Pirates' Dennis Santana suspended four games, fined for fan altercation

Pirates' Dennis Santana suspended four games, fined for fan altercation

Pittsburgh PiratesrelieverDennis Santanahas been suspended four games and fined forhis altercation with a fanduringan 8-4 win over the Detroit Tigerson June 19. The altercation between Santana and the fancame in the seventh inning of the Pirates' game at Comerica Park and included Santana jumping into the air to take a swing at the fan, who was sitting behind the Pirates' bullpen. "Pirates pitcher Dennis Santana has received a four-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for his aggressive conduct toward a fan near the bullpen during the second game of Thursday's doubleheader at Detroit's Comerica Park," Michael Hill, MLB's Senior Vice President for On-Field Operations,said in a statement. The statement said Santana has elected to appeal the suspension and fine, meaning he remains eligible to pitch for the Pirates until the appeal process comes to a close. REQUIRED READING:Pirates reliever Dennis Santana involved in fan altercation in win over Tigers When asked after the game about the situation and what escalated it, Santana told reporters via an interpreter that he didn't want to "get into" the details of what caused it but said the fan "crossed the line" a few times throughout the night. The fan was removed from the game by Tigers' security, while Santana had to be walked back by a member of the Pirates' bullpen staff. "Like I said, you guys know me and you know my temper. I'm a calm person and they crossed the line a few times. I would like to leave it at that,"Santana said on June 19through Pirates interpreter Stephen Morales. Dennis Santana is swinging at fans from the bullpenpic.twitter.com/cah20Ohtis — Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia)June 20, 2025 Santana entered the game in the ninth inning with the game tied 4-4 but was only able to pitch to one hitter before the game was sent into its second rain delay of the evening. In that at-bat, Santana got Tigers right fielder Zach McKinstry to fly out to center. The 6-foot-2 right-hander holds a 1.72 ERA in 31⅓ innings of work this season across 32 appearances. The Pirates started their three-game weekend series against the Texas Rangers 15½ games back of the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Dennis Santana fan altercation: Pirates pitcher suspended, fined

byLiam Oneel

in

June 20, 2025

Pirates' Dennis Santana suspended four games, fined for fan altercation

Pirates' Dennis Santana suspended four games, fined for fan altercation Pittsburgh PiratesrelieverDennis Santanahas been suspended four ...

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Diamondbacks catcher Moreno has hairline fracture of finger. Reliever Puk has surgery

Diamondbacks catcher Moreno has hairline fracture of finger. Reliever Puk has surgery

DENVER (AP) — Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno has a hairline fracture in his right index finger and could be sidelined until after the All-Star break. Moreno was injured June 6 in Cincinnati, then played through it for more than a week. He was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday, retroactive to Monday. "I appreciate what he was trying to do," manager Torey Lovullo said Friday night before the Diamondbacks faced Colorado. "I know that he had some at-bats that he was working through, pain-wise, and they were successful at-bats. He was just gutting it out, but it just became too much." Star outfielder Corbin Carroll was out for a second straight game because of a contusion on his left hand after he was hit by a pitch Wednesday night in Toronto. X-rays showed no fracture and he was available off the bench Friday night. Meanwhile, left-handed reliever A.J. Puk had surgery on his left elbow Friday. He will miss the rest of the season. The surgery was to determine the condition of the ligament in his pitching elbow and if he would need it replaced. "If the ligament's still in place, they won't replace the ligament," Lovullo said. "They'll just do that external bracing. If the ligament is damaged and they need to put a new ligament in there, yeah, it'll be officially Tommy John surgery." Starter Corbin Burnes had recent Tommy John surgery, and reliever Justin Martinez will undergo the procedure. Carroll was working on the field Friday before the game. "Corb is much better, trending in a very positive direction. And just want to give him a work day, just try and get out, see how he feels," Lovullo said. "The last thing you want to do is put a bat in your hand and have something sting. So he's going to do all that he can. So as of right now, he'll be available for the game, and then we'll hopefully trend upward from there." ___ AP MLB:https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

byLiam Oneel

in

June 20, 2025

Diamondbacks catcher Moreno has hairline fracture of finger. Reliever Puk has surgery

Diamondbacks catcher Moreno has hairline fracture of finger. Reliever Puk has surgery DENVER (AP) — Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Mor...

