MLB playoffs 2025: Why All-Stars think their teams will win in 'spicy' NL race

MLB playoffs 2025: Why All-Stars think their teams will win in 'spicy' NL race

ATLANTA — In this era ofMajor League Baseball's expanded playoff field, one concept rings even truer: If you're over .500, you've got a chance. Yet in the National League, nine teams can make that claim, more than double the four American League squads taking that distinction into the symbolic start of the second half. The next two-plus months will shake things out, and with the division leads frontrunners Philadelphia (a half-game), Chicago (one game) and Los Angeles (5 ½ games) hold, nothing's guaranteed. "It's a spicy division this year, that's for sure," saysMilwaukee BrewerscloserTrevor Megillof the NL Central, where his club lurks a game behind the Cubs. "The Cubs have a fantastic product out on the field this year and so do some other teams in our division. "It's going to come down to that last game." Slim as some margins are, we'll give those leaders a pass and break down the half-dozen clubs aiming to run them down – or at least fight off the others for one of three wild-card spots: Standing: 56-40, one game behind Chicago in NL Central, four-game lead for wild card spot. What's their deal?: They've once again outkicked expectations, with manager Pat Murphy guiding a wild mix of youth and veterans and All-Star pitcher Freddy Peralta helming a rotation that has unleashed touted rookieJacob Misiorowskifor five starts – with the baseball world suddenly captivated by what may come next. Before the trade deadline: Nine of 12 games against playoff contenders Seattle, theLos Angeles Dodgersand, from July 28-30, the first-place Cubs. Why the Brewers?: "The way the Brewers run themselves and the research they do on people, personalities - that goes into a lot of what we're seeing right now. Power of friendship, right? We've got a college-minded coach at the helm and I think a lot of our guys are just that gritty, tough, and we go and get after it. I think that's our biggest strength: A lot of guys that like each other and a lot of guys willing to put their body on the line every night." - Megill Standing: 55-42, half-game behind Philadelphia in NL East, 2 ½-game lead for wild card spot. What's their deal?: An encouraging July got even brighter when injured pitchers Sean Manaea and Kodai Senga made their returns in their final series of the first half, with Senga pitching four scoreless innings at Kansas City. Juan Soto has shaken the new-team blues, with 12 homers and a .312/.450/.642 line in his last 35 games after going .229/.367/.430 in his first 62. Before the trade deadline: Nine of 12 games against NL contenders Cincinnati, San Francisco and San Diego. Why the Mets?: "We've got talent, we've got grit, we've got chemistry – those are all things you need to win ballgames. We've shown some obviously really great moments of consistency. But we haven't been perfect. We've had some injuries, but we're getting a ton of guys back. When you combine talent and attention to detail and grit, it makes for a winning ballclub." –Pete Alonso Standing: 52-44, 5 ½ games behind Los Angeles in NL West, half-game lead for wild card spot. What's their deal?: Injuries have slowed them much of the year, with sophomore Jackson Merrill struggling after a pair of IL trips, pitcher Yu Darvish making his season debut just before the All-Star break and Michael King out until August with shoulder irritation.Manny Machadois playing like an MVP. The bullpen produced three All-Stars. Before the trade deadline: A 10-game road trip to Washington, Miami and St. Louis, followed by a three-game showdown against the Mets. Why the Padres?: "We have the confidence and we're going to have a good second half. We're motivated to make the playoffs." – Robert Suárez Standing: 52-45, six games behind Los Angeles in NL West, half-game out of wild card spot. What's their deal?: It's torture all over again, as the pitching staff's 3.50 ERA ranks third in the majors but batters rank 26thwith a .678 OPS, stirring memories of their 2010 champions' knack for winning close games. Rafael Devers has two homers and a .656 OPS in 25 games as a Giant, and along with Willy Adames must adjust from hitter-friendly climes to Oracle Park's batter-killing conditions, though both will benefit from Matt Chapman's return. Before the trade deadline: A six-game trip to Toronto and Atlanta and three at home against Pittsburgh. Why the Giants?: "We're getting Willy going, we got Chappy back, and if we can get Raffy going as well, that's great. Once we get our hitters going, we're going to be pretty hot. We play the most one-run games in baseball and I think that sets us up for success in the playoffs. There's a lot of close games. Our pitchers and our hitters are comfortable in those situations." – Robbie Ray Standing: 51-46, 6 ½ games behind Chicago in NL Central, 1 ½ games out of wild card spot. What's their deal?: Written off for 2025 after a much-ballyhooed franchise "reset" and a winter spent failing to trade Nolan Arenado, the Cardinals that remained comprised a pretty good squad. Sonny Gray has pitched like an ace, Brendan Donovan – a 3-WAR player in the first half – has led their band of versatile position player pieces and DH Ivan Herrera has returned from injury after posting a .924 OPS in 43 games. Before the trade deadline: A six-game trip to Colorado and Arizona followed by a big four-game set at home against San Diego. Loser sells to the winner? Why the Cardinals?: "I think it's a group that's not afraid of anything. People learning how to go about their business in the big leagues and learning about who they are and that's what makes us scary. We just did all the things we had harped on in spring training: Taking care of the baseball, having quality at-bats, sticking to a team approach while also sticking to our individual approaches. I think our expectations were completely different than the ones set on us." – Donovan Standing: 50-47, 7 ½ games behind Chicago in NL Central, 2 ½ games out of wild card berth. What's their deal?: The rotation ranks sixth in the NL with a 3.88 ERA but has had injury setbacks. All-Star Elly De La Cruz racked up 3.6 WAR while hitting 18 homers with 25 steals. Emilio Pagan solidified the closer role, posting 20 saves by the break. Manager Terry Francona just notched his 2,000thcareer win. Before the trade deadline: A six-game trip to the Mets and Nationals, followed by three with Tampa Bay. Why the Reds?: "We're a young team. I think we're getting closer to finding our true identity. I truly believe we have a good young core and have a good set of veterans to help the younger players. And our manager. I think that was a really good move for us. Brings in that calmness with firmness. I think we're going to continue to work, continue to show up and the results will show." - Abbott This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:MLB playoffs 2025: NL standings shape up for 'spicy' pennant race

