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Trevor Story key to Red Sox 2024 hopes
Little is expected of the Red Sox in 2024.
Lucas Giolito, the team's biggest offseason signing, is already lost for the year. He suffered a partially torn UCL in his right elbow, undergoing surgery to have an internal brace for his elbow. While Giolito is hoping to return for the start of the 2025 season, that does not help a rotation that was already riddled with questions coming into this season.
There is still a path for the Red Sox to find success - the defense should be improved. Tyler O'Neill has typically been a strong defensive left fielder, having saved 25 runs in left over his career. His presence allows the Red Sox to push former left fielder Masataka Yoshida into a full-time DH role, a position he is better suited for. Vaughn Grissom has not graded out well defensively at second base in the majors but he has just 94 games of experience at the position between the majors and minors. Despite the additions, Trevor Story will be the key to the Red Sox defensive success.
When healthy, Story is one of the better defensive shortstops in baseball. He saved 77 runs at short during parts of seven years at the position, leading the NL in 2019. Story saved seven runs at short in 2023, the eighth-best mark in the majors, despite just 36 appearances at the position.
Story is also a key to the Red Sox lineup. He has proven to be a solid power and speed threat, reaching the 20 homer/20 steals club three times. The Red Sox lineup is centered around Yoshida leading off, with third baseman Rafael Devers and first baseman Triston Casas providing the power. Story had hit at least 24 homers in five of his six years in Colorado before that streak was interrupted by the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
The problem is that Story has not been healthy. He was hampered by elbow troubles in 2022 which necessitated his move to second. Story underwent elbow surgery in January 2023, leaving him to appear in just 46 games last season. If Story can come close to being the player he was with the Rockies, when he posted a .272/.340/.523 batting line with 158 homers and 180 doubles while stealing 100 bases in his 3136 plate appearances, he would go a long way to extending the lineup.
The Red Sox still hope to contend in 2024. Trevor Story's health could make the difference.
More must-reads:
- Which MLB players have the most career WAR?
- Paul Skenes' recent struggles open door for Phillies aces in NL Cy Young race
- The 'American League WAR leaders' quiz
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Yankees Manager Aaron Boone Addresses Jasson Dominguez Benching
New York Yankees rookie outfielder Jasson Dominguez has been a breath of fresh air to the ballclub this year. Through 99 games, the 22-year-old has 84 hits, 50 runs scored, nine home runs, 37 RBIs and a .719 OPS in 332 at-bats. At this stage, every game is of utmost importance, and the Yankees are clinging to the final American League Wild Card spot, although the Cleveland Guardians are one game back entering Wednesday. On Wednesday, Dominguez was once again absent from the Yankees lineup, marking the third straight game he was on the bench. The decision by manager Aaron Boone to bench Dominguez again had fans raising eyebrows and showing their frustration on social media. Aaron Boone Speaks on Latest Benching Prior to Wednesday's game against the Minnesota Twins, Boone spoke about not playing Dominguez in the starting lineup for the third straight game. "J.D. is a big part of it. I know it's a few days he hasn't played. It's a little snapshot in a long season," Boone said, via Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. The Yankees' starting outfield for the past few games has been Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham and Giancarlo Stanton, with Aaron Judge slotting in as the designated hitter. So, Wednesday marks the third straight game with the same outfield unit, and New York has won each of the last two games. Dominguez's last start was on Sunday in a 7-1 loss to the Houston Astros, and Dominguez only had two hitless at-bats before being replaced by Stanton. So, while fans are entirely happy about Dominguez riding the bench, the Yankees are winning games, in playoff contention, and still have a stellar group of outfielders. The Yankees begin a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals on the road on Friday, and it will be worth monitoring to see if Boone gives the rookie a start over the weekend.
Former NASCAR official sheds light on investigation, decisions during infamous 2013 'Spingate' scandal
In September 2013, one of the biggest scandals in NASCAR history took place at Richmond (Va.) Raceway. The 2013 Federated Auto Parts 400 was the final race in the 2013 Cup Series regular season. At the time, only 12 drivers made the Chase for the Sprint Cup. After a chaotic evening that saw Carl Edwards snag the win, Michael Waltrip Racing was embroiled in a massive race manipulation scandal that played a huge role in the team's eventual downfall. Clint Bowyer intentionally spun in the closing laps in an effort to help teammate Martin Truex Jr. make the chase, while Brian Vickers was told to come down pit road for the same reason. When it was all said and done, Truex Jr. was booted from the Chase and ended up leaving the team at season's end, along with longtime sponsor Napa Auto Parts. Bowyer was docked 50 points and saw his title hopes evaporate before the postseason even began and general manager Ty Norris was indefinitely suspended. Former crew chief and NASCAR Vice President of Competition, Robin Pemberton, joined the "Dale Jr. Download" on Wednesday and explained NASCAR's side of the story from that infamous evening nearly 12 years ago. "About 10 o'clock in the morning (the day after the race) the phone rings," Pemberton said. "It's (former NASCAR president) Mike Helton. He goes, 'We got frickin' trouble. We got to do an investigation.'" At the time, Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois, hosted the first race of NASCAR's postseason as well as media week for the Chase. The spotlight was going to be firmly on the race weekend regardless of extenuating circumstances, but what followed was one of the most bizarre set of occurrences in NASCAR history. "Monday at nine or 10 o'clock, I'm on a (expletive) airplane going to Chicago," Pemberton said. "They (NASCAR) put me in a room. The TV people came in, and they replayed stuff and replayed stuff. I was in that room for eight or 10 hours the first day and probably 16 the second day." After combing through footage and radio transmissions, Pemberton came to a conclusion. "Now, you're fixing a race," Pemberton said. But the MWR scandal was not the only domino to fall in regard to the 2013 Chase. Team Penske and Front Row Motorsports — a pair of Ford teams — were also found to have participated in race manipulation, with David Gilliland intentionally slowing on a restart in order to help Joey Logano secure his spot in the postseason. While Logano remained in the playoff field, NASCAR made an unprecedented decision by adding four-time champion Jeff Gordon as a 13th driver, claiming that Gordon and the No. 24 team had been placed at a disadvantage at Richmond due to race manipulation. "It was kind of no harm, no foul," Pemberton said of the move to add Gordon to the Chase field. "He wasn't having one of his best years. But that was a decision by a few people. "What a frickin' week that was." The NASCAR Cup Series field will return to Richmond on Saturday for the penultimate race of the 2025 regular season — an event that will hopefully be devoid of race manipulation and controversy.
Bruins' top prospect makes decision on college that will shake up the scene
Boston Bruins top prospect James Hagens has announced he will return to Boston College for his sophomore season. In a brief interview with Scott McLaughlin of Boston’s WEEI 93.7, Hagens shared that he’s in no rush to advance to the next step, acknowledging that development is a, “marathon, not a sprint.” Hagens revealed the news while participating at the Bruins’ 14th annual back-to-school celebration, alongside current Bruins Mason Lohrei and John Beecher. Few announcements will shake the college scene as much as the news of Hagens’ return. He was among the best freshmen in college last season, tracking to 37 points in 37 games. That scoring earned him a unanimous selection to Hockey East’s All-Rookie team — an accolade he shared with teammate Teddy Stiga and Boston University rival Cole Hutson. Hagens reached those heights while filling an interesting role with the Eagles, stepping in between wingers Gabe Perreault and Ryan Leonard after the two spent their last three years centered by San Jose Sharks prospect Will Smith. Each of Perreault, Leonard and Hagens scored fewer points than the Eagles’ top-line managed in 2023-24, but it seemed that was more the cause of a low-scoring year across Hockey East. The top unit recorded points on 36 percent of BC’s goals this season, an ever-so-slight improvement over the 34 percent contributed by Smith, Leonard and Perreault in 2024. But while Hagens faced questions of his scoring upside relative to other top draft-eligible talents in the NCAA, it was hard not to be impressed by his on-ice results. He’s long been a dynamo among his age group, with an innate ability to predict movement and put himself in position to make a play. Hagens is strong on the puck — with an ability to use finesse moves and bulky shoulders to force his way into the dangerous areas of the ice. More than that, he showed clear signs of improvement as the year went on — developing his physical presence and ability to make a difference even when he wasn’t the first man in on a play. Those signs of growth give Boston a prospect to be excited over. Hagens was lauded as the clear first overall talent in the 2025 draft class, prior to the beginning of the 2024-25 season. Much of that claim came from his command of the U.S. NTDP over the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, where he served as the team’s top-line center and snappy playmaker next to electric goal-scorer Cole Eiserman. With Eiserman’s help, Hagens was able to become the fifth-highest scoring player in NTDP history, with 187 points in 118 games. He also set the scoring record at the World U17 Hockey Challenge in 2023, with 21 points in seven games, and the World U18 Championship in 2024, with 22 points in seven games. Hagens will be returning to a fresh-faced Boston College lineup next season. Both Leonard and Perreault signed their NHL entry-level contracts at the end of last season, leaving the Eagles with vacancies on both wings on their top-line. One of those spots will be occupied by Stiga, who has shown years of chemistry playing next to Hagens. The other spot will be closely contested, but could land in the hands of transfer forward Ryan Conmy or fellow Bruins draft pick William Moore. Hagens and Moore will be two of six Bruins prospects on next year’s Eagles squad, providing local fans with plenty of reasons to walk to Conte Forum when the puck drops.
Celtics' ownership move should concern Lakers governor Jeanie Buss
Lakers governor Jeanie Buss is supposed to remain in charge of the team for years even after the sale. Given what just happened with the Boston Celtics, it might only be months. When the Grousbeck family sold the Celtics for $6.1B in March, ESPN reported that Wyc Grousbeck would stay on as the Celtics CEO and governor through the 2027-28 season. Now, new owner Bill Chisholm will take over once the sale is final. That should concern current Lakers team governor Jeanie Buss, whose family sold a majority interest in the Los Angeles Lakers to investor Mark Walter. Buss is supposed to stay on as team governor for "at least a number of years," according to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, but new NBA owners haven't been keen on waiting to take control of teams recently. Mark Cuban thought he would continue running the Dallas Mavericks when he sold a controlling interest to the Adelson family in November 2023. Before the end of that season, when Dallas advanced to the NBA Finals, new team governor Patrick Dumont, the son-in-law of Miriam Adelson, was firmly in charge. General manager Nico Harrison reported directly to Dumont, which is how Luka Doncic ended up traded to the Lakers despite Cuban's objections. It might be different with the Lakers. Walter has owned a minority share in the Lakers since 2021, so he's had a working relationship with Buss. Her role as team governor may be a condition of the sale itself. With the team preparing for a long-term future with Doncic, Walter and his fellow owners might opt for continuity in the team governor role. But in general, people do not spend billions of dollars on a professional sports team so that someone else can be in charge. Buss is in charge of the Lakers now. Recent history says she won't be for long.
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