Major League Baseball – Page 6

Yankees’ Aroldis Chapman can throw 100 mph and a decent straight left

Aroldis Chapman, New York Yankees, Boxing workout, Major League Baseball, Coronavirus, COVID-19, 100 mph pitch

Guillermo Rigondeaux and Yordenis Ugas would be proud of their countryman.

Aroldis Chapman, the New York Yankee’s star left-handed relief pitcher from Cuba, can throw a baseball over 100 miles per hour. Turns out he can also throw a decent jab and straight left hand.

Chapman posted on Twitter a video of himself “loosening the arms” by hitting the mitts while waiting for his Major League Baseball activities to resume after the coronavirus pandemic subsides.

No one is going to confuse him with the boxing wizard Rigondeaux but Chapman obviously has had some training in the sweet science.

Don’t know about you guys, loosening the arms!!! pic.twitter.com/DS49LjGEDu

— Aroldis Chapman (@AChapman_105) April 9, 2020

And we can definitely agree on one thing: Whatever his workout regimen, the dude is fit.

The 32-year-old from Holguin Province signed a five-year, $86 million contract with Yankees in 2016, meaning he isn’t likely to make a career change any time soon.

Still, we can appreciate a great athlete in another sport who sees value in — and obviously enjoys — a vigorous boxing workout.

Like many of us, LeBron James is missing sports

The Los Angeles Lakers star shared a video that made him a little emotional on Friday afternoon about the world’s stoppage amid coronavirus.

Listen, it’s not easy out there. In the past, even during the most difficult times over the years, we’ve had sports. But due to the immediate need to practice social distancing in these times, leading to lay-offs nationwide, the distraction of a new sports match is impossible to find in the United States. With that on a lot of people’s minds, Major League Baseball shared a video on Friday of moments in which fans and players interacted with each other over the past few years, showing the connection the game can foster among us in order to try and cheer us up.

That message got to LeBron James, who shared the video himself on Friday, sadly mentioning how he misses his sports.

DAMN, I really miss sports!!!!! 😢 https://t.co/6i0XNIL3dD

— LeBron James (@KingJames) March 20, 2020

Not only can we not watch sports, many of us, especially those of us who love team sports, cannot even play them. Such is the cost of slowing down the coronavirus, something that James has acknowledged is a necessary one. Still, it doesn’t mean we can’t miss what’s been a daily part of our lives.

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Irish in MLB: Trey Mancini Undergoes Successful Surgery

A surprise last week in MLB’s spring training came from Baltimore Orioles camp where veteran Trey Mancini left camp, taking an unexpected leave. Today we found out why exactly the former Notre Dame baseball player had to step away from the game.

After discovering a malignant tumor during a colonoscopy last week, Mancini had successful surgery to remove the tumor today.

In a statement released by the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday, Mancini was thankful for the support from the team, fans, and supporters.

“The outpouring of love and support I have received has made an extremely tough week so much better,” Mancini said. “I have the best family, friends, fans and teammates imaginable. I am also eternally thankful for the Orioles front office, our athletic trainers and the entire medical staff for everything they have done to help me during this time. Finally, I would like to thank everyone for their prayers and kind words, which have furthered my excitement to get back to playing the game I love.”

There is no timetable set for Mancini to return to the club and with MLB suspending spring training operations as of Thursday afternoon, it’s hard to have any idea when play may resume. The good news is Mancini was aware something was amiss and all was handled well by all parties.

Mancini played at Notre Dame from 2011-2013, hitting .297 and 28 home runs in that time. The Orioles selected him in the eighth round of the 2013 MLB Draft. Mancini led the Orioles in doubles, home runs, RBI, OBP, slugging percentage and total bases.

How many games will the Cincinnati Reds win in 2020?

Analyzing the Cincinnati Reds’ projected win total for the 2020 MLB season, along with their odds to win the NL Central and World Series.

