The Big Story – Roman Anthony: We were going to ask this week if a guy who was brought up from AAA in early June could be considered in the MVP race. Because, while Roman Anthony’s .292, 48 runs, 18 doubles, 8 homers and 32 RBI season numbers in 71 games won’t match Seattle’s Cal Raleigh or Yankee Aaron Judge, given how it all turned around for the staggering Red Sox from the day he arrived he certainly embodied the phrase “valuable.”
But instead, after suffering one of the most damaging local sports injuries in recent years, the rookie star is likely out for the rest of the year thanks to the lat muscle he strained last week.
They lost the first three without him. But after Sunday’s 7-4 comeback win over Arizona, they were 1.5 behind the Yanks for the top wild card spot with a 3.5-game lead over Seattle for the second wild card spot.
Sports 101: Which two players hold the all-time record for hitting the most homers in September in one season with 17?
News Item – Aroldis Chapman: As the week began he hadn’t allowed a run his last 18 appearances. The last was Sunday when he struck out four batters in the ninth after one of the K pitches got by the catcher to let the batter get to first after the swing and miss. Astonishingly he’s given up just one run in his last 35 appearances. Which leaves him with a 0.95 ERA with 29 saves and 81 strikeouts in just 55.0 innings.
News Item – Alumni News:
Down Goes Belichick: To say his college debut was inauspicious is a massive understatement. At least that’s what a 48-14 loss to TCU at home says to most of us. UNC did rebound with a 20-3 win over Charlotte.
Kyle Schwarber: He became the 21st player to hit four bombs in a game with his historic four-homer, nine-RBI day in a 19-4 win over Atlanta. It gave him 180 for the Phillies since the Sox let him walk for the same $20 million per they gave to Masataka Yoshida, who’s hit just 37 for Boston.
Duran Harmon: The clutch Patriot safety with the knack for making game-clinching interceptions for the three Super Bowl winners announced he was retiring after 11 years in the NFL, seven with the Patriots. A job well done.
The Numbers
6 – seconds into the season it took Philly DL Jalen Carter to be ejected after spitting at Cowboys QB Dak Prescott.
121 – pitches thrown by 42-year-old Justin Verlander in just five innings as he hung in long enough to pick up his 265th career win when SF downed Baltimore 13-2.
… Of the Week Awards
Comeback of the Week – Orioles Stun Dodgers: With Yoshinobu Yamamoto one out away from a no-hitter and L.A. up 3-0 disaster struck. First Jackson Holliday homered to end the no-hit bid. Then L.A. manager Dave Roberts yanked a guy who made one bad pitch all night in favor of two struggling relievers who then gave the game away as Baltimore won it 4-3 helped by stat geek managing over common sense by Roberts.
Anniversary of the Week – Cal Ripken: That magical Orioles win also came on the 30th anniversary of the glorious 1995 night at Camden Yard when Ripken broke Lou Gehrig’s record for most consecutive games played.
Immaculate Inning of the Week: San Diego’s Mason Miller did it by striking out three Baltimore batters on nine total pitches with an awesome slider in the eighth inning of a 7-5 loss.
Thumbs Down – The Great Montreal Goalie Ken Dryden Passes: I’m no hockey expert but I do know dazzling when I see it and that’s what he was when as a rookie with six career NHL games under his belt he shut down the unstoppable Bruins in the 1971 Stanley Cup playoffs before beating Chicago for the Cup. He went on to win five more as Montreal dominated most of the 1970s. He succumbed to cancer at 78. RIP.
Random Thoughts:
While he had a big day (169 yards rushing and two TDs) in Baltimore’s shocking last-second 41-40 collapse to Buffalo on Sunday night, can’t believe Derrick Henry was in just 19th place on the all-time rushing list when 2025 started and still needs over 7,000 more to catch all-time leader Emmitt Smith.
Sports 101 Answer: Albert Belle hit his record-tying 17 September homers in 1995 when he became the only player to hit 50 doubles and 50 homers in the same season. For Babe Ruth he needed all 17 to set the then all-time homer record of 60 in 1927.
Final Thought – Coach B Bans Pats Scouts From UNC Practices: A question and a comment.
How does that help the players you’re supposed to be trying to help get to the NFL, Bill? You’re acting like a fool and a crybaby. You’re 73 — time to grow up buddy.
Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.