Yanks win challenge on overturned steal call

By Robert Falkoff / Special to MLB.com | 6/7/2014 1:15 A.M. ET

KANSAS CITY -- Yankees manager Joe Girardi won a third-inning challenge in Friday night's 4-2 win against the Royals when an initial call of safe on Nori Aoki's attempted steal of second was overturned following a review.

With two outs, Aoki, who reached on a two-out single, took off from first and second-base umpire Mike DiMuro initially ruled that Aoki had beaten catcher Brian McCann's throw. But the replay showed second baseman Brian Roberts applying the tag before Aoki reached the base.

The out call ended the inning with the Yanks holding a 4-1 lead after McCann delivered a bases-clearing double in the top of the frame to help starter Chase Whitley earn his first Major League win.

Robert Falkoff is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Yankees draft reliever Lindgren in second round

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | 6/6/2014 12:49 A.M. ET

NEW YORK -- The Yankees had one selection to make on the first day of the First-Year Player Draft and the organization believes that they made it count, taking Mississippi State left-handed reliever Jacob Lindgren with the 55th overall pick.

Lindgren, a hard-throwing junior from Bay St. Louis, Miss., was ranked as the No. 41 prospect entering the Draft by MLB.com and has been touted as one of the nastiest relievers in college baseball.

"I am humbled and grateful to be drafted by the New York Yankees," Lindgren said. "This is an incredible feeling and a day I will remember for the rest of my life. I would like to thank Mississippi State University, my coaches, teammates and the greatest fans in college baseball for helping me reach this point."

The Draft continues on Friday with Rounds 3-10. The MLB.com pregame show begins at 12:30 p.m. ET, with exclusive coverage of Rounds 3-10 beginning at 1 p.m. ET. The Yankees' next selection will be in the third round (91st overall).

In 26 appearances this season for the Bulldogs, the 21-year-old Lindgren was 6-1 with three saves and a team-leading 0.81 ERA. He ranked first among all relievers nationally with 100 total strikeouts, leading the nation with 16.3 strikeouts per nine innings.

In 55 1/3 innings, the 5-foot-11, 203-pound southpaw allowed nine runs (five earned) and 23 hits, walking 25. Opponents batted .124 against Lindgren, the lowest mark on the Bulldogs staff.

"Jacob has been very successful in a tough conference and has produced exceptional strikeout numbers," said Damon Oppenheimer, the Yankees' director of amateur scouting. "We are very happy to have selected him."

Lindgren is one of five finalists for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association's Stopper of the Year Award, which honors the top relief pitcher in college baseball. He is also a semifinalist for the 2014 Gregg Olson Award -- college baseball's breakout player of the year -- and a finalist for the C Spire Ferriss Trophy, given annually to the top collegiate player in Mississippi.

The most dominant starting pitcher on Mississippi State's 2013 College World Series runner-up club, Lindgren moved to the bullpen after the Bulldogs lost several of their relievers to pro ball. He has responded to the switch by overmatching hitters there.

His best pitch is a wipeout slider that arrives at 82-88 mph with late bite. His fastball has jumped from 87-91 mph as a starter to 91-95 mph as a reliever. He has a sinking changeup as well, and there is thought that he could reach the Majors quickly as a reliever.

"Jacob has two Major League pitches that are above average and possess swing-and-miss quality," Oppenheimer said. "He has been extended for multiple innings and holds his stuff consistently."

Lindgren is the highest drafted Bulldog southpaw since Paul Maholm went eighth overall in the 2003 Draft. A multi-sport standout and first-team all-state pitcher at St. Stanislaus (Miss.) High School before committing to Mississippi State, Lindgren was previously selected by the Cubs in the 12th round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft.

New York's first selection of the Draft came in the second round because of compensation picks lost for signing free agents Brian McCann, Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran over this past offseason.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Zimmer's experience a lesson about current Yanks

NEW YORK -- Don Zimmer had a B on his bonnet when his name first became familiar to the baseball public, a white, old-English "B" on a bright blue background that one of his Brooklyn contemporaries, a fellow named Lasorda, incessantly identified as "Dodger Blue." When I met Zimmer some 22 years after his big league debut, he wore a different B, also old English but it was a navy letter on a red background. Although I watched him play at Ebbets Field in 1956, my lasting image of Zim is as the manager of the Red Sox.

A changing expression -- delighted and content morphing into dejected and concerned -- was quite evident just South of the Boston B throughout the final weeks of the 1978 season.

Zimmer seemingly was without care in July. His team was leading the American League East with a formidable .689 winning percentage on July 19. The Sox were nine games ahead of the second-place Brewers and 14 games ahead of the team that had won the two preceding division championships, the fourth-place Yankees.

Indeed, the Yankees, so troubled by so many obstacles at the time, were 2½ games from fifth place.

* * * * *

Eleven years later, when Zimmer was managing the Cubs to a first-place finish, his team played a two-game series at Shea Stadium, on Labor Day and the day after. The dirge of 1978 had expired by then. He could speak about the Yankees' gallant charge and the Red Sox's maddening downfall without increasing his blood pressure to a dangerous level. And what he spoke of mostly that day was the effect of Ron Guidry.

"Guidry was a damn roadblock for us at the end," Zimmer said. "He beat us in Fenway in early September [in the Boston Massacre series], shut us out again in New York later in the month. And he won the Bucky [Dent] game. Three times in less than a month, and we finished second by one game.

"They talk about that Curse [of the Bambino]. I'll tell you what, there was a curse. It was me cursing that skinny damn lefty. He kicked our butt. We had a great offense, but not against him and that slider."

Moreover, teams with the Bs on their bonnets often were denied by the teams wearing pinstripes -- in the World Series in the 50's, years before Zim would begin his managerial career.

To add a few points to Zim's BP, there was this to recall: Guidry had beaten the Sox in June, too. The victory was his 12th en route to the 13-0 record he carried through July 4. And Guidry's overall numbers for September -- they excluded the Dent game, the 163 game played to determine the division championship -- included a 5-1 record and an 0.96 ERA in six starts and 46 2/3 innings. Guidry allowed 34 baserunners and struck out 36 batters in those games (And Jim Rice was the league's MVP?)

"It wasn't just the games he beat us down the stretch," Zimmer said. "He kept their heads above water the first half. We weren't taking a thing for granted with them -- they'd won the World Series the year before. But you get a lead like we had -- What was it, 14 games? -- plus we had two other teams in the division [the Brewers and Orioles] that won 90 [and the Tigers won 86]. The Yankees had to climb over some pretty good teams.

"But they stayed in it because of Guidry. They were a little better than .500 before they got turned around. It ain't easy to fall below .500 when one guy's 13-0."

