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Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Every Big Ten team's best and worst-case scenario for 2025
There's just over a month before toe meets leather on the 2025 college football season, and teams across the country are gearing up for their 12-game regular season slates. This fall, teams across the Big Ten will battle for a national championship, playoff appearance, or simply to make a bowl game. Here's a look at the best- and worst-case scenario for every team in the conference entering the season. Illinois Nov 30, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini running back Aidan Laughery (21) runs for a touchdown against Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images Best case scenario: 11-1 Worst case scenario: 6-6 The Fighting Illini have a wide range of possible outcomes in 2024, with several toss-ups throughout the year. Ohio State is seemingly the only guaranteed loss, while Western Illinois, Western Michigan and Purdue should be easy wins. Playing at Duke, at Indiana, vs. USC, at Washington and at Wisconsin will likely all be close games, and dropping a stinker against Rutgers, Maryland or Northwestern isn't out of the picture. If all goes well, Illinois will be in College Football Playoff contention, but several tricky road games could derail things. Advertisement Indiana Indiana's Mike Katic (56) and the Hoosiers hoist the bucket after the Indiana versus Purdue football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Best-case scenario: 10-2 Worst-case scenario: 7-5 The Hoosiers open with one of the softest nonconference slates in the country, hosting Old Dominion, Kennesaw State and Indiana State, which should result in easy victories. After that, things get trickier with matchups against Illinois, Iowa, Oregon, Penn State and Wisconsin on the docket. Two or more losses against that group seems extremely likely, especially considering Indiana will be on the road against the Hawkeyes, Ducks and Nittany Lions, three of the toughest environments around. Iowa Dec 4, 2021; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Detailed view of Iowa Hawkeyes helmet on the sidelines in the Big Ten Conference championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Best-case scenario: 9-3 Worst-case scenario: 6-6 The Hawkeyes have won eight or more games every season since 2015, but that streak is at risk in 2025. The annual CyHawk rivalry game could prove tougher than usual with Iowa State coming off a Big 12 conference championship appearance. Additionally, Iowa will be an underdog in conference games against Penn State, Oregon and USC, and games against Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Nebraska could be tricky. With one of Iowa's toughest schedules in recent history, achieving eight wins again would be a successful season. Advertisement Maryland Oct 19, 2024; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins head coach Mike Locksley during the second half Southern California Trojans at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images Best-case scenario: 7-5 Worst-case scenario: 4-8 The Terrapins are in danger of the wheels falling off after a disappointing 4-8 season a year ago. The nonconference slate features three supposed cupcake games, but NIU could give Maryland a run for its money. In Big Ten play, the Terrapins received a relatively easy draw, with Michigan and Illinois as the two toughest opponents. Wisconsin, Washington, Nebraska and Indiana could be tricky, depending on how their rosters mesh, and Maryland isn't clearly above teams like UCLA and Michigan State. Finding wins in conference play will be tricky for the Terrapins in 2025. Advertisement Michigan State Aug 30, 2024; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans running back Nate Carter (5) follows blocker Michigan State Spartans offensive lineman Kristian Phillips (71) during the game against the Florida Atlantic Owls at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Young-USA TODAY Sports Best-case scenario: 7-5 Worst-case scenario: 4-8 The Spartans should have free wins over Western Michigan and Youngstown State and will be favored over Boston College in nonconference play. Playing Michigan and Penn State pencils in two losses, and most of the toss-ups (Nebraska, Indiana, Minnesota, Iowa) are on the road. The Spartans should go undefeated through nonconference play and pick off a couple Big Ten opponents, but the conference slate is tough. Michigan Dec 31, 2024; Tampa, FL, USA; Michigan Wolverines defensive lineman Ike Iwunnah (92) celebrates a sack with Michigan Wolverines linebacker Ernest Hausmann (15) against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images Best-case scenario: 11-1 Worst-case scenario: 8-4 In addition to their annual rivalry against Ohio State, the Wolverines travel to USC and Oklahoma, but the rest of the schedule seems manageable for them. Michigan is riding momentum after beating the Buckeyes and Alabama in back-to-back games to close out last season, and should get a significant improvement in quarterback play from either 5-star Bryce Underwood or veteran transfer Mikey Keene. The Wolverines should compete for a playoff appearance and possibly a conference championship. Advertisement Minnesota Jan 3, 2025; Charlotte, NC, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers running back Darius Taylor (1) scores a touchdown against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the second quarter at the Duke's Mayo Bowl at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images Best-case scenario: 10-2 Worst-case scenario: 6-6 The Golden Gophers should go 3-0 in nonconference play, with a trip to Cal as the toughest test. Conference games against Rutgers, Purdue and Northwestern should be comfortable wins, giving Minnesota bowl eligibility, but there are also some likely losses, including at Ohio State and at Oregon. Nebraska Dec 28, 2024; Bronx, NY, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers running back Emmett Johnson (21) celebrates with teammates after a touchdown during the second half against the Boston College Eagles at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images Best-case scenario: 8-4 Worst-case scenario: 6-6 The Cornhuskers have a relatively easy nonconference slate, but playing Michigan, USC, Penn State and Iowa make for uphill battles. Maryland, Northwestern and UCLA should provide easy wins in conference play, giving Nebraska bowl eligibility for the second consecutive season if it takes care of business. Advertisement Northwestern Nov 30, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats wide receiver A.J. Henning (8) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the second half at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images Best-case scenario: 6-6 Worst-case scenario: 3-9 A nonconference road trip to Tulane won't be easy for a team of Northwestern's caliber, though Western Michigan and UL Monroe are all but guaranteed victories. Hosting UCLA and Purdue gives the Wildcats a good shot of beating some of the conference's bottom-dwellers, but wins outside of that will be hard to come by. The schedule-makers did Northwestern no favors by including Oregon, Michigan, Penn State, USC and Illinois, which will all be heavy favorites over the Wildcats. Ohio State Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate their 34-23 win over Notre Dame Fighting Irish to win the College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 20, 2025. Best-case scenario: 12-0 Worst-case scenario: 9-3 Fresh off a national championship, the Buckeyes have a chance to be the best team in the country once again, but their schedule features some elite opponents. A nonconference matchup with Texas and Big Ten games against Penn State and Michigan make for three major hurdles, and road trips to Washington, Wisconsin and Illinois could be trap games. Still, it's hard to see Ohio State dropping more than three contests. Advertisement Oregon The Oregon Ducks mascot walks the sideline during the College Football Playoff quarterfinal against the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Jan. 1, 2025. Ohio State won 41-21. Best-case scenario: 12-0 Worst-case scenario: 9-3 Nonconference games against Oregon State and Oklahoma State are interesting but should result in multiple-score victories for the Ducks. Oregon can't play itself and also avoids Ohio State and Michigan, so the only major tests should come at Penn State and at USC. Traveling to Iowa could be tricky, and dropping a rivalry game against Washington isn't out of the picture, so it's possible the Ducks regress to 9-3. Penn State Jan 9, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Nicholas Singleton (10) celebrates a touch down in the second half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Best-case scenario: 12-0 Worst-case scenario: 9-3 The Nittany Lions benefit from an extremely weak nonconference schedule but have tough games at Ohio State and vs. Oregon, which should be close contest. Penn State may also be tested at Iowa or vs. Indiana, but the Nittany Lions have historically handled business when favored. Advertisement Purdue Purdue Boilermakers running back Devin Mockobee (45) celebrates with Purdue Boilermakers quarterback Hudson Card (1) and Purdue Boilermakers offensive lineman Jalen Grant (75) after scoring Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, during the NCAA football game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind. Northwestern Wildcats won 26-20. Best-case scenario: 5-7 Worst-case scenario: 2-10 The Boilermakers should be able to pick up wins against Ball State and Southern Illinois but likely won't take down Notre Dame. In conference play, Ohio State, Michigan, USC and Illinois look to be losses, while games against Minnesota, Wisconsin, Washington and Indiana won't be easy either. Purdue's best chance for a Big Ten win will come at Northwestern or vs. Rutgers, but neither are a given. Rutgers Dec 26, 2024; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights wide receiver Ian Strong (9) against the Kansas State Wildcats during the Rate Bowl at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Best-case scenario: 6-6 Worst-case scenario: 3-9 The Scarlet Knights benefit from a soft nonconference schedule and games against Purdue and Maryland, but the rest of the schedule is a murderer's row featuring most of the top teams in the conference. Picking up conference wins will be difficult, and reaching bowl eligibility will likely require an upset or two. Advertisement UCLA Oct 5, 2024; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Jaylin Davies (6) gestures at the line of scrimmage during the second quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images Best-case scenario: 6-6 Worst-case scenario: 3-9 The Bruins have a tough nonconference draw with Utah, UNLV and New Mexico State, plus Penn State, Ohio State and USC in conference play. Games against Northwestern and Maryland should lead to conference wins, but the rest will be tough. USC Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports Best-case scenario: 10-2 Worst-case scenario: 6-6 The Trojans have a tough nonconference battle against Notre Dame but should also rack up two easy victories against Missouri State and Georgia Southern. In Big Ten action, USC takes on Oregon, Michigan, Illinois and Iowa, which should prove difficult, but playing UCLA, Northwestern and Purdue balances it out with some supposedly easy wins. Advertisement Washington Oct 5, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington Huskies running back Jonah Coleman (1) celebrates after rushing for a touchdown against the Michigan Wolverines during the fourth quarter at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images Best-case scenario: 9-3 Worst-case scenario: 6-6 The Huskies should pick up a trio of easy nonconference victories, plus wins over Maryland, Rutgers and Purdue. Playing Ohio State and Oregon will be tough, but those games come at home. The toughest road trips are at Michigan and Wisconsin, which are tough but winnable. Washington should have no trouble reaching bowl eligibility, but there are several expected losses against top conference foes. Wisconsin Nov 29, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Tawee Walker (3) during the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images Best-case scenario: 7-5 Worst-case scenario: 3-9 The Badgers have two cupcakes to open the season followed by a trip to Alabama, meaning a likely 2-1 start. Wisconsin has a brutal stretch in conference play featuring games at Michigan, vs. Iowa, vs. Ohio State, at Oregon, vs. Washington, at Indiana, vs. Illinois and at Minnesota, in which the Badgers may be underdogs in every game. This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Best and worst-case scenarios for every Big Ten team in 2025
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Massive brawl breaks out during Legion Baseball playoff game in Mass. town
An American Legion Baseball playoff game between two Massachusetts teams was halted on Monday night after a massive brawl broke out. A fight amongst fans attending Milford Post 59 vs. East Springfield in Milford erupted in the stands and spilled onto Fino Field. Both sides were tied in the fourth inning when My Milford TV's broadcast of the game showed East Springfield players throwing punches during a scuffle along the third-base side of the field. The Milford Daily News reported that the teams were ordered to leave the field and remain in their respective dugouts until police arrived. In an update on Tuesday morning, police told Boston 25 News that officers arrived at the field shortly before 9:10 p.m. and that no arrests were made in connection with the fight. The game was ultimately suspended. Officials are discussing whether to resume play at a different field or the same field without fans. Post 59 went 20-0 in regular season play and was hosting a playoff 'pod' that will determine which team will advance to the state tournament, according to the Daily News. American Legion Baseball is a variety of amateur baseball played by 13-to-19-year-olds in all 50 states and features junior and senior levels. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
New York Times
11 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
The minor playoff rule change that altered NHL history, including 4 Stanley Cup winners
During the 1986 offseason, a very strange thing happened in the NHL: The league made a rule change that nobody got all that upset about. That was rare, even back then, because fans like to complain about things. But this change was so simple, and so obviously the right decision, that there really wasn't anything to complain about. Or so we thought. Advertisement The rule had to do with the playoff format, and the league's ongoing attempts to have one that made sense. Since 1974, when the league added a fourth round to the playoff tournament, the first round had always been shorter than the others. Originally, it had been a three-game preliminary round, later increasing to five games. In 1986, the league decided to expand the first round to seven games, the same as the others. And everyone went 'Sure, that makes sense.' Maybe a few of us complained that the extra games would make the season longer. But the extra playoff hockey, and the extra revenue it would generate, was an easy sell. And so the change was made, and then nobody thought of it again. Until today. Or in my case, until a few weeks ago, when a reader named Andrew asked a question: How much does hockey history change if the first round had stayed best-of-five? The answer, as it turns out, is 'a lot.' So today, we're going to go back to that decision from nearly 40 years ago, and work our way through an alternate version of NHL history that could — fair warning — make some of you sad. The Washington Capitals took care of business on the road, winning on back-to-back nights in Long Island to eliminate the Islanders in four games. It's a disappointing loss for the Islanders, the one-time dynasty looking to rebuild with a younger roster led by 21-year-old star Pat LaFontaine. They'd hoped that this year's playoff would afford him the chance to produce a signature moment, but instead, the young phenom failed to even score a goal in the series. The Capitals will now enjoy a short break before facing the Flyers, while the Islanders head home. If it's any consolation, at least LaFontaine and the rest of New York's disappointed players will get to spend the Easter holiday with their families, instead of putting in hours of unpaid overtime at work. Here's hoping their Easter ends up being epic. Advertisement When it became clear that the Oilers would face former captain Wayne Gretzky and his Los Angeles Kings in round one, hockey fans felt sure that the Great One would have something dramatic in store for the team that traded him away. Nope. The Oilers won the series pretty easily, taking it in four games despite the Kings having home-ice advantage. It's a disappointing start to the Gretzky era in Los Angeles, one that will no doubt raise questions about whether the blockbuster trade was even worth it. The streak is over. After losing to the Oilers in five straight playoff matchups dating back to 1983, the Winnipeg Jets have finally slayed the dragon. The end came on Dave Ellett's dramatic double-overtime power-play goal to end Game 4, which sparked a wild celebration worthy of a series-winner. The loss is a crushing blow for the Oilers, and specifically for captain Mark Messier, whose reputation in the post-Gretzky era takes a massive hit. There had been hopes in Edmonton that Messier could lead the team to another Stanley Cup, cementing himself as a legitimate NHL superstar instead of merely a supporting player. Instead, the loss makes it clear that Messier is just not the sort of leader who can guarantee his team a win. As for the Jets, the win easily ranks as the biggest moment in Winnipeg's NHL history, and could even generate enough enthusiasm in the fan base to help the team ward off any financial challenges in the coming years. In what can only be described as a devastating loss for a team that had spent the year before adding Hall of Fame caliber talent around superstar Mario Lemieux, the Penguins were eliminated in the first round by the underdog Devils in Game 5. Advertisement Lemieux had been unable to get his team over the hump since breaking into the league in 1984, but fans have defended him by pointing out that no player can win a Cup all on his own. The Penguins apparently agreed, and had spent the year before adding players such as Ron Francis, Larry Murphy, Joey Mullen and first-round pick Jaromir Jagr. In the end, it barely mattered, as they fell to a New Jersey team that couldn't even finish .500 on the season. While some critics are calling for the Penguins to blow it all up and start over, initial word out of Pittsburgh is that the team will run it back one more time, banking on a better playoff performance in 1992. The Lemieux-era Penguins will go into the history books as the greatest team to never win a Stanley Cup. That much seems inevitable in the aftermath of their second straight first-round exit from the playoffs, this one at the hands of Washington. The Caps put an emphatic end to the series with a 7-2 win in Game 4, sending the Penguins off the ice to a chorus of boos from disgusted home fans. While Lemieux's Penguins have seen moderate regular-season success, almost cracking the 90-mark in each of the last two seasons, they've collapsed quickly once the playoffs arrived. Clearly, major changes will be coming to Pittsburgh, and it remains to be seen if anyone will be safe on a team that will be remembered as a massive failure. The first round of the playoffs is over, and once again the season's most important games will be played without the Vancouver Canucks. The team hasn't been out of the second round since 1982, a streak that will continue after they were eliminated by the Flames in four games, capped off by a third-period collapse on home ice to end their season. That 1982 team, of course, was the one that made an unlikely run all the way to the Stanley Cup final. Some Canucks fans had hoped for a similar outcome from this year's squad, but that was clearly a pipe dream. With Pavel Bure proving to be a regular-season wonder, captain Trevor Linden unable to produce numbers to match his overinflated reputation and goalie Kirk McLean failing to deliver key saves, any hope that Pat Quinn's players could turn into more than the sum of their parts has now been permanently dashed. Advertisement Ho hum, the Caps beat the Penguins yet again, concluding the latest chapter in what's becoming one of the sport's more lopsided rivalries. The official end to the series came in a Game 4 blowout, but the series was basically over once Washington took the lead for good after three games. If there's one thing we've learned from watching these teams face off in the playoffs, it's that the Capitals are not the sort of team that blows a series lead. Despite an early wobble that saw them lose Game 1 and need overtime to square the series in Game 2, the favored Phoenix Coyotes were able to right the ship in time to eliminate the Blues in four games. While winning one round may not seem like much, the victory will no doubt come as a relief to Coyotes ownership, and to the league that's backed them. The team had lost in the first round of the playoffs in each of their first two years in Phoenix, and at some point, you have to win to build a sustainable fan base. Failing to win a single series in their first — let's just pick a random number here for sake of argument — fifteen years of existence would obviously be the sort of disaster that no new market could realistically recover from. But that's not something the Coyotes will have to worry about now, so let the desert era begin. On paper, it looked like one of the biggest mismatches in recent playoff history. On the ice, it played out essentially the same way, as the star-studded Avalanche had an easy time with the Wild, cutting that team's playoff debut short with a Game 4 win. This Avalanche team is built to win the Cup, featuring MVP favorite Peter Forsberg along with Joe Sakic and Rocket Richard-winner Milan Hejduk. As if that wasn't enough, the team has extra motivation to win for Patrick Roy in what will be the legendary goalie's final season. Roy's final chapter may or may not come with a fifth ring, but it certainly wasn't ending at the hands of a recent expansion team. The Wild, to their credit, at least managed to win a game in the series. But that was all that could be expected from a team whose offense is basically Marian Gaborik and then a bunch of spare parts such as Andrew Brunette, a plugger whose next big goal will be his first. Coach Jacques Lemaire has faced some criticism for sticking with struggling starter Dwayne Roloson throughout the series, which is fair. But it hardly matters, since his alternative was career backup Manny Fernandez, who certainly wasn't going to come in and miraculously outduel the legendary Roy. It's the same old story for the Washington Capitals: They just don't collapse in the playoffs. Advertisement Of course, that option was never really on the table for this year's edition, a Presidents' Trophy-winning juggernaut that easily sent the underdog Canadiens packing in four games with a 6-3 win in Montreal. It was the sort of first-round flex you expect from a Cup contender, and a reassuring message that this Caps team has been built the right way. As for the Canadiens, give them full credit for trying in a series in which they never had a chance. There will be concerns going forward about the goaltending, as young Carey Price and veteran Jaroslav Halak were both shelled in the series. But given the disparity between the two teams, it would have taken a lot more than one hot goalie for Montreal to have any sort of chance. Sabres fans will have to wait a while before they see playoff action again. About two days, to be exact. That's when their second-round series is set to begin, after the Sabres knocked out the Flyers in a thrilling winner-take-all Game 5 that was decided in overtime. In unrelated news, Ville Leino had just one point in the Flyers' five-game playoff run, ending any hopes that some dumb team will overpay him in free agency in a few weeks. The Bruins eliminated the Leafs in four games, a predictable result that will probably be forgotten a few weeks later. Given how lopsided the series has been, the Leafs are lucky that this was only a best-of-five. If there had been another game, the Bruins surely would have won that one too, and then Toronto fans would have had to hear about '4-1' for years to come. Save your jokes about being playoff chokers. The Sharks clearly don't want to hear them this year, taking care of the rival Kings in a three-game sweep. It's only been one round, but it's fair to say that this San Jose team feels different. You could see it in their eyes. Advertisement The loss raises significant questions about the Kings, the 2012 champs who now look like one-hit wonders. They'd hoped to be in the running again this year, but the Sharks showed that they're not in the same league. You have to wonder if we'll even see them win a round in the next decade or so. In fact, the Kings' outlook is so pathetic that Sharks captain Joe Thornton was bummed out just thinking about it. They say that a young team's first playoff series win is a crucial stepping stone. Well, this Leafs team already got that one out of the way two years before, when they beat the Bruins in five games. But this win probably tastes even sweeter, coming against their arch-rivals who realistically never had a chance. The Leafs dropped a flukey Game 1 in the aftermath of the John Tavares injury, but then never looked back, winning the last three games of the series by a combined score of 11-2, including a decisive shutout in the clincher. It's a tough lesson for the Canadiens, but one all teams have to learn: It's one thing to win early in a series, but you have to be able to close. Brendan Shanahan's Maple Leafs have clearly figured that lesson out early. Adrian Kempe's overtime winner brought a quick end to the winner-take-all Game 5 between the Kings and Oilers. It was an entertaining series between two teams who rarely face each other in the playoffs. In fact, the meeting was the first between the two teams since all the way back in 1992. The Oilers eliminated the Kings that year, as well as in 1991 and 1990. Thankfully, Kings fans won't have to worry about a fourth-straight loss against the same team, since that would be pathetic. That didn't take long. Not that anybody thought it would. Advertisement Coming off a record 135-point season, the Bruins made quick work of the Panthers, ending their first-round series in four games with a convincing 6-2 blowout in Florida. It was a fitting result, given the massive disparity between the two teams, and sets the Bruins up as decisive Cup favorites going forward. As for the Panthers, they'll face tough questions after what can only be described as a disastrous 12 months. One year removed from a Presidents' Trophy of their own, the Panthers indulged in an overactive offseason that saw them hire Paul Maurice and trade for Matthew Tkachuk, only to plunge 30 points in the standings and barely make the playoffs. The end result, one that absolutely everyone saw coming: It turns out that a coach who quit on the Jets and a playoff choker from Calgary were somehow not the final pieces for a team of underachievers, cheap-shot artists and Buffalo Sabres castoffs. The good news is that they only have three years left on Sergei Bobrovsky's albatross of a contract. Given how big a mess Bill Zito has made of this team in short order, it's fair to say that he'll be long gone by the time that deal runs out in 2025. At least one thing is clear: Over the next few years, the road to the Eastern Conference championship will feature a mandatory stop in Florida … when it's time to take your kids to Disney World to celebrate beating the good teams. (Top photo of the Maple Leafs and Bruins in 2013: Brian Babineau / NHLI via Getty Images)
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Brady Singer off key as Cincinnati Reds drop opener to woeful Washington Nationals
WASHINGTON – A Cincinnati Reds team that looked like a playoff contender in New York pitched like a team making October vacation plans by the time they got done losing 10-8 to the not-good Nationals in Washington in the opener of a three-game series Monday. The Nationals fired their president of baseball operations and manager two weeks ago and came into the series against the Reds having lost 10 of 12, and averaging just three runs per game in that stretch. They scored that many alone on Daylen Lile's bases-loaded triple that capped a four-run first inning against Reds starter Brady Singer in his first start out of the All-Star break. Singer, the veteran added in the offseason trade from Kansas City for Jonathan India, didn't make it out of the third on this night, eventually allowing seven earned runs. Almost as big a problem as Singer's short start was just enough damage against the Reds bullpen to leave a comeback-minded lineup short after getting within two runs with a five-run fourth – and twice more late against the bullpen with the worst ERA in the majors. They brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth. The Nats had runners on in all but one inning, totaling 15 hits and eight walks. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Brady Singer off key as Cincinnati Reds drop opener to Nationals
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
It's never quiet at Ewood Park
"I'm going to have a quiet summer..." The famous last words I uttered whilst wiping away tears as yet another play-off dream came to an end at Bramall Lane back in May. But I've been a Rovers fan long enough to know there isn't such a thing as a quiet day, never mind a quiet days of the season ending came the decision from the club to withdraw the women's team from the Championship and relegate themselves to National League Division One North (tier four).Then came the announcement in a 35-word statement that CEO of seven years, Steve Waggott, had left the club. It's a position that remains had leaked kits (the green third kit is a thing of beauty!) season ticket price debates and rumours aplenty about who is leaving and who is coming through the the XI which started the last game of the season, Danny Batth has been reunited with our old gaffer at Derby and Tyrhys Dolan is now a free agent as he continues the hunt for his big incomings of De Neve, Taveres, Alebiosu and McLoughlin offer reassurance business is being done early for a change and some funds are available. However we definitely need more, a stance on which Valerien Ismael seems to agree. With Andi Weimann also making a move to the Rams, his nine goals last season will be down our key players is something we have historically failed to do and remains at the forefront of many of our minds. With rumours swirling of Callum Brittain going to Middlesbrough, the club must decide whether to cash in if a new deal is not accepted or allow players to run their contracts the pitch, wins against Accrington Stanley and Everton (see photo) in our first two pre-season friendlies have offered us a chance to see the new lads in action. We have also seen the return of Scott Wharton, a fan favourite, after an extensive squad - and many Rovers fans - are now in Spain for some warm weather training. For the boys, it is friendlies against Qatar SC and Elche. For the fans, it is a chance for some sun, sea, and shenanigans. So much for that quiet can find more of Lindsey's Rovers views on X here., external
