Continued civil unrest in Baltimore over the death of Freddie Gray has resulted in violent riots and hundreds of arrests in over the last few days, compelling the governor of Maryland to declare a state of emergency.
The chaos also wreaked havoc on the Baltimore Orioles' demanding schedule, prompting the postponement of two games while forcing the club to find a new locale for their upcoming weekend series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Amid several scheduling changes, the Orioles also bumped Wednesday's game against the Chicago White Sox ahead to 2:05 p.m. - it was originally slated for a 7:05 start. Due to safety concerns, however, no fans were permitted to attend Wednesday's contest at Camden Yards, the first game in MLB history to be closed to the public.
"I think we made the right move -- speaking with my head rather than my heart," Orioles first baseman Chris Davis said prior to Wednesday's game.
Here are some photos from a highly irregular Wednesday afternoon in Baltimore. (Courtesy: @jonmorosi) (Courtesy: @jonbernhardt)
A pair of scouts accounted for the only bodies in the lower bowl at Camden Yards as the two clubs stood for a recorded version of the national anthem. (Courtesy: @danconnollysun) (Courtesy: @MaxReiss) (Courtesy: Al Tielemans - @SInow) White Sox center fielder Adam Eaton, by the way, managed to find some levity in the situation.
Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph, meanwhile, tried to recreate the typical gameday experience by pretending to sign auographs before giving a hearty salute to the non-existent crowd.
(Courtesy: Jake Ciely)A first-inning home run from Davis provided one of the game's most surreal moments when the 29-year-old circled the bases in relative silence. There also weren't any fans on Eutaw Street to scramble after the souvenir. (Courtesy: MLB.com)
Davis, a creature of habit, also tossed the ball into the empty seats above the third-base dugout after recording the final out in the top of the fifth inning.
(Courtesy: Bryce Derouin)
Former NBA Ref Tim Donaghy did advise me that Referee Bill Kennedy does don't like Doc Rivers due to Gay Statements made by Rivers... Lets take a look...
By Danny B Sports
Stephen Dunn / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Yeah, so, this series is not disappointing in the least.
The San Antonio Spurs hung on for a 111-107 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 5 on Tuesday, despite never leading by more than seven points. The Spurs now have a 3-2 series lead, while the Clippers surely feel like they blew a terrific opportunity on their home court.
Thought likely to be the best of the first-round playoff matchups, the Clippers and Spurs have given fans everything they could have asked for through five games. The Clippers won the opener, the Spurs stole home court in Game 2 and took the series lead in Game 3, and then the Clippers took home court back in Game 4.
And now the Spurs will go home with the chance to wrap the series up and advance to the Western Conference semifinals.
Tuesday's Game 5 may have been the best encounter yet, the intentional fouling of DeAndre Jordan aside.
It may be too good for April, but just enjoy it. There may be two more games of this still, and while it's unfair one team will see their season end there, the winner moves on to face the Houston Rockets in a series that could even top this one.
Turning Point
It's difficult to nail down a single turning point in such a back-and-forth game. "Game of runs" is generally an unspecific cliche, but that's exactly what Tuesday was.
In a game this close, the focus naturally falls on late-game execution.
At the free-throw line down 108-105 with 39.9 seconds left, Blake Griffin missed a pair of free throws, seemingly swinging the game in San Antonio's favor. But Chris Paul grabbed the offensive rebound, and after a Jamal Crawford miss, Matt Barnes was fouled corralling another. He hit a pair of freebies to cut the lead to one, saving the potential death knell of a possession and setting up a crazy finish.
Following a Danny Green miss from outside, L.A. had 6.9 seconds left. They called Griffin's number out of the timeout, and after a missed Griffin layup, Jordan had a potential game-winner taken away on offensive cylinder interference. Have a look: It appears to have been the correct call, and from there the usual late-game fouling game played out in San Antonio's favor. What's worse, the ball may have been bouncing back in without Jordan's help:
Star PerformerIt's tough to look past Griffin in this one. He scored 30 points with 14 rebounds, seven assists and four steals, but he took 25 shots to get there, spaced out on defense several times, committed five turnovers, missed the two key freebies late and missed the layup that would have provided a late lead.
With the bad outweighing the good for Griffin, the nod goes to his power forward counterpart, 39-year-old Tim Duncan.Duncan was one of six Spurs to score in double-figures, leading the team with 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting and adding 11 rebounds, four assists, three steals and a late block on Griffin. It's crazy that he's still doing this.
Highlight ReelClippers owner Steve Ballmer tried to steal the show with his celebrations, but it was huge dunks from the Lob City crew that got him out of his seat. Again and again.
Oh, and Austin Rivers was surprisingly a thing once again, hitting a third-quarer buzzer-beater that probably tickled the owner, too:
Rivers shouldn't get any ideas about crunch-time minutes with the ball in his hands, though. The Point God is still around and doing Point God things:
Before the game, Gregg Popovich said he anticipates all possibilities, even earthquakes. Nobody, not even Popovich, expected Boris Diaw to be out here hitting shots like this:
Series at a GlanceGame 1: Clippers 107, Spurs 102 (Clippers lead 1-0) Game 2: Spurs 111, Clippers 107 OT (Series tied 1-1) Game 3: Spurs 100, Clippers 73 (Spurs lead 2-1) Game 4: Clippers 114, Spurs 105 (Series tied 2-2) Game 5: Spurs 111, Clippers 107 (Spurs lead 3-2) Game 6: Thursday, April 30, 9:30 p.m. ET Game 7*: Saturday, May 2, TBD * if necessary
Alternate Series at a Glance
Yes You Can Bet On The NFL Draft
Here are the odds on what team will Draft Marcus Mariota
By Danny B Sports
The game between the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox on Monday has been postponed due to protests and rioting outside the stadium in Baltimore.
Unrest in the city follows the funeral of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old African-American man from Baltimore who died April 19 as the result of spinal injuries suffered in police custody.
"The decision was reached after consultation with local officials," Commissioner Rob Manfred told reporters. "We feel like we made the decision that would provide us the greatest possible security in terms of protecting the fans, the players, the umpires, everybody involved in the game."Manfred also acknowledged that moving the series to another venue is not out of the question.
As for the players, they're more than happy with the league's decision to postpone the game.
"I think I can speak for all of us. It's a little scary," White Sox outfielder Adam Eaton told Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times. "You never want anything to happen to anybody attending a baseball game, on the playing field or anybody involved or in the city.
"We don't really want to tangle with that or put anybody in danger, so I think it's the best from everyone's perspective to cancel the game and hopefully the police officers and officials can get the situation under control."
Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake announced a curfew from 10 p.m.- 5 a.m. ET starting Tuesday and running the rest of the week. The Orioles are scheduled to play the White Sox Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:05 pm ET and the Rays on the weekend at Camden Yards.
No announcement on if those games will be played has been made at this time.
Hey Sports Bettors... Check out this Weeks MLB Power Rankings
By Danny B Sports
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
11-7
11-7
1 (-)
Alex Guerrero's path to regular playing time, at least on an interim basis, became a lot clearer when Yasiel Puig landed on the disabled list this weekend. It may, however, be tough to keep him out of the lineup when Puig returns, as the 28-year-old launched his fifth home run of the season Sunday despite receiving just 24 plate appearances thus far.
2. Detroit Tigers
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
13-6
11-8
3 (+1)
Miguel Cabrera was intentionally walked three times Saturday against the Indians, and teams will continue to avoid the two-time MVP so long as Victor Martinez's wonky knee continues to bother him. What's truly remarkable, though, is that even despite Martinez's struggles - he has one extra-base hit through his first 17 games - the Tigers still boast the fourth-best offense in the majors.
3. St. Louis Cardinals
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
12-5
12-5
2 (-1)
Three members of the Cardinals' rotation inexplicably boast an ERA below 1.44 with May looming, though a potential season-ending injury to staff ace Adam Wainwright represents a serious blow to a club thriving on elite run prevention.
4. Pittsburgh Pirates
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
11-8
12-7
8 (+4)
Why have the Pirates won seven of their last 10 contests? For starters, their staff has done an amazing job keeping the ball in the Yarr'd. Amid brilliant starts from Gerrit Cole and A.J. Burnett, the staff owns the best fielding independent pitching in the majors while surrendering just four homers over 90 innings at PNC Park this season.
5. San Diego Padres
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
11-9
12-8
6 (+1)
It's still surreal watching the Padres hit home runs on a regular basis, but perhaps it's something we ought to get accustomed to. Even in a week where they dropped three of seven games, the Padres still led the National League with a .197 isolated power.
