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Fox Sports
23 minutes ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
'I Thought They Were Kidding': The Thrill and Confusion of MLB's First All-Star Swing-Off
ATLANTA — Late in the ninth inning of a 6-6 game Tuesday night, Robbie Ray noticed National League All-Star manager Dave Roberts coming down the dugout steps. "You won't believe this," Ray recalled Roberts telling the group. Moments later, Ray noticed someone running out from center field at Truist Park with an L-screen. Meanwhile, fellow Giants starter Logan Webb looked out to the NL bullpen and noticed there were no pitchers left. Ray, Webb and many players on both teams were about to learn that the first ever All-Star Game swing-off would determine the result of the 95th Midsummer Classic. "We were like, 'What is going on right now?'" Ray recalled. "I honestly had no clue that this was a thing," Webb added. The last time an All-Star Game was tied after nine innings in 2018, it went into extra innings. As of the 2022 collective bargaining agreement, that's no longer how it works. Before Tuesday's All-Star Game, Roberts and American League manager Aaron Boone had to declare three players who would take part in a swing-off should the game be tied after nine. Both skippers decided on hitters who would be playing toward the back end of the contest, which meant selecting reserves. Most of the starters, after all, only play a few innings. Many of them leave once they get pulled. That meant no Cal Raleigh, who won the Home Run Derby the night prior. No Shohei Ohtani or Aaron Judge for the swing-off, either. Roberts had asked Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber on Monday if he would be up to it. "I said, 'Absolutely,' not thinking we were going to end up in a tie when you say yes," Schwarber recalled. Schwarber had done the Home Run Derby twice before, but this format was something entirely different. The three players selected from each team would get three swings to decide the outcome. The team with the most total home runs would be crowned the victors. "It was kind of like the baseball version of a shootout," Schwarber explained. Initially, it was going to be Eugenio Suárez, Schwarber and Pete Alonso for the NL squad against Brent Rooker, Randy Arozarena and Jonathan Aranda on the AL side. But Suárez had gotten plunked by a 96 mph fastball from Shane Smith earlier in the night. X-rays were negative on Suárez's pinky, but he would need to be replaced in the swing-off. In the bottom of the ninth, one of the NL coaches approached first-time All-Star and lone Marlins representative Kyle Stowers to tell him he would be filling in. Stowers, like the Giants pitchers, had no idea what was happening. "I thought they were kidding," Stowers said. "I literally thought they were messing with me." Once Roberts came and delivered the news, he knew it wasn't a joke. At first, he was hesitant to participate. If he was asked instead of told, he probably would have declined. Ultimately, though, he was grateful that they nudged him to compete. "When I really step back and think about it, I don't know why I was telling them I didn't want to do it or wouldn't have done it," Stowers said. "Those are the moments we all kind of live for as players, to care at that level of intensity in that type of moment." The NL trailed 2-0 in the swing-off after Brent Rooker, who participated in the actual Home Run Derby the night before, homered on two of his three swings. Stowers then cut the deficit to one with a home run on one of his three swings. "I can't stress this enough, as athletes sometimes you get so caught up in the threat of something," Stowers said. "We're human, we have fear of failure — at least for myself, I'll speak for myself — sometimes I can let fear of failure get in the way of opportunity. For me, that was something in that moment I was reminding myself, 'Hey, this is an opportunity to do something cool, something fun.' Those truly are moments I want to be a part of." Randy Arozarena added one home run to the AL's tally, bringing Schwarber to the plate trailing by two homers. "He said he was nervous, but I don't believe him at all," Webb said. "That's the guy you want in that situation." Pitching to Schwarber was Dodgers third-base coach Dino Ebel. On Friday, Ebel's son, Brady, was selected by the Brewers with the 32nd overall pick in the MLB Draft. Two days later, Ebel was helping pitch the National League to an All-Star victory. Schwarber had taken batting practice from Ebel before, back when they were both part of Team USA at the World Baseball Classic. On Tuesday, Ebel asked Schwarber where he wanted the pitch. "Just middle," Schwarber responded. "He's like, 'I got you.' The All-Stars who had stuck around hovered on the dirt outside their respective dugouts, hanging on every pitch. All except for Alonso, who was in the cage getting ready, in case he had the opportunity to finish the task. "I'm watching in the cage as I'm taking my swings, and everyone, you see them going, 'Hell, yeah, Schwarbs!'" Alonso recalled. Ultimately, the NL wouldn't need a third hitter. Schwarber went a perfect 3-for-3, launching home runs 428, 461 and 382 feet to put the NL ahead. Aranda needed one home run to keep the competition going but was unable to sneak a baseball over the fence. Pandemonium ensued in front of the NL dugout as the All-Stars mobbed Schwarber, who earned MVP honors in an All-Star contest unlike any other. "We had a blast watching it, all the guys that were still here," Webb said. "I got a group text of a bunch of other baseball players around the league, and they seemed to really like it, too. I think it was an awesome way to end it." Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on X at @RowanKavner . recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
