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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.