Archive for June 29th, 2017
Written by Dan Hock on 29 June 2017


Corey Kluber Indians (2013 photo by Keith Allison via wikipedia commons)
Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber has been named the American League Player of the Week for the period ending June 25th.
In recognition of his American League Player of the Week Award, Corey Kluber will be awarded a watch courtesy of Rockwell.
Outfielder Lonnie Chisenhall (.417/.458/.500) and Ramírez (.393, 6 R, 6 XBH) supported their ace last week with impressive performances. Cleveland’s offense scored 12 runs during Kluber’s shutout last Monday, the most runs by any team in the Majors in a shutout this season. Ramírez logged a nine-game multi-hit streak from June 14th-21st, leading the Tribe to a 7-2 record. During his torrid stretch, José slashed .548/.578/1.048 with 12 runs scored, 10 doubles, a triple, three home runs and seven RBI. Other noteworthy performances last week included outfielder Josh Reddick (.500, 8 R, 6 XBH) of the Houston Astros; outfielder Carlos Gomez (7 R, 4 HR, 8 RBI) of the Texas Rangers; outfielder Ben Gamel (.346, 6 R, 4 XBH) of the Seattle Mariners; and starting pitcher Daniel Gossett (1-1, 1.42 ERA, 11 SO, 12.2 IP) of the Oakland Athletics.
Kluber went 1-0 without allowing a run over 16.0 innings to earn his third career AL Player of the Week Award, last winning on September 22, 2014. Corey struck out 24 batters, and issued just two free passes and six hits in two dominant starts last week. Among qualified AL hurlers, Kluber finished first in innings pitched and strikeouts, and tied for first in ERA. Additionally, the 31-year-old delivered his second complete-game shutout of the 2017 season last Monday against the Baltimore Orioles (also April 21st). This is Cleveland’s second consecutive weekly award, following Corey’s teammate, third baseman José Ramírez.
In his first start against the Orioles, Kluber logged the 12th complete game and fifth complete-game shutout of his career, retiring 27-of-30 batters faced. The 2016 AL All-Star became one of four players in franchise history since 1913 to log a shutout with fewer than three hits, zero walks and 11-or-more strikeouts, joining Stan Williams (1968), Len Barker (1981) and teammate Josh Tomlin (2014). Since registering his first complete game during his Cy Young Award-winning season in 2014, Kluber’s 12 complete games trail only Madison Bumgarner of the San Francisco Giants and Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers for the most in the Majors during that span (13). In his second start during his outstanding week on Saturday afternoon against the Minnesota Twins, the Birmingham, Alabama native tallied 13 punchouts, while surrendering just three hits, two walks and two unearned runs. The 13-strikeout effort was his third consecutive start with at least 10-strikeouts, matching the longest streak of his career (also September 16-26, 2014), and trails the franchise record of four consecutive starts set by Hall of Famer Bob Feller (September 23, 1938-April 21, 1939). In five starts since being reinstated from the disabled list on June 1st, Cleveland’s ace has gone 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA and 52 strikeouts over 35.0 innings of work.
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Written by Dan Hock on 29 June 2017


Cody Bellinger (courtesy MLBpressbox.com)
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger has been named the National League Player of the Week for the period ending June 25th. The announcement was made earlier today on MLB Network.
Outfielder Michael Taylor (.444, 7 R, 3 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI) of the Washington Nationals was also impressive last week. The 26-year-old recorded his first multi-homer game of the season on Saturday, and second of his career (also June 19, 2016), while matching a career high with four hits. Starting pitcher R.A. Dickey (2-0, 0.64 ERA, 14.0 IP, 12 SO) of the Atlanta Braves logged two outstanding starts last week, posting 7.0 innings and six strikeouts in both outings. Other noteworthy performances last week included Cody’s teammate Justin Turner (.455, 9 R, 4 XBH, 6 RBI); outfielder Curtis Granderson (.455, 7 R, 6 XBH, 5 RBI) of the New York Mets; starting pitcher Gerritt Cole (1-0, 1.38 ERA, 13.0 IP, 10 SO) of the Pittsburgh Pirates; and first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (.417, 8 R, 3 XBH, 8 RBI) of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
In recognition of his National League Player of the Week Award, Cody Bellinger will be awarded a watch courtesy of Rockwell.
Bellinger posted a slash line of .370/.400/1.037 with seven runs scored, three doubles, five home runs and 12 RBI over seven games to claim his second career NL Player of the Week Award, last winning earlier this season on May 8th. Cody, who made his Major League debut on April 25th, is the first player in the Majors this season to garner multiple weekly honors. The 21-year-old rookie paced the Majors in home runs, RBI and total bases (28), while among NL leaders, finished the period third in slugging percentage, tied for fourth in hits and tied for fifth in doubles.
Bellinger began his award-winning week in historic fashion last Monday, going 3-for-5 with a pair of home runs and four RBI. The multi-homer effort was his fifth of the 2017 season and propelled him to becoming the fastest player in MLB history to reach 21 round-trippers (51 career games). Additionally, the Scottsdale, Arizona native surpassed Adrian Beltre (20 HR, 2000) to log the most home runs as a Dodger in a season at age 21-or-younger. The following night, the dynamic slugger connected for his 22nd home run of the season in a game that saw Los Angeles record a season-high-tying five homers. With the prolific output, the Dodgers had blasted 27 home runs in its previous 10 games, establishing a new franchise record for homers over any 10-game span. For Bellinger, it was his 10th home run over his last 10 games (June 10th-20th), and he became just the second player in team history to log 10 homers in 10 contests, joining Shawn Green (May 2002). In addition, Cody became the first rookie in Major League history to accomplish the feat, and was the first big league player to do so since Troy Tulowitzki (September 8-18, 2010). In Sunday’s contest against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium, Bellinger finished his extraordinary week with another three-hit effort, including two home runs and four RBI. Not even halfway through the season, Cody enters play today with six multi-homer efforts, and trails only Mark McGwire (7) for the most multi-homer games as a rookie in MLB history. The overall single-season mark of 11 multi-homer games is held by Hall of Famer Hank Greenberg (1938) and Sammy Sosa (1998).
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Written by Christiana Santiago on 29 June 2017


Referees September 12, 2008 by Illegitimate Barrister - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
EIGHT FIRST-YEAR NFL OFFICIALS AMONG 2017 CLASS
The NFL roster of game officials for the 2017 season will include eight first-year NFL officials among the group of 124, the league announced today.
Line judge BRIAN BOLINGER (Big Ten), line judge MIKE CARR (Big Ten), side judge RYAN DICKSON (Pac-12), down judge DAVID OLIVER (SEC), field judge MEARL ROBINSON (Pac-12), field judge BRAD ROGERS (SEC), line judgeDANNY SHORT (ACC), and umpire STEVE WOODS (Big Ten) will make their NFL officiating debuts this season.
All 17 referees from 2016 will return in 2017 and lead seven-person on-field officiating crews, led by the dean of NFL officials, WALT COLEMAN, who enters his 29th season.
An instant replay official will work as part of each of the 17 officiating crews, including TERRI VALENTI, who becomes the first female replay official in NFL history. Valenti has worked in instant replay for the NFL for the past five seasons, serving as a replay communicator from 2012-15 and a replay assistant in 2016 before being promoted to her current position. Prior to turning her focus to replay, Valenti was an on-field official at the high school, collegiate and professional level (Arena Football League, United Football League), as well as in various international football leagues.
Five officials will not be assigned to crews and will work with different crews throughout the season. In addition to these five officials, there will be more rotation of officials among the crews to ensure the most consistent officiating across the league.
Twelve officials will work at new positions this season in an effort to capitalize on the particular strengths of each official as well as balance the needs of the overall officiating staff.
In addition, the position formerly known as “head linesman” will be called “down judge” beginning this season to more accurately depict the primary responsibility of the role — ensuring the correct down and distance — as well as to eliminate the gender-based classification of the position.
Three sets of fathers and sons are included among the roster of officials — Coleman and his son, WALT IV; ED HOCHULI and his son, SHAWN; and STEVE FREEMAN and his son, BRAD — and four sets of brothers – ALLEN andRUSTY BAYNES; JEFF and JERRY BERGMAN; CARL, DINO & PERRY PAGANELLI; and GENE and TONY STERATORE.
Steve Freeman and PHIL MC KINNELY are the only current game officials to have also enjoyed NFL playing careers. Freeman played for 13 seasons, including 12 as a defensive back with the Buffalo Bills from 1975–86. McKinnely played for seven seasons on the offensive line from 1976–82, including five seasons with the Atlanta Falcons from 1976–80.
