GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Clayton Kershaw is pleased practically everybody in the sport seized the opportunity to tee off on the cheating Houston Astros and Commissioner Rob Manfred's handling of the scandal over the past several days.

The Los Angeles Dodgers' veteran ace also believes it's time for baseball to go back to work.

"This type of thing has never happened before, and people are upset by it," Kershaw said Tuesday after the Dodgers' first full squad workout of the spring. "People feel cheated, and rightfully so. The only thing I will say now is we've got a great season coming up. Everybody is really excited about baseball. Baseball is in a great spot. We've got a lot of incredible players."

Kershaw echoed the vibe around the clubhouse with the team that was among the most damaged by -- and the angriest about -- the Astros' use of illegal methods during their 2017 World Series championship run. The Dodgers haven't cooled down about the revelations, but Kershaw thinks that energy can be channeled into a quest to win an untainted ring in 2020.

MVP Cody Bellinger and Justin Turner ripped Houston and Manfred with equal zeal, while Los Angeles closer Kenley Jansen called it "the worst thing that could have happened to baseball. Worse than steroids, in my opinion."

Three-time AL MVP Mike Trout from the crosstown Los Angeles Angels joined the chorus Monday, and Kershaw was glad to see that as well.

"To hear that you've lost respect from the best player in the game like that, that hurts," Kershaw said. "I think the message is getting sent loud and clear that this is unprecedented."

Kershaw repeatedly made the point that the players' righteous indignation can serve as fuel to power a loaded team that added Mookie Betts and David Price shortly before camp opened.

Dodgers President Stan Kasten had a simple message when he addressed the team during its morning clubhouse meeting: the Astros' misdeeds are terrible, but that won't help the Dodgers this summer.

"If you look at the last four, five years, we've won more baseball games than anyone in baseball," manager Dave Roberts said. "So it's just the challenge of putting the blinders on, and now it's time to play baseball and get better each day."

Kershaw said the negativity of the atmosphere around the cheating scandal is putting a damper on a typical time of optimism.

"I love baseball," Kershaw said. "I'm excited about it, and I'm just thinking about the 12-year-old kid that hears all this stuff, and it's hard to decipher. It's just a lot of negative, negative, negative, and rightfully so. It's a lot of stuff that's going on that shouldn't have happened. But at the same time, this season is happening. We're excited about it."

Kershaw said he would like to see more headlines about the Washington Nationals, who knocked the seven-time NL West champion Dodgers out of the division series last October. That defeat ended LA's 106-victory season in disappointing fashion coming off back-to-back NL pennants.

Once the focus turns away from the Astros, Kershaw also hopes to hear more talk about the Dodgers' renewed commitment to winning, particularly with the acquisitions of Betts and Price.

"The Dodgers are doing all they can to win," said Cubs star Kris Bryant, who has also been subjected to trade speculation. "They really want to win, and that's kind of admirable. They're really going for it. They traded away a really good outfielder that really helped their team last year for maybe one year of Mookie Betts, which they saw as a chance to get them a World Series. Good for them. I wish more teams would kind of follow that in terms of really trying to win, go all in."

NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Nothing like a little encouragement from Hammerin' Hank himself to show the way at spring training for the Atlanta Braves.

The Braves welcomed Hall of Fame slugger Hank Aaron to their first full-squad workout and named a street for him at their new complex Tuesday, starting off a season full of high expectations.

"It's awesome, we're so appreciative," manager Brian Snitker said. "We talked in the winter of him coming down. I told the guys and Hank we'd like to have him around more."

Proud to introduce at CoolToday Park...

Hank Aaron Way ? pic.twitter.com/Ei6OD5Oczf

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) February 18, 2020

The two-time NL East champions intend to put some pressure on themselves this year.

The Braves signed outfielder Marcell Ozuna, starting pitcher Cole Hamels and reliever Will Smith in the offseason, and gave contract extensions to general manager Alex Anthopolous, Snitker and his coaching staff.

That's all intended to boost a team that went 97-65 last season, but lost to Ozuna and the St. Louis Cardinals in a five-game Division Series.

Atlanta hasn't won a playoff series since 2001, with one-and-done showings the last nine years it reached the postseason. The Braves last won the World Series in 1995 -- before that, it was 1957 when Aaron helped spur a Game 7 victory at Yankee Stadium.

With star first baseman Freddie Freeman proclaiming "World Series or nothing," the tone is set.

"I kind of feel that way too," Snitker said. "I felt that way last year."

"I told the guys, the first box to check off is the division. That's got to be the goal," he said.

The Braves are looking for a new starting third baseman and seeking to spread playing time to a surplus of outfielders.

They also are seeking a No. 4 and No. 5 starter while Hamels recuperates in Dallas after experiencing some shoulder discomfort. He's expected to miss about three weeks of spring training.

