Month: December 2019

Notre Dame offensive coordinator Chip Long and the school have parted ways, a source said.

The ripple effects of Gerrit Cole’s record-setting deal are wide-ranging across baseball.

Gerrit Cole is a Yankee. From that one sentence, you know that this is good for Cole, and the Yankees, and Scott Boras. (And if you want more than that one sentence, Tom Verducci wrote many sentences about it here.) But what about the rest of baseball? Here’s your rundown on what Cole’s signing means for…

…The Teams Who Lost Out: Angels and Dodgers

Even before the start of this offseason, Cole’s free agency was often forecast for one of two directions: He’d go to New York to join the Yankees, or he’d return home to Southern California with either the Angels or the Dodgers. Each of the latter two teams are said to have made serious pushes (if not as serious as $324 million), and now they’re left to look at other options.

For the Angels, it’s a reminder of just how much has to be done about their pitching. Even if they had added Cole, they’d still have to pursue someone else to round out their rotation. Such is life after a team’s starters finish with an AL-worst 5.36 ERA—Shohei Ohtani should return to the mound next season, and Dylan Bundy was just acquired via trade, but even so, there’s a lot of room to improve here. GM Billy Eppler told the Los Angeles Times that he’s in a spot to “spend more than $20 million a year on two pitchers, or on a pitcher and a position player,” and while both paths are valid, it would be reasonable to prioritize the former over the latter.

The Dodgers’ pursuit of Cole, meanwhile, wasn’t so anchored to the needs of their rotation. Their roster is sufficiently well-rounded to have put them in the position of going after an elite addition, generally, rather than an elite starter, specifically. This doesn’t mean that they’re not going to pursue another starter but it does probably mean that their more relevant pursuit now is that of Anthony Rendon (or Francisco Lindor).

…The Top Pitchers Left on the Market: Madison Bumgarner, Hyun-Jin Ryu, and Dallas Keuchel

There are still plenty of teams that would like to add starting pitching—in addition to the aforementioned two, there are the Twins, White Sox, and Brewers, to name a few—and there’s a solid group of second-tier starters still available.

Do the deals for Cole, Stephen Strasburg, and Zack Wheeler mean that these other pitchers will profit more than predicted, too? It’s hard to say. On one hand, the tiers are so clear this winter (Cole and Strasburg, then Wheeler, then everyone else) that there may not be much of a link here. On the other, the big names are off the board early, so there’s more time for teams to understand what they have to do to get what they need, and that should benefit the pitchers who remain.

…The Other Top Free Agent: Anthony Rendon

Cole’s deal works in Rendon’s favor. The third baseman had already been linked to the Dodgers and Angels, and now they’re under more pressure to make a move, which may drive up the price from other suitors such as the Rangers and Phillies. All eyes are on Rendon now, and that’s all he could have asked for.

…The Big Picture: Baseball’s Notion of Villainy

The Yankees’ status as baseball’s villains has long been central to their identity. And then, last year, it was… gone? The 2019 Yankees did not feel remotely villainous. They were full of names that no one had ever heard of. They were enjoyable. They were scrappy. The story of their season was one of beat-the-odds success.

Of course, this switch didn’t come from a reorientation of organizational strategy; it was the result of bad health and bad luck. It was temporary. And now it’s over. Cole’s deal is a perfect villain move: The Yankees get what they’ve wanted all along, their white whale, by paying more than anyone had envisioned. It is not that they didn’t want to be denied so much as that they ensured they couldn’t be. It’s so in character that it borders on self-parody.

Which is great! It’s all that baseball could ask for. It’s the villainy of a wrestling heel—clear-cut, over-the-top, itself both end and means—rather than anything truly sinister. It comes pre-loaded with all sorts of fun narratives. The Yankees want to win, and they’re going for it with everything that they have. That makes for an Evil Empire, sure, but a fun one to watch. (Or hate-watch, as the case may be.)