byLiam Oneel

in

July 18, 2025

MLB playoffs 2025: Why All-Stars think their teams will win in 'spicy' NL race

MLB playoffs 2025: Why All-Stars think their teams will win in 'spicy' NL race ATLANTA — In this era ofMajor League Baseball's e...

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Ohtani’s next big hit? A children’s book about his dog Decoy

Ohtani's next big hit? A children's book about his dog Decoy

Injuries may have prevented Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani from throwing from the mound recently, but they haven't stopped him from coming up with a new pitch: co-writing a children's book based on his baseball-fetching dog Decoy. The three-time MVP posted a teaser on his Instagram on Thursday, featuring a picture of Decoy, a Kooikerhondje, sitting next to the fiction book that represents his first foray into the world of children's books. Of course, it's about baseball. The cover of "Decoy Saves Opening Day" is adorned by a cartoon version of Decoy – with a baseball in his mouth – alongside the Japanese star donning his signature number 17 jersey at a baseball field. In the story, Decoy is supposed to throw the first pitch to mark the opening of the new baseball season – until he finds out he's left his baseball at home, according to the website of publisher HarperCollins. "Can he get his ball and make it back to the stadium before it's too late?" it teased. Ohtani and his furry companion hope the book will support nonprofits helping to rehome stray and abandoned dogs, with the book to go on sale on February 3 next year, according to the website. Ohtani co-wrote the book with Michael Blank, with illustrations by Fanny Liem. In May, the Dodgers starreturned to the moundto delight the crowd at Citi Field ahead of the Dodgers' game against the New York Mets, pitching for the first time in nearly two years. He underwent a procedure to repair the right ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow in 2023. During that appearance, Ohtani threw 22 pitches across five simulated plate appearances, with mostly cutters, sinkers and fastballs hovering around 94-95 mph and maxing out at 97 mph. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byLiam Oneel

in

July 18, 2025

Ohtani’s next big hit? A children’s book about his dog Decoy

Ohtani's next big hit? A children's book about his dog Decoy Injuries may have prevented Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani...

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From Lavish Ceremonies to Intimate 'I Dos,' See the Most Memorable Celebrity Weddings of 2025 — So Far

From Lavish Ceremonies to Intimate 'I Dos,' See the Most Memorable Celebrity Weddings of 2025 — So Far

