Author: Yahoo Sports

Posted on

The pope is a White Sox fan: Baseball and the conclave collide in the holiest fandom twist

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

Every so often, baseball and the outside world collide in ways that feel more mythic than real. On the latest episode of "Baseball Bar-B-Cast," hosts Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman reveled in one such moment: when the brand-new pope turned out to be a Chicago White Sox fan.

Let’s break down why this story became instant baseball legend.

A new pope is big news. But this one hits different. As Mintz says, “All of religious history has led up to this. Yes, my dear friends, the pope is a White Sox fan.” 

It’s the sort of news that, as podcasters, you can’t wait to get behind the mic for. “There just isn’t a better feeling,” Shusterman notes, than being gifted “so much incredible stuff to talk about.”

When news broke that Pope Leo XIV hails from Chicago, speculation erupted: Cubs or White Sox? Initially, reports — and even the Cubs’ own social media! — leaned Cubs, but then the story pivoted.

It wasn’t until the pope’s own brother appeared in an interview that the truth emerged. “He’s always been a White Sox fan,” the brother declared. Despite the family split (mother: Cubs; father: Cardinals), the pope stayed loyal to the South Side. 

Mintz summarizes the stance: “He’s not just, yeah, he liked the White Sox, and then they move on. He’s like, yeah, I don’t know where all this Cub stuff is coming from. He’s always been a White Sox fan.”

As Shusterman adds, “This man is not just, you know, grew up and thought Luis Aparicio was cool. This guy … has been into the Sox for a long time now.” 

The ultimate proof? A photo from the 2005 World Series featuring His Holiness at a White Sox game, Nokia phone in hand, basking in the glory of Chicago’s first championship in generations.

“Going to a World Series game as a fan is an expensive thing to do," Mintz says. "... This is someone who had opinions on Mark Buehrle. Now he’s the pope.”

Does it fit? Jake and Jordan think so. “The White Sox are what you would call a poverty franchise," Mintz says. "And what is the pope supposed to do if not take care of the poor?” 

They laugh, but there’s truth there: A team starved for hope and leadership now has a weird, cosmic link to the Vatican’s top spot.

The hosts muse about what this could mean for the franchise. “If the White Sox, along with his guidance … can rise,” Jordan says, “maybe some divine influence will help.” 

The White Sox themselves quickly embraced the connection. They sent a custom jersey and hat straight to the Vatican and invited the pontiff to his “cathedral” at 35th and Shields.

Don’t expect the pope to be rocking a fitted cap from the balcony or tossing out a first pitch, at least not according to precedent. But Pope Francis (a fan of Argentina’s San Lorenzo) held up plenty of soccer scarves and jerseys, so maybe we’ll see Pope Leo XIV do the same. 

Mintz can't resist asking: “If the pope comes out here and is like, ‘I don’t want robo umps,’ does that move the needle?”

But as Jordan and Jake both note, the larger point is the narrative: “Some things are bigger than baseball,” the White Sox said in a statement, “and in this case, we’re glad to have a White Sox fan represented at the Vatican.”

This intersection of faith and fandom is the kind of bit that only baseball can provide. The new pope is a White Sox fan — documented and witnessed. Cubs fans might grumble, but for a franchise starved for miracles, this moment offers hope, humor and maybe, just maybe, a prayer for the South Side.

For more of the latest baseball news and debates, tune in to "Baseball-Bar-B-Cast" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.

Posted on

Could Dak Prescott be underrated in aftermath of Cowboys trading for George Pickens?

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

Early May is usually a lull in the NFL calendar, but not this year. Tuesday's surprise trade sending receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys gave Andy Behrens and Matt Harmon plenty to talk about on the latest episode of the Yahoo Fantasy Forecast.

Subscribe to Yahoo Fantasy Forecast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.

The duo discussed several aspects of the Pickens trade, but among the big takeaways is the deal could mean big things for Dak Prescott's fantasy value. The veteran now appears to have top-eight quarterback upside behind the best receiving options he’s had in years.

Andy points out that Prescott was “the MVP runner-up two years ago. He led the NFL in touchdown passes. You know, we’re like a year removed from that. He’s had a 4,900 yard passing season. He’s been a really, really good fantasy asset over the years.” 

The Cowboys have upgraded their WR2 spot by trading for Pickens, forming a dynamic duo with CeeDee Lamb. Harmon notes: “Now that (Dak) has CeeDee Lamb, one of the best receivers in the league, and George Pickens, who I think fits really well as a really good No. 2 receiver, that just looks so much better on paper than CeeDee Lamb and like a rotating cast of characters.”

Harmon believes Dallas’ offense is set up for fantasy success, especially with how Lamb and Pickens complement each other perfectly: “These guys work so, so well together. CeeDee Lamb, he leads the NFL in the last two years with yards from the slot … Pickens is a boundary guy.”

“Most people seem to have (Prescott) like QB18, QB20, but he’s a better player than that,” Behrens says. “One of the bummers of this to me is that I think it’s going to wake people up a little bit to how under-ranked Dak Prescott had been.”