Atalanta and Atletico confirmed their places in the knockout stage of the Champions League meaning that, for the first time ever, only Europe’s Big Five leagues will be represented in the last 16.

Atalanta and Atletico Madrid confirmed their places in the knockout stage of the Champions League meaning that, for the first time ever, only Europe’s Big Five leagues will be represented in the last 16.

There were only two issues to be resolved on the final night of the group stage. Atalanta, despite losing its first three games, went through with a 3-0 win away to Shakhtar as Dinamo Zagreb’s challenge was ended by a 4-1 home defeat to Manchester City, for whom Gabriel Jesus scored a hat-trick.

Atletico made sure of its place by beating the bottom side in the group, Lokomotiv Moscow, 2-0 at home. As it turned out, it would have gone through even with defeat as Bayer Leverkusen lost 2-0 at home to Juventus.

The top two in the other two groups were already settled, the only interest in who would finish third and secure Europa League qualification. Club Brugge, despite going down 3-1 at home to Real Madrid, and took third in Group A as Galatasaray was hammered 5-0 away to the group-winner Paris Saint-Germain.

An 87th-minute penalty from Youssef El-Arabi gave Olympiacos a 1-0 win over Red Star to pip the Serbian champion to third in Group B. Bayern made it six wins out of six – only the seventh side ever to achieve that – with a 3-1 victory over Tottenham.

Here are three thoughts on Wednesday’s matches and what’s ahead as we enter the tournament’s knockout stage.

WE ALL LIVE IN A BERLUSCONI DREAM

The Champions League began as a dream. The big clubs, spooked by the way the European Cup draw in 1987-88 had paired Napoli and Real Madrid, the champions of Italy and Spain, in the first round, came together to create a format that would ensure such a thing could never happen again, while also becoming as rich as possible,. The Champions League began in 1992 and, finally, 27 years later, it reached its logical conclusion. The only countries represented in the last 16 will be England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France. The domination of the super clubs is complete. Whatever delight there may be that this season set a new record for goals scored in the group stage, that is the big story this week.

Even Portugal and the Netherlands, with 10 European Cups/Champions Leagues between them, have been reduced to fringe leagues. This is the logical outcome of football’s untrammeled globalized neoliberalism: all the resources concentrated in five countries, with the rest of the world essentially doing no more than offering up their natural resources to be turned into content in the big five leaves to be sold back around the globe.

There have, over the years, been various proposals for a super league that Uefa has, by offering concessions, managed to rebuff. But what is the Champions League now but a super league by another name? What is this but the vision the then AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi had in 1988?

ATALANTA COMPLETE REMARKABLE COMEBACK

Only Newcastle United in 2002-03 had previously lost its first three games in the group stage and still progressed, but Atalanta, with an astonishing amount of luck, matched its achievement with a 3-0 win away to Shakhtar Donetsk. Atalanta’s first piece of fortune was that both games between Dinamo Zagreb and Shakhtar were drawn. If either of those games had ended with a victory, for either side, the opportunity would not have been there.

Atalanta needed Manchester City to win in Zagreb to have an opportunity, and it did, comfortably, albeit only after going behind. After that, everything went Atalanta’s way. First Shakhtar and a goal (rightly) ruled out for offside. Then the Atalanta forward Luis Muriel mystifyingly avoided a second yellow card for an ugly lunge. And then a very tight offside VAR decision went Atalanta’s way allowing Timothy Castagne to put the Serie A club ahead. As Shakhtar lost their heads, Dodo was sent off for a limp flap into an opposing face. Goals in the final ten minutes form Mario Pasalic and Robin Gosens confirmed Atalanta’s progress.

ATLETICO COMPLETES JOB

All Atletico Madrid had to do secure its place in the last 16 was beat Lokomotiv Moscow at home, something it achieved with a level of ease. Kieran Trippier missed a third-minute penalty but, 14 minutes later, Atletico was gifted another opportunity from the spot. This time Joao Felix took the kick and scored, setting Diego Simeone’s side on its way.

