MLB All-Star voting races are heating up and the All-Star break is around the corner, which means that it will soon be time to see baseball's biggest stars take center stage in the Midsummer Classic at Truist Park in Atlanta, Ga. But prior to the 2025 All-Star game, baseball fans will get an appetizer in the form of the Home Run Derby, in which some of the game's best sluggers will aim to test the limits of Truist Park on July 14.

The Derby certainly hasn't been short on stars in past years, and this year is no different. The Home Run Derby field is officially set with eight sluggers.

During a June 25 appearance on , Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr. became the first player to announce he'd be participating in the Derby. But Acuna, who had missed a July 8 game against the Oakland Athletics due to back tightness, withdrew from the Home Run Derby on July 11, saying he was doing so as a "precaution." Acuna's Braves teammate Matt Olson replaced him in the Derby, ensuring there will be a representative of the Braves at Truist Park.

MLB's home run leader and Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh announced his intention to take part in the first Home Run Derby of his career on June 27. It will be a family affair for Raleigh, as his father Todd will throw to him and his younger brother, Todd Jr., may catch at the event.

On July 3, Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood announced via Instagram that he would be taking part in the Home Run Derby for the first time in his career. Then, the Derby got its fourth contestant on July 7 when Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton on Instagram announced his intention to participate, later revealing his son Brixton's adorable plan to help his father during the competition.

Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz was added to the list of participants Tuesday, making him the fifth player to commit to the Home Run Derby. On Wednesday, Tampa Bay Rays rising stra Junior Caminero entered the Derby via an Instagram post. On Thursday, Oakland Athletics outfielder Brent Rooker took to Instagram to announce that he'll be participating in the Derby, making him the seventh player.

Finally, New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. became the eighth and final participant added to the Derby on Thursday, July 10. Chisholm confirmed his interest in the event after a two home run night for the Yankees against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday. Since his return from a stint on the injured list, Chisholm has been on an absolute tear, with seven home runs in his last 12 games.

Full List of Every Player in the 2025 Home Run Derby

Player

Participated in HRD Before?

Home Runs

Average exit Velocity (mph)

Max exit Velocity (mph)

Average launch angle (degrees)

Matt Olson

Yes

17

93.7

113.8

14.4

Cal Raleigh

No

33

92.0

113.2

23.7

James Wood

No

22

94.0

117.9

6.2

Byron Buxton

No

20

91.5

112.5

18.1

Oneil Cruz

No

15

96.1

122.9

8.4

Junior Caminero

No

21

91.2

116.5

10.1

Brent Rooker

No

19

91.5

112.4

14.5

Jazz Chisholm Jr.

No

17

90.0

112.1

11.9

Who's out? Players who have declined to participate in Home Run Derby

Unfortunately for MLB, some of baseball's brightest stars have already declined to participate in the Derby. Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, Elly De La Cruz, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., just to name a few. Perhaps most notably, four-time Derby participant and two-time champion Pete Alonso also won't be taking part in the festivities this year, citing a desire to enjoy the time off during the All-Star break. As mentioned earlier, Acuna, the first player to enter the Derby, withdrew on July 11.

Home Run Derby participants by the numbers

With the field of eight sluggers presumably set, let's take a deeper statistical dive into the participants for the 2025 Home Run Derby. We'll rank the sluggers in a series of Statcast metrics, first with average bat speed.

Player

Avg. Bat Speed (mph)

Oneil Cruz

78.6

Junior Caminero

78.0

James Wood

76.1

Cal Raleigh

75.1

Byron Buxton

74.9

Brent Rooker

73.8

Matt Olson

73.7

Jazz Chisholm Jr.

73.4

Next, we'll rank the sluggers by barrel rate.

Player

Barrel Rate (%)

Oneil Cruz

22.5

Cal Raleigh

20.0

Jazz Chisholm Jr.

19.0

James Wood

18.6

Matt Olson

16.3

Byron Buxton

15.0

Brent Rooker

14.4

Junior Caminero

11.0

Finally, we'll take a look at the Home Run Derby participants ranked by their hard-hit percentages, another key metric when evaluating home run hitters.

Player

Hard-Hit %

Oneil Cruz

58.1

James Wood

55.8

Matt Olson

54.1

Byron Buxton

53.9

Cal Raleigh

49.2

Junior Caminero

47.7

Brent Rooker

47.5

Jazz Chisholm Jr.