The following is the complete 2017 NFL roster of officials, including crew assignments, which may change during the season due to injury, schedule conflicts, etc.:
No. |
Name |
Pos. |
College |
Crew |
NFL Experience
(including 2017) |
122 |
Brad Allen |
R |
Pembroke State |
Allen |
4 |
20 |
Barry Anderson |
U |
North Carolina State |
Wrolstad |
11 |
66 |
Walt Anderson |
R |
Texas |
Anderson |
22 |
108 |
Gary Arthur |
LJ |
Wright State |
Steratore |
21 |
72 |
Michael Banks |
FJ |
Illinois State |
McAulay |
16 |
56 |
Allen Baynes |
SJ |
Auburn |
Hussey |
10 |
59 |
Rusty Baynes |
LJ |
Auburn-Montgomery |
Hochuli |
8 |
32 |
Jeff Bergman |
DJ |
Robert Morris |
Triplette |
26 |
91 |
Jerry Bergman |
DJ |
Robert Morris |
McAulay |
16 |
34 |
Clete Blakeman |
R |
Nebraska |
Blakeman |
10 |
23 |
Jerome Boger |
R |
Morehouse |
Boger |
14 |
40 |
Brian Bolinger |
LJ |
Indiana State |
Allen |
1 |
18 |
Byron Boston |
LJ |
Austin |
Anderson |
23 |
74 |
Derick Bowers |
DJ |
East Central |
Coleman |
15 |
98 |
Greg Bradley |
DJ |
Tennessee |
Hochuli |
9 |
43 |
Terry Brown |
SJ* |
Tennessee |
Triplette |
12 |
11 |
Fred Bryan |
U |
Northern Iowa |
Allen |
9 |
86 |
Jimmy Buchanan |
FJ |
South Carolina State |
Hussey |
9 |
134 |
Ed Camp |
DJ |
William Paterson |
Boger |
18 |
63 |
Mike Carr |
LJ |
Wisconsin |
Boger |
1 |
60 |
Gary Cavaletto |
SJ |
Hancock |
Vinovich |
15 |
41 |
Boris Cheek |
SJ |
Morgan State |
Morelli |
22 |
51 |
Carl Cheffers |
R |
California-Irvine |
Cheffers |
18 |
16 |
Kevin Codey |
LJ |
Western New England |
Coleman |
3 |
95 |
James Coleman |
SJ |
Arkansas |
Coleman |
13 |
65 |
Walt Coleman |
R |
Arkansas |
Coleman |
29 |
87 |
Walt Coleman IV |
SJ |
Southern Methodist |
Boger |
3 |
99 |
Tony Corrente |
R |
Cal State-Fullerton |
Corrente |
23 |
94 |
Hugo Cruz |
DJ |
Texas-Pan American |
Blakeman |
3 |
25 |
Ryan Dickson |
SJ |
Utah |
Corrente |
1 |
27 |
Lee Dyer |
BJ |
Tennessee-Chattanooga |
Wrolstad |
15 |
76 |
Alan Eck |
U* |
Bloomsburg |
Corrente |
2 |
3 |
Scott Edwards |
SJ* |
Alabama |
Torbert |
19 |
81 |
Roy Ellison |
U |
Savannah State |
Steratore |
15 |
61 |
Keith Ferguson |
BJ |
San Jose State |
Hussey |
18 |
64 |
Dan Ferrell |
U |
Cal State-Fullerton |
|
15 |
71 |
Ruben Fowler |
U |
Huston-Tillotson |
Triplette |
12 |
88 |
Brad Freeman |
SJ* |
Mississippi State |
Cheffers |
4 |
133 |
Steve Freeman |
BJ |
Mississippi State |
Triplette |
17 |
80 |
Greg Gautreaux |
FJ* |
S.W. Louisiana |
Triplette |
16 |
128 |
Ramon George |
U |
Lenoir-Rhyne |
Blakeman |
2 |
103 |
Eugene Hall |
FJ |
North Texas |
Boger |
4 |
49 |
Rich Hall |
U |
Arizona |
Boger |
14 |
125 |
Laird Hayes |
SJ |
Princeton |
Anderson |
23 |
93 |
Scott Helverson |
BJ |
Iowa |
Hochuli |
15 |
29 |
Adrian Hill |
SJ* |
Buffalo |
Steratore |
8 |
97 |
Tom Hill |
FJ |
Carson Newman |
Allen |
19 |
28 |
Mark Hittner |
DJ |
Pittsburg State |
Wrolstad |
21 |
85 |
Ed Hochuli |
R |
Texas-El Paso |
Hochuli |
28 |
83 |
Shawn Hochuli |
BJ |
Claremont |
Allen |
4 |
82 |
Buddy Horton |
FJ |
Oregon State |
Corrente |
19 |
37 |
Jim Howey |
DJ/LJ |
Erskine |
|
19 |
35 |
John Hussey |
R |
Idaho State |
Hussey |
16 |
117 |
John Jenkins |
FJ |
St. Mary’s |
Anderson |
4 |
101 |
Carl Johnson |
LJ |
Nicholls State |
