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New York Times
an hour ago
- Sport
- New York Times
MLB's first half is done. Time for Regression Court. Plus, a busy NHL day
The Pulse Newsletter 📣 | This is The Athletic's daily sports newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox. Good morning! Remember, half a season is 81 games, not the All-Star break. With the MLB season hitting its halfway mark this week, due to teams having actually played 81 games each (ignore any references to the 'first half' ending at the All-Star break), it's a great time to take stock. Instead of issuing obvious superlatives and telling you that Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani are the MVPs, it's trial time at Regression Court. In this courtroom, The Pulse names a handful of players who had surprising first halves (for good or for ill) and asks MLB newsletter author Levi Weaver to issue a verdict on this question: Will the player regress to his mean, will he remain under duress or will he have continued success? We begin with Jeremy Peña, the Astros shortstop who's having a career year at the plate, playing slick defense and just hired Scott Boras to make sure he gets paid for all of it: 💬 I think the breakout is legit. His BABIP is .365, so he should regress a bit, but his hard-hit and line-drive percentages are career highs, and his K-rate is a career low. So are his chase rates and first-pitch swing rates. Verdict: Success. Julio Rodríguez, the Mariners center fielder in his third straight season of offensive slippage: 💬 It has been a year and a half since we saw the breakout-superstar version of Julio Rodriguez. I think this is a fair question not just for this year, but for his career. He's still just 24, so I'm not too concerned long-term, but I haven't seen any reason to believe a rebound is imminent. Verdict: Duress. Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs center fielder and defensive whiz who's ridden a powerful season at the plate to a legit MVP candidacy so far: 💬 I'm trying not to nitpick about an OBP in the low .300s, so instead, let's focus on the fact this is a 23-year-old kid who has gone 20/20 more than a month before the All-Star break. Speed doesn't slump (and defense barely does), so I don't know if he has more in the tank, but I do think this season is real. Verdict: Success. Jarren Duran, the Red Sox center fielder who's had a lousy year after defense and offense made him one of the best players in baseball in 2024: 💬 I just (finally) started watching the Red Sox series on Netflix this week, and Duran's story is relatable for me. Perfectionism can drive you to work hard, sure. But ironically, once you get where you're going, it's poison. Did you know Duran was worth 8.7 bWAR last year? Fifth-best in the league. More than Juan Soto or Francisco Lindor. He's extremely talented, but I find myself wondering if he's still insulting himself after every mistake. If he can find some peace, a positive regression is inevitable. Hopeful verdict: Regress. I also asked Levi about a few teams that had odd first halves. He thinks the Braves should consider selling at the trade deadline and that the Rockies are breaking the losses record. Asked to explain the excellent Rays, he only says, 'That's left to God and mystery.' Thanks to Levi, whom you can read all the time in The Windup. Court adjourned. Raptors part ways with Ujiri Masai Ujiri is out as president and vice chairman of the Toronto Raptors after 12 years. The decision to split with the executive who brought the team a championship in 2019 came just one day after the conclusion of the NBA Draft. Ujiri's rocky relationship with Edward Rodgers, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment's executive chairman of the board, likely doomed his future in Toronto. But firing Ujiri raises legitimate questions about MLSE's priorities, and leaves the Raptors in murky waters. Advertisement NHL Draft just one part of busy day Yesterday was quite bustling. The Canadiens made a big splash in trading for Noah Dobson, John Tavares took a hometown discount to stay with the Maple Leafs and the Panthers locked up reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner Sam Bennett for the next eight years. Oh, and the ratification of the new CBA. In case all that didn't satisfy your hockey cravings, we also had the NHL Draft last night. Defenseman Matthew Schaefer went No. 1 as expected, while the NHL's new 'decentralized' draft format made for some incredibly awkward moments. Of course, we also have draft grades for every first-round pick here. More news: Texas State is expected to officially join the Pac-12 on Monday. Read Chris Vannini's full report on the new addition and how the Pac-12 rebuilt itself. Angels manager Ron Washington will miss the remainder of the season with an undisclosed medical issue. The Timberwolves signed center Naz Reid to a five-year, $125 million contract. As Minnesota fans would say, Naz Reid. Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers tallied 27 points and six assists last night. She's quietly having one of the best rookie seasons in league history. 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir was arrested for obstruction of justice in Los Angeles. More details here. 📺 CWC: SL Benfica vs. Chelsea 4 p.m. ET on DAZN The FIFA Club World Cup is into the round of 16. Is this tournament a bit weird? Yes, definitely. But is the bracket quite a thing to look at, with a mixture of clubs that rarely or never see each other? Also yes, in a cool way. Benfica, the big Portuguese side, have faced Chelsea just twice, both in the Champions League quarterfinals in 2012. (Chelsea won both legs.) 📺 MLB: Cubs at Astros 7:15 p.m. ET on FOX Two first-place clubs with two of the year's most exciting players in the aforementioned Crow-Armstrong and Peña. It's a homecoming series for ex-Astro Kyle Tucker. Another great read from Rustin Dodd for our new desk, Peak, on the power of walking. Inspiration to get outside today. The New York Times survey on your 10 favorite movies of this millennium produced some brutal choices. 'Mean Girls' vs. 'Mulholland Drive'? How could I possibly? (The final top 100 is here.) — Jason Kirk The Athletic's weekly sports news quiz. Got turned on to 'Common Side Effects' on HBO this week. It's an animated show and a Cartoon Network Adult Swim show, but leans more dramatic than comedic (though the humor is still there). I'm still only four or five episodes in, but I'm definitely hooked. — Levi Weaver Advertisement Love it or loathe it, Jake Paul — set to fight tonight — has become the biggest draw in American boxing. What does that say about the sport? Iced tea, simply. I started cold-brewing my own with leftover fruit from the week (toddlers waste a lot of fruit). A delight. — Chris Branch John Hollinger on the worst and weirdest moves of the 2025 NBA Draft. Click. This chocolate chia pudding, with a sweetness level that's adaptable to your breakfast, snack or dessert preferences. — Torrey Hart Thursday's USWNT win offered a poetic checkpoint for coach Emma Hayes one year into the job, as Tamerra Griffin writes. No longer thinking of boiling water for anything from tea to pasta as a test of patience is a little kitchen miracle. Our cheap Cosori is splendid. The cousins at Wirecutter have more. — Chris Sprow Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: Dan Pompei's feature on the unique relationship between 22-year-old Bucky Irving and 86-year-old Tom Moore. Most-read on the website yesterday: The NHL Draft live blog. Ticketing links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.
New York Times
9 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Connections: Sports Edition hints for June 28, 2025, puzzle No. 278
Need help with today's Connections: Sports Edition puzzle? You've come to the right place. Welcome to Connections: Sports Edition Coach — a spot to gather clues and discuss (and share) scores. A quick public service announcement before we continue: The bottom of this article includes one answer in each of the four categories. So if you want to solve the board hint-free, we recommend you play before continuing. Advertisement You can access Saturday's game here. Game No. 278's difficulty: 2.5 out of 5 Scroll below for one answer in each of the four categories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yellow: HOOK Green: SPLIT Blue: STORY Purple: OWN The next puzzle will be available at midnight in your time zone. Thanks for playing — and share your scores in the comments! (Illustration: John Bradford / The Athletic)
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ken Rosenthal hits Cubs with Kyle Tucker trade deadline warning
The post Ken Rosenthal hits Cubs with Kyle Tucker trade deadline warning appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Chicago Cubs are faced with a dilemma involving Kyle Tucker. They could seek to extend his contract or trade him before the July 31 deadline. Advertisement Tucker is slated to become a free agent after this season. The Cubs are currently 46-33 and in 1st place in the National League Central Division. Tucker is batting .288 with 84 hits, 15 home runs, 48 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases. Nevertheless, the Cubs have to make a decision. But there is more at play here than just retaining Tucker, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. He warns the Cubs that they could lose additional talent to free agency by next year. 'The sense of urgency for the Chicago Cubs does not simply stem from the prospect of right fielder Kyle Tucker leaving after one year,' he said. 'The Cubs could lose five more important players to the open market after 2026, making an aggressive push at this year's trade deadline all the more imperative.' Advertisement Rosenthal says the Cubs are likely to keep some of their top players. But Tucker and a handful of others are likely to be gone. 'The potential members of the free-agent class of 2026-27 are left fielder Ian Happ, designated hitter Seiya Suzuki, second baseman Nico Hoerner, right-hander Jameson Taillon and left-hander Matt Boyd,' he said. 'That group, combined with Tucker, accounted for 37 percent of the team's fWAR entering Tuesday. And while the Cubs might retain some of those players, they are unlikely to keep all of them, Tucker in particular.' In addition to Tucker, the Cubs are getting plenty out of catcher Pete Crow-Armstrong, who's having a sensational season. He's batting .273 with 83 hits, 21 home runs, 61 RBI's, and 24 stolen bases. Already, there are talks of PCA being a strong candidate for MVP. He signed a one year deal with the Cubs this season and they are looking to retain his services. The Cubs do have priorities to sort out According to Rosenthal, even if he stays and Tucker goes, the Cubs could still have a solid lineup. However, the Ricketts family and existential circumstances ahead could derail their chances of keeping players. Advertisement 'Their situation is not now or never, not with the emergence of center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong giving the 2026 roster a formidable look even if Tucker departs. But ownership's reluctance to sign players long-term, coupled with the possibility of a work stoppage in 2027, adds to the perception of a shrinking window. Or, to use a more dire analogy, walls closing in.' In addition, the Cubs have to look fill in the gaps when it comes to pitching. They lost left hander Justin Steele for the season due to an elbow injury. Also they lost right hander Javier Assad due to a strained left oblique. To Rosenthal, the Cubs need to find a pitcher with postseason caliber. While their choices maybe limited, they do have options. Advertisement 'That type of pitcher almost certainly will be in scant supply at the deadline,' Rosenthal said. 'But the Cubs, according to sources briefed on their plans, already are canvassing the market, making inquiries on Miami Marlins right-handers Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera, among many others.' 'Alcantara, owed the balance of his $17 million salary this season and $17 million next season with a $21 million club option for 2027, would require a significant payroll boost. Cabrera, earning $1.95 million with three more years of arbitration remaining, would be a better financial fit – no small consideration for a team that reduced its Opening Day payroll from $214 million in 2024 to $191 million in '25. But the additional club control would make the cost in prospects perhaps even higher.' The Cubs could also look at signing possible free agents Zac Gallen from Arizona and Zach Eflin from Baltimore. The Cubs need to look towards the Future More than anything, Rosenthal contends that the Cubs can't waste anytime and they need to get it together. Advertisement 'But this is not a time for the team to go halfway,' Rosenthal said. 'Not if owner Tom Ricketts is serious about winning a World Series in one of the next two years.' The Cubs last won the World Series in 2016, ending a 108 year drought. The last time the Cubs made the playoffs was 2020 when the lost in the NL Wild Card series. Related: MLB rumors: Cubs linked to 2 Pirates for trade deadline talks Related: MLB rumors: Yankees, Dodgers, Cubs could fight over trade deadline 'prize'
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Trea Turner Still Optimistic After Phillies' Horrendous Astros Series
Trea Turner Still Optimistic After Phillies' Horrendous Astros Series originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Philadelphia Phillies just came off one of the worst series they've had in a long time. After three games against the Houston Astros, the offense only managed one run. It was made even worse that the pitching was incredible, allowing just five runs across all three games. Advertisement It was a horrendous series, and yet, Phillies shortstop Trea Turner, in an article from Matt Gelb of The Athletic, is still optimistic about this team. Despite the bad series and the rough year offensively, Turner has a positive outlook. "We can improve in quite a few areas," Turner said. "We can play some better baseball. I don't think we've played our best baseball. I kind of like that." While, in the moment, this comment from Turner isn't the greatest, there's a good reason for that optimism. In 2024, the Phillies started strong and looked like the best team in baseball. But, right before the All-Star break, cracks began to show. Once they returned from the All-Star festivities, the Phillies struggled the rest of the way. The writing was on the wall for their postseason series against the Mets, and the Phillies fell out of the postseason despite having one of their best regular seasons in recent years. Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner (7) runs up the baseline after hitting a single against the Houston Astros during the seventh inning at Daikin Williams-Imagn Images That 2024 team had very little they could improve upon. This year's team is vastly different. There are a lot of issues that need to be resolved, which opens the door for improvement. That's what's exciting, Turner, the ability to improve despite being 0.5 games back of the New York Mets for the NL East. Advertisement "We've had some injuries here and there," Turner said. "We're still in a spot to win the division. I don't really know the standings, but before coming here, we were in first place. So if you had told me that two, three months ago, I would take that." While the news stings for the Phillies, especially after such a terrible series in Houston, there is reason to be optimistic. The Phillies are still fighting for the NL East lead despite their offense disappearing. Bryce Harper is still hurt, and the rest of the lineup is struggling. The only thing working is the starting rotation. If the Phillies can figure it out on offense, there will be few teams that they wouldn't have a strong chance against come the postseason. Turner is optimistic despite the terrible series. But, with the circumstances surrounding the team, it's not hard to see why he's optimistic. There's plenty of room to improve, and yet, the Phillies are right behind the Mets for the NL East title. Advertisement Related: Max Kepler Calls Out Phillies For Misleading Him in Free Agency Related: Phillies' Rob Thomson Gives Positive Injury Update on Bryce Harper This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
News18
a day ago
- Business
- News18
Barcelona, Athletic Club Engaged In Heated Battle Over Nico Williams: Report
Last Updated: Athletic Club and FC Barcelona are in a dispute over Nico Williams. Athletic refuses to negotiate, so Barcelona may activate his 58 million euro release clause. Athletic Club and FC Barcelona are embroiled in a heated dispute over Barcelona's attempt to secure the services of Spanish international winger Nico Williams. For the second summer in a row, Barcelona is trying to sign Williams. However, with Athletic refusing to negotiate the sale of their star player, Barcelona's only option is to activate his release clause, which is reportedly set at 58 million euros (68 million U.S. dollars). Barcelona has had difficulties adhering to La Liga's stringent financial fair play rules. Dani Olmo was only allowed to play after the club appealed to Spain's Superior Sports Committee. It remains uncertain whether the club is now in a financial position to register new signings without first offloading players. Athletic was incensed by an interview Barcelona sporting director Deco gave to La Vanguardia earlier this week, in which he openly discussed Williams, claiming the player had informed Athletic of his desire to join Barcelona. In response, Athletic requested both La Liga and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to examine Barcelona's financial situation – a move that angered Barcelona president Joan Laporta, who told local press that Athletic should 'mind its business", reports Xinhua. Athletic president Jon Uriarte met with La Liga president Javier Tebas on Wednesday, and the club confirmed Thursday that Barcelona's 'ability to sign players" was among the topics discussed. The club's website confirmed, 'The meeting was held in Madrid in response to a request from Athletic Club made within the framework of compliance with financial fair play. Among the topics discussed was FC Barcelona's ability to sign players." The club also reacted to Laporta's remarks, stating it was defending its 'legitimate interest… after FC Barcelona sporting director Anderson Luis de Souza, also known as 'Deco', publicly acknowledged that they will attempt to sign a player from our first team. This player has a contract with Athletic Club until June 30, 2027. Our job is to ensure that the rules of the competition are followed." Athletic further noted that Deco's comments follow Laporta's own admission that Barcelona 'is working to comply with the 1:1 rule" – the regulation that allows clubs to spend income from player sales – and, therefore, the club is not currently meeting the conditions to register new players. The pro-Barcelona press insists the club will sign Williams next week, but the saga looks set to continue throughout the summer. With IANS Inputs First Published:
