It is easy to forget how close the fight between England and Germany was for Jamal Musiala, with the talented Bayern Munich breakout star eventually deciding on Germany. He took his role of exciting young talent into the 2021 European Championship and 2022 World Cup, but that role has evolved by 2026. Musiala now has the #10 for Germany and nears his mid-20s. Despite coming off of a big injury, he is one of the faces of the Germany team.
This conflict was brought up to Musiala by Sport Bild (as captured by iMiaSanMia), who queried Musiala on shedding his old one as exciting dribbler for his new role.
"Of course I still enjoy dribbling, and I'm getting a better feeling for it all the time. But you can't forget that coming back from an injury takes time," Musiala cautioned. "The more minutes and matches I play, the better I feel. Getting on the ball again brings me joy. But it's also true that my responsibilities for the team have increased. I take more responsibility for our attacking play and contribute more defensively as well. Winning the ball back can be fun as well."
Moving into the new era with Jürgen Klopp now at the helm will require Musiala to evolve further. Can he become the difference maker for the country that so many had been hoping for five years ago?
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#musiala #getting #injury #better

Andriy Lunin — 6: Barely called into action and only had to make one save. He was let down by his defenders on the goal conceded.
Joan Martínez — 7: Strong on the ball and distributed well. Had one giveaway he could've done better with, but it was an otherwise composed performance.
Mario Rivas — 8: Two strong clearances defensively and an excellent goal, attacking the cross well and meeting it with his head.
Álvaro Carreras — 5: Poor defensively despite not being tested all that much until the second half.
Denzel Dumfries — 6: Still finding his feet physically. Lucky not to be called for a handball in the box in the first half. Continues to make positive off-ball runs and should find his rhythm eventually.

#defensively

Fans of the NFL's other 31 teams love to call out the Dallas Cowboys' supposed inflated ego and overblown opinion of how good they actually are. Well, then they'll love the latest vocabulary term floating around Oxnard, one that players and even coaches are using to set the bar for this year's offense. Topping this look at the latest headlines in Cowboys Nation, coordinator Klayton Adams says he has no problem with the "GOTI" moniker making the rounds, and is leaning into the idea that Dak Prescott & Co. could truly live up to their "Greatest Offense There Is" brand.
Defensively, Christian Parker continues to be the most interesting man in camp, or at least the most enigmatic. The DC says he's pleased with his unit's progress through the first few practices, highlighting their attention to detail and level of violence and physicality. And don't worry about the new guys; he says Caleb Downs and Jaishawn Barham are exactly as advertised thus far.
And did Brian Schottenheimer just let slip when he thinks the team will likely add roster help? Based on his latest comments, don't be surprised if there's a move made for a name player after the Cowboys' second preseason game versus Arizona on Aug. 28.
Scanning the league's other camps, Aaron Donald may be a big step closer to officially announcing a return for the Rams, and Houston's Tank Dell is back after a nasty injury and long recovery. And the Cardinals may be prepping to take the field in Canton for the Hall of Fame Game, but don't tune in looking to see rookie running back phenom Jeremiyah Love.
In other news, the Commanders have landed wide receiver Stefon Diggs, and Puka Nacua is taking serious aim at a big-money contract by hiring the same agent that just got Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Zay Flowers paid. The Steelers are under fire for possibly hiding an Aaron Rodgers illness before last season's playoff loss, and the Chiefs are playing in Arrowhead Stadium once again after a name change for their home venue.

#cowboys #fans

Crystal Palace are making a move for Axel Disasi, who could join on a loan with an option to buy according to French media.
If you enjoy Talk Chelsea coverage and want to see more of it, add us as a preferred source on Google to make us a favourite and see more of our content.
Earlier today we were writing about Chelsea's situation defensively. With Maxence Lacroix now signed, there are ten central defenders on the books. The Blues need to get moving, and the good news is that things could move pretty fast now.
With five of them likely to stick around in Xabi Alonso's squad and two potentially going on loan, three are left to be sold. Trevoh Chalobah is on the verge of joining Como, leaving Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi as the most likely to make permanent moves away.
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 19: Axel Disasi of Chelsea of Chelsea during the UEFA Conference League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between Chelsea FC and Shamrock Rovers FC at Stamford Bridge on December 19, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

#loan

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Freddie Freeman are both optimistic the 10-time All-Star avoided a serious injury in the fifth inning of Wednesday's 7-6 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Freeman took a 91-mph fastball to the hand at the plate on the first pitch from Shota Imanaga. He took a second to grimace in pain, but finished his at-bat two pitches later with a flyout to center field before being subbed out defensively by Kiké Hernández for the home half of the inning.
"We had to get Freddie out of the game," manager Dave Roberts told reporters. "He got hit in the hand, but fortunately X-rays were negative. So, that was another positive."
Freeman echoed his manager's optimism and told reporters he expects to be in the lineup for the Dodgers' series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday.
"That's what I get for swinging at a ball at my face," he said, according to The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya.

