Mets pitchers past and present Ron Darling and Sean Manaea interview each other
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NBC Sports
6 minutes ago
- NBC Sports
Baseball's biggest spenders are stumbling, with the Dodgers, Mets and Yankees beset by injuries
NEW YORK — Baseball's biggest spenders are stumbling, slowed by injuries and scrambling to patch rosters with help for battered bullpens and other positions ahead of Thursday's trade deadline. Opening the season with a top payroll of $326 million, the New York Mets have a 1 1/2-game NL East lead but are 17-20 since mid-June. Just $200,000 behind them in spending, according to Major League Baseball's figures, the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers are four games ahead in the NL West but are 5-13 since July 3. Third at $294 million, the defending AL champion New York Yankees blew a seven-game division lead and trail AL East-leading Toronto by 5 1/2 games after a 22-28 skid that started in late May. 'It is in a lot of ways a game of survival,' New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. While all three are in playoffs positions, they have not had the seasons they hoped for. All three teams were considered 'winners' of the offseason. The Mets lured Juan Soto from the Yankees for a record $765 million, 15-year contract. The Dodgers added prized pitcher Roki Sasaki and left-hander Blake Snell along with reliever Tanner Scott, outfielder Michael Conforto and second baseman Hyeseong Kim. The Yankees brought in Max Fried, Cody Bellinger, Paul Goldschmidt and Devin Williams. Projected lineups and the ones in box scores have been markedly different. The Mets have used 13 starting pitchers, losing Kodai Senga, Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas, Tylor Megill and Griffin Canning for significant stretches. 'We're not going to sit here and feel sorry for ourselves. Nobody will,' manager Carlos Mendoza said. 'We're facing a lot of adversity, but every team goes through it.' Los Angeles had 14 pitchers on the injured list in early June and has used 16 different starters. 'It was very important to have the depth. We went through a lot last year and I didn't think that we would kind of match what we did last year, but sure enough we have,' Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. 'To kind of manage it hasn't been easy, but we're doing it.' The Yankees lost ace Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt to torn UCLs and Luis Gil to a lat strain. They are now without two-time AL MVP Aaron Judge for at least 10 days because of a flexor injury. Los Angeles leads the major leagues with 1,495 player days on the IL, the Mets are fifth at 1,095 and the Yankees sixth at 1,022. Philadelphia, 1 1/2 games back of the Mets in the NL East, has the fewest IL days at 214. In addition to relievers, the Mets could use a center fielder and an upgrade at third. The Yankees added infielders Ryan McMahon and Amed Rosario, boosting payroll and tax by $11.56 million. Modern MLB is a sport for the wealthy. Just two of the current division leaders were not among the top seven spenders as of opening day: Detroit (19th at $148 million) and the Chicago Cubs (14th at $195 million). And the spending doesn't include luxury tax, with seven teams projected to pay. The Dodgers were on track at the season's start to owe a record $151 million — more than the payrolls of seven teams. The were were projected at $73 million and the Yankees $52 million, with Philadelphia, Toronto, San Diego and Boston at lesser amounts. 'I'm a piker now compared to the Dodgers,' Mets owner Steve Cohen said during spring training. All seven teams set to owe tax would be in the 12-club playoffs if the season ended now along with Houston, currently just below the tax threshold. In the past decade, three teams outside the top 10 spenders have won titles: Atlanta in 2021 (14th), Houston in 2017 (18th) and Kansas City in 2015 (13th). While the biggest spender has won twice, the Dodgers in 2020 and Boston in 2018, a top six payroll has won six titles of the past 10 titles. Some owners say MLB should push for a salary cap in negotiations to replace the collective bargaining agreement that expires in December 2026, a proposal the players' association would fight. 'Payroll disparity is such a fact of life among the ownership group that there's not a lot of need for talking about whether we have it or not,' baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said. 'We understand that it has become a bigger problem for us.' Last year, the top three spenders reached the League Championship Series along with Cleveland, which finished at No. 25. Ten of 20 LCS teams in the last five years paid tax. 'I have the ability to spend if I have to,' Cohen said. 'I want to win and I want to I can on the field.'
Axios
an hour ago
- Axios
New SouthPark restaurant offers interactive tableside dining and fresh pasta
Fontana Di Vino is a new Italian restaurant in SouthPark offering freshly made pastas and interactive family-style dining experiences. Why it matters: Chef Scott Leibfried brings a fun atmosphere and an engaging menu to Fontana Di Vino, following his time with Gordon Ramsay on "Hell's Kitchen" and his Hawaiian restaurant with Fleetwood Mac's Mick Fleetwood, which was destroyed in the 2023 fires, CBJ reported. Context: Much of Leibfried's extensive background in the restaurant industry influenced his vision for his south Charlotte restaurant. In May, he partnered with Charlotte-based Famous Toastery co-founder Robert Maynard to bring his latest concept to life. In addition to spending 10 seasons as a sous chef on Hell's Kitchen, Leibfried has worked at Michelin-starred restaurants in London, and owned restaurants in Santa Barbara and Manhattan. What they're saying: Leibfried tells Axios that while working on his Maui restaurant with Fleetwood, they often hosted unexpected live performances— an experience that taught him the value of creating a space that's bold and full of surprises, something he plans to incorporate at Fontana Di Vino. "We have table-side services, which I've always loved my entire life, but you only see them in environments where, you know, there's white gloves and people are wearing tuxedos. Those are the types of things that I think everybody should have the opportunity to experience," Leibfried said. Dig in: Expect a menu that features traditional Italian cuisine with ingredients like black truffles sourced from Italy and fresh pasta, along with innovative touches such as pinsa — a Roman-style flatbread pizza. The restaurant offers multiple tableside activations — such as a polenta pour and veal chop — where the ingredients are prepped and plated in front of you to create an interactive and educational experience. Drinks include an extensive selection of Italian and California wines, plus classic cocktails with an innovative twist. Highlights include a sangria topped with sorbet and a lemon drop made with limoncello that tastes like key lime pie. The vibe: The 5,000-square-foot space has eclectic artwork and indoor bar, table, and patio seating for 160 people. Eventually, they hope to offer weekly live music. Stop by: Find Fontana Di Vino at 4905 Ashley Park Lane, the space formerly occupied by David Burke's Falcon & Fox, which closed after less than a year in business. Fontana Di Vino open Sunday through Thursday 4-9:30pm, Friday and Saturday 4-10:30pm. What's next: By the end of the summer, the restaurant will offer a private counter dining experience served family style. The hope is to also open their second restaurant in Davidson by September.
