Joe Musgrove scattered two hits over six innings, collected his first double of the season and scored on a textbook head-first slide to beat a throw by Philadelphia right fielder Bryce Harper and lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 5-1 win on Saturday...
"All I ever wanted from the time I was a kid was to be one of you," said Jayson Stark of the baseball writers who honored him with the Spink Award for meritorious service. In an eloquent acceptance speech Sat. at Cooperstown's Doubleday Field, Stark paid tribute to members of his family and profession and the baseball figures who've provided a wealth of material. He recounted the jocular, but light-hitting pitcher Larry Andersen saying, "I'm a .308 career hitter. I played in 13 seasons and got a hit in four of them. Hey, make the stats work for you." Stark said, with attribution to Game of Thrones, "There's nothing more powerful than a good story." And he appreciatively asked and answered "Who gets to live the life they've dreamed of since they were 10 years old? I do."
One is in the Hall of Fame and one, famously, isn't eligible — Joe Morgan and Pete Rose, Saturday on Main Street in Cooperstown, two blocks from the Hall.
The Phillies have obtained right-handed pitcher Mike Morin from the Twins for cash considerations, the teams announced.
Bryce Harper's go-ahead RBI single was one of 15 hits the Philadelphia Phillies used to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-1 on Friday night, giving them back-to-back victories for the first time since July 2.
On the eve of receiving the Spink Award for baseball writing, Jayson Stark — who celebrated his 68th birthday Fri. — said in our Cooperstown interview: "I love it when people tell me nobody makes me smile when I read them, like you do. Nobody makes me laugh when I read them, like you do. Nobody communicates the fun and the joy and the love of baseball, like you do. And if that's my legacy, I've led a good life, because I'm one of the lucky ones. I've never felt like this is work, because every day I get to do something that I love. I love baseball. I love writing. I love writing about baseball."
The Phillies will add left-hander Drew Smyly to their bullpen if he passes a physical, manager Gabe Kapler said.
Which teams have buy-or-sell choices to make? Which NL shortstop will shine? And have the Braves locked up the East? We'll get you ready for the weekend.
Rivera, Halladay, Mussina, Martinez, Smith, Baines: From the first unanimous selection to the latest controversial Cooperstown call, here's why each of these guys is worthy of the Hall.
For seven years, Bryce Harper was an integral part of the Washington Nationals both on and off the field.
The Dodgers are irate with Philadelphia Phillies reliever Hector Neris, who celebrated his save against them Thursday with a fist pump and then a stare-down into the Los Angeles dugout.
Bryce Harper tied the game in his Phillie Phanatic headband with an RBI single and Rhys Hoskins ripped a two-RBI single in the seventh inning to rally the Philadelphia Phillies to a 7-6 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday.
Philly, which spent years remaking itself, must now find a way to close the gap on Atlanta.
From the aces who might move to the contenders that could go big, here's where the major players and teams stand as the countdown to the new single deadline heats up.
Six Dodgers pitchers combined on a two-hitter spanning a 2 hour, 37 minute rain delay, and Los Angeles completed a 7-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies early Thursday morning.
Bryce Harper is hitting .410/.515/.718 with RISP and .369/.455/.694 with runners on. He's hitting .163/.306/.295 with the bases empty. Small sample size ... except the same thing happened last year: .982 OPS with RISP, 1.030 with men on and .787 with bases empty.
Phillies closer Hector Neris was suspended three games and fined an undisclosed amount for intentionally throwing a pitch in the area of the head of the Dodgers' David Freese.
A day after Bryce Harper's first walk-off in a Phillies uniform, manager Gabe Kapler speaks with Tom Hart before taking on the Dodgers.
Phillies left fielder Jay Bruce was placed on the injured list Wednesday with an oblique strain.
Bryce Harper hit a two-run double off Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen with one out in the bottom of the ninth -- after pinch hitter Matt Beaty hit a three-run homer off Philadelphia closer Hector Neris in the top half -- rallying the Phillies to a 9-8 win.
Phillies left fielder Jay Bruce left Tuesday night's game against the Dodgers in the third inning with a right oblique strain. He will undergo an MRI on Wednesday.
Bumgarner to the Yankees? Stroman in Houston? We've mapped out a deadline blueprint for all 30 front offices to follow.
Whether it's a star who needs to step up or a prospect to watch the rest of the way, every team has someone who could define their season.
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | 59 | 41 | .590 | - | L1 |
| Washington | 52 | 45 | .536 | 5.5 | W1 |
| Philadelphia | 51 | 48 | .515 | 7.5 | L1 |
| New York | 45 | 53 | .459 | 13 | W1 |
| Miami | 36 | 60 | .375 | 21 | L2 |