45.6

It’s the perfect pairing – one brings in experience, the other local expertise and reports are the pair have a calming influence on the team

Mohammad Isam19-Feb-2025That Bangladesh are a team in transition will soon be on display during the Champions Trophy 2025. The absence of Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal, two of the team’s greatest cricketers, has wiped a lot of experience away from their ODI depth. But can the coaching duo of Phil Simmons and Mohammad Salahuddin add substance to a set-up lacking big names?As much as it sounds hard to believe that Simmons and Salahuddin can replace Shakib and Tamim in any capacity, Bangladesh have always been a team dependent on coaching. It has been the trend since their cricketing inception in the 1990s. The lack of international exposure made coaches like Gordon Greenidge, Eddie Barlow and Dav Whatmore among the biggest influencers in Bangladesh cricket. The combined experience and knowledge of Simmons and Salahuddin will be effective for this Bangladesh team in different ways.Simmons is among the most experienced coaches in world cricket, having recently become only the fourth coach to be in charge of 400 international matches. Salahuddin’s career highlights include the four BPL titles he won with the Comilla Victorians, but he is also recognised and celebrated in these parts as the country’s go-to coach for technical and tactical troubleshooting.Shakib is Salahuddin’s most famous student, having known each other from their days in the BKSP sports institute where Shakib was a student and Salahuddin a coach. In 2015, Shakib famously sought Salahuddin’s help with his bowling action so they did the consulting over a video call. Shakib once called up Salahuddin to the IPL in 2019 and later credited this stint with him as the reason for his blockbuster performance at the ODI World Cup that year. Tamim, Mominul Haque, Soumya Sarkar and Jaker Ali are among those – from past and present – who have worked extensively with Salahuddin.

****

The BCB appointed Simmons and Salahuddin late last year with a short contract till the Champions Trophy. The team had the home Tests against South Africa, the ODI series against Afghanistan and the full tour of West Indies under Simmons. According to those who have worked closely with the team in recent training camps, both coaches have gelled well – with each other and the team.”The first thing that caught my eye was the communication between the two coaches,” Sohel Islam, a coach who worked with the Bangladesh team earlier this month, told ESPNcricinfo. “It was good to see that they have gained each other’s trust. I think it is a really important factor, particularly in the Bangladesh team setup.”Simmons doesn’t speak a lot, but he notices every little detail. I think when he does speak, it leaves an impact on the players. Simmons also encourages the players to express themselves. I really liked his style.”I have worked with Salahuddin for many years. He has retained his coaching style. The players really trust him. Both Simmons and Salahuddin want to make sure that the players get the most out of each practice session. They want the players to get some reward out of every little thing that they do in training.”Salahuddin has seen the emergence of Bangladesh’s players with his presence in the BPL•Bangladesh Cricket BoardTalha Jubair, who worked as a bowling coach in the recent camp, felt that the duo brought in a refreshing energy to the set-up.”I have worked with previous Bangladesh coaches, but I never felt I was welcomed into those setups,” Jubair said. “This time, it felt a lot different. You had Salahuddin and Phil Simmons always bouncing off ideas with him.”Generally, I noticed a happy and comfortable dressing room. I think we have had coaches who were too dominating in the past. It can restrict players, and by chance, if a player is shy about expressing himself, he generally goes into a shell in those situations. I think what this coaching pair has done, is refreshing.”Related

Rapid Rana is at the bleeding edge of Bangladesh's proud seam-bowling tradition

Batch of new quicks gives in-transition Bangladesh hope

Phil Simmons: 'Coaching in 400 internationals means I have done something right'

While the BPL was on, Simmons worked regularly with the captain Najmul Hossain Shanto. Shanto wasn’t a regular in the Fortune Barishal XI, which allowed him time with the Bangladesh head coach in a separate setup almost daily in the latter part of the tournament. It allowed for the two to understand each other. ESPNcricinfo has learned that Shanto and Simmons have developed a solid rapport too.Salahuddin, meanwhile, spent the BPL observing, working with, and talking to the Bangladesh players. He is appointed as the senior assistant coach, but everyone in Bangladesh knows that they can all turn to Salahuddin for help.Bangladesh haven’t performed that well under Simmons so far, but their Test win in Jamaica and the 3-0 T20I series win against West Indies was seen as a step in the right direction for a struggling side. With no Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim and Towhid Hridoy during the West Indies tour, they blooded in Jaker Ali, Tanzid Hasan and Nahid Rana with a clear focus on the future.

****

ESPNcricinfo has learned that the BCB considered Salahuddin for the job after finally deciding that a Bangladeshi coach must be part of the coaching setup. They wanted someone who could communicate better with the players, and someone the players knew from their formative years. Salahuddin was the most eligible candidate.The BCB is also familiar with both coaches. Between the Chandika Hathurusinghe stints, Simmons was in conversation with the BCB for a coaching role. In 2018, shortly after Hathurusinghe had left the job, Simmons had flown to Dhaka for an interview. The board opted for Steve Rhodes instead.Salahuddin also worked for Bangladesh many years ago. He was the assistant coach from 2009 to 2011, when he was known to have guided youngsters like Shakib, Tamim and Mushfiqur. Salahuddin worked at a Malaysian University for a while before getting into the BPL. The four titles with Comilla also show a winning pedigree in his coaching career so far, and the reputation of working with Bangladesh’s best adds to his sheen.Can Najmul Hossain Shanto lead Bangladesh to Champions Trophy glory?•ICC/Getty ImagesBut for Salahuddin, this has come after some opposition. The BCB had reportedly appointed Salahuddin as the assistant coach in 2017 but changed their decision at the last minute after a board director voiced his dissent. Salahuddin had since stayed away from the BCB, often criticising the board. When Faruque was elected president in August last year, one of the first things he mentioned was the plan to appoint a Bangladeshi in the coaching setup.The general feeling of calmness in the dressing room is a welcome change that many, including those at the BCB, have observed. Bangladesh have often operated in difficult, chaotic situations – particularly in ICC tournaments – in the recent past. It usually resulted in very little success for the team.There is a belief within the Bangladesh camp that the calmness and assuredness that Simmons and Salahuddin have brought to the team could be the difference makers. Interestingly, their contracts expire at the end of the Champions Trophy. Surely the BCB will back them for a longer stint?

تحدث فيليبي لويس، المدير الفني لفريق فلامنجو البرازيلي، عن مباراة بيراميدز المصري المرتقبة في بطولة كأس إنتركونتيننتال، مساء يوم السبت، في قطر.

ويواجه فلامنجو خصمه فريق بيراميدز، مساء يوم السبت، في نصف نهائي بطولة كأس إنتركونتيننتال نسخة 2025، في الدوحة.

وقال فيليبي لويس، في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “uol” البرازيلية: “لقد تركنا انطباعًا جيدًا في عالم كرة القدم، لكن ليس في البرازيل، بالنسبة للعالم ترك فلامنجو انطباعًا جيدًا، لكن للأسف، في البرازيل لا تُهم إلا النتائج”.

وأضاف: “لويس إنريكي لا يرغب في مواجهة فلامنجو، وفلامنجو لا يرغب في مواجهة باريس سان جيرمان أيضًا، لكن لن تتاح لهم فرصة خوض مباراة نصف النهائي للمجازفة، لقد رسم إنريكي أجمل لوحة في عالم كرة القدم، وهي باريس سان جيرمان الخاص به”.

وواصل: “باريس سان جيرمان فريق فريد من نوعه، من الصعب جدًا تقليده نظرًا لخصوصياته، لا يسعك إلا الإعجاب به، مباراة بيراميدز؟ كان مايلي اللاعب المحوري لديهم في مباراة أهلي جدة، وربما اللاعب الأكثر حسمًا في مباراة بيراميدز، لكنه فريق متماسك للغاية ولا يقتصر على هذا اللاعب فقط”.

وشدد: “يتميز دفاعهم بتطوره الكبير، إذ يمتلكون مدربًا يفهم هذا الجانب الدفاعي جيدًا، من خلال تحليلي، إنه فريق يدافع ببراعة ويفهم التغطية وخطوط الرقابة جيدًا”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. يورتشيتش: نشعر بالفخر في بيراميدز.. ونطلب بعض التقدير

واسترسل: “الأهلي السعودي هو أحد أفضل الفرق تنظيمًا في السعودية، عانى كثيرًا لاختراق دفاعهم المحكم، علينا أن نكون في مواقع تكتيكية ممتازة على أرض الملعب، لكن الأهم هو أن يكون اللاعبون مبدعين وجريئين في هذه المباراة”.

