Contact us
Twitter: @FreemanSports; Email: sports@freemanonline.com; Phone: 845-331-5000, ext. 5; Fax: 845-331-3557. Email: rrosner@freemanonline.com Phone: 845-400-1225. Twitter: @RonRosner Brian Hubert, Reporter: bhubert@freemanonline.com; Phone: 845-400-1211; Twitter: @brianatfreeman Mike Stribl, Reporter: mstribl@freemanonline.com; Phone: 845-400-1231; Twitter: @MStribl
Astros recall former ValleyCat Kemp
The Houston Astros recalled outfielder Tony Kemp from Triple-A Fresno on Wednesday after sending Jake Marisnick down after the previous night’s game.
Kemp was hitting .335 with a .841 OPS this season at TripleA, including a 20-game hitting streak end that ended Tuesday.
He flew from Fresno to Phoenix to El Paso, Texas, with his Triple-A team Tuesday, and was informed of the call-up at the end of the second flight. He was on a shuttle back to the airport at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday morning for a 6:15 flight back to the West Coast, where he will bat ninth in the series finale against the Los Angeles Angels.
“It’s always funny, the day you get called up, you always go 0-for,” Kemp said prior to the game. “I’m kind of glad it ended just cause you have so many superstitions.”
PawSox stadium deal possible
Rhode Island House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello and Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien say there’s a “framework” or “pathway” to a deal on a new stadium for the Pawtucket PawSox.
The Providence Journal reports Grebien said Wednesday one option could reduce the state’s contribution for the ballpark from $23 million to $8 million if a private group stepped in to help. The PawSox are the Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.
Mattiello said he wasn’t considering that option and there is no agreement, but he said there’s a “framework” that could work. He wouldn’t elaborate.
In January, the Senate approved a deal for the state to contribute $23 million of the $83 million needed for the stadium. Mattiello said that deal is dead.
Bucks to hire Budenholzer as head coach
A person familiar with the search tells The Associated Press that the Milwaukee Bucks have reached agreement with Mike Budenholzer to become the team’s next coach.
The 2015 NBA Coach of the Year will replace Joe Prunty, the former assistant who went 2116 in the regular season after replacing the fired Jason Kidd in late January.
The person confirmed the agreement with the former Atlanta Hawks coach on Wednesday. The person requested anonymity because the team has not made an official announcement.
The deal was first reported by ESPN.
The Bucks lost to the Celtics in seven games in the first round of the playoffs.