Yankees favored over Mets in rivalry week matchup as Carlos Rodon returns to the mound

It is rivalry week in baseball, and I can't say I fully understand what that looks like for some of these teams. The Toronto Blue Jays, for example, are playing the Detroit Tigers. Is that just because they are in close proximity? Or, is it because Canada is too nice to have a real rival, so they just assigned them the Tigers?

Who knows. Either way, we have an all-New York matchup, and I think we get a good price on one of the teams today.

The New York Yankees are among the best teams in baseball at the moment, and there aren't many reasons to believe that will change over the course of the year. For the season, they are sporting a 28-17 record, but they do have some road woes as they are just 14-11 away from home.

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If the Yankees keep up this pace, however, they are projecting to be a 100-win club. While that guarantees nothing, it should put them as a likely host for the majority of the postseason.

I'm sure there will be slumps and issues along the way, but so far it has been smooth sailing, and they look to get stronger with guys like today's starter coming back to the club. Carlos Rodon will take the hill today and look to improve on his shaky first outing. Against the Brewers in his last start, he went 4.1 innings, allowed two hits, three earned runs and five walks.

The walks are the biggest concern to me, but maybe he was just getting his mechanics down. Mets hitters haven't been very successful against Rodon, hitting just .215 over 65 at-bats.

Stop me if you've heard this before, but this was supposed to be a big year for the New York Mets. As an objective observer, I will at least give them credit for trying. There are a lot of big league clubs that don't put any effort.

The problem is that their throwing money at players doesn't seem to translate the way it does for, say, the Dodgers. The team is 18-26 for the season, with exactly half of their wins and losses coming at home. Their hitting is rough, with just a .225 batting average, and they are in the bottom quarter of the league in runs scored.

Their pitching has been reliable, but they did just get an injury to one of their starters. What's crazy, to me, is outside of Freddy Peralta, the Mets' pitching doesn't have names you'd really recognize. However, they are turning in good outings. The hitting just doesn't get it done.

Saturday will be a bullpen game for the club with Huascar Brazoban taking the mound to open it. The Mets do have one of the better bullpens in the league, but I'm not rushing to the window to back them.

Saturday has the chance to be an ugly one for the Mets. Bullpen games can be good, and they've become increasingly popular over the years. I think this game likely goes under the 8.5 runs posted because the Mets can somewhat play the matchups. I also think Rodon is talented, and the Yankees also have a good bullpen.

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I don't feel overwhelmingly confident in both plays, so I'm taking a unit and splitting it on the Yankees winning the game. And, the other half of a unit will be on the under. The Yankees are a better club with more consistent hitting, and I think the pitching should have the edge overall.

For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024 

source https://www.foxnews.com/sports/yankees-favored-mets-rivalry-week-matchup-carlos-rodon-returns-mound

Baseball fan hospitalized after falling into visiting bullpen during White Sox-Royals game

A scary moment occurred at Wednesday's Chicago White Sox game against the Kansas City Royals after a fan was hospitalized following a fall into the visiting bullpen.

Kansas City had runners on first and second with none out in the fourth inning when the game was briefly delayed while workers attended to the fallen fan. It appeared stadium workers used a stretcher to transport the fan out of the bullpen area beyond the wall.

The White Sox released a statement saying the fan appeared to be headed in the right direction from a recovery standpoint.

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"We reached out to the fan to check on his well-being, and his friend was able to share a positive report," the team said before Thursday's series finale against the Royals. "The entire White Sox organization and clubhouse are wishing him a speedy recovery."

Wide-angle video from MLB.com Research shows the fan fell over a roughly 3-foot-high barrier from the front row of Section 105 in the South Side ballpark's right-field seats and into the bullpen.

The video shows the fan rising to his feet as Chicago second baseman Chase Meidroth hits a run-scoring sacrifice fly to Royals center fielder Lane Thomas for the first out in the bottom of the third inning.

The fan continued over the barrier, fell in front of a red ad for a local butcher shop and landed in an area covered by grass and dirt at the west end of the bullpen.

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The bullpen is located behind the stadium's right-field wall and in front of Sections 104 and 105.

