MLB

Jose Altuve INSISTS he wasn't angrily staring through Donald Trump's soul at the White House on Monday -- he just has resting angry face.

The photo of Altuve went viral ... showing the Houston Astros star with the ultimate mean mug while standing behind Trump during the ceremony to honor the World Series champs.

But on Tuesday, Altuve spoke with reporters and insisted he was NOT trying to disrespect the President.

"The president was talking ... what do you want me to do?" Altuve said.

"I was just standing there listening. It was an honor to be there. If I didn't want to go, I just wouldn't go."

"I'm behind the president ... probably one of the most important guys in the world. I can't be laughing or doing stupid things while he's talking. I need to listen."

Who needs Tom Brady ... when you got Justin Verlander!!

Donald Trump just gushed about his friendship with a World Series champ during the Houston Astros visit to the White House ... while also dropping some humble brags about himself (duh).

"So, I know Justin. Justin's a friend of mine," Trump said while noting they play golf together.

"I'm a pretty long hitter," Trump bragged ... "[but] this guy, he is a monster!"

"And he said he's a -2 or a -3 handicap, but believe me, he's much better than that. He's about a +2 or +3. but we love playing and it was really great."

Trump also had some words for Jose Altuve ("you're taller than I thought!") and World Series MVP George Springer before reminding everyone he also played in high school!

He also assured the team the country's doing "fantastically well" under his leadership.

Justin Verlander and his Houston Astros teammates arrived in D.C. to visit President Trump at the White House ... just weeks after Trump and the Golden State Warriors turned each other down.

TMZ Sports just spotted Jose Altuve, Dallas Keuchel and World Series MVP George Springer -- along with a bunch of other players -- walking up to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave ... with the trophy being carried in right behind!

Visiting the White House has become a polarizing issue with pro athletes. Tom Brady skipped the White House last year after a falling out with President Trump.

Just a few weeks ago, several members of the Philadelphia Eagles -- including Chris Long and Malcolm Jenkins -- said they would NOT visit the White House to celebrate the Super Bowl because they don't agree with Trump's politics.

Of course, the Warriors spoke out strongly against Trump and decided as a team to boycott Trump's White House. Trump rescinded their invite as well.

You think the Kardashians would suit up and play softball against normies? Hell no -- the team they faced was Tito Jackson's family!!!!

That's right ... Kim, Kourtney, Kris and the rest of the Calabasas Peaches faced off against "Tito's Team" -- led by team captain Tito Jackson, his sons T.J., Taryll and Taj and the rest of their families.

The best part ... Tito ditched the traditional baseball cap for a bowler hat because #fashion.

So, who won the big game? Our sources tell us the Jackson family emerged victorious ... shocking for a couple of reasons. First, it's the Kardashians' show, and also because the Kardashians reached out to 14-time MLB All-Star Alex Rodriguez for coaching help!

The Kansas City Royals held a seminar to educate players about the dangers of watching pornography -- and XXX legend Lisa Ann has a SERIOUS problem with it.

Royals general manager Dayton Moore first spoke out against porn last year -- saying it's connected to domestic abuse -- and brought in an org called "Fight the New Drug" to "educate" young players.

But, Lisa Ann -- who's starred in classics like "Who's Nailin' Paylin?" and "Doctor MILF" -- says the workshop is completely misguided and wrong.

Esteban Loaiza -- accused of possessing over 40 lbs. of coke -- was sprung from county jail in San Diego ... but he ain't goin' home, 'cause the ex-MLB star was moved to a federal jail.

Loaiza -- a 2x MLB All-Star who played 14 seasons in the big leagues -- has been behind bars at San Diego County Jail since being arrested February 9 on multiple felony drug charges.

After consulting with federal prosecutors, the San Diego D.A.'s office tells us they decided to drop all charges against the former White Sox pitcher, so he could instead be charged federally.

Yesterday, U.S. prosecutors charged Loaiza with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute ... and he was transported to Metropolitan Correctional Center in San Diego -- a federal facility primarily used to hold inmates awaiting trial.

