Bob Nightengale

3 weeks ago | usatoday.com | Bob Nightengale

LOS ANGELES − The calendar says it’s May, but Friday night felt a whole lot like October at Dodger Stadium. The New York Yankees vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers. These two juggernauts went toe-to-toe for nine innings, and in the end, it was Ohtani and the Dodgers thrusting their arms into the air with a wild 8-5 victory in front of 53,276 screaming fans. If this was a preview to this year’s World Series, an encore after their 2024 World Series, let’s flip the calendar to October now.

1 month ago | usatoday.com | Bob Nightengale

As Major League Baseball celebrates its Memorial Day mile post marker this holiday weekend, the 2025 season, we're about one-third of the way into the campaign. From Aaron Judge's onslaught to the Colorado Rockies' historic struggles, it's been a fascinating few months of baseball with summer approaching and plenty more to come. Here's a look at the best and worst of 2025 so far:Aaron Judge, New York Yankees – He’s Albert Pujols in his prime, a one-man wrecking machine.

1 month ago | usatoday.com | Bob Nightengale

NEW YORK — He was once the best pitcher on the planet, the modern-day Sandy Koufax, only for injuries to cruelly disrupt his path to Cooperstown. Another was the hottest free-agent pitcher in baseball, helping lead the Washington Nationals to their first World Series championship, only to become a financial burden who was kept around simply because of the hefty contract commitment.

1 month ago | usatoday.com | Bob Nightengale

CHICAGO — ”Where the hell did this come from?"Ah, nothing like little brother’s reaction to big brother’s promotion. The truth is that Bret Boone received virtually the same response from his close friends and golf buddies as when he broke the news to his brother, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone, that he is now the new Texas Rangers hitting coach. Nothing, except those playing career statistics on the back of his baseball card.

1 month ago | chillicothegazette.com | Bob Nightengale

Apparently it’s OK to gamble on baseball now, even those involving your own team, while making a mockery out of the sport’s most sacred rule. You learn in journalism school that you can’t libel the dead. Who knew that once you’re dead, all could be forgiven too? Pete Rose, who gambled on baseball as manager of the Cincinnati Reds and lied about it for 15 years before dying September 2024 at the age of 83, had his Hall of Fame chances resurrected by commissioner Rob Manfred.