Iowa State football wide receiver Evan Boyd exited Saturday's game against Iowa with an injury late in the first quarter.
The Michigan State transfer hauled in a six-yard pass on third-and-long and immediatley took his helmet off and grabbed his leg. According to the Register's ISU columnist Travis Hines, Boyd put zero weight on the leg when exiting the field. He did not immediately head to the injury tent or the locker room. He was being attended to by athletic training staff and had ice on his left knee while sitting on the bench.
This story will be updated as we learn more.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Evan Boyd injury update, Iowa State football WR exits Cy-Hawk game

#evan

Breakout loading. At least that's what the Dallas Cowboys hope after they inked tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford and receiver Ryan Flournoy to a pair of extensions this week. In a break from the norm, the Cowboys went out on a limb and played the speculation market. Channeling his inner oilman, owner Jerry Jones has put his money where his mouth is and bet big on breakouts.
In previous years, it was the Cowboys waiting until after a breakout was achieved before extensions were offered. Terence Steele was signed to a five-year, $82,500,000 deal after his breakout season in 2022. Jaylon Smith was regrettably signed to a five-year, $63,750,000 extension after his breakout season in 2018. And even Dak Prescott, Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland got signed after already establishing themselves high among the NFL hierarchy.
It doesn't take Wallstreet stockbroker to know investing after something has already blown up has its drawbacks. Sure, seeing success insulates from risk, but it also means investors are buying high. Good deals are made through speculation. They come with risk since they're predictive rather than proven, but they also come at a much lower price and with a much higher upside.
After displaying significant growth in 2025, Flournoy has been a media and fan favorite to breakout in a big way this season. Signing a one-year, $6M extension, Flournoy retains his Cowboydom through the 2027 season. This is important because if George Pickens leaves after the current season, Flournoy ensures a level of continuity amongst the top receiver ranks.
Sources: The #cowboys and WR Ryan Flournoy have agreed to a 1-year contract extension worth up to $6M.

Flournoy is coming off a career year with 40 catches for 475 and 4 TDs. He’s expected to have an even bigger role in the offense this season as the solidified WR3 and now gets… pic.twitter.com/p04Q0S80A9

#extension

CANNONSBURG Riley Maynard cornered the market on game-winners.
The ball hadn't seen the back of the net for nearly an hour of match time when the Boyd County freshman took care of any shootout concerns in the second overtime period against Ashland.
Maynard lined up her shot near the corner flag, connected with her left foot, and curved it inside the far post to lift the Lions to a 2-1 win in the 63rd District seeding contest Thursday.
Boyd County coach Olivia Pennington said it's not the first time Maynard found her target on the long-distance shot that offers no angle to the goal.
"It's something that she's done multiple times this season," Pennington said. "Any time we have that shot on the left side, Riley is attempting that shot."

#riley #county #left #cannonsburg

CANNONSBURG After ninety minutes of intense, goalless soccer, Boyd County coach Levi Pennington still needed five guys for an energized ending.
Ashland and the Lions battled to nil-nil after two halves and two overtime periods. Each player on the pitch had done their part to empower their team, but work remained to determine a victor.
Bracken Peters sent the closing delivery inside the left post and supplied the final point in kicks from the mark for a 1-0 victory over the Tomcats in a 63rd District seeding match Thursday.
"(Thursday night), the (shootout) lineup changed based on how the game was going," Boyd County coach Levi Pennington said, "with body language and players. I felt like some of our guys were more gassed than normal. I pushed them a little further down the list and let their legs get back under them. I told them it's nothing against you, but it's next man up right now."
Ashland's freshman keeper, Karson Freeman, denied Boyd County's first attempt to help the Tomcats grab a quick advantage in the shootout. The visitors' second try clanged off the crossbar, and Zeke Withrow calmly blasted the next shot through to the twine to tie the session.

