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Selig Says Clarification Coming on Ball Transfers

mlb bigCHICAGO (AP) — Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig says the sport’s playing rules committee is working to clarify the rule on transfers by fielders on forceouts, which has caused some controversy in the first season of expanded instant replay for umpires.

Attending a game at Wrigley Field on Wednesday marking the 100th anniversary of the ballpark, Selig said he has not spoken with committee chairman Sandy Alderson, the New York Mets general manager.

Selig expects to hear back about clarifying the rule, adding “given the fact it’s new, yes, we’ve had a little glitch here and there, but not much, and nothing that really affected a game,” Selig added.

With instant replay, there has been increased scrutiny on when fielders have control of throws as they step on bases for forceouts and then transfer the ball to their hands for throws in attempts to turn double plays.

“I think it’s done great,” Selig said. “I don’t think it’s been a can of worms at all. In fact, I think for something new, it’s been unbelievably good.”

MLB Draws over 1.5 Million Fans for April Weekend

mlb bigNEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball games drew over 1.5 million fans during a crowded early weekend.

MLB said Monday the 45 dates over the weekend averaged nearly 34,000. The total attendance of 1,524,508 was the highest this early in April for any weekend that didn’t include a home opener.

Through the first two full weekends, MLB has drawn over 2.9 million fans. That is the second-highest in history, trailing only the total in 2005.

Players Know Pitchers Try for Better Grip on Ball

mlb bigNEW YORK (AP) — Using a suspicious substance for a better hold of the baseball on cool days is not such a sticky situation.

Whether it’s the Yankees’ Michael Pineda with a mysterious brown goo on his hand, Boston’s Jon Lester with a green smudge in his glove or Houston’s Josh Zeid spraying something on his forearm before entering a recent game, most major leaguers don’t care whether pitchers get a little help — even though it’s against the Official Baseball Rules.

To some, it’s preferable.

Boston Red Sox outfielder Shane Victorino says “it’s an unwritten rule in the game. I’m sure a lot of pitchers do it.”

Expanded Replay Might Make for Better Manners

mlb bigOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Baseball’s new expanded replay rules this season might mean most managers start minding their manners.

That seems to be the case so far, with managers calmly leaving the top dugout step to chat with an umpire to either challenge a play or request that the umpire take a second look via review.

Through Wednesday’s games, in a count by baseball and STATS, there were 64 replays with 21 of those overturned. Nineteen of 48 were on manager challenges, and two were among 16 umpire-initiated reviews.

There could be a missing element for the baseball purists so accustomed to those screaming matches between manager and umpire made famous by by the late Hall of Famer Earl Weaver, retired Braves skipper Bobby Cox or cap-kicking Lou Piniella.

MLB Names Reliever Awards after Rivera, Hoffman

mlb bigNEW YORK (AP) — Now that they’re no longer receiving awards, Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman are getting their names on some.

Major League Baseball said Wednesday it created a “Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year Award” and a “Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year Award.”

Rivera, a 13-time All-Star, retired after last season with a record 652 saves. Hoffman, a seven-time All-Star, retired after the 2010 season and is second with 601 saves. Both spent their entire careers in one league.

The new honors replaces MLB’s “Delivery Man of the Year Award,” which was given to one winner annually from 2005-13. It will be voted on by nine retired relievers, with Rivera and Hoffman joined by Hall of Famers Dennis Eckersley, Rollie Fingers, Rich Gossage and Bruce Sutter along with Lee Smith, John Franco and Billy Wagner.

Umpires in Kansas City-Detroit Game Overturn 2 Calls on Review

mlb bigDETROIT (AP) — Instant replay is a hit so far at Comerica Park.

The Detroit Tigers benefited from a pair of reviews that overturned calls at first base in Wednesday’s game against the Kansas City Royals.

In the sixth inning, Tyler Collins of the Tigers was initially called out at first, giving Kansas City a 4-6-3 double play. The play was reviewed and Collins was ruled safe, although Detroit didn’t score that inning.

In the 10th, Kansas City’s Norichika Aoki was called safe at first, and it looked like the Royals would have first and third with two outs and the game tied.

But upon further review, the throw barely beat Aoki. He was called out to end the threat.

Percentage of Foreign MLB Players Drops Slightly

mlb bigNEW YORK (AP) — The percentage of Major League Baseball players born outside the United States declined slightly for the second straight season.

The commissioner’s office said Tuesday that 223 players among the 853 on opening-day rosters and inactive lists were born outside the 50 states. At 26.1 percent, the share is down from 28.2 percent last year and 28.4 percent in 2012.

Players come from 16 countries and territories, the most since 2008.

The Dominican Republic has topped the list each year since MLB began tracking in 2005. But its 82 players are down from a high of 99 in 2007.

Venezuela was next with 59, followed by Cuba, which set a high with 19 — four more than its previous mark set last year.

Ump’s Call Overturned, 1st Time by Expanded Replay

mlb bigMILWAUKEE (AP) — An umpire’s call has been overturned for the first time under Major League Baseball’s expanded replay system, with Milwaukee Brewers star Ryan Braun ruled out instead of safe.

Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez challenged the sixth-inning play at Miller Park on Monday. Braun was originally called safe at first base by umpire Greg Gibson on an infield single.

The call was reversed to out after a review that lasted 58 seconds.

Minutes later, another call on opening day was overturned in Pittsburgh when a Chicago Cubs runner was eventually ruled out at first base on a pickoff.

Earlier in the day, expanded replay was used for the first time in the majors in the Cubs-Pirates game at PNC Park. That umpire’s call at first base was confirmed.

Umps Headed by Kellogg, Vanover Work Replay Room

mlb bigNEW YORK (AP) — Crew chiefs Jeff Kellogg and Larry Vanover head the eight umpires working in Major League Baseball’s replay room for the first eight days of video review.

The league plans to have a pair of four-man crews man the replay room each week at Major League Baseball Advanced Media’s Manhattan office. Brian O’Nora, Dan Bellino and D.J. Reyburn are part of Kellogg’s crew that started its shift Monday night, and Angel Hernandez, Paul Nauert and Adrian Johnson are part of Vanover’s crew.

MLB plans to announce which eight umpires are in the room each week but will not identify which umpire reviews a specific replay.

MLB Toughens Drug Agreement Provisions

mlb bigNEW YORK (AP) — Baseball players suspended during the season for a performance-enhancing drug violation will not be eligible for that year’s postseason under changes to the sport’s drug agreement announced Friday.

In a series of significant changes to the drug rules, Major League Baseball and the players’ association said penalties will increase from 50 games to 80 for a first testing violation and from 100 games to 162 for a second. A third penalty remains a lifetime ban.

A player serving a season-long suspension will lose all his pay. Under the previous deal, the Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez gets 21-183s of his salary this year, or about $2.8 million.

In-season random urine tests, in addition to the minimum two for each player, will increase from 1,400 to 3,200 overall. There will be 400 random blood collections used to detect human growth hormone in addition to the mandatory one for each player during spring training.

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