This is the third time I've written this over the last three days, and I don't even think all the dust has settled.I began writing about Donald Sterling what it's like to play for an owner gone wild before he was banned for life. I wanted to give some perspective from a player's view on what it's like to play for a bad owner.I played six-and-a-half years under Marge Schott with the Cincinnati Reds. There, I heard and saw many of the same things people Isaiah Simmons Jersey are saying about Donald Sterling. Let me tell you what it was like to play for the Reds whileSchott owned the team.MORE: | I'm lucky because I spent almost five years working my way up to the majors. So by the time I got to be around Javon Hagan Jersey Marge, I respected the Reds'organization and the players who came before me. The team owner really was a moot point. Pete Rose, one of the greatest baseball players to ever live, was the manager of the team. We had amazing Hall of Fameplayers and coaches, and I knew keeping my job would not be easy.Schott was cheap, harsh, made racist remarks like we breathe air and didn't like children yet donated millions to children's hospitals and causes. She was behind my "Don't Strike out on Drugs" charity, went to many inner-city functions with me and was as good to fans as any owner I've ever seen. She was like a Dr. Jeckyll and Mrs. Hyde.Stories? I have many. During a kids-parents game, Schott saw pizza and cookies for the kids in the players lounge. At first, she was irate because she thought she had bought the food. When she found out the players bought the food, she let her dog go in and trample and slobber all over it.PHOTOS: I was the player rep for a few seasons my teammates' way of telling me they loved me but hated when I acted like a jerk. That meant I had to talk to Schott about countle s collective bargaining topics. One was flights she could Rondale Moore Jersey save thousands of dollars on hotels if we flew in the day of game rather than staying in a hotel the night before. That was against the CBA, but she didn't care. So, instead, we would get extra meal money for our trouble.Most teams travel on chartered flights and stay at five-star hotels with countle s perks. We didn't. We flew commercial. We had one team bus for the pre s, the team and Schott. She drove a Buick Riviera (she owned a Chevrolet and a Buick dealership).Schott gave us each one hat. When the hats got so sweaty they turned white, she sold them in her shop (other teams get unlimited uniforms, hats etc.). She underpaid anyone and everyone at every level of the organization and made people pick up dog crap in her office. She was rotten to every person she didn't like and was only decent to the very few she did. During the1990 National League Championship Series, she forced the Pittsburgh Pirates' families to Max Garcia Jersey sit infolding chairs near the food court, far away from the field. In true cla s, the Pirates sat our families behind home plate.I don't like speaking ill of the dead, but it was never easy to play under a person like Schott or watch my teammates have to hear her racial remarks, then rise above them to do their jobs. But they did, and I love and respected them for that.She didn't speak for us and she didn't represent us. Maybe she owned the Reds logo for a few years, but we played for the name on our jersey, the people who supported us and our awesome fans, but never condoned Schott's BS.We were able to win a championship in spite of her. She even apologized to our fans, saying she was sorry we didn't win it at homein Cincinnati. We would have Patrick Peterson T Shirts had to lose two out of three games in Oakland to do that.I like to think her ignorance and intolerant behavior made us better ball players and taught us how not to live and treat other human beings. I always felt sorry for Schott. People like her go through life the hard way; the wrong way. But it's not up to me to judge her or them. That comes later.My teammates and I didn't ask to be owned by a person like Kelvin Beachum Jersey Marge Schott. We owed it to the people of Cincinnati as athletes and profe sionals to not let her define us on or off the field.You would love to stand up against injustice, speak out against mean and evil things that go on, but you didn't sign up for that.In reality you're just a ball player.

Do MLB owners care about baseball?Before you sarcastically guffaw and scoff at the idea, it' Yogi Berra Jersey s a legitimate question to ask, especially after seeing the owners' latest proposal to the MLBPA on Monday. MLB's offer includes a 76-game schedule at 75 percent prorated salaries anda bigger playoff pool (that plays into the salaries), no compensation pinks given out for free agents this upcoming offseason and a playoff season that ends in October, While the proposal includes things that, on the surface, lookmore reasonable for the players, the billionaires in charge appear content to deliver the same burger in different wrappers.MORE: Sure, some of it sounds nice: Larger playoff money pool? Playing76 games with76 percent prorated salaries? Sounds much more reasonable than the 48-game rumor that was bandied about a week ago, right?Well, kind of wrong.Because a 50-game schedule at 100percent prorated salaries is still on the table, consider Alex Rodriguez Jersey this: Actually it's a 65% pay cut based on 162-game season and full annual salary:76 / 162 games = 46.9%75% of 46.9% = 35.2%Therefore, reduction of 64.8% of player's annual salary baseCompared to 100% of a 50-game prorated season - 50 / 162 = 30.9% - it's 4.3% more salary David Robertson Jersey Ron - SuperBowl SuperFan (@ronNcaphill) Cardinals ace Jack Flaherty had some thoughts about it:significant moves how Jack Flaherty (@Jack9Flaherty) been the same deal worded differently Jack Flaherty (@Jack9Flaherty) So, in summation: The owners have pretty much taken the stance that the players are taking a pay cut no matter what, even if there's the additional money in the playoff pool. And, by the way, the playoffs still might be canceled, meaning that bonus money takes the players further away from that reported 75 percent salary they're looking for.Original offer: 82 games, players receive $1.03B Brian Roberts Jersey in salary and $200M if playoffs are played.Current offer: 76 games, players receive $989M in salary and $443M if playoffs are played, plus no direct draft-pick compensation.48-game option: $1.03B in salary, no playoff money Jeff Pa san (@JeffPa san) The MLBPA regards todays offer from MLB to be worse than the leagues last because it shifts greater emphasis on risk sharing in the postseason. Players would receive 50 percent of pro rata if there is no postseason, 75 if there is. first on a new offer coming. Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) According to Ken Rosenthal, the players are still asking for 100 percent proration of their salaries, which is completely within their right, considering they're the ones on the field and are going to, you know, actually play baseball. Regardle s of how many safety conce sions the league makes asking players to take the field in the middle of a pandemic is a very difficult ask. It only seems right to give them 100 percent of C.C. Sabathia Jersey their money.Oh, and then there's that MLB wants, which is fairly self-explanatory. Yikes.While the draft-pick compensation news is big for players entering free agency, the rest of the deal up front seems a little weird. More sizzle, le s steak.Really, it's all a bunch of posturing from either side, and while ESPN's Jeff Pa san reports a the season will get underway Lou Gehrig Jersey , it's high time to get a deal done. Unfortunately, if ownership keeps putting things like this at the forefront, it's tough to see when, if at all, one will get made.

