
MLBPA union head hopeful of major leaguers participating in 2028 Olympics
Baseball players' union head Tony Clark says plans are moving ahead exploring the possibility of using major leaguers in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and discussions have taken place this week during the All-Star break.
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'There's a lot of work that still needs to be done,' he told the Baseball Writers' Association of America on Tuesday. 'We do know players are interested in playing, whether it's for the Team USA or any number of other teams around the world. … There's just a lot of conversation that needs to be had sooner rather than later to see how viable this is, but we're hopeful that we can figure our way through it for the benefit of the game.'
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The World Baseball Softball Confederation said Monday the baseball tournament will be played from July 15-20 at Dodger Stadium. Major League Baseball is considering whether it can interrupt its 2028 season to allow major leaguers to participate, which could necessitate changes to the sport's national television contracts.
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Winnipeg Free Press
13 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
It's Ledecky vs. McIntosh in the 800 freestyle, the centerpiece of the world championships
SINGAPORE (AP) — It's Katie Ledecky against Summer McIntosh in the final of the 800-meter freestyle, probably the most anticipated race at the swimming world championships in Singapore. The race is one of six finals on Saturday, but it overshadows everything else on Day 7. The championships wrap up on Sunday. Ledecky of the United States holds the world record (8 minutes, 04.12 seconds) set earlier this year. The 28-year-old American has dominated the distance for a decade and has already won gold in the 1,500 in Singapore. She also has a bronze in the 400. Ledecky, 28, has won nine Olympic gold medals — the most decorated female in history — and her first gold was in 2012 in the London Olympics in the 800. McIntosh is an 18-year-old Canadian. She's already won three golds in Singapore and she swam just a second off Ledecky's time earlier this year. If anyone is to dethrone Ledecky, it's McIntosh. This would be McIntosh's fourth gold as she goes for five individual golds in the worlds, a feat only achieved the legendary American swimmer Michael Phelps. The other five finals are: the women's 50 butterfly; the men's 50 free; the women's 200 backstroke; the men's 100 butterfly; and mixed 4×100 freestyle relay. The Americans and Australians have each won five gold medals through six days. The Americans lead in overall medals with 20, although their performance has been lackluster and slowed after much of the team came down with a case of 'acute gastroenteritis' in training camp in Thailand. __ AP sports:


Winnipeg Free Press
43 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Ex-Olympic champ Rowdy Gaines calls for changes at USA Swimming as team struggles in Singapore
SINGAPORE (AP) — Rowdy Gaines, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, minces few words when he broadcasts swimming for the American network NBC. And he didn't hold back in an interview with The Associated Press over the shaky state of American swimming. He's calling for big-time changes as the Americans struggle at the world championships in Singapore. The American team isn't winning as much as expected or dominating, it's battling a case of 'acute gastroenteritis' picked up at training camp in Thailand before arriving in Singapore, and the governing body — USA Swimming — has been without a CEO for a year. Gaines called the body 'rudderless.' 'Can you imagine any corporation going for a year without a CEO?' Gaines asked. Underwhelming Americans The Americans were also underwhelming a year ago at the Paris Olympics. They led the medal table, but won only eight gold medals, the lowest total since the 1988 Seoul Olympics. 'We're far from killing it,' said Gaines in a telephone interview from the United States. 'It's a major struggle and we can't hide our heads in the sand and say this is just a blip.' Gaines said he's been texting frequently with Greg Meehan, the national team director who was appointed four months ago. Meehan is also the head coach in Singapore. The American haven't said how many swimmers have fallen ill, but in an interview Meehan said 'the overwhelming majority of the team has gone through something' at the championship.' 