وعندما سُئل عما كان من العدل أن يلعب الفريق الأوروبي في النهائي فقط، قال: “ليس من العدل، لكنني لن أكون من يشتكي من هذه الفرصة الرائعة للمشاركة في إنتركونتيننتال والتنافس ضد هذه الفرق العظيمة، لكننا نعلم أن الفريق الأوروبي لا يواجه خطر الخروج من نصف النهائي، ولا يعاني من الإرهاق الذي قد نعانيه في النهائي”.

وأكد: “لكن في الوقت نفسه، إنه لشرف عظيم أن نتنافس في هذه البطولة، مهما كان نظامها، لذلك، سنستمتع بهذه الفرصة قدر الإمكان”.

وما إذا كان يشعر بأنه المرشح للفوز، قال: “لا أعرف إن كان هذا عيبًا فيّ أم لا، لكنني لا أشعر أبدًا بأنني المرشح للفوز كمدرب، أشعر دائمًا بالقلق، وأرى الفريق المنافس كأفضل فريق في العالم، وأرى فيه الكثير من الإيجابيات”.

واستأنف: “أعتقد أن مباراة الغد ستكون صعبة للغاية بناءً على ما حللته وشاهدته، أتوقع ذلك، لقد سبق وأن خاضوا مباريات سيئة من قبل أيضًا، لكنها قليلة جدًا، لم يخسروا سوى مباراة أو اثنتين منذ أغسطس”.

واختتم: “إنه فريق معتاد على الفوز والمنافسة، لا أشعر بأنني المرشح للفوز على الإطلاق، أعلم أن لدي أفضل اللاعبين، لكنني لا أشعر بأنني المرشح للفوز”.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. continued his torrid postseason on Sunday night as the Blue Jays fought off the Mariners to force a winner-take-all Game 7 against the Mariners. Guerrero's sixth-inning home run was his sixth of the playoffs and he carries a .462/.532/1.000 slash line into Monday night's action.

He had seemingly done it all for the Blue Jays in October when he stepped into the batters' box in the eighth inning so he had to get extremely creative to create something new. A broken-bat single on which his bat made contact with the ball three times certainly qualifies.

Here's the slow-motion replay of the oddity, which proves that when things are going well at the dish, everything seems to work.

For as rare as such an occurrence is, there is some late-October precedent. The Giants' Hunter Pence parlayed the trick into some wicked spin and a two-run single during Game 7 of the NLCS back in 2012.

What will Guerrero do for his next trick as he steps on to the biggest stage of his young career? That depends on how willing the Mariners are to pitch to him.

Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee made one of the most ridiculous catches of the 2025 MLB season Sunday afternoon against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Out in center field, Hoo Lee tried to chase down a ball hit by Yandy Diaz that was destined for Oracle Park's "Triple's Alley." The speedy outfielder was able to get in range, but bobbled the ball while attempting to make a sliding catch. The ball bounced off the heel of his glove and then bounced off his left leg as he slid. It rolled down to his knee, where he was somehow able to pin the ball between his legs and secure it for an out.

Have a look at the circus show Hoo Lee put on in front of the home crowd in San Francisco:

"I don't care what anybody says, that's the catch of the decade. Not of the year, not of the day, not of the week, not of the homestand. The decade," said NBC Sports Bay Area commentator Mike Krukow after the catch from Hoo Lee.

He may be right, too.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Flamengo acertou a contratação do atacante Carlinhos, do Nova Iguaçu, mas não contará com o atacante em boa parte da temporada. O jogador, que ainda será anunciado pelo Rubro-Negro, não poderá entrar em campo com o Manto Sagrado nem na Copa do Brasil, nem na fase de grupos da Libertadores.

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A ausência de Carlinhos nas competições se deve por dois diferentes moitvos. Primeiramente, o atacante não pode atuar pelo Flamengo na Copa do Brasil pois já jogou esta edição do torneio pelo Nova Iguaçu, na vitória do Laranjão sobre o Itabuna-BA. O camisa 9, inclusive deixou o dele na goleada por 8 a 0, ainda na primeira fase do campeonato.

Na Libertadores, no entanto, a situação é menos problemática. O prazo para a inscrição de jogadores na competição se encerrou na sexta-feira (29), e o Flamengo já enviou a relação de 50 nomes que podem representar o clube na fase de grupos. Contudo, há a possibilidade do Rubro-Negro inscrever Carlinhos a partir das oitavas de final do torneio, caso assim deseje.

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Desta forma, o atacante só estará disponível ao Rubro-Negro para o Brasileirão e para o mata-mata da Libertadores até o fim da temporada. Antes, Carlinhos enfrenta o Flamengo pelo Nova Iguaçu, nas finais do Campeonato Carioca, e disputa a artilharia do estadual com Pedro, futuro companheiro de time.

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CarlinhosFlamengoNova Iguaçu

Leeds United are now lining up a January move for Brentford’s Fabio Carvalho, amid concerns about their lack of attacking threat.

After picking up just one point from their previous three Premier League games, Leeds picked up an important three points against a struggling West Ham United side last time out, meaning they are now six points clear of the relegation zone.

Survival will undoubtedly be Daniel Farke’s main goal this season, and the manager clearly thought bolstering his frontline was important when it comes to strengthening his side’s chances of avoiding the drop, bringing in the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha in the summer.

However, it was the Championship promotion-winning duo of Brenden Aaronson and Joe Rodon that provided the goals against West Ham, with Calvert-Lewin failing to provide any sort of threat, recording an xG of just 0.1.

Nmecha hasn’t exactly been prolific since his arrival either, failing to score since converting a penalty against Everton on the opening day, and the Whites have now joined the race to sign a new forward.

Leeds lining up January move for Carvalho

According to a report from MOT Leeds News, there are concerns about the lack of attacking threat Leeds have posed this season, meaning they are keen to strengthen their forward line in January, and they are now lining up a loan approach for Brentford’s Carvalho.

The board are considering several new attacking signings, including a striker, but they are also keen to inject some more creativity into the squad, meaning the Whites are now prepared to battle it out with Bundesliga clubs for the Brentford forward’s signature.

The 23-year-old has found game time difficult to come by this season, but there is a feeling he could be ideal for Farke, given his ability to play in a number of positions, with the German a fan of versatile players.

The Portuguese attacker is capable of playing on both wings, in the number 10 role and even at centre-forward, with his attacking quality regularly on display during a loan spell at Fulham, picking up ten goals and eight assists in the Championship during the 2021-22 campaign.

The former Hull City loanee also impressed with the Tigers, scoring nine Championship goals in the 2023-24 season, during which time he was lauded as “fantastic” by Fabrizio Romano.

That said, there may be some concerns about the fact the four-time Portugal U21 international is yet to establish himself as a key player for Brentford, despite scoring a dramatic late equaliser against Chelsea back in September.

Carvalho is yet to make a name for himself in the top flight, but he would still be a low-risk signing for Leeds, given that they are aiming to get a loan deal done this January.

Leeds also lining up move for Ross Barkley

Leeds eyeing "unbelievable" midfielder whose teammates compare him to Maradona

This could salvage his 2026 World Cup chances.

By
Henry Jackson

Oct 27, 2025

With less than a year left until his current contract expires, Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic future is in serious doubt and reports are now suggesting that an ex-Premier League manager is considering the job.

Update on Brendan Rodgers' Celtic future

It’s been all focus on the dugout in Glasgow, with Rangers eventually finding their next manager in Danny Rohl and the future of the Celtic position thrown into more and more doubt by the week.

Forget Yang: Rodgers can solve Maeda blow by unleashing Celtic star in new role

Celtic could solve their Daizen Maeda injury blow by unleashing this star in a new role.

1 ByDan Emery Oct 20, 2025

Following defeat against Dundee at the weekend, the Bhoys sit five points behind surprise leaders Hearts in the Scottish Premiership and questions are beginning to arrive for Rodgers.

A lot of former players have had their say on the current situation at Celtic, including former Motherwell attacker Don Goodman, who believes that they may struggle to keep hold of Rodgers.

If Celtic can’t match Rodgers’ ambitions, then they may face losing their manager for the second time. Just who they’d turn to if that scenario arrives is the big question.

Those in Scotland have just watched on as Rangers have struggled to convince their top targets to take the job and Celtic will be desperate to avoid a repeat by hiring a familiar face.

Postecoglou seriously considering Celtic return

According to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Ange Postecoglou is now seriously considering a return to Celtic if the opportunity comes his way at the end of the season. His return would see the Bhoys turn towards another former manager after only just welcoming Rodgers back to the club to replace the Australian in 2023.

That said, Postecoglou needs Celtic just as much as he needs them. Since leaving the club, the 60-year-old has taken Tottenham Hotspur to Europa League glory before facing the sack thanks to a 17th-place finish in the Premier League, and then survived just 39 days in charge of Nottingham Forest. It has been a disastrous year for the former Scottish champion.

Games

113

Wins

83

Draws

12

Defeats

18

Postecoglou was last at his best during his time at Celtic, losing just 18 games. A return to Scotland would be the perfect way for him to rediscover that winning touch.

Described as “brilliant” by Paul Lambert during his time at the club, the former Tottenham Hotspur manager desperately needs to restore his reputation after a humiliating Nottingham Forest spell and Celtic may well need a replacement for Rodgers sooner rather than later.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Flamengo venceu o Atlético-GO no Serra Dourada neste domingo (14), mas a atuação da equipe ficou muito abaixo do esperado. Apesar dos três pontos na estreia do Brasileirão, o time comandado por Tite demonstrou muitas dificuldades diante do Dragrão, sobretudo na criação de jogadas. Um dos fatores que explicam a performance ruim, porém, foi o estado do gramado em Goiânia.

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Historicamente tido como um dos melhores campos do Brasil, o Serra Dourada não recebia partidas desde agosto do ano passado. No entanto, as condições de jogo no estádio estavam longe de ideais para uma partida da Série A do Campeonato Brasileiro. Desta forma, o Flamengo voltou a sofrer com adversidades e não conseguiu impor seu jogo contra um adversário mais fraco.

Na estreia do Rubro-Negro pela Libertadores, no último dia 2 de abril, a equipe foi até a Colômbia enfrentar o Milionarios na altitude. Mais uma vez, as condições de jogo não eram ideais e o time falhou em conseguir uma boa atuação, mesmo sendo amplamente favorito. Curiosamente, tanto no jogo de Bogotá quanto no de Goiânia, o Flamengo foi vazado quando tinha superioridade numérica e tentava administrar a partida.

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Ninguém nega a dificuldades de ambas situações e praticar um bom futebol em condições tão adversas não é tarefa fácil. Contudo, um elenco tão caro, comandado por um treinador tão experiente, deve ser mais forte contra esses fatores. Afinal, o futebol brasileiro e sul-americano exige que, em muitas vezes, você supere não só o adversário, mas obstáculos como gramados ruins e altidudes. Por isso, o Rubro-Negro não pode se dar o luxo de sofrer tanto nessas ocasiões.

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O Flamengo volta a campo na quarta-feira (17), às 21h30, diante do São Paulo, no Maracanã, pela segunda rodada do Brasileirão. O time carioca ocupa a terceira colocação do Campeonato Brasileiro, após a vitória na estreia diante do Atlético-GO.

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Atlético-GOFlamengo

Athletics outfielder Lawrence Butler voiced his displeasure with the umpires in MLB, expressing that he feels there's a lack of accountability among big league umpires that doesn't exist at the Triple-A level.

Butler said Monday that he's "fed up" with MLB's umpires and said that minor league umpires displayed more caution in regards to the strike zone due to the existence of the automated ball-strike system that's in place, a system which MLB tested use of during the All-Star Game.

Because teams are able to challenge the call from umpires, Butler feels that umpires in the minors are more careful when calling balls and strikes.

"ABS. I'm fed up with the umpires. I've had enough with the umpires. They miss too many calls both ways," said Butler when asked what he would change if he were commissioner of MLB for a day.

"I want the challenge system. Three [challenges per game], just like they do in Triple-A. If you look at Triple-A, the umpires are a little bit more cautious about what pitches they call, because they know a pitcher or hitter might challenge it and it might embarrass them. So they might be a little bit more cautious to pull that trigger. I feel like up here, they don't five a f––."

Butler didn't hold back with his assessment of officiating in MLB, and he made clear he'd welcome the implementation of ABS.