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Max Scherzer to MLB: Let the umps turn off the clock during warmups

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:11:08 GMT

Max Scherzer is never one to hold back about the modern state of baseball. The soon-to-be 39-year-old veteran right-hander has been involved in the league’s competition committee and labor negotiations.So his 300-word rant about the pitch clock that came Thursday afternoon should come as no surprise.The Mets completed the sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field with Scherzer on the mound. Around the fifth inning, he was seen engaging in conversation with home plate umpire Tripp Gibson. The crux of the issue was the pitch clock and how the strict 2:30 time limit between innings reduced the number of warmup pitches Scherzer was able to throw before the clock ran out. Scherzer threw seven pitches but wanted the eighth.“You’re supposed to get eight warmup pitches and I had seven. I asked, ‘Can I get the eighth pitch? Can I get my normal routine, warmup?’” Scherzer said. “He’s telling me, ‘It’s the clock, it’s the...

Five-alarm fire displaces 19 residents in Brockton; destroys one home, heavily damages another

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:11:08 GMT

A massive five-alarm fire in Brockton that caused minor injuries to three people and destroyed a home could have been even more devastating if it weren’t for fast reactions, according to the city fire chief and residents.Nineteen residents who lived at the two properties, 35 and 37 South St., have been displaced, while two of them and a firefighter suffered exhaustion and were sent to an area hospital for treatment, Chief Brian Nardelli told reporters at the scene.By the time Brockton firefighters arrived at 37 South St. around 3 a.m., eight residents had escaped from the flames, but some had to be rescued from behind the home, Nardelli said.“We had guys breaking the fence and pulling them through the fence because the radiant heat was coming off that house,” he said. “They were trapped in the courtyard almost.”One resident, Maria Rogers, owner of 37 South St., told WCVB she believes her dog saved her life, as the dog’s barks woke her up in time to get out un...

4 Red Sox players with All-Star potential

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:11:08 GMT

Phase 1 2023 MLB All-Star Game voting opened on Wednesday afternoon.Until 12 p.m. on June 22, fans can vote five times per 24 hours to decide which players will advance to the second round, which determines the starters for each team, also by fan vote. The first round will also award the player who receives the most votes in their league with automatic entry into the starting nine at their usual position.Fans can essentially vote for anyone; they can even write in players. In 2018, Dustin Pedroia was on the ballot, despite only playing three games all season. Adam Duvall only played eight games before fracturing his left wrist, but Red Sox fans may write him into their ballots, if they so choose.Therein lies the problem with the annual midsummer event. Fans, by definition, are biased towards their favorite players and teams, and often vote loyally, even if the player is undeserving of All-Star honors. Facts and figures will be disregarded, superseded by favoritism.But from an actual...

‘Do I have regrets? … Hell yeah,’ says Davenport mayor after partial collapse of Iowa building

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:11:08 GMT

By SCOTT McFETRIDGE, HANNAH FINGERHUT and RYAN J. FOLEY (Associated Press)DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A structural engineer’s report issued last week indicated a wall of a century-old apartment building in Iowa was at imminent risk of crumbling, yet neither the owner nor city officials warned residents of the danger days before the building partially collapsed, leaving three people missing and feared dead.The revelation is the latest flashpoint after Sunday’s partial collapse of the building in Davenport, where residents have lashed out at city leaders over what they see as an inept response.“Do I have regrets about this tragedy and about people potentially losing their lives? Hell yeah. Do I think about this every moment? Hell yeah.” Mayor Mike Matson said Thursday. “I have regrets about a lot of things. Believe me, we’re going to look at that.”City officials said Thursday that they did not order an evacuation because they relied on the e...

Mike Preston’s Ravens observations on the offense’s poor day, missing Odell Beckham Jr. and more | COMMENTARY

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:11:08 GMT

Maybe the Ravens should have had a free bobblehead giveaway Thursday.Team officials invited current and potential ticket holders to open practice in Owings Mills, but they probably didn’t sell many tickets afterward. The Ravens’ offense was pretty poor, especially the quarterback play.Which quarterback was the worst?Go ahead, pick one. It got so bad that midway through practice, the Ravens completed a roughly 15-yard pass and the crowd started to applaud.True story.Starting quarterback Lamar Jackson, he of the sidearm delivery fame, had three passes knocked down and one interception late in which he threw to Andy Isabella when the wide receiver had two safeties draped all over him. There were times when Jackson stopped the play because something went wrong, either with the snap count, the formation or players in motion.It’s apparent that a lot of patience will be needed to run this new offense.Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley was just as bad, overthrowing receivers...