MLB has been exploring ways to play as many games as po sible in 2020 after losing a chunk of the season to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Extreme ideas have includeda 140-game slate with lots of doubleheaders and playoffs extending into late autumn.A much more modest ideareached the rumor stage Wednesday. A sourcetold Chicago sports radio host Matt Speigel that MLB is that would begin July 1, include no All-Star Game and end with a November World Series at Dodger Stadium.MORE: Implementation isn't closebecause there's still no telling Mike Person Jersey whether there will be a season. The pandemic needs to subside first, and there's no timetable forthat.Still, there was enough information in Spiegel's tweets to form three thoughts on the supposedproposal.A 100-game season can produce a legitimate playoff fieldLast season's standings offer the guidance. Through last July 25, all MLB clubshad played at least 100 games. The teams in the 10 playoff spots at that point were theYankees, Twins, Astros, Indians and A's in the American League, and the Braves, Cubs, Dodgers, Nationals Arik Armstead Jersey and Cardinals in the National League.Eightof those teams made the playoffs; the only changes werethe Rays replacing the Indians in the AL and the Brewers replacing the Cubs in the NL. The NL Central and wild-card races were tightand the Cardinals moved from a wild-card berth to a division title, but the field remained 80 percent intact.That's evidence that, in a pinch, a Joshua Garnett Jersey truncated regular season can decidethe best teams almost aswell as a 162-game slate, which many fans and media consider to be too long.A split season should be avoidedThe tweets didn't make mention of such a setup, but it would be wise for baseball to learn from what happened in 1981.That year, a midseason players strike wiped outslightlymore than a third of the schedule.When playresumed in July, the prestrike standings were used to determine the "first-half" division winnersand the poststrike standings determined the "second-half" division winners.That producedbad outcomes. The Reds and Cardinalshad the two best overall winning percentages in the NL but neither team made the expanded playoffs because they finished second in both halves. The proto-Division Series pitted the Phillies against the Expos and the Dodgers against the Astros.MORE: In the AL, the Royals got in with an overall losing record because they won the second-half West title. They faced the A's in the West Division Series while the Yankees and Brewers met in the East.A 50-50 split this year would roughly match the '81 Deion Sanders Jersey breakdown. The current playoff format would help to prevent inequities like the ones suffered by Cincinnati and St. Louis,but there's still a chance ateam with the best overall record in its league would have to play in some type ofwild-card game.A neutral-site World Series might not be nece sarySpiegel's tweeted report said the revised regular season would end Thursday, Oct. 15. If there are no changes to the playoff format (i.e., additionalteams), then the World Series would wrap up around mid-November, or about two weeks later than usual. The report also saidthat moving the Series to LA is a way for MLB to compensate for the city losing anAll-Star Game.(In case you Jason Verrett Jersey 'rewondering, Spiegel reported that the Dodgers would have to in barely neutral Anaheim or San Diego if they were to make it.)The kneejerk reaction to a Chavez Ravine Seriesis to say, "Duh, can't play in mid-November up north." Yes, aTwins-Cubs or White Sox-Rockies Fall Cla sic would be dicey, but the majority of Easterncities won't be Arctic at that point. A better reason to go west would be that MLB wants to protect itself and its fans against a return of the coronavirus to colder climates.Since this is a breakdown of a hypothetical, let's wrap this by saying MLB could, in theory, guard against the weather threatby playing a couple of Series games in the daytime Jerick McKinnon Jersey . That's one thing baseball got right in '81 when Games 4 and 5 were afternoon starts at . . . Dodger Stadium.

Will the $72 million man be able to revitalize Boston Tommy Joseph Jersey 's offense?The Red Sox will give it a try, at least, recalling Rusney Castillo from Triple-A Pawtucket on Friday and immediately in right field. Outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. was optioned to Pawtucket to clear a roster spot.MORE: | The 27-year- Rhys Hoskins Jersey old Cuban defector was something of a surprise cut toward the end of spring training, especially considering how heavily the Red Soxinvested in him last summer. And they weren' Nick Pivetta Jersey t going to pay him in exce s of $10 million to spend the entire season in Pawtucket.Castillo was hitting .293/.341/.440 with two homers and 10 RBIs in 18 games at Pawtucket, but that production wasn't nearly as important to the equation as what the Red Sox haven't gotten Robin Roberts Jersey from their outfielders at the big-league level this season.Entering Friday, Red Sox right fielders were hitting an abysmal .156 Pat Neshek Jersey /.255/.241 through 41 games, and the team is miredin fourth place in the AL East.Castillo signed with the Red Sox last August as a free agent, picking up a seven-year, $72 million deal. He Zack Wheeler Jersey spent the last two weeks of the season in Boston, hitting .333/.400/.528 with a pair of homers in 10 games.

The Cincinnati Reds' spring training game against the Kansas City Royals came to an abrupt end in the sixth inning Wednesday when Aroldis Chapman was struck in the head with a line drive.UPDATE: | The Reds flamethrower was pitching to Royals catcher Salvador Perez, who got a hold of Chapman's 99-mph fastball and sent it back toward the mound.The scene on field for Chapman Mark Sheldon (@m_sheldon) MORE:|Medical personnel hurried onto the field to tend to Chapman. Once he was able to move his extremities, Chapman was taken off Maury Wills Jersey the field on a cart.Reds first-year manager Bryan Price said Chapman was conscious and talking as he was carted away.Fortunately, a fan happened to be recording the play on his or her phone. Perez's contact with the bat is visible, but as soon as Chapman goes down, the fan drops the camera.(WARNING: The video below does not show the injury, but the sound of the ball hitting Chapman's head is clearly audible.)Chapman was taken to Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center in Sun City, Ariz. He was then transferred to Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, where he would spend the night for observation, according to a statement from the Reds.Chapman was taken Sandy Koufax Jersey to Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center in Sun City, where tests indicated fractures above his left eye and nose. Reds (@Reds) Chapman will be kept overnight for observation. We will update his status tomorrow morning. Reds (@Reds) The game was called after an 8-minute delay with Kansas Ross Stripling Jersey City leading 6-3."Not good," Price said. "He left the field on a stretcher, took a line drive just above his left eye is what it looks like a contusion, a laceration, and certainly needs to be taken to the hospital and checked. We've got Tomas Vera, an a sistant trainer, is going to be with him. And then we'll get our updates from there."Perez put his hands Duke Snid Jersey on his helmet before reaching first base. He immediately went to the mound where players from both teams huddled as the 26-year-old Cuban was being attended to in an eerily silent stadium. An ambulance's siren could be heard in the background while Chapman was loaded onto the stretcher.MORE REDS: | Perez appeared to be in tears as he left the field and first baseman Eric Hosmer hugged him. Perez quickly left the clubhouse without speaking to reporters. Hosmer hit a line drive off the head of Tampa Bay's Alex Cobb last June. Cobb had a concu sion.Playing right field, Reds teammate Jay Bruce heard the ball hit Chapman."It was one of the more frightening and non-fun moments I've been a part of on the baseball field," he said.After Chapman was driven off to the awaiting ambulance, Price and Royals manager Ned Yost met with the umpires."It was really a mutual agreement," crew chief Chris Guccione said. "Players Alex Verdugo Jersey were rattled. The staff was rattled. The umpires were rattled. We figured it was best, along with both teams in agreement that the game should end."Chapman, who throws a 100 mph fastball, had walked four Royals in the inning before being injured.The Mike Piazza Jersey two-time All-Star had 38 saves for the Reds last season.When reporters walked into the Royals clubhouse, third baseman Mike Moustakas asked a team official to request that they leave."No one wants to talk," Moustakas said.In January, Major League Baseball approved protective cap for pitchers after the occurrence of several terrifying scenes similar to this one in the last few years, including Toronto's J.A. Happ, who sustained a skull fracture.The heavier and bigger hats were available for testing during spring training on a voluntary basis but the cap apparently would not have helped Chapman in this case.The A sociated Pre s contributed to this report.

Joe Glen Perkins Jersey Harvey made his MLB debut Wednesday night for the Yankees, and thankfully the YES Network was there to interview his dad.ReporterMeredith Marakovits sat in the stands with Harvey's mom, dad andfiance to get a sense of what they were going through as Harvey pitched. She asked a simple question to Harvey's father: "Can you just take me through what it's like to watch your son in his Blake Parker Jersey major league debut?"That's when papa Harvey stole the show.MORE:First of all, major props toMarakovits,who managed to not burst out laughing while Harvey stumbled through all of his responses. Second, this thing went off the rails immediately.At no point did the dad manage a singlecoherent sentence. He was basically a living embodiment of Michael Scott's famous sentence quote:"Sometimes I'll start a sentence, and I don't even know where it's going. I Ervin Santana Jersey just hope I find it along the way."His response opens up like this:"It's just really the ultimate of the baseball world as far as we're concerned. I said to my wife this morning, this kid was 7yearsold. I've seen him pitch. He's got a little something on Mitch Garver Jersey his fastball. And through the years, but, through Little League and just ... baseball. It's just overwhelming experience for us."He started to make a little more sense after that, saying how the Yankees have stuck with him since drafting him in 2014. But he instantly became a star for Yankees Kyle Gibson Jersey fans watching the game.Joe Harvey's dad >>>>>>>>> Bronx Pinstripes (@BronxPinstripes) OKAY JOE HARVEYS DAD CHEERING HIM ON IS ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE Audra (@audruhhhh) As for Harvey the pitcher, he had a pretty solid Kennys Vargas Jersey debut. He faced six batters and struck out three while allowing just one hit, one walk and no runs. Maybe if Harvey continues to pitch like this we can get more live interviews with his dad.

The Dodgers center field battle will be one of the most anticipated competitions in all of spring training and it will likely determine if Andre Ethier will finish the Nick Castellanos Jersey season in a Dodgers uniform.Ethier said Tuesdaythat he would prefer to play elsewhere if there isn't an everyday openingfor him on the Dodgers' roster,."You're not wishing for it ever to end, but sometimes that opportunity takes you somewhere else," Ethier said Jeimer Candelario Jersey . "I'm not going to do anything to sit here and force it. Hopefully it works itself out."The Dodgers currently list Ethier as the fourth outfielder, withCarl Crawfordto Daniel Norris Jersey start in left field, rookieJoc Pedersonin center andYasiel Puigin right.Ethier will be battling for the center field job with theyoung and talented 22-year-old Pederson, who is coming off an impre sive season at Triple-A Albuquerque, where he batted .303/.435/.582 with 33 home runs and 30 stolen bases. Peterson JaCoby Jones Jersey was just 4-of-28 with 11 strikeouts after being called up in September.Ethier has $56 million remaining on his contract through 2017, which will be difficult to have rotting on the Miguel Cabrera Jersey bench. Hestill a career .285/.359/.462 hitter but struggled mightily last season (.249/.322/.370) in a reduced role with the team and failed to reach 20 or more doubles for the first time in his career.The 32-year-old Ethier reportedly told the Dodgers in December Spencer Turnbull Jersey thathe wanted to be tradedif he's not going to start, so it will be intriguing to watch what happens with the two-time All-Star. Theandwere linked to Ethier this offseason.

Former Atlanta Braves star Chipper Jones has apologized for a that suggested the FBI had determined the 2012 ma s shooting in Newtown, Conn., was a hoax.Friday night, this appeared on Jones Twitter account (@realcj10): "So Eric Hosmer Jersey the FBI comes out and confirms that Sandy Hook was a hoax! Where is the outrage? What else are we being lied to about? Waco? JFK? Pff "On Dec. 14, 2012, a 20-year-old named Adam Lanza killed 26 people, including 20 children, at Sandy Hook Manuel Margot Jersey Elementary School in Newtown. Conspiracy theorists believe the shooting was an elaborate hoax, staged by the U.S. government to help build support for restrictive gun control legislation. The so-called Sandy Hook Truther Movement has been likened to the fringe conspiracy movements alleging President Barack Obama was born in Nigeria and that 9/11 was staged by the U.S. government.Jones deleted the tweet a couple of hours after it went live.On Saturday, hesent out two tweets apologizing for his earlier tweet.It was irresponsible of me to do that and will not happen again. Please accept my heartfelt apology to those who were hurt or offended. Chipper Jones (@RealCJ10) My apologies for my Sandy Hook tweet Erick Aybar Jersey yest. I had heard something from someone which I thought to be credible and tweeted w/out researching. Chipper Jones (@RealCJ10) Some of the family members affected by the Sandy Hook shooting were outraged at Jones' posting.For more than two years now, my family and the other families of Sandy Hook have been dealing with conspiracy theorists, Ozzie Smith Jersey Cristina Ha singer, 30, . Her mother Dawn Hochsprung, her mother, was principal of the elementary school and died in the shooting.They hara s us, saying it was all a hoax. They accuse us of being in on the hoax a lot of the time. So its really so disappointing to see someone who is supposed Javy Guerra Jersey to be an American role model come out and promote the Sandy Hook hoax theory.I know that he apologized, but its not enough. We were met with a brand new onslaught of Sandy Hook hoax hara sment. When you're dealing with these people, and they see that blue check mark (a verified Twitter account) thats on their side, it starts all over again ... It's unconscionable.Jones, Trevor Hoffman Jersey 42, played 19 years in the majors, all with the Braves. He retired following the 2012 season, ending with 468 career home runs.

Baseball Hall of Fame voter Marc Lancaster is deputy editor of Omnisport'sU.S. newsdesk, which serves Sporting News and other mediaclientsaround the world. Some 50 years ago, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart famously wrote in an opinion for the court that he couldnt nece sarily Blank Jersey define what constitutes pornography, but I know it when I see it.When it comes to voting for the Baseball Hall of Fame in the wake of the so-called Steroid Era, the same frustrating ambiguity seems to apply.Left to their own guiding values by the powers that be in Cooperstown, voters have provedto be maddeningly difficult to pin down when it comes to evaluating the careers of men who may or may not have cheated their way to glory in the 1990s and 2000s.MORE: | That label can fairly be applied to me. Through my first three years as a voter, I declined to check the boxes of the two best players on the ballot, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. I have no doubt that the greatest hitter and pitcher of their era used performance-enhancing substances, and even though they obviously werent alone among their contemporaries, I just couldnt pull the trigger on either of them.The compromise I reached regarding their candidacies was that I would consider them each year at the bottom of the list of players I deemed Hall-worthy. The combination of a glut of strong candidates the last two years and the Halls inexplicable insistence on Mike Moustakas Jersey limiting voters to selecting 10 players each year has kept them on the outside.I initially planned to continue that course this year as I pared down the 32 players on the ballot for the Cla s of 2016. Setting Bonds and Clemens aside for the time being, I ended up with a list of nine players to include on my ballot.Ken Griffey Jr. was the greatest player I covered during my time as a baseball beat writer, though the seasons I spent chronicling his exploits in Cincinnati were far from the greatest in his career. Junior is the one lock in the Cla s of 2016 and could challenge Tom Seavers record of being included on 98.84 percent of ballots in his first year.Mike Piazza, the best-hitting catcher ever, has been on my ballot every year and it seems likely hell get over the 75 percent hump this time Ryan O Hearn Jersey after coming in at 69.9 percent of the vote in 2015.Jeff Bagwell had remarkable numbers and should get in within the next few years (55.7 percent last year), though the clock is starting to tick a bit louder for the Astros great.Curt Schilling, Edgar Martinez and Alan Trammell also are on my ballot for the fourth consecutive year though this unfortunately will be the last for the Tigers shortstop, whose only chance to rightfully join contemporaries Ozzie Smith and Barry Larkin will be via future veterans committees.I checked Tim Raines name again after a two-year absence. The second-best leadoff man of all-time had a relatively short window of greatne s, but his body of work is Cooperstown-worthy.MORE: Thats seven names, with my next two spots going to Larry Walker and first-year candidate Trevor Hoffman.Though voters traditionally have had a fickle relationship with closers, theres no question in my mind that Hoffman, second only to Mariano Rivera with 601 saves, is worthy. Its just a question of when he makes it. Hell get strong support in his inaugural year, but I doubt hell make it in on the first ballot.Walker, meanwhile, Burch Smith Jersey has been on my ballot two of the last three years. His overall numbers are remarkable, though others have quibbled with two aspects of his candidacy: injuries that limited him to an average of 123 games in his 16 full big-league seasons and the advantage he gained by playing nearly a third of his games at Coors Field. Im not as hung up on those i sues as some seem to be, especially considering Walkers impre sive stolen base totals early in his career and his outstanding defense throughout. He was more than just a hitter enhanced by a friendly park.That rundown brings me back to Bonds and Clemens. In my mind, they have to be considered a package deal you cant go for one and Jason Hammel Jersey not the other. Were they better players than Hoffman and Walker? No question. Of the players on this years ballot, even Griffeys numbers pale in comparison.Having spent so much time around Griffey, I feel as confident about him being clean as any superstar from that era, but of course there are no guarantees. Take Piazza and Bagwell, two players I have previously deemed worthy but who clearly have been dragged down by some voters invoking the Potter Stewart test.With that in mind, I believe its time for me to stop attempting to read decades-old tea leaves when it comes to who cheated and who didnt. Bonds and Clemens will be on my ballot this year.Of course, the collateral damage there is that someone will have to come off, thanks to the Halls 10-player cap. As much as Id like to help ensure I can vote for Walker in a future election by doing my part to keep him above the 5 percent threshold to remain on the ballot, Ill just have to hope others do that work for me. Forced to choose between the two, Hoffman will get the last spot on my ballot.The Baseball Writers A sociation of America has tried to get the Hall to ease the 10-player limit, even by just bumping it up to 12, but there has been no movement in that direction. As long as that artificial restraint remains in place, voters will have to compare sluggers vs. speedsters vs. starters vs. closers on each years ballot rather than each players individual worthine s based on historical standards, and thats a shame.Whatever their proce s Ryan O'Hearn Jersey , voters should be trusted to know a Hall of Famer when they see one and be allowed to check all the nece sary boxes.MORE: Marc Lancaster's 2016 Hall of Fame ballotJeff BagwellBarry BondsRoger ClemensKen Griffey Jr.Trevor HoffmanEdgar MartinezMike PiazzaTim RainesAlan TrammellCurt Schilling

A rollercoaster of a season for the Nets has come to an end much earlier than many expected.After entering the season as a favorite to win the NBA title, Brooklyn entered the postseason as a Play-In team and, once in the playoffs, was swept by Boston in the first round.MORE:How does a team go from title aspirations to failing to win a single game in the opening round? As you could imagine, it was a series of events that ultimately resulted in the Nets' downfall.Here's how things got to that point.A timeline leading to the Nets' sweep in 1st roundAug. 6, 2021:Ahead of the 2021-22 NBA season, to stay in Brooklyn through 2026. With Durant signed, attention shifted to James Harden and Kyrie Irving, who would soon become extension eligible.Sept. 27, 2021:It is confirmed that Kyrie Irving is not David Price Jersey vaccinated for COVID-19 when he is not present in person at Nets media day. Due to New York City regulations against unvaccinated persons, Irving's status meant he would not be able to play in home games., Irving asks reporters to respect his privacy when he was asked if he expected to play at home during the 2021-22 season.Oct. 11, 2021:After Irving is cleared to practice at the Nets' facility, that the guard won't be able to play in home games during the upcoming season.Oct. 12, 2021: saying that Xander Bogaerts Jersey Irving will not play or practice with the Nets until he is eligible to be a full participant, reducing Brooklyn's star trio to a star duo.Oct. 13, 2021:During , The Athletic's Shams Charania says that the Nets will not offer a contract extension to Irving.Oct. 18, 2021:The extension deadline pa ses without Harden reaching an agreement with the Nets.Oct. 19, 2021:The Nets suffer a 23-point lo s to the Bucks on opening night of the 2021-22 NBA season.Following the game, "I don't plan on leaving" when asked about his choice not to sign a contract extension.Nov. 29, 2021:Nets sharpshooter Joe Harris is ruled out for four to eight weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle.Dec. 14, 2021:A COVID-19 outbreak impacts the Nets as Harden becomes the seventh player to enter the league's health and safety protocols.Dec. 17, 2021:With a depleted roster, the Nets change their course, on a part-time basis.Dec. 18, 2021:placed in the league's COVID-19 health and safety protocols, joining Harden and Durant.This results in the .Jan. 1, 2022:The Nets enter the new year with a 23-11 record, good for second in the David Ortiz Jersey Eastern Conference.Jan. 5, 2022: 35 games into the schedule, scoring 22 points in a road win over the Pacers.MORE:Jan. 12, 2022:The Nets rout the first-seeded Bulls, 138-112, of how scary a trio of Durant, Harden and Irving can be.It would be the last time the three played together.Jan. 15, 2022: in a win over the Pelicans and is ruled out for four to six weeks.At the time of Durant's injury, Brooklyn is second in the East with a 27-15 record.Jan. 26, 2022:, indicating that Harden would "welcome new scenery" in the 2022-23 season.Feb. 2, 2022:The Nets suffer an 11-point road lo s to the Kings their sixth lo s in a row. Harden scores four points on 2-of-11 shooting.It was his last performance in a Nets uniform.MORE: Feb. 5, 2022:Harden is sidelined with a hamstring i sue and reports surface that he is frustrated with his time in Brooklyn and would be open to a trade.The 76ers emerge as a candidate.Feb. 10, 2022 (NBA Trade Deadline):After days of rumors, in exchange for three-time All-Star Ben Simmons, who had not played since June 2021.The Nets also acquire Seth Curry and Andre Drummond from Philadelphia.MORE:Feb. 26, 2022:Simmons has yet to make his debut for the Nets, who said it was a day-to-day proce s.March 3, 2022:Durant returns after a 21-game absence, but Chris Sale Jersey the Nets lose to the Heat, 113-107.Brooklyn is now 32-32 and the East's eighth seed.March 10, 2022:Still inactive, on the bench as the Nets Brock Holt Jersey travel to Philadelphia to earn a 29-point statement win over the Sixers. NBA Getty Images March 16, 2022:With le s than a month of regular-season action left, to play before the season ends.March 21, 2022:The Nets announce that Harris, who had been out since November, undergoes a second procedure on his ankle and will be out for the remainder of the season.Later in the day, that Simmons is dealing with a herniated disk in his back.March 23, 2022:It is revealed that New York City Mayor Eric Adams will soon lift the private sector COVID-19 vaccine mandate, paving the way for Irving to play in home games, with the first coming on March 27.March 26, 2022: that he does not intend on leaving Brooklyn, saying "there's no way I could leave my man 7 anywhere," referring to Durant and his jersey number."MORE:April 10, 2022:The Nets finish the season with a 44-38 record and the East's seventh seed, meaning they would play in the Play-In Tournament.After Jan. 15, Brooklyn goes 17-23, including an 11-game skid that began in late January.Simmons did not suit up for a regular-season game.April 12, 2022:The Nets defeat the Cavaliers, 115-108 Roger Clemens Jersey in the Play-In Tournament, setting up a playoff rematch with the Celtics.While Simmons had not played in a game during the season, reports indicated he planned on debuting in Game 4 or a potential Game 5 of the series.MORE:April 17, 2022:The Nets lose Game 1 to the Celtics, 115-114, after Jayson Tatum's last-second layup. April 24, 2022:With the Nets facing a 3-0 series deficit, Simmons hits another setback in his return-to-play and is downgraded to out for Game 4 after it was slated to be his debut.April 25, 2022:The Nets are swept by the Celtics in the first round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs.

Revenge is a dish best served cold, and the Royals are looking forward to some payback against the Mets for NoahSyndergaard's wild Alex Wood Jersey brushback pitch to Alcides Escobarin Game 3 of last year'sWorld Series.Kansas City will face the Mets on opening night Sunday and Billy Hamilton Jersey again Tuesday, and the Royalswill be seeking retribution for the controversial pitch, Joey Votto Jersey , citing unnamed sources.MORE: |Syndergaard is scheduled to start in the second game against the Royals, but because they are playing in an American League ballpark he won't be batting Scott Schebler Jersey .Whether the supposed declaration of revenge is real or just a ploy to get people to tune in to the game is unclear.If the Royals are looking for retribution against Syndergaard, it Tanner Roark Jersey will have to be while he is on the mound.UPDATE:Ned Yost on Royals-reliation Barry Larkin Jersey -gate: "Some buffoon writes something and you guys are gonna jump like little monkeys in a cage for peanut." Rustin Dodd (@rustindodd)

It didn't takelong forCuban shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez to find a team. After being declared a free agentMonday morning, Rodriguez had a deal in place withthe Reds by late afternoon, .The Reds signed Rodriguez, Jose De Leon Jersey 21, Michael Perez Jersey to a one-year $6 million contract, the report said. Because of his age and experience, Rodriguez is subject to the international signing guidelinesand will push the Reds into the maximum penalty of a 100 percent tax on the overage. With it, the team also will be barred from signingan international prospect for more than $300,000 during thesigning period Blank Jersey that beginsJuly 2, 2016.MORE: | Rodriguez, whowas named the 2014-15 Serie Nacional Rookie of the Year in Cuba, is regarded as more of a defensive Blake Snell Jersey prospect with an ascending bat. The Reds are in desperate need of infield help after losing third baseman Todd Frazier and waiting for starting shortstopZack Cozart to recover from a torn ACL and LCLin his right knee.The Reds also haveEugenio Suarez, who replaced Cozart at shortstop for 97 Corey Dickerson Jersey games after the injury, and prospect Jose Peraza. Peraza was acquired from the Dodgers as a part of the three-team Frazier trade.The trio of Cozart, Peraza and Rodriguez could all Rob Refsnyder Jersey start if the Reds were to trade veteran Brandon Phillips.

Ozzie Albies is many things. He is a second baseman. He is a Brave. Broadly speaking, hes a baseball player. But more than the others,Albiesis a surprise.Albies, scouted as having mediocre power and never showing an affinity for the long ball,currently leadsMLB in home runs.Acro s 154 games last year between the majors and Triple A, Albies hit only 15 homers double the number of home runs he had hit in his entire profe sional career before 2017. As of May 15, Albies has hit 13 home runs,tied for the most in Hunter Pence Jersey the majors.Albies might have cooled off a bit in May, posting a 60 wRC+ as of themorning of May 14, but hes still hit fourhome runs this month alone. What gives?POWER RANKINGS: One thing jumps out about Albies batted ball profile that could explain Albies power surge is his Fly-Ball Percentage (FB%). Albies hit a lot of ground balls early in his minor league career, but 2017 marked a huge spike in his fly ballnumbers, and 2018 continued the trend.More fly balls are a guaranteed recipe for more home runs you cant go yard with a ground ball, after all andAlbies iselevating and getting under the ball more, resulting in more power. But there Jurickson Profar Jersey s more to Albies power surge than just elevating; Albies has never posted an Cole Hamels Jersey HR/FB% greater than 7.8 percentin any season, but this year, hes up to 19.7 percent. More of Albies fly balls are going out than ever before hence, Albies suddenly looks like Babe Ruth on paper. However,large jumps in HR/FB% arent usually sustainable unle s the hitter is making good enough contact to back it up.Albies average exit velocity this season is at 87.5 mph, per Baseball Savant which is pretty mediocre territory, good enough for 134th in MLB among hitters with at least 80 batted-ball events. Heres where Albies average exit velocity and HR/FB% rank among MLB hitters this season (minus Billy Hamilton;by virtue of having only hit 20 fly balls and two home runs while running an average exit velocity 4 mph lower than the second lowest hitter).Albies is marked with a red dot. Albies HR/FB% falls significantly above what would be expected from him given his launch speed. Hitters with exit velocities within .5 mph of Albies this year have averaged an HR/FB% of 10. Robinson Chirinos Jersey 4 percentacro s a combined 2800-plusplate appearanceswell below Albies 19.7 percentfigure. E sentially, Albies is making contact like Jason Castro, but getting results like Manny Machado something that can't continue for long.Albies has also been lucky with his home/road splits. Thanks to numerous rainouts and scheduling quirks, Albies has played 25 games on the road and only 15 at home. According to Baseball Prospectus, Suntrust Park had a home run park factor of 91 for right-handed batters in 2017, fifthworst in MLB for right-handed batters. Albies is averaging only .03 HR/PA at home, but .09 HR/PA on the road. Albies torrid pace will certainly slow down as he plays more frequently at home.MORE: Its extremely unlikely that Albies Jonathan Hernandez Jersey finishes the season with 40 dingers, buthehas still displayedexcellent signs in terms of maturing power.Lets say Albies continues to hit fly balls at his current pace (43.9 percent), but his HR/FB% regre ses to what it is for other hitters with similar exit velocities (10.4 percent).Over the course of a full season (650 plate appearances), Albies would be projected to hit 24 home runs. It might Rafael Montero Jersey be a bit fewer thanks to Suntrust Parks factors, but thats superb power for a speedy middle infielder.Albies has genuine 20/20 potential, maybe even 30/30 potential an exciting prospect for the Braves. Albies was already an elite prospect for them without the power, so this development is just the cherry on top.

The White Sox have been the surprise team of the American League this season.Expectations were mixed heading into the 2016 campaign, but nearing the end of April they own the best record (16-7) in the ALby two fullgames over the Orioles. That three-game sweep of the Blue Jays, in Toronto, earlier this week was really impre sive. Youd be hard-pre sed to find anyone who truly believedmanager Robin Venturas team would be in this spot.MORE: But how good are the White Sox,really? Is this just a fluke start to what will eventually be their eighth consecutive season that ends short of the playoffs, or is it a harbinger of things to come for whats shaping up to be an epic season of baseball in Chicago (youve probably heard that other team in town, the Cubs, is pretty good, too).Lets start with this: The White Sox arent 113- Sergio Romo Jersey win good (thats how many games theyd claim if they maintain their current .696 winning percentage). I think we can all agree on that, right? Thats the easy part.But are they AL Central-winning good? How about wild-card good? Or buyers-at-the-trade-deadline good? Honestly, after suffering through this seven-year playoff drought, at this point of the season most White Sox fans are probably just happy with so far, so good.As a way to look at whats gone right in this first month, lets take a look at players who have far exceeded expectations (and are destined to regre s a bit at some point) and those who have gotten off to a slower start (and are destined to produce closer to career norms). And then well try and figure out what that means for the playoff hopes on the South Side.Destined to cool downSP Mat Latos: Latos 2015 season was mostly a disaster. He was traded to the Dodgers at the 2015 non-waiver deadline, then released in late September (with a 6.66 Miami Marlins Jersey ERA for L.A.) and pitched twice for the Angels. The White Sox picked him up on a one-year, $3 million flyer in the offseason and he has a 0.74 ERA in his first four starts. Because of course. Obviously, Latos wont keep up that level of production; his strikeout-to-walk numbers aren't great (13-to-7,yikes) and his FIP is a good-not-great 3.56. Still, remember he had a 3.34 ERA in his first 153 career MLB starts (2009-14) and hes only 28 years old. If hes a productive regular in the rotation all season, that would be a huge boost (and a ma sive bargain).SP Jose Quintana: Im not saying there will be a huge regre sion for the prime-of-his-career 27-year-old lefty. Quintana, who owned a 3.46 ERA and 3.45 FIP in 743 career innings heading into 2016, has been one of the more underrated starters in the AL the past couple seasons, largely because hes played for White Sox teams that werent in the playoff conversation. But right now hes at a 1.47 ERA and AL-best 1.81 FIP, and hes yet to allow a home run. Hell slow Jon Berti Jersey down a bit, but still expect him to finally get a bit of much-deserved recognition (including po sibly his first All-Star nod).MORE: The bullpen: These guys have been unbelievably good (well, before a bit of a meltdown Thursday in Baltimore; all numbers in this segment are before that lo s).Chicagos bullpen arms combined for a 1.32 ERA in their first 61 1/3 innings this season, and theyallowed only 38 hits and 19 walks while striking out 55. The bullpen only allowed one home run all season (by contrast, the Reds bullpen has allowed 18 so far) before giving up a grand slam on Thursday. Thatwont last.Look at the contrast between career ERAs (as relievers heading into the season) and what theyve done so far this season: David Robertson (career 2.90 ERA, 0.87 in 2016), Matt Albers (3.71 to 0.00), Nate Jones (3.52 to 0.84), Jake Petrika (3.24 to 1.35), Dan Jennings (2.99 to 1.42), Zach Duke (3.32 to 2.25) and Zach Putnam (3.57 to 3.12). Im not saying the bullpen will collapse, of course, but at some point it will cease to become impenetrable, and thats going to cost the team some wins.Destined to improve1B Jose Abreu: In his first two years in the majors (his Age 27 and Age 28 seasons), Abreu produced a .304/.364/.540 slash line (.904 OPS), with an Andre Dawson Jersey average of 33 homers and 104 RBIs in 150 games. Through the first 24 games of this season, hes batting .207 with three homers and a .635OPS. Hes striking out a touch more (21.0 percent of PAs the first two seasons, 22.9 this year) but the big different is his batting average on balls in play.His first two years, his BABIP was .344. This year? .238. Yeah.The numbers show hes not making as much hard contact (via FanGraphs, its down from 34.2 percent of his contact rated as hard Jose Fernandez Jersey in 2016 to just 24.2percent this year) and hes hitting far fewer line drives (20.7 percent last year; 13.6percent this year). Still, its only 23 games into a season for a slugger with an outstanding track record, and theres every reason to believe hell be just fine.3B Todd Frazier: Hes already started his upswing. Acquired in an offseason trade with the Reds, Frazier who hit a total of 64 homers the past two seasons with Cincinnati was batting just .154 with a .508 OPS through his first bakers dozen games in a White Sox uniform. Since then, hes hitting .351 with four homers and nine RBIs in 10 games and has brought his season average to .236. Hell be just fine.MORE: Designated hitter production: The White Sox would love nothing more than for Avisail Garcia to finally become the hitter everyone expects he can become. But he mi sed four months of the 2014 season after surgery to repair a torn labrum, and then when he was healthy in 2015, he posted a rather disappointing .675 OPS in 148 games. After a big spring (.383 average, five homers), hestruggled again early this season, which even prompted talk of a po sible demotion to Triple-A to get himself straightened out.All this to say that, so far, the White Sox DHs (primarily Garcia, who still doesn't even turn 25 until June) have produced just a .213 batting average and 11 RBIs this season. That will improve over the course of the season, whether its Garcia finally finding his swing (he is 7-for-14 in his past four games) or Jerry Sands seizing the opportunity or the team Corey Dickerson Jersey making a trade to find a big bat.OutlookThis can be a really good team, and a lot of that optimism is based on the top of the rotation.Chris Sale is an elite starter, the kind of ace who could become an October hero,and Quintana is for real. Carlos Rodon, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2014 MLB Draft, can be a top-notch starter if he finally starts to cut down on his walksand Latos can absolutely be a positive in the fourth spot in the rotation. It's starting to look like they mighthave to find a replacement for veteran John Danks, who was hit har

When Raptors guard Fred VanVleet was selected by the NBA's head coaches as one of the reserves for the 2022 NBA All-Star Game, he made history.Following four succe sful seasons at Wichita State, VanVleet failed to Erik Gonzalez Jersey hear his name called in the 2016 NBA Draft. He spent most of his rookie season in the D-League but proved himself to be one of the NBA's best reserves in his sophomore season. He's improved each and every season since, to the point where he's now an All-Star.Im just proud, Chad Kuhl Jersey humbled and honored to be selected," . "Obviously, you guys know how I feel about myself, and the will and the confidence that Ive had to have over the course of my life and my career. But to be recognized like that is a special moment for me and my family, and all the people that have been a part of the journey along the way."MORE: VanVleet enters an exclusive club with his selection, becoming only the fifth undrafted player in NBA history to be named Dave Parker Jersey an All-Star. He joins Connie Hawkins, John Starks, Brad Miller and Ben Wallace.Hawkins was the first undrafted player to ever be named an All-Star, but Starks was the first undrafted player to be named an All-Star in the Ivan Nova Jersey modern NBA. Wallace has the most All-Star selections among undrafted players, and he made further history in 2003 by becoming the first undrafted player to ever be voted an All-Star starter.VanVleet is the first undrafted player since Wallace in 2006 to earn an All-Star selection.Undrafted All-Stars in NBA historyPlayerAll-Star season (team)Connie Hawkins1967-68 (Pipers), 1969-70, 1970-71, 1971-72, 1972-73 (Suns)John Starks1993-94 (Knicks)Brad Miller2002-03 (Pacers), 2003-04 (Kings)Ben Wallace2002-03, 2003-04, 2004 Josh Bell Jersey -05, 2005-06 (Pistons)Fred VanVleet2021-22 (Raptors)Through 50 games this season, VanVleet is averaging career-highs of 21.6 points, 7.0a sists and 4.6 rebounds on a Raptors team that has the seventh-best Francisco Liriano Jersey record in the Eastern Conference. He was selected by LeBron James with the No. 21 pick in the All-Star Draft.The 2022 NBA All-Star Game will be played on Sunday, Feb. 20 in Cleveland, Ohio.

It's like it was meant to be.Stephen Curry, arguably the greatest shooter in NBA history and trailblazer of the league's recent3-point revolution, will look to surpa s Ray Allen for the most career regular-season 3-pointers ever against the Knicks at the Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.The two-time MVP breaking the all-time record should be a safe a sumption, consideringhe only needs a pairtoovertake Allen's tally of 2,973 Chris Davis Jersey .NBALeaguePa s: Sign up to unlock live out-of-market games (7-day free trial)Pa sing Allenat the Garden brings things Renato Nunez Jersey full circle. Ahead of the 2009 NBA Draft, Curry wanted to go to New York and believed the Knicks would select him. Instead, the Warriors drafted him with the seventh overall pick while the Knicks had the eighth pick.MORE: Madison Square Garden is also the arena where the baby-faced a sa sin first announced himself as a bonafide star when he exploded for a then career-high 54 points.Curry and the Warriors will play the Knicks on the second night of a back-to-back after picking up a hard-fought102-100 victory against the Chris Tillman Jersey Pacers in Indiana. If playing in le s than 24 hours isn't hard enough, the team was with their plane.They are on Tuesday morning.The Knicks, on the other hand, are slumping. After a decent 9-7 start to the season, they have lost eight of their previous 11 coming Dan Straily Jersey into this game with their defensive rating ranked among the bottom six in the league. That's stunning, to say the least, for a Tom Thibodeau team.What channel is Warriors vs. Knicks on?Channel: TNTLive stream:Watch TNTWhat time does Warriors vs. Knicks start?Date:Tuesday, Dec. 14Time:7:30 p.m. ET | 4:30 p.m. PTWarriors vs. Knicksis scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Dec. 14. The game will be played at the Madison Square Garden in New York.Warriors upcoming scheduleDateOpponentTimeNational TVDec. 14at Knicks7:30 p.mTNTDec. 17at Celtics7:30 p.mESPNDec. 18at Raptors7:30 p.m-Dec. Andrew Cashner Jersey 20vs. Kings10:00 p.m-Dec. 23vs. Grizzlies10:00 p.m-(All Times Eastern)Knicks upcoming scheduleDateOpponentTimeNational TVDec. 14vs. Warriors7:30 p.mTNTDec. 16at Rockets8:00 p.mDec. 18at Celtics7:00 p.mNBA TVDec. 21vs. Pistons7:30 p.m-Dec. 23vs. Wizards7:30 p.m-(All Times Eastern)NBA schedule for 2021-22After a truncated season in 2020-21, the NBA has returned to its standard 82-game format for the 2021-22 campaign, which is the league's 75th anniversary season.Here are some key dates for the 2021-22 NBA season:Trade Deadline: Manny Machado Jersey Feb. 10NBA All-Star 2022:Feb. 18-20Regular season concludes:April 10Play-In Tournament: April 12-15Playoffs begin: April 16NBA Finals begin:June 22022 NBA Draft:June 23

Who could have imagined some of basketball's biggest stars would be spending the final stretch of the 2021-22 regular season battling for a spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament?The standings in the Eastern and Western Conferences are still tight with only a few games left on the schedule, so a single win or lo s could make a major difference in seedings.NBA LEAGUE PASS: Sign up to unlock live out-of-market games (7-day free trial)Which teams will punch their tickets to the postseason? And which playoff hopefuls will mi s the Blank Jersey cut?Here's a breakdown of the NBA Play-In Tournament, including the projected matchups in each conference and an explanation of the tournament format.NBA standings 2022: Eastern ConferenceSeedTeamRecordGames back1.Heat*53-292.Celtics*51-3123.Bucks*51-3124.76ers*51-3125.Raptors*48-3456.Bulls*46-3677.Nets**44-3898.Cavaliers**44-3899.Hawks**43-391010.Hornets**43-3910Knicks37-4516Wizards35-4718Pacers25-5728Pistons23-5930Magic22-6031*clinched NBA Playoff berth**clinched NBA Play-In berthEliminated from NBA Playoff contention: Knicks, Magic, Pacers, Pistons, WizardsNBA standings 2022: Western ConferenceSeedTeamRecordGames back1.Suns*64-182.Grizzlies*56-2683.Warriors*53-29114.Mavericks*52-30125.Jazz*49-33156. Carlos Gonzalez Jersey Nuggets*48-34167.Timberwolves**46-36188.Clippers**42-40229.Pelicans**36-462810.Spurs**34-4830Lakers33-4931Kings30-5234Trail Blazers27-5537Thunder24-5840Rockets20-6244*clinched NBA Playoff berth**clinched NBA Play-In berthEliminated from NBA Playoff contention: Kings, Lakers, Rockets, Thunder, Trail BlazersNBA Play-In Tournament matchups 2022Eastern Conference(7) Nets vs. (8) Cavaliers(9) Hawks vs. (10) HornetsWestern Conference(7) Timberwolves vs. (8) Clippers(9) Pelicans vs. (10) SpursNBA tiebreaker rulesHead-to-head record is the first tiebreaker. If teams split the season series, the next tiebreaker is higher winning percentage within the division David Dahl Jersey if teams share a division. If they do not share a division, the tiebreaker is winning percentage in conference games.How does the NBA Play-In Tournament work?The NBA Play-In Tournament will be held after the conclusion of the 2021-22 regular season and before the start of the first round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs. The teams that finish Nos. 1-6 in the standings of each conference will be guaranteed playoff spots. Teams Nos. 7-10 will enter the Play-In Tournament.Each conference's Nos. 7 and 8 teams will face off, with the winner earning the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. The loser will still have one more opportunity to reach the Antonio Senzatela Jersey playoffs.Each conference's Nos. 9 and 10 teams will face off, with the winner advancing to play the loser of the No. 7-vs.-No. 8 game. The loser of the No. 9-vs.-No. 10 game will be eliminated from playoff contention.The loser ofthe No. 7-vs.-No. 8 game and the winner of the No. 9-vs.-No. 10 game will then play against each other. The winner of that game will be the No. 8 seed in Daniel Castro Jersey the playoffs. The loser will be eliminated from playoff contention.Beyond the Play-In Tournament, the 2022 NBA Playoffs will follow the typical format, with full best-of-seven series all the way through the NBA Finals.When does the NBA Play-In Tournament start?Play-In Tournament:April 12-15NBA Playoffs:April 16The 2021-22 NBA regular season will end on Sunday, April 10. The 2022 NBA Play-In Tournament will begin on Tuesday, April 12. The first round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Trevor Story Jersey will start four days later on Saturday, April 16.NBA schedule 2022April 10GameTime (ET)National TVPacers vs. Nets3:30 p.m.ESPNWizards vs. Hornets3:30 p.m.Bucks vs. Cavaliers3:30 p.m.Hawks vs. Rockets3:30 p.m.Celtics vs. Grizzlies7 p.m.TNTRaptors vs. Knicks7 p.m.Heat vs. Magic7 p.m.Pistons vs. 76ers7 p.m.Bulls vs. Timberwolves8:30 p.m.Spurs vs. Mavericks9:30 p.m.Lakers vs. Nuggets9:30 p.m.Thunder vs. Clippers9:30 p.m.Warriors vs. Pelicans9:30 p.m.TNTKings vs. Suns9:30 p.m.Jazz vs. Trail Blazers9:30 p.m.

It's not often that Nick Markakis is a bellwether, for anything. The veteran Braves outfielder has long been known for his intentionally boring, canned-answer interviews never one to draw public attention with outspoken opinions and hot takes. So when he does speak up, it's a big deal.That's why his comments on Tuesday about the Astros' cheating scandal should resonate loudly acro s baseball as perhaps the greatest indicator of how much anger seethes among MLB players over Houston's illegal sign-stealing. Though we Daniel Murphy Jersey 've seen and MLB's investigation and rulings, Markakis' words deserve special attention.To see something like that, its damaging to baseball. Its anger. I feel like every single guy over there needs a beating," Markakis told reporters Tuesday morning as he reported to spring training.Braves outfielder Nick Markakis goes off on Houston Astros.."Everything has been handled a bad way.. the players are scot free.. Every single guy over there needs a beating..Full comments Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) MORE: Those words, coming from the soft-spoken Markakis, are the equivalent of another player going into a clubhouse, ala The Punisher, and physically laying waste to an entire team. Heck, maybe laying waste to several teams. For Markakis to offer such un-Markakis public comments shows the level of Aaron Barrett Jersey anger that has taken up residence acro s team camps in Florida and Arizona. In other words, there's a megaton of hostility not just at Astros players, but for the way commi sioner Rob Manfred handled the investigation.I know as players we do not agree with what they did. We dont stand behind them and never will we support them for their actions. I think they got off pretty easy. They are going to be able to go out there and compete with no ramifications at all," Markakis said Hunter Strickland Jersey of the lack of punishment for players. "I think the commi sioner completely handed it the wrong way, but thats the way he did it. Thats the way we got to live with it. I know a lot of people disagree with him. The way he handled the situation he should be embarra sed of himself Joe Ross Jersey .These don't seem to be feelings that can be easily abated. But not just because Markakis has joined the verbal fray.Mike Trout, the game's best player but also another of its duller public personalities voiced similar criticisms Monday, saying he lost respect for the cheating players and took i sue with MLB's resolution."I don't agree with the punishments, the players not getting anything," Trout . "It was a player-driven thing. It sucks, too, because guys' careers have been affected, a lot of people lost jobs. It was tough. ... (MLB) should definitely do something."FAGAN: That's obviously a common sentiment among players and fans this spring. But as , it's apparently not a matter of Manfred just deciding to punish the guilty Astros players. There are labor-relations rules at play apart from MLB's collective bargaining agreement with the Players' A sociation, meaning the MLBPA and Manfred would need to work together to set the standards of punishment for future infractions. That can certainly happen and, given the anger around the league, could very well come to fruition soon.Still, Manfred who came down on the Red Sox in 2018 for using an Apple Watch to relay information and later Koda Glover Jersey i sued a memo declaring such things illegal could've taken steps ahead of the Astros scandal to ensure players could be punished for breaking that rule. But he didn't do that, hence much Andrew Stevenson Jersey of the player anger pointed in his direction.Without a formal and sufficient calming of all this anger, the player-driven cheating scandal is likely to face player-driven punishment, against retaliation during games. Because when official justice lacks, the vigilante variety is often seen as a nece sary substitute.So here we are, on the precipice of a new MLB season, and seemingly the entire league outside of Houston is carrying at least some level of rage. If Markakis' comments are any indicator, that rage is white-hot and not likely to subside anytime soon.

When Indians outfielder Michael Mookie Wilson Jersey Brantley had offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder, many Cleveland fans feared the worst, understanding Cleveland's already fragile lineup may be without its best hitter for the start of the season.It appears those fears are proving justified as Saturday that Brantley still hasn't been cleared to hit and has no timetable to return at this time.MORE: | FANTASY Darryl Strawberry Jersey : "In the off-season people know I love to Robinson Cano Jersey hit,'' Brantley said. ''I hit a lot. It's just been a change in my timetable. When I get to start swinging the bat (again), I have a great routine I'm going to go through and I'll be ready to go.''Spring training starts Wednesday for Cleveland as pitchers and Jay Bruce Jersey catchers report first. Brantley will mi s most of spring training, and there are growing fears he might not be ready to return until late- Noah Syndergaard Jersey April, early-May.Cleveland, which ranked 23rd in batting last year and didn't do much to improve its lineup, will be in real trouble as Brantley mi ses significant time.What's worse, the once-mediocre American League Central is greatly Tug McGraw Jersey improved and could feature four playoff-contending teams. The Indians need to find runs in different ways so they don't fall too far behind.

Ken Griffey Jersey The Mets and Matt Harvey are no more after the club designated its former ace for a signment. Harvey's failed move to the bullpen facilitated the breakup.Harvey should be able to get a fresh start somewhere else, likely through a trade or as a free agent after being released.FAGAN: Which pitching-needy teams make the most sense to pull off a buy-low move? SN has identified seven clubs. The one caveat is that all but one of them are in contention right now, which eliminated bottom-dwellers like the Orioles, Reds, Marlins and White Sox.1. San Francisco GiantsJohnny Cueto (elbow) figures to be out for an extended period and Madison Bumgarner (hand)isn't close to returning, so win-now San Francisco should be looking for rotation reinforcements. Whether Harvey qualifies as a reinforcement is a legitimate question given his recent performance. The 29-year-old Harvey does fit with the Giants' preference for veterans, though, and the Mets won't be asking for much in a trade.2. Pittsburgh PiratesWould Harveybe willing to listen to highly respected pitching coach Ray Searage? Searage is big on pounding the strike zone, and Harvey has been doing Ben Gamel Jersey that. His problem has been pounding the wrong parts of the zone with heat in the low- to mid-90s. Maybe Searage could get him to spot that fastball better. Pittsburgh has been fading after a quick start and the rotation has been a mixed bag. Harvey on the cheap might hold appeal.3. Oakland AthleticsA's starters not named Sean Manaea have been so Seattle Mariners Jersey -so, and GM Billy Beane has been addre sing that i sue by adding arms such as Trevor Cahill and Brett Anderson, who have a history in Oakland. A low-cost addition like Harvey would fit with the trend of low-cost veteranstopgaps.4. Seattle MarinersM's starters have a 5.18 ERA after the first month-plus, and their most effective minor league starter, Andrew Moore,is pitching in Double-A. Giving Harvey an audition at the bottom of the rotation feels like a reasonable low-risk option for Seattle, which was 18-12 entering Friday. Harvey would likely welcome the idea of going from one pitchers' park (Citi Field) to another (Safeco Field).5. Tampa Bay RaysThe budget-conscious Rays are in Ricardo Sanchez Jersey shouting distance of the American League wild-card race after an awful start, and it's shy a starter; Nathan Eovaldi (elbow) is about three weeks away from being activated. Here's a wild thought: Tampa Bay could make Harvey its permanent "bullpen day" starter, which would keep him limited to two trips through the order. Would Harvey accept that, though? Unlikely.6. Cleveland IndiansThe Tribe's top fourare solid with Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Trevor Bauer and Mike Clevinger,but Josh Tomlin has been bad and Danny Salazar isn't close to taking the mound. As minimum-salary fifth starters go, Harvey seems a reasonably goodbet. Randy Johnson Jersey He'd also be joining a better team, and one that used to employ the Mets' current manager, Mickey Callaway, if you're into revenge scenarios.7. New York YankeesSpeaking of which . . . Harvey has barely hidden his desire to pitch in the Bronx someday, but he probably didn't expect to get the chance in-season after being run out of Queens. What better "motivation" could the erstwhile Dark Knight have but to show his former James Paxton Jersey employer, and Gotham, that he can still be a hero? (Oh, and with Jordan Montgomery down and Sonny Gray struggling, all is not perfect in the Bombers' rotation.)