ABC News
an hour ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Super Netball Round-Up: Finalists locked in, Diamonds announced and Giants set for complete rebuild
It's a bloody good time of year to be a netball fanatic. The regular season is done, the top four are locked in and the Australian Diamonds 2025-26 contracts have been announced. The release of the 18-player national squad was delayed this season without a major tournament to play until the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next year, allowing selectors more time to assess the athletes' form across the entire Super Netball campaign. In Round 14, the Giants farewelled retiring captain Jo Harten with an emotional victory against the Melbourne Mavericks, 74-59. The Adelaide Thunderbirds claimed the last remaining spot in finals and ended the Sunshine Coast Lightning's season, 59-55. The first extra-time game of 2025 happened on the final day of competition as the NSW Swifts handed the Queensland Firebirds their 12th straight defeat, 79-75. Before West Coast Fever broke a regular season Super Netball crowd record for a second straight week, with 12,813 people cheering them on in their win over the Melbourne Vixens, 71-60. It's easy to forget how far the teams have come since April, so we'll give a look back at the different challenges each of the top four sides has overcome to reach finals. Plus, there is a major rebuild expected at the Giants with at least six to seven playing contracts up for grabs. But will any one outside of the existing group want to sign with them without a head coach or captain determined for 2026? If you missed it, don't worry — we'll get you up to speed with our Super Netball Round-Up. Australian head coach Stacey Marinkovich and national selectors Anne Sargeant and Michelle Wilkins have made some interesting decisions regarding the Diamonds squad, choosing to stay loyal to some players who are either battling injury and out of form. Donnell Wallam has been relegated from a fully fledged squad member to a camp invitee despite helping her New Zealand Premiership team reach the grand final. Wallam sits fourth in the league for total goals (275) despite missing four rounds with a wrist injury. Alice Teague-Neeld has been elevated from invitee status and is the only new name that's been added from last year's list. The midcourter leads the 2025 Super Netball goal assist (315) and centre-pass receives (292) stats. Amy Sligar and Teigan O'Shannassy have been named as invitees for the first time, while Erin O'Brien will also attend camp as an injury replacement for O'Shannassy. Shooters Kiera Austin (Vixens) Sophie Dwyer (Giants) Sophie Garbin (Vixens) Cara Koenen (Lightning) Midcourters Paige Hadley (Swifts) Georgie Horjus (Thunderbirds) Kate Moloney (Vixens) Hannah Mundy (Vixens) Amy Parmenter (Mavericks) Jamie-Lee Price (Giants) Alice Teague-Neeld (Fever) Liz Watson (Lightning) Defenders Sunday Aryang (Fever) Courtney Bruce (Lightning) Ash Ervin (Lightning) Matilda Garrett (Thunderbirds) Sarah Klau (Swifts) Joanna Weston (Vixens) Invitees Lucy Austin (Thunderbirds) Erin O'Brien * (Giants) Teigan O'Shannassy (NSW Swifts) Amy Sligar (Giants) Donnell Wallam (Northern Mystics) At this stage we have more questions than answers about the Giants' future. Last week ABC Sport confirmed that external party Mounties Group wanted to take over Netball NSW's second Super Netball licence and that the state body was exploring its proposal regarding a transfer of ownership. Reports suggest that the process has already progressed to the next step and is now waiting on approval from Netball Australia. A decision is expected to be made by next week. Mounties Group told ABC Sport their mission is to help elevate women's sport to an equal level of prominence as our Australian male sporting codes, while setting a benchmark for how private investment can be used for public good. Its junior rugby league programs have produced NRLW players and the South West Mounties Magic won the 2024 Netball NSW Premier League Opens grand final in their debut season. "Sport is one of the most powerful tools we have to improve lives and build communities," Dale Hunt chief executive at Mounties Group said in a media release shared with ABC Sport. "We believe women's sport represents the next frontier for growth in Australia … and are committed to investing in it with a long-term view. "This is about community, representation, and building