* * * *

Nearly 36 years have passed since Guidry earned that 13th victory. An assist from a Jeffrey Maier-type on a fly ball to Yankee Stadium's right-field wall hit by Mickey Rivers on July 2 made it possible. By 1989, Zimmer was unaware of the interference that favored the Yankees that day. Otherwise his BP might have spiked 11 years after the fact.

Now, on the day following Zimmer's death at age 83, the Yankees are a third-place team, six games from first place with a record one game over the break-even point following their 2-1 victory against the A's Thursday. They're not playing well. Injuries, lack of power and Russian-roulette relief have undermined their performance through 59 games.

Partially because the other teams in the division also are unremarkable, the Yankees are not out of it. Masahiro Tanaka is another factor in their staying close. As effectively as he has pitched to date, Tanaka isn't in the process of duplicating the 25-3, 1.74, Cy Young season Guidry produced in 1978. After beating the A's Thursday, he has a 9-1 record and 2.02 ERA n 12 starts.

But Tanaka unquestionably is prominently mentioned in any AL Cy Young Award conversation and, more important, he is is keeping the Yankees close enough that the first-place Blue Jays can detect the scent of pinstripes.

These Yankees don't match the pedigree of the Yankees of Thurman, Reggie, Randolph, Goose, Piniella, Nettles, Dent, Catfish, Figueroa, Lyle, Chambliss and Tidrow. But no member of the current AL East is the equal of any of the division's teams that won 90 or more games 36 years ago.

The Yankees have Mark Teixeira and Carlos Beltran back and -- for now -- functioning. Disabled CC Sabathia could play the returning hero role Catfish played in 1978 after a first half lost to injury. And Brian McCann, a vital component, is gradually emerging as the player the Yankees signed. And surely they'll do something to enhance their chances before the summer reaches its midpoint.

For sure, this not a prediction of a return to October. But these Yankees, with flaws conspicuous and age dogging them, can't be dismissed. Not yet. Zim would tell you so.

Marty Noble is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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A's win challenge as Ellsbury's HR is overturned

By Nate Taylor / Special to MLB.com | 6/5/2014 7:45 P.M. ET

NEW YORK -- Manager Bob Melvin used a challenge successfully in the first inning that helped prevent the Yankees from scoring two runs in the A's eventual 2-1 loss on Thursday in the series finale at Yankee Stadium.

Melvin walked out of the dugout when the umpires initially awarded Jacoby Ellsbury a two-run homer on a line-drive to right field.

Replays showed Ellsbury's hit landed on the top of the wall and bounced back onto the field. After a review, the call was overturned and Ellsbury had a double, while Derek Jeter, who singled, went back to third base. The review took one minute and 19 seconds.

"I don't know how you can call that a home run," Melvin said. "You could clearly tell it hit the top of the pad and fell back into play."

A's starter Drew Pomeranz was able to escape the early jam without giving up a run -- getting Mark Teixeira to line out to third before striking out Carlos Beltran to end the inning with the A's leading, 1-0, on John Jaso's homer in the top of the first.

Nate Taylor is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Yankees struggle to accept passing of Zimmer

NEW YORK -- The terrible news filtered into the Yankees' dugout in the middle innings on Wednesday, and Derek Jeter took his final at-bats of the night knowing that his friend Don Zimmer -- remembered as a coach, mentor and lucky charm during his time in the Yankees' dugout -- was now gone.

Standing at his locker in the clubhouse of this Yankee Stadium, Jeter fielded questions about the passing of the 83-year-old baseball icon. He lasted 128 seconds before halting the interview, pivoting and staring at the wall to collect his emotions.

"That's a tough one to swallow," Jeter said. "Everyone knows how much Zim has meant, not only to our organization, but to baseball as a whole. Your thoughts and prayers go out to his family. That's tough news."

Having spent six decades in the game, nearly every club could claim some level of connection to Zimmer, who passed away peacefully on Wednesday in Florida. For a generation of Yankees fans, he was Joe Torre's dynasty confidant, a key reservoir of wisdom who helped to propel the club to four World Series championships.

"Don spent a lifetime doing what he loved," Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner said. "He was an original -- a passionate, old-school, one-of-a-kind baseball man who contributed to a memorable era in Yankees history. The baseball community will certainly feel this loss. On behalf of our organization, we offer our deepest condolences to his wife, Soot, their two children and four grandchildren."

"Zim was around when I first came up," Jeter said. "He's someone that taught me a lot about the game. He's been around, and he's pretty much seen everything. His stories, his experiences, he was close to my family and good to my family. We'll miss him."

"Great baseball man. A baseball lifer. He was a mentor to me. I had him 10 out of my first 11 years in the big leagues, so wherever he went, I went. I always thought he looked like my grandfather. Built a lot alike; same height, same forearms. My grandfather had a full head of white hair, though. That was probably the biggest difference."

-- Joe Girardi

Zimmer, who coached for the Yankees from 1996-2003, was the reason that Joe Girardi had the opportunity to wear pinstripes. When Torre was hired as manager for the '96 season, Zimmer lobbied team brass about the need for a sharp defensive catcher to handle the pitching staff. He recommended that the team sign Girardi.

"Great baseball man. A baseball lifer," Girardi said. "He was a mentor to me. I had him 10 out of my first 11 years in the big leagues, so wherever he went, I went. I always thought he looked like my grandfather. Built a lot alike; same height, same forearms. My grandfather had a full head of white hair, though. That was probably the biggest difference."

Girardi called Zimmer his first big league manager in the summer of 1989, suiting up in the cramped home clubhouse at Wrigley Field. The Cubs were the last of Zimmer's four managerial stops in the big leagues, and for Girardi, spending any time next to Zimmer served as a crash course in Managing 101.

"He taught me a lot about this game," Girardi said. "He gave me my first opportunity, I'll never forget that. He told me with a week to go [in Spring Training] that I had made the club in 1989, but I couldn't tell anybody. I'm thinking, 'How am I going to do that?'

"I was scared to death to tell anyone; I really was. The only person I told was [Girardi's wife] Kim. I waited a few days to tell my father, because I knew he wouldn't be able to keep it hush-hush. It's going to be really strange not to see him."

Girardi recalled watching Zimmer dance on a table after one win, then watching with amusement as the table -- and Zimmer -- came crashing to the floor. He'd agree that Zimmer deserves his place among the game's all-time characters.

During the 1999 playoffs, he showed up wearing a green Army helmet the next day after a Chuck Knoblauch foul ball whizzed into the Yankees' dugout, striking him in the face. In one ritual, Jeter used to rub Zimmer's tummy and bald head for luck, something both parties seemed to relish.

"I could sit here and talk to you for days about Zim," Jeter said.

He was also fiercely competitive; he wanted his teams to win on the field, sometimes with blind passion. No one will ever forget Zimmer's tumble to the Fenway Park turf during the 2003 American League Championship Series after he had charged at Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez during a benches-clearing incident.

