Latest news with #Cub
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
The Short Porch is thinking about Pete Crow-Armstrong and pitchouts
If you are a fan of checking out leaderboards, have I got some leaderboards for you. Entering play today, 60 games into the season, your WAR leader in the National League is Pete Crow-Armstrong. That's true whether you're a fan of fWAR (3.6) or bWAR (3.8) and it doesn't take a lot of digging into the numbers to see how the Cubs centerfielder has played himself into the highly speculative early MVP conversation. He's slashing .281/.313/.562 with 15 home runs, 21 stolen bases and 51 RBI a little more than a third of the way through the season. I could talk about the bat or the glove for days, and probably will dig into both later this season. However, today I want to talk about PCA's baserunning and speed because it's contributing to circumstances I'm not sure I've ever seen on a baseball field. Take, for example, this play last night [VIDEO]. Advertisement The probability that PCA can and will head home sets up a situation where José Tena has to try and hold PCA on third, but by the time he's done that even Carson Kelly can leg out that grounder. That effectively turns an out into a baserunner because of the fear of the run. That's quite the trick if you can pull it off. But that highly improbable event happens a few times a season. And nothing prepared me for the more bizarre moment that involved PCA last night. Unfortunately this didn't make the highlight reel for a video, but I grabbed some screenshots. After PCA took a walk against former Cub Andrew Chafin to put runners at first and second with one out Carson Kelly hit a single to load the bases with Happ at third, PCA at second and Kelly at first. Michael Busch drew a walk to score Happ and keep the bases loaded. Dansby Swanson got called out on strikes on an outside pitch for the second out: Dansby is called out on a questionable strike three That set up one a play I'm not sure I've ever seen in an MLB game. Nico Hoerner, one of the best contact bats in baseball, comes to the plate with two down, the bases loaded and PCA at third. PCA knows his existence at third base is enough to cause distractions, and he decides to take advantage by dancing down the line in eyesight of Nationals reliever Cole Henry: PCA dancing down the line It looks mostly like PCA is trying to 1) take the attention of the battery while they try to get Nico out and maybe, if he's lucky, 2) induce a bad throw to cause some chaos. He's not all that far down the line even though he's moving a lot and it'd be silly to try and steal home with two outs and the righty on the mound. You can see where PCA is down the line here: PCA down the line just before the pitchout All of the above is why my eyes were not prepared for what happened next — an old school pitchout with the bases loaded and two down: Nationals pitchout with the bases loaded PItchouts are increasingly rare in today's game as you can see below: Advertisement I'm shortcutting a lot of great analysis here, but Sam Miller on his substack discussed the demise of the pitchout in 2023 and estimated each team might throw a single pitchout a season. The bottom line is that sabermetrics made a really compelling case that they weren't worth wasting a pitch that could be a strike, which makes sense. That said, even when pitchouts were much more common, I'm not sure I've ever seen a pitchout with the bases loaded because a team would only do it if you thought there were a reasonable shot at at getting a runner who was trying to steal. And with the bases loaded, the only runner who could be attempting to steal would be the guy on third. In this case, that would mean one of the fastest players in MLB taking a shot at stealing home with two outs despite the righty on the mound. Then again, maybe the combination of Nico in the box and PCA at the plate makes this a different equation. After all, if you can get the out at third, you eliminate the risk of Nico making contact with the bases loaded, which he promptly did [VIDEO]. What say you, Cubs fans? When was the last time you saw a pitchout with the bases loaded or did that play make you do a double take as well? Was it just a good risk to take given Nico's much higher than likely ability to get a hit at the plate? Or was it something else all together? Advertisement Either way, I can now definitively say I've seen a pitchout with the bases loaded. Pete Crow-Armstrong continues to be in the middle of the most unlikely things. More from
Chicago Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
AbbVie partners with Chicago Cubs to fund cancer research; ‘We aim to create greater awareness for cancer advocacy'
AbbVie may be known to many people for its medicines like Jardiance, Rinvoq and Skyrizzi, through their television commercials, but in laboratories in a building on its 70-acre North Chicago campus a group of scientists is on the cutting edge of cancer treatment. Though there is an emphasis on blood cancers, Andy Souers, AbbVie's vice president heading oncology discovery research, said the scientists are also trying to find treatments that work for ovarian, lung and colorectal cancers, among others. Working meticulously over sometimes long periods of time, looking at human cells and the molecules within them, Souers said the scientists look for ways to kill the malignant cells to improve a patient's condition. 'We take white cells out of the body to help find ways of curation,' Souers said. 'We look for ways we can just kill the tumor cells.' As Souers and his colleagues in AbbVie's labs work to find more solutions to treat cancer, the company is increasing its awareness campaign for cancer advocacy, including a partnership with the Chicago Cubs announced Friday, which could put thousands of dollars toward treating cancer. Dubbed 'Striking Out Cancer,' for every strikeout a Cub pitcher throws during the 2025 home season starting last Friday, AbbVie will donate $233 to Cub Charities, according to an AbbVie press release. The $233 amount is in honor of the 233 Americans diagnosed with cancer every hour. 'Together with our hometown partner, the Chicago Cubs, we aim to create greater awareness for cancer advocacy and to make a remarkable impact for those living with cancer worldwide,' Tracie Haas, AbbVie's senior vice president for corporate affairs, said in the release. In the Cubs' three games over the weekend. the team's pitchers struck out 18 batters netting nearly $5,000 to fight cancer. With 63 home games left this season, the donation could approach more than $100,000. While the Cub pitchers are doing their part, AbbVie's scientists continue to look for more ways to snuff out cancerous cells. Other people at the company are doing their part, getting the medicine to the patients who need it. Lung cancer is a serious concern and receiving a lot of emphasis from AbbVie because, Souers said, it is one of the deadliest. The five-year survival rate is less than 10%, creating an urgency in the lab. 'It's a small cell and that makes it very, very hard,' Souers said. 'Our goal is to dose the patient. Once we have something which works, we go to the next generation of the medicine.' In the labs, people and machines are working together to test and retest potential medicines until they work. Emily Faivre, a senior principal research scientist working in the labs devoted to finding effective medicine to treat cancer, said the testing is rigorous before the approval process even starts. Holding a 2½-inch-by-four-inch specimen container with 384 wells — it's like a honeycomb from a beehive — Faivre said each well receives a drop of material for testing through laboratory equipment. 'It reads enzyme activity,' Faivre said. 'The molecules are very small. We need to know how many we need to kill a cancer cell.' Once the medicine is created and completes the regulatory process, with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as well as similar agencies in other countries around the world, Brian Anderson deals with the logistics of getting it to other nations. Anderson, AbbVie's vice president of product development for science and technology, said the company has established two distinct supply chains. If there is a problem with one, the other can pick up the slack while the issue is resolved. It assures a patient will get their life-saving drug. 'We supply these medicines to 175 countries around the world,' Anderson said. 'We are doing this on a fairly large scale. Thousands of people need this product.'
The Courier
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Courier
'Other Murray brother' Duncan's 5 favourite places in Dunblane
Duncan Murray has lived in Dunblane all his life and knows his hometown like the back of his hand. No gallivanting across the globe (say to France, Australia or Wimbledon) for Duncan. He's Dunblane through and through. He's also fictional – the unfortunate 'other Murray brother' who couldn't play tennis, made up by Scottish comedian Chris Forbes. Judy Murray, mother of Sir Andy and Jamie, got in on the joke in 2019, and the result was so convincing, lots of people still don't realise it's a joke. 'Duncan' has gone on to perform live with Judy and become beloved in his own right. He may be a character but he's larger than life, so we at The Courier asked him to choose his five favourite places in Dunblane and tell us why he loves them. Duncan's first tip is to visit a certain postbox in Dunblane town centre. 'Just to be clear – no, I don't mean my brother's gold postbox on the High Street,' he says. 'To be honest I think the colour of that one makes it look a bit tacky. 'Andy's box gets enough attention as it is. I feel bad for the overlooked classic red wall box, which is just as valuable and just as useful as its golden counterpart. 'Sure, no one wants their photo with the older box, and it might not be as exciting. But I think we are both worthy of love. 'The postboxes are both worthy, I mean. I'm definitely just talking about postboxes.' A well-known lover of the arts and performing, Duncan has a special place in his heart for Rubber Chicken Theatre on the High Street. He calls it 'one of the most culturally and artistically important performing arts centres, not just in Dunblane, but in the whole world.' Duncan explains: 'Mum and I rehearsed here for our live shows. 'I think, in time, people from all around the globe will travel here like a pilgrimage, in the same way people visit Abbey Road or the Globe theatre, keen to get a glimpse of where such an iconic duo like me and Mum once graced the humble floorboards.' Yards away from Dunblane Sports Club, where Andy and Jamie first played tennis, Duncan forged his own legacy – at the Scout hall. 'I always loved my time here, even though being a Cub was much more challenging than I expected,' he admits. 'Some of the badges were practically impossible to earn. 'I managed to get my Home Help, Hobbies, and Collector badges, but I'm actually still trying to earn my Athletics, Community Impact, and Local Knowledge awards. 'Maybe this article will help me with that last one. 'Technically, as I'm still active in my quest for badges, I am the longest serving Cub in Dunblane history.' The lush, green Ochlochy Park is a hidden gem, particularly on a sunny day. 'I spent a lot of time in this park as a kid,' says Duncan. 'Mostly because my mum would drop me off here on her way to the tennis centre with Andy and Jamie. 'At first, they would bring me along to act as a ball boy. But once it became clear that I had no talent at catching, throwing, or even holding the balls (they're all fuzzy and feel funny), Ochlochy Park became my daily hangout. 'I loved wandering aimlessly, feeding the ducks, and chasing squirrels. 'I'd play my own games, like hide-and-seek and tig. Admittedly, harder to play by yourself, but at least no one was yelling about double faults and forearm smashes.' If you're a local, you've probably spotted Duncan in his final favourite Dunblane spot before. And if you're an M&S staff member, you've probably tactfully tried to get him to leave a few times. 'Sometimes I spend hours and hours in here and I don't even like tea or coffee,' he reveals. 'But if I wait in here long enough, sometimes I get lucky and see my mum pop in for her shopping, and then I can plead with her to come and join me for a catch-up. 'She often refuses at first, but eventually I wear her down with the promise of cake.'
USA Today
17-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
LFA champ Richie Miranda hopes to bring 'Machete Style' to a UFC cage soon
LFA champ Richie Miranda hopes to bring 'Machete Style' to a UFC cage soon Richie Miranda thinks it's time for "Machete Style" to grace the UFC cage. The current LFA lightweight champion, Miranda (11-1) won the title against skilled wrestler and previously unbeaten fighter Richie Lewis (6-1) in what the oddsmakers deemed a massive upset. Now having five-straight victories including two finishes, Miranda hopes the UFC call comes soon, through his coach and manager Cub Swanson, of course. "I believe so," Miranda recently told MMA Junkie Radio. "It's been a long time coming. I feel like I've been ready for quite some time. I think this one really marked a stamp on my journey and just shows what 'Machete' style is about. I come to fight and I come to finish fights. My fighting style is violent and exciting. I know my Cub is already going to be ringing." Miranda, 30, previously received the UFC call on short notice but was unable to take the bout. One year and two wins later, he's still waiting for the promotion to circle back. But perhaps the extra wait will prove to be a good thing. "Experience and evolving and just growth," Miranda said. "I always just take one fight at a time. Personally, I've always been looking for that UFC, but any opportunity that's come my way, I've taken it and just proved that I'm up there with these guys at a high level. I can compete at a high level. This last year has been great. I've been with Cub and Manny and the whole Bloodline crew for about a year now. It's been great. It's been a true blessing." In the gym every day with the likes of Swanson and UFC lightweight Rafa Garcia, Miranda knows how good he is and thinks he's proved it. If and when he gets to the UFC, Miranda vows to show the matchmakers and Dana White he belongs. "I'm down to test my skills against anybody," Miranda said. "Yesterday, I was looking at all the lightweight bouts that are coming up in the next events. I don't see that many, so if they can make one happen for me, that'd be awesome. ...
IOL News
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
Opel to revive sporty GSE badge, but not as you might remember it
The GSE badge is returning for Opel's all-electric era. Image: Supplied The GSE badge is well known to Opel fans of a certain era, and now it's making a comeback in fully-electric guise. South Africans will know the badge from the Kadett E of the late 1980s, where it formed a sportier midrange alternative to the bare-bones Cub. Overseas the badge made an appearance on Commodore and Monza models in the 1970s, where it stood for 'Grand Sport Einspritzung', with the 'E' denoting fuel injection. While it was revived for plug-in hybrid versions of the latest Astra in 2022, 2025 will see GSE becoming a sub-brand for fully electric models. GS still stands for 'Gran Sport' and no prizes for guessing what the 'E' stands for in the modern context. ''The GSE sub-brand stands for particularly dynamic, exhilarating, and emotional Opel models,' said the brand's CEO Florian Huettl. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'In 2025, we will take the next important step. The new GSE models will be fully electric. This demonstrates how powerful, exciting, and inspiring battery-electric mobility can be." It remains to be seen whether the badge will adorn high-performance models, but Opel has hinted that the GSE models will have model-specific chassis tuning that 'directly integrates the driver and offers exciting driving pleasure.' The new sub-brand comes at the correct time as Opel currently offers numerous vehicles with fully-electric powertrains, including the Corsa-e, Mokka-e, Frontera E, Grandland Electric, Combo-e and Zafire-e Life. Opel is aiming to become a fully electric brand in Europe by 2028, although combustion models are still expected to be offered in other markets. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel IOL
