Baseball United announces rosters for Dubai All-Star Showcase

Baseball United announces rosters for Dubai All-Star Showcase
Baseball United's All-Star Showcase in Dubai will take place on Nov. 24-25 (Baseball United)
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Updated 31 October 2023
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Baseball United announces rosters for Dubai All-Star Showcase

Baseball United announces rosters for Dubai All-Star Showcase
  • 44 of Baseball United’s recently drafted players will compete on East and West All-Star Teams on Nov. 24 and 25

DUBAI: Baseball United has announced the official rosters for the league’s inaugural event — next month’s All-Star Showcase in Dubai.

Forty-four players — 22 on each team — will participate in the two-game series between the East All-Stars and West All-Stars. The event will be held on Nov. 24 at 25 at Dubai International Stadium.

“We are honored to bring many of our best players to Dubai for our first-ever professional games,” said Kash Shaikh, chairman, CEO and majority owner of Baseball United. “Our All-Stars come from 16 different countries and have played at the highest levels of professional baseball. This is truly something the region has never seen. Our fans will get to witness history. It’s the perfect way to launch our league.”

Seventy-five percent of Baseball United’s All-Stars have played Major League Baseball, with others competing in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball Organization and various international leagues and tournaments.

Baseball United East All-Stars

The Baseball United East All-Stars are led by Bartolo Colon, a four-time MLB All-Star and the winningest Latin American-born pitcher in the competition’s history. Colon, who was selected 16th overall by the Karachi Monarchs in Baseball United’s inaugural draft, will be the East team’s starting pitcher on Nov. 24. When he takes the field in Dubai, he will become one of the oldest professional players in history, having turned 50 earlier this year.

The East team’s starting infield has a total of 32 years of MLB playing experience, with players from the Dominican Republic, the US, Curacao, and Venezuela.

The group includes:

First baseman, Jefry Marte, who hit 15 home runs in 88 games for the Los Angeles Angels in 2016, and 24 home runs in Japan’s Nippon League in 2021. Marte was selected 20th overall in Baseball United’s recent draft by the Karachi Monarchs.

Second baseman, Shed Long, who was drafted out of high school by the Cincinnati Reds in 2013 and played for the Seattle Mariners as recently as 2021. Long was selected 19th overall by the Mumbai Cobras in Baseball United’s draft.

Shortstop, Andrelton Simmons, who played 11 years in the MLB and won four Gold Glove awards — two each with the Atlanta Braves and the Angels. Simmons was selected in the first round — eighth overall — in the draft by the Mumbai Cobras.

Third baseman, Pablo Sandoval, who played 14 years in the MLB and won three World Series Championships, a World Series MVP, and reached two MLB All-Star games. Sandoval had over 1,000 hits and 150 home runs during his MLB career. He was the first selection by the Falcons — one of two UAE-based Baseball United franchises — and the fourth overall pick in the draft.

The East team’s outfield is comprised of a trio of former MLB players, including:

Former MLB first-round draft pick, Dwight Smith Jr., who batted .331 with 22 home runs in the Atlantic League (Independent) this year.

Smith Jr. was selected 17th overall by Baseball United’s Wolves franchise.

Former Detroit Tigers and current Canadian National Team member, Jacob Robson, who was drafted 22nd overall by the Cobras.

Former Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Angels prospect, Dillon Thomas, who most recently played for the Guerreros de Oaxaca of the Mexican League. Thomas was chosen 11th overall by the Falcons in the Baseball United draft.

The starting catcher for the East All-Stars is seven-year MLB veteran and Venezuelan star, Hector Sanchez. Sanchez was selected 30th overall by the Karachi Monarchs.

Retired 15-year MLB veteran, Dennis Cook, who will manage the Baseball United East All-Stars, along with co-manager, Miguel Tejada. Tejada was a six-time MLB All-Star and former American League MVP.

Baseball United West All-Stars

The Baseball United West All-Stars are captained by eight-time MLB All-Star second baseman, Robinson Cano.

Cano won a World Series Championship with the New York Yankees in 2009, and a World Baseball Classic Championship with the Dominican Republic in 2013 at which he was named MVP. Cano, who is also a co-owner of Baseball United, was selected sixth overall in the Baseball United draft by the Wolves.

Former MLB All-Star, Jair Jurrjens, will be the starting pitcher for the West All-Stars on opening night. Jurrjens, who posted double-digit wins three times for the Atlanta Braves from 2008 to 2011, was selected 10th overall by the Wolves in the Baseball United draft.

