All eyes now on Dodgers’ stellar relief pitchers
The Sporting Tribune's Doug Padilla writes about the Dodgers' improved bullpen and their role in the team's success this season.
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1. All eyes now on Dodgers’ stellar relief pitchers
The Sporting Tribune's Doug Padilla writes about the Dodgers' improved bullpen and their role in the team's success this season.
The chicken coops of baseball sit some 340 to 400 feet away from the action, often behind a fence in a fully confined area with its occupants mindlessly scratching at the dirt while biding their time.
Water to share, seeds to eat, an adjacent and smaller covered area to get away from the outside commotion, the comparisons go on and on.
Welcome to a major league bullpen, where relief pitchers gather in a flock, seek higher ground to get warm and then bolt from the scene one at a time at the moment a crack appears in the gate.
The most common similarity of all is that relievers, like chickens, have always established a pecking order. Low leverage, high leverage and closer is the hierarchy. Other identifiers include set-up man, specialist, flame thrower. The “fireman” is from a bygone era.
The Dodgers are among a growing number of clubs who appear to be working on a newer era. A mixed bag of interchangeable parts is the goal. Multitools, with an ability to handle all tasks in one versatile vessel.
2. 2024 NBA Draft: 3 players to watch at the draft combine
Recent examples of players using the combine to boost their draft stocks include Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams, Golden State’s Brandin Podziemski, and Indiana’s Ben Sheppard, writes The Sporting Tribune’s Wilko Martinez-Cachero.
The NBA Draft Combine is underway in Chicago, with prospects having measured in and participated in drills before two days of live action scrimmages.
This draft combine is of particular note because the NBA required invited prospects to participate in athletic tests, but also because it can perhaps serve as a launching pad for players even more so than in previous seasons thanks to the wide open nature of the 2024 NBA Draft.
Recent examples of players using the combine to boost their draft stocks include Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams, Golden State’s Brandin Podziemski and Indiana’s Ben Sheppard.
Keep in mind — it is also not uncommon to see players who scrimmage well on the first day shut things down after impressing NBA scouts and decision makers. This is what then-Marquette forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper did last season, and he was later drafted at no. 24.
As of Monday night, 42 prospects are listed as participating in this year’s 5-on-5 scrimmages taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Here are three players with west coast links to watch.
3. Parker, Plum, Brink headline SKIMS partnership with WNBA
WNBA players Candace Parker, Cameron Brink of the Sparks and Kelsey Plum of the Aces are featured in latest ad campaign from SKIMS ads.
SKIMS, the official underwear partner of the WNBA, unveiled a campaign Monday featuring women’s basketball legend Candace Parker, Sparks forward Cameron Brink and Aces guard Kelsey Plum.
“I’m proud to launch this new WNBA campaign starring such an incredible cast of athletes. Championing women and women in sports is incredibly important to SKIMS,” said Kim Kardashian, SKIMS co-founder and chief creative officer in a statement. “Our brand DNA is rooted in inclusivity, representation and women’s empowerment, which are values shared with the WNBA.
“We are honored to be the Official Underwear Partner of the league and look forward to continuing our work together throughout the season.”
Parker, who recently retired and is widely regarded as one of the greatest WNBA players, said in a statement, “I’m thrilled to be included in the first-ever SKIMS WNBA campaign alongside this amazing group of rising stars and all-stars. As I move onto this next chapter in my life, I hope to leave the game in a better place and continue to be an example of what is possible both on and off the court,” stated Parker.
4. Meet the Preakness 149 field
The Sporting Tribune's Louie Rabaut breaks down the excitement for the Preakness 149 field.
I make the trip to Baltimore for the Preakness every year. It’s a staple of my broadcasting life, and it’s a weekend I always look forward to. My wife and I have four kids 14-and-under, and while it’s nice to not travel for the Derby, I’m always helping someone with their personal plans here in Louisville. I love all of it, but it’s nice of Baltimore to do the work this week. And if you’re a parent, you know some time away is an OK thing, too. (Happy Mother’s Day!)
Thoroughbred racing has some of the oldest traditions in the world, and like many sports before and after it, takes so much of it for granted. We casually say things like “Preakness 149,” as though 149 freaking years isn’t a huge deal. New York will run its 156th Belmont Stakes in a month.
The 148th rendition last year – in simple terms – wasn’t great. The Derby winner, Mage, made the trip. But as is the case with many colts, he simply didn’t have it that day. Trainer Bob Baffert extended his record of Preakness wins to eight with National Treasure, who has since won another Grade 1 race in the Pegasus World Cup. So, the winner was a worthy one. Only one other horse to go on to win a graded stakes out of the field is the Steve Asmussen-trained Red Route One, who won the Grade 3 West Virginia Derby, and this year picked off the Grade 2 New Orleans Classic.
5. Report: Las Vegas to host 2027 CFP National Title Game
Allegiant Stadium hosted the Super Bowl in February, and was recently announced as the home of WrestleMania in 2025 and the Men’s Basketball Final Four in 2028.
Las Vegas will host the 2027 College Football Playoff National Championship game, The Action Network’s Brett McMurphy reported Monday.
Allegiant Stadium, the home of the Las Vegas Raiders and UNLV Rebels, hosted the Super Bowl in February, and was recently announced as the home of WrestleMania in 2025 and the Men’s Basketball Final Four in 2028.
Las Vegas will become the 11th different city to host a CFP National Championship game.
6. Fontainebleau Las Vegas to host NHL Awards on June 27
Fans can also purchase an exclusive Fontainebleau Las Vegas room package, which includes a special room rate and two tickets to the NHL Awards beginning Friday.
The NHL Awards will be held at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas on Thursday. June 27, the league announced on Monday. The NHL Draft will be held the next two day at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
“We are thrilled to bring the NHL Awards show back to Las Vegas,” said NHL Chief Content Officer and Senior Executive Vice President Steve Mayer in a statement. “Vegas has been the perfect setting for this annual celebration of our players’ accomplishments many times. This year, we are looking forward to hosting the show for the first time at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas”
The ceremony will be held inside the BleauLive Theater at the 67-story luxury resort, which opened December 2023. Tickets for the event will go on sale to the public on Friday at 10 a.m. PT. Fans can also purchase an exclusive Fontainebleau Las Vegas room package, which includes a special room rate and two tickets to the NHL Awards beginning Friday.
7. Video of the Day
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8. Ticket Time
Here are the “get in” prices for tickets if you’re thinking about going to a game today:
6:30 p.m. – Cardinals at Angels – $13
7:00 p.m. – Mercury at Aces – $19
9. On the Air
Here are the game times and television channels for professional teams in the region today:
6:30 p.m. – Dodgers at Giants – SportsNet LA
6:30 p.m. – Cardinals at Angels – Bally Sports West
7:00 p.m. – Mercury at Aces – ESPN2
10. The Arash Markazi Show presented by The Sporting Tribune
Listen to The Arash Markazi Show presented by The Sporting Tribune on The Mightier 1090 ESPN Radio in Southern California, 98.5 The Bet in Las Vegas and the Hawaii Sports Radio Network 95.1 FM and 760 AM in Hawaii. You can also listen to the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Play and Stitcher. You can also watch every Friday on BLEAV on FuboTV.
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