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Beyoncé has a special bond with Paris. Here's why the city seems so meaningful to her

Beyoncé has a special bond with Paris. Here's why the city seems so meaningful to her

Beyoncé Knowles-Carterhas launched her"Cowboy Carter" tour in Paris, and the first concert reflected the special connection she seems to have with the city. The Grammy-winning singer kicked off her first show in Paris atStade de France in Parison June 19 —Juneteenth. The show marked the first show at the stadium on herCowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin' Circuit Tour. She is set to hit the stage again on June 21 and 22 During her debut show in Paris,Beyoncésurprised fans with a special guest,"Cowboy Carter" collaborator Miley Cyrus.The two performed their Grammy-winning duet "II Most Wanted" hand in hand. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce) And the show seemed to be indicative of her love for the City of Love. One fanwrote, "Anyone who has been a Beyoncé fan for the last 15+ years knows that Paris has always ranked in the top two when it comes to cities that get the special treatment, e.g., special guests, set lists, etc." It's no secret both Beyoncé and herhusband, Jay-Z, have a deep affection for the city. They have both referenced Paris in interviews and in their music, often tying it to pivotal moments in their lives and careers. Here are a few more reasons why many believe Beyoncé holds a special bond with the French capital. Beyoncé first announced the tour the night beforethe 2025 Grammy Awards,where she took home the award forbest country albumand the night's top prizealbum of the yearfor"Cowboy Carter."And Beyoncé only announced two international stops on the tour — one of them being Paris. And it seems like the love is mutual between Beyoncé and French fans. All three Paris shows on her tour at Stade de France sold out within minutes, amounting to 240,000 tickets sold. Blue Ivy Carterhas had the Beyhive buzzing since she's taken on a lead role on her mom's "Cowboy Carter" tour. She has beenwowing fans with her dance movesand making a statement for herself. However it was in Paris that Blue made her tour debut on the2023 Renaissance World Tourat just 11 years old. She hit the stage, showing off her dance moves to "My Power" and "Black Parade" from the soundtrack for "The Lion King: The Gift." For her "Cowboy Carter" tour, Paris was the first city to receive a surprise appearance on the stage. However, Beyoncé is no stranger to choosing the city to debut special guests. During her Paris stop on her "On the Run" tour, Beyoncé surprised fans whenshe brought out Nicki Minaj in 2014.It was the first time the two ladies performed their hit song "Flawless Remix" together onstage. As fans know,Beyoncéfirstdebuted her "Cowboy Carter" tourat SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on April 28 with39 songs on the set list. Her shows have been filled with family,fashion, different music genres, and most notably country music and cultural commentary. The nine-city tour will span the U.S. and Europe with the grand finaletaking place in Las Vegason July 26. Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network's Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, onInstagram,TikTokandXas @cachemcclay. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean:Beyoncé's love for Paris is undeniable. Here's why it's special to her

byLiam Oneel

in

June 20, 2025

Beyoncé has a special bond with Paris. Here's why the city seems so meaningful to her

Beyoncé has a special bond with Paris. Here's why the city seems so meaningful to her Beyoncé Knowles-Carterhas launched her"Cowboy...