The Braves chose not to match the four-year, $92 million contract third baseman Josh Donaldson signed with the Minnesota Twins.

Johan Camargo, who lost 18 pounds in the offseason, and Austin Riley are the top candidates to replace Donaldson.

"It's an opportunity to win a job," Riley said. "I have to come out and show what I can do and help this team win."

Riley said he's been told he's going to get more reps at third base and that there has been no talk about outfield work.

"But they also said be ready for anything," he said.

Adding there's no tension between he and Camargo, Riley said while they're competing, their goals are the same.

"We both want to help this team win," he said. I think there's a sense of urgency. The guys want and expect to be in the World Series."

Snitker said he plans on giving both players starts as opposed to one replacing the other during games.

With Ozuna signing a one-year contract, the Braves have five outfielders who had 130 or more plate appearances last season. That includes Ronald Acuna (715), Ozuna (549), Nick Markakis (469), Ender Inciarte (230) and Adam Duvall (130).

"It's tough, outfield is hard," Snitker said. "We're going to need to use all of the Grapefruit League."

At 36, Markakis is a major league veteran of 14 years. He said he feels like he's 21 and still has the same hunger.

"I'm up for the challenge," he said. "I'm excited. I'm here to help the team any way I can. I've always had competitive juices, I don't need much motivation."

"Now, I will say, I didn't like (Ozuna) last year in the playoffs," he said.

Ozuna said going from beating the Braves to joining them is "a little weird. Now we are family."

Snitker said he talked to former Braves manager Bobby Cox this week but doesn't expect him to make it to spring training. Cox suffered a stroke last April. "It's tough for me not having him around," Snitker said.

British number two Cameron Norrie beat Taylor Fritz of the United States 6-4 6-7 6-4 at the Delray Beach Open in Florida on Tuesday.

The 24-year-old, who is ranked world number 60, will play Brandon Nakashima in the second round on Wednesday.

British number three Kyle Edmund, who won the New York Open title on Sunday, withdrew from his first round match against Ugo Humbert because of illness.

Top seed Australian Nick Kyrigos withdrew with a wrist injury.

NASHVILLE – Officials at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway have confirmed the return of the Bandolero division for the upcoming season.

The INEX Bandoleros are governed by the same organization as INEX U.S. Legends Cars Int’l.

Music City USA’s Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway has a rich history with the INEX Bandoleros, hosting the National event during the 2005 season. Josh Williams (Bandolero Bandits), Trey Maughan (Bandolero Outlaws) and Brandon McReynolds (Bandolero Young Guns) used the national meet to claim titles for the series.

Throughout the history of the Bandolero series, the quarter mile track at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway has seen the likes of Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney and Bubba Wallace compete.  All three today are current drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series.

The track hosted local divisions during the early time period of the 2000’s.  Chase and Chaz Chaffin racing debut at the speedway came in the Bandolero series. Chase and Chaz, both have advanced to the high banked five-eighths mile oval at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.  Chaz Chaffin locked down the 2017 Super Truck championship competing on the five-eighths mile track.

Hunter Taylor, son of second-generation driver Jon Taylor, plans to make his Bandolero debut this season, moving from the quarter-midget ranks. Courtney Curran, daughter of Mike Curran, the young lady of the group, has made tremendous strides in karting and is moving to the Bandolero division this season.

Trenton Hubbell, son of Pure Stock driver Jason Hubbell, will be a rookie, as this season in the Bandoleros will be his first encounter of competition.

The local talent base coming from the Quarter-Midgets and Bandoleros ranks has increased over the years, spilling over into the five-eighths mile high bank oval.  Jackson Boone, the defending Pro Late Model champion at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, has two Nashville Quarter-Midget titles, with 75 wins during that time period. Hunter Wright, a three-time INEX Legends champion at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, used the quarter-midget cars on his way to now competing in the Pro Late Model division, driving a car out of the Wayne Day Racing shop.

The Bandolero division serves as a steppingstone between a quarter-midget or go-kart and a race car that is simple for everybody to use. The driver operates a Bandolero in a similar manner to a go-kart with left foot braking. The car is equipped with a centrifugal clutch so the driver does not have to shift gears.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — While the majority of the focus from Monday night’s finish to the 62nd annual Daytona 500 was on the health of Ryan Newman, he wasn’t the only driver at the center of the storm.

Corey LaJoie also took a major shunt during the frightening crash that ended The Great American Race, plowing into the driver’s side of Newman’s flipping race car as he steamed toward the finish line.

LaJoie was credited with an eighth-place finish, just ahead of Newman, who crossed the line ninth while upside down and showering sparks.

Newman was transported to Halifax Health Medical Center, where he remains as of Tuesday afternoon.

Roush Fenway Racing relayed Newman’s condition as “serious” in the team’s first update provided on Monday night, but with non-life-threatening injuries.

