reached out to the commissioner's office to review available data and request additional information on a range of baseball measures,' Kevin Slowey, MLBPA's managing director of player services, told The Athletic. More Red Sox coverage Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Angels Make Roster Decision on Former No. 8 Overall Pick on Thursday
Angels Make Roster Decision on Former No. 8 Overall Pick on Thursday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Los Angeles Angels will look to continue their winning streak after sweeping the Athletics in a three-game series to begin the week as they travel to Baltimore to take on the Orioles on Friday. Advertisement The Los Angeles Angels will be looking to add a boost to their offense following the call-up of second baseman Christian Moore, the eighth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft out of the University of Tennessee. Moore had a dominant junior season while at Tennessee, hitting 34 home runs and leading the nation in hits with 111. He helped lead the Volunteers to a national championship in 2024. After playing in 34 games in Double-A and 20 in Triple-A this season, the Angels have seen enough from the 22-year-old second baseman and have decided to bring in Moore to make his MLB debut. Jul 14, 2024; Ft. Worth, TX, USA; Christian Moore is congratulated by MLB commissioner Rob Manfred after being selected by the Los Angeles Angels as the eight player taken during the first round of the MLB Draft at Cowtown Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports Moore was struggling to begin the 2025 season, having a .234 BA, a .342 OBP, and a .323 SLG, but he was called up to Triple-A on May 20 and it seemed to boost his confidence. Advertisement In 20 game with the Angels' Triple-A affiliate, the Salt Lake Bees, Moore has been nothing less than dominant, having a .350 BA, .424 OBP, .575 SLG and a .999 OPS while hitting four home runs and 18 RBI. Moore also has the ability to play multiple positions, as he's gained some experience at third base in the minors. He will look to join the Los Angeles Angels in their three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cardinals' JJ Wetherholt Talks Development, More in Exclusive Interview
Cardinals' JJ Wetherholt Talks Development, More in Exclusive Interview originally appeared on Athlon Sports. In months, St. Louis Cardinals' No. 1 prospect JJ Wetherholt has not just acclimated himself to Double-A - he's excelled. Advertisement The 22-year-old middle infielder has racked up 55 hits (13 doubles, one triple), four home runs, 24 RBIs, 30 runs scored and five stolen bases in 48 games with the Springfield Cardinals. He also leads the Texas League with a .322 average and .443 on base percentage. Wetherholt spoke with Athlon Sports on Tuesday about his development and more: St. Louis Cardinals No. 1 prospect stands with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred after being selected 7th overall in the 2024 MLB Jairaj-Imagn Images What's been the biggest difference in the jump from Low-A to Double-A? "Obviously competition. Everyone just is more polished here. I think you get similar stuff profiles in Single-A - you have a lot of raw talent there - but guys here are just stuff-plus - more professional, more command on the mound, better at hitting and fielding. Really just everything is a step up, but it's been a lot of fun adjusting." Advertisement What's an aspect of your game that you're striving to develop this season? "(I've been trying to) continue to grow on the bases. I had a very good foundation in college, but just trying to find a way to take that to the next level." With an abundance of middle infielders in the organization, are you open to moving positions if it means getting your shot? "I really don't care. I'll play anywhere, but obviously my focus right now is to just become the best shortstop and middle infielder as I can and continue to develop as a player and then whatever happens, happens. I'm open to anything." What's the best piece of advice you've gotten in your career? "Keep your strengths, your strengths. Know that (your strengths) are what make you the best player possible. It's easy to hone in on what you're not good at but staying locked into what you're good at and trying to do that every day is what's going to get you where you want to go.' Advertisement Praises from Springfield Cardinals' Teammates Cardinals No. 6 prospect Leonardo Bernal and No. 9 prospect Chase Davis also spoke to Athlon Sports about Wetherholt's impact on the team this season, sharing feelings that the top prospect's talent matched with his personable character have aided in Springfield's success through the first half of the season. What are your thoughts on seeing fellow 2024 top 10 picks Jac Caglionone, Christian Moore and Nick Kurtz already making their MLB Debut? "It's great. I know a lot of those guys, so I'm super excited for them. It was a really good draft class, I thought, so to see them have a ton of success in the minors ... is so cool to see." Advertisement When that day comes for you, who will be in attendance? "Hopefully anyone who can come. My family, my parents ... but that'll come when it comes and hopefully I'll have a good (amount) of people there, but obviously we've got different focuses right now, so I'm just trying to keep that going." Related: Cardinals vs White Sox: How to Watch and What to Watch for Related: Cardinals Farm Report: No. 3 Tink Hence Ramping Up Rehab After Lengthy Absence This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Forbes
4 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Questions Swirl As Oregon Legislature Passes $800M MLB Ballpark Funds
The Oregon Legislature signed off on a bill that would cap funding at $800 million for a potential Major League ballpark in Portland. With total costs likely to be at or exceeding $2 billion, and additional expansion fees, many outstanding questions remain for the MLB to Portland effort. Senate Bill 110 passed in the Oregon Senate in April, and the House approved the bill on Tuesday, sending it to Governor Tina Kotek, who has signaled that she will sign it into law. The bill was an update to SB 5, which passed into law in 2003 with construction bonds capped at $150 million. The funding mechanism would use a 'jock tax' model, funneling state income tax away from the general fund for home and away players, as well as top executives, until the obligation was paid off. As was the case with the original bill in 2003, the law would only take effect if MLB awarded a franchise to Portland. State and local politicians from both parties endorsed the bill, stating that an MLB team in Portland would generate local and regional economic activity in the downtown core, which has yet to fully recover from the pandemic. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has stated that expanding the league from 30 to 32 clubs is a goal, with the key processes in place before he retires in January 2029, leaving approval of one team in the West and one in the East to his successor. Unlike the original bill in 2003, which sparked considerable debate over who would guarantee the bonds, SB 110 saw no such discussion, raising concerns about safeguards for taxpayers. A potential labor dispute between the owners and players in the league, resulting in a lockout or strike that would lead to regular-season game cancellations, would disrupt the flow of state income taxes used to pay the bonds. While the lockout in 2021-22 pushed the start of the season out a week, the schedule was compressed, allowing all 162 games to be played. The expectation is that another lockout will occur in 2026-27 when the current labor deal expires, with odds of the owners pushing for a salary cap increasing. That would increase the odds of regular-season games being cancelled. Craig Cheek, the head of the Portland Diamond Project, the effort to lure a team to Portland, acknowledged that there were no safeguards in place in the event of a labor dispute, but stated that the bonds would be privately owned and secured. He said that private equity and investors would make up any difference. Nothing in the bill memorializes that structure and guarantees that the general fund could not be tapped. Overall, while the bill caps at $800 million, the actual amount would be far less, given underwriting, bond security, and interest. The construction of a waterfront ballpark targeted for South Portland would likely cost $2 billion or more. However, that would be only half of the total amount needed to have MLB award a franchise. A significant driver for the other 30 owners to allow the league to expand is the prospect of a $2 billion or more expansion fee, which would balloon costs to over $4 billion. As was the case the last time Portland explored MLB expansion or relocation, the ownership group remains a mystery (full disclosure, I was part of the effort in 2001-03 and there never was an ownership group, instead leaning on the idea that should a club be awarded, the league would help cobble one together). That puts the Portland effort at a disadvantage compared to Salt Lake City, which the Miller family leads – the former owners of the Utah Jazz – and has strong backing from Tagg Romney, the son of former U.S. Senator and presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Tagg is currently the Co-founder & Managing Partner of Solamere Capital. Solamere appears to be a key part of the effort, as Spencer Zwick, the co-founder of Solamere, is also listed as part of the effort. While a letter of intent was signed in September of last year to purchase 33 acres for the ballpark, Cheek and the Portland Diamond Project have never disclosed who comprises the capital stack that would make the MLB to Portland effort a reality. Due diligence on the ballpark site was completed on January 22nd, and PDP has until March 2028 to finalize the deal. While the ownership group should have stepped forward by now, it will have to be abundantly clear by the March 2028 deadline whether the pieces are in place to make any MLB to Portland effort a contender to the Salt Lake City group. Still, the Portland Diamond Project will take signing Senate Bill 110 into law as the first step.
New York Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Why Yankees' Aaron Boone wanted Joe Torre coaching alongside him again
NEW YORK — Two spring trainings ago, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone needed to convince legendary manager Joe Torre to wear the pinstripes once more. It had been 17 years since he wore the Yankees' No. 6 jersey. But a few hours after Torre arrived at George M. Steinbrenner Field as a guest instructor, Boone succeeded in getting Torre back in uniform. A few days later, Torre made a pitching change. Yankees fans were treated to that slow, lumbering walk out to the mound. Torre was showered with a standing ovation. Advertisement 'I think he loved it,' Boone said Tuesday, reminiscing about Torre's presence at camp. 'I know our guys love being around him. I think this year he was really looking forward to coming back to spring training. He was in uniform. He's just awesome to be around. What gets me excited is I know he's enjoying it.' Boone had an idea at the end of spring training this year. With winning the American League pennant, Boone gets to manage the league's All-Star team in Atlanta this year. He invited Cleveland Guardians manager Steven Vogt to coach alongside him, but he also wanted to check to see if Torre would have interest, and if MLB would approve it. Torre has been a special assistant to commissioner Rob Manfred since 2020. 'I actually went to the league and asked, 'Hey, what do you think about Joe coming to the All-Star Game, being in uniform?'' Boone said. 'They of course loved the idea. Then I went to Joe, I went to him and said, 'You don't have to answer this right now. Just hear me out.' I asked him would he consider coming. Right away, he was like, 'Yes.' And he seemed really excited about it. He seemed moved by it, which could not have gone better in my eyes. I'm excited to have the skipper with us.' Aaron Boone will manage the American League All-Star team and be joined by Joe Torre as an honorary coach — Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) June 17, 2025 Boone and Torre, who managed the Yankees to four World Series titles (1996, 1998-2000), have developed a close relationship since the former took the managerial job in 2018. Boone said Torre has given him lots of advice over the past eight years, and pops into his office at Yankee Stadium occasionally. Yankees players have also appreciated having Torre around at spring training. Anthony Volpe, who grew up a fan of the team, could not stop smiling when Torre made the pitching change in 2024. At the time, he called it one of the highlights of his baseball career. Rodón, who was taken out of the game by Torre, said he initially was mad that he was getting pulled from his spring training start. Advertisement 'I wanted to be like, 'Get out of here,'' Rodon said in 2024, 'but it's Joe Torre.' Torre will be in uniform next month at the All-Star Game being held in Atlanta, which is also where the Hall of Famer managed from 1982-1984. He also played with the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves from 1960-1968. Not only does Boone get to take Torre to Atlanta, but his entire Yankees coaching staff will have the opportunity to be in the dugout, too. 'A lot of those guys, in a lot of ways, it will be the experience of a lifetime to get to be in an All-Star Game around the greatest in the world to do it,' Boone said of his assistants. 'You're always in that competition mode against other clubs, teams, players, staffs. To get to share the same uniform with guys you compete against all the time is a little pause in things and something that I know I'm going to cherish and I'm sure most of our staff will.' (Photo of Torre and Boone in 2024: New York Yankees / Getty Images)
