Baseball player 'steals first'; and a home run hero


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SALT LAKE CITY — Stealing bases is tricky and part of the excitement in baseball, especially if a player can steal home for a run. If performed correctly, a stolen base could end up to be the deciding factor in a close game.

While the concept of stealing bases is not new for most, the idea of stealing first is unheard of. However, MLB player Jean Segura of the Milwaukee Brewers effectively "stole first" on Friday, leaving everyone confused on what just happened.

In the easiest way possible to describe the play, Segura was on first when he decided to steal second — which he got. On the next pitch, teammate Ryan Braun walked, putting him on first and Segura still on second.

Three pitches later, Segura tried to steal third, but ran back to second so he wouldn't get tagged out. However, Braun also ran to second, with both players standing on the same base. By rule, Braun was called out, but Segura thought he was out and started running back to the dugout. On his way there, the first base coach told Segura to get on first base because he wasn't out, thus "stealing first."

Segura was allowed to stay on first as the game resumed. But to make things interesting, Segura tried to steal second again but was called out. Had he been successful, he would have been the first player to ever steal second on the same at-bat without the team batting around the lineup.

To read a more detailed explanation of why the play was legal and how it all went down, read the account on ESPN.com.

Home run hero

Last Thursday, Cincinnati Reds' Todd Frazier hit a home run in the sixth inning off John Maine. And while it's not the most incredible feat in all of sports to hit a single home run, one bat boy for the Reds believes it was.

Ted Kremer, a 29-year-old man with Down syndrome, won a silent auction to be the Reds' bat boy at a game during the 2012 season. Doing a tremendous job, the club asked for Kremer to come be the team's bat boy again last Thursday.

Kremer struck a deal with the team, according to Cincinnati.com, saying the team needed 11 strikeouts from the pitchers, which would allow for a free pizza giveaway by LaRosa, and a home run from third baseman Frazier.

"He's so funny, he said, ‘C'mon, hit me a home run, I love you,' I said, ‘I love you too, I'll hit you one,' " Frazier recalled after the game.

Frazier got up to the plate and gave Kremer exactly what he wanted. You can't beat that in sports.

Shaq running for what?

Playoff basketball is here, and sometimes it brings out the crazy in people. However, who would have thought the crazy would be Shaquille O'Neal?

During the Sprint halftime show between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Miami Heat Sunday, Shaq decided to get some exercise done by running around the studio set in his underwear. The guy just did laps around the set and didn't offer an explanation for what he was doing.

Who knows why, but you can never count Shaq out for any reason.

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Josh Furlong

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