Sports

What a relief: The Astros are finally finished – theScore

Published

4 years ago

October 18, 2020

In a year so uniquely and unrelentingly nightmarish, the Houston Astros were baseball’s logical champions.

Universally loathed. Unrepentant in the wake of their sign-stealing scandal, for which not a single active player was suspended or even fined. Mediocre on the field absent Justin Verlander, whom they lost to injury on Opening Day, and amid drop-offs from multiple key hitters. A playoff team only by virtue of this wacky season’s expanded postseason, which allowed multiple losing clubs – the Astros, being one – to vie for the World Series. Of course that team would win a ring in 2020, a year best summed up visually by the Michael Scott “Please God, no!” meme.

Thankfully, in this instance, at least, the worst outcome imaginable won’t come to pass.

On Saturday, the Astros’ remarkable playoff run came to an end. After sweeping the Minnesota Twins in the best-of-three wild-card round, then pummelling the Oakland Athletics in the best-of-five league division series, the Astros were finally bested by the Tampa Bay Rays, dropping Game 7 of the American League League Championship, 4-2, after improbably winning three straight to force the decisive contest. The Rays, who finished with the best record in the AL this year, will head to the World Series for the first time since 2008, while the Astros will now start gearing up for a potentially transformative offseason, in which several key cogs (namely George Springer and Michael Brantley) are eligible for free agency.

And even for the most evolved among us, it’s impossible not to feel at least a smidgen of joy over Houston’s defeat, no matter how much sympathy and admiration one might have for Dusty Baker, who was brought in to shepherd this disgraced flock – and imbue a bit of charm into a profoundly unlikeable team – after AJ Hinch was suspended (then fired) in January. Had the Astros showed even a modicum of remorse after being exposed at cheats, perhaps baseball and its fans wouldn’t be delighting in their loss and wouldn’t have so fervently rooted for it. Instead, though, the Astros opted for collective defiance, cementing themselves as pariahs and villains who everyone wanted to see fail.

“It’s all about silencing the haters,” outfielder Josh Reddick said ahead of the ALDS. “That’s what all this year was about.”

“I know a lot of people are mad,” shortstop Carlos Correa said days earlier. “I know a lot of people don’t want to see us here, but what are they going to say now?”

Well, now, they’re going to say this: You had to cheat your way to a championship in 2017, thereby tarnishing the most prosperous stretch in your franchise’s history, and your abortive 2020 season only proves that your past triumphs were illegitimate. That may or may not be true, of course, but they’re going to say it – and they’re going to say it loudly and repeatedly.

To their credit, the Astros played good baseball throughout the postseason (Jose Altuve’s defense excepted) and looked like a different team than they were during their truncated, 29-31 regular season. After struggling all season to generate offense at even close to the level they did in 2019, their star-studded lineup rebounded in October, upping their OPS and runs per game despite squaring off against three elite pitching staffs. The pitching staff improved on its regular-season numbers, too, shaving its collective ERA down by almost a full run even amid less-than-stellar contributions from every starter except Framber Valdez – a testament to both the Astros’ bullpen and Baker’s deft deployment of his arms.

They weren’t even definitively outplayed by the Rays, who nearly became just the second team ever to squander a 3-0 lead in the league championship series. In fact, in their seven games, none of which were decided by more than three runs, Houston markedly outhit the Rays, trumping them in all three slash-line constituents. The Astros struck out far less frequently and did a better job with runners in scoring position. And for as widely praised as the Rays’ assemblage of arms is, they allowed the exact same number of earned runs for the series as did Houston’s pitching staff while allowing considerably more baserunners. The margin of victory, in other words, was but a couple bounces. Had Tampa Bay’s defense not taken away so many base hits with its exceptional defense, or had Charlie Morton (who won a World Series with Houston in 2017, incidentally) been even the least bit off in Game 7, the Astros may well be on their way to yet another World Series. But, to almost universal delight, they’re not.

Watching a losing team win the World Series would’ve been anathema to baseball fans and a blow to the integrity of the title. But watching the Astros hoist the Commissioner’s Trophy, basking in the misplaced righteousness of their continued defiance, would’ve been downright tragic.

Fortunately, thanks to the Rays, that potential crisis has been averted.

Jonah Birenbaum is theScore’s senior MLB writer. He steams a good ham. You can find him on Twitter @birenball.

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Sports

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

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

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.

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AP cricket:

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

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

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

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

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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