AROUND THE HORN

„ MLB: Major League Baseball has taken its fair share of criticism for changes trying to get younger fans interested in the game, but there has been one this season that has generated rave reviews. MLB has expanded letting players being mic’d up and interviewed during games after doing it on a limited basis from 201720. It has become a weekly occurrence on ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball” and has produced some fun moments. “I’ve been pleasantly surprised that it has gathered and maintained momentum, because it’s not the first time we’ve asked for and had collaboration,” ESPN vice president of production Phil Orlins said. “So to see it get rolling this year, along with a tangible enthusiasm from players to be a part of it has been a pleasant breakthrough.” Fox first did the in-game interviews with players during the 2017 All-Star Game in Miami. ESPN followed in 2018-19 in spring training before having it in a limited capacity during the shortened 2020 regular season. It was put on hold last year due to frayed relations with the MLB Players Association. But now that there is labor peace again, mic’d up is back with ESPN seeing most of the benefits so far. ESPN analyst David Cone said having players mic’d up also gives them a chance to display their personalities and increase the marketing of the game. “Their personalities need to be shown more like other sports, and this is the best opportunity,” he said. “It’s great that the opportunity is there and it has been embraced. Every one of the players has presented a side of their personality that otherwise wouldn’t have been seen.” Players have also shown that they can continue to play at a high level with the earpiece and mic on. The only comparison to what MLB and ESPN are doing is having NASCAR drivers interviewed during races, but that is occurring during caution periods. “We don’t know what that player is going to say or what the outcome is. We’ve had situations where Francisco Lindor gets a groundball, and he was scared to death that he was going to boot it while Max Scherzer was on the mound, and he’s mic’d up with us. And then the relief of the human side of it because he was happy he made the play,” ESPN analyst Eduardo Perez said. Three-time AL MVP Mike Trout is slated to be this week’s mic’d up player when the Angels host the Mets. The only positions that haven’t done it yet are pitcher and catcher. ESPN announcer Karl Ravech also noted it might be interesting to have an umpire try it.

„ Twins: Big league batting leader Luis Arraez hit his first career grand slam and the Twins spoiled Shane Baz’s season debut, beating the Rays 6-5 on Saturday. Arraez got at least three hits for the seventh time this season, raising his average to .367. He has three home runs this year, including two in the last three games. Arraez homered as part of a five-run third inning against Baz (0-1), Tampa Bay’s top pitching prospect who returned after elbow surgery in March. Baz allowed five runs in 2 ⅓ innings on three hits and three walks. Trevor Megill (2-1), one of five Twins relievers who each pitched a scoreless inning, worked the fifth. Emilio Pagán earned his eighth save. Baz, who made four strong rehab starts with Triple-A Durham, looked crisp early with two perfect innings before running into trouble in the third.