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Brett Baty’s key RBI, big nights from Pete Alonso and others power Mets past Dodgers, 8-6

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:57 GMT

LOS ANGELES — It took seven pitches against a very tough pitcher, but in the end, Brett Baty prevailed, showing the Mets that they made a smart decision to call him up from Triple-A.The Mets ultimately won the first game of a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night at Dodger Stadium 8-6. It was a wild, back-and-forth affair, but the focus of the game was on Baty, the Mets’ rookie third baseman who was called up earlier in the day after tearing up Triple-A pitching. Whether or not he can hit big-league pitching is a question that won’t be answered for a few more weeks or even months, but he took a good step toward answering it with an at-bat in the fourth.The Mets (11-6) had just taken a 4-3 lead over the Dodgers (8-9) with an RBI groundout to score Pete Alonso. Facing right-hander Dustin May with two out and Jeff McNeil on third base, Baty fell behind 0-2. No one bothered to hold McNeil on third base and he took a large lead before May che...

Dolphins NFL draft options: Defensive backs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:57 GMT

The South Florida Sun Sentinel continues its eight-part series previewing top players in the 2023 NFL draft (April 27-29) with defensive backs. For the Dolphins, the secondary might be the strongest part of the team among players such as Pro Bowl cornerbacks Xavien Howard and Jalen Ramsey, veteran cornerback Keion Crossen, young cornerbacks Kader Kohou and Nik Needham, and safeties Jevon Holland, Brandon Jones, DeShon Elliott, Verone McKinley III and Elijah Campbell.If all goes according to plan the defensive backs collection could be the best the Dolphins have fielded in the past 20 years or so.Devon Witherspoon, CB, IllinoisWitherspoon (5 foot 11, 181 pounds) had 41 tackles, three interceptions and an impressive 14 pass breakups with 17 passes defended last season, leading to first-team All-America honors. He’s not big, but he’s still sticky as glue in man coverage.Christian Gonzalez, CB, OregonGonzalez (6-1, 197) has amazing athleticism, as his 4.38-second 40-yard das...

Dolphins secondary could be one of NFL’s best in 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:57 GMT

The Miami Dolphins addressed an area of concern in a big way early this offseason, and now, their troublesome secondary from 2022 could transform into one of the NFL’s best in 2023.That’s the impact that acquiring star cornerback Jalen Ramsey, coupled with the addition of highly coveted defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, can do.Ramsey himself said the unit has that kind of potential after landing in Miami via trade from the Los Angeles Rams, who received a third-round pick and tight end Hunter Long in the deal.“I believe so,” Ramsey said when asked if the Dolphins could have the league’s top secondary. “That’s just the type of energy I bring. That’s the confidence that I always have. On paper, this is the best group that I’ve been a part of. And I feel like I’ve been a part of some good groups in Jacksonville and also in L.A. But on paper, I feel like this is the best one.”Ramsey brings his six Pro Bowls, three All-Pro...

Column: New-age baseball requires adjusting to the pitch clock and finding the right ‘pocket’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:57 GMT

It has been only a few weeks, but the pitch clock already has changed baseball, from the beer stands and bathrooms to the on-deck circle.The unintended consequences of installing a clock in the game without a clock include fewer chances to go to the concession stands or take bathroom breaks and a penalty for being so popular the fans give you a prolonged standing ovation upon stepping to the plate, as happened to Chicago Cubs center fielder Cody Bellinger on Friday at Dodger StadiumSome teams have extended beer sales because of the quicker games, but Bellinger and other stars returning for “homecoming games” against their former teams are at the mercy of the plate umpire’s interpretation of the pitch-clock rules.One manager told me the clock also will lead to more big innings, such as the eight-run third the Cubs hung on the Seattle Mariners in a 14-9 win last Tuesday or the nine-run first the Minnesota Twins put up against the New York Yankees in an 11-2 victory t...

