What are the biggest second half storylines for the Toronto Blue Jays?
WATCH BELOW: On the latest episode of Long Ball, Postmedia's Rob Wong speaks with Toronto Sun Blue Jays writer Rob Longley about Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s season to date, if George Springer can keep up his strong play, what manager John Schneider will do when Daulton Varsho and Anthony Santander return from injury and if a swing-off was the right way to decide the MLB All-Star Game.
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Winnipeg Free Press
2 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Tale of 3 A's cities: Oakland left behind, Sacramento a temporary stop, Las Vegas awaits
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Those chants of 'sell the team' that rang from every corner of the Coliseum during the Athletics' final seasons in Oakland are noticeably less obvious these days as the club plays the first of three scheduled years at a Triple-A ballpark in California's capital region. Not that all the negative feelings have been cast aside. There is still plenty of ill will toward the team that moved some 90 miles north. During a recent Braves-A's series, two supporters showed up in 'Forever Oakland' T-shirts, while another fan from Fresno arrived at Sutter Health Park wearing a 'Rooted in Oakland' shirt. It's a drastically different scene from the A's old Oakland home. Fans staged 'reverse boycott' protests where they packed the Coliseum, brought homemade signs begging the team to stay and loudly called for owner John Fisher to 'SELL!' In Sacramento, there's a pervading sense the A's are a rental, not a long-term investment. As soon as 2028, they plan to move into a what has been valued as a $1.75 billion ballpark on the Las Vegas Strip. Construction began last month. While many A's fans moved on and want nothing to do with the team, some still drive long distances to games in Sacramento and try to make the best of the situation — a big league team in a small-time stadium. 'It's a big difference walking (through the ballpark) in about five minutes instead of walking the Coliseum in like 20, 30 minutes,' said Francisco Almazan from Modesto. It's not a wholly comfortable setup for players and coaches. The A's built a two-story clubhouse beyond left field that on the top floor includes a lounge, kitchen and offices for manager Mark Kotsay and his coaches. The players' lockers are on the first level. 'Everybody is trying to make the best of it,' outfielder Lawrence Butler said. 'I'm just thankful for them trying to make it up to big-league standard.' Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred acknowledged while speaking at the All-Star Game that playing in a 10,000-seat ballpark isn't perfect. He said the circumstances would be different if the A's moved directly into a 33,000-capacity facility like the one underway in Las Vegas. Union chief Tony Clark was less diplomatic, insisting players prefer to work in an actual big league ballpark. 'There's still a little bit of hope that something may come to fruition before 2028 and what's being described as the time where the new ballpark will be in place,' Clark said. 'But we'll have to see.' A's players know the situation: The plan is to play in America's party capital less than three years from now, but that seemingly far-off timeline doesn't consume their day-to-day baseball lives. 'I think this group is focused on what they need to be focused on,' Kotsay said. 'They come to prepare every day. You walk through our locker room, there's a consistent routine and consistent work ethic that goes on prior to them playing the game.' Still, as much as they try to stay in the moment, the A's are very much tied to their past, present and future with three far different cities. Oakland is embracing the B's, and the Coliseum has a new tenant Some baseball fans in the A's old market have shifted their interest to the Oakland Ballers. The 'B's' have been a huge hit at intimate Raimondi Park — capacity around 4,000 — complete with mascot Scrappy the Rally Possum and nostalgic nods to Oakland at every turn. The B's have provided a big lift for a city that watched the NBA's Golden State Warriors move to San Francisco in 2019 and the NFL's Raiders leave for Las Vegas the next year. Last month, the Ballers unveiled a mural honoring late Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, who died in December at age 65. The Oakland Roots soccer team now plays its home games at the Coliseum, where cricket has also become a popular choice given the dual-sport facility's size. Some longtime employees now work Roots games but many moved on or retired, unwilling to make the trek to Sacramento — though most weren't invited. Las Vegas prepares to welcome an MLB franchise A formal groundbreaking on the new ballpark occurred June 23, with Fisher, Manfred and Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo among those speaking at the festivities. There is a tight window for the venue to be ready by opening day in 2028. The A's hope to complete the project in 2027. They launched a construction cam so fans can track the progress, and without a doubt, the team will be under a microscope trying to meet its ambitious deadline. Then the question becomes: Will Las Vegas embrace the A's? Las Vegas' strong support for its first major professional team, the NHL's Golden Knights, helped pave the way for what has become an explosion of sports in a city once shunned because of legalized sports betting. The Raiders draw large crowds, but many game days feel like neutral sites with opposing fans showing up by the thousands. The Aces became the first WNBA team to sell out an entire season — and did so twice. Longtime A's radio play-by-play man Ken Korach has a unique perspective on it. In his 30th season calling A's games, Korach moved to the Henderson, Nevada, suburb in 1992 and has stayed put. He figured MLB might explore the market, either through relocation or expansion. 'There are a lot of conflicting emotions there,' Korach said. 