New era opens for Pats

Photo of assorted sports equipment for football, soccer, tennis, golf, baseball, and basketball

The Big Story – Patriots Open Pre-season Camp: As camp opened this week, the optimistic among us are excited over having a new coach for the first time since 2000 in Jerod Mayo and getting to watch another new QB in third overall pick Drake Maye develop.However, sober minds know this will be another long year in Foxboro as the first-time coach and the rookie QB have steep learning curves in front of them. But ready or not, it got started when veterans reported on Tuesday and the first practice was held Wednesday.

Sports 101: Name the seven people to be Manager of the Year in both the AL and NL.

News Item – Schauffele Wins British Open: The lucky number in 2024 for Xander Schauffele is 65. That’s what he shot to rip the Claret Jug away from a crowded Sunday leaderboard to win the British Open at Royal Troon by two strokes. It made him a double majors winner, as he won the PGA Championship in May after carding a final round 65 as well.

News Item – Jarren Duran: Amid his record-breaking season, the speedy Red Sox outfielder added another notch to the belt last week when he earned the Ted Williams Trophy as All-Star Game MVP after his two-run homer in the fifth inning was the decisive blow in the AL’s 5-3 win.

News Item – It Ain’t Just Sale: You can’t blame the Red Sox for moving on from Chris Sale last winter after getting almost no production for the $120 million they spent on him the last four years. Still, with him leading baseball in wins with 13, there’s a little “what might have been” feeling for this surprising team. And that was made worse by seeing James Paxton move to 8-2 after completing L.A.’s three-game sweep of the Sox with Sunday’s 9-6. All of which means a team using openers for the fifth spot in the rotation let two guys leave who already have a combined 21 wins in 2024.

The Numbers:

0 – shots made in 15 attempts for the Wizards’ Alex Sarr while putting up a donut in a Vegas summer league vs. Portland. Not the kind of game you want to see from a guy who was just picked second overall in the NBA draft.

17 – games in 2024 Vegas odds-makers have the Patriots listed as underdogs on their early tote boards. Which, for the mathematically challenged, means they’ll be that for every game they play this year.

19 – WNBA record-breaking assists handed out by Indiana Fever pg Caitlin Clark in a 101-93 loss to the Dallas Wings.

Of the Week Awards

Thumbs Down – All-Star Uniforms: Can we for once forgo trying to bleed every last nickel out of merchandising in lieu of rewarding the loyalty of fans who’ve been watching for 50 years and love seeing guys in their everyday uniforms at the ASG, ’cause that is classic.

Ridiculous Headline of the Week – Boston Globe: It read “Celtics Hold Bronny James To 2 Points” in their summer league game vs. L.A. Ridiculous because it makes it sound like it was a great feat, which it was not. It was actually more than his summer league average. Second, why is a second-round draft pick who averaged four points per game anywhere near the lead of any story?

A Little History – The Ted Williams Trophy: If you’re wondering: The MVP Award for the AL in the ASG is named for Ted Williams because with four homers, 12 RBI and a .304 average he was a prolific ASG hitter, including winning the 1941 game 7-5 with a three-run bottom-of-the-ninth walk-off homer off Claude Passeau.

Random Thoughts:

I didn’t think it was possible, but I hate the Dodgers’ city edition uniforms more than the Sox’ blue and yellow numbers.

Anyone know why Tiger Woods is still a big headline going to a major championship? Especially after 2024 where he finished dead last at the Masters and missed the cut in the PGA, U.S. Open and British Open.

Sports 101 Answer: The seven named Manager of the Year in both leagues are Bobby Cox (Braves and Blue Jays), Tony LaRussa (Cards and A’s), Jim Leland (Pirates and Tigers), Lou Piniella (Cubs and Mariners), Joe Maddon (Cubs and D-Rays), Buck Showalter (Mets, Rangers and Orioles) and Davey Johnson (Nationals and Orioles)

Final Thought – A Little More History – The All-Star Game: The ASG has had three distinct eras since it started in 1933.

The AL dominated early, winning 12 of the first 16. Then thanks to embracing integration far more fully than the AL, starting in 1950 the NL won 30 of 39 behind great Black stars like Mays, Aaron, Clemente, Banks and the Robinsons (Jackie and Frank). That included winning 19 in 20 years from 1963 to 1982.

Now after winning 10times in 11 years, and 27 of the last 39, the AL is back on top. Overall the AL leads 47-44 with two ties.

Email Dave Long at [email protected].

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