With apologies to Clint Eastwood and his 2012 movie about an aging baseball scout, it’s the Seattle Mariners who have “Trouble with the Curve.”
And it seems, any other breaking pitch that opponents throw at them.
Heading into the finale of three-game series with the visiting Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday afternoon, the Mariners have struck out 66 times in six games, one behind Boston for the most in the American League. The Los Angeles Dodgers lead the National League with 76 strikeouts, but they’ve played two more games and have a team batting average of .293 compared with Seattle’s paltry .201.
Despite jettisoning the strikeout-prone Teoscar Hernandez, Jarred Kelenic and Eugenio Suarez in the offseason, it appears the Mariners still need to change their mindset.
“At the end of the night, strikeouts will kill you,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said after his players struck out 12 times Tuesday in a 5-2 loss to the Guardians. “It’s an area we need to work on.
“Our offense is not clicking yet. This team is still trying to figure themselves out.”
And until they do, it appears opponents will continue to feed the Mariners a diet high in breaking pitches.
“We’re not getting a ton of fastballs,” Servais said. “Until you start hitting the breaking pitches or the changeup, that’s what they’re gonna keep throwing. We know that.”
So what are the Mariners to do?
“I think it’s one of those things where you have to realize what they’re going to do to you and either lay off (the breaking pitches) or get it to where you need it and swing at the good ones,” said Mariners first baseman Ty France, who is 7-for-21 during a five-game hitting streak. “Until we can prove we can hit it, they’re going to keep doing it.”
Cleveland ace Shane Bieber threw six scoreless innings Tuesday, striking out nine, and Bo Naylor hit a two-run homer.
Bieber, the American League’s 2020 Cy Young Award winner, has yet to allow a run in 12 innings this season and has struck out 20.
“Just incredible on a night like (Tuesday). Cold, windy, and just dominating out there,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said of Bieber. “It’s really fun to watch, two times in a row. Just doing exactly what we needed him to do and give us a chance to win.”
The Guardians are scheduled to send left-hander Logan Allen (1-0, 5.40 ERA) to the mound Wednesday to oppose Seattle right-hander George Kirby (1-0, 0.00).
Allen went five innings in his season debut, giving up three runs on six hits in a 6-4 victory at Oakland on Friday. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out three but gave up two home runs. Allen will face the Mariners for the first time.
Kirby, who is 0-0 with a 2.00 ERA in two previous starts against the Guardians, beat Boston 1-0 on Friday in his most recent time out. He went 6 2/3 innings, allowed two hits, walked two and struck out eight, with J.P. Crawford’s solo homer providing the difference.
Salman Khan has never been one to hold back, and at a recent event in Dubai, he added his signature dose of humour to the oft-debated topic of nepotism in Bollywood. The superstar, fondly known as Sallubhai, was in town to launch his nephew Ayaan Agnihotri’s debut song, “Universal Laws”, and in true Salman style, he had the audience in splits with his witty remark.
As Dubai’s DJ Bliss – who hosted the event – praised the Khan family for their unwavering support for Ayaan, Salman quipped, “That’s what nepotism is!” His playful jab left everyone in the room in splits.
And as the crowd cheered, Salman officially launched the song, marking Ayaan’s much-anticipated entry into the music world.
A Star-Studded Affair
The event turned into a Bollywood reunion, with stars like Arbaaz Khan, Sohail Khan, Neha Dhupia, Angad Bedi, and other celebrities coming together to celebrate Ayaan’s big moment.
During his speech, Salman highlighted that Ayaan, the son of Atul Agnihotri and Alvira Khan Agnihotri (Salman’s sister), hails from a family of seasoned film producers. He also mentioned that Ayaan’s cousin, Alizeh Agnihotri, who recently made her Bollywood debut, shares the same film-driven lineage.
Ayaan and Salman’s Previous Collaboration
This isn’t the first time the uncle-nephew duo has joined forces. Salman and Ayaan previously worked together on the track, “You Are Mine”, where the young artist showcased his rap skills alongside the Bollywood megastar. The song, composed by Vishal Mishra, became a talking point among fans.
