Weekly Update April 17, 2023

Baseball:  Rays dream start ends at 13 wins. Twins see some action. So does Bauer but in JPN.

Basketball – NBA: Play-in games. First round games. Actual Jordan’s Jordans go for $2.2MM.

Football – NFL: Hurts staying in Phili for 5. Commanders on sale but not final yet.

Golf: Fitzpatrick wins at Heritage over popular names.

Hockey: NHL Playoffs begin. USA > CAN in women’s worlds.

Olympic Sports: Women’s NCAA Gymnastics Sooners take it again. Trinity ties 10 record.

Baseball:

• The Rays officially tied the best start in MLB history with 13 straight games without a loss. However that is where the dream start ended. The Rays fell twice to the Blue Jays before breaking the record to hold it alone. The 13-0 run tied the 1982 Braves and 1987 Brewers start. The best ever was 1884 St. Louis Maroons but that was apart of the Union Association.
• The Twins put up a 9 run first inning against the Yankees on Monday. They have also shelled out $73.5MM for RHP Pablo Lopez for 4 years. This is a big upgrade as Lopez is currently making $5.45MM and joined the team in January.
• Trevor Bauer debuted his first pitching game in the Japanese minors. Even though he won the Cy Young award in 2020, he is serving a suspension 324 games (the first of its kind by the MLB) after he violated the league’s domestic violence and sexual assault for beating a San Diego woman in 2021.
• Two barely fair balls in a matter of 2 batters in Mets game Monday night.

Basketball – NBA:

• Play-in games began on Tuesday with the 7v8 matchups. The Hawks handily beat the Heat 116-105. The Lakers vs Timberwolves game went into OT before the Lakers survived. Both teams earned their spot in the tournament. Wednesday was the 9v10 match ups which was lose and go home. The Raptors were up 11 at half but LaVine dropped 39 points to take the upset for the Bulls. That’s huge because the Bulls have a losing record 40-42. But that seemed to be the magic number because the Thunder had that same record and beat the Pelicans by 5. Friday was the final play-in games. The Bulls luck came to an end after Jimmy Butler went off for 31 points to take the game for the Heat. The Timberwolves killed the Thunder 120-95 to earn the final spot.
• Round 1:
  • The 76ers hit 21 3s to beat the Nets 121-101.
  • To no one’s surprise the Celtics handled the Hawks. The Boston team scored 45 points in the 2Q to go up by 30 at half. They cruised to a first game win.
  • The Knicks upset the Cavaliers in a close one. The Cavs had only lost 9 games at home before that.
  • The Kings Warriors game was a great one! It was close and had comebacks and lead changes. The Warriors lost by 3 and are now 11-30 away. Just wait til they head home.
  • The Lakers upset the Grizzlies 128-112 in Game 1. The Memphis team was up 6 at half but the 2H the Lakers stormed back to win by 16. Ja Morant exited the game with apparent hand injury in the 4^th LeBron is also 27-2 in playoff series when he wins Game 1…
  • Morant wasn’t the only star to go out of a Game 1. Giannis left game 1 early with a lower back injury. The Bucks fell to the Heat 130-117.
  • LA in general had a good first round. The Clippers also beat the Suns 115-110. Kahwi Leonard scored 38 to take his team past KD and Chris Paul. Westbrook didn’t help much going 3 for 19 but coming up in a clutch moment at the end of the game with a stuff. The Suns only scored 18 in the first quarter. Yikes.
  • The Timberwolves had a bad game. Only scoring 80 points. Needless to say they lost to the Nuggets by 29! Jamal Murray hadn’t played in a playoff game since 2020 due to injuries and the last time he played at home, the Arena was still called Pepsi Center.

• Michael Jordan shoes from the 1998 championship series game 2 sold for $2.2mm. He originally gave them to a ball boy after scoring 37 points during the game.

Football – NFL:

• Jalen Hurts and the Eagles have reached a 5 year $255MM extension. Now this contract has a no trade clause but has $179MM guaranteed. Hope you Phili fans like it when it Hurts so good!

