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Seiya Suzuki returns — and Chicago Cubs get a glimpse of offense’s potential with 5 HRs in 8-2 win at Dodger Stadium

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:12 GMT

Seiya Suzuki felt ready.Despite only 15 plate appearances in four rehab games with Triple-A Iowa — well below the average PAs in a typical spring training — he cleared all the requirements to return to right field for the Chicago Cubs. Checked swings and whiffs didn’t bother his oblique and he activated him from the injured list before Friday’s series opener at Dodger Stadium. The Cubs optioned infielder/outfielder Miles Mastrobuoni to Iowa.“I just want to make sure that I don’t want to bring any bad vibes in here,” Suzuki said before the game through interpreter Toy Matsushita. “I want to make sure the team keeps on going and make sure we win a lot of games.”Suzuki didn’t need to worry, at least for one night.The good vibes remained Friday thanks to a suddenly home-run happy Cubs lineup. They went deep five times in an 8-2 victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers, including back-to-back homers in the eighth by Ian Happ and ...

Mets walked 17 times by A’s pitchers in 17-6 romp in Oakland; Francisco Lindor smacks grand slam

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:12 GMT

OAKLAND — There was a total of $286,425,268 between the two teams on the field Friday, and did it ever show.The Mets posted some gaudy numbers against the lowly Oakland A’s on Friday night but don’t let them fool you because 28 other teams are going to post gaudy numbers against the A’s this season.The Mets have to parse out what’s behind those numbers after obliterating the A’s 17-6 at RingCentral Coliseum. Five pitchers and one position player tasked with mopping up the A’s mess combined to issue 17 walks, tied for the third-most allowed in a nine-inning game in Major League history.For the Mets (8-6), it illustrated a patient approach at the plate.“We passed the baton, no one was trying to be a hero,” said shortstop Francisco Lindor. “We were focused on trying to get a good pitch and if it wasn’t there, we’d take it.”Every member of the starling lineup walked at least once. Former Mets closer Jeurys Fam...

DeMar DeRozan’s 9-year-old daughter received online threats after play-in win. ‘It’s sad,’ the Chicago Bulls star says.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:12 GMT

After garnering unexpected fame during Wednesday’s play-in game against the Toronto Raptors, the daughter of Chicago Bulls star DeMar DeRozan needed to be escorted out of Scotiabank Arena by team security because of online threats.DeRozan confirmed the TNT story after Friday’s loss to the Miami Heat, emphasizing his frustration with the negativity aimed toward Diar, his 9-year-old daughter.“What’s crazy is it’s just the world that we live in,” DeRozan said. “No matter how good something could go, how good something could be, you still got miserable people out here who just don’t have a life. It’s sad.”Diar quickly caught attention during Wednesday’s game when she utilized her position under the basket to distract Raptors players during their free-throw attempts by screaming.Attention around her antics was escalated when the Raptors finished 18-for-36 from the free-throw line, which ultimately cost them the game. The s...

Bob Raissman: Stephen A. Smith passing Charles Barkley as NBA playoffs biggest media star

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:12 GMT

ESPN’s coverage of the Stephen A. Smith Show, aka the NBA Playoffs, got off to a rough start last week with a case of laryngitis figuratively throwing water on SAS’ big audio dynamite.Just the thought of Smith, 55, losing his voice during the playoffs must scare the hell out of the Bristol Faculty. They have a lot invested in him. SAS is “the logo.” Clearly, when it comes to Mr. Smith, the Bristol Factory is not concerned with overexposure during the NBA playoffs. The only thing left for him to do is work courtside as a game analyst.Still, going into the postseason the suits added five alternative playoff game telecasts from his “living room” (“NBA in Stephen A’s World”) to Smith’s current Diner-sized menu, which includes the daily “First Take” show, “NBA Countdown” pregame program, appearances on “SportsCenter” and (separate from ESPN) his “Know Mercy” podcast on Audacy....

Arrests made in animal rights plot to disrupt Grand National

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:12 GMT

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Three people were arrested in connection with a plan by animal rights activists to disrupt the prestigious Grand National horse race on Saturday.All three were arrested on “suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance,” Merseyside Police said.A 25-year-old woman and a man were arrested while protesting outside Aintree racecourse near Liverpool, where the famous steeplechase takes place.Earlier Saturday, a 33-year-old woman was arrested in the Greater Manchester area “in connection with potential coordinated disruption activities” at Aintree, police said. Their names were not disclosed.Animal Rising had called on protesters to gather outside the racecourse to demand an end to “animal cruelty for entertainment.” The group tweeted a video that it said shows one of its spokespeople being arrested at the protest.Police said they have been working with race organizers ahead of and during the Grand National Festival, which started Thursday.“We are aware of som...

