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E-Sox Drop Another

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Angels outfielder Taylor Ward highlighted his three-RBI night with a home run while Reid Detmers threw 6 1/3 scoreless innings to lead the visiting Los Angeles  to a 7-0 win over the Boston Red Sox on Friday night.

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Ward became the last Los Angeles batter to record one of the team’s 12 hits when he socked a two-run shot in the sixth inning.

Anthony Rendon, Nolan Schanuel and Aaron Hicks were all repeat hitters for the Angels, supporting Detmers (3-0) who struck out seven while allowing just three hits — none after the third inning — and two walks in his start.

Boston’s defensive miscues behind starting pitcher Tanner Houck (2-1) helped the visitors to take immediate control, never looking back after turning in a three-run first inning.

After Anthony Rendon sent a single into right and Nolan Schanuel was hit by a pitch to begin the Angels’ at-bats, Mike Trout reached on a fielder’s choice to load the bases as Red Sox shortstop David Hamilton bobbled a potential double play turn.

Another double play that wasn’t finished allowed Ward to reach and Rendon to score the first Angels run before Hicks’ line single to center in the next at-bat doubled the lead. After a wild pitch, Brandon Drury’s grounder made it 3-0.

Schanuel led off the Los Angeles half of the third with a ground ball single to second and scored the fourth Angels run on Boston center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela’s relay throwing error following the second of consecutive hits by Hicks and Drury.

The Red Sox had chances to break through against Detmers, recording hits in each of the first three innings including a Jarren Duran double in the third. Double play balls extinguished two of those opportunities.

A run of three straight one-out hits in the fourth ended with Schanuel roping a fly ball double to deep center, scoring Zach Neto to extend the Angels’ lead to 5-0.

In the sixth, Ward’s two-out, two-run homer over the Green Monster and everything in left-center field followed a Mike Trout single. Houck’s day ended there after 5 2/3 innings, allowing seven runs (four earned) on 12 hits while striking out just two.

Relievers Luis Garcia, Jose Cisnero and Hunter Strickland preserved the shutout over the final 2 2/3 perfect frames.

–Field Level Media

Feds Throw the Book at Mizuhara

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LOS ANGELES – Former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara surrendered to federal authorities in Los Angeles on Friday to face a charge of bank fraud for allegedly stealing more than $16 million from Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani.

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Mizuhara, 39, is scheduled to appear in court at 1 p.m. PT, after which he is expected to be released on bond, according to multiple reports.

Prosecutors filed an affidavit Thursday alleging that Mizuhara siphoned funds from Ohtani’s bank accounts to cover his gambling debts with an illegal sportsbook.

The federal bank fraud charge is a felony offense that carries a maximum penalty of up to 30 years in prison and/or a $1 million fine.

The Dodgers fired Mizuhara last month after the allegations surfaced. He had been working with Ohtani since the Japanese two-way star debuted with the Los Angeles Angels in 2017.

From December 2021 through January 2024, authorities allege Mizuhara placed about 19,000 bets with an average wager of $12,800 and total net losses of nearly $40.7 million.

Records seized during the investigation showed no betting on baseball games, however, and authorities said Ohtani was not aware of the alleged theft.

The New York Times reported earlier this week that Mizuhara’s attorney is negotiating a plea deal with prosecutors.

Ohtani, 29, signed a record-setting 10-year, $700 million with the Dodgers in December after batting .304 with an American League-leading 44 homers and 95 RBIs in 2023, when he earned his second unanimous AL MVP.

–Field Level Media

Orioles Pound Sox in 10th Inning

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Baltimore’s Gunnar Henderson and Colton Cowser each homered during the six-run 10th inning that lifted the Orioles to a 9-4 win over the host Boston Red Sox on Thursday night.

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Cowser went 3-for-5 with two homers, a double, four RBIs and two runs scored. The Orioles hit four homers during their nine-hit attack. He drove in 10 runs in the three-game series sweep.

Henderson and Anthony Santander also drove in two runs apiece.

Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu each had two hits and an RBI for the Red Sox.

In the eighth inning with Boston clinging to a 2-1 lead, Red Sox shortstop David Hamilton missed touching second on a would-be double-play grounder by Adley Rutschman. The Orioles took advantage of the miscue as Santander hit a two-run, go-ahead homer down the right-field line.

