Posts

Posted on

What Every Rangers Fan Should Know About What's Going On

 Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

1. Minus Jake (The Rake) Trouba, Chris (Stop Crying He's Gone) Kreider and D'Andre (Not Captain) Miller around, the Rangers room is as peaceful as a churchyard. Also boring!

2. I can't wait for Captain J.T. (The Golfer) Miller's first address to the troops. Prediction: Something like "If you guys don't hustle, I'll kick your butt!"

3. Okay, fair enough; but who's gonna kick the captain's toosh when he doesn't backcheck? (Will Sully have the nerve to do that? Doubt it.)

4. Speaking of butt kicking, isn't that what Connor McDavid is doing to the fair village of Edmonton by not getting it over with  and putting pen down on an Oilers contract? (Sure is.)

5. Writing in The Hockey News Yearbook about the Rangers, Steve Zipay asks, "Can Mike Sullivan galvanize the defense and core forwards and develop some youngsters with a new voice and style?" (Answers below.)

6. A. To galvanize the defense, get Cale Makar; trade Slava Gavrkov; B. To galvanize the core forwards, get Auston Matthews and William Nylander; trade Breadman and meek Mika; C. To develop youngsters with a new voice and style, promote and keep Gabe Perreault, Brett Berard and Scott Morrow. (Make sure you let them talk to the media daily.)

7.  Sportsnet's Emily Sadler produced a list of "Players Under The Most Pressure." Vegas' Mitch Marner tops the list and his ex-Leafs buddy Auston Matthews is runner-up. No Rangers made the list.

8. Maven's List of Rangers Under Most Pressure; A. Fats Lafreniere; earn the dough or get traded; B. Breadman Panarin; reach the 100-point mark or get traded: C. Igor Shesterkin; either carry the team or get booed; D. Mika Zibanejad; Either reach a 70-point season or live in the press box; E. Slava Gabrikov: Either carry Adam Fox or Will Borgen will.

9. If rookie Matthew Schaefer makes the Islanders varsity and plays better than Gavrikov: OY VAY!

10. If nothing else, the Rangers – thanks to MSG Networks – will be blessed by the twin voices of Kenny Albert and Dave Maloney on the Blueshirts' telecasts.

Posted on

Thomson ‘didn't quite expect' this strong of a season from Luzardo

Thomson ‘didn't quite expect' this strong of a season from Luzardo originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

In what will be his last start of the regular season on Wednesday, Phillies starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo will have completed a year that few expected. He will most likely be one of the three starting pitchers for manager Rob Thomson when the team begins their playoff run. The Phillies’ magic number to clinch the second seed is just one going into the middle frame of their series against the Marlins.

After coming over from the Marlins, Luzardo has gone through the normal ups and downs when joining a new team, but has impressed his manager with how he’s handled it.

“He’s had a really, really good year,” said Thomson of Luzardo, who will make his 32nd start of the season with a 14-7 record and a 4.08 ERA. “Didn’t quite expect this. He’s going to surpass his innings for a year, he’s going to surpass strikeouts for a year. Career-highs in both. He’s done a great job. Great pick up.

“A guy comes here for the first time there’s expectations, obviously. This isn’t the normal place to play because there’s a lot of expectations, there’s a lot of noise. So, when a guy comes in and starts off good and then goes into a little bit of a slump, whether it’s on the mound or at the plate, it’s good to see a guy come out of that and get to the other side. That was really something that has impressed me, that he has been able to do. To put the bad starts behind him and get going again. It shows how strong of a person he is.”

In his starts this season, Luzardo has compiled 176 2/3 innings pitched and 206 strikeouts, both just two off his career high. He has also yielded just 16 home runs. And while the ERA may not be eye-popping good, there are extenuating circumstances, such as a mini mid-season slump.

“I think it’s just, at the time, not executing pitches,” Thomson said. “There was one game in particular where I had to push him a little bit further because I didn’t have much bullpen. So, there are add-on runs that probably wouldn’t be there if we had a full bullpen.”

While Thomson wouldn’t commit to Luzardo being among his top three starters for the playoffs, it’d be surprising if he isn’t.

Health updates

The worst fears of an injury to J.T. Realmuto were erased Tuesday when X-Rays were negative on his right hand after taking a foul tip off it in the ninth inning. He was held out of the lineup by Thomson on Wednesday, however.

“J.T. is better today,” said Thomson. “There’s more mobility in his finger. It’s bruised. There’s still some swelling in there, some pain. But not as bad as yesterday.” Thomson said he’d like to see his catcher behind the plate before the regular season ends, if he’s able.

Bryce Harper missed his second straight game as he’s dealing with an illness. “Bryce is feeling better but still feeling the effects of the sickness. He hasn’t been in yet. I’m not sure if he’s coming in at all.”

As for shortstop Trea Turner, he continues to climb the ladder in his rehabilitation to get his hamstring to 100 percent as he continued his workouts at Citizens Bank Park.

“He got six at-bats, was fine then he ran in the outfield,” Thomson said. “Looked good.”

Asked if he’s running at 100 percent, Thomson jokingly put it in the 75 or 77 percent range. “I hope, I hope,” he said of Turner playing before the regular season ends on Sunday. “Just continue tomorrow get more at-bats for him, ramping up his speed. More ground balls. He’s done everything. It’s just a matter of getting that speed up to 100 percent.”

The manager stated that it’s not necessary for Turner to play before the regular season ends but he’d like to see it. “We’re not going to push him if he’s not 100 percent.”

Bullpen worries?

After Cristopher Sanchez threw seven shutout innings at the Marlins, the bullpen struggled by giving up seven hits and six runs (three earned) in four innings of work. David Robertson allowed three hits and an earned run in 2/3 of an inning, Jhoan Duran blew a ninth-inning save and Orion Kerkering was touched for a hit and an earned run in the 10th.

“Yesterday I think Robbie (Robertson) was just rusty. He had six days off,” said Thomson. “Kerk, I think it’s executing his slider. He’s just not getting a lot of swing and miss. He’s got to do a better job at that, and I know he will.”

Sosa returns

The Phillies brought infielder Edmundo Sosa off the injury list Wednesday and Thomson threw him right in the lineup at shortstop and hitting sixth. Infielder Donovan Walton was designated for assignment to make room for Sosa.

Sosa had been on the 10-day injured list with a sore groin that Thomson labeled as very minor.

Posted on

NHL Power Rankings: Setting The Stage For 2025-26

The 2025-26 season is just two weeks away, which means the NHL power rankings are back every  Wednesday. We are back, baby.

