Tag: MLB

Jose Altuve has a tattoo on his collarbone, setting off another round of Astros conspiracy theories

Here we go again.

We’re at the point in the Houston Astros cheating scandal where everyone is looking for little things that indicate the sign-stealing didn’t include a buzzer taped to players.

That’s specific to Jose Altuve, the second baseman who told his teammates not to rip off his jersey after his 2019 ALCS-clinching home run off Aroldis Chapman. It was an allegation that infuriated MLB players further, and Altuve and his teammates denied that anyone wore a buzzer to help batters know what pitch was coming. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said he wasn’t 100 percent sure that allegation wasn’t true.

But why did Altuve tell his teammates not to rip his jersey off? His agent, Scott Boras, said it was his “shyness” that was the culprit, something Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez mocked recently. The other day, Altuve’s teammate Carlos Correa said that the second baseman had “an unfinished tattoo on his collarbone, that honestly looked terrible” and that’s why he didn’t want his jersey ripped.

Which all brings us to Monday’s revelation in the clubhouse:

Here we go again. Here’s a smattering of reaction to this news:

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MLB commissioner Rob Manfred spit in the face of all baseball fans on Sunday

Rob Manfred thinks the World Series trophy is just a “piece of metal.”

This is the online version of our morning newsletter, The Morning Win. Subscribe to get irreverent and incisive sports stories, delivered to your mailbox every morning.

Last week I wrote that, for many obvious reasons, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred should be fired from his job. I think I even wrote about somebody tossing him out on the sidewalk with his little cardboard box of stuff, too.

That’s not exactly a hot take, because many people hit me up on social media after to let me know they agreed and that they loved me (not all of that is true).

And then on Sunday #FireManfred trended on Twitter for many, many hours. I wish I could say that was because of my post from a few days ago but I can’t take credit for that. Nope, all that credit goes to Mr. Manfred for being so utterly terrible at his job.

On Sunday, the spineless commish came out and defended the punishments handed out to the Houston Astros for blatantly cheating their way to a 2017 World Series title, even though none of the players who cheated were punished. Manfred apparently thinks the boos they’ll receive are punishment enough. Good luck getting through those boos, Astros players!

Manfred also said any pitchers that throw at the Astros (which will be a lot, I assume) will be punished very strictly for doing so. Don’t you dare throw at those protected cheaters, you honest pitchers!

But here was the kicker, the ol’ spit in the face of all the fans out there who love baseball. Manfred called the World Series trophy just a “piece of metal” and MLB didn’t need to get it back from the Astros for their tainted 2017 World Series title.

How dare you, sir?!

Here’s what Manfred told ESPN about the piece of metal:

“The idea of an asterisk or asking for a piece of metal back seems like a futile act. People will always know that something was different about the 2017 season, and whether we made that decision right or wrong, we undertook a thorough investigation, and had the intestinal fortitude to share the results of that investigation, even when those results were not very pretty.”

I mean, ew, right?

Not cool, Mr. Commissoner!

You think taking back a trophy that a team proudly displays is futile? You don’t think there could be some embarrassing way you could go to Houston and strip them of their trophy? I mean, this could be turned in to a fun (I know fun isn’t a word often used in MLB headquarters) and therapeutic way to handle the situation. Embarrass the heck out of the Astros by taking their trophy! Broadcast the removal of said trophy! Have some fun with it! Send an embarrassing message to the rest of the league!

But instead you call the idea of taking back the trophy futile? This trophy that teams fight all season for? This trophy that players kiss after they battle their whole lives to try to win? This trophy that is proudly paraded through a city after a World Series win?

And instead of going after that “piece of metal” you’ll punish players who take things into their own hands because you’re afraid to do anything?

That’s weak and all fans should be grossed out by you.

#FireManfred feels like it’s gonna be around a while.

As it should be.

Sunday’s biggest winner: Dr. Dre’s tribute to Kobe Bryant.

(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Dr. Dre released a really touching tribute video to Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi before Sunday’s All-Star Game and, man, is it absolutely beautiful. You need to go watch this right now.