6. Washington Nationals
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
7-12
8-11
4 (-2)
Only three weeks into the season, the Nationals are already six games back of the division-leading Mets. It's still early and that's hardly an insurmountable deficit, but maybe it's time to pick it up a bit, everybody who isn't Bryce Harper and Max Scherzer.
7. Kansas City Royals
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
12-6
12-6
11 (+4)
In between the pointless scuffles incited by Yordano Ventura, the Royals continue to rake at the plate - the club's 128 wRC+ is third-best in the majors - while receiving considerable innings from an elite bullpen that owns an unfathomable 0.78 ERA despite the absence of closer Greg Holland.
8. Chicago Cubs
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
10-7
10-7
13 (+5)
Kris Bryant and Addison Russell continue to dominate the headlines, but Jake Arrieta is quietly emerging as the de facto leader of the Cubs' rotation. The 29-year-old boasts a 187 ERA+ with a 0.94 WHIP through four starts, allowing just one home run in 26 2/3 innings this season.
9. Los Angeles Angels
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
9-10
10-9
5 (-4)
The Angels probably breathed a sigh of relief after they (seemingly) rid themselves of Josh Hamilton, but his replacement in left field hasn't done much in his stead thus far: Matt Joyce is hitting .140 with just three extra-base hits and a 23 percent strikeout rate through his first 17 games in Los Angeles.
10. New York Mets
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
14-5
12-7
12 (+2)
Injuries to David Wright and Travis d'Arnaud and Jerry Blevins should've slowed the Mets down. Instead, the boys in Queens boast the best record in baseball. Only one team in the National League is putting the ball in play more frequently as the Mets, whose run prevention, meanwhile, remains virtually unrivaled. Anchored by a resurgent Matt Harvey, the Mets' staff owns a 2.81 ERA with the third-best strikeout-to-walk ratio in baseball.
11. Toronto Blue Jays
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
9-10
10-9
7 (-4)
Minor maladies to Jose Bautista and Jose Reyes haven't seriously compromised Toronto's lineup thus far - only two teams are hitting home runs with greater frequency than the Blue Jays - but the club's bullpen is a bit of a mess right now. Their 10 meltdowns are tied for third in the American League, while incumbent closer Miguel Castro has allowed three earned runs and seven baserunners over his last four appearances (8.10 ERA; 2 HR).
12. Boston Red Sox
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
10-9
9-10
9 (-3)
The Red Sox have struggled mightily on the mound, as expected, but it's easy to overlook trivial matters like run prevention when you hit a lot of home runs. Only seven teams have hit more long balls this season than the Red Sox, one of just two teams with more homers than doubles thus far.
13. New York Yankees
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
11-8
12-7
19 (+6)
The decision to focus on the bullpen this winter is already paying dividends for the Yankees, as newcomers Andrew Miller and Chasen Shreve have allowed one earned run while fanning 23 over 16 combined innings thus far. Dellin Betances also appears to have rectified the control problems that plagued him in his first few outings, managing a 12:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio without allowing a run over his last six appearances.
14. Seattle Mariners
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
7-11
7-11
10 (-4)
For a team ostensibly blessed with one of the best bullpens in baseball, the Mariners sure have struggled to close out games this season. Their 11 meltdowns are tied for last in the American League, though positive regression should help deflate the bullpen's .317 batting average on balls in play.
15. Tampa Bay Rays
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
11-8
10-9
20 (+5)
Apparently, the Rays didn't hear that they were supposed to have a terrible offense this season, because the club ranks among the top five in the American League in isolated power, walk rate, and weighted runs created plus.
16. Baltimore Orioles
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
9-10
10-9
15 (-1)
Much like their division rivals in Toronto, the Orioles have a really strong handle on the whole "scoring runs" thing, but run prevention isn't a concept they've mastered yet. The club's 5.04 ERA ranks dead last in the American League and their staff is serving up a ridiculous 1.42 home runs per nine innings.
17. Cincinnati Reds
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
8-10
8-10
16 (-1)
How many people would've guessed three weeks ago that Billy Hamilton would have the highest OPS among Cincinnati's outfielders by the end of April? Amid horrendous starts from both Jay Bruce (.580 OPS) and Marlon Byrd (.376 OPS), no team in baseball has received less offensive production from their outfielders this season.