This pre-season edition ranks all 32 NHL teams based on their performance last season and also takes into account the moves they’ve made during the off-season. The two-time defending champion Florida Panthers obviously retain the top spot and will be on the hunt to accomplish something no team in the cap era has ever done before: threepeat. 

Even before puck drop, several key storylines have already emerged. There’s the pending superstar-laden free-agent class that includes the likes of Connor McDavid, Kirill Kaprizov, Jack Eichel, Artemi Panarin and Kyle Connor, which may significantly alter the landscape, and also the NHL’s return to the Olympics for the first time since 2014.

Without further ado, let’s take stock of where all 32 NHL teams stand. 

1. Florida Panthers (47-31-4, +29 goal differential)

Even without the services of Matthew Tkachuk for the first few months, the defending champions retain the top spot and will hunt for the coveted threepeat.  

2. Edmonton Oilers (48-29-5, +23)

Always the bridesmaid but never the bride, the Oilers only made minor changes to their roster, and we shall see if that will be enough. The pressure on Connor McDavid feels even more immense this season with the Olympics and free agency looming. No player in the league can change the fortunes of all 32 teams with one decision like McDavid can.

3. Dallas Stars (50-26-6, +53)

Peter DeBoer has reached the Western Conference final six times and a Stanley Cup semifinal eight times. Glen Gulutzan has reached the Western Conference final zero times. The new coaching change will be something to watch, and hey, if you can’t beat ‘em, hire ‘em. 

4. Carolina Hurricanes (47-30-5, +33)

Hey, look, it’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s the Carolina Hurricanes winning a game in the conference finals! The Canes are running it back with the same coach and the same goalie tandem, and it’s either going to prove them right or be certifiably insane.

5. Vegas Golden Knights (50-22-10, +56)

The Knights went big-game hunting again, this time landing Mitch Marner, giving them two elite superstar forwards. We should not forget, however, how much losing Alex Pietrangelo may hurt. 

6. Winnipeg Jets (56-22-4, +86)

Always seemingly more than the same of their parts, the Jets face a difficult challenge to repeat as Presidents’ Trophy champions. Only two teams have won back-to-back regular-season titles (Canucks in ’11 and ’12, and Capitals in ’16 and ’17), and they lost Nikolaj Ehlers in free agency and gambled on Jonathan Toews being their No. 2 center.

Jonathan Toews Making Immediate Mark On Winnipeg JetsJonathan Toews Making Immediate Mark On Winnipeg JetsWhen longtime Chicago Blackhawks star center and captain Jonathan Toews chose to sign with the Winnipeg Jets this summer as part of his NHL comeback, the questions began about how quickly he would make his mark on his new team.

7. Toronto Maple Leafs (52-26-4, +37)

Life after Marner will certainly look different, but this can still be a strong defensive group with a captain who can be a 70-goal threat. 

8. Colorado Avalanche (49-29-4, +43)

The last time captain Gabriel Landeskog suited up in the regular season, the Avalanche won the Cup. The revenge tour after coming back from a potentially career-ending injury officially starts now. 

9. Washington Capitals (51-22-9, +56)

Just about everything went right for the Capitals in a storybook season. Sometimes, it’s difficult to get back to those emotional highs, and this season may mark the end of an exceptional era with Alex Ovechkin and John Carlson entering the final season of their contracts. 

10. Los Angeles Kings (48-25-9, +44)

Speaking of closing chapters, Anze Kopitar’s reign will end after 20 seasons and two Cups. Quinton Byfield is the ordained prince, and all eyes will be on him to carry the torch.

11. Tampa Bay Lightning (47-27-8, +75)

Following three straight trips to the finals, the Lightning have bowed out of the first round three straight times. Are they still a juggernaut team that had the misfortune of running into the eventual champions two years in a row, or are their best days over?  

12. Minnesota Wild (45-30-7, -11)

A healthy Kirill Kaprizov is enough reason to believe the Wild can be a contender. What’s scary, though, is the lack of an extension after the Wild made it clear they’re willing to make him the league’s highest-paid player.

13. St. Louis Blues (44-30-8, +21)

After Jim Montgomery took over, the Blues had the seventh-best points percentage in the league, and their offense blossomed. If there’s a dark horse in the West, it’s definitely the Blues. 

14. New Jersey Devils (42-33-7, +20)

If Jack Hughes and Dougie Hamilton can stay healthy, the Devils are a contender. But that’s a big if.

15. Ottawa Senators (45-30-7, +9)

A playoff appearance for the first time in eight seasons and the prospect of a new rink closer to downtown? The Senators are rising to power.

16. Montreal Canadiens (40-31-11, -20)

Excluding the pandemic-shortened seasons, the Habs made the playoffs for the first time in six seasons. With Lane Hutson, Calder candidate Ivan Demidov and the acquisition of Noah Dobson, the Habs are a young, exciting team whose GM isn’t afraid to take big risks.

Montreal Canadiens' Choice For Their Second-Line Center Raises DoubtsMontreal Canadiens' Choice For Their Second-Line Center Raises DoubtsThe Montreal Canadiens had a game-changing off-season.

17. Utah Mammoth (38-31-13, -10)

The Mammoth have massive potential in a very new market, and their offensive talent makes them fun to watch. Ranking fourth in expected goals at 5-on-5, per naturalstattrick.com, but finishing tied for 18th in goals-for per game is a big clue this team will score goals in bunches. 

18. Columbus Blue Jackets (40-33-9, +5)

The Jackets are looking to build off a momentous season and finally – after a quarter-century – have unearthed a franchise center in Adam Fantilli. They’re in a major upswing, and the challenge is to keep the momentum going and find a reliable goaltender. 

19. New York Rangers (39-36-7, +1)

The Rangers are looking to put a tumultuous season behind them with Mike Sullivan as their new coach, J.T. Miller as captain and a revamped defense that, hopefully, won’t leave Igor Shesterkin out to dry. 

20. Vancouver Canucks (38-30-14, -17)

Speaking of tumultuous seasons, no team’s off-ice struggles took more attention away from their on-ice play as much as the Canucks. It was a relatively quiet summer, which means they’re betting on bounce-back seasons from nearly everyone on their roster.

NHL Rumor Roundup: Updates On Canucks' Hughes And Stars' RobertsonNHL Rumor Roundup: Updates On Canucks' Hughes And Stars' RobertsonVancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes and Dallas Stars left winger Jason Robertson were frequently the subject of off-season trade speculation.

