In Toronto, Steve Simmons wrote baseball “used to be called America’s Pastime,” but it “just doesn’t belong to America anymore.” Top MLB stars are coming from around the world, such as Angels P/DH Shohei Ohtani (Japan), Braves RF Ronald Acuna Jr. (Venezuela) and Blue Jays 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Canada via Dominican Republic). Simmons wrote “more than hockey going international” the baton of baseball has been “passed from America to the rest of the world.” There are still players like Baseball HOFers Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle "playing in the big leagues today." Their names “now are Acuna and Juan Soto” (TORONTO SUN, 7/16).
ON THE CLOCK: In N.Y., Joel Sherman wrote the “only reason to step back” from adding time to the pitch clock during the playoffs would be if a “valid study showed that delivering pitches more frequently within a quickened time span -- 15 seconds with no one on base and 20 with runners on -- was elevating injuries.” If not, then just “give the rule, of all things, time.” Sherman: “Rather than imagine the worst scenario -- a huge game being determined by a violation against pitcher or hitter -- let’s appreciate that half a season has been played under these new rules and what was expected to occur has” (N.Y. POST, 7/15).
