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New Reds manager Terry Francona hires hitting coach Chris Valaika away from Guardians
The Associated Press | Posted Oct. 24 - 11:56 a.m. | Save Story
New Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona has hired hitting coach Chris Valaika away from the Cleveland Guardians. The 39-year-old Valaika has been Cleveland's hitting coach for three years, dating back to Francona's time running the team. The native of Santa Clarita, California, joined the coaching ranks in 2017 after retiring from playing following the 2015 season. Valaika spent five seasons coaching in the Chicago Cubs organization before moving to Cleveland under Francona.
`See Her Be Her' documentary shines light on the progress, challenges of women's baseball worldwide
Janie Mccauley, Associated Press | Posted Oct. 24 - 11:33 a.m. | Save Story
In the upcoming "See Her Be Her" documentary, sports photographer Jean Fruth and her team chronicle seven standout female baseball players doing more than just playing the game in their corners of the world spanning the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Japan, South Korea, Cuba and Uganda. The documentary premieres Sunday on MLB Network between Games 2 and 3 of the World Series. It is the vision of non-profit Grassroots Baseball, founded by Fruth and former longtime National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum President Jeff Idelson.
At Aaron Judge's urging, the Yankees have minted a new vibe
Ronald Blum, Associated Press | Updated Oct. 24 - 10:49 a.m. | Save Story
at least sartorially. Judge is the Yankees' ultimate influencer and if he goes green, the rest of the team follows.
Sports on TV for Friday, Oct. 25
The Associated Press | Posted Oct. 24 - 8:10 a.m. | Save Story
(All times Eastern)
Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela served as a cultural ambassador for Mexican Americans, Mexicans
Fernanda Figueroa, Associated Press | Posted Oct. 24 - 4:00 a.m. | Save Story
For Mexicans and Mexican Americans, former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela was a beacon of hope, inspiration and pride. With news of Valenzuela's passing Tuesday night, many recall the times they watched baseball games at home with their parents simply because Valenzuela was playing, even those who were not sports fans. They say he opened doors for future generations of Mexicans.
Angelenos mourn Mexican-born pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, who starred for the Dodgers in the 1980s
Beth Harris, Associated Press | Posted Oct. 23 - 3:57 p.m. | Save Story
The city of Los Angeles is mourning the death of Mexican-born pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, who starred for the Dodgers in the early 1980s. Fans decorated a welcome sign outside Dodger Stadium with a sombrero and serape and placed candles and No. 34 jerseys on the ground. Across the street a mariachi band played its musical respects to the pitcher whose unique delivery and success on the mound created "Fernandomania" in the city. He was a hero to the city's Latino community and he stayed close to the Dodgers after retiring, working on the team's Spanish-language broadcast. Valenzuela died Tuesday at age 63.
Stearns says Mets have enough cash to chase anyone as club seeks `true sustainable competitiveness'
Mike Fitzpatrick, Associated Press | Posted Oct. 23 - 3:52 p.m. | Save Story
Pete Alonso's immediate future is just one important issue heading into an offseason full of them for the New York Mets, who are coming off a surprising playoff run that ended with a Game 6 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. President of baseball operations David Stearns knows the Mets will need to restock their pitching staff and says "pretty much the entirety of the player universe is potentially accessible to us" as team seeks "true sustainable competitiveness that's eluded this organization for a long time."
MLB's League Championship Series averaged 5.35 million viewers, its most-viewed since 2017
Joe Reedy, Associated Press | Posted Oct. 23 - 2:25 p.m. | Save Story
Major League Baseball's postseason goes into its dream World Series matchup with its most-watched League Championship Series in seven years. According to Nielsen, the two series averaged 5.35 million viewers on Fox, FS1 and TBS, its highest numbers since 2017. Fox and FS1 averaged 5.62 million for the NLCS, which the Dodgers won in six games. That was the network's most-viewed championship series since 2019. The ALCS between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians on TBS averaged 4.9 million. The overall postseason average going into Friday's first World Series game between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers is 3.96 million, a 5% increase over last year.
Fernando Valenzuela, Mexican-born pitcher whose feats for Dodgers fueled 'Fernandomania,' dies at 63
Beth Harris, Associated Press | Updated Oct. 23 - 10:40 a.m. | Save Story
Fernando Valenzuela, the Los Angeles Dodgers pitching ace who inspired "Fernandomania" in the early 1980s, has died. He was 63. The Mexican-born phenom won the National League Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year in 1981, when he helped the Dodgers win the World Series. His death comes as the Dodgers are preparing to open the World Series on Friday night at home against the New York Yankees. Valenzuela had left his job on the Dodgers' Spanish-language television broadcast in September without explanation. He was reported to have been hospitalized earlier this month. He was one of the most dominant players of his era and a wildly popular sports figure in the 1980s.
Sports betting: Dodgers slightly favored against the Yankees in the World Series
Ryan Hannable Of Betmgm Sportsbook, Associated Press | Posted Oct. 23 - 10:12 a.m. | Save Story
The World Series opens Friday night with the Los Angeles Dodgers slightly favored against the New York Yankees. The Dodgers are listed at -135 at the BetMGM Sportsbook, while the Yankees are -110. Dodgers great Shohei Ohtani is arguably the face of Major League Baseball, while Yankees slugger Aaron Judge is one of the best players in the game. The Yankees and Dodgers are two of the most storied franchises in baseball. New York has won 27 World Series titles, most recently in 2009. The Dodgers have won the title seven times, most recently in 2020. This is the 12th time these two teams have met in the World Series.
