Free Republic

Arizona Diamondbacks starter Madison Bumgarner has a double life, according to a bombshell — and yet, not shocking — report from Zach Buchanan and Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic. For years, the four-time All-Star has reportedly been competing in team-roping rodeo competitions in secret, under the alias “Mason Saunders” and possibly others. Yes, really. According to The Athletic’s interview with Bumgarner, the former San Francisco Giants southpaw has been competing as Saunders with different partners as far back as March of last year, and possibly longer. The participation of the 2014 World Series MVP is apparently an open secret...

The Mets pulled themselves back from the ledge of defeat many times: With Curtis Granderson’s wall-slamming catch in the sixth inning, with Syndergaard’s guile in a seventh-inning jam, and with Reed’s escape in the eighth. But Bumgarner would not be overcome. Bumgarner fired a complete-game shutout on 119 pitches. The Mets never got a runner to third base. As the taut game stretched on, it was clear the Mets were in trouble when Familia began to struggle. He blew three saves in the World Series last season, but his pitching was a reason the Mets had made it this far...