MLB

Roy Halladay was flying dangerously close to homes -- and making wild turns and adjustments in altitude -- moments before his fatal crash ... this according to the NTSB.

The National Transportation Safety Board released the preliminary report regarding the Nov. 7 crash in Florida that killed the former MLB pitcher.

GPS data obtained from the plane shows Halladay was climbing and diving around the crash site -- and at one point, flew "as close as 75 feet to the Gulf Harbor South Beach houses."

The report also references video of Halladay's plane taken before the crash which shows the aircraft flying around 10 feet above the water. Unclear if the report is referencing the video obtained by TMZ Sports, but the description is very similar.

One witness also told the NTSB that he saw the plane perform a 300 to 500 foot climb before heading "a 45 degree nose-down attitude."

The witness says he then saw the plane crash into the water and "nose over."

The plane was recovered for inspection -- and investigators say the parachute was NOT deployed.

The report says Roy had only taken delivery of the plane on Oct. 10 ... just 28 days before the crash.

Halladay was 40.

Larry King is straight-up PISSED his guy, Clayton Kershaw, didn't win the Cy Young Award this season ... saying the Dodgers ace had way better numbers than Max Scherzer.

The Dodgers superfan was leaving Craig's in L.A. when he sounded off about the Washington Nats star winning the National League's best pitcher award over Kershaw ... and King says the stats speak for themselves.

FYI -- Scherzer posted a 16-6 record with a 2.51 ERA and 268 strikeouts, while Kershaw went 18-4 with a 2.31 ERA and 202 Ks.

L.A. fans might just have an ace in the hole to get Giancarlo Stanton in Dodger Blue -- his rumored GF, singer Lexy Panterra.

There are big-time rumors that the Dodgers are eyeing Stanton via trade, and when we got Panterra out at Warwick we asked her what she thought of the idea of the slugger in Tinseltown.

"I think that'd be a great idea. He'd be closer!!!"

Remember, it was just last week Panterra performed at Stanton's surprise B-day party at Hyde -- and just a couple of months ago the duo did a super sexy damn-near-naked music video together.

So it's clear what the Dodgers need to do to get Stanton to come to L.A. -- bombard him with THIS VIDEO until he realizes just what he's missing being gone half the year.

Roy Halladay was honored by teammates, family and friends at a memorial service in Florida on Tuesday ... remembering the star pitcher for his accomplishments both on and off the field.

Chase Utley -- who played with Halladay on the Phillies for 4 seasons -- praised Doc's work ethic ... saying he'd be done with his morning workouts by the time Utley showed up at the team facility.

Halladay's wife, Brandy, was the last to speak ... reminiscing about the first time they met as children ... and raising their 2 sons together.

Other speakers included Cole Hamels, Chris Carpenter and Halladay's former manager Charlie Manuel.

Halladay died in a plane crash in the Gulf of Mexico last week. He was 40 years old.

It was like a scene out of the jock version of "The Notebook" ...

Vin Scully and Yasiel Puig spotted each other from across the street in Beverly Hills on Monday -- and made their way toward each other ... culminating a HUUUUUGE bear hug.

And it might be the sweetest thing ever.

Of course, Scully retired as the voice of the L.A. Dodgers before the 2017 season -- but he was always fond of Puig. You can really feel the love when you watch the clip.

There's a moment when a waiter interrupts and asks Vin to sign his hat. Vin asks if he's a friend of Puig. The waiter says, "No, I'm a friend of Joe Torre." Vin signs anyway.

After the reunion, we talked with Puig about some Dodger topics -- and he was super cool ... until he noticed our guy was wearing a St. Louis Cardinals hat.

Pay attention, normies -- here's how you turn up for your birthday if you're worth over $300 MILLION like MLB superstar Giancarlo Stanton (even though you're probably not).

Stanton turned 28 on Nov. 8, but celebrated this past Friday at Hyde in West Hollywood with rap stars Wiz Khalifa and G-Eazy ... plus a bunch of hot chicks with signs spelling out his name, 'cause why not??

