NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball plans to unilaterally issue a 60-game schedule for its shortest season since 1878 after the players' association rejected a negotiated deal of the same length, putting the sport on track for a combative and possibly unhappy return to the field amid the coronavirus pandemic.Six days after baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred and union head Tony Clark negotiated to expand the playoffs from 10 teams to 16, widen use of the designated hitter to National League games and introduce an experiment to start extra innings with a runner on second base, the deal was rejected by the Major League Baseball Players Association's executive board in a 33-5 vote.“Needless to say, we are disappointed by this development,” MLB said in a statement. “The framework provided an opportunity for MLB and its players to work together to confront the difficulties and challenges presented by the pandemic. It gave our fans the chance to see an exciting new postseason format. And, it... [More]

June 231917 — In baseball’s greatest relief effort, Ernie Shore of the Boston Red Sox came in for Babe Ruth with nobody out and a man on first. The base runner was cut down stealing and Shore retired all 26 batters he faced to gain a 4-0 victory over Washington. Ruth walked Eddie Foster to open the game and was ejected after arguing with umpire Brick Owens.1950 — Hoot Evers’ winning home run in the ninth inning gave the Detroit Tigers a 10-9 victory over the New York Yankees as the teams combined for 11 home runs, a major league record. The Yankees hit six and the Tigers five.1963 — Jimmie Piersall, playing for the Mets in New York, hit his 100th career home run and celebrated by running around the bases backward.1971 — Rick Wise of the Philadelphia Phillies pitched a no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds and hit two homers. Wise became the first pitcher to hit two homers while throwing a no-hitter.1973 — Pitcher Ken Brett of the Philadelphia Phillies hit a home run in the fourth consecutive... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Albert Pujols will pay the salaries of the Los Angeles Angels' furloughed employees in his native Dominican Republic for five months, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press.The person spoke on condition of anonymity Friday because the veteran slugger didn't publicly announce his commitment to give roughly $180,000 to cover the salaries.The strict budget cuts made by Angels owner Arte Moreno during the coronavirus pandemic have included extensive furloughs for scouts, player development staff and minor league employees. The furloughs also included most of the staff of their Dominican academy in Boca Chica.The Angels established an employee assistance fund earlier during the pandemic to help employees, but don't have a timetable for reestablishing their minor league and development staffs.The 40-year-old Pujols is in the ninth season of a 10-year, $240 million contract with the Angels, who signed him in late 2011 after he won three NL MVP awards and two World Series titles with the St. Louis Cardinals. The first baseman was born and raised in Santo Domingo before moving to the U.S. as a teenager.Pujols is sixth in major league history with 656 career homers, and he got his 3,000th hit in 2018. He is likely to be the oldest player on a major league roster if the season begins.The Los Angeles Times first reported Pujols’ decision.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PHOENIX (AP) — John Stuper remembers some of the first advice he got from veterans when he joined the St. Louis Cardinals as a rookie pitcher in 1982: Don't get too high or too low during Major League Baseball's grueling 162-game schedule or you'll go insane.Now as a veteran college coach with the Yale Bulldogs, the 63-year-old is the one who has some advice."A college baseball season is totally different," Stuper said. "It's a sprint.”If MLB and the players' union can come to an agreement and partially save the season amid the coronavirus pandemic, the 60- to 70-game schedule will look somewhat similar to a college schedule. NCAA Division I teams can play a maximum of 56 games during the regular season and routinely top 70 games if they make the postseason and advance to the College World Series.Some fans might miss the leisurely pace of baseball's usual summer grind, but a condensed schedule could bring perks. Grand Canyon coach Andy Stankiewicz — who was a utility infielder in the big... [More]

