Baseball

Dodgers fans were SO PISSED at Clayton Kershaw for blowing yet another playoff game Wednesday ... they straight-up invited people at Dodger Stadium to run over his jersey!!!

L.A. was up 3-1 late in Game 5 of its NLDS finale with the Nationals ... when Dave Roberts tabbed Kershaw to help close out the game.

But the 3-time Cy Young winner -- who has a long history of fumbling in the playoffs -- choked ... and gave up the Dodgers' lead on back-to-back homers in the 8th.

Of course, the Dodgers went on to lose the game in the 10th inning ... and that's when L.A. fans took to the stadium parking lot with Kershaw jerseys in hand.

You can see in video shot by LZ Granderson ... people laid the No. 22 jersey just beneath tires, and fans happily ran it over.

For his part, 31-year-old Kershaw admitted to sucking once again ... telling reporters after the game, "Everything people say is true right now about the postseason. I understand that."

He added, "Nothing I can do about it right now. It's a terrible feeling. It really is."

The star pitcher ultimately gave up 5 earned runs in 6.1 innings in his two appearances in the series ... and added after Game 5, "I might not get over it."

For their part, his teammates tried to stick up for him and are already forgiving the guy for his poor postseason.

The Atlanta Braves did NOT pass out their traditional foam tomahawks prior to Game 5 of the NLDS on Wednesday ... after St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Ryan Helsley -- a member of the Cherokee tribe -- spoke out against the promotion.

FYI -- the Braves have passed out the foam tomahawks on each seat in the stadium for postseason games in the past ... and adopted the accompanying chant from Florida State when Deion Sanders played for Atlanta in the 1990s.

Helsley made it clear he wasn't a fan of the props -- or the "Tomahawk Chop" chant that comes with it -- earlier in the Cards' series with ATL ... saying it misrepresents Native Americans.

"[It] just depicts them in this kind of caveman-type people way who aren't intellectual," Helsley told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

"That gentleman just barehanded the ball, he was excited. He got an $8 baseball!"

That gentleman is Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end O.J. Howard, who went home with a souvenir after impressively snagging a foul ball during the Rays playoff game against the Houston Astros Tuesday night!!

Of course, the 24-year-old was the offensive MVP at Alabama when the Tide won the title in 2016, and went on to be a first-round pick to the Bucs in 2017.

The video is great ... Howard throws his arm up in the bottom of the 8th inning to grab the ball with ease, like he was catching a throw from Jameis Winston.

O.J. secured the ball, and proceeded to lose his mind with excitement!!

At first, the announcing crew didn't recognize O.J. ... but when they showed the replay of the highlight play, they weren't as shocked the pro TE was able to come down with the ball.

"Of course, he has good hands, it's Bucs tight end O.J. Howard!!," Kenny Albert said on the broadcast.

"Yeah, he better catch it!!" Joe Girardi joked.

Listen up, Marlins fans ... Derek Jeter says Miami WILL have a playoff squad to cheer for eventually -- he tells TMZ Sports it's just going to take a little more time!!!

"I preach patience," Jeter says. "I don't have any myself, but we'll get there!"

The Marlins have been pretty awful since DJ took over as part-owner of the team ... and a lot of people are bent by the fact that No. 2 has traded away Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, J.T. Realmuto AND Marcell Ozuna in the last few years.

But, when we got Jeter out at his annual Turn 2 Foundation Dinner in New York Monday night ... he told us he's got a plan -- and he's sure it's all going to work out.

The Las Vegas A's?!?

It's possible ... because MLB commissioner Rob Manfred is threatening to move the club if the city of Oakland doesn't drop their lawsuit over the future of their stadium.

The A's currently play at RingCentral Coliseum -- which is widely considered an outdated stadium without cool stuff like modern luxury suites, dope restaurants and other modern amenities.

The A's want to completely renovate the stadium as part of a major upgrade because they believe a new stadium would help with attendance. Oakland's current attendance is among the worst in baseball.