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Anne Burrell Shared Possible New Career Plans After Stepping Back from “Worst Cooks” Shortly Before Death

Anne Burrell Shared Possible New Career Plans After Stepping Back from "Worst Cooks" Shortly Before Death

Santiago Felipe/Getty Anne Burrell appeared on the March 13 episode of Tori Spelling'smisSPELLINGpodcast Burrell said she felt she had "more to do" in her life beyond her culinary and TV careers The late chef shared that she had begun taking an improv class and was "excited" about the experience Anne Burrellwas exploring new creative paths shortly before her sudden death. In a March 13 episode ofTori Spelling'smisSPELLINGpodcast, the celebrity chef addressed stepping away from her longtime Food Network gig as a mentor onWorst Cooks in America. "I can cook, yes, I can do TV, but also, what else? I've got more to do in my life, I feel like," she told Spelling. "Interestingly, I just started taking acting classes," Burrell shared. "It's like, an improv for actors class. I got there and it's like, eight people in the class. I'm the oldest one. Every other person is like, 'Oh, I have a master's in fine arts in theater.' " Spelling was encouraging, even as Burrell voiced her doubts, admitting that she was "just dipping my toe" into the artistic outlet but felt "very excited" about the experience. "I'm like, 'Okay, I've never taken an acting class. I don't know, this is new to me.' I wonder if these delightful and super-talented kids look at me and they're like, 'What's this old lady doing here?'" she said with a laugh. Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Burrell got her start on Food Network asMario Batali's sous chef onIron Chef. She appeared on many other programs on the network, but was a mainstay onWorst Cooks. The New York native served as a mentor on the cooking competition show for 27 seasons, from 2010 to 2024. Each season, Burrell mentored the Blue Team, while another famous chef — names likeBobby Flay,Rachael Ray,Tyler Florence,Alex Guarnaschelliand more— captained the opposing Red Team. The goal was to put their group of "worst cooks in America" through culinary boot camp, with one team ultimately winning the final challenge: cooking a restaurant-quality, three-course meal for three professional food critics. Burrell's team won 15 of her 27 seasons. However, for the most recent season, which aired from January to February of 2025, Burrell stepped away from the show, andAntonia Lofasotook the reins for the Blue Team. Burrell kept things vague when Spelling asked about a possibleWorst Cooksreturn in the future, noting that she was exploring new possibilities. "I've got a few other things that I'm working on as well, which I'm not quite ready to share yet," she said. "Hopefully, exciting things [are] coming." On the podcast, Burrell also opened up about meeting husbandStuart Claxtonon Bumble after deciding to finally try out dating apps in her late 40s. "From when I was a kid, I don't know why, but I always was like, I am not getting married until I feel like I have something in life to share — until I have accomplished stuff," she said of finding love later in life. In her 20s and 30s, she said, "I was living my best life! I was like, living the rock star chef life. I was working a lot, and I had a great social life. But I just started to feel like, all right, you're getting a little old to keep on doing this." She and Claxton tied the knot on Oct. 16, 2021, and she became a stepmother to his 22-year-old son, Javier. "Kids were never on my radar, really," the chef admitted. "I love being an aunt. I have nieces and nephews. So I'm like, [being a stepmom] is the perfect amount of parenting for me." Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Burrell diedon the morning of Tuesday, June 17, at her home in Brooklyn, N.Y. She was 55. She is survived by Claxton and Javier, as well as her mother, Marlene, and sister, Jane, plus Jane's children Isabella, Amelia and Nicolas and her brother, Ben. "Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend — her smile lit up every room she entered," her family said in a statement. "Anne's light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world. Though she is no longer with us, her warmth, spirit, and boundless love remain eternal." Read the original article onPeople

byLiam Oneel

in

June 20, 2025

Anne Burrell Shared Possible New Career Plans After Stepping Back from “Worst Cooks” Shortly Before Death

Anne Burrell Shared Possible New Career Plans After Stepping Back from "Worst Cooks" Shortly Before Death Santiago Felipe/Getty An...