#boyd #coach

In 2026, the Cubs' starters have been a major storyline. While the bullpen's struggle is the biggest issue, the rotation has been concerning. The pitching struggles have severely impacted the team in the second half of the season. When looking at the playoff picture, their lead has diminished, and both San Diego and Arizona are within three games of Chicago. However, there is hope for the Cubs starters.
Chicago has had a very up-and-down year from their starters. Injuries have plagued the team, as nearly all pitchers miss time. A busy trade deadline had things looking promising. While a few have had good starts, the team has struggled to find consistency. That said, the Cubs' starter hierarchy has clearly shifted. If Chicago wishes to make a run in the playoffs, relying on the top three Cubs starters needs to be the move.
Clay Holmes has been the top Cubs starter since he joined the team. With Chicago, he is 2-3 with a 3.51 ERA. The ERA is inflated by his last start, in which he allowed eight runs in 4.1 innings. Without that game, he was showing his ace potential. Down the stretch of the season, Holmes will need to show his talent and give the Cubs valuable length.
The other newcomer, Kevin Gausman, has also been solid since joining Chicago. His most recent start against the Brewers was rough, allowing six earned runs. He has had mixed results in his seven starts, with a 5.31 ERA. However, he is giving good length, going six or seven innings in most starts. Additionally, his valuable playoff experience makes him a key piece of the Cubs rotation.
Of the three starters, Matthew Boyd is the only one who has been with them all year. Boyd has struggled with injuries and inconsistency, but still has given valuable innings. Like Gausman, he can go fairly deep into games. He is 8-4 with a 4.03 ERA in 109.1 innings. His experience with Chicago could see him start one of the first two games come playoff time.

#innings #playoff

BUIES CREEK, N.C. (AP) — Kamden Sixkiller threw for 330 yards and two touchdowns, Spencer Jones had a career-high 126 yards receiving and a score, and Campbell beat Western Carolina 28-19 on Sunday in a game postponed due to weather.
Campbell is off to its first 2-0 start since 2018 after securing the program's second victory over an FCS top 25 opponent. WCU entered ranked No. 24 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 poll after beating Eastern Kentucky on Aug. 29.
Campbell scored a touchdown on its first two drives before taking a 21-3 lead early in the second quarter on a 1-yard run by Ethan Lawrence that was set up by a 43-yard strike from Sixkiller to Brady Ambrose. Sixkiller also found Ambrose for a 6-yard TD to cap a 10-play, 91-yard drive to start the game, and Sixkiller scored on an 8-yard run for a 14-0 lead.
Sixkiller finished 29-of-44 passing with three interceptions for Campbell. JJ Cowan had a team-high 83 yards on the ground. The Camels posted 528 yards of total offense for their second straight game with 500-plus.
Lex Thomas was 25-of-44 passing for 326 yards and two touchdowns for Western Carolina (1-1). Both of Jai Boyd's catches were for touchdowns.

#touchdowns #second #carolina #ambrose

Kris Boyd has delivered a brutal verdict on the £2.5m Rangers centre-back after a shaky display against Falkirk, arguing that his uncertainty spread through the Rangers defence during Wednesday's 2-1 Premiership win.
The Glasgow Times reported Boyd's comments, made during Sky Sports coverage, after Emmanuel Fernandez endured a difficult night despite his side taking all three points. Boyd focused on the opening half incident that led to Falkirk's equaliser. Fernandez followed an opponent too far, went down looking for a foul and left ******* e behind him. Ethan Ross then delivered the cross, with Kosta Nedeljkovic turning it into his own net.
Boyd saw little excuse for Fernandez's decision-making. He pointed to a loose square pass after the interval, when Jacob Murrell intercepted inside the penalty area before Ivor Pandur rescued Rangers with a save.
He said: "There's a tug, but I'd be more disappointed that my centre-back goes in and attempts to tackle like that.
"It summed up Emmanuel Fernandez's first half. He was really, really sloppy with the ball. You speak about good players making the people around them better — he's the opposite.