Salman & Sanjay Dutt Spotted in Saudi Arabia
Meanwhile, Salman is keeping busy with multiple projects. A recent video circulating on social media showed him and actor Sanjay Dutt filming on the streets of Saudi Arabia. The clip, shared by an X user, captured the two actors casually chatting with crew members.
The buzz is that Salman and Sanjay are working on a cameo appearance in the Bollywood remake of the 2021 Argentine film Seven Dogs. While details remain under wraps, fans are excited to see the duo share screen space again.
From family celebrations in Dubai to shooting in Saudi Arabia, Salman Khan is proving yet again that his star power knows no boundaries.
If you grew up vibing to Bollywood singer Kumar Sanu’s golden hits, here’s some news that’ll make you smile — Britain just honoured him with not one, but two prestigious awards.
The legendary singer, whose soulful voice defined Bollywood music in the ’90s and beyond, was recognised by the UK Parliament for his incredible contributions to music. And that’s not all, he also bagged the Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Book of Records, a double win for the veteran singer, whose is fondly called ‘Sanu Da’.
Special Honour at UK Parliament The House of Commons, UK, celebrated Kumar Sanu’s impact on global music. This is actually the second time the UK Parliament has recognised the singer’s status in the music world.
Talking about the honour, Sanu said: “I’m overwhelmed and deeply grateful. Recording 28 songs in a single day is one of my proudest milestones, and to be recognised for my music means the world to me. This award is for my incredible fans. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
A musical celebration in London Sanu’s daughter, Shannon K, was by his side for this special occasion, and the two even performed together at a star-studded event in London. Music lovers, dignitaries, and Bollywood fans came together to celebrate the voice that defined a generation.
In his acceptance speech, he said: “Music has been my lifelong passion. Being recognised internationally, especially by the UK Parliament again, is beyond humbling. I dedicate this to my fans — you are my biggest strength.”
A record-breaking career
Holds a Guinness World Record for recording the most songs in a single day Won five consecutive Filmfare Awards for Best Playback Singer Honoured with India’s Padma Shri award for his contributions to music
From Bollywood soundtracks to international recognition, Kumar Sanu’s legacy continues to shine.Music lovers will be happy Sanu is still making music that spans generations.
One of India’s biggest movie stars, Salman Khan, is set to back his nephew Ayaan Agnihotri as he takes his first step into the music industry with a grand debut in Dubai. Performing under his stage name, Agni, Ayaan will launch his first track, Universal Laws, on February 20. The song marks his entry as a singer, composer, and rapper, and the event promises to be a star-studded celebration with Salman leading the charge. According to sources, the launch will see the presence of several famous Bollywood stars including Arbaaz Khan, Sohail Khan, Alvira Khan Agnihotri, Arpita Khan Sharma, Bobby Deol, and Sonakshi Sinha, making it one of the most glamorous musical debuts of the year. More than just a song, Universal Laws showcases Agni’s artistic versatility. As a singer, rapper, lyricist, and composer, he has infused the track with deep emotions and powerful storytelling, set to dynamic beats. The song has been produced, mixed, and mastered by Aditya Dev, ensuring a high-quality sonic experience. Following its grand launch in Dubai, Universal Laws will be available on Agni’s official YouTube channel and all major streaming platforms. Ayaan, the son of Atul Agnihotri and Salman’s sister Alvira Khan Agnihotri, has already had a taste of the industry. He previously collaborated with his uncle Salman on the track You Are Mine, composed by Vishal Mishra. The debutant shared in an earlier interview that his superstar uncle and composer Vishal had been working on the song for some time and were close to finalizing it when Salman felt it needed something extra. That’s when he reached out to Alvira, suggesting that Ayaan rap for an eight-bar section of the track. Ayaan revealed that he ‘wrote two versions of the rap in just 20 minutes, and when his uncle (Salman) heard them, he immediately asked his nephew to meet Vishal and finalise the tracks. With Salman Khan’s unwavering backing and a promising start, Agni’s musical journey is set to be an exciting one.