Bumgarner wins award
SAN FRANCISCO Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner, who dominated the baseball postseason, was named yesterday the Associated Press 2014 Male Athlete of the Year.
SAN FRANCISCO Giants pitcher
Madison Bumgarner,
who dominated the baseball postseason, was named yesterday the
Associated Press
2014 Male Athlete of the Year.
Bumgarner finished first in a vote by U.S. editors and news directors. He beat out Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw - who won the National League Cy Young and MVP but lost to Bumgarner's Giants in the playoffs. Retiring New York Yankees star Derek Jeter and golfer Rory McIlroy tied for third place.
The 25-year-old workhorse known as MadBum clinched the award when - on 2 days' rest - he pitched five scoreless innings of relief in Game 7 of the World Series as the Giants beat Kansas City, 3-2, to win their third championship in five years.
In other baseball news:
* The San Diego Padres traded outfielder Seth Smith to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for hard-throwing reliever Brandon Maurer. Smith was left without a spot in the Padres outfield after San Diego's makeover that included the acquisitions of Matt Kemp, Justin Upton and Wil Myers. But Smith should have a significant role in Seattle, likely in an outfield platoon with Justin Ruggiano. The lefthanded hitting Smith batted .266 with 12 homers and 48 RBI last season. But against righthanded pitching, Smith hit .270 with all 12 of his home runs and an .815 on-base plus slugging percentage.
Sport Stops
* Everton goalkeeper
Tim Howard
will be sidelined for up to 6 weeks with a calf injury. The 35-year-old United States international player initially missed Sunday's loss at Newcastle with the injury sustained against Stoke on Friday.
Joel Robles
will play in Howard's absence, and the team will assess whether it needs to sign another goalkeeper.
* U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic has withdrawn from next week's Brisbane (Australia) International tennis tournament with a right shoulder injury. There was no indication whether the injury would affect the Croatian's chances of playing at the Australian Open beginning Jan. 19 in Melbourne.