It has been two years since striker Ada Hegerberg, 23, informed the Norwegian soccer federation that she would not play for her national team until she saw more tangible progress toward equal working conditions and overall support for the women's program. She has never wavered in that decision, despite some initiatives by Norwegian officials, and will watch the 2019 Women's World Cup from home this summer.

But it won't be a vacation, as she told ESPN.com senior writer Bonnie D. Ford earlier this year. Hegerberg's incandescent talent -- honed by her five seasons with superclub Olympique Lyonnais and her solo workouts during breaks for international play -- have lifted her to the top of the game, embodied when she hoisted the inaugural women's Ballon d'Or trophy last year. That was before she scored a hat trick within 17 minutes in May to secure Lyon's fourth consecutive Champions League title.

ESPN: Given that there isn't salary parity between men and women, what are the most important details here [in Lyon] that make you feel as if you're being treated equally?

HEGERBERG: It's the amount of respect and the fact that we're equal in terms of conditions, the pitches we have, eating in the same canteen and really taking a part in the club together with the men's team. People stay here a long time because they love it, they actually have a comfortable life here, and they can live from football and compete at the highest level.

There are some countries with very strong clubs, such as France, that have not succeeded in the World Cup. The United States? Total opposite: great success in the World Cup, and our club system has struggled. Why do you think there's that disconnect?

In the U.S., they have spent so much more time together in the national team rather than the club. Here it's different. You have your everyday life in the club, and then you go to the national team maybe once every second month. I've heard a lot of people talking about how big the World Cup is going to be, and I really hope that happens. But we forget the fact that you have all the interest in a big tournament, then suddenly, bam! You go back to your club, and you have, like, 200 people watching your games. So bringing the buzz from big tournaments into your everyday club life, getting people to show up at your games, that's important. For example, when we played the final of the 2013 Euros [in Sweden], we played in front of 40,000 people, and some players from Norway were playing in league games the weekend after in front of, like, 200 people. It was a shock -- for everyone.

What gave you the mental and emotional strength to make the decision to not play with Norway?

I'm in a club that has standards, and I'm used to that. My family, we're all about quality, so I put the bar quite high. I demand a lot of things from myself, but then I also demand that everything should be in place around me so that we can succeed.

I was trying to make an impact [on Norway] for a lot of years, and I could see that in this system, in the federation, it didn't fit me at all. I feel like I was placed in a system where I didn't have a voice. I felt this weight on my shoulders more and more: This isn't working. When you're quite sure about yourself and the values and where you want to go, it's easy to make difficult choices. For me at that point, being able not to lose myself and not to lose what I believe in, I had to take that choice. I couldn't go any other way. And as soon as I did it, it was like [exhales], I could be myself again. I could perform on the highest level again.

But those weeks in front of that decision were almost like a depression. It was such a hard thing to do. It can't be easy when a woman stands and tries to be critical in a positive way. For me, it was really important that [the federation] knew what I was talking about, point by point. When the media asked me what I told the federation, I said, that's between me and them so they can work on it. But it doesn't seem like they took it in the way they should have. Ever since, I just put that behind me and try to perform at the highest level with Lyon.

-- Who will rule the Women's World Cup?

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-- Which Aussie rules football? It's the unstoppable Sam Kerr
-- Women's World Cup team preview: Norway

Then in a cosmic coincidence, Norway winds up in the same group as France. Do you think you'll follow it closely?

I'm going to watch the World Cup, no doubt. I've got a lot of teammates playing. But there's no emotional connection. I'm totally confident with my decision since day one. It took me to the highest levels, the Ballon d'Or.

I saw the Ballon d'Or trophy downstairs in the club museum. Was it hard for you to give it up?

I was just so afraid of keeping it at my place. I'm going to let it stay here for some time, and one day I'll bring it home when I get a proper alarm.

How do you view what the U.S. players are doing, suing their federation for equal pay?

They've got the guts, and they're together about it. That's the next thing. Women need to back women in cases like this, even more than we do today. If each woman stands up and uses her voice, imagine how many voices would be together and how strong a mass that would be. And I feel that responsibility myself as well. Even though sometimes I would be like, [sighs] "Am I really going to take on that fight?" I would always think, but what will it bring for the future, for others? That's in the back in my head, behind every decision I make. I got this question from a journalist as well: Do you consider yourself a football player or a feminist?

Why do you have to choose?

Yeah! It's impossible to play football in a world among men and not fight for equality. We're all feminists. Playing football can be damn harsh, but every day is a fight for equality. That's a fact. We've made it here [in Lyon] because you've got one man at the top believing in us. But it's still a long, long way to go, and you can see it in small examples every day.

We're still in a time when an insult to a woman can gain more attention than an accomplishment. There's the question [about twerking] you were asked at the Ballon d'Or presentation.

I didn't take it as sexist. I just thought it was a really stupid question at a really stupid time. If he'd asked M'bappe that question, they would be like, what is he doing?

It put you in an impossible situation. If you don't say anything, you're not strong enough, and if you react strongly, you're too strong.

Exactly. You can't say anything without getting consequences. But I always have humor for it as well. You should have balance between humor and what's not acceptable.

It's tiring, right?

Sometimes I would call my mom, and I would be so angry. That doesn't happen that often, but sometimes you see stuff even outside football, and it just goes into me at a certain moment, and it's like, why? Where is this going to end? Is there a better future? But then I get a grip, and it's like [exhales], let's go again.

You have a lot of years ahead. It's not like it's the end of your career -- knock on wood.

Yeah. [Laughs] But seriously, I want to show what I'm good at, on the pitch and outside the pitch. I never considered myself less worthy than a man in football. Never. Never, never, never. It's all about changing attitudes.

I understand you like biographies. What's the last one you read?

It was about Muhammad Ali.

What did you get from that book?

He was a hard-working man. I try to read a lot of women's biographies as well because I think there are a lot more women out there who are like Alis.

What keeps you hungry?

Improving. And winning. The way I work, I always ask myself: What did go well this year, and what do we need to work on? I always have a plan in my head. I do it with my crew at home, my family and my fiancé, a physical coach, a mental coach. It's demanding sometimes, even when it goes well. So when the Ballon d'Or came, it was like "Hallelujah!" That was the timing I needed.

The joy of repeating is quite different from the joy of doing something for the first time.

My motivation is staying at the top as long as possible. I know that I'm capable of it. I've had some years at the top now, but I know I can continue if I do things right.

USA Basketball is finalizing a training camp roster for the FIBA World Cup in China that includes Portland's Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, Washington's Bradley Beal and Cleveland's Kevin Love, league sources told ESPN.

USA Basketball will conduct an August minicamp in Las Vegas ahead of the September tournament in China that will include an 18-man camp roster for coach Gregg Popovich's eventual 12-man American team.

Among other players planning to attend the camp with intentions to play in China: New Orleans' Anthony Davis, Houston guards James Harden and Eric Gordon, Boston's Jayson Tatum, Utah's Donovan Mitchell, Milwaukee's Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez, and the Lakers' Kyle Kuzma, league sources told ESPN.