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NBA Finals Game 7 could see return of referee criticized by some fans

NBA Finals Game 7 could see return of referee criticized by some fans

It is a strong likelihood thatNBAreferee Scott Foster will officiateGame 7 of the NBA Finalsbetween theIndiana PacersandOklahoma City ThunderSunday, June 22. Foster, who is one of the NBA's top referees based on a multi-pronged ratings system that uses feedback from teams, called Game 4 in Indianapolis, and Pacers fans were unhappy with his whistle in the Thunder victory. The NBA does not publicly reveal referees until 9 a.m. ET of game day, but given the rotation of the Finals refs, it makes sense that Foster would get the assignment since he has reffed just one 2025 Finals game and hasn't been in the rotation since Game 4. Pacers coachRick Carlisle defended Fosterat media availability before Game 5. "I think it's awful some of the things I've seen about officiating, and Scott Foster in particular," Carlisle said on Sunday, June 15. "I've known Scott Foster for 30 years. He is a great official. He has done a great job in these playoffs. We've had him a lot of times. The ridiculous scrutiny that is being thrown out there is terrible and unfair and unjust and stupid." PACERS COACH:Rick Carlisle defends referee Scott Foster after fan criticism Before the Finals began, the NBA announced the 12 referees who were selected to officiate Finals games based on evaluations from playoff games this season. Not every ref will get two games, but it won't be a surprise if Foster gets Game 7. Foster is working his 18th Finals and has reffed 25 Finals games, including Game 7 in the 2010 Finals between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers and Game 7 of the 2013 Finals between the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs. James Capers, Tyler Ford, Ben Taylor, Josh Tiven and Sean Wright are the other officials who have had just one Finals games this season. A crew of Foster plus a combination of Capers, Tiven and Williams makes sense. Ford and Taylor called their first Finals games this month. In Game 4, both teams combined to shoot 71 free throws, including 38 by the Thunder. On the NBA's Last Two-Minute Report, referee operations examined 17 plays and found they were all "correct calls" or "correct no-calls." Foster had reffed one previous Pacers playoff game this season. Some fans have given Foster the nickname "The Extender," claiming that he has a history of making dubious calls during the playoffs that have extended series. Longtime NBA writer Tom Haberstroh, however,referenced a studythat says there's "not much evidence at all" of Foster's ability to 'extend' the series. According to the NBA, playoff referees are selected, "based on their overall performance throughout the first three rounds of the NBA Playoffs 2025. Officials were evaluated by the NBA Referee Operations management team after each round to determine advancement in this year's postseason." Foster is considered one of the best referees in the league. An officialin his 30th season with the NBA, Foster entered this season having officiated 1,675 regular season games and 241 postseason games. Friday night was Foster's 25thtime officiating an NBA Finals game. This is his 18th NBA Finals, overall.. Foster is also anoted pickleball player. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:NBA Finals referee Scott Foster could return for Thunder-Pacers Game 7

byLiam Oneel

in

June 20, 2025

NBA Finals Game 7 could see return of referee criticized by some fans

NBA Finals Game 7 could see return of referee criticized by some fans It is a strong likelihood thatNBAreferee Scott Foster will officiateGa...

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Ron Washington stepping away from Angels managing duties indefinitely due to health concern

Ron Washington stepping away from Angels managing duties indefinitely due to health concern

Ron Washington is stepping away from managing the Los Angeles Angels indefinitely because of an undisclosed health concern. Angels bench coach Ray Montgomery will manage the team in the interim, including Friday night against the Houston Astros. Washington, 73, will still be around the team, and he'll watch games from general manager Perry Minasian's suite,according to The Athletic. Washington has posted a 99-137 record during his first two seasons as Angels manager. The Angels are currently 36-38 and in third place of the AL West standings. "He hasn't been himself these past couple days. We all saw that," said Angels shortstop Zach Neto, via The Athletic. "I'm glad he was able to figure something out and take these days to get himself back to normal." Minasian expects Washington to return to managing the Angels this season. A more specific timeline, however, is not yet known. "We're going to cross every T and dot every I, and make sure he's 100% before he's back in the dugout," Minasian said, via The Athletic. "How long is it going to take? I don't know. I don't expect it to be too long. "We all know how important this is for all of us, but obviously health is more important than anything. Me, personally, I'm not letting him back in the dugout until I know he's 100%." The Angels hired Washington in November 2023. He previously served as the Texas Rangers' manager from 2007-14, guiding the Rangers to a pair of American League pennants. In between, he joined the coaching staffs of the Athletics (2015-16) and the Atlanta Braves (2017-23). As for Montgomery, this isn't his first time stepping into the manager role for the Angels. In addition to assuming duties in spring training while Washington worked through illness, Montgomery was in the spotlight in 2022 when he took the helm after then-manager Phil Nevin was suspended following a full-team brawl with the Seattle Mariners.

