http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb Recent articles about MLB en-us Matt Harvey just cannot be stopped. The Mets rookie improved to 5-0 on the season in New York's 3-2 win over the Cubs on Friday night, giving up just two runs in 7 1/3 and striking out six without a walk. His fastball averaged 96 over the 106 total pitches he threw over the evening, topped out at 99, and he *still* broke 96 in the seventh inning. With Harvey, Shelby Miller, and Pat Corbin (who admittedly isn't a rookie, but is still a young pup) in the top five in the NL in ERA, the young pitchers are completely dominating the league this year. PIC OF THE DAY Justin Upton with a five star pimpjob following his sixth inning grand slam against the Dodgers. (Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports) Game of the Night: Pirates 5, Astros 4. Houston led 4-1 after five, and things were looking up. Then...they apparently realized they're the Astros. A Garrett Jones RBI double cut the lead to two runs in the sixth. In the eighth, Pedro Alvarez hit a monstrous two-run homer t... Sat, 18 May 2013 09:45:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/dugout_digest_all_hail_harvey/13644406 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/dugout_digest_all_hail_harvey/13644406 Dugout Digest - all hail Harvey http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/dugout_digest_all_hail_harvey/13644406 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Pittsburgh Pirates slugger Pedro Alvarez brings new meaning to “hit it out of the park” as this home run ball clears the bleachers and ends up in the Allegheny drink. Screen snaps below courtesy of MLB.com, Root Sports, and KDKA and brought to you by Lowe’s. Looks like a Sergio Garcia shot at 17 Sometimes you just have to get wet as a fan retrieves the wet souvenir -David Whitlock (@lhd_on_sports) Follow us on Twitter @rbts_baseball The post WATCH: Pedro Alvarez crushes ball out of PNC park into Allegheny River appeared first on Reading Between The Seams. Sat, 18 May 2013 08:57:41 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/watch_pedro_alvarez_crushes_ball_out_of_pnc_park_into_allegheny_river/13644220 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/watch_pedro_alvarez_crushes_ball_out_of_pnc_park_into_allegheny_river/13644220 Alvarez hits HR out of PNC Park, into river http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/watch_pedro_alvarez_crushes_ball_out_of_pnc_park_into_allegheny_river/13644220 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/c/bcd8c83b590f73e3be3cf6401ad41ca420a1b84d/mini/pnc.jpg The Houston Astros lost another game in an embarrassing fashion that only the Astros could pull off. On Friday night, the Astros were tied at 4-4 with the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. In the bottom of the ninth with two outs, the Pirates loaded the bases, but Astros pitcher Edgar Gonzalez got Pirates batter Russell Martin to pop up to short center field to send the game into extra innings. Or so everyone thought. Astros second baseman Jack Elmore chased the popup into the outfield while right fielder Jimmy Paredes came in. Due to a miscommunication, the players collided just as Paredes got his glove on the ball, causing him to drop it and allowing runner Travis Snider to score from third and giving the Pirates a 5-4 win. Just another reminder of why the Astros are the worst team in the major leagues. H/T BLS. Related posts: Astros reliever Paul Clemens forgets to take off jacket (Video) Visit us at holdoutsports.com and follow us on Twitter @HoldoutSports. Sat, 18 May 2013 07:42:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/astros_fielders_collide_on_popup_giving_pirates_walk_off_win_video/13643971 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/astros_fielders_collide_on_popup_giving_pirates_walk_off_win_video/13643971 Astros fielders collide on popup, giving Pirates walk-off win (Video) http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/astros_fielders_collide_on_popup_giving_pirates_walk_off_win_video/13643971 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png ST. LOUIS David Freese has heard from pretty much everyone. That's how it works when you're the local kid playing for the hometown team. When your swing is sweet, the attention is great. When you're stuck the stinkiest stretch of hitting you've ever had, it can be a little much. "There are so many people trying to help me," Freese said. Whether it comes via Twitter, snail mail or word of mouth, Freese a career .290 hitter who entered Friday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers averaging .209 with just four RBIs and no home runs has received no shortage of suggestions on how to get his big swing back on track. His favorites? "Say F-it and just go hit," Freese said. His least favorites? "People talking mechanics," Freese said. "And they've never stepped in the box." Freese went with the former tip Friday. In the first inning, he turned a 1-1 change up from Brewers pitcher Wily Peralta into a 419-foot grand slam that didn't stop until Sat, 18 May 2013 04:10:49 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/grand_slam_brings_relief_to_cardinals_freese/13643788 