But, here's the problem ... the A's don't own the Coliseum. It's owned by Alameda County and the City of Oakland.

The city recently filed a lawsuit to block the county from selling its share of the Coliseum to the A's so the club could redevelop the 155-acre site to help finance a privately owned ballpark elsewhere in the city, roughly 6 miles away from the current site.

Enter Rob Manfred ... who earlier this week made a veiled threat to move the team to Vegas if Oakland didn't drop their lawsuit.

And now, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf has confirmed Manfred's threat ... saying he did, in fact, tell officials he would consider moving the team.

The next hearing in the lawsuit is set for Nov. 14 -- but Schaaf said on Monday that she's confident about working something out to keep the team in Oakland.

"I've been clear about the path to keeping the A's in Oakland -- build a privately-financed ballpark that's responsible to taxpayers and enhances neighborhood vitality."

RIP OFF YOUR SHIRT AND BEAT ON YOUR CHEST LIKE KING KONG, NICK TURTURRO!!!!

The "NYPD Blue" star lost his friggin' mind Monday night when the Yankees swept the Minnesota Twins out of the playoffs ... and Nick busted out the broom at his home to make the point!

Of course, Nick is a diehard Yanks fan ... like, probably in an unhealthy way.

But, the dude couldn't have been happier watching the Yanks hang 5 on the Twins -- the adrenaline took hold, the shirt came off and the self-flagellation began!

Blake Snell's gonna be smellin' like Budweiser for weeks ... 'cause the Tampa Bay Rays pitcher mindlessly drained 2 beers on himself after the big win Wednesday ... and it was all in the background of an interview!!!

The players were going crazy in the locker room after rolling past the Oakland A's in the AL Wild Card with a 5-1 win ... drenching the visitors locker room with champagne and brews.

The Rays had a bunch to celebrate -- from Yandy Diaz's 2 solo dingers and Avisail Garcia and Tommy Pham's HRs to Charlie Morton getting the win on the mound.

But, there was one highlight of the celly that needs separate recognition -- Snell and one other teammate took advantage of Morton's postgame interview ... by jumping in the background and dumping 2 full beers each on their heads!!

Next up for the Rays -- the Houston Astros on Friday for Game 1 of the ALDS.

In the meantime ... nurse those hangovers, boys.

Houston fans, listen up ... you better be cheering for the Rays on Wednesday night -- 'cause Oakland legend Dave Stewart says the A's can DEFINITELY beat the 'Stros next round!!!

"Houston has been dubbed the American League champions already," Stewart tells TMZ Sports. "But, if the A's get there, I think there's going to be a big challenge for the Astros."

It sounds crazy -- Houston won 107 games this season and has TWO Cy Young candidates on its staff -- but Stewart is convinced the A's can beat the 'Stros.

And, why? The former World Series champ says it's simple -- the A's hit power pitchers VERY well.

"They're not afraid of high-velocity fastballs," Stewart says. "This is a team that swings the bats aggressively."

Of course, in order for the A's to get their crack at Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander ... they've gotta get through the Rays on Wednesday night.

Great news for David Ortiz and baseball in general -- Big Papi will return to MLB on FOX this weekend for pre and post-game coverage ... just months after he almost died in a shooting.

The 43-year-old was shot in the Dominican Republic on June 9 and underwent several life-saving surgeries since. Ortiz made his first public appearance on Sept. 9 to throw out the 1st pitch at a Red Sox Game in Boston.

But, now another huge step for the MLB legend ... he's healthy enough to join his FOX colleagues Alex Rodriguez and Frank Thomas in the studio to help cover the MLB Playoffs.

Ortiz first worked with MLB on FOX as a guest analyst during the 2014 World Series and he was so good, FOX hired him full-time.

Earlier this week, Ortiz had hinted at his TV return ... showing a picture from last year's World Series coverage when the Dodgers took on the Boston Red Sox.

