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Opening day signifies hope every year. For the 2023 Orioles, maybe it’s real.

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:47:00 GMT

The line to enter Pickles Pub snaked nearly a block by 1:30 p.m. Friday as fans — despite a last-minute rescheduled Orioles home opener and gray skies — filed into the festivities ahead of the 3 p.m. first pitch. “We’re just getting started,” one fan’s sign read.There might not be a greater symbol of hope in sports than opening day. The weather has begun to turn, birds are chirping and all 30 MLB teams remain, at least mathematically, in contention for the postseason.It’s always a bright and boozy occasion in Baltimore. But it’s even a little sweeter when the hometown ballclub has playoff hopes. A buoyant crowd enjoyed the merriment Friday morning and afternoon ahead of the Orioles’ home opener against the New York Yankees at Camden Yards on a cloudy spring day.The hope among the 45,017 fans at the game — a sellout and most at a home opener since 2018 — and the many others enjoying the atmosphere outside Camden Yards ...

Pat Leonard: Minnesota center John Michael Schmitz a hot NFL Draft commodity with Jets, Giants and more

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:47:00 GMT

Jets coaches had dinner with Minnesota center John Michael Schmitz on March 27 and put him through a private workout in Minneapolis on March 28. Then Schmitz came to Florham Park for a top-30 visit this past Monday and Tuesday.Giants offensive line coach Bobby Johnson dined with Schmitz on March 14, the night before the Golden Gophers’ pro day, then ran Minnesota’s offensive line workout.Both New York teams have a clear need at center. Both teams have either a late first-round pick (Giants, No. 25 overall) or the capital to move there (Jets, No. 42 and 43 overall).Stiff competition is shaping up for a player many teams view as the top center in this draft. But Daniel Jones could use a long-time partner at the pivot, and Aaron Rodgers – whenever he gets here – will need someone who can plug in and go.Schmitz would give either team what they needed immediately.“I can fit in any scheme,” Schmitz told the Tennessee Titans website at the Senior Bowl. &...

Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso homer in Mets’ rout of Marlins in home opener

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:47:00 GMT

The Mets have often been the culprit behind some bizarre baseball, but Friday at Citi Field it was the Miami Marlins responsible for the oddities. At least most of them.Marlins (3-5) right-hander Edward Cabrera couldn’t find the strike zone but the Mets (4-4) couldn’t find the ball with the barrel in the early innings. Still, their patience at the plate paid off in a 9-3 win over the Fish in the home opener.“It took us a little bit to break through but when we did, we really did well,” outfielder Brandon Nimmo said. “It was good to go up and put up some runs and [Tylor] Megill did his job. It was amazing.”Nothing went according to plan except for maybe the win. The game was moved to Friday because of rain in the forecast, which never came. Instead, Thursday brought sunshine and warm temperatures and by the time the right-hander Megill (2-0) took the mound Friday, it was gray and chilly.Speaking of Megill, he wasn’t even supposed to be pitchi...

First Citizens Bank committed to affordable housing projects across Massachusetts, official says

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:47:00 GMT

First Citizens Bank says it has begun conversations with “key Boston community leaders” around how to continue affordable housing commitments made by defunct Silicon Valley Bank.First Citizens and Trust Bank late last month acquired the collapsed SVB, an institution that, according to members of Massachusetts’ congressional delegation, had “extensive investments and partnerships in the (state’s) affordable housing sector.”In an email to the Herald, Jacqueline Vose, executive director of strategy and community investment for First Citizens Bank, said while initial conversations have taken place, further discussions with more groups and government officials are scheduled in the coming days.“First Citizens Bank is proud of its 125-year strong track record of supporting the communities where we live and work,” Vose said. “We take seriously our commitment to invest in and support our communities through affordable housing and other community development initiatives.“We want to take...

Quick peep

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:47:00 GMT

Easter is a time for renewal and reflection. Also colored eggs, bonnets and Sunday service. Toss in family and good food and being grateful for all we cherish.Eloise Shklovsky, 2, of Boston, smiles while using a bubble wand on Boston Common as part of an egg decorating event held by The Crafty Girls Friday. (Reba Saldanha/Boston Herald)Amy Albores Alfaro, 4, and her sister Alison, 5, get their portrait with the Easter Bunny at the Easter Spring Fling for children at the Everett. (Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)Don Poison, 3, puts on his easter bunny face at the Easter Spring Fling for children at the Everett Recreation Center . (Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)  

Ravens free agency tracker 2023: LB Kristian Welch, a special teams staple, reportedly re-signs

