---

Bar Chat

05/13/2024

Rory...Rory...Rory!

Add-on posted early Tuesday a.m.

Stanley Cup Playoffs

--Could the New York Rangers close out the Carolina Hurricanes at Madison Square Garden Monday night?

No!!! Drat!!!  The Rangers were listless and could not have sucked more, taking a 1-0 lead into the third period, and then giving up three goals, and an empty netter, 4-1 Hurricanes to make the series 3-2.  Game 6 in Raleigh Thursday.

There are very real, legitimate fears the Rangers could choke this series away.

--Sunday night after I posted, the Florida Panthers took a 3-1 series lead over the Bruins in Boston.  The Panthers were down 2-0 in the opening period, but at 3:41 of the third, Florida’s Sam Bennett scored to tie the game at 2.

The goal was challenged by Boston, who claimed Bennett had cross-checked Bruins forward Charlie Coyle into goalie Jeremy Swayman before scoring into an open net.

But both the on-ice officials and the officials in the NHL Situation Room ruled there was no goaltender interference on the play, specifically, “that the shove by (Bennett on Coyle) and the subsequent contact with Jeremy Swayman did not prevent Swayman from playing his position in the crease prior to Bennett’s goal.”

Aleksander Barkov scored about 4 minutes later and the Panthers held on the rest of the way.

But under Rule 69.1 of the NHL rulebook, it was a penalty on Bennett and the goal should have been disallowed.

Game 5 back down in Sunrise, Florida, Tuesday night.

--The Canucks took a 2-1 lead in the series with the Oilers in Edmonton Sunday night, winning 4-3.  Game 4 in Edmonton Tuesday.

--Last night, Dallas took a 3-1 series lead over Colorado, beating the Avalanche in Denver, 5-1.

NBA Playoffs

--Sunday night, the Nuggets evened their series with the Timberwolves in Minneapolis at 2-2 with a 115-107 win, despite Anthony Edwards’ 44 for the Wolves, Edwards receiving little support.

Nikola Jokic, dissed after winning his third MVP Award because Minnesota had man-handled Denver in the first two games of the series, had 35 points in Game 4.

But he had terrific support from Aaron Gordon, 27 points on 11 of 12 shooting from the field.

Game 5 in Denver tonight. 

--Monday, Boston beat a depleted Cleveland squad, 109-102, for a 3-1 series lead.  The Cavs were without Donovan Mitchell (calf strain) and Jarrett Allen (ribs), and it really shouldn’t have been this close.

Game 5 Wednesday in Boston.

Oklahoma City evened their series with Dallas at 2-2, 100-96, behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 34.  Luka Doncic, playing with ankle and knee issues, was held to 18 points on 6 of 20 shooting, while Kyrie Irving had just nine points.

Game 5 Wednesday in OKC.

--As for the Knicks, how would they respond to being humiliated by the Pacers on Sunday, forever after called the “Mother’s Day Massacre,” 121-89?  [Stephen A. Smith coined the phrase, to give him his due, calling it this at halftime.]

Well, it’s going to be all about Jalen Brunson and the health of his sore foot tonight, and just as importantly, will OG Anunoby be available?

As I go to post, negative on OG...out.  And Mitchell Robinson is officially out for the playoffs, even if the Knicks were to make the finals.  He had another procedure on his left ankle, Monday.

--Bronny James is staying in the NBA Draft after being medically cleared, The Athletic reported Monday.  He’ll be at the NBA’s pre-draft combine this week.

James is slated to be a late second-round pick, as things stand, and while you and I might wonder about this, it’s all about LeBron and possibly gaining an edge on recruiting him.

James holds a $51.4 million team option with the Lakers, and L.A. could take Bronny in the hopes of convincing James to stay, but anyone could take Bronny.

For his part, LeBron and his agent have downplayed how Bronny will affect Dad’s plans.

MLB Bits

--What a dramatic win for the Mets Sunday night.  Brandon Nimmo had been held out of the game due to an oblique issue that popped up Saturday, but as the game progressed, Nimmo convinced manager Carlos Mendoza he could play.  He then entered the game in the seventh as a pinch-runner for DJ Stewart, made a terrific catch in left field in the eighth to help the Mets stay close, Atlanta up 3-2, and then in the bottom of the ninth, after Jeff McNeil’s drag bunt single, Nimmo blasted a 2-run, game-winning homer off A.J. Minter, so the Mets avoided a sweep.

Monday night, the Mets then started a 4-game series against the Phillies at Citi Field.  They had momentum from Sunday night, right?

Well, for eight innings they did, Mets up 4-2, turning the game over to closer Edwin Diaz in the ninth.

And Diaz blew it, Mets losing 5-4 in 10, hitting Alec Bohm on an 0-2 pitch with the bases loaded, after having yielded a lead-off home run.  Inexcusable, and depressing.  Coupled with the Rangers’ loss, your editor didn’t sleep well.