'I've always felt the Bay Area is a two-team market, and I've always felt that Vegas could support a major-league team.' Rookie infielder Max Muncy, too, can already weigh in on the A's current home and their future one. He has played 81 games in Las Vegas over the past two seasons, but began this season in Sacramento and returned to the big club before going on the 10-day injured list Tuesday after taking a pitch to his right hand. 'I had a great time in Las Vegas,' Muncy said. 'Those fans are great. The atmosphere is great. It's a great city. I enjoyed living there. I think it's going to be a special place to play, as it is here. I really enjoyed my time there, and I think a lot of guys that played there will say the same thing.' Being on the Strip would allow the A's to attract tourists given the ballpark is walking distance for many visitors. That could be especially important for non-marquee, weeknight matchups in contrast to in-demand weekend series against big-market teams like the Yankees or Dodgers. The club has begun trying to establish a foothold in the community. The A's said they have contributed $1.5 million since 2023, including more than $400,000 this year, to nonprofits and other similar organizations that include every youth baseball and softball team. They have been involved in more than 30 events this year from youth sports to festivals to public watch parties with more planned through the end of 2025. Sacramento is trying to enjoy the A's while they're still around Robert Greenberg, an A's fan who lives in Fresno, isn't sure he will keep rooting for the green and gold if and when they move for good even if it's an easier drive to Sacramento than to Oakland. He believes Fisher cut payroll and undermined the team to suppress attendance and facilitate its move. 'I guess he got what he wanted,' Greenberg said. Ayad Bunni of San Mateo said he was a fan before hosting the 'Locked on A's' podcast. He considered not following the A's and understands why many others no longer cheer them on, but said he didn't fault the club for taking these steps. 'As an A's fan and being from here, would I love for them to be in Oakland?' he said. 'Absolutely, 100%.' The A's average 9,782 fans, and they and Tampa Bay — also playing in a Triple-A ballpark this season after Tropicana Field was damaged by a hurricane — are the only teams were fewer than 10,000 per game. The Athletics averaged 11,386 fans last season in the Coliseum, lowest in MLB. Meanwhile, the players play on, and whether the process turns out to be one big sinking ship remains to be seen. It also could become a move that puts the organization on the trajectory to future success in the box office and on the field. But the here and now gives the A's plenty to think about, and All-Star designated hitter Brent Rooker acknowledged he and his teammates have faced adversity most other clubs haven't encountered. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. 'Every challenge you face in this game or outside this game is going to mold you and build you into the person you're going to ultimately become,' Rooker said. 'So anything you can use to your advantage, whether it's adversity, a challenge, a success, a failure, all those things can be made into positives.' ___ AP Baseball Writer Janie McCauley in Oakland contributed to this report. ___ AP MLB:
Winnipeg Free Press
10 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
The Kansas City Royals and pitcher Seth Lugo agree to 2-year extension, AP source says
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals and right-hander Seth Lugo have agreed to a two-year extension that includes a vesting option for the 2028 season, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Sunday night. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal, which presumably takes one of the most talked-about names on the trade market off the table ahead of this week's deadline, had not been officially announced. The 35-year-old Lugo made his first All-Star Game and won his first Gold Glove last season, when he went 16-9 with a 3.00 ERA in the first year of a two-year, $30 million deal that included a player option for next season. Lugo has followed that up with an even better start to this season, going 7-5 with a 2.95 ERA through 19 outings for Kansas City. Rumors surfaced of several contenders interested in trading for Lugo ahead of Thursday's deadline, and the fact that the Royals have been hanging on the fringe of contention themselves left many wondering whether they would be buyers or sellers. It appears that they are going to make a push for a second consecutive playoff appearance. The Royals acquired outfielder Randal Grichuk from the Diamondbacks for reliever Andrew Hoffmann late Saturday, shoring up a weakness in the lineup by adding a right-handed bat. Now, they have indicated that Lugo remains big a part of their future with his extension — an especially timely one given it came the same day that All-Star pitcher Kris Bubic went on the injured list. Kansas City also is missing starters Cole Ragans and Michael Lorenzen due to injuries. Both are expected back at some point in August, and the Royals are hopeful that their return to the rotation will propel them down the stretch run. After beating the Guardians on Sunday, the Royals were four games back of the final American League wild-card spot. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. ___ AP MLB:
Global News
2 days ago
- Global News
Family-driven slugger Menard delivering at the plate for Saskatoon Berries
