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"Sports Quote of the Day"
“If you don't accept failure as a possibility, you don't set high goals, you don't branch out, you don't try - you don't take the risk.” ~ Rosalyn Carter, Wife of the 39th President of the United States, Jimmy Carter
Trending: Five things we learned about the Cubs in the first month of 2016; White Sox designate John Danks for assignment. (See the baseball section for Cubs and White Sox updates).
Trending: Releasing Antrel Rolle, Matt Slauson 'improves” Bears' 2016 draft. (See the football section for Bears updates).
Trending: 10 biggest questions facing Blackhawks in the 2016 offseason. (See the hockey section for Blackhawks updates).
Trending: Cubs and White Sox road to the "World Series".
Cubs 2016 Record: 19-6
White Sox 2016 Record: 19-8
(See the baseball section for Cubs and White Sox updates).
Trending: The Kentucky Derby favorite who's nobody's favorite. (See the last article on this blog for details).
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! Releasing Antrel Rolle, Matt Slauson 'improves” Bears' 2016 draft.
By John Mullin
No one involved with the Chicago Bears – no one, not players, coaches, media members, front office – had a good feeling on Sunday when the Bears followed through on a couple of anticipated roster moves with the releases of Antrel Rolle and Matt Slauson.
In a quarter-century around this team, both men are on a list of the classiest and most likeable individuals I have had the pleasure to meet and cover, along with Jermon Bushrod, Philip Daniels, Dick Jauron, Jim Miller, Lovie Smith, Chris Villarreal, Big Cat Williams and many, many others too numerous to chronicle here.
But the NFL is about nothing if not what-have-you-done-for-me-lately (which is why signing bonuses and guaranteed money are EVERYTHING in player contracts). So it was apparent as 2015 wound down that seeing Rolle and Slauson in Bears uniforms for 2016 was an extreme longshot.
Ironically, what the releases do, however, is put a brighter shine on the Bears’ 2016 draft. Because GM Ryan Pace now appears to have done a remarkably deft job of drafting simultaneously for both “best-available” and “need.” And that ain’t easy.
(This is not to be confused with a draft “grade” – players who’ve never played an NFL down even in a rookie minicamp do not deserve early “grades” on an NFL scale yet. Check back after weeks 1-3 of training camp.)
What Pace, John Fox and their staffs did in general was draft their preferred “best player available” – to a point. What Pace really did was slide the fluid definitions of “best” and “available” both up (from No. 11 to No. 9 for Leonard Floyd) and back (trading back twice from No. 41 to take Cody Whitehair).
The Bears did not just take the best player available when their turn came; they also moved to a spot where that player made draft-slot sense as well. Was Whitehair the best-available at No. 41? Maybe. Maybe not. But at No. 56, definitely.
Why that matters is because the Bears knew well in advance of this draft that they wanted upgrades at both guard and safety. So at guard, Pace got the best available one (the 49ers already had traded up into the late first round to grab Stanford’s Joshua Garnett at No. 28). And he filled a franchise need for the present and the future, even with Ted Larsen, Kyle Long, Manny Ramirez and Slauson in place. Guard is suddenly a strength on the roster, with upside in Whitehair.
Back in round four, after addressing pass-rush power with D-end Jonathan Bullard in round three, Pace did the same thing – the enviable combo of best-available and need-fill.
A number of safeties had gone already, and the Bears wanted West Virginia inside linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski with their first fourth-round pick (No. 113). Pace stayed with his board and still addressed the safety need, with Miami’s Deon Bush, using a pick acquired from Seattle with one of those round-two trades, and also with Deiondre’ Hall, who projects as a challenger at cornerback but who split time in the Northern Iowa defense at safety and even played linebacker at one point. Again, best-available at a need position.
Net result: The ultimate “grade” of a draft is how good the drafted players turn out to be. But a preliminary grade lies in whether or not a team was able to fill needs that hadn’t been addressed in free agency, which was very much the case at safety before this weekend.
One question that can be asked is whether Slauson at 30, proven at two positions, and knowing the Bears’ system, wasn’t in fact a better interior player than Ramirez, who is three years older and was benched last season by a less-than-distinguished Detroit Lions offense.
And being released May 1 isn’t as advantageous for a player as going on the open market at the outset of free agency, or sooner as in the Matt Forte case. The bigger the window of opportunity for catching on elsewhere, the better.
But both Rolle and Slauson are 30-plus, with some injury history within the last two years. And the reality is that both players would very possibly still be on the market leading into the draft timeframe. Teams look first to see what they can do in the draft before signing aged veterans, which would’ve involved guaranteeing some money. The Bears had both under contract and paid, so they weren’t in the same situation as other teams.
The play of Bush and Whitehair will ultimately vindicate the unpleasant roster moves Pace and the Bears made. But in terms of filling perceived needs and doing it in synch with best-available evaluations, the Bears’ 2016 draft just improved its preliminary “grade.”
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! Releasing Antrel Rolle, Matt Slauson 'improves” Bears' 2016 draft.
By John Mullin
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
No one involved with the Chicago Bears – no one, not players, coaches, media members, front office – had a good feeling on Sunday when the Bears followed through on a couple of anticipated roster moves with the releases of Antrel Rolle and Matt Slauson.
In a quarter-century around this team, both men are on a list of the classiest and most likeable individuals I have had the pleasure to meet and cover, along with Jermon Bushrod, Philip Daniels, Dick Jauron, Jim Miller, Lovie Smith, Chris Villarreal, Big Cat Williams and many, many others too numerous to chronicle here.
But the NFL is about nothing if not what-have-you-done-for-me-lately (which is why signing bonuses and guaranteed money are EVERYTHING in player contracts). So it was apparent as 2015 wound down that seeing Rolle and Slauson in Bears uniforms for 2016 was an extreme longshot.
Ironically, what the releases do, however, is put a brighter shine on the Bears’ 2016 draft. Because GM Ryan Pace now appears to have done a remarkably deft job of drafting simultaneously for both “best-available” and “need.” And that ain’t easy.
(This is not to be confused with a draft “grade” – players who’ve never played an NFL down even in a rookie minicamp do not deserve early “grades” on an NFL scale yet. Check back after weeks 1-3 of training camp.)
What Pace, John Fox and their staffs did in general was draft their preferred “best player available” – to a point. What Pace really did was slide the fluid definitions of “best” and “available” both up (from No. 11 to No. 9 for Leonard Floyd) and back (trading back twice from No. 41 to take Cody Whitehair).
The Bears did not just take the best player available when their turn came; they also moved to a spot where that player made draft-slot sense as well. Was Whitehair the best-available at No. 41? Maybe. Maybe not. But at No. 56, definitely.
Why that matters is because the Bears knew well in advance of this draft that they wanted upgrades at both guard and safety. So at guard, Pace got the best available one (the 49ers already had traded up into the late first round to grab Stanford’s Joshua Garnett at No. 28). And he filled a franchise need for the present and the future, even with Ted Larsen, Kyle Long, Manny Ramirez and Slauson in place. Guard is suddenly a strength on the roster, with upside in Whitehair.
Back in round four, after addressing pass-rush power with D-end Jonathan Bullard in round three, Pace did the same thing – the enviable combo of best-available and need-fill.
A number of safeties had gone already, and the Bears wanted West Virginia inside linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski with their first fourth-round pick (No. 113). Pace stayed with his board and still addressed the safety need, with Miami’s Deon Bush, using a pick acquired from Seattle with one of those round-two trades, and also with Deiondre’ Hall, who projects as a challenger at cornerback but who split time in the Northern Iowa defense at safety and even played linebacker at one point. Again, best-available at a need position.
Net result: The ultimate “grade” of a draft is how good the drafted players turn out to be. But a preliminary grade lies in whether or not a team was able to fill needs that hadn’t been addressed in free agency, which was very much the case at safety before this weekend.
One question that can be asked is whether Slauson at 30, proven at two positions, and knowing the Bears’ system, wasn’t in fact a better interior player than Ramirez, who is three years older and was benched last season by a less-than-distinguished Detroit Lions offense.
And being released May 1 isn’t as advantageous for a player as going on the open market at the outset of free agency, or sooner as in the Matt Forte case. The bigger the window of opportunity for catching on elsewhere, the better.
But both Rolle and Slauson are 30-plus, with some injury history within the last two years. And the reality is that both players would very possibly still be on the market leading into the draft timeframe. Teams look first to see what they can do in the draft before signing aged veterans, which would’ve involved guaranteeing some money. The Bears had both under contract and paid, so they weren’t in the same situation as other teams.
The play of Bush and Whitehair will ultimately vindicate the unpleasant roster moves Pace and the Bears made. But in terms of filling perceived needs and doing it in synch with best-available evaluations, the Bears’ 2016 draft just improved its preliminary “grade.”
Several Bears 2016 opponents had some, well, 'interesting' drafts.
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Just about every NFL team had something interesting go down on draft weekend, whether round one, whether someone passed over, whatever. But a handful of teams on the Bears’ 2016 schedule, beginning with the Philadelphia Eagles (Week 2) trading up for quarterback Carson Wentz at No. 2, had drafts with a few quirks, and the Bears will be seeing seven of the top 11 draft picks this year besides their own Leonard Floyd at No. 9:
Packin’ on the pounds
Pal Bob McGinn up at the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel noted that where the Green Bay Packers’ 2015 draft had just one selection that weighed as much as 250 pounds, this year the Packers shopped by bulk.
Of Green Bay’s seven picks, “If [Northwestern defensive end] Dean Lowry were to eat a big steak dinner,” Bob writes, “then four would weigh at least 300 and two more are in the 240’s.” The seventh pick – Cal wide receiver Trevor Davis – was the only skill-position player selected.
Titanic Titans?
The Bears face the Tennessee Titans on Nov. 27 in Soldier Field, unless the field tilts and slides into Lake Michigan when the Titans run out of that visitors tunnel on the stadium’s east side. One Tennessee’s concern this year might be whether their team buses are in violation of tonnage limits on bridges. The Bears wanted to get faster; the Titans wanted to get bigger.
While Bears fans lamented the suspiciously small size of No. 1 pick Leonard Floyd, the Titans were trading up to No. 8, one pick above where the Bears landed Floyd with a trade-up of their own, to take a guy to block Floyd: Michigan State tackle Jack Conklin. 322 pounds.
The Bears’ pass rusher (Floyd) weighs 240 pounds. The Titans got theirs in round 2: Kevin Dodd. 277 pounds.
The Bears strengthened their interior defensive line with Jonathan Bullard in the third round. 285 pounds. The Titans? Third-round’er Penn State’s Austin Johnson. 314 pounds.
The Bears beefed up their running game with Jordan Howard in the fourth round. 230 pounds. The Titans new running back: Derrick Henry. 247 pounds.
The Bears muscled up their offensive line with Cody Whitehair in the second round. 301 pounds. Titans' Sebastian Tretola. 322 pounds. And kind of a self-professed goon: “I’m trying to make me not want to play me anymore.”
Big is not necessarily better but the Park District may want to reinforce the concrete under the Soldier Field visitors locker room. Just sayin’.
Vikings cover-up’s
The Minnesota Vikings under Rick Spielman have built themselves into a contender with impact draft picks, with a heavy dose of hits on No. 1’s and 2’s (Anthony Barr, Teddy Bridgewater, Sharrif Floyd, Eric Kendricks, Matt Kalil, Harrison Smith).
But last year’s No. 1 (cornerback Trae Waynes) started just one game, as a nickel corner, and did not have an interception, playing more on special teams. This year the Vikings took cornerback Mackensie Alexander, who didn’t have a pick in two seasons at Clemson. Deion Sanders never had stratospheric INT totals because teams threw away from him, so that number, like sacks, don’t always tell complete stories, and Vikings coach Mike Zimmer is a devout “deny the ball” guy, which Alexander may be. He’d better be.
Jacksonville Cheetahs?
Like the Bears with Kevin White, the Jaguars approach 2016 with de facto two No. 1 draft picks: defensive back Jalen Ramsey (No. 5 overall), in the discussion over the best single player in this year’s draft, and pass rusher Dante Fowler, the No. 3 pick of the 2015 draft but who missed the entire season with a torn ACL suffered the first day of the Jags’ rookie minicamp. And they used their pick in the second round to roll the dice on UCLA linebacker Myles Jack and his knees.
A lot of injury unknowns there, but the Jags’ is a defense that, like the Bears, added young speedballs at all three levels: Fowler, 4.6 40-yd. at 261 pounds; Jack, a rocket before the knee injury; and Ramsey, running 4.41, stunning for a DB 6-1, 205 pounds.
Detroit did what?
The Detroit Lions liked their 2016 draft how much?
After the Matt Millen Era, nothing that the Lions should come as a total surprise. But this?
Bob Quinn, hired as GM in January, fired two scouts. Not unusual. But this was AFTER last weekend’s draft, not after Quinn took over. Contracts expire this time of year, so changes aren’t unusual.
Bears' undrafted free agent signings include tight ends.
By Rich Campbell
After the Chicago Bears didn't use any of their nine draft picks on a tight end, general manager Ryan Pace said they'd aggressively pursue the position in college free agency.
Braunecker (6-foot-3, 250 pounds) fits the “smart and tough” mold John Fox prefers. At Harvard, he consistently demonstrated a mean streak as a blocker, overpowering Ivy League defenders. He’s sudden and explosive with exceptional lateral agility. And his 35 1/2-inch vertical jump was second best among tight ends at the combine.
The Bears are expected to announce their full list of undrafted free agents sometime Sunday. Some names in the group already have surfaced through sources, social media and other reports. They include:
- Liberty receiver Darrin Peterson, whose deal includes a $6,000 signing bonus, a source said.
- Texas State tackle Adrian Bellard's deal includes $7,000 signing bonus, the Houston Chronicle reported.
- Oklahoma State cornerback Kevin Peterson, who not only announced the deal on Twitter, but he also has a photoshopped avatar of himself wearing his Oklahoma State jersey that's peeling off to reveal a No. 23 Bears jersey (which belongs to Kyle Fuller).
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? 10 biggest questions facing Blackhawks in the 2016 offseason.
(Photo/Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports)
With the Blackhawks 2015-16 season now over after being eliminated in the first round of this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs, the focus for the organization now shifts toward the offseason. After falling short in a year in which they did so much to try and solidify their place as a Stanley Cup favorite, there are a lot of pressing questions facing the Blackhawks this summer. For now, we've narrowed the list down to the most pressing issues. Here are the ten biggest questions facing the Blackhawks this offseason.
What do they do with Bryan Bickell's contract?
Bickell has one year remaining on his deal with a $4.5 million salary and $4 million cap hit. Sending him to Rockford of the AHL removes only $950,000 of the cap hit. The Blackhawks were able to handle the dead space this season, but with a substantial bonus overage from Artemi Panarin, and retained salary from the deal that sent Rob Scuderi to Los Angeles already reducing next season's cap, they may be unable to do so next season. As it's highly unlikely another team would take Bickell on at any price, the Blackhawks' only option may be to buy him out. A buyout carries a cap penalty of $1 million in 2016-17 and $1.5 million in 2017-18. - Liz
Will they add a defenseman from outside the organization?
Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman emphasized growth from within in his end-of-season press conference, but the only defensive prospect who is close to the NHL at this point is Ville Pokka, unless someone surprises in camp. While Bowman and coach Joel Quenneville seem happy with Trevor van Riemsdyk as the fourth defenseman, Viktor Svedberg and Erik Gustafsson have struggled at the NHL level and Michal Rozsival could retire, so Bowman may look to strengthen his third pairing through free agency or trade. - Liz
What will they do with Andrew Shaw?
Shaw is the most important of the Blackhawks' pending restricted free agents. His salary this season was $2.5 million, which sets the value of the qualifying offer the Blackhawks must tender to retain him as an RFA. While his play merits a larger raise, he might be willing to take a one-year deal to stay in Chicago similarly to Marcus Kruger last season. However, the cap situation remains murky for 2017. On the other hand, the Brandon Saad situation last year demonstrated the talk of a "hometown discount" can evaporate once the negotiations get serious. If Shaw wants to get the contract his play warrants this off-season, it's unlikely to be in Chicago. - Liz
What will Artemi Panarin get paid?
Panarin already earned his performance bonuses of $2.575 million this season, finishing eighth among forwards in scoring with 77 points. There's no doubt he earned every penny, but now the Hawks stand to try and lock him up long term. The only precarious issue here is, how they create space for him. Chicago will already have to likely move someone like Andrew Shaw just for Panarin's bonus, but for a longer extension, Panarin is certainly going to command more than his $3.275 million salary from 2016. They know that they can't let another Saad instance happen if they are to truly contend for a Cup in the near future. You can't keep losing this kind of superstar talent to maintain the championship window after all.
If the Hawks choose to buy out Bickell as Liz said, a situation may arise where there is not enough room in negotiations for both Panarin and Teuvo Teravainen given the dead money left over. I'm not sure if Panarin will necessarily command as much money as Saad at the moment, given there is no pressure of a pending restricted free agency, but Chicago would do well not to allow Panarin "bet on himself" as Saad once did. - Robert
How will the team handle Teuvo Teravainen?
Teravainen faced some inconsistency both in his usage and his performance in his sophomore season. However, Bowman gave a positive comment on Teravainen in his end of season press conference. Teravainen has a year remaining on his entry-level deal, so it seems likely that the Blackhawks will keep him while he's cheap. He saw more success at wing this season than center, and Quenneville liked his versatility, so where in the lineup he'll play is unclear - knowing Coach Q, it could be anywhere in the forward corps. - Liz
What prospects have the best chance to make the NHL next season?
The Blackhawks have a good number of prospects that look to be NHL ready, particularly at forward. Young players like Nick Schmaltz (if signed), Tyler Motte and Ryan Hartman look like they could find a roster spot out of training camp next season. Schmaltz is easily the best prospect Chicago has in the system, and after an outstanding sophomore season in which he helped lead North Dakota to winning the program's eighth national championship, it wouldn't be surprising to see him make the jump the pros. Motte was a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker award last year, and made an instant impact when he joined Rockford on an amateur tryout contract. Hartman has been one of the Hawks better prospects since being drafted in the first round in 2013, and is the heir apparent to Andrew Shaw's role. Again, all three should be contention for a spot at camp next year.
There's also Vincent Hinostroza, who led Rockford in scoring with 51 points (18 goals and 33 assists) in 66 games in his first full pro season after leaving Notre Dame two years early. The Bartlett, Ill. native played in seven games this season for Chicago, but was held scoreless. He will join Motte on Team USA for the World Championships, which begin May 6.
On the blue line, Ville Pokka looks like the only prospect that is likely to be in the NHL next season. The Hawks have really thinned out their organizational depth at the position in the past few years, and Pokka is the only blue line prospect that appears close to NHL ready at this point. I wouldn't be surprised if the Hawks still feel he needs a bit more seasoning in the AHL next year. - Adam
How will Stan Bowman replenish the prospect pool?
The Blackhawks no longer own their first and second round pick in the 2016 draft, and with the trades of Stephen Johns, Marko Dano and Phillip Danault, the prospect pipeline could benefit from some additions. Bowman will likely look again to the KHL, the Swedish Hockey League, USHL and college free agents where he has had success in signing young players in the past. While we can't expect to hit on a Panarin every year, taking a flier on these players costs little and can pay off with cheap depth options. Reports have already linked the Blackhawks to UND free agent Drake Caggiula and KHL defenseman Michal Kempny, so Bowman seems to already have this step in hand. - Liz
Could the Blackhawks trade anyone of significance other than Shaw or Bickell?
The short answer here is: no. The Hawks don't have a lot of attractive trade assets at this point in time beyond Shaw. If they wanted to go "nuclear" and clear cap space, perhaps they could look at trading someone like Brent Seabrook, but with his new contract extension set to kick in this summer, and his full no movement clause, it's extremely unlikely to happen. Artem Anisimov and Kruger are similarly in the first year of new deals. I don't think they're going to move a top young player like Schmaltz or Teravainen, and in order to move any other top prospect it would require them receiving major defensive help. They're unlikely to move 2017 draft picks due to being the host of that draft, so outside of Shaw -- which is still just a maybe at this point -- and hopefully Bickell, the Blackhawks will probably not be trading many players this summer. - Adam
Who plays wing next to Jonathan Toews next season?
Two years ago or even at the start of this season, this would have been an easy answer on both sides.
What was once one of the best lines in hockey in Saad, Toews and Marian Hossa, now looks like a shell of that run. Saad left in restricted free agency vacating a spot at left wing that the Hawks struggled to adequately fill all of this season. Hossa took a noticeable step back offensively as he eventually transitioned into a third line role towards the end of the series with the Blues. Hossa may still play next to Toews but it's worth wondering if Quenneville tries some new things with his superstar captain in the prime of his career.
The Hawks ideally won't want another situation where they're only reliably playing one scoring line as they did this year so playing around some wouldn't hurt. Shaw had some trials with Toews this year but he may not return. Someone to look out for will be Richard Panik, who thrived in a top line role as Quenneville's new Swiss (er Candian breakfast loving) army knife. He showed versatility, speed and an excellent two-way game using his size and athleticism that fits well with Toews. We could also watch for Chicago's top overall prospect in Schmaltz to potentially be expedited into a huge role on the other wing with Toews, but he has yet to be signed. Free agency won't work well with Chicago either as there really isn't enough cap space to sign a quality veteran.
For now, Panik-Toews-Hossa wouldn't be the worst idea to bring back a dominant first line. - Robert
How do the Blackhawks recover with a longer offseason?
Ah, the price paid for sustained deep playoff runs. You never know when they'll quite come back to bite you.
In the Toews-Kane era, the Blackhawks core has attained by far the most mileage of any team in the league since 2009. If you really put it in perspective, Chicago hasn't had much of a rest since 2013 either. With the lockout having Game 6 of the 2013 Final end in late June, two more sustained deep playoff runs into the Western Conference Final and a Stanley Cup in June 2013 and 2015 respectively, didn't give this team much time to just breathe. This is where all of these "playoff switch" conversations began where everyone assumed the Hawks were just saving energy for the postseason. It worked in 2015, but the extra gear didn't seem to be there this year with the Hawks running on fumes at times. Personnel losses and a greater reliance on the core players in that respect, had fatigue no doubt play a part on this team. You could particularly see the effects on a larger defenseman like Seabrook, He was bound to lose a step either way at 31 years old, but it seemed he had much more trouble moving around this season than normal because of the wear and tear on his body.
Ideally, the Hawks step away from the game for a few weeks and take advantage of these extra two months of offseason time. It might be time to just get away from hockey for a little while and effectively recharge. If they can, you get the feeling that there's a much fresher and hungrier Hawks team in the early goings of next season. Maybe there won't be need for talk of a switch then. - Robert
Blackhawks' Artemi Panarin named 2016 Calder Trophy finalist.
By Charlie Roumeliotis
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Artemi Panarin has been named a 2016 Calder Trophy finalist, annually awarded to the "most proficient" player in his rookie season in the National Hockey League.
Philadelphia's Shayne Gostisbehere and Edmonton's Connor McDavid rounded out the top 3.
Panarin, 24, led all rookies this season with 77 points — 30 goals, 47 assists — in 80 regular-season games. Seven of his 30 goals turned out to be the game-winner, which also ranked No. 1 among first-year players.
The last player to record at least 77 points during his rookie season was Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin when he compiled 85 points in 2006-07.
Panarin had one of the best rookie seasons in franchise history, with only Steve Larmer putting up more points (90) in 1982-83.
He became the first Blackhawks rookie to register four-point games in back-to-back contests when on April 1 against Winnipeg — two goals, two assists) and on April 3 against Boston — one goal, three assists.
Panarin also became the first rookie in franchise history to record multi-goal games in consecutive appearances — on Jan. 5 and 6 against the Penguins — since 2005 (Pavel Vorobiev).
Gostisbehere had 17 goals and 29 assists in 64 regular-season games this season with the Flyers. His 46 points ranked No. 1 among rookie defensemen despite getting called up to the NHL in mid-November.
McDavid had 48 points in 45 regular-season games this season with the Oilers. He missed three months with a collarbone injury, but ranked first among rookies in points per game (1.07).
The winner will be announced Wednesday, June 22 at the 2016 NHL Awards in Las Vegas.
Blackhawks' Artem Anisimov undergoes wrist surgery.
By Tracey Myers
Philadelphia's Shayne Gostisbehere and Edmonton's Connor McDavid rounded out the top 3.
Panarin, 24, led all rookies this season with 77 points — 30 goals, 47 assists — in 80 regular-season games. Seven of his 30 goals turned out to be the game-winner, which also ranked No. 1 among first-year players.
The last player to record at least 77 points during his rookie season was Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin when he compiled 85 points in 2006-07.
Panarin had one of the best rookie seasons in franchise history, with only Steve Larmer putting up more points (90) in 1982-83.
He became the first Blackhawks rookie to register four-point games in back-to-back contests when on April 1 against Winnipeg — two goals, two assists) and on April 3 against Boston — one goal, three assists.
Panarin also became the first rookie in franchise history to record multi-goal games in consecutive appearances — on Jan. 5 and 6 against the Penguins — since 2005 (Pavel Vorobiev).
Gostisbehere had 17 goals and 29 assists in 64 regular-season games this season with the Flyers. His 46 points ranked No. 1 among rookie defensemen despite getting called up to the NHL in mid-November.
McDavid had 48 points in 45 regular-season games this season with the Oilers. He missed three months with a collarbone injury, but ranked first among rookies in points per game (1.07).
The winner will be announced Wednesday, June 22 at the 2016 NHL Awards in Las Vegas.
Blackhawks' Artem Anisimov undergoes wrist surgery.
By Tracey Myers
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Artem Anisimov said last week that he and the Blackhawks had to make the most of this offseason to be prepared for 2016-17. On Tuesday, he took care of something that was apparently ailing him.
Anisimov underwent surgery on Tuesday to repair an injury to his right wrist. Blackhawks team physician Dr. Michael Terry said in a statement that, “the surgery went well. We anticipate his return to full hockey activities in approximately six to eight weeks.”
The 27-year-old center played in 77 regular-season and all seven postseason games for the Blackhawks. He was tied for second on the team with three postseason goals (with Marian Hossa and Duncan Keith).
During last week’s closing meetings, Anisimov said he was going to stay in the Chicago area “for a while” before returning to Russia. He also talked about finding the silver lining in the Blackhawks’ early playoff exit.
“We just need to spend our summer wisely, get prepared for the next season and move forward,” he said.
Jake Arrieta stellar again as Cubs roll past Pirates.
By Patrick Mooney
(Photo/Associated Press)
Arrieta returned to the scene of his shutdown performance in last year’s National League wild-card game, giving up only two singles across seven scoreless innings in a 7-1 victory before the Cubs pulled the plug at 99 pitches with a six-run lead.
Arrieta (6-0, 0.84 ERA) is clearly going to do everything he can to defend his Cy Young Award. The Cubs (19-6) have now won Arrieta’s last 19 regular-season starts, opening up a five-game lead in the division and going for the sweep on Wednesday afternoon with Jon Lester on the mound.
The Cubs Way could become bludgeoning your opponent with AL East-style lineup.
By Patrick Mooney
Beating Gerrit Cole in last year’s National League wild-card game became a landmark victory for The Plan. A young Cubs lineup didn’t panic or play tight and you have to wonder what the Pittsburgh Pirates are thinking right now. Because this looks like a vastly superior version of the team that won 97 games and silenced the blackout crowd at PNC Park.
The Cubs didn’t even need a superhuman effort from Jake Arrieta, who walked the first two Pirates he faced on Tuesday night before throwing seven scoreless innings and cruising to a 7-1 victory in front of a half-empty stadium.
While the Cubs (19-6) have used a pitching-and-defense formula to create the best record in baseball – and what they hope will be a better blueprint for October – this offense still isn’t close to clicking on all cylinders yet.
Not that Pittsburgh’s Jonathon Niese – who couldn’t crack the playoff rotation for the New York Mets last year – would notice after giving up six runs, nine hits and five walks across five innings in a drama-free game that didn’t create more fireworks in a rivalry that’s heating up.
But the difference is dramatic enough that Cubs manager Joe Maddon keeps having flashbacks to his time with the Tampa Bay Rays and trying to take down the superpowers in Boston and New York.
“Right now, you’re seeing a group of guys playing the game today who have one thought – and that is to wear this pitcher down collectively,” Maddon said. “You’ve seen it in the past – I saw it in the early 2000s with the Red Sox and the Yankees in the American League East – they would definitely wear you down. They would get in your ‘pen, and then they'd bludgeon you at that point.”
Getting into the bullpen doesn’t exactly mean batting practice in an age of specialization, information overload and multiple options approaching triple-digit velocity. But this is a snapshot of the Cubs entering Tuesday: Ranked second in the majors in runs scored (146) and on-base percentage (.361) while leading everyone in walks (129) and dropping to 24th in strikeouts (188).
Even with Kyle Schwarber recovering from knee surgery, Miguel Montero resting his back on the disabled list and Jason Heyward (zero homers, .573 OPS) getting treatment for a sore wrist.
“We want to hit strikes,” said catcher David Ross, who won a World Series ring with the 2013 Red Sox. “We’re not out there taking pitches (just to take them). Guys are looking for their pitch.
“I see maturity in the approach from a young, talented group, which is completely different than Boston, which was more of an established veteran group that had been around the block. (But) I’m seeing that kind of approach with this group.”
Among all qualified NL hitters, five Cubs ranked between 14th and 50th in terms of pitches seen per plate appearance: Dexter Fowler (4.20); Addison Russell (4.12); Heyward (3.98); Anthony Rizzo (3.96); and Ben Zobrist (3.85).
“A lot of times when you see a positive jump in moments like that, it’s probably because of new personnel,” Maddon said. “I’ve always talked about: If you want walks, buy walks. If you want less strikeouts, buy less strikeouts.
“I also think about the maturity. Addison is a classic example of a guy that’s really matured in regards to not expanding the strike zone. Even ‘Javy’ (Javier Baez) has definitely shown a different attitude at the plate. For the most part, (Jorge) Soler is not chasing like he did for a period of time last year. So it’s the maturation of the hitter plus the acquisitions definitely help.
“You talk philosophy or theory with groups and everybody listens. But do they really hear what you’re saying?
“You have to get a buy-in from everybody. (And) these guys all believe that’s the right way to do things."
That’s becoming The Cubs Way.
Five things we learned about the Cubs in the first month of 2016.
By Tony Andracki
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Addison Russell strolled out of the Cubs locker room wearing a baggy pinstriped suit with a smile plastered across his face.
He paused for a second and looked back to see Kris Bryant in his American flag suit (complete with American flag shoes) and the rest of his teammates and coaches following suit.
Russell smiled wider and continued the march toward the team bus to the airport.
This was only hours after the sophomore shortstop committed the costly error that led to the worst team in baseball (Atlanta Braves) notching a series split with the best team in the game at Wrigley Field.
Forget the loss. Move on.
Yeah, the Cubs are feeling good about themselves right now.
As they should.
The Cubs ended April with the best record in baseball (17-5), living up to the hype they created after a wild offseason and throughout a wacky spring training.
Things would have been so much difficult if the Cubs had not gotten off to a hot start in a city that watched the Bulls crash and burn and miss the playoffs while the Blackhawks were knocked out in the first round.
Imagine how the city and its sports fans would have responded if the red-hot White Sox was the only baseball team looking like a contender 1/6 of the way through the season.
As the Cubs face their toughest test of the season to date with seven straight games against two of the best teams in the league (Pirates, Nationals), let's look back at the five biggest takeaways from the campaign to date:
1. Jake Arrieta has picked up right where he left off.
Everybody wanted to know what Arrieta would do as an encore to follow up his 2015 Cy Young season in which he put up the best second half the game has ever seen.
How about 5-0 with a 1.00 ERA, a 0.78 WHIP and a no-hitter? It's crazy to think Arrieta could be better than he was last season, but he's making it true with each outing.
At the very least, Arrieta has picked up right where he left off and might well be the best pitcher in the game (though Clayton Kershaw and Chris Sale would surely have something to say about that).
2. The pitching staff has carried the Cubs.
Even beyond Arrieta, the Cubs pitching staff as a whole has been fantastic. Only the Washington Nationals have a better team ERA entering play Monday. Cubs pitchers also have a batting average against of under .200, tops in the big leagues.
It helps when Arrieta, Jon Lester and Jason Hammel have combined to allow just 13 earned runs in 94 1/3 innings. John Lackey and Kyle Hendricks haven't been bad, either, as the rotation has recorded 18 quality starts in 23 tries.
The back end of the bullpen has been clicking, too, as Hector Rondon allowed his first run of the season Sunday, while Adam Warren still hasn't given up an earned run in eight innings and Pedro Strop is locked in (2.89 ERA, 0.64 WHIP, 13 Ks in 9 1/3 innings).
The Cubs pitching staff has also gotten it done at the plate, driving in eight runs on 10 hits.
"This month was the pitcher," Bryant said. "They were unbelievable and they hit pretty good, too, so they kinda picked themselves up at times. ... The pitchers have carried us the whole month."
3. This team is much improved defensively.
Theo Epstein's front office identified the weaknesses of last year's team that ran into the brick wall that was the New York Mets in the National League Championship Series and one of the main issues was defense — particularly outfield defense.
Gold Glover Jason Heyward's defense has been as good as advertised, with the big free agent acquisition gunning down baserunners and diving all over the outfield.
Dexter Fowler has earned positive grades defensively, too, as the Cubs forced him to play a little deeper in center field.
Bryant has looked solid in left field and at third base, and Ben Zobrist's steady glove at second has been a welcome addition in an infield that already boasts elite defenders in Russell and Anthony Rizzo.
"Defensively, we've caught the ball," Joe Maddon said. "We've played catch well. Everybody's talking about the offense, but primarily, it's been pitching and the defense that's set this whole thing up."
4. This team doesn't wilt in the face of adversity.
The Cubs had remarkably good luck on the injury front in 2015, but it took until only the second inning of the third game in 2016 for the first major blow.
Kyle Schwarber is lost for the season, yet the Cubs had just one letdown game after that news before righting the ship and marching forward without "Fast Hulk" in the lineup.
If somebody predicted the Cubs would be 17-5 in the first month of the season without Schwarber even collecting a hit, they would've been laughed off the internet.
Maddon and his coaching staff have seen just about everything there is to see in this game, and they have a stable of veterans like David Ross, Lester, Lackey and Zobrist who know what it takes to rise above adversity and keep everybody pulling on the same rope.
5. The Cubs haven't reached their peak.
Everybody is talking about a Cubs offense that ended the weekend with the second-most runs scored in baseball.
But the reality is, this lineup really hasn't hit its groove yet, scoring most of their runs with timely hitting and an insanely patient approach that keeps the conga line moving on the basepaths.
Yet Zobrist, Rizzo, Russell, Heyward, Miguel Montero and Jorge Soler are all hitting .250 or below, and Schwarber notched just four at-bats before tragedy struck.
Imagine what this offense will do when everything gets clicking and the weather starts to warm up.
"A lot of us are just getting going," Bryant said. "It'll be fun to see when things are clicking when the pitching's going good and the hitting's going good."
That feeling is mutual around the clubhouse.
"We have some work to do in general," Heyward said. "We're not hitting on all cylinders right now. We're not clicking consistently."
So does that mean the Cubs are expecting months where they finish with a better record than April's 17-5?
"I'd love to just keep doing that every month," Maddon said. "I'd be happy with that. We've played pretty well this entire month. It's hard to knock our guys right now.
"Offensively, defensively, pitching — the baserunning's been really good. To be able to sustain all those components would be great. I think you're gonna see guys actually hit better. A lot of our offense has been just based on some really good at-bats, some timely hitting.
"But just to purely go out there and just literally knock the cover off the ball, we haven't done that yet. So I think there's an offensive push that we're capable of.
"You just look at the numbers in general, and there are guys that are capable of more, numerically speaking. You probably will see more come from the offense."
Jason Heyward dealing with wrist injury as Cubs wait for power surge.
By Patrick Mooney
He paused for a second and looked back to see Kris Bryant in his American flag suit (complete with American flag shoes) and the rest of his teammates and coaches following suit.
Russell smiled wider and continued the march toward the team bus to the airport.
This was only hours after the sophomore shortstop committed the costly error that led to the worst team in baseball (Atlanta Braves) notching a series split with the best team in the game at Wrigley Field.
Forget the loss. Move on.
Yeah, the Cubs are feeling good about themselves right now.
As they should.
The Cubs ended April with the best record in baseball (17-5), living up to the hype they created after a wild offseason and throughout a wacky spring training.
Things would have been so much difficult if the Cubs had not gotten off to a hot start in a city that watched the Bulls crash and burn and miss the playoffs while the Blackhawks were knocked out in the first round.
Imagine how the city and its sports fans would have responded if the red-hot White Sox was the only baseball team looking like a contender 1/6 of the way through the season.
As the Cubs face their toughest test of the season to date with seven straight games against two of the best teams in the league (Pirates, Nationals), let's look back at the five biggest takeaways from the campaign to date:
1. Jake Arrieta has picked up right where he left off.
Everybody wanted to know what Arrieta would do as an encore to follow up his 2015 Cy Young season in which he put up the best second half the game has ever seen.
How about 5-0 with a 1.00 ERA, a 0.78 WHIP and a no-hitter? It's crazy to think Arrieta could be better than he was last season, but he's making it true with each outing.
At the very least, Arrieta has picked up right where he left off and might well be the best pitcher in the game (though Clayton Kershaw and Chris Sale would surely have something to say about that).
2. The pitching staff has carried the Cubs.
Even beyond Arrieta, the Cubs pitching staff as a whole has been fantastic. Only the Washington Nationals have a better team ERA entering play Monday. Cubs pitchers also have a batting average against of under .200, tops in the big leagues.
It helps when Arrieta, Jon Lester and Jason Hammel have combined to allow just 13 earned runs in 94 1/3 innings. John Lackey and Kyle Hendricks haven't been bad, either, as the rotation has recorded 18 quality starts in 23 tries.
The back end of the bullpen has been clicking, too, as Hector Rondon allowed his first run of the season Sunday, while Adam Warren still hasn't given up an earned run in eight innings and Pedro Strop is locked in (2.89 ERA, 0.64 WHIP, 13 Ks in 9 1/3 innings).
The Cubs pitching staff has also gotten it done at the plate, driving in eight runs on 10 hits.
"This month was the pitcher," Bryant said. "They were unbelievable and they hit pretty good, too, so they kinda picked themselves up at times. ... The pitchers have carried us the whole month."
3. This team is much improved defensively.
Theo Epstein's front office identified the weaknesses of last year's team that ran into the brick wall that was the New York Mets in the National League Championship Series and one of the main issues was defense — particularly outfield defense.
Gold Glover Jason Heyward's defense has been as good as advertised, with the big free agent acquisition gunning down baserunners and diving all over the outfield.
Dexter Fowler has earned positive grades defensively, too, as the Cubs forced him to play a little deeper in center field.
Bryant has looked solid in left field and at third base, and Ben Zobrist's steady glove at second has been a welcome addition in an infield that already boasts elite defenders in Russell and Anthony Rizzo.
"Defensively, we've caught the ball," Joe Maddon said. "We've played catch well. Everybody's talking about the offense, but primarily, it's been pitching and the defense that's set this whole thing up."
4. This team doesn't wilt in the face of adversity.
The Cubs had remarkably good luck on the injury front in 2015, but it took until only the second inning of the third game in 2016 for the first major blow.
Kyle Schwarber is lost for the season, yet the Cubs had just one letdown game after that news before righting the ship and marching forward without "Fast Hulk" in the lineup.
If somebody predicted the Cubs would be 17-5 in the first month of the season without Schwarber even collecting a hit, they would've been laughed off the internet.
Maddon and his coaching staff have seen just about everything there is to see in this game, and they have a stable of veterans like David Ross, Lester, Lackey and Zobrist who know what it takes to rise above adversity and keep everybody pulling on the same rope.
5. The Cubs haven't reached their peak.
Everybody is talking about a Cubs offense that ended the weekend with the second-most runs scored in baseball.
But the reality is, this lineup really hasn't hit its groove yet, scoring most of their runs with timely hitting and an insanely patient approach that keeps the conga line moving on the basepaths.
Yet Zobrist, Rizzo, Russell, Heyward, Miguel Montero and Jorge Soler are all hitting .250 or below, and Schwarber notched just four at-bats before tragedy struck.
Imagine what this offense will do when everything gets clicking and the weather starts to warm up.
"A lot of us are just getting going," Bryant said. "It'll be fun to see when things are clicking when the pitching's going good and the hitting's going good."
That feeling is mutual around the clubhouse.
"We have some work to do in general," Heyward said. "We're not hitting on all cylinders right now. We're not clicking consistently."
So does that mean the Cubs are expecting months where they finish with a better record than April's 17-5?
"I'd love to just keep doing that every month," Maddon said. "I'd be happy with that. We've played pretty well this entire month. It's hard to knock our guys right now.
"Offensively, defensively, pitching — the baserunning's been really good. To be able to sustain all those components would be great. I think you're gonna see guys actually hit better. A lot of our offense has been just based on some really good at-bats, some timely hitting.
"But just to purely go out there and just literally knock the cover off the ball, we haven't done that yet. So I think there's an offensive push that we're capable of.
"You just look at the numbers in general, and there are guys that are capable of more, numerically speaking. You probably will see more come from the offense."
Jason Heyward dealing with wrist injury as Cubs wait for power surge.
By Patrick Mooney
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The Cubs revealed Jason Heyward has been dealing with a nagging wrist injury since the first week of the season and now hope some rest and treatment will get the Gold Glove outfielder closer to full strength.
Scratched from the lineup, Heyward walked through PNC Park’s visiting clubhouse with his right wrist wrapped in ice after Monday’s 7-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, which might help explain why the Cubs are still waiting for a power surge from one of their signature offseason acquisitions.
“I thought I was playing today until I came in (and saw the lineup),” Heyward said. “I don’t see any need to go on the DL. I don’t think they do either. (Let’s) just make sure we get it calmed down and going in the right direction.”
Heyward informed manager Joe Maddon and the training staff about his condition Sunday in Chicago, tracing it back to the season’s second series against the Arizona Diamondbacks in early April. Heyward felt something while doing drills off a tee with a bat weight at Chase Field and found it easier to manage and stay loose in the warmer weather.
“I don’t think it’s a long-term kind of thing by any means, but his wrist is sore,” Maddon said. “He hasn’t said anything, and then finally he said something, so we’re trying to react to it right now.”
The Cubs gave Heyward the biggest contract in franchise history, guaranteeing eight years and $184 million for his age-26 upside, elite defensive skills and offensive profile as a patient, disciplined hitter.
The Cubs have already seen Heyward make momentum-shifting plays in right field, change the dynamic at the top of the order and reinforce an aggressive mentality running the bases.
But the wrist problem might have contributed to Heyward’s zero home runs through 23 games and .573 OPS in 100-plus plate appearances.
“You’re not going to have the same amount of confidence or the same comfort every time,” Heyward said. “If you foul a ball off, check swing, swing and miss, sometimes it’s going to be uncomfortable. But other than that, that’s it.
“There’s no excuse with the way anything’s gone — good or bad or indifferent. I just need to get it fixed and feeling better and going in the right direction.”
Heyward said the Cubs haven’t scheduled him for an MRI on his right wrist.
“He’s the last person who would ever make an excuse,” president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said. “But he got off to a slow start last year, too. And then when it clicked, he was off and running. I think that’s what we’ll see with him.”
Last season, Heyward hit .217 with a .611 OPS in April for the St. Louis Cardinals before increasing his production in May (.783 OPS) and June (.881 OPS). He hit .318 after the All-Star break, getting on base almost 40 percent of the time for a 100-win team and finishing with a 6.5 WAR rating.
At 6-foot-5, 240 pounds, Heyward’s built like a slugger, even if that’s not necessarily his game, and his swing tends to need regular maintenance.
“He’s a tall guy with longer arms,” Epstein said. “It takes him a little bit of a while to feel his swing and get locked in. No concerns.”
Jose Quintana giving White Sox another ace to play as early season success rolls on.
Scratched from the lineup, Heyward walked through PNC Park’s visiting clubhouse with his right wrist wrapped in ice after Monday’s 7-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, which might help explain why the Cubs are still waiting for a power surge from one of their signature offseason acquisitions.
“I thought I was playing today until I came in (and saw the lineup),” Heyward said. “I don’t see any need to go on the DL. I don’t think they do either. (Let’s) just make sure we get it calmed down and going in the right direction.”
Heyward informed manager Joe Maddon and the training staff about his condition Sunday in Chicago, tracing it back to the season’s second series against the Arizona Diamondbacks in early April. Heyward felt something while doing drills off a tee with a bat weight at Chase Field and found it easier to manage and stay loose in the warmer weather.
“I don’t think it’s a long-term kind of thing by any means, but his wrist is sore,” Maddon said. “He hasn’t said anything, and then finally he said something, so we’re trying to react to it right now.”
The Cubs gave Heyward the biggest contract in franchise history, guaranteeing eight years and $184 million for his age-26 upside, elite defensive skills and offensive profile as a patient, disciplined hitter.
The Cubs have already seen Heyward make momentum-shifting plays in right field, change the dynamic at the top of the order and reinforce an aggressive mentality running the bases.
But the wrist problem might have contributed to Heyward’s zero home runs through 23 games and .573 OPS in 100-plus plate appearances.
“You’re not going to have the same amount of confidence or the same comfort every time,” Heyward said. “If you foul a ball off, check swing, swing and miss, sometimes it’s going to be uncomfortable. But other than that, that’s it.
“There’s no excuse with the way anything’s gone — good or bad or indifferent. I just need to get it fixed and feeling better and going in the right direction.”
Heyward said the Cubs haven’t scheduled him for an MRI on his right wrist.
“He’s the last person who would ever make an excuse,” president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said. “But he got off to a slow start last year, too. And then when it clicked, he was off and running. I think that’s what we’ll see with him.”
Last season, Heyward hit .217 with a .611 OPS in April for the St. Louis Cardinals before increasing his production in May (.783 OPS) and June (.881 OPS). He hit .318 after the All-Star break, getting on base almost 40 percent of the time for a 100-win team and finishing with a 6.5 WAR rating.
At 6-foot-5, 240 pounds, Heyward’s built like a slugger, even if that’s not necessarily his game, and his swing tends to need regular maintenance.
“He’s a tall guy with longer arms,” Epstein said. “It takes him a little bit of a while to feel his swing and get locked in. No concerns.”
Jose Quintana giving White Sox another ace to play as early season success rolls on.
By JJ Stankevitz
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The White Sox newfound brand of crisp, clean baseball is suiting Jose Quintana awfully well.
The 27-year-old left-hander pitched another gem Tuesday night, firing eight innings of one-run ball to propel the White Sox to a 4-1 win over the Boston Red Sox in front of 15,025 at U.S. Cellular Field.
Anchored by improved offensive and defensive support, Quintana lowered his season ERA to 1.40. But more jarring — in a positive way — is that in earning the win on Tuesday, Quintana for the first time in his career won three consecutive starts.
“It’s way better this year,” Quintana said. “The offense is, for me and for everybody, everybody tries to do his job. We’re off to a really good start and we believe this year is a good year for us, and we’ll try to do everything to stay in first place.”
Quintana’s posted consistently solid results since the White Sox plucked him from Double-A Birmingham to start in a doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians four years ago. His decidedly-not-flashy-but-effective pitching style didn’t make headlines like his prolific teammate Chris Sale, but a 3.46 ERA and an unfairly poor win-loss record landed him on plenty of lists and social media takes focused on the most underrated or overlooked players in baseball.
That’s changed this year. Before his stellar start Tuesday, Quintana was given 8/1 odds by the sports betting website Bovada to win the American League Cy Young, the third-best of anyone (Sale led the way at 6/5). It’s still early, of course, but these six starts to begin the 2016 season stand is one of the best stretches he’s had in his career.
Manager Robin Ventura attributed Quintana’s ace-like success in part to pitching with a little less pressure than in the past.
“There is something to be said for going out there thinking if you give up one you’re going to lose,” Ventura said. “It’s been a few years for him. Right now (with) the feeling going on in there, he knows if he just pitches his game those guys are going to scratch out some runs for him.”
The White Sox continue to show signs of ending a head-scratching inability to support Quintana.
Jose Abreu’s first-inning RBI triple got the White Sox scoring started and his double in the eighth added two insurance runs (a Todd Frazier groundout in the third inning plated the White Sox other run). For the fifth time in six starts this season, Quintana was supported by four or more runs, and Adam Eaton and Austin Jackson made sparkling defensive plays to keep hard-hit balls from inflicting any damage.
Having the offense score four or more runs in 83 percent of Quintana’s starts seems unlikely — if he makes 32 starts this year, that’d mean he’d get that support in about 27 of those — but it is an improvement off the last few seasons. The White Sox scored three or fewer runs in 54 percent of Quintana’s starts from 2013-15, a span in which it’s worth noting the club also was rated as having the third-worst defense in baseball by DRS and UZR.
“There’s more of a confidence level of him knowing he doesn’t have to do an extraordinary thing — and he might do it, like tonight,” Ventura said. “But he doesn’t feel like he has to do it on his own.”
Quintana isn’t throwing harder this year and hasn’t added a new pitch or anything like that. But Ventura’s theory on why the Colombia native is pitching better makes sense — perhaps the next step in Quintana’s career was getting a good, reliable team playing behind him.
“He’s probably one of the best right now in the league,” first baseman Jose Abreu said through a translator.
That’s not hyperbole. Quintana has a top-10 ERA that’s backed up by a 2.12 FIP, which is a good indicator that his early-season success isn’t necessarily a small sample size-generated mirage.
Quintana is a shining example of how so much has gone right for the White Sox this season — even on the day in which the team announced it would eat over $11 million to cut ties with veteran left-hander John Danks. Not only is he pitching better, but everyone around him is playing better. And the combination of that, so far, has taken Quintana and the White Sox to another level.
“Everything changed,” Quintana said. “Everything is going in a good direction this year. We believe in that.”
White Sox designate John Danks for assignment.
By Dan Hayes
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Any questions or doubts one might have about the White Sox and their plans to compete this season should be long gone now.
The first-place White Sox made their intentions for 2016 crystal clear Tuesday as they announced plans to cut ties later this week with starting pitcher John Danks. The longest-tenured player in the organization, Danks, 31, will officially be designated for assignment on Thursday.
In the interim, right-hander Erik Johnson will start Thursday in place of Danks, who was 0-4 with a 7.25 ERA in four starts, general manager Rick Hahn said. But nothing is set in stone beyond that as to how the White Sox will handle the fifth spot in the rotation.
“(Danks) was an important part of some very good White Sox teams,” Hahn said.
“This is about putting us in the best position to win ballgames going forward. We feel we have a pretty special thing going on in this clubhouse right now. We have the opportunity to build off some of the momentum we already have created for ourselves, and we wanted to put ourselves in the best position to win games going forward.”
The White Sox -- who will eat roughly $11.75 million of the veteran’s $14.25 million salary with the move -- have been in a dicey spot with Danks. With an American League-best 18 wins, the club is playing its best baseball in four seasons despite the ongoing struggles of Danks, a very popular figure in a clubhouse only seven weeks removed from the Adam LaRoche ordeal.
Hahn said the front office heavily considered how the transaction would play in the clubhouse if they decided to move on from Danks, who was acquired in a December 2006 trade that sent Brandon McCarthy to the Texas Rangers.
While players are sad to see their friend go, several talked about not being surprised.
“It doesn’t matter if he has six days, six years or 10 years,” starting pitcher Chris Sale said. “You never want to see it happen, especially a guy like him. He was a big part of the chemistry we had going on in here. He was a personality. He was a character.
“But we need to keep moving. This game stops for nobody. It’s the greatest job in the world. I’ll be the first to tell you. But it can be cutthroat at well.”
Sale has been in constant contact with Danks, who learned of the team’s plans several days ago. The four-time All-Star said he convinced Danks to stop by the White Sox clubhouse early Tuesday to see his teammates one last time.
“Saying goodbye to him was tough for all of us, but like I said it's part of the game,” outfielder Adam Eaton said. “It's sad to see him go.”
Danks was an integral piece on the 2008 AL Central champions, pitching the White Sox into the postseason with eight scoreless innings in the Sept. 30 “Blackout Game” in which they topped the Minnesota Twins, 1-0.
From 2008-10, Danks went 40-31 with a 3.61 ERA in 97 starts and looked as if he’d develop into a front-of-the rotation starter. Danks’ performance led to him receiving a five-year, $65-million extension from the club in December 2011.
But his shoulder started to bother him in 2012 and by August Danks required shoulder surgery, from which his performance never fully recovered. He went 22-44 with a 4.84 ERA in 88 starts since he returned in 2013.
Danks’ struggles weren’t for a lack of effort, however. He and the White Sox worked tirelessly to reinvent the pitcher and this spring they were cautiously optimistic his fastball command and consistency had improved.
“As far as work ethic and just guts, he had all of that,” manager Robin Ventura said. “That was never a question. He’s always been able to do that and there’s a lot of respect for him in the clubhouse for all the things that he did and one of them’s coming back from an injury and trying to gut through it.”
But the results didn’t match the effort.
Because he gave them so many innings -- he averaged 185 2/3 frames the past two seasons -- the White Sox were open to running Danks out to pitch as long as he stayed competitive. But the team went 32-56 in Danks’ starts since 2013, losing all four of this season. Whereas they went 13-17 in Danks’ starts last season, they were only competitive in his April 21 start this season, a 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.
Those poor results led to Tuesday’s decision, one that demonstrates the White Sox willingness to improve even at a great cost. Hahn said the White Sox never really considered a long man role in the bullpen and Danks didn’t want to go to the minor leagues, which left the club in a difficult position.
Ultimately, Hahn acted in a way he feels best suits the club’s current needs.
“We weren’t getting the production we needed out of that spot,” Hahn said. “Given the fact that we feel like this could well be a very special summer around here, there certainly was heightened scrutiny to all the areas where we weren’t performing. But that fifth spot was one where we felt it was imperative we made a move.”
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session..... Summer agenda: Chicago Bulls.
The first-place White Sox made their intentions for 2016 crystal clear Tuesday as they announced plans to cut ties later this week with starting pitcher John Danks. The longest-tenured player in the organization, Danks, 31, will officially be designated for assignment on Thursday.
In the interim, right-hander Erik Johnson will start Thursday in place of Danks, who was 0-4 with a 7.25 ERA in four starts, general manager Rick Hahn said. But nothing is set in stone beyond that as to how the White Sox will handle the fifth spot in the rotation.
“(Danks) was an important part of some very good White Sox teams,” Hahn said.
“This is about putting us in the best position to win ballgames going forward. We feel we have a pretty special thing going on in this clubhouse right now. We have the opportunity to build off some of the momentum we already have created for ourselves, and we wanted to put ourselves in the best position to win games going forward.”
The White Sox -- who will eat roughly $11.75 million of the veteran’s $14.25 million salary with the move -- have been in a dicey spot with Danks. With an American League-best 18 wins, the club is playing its best baseball in four seasons despite the ongoing struggles of Danks, a very popular figure in a clubhouse only seven weeks removed from the Adam LaRoche ordeal.
Hahn said the front office heavily considered how the transaction would play in the clubhouse if they decided to move on from Danks, who was acquired in a December 2006 trade that sent Brandon McCarthy to the Texas Rangers.
While players are sad to see their friend go, several talked about not being surprised.
“It doesn’t matter if he has six days, six years or 10 years,” starting pitcher Chris Sale said. “You never want to see it happen, especially a guy like him. He was a big part of the chemistry we had going on in here. He was a personality. He was a character.
“But we need to keep moving. This game stops for nobody. It’s the greatest job in the world. I’ll be the first to tell you. But it can be cutthroat at well.”
Sale has been in constant contact with Danks, who learned of the team’s plans several days ago. The four-time All-Star said he convinced Danks to stop by the White Sox clubhouse early Tuesday to see his teammates one last time.
“Saying goodbye to him was tough for all of us, but like I said it's part of the game,” outfielder Adam Eaton said. “It's sad to see him go.”
Danks was an integral piece on the 2008 AL Central champions, pitching the White Sox into the postseason with eight scoreless innings in the Sept. 30 “Blackout Game” in which they topped the Minnesota Twins, 1-0.
From 2008-10, Danks went 40-31 with a 3.61 ERA in 97 starts and looked as if he’d develop into a front-of-the rotation starter. Danks’ performance led to him receiving a five-year, $65-million extension from the club in December 2011.
But his shoulder started to bother him in 2012 and by August Danks required shoulder surgery, from which his performance never fully recovered. He went 22-44 with a 4.84 ERA in 88 starts since he returned in 2013.
Danks’ struggles weren’t for a lack of effort, however. He and the White Sox worked tirelessly to reinvent the pitcher and this spring they were cautiously optimistic his fastball command and consistency had improved.
“As far as work ethic and just guts, he had all of that,” manager Robin Ventura said. “That was never a question. He’s always been able to do that and there’s a lot of respect for him in the clubhouse for all the things that he did and one of them’s coming back from an injury and trying to gut through it.”
But the results didn’t match the effort.
Because he gave them so many innings -- he averaged 185 2/3 frames the past two seasons -- the White Sox were open to running Danks out to pitch as long as he stayed competitive. But the team went 32-56 in Danks’ starts since 2013, losing all four of this season. Whereas they went 13-17 in Danks’ starts last season, they were only competitive in his April 21 start this season, a 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.
Those poor results led to Tuesday’s decision, one that demonstrates the White Sox willingness to improve even at a great cost. Hahn said the White Sox never really considered a long man role in the bullpen and Danks didn’t want to go to the minor leagues, which left the club in a difficult position.
Ultimately, Hahn acted in a way he feels best suits the club’s current needs.
“We weren’t getting the production we needed out of that spot,” Hahn said. “Given the fact that we feel like this could well be a very special summer around here, there certainly was heightened scrutiny to all the areas where we weren’t performing. But that fifth spot was one where we felt it was imperative we made a move.”
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session..... Summer agenda: Chicago Bulls.
By Bobby Marks of The Vertical
Joakim Noah, left, and Pau Gasol may not be part of the Bulls' future. (Photo/AP)
THE PLAN GOING FORWARD
Hit reset but remain competitive
The Bulls face many offseason questions with the free agency of Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol likely opting out of his contract. The reality is that the window has closed with the makeup of the current roster.
The one thing Chicago can’t do is simply put a Band-Aid on the roster.
The Bulls face many offseason questions with the free agency of Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol likely opting out of his contract. The reality is that the window has closed with the makeup of the current roster.
The one thing Chicago can’t do is simply put a Band-Aid on the roster.
Although losing Gasol and Noah would hurt in the short term, the Bulls should not be in the market for a quick fix. Chicago is still an attractive free-agent destination, and with potential cap space, a lottery pick and the right free-agent plan, Chicago could be back in the playoff mix next season without taking a drastic step back.
Figure out the Rose plan
The reality is that we will likely never again see the 2010-11 MVP version of Derrick Rose.
With that reality comes the challenge for Rose: reinventing his game and style of play. The reckless abandon with which Rose once played cannot be the style going forward.
Rose, entering the final year of his contract with the Bulls, is at a career crossroads. While he may no longer be an elite All-Star, age (he's only 27) is still on his side and he can get back to performing at a high level and perhaps prolong his career.
What Rose should do this summer is watch a lot of Iowa State tape and study how the point guards played under coach Fred Hoiberg when he was leading the Cyclones.
Prioritize summer development
The organizations that are consistent playoff teams but fall off the map are the ones with aging veterans towards and without developing youth. In Chicago’s case, successful drafts have kept the Bulls afloat.
Give Bulls management credit for drafting Doug McDermott, Bobby Portis and signing undrafted free agent Cristiano Felicio. All three players and this year’s lottery pick could form a nice foundation.
Now comes the hard part.
The commitment each player makes to improve this summer will have a strong influence on the Bulls’ future success.
Identify players who fit with Hoiberg
The hard part for a new coach is not the X’s and O’s but working with veterans and getting them to embrace a philosophy.
When Hoiberg took over last summer, the majority of the Bulls’ roster was already intact. It isn’t easy blending a new philosophy and style of play with veterans, and roadblocks are often too tough to hurdle.
With as many as six roster spots possibly open for free agency, Bulls management and Hoiberg must be in sync identifying players who fit the coach’s plan.
TEAM NEEDS
The free-agent decisions of Noah and Gasol will dictate which direction the Bulls go this summer. If both players walk, the Bulls will need reinforcements at power forward and center.
The biggest area of need for the Bulls is finding a complement for Rose. After dealing with numerous injuries for the past few seasons, Rose has not been able to put together a complete season. Finding a backup through the draft or free agency should be a high priority.
One thing Chicago should not do is make available All-Star guard Jimmy Butler. Although Butler did show a little wear and tear this season, his age, salary and overall production at both ends of the floor make him a keeper.
SUMMER CAP BREAKDOWN
| GUARANTEED | 2016-17 | Insider info |
| 1. Derrick Rose | $21,323,252 | Eligible for extension/trade bonus |
| 2. Jimmy Butler | $17,522,209 | Trade bonus |
| 3. Taj Gibson | $8,950,000 | Eligible for extension |
| 4. Pau Gasol | $7,769,520 | Player option |
| 5. Nikola Mirotic | $5,782,450 | Trade bonus |
| 6. Mike Dunleavy | $4,837,500 | None |
| 7. Doug McDermott | $2,483,040 | None |
| 8. Tony Snell | $2,368,327 | Eligible for rookie extension |
| 9. Bobby Portis Jr. | $1,453,680 | None |
| 10. Justin Holiday | $1,015,696 | None |
| Non/partial | 2016-17 | Guarantee date |
| 11. Cameron Bairstow | $874,636 | July 25 |
| 12. Christian Felicio | $874,636 | None |
| FA cap holds | 2016-17 | Free-agent status |
| 13. Joakim Noah | $20,250,000 | Full Bird rights |
| 14. Aaron Brooks | $2,925,000 | Early Bird rights |
| 15. E'Twaun Moore | $980,431 | Early Bird rights |
| First-round holds | 2016-17 | |
| 16. Own pick at No. 14 | $1,743,500 |
| Guaranteed | $73,505,674 |
| Non/partial | $1,749,272 |
| FA cap holds | $24,155,431 |
| First-round holds | $1,743,500 |
| Minimum holds | $0 |
| Dead money | $0 |
| Total | $101,259,672 |
| Salary cap | $92,000,000 |
| Cap space | None ($9,259,672 over) |
Although the Bulls have $73 million in guaranteed contracts, Chicago is over the cap with the large cap hold of Noah and Gasol’s salary. Even if Gasol opts out, his cap hold for this summer will still be $9.3 million.
Until a decision is made on both players, Chicago will have little flexibility to improve through free agency. If Chicago does let Gasol and Noah go, the Bulls will have $25 million in cap space.
JUNE DRAFT PICKS
First round: Own
Second round: Own to Orlando; Has Portland’s selection
FUTURE PICKS
First round
2017: Own; has Sacramento’s selection (Nos. 11-30)
Own all first-round picks.
Key rights to: None
Golf: I got a club for that..... Power Rankings: 2016 Wells Fargo Championship.
By Will Gray
(Photo/GolfChannel.com)
The 2016 fantasy golf season rolls right along, as the PGA Tour heads to North Carolina this week for the Wells Fargo Championship. A field of 144 players will tackle Quail Hollow Golf Club, which will host the PGA Championship next year.
Be sure to join the Golf Channel Fantasy Challenge to test yourself against our panel of experts, including defending champion Ryan Lavner. Click here for full fantasy assistance, including stats and picks.
Rory McIlroy won this event last year by seven shots over Patrick Rodgers and Webb Simpson. Here are 10 players to watch in the Charlotte:
1. Rory McIlroy: The defending champ is a clear No. 1 in this field, having earned his maiden PGA Tour victory here in 2010 and having won last year by a whopping seven shots. In between, McIlroy lost in a playoff in 2012 and added two other top-10 finishes, turning Quail Hollow into one of his favorite venues.
2. Rickie Fowler: Fowler has cooled somewhat since his torrid start to the year, but now he returns to the site of his breakthrough win back in 2012. He managed a T-20 finish last week in New Orleans and has four top-10 finishes over his last seven starts dating back to a playoff loss in Phoenix.
3. Phil Mickelson: This event is turning into U.S. Open Light for Lefty - a bevy of close calls, but no hardware. Mickelson has six top-5 finishes at Quail Hollow, including a runner-up in 2010 and a T-4 finish last year, but he has yet to find the winner's circle and now returns in search of momentum after missed cuts in both Augusta and San Antonio.
4. J.B. Holmes: The 2014 winner has been hit-or-miss at this event, but he tends to play well on big ballparks and he brings plenty of momentum with him to Charlotte. Holmes finished T-13 at Valero on the heels of a T-4 result at the Masters, and he has now strung together six top-15 finishes across his last eight starts dating back to Torrey Pines.
5. Daniel Berger: The reigning Rookie of the Year remains in search of his first victory, but he may find it soon. Berger finished T-20 at Zurich despite a lackluster closing round, his fourth straight top-20 in stroke-play events. Berger's ball flight and length off the tee should be conducive for Quail Hollow, where he finished T-28 in his debut last year.
6. Patrick Reed: Reed enters off a near-miss in San Antonio, a result that continued a run of four top-20 finishes over his last five starts. While he hasn't won in more than a year, Reed continues to put himself in contention on a consistent basis and has made the cut in each of his three prior starts at Quail Hollow - a clean sheet that few in the field can boast.
7. Justin Rose: The Englishman comes in off a surprising missed cut in defense of his Zurich title, but before that he had a stretch of five straight stroke-play results of T-17 or better. Rose has only played this event once in the last four years, but that appearance led to a T-5 finish in 2014.
8. Adam Scott: Scott is still in search of his first top-10 finish since back-to-back wins in Florida, but his ball-striking prowess merits a spot on this list for most events. Scott has a pair of top-10 finishes at Quail Hollow, but he has missed his last three cuts and hasn't played the weekend in Charlotte since a T-8 finish in 2008.
9. Henrik Stenson: While Stenson came close to victory in both Orlando and Houston, his worldwide victory drought now approaches 18 months. He has the tee-to-green game to end it on a burly track like Quail, but last year's T-58 finish was his first made cut in Charlotte since 2007.
10. Hideki Matsuyama: A winner earlier this year at TPC Scottsdale, Matsuyama has three finishes of T-11 or better in his six starts since. That includes a T-7 finish at the Masters in his most recent start, and his record at Quail Hollow shows signs of progress: T-38 in 2014 followed by a T-20 finish last year.
2015 Wells Fargo Championship live stream: start times TV schedule. Be sure to join the Golf Channel Fantasy Challenge to test yourself against our panel of experts, including defending champion Ryan Lavner. Click here for full fantasy assistance, including stats and picks.
Rory McIlroy won this event last year by seven shots over Patrick Rodgers and Webb Simpson. Here are 10 players to watch in the Charlotte:
1. Rory McIlroy: The defending champ is a clear No. 1 in this field, having earned his maiden PGA Tour victory here in 2010 and having won last year by a whopping seven shots. In between, McIlroy lost in a playoff in 2012 and added two other top-10 finishes, turning Quail Hollow into one of his favorite venues.
2. Rickie Fowler: Fowler has cooled somewhat since his torrid start to the year, but now he returns to the site of his breakthrough win back in 2012. He managed a T-20 finish last week in New Orleans and has four top-10 finishes over his last seven starts dating back to a playoff loss in Phoenix.
3. Phil Mickelson: This event is turning into U.S. Open Light for Lefty - a bevy of close calls, but no hardware. Mickelson has six top-5 finishes at Quail Hollow, including a runner-up in 2010 and a T-4 finish last year, but he has yet to find the winner's circle and now returns in search of momentum after missed cuts in both Augusta and San Antonio.
4. J.B. Holmes: The 2014 winner has been hit-or-miss at this event, but he tends to play well on big ballparks and he brings plenty of momentum with him to Charlotte. Holmes finished T-13 at Valero on the heels of a T-4 result at the Masters, and he has now strung together six top-15 finishes across his last eight starts dating back to Torrey Pines.
5. Daniel Berger: The reigning Rookie of the Year remains in search of his first victory, but he may find it soon. Berger finished T-20 at Zurich despite a lackluster closing round, his fourth straight top-20 in stroke-play events. Berger's ball flight and length off the tee should be conducive for Quail Hollow, where he finished T-28 in his debut last year.
6. Patrick Reed: Reed enters off a near-miss in San Antonio, a result that continued a run of four top-20 finishes over his last five starts. While he hasn't won in more than a year, Reed continues to put himself in contention on a consistent basis and has made the cut in each of his three prior starts at Quail Hollow - a clean sheet that few in the field can boast.
7. Justin Rose: The Englishman comes in off a surprising missed cut in defense of his Zurich title, but before that he had a stretch of five straight stroke-play results of T-17 or better. Rose has only played this event once in the last four years, but that appearance led to a T-5 finish in 2014.
8. Adam Scott: Scott is still in search of his first top-10 finish since back-to-back wins in Florida, but his ball-striking prowess merits a spot on this list for most events. Scott has a pair of top-10 finishes at Quail Hollow, but he has missed his last three cuts and hasn't played the weekend in Charlotte since a T-8 finish in 2008.
9. Henrik Stenson: While Stenson came close to victory in both Orlando and Houston, his worldwide victory drought now approaches 18 months. He has the tee-to-green game to end it on a burly track like Quail, but last year's T-58 finish was his first made cut in Charlotte since 2007.
10. Hideki Matsuyama: A winner earlier this year at TPC Scottsdale, Matsuyama has three finishes of T-11 or better in his six starts since. That includes a T-7 finish at the Masters in his most recent start, and his record at Quail Hollow shows signs of progress: T-38 in 2014 followed by a T-20 finish last year.
By Kyle Porter
The Wells Fargo Championship got a major boost when Rory McIlroy decided to join the fray recently. Two of the three best golfers in the world are in attendance this week at a great track in what should be a terrific week.
Start times (all times Eastern)
Thursday, May 14 (First Round) - 7 a.m.
Friday, May 15 (Second Round) - 7 a.m.
Saturday, May 16 (Third Round) - 9 a.m.
Sunday, May 17 (Fourth Round) - 9 a.m.
Television schedule
Thursday, May 14 (First Round) -- 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. (Golf Channel)
Friday, May 15 (Second Round) -- 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. (Golf Channel)
Saturday, May 16 (Third Round) -- 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. (GC) | 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. (CBS)
Sunday, May 17 (Fourth Round) -- 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. (GC) | 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. (CBS)
Live streaming on CBSSports.com (click to watch)
Saturday, May 16 (Third Round) -- 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday, May 17 (Fourth Round) -- 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Stuard takes Zurich Classic in playoff for 1st PGA win.
By BRETT MARTEL
Brian Stuard reacts after teeing off from the third hole during the third round of the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La., Sunday, May 1, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Brian Stuard made steady golf pay off on a waterlogged course in the haunting cypress swamps outside New Orleans.
The 33-year-old Stuard birdied the final hole of a largely unspectacular final round to sneak into a three-way playoff on Monday, then beat Jamie Lovemark on the second extra hole to capture his maiden PGA Tour triumph at the Zurich Classic.
Stuard never bogeyed a hole throughout the tournament on the long (7,425-yard), par-72 TPC Louisiana course, which was drenched with more than 4 1/2 inches of rain during the tournament. Weather delays on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday not only forced a Monday finish but also led officials to shorten the tournament to 54 holes.
''I wasn't playing great. I was just kind of, I don't know ... hanging around,'' Stuard said after his final-round 69, which wasn't even among the top 20 scores on the day. ''I kind of hung in there all week. I just didn't get too ahead of myself and just stayed real patient.''
Lovemark, Stuard and Byeong-Hun An entered the playoff at 15 under par.
An unraveled on the first playoff hole and Lovemark on the second while Stuard remained composed, virtually clinching the win with a 160-yard approach to within 2 1/2 of the pin for an easy birdie putt.
Stuard's best previous PGA Tour finishes were a pair of second places in Mexico, one in 2010 and the other in 2014. He arrived in New Orleans with conditional status on the PGA Tour, meaning he could only play in tournaments that had room for him when enough higher-ranked players skipped the event. His victory not only earned him $1.26 million, it also gives him a two-year exemption allowing him to play in majors and any other Tour event he wants.
''I've always been, I guess, a journeyman kind of player, just always grinded it out,'' said Stuard, who became the seventh first-time winner in New Orleans in the past 11 years. ''You just had to have the confidence to say, 'One day, it's going to be your time.'''
Lovemark came in with only five career top-10 finishes, but four of those had come this season.
''I feel good,'' Lovemark said after his best finish since his only other second place in 2009. ''Not too disappointed. Just a little bummed, but moving on to next week.''
Jason Day, the world's top-ranked player, wound up tied for fifth with Chris Kirk at 13 under.
''I just wish it was 72 holes,'' Day said. ''At least I gave myself an opportunity to be around the leaders.''
The saturated course rewarded players most adept at hitting long in the air off the tee and aiming right for the pin on approach shots. On many shots, balls hardly moved upon landing.
Players sometimes struggled to gauge abnormally slow greens. It happened to Lovemark at the most pivotal or moments; he left a 9 1/2-foot birdie putt for the win just inches short on the 18th green.
The narrow miss seemed to unsettle Lovemark, whose shots became erratic. He managed to par the 18th on the first playoff hole, but his approach on the second playoff - also on 18 - found a muddy area near the grandstand, well left of the green.
An did not look like a contender entering Monday, but he shot up the leaderboard with birdies on 11, 13, 14 and 15. His 5-foot birdie putt on 18 landed him in the playoff - marking only his second top 10 and his first top three. But he botched consecutive approach shots on the first playoff hole, leaving him with a bogey that ended his tournament.
Bobby Wyatt, a 23-year-old making his ninth PGA Tour start on a sponsor invitation, briefly surged into the lead with an eagle and six birdies on his first 13 holes of his final round. But three-putts for bogeys on the 14th and 15th cost him.
Brian Stuard made steady golf pay off on a waterlogged course in the haunting cypress swamps outside New Orleans.
The 33-year-old Stuard birdied the final hole of a largely unspectacular final round to sneak into a three-way playoff on Monday, then beat Jamie Lovemark on the second extra hole to capture his maiden PGA Tour triumph at the Zurich Classic.
Stuard never bogeyed a hole throughout the tournament on the long (7,425-yard), par-72 TPC Louisiana course, which was drenched with more than 4 1/2 inches of rain during the tournament. Weather delays on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday not only forced a Monday finish but also led officials to shorten the tournament to 54 holes.
''I wasn't playing great. I was just kind of, I don't know ... hanging around,'' Stuard said after his final-round 69, which wasn't even among the top 20 scores on the day. ''I kind of hung in there all week. I just didn't get too ahead of myself and just stayed real patient.''
Lovemark, Stuard and Byeong-Hun An entered the playoff at 15 under par.
An unraveled on the first playoff hole and Lovemark on the second while Stuard remained composed, virtually clinching the win with a 160-yard approach to within 2 1/2 of the pin for an easy birdie putt.
Stuard's best previous PGA Tour finishes were a pair of second places in Mexico, one in 2010 and the other in 2014. He arrived in New Orleans with conditional status on the PGA Tour, meaning he could only play in tournaments that had room for him when enough higher-ranked players skipped the event. His victory not only earned him $1.26 million, it also gives him a two-year exemption allowing him to play in majors and any other Tour event he wants.
''I've always been, I guess, a journeyman kind of player, just always grinded it out,'' said Stuard, who became the seventh first-time winner in New Orleans in the past 11 years. ''You just had to have the confidence to say, 'One day, it's going to be your time.'''
Lovemark came in with only five career top-10 finishes, but four of those had come this season.
''I feel good,'' Lovemark said after his best finish since his only other second place in 2009. ''Not too disappointed. Just a little bummed, but moving on to next week.''
Jason Day, the world's top-ranked player, wound up tied for fifth with Chris Kirk at 13 under.
''I just wish it was 72 holes,'' Day said. ''At least I gave myself an opportunity to be around the leaders.''
The saturated course rewarded players most adept at hitting long in the air off the tee and aiming right for the pin on approach shots. On many shots, balls hardly moved upon landing.
Players sometimes struggled to gauge abnormally slow greens. It happened to Lovemark at the most pivotal or moments; he left a 9 1/2-foot birdie putt for the win just inches short on the 18th green.
The narrow miss seemed to unsettle Lovemark, whose shots became erratic. He managed to par the 18th on the first playoff hole, but his approach on the second playoff - also on 18 - found a muddy area near the grandstand, well left of the green.
An did not look like a contender entering Monday, but he shot up the leaderboard with birdies on 11, 13, 14 and 15. His 5-foot birdie putt on 18 landed him in the playoff - marking only his second top 10 and his first top three. But he botched consecutive approach shots on the first playoff hole, leaving him with a bogey that ended his tournament.
Bobby Wyatt, a 23-year-old making his ninth PGA Tour start on a sponsor invitation, briefly surged into the lead with an eagle and six birdies on his first 13 holes of his final round. But three-putts for bogeys on the 14th and 15th cost him.
''I certainly haven't been in this position a lot, so I think probably some of it is nerves,'' Wyatt said.
A birdie on 16, highlighted by a 138-yard approach shot to within four feet of the hole, followed by a 7-foot putt on 18 for his eighth birdie of the round, left him alone in fourth at 14 under.
He still felt like a winner in the big scheme of things. His first top-10 finish earned him $336,000 and qualified him for a 10th Tour start at the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte later this week.
''I found out I can play with these guys,'' he said.
Notes: A PGA Tour event hadn't been shortened to 54 holes since the 2013 Hyundai Tournament of Champions at Kapalua Golf Club. ... The last Monday finish was at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in early February.
Spieth refreshed, ready to return following Masters meltdown.
By Will Graves
Jordan Spieth tees off on the 15th hole during the second round of the Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Ga. Jordan Spieth understands his meltdown at the end of the Masters will follow him. And three weeks later Spieth's not quite ready to say he's over letting a five-shot in the final round morph into that awkward ceremony in the Butler Cabin that ended with him slipping the green jacket on Danny Willett following an ugly and very public collapse.(AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)
Jordan Spieth understands his meltdown at the end of the Masters will follow him. And three weeks later, Spieth's not quite ready to say he's over letting a five-shot lead in the final round morph into that awkward ceremony in the Butler Cabin that ended with him slipping the green jacket on Danny Willett following an ugly and very public collapse.
Still, let's not get carried away.
Still, let's not get carried away.
''I'm not taking it very hard,'' Spieth said Tuesday, while attending a FedEx event in suburban Pittsburgh ahead of a practice round on Wednesday at Oakmont, where he will try to defend his U.S. Open title next month.
''I've got ladies at the grocery stores putting their hand on me and going, 'Really praying for you; how are you doing?' I'm like, 'My dog didn't die. I'll be OK. I'll survive.' It happens.''
It just hadn't really happened to Spieth during the 22-year-old's sprint to the top of the world rankings, a dash that included a pair of major championships and a reputation as one of the game's steadiest players as the holes dwindled and the stakes rose. In the span of 30 minutes during the final round at Augusta, it disappeared. A bogey at 10. Another at 11. That seemingly endless sequence on 12 where he hit the ball into Rae's Creek not once but twice on his way to a quadruple bogey 7 that cost him control of the tournament.
''It was just bad timing on the wrong hole,'' Spieth said. ''And you know, it is what it is, and I'll move on. If you're in contention at a major, hopefully 50-plus times in your career, something like that is bound to happen. Just don't let it happen again.''
Spieth endured the uncomfortable post-round ceremony with Willett, whose brilliant closing 5-under-par 67 will be forever tied with the way Spieth let it slip away. Spieth admitted ''this one will hurt'' in the aftermath and he's spent the last few weeks trying to decompress and get ready for the daunting test that awaits at Oakmont in June.
So Spieth did what most early 20-somethings with time to burn and money to spend did: he went on a well-appointed Spring Break. Spieth joined Rickie Fowler, Smylie Kaufman and Justin Thomas for a getaway at a tropical resort that Fowler chronicled via Snapchat, a vacation that included a little golf and a lot of unwinding.
''We were having fun, we were relaxed,'' Spieth said. ''We were able to play golf and golf was kind of secondary to the relaxation part of the trip.''
It will be back to work on Wednesday when Spieth takes a long look at Oakmont, which is prepping to host its ninth U.S. Open and first since 2007, before heading to Florida for next week's Players Championship. Spieth plans to treat his preparation for the rugged test in the Western Pennsylvania hills much the same way he got ready for Chambers Bay last summer, when he edged Dustin Johnson and Louis Oosthuizen by a stroke. Spieth will try to get a feel for Oakmont this week then arrive early in June for a far different kind of test than the one found at the three other majors.
Angel Cabrera captured the Open in its last visit to Oakmont with a four-round total of 5 over par. Compare that to the 18 under par Spieth posted while winning at Augusta in 2015 or even the 5-under he put up at Chambers Bay. It will take nerves to survive and regardless of what that stretch at the Masters looked like, Spieth isn't worried about his confidence being rattled should he be in the mix on Father's Day.
Angel Cabrera captured the Open in its last visit to Oakmont with a four-round total of 5 over par. Compare that to the 18 under par Spieth posted while winning at Augusta in 2015 or even the 5-under he put up at Chambers Bay. It will take nerves to survive and regardless of what that stretch at the Masters looked like, Spieth isn't worried about his confidence being rattled should he be in the mix on Father's Day.
''Our team can draw on the wins, and that's what we're going to do,'' he said. ''We've now had a chance to win coming down the stretch in six majors and we've won two of them, including the last five and 2014 Masters. So that's still a pretty good percentage, if you're in contention six times, you win two of them, a third of the time. Considering my age, and hopefully with continued good health and continued improved play, if we keep that percentage up, we'll be all right.''
More Than 40% of Tour Pros Believe Tiger Will Win Again.
By Golf.com Staff
(Photo/SI/Robert Beck)
2016 Time Inc. SI Releases Annual Anonymous Tour Pro Survey According to the SI anonymous tour pro survey, the majority of players would rather win another tournament than an Olympic gold medal. Those insights and more on GOLF.com. Will Tiger Woods win again?
You have your opinion. Your golf buddies have theirs. But what do Tiger's peers think?
Depends who you ask. For the annual Sports Illustrated Golf+ survey, more than 150 pros across all three major tours (PGA, LPGA and PGA Champions) were asked whether Woods has at least one more win in him.
On the PGA Tour, 42% of players polled believe Woods will return to the winner's circle, 31% said they aren't sure, while 27% think Woods will go oh-fer for the rest of his career. One pro said, "I’m optimistic, but running out of reasons."
On the LPGA tour, players are less optimistic about Woods's future. Only 36% of LPGA pros think Woods will win again. Their PGA Champions tour counterparts disagree. On the senior circuit, 72% said Woods will triumph again, though one pro reasoned, "I don’t even know if he'll play again."
What do you think? Does TW have another 'W' in him? Give us your take to that question and others in the survey below, and check out the entire survey here.
NASCAR; Power Rankings: It might as well be a 12-car pileup this week.
By Nick Bromberg
(Photo/yahoosports.com)
1. Kyle Busch (LW: 2): What does the guy who finishes second say after the race about the style of racing? "I hate it. I'd much rather sit at home. I got a win. I don't need to be here."
Oh.
4. Kevin Harvick (LW: 6): Despite that vicious crash at the end of the race that flipped his car over 90 degrees, Harvick ended up 15th. It's just his second finish outside the top 10 this season and it was a sad end for that wonderful Busch car with a fish on it. Does any paint scheme say "Talladega" more than a fish painted on a car sponsored by cheap beer? Did he crash: Yes.
9. Joey Logano (LW: 5): Oh no, it's Logano vs. Matt Kenseth again. While we understand why Kenseth is upset with Logano, he needs to be the bigger man (after all, he is older) and act differently. Logano could have kept going after Kenseth slid below the yellow line. He didn't and let Kenseth back it. It's a plate race. Bleep happens. This shouldn't become another soap opera. Did he crash: Yes.
2016 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach winner Simon Pagenaud, 22, and second place finisher Scott Dixon, 9, race during the 42nd Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, Sunday April 17, 2016 in Long Beach, CA. (Stephen Carr / Daily Breeze via AP)
Oh.
Though can you blame Busch? This is the type of racing that broke his leg and foot in 2015. Yeah, he's damn good at it. But he's got plenty of reasons not to like it. Did he crash: Yes.
2. Brad Keselowski (LW: 8): This guy, however, has plenty of reasons to like plate racing. Especially at Talladega. Keselowski has four wins at the 2.66-mile track after his victory on Sunday. He has no more than two wins at any other Cup track. Through 15 Talladega races, Keselowski has nine top-10 finishes and has been running at the finish of all but one. Does he have the Talladega secret recipe? Did he crash: No.
3. Chase Elliott (LW: 9): Elliott is on a roll. He finished fifth on Sunday after he won the pole. He's finished in the top 12 in each of his last four Cup races and in the top 12 in six of the last seven. While we didn't expect Elliott to be overwhelmed in his first Cup season, the speed he's showing consistently right now is more than we imagined. Did he crash: No.
4. Kevin Harvick (LW: 6): Despite that vicious crash at the end of the race that flipped his car over 90 degrees, Harvick ended up 15th. It's just his second finish outside the top 10 this season and it was a sad end for that wonderful Busch car with a fish on it. Does any paint scheme say "Talladega" more than a fish painted on a car sponsored by cheap beer? Did he crash: Yes.
5. Kurt Busch (LW: 7): Hey, from the Busch car to a Busch brother. Kurt finished eighth and didn't make Jimmie Johnson incredibly happy after a push from Busch sent Johnson into Paul Menard and sparked a monster crash. Did he crash: Yes.
6. Carl Edwards (LW: 1): Edwards was 35th after his day went south the same time as Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s. OK, Junior's had already gone south. Anyway, Edwards had damage from an earlier accident and lost a tire in turns 1 and 2. His car shot up the wall and smashed into Junior's ending the day for both of them. Did he crash: Yes.
7. Jimmie Johnson (LW: 3): Johnson had two incidents. The first time he went spinning down the backstretch in the crash that caused Chris Buescher to flip. The second time he got pushed by Busch (as we mentioned above) and kablooie. Somehow Johnson only finished six laps down and was 22nd. Did he crash: Yes.
8. Martin Truex Jr. (LW: 10): Truex narrowly missed a top-10 finish despite his car sliding across the finish line. The final lap crash was the second accident the No. 78 had been involved in. He was in the lap 162 melee and somehow his car was able to still be fairly competitive despite looking like a mummy. Did he crash: Yes.
9. Joey Logano (LW: 5): Oh no, it's Logano vs. Matt Kenseth again. While we understand why Kenseth is upset with Logano, he needs to be the bigger man (after all, he is older) and act differently. Logano could have kept going after Kenseth slid below the yellow line. He didn't and let Kenseth back it. It's a plate race. Bleep happens. This shouldn't become another soap opera. Did he crash: Yes.
10. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (LW: 4): It was not Junior's day on Sunday. He said Monday on Twitter that the steering wheel issue was his own fault and video from his in-car camera shows that the wheel was not fastened tightly to the coupler when Junior left the garage. That's why it popped off. You can bet that the No. 88 team will be doing some additional safety checks this weekend. Did he crash: Yes.
11. Austin Dillon (LW: NR): Here's another guy driving a car that was practically mummified. Dillon's ceiling on the final lap was pretty much second because his car could not have come close to keeping pace with its taped-up nose in the lead. But behind other cars in the draft it was working just fine and he ended up third. Did he crash: Yes.
12. Trevor Bayne (LW: NR): After leading 22 laps and finishing 10th on Sunday, Bayne now has two top-10 finishes this season and seven for his career. He's also in the top 16 in points and would make the Chase if the regular season ended today. Of course, we know it won't and the real test is if Bayne can keep this up throughout the summer months. We're not sure, but we're open to surprises. Did he crash: No.
The DNF: Any one of the 12 cars that didn't make it to the end because of engine problems or accidents.
Honda frantically trying to catch Chevrolet before Indy 500. (Article dated April 17, 2016).
By JENNA FRYER
By JENNA FRYER
Honda Racing stuck with its longtime tradition of gathering its IndyCar drivers the day after the Grand Prix of Long Beach for visits to three of its California offices.
They had little to celebrate Monday, though, not after Honda was smoked by rival manufacturer Chevrolet for the third time this season. Chevrolet claimed its third win in three IndyCar races this season with yet another dominating performance on Sunday.
After grabbing the first six spots in qualifying, Chevy drivers went on to sweep the podium. Only two Honda drivers finished inside the top 11, and through three races this year, the Chevy camp has led 422 laps to 18 for Honda.
With the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 rapidly closing in, Honda teams are downright scared they don't have a chance to win the biggest race of them all.
''I just want a fair shot,'' said Graham Rahal, who carried the Honda banner last season with two of the manufacturer's six victories and was the only Honda driver legitimately in the title race. ''There's too much money, there's too much sponsorship, there's too much on the line for us to show up and know the best that we're going to finish at the Indy 500 is 15th. That's not fair to our sponsors, it's not fair to us as teams.''
Chevrolet has steamrolled the competition since it returned to the series in 2012. The manufacturer has won three of the four championships since 2012, and two of four Indy 500s.
What is not clear is who is to blame for the unbalanced competition.
It's probably true that Honda incorrectly assessed Chevrolet's commitment to winning.
Honda got some satisfaction by winning the Indy 500 in 2012, and again in 2014, and it began to look like Indy is the only race that really matters to the manufacturer. If Honda executives can kiss the bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, then none of the other races really matter.
But the disparity has gotten wider since the introduction of the aerodynamic bodykits that debuted last year. Chevy was once again more competitive out of the gates. Things got political last May when three Chevrolet drivers went airborne during Indy 500 practice sessions, and there were rumblings that a flaw in Chevy's design was causing the cars to lift.
In a frantic effort to keep the cars on the track, IndyCar tinkered with some of the rules on pole day. Honda was a reluctant participant because the manufacturer thought the issue was a Chevy problem and its teams shouldn't be punished.
Chevy then swept the top four spots in the 500.
''It was obvious there were two different classes out there,'' said team owner Michael Andretti, who won the 2012 championship with Chevrolet and the 2014 Indy 500 with Honda.
During the offseason, IndyCar permitted Honda to make some changes to its aerokit in an effort to catch up to Chevrolet, but the updates haven't made a difference so far.
Then came word from IndyCar that it was instituting a rule change for the Indy 500 by requiring the use of domed skidplates on the cars in an effort to prevent them from going airborne. The average race fan will notice nothing different, but the Honda drivers complained the change made their cars difficult to handle in traffic during testing.
''It's just another hit to Honda,'' Andretti said. ''Chevy is already generating a lot more underbody downforce. The problem is, Chevy is not looking at the show, they are only looking at themselves. And I'm worried about the show. I want us to put on the best show ever. By doing some of these moves, IndyCar is hurting the chances and it's like, 'Why?' and IndyCar says, 'For safety.'
''Well, if you make the car harder to drive and guys are crashing because of that, I don't know if that sounds safer. OK, so the cars won't flip over when they get sideways, but Honda didn't have that problem, anyway. This whole thing was a Chevy problem and Honda has to adapt to it, and that's not fair.''
Chevy drivers have not complained about the domed skids, and noted that Honda drivers were faster than they were in the first Indy 500 test. Marco Andretti accused Chevy of sandbagging to make it look like they are behind Honda, and Rahal said any Chevy driver who claims they are happy with the domed skids has been ''programmed to message.''
''These guys that are saying that it's fine, like, they're not telling you the facts,'' Rahal said. ''If everybody wants to play games, then we can all play games.''
IndyCar is not to blame for this, and neither is Chevrolet. Honda has failed to keep up. With just over a month to go before the Indy 500, it is up to Honda to pull something out of its bag of tricks if it wants a shot at winning the historic race.
SOCCER: Leicester City crowned 2015-16 Premier League champions.
By Joe Prince-Wright
(Photo/nbcsports.com)
Leicester City have won the 2015-16 Premier League title.
I’ll repeat it again: Leicester City have won the 2015-16 Premier League.
One of the greatest fairytales in sporting history is complete. The Cinderella story actually happened.
With nearest rivals Tottenham Hotspur drawing 2-2 at Chelsea on Monday, the Foxes become just the sixth team in history to win the Premier League as they won their first-ever top-flight title in their 132-year history.
They have a seven-point lead at the top of the table and Tottenham have just two games remaining, meaning Leicester cannot be caught and won the title while watching the game on TV from the comfort of their own home. Videos of the players reacted to the win have since come out, while manager Claudio Ranieri is somewhere on a plane as he flew home to Italy to spend time with his elderly mother.
In a season which has defied belief, Leicester has shrugged off the challenge of Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Manchester City to become the most unlikely champion in PL history and probably English soccer history. They are the first new champions of England in 38 years since Nottingham Forest won the title back in 1978.
Italian manager Ranieri has masterminded the success in his first season in charge at the King Power Stadium with the veteran boss moved to tears at the final whistle. He took over last summer after Leicester City survived relegation in the final weeks of last season under Nigel Pearson. They were only promoted back to the PL for the 2014-15 season and have kept a large number of the players who led them from the third tier in 2009.
Now, they’ve gone from 5000-1 outsiders and among the favorites for relegation to PL champions. This is one of the most remarkable stories in sporting history. Period. Maybe even the most remarkable.
Their journey has inspired every other team around the globe and with Jamie Vardy‘s goals, Riyad Mahrez‘s magic, N'Golo Kante‘s running and a defiant defensive unit led by captain Wes Morgan, the Foxes have ridden an incredible wave of euphoria in recent months to get over the line.
In truth, every single Leicester player must be lauded and they will go down in history, their names never forgotten in Leicester and further afield.
With streets set to be named after them, calls for Raineri to be knighted and a first-ever appearance in the UEFA Champions League coming up next season, the Foxes have become the biggest sporting story on the planet.
I’ll say it again one more time just in case you don’t believe me: Leicester City are the 2015-16 Premier League champions.
Never in my life did I think I’d be typing those words. This is the greatest sporting upset of all time. Period.
Bayern Munich 2-1 (2-2, agg.) Atletico Madrid: Griezmann’s away goal sends Atleti to Milan.
By Kyle Lynch
I’ll repeat it again: Leicester City have won the 2015-16 Premier League.
One of the greatest fairytales in sporting history is complete. The Cinderella story actually happened.
With nearest rivals Tottenham Hotspur drawing 2-2 at Chelsea on Monday, the Foxes become just the sixth team in history to win the Premier League as they won their first-ever top-flight title in their 132-year history.
They have a seven-point lead at the top of the table and Tottenham have just two games remaining, meaning Leicester cannot be caught and won the title while watching the game on TV from the comfort of their own home. Videos of the players reacted to the win have since come out, while manager Claudio Ranieri is somewhere on a plane as he flew home to Italy to spend time with his elderly mother.
In a season which has defied belief, Leicester has shrugged off the challenge of Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Manchester City to become the most unlikely champion in PL history and probably English soccer history. They are the first new champions of England in 38 years since Nottingham Forest won the title back in 1978.
Italian manager Ranieri has masterminded the success in his first season in charge at the King Power Stadium with the veteran boss moved to tears at the final whistle. He took over last summer after Leicester City survived relegation in the final weeks of last season under Nigel Pearson. They were only promoted back to the PL for the 2014-15 season and have kept a large number of the players who led them from the third tier in 2009.
Now, they’ve gone from 5000-1 outsiders and among the favorites for relegation to PL champions. This is one of the most remarkable stories in sporting history. Period. Maybe even the most remarkable.
Their journey has inspired every other team around the globe and with Jamie Vardy‘s goals, Riyad Mahrez‘s magic, N'Golo Kante‘s running and a defiant defensive unit led by captain Wes Morgan, the Foxes have ridden an incredible wave of euphoria in recent months to get over the line.
In truth, every single Leicester player must be lauded and they will go down in history, their names never forgotten in Leicester and further afield.
With streets set to be named after them, calls for Raineri to be knighted and a first-ever appearance in the UEFA Champions League coming up next season, the Foxes have become the biggest sporting story on the planet.
I’ll say it again one more time just in case you don’t believe me: Leicester City are the 2015-16 Premier League champions.
Never in my life did I think I’d be typing those words. This is the greatest sporting upset of all time. Period.
Bayern Munich 2-1 (2-2, agg.) Atletico Madrid: Griezmann’s away goal sends Atleti to Milan.
By Kyle Lynch
(Photo/Getty Images)
Despite losing the match and finishing tied on aggregate, Atletico Madrid are headed to their second Champions League final in three years as Diego Simeone’s men advance past Bayern Munich on away goals. It is the third straight season in which Bayern has been eliminated from in the semifinal.
Bayern expectedly dominated possession from the start of the match, continuously pushing into Atleti territory. The Atletico back-line was stretched out of shape multiple times in the first half, a rare sight from Europe’s best defense, especially surprising with Diego Godin back in the starting lineup.
NCAAFB: As Big 12 ponders expansion, American on guard for losses.
Bayern expectedly dominated possession from the start of the match, continuously pushing into Atleti territory. The Atletico back-line was stretched out of shape multiple times in the first half, a rare sight from Europe’s best defense, especially surprising with Diego Godin back in the starting lineup.
After a few stops from Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak, Bayern finally found a goal just after the half-hour mark. With a free kick from 20 yards out, Xabi Alonso stepped up and fired a low shot on goal. Alonso’s shot deflected off Jose Jimenez, skipping through the young center-back’s legs and leaving Oblak helpless, ending Atleti’s impressive run of defensive dominance.
Jose Jimenez nearly cost Atletico again just minutes later when he was called for a foul on Javi Martinez in the box, giving a penalty to Bayern. Thomas Muller tried to give his side their first lead of the semifinal, but Oblak guessed correctly and made a huge stop to keep the tie level on aggregate.
As the match headed towards halftime, managers Pep Guardiola and Diego Simeone began to have some words on the touchline. Simeone had to be held back from Bayern’s Franck Ribery, although tempers cooled down and no discipline from the referee was necessary.
Bayern continued to control play after the break, but it was the visitors who found the second half’s first goal. Against all the run of play, Fernando Torres caught Bayern on the counter, sending Antoine Griezmann in on goal all alone. Griezmann buried his shot past Manuel Neuer to put Atleti back ahead on aggregate 2-1. It was Griezmann’s seventh Champions League goal and 31st in all competitions this season.
With Griezmann’s away goal, Bayern needed to score two more without conceding to reach the final. Despite the uphill battle, Pep’s men pushed on and got a response in the 74th minute. A high cross from David Alaba was headed back across the box from Arturo Vidal, where Robert Lewandowski was waiting for an easy tap home. Up 2-1 on the night but tied 2-2 on aggregate, Bayern had 20 minutes to find that decisive goal.
While Bayern pressed, Atletico had a golden opportunity to finish the match when Fernando Torres earned the game’s second penalty. Torres was taken down from behind by Javi Martinez, and although replays showed the contact was initiated just outside the box, a penalty was given. Torres went to finish what he started, but once again the keeper prevailed as Manuel Neuer made a strong save to deny the Spaniard.
Guardiola urged his side on through the final minutes, but Atletico withstood the pressure to advance on away goals. Diego Simeone’s side has now eliminated Barcelona and Bayern Munich in consecutive legs, as Atleti can no longer be considered underdogs.
Fire add Senegalese midfielder Khaly Thiam.
By Dan Santaromita
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
After stuttering through the first seven matches of the season, reinforcements are on the way for the Chicago Fire.
Senegalese midfielder Khaly Thiam will join the team later this week on a loan deal with an option to buy. The move is pending league approval although the official announcement is expected soon.
The deal was in the works more than a month ago, but Thiam needed to finish his season with Hungarian team MTK Budapest before joining the Fire. MTK wrapped up its season on Saturday and finished fourth in the Hungarian league, losing out on a Europa League berth on the final match of the season.
“He is going to join us this week," Fire coach Veljko Paunovic said during his weekly conference call. "He is going to do physical and medicals. He’ll be here and he’s very important for us. We believe the addition of Thiam is very important to increase our competitiveness with all his qualities, especially he is very good on the ball. He is very good also in aerial duels and his presence on the field is very important. With him we will increase our competitiveness in the team and of course within the league.”
The Fire can use the help immediately after having four players miss out on Saturday’s 1-1 draw with D.C. United due to injury. David Accam is expected to be available against Vancouver on May 11, but odds are he won’t be able to start, especially on a turf field. Matt Polster, John Goossens and Alex Morrell were also out injured against D.C.
Thiam, 22, is a box-to-box midfielder who on paper would seem like a good fit to line up next to Polster as one of the two central mids in Paunovic’s 4-2-3-1 formation. This season for MTK, Thiam made 31 appearances, 27 starts, and scored two goals.
“He can play in different positions in the midfield," Paunovic said. "He can play in different systems. So far we were using 4-2-3-1 as our basic system, standard. In that system he can play either together with another midfielder (or in other roles). He’s going to increase that competitiveness. We can also switch to a 4-3-3, 3-5-2. Being adaptable he can play in different systems and roles, that’s something we value a lot."
He started his professional career in Hungary, playing the past four seasons in that league. He totaled 72 appearances and seven goals in that time.
Fire midfielder Arturo Alvarez played in Hungary before joining the Fire this offseason. A few weeks ago when the rumors started swirling, Alvarez was asked if he had heard of him. For what it's worth, Alvarez recalled him right away and described Thiam as a nice player, who was "tidy" on the ball.
NCAAFB: As Big 12 ponders expansion, American on guard for losses.
By RALPH D. RUSSO
Michael Aresco, commissioner of the American Athletic Conference makes comments during the women's basketball media day, Monday, Oct. 26, 2015, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
The Big 12 presidents will consider in the coming weeks whether the league should expand, leaving the American Athletic Conference on guard for the possibility of one or more defections.
''We always have plans for contingencies that might arise,'' American Athletic Conference Commissioner Mike Aresco told the AP on Tuesday.
''It's no secret that there could be more realignment. We discuss this a bit with our membership, but mainly to focus on the cohesion of the conference. We ask people to respect the membership. Because whatever happens, this is going to be a good, strong conference regardless.''
Big 12 athletic directors have been meeting in Phoenix this week. The 10-team conference continues to ponder whether adding two more members, splitting into divisions and playing a football championship game will help the league increase both revenue and its chances to place a team in the College Football Playoff.
The Big 12 did not have either of its co-champions (Baylor and TCU) in the first playoff in 2014, but league champ Oklahoma reached the national semifinals last season.
At the meetings in Phoenix, Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said a research firm presented data to the conference that showed switching to a 12-team, two division format, with eight conference games and a title game, would give the league about a 4 percent better chance to put a team in the playoff.
Ultimately, the decision will be made at the presidential level of each school, with plenty of input from athletic directors and Bowlsby.
The next Big 12 meetings start May 31 in Dallas and will include the university presidents and chancellors.
There are no obvious matches for the conference if it does decide to expand, but most of the best candidates reside in the American.
Cincinnati, Memphis, Houston, SMU, South Florida, Central Florida and Connecticut can all claim to bring either new TV markets or growing athletic programs - or both - to the Big 12. While officials at all those schools are diligent about publicly pledging allegiance to the American, behind the scenes they are positioning for a promotion to the Power Five.
The Enquirer in Cincinnati reported in February that documents and records from University of Cincinnati showed university president Santa Ono has been leading an extensive effort to promote the school to Big 12 leadership. The Commercial Appeal reported Tuesday that University of Memphis President M. David Rudd has made a similar push.
Aresco declined to say whether members have been forthcoming about efforts to leave the American.
''I don't want to go into too much detail on something like that, but I can say this: There is a tremendous level of camaraderie within the conference,'' Aresco said. ''We have a good group that communicates well and I would not expect that to be any different regardless of what happens.''
BYU, currently an independent in football while competing in the West Coast Conference in other sports, is another possibility for the Big 12. Boise State from the Mountain West also could make a case with its strong football program.
The American is three years old, having reinvented itself after massive realignment tore apart the Big East.
Aresco would not say where the conference could go for replacement schools, but Conference USA is where it found many of its new members following the mass departures.
''You always pay attention to things, you're always alert,'' Aresco said. ''You always have the notion of what you might or might not do. But there's no reason for us to dwell on it. And there's no reason for us to focus on to the extent that we would be distracted from what we're trying to do.''
Saban or Bear? Bobby Bowden would side with current Tide coach.
By John Taylor
(Photo/Getty Images)
Thanks to Alabama’s run to yet another national championship this past season, an old debate has once again been stirred up: Nick Saban or Bear Bryant.
Suffice to say, both head coaches, one a Hall of Famer and the other soon to be one, carry as impressive a résumé as there is in the profession.
Saban has been a head coach at the collegiate level for 25 seasons, from Toledo to Michigan State to LSU and now at ‘Bama. In that span, he’s won 191 games, seven conference championships (one MAC, six SEC) and, most importantly/impressively, five national titles.
In a coaching career that spanned 37 years, including 25 seasons in Tuscaloosa, Bryant won a record six national championships and 14 SEC titles. His 323 wins were a record upon his retirement, and are now third in FBS history behind Penn State’s Joe Paterno (409) and Florida State’s Bobby Bowden (377).
The latter head coach certainly knows a thing or two about running a successful football program, and did it during both Bryant’s reign and Saban’s. During a radio interview, Bowden was asked which run has been more impressive, Bryant’s or Saban’s. And, in the end, the FSU legend went with new school over old.
“That’s a pretty good question,” Bowden said by way of al.com. “I’d say probably what Nick Saban is doing (is more impressive) because football is more balanced now. I think when coach Bryant came to Alabama in 1958, I think it was unlimited recruiting. You could sign all the kids you wanted, and he’s gonna get most of them.
“There was an old saying back in those days, ‘He’s gonna get his and he’s gonna get yours.'”
The biggest argument for Saban is what Bowden hinted around, that the current Tide head coach’s run has come with an 85-man limit on scholarships while the likes of Bryant had unlimited scholarships to hoard players and stash them on his roster. Then there is one-third of Bryant’s titled being shared, as well as two other championship seasons actually ending with a bowl loss, something that could never happen under the old BCS system or the current College Football Playoff.
And all of that’s without mentioning the fact that Saban won titles at two different schools.
While what Bryant did at Alabama is certainly legendary and deserves to be remembered that way, Bowden’s right: what Saban has accomplished is indeed more impressive than the Bear. And, really, it’s not even that close.
NCAABKB: Louisville students' lawsuit against escort is dismissed.
BY GARY B. GRAVES
A Louisville judge has dismissed a lawsuit by University of Louisville students filed against Katina Powell that said the escort's book allegations of sex parties at the men's basketball players' dormitory had devalued their education.
Kyle Hornback and three other students sued Powell last fall, saying her book damaged the school's reputation. Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Mitch Perry denied their argument in Friday's decision but allowed others who joined the suit after being named in the book to file amended complaints that they were falsely accused and defamed.
Powell has said that former Cardinals basketball staffer Andre McGee hired her and other dancers to entertain recruits and players. Several investigations are ongoing including one by Louisville, which self-imposed a postseason ban and reduced scholarships and recruiting opportunities.
9 years after Chief's end, Illinois looks for mascot.
By DAVID MERCER
Nine years after it retired Chief Illiniwek under pressure from the NCAA, the University of Illinois will begin the search for a new mascot, interim Chancellor Barbara Wilson said Monday.
Wilson announced the first tentative steps in a campus-wide email, saying she will soon appoint a committee of 10-12 people to figure out how to decide on a mascot and how long that process will take.
The plan is not to replace the Fighting Illini nickname that the school's teams now use, campus spokeswoman Robin Kaler said. But the school wants to select a mascot to be on the sidelines and at events.
Wilson acknowledged the process could include ''challenges.'' Many students and university graduates would like to see Chief Illiniwek return, wearing Chief-themed shirts to sports events and chanting ''Chief!''.
''I am optimistic that this initiative will help build school spirit and loyalty beyond athletics,'' Wilson said in her email.
The reaction on social media was swift and, for the most part, opposed to the idea.
Joshua Evans is a 2000 graduate of the university and expressed his disapproval on Twitter.
In a telephone interview with The Associated Press, the Shawnee, Kansas, resident said he doesn't oppose the idea of a new mascot. His wife is a Kansas graduate, and having a mascot like the Jayhawk can be appealing, he said.
But given the history at Illinois, ''I just don't know if there's going to be a real logical, widely accepted mascot that people are going to be excited about. It just seems kind of forced to me and unnatural,'' he said.
Potentially worse, ''I can see it's going to be mocked and ridiculed as a joke.''
At an Academic Senate meeting Monday, Wilson also said the mascot would not be something that would lead to ridicule, Kaler said.
In its report, the student committee acknowledged that most alumni it interviewed and many current students oppose the idea of a new mascot but concluded benefits such as the potential to create campus unity outweighed those concerns.
American Indians and the NCAA pushed the university for years to do away with Chief Illiniwek, which had been portrayed since 1926 by a student in a buckskin costume who danced at football and basketball games and other events. Many American Indians found those dances and the portrayal offensive.
The tradition's defenders still maintain the Chief was meant to show respect to American Indians.
NCAA sanctions imposed in 2005 barred Illinois from hosting postseason events. Two years later, the university retired the chief.
Olympic torch arrives in Brazil to cheers and jeers.
By Eric Adelson
What was supposed to be a grand stage for Brazil turned out to be a battle for Brazil's stage.
Embattled Brazil President Dilma Rousseff made an appearance Tuesday morning at an important juncture in the nation's history: the arrival of the Olympic torch for the 2016 Summer Games in Rio. Rousseff emerged from the presidential palace and took her place beside a small cauldron, declaring, "Brazil is ready to host the most successful Olympics in history."
Embattled Brazil President Dilma Rousseff made an appearance Tuesday morning at an important juncture in the nation's history: the arrival of the Olympic torch for the 2016 Summer Games in Rio. Rousseff emerged from the presidential palace and took her place beside a small cauldron, declaring, "Brazil is ready to host the most successful Olympics in history."
Just across the street, protesters waited to greet her.
Yet there were as many cheers as jeers for a leader who may not last in office long enough to preside over the Opening Ceremonies in August. For all the nationwide talk about getting rid of her – "Tchau Querida!" or "Bye Dear!" has become a rallying cry – there is also a group that feels the push to oust her is not based in democracy, and is poisonous for the populace. Many of those people made their voices heard Monday.
"The media does not cover our side," exclaimed one sign-carrying Dilma supporter, who did not give her name. She and others here feel the current climate is part of a "coup," authored by other corrupt politicians and egged on by an antiestablishment press.
Rousseff waved at her backers, smiling again as some shouted for her, "Dilma!"
The torch was lit and carried across a cement walkway toward Eixo Monumental, one of the main arteries toward the hotel district here. For a brief moment, there was awe and appreciation for a lasting tradition of sport. A few of the onlookers welled up in tears.
And then it go very noisy.
As the torch crossed a bridge, protesters and police followed. A helicopter hovered overhead and mounted police attended closely. Supporters of Dilma strode in the same mob as the critics, and it almost seemed like one united group when in fact it was hardly that. One sign called for an end to the impeachment, while steps away an inflatable convict in jail attire carried a torch. All this went on as office workers stepped out of their buildings to gawk. Sponsor vehicles trailed slowly behind the procession, with one carrying extra torches for the runners. It almost seemed as if the relay was merely an opportunity for the protests to flourish.
The scene split into two: expression of anger in some pockets, and expressions of joy in others. Some mobbed the torch as it continued, cheering and taking selfies. Others took selfies with the inflatable convict. As the procession passed, one businessman provided his own expression of apathy, getting his shoes shined on the side of the road and looking at his phone. It was that kind of morning.
The torch relay is supposed to be symbolic: a seamless link of the birthplace of democracy in Greece to the next nation to host the Olympics. What happened here on Tuesday was both a validation and a repudiation of that. Democracy is never seamless, and sport is never truly the center of attention.
The Kentucky Derby favorite who's nobody's favorite.
By Pat Forde
The favorite for Saturday's 142nd Kentucky Derby is a colt named Nyquist. Fortunately, he is unable to complain about the lack of respect he has been accorded.
Because if Nyquist were an athlete equipped with vocal chords, we would hear no end about the haters and doubters in his path. This would be a Chip on the Shoulder Special, a succession of laments about being unloved by the press and the betting public.
Here is why: Nyquist is undefeated, a perfect 7-0 in his lifetime, a record rarely carried into the Run for the Roses. He stamped himself as North America's premier 2-year-old colt last year by winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He stamped himself as the Derby favorite on April 2 by winning a much-anticipated Florida Derby, dominating his showdown with fellow unbeaten Mohaymen.
Yet the embrace of Nyquist has been restrained, to say the least. The hype train has not left the station.
Las Vegas projections have him opening at no better than 3-1 odds, despite the generally undistinguished caliber of his competition. If indeed he goes off at 3-1, it would be higher than the last two Derby favorites and seven of the last 16 in a notoriously wide-open race. For an undefeated 2-year-old champion, that's noteworthy.
A Louisville Courier-Journal media poll Sunday of 15 journalists picked Nyquist as the favorite, but one-third of those polled had a different horse on top. The words "parity" and "balanced" have been thrown around a lot in the Churchill Downs barn area in recent days. Chatter by morning workout watchers about the "hot horse" – a Derby tradition older than the Twin Spires themselves – has rarely included Nyquist.
"Maybe Nyquist isn't getting the respect he deserves," said rival trainer Todd Pletcher, who will send Outwork and Destin to post in the Derby, "because all he does is win."
But you won't hear any no-respect screeds from the horse, of course. Or from his trainer, Doug O'Neill, who has mastered the art of bland politeness in all media engagements. He has become the Lon Kruger of horse racing – friendly, accessible, and revealing almost nothing of substance.
"It's just an honor to be the favorite," O'Neill said. "No big thoughts on what some people are writing about."
Here is the biggest obstacle to the Nyquist hype train: the lingering lovefest generated in 2015 by American Pharoah.
In sports, you never want to be the man who follows The Man. Or, in this case, the horse that follows The Horse.
Nyquist isn't winning that comparison battle with American Pharoah, the mesmerizing thoroughbred that captured America's wandering sporting eye last spring. He's not winning it now, and probably not ever.
When Pharoah smashed the storyline that had clung to horse racing for 37 years by winning the Triple Crown, it elevated him into the pantheon of all-time greats. After victories in the Derby and Preakness, it was a catharsis and an unrestrained celebration at Belmont Park that June day, triggering an unforgettable grandstand roar that still echoes today. It's hard to move past something that glorious.
"There's still a little Pharoah hangover," said the horse's trainer, Bob Baffert.
Since it had been an eternity between Triple Crown triumphs, the natural assumption is that it will be a damn long time until we see another horse of American Pharoah's caliber. That flies in the face of past precedent – three Triple Crowns were won in five years from 1973-78, and four in eight years from 1941-48 – but the feeling is hard to shake. If you want to believe in the special greatness of Pharoah, you don't readily expect it to be replicated the following spring.
So Nyquist is battling bad timing. And bad times.
Another big reason why Nyquist has failed to enrapture the sport is his Beyer Speed Figures. They are the coin of the realm in racing, a numerical formula used by the Daily Racing Form to quantify how well horses run on various tracks and in varying conditions.
The Beyer numbers for Nyquist are pedestrian, if not downright plodding. His highest figure is a 101 in the San Vicente Stakes in February. The Florida Derby figure was a 94. The other five races failed to break 90.
As a point of contrast: American Pharoah had two triple-digit speed figures at age 2, then two more in his Derby prep races in Arkansas. Pharoah then produced speed figures of 105 (Derby), 102 (Preakness after a freak thunderstorm) and 105 (Belmont). His mic drop in the Breeders Cup Classic last October earned an eyebrow-raising 120.
On that same day, 2-year-old Nyquist was winning the Juvenile with a speed figure of 89. Ho hum. It actually stamped him as only the second-best 2-year-old at Keeneland Race Course that afternoon, far less dazzling than Songbird, who earned a 99 speed figure while winning the Juvenile Fillies race.
If Songbird had been pointed toward the Derby instead of the Kentucky Oaks – the fillies race run Friday – she could well have been the first female solo favorite in the Derby since 1915. (Unfortunately, racing fans will not see her at all this weekend; she is sidelined by a fever.)
But none of that will matter come Saturday evening here. American Pharoah, now enjoying a lucrative life at stud in the rolling bluegrass country of Kentucky – will not be running. Songbird will not be running. And Nyquist's competition isn't much on paper.
If you think Nyquist's speed figures are unspectacular, well, he has a lot of company. Only three other horses have a triple-digit speed figure: Santa Anita Derby winner Exaggerator at 103, Tampa Bay Derby winner Destin at 100, and Danzing Candy at 100 in an allowance race. Nobody in the 20-horse field has multiple triple-digit figures.
That is all the more reason for Nyquist to be a dominant favorite at a short price Saturday. Yet that seems unlikely at this point.
"I'm optimistic we're going to win," O'Neill said, while stopping short of predicting victory. "He's showing us he's going to run a big race."
Nyquist might not have greatness in him. But it may only take pretty goodness to win this Kentucky Derby. If he does it, the missing respect will arrive with the blanket of roses.
On
emoriesofhistory.com
1871 - The first game of the National Association of Baseball Players was played. Fort Wayne beat Cleveland 2-0.
1929 - Lou Gehrig hit three consecutive home runs.
1954 - The first intercollegiate court tennis match in the U.S. It was between Yale and Princeton.
1954 - The Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals set a national league record when they used 42 players in one game. The Phillies won 14-10.
1963 - Pitcher Bob Shaw set a record with 5 balks in a game.
1973 - The Phillies beat the Braves 5-4 in 20 innings in the longest game to date at Veterans Stadium.
1975 - Bob Watson (Houston Astros) scored the one-millionth run in major league baseball history.
1980 - Mike Squires (Chicago White Sox) played the position of catcher in the final inning against the Brewers. It was the first time a left handed catcher had played since 1958.
1984 - Dave Kingman hit a fly ball that got stuck in the ceiling of the Metrodome.
1991 - Chris James (Cleveland Indians) set a club record with nine RBIs in a game.
1993 - Dale Hunter (Washington Capitals) was suspended 21 games for his blindside check of Pierre Turgeon (New York Islanders) in a game played on April 8.
1994 - Charles Barkley (Phoenix Suns) scored 56 points, 38 of which came in the first half, against the Golden State Warriors.
2004 - Alex Rodriguez (New York Yankees) hit his 350th career home run and drove in his 1,000th run. He was the youngest player to reach 350 homeruns at 28 years, 282 days.
1929 - Lou Gehrig hit three consecutive home runs.
1954 - The first intercollegiate court tennis match in the U.S. It was between Yale and Princeton.
1954 - The Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals set a national league record when they used 42 players in one game. The Phillies won 14-10.
1963 - Pitcher Bob Shaw set a record with 5 balks in a game.
1973 - The Phillies beat the Braves 5-4 in 20 innings in the longest game to date at Veterans Stadium.
1975 - Bob Watson (Houston Astros) scored the one-millionth run in major league baseball history.
1980 - Mike Squires (Chicago White Sox) played the position of catcher in the final inning against the Brewers. It was the first time a left handed catcher had played since 1958.
1984 - Dave Kingman hit a fly ball that got stuck in the ceiling of the Metrodome.
1991 - Chris James (Cleveland Indians) set a club record with nine RBIs in a game.
1993 - Dale Hunter (Washington Capitals) was suspended 21 games for his blindside check of Pierre Turgeon (New York Islanders) in a game played on April 8.
1994 - Charles Barkley (Phoenix Suns) scored 56 points, 38 of which came in the first half, against the Golden State Warriors.
2004 - Alex Rodriguez (New York Yankees) hit his 350th career home run and drove in his 1,000th run. He was the youngest player to reach 350 homeruns at 28 years, 282 days.
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