Philadelphia is 29-13, the Metsies 19-21.

--The Braves (25-13) shut out the Cubs (24-18) last night 2-0, but Chicago’s Shota Imanaga threw five scoreless innings to lower his ERA to 0.96.

--Shohei Ohtani was back in the lineup for the Dodgers Monday night, going 2-for-5 with an RBI as L.A. (28-15) defeated the Giants (19-24) 6-4.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto allowed four earned in 5 2/3 for the Dodgers and had a no-decision.

--I have to go back to Sunday and Kansas City’s Seth Lugo.  For years with the Mets, Lugo wanted to be a starter, but the organization looked at his balky elbow and kept him largely in the pen, where he was highly effective in middle relief, often going 2 or 3 innings, while also being able to close a game or two.

Lugo then signed a one-year free agent deal with San Diego for 2023, started 26 times, and was 8-7, 3.57 ERA.  The 34-year-old then signed a 3-year, $45 million contract with the Royals this past offseason.

Sunday, he pitched 8 innings, one run, 12 strikeouts, K.C. beating the Angels 4-2, and Seth Lugo is 6-1, 1.66.  Good for him.

College Baseball

Baseball America Top Ten (a/o Sunday’s play)

1. Tennessee
2. Kentucky
3. Arkansas
4. North Carolina
5. Texas A&M
6. Georgia
7. Wake Forest! ...up from 15
8. Oregon State
9. NC State
10. Clemson
11. Florida State
13. Duke
14. Virginia

The Deacs have another huge series this weekend to close out the ACC regular season, traveling to Raleigh to play NC State.  If Chase Burns wins the opener, 2 of 3 then possible.  If he doesn’t, could be a long weekend for us.

But win 2 of 3 and we are suddenly well-positioned for a critical Top 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Golf Balls / PGA Championship

--This is going to be an interesting week at the PGA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky, Valhalla Golf Club.

Rory McIlroy will be a heavy favorite (along with Scottie Scheffler) after his win this weekend at the Wells Fargo, and in how he did so.  Rory also won the PGA Championship at Valhalla in 2014, the last of his four major titles, and the last time the event was held here.

Rory’s winless streak in the majors since stands at 37.

But this event doesn’t lack for other story lines.  Tiger Woods was at Valhalla Sunday, practicing.  It is startling to think it was here in 2000 that Tiger defeated Bob May in a three-hole playoff.

Tiger was on his way to completing the ‘Tiger Slam,’ having earlier that season won the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach by 15 shots, and then The Open at St. Andrews by eight.  He then won the 2001 Masters.

But it was the veteran May that proved to be the sternest test. I remember it vividly.  But where the hell did those 24 years go?!

Meanwhile, this week we have a slew of LIV golfers in the event. 

NASCAR

Brad Keselowski snapped a 110-race winless streak Sunday at Darlington Raceway, scoring his first NASCAR Cup Series victory in three years, win No. 36 for his career.  It was also manufacturer Ford’s first win of 2024.

Preakness Stakes

They drew the post positions Monday for Saturday’s second leg of the Triple Crown, and Derby winner Mystik Dan is No. 5, the early 5-2 second choice in the nine-horse field.  Bob Baffert’s Muth is the No. 4 post and opened at 8-5.  Baffert’s Imagination, No. 9, is 6-1.

Stuff

--The Lions gave quarterback Jared Goff a four-year contract extension worth up to $212 million with $170 million guaranteed, ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported.

Goff, 29, was going to be a free agent after the upcoming season.

--Speaking of the upcoming season, Kansas City and Baltimore open things up.  The rest of the schedule is revealed Thursday.

Next Bar Chat Sunday p.m., after the PGA Championship wraps up, weather permitting.  The early forecast for the Louisville area looks OK, except there will be serious issues finishing up the second round by early Sat. a.m. due to storms in the area Friday. 

-----

[Posted Sunday p.m., prior to late playoff action.]

Brief Add-on up top by noon, Tuesday.

NBA Quiz: Short-term memory quiz.  With Nikola Jokic winning his third MVP award, name the other eight to win it at least three times.  Answer below.

What a stretch for New York Knicks and Rangers fans.

Sun. Rangers beat Carolina at the Garden
Mon. Knicks beat Pacers at the Garden
Tues. Rangers beat Carolina at the Garden
Wed. Knicks beat Pacers at the Garden

Four straight wins at the rockin’ Garden. It doesn’t get any better than that, nor for MSG ownership and shareholders.

Thurs. Rangers beat Carolina in Raleigh
Fri. Knicks lost to the Pacers in Indy
Sat. Rangers lost to Carolina in Raleigh
Sun. Knicks lost to the Pacers in Indy

NBA Playoffs

--Wednesday, the Knicks took a 2-0 series lead over the Pacers with a 130-121 win at the Garden.  Jalen Brunson had 29 on his sore foot, while Donte DiVincenzo had 28, hitting six 3-pointers, and OG Anunoby had 28 in 28 minutes.

Josh Hart was all over the place, as usual, with 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists.

But OG left with a strained hamstring and he was questionable for Friday’s game in Indianapolis, while Brunson was expected to play.

The Knicks are already without Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson* and Bojan Bogdanovic.

*It was announced Tuesday that Robinson sustained a stress injury to his left ankle earlier in the playoffs and he was likely out for the duration, with a very slight chance he could return at some point if the Knicks made the Finals.

Indiana coach Rick Carlisle bitched up a storm after Game 2, saying the Pacers were getting screwed on calls because the league wanted the big-market Knicks to prevail.

In Game 1, the Pacers were called for 22 fouls, the Knicks 19.  In Game 2, the Pacers had 17 fouls, the Knicks 14.

There are tough calls made down the stretch of every game, and fans can whine about it, but the facts were Indiana allowed the Knicks to shoot 65% in the second half of Game 1 as they lost a lead, and New York shot 67% in the third quarter of Game 2 to flip the script, outscoring Indiana 36-18 as Brunson returned from his foot issue.

Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, who scored 34 points in Game 2 after an invisible performance in Game 1, said after Game 2: “Let’s not pretend like (officiating) is the only reason we lost.  We just didn’t play good enough. We just got to be better.”

--Thursday, the Cavaliers shocked the Celtics 118-94 in Boston to even their series at 1-1, hitting 13 of 28 from 3 to the Celts’ 8 of 35, while outrebounding Boston 44-31.

Donovan Mitchell scored 23 of his 29 points in the second half, including making 5 of 6 from 3 over the final two quarters.

Dallas evened its series with Oklahoma City, 1-1, with a 119-110 win in OKC, Luka Doncic with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists. 

But the real story was the Mavs’ P.J. Washington, who had a playoff career high of 29 points, 7 of 11 from 3, and 11 rebounds. Tim Hardaway Jr. also was big, 17 points in 19 minutes off the bench.

--Friday, we had another terrific Knicks-Pacers affair, this one in Indianapolis, the Pacers prevailing 111-106, as Andrew Nembhard buried a step-back contested 30-footer, a true ‘prayer,’ and it was answered, swishing through to give Indiana a 109-106 lead with 16.4 seconds remaining and the Knicks couldn’t answer, Jalen Brunson bricking his 3-point attempt to tie it.

Brunson was just 10 of 26 from the field and it was big that in the final 2:30, both Brunson and Josh Hart missed free throws.

It was a shame the Knicks wasted Donte DiVincenzo’s heroic 35 points, 7 of 11 from 3.  And to give Hart his due, he had 18 rebounds!  Six-foot-four...18 boards.  No one ‘wants it’ in the game more than Josh Hart.

For Indy, Tyrese Halliburton was outstanding, particularly in the first half, 35 points overall. And Pascal Siakam was more like his normal self (which is worrisome for Knicks fans) with 26 on 9 of 14 from the field.

The Knicks were without OG Anunoby and it was announced after that he’s out for Game 4 as well.  You never know with a hamstring injury what the recovery timeline is.

--Denver’s Nikola Jokic picked up his third NBA MVP award last Wednesday, becoming the ninth player in league history and the first international player to win the award at least three times.

Jokic beat out OKC guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic.  He had previously won in 2021 and 2022.  Last season Jokic finished second to Joel Embiid.  [Jalen Brunson finished fifth in the voting, Giannis fourth.]

But as he headed into Friday’s game in Minneapolis, Jokic was facing some criticism, even as he led Denver to the championship last year.  After all, he got his ass kicked by the Timberwolves in Games 1 and 2.

Alas, Jokic and his team came through in Game 3, 117-90, the Nuggets hitting 14 of 29 from 3, Jokic with 24 points, 14 rebounds, and 9 assists, while bad-boy Jamal Murray had 24.

Denver’s defense held the Ant Man, Anthony Edwards, to just 19 points and Karl-Anthony Towns to 14.

Rudy Gobert, who it was announced earlier in the week was Defensive Player of the Year for a fourth time, returned to the Wolves after being out a game for the birth of his son, but it didn’t matter.

--Saturday, the Mavs beat the Thunder again, 105-101, back in Dallas to take a 2-1 lead in the series. P.J. Washington had another huge game, 27 points, five 3s, while Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic each had 22, Doncic also with 15 rebounds.

Doncic, playing with right knee and left ankle issues, fell hard on his back late in the game going for a loose ball, but he prevailed.

