WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2016 SPORTS

Diamondbacks fire Stewart, Hale after another losing season

PHOENIX: The Arizona Diamondbacks responsibility is shared by all of us, we ing with a 69-93 record to miss the playoffs major league seasons with Minnesota and cized for the deal that brought Miller to have parted ways with general manager have decided that a change is necessary.” for the fifth consecutive season. the Los Angeles Dodgers before getting the desert, which sent outfielder Ender Dave Stewart and manager Chip Hale La Russa was hired by the Diamondbacks “Stew and Chip are quality individuals into coaching. He worked as Bob Melvin’s Inciarte and shortstop Dansby Swanson, after a second consecutive losing season. in 2014 and among his first moves was to who I consider friends and I respect great- bench coach for three seasons before Arizona’s top draft pick in 2015, to The team announced in a release on bring in Stewart and Hale, elevating them ly,” Arizona CEO Derrick Hall said. “I thank being hired as a big-league manager for Atlanta. Miller struggled his first season Monday that it will discuss an appropriate to positions they had never held at the them for their tireless efforts while wear- the first time with Arizona. He previously with Arizona, going 3-12 with a 6.15 ERA. role for Chief Baseball Officer Tony La big-league level before. ing our logo on their chests. We will look worked nine seasons in Arizona’s organi- Arizona did pull off the most surprising Russa in the future. “We are very grateful After finishing 79-83 last season, to move quickly as we turn the page and zation and spent two seasons with the offseason deal prior to the 2016 season, lur- to Dave and Chip who are widely respect- Arizona had upgraded expectations this begin another chapter for this proud fran- New York Mets. Arizona has made some ing Greinke away from top teams that had ed throughout the game of baseball,” year after signing 2009 AL Cy Young Award chise.” A four-time 20-game winner as a questionable moves over the past couple been pursuing him. Greinke showed flashes Diamondbacks managing general partner winner Zack Greinke to a $206 million con- player, Stewart had previously worked in of seasons, including an $8.25 million of still being one of baseball’s best pitchers, Ken Kendrick said in a statement. tract and adding right-hander Shelby the front offices of Oakland, San Diego contract with Cuban right-hander Yoan but was inconsistent most of the season. He “Ultimately, the results have not been Miller. The Diamondbacks got off to a slow and Toronto before landing his first gen- Lopez, who has considered leaving the won a team-high 13 games, but also had a what we had hoped and while that start and underachieved all season, finish- eral manager’s job. Hale played seven game. The Diamondbacks also were criti- 4.37 ERA, second-highest of his career. — AP Mike Trout or playoff-bound Mookie Betts for AL MVP?

NEW YORK: Mike Trout has an MVP prob- Henderson with the 1985 New York lem: He needs more help. Widely considered Yankees. Taking nothing away from his baseball’s best all-around player, with mod- achievements, Betts (31 HRs, 113 RBIs, 26 ern metrics consistently supporting that for 30 on steals, .897 OPS) benefited from assertion, the Los Angeles Angels center hitting in a loaded Boston batting order, fielder has been runner-up in the American while Trout had little protection outside of League three of the past four years. The only Albert Pujols and Kole Calhoun. It’s not fair time he took home the prize was 2014, to look past Trout simply because the when the Angels won 98 games and the AL Angels pitched poorly and fielded a thin West. They came in third place the other lineup. But if Betts wins, no complaints. three seasons, leaving Trout to finish second despite his outstanding numbers. NATIONAL LEAGUE MVP It’s a similar scenario this year. Trout led Some of the stats for Bryant and Rizzo the league in runs (123), on-base percent- are incredibly identical. They both batted age (.441) and wins above replacement .292 with a .385 on-base percentage, while (10.6), as calculated by Baseball- Bryant had 39 homers and 102 RBIs to Reference.com. But he did all that for a Rizzo’s 32 homers and 109 RBIs. Bryant also fourth-place team that went 74-88 and was led the league in runs (121) and WAR while never in the playoff hunt. providing versatility on defense. He wins With other top contenders on clubs that MVP honors one season after he was the reached the postseason, Trout could be NL Rookie of the Year. Arenado and Murphy denied yet again - perhaps in favor of warrant a close look, too, though. dynamic outfielder Mookie Betts or retiring bopper David Ortiz from AL East champion AL CY YOUNG Boston. Tigers ace Justin Verlander (16-9, 3.04 “It’s not really defined a certain way, so ERA) nips Boston right-hander Rick Porcello people are going to have opinions different (22-4, 3.15) and 2014 winner Corey Kluber ways. For me, I think it should go to some- (18-9, 3.14). Verlander led the league with one that is on a winning team and has a 254 strikeouts and a 1.00 WHIP while chance to go to the playoffs,” Cleveland throwing a few more innings than either of slugger Mike Napoli said. the other two. Porcello was fantastic but “But then again, you can’t take away relied more on his defense, fanning 189. from people that really can’t control other people having down years and you having NL CY YOUNG a really great year. Clayton Kershaw’s back injury might be NEW YORK: New York Islanders’ right wing Steve Bernier (8) congratulates goalie Thomas Greiss (1) and Islanders’ center Stephen Gionta (24) So I think you can go either way.” Over in the only reason this is a race - but it’s a after the Islanders defeated the New Jersey Devils 4-3 in a preseason hockey game, Monday, in New York. — AP the National League, it shapes up much the close one. Some wonder whether Lester same. Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo of the (19-5, 2.44) and Cubs teammate Kyle Chicago Cubs, who led the majors with 103 Hendricks (16-8, 2.13) could split first-place Ladd, Gionta and Barzal lead wins, are joined in the MVP discussion by votes and knock each other out after run- Daniel Murphy from NL East champion ning 1-2 in ERA. Freeman said he favors Washington and rookie shortstop Corey Hendricks, while Philadelphia first baseman Islanders to win over Devils Seager of the NL West champion Dodgers. Ryan Howard went another way and picked Some of their stiffest competition comes Scherzer. We think Howard’s got it right. from players on losing clubs: Colorado’s Washington’s ace went 20-7 with a 2.96 NEW YORK: Andrew Ladd had the tying goal VORACEK’S OT GOAL LIFTS Henrik Lundqvist stopped 17 of 18 shots over Nolan Arenado, Atlanta’s Freddie Freeman ERA while leading the league in strikeouts late in the second period, and Stephen Gionta FLYERS PAST RANGERS the first 30:18 for the Rangers, and Mackenzie and Cincinnati’s Joey Votto. (284), innings (228 1/3) and WHIP (0.97). He and Mathew Barzal scored 2:35 apart early in the In Philadelphia, Jakub Voracek’s second goal Skapski gave up three goals on 15 shots the rest Both Cy Young Award races are close, even matched a major league record with third to lead the New York Islanders to a 4-3 exhi- 27 seconds into overtime gave the Philadelphia of the way. too, with Justin Verlander, Rick Porcello, Jon 20 Ks in one game. Neither Lester nor bition victory over the New Jersey Devils on Flyers a 4-3 win after giving up a three-goal lead Lester and Max Scherzer among those in Hendricks reached 200 strikeouts or 205 Monday night. against the New York Rangers. CAPITALS BEAT BLUES the mix. innings. Ladd, who signed with the Islanders in the Jordan Weal, Voracek and Travis Konecny In Washington, T.J. Oshie and Andre Poor teams have produced MVPs before offseason, scored his first of the preseason with scored 3:21 apart in the second period to give Burakovski scored in the shootout to lift the - Chicago Cubs outfielder Andre Dawson AL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR 5:31 remaining in the middle period to tie it 2-2. the Flyers a 3-0 lead. Steve Mason had 27 saves. Capitals to a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues. (1987) and Texas shortstop Alex Rodriguez Two months in the majors are not Gionta tipped in a shot from fellow former Ryan Graves got the Rangers on the score- Paul Casey scored in regulation for Washington, (2003) even won for clubs that came in last enough for Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez, Devils player Steve Bernier to put New York board with about 3 1/2 minutes to go in the tipping in a shot by Zach Sill to tie the score 1:50 place. But until Washington slugger Bryce even with 20 home runs and a 1.032 OPS in ahead at 3:55 of the third. Barzal then tipped in middle period, and Brandon Pirri and rookie into the third period. Harper was a unanimous winner in the NL 201 at-bats. Detroit right-hander Michael another shot by Bernier to make it 4-2 at the Jimmy Vesey scored in the third to tie it with Braden Holtby had 13 saves on the 14 shots last season, nobody in either league had Fulmer (11-7, 3.06 ERA, 159 innings) is the 6:30 mark. Colin Markison scored in the first peri- 9:09 left. Leading 1-0, the Flyers went on a 5- he faced over the first 31:50. Philipp Grubauer on-3 with about 9 1/2 minutes left in the sec- been elected MVP from a team that missed pick - but check out overlooked Houston od for the Islanders. Thomas Greiss stopped 25 stopped all seven shots he faced through over- shots in his preseason debut after returning ond after Vesey was called for tripping and J.T. the playoffs since Albert Pujols with St. reliever Chris Devenski (2.16 ERA and 104 time, and then had three saves in the shootout - from the World Cup of Hockey following Team Miller got a double-minor for high-sticking 13 Louis in 2008. Ks in 108 1/3 innings). including a stop on Kenny Agostino in the fourth “Is it the best player in the particular Europe’s loss to Canada in the finals. seconds apart. Reid Boucher and Miles Wood scored 2:37 Voracek took advantage with a slap shot less round for the win. league? When you look at the numbers, NL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR Dmitrij Jaskin’s second of the preseason gave Trout obviously is the best player and that’s At one point it appeared this could be apart to give the Devils a 2-1 lead just past the than a minute later, and Konecny converted a midpoint of the second period. Devante Smith- wrister with just under 8 minutes remaining. the Blues the 1-0 lead with 5:47 left in the first. hard to argue,” said