21. Calgary Flames (41-27-14, -13)

The Flames were surprisingly in playoff contention all season, which put a potential roster overhaul on hold. They will take another wait-and-see approach this season, but the ticking clock is pushing GM Craig Conroy into deciding whether he wants to keep his veteran core or focus on building a new one.

22. Detroit Red Wings (39-35-8, -21)

Will we be speaking of the Yzerplan this time next season? We’ve preached patience, but it’s been nine years since the Red Wings made the playoffs. Their promising young core needs to take a step forward, but can they do so if Steve Yzerman insists on signing veterans who are potentially blocking their paths? It’s a constant battle to decide which stage of the Yzerplan this team is in.  

23. New York Islanders (35-35-12, -36)

One of the biggest factors that will determine the Isles’ fortunes this season is Mathew Barzal’s knee. If it holds up, they can form a respectable attack to complement their elite goaltender and a budding franchise defenseman, Matthew Schaefer. 

24. Anaheim Ducks (35-37-10, -42)

Joel Quenneville returns to the NHL bench after a lengthy absence, and this is a talented roster that improved by eight wins from the previous season. Keep your head up – not only are the Ducks on the rise, but Radko Gudas and Jacob Trouba might form the hardest-hitting right-side defense in the league.   

25. Buffalo Sabres (36-39- 7, -20)

A talented roster on paper, but the annual question is if they can put it all together. They can definitely score, and they can somewhat defend, but when you sign Alexandar Georgiev in a panic, it’s not a good sign to start the season. 

26. Seattle Kraken (35-41-6, -18)

Are the Kraken running out of patience? They made a big splash in free agency last summer, and coach Dan Bylsma lasted just one season. They’re now onto their third coach, entering their fifth season, and are still nowhere close to being a contender. Fair or not, the Knights set the bar very high for expansion franchises.

27. Boston Bruins (33-39-10, -50)

The Bruins have a lot of players poised for bounce-back seasons, but will it be enough to return to the playoffs? Jeremy Swayman enters the second year of a lucrative eight-year deal, and he’s as vital to their chances as David Pastrnak after allowing a league-high 176 goals last season.

28. Pittsburgh Penguins (34-36-12, -50)

Sidney Crosby will do his darndest to keep the Pens competitive, but they’re obvious sellers at this point with Evgeni Malkin entering the final year of his contract and Erik Karlsson more likely than not to get traded at some point. Could you imagine if the Pens go Lemieux to Crosby to McKenna? Bless.

29. Philadelphia Flyers (33-39-10, -48)

Season 2 of Matvei Michkov should be exciting, but there are still so many holes in this lineup, especially the big gaping one in net. Rick Tocchet returns to Philly, where he had some of his best seasons as a player, and Trevor Zegras is reunited with his good buddy Jamie Drysdale. It’s not always sunny in Philadelphia, but there are definitely fewer dark clouds. 

30. Nashville Predators (30-44-8, -60)

The Preds were a disaster last season after many pegged them to have one of the NHL’s best offenses. Barry Trotz joked they’re out to prove the ‘experts’ wrong for the third straight season, which actually means they could go from bad to worse…

31. San Jose Sharks (20-50-12, -105)

The reason why the Sharks aren’t ranked at the bottom after finishing with a league-low 52 points is because they really bolstered their roster with multiple veterans, and their bright future isn’t difficult to see. Macklin Celebrini alone is worth the price of admission, and in the words of Yoda: “We shall watch your career with great interest.” 

32. Chicago Blackhawks (25-46-11, -70)

The narrative for Connor Bedard has changed quickly, going from the new face of the league to getting leapfrogged by Celebrini and wondering if he will live up to his potential. We forget that Bedard is just 20 years old and entering his third season, though you wonder how the Hawks are going to provide the support he needs after acquiring only *checks notes* Andre Burakovsky over the summer.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Posted on

Rob Key insists Brook’s England promotion is not ‘scheme’ to oust Pope

  • Key all but confirms Woakes’ international career is over

  • Brook replaces Pope as vice-captain for Ashes series

Rob Key has all but confirmed Chris Woakes has played his last game for England and insisted Harry Brook’s promotion to vice-captain for the Ashes is not “an elaborate scheme” to oust Ollie Pope from the team.

Speaking a day after naming a 16‑man squad to take on Australia, Key, the team director, clarified the selections – not least the late switch in deputy for Ben Stokes – and confirmed Woakes missed out because of the dislocated shoulder sustained during the final Test of the summer.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Guardians' David Fry hit in the face by a 99-mph pitch during bunt attempt: 'Scary moment'

Cleveland Guardians' David Fry falls back after being hit in the face by a pitch.
Cleveland Guardians designated hitter David Fry takes a fastball to the face Tuesday during a sixth-inning bunt attempt. (Sue Ogrocki / Associated Press)

Cleveland Guardians designated hitter David Fry was hit in the face by a 99-mph fastball thrown Tuesday by Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal at Ohio's Progressive Field.

During a sixth-inning at-bat, Fry was attempting to bunt when the ball missed the bat completely and hit him in the nose and mouth area. He fell to the ground and remained there for several minutes while being treated by medical staff.

Fry eventually was able to walk to a cart under his own power. The 2024 American League All-Star gave a thumbs-up signal as he was being driven off the field. The Guardians later said Fry was undergoing tests and observation, possibly overnight, at the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus.

“He’s getting tested," Guardians manager Stephen Vogt told reporters after the game. "He stayed conscious the whole time. Definitely some injuries there, so I’ll give you an update tomorrow on David.”

Vogt added: "We're all thinking about Dave and his family right now. Obviously, we're glad he's OK, but obviously it's really a scary moment. So [we're] thinking about him."

As the incident took place, Skubal reacted in horror from the mound, immediately dropping his glove, removing his cap and covering his face with his hand. The 2024 American League Cy Young Award winner later told reporters it was "really tough" to see Fry like that.

Read more:How Bill Russell stayed connected to baseball, and reconnected with the Dodgers

“I’ve already reached out to him. I’m sure his phone is blowing up. I just want to make sure he’s all right," Skubal said. "Obviously, he seemed like he was OK coming off the field and hopefully it stays that way.

“I know sometimes with those things that can change. So hopefully he’s all right. I look forward to hopefully at some point tonight or [Wednesday] morning getting a text from him and making sure he’s all good because there’s things that are bigger than the game and the health of him is more important than a baseball game.”

Cleveland won the game 5-2 to pull to a tie with Detroit at the top of the AL Central Division after trailing by as many as 15½ games this summer.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Posted on

19 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #19

The Columbus Blue Jackets have 19 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #19. 

Let's take a look.