No consensus on Syrian Arab League return after Saudi summit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:12 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — After meeting in Saudi Arabia to discuss Syria’s political fate, a group of regional leaders promised Saturday to continue talks to reach a political solution to the Syrian conflict, but stopped short of endorsing its return to the Arab League.The meeting, which included top diplomats from the Arab Gulf countries as well as Egypt, Jordan and Iraq, was convened days after Syria’s foreign minister visited Saudi Arabia for the first time since the kingdom cut off diplomatic relations with Syria in 2012.Syria and Saudi Arabia said Thursday they were moving toward reopening embassies and resuming flights between the two countries for the first time in more than a decade.Syria was widely shunned by Arab governments over Syrian President Bashar Assad’s brutal crackdown on protesters in a 2011 uprising that descended into civil war. The breakdown in relations culminated with Syria being ousted from the Arab League.However, in recent years, as Assad consolidated con...

Man dead in Little Italy shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:12 GMT

One man is dead after a shooting in Toronto’s Little Italy neighbourhood.Toronto police were called to the Bloor Street West and Delaware Avenue area just after 10:30 p.m. on Friday for reports of gunshots.Officers arrived on the scene and located a male victim that had been shot multiple times. He was pronounced dead at the scene.Toronto police said a suspect, or a group of suspects, fled the scene in a dark-coloured sedan. The Homicide Unit is investigating.SHOOTING:Bloor St W & Delaware Ave10:46pm– multiple reports for sounds of gunshots– officers arrived on scene– located a male victim with multiple gunshot wounds– male pronounced deceased at the scene – Homicide is now investigating– susp fled in dark sedan#GO828737^se— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) April 15, 2023

Diar DeRozan was escorted out of Scotiabank Arena after receiving online threats

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:12 GMT

DeMar DeRozan’s daughter, Diar DeRozan, reportedly had to be escorted out of Scotiabank Arena by security on Wednesday after receiving online threats for her heckling of Toronto Raptors’ free throw shooters, according to TNT and Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes.Diar went viral after her high-pitch scream could be heard every time the Raptors shot from the free-throw line. The Raptors missed a total of 18 free throws which proved costly in Toronto’s 109-105 season-ending loss to the Chicago Bulls in the NBA play-in tournament.Diar DeRozan deserved her own highlight reel tonight ???? pic.twitter.com/nUMNKrGtVQ— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 13, 2023“As long as she was there with her father, I wasn’t worried about anything happening,” DeRozan told Haynes. “It was just a precautionary measure and I appreciate that.”Many on social media applauded Diar’s efforts, with some even calling her the MVP of the game.The Bu...

Explosive thrown at Japan PM at campaign event; no one hurt

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:12 GMT

WAKAYAMA, Japan (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was evacuated unharmed Saturday after someone threw an explosive device in his direction while he was campaigning at a fishing port in western Japan, officials said. Police wrestled a suspect to the ground as screaming bystanders scrambled to get away and smoke filled the air.Although no one was hurt, and Kishida continued campaigning Saturday, the chaotic scene was reminiscent of the assassination nine months ago of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, which also came on a campaign tour and continues to reverberate in Japanese politics. Kishida was visiting Saikazaki port in Wakayama prefecture to support his ruling party’s candidate in a local election, and the explosion occurred just before he was to begin his speech. A young man believed to be a suspect was arrested Saturday at the scene after he allegedly threw “the suspicious object,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters. Matsuno refused to comment on...

Storms possible east of I-35 this afternoon

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:12 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Overnight showers and thunderstorms left .10" to .33" from Austin to San Marcos eastward. Some of our higher rain totals.43" 5 miles northeast of La Grange.32" Rosanky.27" San Marcos Municipal Airport El Niño watch issued: Here’s what that means There will be another chance of showers and thunderstorms from our I-35 counties eastward beginning after 3 p.m. The dry line will be moving across during the middle and late afternoon hours. Dew points will be higher east of the interstate during the day leading to the better chance for measured precipitation. Strong to possibly severe thunderstorms late this afternoonSome of the thunderstorms could be strong to possibly severe. The Storm Prediction Center indicates that Fayette County has a SLIGHT risk for severe storms with a potential of large hail and damaging winds. The risk is MARGINAL for Hays, much of Travis and eastern Williamson Counties into Bastrop, Caldwell, and Lee Counties.Storms could be severe between 3 ...