The 127th running of the Boston Marathon

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:57 GMT

ASK IRA: So when does Heat’s ‘We’re No. 18!’ chant start after draft blind luck?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:57 GMT

Q: Ira, why the fuss over the Heat’s draft position? They’re not going to use the pick. This isn’t the draft, it’s the playoffs – Harmon.A: Because while the Heat might not wind up with a first-round pick added to next season’s roster, it at least establishes a position of where to start. Many permutations for the Heat, including a potential Tyler Herro trade, cannot be completed until the start of the new cap calendar in July, so it is possible the Heat exercises the pick in June and then moves that selection. I agree that for a team that is in win-now mode, that still has Nikola Jovic to develop, that there only is so much time for kid stuff. The draft decision could well come down to how the Heat view the futures of Orlando Robinson, Jamal Cain and perhaps even Omer Yurtseven. But for now, look at it this way, even by making the playoffs the Heat are only four picks from where they likely would have wound up if they instead were eliminated in t...

Q&A with NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah: ‘This should be an offensive-heavy draft’ for the Chicago Bears

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:57 GMT

The homework is almost complete. The big test is just around the corner. The Chicago Bears will punctuate an important offseason when they roll through seven rounds of the NFL draft next week, looking to add impact starters and reliable role players.General manager Ryan Poles remains optimistic about the strides the Bears can make and will enter draft week with 10 picks, starting with No. 9 in Round 1. NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah is among many around the league intrigued by what the Bears might do with their top-10 selection. Jeremiah also was impressed with the trade Poles made last month to stockpile draft capital for the next three years while also adding veteran receiver DJ Moore.Jeremiah took time out recently to speak with the Tribune’s Dan Wiederer on all that has happened with the Bears this offseason and what might be ahead in the draft.In February when I asked about the possibilities for the Bears trading out of the No. 1 pick, you said their most likely trad...

Italy captures killer bear amid debate on her fate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:57 GMT

ROME (AP) — Authorities in northern Italy captured a bear that fatally mauled a runner and became the focus of a battle over what to do with Italy’s growing Alpine brown bear population that was once nearly extinct but has rebounded thanks to a European Union-funded project.Jj4, a 17-year-old female, was captured overnight in the Brenta national park in a tube trap baited by fresh fruit, said officials in the autonomous province of Trento. She was sedated and taken to a holding center pending a final decision on her fate. Her three cubs, who are 2 years old and self-sufficient, were with her at the time but were freed unharmed.Andrea Papi, 26, was killed by Jj4 while out on a mountain training run April 5. After identifying Jj4 as his killer through her DNA, Trento provincial authorities ordered her euthanized, but animal rights groups appealed to an administrative court, which suspended the kill order.Jj4 is the same Alpine brown bear that injured a father and son out walking in th...

Russia upholds detention of US reporter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:57 GMT

MOSCOW — A Russian judge on Tuesday upheld the detention of jailed American journalist Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested on spying charges as part of a sweeping Kremlin crackdown on dissent amid the war in Ukraine. He and the U.S. government vehemently deny the allegations.The Wall Street Journal reporter is the first U.S. correspondent since the Cold War to be detained in Russia on spying allegations and his arrest rattled journalists in the country and elicited outrage in the West. Dozens of journalists crowded into the courtroom to catch a glimpse of Gershkovich, who looked calm as he stood inside a glass cage to appeal his detention.Russia’s Federal Security Service detained the 31-year-old in Yekaterinburg in March and accused him of trying to obtain classified information about a Russian arms factory.Gershkovich, his employer and the U. S. government deny he was involved in spying and have demanded his release.“Evan is a member of the free press who right up until he was arre...

China offers to facilitate Israel-Palestinian peace talks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:57 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — China’s foreign minister told his Israeli and Palestinian counterparts that his country is ready to help facilitate peace talks between the two sides, in its latest effort at mediation in the region. In separate phone calls to the two officials on Monday, Qin Gang expressed China’s concern over intensifying tensions between Israel and Palestinians and its support for a resumption of peace talks, the Foreign Ministry said in statements issued late Monday. Last month, Saudi Arabia and Iran reached a deal in China to restore diplomatic ties that were cut off in 2016. It was a dramatic moment of diplomacy for China that Beijing touted as evidence of its ability to be a diplomatic player in the Middle East. Qin stressed in his talks with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen that Saudi Arabia and Iran have set a good example of overcoming differences through dialogue, a statement about that phone call said.He told Cohen that Beijing encourages Israel and the Pales...