Also last night, the Celtics regained their mojo, beating the Cavaliers in Cleveland, 106-93, Boston up 2-1.

Donovan Mitchell had 33 for the Cavs, 7 of 12 from 3, but the rest of the team was just 5 of 24 from beyond the arc.  Jason Tatum had 33 points and 13 rebounds for the Celts.

--Today, Sunday, Game 4 in Indianapolis...and the Pacers blitzkrieged the Knickerbockers, 34-14 in the first period, New York 6 of 23, 1 of 8 from 3, Jalen Brunson one point; Indiana 14 of 23 from the field.  I felt, as a fan, OK, sit Brunson down, get him treatment on all that ails him, and prepare for Game 5.

It was 69-41 at the half, Knicks 2 of 13 from 3. The only positive was that Alec Burks had 11 points and with all of the Knicks’ injuries, they will need this veteran, who has been buried on the bench (he hasn’t played well), to contribute in Game 5 and beyond.  He’s capable of doing that.

And then at 94-60 in the third, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau waved the white flag, removing Brunson, and then everyone else.  Final score...121-89.

Just regroup, boys.  [I was long focused on golf after the first half.]

--Phoenix fired head coach Frank Vogel after one season that started with championship expectations – but ended with a first-round exit by way of a sweep.

Finishing 49-33 in Vogel’s first season to land the sixth seed in the Western Conference playoffs, the Suns were the first team eliminated from the playoffs as the third-seeded Timberwolves swept them.

Vogel signed a five-year, $31 million deal with the Suns last summer.

Phoenix then reached agreement on a five-year deal with former Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer.  He is now tasked with molding a championship squad that starts with a huge payroll, namely for Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.

Budenholzer, a two-time NBA Coach of the Year, coached the Bucks to an NBA championship in 2021, but was not retained after his fifth season in 2022-23, which saw the top-seeded Bucks lose to the Heat in the first round of the playoffs.  He’s known for his defensive acumen.

--The Atlanta Hawks, with a 3% chance to win the NBA draft lottery, did just that for the first time in franchise history.  This year’s draft sucks.  Good luck.

Washington was second, Houston third and San Antonio fourth.  Detroit, who had the worst record, only got fifth.

--In College Hoops, St. John’s coach Rick Pitino completed his bid for an All-Star caliber backcourt, nabbing Seton Hall transfer Kadary Richmond, to go along with Utah guard Deison Smith.

I don’t like the portal, but it is what it is, and if you want to be a fan you deal with it.  It’s great that Pitino pulled this off and just makes things more fun around here (see us Knicks and Rangers fans right now).

As the New York Post put it, getting Richmond was a “seismic addition.”  He averaged career-bests of 15.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.2 steals.  His shooting can be erratic, but he’s a classic scorer.

--Former Illinois star Terrance Shannon Jr., expected to be a top selection in the upcoming NBA Draft (at least a first rounder), will now stand trial on first-degree felony rape and felony sexual aggravated battery charges on June 10, a Kansas judge ruled in a preliminary hearing on Friday.

Shannon was arraigned Friday and pleaded not guilty.  A woman accused Shannon of sexually assaulting her in September, when Shannon was in Lawrence, Kansas, for an Illinois football game.

Shannon was then suspended indefinitely by the Illini before he was allowed to return to the team after he received a temporary restraining order from a federal judge.  After coming back Jan. 21, he led Illinois on a run that led to the Elite Eight.

A mock draft from ESPN I just looked at no longer has Shannon going in the first round.

Stanley Cup Playoffs

--Heading into Saturday night’s Game 4 in Raleigh, the Rangers had a 3-0 series lead over the Hurricanes, winning all three by one goal, the last two in overtime, 4-3, 4-3, and 3-2; Vincent Trocheck and Artemi Panarin with the game-winners in OT.

Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin has been superb and had run his consecutive playoff game streak of allowing 3 goals or fewer to 30, the league record 34 held by teammate Jonathan Quick when he was with the Kings.

We also had a cool story for the Rangers in Thursday’s 3-2 OT win...after a 188-day absence due to the fourth concussion of his career, Filip Chytil returned for New York, a gutsy move by coach Peter Laviolette, and Chytil provided a burst of energy.  The kid is so happy to be back and in great spirits after being in a very dark place for months.  There were serious concerns the 24-year-old, with immense potential, had played his last hockey. 

As for Carolina, the Hurricanes, despite their immense regular season success, winning the Metropolitan Division three consecutive seasons prior to this one, and this campaign falling just three points short of the Presidents Trophy-winning Rangers, nonetheless have failed to win a single game beyond the second round in six straight seasons of postseason play.  They were swept in the Eastern Conference finals in 2019 and 2023.  Their last eight postseason losses have also come by one goal, five in overtime, which is pretty amazing. 