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:47:00 GMT

Welcome to the Ravens’ free-agency tracker, which will be updated throughout the offseason.With the NFL’s new league year beginning Wednesday at 4 p.m., teams can officially announce signings and trades. Here’s a rundown of who the Ravens have agreed to sign, who they’ve lost and who’s still on the open market:Free agent additionsLinebacker Kristian Welch: A 24-year-old linebacker who played almost entirely on special teams last season, Welch re-signed with Baltimore on Friday, according to ESPN’s Field Yates. He was an unrestricted free agent who wasn’t tendered by the Ravens.Welch, who signed with Baltimore as an undrafted free agent out of Iowa in 2020, played in all 17 games last season and had three total tackles. The 6-foot-3, 242-pound linebacker played just four snaps on defense last season and will likely serve in a similar special teams role in 2023.Last season, the Ravens ranked third in the NFL in special teams efficiency, accord...

Marcus Stroman dominates for the Chicago Cubs in a 2-0 win over the Texas Rangers

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:47:00 GMT

David Ross talked about what he called “the Twitter machine” before Friday’s game against the Texas Rangers at Wrigley Field, noting he’s not a frequent visitor to the app.“I go on Twitter every once in a while,” the Chicago Cubs manager said. “Just not on me. I try to stay out of (things). I’m not Googling myself and seeing all the awesome things people are saying about me.”The 2023 season marks a turning point in Ross’s career as Cubs manager. He’s being judged by a higher standard and saw the first real volley of criticism aimed in his direction last week after a failed bunt attempt by Patrick Wisdom in a loss to the Cincinnati Reds. It was mild but jarring coming so early in the season.Ross said he welcomes the criticism, and as a former analyst with ESPN he understands the game relies on fan debate, much of which the media fuels. He’s not averse to taking risks, no matter the potential for Twitter abuse.Ros...

This Anza-Borrego hike takes people out to see a 'geological oddity'

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:47:00 GMT

SAN DIEGO – Southern California is home to many natural wonders, from the vast desert landscape to coastal bluffs. Among those destinations is a one-of-a-kind spot in Anza-Borrego State Park that has scientists still scratching their heads.Called the “Wind Caves,” the extraordinary formations in the Anza-Borrego badlands have brought out many visitors to the park looking to catch a glimpse of the unique tunnels and holes that have been carved out over thousands of years.“(They) are an Interesting and fun geologic outcropping,” Dan McCamish, a senior environmental scientist with the California State Parks Colorado Desert District, told FOX5SanDiego.com. “(It’s) certainly unique to the area given that we don’t see a lot of other wind caves surrounding it.” 7 quiet and easy San Diego trails for non-hikers According to McCamish, there are a couple of things about the Wind Caves that make them particularly distinctive formations in Anza-Borrego.For one, the soil and stone is much harde...

US judge orders man held in case of missing Navajo woman

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:47:00 GMT

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — The family of a Native American woman who went missing from her home on the Navajo Nation pleaded with the man accused of assaulting her and taking her pickup truck, asking during a court hearing Friday that he tell them where he left Ella Mae Begay so they could bring her home and find closure. The tearful messages of family members resonated through a courtroom in Flagstaff, Arizona, as they told the judge about what they have endured since Begay disappeared nearly two years ago. “There’s nothing that’s coming out of this whole situation except all the pain that he’s caused, the anger, the frustration,” her son Gerald Begay said. “I mean, this is a mother, an aunt, a grandma, a sister, you know, that doesn’t deserve this type of assault.”A soft-spoken woman who was known as a master weaver, Begay was always cautious and never drove around at night. So her family knew immediately that something was wrong when they saw her gray pickup truck leaving her home in the...

Storms bring down trees at Masters, play halted in 2nd round

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:47:00 GMT

Three towering pine trees fell near patrons as storms rolled through Augusta National on Friday, though nobody was hurt, and the second round of the Masters ground to a halt as heavy wind and rain rolled through the area.The course was cleared once for 21 minutes by an earlier band of storms. The air horns sounded again at 4:22 p.m. as another set of arrived, forcing the evacuation of patrons and sending players and officials searching for cover.Just before the second horn sounded, two enormous pines fell next to each other near the 17th tee, sending those in the area scattering. On the nearby 16th green, Sergio Garcia stopped and stared at what seemed to be happening in slow motion, and his playing partners Kazuki Higa and Keith Mitchell watched anxiously to see if anyone was hurt.“We were cresting the fairway on 15. We thought it was a scoreboard or a grandstand,” said Sahith Theegala, who is playing in his first Masters. “We were hoping it wasn’t something that hit anybody....