Giants GM Joe Schoen hires friend, ex-Titans exec Ryan Cowden as advisor

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:11:08 GMT

Ryan Cowden’s new title won’t fit easily on his business card, but he’s on board to help his friend, Giants GM Joe Schoen, try to build a winner in New York.Cowden, 44, formerly of the Tennessee Titans, has joined the Giants as special advisor to the general manager, the team announced Thursday.He and Schoen worked together as scouting assistants and area scouts for the Carolina Panthers from 2000-07.They both interviewed for the Giants GM vacancy last year. The job went to Schoen, Brandon Beane’s assistant GM in Buffalo, and not Cowden, who was entering his fifth season as VP of player personnel under then-Titans GM Jon Robinson.The Giants then beat Cowden’s Titans in Nashville in Week 1 in Schoen’s first regular season game as an NFL GM on Sept. 11, 2022.The dramatic 21-20 comeback victory was led by Saquon Barkley, who is currently declining to sign his franchise tag tender due to his desire for a longer-term and more lucrative deal.Cowden work...

Biden tumbles

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:11:08 GMT

President Biden took a bad tumble in Colorado Springs, Colo., Thursday sending social media into a frenzy.“He’s fine. There was a sandbag on stage while he was shaking hands,” Ben LaBolt, the White House communications director, tweeted as videos of the incident circulated online, ABC reported.Yet it wasn’t a good look for the 80-year-old commander-in-chief. It happened as he was passing out diplomas at the Air Force Academy. His press secretary later said “he’s fine.”

Ron DeSantis promises to complete the wall that Trump couldn’t, close the border

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:11:08 GMT

The Sunshine State’s governor vowed to complete the border wall with Mexico that his rival for the Republican nomination promised ahead of 2016 but never delivered, Ron DeSantis told a packed crowd in New Hampshire.Republican candidate for president Ron Desantis signs autographs after speaking during a campaign stop in Salem Staff Photo by Nancy Lane/Boston Herald (Thursday,June 1, 2023). on the Boston Common on Thursday, in Salem, MA. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald) June 1, 2023Republican candidate for president Ron Desantis greets people after speaking during a campaign stop in Salem Staff Photo by Nancy Lane/Boston Herald (Thursday,June 1, 2023). on the Boston Common on Thursday, in Salem, MA. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald) June 1, 2023People listen as Republican candidate for president Ron Desantis speaks during a campaign stop in Salem Staff Photo by Nancy Lane/Boston Herald (Thursday,June 1, 2023). on the Boston Common on Thursday, in Salem, MA. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald) June 1, 20...

MIAA state softball tournament preview and picks

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:11:08 GMT

As the MIAA state softball tournament kicks into full swing, a familiar name finds itself once again back in the fold.Courtesy of Louisville-bound outfielder Ara Venturelli and Texas Tech commit Sam Lincoln, No. 3 Taunton finds itself as a premier contender for the Division 1 crown. The Tigers, however, will have plenty of competition.Top-seeded Central Catholic and No. 2 King Philip both have the pieces to bring home the crown. Peabody is a serious contender behind Northeastern Conference most valuable player Abby Bettencourt.The Middlesex League has a host of teams that may upset the apple cart with No. 11 Woburn, No. 16 Arlington and No. 17 Reading all serving as sleepers. A great-first round matchup between the Rockets and Spy Ponders is sure to draw plenty of attention.Division 2 figures to be a battle royale between a bevy of teams who have experience playing deep into June. Defending champion Westfield is the top seed while Merrimack Valley Conference counterparts No. 2 Bille...

Michael Malone, long before coaching the Nuggets in the NBA Finals, was a fiery point guard at Loyola Maryland

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:11:08 GMT

They cannot help but laugh when they watch Michael Malone prowl the Denver Nuggets’ sideline, grinning wryly as he exhorts his players to defend or shouting himself hoarse as he demands justice from officials.Peel away 30 years, and that sharp-witted, sharp-tongued bulldog is the same guy who used to design plays on the fly during practices at Reitz Arena. Former Loyola Maryland teammates knew Malone’s intense focus and rare basketball IQ long before most of the world caught on. So when they glimpse their old point guard coaching the best players in the world in the NBA Finals, they figure that’s just about right.“We had a couple of kids of coaches on our team, but his basketball IQ was just through the roof,” recalled John Boney, who played with Malone for two years as a forward on those Loyola teams. “To where you would see some of the coaches on our team asking for Mike’s opinion, even as a freshman.”Malone worked as a college and N...