June 171915 — George “Zip” Zabel of the Chicago Cubs was called into the game against the Brooklyn Dodgers with two outs in the first inning. He won 4-3 in the 19th inning in the longest relief effort in the majors.1943 — Player-manager Joe Cronin of the Boston Red Sox hit a three-run pinch homer in both games of a doubleheader against the Philadelphia A’s. The Red Sox won the opener 5-4 and lost the second game 8-7.1960 — Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox connected for his 500th career home run off the Cleveland Indians. Williams, the fourth to accomplish the feat, hit a two-run homer off Wynn Hawkins in a 3-1 win.1971 — Don Kessinger of the Chicago Cubs went 6-for-6, with five singles and a double, in a 7-6, 10-inning decision over the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field.1978 — Ron Guidry of the New York Yankees struck out 18 California Angels to set an American League record for left-handers. Guidry, who struck out 15 in the first six innings, ended with a 4-0 four-hitter.1993 — Baseball... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says there might be no major league games this year after a breakdown in talks between teams and the players' union on how to split up money in a season delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. The league also revealed several players on big league rosters have tested positive for COVID-19. Two days after union head Tony Clark declared additional negotiations futile, Manfred reversed his position of last week when he said he was “100%” certain the 2020 season would start.Deputy Commissioner Dan Halem sent a seven-page letter to players' association chief negotiator Bruce Meyer asking the union whether it will waive the threat of legal action and tell MLB to announce a spring training report date and a regular-season schedule.These were just the latest escalating volleys in a sport viewing disagreements over starting the season as a preliminary battle ahead of bargaining to replace the labor contract that expires on Dec. 1, 2021. “It’s just a... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball and its players are moving closer — to a deal or to Commissioner Rob Manfred ordering a shortened season without an agreement.MLB offered players 80% of their prorated salaries and a 72-game schedule beginning July 14 in an effort to start the pandemic-delayed season, according to details of the proposal obtained by The Associated Press.Players would get 70% of their prorated salaries during the regular season and the rest for completion of the postseason under MLB's plan, given to the union Friday.“This represents our final proposal for a 72-game season,” Deputy Commissioner Dan Halem wrote in a letter to union chief negotiator Bruce Meyer that was obtained by the AP. “You should let us know by the end of the day on June 14 whether players desire to accept it.”Teams cut their proposed schedule each time they make an offer due to the calendar, unwilling to delay the World Series past October. Because salaries are tied to games, total pay for the year... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball and its players are moving closer — to a deal or to Commissioner Rob Manfred ordering a shortened season without an agreement.MLB offered players 80% of their prorated salaries and a 72-game schedule beginning July 14 in an effort to start the pandemic-delayed season, according to details of the proposal obtained by The Associated Press.Players would get 70% of their prorated salaries during the regular season and the rest for completion of the postseason under MLB's plan, given to the union Friday.“This represents our final proposal for a 72-game season,” Deputy Commissioner Dan Halem wrote in a letter to union chief negotiator Bruce Meyer that was obtained by the AP. “You should let us know by the end of the day on June 14 whether players desire to accept it.”Teams cut their proposed schedule each time they make an offer due to the calendar, unwilling to delay the World Series past October. Because salaries are tied to games, total pay for the year... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball and its players are moving closer — to a deal or to Commissioner Rob Manfred ordering a shortened season without an agreement.MLB offered players 80% of their prorated salaries and a 72-game schedule beginning July 14 in an effort to start the pandemic-delayed season, according to details of the proposal obtained by The Associated Press.Players would get 70% of their prorated salaries during the regular season and the rest for completion of the postseason under MLB's plan, given to the union on Friday.“This represents our final proposal for a 72-game season,” Deputy Commissioner Dan Halem wrote in a letter to union chief negotiator Bruce Meyer that was obtained by the AP. “You should let us know by the end of the day on June 14 whether players desire to accept it.”Teams cut their proposed schedule each time they make an offer due to the calendar, unwilling to delay the World Series past October. Because salaries are tied to games, total pay for the... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — An ace right-hander and a slugging corner infielder.It's a combination that's worked before for the Detroit Tigers — and now they have a couple of prospects they hope can bring competitive baseball back to the Motor City.Detroit drafted Arizona State first baseman Spencer Torkelson with the top pick in Wednesday night's draft, although the Tigers plan to try him across the diamond at third base. It was the second time in three years Detroit had the No. 1 pick. The Tigers took pitcher Casey Mize in 2018.The team's most recent period of success was led by Justin Verlander and Miguel Cabrera, and if this new duo is anything close to that one, Detroit will have a lot to look forward to.“Pressure's a privilege,” Torkelson said in a video conference Thursday. “That pressure, whatever you want to call it, it drives me. It makes me work harder. I don't let it faze me. It's a privilege to be in the position I'm in.”The Tigers could use a young hitter like Torkelson, since their top... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says there is a “100%” chance of big league ball this year.Major League Baseball will make another proposal to start the pandemic-delayed season in empty ballparks, but Manfred vowed Wednesday to unilaterally order opening day if an agreement is not reached.“I can tell you unequivocally we are going to play Major League Baseball this year,” he said.Manfred insisted the chance of playing this year was “100%.”The players’ association made its second proposal Tuesday, asking for an 89-game regular season and 100% of prorated salaries. MLB’s plan a day earlier was for a 76-game season, would guarantee 50% of prorated salaries and hinge 25% in additional money on the postseason’s completion.“It will be a another significant move in the players’ direction in terms of the salary issue that has kept us apart,” Manfred said during an interview with ESPN before that network’s coverage of the amateur draft.“We're hopeful that it will produce reciprocal... [More]

