
Alex Rodriguez attended Old Timers’ Day at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, the first time he has done so since his retirement as a player in 2016. He did so as part of the 2009 World Series reunion, but despite his importance to that team, he was not necessarily expecting an invite.
Rodriguez said he was very honored to be invited to the event and confessed that he was not necessarily expecting it.
“I was actually surprised that I got an invitation,” Rodríguez said, via Jorge Castillo of ESPN. “Honored. Very happy. … It’s my first time back and I’m excited to be back. I’m very proud of my time in New York and I’m very proud to be part of a champion team.”
Rodriguez was an essential part of that 2009 team, putting together one of his best postseasons. He hit .365 with six home runs in 15 games that fall, so from that standpoint, he was an obvious invite. On the other hand, Rodriguez had plenty of drama with the organization, not to mention his controversial links to PED usage.
Rodriguez has openly said he would like to receive one major honor from the Yankees, but that probably is not going to happen. He may have to settle for being invited back for events like these.
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Los Angeles Dodgers star shortstop Mookie Betts is coming off the worst offensive season of his 12-year career, hitting .258/.326/.406 with 20 home runs, posting career lows in all slash line metrics. Now in the postseason, the 2018 MVP is costing the Dodgers their shot at consecutive World Series titles. After a hot start, Betts is 15-for-64 in the playoffs. In the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, he is just 3-for-23 without an extra-base hit. So far, Betts is one of two Dodgers players with more than 11 at-bats and no home runs, the other being Andy Pages. When asked by reporters about his struggles after the Dodgers' Game 5 loss, Betts had this to say as reported by Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic: “I don’t want to speak on anybody else. But for myself, I’ve just been terrible … “I wish it were from lack of effort. But it’s not. I mean, that’s all I can say.” Mookie Betts is leading the Dodgers towards their demise With their loss on Wednesday, the Dodgers are on the ropes, down 3-2, facing elimination in Toronto on Friday. Overall, the Los Angeles offense has gone through detrimental quiet spells in inopportune times, scoring three runs in the past two games. If we include parts of the 18-inning game on Monday, that’s four runs in 29 innings. These lulls have greatly harmed the team’s chances at winning the World Series this season. And while the Dodgers have more than their fair share of laggards, Betts plays a crucial role for the team. His spot towards the top of the batting order is nestled among his fellow MVPs and top-producers. But unlike the other top bats around him, Betts has only accounted for a total of one run, scoring no RBI in this World Series. Every time the Blue Jays walked Ohtani, they did so inconsequentially, experiencing no trouble from Betts hitting behind him. Needless to say, if the Dodgers are going to hop back into the driver’s seat, their offense will need to wake up. Los Angeles has seen success despite Betts’ slump; but with no room for error, this is an all-hands-on-deck situation, and they will more than likely need something from their star shortstop aside from his stellar defense.
George Pickens is having an outstanding first season with the Dallas Cowboys, and the career-best pace has come at a time when he is preparing for potential free agency. Is it possible the star wide receiver could sign an extension before he gets to that point? Pickens says that is up to his boss. Pickens, who was drafted in the second round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022, is in the final season of his rookie contract. He was asked on Thursday if he would consider signing a new deal with the Cowboys before he becomes a free agent after the season. He had a noteworthy response. "That’s kinda up to what (Jerry Jones) wants to do. All I can do is perform at my best," Pickens said. George Pickens has earned No. 1 wideout money Pickens has 685 receiving yards through the first eight weeks of the season, which ranks third in the NFL. His six touchdown catches are already the most of his four-year career. CeeDee Lamb missed several games this season with an ankle injury, and Pickens showed during that time that he is more than capable of being the featured wideout in a quality offense. That should go a long way toward setting his market, whether he re-signs with the Cowboys or becomes a free agent. With Lamb making an average of $34M per year, the Cowboys probably cannot afford to keep Pickens. For now, the 24-year-old is at least giving off the impression that he is open to the possibility. He also suggested recently that money is not the most important thing to him with his next contract, which could keep Dallas in the running.
As the Tennessee Titans are free falling towards another season as one of the NFL's worst teams, they will likely sell off some of their higher priced players before the NFL's Nov. 4 trade deadline. Wide receiver Calvin Ridley tops the list of available players on the trade block even as he deals with a hamstring injury. Ridley's big play ability makes him an attractive option for teams looking to add another wide receiver. Even though he's been experiencing an up and down season so far - Ridley has only 16 receptions for 290 yards, he surpassed 1,000 yards in each of the past two seasons following sitting out 2022 due to being suspended for betting. So assuming Ridley is healthy enough to remain a trade target, here are the teams that should take a chance on the controversial wide out. Pittsburgh Steelers Aaron Rodgers may have stabilized the Steelers' quarterback position, but that doesn't mean the offense is as consistent as it needs to be for Pittsburgh to truly contend in the AFC. Pittsburgh has only exceeded 30 points twice through seven games. Desperate to increase their offensive output, especially with the defense struggling, the Steelers could use more receiver depth behind DK Metcalf. Acquiring Ridley would provide Rodgers another weapon and make the decision to place double coverage on Metcalf more of a risk for opponents. If Ridley can get back to form, he would unlock an extra dimension for a Steelers team that still holds a comfortable lead in the AFC North. New England Patriots One of the surprising results of the season so far, the Patriots are 6-2 and in first place in the AFC East. But if New England truly hopes to make a playoff push, second-year quarterback Drake Maye may need more at his disposal. To this point, Maye has been forced to work without a true deep threat. And while he's been able to methodically move the ball, Ridley would make his life much easier and stretch the field even more. Seattle Seahawks Another first place team who could use another playmaker, the Seattle Seahawks' offense has started to show signs of weakness in recent weeks. Much like the Steelers, the Seahawks have a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver in Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Month for October. He's been brilliant with three-straight 100 plus-yard games. However, Seattle has only scored 30 points once in its last four games. Pairing Smith-Njigba with Ridley would make the Seahawks more potent as they approach a stretch of the schedule with pivotal divisional matchups coming up.
Miami Dolphins pass-rushers Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips were subjects of numerous trade rumors before the Dolphins fell to 2-7 on the season via a blowout 28-6 home loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night. While speaking with reporters after the defeat, Chubb and Phillips addressed their uncertain futures ahead of the upcoming trade deadline, which will arrive at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Bradley Chubb understands "the business of football" amid trade rumors "God has full control," Chubb said, per Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald. "He knows the plans he has for me. I’m just living each and every day, being where my feet are. I understand the business of football. But at the end of the day, I love these guys. I got the C on my shirt for a reason." Before Thursday's game got underway, one report claimed that "the Dolphins aren't looking to offload players" despite the club's record. For an article published on Friday morning, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated wrote that there are "fair questions floating around on whether there are guardrails on the current regime, based on the tenor of conversations" as it pertains to the Dolphins. In short, one wonders if Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel and/or general manager Chris Grier could potentially be shown the door at any time. Team owner Stephen Ross may want to hand a to-be-hired regime as many future draft assets as he can get his hands on this fall. Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Carolina Panthers and Philadelphia Eagles are reportedly among the clubs that could be interested in acquiring some pass-rush help. Jaelan Phillips also knows reality of his situation ahead of trade deadline "It's out of my control," Phillips added about whether or not he'll be traded before Nov. 4. "I would love to stay here. But if I get traded, I get traded." Miami won't play again until the club hosts the Buffalo Bills (5-2) on Nov. 9. It remains to be seen if Chubb and Phillips will still be employed by the Dolphins when that game kicks off.
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