| Cult of Mac

Watch: Pirates infielder slides into third, iPhone slides out of his pocket

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Watch: Pirates infielder slides into third, iPhone slides out of his pocket
Shown here: one of many reasons baseball players aren't allowed to carry iPhones on the field.
Screenshot: Bally Sports Arizona

Rodolfo Castro of the Pittsburg Pirates made an epic slide into third base Wednesday. His iPhone also tagged third – we know because the handset flew out of his pocket and hit the base.

The umpire had to point out to the baseball player that that the iPhone was lying on the field.

Play ball! Apple TV+ might stream Major League Baseball games

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Get ready to watch some baseball. It's easier than ever to stream MLB playoffs.
Apple TV+ could be singing “Take me out to the ball park” soon.
Photo: Paul Lim/Flickr CC

Apple TV+ might be ready to play in the big leagues. Major League Baseball, to be exact. The company reportedly engaged in “substantial talks” with MLB about acquiring the rights to stream games.

If such a deal comes together, it would be a game-changer for Apple’s streaming service.

iPads will be in the dugout when MLB baseball resumes

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MLB
The 2020 baseball season won‘t be played on an iPad. But Apple tablets do have a role.
Photo: Com2us

As Major League Baseball finally goes up to bat on Thursday, coaches will be using iPads to get information about their own players, and ones from opposing teams.

Apple tablets even have a role in providing artificial crowd noise, necessary as the COVID-19 pandemic forces teams to play in empty stadiums during the shortened 2020 season.

AirPod is crucial component of robot umpire

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airpod
Home plate umpire Brian deBrauwere, was the first ump to wear an AirPod during a game.
Photo: AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Robot umpires have finally arrived in baseball’s minor leagues and Apple’s technology is making it all possible.

The Atlantic League, an independent league mostly based on the East Coast, recently became the first professional baseball league to use a computer to call balls and strikes. A human umpire still stands behind home plate, but the gig just got a lot easier thanks to AirPods connected to an iPhone that tells him the right call.

Washington Nationals fans can use Apple Pay to purchase snacks

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MLB
They can also order more substantial food from their seats.
Photo: Andrei Niemimäki/Flickr CC

For whatever reason, the worlds of pro baseball and Apple Pay seem to go hand in hand. First it was just using the iPhone’s NFC scanning tech for ticketing.

Now, fans attending Washington Nationals baseball games in the 2019 season can enjoy another perk. By using Apple Pay contactless payments, they can pay for food using a roving payments terminal operated by concessions hawkers. Along with paying for snacks, they can also use an app to place orders for more substantial hot food from their seats.

How to watch the MLB playoffs on Apple devices

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Get ready to watch some baseball. It's easier than ever to stream MLB playoffs.
Get ready to watch some baseball.
Photo: Paul Lim/Flickr CC

By Chris Brantner

With the Major League Baseball playoffs starting Tuesday, fans will be anxiously watching to see if their team advances and, eventually, who will bring home the World Series title.

Whether you have cable or not, you can still watch the entire MLB playoffs season from the Apple device of your choice. Here’s how to catch all the action on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, etc.

iPhone lets Phillies fans order a ballpark beer by text

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It's the fullfillment of many a baseball fan's dreams: beer by text.
It's the fullfillment of many a baseball fan's dreams: beer by text.
Photo: Aramark

The Philadelphia Phillies and Aramark started a pilot program that lets fans order beer from their seats using an iPhone.

The service makes use of Apple Business Chat, a service that launched this spring designed to let customers send messages to companies without strings attached.

MLB 9 for iOS gives you your baseball gaming fix on the go

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MLB
The ultimate MLB game experience for iOS.
Photo: Com2us

Baseball season is here, and if you’re a fan, we’ve got the perfect game for you! Developers Com2us has returned with the latest installment in their yearly franchise, MLB 9 Innings Baseball 18.

The officially licensed game boasts 3D graphics, all 30 MLB ballparks, up-to-date teams with all 1,700 players, and a new one-handed Arcade Mode, which should make it easier to get your baseball fix on the go. Check out the game’s two trailers below.

Siri will no longer be stumped by your baseball queries

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MLB
Siri's new upgrade is a home run for MLB fans.
Photo: Andrei Niemimäki/Flickr CC

Just in time for Apple’s new multiyear deal with Major League Baseball, Siri can answer whatever baseball questions you have, thanks to newly implemented knowledge covering 29 baseball leagues. Apple’s AI helper also now boasts a deep understanding of hardball history, based on stats dating back to the start of baseball records.