Three Astros win Silver Slugger Awards
Louisville Slugger announced Thursday that Astros All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman and All-Star outfielder George Springer won Silver Slugger Awards as the top offensive player at their position in the American League in 2019. All-Star righthander pitcher Greinke was also named the National League’s best-hitting pitcher, despite being traded to the American League Astros in July.
Established in 1980, the Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Awards are the top offensive honors in Major League Baseball. Managers and coaches of all 30 Major League teams vote.
Bregman, 25, hit .296 with 37 doubles, 41 home runs, 112 RBI, five stolen bases and a 1.015 OPS (.423 OBP/.592 SLG) in 156 games this season. This marks Bregman’s first career Silver Slugger Award and the second by an Astros third baseman in club history. Morgan Ensberg won in 2005.
Springer, 29, batted .292 with 20 doubles, 39 home runs, 96 RBI, six stolen bases and a .974 OPS (.383 OBP/.591 SLG) in 122 games.
Greinke, 35, hit .271 with four doubles, three home runs, one triple, eight RBI and a .883 OPS (.300 OBP/ .583 SLG) in 24 games for the Diamondbacks.
Twelve Astros have won a Silver Slugger Award: Bregman (2019), Springer (2017, 2019), second baseman Jose Altuve (2014-18), outfielder Carlos Lee (2007), third baseman Ensberg (2005), pitcher Mike Hampton (1999), outfielder Moises Alou (1998), first baseman Jeff Bagwell (1994, 1997, 1999), Craig Biggio (catcher in 1989, second baseman in 1994-95, 1997-98), first baseman Glenn Davis (1986), outfielder Cruz (1983-84) and shortstop Dickie Thon (1983).
Maggert takes lead at Phoenix
Jeff Maggert of The Woodlands used a hot new putter to take the firstround lead in the Charles Schwab Cup Championship, and Bernhard Langer, Jerry Kelly, Retief Goosen and Colin Montgomerie made moves to catch Scott McCarron in the PGA Tour Champions’ season standings.
Maggert shot an 8-under 63 in perfect conditions at Phoenix Country Club to take a one-stroke lead over Langer, with Miguel Angel
Jimenez, Paul Goydos and Steve Flesch another shot back, and Kelly and Goosen at 66 with Lee Janzen and Scott Parel.
“I liked the course last year, felt like I could play well here,” Maggert said. “To be honest, I got a new putter at the Ping factory on Monday and as soon as I saw it, I says, ‘Wow, this looks good, I think I can make some putts with this.’ I made a lot of good putts today.”
In other news:
U.S. captain Tiger
Woods used one of his four wild-card selections on himself and will become the first playing captain in the Presidents Cup since Hale Irwin in the inaugural edition 25 years ago.
Woods also took Tony Finau, U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland and Patrick Reed.
The Presidents Cup is Dec. 12-15 at Royal Melbourne.
Tom Lewis and Matthias Schwab shared a one-shot lead after the first round of the European
Tour’s Turkish Airlines Open at Antalya, Turkey.
Lewis and Schwab both carded 7-under 65 to lead by one shot over David Lipsky, Thomas Pieters and Alex Noren.
FSU’s Wilson out for the season
Florida State defensive tackle Marvin Wilson will miss the rest of the season due to a hand injury.
Interim head coach Odell Haggins said Wilson, an Episcopal High product, had surgery earlier this week.
New regulations coming Sept. 1
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission on Thursday approved regulations intended to streamline the removal process of derelict fishing lines.
Passive fishing gear such as trotlines, juglines, throwlines and minnow and perch traps, wreak havoc on fisheries when left unattended. The regulations aim to minimize the impact of “ghost fishing,” the tragedy of gear continuing to harvest doomed fish long after it has been abandoned.
The changes include a requirement that gear be marked with floats no smaller than six inches in length and three inches in width. Floats can be any color other than orange, which is reserved for commercial fishing.
The customer identification number, which can be found on one’s fishing license, has also been added to the gear tag.
The initial proposal was amended to allow anglers to choose whether to use the customer identification number or the person’s name and address, in addition to the date the gear was set. Under the new regulations, the period of validity for passive fishing gear is reduced from 10 days to six. The regulations take effect Sept. 1, 2020.
Lloyd, U.S. hold off Sweden 3-2
Carli Lloyd scored twice, Christen Press added a goal and the United States held off Sweden 3-2 at Columbus, Ohio, giving Vlatko Andonovski a victory in his first match as head coach.
The U.S. is 19-1-3 in 2019 and has a 22-match unbeaten streak.