Home wins key to 2016 success, Weiss says

Rockies manager Walt Weiss is hoping his club returns to its former dominance at Coors Field. Weiss, appearing on MLB Network’s “High Heat” with Chris Russo, was asked about the team’s road performance. But Weiss pointed out that the problem last season, when the Rockies finished last in the National League West, was its 36-45 home mark.

Bird updates status from hospital bed

Greg Bird’s year ended before it even had a chance to begin, but the Yankees first baseman’s social media game seems to be in midseason form. Bird posted a photo to Instagram and Twitter from his bed at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York on Wednesday, smiling and offering a thumbs-up shortly after having a season-ending procedure to repair his right labrum.

Alderson: Payroll restrictions no longer issue

For years, Mets fans have largely taken a “We’ll believe it when we see it” approach to the team raising payroll, while general manager Sandy Alderson has at times been combative regarding the budget. But no longer. With the Mets’ recent signing of Yoenis Cespedes pushing their 2016 payroll up over $140 million, the GM was insistent Wednesday that financial bounds will no longer hinder him.