Quick hits: Chaka Khan’s interesting anthem… XFL QB’s perfect TD pass… CBS’ golf broadcast stinks again… And more!

– Chaka Khan’s national anthem before Sunday night’s NBA All-Star Game was rightly compared to Fergie’s doozy from a few years ago.

PJ Walker is a QB in the XFL. But after a TD pass like this on Sunday he should be in the NFL next year. Because this was beautiful.

– Golf fans rightly ripped CBS for missing a very important – and very bad – shot in Sunday’s final round of the Genesis Open. CBS’ golf broadcasts lately have been brutal.

– Here’s how Tom Brady fared as QB for all 32 teams on Madden.

– Dale Earnhardt Jr. really misses racing.

– This story by Michelle Martinelli on the spotters at the Daytona 500 (which will hopefully be completed on Monday) is too good.

How many games will the Cleveland Indians win in 2020?

Previewing the Cleveland Indians’ MLB win total and World Series odds, with MLB betting odds, picks and best bets.

The Cleveland Indians saw their three-year dominance of the American League Central come to an end last season when the Minnesota Twins rose up and won the division. While the Indians parted with a few key parts in the offseason, they still have a roster capable of not only making the playoffs, but potentially winning a series in the postseason.

Today, we focus on the Indians’ 2020 regular season win totals and World Series odds. Do the Indians have what it takes? Let’s analyze:

Cleveland Indians 2019 wins

While the Indians did not win the AL Central in 2019 — nor did they qualify for the postseason — they did win 93 games (and their 49 home wins were more than the division-winning Twins).

Cleveland Indians offseason

The Indians moved two-time Cy Young winning RHP Corey Kluber to the Texas Rangers in an offseason deal. However, he is 33 years old and is coming back from a major injury, so it might not be as big of a deal as some might think. Cleveland played the majority of the summer without Kluber, and fared just fine. The Indians also added a few key offensive parts — such as OF Domingo Santana — while keeping all-everything SS Francisco Lindor. OF Delino Deshields Jr. will give them some nice speed and C Sandy Leon is an underrated depth addition — as is 2B Cesar Hernandez, who essentially will replace the departed Jason Kipnis.

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Cleveland Indians World Series odds

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Sunday, Feb. 16, at 7:40 p.m. ET.

The Indians (+2200) aren’t among the favorites to win it all, but they’re nowhere near the bottom, either. In fact, Cleveland has the fifth-best odds in the AL, and they’re not far behind Minnesota (+1400).

How many games will the Indians win in 2020?

The Indians are a solid play on the OVER 85.5 (-125) wins. While the White Sox made some major roster improvements inside the division, the Indians will still earn double-digit wins against the lowly Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals, while teams like the Boston Red Sox are also down quite a bit. In fact, the Indians could get out to a rather quick start with their first six games at home against the ChiSox and Tigers, and their first four road games against the Tigers.

Their interleague schedule is a little worrisome, particularly in May when they face expected contenders such as the Cincinnati Reds at home and Los Angeles Dodgers on the road, but June is where the Indians really could make some hay with a rather favorable schedule. This team could have 45-50 wins by the All-Star break.

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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Christian Yelich wasted no time getting …

Christian Yelich wasted no time getting from the NBA dunk contest to the Milwaukee Brewers spring training complex. On Saturday night, the 2018 National League most valuable player was a willing accomplice to the Bucks’ Pat Connaughton as he competed with three others in the annual mid-season dunk competition in Chicago. After taking a private plane overnight, there he was, bright and early Sunday morning, in the Brewers’ clubhouse at American Family Fields of Phoenix.

Asked if he were nervous about …

Asked if he were nervous about Connaughton jumping over him, Yelich said, “No, I didn’t have anything to be nervous about on that one. I was just standing there trying to keep still and hold the ball the right way, so I didn’t mess it up for him. It was cool. There was great energy in the stadium. For him to do it right on the first try, it was fun to watch. If he made it farther, I would have had a little bit more responsibility on another one.”

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.

