Late Skaggs receives tribute
CLEVELAND — Late Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs was honored at the All-Star Game by two grieving teammates — and all of baseball.
Superstar outfielder Mike Trout and infielder Tommy La Stella both wore No. 45 — Skaggs’ jersey number — in Tuesday’s game. The 27-yearold Skaggs died unexpectedly July 1. He was found unresponsive in the team’s hotel in Texas, hours before the Angels were scheduled to play the Rangers.
“It’s been a difficult last couple of days for all of us,” Trout said. “Being at the field — at my home — really helps.”
A moment of silence was held before the game, and players on both squads wore black patches with Skaggs’ number in white.
His death sent a shockwave through baseball and deeply affected the Angels. He was one of the team’s most popular players, liked by everyone for his engaging personality.
“There is a saying, ‘You don’t realize what you have until you lose it.’ It’s spot-on,” Trout said. “Everybody needs to take an extra minute to hug your family members and let people know how important they are in your life.”
Trout started for the AL while La Stella was sidelined with a broken leg. He hobbled to the third-base line on crutches for pregame introductions.
Trout finished 0-for-2 as the American League beat the National League 4-3.
Carrasco saluted for cancer fight
Carlos Carrasco hopes to strike out cancer.
The Indians righthander, who was recently diagnosed with a form of leukemia, was saluted in the fifth inning of the All-Star Game during Major League Baseball’s “Stand Up to Cancer” campaign.
The 32-year-old stood in the third-base coach’s box, flanked by four All-Star teammates and Indians manager Terry Francona. Carrasco held a sign that read “I Stand’” while shortstop Francisco Lindor’s said: “Cookie,” which is the pitcher’s nickname.
Carrasco had been feeling fatigued in May, and was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia following an exam at the Cleveland Clinic.
He has been cleared to resume conditioning and throwing activities to the extent he can tolerate them. Carrasco could pitch a bullpen session later this week and believes he’ll return to the team at some point this season.
He had been scheduled to start against Minnesota on June 5, when the Indians issued a statement saying he was stepping away to get treatment for a “blood condition.” Carrasco had been struggling on the mound before his diagnosis.
Manfred: No deal made on Wahoo
Commissioner Rob Manfred insists Major League Baseball did not make a deal with the Cleveland Indians about banning their contentious logo, Chief Wahoo.
The club agreed to remove the hotly debated, smiling caricature from its caps and jerseys starting this season, a decision that came after Cleveland was awarded the 2019 All-Star Game.
The timing was curious, but Manfred said there was no link between the two.
“The All-Star Game was awarded to Cleveland by commissioner ( Bud) Selig before I even had one conversation about Chief Wahoo,” Manfred said. “You can write that as fact.”
Although Wahoo, which has been around since the 1940s, is no longer on the field, the mascot is as popular as ever as fans continue to wear all kinds of merchandise bearing his image.