Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Baseball has its answer to penalty kicks, overtimes and shootouts, and it figures to stir just as much debate as all those other tiebreakers. Major League Baseball will start each extra inning in this abbreviated, 60-game season by putting a runner on second base. The rule has […]
Former Lotte pitcher Randy Jackson arrested for cannabis possession
Hiroshima – Former Chiba Lotte Marines pitcher Randy « Jay » Jackson Jr. was arrested Friday on suspicion of cannabis possession at his home in Hiroshima. The 32-year-old American, who played for the Hiroshima Carp between 2016 and 2018 and joined the Chiba-based Marines this season, remained silent when asked about the […]
Tigers slugger Justin Bour goes deep in Koshien debut
Nishinomiya, Hyogo Pref. – Justin Bour homered in his home debut at historic Koshien Stadium, lifting the Hanshin Tigers to a 2-1 Central League victory over the Yomiuri Giants on Thursday. Bour broke open a scoreless game in the seventh, blasting a slider up in the zone from Giants starter […]
Japanese players getting into swing of things ahead of MLB season
Seattle – Japanese players, including those who are preparing for their major league debuts, took part in preseason training Wednesday, with the start of the dramatically altered 2020 season approaching later this month. Left-handed pitcher Yusei Kikuchi, who is entering his second season with the Seattle Mariners after an uneven […]
MLB continues to take small steps toward opening day
New York – As Major League Baseball cautiously tiptoes closer toward beginning its delayed 2020 season, several teams welcomed back players who might have been exposed to the coronavirus and the San Francisco Giants resumed workouts Wednesday after finally receiving the results of COVID-19 tests administered over the weekend. The […]
A’s lefty Jake Diekman questions whether there will be a season
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – Jake Diekman has serious questions about Major League Baseball’s ability to pull off a season given the issues everywhere — getting timely test results, forcing delays and cancellations of workouts. For now, Diekman still plans to play. He must be extra careful given he has the autoimmune […]
More positive tests, canceled workouts add to MLB unease
NEW YORK – As baseball nears the two-week countdown to the start of its delayed season, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to keep more players, including Boston Red Sox projected opening day starter Eduardo Rodriguez, off the field. On Tuesday, one day after Major League Baseball released its 60-game schedule, there […]
More positive tests, canceled workouts add to MLB unease
NEW YORK – As baseball nears the two-week countdown to the start of its delayed season, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to keep more players, including Boston Red Sox projected opening day starter Eduardo Rodriguez, off the field. On Tuesday, one day after Major League Baseball released its 60-game schedule, there […]
Shohei Ohtani pitches in intrasquad game at Angel Stadium
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – Shohei Ohtani threw competitive pitches off the mound at Angel Stadium on Tuesday for the first time in two years. Ohtani struggled with his control in the Los Angeles Angels’ intrasquad game, walking eight batters on about 50 pitches. The two-way star and manager Joe Maddon weren’t […]
MLB releases pandemic-shortened schedule amid testing delays
NEW YORK – Major League Baseball released its pandemic-shortened schedule Monday, featuring a tantalizing season opener between the New York Yankees and World Series champion Washington Nationals, even as some teams were still bogged down by coronavirus concerns. By the time MLB revealed each team’s 60-game slate Monday evening, the […]