LaJoie, a third-generation racer, was checked and released from the infield medical center, where he quickly met with reporters and expressed extreme concern for Newman’s well-being.

“The narrative kind of changed a little bit (when) I heard he (Newman) went straight to the hospital,” LaJoie said. “That’s obviously scary. I got a big push there coming to the white (flag). I don’t know who was pushing me and I kind of stalled out and I don’t know who hooked Newman. I was hoping he would kind of bounce off the fence to the left, but he didn’t and I hit him. I don’t know exactly where I hit him. I haven’t seen a replay. It was some scary stuff.

“Don’t get me wrong; my car was on fire and my seat belts grabbed all sorts of areas, but it was a good day for us,” added LaJoie, who started the race in a backup car and also battled electrical issues before Monday afternoon’s resumption. “I just hope Ryan is OK.”

LaJoie recounted further details on Tuesday morning, joining ABC’s Good Morning America for a nationally televised interview.

He was quick to tell GMA co-host Michael Strahan he didn’t know anything further about Newman’s condition, again expressing well wishes for the 42-year-old’s health and impending road to recovery.

“(I know) nothing beyond what I’ve seen on social media. I don’t really have an inside source, per se, I just know the fact that he’s not life-threatened … he’s obviously in serious condition because that’s probably the worst possible spot (to take an impact) and the most vulnerable spot on our race cars, is that roof corner,” LaJoie noted on Good Morning America. “That was a really scary wreck and all our thoughts and prayers are with the Newmans and their family.”

LaJoie explained he didn’t even realize it was Newman’s car he collided with until after he was released from medical care and began to learn details about what had happened.

“It was wild, man. I didn’t even know who I hit (at the time),” LaJoie admitted. “You’re concentrating on trying to get a good finish and nobody realizes how fast 200 mph is, or how light and how uncontrollable these cars are when you get out of shape, so I didn’t even know who I hit or what the extent of the crash was until after I got out of the care center, when someone told me they took Ryan straight to the hospital.”

LaJoie’s immediate emotions mirrored those of the rest of the racing world.

“I was obviously nervous. I still haven’t seen the replay, beyond what was shown (on TV),” he continued. “It was obviously a very scary crash, but the fact that he’s still with us and can hopefully make a full recovery is a testament to the NASCAR R&D group and how safe they’re trying to make these race cars.”

Of important note is the fact that LaJoie’s father, two-time NASCAR Xfinity (then Busch) Series champion Randy LaJoie, has been an advocate for driver safety for many years.

Randy LaJoie started a nonprofit organization called The Safer Racer in 2007, with a mission of making safety innovations available and affordable for grassroots racers, and also manufactures racing seats through his business, The Joie of Seating.

SPEED SPORT will have continuing coverage of the aftermath of the 62nd Daytona 500 as more details become available.

THOMASVILLE, N.C. – Rick Ware Racing has announced that Garrett Smithley will return to the team for the NASCAR Cup Series season with an expanded schedule, set to begin at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Feb. 23.

Smithley is a veteran of the NASCAR Xfinity Series. He scored a career-best fifth-place finish at Daytona Int’l Speedway on Feb. 17, 2018. He made his Cup Series debut that same season at Michigan Int’l Speedway.

In 2019 he ran 14 Cup Series races, nine of which were with Rick Ware Racing.

“The time is now to increase my Cup Series schedule,” Smithley said. “It’s important to get as much seat time in the Cup Series as NASCAR transitions to the next generation car. Also, the Cup Series offers my marketing partners additional exposure.”

Victory Lane Quick Oil Change and Trophy Tractor will return as anchor sponsors for the 27-year-old driver.

“We’re thrilled to have Victory Lane Quick Oil Change and Trophy Tractor increase their investment in our team,” said team owner, Rick Ware. “Garrett is a fantastic young race car driver and an even better young man. We’re thrilled to support him and give him a platform to continue his growth on and off the track.”

Rick Ware Racing will field three-full time NASCAR Cup SEries teams plus a part-time team. In addition to Smithley, the team’s roster of drivers will include J.J. Yeley, Joey Gase and B.J. McLeod.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – After a violent flip during the offseason while racing midgets in New Zealand, Christopher Bell has largely shelved his dirt-track racing schedule for the time being.

Bell was scheduled to compete in three sprint car events prior to the 62nd annual Daytona 500, but nixed running in those races to keep his focus on the first race of his NASCAR Cup Series career.

The Norman, Okla., native ran as high as second in the closing stages of The Great American Race, but was ultimately collected in one of the late-race pileups that marred the finish at Daytona Int’l Speedway.

As for his dirt plans, Bell explained during Daytona 500 Media Day last week that his Western Springs Speedway accident was part of the impetus for him to keep his focus on his NASCAR duties, at least in the short term.