Some bad news, good news for Dodgers fans ...

Bad news ... Corey Seager was involved in a minor car crash Tuesday afternoon before a workout at Dodger Stadium.

Good news ... he's fine, no injuries.

The superstar shortstop was driving in L.A. when a person in a parked car opened their door, and Seager struck it, according to Bill Plunkett of the O.C. Register.

Both cars suffered damage, but no one was hurt, Plunkett says.

Seager eventually made it to Dodger Stadium and looked unfazed during workouts.

Of course, the Dodgers are gearing up for Game 1 of the Division Playoffs against the Washington Nationals on Thursday night ... so they're gonna need a healthy Seager!!!

The only possible lingering issue for the 25-year-old star ... he's probably gonna have to cough up some dough to fix the car he hit.

Seager reportedly raked in $4 million in salary for the Dodgers in 2019 ... but the guy's an absolute stud so a FAT  payday is coming in his future.

Could a bronze statue of Joe Maddon be plopped right next to Ernie Banks and Ron Santo outside Wrigley Field one day???

Ex-MLB stud Sean Casey certainly thinks so ... 'cause the former Reds great tells TMZ Sports Maddon is more than deserving of the honor!!!

"One day they might have a statue outside of Wrigley 'cause of what he did for that organization, man," Casey says.

Of course, Maddon -- who brought the Cubs a World Series title in 2016 -- ended his tenure as Chicago's manager over the weekend after just 5 seasons.

But, when we got Casey with fellow ex-big leaguer Kevin Millar out in NYC ... he told us 65-year-old Maddon had such an impact on Chicago in that short time frame, he'll always be a Cubs hero.

"Any time that guy comes into Wrigley, standing ovation," Casey says. "That guy will forever be a legend."

Incredible moment in Seattle on Thursday night ... after Felix Hernandez threw his likely last pitch ever for the Mariners -- he and his teammates cried their eyes out!!

The scene was surreal ... King Felix -- who's been a LEGEND for the Mariners for the last 15 years -- was pitching in what many believe is his final game in a Seattle uni.

He threw well ... but in the fifth inning after getting Robbie Grossman to line out -- the Mariners pulled him from the game.

What happened next was spine tingling -- 'cause Felix and his teammates began to cry on the mound ... and the crowd went CRAZY!!!

Felix had to wipe away tears ... and before he headed into the clubhouse, he took off his hat to salute all the fans in attendance.

"I was walking to the bullpen and my eyes started to [get] wet and I was like, 'Not right now.' It's hard to do it," Hernandez told reporters after the game.

"There were a lot of emotions out there. I've been here for 15 years, and there is a lot of stuff going on."

Felix compiled 169 career wins for the Mariners in his time in Seattle, and also won the 2010 AL Cy Young Award ... but most believe the team won't bring him back next season.

John Smoltz says a Zagnut bar cost him a no-hitter nearly three decades ago ... and the Hall of Fame pitcher says he straight-up hasn't eaten the candy since!!!

The story is hilarious ... Smoltz -- who was talking about Zack Greinke's possible no-hit bid on MLB Network Wednesday night -- says back in 1990, he had some magic stuff going on as well.

He was carrying a no-hitter into the ninth inning of a Braves game against the Phillies ... but he ran into a problem -- he was STARVING.

The former ace says he hadn't eaten anything all day ... and claims he was going to pass out before he took the mound in the 9th if he didn't chow down on something.

So, Smoltz says he reached for a Zagnut candy bar ... and claims that doomed him.

"I go up in the clubhouse and the first thing I saw was a Zagnut, so I crush it real quick," Smoltz says. "And, one out in the ninth, I give up a 2-0 base hit to Lenny Dykstra."

So, how did Smoltz react to the candy? "I haven’t had a Zagnut since."

That's right, no delicious peanut brittle/coconut delight for Smoltz in 29 YEARS!!!

