MLB
Ortiz wins 6th Silver Slugger; Cuddyer wins his first award
NEW YORK – World Series MVP David Ortiz won his sixth Silver Slugger award as the top designated hitter in voting by MLB coaches and managers.
Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano, Detroit third baseman Miguel Cabrera and Minnesota catcher Joe Mauer each were selected for the fifth time.
Silver Slugger awards are given to the top offensive player at each position in the American and National Leagues. They were handed out Wednesday night on the MLB Network.
Nine of the 18 recipients were first-time winners, including Colorado Rockies outfielder and NL batting champion Michael Cuddyer.
The Orioles led all teams with three winners: first baseman Chris Davis, shortstop JJ Hardy and outfielder Adam Jones.
Cubs allegedly hire Renteria as their next manager
CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs are set to hire San Diego Padres bench coach Rick Renteria as their manager, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the hiring has not been announced; the team was expected to make it official Thursday.
The move ends a long search that began with the last-place Cubs targeting New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi, only to be denied a shot when he decided to stay put.
Instead, the Cubs are hoping Renteria can help develop their young players and lead them to their first championship since 1908. He replaces Dale Sveum, who was fired after two seasons.
The Cubs went 66-96 this season and finished at the bottom of the NL Central.
A former major league infielder, Renteria spent the last six years on the Padres’ staff and was their bench coach since 2011. Before that, he coached and managed in the San Diego and Florida Marlins organizations.
Renteria also managed Mexico in the World Baseball Classic in March.
Ski Racing
Vonn feels ‘really good’ Day 1 of her downhill training
COPPER MOUNTAIN – Lindsey Vonn said her surgically repaired right knee felt “really good” after her first day of downhill training.
Vonn took five runs Wednesday along the two-mile track at the U.S. Ski Team’s speed center. She said she mostly cruised along the course just to get used to going that fast again.
The four-time overall World Cup champion is planning to make her return to the circuit in Beaver Creek later this month. All her training is geared toward being in the starting gate for the Sochi Olympics in three months.
Vonn shredded her knee in a crash at the world championships in Schladming last February.
Tennis
Nadal clinches the year-end No. 1 at the ATP finals
LONDON – Rafael Nadal clinched the year-end No. 1 ranking for the third time by defeating Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6 (5), 7-6 (6) on Wednesday at the ATP finals.
Nadal, who beat Wawrinka for the 12th consecutive match, can’t be overtaken by No. 2 Novak Djokovic. It’s the first time since 2010 the Spaniard, who returned from a seven-month injury layoff in February, will end the year as the top-ranked player.
Nadal advanced to the semifinals of the year-end tournament because of his straight-set victory over the Swiss. He is bidding to win the ATP finals for the first time.
Out of San Diego’s left field, Britain and USA will play clay
SAN DIEGO – The first-round Davis Cup match between Britain and the United States will be played on a clay court in left field at Petco Park on Jan. 31-Feb. 2.
The U.S. is undefeated in six Davis Cup matches in the San Diego area. The Britain-U.S. rivalry is the oldest in Davis Cup history, dating to the first competition in 1900 when the Americans beat the British in Boston.
Associated Press
