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The Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to a deal with left-hander Drew Smyly pending a physical, manager Gabe Kapler confirmed to reporters Friday.
If it goes through, the 30-year-old Smyly would move into the starting rotation and pitch Sunday against the Pirates in Pittsburgh, Kapler said.
The Phillies do not have a left-hander in their rotation.
Smyly had Tommy John surgery in 2017 and didn't pitch in 2018. He started this season with the Texas Rangers and compiled a 1-5 record and a 8.42 ERA, giving up 19 home runs in 51 1/3 innings. He was released on June 25.
Milwaukee signed Smyly to a minor league deal July 1, and in 12 2/3 innings in Triple-A, he had 4.97 ERA. He opted out of that deal Thursday.
Smyly has a career record of 32-32 and a 4.13 ERA over six seasons with the Detroit Tigers, Tampa Bay Rays and Rangers.
Nick Pivetta would move into the bullpen for the Phillies if the deal goes through, Kapler said.
Rick Shapiro, a longtime attorney for the Major League Baseball Players Association, has been let go by the union after being increasingly marginalized in recent months, according to sources.
Shapiro's departure comes at a time when the union is gearing up for what will be an important and perhaps contentious round of collective bargaining with Major League Baseball. The current agreement, negotiated in December of 2016, is set to expire after the 2021 season, and the two sides have agreed to begin discussions this summer -- although it's currently unclear whether there is hope of immediate progress.
Tony Clark, the head of the players association, has been outspoken in his dissatisfaction with recent trends in the game, particularly in the way that veteran players have fared in free agency.
Last summer, Clark brought on Bruce Meyer, who had served as counsel for the NHL Players Association.
Shapiro had been heavily involved with past CBA talks and the union's arbitration arguments.
Aaron Boone's "savage" rant has netted him a one-game suspension.
The New York Yankees manager was disciplined a day after being ejected from Thursday's 6-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.
Boone was also fined an undisclosed amount for "inappropriate actions, including contact with the home plate umpire" during a tirade in which he called his own players "f---ing savages" and told umpire Brennan Miller, "Tighten it up right now, OK?" Boone was ejected for his outburst.
Boone, along with players Brett Gardner and DJ LeMahieu, was upset with some of Miller's strike calls. Miller is an International League crew chief who made his big league debut April 20 as a call-up umpire and was behind the plate for the fifth time in the majors.
The manager will miss the opener of the Yankees' home series against the Colorado Rockies.
His rant was met with raves from his players, with slugger Luke Voit saying Thursday, "Not a lot of coaches I think would back it up and use that type of word, but I think we appreciate it -- and we are a bunch of savages."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
BROWNSBURG, Ind. – Despite Mother Nature’s attempt to ruin all possibility for a 2019 edition of the Ohio Logistics Brad Doty Classic, Attica Raceway Park officials and event promoter, Brad Doty, have put into action a new plan that allowed the 31-year event to return to the schedule.
Now a multi-day showstopper in northwest Ohio, the Brad Doty Classic has transformed into a two-day, Labor Day weekend program, welcoming Tony Stewart’s Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1 to headline both days of competition.
Set Aug. 30-31, Brad Doty Classic Weekend will award a total winner’s share equalling $15,000; $5,000 during Friday’s preliminary and $10,000 during Saturday’s Ohio Logistics Brad Doty Classic presented by Racing Optics finale.
“This is an exciting time for the Brad Doty Classic. I’m thrilled we were able to put this plan together and in such a short amount of time. I want to thank everyone involved including the entire All Star staff, all of those from Attica Raceway Park, and of course Ohio Logistics, Racing Optics, and all of the Brad Doty Classic partners for working together and making this event a reality after all,” Brad Doty explained. “It’s going to be a fantastic weekend.”
In addition, Brad Doty Classic Weekend will kick-off a massive, four-day stretch for Tony Stewart’s All Star Circuit of Champions. Following their visit to Attica Raceway Park, the series will move east and visit Wayne County Speedway in Orrville, Ohio, on Sept. 1-2.