#really

Indianapolis Colts WR Josh Downs (calf) participated in practice Wednesday, Sept. 2.
SOURCE: James Boyd - The Athletic
Why It Matters: Downs will be joining the starting lineup this season and should see a good amount of targets each game. He can probably be considered a No. 4 fantasy receiver at this point but has a chance to become a starting option in leagues if he plays well early in the season.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Indianapolis Colts WR Josh Downs practices Wednesday

#downs

There haven't been many games like last night, but the couple that the Brewers have had have felt like the worst time to have them. Tonight, the conditions at The Friendly Confines look to be similar to last night, meaning the best pitching staff in the National League will have their work cut out for them yet again.
To make things more interesting, both pitchers toeing the slab have had quite the interesting lines for their respective scenarios. For Robert Gasser, he has not looked comfortable in road games this season, entering tonight's game with a 5.10 ERA, having allowed 45 hits with nine home runs. On the bright side of things, he is coming off of one of his better performances this season as he allowed just one run in 5.1 innings, something he hasn't done since August 1 against the Angels.
While Gasser's stats might sound scary, it's not quite as bad as what we've seen from the Cubs starting pitcher Matthew Boyd during home games this season. Through eight starts, Boyd has posted a 5.44 ERA, allowing at least five runs in each of his last two starts. To pour a little more salt into the wound, Boyd hasn't fared well against the Brewers throughout his career, as he has a 9.00 ERA in five starts, allowing nine home runs, 16 walks, and 30 hits.
With the offense looking like it's going to be the name of the game tonight, the Brewers will continue to go with the home run-heavy top of the lineup. As will the Cubs tonight, as they're fresh off of the second most home runs hit by an MLB team in history with nine last night. The man who had three of them last night, Alex Bregman, will be in the three spot of their lineup last night.
As the calendar flips to September, reinforcements enter the clubhouse. Earlier this afternoon, the Brewers recalled Bo Naylor from Triple-A Nashville, giving the team their third catcher on the active roster. The second reinforcement comes in the left-hander JoJo Romero, who will look to make his Brewers debut tonight. Before the trade with the Cardinals, Romero had appeared in 44 games, recording 20 holds while posting a 3.51 ERA.

#brewers #night

Indianapolis Colts TE Tyler Warren (groin) is practicing Tuesday, Sept. 1, according to The Athletic's James Boyd.
Why it Matters: Warren was the TE5 in PPR leagues last season with a 76-817-4 line through the air. He's being drafted around there with an ADP of 58. View him as an upper-middle TE1 against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Indianapolis Colts TE Tyler Warren practicing Tuesday

#warren #tuesday

It's a new week here at BCB After Dark: the grooviest hang for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Thanks for stopping by. It's always nice to see a familiar face. There's no cover charge and the dress code is casual. We still have a few tables available. The hostess will seat you now. Bring your own beverage.
BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.
Last week I asked you if you'd rather the Cubs re-sign Kevin Gausman or Matthew Boyd for next season. With the caveat that Gausman has made some noise about retiring, 48 percent of you would rather Gausman be back next year. One-third of you think Boyd is the better bet to re-sign and the rest of you think that the Cubs shouldn't re-sign either one.
Here's the part with the jazz and the movies. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. But if you don't, you can skip it. Or you can skip the baseball part. You're our guest.
We're honored to feature another episode of Jazz Casual, the NET (forerunner of PBS) program hosted by jazz writer Ralph Gleason. Tonight's featured performer is saxophonist Julian "Cannonball" Adderley. He's got a heck of a band backing him up with his brother Nat Adderley on cornet, Joe Zawinul on piano, Sam Jones on bass and Louis Hayes on drums.