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/grand_slam_brings_relief_to_cardinals_freese/13643788 Grand slam brings relief to Cardinals' Freese http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/grand_slam_brings_relief_to_cardinals_freese/13643788 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/5/3/53dd6aa85bb528e9c0a94b69b8d1a5bc8d3a9e36/mini/6222052.jpg CLEVELAND -- Jason Kipnis remembers making noises, but he doesnt know what they were.There were no words coming out, really, he said Friday night. It was just kind of sounds. Gibberish. Just screams.Kipnis had just watched his 10th-inning fly ball sail into the right-field stands to give the Indians a 6-3 win over Seattle. And as the crowd of 34,282 exulted, so did Kipnis.The dugout emptied to welcome Drew Stubbs and Michael Bourn to the plate, then put a semi-circle around home as Kipnis rounded the bases.He put his arms out and looked to the crowd headed to first. As he got to second, he started screaming. As he got to third, he enjoyed the roars of the most exuberant crowd at Progressive Field this season. Halfway down the third-base line, Kipnis slammed his helmet, then jumped on the plate and into the the gaggle of teammates.I was so happy for them, manager Terry Francona said. I get a big kick out of that. Watching those guys jump on each other is fun.The two-out rally ended what Bourn called a battle o Sat, 18 May 2013 00:31:49 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/kipnis_home_run_in_10th_sends_34282_home_happy/13643497 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/kipnis_home_run_in_10th_sends_34282_home_happy/13643497 Kipnis' home run in 10th sends 34,282 home happy http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/kipnis_home_run_in_10th_sends_34282_home_happy/13643497 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png ATLANTA Here are three things we learned from the Braves' 8-5 win over the Dodgers, a back-and-forth game that ultimately turned on a single power stroke: 1. Justin Upton apparently loves playing in the Braves' alternate reds On April 5, the first Friday of the season, the Upton brothers made MLB history by becoming the first sibling pair to belt homers in the ninth inning of the same game with B.J. tying the score against the Cubs ... and Justin ending it with a walk-off blast. Fast forward to this Friday night, the sixth inning specifically, as Justin Upton strode to the plate with the Braves down 4-2 and the bases loaded the product of a Jordan Schafer pinch-hit single, a Dodgers infield error and a walk to Jason Heyward. Justin Upton, who was traded to the Braves (23-18) during the winter, attacked Dodgers reliever Paco Rodriguez from the get-go, fouling off the first pitch with a violent swing. Just missed it. "The first one, I got a pretty good gauge," recalled Upton after th Sat, 18 May 2013 00:00:28 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/three_cuts_upton_slam_fuels_braves_win_over_dodgers/13643278 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/three_cuts_upton_slam_fuels_braves_win_over_dodgers/13643278 Three Cuts: Upton slam fuels Braves' win over Dodgers http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/three_cuts_upton_slam_fuels_braves_win_over_dodgers/13643278 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/4/8465b8d60b8bc96f7fa022b991353d22d7143449/mini/MLB_APR_29_f7a9.jpg To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the classic baseball movie "The Sandlot", actors from the movie visited the Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox before Friday night's game at Target Field. Photo via @BrianDuensing52. Chauncey Leopardi (who played Michael "Squints" Palledorous) and Patrick Renna (who played Ham Porter) with players on both teams, including Twins pitcher Brian Duensing and Red Sox stars David "Big Papi" Ortiz and Will Middlebrooks. Although "Squints" seems to have a lot less hair, "Ham" looks exactly the same. Photo via @PatrickRenna. H/T BLS. Visit us at holdoutsports.com and follow us on Twitter @HoldoutSports. Fri, 17 May 2013 21:52:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/sandlot_actors_visit_twins_and_red_sox_at_target_field_video/13642702 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/sandlot_actors_visit_twins_and_red_sox_at_target_field_video/13642702 'Sandlot' actors hang with Twins, Red Sox http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/sandlot_actors_visit_twins_and_red_sox_at_target_field_video/13642702 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/c/6/c65675f1885be418a0d39a07b1a6eba3fb9b7028/mini/sand.jpg ARLINGTON, Texas Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington was looking for a way to get Ian Kinsler a day off. Bruised ribs weren't in the plans though. Kinsler was a late scratch Friday because of bruised ribs. Kinsler first hurt his ribs last weekend during a series in Houston when he was hit by a ball while trying to steal second base. He aggravated the injury Thursday night when he tried to twist out of the way before he was hit by a Justin Verlander pitch. His awkward slide at third in the first