"That was him. He was a fighter," Jeter said. "He was intense. That exemplifies him. He was into the game, and he was fun to be around."

It wasn't limited to baseball, either. Girardi recalled how Zimmer would flash that same fire playing cards.

"That's one of the things he taught me: it's OK to be competitive in things that you do besides the game," Girardi said.

Zimmer, who spent the past 11 seasons as a senior advisor with the Rays, had been hospitalized for the last two months. Jeter said that he spoke to Zimmer before his April 16 heart surgery.

It was the last of their many conversations, and Jeter said that losing Zimmer's unique outlook is what will leave the largest void.

"He was always positive and liked to have fun," Jeter said. "This can be a long season, so that's what you'll miss. I will miss him."

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Tanaka rides splendid May into start vs. red-hot A's

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Early lead erased as Yankees' skid reaches four

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HOW TO ENTER: During the Promotion Period, you may enter the Promotion by clicking on the banners, buttons and/or links within MLB.com Gameday (a free application) and following the instructions provided to register for the Promotion. If you are not already a member of MLB.com, you must become one before you can register to participate in the Contest (membership is free). There is only one (1) way to participate in the Promotion: online. No other method of entry or participation will be accepted. Additional entries beyond the specified limit will be void. Entries generated by script, macro or other automated means will be void. All information submitted online by entrants is subject to, and will be treated in a manner consistent with, MLB.com's Terms of Use accessible at: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/about_mlb_com/terms_of_use.jsp and Privacy Policy accessible at: www.mlb.com/privacy.  All online entries must include a valid e-mail address for the entrant.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:  Upon successful registration, follow the instructions provided to receive one (1) virtual bingo card (the "Bingo Card") for each game of the 2012 MLB Postseason played during the Promotion Period (each, a "Postseason Game"). In addition, during the Promotion Period, participants may utilize sharing functionality available via the Promotion upon completion of a successful Contest (the "Sharing Functionality") to receive two (2) additional Bingo Cards. For each eligible individual any entrant notifies or makes aware of the Promotion who clicks on a valid link made available via the Sharing Functionality identifiable as having come from the entrant, such entrant shall receive two (2) additional Bingo Cards (for a total of three (3) Bingo Cards). No additional Bingo Cards will be received other than through verified Sharing Functionality. There is a limit of three (3) Bingo Cards per person and per e-mail address per Postseason Game. Each Bingo Card shall include a 5x5 grid that includes twenty-five (25) tiles (each, a "Tile"). Each Tile will include one (1) randomly selected game outcome for the active Postseason Game. For example, a participant could have a "Josh Hamilton Double" Tile on their Bingo Card which would be automatically marked in the event Josh Hamilton hits a double during a Postseason Game. Any eligible participant who receives a Bingo Card that becomes marked with five (5) Tiles in a vertical, horizontal or diagonal row (each, a "Potential Winning Bingo Card") may be a potential Prize winner, subject to verification of eligibility and compliance with the terms of these Official Rules. (See the Prize Claim Section below for more information.) For purposes of this Promotion, MLB game outcomes will not be updated to reflect any official MLB statistics changes or corrections that may occur after the completion of any Postseason Game. Once each Postseason Game is final following completion of the final out of that game, it will be final for purposes of this Promotion. In the event any Postseason Game is cancelled, postponed or suspended, all Bingo Cards will be void for that game and Sponsor reserves the right to award the applicable Prizes by way of random drawing from among all eligible participants as of the time of such cancellation, postponement or suspension.

PRIZE CLAIMS: In the event you receive a message within MLB.com Gameday notifying you that you have a Potential Winning Bingo Card, you must claim your Potential Winning Bingo Card by following the onscreen instructions provided by no later than ten (10) minutes following the end of the applicable Postseason Game to be eligible for the Drawing (defined below). Failure to claim your Potential Winning Bingo Card within ten (10) minutes following the end of the applicable Postseason Game will render the Potential Winning Bingo Card void and result in Prize forfeiture.

ALL POTENTIAL WINNING BINGO CARDS ARE SUBJECT TO VERIFICATION BY SPONSOR WHOSE DECISIONS ARE FINAL AND BINDING. AN ENTRANT IS NOT A WINNER OF ANY PRIZE, EVEN IF THE PROMOTION SHOULD SO INDICATE, UNLESS AND UNTIL ENTRANT'S ELIGIBILITY, THE POTENTIAL WINNING BINGO CARD AND ENTRANT'S COMPLIANCE WITH THESE OFFICIAL RULES HAVE BEEN VERIFIED BY SPONSOR AND ENTRANT HAS BEEN NOTIFIED THAT SUCH VERIFICATION IS COMPLETE. SPONSOR WILL NOT ACCEPT SCREEN SHOTS OR OTHER EVIDENCE OF WINNING IN LIEU OF ITS VALIDATION PROCESS.

RANDOM DRAWINGS: Approximately thirty (30) minutes following the final out of each Postseason Game, five (5) potential winners will be selected by random drawing from among all eligible participants who claim valid Potential Winning Bingo Cards for that Postseason Game in accordance with these Official Rules (the "Drawing"). Subject to verification of eligibility and compliance with the terms of these Official Rules, the potential winners will be declared official winners of the Sweepstakes (each, a "Winner" and collectively, the "Winners"). Odds of winning a Prize will depend on the total number of Bingo Cards issued and the total number of valid Potential Winning Bingo Cards claimed for each applicable Postseason Game. Limit one (1) Prize per person, per family and per household.

PRIZES:  A maximum of two hundred fifteen (215) prizes (each, a "Prize" and collectively, the "Prizes") will be awarded (i.e. five (5) Prizes per each Postseason Game with a maximum of forty-three (43) Postseason Games), as follows:

For up to twenty-two (22) Postseason Games during the 2012 Wild Card Games and the 2012 Division Series, each Winner will receive one (1) Postseason.TV subscription for the remainder of the 2012 MLB Postseason. Approximate retail value ("ARV") of each such Prize: $4.99.

For up to twenty-one (21) Postseason Games during the 2012 League Championship Series and the 2012 MLB World Series Championship, each Winner will receive one (1) MLB.TV Offseason Package subscription. ARV of each such Prize: $24.99.

Total ARV of all Prizes: $3172.85.

For the avoidance of doubt, no Prizes will be awarded in connection with any 2012 MLB Postseason game that is not played because it is not necessary.

PRIZE CONDITIONS: All Prize details to be determined in the sole discretion of Sponsor. Each Winner is fully responsible for any and all applicable federal, state and local taxes (including income and withholding taxes). Postseason.TV subscriptions are subject to blackout and other restrictions - see www.postseason.tv for complete details. All costs and expenses associated with the Prize acceptance and use not specified herein as being provided including, but not limited to, any and all expenses incurred by accepting the Prize are the sole responsibility of the Winners. The Prizes are non-transferable and non-assignable, with no cash redemptions except at Sponsor's sole and absolute discretion. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute any Prize (or any portion thereof) with one of comparable or greater value at its sole and absolute discretion.