Ethan Menard's start to his second season with the Saskatoon Berries may have come a bit later than he expected, but the top-of-the-lineup slugger has certainly made up for lost time. Missing Saskatoon's first nine games of the Western Canadian Baseball League season with his University of Texas-Tyler team playing in the NCAA Division II College World Series, Menard has put together an MVP-calibre campaign in just 30 games for the Berries. A threat to capture a triple crown title, Menard leads all WCBL batters this summer with a .404 batting average and 12 home runs, while ranking third in the league with 46 RBIs. 'It's unbelievable every night,' Berries outfielder Ethan Murdoch said. 'It seems like every day he puts together a few swings where it's like, 'Man, that could be anybody's best swing of the year.' It seems like he does it every day, even some of his flyouts.' Story continues below advertisement As part of that dominance at the plate, Menard has strung together a 17-game hit streak that has helped rocket the Berries to first place in the WCBL with a 39-7 record. The combination of individual and team success has made this senior season a special one for the power-hitting infielder. 'I couldn't be happier,' Menard said. 'Coming through in the big spots when I need to, that's been the thing that I've been trying to chase after. It's just worked out to this point, so hopefully it keeps going.' Menard is coming off an MVP performance at the 2025 WCBL All-Star Game earlier this month in Okotoks, Alta., delivering the game's lone home run in a 10-3 victory for the East Division. Also competing in the league's annual home run derby, Menard became the second Berries player to win all-star game MVP honours after Carter Beck last season. That was the second-most surprising moment of his day, however, as his father Marty, stepmom Kindi and four siblings, Easton, Eibilene, Marti Kay and Edge, drove nearly 3,200 kilometres from their home state of Louisiana to meet him for all-star weekend. 'I was sitting in the locker room before the home run derby and Carter Beck comes up to me and said that somebody needed to do an interview about a jersey,' Menard said. 'I was like, 'All right, whatever.' At Okotoks, they have that little pavilion in left field, so they were all hiding behind it. I'm walking up the little hill and they all jumped out and surprised me. It was just pure shock.' Story continues below advertisement It was a trip that began the Monday prior, with the Menard family working their way up through the United States before arriving at Seaman Stadium in Okotoks less than two hours before game time. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'We drove a lot of miles and we surprised Ethan in Okotoks,' Marty Menard said. 'It was really nice. He had no clue we were here.' Following Ethan's MVP showing in Okotoks, the Menard family loaded back onto the highway to make the trek to Saskatoon and Cairns Field, where their eldest son has become a fan favourite since arriving just over a year ago. 1:33 Saskatoon Berries chosen to host 2026 WCBL All-Star Weekend According to Marty, it's still surreal to hear stories of how well-known Ethan is in the community due to his combination of power hitting and an affable personality. 'We hear the 'Mayor of Saskatoon' and all of these things,' Marty said. 'To walk in and see all of this and 2,000 people, I mean, I think his high school championship had 1,200 people. He was like, 'Dad, it's just amazing there and I can't wait to go back.' So we couldn't wait to go see.' Story continues below advertisement On Thursday, the Berries marked their return to their home diamond after a season-long road trip, one for which the Menard family was front and centre as Saskatoon hosted the Swift Current 57's. In the eighth inning, with Menard making his fifth plate appearance of the night, the WCBL's league leader in home runs went deep again with his family watching on to help secure a 9-0 shutout victory for Saskatoon. 'It's everything I could ask for as a ballplayer,' he said. 'You always hope to have good seasons wherever you go and help the team. Just being able to do that in front of them is really big, so it's nice having them out.' Watching his son fist-pump around first base as the ball sailed over the wall in left field was an emotional moment for Marty and the rest of the Menard family. 'Chills, there's no other way to describe it,' Marty said. Leaning on Menard to provide a bulk of the team's offence this season, Berries head coach Joe Carnahan said he had an inkling that his first baseman would do something special on Thursday night — especially considering who was in attendance to watch Menard touch all four bases with the home run. 'That's what it's all about, special moments like that,' Carnahan said. 'If I was a betting man, I kind of had a feeling he was going to hit a home run (Thursday) like he did in the all-sar game. He comes up in big spots, no matter what those big spots are.' Story continues below advertisement A threat to take home league Most Valuable Player honours at the end of the season, Menard says he is being fuelled by a desire to bring a championship to Saskatoon in his senior season. But even with the dog days of the baseball season sinking in, it's weeks like the one he just experienced that deliver perspective on why he's devoted his life to the diamond. 'It can be tough with a lot of games in not a lot of days,' Ethan said. 'Just seeing them and having them here, it really just reminds you of what you're doing it for. You're doing it for the little kid that's inside of you, the want to compete and do it at the biggest level that you can. Having them there really pushes me, trying to be a role model for my little siblings.' Moments after recording the final out in their victory over Swift Current, it was a quick beeline over to the first base-side fence line for Menard to share in one of those moments with his family. Those moments have become exceedingly rare over the years with his baseball career taking him across North America, but make the weeklong road trips and hours in the car worth it for the Menards. 'My youngest is five and a half (years old) and watching him wait on his brother's autograph was about as good as it gets,' Marty said. Story continues below advertisement Sitting just five wins away from tying the WCBL record for wins in a single season, the Berries (39-7) kick off a home-and-home series against the Moose Jaw Miller Express (21-26) at Cairns Field on Saturday at 6 p.m.