stronger futures for women and girls." The good news is that if this falls through, Netball NSW will at least see out next season with the Giants, so the state will still have two teams for 2026. But here's where our questions begin. If there is a transfer of ownership, will the Giants be rebranded immediately or would Mounties wait until after the current broadcast deal expires at the end of next year when the league is expected to expand and introduce new teams then anyway. What will become of Julie Fitzgerald? The most experienced coach in Super Netball has been around since the 1990s. Her career has spanned four different iterations of the national league. Last week we reported Fitzgerald planned to carry on in her role, now that situation seems murky. Insiders say Fitzgerald has told the playing group she has coached her final Super Netball game. The club says more information will be provided on her role in the coming weeks. The player contracting window opens in less than three weeks from now after the grand final. Will players want to sign with a team that has such little stability? One of the Giants captains has already left the building. Harten played her final game on Saturday in front of 5,223 fans, sinking the final super shot of the game. It was the team's second highest crowd behind the NSW Derby they hosted this year. Their other captain may also have one foot out the door. Aussie Diamond Jamie-Lee Price is set to follow her AFL playing partner Harry Perryman interstate after he was traded to Collingwood. Price, Sophie Dwyer, Erin O'Brien and Jodi-Ann Ward are all signed for 2026, but several sources believe the midcourter will be released early and switch to a Melbourne team. Ward is unlikely to be back to start 2026 as she recovers from an ACL, while injury replacement Casey Kopua told Fox Netball's Pivot she wasn't interested in returning. That's a lot of experience to lose all at once and leaves at least seven spots to fill on their roster, so it'll need to be a complete rebuild. Fever finished second at the Team Girls Cup pre-season tournament and looked as if they might be okay without Jamaican Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard to spearhead their attack. But those hopes were dashed pretty quickly after they lost their opening two matches by a total of 31 goals. The five-time league MVP had originally planned to sit this season out on maternity leave. Sadly, the club shared the difficult news in January that she had suffered pregnancy loss. Over time, Fowler-Nembhard decided she wanted to return to court and in round three, she made a 59-goal comeback to steer them back on track. The first-time minor premiers now head into finals as the most in-form team on a 12-game winning streak. It's difficult to see anyone beating them from here. The Swifts are the only top four side that has beaten them this season by 18 but it was way back in round one without Fowler-Nembhard. The Swifts have had a huge turnaround between campaigns, after finishing sixth in 2024 and parting ways with two-time premiership winning Trinidad and Tobago import Sam Wallace-Joseph due to behavioural reasons. They then picked up the biggest signing of 2025 to replace that position in New Zealand shooter Grace Nweke. The Swifts got off to a flying start with Nweke up front and claimed eight straight before teams started to figure them out. Now they've lost four of their last six matches including an 11-goal thumping by the Fever. Their success largely hinges on English goal attack Helen Housby and whether she can re-find the spark and dynamic play she possessed at the start of the season. Defender Teigan O'Shannassy will be unavailable for finals due to a back injury and there is also concern for captain Paige Hadley. Their best midcourter was spotted in a moonboot a few weeks ago and has been rested during the last two rounds. The Thunderbirds are gunning for a three-peat, but their chances took a hit when Shamera Sterling-Humphrey was ruled out after round three due to pregnancy. They have boasted the best defensive unit in the competition for the past two seasons but had become very reliant on Sterling-Humphrey. In her absence it took fellow Sunshine Girl Latanya Wilson a few weeks to learn the art of goal keeper. Now she's a frontrunner to be this year's MVP. Matilda Garrett and South African Sanmarie Visser have also rotated in and out of that role with success, so the challenge has now made the Thunderbirds even more versatile at the back. Their losses against Fever have been by five to six goals with Fowler-Nembhard in the team. The Vixens want to send their long-standing head coach Simone McKinnis out in style. After 13 years at the helm, McKinnis announced she will step down at the end of this season. That's enough motivation itself to want to lift the trophy and repay a coach that has done so much for Victorian netball. But on top of that, there's a hunger to right the wrongs of last year. The Vixens lost the 2024 grand final to the Thunderbirds 59-57 and this year's decider will be held at Rod Laver Arena. That's driving them to want to go one better in front of their home fans.