Pinch-hitter Connor Wong hit a game-tying, two-out homer to deep left-center off Danny Coulombe in the bottom of the eighth.

Boston closer Kenley Jansen retired the final two batters in the ninth and Baltimore counterpart Craig Kimbrel (2-0) threw a scoreless ninth to force extra innings.

Henderson hit a two-run shot off Red Sox reliever Isaiah Campbell (0-1) to give the Orioles a 5-3 lead. Campbell retired the next two batters, but Ryan O’Hearn hit a double and Ryan Mountcastle walked. Cedric Mullins followed with an RBI single to center and Cowser cleared the bases with a three-run shot to center to give Baltimore a 9-3 lead.

Duran got Boston a run back on a leadoff double in the last of the 10th.

–Field Level Media

Orioles Come From Behind, Beat Sox 7-5

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By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jordan Westburg hit a 432-foot drive to center field to cap a four-run seventh inning and give the O’s a 7-5 come-from-behind victory over the Red Sox. Boston led 5-0 after the fifth inning but fell victim to a poor bullpen performances which cost the Red Sox the game.

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RHP Chris Martin allowed the Westburg homer after walking a batter, throwing a wild pitch and falling victim to a catcher’s interference call on Connor Wong.

After providing Boston with the 5-0 lead, Baltimore cut down the lead by striking back with three runs in the visiting half of the six. Boston’s right-hander Isaiah Campbell relieved starter Kutter Crawford after Crawford pitched an impressive two-hitter with six strike-outs in five innings. Crawford left after throwing 86 pitches (50 strikes).

Boston made it 3-0 in the home half of the fourth inning when Wong stroked an opposite field base hit to right, scoring Tristan Casas from third and Romy Gonzalez from second base. Each player had singled to start the rally.

Crawford pitched himself into another jam in the fifth inning, hitting lead-off batter Westburg, walking Gunnar Henderson and allowing slugger Anthony Santander to reach base on an infield hit. Crawford retired DH Ryan O’Hearn on a ground out to first and the Orioles left three men on base for the second straight inning.

Casas had hit an opposite field two-run home run into the second row of the left field Green Monster seats at Fenway Park to open-up a five run lead for Boston in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Sox proceeded to let up seven unanswered runs in the sixth and seventh innings.

Earlier, Baltimore was able to load the bases  on two Crawford walks in the fourth inning, but a well thrown, off speed splitter to hot-hitting Baltimore LF Colton Cowser ended the fourth inning with the score 1-0, Boston.

Starting pitchers Cole Irvin of Baltimore and Crawford of Boston breezed through their first two innings, Irvin benefitting from two double plays executed nicely by the Orioles infield. The Red Sox, however, scratched out a run in the home half of the third inning when Tyler O’Neill’s bloop single landed safely over Baltimore rookie Jackson Holliday‘s outstretched glove in right-center field, scoring Sox speedy lead-off man  Jarren Duran all the way from first base.

Baltimore’s closer, former Red Sox bullpen star, Craig Kimbrel struck-out two Sox pinch hitters in the bottom of the ninth to secure the win for Baltimore with his second save of the young season.

The final game of the three-game of the series will be played Thursday night.

Injury Just Another Story

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story will undergo season-ending surgery on his left shoulder, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said Tuesday.

Story initially was diagnosed with a dislocated left shoulder in an 8-6 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday after he dove to make a play.

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Story was seen Monday by Dr. Evan O’Donnell, a shoulder specialist, in Boston, and manager Alex Cora said Tuesday before his team’s home opener against the Baltimore Orioles that the news wasn’t positive. He said there was “concern with the bone structure.”

Breslow told reporters Story had been diagnosed with a fractured glenoid in his left shoulder and would need surgery, with a recovery time of six months.

Also Tuesday, the Red Sox placed right-hander Nick Pivetta (right elbow flexor strain) on the 15-day injured list.

In 745 games with the Rockies, he hit .272 with 158 home runs, 450 RBIs and 100 stolen bases.

Pivetta’s placement on the injured list was retroactive to Saturday. He most recently pitched Wednesday against the Oakland Athletics, throwing five scoreless innings and getting the win. Pivetta, 31, is 1-1 with a 0.82 ERA.

In his career with the Philadelphia Phillies (2017-20) and Red Sox, Pivetta is 51-60 with a 4.81 ERA in 198 games (154 starts).

The Red Sox recalled left-hander Brennan Bernardino from Triple-A Worcester in a corresponding move.

Bernardino, 32, is 2-2 with a 3.23 ERA in 57 major league games (six starts) with the Seattle Mariners (2022) and Red Sox (2023).

–Field Level Media

Orioles Spoil Sox Home Opener

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By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – The usual joy of Opening Day at Fenway Park took on a somber mood this year as the club paid tribute to fan favorite Tim Wakefield and his wife, Stacy, along with longtime baseball man and former Red Sox team president and Chief Executive Officer Larry Lucchino – all who passed away in the MLB off-season.

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Instead of upbeat music and crowd pleasing engagement to pay tribute to the 2004 “Reverse the Curse” World Champion Red Sox, the Sox opted for an well-edited video cut to the epically long Don MacLean hit of the 1971 song, “American Pie.”

Spirits were lifted when Wakefield’s 19 year old daughter, Brianna, threw out the ceremonial first pitch to 2004 catcher Jason Varitek, a close friend of her father.

There was barely a dry eye in the house, but it was time for baseball in Boston and the sellout crowd of 36,093 rallied on a 57-degree , sunny, gorgeous New England day. but one when the Red Sox bats could not be ignited.

Baltimore ace Corbin Burnes pitched 7.0 innings, allowing only one run on two hits. He struck out six Boston batters and walked only two, tossing 90 pitches and 58 strikes. Burnes earned his second win of the season against no losses.

The Red Sox moved the ancient Green Monster scoreboard keepers first when the second-most popular O’Neill in town, newly acquired Tyler, hit a 2-2 pitch 413-feet to record his sixth home run of the young MLB season and spot the home team a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Only former Speaker of the House, Tip O’Neill, had a better start to his career in Boston. (O’Neill won the Congressional seat vacated by John F. Kennedy upon his election to be President of the United States).

The baseball-playing O’Neill came into the day as the American League leader in Home Runs, On Base Percentage, Slugging, OPS, and Runs scored. He was third in the AL in Batting Average with a .357 mark.

Baltimore struck back in the top of the second inning when LF Colton Cowser doubled-in CF Cedric Mullins after Mullins reached on a Bello issued walk and then stole second base. Baltimore made it 3-1 in the visiting half of the fourth inning when 1B Ryan Mountcastle singled, Mullins reached second base on an error by Boston LF Jarren Duran (ball lost in the sun), and Cowser doubled to left-center field to score both runners on unearned runs.

Boston starter, Brayan Bello, was lifted in the sixth inning after his 5.1 innings of work, tossing 89 pitches and 58 strikes. He let up only four hits but they resulted in three runs with only one earned. Bello is (1-1) on the year.

The Orioles added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning when SS Gunnar Henderson rifled a line drive down the right field line for a double. Henderson stole third base and scored on a C Adley Rutchman single up the middle off Boston reliever Josh Winckowski.

The score went to 5-1 in the top half of the eighth When Cowser hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Ryan O’Hearn. The O’s added two more in the top of the ninth when they had the bases loaded with no outs as they sent eight batters to the plate with Henderson and Rutschman scoring additional insurance runs.

The Sox went down in the ninth without an effort. Rafael Devers, hitless on the day fouled out to third, while O’Neill struck out swinging and Triston Casas grounded out to Jacob Webb who came in for relief in a non-save situation.

 

The Sun Shines Again at Fenway

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By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – Last season, they finished with four road games, a 2-2 split with the AL East champion Baltimore Orioles. At Fenway, the Red Sox lost their last four games of the season. They finished 78-84 and in last place in the Orioles’ division. It wasn’t pretty.

This year, a challenging 10-game road trip with four at Seattle, three at Oakland and three at the LA Angels of Anaheim put doubt in the minds of the Fenway faithful. Might they head home with a record 2-8 or 3-7 and be back in the basement?

No.

The Boston Red Sox play their home opener today boasting a 7-3 record, including a split at Seattle, a sweep at (lowly/sad) Oakland and a series-winning 2-games-to-1 edge over the Angels in the outfield. That’s good enough for second place in the early-season ladder, but 1.5 behind a New York Yankees team built for October.

It is ridiculous to expect this Red Sox team to stay at a .700 percent win rate. The pace would translate to 113.4 wins in the 162-game season. Of course, the schedule would need to place the Oakland A’s as the Sox opponent for three of every 10 games, and the Sox’ 50-24 (+26) run differential would be required to win at such a clip.

What’s a more reasonable expectation (prediction) for the 2024 Boston Red Sox?

Let’s concentrate on the whopping 35 games to measure the gap between a 78-win last place finish and an absurd 113-game season. If the Red Sox can go .500 in those 35 games, they’d finish the season with 95 wins.

Last season, the Toronto Blue Jays qualified for the last AL Wild card spot with 89 victories while the Tampa Bay Rays topped the Wild Card race with 99 wins. In the NL, Arizona’s 84 wins were enough to punch a ticket to the Wild Card and that berth led them to the 2023 World Series when they lost to the Texas Rangers in six games.

As Celtics’ great Kevin Garnett might predict, “If you can make it to the Wild Card, ‘ANYTHING is POSSIBLE.'”

What will it take for a team – more often than not – picked to finish in the AL East cellar to win some 90-plus games?

Pitching.

And, staying healthy.

On the pitching: Heading into the home opener, Boston leads the Majors with a 1.49 ERA (15 ER/90.1 IP), the club’s lowest mark through 10 games in the Live-Ball Era (since 1920). The Red Sox are the 11th team in the Live-Ball Era to post an ERA below 1.50 through their first 10 games, and the first since the star-studded 2005 Florida Marlins.

That’s pretty good.

On the injury front: Not so great. The Red Sox lost starting shortstop Trevor Story, their No. 3 hitter, to an injured shoulder. Diagnosed as a dislocated shoulder some 24 hours after the injury, which occurred when Story dove for a Mike Trout ground ball towards center field, the Boston-area medical staff has not determined the prognosis for the long term. While the Sox placed Story on the 10-game injured list, there’s a chance he’s out for the year, according to the Boston Globe.

Aside from the devastating news on Story, the Sox are also missing outfielder Rob Refsnyder (toe) and infielder and highly regarded prospect, Vaughn Grissom (hamstring/groin injury).

Injuries are a part of the game, but the 2024 MLB season seems to be taking that fact to a new high. Dozens of top-notch players – league wide – are already banged up, including All-Star/Cy Young award candidates like Spencer Strider of the Atlanta Braves or Cleveland Guardians ace Shane Bieber who will miss the entire 2024 season as he plans to undergo Tommy John surgery.

Those are the issues that make judging an entire season somewhat useless after only 10 games. But, let’s compare notes after the Red Sox open under a bright blue sky today and start a 10-game homestand. Might they be 14-6?

Or better?

Or worse?

 

 

 

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | April 7

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While We’re Young (Ideas) on Sox Opening Day | + HoopHall

There’s NOTHING like Opening Day at Fenway Park (DSD file photo)

By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – This coming Tuesday at 2pm, the city of Boston will – pretty much – shut down when the Red Sox play the Baltimore Orioles in the Sox (home) Opening Day match-up. The game will come after Boston completes a 12-game road trip to begin their season.

The Red Sox will return to Fenway with a winning record but minus their shortstop and No. 3 hitter, Trevor Story, who left Friday’s game against the LA Angels with a dislocated left shoulder. Story was placed on the 10-day DL on Saturday after MRI tests confirmed the injury, suffered when Story dove to field a Mike Trout grounder.

Story, 31, started each of the Red Sox’ first eight games, going 7-for-31 (.226) with four RBI and three walks. The Te Sox.exas native has batted .265 (892-for-3,368) with 177 home runs and 124 stolen bases in 890 career games with the Colorado Rockies (2016-21) and Red Sox (2022-24).

Taking a step back to analyze the 2024 Major League Baseball season, there’s no better way than to turn the keys over to the ESPN Sunday Night Baseball announce team who recently previewed the season in a special media conference call. Participating were play-by-play commentator Karl Ravech, analyst and five-time World Series champion David Cone and popular ESPN analyst Eduardo Pérez.

First, opinions on the Red Sox:

“As a Needham, Mass kid growing up in Boston and knowing how impactful ’04 was and given the success of the Celtics and Bruins and of course the Patriots, the Red Sox have had an opportunity to stay relevant relative to those other teams,” said Ravech to get the call rolling. “For some reason here, this season in particular, they have chosen to stand pat while other teams in the division seemingly have moved past them and the Yankees with what they’ve done and the success that the Orioles and their youth. It would tax me to remember a season, and I am 59 now, going into it where the level of optimism was so low regarding their chances,” added Ravech.

“On the other side of that, to his great credit, (Sox Manager) Alex Cora and the players inside that clubhouse will take the — well, you’ll see – approach. “Let us play it out and see where it goes. But it’s been a very, very interesting play given they brought Craig Breslow in there, and you figure every time there’s a change like that, the purse strings will be let out a little bit. That seems to not have happened.

“It’s a hard one to look at and think that they’re going to finish better than last place. That’s an odd way to go into a summer in New England,” said Ravech.

Perez jumped in: “The one thing about the Red Sox is we’re not used to seeing such a young team on the field. Trevor Story is the oldest position player out there right now at 31 years of age. Everyone else just seems to be 28 or younger.

“Ceddanne Rafaela is going to be an interesting young player to watch. I think you look at first baseman Tristan Casas with the second half of the season that he had last year. I expect him to continue to grow from that and to be that type of impact player at first base.

But it’s going to come down to their defense. You look at their infield, will Devers be able to continue to play at a high level. We know that he can do it offensively. He needs to make those routine plays at third, and then that way you have Story and Rafael Devers on that left side of the infield.

But it’s just a younger team. Even when it comes to the pitching, it’s younger, as well.

Only two guys on the roster 31 years of age or older. I think that’s going to play. But at the same time, it could be a long season for Boston considering that division, the way it’s set up.

But I don’t put anything past Alex Cora. I don’t. Last year I thought it was one of his best years of managing, and look where they finished. It didn’t really impact their standings, yet I thought he managed last year as well as anyone could have managed a team like that in a situation like that.”

What does David Cone think?

“I completely agree with Eduardo,” said Cone. “I think quietly the Red Sox – under the radar – have a good young nucleus brewing there. I think (injured 2B) Vaughn Grissom is going to be a big deal for them. we’ll see how he pans out in Boston to kind of fit into that young nucleus.

“Casas is for real at first base. He’s going to continue to get better. I think he’s a monster. He’s had another good spring. I think he’s poised for a big year.

“Obviously their outfield in Jarren Duran if he can take another big step, and as Eduardo said, Ceddanne Rafaela, what kind of talent he has, if he can take the next step.

“But quietly they have a good position player nucleus,” added Cone. “The pitching side, a little different. Brayan Bello is good. He was kind of anchor the rotation, and the extension they signed him to is a big deal, but losing Giolito was a huge blow for them. They need some veteran presence in that rotation and Giolito was a big blow.

Pitching is going to be tough for them this year, but on the position player side they have a good nucleus potentially brewing.”

Perez believes Manager Alex Cora is the key to the Sox.

“(Alex) loves the fact that his outfield is a lot more athletic with Rafaela at center, Duran at right, and also you have Tyler O’Neill, who’s a Gold Glover in left field in a shorter left field at bat. If he can come into the guy that was a couple years ago in St. Louis, you have a very dynamic outfield at least that can run it back in a way. You’ll be able to get some outs out of that. And then with a young core, as I said earlier, I think it’ll play.

“Alex makes everybody better,” said Perez. “I remember (former Reds Manager) Sparky Anderson one time telling me at the Otesaga Hotel in Cooperstown, if you can get the players to get to the ballpark and get to the ballpark to perform, leaving their homes and leaving their families and wanting to be at the ballpark, Alex has that knack.

“He’s got that ability of wanting to get there and being able to see not only him but see the entire core nucleus of the team. That’s a gift. That’s a gift that he has and players love playing for him.

“I think that that’s going to play this year, especially with the young core of guys that they have, and I think the Red Sox fans will enjoy the athleticism that they’re going to provide this year compared to the last couple years as long as they stay healthy.”

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: The 2023-24 college basketball season is coming to a close and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has announced their inductees and honorees.

The gigantic Class of 2024 was announced as the basketball world convened in Phoenix for the Men’s Final Four.

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame – Class of 2024

North American Committee (in alphabetical order): Chauncey Billups, Vince Carter, Michael Cooper, Walter Davis, Bo Ryan, Charles Smith

Women’s Committee: Seimone Augustus

Men’s Veteran Committee: Dick Barnett

Women’s Veteran Committee: Harley Redin

International Committee: Michele Timms

Contributors Committee: Doug Collins, Herb Simon, Jerry West

The best players in the collegiate game were recognized on Saturday. Here’s the scoop:

“The Basketball Hall of Fame is proud to celebrate the best in the game at every level, both men and women,” said John L. Doleva, President of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. “The student-athletes who receive our Starting Five Awards are a true reflection of the Hall of Famers for whom the awards are named, both in terms of their character and abilities on the court. We are honored to recognize this remarkable group of people, and we know they will continue to achieve success wherever they go. We honor their accomplishments today and name them the Men’s and Women’s 2024 Naismith Starting Five.”

2024 Men’s Naismith Starting Five:

  • Tristen Newton (UConn) – Bob Cousy (Point Guard) Award
  • RJ Davis (North Carolina) – Jerry West (Shooting Guard) Award
  • Dalton Knecht (Tennessee) – Julius Erving (Small Forward) Award
  • Jaedon LeDee (San Diego State) – Karl Malone (Power Forward) Award
  • Zach Edey (Purdue) – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Center) Award

2024 Women’s Naismith Starting Five:

  • Caitlin Clark (Iowa) – Nancy Lieberman (Point Guard) Award (Three-time winner)
  • JuJu Watkins (USC) – Anne Meyers Drysdale (Shooting Guard) Award
  • Madison Booker (Texas) – Cheryl Miller (Small Forward) Award
  • Kiki Iriafen (Stanford) – Katrina McClain (Power Forward) Award
  • Cameron Brink (Stanford) – Lisa Leslie (Center) Award

“To be a three-time recipient of the Nancy Lieberman Award is truly humbling. Being selected as this season’s honoree is special with the number of talented and skilled point guards across the country. One of the pioneers in our sport, I would not be where I am today without Nancy,” said Caitlin Clark, the ‘22, ‘23 and ‘24 Nancy Lieberman Award Winner.

NUGGETS AND TIDBITS: While the focus of the basketball-loving world turned to NCAA March Madness (for both men’s and women’s games), the NBA takes a side step in what is known as the dog days of the season, but each game day is as important as can be as the NBA Playoffs loom closer and closer. … The regular season ends on April 14. The (SoFi) Play-In Tournament goes from April 16-19 and then the full round of NBA Playoffs begin on April 20. … Here are some other key dates for the NBA:

  • May 6-7 (possible move-up to May 4-5) – Conference SemiFinals
  • May 12 – NBA Draft Lottery (Chicago)
  • May 12-19 – NBA Draft Combine
  • May 21-22 (possible move-up to May 19-20) – Conference Finals
  • June 6 – 23 – NBA Finals
  • June 26-27 – NBA Draft
  • July 12-22 – NBA Summer League
  • July 27 – August 10 – Men’s Basketball at the Paris Olympic Games
  • July 28 – August 11 – Women’s Basketball at the Paris Olympic Games

BIG NUMBERS: With all the well deserved hype and attention focused on women’s basketball this season, it might sound trite to say that the 2024 Women’s Final Four might go down as the most important event in the history of women’s sports. Many might cite the 1973 Battle of the Sexes Super Match between tennis Hall of Famers Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs as the most important milestone for women in sports. Back in ‘73, the 29-year old King dashed the 55-year old former Wimbledon and U.S. Championship (now US Open) title holder in straight sets (6-4, 6-3, 6-3) to earn a $100,000 ‘winner-take-all’ prize.

While that tennis challenge was a one-time gimmick, and a well orchestrated gimmick at that, the overall impact was minimal. The fact was that women’s tennis was well on its way to the upper echelon of sports because of the likes of King, Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong and the incredibly popular Chris Evert. By 1975, one of the greatest rivalries in sports history was created when Martina Navratilova and Evert began a 14-year run of Grand Slam tournament battles which captured the attention of a truly global audience.

This year, the impact and all-around skills of Caitlin Clark brought millions of fans and curious television viewers to plug into the sport of women’s hoops.

The question remains: Can Clark bring those fans with her when she joins the WNBA this summer? The WNBA has been around since 1997 and it’s enjoyed success over the years, joining tennis and the LPGA golf circuit as highly engaging sports properties. But, can Clark keep the incredible momentum flowing and bring millions of fans to the TV screen for the pro game and, maybe, the Summer Olympics?

Clark is not on the current USAWNT roster but can be added by USA Basketball at any time. Clark has participated before, winning MVP honors while representing the USA at the 2021 U-19 World Championship.

SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE: While all the hype of college hoops and the all-time great TV ratings brought on by Caitlin Clark and her Iowa Hawkeyes team, the NBA can still state the claim to be supreme in the area of player social media popularity. Take a look:

When USA Basketball was planning the season long tour for the 1996 USA Basketball Women’s National Team (coming on the amazing success and global popularity of the incredible ‘92 USA Basketball Dream Team, the NBA marketing team working on behalf of USA Basketball was looking for a catchy team moniker for the USA Women.

Ahem, yours truly stepped in and suggested the “Supreme Team,” with thoughts that we could clear some great Motown tunes of Diana Ross and The Supremes and just run with it. No dice. The idea was shot down by the ultra-conservative muckety-mucks (Thanks Tara) as being a bit too much and risking embarrassment if the USA Women fell short. Well, as we know the USA Women went (8-0) in the ‘96 Atlanta Olympic Games, winning the gold and being tagged as the greatest team in women’s sports history. Combining the Olympics with the tune-up tour the national team took part in leading into the ‘96 Games, the club went 95-0.

Beyond Supreme.

ESPN blew it, too, as they tagged their 30-for-30 documentary, “Dream On,” a great son by Aerosmith, but it was about an aging star – halfway through life or further – knowing the fact the good Lord would soon take the man in the mirror away.

The USA BASKETBALL “Supreme Team” would’ve lived on in infamy.

PARTING WORDS & MUSIC: There’s always been something about the Chicago Cubs that this columnist admires. Long before first setting foot in Wrigley Field on an off-day of an NBA Playoff series, and later partying with friends on a Rooftop in Right Field, I watched the Cubs and Mets do battle for the National League pennant. I truly admired Ernie Banks, Ron Santo and Fergy Jenkins, among others, but wasn’t too fond of manager Leo Durocher until someone at Shea Stadium tossed a “Black Cat” in his path right in front of the visiting dugout at Shea and the Mets outlasted the Cubs to clinch a place in the 1969 World Series.

Like the Metsies, Red Sox, the Cubbies were the Lonesome Losers, the Lovable Losers, the Frustrating as Hell Losers. We loved them all the same.

Folk singer and songwriter in Chicago’s own Steve Goodman wrote about his love for the Cubs in a sad and terribly introspective song as he stared down a terminal Leukemia diagnosis. This song was his memorial tribute:

This song was Steve Goodman’s claim to well-deserved fame as a legend in Chicago:

It’s performed by the great Arlo Guthrie.

While We’re Young (Ideas) is a weekly Sunday Sports Notebook and news column written by Terry Lyons. The posting of each notebook harkens back to the days when you’d walk over to the city news stand on Saturday night around 10pm to pick-up a copy of the Sunday papers. Inside, just waiting, was a sports-filled compilation of interesting notes, quotes and quips.

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes is brought to you by Digital Sports Desk.

O’ Neill Blasts Way to Record

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SEATTLE – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston’s Tyler O’Neill is unlikely to forget his debut in a Red Sox uniform. O’Neill set a major league record by homering for a fifth consecutive Opening Day as the Red Sox defeated the host Seattle Mariners 6-4 on Thursday.

The teams will continue their four-game series on tonight.

“I don’t know, it’s just something about the routine on Opening Day,” O’Neill said on the NESN postgame show. “You just want to kick-start the season.”

The moment was made more special because O’Neill is a native of Burnaby, British Columbia, and he estimated about 20 family members and friends made the three-hour drive south across the Canadian border for the game.

“We’ve got a lot of tickets this week,” O’Neill told the Boston Globe before the game. “So, yeah, I’m going to say a lot of ‘hellos.’

“It’s a good enough effort for them to get down here and I appreciate all the support and stuff. Having all my family here and some buddies who are from back home is always good.”

In 2013, O’Neill was drafted in the third round by the Mariners but never reached the majors with them. He was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in July 2017 for left-hander Marco Gonzales.

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He homered the previous four Opening Days for the Cardinals, matching the record set by Yogi Berra (1955-58) and equaled by Gary Carter (1977-80) and Todd Hundley (1994-97). O’Neill socked a solo shot for the Red Sox in the eighth inning on Thursday.

Boston’s Rafael Devers hit a two-run homer in the third to open the scoring.

“He was able to drive the ball to left-center, something that he wasn’t able to do last year,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of Devers. “That homer was impressive.”

Right-hander Brayan Bello, signed to a six-year, $55 million extension in the offseason after just 1 1/2 years in the majors, pitched five solid innings for the win.

“They got some hits with two outs, RBI hits, and those are huge. They’re difference-makers,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said. “Not the way we wanted to start. We have a lot of games to go. We have a good team.”

Mitch Haniger and Dylan Moore hit two-run homers for the Mariners.

Haniger, a former All-Star who had career highs of 39 homers and 100 RBIs with the Mariners in 2021, returned to Seattle in an offseason trade with San Francisco after one injury-plagued season with the Giants.

“I’ve been doing a lot of work on mechanics this offseason,” Haniger said. “It’s good to be back in a Mariners uniform. Really glad they brought me back. It felt like home.”

Servais was impressed by Haniger’s opposite-field homer.

“I think just having him with our uniform on is going to springboard him,” Servais said. “I haven’t seen him hit one to right like that for a while. Normally he’s pull side.”

Friday’s game will feature a matchup of right-handers, Boston’s Nick Pivetta (10-9, 4.04 last year) and Seattle’s George Kirby (13-10, 3.35).

Pivetta is 1-1 with a 4.34 ERA in three career starts against the M’s. Kirby is 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA in four starts vs. Boston.

–Field Level Media

MLB 2024: Everyone Likes the Dodgers

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LAS VEGAS – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – As the 2024 major league season gets underway in earnest today, the Los Angeles Dodgers are already one game toward their projected total of 103.5 wins for the regular season. That’s courtesy of a split of their two-game, season-opening Seoul Series against the San Diego Padres.

The Dodgers lead the 30 major league teams with an over/under win total of 103.5 games at both BetMGM and DraftKings, via Betting Hero. By contrast, the Oakland A’s open the season at 57.5 at both books.

That represents a 46-game differential — or 28 percent of an entire 162-game schedule.

While the Dodgers spent the offseason adding stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto to an already loaded roster, the A’s have spent the past several months mired in limbo about where the franchise will even be playing this time next year.

Extravagant spending doesn’t guarantee regular-season success — just ask the New York Mets. And the Dodgers know all too well that even regular-season dominance doesn’t automatically translate to postseason success.

They have plenty of competition, namely in the form of National League rival Atlanta. The Braves are second with a projected win total of 101.5 games. They are followed by a trio of American League teams: Houston (92.5 at BetMGM), the New York Yankees (91.5) and Baltimore (90.5).

Ironically, the Yankees opened at 93.5 projected wins and are tied for the biggest decline since the lines became available via Betting Hero.

The Orioles’ win total has increased the most since the market opened at 87.5 games. When it comes to the over, it has been the second-most bet total among all 30 teams behind only the Detroit Tigers, who have seen their projected win total increase from 79.5 to 81.5.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Miami Marlins have received the most under action on their 77.5-win projection. Second is the Boston Red Sox, also at 77.5 wins, followed by the Braves.

TEAM (OVER/UNDER WINS)*
Los Angeles Dodgers (103.5)
Atlanta Braves (101.5)
Houston Astros (92.5)
New York Yankees (91.5)
Baltimore Orioles (90.5)
Philadelphia Phillies (89.5)
Texas Rangers (88.5)
Minnesota Twins (86.5)
Seattle Mariners (86.5)
Tampa Bay Rays (85.5)
Toronto Blue Jays (85.5)
Arizona Diamondbacks (84.5)
Chicago Cubs (84.5)
St. Louis Cardinals (84.5)
San Diego Padres (83.5)
San Francisco Giants (83.5)
Cincinnati Reds (82.5)
Detroit Tigers (81.5)
New York Mets (81.5)
Cleveland Guardians (79.5)
Boston Red Sox (77.5)
Miami Marlins (77.5)
Milwaukee Brewers (76.5)
Pittsburgh Pirates (75.5)
Kansas City Royals (73.5)
Los Angeles Angels (72.5)
Washington Nationals (66.5)
Chicago White Sox (60.5)
Colorado Rockies (60.5)
Oakland Athletics (57.5)
*via Betting Hero

–Field Level Media