Houston's P.J. Tucker told ESPN's Tim McMahon that he will be a part of the training camp, and another tough-minded veteran, Denver's Paul Millsap, is also a possibility, league sources told ESPN.

USA Basketball will hold the training camp Aug. 5-8 in Las Vegas and compete Aug. 21-Sept. 15 in China. Team USA will also play an exhibition schedule that includes stops in California and Australia.

Team USA will compete in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with a roster that is expected to include more All-NBA level players.

OAKLAND, Calif. -- As the NBA Finals shift west beginning with Game 3 at Oracle Arena between the Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night, plenty of attention will be paid to Kyle Lowry.

Toronto's All-Star point guard has struggled with his shot during the first two games of this series, going 6-for-20 from the field and 4-for-12 from 3-point range. He struggled in Game 2, finishing with 13 points on 4-for-11 shooting to go with two assists and two turnovers before fouling out with 3:52 remaining in a game the Raptors went on to lose.

As the Raptors prepare for Game 3, their floor general says to expect him to be more aggressive when he takes the floor Wednesday night, in an attempt to both jump-start his own offense and try to get Toronto back in front in this best-of-seven affair.

"To play," Lowry told ESPN with a grin when asked what he expected from himself in Game 3. "To do whatever I need to do to help my team win. Being on the road, I may be more looking for my shot, being more aggressive.

"I play better on the road, and I always have. That's how I've always been. The road is where it's supposed to be the toughest, and I love the road."

The Raptors will be hoping Lowry is right, as they could use a renaissance performance from him in Game 3. While the Warriors are the walking wounded right now -- with Kevin Durant and Kevon Looney already ruled out, Klay Thompson questionable to play and Andre Iguodala limping around but declared ready to go -- they still are the two-time defending champions, and winners of three of the past four NBA titles and in their fifth straight trip to the league's championship round.

That championship DNA shone through in Game 2, when Golden State's mantra of "Strength In Numbers" helped carry the Warriors to a desperately needed win.

Given the hostile environment Oracle Arena presents for any opponent -- especially on this kind of stage -- it would be the perfect time, from the Raptors' perspective, for Lowry to step up and have a performance like he did in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Milwaukee Bucks, when he poured in 30 points on the road (though Toronto also lost the game).

"I'm always playing with a chip on my shoulder, and especially here," Lowry told ESPN. "It's going to be loud. It's going to be a jam-packed house. They're going to be excited to be here. I haven't been aggressive."

But while Lowry wasn't aggressive offensively in Game 1, it didn't matter because the Raptors got huge games from both Pascal Siakam and Marc Gasol.

In Game 2, though, Lowry wasn't aggressive, in part, because he let the referees get in his head. He got in foul trouble early in the game -- something he said he has to avoid in Game 3 -- and then committed a terrible foul, his sixth, when he slapped DeMarcus Cousins on the arm in a poor attempt to get a steal 92 feet from Golden State's basket with 3:52 remaining.

"The last foul was a frustration foul," Lowry told ESPN. "I had a couple I felt like I was in the right spot, and didn't get it, for sure. [But] that was a frustration foul. That was a stupid foul. That was my fault."

The Raptors, like Lowry does personally, expect to bounce back in Game 3. But one thing that shouldn't be expected to be a big part of their game plan -- whether Thompson plays or not -- is the much-discussed box-and-one defense Toronto employed over the final few minutes of Game 2.

It was a hot topic of conversation throughout Tuesday's media availability for both teams -- mainly because, at this level, few people had seen it used before.

"Yeah, I know, everybody's making fun of me for it," Raptors coach Nick Nurse said with a smile.

He then went on to explain how the decision came about in the first place.

"Well, in all those things ... first of all, your players have to have some faith in it," he said. "I got a sense from them that they were good with it in the timeout.

"I was like, 'Hey, I'm thinking about going box-and-one; what do you guys think?' And they were like, 'Well, what does that look like? I drew the box up and who would be where.

"Kyle was kind of the one that said, 'Yeah, man, that will work, let's go.' That kind of lets you, I don't know, share the responsibility a little bit. We all are on the same page and we leave the huddle and we're all good with it. So that helps."

Lowry described it another way.

"Never practiced that ever," Lowry said with a smile. "I don't think I've ever run a box-and-one in my life, I'm going to be honest with you.

"I didn't look at it as anything but what Coach said to do. I don't know if it worked or not. I don't know the numbers or whatever it was. But it was pretty innovative. The first time a team has probably ever played box-and-one in the NBA ever. So you give Nick Nurse credit for that."

Andre Iguodala's left calf is aching.

The 35-year-old swingman, who has been dealing with the injury throughout most of the Golden State Warriors' postseason run, spends the moments following Game 2 of the NBA Finals limping through the locker room inside Scotiabank Arena. Iguodala peels off his jersey and tells the assembled media what continues to motivate him to play through injuries at the tail end of a 15-year career.

"I like Steph," Iguodala says. "He's a good dude, good guy to be around. That's really the only reason why I like playing basketball."

In this moment, Iguodala's motive is far deeper than the joy he gets from playing alongside Stephen Curry; he is also determined to bolster Curry's individual résumé. Coincidentally, that means getting Curry something Iguodala already has: an NBA Finals MVP award.

"I've never seen a person, such a good person, ever get some backlash, whatever, from his peers," Iguodala said. "Because they're so jealous of what he has. ... So whatever it takes to protect his legacy, I'm all for it."

Since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976-77, Curry is part of a small group of players who have won both a regular-season MVP award and a title but not claimed Finals MVP. Like Curry has the past two years, David Robinson and Julius Erving played alongside another MVP (Tim Duncan and Moses Malone, respectively) when they won their titles, while Kevin Garnett was four years removed from his MVP season -- and on a different team -- when he won his lone championship.

Getting Curry off that list is on the Warriors' to-do list, not because Curry wants them to -- as Andrew Bogut put it, "It would help him solidify his place in history, but I don't think that's going to matter too much to him" -- but because he's so beloved by his teammates.

"He's been a great teammate for eight years," fellow Splash Brother Klay Thompson said before Game 2. "Even a better friend. You root for guys like Steph because he doesn't take any shortcuts. He works extremely hard. He's a family man. He's just a prime example of what you want your leader to be."

Iguodala echoed those sentiments, saying, "He's not arrogant. He doesn't go about life like a superstar. DeMarcus [Cousins] said it one day -- he was like, 'He's the most normal superstar I've ever seen.' He's like, 'This is unreal.' But it's just talk about culture. People don't understand how important that is."

Curry has played well on the game's biggest stage. He was the team's leading scorer in the 2015 Finals, averaging nearly 10 points per game more than Iguodala, who won Finals MVP. He led the Warriors in scoring again in 2016, when they lost in seven games to the Cleveland Cavaliers -- a setback Curry blames himself for.

Kevin Durant arrived that summer, and took the Finals scoring lead from Curry en route to winning each of the past two Finals MVPs. Still, Curry averaged 27.1 points per game over those two series, an increase over the 25.7 PPG he put up in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 regular seasons.