NOTIFICATION:  Each potential winner will be notified at the e-mail address, postal address and/or telephone number (in the sole discretion of Sponsor) provided at the time of entry (the "Prize Notification"). In the event that any potential winner does not respond to any such Prize Notification within three (3) days of the date of issuance or declines the Prize for any reason, a disqualification will result, the Prize will be forfeited and, at Sponsor's sole discretion and time permitting, an alternate potential winner may be randomly selected from among all remaining eligible entries. Each potential winner may be required to submit his/her valid social security number and/or other identification to Sponsor and may be required to execute, have notarized and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and Release of Liability and, unless prohibited by law, Publicity, within five (5) days of date of issuance. Failure to submit any identification required by Sponsor or to return the required documents within the specified time period, noncompliance with these Official Rules or the return of the Prize (or any portion thereof) or Prize Notification as undeliverable may result in disqualification and Prize forfeiture and, at Sponsor's sole discretion and time permitting, may cause an alternate potential winner to be randomly selected from among all remaining eligible entries.

WAIVER OF LIABILITY/PUBLICITY RELEASE:  By participating in the Promotion and submitting an entry, each entrant agrees to (i) be bound by these Official Rules, including all entry requirements, and (ii) waive any and all claims against Sponsor, the other MLB Entities, Facebook, Apple, Inc. and each of their respective parents, affiliated companies, subsidiaries, officers, directors, employees, agents, licensees, distributors, dealers, retailers, printers, representatives and advertising and promotion agencies, and any and all other companies associated with the Promotion, and all of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives (collectively, "Released Parties") for any injury, damage or loss that may occur, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from the participation in the Promotion or from the receipt or use of any Prize (or any portion thereof) or any travel or activity related to the receipt or use of any Prize (or any portion thereof). By entering this Promotion, each entrant gives his/her express permission to be contacted by Sponsor by telephone, e-mail and/or postal mail for Promotion purposes. Each Winner, by acceptance of the Prize, grants to Sponsor and each of its designees the right to publicize such Winner's name, address (city and state of residence), photograph, voice, statements and/or other likeness and prize information for advertising, promotional, trade and/or any other purpose in any media or format now known or hereafter devised, throughout the world, in perpetuity, without limitation and without further compensation, consideration, permission or notification, unless prohibited by law.

GENERAL CONDITIONS:  All decisions of Sponsor, including the determination of winners, are final and binding on all matters relating to this Promotion. Released Parties are not responsible for stolen, late, incomplete, illegible, inaccurate, misdirected, lost, misrouted, scrambled, damaged, delayed, undelivered, mutilated or garbled entries, transmissions, e-mail or mail; or for lost, interrupted or unavailable network, cable, satellite, server, Internet Service Provider (ISP), wireless network, website, or other connections including those through and/or by any website, availability or accessibility or miscommunications or failed computer, satellite, telephone, cable or wireless transmissions, lines, or technical failure or jumbled, scrambled, delayed, or misdirected transmissions or computer hardware or software malfunctions, failures or difficulties; any error, omission, interruption, defect or delay in transmission, processing, or communication; non-delivery; misdirected, blocked, or delayed e-mail notifications; printing, typographical or other errors appearing within these Official Rules, in any Promotion-related advertisements or other materials; or any other errors, problems or difficulties of any kind whether human, mechanical, electronic, network, computer, telephone, mail, typographical, printing or otherwise relating to or in connection with the Promotion, including, without limitation, errors or difficulties which may occur in connection with the administration of the Promotion, the processing of entries, the announcement of the Prize or in any Promotion-related materials, or the cancellation or postponement of any Major League Baseball game, event or exhibition. Released Parties are also not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by website users, tampering, hacking, or by any equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Promotion. Released Parties are not responsible for injury or damage to participants' or to any other person's computer related to or resulting from participating in this Promotion or downloading materials from or use of the website. Persons who tamper with or abuse any aspect of the Promotion or website or attempt to undermine the legitimate operation of the Promotion by cheating, deception or other unfair playing practices, or intend to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other entrant or any representative of Sponsor or who are in violation of these Official Rules, as solely determined by Sponsor, will be disqualified and all associated entries will be void. Any attempt to deliberately damage the content or operation of this Promotion is unlawful and subject to legal action by Sponsor and/or its agents. Sponsor shall have the sole right to disqualify any entrant for violation of these Official Rules or any applicable laws relating to the Promotion, and to resolve all disputes in its sole discretion. Released Parties (i) make no warranty, guaranty or representation of any kind concerning any Prize (or any portion thereof), and (ii) disclaim any implied warranty. Sponsor's failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.

Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel or suspend the Promotion (or any portion thereof) should virus, bugs, unauthorized human intervention, or other causes corrupt administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper operation of the Promotion (or any portion thereof). In the event of such cancellation, Sponsor may elect to identify the Winners and award the Prizes by way of random drawing from among all non-suspect, eligible entries received up to the time of such cancellation. Sponsor also reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify these Official Rules for clarification purposes without materially affecting the terms and conditions of the Promotion.

CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY ANY INDIVIDUAL, WHETHER OR NOT AN ENTRANT, TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEBSITE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROMOTION OR UNDERMINE THE CONTENT OR LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THIS PROMOTION MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR WILL DISQUALIFY ANY SUCH ENTRANT, AND SPONSOR AND/OR ITS AGENTS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES (INCLUDING ATTORNEYS' FEES) AND OTHER REMEDIES FROM ANY PERSON OR PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATTEMPT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

In the event of dispute as to the identity or eligibility of any potential winner based on an e-mail address, the winning entry will be declared made by the "Authorized Account Holder" of the e-mail address submitted at the time of entry provided he/she is eligible according to these Official Rules. The "Authorized Account Holder" is defined as the natural person to whom the applicable Internet service provider or other organization (such as a business or educational institution) has assigned the e-mail address for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address.

As a condition of participating in this Promotion, each entrant agrees that (A) any and all disputes, claims, controversies or causes of action arising out of or relating to this Promotion, or any prizes awarded (each, a "Claim"), shall be (1) arbitrated on an individual basis only, and shall not be consolidated or joined with or in any arbitration or other proceeding involving a Claim of any other party, and (2) settled by binding arbitration in New York County, New York before a single arbitrator appointed by the American Arbitration Association in accordance with its then governing rules and procedures, and judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered by any court having jurisdiction thereof; and (B) under no circumstance will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental, consequential or any other damages, other than for actual out

14.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Teixeira returns to lineup, hopes it's for good

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | 6/4/2014 12:50 A.M. ET

NEW YORK -- Mark Teixeira is ready to give it another go. The Yankees first baseman tested his right wrist in batting practice on Tuesday and declared himself fit to appear in the starting lineup.

