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Astros’ Carlos Correa proving he can still be one of MLB’s best players – Sportsnet.ca

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One loss from elimination, it’s fair to say the Houston Astros‘ 2020 run hasn’t done much for baseball.

Houston validated concerns about the new playoff format by sneaking in with a losing record, dispatched two likeable teams looking to break playoff slumps, and has laid an egg so far in the ALCS. Throughout all of that, no one outside the 281 area code cared to see them succeed — or see them at all. Despite all that, their journey to this point has been an enormous positive for one person in particular: Carlos Correa.

Correa turned 26 less than a month ago, but his career has already taken a remarkable winding trajectory. Since he was drafted first overall in 2012, there have been a number of moments when it seemed clear what he was going to be, but eight years later he’s a player whose career could still veer in countless directions.

Watch Game 4 of Rays vs. Astros in the ALCS on Sportsnet, Sportsnet One & SN Now at 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT.

Because you could fill a book with the twists and turns of Correa’s MLB career, it’s not worth a full rehashing, but here’s a little year-by-year recap, starting with his arrival in 2015:

2015: At 20 years old, Correa exploded. He shot to No. 3 on the MLB Pipeline pre-season Top 100 prospect list and breezed through double-A and triple-A in just 57 games. The shortstop won Rookie of the Year despite debuting on June 8 and hit .279/.345/.510, racking up 3.4 WAR. The annual FanGraphs Trade Value column came out on July 17 and pegged him as the fifth most valuable asset in baseball, despite the fact he’d played in the majors for less than a month.

2016: Correa showed his rookie season was no fluke with a full campaign where his offence remained steady, but his defence and baserunning improved. He put up 5.2 WAR — which is his career high to this day, despite feeling like a launching pad to bigger things at the time. FanGraphs had him up to second on the trade value list.

2017: Although he missed significant time with a torn ligament in his thumb, this season is the shortstop’s magnum opus. In 109 games, his offence reached a new level, and he slashed .315/.391/.550. Considering his age (he turns 23 during the season) it seemed inevitable that there were further levels to reach. Correa dethroned Mike Trout for first in the trade value rankings (although Trout’s contract plays a role) and helped drive the Astros’ World Series run.

2018: This is where things took a turn. Correa hit just .239/.305/.432, which was just about league-average at the time. He missed some time with a back injury, and finished the season with 1.6 WAR. FanGraphs wasn’t concerned, and had him at number five on the trade value list between Mike Trout and Mookie Betts.

2019: Correa bounced back offensively, but in only 75 games because of a neck injury and a rib fracture. He started to have the “injury-prone” label attached to him. The shortstop tumbled to 45th on the trade value list.

2020: At this point, Correa hadn’t played a full season since 2016, and the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal brought literally all of his accomplishments to date into question. Everyone knows he’s always been a great talent, but it’s hard to say how much he was helped. Correa didn’t help his case during the regular season. For the first time in his career, his offensive output was below average, as he hit 264/.326/.383. His Statcast numbers don’t suggest his production was underselling the way he hit the ball.

Suffice it to say, he’s not one of the top-50 trade assets in the game.

That’s a lot to catch up on, but the context is important with Correa. Without it, we’d understand what he’s doing right now as a talented, well-known, player having a hot October. What we’re actually seeing is one of the fallen stars of the sport re-ascend.

It’s not hyperbole to say Correa has been the most dangerous hitter in these playoffs. The shortstop has a ridiculous .400/.526/.900 line and — unsurprisingly — the highest OPS of any player remaining. In nine games he’s matched his home run total from the entire regular season with five. He’s also walked eight times against just five strikeouts following a season where his BB/K sat at a career-worst 0.33.

For his long-term prospects, more important than his small-sample stats is the fact he’s crushing the ball once again. Correa has put 25 balls in play in the playoffs and averaged an exit velocity of 94.7 mph — a number he never touched in any 25-BIP stretch during the regular season.

Even more impressively, he’s managed an Expected Batting Average of .520 on the balls he has hit — which works out to a total EBA of .433 when you include his strikeouts. Not many guys can say they’ve hit .400 over a nine-game span and been unlucky — but it’s hard to know how else to describe being robbed by Kevin Kiermaier like Correa was in Game 3.

Similarly, Correa never managed these heights during the regular season. His highest Expected Batting Average over a 25-plate-appearance span was .380.

He hasn’t matched what he’s doing now since late April in 2018. The version of Correa we’re currently seeing would’ve ranked third in the majors in average exit velocity and second in hard-hit rate during the regular season.

Correa has also done an impressive job handling the velocity that’s come his way in the playoffs. In his regular-season career, only one of his 107 home runs has come on a fastball 96 m.p.h. or faster. In these playoffs alone he’s hit two, including an impressive shot off a well-located 98-m.p.h. Pete Fairbanks heater at the top of the zone.

While it’s always worth questioning what we see in a nine-game sample, what Correa is doing shows us the heights he’s still capable of reaching — against the best pitching in the world, no less. Coming into these playoffs, it wouldn’t have been unreasonable to say that injuries had sapped Correa of his superstar qualities, and some of the gaudy numbers he’d produced in the past deserved a heaping grain of salt thanks to the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal.

It’s too early to say that he’s back to being the kind of player who can be a franchise centrepiece again. Predicting what he will do in 2021 is a tall task, but in recent days he’s shown us what he can do. There’s no two ways about it, Correa still has the capacity to be one of the best players in the sport.

That’s a statement that would’ve sounded like a hot take a couple of weeks ago. Now it’s a fact.

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Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

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November 8, 2024

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LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.

“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”

Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.

The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.

Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.

“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.

“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”

The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.

“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”

Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.

“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.

___

AP cricket:

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Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

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November 8, 2024

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.

Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.

The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.

The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.

Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.

Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

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November 8, 2024

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Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.

The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.

Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.

There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.

Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.

But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.

The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”

The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.

Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.

Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.

Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.

“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”

“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.

Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.

Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.

The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.

Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.

Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.

Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).

Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).

Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).

—

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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