Fox Sports
an hour ago
- Fox Sports
Baseball's biggest spenders are stumbling, with the Dodgers, Mets and Yankees beset by injuries
Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball's biggest spenders are stumbling, slowed by injuries and scrambling to patch rosters with help for battered bullpens and other positions ahead of Thursday's trade deadline. Opening the season with a top payroll of $326 million, the New York Mets have a 1 1/2-game NL East lead but are 17-20 since mid-June. Just $200,000 behind them in spending, according to Major League Baseball's figures, the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers are four games ahead in the NL West but are 5-13 since July 3. Third at $294 million, the defending AL champion New York Yankees blew a seven-game division lead and trail AL East-leading Toronto by 5 1/2 games after a 22-28 skid that started in late May. 'It is in a lot of ways a game of survival,' New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. While all three are in playoffs positions, they have not had the seasons they hoped for. All three teams were considered 'winners' of the offseason. The Mets lured Juan Soto from the Yankees for a record $765 million, 15-year contract. The Dodgers added prized pitcher Roki Sasaki and left-hander Blake Snell along with reliever Tanner Scott, outfielder Michael Conforto and second baseman Hyeseong Kim. The Yankees brought in Max Fried, Cody Bellinger, Paul Goldschmidt and Devin Williams. Projected lineups and the ones in box scores have been markedly different. The Mets have used 13 starting pitchers, losing Kodai Senga, Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas, Tylor Megill and Griffin Canning for significant stretches. 'We're not going to sit here and feel sorry for ourselves. Nobody will,' manager Carlos Mendoza said. 'We're facing a lot of adversity, but every team goes through it.' Los Angeles had 14 pitchers on the injured list in early June and has used 16 different starters. 'It was very important to have the depth. We went through a lot last year and I didn't think that we would kind of match what we did last year, but sure enough we have," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "To kind of manage it hasn't been easy, but we're doing it." The Yankees lost ace Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt to torn UCLs and Luis Gil to a lat strain. They are now without two-time AL MVP Aaron Judge for at least 10 days because of a flexor injury. Los Angeles leads the major leagues with 1,495 player days on the IL, the Mets are fifth at 1,095 and the Yankees sixth at 1,022. Philadelphia, 1 1/2 games back of the Mets in the NL East, has the fewest IL days at 214. In addition to relievers, the Mets could use a center fielder and an upgrade at third. The Yankees added infielders Ryan McMahon and Amed Rosario, boosting payroll and tax by $11.56 million. Modern MLB is a sport for the wealthy. Just two of the current division leaders were not among the top seven spenders as of opening day: Detroit (19th at $148 million) and the Chicago Cubs (14th at $195 million). And the spending doesn't include luxury tax, with seven teams projected to pay. The Dodgers were on track at the season's start to owe a record $151 million — more than the payrolls of seven teams. The were were projected at $73 million and the Yankees $52 million, with Philadelphia, Toronto, San Diego and Boston at lesser amounts. 'I'm a piker now compared to the Dodgers,' Mets owner Steve Cohen said during spring training. All seven teams set to owe tax would be in the 12-club playoffs if the season ended now along with Houston, currently just below the tax threshold. In the past decade, three teams outside the top 10 spenders have won titles: Atlanta in 2021 (14th), Houston in 2017 (18th) and Kansas City in 2015 (13th). While the biggest spender has won twice, the Dodgers in 2020 and Boston in 2018, a top six payroll has won six titles of the past 10 titles. Some owners say MLB should push for a salary cap in negotiations to replace the collective bargaining agreement that expires in December 2026, a proposal the players' association would fight. 'Payroll disparity is such a fact of life among the ownership group that there's not a lot of need for talking about whether we have it or not,' baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said. 'We understand that it has become a bigger problem for us.' Last year, the top three spenders reached the League Championship Series along with Cleveland, which finished at No. 25. Ten of 20 LCS teams in the last five years paid tax. 'I have the ability to spend if I have to,' Cohen said. 'I want to win and I want to I can on the field.' ___ AP freelance writer Ken Powtak contributed to this report. ___ AP MLB: recommended Item 1 of 1