Mathieu Darche - 2001-2002 - Undrafted out of Saint-Laurent, Quebec.

Darche played 24 games for the CBJ over their first three seasons, totaling two points. Darche played until 2012, retiring with the Montreal Canadiens. 

He is now the Assistant General Manager and Director of Hockey Ops for the Tampa Bay Lightning. He started with Tampa Bay in 2019 and has held various positions. 

Sean Pronger - 2003 - Drafted by Vancouver in 1991. 

The brother of Hall of Famer Chris Pronger played 104 games in Columbus and had 17 points. He also attended Bowling Green State University in Ohio. 

After his two seasons in Columbus, he played for Vancouver and then left for Germany, where he played one season before retiring. 

Brian Holzinger - 2004 - Drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in 1991. 

He played 13 games as a Jacket in 03-04 and had one point. The Parma, Ohio native was traded to Columbus in 2003 and never played another NHL game after that season. 

Holzinger also attended Bowling Green State University and won the Hobey Baker Award in 1995 when he had 66 points in 38 games. He retired in 2004.  

Joe Motzko - 2004 - Undrafted out of Bemidji, Minnesota.

Motzko played 11 games with the Jackets over three seasons where he had one point. After his time with Columbus, he played for the Capitals and Thrashers.

He left for Europe in 2009, and played in Germany, Austria, and Italy until he retired in 2014. 

Alexandre Picard - 2006-2007 - Drafted by Columbus in 2004. 

Picard was drafted 8th overall in 2004 by Columbus. He played 67 games over five seasons and had two points. He never played another NHL game after Columbus.

After leaving for Europe, he returned to North America in 2019 to play in The Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey, a semi-professional ice hockey league based in Quebec, where he still plays today.

Michael Peca - 2008-2009 - Drafted by Vancouver in 1992. 

Peca played 136 games from 2007 to 2009 and had 56 points. After his time in Columbus, he never played another NHL game and retired in 2009.

On October 11, 2008, he received an indefinite suspension, which was later reduced to a five-game suspension, after grabbing referee Greg Kimmerly's arm in Columbus' first game of the 08-09 season. He is now an asst. coach for the Chicago Blackhawks. 

Ethan Moreau - 2011 - Drafted by Chicago in 1994. 

Played 37 games for the CBJ in 2010-11 and had six points after being claimed off waivers by the Edmonton Oilers on June 30, 2010. 

The former Edmonton Oilers Captain and 08-09 King Clancy Memorial Trophy winner retired in 2012 after playing a season with the LA Kings. 

Ryan Johansen - 2012-2016 - Drafted by Columbus in 2010.

Johansen was supposed to be the center of the future in Columbus, and he was until John Tortorella came to town. Johansen played 309 games for the Jackets and had 193 points, including back-to-back seasons with 63 and 71 points respectively.

He was traded to the Nashville Predators for Seth Jones in 2016, where he played 533 games for the Preds. He was never able to replicate his 71-point season from 2014-15 and hit a 64-point high for the Preds in 2019. Johansen is currently embroiled in some drama with the Philadelphia Flyers. On August 20, 2024, He was placed on unconditional waivers following material breach of contract. 

Ryan Dzingel - 2019 - Drafted by Ottawa in 2011. 

The former Ohio State Buckeye played 21 games as a Blue Jacket in 2019 and had 12 points after being acquired in 2019. He left in free agency and bounced around the league after that.

He played in the AHL in 23-24 for Henderson and currently doesn't have a contract. 

Liam Foudy - 2020-2024 - Drafted by Columbus in 2018. 

Foudy played 90 games as a Jacket in five seasons, scoring 7 goals and totaling 19 points. He also had 35 points in 41 career games for Cleveland.

He was put on waivers on October 21, 2023, and picked up by Nashville. He signed with the New York Islanders for the 24-25 season and is slated to play for AHL Bridgeport this season. 

Adam Fantilli - 2024-2025 - Drafted by Columbus in 2023.

After suffering a brutal skate cut in 2024, he was forced to miss the rest of the season. He scored 12 goals and totaled 27 points. 

Last season, Fantilli got off to a bit of a slow start but really turned it on as the season went on. He would finish the season tied for the team lead with 31 goals. He also chipped in 23 assists and totaled 54 points. 

This season, Fantilli is expected to take yet another step and become the dominating two-way player everyone thinks he can be. With the tutelage of Boone Jenner and Sean Monahan, he should be able to continue to grow into the face of the franchise. 

There are 19 days until opening night at NWA. 

Let us know what you think below.

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story.  

More from THN Columbus

Blue Jackets' Werenski & Monahan Among Stars In FACEOFF: Inside The NHLBlue Jackets' Werenski & Monahan Among Stars In FACEOFF: Inside The NHLYesterday, Prime Video released the trailer for the second season of their FACEOFF: Inside the NHL docuseries.  Blue Jackets Trim Training Camp Roster By Four PlayersBlue Jackets Trim Training Camp Roster By Four PlayersThe Columbus Blue Jackets have announced four cuts to their 2025 training camp roster. Former Blue Jackets Forward To Be Inducted Into Syracuse Crunch Hockey Hall of FameFormer Blue Jackets Forward To Be Inducted Into Syracuse Crunch Hockey Hall of FameFormer Columbus Blue Jackets forward Zenon Konopka has been named to the Syracuse Crunch Hockey Hall of Fame class of 2025.
Posted on

New York fans promise to be loud and proud at Bethpage Ryder Cup

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — New York sports fans have been so starved for something to celebrate that they poured out of Madison Square Garden onto the streets and snarled city traffic in May, all because the Knicks simply got out of the second round of the NBA playoffs.

They’re already resigned to the Giants and Jets being bad, aware the Yankees and Mets might not be good enough. They need a team to pin their hopes on.

The U.S. squad playing in the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, a place revered by locals in ways no arena ever could, could be it. The Americans might as well trade their red, white and blue for Yankee pinstripes, because their support comes New York style: loud, loyal and liquored up.

“There’s not going to be a lack of alcohol consumption,” U.S. player Ben Griffin said. “Fans are going to be loud. New York people love their sports.”

New York sports fans keep on waiting for wins

New York teams have iconic championship moments like Joe Namath guaranteeing victory in the Super Bowl in 1969 and Willis Reed limping to the court to play Game 7 of the NBA Finals a year later, but the Jets and Knicks haven’t won since those guys were on the team.

Fans wept in the stands at MSG when the Rangers won the Stanley Cup in 1994, ending a 54-year drought. Now they’re working on another one of 31 years and counting.