The rest of the starting infield for the Baseball United West All-Stars includes:

First baseman, Alex Liddi, who played for the Seattle Mariners from 2011 through 2013, and for the Chinatrust Brothers of the Chinese Professional Baseball League in 2019. He is the first player born and raised in Italy to play in the MLB and the CPBL. Liddi was selected fifth overall by the Falcons in the draft.

Shortstop, Didi Gregorius, who played 11 years in the MLB, most notably with the New York Yankees, where he hit 20 or more home runs in three straight seasons from 2016 to 2018. Gregorius was the top pick by the Wolves franchise, and third player chosen overall in the draft.

Third baseman, Brandon Laird, who played in the MLB as well as the NPB, including five years where he hit over 30 home runs for the Nippon-Ham Fighters and the Chiba Lotte Marines. Laird was selected with the 40th overall pick by the Cobras.

The starting catcher for the West All-Stars is five-year MLB veteran Wilin Rosario, who had back-to-back 20-plus home run campaigns with the Colorado Rockies in 2012 and 2013. Rosario also had back-to-back 30-plus home run seasons in the Korean Baseball Organization with the Hanwha Eagles. Rosario was the 24th overall pick in the draft by the Wolves.

Long-time MLB coaching veteran, John McLaren, will manage the Baseball United West All-Stars, along with co-manager, Chris Sabo. Sabo was a three-time MLB All-Star, World Series Champion, and is a member of the Cincinnati Reds’ Hall of Fame.


Alcaraz and Tsitsipas reach 3rd round at Paris Masters but Rublev loses temper and match

Alcaraz and Tsitsipas reach 3rd round at Paris Masters but Rublev loses temper and match
Updated 30 October 2024
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Alcaraz and Tsitsipas reach 3rd round at Paris Masters but Rublev loses temper and match

Alcaraz and Tsitsipas reach 3rd round at Paris Masters but Rublev loses temper and match
  • The four-time Grand Slam champion is looking for his fifth title of the year and next plays either 15th-seeded Ugo Humbert or American qualifier Marcos Giron
  • Holger Rune — who beat Djokovic in the 2022 final — advanced with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Matteo Arnaldi

PARIS: Carlos Alcaraz overcame some rusty moments on his serve to beat Nicolas Jarry 7-5, 6-1 and reach the third round of the Paris Masters on Tuesday.

The second-seeded Spaniard was troubled by Jarry’s strong forehand at times. The Chilean broke his serve in the ninth game and held for 5-5. But Jarry double-faulted in his next service game to lose the first set.

“It was a little bit complicated, really happy to get through the first set,” Alcaraz said. “I have to get used to the speed of the court. It’s really fast for me.”

Alcaraz saved a break point in the third game of the second set with an ace and broke for a 4-1 lead with a crisp forehand winner.

Serving for the match, Alcaraz saved another break point with an ace to make it deuce and won the next two points, clinching victory when the erratic Jarry’s two-handed backhand clipped the net and went out.

“He’s a really dangerous player on these courts,” the 21-year-old Alcaraz said. “I’m super happy to win here.”

The four-time Grand Slam champion is looking for his fifth title of the year and next plays either 15th-seeded Ugo Humbert or American qualifier Marcos Giron.

“It’s been a great year so far,” said Alcaraz, who won major titles at the French Open and Wimbledon.

Tenth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece beat Alejandro Tabilo 6-3, 6-4 to stay in contention to reach the season-ending ATP Finals for the top eight players. It is being held in Turin, Italy, next month.

Seventh-seeded Casper Ruud of Norway, a three-time Grand Slam runner-up, started well before losing 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-4 to unseeded Australian Jordan Thompson.

In an earlier second-round match, sixth-seeded Andrey Rublev lost two tiebreakers and his temper as his hopes of qualifying for the Finals took a hit.

Rublev lost 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5) to Francisco Cerundolo and was so frustrated at one point in the second set that he smashed his racket against his left knee at least seven times in succession and made it bleed.

The Russian player held the eighth and final qualifying place in the race for the Finals and could be overtaken by rivals.

US Open runner-up Taylor Fritz became the fifth player to qualify for the Finals. The big-serving American reached the season-ending tournament for the second time in three years. The indoor event takes place from Nov. 10-17.

Fritz joined US Open champion Jannik Sinner, Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev in the field.

Sinner pulled out of the Paris Masters on Monday, citing a virus. The Italian player is guaranteed to finish the year as No. 1. He was the second high-profile player to pull out following seven-time champion Novak Djokovic.

In remaining first-round play, Holger Rune — who beat Djokovic in the 2022 final — advanced with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Matteo Arnaldi.

No. 9 seed Alex de Minaur beat Mariano Navone 7-5, 6-1 to stay in outside contention for Turin, while No. 12 Hubert Hurkacz lost 6-1, 6-3 to Alex Michelsen.

US Open semifinalist Jack Draper won 7-5, 6-2 against Jiri Lehecka; American Ben Shelton beat Corentin Moutet 6-3, 6-7 (8), 6-3, and Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard hit 28 aces in defeating US Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4), 6-3.

Fresh from his title in Basel, Mpetshi Perricard next plays Karen Khachanov and will look to add to his 512 aces.

Frenchman Arthur Fils also progressed by edging Croatian Marin Cilic 7-6 (5), 6-4 and next faces Jan-Lennard Struff.

But veteran Richard Gasquet, who plans to retire after next year’s French Open, lost 6-3, 6-4 to Zizou Bergs.


Amorim says future ‘hasn’t been decided’ as Man United show interest in Sporting Lisbon coach

Amorim says future ‘hasn’t been decided’ as Man United show interest in Sporting Lisbon coach
Updated 30 October 2024
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Amorim says future ‘hasn’t been decided’ as Man United show interest in Sporting Lisbon coach

Amorim says future ‘hasn’t been decided’ as Man United show interest in Sporting Lisbon coach
  • Sporting released a statement to the Lisbon Stock Exchange, saying it has told United that Amorim has a release clause worth €10 million ($10.8 million) in his contract
  • The 39-year-old Amorim has coached Sporting since 2020, leading the team to Portuguese league titles in 2021 and last season

Sporting Lisbon coach Ruben Amorim said Tuesday his future “hasn’t been decided yet” amid interest from Manchester United.

“Nobody knows if this was my farewell match, or if there will be a farewell match,” Amorim said in quotes reported by Portugal’s sports daily A Bola after Sporting’s 3-1 win over Nacional in the Portuguese League Cup quarterfinals.

Hours earlier, Sporting released a statement to the Lisbon Stock Exchange, saying it has told United that Amorim has a release clause worth €10 million ($10.8 million) in his contract.

The Portuguese champions said United “has shown interest” in paying that amount for Amorim.

United are looking to replace Erik ten Hag, who was fired on Monday with the team languishing in 14th place in the Premier League.

Ten Hag was the 20-time English champions’ fifth permanent manager since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. United have not won the league since Ferguson’s departure.

The 39-year-old Amorim has coached Sporting since 2020, leading the team to Portuguese league titles in 2021 and last season.

Sporting lead  the league this season, too, having won all nine of its games, bolstering Amorim’s reputation as one of Europe’s most talented coaches.

He reportedly held talks with West Ham last season and was linked with replacing Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool before Arne Slot was hired.

Amorim is a former Portugal midfielder who spent the majority of his club career at Benfica.

His contract at Sporting expires in 2026.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was asked earlier Tuesday if he thought Amorim has what it takes to succeed in the Premier League.

“All I can talk about is the experience of playing twice against Ruben’s Sporting Lisbon team (in the Champions League’s round of 16 in 2022), and the pressure was really, really good,” Guardiola said.

“I spoke with (current City player) Matheus Nunes, and he was his player, and he speaks highly about him. And look this season, he is unbeaten and winning all the games in the Portuguese league and (in) the Champions League, (they have) the same points as us. So a high manager. I have the feeling that Man United, what I hear, that they are thinking about him, it’s because he’s a good manager.”

Ten Hag’s assistant at United, Ruud van Nistelrooy, will take interim control of the team for Wednesday’s English League Cup match against Leicester at Old Trafford.


