Barcelona are reportedly considering an ambitious player exchange deal for Tottenham midfielder Tanguy Ndombele this summer.Advertisement Loading… Read Also: UEFA open to seasons ending early due to COVID-19Brazilian international Arthur has also been mentioned in a potential transfer, but the former Gremio schemer wants to stay in Spain.Ndombele joined Spurs for a club record £54M deal last summer, but he has struggled to make an impact, with just 12 league starts for Jose Mourinho’s side.FacebookTwitterWhatsAppEmail分享 Any possible deal could depend on the Premier League side sourcing a replacement, with Valencia’s Geoffrey Kondogbia linked with a switch to North London.However, reports from Sky Sports claim Setien could offer Nelson Semedo or Samuel Umtiti as part of a swap deal for Ndombele.Both players have been rumoured to be on their way out of the Camp Nou in the coming months, with Setien open to a deal.
The Catalans have been linked with a move for the former Lyon player, as Quique Setien looks to bolster his options for 2020-21. Promoted ContentTop Tastiest Foods From All Over The World5 Of The World’s Most Unique Theme ParksWhich Country Is The Most Romantic In The World?Best & Worst Celebrity Endorsed Games Ever MadeWhat Happens To Your Brain When You Play Too Much Video Games?Couples Who Celebrated Their Union In A Unique, Unforgettable WayThe Very Last Bitcoin Will Be Mined Around 2140. Read MoreBirds Enjoy Living In A Gallery Space Created For ThemWho Earns More Than Ronaldo?12 Countries With Higest Technology In The World7 Black Hole Facts That Will Change Your View Of The UniverseThe Highest Paid Football Players In The World
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Most masters Stuart IMCA Modified main event
Along with Most and Thornton, feature winners also included a pair of defending national champions, Shannon Anderson in the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Ramsey Meyer in the Mach-1 Sport Compacts. By Josh Reynolds Kody Havens paced the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods. Josh Most was the IMCA Modified feature winner Wednesday at Stuart Speedway. (Photo by Jim Zimmerline) Gilman moved into second on lap eight as Most stretched out almost a full straightaway lead at halfway. Ricky Thornton Jr., fresh off his IMCA Sunoco Stock Car win, passed Roberts for third on lap 13 and joined Gilman in the chase for the lead. STUART, Iowa (May 22) – Josh Most was too much for his IMCA Modified foes Wednesday at Stuart Speedway. Thornton worked low, but Most was too strong through the middle of the track and took the checkered flag. Thornton finished second with Gilman third. Most and Bob Daniels were on the front row for the start of the Veterans Night event and Most led lap one with Daniels and Scott Bash in tow. Nick Roberts passed Daniels and Bash for second on lap three, pulling Josh Gilman along into third. Lapped traffic began to play a factor on the 15th circuit and the top three began to get closer. Thornton passed Gilman for second as the white flag came out and looked to find a way around Most as they worked down the backstretch.
Sloppy Barca grind out win over Valladolid to stay on Real Madrid’s heels
Lionel Messi notched a 20th assist of the season to help a lacklustre FC Barcelona secure a 1-0 win away to Real Valladolid on Saturday in the 2019/2020 La Liga.The win helped the La Liga champions to maintain the pressure on leaders Real Madrid. Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal struck the only goal of the game in the 15th minute.He fired into the net off the post after being played in by Messi, who now has 20 assists in the league to go with his 22 goals.Yet Barca failed to build on their early advantage and were forced to grind out the victory in the second half as Real Valladolid took the game to them.The win took second-placed Barca on to 79 points after 36 games, one point behind Real Madrid who can restore their four-point advantage when they visit Granada on Monday.Should Real Madrid beat Granada and follow that with victory at home to Villarreal on Thursday, they will be crowned champions for the first time since 2017. Real Valladolid meanwhile are 14th on 39, seven points above the relegation zone.“It was a very difficult game against a team who know how to play well and did just that today (Saturday). The hot conditions also complicated things for us but I’m pleased we won,” said match-winner Vidal.“We knew that we’d have to work very hard and wouldn’t be able to maintain our pace throughout. We know we want to improve but we’ve kept ourselves in the title race. That’s the important thing.”Valladolid’s Turkish forward Enes Unal forced Barca’s goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to stretch across goal and tip away his shot.This was moments after Kike Perez had missed the target from inside the area as the home side made a lively start after the break. Ter Stegen was forced into action once again in added time to repel a shot from former Barca forward Sandro Ramirez as the visitors were left begging for the final whistle to arrive.The scrappy victory followed Wednesday’s narrow derby win over Espanyol.Their mesmerising 4-1 thrashing over Villarreal last week feels like an anomaly in a downward trend of performances from Quique Setien’s side.Reuters/NAN.RelatedPosts Vidal lands in Milan to complete move from Barca to Inter Barca president Bartomeu says he won’t go to war anymore with Messi Bale completes Tottenham return from Real Madrid Tags: Arturo VidalFC BarcelonaLa LigaLionel MessiReal MadridValladolid
Juventus Advocate Early Kick-off for Asian Market
Italian champions Juventus have called on Serie A to schedule more early kick-offs to help the club grow in Asia.Juve are below last season’s Premier League top six clubs in revenue and see China as a major area for growth.The Serie A season begins on Saturday, and every game in the first two weeks starts at midnight or later in Beijing.“We have to find the right balance between domestic and global audiences,” Juventus chief revenue officer Giorgio Ricci told BBC Sport.“It is not just about the broadcasting times, it is also about the rights distribution and who is showing the games.“In that sense, the difference between the Premier League and Serie A is huge. “This is a very old story and one of the more frequent reasons for fights with the league.”Italy’s top clubs have long debated with the league about the need for more games to be played at earlier times to maximise their chances of exposure in China and South East Asia.The bigger clubs do not believe the Italian system, which revolves around evening matches, helps them ‘sell their brands’ globally.And while there is an acceptance that viewing habits are changing, Juventus are frustrated at the present situation, which they feel tilts the commercial market hugely in favour of Premier League clubs.During the opening two weekends of the 2019-20 campaign, no Italian top-flight matches will kick off before 17:00 BST, because of hot weather conditions in Italy.From the third round onwards, there will a Saturday fixture at 14:00 and a Sunday game at 11:30. Kick-off times cannot be changed during the current TV rights deal, which ends in 2021.A Serie A spokesman agreed that the league must find a balance, “taking into consideration every place in the world because Serie A is broadcast in 200 territories”.Speaking in March, Serie A president Gaetano Micciche said the possibility of playing a Serie A match in China within the next three years had been discussed, but it was unlikely to happen in that timescale.Deloitte’s Football Money League, published in January, placed Juventus 11th in the table of the world’s 20 richest clubs.Ricci said that an aggressive commercial strategy, including becoming the first Italian club to open a branch, in addition to offices in Asia in Hong Kong, is aimed at increasing revenues as they pursue winning the Champions League for the first time since 1996.Juventus have proceeded with their plans despite the recent civil unrest in Hong Kong.Juve have also bought high-profile players, signing Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo for £99.2m from Real Madrid in 2018 and £67.5m Netherlands defender Matthijs de Ligt from Ajax this summer.Although they have won the Italian title on 35 occasions – including for the past eight seasons – they have lost five Champions League finals in the past 23 years.Several Premier League clubs have offices in Hong Kong, including Manchester United and Manchester City, and Federico Palomba, head of Juventus’ Asia-Pacific operation, says it is a region “with huge scope for growth”.Since Ronaldo joined last year, Juventus have carried out studies that showed their global fanbase has risen by 16% and their ‘digital community’, their combined followers on various social media platforms including Weibo, has risen by 59% to 81 million.“In the 1990s, Serie A was very popular in China. Now it is coming back again,” added Palomba.Share this:FacebookRedditTwitterPrintPinterestEmailWhatsAppSkypeLinkedInTumblrPocketTelegram
On the media: Dodgers playoff games become must-seek TV
Maybe there’s too much logic in that. Not nearly as much as there is in a case where Dodgers fans, including those suddenly stricken with the Think Blue-bola virus, will have to re-remember where Fox Sports 1 and the MLB Network is located, as if those channels were ever on their radar in the first place.Unless you’re late to the 21st century, this may be another eye-rolling reminder about the branding business of sports re-networking, which does require an updated LinkedIn account to help crack the code. It’s a product-placement practice that has produced measurable results for empowered sports leagues that want to boost audiences for less-than-saturated TV networks — put an important live event on a less-than-familiar channel and force viewers to become proactive by ordering it up or, if you’re too late, miserably becoming reactive.Battle-weary Dodgers fans unfortunately already know the drill. In a season where there was plenty of angst-driven diplomacy surrounding the undistribution of the team’s SportsNet L.A. channel, the perceived punishment continues as the Dodgers are detoured to less-than-dazzling Fox Sports 1 (Game 1, 3:30 p.m. Friday) as well as the league-driven 24/7 outpost called the MLB Network (Game 2, 6:30 p.m. Saturday) for the start of this postseason.For starters, there’s not a clear win-win marketing strategy when viewers are asked to Google websites such as www.foxsports.com/find-fox-sports-1-on-your-tv or www.FindMLBNetworks.com when it comes to finding a major sport’s postseason presentation. This is the market, it’s always Vin-Vin — if you mess with the TV side, there’s always Vin Scully on the radio. And TV suffers the consequences of its own arrogant ways.FS1, which last year had the single-largest debut of a sports network by launching in 90 million homes, has hardly become habit forming even with this past regular-season MLB package added to occasional USC and UCLA college football games, NASCAR events and … is Regis Philbin still around? Joe Buck, Harold Reynolds and Tom Verducci are on the Dodgers-Cardinals series starting Friday, giving it that “Big Fox” attitude. But otherwise … Let’s just say, for the sake of a skewed-up argument, that Major League Baseball had a partnership with the Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon and Boomerang.It’s not a clown question, bro.In that scenario, what business would the league have in sending Southern California baseball fans to search for their team’s must-watch playoff games this weekend to one of those seemingly random outposts, instead of a place they’re far more comfortable locating without even looking at the buttons on the remote?Think of how tapping into a group of kids-centric channels could have a boomerang effect by boosting the 1-to-12 age demographic for the graying sport. Newsroom GuidelinesNews TipsContact UsReport an Error
The MLB Network carried 26 regular-season games as well this season. As it did the past two postseasons, it grabbed two divisional playoff games again — including Monday’s Game 3 of the Washington-San Francisco NLDS.In a TV sports cable landscape, where the distribution of an ESPN, ESPN2 and TNT establish the top of the food chain at about 97 million homes, the added exposure of playoff games to the MLB Network menu has helped the channel bore its way into about 70 million homes, or 40 percent more than when it launched five years ago. In the last two years of adding playoff games, the MLB Network has increased 33 percent during the regular season, according to a league spokesman. The L.A. market, incidentally, has gone up 56 percent in that time as well.Yet even if the network is most likely available to everyone on some level here, there will be a good number who haven’t upgraded their cable, satellite or telco package and need to pony up now to get it, or be cut out.It’s taking #INeedMyDodgers to another level.And sorry, but the MLB Network isn’t going to do what Time Warner Cable felt it needed to do with SportsNet L.A. and create any kind of simulcast on a local, over-the-air channel to appease those feel marginalized at this point in the game.Yet if the MLB strategy is to ramp up its channel visibility like the NFL, NBA or even NHL has done in recent years, this not the same supply-and-demand quotient at work here.When the NBA playoffs come around, NBA TV can siphon off some of the abundance of first-round games as it has since 2003. The channel launched in 1999 crept up to 45 million homes by 2009 yet is still in only 58 million today. Charter Cable subscribers still don’t have access to it.The NHL Network is in only 43 million homes, unavailable to the U.S. markets until 2007. It has not only put playoff games on its channel to gain exposure, but it also did a deal with NBC that included its tag-along little brother, NBC Sports Net, as the main facilitator for games. Kings fans know all about the frustration involved in trying to find NBCSN during its first Stanley Cup run in 2012. The distribution demand increased, and you heard fewer complaints during the Kings’ second championship run last summer. As a result, NBCSN is in about 82 million homes.The NFL Network, launched in 2003, will only go so far as to put a Thursday night regular-season package on its plate. Playoffs? Unless there’s some expansion of games, there’s not enough inventory to justify not giving it all to the other network partners.The MLB has an inventory issue as well, even with this new wild-card addition. It’s just following suit, trying to make itself relevant and its channel produce more awareness. Even if it’s at the expense of some Dodgers fans uninterested in an upgrade.Come early Saturday evening, if the MLB Network isn’t locked and loaded on your system, there could be some outside-the-batters-box strategy involved.Oh, for the days of KDOC. Adult Swim, anyone?RECORD, PAUSE, DELETEGauging the media’s high- and low-level marks of the week, and what’s ahead:DODGERS, KLAC SYNC UP AGAINGood luck again trying to match up the call of Vin Scully’s voice on the first three and last three innings of the Dodgers’ radio broadcasts on KLAC-AM (570) during the playoffs. Charley Steiner and Rick Monday have, again, the middle three innings. The Dodgers announced this week, as had been expected, that they’d take a long-term renewal with KLAC-AM (570) — reported to be in the 10-year range — to continue as the team’s flagship station. With it came the clause that the Dodgers have “an equity position” with the radio platform provider and parent company iHeartMedia (formerly Clear Channel). That arrangement still has to be cleared by the MLB. Greg Ashlock, the president of iHeartMedia Southern California, said the deal also will result in “jointly produced new local programming” for KLAC, but that has yet to be decided. Ashlock said that he, too, read rumors that the Dodgers would be jumping the KLAC ship and possibly circle back to KABC-AM (790), which recently sign on with the Kings, “but given the mutually beneficial partnership that we’ve enjoyed over the last three years, I was confident that we would come to terms.”BLACKOUT RAGE OVER?Even with the Federal Communication Commission’s decision this week to abandon its endorsement of the NFL’s 40-year-old TV blackout policy as it pertains to the league not showing games in home markets when it did not sell out 72 hours prior to kickoff, don’t expect the league to change its policy any time soon. “The NFL has the right to enforce their current blackout rules and I suspect that they will continue to do so,” FCC chairman Tom Wheeler said. “I hope the NFL will seize this opportunity to repudiate blackouts.” Because of government red tape, the FCC’s voiding of the rule will not take effect until this season is nearly over. In addition, the NFL has contracts going on years ahead with networks about the archaic blackout provision — which includes San Diego having current lordship over the L.A. market to bring in Chargers games. As Keith Olbermann rightfully pointed out Tuesday on his ESPN show, the blackout rule not only continues to punish local fans who would never buy a ticket to a game in any circumstance, but “in some cases it killed local teams … it may in fact be the reason why the Rams first moved out of Los Angeles, and then out of Anaheim, and why the Raiders went back to Oakland (from L.A).” If anything, the blackout rule must also strengthen DirecTV’s recommitment to the “NFL Sunday Ticket” package, which was finally announced Wednesday and reported to be a $12 billion, eight-year commitment. That is also supposed to clear a path for AT&T’s $49 billion deal to buy DirecTV, which most predict will lead the lynchpin to DirecTV finally adding SportsNet L.A. and the Pac-12 Network.
Mookie Betts brings high expectations into his spring debut with Dodgers
Dodgers’ Max Muncy trying to work his way out of slow start PreviousLos Angeles Dodgers’ Justin Turner hugs Tommy Lasorda in the dugout before the Dodgers’ spring training home opener against the Chicago Cubs at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)The Los Angeles Dodgers Mookie Betts jumps over the foul line as he heads back to the dugout after lining out to right in his second at-bat against the Chicago Cubs during their first spring training game at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)The Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Alex Wood throws to the plate as he warms up against the Chicago Cubs during their first spring training game at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG) SoundThe gallery will resume insecondsThe Los Angeles Dodgers Corey Seager watches his single in the first inning against the Chicago Cubs during their first spring training game at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)The Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Alex Wood throws to the plate in the first inning against the Chicago Cubs during their first spring training game at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Chicago Cubs 4-2 during their first spring training game at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)The Los Angeles Dodgers Mookie Betts lines out to right in his second at-bat against the Chicago Cubs during their first spring training game at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)The Los Angeles Dodgers Mookie Betts runs o first after flying out to left against the Chicago Cubs during their first spring training game at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)The Los Angeles Dodgers Mookie Betts doesn’t seem to agree with a strike call against the Chicago Cubs during their first spring training game at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)The Los Angeles Dodgers Mookie Betts takes the field against the Chicago Cubs during their first spring training game at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)The Los Angeles Dodgers Mookie Betts flies out to left center in his first at bat against the Chicago Cubs during their first spring training game at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)The Los Angeles Dodgers Mookie Betts watches his sac fly in the fifth inning to score Gavin Lux against the Chicago Cubs during their first spring training game at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)The Los Angeles Dodgers Gavin Lux scores on a sac fly by Mookie Betts in the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs during their first spring training game at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)The Los Angeles Dodgers Mookie Betts hits a sac fly to score Gavin Lux in the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs during their first spring training game at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)The Los Angeles Dodgers Mookie Betts in the dugout before their first spring training game at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)The Los Angeles Dodgers Mookie Betts hugs Corey Seager during player introductions before their first spring training game at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)The Los Angeles Dodgers Mookie Betts high fives his teammates, including Cody Bellinger, during player introductions before their first spring training game at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)The Los Angeles Dodgers Mookie Betts greets A.J. Pollock during player introductions before their first spring training game at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)The Los Angeles Dodgers listen to the National Anthem before their first spring training game at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Davie Price eyes the Arizona sun before the start of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ spring training home opener at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)The Los Angeles Dodgers Justin Turner helps the Chicago Cubs’ Daniel Descalso up after sliding into second during the Dodgers’ spring training home opener at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Kenley Jansen throws to the plate against the Chicago Cubs during the Dodgers’ spring training home opener at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)Fans look for autographs during the Los Angeles Dodgers’ spring training home opener at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)Los Angeles Dodgers Justin Turner throws a ball into the crowd during the Dodgers’ spring training home opener against the Chicago Cubs at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts watches as a home run by the Chicago Cubs’ Victor Caratini leaves the park during the Dodgers’ spring training home opener against the Chicago Cubs at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)Fans sit on the lawn during the Dodgers’ spring training home opener against the Chicago Cubs at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Caleb Ferguson walks to the mound during the Dodgers’ spring training home opener against the Chicago Cubs at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts and Justin Turner look out over the crowd during the Dodgers’ spring training home opener against the Chicago Cubs at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)Los Angeles Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior, left, talks with pitcher Kenley Jansen in the dugout during the Dodgers’ spring training home opener at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)Fans look for baseballs during the Dodgers’ spring training home opener against the Chicago Cubs at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)The Los Angeles Dodgers Gavin Lux gets some skin from third base coach Dino Ebel during the Dodgers’ spring training home opener against the Chicago Cubs at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)Fans pack the stadium during the Los Angeles Dodgers’ spring training home opener against the Chicago Cubs at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)Clouds serve as a backdrop as the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Justin Turner waits for a pitch during the Dodgers’ spring training home opener against the Chicago Cubs at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts is picked up by DJ Peters after hitting an RBI sac fly during the Dodgers’ spring training home opener against the Chicago Cubs at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)Los Angeles Dodgers’ Justin Turner hugs Tommy Lasorda in the dugout before the Dodgers’ spring training home opener against the Chicago Cubs at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)The Los Angeles Dodgers Mookie Betts jumps over the foul line as he heads back to the dugout after lining out to right in his second at-bat against the Chicago Cubs during their first spring training game at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)NextShow Caption1 of 34The Los Angeles Dodgers Mookie Betts jumps over the foul line as he heads back to the dugout after lining out to right in his second at-bat against the Chicago Cubs during their first spring training game at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)ExpandGLENDALE, Ariz. — Mookie Betts admits there were a few times early in camp when he caught himself looking down and being startled by the blue script across his chest.“Initially, you know, the first couple of times I put on Dodger stuff,” Betts said. “But now it’s all the same, all the exact same.”No, it’s not.Betts is the biggest acquisition the Dodgers have made in years, one of the biggest stories of baseball’s offseason, an MVP expected to put the Dodgers over the top in their quest to end a 32-year championship drought – and a player expected to break someone’s bank with the next mega-deal in free agency next winter. Fire danger is on Dave Roberts’ mind as Dodgers head to San Francisco Cody Bellinger homer gives Dodgers their first walkoff win of season “Well, we’ve still got a long way to go to make that decision,” Roberts said of Lux’s role. “But obviously with what Gavin did last year and the upside and all that stuff, he is certainly in that conversation.”Roberts wouldn’t guarantee a roster spot for the 22-year-old infielder who is ranked as the No. 2 prospect in baseball entering 2020.“I think it’s both,” Roberts said when asked if Lux had earned a roster spot based on what he did last season. “I think that he’s earned it and he has to continue to earn it. You can have that answer for a lot of players. But there’s only so many roster spots. You can say that about Matt Beatty. There’s a lot of guys that have earned it and have to continue to earn it.”Lux hit .240 with two home runs and a .705 OPS in 23 games with the Dodgers last September then went 2 for 9 with a home run in four postseason games.ALSOFor the third consecutive day, Joc Pederson was limited in workouts and did not swing a bat. Pederson has been dealing with tightness in his right hip. But the Dodgers are aggressive in the search for daily advantages in lineup construction based on the opposing pitcher and Roberts hinted Betts could drop to second in the lineup against right-handed pitching, allowing last year’s leadoff hitter against righties (Joc Pederson) to slip back into that role occasionally.“That’s kind of been my whole career,” Betts said of life in the leadoff spot. “I don’t foresee hitting somewhere else. If there’s a need then I’m always ready if it needs to happen.“I’d like to hit one spot. I don’t like moving around. … I think it’s just a comfort level for me. I can only speak for myself, to know that every day I’m going to be in the lineup, batting first.”VIDEO RESTRICTIONS COMINGMLB commissioner Rob Manfred has said he expects there to be restrictions on in-game video this year in response to the Astros sign-stealing scandal. Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said the commissioner’s office has consulted with teams to get their opinions on what kind of restrictions would be appropriate. Friedman said his response was, “I don’t care.”“I think for me as long it’s consistent and for all 30 teams there’s that level playing field I don’t much care,” Friedman said. “But I do think it’s important to preserve the ability to capture video from a bunch of different angles – even if you don’t have access to it until the next day – from a player-development perspective.“I think we are doing better work at the major-league level in terms of player development than we’ve ever done. And I think technology plays a large hand in that. So I don’t think they’re mutually exclusive. I think we can get the benefits from that and preserve the integrity of the game. It’s just thinking what exactly that looks like.”LUX PLANGavin Lux ended the 2019 season as the Dodgers’ primary second baseman. But Roberts has not put that label on him this spring. Max Muncy, Chris Taylor and Kike’ Hernandez have also been taking ground balls at the position during workouts.Related Articles
Newsroom GuidelinesNews TipsContact UsReport an Error Dodgers hit seven home runs, sweep Colorado Rockies How Dodgers pitcher Ross Stripling topped the baseball podcast empire “Sure, I guess,” Betts said when asked if he feels the weight of those expectations – and the pressure they bring. “But I kind of channel it into working hard and making sure I take care of business with myself. But it’s going to take all of us in here to do it. It’s not going to take just me. I keep that in mind.“Pressure is pressure at this point. I don’t mind it. I just know ways to deal with it.”Betts made his spring debut with the Dodgers Sunday afternoon and received a big ovation before his first at-bat. That is bound to be repeated – and amplified – when he steps to the plate for the home opener on March 26.“We had the introductions today (along the baselines) and I said expect this kind of introductions and doing that deal about 12 more times this year,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, referring to Opening Day and the postseason. “Just seeing him at the top of the order and in our lineup, it just makes everybody around him better.”Betts would prefer all of his at-bats to come as the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter. Roberts has said he talked with Betts about where he is comfortable hitting and Betts let it be known he prefers to bat leadoff, his spot for most of his career in Boston.
U-19 Women’s National Team of Bosnia-Herzegovina won Croatia
The U-19 women’s national team of Bosnia-Herzegovina won their peers from Croatia with 3:1 in Opuzen on Tuesday.Two goals were scored by Sofija Krajšumović in the 11th and 89th minute, and one by Alma Krajnić in the 28th minute.The only goal for Croatia was scored by Ena Pernar in the 25th minute.Head coach Dragan Jevtić sent the following players to the pitch today: Somea Položen (68th minute, Indira Faković), Selma Hasić, Đula Velagić, Fadila Mujkić, Irma Jusanović (87th minute, Sajra Fejzić), Elma Husić (46th minute, Ines Husić), Sofija Krajšumović, Ajla Zukić (Melisa Sipović), Elma Smajić (68th minute, Dušica Lukić), Alma Krajnić (46th minute, Sabina Grabus), Naida Haračić.
Colts vs. Texans: Who to start/sit in fantasy for ‘Thursday Night Football’
FLEX: Texans TE Darren Fells ($3,400)FLEX: Colts defense/special teams ($3,200)Based on this lineup, we’re thinking Watson and Hopkins will give the Texans a lead with their running game struggling and hoping that Fells will be the other TD producer in the passing game. In relation to that, the game script should call for plenty of Hines and Hilton is a no-brainer to captain in his favorite matchup. After all that, with our play Keke Coutee in active, we had to pivot to the Colts’ defense, hoping we can get some sacks and a turnover or two. Thursday night’s Colts-Texans game features a couple “must-start” fantasy stars, as well as several other players perpetually on the start ’em, sit ’em bubble. Heading into Week 12’s matchup between the two divisional rivals, injuries create an added wrinkle, as no fewer than three players are affected by ailments. T.Y. Hilton, Eric Ebron, and Will Fuller V could all play, but that doesn’t exactly help nervous fantasy football owners make their lineup decisions.Fortunately, we’re here to help with a breakdown of every key player for tonight’s game, which kicks off in Houston at 8:20 p.m. ET and can be seen on FOX, NFL Network and Amazon Prime Video. WEEK 12 NON-PPR RANKINGS:Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | KickerColts: Who to start or sit in fantasy football on Thursday nightStart: QB Jacoby BrissettThe Texans’ secondary is beat up and not very good. Brissett put up 326 yards and four TDs against Houston in the first meeting between this two teams. The road rematch may be a little tougher, but he should end up with multiple combined TDs and give you decent rushing production to be a back-end QB1.Start: WR T.Y. HiltonHilton is listed as questionable for the game but is expected to return from his calf injury after getting in a full practice on Wednesday. He has feasted on the Texans throughout his career, averaging six receptions on k e targets for more than 101 yards per game. He has 10 TDs in 15 regular-season games against Houston with seven 100-yard games, including a 200-yard showing.Start: RB Jonathan WilliamsWilliams, who once looked great for the Bills before bouncing around, flashed his power running upside when filling in for Marlon Mack in the second half against the Jaguars last week. With Mack out for this game after breaking his hand, Williams should remain “the hot hand” on early rushing downs and in the red zone near the goal line. You should really try to avoid this potential TD-dependent situation in a tougher matchup than last week, but if you’re a Mack owner in a standard league, he makes the most sense of the Colts’ Mack-less options to deploy here.WEEK 12 PPR RANKINGS: Running back | Wide receiver | Tight endSit: RB Jordan WilkinsWilkins didn’t really do much behind Mack before missing Week 11 with ankle injury, thus opening the door for Williams to be a strong supersub behind the Colts’ mighty offensive line. He should be mixed in more because he’s more versatile than Williams, but Indy should have better faith in Williams after last week.Start: RB Nyheim HinesThis is more for PPR leagues, as you can’t necessarily trust his touch volume with Williams and Wilkins also in the Mack replacement committee, but Hines can get something like five catches for 50 yards as the Texans have had trouble covering running backs all season and give up good average receiving production to the position.Start: TE Eric EbronEbron should be playing through his ankle injury after getting in a full practice on Wednesday. In the Week 7 meeting, he posted four catches for 70 yards and a TD on five targets. He’s been clamoring for more usage and a returning Hilton drawing plenty of attention downfield will certainly help his chances to get open on intermediate routes. Take caution, however: This is a boom-or-bust play more so for deep leagues as he still falls out of the top 12 for Week 12.WEEK 12 DFS LINEUPS: FD cash | FD GPP | DK cash | DK GPP | Y! cash | Y! GPPSit: TE Jack DoyleHe wasn’t involved in the passing game at all with Brissett back against the Jaguars. You can’t go here with Ebron playing.Sit: WRs Zach Pascal and Marcus JohnsonWith Hilton back, you can’t trust any of the complementary receivers, as the Colts can spread it around more with Parris Campbell missing another game.Sit: Colts defense/special teamsThey’re pretty solid reality-wise, but the Colts tend to make their bigger impact plays at home.Sit: K Adam VinatieriThe game is indoors, but the Texans defense is not good in the red zone and his multiple key misses make you nervous.MORE TNF: DraftKings Showdown lineupTexans: Who to start or sit in fantasy football on Thursday nightStart: QB Deshaun WatsonHe simply doesn’t have two clunkers in a row. He was bad in Week 2 against the Jaguars, but he was awesome in Week 3 against the Chargers. He was bad in Week 4 against the Panthers, but balled out in Week 5 against the Falcons. He fared poorly against this same Colts team in Week 7, but ripped the Raiders in Week 8. He’s better at home than away. The Ravens’ game was his worst of the season, so expect at least 300 combined yards and two TDs.Start: WR DeAndre Hopkins’Nuk blew through the Colts for a ‘Nuk-like game in Week 7. He is locked in and should rebound nicely from facing the rough Ravens’ secondary, too.MORE WEEK 12: Sleepers | Busts | Start/sitStart: TE Darren FellsThe Colts are vulnerable enough against the tight end to roll the dice on him say if you have Travis Kelce or Hunter Henry on bye and are looking for a one-week dart throw. It really comes down to him getting a touchdown, as he’s been more bust than boom all season. So, go in expecting you could get anywhere from 0-20 standard points from Fells.Sit: WR Will Fuller or WR Kenny StillsFuller is a game-time decision for the second straight week to return from his hamstring injury. The big-play dependent receiver doesn’t have a good history against the Colts, who have a defense tailored to stop big plays. Stills hasn’t done anything of note of late to trust in Fuller’s place.Sit: RB Carlos