Author: Mikesportz
Ceddanne Rafaela, who signed long-term with Boston earlier this season, is slowly becoming one of the most versatile and fun-to-watch young players in the entire MLB. After signing with the Red Sox as an international free agent in 2017, Rafaela quickly surged up the club’s farm system and MLB’s prospect rankings. In 116 games in 2022, splitting time between AA and A+, he slashed .299/.342/.538 with 63 extra-base hits (21 HR) and 28 stolen bases. After posting similarly impressive numbers in AAA through the beginning of 2023, Rafela was called up and made his long-awaited major league debut. In 28…
United States athlete Gil Roberts has been handed an eight-year suspension after testing positive for banned substances for a second time. An out-of-competition test taken by Roberts in September detected multiple banned substances including ostarine, which boosts muscle growth. In 2022, Roberts, 35, was given a 16-month ban after testing positive for ostarine and andarine. He avoided suspension in 2017 after he was found to have ingested probenecid – a banned diuretic and masking agent – by kissing his girlfriend, who was taking medication containing the drug for a sinus infection. The US Anti-Doping Agency’s chief executive officer Travis Tygart…
The Yankees are ready to leave Thursday’s embarrassing loss against the Orioles behind them and will now take on the Braves in a three-game series. As you probably might remember, the 2023 Braves were simply awesome. They won the most games in MLB with 104, and their offense tied the 2019 Twinssingle-season record for most home runs for a team, with 307. Another NLDS loss to the Phillies stung, but there was no reason to think that Atlanta would falter in 2024 with so much young talent under contract. These Braves, however, aren’t nearly as productive at the plate. For…
The Boston Red Sox finished up a three-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday as they continued their much improved play on the diamond. They have won seven of their last eight games and five in a row. Boston’s renaissance started when they took two of three games against the best team in the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies. They then took two of three against their fierce rival, the New York Yankees. The Phillies and Yankees have the two best records in Major League Baseball. Boston’s offense has been the driving force behind them playing some of…
The Baltimore Orioles faced a stiff test this week, heading on the road to face the New York Yankees. Right behind the Bronx Bombers in the AL East standings, this was a chance to gain some ground. Led by Gunnar Henderson, that is exactly what they did. Following Thursday’s drubbing, a 17-5 victory, Gunnar Henderson spoke to reporters and talked about how the team finds success. Not only against the Yankees but in general, as they are now 49-25 and only a half-game behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East. It’s just a testament to the guys…
It’s never too early to think ahead. Although the Dallas Cowboys are set for Oxnard, CA, in late July for training camp, you can rest assured the front office and the coaching staff are already planning their preliminary 53-man roster for the regular season. Today, in part one of a two-part series, we intend to do the same and predict the Cowboys’ 53-man roster to begin the season, starting with the offense. Quarterbacks (2) Dak Prescott & Cooper Rush A surprise omission to start our projection. Trey Lance has a lot of potential and upside, but he’s never gotten an…
Tennessee has now finished in the top 20 of the AP poll in back-to-back seasons, something it hadn’t accomplished in 19 years. The Volunteers have high expectations to keep the good times rolling in 2024, thanks to a potentially explosive offense. The biggest questions come defensively. Outside of superstar edge defender James Pearce Jr., the Volunteers have major concerns on that side of the ball. BIGGEST STRENGTH: HIGH-UPSIDE PASSING GAME Tennessee’s passing game has immense potential this season. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava is a former top-three overall recruit and flashed in the Citrus Bowl against Iowa, posting an 84.9 grade in…
Tennessee football had to work the transfer portal to add a few missing pieces to its roster for the 2024 season. One of those additions was LSU tackle Lance Heard, a former five-star tackle from Monroe, Louisiana. The move to bring Heard to Rocky Top was to replace Gerald Mincey, who transferred to Kentucky. Not only did the Vols replace Mincey, but they upgraded the position. The Vols will now have Heard at left tackle, and redshirt senior John Campbell will play right tackle. Heard was a five-star recruit in the 2023 recruiting class. He spent only one season at LSU before joining one…
ESPN’s Alan Hahn seems to be of the belief that Jimmy Butler will not be a member of the Miami Heat franchise by the time the 2024-25 season commences. Well, Jimmy Butler’s days in Miami are over,” Hahn said on the subject of bold offseason predictions. “You heard Pat Riley talk, and Pat Riley said something that put everybody’s attention about Jimmy Butler. And one other thing — it’s not just that. It’s also, Daryl Morey is laying in the weeds, and do you remember the mistake that the Sixers made? Daryl Morey might wanna fix that mistake, bring Jimmy…
Michigan football is heading into its biggest visit weekend of the Summer. And it just got even bigger. Top 100 WR Andrew Marsh, a Texas native, is expected to be in Ann Arbor this weekend. That’s a huge shift, as Marsh was originally scheduled to be visiting Oklahoma this weekend. Oklahoma has been the perceived leader in this recruitment, and with this weekend being Marsh’s final scheduled visit, things are looking positive for the Wolverines. Something interesting to note here is that Marsh unofficially visited Ann Arbor just a few weeks ago on June 4th. The staff apparently did a…