newyorkpost--2020-07-19--Behind the Yankees’ decision to sit five starters vs. Mets

Aaron Boone wasn’t shy about Friday night’s intrasquad game being the opener of four “real’’ games in front of the Yankees’ Opening Day gig in Washington on Thursday.
The final intrasquad game of spring training 2.0 was played before the Yankees traveled to Citi Field and topped the Mets, 9-3, on Saturday night. They play host to the Mets at Yankee Stadium on Sunday evening and will play the Phillies in The Bronx on Monday night.
So, it was clear that starters were not going to play four straight games, and Boone left Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks, Gary Sanchez, Brett Gardner and Luke Voit at the Stadium to work out.
“In my head I am looking at [Friday] night’s game was a game for us,’’ Boone said. “Four days where most of our guys will play three out of four. A couple might play in all four but for the most part looking at three out of four so those were the guys [Saturday].’’
Masahiro Tanaka is slated to throw a second bullpen session on Sunday at Yankee Stadium. If that goes well the right-hander will upgrade to facing live hitters next week. That would be the first time Tanaka will pitch to a batter since Giancarlo Stanton’s 112 mph line drive hit the right-hander in the head on July 4 and caused a concussion.
Boone didn’t have an update about Luis Cessa and Aroldis Chapman, who are quarantining away from the club due to COVID-19.
Boone used the exhibition game to bring Miguel Andujar from left field to the shortstop side of second base in the fifth inning to provide Zack Britton with five infielders while pitching to pitch to Tomas Nido with one out. Nido then dumped a single into right.
“I think it makes a lot of sense depending on the situation and the hitter that is up there,’’ said Britton, who worked an intrasquad game with the same alignment.
Jordan Montgomery starts against the Mets on Sunday night and Deivi Garcia opens versus the Phillies on Monday evening.
Gio Urshela went down during batting practice when hit in the groin. He was attended to by trainer Steve Donohue on the field and walked off. However, Urshela was in the lineup and made several slick plays at third base. After the game Boone said Urshela was OK.
Boone said it was good to experience what life on the road is in the new environment.
“I thought by and large it went really well,’’ he said. “It was easy to get our work in.’’
After two weeks of facing their own pitchers in live batting practice or simulated games, seeing a hurler in a different uniform is a big step toward preparing for Opening Day on Thursday at Washington.
“That is going to help us get ready,’’ Urshela said about facing an opposing pitcher.
Asked what the bus ride from The Bronx to Queens was like, Urshela said he drove himself. Boone also drove with bench coach Carlos Mendoza.
Asked about spring training 2.0 injuries, Boone said shortstop prospect Kyle Holder was checked out for a hip/stomach issue Friday night. Other than that the manager couldn’t think of another injury.


newyorkpost--2020-07-19--These hidden reliever gems can help your fantasy baseball team

If you learn anything from this pandemic , it should be ...

Major League Baseball begins its 60-game sprint to the World Series in just a few days, which means those playing for a fantasy baseball championship this year better have all their ducks in a row.
Whether you are about to draft or looking to make adjustments to the roster you built three months ago, your knowledge of bullpens is going to be vital to your success. It isn’t just about closers, though. Based on what many managers around the league are saying, relief pitchers could be your bread and butter on your trip to the winner’s circle.
Closers, obviously, grab all the attention. In addition to boosting you in the saves category, hoarding a few on your roster will do wonderful things to help your ratios.
The elites such as Josh Hader and Kirby Yates always are costly, and according to recent average-draft-position data, mid-tier guys like Ken Giles and Hector Neris are also climbing up draft boards relatively quickly. However, there is still a wild misconception that closers on bad teams don’t work for fantasy. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Though closers such as Detroit’s Joe Jimenez or Miami’s Brandon Kintzler may not see the same number of save opportunities the Yankees’ Aroldis Chapman gets, they can still provide plenty of assistance in fantasy.
First off, they will accrue saves. Maybe the Marlins win just 25 of their 60 games, but there is a strong chance Kintzler ends up saving 15 of them. In a truncated season when everyone is scratching their heads, wondering where they can find a good value, this is where you need to look. You may not win the category outright, but you’ll be competitive and save yourself a bundle with the bargain-shopping. Take those savings and build up that offense.
Setup men and long relievers are also going to have tremendous value this season, as many starters are going to be limited. For example, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has already announced his starters are unlikely to throw more than three or four innings during the first few turns of the rotation.
That means middle relievers such as Ross Stripling and Dustin May will have added value and could even vulture a few wins for you. You can expect Joe Maddon of the Angels and Tampa Bay’s Kevin Cash to do the same.
Identifying which bullpens are the best will help you figure out which ponds you need to fish. Aside from the aforementioned teams, you will want to keep a close watch on the bullpens in San Diego, Milwaukee and Cleveland.
How you build your fantasy rotation will be a key factor in your success. A couple of aces at the top, one or two more starters capable of eating innings next then finish it off with the bullpen. Two or three closers and a few setup men or long relievers will put you in a great position this year for your pitching categories. It won’t be the sexiest rotation, but it will be effective.
Howard Bender is the VP of operations and head of content at Fantasy-Alarm.com. Follow him on Twitter @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays from 5-7 p.m. Go to FantasyAlarm.com for all your fantasy baseball advice.


newyorkpost--2020-07-19--Rangers’ Pavel Buchnevich exits camp for undisclosed reason

Before the start of the 2019-20 season , Rangers defenseman Tony ...

Pavel Buchnevich left training camp early for an undisclosed reason Saturday.
“Under league policy, I’m not allowed to elaborate on injuries,” coach David Quinn said.
The league announced last week that teams will be barred from disclosing injuries or cases of the coronavirus beginning in training camp 2.0. The NHL and NHL Players’ Association released a statement regarding their new injury policy, saying it “was adopted out of respect for an individual player’s right to medical privacy.”
There was no noticeable incident that led to Buchnevich’s departure from the ice, but he did not finish out practice after leaving midway through.
The Russian winger is in his fourth season with the Rangers, which has proven to be his most successful yet. He posted 16 goals and a career-high 30 assistant in 68 games for the 2019-20 regular season.
Buchnevich also saw ample time on the first line this season with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider, who he’s been skating with for the majority of training camp so far.
The Rangers found a deadly offensive rhythm just before the regular season was suspended in March, catapulting themselves to one of the top-five scoring teams in the league.
So as the first week of training camp wraps up, Quinn has shifted his attention to the defensive side of things.
“These last few days we’ve been talking with the defenseman in particular,” Quinn said. “One of the things we’ve been trying to harp on is our gaps and that’s something that we have to constantly remind our defenseman. That it’s going to be very important against a team like Carolina, taking away time and space from them.”
Though the Rangers edge out the Hurricanes in most offensive categories, Carolina’s numbers on defense speak for themselves. The ’Canes allowed an average of 2.84 goals per game and 193 goals in total, which is good for the ninth-lowest of the 31 NHL teams.
The Rangers tied with the Wild for an average of 3.14 goals allowed per game, the ninth-highest in the league.
Defenseman Jacob Trouba said he believes the biggest energizer for defense in the postseason is the fans in the crowd. Considering that won’t be possible in the NHL’s “bubble” in Toronto, Trouba is banking on feeding off of his teammates.
“I think it’s going to be really reliant on your teammates and I guess the bench to really keep the energy and the pace of the game up,” he said. “So in that sense, it’s going to be different but at the same time it’s definitely a playoff game, you’re playing for something and you got to find a way to build your own energy as a team.
“Being a young team, I think we have a better chance of doing that, playing freely, don’t really have many expectations. I think that’s something that can work for us.”
Defenseman Tony DeAngelo said there wasn’t one particular area that defenders were focusing on during training camp, but that they’re just looking to get back into game shape.
“We’re kind of just getting our touches down and stuff, trying to get back in the rhythm of feeling pucks in different spots,” DeAngelo said. “It’s kind of feeling those rushes again, feeling other people, you know, attacking in front of the net, box outs, all that kind of stuff.
“We’re just trying to get all that rhythm back and get ready to go because speed is going to be as high as you can get once we start.”


newyorkpost--2020-07-19--Jed Lowrie doesn’t look like he will start season with Mets

It took longer than most people expected , but baseball was ...

Jed Lowrie’s chances of beginning the season as an active player for the Mets appear to be evaporating.
The veteran infielder’s mobility issues are still pronounced enough that manager Luis Rojas on Saturday indicated Lowrie wasn’t available for the two exhibition games this weekend against the Yankees.
“He looks really good at the plate — we’re really pleased with how he’s looked,” Rojas said at Citi Field before the Mets’ 9-3 loss to the Yankees. “But there’s still a progression that he needs for him to play in this type of game, an exhibition game against another uniform.”
“The base-running progression, also some movements on the defensive end, some plays, we want to see that progression and then we can reassess about his ability for these games.”
Lowrie, who arrived before last season on a two-year contract worth $20 million, appeared in just nine games in 2019 because of assorted injuries. He has been wearing a substantial left leg brace in camp, but has declined to specify the nature of his injury.
Matt Adams exercised the release clause in his contract and opted for free agency. The veteran slugger arrived on a minor league contract last winter, but the Mets’ multitude of first-base options — starting with Pete Alonso and Dominic Smith — didn’t work to his advantage. Even with the implementation of the DH, there didn’t appear to be much room for Adams, given Yoenis Cespedes’ return and the possibility Rojas could use players such as Robinson Cano and J.D. Davis in the spot.
Jeff McNeil and Wilson Ramos were the only Mets regulars absent from Saturday’s starting lineup, as Rojas decided to look at other players. Max Moroff started at third base, with Tomas Nido behind the plate. McNeil is expected to start Sunday’s game at Yankee Stadium, but Ramos might be given another day off so Rojas can get work for Rene Rivera, Ali Sanchez or Patrick Mazeika. The Mets face a decision at backup catcher. The fact Nido doesn’t have minor league options remaining could give him an edge for a job.
Jacob deGrom is scheduled to throw a simulated game on Sunday at Citi Field, before many of his teammates depart for The Bronx. He is expected to get his pitch count to about 60, which would put him in position for a possible 85-pitch outing Friday in the season opener against the Braves. DeGrom left an intrasquad scrimmage after only one inning on Tuesday because of back tightness. Walker Lockett is scheduled to pitch against deGrom in the simulated game.
Rojas indicated that Cano, who batted third Saturday, will likely stay in the middle of the lineup once the season begins.


newyorkpost--2020-07-19--Longtime Knick Lance Thomas looking forward to Nets chance

Nearly two months have passed since George Floyd was killed ... .

Back home are Spencer Dinwiddie, Taurean Prince and Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, Wilson Chandler and DeAndre Jordan. That’s a lot of valuable experience the Nets will be without once the NBA restart begins in Orlando, Fla., after a shutdown due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Which is where Lance Thomas steps in.
The former Knick has been in the league for nearly a decade, and like fellow newcomer and graybeard Jamal Crawford, can provide wisdom to his younger teammates.
“Great veteran presence,” Jarrett Allen said of Thomas following Saturday’s practice, via Zoom. “Coming in all of our older guys — I hope they get better — they all came down with coronavirus, and we’re stuck with a younger team. But now having these older guys in here being able to guide us and show us the ropes, I think that helps us tremendously.”
The 32-year-old Thomas is thrilled to have the opportunity. The defensive-minded forward spent training camp with the Nets, but he was waived on Oct. 18. Nobody picked him up following four seasons with the Knicks. He stayed mostly at home in his New York City apartment due to the virus until June, but stayed in shape and had recently been working out at the NBAPA’s gym.
Once Nets players began opting out, a need arose. He was signed on Tuesday as a substitute player for Michael Beasley and practiced for the first time on Saturday.
“It was great to get out of quarantine,” he said. “Sitting in the room for about six-to-seven days, I was itching to get back on the court. I reacclimated with the guys and I was excited for the opportunity.”
Though Thomas hasn’t played for a while, he does have an advantage having spent training camp with the Nets. Still, there are adjustments that have to be made, and he has to play his way back into basketball shape. Still, he doesn’t think it will take him too long, considering basketball is his life, saying there is a lot of muscle memory.
Me, personally, I’m going to just be tenacious,” Thomas said. “Make open shots, do whatever the team needs me to do, probably guard the other team’s best player, do things that got me into the league, things that I enjoy doing. … I play the hand I’m dealt. I think myself being a player who’s been in the league you learn how to quickly adapt to any situation. Again, I’m ready for whatever comes my way.”
Interim coach Jacque Vaughn said on his first day, Thomas did mostly individual work. But he expects him to be a significant part of the team.
“He’ll fit into the group, be able to play multiple positions, which we need,” Vaughn said.
During practice, Vaughn showed his players a video commemorating the life of Congressman and civil rights movement icon John Lewis, who died Friday at the age of 80 from pancreatic cancer. Vaughn told them he was one of five people on his dinner wish list.
“Speaking for the organization, extremely pleased we are able to just enlighten and education our guys on a human being who dedicated am major part of his life for others and for the social well-being of all humans,” he said. “An ideal time for us to lean into gratitude and lean into joy into our life and commemorate a guy who stood for a lot for a lot of human beings.”
The Nets signed guard/forward Justin Anderson on Saturday as a substitute player for the rest of the season, filling their last available roster spot.


newyorkpost--2020-07-19--Astoria parties on despite pandemic, NYPD ‘crackdown’

A promised NYPD ‘ crackdown ’ on the crowds of drinking revelers who ’ ve been jamming the sidewalk cafes of Astoria yielded mixed results Saturday night — when the party mostly lingered on .
Dozens of NYPD officers plus some 30 deputies from the city ’ s Sheriff ’ s Office spent hours ticketing double-parked cars and asking people to disperse along popular Steinway Street after darkness fell .
They were mostly ignored by the officers .
“ These young guys don ’ t want to listen , ” limo driver Michael Lantigua , 44 , complained as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blasted out of car windows .
“ Some nights I see such craziness , ” he added .
“ It ’ s like they call each other : ‘ Come , we have fun times in Astoria .
Whatever you like.
’ And nobody stops them.
” Then , shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday , sheriff ’ s deputies struck at least one mobbed restaurant , “ BRIK Astoria , ” at Steinway and Broadway .
The officers served the restaurant with a commissioner ’ s order for noncompliance of social-distancing rules , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week .
“ One-hundred-percent unfair , ” manager Fred Nailes groused afterward , insisting he was doing his best to control crowds .
“ We ’ re getting blamed for people hanging out like it ’ s Florida.
” The police presence on Saturday night hardly harshed the enjoyment of revelers like Michael Lantigua , of The Bronx , who came to celebrate his 26th birthday with friends .
“ It was crazy , bro , ” he said , clutching a bottle of Hennessy in one hand and a plastic cup of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It was a whole lot of girls .
Everybody was drinking and chilling .
Was there a whole lot of social distancing ?
Not really… Everybody was close .
Some people wore masks .
Some people didn ’ t .
”

A promised NYPD ‘crackdown’ on the crowds of drinking revelers who’ve been jamming the sidewalk cafes of Astoria yielded mixed results Saturday night — when the party mostly lingered on.
Dozens of NYPD officers plus some 30 deputies from the city’s Sheriff’s Office spent hours ticketing double-parked cars and asking people to disperse along popular Steinway Street after darkness fell.
They were mostly ignored by the officers.
“These young guys don’t want to listen,” limo driver Michael Lantigua, 44, complained as a mostly maskless sidewalk throng danced to music blasted out of car windows.
“Some nights I see such craziness,” he added.
“It’s like they call each other: ‘Come, we have fun times in Astoria. Whatever you like.’ And nobody stops them.”
Then, shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday, sheriff’s deputies struck at least one mobbed restaurant, “BRIK Astoria,” at Steinway and Broadway.
The officers served the restaurant with a commissioner’s order for noncompliance of social-distancing rules, barring them from serving outdoors for a week.
Previous 1 of 6 Next Advertisement NYC Sheriffs target Steinway street in Astoria to enforce social distancing and face coverings Paul Martinka NYC Sheriffs target Steinway street in Astoria to enforce social distancing and face coverings Paul Martinka Advertisement NYC Sheriffs target Steinway street in Astoria to enforce social distancing and face coverings Paul Martinka NYC Sheriffs target Steinway street in Astoria to enforce social distancing and face coverings Paul Martinka Advertisement
“One-hundred-percent unfair,” manager Fred Nailes groused afterward, insisting he was doing his best to control crowds.
“We’re getting blamed for people hanging out like it’s Florida.”
The police presence on Saturday night hardly harshed the enjoyment of revelers like Michael Lantigua, of The Bronx, who came to celebrate his 26th birthday with friends.
“It was crazy, bro,” he said, clutching a bottle of Hennessy in one hand and a plastic cup of orange juice and ice in another.
“It was a whole lot of girls. Everybody was drinking and chilling. Was there a whole lot of social distancing? Not really… Everybody was close. Some people wore masks. Some people didn’t.”
Lantigua wasn’t wearing a mask.


newyorkpost--2020-07-19--Authentic gives Bob Baffert his ninth Haskell victory

OCEANPORT , N.J. — Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert got yet another win in the Haskell Stakes with a talented , developing colt who is now very much in the picture for the coronavirus-delayed Kentucky Derby .
Authentic gave Baffert his record-extending ninth victory in the $ 1 million Grade 1 Haskell on Saturday , holding off late charging Ny Traffic by a nose at Monmouth Park .
Jockey Mike Smith put the Santa Anita Derby runner-up on the lead at the start and they covered the 1 1/8- mile Grade 1 stakes in 1:50.46 .
The win was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the colt .
“ I ’ m just so proud of him , ” Baffert said .
“ I was telling Mike , ’ You got to stay after him and keep him busy because he looks at everything.
’ I could tell he wasn ’ t focused going down the stretch .
He held on and he saw that horse coming to him and he took off again.
” Smith , who made the trip in from the West Coast and had to pass a coronavirus test before gaining entrance to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No .
2 post and never lost the lead .
It was not the easiest of rides .
“ He has an abundance of talent but he ’ s still got some growing up to do , ” Smith said .
“ He sees all kinds of things that aren ’ t even there .
Down the backside there are a lot of shadows with the sun setting and he must have ducked at every one of them , He almost got me off at one point.
” It might have been a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been hit with a 15-day suspension by the Oaklawn Park stewards in Arkansas .
It ’ s the result of two of his horses testing positive for being over the allowed limit of a substance in races on May 2 .
Baffert plans to appeal the penalty .
Baffert last won the Haskell in 2015 with American Pharoah , one of two colts he guided to the Triple Crown .
Justify ( 2018 ) was the other .
Baffert ’ s other Haskell winners were in 2014 ( Bayern ) , 2012 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , 2010 ( Lookin at Lucky ) , 2005 ( Roman Ruler ) , 2002 ( War Emblem ) and 2001 ( Point Given ) .
Authentic won his first three starts before finishing second to Honor A. P. in the Grade 1 race in California in his last start on June 6 .
Ny Traffic , who finished second in the Matt Winn in Kentucky in his last start , came flying late and could not catch Authentic before the finish line with Paco Lopez aboard .
“ I was sure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Lopez said .
“ I can ’ t believe it .
I ’ m surprised we didn ’ t win .
I really thought we got him.
” Authentic earned 100 points for the Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5 .
The winner also earned a berth for the Breeders ’ Cup Classic in November .
Authentic paid $ 3.20 , $ 2.60 and $ 2.10 .
Ny Traffic returned $ 4.20 and $ 2.40 , and Dr Post paid $ 2.10 to show .
The owners of Tiz the Law plan to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first leg of the Triple Crown in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 8 .
It would be his final prep for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs .
The Preakness is scheduled for Oct. 3 in a rejiggered Triple Crown season changed by the coronavirus .
Just before the Haskell , Bravo rallied Aquaphobia ( $ 23.40 ) in the stretch to a narrow victory over Paret in the $ 300,000 The United Nations Stakes , the only other Grade 1 race run in New Jersey .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the race .

OCEANPORT, N.J. — Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert got yet another win in the Haskell Stakes with a talented, developing colt who is now very much in the picture for the coronavirus-delayed Kentucky Derby.
Authentic gave Baffert his record-extending ninth victory in the $1 million Grade 1 Haskell on Saturday, holding off late charging Ny Traffic by a nose at Monmouth Park.
Jockey Mike Smith put the Santa Anita Derby runner-up on the lead at the start and they covered the 1 1/8- mile Grade 1 stakes in 1:50.46. The win was the third in four starts this year for the colt.
“I’m just so proud of him,” Baffert said. “I was telling Mike, ’You got to stay after him and keep him busy because he looks at everything.’ I could tell he wasn’t focused going down the stretch. He held on and he saw that horse coming to him and he took off again.”
Belmont runner-up Dr. Post finished third under jockey Joe Bravo.
Smith, who made the trip in from the West Coast and had to pass a coronavirus test before gaining entrance to the track, broke Authentic from the No. 2 post and never lost the lead.
It was not the easiest of rides.
“He has an abundance of talent but he’s still got some growing up to do,” Smith said. “He sees all kinds of things that aren’t even there. Down the backside there are a lot of shadows with the sun setting and he must have ducked at every one of them, He almost got me off at one point.”
It might have been a going away present for Baffert, who has been hit with a 15-day suspension by the Oaklawn Park stewards in Arkansas. It’s the result of two of his horses testing positive for being over the allowed limit of a substance in races on May 2. Baffert plans to appeal the penalty.
Assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes saddled the colt Saturday.
Baffert last won the Haskell in 2015 with American Pharoah, one of two colts he guided to the Triple Crown. Justify (2018) was the other.
Baffert’s other Haskell winners were in 2014 (Bayern), 2012 (Paynter), 2011 (Coil), 2010 (Lookin at Lucky), 2005 (Roman Ruler), 2002 (War Emblem) and 2001 (Point Given).
Authentic won his first three starts before finishing second to Honor A. P. in the Grade 1 race in California in his last start on June 6.
Ny Traffic, who finished second in the Matt Winn in Kentucky in his last start, came flying late and could not catch Authentic before the finish line with Paco Lopez aboard.
“I was sure I got him — 100%,” Lopez said. “I can’t believe it. I’m surprised we didn’t win. I really thought we got him.”
Authentic earned 100 points for the Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5. The winner also earned a berth for the Breeders’ Cup Classic in November.
Authentic paid $3.20, $2.60 and $2.10. Ny Traffic returned $4.20 and $2.40, and Dr Post paid $2.10 to show.
The owners of Tiz the Law plan to run this year’s winner of the first leg of the Triple Crown in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 8. It would be his final prep for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. The Preakness is scheduled for Oct. 3 in a rejiggered Triple Crown season changed by the coronavirus.
Just before the Haskell, Bravo rallied Aquaphobia ($23.40) in the stretch to a narrow victory over Paret in the $300,000 The United Nations Stakes, the only other Grade 1 race run in New Jersey. It’s was Bravo’s fifth win in the race.


newyorkpost--2020-07-19--Pelosi accuses Trump administration of ‘kidnapping’ Portland protesters

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is accusing the Trump administration of using federal police to “ kidnap ” protesters in Portland — likening their arrests to “ banana republic ” tactics .
“ Last month , the Administration tear-gassed peaceful protestors in Washington , D.C. , ” she wrote in a joint statement Saturday with Oregon Rep. Earl Blumenauer .
“ Now , videos show them kidnapping protestors in unmarked cars in Portland – all with the goal of inflaming tensions for their own gain , ” the statement said .
“ While Portland is the President ’ s current target @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the statement added .
President Trump has vowed to protect federal property and monuments and has deployed federal officers to stand guard in Portland and other cities .
But with Oregon officials vowing to sue the federal government over the deployment , protest-roiled Portland was on the president ’ s mind again early Sunday .
“ Oregon officials are running scared when it comes to Portland m [ sic ] , ” Trump tweeted shortly before 2 a.m. before quickly deleting the message .
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler had joined other state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agents .
He reportedly referred to the agents as the president ’ s “ personal army ” — only escalating tensions .
Mark Morgan , the acting head of Customs and Border Protection , on Saturday called the accusation “ outrageous.
” “ The argument that the mere presence of federal officers and agents causes violence , that is outrageous and it ’ s ridiculous , and I believe that most American people do not believe that , ” Morgan said .
Pelosi and Blumenauer said they were “ moving swiftly ” to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t elaborate on what actions they were taking .

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is accusing the Trump administration of using federal police to “kidnap” protesters in Portland — likening their arrests to “banana republic” tactics.
“Last month, the Administration tear-gassed peaceful protestors in Washington, D.C.,” she wrote in a joint statement Saturday with Oregon Rep. Earl Blumenauer.
“Now, videos show them kidnapping protestors in unmarked cars in Portland – all with the goal of inflaming tensions for their own gain,” the statement said.
“While Portland is the President’s current target, any city could be next,” the statement added.
President Trump has vowed to protect federal property and monuments and has deployed federal officers to stand guard in Portland and other cities.
But with Oregon officials vowing to sue the federal government over the deployment, protest-roiled Portland was on the president’s mind again early Sunday.
“Oregon officials are running scared when it comes to Portland m [sic],” Trump tweeted shortly before 2 a.m. before quickly deleting the message.
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler had joined other state officials Friday in demanding Trump remove the agents.
He reportedly referred to the agents as the president’s “personal army” — only escalating tensions.
Mark Morgan, the acting head of Customs and Border Protection, on Saturday called the accusation “outrageous.”
“The argument that the mere presence of federal officers and agents causes violence, that is outrageous and it’s ridiculous, and I believe that most American people do not believe that,” Morgan said.
Pelosi and Blumenauer said they were “moving swiftly” to stop the agents in Portland but didn’t elaborate on what actions they were taking.


newyorkpost--2020-07-19--Hidden edge Giants have in coronavirus-restricted camp

MetLife Stadium is the shared East Rutherford home of the Giants and Jets , but its across-the-parking-lots proximity to the Giants ’ offices and Quest Diagnostics Training Center will provide one team extra flexibility navigating a coronavirus-restricted training camp .
The Athletic Health Jets Training Center is about 30 miles away in Florham Park .
In order to comply with NFL social distancing guidelines described as “ humanly impossible ” by Ravens coach John Harbaugh , the Giants will use multiple locker rooms inside the stadium , supplementing their regular gameday dressing space with locker rooms meant for visiting NFL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teams and the XFL .
They also will have access to luxury suites as makeshift meeting rooms when outdoors is not feasible .
The training headquarters only will be used for its three outdoor and one indoor fields .
Rookies will report to most teams around the league , including the Jets , on Tuesday , though the Giants pushed back their first day to Thursday , when quarterbacks and injured players can join .
The rest of the veterans are due July 28 .
COVID-19 testing for first-time returning Giants staff members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who reported back from all over the country were tested Friday .
The NFL and its players union still are negotiating the specifics of how camps will be operated and the procedures for handling positive test results .
The Giants cleared their plan with the Jets , who had no objections .
The logistics were first reported by NorthJersey.com and confirmed by The Post .

Geographical advantage: Giants.
MetLife Stadium is the shared East Rutherford home of the Giants and Jets, but its across-the-parking-lots proximity to the Giants’ offices and Quest Diagnostics Training Center will provide one team extra flexibility navigating a coronavirus-restricted training camp. The Athletic Health Jets Training Center is about 30 miles away in Florham Park.
In order to comply with NFL social distancing guidelines described as “humanly impossible” by Ravens coach John Harbaugh, the Giants will use multiple locker rooms inside the stadium, supplementing their regular gameday dressing space with locker rooms meant for visiting NFL teams or other tenants like high school teams and the XFL. They also will have access to luxury suites as makeshift meeting rooms when outdoors is not feasible.
The training headquarters only will be used for its three outdoor and one indoor fields.
Rookies will report to most teams around the league, including the Jets, on Tuesday, though the Giants pushed back their first day to Thursday, when quarterbacks and injured players can join. The rest of the veterans are due July 28.
COVID-19 testing for first-time returning Giants staff members began last week, and assistant coaches who reported back from all over the country were tested Friday. The NFL and its players union still are negotiating the specifics of how camps will be operated and the procedures for handling positive test results.
The Giants cleared their plan with the Jets, who had no objections. The logistics were first reported by NorthJersey.com and confirmed by The Post.


newyorkpost--2020-07-19--Virus deaths top 600,000 as cases rise in South Africa, Australia

JOHANNESBURG — Countries from the U.S. to South Africa to Australia were struggling to hold down rising rates of the coronavirus , as global deaths from COVID-19 surged past 600,000 in a sign of how far off the world remains from a return to normalcy .
While the U.S. leads global infections , South Africa now ranks as the fifth worst-hit country in the pandemic with 350,879 cases — roughly half of all those confirmed on the African continent .
Its struggles are a sign of trouble to come for nations with even fewer health care resources .
China confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Urumqi on Sunday , while South Korea reported less than 40 additional cases for a second straight day .
The Urumqi outbreak is the latest to pop up since China largely contained the domestic spread of the virus in March .
At least 30 people have been infected and authorities are conducting universal testing in communities where cases were discovered , later to be expanded to other parts of the city and major businesses .
South Korean authorities are also struggling to suppress an uptick in local infections , with 34 additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13 from overseas , raising the country ’ s total to 13,745 with 295 deaths .
Both countries are mandating testing and enforcing two-week quarantines on all overseas arrivals .
After a one-day respite , COVID-19 cases in the Australian state of Victoria rose again , prompting a move to make masks mandatory in metropolitan Melbourne and the nearby shire of Mitchell .
Health officials on Sunday recorded 363 new cases in the past 24 hours .
Two men and a woman in their 90s died , taking the national death toll from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Organization on Saturday again reported a single-day record of new infections with 259,848 .
South Africa now trails the U.S. , Brazil , India — all far more populous countries — in the number of infections , surpassing Peru , after health authorities announced 13,285 new cases .
South Africa ’ s new coronavirus epicenter , Gauteng province , hosts the cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria and one-quarter of the country ’ s population of 57 million , with many poor people living in crowded conditions in the middle of a frosty Southern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that many South Africans are sitting ducks because they can not comply with World Health Organization protocols on improved hygiene and social distancing , ” the foundation of former South African archbishop and Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu and his wife , Leah , warned in a statement .
Global COVID-19 deaths have hit 601,549 , according to Johns Hopkins University data .
The United States tops the list with 140,119 deaths , followed by 78,772 in Brazil and 45,358 in the United Kingdom and 38,888 in Mexico , where a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopen the economy .
The number of confirmed infections worldwide has passed 14.2 million , out of which 3.7 million are in the United States .
There are over 2 million in Brazil and more than 1 million in India .
Experts believe the true numbers around the world are higher because of testing shortages and data collection issues in some nations .
Infections are soaring in U.S. states like Florida , Texas , Arizona , fueled by the haphazard lifting of lockdowns and the resistance of some Americans to wearing masks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Texas and California to help hospitals deal with a deluge of patients who are flooding emergency rooms in parts of the U.S .
Some patients are being moved into hallways to make room for most seriously ill and nurses are working extra shifts to keep up with the surge .
Patients struggling to breathe are being placed on ventilators in emergency wards since intensive care units are full , officials say .
Patients are waiting “ hours and hours ” to get admitted , said Dr. Alison Haddock of the Baylor College @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which reported a new daily record for virus deaths Friday and more than 10,000 confirmed cases for the fourth consecutive day .
More than 80 infants have tested positive for the virus in the state .
“ I ’ ve never seen anything like this COVID surge , ” said Haddock , who has worked in emergency rooms since 2007 .
“ We ’ re doing our best , but we ’ re not an ICU.
” The surge of infections means that millions of American children are unlikely to return to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police in Barcelona are limiting access to some of the city ’ s beaches because sunbathers are ignoring regulations amid a resurgence of the coronavirus .
Authorities in Amsterdam are urging people not to visit the city ’ s famous red-light district and have closed off some of the historic district ’ s narrow streets because they are too busy .
Local governments in India continued to reimpose focused lockdowns in several parts of the country following a surge in cases .
And in Iran , the president made the startling announcement that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been infected , the state-run IRNA news agency reported .
Hassan Rouhani cited a new Health Ministry study that has not been made public .
Iran has the Middle East ’ s worst outbreak with more than 270,000 confirmed cases .
In Bangladesh , confirmed cases surpassed 200,000 but experts say the number is much higher as the country lacks adequate labs for testing .
Most people in rural areas have stopped wearing masks and are thronging shopping centers ahead of the Islamic festival Eid al-Adha this month .
Scientists , meanwhile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister Boris Johnson ’ s hope that the country may return to normal by Christmas , saying that , without a vaccine , normal life was a long way off .

JOHANNESBURG — Countries from the U.S. to South Africa to Australia were struggling to hold down rising rates of the coronavirus, as global deaths from COVID-19 surged past 600,000 in a sign of how far off the world remains from a return to normalcy.
While the U.S. leads global infections, South Africa now ranks as the fifth worst-hit country in the pandemic with 350,879 cases — roughly half of all those confirmed on the African continent. Its struggles are a sign of trouble to come for nations with even fewer health care resources.
China confirmed 13 new cases in the northwestern city of Urumqi on Sunday, while South Korea reported less than 40 additional cases for a second straight day.
The Urumqi outbreak is the latest to pop up since China largely contained the domestic spread of the virus in March. At least 30 people have been infected and authorities are conducting universal testing in communities where cases were discovered, later to be expanded to other parts of the city and major businesses.
South Korean authorities are also struggling to suppress an uptick in local infections, with 34 additional cases, 21 of them domestic and 13 from overseas, raising the country’s total to 13,745 with 295 deaths.
Both countries are mandating testing and enforcing two-week quarantines on all overseas arrivals.
After a one-day respite, COVID-19 cases in the Australian state of Victoria rose again, prompting a move to make masks mandatory in metropolitan Melbourne and the nearby shire of Mitchell. Health officials on Sunday recorded 363 new cases in the past 24 hours. Two men and a woman in their 90s died, taking the national death toll from COVID-19 to 122.
The World Health Organization on Saturday again reported a single-day record of new infections with 259,848.
South Africa now trails the U.S., Brazil, India — all far more populous countries — in the number of infections, surpassing Peru, after health authorities announced 13,285 new cases.
South Africa’s new coronavirus epicenter, Gauteng province, hosts the cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria and one-quarter of the country’s population of 57 million, with many poor people living in crowded conditions in the middle of a frosty Southern Hemisphere winter.
“The simple fact is that many South Africans are sitting ducks because they cannot comply with World Health Organization protocols on improved hygiene and social distancing,” the foundation of former South African archbishop and Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu and his wife, Leah, warned in a statement.
Global COVID-19 deaths have hit 601,549, according to Johns Hopkins University data. The United States tops the list with 140,119 deaths, followed by 78,772 in Brazil and 45,358 in the United Kingdom and 38,888 in Mexico, where a surge in cases have frustrated plans to reopen the economy.
The number of confirmed infections worldwide has passed 14.2 million, out of which 3.7 million are in the United States. There are over 2 million in Brazil and more than 1 million in India. Experts believe the true numbers around the world are higher because of testing shortages and data collection issues in some nations.
Infections are soaring in U.S. states like Florida, Texas, Arizona, fueled by the haphazard lifting of lockdowns and the resistance of some Americans to wearing masks.
Teams of military medics have been deployed in Texas and California to help hospitals deal with a deluge of patients who are flooding emergency rooms in parts of the U.S. Some patients are being moved into hallways to make room for most seriously ill and nurses are working extra shifts to keep up with the surge.
Patients struggling to breathe are being placed on ventilators in emergency wards since intensive care units are full, officials say.
Patients are waiting “hours and hours” to get admitted, said Dr. Alison Haddock of the Baylor College of Medicine in the state of Texas, which reported a new daily record for virus deaths Friday and more than 10,000 confirmed cases for the fourth consecutive day. More than 80 infants have tested positive for the virus in the state.
“I’ve never seen anything like this COVID surge,” said Haddock, who has worked in emergency rooms since 2007. “We’re doing our best, but we’re not an ICU.”
The surge of infections means that millions of American children are unlikely to return to classrooms full time in the fall.
Police in Barcelona are limiting access to some of the city’s beaches because sunbathers are ignoring regulations amid a resurgence of the coronavirus. Authorities in Amsterdam are urging people not to visit the city’s famous red-light district and have closed off some of the historic district’s narrow streets because they are too busy.
Local governments in India continued to reimpose focused lockdowns in several parts of the country following a surge in cases. And in Iran, the president made the startling announcement that as many as 25 million Iranians could have been infected, the state-run IRNA news agency reported. Hassan Rouhani cited a new Health Ministry study that has not been made public. Iran has the Middle East’s worst outbreak with more than 270,000 confirmed cases.
In Bangladesh, confirmed cases surpassed 200,000 but experts say the number is much higher as the country lacks adequate labs for testing. Most people in rural areas have stopped wearing masks and are thronging shopping centers ahead of the Islamic festival Eid al-Adha this month.
Scientists, meanwhile, poured cold water on British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s hope that the country may return to normal by Christmas, saying that, without a vaccine, normal life was a long way off.


newyorkpost--2020-07-19--Five reasons why Rockies’ Sam Hilliard could be ultimate fantasy baseball find

So , we meet again .
We ’ re still in uncharted territory , and ...

If you learn anything from this pandemic, it should be that time is a precious thing.
We’ve spent so many days, weeks and hours inside our homes, missing time with friends, family and colleagues. Time is something we cannot get back, and it’s something that should be valued.
Time is almost here for MLB’s 60-game season. If you haven’t drafted, time is almost up. Just make sure you make every pick count, it has to. You don’t have 162 games to make up for mistakes. You have to find players, especially late in the draft, who can contribute on any given day.
That is why Roto Rage would like to turn your attention to 26-year-old Rockies outfielder Sam Hilliard.
In Hilliard’s first taste of the majors last year (27 games) in Colorado, he went 21-for-77 (.273) with seven homers, 13 RBIs, 13 runs scored, a 1.006 OPS, and he stole two bases.
The fact Hilliard will play half his games at Coors Field is a huge bonus. He hit .318 with five home runs, eight RBIs, 11 runs, two stolen bases and a 1.173 OPS in 16 games. He didn’t fare as well on the road — hitting .212 with two homers, five RBIs and a .782 OPS.
You may be asking yourself: Why is this crackpot wasting my time telling me to draft a guy who hit .212 outside of Coors Field? Here are a five reasons:
1. In five seasons in the minors, he hit .277 with 89 home runs, 358 RBIs, 124 stolen bases and a .829 OPS. That includes last season, when he hit .262 with 35 homers, 101 RBIs, 109 runs, 22 stolen bases and a .893 OPS for Triple-A Albuquerque.
2. He plays half his games at Coors Field.
3. Though his 26.4 percent strikeout rate (31.3 percent over five seasons in the minors) would have ranked among the highest in the majors, his 10.3 percent walk rate is nothing to scoff at.
4. Not sure if this was mentioned, but he plays half his games at Coors Field?
5. As of Friday, Hilliard had a 270.15 average draft position, according to Fantasy Alarm. That is roughly the 22nd round in 12-team drafts. He might not immediately be a starter on your fantasy roster but is likely to be a starter for the Rockies. Oh, and he plays half his games at Coors Field.
Hilliard is a guy who has shown an ability to hit for power (he had an max exit velocity of 114.1 mph, according to Baseball Savant) and a solid average. He also has shown an ability to steal bases (he never had less than 22 in a minor league season) and score runs in the minors (and ever-so-briefly in the majors). Taking him late in the draft for a 60-game season is most definitely worth your time.
Here’s a look at some other outfielders who can provide value late in drafts:
A shoulder injury ended David Peralta’s (228.52) season after just 99 games last season, but he is just one year removed from hitting .293 with 30 homers and 87 RBIs for the Diamondbacks. He offers inexpensive late-round power along with a steady batting average (career .290 hitter).
Yes, Shin-Soo Choo (229.18) just turned 38-years-old, but the Rangers veteran hit .276 while averaging 18 homers, 62 RBIs, 12 stolen bases and a .828 OPS from 2008-19. He also is coming off a season in which he hit a career-high 24 homers and stole 15 bases.
At the age of 30, Oakland’s Mark Canha (232.63) had a career year — hitting .273 while smacking 26 homers with 58 RBIs, 80 runs and a .913 OPS in 126 games. At this price, it is worth finding out if he can do it again, or do better.
You should also monitor Yasiel Puig’s situation, after testing positive for coronavirus and his deal with the Braves reportedly falling apart. He is a career .277 hitter who averaged 25 homers, 74 RBIs, 16 stolen bases and a .811 OPS over the past three seasons. His ADP is currently 184.52, but that could fall — and if he winds up playing, it could be a late-round pick well spent.
Fantasy Rankings
Outfielders
1. Ronald Acuna Jr., Atl
2. Mike Trout, LAA
3. Christian Yelich, Mil
4. Cody Bellinger, LAD
5. Mookie Betts, LAD
6. Juan Soto, Was
7. J.D. Martinez, Bos
8. Bryce Harper, Phi
9. Starling Marte, Ari
10. George Springer, Hou
11. Charlie Blackmon, Col
12. Austin Meadows, TB
13. Ketel Marte, Ari
14. Eloy Jimenez, CWS
15. Kris Bryant, ChC
16. Aaron Judge, NYY
17. Victor Robles, Was
18. Whit Merrifield, KC
19. Ramon Laureano, Oak
20. Marcell Ozuna, Atl
21. Nick Castellanos, Cin
22. Giancarlo Stanton, NYY
23. Eddie Rosario, Min
24. Tommy Pham, SD
25. Jeff McNeil, NYM
26. Jorge Soler, KC
27. Franmil Reyes, Cle
28. Luis Robert, CWS
29. Michael Brantley, Hou
30. Joey Gallo, Tex
31. Yordan Alvarez, Hou
32. Michael Conforto, NYM
33. Andrew Benintendi, Bos
34. Max Kepler, Min
35. David Dahl, Col
36. Oscar Mercado, Cle
37. Tommy Edman, StL
38. Kyle Schwarber, ChC
39. Danny Santana, Tex
40. Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Tor
41. Bryan Reynolds, Pit
42. Rhys Hoskins, Phi
43. Yasiel Puig, Atl
44. Lorenzo Cain, Mil
45. Justin Upton, LAA
46. Byron Buxton, Min
47. Adam Eaton, Was
48. J.D. Davis, NYM
49. Shin-Soo Choo, Tex
50. Mallex Smith, TB
51. Andrew McCutchen, Phi
52. Kyle Tucker, Hou
53. Alex Verdugo, Bos
54. Avisail Garcia, Mil
55. Scott Kingery, Phi
56. Willie Calhoun, Tex
57. Hunter Dozier, KC
58. Mark Canha, Oak
59. David Peralta, Ari
60. Cavan Biggio, Tor
61. Nick Senzel, Cin
62. Ryan Braun, Mil
63. Wil Myers, SD
64. Joc Pederson, LAD
65. Brian Anderson, Mia
66. Corey Dickerson, Mia
67. A.J. Pollock, LAD
68. Shogo Akiyama, Cin
69. Hunter Renfroe, TB
70. Nomar Mazara, CWS
71. Randal Grichuk, Tor
72. Trent Grisham, SD
73. Luis Arraez, Min
74. Gregory Polanco, Pit
75. Mike Yastrzemski, SF
76. Brett Gardner, NYY
77. Sam Hilliard, Col
78. Austin Hays, Bal
79. Domingo Santana, Cle
80. Brandon Nimmo, NYM
81. Joe Adell, LAA
82. Yoenis Cespedes, NYM
83. Ian Happ, ChC
84. Kole Calhoun, Ari
85. Austin Riley, Atl
86. Jesse Winker, Cin
87. Niko Goodrum, Det
88. Anthony Santander, Bal
89. Teoscar Hernandez, Tor
90. Kevin Pillar, Bos
91. Jon Berti, Mia
92. Aaron Hicks, NYY
93. Brandon Belt, SF
94. Kevin Kiermaier, TB
95. Stephen Piscotty, Oak
96. Jackie Bradley Jr., Bos
97. Harrison Bader, StL
98. Jose Martinez, TB
99. Tyler O’Neill, StL
100. Kyle Lewis, Sea
First Base
1. Cody Bellinger, LAD
2. Freddie Freeman, Atl
3. Anthony Rizzo, ChC
4. Pete Alonso, NYM
5. Jose Abreu, CWS
6. Matt Olson, Oak
7. Josh Bell, Pit
8. DJ LeMahieu, NYY
9. Paul Goldschmidt, StL
10. Max Muncy, LAD
11. Rhys Hoskins, Phi
12. Carlos Santana, Cle
13. Yuli Gurriel, Hou
14. Edwin Encarnacion, CWS
15. Miguel Sano, Min
16. Yasmani Grandal, CWS
17. Danny Santana, Tex
18. Christian Walker, Ari
19. Eric Hosmer, SD
20. C.J. Cron, Det
21. Luke Voit, NYY
22. Daniel Murphy, Col
23. Ryan McMahon, Col
24. Hunter Dozier, KC
25. Brandon Lowe, TB
26. Mark Canha, Oak
27. Joey Votto, Cin
28. Joc Pederson, LAD
29. Renato Nunez, Bal
30. Howie Kendrick, Was
31. Jesus Aguilar, Mia
32. Yandy Diaz, TB
33. Michael Chavis, Bos
34. Wil Myers, SD
35. Miguel Cabrera, Det
Third Base
1. Nolan Arenado, Col
2. Alex Bregman, Hou
3. Rafael Devers, Bos
4. Anthony Rendon, LAA
5. Jose Ramirez, Cle
6. Kris Bryant, ChC
7. Manny Machado, SD
8. Eugenio Suarez, Cin
9. Vlad Guerrero Jr., Tor
10. Yoan Moncada, CWS
11. Matt Chapman, Oak
12. Josh Donaldson, Min
13. DJ LeMahieu, NYY
14. Max Muncy, LAD
15. Mike Moustakas, Cin
16. Jeff McNeil, NYM
17. Tommy Edman, StL
18. Eduardo Escobar, Ari
19. Justin Turner, LAD
20. Yuli Gurriel, Hou
21. J.D. Davis, NYM
22. Hunter Dozier, KC
23. Miguel Sano, Min
24. Ryan McMahon, Col
25. Brian Anderson, Mia
26. Gio Urshela, NYY
27. Starlin Castro, Was
28. Danny Santana, Tex
29. Scott Kingery, Phi
30. Miguel Andujar, NYY
31. Tommy La Stella, LAA
32. Yandy Diaz, TB
33. Austin Riley, Atl
34. Howie Kendrick, Was
35. Luis Arraez, Min
Catcher
1. J.T. Realmuto, Phi
2. Gary Sanchez, NYY
3. Wilson Contreras, ChC
4. Yasmani Grandal, CWS
5. Mitch Garver, Min
6. Wilson Ramos, NYM
7. Will Smith, LAD
8. Salvador Perez, KC
9. Carson Kelly, Ari
10. Omar Narvaez, Mil
11. Christian Vazquez, Bos
12. Yadier Molina, StL
13. Jorge Alfaro, Mia
14. Francisco Mejia, SD
15. Danny Jansen, Tor
16. Sean Murphy, Oak
17. Travis d’Arnaud, Atl
18. Tom Murphy, Sea
19. Kurt Suzuki, Was
20. Robinson Chirinos, Tex
Team Name of the Week
Citizen Cain


newyorkpost--2020-07-19--Three dead, several injured after glacier tour bus rolls over in Canadian park

A glacier tour bus rolled over in Canada ’ s southern province of Alberta , killing three people and injuring several , CBC News reported on Saturday .
The sightseeing bus overturned en route to the glacier near the Columbia Icefield in Alberta ’ s Jasper National Park , according to the report .
CBC News said the incident involved one of the off-road buses that ferry visitors onto the glacier , owned by Pursuit , the company that operates tours of the ice fields , which are part of the Athabasca Glacier .
Three adults were killed out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers and fire departments were descending on the scene , the report said , citing The Royal Canadian Mounted Police ( RCMP ) .
Critically injured passengers were being transported from the crash site to various Alberta hospitals on helicopter ambulances , it said .
The report said several hospitals in the province were preparing to receive patients , some in critical or serious condition , citing a spokesperson for Alberta Health Services .
RCMP are investigating the cause of the roll-over with the support of a collision analyst , according to CBC @

A glacier tour bus rolled over in Canada’s southern province of Alberta, killing three people and injuring several, CBC News reported on Saturday.
The sightseeing bus overturned en route to the glacier near the Columbia Icefield in Alberta’s Jasper National Park, according to the report.
CBC News said the incident involved one of the off-road buses that ferry visitors onto the glacier, owned by Pursuit, the company that operates tours of the ice fields, which are part of the Athabasca Glacier.
Three adults were killed out of the 27 passengers, and several emergency workers and fire departments were descending on the scene, the report said, citing The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
Critically injured passengers were being transported from the crash site to various Alberta hospitals on helicopter ambulances, it said.
The report said several hospitals in the province were preparing to receive patients, some in critical or serious condition, citing a spokesperson for Alberta Health Services.
RCMP are investigating the cause of the roll-over with the support of a collision analyst, according to CBC News


newyorkpost--2020-07-19--Jean-Gabriel Pageau starting to mesh with Islanders teammates

Though he and wife Sydney Esiason welcomed a new member ...

The novel coronavirus pandemic turned everyone’s life upside down. For Jean-Gabriel Pageau, it created havoc.
He was already going through a new transition, playing for a new team in a new country after being traded to the Islanders in February. Then hockey stopped due to the virus.
“It was definitely a different feeling how it all happened,” he said during a Zoom call on Saturday. “It happened so quick.”
There was one bonus it has provided: a chance to really get to know his teammates and the system the Islanders play during this mini training camp. There really wasn’t time for that in the seven games he played upon coming over from the Senators and signing a six-year, $30 million extension with the Islanders.
“It’s a huge benefit for sure. It gets me time to spend with the guys. I get to know them a little more. Get to practice more, too, with the team,” the 27-year-old Pageau, acquired in exchange for conditional first-round pick in 2020, a second-round pick in 2020 and a conditional third-rounder in 2022, said. “That’s something that during the year you don’t usually have a lot of time for. It really helps me.”
It’s only been practice and a few scrimmages, but Pageau’s teammates and coach Barry Trotz have liked what they have seen since the team returned to the ice together. Pageau provides them with a quality third line pivot, a center that offers depth and enables Derick Brassard and Josh Bailey to go back to where Troz feels they fit better. The Isles had been forced to mix and match at center before landing Pageau.
“You can see he’s more natural there,” Trotz said. “I thought [Saturday] Pag looked much more comfortable. He’s starting to look way more comfortable.”
At the time of the trade, he was having a career year, producing a career-best 24 goals and 16 assists. In seven games with the Isles, he had scored twice, without notching an assist. Now, after this long layoff, he may be better prepared to make a difference.
“Anybody who got traded at the deadline for any team in this tournament, I think they’re going to benefit from it,” Trotz said. “I don’t think you’re yourself until you have a number of games and a training camp. I think this is the best thing, not only for Pag, but anybody who got traded during the deadline.”


newyorkpost--2020-07-19--Heat and air quality advisories issued for NYC metro area

It will hit the mid-90s in the tri-state area on Sunday and Monday — but it will feel like it ’ s well past 100 degrees , forecasters say .
The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for the five boroughs between noon to 8 p.m. , on Sunday , when heat and humidity will make it feel like 103 degrees outside , according to NWS forecasters .
The state Department of Environmental Conservation has also issued an air quality alert for the metropolitan area between 10 a.m. and 11 p.m .
The high temps are part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States , with most of the country experiencing 90-degree weather over the next week .
Con Edison earlier this week said it was bracing for blackouts .
“ We expect that there could be service outages — those things happen during heat waves , ” Con Edison spokesman Mike Clendenin said Monday .
The city will be operating cooling centers and as well as a “ cool streets ” initiative , during which it will open fire hydrants with spray caps on certain streets that have already been closed to vehicular @ @ @ @ @ @

It will hit the mid-90s in the tri-state area on Sunday and Monday — but it will feel like it’s well past 100 degrees, forecasters say.
The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for the five boroughs between noon to 8 p.m., on Sunday, when heat and humidity will make it feel like 103 degrees outside, according to NWS forecasters.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation has also issued an air quality alert for the metropolitan area between 10 a.m. and 11 p.m.
The high temps are part of record-breaking heat wave rolling through most of the United States, with most of the country experiencing 90-degree weather over the next week.
Con Edison said crews are prepared to respond to service problems that arise as temperatures exceed 90 degrees starting Saturday.
“The heat, humidity and increased demand for electricity to power air conditioners can cause cables to overheat and lead to outages,” the company says on its website. “The coming days could also bring thunderstorms, which can affect the overhead delivery system and cause outages.”
The company also urges the public to stay away from any wires that are downed during storms.
“Do not touch them with your hands or any object,” the website states.
The company said the public should call police or 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633) to report downed wires.
The city will be operating cooling centers and as well as a “cool streets” initiative, during which it will open fire hydrants with spray caps on certain streets that have already been closed to vehicular traffic during the coronavirus pandemic.


newyorkpost--2020-07-19--Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross hospitalized but ‘doing well’

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross was reportedly hospitalized in upstate New York Friday night for minor , non-coronavirus-related health issues .
@ @ @ @ @ not feeling well and decided to admit himself to a hospital , sources told Fox @ @ @ @ @ spokesperson on Saturday confirmed the hospitalization to the station but did not elaborate on his @ @ @ @ @ has been admitted into the hospital for minor , non-coronavirus related issues , ” the @ @ @ @ @ is doing well and we anticipate his release soon.
” Ross is currently overseeing the @ @ @ @ @ He controversially approved a measure to add a question to the Census asking about citizenship @ @ @ @ @ was eventually excluded from the survey after the Supreme Court decided it violated federal law @

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross was reportedly hospitalized in upstate New York Friday night for minor, non-coronavirus-related health issues.
Ross, 82, was not feeling well and decided to admit himself to a hospital, sources told Fox News.
A Commerce Department spokesperson on Saturday confirmed the hospitalization to the station but did not elaborate on his illness.
“Secretary Ross has been admitted into the hospital for minor, non-coronavirus related issues,” the spokesperson said.
“He is doing well and we anticipate his release soon.”
Ross is currently overseeing the 2020 United States Census.
He controversially approved a measure to add a question to the Census asking about citizenship status — a question that was eventually excluded from the survey after the Supreme Court decided it violated federal law.


newyorkpost--2020-07-19--Local college basketball teams ready to get back on court

This was supposed to be a huge summer for Jordan ...

On Monday, Seton Hall players will enter the school’s gymnasium for the first time since March. On Tuesday, Rutgers will have its first individual workouts of the summer. By the end of the week, St. John’s could be joining them.
The three high-major college basketball programs in the area are slowly getting back to business after months away from one another due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. That’s not to say there will be full workouts or even scrimmages being played. This is merely a first step toward what many hope is a season that starts on time, with Monday the first day the NCAA allows summer college basketball activities with coaches that can last up to eight weeks.
Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard said he will be having only individual workouts for now, with four players in the gym at a time. There will be no team managers and just his three assistant coaches. Rutgers’ Steve Pikiell will have one team workout Wednesday — Scarlet Knights players have been able to workout on their own at the RAC since June 22 — after getting the latest round of testing results, but otherwise it will be similar to Seton Hall with individual instruction and spread out workout groups.
Both coaches said these workouts are optional, and four Rutgers players have opted not to return, according to Pikiell. Willard said all of his players will be in the area, will be tested bi-weekly and only freshman guard Jahari Long of Texas will be in quarantine for two weeks. He declined to say if anyone who was recently tested received a positive result. St. John’s also doesn’t expect to announce any positive results, while Pikiell said his team has yet to record a positive test and is testing every Monday.
“I’m excited to get them back. I’m much more looking at this from the mental-health side,” Willard said. “These guys want to be back. It gives them back some normalcy. It gets them back to what they want to do. They want to play and they want to work out. They want to be doing what they love to do.
“This is not about basketball. To get them back to campus, to get them back with their teammates, with us, and get them back moving in the right direction, from a mental standpoint, it’s what’s best for these kids.”
St. John’s is somewhat behind the other two, with New York City entering Phase 4 of reopening on Monday, which is slated to allow it to gradually reopen for certain activities and functions. The team was in the process of returning to the area over the weekend and a handful of players — Greg Williams Jr., David Caraher, Isaih Moore, Vince Cole and Josh Roberts — will have to quarantine for two weeks because they will be coming from states with high coronavirus rates. Other players will be tested and in isolation until their test results come in. But there is the chance if all goes well, they can get into Taffner Field House by the end of the week for workouts that will include coaches. There will only be four players allowed in the gym at the same time.
“We’re several weeks away from anything resembling basketball practice,” athletic director Mike Cragg said. “It’s more about guys can workout at some point. We’re not in a big hurry. There’s no reason to be in a hurry.”
College basketball has that luxury. Unlike college football, which has to soon make a decision on whether it has to postpone the season, it can wait. These workouts don’t necessarily signal whether the season can start on time or will have to be pushed back until January, as some have suggested. It is a step forward, the chance for players and coaches to get reacquainted for the first time since the season prematurely ended in March.
“I’m just looking forward to getting in the gym with our guys, spending a little time with them,” Pikiell said. “It’s been a long time. They’re going to be in an environment where everyone is tested, COVID free, and they play some basketball.”


newyorkpost--2020-07-19--ICE: Denver released Guatemalan assault suspect despite immigration detainer

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement says an illegal immigrant for whom it had issued a detainer allegedly attacked a woman shortly after he was released from custody in another assault .
Julio Andres Gonzalez-Palacios , a 23-year-old Guatemalan national , was arrested July 9 in Denver for assault and burglary .
On July 10 , the Denver Justice Center released Gonzalez-Palacio back into the community , ignoring an immigration detainer issued by ICE , the agency alleges .
That same day , according to police , Gonzalez-Palacios allegedly assaulted a woman on the High Line Canal Trail in Aurora – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The woman , whose identity was not released , was seriously injured and remains in the hospital , KCNC-TV reported .
Gonzalez-Palacios is now back in the custody of the Arapahoe County Jail facing a charge of assault with a deadly weapon .
The Denver Justice Center could not be reached for comment .
“ This was a completely preventable crime , ” said John Fabbricatore , field office director , ERO Denver .
“ Gonzalez-Palacios could have been safely transferred to ICE custody and he may have been removed from the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misguided sanctuary law , law enforcement agencies are no longer able to work with us to keep repeat offenders off the streets.
” ICE issues detainers on individuals who have been arrested on criminal charges and for whom the agency has probable cause to remove from the US .
Detainers request that local law enforcement agencies alert ICE in advance of a release so that the agency can take custody of that person .
However , sanctuary laws prohibit local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities .
A 2019 sanctuary law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individuals on the basis of immigration detainers , regardless of any criminal charges they may have .
ICE says Gonzalez-Palacios entered the US through Florida as a nonimmigrant visitor .
He allegedly failed to honor the terms of admission , staying past June 3 , 2017 – the date of his agreed-upon departure .
Since then he has been convicted of multiple crimes in the Denver area , including theft , assault , failure to appear and trespassing , ICE says .

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement says an illegal immigrant for whom it had issued a detainer allegedly attacked a woman shortly after he was released from custody in another assault.
Julio Andres Gonzalez-Palacios, a 23-year-old Guatemalan national, was arrested July 9 in Denver for assault and burglary. On July 10, the Denver Justice Center released Gonzalez-Palacio back into the community, ignoring an immigration detainer issued by ICE, the agency alleges.
That same day, according to police, Gonzalez-Palacios allegedly assaulted a woman on the High Line Canal Trail in Aurora – about 16 miles west of Denver. The woman, whose identity was not released, was seriously injured and remains in the hospital, KCNC-TV reported.
Gonzalez-Palacios is now back in the custody of the Arapahoe County Jail facing a charge of assault with a deadly weapon. The Denver Justice Center could not be reached for comment.
“This was a completely preventable crime,” said John Fabbricatore, field office director, ERO Denver. “Gonzalez-Palacios could have been safely transferred to ICE custody and he may have been removed from the country, but due to Colorado’s misguided sanctuary law, law enforcement agencies are no longer able to work with us to keep repeat offenders off the streets.”
ICE issues detainers on individuals who have been arrested on criminal charges and for whom the agency has probable cause to remove from the US. Detainers request that local law enforcement agencies alert ICE in advance of a release so that the agency can take custody of that person.
However, sanctuary laws prohibit local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities. A 2019 sanctuary law in Colorado prohibits local authorities from arresting individuals on the basis of immigration detainers, regardless of any criminal charges they may have.
ICE says Gonzalez-Palacios entered the US through Florida as a nonimmigrant visitor. He allegedly failed to honor the terms of admission, staying past June 3, 2017 – the date of his agreed-upon departure.
Since then he has been convicted of multiple crimes in the Denver area, including theft, assault, failure to appear and trespassing, ICE says.


newyorkpost--2020-07-19--Jon Rahm wins hectic Memorial to claim No. 1 world ranking

DUBLIN , Ohio — Play again soon , Tiger .
Sooner rather than ...

DUBLIN, Ohio — Jon Rahm knew this was going to be a difficult day.
Maybe not this difficult.
Winning on the PGA Tour always is difficult.
Winning on a golf course that was set up to repel shots with treacherous conditions that resembled a major championship can be stressful.
Knowing a win would elevate you to No. 1 in the world rankings at the tender age of 25 adds pressure. And knowing the only other player from your home country who’s reached No. 1 in the world is your mentor, Seve Ballesteros, adds a tricky bit of emotion into the equation.
As expected, it was not an easy day for Rahm, but when it ended, he emerged as not only the Memorial Tournament champion, but ranked No. 1 in the world.
Rahm shot a final-round, 3-over 75 to finish 9-under for the week and win the Memorial Tournament, holding off Ryan Palmer by three shots.
“One of the best performances of my life,’’ Rahm said.
Rahm began the final round with a four-shot lead and, as he made the turn, the lead was eight shots. But even then, his day was not easy.
He bogeyed the 10th hole. And then, after yanking his tee shot into the water on No. 11, Rahm took double bogey and his lead was down to four shots, half of what it was minutes before.
Rahm then made a sloppy bogey on No. 14, a short par-4 he should devour, and his lead was down to three shots, where it would remain through the 15th hole.
“The conditions were so tough, I knew I wasn’t going to play 18 perfect holes,’’ Rahm said. “I knew at some point something was going to go south. Unfortunately for me, Ryan played amazing when I started playing bad.’’
The week before on the same golf course, Muirfield Village Golf Club, Justin Thomas held a three-shot lead with three holes to play in the final round of the Workday Charity Open and he lost to Collin Morikawa in a playoff.
So, it didn’t appear be over … until the par-3 16th hole, where Rahm chipped in for what was believed at the time to be a birdie (more on that in a moment) to extend the lead to four again.
Considering the circumstances, it was the biggest shot of Rahm’s career — a scramble that his idol, the late Ballesteros, would have loved given that he was the greatest scrambler in the history of the game.
Rahm let out a massive fist pump and yell. As he walked past his friend and playing partner, Palmer gave him a low five.
“I just said I was proud of him and told him I was proud of him,’’ Palmer said.
Rahm called the chip-in “exactly what I needed,’’ adding that it “will probably go down so far as my greatest chip shot. I don’t know if I’ll ever top that.’’
At the time, it appeared to be a chip-in for birdie and a four-shot lead.
But wait, there would be more stress. TV cameras caught Rahm moving his ball ever so slightly in the rough with his wedge as he placed it behind the ball before chipping in.
As Rahm played on not knowing the situation, PGA Tour rules officials scoured the videotape to determine whether a penalty should be assessed.
Fortunately for Rahm, Palmer bogeyed 17 to fall five shots back. So when Rahm was given a two-shot penalty when he signed his scorecard, it did not affect the outcome.
Instead of winning by five shots, as it appeared when he and Palmer finished on No. 18, he won by three shots.
Rahm said he had no idea he moved his ball before the chip.
“I did not see or feel anything,’’ Rahm said. “I don’t want to win by cheating. Had I seen it, I would have said something. I’m looking at my landing spot, I’m not really thinking of looking at the golf ball.
“I want everybody to hear it: It did move. It is a penalty. It did move, so I’ll accept the penalty. It still doesn’t change the outcome of the tournament. It still doesn’t take anything away from the shot. It’s not going to take anything away from today.
“Unfortunately, it’s going to have bittersweet feeling to what was possibly one of the greatest shots of my career, the shot that gave me the victory. It just puts a little bit of an asterisk in it in the sense of I wish I could just keep that birdie because it was one of the greatest shots of my life.’’
Rahm overtook Rory McIlroy for the No. 1 ranking, which he had held since Feb. 9.
When it was over, Rahm was greeted on No. 18 by tournament host Jack Nicklaus, who gave him a fist bump instead of the traditional handshake.
“I’m just trying to be like you,’’ Rahm told Nicklaus.


newyorkpost--2020-07-19--Trump won’t say whether he’ll accept 2020 election results

President Trump on Sunday declined to say whether he will accept the results of the 2020 election , adding that he will “ have to see.
” The president also claimed without evidence that “ mail-in voting is going to rig the election , ” during an interview aired on “ Fox News Sunday.
” In response , Fox News host Chris Wallace asked : “ Are you suggesting that you might not accept the results of the election ?
” “ No .
I have to see , ” Trump replied , before saying it was Hillary Clinton who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] loss ” and “ looks like a fool.
” “ But can you give a , can you give a direct answer you will accept the election ?
” Wallace pushed .
Trump responded that “ I have to see .
Look , you – I have to see.
” “ No , I ’ m not going to just say yes .
I ’ m not going to say no , and I didn ’ t last time either , ” he added , referring to being asked the same question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wide-ranging sit-down , Wallace debuted the results of Fox News ’ latest national poll , which showed Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden leading Trump by eight points .
The commander-in-chief downplayed the findings as “ fake polls.
” “ First of all , I ’ m not losing because those are fake polls , ” he said .
“ They were fake in 2016 and now they ’ re even more fake.
” Later in the interview , Trump was also asked whether he was a “ good loser , ” generally .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ loser .
I don ’ t like to lose .
I don ’ t lose too often .
I don ’ t like to lose , ” Trump responded .

President Trump on Sunday declined to say whether he will accept the results of the 2020 election, adding that he will “have to see.”
The president also claimed without evidence that “mail-in voting is going to rig the election,” during an interview aired on “Fox News Sunday.”
In response, Fox News host Chris Wallace asked: “Are you suggesting that you might not accept the results of the election?”
“No. I have to see,” Trump replied, before saying it was Hillary Clinton who had “never accepted her [2016] loss” and “looks like a fool.”
“But can you give a, can you give a direct answer you will accept the election?” Wallace pushed.
Trump responded that “I have to see. Look, you – I have to see.”
“No, I’m not going to just say yes. I’m not going to say no, and I didn’t last time either,” he added, referring to being asked the same question in the 2016 election.
During the wide-ranging sit-down, Wallace debuted the results of Fox News’ latest national poll, which showed Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden leading Trump by eight points.
The commander-in-chief downplayed the findings as “fake polls.”
“First of all, I’m not losing because those are fake polls,” he said. “They were fake in 2016 and now they’re even more fake.”
Later in the interview, Trump was also asked whether he was a “good loser,” generally.
“I’m not a good loser. I don’t like to lose. I don’t lose too often. I don’t like to lose,” Trump responded.


newyorkpost--2020-07-19--Dismembered tech CEO’s assistant pleads not guilty to gruesome murder

The trusted former assistant accused of killing and decapitating his tech CEO boss in Manhattan pleaded not guilty on Sunday to second-degree murder , according to a report .
Tyrese Haspil , 21 — who was charged with the grisly slaying of Gokada chief Fahim Saleh — entered the plea at an arraignment early Sunday , a spokesman for Legal Aid Society , which is representing Haspil , told FOX News .
Prior to his arrest Friday , Haspil had never had a run-in with the law , according to his attorneys , who urged people to remain open-minded about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We are in the very earliest stages of ferreting out the truth .
The life of this case promises to be long and complex .
As the attorneys for Mr. Haspil , we urge the public to keep an open mind , ” Legal Aid Society attorneys Sam Roberts and Neville Mitchell said in a statement .
Saleh , 33 , was discovered dismembered inside his $ 2.2 million Lower East Side apartment on Tuesday .
Haspil was allegedly then captured in surveillance camera footage buying an electric saw and cleaning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ body , prosecutors said Saturday .
Authorities have said Haspil , who worked as “ executive assistant ” to Saleh , embezzled $ 100,000 from the tech honcho and was on a repayment plan to return the money — before killing him .
Saleh , who has been hailed by pals as “ Elon Musk of the developing world , ” was the CEO of Gokada , a Nigerian motorbike ride-hailing company .
Haspil ’ s next court date is scheduled for August .

The trusted former assistant accused of killing and decapitating his tech CEO boss in Manhattan pleaded not guilty on Sunday to second-degree murder, according to a report.
Tyrese Haspil, 21 — who was charged with the grisly slaying of Gokada chief Fahim Saleh — entered the plea at an arraignment early Sunday, a spokesman for Legal Aid Society, which is representing Haspil, told FOX News.
Prior to his arrest Friday, Haspil had never had a run-in with the law, according to his attorneys, who urged people to remain open-minded about what may have happened in the case.
“We are in the very earliest stages of ferreting out the truth. The life of this case promises to be long and complex. As the attorneys for Mr. Haspil, we urge the public to keep an open mind,” Legal Aid Society attorneys Sam Roberts and Neville Mitchell said in a statement.
Saleh, 33, was discovered dismembered inside his $2.2 million Lower East Side apartment on Tuesday. Haspil was allegedly then captured in surveillance camera footage buying an electric saw and cleaning supplies, which were found near the body, prosecutors said Saturday.
Authorities have said Haspil, who worked as “executive assistant” to Saleh, embezzled $100,000 from the tech honcho and was on a repayment plan to return the money — before killing him.
Saleh, who has been hailed by pals as “Elon Musk of the developing world,” was the CEO of Gokada, a Nigerian motorbike ride-hailing company.
Haspil’s next court date is scheduled for August.


newyorkpost--2020-07-19--Tiger Woods has a major PGA championship decision on his hands

Sooner rather than later .
Sooner meaning one more tournament before the PGA Championship takes place in three weeks at Harding Park in San Francisco .
Tiger Woods is not going to play in the 3M Championship next week in Minnesota , so that means the WGC FedEx St. Jude Invitational in two weeks in Memphis .
It ’ s never been a good business decision to bet against Woods , but if he doesn ’ t play in Memphis , bet on this : Woods has little to no chance of competing to win the PGA Championship .
Mark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four rounds at the Memorial Tournament this week at Muirfield Village — 71 , 76 , 71 and 76 good for tie for 40th in some difficult conditions — was not enough to prepare him for the first major championship of the season on a Harding Park golf course that will have narrow fairways and thick , juicy rough .
San Francisco , too , is known for its cool , damp weather , which does not bode well for Woods ’ back issues .
Woods , according to someone in his inner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ’ about whether or not to play the WGC event in two weeks .
Asked “ how prepared ’ ’ he feels going into the PGA Championship if he doesn ’ t play another tournament before Harding Park , Woods said , “ Well , I think I need to work on my putting a bit and clean that up .
But as far as my swing , it felt good .
I was able to hit good shots .
Friday , [ I ] was a bit off physically , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was a lot of positives.
’ ’ Woods then went into his typical evasive mode when asked specifically about the need for more tournament reps. “ Competitive reps or more reps ?
’ ’ he said with a smile .
“ More reps , yes .
I definitely need more reps. ’ ’ The issue for Woods , as it always is since the last of his back surgeries , is how his 44-year-old body reacts to this week and how he feels next week .
When Woods teed it up in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Memorial , it had been 151 days since his last PGA Tour round , dating back to February at the Genesis Invitational in LA , where he finished 68th and last among those who made the cut .
When will Woods play next ?
This is a question the golf world will have to wait to be answered , because only Woods knows , and he won ’ t say until he feels like it .
He has until Friday afternoon to commit to Memphis .
The man who knows Woods ’ game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LaCava , traditionally is a proponent of more reps .
But , based on his man ’ s tedious physical nature , he ’ s tempered that a bit .
“ I look at it both ways — most people would think after five months off you need more reps to play in a major , but sometimes you ’ ve got to be careful not to wear yourself out , ’ ’ LaCava told The Post about Woods ’ decision to play one more before the PGA or rest .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and see how he ’ s feeling after a few days and then make a decision .
Not playing tournament golf , you ’ re not as sharp as you want to be .
It ’ s easy to practice at home and play rounds , but it ’ s not like being out on the Tour when the chips and the putts count.
’ ’ LaCava was buoyed by what he saw out of Woods at the Memorial , calling it “ not that bad after five months ’ ’ away .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to midseason form .
Friday , he wasn ’ t feeling as well and got it around , to his credit , to make the cut , and I like what I saw late [ Saturday ] and mostly [ Sunday ] , ’ ’ LaCava said .
“ Well , I competed and played again , ’ ’ Woods said .
“ It ’ s been a while .
It was nice to get my feet wet and compete and play again .
Tough , tough conditions to start out my first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But it was good to get the feel and the flow of competing again.
’ ’ What did he learn in his 72 holes this week ?
“ I didn ’ t putt well , ’ ’ Woods said .
“ I didn ’ t feel comfortable playing break [ on the greens ] .
I ’ ve been in Florida playing Bermuda and seeing minimal break , [ and to ] come out here and playing 10 , 12 feet of break was a bit different and something I ’ m going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ He won ’ t do that staying in Florida for the next two weeks .
He ’ ll only do that by competing again .

DUBLIN, Ohio — Play again soon, Tiger.
Sooner rather than later.
Sooner meaning one more tournament before the PGA Championship takes place in three weeks at Harding Park in San Francisco.
Tiger Woods is not going to play in the 3M Championship next week in Minnesota, so that means the WGC FedEx St. Jude Invitational in two weeks in Memphis.
It’s never been a good business decision to bet against Woods, but if he doesn’t play in Memphis, bet on this: Woods has little to no chance of competing to win the PGA Championship.
Mark that down in ink.
Woods’ four rounds at the Memorial Tournament this week at Muirfield Village — 71, 76, 71 and 76 good for tie for 40th in some difficult conditions — was not enough to prepare him for the first major championship of the season on a Harding Park golf course that will have narrow fairways and thick, juicy rough.
San Francisco, too, is known for its cool, damp weather, which does not bode well for Woods’ back issues.
Woods, according to someone in his inner circle, is “on the fence’’ about whether to play the WGC event in two weeks.
Asked “how prepared’’ he feels going into the PGA Championship if he doesn’t play another tournament before Harding Park, Woods said, “Well, I think I need to work on my putting a bit and clean that up. But as far as my swing, it felt good. I was able to hit good shots. Friday, [I] was a bit off physically, but overall for my first week back, it was a lot of positives.’’
Woods then went into his typical evasive mode when asked specifically about the need for more tournament reps.
“Competitive reps or more reps?’’ he said with a smile. “More reps, yes. I definitely need more reps.’’
The issue for Woods, as it always is since the last of his back surgeries, is how his 44-year-old body reacts to this week and how he feels next week.
When Woods teed it up in Thursday’s opening round of the Memorial, it had been 151 days since his last PGA Tour round, dating back to February at the Genesis Invitational in LA, where he finished 68th and last among those who made the cut.
When will Woods play next?
This is a question the golf world will have to wait to be answered, because only Woods knows, and he won’t say until he feels like it. He has until Friday afternoon to commit to Memphis.
The man who knows Woods’ game better than anyone, his caddie Joe LaCava, traditionally is a proponent of more reps. But, based on his man’s tedious physical nature, he’s tempered that a bit.
“I look at it both ways — most people would think after five months off, you need more reps to play in a major, but sometimes you’ve got to be careful not to wear yourself out,’’ LaCava told The Post about Woods’ decision to play one more before the PGA or rest.
“The key is for him to get home and see how he’s feeling after a few days and then make a decision. Not playing tournament golf, you’re not as sharp as you want to be. It’s easy to practice at home and play rounds, but it’s not like being out on the Tour when the chips and the putts count.’’
LaCava was buoyed by what he saw out of Woods at the Memorial, calling it “not that bad after five months’’ away.
“On Thursday, he looked close to midseason form. Friday, he wasn’t feeling as well and got it around, to his credit, to make the cut, and I like what I saw late [Saturday] and mostly [Sunday],’’ LaCava said.
“Well, I competed and played again,’’ Woods said. “It’s been a while. It was nice to get my feet wet and compete and play again. Tough, tough conditions to start out my first week back, Thursday and Sunday. But it was good to get the feel and the flow of competing again.’’
What did he learn in his 72 holes this week?
“I didn’t putt well,’’ Woods said. “I didn’t feel comfortable playing break [on the greens]. I’ve been in Florida playing Bermuda and seeing minimal break, [and to] come out here and playing 10, 12 feet of break was a bit different and something I’m going to have to get used to.’’
He won’t do that staying in Florida for the next two weeks. He’ll only do that by competing again.


newyorkpost--2020-07-19--Jacob deGrom seems ready for Mets Opening Day

Prior to Sunday night ’ s Mets-Yankees game at Yankee Stadium , the ...

Jacob deGrom appears ready for Opening Day.
The right-hander had a successful return to the mound in a simulated game at Citi Field on Sunday after leaving his previous outing in an intrasquad game with back discomfort.
DeGrom threw 60 pitches Sunday, struck out nine of the 14 batters he faced and didn’t allow a hit.
“We got some good reports,’’ manager Luis Rojas said after the Mets lost to the Yankees, 6-0, in The Bronx.
“Jake was Jake, at the best level,’’ Rojas said. “[He hit] 98 to triple digits [mph] on his fastball and his slider was where it usually is. He’s pretty much lined up right now [for the opener].”
DeGrom had been slated to start the Mets’ second exhibition game of spring training 2.0 against the Yankees on Sunday before experiencing back tightness in the intrasquad game, which forced him out after just one inning on Monday. Instead of facing the Yankees, he threw a simulated game so the Mets could better control his pitch count.
It’s a positive sign for the Mets, who now figure to have their ace on the mound against the Braves on Friday in Queens. Rojas has said he’d like to have deGrom in position to throw 85 pitches in the season opener.
General manager Brodie Van Wagenen, assistant GM Allaird Baird and assistant pitching coach Jeremy Accardo were on hand for deGrom’s outing, with Tomas Nido behind the plate.
“Huge,’’ Jeff McNeil said of the prospect of deGrom being ready for the opener. “We know every time he can pitch a heck of a game. He keeps us in every game. Just give him good run support and we know we’ll win a lot of games with him on the mound.”
The news was good for deGrom, who was confident he wouldn’t miss any time following an MRI exam that came back clean.
“I feel good,” deGrom said Thursday. “That’s the goal, to pitch on Opening Day.”
DeGrom said then he likely would be in position to throw 85 pitches on Opening Day rather than the 100 he’d probably throw had his workload not been reduced because of the tight back.
It’s the second time in three years deGrom has been bothered by a back issue. In 2018, back stiffness in spring training kept him from starting the opener. He was replaced by Noah Syndergaard and instead pitched Game 2 of the season. But deGrom doesn’t believe there is any correlation between the two injuries, saying he may have simply slept wrong this time.
The 32-year-old is coming off consecutive NL Cy Young awards and will lead a rotation that will include Marcus Stroman, Steven Matz and newcomers Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha. Syndergaard will miss the season after needing Tommy John surgery in the spring.
Although he’s been overwhelmingly dominant the past two years, deGrom has had some of his more difficult outings in the early parts of both seasons. Last year, after tossing a combined 13 scoreless innings in his first two outings, deGrom had three straight shaky outings in the first month of the season.
He more than made up for that in 2019, but that won’t be as easy in a 60-game schedule and the Mets will take their chances with deGrom on the mound as often as they can.
Robert Gsellman has been limited to playing catch after battling triceps tightness, according to Rojas, and his status for Opening Day is undetermined.
“We’ll reassess day-to-day,’’ Rojas said. “He’s progressing. … We still don’t know [if he’ll be ready] for Friday.”
With Brad Brach and Jared Hughes still missing from camp, Hunter Strickland could find himself on the Opening Day roster. He was impressive Sunday, coming in with runners on second and third and no one out in the fourth and striking out Matt Duffy and Thairo Estrada before getting Aaron Judge to pop out.
Submit your Mets questions here to be answered in an upcoming Post mailbag
“He did a really good job,’’ Rojas said. “Mixing in his slider helped his fastball.”
The Mets signed Strickland after he was released by Washington during spring training. The 31-year-old struggled throughout 2019 with Seattle and the Nationals.
Drew Smith also got in the game as he comes back from Tommy John surgery, having added a cutter to his arsenal.
Wilson Ramos was expected to start for the Mets on Sunday, but Rojas said the catcher wasn’t with the team because he was “dealing with a personal matter.”
The Mets also announced the addition of Rene Rivera to their 40-man roster to add to their catching depth, along with Ramos, Tomas Nido and Ali Sanchez.
If Ramos isn’t ready for Friday’s season opener against the Braves, Nido figures to get the start.
“We feel confident with where they are right now,’’ Rojas said of the catchers. “Nido worked really hard in the offseason before the first camp on his offense. He’s always been a good defensive catcher. There are some things he needs to tone down and work on to be more consistent [offensively].”
Rojas thought Nido had a good at-bat Saturday when he singled against Zack Britton.
Nido has had success at the plate in the minors, including in 2016 with Class-A St. Lucie, when he hit .320 with Rojas as his manager.
“If he maintains his focus and is able to be consistent at the plate, he can definitely be a good hitter,’’ Rojas said. “It hasn’t translated yet to the big league level, but he’s put in the work.”
Brandon Nimmo said playing Saturday’s exhibition game at Citi Field in front of no fans wasn’t that much of an adjustment thanks to his experience in the NL East.
“Honestly, no knock against Miami, but it felt like playing in Miami,” Nimmo said of the Marlins’ inability to draw crowds. “We just didn’t have that many fans in the stadium. We had the cardboard feel. I would say the sound was there. I guess I didn’t realize until this point how much of a difference music and the antics in between pitches makes, because it felt really game-like. I was surprised how much it felt like a game.”
Rojas said the Mets “took another step” in learning how to deal with playing through a pandemic, practicing social distancing on their way from Citi Field to The Bronx.
“There were 10 of us on each bus,’’ Rojas said. “We were able to maintain distance and went through the screening process to get into the [visiting] clubhouse.”
Nimmo said he had sympathy for Rojas in his first year as a major league manager in having to deal with the coronavirus protocols.
“I feel bad for him having this all in his first big league managing job,’’ said Nimmo, who played for Rojas at Class-A Savannah. “But he’s handled it great. … He’s an even-keeled guy to be around during this turbulent time. He’s rolled with the punches. He’s definitely a man for the job.”


newyorkpost--2020-07-19--Science says (again): Open the schools

Science says (again): Open the schools

Gov .
Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio constantly tell us they ’ re following “ science ” and “ the experts ” as they decide on New York ’ s reopening .
Well , more and more experts agree on one thing : Kids will suffer if schools don ’ t open this fall .
The prestigious National Academies of Science , Engineering and Medicine are the latest to issue a report calling for in-person instruction , saying remote learning is simply ineffective for younger and special-needs students .
That echoes last month ’ s similar advisory from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Weighing the health risks .
.
.
against the educational risks , ” the new report says , “ school districts should prioritize reopening schools full time , especially for grades K-5 and students with special needs.
” It states what ’ s obvious to parents who struggled with the lack of learning all spring : “ Without in-person instruction , schools risk children falling behind academically and exacerbating educational inequities.
” For example , “ In grades K-3 , children are still developing the skills to regulate their own behavior , emotions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distance learning.
” Most studies show the coronavirus poses few health risks to children .
With “ insufficient ” evidence on how easily they might pass it on to others , the academies recommend providing surgical masks to teachers and staff , regular cleaning along with handwashing or hand-sanitizing stations and limiting large gatherings of students .
Mitigate the health risks and the educational risks at once : Open schools with additional safety measures .
Our kids can ’ t afford to lose yet more months of learning .

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio constantly tell us they’re following “science” and “the experts” as they decide on New York’s reopening. Well, more and more experts agree on one thing: Kids will suffer if schools don’t open this fall.
The prestigious National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine are the latest to issue a report calling for in-person instruction, saying remote learning is simply ineffective for younger and special-needs students. That echoes last month’s similar advisory from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
“Weighing the health risks . . . against the educational risks,” the new report says, “school districts should prioritize reopening schools full time, especially for grades K-5 and students with special needs.”
It states what’s obvious to parents who struggled with the lack of learning all spring: “Without in-person instruction, schools risk children falling behind academically and exacerbating educational inequities.”
For example, “In grades K-3, children are still developing the skills to regulate their own behavior, emotions and attention, and therefore struggle with distance learning.”
Most studies show the coronavirus poses few health risks to children. With “insufficient” evidence on how easily they might pass it on to others, the academies recommend providing surgical masks to teachers and staff, regular cleaning along with handwashing or hand-sanitizing stations and limiting large gatherings of students.
Mitigate the health risks and the educational risks at once: Open schools with additional safety measures. Our kids can’t afford to lose yet more months of learning.