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Max Scherzer suspended 10 games following ejection for excessive sticky stuff

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:05 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — After getting ejected for his hand being too sticky Wednesday at Dodger Stadium, Max Scherzer is well aware of what people are calling him right now: A cheater. Largely considered a first-ballot Hall of Famer, Scherzer understands that a cheating allegation could put that future candidacy in doubt and it undermines his integrity as an honest competitor.Scherzer was suspended for 10 games, the league announced Thursday, for “violating the prohibitions on foreign substances.” He confirmed that he is appealing the decision.MLB’s intent to crack down on sticky stuff is right but many players — including Scherzer — say the execution is flawed. This is the first time a pitcher of this magnitude has been ejected for a foreign substance. The other two, Hector Santiago and Caleb Smith, were tossed in 2021, shortly after the league started instructing umpires to do random checks. All were ejected by umpire Phil Cuzzi.“Every aspect of t...

Orioles announce return of Birdland Summer Music Series with Andy Grammer, DJ Diesel (aka Shaq) and Brett Young

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:05 GMT

The Orioles on Thursday announced a return of the Birdland Summer Music Series featuring postgame performances that range from pop to country to a basketball star turned DJ.This year’s lineup includes multiplatinum singer Andy Grammer on May 27, when the Orioles play the Texas Rangers; DJ Diesel (aka Shaquille O’Neal) on June 30, when they face the Minnesota Twins; and country pop singer-songwriter Brett Young on Sept. 15, when the Tampa Bay Rays come to town.The shows will be included for baseball fans who attend the games on those days; for an extra $30 to $35, attendees can watch performers from the field instead of from the stands. A portion of the money raised — $5 from every on-field pass — will go toward the Orioles Charitable Foundation’s Music & Arts Education Scholarship.Last year’s Birdland Summer Music Series featured performances from Flo Rida, Smash Mouth, Dru Hill, Sisqó and The Struts.Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Ban...

14-year-old boys accused of breaking into East Boston store, stealing cell phones and electronics: Police

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:05 GMT

Two 14-year-old boys are accused of smashing the front windows of an East Boston store and stealing cell phones along with other electronics, according to Boston Police.The juveniles were arrested on Thursday after police officers responded to a breaking and entering at 201 Sumner St. That’s the address of Celltronic Boston, a phone repair shop.When the officers arrived at the scene Thursday morning, they saw that one of the store’s front windows had been shattered. The cops saw stones on the ground, along with more broken glass.The business alarm did not activate when the suspects allegedly broke the windows. The officers looked over the video surveillance and saw that the teens allegedly stole multiple cell phones from a wall display at 4:56 a.m.The suspects then returned an hour later and broke the glass counter display, and stole more cell phones, police said. About 30 minutes later, the juveniles again came back and stole more cell phones and electronics, according ...

Trevino-Cortes battery helps Yankees beat Angels in rubber match

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:05 GMT

Three walks and two singles already had southpaw Patrick Sandoval and the Angels in a 2-0 hole when Yankees catcher Jose Trevino stepped to the plate with the bases loaded in the bottom of the first inning on Thursday.Trevino, off to a quiet start this season, then drove a pitch to the bottom of Yankee Stadium’s left field wall. The two-out rope cleared the bases and capped a five-run first for the Bombers, which paved the way for a 9-3 rubber match win.The clutch extra-base hit also handed Trevino’s battery mate, Nestor Cortes, an early lead to work with. The lefty fared better than his Angels counterpart, allowing four hits and three earned runs over six innings of work.Cortes, who owns a 3.09 ERA after four starts, also walked two while tying his season-high for strikeouts with seven.The Yankees’ bullpen flirted with some trouble after Cortes departed, but the team never lost its lead. DJ LeMahieu added an RBI double in the seventh inning, while Isiah Kiner-Fale...

Tanner Houck’s career game leads Red Sox past Twins, 11-5

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:05 GMT

“It wasn’t a tryout,” Alex Cora said after Tanner Houck pitched a career-high seven innings in Thursday afternoon’s 11-5 series finale victory over the Minnesota Twins.The Red Sox currently have an abundance of starting pitching, but maintain they want to keep a five-man rotation on a consistent basis, though Cora notably said “or six” after Houck’s performance.The 26-year-old righty was originally slated to start the season in the bullpen, but reverted back to a starting role when Garrett Whitlock, Brayan Bello and James Paxton weren’t ready for the Opening Day roster. At the time, the expectation was that Houck would move back to the bullpen as soon as one of the aforementioned pitchers was ready to be activated, but four times through the rotation now, he’s been one of the most consistent, effective arms.Can they afford to move him to the bullpen? Better question: why should they?On Thursday, the 26-year-old righty not only we...