Lauren Sanchez Bezos/Instagram; BACKGRID;Magi Fisher Wedding bells were ringing for these happy newlyweds! Celebrities such asTéa Leoni and Tim Daly,Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez,Hailee Steinfeld and Josh Allen,as well asKristen Stewart and Dylan Meyerand more, all said "I Do" this year. And of course, each wedding was as unique as the couples themselves. Some went all out with an overseas blowout, while others kept things low-key, surrounded by just immediate family at a favorite local place. Below, see the biggest celebrity weddings of 2025. Heather Wines/CBS via Getty The on-screen couple to real-life couple pipeline remains strong asTéa Leoniwed herMadam SecretarycostarTim Dalyin an intimate ceremony held in New York on July 12. The two first met in 2014 on the set of the CBS series, in which they played husband and wife Elizabeth and Henry McCord. In December 2014, PEOPLE confirmed that the pair had beenquietly datingsince the summer of that year. Their wedding was small and attended only by immediate family, the actress' rep confirmed to PEOPLE. Actor Josh Bonzie shared a photo from Daly and Leoni's wedding on his Instagram Stories. Theimagewas later reposted on a fan account and showed the bride — wearing a metallic bronze top and white skirt and holding a small bouquet — posing with her daughter West. Magi Fisher Brody Jennerand Tia Blanco wed on July 12, at the Malibu, California, home of the reality star's mother,Linda Thompson, in front of about 70 guests that included Jenner's dad,Caitlyn Jenner, and some of his half-siblings. "Our wedding was everything we could've ever dreamed of… intimate, emotional, and filled with so much love," Jenner told PEOPLEwhile sharing exclusive photos from the day. The couple'sdaughter Honey Rayewas prominently featured in the wedding, wearing a white lace dress similar to Mom's, joining her parents at the ceremony and hitting the dance floor. "Watching her smile light up the day reminded us exactly why this moment meant so much," Jenner told PEOPLE. "She wasn't just a part of the ceremony, she was the heart of it. It was raw, real, and full of meaning — just the way we wanted it." Click News and Media / BACKGRID Mel Bmarried her fiancé of three years, Rory McPhee in a romantic ceremony in The Crypt of St. Paul's Cathedral in London, on July 5. TheAmerica's Got Talent: Fantasy Leaguejudge and the hairstylist were engaged in 2022 and Mel B'sthree daughters— Phoenix,Angel Irisand Madison — were her bridesmaids. Allison Williamsand Alexander Dreymon have kept their relationship almost totally out of the spotlight, so when the actress referred to theThe Last Kingdomactor as her "husband," in an June interview withThe Guardian, fans were intrigued. A sourcelater confirmed to PEOPLEthe pair had quietly tied the knot. Williams and Dreymon met on the set of their film,Horizon Lineand began dating in 2019. In 2021, the couple secretlywelcomed a baby boy named Arlo, though the news of their son wasn't revealed until April 2022. Lauren Sanchez Bezos/Instagram Amazon founderJeff Bezosand his fiancée Lauren Sánchez wed in a lavish ceremony that took place on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice, Italy, on June 27. The bride walked down the aisle wearing a corseted, mermaid-style wedding dress custom-designed by Dolce & Gabbana,perVogue. Their star-studded guest list included Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King, Orlando Bloom, Tom Brady, the Kardashian-Jenner sisters, Usher and many more. Kevin Mazur/MG25/Getty; BACKGRID Jalen Hurtsis a man of few words, so to announce that he'dmarried his longtime, college sweetheart, he simply toldMen's Health, "You can call her my wife." The two hosted a romantic wedding in Napa Valley, California on June 14, where they shut down the entire Four Seasons hotel in the area from Thursday, June 12, to Sunday, June 15, according toPage Six. BACKGRID Demi Lovatotied the knot with her boyfriend,Jordan "Jutes" Lutesin a romantic ceremony in California on May 25. The former Disney star looked radiant in a custom "pearl white" Vivienne Westwood gown, on which she collaborated with the designer. "I have been a fan of Vivienne Westwood's designs for a long time," the singer toldVogue. "When I was thinking about [what dress style I wanted], I often found myself coming back to Vivienne's designs — specifically how the silhouettes really complement the curves in your body, and her use of corsets," she added. HEM / BACKGRID Robin ThickeandApril Love Geary's romantic nuptials took place in Cabo at the Las Ventanas al Paraíso, a Rosewood Resort in Cabo San Lucas on May 30. According to a press release from Thicke's rep, the intimate wedding party included Thicke's brother Carter Thicke, his son Julian Fuego (whom he shares with ex-wife Paula Patton), Gianni Harrell, and longtime friend Usher, who served as groomsmen. A few days after their big day, Thickeshared a sweet picof their family, which featured Julian, as well as Luca, 4, Lola, 6, and Mia, 7, whom he shares with Geary. "Happy Life! 😇" he sweetly captioned the post. Steve Granitz/FilmMagic Eric Murphy and Jasmine Page didn't just get married, they united two comedic dynasties. Eric, the son ofEddie Murphyand Jasmine, the daughter ofMartin Lawrence, were initially planning a big wedding, but pivoted to an elopement instead. "They went off, everybody was making the big wedding plans, and then they decided they wanted to do something quiet with just the two of them," Eddie saidduring a May appearanceonThe Jennifer Hudson Show, joking that Lawrence no longer had to pay for a "big wedding." "We're in-laws," he added. Backgrid ActressHailee Steinfeldwas photographed walking down the aisle to marry Buffalo Bills quarterbackJosh Allenon May 31. In an edition of herBeau Societyemail newsletter released on June 13, Steinfeld revealed that her wedding was full of "love and magic." And though she said she was torn between sharing all the photos and keeping them to herself, she ultimately postedsome memories, including several photos which radiated "all the love." BACKGRID Kristen Stewarthas long marched to her own drum as an A-listers, so it comes as no surprise that her wedding to longtime partnerDylan Meyerwas equal parts low-key and cool. Held at Los Angeles' Casita Del Campo on April 20, the nuptials featured "a big crowd" of 170 people, asource told PEOPLE exclusively, adding that the Mexican restaurant is a go-to spot for the lovebirds. Instead of formal attire, the pair opted for casual ensembles, with photos from the intimate ceremony showing that theSpenceractress wore a matching light gray miniskirt and cardigan set over a cropped white T-shirt, while theMoxiescreenwriter donned an off-white minidress with a sheer top half and satin skirt. Kayla Cullen Gabby Windeyand Robby Hoffman got married not once, but twice this year. In anInstagrampost shared on March 5, Windey revealed the couple celebrated a symbolic ceremony in Las Vegas. "Husband and wife!!" theTraitorsstar wrote and added their wedding date: "1/11/2025 🥂💍." A month later on April 15,Windey revealedthe couple made things legal after having held a private courthouse wedding. Windey shared several behind-the-scenes pics of their nuptials, captioning the post, "I do thee legally wed!!" Monica Schipper/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images Justin TherouxandNicole Brydon Bloom's nuptials were as low-key as their relationship has been. News of their wedding broke in March, whenTMZobtained photos of the couple dancing and embracing on a beach. Theroux wore a classic tuxedo with a cream jacket, black pants and black bowtie, while Bloom wore a flowy white dress with an open back. The couple originally sparked romance rumors in February 2023 when they were spotted at a Netflix event together and were spotted several times before making theirred carpet debutat the 2024Vanity FairOscars party in March. Four months later,Theroux proposed in Italywith a ring that features a 4-carat emerald cut diamond and a band that includes both of their birthstones. The Drakes LegendaryJane's AddictionguitaristDave Navarromarried fashion designer Vanessa DuBasso on March 29, atDunskey Estatein Stranraer, Scotland. Thecouple told PEOPLEthey had always dreamed of tying the knot at a castle, and where immediately taken when they saw pictures of Dunskey. "We wanted our wedding to feel like a dream,"Navarro stated. "It was important to us to find a place that felt unlike anywhere we had ever been, a place that embraced nature and transported us to another world. We wanted our loved ones to share in this intimate experience." Arnold Turner/Getty While promoting his film.Magazine Dreams, on theSherrishow on March 19,Jonathan Majorsrevealed he had secretly marriedMeagan Goodand gave some insight into their special day. "I said to Meagan yesterday, I said, 'Today might be the happiest day of my life,'" the actor said of their big day. "I love that woman so much. So how it had happened — well, Lord, Sherri thank you. We fell in love." He also revealed his mother was the one who officiated the wedding, telling the talk show host, "My mother came. My mother's a pastor, and she came from Dallas where I'm from." "She came to the L.A. screening [ofMagazine Dreams]. My mother had never been to one of my screenings. And we had told her that, 'Hey we're gonna do this thing.' And we did. My mother married us yesterday. Her mother was there." Read the original article onPeople

