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NEW YORK -- Robot umpires will get some more warm-up time.
Major League Baseball and the Atlantic League said Wednesday the experiment with radar-tracking technology to call balls and strikes will not be used when the independent minor league starts play on April 25. Instead, the technology "will be implemented gradually over the course of the 2019 season." No date for the start was announced.
Plate umpires will wear earpieces and be informed of ball and strike calls by a TrackMan computer system that uses Doppler radar. Umps will have the ability to override the computer, which considers a pitch a strike when the ball bounces and then crosses the zone. TrackMan also does not evaluate check swings.
A second test also was pushed back: extending the distance between the pitching rubber and home plate by 2 feet to 62½ feet. Originally scheduled to start after this year's All-Star break, the distance change was put off until the second half of 2020.
"These changes reflect a joint desire that the upcoming technology upgrades at ALPB ballparks be fully installed and calibrated prior to implementation of these experimental playing rules," MLB and the Atlanta League said in a joint statement.
Atlantic League teams are in Bridgewater, New Jersey; Central Islip, New York; High Point, North Carolina; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; New Britain, Connecticut; Sugar Land, Texas; Waldorf, Maryland; and York, Pennsylvania.
Angels' Trout out vs. Brewers due to groin strain
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Mike Trout is hopeful he won't be out of the Los Angeles Angels' lineup for long, but he remains cautious since it is early in the season.
The star outfielder was out of the lineup Wednesday night against the Milwaukee Brewers in order to rest the right groin he strained Tuesday night.
"It was really sore yesterday but not as sore today,'' said Trout, who received treatment and did not take batting practice. "Missing a couple games this early in the season is not that big of a deal.''
Trout added that he was pleased with the progress made overnight, which is why he thinks he won't be out for long. The Angels have Thursday off before beginning a three-game series Friday in Chicago against the Cubs.
Trout, who signed a record 12-year, $426.5 million contract near the end of spring training, is second in the American League with a .406 batting average. The two-time MVP is tied for third in home runs (five) and tied for fourth in RBIs (12). He has reached base safely in all 12 games.
Weather could play a factor though in when Trout could return, especially if it is cold and windy.
Trout said he had not looked at the weather forecast, but manager Brad Ausmus said it will be a factor and taken into consideration.
"There is a big stretch of 17 games coming up. You want to be out there for the whole season but you have to be smart,'' Trout said. "The trainer said if I pushed it [during Tuesday's game] that it could get a lot worse.''
Brian Goodwin moved to center field and David Fletcher got the start in left in the series finale.
ST. LOUIS -- Three-time All-Star infielder Matt Carpenter and the St. Louis Cardinals have agreed to a contract that adds $37 million in guaranteed money for 2020 and '21, a deal that includes an option for 2022.
The 33-year-old has a $14.5 million salary this season as part of a $52 million, six-year deal that included an $18.5 million club option for 2020 with a $2 million buyout.
Under the new deal, he has guaranteed salaries of $18.5 million in both 2020 and '21. The 2022 salary would become guaranteed if he has 1,100 plate appearances combined in 2020 and '21, including at least 550 in '21.
"It's really very humbling," Carpenter said after Wednesday's announcement. "To be able to potentially be here for an entire career is something that I don't take for granted. Every day it's something that I try to live up to."
He has a .273 batting average with 134 home runs and a .376 on base percentage in 1,031 games since debuting in 2011 with the Cardinals. Carpenter was an All-Star in 2013, 2014, and 2016. He finished among the top 10 in MVP voting in 2013 and last year.
"He's created enormous flexibility for the Cardinals because he was always willing to play a different position to allow us to maximize our team," Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said. "Really what it says is he's truly a team player. So, the reason we're motivated to try to do this is where he's at in his career, we wanted him to continue to wear the Cardinal uniform."
Carpenter was a 13th-round draft pick by the Cardinals in 2009. He became the fourth St. Louis player since February to sign a long-term deal after first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, pitcher Miles Mikolas, and first baseman/outfielder Jose Martinez.
"When we get a core player, we like to keep him here," Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. said. "We've made every effort to do that since I've been here and before."
Kyle Edmund beaten by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakech
British number one Kyle Edmund is out of the Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakech after losing to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in straight sets in the last 16.
The third seed was beaten 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 in one hour 29 minutes.
The early exit comes a year after Edmund reached the final of the clay court event, his maiden ATP final.
Tsonga has a career-high ranking of fifth in the world but is now ranked 116th, 94 places below Edmund, as he recovers from knee surgery.
The Frenchman will play Italian qualifier Lorenzo Sonego in the quarter-final.
In the men's doubles, Britain's Dom Inglot and partner Rohan Bopanna beat Roman Jebavy and Andres Molteni 0-6 6-3 10-8.
Leicester Tigers: Players receive 'vile abuse' after Exeter Chiefs loss
Leicester Tigers will hand lifetime bans to anyone found to have subjected players and their families to "vile and disgusting abuse" on social media.
The club said it was aware of "malicious content" posted after Saturday's 52-20 defeat by Exeter.
Leicester have contacted police and "reported this as a crime".
"The club is in no way above criticism - everybody at the club accepts that we are not where want to be," said Tigers head of brand Chris Rose.
"Every person at the club finds it an honour to work at Welford Road and so accept all opinions on how we are doing our jobs for our supporters, but when this tips over into foul abuse, the club will do everything in its power to make sure people that believe that is acceptable behaviour are found and dealt with.
"There is no place in society or the Tigers family for this, let alone in our sport which prides itself on the family-friendly nature of the game.
"We encourage any supporters that have any information that could be relevant to contact the club or Leicestershire Police and help us make a stand against anyone having to receive these kind of messages."
Captain Tom Youngs, who has been banned for three weeks after being sent off in the loss at Welford Road, was one of "several players to have family members targeted in posts".
"At the moment, we have not been good enough and accept that it means a lot to our supporters, who are entitled to have their say on our performances," said Youngs.
"However, no family members are deserving of being pulled in to that criticism and nothing of the sort myself and players have received in recent weeks is appropriate, ever."
The NHL has suspended defenseman Slava Voynov for the 2019-20 season as well as the 2020 playoffs for "unacceptable off-ice conduct."
Voynov, then with the Los Angeles Kings, was suspended indefinitely by the NHL following an arrest on Oct. 20, 2014. He was eventually convicted of misdemeanor domestic abuse and was sentenced to 90 days in jail.
In July, Voynov's conviction was dismissed by a judge in Los Angeles County, paving the way for his return to the NHL.
The NHL is the only one of the four major North American sports leagues without a specific domestic violence policy. Every incident is treated on a case-by-case basis and is determined by commissioner Gary Bettman.
The NHL Players Association says it is reviewing the NHL's decision on Voynov. The NHLPA has the option to appeal to an independent arbitrator.
Bettman's decision came after an investigation by the NHL and an in-person hearing with Voynov in New York on March 21.
"Today's ruling, while tailored to the specific facts of this case and the individuals involved, is necessary and consistent with the NHL's strongly held policy that it cannot and will not tolerate this and similar types of conduct, particularly as directed at a spouse, domestic partner or family member," Bettman said in a statement issued Tuesday.
The Kings terminated Voynov's six-year, $25 million contract after the arrest and placed him on their voluntary retirement list. Voynov has not played in the NHL since and instead has played three seasons with St. Petersburg in the KHL.
Voynov also competed for Russia in the 2018 Olympics.
Contingent on "good behavior," he will again be eligible to sign a contract with an NHL team starting on July 1, 2020.
McIlroy remains Masters favorite; Tiger's odds improve
On the eve of the 83rd Masters Tournament, Rory McIlroy remains the betting favorite while Tiger Woods' odds have improved.
McIlroy is listed at 8/1 odds by Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook, which also has Dustin Johnson at 10/1. Woods, a four-time Masters champion, improved from 14/1 to 12/1, where he sits now alongside Justin Rose.
Here's a look at some of the other odds at the Westgate:
8/1: Rory McIlroy
10/1: Dustin Johnson
12/1: Justin Rose, Tiger Woods
83rd Masters Tournament: Tee times | Full coverage
16/1: Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Jon Rahm, Rickie Fowler
20/1: Tommy Fleetwood, Francesco Molinari
25/1: Brooks Koepka, Jason Day, Bryson DeChambeau, Bubba Watson
30/1: Paul Casey, Hideki Matsuyama
35/1: Tony Finau, Louis Oosthuizen
40/1: Adam Scott, Matt Kuchar, Xander Schauffele
50/1: Marc Leishman, Phil Mickelson
60/1: Sergio Garcia, Kevin Kisner, Gary Woodland
80/1: Patrick Reed, Henrik Stenson, Patrick Cantlay, Ian Poulter, Cameron Smith, Charley Hoffman, Si Woo Kim, Charles Howell III
100/1: Rafa Cabrera-Bello, Keegan Bradley, Brandt Snedeker
Ridley: Augusta National to continue focus on amateurs, not pros
AUGUSTA, Ga. – The success of the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur doesn’t mean that the club has any immediate plans to host an event for the top women’s professionals.
In his State of the Masters address Wednesday morning, chairman Fred Ridley said that the club will continue to focus its grow-the-game efforts on amateur golf and not necessarily the professional game.
“To date, all of our grow-the-game initiatives have been focused on amateur golf and amateur golfers,” Ridley said. “And in this particular case, we elected to conduct a women’s amateur tournament for the same reason, but we really wanted this to continue in a grow-the-game sort of mode. I do think that what has happened is going to translate and be a real benefit for professional golf and for the LPGA.”
Ridley congratulated winner Jennifer Kupcho and runner-up Maria Fassi, who took part in a media tour earlier this week following their dramatic duel. He even heard reports that they were being recognized on the streets in New York City.
“I think that’s good for women’s golf in general,” he said, “and they are going to be well received by the LPGA and are going to get off to a great start in their careers there.”
Ridley said that adding another professional event at Augusta National would also create a logistical challenge for the club. He pointed to the fact that the first two rounds of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur were contested about 30 minutes away, at Champions Retreat in Evans, Ga., to cut down on some of the demands at the home of the Masters.
“We were trying to balance providing the women competitors with the opportunity to be at Augusta National, to have a championship decided at Augusta National, but be cognizant of the fact that we were just a few days away from the Masters Tournament,” Ridley said.
“So if you put it in the context with the Masters being the epicenter of our competitive tournament administration efforts, we do have some limitations as to what we could do, and we try to balance that in deciding how we can best deploy our resources for the good of the game. I think that’s the approach we are going to continue to take.”
Masters sleepers: Simpson good value at Augusta National
While Rory McIlroy is tabbed as the odds-on favorite to win this week's Masters Tournament, who is flying under the radar entering Augusta National?
Here are three options listed at 100/1 or worse:
Webb Simpson (100/1): He is coming off his best Masters finish in eight starts, a T-20 showing last year after shooting 5-under 67 and notching back-to-back eagles (Nos. 7 and 8) in the final round. He ranks 29th in strokes gained: tee-to-green and is one of the best on Tour hitting into and around the greens. He missed the cut in his last stroke-play event at Valspar, but before that he was T-16 at The Players.
Emiliano Grillo (150/1): In two Masters starts, Grillo has been respectable, tying for 17th in 2016 and finishing 51st in 2017. He ranks 32nd in strokes gained: tee-to-green, and that's with losing -0.322 strokes around the greens. He's missed just one cut this year, though he's failed to finish better than T-22 in any event. He's a good candidate for a top-20 bet.
Matthew Fitzpatrick (150/1): He nearly won earlier this year at Bay Hill, finishing runner-up to Francesco Molinari. And at age 24, he's already making his fifth Masters start. He's made three of four cuts – the missed cut came when he was an amateur – with a best finish of T-7 in 2016. He's not long, but he can place his ball well, ranking 33rd in strokes gained: tee-to-green.
Masters-only ball not on horizon, but change may one day come to 13th
AUGUSTA, Ga. – Changes could be coming to golf’s most famous piece of land – just not yet.
Last year, Augusta National finalized the purchase of a parcel from neighboring Augusta Country Club, giving them ownership of the area directly behind the 12th green and 13th tee. While work has already begun to clear the land and potentially pave the way for a new access road, speculation persists that the end goal could be to lengthen the iconic par-5 13th hole, which currently sits at 510 yards but whose primary defenses have been diminished in recent years with driving distance on the rise.
Club chairman Fred Ridley held his annual news conference Wednesday and admitted that while changes to the positioning of the 13th tee box are currently under consideration, it’s not an alteration he plans to take lightly.
“Amen Corner is a sacred place in the world of golf,” Ridley said. “I am hesitant to move too quickly in that regard.”
Ridley placed much of the onus for the club’s decision on the outcome of ongoing distance studies being conducted by the USGA and R&A. He noted that while the club does now have options available to increase the distance on the hole, Augusta National plans to “wait to see how distance may be addressed by the governing bodies” before taking action.
But there is no debate that strategy on No. 13, described by many as one of the best holes in the world, has evolved significantly from the days when Masters participants faced a difficult choice with a fairway wood or long iron in hand from a steep, downhill lie in the fairway. This week many players will reach the green with a short iron for their second shot, and Bubba Watson famously hit his drive over the stand of trees that marks the left corner of the fairway en route to victory in 2014.
“Admittedly, that hole does not play as it was intended to play by (Bobby) Jones and (Alistair) MacKenzie,” Ridley said. “The momentous decision that I’ve spoken about and that Bobby Jones often spoke about, of going for the green in two, is to a large extent no longer relevant.”
As various stakeholders continue to address the challenges posed by increasing distance, Ridley shot down the notion that the tournament might introduce a dialed-back, Masters-only ball to be used by all participants to ensure the course plays as it was designed to more than eight decades ago.
“I think it’s very unlikely that we would ever produce a Masters ball,” Ridley said. “There are a whole lot of reasons for that, but I think you can be pretty assured that that’s the case.”
But as it relates to No. 13 and the final leg of Amen Corner, the wheels of change are not in motion – yet.
“My preference, as I stated, would be to see what happens, what the governing bodies decide is best for the game, and then we will take appropriate action in response to that,” he said.
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