Even the Yankees don’t win like they used to, with only two World Series titles in the 2000s — and one came against the Mets, so a portion of New Yorkers hated the whole thing.

It can make even longtime New York fans wonder if they can keep hanging in there. John McEnroe questioned why he didn’t switch allegiances after watching the Showtime Lakers when he was living in California and befriended team executive Jeanie Buss, but the Hall of Fame tennis player could never quit the Knicks.

So he remains a regular at Madison Square Garden with Spike Lee, Ben Stiller and all the other fans who come to cheer on their Knicks. (Well, usually cheer.)

“Listen, I’ve been in all of these arenas. If things are going bad in Indiana, the Indiana fans are going to try to rally their team back. The Knicks fans are going to boo their team,” said Stan Van Gundy, an NBA coach and broadcaster whose brother, Jeff, coached the Knicks to their most recent NBA Finals appearance in 1999.

True, New Yorkers sometimes struggle to hide their disappointment. Giants fans couldn’t, booing throughout their home opener Sunday, and some Jets fans wore paper bags over their heads at MetLife Stadium last year.

But when things are good, players say no place compares.

“Everything is heightened, everything is better here,” the Knicks’ Josh Hart said. “With all due respect to other places I’ve played, New York, it’s the mecca, and when you have people that really wear their heart on their sleeves and they go out there and they’re really passionate about sporting events of their teams, they come to show love and that energy is what makes you feel that difference.”

Some fans already started, booing loudly Tuesday morning as their shuttle bus passed Team Europe’s blue and yellow coach.

2025 Ryder Cup, Bethpage Black
GolfPass: Bethpage Black hole-by-hole guide
Get an in-depth look at this year’s Ryder Cup host, the Black Course at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, New York.

Bethpage Black is hard, just the way New Yorkers like things

Bethpage Black is the public course that New Yorkers arrive a day early to and sleep in their cars overnight for a chance to play. It’s not one of those hotel resort courses people play on vacation where there’s no trouble unless they drive it behind a palm tree. The Black is long and it’s hard. Arms get sore and legs feel weary. It hurts like playing against Lawrence Taylor’s Giants.

But hard is how New Yorkers want things.

“Everything we do, we grind. We grind every day. It’s so New York,” said David Caleca, the president of Bonnie Briar Country Club in nearby Westchester County.

Besides playing Bethpage, Caleca was there when New York fans heckled Sergio Garcia during the 2002 U.S. Open. He’s also been in Shea Stadium when fans would boo their own Mets players, so knows emotions can swing in a New York minute.

He thinks the U.S. team will receive a huge backing not only because it’s Bethpage but because of captain Keegan Bradley, who is a New Englander but played collegiately at St. John’s and displays the passion of someone who must be from Brooklyn or the Bronx.

“He’s the kind of guy that New Yorkers love because he wears his emotions for everyone to see,” Caleca said.

Some fans may be cheering as much for the course as Bradley’s team. He knows how New Yorkers feel about Bethpage, a place they learned the game from their fathers or spent summers caddying.

“It’s much more than a golf course to a lot of these people,” Bradley said. “When you add all these things up, you’re going to get fiery fans.”

Posted on

Nine NHL teams have a new coach. Here’s what to expect from the changes

When Mike Sullivan’s time in Pittsburgh came to an end after nearly a decade behind the bench produced two Stanley Cup championships, he became the most-sought after coach on the market.

With plenty of vacancies around the NHL, Sullivan had his pick of the litter. He landed with the New York Rangers, tasked with taking over an Original Six franchise that missed last season’s playoffs but is loaded with talent.

Sullivan has coached Sidney Crosby and was picked by USA Hockey to lead the country at the upcoming Olympics in Milan. Starting this journey with the Rangers had him struggling to find a way to capture his emotions.

“This is a new challenge for me,” Sullivan said. “It’s hard for me to express in words how excited I am about this challenge and about this opportunity.”

Sullivan is one of nine coaches with a new challenge in front of him. A look at the changes for nearly a third of the league and what to expect:

Mike Sullivan, Rangers

Sullivan made trips over the summer to begin building personal relationships with his players. The 57-year-old from Massachusetts wanted to get to know players away from the rink and vice versa. When it comes to hockey, Sullivan’s straightforward approach is evident.

“Obviously a good pedigree,” defenseman Carson Soucy said. “He’s intense, very detail-focused and he wants to win.”

The Rangers haven’t won it all since 1994 but reached the Eastern Conference final in 2024.

Joel Quenneville, Ducks

Quenneville is back in the league with Anaheim, four years since resigning from Florida in the wake of an investigation into Chicago’s 2010 sexual assault allegations. Quenneville said at his introductory news conference he understands those who question is return and will “demonstrate (by) my actions that I am a man of character.”

The Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup three times with Quenneville as their coach. Only Scotty Bowman has more NHL wins.

“Just to have a voice like that behind the bench guiding and leading our team, we got a good mix of some veterans and some young guys, so I think it’s a great hire and I’m really, really excited to play for him,” winger Sam Colangelo said.

Rick Tocchet, Flyers

Tocchet nearly was as prized as Sullivan after he decided not to renew his contract in Vancouver. Philadelphia is a homecoming of sorts for Tocchet, who played over 700 games in orange and black during separate stints.

“Him being back in Philly and wanting to be there and picking us, his excitement for where we’re headed, I think it excites us as a team and kind of the growth that we’re about to take,” defenseman Travis Sanheim said. “He’s already a step ahead. He already knows the organization, the city, the fans and so I think that’s going benefit us moving forward.”

Glen Gulutzan, Stars

Dallas fired Peter DeBoer following three consecutive trips to the West final. Pulling franchise goaltender Jake Oettinger in the series-deciding loss and his handling of it afterward played a part.

“You never want to see anyone lose their job,” Oettinger said. “It’s a tough business and with how good we’ve been the last three years, it’s tough. ... Looking forward to getting a fresh start.”

That comes with Gulutzan, rehired 12 years after being fired by the Stars his first time around. Gulutzan the past seven seasons has been an assistant in Edmonton, where he ran the power play and earned praise from Connor McDavid for his communication skills.

Marco Sturm, Bruins

Playing over 1,000 games in the NHL, coaching Germany at the Olympics and spending multiple years as a Los Angeles Kings assistant didn’t prepare Sturm for taking over in Boston. It took three full seasons running a bench with Ontario of the American Hockey League to be ready.

“This is the time,” Sturm said. “Timing is everything. And I couldn’t end up in a better spot than Boston.”