 Although Alvaro Morata had a goal ruled out by VAR for a tight offside, a smart side-foot volley from Felipe made it 2-0 nine minutes into the second half. Atletico hasn’t been at its best after significant changes of personnel in the summer but as the new players settle and with Simeone’s capacity to organize a defense, it could be a dangerous opponent in the last 16. 

The Raiders have lost three in a row by at least three touchdowns, but welcome the equally cold Jaguars to town in the final game at the Black Hole. Our betting preview for the clash.

Aiming to close a 25-year run at the Black Hole on a high note, Oakland hosts Jacksonville at 4:05 p.m. ET, on Dec. 15, 2019, at Oakland-Alameda Coliseum. While neither team is playoff bound, expect an inspired effort by the soon-to-be Las Vegas Raiders during their final match in Oakland. Jacksonville is most likely dreading this road game.

Spread: Raiders -6.5 (-110) | Jaguars +6.5 (-110)

Moneyline: Raiders (-280) | Jaguars (+230)

Game Total: OVER 45.5 (-110) | UNDER 45.5 (-110)

Jaguars’ Season to Date

Hitting the halfway point of the season with a 4-4 record, Jacksonville (4-9) has been blown out by a 129-54 combined count during five straight losses. Looking very uninspired, the Jaguars were blasted 45-10 by the Chargers at home last week. Jacksonville has lost its last two road games and the Jaguars are 2-4 SU and 3-3 ATS overall as visitors.

Jaguars’ Betting Record: ATS 5-8-0 | OVER/UNDER 7-5-1

Jaguars’ Leaders on Offense

QB Gardner Minshew: 2,594 pass yards with 15 TD and 5 INT

RB Leonard Fournette: 1,496 total yards with 3 TD

WR DJ Chark Jr.: 956 receiving yards with 8 TD

TE Nick O’Leary: 72 receiving yards with 1 TD

Raiders’ Season to Date

Teasing its long-suffering fans, Oakland was in playoff contention heading into Week 12 action. After three ugly losses by a 116-33 margin, the Raiders’ postseason hopes are almost snuffed out. The Black Hole faithful will be out in full force and an uninspired effort by the Raiders would not be a good thing. Oakland is 5-2 SU and 4-3 ATS at home.

Raiders’ Betting Record: ATS 6-7-0 | OVER/UNDER 7-6-0

Raiders’ Leaders on Offense

QB Derek Carr: 3,106 pass yards with 18 TD and 8 INT

*RB DeAndre Washington: 419 total yards with 2 TD

WR Tyrell Williams: 524 receiving yards with 5 TD

TE Darren Waller: 880 receiving yards with 3 TD

* Starting RB Josh Jacobs (shoulder) is questionable

Raiders vs. Jaguars Recent History – Ninth Meeting All-Time

One of the least-played series in the NFL, Oakland and Jacksonville have met just eight times since the Jaguars joined the league in 1995. Each team has four wins and the Raiders have won three straight. The most recent meeting was 2016 when the Raiders won 33-16 in Jacksonville. The Jaguars haven’t visited Oakland since a 19-9 loss in 2013.

Oakland vs. Jacksonville Final Thoughts and Pick

Jacksonville looks like a team that has started to mail it in. The first sign is often a willingness to stop the run and Jaguars are third-to-last in allowing 141.1 rushing yards per game. The Chargers piled up 195 yards on the ground last week. Ineffective again during a second straight start, Gardner Minshew is no longer the Golden Boy in Jacksonville.

Huge losses to the Jets and Chiefs by 31 points plus a 21-point loss to the Titans are a big concern for anyone backing the Raiders. Out with a shoulder injury last week, RB Josh Jacobs is questionable again. Not having Jacobs puts added pressure on QB Derek Carr, who has largely struggled during the last three games. Lay the line and take Oakland.

Pick: Raiders -6.5

Season Record: 20-35-1

Florida Atlantic has named ex-Florida State coach Willie Taggart its new head coach.