ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels publicly praised Mike Trout "for prioritizing his personal values over commercial self-promotion" a day after baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said the All-Star outfielder would be an even bigger star if he would spend more time marketing himself.The team released a statement Wednesday congratulating Trout on his performance in the All-Star Game in Washington then extolled the time he spends visiting hospitals, schools and charities and the quality time he spends with family."We applaud him for prioritizing his personal values over commercial self-promotion," the statement said. "That is rare in today's society and stands out as much as his extraordinary talent."A day earlier, Manfred said MLB was interested in having players more engaged and in helping players develop their individual brands.Manfred said Trout chooses not to spend his down time marketing."Mike's a great, great player and a really nice person, but he's made certain decisions... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels publicly praised Mike Trout "for prioritizing his personal values over commercial self-promotion" a day after baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said the All-Star outfielder would be an even bigger star if he would spend more time marketing himself.The team released a statement Wednesday congratulating Trout on his performance in the All-Star Game in Washington then extolled the time he spends visiting hospitals, schools and charities and the quality time he spends with family."We applaud him for prioritizing his personal values over commercial self-promotion," the statement said. "That is rare in today's society and stands out as much as his extraordinary talent."A day earlier, Manfred said MLB was interested in having players more engaged and in helping players develop their individual brands.Manfred said Trout chooses not to spend his down time marketing."Mike's a great, great player and a really nice person, but he's made certain decisions... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — For Max Scherzer, Bryce Harper and any Nationals Park regulars in attendance, this home All-Star Game probably felt rather familiar. A lot of hype, some so-so performances and, at times, a nearly silent ballpark.Washington righty Scherzer became the first reigning Cy Young Award winner to start a Midsummer Classic at home, and delighted the fans singing his name with four strikeouts in two innings for the National League on Tuesday night — but he also gave up a homer to Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge in what became an 8-6 victory in 10 innings for the American League."I threw a fastball up, and I hit my spot. ... I was like, 'Man, I really thought I threw that high.' And you've got to go higher than higher than high against him," said Scherzer, who was making his third All-Star start and second in a row. "He's 6-foot-7. It's incredible. He put a good swing on it. ... I realize now, pitching against tall guys, you've got to go high."Nationals outfielder Harper's encore... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers are making preparations to welcome Manny Machado into their pennant race.Los Angeles entered the All-Star break with a narrow half-game lead over second-place Arizona in the NL West, and there's a good chance the Dodgers will begin play Friday in Milwaukee with a four-time All-Star at shortstop.Machado will undoubtedly be dealt by the Baltimore Orioles before the July non-waiver trade deadline, and speculation is centering upon a Wednesday swap with Los Angeles."I had a conversation with Manny. He's a great guy, man, and we would love to have him here," Dodgers All-Star pitcher Kenley Jansen said Tuesday night.The Dodgers begin a 10-game road trip out of the break, and they'd love to have Machado dressed in Dodger blue."I think the sky's the limit. We can do damage," Jansen said. "Let's see what's going to happen."If Machado heads to the Dodgers, he will likely get to wear his coveted No. 13, now worn by first baseman Max Muncy."He deserves that... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Manny Machado walked the red carpet shirtless in a double-breasted suit, took a couple selfies on the field and smiled through six innings of carefree baseball.When he was done playing in his fourth All-Star Game on Tuesday night, Machado peeled off his Orioles uniform for perhaps the final time.Then he walked out of Nationals Stadium with his family, not bothering to stick around after the game to answer another round of questions about a potential trade that would end his stay in Baltimore.The 26-year-old shortstop is expected to be dealt any day now, possibly before Baltimore returns from the break to play in Toronto on Friday night.In the meantime, Machado was the center of attention before and during the first All-Star Game in Washington since 1969.A huge media throng buzzed around his locker prior to batting practice. During BP, Machado joked with Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp outside the cage.Then came the game. Machado went 0 for 2 — a fly ball and a... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on baseball's All-Star Game (all times local):12:08 a.m.Alex Bregman has been named the All-Star Game MVP for his go-ahead homer in the 10th inning that sent the American League to an 8-6 victory.Bregman's homer was one of a record-breaking 10 in the game, but it put the AL ahead for good as baseball's best put on a power exhibition in the late innings. His Astros teammate George Springer hit one out immediately after Bregman.The 24-year-old Bregman is a first-time All-Star in his third major league season. He hit 19 homers last year and has 20 so far this year.___11:59 p.m.Alex Bregman and George Springer hit back-to-back homers in the 10th inning, and the American League beat the National League 8-6 in a power-crazy All-Star Game.There were 10 homers on the night at Nationals Park, shattering the previous All-Star Game record of six. Seven came in the seventh inning or later.While the power display entertained the fans who stuck around for the end of the 3... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on baseball's All-Star Game (all times local):11:59 p.m.Alex Bregman and George Springer hit back-to-back homers in the 10th inning, and the American League beat the National League 8-6 in a power-crazy All-Star Game.There were 10 homers on the night at Nationals Park, shattering the previous All-Star Game record of six. Seven came in the seventh inning or later.While the power display entertained the fans who stuck around for the end of the 3 hour, 34-minute game, the one-dimensional exhibition won't allay any concerns about a sport that's becoming defined by home runs, strikeouts and walks.Thirteen of the 14 runs came in on homers. All but two of them were solo shots. Jean Segura's three-run homer in the eighth was the only hit with a man in scoring position.Scooter Gennett tied it for the National League in the ninth with a two-run homer. Then Astros teammates Bregman and Springer took Ross Stripling deep.___11:45 p.m.Astros teammates Alex Bregman and George... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Manny Machado walked the red carpet shirtless in a double-breasted suit, took a selfie on the field and smiled through six innings of carefree baseball.When he was done playing in his fourth All-Star Game on Tuesday night, Machado peeled off his Orioles uniform for perhaps the final time.Then he walked out of Nationals Stadium with his family, not bothering to stick around after the game to answer another round of questions about a potential trade that would end his stay in Baltimore.The 26-year-old shortstop is expected to be dealt any day now, possibly before Baltimore returns from the break to play in Toronto on Friday night.In the meantime, Machado was the center of attention before and during the first All-Star Game in Washington since 1969.A huge media throng buzzed around his locker prior to batting practice. During BP, Machado joked with Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp outside the cage.Then came the game. Machado went 0 for 2 — a fly ball and a popup —... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Manny Machado walked the red carpet shirtless in a double-breasted suit, took a selfie on the field and smiled through six innings of carefree baseball.When he was done playing in his fourth All-Star Game on Tuesday night, Machado peeled off his Orioles uniform for perhaps the final time.The 26-year-old shortstop is expected to be traded any day now, possibly before Baltimore returns from the break to play in Toronto on Friday night.In the meantime, Machado was the center of attention before and during the first All-Star Game in Washington since 1969.A huge media throng buzzed around his locker prior to batting practice. During BP, Machado joked with Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp outside the cage.Then came the game. Machado went 0 for 2 — a fly ball and a popup — before exiting for a pinch hitter in the sixth inning."I'm just trying to enjoy this moment with the American League guys," Machado told FOX in the dugout. "If this is the last time (in a Baltimore... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on baseball's All-Star Game (all times local):11:05 p.m.Jean Segura hit a 3-run homer after first baseman Joey Votto's error gave him another chance, and the American League took a 5-2 eighth-inning lead over the National League in the All-Star Game.Votto dropped a foul popup along the NL dugout railing with runners on first and second and a 3-2 count on Segura, who launched the next pitch over the left-field wall.It was the first hit with a runner in scoring position in the game. All seven runs were scored via home runs, the first four coming on solo shots.Segura went deep off Josh Hader. He became the third player in the game to homer in his first career All-Star at-bat, following Willson Contreras and Trevor Story.___10:45 p.m.Trevor Story has homered in the seventh inning to draw the National League even 2-2 in the All-Star Game.Story pulled his hands in and ripped an inside fastball from Charlie Morton down the left-field line and into the first row of... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on baseball's All-Star Game (all times local):10:20 p.m.Light rain has begun falling at the All-Star Game as a small band of showers moves through Washington.The rain caused some fans to head for the concourses but appeared unlikely to delay the game.Earlier Tuesday, strong thunderstorms led to standing water in the National League dugout. But the field was in good shape by the time the game started after 8 p.m.The American League leads the National League 2-1 in the top of the seventh inning.___9:10 p.m.Willson Contreras put the National League on the board in the All-Star Game by homering off Blake Snell in the third inning.Contreras hit the first pitch from Snell just over the wall in left field to cut the American League lead to 2-1.All three runs have scored on solo homers.In the top of the third, Mike Trout homered off Jacob deGrom.Trout went deep on a 1-2 fastball, sending it into the AL bullpen in left field.It was Trout's second homer in five All-Star... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on baseball's All-Star Game (all times local):9:10 p.m.Willson Contreras put the National League on the board in the All-Star Game by homering off Blake Snell in the third inning.Contreras hit the first pitch from Snell just over the wall in left field to cut the American League lead to 2-1.All three runs have scored on solo homers.In the top of the third, Mike Trout homered off Jacob deGrom.Trout went deep on a 1-2 fastball, sending it into the AL bullpen in left field.It was Trout's second homer in five All-Star Game appearances and improved him to 7-for-14 in his All-Star career. He later popped out to foul territory in the fifth. He was named MVP of the game in 2014 and 2015.___8:45 p.m.Aaron Judge has given the American League a 1-0 lead in the All-Star Game with a homer off Max Scherzer.Leading off the second inning, the Yankees slugger got ahold of a belt-high 0-1 fastball from Scherzer and sent it into the bullpen beyond the left field fence.It was Judge's... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Mike Trout would be an even bigger star if he would spend some more time marketing himself, baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred maintains.At 26, the Los Angeles Angels outfielder is a two-time AL MVP and a seven-time All-Star. In 2015, he became the first player in 38 years to homer leading off an All-Star Game, then became the first player to take home the Midsummer Classic's MVP award two years in row. He homered off the Mets' Jacob deGrom in the third inning of this year's game on Tuesday night."Player marketing requires one thing for sure — the player," Manfred said earlier in the day. "You cannot market a player passively. You can't market anything passively. You need people to engage with those to whom you are trying to market in order to have effective marketing. We are very interested in having our players more engaged and having higher profile players and helping our players develop their individual brand. But that involves the player being actively engaged."Manfred... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on baseball's All-Star Game (all times local):9:10 p.m.Willson Contreras put the National League on the board in the All-Star Game by homering off Blake Snell in the third inning.Contreras hit the first pitch from Snell just over the wall in left field to cut the American League lead to 2-1.All three runs have scored on solo homers.In the top of the third, Mike Trout homered off Jacob deGrom.Trout went deep on a 1-2 fastball, sending it into the AL bullpen in left field.It was Trout's second homer in five All-Star Game appearances and improved him to 7-for-15 (.467) in his All-Star career. He was named MVP of the game in 2014 and 2015.___8:45 p.m.Aaron Judge has given the American League a 1-0 lead in the All-Star Game with a homer off Max Scherzer.Leading off the second inning, the Yankees slugger got ahold of a belt-high 0-1 fastball from Scherzer and sent it into the bullpen beyond the left field fence.It was Judge's first All-Star Game hit in his second... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — By the time Bryce Harper gets to the plate at the All-Star Game, Max Scherzer could already be done.Harper is batting sixth in his fifth All-Star start, the lowest he has been in the National League lineup since the No. 9 spot in 2013. Scherzer getting the start against Boston's Chris Sale is no surprise as the hometown ace, but Harper faces a much different dynamic knowing this could be the final time he's honored on a big stage by Nationals fans when he trots out to center field on Tuesday night.In a contract year that could be his last with Washington, Harper is hitting .214 with a .365 on-base percentage, .468 slugging percentage, 23 home runs and 54 RBIs. That batting average is 60 points lower than the next-closest NL All-Star hitter, while his HR total is one shy of the league lead."I look up there and see my average as well, and I look up there and go, 'Aw man, well that sucks,'" Harper said Monday. "But I look over a little bit to the right side of that and see... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — By the time Bryce Harper gets to the plate at the All-Star Game, Max Scherzer could already be out of the game.Harper is batting sixth in his fifth All-Star start, the lowest he has been in the National League lineup since the No. 9 spot in 2013. Scherzer getting the start against Boston's Chris Sale is no surprise as the hometown ace, but Harper faces a much different dynamic knowing this could be the final time he's honored on a big stage by Nationals fans when he trots out to center field on Tuesday night.In a contract year that could be his last with Washington, Harper is hitting .214 with a .365 on-base percentage, .468 slugging percentage, 23 home runs and 54 RBIs. That batting average is 60 points lower than the next-closest NL All-Star hitter, while his HR total is one shy of the league lead."I look up there and see my average as well, and I look up there and go, 'Aw man, well that sucks,'" Harper said Monday, hours before taking part in the Home Run Derby. "But... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — By the time Bryce Harper gets to the plate at the All-Star Game, Max Scherzer could already be out of the game.Harper is batting sixth in his fifth All-Star start, the lowest he has been in the National League lineup since the No. 9 spot in 2013. Scherzer getting the start against Boston's Chris Sale is no surprise as the hometown ace, but Harper faces a much different dynamic knowing this could be the final time he's honored on a big stage by Nationals fans when he trots out to center field on Tuesday night.In a contract year that could be his last with Washington, Harper is hitting .214 with a .365 on-base percentage, .468 slugging percentage, 23 home runs and 54 RBIs. That batting average is 60 points lower than the next-closest NL All-Star hitter, while his HR total is one shy of the league lead."I look up there and see my average as well, and I look up there and go, 'Aw man, well that sucks,'" Harper said Monday, hours before taking part in the Home Run Derby. "But... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — David Ortiz can now laugh, sort of, at the shifting culture of baseball. For Mike Trout, Nolan Arenado, Bryce Harper and most every other All-Star hitter, dealing with different defensive alignments is just part of the game.Tune in Tuesday night and there's no telling where fans will see fielders at Nationals Park. Especially in what's become merely an exhibition — why not try a five-man outfield?Count Joey Votto among the boppers who'd love to do away with infielders clustered on the grass."From someone who's really been dinged by the shift, I would welcome it," the Cincinnati first baseman said Monday. "Once they started shifting more without question, I adjusted my approach and you have to or else you get burned by it because .290 turns into .250 turns into .220 like nothing."But the career .312 hitter can see why Major League Baseball might want to avoid delving into rules to define defensive positions."I like the idea of a dynamic ballplayer. It's really hard to shift... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — By the time Bryce Harper gets to the plate at the All-Star Game, Max Scherzer could already be out of the game.Harper is batting sixth in his fifth All-Star start, the lowest he has been in the National League lineup since the No. 9 spot in 2013. Scherzer getting the start against Boston's Chris Sale is no surprise as the hometown ace, but Harper faces a much different dynamic knowing this could be the final time he's honored on a big stage by Nationals fans when he trots out to center field on Tuesday night.In a contract year that could be his last with Washington, Harper is hitting .214 with a .365 on-base percentage, .468 slugging percentage, 23 home runs and 54 RBIs. That batting average is 60 points lower than the next-closest NL All-Star hitter, while his HR total is one shy of the league lead."I look up there and see my average as well, and I look up there and go, 'Aw man, well that sucks,'" Harper said Monday, hours before taking part in the Home Run Derby. "But... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — David Ortiz can now laugh, sort of, at the shifting culture of baseball. For Mike Trout, Nolan Arenado, Bryce Harper and most every other All-Star hitter, dealing with different defensive alignments is just part of the game.Tune in Tuesday night and there's no telling where fans will see fielders at Nationals Park. Especially in what's become merely an exhibition — why not try a five-man outfield?Count Joey Votto among the boppers who'd love to do away with infielders clustered on the grass."From someone who's really been dinged by the shift, I would welcome it," the Cincinnati first baseman said Monday. "Once they started shifting more without question, I adjusted my approach and you have to or else you get burned by it because .290 turns into .250 turns into .220 like nothing."But the career .312 hitter can see why Major League Baseball might want to avoid delving into rules to define defensive positions."I like the idea of a dynamic ballplayer. It's really hard to shift... [More]