Still playing with two broken fingers, Yankees 1B Anthony Rizzo excited for World Series return
Larry Fleisher, Associated Press | Posted Oct. 23 - 9:47 a.m. | Save Story
Anthony Rizzo is still playing with two broken fingers on his right hand, although the swelling is gradually reducing. At this point, the veteran first baseman is running on adrenaline as the New York Yankees attempt to win their first World Series title since 2009. Rizzo will appear in his second World Series and first since hitting .360 and catching the final out from Kris Bryant in 2016 when the Cubs ended a 108-year drought by beating Cleveland in a classic seven-game series.
Japan prepares to cheer on Ohtani and the Dodgers, and the country is dressing for the occasion
Stephen Wade, Associated Press | Updated Oct. 23 - 8:14 a.m. | Save Story
Television ratings in Japan have set records as the Los Angeles Dodgers and Shohei Ohtani have reached the World Series against the New York Yankees. The first game is Friday evening in the United States, which will be Saturday morning in Japan. Ohtani has stoked national pride, even among the Japanese who don't care about baseball. Youth players in Japan adore him and newscasts often lead with Ohtani even though Japan is voting on Sunday in critical parliamentary elections.
Sports on TV for Oct. 28 - Nov. 3
The Associated Press | Posted Oct. 23 - 8:00 a.m. | Save Story
Adv26
Ohtani's historic 50-50 ball sells at auction for nearly $4.4M amid ongoing dispute over ownership
Associated Press | Updated Oct. 23 - 6:29 a.m. | Save Story
Shohei Ohtani's 50th home run ball has sold at auction for nearly $4.4 million, a record high price not just for a baseball, but for any ball in any sport. Ohtani became the first player in baseball history to hit 50 homers and steal 50 bases in a season, reaching the milestone on Sept. 19 when the Los Angeles Dodgers star hit his second of three homers against the Marlins. The auctioneer in a statement Wednesday said bids came in from around the world. No information about the winning bidder was disclosed. The auction has been overshadowed by the litigation over ownership of the ball.
MLB Postseason Glance
The Associated Press | Posted Oct. 22 - 8:19 p.m. | Save Story
mlb postseason glance
Freddie Freeman expects to return to Dodgers' lineup in World Series opener against Yankees
Beth Harris, Associated Press | Updated Oct. 22 - 7:45 p.m. | Save Story
Freddie Freeman is penciling himself into the Los Angeles Dodgers' lineup for their World Series opener against the New York Yankees. By gametime Friday, Freeman will have had seven full days of resting his sprained right ankle since he last played in Game 5 of the NL Championship Series. The All-Star first baseman missed Games 4 and 6 of the NLCS. Of course, the final lineup decision rests with manager Dave Roberts after discussions with the front office. But Roberts is also confident Freeman can play after having avoided running and receiving hours of treatment.
Jack Flaherty will start for Dodgers in World Series opener against Gerrit Cole and Yankees
Beth Harris, Associated Press | Updated Oct. 22 - 6:21 p.m. | Save Story
Jack Flaherty will start for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series opener against the New York Yankees. The right-hander opposes Gerrit Cole on Friday night at Dodger Stadium in a matchup of Los Angeles area natives. Flaherty is from Burbank and attended high school at Harvard-Westlake in Los Angeles. Cole is from the Orange County city of Tustin and pitched at UCLA. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says rookie Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start Game 2 on Saturday. The Dodgers also plan a bullpen game during the best-of-seven series. Flaherty dominated Game 1 of the NL Championship Series against the New York Mets and then struggled in Game 5.
Nestor Cortes expects to be on Yankees World Series roster, even if it's a long-term health risk
Ronald Blum, Associated Press | Updated Oct. 22 - 4:29 p.m. | Save Story
Nestor Cortes expects to be on the New York Yankees' World Series roster against the Los Angeles Dodgers after throwing two innings of batting practice and pronouncing himself recovered from an elbow injury that has sidelined him for more than a month. Cortes said he plans to pitch even if it risks a long-term injury. Cortes threw 28 pitches on Tuesday, sitting down for a half-inning while Tim Mayza faced hitters. Cortes said an hour later, he felt normal levels of soreness. Cortes has been sidelined since Sept. 18 because of a flexor strain in his pitching elbow.
MLB wants the Tampa Bay Rays to play in the area if hurricane-damaged Tropicana Field is unfit
Curt Anderson, Associated Press | Updated Oct. 22 - 3:59 p.m. | Save Story
Major League Baseball hopes to find the Tampa Bay Rays a temporary home near their fanbase for the start of the 2025 season if their home field can't be repaired in time. Tropicana Field's fabric dome in St. Petersburg was shredded by Hurricane Milton's winds. A number of spring training sites around the area have been suggested as temporary homes. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said on a recent podcast that the league wants a location for the Rays in the region if possible. A complete damage assessment of Tropicana Field is underway. Results are expected in early November.
