In Tampa, Marc Topkin wrote the Rays are “always looking to be ahead of the game, seeking whatever edge they can on and off field, then when other teams catch on and catch up, moving on to the next frontier.” That now “appears to be high-tech injury risk assessment and prevention.” They have “signed two deals this year, with Kitman Labs and Kinatrax, to use cutting-edge technology such as the eight high-speed cameras at the Trop that capture 3D visual images of pitchers' biomechanics in real time.” An indication of “how important this could be is that Rays officials refuse to discuss details or the potential benefits” (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 6/20).
DIFFERENT DIRECTION: YONHAP cited sources as saying that South Korea's sovereign wealth fund has "abandoned its plan to buy a stake" in the Dodgers as part of a broader move to "diversify its investment portfolio." The Korea Investment Corp., which "manages assets entrusted by South Korea's central bank, had been in talks to buy" a 19% stake in the Dodgers from U.S.-based investment firm Guggenheim Partners since last year, a deal estimated at $361M. Sources said that the KIC "recently backed down in the wake of a state audit into the investment plan" (YONHAP, 6/21).
NOT FUNNY: The AP noted the Single-A Pioneer League Orem Owlz, an affiliate of the Angels, “canceled a promotion called ‘Caucasian Heritage Night’” scheduled for Aug. 10. The franchise in a statement said that the promotion was “planned as a joke with wonder bread on burgers with mayonnaise, clips of Friends and Seinfeld and an attempt to ‘solve the vertical leaping challenge.’” The statement read, “We understand, in light of recent tragic events, that our intentions have been misconstrued. For that, we sincerely apologize” (AP, 6/19).
