Major League Baseball fans support installation of more safety netting at ballparks by an overwhelming majority in a survey commissioned by ESPN.

Fans agreed by a margin of 78 percent to 22 percent that netting is a good idea because it protects fans who often do not have enough time to react to foul balls or bats that fly into the stands.

The survey was conducted last week by Hart Research Associates.

The opponents to netting said it is a bad idea because it obstructs fans' views, and because fans know and understand the risks of getting hit.

The survey was commissioned after an incident May 29 in Houston in which a 4-year-old girl was injured when she was struck by a foul ball off the bat of Cubs outfielder Albert Almora Jr. during a game between the Chicago White Sox and the Houston Astros. On Sunday, after the survey was taken, a woman at Dodger Stadium was taken to a hospital for precautionary tests after being struck in the head by a foul ball.

The results of the survey showed that Americans are more divided on whether MLB teams should be held responsible when a fan is hit, with a slight majority saying teams should not be held responsible. By a margin of 55 percent to 45 percent, respondents said teams should not be responsible, with MLB fans, avid fans and those who attended games more strongly supporting the idea.

Since 1913, every ticket to a major league game has included a disclaimer saying the holder of the ticket assumes all the risks inherent to the game. Called the "Baseball Rule," it has made it nearly impossible for fans injured at games to successfully sue teams or MLB.

Following recommendations from MLB, by the start of the 2018 season all 30 teams had expanded their protective netting to at least the far ends of the dugouts after several fans were injured by foul balls in 2017.

Earlier this month, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, reacting to the incident in Houston, said he did not expect teams to make changes to the netting around ballparks during the season, but said he expected conversations to continue about whether the netting should be extended.

The White Sox and Washington Nationals recently announced they will extend their netting to the foul poles, with the Nationals saying they will make the changes during the All-Star break.

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced Monday night that they would extend their safety netting, likely this season.

New York Mets manager Mickey Callaway continued to have issues with reporters on Monday, after being fined for a confrontation with a reporter in the clubhouse on Sunday.

When he initially met with media on Monday, Callaway offered no apology for the incident, calling it a "misunderstanding."

"Obviously, for things like that to happen, it's always a misunderstanding. I'm sure there was no malintent by either, it's just something that happened and we have to move forward obviously," Callaway told reporters.

Later, the manager added, "Billy Martin punched a reporter one time. It's part of this game. ... Hey, I'm a passionate guy about baseball, I'm a tough competitor. Sometimes you'll see it with the umpires, sometimes you'll see it with the players. The thing is you guys don't need to see it directed toward you guys. You guys have a job to do, I understand that, always understood that, and you guys don't need to see it directed toward you. That's the number one thing."

About 90 minutes later, Callaway brought the media back into his office to formally apologize for what happened and note that he had apologized to the reporter involved in private.

"It's something I'm not proud of," he said.

Earlier in the day, Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen announced that Callaway and pitcher Jason Vargas, who was also involved in the incident, had been fined. The GM did not comment when asked whether the Mets considered suspending Callaway or Vargas. The Mets do not expect Major League Baseball to further punish either Callaway or Vargas, according to Van Wagenen.

The dust-up with beat writer Tim Healey of Newsday occurred after the Mets blew a late lead in their 5-3 defeat to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. There was no physical contact.

The incident followed a tense postgame news conference, when reporters asked Callaway repeatedly about his decision to stick with reliever Seth Lugo during the eighth inning instead of going to closer Edwin Diaz. Lugo allowed a go-ahead three-run homer to Javier Baez.

After the news conference, Callaway walked past Healey and other reporters in the clubhouse. Healey said to Callaway, "See you tomorrow," and Callaway responded by calling Healey a "m-----f-----." Callaway walked away and then returned, cursing at Healey again and telling him to leave the clubhouse.

"I thought he was leaving for the day, so I said, 'See you tomorrow, Mickey,'" Healey said. "And then he said, 'Don't be a smart-ass.'

"I tried to tell him I didn't mean anything by it," Healey added. "I was just saying, 'I'll see you tomorrow.' And then he said, 'Get this guy out of here,' and that got the attention of Jason Vargas."

Vargas stared down Healey and shouted at him, including saying, "I'll knock you the f--- out, bro," according to a Yahoo! Sports account. He eventually tried to move toward Healey but was held back by teammates, including Carlos Gomez and Noah Syndergaard.

