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Orioles’ Gunnar Henderson named AL Outstanding Rookie by fellow players

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 00:00:16 GMT

For the second time in three years, an Orioles rookie was recognized as the American League’s best by fellow major leaguers.On Thursday, Baltimore infielder Gunnar Henderson was named the AL’s Outstanding Rookie in the Major League Baseball Players Association’s Players Choice Awards. Ryan Mountcastle won the honor from his peers in 2021.Henderson opened the season viewed as baseball’s No. 1 overall prospect and the favorite to be the AL’s top rookie. He got off to a slow start in his first full major league season before turning it around emphatically. Two months into his rookie year, the then-21-year-old was batting .199 and had struck out in more than 30% of his plate appearances. But from that point on, he hit 23 home runs across 102 games, batting .275/.322/.531.On the season, Henderson hit 28 home runs — tied with Cal Ripken Jr. for the second most by a rookie in Orioles history behind Mountcastle’s 33 — with a .255 average and ....

Bruins knock off Leafs, 3-2, in shootout

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 00:00:16 GMT

The depleted Bruins had their chances to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in regulation and then again in overtime, but Jake DeBrusk and Charlie Coyle scored in the shootout and Jeremy Swayman (33 saves in regulation) stopped William Nylander and Auston Matthews to lift the B’s to a 3-2 victory.The Bruins coughed up a two-goal lead n the second period and then could not cash in on an overtime power play, but they were able to push their record to 9-0-1 to start the season.With half their D corps missing, the B’s understandably started out a little shaky on their breakouts, but the Leafs were not were not accepting any gifts the B’s had to offer.Late n the period, Toronto appeared to be getting in a groove when their top two lines had back-to-back good shifts in the Boston zone but they were not able to get multiple chances on Swayman.Then the B’s took control of the game for a period of time.They broke the ice with 1:09 left in the first period on an all-around g...

Blue Jays and Merrifield decline $18M mutual option, will become free agent

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 00:00:16 GMT

The Toronto Blue Jays and infielder/outfielder Whit Merrifield have declined an $18-million mutual option for next season, allowing the veteran to become a free agent.Merrifield will collect a $500,000 buyout and head to the open market for the first time. He could still agree to a new deal with the Blue Jays. The 34-year-old had a productive season with the Blue Jays, slashing .272/.318/.382 with 11 home runs, 67 RBIs and 26 stolen bases across 145 games. Merrifield enjoyed a great start to the year, hitting .286/.342/.392 in 82 first-half games, but struggled down the stretch for the Blue Jays (.256/.286/.370 across 62 games). He’s still considered one of the better available players in what is expected to be a weak free-agent market. Related: Berrios, Kiermaier among 5 Blue Jays Gold Glove finalists The Blue Jays acquired Merrifield in August 2022 from the Kansas City Royals for Samad Taylor and Maximo Castillo. Toronto could look to replace Merrifield inte...

Actor Robert De Niro’s ex-top assistant cites courtroom outburst as an example of his abusive side

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 00:00:16 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A woman who served as actor Robert De Niro’s chief personal assistant for over a decade began testifying at a trial against him on Thursday, citing his angry outburst at her during his testimony two days earlier as an example of his discriminatory mistreatment of her.Graham Chase Robinson began her turn on the witness stand late in the day in Manhattan federal court as a jury hears evidence related to civil claims De Niro and Robinson have made against each other. De Niro, referenced mostly as “Bob” in court, has not returned to court since his testimony concluded Tuesday.Robinson sued the two-time Oscar winner for gender discrimination and retaliation, seeking $12 million in damages. De Niro sued her for breach of loyalty and fiduciary duty, seeking $6 million and saying she stole 5 million air mile points from an account his children sometimes use when he had only expected her to take 1 million or 2 million.On Tuesday the actor, angry at claims casting him as abusi...

Swayman, Bruins outlast Maple Leafs with shootout win

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 00:00:16 GMT

Goalie Jeremy Swayman stopped 33 shots as the Boston Bruins outlasted the Toronto Maple Leafs for a 3-2 shootout win, improving to 9-0-1 to start the season. Goals from Pavel Zacha and Jake DeBrusk put the Maple Leafs down 2-0, but Toronto’s stars responded, as Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner capitalized to even the score. William Nylander continued his torrid stretch to the new campaign with an assist as the winger has registered at least one point in every game played this season, extending the streak to 10 games.With an assist in Boston tonight, Nylander has extended his season-opening point streak to 10 games. https://t.co/jKNFDU2VKA— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) November 3, 2023A Nylander two-minute penalty in overtime didn’t lead to a goal as Maple Leafs penalty killers played responsibly enough to keep it squared, leading to a shootout. Charlie Coyle and DeBrusk would beat Ilya Samsonov, while Swayman shut the door on Nylander and Matthews en route to the win. Relat...

