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As Chicago Cubs reliever Brad Boxberger goes on the IL, a largely unproven bullpen continues to be tested

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:36:49 GMT

The Chicago Cubs bullpen the last two years was built around proven veterans for high-leverage, late-inning spots.Craig Kimbrel and David Robertson allowed manager David Ross to work in reverse when deploying his relievers in 2021 and 2022 — at least in the first half of both seasons until the Cubs traded away their top relievers. They haven’t been able to utilize the bullpen in the same way to start this season. Michael Fulmer and Brad Boxberger haven’t been the shutdown arms Ross can reliably count on in key spots.And now Boxberger is sidelined, landing on the 15-day injured list Monday with a right forearm strain. Boxberger will rest his arm for a couple of days, and if it isn’t feeling better, he will head to Chicago for further examination. The seriousness of Boxberger’s injury won’t be known until later this week, though forearm strains can lead to Tommy John surgery.“He’s had such a long, good career, pitching with seventh-innin...

Red Sox notebook: Farewell, Ryan Brasier

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:36:49 GMT

Late Sunday night, the Red Sox quietly designated Ryan Brasier for assignment.It’s a move many fans were eager to celebrate, but on Monday afternoon, manager Alex Cora took time to issue a reminder of how much Brasier contributed to the team’s last two postseason runs.“I know a lot of people are crushing him and all that, a lot of people wanted to get rid of this guy,” the manager said, “We stayed with him all the way to the end. It just didn’t work out, but the kid is Class A… He didn’t work out, but ‘Brase’ is really good. He’s really good. I know he struggled the last few years. He got hit hard, but every day, he showed up to work and tried to get better, and I’m very proud of him… A lot of people have been hard on him, very hard. And it hasn’t been easy.”Cora also recalled his first impressions of the reliever, who joined the Red Sox on a minor league deal in 2018 after not pitching in the ...

Celtics’ belief in Joe Mazzulla continues in advancing to Eastern Conference Finals

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:36:49 GMT

Joe Mazzulla has been ridiculed for his timeout usage – or lack thereof – this season, but the Celtics coach picked an important moment to call one in Sunday’s Game 7 win over the Sixers.The Celtics were trailing early in the second quarter, their offense wasn’t flowing yet and they were getting irritated by a series of unfriendly whistles. A questionable foul call on Derrick White, who barely made contact on an exaggerating James Harden, set Mazzulla off. He stormed to midcourt arguing the call. He called a timeout, then brought the intensity to the huddle. There was still 10:09 remaining in the second quarter, but it seemed to be a pivotal point.“I think in a game like that … the guys are so focused on playing hard because they want to win, that you lose sight of how the reality is sometimes,” Mazzulla said. “Our guys have such the right intentions. So just building an awareness of, ‘Hey, here’s how the game is going. We have to shift it. We have to shift the momentum, we have to ...

City Council votes to sue SeaWorld San Diego

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:36:49 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- San Diego City Council on Monday voted to sue SeaWorld San Diego for unpaid rent, late fees and interest that the company owes to the City of San Diego, according to a city official.Council President Sean Elo-Rivera (District 9) released a statement saying, “Despite publicly touting record revenues as recently as last week, SeaWorld continues to refuse to pay the over $12 million they owe the City in past due rent, penalties and interest." Nathan Fletcher resigns from County Board of Supervisors Elo-Rivera added that he is "glad the City has drawn a line in the sand and is demanding SeaWorld pay us what they owe us."“Multibillion dollar corporations do not deserve special treatment and the millions of dollars SeaWorld is wrongfully withholding from the City could greatly benefit the people of San Diego. It’s time for SeaWorld to pay up,” he said. 

Rollover crash prompts temporary road closure in South Bay

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:36:49 GMT

CHULA VISTA, Calif. -- A rollover crash Monday prompted a temporary closure of a major road in Chula Vista, police said.The collision occurred around 2:19 p.m. at Telegraph Canyon Road between Paseo Del Rey and Medical Center Drive, Chula Vista Police Department tweeted. Westbound and eastbound lanes were shut down for several hours, but as of 5:56 p.m., all lanes reopened, authorities said. Afghan on terror watch list reportedly arrested near San Diego border SkyFOX captured video of a pickup truck rolled over on its side in the center of the road while a van could be seen crashed onto the sidewalk.

