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Gregg Olson looks forward to passing Orioles’ Rookie of the Year mantle to Gunnar Henderson: ‘It’s been way too long’

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:45:09 GMT

Gregg Olson sees plenty of similarities between the Orioles’ 1989 and 2023 teams. He hopes they soon have another aspect in common.For his contributions to the unexpected success of the 1989 “Why Not?” Orioles, Olson became the first reliever to win American League Rookie of the Year. No Oriole has received that honor since, but that likely changes Monday, when Baltimore infielder Gunnar Henderson is expected to win it. Every other AL team has had at least one Rookie of the Year since Olson’s win, with five clubs having four recipients in that span.“It’s been way too long,” Olson told The Baltimore Sun. “Somebody else can take the mantle now.”In Henderson, Olson sees a fitting successor. Amid a 1988 season that infamously began with a record 21 straight losses and ended with them holding the worst record in the majors, the Orioles drafted Olson fourth overall out of Auburn University. The next year, the 22-year-old right-hander w...

Five things we learned from the Ravens’ 33-31 loss to the Cleveland Browns

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:45:09 GMT

The Ravens looked to be headed toward another blowout victory.Less than five minutes into a hugely important AFC North game against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium, they were already up 14-0, courtesy of a wild Kyle Hamilton interception that he tipped to himself and returned for a touchdown on the second play of the game and an explosive 39-yard touchdown run by rookie Keaton Mitchell.But the Browns also boast one of the league’s best defenses, their own dynamic quarterback and a tough ground game, which shredded the Ravens for 178 yards. All of it, along with some self-inflicted errors by Baltimore, was enough for Cleveland to rally from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit and win, 33-31.Here are five things we learned from the game.Ball security continues to be a problemThe Ravens came into Sunday just plus-one in turnover differential, and with quarterback Lamar Jackson having more fumbles (10) than touchdown passes (9) this season. That unsettling trend continu...

Larry Lucchino exploring sale of Worcester Red Sox

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:45:09 GMT

Larry Lucchino, the former Boston Red Sox president and current chairman and principal owner of the Worcester Red Sox, said this week he plans to sell the Triple-A franchise.“I’m now 78, I’ve been at this for over 40 years, so it’s time to sell this team and to move on to blissful retirement,” said Lucchino, speaking to former Boston sports anchors Bob Lobel and Mike Lynch on the “UnAnchored Boston” podcast.Lucchino has owned the WooSox since 2015, when he led a group that purchased the then-Pawtucket Red Sox for $25 million. Under his ownership the franchise relocated from Pawtucket, Rhode Island to Worcester and opened the brand new Polar Park in 2021.If Lucchino does sell, the WooSox will become the third Red Sox affiliate to change hands in the past two years. The Portland Sea Dogs (Double-A) and Salem Red Sox (Low-A) were both recently acquired by Diamond Baseball Holdings, a well-financed upstart that has quickly become the largest owner of minor league franchises ...

Red Sox game times to remain unchanged in 2024

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:45:09 GMT

Over the past three seasons the Red Sox have settled into a standard set of start times throughout the week, and those times will remain the same next season as well.According to a Red Sox spokesperson, home games at Fenway Park will continue to start at 7:10 p.m. on weeknights, 4:10 p.m. on Saturdays and 1:35 p.m. on Sundays in 2024. Some start times may vary due to getaway days, national broadcasts or special occasions like the tradition 11 a.m. Patriots Day game, but the default times will remain unchanged.The Red Sox have stuck with the same set of start times despite an increased prevalence of clubs starting night games earlier, usually at 6:40 p.m. The Detroit Tigers, Tampa Bay Rays, Seattle Mariners and Colorado Rockies are among the teams who have made the change in recent years, in large part to compensate for the increased length of games that — prior to the introduction of the pitch clock — often resulted in games stretching well past 10 p.m.Last offseason the Red Sox ind...

