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Mets’ closer David Robertson’s second-half hopes: ‘Stay here and not give up a run’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:52 GMT

David Robertson has one goal for the second half of the 2023 season: “Not give up a run.”The Mets have been using the right-handed reliever as a closer this season in the absence of Edwin Diaz and he’s been an integral part of the bullpen. Coming into the weekend, the 38-year-old veteran was 3-2 with a 2.06 ERA and 12 saves and a 202 ERA+. The Mets have been able to count on little this year, especially when it comes to relief pitching.The 4.15 ERA is the seventh-worst in the league, just ahead of the Yankees. The club’s decision to lean heavily on organizational talent and relievers with options has backfired. Robertson and the other high-leverage relievers like left-hander Brooks Raley and Adam Ottavino have been overused at times and gone unused at others.“By and large, some of the guys pitching late in the game have been called on a lot,” general manager Billy Eppler said Friday. “The scores of our games kind of plays into that a little ...

Defending champion Christopher Bell captures pole position at NHMS

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:52 GMT

LOUDON, N.H. – Christopher Bell’s impressive resume from three Cup Series races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway received another upgrade.Bell will defend his title from the pole position for Sunday’s (2:30 p.m.) running of the Crayon 301 in a field of 26 racers at the Magic Mile.Bell, the operator of the No. 20 Rheem-WATTS Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing, captured his first pole at NHMS and fifth overall during Saturday’s qualifying runs on a track that was hard to handle and unforgiving.“I was very surprised how hard the cars were to drive in practice and in qualifying,” said Bell. “Everyone was slipping and sliding around and I think it is going to be a different race than what we saw last year.”Bell topped the field with a top lap speed of 124.781 mph. and a time of 30.524. Bell will begin the race alongside Joe Gibbs’ teammate Martin Truex Jr., who came through at 1:24.752. Lane two will be occupied by 2021 champion Aric Almirola (124.707) and two-time champion Joey Logano (12...

Musk says Twitter is losing cash because advertising is down and the company is carrying heavy debt

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:52 GMT

Elon Musk says Twitter is still losing cash because advertising has dropped by half.In a reply to a tweet offering business advice, Musk tweeted Saturday, “We’re still negative cash flow, due to (about a) 50% drop in advertising revenue plus heavy debt load.”“Need to reach positive cash flow before we have the luxury of anything else,” he concluded.Ever since he took over Twitter in a $44 billion deal last fall, Musk has tried to reassure advertisers who were concerned about the ouster of top executives, widespread layoffs and a different approach to content moderation. Some high-profile users who had been banned were allowed back on the site.In April, Musk said most of the advertisers who left had returned and that the company might become cash-flow positive in the second quarter.In May, he hired a new CEO, Linda Yaccarino, an NBCUniversal executive with deep ties to the advertising industry. But since then, Twitter has upset some users by imposing new limits on how many tweets the...

"Shook up, but we'll survive:" Bridgeview jeweler re-opens after armed robbery

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:52 GMT

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. — It was just another day of business Saturday for Fadi Sahouri, general manager of Jawahir Jewelry in Bridgeview.The store, specializing in fine Middle Eastern jewelry, is back open a day-and-a-half after an armed robbery that was caught on camera Thursday afternoon."Everyone is good, everyone is safe," Sahouri said. "Shook up, but we'll survive."Around 12:15 p.m. Thursday, Sahouri and two other employees were working when someone they thought was a customer came to the front door of the business.That person was buzzed in, and within moments, three suspects were inside the store."Originally, it was a shock," Sahouri said. "I didn't know what was actually going on until you see the gun pointed at you and they're telling you to get on the ground." Faith, community leaders speak on who they think should be the next Chicago police superintendent As seen on the video camera footage, one of the three suspects yelled at Sahouri and his fellow employees, while the others...

State of Texas: Compromise at the Capitol sends property tax relief to Texas voters

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:52 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) - After a months-long stalemate that led to two special sessions, Texas lawmakers reached a compromise deal on property tax relief. The legislation passed both the House and Senate Thursday evening with near-unanimous support.It includes a measure to raise the homestead exemption to $100,000, up from the current $40,000 exemption.The plan includes $12 billion to lower school property tax rates, by having the state pay part of what school districts normally collect from homeowners and businesses. The compromise plan would cut franchise taxes for small businesses, and non-homestead properties worth $5 million or less would get a break on appraised values under a three-year pilot program.Texas voters will make the final decision over whether to put the tax relief plan into place. The legislation requires voter approval in a constitutional amendment election to be held in November.Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick told Nexstar he expects the measures will receive strong public appr...