#next

I have a confession to make. This whole season, I have been waiting for the other proverbial shoe to drop for Eduardo Rodriguez. I had a difficult time believing the same pitcher who had posted consecutive seasons with ERAs north of five could somehow transform himself into a legitimate Cy Young candidate. There were some legitimate reasons for that doubt too between his whiff percentage, strikeout rate, and chase rate all leave something to be desired – to say nothing of expected stats that paint an even worse picture. But at some point, you have to throw out all the other pieces of evidence and recognize that however he's doing it, Rodriguez is putting together one of the best pitching seasons in franchise history. And at a time in the season where every win is crucial, he delivered once more with an absolute gem against the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday afternoon. In seven innings of scoreless work, Rodriguez racked up nine strikeouts and allowed just five baserunners all game, inducing a whopping 18 swings and misses along the way.
It was a fairly dominant performance for the veteran lefty, but it wasn't all smooth sailing. In the visiting half of the sixth, Pete Crow-Armstrong, who was mostly contained in the series, stroked a leadoff double down the line and then moved over to third on Seiya Suzuki's groundout. After a shallow flyout from Alex Bregman wasn't deep enough for PCA to score, he decided to take matters into his own hands and bluffed a straight steal of home by sprinting halfway down the third base line. That move unsettled Rodriguez enough for him to shuffle off the pitching rubber before delivering to James McCann behind the plate. The entire Cubs dugout clamored for a balk call, but after a quick umpire consultation, it was declared not a balk – much to PCA's chagrin as he charged directly at the third base umpire and had to be held back by his coaches. After a few replays of the incident, I do think (as does Bob Brenly) that it probably was a balk. E-Rod clearly takes his left foot off the rubber before coming home with the ball, which would be very deceiving to a baserunner and which has always been the intent behind the balk rule. The play also highlighted the fact that every play should be reviewable as other angles show enough that the Cubs at least had an argument and when the margin is so thin, the call should be correct. It's worth watching the whole sequence for yourself to see where you fall on the decision:
View Link
For what it's worth, Chicago starter Matthew Boyd nearly matched Rodriguez zero for zero as the veteran journeyman allowed the same number of baserunners (five) in six innings of work and continued the excellent starting pitching the Cubs had in the series. His only mistake was a hanging changeup that Jordan Lawlar just lifted over the right field fence for the only run allowed by a Cubs starting pitcher. The D-Backs added an insurance run in the eighth when consecutive leadoff singles from McCann and La

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Charvarius Ward Sr. is back on the field, but his back injury isn't something he expects to completely leave behind anytime soon.
Ward returned to individual drills Tuesday before participating in a handful of team reps Wednesday after missing roughly two weeks.
Following his return, the veteran cornerback offered a candid **** sment of what lies ahead.
"It's gonna be something I gotta deal with. Something I gotta maintain. Something I gotta manage," Ward said, via James Boyd of The Athletic. "Definitely not gonna be fixed overnight or over the next couple weeks. I just gotta maintain it throughout the whole entire season."
#colts Charvarius Ward Sr.: on his back injury:

“It’s gonna be something I gotta deal with. Something I gotta maintain. Something I gotta manage. Definitely not gonna be fixed overnight or over the next couple weeks. I just gotta maintain it throughout the whole entire season.” pic.twitter.com/8rW6y8ForK

#something #weeks #definitely

The Cubs outscored the Diamondbacks 11-7 in this three-game series.
Unfortunately, they don't grant series wins that way. Arizona simply spread their runs out better than the Cubs did. and in Wednesday's game, Eduardo Rodriguez, Brandyn Garcia and Juan Morillo held the Cubs scoreless on just two hits, and the Cubs dropped the series finale 2-0, losing the series and finishing their road trip at 2-4.
It's even more frustrating because the Cubs got excellent work out of all three of their starting pitchers in this series. Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes and Matthew Boyd held the Diamondbacks to eight hits and one run in 20 total innings of work. That's just outstanding. Unfortunately, one blown save and one excellent pitching performance by Rodriguez made this a Cubs series loss.
The Cubs were held hitless by Rodriguez for the first four innings until Tyrone Taylor singled leading off the fifth. Taylor eventually stole second, but was stranded.
More on that from BCB's JohnW53:

#Cubs #rodriguez

The Indianapolis Colts' kicking competition is coming down to the wire.
For much of training camp, it seemed like Blake Grupe had the advantage. In the practice setting, he was making kicks at a much higher rate than Spencer Shrader.
However, over the last two weeks, with the preseason games taking place, Shrader has "really closed the gap," special teams coordinator Brian Mason said on Monday, via The Athletic's James Boyd.
#colts STC Brian Mason says Blake Grupe is at 86% on FGs this offseason and Spencer Shrader is at 81%. No decision yet on who will be Indy's kicker this season.

