Entertainment

Thrown for a curve early, M’s seek changes at plate vs. Guardians

Published

3 years ago

April 3, 2024

Staff Reporter

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(Photo credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports)

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.

–Field Level Media

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Staff Reporter

Entertainment

Dubai Miracle Garden returns as UAE’s cooler season begins

Published

2 weeks ago

October 9, 2026

Staff Reporter

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Dubai’s Miracle Garden has reopened for its 15th season as temperatures begin to fall across the UAE. The popular attraction in Al Barsha South welcomed visitors on Thursday, 8 October, with the new season being launched under the theme “Fifteen Years, Blooming Together”.

Sheikh Theyab bin Tahnoon bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, chairman of Miracle Group, inaugurated the new season. The garden will remain open until 31 May 2027, with a programme of weekly themes and events planned around the UAE’s cultural and national calendar.

Visitors will see activities linked to occasions including Pink October, United Nations Day, UAE Flag Day and Diwali. The programme will also include live music, family entertainment and fitness activities held as part of the Dubai Fitness Challenge.

Events are also planned for Commemoration Day and Eid Al Etihad.

“For fifteen seasons, Dubai Miracle Garden has grown alongside Dubai and its people,” Sheikh Theyab said. “This season is dedicated to the community that made it possible, particularly the families and residents who return year after year.”

Mohammed Zaher Hammadih, group chief executive of Miracle Group, said the weekly programme was intended to encourage visitors to return throughout the season.

“As we mark our 15th season, Dubai Miracle Garden continues to bring people together through shared experiences,” he said. “Our weekly programme gives families a new reason to return, with cultural celebrations, live entertainment and activities to enjoy throughout the season.”

The garden features more than 150 varieties of flowers and is known for its large-scale floral displays, some of which have previously set Guinness World Records.

Since opening in 2013, it has attracted millions of visitors and become one of Dubai’s established family attractions.The garden is open daily from 9am to 9pm on weekdays and from 9am to 11pm at weekends.

Tickets start at Dh105 for adults and Dh84 for children. Children under three can enter free of charge.

Entertainment

Emirates Dubai 7s 2026: Tickets on sale as festival returns with bigger family zone

Published

2 months ago

August 31, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Emirates Dubai 7s is returning to The Sevens Stadium from November 27 to 29, with tickets now on sale for the three-day sports and entertainment festival.

The 2026 edition will bring together international rugby, amateur sports, live music and family entertainment, with organisers promising a bigger programme than previous years.

The festival attracted more than 88,000 visitors in 2025 and will again take place during the final weekend of the Dubai Fitness Challenge.

Ticket prices

Ticket prices for General Admission and Hospitality have stayed the same for a third consecutive year.

Three-day General Admission tickets cost Dh595 per person, while the three-day Family Pass is Dh1,136 for two adults and two children.

Other ticket options

Group pass: Dh446 per person for four or more adults
Saturday or Sunday: Dh455
Friday: Dh75
Under 15s: Free
People of Determination + carer: Dh375

Tickets can be purchased through the Emirates Dubai 7s website and app.

Bigger family attractions

Family entertainment will get a major boost this year as the UAE celebrates the Year of the Family.

The festival will feature its biggest-ever Kids’ Zone, including the UAE’s largest inflatable kids’ zone, along with a Ferris wheel and zipline. More attractions are expected to be announced ahead of the event.

Six sports and top rugby action

Alongside elite rugby, visitors can watch or take part in competitions across six sports — rugby, netball, cricket, WODON3 fitness, Rebound padel and Gaelic Football.

Gaelic Football will join the festival for the first time in 2026.

The Sevens Stadium will also host the opening round of the HSBC SVNS Series 2027, bringing the world’s leading rugby sevens players to Dubai.

The WODON3 Elite final will take place on Pitch 1 between HSBC SVNS matches, with competitors potentially performing in front of crowds of up to 20,000.

Music all weekend

Live entertainment will run throughout the festival, with local and international artists performing across three days.

Last year’s line-up included Tinie Tempah, Sean Paul and Fisher, while the 2026 headline acts will be announced later.

For a premium experience, The Sunroom returns with all-inclusive food and drinks, shaded seating, prime sporting views and dedicated access. Packages start from Dh1,925 per person.

With sport, music and family attractions packed into one weekend, Emirates Dubai 7s is gearing up for another big Dubai event.

Entertainment

Dubai launches ‘Dubai+’ family streaming platform to boost digital media and creative economy

Published

9 months ago

January 29, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council, has approved the launch of Dubai+, a new family-oriented digital media platform, reinforcing Dubai’s ambition to become a global hub for digital media and the creative economy.

The approval came as Sheikh Ahmed chaired the Dubai Media Council’s first meeting of 2026 at Dubai Media, where members reviewed sector strategies and plans to strengthen content creation, innovation and local production capabilities.

What is Dubai+?

Dubai+ will offer a wide range of family-friendly content, bringing together:

Local and Emirati productions
Arab series and films
International entertainment

The platform reflects Dubai Media’s integrated digital ecosystem strategy, responding to shifting viewer habits and the growing demand for high-quality, on-demand digital content.

“We believe media is a strategic force that shapes awareness, supports development and builds trust,” Sheikh Ahmed said.

Boosting Local Film and Content Production

The Council also reviewed plans to:

Enhance local production capabilities
Support cinema as a cultural and creative industry
Invest in programmes that drive creative and economic growth

Samr Al Marzooqi, Director of Films and Production at the Dubai Media Council, outlined upcoming initiatives aimed at showcasing Emirati and international talent while strengthening Dubai’s film sector.

Next Phase of Growth

Mona Al Marri, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council, said the next phase will focus on monitoring implementation and ensuring measurable outcomes across the sector.

Secretary General Nehal Badri added that priorities include encouraging private sector participation, accelerating content development, and investing in talent, advanced production technologies and future-ready capabilities.