Bryce Harper's wife says Nationals fans went WAY TOO FAR with their heckling Wednesday ... claiming they chirped him about his newborn son -- and called it all "classless."

Harper is Public Enemy No. 1 in Washington after he left the team last season to get a huge payday (13 years, $330 MILLION) with one of the Nats' biggest rivals, the Phillies.

He's heard constant heckling every time he's returned to Washington to play his ex-team ... but in their game Wednesday, he says fans just crossed the line with their smack talk.

"I mean, I get it everywhere I go," Harper told reporters. "It’s nothing new, but the last inning -- it’s just not right. It’s just not right."

Bryce's wife, Kayla Harper, took to Twitter to clarify what the fans said ... claiming Bryce was forced to hear trash talk about his son -- who was just born last month.

"When you bring his son or family into it, yes you’re crossing a line," Kayla wrote. "Stick to your overused overrated and Harper sucks chants if you’re really that loser that goes to a game to heckle someone."

"Phillies fans might boo him but they don’t bring his 4 week old son into it. Classless."

Harper truly does get chirped everywhere he goes ... remember, even in his own home ballpark in Philadelphia, he had to tell a heckler to "shut the f**k up" before hitting a giant home run.

Harper says it's all getting a little out of control ... saying it doesn't feel a whole lot different from NBA and NFL players who have also grown tired of hearing the fans trash talk.

"It's just not good and just not right," Bryce said. "Everybody has a platform now whether it's Twitter, Instagram or in the stands. They kind of say whatever they want and that’s just how it is."

How did the Minnesota Twins celebrate their first AL Central title in nearly a decade on Wednesday night??

HIP GYRATING AND SHIRTLESS RUNNING, BABY!!!

The Twins beat the Tigers, 5-1, in Detroit ... and after the Indians fell to the White Sox -- Minnesota officially earned its first divisional championship since 2010.

Of course, the guys celebrated in the usual fashion ... Budweiser showers and booze -- but then things got a little freaky in the clubhouse.

First, 5'9", 225-pound utility man Willians Astudillo thrusted his hips in a fashion we NEVER knew he could.

Then, newly acquired reliever Sergio Romo decided to ditch his shirt and take a few laps around Comerica Park's field!!

Amazing.

The Twins have crushed it all year long and are a legitimate threat to take down the Yankees and the Astros in the American League's postseason next month.

Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez will face a Pennsylvania judge Wednesday in his child sex case -- where he's expected to enter a plea to charges he sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl.

TMZ Sports has obtained Vazquez's new mug shot ahead of his court hearing ... and, as you can see, the Pirates' All-Star closer has definitely seen better days.

Vazquez is facing 3 felony charges in Pennsylvania -- statutory sexual assault, unlawful contact with minor and corruptions of minors.

He's also facing 1 misdemeanor charge -- assault of a person less than 16.

As we previously reported, Vazquez is accused of having sex with a 13-year-old girl in his Mustang in Pennsylvania back in 2017.

Officials say the 28-year-old also sent the girl graphic videos and photos -- and told her in text messages he was planning to have sex with her again.

The texts were discovered by the alleged victim's mother -- who alerted police. Investigators say the images depicted numerous "unique and distinguishable" tattoos on his body ... which they were able to match to Vazquez through public images on the Internet.

Cops claim Vazquez admitted to the crime during a Sept. 17 interrogation ... telling investigators he had "sex but not really" with the victim.

Meanwhile, in Florida -- where the alleged victim claims she received the lewd text messages -- he's facing 2 felony charges ... 1) giving obscene material to a minor and 2) soliciting a child for unlawful sexual conduct.

A hearing in Florida has not been scheduled -- we're told officials will closely monitor the case in Pennsylvania before making any major decisions.

Vazquez is a 2-time All-Star who was having a great season for the Pirates in 2019. He currently has a 1.65 ERA, 28 saves and 90 strikeouts. He signed a 4-year, $22.5 million contract in 2018.