byLiam Oneel

in

July 18, 2025

From Lavish Ceremonies to Intimate 'I Dos,' See the Most Memorable Celebrity Weddings of 2025 — So Far

From Lavish Ceremonies to Intimate 'I Dos,' See the Most Memorable Celebrity Weddings of 2025 — So Far Lauren Sanchez Bezos/Instagra...

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Billy Joel admits affair made him feel 'like a homewrecker,’ says he deserved being 'punched in the nose'

Billy Joel admits affair made him feel 'like a homewrecker,' says he deserved being 'punched in the nose'

Billy Joelfell in love with the wife of his best friend and bandmate when he was just starting his career. In a new documentary, "Billy Joel: And So It Goes," the Piano Man revealed the anguish he went through when he told his friend he was in love with his wife. Joel had been living with bandmate Jon Small; Small's wife, Elizabeth Weber; and their son, while Joel and Small were in a duo called Attila in their early 20s. "I was just in love with a woman, and I got punched in the nose, which I deserved," Joel said in the documentary. "I felt very, very guilty about it. They had a child, you know? I felt like a homewrecker." Billy Joel's First Wife Walked Out On Him In Hospital Bed After Motorcycle Crash That Nearly Killed Him Earlier this year, Joel wasdiagnosed with a brain conditionthat forced him to cancel all of his scheduled concerts. Read On The Fox News App Longtime collaborator and the executive producer of the documentary, Steve Cohen, told Fox News Digital his fingers are crossed Joel will perform again. "I always look at it as a gift when he walks on stage," Cohen said. "I can't predict. I do know that the Billy Joel that I had dinner with last night, that's the Billy Joe that I know. So, look, it's up to him. If he feels like he wants to, you know, 'play' Billy Joel on stage again, we're all gonna be there for him." Billy Joel's Wife Says Singer's 'Health Has To Take Priority' After He Postponed Tour Due To Medical Condition The five-time Grammy winner, 76, was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), which occurs when cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) builds up inside or around the brain and has led to problems with hearing, vision and balance for the musician. "I can't predict whether he's gonna wanna do it. Look, he's got two beautiful kids. His daughter's now turning 10. He's got a great wife. He's got a great life. Like, he's 76. He doesn't have to do s---. And he's giving the fans something in this documentary that they can enjoy more of. So, I don't know, fingers crossed." WATCH: BILLY JOEL'S FRIEND AND COLLABORATOR HOPES TO SEE HIM PERFORM AGAIN AFTER BRAIN DIAGNOSIS Joel fell in love with his first wife, Weber, because she wasn't happy with her husband Small. Weber admitted in the documentary she and Small "were not a good fit. We were very young, and we didn't really know much of anything. And I got more and more dissatisfied with the life I was living, and then things got complicated." She and Joel began spending more and more time together. "When you just find someone you're comfortable with … and can finish your sentences and know what you're thinking without saying anything, sometimes it's a low build," she said. Small said Weber was important to him, "but I think I was not the guy she hoped I would be." "I kept seeing that Billy was not the same guy. Something was the matter, and Billy one day came up to me, became a little honest and said to me, 'I'm in love with your wife.' So, it was a very devastating thing for me because these were basically my two best friends. "He's crying, and he's telling me he feels so bad, and he didn't know what to do about it. How does he break his best friend's heart? But he said she was so powerful to him that it was worth it to him to lose our friendship for it." Click Here To Sign Up For The Entertainment Newsletter Joel said that was the end of Attila, and "that was the end of my relationship with Jon for a while." He said Weber left as well, and he began drinking a lot andattempted suicide twice. "I figured that's it. I don't want to live anymore," Joel said. "I was just in a lot of pain. It was like why hang out? Tomorrow's going to be just like today, and today sucks. So, I just thought I'd end it all." After his second attempt at suicide, Small was the one who took Joel to the hospital. "Even though our friendship had blown up, Jon saved my life," Joel said. Small said even though Joel never said anything to him about it, "The practical answer I could give why Billy took it so hard was because he loved me that much and that it killed him to hurt me that much." Like What You're Reading? Click Here For More Entertainment News He said he eventually forgave Joel. "I finally got over it where it was like, 'OK.' He thought it was over for him, but, to me, he didn't even start living yet." Joel and Weber ended up getting together about a year later after she'd heard songs he'd written about her, when Joel gave her sister a cassette tape of his music. "It was all from Elizabeth leaving him, and he was so sad. And he put it into music," his sister, Judy Molinari, said in the documentary. "Hearing those songs was overwhelming," Weber admitted. "It was stunning that he could accomplish something like that." Joel and Weber eventually got married in 1973 before divorcing in 1982. He is now married to his fourth wife, Alexis Roderick, after his marriages to Christie Brinkley and Katie Lee. Part one of "Billy Joel: And So it Goes" premieres Friday, July 18, on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max. Part two of the documentary will be released Friday, July 25. Original article source:Billy Joel admits affair made him feel 'like a homewrecker,' says he deserved being 'punched in the nose'

byLiam Oneel

in

July 18, 2025

Billy Joel admits affair made him feel 'like a homewrecker,’ says he deserved being 'punched in the nose'

Billy Joel admits affair made him feel 'like a homewrecker,' says he deserved being 'punched in the nose' Billy Joelfell in ...