Jeff Blashill, Blackhawks

Connor Bedard, the top pick in 2023, might finally have a long-term coach after Chicago fired Luke Richardson last December and played out the season with Anders Sorensen in an interim role. Blashill gets his second head-coaching job in the league after seven years with Detroit from 2015-22.

“We’re excited to have him,” Bedard said. “He’s thrilled to be with us. He’s showing a ton of excitement.”

Lane Lambert, Kraken

Dan Bylsma lasted one season in Seattle after he was promoted from the minors to replace Dave Hakstol. Lambert, fired in January 2024 by the New York Islanders, is tasked with getting the Kraken back to respectability.

“He brings a structure, an emphasis on structure that we desperately need a little bit,” captain Jordan Eberle said.

Dan Muse, Penguins

Muse, who was an assistant under former Rangers coach Peter Laviolette, takes over with Pittsburgh nearing a crossroads. Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang still are around but a youth movement is coming. Muse has caught players’ attention.

“I came and grabbed dinner here at the rink,” Letang said. “When I left, I think it was 8 o’clock and he was still on his computer working on some stuff. So there you go. You see the passion that he has for the game and trying to work on every little detail to make us better and improve every single guy out there.”

Adam Foote, Canucks

Tocchet’s exit opened a void for the Canucks, who would love to convince elite defenseman and captain Quinn Hughes to stick around beyond the end of his current contract in 2027. Hughes said he had his two best seasons with Foote, a former defenseman, as an assistant, but that guarantees nothing.

“It’s different being a head coach,” Hughes said. “I’m sure there’s going to be challenges as a first-year head coach that he’s going face, just like anyone else would. But I think he’s prepared for it.”

Posted on

MLB’s New ABS Challenge System, Explained

As we enter the final week of the 2025 MLB regular season, the league has made a significant announcement, stating that it will implement an Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System for the entirety of the 2026 season.

What is an ABS challenge system?

The ABS challenge system is not "robot umps," as many had feared would come to baseball. Instead of being an automated system that calls every ball and strike, the ABS Challenge System allows teams to request a review of important ball-strike calls during a game. It's a balance between a fully technological system and the current system that includes natural human error from the very human umpires.

If you've watched a tennis match, then you already know how this ABS system will work. After a given pitch is delivered during a game, a batter, catcher, or pitcher will have a narrow window of time to challenge the call the umpire made. Once a challenge has been made, the umpire will inform the stadium that the pitch is being challenged, and everyone, including the players and umpires, will watch the Jumbotron that every stadium has in the outfield. The screen will show an animation that depicts the path of the pitch, and then, when the pitch crosses the plate, it will pause and highlight the location of the pitch as it crossed the plate to see if any part of the ball knicked the strike zone in the slightest bit. If the animation shows that the pitch was a strike, the pitch must be called a strike, regardless of what the umpire had called before, and vice versa.

How will the ABS system work in baseball?

MLB stadiums are equipped with Hawk-Eye technology that already monitors the exact spin, movement, and location of each pitch, relative to the batter’s zone. That's how we get all of our advanced pitch mix data over the last few seasons. Players will now be able to use that technology to request a challenge of a ball or strike call if they think the umpire got it wrong.

Unlike in the NFL, where a coach has to throw a challenge flag, in MLB games, managers will not be able to challenge. Challenges are only allowed to be initiated by a pitcher, catcher, or batter, and they will do so by tapping their hat or helmet to let the umpire know.

This system is designed to prevent any help from the dugout or other players on the field, which will limit any player from getting outside feedback from a team's own technology to tell him that he should challenge. The challenge must also come immediately after the ball or strike has been called, so players will get no time to deliberate and wait for a teammate or coach to yell something to them.

This ABS system will work by creating a unique strike zone for each batter. This was something that Guardians catcher Austin Hedges was worried about when I spoke to him during spring training. Austin Hedges told me that his biggest fear with an ABS system was that the league needs "to figure out what that strike zone means. I worry about having a different strike zone for every hitter, and now the umpire has to know what that strike zone is for each measured zone."

As outlined by The Athletic, the zone will also be created using technology: "The ABS zone for each player is based on measurements taken by one independent party and verified by another; the top of the zone is defined as 53.5 percent of a player’s height, and the bottom of the zone is 27 percent of their height. The zone is 17 inches wide — the width of home plate — and pitch location is measured at the midpoint between the front and back of the plate. Any part of the ball only needs to tick the edge of the zone to be a strike."

Of course, the issue here is that umpires will need to be able to quickly adjust the strike zone to that specificity for every single hitter during a game or risk getting calls wrong.

Another wrinkle in how this will work is seeing how teams devise a strategy for deciding who can issue a challenge. Data has shown that catchers tend to be the most accurate in terms of determining balls and strikes, which seems obvious, but managers may prevent some issues with a poor understanding of the strike zone by issuing a challenge. Managers may also prevent their team from challenging pitches early in the count or early in the game because they don't want to risk being out of challenges in the crucial final innings. It will be an interesting and exciting new level of strategy for MLB managers.

How many ABS challenges per game in MLB?

Each team will get two challenges at the start of the game, and they will be able to keep the challenges if they're successful, so we could rephrase that to say that each team gets two incorrect challenges a game. Even if that seems like a recipe for infinite challenges, previous data has shown that to not be the case. According to Baseball America,"On average, there were 4.2 ABS challenges out of the roughly 290 pitches thrown per Triple-A game in 2025."

In each extra inning, a team will be given an additional challenge if it has none remaining entering the 10th inning. If they use the challenge, they will get a new one at the start of the 11th inning. If a team does have challenges remaining entering extra innings, they will not be given a new challenge, but they will be granted an additional one if they use their remaining challenge in the 10th inning.

Which baseball leagues are using automated systems?

MLB has been experimenting with many different forms of ABS systems in games since 2019. Back in 2019, the Atlantic League, which is an independent league run in conjunction with MLB, adopted a full ABS system, which is more casually referred to as "robot umps," where technology called every pitch in the umpire's ear. The Challenge System was then used for the first time in 2022 in the Florida State League. For the two seasons after that, 2023 and 2024, Triple-A teams tested both the Challenge System and the full ABS system. By the end of the 2024 season, it had become clear during feedback that the challenge system was more popular with players and fans, which is why it was tested in MLB spring training this season.

Will the ABS system impact the length of the game?