"I think if you ask him he'll take that championship and everyone being healthy," said Bogut, who was part of the Warriors' title team in 2015 and, after stints with Cleveland, Dallas and the Lakers over the past two seasons, rejoined Golden State earlier this season. "In my opinion, I don't think [winning Finals MVP] changes the direction of his career, but I guess for the media people that are out there criticizing him for not having that, it might silence them a little bit, for at least a year -- until they find something else to criticize him for."

Curry backed up Bogut's sentiments, downplaying the importance of the individual honor when compared to winning a third consecutive title.

"In the positions that we are in, that's just nitpicking at the end of the day, if I really want to cause a hissy fit about not winning the Finals MVP with all that we've experienced and all the highs that we've been to," he said. "When [Durant] won the last two, he deserved both of them. He played amazing, such consistent basketball at a high level.

"Do I feel like we win a championship without myself or with what Draymond [Green] did or Andre did? No. Everybody has a part in what we do, and whoever wins it this year, it's the same vibe."

With Durant sidelined with a strained calf, Curry entered the series as the betting favorite to win his first Finals MVP. He heads into Game 3 (Wednesday, 9 p.m. ET on ABC/WatchESPN) as the team's leading scorer with 57 points, tied with Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard for the most in the series. He has also added nine assists, eight rebounds and a series-high four steals.

And while Curry's Warriors teammates would like him to eventually take home the one major award he has yet to win, they aren't going to risk losing the series by force-feeding Curry.

To wit, his usage rate through two games in 2019 (27.1%) is actually down from the 2018 Finals (32.3%), when he was playing alongside a healthy Durant. And when the Raptors went to a box-and-one zone defense designed to slow down Curry in Game 1, he didn't attempt a single shot, choosing to trust his teammates rather than force the issue.

"Don't get me wrong, I play to play my best and to do what I need to do to help my team win, and that's never going to change," Curry said before the series. "Got to win and then let the rest take care of itself."

Curry is now facing the prospect of playing Game 3 without both Durant and Thompson, with the latter listed as questionable after straining his hamstring late in Game 2.

Add in Iguodala's various ailments, Cousins still being less than 100 percent after his surprising return from the torn quadriceps he suffered in the first round, and backup center Kevon Looney likely being out for the rest of the series, and this is probably as thin a squad as Curry has had around him at any point in this five-year playoff run.

Without Durant, the Warriors have become the first team since the 1991 Lakers to play a Finals game without their leading scorer from the regular season. Losing Thompson, should he be unable to play Game 3, would leave Golden State without its third-leading scorer as well. Durant and Thompson combined to score 3,707 points in the regular season. No other player on the Warriors' roster aside from Curry scored even 600 points this season.

With a less-accomplished player, questions might surface as to whether he could carry such a banged-up team. However, those closest to him know that Curry is at his best when people doubt his greatness. He acknowledged as much following a poor performance in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Houston Rockets, when he scored 33 points in the second half of Game 6 after being shut out in the first half.

"I've heard a lot of noise this series, for sure," Curry said. "I'll just leave it at that. Whether it's positive, negative, whatever the case is -- I know what I'm capable of."

Curry's ability to use the criticism as fuel while simultaneously not becoming a distraction for the rest of the group is something that Warriors coach Steve Kerr and his staff have long admired about the 31-year-old superstar.

"Steph's just unselfish and all about the team," Kerr said just before the start of the Finals. "And I'm sure he would love to win Finals MVP, but he's much more about the team than he is about the individual. He's proven that over and over again. And he's been amazing throughout the playoffs and we'll just keep counting on him and relying on him and we're lucky to be able to do so."

Kerr won five championships in his playing career, and each time there was no question as to who was going to win Finals MVP. Michael Jordan won it for each of Kerr's titles with the Chicago Bulls (the last three of Jordan's six Finals MVPs overall), and Duncan took home the honors for the two titles Kerr won with the San Antonio Spurs.

Jordan is in the Hall of Fame. Duncan will almost certainly join him next year, as will Curry three years after he retires, whether he wins Finals MVP or not. But Warriors guard Shaun Livingston would like to see Curry in the company of those two, and the other legends of the game, sooner rather than later.

"It would be the pinnacle, I think," he said of Curry winning the award this year. "The ultimate kind of reward in a sense of things going full circle, if you think about it. All of his sacrifices, from his contracts, to his play with Kevin [Durant] getting here and just everything."

And while the Warriors want the award for Curry, he isn't campaigning for votes.

"Honestly, I don't need anybody's validation or praise or them to hype me up as other people in the league know who I am," Curry said. "So whatever comes with that territory, that doesn't really bother me."

ESPN's Tim Bontemps contributed to this story

TORONTO -- Two days after he declined to speak to reporters immediately following what he called the "most difficult game of my professional career in the outfield," New York Yankees outfielder Clint Frazier doubled down Tuesday, saying he had no regrets about avoiding the cameras and ducking questions about the series of defensive miscues he had Sunday night.

"No, I don't regret it. And to be fair, I don't think I owe anyone an explanation, because it's not a rule that I have to speak," Frazier said, meandering his way through a number of different topics while addressing reporters just before the Yankees' series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Section 7 of the collectively bargained Major League Baseball Players Association's regular-season media guidelines says, "It is very important to our game that ALL players are available to the media for reasonable periods and it is the player's responsibility to cooperate."

Frazier's reluctance to be interviewed came after the Yankees' 8-5 loss at home to the Boston Red Sox.

Nearly an hour after that game ended, and mere minutes before the Yankees' scheduled 11:30 p.m. ET bus departure from Yankee Stadium for a flight to Toronto, a team spokesman announced to waiting reporters that Frazier was not going to speak.

Often affable and regularly available on nights when he delivers big base hits or clutch home runs, Frazier felt embarrassed by his performance in the field Sunday. He lamented hearing for the first time heckling from fans in Yankee Stadium's bleacher seats who were angered by his defensive woes.

Those miscues included being charged with an error when a ground ball got past him and rolled to the right-field wall, plating a Red Sox run. He also had trouble tracking a fly ball hit near him, prompting him to dive -- unsuccessfully -- for it at the last second. Another fly ball he likely should have caught fell along the right-field line and resulted in a triple.

"The plays were what they were. I sucked," Frazier said Tuesday, before crushing a fourth-inning, two-run homer that put the Yankees in front of the Blue Jays early. "I lost us the game. Everyone knew what I did wrong, and that's what it came down to."

The Yankees also ended up losing Tuesday, 4-3. Available after this latest loss, Frazier addressed reporters for 31 seconds. He answered two questions, then ended the session after a long, awkward pause that came after the second question.

Among the only two queries he took, Frazier was asked if he felt vindicated by the homer, given the drama that has swirled around him the past two days.

He smiled and said succinctly: "It felt good."

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said the home run was a good indication of Frazier's approach despite all he already has experienced this week.

"It was good to see him with all that's been out the last couple of days to have a focus, and to go up there and really focus on having good at-bats, which he did," Boone said.

Although he declined to talk to the collective of reporters in the clubhouse Sunday night, Frazier did speak exclusively to ESPN a couple of hours after the Yankees' stadium departure.