The base of the barrier is concrete, rising about 10 to 12 inches, topped by a metal fence that is roughly 2 feet high. The front row of seats is about 3 feet behind the fence.

The Royals relievers moved into a far corner of the bullpen after the fan fell.

A similar incident occurred last year at a Pittsburgh Pirates game when a fan fell over the wall and nearly 20 feet onto the outfield warning track.

Kavan Markwood was rushed to Allegheny General Hospital’s trauma unit after the accident, where he was in critical condition. Players were visibly shaken, as were many in the stands, as medical staff from both teams and EMS placed him on a stretcher and carted him off the field. 

Fox News' Paulina Dedaj and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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source https://www.foxnews.com/sports/baseball-fan-hospitalized-falling-visiting-bullpen-white-sox-royals-game

Kid Rock fires back at media trolls over helicopter ride, warning his military mission is far from over

Musician Kid Rock responded to criticism of his recent flights with the U.S. military, saying his commitment to the U.S. Armed Forces is about boosting morale, not personal perks.

Rock, whose full name is Robert Ritchie, joined the "Will Cain Country" podcast to discuss the "noise" regarding his recent flights with the U.S. military and share the origin of his decades-long journey to support service members.

"It really started with the bombing of the USS Cole," Rock said. "They were playing my music when that ship got towed out of the harbor and 17 sailors lost their lives. So, we ended up playing a show in Virginia and giving all that money to those families."

The USS Cole was attacked by al Qaeda suicide bombers in 2000. Rock said his patriotism took a new form after meeting those sailors.

KID ROCK, HEGSETH DIVIDE FANS AFTER CRITICS QUESTION PATRIOTIC HELICOPTER RIDE

"That really started just a whole 'nother level of not just patriotism, but really doing my part to try and help out and go wherever the military called," he said.

Rock described his work supporting troops as some of the "toughest work" he’s ever done, but also the "most rewarding."

Last month, the artist faced criticism after he joined Secretary of War Pete Hegseth for a helicopter flight in Washington, D.C. The flight came after the U.S. Army investigated an unplanned flyover at Rock’s Nashville home in March.

KID ROCK, HEGSETH TAKE APACHE HELICOPTER RIDE NEAR WASHINGTON

While some media outlets and social media users questioned whether taxpayer dollars were being used for celebrity flights, Rock dismissed the criticism as "just noise," noting he has visited bases and flown in military aircraft for over 20 years.

"You do stuff for the military, and they want to showcase to you what they do. So, whether they're showing you their technology or letting you shoot a gun or participate in something, you know, that's kind of what you do," he said.

"I don't need to sit here and prove what I've done."

Rock said the purpose of his recent trip with Hegseth was to film content for Memorial Day and the America 250 celebration. He also used the opportunity to announce that his "Freedom 250" tour will give away 250 free tickets per show to veterans and their families.

In a post on X, Secretary Hegseth defended the partnership, calling Rock a "patriot" and a "huge supporter of our troops."

source https://www.foxnews.com/media/kid-rock-fires-back-media-trolls-helicopter-ride-warning-military-mission-far

Senate takes major first step to prevent future shutdowns with painful accountability play

The Senate is one step closer to adding painful consequences for lawmakers who choose to shut down the government. 

The upper chamber on Wednesday unanimously advanced a resolution from Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., that, if passed, would prevent lawmakers from getting paid during future shutdowns. It comes after the once-rare occurrence became a political cudgel wielded by Democrats time and again in the last year. 

Despite having spurred the two longest shutdowns in history, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Senate Democrats joined Republicans to move the measure along for a final vote. 

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But its success through the first hurdle has not quite sated concerns that Democrats will again try to force another shutdown before the midterm elections in the fall.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told Fox News Digital that its success "helps" but suggested that the move from Democrats was more political than not. 

"I think it's, they realize, I mean, that's a really bad posture to be in if you're opposing something like that at a time when you got a lot of government employees who aren't getting paid, and, you know, people up here are voting against depriving themselves of pay when everybody else is not getting paid," Thune said. 

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"So I just think that's a very difficult political vote for Democrats," he continued. "I think they've recognized it, and I’m guessing they had a fairly robust conversation at their lunch yesterday."

