Even after his latest ejection, Yankees manager Aaron Boone doesn’t want robo umps
NEW YORK — Ejected for the fourth time this season and second time in a four-game span, Yankees manager Aaron Boone didn’t think there was a need for robot umpires. “I don’t want that,” Boone said after Thursday night’s 3-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. Boone was tossed in the...
Latrobe alum Zach Kokoska having big month in High-A league
Zach Kokoska is burning up the Northwest League as he makes inroads to his dream of playing in the majors. The former Latrobe and Kansas State baseball star has been on an offensive tear of late, hitting safely in 14 of his last 18 games for the High-Class A Spokane...
MLB warns teams that batters may not try to trick pitchers into clock violations
NEW YORK — Teams were warned by Major League Baseball on Wednesday that batters may not attempt to deceive pitchers into quick-pitch violations. “In recent days, we have seen batters attempt to induce pitchers to violate the pitch timer regulations by creating the appearance that they are in the batter’s...
First Call: Steelers sign XFL star WR; new home for Pat McAfee’s show
Wednesday’s “First Call” has some roster news for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Plus, the shenanigans between the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays won’t stop. And the “Pat McAfee Show” is heading to a major network. Hello, Hak After the Steelers invited XFL receiving star Hakeem Butler to their rookie...
Oakland A’s reach agreement for potential stadium site on Las Vegas StripVideo
LAS VEGAS — The Oakland Athletics reached an agreement with Bally’s and Gaming & Leisure Properties to build a potential stadium on the Tropicana hotel site along the Las Vegas Strip. Bally’s Corp. made the announcement Monday for a 30,000-seat stadium on the 35-acre site. The project is expected to...
Colorado’s Ryan Feltner has skull fracture, concussion from line driveVideo
DENVER — Colorado pitcher Ryan Feltner has a skull fracture and concussion after getting hit by a line drive off the bat of Philadelphia’s Nick Castellanos. Feltner was injured Saturday night and was likely to be discharged from Swedish Medical Center later Sunday. He will not need surgery. “Overall, he’s...
Last-place St. Louis Cardinals trying to find their wayVideo
CHICAGO — When Dylan Carlson looks at his St. Louis teammates, he sees a long list of accomplishments. There is reigning NL MVP Paul Goldschmidt and seven-time All-Star Nolan Arenado. And Adam Wainwright, a World Series winner closing in on 200 career victories. All that past success is one reason...
Twins reinstate Kyle Farmer 4 weeks after hit by pitch in face
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins returned infielder Kyle Farmer from his rehab assignment and reinstated him from the injured list on Wednesday, four weeks after he was hit by a pitch in the face and needed oral surgery. Third baseman Jose Miranda was sent to Triple-A St. Paul to make...
MLB, players finalize collective bargaining deal through ’26
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball and the players’ association finalized their collective bargaining agreement through the 2026 season on Tuesday, 14 months after reaching a memorandum of understanding for a deal that ended a 99-day lockout. The agreement, which expires at 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 1, 2026, runs 426...
Robo umps reach Triple-A, but MLB rollout still uncertain
WORCESTER, Mass. — Trailing Nashville with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, St. Paul Saints first baseman Alex Kirilloff watched the 3-2 pitch go by for strike three. He thought it might have missed the high and inside corner. There was no point in arguing. The game was...
Vida Blue, who led Oakland to 3 World Series titles, dies at 73Video
Vida Blue, a hard-throwing left-hander who became one of baseball’s biggest draws in the early 1970s and helped lead the brash A’s to three straight World Series titles before his career was derailed by drug problems, died Saturday, according to the team. He was 73. Oakland did not announce a...
Sandy Leon recalls harrowing day young daughter fell in pool
HOUSTON — Sandy Leon has worn many jersey numbers during a long career in Major League Baseball. To understand the gravity of the No. 12 that adorns the catcher’s uniform this season with the Texas Rangers, he has to revisit the worst day of his life. That was Aug. 18,...
MLB lefty batting average up, game time down 28 minutes
NEW YORK — Batting average for left-handed hitters was up 13 percentage points through the first full month of the season, an impact of baseball’s new rule changes. The biggest noticeable impact has been when games are ending. Average time of a nine-inning game is 2 hours, 37 minutes, down...