byLiam Oneel

in

June 20, 2025

Ron Washington stepping away from Angels managing duties indefinitely due to health concern

Ron Washington stepping away from Angels managing duties indefinitely due to health concern Ron Washington is stepping away from managing th...

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Vanessa Bryant Celebrates Her Daughter Capri's 6th Birthday with Heartfelt Tribute Post: 'My Sweet Koko Bean'

Vanessa Bryant Celebrates Her Daughter Capri's 6th Birthday with Heartfelt Tribute Post: 'My Sweet Koko Bean'

Vanessa Bryant/Instagram Vanessa Bryant's daughter Capri is celebrating turning 6 The proud mom shared a heartfelt tribute post in honor of her daughter birthday Bryant, who's the wife of the late NBA star Kobe Bryant, is a mom to 4 girls: Natalia, the late Gianna, Bianka and Capri. Vanessa Bryant's daughter is officially 6! On Friday, June 20, the wife of thelate NBA star Kobe Bryant, 43, shared several snaps on her Instagram of her and her daughter Capri to commemorate the little girl's 6th birthday. Vanessa began the post with a shot of the newly-minted 6-year-old on her birthday wearing a purple "Birthday Girl" shirt paired with a white skirt. The proud mom rounded out her tribute by sharing recent snaps of them posing together. "Capri, we love you so much!!!! Happy 6th birthday to my sweet Koko Bean! 💜~ Capri Kobe Bryant ~💜 🎂🎉🫶🏽🎉" she wrote in the caption. Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Vanessa Bryant/Instagram Vanessa and Kobe became parents for the first time when Natalia was born in January 2003, and their brood of girls continued to grow from there. During their relationship, the couple expanded their family with three more girls: Gianna,who tragically died in a helicopter crash with her fatherin 2020, Bianka, 8, and Capri. "Guys keep teasing me," the late Lakers star toldExtrain 2017. "My friends say, 'It takes a real man to make a boy.' I'm like, 'Dude, it takes a king to make a princess.' " The baller doted on his "little princesses" and taught them the value of hard work. "It's not the destination, it's the journey," Kobe explained athis retirement ceremonyin 2017. "And if you guys can understand that, then what you'll see is you won't accomplish your dreams. Your dreams won't come true. Something greater will, and if you guys can understand that, then I'm doing my job as a father." Vanessa Bryant/Instagram The PEOPLE Appis now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! After Natalia, 22,graduated cum laude from USCon Friday, May 16, Vanessa revealedthe sweet way her daughterhonored Kobe during the milestone celebration. In avideoshared by Vanessa, a photo of Natalia's graduation sash was shown. Sewn into her sash was a message that read, "Thank you Mom & Dad," in USC's signature yellow and red colors. Natalia's graduation sash also included her father's sheath logo on the top left. In a 2014 interview withEsquire, Kobe explained that the symbol is inspired by a samurai sword. The sword is the "raw talent," Bryant explained, and the sheath is "the package it's kept in — everything you go through, your calluses and your baggage, what you learn." Read the original article onPeople

byLiam Oneel

in

June 20, 2025

Vanessa Bryant Celebrates Her Daughter Capri's 6th Birthday with Heartfelt Tribute Post: 'My Sweet Koko Bean'

Vanessa Bryant Celebrates Her Daughter Capri's 6th Birthday with Heartfelt Tribute Post: 'My Sweet Koko Bean' Vanessa Bryant/Ins...