Like Attica Raceway Park, the two-day visit to Wayne County will award a total winner’s share equalling $15,000; $10,000 during the annual Pete Jacobs Memorial on Sunday, followed by a $5,000-to-win program on Monday.
NEWTON, Iowa – On an extremely warm and muggy day in eastern Iowa, Chandler Smith led the way in ARCA Menards Series practice for Friday’s Fans with Benefits 150 at Iowa Speedway.
Smith’s fast lap came with three minutes remaining in the 90-minute session.
With temperatures already in the upper 80s and expected to climb into the upper 90s, drivers were expected to deal with a lack of grip on the 14-year-old Iowa Speedway pavement. Smith’s 24.399 second/129.104 mile per hour lap narrowly eclipsed teammate Michael Self, who led the session briefly before Smith’s fast lap. Self’s lap of 24.431 seconds/128.935 mph was good for second fastest.
Bret Holmes set the fastest lap in the opening moments of the session and stayed there throughout the next 85 minutes, but for most of that time Holmes was in the garage area. He made significant contact with the turn four wall about 20 minutes into the session, seriously damaging the right side of his car. Holmes and team are busy unloading their backup car in hopes of making a lap during General Tire Pole Qualifying.
Corey Heim was fourth at 24.499 seconds/128.577 mph and Ty Gibbs was fifth at 24.668 seconds/127.696 mph.
Christian Eckes, Carson Hocevar, Kaden Honeycutt, Travis Braden and Colby Howard rounded out the top-10.
In addition to the incident involving Holmes, the session was slowed four other times for incidents. The first caution of the day was for Rick Clifton, who’s car dropped fluid on the speedway. After the green came out following a lengthy clean-up the caution immediately came out again when Dick Doheny spun into the infield on the frontstretch. Howard spun off turn two shortly after the Holmes incident. Jason Miles also spun off turn two in the final half hour of the session.
Weekend weather forecast: Sunday finish could be brutal
Saturday should be a beauty, Sunday could be a beast at Royal Portrush.
The weekend weather forecast for the 148th Open calls for partly-cloudy-to-sunny skies during the third round, but only a 10-percent chance of rain. Winds are expected to blow between 10-15 mph, with gusts up to 20 mph, and a high of 66 degrees Fahrenheit.
Sunday, however, could be a little less inviting to the players.
“Outbreaks of rain” are likely for the afternoon and evening of the final round, according to The Open’s official forecast. Winds could strengthen to a sustained 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph late in the day.
Mickelson continues search for lost game: 'I'm just playing terrible golf'
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland – Just days after announcing he’d lost 15 pounds Phil Mickelson conceded on Friday at The Open that he continues to search for his lost game.
Mickelson’s second-round 74 left him at 8 over and headed home early for just the fifth time in his Open career. The bigger concern for the 49-year-old is his continued poor play which has led to five missed cuts in his last seven starts.
“I’m playing so bad that I don’t really know what to say. I’m just playing terrible golf,” Mickelson said. “You kind of go through the ups and downs in your career and you figure it out, but I really don’t have any answers right now.”
Mickelson revealed on social media on Sunday that he went through a “hard reset” in recent weeks that included a six-day fast and losing 15 pounds, but that did little for his game at Royal Portrush where he opened with a 76.
Lefty didn’t have any answers on Friday and wasn’t even sure he’d even play next week’s WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational.
“I don’t know if I need some time away, or if I should try to play through it,” said Mickelson, who is currently committed to the event. “I’ll fly home and take a few days and see how I feel. I love Memphis, I love the course. I love everything about the event. I don’t know if I should just go take a few weeks off, or if I should try to keep playing.”
Mickelson’s decision may be influenced by his position on the season-long points list (30th). He will need a strong finish to the season to keep from missing the Tour Championship for the third time in the last four years.
James Harden has decided to withdraw from playing with the U.S. National Team at this summer's FIBA World Cup in China.
Harden is the second top player to pull out of a previous commitment to Team USA in the last week, joining Anthony Davis.
Harden told the Houston Chronicle on Friday that he had advised coach Gregg Popovich of his decision and that he'd use the extra time to focus on adapting to playing with new Rockets teammate Russell Westbrook.
