Welcome to Monday’s Morning Mashup. For the latest news, start at our WEEI.com home page or click here for the top stories from our news wire.
MONDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:MLB: Atlanta at PIttsburgh, 7 p.m. (MLB Network)MLB: Cleveland at Boston, 7:10 p.m. (NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7)MLB: Houston at Seattle, 10 p.m. (MLB Network)
AROUND THE WEB:
-- Richard Sherman went off on the NFL’s new helmet rule in sereis of tweets on Sunday night, calling it “idiotic” and saying it “should be dismissed immediately.”
To all those ppl including those who made the rule. I want a video of YOU running full speed and being lead by anything but your head while also attempting to bring down a moving target. You will soon realize it’s impossible. https://t.co/QFyENU6LKf
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25)
August 19, 2018 This is considered a good Rugby tackle. It would be a for sure penalty in our league. https://t.co/2EqxrKwgCC
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25)
August 19, 2018
The NFL explained the new rule in a tweet last week:
The Use of Helmet rule is designed to protect players from unnecessary risk. It's illegal to lower your head to initiate contact against an opponent. This rule applies to all players & the entire field. The 1st 3 plays are examples of the #NFLWaytoPlay and the last 3 are fouls. pic.twitter.com/HzfR196UIg
— Al Riveron (@alriveron)
August 15, 2018 The point of the rule is to protect players but it has led to more flags so far in the preseason than would have been called otherwise. It was first implemented in late March.
-- Little League star Alfred “Big Al” Delia’s Middletown, NJ team did not make it to the Little League World Series, but that didn’t stop the viral star from taking over Williamsport this weekend.
Big Al made some new friends at the Little League Classic Sunday night and even participated in ESPN’s broadcast of the event.
Just a couple dudes who enjoy Dingers! Big Al, you are the man!!! #LittleLeagueClassic pic.twitter.com/K8aFEKNa4Y
— Rhys Hoskins (@rhyshoskins)
August 19, 2018 Nimmo, Conforto, Frazier, Flores and Matz just met viral star “Big Al” at the Little League World Series.Big Al made them huddle up and said, “Hit some taters tonight.” pic.twitter.com/WPokAlzzar
— Tim Healey (@timbhealey)
August 19, 2018 And he caught Todd Frazier’s ceremonial first pitch.
Awesome moment in Williamsport as Todd Frazier reunited with teammates from his 1998 Toms River Little LLWS championship team, and threw a ceremonial first pitch to "Big Al" Delia.Jose Bautista then invited Big Al to take BP at Citi Field."Promise?" Big Al said."Promise." pic.twitter.com/ED67RqlwJa
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo)
August 19, 2018 Big Al, the envy of every child in America right now, is also scheduled to be in the booth on the call for one of the games this week.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: "He trusted me. And he was very honest and genuine. I still remember in '07, we had these meetings in spring training, they would map out how it was going to play during the season. It was Theo (Epstein), Tito and myself, and he goes, 'The first two months you're going to play a lot, until this kid gets right. He's going to try to do a lot of things out of character. He's going to swing hard and struggle a bit, but when he gets it, he gets it.'" -- Alex Cora,
on Terry Francona talking about Dustin Pedroia
