After homer and HBP, warnings issued in NLCS Game 1

By Matthew PouliotOct 9, 2011, 4:28 PM EDT
14 Comments

The NLCS umpiring crew had obviously gotten the memo: the Cardinals and Brewers just don’t like each other very much.

Prince Fielder was plunked by Jaime Garcia’s very first pitch after Ryan Braun’s two-run homer in the first inning Sunday, leading to warnings being issued in Game 1.

Garcia’s pitch wasn’t necessarily intentional — he got Fielder on the arm — but since the teams have a history and have done some jawing these last two days, home-plate umpire and crew chief Gary Darling decided on the preemptive course of action.

The Cards took a 1-0 lead on Zack Greinke in the top of the first before Braun responded in the bottom of the inning, making it 2-1 Milwaukee.

Report: Astros, Alex Bregman agree to five-year, $100 million extension

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
By Bill BaerMar 19, 2019, 9:59 PM EDT
7 Comments

Fox 26’s Mark Berman reports that the Astros and third baseman Alex Bregman have agreed to $100 million contract extension. MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart confirms a deal has been reached and adds that the deal is actually for five years, beginning after the 2019 season. The contract will cover all three of Bregman’s arbitration years and two years of would-be free agency.

Bregman, who turns 25 years old later this month, has quickly become one of the best third basemen in baseball. Across parts of three seasons, he has hit .282/.366/.500 with 58 home runs, 208 RBI, 224 runs scored, and 29 stolen bases. FanGraphs credited him with 7.6 Wins Above Replacement, tied with Francisco Lindor and Christian Yelich for the fourth-best mark among position players in baseball, trailing only Mookie Betts (10.4), Mike Trout (9.8), and José Ramírez (8.0).

This is obviously a smart move for the Astros, as this contract extension will secure Bregman’s age 25-30 seasons. With second baseman José Altuve also locked up through 2024, and presumed extensions to come for Carlos Correa and possibly Gerrit Cole and George Springer, the Astros have a core that they can build around for years to come.