"The situation that happened yesterday I think was unfortunate for all parties," Vargas told reporters on Monday. "An unfortunate distraction. ... The team addressed the situation, the organization made a statement. And that's really all there is to it."

Vargas then left without taking any questions.

Healey said Sunday night that Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon called him "to apologize on behalf of the organization."

The Los Angeles Dodgers plan to extend the netting at Dodger Stadium, likely this season, after another fan was hit by a foul ball Sunday.

"We have been talking for some time with different providers and looking at different options," team CEO and president Stan Kasten said Monday, according to the Orange County Register. "Surely we will be expanding netting. I don't know yet the final configuration. Obviously there are some different choices to be made and different products which each come with their own set of challenges."

Kasten said he wasn't sure when the change would happen, but that "I think it's likely" it gets done before the end of the season.

Following recommendations from MLB, by the start of the 2018 season all 30 teams had expanded their protective netting to at least the far ends of the dugouts after several fans were injured by foul balls in 2017.

Earlier this month, reacting to the incident in Houston, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said he did not expect teams to make changes to the netting around ballparks during the season, but he said he expected conversations to continue about whether netting should be extended.

Support for SquashSmarts as sponsorship helps access, equality, community and excellence
By SEAN REUTHE 

Tickets are now available for the 2019 FS Investments U.S. Open Squash Championships, which takes place between October 5-12, via usopensquash.com/tickets.

FS Investments, title sponsor of the 2018 U.S. Open Squash Championships, has committed to serve as the tournament’s title sponsor again in 2019.

The U.S. Open brings the world’s best players to Philadelphia to compete for the 2019-20 season’s most prestigious squash championship in the United States. In 2018, two reigning World Champions captured the U.S. Open trophies: Raneem El Welily won her first U.S. Open, while Mohamed ElShorbagy brought home his third.

The eight-day Professional Squash Association (PSA) World Tour Platinum event was first held in 1954 and has been hosted at Drexel University since 2011. The event pioneered gender parity in prize money for squash professionals in 2013 and is a leader in the drive for equality in the professional game. In 2019, a record $371,000 prize purse will be on offer at the Daskalakis Athletic Center.

“We are proud to extend our relationship with FS Investments,” said US Squash President and CEO, Kevin Klipstein.

“This sponsorship sustains the U.S. Open’s status as a premier Philadelphia sports event and world-leading squash championship. US Squash and FS Investments share values of access, equality, community and excellence, and through this partnership are providing significant resources to SquashSmarts as they offer academic resources and squash instruction to Philadelphia grade school and high school students from underserved communities.”

FS Investments Chairman and CEO, Michael Forman, said: “FS Investments is proud to renew its commitment to the U.S. Open Squash Championships, which furthers our efforts to support our city, its institutions and our communities.

“This sponsorship brings together organisations with common values, helps drive Philadelphia’s position as a global city and, most importantly, expands resources for Philadelphia youth who participate in the SquashSmarts program.”

The U.S. Open brings together all elements of the squash community through numerous special events celebrating the core values of the sport, alongside three amateur competitions: the Arlen Specter Pennsylvania Junior Championships, the U.S. Squash Skill Level Championships and the Intercollegiate Doubles Championships. The U.S. Open has become one of the most iconic and important annual sporting events held in the city of Philadelphia.

Website: www.usopensquash.com
Twitter and Instagram: @USOpenSquash on Twitter and Instagram

Picture courtesy of PSA

Premiership side London Irish have added former Bath, Wasps and Ospreys coach Brad Davis to their backroom staff for the forthcoming campaign

The former Castleford and Wakefield rugby league player worked with Pro14 side Ospreys last season.

He forms part of a five-man coaching team, alongside ex-Ireland boss Declan Kidney, George Skivington, ex-Kangaroos player Les Kiss and Declan Danaher.

"I am excited about the vision," said Davis, 51, who will join on 1 July.

Davis was a fans' favourite, in particular at Castleford, as a creative half, but has largely worked as a defence coach in union.

Kidney said: "Brad will add a vast amount of knowledge to our coaching set-up and will complement the already great work our current coaches do."

The Exiles return to the Premiership for 2019-20 after winning promotion from the Championship.