As the Athletics’ Mark Lazerus puts it, Carolina just keeps coming up “Agonizingly short.  So short...that it feels like the hockey gods are just toying with them in their own cruel way.”

So would they avoid a sweep Saturday night?

The Hurricanes did.  After building a 3-1 first period lead, Carolina allowed the Rangers to get back in it and it was tied late, 3-3, before Brady Skjel’s power-play goal at the 16:49 mark gave the Hurricanes a 4-3 win, thus avoiding the sweep, while Igor Shesterkin’s streak of 3 goals or less in the playoffs ended at 30.

[Filip Chytil was held out due to an ‘illness,’ and it wasn’t reported if it was related to his concussion history.]

So Madison Square Garden gets another home game, Game 5 on Monday.

In the other Eastern Conference semifinal, Boston hosts Florida tonight in Game 4, the Panthers rather shockingly up 2-1.  Not that the Panthers, who finished a point ahead of Boston in the regular standings are a shock, but in the game results.  After Boston took Game 1 5-1, the Bruins have imploded, 6-1 and 6-2.  Yuck.  [Not exactly New York-Carolina.]

As for the Western Conference, I only care about Edmonton, I have to admit, who I want in the finals, hopefully against the Rangers.  The Oilers play the Canucks tonight in Edmonton, series tied 1-1.

Dallas took a 2-1 series lead over Colorado last night with a 4-1 win in Denver.

MLB

--The long-anticipated debut of the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft, Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes, was Saturday at PNC Park, facing the Cubs.

Skenes, 21, helped lead LSU to the College World Series championship and I have an affinity for the guy because I was there, and just think he’s the kind of budding star the sport needs, not that there aren’t already some terrific young stars in the game.

In his first full pro season, Skenes posted a 0.99 ERA in seven starts at AAA Indianapolis, striking out 45 in 27 innings.  He has a 100-mph fastball and his split-finger fastball averages nearly 95.  At LSU last season, he fanned 209 batters in 122 2/3.

So how did he do?

Skenes hit 102 mph with his fastball, striking out the first two batters he faced, and ended up going four innings, 3 runs, 6 hits, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts.  He was as advertised, pitching into the fifth*, before he was taken out after 84 pitches (17 over 100 mph).  Pirates fans gave him a standing ovation, one of many accorded the lad.

*The Cubs would score seven in the top of the 5th, six on bases-loaded walks.  Pittsburgh gave up 10 walks overall.

But the Pirates (18-22) ended up winning a wild one, 10-9, that included a long rain delay, despite the Pittsburgh staff’s lack of control.  The Bucs hit five home runs.

--The Yankees (26-14) continued to play solid ball, shutting out the Rays 2-0 down in Tampa on Friday night, Clarke Schmidt (4-1, 2.95) with 6 2/3 of scoreless ball.  Clay Holmes with his 12th save.

Holmes has now thrown 17 1/3 this season without allowing a run.

But the Rays rebounded Saturday, 7-2.

And then the Yanks (27-15) won today, 10-6, Aaron Judge with home run No. 10, catcher Jose Trevino with two homers, and starter Luis Gil with six scoreless, now 4-1, 2.51.

--The Mets were playing their nemesis, the Atlanta Braves, this weekend at Citi Field, and Friday night was typical of how this matchup has gone over the years, the Mets falling 4-2, as 40-year-old Charlie Morton improved to 3-0, 3.14, with 7 innings, one run.

The Mets on Saturday were then no-hit by Max Fried over seven innings, but he was removed for the eighth after throwing 109 pitches, a totally understandable move, Atlanta without Spencer Strider and not needing to lose another ace.

J.D. Martinez ended up breaking up a combined no-no with a 2-out home run in the bottom of the ninth off reliever Raisel Iglesias, the Mets losing 4-1, six hits total in the two games.

For New York, at least Mets fans had the home debut of promising starter Christian Scott, and he ended up with a quality start, six innings, 3 runs, 8 strikeouts.

The two play tonight.

I have to go back to Wednesday, and Chris Sale’s effort for Atlanta against his old team, Boston.

Sale threw six shutout innings, striking out 10, the Braves winning 5-0.  Sale is 5-1, 2.95.  I wish he wasn’t doing it for Atlanta, but good for him.

--Phillies hurler Ranger Suarez is headed towards an All-Star Game starter nod after he threw seven innings of shutout ball for Philadelphia on Friday in an 8-2 win over the Marlins (10-30).

Suarez is now a sterling 7-0, 1.50.  Philadelphia is a fantastic 27-12.

The Phillies made it 28-12, Saturday, with an 8-3 over Miami, Philadelphia the best team in baseball, .700 winning percentage.

But they lost Sunday, 7-6, as Zack Wheeler had a rare bad start, six runs in four innings.