HydeThe matchup is not great, as the Colts have tightened up against the run with Darius Leonard healthy. Hyde had only 12 carries for 35 yards against them in the first meeting. You’re pretty much hoping for a rushing TD to save his value here.Sit: RB Duke Johnson Jr.We have no idea how much he will touch the ball behind Hyde in any given week, and he doesn’t exactly rack up checkdowns from Watson, either.Start: K Ka’imi FairbairnIf you need him, he’s better kicking indoors at home and notched three field goals against the Colts in the first meeting. The Ravens game ended a streak of six straight multiple field-goal attempts.Start: Texans defense/special teamsThe Texans gave up 30 points in the first meeting with only one sack and one takeaway. But the Colts tend to make some random big mistakes, and there’s the emotional home prime-time bump factor here to deploy them as a deep-league streamer.Colts-Texans DraftKings Showdown lineup for Thursday nightCaptain: Colts WR T.Y. Hilton ($14,400)FLEX: Texans QB Deshaun Watson ($11,600)FLEX: Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins ($11,000)FLEX: Colts RB Nyheim Hines ($6,200)
Toea Wisil strong candidate for Rio Olympics
Athletics PNG will select one female and one male athlete for the Games under the universality rule.Universality rule guarantees every Olympic Committee a place for one male and one female athlete regardless of qualifying standards.APNG president Tony Green says Wisil is in the drivers seat for selection if no one runs a qualifying time.“We have drawn up selection guidelines to eliminate any doubts as to what would happen in the event that someone else runs a qualifying time,” said Green in a statement.APNG has clarified the process by which it will select its athletes for the Olympic Games through the issue of a selection policy to athletes and coaches.“Based on what we have seen in terms of performances in the past couple of years, it is not inconceivable that more than one athlete will qualify so we have addressed this possibility through the policy,” Green said.Wisil and Donna Koniel are training in Brisbane under similar Scholarship programs, with Wisil funded by the International Olympic Committee and Koniel the IAAF. Sharon Kwarula and Betty Burua are considered capable of running the qualifying times, but without funding support they face an uphill battle.Three male runners also in the running to qualify for a place are Nelson Stone, Mowen Boino and Theo Piniau.All selections are subject to endorsement by the Justification Committee of the PNG Olympic Committee.PNGOC will meet with each of the Sports next week to discuss the nomination of athletes and officials.The Rio Olympics is scheduled from August 5-21 at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Melecio just happy to be back for La Salle after recovering from dengue
Jo Koy: My brain always wants to think funny Kiss-and-tell matinee idol’s conquests: True stories or tall tales? Tenorio flourishing in finals despite playing through injury In his return, Melecio scored just three points and turned the ball over twice in the Green Archers’ 85-62 win over University of the Philippines in the UAAP Season 83 men’s basketball tournament.Melecio, though, is just glad to be back for La Salle after missing four games and didn’t mind the measly numbers he tallied. FEATURED STORIESSPORTSRedemption is sweet for Ginebra, Scottie ThompsonSPORTSMayweather beats Pacquiao, Canelo for ‘Fighter of the Decade’SPORTSFederer blasts lack of communication on Australian Open smog“I told myself that I’d be happy by just being on the floor, if I do that I’m already set,” said Melecio in Filipino. “I really missed playing and I was so happy when I was able to play again.” “I’m not at a hundred percent yet because it’s not like you’ll play well immediately after an injury or sickness,” said Melecio. “I’ll just have to be patient.” Jake says relationship with Shaina ‘goes beyond physical attraction’ FILE – La Salle’s Aljun Melecio during the Green Archers game against the UP Fighting Maroons in the first round. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.netDe La Salle guard Aljun Melecio just had his first game back after contacting dengue fever almost a month ago, and looked like a shell of his former self.Melecio averaged 14 points, three rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.8 steals in his first four games before getting hospitalized for two weeks.ADVERTISEMENT Judy Ann’s 1st project for 2020 is giving her a ‘stomachache’ Margot Robbie talks about filming ‘Bombshell’s’ disturbing sexual harassment scene Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard PLAY LIST 02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite03:23Negosyo sa Tagaytay City, bagsak sa pag-aalboroto ng Bulkang Taal01:13Christian Standhardinger wins PBA Best Player award OSG plea to revoke ABS-CBN franchise ‘a duplicitous move’ – Lacson Jake says relationship with Shaina ‘goes beyond physical attraction’ Coco’s house rules on ‘Probinsyano’ set MOST READ Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next It’s too early to present Duterte’s ‘legacy’ – Lacson For the complete collegiate sports coverage including scores, schedules and stories, visit Inquirer Varsity. LATEST STORIES Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. View comments