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Longtime starting pitcher Kyle Gibson announces retirement from MLB after short-lived 2025 season

Longtime starting pitcher Kyle Gibson announces retirement from MLB after short-lived 2025 season

Two months after the Baltimore Orioles released longtime starting pitcher Kyle Gibson, he announced that he's closed the book on his 13-season MLB career. Gibson, 37, revealed Thursday on the "Serving It Up" podcast he's decided to end his professional baseball career. The righty entered this year with 10 straight seasons — excluding the pandemic-affected 2020 campaign — where he had logged at least 147 innings pitched. In fact, he's recorded the seventh-most innings among all MLB pitchers since 2013. Also in that span, he's second behind only Max Scherzer in total starts on the mound. Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, is narrowly ahead with 329, whereas Gibson finished his career with 328 starts in the majors. Gibson played for five teams: the Minnesota Twins (2013-19), Texas Rangers (2020-21), Philadelphia Phillies (2021-22), Baltimore Orioles (2023, 2025) and the St. Louis Cardinals (2024). His longest stay was with the Twins, who selected him in the first round of the 2009 MLB Draft following an impressive career at the University of Missouri. Tommy John surgery pressed pause on Gibson's journey to the majors, however, he eventually made his debut at 25 years old in 2013. In his seven seasons with the Twins, Gibson posted a 67-68 record and 4.52 ERA. He walked as a free agent after the 2019 season and signed with the Texas Rangers, for whom he earned his first and only trip to the MLB All-Star Game. Gibson received that honor in 2021, a season in which he was ultimately dealt to the Phillies at the deadline. Before that trade, though, the Greenfield, Indiana, native was 6-3 with a 2.87 ERA. His Rangers numbers were even better prior to the All-Star break. Leading up to the Midsummer Classic that year, he was 6-1 with a 2.29 ERA in his first 17 starts. Gibson didn't achieve the same success with the Phillies. Then his ERA stayed above 4.0 with the Orioles in 2023 and the Cardinals in 2024, although he did win a career-high 15 games during his first go-around in Baltimore as the club won 101 regular-season games and an AL East title. Excited to return to the Orioles, Gibson signed a one-year, $5.25 million deal with Baltimore in March. Unfortunately for the veteran pitcher, his reunion was short-lived. In his four starts with the team this season, he went 0-3 with a 16.78 ERA. He was released in mid-May. Although he went on to sign a minor-league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays, he didn't make it back to the big leagues this summer. A tough 2025 doesn't diminish an otherwise consistently productive MLB career for Gibson, who made more than $70 million while clocking out with a 112-111 record and 4.60 ERA in 1,878 innings.

byLiam Oneel

in

July 18, 2025

Longtime starting pitcher Kyle Gibson announces retirement from MLB after short-lived 2025 season

Longtime starting pitcher Kyle Gibson announces retirement from MLB after short-lived 2025 season Two months after the Baltimore Orioles rel...

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T.J. Watt contract winners and losers: Teammate hurt, peer helped by $123M extension?

T.J. Watt contract winners and losers: Teammate hurt, peer helped by $123M extension?

