MLB
Newcomers list 19 on the 2013 Hall of Fame ballot
NEW YORK – Four-time Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux, two-time winner Tom Glavine and two-time AL MVP Frank Thomas are among 19 newcomers on this year’s Hall of Fame ballot, joining steroid-tainted holdovers Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa.
Mike Mussina, Hideo Nomo, Kenny Rogers, Jeff Kent, Moises Alou and Luis Gonzalez also are among the players eligible to be voted on for the first time by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
The 36-player ballot will include Armando Benitez, Sean Casey, Ray Durham, Eric Gagne, Jacque Jones, Todd Jones, Paul Lo Duca, Richie Sexson, J.T. Snow and Mike Timlin, the Hall said Tuesday.
Voters are the approximately 600 writers who have been members of the BBWAA for 10 consecutive years at any point. Ballots are due by Dec. 31, and results will be announced Jan. 8.
Players elected along with choices announced Dec. 9 by the expansion era committee (1973 and later) will be inducted July 27 at Cooperstown. Among those on the committee ballot are retired managers Bobby Cox, Tony La Russa and Joe Torre; late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner; and late players’ union head Marvin Miller.
Last year, the BBWAA failed for the first time since 1996 to produce any inductees. Craig Biggio came closest to receiving the necessary 75 percent, falling 39 shy with 388 (68.2 percent).
Jack Morris, who will be on the ballot for the final time this year, was second with 67.7 percent, followed by Jeff Bagwell (59.6), Mike Piazza (57.8), Tim Raines (52.2), Lee Smith (47.8) and Curt Schilling (38.8).
Other returnees include Don Mattingly, Edgar Martinez, Fred McGriff, Rafael Palmeiro, Alan Trammell and Larry Walker.
Ga. commissioners approve plan for Braves’ stadium
MARIETTA, Ga. – Officials approved a deal to build a new $672-million stadium for the Atlanta Braves outside the Georgia capital.
The Cobb County commissioners voted 4-1 on Tuesday night to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the baseball team. The 30-year deal calls for hundreds of millions of dollars in public money to help pay for the stadium and entertainment complex.
Rockies add Doyle, Young Sr. to their coaching staff
DENVER – The Colorado Rockies brought in Blake Doyle to take over as hitting instructor for Dante Bichette.
This will be Doyle’s first season as a major league coach after spending years overseeing the Doyle Baseball Academy. He also played nine seasons in the minor leagues for the Baltimore and Cincinnati organizations.
Bichette stepped away from the team after one season for family reasons. Michael Cuddyer won an NL batting title last season under his watch.
The team also announced Tuesday that former Rockies player Eric Young Sr. was joining the staff as a baserunning/outfield and first base coach. He played for Colorado from 1993 to 1997.
Soccer
New England’s Goncalves is the Defender of the Year
NEW YORK – New England’s Jose Goncalves was voted Major League Soccer’s Defender of the Year.
The 28-year-old Portuguese central defender played every minute of the Revolution’s 34 league games and scored a pair of goals, both decisive. He was loaned to New England from Switzerland’s Sion in January, and the Revolution last week exercised their right to purchase his contract.
Goncalves received 102 percent of weighed ballots added from media, player and team votes, the league said Tuesday. Kansas City’s Matt Besler was second with 55 percent after winning the award last year. Omar Gonzalez of the Los Angeles Galaxy, the 2011 winner, was third with 41 percent.
Hilario Grajeda was voted referee of the year with 140 percent, followed by Ismail Elfath (81) and Baldomero Toledo (79).
Associated Press
