Expanded replay plan on deck
MLB executive Joe Torre delivered his expanded instant replay proposal to baseball’s executive committee on Wednesday at meetings in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Commissioner Bud Selig was expected to address the media Thursday morning and discuss what’s on the table.
MLB is looking at much more video review for the 2014 season, perhaps for all calls other than balls and strikes. Replays have been available to umpires on home run calls since August 2008.
Torre has said all options are on the table, including an NFL-type system where managers can challenge calls. YANKEES-ANGELS: Alfonso Soriano homered twice for the second straight night and drove in a career-high seven runs, giving him a staggering 13 RBIs in two games and powering the suddenly potent Yankees to an 11-3 victory over the Angels at Yankee Stadium.
Soriano hit a grand slam and became the third player to knock in at least six runs in back-to-back games since RBIs became an official statistic in 1920, according to STATS. The others were Rusty Greer of the Rangers in August 1997 and Brewer Geoff Jenkins in April 2001.
“I know it’s not going to happen often,” Soriano said. “I hope I feel the same way tomorrow.”
Soriano needed 144 at-bats to reach 13 RBIs this season with the Chicago Cubs. Back for another tour with the Yankees, it took him seven trips to the plate over nine innings the past two nights to match that number.
“We just were laughing. That’s unbelievable,” teammate Robinson Cano said. “That’s every player’s dream.” PIRATES-CARDINALS: Pittsburgh’s Francisco Liriano, coming off the worst start of his career (10 runs in 21⁄ innings
3 vs. the Rockies) needed 94 pitches in a complete-game 5-1 win in St. Louis. The Pirates lead the NL Central by three. RAYS: The Tampa Bay Rays aren’t sure
Soriano is the third big leaguer since 1920 to knock in six runs in back-to-back games
when injured all-star left-hander Matt Moore will rejoin the rotation. Moore, 14-3 with a 3.41ERA, is out with a sore left elbow. He had hoped to return this weekend, but struggled Wednesday during a 55-pitch bullpen session. He won’t throw again until Sunday.
“I felt good, but good isn’t great, and great is 100 per cent,” Moore said.
Rays manager Joe Maddon also confirmed that Alex Cobb will pitch Thursday night for the first time since being hit in the head by a line drive on June 15.