⚾️ Key NFL Injuries, WNBA Playoffs, Tennessee's 'Talent Fee' + Some Fun Baseball Rules

Blitzers,

Happy hump day! We’re half way through the week and just days away from another big sports weekend. Make it through today and it’ll be smooth sailing. You got this!

WTF Stat: Do you remember those early 2000’s Reebok commercials that featured “Terry Tate: Office Linebacker”? The actor that played the role of Terry Tate is Lester Speight an actual All-American linebacker from Morgan State University. After college he dabbled in professional football briefly and reportedly ran a 40-yard dash in 4.3 seconds. Those commercials make a lot more sense when you realize the actor isn’t actually acting, that used to be him on the football field.

🏀 The New York Liberty secured the top seed in the WNBA playoffs with an 87-71 win over the Washington Mystics. With a record of 32-7, they are guaranteed the league's best record for the season. They will face the 8th seed in the playoffs, either Atlanta, Washington or Chicago. That spot will be determined the in the final game of the season which is tomorrow.

• 🔥 Take: In case you were wondering which 14-25 team would get in… The Dream need to either win or have both the Mystics and Sky lose to advance. The Mystics need a win and a loss by the Dream. The Sky needs a victory and losses by both the Dream and Mystics.

🏈 NFL Injury updates:

The Dolphins have placed QB Tua Tagovailoa on injured reserve after he suffered a concussion during a recent loss to the Bills. This is his third concussion in his NFL career. Tagovailoa will be sidelined for at least four games, though there is no set timeline for his return.

Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco suffered a fractured right fibula in their recent 26-25 win over the Bengals. He will be placed on injured reserve and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks. To fill the gap left by Pacheco, the Chiefs have brought back former RB Kareem Hunt, who they drafted in 2017.

The Colts have placed Pro Bowl DL DeForest Buckner on injured reserve due to an ankle injury. Buckner, who was initially thought to have suffered a sprain and was unlikely to play in Week 3 against the Chicago Bears, will now be sidelined for at least four games.

• 🔥 Take: More big losses in the NFL, with Tua’s injury likely having the biggest impact for any team. You have to think that the weapons that Miami has and the scheme they draw up, it has to be the best position for any quarterback to come into. Playing at Seattle in your first week isn’t going to be an easy game, but QB Skylar Thompson should have all the pieces around him to succeed.

🏈 The University of Tennessee is introducing a 10% "talent fee" on all ticket purchases starting in 2025 to help fund athlete payments as part of a new revenue-sharing plan. This fee, announced via email to football season-ticket holders, aims to support the university's efforts to remain competitive in college athletics. In addition to the fee, Tennessee will also increase football ticket prices by an average of 4.5%.

• 🔥Take: “In the most recent financial data available, the Tennessee football program turned a $75 million profit in 2023 -- after $134.9 million in revenue and $59.1 million in expenses.” Makes sense to me. Did you really think that the NCAA and universities, after taking advantage of college athletes for countless years, were going to turn around and pay them out of their own pockets? No chance. They’ll gladly pass that cost on to the average fan and market it as a “talent fee” instead of possibly cutting into the millions they’re making.

🎾 Billie Jean King is set to make history as the first individual female athlete to receive the Congressional Gold Medal. This honor follows bipartisan legislation that passed the House of Representatives and is awaiting President Joe Biden's signature after previously receiving unanimous approval in the Senate.

• 🔥Take: Congrats to Billie Jean King and all she’s done for women’s sports. The 80 year old King is still looking spry, I would not challenge her at the net.

Free Forum Wednesdays

Introducing Free Forum Wednesdays - on Wednesdays we’ll be writing a bit more outside the box, fun sports content, hope you enjoy it!

Today’s topic: 3 Ingenious MLB Baseball Rule Change Proposals

We’re in the midst of a pretty exciting baseball season but why not throw a wrench into things and come up with some new baseball rules for next year.  Hey, the time clock has worked out pretty well right?

1. Lineups Can Reset Each Time Through the Order

How it would work: No lineup card needs to be submitted all 9 batters must bat. But once those 9 batters have batted they can bat in any order each proceeding time through the order. 

Why: The fact that you must submit a lineup card I think is antiquated. It’d be like submitting your depth chart and formations you plan to use in a football game to your opponent and sticking with them the whole game. This new rule would allow for managers to employ a lot more strategy.

Example: It’s the third inning, the Yankees 9th hitter Alex Verdugo just walked to load the bases. Traditionally the leadoff hitter (Gleyber Torres .697 OPS) would now come to the plate, but Aaron Boone being the shrewd fox that he is, instead sends HR leader Aaron Judge (1.147 OPS) to the plate (or Juan Soto pick your poison really). He hits a grand slam, smart play. Seeing that the right-handed pitcher is likely going to be taken out soon in favor of a long-relief left-hander, Boone proceeds to bat his lefty hitters Juan Soto and other left-handed hitters back-to-back in the lineup (typically something managers avoid). Just a lot more fun decision making moves and chess pieces to play with.

