Latest news with #wildcard
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
The Ryder Cup dilemma 'helping' Open contender Bradley
There are scant scenarios where debate would swirl about a Ryder Cup captain picking one of the world's most in-form players as a it's a no-brainer. But Keegan Bradley finds himself right in the middle of a rare conundrum with the biennial contest between the United States and Europe an outstanding run of form, the US captain has played himself into contention for the 12-strong team to compete at Bethpage Black, New York in late has not been a playing captain at the Ryder Cup since Arnold Palmer led the US team in 1963, at a time when the event was not the global behemoth it has become a strong start at this week's Open Championship has further underlined 39-year-old Bradley's credentials."I've been playing some pretty good golf - but so have a lot of other Americans," Bradley said in an interview published on the Ryder Cup website this week., external"If I was sitting here without being captain then making this team would be my number one goal - that doesn't change with me being captain."I would be sitting here thinking 'I'm right there and have a great chance of making the team'."The world number seven is clearly feeling uneasy about the situation and has been eager to avoid discussing the hypothetical at Royal Portrush. The awkwardness of picking himself as a wildcard in New York might end up being redundant. Bradley still could qualify automatically as one of the six leading Americans - especially if he earns a high finish in the final major of the year which is weighted to carry more ranking winning the Travelers Championship on the PGA Tour last month, Bradley moved up to ninth in the US Ryder Cup qualification standings. The top six will automatically go into Bradley's team, with another half-dozen players picked by the captain."Nothing about picking whoever it is is going to be easy," said Bradley, whose sole major victory came when he won the 2011 US PGA Championship."If I get to that position [of finishing outside the top six] and I feel like I'm going to help the team, then I'll consider playing. "But I get asked that question 10 times a day and I don't really have an answer." Based on his results this year, it is hard to dispute Bradley should not be selected. Over the past seven months Bradley has earned five top-10 finishes on PGA Tour, including his one-shot triumph over England's Tommy Fleetwood at the clamour for Bradley to emulate Palmer - who was 34 when led the US team to victory in Georgia - has continued to both roles has benefitted Bradley in what he calls his "day job". He has been playing more freely on the course - shown in his accurate driving and precise putting at Portrush - and the commitment to his "other job" means he has not been overanalysing his performances."Being inside the ropes is almost like a sanctuary," Bradley said."One of the things of being a captain is when I get inside the ropes I can really focus on just playing. "Normally when I leave the tournament I'm still hyper-focused on what I did that day, what's coming up or what swing thought I'm working on."Now I leave just focused on the Ryder Cup. Worrying about my own game has been taken over and I think that helps."A strong display at Royal Portrush has further demonstrated why he deserves a place in the missed the cut at his past five Opens, he shot a three-under 68 on Friday to propel himself into Claret Jug contention at the halfway stage."It is the best round I've played at The Open in a very long time," Bradley told BBC Sport."I'm focused on being the captain. Whether I play or don't play, I just want the best for the team." Bradley's appointment makes little sense - analysis Iain Carter, BBC golf correspondentEverything about this American Ryder Cup set-up looks completely muddled to me - right down to the appointment of Keegan Bradley when it was made a year made no sense then and it is making even less sense now, if you look at it dispassionately. Bradley still doesn't know if they will start with foursomes or fourballs. [European captain] Luke Donald would have this all nailed down already, having his stats team looking at everything and getting combinations groundwork which the European captaincy regime puts in compared to what we see among the Americans - the chasm is have to wonder if [appointing Bradley] is going to will work. I've never felt more confident of a European victory on American soil given the way this has built up from their point of view.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Identifying 4 Best Eugenio Suarez Trade Destinations Amid MLB Rumors
The Arizona Diamondbacks entered the All-Star Break more than 5 games out from the final wild card spot in the National League. It comes at a time when MLB trade rumors are swirling regarding interest in the likes of Eugenio Suarez, Josh Naylor, Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly. A complete firesale is unlikely. Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that Arizona is expected to make Naylor and Suarez available. Both hitters are on expiring contracts and provide premium production in a trade market that doesn't offer a lot of options this summer. Related: With plenty of buyers around the league, let's examine the best landing spots for Suarez within the context of the latest MLB rumors. New York Yankees One of the biggest holes in the New York Yankees' lineup this season has been at second base. That's why the club designated DJ LeMahieu for assignment and moved Jazz Chisholm Jr. over to second. Now, Brian Cashman needs to find someone to fill the void at the hot corner. It's certainly not Oswald Peraza, who posted a .456 OPS in his first 148 at-bats this season. Nightengale reported on July 6 that the Yankees 'would love to acquire' Suárez, and there's mutual interest from the All-Star third baseman. The 33-year-old is also well regarded as a great clubhouse presence, which is something New York values. The added benefit for New York is that he'd require less prospect capital in a trade since he's on an expiring contract. Eugenio Suarez stats (): .250/.320/.569, .889 OPS, 31 home runs, 18 doubles in 348 ABs Related: Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are well aware of how highly regarded Suárez is in their clubhouse, particularly among the players currently on their roster. He played for Seattle from 2022 to 2023, posting a .751 OPS with 53 home runs and 183 RBIs in 312 games. He has been even better for Arizona. Seattle is in dire need of more run production from its corner infielders. At the All-Star Break, Mariners third basemen ranked 24th in OPS (.613) and 28th in home runs (two) across the league. Suárez told The Seattle Times that 'part of my heart is in Seattle' and Nightengale reported the Mariners want him back. He would be a great middle-of-the-order hitter to add to the Mariners' lineup for the stretch run. Related: Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs gave top prospect Matt Shaw every opportunity to keep the third base job. Unfortunately, the 23-year-old has posted a .556 OPS with more strikeouts (45) than hits (41) across 207 at-bats. It's time for a World Series contender to act like one at the MLB trade deadline. Suárez is an obvious solution for a team that went into the All-Star Break with the lowest OPS (.523) among MLB third basemen this season. Additionally, Suárez would be a short-term fix who wouldn't block Shaw from reclaiming the job in 2026. Acquiring Suárez would give him a chance to play for a contender, and the Cubs' lineup would improve dramatically with his addition. Related: New York Mets The New York Mets have attempted to make it work at third base with their internal options. Thus far, they've been 'rewarded' with a .2348/.288/.388 triple-slash line and a .677 OPS since May 1. That's simply not going to cut it for a team that is already sacrificing run production at catcher and in center field. Suarez is the best hitter available this summer among the Mets' positions of need and it's not particularly close. New York also has the young pitching that Arizona is reportedly looking for. It's a natural match and the added bonus for Steve Cohen would be keeping Suarez away from the Yankees. Related: Related Headlines Five Critical Questions as New York Giants Enter Make-or-Break Training Camp Sauce Gardner Becomes NFL's Highest-Paid Cornerback Detroit Tigers linked to Gold Glove third baseman from Baltimore Could Nick Saban be an Option for New York Giants in 2026 Following Return Rumors?
National Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- National Post
Toronto Blue Jays can be serious about contending for the first time in a decade
Now that they've proven they can be contenders, it's time for the surprising and entertaining Blue Jays to get serious. Article content Get serious about winning the American League East for the first time in a decade and casting aside the aim-low mindset of 'settling' for the pursuit of a wild-card spot. Article content Article content Get serious about showing that the surge to first place with that 10-game winning streak prior to the break was a truer indication than what they were in the first month of the season. Article content And from the front office, get serious about continuing to operate like the big-market team they are, shredding the perception it might have among some corners of Major League Baseball. Article content In other words, more than any other season in the era of team president Mark Shapiro and general manager Ross Atkins, it's go time for the Blue Jays. Article content Think about it, since that front office reign began in earnest in 2016 or 2017, take your pick, this is the closest the team has been to the real deal. Article content Article content The fact that the opportunity has arrived later than expected, given the breakthrough of 2021 when the team was perceived to be one loaded with so much young talent that it would be a contender for years to come, well that only heightens the anticipation of the remaining 66 games — and ideally more. Article content The fact that the AL East specifically and the American League as a whole may be more available for the taking than since the Jose Bautista-Josh Donaldson-John Gibbons era of Blue Jays baseball, it's all the more reason to get excited about what awaits. Article content Article content Though there is still plenty of baseball to be played and the opportunity for a handful of swings, good and bad, between now and October, the demarcation points for manager John Schneider's team will come fast and furious. Article content Article content For the 55-41 Jays, a record good enough to get them a two-game edge on the New York Yankees (and now just three on the surging Boston Red Sox, winners of 10 in a row) the initial reckoning arrives on Friday. Article content The first 10-game stretch out of the break is a whopper for the Jays, a stern test that can give an early indication of how legit their contender credentials might be. It starts with three against the San Francisco Giants (52-45), followed by three against the Yankees (who surely won't roll over as they did earlier in the month during a four-game sweep at the hands of the Jays) and then on to Detroit for four against the AL-leading Tigers. Article content By the time that stretch is done, the Jays will be just four days away from the July 31 trade deadline, with Atkins expected to be one of the most aggressive buyers in the league.
Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Times
Rocky Flintoff and James Anderson given Hundred wild cards
Jimmy Anderson and Rocky Flintoff have been drafted in to play in next month's Hundred tournament. Both Anderson, 42, and Flintoff, the younger son of Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff, 17, entered the Hundred players' draft that took place earlier this year but neither were picked up by one of the eight teams. They have now been given a second bite at the cherry through the Hundred's 'wild card' system which allows each of the eight teams to pick two domestic players who have done well at the start of the season and who then make up the 15th and 16th players in their squad. Flintoff will play for the Northern Superchargers — the team which is coached by his father Andrew — while Anderson will play for Manchester Originals based at his home ground of Old Trafford. Anderson, who retired from Test cricket last summer, has been playing T20 cricket for the first time in 11 years and has so far taken 14 wickets in the group stage of the Blast with Lancashire Lightning, including three for 17 in his comeback match. Flintoff is a supremely talented young all-rounder and has already played in teams coached by his father having been selected in England Lions squads over the past few months. In January he became the youngest player to score a century for England Lions in a match against a Cricket Australia XI in Brisbane, taking the record off his father who was 20 when he struck a century for England A (as the Lions was then known) against Kenya in 1998. Anderson has been playing in the Vitality Blast with Lancashire this season ROGER EVANS/ACTION PLUS/SHUTTERSTOCK If Anderson plays for the Originals, he will become the second-oldest player to feature in the Hundred behind the spinner Imran Tahir who was 43 years and 149 days old when he played in 2022. Anderson turns 43 on July 30, and the Hundred starts on August 5, with the Originals' first game a day later. If Flintoff, who was born in April 2007, were to play, he would become the youngest to play in the Hundred, taking the record off Rehan Ahmed who made his debut for Southern Brave at the age of 17 years and 355 days. Flintoff is already the youngest player to appear for Lancashire having made his first-team debut last summer. 'I've loved my time with Lancashire this season' Anderson said. 'I'm really happy to be part of the Manchester Originals squad and I'm excited to have the opportunity to add value in the Hundred. It's a competition I've really enjoyed watching. When you're at the games you can really see that it does attract a slightly different crowd, a lot of younger people and families and you can't underestimate how important that is for our game.'
CNA
5 days ago
- Sport
- CNA
Anderson picked as wildcard for Manchester Originals in The Hundred
Former England fast bowler James Anderson has been selected as a wildcard pick for Manchester Originals in The Hundred 2025, the league announced on Tuesday. The 42-year-old, who retired from international duty in July last year, was initially overlooked in The Hundred draft but secured his place during the wildcard selections for the fifth season, set to begin on August 5. Anderson returned to T20 cricket this year after an 11-year hiatus, claiming 14 wickets in eight matches for Lancashire in the T20 Blast. If Anderson plays this season, he will become the second-oldest player in the competition's history, trailing only Imran Tahir, who played at 43 years and 149 days in 2022. He joins a Manchester Originals squad that includes Jos Buttler, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, as well as overseas players Heinrich Klaasen, Noor Ahmad, and Rachin Ravindra.