#took #angeles

Braden Layer and Kurt ******* eloch of the Allegheny football team were in attendance for the Presidents' Athletic Conference's media day on Tuesday. Below are quotes previewing the upcoming season for the Gators
Head coach Braden Layer on the end of 2025 building momentum for 2026
"Two wins over the last three weeks (of last season) doesn't roll over into our record in 2026. I think it helped us kickstart our offseason workouts. It built momentum leading into spring ball, but ultimately, I'm sitting here with a lot of other head coaches that believe there is a lot in front of us. There's a lot of reasons to be optimistic about the season. But until we run out there and play Anderson University in the first week in September, it's on us as a staff and us as players to come together. (Last year) only matters a little bit in the grand scheme of things come August."
Layer on returning eight defensive starters
"… That level of continuity really matters, at least in my opinion, especially in small college athletics. I think our front seven has a chance to be very formidable. … Drew Evans for the first time in his career got to focus just on football. … Huriel Calice has been a mainstay for us on the defensive line. He's shifting out primarily just to an edge player. … Obviously, you have Michael (Schanck) on the interior. You have (Matthew) Phillips, you have (Joshua) Guenther – you have a whole lot of guys that have accumulated a ton of snaps. And I think we're fortunate to bring in some potential impact players that are new to the program as well. … At the second level, Coltin (Colucci) does everything for us defensively. We were able to convince him to come back for a fifth year. He's kind of been the heartbeat of our team now for a while. … But it's not just him. You know you have Javi Edwards coming back, you have CJ Gissentaner coming back. I thought one of the best freshmen in the conference last year was Ryan Croston, who was our nickel. One of the best blitzers and pass rushers for us in our blitz package last year returns only a year bigger and better."

#last

Where to watch Rams preseason games 2026: Full schedule, times, TV channels, live streams for Los Angeles originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
On paper, the Los Angeles Rams might have the best team in the NFL.
Spearheaded by reigning MVP Matthew Stafford and head coach Sean McVay, the Rams enter the 2026 season with the same offense that led the NFL in scoring a year ago. Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, Kyren Williams and Blake Corum are all back.
Defensively, the Rams look almost unbeatable. Los Angeles traded for two-time Defensive Player of the Year edge rusher Myles Garrett and star cornerback Trent McDuffie this offseason. The team also picked up McDuffie's ex-Chiefs teammate, cornerback Jaylen Watson, in free agency.
While not all of these stars will see extended time in the preseason, these games could be a sign of things to come for the Rams in 2026.

#Rams #time #full

Where to watch Lions preseason games 2026: Full schedule, times, TV channels, live streams for Detroit originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Detroit Lions look to return to prominence in 2026 after finishing at the bottom of the NFC North a year ago.
The team remained mostly intact on offense, except for the trade of running back David Montgomery to the Texans in the offseason. That leaves Jahmyr Gibbs as the lone force in the backfield for Detroit with Jared Goff under center and receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams out wide.
Head coach Dan Campbell brought in Drew Petzing as the new offensive coordinator while retooling the offensive line following the departures of veterans Taylor Decker and Graham Glasgow.
Defensively, the Lions look thin after injuries to Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph last year and the release of Terrion Arnold this offseason. The team also moved on from Alex Anzalone in free agency but drafted offensive lineman Blake Miller and edge rusher Derrick Moore in the first two rounds.

#lions #offseason #full #preferred

The Minnesota Vikings are turning the page and starting a new chapter in their long battle with the quarterback position. There is nothing they would love more than for former top pick J.J. McCarthy to be able to prove himself and be the guy for them. However, the arrival of Kyler Murray brings with it new energy, as a former player of theirs has recently been discussed.
Former Vikings running back Adrian Peterson spoke to Kyle Odegard of Rotogrinders recently about a plethora of topics related to the team's quarterback battle. One of them was the idea of Kyler Murray getting a fresh start with Minnesota and what it could do for him.
He said, "A lot of people give Kyler Murray a hard time for not being able to perform at a high level all the time and consistently, but he just needed a fresh start, something new to revive him. A different outlook on things and give them a boost they needed. When they picked him up, I thought this was an opportunity to change his mindset and say, 'You know what? I've been blessed to go to an incredible team that's very talented offensively and defensively, and now I can be that piece.' I feel like if he comes in with that mindset, he can be the one that gets us over the hump."
We have seen quarterbacks get fresh starts with Minnesota before, and the results spoke for themselves. The team has to be rooting for another Sam Darnold-ish type of season, with something more than a Wild Card game being the final game they play.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Former Vikings player sees the upside that Kyler Murray brings

#kyler #minnesota #fresh #able

FOXBORO — It was another day of sunshiine for the New England Patriots on Tuesday, Aug. 4, as they practiced in front of fans for the first time this week after moving Monday's practice indoors due to inclement weather.
Here are three takeaways from Tuesday's session:
Jacas, the second-round pick who has had limited participation in practice since being cleared to practice on Aug. 1, once again saw his practice time increase as he continues to work towards full participation after missing the start of training camp due to contract negotiations.
"He'll have a few more reps than he did yesterday," head coach Mike Vrabel said before practice, "and, [in] these situations, he has to just understand, and it's good to see him get acclimated to the special teams stuff. So, I think it's going well. I think we're off to a good start, and hopefully he can continue to keep adding things and figure out where he can help us defensively and, really, special teams."
Jacas participated in team drills for the second day in a row, lining up against a fellow rookie, offensive tackle Caleb Lomu. His participation in the drills showed where he was limited, as he only appeared for one session before watching from the sideline the rest of the time.

#practice #good

The Atlanta Dream played host to the Las Vegas Aces on Monday night in a matchup of two teams firmly in the WNBA playoff picture entering the last two months of the regular season. The night was even more special for Atlanta as it celebrated "Barbie Night," which honored star forward Angel Reese, whose nickname is "Barbie."
Reese recently debuted her own signature Barbie doll with Mattel, featuring Reese's ponytail, pink nails, and an all-pink game-day look, and talked before the game about the importance of having a doll that young black dolls could play with.
"I didn't have a lot of dolls because I didn't have dolls that looked like me much, and that's why I kind of wanna really wanted to make sure this was super intentional," she said before the game.
Although the Dream lost in blowout fashion, with a final score of 109-87, Reese made sure to leave her mark on the floor. She finished the game with only a -3 +/- in a game Atlanta lost by 22 points, and scored 23 points of her own on an efficient 10-for-19 from the field, all while snagging 16 rebounds and making a massive impact defensively.
As great as she was, some fans were upset about one play involving Reese in the second half, as the game was starting to get out of hand. During the play in question, Reese inadvertently elbows Aces defender Stephanie Talbot in the face as she makes a move to the basket. Surprisingly, Talbot was called for the foul, and Reese stood over her and made the "and-1" gesture while Talbot held her face on the ground.

#aces

The New York Yankees are promoting shortstop George Lombard Jr., the top prospect in the organization and a consensus Top-100 prospect in all of MLB, from Triple-A to make his major league debut according to multiple reports Aug. 3.
Jack Curry reported the promotion first on the YES Network.
The report follows the Yankees' loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, and the debut of Luis Garcia Jr. — one of two players, along with San Francisco Giants outfielder Heliot Ramos — that they acquired before the MLB trade deadline earlier in the day.
MORE: Three-year MLB infielder, 26, opts out of Yankees contract
"He'll be the starting shortstop for the Yankees," Curry said. "They feel Lombard Jr. will handle everything he needs to handle defensively, and we will see what he's able to give the Yankees offensively."

#curry #handle

College football may be around the corner, but that isn't stopping the other sports from making some news for themselves.
According to a report from On3.com, Oregon men's basketball head coach Dana Altman has signed former Arkansas forward Malique Ewin to play for the Ducks in the 2026-27 season. The 6-foot-10, 240-pounder from Lawrenceville, GA will be a senior this year.
After starting his career at Ole Miss, Ewin had his best season as a sophomore for Florida State in the 2024-25 campaign where he averaged 14 points and 7.6 rebounds a game. He then moved on to Arkansas, where his numbers dipped, but Ewin still had a respectable season for the Razorbacks, averaging 10 points and 5.6 rebounds a game. Arkansas finished 28-9 last season. They lost in the Sweet 16 to Arizona in the NCAA tournament.
Ewin will provide some much-needed inside bulk for the Ducks this coming season as they look to replace center Nate Bittle. He'll also bring some senior leadership to a relatively younger team and will make a duo with Sean Stewart on the inside, both offensively and defensively. Ewin has averaged a block a game in his career, and hopefully, playing alongside Stewart, he can increase that number some for the Ducks.
Oregon hasn't announced its full schedule for the 2026-27 season, but the Ducks are set to play in the Players Era Tournament for the third straight season, where they'll open up with St. John's.