One of the more prominent and previously outstanding matters of league-wide NFL businessahead of training camps, which open en massenext week, was checked off the list Thursday afternoon whenPittsburgh Steelerssuperstar pass rusherT.J. Watt agreed to a long-awaited contract extension, per reports, with the only professional team he's ever known. And while this deal was largely expected to materialize at some point this summer and may not necessarily create a seismic impact throughout the football world, it could have some broader implications than you might think. So we thought about it and now present you with the winners and losers from Watt's big bag of loot: But of course. His three-year, $123 million extension makes him the top-paid non-quarterback in league history, in terms of average annual value, for thesecondtime in his career. It also means Watt, 30, will almost certainly finish out his football days with the Steelers, who drafted the eventual four-time All-Pro and 2021 Defensive Player of the Year 30th overall in 2017. Pittsburgh's all-time leader with 108 career sacks, Watt is currently sixth among active players but could vault all the way up to second with one of his typically dominant seasons in 2025. He's certainly got 123 million reasons worth of incentives to do so. The conclusion of negotiations with Watt would seem to mark the end of a wildly successful offseason, one when the Steelers' longtime head coach andrecently extended general manager, respectively, practiced patience while fans and some league observers practiced panic. But now Watt has returned to the fold, which he always seemed destined to do, and will soon meet new teammates likeQB Aaron Rodgers, who also took his sweet timesigning on, WR DK Metcalf, DB Jalen Ramsey and TE Jonnu Smith along with the incoming rookie class. Expectations are justifiably growing fora team that hasn't won a playoff gamesince the 2016 season. The perennial Pro Bowler was acquired (along with Smith) at the end of Junein a summertime blockbuster that reshapesthe back end of Pittsburgh's defense with S Minkah Fitzpatrick headed back to the Miami Dolphins. It's currently unclear as to how Ramsey might divide his time between covering receivers out wide, manning the slot or even putting in some work at safety with Fitzpatrick out of the picture. What is certain is that Ramsey's best years were spent with the Los Angeles Rams, with whom he won a Super Bowl ring four years ago and was consistently at the top of his game playing behinddemonic Aaron Donald, who caused so much havoc for opposing quarterbacks. Watt might notquitebe Donald, but his presence is almost certain to benefit Ramsey, whether it means less time required in coverage, more opportunities to go ball hawking or even the ability to freelance more once he's comfortable in his new system and surroundings. With Watt's contract done, it's almost certainly just a matter of time before the Dallas Cowboys' top defender − and one of the NFL's very best − becomes the next top-paid non-quarterback of all time, whether it's for $41.1 million a year, $44 million or whatever. But Parsons' money is coming, and his boss, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, is probably only too happy to generate that headline in due course now that he basically knows where the target is. (Also, Detroit Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson stands to benefit − at some point − from Watt's newly realized riches, though he might be waiting longer given his rookie deal doesn't expire until after the 2026 season.) Bro, why are you signing this paper now? It's supposed to be in the high 80s, humid and wet when you report to training camp in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, six days from now – where you'll be moving into dorm rooms at Saint Vincent College. And if that's not a darkness retreat ... (Also, if the answer is evading compulsory fines for missing camp, I'd like to introduce you to Michael Strahan. But I digress.) Watt mustreallybe missing his buddies after skipping the Steelers' offseason training program given he could have let this drag out another couple weeks while holding in or even simply remaining at the crib or beach or wherever. In addition, no chancebrothers J.J.and Derek are ever picking up another dinner check. They have yet to placate their own holdout pass rusher, All-Pro DE Trey Hendrickson waiting for his financial situation to be resolved. Hendrickson, 30, who has 35 sacks over the past two seasons – 4½ more than Watt over the same period – hasn't necessarily been looking to reset the market. But given he's due to make $16 million in the final year of his deal, it's apparent to him and anyone else outside of Cincinnati that he's (over)due for a raise and isn't merely 39% the player Watt is (when you crunch the salary figures anyway). And given how everything is seemingly falling into place in Pittsburgh – and already was basically set in Baltimore – the Bengals would be doing little more than undercutting their playoff hopes yet again by letting business matters impede their football operation.Pay the man. Feels like it was just five minutes ago that he became the first non-quarterback to break the $40 million per year contractual barrier. Then he was overtaken by Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase and now Watt, who both play for (better) division rivals of Garrett'sCleveland Browns. And, after explicitly stating he was the league's best defensive player last season after the Browns beat the Steelers in Cleveland – a remark clearly directed at Watt – doesn't it have to irk Garrett just a little bit that he's now the second-best paid defender ... and for a team that's probably going to stink? The Steelers' Week 1 opponents will now be catching the full T.J. Watt Experience as they unveil an offense led by new QB1(and former Steeler) Justin Fields. Andjust when the NYJ might have started to hopethey'd be catching a guy trying to knock off rust and possibly playing on an opening day pitch count given how negotiations can sometimes drag late into the process with Pittsburgh players … The Steelers are Watt's team, and he's been the face of this franchise for a minute … though maybe you could argue it's actually Tomlin. Regardless, Rodgers will definitely bethestory as long as he's amongst the yinzers, and the spotlight is about to be completely re-trained onto the four-time league MVP. No more time spent fretting about Watt's bank account or whereabouts or questions posed to Rodgers about what No. 90 means to the team and how important it is to reward him. Nope, nope, nope. This is now all about No. 8 and what he can do to end Pittsburgh's playoff failures and stabilize a position – temporarily anyway – that has effectively undermined this team since even before Ben Roethlisberger retired in 2022. Have fun with that, Mr. Rodgers! All NFL news on and off the field.Sign upfor USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:TJ Watt contract: Winners, losers after Steelers star gets extension

byLiam Oneel

in

July 18, 2025

T.J. Watt contract winners and losers: Teammate hurt, peer helped by $123M extension?

T.J. Watt contract winners and losers: Teammate hurt, peer helped by $123M extension? One of the more prominent and previously outstanding m...

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Kate Beckinsale mourns the death of her mother, actress Judy Loe: 'I am paralysed'

Kate Beckinsale mourns the death of her mother, actress Judy Loe: 'I am paralysed'

Peter Jordan - PA Images/getty Kate Beckinsaleis mourning the death of her mother, actress Judy Loe. TheUnderworldstar announced her mom's deathin a social media poston Thursday. Loe was 78 and had endured a long battle with cancer. "She died the night of July 15th in my arms after immeasurable suffering," Beckinsale wrote. "I have not picked all the best photos, nor the best videos, because I cannot bear to go through my camera roll yet. I deeply apologise to any of her friends who are finding out this way or through the press, but I cannot go through her phone. I am paralysed." The actress expressed immense sorrow at having to share the news. "I don't want to post this," she wrote. "I am only posting this because I have had to register my mother's death certificate and it will soon become public record." After studying English and drama at the University of Birmingham, Loe began her acting career as an original member of the British production of the rock musicalHairin 1970. She later appeared on the British TV showsEdward the Seventh,Goodnight and God Bless,Space Island One, andCasualty. She also acted on the British version ofGeneral Hospital, and had a small role inMonty Python's The Meaning of Life. Her final screen appearance came in a 2024 episode of the thriller seriesFool Me Once. Beckinsale reflected on her mother's influence in her Instagram post. Colin Davey/Getty "Jude was the compass of my life, the love of my life, my dearest friend," she wrote. "The vastness and huge heart of this tiny woman has touched so many people who love her dearly. She has been brave in so many ways, forgiving sometimes too much, believing in the ultimate good in people, and the world is so dim without her that it is nearly impossible to bear ." TheLove & Friendshipstar had revealed her mother's stage 4 cancer diagnosis in comments of a now-deleted video she posted on July 8, 2024,PEOPLE reported. Want more movie news? Sign up forEntertainment Weekly's free newsletterto get the latest trailers, celebrity interviews, film reviews, and more. Loe married actor Richard Beckinsale in 1977, four years after their daughter's birth in 1973. The actor died unexpectedly in 1979 at age 31, and Loe later married British TV director Roy Battersby in 1997. Battersby, who helmed TV crime dramas includingBetween the LinesandA Touch of Frost,died in January 2024. "I have no words yet," Beckinsale wrote on Instagram at the time. "I fought for you with everything I had. Oh Roy I am so sorry I lost." Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

