MLB

It wasn't just the stands that were empty at the Baltimore Orioles game today -- the concession stands were also bare ... and now several employees are furious ... wondering if they're going to get paid for the work they were forced to miss.

Of course, the decision to close the ballpark to the public was made by the MLB, the Orioles and the Baltimore PD for the safety of the fans ... in the wake of the riots.

But several concession stand employees were counting on gameday paychecks -- paychecks they might not be getting since they were told to stay home.

And it's not just today's game -- stadium employees didn't work Monday or Tuesday either since those games were cancelled. And the 3 home games scheduled for this upcoming weekend have been relocated to Florida. In total, that's 6 games worth of work.

"They have not spoken to us about compensation," one concession worker tells TMZ Sports ... "I've received emails from [my employer] regarding the cancellation of games, but nothing mentioning pay."

Another worker says, "I have a daughter. I ride my bike to the bus to get to work. I'm trying to provide for my daughter. I need this work."

Cecily Strong went in HARD on President Obama and the Secret Service with an envelope-pushing joke about cops killing black men -- and she did it just miles from the Baltimore riots over that very issue.

Cecily hosted the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday night, and got the biggest reaction from the room when she said the Secret Service is "the only law enforcement agency in the country that will get in trouble if a black man gets shot."

The crowd was still gasping when she unleashed another racially charged follow-up.

Around the same time -- 30 miles outside the Beltway -- the Baltimore riots over Freddie Gray's death in police custody turned so violent police told Orioles fans to stay inside the stadium after the game.

We're guessing Cecily's jokes were written long before Baltimore erupted -- still, it was front page news all day leading up to the WHCD. So, we gotta ask ...

With Alex Rodriguez just 2 home run from tying Willie Mays as #4 on the all-time MLB home run list ... NY Congressman Peter King says NO ONE should celebrate ... 'cause A-Rod's a dirty cheater.

In fact, the Yankees are practically ignoring A-Rod's impending accomplishment (odd since the Yanks usually celebrate EVERYTHING) ... but King says it's definitely the right move.

"I think they're right because it's obvious that so many of [A-Rod's] home runs were tainted," King told TMZ Sports.

"I think it would be wrong to be celebrating ... since for all we know, hundreds of those home runs probably occurred when he was taking steroids."

Of course, Rodriguez has admitted to using illegal performance enhancing substances -- and was suspended for the entire 2014 season.

Josh Hamilton's wife Katie says she was completely "blindsided" by her husband's decision to file for divorce -- telling TMZ Sports she'll always love the baseball star.

Hamilton filed the divorce docs back in February ... seeking to end their 11-year marriage.

"It came out of nowhere," Katie says ... "There was no big fight or blow up. Nothing sparked it."

As for reports that Katie cheated on Josh, Katie says they're ENTIRELY FALSE ... "I never cheated on my husband. Are you kidding me? I did my marriage the entire right way."

Despite the shocking split, Katie says she has nothing but love for Josh -- and wants nothing more than for him to be happy and successful in life.

"I've always stood by him and I'll always stand by him. I support and love him now and down the road."

Katie and Josh have 4 young children together.

Just one month before Josh filed the divorce docs, the couple seemed as into each other as ever ... and went to a romantic dinner at Mastros. She posted a pic to Instagram and wrote, "Date night with my love."

Larry King made a strong case for green-lighting HGH in baseball.

King was leaving Craig's in WeHo Saturday night when our photog asked about the hormone.

King clearly thinks the ban is ridiculous, comparing it to aspirin. Larry seems to think of HGH more as a healing Rx than a fountain of youth drug.

Larry also reveals how long he's been on the pill ... and it's a LONG time.

People make some funny faces when they're firing a baseball at 90-miles-per-hour -- and thankfully, their hilarious expressions were captured on camera for your cyber enjoyment!

Former MLB slugger Scott Spiezio -- a 2-time World Series champ -- was TASED and taken into custody by cops last week following an alleged window-smashing rampage ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We've learned ... cops were called to Spiezio's apartment complex in Ottawa, Illinois around 2:30 AM on Tuesday ... after his GF called 911 and reported that Scott punched out a neighbor's window.

When cops arrived to the scene, Scott was gone -- so police called for K-9 backup to track down the 42-year-old.

A few hours later, officials located Spiezio hiding behind a building -- and attempted to take him into custody. Law enforcement sources tell us Spiezio resisted -- and cops ultimately had to use a taser to take him down.

We're told Spiezio was eventually taken into custody. So far, he has NOT been charged with a crime ... but the case has been kicked over to the district attorney for review.

Spiezio was a World Series hero in 2002 -- when he smacked a key 3-run homer in Game 6 ... that helped the Angels defeat the Giants. He was known for being a pretty clutch player during his 11 seasons in the majors.

Two things ...

1) Tom Brady took some batting practice off Red Sox legend Pedro Martinez today.

2) He bats lefty?!