McAulay |
14 |
55 |
Alex Kemp |
SJ |
Central Michigan |
Hochuli |
4 |
121 |
Paul King |
U |
Nicholls State |
Torbert |
9 |
21 |
Jeff Lamberth |
SJ |
Texas A&M |
Wrolstad |
16 |
73 |
Joe Larrew |
FJ* |
St. Louis |
Blakeman |
16 |
2 |
Bart Longson |
LJ |
Brigham Young |
Corrente |
3 |
89 |
Jon Lucivansky |
FJ |
Minnesota |
Vinovich |
9 |
10 |
Julian Mapp |
LJ |
Grambling State |
Wrolstad |
9 |
107 |
Ron Marinucci |
LJ |
Glassboro State |
Hussey |
21 |
19 |
Clay Martin |
U |
Oklahoma Baptist |
Cheffers |
3 |
39 |
Rich Martinez |
BJ |
Canisius |
McAulay |
4 |
77 |
Terry McAulay |
R |
Louisiana State |
McAulay |
20 |
8 |
Dana McKenzie |
LJ |
Toledo |
Blakeman |
10 |
110 |
Phil McKinnely |
DJ |
UCLA |
Vinovich |
16 |
48 |
Jim Mello |
DJ |
Northeastern |
Allen |
14 |
118 |
Dave Meslow |
FJ* |
Augsburg |
Parry |
7 |
78 |
Greg Meyer |
BJ |
Texas Christian |
Vinovich |
16 |
115 |
Tony Michalek |
U |
Indiana |
Hussey |
16 |
111 |
Terrence Miles |
BJ |
Arizona State |
Coleman |
10 |
120 |
Jonah Monroe |
SJ |
Arkansas |
McAulay |
3 |
135 |
Pete Morelli |
R |
St. Mary’s |
Morelli |
21 |
92 |
Bryan Neale |
U |
Indiana |
Morelli |
4 |
1 |
Scott Novak |
FJ* |
Phoenix |
Coleman |
4 |
24 |
David Oliver |
DJ |
Baker |
Steratore |
1 |
124 |
Carl Paganelli |
U |
Michigan State |
Anderson |
19 |
105 |
Dino Paganelli |
BJ |
Aquinas |
Steratore |
12 |
46 |
Perry Paganelli |
BJ |
Hope |
Parry |
20 |
132 |
John Parry |
R |
Purdue |
Parry |
18 |
17 |
Steve Patrick |
BJ |
Jacksonville State |
Blakeman |
4 |
15 |
Rick Patterson |
FJ/SJ |
Wofford |
|
22 |
79 |
Kent Payne |
LJ* |
Nebraska Wesleyan |
Cheffers |
14 |
131 |
Mark Pellis |
U |
Allegheny |
Parry |
4 |
9 |
Mark Perlman |
LJ |
Salem |
Vinovich |
17 |
6 |
Jerod Phillips |
DJ |
Northeastern State |
Anderson |
2 |
47 |
Tim Podraza |
LJ |
Nebraska |
Morelli |
10 |
109 |
Dyrol Prioleau |
SJ |
Johnson C. Smith |
Blakeman |
11 |
30 |
Todd Prukop |
BJ |
Cal State-Fullerton |
Corrente |
9 |
5 |
Jim Quirk |
BJ |
Middlebury |
Cheffers |
8 |
44 |
Jeff Rice |
U |
Northwestern |
Coleman |
23 |
31 |
Mearl Robinson |
FJ |
Air Force |
Cheffers |
1 |
126 |
Brad Rogers |
FJ |
Lubbock Christian |
Morelli |
1 |
50 |
Aaron Santi |
FJ |
Southern Oregon |
Torbert |
3 |
129 |
Bill Schuster |
U |
Alfred |
|
18 |
45 |
Jeff Seeman |
LJ |
Minnesota |
Parry |
16 |
104 |
Dale Shaw |
FJ |
Allegheny |
Hochuli |
5 |
113 |
Danny Short |
LJ |
North Carolina-Charlotte |
Triplette |
1 |
14 |
Shawn Smith |
U |
Ferris State |
Hochuli |
3 |
90 |
Mike Spanier |
DJ |
St. Cloud State |
Parry |
19 |
12 |
Greg Steed |
BJ |
Howard |
Morelli |
15 |
84 |
Mark Steinkerchner |
LJ |
Akron |
Torbert |
24 |
22 |
Steve Stelljes |
DJ |
Friends |
Morelli |
16 |
68 |
Tom Stephan |
DJ/LJ |
Pittsburg State |
|
19 |
114 |
Gene Steratore |
R |
Kent State |
Steratore |
15 |
112 |
Tony Steratore |
BJ |
California, Pa. |
Boger |
18 |
102 |
Bruce Stritesky |
U |
Embry Riddle |
Vinovich |
12 |
100 |
Tom Symonette |
DJ* |
Florida |
Cheffers |
14 |
53 |
Sarah Thomas |
DJ* |
Mobile |
Torbert |
3 |
62 |
Ron Torbert |
R |
Michigan State |
Torbert |
8 |
42 |
Jeff Triplette |
R |
Wake Forest |
Triplette |
22 |
13 |
Patrick Turner |
DJ |
Cal State-Long Beach |
Corrente |
4 |
52 |
Bill Vinovich |