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Tim McGraw Cheers on Daughter Audrey’s Music Career With Proud Post

Tim McGraw Cheers on Daughter Audrey's Music Career With Proud Post

Tim McGraw Cheers on Daughter Audrey's Music Career With Proud Postoriginally appeared onParade. Tim McGrawis a proud father as his daughterAudreyembarks on her career in music, with the country singer sharing a supportive post about his youngest daughter's newest song. The 58-year-old shared a new post on Instagram on Friday, June 20, to celebrate the release of Audrey's new song "Purple Flowers." 🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 McGraw posted an animation of the cover image for the song, which showed Audrey wearing a chic black dress and heels, twirling her skirt. Audio from the song played in the background. He wrote in the caption, "Audrey's latest release out now! Purple Flowers is out now, everywhere!🪻." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tim McGraw (@thetimmcgraw) Fans showed some love for Audrey's new song, with earnest comments like, "Go Audrey !! Love this song !✨✨👏🏼👏🏼🎩🩶," and "Her voice is amazing and absolutely love this song. Congratulations audrey…well done." A third wrote, "I love this song so much 💜🪻." A few also commented on similarities between Audrey's voice and that of her mother,Faith Hill, saying, "I for sure hear her momma in her voice😍," and "I hear a little bit of Faith in her voice!" "Same tone of voice as his mother 👌," said another after hearing "Purple Flowers." Audrey has been releasing new music for weeks now, with other recent releases including the songs "Speak" and "Thunder." Related: Tim McGraw Mourns Devastating Personal Loss Tim McGraw Cheers on Daughter Audrey's Music Career With Proud Postfirst appeared on Parade on Jun 20, 2025 This story was originally reported byParadeon Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.

byLiam Oneel

in

June 20, 2025

Tim McGraw Cheers on Daughter Audrey’s Music Career With Proud Post

Tim McGraw Cheers on Daughter Audrey's Music Career With Proud Post Tim McGraw Cheers on Daughter Audrey's Music Career With Proud P...

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Mariners' Cal Raleigh hits 29th homer before All-Star break, most by a catcher in MLB history

Mariners' Cal Raleigh hits 29th homer before All-Star break, most by a catcher in MLB history

With his 29th home run of the season Friday,Seattle MarinerssluggerCal Raleighhas hit the most homers by a catcher before the All-Star break in MLB history. The milestone home run came offChicago CubspitcherCaleb Thielbarin the seventh inning ofFriday's matchupat Wrigley Field. The left-hander threw a 94.2 mph fastball right down the middle of the strike zone, which Raleigh crushed down the left-field line and out of the ballpark. The two-run homer gave Seattle a 6-4 lead. They ended upwinning 9-4. Raleigh, 28, surpassed Cincinnati Reds Hall of Famer Johnny Bench, who hit 28 home runs before MLB's midseason break during the 1970 season. Fellow Hall of Fame catcher Ivan Rodriguez had 26 home runs prior to the All-Star break in 2000. Cal Raleigh AGAIN!He has passed Johnny Bench for the most home runs by a catcher before the All-Star break 🤩pic.twitter.com/zZ8KvUyg1O — MLB (@MLB)June 20, 2025 Setting Raleigh's achievement further apart from those catching greats is how quickly he reached that home run mark. Raleigh hit his 29th homer in the 73rd game of the season. Bench hit his 28 in 87 games, and Rodriguez got to 26 in 80 games. The Mariners' catcher tied Bench with his 28th homer of the yearin the first inning off Cubs starterMatthew Boyd, hitting a low, outside 94.6 mph fastball into the left-field seats. He then went yard again in the seventh. Raleigh's 29 home runs currently lead MLB, three more thanNew York YankeesstarAaron Judgeand four ahead of theLos Angeles Dodgers'Shohei Ohtani. He's batting .273/.379/.646 with 14 doubles and 63 RBI to go with his home run total, which currently has him on pace for 62. Should he come even close to that, he would easily set the record for home runs by a team's primary catcher. That record is 48 by theKansas City Royals'Salvador Perez, achieved in 2021. Nicknamed "The Big Dumper" by former teammateJarred Kelenicfor his large backside and penchant for clutch home runs, Raleigh is well on his way to surpassing the career-best 34 home runs he hit last season. A third-round pick in 2018 out of Florida State, he's reached 30 or more homers for the past two years. Mitch Garver's second homer of the game is also the 💯th of his career!pic.twitter.com/Zhlyc5UymN — MLB (@MLB)June 20, 2025 The two homers were part of a 3-for-4 day for Raleigh, who tallied three RBI inthe Mariners' 9-4 victory.Mitch Garveralso hit two home runs, batting 2-for-4 with five RBI. He taggedRyan Presslyfor a two-run shot in the sixth and followed with a three-run blast offGénesis Cabrerain the ninth. The second homer was the 100th of Garver's career. Boyd, Pressly and Thielbar each allowed two runs for the Cubs (45-30), while Cabrera gave up three.Eduard Bazardopicked up the win for Seattle (38-36) with his scoreless sixth inning.

