Major League Baseball Needs to Stop Trying to Kill the Shift
Division Series - San Diego Padres v Los Angeles Dodgers - Game Two | Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
On Thursday, Major League Baseball announced rules changes it will experiment with in the minor leagues this season. Some make a ton of sense and are easier to support, but one is ridiculous. There will be limits placed on shifting in Double-A, which is MLB s latest broadside fired at the practice. It s a absurd movement that should be stopped in its tracks. A requirement that all four infielders have their cleats within the outer boundary of the infield dirt when the pitch is delivered
Jeff Long s Tenure at Kansas Was an Abject Disaster
Texas Tech v Kansas | Ed Zurga/Getty Images
Jeff Long is out as the athletic director at Kansas just two days after the school parted ways with Les Miles. Looking back on Long s tenure in the position, it s clear to any impartial observer that he was the worst athletic director in the country. His time in Lawrence was a complete disaster.
Long was hired in 2018 and immediately set about trying to fix the football program. In November of that year he announced head coach David Beaty would be fired at the end of the season, but allowed him to stay on and finish the campaign. Then he completely botched things by refusing to pay Beaty s $3 million buyout. The former head coach sued the university and eventually a settlement was reached, but it was a terrible look.
Texas Rangers Will Open Season With Full Capacity Crowds
Coronavirus Pandemic Causes Climate Of Anxiety And Changing Routines In America | Tom Pennington/Getty Images
The Texas Rangers are taking a pretty big gamble on Opening Day and for the final two exhibition games before the season. Those contests will open to 40,518 fans, full capacity at Globe Life Field. Coronavirus is incredibly excited about this development.
- masks will be required
- no tailgating allowed
- team is asking for “voluntary compliance” but refusal to comply will fall under the usual three-strike rule, just like excessive profanity, etc.
Masks will be required in the park, but compliance with rules will be voluntary. I wasn t an English major but I m pretty sure required means you have to do something. That is pretty much the direct opposite of voluntary. I also enjoy that three-strikes will apply on the field and in the stands.
Boston Celtics Introduce Kemba Walker | Tim Bradbury/Getty Images
almost landed during his tenure. Apparently the Celtics really wanted to trade for Harden before the Houston Rockets traded him to the Brooklyn Nets, though Ainge later downplayed his team s interest.
On Wednesday, The Athletic s Sam Amick wrote about Boston s interest in Harrison Barnes as the trade deadline approaches. In that piece, he revealed the following: The good news for Brown? It appears Celtics ownership, management and coach Brad Stevens feel the same way. That was evident during the Harden saga, when sources say Boston’s level of interest and involvement far surpassed what Ainge was willing to admit to when he addressed it publicly. Ironically, that deal as opposed to a possible trade for Barnes likely would have required Brown to be dealt.