byLiam Oneel

in

July 18, 2025

Kate Beckinsale mourns the death of her mother, actress Judy Loe: 'I am paralysed'

Kate Beckinsale mourns the death of her mother, actress Judy Loe: 'I am paralysed' Peter Jordan - PA Images/getty Kate Beckinsaleis ...

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Ex-Guns N’ Roses Manager Says He 'Paid Millions' Just to Be Rid of Axl Rose

Ex-Guns N' Roses Manager Says He 'Paid Millions' Just to Be Rid of Axl Rose

Ex-Guns N' Roses Manager Says He 'Paid Millions' Just to Be Rid of Axl Roseoriginally appeared onParade. There's no denying thatGuns N' RosesmanagerAlan Nivenhad his work cut out for him with the antics ofAxl Rose,Slash,Duff McKagan,Izzy StradlinandSteven Adlerduring their wildest days. Now, in a new interview, Niven revealed that he actually paid big bucks to have nothing more to do with Rose after the frontman fired him in 1991. "Did I see it coming? No. Was I surprised? No," Niven said regarding the phone call from Rose in an interview withLouder Soundpublished on July 13. "It would have been classy to have had dinner and agreed to go our separate ways, acknowledged with honor what we achieved together, but Axl is Axl. Thank God he gave himself to rock'n'roll and he's not a despot running a country." He continued, "I paid millions to get Axl out of my life. And here's how: I had a 17 percent commission in perpetuity. That means that anything released, mastered or negotiated during the term of my contract was commissionable forever." Niven added that his contract, which began in 1986, was renewed for three more years in 1989. However, his relationship with Rose began to deteriorate and Niven was let go in '91. "At the time it was renewed I was offered a raise to 20 percent. I turned it down. Axl fired me in '91. That means that the sales ofAppetite for Destruction,LiesandUse Your Illusionwere all commissionable – forever," Niven explained. "To get Axl out of my life, I sold those rights back to the band for $3.5 million. I did not want to deal with him again. Now that's a decent chunk of change, but Geffen [Records] had only paid royalties on about five million albums total at that time. Imagine how much I had still coming." He concluded by saying that the settlement was "not anywhere close" to what he was truly owed, but "that's how burnt out and disillusioned" he was by then. 🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 Ex-Guns N' Roses Manager Says He 'Paid Millions' Just to Be Rid of Axl Rosefirst appeared on Parade on Jul 17, 2025 This story was originally reported byParadeon Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared.

byLiam Oneel

in

July 18, 2025

Ex-Guns N’ Roses Manager Says He 'Paid Millions' Just to Be Rid of Axl Rose

Ex-Guns N' Roses Manager Says He 'Paid Millions' Just to Be Rid of Axl Rose Ex-Guns N' Roses Manager Says He 'Paid Milli...

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Daredevil Felix Baumgartner dies in paragliding accident in Italy

Daredevil Felix Baumgartner dies in paragliding accident in Italy

Felix Baumgartner, the daredevil who made a record-breaking parachute jump from the stratosphere in 2012, died Thursday in a paragliding accident in Italy, a local mayor confirmed. Firefighters who responded to the scene said they found a paraglider that had crashed into the side of a swimming pool in the city of Porto Sant Elpidio, on central Italy's eastern coast. "Our community is deeply affected by the tragic disappearance of Felix Baumgartner, a figure of global prominence, a symbol of courage and passion for extreme flight," the town's Mayor, Massimiliano Ciarpella, said onFacebook. Baumgartner, 56, made global headlinesin 2012when he was lifted into the stratosphere, about 24 miles up, in a capsule carried by a helium balloon, and then parachuted down to a landing in New Mexico. During the jump, he broke the record for fastest free fall, descending at about 843.6 mph and becoming the first human to break the sound barrier without the assistance of a vehicle. Originally from Austria, Baumgartner began skydiving at age 16 and further honed his skills in the Austrian military, according to his personal website. In 1988, he teamed up with Red Bull, which sponsored the stratosphere jump under the Stratos project and many other daring feats. The training and planning for the 2012 Stratos jump took five years. Among the records Baumgartner would break that day was highest jump, which had been held by Air Force Capt. Joe Kittinger since 1960, when he leapt from an open-air gondola basket that rose to 102,000 feet. Kittinger would go on to train Baumgartner for the record-breaking Stratos jump. (Baumgartner's height record was broken two years later.) In addition to skydiving, Baumgartner was an accomplished BASE jumper, breaking two records in 1999: Highest BASE jump and lowest BASE jump. The low jump, which he took from one of the hands of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, was only 95 feet. The high jump was taken from the 88th floor of the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, although that record has since been broken and is currently held by the late Valery Rozov, who jumped from Cho Oyu in 2016. Baumgartner was also a helicopter pilot and was part of Red Bull's aerial acrobatics team. "Ever since I was a child, I have always wanted to jump out of a plane," Baumgartner told Red Bull in an interview after becoming a licensed helicopter pilot. "For Red Bull Stratos, we had a very long list of 'what ifs,' in other words eventualities that could happen and how we would deal with them in an emergency. The list kept getting longer and longer. I was only afraid of the things that were not on the list. The things we had not thought of," he told Red Bull, adding, "to this day, I abort missions if the conditions are not right." While Baumgartner's stunts inspired millions, his political views were known to cause controversy. On social media, he mocked climate activists and others who sought to limit the effects of climate change, and voiced opposition to LGBTQ rights, according to the AFP news agency. He alsoonce suggestedHungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán should receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his anti-immigration policies. Son of man who was violently detained by ICE reacts after release Wall Street Journal reports Trump sent "bawdy" birthday letter to Epstein, Trump threatens to sue 7.3 magnitude earthquake hits southern Alaska

