Sports

Manfred passes huge test; MLB is in very good hands – TSN

Published

5 years ago

January 15, 2020

There are some people who believe that this week has been one of the darkest periods in the history of baseball.

But I believe it has been one of the best weeks for Major League Baseball.

Baseball is in a better place today than it was on Monday, when MLB commissioner Rob Manfred dropped a sledgehammer on the Houston Astros, suspending AJ Hinch, the club’s manager, and general manager Jeff Luhnow for the entire 2020 season for their team’s sign-stealing schemes in 2017 and 2018.

Sure, there has been some pain and there will likely be more as the sign-stealing scandals unravel. But the game is getting cleaner and healthier.

And clearly baseball is in very good hands. Manfred has proven to be a man of his word.

In his Sept. 15, 2017 memo to all managers and general managers, he put clubs on notice that any efforts to steal signs using electronic devices would be punished with serious sanctions and a possible loss of draft picks. This was after an investigation proved that the Boston Red Sox had used an Apple Watch in the dugout to communicate with their replay review room, relaying signs to runners on second base and ultimately to hitters.

In addition to the suspensions, the Astros lost two first-round picks and two second-round picks, plus the organization received the biggest fine allowed per the MLB Constitution ($5 million). Astros owner Jim Crane took the commissioner’s ruling even further by terminating the employment of his suspended manager and general manager.

Baseball’s investigation revealed an arrogant and blatant attempt to cheat by the Astros, even after the warning from the commissioner. In fact, the Astros’ sign stealing led to an 8-1 home record in the 2017 postseason, compared to a 3-6 road record in route to a World Series championship victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Sign-stealing worked.

Strike One!

The mastermind of the Astros’ cheating plan was bench coach Alex Cora, who parlayed the Astros success into his first managerial job as he was hired to manage the Boston Red Sox in 2018.

When he packed his bags to head to Boston, he boldly brought with him the same sign-stealing tactics that worked so well in Houston. They did the job in Boston as the Red Sox went on to win the 2018 World Series, also against the Dodgers. Unfortunately for Cora, the MLB investigation into the Astros opened doors into what he was doing in Boston and he was soon in hot water for his actions in both places.

Red Sox, manager Cora agree to part ways

The Boston Red Sox fired manager Alex Cora on Tuesday, a day after baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred implicated him in the sport’s sign-stealing scandal.

The Red Sox decided on Tuesday to “mutually agree” (they fired him) to part ways with Cora. He had won two rings but lost the one job he had always wanted.

Strike Two!

There was not a single player disciplined by the commissioner in the Astros investigation as Manfred gave immunity to players involved in order to get to the bottom of the story. Plus no player could unilaterally implement a sign-stealing scheme using technology without the assistance of a coach, manager or the front office.

The only player named in the MLB investigation of the Astros was veteran outfielder Carlos Beltran. Per the report, Beltran along with Cora, spearheaded the plan in Houston and oversaw its ongoing maintenance and adjustments.

So why was Beltran’s name included in the report? Likely because when the story first broke Beltran denied multiple times to the media that he knew anything about it. Based upon the investigation, Beltran’s denials were lies.

Beltran’s actions have put the New York Mets in the spotlight now as they hired him as their new manager in early November. In his introductory press conference in New York, general manager Brodie Van Wagenen referenced Beltran’s trustworthiness as a big reason why he was hired.

He will not be disciplined by the commissioner for his role with the Astros, but the Mets now have to decide whether Beltran can still function in his role leading the team and interacting with the media. Whether he can or not remains to be seen, but his ability to thrive in his new role in New York has been significantly compromised.

Strike Three!

Discipline and penalties have two functions: penalizing and deterring. The commissioner delivered both with his sledgehammer.

PENALTIES

The Astros now know their penalties and will now suffer for them. The Red Sox have lost their manager and will likely face the loss of draft picks and face steep fines like the Astros. The penalties will appropriately and significantly set back the two franchises in the short and mid-term.

DETERRENT

The suspensions and ultimate dismissal of the managers and general manager involved in the sign-stealing scandals will have the desired effect. No manager or general manager will allow sign stealing to occur ever again.

The loss of a job, reputation, credibility and money will serve as a very worthy deterrent moving forward. The penalties have made it personal for the managers and general managers. There is no way any team’s manager and general manager will allow a player or coach on their team to cost them their jobs ever again. The pain of the penalties outweigh the benefits of cheating. And just as they should.

The history of sign stealing in baseball

ESPN’s Keith Olbermann examines the history of sign stealing in baseball, and the lack of punishment that teams have historically gotten for the violation.

Cheating compromises the integrity of the game. In the end, it hurts everyone. Commissioner Manfred has taken a huge step toward restoring that integrity.

It is indeed a bright day for baseball!

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Sports

Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.

“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”

Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.

The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.

Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.

“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.

“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”

The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.

“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”

Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.

“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.

___

AP cricket:

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Sports

Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.

Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.

The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.

The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.

Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.

Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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Sports

Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.

The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.

Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.

There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.

Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.

But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.

The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”

The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.

Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.

Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.

Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.

“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”

“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.

Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.

Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.

The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.

Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.

Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.

Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).

Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).

Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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