Teixeira received a cortisone injection in his wrist after he was unable to swing the bat without discomfort on Saturday. Two full days of rest have helped alleviate that, Teixeira said, and he is hoping to be able to get back to regular playing time.

"It feels better," Teixeira said. "I saw the doctor yesterday. We think the shot has worked. Hopefully it will continue to feel better, hopefully that's today."

Teixeira immediately made his presence felt in the Yankees' 5-2 loss to the A's in 10 innings Tuesday. He drove in the first run of the game in the first inning on a bloop RBI single, then hit a go-ahead home run in the sixth, his 10th of the season.

After having season-ending surgery on the wrist last year, Teixeira said that the discomfort first flared up during the Yankees' visit to Wrigley Field in late May. He rested for three games on that road trip, sitting out a series in St. Louis, but may have aggravated his wrist by returning too quickly.

"I think you're going to watch it for a while to see how he does and make sure," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Hopefully it's cleared up and it doesn't come back. Obviously I'm going to pay close attention to it and see how he's feeling. If it gets him, it will probably be more hitting left-handed than right-handed."

Teixeira has been told that he is dealing with only inflammation in the wrist and no structural damage, which he sees as an encouraging sign that the situation can at least be managed for the rest of the year.

"There's no pain with normal range of motion," Teixeira said. "Even up until yesterday, I felt pain with normal range of motion. Now when I go out and swing, it's a violent swing and hopefully there's no pain with a full swing. That's what we're making sure of."

During his doctor's visit this week, Teixeira said that he had an ultrasound on the wrist, as well as some strength tests.

"It's pretty easy. I know how it feels," Teixeira said. "I am an expert at it by now."

Beltran could be back with Yanks for road trip

NEW YORK -- Carlos Beltran went 2-for-3 with a walk in an extended spring training game on Tuesday at the Yankees' complex in Tampa, Fla., and could rejoin the big league lineup in time for its upcoming road trip.

Beltran said that he felt fine and will play his third extended spring game on Wednesday morning, and he plans to fly north to meet the club after that game.

The Yankees are scheduled to play the Athletics on Thursday and begin a four-game series against the Royals in Kansas City on Friday.

Beltran, who is hoping to avoid surgery for a bone spur in his right elbow, took his at-bats right-handed. Asked if Beltran would be with the team by Friday, manager Joe Girardi said that "it's possible."

"I think it's fair just to see how he does these three or four days, and then you make a decision, but I don't think that's out of the question," Girardi said.

In that same game, catcher Francisco Cervelli went 3-for-5 with a double and caught five innings. Cervelli, on the 60-day disabled list with a Grade 2 right hamstring strain, said that he plans to play again in extended spring on Wednesday.

"The reports were good," Girardi said.

Yanks gain lefty for 'pen in claiming LeBlanc

NEW YORK -- The Yankees have claimed left-hander Wade LeBlanc off waivers from the Angels, providing the club with a new option to help out of the bullpen.

LeBlanc, 29, made one relief appearance with the Angels this season on May 30 at Oakland, allowing four runs in 6 1/3 innings without recording a decision. In nine starts with Triple-A Salt Lake, he was 5-1 with a 3.69 ERA, striking out 43 batters with 14 walks.

In 97 career appearances (68 starts) over parts of seven Major League seasons with San Diego (2008-11), Miami (2012-13), Houston (2013) and the Angels (2014), LeBlanc has gone 20-32 with a 4.53 ERA.

LeBlanc is expected to join the Yankees on Wednesday and could replace Alfredo Aceves in a long-relief role.

Aceves has struggled in his second tour of duty in the Bronx, going 1-2 with a 6.52 ERA in 10 appearances. Aceves has surrendered six home runs in 19 1/3 innings, including two in Monday's 10-2 loss to the Mariners.

"I think it's a little bit of everything," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "With the way our bullpen is constructed, we have one left-hander [Matt Thornton]. It possibly gives you an option for two left-handers. I think it's a little bit of everything."

Sizemore returns, sees immediate action

NEW YORK -- Scott Sizemore returned for his second stint with the big league club on Tuesday, as the infielder was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Sizemore, 29, was immediately placed in the lineup against Athletics starter Scott Kazmir, batting seventh and playing third base. The right-handed batter was hitting .265 with one home run and 16 RBIs in 40 games at Triple-A.

"I'm glad to get in there, and hopefully I can help the team out," Sizemore said.

Sizemore went 1-for-3 in the Yankees' 5-2 loss to the A's in 10 innings Tuesday, and he made a splendid play in the field to end the top of the ninth inning.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said that the team made the move to call up Sizemore because the Yanks will be facing some left-handed starters in their upcoming schedule, starting in the Oakland series with Kazmir on Tuesday and Drew Pomeranz on Thursday.

Sizemore attended Spring Training with the Yankees as a non-roster invitee, hoping to get back to the Majors after sustaining two devastating knee injuries. Sizemore said that his promotion to the Majors suggests that he made a good decision to sign with New York.

"Absolutely. I think any time you get the chance to be in the big leagues, you can't ask for much more," Sizemore said. "Obviously you could hope for more playing time, but I think if you do what you're supposed to do and maybe open some eyes and make them have to keep you there, that's the ultimate goal as a guy in my situation.

"So far, so good. It seems like a smart move, getting a couple of chances earlier in the year."

Bombers bits

• The Yankees transferred right-hander Michael Pineda to the 60-day disabled list on Tuesday. Pineda, who recently experienced a setback as he works to return from an upper back strain, would be eligible to be activated on July 5.

"We think that he's going to be out for 60 days completely, and it creates a roster spot," Girardi said.

• Shawn Kelley (strained lumbar spine) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium. If it goes well, he would be cleared to begin a Minor League rehabilitation assignment.

• On this date in 1932, Lou Gehrig hit four consecutive home runs and narrowly missed a fifth, and Tony Lazzeri hit for the cycle as the Yankees won, 20-13, at Philadelphia. The 33 combined runs tied for the most in a single game in franchise history.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Beltran could be back with Yanks for road trip

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | 6/4/2014 12:50 A.M. ET

NEW YORK -- Carlos Beltran went 2-for-3 with a walk in an extended spring training game on Tuesday at the Yankees' complex in Tampa, Fla., and could rejoin the big league lineup in time for its upcoming road trip.

Beltran said that he felt fine and will play his third extended spring game on Wednesday morning, and he plans to fly north to meet the club after that game.

The Yankees are scheduled to play the Athletics on Thursday and begin a four-game series against the Royals in Kansas City on Friday.

Beltran, who is hoping to avoid surgery for a bone spur in his right elbow, took his at-bats right-handed. Asked if Beltran would be with the team by Friday, manager Joe Girardi said that "it's possible."

"I think it's fair just to see how he does these three or four days, and then you make a decision, but I don't think that's out of the question," Girardi said.

In that same game, catcher Francisco Cervelli went 3-for-5 with a double and caught five innings. Cervelli, on the 60-day disabled list with a Grade 2 right hamstring strain, said that he plans to play again in extended spring on Wednesday.

"The reports were good," Girardi said.

Teixeira returns to lineup, hopes it's for good

NEW YORK -- Mark Teixeira is ready to give it another go. The Yankees first baseman tested his right wrist in batting practice on Tuesday and declared himself fit to appear in the starting lineup.

Teixeira received a cortisone injection in his wrist after he was unable to swing the bat without discomfort on Saturday. Two full days of rest have helped alleviate that, Teixeira said, and he is hoping to be able to get back to regular playing time.

"It feels better," Teixeira said. "I saw the doctor yesterday. We think the shot has worked. Hopefully it will continue to feel better, hopefully that's today."

Teixeira immediately made his presence felt in the Yankees' 5-2 loss to the A's in 10 innings Tuesday. He drove in the first run of the game in the first inning on a bloop RBI single, then hit a go-ahead home run in the sixth, his 10th of the season.

After having season-ending surgery on the wrist last year, Teixeira said that the discomfort first flared up during the Yankees' visit to Wrigley Field in late May. He rested for three games on that road trip, sitting out a series in St. Louis, but may have aggravated his wrist by returning too quickly.

"I think you're going to watch it for a while to see how he does and make sure," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Hopefully it's cleared up and it doesn't come back. Obviously I'm going to pay close attention to it and see how he's feeling. If it gets him, it will probably be more hitting left-handed than right-handed."

Teixeira has been told that he is dealing with only inflammation in the wrist and no structural damage, which he sees as an encouraging sign that the situation can at least be managed for the rest of the year.

"There's no pain with normal range of motion," Teixeira said. "Even up until yesterday, I felt pain with normal range of motion. Now when I go out and swing, it's a violent swing and hopefully there's no pain with a full swing. That's what we're making sure of."

During his doctor's visit this week, Teixeira said that he had an ultrasound on the wrist, as well as some strength tests.

"It's pretty easy. I know how it feels," Teixeira said. "I am an expert at it by now."

Yanks gain lefty for 'pen in claiming LeBlanc

NEW YORK -- The Yankees have claimed left-hander Wade LeBlanc off waivers from the Angels, providing the club with a new option to help out of the bullpen.

LeBlanc, 29, made one relief appearance with the Angels this season on May 30 at Oakland, allowing four runs in 6 1/3 innings without recording a decision. In nine starts with Triple-A Salt Lake, he was 5-1 with a 3.69 ERA, striking out 43 batters with 14 walks.

In 97 career appearances (68 starts) over parts of seven Major League seasons with San Diego (2008-11), Miami (2012-13), Houston (2013) and the Angels (2014), LeBlanc has gone 20-32 with a 4.53 ERA.

LeBlanc is expected to join the Yankees on Wednesday and could replace Alfredo Aceves in a long-relief role.

Aceves has struggled in his second tour of duty in the Bronx, going 1-2 with a 6.52 ERA in 10 appearances. Aceves has surrendered six home runs in 19 1/3 innings, including two in Monday's 10-2 loss to the Mariners.

"I think it's a little bit of everything," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "With the way our bullpen is constructed, we have one left-hander [Matt Thornton]. It possibly gives you an option for two left-handers. I think it's a little bit of everything."

Sizemore returns, sees immediate action

NEW YORK -- Scott Sizemore returned for his second stint with the big league club on Tuesday, as the infielder was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Sizemore, 29, was immediately placed in the lineup against Athletics starter Scott Kazmir, batting seventh and playing third base. The right-handed batter was hitting .265 with one home run and 16 RBIs in 40 games at Triple-A.

"I'm glad to get in there, and hopefully I can help the team out," Sizemore said.

Sizemore went 1-for-3 in the Yankees' 5-2 loss to the A's in 10 innings Tuesday, and he made a splendid play in the field to end the top of the ninth inning.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said that the team made the move to call up Sizemore because the Yanks will be facing some left-handed starters in their upcoming schedule, starting in the Oakland series with Kazmir on Tuesday and Drew Pomeranz on Thursday.

Sizemore attended Spring Training with the Yankees as a non-roster invitee, hoping to get back to the Majors after sustaining two devastating knee injuries. Sizemore said that his promotion to the Majors suggests that he made a good decision to sign with New York.

"Absolutely. I think any time you get the chance to be in the big leagues, you can't ask for much more," Sizemore said. "Obviously you could hope for more playing time, but I think if you do what you're supposed to do and maybe open some eyes and make them have to keep you there, that's the ultimate goal as a guy in my situation.

"So far, so good. It seems like a smart move, getting a couple of chances earlier in the year."

Bombers bits

• The Yankees transferred right-hander Michael Pineda to the 60-day disabled list on Tuesday. Pineda, who recently experienced a setback as he works to return from an upper back strain, would be eligible to be activated on July 5.

"We think that he's going to be out for 60 days completely, and it creates a roster spot," Girardi said.

• Shawn Kelley (strained lumbar spine) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium. If it goes well, he would be cleared to begin a Minor League rehabilitation assignment.

• On this date in 1932, Lou Gehrig hit four consecutive home runs and narrowly missed a fifth, and Tony Lazzeri hit for the cycle as the Yankees won, 20-13, at Philadelphia. The 33 combined runs tied for the most in a single game in franchise history.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Yanks lose lead after rare blip from 'pen, fall in 10

MLB.COM BINGO

OFFICIAL RULES

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. ODDS OF WINNING A PRIZE WILL DEPEND ON THE TOTAL NUMBER OF BINGO CARDS ISSUED AND THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VALID POTENTIAL WINNING BINGO CARDS CLAIMED FOR EACH APPLICABLE POSTSEASON GAME. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. ALL DISPUTES WILL BE RESOLVED SOLELY BY BINDING ARBITRATION AND ENTRANTS WAIVE THE ABILITY TO BRING CLAIMS IN A CLASS ACTION FORMAT.

ELIGIBILITY:  MLB.com Bingo (the "Promotion") is open only to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and Washington, D.C. who are eighteen (18) years of age or older (except in the case of legal residents of certain states where the legal age of majority is greater than eighteen (18) years of age, such legal age of majority) at the time of entry. Employees, officers, and directors (including immediate family members (spouse, parent, child, sibling and their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside) and members of the same household, whether or not related) of MLB Advanced Media, L.P. ("Sponsor"), the other MLB Entities and each of their respective parents, affiliated companies, subsidiaries, licensees, distributors, dealers, retailers, printers, advertising and promotion agencies, and any and all other companies associated with the Promotion are not eligible to participate or win a Prize (defined below). The "MLB Entities" shall mean Sponsor, the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball ("BOC"), its Bureaus, Committees, Subcommittees and Councils, Major League Baseball Enterprises, Inc., Major League Baseball Properties, Inc., the Major League Baseball Clubs ("Clubs"), each of their parent, subsidiary, affiliated and related entities, any entity which, now or in the future, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the Clubs or the BOC and the owners, general and limited partners, shareholders, directors, officers, employees and agents of the foregoing entities. The Promotion is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations. Void where prohibited or restricted by law, rule or regulation.

PROMOTION PERIOD: The Promotion period (the "Promotion Period") begins at 11:00 AM Eastern Time ("ET") on October 5, 2012 and ends upon completion of the final out of the 2012 MLB World Series Championship.

HOW TO ENTER: During the Promotion Period, you may enter the Promotion by clicking on the banners, buttons and/or links within MLB.com Gameday (a free application) and following the instructions provided to register for the Promotion. If you are not already a member of MLB.com, you must become one before you can register to participate in the Contest (membership is free). There is only one (1) way to participate in the Promotion: online. No other method of entry or participation will be accepted. Additional entries beyond the specified limit will be void. Entries generated by script, macro or other automated means will be void. All information submitted online by entrants is subject to, and will be treated in a manner consistent with, MLB.com's Terms of Use accessible at: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/about_mlb_com/terms_of_use.jsp and Privacy Policy accessible at: www.mlb.com/privacy.  All online entries must include a valid e-mail address for the entrant.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:  Upon successful registration, follow the instructions provided to receive one (1) virtual bingo card (the "Bingo Card") for each game of the 2012 MLB Postseason played during the Promotion Period (each, a "Postseason Game"). In addition, during the Promotion Period, participants may utilize sharing functionality available via the Promotion upon completion of a successful Contest (the "Sharing Functionality") to receive two (2) additional Bingo Cards. For each eligible individual any entrant notifies or makes aware of the Promotion who clicks on a valid link made available via the Sharing Functionality identifiable as having come from the entrant, such entrant shall receive two (2) additional Bingo Cards (for a total of three (3) Bingo Cards). No additional Bingo Cards will be received other than through verified Sharing Functionality. There is a limit of three (3) Bingo Cards per person and per e-mail address per Postseason Game. Each Bingo Card shall include a 5x5 grid that includes twenty-five (25) tiles (each, a "Tile"). Each Tile will include one (1) randomly selected game outcome for the active Postseason Game. For example, a participant could have a "Josh Hamilton Double" Tile on their Bingo Card which would be automatically marked in the event Josh Hamilton hits a double during a Postseason Game. Any eligible participant who receives a Bingo Card that becomes marked with five (5) Tiles in a vertical, horizontal or diagonal row (each, a "Potential Winning Bingo Card") may be a potential Prize winner, subject to verification of eligibility and compliance with the terms of these Official Rules. (See the Prize Claim Section below for more information.) For purposes of this Promotion, MLB game outcomes will not be updated to reflect any official MLB statistics changes or corrections that may occur after the completion of any Postseason Game. Once each Postseason Game is final following completion of the final out of that game, it will be final for purposes of this Promotion. In the event any Postseason Game is cancelled, postponed or suspended, all Bingo Cards will be void for that game and Sponsor reserves the right to award the applicable Prizes by way of random drawing from among all eligible participants as of the time of such cancellation, postponement or suspension.

PRIZE CLAIMS: In the event you receive a message within MLB.com Gameday notifying you that you have a Potential Winning Bingo Card, you must claim your Potential Winning Bingo Card by following the onscreen instructions provided by no later than ten (10) minutes following the end of the applicable Postseason Game to be eligible for the Drawing (defined below). Failure to claim your Potential Winning Bingo Card within ten (10) minutes following the end of the applicable Postseason Game will render the Potential Winning Bingo Card void and result in Prize forfeiture.

ALL POTENTIAL WINNING BINGO CARDS ARE SUBJECT TO VERIFICATION BY SPONSOR WHOSE DECISIONS ARE FINAL AND BINDING. AN ENTRANT IS NOT A WINNER OF ANY PRIZE, EVEN IF THE PROMOTION SHOULD SO INDICATE, UNLESS AND UNTIL ENTRANT'S ELIGIBILITY, THE POTENTIAL WINNING BINGO CARD AND ENTRANT'S COMPLIANCE WITH THESE OFFICIAL RULES HAVE BEEN VERIFIED BY SPONSOR AND ENTRANT HAS BEEN NOTIFIED THAT SUCH VERIFICATION IS COMPLETE. SPONSOR WILL NOT ACCEPT SCREEN SHOTS OR OTHER EVIDENCE OF WINNING IN LIEU OF ITS VALIDATION PROCESS.

RANDOM DRAWINGS: Approximately thirty (30) minutes following the final out of each Postseason Game, five (5) potential winners will be selected by random drawing from among all eligible participants who claim valid Potential Winning Bingo Cards for that Postseason Game in accordance with these Official Rules (the "Drawing"). Subject to verification of eligibility and compliance with the terms of these Official Rules, the potential winners will be declared official winners of the Sweepstakes (each, a "Winner" and collectively, the "Winners"). Odds of winning a Prize will depend on the total number of Bingo Cards issued and the total number of valid Potential Winning Bingo Cards claimed for each applicable Postseason Game. Limit one (1) Prize per person, per family and per household.

PRIZES:  A maximum of two hundred fifteen (215) prizes (each, a "Prize" and collectively, the "Prizes") will be awarded (i.e. five (5) Prizes per each Postseason Game with a maximum of forty-three (43) Postseason Games), as follows:

For up to twenty-two (22) Postseason Games during the 2012 Wild Card Games and the 2012 Division Series, each Winner will receive one (1) Postseason.TV subscription for the remainder of the 2012 MLB Postseason. Approximate retail value ("ARV") of each such Prize: $4.99.

For up to twenty-one (21) Postseason Games during the 2012 League Championship Series and the 2012 MLB World Series Championship, each Winner will receive one (1) MLB.TV Offseason Package subscription. ARV of each such Prize: $24.99.

Total ARV of all Prizes: $3172.85.

For the avoidance of doubt, no Prizes will be awarded in connection with any 2012 MLB Postseason game that is not played because it is not necessary.