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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.

Want some action on the MLB season or other sports? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Geoffery_Clark and @SportsbookWire.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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How many games will the Chicago White Sox win in 2020?

Analyzing Chicago White Sox projected wins for the 2020 MLB season.

For a team that finished 17 games under .500 in 2019, the Chicago White Sox have a lot of positive buzz heading into spring training. They undertook a three-year roster rebuild that started in 2017 and there is a growing sentiment that with the investment they made in the offseason, they’re ready to make an upward move toward the Indians and Twins in the A.L. Central.

Chicago White Sox 2019 wins

The White Sox won 72 games last year, but were hovering around .500 for the first three months of the season before collapsing in July (7-17). They finished 26-30 beginning on Aug. 1 and showed resilience as their young core players didn’t fade down the stretch.

Chicago White Sox offseason

The White Sox increased their payroll by $50 million a year with the signing of LHP Dallas Keuchel, C Yasmani Grandal and DH Edwin Encarnacion. Throw in a trade with Texas to acquire OF Nomar Mazara and the White Sox added a lot of talent without gutting the current roster or the farm system. This doesn’t look like a team that is in rebuild mode anymore.

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

Chicago White Sox odds to win A.L. Central Division

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list.
Lines last updated at Saturday at 2 p.m. ET.

The White Sox are getting a lot of respect from the oddsmakers at BetMGM at +350 and, in our view, Chicago has the talent to jump past Cleveland. But the Twins are going to suffer a collapse for the White Sox to catch them because Minnesota has added even more power to a team that set the Major League record for home runs last season. Chicago is four deep in the rotation with Lucas Giolito, Keuchel, Reynaldo Lopez and Gio Gonzalez. The number here doesn’t give the return some think it should, so a small bet would make sense here because if Minnesota takes a backward step, 90-92 wins could put Chicago in position to contend.

Chicago White Sox World Series odds

At +3300, the Sox are getting nice return, but it will be gauntlet to get out of the American League, especially as a wild card. Even if they beat out the Twins in the A.L. Central, there are still the Astros and Yankees to contend with in the postseason. They went 14-19 against those three teams last season. PLACE A SMALL WAGER ON THE SOX and package it with a couple of other mid-level long shots and take your chances. Next year, this number will likely be much lower.

How many games will Chicago White Sox win in 2020?

The combination of starting pitcher depth, having three switch-hitters in the starting lineup, employing the defending AL batting champion (Tim Anderson), and adding veteran leadership in Grandal and Encarnacion is enticing. Throw in 34 games with the struggling Royals and Tigers and Chicago could start banking wins like Minnesota and Cleveland have. My over/under for Chicago is 88.5, so I’m all over their BetMGM number of 83.5 (Over -139 / Under +115). Currently bettors have to invest more (-139) in the over for the Sox than any team in MLB. It’s for a valid reason. TAKE THE OVER.

Want some action on the MLB season or other sports? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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New Boston Red Sox outfielder Kevin …

New Boston Red Sox outfielder Kevin Pillar, who grew up in the Los Angeles area as a Lakers and Kobe Bryant fan, was most impressed by Bryant’s post-basketball career and had hoped to emulate it when he was done playing baseball. Pillar said he hopes to write a children’s book about baseball like the one Bryant wrote about basketball, but he had been waiting until his career was over to approach Bryant about it. “That’s something that’s going to haunt me,” Pillar said.

Pillar’s fandom went as far as to name …

Pillar’s fandom went as far as to name his daughter “Kobie” after she was born in October 2017. He shared the story with the Toronto Sun in January 2018 of how he and his wife, Amanda, landed on the name. “My wife wouldn’t admit to naming her after Kobe Bryant,” Pillar told the newspaper, “but it was a name I grew up around and obviously I was a big Kobe Bryant fan, there’s no secret there. We wanted to name our daughter something with a K. We wanted her to be KP; that was the nickname I had growing up. We bounced around a bunch of different K names, and Kobe came out one day on a road trip and the name Kobie Rae came out and it was in our final two.