"Shrader really closed the gap, I think, these last two weeks."

Adds that "in game kicks carry the most weight."
Shrader is currently 4-for-4 on field goal attempts entering the final preseason game, which includes hitting two kicks from over 50 yards.

#much

FAN EXPO Canada returns with celebs such as John Cena, Alan Ritchson, and more, with plenty of attractions held from August 27-30, 2026.
FAN EXPO Canada 2026 rolls out a massive red carpet, with stars from various pop culture backgrounds. This includes celebs from comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, gaming, cosplay, and last but certainly not least, the film and TV industry. This year's major celebrity guests list consists of Mel Gibson, John Cena, Elijah Wood, Alan Ritchson, Mr. T, Sean Astin, William Fichtner, and more. Guests are always encouraged to check out all the activations and shopping as well, especially Artist Alley!
John Cena Live: A ticketed event to see (or not see) the wrestling legend, superhero, Fast & Furious icon, and genuinely great human being.
An Evening With The Hobbits: In Celebration of 25 Years - A ticketed event where audiences join the Fellowship as Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Dominic Monaghan, and Billy Boyd reunite to celebrate 25 years of The Lord of the Rings with an on-stage panel filled with behind-the-scenes stories.
Second Breakfast, An Unexpected Feast With The Hobbits: Hungry like a hobbit? Grab a napkin and settle in for Second Breakfast hosted by Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, and Dominic Monaghan for a celebration that will rival Bilbo Baggins' 111th Birthday. (Ticketed Event that takes place at InterContinental Toronto)

#elijah #Event #Expo #canada

A Florida vs. California matchup came down to the final seconds. Miami Central (FL) trailed Orange Lutheran (CA) by six points with 28 seconds left and the ball at the 40 yards line when James Perrone, a three-star Pitt commit, took off from the pocket.
He got out to his left and sprinted toward the sideline, beating two defenders. He didn't stop.
Outrace another. First down. Cut to the right to get by a fourth. Pick up a final block. End zone straight ahead.
He ran in, celebrating the touchdown that, after the PAT, would put Central ahead 23-22. After 15 seconds of defense, the game was sealed, as Central took down OLu.
Central, entering the game ranked No. 34 on MaxPreps, is one of the top Florida teams in the country. Led by Perrone and a defensive unit that includes three-star defensive backs Trezavant Boyd, T'ari Miller and Quartavius Lyons Jr., the Rockets were faced with a tough challenge in Orange Lutheran.

#orange #final #left

Cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr. has encountered his share of talented young receivers at Ohio State, covering wave after wave of them during practices over the last four years.
But he thinks there's something different about this year's class of freshmen.
"It's probably the best freshman class I've seen," Mathews said. "The freshmen are nice."
Mathews' comments during preseason training camp added to the buzz surrounding the group led by Brock Boyd and Chris Henry Jr.
While their backgrounds are varied, Boyd and Henry have stood out since spring practices in March and April. They were the first freshmen at any position to lose their black stripes, a milestone for newcomers to the program.

#class #cornerback #jermaine

It's Tuesday night here at BCB After Dark: the coolest club for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. It's so nice to see you tonight. Come on in and dry off. There's no cover charge. The dress code is casual. The hostess will seat you now. Bring your own beverage.
BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.