"I've been working really hard every day with [outfield coach] Reggie [Willits] before batting practice starts, and despite what has been happening during the game, I'm still confident in myself to be able to turn this around soon," Frazier told ESPN. "It's tough to cost the team runs and a potential win, especially when playing at home against Boston. Things keep happening that shouldn't, and I'm acknowledging all that with all of the early work I'm doing before games."

Reaction to that comment was mostly mixed from Yankees fans on social media. Some were glad he finally, albeit a couple of hours later, spoke about his desire to address his gaffes. Others thought it was too little, too late.

Boone, among many other coaches, team advisers and teammates, has spoken privately with Frazier about both his play and skipping out on the media.

"We talked a little bit [Tuesday] about certain things and expectations and things like that, but I'll keep it at that," Boone said.

As Frazier stated on Tuesday, "I knew the people that I should have spoken to, I did, and that's where I went. I didn't feel like I needed to stand in front of everyone and explain myself."

Still, his manager believes that facing reporters, after both good and bad times, is of paramount importance for his players.

"Part of being a big league player, and certainly part of playing here," Boone said. "We want our guys to always respond when you play a specific role in a ballgame. That's part of being a pro, and being a big league ballplayer and being a New York Yankee.

"Those are the things that are part of the growing process that we go through with a lot of our guys."

In addition to speaking about turning down Sunday's mass media interview opportunity -- and his poor defensive play that prompted it -- Frazier also apologized for hanging his teammates out to dry that night. While he remained away from the portion of the clubhouse reporters are permitted to occupy, his teammates were asked to discuss his play.

"There's going to be days where things kind of seem like they're not going your way. It just always seems like the ball is being hit to you," center fielder Aaron Hicks said. "That's just a time where you learn over time that you've got to slow the game down. Know the situations going into it, what might happen before the play even starts."

Frazier was remorseful Tuesday about putting his teammates in such an uncomfortable position.

"I don't want them to have to speak for me, but I also want to be on the same page as everyone in there," Frazier said. "I should have been standing in front of my locker."

Unprompted, the 24-year-old outfielder -- who has made as many headlines for his daily choice of footwear as he has for his 11 home runs this season -- also said he felt the coverage around him has been somewhat sensationalized.

Specifically, Frazier cited problems he had with stories that were written in past seasons about his hair being too long and not up to Yankees code. He also referenced questions he heard from broadcasters last season who wondered about the length of time he spent away from playing after suffering a concussion during spring training.

"Since I got traded over here, it's been some stories that came out that shouldn't have came out," Frazier said. "And it's difficult, because the way that I'm perceived by people is not how I think that I really am. I don't feel like it's been fair at times, and I don't owe an apology for not talking.

"I know I don't fit the mold of what some of the past and current Yankees are like, and that may be why it's a little bit harder for me to navigate every day, and I'm trying to be myself in here. And sometimes it feels like people have an issue with me just being myself. It's been difficult; it's been hard. My entire life, I've always kind of been different and struggled to fit in because people perceive me a certain way. It was, whenever I was younger, the only thing that I felt like kept me relevant was baseball."

NEW YORK -- Bruce Bochy, reeking of beer after his players doused him during a postgame celebration, sat in the visiting manager's office at Citi FIeld, a can of Bud Light behind his desk along with bottles of Woodford Reserve double oaked bourbon and 2014 Origines Coudrat from Bordeaux.

"You would think I have a problem, because I look around and there's always liquor around," he said with a smile and a laugh.

Bochy joined John McGraw as the only Giants managers to win 1,000 regular-season games when San Francisco beat the New York Mets 9-3 Tuesday night behind Stephen Vogt's tiebreaking, two-run double in a six-run 10th inning.

San Francisco tied the score against Seth Lugo in the seventh inning, after Mets manager Mickey Callaway removed a furious Noah Syndergaard.

Callaway later apologized to his team for a move that backfired.

"That's one I'd like to have back, maybe let him face one more hitter," Callaway said.

No such angst in the Giants clubhouse. Players toasted Bochy, then the staff gathered in the manager's officer for a second round of tributes. The 64-year-old, who managed the Giants to World Series titles in 2010, 2012 and 2014, said during spring training he would retire after this season.

"This is a year I said I'm going to savor," Bochy explained. "As you see things coming to an end, your gratitude meter it does get dialed way up."

Bochy has 1,003 losses during 13 seasons managing San Francisco, and he is 1,951-1,978 during a 25-year career as a major league manager that started with a dozen years for the San Diego Padres. McGraw led the New York Giants to 2,583 wins from 1902 to 1932.

Bochy made his big league debut as a player just a few hundred feet away at Shea Stadium for the Houston Astros on July 19, 1978 -- a date he instantly recalled.

"On my ride to the ballpark today, I thought about that," said Bochy, who also played for the Mets, in 1982. "This is special place with special memories. For this milestone to happen here, no question that's pretty special for me."

On a night that began as a rematch between Syndergaard and Madison Bumgarner of their duel in the 2016 National League wild-card game, Syndergaard allowed RBI singles in the fourth to Kevin Pillar and Steven Duggar.

Bumgarner, whose four-hit shutout won that wild-card game, had given up three earned runs in 51 career innings at Citi Field, before rookie Pete Alonso homered to lead off the sixth for his 20th long shot of the season. Wilson Ramos then hit a go-ahead, two-run drive.

Syndergaard was removed after 103 pitches, with a runner on first and two outs in the seventh. He muttered to himself, then went to the dugout and stared at the field.

"In the heat of competition and just the will to get out there and complete the inning, I got a little fired up out there and a little frustrated," Syndergaard said. "But that subsided."

Evan Longoria singled off Lugo, and Brandon Belt had a tying double that hit the right-field wall on a hop. A second run nearly scored, but Longoria was thrown out at the plate.

"As a whole after the game, as a team, Mickey pulled us all together and was kind of remorseful of that decision," Syndergaard said. "If anything, a man that is knowledgeable about the mistakes he makes is something that gets much more respect in our eyes."

Robert Gsellman (1-1) floundered in the 10th when he pitched for the fifth time in an eight-day span. Pinch hitter Tyler Austin singled, Belt walked and Gsellman bounced a wild pitch. Vogt lined a changeup over a leaping Michael Conforto and off the right-field fence.

Duggar got an RBI double on a comebacker that Gsellman tried to grab with his glove behind his back, but it rebounded toward shortstop. Pablo Sandoval added a two-run double off Hector Santiago, and Mike Yastrzemski contributed an RBI single.

Alonso's home run was lost in the tumult. Only Darryl Strawberry hit more among Mets rookies with 26 in 1983.

"Noah pitched his heart out there today," Alonso said. "I thought that was a really classy thing by Mickey. He apologized, and now we move forward."

While Alonso spoke, Bumgarner praised Bochy.

"He is the ultra-competitor for a manager," Bumgarner said. "He wants to win every game. It don't matter what the circumstances are, I know he's never taken an inning off, a game off, a pitch off, nothing. He's in it to win every time."

WINNER

Mark Melancon (2-0) pitched a perfect ninth.