San Francisco Chronicle
2 hours ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
A's Brent Rooker welcomed the chance to do double All-Star HR derby duty
ATLANTA — No one ever had jumped into the box to try to settle the All-Star Game with a Home Run Derby, so it was bizarrely fitting that A's DH Brent Rooker got the first shot Tuesday at Truist Park. 'It's interesting to do two different ones in two different days,' Rooker said after the National League's derby-decided win. ' I was way more nervous for this one.' One night before, Rooker was on the wrong end of two unfortunate events in the traditional pre-All-Star Game Home Run Derby. He was shorted two pitches in the first round when his ball bucket wasn't replenished after he took two warmup pitches, then he was knocked out of that round after an announced tie on longest ball hit with eventual winner Cal Raleigh. When the league went to decimal points to determine who advanced well after the fact, Rooker was short by less than an inch. Tuesday, Rooker got to take three swings and he hit two out. Can we extrapolate that had he gotten his full complement of baseballs Monday, there's a good chance he'd have moved on? More For You Giants ace Logan Webb makes good in his second All-Star Game appearance Is A's Brent Rooker, an early out in the Home Run Derby, on Giants' radar? 'Maybe those were the extra two,' Rooker said with a smile after Tuesday's tiebreaker round. 'They just counted tonight.' He'd never hit off Yankees coach Travis Chapman until about two minutes before the homer-off started, taking about eight swings off him in the cage. Rooker was in the middle of everything in the game, too. He belted a three-run homer off Giants reliever Randy Rodriguez, then was pinch-hit for late in the game. He was hanging out outside the clubhouse with his family before suddenly sprinting back inside — he had to get warmed up for a possible home-derby, the All-Star Game's version of penalty kicks. This was unprecedented. The plan was put in place three years ago, but hadn't been needed until the American League rallied for two runs in the ninth Tuesday, and Rooker was one of the few who knew what was going on. AL manager Aaron Boone told him the day before he needed to stick around after coming out of the game just for this eventuality. 'I said, 'Yeah, absolutely, sounds cool, sounds like a good time,'' Rooker said. On the National League side, there was a lot of confusion, according to Giants pitcher Robbie Ray, who like teammate Logan Webb stayed for the whole thing. Many of the starters had left the stadium by then, which is why the derby didn't feature Shohei Ohtani or Aaron Judge. Ray saw the 'L screen' used for batting practice being readied and thought: 'What is going on right now?' Then NL manager Dave Roberts said in the ninth, '' So, guys, you won't believe this: if the game ends in a tie right now, I pre-selected three guys for a home-run derby.' Nobody knew. We were like, 'Is this really how this is going to happen?' It was definitely wild.' Webb only knew the NL was out of pitchers and he said, jokingly, he'd considered volunteering to go back in for extra innings. (He pitched a scoreless third.) When Webb found out how it was being decided, what he really wanted to do, given his one career homer, was volunteer to hit in the derby, 'but I think Buster (Posey) would probably call somebody,' he said with a laugh. The NL, knowing they had Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso in their corner, figured they were in good shape. Schwarber was the only man to homer on all three of his swings, and that was the difference. He was named the MVP. 'I told him, 'You're just cool,'' Webb said. 'It seems like he's always there in the big moment.' Webb, joshingly, would like to lobby for this to decide all extra-inning games. 'I have got a group text with a couple other players around baseball, and they said that we should never play an extra-innings game again,' Webb said. 'We should always end games just like that.'