But the slugger's rumored boo Lexy Panterra was MVP of the night -- serenading the b-day boy with a booty-ful rendition of her new song, "So Good."

FYI, Giancarlo and Lexy spawned all kinds of hookup rumors after they got half naked together in a music video ... and this Marilyn Monroe-esque performance won't do anything to calm that down.

Sammy Sosa hates himself and that's why he's turning himself whiter ... that's according to T.I. who went in on the ex-MLB star when we got him out at LAX.

Sammy's complexion has very obviously changed over the years. We can only find one interview where he addressed it -- from 2009 -- saying the lightening was an unexpected result of a skin softening cream.

But T.I. ain't buyin' Sammy's excuse -- shaking his head and saying it was more about "self-hate" than moisturizing.

If you don't know what Tip means, he's referring to the idea that black people who bleach their skin are doing it to fit in with a European beauty standard and are selling out their race, something a lot of black people think is despicable.

Then again, it's his life ...

Here it is ... Josh Beckett's mug shot -- taken moments after the ex-World Series MVP was arrested for drunkenly diving onto a country music band.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... the former pitcher was arrested in Texas on Oct. 26 for public intoxication after cops say he was boozed out of his mind and tackled the singer of a country music band while he was performing at an open mic night.

The lead singer says he suffered injuries -- and cops tell us they have opened an assault investigation into Beckett.

Beckett's attorney told us the whole thing was simply "horseplay" -- he meant no harm and he's vowed to make things right with the singer.

FYI, Beckett reportedly made more than $124 MILLION during his MLB career. We're sure he can find a way to make things right.

Ex-MLB star Josh Beckett was arrested after allegedly going full NFL linebacker on a country band ... completely laying out the singer and causing injuries, TMZ Sports has learned.

We're told the 37-year-old -- who won World Series MVP with the Marlins in 2003 -- was at an open mic night at a country club in Texas with some friends when he jumped on to the stage mid-performance and tackled the singer.

Cops were called to the scene and Beckett was arrested for public intoxication -- the officer said he determined Beckett was "a danger to himself and others."

According to the police report, obtained by TMZ Sports, Beckett admitted to stage diving and said he hit his leg on the speaker during the incident.

The worst part ... the singer of the band told cops he suffered serious injuries to his arm, neck and shoulder from the incident ... including a torn rotator cuff and dislocated shoulder.

Cops say the incident is still under investigation.

Beckett's lawyer tells TMZ Josh claims it was an act of horseplay and he didn't mean to hurt him. He's apologized since the incident, and is trying to do what he can to make amends.

New video has surfaced reportedly showing Roy Halladay performing concerning aerial maneuvers over water -- including extreme changes in altitude -- just 2 weeks before his fatal crash.

The video show's Roy's ICON A5 plane flying over the Gulf of Mexico on Oct. 20 -- it almost looks like he's practicing a water landing ... though he never lands on the water.

The person who shot the video told the NY Daily News he started recording because the plane was going so close to the water at a high rate of speed, he thought it was going to crash.

You can hear the man express concern as he watches Roy's plane.

Just 2 weeks later, the plane crashed near the very same area -- killing the ex-MLB star.

Multiple witnesses tell TMZ Sports Roy had been making similar changes in altitude -- just like in the video from Oct. One person described it as "aggressive flying."

Roy's family issued a statement saying he was not a reckless flyer -- and they're heartbroken over his death.

Yasiel Puig just made a HUGE mistake -- revealing his secret identity to TMZ Sports while leaving Delilah in Hollywood ... and the tip-off was the ridiculously hot car he was driving.

Yasiel Puig, Dodgers star, is Batman.

We know how it sounds, but consider the facts -- Puig, who always talks to us, didn't, then proceeded to hop in his black Lamborghini Aventador -- MSRP $400k -- and sped off like he was hiding something.

Our theory? Yasiel forgot to use his driver (Alfred), absentmindedly got into his work car (chicks dig the car, after all) and headed out to Delilah for dinner not realizing we would be there.

Now we know why he was bragging about having so much money the last time we got him (Wayne Enterprises) and why he's not worried about the crooks who robbed him. He'll take care of it.