Last night, I asked you who you want on the mound for a potential Game One of a playoff series. Thirty-nine percent of you would go with Matthew Boyd. Another 25 percent said Kevin Gausman, although that was before tonight's game.
On Tuesday night, I don't normally do any movie stuff. But I can scrounge up some tunes for you.
Tonight we have legendary vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater performing B.B. King's signature song, "The Thrill is Gone" in Abu Dhabi for International Jazz Day in 2025. Bridgewater is backed by an all-star band that is too long to mention here, but you can go to YouTube and get them all if you wish.
Last night, Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a walk-off home run that sealed his second-straight season of 30 home runs and 30 steals. Tonight's question is simple. There are 35 games left in the season. Crow-Armstrong has 31 home runs (after one more tonight as I write this) and 31 steals. Can he get nine more home runs and nine more steals to be a 40-40 player?

#night

The Indianapolis Colts will have several difficult decisions to make before trimming their roster to 53 players, and two recognizable names could end up on the outside looking in.
The Athletic's James Boyd projected the Colts' initial 53-man roster on Tuesday, noting running back DJ Giddens and defensive tackle Jerry Tillery among his notable cuts.
Giddens, a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft, entered training camp with an opportunity to slot in as Jonathan Taylor's primary backup. A hamstring injury has kept him sidelined for most of camp, though, allowing rookie Seth McGowan and Ulysses Bentley IV to gain ground in the competition.
Boyd projected Taylor, McGowan and Bentley to make the roster at running back, leaving Giddens without a spot one year after Indianapolis drafted him.
Tillery's situation is different.

#indianapolis #boyd #running

According to their ***** istant general manager Ed Dodds, the Indianapolis Colts currently plan on keeping backup quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr., as they intend on keeping three quarterbacks and aren't wanting to detract from their current team (via The Athletic's James Boyd).
Now, if the Colts had gotten meaningful trade value back in a swap for Richardson Sr., who requested a trade earlier this offseason, then he would realistically be elsewhere right now to that generous suitor. That being said, such a trade doesn't appear to have materialized, and while a significant quarterback injury could certainly happen, most teams already have their backup quarterback plans in place entering the second week of preseason.
Colts longtime general manager Chris Ballard indicated earlier this offseason that the Colts weren't simply going to give away Richardson Sr., still believing he has value and upside. To be fair too, their starting quarterback Daniel Jones is coming off a late season torn Achilles and hasn't exactly been an 'NFL ironman' himself, even dating back to his days as a former franchise quarterback hopeful with the New York Giants.
While he clearly started out rusty, Richardson Sr. actually progressed nicely in his 2026 preseason debut, completing 11 of 14 pass attempts for 145 passing yards and an interception (*which should've been caught) to go along with his 53 total rushing yards and rushing touchdown on 6 carries against the New England Patriots. It was that dynamic rushing ability which doesn't play out as well in Colts camp, but was on full display in this past Thursday night's exhibition game.
In contrast, 2nd-year quarterback Riley Leonard, who is Richardson's competition for the Colts QB2 job behind Jones, had a fairly rough preseason showing in relief during the second half—and with only 1 career start under his belt, could arguably use a bit more seasoning before being anointed Indy's primary backup quarterback.

#rushing

The Cincinnati Bengals might have a need at running back.
And the San Francisco 49ers might provide.
Monday, those 49ers released running back Khalil Herbert, a name who suited up for the Bengals in 2024 after coming over via trade in November of that year. After one start for the team in place of Chase Brown to finish that year, Herbert signed with the Indianapolis Colts in 2025.
Now, though, the Bengals seem to have running back depth issues similar to those in 2024 that caused them to trade for Herbert in the first place. Brown is the starter and Samaje Perine the backup, but names like Tahj Boyd have yet to move the needle.
With Herbert available again, it's worth wondering if the Bengals might pick up the phone and see if he's interested in a reunion.

#might #running #year

St. Louis rookie Joshua Baez smacked three home runs, the most ever by any player in his Major League Baseball debut, as the Cardinals beat the host Chicago Cubs 8-4 on Saturday.
The 23-year-old Dominican-American right-fielder made a debut for the ages at historic Wrigley Field, the oldest National League ballpark dating to 1914.
Baez smashed the first pitch he saw in MLB, a 93.4-mph fastball from Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd, for a two-run homer into center field that gave St. Louis a 3-0 lead.
In his second time at bat, Baez blasted a changeup pitch for a solo homer down the left field line in the fourth inning to lift the Cardinals ahead 4-3.
That made Baez only the ninth player in MLB history with two homers in his regular-season debut, and just the second since 1900 to homer on his first two MLB at bats after Bob Nieman in 1951.

#player

There has never, in the long and celebrated history of Major League Baseball, been a better debut than the one Cardinals outfielder Joshua Baez authored at Wrigley Field on Saturday afternoon as Baez became the first player to ever go deep in the first three plate appearances of a career.
The 23-year-old slugger got things started with a bang, pulverizing the 0-0 pitch of his first at-bat 449 feet over the batter's eye in dead center. That sent the Cardinals' dugout into a frenzy. Players banged uncontrollably on the dugout railing. Coaches stood shellshocked, mouths agape. Baez couldn't stop smiling as he floated around the bases. It was a magnificent opening salvo for a player whose calling card is light-tower power. It was also just the start.
Baez went yard again in his second trip to the dish. Savvy veteran Matthew Boyd tried to sneak a full-count changeup past Baez. The hulking slugger turned it into a souvenir, pulling the offering down the left-field line over the ivy and into the seats. But he wasn't done. With a runner on first in the top of the sixth, Baez got the better of Boyd once again, poking an outer-half slider into the front row in right. Three at-bats; three homers, all to different parts of the yard. It was a debut beyond anyone's wildest dreams.
It was quite a Day 1 in the big leagues for St. Louis' Joshua Baez. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
For Baez, the Cardinals' 8-4 victory was the experience of a lifetime and an appropriate introduction to the big league ball fans that might spend the next decade watching him turn hangers into bangers.

#three #debut

Joshua Báez made sure his major league debut somehow exceeded the wild expectations that preceded it.
Báez's emotional journey to the St. Louis Cardinals' lineup culminated Saturday, Aug. 15 when he hit a towering two-run home run on the first pitch he saw from Chicago Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd at Wrigley Field, sending the visiting dugout into padding-pounding pandemonium and the more than two dozen family members on hand from around the USA and Dominican Republic into unabashed glee.
Báez, 21, was already sporting a wide and disbelieving grin as he rounded first base, the perfect welcome-to-the-big-leagues moment for the Cardinals' No. 3 prospect. After all, Báez had already shown his flair for the emotional.
Báez was a third-round pick of the Cardinals in 2021, out of Dexter School in Brookline, Mass. He was midway through his second full pro season, at Class A Palm Beach, when his father, Jose Manuel, who'd had a profound impact on his baseball development, passed away.
Báez continued climbing the Cardinals' system and the prospect charts, rising to No. 56 in Baseball America's top 100 ratings this summer. And then came June 16, and the third anniversary of his father's death.

#cardinals #Baseball #Third

St. Louis Cardinals rookie Joshua Báez made a strong first impression in his major-league debut on Saturday.
Báez, ranked as the Cardinals' No. 3 prospect by MLB.com, was called up from Triple-A Memphis on Friday night and penciled into Saturday's starting lineup versus the Chicago Cubs by manager Oliver Marmol.
Batting fifth and playing left field, Báez quickly announced his MLB debut by hitting the first pitch he faced from Cubs starter Matthew Boyd for a home run. Boyd left a 93 mph fastball out over the plate where Báez could extend his arms and he did not miss.
The 3-run homer from Báez gave the Cardinals an early 3-0 lead. St. Louis first got on the board following a leadoff walk by JJ Wetherholt and Iván Herrera getting hit by a pitch. Alec Burleson then drove in a run on a groundout. One pitch later, Báez gave the Cardinals a 3-0 lead.
Báez, 23, was St. Louis' 2021 second-round pick out of Dexter Southfield School in Brookline, Massachusetts. Before his call-up, he hit 34 home runs with 90 RBI and a .256/.328/.573 slash average for the Redbirds.

