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Kyle Ringo
Big League StewPhillies battle the Braves in Free Game of the Day
Vince Velasquez is putting together a constructive sophomore season for the Philadelphia Phillies and could be a target for other teams in trade talks as the trade deadline approaches. Velasquez is 8-2 with a 3.34 ERA heading into Friday night’s start in Atlanta against the Braves. The contest, which starts at 7:35 p.m. ET, can be streamed at Yahoo’s Sports Home, MLB index, video home, the Yahoo Sports app and this very post.
Big League StewCubs fan will donate to domestic-violence charity for each Aroldis Chapman save
The acquisition of bazooka-armed reliever Aroldis Chapman wasn’t exactly greeted with glee by Chicago Cubs fans because of the pitcher’s offseason domestic violence incident. While Cubs fans are desperate for their team to finally end its 108-year-old streak without a World Series title, some aren’t desperate enough that they feel comfortable adding a player to the roster who was accused of domestic violence before prosecutors ultimately decided not to file charges. Lifelong Cubs fan Caitlin Swieca decided to do something positive to help herself cope with the disappointment she felt in her beloved team.
Big League StewYoung Red Sox fan takes a bow after snaring line drive foul ball
Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia was at the plate in the eighth inning facing Los Angeles Angels reliever Joe Smith. Pedroia sent a line drive foul ball into the stands behind the first-base dugout where a boy raised his mitt and snagged the ball, undoubtedly saving someone in the crowd from either being hit or coming close to a painful experience. The catch was nice enough but what made this moment even better was the crowd giving the young Boston fan a nice ovation and him soaking it in with a bow.
- Big League Stew
Anthony Rizzo and Dioner Navarro get after each other in rivalry
Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo pushed Chicago White Sox catcher Dioner Navarro in the back and later threw Navarro’s batting gloves on the ground Thursday night in the finale of a bitter interleague series between the two teams. Normally this type of behavior from Rizzo would have been met with retaliation from Navarro and the White Sox and might even have led to something really ugly.
- Big League Stew
Miguel Sano takes frustration out on bat Bo Jackson-style
Miguel Sano went 1-for-5 and drove in two runs Wednesday night in a loss to the Atlanta Braves. Maybe someday they will make a bobblehead doll in honor of these impressive feats of strength from Sano as they did recently for Jackson, who broke a few bats the same way in his day. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune pointed out Thursday that breaking bats over his knee is not the only thing Sano has in common with Jackson.
- Big League Stew
Police helped Rangers' top prospect Joey Gallo get to game on time
Texas Rangers top prospect Joey Gallo was called up to the major leagues Tuesday and inserted into the starting lineup while he was still miles away from the ballpark fighting his way through traffic hoping to make it to the game on time.
- Big League Stew
Cardinals are already better than last year in one way
First, we start with the long ball in St. Louis. When the season began, St. Louis manager Mike Matheny was optimistic his team would hit for power with more success than it did a year ago and with the All-Star break not too far back in the rearview mirror, the Cardinals already have surpassed their 2015 home run total. Jedd Gyorko hit a home run in both games of a doubleheader for the second time this season as the Cardinals split the games in New York with the Mets on Tuesday.
- Big League Stew
Mets will wear Mike Piazza-themed hats in weekend tribute
The New York Mets are planning to honor recent Hall of Fame inductee Mike Piazza this weekend during a four-game series with the Colorado Rockies, including wearing hats with Piazza’s likeness on the side. The hats will be available to fans but only at CIti Field where they will be one element of a weekend celebration of Piazza’s career. The Mets are planning to give away a replica Piazza jersey to every fan who attends Friday’s game.
- Big League Stew
David Wright is not alone in naming his child after Shea Stadium
New York Mets third baseman David Wright and his wife, Molly, welcomed a daughter into the world over the weekend and named her Olivia Shea Wright, leading to mass speculation in the media in New York that the Wrights gave their daughter a middle name in honor of the stadium the Mets called home from 1964-2008. The Wall Street Journal went to the trouble of examining baby names in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut over the past 40 years to see how many people possibly named their kids Shea and if there might be a correlation to the Mets and Shea Stadium.