5 people drown after a boat carrying migrants capsizes off the Turkish coast

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:45:09 GMT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A boat carrying migrants capsized off the Turkish Aegean coastal province of Izmir on Monday, killing at least five people, the Turkish coast guard said. A further six migrants were rescued.The coast guard said a search and rescue mission was underway for two other migrants thought to be missing after the rubber boat capsized in stormy weather off the resort of Cesme. HaberTurk news channel said the migrants were trying to reach the Greek island of Chios.There was no immediate information on the migrants’ nationalities.Many boatloads of migrants attempt to make the dangerous sea crossing to reach the Greek islands from the Turkish coast, hoping to eventually make their way to more prosperous European Union countries.Others attempt to enter Greece by crossing a river that runs along the land border between the two countries.The Associated Press

Tea and nickel on the agenda as Biden hosts Indonesian president

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:45:09 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will host Indonesian President Joko Widodo at the White House on Monday, one day before the U.S. leader leaves for San Francisco to attend a summit of Asian leaders.The two presidents will share an afternoon tea and meet with top advisers, according to senior administration officials who insisted on anonymity to preview the schedule. They will also talk about ways to expand the trade of critical minerals like nickel, which can be used to produce electric vehicle batteries. Indonesia is the world’s largest producer of nickel.White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said they “will explore opportunities to enhance cooperation on the clean energy transition, advance economic prosperity, bolster regional peace and stability, and reinforce our people-to-people ties.”Biden’s meeting with Widodo comes shortly before he sits down with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Indones...

New ‘joint employer’ rule could make it easier for millions to unionize – if it survives challenges

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:45:09 GMT

A new federal rule that goes into effect next month could make it easier for millions of workers to form unions at big companies like McDonald’s. But it’s already facing significant pushback from businesses and some members of Congress.The rule — announced late last month by the National Labor Relations Board –- sets new standards for determining when two companies should be considered “joint employers” under the National Labor Relations Act.It sounds wonky. But essentially, the rule could widen the number of companies that must participate in labor negotiations alongside their franchisees or independent contractors. For example, it might require Burger King to bargain with workers even though most of its U.S. restaurants are owned by franchisees. Or it could require Amazon to negotiate with delivery drivers who are employed by independent contractors. “It’s trying to take in the realities of today’s workforce, when many employers subcontract out work and say, ‘Oh, we’re not the emp...

EU nations condemn Hamas for what they describe as use of hospitals, civilians as ‘human shields’

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:45:09 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — The 27 European Union nations have jointly condemned Hamas for what they described as the use of hospitals and civilians as “human shields” in the war against Israel.EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said Monday that at the same time the bloc asked Israel “for maximum restraint and targeting in order to avoid human casualties.”At a meeting of the bloc’s foreign affairs ministers, Borrell brandished a statement he issued on behalf of the 27 nations as a show of unity following weeks of often contrasting statements on how the group should address the Israel-Hamas war.“You know how difficult it has been the last times, after the vote in the United Nations, where countries were voted in different ways, to present a completely united approach,” Borrell said. Only hours after EU leaders professed unity over the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 28, the member states were totally split in a vote on a General Assembly resolution calling for humanitarian truces in Gaza lead...

Ex-Prime Minister David Cameron makes shock return to UK government as foreign secretary

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:45:09 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Former British Prime Minister David Cameron made a shock return to high office on Monday, becoming foreign secretary in a major shakeup of the Conservative government that also saw the firing of divisive Home Secretary Suella Braverman.Cameron, who led the government between 2010 and 2016, was appointed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in a Cabinet shuffle in which he sacked Braverman, a divisive figure who drew anger for accusing police of being too lenient with pro-Palestinian protesters.She was replaced by James Cleverly, who had been foreign secretary.Cameron’s appointment came as a surprise to seasoned politics-watchers. It’s rare for a non-lawmaker to take a senior government post, and it has been decades since a former prime minister held a Cabinet job.The government said Cameron will be appointed to Parliament’s unelected upper chamber, the House of Lords. The last foreign secretary to serve in the Lords, rather than the elected House of Commons,...

Thousands flee Gaza hospital, health officials say, but many, including babies, still trapped

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:45:09 GMT

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Thousands of people have fled Gaza’s largest hospital as Israeli forces and Palestinian militants battle outside its gates, but hundreds of patients, including dozens of babies at risk of dying because of a power blackout, remained inside, health officials said Monday.With only intermittent communications, it was difficult to reconcile competing claims from the Israeli military, which said it was providing safe corridors for people to escape intense fighting in the north and move south, and Palestinian health officials inside Shifa Hospital, who said the compound was surrounded by constant heavy gunfire.The military also said it had placed 300 liters (79 gallons) of fuel near the hospital to help power its generators, but that Hamas militants had prevented staff from reaching it. The Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza disputed that and said the fuel would have provided less than an hour of electricity.World Health Organization Director-General Tedro...