#first #boyd

Colts get unfortunate report on special teams coach Brian Mason after preseason injury originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Indianapolis Colts played their first preseason game on Thursday night against the New England Patriots. They tied 13-13, and right at the end of the game, a serious-looking injury occurred.
But it wasn't a player that got hurt. It was a member of the Colts' coaching staff, special teams coordinator Brian Mason. He was knocked down on the sidelines when players ran into him finishing a play. Mason was clearly in pain.
The next day, James Boyd of The Athletic reported that Mason is believed to have suffered some brutal knee injuries, with multiple torn ligaments in his knee following this freak accident.
"Colts STC Brian Mason is believed to have suffered multiple torn ligaments in his knee, a league source confirms to TheAthleticNFL," Boyd reports.

#sporting #boyd #teams

According to The Athletic's James Boyd, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce had another PRP injection in his rehabbing left ankle, which underwent minor cleanup surgery earlier this offseason:
While the timing of the second injection is unclear following surgery, it wasn't publicly disclosed by the team. That being said, Boyd later noted that the second PRP injection wasn't considered a setback by a team source. However, there's still no clear timetable for his return to the football field.
For those not in the medical field, a PRP injection is a 'platelet-rich plasma' injection to help repair damaged tissues and ease joint pain as a form of medical treatment.
The last public update we had received was from Pierce himself, when in early June, he indicated to the local media that there was a four-to-six month recovery timeline from his minor ankle surgery in late March. However, the hope was that he'd realistically return by late team training camp.
For what it's worth, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter said on 'The Pat McAfee Show' on Monday that the Colts maintain that Pierce will be ready for the regular season opener.

#surgery #minor

According to head coach Shane Steichen, the Indianapolis Colts will rotate their two primary backup quarterbacks, Anthony Richardson and Riley Leonard, during the team's upcoming Thursday night preseason opener on the road against the New England Patriots (via The Athletic's James Boyd):
Rather unsurprisingly, Colts starting quarterback Daniel Jones, who's seemingly shown no signs of his torn Achilles suffered last year so far during team training camp, will not play in the team's Preseason Week 1 game—especially on newly installed turf that the Patriots field crew is rushing to get down in Gillette Stadium by Thursday night.
Both Richardson and Leonard have shown inconsistency so far throughout training camp, with neither quarterback arguably clearly separating from the other competitor for the Colts' QB2 job behind Jones.
That means it could come down to their respective preseason performances, as well as their work behind-the-scenes, which is the key reason why Jones bested out Richardson for the Colts' QB1 job last year after rather even on-the-field performances throughout last year's training camp and preseason games.
If Richardson doesn't clearly separate himself through all three facets: training camp, preseason, and off-the-field work, then the default to me, would be Leonard ultimately winning the QB2 job for the Colts going forward.

#colts #preseason #leonard #field

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chicago Cubs' grind through 17 consecutive games without an off day ended on a high note.
The offense broke out against Kansas City Royals starter Randy Dobnak and the bullpen, and left-hander Matthew Boyd allowed just two runs over seven innings in a 10-2 victory to secure the series victory. The Cubs (69-50) enter Monday's off day — their first since July 23 — with a 12-5 mark over the 17-game stretch.
The lack of off days required manager Craig Counsell to find ways to build in rest for their regulars. That meant Pete Crow-Armstrong was the designated hitter for a second consecutive game and the third time in five games as Counsell attempted to "recharge some batteries the best I can right now."
The Cubs' series win keeps them rolling. Their 35-16 (.686) mark since June 11 is second-best in the big leagues during that span behind the Boston Red Sox — after the Cubs had posted a majors-worst 7-22 stretch prior to this run.
"Our starters have performed exceptionally well, and that's been the key to this thing," Counsell said of playing 17 straight. "You don't survive it without good starting pitching, and the number of quality starts, whether it be length or lack of runs given up, it's been impressive for sure, and it's got us through this, and it's helped us win games. Because the length the starter is able to give you contributes to what happens the next day in the bullpen, and they've done a heck of a job."

#kansas #city #bullpen #runs