Dunkin' offers free coffee deal at California locations

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:36:49 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Are you a Dunkin' Rewards member? Now's your chance to grab free coffee from the store on Mondays at locations across California.The deal includes free medium hot or iced coffee with any purchase every Monday until June 26, the company said in a press release.In order to activate the offer, simply open the Dunkin' app before placing a selection. Monsoon weather pattern likely to bring thunderstorms to San Diego Also, Dunkin' Rewards members can enjoy other offers for the month of May: $2 Medium Signature Latte with any purchase, free medium iced coffee with any purchase, free medium Dunkin' Refresher and $2 Ham & Swiss Croissant stuffer with any beverage purchase.In April, Dunkin’ released a Padres-themed sweet treat, a yeast ring donut with chocolate icing topped with yellow sprinkles, for Friars fans at all San Diego County Dunkin’ locations. The donut is available for the entirety of the 2023 MLB season.

Report on FBI’s Trump-Russia investigation: Some problems but not the ‘crime of the century’

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:36:49 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — An investigation into the origins of the FBI’s probe into ties between Russia and Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign has finally been concluded, with the prosecutor leading the inquiry submitting a much-awaited report that found major flaws.The report, the culmination of a four-year investigation into possible misconduct by U.S. government officials, contained withering criticism for the FBI but few significant revelations. Nonetheless, it will give fodder to Trump supporters who have long denounced the Russia investigation, as well as Trump opponents who say the Durham team’s meager court record shows their probe was a politically motivated farce.A look at the investigation and the report:WHO IS JOHN DURHAM?Durham has spent decades as a Justice Department prosecutor, with past assignments including investigations into the FBI’s cozy relationship with mobsters in Boston and the CIA’s destruction of videotapes of its harsh interr...

US Virgin Islands seeks to subpoena Elon Musk in Jeffrey Epstein lawsuit

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:36:49 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The government of the U.S. Virgin Islands is trying to subpoena billionaire Elon Musk for documents in its lawsuit seeking to hold JPMorgan Chase liable for sex trafficking acts committed by businessman Jeffrey Epstein.Musk has never been publicly accused of any wrongdoing related to Epstein, who killed himself in 2019 as he awaited sex trafficking charges in a federal jail in Manhattan.But over the years, there had been unconfirmed speculation — encouraged by Epstein himself — that Epstein had advised Musk on certain business matters.Spokespeople for Musk have denied those reports, but the government of the U.S. Virgin Islands said in a court filing that it believes Epstein may have referred or tried to refer Musk to JPMorgan as a potential client.The Virgin Islands, where Epstein had an estate, sued JPMorgan last year, saying its investigation has revealed that the financial services giant enabled Epstein’s recruiters to pay victims and was “indispensable to the op...

Biden plan to sell land leases for conservation gets pushback

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:36:49 GMT

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Biden administration officials on Monday sought to dispel worries they want to exclude oil drilling, livestock grazing and other activities from vast government-owned lands, as they faced pushback from Republicans and ranchers and over a contentious proposal to put conservation on equal footing with industry.The proposal would allow conservationists and others to lease federally owned land to restore it, much the same way oil companies buy leases to drill and ranchers pay to graze cattle. Leases also could be bought on behalf of companies such as oil drillers who want to offset damage to public land by restoring acreage elsewhere.But more than a century after the U.S. started selling grazing permits and oil and gas leases, the proposal is stirring debate over the best use of public land, primarily in the West. Opponents including Republican lawmakers and agriculture industry representatives are blasting it as a backdoor way to exclude mining, energy developmen...

South Elgin girl abducted at 9 years old found safe 6 years later

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:36:49 GMT

SOUTH ELGIN, Ill. — A girl who was abducted from South Elgin when she was nine years old was found safe in North Carolina Monday — six years later — according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.Kayla Unbehaun when she was 9 years old, shortly before she went missing in 2017.Kayla Unbehaun was abducted by her mother — Heather Unbehaun — on July 5, 2017 while on a camping trip in South Elgin. After going on the trip with her daughter, the two dropped out of sight.Ryan Iserka, Kayla's dad, was supposed to pick up his daughter from her Mother's Wheaton home, but neither turned up. Several weeks later, a felony warrant for kidnapping was on July 29, 2017. 2018 PREVIOUS COVERAGE: South Elgin dad asks for public’s help on anniversary of 10-year-old’s abduction Iserka issued the following statement through the NCMEC:“I’m overjoyed that Kayla is home safe. I want to thank @ElginPDFD, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and all of the law enforce...