BACK IN THE BOOTH

Former Mets star pitcher Ron Darling returned to the SNY broadcast booth for the first time since April 13, following surgery to treat thyroid cancer. "I feel great," he said.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Giants: C Buster Posey missed his third straight game since hurting his right hamstring on Saturday and had an MRI that showed a mild strain. ... RHP Trevor Gott, who hasn't pitched since May 24 because of a strained right forearm, remained on the injured list, a decision tied to Posey's injury.

Mets: 2B Robinson Cano, out since straining his left quadriceps on May 22, said Sunday he would be activated for the homestand opener, but he was not. ... McNeil, sidelined since May 21 by a left hamstring injury, was activated from the IL, and RHP Tyler Bashlor was optioned to Syracuse (IL). ... INF Dominic Smith missed his second straight start after spraining his right thumb during a swing Saturday but flied out as a pinch hitter. ... INF Jed Lowrie, out since spring training with a sprained left knee, is "a ways away," according to Callaway.

UP NEXT

RHP Tyler Beede (0-1, 7.82) starts for the Giants on Tuesday and LHP Jason Vargas (1-3, 4.46) for the Mets.

SEATTLE -- Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred says he does not expect teams to make changes to the protective netting around ballparks during the season, although he expects conversations to continue about whether netting should be extended.

Manfred's comments Tuesday came less than a week after a young child was struck by a foul ball and hospitalized in Houston. Manfred said structural issues in each individual stadium would make it difficult to mandate changes during the season, but the incident at Minute Maid Park will lead to conversations into the offseason.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Albert Almora Jr. hit a line drive in the fourth inning of Wednesday's game into the field-level stands down the third-base line, where it hit a young girl. Manfred said communication with the family of the young girl has primarily been done by the Astros, who have then updated the commissioner.

"Look, I think it is important that we continue to focus on fan safety," Manfred said. "If that means that the netting has to go beyond the dugouts, so be it. Each ballpark is different. The reason I hesitate with 'beyond the dugout,' I mean, a lot of clubs are beyond the dugout already. But there is a balance here. We do have fans that are vocal about the fact that they don't want to sit behind nets. I think that we have struck the balance in favor of fan safety so far, and I think we will continue to do that going forward."

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. The latest injury has sparked renewed debate about whether protections should go down the foul lines.

"It's very difficult given how far the clubs have gone with the netting to make changes during the year, because they really are structural issues," Manfred said. "But because safety is so important, I'm sure that conversation will begin and continue into the offseason."

Manfred was in Seattle as part of a West Coast business trip and to meet with Mariners owner John Stanton, who has taken over as the chair of the competition committee with owners meetings coming up in a few weeks in New York.

Among the other topics Manfred addressed:

• Manfred said he has been kept abreast of the attempts at stadium development in Portland, Oregon, but he reiterated that any consideration for expansion won't come until stadium situations are resolved for the Oakland Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays. Manfred sounded hopeful about the progress in Oakland and described Tampa Bay's headway as being behind that of Oakland in the development process.

• Manfred expects any rule changes to be addressed in the next collective bargaining agreement negotiations that will ramp up next year. The current CBA expires after the 2021 season.

"I think given the way that the players' association has reacted to various rule changes that have been put forward and given that a year from now we'll be in that final year of an agreement and we'll be having conversations, I think those rules changes are probably going to be part of that bigger negotiation," he said.

• Manfred described Seattle as being in consideration for a future All-Star Game, assuming the Mariners submit a bid. Seattle last hosted the game in 2001 and would like to again, but Manfred said the team has not submitted a bid for any future openings. The All-Star Game is scheduled out through 2021, with the 2026 game already slated for Philadelphia.

"Let me pick a random number, but once you are in the 18-plus-year category since you've had a game, when the club comes forward to make a bid, they would be in the category that gets active consideration," he said. "Obviously, we don't like to [go to] markets too close together because we have 30 that we are trying to serve. But like I said, once it's been 18 years or so, it's time for that consideration to be active."

This year's All-Star Game is in Cleveland, but it will be a bit of a muted celebration. The Indians were favored to win their fourth straight American League Central title behind a bevy of All-Stars. Instead, the Twins are running away with the division, Corey Kluber and Mike Clevinger are on the injured list, Jose Ramirez isn't hitting, Trevor Bauer has struggled of late, and Francisco Lindor missed the first few weeks of the season. After having six All-Stars in 2018 and five in 2017, the Indians could end up with just one representative in 2019.

Who will make it? We still have nearly a month of games before the rosters are announced, so a lot can change, but here is my annual Way-Too-Early All-Star selections list.

There is a slight twist to the voting process this year, as fans will elect the starters in a two-tiered process: the "primary," followed by the "starters election." (There is no longer a final vote.) In the primary, the top three vote-getters at each position (and the top nine outfielders) will advance to the final phase. The starters election will last just 28 hours, starting at noon ET on June 26 and running through 4 p.m. ET on June 27. Fans can vote just once (as opposed to up to five times in the primary).

Note the other roster rules: 32 players for each league, with 20 position players and 12 pitchers. The players will still vote on the reserves at each position (including designated hitter in the American League), leaving the commissioner's office to fill eight spots in the National League (four pitchers, four position players) and six in the AL (four pitchers, two position players). As you'll see below, that lack of flexibility in the AL will be a big issue, especially because we have to get somebody from the Orioles, Mariners and Blue Jays on the team. (All stats through Monday.)

NATIONAL LEAGUE STARTERS

C -- Willson Contreras, Cubs (.291/.398/.564, 13 HR, 33 RBI). This is essentially a coin flip between Contreras, Yasmani Grandal and J.T. Realmuto, with Contreras owning the best offensive numbers, Realmuto the best defensive metrics and Grandal splitting the two. We'll go with Contreras' glossy totals at the plate.

1B -- Anthony Rizzo, Cubs (.284/.398/.578, 16 HR, 43 RBI). Pirates fans won't like this, as Josh Bell leads all major league first basemen in batting average, OPS, wOBA and wRC+. He had one of the great months of May in major league history, hitting .390 with 12 home runs. But Rizzo was the better player in April, the better player in 2018 and the better player in 2017, is the better defender and is having a terrific season. I go by the 75/25 mantra: An All-Star selection is 75 percent what the player is doing in the current season and 25 percent what he has done in the past. Bell has been a better player than Rizzo for one month. It's close enough that Rizzo gets the nod.

2B -- Ketel Marte, Diamondbacks (.276/.327/.527, 14 HR, 43 RBI). When Marte came up with Seattle, he was a skinny, slap-hitting shortstop who looked like a future leadoff hitter -- he hit three home runs in 437 at-bats his first two seasons. Since then, he has completely transformed his game, adding strength and power, and the other night, he crushed a 482-foot home run, tied for the longest of 2019. He has played a few more games in center field, but he's listed at second base on the All-Star ballot, so we'll put him there.

SS -- Javier Baez, Cubs (.301/.346/.572, 14 HR, 37 RBI). I don't know how he does it, swinging at anything between Wrigley Field and the Hancock Building. He's proving that he can hit around .300 despite that approach, and now that he's more or less the full-time shortstop, he's also showing that he is a Gold Glove candidate there.

3B -- Nolan Arenado, Rockies (.345/.395/.638, 16 HR, 52 RBI). He hit .246 without a home run in his first 15 games -- after signing that big extension that will keep him in Colorado. But now he's fine. So fine, in fact, that he's on track for his best season yet.