Prescott has remained healthy — starting 16 or more games in six of nine seasons — and provided consistent play when he's returned post-injury. Couple that with the offensive upgrades and his own previous elite finishes, and there’s every reason to expect another top-tier year if health holds. 

Behrens predicts, "Dak Prescott is very likely, in a healthy season, to be a top-eightish fantasy quarterback."

Time will tell if the projection comes true, but there's clearly a case to be made for Prescott as a fantasy-draft value this season.

Posted on

Cutting Justin Tucker allows the Ravens and NFL to use 'football decision' as a shield

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

Justin Tucker’s release by the Baltimore Ravens offers a glimpse into the team's culture and how the NFL tends to handle uncomfortable or controversial situations — especially when legal or personal conduct issues are involved.

From the "Inside Coverage" podcast, Yahoo Sports' Jason Fitz, Frank Schwab and Jori Epstein discussed the complexity of the decision and what it really says about the Ravens and, by extension, the league. 

The trio agreed: this situation will be quietly swept under the rug, and once Tucker is out of sight on the field, he’ll quickly be out of mind for the league and most fans. It’s a process we've seen before, and, barring any criminal developments, the Ravens and the NFL will likely move on with little more said.

The Ravens were very deliberate in labeling Tucker’s release a “football decision,” repeating that language in their official statement. As Epstein pointed out: "When people actually make football decisions, they don’t usually say this is a football decision." This suggests the organization was using that phrase to avoid directly addressing the serious off-field allegations against Tucker (multiple accusations of improper conduct from massage therapists, which is being investigated by the league). 

Epstein also highlighted that the Ravens have a history of employing players with sexual assault or domestic violence allegations. This paints a picture of a team that often chooses to manage and sidestep these issues rather than taking a clear moral stance.

Schwab noted the “coldness” and legal calculation behind the Ravens’ language, emphasizing they want to avoid liability or being caught in denial if it turns out they knew something.

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 01: Justin Tucker #9 of the Baltimore Ravens watches the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at M&T Bank Stadium on December 01, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
Justin Tucker is no longer with the Ravens. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
G Fiume via Getty Images

The "Inside Coverage" trio's conversation points out that the team and league generally prefer to “dance around” these topics and rarely confront them head-on unless absolutely forced. As Schwab says, the playbook is to “skate from this without ever having to really deal with the allegations,” and Fitz adds that the league's investigation and eventual press releases likely will be “buried on a Friday afternoon when nobody’s paying attention.”

The crew also brought up the comparison to Deshaun Watson, noting the selective outrage and scrutiny based on position and value to a team. There's a cynicism around who the NFL chooses to protect and for how long, suggesting that stars get more leeway than role players or aging veterans.

Ultimately, both the Ravens’ move and the NFL’s likely course of action highlight that, when the calculus tips toward distraction or diminished value (and especially if a player’s performance is declining), teams and the league will cut ties swiftly and quietly. Pride in “no distractions” outweighs almost every other consideration.

Tucker's release is a microcosm of how the Ravens — and the NFL as a whole — prioritize their business interests and public image over transparency. These situations are usually handled with strategic PR, legal maneuvering, and an eye on minimizing controversy rather than addressing the root problem or making any sort of example for better conduct.

To hear more NFL discussions, tune into Inside Coverage on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.

Posted on

Forget Barkley and Chase — CeeDee Lamb could be the No. 1 fantasy football player of 2025

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

When building a dominant fantasy football roster, nailing your first-round pick is essential — and, according to the recent debate between Matt Harmon and Dalton Del Don on the Yahoo Fantasy Forecast, nobody is better set up to explode as the top overall player than Dallas Cowboys receiver, CeeDee Lamb.

Subscribe to Yahoo Fantasy Forecast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.

Let’s break down exactly what sets up Lamb for a fantasy football takeover this season.

[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season]

Del Don put it simply: Lamb had "135 catches, 1,750 yards and 12 TDs” in 2023. That’s already elite territory. But take a look at what’s happened in Dallas since then. The entire Cowboys receiver room behind Lamb is a collection of question marks: Jalen Tolbert, Jonathan Mingo, Jalen Brooks, KaVontae Turpin, Ryan Flournoy. It's honestly hard to imagine a bigger gulf between a WR1 and the rest of a depth chart in the NFL right now.

That leads to possibly historic target volume. Del Don even says, “I think he could approach 200 targets this season.” For context, any WR pushing near 200 looks is an automatic top-three option — think peak Davante Adams — especially when you have Lamb’s elite mix of route-running and separation skills.

Lamb doesn’t just project to earn targets; he cashes them in. Harmon points out that, with no other true alpha options and quarterback Dak Prescott throwing his way, the Cowboys have every incentive to funnel the offense through Lamb: “This is the type of situation too where it's like, who else are they going to throw to? ... why would they throw to other guys when they have CeeDee Lamb there?”

It’s not just about opportunity. Over the last couple of years, Lamb has already proven he’s one of the top playmakers in the league. As Dalton notes, “CeeDee Lamb has the most PPR points per game among all wide receivers since 2003”, even while playing through quarterback injuries at times. Last year, he was the focal point, and this offseason only made the picture clearer.

