MLB – Page 5 – North Platte Post Archive

Selig: Domestic Violence Policy has been Discussed

Posted on September 11, 2014

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig says the league and players’ union have previously discussed the idea of a blanket policy regarding domestic violence during collective bargaining, yet so far baseball has opted to handle any issue on a case-by-case basis.

Selig, speaking Thursday at AT&T Park as part of his farewell tour before the Giants hosted Arizona, declined to address the NFL’s situation surrounding the Ray Rice case and whether he thought there could be an impartial investigation.

Selig says he can’t remember the last domestic violence case involving a baseball player. Talks about a policy could come up again in the next collective bargaining, but Selig leaves office Jan. 25 and Rob Manfred takes over.

“Yes, it has been discussed, because we’re sensitive to all issues,” he says.

MLB Clarifies Home Plate Collision Rule

Posted on September 9, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball has sent a memo to teams clarifying this year’s experimental rule intended to limit collisions at home plate, saying runners should not be called safe if the ball clearly beats them.

The rule, announced in February, says a catcher can’t block the plate if he doesn’t have the ball. There have been several disputed calls, including a pair of decisions in the last five weeks that led to runners being called safe after video review.

The guidelines sent to teams Tuesday say the catcher’s positioning shouldn’t change the call when the throw clearly is ahead of the runner. They also say if the catcher is entirely in fair territory, he should not be considered to have blocked the plate. Photo examples were included.

MLB’s 2015 Season Slated to Start April 5

Posted on September 8, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball’s 2015 season is scheduled to start with a Sunday night game on April 5 and the other 28 teams will be slated to open the following day.

The regular season is to end Oct. 4, which means the World Series would be scheduled to start Oct. 28 if the current postseason format is maintained. A seventh game would be Nov. 5 under that format.

Fifteen openers currently are scheduled for April 6 and one of them will be moved up a day for an ESPN telecast, the commissioner’s office said Monday.

Opening series have Boston at Philadelphia, St. Louis at the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco at Arizona, Pittsburgh at Cincinnati, Minnesota at Detroit, Cleveland at Houston, the Chicago White Sox at Kansas City, San Diego at the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta at Miami, Colorado at Milwaukee, Toronto at the New York Yankees, Texas at Oakland, the Los Angeles Angels at Seattle, Baltimore at Tampa Bay and the New York Mets at Washington.

In addition to traditional rivalries, interleague play has the AL East vs. NL East, AL Central vs. NL Central and AL West vs. NL West.

The All-Star game is in Cincinnati on July 14. MLB also said the amateur draft will start June 8.

MLB Replay Begins Slow Stroll Toward Postseason

Posted on August 30, 2014

John Gibbons has a pretty standard rule for deciding when to discuss a bang-bang call with an umpire.

“We try to go out there anytime it’s close,” the Toronto manager says.

Same way across the majors: There have been more than 1,000 reviews so far in this new era of expanded replay — nearly half resulting in a reversal — and it’s only August.

Now get ready for an even longer postseason parade of that slow dance, where the skipper strolls onto the field, twirls around the ump and waits for the go-or-no sign from the dugout.

Makes sense, too. Good idea to check most every tag and trap, especially when a single missed call could mean the difference between winning the World Series and an early exit.

AP Source: Manfred Elected Next MLB Commissioner

Posted on August 14, 2014

BALTIMORE (AP) — Rob Manfred has been elected baseball’s 10th commissioner and will succeed Bud Selig in January.

A labor lawyer who has worked for Major League Baseball since 1998, Manfred beat out Boston Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner on Thursday in the first contested vote for a new commissioner in 46 years.

The 55-year-old, who grew up in Rome, New York, must address issues that include decreased youth interest and the longer games. He has served as MLB’s chief operating officer for the past year.

Selig turned 80 last month and has ruled baseball since September 1992, when he was among the owners who forced Commissioner Fay Vincent’s resignation. He said he intends to retire in January.

MLB Owners Meet to Elect Next Commissioner

Posted on August 13, 2014

BALTIMORE (AP) — Major League Baseball owners have begun two days of meetings that could lead to the election of Commissioner Bud Selig’s successor.

MLB Chief Operating Officer Rob Manfred, Boston Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner and MLB Executive Vice President of Business Tim Brosnan were picked by the seven-man succession committee as candidates and were slated to make presentations Wednesday to the delegations from the 30 teams.

Selig has ruled baseball since September 1992, first as chairman of baseball’s executive council and since July 1998 as commissioner. He announced last fall that he plans to retire in January 2015.

Balloting is planned for Thursday and a three-quarters majority — 23 — is needed for election. Owners have estimated Manfred has the support of 20-21 teams headed into the meetings.

Selig Eager to Step Aside and Introduce Successor

Posted on August 12, 2014

BALTIMORE (AP) — Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig is looking forward to writing a book, teaching history and relaxing when he retires this winter.

Before that happens, however, he hopes to introduce his successor — perhaps as soon as Thursday.

Baseball’s 30 owners will meet in Baltimore this week to vote on Selig’s replacement. A seven-man committee whittled down an expansive list to three candidates: MLB Chief Operating Officer Rob Manfred; Boston Red Sox chairman Tom Werner and Tim Brosnan, MLB Vice President of Business.

Speaking at Camden Yards on Tuesday, Selig said, “The process has worked just the way I thought it would. I gave them a great list of names, and these names were on it.”

To win Thursday’s vote, a candidate must receive approval from 23 owners.

Judge: Trial Can Decide Fate of MLB Video Monopoly

Posted on August 8, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — A judge in New York says a small group of fans suing Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League to stop their strict control over television broadcast rights can try to prove their claims at trial.

Federal Judge Shira Scheindlin issued her written ruling Friday.

She said a trial would help show whether the leagues were accurate in claiming the restrictions are good for the sports and their fans.

The lawsuit claims that the leagues’ clubs and some television broadcast entities collude to eliminate competition in the showing of games on the Internet and television.

The fans seek a court declaration that the defendants engage in antitrust behavior and appropriate remedies, including unspecified damages.

Messages left with lawyers seeking comment were not immediately returned.

Players May Consider Tobacco Ban Discussion in ’16

Posted on July 15, 2014

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Major League Baseball players say they may consider whether to discuss a possible ban on chewing tobacco when they negotiate their next labor contract in two years. For now, they hope individuals decide on their own to stop dipping.

Players’ union head Tony Clark said Monday that several of his members have quit cold turkey following the death of Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn on June 16 from oral cancer.

While the use of smokeless tobacco was banned for players with minor league contacts in 1993, it is permitted for players with major league deals. The labor agreement covering 2012-16 says players may not carry tobacco packages and tins in their back pockets when fans are permitted in ballparks, and they may not use tobacco during pregame and postgame interviews and at team functions.

Cespedes Wins Again, Beating Frazier in HR Derby

Posted on July 14, 2014

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Oakland’s Yoenis Cespedes became the first repeat winner of the All-Star home run derby in 15 years, powering his way past Cincinnati’s Todd Frazier by a whopping 9-1 in the final round Monday night.

Ken Griffey Jr. took the title in 1998 and 1999.

With a serious, determined look on his face the whole time, Cespedes finished with 28 homers. That was four fewer than last year, when he beat Washington’s Bryce Harper 9-8 in the final round.

Cespedes saved his best for last, a 452-foot blast to the third deck above left field that officially measured as the longest of the night.