OF -- Cody Bellinger, Dodgers (.376/.462/.733, 20 HR, 52 RBI). He not only leads the majors in batting average, OBP and slugging percentage (and thus wOBA), but also leads in defensive runs saved, so he has arguably been the best offensive player and the best defensive player in the majors.

OF -- Christian Yelich, Brewers (.313/.425/.719, 22 HR, 49 RBI). He won the 2018 NL MVP award and has posted even bigger numbers this year.

OF -- Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves (.277/.360/.460, 11 HR, 34 RBI). There is no obvious third choice, but Acuña is third in Baseball-Reference WAR among NL outfielders and fourth in FanGraphs WAR. The other guy ahead of him is Joc Pederson, mostly a platoon player. I'll go with the future MVP candidate.

P -- Hyun-Jin Ryu, Dodgers (8-1, 1.48 ERA, 73 IP, 69 SO). For every pitcher who goes out there and tries to strike out every batter, here's an object lesson in command and efficiency. Ryu has made 11 starts and walked five batters -- heck, Yu Darvish has walked five guys in one game three times already -- and hasn't allowed more than two runs in any outing. He went 5-0 in May, didn't allow a home run in 45⅔ innings and surrendered just three runs. I guess the Dodgers are happy he accepted their qualifying offer, keeping him off the free-agent market last winter.

NATIONAL LEAGUE RESERVES

C -- Yasmani Grandal, Brewers (.277/.376/.527, 12 HR, 30 RBI). The Brewers got Grandal on a one-year contract to upgrade their offense behind the plate, and he has done exactly that.

C -- J.T. Realmuto, Phillies (.265/.320/.451, 9 HR, 35 RBI). He should be headed to his second straight All-Star Game and has given the Phillies exactly what they wanted: a solid hitter and excellent defense, in both pitch-framing and throwing out runners (a league-leading 51 percent caught-stealing rate).

1B -- Josh Bell, Pirates (.332/.395/.681, 18 HR, 53 RBI). He leads the majors in RBIs, doubles and home runs that landed in rivers.

1B -- Freddie Freeman, Braves (.305/.391/.562, 14 HR, 35 RBI). Mr. Consistency. Check out his OPS+ totals since 2013: 147, 139, 132, 157, 155, 138, 145.

2B -- Mike Moustakas, Brewers (.262/.332/.565, 16 HR, 37 RBI). He's back at second base with the return of Travis Shaw and has held his own there, with just one error and minus-1 defensive run saved.

SS -- Trevor Story, Rockies (.293/.360/.556, 15 HR, 42 RBI). It's a good year for NL shortstops, as Baez, Story and Paul DeJong rank fourth, fifth and seventh among NL position players in bWAR and fourth, sixth and seventh in fWAR (with DeJong the highest there). Story gets the edge because WAR doesn't factor in that DeJong has hit poorly with runners in scoring position.

SS -- Paul DeJong, Cardinals (.276/.376/.477, 8 HR, 26 RBI). Originally, my final position spot went to Derek Dietrich -- how do you leave a guy slugging .700 off the All-Star team? -- but then I got to the end, and somehow nobody from the Cardinals had made it. So DeJong slots in here, a worthy choice given his top-10 total in WAR.

3B -- Anthony Rendon, Nationals (.331/.436/.650, 10 HR, 35 RBI). Somebody is going to make a lot of money this offseason.

3B -- Kris Bryant, Cubs (.274/.390/.543, 13 HR, 36 RBI). He was slow out of the gate but showed that his shoulder is fine by hitting .333 with 10 dingers in May. His versatility has helped Joe Maddon, as he has started games at third, right field, left field and first base.

OF -- Bryce Harper, Phillies (.243/.355/.477, 11 HR, 43 RBI). This isn't a charity case based on name recognition -- though that helps -- as Harper is fifth among NL outfielders in FanGraphs WAR.

OF -- Juan Soto, Nationals (.293/.394/.533, 10 HR, 38 RBI). He got off to a slow start but heated up in May, and I have a feeling that he will separate himself from the pack between now and the end of June.

OF -- Joc Pederson, Dodgers (.267/.368/.655, 18 HR, 33 RBI). Only Yelich has a lower rate of at-bats per home run (8.73 to 9.17), as Pederson is slugging .730 versus right-handers. Has a platoon player ever made the All-Star team?

NATIONAL LEAGUE PITCHERS

P -- Max Scherzer, Nationals (3-5, 3.06 ERA, 85⅓ IP, 117 SO). OK, the record isn't pretty, but that's not really his fault. He leads the league in innings, strikeouts and FIP.

P -- Stephen Strasburg, Nationals (5-3, 3.19 ERA, 79 IP, 98 SO). Don't blame the top three starters in the Nationals' rotation for the team's slow start, as Patrick Corbin also has been excellent.

P -- Zack Greinke, Diamondbacks (6-2, 3.09 ERA, 81⅔ IP, 75 SO). What a joy to watch as he changes speeds, moves the ball around, sinks it and gets batters to chase. He's 35 now, closing in on 200 career wins (193) and looking more and more like a future Hall of Famer.

P -- German Marquez, Rockies (6-2, 3.48 ERA, 85⅓ IP, 83 SO). He's tied with Scherzer for the lead in innings and batters faced, a testament to his ability to pitch deep into games, even at Coors Field. Check out his road numbers: 2.08 ERA, .167 average allowed. This guy is one of the best starters in the game.

P -- Luis Castillo, Reds (5-1, 2.45 ERA, 69⅔ IP, 82 SO). He hasn't been as good in May after a hurricane start, but the overall numbers remain strong, and pitching in Cincinnati isn't easy. The walk rate is the only issue here, but that elite fastball helps him get out of jams.

P -- Caleb Smith, Marlins (3-3, 3.10 ERA, 61 IP, 80 SO). He makes it on merit, not just as the Marlins' lone representative. He actually leads the NL in strikeout rate, a hair higher than Scherzer, trailing only Gerrit Cole, Blake Snell and Chris Sale across the majors.

P -- Jacob deGrom, Mets (3-5, 3.49 ERA, 69⅔ IP, 84 SO). He obviously hasn't been as dominant as he was last season and has battled minor ailments, but the Mets still need a rep, and deGrom gets the nod over Edwin Diaz and Pete Alonso.

P -- Mike Soroka, Braves (6-1, 1.41 ERA, 57⅓ IP, 51 SO). This could be Corbin or Zach Davies or Chris Paddack or Kyle Hendricks, but I'll go with Soroka and -- so far -- that minuscule ERA, a result of his giving up just one home run.

RP -- Josh Hader, Brewers (1-3, 2.45 ERA, 13 saves, 29⅓ IP, 57 SO). Speaking of strikeout rate, Hader has averaged 17.5 K's per nine innings. Can a human being actually average two strikeouts per inning? Aroldis Chapman holds the record, at 17.67 per nine in 2014, when he fanned 106 in 54 innings. I don't think Hader gets there, and the six home runs he has allowed do show that he isn't untouchable.