Usually, you can nitpick a No. 1 receiver’s situation — maybe there’s a new star rookie added, or a veteran threatening to siphon targets, or a running game strong enough to limit volume overhead. That’s not the case here. Harmon and Del Don both repeatedly stress just how much this offense is set up to lean completely on Lamb:

  • No WRs drafted this season

  • Other pass-catchers on the roster are purely dart throws

  • Even if someone like Amari Cooper is theoretically added, Lamb would still “comfortably clear like 160 targets.”

Fantasy drafters have spent all offseason lining up Justin Jefferson or Ja’Marr Chase as their unquestioned No. 1 WR picks. Del Don? He’s “closer to moving [Lamb] to my WR1 than I am No. 3.”

Why? The Jefferson–Lamb debate is especially interesting this year. While both are awesome, Jefferson is breaking in a new quarterback (J.J. McCarthy). As Harmon puts it: “We've just never seen him play yet. It's a new variable there.” Lamb, meanwhile, has his proven chemistry with Prescott, and the Cowboys offense isn’t changing.

Lamb is only “half a year older than Chase,” meaning he’s still in his absolute physical prime. Whether you play full-PPR or half-PPR, both Harmon and Del Don agree — no receiver in football projects for a better combo of safe, elite target share and monster upside.

In short? CeeDee Lamb fits the exact mold of a league-winning fantasy WR1: he’s an elite player, at his peak age, with huge target share, in a pass-happy offense and zero real competition for touches.

Posted on

Is the Padres' hot start sustainable?

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

The San Diego Padres took center stage in baseball after pulling off this past weekend's only sweep in MLB. In the latest episode of "Baseball Bar-B-Cast," podcast hosts Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman dove in on the Padres, who despite their winning ways lately have glaring weaknesses.   

Let’s be real: The top of San Diego’s batting order is stacked. Fernando Tatis Jr., Luis Arraez, Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts — all are looking solid, with Bogaerts in particular showing signs that he’s heating up. 

But then the well dries up: As Jake puts it, “The Padres are the opposite [of ‘no letup’ lineups]. There’s some let-up.” Jordan agrees, pointing out that when teams pitch around the stars, the bottom of the San Diego lineup can’t seem to punish pitchers. 

If you’re wondering, that “bottom” Sunday included Luis Campusano, José Iglesias, Elias Díaz and Brandon Lockridge. Yuli Gurriel is now gone, so at least the organization is turning the page on ill-fated depth signings.

Jordan hammers home a key point: Jackson Merrill — already one of the better young players in the game — has been MIA since he suffered a right hamstring strain in early April. He’s expected back from injury this week, and his early season performance was sizzling. 

If he picks up where he left off, San Diego’s offense could be genuinely dangerous — not just “dangerous if” or “dangerous on paper."

The real story: The pitching staff

This is where things get spicy. Did you know that the Padres own the lowest team ERA in baseball? Their rotation ERA is good, but their bullpen ERA is a mind-melting 1.73. Jake acknowledges, “How sustainable is that? Not sustainable. But to get that low, you have to be legitimately good.”

Jordan breaks down why: Robert Suarez has become one of MLB’s most quietly dominant closers — no breaking ball, just fastballs and a filthy changeup. Plus San Diego has Jason Adam (the key multi-year acquisition from Tampa Bay), Jeremiah Estrada (24 Ks in 16 innings) and a quirky mix of arms such as Alec Jacob and Yuki Matsui. Not to mention, there's the revival project: lefty Adrian Morejon, now a nasty reliever after starting never quite clicked for him.

The rotation: King & Cease solid … but after that?

Michael King and Nick Pivetta have both exceeded expectations so far, but Dylan Cease, while still striking hitters out, has had a bumpier ride than hoped. The real wild card, though? Randy Vasquez.

Jake spins a fascinating tale about Vasquez, who is running one of the lowest strikeout rates in modern baseball but somehow still getting outs, despite walking more batters than he punches out. “Perplexing,” “effectively wild” and “the pitching version of David Fletcher” are among the descriptions thrown around. 

Jordan notes that Vasquez had real strikeout stuff as a prospect, so this low-whiff, high-walk act is weird even by Padres standards. But because San Diego’s depth has evaporated after years of win-now trades, the team is letting Vasquez continue to try, even if it feels like a science experiment gone rogue.

San Diego's is a roster with extreme strengths and glaring weaknesses — so much so that Jake compares them to the “outrageous amount of depth” that the Dodgers possess and says, “I just love [the Padres’ top-heaviness] in comparison to the Dodgers.” 

The hope: If King, Pivetta and Cease stay healthy, Merrill returns strong and the bullpen doesn’t combust, this is a group that could rattle the NL in October. But the floor is there, too. If the offense goes cold or injuries pile up, the lack of depth could come back to bite San Diego.

In Jake and Jordan’s words, the Padres are “a strange club” but pretty darn good. If you catch only one Padres game this week, let it be a Randy Vasquez start — you’ll likely see some defense, plenty of traffic and baseball at its funkiest. No team combines chaos and intrigue quite like San Diego.

For more on the Padres and other baseball debates, tune in to "Baseball-Bar-B-Cast" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.