18. Houston Astros
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
11-7
10-8
23 (+5)
The Astros have earned some early credibility in the American League West this season, compiling an impressive 10-5 record against their division rivals through the first month of 2015. Much of their early success can be attributed to their pitching staff, which boasts the second-best ERA in the American League thus far.
19. Chicago White Sox
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
8-9
7-10
17 (-2)
Even after a number of offseason additions, pundits warned, the lack of depth in Chicago's lineup could be a problem. So far, it looks like they may have been on to something. Beyond Jose Abreu, the White Sox don't have a single player with at least 40 plate appearances creating runs at an above-average clip.
20. Oakland Athletics
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
8-12
11-9
18 (-2)
Though only five teams have enjoyed a platoon advantage at the plate more often than the Athletics, the club's meager .541 OPS against lefties ranks dead last in the American League. Take that, Brad Pitt!
21. Cleveland Indians
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
6-11
8-9
14 (-7)
The Indians haven't won consecutive games since their season-opening series against the Astos amid injuries both short-term (Michael Brantley) and long-term (Yan Gomes) and loads of disappointment at the plate thus far. On top of their measly .296 on-base percentage, the Indians are one of just four American League teams without a player that's hit four home runs.
22. Colorado Rockies
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
10-8
9-9
25 (+3)
Considering how the Rockies' rotation has struggled to miss bats this season, the club's position players are going to have to start doing a better job converting batted balls into outs. The club's .689 defensive efficiency rating ranks fourth-worst in the majors, and almost all of their success afield this season can be attributed to Nolan Arenado.
23. Atlanta Braves
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
9-9
9-9
21 (-2)
It was only a matter of time before regression exposed the ugly truth about the Braves: they're kind of not good at all. Over the last two weeks, only four teams have managed a worse wRC+ than the Braves, who are trotting out replacement-level players at several positions on a nightly basis.
24. San Francisco Giants
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
8-11
7-12
22 (-2)
Can you name the Giants' best pitcher thus far without looking it up? If you can, you should probably find more hobbies. Chris Heston has been one of the few bright spots in an otherwise ugly start to the campaign in San Francisco, twirling a 2.77 ERA (3.30 FIP) with a hearty 56.3 percent ground-ball rate through four starts.
25. Miami Marlins
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
8-11
10-9
24 (-1)
He's still not making a ton of contact, but Giancarlo Stanton's power stroke has returned. The 25-year-old has five homers in his last 10 contests after failing to leave the yard through the first nine games of the season, raising his isolated power to .319 - the eighth-best mark in baseball.
26. Arizona Diamondbacks
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
8-10
9-9
27 (+1)
The Diamondbacks have plated one run or less in four of their last five contests, stumbling to a measly .202/.275/.245 line with just one home run over the last week. The ongoing offensive drought is a bit extreme, but it did help lower expectations after the Diamondbacks looked downright competent through the first two weeks of the campaign.
27. Texas Rangers
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
7-11
7-11
28 (+1)
In addition to the sentimental value that a potential reunion with Josh Hamilton brings, the resilient 33-year-old would also provide manager Jeff Banister with an option in the outfield that isn't Jake Smolinski (.524 OPS) or Delino DeShields Jr. (.258 OPS).
28. Minnesota Twins
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
8-10
7-11
29 (+1)
The Twins have as many home runs as Nelson Cruz. The Twins have fewer stolen bases than Gregory Polanco. The Twins have a worse on-base percentage than Nick Castellanos. The Twins have less isolated power than Rougned Odor.
29. Milwaukee Brewers
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
4-15
5-14
26 (-3)
They can't hit at alland their pitching staff remains among the most generous in baseball, but at least they have their health, right? Nope. Jonathan Lucroy could miss six weeks after suffering a fractured toe Monday night while Scooter Gennett remains incapacitated after slicing his hand in the shower.
30. Philadelphia Phillies
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
7-12
5-14
30 (-)
On his most ambitious day, even Stephen King couldn't drum up anything as terrifying as this year's permutation of the Phillies, where the club's top position players (per wins above replacement) through the first three weeks of the campaign are: 1) Freddy Galvis; 2) Aaron Harang; 3) Odubel Herrera; 4) Cody Asche; 5) Luis Garcia.
