ARLINGTON, Texas — Ahead of a World Series capping the pandemic-shortened season, baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said he hopes to keep two of this year’s innovations: expanded playoffs and starting extra innings with runners on second base. “People were wildly unenthusiastic about the changes. And then when they saw them in action, they were much more positive,” Manfred said … [Read more...] about Rob Manfred likes idea of expanded playoff format, runner in extra innings
Pandemic World Series draws smallest crowd in over century
ARLINGTON, Texas — Julie and Lance Smith walked through the mostly empty concourse of Globe Life Field. Tampa Bay infielder Joey Wendle is married to one of their cousins, and they weren’t going to miss his World Series debut. “It’s so weird,” said Julie Smith, 38, from Gadsden, Alabama. “It’s kind of nice in a way, too,” Lance, 39, said before they headed to their seats in the … [Read more...] about Pandemic World Series draws smallest crowd in over century
Pittsburgh’s Brandon Saad, Avalanche’s new forward, was born into a Stanley Cup environment
New Avalanche winger Brandon Saad is of Syrian descent and might not have become a hockey player if the Pittsburgh Penguins weren’t winning championships in the early 1990s. Born in the Steel City in 1992, Saad came into the world about four months after the Penguins won the Stanley Cup for the second consecutive year. Saad, whom the Avs acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks for … [Read more...] about Pittsburgh’s Brandon Saad, Avalanche’s new forward, was born into a Stanley Cup environment
Andrew Friedman’s Series: Tampa Bay GM built Rays, then left to build Dodgers
ARLINGTON, Texas — Andrew Friedman isn’t quite torn. The Dodgers’ president of baseball operations since October 2014, he helped build Los Angeles into a power that reached the World Series for the third time in four seasons. He had been Tampa Bay’s executive vice president of baseball operations since 2006, building a team that reached the World Series in 2008 and overseeing … [Read more...] about Andrew Friedman’s Series: Tampa Bay GM built Rays, then left to build Dodgers
Is Rays’ World Series strategy the blueprint for Rockies, other MLB teams?
The 2020 World Series is a clash of extremes. The Los Angeles Dodgers are Goliath, armed with high-priced stars such as Mookie Betts, Cody Bellinger, Clayton Kershaw, and the second-highest payroll in baseball. The Tampa Bay Rays are David, outfitted with a relatively unknown cast of players, the third-lowest payroll, and a philosophy that’s hard-wired to baseball’s age of … [Read more...] about Is Rays’ World Series strategy the blueprint for Rockies, other MLB teams?
Indiana Pacers tab Raptors assistant Nate Bjorkgren as coach
Ross D. Franklin, The Associated PressNate Bjorkgren. INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers hired Nate Bjorkgren as their new coach Tuesday. Bjorkgren’s hiring ends a two-month search that began when the Pacers fired Nate McMillan on Aug. 26, just weeks after giving McMillan a contract extension. Terms of the deal were not immediately available. Bjorkgren joins the Pacers after … [Read more...] about Indiana Pacers tab Raptors assistant Nate Bjorkgren as coach
Newman: Brandon McManus is NFL’s best kicker right now — and key to Broncos’ improbable playoff chances
Brandon McManus is the best kicker in the NFL right now and it’s not even close. And as the banged-up Broncos search for any edge while making up ground from their 0-3 start, McManus is a major key to Denver’s improbable run back to the playoff contention. After just about single-handedly beating the Patriots last Sunday with a franchise-record six field goals in an 18-12 win … [Read more...] about Newman: Brandon McManus is NFL’s best kicker right now — and key to Broncos’ improbable playoff chances
New week brings new protocols for Broncos’ players, coaches
When the Broncos’ traveling party arrived at their facility Saturday morning, they found something missing: All of the cafeteria chairs had been removed. And when they return to work Wednesday morning after getting Monday and Tuesday off, the Broncos will encounter other changes to where they can have lunch, what places they can meet and how many people are allowed in the … [Read more...] about New week brings new protocols for Broncos’ players, coaches
Former Nuggets forward in cast of Adam Sandler’s Netflix film “Hustle”
A former Nuggets player is sharing some screen time with Adam Sandler in one of the comedian’s next Netflix movies. Juancho Hernangomez, who was traded to Minnesota in February, is part of the cast of “Hustle,” a basketball movie directed by Jeremiah Zagar (“We the Animals”). The film follows the story of a past-his-prime basketball scout played by Sandler, “who discovers a … [Read more...] about Former Nuggets forward in cast of Adam Sandler’s Netflix film “Hustle”