Kennedy’s resolution, which he described as a resolution of "shared sacrifice," can’t take effect until after the upcoming election cycle, adding more concern that Democrats may be tempted to repeat the cycle.  

"If I were king for a day — I'm not, I don't aspire to be — but if I were, I'd make this resolution effective immediately," Kennedy said. "Because I'm … very concerned that my Senate colleagues on the Democratic side are going to try to shut down the government yet again right before the elections to try to create chaos to affect the midterm elections."

Kennedy's resolution would direct the secretary of the Senate to withhold lawmakers' pay until a shutdown is resolved. A rank-and-file senator earns $174,000 per year, while a leader of either party can earn over $193,000 per year.

SENATE WEIGHS NEW, PAINFUL LEVERAGE TACTIC AS FEARS OF ANOTHER GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN GROW

And it would only pertain to the Senate — a point he made clear on the Senate floor just before the vote. 

Kennedy’s push isn’t the only one that’s brewed in the Senate following the 43-day shutdown over enhanced Obamacare premium tax credits and the latest 76-day Department of Homeland Security shutdown. 

That’s because shutdowns have become a common tool over the last year and a half that Democrats have turned to as a negotiating counterpoint. In Trump’s second term alone, Congress has been on the precipice of a closure four times.

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., has been pushing his Shutdown Fairness Act, which would require that working federal workers are paid during a shutdown. 

Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., has the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act, which would automatically fund the government for two-week stretches until Congress lands on a compromise funding deal.

source https://www.foxnews.com/politics/senate-takes-major-first-step-prevent-future-shutdowns-painful-accountability-play-

Butt-end incident leads to off-ice war of words between Wild's Michael McCarron and Avalanche's Josh Manson

The second-round series between the Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild was always destined to be a bit of a slugfest, and it's delivering the goods.

However, after Game 4 — which the Avs won 5-2 to take a 3-1 series lead — the intensity has boiled over off the ice, and it's all thanks to a butt-ending incident that earned Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson a four-minute minor.

In the first period, Wild forward Michael McCarron checked Manson hard and wound up falling on top of him. The two wrestled for a little before Manson could be seen striking McCarron in the side of the head with the butt-end of his stick.

McCarron went down in pain, and upon review, Manson was dealt a double-minor for butt-ending.

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The Wild scored on the ensuing power play, and McCarron laid into Manson during an intermission interview with ESPN.

After the game, McCarron continued to criticize Manson's brand of play.

"I blew him up, and he grabbed me and pulled me on top of him," he said. "He took his butt end and clearly butt-ended me in the face. I don’t know how it’s not a five-minute. I think the rulebook says it’s a five-minute if you butt-end someone in the face."

According to Sportsnet, Manson claimed that he simply lost awareness of where his hand was on his stick when he took a swing at McCarron, whom he said he was angry at for falling on him.

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"My intention wasn't to butt-end him. Did I want to punch him in the head? I did want to punch him in the head," Manson said.

The series shifts back to Denver for Game 5, and something tells me we probably haven't seen the last of this one.

However, Minnesota is in quite a hole, so keeping their postseason alive should be at the front of their mind, not getting back at Josh Manson.

But, no matter how you want to look at it, the heat is certainly getting turned up in this one.

source https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/butt-end-incident-leads-ice-war-words-wild-avalanche-players

Gatlinburg police free black bear that locked itself inside hotel bathroom in wild viral video

A black bear in Tennessee decided to ditch the great outdoors in favor of indoor plumbing.

In a video that’s now going viral, officers with the Gatlinburg Police Department responded to a truly peak Smoky Mountains call this week after a black bear locked itself inside a bathroom at the Quality Inn & Suites in downtown Gatlinburg.

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According to the police report obtained by OutKick, officers responded to the motel at approximately 2:33 a.m. Friday after an employee reported a bear inside the bathroom. Officer Quayvaughn McCollum wrote that an employee "observed a bear enter an exterior bathroom and lock itself inside."

God forbid a guy wants a little privacy!

The footage shows officers carefully opening the bathroom door before the confused bear casually strolls out and heads down the sidewalk to freedom while officers and bystanders scatter out of the way. One officer beats sticks together while they both holler to deter the animal.

