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With racial issues in the United States coming to the forefront in the sports world, Major League Baseball players generally have been absent from the growing chorus of athletes who have publicly spoken out about problems they may see in the United States, and Baltimore Orioles outfielder Adam Jones thinks he knows why. "Baseball is a white man's sport," the Orioles star told USA Today. "We already have two strikes against us already,'' Jones told the newspaper, "so you might as well not kick yourself out of the game. In football, you can't kick them out. You need those players....

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Adam Jones thinks he knows why no Major League Baseball player has publicly refused to stand during the national anthem like San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and others around the world of sports. "Baseball is a white man’s sport," Jones told USA Today. In the NFL, 68% of the players are African American; that compares with just 8% in the MLB. On opening day this spring, just 69 African American players were on teams’ rosters or disabled lists. "We already have two strikes against us already, so you might as well not kick yourself out of...

Tim Tebow has signed a minor-league contract with the New York Mets, and his arrival is already paying dividends for the club’s brand. The Mets announced early Thursday morning that Tebow, the former NFL quarterback, will report to Port St. Lucie, Florida, to play in the fall Instructional League. As of Thursday afternoon, media exposure from TV, radio and online platforms has generated an estimated $1.88 million worth of public-relations value for Tebow and the Mets, Apex Marketing Group told FOXBusiness.com. That number doubles when factoring in all of the buzz on social media. Tebow’s total ad value of $3.8...

Tim Tebow's baseball career has begun. The former Florida Gators football star has signed a contract with the New York Mets, the team announced Thursday morning following a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter. Tebow, 29, will begin his professional career in either Arizona Fall League or Instructional League. More than 12 years since he last played baseball at St. Augustine Nease, Tebow showed impressive speed and power at the plate, until he faced live pitching, according to reports. Tebow hit eight balls over the fence at USC's Dedeaux Field during batting practice. But he did not connect on much against...

Complete Headline: Seattle Mariners apologize after lesbian couple are told to stop kissing at the baseball team's first ever gay pride night because it was against their 'family-friendly' policy Mary McHale and Sara Hinton were threatened with being kicked out They kissed after enjoying the Mariners' 7-6 win over the Brewers The employee has been disciplined and the Mariners have apologized The Seattle Mariners had to make a groveling apology after a lesbian couple were told off for kissing at the team's first ever Pride night. ... McHale, whose grandfather is a Mariners fan, told local news website KUOW: 'My...

The city of Hartford's investment in the Downtown North development, which includes construction of the Dunkin' Donuts Park baseball stadium, exceeds $102 million to date, according to an audit from Hartford's Internal Audit Commission released publicly Friday. Originally priced at $56 million for initial construction funding and bonded at $63.3 million, the unfinished stadium's pricetag has now jumped to $71.7 million, the audit said. For the overall Downtown North development, which includes road work, engineering and other infrastructure work, the total costs to the city are $102.5 million to date, the audit report said. That $102 million does not include...

For some reason, playing a song in which 50 percent of the lyrics are the exact phrase “smack my bitch up” for an accused domestic abuser didn’t quite sit right with people, leading the Cubs to issue the following formal apology: "The selection of this track showed a lack of judgment and sensitivity to an important issue. We have terminated our relationship with the employee responsible for making the selection and will be implementing stronger controls to review and approve music before public broadcast during our games."

BOSTON - The Boston Red Sox canceled a David Ortiz bobblehead promotion Tuesday night when the figurine turned out to be "racially insensitive," said team president Sam Kennedy. The bobblehead depicts Ortiz addressing fans at Fenway Park following the Boston Marathon bombings, but Kennedy said it didn't much resemble the retiring slugger and was not fit for distribution. Kennedy saw the final version of the bobblehead for the first time Tuesday afternoon after they were delivered. "My two immediate reactions were first, it was a really inaccurate portrayal of what he looks like," Kennedy told The Associated Press. "My personal...

Boston Red Sox fans who attend Tuesday night's game against the New York Yankees will no longer receive David Ortiz bobbleheads. The team promised to distribute Ortiz bobbleheads to the first 15,000 fans entering Fenway Park before Boston's game against the Yankees, but Red Sox president Sam Kennedy said he elected to postpone the promotion after doing a quality check. "I thought the bobbleheads were an inaccurate portrayal of David," Kennedy said. "To go further, I thought the facial features were racially insensitive."

Yankees say A-Rod's last game will be on August 12th; will then assume role as special advisor and instructor.

The New York Times reported last summer that the Cardinals were the subject of a federal investigation in connection with multiple illegal breaches of the Astros’ proprietary computer network, Ground Control. Correa was ultimately fired by the Cardinals in July and was later charged. At the time of his plea, Correa claimed that his to access Ground Control was due to concern that former Cardinals scouting director Jeff Luhnow had taken proprietary information with him upon being hired by the Astros as general manager. Per Barron, the court denied a request that would’ve allowed Correa to subpoena documents from the...

“Between innings. It worked out well just how crazy it was,” Strawberry added. “It kind of worked out that way. You point (a woman) out and tell the kid (to go get her).” By “the kid,” Strawberry means a clubhouse attendant. In his Sirius XM interview, Strawberry also talked about drinking in the clubhouse and smoking cigarettes in the dugout. Oh, to be a baseball player in the ’80s.

It’s time for God to stop blessing America during the seventh-inning stretch. Welcome to the July 4 holiday weekend — when once again, baseball fans will be assaulted by the saccharine-sweet non-anthem “God Bless America” at stadia all over this great land. But no matter which home team you root, root, root for, “God Bless America” should be sent permanently to the bench.

Commemorating those killed in the jihad attack in Orlando is fine. But the Yankees use it to promote homosexuality.

According to ESPN's Jayson Stark, Major League Baseball is on the verge of making two rules changes that could only be described as ground-breaking. In a report filed on Friday, Stark says that the league's competition committee reportedly agreed to alter the strike zone and eliminate the four-pitch intentional walk during their meetings with owners this week. Those two changes could be implemented as early as the 2017 season. The strike zone is currently defined as the volume of space above home plate and between the batter's knees and the midpoint of their torso. Of course, if you asked most...

<p>The Padres have a PR problem on their hands after a mixup during the national anthem for Saturday night's game against the Dodgers.</p> <p>There were 100 members of the San Diego Gay Men's Chorus on the field to sing the anthem, but a woman's voice — believed to be that of Friday's anthem singer — was played over the PA system while the men stood on the field.</p>

SAN DIEGO – The Los Angeles Angels sought out a character reference on Tim Lincecum. They did not need to think twice about whom to call. “They asked my opinion,” said Bengie Molina, “and I gave it to them straight-up.” For all that Lincecum accomplished with Buster Posey, he always talks in glowing terms about Molina as the catcher who shepherded him as he broke into the big leagues, became his friend and support network besides his batterymate, and channeled his talents when he was at the height of his powers. While Molina does not hold an official title with...

It's hysteria, Carlos Beltran. Pure hysteria. Puerto Rico was thrown out of the game before it even entered the stadium It’s a common theme of mine that the American spirit is growing steadily weaker. One way in which we see that is the propensity to become hysterical at the least provocation, the proverbial elephant afraid of the mouse. Witness the ongoing hysteria over the mosquito-borne Zika virus. The latest victim is the impoverished U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, which has struck out with Major League Baseball. A two-game series scheduled for the territory is being moved to Miami. Why? The...

CINCINNATI (AP) -- Jake Arrieta of the Chicago Cubs pitched his second no-hitter in a span of 11 regular-season starts, shutting down the Cincinnati Reds in a 16-0 rout Thursday night.