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Baseball Hall of Fame shortstop Barry Larkin is going in on his beloved former team.
Larkin, who now works as an analyst for Bally Sports Ohio, had some harsh remarks about the Cincinnati Reds this week. The retired former NL MVP was on the broadcast for a game between the Reds and St. Louis Cardinals and went off on the Reds’ underwhelming performance this season relative to their talent level.
“There’s expectation, and there should be expectation in this city with this amount of talent that we have,” Larkin said, per the Cincinnati Enquirer. “We have a superstar talented pitcher [Hunter Greene]. We have superstar talented players, right? And there has to be something in someone that just cannot accept mediocrity."
Larkin wasn't done, either.
“You have dominant players, and they have to figure out,” Larkin added. “And I think these guys, they need to be pushed. I know that. I’m sitting here just thinking about myself and Eric Davis, and what he did for me in my career. What he did is he challenged me. He didn’t let me just go out there and just be O.K … He told me that it is unacceptable for you to be a .500 ballplayer.”
Larkin’s comments came in the context of the Reds coming up on a .500 record for the first time since early May. (The club is 60-61 entering play on Thursday.) But Cincinnati is still 4.5 games back in wild-card race and 8.5 games back in the division. They look poised to miss the playoffs for the fourth straight year and have not won 90 games in a season for over a decade.
To an extent, the Reds’ mediocrity this year is understandable. They have battled a number of injuries with Matt McLain being sidelined all season to this point and other key roster pieces like TJ Friedl and Jake Fraley missing significant time. On top of that, Cincinnati’s roster is still very young. Its headliners are the likes of Greene, Elly De La Cruz, and Spencer Steer, all of whom are age 26 and younger.
That said, there are some legitimate concerns about the way that the Reds have been run in recent years, including from a payroll standpoint. Larkin, who played his entire MLB career for the Reds from 1986-2004, is among those who would like to see some changes.
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Phillies superstar may be building Hall of Fame case
Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber is in the midst of another impressive season. Schwarber entered Wednesday having posted a .249/.373/.578 batting line in his 528 plate appearances this season, hitting 42 homers while driving in a National League-leading 97 runs. The Phillies slugger was named to his third All-Star Game this season and, according to NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, he should be the NL MVP. Schwarber has been one of baseball's premier power hitters since establishing himself in the majors in 2017. He's in his eighth season of hitting 30 or more homers and has reached the 40-homer plateau three times in his four seasons in Philadelphia. The 32-year-old Schwarber may find himself in elite company when his career comes to an end. He has already hit 326 homers in his career, potentially giving him a chance to reach the 500-home run plateau. If Schwarber does hit 500-plus homers, the narrative around his career may change. There have only been 28 players in MLB history to reach that plateau, 19 of whom are in the Hall of Fame. Two players — Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera — are not yet eligible and are expected to be enshrined on the first ballot. The seven players who have not been inducted into the Hall of Fame have been linked to PED use, torpedoing their candidacy. At the same time, his entire candidacy may be based on his home run total. Schwarber has a lifetime .232/.346/.499 batting line over 5,188 plate appearances; although batting average no longer carries much weight for the voters, he would have the lowest batting average of any non-pitcher in the Hall. His 20.7 fWAR has been dragged down by his defense and is unlikely to make him a favorite among the younger voters who put more emphasis on such metrics. Schwarber is marching toward the 500-home run plateau. If he does reach that mark, he could be a polarizing Hall of Fame candidate.
Green Bay Packers 4th Round Rookie Heralded As Steal Of The Draft
The Green Bay Packers’ front office has made a habit of unearthing underappreciated talent in the NFL Draft, and rookie Barryn Sorrell might be their latest gem. A fourth-round pick out of Texas, Sorrell has turned heads in training camp and delivered a standout performance in the Packers’ preseason opener against the New York Jets. It’s early, but the buzz is building—Sorrell could be the steal of the entire 2025 NFL Draft. Here’s a closer look at Sorrell’s impressive week, why coaches are raving about him, and what his role on the team could look like as the season unfolds. Green Bay Packers Barryn Sorrell: Preseason Debut Though the Green Bay Packers fell short against the Jets in their preseason opener, Sorrell’s debut was nothing short of promising. Lining up on the defensive edge, the rookie flashed the explosiveness and technique that made him a standout for the Texas Longhorns in college. Pro Football Focus gave Sorrell a team-best pass rush grade of 87.9 for the game, showcasing his ability to generate pressure. While Green Bay didn’t record a sack as a team, Sorrell came close on multiple occasions, recording two quarterback hits and two pressures. On one notable snap, he effortlessly tossed Jets tackle Max Mitchell aside before delivering a clean shot on quarterback Brady Cook, demonstrating a pass rush technique well beyond his years. “He looked sharp out there—really sharp,” Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley said after the game. “For a young guy stepping into this environment, his ability to impact the game with consistent pressure is what we want to see moving forward.” The Work Ethic That Sets Him Apart What has impressed coaches just as much as Sorrell’s on-field performance is his relentless effort and commitment to improvement. Practice reports continually highlight his hustle during drills and scrimmages. From chasing down plays to perfecting minor details in his technique, Sorrell has demonstrated the kind of mindset that coaches love to see in young players. “He’s got a motor that doesn’t stop,” linebackers coach Sean Duggan said. “When you see a guy like Barryn putting in that level of effort, it elevates the whole group. That’s been his reputation since he arrived in Green Bay.” That reputation has driven Sorrell to stand out during training camp and preseason, setting him apart despite a crowded defensive rotation. Why Sorrell Is Being Dubbed a Steal Draft analysts have been quick to call Sorrell one of the smartest picks of the 2025 Draft, though hindsight reveals just how much of a sleeper he was going in. Coming out of Texas, Sorrell had been productive at the collegiate level, showcasing a knack for disrupting plays in the backfield. However, concerns about his relatively modest size (6-foot-4, 255 pounds) for an every-down edge rusher caused him to slide to the fourth round. It’s now becoming clear that those concerns were overstated. General manager Brian Gutekunst, who has built a reputation for finding value in the mid-to-late rounds, once again seems to have struck gold. Sorrell’s early success highlights why many now believe that he should have gone much earlier in the draft. “There’s zero reason he should’ve fallen that far,” said one AFC scout. “The Packers got a guy with Day 2 talent in the fourth round, and it won’t take long before he proves it.” Eyes on the Future The Packers’ philosophy of building through the draft has rarely been more evident than in their approach to Barryn Sorrell. With veteran leadership guiding him and coaches invested in his development, the rookie appears to be in a near-perfect situation to succeed. For a team looking to solidify its defensive identity, finding a player like Sorrell is invaluable. His work ethic, playmaking ability, and high football IQ give him every chance of being a long-term cornerstone for Green Bay’s pass rush. Final Thoughts It’s far too early for definitive conclusions, but Barryn Sorrell’s introduction to the NFL has Green Bay Packers fans excited. His performance in camp and the preseason has already exceeded expectations, offering a tantalizing glimpse of what could be an immensely bright future. If his current trajectory holds, Sorrell won’t just be a steal of the draft—he’ll be a key piece in the Packers’ ongoing pursuit of greatness.
Bengals rookie learns important Joe Burrow rule
Cincinnati Bengals rookie EDGE Shemar Stewart learned an important rule Wednesday: Don't hit the franchise quarterback during practice. In the 11-on-11 period of practice, Stewart knocked down Bengals QB Joe Burrow, a perennial league MVP candidate. A scuffle then ensued between Stewart and the offensive line. After practice, Bengals center Ted Karras said he likes Stewart's intensity but reminded him not to hit Burrow. "Just be smarter," Karras said, via Charlie Clifford of WLWT-TV in Cincinnati. "Great player. But, come on, man. That's all our hopes and dreams right there. And we got to be better, too. That's on us." Without Burrow, the Bengals' Super Bowl hopes would evaporate. He already carried Cincinnati to the big game during the 2021 season and is coming off a career year. Last season, he led the league in touchdown passes (43 in 17 games) and passing yards (4,918), winning Comeback Player of the Year for the second time. Not to mention, Burrow can be injury-prone. He suffered a season-ending left knee injury during his rookie season in 2020. Then in 2023, he tore his right wrist, sidelining him for the season's final seven games. The Bengals subsequently finished 9-8 and failed to make the playoffs. Burrow didn't suffer an injury after Stewart hit him, but the Bengals don't want to put their most important player at risk. "We've gotta protect No. 9," Bengals right guard Lucas Patrick said, via Jay Morrison of Cincinnati Bengals on Sports Illustrated. "It starts with me up front. I've got to play better, protect better. Can't let No. 9 get hit." The Bengals need their O-line to provide Burrow with much better protection for the rest of the season. And they need Stewart to follow the critical rule.
Rory McIlroy Reveals Why He Didn’t Go To St Jude Championship
Last week, the playoffs for the FedEx Cup officially began. The top seventy players of the season have been selected, and they are now off to the races. The first of four events was the St Jude Championship in Memphis, Tennessee. Although it was supposed to have seventy players, there was a notable absence. Rory McIlroy, despite occupying the no. 2 spot in the FedEx rankings, was nowhere to be seen. The decision has led to confusion and criticism. The main question was why he had done it, and now McIlroy has answered that question. Recap On McIlroy And St Jude Fallout Rory McIlroy’s decision has brought him some criticism. Some were calling it disrespectful to the sport and players. People like Johnson Wagner were calling for rule changes to keep such an absence from happening again. He proposed mandatory attendance with wiggle room for emergencies, given that the FedEx Cup has an elimination aspect to it. McIlroy was able to skip the event without any kind of repercussion. Going into the playoffs, he was second in the FedEx Cup rankings, just behind Scottie Scheffler. He was so far ahead of most other players that some people did the math and concluded that he could skip St Jude and the BMW Championship and still be in the race. After the St Jude Championship, McIlroy’s FedEx Cup standing did not change. He remained in second but he will be attending the BMW Championship. McIlroy’s Explanation Ahead of the BMW Championship, Rory McIlroy attended a press conference to answer some questions before the tournament. One of the questions was on his absence from the St Jude Championship, and McIlroy answered that he just needed an extra week off ahead of a very busy schedule. “I just think that extra week off will do me good with the events coming up. Some big events that are important to me—the Irish Open, Wentworth (BMW PGA Championship), obviously the Ryder Cup. I want to try to win my seventh Race to Dubai over in Europe as well. There’s some things that are still important to me that I want to go play in. That was a big part of the reason why I wanted to take that extra week off last week.” During this same conference, McIlroy addressed the need for a rule change after his absence. Mostly questioning if it was even necessary, but ultimately saying that he would support it if need be. McIlroy also pointed out that any rules change would need to keep a lot of people happy, including the media rights partner and the sponsors. Those two like to see big names on the field. Up Next: The BMW Championship Rory McIlroy may have skipped the St Jude Championship, but he’s not skipping the BMW Championship. Nor is he skipping the Ryder Cup, Irish Open, Wentworth, or the Race to Dubai. It was a calculated move, as suspected, but it is for much-needed rest right before McIlroy goes into several big tournaments. McIlroy has nine very busy weeks ahead of him, and he needs to save his strength before each one. For now, though, he is focusing on retaining his position during the BMW Championship this week.
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