--Going back to Ranger Suarez, he doesn’t have the best ERA in baseball this year.  The Cubs’ Shota Imanaga has that distinction at the quarter-mark...5-0, 1.08.

The poor man’s Yoshinobu Yamamoto (he of the 12-year, $325 million contract for the Dodgers this offseason), Imanaga signed for 4 years, $53 million.

Granted, Imanaga is 30, five years older than Yamamoto, and didn’t have the latter’s pedigree in Japan, but with what Yamamoto was asking for, many, including your editor, thought Imanaga was worth a shot.

The Mets, however, went all in for Yamamoto and lost out to L.A.

Yoshinobu is doing just fine himself.  4-1, 2.79.

--I brought up last week that we could have a terrific season-long story with Shohei Ohtani and extra-base hits and then the last few days, everyone else has seemed to catch on.

In Friday’s 2-1 Dodgers loss to the Padres in San Diego, Ohtani got his 15th double, giving him 27 XBH in L.A.’s first 40 games (11 homers and a triple).

Only 12 different players in the history of the sport have had 100 extra-base hits in a season, and many of these were in the live-ball era of the 1920s and 30s, and then the steroid years, five times in 2000 and 2001.

Prior to this, only Albert Belle (103 in 1994) and Stan Musial (103 in 1948), fall outside the eras described.

Babe Ruth holds the record with 119 in 1921.  Barry Bonds has the NL Record of 107, set in his 73-homer season of 2001.

So we’ll see where Ohtani is at the halfway mark.  Root for him. This would be way cool.

But as we all know, in the dog days of summer, triples become doubles, and doubles become singles as players begin to wear down a bit.

Speaking of Ohtani, his former interpreter pleaded guilty to federal charges he fraudulently wired nearly $17 million stolen from the athlete’s bank account to pay off his own gambling debts, court records showed on Wednesday.

The plea agreement has Ippei Mizuhara agreeing to plead guilty to one count of felony bank fraud and one count of subscribing to a false tax return.  A federal bank fraud conviction carries a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, while the tax offense is punishable by up to three years behind bars.  He is due to appear at a formal arraignment on May 14.

There is zero reason at this point for MLB to conduct its own extensive investigation.

Back on the field, Saturday, the Dodgers rebounded to shutout the Padres 5-0, as James Paxton moved to 5-0, 2.58, with six scoreless. 

But there will be some concern in L.A. because after going 0-for-3 with a walk, Ohtani was removed due to his back stiffening up.

And Ohtani was not in the lineup Sunday, but manager Dave Roberts said he expected him to be on Monday.

--In College Baseball, 15 Wake Forest hosted 4 Clemson* in a huge ACC matchup this weekend in Winston-Salem, and the Deacs took the first on Friday, 4-2, as the best pitcher in college ball this spring, Chase Burns, threw 7 innings, one run, 16 strikeouts to improve to 10-1, 2.85 ERA.

Burns now has 156 Ks in just 82 innings!  Goodness gracious.

*Baseball America rankings.  The two were No. 2 and No. 12 in D1Baseball.com poll.

But could the Deacs, who have zero pitching outside of Burns, split the next two?

Yes!  They won 8-5 on Saturday, Nick Kurtz with a home run, reaching base all five times.

And then the Deacs completed a massive sweep today, a walk-off 13-3 win in eight innings.  What was big here was No. 2 starter Josh Hartle, an All-American last year and preseason first-round draft selection who has sucked this season, pitched six innings, 3 runs, 9 strikeouts.  As I keep saying, we win nothing in the upcoming NCAA Tournament unless he performs.

So, the Deacs certainly will be hosting a regional, and now they have a shot at a top eight seed overall (which means they could get a super-regional should they win the regional).

NFL

--As the Washington Post reported, Commanders first-round draft pick Jayden Daniels “will be educated on the NFL’s sports gambling policy this week at the team’s minicamp...probably nixing the quarterback’s wager with the New York Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers.”

The two were teammates at LSU, but Nabers said on “The Pivot” podcast the night of the draft that he and Daniels bet $10,000 on who would win rookie of the year honors.

“Whoever lose got to pay I think it’s $10,000 cash,” Nabers said.

When Daniels was asked about the bet on Keyshawn Johnson’s podcast, Daniels said: “Man, he wasn’t supposed to tell nobody.”

Daniels confirmed the bet.

Nabers said Friday the bet was off after they learned the NFL’s policy.  Teams are first informed about the league’s gambling policy, which was updated last fall, at their teams’ rookie minicamps.  But the latest policy does not appear to have explicit language pertaining to private bets with friends and family.

Meanwhile, the two already wowed folks in their respective camps.

--We note the passing of Hall of Fame cornerback Jimmy Johnson. He was 86.

