Tag: MLB

Baseball introduces more rule changes in effort to speed up play

by Bob Young
  • Slug: SPORTS-Baseball rule changes, 683 words
  • Photo included (thumbnail attached below).

By ANDRE SIMMS
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – With only about two weeks to go in spring training, managers are whittling down rosters and getting a much clearer picture of what lies ahead in the regular season.

What isn’t as clear is how a batch of rule changes that Major League Baseball unveiled Thursday will impact the game. Some of the rules will be in effect on Opening Day. Even more are coming in 2020.

As with other recent changes, most of the focus is on pace of play. However, MLB also eliminated the August non-waiver trade deadline beginning this season. Instead of two deadlines, there will be a single non-waiver trade deadline July 31. Players can still be claimed off of waivers after July 31, but cannot be traded.

Continue reading “Baseball introduces more rule changes in effort to speed up play”

Hall of Fame-bound Selig impacted growth of baseball in Arizona

by Paola Boivin
  • Slug: SELIG, 640 words
  • No photo

By HALEY STESIAK
Cronkite News

PHOENIX — Arizona has become synonymous with baseball. Its growth in the Grand Canyon State is due in large part to Commissioner Emeritus Bud Selig.

When Selig took over Major League Baseball’s leadership in July of 1998, eight teams trained in the state for spring training and the Arizona Diamondbacks were in their inaugural season.

Today, Arizona is home to 15 MLB teams and 10 facilities, many state of the art.

It’s one of the reasons Selig will be inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame in July. Continue reading “Hall of Fame-bound Selig impacted growth of baseball in Arizona”

Diamondbacks front office, clubhouse filled with new faces

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: Sports-Diamondbacks newcomers,515
  • Photos available (thumbnails, captions below)

By ANNALIESE LEON
Cronkite News

PHOENIX — In baseball, players don’t always reach the major leagues with the team that drafted them.

“This game is full of surprises, you got to be prepared for everything,” said Diamondbacks pitcher Matt Koch, a local example.

The Diamondbacks acquired Koch from the Mets farm system in a 2015 trade. He has teammates who also came from elsewhere. Shortstop Jack Reinheimer came from Seattle Mariners system, and pitcher Anthony Banda from the Milwaukee Brewers.

Banda doesn’t mind. Continue reading “Diamondbacks front office, clubhouse filled with new faces”