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Andy Green applauded Matt Kemp taking ownership of his reputation as a “selfish, lazy and bad teammate” as he prepared for a new chapter with the Atlanta Braves. The Padres’ rookie manager, however, took issue with Kemp telling reporters in Atlanta on Tuesday that he had “never really played in a baseball town before. I’m excited about that.” “That one bothers me in the sense that they are going through…

i Plant manager Ron Vander Groef says the white ash used to make Rawlings baseball bats could be wiped out by emerald ash borers within the next few years. Brian Mann/North Country Public Radio hide caption toggle caption Brian Mann/North Country Public Radio Plant manager Ron Vander Groef says the white ash used to make Rawlings baseball bats could be wiped out by emerald ash borers within the next few…

Moreso than any Olympics in modern history, the lead-up to the Summer Games in Rio has yielded one disaster headline after another: doping scandals, Zika virus alerts, terrorism fears, unfinished venues, fecal matter-filled waters, local violence, and even a dead jaguar. But when NBC had its Olympics panel at the Television Critics Association press tour in Beverly Hills on Tuesday, executive producer Jim Bell, host Bob Costas, and correspondent Mary…

World road race champion Armitstead won an Olympic silver at London 2012 and Commonwealth gold in 2014 Lizzie Armitstead says she was “very naive” for not challenging the first of three missed drugs tests until her Olympic place was in jeopardy. The British world road cycling champion was suspended on 11 July pending disciplinary action but appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas). She successfully argued the first…

If all the pre-Olympic hype has you wishing you could jump on a plane to Rio, there’s still time to cobble together a trip that won’t break the bank. We know, because we tried it. While travel to an event as major as the Olympics can be tricky, if you’re flexible you can land a great deal—especially given all the concerns about the Zika virus and Rio’s readiness to host…

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Photo via AP The golf tournament at the Rio Olympics starts next Thursday. This is the first time golf has been at the Olympics since 1904, but stars like Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, and Dustin Johnson will not be there. However, a bunch of capybaras, sloths, and other critters (like mini crocodiles) will. The course is located in the Barra da Tijuca neighborhood in western Rio, a newer neighborhood where…

I can only remember one time in my life when baseball wasn’t fun. We had moved from Okinawa to Junction City, Kansas, and the Little League team I was placed on already had a first baseman, the position I played. The first baseman was the coach’s son, which meant he got to play wherever he wanted. I’m not saying that was fair, and I’m not saying it…

Andy Green applauded Matt Kemp taking ownership of his reputation as a “selfish, lazy and bad teammate” as he prepared for a new chapter with the Atlanta Braves. The Padres’ rookie manager, however, took issue with Kemp telling reporters in Atlanta on Tuesday that he had “never really played in a baseball town before. I’m excited about that.” “That one bothers me in the sense that they are going through…

BALTIMORE (AP) Dylan Bundy took a no-hitter into the sixth inning for the second game in a row, Pedro Alvarez hit two of Baltimore’s four solo homers and the Orioles beat the Texas Rangers 5-1 on Tuesday night in a duel between AL division leaders. Making his fourth career start, Bundy allowed one hit and a walk over seven sparkling innings against a potent lineup featuring newcomers Carlos Beltran and…

CHICAGO — Sure Chicago’s ball players in blue have gained national attention this season — but on the Southwest Side, these other boys in blue are the talk of the town. The Clear Ridge baseball team is playing in Bangor, Maine, right now, just three wins away from a senior league World Series title. A perfect 16-0 in its regular season, Clear Ridge is representing all of the US central…

A group of Chicago entrepreneurs gave up their day jobs to launch an app where the competition that starts every time you hear the words “play ball.” It’s called The Fantasy Pizza App. It’s an app where you got to play to win and winning could mean free stuff at your front door in no time flat. The Fantasy Pizza App can deliver hot pizza to your door in the…

CHICAGO — Sure Chicago’s ball players in blue have gained national attention this season — but on the Southwest Side, these other boys in blue are the talk of the town. The Clear Ridge baseball team is playing in Bangor, Maine, right now, just three wins away from a senior league World Series title. A perfect 16-0 in its regular season, Clear Ridge is representing all of the US central…

Note: Don’t whiff on this special FanDuel offer. Win your first contest or get your money back (up to $10) to keep playing. Try FanDuel now! And I thought there were a lot of good pitchers on Monday. Tuesday brings us a game at Coors Field, 11 pitchers listed at $9,000 or more on FanDuel, and at least four others I could reasonably consider as top notch options. In one…

Atlanta Braves outfielder Matt Kemp is pretty pumped to kick things off with his new club. Kemp, who grew up a huge Braves fan, already penned a letter expressing his excitement over at the Players’ Tribune. On Tuesday, Kemp again went out of his way to praise Atlanta. Matt Kemp: “I’ve never really played in a baseball town before. So, I am excited about that.” — Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) August 2, 2016 That’s an incredibly…

In late June, legislation was introduced to the House of Representatives titled “Save America’s Pastime.” Read that title and the natural reaction for baseball fans is panic: “Baseball is in trouble? Like the whales? Oh my goodness! We’ve got to save it! Where do I sign up?” The title, however, was exactly as misleading as it was meant to be. A more accurate name would have been “Screw Baseball’s Minor Leaguers,” as that’s exactly…

K.J. Pilcher The Gazette More stories from K.J. DES MOINES — Cedar Rapids Jefferson’s Spencer Van Scoyoc faced some challenges his senior baseball season. After being drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 19th round of the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, Van Scoyoc spent most of the summer negotiating with the organization and battling while pitchers gave him little to hit. Neither prevented him from posting…

This week, even before Rio starts, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) considers which sports will be at the next Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020. Skateboarding, for one, is “optimistic” about its inclusion. Golf went through this process four years ago and for its athletes, the Rio Olympics should be a sight for sore eyes. After a 112-year absence, the sport will return to the Olympic stage. Yet what should…

Maybe you’re not the biggest Olympics fan, or maybe you haven’t been keeping up with Olympic sports since London. It’s OK. We forgive you. In fact, we want to help you find your new favorite sport and Olympian. If you liked Shawn Johnson in 2008, you should watch Laurie Hernandez in 2016. (USA Today Sports Images) Both women have solid all-around chops, as Johnson won worlds in 2015 and Hernandez took second…