Johnson was a 5X Pro Bowler, 3X first-team All-Pro who picked off 47 passes in his career, all with the San Francisco 49ers, 1961-76.  He competed in 213 games – a franchise record until Jerry Rice broke it.  His 47 INTs was also a record until Ronnie Lott broke that mark.

Growing up we didn’t see many 49ers games (when we did Ray Scott was the announcer, I remember), and San Fran wasn’t that great during Johnson’s time, though they lost conference finals in 1970-71, John Brodie at quarterback, Dick Nolan coach.

What I did remember was Jimmy Johson was a lockdown cornerback.

Johnson also caught 40 passes as a flanker in 1962-63.

The 49ers selected him as one of their three first-round draft choices (sixth overall in 1961) after he starred at UCLA at wingback and defensive back, as well as being a track standout in hurdles and long jump.

His brother was none other than the great decathlete Rafer Johnson, who was his presenter at his brother’s Hall of Fame induction in 1994.

“Jimmy is a quiet man, but he played with determination and commitment,” Rafer said.  “Most of all, Jim was and is a gentle man and a true gentleman.”

Johnson was gritty.  He played half of 1971 with a broken wrist.

His No. 37 was retired in 1977 by the team.

Golf Balls

--At the Wells Fargo Championship, Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, NC, a signature event, it was all Xander Schauffele and Rory McIlroy on Saturday, the two pairing up for some outstanding golf on a very tough course, and these two are paired up again for today’s final round, a most compelling matchup.

Schauffele -12
McIlroy -11
Sungjae Im -8
Sepp Straka -7

So in the final round...the par-5 No. 7 was pivotal early, Schauffele with eagle, Rory par...

Schauffele -13
McIlroy -11

No one else in the conversation.

But Rory then birdied 8 and 9...the two tied at -13.

Rory then eagles No. 10, Xander birdies the par-5....

Rory -15
Xander -14

And then thru 13, it was....

Rory -16
Xander -12

Good Lord.  Rory -5 over six holes.  This is not an easy course.

Then Rory birdied No. 14...lead 5.  6-under over seven.

And then...holy shit...Rory eagles the par-5 15th out of a bunker! [Schauffele birdied it...lead six strokes.]

Rory wins by five!

Win No. 26...fourth at Quail Hollow.  Yes, he likes this course.

On to the PGA Championship at Valhalla.  And ya think Rory has some confidence that’s been lacking?!

Here’s a little factoid you won’t find at this time of day anywhere else...Xander now has 23 2nds and 3rds, to go along with his 7 wins.

Rory has 21.  Think about that.

--We had an alternate field event this week down in Myrtle Beach, The Myrtle Beach Classic at The Dunes Golf and Beach Club, an old, classic course for the area.

The event had just a $4 million purse, but it all counts, and in the end a Jersey Boy, Chris Gotterup, who played at Rutgers before transferring to Oklahoma, won it!

And....local Ryan McCormick finished T4, which will help get him into an event or two down the stretch. Fantastic.

[My man Bill Haas missed another cut.   I wish I could talk to him.  I once had an old friend from Summit High School and Wake Forest tell me when I mentioned to him that I wanted to be on Bill Haas’ bag, “You don’t know anything about golf.”  As in I’m not good and wouldn’t understand his swing and all.  Yeah, but I know a lot about life. He still has a lot of talent.  He needs a cheerleader more than anything else right now.]

--The PGA Tour appointed Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott as player representatives for potential negotiations with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund as the two sides look to see if there’s an opportunity to work together inside the newly formed, for-profit PGA Tour Enterprises.

The news came amid drama surrounding McIlroy’s failed bid to return to the tour’s policy board.  It was previously reported that Woods would be the lone player on this team, but after his first round at the Wells Fargo, Rory told the assembled media he and Scott also would be involved in discussions.  The tour then sent out a press release confirming the news.

Joining the three on a “transaction committee” for PGA Tour Enterprises will be commissioner Jay Monahan, John Henry of Fenway Sports Group, board chairman Joe Gorder and former tour player Joe Ogilvie.

Webb Simpson was supposed to step down to allow Rory to slide in on the policy board, but Monahan said Webb will remain to fill out his term.

Rory appears to have faced pushback from Woods, Patrick Cantlay and Jordan Spieth in terms of returning to a board that he had dropped off of last year.

--Nelly Korda was going for consecutive win No. 6 at the Cognizant Founders Cup at nearby Upper Montclair Country Club.  Annika Sorenstam and Nancy Lopez are the only two others to win five straight starts.

So Korda stood four strokes back of Rose Zhang and Madelene Sagstrom after Friday’s second round, 69-66, -9, to Zhang’s and Sagstrom’s -13.

But then Korda fell apart on Saturday, 73, and was eleven strokes back of leader Sagstrom (Zhang one back of her).

She ended up losing by 17.  Rose Zhang bagging it.