PRIZE CONDITIONS: All Prize details to be determined in the sole discretion of Sponsor. Each Winner is fully responsible for any and all applicable federal, state and local taxes (including income and withholding taxes). Postseason.TV subscriptions are subject to blackout and other restrictions - see www.postseason.tv for complete details. All costs and expenses associated with the Prize acceptance and use not specified herein as being provided including, but not limited to, any and all expenses incurred by accepting the Prize are the sole responsibility of the Winners. The Prizes are non-transferable and non-assignable, with no cash redemptions except at Sponsor's sole and absolute discretion. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute any Prize (or any portion thereof) with one of comparable or greater value at its sole and absolute discretion.

NOTIFICATION:  Each potential winner will be notified at the e-mail address, postal address and/or telephone number (in the sole discretion of Sponsor) provided at the time of entry (the "Prize Notification"). In the event that any potential winner does not respond to any such Prize Notification within three (3) days of the date of issuance or declines the Prize for any reason, a disqualification will result, the Prize will be forfeited and, at Sponsor's sole discretion and time permitting, an alternate potential winner may be randomly selected from among all remaining eligible entries. Each potential winner may be required to submit his/her valid social security number and/or other identification to Sponsor and may be required to execute, have notarized and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and Release of Liability and, unless prohibited by law, Publicity, within five (5) days of date of issuance. Failure to submit any identification required by Sponsor or to return the required documents within the specified time period, noncompliance with these Official Rules or the return of the Prize (or any portion thereof) or Prize Notification as undeliverable may result in disqualification and Prize forfeiture and, at Sponsor's sole discretion and time permitting, may cause an alternate potential winner to be randomly selected from among all remaining eligible entries.

WAIVER OF LIABILITY/PUBLICITY RELEASE:  By participating in the Promotion and submitting an entry, each entrant agrees to (i) be bound by these Official Rules, including all entry requirements, and (ii) waive any and all claims against Sponsor, the other MLB Entities, Facebook, Apple, Inc. and each of their respective parents, affiliated companies, subsidiaries, officers, directors, employees, agents, licensees, distributors, dealers, retailers, printers, representatives and advertising and promotion agencies, and any and all other companies associated with the Promotion, and all of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives (collectively, "Released Parties") for any injury, damage or loss that may occur, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from the participation in the Promotion or from the receipt or use of any Prize (or any portion thereof) or any travel or activity related to the receipt or use of any Prize (or any portion thereof). By entering this Promotion, each entrant gives his/her express permission to be contacted by Sponsor by telephone, e-mail and/or postal mail for Promotion purposes. Each Winner, by acceptance of the Prize, grants to Sponsor and each of its designees the right to publicize such Winner's name, address (city and state of residence), photograph, voice, statements and/or other likeness and prize information for advertising, promotional, trade and/or any other purpose in any media or format now known or hereafter devised, throughout the world, in perpetuity, without limitation and without further compensation, consideration, permission or notification, unless prohibited by law.

GENERAL CONDITIONS:  All decisions of Sponsor, including the determination of winners, are final and binding on all matters relating to this Promotion. Released Parties are not responsible for stolen, late, incomplete, illegible, inaccurate, misdirected, lost, misrouted, scrambled, damaged, delayed, undelivered, mutilated or garbled entries, transmissions, e-mail or mail; or for lost, interrupted or unavailable network, cable, satellite, server, Internet Service Provider (ISP), wireless network, website, or other connections including those through and/or by any website, availability or accessibility or miscommunications or failed computer, satellite, telephone, cable or wireless transmissions, lines, or technical failure or jumbled, scrambled, delayed, or misdirected transmissions or computer hardware or software malfunctions, failures or difficulties; any error, omission, interruption, defect or delay in transmission, processing, or communication; non-delivery; misdirected, blocked, or delayed e-mail notifications; printing, typographical or other errors appearing within these Official Rules, in any Promotion-related advertisements or other materials; or any other errors, problems or difficulties of any kind whether human, mechanical, electronic, network, computer, telephone, mail, typographical, printing or otherwise relating to or in connection with the Promotion, including, without limitation, errors or difficulties which may occur in connection with the administration of the Promotion, the processing of entries, the announcement of the Prize or in any Promotion-related materials, or the cancellation or postponement of any Major League Baseball game, event or exhibition. Released Parties are also not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by website users, tampering, hacking, or by any equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Promotion. Released Parties are not responsible for injury or damage to participants' or to any other person's computer related to or resulting from participating in this Promotion or downloading materials from or use of the website. Persons who tamper with or abuse any aspect of the Promotion or website or attempt to undermine the legitimate operation of the Promotion by cheating, deception or other unfair playing practices, or intend to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other entrant or any representative of Sponsor or who are in violation of these Official Rules, as solely determined by Sponsor, will be disqualified and all associated entries will be void. Any attempt to deliberately damage the content or operation of this Promotion is unlawful and subject to legal action by Sponsor and/or its agents. Sponsor shall have the sole right to disqualify any entrant for violation of these Official Rules or any applicable laws relating to the Promotion, and to resolve all disputes in its sole discretion. Released Parties (i) make no warranty, guaranty or representation of any kind concerning any Prize (or any portion thereof), and (ii) disclaim any implied warranty. Sponsor's failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.

Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel or suspend the Promotion (or any portion thereof) should virus, bugs, unauthorized human intervention, or other causes corrupt administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper operation of the Promotion (or any portion thereof). In the event of such cancellation, Sponsor may elect to identify the Winners and award the Prizes by way of random drawing from among all non-suspect, eligible entries received up to the time of such cancellation. Sponsor also reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify these Official Rules for clarification purposes without materially affecting the terms and conditions of the Promotion.

CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY ANY INDIVIDUAL, WHETHER OR NOT AN ENTRANT, TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEBSITE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROMOTION OR UNDERMINE THE CONTENT OR LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THIS PROMOTION MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR WILL DISQUALIFY ANY SUCH ENTRANT, AND SPONSOR AND/OR ITS AGENTS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES (INCLUDING ATTORNEYS' FEES) AND OTHER REMEDIES FROM ANY PERSON OR PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATTEMPT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

In the event of dispute as to the identity or eligibility of any potential winner based on an e-mail address, the winning entry will be declared made by the "Authorized Account Holder" of the e-mail address submitted at the time of entry provided he/she is eligible according to these Official Rules. The "Authorized Account Holder" is defined as the natural person to whom the applicable Internet service provider or other organization (such as a business or educational institution) has assigned the e-mail address for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address.

As a condition of participating in this Promotion, each entrant agrees that (A) any and all disputes, claims, controversies or causes of action arising out of or relating to this Promotion, or any prizes awarded (each, a "Claim"), shall be (1) arbitrated on an individual basis only, and shall not be consolidated or joined with or in any arbitration or other proceeding involving a Claim of any other party, and (2) settled by binding arbitration in New York County, New York before a single arbitrator appointed by the American Arbitr

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