The Cincinnati Reds come into the 2020 season looking to end a six-year playoff drought. Hopes are high for the Reds despite finishing fourth in the National League Central in 2019 and last the previous four seasons. Today, we focus on the Cincinnati Reds’ 2020 regular-season win totals and World Series odds. Do the Cincinnati Reds have what it takes? Let’s analyze:

Cincinnati Reds 2019 wins

The Reds are looking to improve on a 2019 campaign that was their winningest (75-87) since 2014. After winning on Opening Day, the Reds lost eight straight and were never above .500 again in 2019. The Reds had only one winning month — May when they went 15-13 — but were never in contention for the NL Central crown.

Cincinnati Reds offseason

There was a lot of moving and shaking for the Reds this offseason. They added three new bats to the lineup: five-time Japanese All-Star OF Shogo Akiyama, 2017 American League Comeback Player of the Year 2B Mike Moustakas and former DetroiNick CCt Tigers/Chicago Cubs OF Nick Castellanos. The Reds also signed free-agent and former Houston Astros LHP Wade Miley, and they should receive a full season from former All-Star RHP Trevor Bauer.

Baseball season is right around the corner! Get some action on this season with MLB futures bets at BetMGM. Bet now!

Cincinnati Reds odds to win NL Central division

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list.
Lines last updated on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. ET.

I LIKE REDS +380 as a value play to steal the NL Central. First, the defending champ St. Louis Cardinals had the least wins (91) of any MLB division winner last year. Second, the Reds have four quality starting pitchers in their rotation and their fifth — Anthony DeSclafani — is coming off a respectable 2019 where he was 9-9 with a 3.89 ERA.

Cincinnati Reds World Series odds

Baby steps should be the expectation for a Reds team that hasn’t appeared in a World Series since 1990 when they swept the Oakland A’s. There would be some value if it was +6000, but their line to win the World Series is +3000, so I’ll PASS.

How many games will Cincinnati Reds win in 2020?

If the Reds can avoid injuries and have 1B Joey Votto return to his MVP-caliber form in 2020, watch out for the Reds to make a surprise run at the NL Central title. Since I like their chances of winning the division, I LOVE OVER REDS 83.5 (-115) WINS. BetMGM is trying to scare you by setting the Reds’ regular-season win total at 83.5 and pricing the Over a little higher. But we aren’t falling for it. The Reds pitching staff was top 10 in ERA, runs allowed per game and strikeouts, so when you factor in a revamped lineup, Over 83.5 wins is a relative lock.

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Pete Rose believes Astros’ cheating was worse than his betting on the sport

According to Pete Rose, the Astros’ cheating scandal is worse than what he did to be put on the league’s permanently ineligible list.

WATCH: Astros fire Jeff Luhnow and AJ Hinch after MLB issues year-long suspensions

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced that Houston general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager AJ Hinch were each suspended without pay for the 2020 season.

Major League Baseball came down hard on the Astros for sign-stealing during the team’s 2017 World Series season. Then, owner Jim Crane further dropped the hammer.

Monday, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced that Houston general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager AJ Hinch were each suspended without pay for the 2020 season. Crane announced later that he has dismissed both men from their positions with his ball club. Joe Espada has been named the interim manager in Houston for 2020.

MLB’s punishment includes the Astros having to forfeit their first- and second-round draft picks in both the 2020 and 2021 drafts and MLB also fined the team $5 million, which is the maximum fine allowed.

Additionally, former Assistant GM Brandon Taubman, who was dismissed by the Astros following insensitive commentary targeted at female reporters, has been suspended one year. Taubman is not currently working for a team and is not eligible to do so during that time. His suspension is effective immediately.

MLB investigated the club after a report by The Athletic detailed the way it used a camera positioned in the outfield to detect signs. Players in a room with a monitor showing the video would relay signs to batters by banging on a trash can.

The results of the investigation reveal that the efforts were primarily player-driven, but that former bench coach and current Red Sox manager Alex Cora was involved in the setup. The investigation followed a detailed report by The Athletic on the cheating. MLB is currently still investigating the red sox after a similar report by the same outlet.

Discipline for Cora is reportedly coming and, “will be harsh,” according to ESPN.

Tag: Major League Baseball