2. Outfield Walls Are Adjustable by Series

How it would work: Each series teams are allowed to adjust the dimensions of their ballpark. Both teams must play those dimensions for the duration of the series. Minimum/Maximum footage of 258ft/483ft (but can be changed), precedent has been set by the Polo Grounds (see image above).

Why: Currently the outfield walls are set in stone (or set in concrete, ivy, steel and brick if it’s Fenway or Wrigley). But to give teams a true home field advantage they should be able to adjust the field dimensions based on who they are playing. This is nothing new, teams have been pulling off these cheeky tactics forever. Make home field advantage count and let teams change field dimensions to match-up better with opponents. (Realistically I know this would have a major impact on seating and most walls can’t be moved, but lets not get into semantics).

Example: Have a team that relies on speed and contact hitting? Don’t hit a lot of home runs? Back those fences up, and help your pitching staff out. Take the Brewers, they’re 3rd in the majors in stolen bases but tied for 15th in home runs. If they go up against the Braves (who are last in the majors in stolen bases) in the playoffs, it would be a much bigger advantage if they could back those walls up and hit balls in the gaps. Play to your advantages, win more home games. 

3. Runners Can Risk Staying on Base After Scoring

How it would work: A runner that rounds the bases and scores, may proceed to first after ‘scoring’. If he comes around again to score his run now counts as 2 runs. However, if he gets out or the inning ends while he is still on base, his first run does not count. High risk, high reward. On home runs, baserunners may stay on their current base if they would like to.

Why: I saved the dumbest one for last – this would only really make sense if the batter hits an extra base hit. So let’s say there is a runner on first base and the batter hits a homerun, that runner on first can either count and it’s a 2-run homerun or he may advance 4 bases (so back to first) and count as 2 runs if he scores. If he gets out or the inning ends before he can re-score, then the original homerun will only count as a solo shot. Or lets say there is a runner on 3rd and the batter drills one into the gap the runner seeing that the hitter is going for a double can round home plate and head to first making it so two runners are on base. 

Example: Down 4 runs in the 9th and need a big inning, that 1-run doesn’t matter, might as well keep running the bases if you can. Likely a rule that wouldn’t be used a ton, but it’ll be like someone stealing home, or a suicide squeeze, not often done, but fun to watch.

Got any more fun rules or ideas to add? Send them our way!

• Astros 4, Padres 3: This one had a strange ending. In the 10th inning Jurickson Profar was “hit by a pitch” to load the bases and put perennial All-Star Manny Machado up. Good news right? The Astros challenged the call, but somehow the call stood, which upset Houston and Profar. Machado would ground out (on a great defensive play) and the game would end.

• Reds 6, Braves 4: This one really stings as the Braves blow a 4-run lead and now fall 2 games back in the wild card. The Braves got to Reds starter Brandon Williamson as he left that game after 1 1/3 innings but were blanked from the 5th inning on.

• Twins 4, Guardians 1: Important series for the Twins as the Tigers are right on their tails, big win as Willi Castro’s 2-run home run in the 8th added the extra insurance and sealed the win.

• Tigers 3, Royals 1: Speaking of the Tigers, they’ve won 9 of the last 12, including the first two games of this series against the Royals. Parker Meadows hit a broken-bat single in the 10th inning to give Detroit the lead. Tyler Holton got his 7th win of the season and has been a huge bright spot out of the bullpen for Detroit.

• Phillies 5, Brewers 1: The top of the Phillies lineup carried the team this game, with the top four hitters contributing 7 hits and 5 RBIs. Zack Wheeler continues his some what quiet, but dominant season now 16-6 with a 2.56 ERA.

See the full MLB scoreboard here and the current standings here.

On this day in 1996, Roger Clemens ties his own Major League record with 20 strikeouts in a game. He had managed the same feat 10 years earlier as well. His splitter was nasty:

Yesterday’s Trivia Time Answer

Which outfielder has the most career Gold Glove awards?

C. Roberto Clemente & D. Willie Mays - if you answered C or D you were correct, whoops, my mistake! Both had 12 Gold Glove awards. I really just wanted to post this trivia question to point out that September 15th was Roberto Clemente day. Clemente was a legitimate hero, who died in a plane crash at the age of 38 while en route to deliver aid to victims of the Nicaragua earthquake. He also may have had the strongest outfield arm ever:

Check back tomorrow for the answer to today's trivia question and more info!