Category: Sports News

Nick Castellanos has no hard feelings toward the Phillies over the way his time in the City of Brotherly Love ended, but he acknowledged that there are lessons to learn from the experience. 

The biggest learning lesson for Castellanos comes from an incident in June, which had been reported by The Athletic, where he brought a beer into the dugout and screamed at manager Rob Thomas and hitting coach Kevin Long.

Castellanos, who was released last week, apologized for the incident in an open letter to Phillies fans and spoke more about his time in Philly at camp with his new Padres team.

“I think when I said I will learn from this is I guess just letting emotions get the best of me in the moment,” Castellanos told reporters at the Padres spring training complex in Arizona. “[Going forward] possibly if I see things that frustrate me or I don’t believe are conducive to winning to speaking up when I see it instead of letting things just pile up over time. And finally, when I address it, it’s less emotional.”

Castellanos found a new home days after the Phillies released him, signing a one-year contract with the Padres over the weekend. 

The newest member of the Padres organization seemed upbeat about the opportunity in San Diego. 

However, he didn’t seem to regret the way certain things happened in Philadelphia, namely how vocal he was about his frustrations in September. 

“In the moment, I felt how I felt, and I spoke from the heart, and I was honest in every word that I said,” he said. “It’s not like I was outwardly ever displaying that. I kept it all inside. But when I was asked a question, I shot straight, and then people perceived it how they wanted.”

The one thing Castellanos said he wished had been different was the ballclub winning a World Series title. 

“I mean, I think winning solves everything,” Castellanos said. “So, I think the one thing that I wish would have ended up different that we would have won.”

The Phillies reached the World Series in 2022, but lost to the Astros.

Castellanos now heads to the West Coast and is expected to find time as a designated hitter, while also playing some outfield and potentially first base.

Nick Castellanos has no hard feelings toward the Phillies over the way his time in the City of Brotherly Love ended, but he acknowledged that there are lessons to learn from the experience. 

The biggest learning lesson for Castellanos comes from an incident in June, which had been reported by The Athletic, where he brought a beer into the dugout and screamed at manager Rob Thomas and hitting coach Kevin Long.

Castellanos, who was released last week, apologized for the incident in an open letter to Phillies fans and spoke more about his time in Philly at camp with his new Padres team.

“I think when I said I will learn from this is I guess just letting emotions get the best of me in the moment,” Castellanos told reporters at the Padres spring training complex in Arizona. “[Going forward] possibly if I see things that frustrate me or I don’t believe are conducive to winning to speaking up when I see it instead of letting things just pile up over time. And finally, when I address it, it’s less emotional.”

Castellanos found a new home days after the Phillies released him, signing a one-year contract with the Padres over the weekend. 

The newest member of the Padres organization seemed upbeat about the opportunity in San Diego. 

However, he didn’t seem to regret the way certain things happened in Philadelphia, namely how vocal he was about his frustrations in September. 

“In the moment, I felt how I felt, and I spoke from the heart, and I was honest in every word that I said,” he said. “It’s not like I was outwardly ever displaying that. I kept it all inside. But when I was asked a question, I shot straight, and then people perceived it how they wanted.”

The one thing Castellanos said he wished had been different was the ballclub winning a World Series title. 

“I mean, I think winning solves everything,” Castellanos said. “So, I think the one thing that I wish would have ended up different that we would have won.”

The Phillies reached the World Series in 2022, but lost to the Astros.

Castellanos now heads to the West Coast and is expected to find time as a designated hitter, while also playing some outfield and potentially first base.

PORT ST. LUCIE — Francisco Lindor is weeks away from beginning full workouts, but that doesn’t mean he will be absent from the Mets scene in spring training.

After undergoing surgery last week for a broken hamate bone in his left hand, the All-Star shortstop affirmed his hope to return in time for Opening Day, but not before he gets to mesh with the team’s new cast.

That meant showing up Sunday to Clover Park, a day ahead of the team’s first full-squad workout.

“We have a lot of new faces that I want to get to know and I wanted to interact with them,” Lindor said. “Just being outside with the guys … it sucks I can’t be out there doing everything they do.”

Lindor is facing a six-week recovery from the surgery, which was performed Wednesday.

He didn’t back away from the notion he’ll play on Opening Day.

“I’m very optimistic,” Lindor said. “My goal is to be there. I trust the Mets staff and feel like they have dealt with it many times and they are really good.”

Lindor said he had dealt with discomfort in the hand “over the years” and following a full workout Feb. 6 felt something was amiss, which led to the surgery decision.

Previously, Lindor was scratched from the World Baseball Classic — he was set to serve as Puerto Rico’s captain — after the event’s insurer denied him coverage. Lindor said that decision stemmed from his offseason surgery to clean up his elbow.

“It definitely caught me by surprise,” Lindor said of the denied insurance coverage. “I felt like I was ready. … They hadn’t seen me [play] all offseason and I had surgery at the end of the [season].”

Even an intervention by Bad Bunny couldn’t help — the Puerto Rican rapper offered to purchase an insurance policy for the shortstop, but the WBC wouldn’t allow it, according to Lindor.

“We appreciate how much [Bad Bunny] cares for Puerto Rico,” Lindor said. “He wanted Puerto Rico to be as strong as it can be, but it didn’t work out.”

Lindor said the offseason overhaul of the Mets — spearheaded by president of baseball operations David Stearns — was understandable given the disappointing manner last season ended, with the team missing the playoffs. The new cast includes Freddy Peralta, Devin Williams, Bo Bichette, Jorge Polanco, Marcus Semien and Luis Robert Jr., with Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, Jeff McNeil and Edwin Díaz among the departed.

“The year didn’t end the way we all wanted and it’s a business and you have a feeling that every year is not going to look the same,” Lindor said. “Stearns is one of the best and this group, they are great, so it was interesting to see how they went about it.

“All offseason it seemed it was quiet and then all of a sudden it wasn’t quiet and then it went back to being quiet,” Lindor said. “They did a really good job with how they did it. I am looking forward to this year.”

PORT ST. LUCIE — Francisco Lindor is weeks away from beginning full workouts, but that doesn’t mean he will be absent from the Mets scene in spring training.

After undergoing surgery last week for a broken hamate bone in his left hand, the All-Star shortstop affirmed his hope to return in time for Opening Day, but not before he gets to mesh with the team’s new cast.

That meant showing up Sunday to Clover Park, a day ahead of the team’s first full-squad workout.

“We have a lot of new faces that I want to get to know and I wanted to interact with them,” Lindor said. “Just being outside with the guys … it sucks I can’t be out there doing everything they do.”

Lindor is facing a six-week recovery from the surgery, which was performed Wednesday.

He didn’t back away from the notion he’ll play on Opening Day.

“I’m very optimistic,” Lindor said. “My goal is to be there. I trust the Mets staff and feel like they have dealt with it many times and they are really good.”

Lindor said he had dealt with discomfort in the hand “over the years” and following a full workout Feb. 6 felt something was amiss, which led to the surgery decision.

Previously, Lindor was scratched from the World Baseball Classic — he was set to serve as Puerto Rico’s captain — after the event’s insurer denied him coverage. Lindor said that decision stemmed from his offseason surgery to clean up his elbow.

“It definitely caught me by surprise,” Lindor said of the denied insurance coverage. “I felt like I was ready. … They hadn’t seen me [play] all offseason and I had surgery at the end of the [season].”

Even an intervention by Bad Bunny couldn’t help — the Puerto Rican rapper offered to purchase an insurance policy for the shortstop, but the WBC wouldn’t allow it, according to Lindor.

“We appreciate how much [Bad Bunny] cares for Puerto Rico,” Lindor said. “He wanted Puerto Rico to be as strong as it can be, but it didn’t work out.”

Lindor said the offseason overhaul of the Mets — spearheaded by president of baseball operations David Stearns — was understandable given the disappointing manner last season ended, with the team missing the playoffs. The new cast includes Freddy Peralta, Devin Williams, Bo Bichette, Jorge Polanco, Marcus Semien and Luis Robert Jr., with Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, Jeff McNeil and Edwin Díaz among the departed.

“The year didn’t end the way we all wanted and it’s a business and you have a feeling that every year is not going to look the same,” Lindor said. “Stearns is one of the best and this group, they are great, so it was interesting to see how they went about it.

“All offseason it seemed it was quiet and then all of a sudden it wasn’t quiet and then it went back to being quiet,” Lindor said. “They did a really good job with how they did it. I am looking forward to this year.”

When the Colorado Rockies released their list of spring training invitees, it included 19 non-roster invitees.

President of baseball operations Paul DePodesta has been clear that the Rockies are looking for athleticism and versatility in position players and a developed arsenal in pitchers.

So, Purple Row Night Owls, here’s tonight’s question: Which non-roster invitee (invitees?) is (are?) most likely to break camp with the Rockies?

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

TAMPA — Ryan Weathers is not exactly easing into his first camp as a member of the Yankees.

The newly acquired left-hander came out pumping the heat in his first live batting practice since spring training began, regularly hitting 97 and 98 mph with his fastball Sunday afternoon at Steinbrenner Field.

Those kinds of numbers are not often seen on a radar gun in mid-February as pitchers ramp up, but Weathers indicated that has been the norm for him the past few springs.

“I don’t feel like I’m trying to throw hard, so I think my delivery’s just in a good spot right now,” he said. “I think everything’s connecting really well. Hopefully I keep throwing like that.”

Weathers, who threw two simulated innings and about 35 pitches, averaged 96.9 mph on his fastball during the regular season last year with the Marlins, who traded him to the Yankees in January for four prospects.

Of course, the biggest hurdle for the 26-year-old in being able to fully showcase that stuff has been staying healthy.

He missed time with a lat strain and a flexor muscle strain last season, so the Yankees are cognizant of building him up carefully to have him available for the start of the season, when he will try to help hold the fort down in the absence of Carlos Rodón, Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt.

“I feel like physically, he’s in a really good place as far as the work he put in, in the winter,” manager Aaron Boone said. “I continue to be excited about him. I think he’s in a really good spot for us.”

The Yankees believe that, if Weathers is healthy, they can help take his game to another level.

He has been working on a new two-seam fastball to give him another weapon against left-handed hitters, and he said the few he threw in Sunday’s session felt good — with about 19 to 20 inches of movement.

The other main focus with the pitching department since he arrived has been more of a change in approach.

“I think just trusting my stuff in the middle of the plate,” Weathers said. “I have stuff moving everywhere, so it’s getting in the zone and letting my stuff play in the zone. The more I can get in advantage counts, I’ll be able to get more outs.”

TAMPA — Ryan Weathers is not exactly easing into his first camp as a member of the Yankees.

The newly acquired left-hander came out pumping the heat in his first live batting practice since spring training began, regularly hitting 97 and 98 mph with his fastball Sunday afternoon at Steinbrenner Field.

Those kinds of numbers are not often seen on a radar gun in mid-February as pitchers ramp up, but Weathers indicated that has been the norm for him the past few springs.

“I don’t feel like I’m trying to throw hard, so I think my delivery’s just in a good spot right now,” he said. “I think everything’s connecting really well. Hopefully I keep throwing like that.”

Weathers, who threw two simulated innings and about 35 pitches, averaged 96.9 mph on his fastball during the regular season last year with the Marlins, who traded him to the Yankees in January for four prospects.

Of course, the biggest hurdle for the 26-year-old in being able to fully showcase that stuff has been staying healthy.

He missed time with a lat strain and a flexor muscle strain last season, so the Yankees are cognizant of building him up carefully to have him available for the start of the season, when he will try to help hold the fort down in the absence of Carlos Rodón, Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt.

“I feel like physically, he’s in a really good place as far as the work he put in, in the winter,” manager Aaron Boone said. “I continue to be excited about him. I think he’s in a really good spot for us.”

The Yankees believe that, if Weathers is healthy, they can help take his game to another level.

He has been working on a new two-seam fastball to give him another weapon against left-handed hitters, and he said the few he threw in Sunday’s session felt good — with about 19 to 20 inches of movement.

The other main focus with the pitching department since he arrived has been more of a change in approach.

“I think just trusting my stuff in the middle of the plate,” Weathers said. “I have stuff moving everywhere, so it’s getting in the zone and letting my stuff play in the zone. The more I can get in advantage counts, I’ll be able to get more outs.”