Last season, the Mets were in first place in their division for four months before collapsing. They finished with a 77-85 record, their 10th losing season in the past 15. One of the biggest culprits: an offense that was one of the worst in Major League Baseball. Only three teams scored fewer runs, and those … Read more
DENVER – Joe Musgrove was in the pool, following the instructions of his teachers, but he and his fellow neophytes were struggling. His stomach convulsed, and his lungs pleaded with his brain to surface for air. Musgrove, the emerging ace of the San Diego Padres, held out until the last desperate instant, almost to the … Read more
CINCINNATI-No team loses more high-impact starting pitchers than the Los Angeles Dodgers. Yet no team consistently pitches so well. It is part of life in blue. “I was at the Sandy Koufax statue ceremony last week, and he talked about how, when you put this uniform on, there’s a lot of pitching legacy with the … Read more
Hey, New York baseball fans: Is your step a little springier these days? Does the scent of freshly mowed grass smell a little sweeter? Does the crack of ash on cowhide sound like beautiful music? It should. The Yankees were the first team in the majors to 50 wins-doing it in only 67 games-and the … Read more
Every few years, the same feeling of longing returns for Yuli Gurriel and Aledmys Díaz. The Houston Astros infielders defected from Cuba, abandoning teams representing the island while traveling abroad, so they could follow their dreams of playing baseball at the highest level. Both have gone on to play in the World Series multiple times, … Read more
ANAHEIM, Calif. -Closer Edwin Díaz emphatically wrapped up the Mets’ 10-game West Coast trip with a five-out save to preserve a 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday night. But it was a decidedly smaller moment in the series that spoke volumes about the chemistry and character of these National League-leading Mets. It … Read more
David Ross has won the World Series twice since the last time the Yankees got there, in 2009. Both his championship teams were big spenders in big markets – first the Boston Red Sox and then the Chicago Cubs. But he never thought either team would always contend. “I’ve been around baseball long enough to … Read more
Scott Whitmore stood along the concourse on a recent spring night watching the final inning of a Staten Island FerryHawks home game wind down when a New York City police officer approached him from the third-base side. “After the game,” the officer said sheepishly, “you think I can get your daughter’s autograph?” Sure, Whitmore chuckled, … Read more
The salsa band lasted 45 minutes from their first set at the Lula Lounge on a recent Saturday when Charlie Montoyo appeared at the main gate. One of the owners of the music club lives in Montoyo and leads him, with his guests, to a reserved table. It was the one that was closest to … Read more
The salsa band was 45 minutes into their first set at Lula Lounge on a recent Saturday when Charlie Montoyo showed up at the front door. An owner of the music club spotted Montoyo and led him and his group to a table reserved for them closest to the stage. Montoyo, 56, took off his … Read more