Dave Roberts, a strong quite a race between a trio of talented Carter Hutton sopped 37 shots through over- candidate for NL Manager of the Year in his young shortstops. Seager, however, ran Pelly pulled New Jersey within one with 8:17 to The Flyers’ Radko Gudas was ejected in the go in the third, and Cory Schneider finished final minute of the first period after receiving a time and then gave up two goals on four shots first season running the Dodgers. away with it when Trevor Story and in the tiebreaker. — AP “But for a winning team, there’s got to Aledmys Diaz got hurt. with 26 saves. misconduct for boarding Vesey from behind. be some weight put on that and what that particular person means to that particular AL MANAGER OF THE YEAR winning team. I kind of fluctuate season to Terry Francona wins with Cleveland for Humbler Wallabies return to season,” he added. the second time in four years. His team Voting by the Baseball Writers’ overcame several significant injuries in win- Association of America is conducted before ning the AL Central over World Series Twickenham for final match the postseason begins Tuesday, and results champion Kansas City and a Detroit squad will be announced in November. Here are that outspent the Indians by $107 million our choices for all the big awards: on player payroll. SYDNEY: A year after leaving Twickenham with heads held high following their surprise run to AMERICAN LEAGUE MVP NL MANAGER OF THE YEAR the World Cup final, a more humble Wallabies The nod goes to Trout (29 HRs, 100 RBIs, Roberts edges Terry Collins of the New side will return to the storied venue for their final 30 for 37 in steals, .991 OPS) despite his York Mets. Both clubs were severely deplet- Rugby Championship match against Argentina team’s flaws. He scored 17 percent of the ed by health problems and still made the on Saturday. Angels’ runs this season, the highest per- playoffs, but the Dodgers were four wins Michael Cheika’s team have a far different centage for an AL player since Rickey better and won their division. — AP complexion to the swashbuckling band that swept aside all in their path at last year’s global showpiece before they ran into the familiar brick wall of the All Blacks in the decider. Australia left the tournament with high hopes of challenging the All Blacks’ superiority the fol- lowing season and continuing rugby’s revival at home after a tumultuous period on and off the field. However, an unprecedented series white- wash by England in June shattered their new- found confidence, eight months after the Australians had sent the same opponents crash- ing out of their home World Cup. The Europe-based internationals who played a big part in Australia’s renaissance were recalled for the start of the Rugby Championship in August but back-to-back thrashings by the ram- paging All Blacks were proof the old guard’s time had passed. The Wallabies appeared on the Michael Cheika verge of collapse ahead of their match against times lie ahead. World Cup final played at Pretoria on Saturday South Africa in the third round of the “I think they have been good,” the 49-year-old and more changes are tipped for this weekend. Championship last month, weighed down by a told local media in London when asked about Bath-based backrower Leroy Houston has six-game losing streak and a raft of injuries. the roller-coaster 12 months. “I can’t complain at been drafted into the squad after number eight Like so many times before, however, they all. “I know everyone sees things always-and I Sean McMahon was sent home from Pretoria found a way to crawl out of the abyss and understand totally-from a results point of view with an ankle injury. Tonga-born rookie Lopeti secured a 23-17 victory in Brisbane. The re- but part of this year for us was going to be about Timani, who debuted off the bench against the tooled side, steered by the retro halves pairing change. “We knew we had to bring in new play- Pumas in Perth last month, is tipped to slot into of Quade Cooper and Will Genia, then carved ers with a view to the future. the number eight position but could also play as out a win over Argentina in Perth and were in “In my experience in this game, you go blindside flanker or lock, offering Houston hope the box seat to break a 50-year hoodoo at Loftus through great times and then you can go of his own test debut at the age of 29. Versfeld at the weekend but for wastefulness in through tougher times and they’ll always lead to “Leroy is a contender for sure,” said Cheika of attack and the lethal boot of Morne Steyn. giving you the scars on the inside to have better the Queensland Reds’ recruit. “He’s a very good times later on.” footballer, he understands the game and he’s a GREAT TIMES, TOUGH TIMES The Wallabies’ mounting injury toll has traditional number eight. “We’ve mixed and The Pretoria disappointment showed the proved a blessing in disguise, with Cheika blood- matched in that position over the past year or so Wallabies remain vulnerable as they continue ing 10 debutants and a number of them have but he is definitely a player I’m looking at, not their rebuild but another win over the Pumas on shown they belong at test level. just for this year, but going forward over the Mike Trout Saturday would back Cheika’s claim that better Only eight of the starting 15 in last year’s next couple. — Reuters