Hal Steinbrenner talks Yankees on eve of the playoffs ARLINGTON, Texas — Hal Steinbrenner doled out high praise for his manager, coaches and players Thursday in Tampa, where he observed the Yankees’ Instructional League program. “We faced a significant amount of adversity this year,” Steinbrenner told the Associated Press of the excessive amount of injuries…
DetailsDon’t slot J.A. Happ into Yankees’ playoff bullpen just yet ARLINGTON, Texas — Eventually the Yankees will have to set their starting rotation for the ALDS that starts Oct. 4 at Yankee Stadium. With James Paxton, Luis Severino and Masahiro Tanaka set to face the Rangers in the final three games of the regular season,…
DetailsAlec Ogletree annoyed injury came on play that didn’t count Alec Ogletree injured his hamstring on a play that never officially happened. There was no way the Giants linebacker could have known that in the moment Sunday, though, when he heard his teammates yelling at him to pick up a loose ball and he did…
DetailsMickey Callaway details why he should remain Mets manager Mickey Callaway hasn’t heard from team brass about his status for next season, but said Thursday he doesn’t deem it imperative to know anything before the season’s conclusion. The Mets manager is under contract through 2020, but is hardly on sure footing after a season in…
DetailsQuick Hits: Pillar, Mets, White Sox Whether the Giants tender outfielder Kevin Pillar a contract during the offseason “will serve as a clear referendum on how married to the metrics Farhan Zaidi’s baseball operations group will be,” Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic writes (subscription required). The Giants’ Zaidi-led front office acquired Pillar from Toronto in…
DetailsFelix Hernandez: “I’m Not Retiring” Mariners legend Felix Hernandez may have taken the ball for the last time as a member of the organization on Thursday. In what seems likely to go down as his goodbye to the M’s franchise, King Felix threw 5 1/3 innings of three-run ball against the Athletics before an emotionally…
DetailsFrancisco Liriano Plans To Pitch In 2020 Set to turn 36 next month, Pirates left-hander Francisco Liriano hopes to keep pitching for a couple more seasons, Stephen Nesbitt of The Athletic reports (subscription required). There’s no word on whether the Pirates are interested in re-signing the pending free agent, though. Liriano could be days from…
DetailsThree Needs: Philadelphia Phillies We’re continuing with our “Three Needs” series, in which we take a look at the chief issues to be addressed for clubs that have fallen out of contention. We’ve already focused on the Mariners, Tigers, White Sox, Marlins, Rangers, Pirates, Angels and Royals. Now we’re focusing on the Phillies, whose ultra-aggressive 2018-19 offseason didn’t yield the type…
DetailsNot even the Mets’ famous pitching recipe could save them It is understood Fred Wilpon wanted to come as close as possible to replicating the Ebbets Field aura while overseeing the construction of the ballpark that replaced Shea Stadium in 2009. Perhaps less understood is that the Mets have been trying for years to replicate…
DetailsRangers drop ball on purpose so Mike Minor can get strikeout milestone ARLINGTON, Texas — Mike Minor finally got the 200th strikeout he wanted so badly, on a borderline pitch right after the Texas Rangers purposely let a foul pop drop in the ninth inning. “It’s just an accomplishment that I was looking at this…
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