#ducks #oregon

There are question marks about how capable the Los Angeles Lakers' new-look roster will be on the defensive end, especially on the perimeter, after they were 20th in defensive rating last season. New starting center Walker Kessler could improve their overall defense by himself, but there still seems to be an overall lack of high-level perimeter defenders.
But when it comes to the other end of the floor, there is a feeling that the Lakers will be very good and perhaps even elite. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves give them an outstanding foundation offensively, and the additions of Quentin Grimes, Collin **** ton, Sandro Mamukelashvili and even Matisse Thybulle will give the team the ability to hit from the outside and score in transition more than it has in a while.
Per Keith Smith of spotrac.com, a rival NBA scout raved about the Lakers' ability and potential on offense this coming season.
"Well, there's certainly a lot of offense. And I think it's offense that all fits together pretty well. They have way more shooting this year than last year. More off-the-dribble creation too. They should be a really good passing team also," a rival scout said. "Defensively…well, they'll score a lot of points! (laughs) If (head coach) JJ (Redick) can get this group in the top-20 on defense, give him Coach of the Year, because they'll probably be awesome."
Last season, L.A. was first in overall field-goal percentage, but just 10th in offensive rating, 14th in 3-point accuracy and 16th in fast-break points. Its offensive rating, 3-point shooting and fast-break points should increase now that it has a roster that is younger, more athletic, more fluid and more offensively well-rounded. Grimes and Mamukelashvili can not only hit from the outside but also operate off the dribble, and **** ton will help a bench that was starving for offense last season.

#well #Lakers #points

Bam Adebayo gets honest about why he's not too worried about the Heat's lack of shooting originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo was a major move for the Miami Heat. With that move, he and Bam Adebayo form a fearsome partnership that could be the best in the league. However, it does pose a problem because they might not be as dynamic on offense as many duos.
Defensively, there should not be any problem with Adebayo and Antetokounmpo. Unfortunately, that is only half the game, so offensively, they might have some limits because they do not have the best perimeter shooting.
It is fair to have high expectations for the Heat now because they have an elite duo in the frontcourt. Pat Riley and the Heat's front office did have to send a significant package to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Giannis, so the team is lacking depth.
Trading away the likes of Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Kel'el Ware, and Kasparas Jakucionis was a big investment for Miami. It was an understandable decision, but it does hamper their offense because those players were big-time contributors for head coach Erik Spoelstra.

#antetokounmpo

Aug. 2—Zvonimir Ivisic is considered the more defensive minded of Illinois' twin centers. For a reason. The 7-foot-2 Croatian averaged a team-high 1.9 blocks last season, and his block percentage ranked fourth nationally, per Bart Torvik, behind only Virginia's Ugonna Onyenso, Seton Hall's Najai Hines and Charleston's Chol Machot.
That's not to say Tomislav Ivisic didn't contribute defensively. The 7-1 center was certainly more of an offensive threat and his defensive rating went down from his first season in Champaign, but he still came out on the positive side of plus/minus at the defensive end of the court for the season.
Ratcheting up his defensive versatility has been an offseason goal for Tomislav Ivisic. It's arguably his primary goal.
"I want to be a better defender," he said. "To be able to hope (defensive coordinator Camryn Crocker) have more variety on the defensive end. If he thinks maybe for one game it would be best to switch, and if I'm not ready to switch, then we can't play switch. I'm trying to be a better defender on that end.
"That all starts with small details like having hip mobility, hamstring and quad stretch, a little bit of balance. Small stuff that we do every day and that we've been working on since the season was over. I definitely feel improvement there. I also gained some weight. Which should slow me down, but that's why we work on extra stuff to not slow me down and improve my mobility and agility."

#ivisic #down #defender

The Pirates will be without Ryan O'Hearn for 6-8 weeks, manager Don Kelly informed Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and others in Cincinnati on Saturday afternoon. O'Hearn, who was placed on the 10-day IL with a left quad strain, was injured in the ninth inning of Friday night's loss to the Reds while running to first base on a groundout.
In his first season with the Pirates after signing as a free agent in the winter, O'Hearn carries a .270/.334/.454 batting line with 15 doubles, 17 home runs and 69 RBI. Defensively, the 33-year-old has split his time between right field and first base.
O'Hearn previously missed two weeks in May due to a right quad strain. His current quad strain is more severe, and it will keep him off the field until the middle of September at the earliest.
While O'Hearn lands on the IL, the Pirates are getting another player off it. Pittsburgh reinstated catcher/first baseman Rafael Flores Jr. from the 7-day concussion list.
Flores, who last played on June 22, has appeared in eight games for the Pirates this season and is batting .267/.421/.533 with a double, a home run and two RBI.

#strain #weeks #season

If this year's Region 11 coaches poll showed anything, it's that Ridgeline is expected to do well once again this season. The defending 4A champions are coming off a dominant campaign with a 14-0 record and both the best offense and defense in the classification.
While Ridgeline lost most of its top producers from a year ago, including four-star Oklahoma commit Krew Jones who transferred to Orem, its returners and up-and-comers will likely keep the RiverHawks as the team to beat in 4A.
Quarterback Crew ***** will graduate from backup to starter this fall, and a new group of receivers will join him. Luckily for ***** , he'll have an experienced offensive line to keep him safe as Ridgeline returns four of its starters a year ago.
Defensively, the RiverHawks have just four returning starters. Ridgeline head coach Travis ***** is excited at the mix of returners and up-and-comers.
"I'm excited about this year's team," Travis ***** said. "We have a great mix of returning starters and players who have patiently waited their turn behind some great players from last year's team. They are a hungry group who worked extremely hard in the offseason, and I'm excited to watch that dedication pay off on the field on Friday nights."

#riverhawks

Last season, the Chicago Bears won many of their games in dramatic fashion. Quarterback Caleb Williams led the NFL in comeback wins last season with seven, including a thriller over the Green Bay Packers, which marked the Bears' their first playoff win since 2010.
However, the Bears roster will look a bit different this season with Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III now serving as Chicago's top two wide receivers. Defensively, the Bears also have two new starting safeties with veteran Coby Bryant coming from the Seattle Seahawks and Chicago's first-round draft pick Dillon Thieneman.
Talking with Kay Adams of "Up & Adams" on Monday, Williams expressed his excitement for the upcoming season and how this team is different from the "Cardiac Bears" from last season.
"It's gonna be really exciting," Williams said. "It's gonna be really fun to watch. It's going to be more entertaining than last year, hopefully not as much of a heart race. It's going to be a little more entertaining, entertaining throughout the whole game and what we're going to bring to the table as a team. You can feel it. You can see it. The confidence, it's not thinking, it's what goes on outside."
Chicago has numerous playmakers on both sides of the ball that will help make this season more entertaining than last year. Tight end Colston Loveland and Burden now have a year under their belt and the Bears added to their receiving core by drafting tight end Sam Roush.

#season #entertaining #year #adams

The Los Angeles Lakers had one of the NBA's busiest offseasons, losing 22-time All-Star forward LeBron James at the outset of free agency before replacing him with a hodgepodge of players they felt could complement superstar guard Luka Dončić.
While LA has exhausted most of its resources to appease Dončić, including making an all-in push for a high-level starting center, franchise icon Shaquille O'Neal doesn't see a viable path to the 2027 NBA championship.
Despite its strong 53-win finish to the 2025-26 season, LA's ******* le contention hopes were thwarted by Dončić's absence (hamstring) throughout the 2026 playoffs. The shorthanded squad was forced to put an excessive workload on 41-year-old James en route to a second-round sweep at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Lakers' inability to match up defensively against OKC and lack of complementary scoring options contributed to James seeking greener pastures in free agency. The four-time MVP announced his exit in late June, eventually opting to join the star-studded Philadelphia 76ers out East.
Looking to pick up the pieces, LA had significant money to work with this summer, with James' expiring $52.6 million contract coming off the books. Rob Pelinka and Co.'s biggest move came when they parted with unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 and first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030 to land restricted free agent big man Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz on a four-year, $130 million contract.

#star

A couple of quiet roster moves at the outset of this week's series against the Pittsburgh Pirates might have ramifications that ripple into next season for the Cincinnati Reds.
That is, **** uming there is a season next season and MLB owners don't make the worst business decision since Blockbuster refused to buy 3-year-old Netflix in 2000, and shut down the game over a money-grab obsession with a salary cap.
Reds schedule 'Sunday Night Baseball' Cincinnati Reds Aug. 30 game flexed to 'Sunday Night Baseball'
Until then, the Reds have reinstalled Matt McLain – once considered a part of their competitive foundation — at second base after a week at Louisville on a rehab **** ignment for a calf injury.
That follows an extended look at top infield prospect Edwin Arroyo at that position, during a rocky, defensively sloppy, two-month big-league debut.

#next #game

The Baltimore Ravens will take the field Wednesday morning for their first practice of the 2026 training camp, beginning a new era at the Under Armour Performance Center.
The opening session will provide the first extended look at head coach Jesse Minter's team and Declan Doyle's new offense. Lamar Jackson enters camp healthy and confident after an injury-plagued 2025 season, while Derrick Henry, Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews return as the offense's established playmakers.
Early focus will also center on first-round guard Vega Ioane and Baltimore's rebuilt interior offensive line. Ethan Pocic's late addition changes the competition at center, while John Simpson and Andrew Vorhees are among the candidates for significant roles at guard. Defensively, Trey Hendrickson will make his training camp debut with Baltimore. Nnamdi Madubuike will open camp on the active/PUP list after receiving medical clearance to resume football activities, creating early opportunities for the Ravens' other defensive linemen.
Rookies Zion Young, Ja'Kobi Lane, Elijah Sarratt and Ryan Eckley will also begin competing for roles on a roster built to return to the postseason. Follow along on the Ravens Wire liveblog that will be updated throughout the morning with photos, videos, observations and more.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens training camp live updates: Sights and sounds from Day 1

#Ravens #first

The New York Yankees offense is struggling right now, and Cody Bellinger's injury only makes things worse.
The Yankees are currently without Aaron Judge, Bellinger and Giancarlo Stanton. On top of that, they seem to have no actual solution for third base and shortstop, where Anthony Volpe and Ryan McMahon continue to struggle. Knowing Judge, Bellinger and Stanton could return soon, the Yankees are unlikely to add a superstar outfielder or designated hitter. However, adding an infielder could do wonders for the offense if that infielder were Luis Arraez.
Luckily for the Yankees, the San Francisco Giants will be sellers at the deadline, and Arraez is a rental they could look to deal away. He is hitting .326 with an .811 OPS on the year. He has improved his slugging while maintaining a high average. Not to mention, he is having an elite year defensively at second base. Defense was always seen as a downside for Arraez, but that is not the case this year.
How would Arraez fit in on the Yankees? Well, for starters, he would slot in at second base. That would allow the Yankees to move Chisholm to third base or shortstop, getting rid of either Volpe or McMahon as a regular. McMahon has already started to lose at-bats, so perhaps it's time the Yankees make a permanent change.
Looking for the perfect gift for a baseball player in your life? Check out our brand new baseball lifestyle brand!

#stanton #volpe #offense

The Las Vegas Raiders are set to start training camp within the next month, and as they gear up for an interesting 2026 season, a few players and/or position groups can really make or break the season. The Raiders added a plethora of talent over the last off-season, with the Raiders likely to only return starters at left & right tackle, tight end, runningback, and one wide receiver on offense. Defensively, they likely return 3 starers on the defensive line, one at safety, one at corner, and none at linebacker. Needless, to say the Raiders are turning over the roster with talent, and for a roster that has been void of young talent in previous years, that was crucial. Additionally, they see three or four of their special teams playmakers likely change hands with Daniel Carlson and Jacob Bobenmoyer out, while new kick and punt returners should take the helm as well.
I already broke down the defense, and that article may be live when you are reading this, and if not it will be soon. I've also already broke down the offense.
The Raiders parted ways with Daniel Carlson after 8 seasons, and Carlson saw his FG rate fall steadily since 2020 going from 94.3% to 81.5% in 2025. Additionally, his abilities to hit from 50+ also fell down the board competing just 5 of 8 in 2025 after 8 of 11 in 2024, and 11 of 13 in 2022. The Raiders bring in two options, with veteran Matt Gay looking to rebound his career under DeCamillis, and rookie Kansei Matsuzawa dubbed the "Tokyo Toe, and Special-K". Gay converted 17 of his 23 attempts (74%) in 2025 though he was 4/4 in 2 games with the 49ers. He's struggled to regain his form from 2021-2022 where he 2as a Pro Bowler converting 60/64 field goals including 12/14 from 50+. Those two seasons came under new Raiders special teams coordinator, Joe DeCamillis.

As for Matsuzawa, the 2025 consensus All-American went 39/45 in his Hawaii career and another 72/72 on his PAT's. Matsuzawa is relatively new to kicking, having only done so for 5 years now, and he's not been tested from 50+ routinely which will be a big test in the NFL. Matsuzawa has the leg, and he's shown elite accuracy, but also kicking in the NFL comes with it's own challenges. The Raiders have seen their ability, and confidence, to hit field goals dip the last two seasons which has impacted not just their scores, record, but also playcalling. Las Vegas needs to be consistent at kicker to help ease pressure on the offense, and open up Klint Kubiak's playbook.
Dareke Young comes to Las Vegas following Klint Kubiak, and there's a plethora of jobs for him to take on in Las Vegas. The 6'2, 230 receiver has just 72 receiving yards in his career, but he may have a chance to take the "X" role for Klint Kubiak if he can stay consistent which has a chance to lead to 400-600 yards. Additionally, Young's best impact comes on special teams. He's been a proven gunner with a career 24 tackles and 3 FF including 2 FR, and 4 tackles in the playoffs. Young can provide as a kick

After a dominant run through the East Zone Tournament, the Hagerstown PONY-13 All-Stars will fly to California to play in the PONY-13 World Series in Carlsbad starting Friday, July 31.
"I don't think it will set in completely until they get out to California and see the Dominican Republic, ****** an, France, Mexico," said manager Jeff Mills. "When they start seeing these guys they get to play against, it's going to kind of hit them. But I don't think these boys will get nervous."
Hagerstown outscored its opponents by a combined 39-8 in the East Zone. Hagerstown broke a 4-4 tie with a pair of runs in the sixth inning of a 7-4 win over Athletix in the opener, then blew open its other two games with 10-run innings while defeating the Ohio Prospects 16-1 and Athletix 16-3 in the ****** le game.
"They played great the whole weekend," Mills said. "They're very mature for their age. They never got down at any point in the tournament, just stayed strong. The pitchers threw great. ****** ody had a really rough outing. Defensively, there were only two or three errors. They're solid the whole way around.
"When they put up 10 runs on Ohio, that was a big confidence boost because at that point they knew they'd have to get beat twice in the championship round. Then they put up 10 again."

#zone

Borussia Mönchengladbach's pre-season plans have taken an immediate hit. Newly signed right-back Yukhym Konoplya is set to miss the start of the Bundesliga season after suffering an inner ligament tear in his knee during his unofficial debut for the Foals.
The 26-year-old Ukrainian international arrived at Gladbach from Shakhtar Donetsk for a reported fee between €3.5m and €4.5m. Bringing valuable Champions League and Europa League experience to the Lower Rhine, Konoplya was brought in to finally solve Gladbach's long-standing issues on the right flank. Known for his dynamic overlapping runs, sharp crossing, and relentless work rate, he was also expected to apply direct pressure on inconsistent starter Joe Scally and the more defensively minded Stefan Lainer.
However, his start in Borussia colors turned into a nightmare. Brought on during a pre-season friendly against third-division side Rot-Weiss Essen to gather his first minutes, Konoplya was forced off after just a few minutes following an awkward movement with no opponent contact. While initial fears of a complete ligament rupture were ruled out after detailed examinations by the club's medical staff, the diagnosed partial tear will keep him sidelined for several weeks—ruling him out of both the DFB-Pokal opening round and the Bundesliga kickoff.
For manager Gerardo Seoane, the timing is a massive blow. Instead of hitting the ground running with a proven international on the right side, Gladbach must now reshape their backline for the opening weeks of the campaign while hoping Konoplya's recovery stays on track.
GGFN | Dennis Brinkmann

