Latest news with #TOS
Chicago Tribune
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
How an increase in fastball velocity is helping Chicago Cubs reliever Brad Keller find success
CINCINNATI — Brad Keller grinned at the mention of his fastball velocity. After his four-seam fastball sat at 93.8 mph last year, Keller's heater is averaging 97 mph with the Chicago Cubs. The dramatic increase hasn't escaped Keller's attention. He topped it out at 100 mph on a 1-2 pitch to the Los Angeles Dodgers' Teoscar Hernández with the bases loaded and nobody out in the seventh inning April 22, attempting to hold the Cubs' two-run lead. 'It's sick — I surprised myself a couple times, like hitting 100, never thought I would ever do that,' Keller told the Tribune. 'It's pretty cool, but it's fun going after guys now instead of like before just relying on movement, things like that, in the zone. Now I still have the movement, but with added velo, just a little bit more confidence to be in the zone attacking guys and see what they can do.' Some of it has to do with usage, tapping into more velocity out of the bullpen in shorter stints rather than needing to reserve enough as a starter to get through multiple innings, and smoothed out mechanics. But perhaps the biggest centers around Keller's health. Keller, 29, was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) in 2023 and underwent surgery after that season. The mental impact of finally getting a diagnosis after months of unknowns at what was causing his sudden and seemingly random inability to throw a baseball was as much, if not more, of a relief than from the physical ailments he dealt with that included being unable to grip a baseball and intense shooting pain deep into his right armpit that ultimately required surgery. Keller was told by doctors he likely had been pitching through varying symptoms of TOS as far back as 2020. Now healthy and after his first normal offseason in years, Keller is thriving with the Cubs. Entering the series opener Friday against the Cincinnati Reds, Keller owns a 2.70 ERA with a 1.029 WHIP, career-best 3.43 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 148 ERA+ in 21 appearances spanning 23 1/3 innings, 'Over the last really three years or so just battling the TOS and everything with that, just not really feeling great when going out there, but I think that I'm finally feeling healthy, feeling like I'm bouncing back well after outings,' Keller said. 'Us bullpen guys, we want to be available every single day to obviously help the team win. And so I wasn't sure how my body would respond to something like that because I've never done it before, and so I'm really happy with how I've been able to stay in a good routine, to stay healthy and feel good every single day.' There are encouraging trends for the right-hander beyond the significant jump in velocity. Keller has the highest Whiff% (24.7%), 1st Pitch Strike% (64.5%) and Chase% (32.5%) of his career, all of which highlight how his success isn't rooted solely on his four-seam fastball's improved velocity. A more effective slider has played off well against the fastball. Hitters produced a lot of damage off Keller's slider in 2024, tagging it for four doubles, five home runs and a .581 slugging percentage. This year, Keller is throwing his slider 13% less and seeing less hard contact, extra-base hits and slug (.286) while increasing his sweeper usage by 8%, a pitch he started using in 2023 that is 1-for-19 against. 'I think that's every pitcher's dream is to add velocity like that and kind of organically do it, really,' manager Craig Counsell said. 'And I think he's gotten better in some other areas too. … It's credit to Brad and our staff. They've collectively done a great job working together, getting him to a good spot and a spot where he's really confident. You watch him go out there, and it's really good stuff. Couldn't be happier with where Brad's at.' Counsell remembers speaking with Keller a lot over the winter trying to recruit him to sign with the Cubs, which he did on a minor-league deal with a camp invite before being added to the big-league roster before the start of the season. Keller has become a versatile arm for Counsell, especially as the Cubs have navigated injuries to the pitching staff early in the season. They gained a veteran reliever Friday with the return of right-hander Ryan Brasier from the injured list and optioned right-hander Ethan Roberts to Triple-A Iowa. Keller, who first debuted in the majors at 22 with the Kansas City Royals in 2018, is the type of high-upside pitcher the Cubs have needed to find out of the bullpen. 'He's got so much career ahead of them, I think one of just really emphasizing that to him about how much he's got left in terms of as a pitcher, and that I love players that have accomplished a lot at a young age,' Counsell said. 'I think that means it's in there. And injuries and other factors can derail you, but that means that success is in there and fortunate that he chose us to be the ones to help him get it back going the right way.'
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
This Yoshinobu Yamamoto 1/1 Superfractor committed the Hobby's most grievous sin
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 11: Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after the third out against the Chicago Cubs in the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium on April 11, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by) (Ronald Martinez via Getty Images) There is a lot to worry about in this 1/1 Yoshinobu Yamamoto Superfractor auto post on eBay . The lack of punctuation in the title. The seller's feedback at a mere 2. The fact that their only other eBay listing is a Superfractor lot of both Luka Doncic AND Kevin Durant, which inexplicably omits both player's names in the title of the listing. None of which is illegal or against TOS. But the most grievous, and most serious faux-pas, is the absence of a penny sleeve. The sought after Yoshinobo Yamamoto card is currently available on eBay. (Image from eBay listing) A penny sleeve serves as the hobby's fundamental protective measure, safeguarding cards against scratches, fingerprints, and smudges. In this case, it would have also prevented the auto from becoming tragically smudged as the card was carelessly pushed into the top loader. The penny sleeve might cost just a cent, but neglecting it can cost thousands. Advertisement Seeing a card of such stature without proper protection raises significant red flags and a slew of urgent questions: Where did this card originate? Who handled it so carelessly? Is the card even authentic? And crucially, is its surface compromised? The absence of something as basic as a penny sleeve isn't just negligence, it actively diminishes a card's value and shakes buyer confidence. Penny sleeves have become an essential staple within the hobby precisely because they're inexpensive yet vital. Ask any seasoned collector, and they'll emphasize how crucial these thin plastic protectors are to maintaining the integrity and value of prized cards. For beginners, penny sleeves are among the first investments recommended because even the slightest scratch can drastically impact a card's value. The hobby's reaction to this listing has been swift and vocal. MegaCardInvestor , the owner of the Yamamoto Kanji Superfractor 1/1 auto couldn't believe what he was looking at, "This is just a travesty. I'd like to know what happened to that auto and if it was pulled like that. I can't imagine the card being put into the pack like that. I'm hopingto get answers from seller.' Megacardinvestor claims he has gotten almost 6 figure offers for his Bowman 1/1 Yoshi Superfractor auto card, so 8k for some, is a steal. A steal on a card like this is great, but what then? Wiping the auto and attempting to have Yamamoto re-sign it raises immediate red flags; PSA would likely label the card as altered, a designation that almost always tanks its value. As the card's surface is most likely scratched on the surface, maybe the play is getting it re-signed and submitting only the autograph for grading? Or, maybe you submit as is and opt for just the 'authentic' designation? Whatever is decided, the buyer of this card has a lot to think about. Advertisement With Yamamoto boasting a sub-2.00 ERA through four games in the 2025 season, any Yamamoto Superfractor remains a massive chase for collectors, making this particular listing a stark reminder as to why penny sleeves are indispensable. It's also worth remembering that most people are doing the best they can, and we assume all good intentions here as respect to the seller, but penny sleeves are not merely optional; they're a requirement, especially when dealing with high-value collectibles. As the saying goes, 'penny wise, pound foolish'—never risk thousands to save just one cent. Your collection deserves a community. Download Mantel today.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The Monumental Olive Oil Fraud Incident That Rocked Spain In The 1980s
When we attach certain country names with a specific product, we often make immediate associations with the quality of that product –- be it Swiss chocolate, Italian cheese, or Spanish olive oil. But when it comes to purchasing any of those things, you need to be wary of major fraud, even in the country that is the largest exporter of the oil. A notable example is the 1981 incident when adulterated rapeseed oil in Spain was sold as olive oil, exposing over 100,000 people to a rare and newly identified condition known as toxic oil syndrome (TOS). Ultimately, more than 5,000 people died as a result of the incident, which shook the nation and resulted in one of the longest trials in Spanish history. Food fraud operations involving olive oil are, unfortunately, not uncommon. In December 2023, a similar case unfolded when officials in Spain and Italy seized over 260,000 liters of olive oil marketed as high-quality but, upon inspection, deemed it "unfit for consumption" due to its high acidity and unpleasant flavor and smell, as reported by the New York Times. However, what made the 1981 fraud different was not only the fact that the distributors were selling industrial rapeseed oil as olive oil. The oil had also been altered with a chemical that may have caused its toxicity. It went on to become Spain's worst food poisoning epidemic. Read more: The Quality Of Meat At 8 Sandwich Chains, Ranked Worst To Best Toxic oil syndrome first came to light after the death of an 8-year-old boy, Jaime Vaquero Garcia, whose mother had likely purchased the oil at a street market outside of Madrid, according to The Guardian. In total, more than 10,000 people were hospitalized. Because it was a new disease, identifying the cause of the symptoms proved challenging. Effects included lung failure, limb deformation, immune system attacks, and other chronic ailments, all of which continued in the years following exposure and ultimately raised the death toll to around 5,000. Many survivors were disabled for life. The effects of the incident linger, with those affected still protesting and demanding funds for medical expenses four decades later. Fortunately, this remains the only incident where people were severely impacted by TOS, and no other country has experienced this epidemic since Spain. While the Spain incident highlighted the dangers of olive oil fraud, it also served as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance when purchasing this essential kitchen staple. Olive oil continues to be mislabeled and fraud cases continuing to rise –- olive oil fraud and mislabeling cases hit a record high in the European Union in 2024 –- there are a few things to know before purchasing olive oil to ensure what you're buying is of the highest quality. You can start by opting for extra virgin olive oil, which is supposed to be the purest form of the oil. Though this is no guarantee, and even EVOO is sometimes adulterated, the chances of this happening are lower. Another thing you can do is look for the name of the estate or mill it comes from, as this leads to more accountability and reduces the chances of the product being fraudulent. Another clue is if the label lists the free fatty acidity level (FFA), information usually provided only by producers of high-quality oils. While most olive oil comes from European countries, Australia is the country with the strictest standards in olive oil production. This checklist should be a great starting point to make sure the olive oil you're buying is a safe bet. Hungry for more? Sign up for the free Daily Meal newsletter for delicious recipes, cooking tips, kitchen hacks, and more, delivered straight to your inbox. Read the original article on The Daily Meal.