Maybe this might get Mike Trout back into the playoffs.Major League Baseball is tossing around plenty of ideas these days to start up a shortened season delayed by the coronavirus pandemic — a DH in the National League, neutral-site games, personal rosin bags for pitchers.Now comes a proposal that would truly upend the sport: up to 16 playoff teams.More than half the 30 clubs advance. No need to finish over .500, probably. In this skewed season, heck, perhaps 35 wins in 76 games or so could be enough to play into October.What’s next, the Winnipeg Jets in the World Series?OK, we’ve heard this before, that an extra wild-card team or two represents the NHL-ization of baseball. But to some, an expansion from 10 playoff clubs to 16 would mean the end of civilization as we know it.Longtime manager Jim Riggleman chuckled at that notion.“I think that whatever they come up with this year to play, anything goes. That’s fine,” he said. “But moving forward into next year, I wouldn’t be in favor of... [More]

Maybe this might get Mike Trout back into the playoffs.Major League Baseball is tossing around plenty of ideas these days to start up a shortened season delayed by the coronavirus pandemic — a DH in the National League, neutral-site games, personal rosin bags for pitchers.Now comes a proposal that would truly upend the sport: Up to 16 playoff teams.More than half the 30 clubs advance. No need to finish over .500, probably. This skewed season, heck, perhaps 35 wins in 76 games or so could be enough to play into October.What’s next, the Winnipeg Jets in the World Series?OK, we’ve heard this before, that an extra wild-card team or two represents the NHL-ization of baseball. But to some, an expansion from 10 playoff clubs to 16 would mean the end of civilization as we know it.Longtime manager Jim Riggleman chuckled at that notion.“I think that whatever they come up with this year to play, anything goes. That’s fine,” he said. “But moving forward into next year, I wouldn’t be in favor of that... [More]

Maybe this might get Mike Trout back into the playoffs.Major League Baseball is tossing around plenty of ideas these days to start up after the coronavirus pandemic -- DHs in the National League, neutral-site games, personal rosin bags for pitchers.Now comes a proposal certain to truly upend the sport: Up to 16 playoff teams.More than half of the 30 clubs advance. No need to finish over .500, probably. This skewed season, heck, 35 wins could be enough to play into October.What’s next, the Winnipeg Jets in the World Series?OK, we’ve heard this before, that an extra wild-card team or two represents the NHL-ization of baseball. But to some, an expansion from 10 playoff clubs to 16 would mean the end of civilization.Longtime manager Jim Riggleman chuckled at that notion.“I think that whatever they come up with this year to play, anything goes. That’s fine,” he said. “But moving forward into next year, I wouldn’t be in favor of that many teams making the playoffs. I don’t think many players... [More]

June 91901 — The New York Giants set a major league record with 31 hits in beating Cincinnati 25-13. Al Selbach of the Giants went 6-for-7 with two doubles and four singles and scored four runs.1906 — Boston snapped a 19-game losing streak by beating the St. Louis Cardinals 6-3.1914 — Honus Wagner became the first player in modern baseball to get 3,000 hits.1935 — The St. Louis Cardinals became the 10th team in major league history to score a run in every inning in a 13-2 win over the Chicago Cubs.1946 — Commissioner Happy Chandler imposed five-year suspensions on players who jumped to the Mexican League and three-year suspensions for those who broke the reserve clause.1946 — The New York Giants’ Mel Ott became the first manager to be ejected in both ends of a doubleheader. The Pittsburgh Pirates won both games, 2-1 and 5-1.1963 — Playing the first Sunday night game in major league history because of excessive heat during the day, the Houston Colt .45s handed the San Francisco Giants their... [More]