#gladbach #league

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Dodgers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Even great teams have room for improvement, and for the Dodgers in 2026, one of those paths is in the acquisition of a catcher. Will Smith has been out since early June with neck inflammation, and updates on his condition have put into question if and when the veteran might be back. We asked the fans if the Dodgers should proceed with the current depth chart believing in Smith's return or plan for the worst while they still can.
All in all, with the resources that this team possesses and the lack of holes to fill, to look for a catching addition feels like a given. Perhaps more than what we may see with the bat, the Dodgers ought to look at adding a steady presence, a catcher who can be relied on to not only do his job but also excel behind the plate defensively.
What adds layers to this debate is that for a team on the market for a catcher, there are legit game-changing options to at least call about. Although none of them are explicitly on the block, controllable beyond just this current campaign, Hunter Goodman, Shea Langeliers, and Adley Rutschman each could be seen within reason as trade candidates. Acquiring any of them, though, would inevitably back the Dodgers into a corner down the line since Smith is going nowhere long-term.
Perhaps in Minnesota, the Dodgers might find targets that are more their speed in Ryan Jeffers or Victor Caratini. Quietly, one of the better-hitting catchers in the AL over the last four seasons, Jeffers has been phenomenal with a .933 OPS in a short sample (44 games) due to missed time this year. With Caratini, who is under contract through next season at a reasonable rate, the Dodgers would be getting stability above all else, adding a player perfectly willing to fade into a backup role down the line. Caratini might even provide Rushing insurance if the youngster hits his way into staying on as a starter in the playoffs.

#Dodgers #fans #smith #jeffers

As one of the least likely superstars in NBA history, Nikola Jokić has transformed from an overlooked second-round pick into one of the greatest players the game has ever seen. In just over a decade, Jokić has achieved three MVP awards, an NBA championship, a Finals MVP, eight All-Star and eight All-NBA appearances in just 11 seasons.
Although Jokić reached his prime after the NBA unveiled its 75th Anniversary Team, when the league celebrates its 100th anniversary, his name will undoubtedly be among the most prominent on the list. Jokić still has many years ahead of him to continue building his legacy. For now, here is where he currently ranks among the NBA's all-time greats.
To provide a baseline for Jokić's all-time standing, this evaluation will use ESPN's 2022 ranking of the players selected to the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team. Although Jokić was already one of the league's best players at the time, his resume has grown significantly since those rankings were released.
Giannis Antetokounmpo provides a good starting point for this ranking, as ESPN placed him at the No. 18 spot. Since that ranking was released, Antetokounmpo has continued to add to his resume. However, Jokić's past several seasons have allowed him to move ahead of Giannis on the all-time list, as injuries have played a major role in Jokić surpassing him.
Although Antetokounmpo holds a significant advantage defensively, resulting in a Defensive Player of the Year award and multiple All-Defensive selections, Jokić's one-of-a-kind offensive dominance and individual accomplishments edge him in front for the time being.

#joki #anniversary #players #defensive

Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables has long been viewed as one of the brightest defensive minds in college football. Since taking over in Norman, Venables has had to find the right balance between overseeing the entire program and continuing to lead the defense he built his reputation on.
When Venables first took over as head coach, Ted Roof called the plays defensively. It has been rumored that Venables took over play calling in Year 2, but nothing has been confirmed on that front. Then in Year 3, he hired Zac Alley to call the defense. Alley left after one season to become the defensive coordinator for the West Virginia Mountaineers. So, Venables returned to calling the defense. It might not be a coincidence that the two seasons Venables allegedly called the defense, Oklahoma went 10-3 both years, whereas the two years he didn't, the team went 6-7 both years.
Venables' ability to balance his responsibilities as a head coach while still leading the defense has earned respect throughout the SEC, including from Ole Miss Rebels head coach Pete Golding. He faced a similar transition after serving as Ole Miss' defensive coordinator before being promoted to head coach following the regular season. During SEC media days, Golding revealed that Venables was the first person he reached out to for advice on managing both roles.
"He was my first phone call," Golding said via OU Nightly. "There's so much respect for him and the job that he's done… I knew that he had been through it. Didn't do it in Year 1 and did it in Year 2. Brought in the protege and didn't do it in Year 3... He's like, 'look, man, ******* ody's going to call it like you. It's your system. You've done a great job.'"
Venables has spent his career building elite defenses, and Oklahoma's recent success has shown the value of his direct involvement. While balancing play calling with being a head coach is a difficult challenge, Venables has found a way to make it work.

#defense #didn 't

No Championship head coach will have his side where they want them to be at this stage of pre-season, according to Bolton Wanderers boss Steven Schumacher.
The Trotters are preparing for their return to the Championship after beating Stockport County in the League One play-off final in May.
They beat Oldham Athletic 3-1 in their second pre-season friendly on Wednesday night having returned from a training camp in Slovakia last week.
"I don't think there's any team or manager standing here now saying they're exactly where they want to be," Schumacher told BBC Radio Manchester.
"We're still a long way physically from where we need to get to, tactically we still need to work on a few things. Defensively we've looked solid enough, really well organised and the attitude to defend has been really good."

#really #bolton