MCC currently holds about 900 inmates -- male and female -- of all security levels.

MLB legend Jim Abbott is a HUGE fan of Shaquem Griffin -- telling TMZ Sports he's an inspiration to physically disabled athletes all over the world.

Of course, Abbott is an icon -- battling the odds to become a dominant Major League pitcher despite the fact he was born with one hand. Dude even threw a no-hitter in 1993!!!

So, how did Jim feel when he saw Griffin -- who also has one hand -- kill it at the NFL Combine? Proud is definitely an understatement.

"I just love him," Abbott says referencing Griffin's incredible performance at the NFL Combine ... "His determination is fierce."

"I just feel like you can see the burning desire within him with every step, so I'm a big fan. I'm really rooting for him."

Jim also says Shaquem is "making a real difference in the world" -- and he hopes to meet the kid one day.

Here's NY Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton making you feel inferior ... showing off his insane, jacked physique in a topless photo shoot.

You're welcome.

Stanton flexed out for Men's Health magazine (on stands now) -- which included the shirtless pics as part of an article about Giancarlo's recovery from that insane 2014 at-bat where he took a fastball to the face.

Giancarlo opened up about the hospitalization, how he couldn't eat regularly for a month and how pitchers tried to exploit his post-traumatic stress from the incident after he returned.

"For two years, pitchers would throw up and in to scare me," Stanton said ... "Just to get me thinking about that. I was aware of it. But in terms of messing with me as a hitter, it never did."

Crazy, right?

But, not as crazy as the dude's Adonis-like bod.

Jim Kelly asked for prayers -- and Kurt Warner answered the call.

The Hall of Famer tells TMZ Sports he's friends with Jim and was devastated when he heard Kelly's oral cancer had returned.

"He's a godly man," Warner said ... "He's gonna find a way through this so I'm gonna continue to pray for him."

Kurt says he's already been in touch with the Kelly family to offer a personal message -- but encourages Jim's fans to keep up the prayers because he truly believes it helps.

Jim and his wife Jill opened up about the cancer battle earlier this week. It's Jim's 3rd bout with oral cancer but this time, he says the treatment will require a major surgery that will essentially require doctors to reconstruct his upper jaw.

Esteban Loaiza's girlfriend is sick of the blowback from the ex-MLB star's bombshell cocaine arrest ... so she's taken to social media to clap back at the haters.

"It's not fair that some people are just looking to tarnish his career and ruin his reputation with made-up nonsense when they know that's not the case," Esteban's GF, Ross Labra, said in a post.

"So please, whoever does not have anything good to say should limit their comments because no one is perfect, only God, and nobody is exempt from finding themselves in a situation like this."

Ross also passed along a message from Esteban ... who pled not guilty to his 3 felony drug charges in a San Diego courtroom earlier this month.

"Esteban asked me to thank all the people who have remembered him and are supporting him with their messages and prayers."

FYI, the former All-Star pitcher was arrested earlier this month after cops found him in possession of over 40 POUNDS of blow ... labeling him a "sophisticated" cocaine smuggler.

If convicted, Loaiza faces over 20 years in prison.

MLB prospect Bubba Derby -- who heroically used his body as a human shield during the Las Vegas massacre -- has reported to Brewers spring training with a "58 Strong" glove to honor the people who were killed in the shooting.

The 23-year-old pitcher was in the crowd at the Route 91 Harvest Festival on Oct. 1 when a deranged man opened fire on the crowd from the Mandalay Bay hotel.

Derby threw his body over two women in the crowd to shield them from the bullets -- and then stayed with the girls until they were reunited with their friends.

We reached out to Derby who tells us he's dedicating the 2018 season -- and every season -- to the 58 people who lost their lives in the shooting ... "They will never be forgotten."

Derby says he plans to use the "58 Strong" glove for the entire 2018 season.

