Welcome to Wednesday’s Morning Mashup. For the latest news, start at our WEEI.com home page or click here for the top stories from our news wire.
WEDNESDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
MLB: Reds at Red Sox, 7:10 p.m. (NESN; WEEI-FM)
MLB: Dodgers at Nationals, 1 p.m. (MLB Network)
MLB: Cubs at White Sox, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
NBA playoffs: Wizards at Pacers, 7 p.m. (TNT)
NBA playoffs: Clippers at Thunder, 9:30 p.m. (TNT)
NHL playoffs: Penguins at Rangers, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
Soccer: Aston Villa at Manchester City, 2:40 p.m. (NBCSN)
AROUND THE WEB:
— Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano was asked Tuesday for his reaction to criticism from former Yankees teammate Mariano Rivera, who questioned Cano’s desire.
Rivera writes in his forthcoming book, “I don’t think Robby burns to be the best,” like most elite players. Rivera also said he would take Dustin Pedroia as his second baseman if he had to win one game.
Cano, who left New York to sign a free agent deal with Seattle in the offseason, took the high road.
“Everybody has a different opinion. That’s his opinion and I have to respect his opinion,” Cano told reporters Tuesday before the Mariners played the A’s in Oakland. “I’m not going to go too far into this. That’s the only thing that I can say. My focus right now is this team. I’m here, we’re winning. I was over there already and now I’m here and now I’m focused on the team. I’m going to be excited for my teammates.”
Added Cano: “How does Mariano feel? I respect that and I’m always going to have respect for him, a guy that I spent nine years with and for me is always going to be the best closer. That’s how I feel.”
— The NBA announced Tuesday that Clippers president Andy Roeser is taking an indefinite leave of absence as the league restructures the franchise following the ban handed out to owner Donald Sterling.
“This will provide an opportunity for a new CEO to begin on a clean slate and for the team to stabilize under difficult circumstances,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass said.
Roeser, who came under fire when he released a statement questioning whether it was Sterling’s voice on the recording from V. Stiviano, has worked for the Clippers since 1984 and was named president in 2007.
“I knew they were going to bring in a new CEO eventually, but it is [a surprise],” coach Doc Rivers said of the timing, as his team is in a second-round playoff series against the Thunder. “I just didn’t know about it. I’m glad I didn’t know about it, actually. I think the NBA is doing their job, and we’re just trying to keep this thing together.”
— The Jets are the latest NFL team to be sued by a former cheerleader claiming the club pays less than minimum wage, following similar suits against the Raiders, Bengals and Bills.
NBC Bay Area reports that a plaintiff identified as Krystal C. filed a class-action suit Tuesday against the team. The Jets appear to be more accommodating than the other teams facing suits — paying $150 per game and $100 per special event — but Krystal alleges that her salary dropped to $3.77 per hour after factoring in the “off the clock” hours the cheerleaders are expected to work, such as showing up to games 3 1/2 hours early, selling calendars and helping at junior cheerleader camps. Adding hair, makeup and transportation expenses drops the wage to $1.50 per hour.
“Cheering in that field in that live stadium with thousands of fans and players is an experience you’ll never forget,” said Krystal, a 25-year-old Connecticut resident who worked for the team in 2012. “But I started feeling that there is this unfairness. I did all the math, and our paycheck wasn’t summing up.”
ON THIS DAY TRIVIA (answer below): On May 7, 1997, which Red Sox catcher — who would go on to greater fame as a member of the Athletics’ “Moneyball” team in 2002 — hit his first career home run (along with his second) in an 11-3 rout of the Twins?
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I don’t think we played badly. We just made stupid mistakes that ended up costing us the game. We have to get rid of those and keep playing like we’re playing. You’re three goals behind and it’s tough. You battle back, but time’s running out. We have to try to get that lead and play with the lead.” – Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask, after Tuesday’s 4-2 loss to the Canadiens in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series
STAT OF THE DAY: 6-1 – The Red Sox‘ all-time record in interleague games against the Reds, following Tuesday’s 4-3 victory in 12 innings
‘NET RESULTS (mobile users, check the website to see the videos): The Pirates beat the Giants on a walk-off replay reversal, after Starling Marte, who tripled and raced home on an errant throw to third base, initially was called out to end the ninth inning.
From the same game, Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutcheon guides some wayward ducks out of center field before the start of the ninth inning.
TRIVIA ANSWER: Scott Hatteberg
SOOTHING SOUNDS: Johnny Maestro, who died in 2010, was born on this day in 1939.