Ronaldo misses late penalty as Al-Nassr eliminated from Saudi cup

Ronaldo misses late penalty as Al-Nassr eliminated from Saudi cup
Updated 30 October 2024
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Ronaldo misses late penalty as Al-Nassr eliminated from Saudi cup

Ronaldo misses late penalty as Al-Nassr eliminated from Saudi cup

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia: Cristiano Ronaldo missed a stoppage-time penalty and Al-Nassr was eliminated from the King’s Cup in a 1-0 loss to Al-Taawoun on Tuesday.
The five-time Ballon D’Or winner has yet to win a major trophy since signing for the club almost two years ago.
Playing at the round-of-16 stage of Saudi Arabia’s premier knockout competition, Al-Taawoun took the lead on Waleed Al-Ahmad’s header with 20 minutes remaining. Al-Ahmad was then whistled for a foul in the area in the 95th minute.
Ronaldo had converted all 18 of his previous penalties for Al-Nassr but this time shot over the bar to the shock of the home crowd of 14,519.
The defeat is the first for Stefano Pioli since the Italian succeeded Luis Castro as head coach in September.
Ronaldo and Al-Nassr still have two chances at silverware this season but are already six points behind leader Al-Hilal after eight games of the Saudi Pro League and have seven points from three games in the group stage of the Asian Champions League.
“Technically we performed well but we couldn’t win the game,” Pioli said. “We feel disappointed to be out of the cup. But we still have two trophies to go for and we will give our best in them.”


Brentford and Southampton advance to English League Cup quarterfinals

Brentford and Southampton advance to English League Cup quarterfinals
Updated 30 October 2024
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Brentford and Southampton advance to English League Cup quarterfinals

Brentford and Southampton advance to English League Cup quarterfinals
  • James Bree scored an 88th-minute winner as Southampton beat Stoke 3-2

LONDON: Premier League teams Brentford and Southampton both squeezed past second-tier opponents to reach the quarterfinals of the English League Cup on Tuesday.
Brentford needed a penalty shootout to get past Sheffield Wednesday after a 1-1 draw.
Goalkeeper Mark Flekken saved from Liam Palmer off the last spot kick of a high-quality shootout that Brentford won 5-4.
James Bree scored an 88th-minute winner as Southampton beat Stoke 3-2.
A cup run is proving some respite for Southampton, which is in last place in the Premier League.
The rest of the last-16 matches are played on Wednesday, with all of the competition favorites in action.
Defending champion Liverpool visits Brighton, Premier League leader Manchester City is away to Tottenham and there are three other all-Premier League matchups: Newcastle vs. Chelsea, Manchester United vs. Leicester and Aston Villa vs. Crystal Palace. Arsenal visits second-tier Preston.


Napoli extend lead at top of Serie A with win at AC Milan

Napoli extend lead at top of Serie A with win at AC Milan
Updated 30 October 2024
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Napoli extend lead at top of Serie A with win at AC Milan

Napoli extend lead at top of Serie A with win at AC Milan

MILAN: Napoli grew their lead at the top of the Serie A table to seven points with a 2-0 win at AC Milan on Tuesday.
Antonio Conte’s resurgent side wrapped the match up inside the first half, courtesy of an early Romelu Lukaku goal and a sensational strike by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Napoli sit on 25 points, with champions Inter Milan on 18 but with the chance to reduce the gap when they visit Empoli on Wednesday.
A third defeat of the campaign leaves AC Milan in eighth place, 11 points behind the leaders.
Belgian striker Lukaku scored his fourth goal of the season since joining the 2023 Italian champions in the summer when he broke the deadlock on five minutes.
He raced onto a pass from Frank Anguissa, held off a defender and slotted coolly past Mike Maignan in the AC Milan goal.
Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret was forced twice into action before the half-hour to maintain his side’s lead.
As the clock ticked down to half-time, Georgian winger Kvaratskhelia doubled the visitors’ lead.
Picking the ball up on the left wing, he drove suddenly inside on his right foot past Youssouf Fofana and rifled a shot from distance into the far post beyond the dive of Maignan.
Alvaro Morata thought he had given Milan a lifeline two minutes after the break with a powerful header.
However, upon VAR review he was shown to have been offside in the build-up to the goal and it was disallowed.
The hosts continued to search for a way back into the encounter and only a fine reflex save by Meret to deny Rafael Leao in the 83rd minute kept Napoli’s two-goal cushion intact.
Earlier, goals in either half by Riccardo Orsolini and Jens Odgaard sent Bologna up to 10th in the table with a 2-0 win at Cagliari.
Lecce climbed off the foot of the table by beating nine-men Verona 1-0 thanks to a Patrick Dorgu goal on 51 minutes.
The away side lost Jackson Tchatchoua to a red card five minutes before half-time, then Reda Belahyane was given his marching orders inside the final 10 minutes for a second bookable offense