TORONTO – With no sign of when training camps can resume, Toronto Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro says he thinks Major League Baseball would need at least a month of workouts and exhibition games before regular season play can begin. Opening day has been postponed until at least mid-May because […]
BayStars manager Alex Ramirez wants more from rookie pitcher Yuya Sakamoto
One of the biggest adjustments Yokohama BayStars rookie pitcher Yuya Sakamoto made on Saturday was wearing a hat one size smaller than usual. When the left-hander pitched for Ritsumeikan University, his cap had a tendency to come flying off, and he was under orders from the BayStars to keep the […]
Baseball players hve last something they took for granted: Ichiro
PEORIA, ARIZONA – Former major league star Ichiro Suzuki said Friday that by putting pro baseball in the United States and Japan on hold, the current coronavirus pandemic has made him realize ballplayers cannot take their game for granted. Speaking to Kyodo News on the anniversary of his retirement, Suzuki, […]
Baseball players have lost something they took for granted: Ichiro
PEORIA, ARIZONA – Former major league star Ichiro Suzuki said Friday that by putting pro baseball in the United States and Japan on hold, the current coronavirus pandemic has made him realize ballplayers cannot take their game for granted. Speaking to Kyodo News on the anniversary of his retirement, Suzuki, […]
MLB may use doubleheaders as way to make up games
NEW YORK – Let’s play two? Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black would be down for doubleheaders. Maybe even a couple a week. That might be a necessity to make up games once a baseball season delayed by the new coronavirus gets under way. “In theory, yeah, I think all of […]
Hawks’ Carter Stewart makes winning debut with top team in practice game
FUKUOKA – Carter Stewart, who turned his back on major league baseball to sign with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks a year ago, made his first-team debut in a practice game on Friday. With Nippon Professional Baseball’s season on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, clubs began playing practice games on […]
Red Sox ace Chris Sale to have Tommy John surgery
BOSTON – Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale will have Tommy John surgery on his left elbow, an operation that would keep him out the entire 2020 baseball season if and when it resumes after the coronavirus pandemic. “There’s no real way to sugarcoat this. It’s not what anyone wants,” […]
MLB could skip draft in bid to preserve cash amid coronavirus delay
NEW YORK – Major League Baseball is considering skipping its amateur draft this year and putting off the next international signing period as a way to preserve cash while games are affected by the new coronavirus, people familiar with the discussions said. Talks between management and the players’ association are […]
Giants manager Tatsunori Hara not panicking about team’s poor performance in spring training
There are a few trains of thought about spring training. One of the most prevalent, is that it doesn’t matter. Or to be more precise, the results don’t matter. The win-loss records don’t count for anything and are largely forgotten the second the first pitch of the regular season is […]
MLB delays opening day to mid-May at earliest due to virus
NEW YORK – Major League Baseball pushed back opening day until mid-May at the earliest on Monday because of the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19, after the federal government recommended restricting events of more than 50 people for the next eight weeks. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred made the announcement following […]