By the looks of it, though, the bear had no interest in the humans anyway.

Fortunately, the officers handled the situation perfectly, and nobody was injured during the ordeal. The whole thing ended with only some minor property damage.

The report notes that officers observed "a broken mirror shattered on the floor, which the bear had caused." Damage was estimated at $50.

HERE'S HOW TO DO THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS WITHOUT TRAFFIC AND CROWDS

As anyone familiar with East Tennessee knows, black bears wandering through Gatlinburg neighborhoods, parking lots and hotels is hardly unusual this time of year. But one locking itself in a hotel bathroom? That’s a new one.

I guess it does answer the age-old question, though: Does a bear s**t in the woods? 

Not always.

source https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-culture/gatlinburg-police-free-black-bear-locked-inside-hotel-bathroom-wild-viral-video

Left-wing governor ripped for ‘insane’ answer on whether he’d support minor son’s gender transition

Democratic Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is facing social media backlash after saying during an interview he would support his underage son if he wanted to transition his gender identity. 

"Maryland Governor Wes Moore says he would let his son go through gender mutilation as a minor if he wanted to," RNC Research posted to X on May 7, accompanied by footage of the clip.

Moore, a prominent Democratic governor who has repeatedly clashed with Trump, has signed measures positioning Maryland as a haven for transgender rights and gender-transition care. He was asked a hypothetical question regarding his own son during a discussion on a podcast with American businessman Patrick Bet-David last week. 

"Your son comes in saying he wants to transition, what do you do," Bet-David asked Moore on his "PBD Podcast." 

HOSPITALS WARNED THEY MUST PROTECT CHILDREN FROM CHEMICAL AND SURGICAL MUTILATION: HHS AGENCY MEMO

"If this is a journey that he wants to go down, um I want him to always be comfortable in his own skin," Moore responded, saying his son would always have his "undying love." 

Bet-David pressed Moore on the question, asking whether he would still support his son if he were a minor. Moore said he would. 

"I want him to feel safe in his own skin, safe in his own decision-making, but also know that, at 14 years old, I want to be involved inside of that process as well," said Moore. "I’m not going to condemn him nor castigate him, I’m not going to kick him out of the house. I’m not going to do anything that’s going to hurt him, but I just want to make sure that I’m involved."

However, Moore — a father of two children under 18 — said it would be "deeply unfair" to allow a child to go on puberty blockers, indicating he would not permit his own son to do so.

Social media commenters unleashed on Moore for appearing to support minors making life-altering decisions.

"That's not empathy. That's insanity. As a parent, you are called to guide your children toward the right decisions, not to affirm life-altering destructive ones. This speaks to Gov Wes Moore sacrificing his own child on the altar of woke transgenderism," wrote Maryland Freedom Caucus vice chair Kathy Szelgia on X.

PARENTS MUST STAY ALERT AS PUBLIC SCHOOLS HIDE LIFE-ALTERING DECISIONS FROM FAMILIES

"There is a 0% chance he believes this. But this is how insane the Democrat party is," said Outkick founder Clay Travis.

"This is the man trusted to run Maryland.  Just thought you should know where he stands," write the account Blue Lives Matter.

"INSANE: Maryland Governor Wes Moore says he would let his 12-year-old son go through gender mutilation as a minor if he wanted to," conservative commentator Steve Guest posted in response. 

"A child who can’t smoke, buy alcohol, vote and whose frontal lobe doesn’t fully develop till their mid 20’s is suddenly capable of rationally electing to permanently mutilate their body for the rest of their life," wrote an X user. "Wes Moore has no business being an elected official."

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"Good to know that you wouldn't kick him out of the house, disown him, or hurt him. Next Question: Would the administration of puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones be hurting him," asked another user.

The administration has taken a very strong stance against gender mutilation and puberty blockers following an executive order last year.

In December, the Department of Health and Human Services rolled out a series of policy updates and regulatory actions that would effectively defund hospitals that provide gender transition procedures,

Fox News Digital reached out to the Office of Governor Wes Moore and the White House for comment.

source https://www.foxnews.com/politics/left-wing-governor-ripped-insane-answer-whether-hed-support-minor-sons-gender-transition