The New England Patriots QB was a pretty good baseball player back in the day -- in fact, he was drafted by the Expos in the 18th round of the 1995 MLB Draft (as a catcher, not a pitcher).

But at Fenway Park on Monday, #12 proved he's handy with the wood as well ... from a lefty stance ... even though he throws with his right hand on the football field.

Seems the "old" Yasiel Puig is finally coming back ... 'cause after a quiet, slumping, terrible start to the MLB season ... Puig hit his 1st home run of the year yesterday -- and then he hit the clubs!

The 24-year-old star partied at Greystone Manor in West Hollywood late Sunday night ... hours after his 1-5 performance helped the Dodgers defeat the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Puig is in a pretty nasty slump this season -- he's only 3 for 22 with a .136 average ... not ideal for a guy in a $42 million contract.

In the past, Puig's been a staple on the club scene -- and Dodgers owner Magic Johnson has said that he's totally cool with it as long as the team wins.

This is pretty cool ... Larry King was at Ebbets Field on that historic day Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in major league baseball ... and wait'll you hear how much he paid for a ticket to that game!

The 81-year-old news legend was out in L.A. this weekend when we made case for why he should be considered the greatest Dodgers fan of them all ... essentially the Jack Nicholson of the Blue Crew.

Jose Canseco's model daughter isn't a model citizen ... she just got busted for DUI.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Josie Canseco was pulled over around 1 AM on the corner of La Cienega and Melrose (right in the heart of Hollywood) after cops observed her hitting a curb.

We're told the 18-year-old -- who's appeared on mom, Jessica's reality show -- was given field sobriety tests, which she didn't pass, and was subsequently arrested. But our sources say cops didn't think Canseco was under the influence of alcohol ... they believe it was drugs.

Canseco was booked around 6:15 AM and, as of this posting, is still locked up on $15,000 bail.

We've reached out to Josie's rep, and also Jose ... no word back yet.

Congratulations to the Chicago Cubs ... Jeremy Piven says you're about to end one of the most legendary eras of futility in the history of sports ... and it's all 'cause of Will Ferrell.

Piven was out in NYC when we asked the Chicago born star if this is the year the furries from the midway finally get off the schneid and win a World Series.

Check out the clip -- Jeremy (Ari Gold, let's be real) says the Cubbies got it in the bag and its Ferrell's spring training antics that broke the curse.

FYI -- Ferrell spent some time as the Cubs 3rd base coach during a Spring Training game earlier this month ... and it was hilarious.

Evelyn Lozada is getting back into the reality TV game -- starring in a brand new series with her MLB superstar fiance Carl Crawford ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Lozada spent 5 seasons on "Basketball Wives" before taking a hiatus from reality ... but now she's hooked up with Oprah Winfrey's OWN Network as star and exec producer of "Evelyn" (working title).

Sources connected to the show tell us the series will focus on Evelyn's relationship -- and raising their 1-year-old son ... while already being a parent to a smokin' hot 21-year-old daughter, Shaniece.

So far, no word if any of Crawford's L.A. Dodgers teammates are scheduled to appear on the show ... but with attention-loving stars like Yasiel Puig on the Blue Crew ... we wouldn't rule it out.

If there's anyone who knows what it takes to bounce back after being humiliated on a national scale, it's NY Congressman Charlie Rangel ... who has some advice for A-Rod on how to weather the storm.

TMZ Sports spoke with Rangel out in D.C. -- and asked how Alex Rodriguez could get back into the good graces of Yankees fans ... following his second PED scandal.

Rangel knows a thing or two about image rehab -- he was infamously found guilty of multiple House ethics violations in 2010 (including failing to pay taxes) and was forced to beg for mercy on the House floor.

So, what advice does he have for the disgraced MLB star? Rangel didn't hold back.

The tide may finally be turning for Pete Rose ... with a former MLB star telling TMZ Sports it's finally time to put Charlie Hustle in Cooperstown.

We spoke with former Atlanta Braves outfielder Andruw Jones -- 5-time All Star, 10-time Gold Glove winner -- who says it's about time the Commissioner finally LIFTED Rose's lifetime ban.

"It's all about what you did on the field, not off the field," Jones explained about the man who broke Ty Cobb's career hit record.

Of course, the debate has new life ... with the head of the MLB Players Association publicly supporting Rose, who just reapplied to be reinstated ... after he was banned from the game in 1989 for betting on baseball.

Rose has apologized and begged for forgiveness for decades -- but now it's all up to Commissioner Bob Manfred ... who has said he will "deal with [Pete's] request on its merits."

Can you spot the male model in this pic? Trick question ... there are two!

MLB legend Roger Clemens threw on his finest aqua bow tie and hit the runway at Theresa Roemer's Fashion Woodlands in Houston last week.

The Rocket -- along with stars like Adrian Peterson and "Real Housewives" star Porsha Williams -- helped raise money and awareness for The Greater Woodlands Public Art Foundation.