Matt Wallner is back with Twins, but regular playing time might be hard to find

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:52 GMT

OAKLAND, Calif. — Matt Wallner had to work hard to make it back to the big leagues. Now that he’s back with the Twins, finding opportunities to get on the field might be just as difficult.Wallner, 25, was recalled before Saturday’s 6:40 CDT p.m. first pitch against the A’s at Oakland Coliseum and not in the lineup, which makes sense because he took a 7:45 a.m. flight from the Twin Cities to the Bay Area.That might change on Sunday, a day game after a night game, and a getaway day before the Twins start a four-game series in Seattle on Monday night. As for regular at-bats, it might be tough.The outfielder replaced infielder Jose Miranda, on the 10-day injured list because of an impingement in his right shoulder, on the active roster.Recalling Wallner instead of an infielder, manager Rocco Baldelli said, “Is a unique thing because we have left-handed hitting corner outfielders. But he’s been doing a good job.”In his last four major league games, Wallner hit .636 with a 1.692 OPS...

Gavilan Fire breaks out in Riverside County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:52 GMT

Crews are battling a wildfire in Riverside County on Saturday afternoon.Named the “Gavilan Fire,” the blaze was first reported near Gavilan and Idaleona Roads in Gavilan Hills around 3:28 p.m.The fire has spread to around 30 acres so far and is “burning in heavy fuels,” according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department.Fire crews are working to extinguish the blaze and air tankers can be seen dropping flame retardant on the brush-heavy area.The fire appears to be close to a group of homes, although no evacuations or warnings have been announced.It’s unclear what caused the flames to erupt.The GavilanSky5 is overhead. This developing story will be updated.

4-year-old girl dies after choking on food at Costco

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:52 GMT

A 4-year-old girl has died after choking on food at a Costco store.The incident happened at a Costco in Kennewick, Washington, on July 9, according to local NBC station KHQ.The girl was believed to be eating a hot dog at the time, the Benton County Coroner told KHQ.As the girl was choking, bystanders in the store attempted to use CPR and an AED to help the girl, officials said.The choking incident was "heavily witnessed," by shoppers and employees, according to reports.Arriving EMS staff reportedly removed some food from the girl’s mouth before transporting her to a local hospital.She later died at the hospital from asphyxia due to choking, KHQ reports.According to officials, no autopsy was conducted on the girl because the choking was witnessed and emergency staff were on the scene.The Costco store was closed early for business that day, but reopened the next day. No further details were released on the case.The Benton County Coroner said the girl was only a few days away from her ...

Pirates pitching prospect Quinn Priester to make major league debut Monday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:52 GMT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pitching prospect Quinn Priester is to make his major league debut Monday night for the Pittsburgh Pirates.Pirates manager Derek Shelton said Saturday that the Pirates plan to call up Priester from Triple-A Indianapolis to face Cleveland. Priester was the Pirates’ first-round pick in the 2019 amateur draft.The 22-year-old right-hander is 7-3 with a 4.31 ERA in 18 starts for Indianapolis this season.“It’s a situation where he’s continuing to get better and deserves to get an opportunity at the major league level,” Shelton said. “We’re going to be excited about that.”___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource

Heaney and Semien rebound from recent struggles and help Rangers beat Guardians 2-0

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:52 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Andrew Heaney rebounded from his worst start of the season, slumping Marcus Semien had his first multihit game in two weeks and the Texas Rangers beat the Cleveland Guardians 2-0 Saturday,Heaney (6-6) allowed six hits and one walk in 5 1/3 innings, striking out four. Against Washington last Sunday, the 31-year-old left-hander allowed eight runs, matching a career high. He had been on the paternity list after his wife delivered twin daughters.Grant Anderson relieved with runners at the corners and got Tyler Freeman to ground into a double play. Closer Will Smith got five outs in the seventh and eighth innings, and Aroldis Chapman struck out two in a one-hit ninth in his first save situation since he was acquired from Kansas City on June 30.Cleveland had eight hits and stranded eight. The Guardians had runners in every inning but were shut out for the ninth time this season. Texas has pitched seven shutouts.Semien, who entered in a 3-for-36 slide, singled in th...