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Mets first baseman Dominic Smith has had a long season between Triple-A and the majors this year, and he plans on refining his game during the offseason.  Smith, who earned the team's award for best player in the Minor League system in 2017, went 0-for-3 during the Mets' win over Atlanta on Tuesday night. Since getting called up to the big club in August, the 22-year-old has slashed .199/.250/.372 with seven homers and 22 RBIs.  "I need to come back in better shape and be more consistent," Smith said, according to the New York Daily News. "This is the first time I've played 150 games. The first time I am playing in September. This is the most I've played in my life. You definitely hit a wall, Continue to Article

September 27, 2017 7:40:am EST

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Bruce Maxwell of the Oakland Athletics has become the first major league baseball player to kneel during the national anthem. Maxwell dropped to a knee just outside Oakland's dugout on Saturday before a game against the Texas Rangers, adopting a protest started by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in response to police treatment of blacks. Maxwell's teammates stood in a line next to him. Teammate Mark Canha, who is white, put his right hand on one of Maxwell's shoulders. The Athletics released a statement on Twitter shortly after the anthem, saying they "respect and support all of our players' constitutional rights and freedom of expression" and "pride Continue to Article

September 23, 2017 11:51:pm EST

At least three Major League Baseball teams will extend protective netting at their ballparks to prevent foul balls and broken bats from hurting spectators, a move triggered by a serious injury to a young girl at New York's Yankee Stadium this week. The Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres said they would install additional netting at their ball parks in time for opening day in 2018, extending protection that is currently limited to the seats directly behind home plate to the start of the team dugouts. "We still have some details to work out, but the bottom line is expanded netting at Safeco Field is going to happen," Mariners President Kevin Mather said in a statement. Continue to Article

September 22, 2017 3:53:pm EST