No record six straight for Nelly, though she remains just one of three to win five straight. 

--It’s interesting to get a comparison between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf in terms of ratings and last week, the Byron Nelson tournament drew a peak of 1.76 million, down 24% from last year, in Sunday’s final round, while LIV had a peak of 198,000 for its event in Singapore.

Premier League

All about Manchester City and Arsenal...and relegation...with just a few games left.

Saturday, City blasted Fulham 4-0.

Today, Arsenal took on Manchester United and scored at the 20’ mark and then held on, 1-0.

Played (of 38) – Points

Arsenal...37 – 86
City...36 – 85 ...but with the game in hand.

City has games remaining against Tottenham and West Ham, Arsenal plays Everton in its finale.

All the Premier League teams finish up next Sunday.

In the battle to avoid relegation, Tottenham defeated Burnley 2-1, with Burnley joining Sheffield in being relegated.  Luton Town is going to be the third, Nottingham surviving for another campaign at the top level.  [Luton can tie on points next Sunday but is hopelessly behind on goal differential.]

17. Nottingham...37 – 29
18. Luton...37 – 26
19. Burnley...37 – 24
20. Sheffield...37 – 16 ...just three wins all season...their fans have been drinking heavily for months...

Stuff

--Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan will run in next Saturday’s Preakness Stakes.  The horse resumed training last week at Churchill Downs, but prior to the Derby, Mystik Dan was known for not performing well after a short rest.

This could nonetheless be great, and the race won’t lack for drama as Bob Baffert returns with two top candidates, Muth and Imagination.  Baffert will be seeking his record-extending ninth victory in the race, securing his eighth last year with National Treasure.

--Legendary car owner and track executive Roger Penske suffered a black eye when he was forced to suspend the president of Team Penske along with three others for two races for their roles in a cheating scandal that rocked IndyCar ahead of the Indianapolis 500.

Penske said a review by his general counsel found that the team has no “malicious intent by anyone” and chalked up the incident as a breakdown in internal processes and miscommunication.

He also said he remains committed to reigning Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden and is actively trying to sign the two-time IndyCar champion to a contract extension.

Tim Cindric, who oversees all of Team Penske’s operations and is the strategist for Newgarden, is the top name to receive a two-race suspension.

The two-race suspensions cover this weekend’s event on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course (won by Alex Palau yesterday) and the Indy 500, which Penske is trying to win for a record-breaking 20th time, so it’s a big deal.

So what happened?  IndyCar discovered that all three Penske cars had an illegal software system installed that allowed the drivers to use the push-to-pass function on starts and restarts.  The system is controlled by IndyCar and disabled on starts and restarts, when the extra boost of horsepower is illegal.

IndyCar discovered it on the Penske cars in the morning warm-up at Long Beach when a glitch to the software knocked it out of all cars except the three Penske entries.  Newgarden admitted he used it to his advantage three times, more than the other two Penske drivers involved, Will Power (who never illegally used it) and Scott McLaughlin (who said he used it once).

IndyCar stripped Newgarden of his win at St. Petersburg and McLaughlin of his third-place finish.

Cindric said the software was inadvertently left on the cars since last August when it was installed to test IndyCar’s upcoming hybrid engine.

Newgarden maintains he thought there had been a rule change and the P2P system was now legal on restarts.  Now, he has to win back the credibility of his fellow drivers, which makes the Indy 500 all the more interesting.

--Swiss singer Nemo won the 68th Eurovision Song Contest, beating out Croatian rocker Baby Lasagna for the title in Malmo, Sweden, which was rocked by protests as the singer from Israel was in the running.  Also, hours before the final, Dutch competitor Joost Klein was expelled over a backstage altercation that was being investigated by police.

Top 3 songs for the week 5/12/84:  #1 “Hello” (Lionel Richie)  #2 “Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)” (Phil Collins)  #3 “Hold Me Now” (Thompson Twins)...and...#4 “Let’s Hear It For The Boy” (Deniece Williams)  #5 “Love Somebody” (Rick Springfield)  #6 “To All The Girls I’ve Loved Before” (Julio Iglesias & Willie Nelson)  #7 “You Might Think” (The Cars)  #8 “Footloose” (Kenny Loggins) #9 “Oh Sherrie” (Steve Perry)  #10 “Time After Time” (Cyndi Lauper...ugh...C- week...)

NBA Quiz Answer: The other eight to win at least three MVPs...Bill Russell (5X MVP, 11 NBA championships), Wilt Chamberlain (4X, 2 titles), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6X, 6 titles), Moses Malone (3X, 1 title), Larry Bird (3X, 3 titles), Magic Johnson (3X, 5 titles), Michael Jordan (5X, 6 titles), LeBron James (4X, 4 titles).

Very brief Add-on up top by noon, Tuesday.

 

---