June 71885 — The American Association allowed pitchers to throw overhand.1906 — The Chicago Cubs scored 11 runs in the first inning off New York Giants aces Christy Mathewson and Joe McGinnity and went on to a 19-0 victory.1931 — The Philadelphia Athletics left 18 base runners on base and still beat the Detroit Tigers, 12-2.1936 — The New York Yankees and the Cleveland Indians played 16 innings without recording a strikeout. The Yankees won 5-4.1938 — Cleveland pitcher Johnny Allen walked off the mound in the second inning and didn’t return after plate umpire Bill McGowan wanted Allen’s dangling sweatshirt sleeve to be cut off because it was distracting Boston Red Sox hitters. Allen was fined $250 by manager Ossie Vitt and the shirt ended up in the Hall of Fame.1946 — Chicago pitcher Claude Passeau won his own game with a two-run game-ending homer in the ninth inning against Brooklyn. The Cubs won 2-0.1950 — The Boston Red Sox collected 42 total bases, including six home runs and 23 hits... [More]

June 61918 — Casey Stengel, after being traded by Brooklyn in the offseason, made his return to Ebbets Field a memorable one. In his first at-bat, Stengel called time, stepped out of the batter’s box and doffed his cap. A bird flew out and the fans broke into laughter.1934 — Myril Hoag hit a major league record six singles in the New York Yankees’ 15-3 rout of the Boston Red Sox.1939 — The New York Giants hit five home runs in the fourth inning in a 17-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds at the Polo Grounds. With two out, Harry Danning, Al Demaree, Burgess Whitehead, Manny Salvo and Joe Moore connected as the Giants scored eight runs in the inning.1945 — In the first game of a doubleheader, Boston’s Boo Ferriss scattered 14 hits to beat Philadelphia 5-2. Ferris, 8-0 on the year, tied the AL mark held by Chicago’s John Whitehead for wins at the start of a career.1975 — Cleveland manager Frank Robinson hit two three-run homers in a 7-5 win over the Texas Rangers.1986 — San Diego Padres manager... [More]

June 51911 — Boston’s Smoky Joe Wood struck out three Chicago White Sox pinch hitters in the ninth to preserve a 5-4 win.1915 — Philadelphia’s Grover Cleveland Alexander lost his no-hitter when Artie Butler punched a single with two outs in the ninth. Alexander struck out Bob Bescher for the final out to beat St. Louis 3-0. Alexander went on to pitch three more one-hitters during the season.1929 — The Cincinnati Reds scored nine runs in the sixth inning, en route to a 21-4 win over the Chicago Cubs.1935 — Chicago White Sox rookie pitcher John Whitehead loses to St. Louis 2-0. It was his first loss after winning his first eight starts, an AL record for the start of a career.1943 — New York’s Carl Hubbell snaps the Giants losing streak of seven games by pitching a one-hitter against the Pittsburgh for a 5-1 win. The only hit for Pittsburgh was a solo homer by first baseman Elbie Fletcher.1949 — Commissioner Happy Chandler lifted the ban on all players who jumped to Mexico, starting in 1946.1955... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Chris Archer won't pitch for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2020, and his time with the club may be over.The 31-year-old right-hander had surgery Tuesday in St. Louis with Dr. Robert Thompson to relieve symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome. Archer will not be available this season if Major League Baseball finds a way to put together a truncated schedule.Pirates director of Sports Medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Archer reported discomfort in the neck/shoulder area on his right side in March shortly before spring training was stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Archer remained on a throwing program when he went home but symptoms continued to linger. “What made it most challenging for Chris, he didn’t feel the symptoms immediately after throwing,” Tomczyk said. “It was hours afterward. It was the next day."Tomczyk estimated Archer will need six-to-eight months of rehabilitation. Archer's absence this season is another blow to a starting rotation already missing ace... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Chris Archer won't pitch for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2020 and his time with the club may be over.Pittsburgh announced Wednesday that 31-year-old Archer underwent surgery to relieve symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome. The procedure was conducted on Tuesday in St. Louis, and the Pirates said Archer will not be available this season if Major League Baseball finds a way to put together a truncated schedule.The Pirates were banking on a bounce back year by Archer, who is 6-12 with a 4.92 ERA in 33 starts since he was acquired from Tampa Bay at the 2018 trade deadline for outfielder Austin Meadows and pitcher Tyler Glasnow. Archer has struggled to find any consistency with the Pirates, while Meadows became an All-Star last season and Glasnow also blossomed.Archer's contract includes a $9 million salary this year, but he will receive only a portion due to the coronavirus pandemic. Pittsburgh holds an $11 million club option for 2021, with a $250,000 buyout. ___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports