Bad news for Chris Archer and the Pittsburgh Pirates: the team just announced that Archer has been shut down until 2021 after undergoing thoracic outlet surgery.
Archer was shut down late in the 2019 season due to shoulder discomfort. This after posting a 3-9 record in 23 starts and a 5.19 ERA, in 119.2 innings pitched. He pitched in two innings during spring training.
Archer, who originally came up and starred for the Tampa Bay Rays, was traded to the Pirates in the summer of 2018 for Tyler Glasnow, Austin Meadows, and a player to be named later who ended up being minor leaguer Shane Baz. That was already a trade that heavily-favored the Rays. Now it looks even worse for the Pirates in hindsight.
Regardless of how you feel in the aftermath of the horrific George Floyd murder, one thing is for certain: the NBA has no plans to forget about this in the coming weeks. Even though some of the riots have been taken too far, the murder of an innocent man is enough to realize that there’s […]
Regardless of how you feel in the aftermath of the horrific George Floyd murder, one thing is for certain: the NBA has no plans to forget about this in the coming weeks.
Even though some of the riots have been taken too far, the murder of an innocent man is enough to realize that there’s something off about the training of police in this country.Advertisementsabout:blankREPORT THIS AD
Although America itself is a more progressive country than most, there are many people with hate in their hearts that don’t share the same values as most Americans do. Because of this, terrible things such as police brutality occur.
Many organizations and people have been speaking out against police brutality and have made donations and used their platforms to ensure that this evil will decrease as much as possible, but sports leagues, such as the NBA, are going even further.
Sports have been a key factor in fighting racism for decades. Many look at players like Jackie Robinson and Reggie Jackson as some of the most influential African Americans in history because the Brooklyn Dodgers finally allowed Jackie to get his chance and Reggie followed soon after.
AP photo
In the NBA, players like Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain were two brilliant athletes who put basketball on the map for years to come.
Although the NBA hasn’t done as much historically as the MLB has, in recent years the NBA has become more influential and has given back to not just their own community, but to communities around the world.Advertisementsabout:blankREPORT THIS AD
The NBA Cares program has done some absolutely wonderful things for the world and has helped players like Joel Embiid find homes in the NBA.
More recently, the NBA Cares program has had hospital visits, helped with homeless shelters, and honored the Make-a-Wish foundation during the all-star game. They also have their Community Assists Award that encourages NBA players to go out and make a difference themselves like when LeBron James made the school on Ohio or Luc Richard Mbah a Moute held his basketball camp for kids in Africa.
In recent years, the NBA has been at the front of improving the world and they don’t plan to stop now.Advertisementsabout:blankREPORT THIS AD
NBA players and personnel alike including Greg Popovich, JR Smith, Michael Jordan, Steve Nash and so many more have spoken out against police brutality and there is so much more that the NBA can and will do to help black and all communities in America.
Because of the NBA’s influence and the placement of their teams (big cities), the NBA has the greatest opportunity out of anyone to help with police brutality. 29 teams have already stated how horrible Floyd’s death was and plan to put a stop to it.Advertisementsabout:blankREPORT THIS AD
The NBA’s voice is unlike any other voice in the world because although it is a lot of people, they somehow are able to remain unified, unlike any other organization. The NBA has already announced that they plan to work with their respective cities to help stop all police brutality wherever it is.
Players like LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are going to make change happen.
Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press
The NBA and its players have a lot of money they can spend in order to help. Whether it’s focusing on more intensive training for police in order to make sure they know how horrible it is, donating to help memorials such as Floyd’s or anyone else who is going to be murdered unjustly, or just using their incredible, unified platform to reach out to millions of fans to make sure they know this isn’t okay.
The change will come to America, and the NBA will be a huge voice in all of it.
The late Kobe Bryant was sympathetic to the cause being protested for around the nation in the aftermath of the tragic death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer. And as darkness falls over those protests and demonstrations, some have become unruly, resulting in looting and vandalism as a result of…
Winnipeg Jets captain Blake Wheeler says player access to their families is a critical issue to navigate if the NHL wants to return this summer. Read More
The video was sent to me without explanation. Watching it, I was confused: What is this? At first, I thought it was from years ago and someone was sharing it to make a point. After all, there have been a lot of conversations recently focusing on interactions that ended with the violent deaths of black men. […]
Just four seasons into his NBA career, Jaylen Brown has taken on a leadership role with the Celtics. But far more importantly, the 23-year-old takes great pride in being a leader off the hardwood. This was on display over the weekend when Brown drove 15 hours from Boston to lead a peaceful protest in Atlanta…
Just four seasons into his NBA career, Jaylen Brown has taken on a leadership role with the Celtics. But far more importantly, the 23-year-old takes great pride in being a leader off the hardwood. This was on display over the weekend when Brown drove 15 hours from Boston to lead a peaceful protest in Atlanta on Saturday. The Celtics guard on Monday shared an Instagram photo from the protest, which garnered a comment from the National Basketball Players Association. “Keep leading and keep using your voice,” the NBPA wrote from its official Instagram account. “We are behind you 100%!” Brown wasn’t the only Celtics player who had his voice heard over the weekend. Marcus Smart and Enes Kanter both took part in the protest held in Boston on Sunday night.
Nick Robertson takes a pass from John Tavares (or Auston Matthews or Alex Kerfoot), darts quickly to his left and lifts the puck over the Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender. Read More
Robertson one of several intriguing possibilities for Leafs’ expanded roster — Toronto Sun Nick Robertson takes a pass from John Tavares (or Auston Matthews or Alex Kerfoot), darts quickly to his left and lifts the puck over the Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender. In overtime of Game 5 of the qualifying round, with the goal sending the Maple Leafs into the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs at some point in the next few months. We’re sure more than a few in Leafs Nation have envisioned such a scenario in the days since Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas confirmed that Robertson, fresh off a 55-goal season with the Peterborough Petes, will be part of training camp, with a shot at cracking the Toronto roster for the qualifying round and the playoffs. Considering the Leafs’ injury situation — only winger Andreas Johnsson, recovering from knee surgery in February with an original prognosis of a six-month rehabilitation, would likely be out — open spots on the Leafs’ roster will be hard to come by. We expect that Robertson would have the best chance of any of those on the expanded roster to make an impact, though there is no guarantee that such an opportunity will come Robertson’s way (of course, that could change if the Leafs find themselves down 1-0 to the Blue Jackets and in need of a spark in a short series). We have full respect for Robertson’s determination and skill. For the 18-year-old (he turns 19 on Sept. 11) to get into the lineup for Game 1, it would have to come at the expense of veteran Frederik Gauthier or perhaps rookie Pierre Engvall, who stepped into the lineup on Nov. 19 in Las Vegas and wasn’t scratched once afterward. Ilya Mikheyev will be back from a lacerated wrist and should be in the top six. We don’t see how Denis Malgin, who had no points in eight games with the Leafs after being acquired from Florida in February, keeps his place in the top 12. The Leafs, like the rest of the teams in the National Hockey League, will have the chance to expand to 28 players, with an unlimited number of goalies. Of the players who are bound to find spots on the expanded roster, including Robertson, forwards Kenny Agostino, Adam Brooks, Nic Petan and Egor Korshkov, and defenceman Timothy Liljegren, none have NHL playoff experience. Brooks and Liljegren have previously confirmed their inclusion in the group of Black Aces. Another expanded roster spot could boil down to one of defencemen Martin Marincin or Calle Rosen, with the other taking the eighth spot on the main roster, if the Leafs carry eight D-men. Jake Muzzin will be back from a finger injury, and we figure that at least to begin, Rasmus Sandin would be seventh on the depth chart among blueliners, behind Morgan Rielly, Muzzin, Tyson Barrie, Justin Holl, Travis Dermott and Cody Ceci. The group of Toronto Marlies should provide some solid depth for the Leafs in the event they need to dip into the group of reserves. The further the Leafs go in the playoffs, the greater the chance the Leafs, we presume, will have to call on any number of players. Agostino was one of a group of seven free agents signed by the Leafs last July 24, and went on to lead the Marlies in scoring with 49 points (27 goals and 22 assists) in 53 games. Brooks had 20 points in just 29 games on the farm and didn’t look out of place with limited ice time in seven games with the Leafs, while Petan had 31 points in 25 games for the Marlies. Petan played in 16 games with the Leafs last season, but none after Dec. 12, though his 129 NHL games would put him in a high level of comfort. Korshkov had 16 goals in 44 games for the Marlies and in his NHL debut (and only game with the Leafs), scored in Buffalo against the Sabres on Feb. 16. In goal, considering there is no limit, there would be little reason to not carry both Kasimir Kaskisuo and Joseph Woll behind starter Frederik Andersen and No. 2 Jack Campbell. What has to be kept in mind, naturally, is that what will drive the Leafs will be the usual stars — Matthews, Mitch Marner and Tavares up front, Rielly on the blue line, Andersen in goal. Zach Hyman and William Nylander will be eager to resume what was an excellent regular season for each. As for Robertson, what seems clear is that he is not far from getting a legitimate shot. If it doesn’t happen once the NHL hits Phase 4 (if it gets that far in the midst of the COVID-19 global pandemic) and the play-in round, Robertson will have all the more motivation to make the club out of training camp for the 2020-21 season. tkoshan@postmedia.com twitter.com/koshtorontosun
Yesterday it was reported that the Washington Nationals would cut the weekly stipend paid to their minor leaguers from $400 a week to $300 per week through the end of June.
For frame of reference, MLB had agreed to pay all minor leaguers $400 per week through May 31. Several teams have agreed to extend that, with the Royals and Twins agreeing to do it all the way through the end of August. The Oakland A’s decided to stop the payments in their entirety as of today. The Nationals were unique in cutting $100 off of the checks.
One can easily imagine a situation in which Nats ownership just decided, cold-heartedly, to lop that hundred bucks off of each minor league check and not worry about a moment longer. What’s harder to imagine is what seems to have actually happened: the Nats did it without realizing that anyone would take issue with it, were surprised by the blowback, and then reversed course. Like, what kind of a bubble where they living in that they did not think people would consider that a low-rent thing to do?
In any event, good move, Nats, even if I cannot even begin to comprehend your thought process.
Washington Nationals pitcher Sean Doolittle announced on Twitter on Sunday night that he and his teammates will cover a pay cut that minor-league players in the organization will have to endure.
“After hearing that Nationals minor league players are facing additional pay cuts, the current members of the Washington Nationals Major League Baseball club will be coming together and committing funds to make whole the lost wages from their weekly stipends,” Doolittle wrote. “All of us were minor leaguers at one point in our careers and we know how important the weekly stipends are for them and their families during these uncertain times.
“Minor leaguers are an essential part of our organization and they are bearing the heaviest burden of this situation as their season is likely to be cancelled. We recognize that and want to stand with them and show our support.”
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The view from left field 