Dodgers to retire Fernando’s number
The Los Angeles Dodgers will retire the No. 34 jersey of pitcher Fernando Valenzuela during a three-day celebration this summer.
Valenzuela was part of two World Series champion teams, winning the 1981 Rookie of the Year and Cy Young awards. He was a six-time All-Star during his 11 seasons in Los Angeles from 1980-90.
He will be honored from Aug. 11-13 when the Dodgers host Colorado.
Valenzuela will join Pee Wee Reese, Tommy Lasorda, Duke Snider, Gil Hodges, Jim Gilliam, Don Sutton, Walter Alston, Sandy Koufax, Roy Campanella, Jackie Robinson and Don Drysdale with retired numbers.
“To be a part of the group that includes so many legends is a great honor,” Valenzuela said. “But also for the fans, the support they’ve given me as a player and working for the Dodgers, this is also for them.”
l The Dodgers have agreed to terms with infielder Miguel Rojas on a $6 million, oneyear deal that takes him through the 2024 season.
The contract includes a salary of $5 million in 2024 and a club option salary of $5 million in 2025 with a $1 million buyout and charitable contributions.
The 33-year-old Rojas was acquired last month from the Miami Marlins for minor league infielder Jacob Amaya.
MALNATI LEADS WINDSWEPT PEBBLE BEACH
A strong wind was more than just a menace at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. It brought the tournament to a halt because of two holes on one of the courses, and set up a Monday finish without the amateurs.
Peter Malnati was atop the leaderboard at 12 under with six holes left in his round at Pebble Beach. He started on the back nine along the ocean in benign conditions, and he was on the fourth green, coming off three straight birdies, when play stopped.
Keith Mitchell, playing alongside Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, and Joseph Bramlett, playing with Welsh soccer star Gareth Bale, were at 10 under.
Kurt Kitayama, the 36-hole leader, and Hank Lebioda were three shots behind. They were at Spyglass Hill.
USA SWEEPS INTO DAVIS CUP GROUP STAGE
The United States swept its way into the group stage of the Davis Cup Finals on Saturday, getting the winning point in a 4-0 victory over Uzbekistan from the doubles team of Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek.
They beat Sergey Fomin and Sanjar Fayziev 6-2, 6-4, after Australian Open semifinalist Tommy Paul and Mackenzie McDonald had won singles matches Friday in Tashkent.
Ram is No. 3 in the ATP Tour doubles rankings and partnered with Joe Salisbury to win the last two U.S. Open men’s doubles titles. But the Americans opted not to use Ram last year in the final round, when they dropped the doubles match in a 2-1 defeat against Italy in the quarterfinals.
Krajicek was making his Davis Cup debut, having reached No. 9 in the doubles rankings late last year.
“They had five great days of preparation, and as anticipated they came out really sharp and got the early break in the first set. And after that it was like two freight trains, there was no stopping them,” interim captain David Nainkin said.
Denis Kudla then beat Amir Milushev 6-4, 6-4.
The winners of the 12 qualifiers being held this weekend — six on Friday-Saturday, six on Saturday-Sunday — advance to the Davis Cup Finals group stage in September, along with reigning champion Canada, 2022 runner-up Australia and wild-card recipients Italy and Spain.
Eight teams will advance to the closing matches of the Davis Cup Finals scheduled for Nov. 21-26 in Malaga, Spain.
COWBOYS HIRE SCHOTTENHEIMER AS OC
The Dallas Cowboys have hired a veteran offensive coordinator.
Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy announced that he’s added former Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to his staff, replacing Kellen Moore who was one of eight coaches not retained after the recent 13-6 season.
“I am very happy to have Brian take on this key role with our team. He has been an important part of our staff already and has a great grasp of where we are and where we want to go,” McCarthy said. “Brian also has an exceptionally strong foundation, history and relationships beyond his time here that translate very well into understanding what our approach to operating and executing will be for the future. This will be an exciting and efficient transition for us that I am confident will help yield the growth and results we all want and expect.”
McCarthy is expected to take over the game day play-calling duties.
Schottenheimer, who served as Jets coordinator under Eric Mangini and Rex Ryan from 2006-2011, is not a stranger to the Cowboys. He was a consultant to the Cowboys during the 2022 season. He prepared scouting reports for future opponents, assisting in game planning for the offense and defense
“I am thrilled and thankful for this exciting opportunity and embrace the high standards and expectations that come with this role and the Dallas Cowboys organization. Having long-standing, great respect and appreciation for Mike McCarthy as a person, a leader and a head coach makes this a very rewarding and compelling moment for me,” Schottenheimer said. “The ability to win with great teammates that share the same goals, and alignment with how to reach them, makes this special for me and I am very grateful for it.”