Tatis back in lineup for Padres after 80-game PED suspension

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:05 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — Fernando Tatis Jr. is back in the lineup for the San Diego Padres.The young superstar will bat leadoff and play in right field against the Diamondbacks on Thursday, playing in the big leagues for the first time since an 80-game PED suspension that shocked and angered his teammates, management and a fan base. The 24-year-old's maturity has been under the microscope over the past couple years, ever since he signed a $330 million, 14-year contract prior to the 2021 season. Fernando Tatis Jr. mural pops up in Chula Vista ahead of return Tatis missed all of last season after breaking his left wrist — reportedly in a motorcycle accident in his native Dominican Republic. He was on the cusp of returning from that when his PED suspension was announced on Aug. 12. He blamed his positive test on a cream he said he used for ringworm.The Padres still made it to the NL Championship Series before falling to the Phillies.He was one of the game's premier sluggers from 2019 to 2021, ...

‘It’s unlivable’: Toronto tenants protest at Medallion office over poor living conditions

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:05 GMT

Toronto tenants at odds with property owners and building managers over maintenance issues continue to be a critical issue in the city, which generally ends up with letters being exchanged. That is until renters start to organize and visit the landlords.City residents comprising of tenants in buildings owned by Medallion Corporation tried to deliver a message, starting with a petition demanding better living conditions. This eventually resulted in raised voices with signs and flags taped to the company’s lobby walls.“It’s gotten to the point where we can’t handle it. It’s unlivable for us,” said tenant Robin McDowell. “We can’t do it anymore. We’re here to demand in person because we have sent as many legal and appropriate ways to get a hold of them.”Michael Regan, a tenant at 670 Parliament Street in St. Jamestown, says deteriorating conditions prompted his participation in the protest.“I live on the main floor, and ...

Nevada lawmakers await details of A’s land buy in Las Vegas

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:05 GMT

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Nevada legislative leaders said Thursday that they had little information about the Oakland Athletics’ plans to move to Las Vegas, beyond that a land purchase deal in place, a funding bill is coming and there is no timeline for action.The Major League Baseball team announced late Wednesday it signed a binding agreement to purchase vacant property just off the Las Vegas Strip owned by Red Rock Resorts for a new retractable roof ballpark, ending discussion about the team staying in the Bay Area. The purchase now sets up a patchwork of public-private funding mechanisms that needs approval from state lawmakers as well as local officials.The stadium and other developments are projected to cost about $1.5 billion, one-third of which will come from public funding, The Nevada Independent reported.The state Senate majority leader, Democrat Nicole Cannizzaro was “briefed on the outline of a proposal, and she appreciates the interest the A’s have shown in Las Vegas,...

Psychologist: Man on trial in road rage killing was sane

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:05 GMT

DENVER (AP) — Jeremy Webster got angry when a driver getting out of the way of an emergency vehicle almost hit his car, his outrage intensified by worry about getting into an accident since he wasn’t paying his car insurance bill. Webster followed the SUV, feeling like he was being directed by something outside of himself, a court-appointed psychologist testified Thursday at Webster’s murder trial.Webster has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to shooting the driver of the SUV and two of her sons, killing one of them, a 13-year-old, with a point-blank shot to the head after they pulled into the parking lot of a suburban Denver dental office in June 2018. But the psychologist, Christina Gliser, concluded after interviewing Webster twice that he was legally sane at the time of the shooting, in touch with reality and able to make decisions. Webster, now 27, is accused of shooting Meghan Bigelow and two of her sons, killing Vaughn Bigelow Jr. and wounding 8-year-old As...

‘Darkest day of our life’: Tibetans say Dalai Lama video was misinterpreted

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:05 GMT

Toronto is home to the largest community of Tibetan diaspora in Canada and a controversial video of their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has them speaking out about what they say are gross misinterpretations of their cultural practices.In a now viral video, a young boy asked to hug the Dalai Lama at a public gathering back in February.During the interaction, the Dalai Lama is seen kissing the child on the lips and heard saying “suck my tongue.” Online backlash was swift, with accusations of paedophilia and grooming. The Dalai Lama issued an apology thereafter.Last weekend, a peace and prayer march organized by the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress of Toronto (RTYC) took to the streets in support of the Dalai Lama. Around 1,500 Tibetans participated in the march, urging people not to judge him based on a short video clip taken out of context and asking media to “tell the truth.”“For the past 60 years he’s been traveling around the world spreading ...