RP -- Kirby Yates, Padres (0-2, 1.04 ERA, 22 saves, 26 IP, 45 SO). One of the best stories in baseball, Yates has been purchased twice and claimed on waivers twice, and after adding a split-finger a couple of years ago, he has become one of the best closers in the game.

RP -- Will Smith, Giants (1-0, 2.38 ERA, 13 saves, 22 IP, 32 SO). We need somebody from the Giants, but Smith is a deserving selection. Yates, Smith and Hader rank 1-2-3 among NL relievers in win probability added.

Yes, a few tough names to leave off -- Dietrich, Eduardo Escobar and big stars such as Manny Machado, Clayton Kershaw, Paul Goldschmidt and Rhys Hoskins. Still, picking the NL roster was a walk in the park compared to the AL.

AMERICAN LEAGUE STARTERS

C -- Gary Sanchez, Yankees (.267/.341/.653, 18 HR, 35 RBI). Salvador Perez has started the past five All-Star Games for the AL, sometimes on merit, sometimes due to Royals fans stuffing the ballot box and sometimes because there simply wasn't anyone else. He's out for the season with Tommy John surgery, but it's safe to say that Sanchez's power numbers would have him starting over Perez regardless.

1B -- Carlos Santana, Indians (.286/.405/.510, 11 HR, 37 RBI). In a now annual tradition of trying to find a worthy AL first baseman, Santana gets the vote here because of his best-at-the-position WAR and .400-plus OBP.

2B -- Whit Merrifield, Royals (.298/.352/.502, 7 HR, 28 RBI). Jose Altuve could still win the fan vote, but he's currently on the injured list. With Altuve out, there are several solid options, but Merrifield wins on the 75/25 criteria: He was the best of the group last year and is even better at the plate this season.

SS -- Jorge Polanco, Twins (.338/.405/.584, 9 HR, 30 RBI). OK, this is a tough one. Part of the AL's roster problem is that certain positions are crowded with talent, especially shortstop and outfield, but you also have to squeeze two DHs on the roster. (If I were All-Star commissioner, I would at minimum erase the second DH requirement.) At Baseball-Reference, six of the top 25 position players in WAR are shortstops, and at FanGraphs, it's five of the top 18. Neither of those rankings include Francisco Lindor. Anyway, Polanco is second in the AL in bWAR and gets the pick here. Sometimes a guy has been so good that you break the 75/25 rule.

3B -- Alex Bregman, Astros (.270/.392/.555, 17 HR, 40 RBI). Fifth in the MVP voting last year, he's looking to fare even better this year.

OF -- Mike Trout, Angels (.298/.464/.596, 14 HR, 37 RBI). QED.

OF -- Mookie Betts, Red Sox (.276/.387/.458, 9 HR, 27 RBI). He isn't hitting at his 2018 level, but he hasn't hit himself out of a starting nod in my book.

OF -- Joey Gallo, Rangers (.276/.421/.653, 17 HR, 41 RBI). Gallo is on the 10-day IL with an oblique strain, but it should be a short stay. Even if he misses a couple of weeks, his numbers are strong enough to earn this position. He's even playing center field and playing it well. I don't know if he can sustain that .276 average and .385 BABIP, but if this is peak Gallo, it's some kind of fun.

DH -- J.D. Martinez, Red Sox (.294/.373/.525, 12 HR, 32 RBI). There isn't really a viable second option here. Yes, Hunter Pence has been a huge surprise for the Rangers, but are you really taking Pence over Martinez? Some of the big names have missed time (Giancarlo Stanton, Nelson Cruz, Shohei Ohtani), and Khris Davis has just two home runs in his past 28 games.

P -- Justin Verlander, Astros (9-2, 2.27 ERA, 87⅓ IP, 103 SO). While some of last year's AL aces have struggled or battled injuries, Verlander keeps rolling along. He has allowed 22 runs -- 14 of those coming on home runs, as he has held batters to a .117 average with runners on.

AMERICAN LEAGUE RESERVES

C -- Christian Vazquez, Red Sox (.298/.340/.490, 7 HR, 20 RBI). This could be anybody -- James McCann, Josh Phegley, Robinson Chirinos. Heck, Mitch Garver has been unstoppable in a part-time role with the Twins (part of their MVP catching trio with Jason Castro and Willians Astudillo). If I had to predict, Vazquez wins the player vote here because of his defense and career year so far at the plate.

1B -- Luke Voit, Yankees (.268/.379/.521, 15 HR, 39 RBI). The legend of Luke Voit is a little overstated (he's hitting .314 with 11 RBIs in 12 games against the Orioles), but these aren't exactly the days of Jim Thome, Jason Giambi, Carlos Delgado, John Olerud, Mike Sweeney, Rafael Palmeiro and Fred McGriff all battling for All-Star honors.

2B -- DJ LeMahieu, Yankees (.311/.361/.450, 6 HR, 34 RBI). LeMahieu gets the nod over Tommy La Stella of the Angels, Rays rookie Brandon Lowe and the Twins' Jonathan Schoop based on his defense and longer track record of success.

SS -- Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox (.305/.386/.550, 12 HR, 39 RBI). Lindor is great. Carlos Correa is great. Both have missed time with injuries, however, and Bogaerts is crushing the ball. Shout-out as well to Adalberto Mondesi and Tim Anderson, two of the year's most exciting players.

3B -- Matt Chapman, Athletics (.272/.355/.558, 16 HR, 35 RBI). With apologies to Hunter Dozier, Chapman's all-world defense makes him a clear top-10 player in the AL.

OF -- George Springer, Astros (.308/.389/.643, 17 HR, 43 RBI). He's also on the IL, with a hamstring strain, but it looks less severe than initially believed, and he has already been doing pregame work and could return soon. He was having an MVP-type season before the injury.

OF -- Michael Brantley, Astros (.329/.385/.533, 10 HR, 37 RBI). He looked like the perfect free agent for the Astros, giving them a much-needed left-handed hitter, but he has been even better than expected -- and he's already a three-time All-Star.

OF -- Byron Buxton, Twins (.267/.325/.517, 6 HR, 31 RBI). The best redemption story of 2019, Buxton has excelled after a lost 2018 season. Austin Meadows has had two terrific months for the Rays, and Tampa teammate Tommy Pham has been an on-base machine, but nobody plays center field like Buxton, and he has produced at the plate.

OF -- Trey Mancini, Orioles (.302/.349/.550, 12 HR, 29 RBI). Mancini is having a good year at the plate, and I wouldn't take him on merit over Meadows or Pham, but he isn't a bad All-Star, and we need an Oriole. The only other remotely feasible candidate for Baltimore is pitcher John Means.

DH -- Dan Vogelbach, Mariners (.243/.371/.550, 15 HR, 32 RBI). This is where things get dicey for the AL because Vogelbach isn't going to win the fan vote, and he isn't a lock to get elected here by the players. That would leave the Mariners without an All-Star, and they don't really have another good candidate. (Edwin Encarnacion has some home runs, but a lot of players have home runs, and Mitch Haniger hasn't been as good as he was last season.)