San Francisco Chronicle
4 hours ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Giants ace Logan Webb makes good in his second All-Star Game appearance
ATLANTA — Logan Webb was displeased with his All-Star Game performance last year. The San Francisco Giants starter gave up three runs in that affair, relinquishing the National League's early lead and the team went on to lose. Webb was determined to have a better outing Tuesday at Truist Park, but when Junior Caminero cracked a single on Webb's first pitch of the third with the NL up 2-0, it was hard not to think of last year. Webb was having none of it. He got Javier Baez to ground out, the A's Jacob Wilson to fly out and Gleyber Torres to ground out. 'Last year, I wasn't throwing many strikes,' Webb said after coming out of the NL's precedent-setting tiebreaking home run derby win, which was necessitated after the teams finished nine innings knotted at 6-6. 'I didn't have great command last time. It's the same mentality that I always have when I'm throwing: strike one, and then go from there.' In the tiebreaker, the NL outslugged the AL 4-3 with the Phillies' Kyle Schwarber earning game MVP honors by homering on all three of his swings. The Giants pitcher to continue the team's ongoing Atlee Hammaker All-Star pitching curse was reliever Randy Rodriguez. Having allowed only four earned runs all season, Rodriguez came in with two men on in the seventh and gave up a three-run, pinch-hit homer to A's outfielder-DH Brent Rooker then walked a batter and allowed another run on a groundout. He left with his family before speaking to reporters. The NL also got a three-run homer, a shot by Mets first baseman Pete Alonso in the sixth off Royals lefty Kris Bubic, who played at Mitty High School and Stanford. The other two Bay Area pitchers, Bryan Woo (Alameda, Mariners) and Joe Ryan (San Anselmo, Twins) threw 1-2-3 innings. Webb's second time around brought greater familiarity, but he still had some nerves, he said. With 'every guy throwing 95-plus with nasty stuff, hitters are probably happy when I come in the game,' he joked. He needed only 11 pitches to get through his inning, which he likened to a between-starts bullpen session. He last started Friday and he said he's not slated to go Friday at Toronto, so he'll get some extra rest after Tuesday's event. Working with Dodgers catcher Will Smith was a blast for Webb, who's faced Smith 36 times, leading to a lighthearted exchange. 'He came out to the mound and said, 'What do you throw? '' Webb said with a laugh. 'I didn't throw to him last year, but he warmed me up and I threw one about 58 feet, not on purpose, I think I was nervous. I was happy to throw to him this year.' Most of the players behind Webb were from the NL West, with five starters in the lineup. 'That shows we've got a pretty damn good division,' he said Tuesday's game brought the return of players wearing their own team's jerseys in the game, something that had been abandoned after the pandemic. Webb, Rodriguez and Robbie Ray all sported the classic Giants clean pants and jerseys, Ray's including his trademark snug fit. 'I am a big fan of the uniforms, that's what I grew up watching,' Webb said. 'For us Giants, we get to wear the cream uniforms, which is my favorite uniform. I think everyone wanted this; if I'm a Yankees fan, I would like to see Aaron Judge wearing pinstripes.' Ray wasn't eligible to play in the game because he'd started Sunday for the Giants, but he was an enthusiastic participant in every other event, and he handled pregame interview duties for the San Francisco squad. Among other things, he said his son, Asher, had had a blast at the Home Run Derby the night before, running a Gatorade out to Derby champ Cal Raleigh and getting his favorite player, Shohei Ohtani, to sign his hat. 'I'm like 10th on his list,' Ray said. 'I'm just happy I cracked the top 10.' Another development Tuesday: The use of the automatic balls and strikes (ABS) system. Most players said they'd probably forget it was in use in the game, and A's shortstop Wilson, the No. 9 hitter, said with guys like Aaron Judge in the lineup, he probably would cede any challenges to them. When AL starter Tarik Skubal and catcher Raleigh challenged a ball call to Manny Machado in the first inning, Wilson didn't forget — out at shortstop, he patted his hat for a replay along with them, and the call was reversed for an inning-ending strikeout. In the fifth, Wilson challenged a strike call successfully before grounding out. Webb said he was comfortable using the ABS system, citing his successful challenge during the spring, but he didn't get a chance Tuesday. 