Roy Halladay appeared to be hot doggin' it in his plane in the moments before his crash -- making extreme and unusual changes in altitude ... this according to multiple witnesses.

TMZ Sports has obtained footage shot by boaters who say the ex-MLB star's plane was going from 100 feet in the air down to 5 feet and then back up again ... repeatedly.

The boaters were so shocked by the flying pattern, they pulled out their cell phones to capture the bizarre dips and rises.

Moments later, the plane crashed into the Gulf of Mexico -- and the boat full of witnesses raced over to the crash scene to see if they could help. Once they arrived, it was clear the pilot was dead.

The responders called 911 and waited for help to arrive.

We spoke with other boaters in the area who told a similar story -- "dramatically increasing and decreasing in elevation."

Another witness says, "He was flying like that all week. Aggressively."

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the crash.

Halladay was 40 years old.

Retired baseball superstar Roy Halladay died in a fatal plane crash Tuesday in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Pasco County Sheriff's Dept. in Florida is holding a news conference to reveal details of the crash. They confirm Roy was the only person aboard the ICON A5 light-sport aircraft when it went down 10 miles west of St. Petersburg.

The Sheriff's Dept. says Roy did not make a mayday call before he went down, and they've already recovered his body.

40-year-old Halladay proudly purchased an ICON A5 just last month ... the first one of the production line. He posted a video in which his wife expressed concern about the aircraft, but also said she felt more comfortable after flying in it.

Roy was an 8-time All-Star pitcher for the Phillies and the Blue Jays, and a two-time Cy Young Award winner. He's one of only 2 players in MLB history to throw a no-hitter in the playoffs. He also pitched a perfect game for the Phillies in 2010.

The Phillies issued a statement -- "We are numb over the very tragic news about Roy's untimely death. There are no words to describe the sadness that the entire Phillies family is feeling over the loss of one of the most respected human beings to ever play the game."

He's expected to be a first ballot Hall of Famer when he becomes eligible in 2019.

Yasiel Puig doesn't give a single damn about his L.A. home being burglarized last week -- telling TMZ Sports, "I have too much f**king money in my life."

Puig was leaving the Lakers game at Staples Center on Sunday when he opened up about the home invader that broke into his place during Game 7 of the World Series.

"I ain't worried about that sh*t," Puig said ... assuring his fans, "I have a f**king lot of money."

FYI, Puig has reportedly collected $34.5 million from the 7-year, $42 million deal he signed back in 2012.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... the burglar only made off with around $150 in costume jewelry. However, back in March, scumbags stole around $500k in bling and other items.

We also asked Puig how he felt about Yu Darvish after that poor pitching performance in Game 7 -- and Puig made it clear he ain't mad one bit.

Not everyone has the clutch gene -- and MLB playoffs legend Curt Schilling says that includes Clayton Kershaw, who exposed himself in this year's World Series.

We spoke to Curt about big-game pitching after the Dodgers' W.S. collapse ... and he didn't sugarcoat what separates guys like him from the Kershaws of the world -- Hall of Fame talents that don't show up when the lights are brightest.

"You have to want to be in a situation where everything's on you," Schill told TMZ Sports.

"And if you can't accept that -- if you can't accept the demand for perfection -- you're gonna lose."

We also asked Curt about the rumors of him hitting up new Phillies manager Gabe Kapler about an assistant coaching gig ... and he told us what's really going on.

Jose Canseco is sick and tired of bad calls screwing up the game he loves ... and says the time is now for MLB to kick its umpires to the curb.

Canseco tells TMZ Sports he's a HUGE fan of instant replay-- loves it -- and he's all for expanding on it.

But the MLB legend ain't stoppin' there -- telling us the technology exists to dump umps completely.

"They should have the robotic strike zone ... the human factor should be taken out," Jose told us at his smokin' hot daughter Josie's 21st bday bash at Poppy in West Hollywood.

"Keep the umps as far as possible away from the game. That way it can't be corrupt."

Great ... now here are some photos of Josie -- Jose's finest career accomplishment.