inning had nothing to do with it. "When I was at first after I get hit by a pitch was when I got the first reaction to it," said Kinsler, who now shares the franchise record for most times hit by pitch (54) with Rafael Palmeiro. The Rangers moved Elvis Andrus to the leadoff spot and inserted Leury Garcia in the order at second base. Kinsler hopes to be out just a day and Washington thinks that will be the case. "He's sore," Washington said. "This might be a blessing in disguise Fri, 17 May 2013 18:08:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/rangers_scratch_kinsler_with_bruised_ribs/13641565 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/rangers_scratch_kinsler_with_bruised_ribs/13641565 Rangers scratch Kinsler with bruised ribs http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/rangers_scratch_kinsler_with_bruised_ribs/13641565 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/d/fd5c3693c2ec2dc535ce6f495f3db9fba9bf71a6/mini/rangers-ian-kinsler-throws.jpg Does anyone have a more wicked pitching arsenal than Yu Darvish? The Texas Rangers stud pitcher matched up with Justin Verlander on Thursday in a game that surprisingly turned into a slugfest. While Verlander was rocked and couldn’t make it through three innings, Darvish got through eight to pick up his seventh win of the season. But there was one moment in particular that must be recognized: the time when Darvish made Miguel Cabrera look foolish. Darvish was facing Cabrera in the top of the fifth with the Rangers up 8-4 and the count 0-1. Darvish threw Cabrera a 62 mph curveball, and Miggy took a vicious hack at it. He was so off balance after missing on the swing that he stumbled across the plate and was left to give a smile. Why? Because nobody makes him look foolish like that. Cabrera is the reigning AL MVP and last year’s triple crown winner. He’s the best hitter in baseball. That doesn’t happen very often. But with Darvish pitching, anything is possible. GIF via Drew Shep... Fri, 17 May 2013 11:19:34 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/yu_darvish_made_miguel_cabrera_look_foolish_on_62_mph_curveball/13638446 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/yu_darvish_made_miguel_cabrera_look_foolish_on_62_mph_curveball/13638446 Darvish made Cabrera look silly on curveball http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/yu_darvish_made_miguel_cabrera_look_foolish_on_62_mph_curveball/13638446 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/c/4/c4a93053e8e87e791483579dde424c1317fb1e17/mini/miguel-cabrera.jpg New York Yankees list of injuries grew further on Thursday night in a 3-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners.  Left-hander Andy Pettitte left the game in the fifth inning because of tightness in his left trapezius muscle in his back. Catcher Chris Stewart also left the game with a left groin injury in the  Fri, 17 May 2013 10:04:09 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/yankees_list_of_injuries_grows/13637771 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/yankees_list_of_injuries_grows/13637771 Yankees list of injuries grows http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/yankees_list_of_injuries_grows/13637771 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/7/f7e28d9daaf0a34c963cf999c674e8cecf0ae1a8/mini/6653500.jpg If the Dodgers are going to turn things around this season, it may come down to the number four.  As in players, that is. Zack Greinke’s return to the rotation is one major step towards the Dodgers turning the season around. The Dodgers $147 million man, Zack Greinke, returned to the rotation Wednesday night for the first time since April 11th and pitched well in the Dodgers 3-1 win over the Nationals.  He gave up one run over 5.1 innings of work. “It’s pretty amazing what this guy was able to do tonight,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said in relation to Greinke’s first start since breaking his collarbone in a brawl with Carlos Quentin of the Padres. Greinke’s return may be just one step in a four step process to get the Dodgers turned around. Step one, of course, is Clayton Kershaw. And the man delivers in more ways than one.  He has given up just two runs in his last four starts and currently leads the National League in ERA and innings pitched. He trails only the Pirates AJ Burn... Thu, 16 May 2013 18:36:49 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/los_angeles_dodgers_look_for_the_sign_of_the_four/13633856 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/los_angeles_dodgers_look_for_the_sign_of_the_four/13633856 Los Angeles Dodgers look for the sign of the four http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/los_angeles_dodgers_look_for_the_sign_of_the_four/13633856 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/9/7957259cc8e77ae33b3432117620691d07d578f7/mini/6838962.jpg As the baseball season heads passed the quarter pole, the players that are struggling are running out of excuses. Proclamations of bad luck and small sample size simply don't hold much weight anymore. At this point, teams need to make the tough decision of whether or not to stick with a struggling player to hope he turns things around or to cut their losses and move on to someone else. Well, let's help those teams out by identifying some starting pitchers who probably shouldn't have jobs anymore. Rick Porcello, Tigers - Stop it, Tigers. Just stop it. Porcello was a popular pick to have a breakout season in 2013, but with a 6.68 ERA, that clearly isn't happening. As usual, at least part of the problem appears to be that Porcello induces a lot of grounders but plays in front of what is arguably the worst infield defense in the game which is why he continues to sport that intriguing 3.71 xFIP. Maybe he really is just a bad pitcher, but maybe he just needs the Tigers t... Thu, 16 May 2013 13:30:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/how_do_these_starting_pitchers_still_have_jobs/13631558 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/how_do_these_starting_pitchers_still_have_jobs/13631558 How do these starting pitchers still have jobs? http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/how_do_these_starting_pitchers_still_have_jobs/13631558 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/0/1/0196553d15162754550375abcf44c6d32b3653d9/mini/rp.jpg This club’s record is fool’s gold. Their brainless trust has made a series of stupid personnel moves which will culminate in many more games a like the one we just witnessed last night as the season progresses. There is no way on earth Texas’ offense can compensate for the 230(+) RBI’s that they surrendered by not keeping Josh Hamilton and CHRIS DAVIS, who, if you’ll recall, I told EVERYONE they should NOT give up on prior to trading him to Baltimore. Now, despite missing six games, Chris has 11 home-runs and 37 runs batted in for a manager (Buck Schowalter) who evidently felt that Davis really IS a prototypical everyday first baseman–unlike Chris’ former manager Ron Clueless Washington. And for those of you out there who said “GOOD RIDDANCE” to Josh Hamilton,  please don’t come back with “Look how poorly he’s doing in an Angel uniform”. For one thing, based on history, that trend doesn’t figure to continue. And for another, the variables in the equation are different. With the pl Thu, 16 May 2013 13:12:10 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/the_texas_rangers_may_eventually_fade_their_record_is_fools_gold/13631273 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/the_texas_rangers_may_eventually_fade_their_record_is_fools_gold/13631273 The Texas Rangers may eventually fade, their record is fools gold…. http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/the_texas_rangers_may_eventually_fade_their_record_is_fools_gold/13631273 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/2/72b0595d501a8adfad934415c0df21786895be36/mini/6849580.jpg With Matt Harvey on pace for over 200 innings pitched, is it possible the New York Mets will shut him down early? Chances are he’ll be doing his best Stephen Strasburg impression by the season’s end. Please click here to read this story The post Will the New York Mets be forced to shut down Matt Harvey in 2013? appeared first on Players View. Thu, 16 May 2013 11:46:42 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/will_the_new_york_mets_be_forced_to_shut_down_matt_harvey_in_2013/13630514 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/will_the_new_york_mets_be_forced_to_shut_down_matt_harvey_in_2013/13630514 Will the New York Mets be forced to shut down Matt Harvey in 2013? http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/will_the_new_york_mets_be_forced_to_shut_down_matt_harvey_in_2013/13630514 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Back on April 20, while addressing the crowd at Fenway Park's first home game after the Boston Marathon Bombing, Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz delivered a memorable quote — emphasized with the now-famous words, "this is our f------ city!" And to help raise money for the One Fund Boston charity, Big Papi is using those same words to raise money for the victims of the attack by putting them on a baseball bat. Ortiz's quick pregame speech in the midst of a Boston tribute that came in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombing made headlines when he used the F-word. And now, anyone can buy a bat with that phrase emblazoned on the inside of the barrel available at big papi.com. If you prefer "Nobody's going to dictate our freedom" to the "this is our f------ city" quote, you have an option to pick the former. But it sounds like the cool thing will be choosing the R-rated version. The Red Sox designated hitter announced that in conjunction with Maru Thu, 16 May 2013 06:09:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/david_ortiz_selling_bats_branded_with_infamous_quote_for_charity/13628708 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/david_ortiz_selling_bats_branded_with_infamous_quote_for_charity/13628708 Ortiz selling bats with infamous quote http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/david_ortiz_selling_bats_branded_with_infamous_quote_for_charity/13628708 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/b/9b409280547593c83ada5262076e4787b7f3a718/mini/papi.jpg