Hard-throwing Bethel Park alum debuts with Oakland A’s
When he accepted an internship with AHN as a college sophomore, Mason Miller had to be thinking he was taking the first significant step to defining a career that would help shape a lifelong occupation. Miller, a Bethel Park alumnus, was right — but not remotely in the way anyone...
Rob Manfred: ‘Sorry’ for Oakland fans; A’s can compete in Las VegasVideo
NEW YORK — Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred says he feels “sorry for the fans in Oakland” about the Athletics’ plans to relocate to Las Vegas but denies claims by Oakland’s mayor that the franchise used negotiations with the city as leverage. Manfred discussed the plans Monday during a meeting with...
Review: ‘The 1998 Yankees’ revisits team 25 years later
“The 1998 Yankees: The Inside Story of the Greatest Baseball Team Ever,” by Jack Curry (Twelve) Twenty-five years ago this fall, the New York Yankees won the World Series for the 24th time, part of a six-year run in which they won baseball’s championship four times. Jack Curry, who now...
Cubs’ Smyly loses bid for perfect game on Peralta’s dribbler
CHICAGO — Drew Smyly’s bid for a perfect game for the Chicago Cubs was stopped by David Peralta’s infield single for the Los Angeles Dodgers leading off the eighth inning on Friday. Peralta’s hit dribbled up the third base line. Smyly and Yan Gomes each went for the ball, and...
Oakland A’s purchase land for new stadium in Las Vegas
OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland Athletics have signed a binding agreement to purchase land for a new retractable roof ballpark in Las Vegas after being unable to build a new venue in the Bay Area. Team president Dave Kaval said Wednesday night the team finalized a deal last week to...
First Call: ESPN reports Allen Robinson passes physical with Steelers; Pirates look to stay hot; ex-Pens score in playoffs
Thursday’s “First Call” has an update on the Steelers trade for Allen Robinson. The Pirates hope to kick another opponent while they are down. A pair of WPIAL baseball stars faced off in Oakland. And a pair of ex-Penguins scored for their team in the NHL playoffs, while another struggled...
Mets’ Max Scherzer ejected for sticky substance after umpire checkVideo
LOS ANGELES — Max Scherzer swore on his children’s lives he put nothing but sweat and rosin on his hands at Dodger Stadium. The umpires still ejected him Wednesday, telling the Mets ace his hand was too sticky to possibly be legal. The three-time Cy Young Award winner loudly proclaimed...
First Call: Jalen Carter may be gone before Steelers could trade up to draft him; WPIAL pitching star to make debut
Wednesday’s “First Call” takes another look at that Jalen Carter-to-the-Steelers conversation. A familiar name in the AFC North may get moved out. We examine the NHL television ratings for the regular season. And a WPIAL standout pitcher is getting called up to the Major Leagues. No crack at Carter? If...
MLB uses Atlantic League to test more rule changes
PHOENIX — Major League Baseball isn’t done tinkering with potential rule changes for the sport. The league announced a series of experimental rules Tuesday that will be used in the Atlantic League this season, including a designated pinch runner, “double-hook” designated hitter rule and further limitations on a pitcher’s ability...
First Call: Steelers coach Mike Tomlin watches son score at B.C.’s spring game; Gerrit Cole’s strong start continues
Monday’s “First Call” features the scouting destination of Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin this past weekend. We also look ahead to the Pirates’ next series. Plus, a former Pirate is off to a torrid start, a big transfer win for West Virginia’s basketball team, and America comes up clutch in...
MLB players find less time for small talk with pitch clock
DENVER — Home plate used to be a place where the sociable Brandon Crawford would touch base with catchers and umpires. Just a casual conversation to catch up: How’s the family? What’s up? That sort of thing. These days, the San Francisco Giants infielder keeps the chatter to a minimum....
Rays tie record with 13-0 start, rally to beat Red Sox 9-3Video
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays tied MLB’s post-1900 record for 13 consecutive wins to start a season, rallying to beat the Boston Red Sox, 9-3, on Thursday behind a seven-run fifth inning that Harold Ramirez began and capped with doubles. Tampa Bay matched the 13-0 start of...
