Predictions started on Tuesday. Brett Beatty, his 2019 first-round pick for the Mets and currently a potential top 30 pick in the sport, will join theAtlanta team andrival Help save what's left of the relationship series. Let's Freak Go, said the Mets fan of your life.
If you're a Yankees fan, Wednesday morning was a blast. Infielder Oswaldo Cabrera — who was ripping the cover off the ball in a triple-A — added to Esteban Florial drinking the previous cup of coffee — to to make his big league debut. had been called. Finally,those tired of seeing a lifeless Yankees lineup cried. Let's see what the kid has
Then the afternoon was waiting for lineup his cards. He starts at third base. Where is he hitting in turn? what number is he wearing? It's a brand of extra excitement brought to baseball prospects. You've spent years hearing their names, reading about their exploits, and dreaming of their predictions, but perhaps other than in low res, you've never actually seen them play. may not. social media highlights.
For Cabrera, the real thing wasn't so exhilarating. The 23-year-old from Venezuela went down with two strikeouts that put him 4-0 and Cory swinging into his Kluber filth. (Floral was 0-for-2 before being lifted for a pinch hitter.)
However, the skidding Yankees dramatically absorbed the fairy dust, rallying against the Rays' bullpen,Received a goodbye on the 10th grand. Josh He took a slam from Donaldson and grabbed his much-needed 8-7 win. This is just his third win in the last 14 games.
Beatty's premiere meets all expectations, instead belonging to a brand of fantasy made up as a kid swinging a ball bat around a yard. In his first at-bat, the 22-year-old from Texas hit a home run on the first pitch he hit as a major leaguer. Baty wore his number 22 and was a smile that spread from Atlanta to Austin.
His parents sat in his seat at Truist Park. As Brett circled the base, his mother, Leslie,signaled her love,
"Goosebumps, tears, hugs." I did," Clint Beattysaid on his SNY broadcast. ''
"Pure joy. I mean my family is here, I can celebrate with them," said the Mets as he completed his 9-7 victory. Brett Beatty later said, at Thursday's series finale. "I'm happy to contribute to the New York Mets and win the game."
Today's back cover
WNBA Next Stage
A fitting note on Wednesday night when the WNBA playoffs began. Led by veterans Candice Parker and Courtney Vanderthroat, the defending champions Chicago Sky looked to have the game in hand with a six-point lead with three-and-a-half minutes remaining. Then upstart New York his Liberty rounded out his highlight-filled 13-0 run in ,98-91 in Game 1 of the best-of-three first roundI ran through the sky aiming for the victory of }, led by Sabrina Ionescu with 22 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. The
league is at an inflection point. Ratings are on the riseMedia rights are up for auction and should be several times the last deal (Sports Clicker should have more details soon). Deployment is progressing.
But many of the league's famous games are coming to an end. Sue Bird and Sylvia Fowles each announced that this would be their last season. Bird's Seattle Storm kicks off the postseason on Thursday night. Even if Diana Taurasi (who sat out Game 1 of the Phoenix Mercury with a quadriceps injury) and especially Parker (who already has a job as a stellar NBA analyst for Turner Sports) follow suit. Few people would be surprised. Brittney Griner's future is terribly uncertain: she remains trapped in a concentration camp conspiracy via Kafka,appealing her drug possession conviction and deportation to a Russian penal colony. Postponed. Another great player you may know, Elena Delle Donne is a risky step that has to be shut down due to her chronic back condition. Liz Cambage has left the chat
Who will usher in the next era of the WNBA? Her Ionescu, 24, has made a strong case for 2022. Indeed, A'ja Wilson, 26, and her 28-year-old Breanna Stewart are her two best players in the world. No matter how you stack them, it's a Stewie 1 and a Wilson 1a. Pending unrestricted free agent, Aaron Judge/LeBron decision-level subplot (if the WNBA rumor mill spins a little faster). Will Skylar Diggins-Smith or Chelsea Gray be promoted to headliner status recommended by her guard skills points. Will Kelsey Plum, Kalia Copper, or Nafeesa Collier go from good to great and then make the leap from great to famous again? Or are we waiting for the college generation with the likes of South Carolina's Arya Boston (presumed first pick next spring's draft) and UConn genius Paige Bookers?
WNBA is evolving as a product, and the consensus is that it is on the cusp of leveling up. But the history of American professional sports tells us that the league needs compelling players and personalities, like Magic and Bird, to get there. And in New York, we'll see if Ionescu picks up that torch.
Mark Your Calendars
The age of player empowerment casts a shadow over nearly every aspect of the NBA — from free agency to lineups, coaching, travel and team evaluations (The list goes on and on...). Still, there's still one tight corner of NBA life that Kevin Durant can't wait to trade — the release of the schedule. Yes, NBA stars can demand a lot, but they can't demand a time stop.
So, given the current roster, let's take a quick look at some of the games we'd like to clear the schedule for this winter and next spring. Naturally, it draws on the Knicks (schedule analysis here) and the Nets (schedule analysis here), but there are a few that will also appeal to casual NBA watchers. Added.
Hawks vs. Knicks Nov. 2
New York's newest basketball villain is back with new teammate Dejounte Murray. KnicksSpurs draft He would have looked very good alongside Jalen Brunson had he been willing to accept the pick - high asking priceHopefully Trae Young's Hawks and Knicks They could be fighting over the same playoff real estate for a while. Both have promising young cores that can be improved. Both are probably trades or big FA deals away from joining the conference elite. Throw in a little showmanship from Young and you have a fierce rivalry.
Nets at Lakers, Nov. 13
With this matchup just weeks into the season, where is the NBA schedule? It tells you everything you need to know about . The makers think Kevin Durant will bethis season — elsewhere. Spectacular matchups between cross-conference contenders are often reserved for the post-Christmas months, when football is in the background and the NBA takes over prime time. Filling this out in mid-November suggests one of those two teams may not be in a draw, and most likely not the Lakers. On the bright side for Nets fans, Kyrie Irving could still be black and white. Of course, NBA Kremlinologists will be analyzing every interaction between Irving and LeBron James to see if the two would work well as teammates again in Los Angeles.
Knicks at Jazz Nov 15 / Jazz at Knicks Feb 11
This is either or both dates depending on whether Donovan Mitchell is a member of the Knicks. His first game back in Utah promises to generate mixed emotions if the long-rumored deal goes through. Do jazz fans hail him with gratitude for how well he has played for them, or precisely pledge his undying loyalty to the franchise, though he didn't ask explicitly? Wouldn't you turn someone on? Meanwhile,the Knicks roll out in the garden to convince Mitchell when his fansof the NBA's biggest Metsare still purple, gold, green, and whatever color scheme Utah employs. Imagine a red his carpet. Front of Jazz Increase pressure on his office to close deals. Lindor and Scherzer give a thumbs up on the scoreboard. His MSG full chanting his name. James Dolan smiles from his bassline seat.
Net at the Sixers in November. 22
If a ridiculed player shows up in the arena and doesn't play, does all that vitriol make noise? Sorting. Ben Simmons heard it from the Sixers crowd last season when he showed up on the Nets' bench after an extended holdout and trade to Brooklyn. ball. Assuming he's in good health, he won't be so lucky this time. And with little size to stop Joel Embiid, the Nets could be forced to pit Simmons against his former teammate. If the Nets' typical luck is a little better,a summer vacation with James Harden leads to another reunion, seeing KD on the court in a Sixers uniform. There may even be
Pelicans at Grizzlies Nov. 25
Sometimes it's worth thinking about the roads you don't take. For example, what if the Knicks' lottery luck in 2019 landed them in one of his first two draft his slots instead of his 3rd place winning RJ Barrett? Well, this showdown between these picks — Zion Williamson and Ja Morant — provides two examples of what happened. Granted, neither has the team skyrocketed to the title — and Williamson's already prolific injury history calls into question his ability to stay on the court for a full season — but Stay Healthy For example, both are fulcrums of two people. of the most exciting teams in the league. The big game is posterized. words are exchanged. and points are added. An early sleeper in the
Clippers December 14
Western Conference Finals Let me introduce you to his picks. please listen. With Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and John Wall fit for most games, the Clippers could have the best perimeter rotation west of Boston. They also have him one of the most underrated playoff tacticians on his Ty Lue bench. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves' new center Rudy Gobert has more than made up for many of the defensive mistakes Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards make, and his multi-level scoring ability outweighs his 140-135 loss. should also generate many wins.
Knicks at Mavericks Dec. 27
Not exactly LeBron's return to Cleveland in 2010, butBranson's return to Dallas from the Mavericks organization. It's unlikely to be filled with the warm fuzz of . He's not happy with theKnicks' unofficialacquisition of him in the playoffs last year, nor with Luka Doncic, who doesn't hide his emotions particularly well. In other words, things can get a little shaky.
Warriors of the Celtics Jan. 19
A look at the sport playing at the highest level. A delightful finals rematch between his two teams who haven't lost many key pieces qualifies. The Boston crowd could be a little more excited about a possible revenge than his arena in the Bay Area, packed with fans who celebrated his four titles over the past decade. And who knows. Maybe Durant is there to take on his new Celtics teammate and his former team.
Knicks at Nets Jan. 28
Let me describe the Brooklyn rose-tinted glasses scenario. Let's say KD and the Nets have reached a detente. Let's say Kyrie Irving is playing close to a full season. Let's say the Knicks follow the typical lifecycle of a team coached by Tom Thibodeau and start to falter him. And let's say Steve Nash showed a little more creativity as a coach. This could make this a pretty spicy game in the midst of the NBA's new "Rivals Week."
Bucks at Nuggets, March 25
Please turn off your cell phone for this. The showdown between his two MVPs of the past is full of eerie athleticism and finicky decision-making. Watch Giannis Antetokounmpo dunk in three steps after crossing half court. Rewind the DVR to find the angle Nikola Jokic saw to get through traffic before anyone else. I appreciate the fact that a well-coached team with the right superstars can contend for the title without the burden of chemistry-killing star fusion.
— Paul Forrester
Around the horn…
• LeBron gets $97.1M maximum contract extension from the Lakers. But he's going to turn down an optional year — worth about $50 million at age 40 — to hang out with Bronnie, right?
The Patriots are robbing fans in practice games. 4 ending with his game suspension.
• Dick Vitale No CancerWow baby.
• Tiger Woods Labor Organizerdidn't see it coming.
Eleven college presidents and presidents who make up the governing boards of college football playoffsbegan discussing depriving NCAA directors of control of the sportperhaps With someone in Miami who they have his NIL deal with.
• Shortstop will be fired if he gives him $341 million at 126 OPS+. Oh, excuse me, it's Francisco Lindor. 127 OPS+ to shortstop means he gives $325 million. Then you'll be fired
• Derin Betances,Happy Trails