Wildfire in mountainous Central Oahu moves away from towns as Hawaii firefighters continue battle

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 00:00:16 GMT

HONOLULU (AP) — A wildfire that has burned forestlands in a remote mountainous area of Central Oahu has moved eastward and away from population centers, Hawaii authorities said Thursday, as firefighters continued to battle the blaze. The flames haven’t threatened homes or property, and no evacuations have been ordered, but they have scorched some native koa and ohia trees. The main part of the fire was about 4 miles (6 kilometers) from the Mililani Mauka housing area and was headed away from it, the Honolulu Fire Department said in a statement. Nearly 2 square miles (5 square kilometers) have been burned so far by the blaze, which firefighters have been battling since Monday. Three Army helicopters were dropping water on the fire Thursday, and helicopters from the Honolulu Fire Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also doused flames from the air. A Hawaii Emergency Management Agency hazard mitigation plan released this week said the state has experienced longer dr...

Japanese consumers are eating more local fish in spite of China’s ban due to Fukushima wastewater

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 00:00:16 GMT

IWAKI, Japan (AP) — Local fishing communities feared the worst when the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant began discharging treated radioactive wastewater into the sea. Instead of a business calamity, however, consumers from across the nation have supported the region by eating more fish. Besides boosting a fragile industry, the demand has helped mitigate the impact of China’s ban on Japanese seafood, though there are worries about the future of the water release. “So far, I haven’t heard anyone raising safety concerns over the treated water release. I’d say zero,” Kazuto Harada, who works at Marufuto Fish Store near the Onahama Port in Fukushima, said as he stood by a tank of lobsters caught nearby. “I’m half surprised, and half relieved.”Customers nationwide are placing orders, with many asking for “Joban-mono,” or fish from the waters off Fukushima and its southern neighbor Ibaraki. That includes regional favorites flounder and greeneye. By late ...

New Zealand’s final election count means incoming premier Christopher Luxon needs broader support

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 00:00:16 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A final vote count Friday following a general election in New Zealand three weeks ago has changed the political equation for winner Christopher Luxon, whose conservative National Party will now need broader support to govern.An election night count had given the National Party and the closely aligned libertarian ACT Party a slim overall majority. But the addition of 600,000 special votes Friday saw that majority evaporate, with the National Party losing two seats and opposition parties gaining three seats. That means in order to command a majority, the National Party will now need the support of both ACT and the New Zealand First party, run by maverick 78-year-old lawmaker Winston Peters. Outgoing Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, who decided he wouldn’t work with Peters, had already conceded to Luxon on election night. Hipkins held the top job for just nine months. He took over from Jacinda Ardern, who unexpectedly stepped down in January, saying sh...

Family looks for justice after bartender fatally shot on way home from work

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 00:00:16 GMT

CHICAGO — It's been more than two weeks since Salvador Herrera was shot and killed on his way home from work. Thursday night, family members were determined to fight for answers and keep his memory alive.Herrera had just finished his shift at the Butterfield Country Club in Oak Brook in the early morning hours of Oct. 15, when he was shot and killed in the 700 block of South Loomis Street in the Little Italy neighborhood while he was driving home."His life was taken from us far too soon, due to senseless gun violence and car thefts," said Remedios Herrera, Salvador's sister. "Sal was more than a victim, he was an honest, selfless and hardworking person who touched the lives of all who knew him."Herrera started working at the Butterfield Country Club when he was 14, after his father died in a workplace accident."Sal decided that he would be a leader," said Fr. Brendan Curran. "That he would become a family man for his loved ones, for his sisters, for his mother." Joliet family file...

Vigil held in north suburbs to remember those kidnapped or killed by Hamas

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 00:00:16 GMT

CHICAGO — A vigil in the northern suburbs on Thursday evening was held by a delegation of Israelis whose loved ones were killed or kidnapped by Hamas.There was a huge show of solidarity as hundreds of people gathered this event and another one to keep up the support nearly one month after the Hamas attack. For more coverage of the Israel and Hamas Conflict, click here You can watch this story in the player above.