This leaves me with one more AL position player and a half-dozen strong candidates. With further apologies to Dozier, Mondesi, Meadows and Pham, let's go with:

SS -- Francisco Lindor, Indians (.293/.363/.484, 8 HR, 20 RBI). First, the hometown edge factors in here. More importantly, it's the All-Star Game, so we're looking for stars, not -- in the cases of Dozier and Meadows -- guys who have had six hot weeks. Maybe those two are for real. We already know Lindor is the real deal and one of the best players in the game.

AMERICAN LEAGUE PITCHERS

P -- Mike Minor, Rangers (5-4, 2.74 ERA, 75⅔ IP, 80 SO). He has been a huge key to the Rangers' start, actually leading Verlander in bWAR. He might have been trade bait at one point, but with the Rangers playing well and Minor signed through next season, he probably stays in Texas.

P -- Matthew Boyd, Tigers (5-4, 3.01 ERA, 77⅔ IP, 97 SO). This is a merit selection, as Boyd ranks in the top 10 among all MLB starters in OPS allowed (10th) and strikeout rate (eighth).

P -- Lucas Giolito, White Sox (8-1, 2.54 ERA, 67⅓ IP, 78 SO). Giolito is maybe the biggest surprise of the season, even though he was once viewed as one of the best pitching prospects in the minors. But after posting a 6.13 ERA in 2018, his outlook for 2019 was uncertain. He has picked up velocity, has started throwing more four-seamers and has a 1.03 ERA in his past six starts. Great story and a great reminder that some pitchers require a longer learning curve.

P -- Jake Odorizzi, Twins (8-2, 1.96 ERA, 64⅓ IP, 70 SO). He's certainly pitching with some good fortune -- a .240 BABIP against, one of the highest strand rates and one of the lowest home run rates, even though he has one of the lowest ground ball rates -- but he leads the AL in ERA and has allowed zero runs in six of his past seven starts. That's a 0.65 ERA in 41⅔ innings.

P -- Charlie Morton, Rays (6-0, 2.54 ERA, 67⅓ IP, 83 SO). Morton was one of the feel-good All-Stars of 2018, making it for the first time at 34 years old. He might make it again at 35, as he ranks third in the AL in ERA, fourth in OPS and sixth in strikeout rate.

P -- Blake Snell, Rays (3-4, 3.06 ERA, 61⅔ IP, 83 SO). Snell won't be happy with that 3.06 ERA, the three-homer game on Opening Day or a seven-run outing against the Royals, but his strikeout and walk rates are both improved from his Cy Young season. Don't be surprised if he pitches himself back into the Cy Young running by the end of the season.

P -- Jose Berrios, Twins (7-2, 3.27 ERA, 77 IP, 72 SO). An All-Star last year, Berrios has matured into a nice workhorse who gives the Twins innings, and he has cut way down on his walk rate and improved his efficiency.

P -- Marcus Stroman, Blue Jays (3-7, 2.84 ERA, 76 IP, 59 SO). We still need somebody from the Blue Jays, and it's either Stroman or Ken Giles, who has rediscovered his slider. We'll go with Stroman (though that ERA is a little misleading, as he has allowed eight unearned runs).

RP -- Ryan Pressly, Astros (1-0, 0.64 ERA, 3 saves, 28⅓ IP, 32 SO). He isn't the regular closer, but it's hard to argue that he isn't the best relief pitcher in the AL right now. Since the Astros acquired him last summer, he has allowed four runs in 51⅔ innings for a 0.70 ERA with 64 strikeouts and five walks.

RP -- Brad Hand, Indians (2-2, 1.14 ERA, 16 saves, 23⅔ IP, 35 SO). He has locked down the ninth inning for the Indians, converting all 16 of his save chances and holding batters to a .159 average and one home run. He should be headed to his third straight All-Star Game.

RP -- Aroldis Chapman, Yankees (0-1, 1.52 ERA, 17 saves, 23⅓ IP, 34 SO). He doesn't simply blow 102 mph blitz balls past hitters any longer, but he's just as effective, and he now mixes in more breaking balls. Look, this could be almost anybody who had 25 good innings, but I suspect the players, who elect three relievers, will go more with the track record than the one-year wonders. I'll go with Chapman as well.

It's a little bit of an odd staff -- no Chris Sale, no Gerrit Cole, no Corey Kluber, no Trevor Bauer. After I picked Snell and wrote this up, he went out and gave up six runs in 4⅓ innings to the Tigers. Cole and Bauer have good cases and have been dominant at times this season (Cole leads the majors with a ridiculous 37.4 percent strikeout rate). Sale has bounced back from that awful start, but that awful start counts, and he's 1-7 with a 4.35 ERA for the year, even though he has 98 strikeouts in 68⅓ innings.

This roster includes just one rep from eight teams (Blue Jays, Orioles, White Sox, Tigers, Royals, A's, Angels and Mariners), pointing to how top-heavy the AL is in 2019 and how chaotic choosing the roster could be, depending on whom the fans and players select. Can we just pretend some of the shortstops and outfielders are first basemen?

Global governing body says it will “continue to fight for equal rights and opportunities for all women and girls” in athletics

The IAAF has said it will seek “a swift reversion” of a Swiss court order which has instructed the global governing body to suspend the application of its new regulations on female classification for Caster Semenya.

On Monday, Semenya’s legal team announced that the two-time Olympic 800m champion could return to race “without restriction” while her appeal against the IAAF’s new rules is pending, adding that the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland had “ordered the IAAF to immediately suspend the implementation of the eligibility regulations against Caster Semenya”.

The following day, the IAAF released a statement confirming that, on Tuesday at 15:00 CET, it had received a “superprovisional order” from the Swiss court instructing the governing body to suspend the application of its ‘Eligibility Regulations for Female Classification (Athletes with Differences of Sex Development (DSD))’ “as they apply to the appellant”.

The IAAF response added: “No other athlete is covered by the order. As of this date, the order is scheduled to remain in force only until 25 June 2019, the time the SFT (Swiss Federal Tribunal) has given the IAAF to respond to the appellant’s case.”

The “superprovisional order” follows an appeal from Semenya after she lost her landmark case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the IAAF’s new rules, which relate to restricting testosterone levels in female runners in certain events.

The DSD Regulations had originally been due to come into effect on November 1, 2018, but were suspended. Following the CAS ruling, the regulations started on May 8.

Under the new rules Semenya – and other female athletes with DSD – would need to reduce their natural testosterone level in order to take part in women’s events from 400m to the mile in international competition.

In its response statement, the IAAF said it will “continue to fight for equal rights and opportunities for all women and girls in our sport today and in the future”.

It added: “The IAAF is committed to the full participation of women in the sport of athletics, be that as elite female athletes in fair and meaningful competition, as young girls developing life and sport skills, or as administrators or officials. Regrettably, it was not so long ago that women were not permitted to compete in sport at all. There is a lot of work to be done, but we are at the forefront of that work, including being one of the only international sports federations to pay women and men equal prize money.

“The IAAF fully respects each individual’s personal dignity and supports the social movement to have people accepted in society based on their chosen legal sex and/or gender identity.

“However, the IAAF is convinced there are some contexts, sport being one of them, where biology has to trump identity.”

The full IAAF response can be found here.