Month: April 2023

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MLB Admits Umpires Made Wrong Pitch Clock Call in Mets Opener

As MLB teams and umpires continue to get acclimated to the new pace-of-play rules, the league issued a clarification to the Mets, acknowledging a controversial pitch clock call levied against them on Opening Day.

Thursday’s game between the Mets and Marlins featured a questionable call against New York’s Jeff McNeil in the top of the sixth inning. The second baseman was assessed an automatic strike by home plate ump Larry Vanover after teammate Pete Alonso was slow returning to first base between pitches following a McNeil foul ball. 

On Friday, Mets manager Buck Showalter announced the league admitted the call was incorrect, noting he was informed by a MLB official that a strike shouldn’t have been charged to McNeil.

“By the time Pete got around third base there was another version out there,” Showalter said, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. “[League officials] wanted to make sure everybody was straight, so I appreciate that.”

When discussing his expectation for how umpires will handle pace-of-play rules going forward, Showalter said he believes there will be some leniency outside of those who blatantly violate the guidelines.

“As long as someone is not trying to circumvent the rules and not use it to their advantage they are going to be thoughtful about it,” he added.

With the 2023 MLB season only two days old, it’ll be interesting to see how MLB plans to handle instances such as the Mets’ penalty going forward. New York (1–1) will continue its series against Miami (1–1) on Saturday at 4:10 p.m. ET.

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Author: Jelani Scott

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Look: Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Pulls Down One of the Most Bizarre Rebounds Ever

Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is working on a career year in 2023. In his fifth season, Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging a sterling 31.4 points per game; he ranks in the top 10 in the league in that category, steals per game and free-throw percentage.

For all his spectacular feats this year, however, none can quite compare with one sequence in Oklahoma City’s 121–117 loss to the Pacers on Friday.

With 4:31 left in the first half, Gilgeous-Alexander drove in for a layup to cut Indiana’s lead to 55–48. Falling to the ground, he lost his shoe, giving the Pacers a 5-on-4 opportunity.

Thinking quickly, Gilgeous-Alexander picked up his shoe and ran back on defense. He arrived just in time to rebound a three-point attempt from Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard, shoe still in hand, and quickly offload the ball to guard Luguentz Dort.

The surreal sequence almost served to mask another brilliant individual effort from Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished the night with 39 points and nine rebounds in a losing effort.

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Author: Patrick Andres

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Knicks Great Shares Why He’d Pick Playing With LeBron James Over ‘Best Friend’ Michael Jordan

Knicks legend Charles Oakley sat down with Hall of Fame big man Kevin Garnett on his KG Certified basketball show on Showtime to answer what seems like an age-old question.

Would you rather play with LeBron James or Michael Jordan?

Oakley, who played against Jordan in his heyday and considers the Bulls legend his best friend, surprisingly chose James.

“They’d ask me ‘who would you rather play with? LeBron or Mike?’ I said LeBron but Mike’s my best friend,” Oakley began. “Mike ain’t passing me the ball. He don’t care if I get a shot today or tomorrow. But you know, that’s how he got to be Mike. You know? So when they always make the comparison, ‘Who you like? LeBron or Mike?’ I says ‘Frosted Flakes, Corn Flakes. Mike, LeBron.’ So LeBron got no sugar, Mike got the sugar. So the sugar I ain’t have, I’m LeBron because I was Corn Flakes. So it’s always gonna be a comparison.”

As the debate rages on about who the best player of all time is, it will always come down to preference. Both players are in rarified air, and it will likely always be a comparison between the two star players of two very different eras.

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Author: Mike McDaniel