'Greg and I have been going back and forth in a very good way, very positive,' Gaines said. He called Meehan a good choice and said he's had too little time to turn things around. Gaines also pointed out that the focus is the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. These world championships, less so. 'I think he's (Meehan) going to be great,' Gaines said. 'He's got that calm reserve. He had great success at Stanford. He's coached some of the best swimmers ever. I think he's a good choice, he's just walking into a bit of a landmine.' Thailand training camp Like many, Gaines questioned why the Americans picked Thailand as a training camp site and noted that global swimming now has dozens of countries that can beat the Americans, and many of their elite athletes train in the States. Those include the two stars in Singapore: Frenchman Léon Marchand and Canadian Summer McIntosh. Marchand trains at the University of Texas at Austin, and McIntosh will be there this fall and join Bob Bowman's training group. Bowman is, of course, the former coach of American swimming legend Michael Phelps. 'You can blame it on the illness, you can blame it on the inexperience — most of these kids have never been in this situation — and you can blame it on logistics,' Gaines said. 'Thailand doesn't make sense to me in the first place.' He also put some blame on what he called the 'state of today's athletes.' 'I think in some cases there's an entitlement for a lot of these kids, they feel like — 'I should be in the finals of the world championships. And I can still do the peripheral stuff and not worry about making it all the way'.' 'I think there needs to be a more focused attitude on the task at hand,' he added. Post-Olympic blahs Gaines also noted that many swimmers struggle the year after the Olympics. They just finished a four-year cycle, so where is the motivation to start over again? 'It just beats you up because mentally and physically you are focused on four straight years, and the post-Olympic year can beat some people up. The post-Olympics is a real thing for all athletes whether you're from China or the United States.' On the positive side, he talked up the future of 10 to 15 young American male swimmers including Luca Urlando, the winner of the 200-butterfly and the only American man to win gold over the first five days. The championships end Sunday. 'The women are already very good,' Gaines added. Gaines said much of the problem is that USA Swimming has gone for a year without a leader. Tim Hinchey resigned as the CEO a year ago. He was replaced by Chrissi Rawak, who stepped down after just a few days. 'I do think changes need to be made, there needs to be a complete reset,' Gaines said 'But I don't think the sky is falling. But there needs to be some great leadership. Whoever they hire as CEO needs to be the leader that is sorely needed.' __ AP sports:


Winnipeg Free Press
43 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Benintendi, Sosa each hit a HR as White Sox beat Angels 6-3
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Andrew Benintendi had a double and a home run, Lenyn Sosa also homered among his two hits, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Los Angeles Angels 6-3 on Friday night. White Sox starter Shane Smith gave up two runs and two hits while striking out four over 4 1/3 innings in his first start since July 11 following a stint on the 15-day IL. Jordan Leasure (4-6) earned the win in relief, striking out four in 1 2/3 innings. Benintendi and Sosa each hit solo home runs in the second inning off Angels starter Tyler Anderson (2-7), and Luis Robert Jr. had a sacrifice fly drove Miguel Vargas home in the fourth inning to make it 3-0. Gustavo Campero's second home run of the year, a two-run blast to deep center field in the fifth, got the Angels within one, but Colson Montgomery answered with a deep homer of his own in the sixth inning. Logan O'Hoppe scored on Zach Neto's sacrifice fly to bring the Angels within one again, and Nolan Schanuel appeared to drive in Travis D'Arnaud with a two-out single, but Campero was thrown out at third prior to D'Arnaud crossing the plate. Sosa had an RBI single in the eighth and Josh Rojas added a solo homer in the ninth. Steven Wilson got the last six outs for his second save of the year. Key moment Campero's baserunning error prevented the game-tying run from scoring in the seventh, ending what was a bases-loaded, one-out threat for the Angels. Key stat Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Montgomery continued his second-half tear with a solo home run, which represented his 18th RBI since the All-Star break. He is now tied with Philadelphia's Kyle Schwarber for the most RBIs since the break. Up next White Sox RHP Aaron Civale (2-6, 4.38 ERA) starts opposite Angels RHP Kyle Hendricks (6-7, 4.73). ___ AP MLB: