Mets manager Carlos Mendoza was ejected in the third inning of Monday's game vs. the San Diego Padres after arguing balls and strikes with home plate umpire Emil Jimenez.
Jimenez called Juan Soto out looking on a curve that got the outside part of the plate, and Soto immediately expressed his frustration with the call after his second strikeout of the day.
Mendoza then came out to defend Soto and was tossed. After the game, Mendoza made it clear that it's his responsibility to stand up for the players and he'll always do that for them.
"I got to be the one getting thrown out," Mendoza said. "I can't afford to [have players ejected], whether it's Soto or any of our players. I knew from the very beginning after a couple of calls early in the game that I needed to be on top of it.
"Whether it's Soto or anybody on our roster, I've got to go out there and protect them."
It's the third time Mendoza has been ejected from a game this season. Bench coach John Gibbons took over in his place for the rest of the game.
The pitch chart showed the second strike on Soto (fourth pitch of at-bat) was a bit outside, but the third strike did hit the outside edge of the zone. Later in the seventh inning, Soto struck out again on a high slider that was called a strike and stared back at Jimenez for a couple of seconds. Gibbons came out to say a few things to Jimenez, but there were no more ejections.
When asked about his thoughts on Jimenez behind the plate, Mendoza was to the point.
"He had a rough night, there's no way to sugarcoat it there," Mendoza said. "Especially when you're talking about a couple of at-bats there from Soto, some key at-bats. You're taking about one of the best hitters in the game, you're taking the bat away from him.
"I felt like that first at-bat, [Brandon] Nimmo struck out on three pitches that, you know, they weren't close. He just had a bad night."
The Mets snapped their seven-game winning streak, losing a back-and-forth battle to the San Diego Padres, 7-6.
New York let up five runs in the fifth inning, blowing a 5-1 lead, and look lost until Ronny Mauricio homered with one out in the ninth inning to tie the game at 6-6. However, new Met Gregory Soto struggled in the bottom of the ninth, including a throwing error to extend the frame, and let up a walk-off single to Elias Díaz.
The Mets (61-44) remain 1.5 games ahead of the Phillies for first place in the NL East after Philadelphia lost to the Chicago White Sox.
Here are the takeaways...
-- New York got on the board in the second inning thanks to some heads-up baserunning by Jeff McNeil. He walked and then went from first to third on Mark Vientos' single, keeping an eye on CF Jackson Merrill fielding the ball while continuing to run. Brett Baty then delivered with a sacrifice fly to left field, putting the Mets up 1-0.
-- There was a scary moment in the top of the third inning as Francisco Lindor hit a hard ground ball that bounced and hit pitcher Dylan Cease in the back of the head. The ball ricocheted into foul territory around third base, allowing Lindor to advance to second. Cease stayed in the game and struck out Juan Soto after some questionable calls by home plate umpire Emil Jimenez.
-- Vientos nearly had a home run in the top of the fourth inning, but Fernando Tatis Jr. leaped at the wall and made the catch to rob the big hit. Tatis did drop the ball out of his glove after landing, but the call on the field remained. Vientos made the most of his redemption opportunity in fifth inning after Cease intentionally walked McNeil to get to him -- launching his first career grand slam over the head of Tatis into the right field stands to put the Mets up 5-1.
-- Frankie Montas tossed a quick first inning with a inning-ending 6-4-3 double play, and avoided damage from a bases-loaded jam in the second by striking out Díaz. After a hit-by-pitch and walk in the third inning, Montas let up a RBI-single to Xander Bogaerts that tied the game up at 1-1. Montas then bounced back to retire the next four batters to get through the fourth inning.
Montas let up a leadoff double to Tatis that was deflected by Baty and then a rare HR to Luis Arraez, making it a 5-3 game. Montas then gave up a single to Manny Machado and a double to Bogaerts, ending his night after 4.1 IP. He wound up allowing five earned runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and two walks.
-- Despite a great play by Pete Alonso at first base with runners on second and third, Jake Cronenworth beat out Huascar Brazobán to the bag, allowing the run to score. Brazobán's two-out mistake to not cover the base in time caused a complete meltdown -- he let up a game-tying RBI-single to Bryce Johnson and go-ahead RBI-single to Díaz as the Mets all of a sudden trailed, 6-5. The nightmare continued with a wild pitch and walk to Tatis, loading the bases. Francisco Alvarez thankfully saved a bouncing ball from getting by and Brazobán got Arraez to fly out.
-- Rico Garcia kept it a one-run game by tossing two scoreless innings of relief, allowing just one hit and one walk with four strikeouts. Ryne Stanek followed up with a scoreless eighth inning.
-- After Vientos' grand slam in the fifth inning, Baty lined out to end the inning and the next 10 Mets were retired through the ninth before Mauricio's game-tying home run.
Game MVP: Elias Díaz
Díaz was a thorn in all of the Mets' pitchers' sides on Monday night, hitting the walk-off and going 2-for-5 with two RBI.
Dodgers prospect Alex Freeland plays during a spring training game against the Angels at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Feb. 28. (Chris Bernacchi / Diamond Images via Getty Images)
The Dodgers are dealing with more injuries to their lineup.
As a result, one of their top prospectswill get his first big-league opportunity this week.
Alex Freeland, the top-ranked infielder in the Dodgers’ farm system, was called up on Tuesday after Hyeseong Kim was placed on the injured list with left shoulder bursitis.
Freeland’s arrival also comes after Tommy Edman had his lingering ankle injury flare up on him Sunday while rounding the bases.
On Monday night, manager Dave Roberts confirmed Freeland was scheduled to join the Dodgers in Cincinnati while they decided which, if either, of Kim or Edman would go on the IL.
“He's going to come and we'll see what direction we go, with who,” Roberts said after the Dodgers’ series-opening win against the Cincinnati Reds. “We're just kind of trying to figure out ... if we do need to make a move for one of those guys."
The official news came down on Tuesday afternoon. Kim was placed on the IL. Edman, while remaining on the active roster, went through pregame drills on the field with a Dodgers trainer.
Freeland, a third-round pick in 2022 out of the University of Central Florida, is the team’s No. 3 overall prospect according to MLB Pipeline and the 35th-ranked prospect in baseball.
The 23-year-old switch-hitter has spent all season with triple-A Oklahoma City, where he has batted .253 with 12 home runs, 71 RBIs and .799 OPS in 94 games.
Now, he’ll get his first crack at the big-league roster, trying to help alleviate the Dodgers’ latest injury headache.
In the short term, Kim’s shoulder injury was the more pressing issue.
The South Korean rookie has struggled mightily at the plate lately, with an 0-for-3 performance Monday leaving him just three for 24 since July 19.
“You can just see offensively with the bat, he's just not himself right now,” Roberts said.
Dodgers infielder Hyeseong Kim, who is dealing with a shoulder injury, has struggled at the plate in recent games. (Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)
Edman, however, represents another long-term concern for the Dodgers to manage, with his ankle injury lingering since early May.
“It’s something that’s kind of always there,” Edman said. “But I would say it’s been pretty normal.”
At least it was until Sunday, when Edman said he “had a little tweak of it” while running the bases at Fenway Park.
While Edman was not available for Monday’s game, he maintained optimism he could avoid what would be a second injured list this season and be back in the lineup Tuesday.
“I don’t feel like this is that big a deal,” he said. “I was just at a point where I didn’t feel like I could run full speed today. I got some good treatment today so hopefully I’ll be back available tomorrow.”
Still, the Dodgers could decide that an extended break for the utilityman is warranted — especially since he has been unable to play outfield while trying to manage his injury.
“Obviously, if I couldn't hit him tonight, for him to not to be able to play three innings of defense, isn't a great feeling,” Roberts said.
Freeland’s arrival will at least give the Dodgers a different look for the time being.
A native of Louisville, Ken., he made a major jump up the Dodgers’ farm system last year, when he progressed from high A to triple A while batting .260 across three minor-league levels.
A disciplined hitter with 228 career walks in 345 career minor-league games, Freeland has received high marks for his defense at shortstop and third base. He also has 81 steals over his four minor-league seasons.
In addition to Kim and Edman, the Dodgers have spent the last month without Max Muncy (who is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment in his recovery from a knee injury this week) and Kiké Hernández (who remains shut down from baseball activity after recently having a couple non-surgical “little procedures,” as Roberts called them, on an elbow injury that has bothered him since late May).
How have the Dodgers toed the line between managing injuries and trying to keep their best players on the field?
“That’s the thing that, it is a blurred line,” Roberts said. “The players obviously feel that they’re not hurt, where they can play and post, which is great. But the line of, are you still hurting the team, hurting yourself, that’s the thing that the organization, the training staff, we’ve got to make that decision.”
On Tuesday, they did, shelving Kim and calling up Freeland as they try to navigate another injury-plagued chapter of their season.
The Yankees aren’t selling. They just don’t do that around here, especially not when they’re in playoff position.
Right?
Right. Almost certainly.
But Monday’s 4-2 loss to Tampa Bay did nothing to restore the front office’s faith in the team. It was further reinforcement of their likely approach, first reported by SNY on Saturday, to be what you might call “soft buyers,” making moves that improve the current roster without risking the future.
In that column, we relayed that the Yankees were floating some of their free-agent-to-be relievers in preliminary trade talks. We have since learned through league sources that last week the Yanks brought up Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt in talks with at least one other club.
Wait, what?
That does not mean that the Yankees will trade Bellinger and/or Goldschmidt. In fact, we’d still be very surprised.
But the nugget is telling in its timing: this conversation happened last week, when the Yanks were concerned that Aaron Judge would need season-ending elbow surgery. If that had happened, GM Brian Cashman might have gone into sell mode. They were probably laying groundwork, just in case. This alone gives us another data point on how the front office might feel about its team.
Judge did not need surgery, meaning that the season is still on. Technically. There are voices encouraging Cashman to go all-in before Thursday’s trade deadline. In a weak American League, they really could still find themselves in the World Series.
The way to get there is to add a few relievers to acquisitions Ryan McMahon and Amed Rosario without sacrificing top prospects -- the major league team has not earned the right to an addition that would cost Spencer Jones and Cam Schlittler.
Once Fernando Cruz and Mark Leiter Jr. return from the injured list, the bullpen will be deeper. The Yankees do not have a particularly difficult schedule down the stretch, either, with plenty of games against the Twins, Orioles and White Sox.
There is, then, a path out of this morass. But Cashman and his seasoned lieutenants have seen many seasons to be fooled into feeling inspired by this year’s team. Sometimes even the best organizations have a down year.
Chris Paul's re-introduction to Los Angeles ended up being more emotional than he expected, with hundreds of Clippers fans chanting "C-P-3."It's kind of wild, kind of crazy," Paul said of the experience. "Still kind of speechless."
Paul has returned to the Clippers, where he played for six seasons, leading the "Lob City" team alongside Blake Griffin, which was a contender in the West but was undone by a painful series of injuries and playoff collapses. Those were the peak CP3 years — in his first five years with the Clippers he never finished lower than seventh in MVP voting — and he averaged 18.8 points and 9.8 assists a game with the team.
He's not returning because of nostalgia, however. He said it was a "no brainer" to Los Angeles because this is where his family lives.
"This is one of those things that kind of manifested for a long time, sort of tried to speak it into existence, but you just never know if it's really gonna happen," Paul said of his return. "Because I love to hoop. I love to play this game, but I love my family more than any of it...
"I wanted to get back and play here by any means necessary."
He wanted to return enough that he told ESPN’s Malika Andrews he could play a couple more seasons, despite the general expectation this season will be his last.
Paul's role will be different with the Clippers than it was a season ago in San Antonio, where he started all 82 games. With the Clippers, Paul will come off the bench as part of a beefed-up second unit — the Clippers are older but have 11 solid rotation players Tyronn Lue can lean on.
Lue was one of the reasons CP3 wanted to return.
"I'm excited to play for T. Lue, right?" Paul said of the Clippers' coach. "See, people probably don't remember, T. Lue was my assistant coach when I was here with the Clippers, and we've stayed close over the years...
"There's a lot of great coaches in this league, but T. Lue is one of the coaches that I think teams, like you have to prepare for him too. It's weird being on other teams playing against the Clippers, because a lot of times you're just scouting, how do we stop Kawhi? How do we stop this? But just know a lot of teams respect T. Lue and his ability."
Paul, Lue and these Clippers are poised to win a lot of games this season — they won 50 a year ago and got better this offseason. That winning is something Paul wanted to be a part of, too.
But mostly, the return was about his family, and they were on hand for his emotional day on Monday, too.
The Yankees lost the opener of their four-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays, 4-2, on Monday night.
Here are the takeaways...
-Most of the scoring in this one happened in the first inning as fans were still piling into the stadium and getting to their seats. It started with the Rays who got two early runs off Cam Schlittler after Home Run Derby runner-up Junior Caminero got a hold of one and sent it 397 feet to left center field for his 27th homer of the season.
The two-run shot happened after Schlittler retired the first two batters of the inning but then walked Jonathan Aranda following a tough nine-pitch battle that kept the inning going. After the home run, Schlittler walked two more in the inning. He got the final out on a 110 mph line drive off the bat of Tristan Gray that was caught by Cody Bellinger in right field.
-Staked to a 2-0 lead, Tampa Bay starter Drew Rasmussen hoped to continue his dominant ways against the Yankees. Entering Monday, the right-hander owned a 0.34 ERA against New York (one earned run in 26.2 innings) and hadn't allowed a single run at Yankee Stadium through two starts and 13 innings.
However, with Rays catcher Danny Jansen a late scratch from the lineup after getting traded to the Milwaukee Brewers, Matt Thaiss was inserted behind the plate last-minute. Perhaps the late switch messed with Rasmussen as his scoreless streak against New York in the Bronx was quickly broken after the Yanks responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first.
-Three straight singles by Jasson Dominguez, Cody Bellinger and Giancarlo Stanton loaded the bases before Rasmussen walked Jazz Chisholm Jr. to force in a run. After striking out Paul Goldschmidt whose offensive struggles continue, Rasmussen walked in another run, this time losing Ryan McMahon on a full-count to tie the game. With the bases still loaded, Austin Wells popped out to end an eventful first inning.
-From there, things quieted down despite constant traffic on the bases for Schlittler. The rookie was able to get out of the next three innings without allowing another run, but he couldn't do it in the fifth. A walk and two singles produced the Rays' third run of the game and gave them a 3-2 lead. It was also the end of the road for Schlittler who left after 4.1 innings where he allowed three earned runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out five.
-In relief of Schlittler, Brent Headrick made his first appearance for New York since June 8 and struck out both batters he faced to strand runners at the corners and keep it a one-run game. He added a scoreless sixth, as well.
-Meanwhile, Rasmussen settled into a groove after his difficult first inning and went five innings, retiring 13 of the last 14 batters he faced.
-Tampa Bay scored an insurance run in the eighth on a sac fly to double its lead. It wouldn't need it, though, as the Yankees offense couldn't score again. McMahon had a two-out single in the ninth and with Wells as the tying run he gave it a ride but lined out to center field for the final out of the game.
Game MVP: Drew Rasmussen
After a hiccup in the first inning, the Yankee killer was back and limited New York's floundering offense through five innings.
Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivers during the first inning Monday against the Cincinnati Reds. (Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press)
Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s season can be divided into three distinct parts so far.
The thrilling opening act, when the second-year Japanese star started the season with a 4-2 record and 0.90 earned-run average in his first seven starts.
A shaky middle stanza, when the 26-year-old right-hander stumbled with a 2-4 mark and 4.43 ERA over his next eight outings from May 8 to June 19.
And lately, what he and the Dodgers hope will be a midseason revival, with Yamamoto rounding back into Cy Young-caliber form again with a 3-1 record and 1.71 ERA over his last six trips to the mound bump.
In a 5-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday, Yamamoto delivered another master class for the Dodgers at Great American Ball Park, giving up just one run on four hits while striking out nine over seven superb innings.
"He was fantastic,” manager Dave Roberts said. “It seemed like he had all of his pitches working tonight.”
Indeed, it was Yamamoto once again at his best. Filling up the strike zone. Working ahead in counts. And getting almost nothing but empty swings and soft contact after allowing his lone run in the first.
Yamamoto got 17 whiffs, gave up just two balls hit harder than 95 mph (MLB’s threshold for “hard hit” contact) and largely cruised against a Reds team battling for a National League wild-card spot.
“My stuff today was really good,” Yamamoto said through interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda.
“Yoshi has so many pitches,” added catcher Dalton Rushing, “he can basically manipulate anything.”
Yamamoto's only trouble came early, when the Reds (56-51) loaded the bases on two singles and a walk in the first before scoring on a ground ball from former Dodgers infielder Gavin Lux.
After that, Rushing said he and Yamamoto made “a couple pivots” in their game plan, mixing in more sinkers and curveballs to go along with his primary fastball-splitter combination.
“We had to change lanes a little bit and kind of mix it up,” Rushing said. “Once we found our groove, it was just easier."
From the second inning on, only one other baserunner even reached scoring position in what was Yamamoto’s fifth start this season of at least seven innings and no more than one run. At one point, he retired 10 hitters in a row, keeping the Reds quiet while the Dodgers broke open an early 1-1 tie with two runs in the fifth and two more in the seventh.
“He seemed like he got better as the game went on, which is a good sign,” Roberts said. “Overall, just outstanding."
Monday was the start of what the Dodgers (62-45) envision as a week-long stretch of strong starting pitching.
On Tuesday, Tyler Glasnow will take the mound. On Wednesday, it will be Shohei Ohtani, who was pushed back a few days in order to pitch ahead of an off day. And after Clayton Kershaw goes on Friday in a series opener in Tampa Bay, marquee offseason signing Blake Snell will make his long-awaited return from a shoulder injury later in the weekend.
That’s the kind of star power the Dodgers hope to have for the rest of the season, crossing their fingers that the star-studded group will stay healthy and intact through the campaign’s final two months.
“We feel really good,” Roberts said of the rotation. “Kind of trying to stabilize some things in the 'pen. But I think with the starters … [it’s] encouraging.”
Still, while Snell and Glasnow have missed significant time with injury, and Ohtani has been ever-methodically built up, it is Yamamoto who has helped carry the starting staff this season, improving to 9-7 on the year with a 2.48 ERA (third-best in the National League).
“It's good to see him get back, [compared to] when he was kind of middling for a bit there, to being the dominant pitcher that we know he can be,” Roberts said.
On Monday, Yamamoto got plenty of help from his offense.
Mookie Betts led the game off with a double on his hardest-hit ball (103.8 mph) in almost a month, before scoring on Teoscar Hernández’s RBI single. In the fifth, Ohtani put the Dodgers in front with a two-run double to center. In the seventh, Hernández and Freddie Freeman each singled home insurance runs.
The scoring was nice for a Dodgers offense coming off two frustrating losses full of missed chances over this past weekend in Boston.
But in the big picture, it’s Yamamoto and the pitching staff that might be most important in the team’s title defense — with Monday serving as another reminder of the firepower he, and they, possess.
MINNEAPOLIS — The AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers acquired starting pitcher Chris Paddack from the flagging division rival Minnesota Twins in a three-player trade on Monday to plug another injury-created vacancy in their rotation.
The Tigers announced right-hander Reese Olson will miss the remainder of the regular season with a strained shoulder suffered during his most recent bullpen session, joining right-hander Jackson Jobe on the shelf. Olson could return for the playoffs.
“We wish we could’ve added Chris and kept Reese, but that’s not in the cards," Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said, praising Paddack's experience, fastball and approach. "He goes right at hitters. That’s always been our pitching philosophy, and we think he’s going to fit in well.”
The Twins packaged Paddack and depth right-hander Randy Dobnak for catcher Enrique Jimenez, who was the Tigers' 14th-best prospect in MLB's preseason rankings. After losing six of their first nine games out of the All-Star break, even the wild-card race has become bleak for the Twins, with the fourth-worst record in the AL entering the week.
“World just got twisted upside down, to say the least. It stinks. This business is out of our control sometimes," Paddack said. "I was really pulling for us, as a Twin. I was hoping we would make some moves and go get that wild-card spot, but I’m excited for this new opportunity with a new team. They have a special group over there."
Paddack will make his debut for Detroit on Wednesday against Arizona. Dobnak was sent to Triple-A Toledo.
Paddack was one of the six pending free agents who figured to be expendable for the Twins leading up to the trade deadline on Thursday, along with multi-position player Willi Castro, outfielder Harrison Bader, reliever Danny Coulombe, first baseman Ty France, and catcher Christian Vázquez. Still, Paddack said he was surprised when the Twins told him before their game against Boston that he was being traded.
“That just means he was focusing on his job and not worrying too much,” manager Rocco Baldelli said, adding: “The more you’re on your phone, the more you’re going to read and the more you’re going to wonder and speculate and none of that is productive if you’re a Major League Baseball player.”
The 29-year-old Paddack went 3-9 with a 4.95 ERA in 21 starts for the Twins this season, with 27 walks and 83 strikeouts in 111 innings and a .266 opponent batting average.
Acquired by Minnesota in a trade with San Diego right before the start of the 2022 season, Paddack made five starts that year before suffering the second torn UCL of his career and needing Tommy John surgery. He returned for the 2023 postseason in a bullpen role and slotted back in the rotation in what was an up-and-down, injury-affected 2024 season.
Paddack went 10-14 with a 4.88 ERA over 45 appearances with Minnesota, including 43 starts. The Tigers and Twins play seven more times this season, including a three-game series in Detroit next week, so he figures to face his former team soon.
“I’ve had some good outings, some bad ones, and some ones I don’t even want to look at the line because it’s a lot of crooked numbers. But I kept my head down, came into the clubhouse every day, and stayed consistent in my routine,” Paddack said. “And I’m going to continue that over in Detroit.”
The Tigers have struggled to find a fifth starter since Jobe, their top prospect and the third overall pick in the 2021 draft, needed Tommy John surgery in late May. Keider Montero filled the role for most of the season, but he has averaged fewer than five innings per appearance to put more pressure on an overloaded bullpen.
Rookie Troy Melton, who was to make his second career start on Monday, is expected to move into a long-relief role for the Tigers, who took an eight-game lead on Cleveland into the week.
The 19-year-old Jimenez had a .779 OPS with 32 RBIs in 48 games for Detroit's rookie league club. The switch-hitter, who was signed out of Venezuela in 2023, will add some catching depth to a Twins organization that was lacking it.
The 30-year-old Dobnak is making $3 million this season, but he has spent most of 2025 with Triple-A St. Paul, like he has since signing a five-year major league contract with the Twins in 2021 that guaranteed him $9.25 million. He made the opening day roster and had one relief appearance before being sent down. Dobnak has a 4.86 ERA in 140 2/3 career innings since making his debut with the Twins in 2019.
Jun 23, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame player Ryne Sandberg throws out a ceremonial first pitch before the game between the Chicago Cubs and the New York Mets at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
David Banks/David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Ryne Sandberg, a Hall of Fame second baseman who became one of baseball’s best all-around players while starring for the Chicago Cubs, has died. He was 65.
Sandberg was surrounded by his family when he died at his home on Monday, according to the team.
Sandberg announced in January 2024 that he had been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. He had chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and then said in August 2024 that he was cancer-free.
But he posted on Instagram on Dec. 10 that his cancer had returned and spread to other organs. He announced this month that he was still fighting, while “looking forward to making the most of every day with my loving family and friends.”
Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said Sandberg “will be remembered as one of the all-time greats in nearly 150 years of this historic franchise.”
“His dedication to and respect for the game, along with his unrelenting integrity, grit, hustle, and competitive fire were hallmarks of his career,” Ricketts said in the team’s statement.
Sandberg was born and raised in Spokane, Washington. He was selected out of high school by Philadelphia in the 20th round of the 1978 amateur draft.
He made his major league debut in 1981 and went 1 for 6 in 13 games with the Phillies. In January 1982, he was traded to Chicago along with Larry Bowa for veteran infielder Ivan De Jesus.
It turned into one of the most lopsided deals in baseball history.
Sandberg hit .285 with 282 homers, 1,061 RBIs and 344 steals in 15 years with Chicago. He made 10 All-Star teams — winning the Home Run Derby in 1990 — and took home nine Gold Gloves.
“Ryne Sandberg was a legend of the Chicago Cubs franchise and a beloved figure throughout Major League Baseball,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said. “He was a five-tool player who excelled in every facet of the game thanks to his power, speed and work ethic.”
Aug 11,1992; Chicago IL, USA; Ryne Sandberg of the Chicago Cubs in action against the Montreal Expos at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Photo By USA TODAY Sports Copyright (c) 1992 USA TODAY Sports
USA TODAY Sports/USA TODAY Sports
Even with Sandberg’s stellar play, the Cubs made just two postseason appearances while he was in Chicago.
He was the NL MVP in 1984, batting .314 with 19 homers, 84 RBIs, 32 steals, 19 triples and 114 runs scored. Chicago won the NL East and Sandberg hit .368 (7 for 19) in the playoffs, but the Cubs were eliminated by San Diego after winning the first two games of the National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field.
The 1984 season featured what Cubs fans still call “The Sandberg Game,” when he homered twice and drove in seven runs in a 12-11 victory over St. Louis in 11 innings on June 23.
Chicago paid tribute to Sandberg and that game when it unveiled a statue of the infielder outside Wrigley Field on that date in 2024.
“He was a superhero in this city,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said during a TV broadcast of the team’s game on July 20. “You think about (Michael) Jordan, Walter Payton and Ryne Sandberg all here at the same time, and I can’t imagine a person handling their fame better, their responsibility for a city better than he did.”
Sandberg led Chicago back to the playoffs in 1989, hitting .290 with 30 homers as the Cubs won the NL East. He batted .400 (8 for 20) in the NLCS, but Chicago lost to San Francisco in five games.
Sandberg set a career high with an NL-best 40 homers in 1990 and drove in a career-best 100 runs in 1990 and 1991, but he never made it back to the postseason. He retired after the 1997 season.
He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005, receiving 76.2% of the vote by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America in his third try on the ballot. The Cubs retired his No. 23 that same year.
Sandberg also managed Philadelphia from August 2013 to June 2015, going 119-159. He got the interim job when Charlie Manuel was fired, and he resigned with the Phillies in the middle of a difficult 2015 season.
Jun 23, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame player Ryne Sandberg throws out a ceremonial first pitch before the game between the Chicago Cubs and the New York Mets at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
David Banks/David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Ryne Sandberg, a Hall of Fame second baseman who became one of baseball’s best all-around players while starring for the Chicago Cubs, has died. He was 65.
Sandberg was surrounded by his family when he died at his home on Monday, according to the team.
Sandberg announced in January 2024 that he had been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. He had chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and then said in August 2024 that he was cancer-free.
But he posted on Instagram on Dec. 10 that his cancer had returned and spread to other organs. He announced this month that he was still fighting, while “looking forward to making the most of every day with my loving family and friends.”
Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said Sandberg “will be remembered as one of the all-time greats in nearly 150 years of this historic franchise.”
“His dedication to and respect for the game, along with his unrelenting integrity, grit, hustle, and competitive fire were hallmarks of his career,” Ricketts said in the team’s statement.
Sandberg was born and raised in Spokane, Washington. He was selected out of high school by Philadelphia in the 20th round of the 1978 amateur draft.
He made his major league debut in 1981 and went 1 for 6 in 13 games with the Phillies. In January 1982, he was traded to Chicago along with Larry Bowa for veteran infielder Ivan De Jesus.
It turned into one of the most lopsided deals in baseball history.
Sandberg hit .285 with 282 homers, 1,061 RBIs and 344 steals in 15 years with Chicago. He made 10 All-Star teams — winning the Home Run Derby in 1990 — and took home nine Gold Gloves.
“Ryne Sandberg was a legend of the Chicago Cubs franchise and a beloved figure throughout Major League Baseball,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said. “He was a five-tool player who excelled in every facet of the game thanks to his power, speed and work ethic.”
Aug 11,1992; Chicago IL, USA; Ryne Sandberg of the Chicago Cubs in action against the Montreal Expos at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Photo By USA TODAY Sports Copyright (c) 1992 USA TODAY Sports
USA TODAY Sports/USA TODAY Sports
Even with Sandberg’s stellar play, the Cubs made just two postseason appearances while he was in Chicago.
He was the NL MVP in 1984, batting .314 with 19 homers, 84 RBIs, 32 steals, 19 triples and 114 runs scored. Chicago won the NL East and Sandberg hit .368 (7 for 19) in the playoffs, but the Cubs were eliminated by San Diego after winning the first two games of the National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field.
The 1984 season featured what Cubs fans still call “The Sandberg Game,” when he homered twice and drove in seven runs in a 12-11 victory over St. Louis in 11 innings on June 23.
Chicago paid tribute to Sandberg and that game when it unveiled a statue of the infielder outside Wrigley Field on that date in 2024.
“He was a superhero in this city,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said during a TV broadcast of the team’s game on July 20. “You think about (Michael) Jordan, Walter Payton and Ryne Sandberg all here at the same time, and I can’t imagine a person handling their fame better, their responsibility for a city better than he did.”
Sandberg led Chicago back to the playoffs in 1989, hitting .290 with 30 homers as the Cubs won the NL East. He batted .400 (8 for 20) in the NLCS, but Chicago lost to San Francisco in five games.
Sandberg set a career high with an NL-best 40 homers in 1990 and drove in a career-best 100 runs in 1990 and 1991, but he never made it back to the postseason. He retired after the 1997 season.
He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005, receiving 76.2% of the vote by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America in his third try on the ballot. The Cubs retired his No. 23 that same year.
Sandberg also managed Philadelphia from August 2013 to June 2015, going 119-159. He got the interim job when Charlie Manuel was fired, and he resigned with the Phillies in the middle of a difficult 2015 season.
"He was traveling today. It was an off day from throwing after the outing yesterday," Mendoza said. "He's going to check back with our trainers back in Citi Field and then tomorrow we'll talk to him. We'll see where he's at, how he's feeling, and then we got to make a decision. But we got to hear from him too."
"Really good," Mendoza added. "Ball was coming out nice, 91, 93. Just commanding the baseball, and that's what makes him who he is. This is a guy, in and out, up and down, changes speed, and that's what he did yesterday. He continues to trend in the right direction, hopefully that's the case tomorrow, and then we'll see what the next step will be."
Blackburn allowed one run on Sunday and has allowed just three runs in total over three rehab outings. He started four games and made two relief appearances with New York before landing on the IL, pitching to a 7.71 ERA and 1.98 WHIP with 15 strikeouts over 18.2 innings.
Latest on Tylor Megill
As for fellow injured pitcher Tylor Megill, who was transferred to the 60-day IL on July 8, continues to progress from his right elbow strain. Mendoza noted the right-hander threw a bullpen on Sunday and will get another session prior to going up against hitters.
"Yeah, he threw one yesterday. Came out fine. Think he's got another one before he starts facing batters."
Mendoza said last week after a positive bullpen session that Megill is "moving in the right direction."
The 30-year-old has gone 5-5 across 14 starts, owning a 3.95 ERA and 1.36 WHIP with 89 strikeouts over 68.1 IP this season.
Contributions from younger players
The bottom half of the Mets lineup has consisted mostly of their younger players, all former top prospects, who have struggled at times but more recently have been showing very promising signs.
Brett Baty is hitting .273 with six walks over his last 15 games, Mark Vientos has picked it up with 13 hits over the same time frame, Francisco Alvarez is mashing .353 with four extra-base hits since returning from the minors on July 21, and Ronny Mauricio notched his first career four-hit night in Sunday's win over the San Francisco Giants. Plus, Luisangel Acuña continues to show his speed on the base bath off the bench.
When asked about the group's contributions as of late, the manager said he's proud of how they've adapted this season.
"It means a lot," Mendoza said. "It makes our lineup a lot deeper when you're getting contributions up and down. We've been giving these guys opportunities. From day one we said it in spring training, that they were going to get opportunities. It's been a grind, ups and downs. But that's part of a big league life and the development and the understanding that you're going to go through stretches where it's not easy and you gotta find a way. And they've done that.
"I feel like whether they're in the lineup or not, adding versatility, different roles like Acuña's case where he's not in the lineup but making an impact defensively, baserunning. Vientos, Baty providing some versatility at second base. And the way that they're swinging the bat. Alvy, since he's been back, like the at-bats have been unbelievable, and defensively as well. We knew we had good players and they're stepping up right now."
Mendoza added that he's happy with how Vientos "continues to work, continues to grind" amid his tough sophomore season and the team is still counting on him.
"I will say not happy, but also understanding that he's got an opportunity, when he's in the lineup he can help us win baseball games," Mendoza said. "He continues to work, continues to grind, continues to make adjustments. He's a really good player and we're going to need him."
Vientos is hitting just .226 with six homers over 73 games this year after blasting 27 HRs in 2024.
With the trade deadline coming up later this week on July 31, SNY MLB Insider Andy Martino reported earlier Monday that the Mets have been discussing Vientosin trade talks and rival executives believe New York is willing to move the 3B/DH. The team has also been asked about Baty and Mauricio, but "are not actively trying to rid themselves of any of those young infielders," Martino noted. New York is expected to look for relief pitching and potentially starting pitching.
When looking at the Chicago Blackhawks' current roster, it is fair to argue that they could use a bit more forward depth. Due to this, bringing in another potential option for their bottom six could be smart for the Original Six club.
When looking at players who are still available on the free-agent market, one interesting option is forward Jakub Lauko.
Lauko became an unrestricted free agent (UFA) on July 1 after the Boston Bruins elected not to tender him a qualifying offer. Since then, he has not found his new home, but he would have the potential to be a solid addition for the Blackhawks if brought in.
Lauko spent this past season split between the Minnesota Wild and Bruins, where he set new career highs with five goals and 11 points in 56 games. He also made an impact when it came to his physicality, as he finished the year with 119 hits.
Lauko is known for being an energy player who provides a lot of grit and toughness, so he could be a nice depth pickup for the Blackhawks. He would offer them another option for their fourth line, and he is still young enough that he could be a nice fit on a rebuilding club like the Blackhawks. This is especially so when noting that he can play both on the wing and down the middle.
Thus, on a one-year deal or professional tryout (PTO), Lauko could be worth taking a shot on.
CHICAGO – Lots of yawns and slow-moving bodies surrounding the Phillies Monday before their game with the Chicago White Sox as a ground stoppage in New York on Sunday didn’t allow the team to leave for Chicago until around midnight. If they were looking for some adrenaline during their game at Rate Field, there was none to be had in front of a sparse crowd. And though the Phillies took a two-run lead early in the game, there was enough juice all around to hold it as they lost 6-2 to the White Sox.
Starting pitcher Cristopher Sánchez was flat for the first few innings, and he uncharacteristically gave up a pair of two-run homers, one to Colson Montgomery, a lefty, in the third and another to Luis Robert, Jr. in the fourth.
“Four runs, two pitches,” said Sánchez, who fell to 9-3 on the season after giving up those four runs in 6.2 innings. “We have to keep grinding and battling. That’s how I was able to go out a couple more innings. I don’t like to make excuses, but yeah, we did have a long day yesterday, a really long day. I felt a little sluggish. Also the weather was really humid today. But that was just a part of it. I did feel a little uncomfortable out there.”
The whole night felt a bit odd, partly due to the dull atmosphere at the ballpark, partly due to seeing Sánchez struggle early. Giving up a home run to a left hander is something he rarely does.
“He just hung a breaking ball and the home run to Robert was a changeup and it didn’t have the normal action on it that it normally does,” said Rob Thomson. “After the second or third, Sanchy said he just felt a little fatigued. Didn’t know if it was travel, coming off a complete game, humidity, but the fifth, sixth and seventh he turned it on and had the finish back in his pitches.
Even his fastball and slider didn’t seem like they had the finish that it normally does. But then he got it in the fifth.”
But the damage had been done by the White Sox and they improved to 39-68 on the season while the Phillies dropped to 60-46.
The fear of it being a long game after the previous day’s struggles with travel seemed a reality in the first inning as Chicago starting pitcher Davis Martin struck out Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper. Harper got a little revenge in the third when he drove in two runs with a single to left to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead. It was short-lived as Chicago started having fun with the long ball off Sánchez.
“We hit some balls hard,” said Thomson. “I thought Schwarb had some good at-bats, Harper. All the lefties for the most part. Kemp hits the ball to the wall. I thought we swung ok.”
Just not good enough on this hot and humid night. Though no one wants to deal out the excuses, Sunday’s delay in New York certainly couldn’t have helped.
Mum’s the word
With Thursday’s tread deadline quickly approaching, Rob Thomson was pressed on what may be going on there. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has been with the team through the road trip so far.
“There’s been conversations, but I don’t think we’re necessarily close on anything,” Thomson said. “We had good conversations. I mean really good conversations.” Asked if there are things discussed that would be upgrading the team, Thomson said: “I would think so. I trust other people on that type of stuff. They’re the evaluators. I think we’re all on the same page.”
The biggest name the Phillies have been linked to in various reports is Eugenio Suarez, the power-hitting infielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks who has 36 home runs and 87 RBI this season. Suarez has played all but one game this season at third base. Friday against Pittsburgh, he played first. He left Monday’s game against the Detroit Tigers after getting hit by a pitch on his right hand.
Robertson sees action
Newly acquired veteran left hander David Robertson saw action in Lehigh Valley on Saturday night, pitching one inning and having the strange line of giving up three hits and no runs. Robertson threw 12 pitches, 10 of them for strikes.
“Good,” said Rob Thomson of Robertson’s outing. “He’s going to go again (Tuesday) for an inning. And, yeah, just figure out where we’re at after that. He’s at 92 (miles-per-hour) and I think he gave up three singles. Threw a guy out at the plate, so he didn’t give up any runs. Didn’t strike anybody out and I don’t think he walked anybody. So basically it was fastball, slider, twelve pitches. Yeah, hopefully (he’ll be up). We’ll see.”
After signing him last week, the Phillies optioned Robertson, 40, to Lehigh Valley where he must stay for at least 15 days.
What’s the update on Alec Bohm?
Third baseman Alec Bohm continues his quest to get back to the lineup as soon as possible. He joined the team on Sunday in New York and Monday in Chicago was out on the field getting in some sprinting and other things. “Bohm feels better again today,” said Thomson. “I think he’s going to try and do some glove work with Bobby (Dickerson), not ground balls but glove work. Maybe some dry swings either today or tomorrow.”
Bohm is recuperating from a fractured rib he suffered on July 12 on a pitch by Yu Darvish.
Ryne Sandberg passes
Former Phillies manager and Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg passed away Monday after a battle with cancer. Sandberg was 65.
