MLB pitch: Delay to start of season
Major League Baseball has proposed a one-month delay in starting spring training due to the coronavirus pandemic and pushing back opening day to April 28, according to reports Sunday.
Under the plan presented to the players’ union on Friday, the regular season would be cut from 162 games to 154.
Also, the playoffs would be expanded from 10 teams to 14, the designated hitter would extend to the National League for the second straight season and MLB would keep the experimental rules for seven-inning doubleheaders and beginning extra innings with a runner on second base.
All players would report for spring training on March 22, back from the current calendar that calls a voluntary reporting date of Feb. 17 for pitchers, catchers and injured players, and Feb. 22 for others.
Opening day would be pushed back 27 days from its currently scheduled April 1 and the regular season would end Oct. 10 instead of Oct. 3. The postseason would extend into November.
The sides haven’t discussed the proposal with each other since MLB made it.
Former pitcher Scott Erickson was charged Wednesday with reckless driving in connection to a hit-and-run in Southern California that killed two boys last year. The Los Angeles District Attorney’s office said Erickson, 52, was charged with one misdemeanor count of reckless driving. Investigators told KABC-TV he was racing with Rebecca Grossman on Sept. 29, moments before she struck and killed 11-year-old Mark Iskander and his 8-yearold brother Jacob as they crossed the street in a mark crosswalk with their parents.
Grossman, 57, pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and hit-and-run driving resulting in death. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 34 years to life in state prison.
College basketball: E.J. Liddell had 20 points and eight rebounds to lead No. 13 Ohio State to a 79-62 rout of visiting Michigan State. Justin Ahrens added 17 for the Buckeyes (14-4, 8-4 Big Ten), who have won three in a row and six of seven. The Spartans (8-6, 2-6) had hoped to rebound from an embarrassing 30-point loss to Rutgers on Thursday that followed a 20-day layoff due to COVID-19 issues.
NBA: Nikola Jokic matched his career high with 47 points and the Nuggets beat the Jazz 128-117 in Denverm ending the Jazz’s winning streak at 11. Jokic was 17 for 26 from the field, hit all four of his 3-point attempts, made 9 of 10 free throws and had 12 rebounds and five assists. He scored 33 points in the first half. It was the Nuggets’ sixth win in the last seven games . ... Heat G Tyler Herro may miss time due to league protocols because someone who lives with him tested positive for COVID-19. The Heat already have had eight players miss a combined 30 games for virus-related reasons.
NHL: In a surprise move, the Rangers placed defenseman Tony DeAngelo on waivers. The Rangers signed DeAngelo, 25, to a two-year, $9.6 million extension in October. DeAngelo led Rangers defensemen in scoring with 15 goals and 38 assists in 201920, but he has no goals and one assist in six games this season.