byLiam Oneel

in

July 18, 2025

Daredevil Felix Baumgartner dies in paragliding accident in Italy

Daredevil Felix Baumgartner dies in paragliding accident in Italy Felix Baumgartner, the daredevil who made a record-breaking parachute jump...

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Yankees' Devin Williams dominant again after ugly start: 'I remember everything'

Yankees' Devin Williams dominant again after ugly start: 'I remember everything'

NEW YORK — On a roster which includes the iconicAaron Judge, and fellow All-StarsJazz Chisholm Jr.andMax Fried, perhaps the most pivotal player in theNew York Yankees' pursuit of a 28th World Series championship just may beDevin Williams. After some rough patches, Williams, a two-time All-Star and 2020 NL Rookie of the Year, has been on a roll – reclaiming the closer spot, and in the process displaying the moxie which enticed the Bombers to acquire him from the Brewers in December. Williams started his Yankees career off poorly with a 9.00 ERA through his first 12 outings (10 earned runs in 10 innings), nothing like the 1.83 ERA he posted across his first 241 career games. He lost the Yankees' ninth-inning job temporarily, but has looked like himself in recent weeks, racking up 33 strikeouts to just four walks with a 1.90 ERA in his last 25 games, notching nine saves and five holds. Closing inherently forces you to face excruciating losses head on. But, contrary to the popular belief that the closer must possess a short memory, Williams digests each of his outings. "I remember everything – good or bad," Williams told USA TODAY Sports. "It's being able to compartmentalize and move on from that more so than necessarily having a short memory." It was a big adjustment moving from Milwaukee to starring on the brightest stage in New York. "I think the outside noise can obviously be louder here," said Williams. "That's just New York in general. There (are) more opinions here, and if you feed into that, it can lock you up mentally. I think that's what the good ones do - they just block out everything." And while there have been vocal detractors, fans and media alike, Williams seems mostly happy with the way he has been received, "It's been good and bad, (but) for the most part it's been good," said Williams. "In person, people are very encouraging." Williams said that encouragement has positively impacted his play. "I always have a little bit of butterflies in every appearance until I get to the mound and throw my first warmup pitch, and then I'm good," said Williams. "They (the fans) bring a lot of energy and I feed off of that. I feel like internally I'm very amped up, but on the outside, it looks very calm, almost nonchalant, I guess. But yeah, definitely, I feed off the energy they have here." Of late, the performances from the man dubbed "The Airbender" because of his signature changeup, have provided the Yankees faithful with a myriad of reasons to supply additional energy. "I'm extremely confident," said Williams. "I think it took a little bit of an adjustment period here – wanting to show what I can do, how I can help. I think I just tried to do a little too much and kind of lost who I was in the process. I've gotten back to that over the last two and a half months." Yankees broadcaster Paul O'Neill noticed the change in Williams, and is bullish on the future of the 30-year-old St. Louis native. "He's in a much better spot now than he was earlier in the year," said O'Neill, who began his career in Cincinnati, before winning four World Series with the Yankees. "There's always a transition coming to New York, but believe me, I think coming down the stretch here, he's going to be as good as ever." Williams' dominance is linked to his primary pitches – the masterful changeup, which features an extremely high spin rate, and an effective fastball. His impressive arsenal of pitches, which also includes a cutter and sinker, has allowed Williams to post strikeout rates of around 40% during the past three full seasons. "I didn't have very good numbers (against) him," said Yankees teammate Paul Goldschmidt, who is 1-for-10 with six strikeouts against Williams. "That changeup obviously is his calling card, but he throws 95 miles an hour too. He does a good job of keeping you off balance." Goldschmidt called Williams "a great teammate," and the reliever has been thrilled to team up with the seven-time All-Star first baseman, as well as the rest of his Yankees teammates in New York. "I am happy, I love New York City," said Williams. Still, it may be one and done for Williams in New York. He will be an free agent after this season, and what his 2026 work address will be is anybody's guess. But while he is here, Williams will work hard to have his New York tenure remembered less for being the guy who busted theYankees-imposed beard ban, and more for closing big games. "I would love to be the guy to finish off the World Series; and bring another championship to New York" said Williams. "That's the goal, right?" This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Yankees' Devin Williams dominant again: Ace closer had ugly 2025 stats

byLiam Oneel

in

July 18, 2025

Yankees' Devin Williams dominant again after ugly start: 'I remember everything'

Yankees' Devin Williams dominant again after ugly start: 'I remember everything' NEW YORK — On a roster which includes the iconi...

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