• The Commanders are being sold to owner of 76ers, Josh Harris, for $6Bn. Well that looked to be final but other bids are still in play. The sale is not final but the bid has been submitted to the league.

Golf:

• Matt Fitzpatrick won the RBC Heritage at Hilton head in a playoff over defending champ Jordan speith this weekend. The playoff was over 3 holes 18, 17 and then 18 again. Fitzpatrick hit his 9-iron within a foot to win on a birdie. This course was special to the English golfer. He used to go as a spectator and all he wanted was to watch Tiger but he only played once in 1999. Fitzpatrick even has a Harbour Town lighthouse like headcover. The leaderboard was full of well known names. Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffle finished 3 and 4.

Hockey:

• NHL playoffs begin tonight! In the East, the matchups are Islanders vs Hurricanes, Panthers vs Bruins, Rangers vs Devils and Lightning vs Maple Leafs. In the West, the matchups are Wild vs Stars, Kings vs Oilers, Jets vs Golden Knights and Kraken vs Avalanche.

• In a crazy upset, Team USA beat Canada for the Women’s Hockey World Championship gold medal last night. Veteran Hillary Knight scored 3 of the 6 goals for the US including the one to take the lead with 3:10 left in the game. This was USA’s 10^th gold but first in 4 years as the two powerhouses keep flip flopping the top spot. They have matched up 21xs in the gold medal match. The USA’s last gold was at the 2018 Winter Games in South Korea. The US team had 5 rookies was down one goal each time before Knight scored 2xs within 27 seconds.
• That wasn’t the only Gold on the ice either. Team USA also won the Figure Skating World Team championship.

Olympic Sports:

• It was semifinals and finals this weekend for NCAA gymnastics. And only Utah has made it to all of the NCAAs.
  • Semifinals: LSU and Florida advanced from Semi 1. Semi 2 was stacked and man it was close. Oklahoma was in 3rd after the first rotation but had their spot basically locked before the final rotation (vault for them). Utah took UCLA down to the wire but put them away with a 10 by OKeef. Utah and Oklahoma advance. Jordan chiles gets 1 judge sky of a 10 earlier in the night. But ends semi 2 with a 10 on bars. We thought she had the all around title in hand. But then literally at the same time Utah OKeef gets a 10 to take it away. She wins the all around.

• • Finals: LSU had been runner up in 3 of last 6 nattys. Utah’s Okeef hits another perfect 10 on beam. But that was not the only one. Trinity Thomas ties the NCAA record for the most perfect 10s with 28 in her final vault of her career. And she got injured two weeks ago or there probably would’ve been more. It was a tight race but the Sooners take the national championship and are back to back champs and 6 of the last 9.
• ESPN announced this next year will also be the start of a quad meet between Oklahoma, LSU, Utah and UCLA in 2024 and 2025.

What to watch this week

Baseball – MLB:

• Tues 4/18
  • Mets at Dodgers @ 9:10pm on TBS
    • Megill vs Kershaw
• Fri 4/21
  • Blue Jays at Yankees @ 6:05pm on Apple TV+
  • Astros at Braves @ 6:20pm on AppleTV+
• Sat 4/22
  • White Sox at Rays – or – Mets at Giants @ 3:05pm on FOX
  • Tigers at Orioles @ 6:05pm on FS1
    • Lorenzen vs Gibson
• Sun 4/23
  • Rockies at Phillies @ 11:05am on Peacock
    • Urena vs Wheeler
  • Mets at Giants @ 6pm on ESPN
    • Megill vs Wood

Baseball/Softball – NCAA:

• Mon 4/17
  • Softball: 12. LSU vs 24. Auburn @ 9pm on ESPNU
• Tues 4/18
  • Softball: 7. Clemson vs NC St @ 12pm on ESPNU
  • Baseball: 12. Louisville vs Indiana @ 5pm on ESPNU
• Wed 4/19
  • Softball: South Florida vs 15. Florida @ 5pm on ESPNU
• Thurs 4/20
  • Baseball: 5. Arkansas vs Geoegia @ 6pm on SEC
  • Softball: 4. Florida St vs 17. VTech @ 6pm on ESPN2
  • Baseball: 3. Florida vs 6. South Carolina @ 6:30pm on ESPNU
  • Softball: 3. Oklahoma St vs 8. Texas @ 8pm on ESPN2
• Fri 4/21
  • Softball: 3. Oklahoma ST vs 8. Texas @ 11am on ESPNU
  • Baseball: 4. Vanderbilt vs Tennessee @ 5pm on SEC
  • Baseball: Baylor vs 16. Texas Tech @ 6:30pm on ESPNU
  • Softball: 24. Auburn vs 14. Alabama @ 8pm on SEC
  • Softball: Arizona vs 18. Oregon @ 9:30pm on ESPNU
• Sat 4/22
  • Softball: Pitt vs 7. Clemson @ 11am on ACC
  • Softball: South Carolina vs 9. Georgia @ 11am on SEC
  • Baseball: 4. Vanderbilt vs Tennessee @ 11am on ESPN2
  • Softball: 4. Florida St vs 17. VTech @ 1pm on ACC
  • Softball: 21. Texas A&M vs Ole Miss @ 1pm on SEC
  • Baseball: 1. LSU vs Ole Miss @ 2pm on ESPN2
  • Softball: 15. Florida vs 6. Tennessee @ 3pm on ESPNU
  • Softball: 24. Auburn vs 14. Alabama @ 3pm on SEC
  • Baseball: 2. Wake Forest vs Pitt @ 3pm on ACC
  • Softball: 11. Arkansas vs 16. Kentucky @ 5pm on ESPN2
  • Baseball: 12. Louisville vs Duke @ 6pm on ACC
  • Softball: Mississippi ST vs 12. LSU @ 7pm on ESPN2
  • Softball: Arizona St vs 2. UCLA @ 10pm on ESPN2
• Sun 4/23
  • Softball: 24. Auburn vs 14. Alabama @ 11:30am on ESPN
  • Baseball: 4. Vanderbilt vs Tennessee @ 12pm on ESPN2
  • Softball: 15. Florida vs 6. Tennessee @ 6pm on SEC
  • Softball: 11. Arkansas vs 16. Kentucky @ 7pm on ESPNU
  • Softball: Arizona St vs 2. UCLA @ 9pm on ESPNU

Basketball – NBA:

• Mon 4/17
  • East 2: Nets at 76ers @ 6:30pm on TNT
    • PHI leads 1-0
  • West 2: Warriors at Kings @ 9pm on TNT
    • SAC 1-0
• Tues 4/18
  • East 2: Hawks at Celtics @ 6pm on NBATV
    • BOS 1-0
  • East 2: Knicks at Cavaliers @ 6:30pm on TNT
    • NY leads 1-0
  • West 2: Clippers at Suns @ 9pm on TNT
    • LAC leads 1-0
• Wed 4/19
  • West 2: Lakers at Grizzlies @ 6:30pm on TNT
    • LAL leads 1-0
  • East 2: Heat at Bucks @ 8pm on NBATV
    • MIA leads 1-0
  • West 2: Timberwolves at Nuggets @ 9pm on TNT
    • DEN leads 1-0
• Thurs 4/20
  • East 3: 76ers at Nets @ 6:30pm on TNT
  • West 3: Kings at Warriors @ 9pm on TNT
  • West 3: Suns at Clippers @ 9:30pm on NBATV
• Fri 4/21
  • East 3: Celtics at Hawks @ 6pm on ESPN
  • East 3: Cavaliers at Knicks @ 7:30pm on ABC
  • West 3: Nuggets at Timberwolves @ 8:30pm on ESPN
• Sat 4/22
  • East 4: 76ers at Nets @ 12pm on TNT
  • West 4: Suns at Clippers @ 2:30pm on TNT
  • East 4: Bucks at Heat @ 6:30pm on ESPN
• Sun 4/23
  • East 4: Cavaliers at Knicks @ 12pm on ABC
  • West 4: Kings at Warriors @ 2:30pm on ABC
  • East 4: Celtics at Hawks @ 6pm on TNT

Football:

• Sat 4/22
  • XFL: Orlando Guardians vs St. Louis Battlehawks @ 11am on ESPN
  • USFL: Houston Gamblers at NOLA @ 11:30am on USA
  • XFL: DC Defenders at San Antonio Brahmas @ 2pm on ABC
  • USFL: Memphis at Birmingham @ 6pm on FOX
• Sun 4/23
  • USFL: NJ at Pitts @ 12pm on NBC
  • XFL: Houston Roughnecks at Arlington Renegades @ 2pm on ESPN
  • USFL: Michigan at Phili @ 6pm on FS1
  • XFL: Vegas Vipers at Seattle Sea Dragons @ 6pm on ESPN2

Golf:

• Thurs 4/20
  • Zurich Classic – Round 1 @ 3pm on Golf Channel
• Fri 4/21
  • Zurich Classic – Round 2 @ 3pm on Golf Channel
• Sat 4/22
  • Zurich Classic – Round 3
    • @ 1pm on Golf Channel
    • @ 2pm on CBS
  • LPGA Chevron Championship – Round 3 @ 3pm on NBC
• Sun 4/23
  • Zurich Classic – Final Round
    • @ 1pm on Golf Channel
    • @ 2pm on CBS
  • LPGA Chevron Championship – Round  @ 3pm on NBC

Hockey:

• Mon 4/17
  • East 1: Islanders at Hurricanes @ 6pm on ESPN2
  • East 1: Panthers at Bruins @ 6:30pm on ESPN
  • West 1: Wild at Stars @ 8:30pm on ESPN2
  • West 1: Kings at Oilers @ 9pm on ESPN
• Tues 4/18
  • East 1: Rangers at Devils @ 6pm on TBS
  • East 1: Lightning at Maple Leafs @ 6:30pm on ESPN
  • West 1: Jets at Golden Knights @ 8:30pm on ESPN2
  • West 1: Kraken at Avalanche @ 9pm on ESPN
• Wed 4/19
  • East 2: Islanders at Hurricanes @ 6pm on ESPN2
  • East 2: Panthers at Bruins @ 6:30pm on ESPN
  • West 2: Wild at Stars @ 8:30pm on ESPN2
  • West 2: Kings at Oilers @ 9pm on ESPN
• Thurs 4/20
  • East 2: Lightning at Maple Leafs @ 6pm on ESPN
  • East 2: Rangers at Devils @ 6:30pm on TBS
  • West 2: Kraken at Avalanche @ 8:30pm on ESPN
  • West 2: Jets at Golden Knights @ 9pm on TBS
• Fri 4/21
  • East 3: Hurricanes at Islanders @ 6pm on TBS
  • East 3: Bruins at Panthers @ 6:30pm on TNT
  • West 3: Stars at Wild @ 8:30pm on TBS
  • West 3: Oilers at Kings @ 9pm on TNT
• Sat 4/22
  • West 3: Golden Knights at Jets @ 3pm on TBS
  • East 3: Maples Leafs at Lightning @ 6pm on TBS
  • East 3: Devils at Rangers @ 7pm on ABC
  • West 3: Avalanche at Kraken @ 9pm on TBS
• Sun 4/23
  • East 4: Hurricanes at Islanders @ 12pm on TNT
  • East 4: Bruins at Panthers @ 2:30pm on TNT
  • West 4: Stars at Wild @ 5:30pm on TBS
  • West 4: Oilers at Kings @ 8pm on TNT

Soccer:

• Mon 4/17
  • Premier League: LeedsU vs Liverpool @ 2pm on USA
• Wed 4/19
  • International Friendly: USA vs MEX @ 9pm on TBS
• Fri 4/21
  • Premier League: Arsenal vs Southampton @ 2pm on USA
• Sat 4/22
  • Premier League: Fulham vs LeedsU @ 6:30am on USA
  • Premier League: Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest @ 9am on USA
• Sun 4/23
  • Premier League: NewcastleU vs Tottenham @ 8am on USA