As Baseball America reported in the same article linked above, "the ABS challenge system hasn’t really affected game time in Triple-A." Much like in tennis, these challenges are quick, so this will not be similar to lengthy NFL and NBA replays that can often sap the momentum of the game. According to an MLB release, "In 288 games with the ABS Challenge System during Spring Training 2025, there were an average of 4.1 challenges per game, and those challenges took an average of 13.8 seconds." That means the Challenge System would add approximately one minute to each game.

How accurate is the ABS system in baseball?

According to the same MLB press release, during the 288-game experiment during spring training, calls were overturned 52.2% of the time. As we noted above, catchers had the best success rate at 56%, while hitters were successful 50% of the time, and pitchers were successful just 41% of the time.

It is important to note that there is a margin for error with the Hawkeye technology, as there is for all technology. As previously reported by The Athletic, the league has "acknowledged the margin for error’s presence," but had not, at that time, told players exactly how large the margin was.

How will ABS impact catchers?

One of the immediate reactions to the challenge system is that it will impact the value of catchers being strong framers. Hedges mentioned that he had some concerns about what the ABS system would do for defensive catchers like himself: "I don't know if it's gonna be enough to make [framing] not as important, but it's definitely gonna take a little bit away from receiving."

While it may impact receiving in a small way, because the catcher can fool an umpire with good framing and then have that call challenged, it's unlikely to have a major impact on framing. As Giants catcher Patrick Bailey said in an article with The Athletic, "I don’t think it’s going to take away the value of framing. You still have to get calls and keep strikes (as) strikes. At the end of the day, I still think it’s going to be really valuable to know the zone.”

Bailey's point is a crucial one here. For a strike to even be challenged, the catcher has to get the strike first. He still has to present it successfully to the umpire. If he does get that strike call, it's not a given that the opposing team will challenge since they only get two missed challenges a game. Are you willing to risk that in the second inning on an 0-0 pitch? That may not seem like a significant pitch in the overall course of the game, but it's huge for a pitcher to be in a 0-1 count versus a 1-0 count. That could drastically reshape an entire inning, so the value of framing absolutely will still exist.

In the ABS challenge system, the vast majority of pitches are still going to be called by the umpires, so catchers being able to get those borderline called strikes called will still have tremendous value. A really good framing catcher could also make it hard on opposing teams to know when they should challenge or not, which adds an extra layer of strategy, while a poor framer may force himself or his pitcher to use more challenges to get ball calls reversed because the catcher framed a strike poorly.

For every player, it will make an understanding of the strike zone even more important.

“I don’t think it’s going to change the game as much as I originally thought it would,” Bailey said. “I think it’s just going to take away the really big misses.”

That's something everybody can get behind.

Posted on

Surging Mariners clinch playoff berth and close in on AL West title

SEATTLE — The surging Seattle Mariners clinched a spot in the postseason, but they hope the real celebrations are yet to come.

Seattle earned the playoff berth with a dramatic 4-3 win over the Colorado Rockies after getting some help from the New York Yankees, who beat the Chicago White Sox. Josh Naylor provided the big hit, a bases-clearing double with two outs in the eighth inning after Seattle had generated little offense against the major league-worst Rockies.

“We’ve still got work to do, obviously, but you never know when you’re going to get this opportunity again so we’re going to celebrate tonight,” catcher Cal Raleigh said.

The Mariners now have their eye on their first AL West title since 2001. Seattle moved four games ahead of the Houston Astros — who lost to the Athletics — and can wrap up the division as early as Wednesday.

“This is a special group. They’ve shown it all season long,” manager Dan Wilson said. “There is a lot of work to do, starting with the division. Hopefully we get that done sooner than later and we keep going. But there is a lot ahead of us, and I think this team is ready and primed for it.”

The Mariners also are in position for the second seed in the American League, and can secure that spot if they sweep the Rockies. That would give Seattle a first-round playoff bye.

This is the Mariners’ second playoff berth since 2001 and the sixth in franchise history. They ended a 21-year postseason drought in 2022, losing in the divisional round to the Astros. Seattle finished one game out of a wild-card spot in each of the past two seasons.

“We know the hunger the fan base has, and that motivates us to be out here and do the best that we can every single night,” center fielder Julio Rodríguez said. “We know the history, but we’re trying to write something different for this city and this town now.”

This year, the Mariners could be the hottest team entering the postseason. Led by slugging catcher Raleigh and his major league-leading 58 homers, Seattle has won 15 of 16 games and is coming off a sweep at Houston to take control of the division race.

“It’s taken a few years, but it makes this moment very nice. That’s the goal, right? Win the World Series and remember those moments you’ll never forget. That’s what we’re thinking, and we’re not done yet,” Raleigh said. “The last couple years have just been very painful at the end of the year. You come so close and you work so hard every year, and to come up short, it’s that much more satisfying when you do get the job done.”

Posted on

New Depth Panthers Players Hoping To Help Continue Success

The Florida Panthers signed forward Luke Kunin and defenseman Jeff Petry to one-year deals in the off-season, and the veterans are hoping to help the Panthers continue their recent success.

With each off-season in the NHL, players depart from teams and new players are brought in, and the Panthers signed two veterans who are in search of Stanley Cup glory. 

Petry is entering his 16th NHL season, and despite a successful career that has been spent with the Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Detroit Red Wings, the 37-year-old is still without a Stanley Cup. 

“It truly feels like everybody really cares about everybody in the room,” said Petry after meeting his new Panther teammates. “It's not just words, it’s the actions.”

Petry notched one goal and eight points in 44 games last year, but the right-handed defenseman feels he has more to offer. Throughout his career, Petry has been considered an offensive defenseman with the ability to quarterback a power play unit. He possesses a strong shot and has the capability of being a puck distributor from the blueline. 

“What excited me when the opportunity came was seeing those guys come back,” said Petry.

Kunin, on the other hand, isn't as proven as Petry. The 27-year-old is entering his ninth season in the NHL but has transformed into a steady two-way, bottom-six forward. 

Luke Kunin (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

Kunin recorded 11 goals and 18 points in 63 games with the San Jose Sharks before he was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Kunin was never really able to get his feet under him, and as the Blue Jackets chased a playoff berth, Kunin failed to record a goal or point in 12 games.  

In a new environment and being able to partake in training camp with the Panthers makes this season feel different for Kunin.

“It’s obviously a special group,” said Kunin. “Happy to be part of a winning culture and do whatever I can to help the team continue to have success.”

Kunin joins the Panthers as a fit stylistically, but he also comes with a connection to Matthew Tkachuk. The duo are St. Louis natives who consider each other great friends. 

“He’s one of my best friends,” Kunin said of long-time friend and fellow St. Louis native Matthew Tkachuk. “It’s pretty cool we get to play together.”

With new teams and new aspirations, Kunin and Petry are excited to help the Panthers continue to have success. 

'It was a no-brainer': Defenseman Jeff Petry speaks on decision to join Panthers, pursue Stanley Cup'It was a no-brainer': Defenseman Jeff Petry speaks on decision to join Panthers, pursue Stanley CupIt’s no secret that in recent years, good things have happened when players have joined forces with the Florida Panthers.
Posted on

How Steph Curry mentored Tyrese Haliburton on Team USA at 2024 Paris Olympics

How Steph Curry mentored Tyrese Haliburton on Team USA at 2024 Paris Olympics originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Star Warriors guard Steph Curry wasn’t just an iconic scorer for Team USA men’s basketball during the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.

He also was a phenomenal teammate and leader — just ask Tyrese Hailburton.

The 25-year-old face of the Indiana Pacers and fellow Team USA guard shared how Curry mentored him during the Olympics in Thursday’s edition of “The Young Man and The Three” podcast with filmmaker Spike Lee.

“He is so unbelievable the way he can like, he remembers people, he cares about people,” Haliburton told Lee. “I mean, I just, I can’t say enough good things about Steph. And then, like, through the Olympic experience, for me, I didn’t play a ton, so a lot of it was for me to learn, and pick guys’ brains, and Steph was just that guy for me.”

As he said himself, Haliburton didn’t play much during Team USA’s successful quest for gold.

But Curry still admirably took the up-and-comer under his wing and showed him what it’s like to dominate on the sport’s biggest international stage.

Curry led the Americans to glory after scoring 60 points over the team’s final two games, sinking eight 3-point shots — including the “Golden Dagger” — in the dramatic gold medal game win over Victor Wembanyama and Team France.

It is no wonder that Haliburton soaked in every moment with Curry.

“After every practice, I’m like, ‘I got to work out with Steph,’” Haliburton said. “I got to do what he’s doing and kind of take things from him, and he was always like, before he would start, if I’m on the other end of the gym, he’ll be like, ‘Come on, Ty, we’re going to work out.’ So for me, I can’t say enough good things about him.”

Haliburton took Curry’s mentorship and ran with it based on his performance during the ensuing 2024-25 NBA season. 

He led the underdog Pacers to the NBA Finals, where Indiana lost to the deep-rostered Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games. Haliburton, of course, tore his right Achilles tendon early in Game 7, exiting what always will be remembered as a “what-if.”

Curry’s influence and mentorship clearly have rubbed off on Haliburton. And no one is doubting the Pacer’s ability to recover — after he’ll miss the 2025-26 season — and reassume his role as franchise cornerstone.

Surely Curry, who has dealt with his fair share of injuries over his 16-year Golden State career, has more advice for Haliburton as his journey continues, too.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Posted on

Guardians’ David Fry hospitalized after being hit in face by pitch during crucial win over Tigers

CLEVELAND — For a frightening moment, the AL Central race hardly mattered.

Guardians designated hitter David Fry was expected to be hospitalized overnight after he was hit in the face by a pitch from Detroit’s Tarik Skubal in the sixth inning of Cleveland’s 5-2 win over the Tigers, a victory that deadlocked the division.

Fry squared around to try to bunt a 99 mph fastball from Skubal and the pitch struck him in the nose and mouth area. As Fry collapsed in the batter’s box and immediately grabbed his bloodied face, a visibly shaken Skubal threw off his glove and cap as Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt and trainers rushed onto the field.

Fry laid in the dirt for several minutes before being slowly helped to his feet. He gave a thumbs-up signal as he sat up and was driven off in a cart.

The Guardians said Fry was being transported from Lutheran Medical Center to the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus for further testing and observation. The team said it would update Fry’s condition Wednesday morning.

“It was straight to the face,” Vogt said, describing the impact on Fry that shook everyone inside Progressive Field. “We’re all thinking about David and his family right now. Obviously, we’re glad he is OK, but obviously it’s a really scary moment.”

Skubal, the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, paced around the infield as Fry was being assisted. Following the game, Skubal, who allowed just two hits through the first five innings, said seeing Fry in distress was difficult.

“Really tough,” said the left-hander. “I’ve already reached out to him. I’m sure his phone is blowing up. I just want to make sure he’s all right. Obviously, he seemed like he was OK coming off the field and hopefully it stays that way.

“I know sometimes with those things that can change. So hopefully he’s all right. I look forward to hopefully at some point tonight or (Wednesday) morning getting a text from him and making sure he’s all good because there’s things that are bigger than the game and the health of him is more important than a baseball game.”

That’s how Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan felt after watching Fry, an All-Star in 2024 who underwent offseason elbow surgery and didn’t join the team until late May, go down.

“Definitely really scary,” Kwan said. “For David to even try something like that (bunt), that’s just who he is. Selfless kind of guy, and especially in a position like that, he’s a tough guy. Thankfully he had some humor when he came up, but you don’t want to see a guy that’s been with you pretty much the whole year.

“Obviously energy-wise, just who he is as a teammate, he’s meant so much to us as a team. It’s really scary, but thankfully he had some humor coming off the field, so hopefully we get some good news.”

Following the incident, Skubal threw a wild pitch to George Valera, who replaced Fry, allowing Cleveland to score. Skubal also had an error — he inexplicably tried to make a blind throw to first between his legs — and was also called for a balk in the sixth inning as the Guardians rallied for three runs to take a 3-2 lead without hitting a ball out of the infield.

With its 16th win in 18 games, Cleveland caught Detroit atop the division after trailing the Tigers by 15 1/2 games on July 8. The Guardians were still 12 1/2 games back on Aug. 25, but have gone 17-5 in September.

The Tigers, meanwhile, have dropped seven straight and 10 of 11.

“I feel like we’ve been this way for a couple of series now,” catcher Dillon Dingler said. “It’s not quite pressing but we definitely feel some of the pressure and we’ve got to mitigate it. We’ve got to eliminate it. We’ve still got to find ways to stay loose, focus in and hone in on what we need to do and go out there and do it.”

Posted on

What’s in a name? Prem loses some letters but hopes to keep gaining viewers

Season-opener between Sale and Gloucester promises to be a cracker in English rugby’s new frontier

Th ne PREM seas sta o Thursd nigh wi Sal Shar hosti Glouce befo Harleq enterta Bat an Newcas Re Bul fac Sarac on Frid.

That is a sentence, as uneasy on the eye as it may be, of which you can just about make sense. Much like the Premiership’s decision to lose a few letters as part of its rebrand.

Continue reading...