The hectic schedule surrounding the Daytona 500 was another contributing factor.

“After I crashed in New Zealand, I decided to put my dirt racing on hold for a minute,” Bell told reporters.

“Really it’s just a scheduling conflict,” Bell continued. “For me, I was originally planning on running Volusia (Sunday), East Bay (Monday), (and) East Bay (Tuesday). When I started looking at the details of it, I’m like, ‘man, this is my first Cup race weekend. I really need to focus on that.’ So I just decided to skip Florida, and unfortunately, the dirt racing doesn’t really start again until later on in the year.”

Asked if his decision was meant to give a positive message to his NASCAR team, Leavine Family Racing, Bell offered an affirmative response.

“The last that I talked to the team about it, they were giving me (the) approval to go do it,” said Bell of racing on the dirt in Florida. “But I felt like I owed it to them to show them that this is my job and I am solely focused on the Daytona 500, (and) starting my Cup season out right.”

Though he didn’t race, Bell did go to Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla., on Feb. 9 for the final race of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series’ opening weekend.

Bell was a spectator for the event won by Shark Racing’s Logan Schuchart.

“I’m so much of a fan of the sport, and it was a great race. I got to see a great race,” Bell said. “That kind of filled my satisfaction a little bit (even though he wasn’t driving).”

In looking back at his Western Springs incident, Bell noted that it was one of the tougher hits he’s taken.

“Yeah, I’ve crashed a couple times that hard,” recalled Bell. “Not very many, but a couple times.”

Looking ahead to the future, Bell confirmed that he will return to dirt racing, but it likely won’t be until mid-April at the earliest.

“I would imagine you’ll be able to see me somewhere Easter weekend,” he said. “I haven’t pinpointed a race yet, but Easter weekend I’ll probably be back somewhere.”

In the meantime, for fans of the three-time Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals champion, they’ll have to tune in on Sundays to the NASCAR Cup Series in order to see their favorite driver in action.

As he’s shown and said, the dirt will have to wait for a little while.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Roush Fenway Racing officials revealed Tuesday afternoon that NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Newman is awake and speaking with family and doctors following a violent crash on the final lap of Monday’s Daytona 500.

Newman was transported to Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, Fla., on Monday evening after crashing his No. 6 Ford Mustang while battling for the lead in the final moments of the 62nd Daytona 500.

A bump from behind by Ryan Blaney turned Newman’s car into the outside wall in the tri-oval at the Daytona Int’l Speedway oval, causing his car to fly through the air. Upon returning to the ground, his car was struck in the driver’s side window by the car of Corey LaJoie.

The impact by LaJoie’s car again sent Newman’s car into the air, with the destroyed race car eventually coming to rest at the end of pit road, where he was quickly attended to by safety officials.

He was carefully extricated from the car and taken to Halifax Medical Center, where team officials later revealed he was in serious condition with non-life threatening injuries. Below is the full statement from Roush Fenway Racing regarding Newman’s current status.

“Ryan Newman remains under the care of doctors at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, Florida. He is awake and speaking with family and doctors.

“Ryan and his family have expressed their appreciation for the concern and heartfelt messages from across the country. They are grateful for the unwavering support of the NASCAR community and beyond.

“We will continue to provide information as it becomes available.”

Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester has returned to St. Louis after suffering a cardiac episode in a game in Anaheim last week, and he said he is "on the road to recovery."

Bouwmeester released his first public statement on Tuesday, a week after he collapsed on the bench.

"I would sincerely like to thank all of the trainers from both the St. Louis Blues and Anaheim Ducks, as well as all of the first responders, the Anaheim medical staff and the team at the UCI Medical Center for their quick actions on Feb. 11," Bouwmeester said in a statement. "Our family has felt the support of the entire National Hockey League family and the city of St. Louis during this time. We have all been greatly comforted by your genuine concern."

Doctors used a defibrillator to revive Bouwmeester at the Honda Center before he was transported to the hospital. Bouwmeester underwent an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator procedure, which helps restore the heart's normal rhythm.

Bouwmeester added that he, his wife and daughters "are forever grateful for everyone's support, and we will continue to have a positive outlook for our future."

In his 17th NHL season, Bouwmeester ranks second among active defensemen with 1,241 career games played -- trailing only Zdeno Chara (1,541) -- and is fourth among all active players, behind Patrick Marleau (1,709) and Joe Thornton (1,622), as well as Chara.

Bouwmeester, a first-round pick of the Florida Panthers, held one of the longest ironman streaks in NHL history with 737 consecutive regular-season games played until a lower-body injury in 2014. He missed time in 2015-16 with a concussion, and a hip injury ended his 2017-18 season. He played all but four games last season, though, and hasn't missed a game this season.

In April 2019, the Blues signed Bouwmeester to a one-year, $3.25 million deal for this season.