Latest news with #morph
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Cubs Linked to Marlins Ace Sandy Alcantara as Trade Deadline Nears
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Chicago Cubs need starting pitching help at the trade deadline, and there isn't really any way around it. It's only a matter of time before the Cubs make a move to address the rotation, and MLB insider Jeff Passan believes Sandy Alcántara of the Miami Marlins is the best case scenario for Chicago. MIAMI, FLORIDA - MAY 17: Sandy Alcantara #22 of the Miami Marlins pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays in the first inning of the game at loanDepot park on May 17, 2025 in Miami, Florida.... MIAMI, FLORIDA - MAY 17: Sandy Alcantara #22 of the Miami Marlins pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays in the first inning of the game at loanDepot park on May 17, 2025 in Miami, Florida. More"Among Shota Imanaga, Matthew Boyd and Jameson Taillon, the Cubs have a perfectly OK starting rotation to take into a playoff series," wrote Passan. "Considering the lineups they could face in the NL playoffs -- the Dodgers, Phillies, Mets and Diamondbacks, among others -- OK might not be enough. And that's not to say Alcántara would suddenly morph into a world-beater once he put on a Cubs uniform. He's just the kind of guy on whom teams in need take a risk." Alcántara has been far from perfect this season as he's given up a significant amount of runs. However, his resume speaks for itself. Contenders are going to take a chance on him, and hope a fresh start away from an awful Marlins team will help revive his season. The Cubs have certainly been in the market for starting pitching going back to the offseason. This makes a trade even more likely for Chicago, and Passan added there is some familiar history between the organizations. "The calculus here could change if Valdez or Gallen becomes available, but in terms of pitchers teams know will be available, Alcántara, even a slightly diminished version, is the best," wrote Passan. "With two more years of club control beyond this season, he slots nicely into the front of a rotation that lost Justin Steele to Tommy John surgery. And don't forget: The Cubs had a deal in place for Jesús Luzardo before medicals scuttled it. The teams are very familiar with one another's systems, and that always helps when trying to facilitate a trade." Chicago will certainly need a pitcher like Alcántara if it wishes to compete for a National League pennant or World Series title. More MLB: Red Sox Legend David Ortiz Defends Rafael Devers as Season Spirals
NZ Herald
28-04-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Shane Jones, David Seymour reject Waitākere Ranges ‘co-governance' plan
The council says the deed of acknowledgement is in line with the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Act 2008, and denies the proposal would amount to co-governance. Jones said the act's wording clearly states that tangata whenua should be consulted, 'but there it stops'. 'A deed of acknowledgement doesn't need a committee structure. It can just tick a few boxes, saying, 'Yes, there are some historical associations, there are some midden heaps, some hangi pits'. 'But the native flora and fauna are a thing of beauty and were originally purchased for the entirety of Auckland. 'We will not agree with any deed of acknowledgement that represents an ideological mustard seed that will morph into a template for co-governance,' he said. Act leader David Seymour is also opposed to plans for a co-governed committee, saying the Waitākeres belonged to all Aucklanders and should be managed democratically. 'Auckland Council's plan would see unelected decision-makers closing tracks and dictating land use in the surrounding rural areas,' he said. Seymour said the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Act is a local act, which means any change to the legislation, such as a prohibition on co-governance arrangements, has to come from the elected council. Jones said the Department of Conservation would be the Crown's representative on the committee, and he would be raising the matter with Conservation Minister Tama Potaka. The matter would also be discussed at next week's NZ First caucus to bring a Private Members Bill. 'Watch this space,' Jones said. In response to NZ First and Act's comments, the council's planning committee chairman, Richard Hills, said the Waitākere Heritage Act was clear about the need to enter a deed of acknowledgement with the listed iwi. The local boards and council unanimously supported that direction, he said. 'The deed of acknowledgement is not co-governance. I'm not sure why NZ First and ACT would say that. They should know what co-governance actually is, as they just voted to set up a collective of iwi and Crown to co-manage Taranaki Maunga and the national park there only a few months ago.' Hills said the Waitākere deed did 'nothing of the sort'. 'Land ownership and decision-making for the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park stays with council, local boards, and DOC.' On social media, Hills said: 'Te Kawerau ā Maki have been wanting this work to proceed for decades, and we are honouring the partnership and process that has been long expected'. 'Their leadership came to me asking if this was the term we would act, and we said yes.' Consultation on the proposal closes today.
The National
15-03-2025
- Sport
- The National
Liverpool v Newcastle: Eddie Howe's men aim to end 70-year Wembley curse in League Cup final
This weekend will see fans of Newcastle United making a pilgrimage to London in their tens of thousands ahead of the League Cup final against Liverpool at Wembley Stadium. Since beating Manchester City 3-1 to win the FA Cup in 1955, the roughly 900km round trip for showpiece matches at the famous ground have gone the same way for the black and white hordes: a journey south full of hope, if not expectation, followed by a despondent trudge back north after a chastening defeat. The humbling 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy has seen Newcastle lose five Wembley finals – three in the FA Cup, two in the League Cup – with a solitary goal celebrated. The latest attempt to lift their first silverware since the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup – considered the precursor to the Uefa Cup that would later morph into the Europa League – in 1969, has seen a build-up that suggests the club's Wembley woes will not be coming to an end any time soon. As if taking on Premier League champions-elect Liverpool is not challenging enough, Newcastle will be without three key players. Defenders Lewis Hall and Sven Botman are out injured, while winger Anthony Gordon is suspended after being sent off in the FA Cup fifth-round defeat at home to Brighton. It is a familiar tale for the Magpies that has sparked whispered talk of a curse on Tyneside, such has been their luck – or rather lack of it – in the three finals they have reached during the Premier League era. The back-to-back FA Cup final losses at the old Wembley Stadium in 1998 and 1999 were unfortunate in that Newcastle came up against two of the finest teams in Premier League history. The first saw Arsene Wenger's Arsenal seal a 2-0 win thanks to goals from Marc Overmars and Nicolas Anelka – clinching the Gunners' first league-and-cup double since 1971. Newcastle manager Kenny Dalglish called it a 'bitter-sweet afternoon' for his team who twice hit the woodwork when trailing 1-0. 'They are a very good side and worthy double winners,' the Scotsman said of Arsenal. A year later, Ruud Gullit was in charge but the scoreline remained the same – a 2-0 defeat to a Manchester United side who sealed their third double in five years after goals from Teddy Sheringham and Paul Scholes. 'We were punished for our mistakes,' admitted Dutch manager Gullit. 'In the end, we had to be thankful they did not get three, four or five.' Days later, Alex Ferguson's team would go on to complete a famous treble, when they defeated Bayern Munich with two last-gasp finishes from Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to win the Uefa Champions League final. It would be 24 years before Newcastle would return to a now rebuilt Wembley for a League Cup final, but the result – and opponents – would be all too familiar. In the first full season since the arrival of the club's new Saudi Arabian-led consortium and manager Eddie Howe, Manchester United would again stand in their way to ending the now infamous trophy drought. But, as with this season, the build-up was fraught. Goalkeeper Nick Pope was suspended after being sent off in a league defeat against Liverpool, while second choice Martin Dubravka was cup-tied having already played in the competition while on loan at United. It meant Newcastle were forced into handing Loris Karius the unlikeliest of debuts that saw the former Liverpool keeper beaten twice by a Casemiro header and a deflected Marcus Rashford strike. 'It hurts immensely,' said Howe, whose team would go on to finish fourth in the league and qualify for the Uefa Champions League for the first time in two decades. 'It feels like you have failed. A negative sea of emotions hit you but, with defeat, sometimes you can take positives. 'The players have done incredibly well … but we are not the finished article. We are coming at this from a totally different place and it only gets harder because the competition will improve.' And so it proved in the following campaign when Newcastle's Champions League dream was over at the group stage, while they were knocked out in the quarter-finals of both domestic cups. A seventh-place Premier League finish also saw them miss out on European football altogether. After the FA Cup loss to Brighton a few weeks ago, trophy hopes this season now rely solely on beating Liverpool. And Newcastle will be hoping their opponents will be feeling the effects of a draining Champions League last-16 defeat on penalties to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night. That loss also saw Trent Alexander-Arnold hobble off the pitch at Anfield with an ankle injury that left manager Arne Slot admitting he 'would be surprised' if the England right-back is fit for the final. Newcastle, meanwhile, enjoyed a much-needed Premier League win at West Ham United on Monday which lifted them to sixth and to within two points of fourth-placed Chelsea. And captain Bruno Guimaraes, who scored the only goal of the game at the London Stadium, has called on his teammates 'to make history' this weekend and secure that elusive trophy. 'I believe that we can win,' said the Brazilian, whose team defeated Arsenal 4-0 over two legs in the semi-final. 'In a final everything could happen. I believe our fans can make a difference. 'For us, it is like the World Cup. We want to make history for this club. It is a long time for the fans without a trophy. 'We know we're going to play against one of the best teams. Hopefully we can go to Wembley and get the title.'