Derek Jeter is vowing to use his experience playing after the 9/11 attacks to help Florida fans cope with the massacre that left 17 people dead in the Parkland school shooting.

Jeter was in Ft. Lauderdale at a Chamber of Commerce meeting when Evan Golden -- a TV producer who graduated from Stoneman Douglas in '99 -- asked for advice on handling the tragedy.

Jeter and the Yankees -- and the sport of baseball -- are credited with playing a big part in returning a sense of normalcy to life following the 2001 attack.

"Sports has that great ability to bring people together. The fan base in New York really rallied around us on September 11th," Jeter says.

"Those horrific events that happened last week, nothing will change that. We can learn from it. Hopefully over time we find something to cheer for."

When an audience member yelled out, "Hopefully the Marlins will do it here" ... Jeter's response?

Wanna own a home with its own baseball field, indoor basketball court, full gym ... and a private fishing pond?!!?

Good news -- Cal Ripken Jr. is putting his incredible Maryland home on the auction block ... which means it could all be yours if you've got roughly $10 million to spend!

Ripken initially put the 24-acre estate on the market for $12.5 mil back in 2016 -- but the price was just too damn high ... so Cal chopped the asking price down to $9.75 mil back in April 2017.

Still, no takers -- but Cal's motivated to sell ... so he's bringing the home to auction with no reserve on May 12.

Here are the highlights ... the home is roughly 22,000 square feet and has 6 bedrooms, 15 bathrooms, a home theater, 10-person spa, private hiking trails, pool and a kitchen that can fit 100 people!

Feb 21. 9:06 AM PT -- The San Francisco Giants released a statement saying Cepeda was hospitalized due to a "cardiac incident" ... and is in critical condition.

7:45 AM PT -- Cepeda "suffered a severe blow to the skull" after falling in the parking lot of his gym on Monday ... Orlando's family friend, Minor League Dodgers coach Paco Figueroa, told Puerto Rican newspaper El Nuevo Dia.

Baseball Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda, 80, was rushed to a Bay Area hospital on Monday night ... according to an SF Giants team official who spoke with one of Cepeda's family members.

The official had no information on Cepeda's current condition or the reason he was hospitalized.

Orlando's last public appearance was at AT&T Park in January ... when he joined Willie McCovey and other former Giants teammates for Mac's 80th birthday party.

Cepeda is one of the greatest players in Giants history, making 7 All-Star teams (6 with SF) and winning NL MVP in 1967 with the Cardinals. He also played for the Braves, A's, Red Sox and Royals.

He became the 2nd Puerto Rican player to make the Hall in '99, joining Roberto Clemente.

Dodgers pitcher Kenta Maeda has a pretty clear New Year's resolution: scaring the living hell outta his translator!!

Since the calendar hit 2018, Kenta's been on a tear messing with his language bro, Will, in the most hilarious ways possible.

On Thursday, the Japanese star punk'd him with a jump scare (again) ... but his best work had to be the classic water bottle coin trick (c'mon, bro ... that one was obvious).

Will's being a great sport through it all ... probably 'cause he's plotting a mistranslating scheme for when the season starts up again.

Chicago Cubs star Anthony Rizzo choked back tears while delivering a powerful speech at the vigil for those lost in the tragic shooting at his H.S. alma mater ... and he's calling for the government to make a change.

Rizzo -- who attended Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL -- addressed the crowd mourning the 17 people killed in Wednesday's massacre ... promising to do whatever he can to help his community.

"I've been very impressed with talking to the students and how they're taking care of each other and how they're coming together," Rizzo said.

"I want you to know that you're not alone in your grief."

Rizzo added "I'm a baseball player, but I'm also an American, I'm a Floridian, and I'm a Parklander for life."

"While I don't have all the answers, I know that something has to change before this is visited by another community and another community and another community."

We also talked to PGA golfer Nicholas Thompson -- who was born and raised in the area, and graduated from Marjory Stoneman Douglas H.S. -- about the impact the shooting has had on his family, and how he plans to help the community heal.