“Are the Olympics still happening?”
That’s the question Joey Wagman of Danville a right-handed pitcher for Team Israel says he’s been getting ever since the pandemic postponed the 2020 Summer Olympics in Japan.
On March 30 last year, the International Olympic Committee and other stakeholders announced that the competition would be delayed to this summer, but many have continued to wonder: Are the Games of the 32nd Olympiad still happening?
Indeed they are, notwithstanding the strangeness of the 2020 Olympics being held in 2021. The opening ceremony is set for July 23 in Tokyo.
Wagman, who’ll turn 30 two days after that, is one of two Bay Area pitchers on the Israeli baseball squad, which was (surprisingly) the first team to qualify for these Olympics. The other is right-hander DJ Sharabi, 29, of Burlingame.
Big Boom: A mysterious explosion at an Israeli air base last week was purportedly caused by a rocket engine test, say analysts.
☢️ Sanctions Demands: Iranian diplomat Abbas Araghchi said that the U.S. must remove sanctions designations from 1,500 people in order to revive the 2015 nuclear deal. Reassurances: Brett McGurk, the National Security Council’s Middle East and North Africa coordinator, told Jewish leaders on Friday that the administration will not lift sanctions on Iran before any agreement on the 2015 deal. Big Deal: Israel’s Delek Drilling is working on plans to sell its stake in the Tamar offshore drilling plant to Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Petroleum for $1.1 billion.
USA BASEBALL FINALIZES 2021 PROFESSIONAL NATIONAL TEAM STAFF 04/22/21
USA Baseball Professional National Team Manager Mike Scioscia finalized the coaching staff for the 2021 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Baseball Americas Qualification Event for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020, the organization announced today. Coaching alongside Scioscia will be Jerry Weinstein (Bench Coach), Dave Wallace (Pitching Coach), Ernie Young (Hitting Coach/First Base), Darren Fenster (Third Base), and Roly de Armas (Bullpen).
Combined, the 2021 staff brings 19 years of playing and coaching experience with Team USA to this year’s Professional National Team, having won five gold medals and five silver medals in their time representing the U.S. Additionally, Young was a member of the gold medal-winning team at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
Israel names expanded baseball roster for Tokyo 2020 insidethegames.biz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from insidethegames.biz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Taking a look at the Mets’ next extension candidates
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The Mets just committed to paying Francisco Lindor $341 million over ten years, starting in 2022. That is not only the third-largest contract in MLB history, but it’s more than twice the amount paid to David Wright, who previously held the franchise record for the largest contract signed.
The Mets are now acting like the big-market team many thought they could be, and with the richest owner in baseball on their side, Lindor shouldn’t be the only star player to whom they offer a long-term deal. That is the good news. But the bad news is that the Mets have a lot of key players who might not be on the Mets next year without quick action and a lot of spending. Let’s take a look at extension candidates for the Mets heading into this season.