R |
San Diego |
Vinovich |
13 |
123 |
Ed Walker |
DJ |
San Jose State |
Hussey |
4 |
26 |
Jabir Walker |
SJ |
Murray State |
Allen |
3 |
7 |
Keith Washington |
SJ |
Virginia Military Institute |
Parry |
10 |
116 |
Mike Weatherford |
FJ |
Oklahoma State |
Steratore |
16 |
119 |
Greg Wilson |
BJ |
USC |
Anderson |
10 |
54 |
Steve Woods |
U |
Wabash |
McAulay |
1 |
4 |
Craig Wrolstad |
R |
Washington |
Wrolstad |
15 |
38 |
Greg Yette |
BJ |
Howard |
Torbert |
8 |
33 |
Steve Zimmer |
FJ |
Hofstra |
Wrolstad |
21 |
*Denotes new position for 2017
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Written by Dan Hock on 29 June 2017

John Farrell 2013 photo By Keith Allison - Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0, https commons.wikimedia.org
Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell has received a one-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for his actions during an argument with Umpire Bill Miller in the top of the seventh inning of his Club’s Saturday game against the Los Angeles Angels at Fenway Park. Joe Torre, Chief Baseball Officer for Major League Baseball, made the announcement.
Farrell served the suspension, on Tuesday, June 27 when the Red Sox played host the Minnesota Twins at Fenway.
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Written by Christiana Santiago on 29 June 2017

Hiram Bithorn Stadium in Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Ric, 2010 by Bryce Edwards; via wikipedia commons
Games mark the fifth time MLB regular season games will be played on the island


The Cleveland Indians and the Minnesota Twins will meet in a two-game series at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico on April 17th-18th, 2018, Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association announced today. The games will mark the first time that either team has played in Puerto Rico.
The two-game set, which will serve as Twins home games, will represent the first regular season games played in Puerto Rico since the New York Mets and the Miami Marlins held a three-game series at the historic ballpark in June 2010.
“The Minnesota Twins are honored to visit Puerto Rico and represent Major League Baseball in this international showcase,” Twins President & CEO Dave St. Peter said. “The Twins look forward to joining MLB and the Cleveland Indians organization in celebrating Puerto Rico’s rich baseball heritage and growing influence on our game.”
“It is a dream come true for me to play in Puerto Rico,” Indians All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor said. “When the Montreal Expos played in Puerto Rico, I remember going to those games and thinking to myself, ‘I would love to be here playing in front of my country and people.’ Now that we have the opportunity next April, it is a dream realized for me. These will be the most memorable regular season games of my career, for sure.”
MLB also held regular season games in San Juan in 2001, when the Texas Rangers and the Toronto Blue Jays opened the regular season, and in 2003 and 2004, when the Montreal Expos played a portion of their home schedule at Hiram Bithorn Stadium.
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