Toronto Raptors star Kyle Lowry had surgery on his thumb this week in New York, but he is hoping to recover in time to play with the team.
The team's current roster has depth at guard with All-Stars Damian Lillard, Kemba Walker and Bradley Beal among those still committed.
The event runs from Sept. 1-15 at various cities in China. The tournament runs closer to training camps than it had been in years past.
Represented by Tom Jarvis, Sam Walker and David McBeath; England finished in first place in their second stage group ahead of Singapore who selected from Pang Yu En Koen, Clarence Chew, Beh Kun Ting and Josh Chua Shao Han.
However, for England it was a close call; they were extended the full five match distance by Singapore, as well as later in their concluding second stage group contest by Nigeria’s Bode Abiodun, Olajide Omotayo and Azeez Jamiu. Earlier, with no changes to the line-up, Nigeria had experienced a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Singapore who selected Pang Yu En Koen, Clarence Chew and Beh Kun Ting. The result, in effect, secured second place in the group for Singapore.
Meanwhile, for India there were fewer problems to secure first place in their second stage group. Selecting from Sharath Kamal Achanta, Amalraj Anthony, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, Harmeet Desai and Manav Vikash Thakkar, not one individual match was surrendered as top place was secured.
Malaysia who selected from Leong Chee Feng, Muhamad Muhamad Rizal, Wong Qi Shen and Javen Choong finished in second place.
Meanwhile, in the women’s team event, a 3-1 success for England’s Tin-Tin Ho, Denise Payet and Emily Bolton against Singapore’s Wong Xin Ru, Goi Rui Xuan and Eunice Zoe Lim decided the first and second positions. Similarly, in the counterpart second phase group a 3-0 success for the Indian trio comprising Goi Rui Xuan, Eunice Zoe Lim and Wong Xin Ru in opposition to Nigeria’s Offiong Edem, Ajoke Ojomu and Cecilia Akpan determined the top two places.
The semi-finals and finals of both the men’s team and women’s team events will be played on Friday 19th July.
2019 Commonwealth Championships: Men’s Team – Stage 1 – Results (Wednesday 17th July)
2019 Commonwealth Championships: Men’s Team – Stage 2 – Results (Thursday 18th July)
2019 Commonwealth Championships: Men’s Team – Stage 1 & Stage 2 – Detailed Results (Wednesday 17th & Thursday 18th July)
2019 Commonwealth Championships: Women’s Team – Stage 1 – Results (Wednesday 17th July)
2019 Commonwealth Championships: Women’s Team – Stage 2 – Results (Thursday 18th July)
2019 Commonwealth Championships: Women’s Team – Stage 1 & Stage 2 – Detailed Results (Wednesday 17th & Thursday 18th July)
2019 Commonwealth Championships: Men’s Team – Stage 3 – Draw (Friday 19th July)
2019 Commonwealth Championships: Women’s Team – Stage 3 – Draw (Friday 19th July)
Impressively the numbers far exceed those of recent editions; in 2013 in Beijing 165 players from 13 national associations competed, in Amman in 2015 it was 174 players from 16 national associations, in 2017, once again in Beijing, the number rose to 198 players from 12 national associations.
Notably Lu Shiow-Yen, the Mayor of Taichung is personally supporting the event; on Sunday 7th July, she was present in the Top City Departmental Square and played several of the 26 local para athletes who will compete to promote the tournament.
She affirmed that Taichung has the ability to organise international events, recognising the International Table Tennis Federation, Chinese Taipei Paralympic Committee and Chinese Taipei Table Tennis Association alngside the media for their support. Additionally, she stressed the hope that this competition will enhance the international experience of domestic players and put Taichung capabilities in the world map.
Notably, 14 tables will be broadcast on the official website; the tournament is a qualifying event for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
A warm welcome awaits in Taichung.
ITTF-Asian Para Championships 2019: Live Stream
ITTF-Asian Para Championships 2019: Social Media
ITTF-Asian Para Championships 2019: Draws and Results