byLiam Oneel

in

June 20, 2025

Mariners' Cal Raleigh hits 29th homer before All-Star break, most by a catcher in MLB history

Mariners' Cal Raleigh hits 29th homer before All-Star break, most by a catcher in MLB history With his 29th home run of the season Frida...

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Trendlines: The Lakers aren’t alone. The value of sports franchises has skyrocketed

Trendlines: The Lakers aren't alone. The value of sports franchises has skyrocketed

Welcome to Trendlines, your weekly installment of what's trending up and what's trending down in the world of sports. This week we're talking about money, money, money. It turns out that it's not just ABBA or the O'Jays who enjoy it. I mean look at the Los Angeles Lakers. The Buss family hasdecided to sellthe team that Jerry Buss bought back in 1979 from Jack Kent Cooke. You might have seen the price tag that the Lakers are set to be sold for and went, "Man, that is a lot of green." But just how good was Buss' investment back in the days before Magic Johnson? Let's dive right into this question with a big upswing. The Buss family was able to sell the team for a franchise valuation of $10 billion this go around. That's way more than the previous media valuations had put the team at. Moreover, it's way more than the team was purchased for in 1979. Buss bought the team for less than $100 million in 1979. To put that in percentage terms, we're talking about an increase of over 10,000% The percentage increase falls to about a "meager" 4,000% taking into account inflation. I wish my investments had such meager returns. It probably helps that the Lakers were absolutely dynamite during the Busses' ownership. They were previously a team that had generally struggled to win the big one while in Los Angeles. The team has won 11 NBA titles since 1979. No other team won more than six during that time frame. I think we should be very clear that what is happening with the Lakers is not occurring in a vacuum. The average NBA is worth nearly $5 billion now. The average team was worth a little bit more than $100 million in 1995. Now, one way to look at that is the Lakers are worth a lot more than the average. That's true. That's what you get for being such a good team in the second most populated city in the country. The other way to look at it (and in my opinion, the correct way) is that the same phenomenon that made the Busses wealthy beyond anyone's wildest dreams is occurring league-wide. Most would attribute that to the massive media deals that the NBA and other leagues have been able to sign the last few decades. Indeed, there has been no league better at signing media deals than the NFL. Companies will pay hundreds of millions to broadcast just a few games. It helps that the NFL has long pooled its media rights when negotiating with television and now streaming companies. Even so, the scale of the increase is nuts. NFL teams were worth less than $200 million on average in 1995. Now, we're talking well more than $6 billion for the average team! This is an increase of about 4,000% in just 30 years. I'd point out too that this is an average. I have little doubt that a team like the Dallas Cowboys would fetch far more than $10 billion if Jerry Jones decided to put the team on the market. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byLiam Oneel

in

June 20, 2025

Trendlines: The Lakers aren’t alone. The value of sports franchises has skyrocketed

Trendlines: The Lakers aren't alone. The value of sports franchises has skyrocketed Welcome to Trendlines, your weekly installment of wh...

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