'I think they swung at everything,' he said with some comic exaggeration. The second inning brought a nice moment for one of the game's greats, Dodgers lefty Clayton Kershaw, who earned a 'legends' spot on the NL roster. He took over from Paul Skenes, got two quick outs, and walked off to a nice ovation, waving to the crowd as he did. Kershaw addressed the NL team before the game at the behest of NL-Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, and, Webb said, 'He was pretty much telling us we're all a lot younger than him, so he was saying, 'Don't take this for granted.' It was really cool, really special.' Just before first pitch, the crowd cheered former Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman, now Kershaw's teammate, as he was interviewed about coming back to Truist Park for the event, and Freeman raved about the Atlanta fans to roars. In the third, Roberts gave Freeman an ovation moment of his own, lifting him with one out in the inning so he could leave the field to cheers. The All-Star Game initially was pulled from Atlanta in 2021 over the state's restrictive voting laws, which remain on the books. Asked Tuesday why MLB changed tacks, commission Rob Manfred told members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America that 'there was really a need to come back here' based on 'the level of interest, the level of excitement, the great facility, the support this market has given to the Atlanta Blaze and baseball generally.'
Newsweek
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
NY Giants' Russell Wilson Lands Comparison to NFC East Rival
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. On Monday morning, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler revealed the results of anonymous NFL executives, coaches, and scouts voting on the league's top 10 quarterbacks. Unsurprisingly, the New York Giants did not have a representative on the list. However, Russell Wilson still landed a mention. Sitting at No. 9 on the list is one of Wilson's new rivals, Jalen Hurts. The most recent Super Bowl Champion was reportedly linked to Wilson based on the opinion of "more than a few" anonymous voters. Per Fowler, they see "shaes" of Wilson in Hurts. "More than a few voters see shades of a Russell Wilson career arc," Fowler explained. "Hurts has many traits that contribute to winning at a high level, but needs a steady running game around him and wouldn't necessarily thrive in a pass-heavy system." Russell Wilson #3 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks to pass in the second quarter of a game against the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium on November 17, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Russell Wilson #3 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks to pass in the second quarter of a game against the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium on November 17, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Wilson's years with the Seattle Seahawks, he was consistently among the top quarterbacks in the game. Not only was he a dual-threat, but the Seahawks had one of the more notable rushers in their backfield with Marshawn Lynch. The comparison is understandable, but also loose. From the time he entered the NFL as a rookie third-rounder to his final season in Seattle, Wilson averaged nearly 475 passing attempts per season. Through Hurts' first five years in the NFL, he exceeded that total just once. When Hurts was tasked with nearly 540 passing attempts throughout the 2023 NFL season, he turned the ball over at a career-high rate. The veteran quarterback ended up throwing 15 interceptions while tossing 23 touchdowns. Hurts finished the 2023 season with 3,858 yards. In 2024, the Eagles added the Giants' former star rusher, Saquon Barkley. The presence of Barkley changed the Eagles' offensive approach. As the veteran running back took on 345 carries, more than ever did in a Giants uniform, the star running back totaled over 2,000 yards on the ground. As the executives suggest, a stronger run game around Hurts helped the Eagles find the highest level of success in the NFL as they won the Super Bowl in 2025. When it comes to Wilson, the Giants are the ones banking on him to be successful these days. With Seattle, Denver, and Pittsburgh in the rearview, it feels like New York will be Wilson's final chance to prove he's a starter in the NFL. The 36-year-old has struggled to find the same rhythm he once had with the Seahawks. Matching him up with the young stud, Malik Nabers, the Giants hope that Wilson's career keeps on a successful path as they would like to compete with Hurts and the rest of the NFC East. For more New York Giants and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports
