All posts by h716a5.icu

The Chicago Cubs just took a body blow.

According to ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan, Cubs lefty Justin Steele will miss the remainder of the 2025 season as he is set to undergo reconstructive elbow surgery. It is unclear whether Steele will have a full Tommy John surgery or a more minor repair surgery.

Steele was an All-Star in 2023 and finished fifth in Cy Young Award voting. He finished the year 16–5 in 30 starts, with a 3.06 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 176 strikeouts against 36 walks in 173 1/3 innings. He was solid again in 2024, as he went 5–5 with a 3.07 ERA, and a 1.10 WHIP in 134 2/3 innings over 24 starts.

Early this season, Steele is 3–1 with a 4.76 ERA in four starts.

The 29-year-old had Tommy John surgery in 2017 as a minor leaguer, so this will be his second major elbow injury.

Steele was expected to combine with Shota Imanaga to lead Chicago's pitching staff this season. His absence will leave a massive hole at the top of the team's rotation.

At 34, Pierre could make his Test debut in India and he is willing to give 110% as always

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Sep-20251:53

Khary Pierre: ‘Can’t put in words how I feel’

Khary Pierre is on the verge of turning his dream of playing a Test for West Indies into reality. He just needed to wait 34 years. Pierre was picked in West Indies’ squad as the second spinner for their tour to India, which starts this week, and he was over the moon when he found out.”I was actually playing CPL, with St Lucia Kings when I first got the news,” Pierre said. “It’s a great honour, privilege to represent the West Indies, something that I dreamt of when I was young; watching the West Indies play, the likes of Brian Lara and these guys, just watching Test cricket. I was really happy, I couldn’t put together words [to describe] the feeling at that moment.”A part of the youth-cricket system in Trinidad, Pierre had to wait till he was 25 to make his first-class debut. It’s taken him nine years to graduate from that level up to Test cricket but through it all he never lost hope. The left-arm spinner has played 35 red-ball matches and taken 111 wickets at an average of 22.81. He also has a first-class century to his name.Related

The weight of the maroon cap: West Indies face test of identity in India

Sammy confident pace attack will help West Indies pull a New Zealand on India

Unfamiliar five – Warrican, Pierre among players who can challenge India

Alzarri Joseph ruled out of India Test series with lower-back injury

“There’s the youth level,” Pierre said, “Going up from under-15, under-17, under-19, and I was in all these things. I made my debut for Trinidad. It was tough, but I never gave up, just putting in the extra work. I always tend to want to do more. Even after practice, [I want to] bowl more balls, hit more balls. As I always say, ‘hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.’ I always take that and put it towards my game.”Earlier this year, with 41 wickets in seven games at an average of 13.56, Pierre topped the bowling charts in the West Indies Championship, the regional first-class competition. He attributed this success to his “trademark” quality built around not sparing effort.”I was just trying to enjoy my cricket. I think that was the key to my success this season in the Championship. I was taking the outcome out of it and [focusing on] giving a 110%. I’m a cricketer that will always give 110% when I enter the cricket field, I leave everything in the cricket field – blood, sweat, tears – and that was my trademark this season and it paid off. So, I’m really happy.”When asked about his strengths, Pierre’s response echoed what CWI’s senior talent manager Jamal Smith said about him last week.”I would say control, consistency, just trying to stay full at the batsman as much as possible. Variations, using the crease, just trying to outfox the batsman – I think that is the aim of any spinner – use angles and stuff like that.”

Raphinha has admitted he is partly to blame for the two injury relapses that kept him sidelined for more than two months, but the Barcelona winger says he is finally ready to help the team again. The Brazilian revealed he endured a “very tough time” during his recovery but hopes to feature against Chelsea in a decisive Champions League clash, as he insists the team’s European ambitions remain intact.

Raphinha takes responsibility for relapses

The Brazilian international opened up about the injury setbacks that have kept him out for over two months, conceding that his own decisions contributed to a recovery process that took far longer than expected. The Brazilian forward is now pushing to make his full return against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, a fixture he described as “special” and vital to Barca’s ambition of finishing in the Champions League top eight.

Barcelona will rely heavily on the renewed energy and creativity Raphinha can provide, especially after back-to-back European performances that placed their league-phase ambitions at risk. His target is clear: to contribute immediately and help stabilise a Barça team that has struggled too often in this year’s Champions League.

AdvertisementGetty Images Sport'I take responsibility' – Brazilian explains

The winger explained that eagerness to return too soon ultimately led to complications. "There may have been mistakes… or there may not have been," he told reporters. "The first relapse was partly my fault, and I can take responsibility for the second one as well. I wanted to be back as quickly as possible, and I made a mistake, hence the relapses.

"I can take responsibility for that, because in the end, I do things, and if I think they won't help me, I should be the first to say no. I take responsibility for both relapses because I wanted to be back on the field as soon as possible to help the team. I made a few mistakes, and that's why I had those two relapses.

“It was a difficult time. I'm someone who always wants to be with the team, and spending these two months without being able to play was tough, and I need to get back into match fitness. I hope to return to the form everyone knows."

Brazil star frustrated by lack of recognition

Raphinha also appeared visibly annoyed when discussing his absence from last season’s individual accolades, especially coming in fifth in the Ballon d'Or rankings. “The truth is I think I deserved much more. These are individual awards… I'm satisfied with having a spectacular season. Others are the ones who vote,” he added.

His mission, however, is immediate, to regain the form that made him one of Barca’s most decisive players last season. and to begin that resurgence in the Champions League clash at Stamford Bridge.

Raphinha’s return comes as Barca approach one of their most important matches of the season. Their 3-3 draw at Club Brugge left them in a difficult position in the league phase.

Chelsea, unbeaten in five matches, present a complex tactical challenge under Enzo Maresca. Barca, meanwhile, have shown signs of improvement domestically with three consecutive La Liga wins, but the gap between their league and Champions League performances remains stark. Their defensive instability in Europe has been particularly worrying.

Raphinha said he is ready to help restore belief. “Being able to play again is already something special for me. I've been out for two months. If the manager plays me, I'll give my best.” He also reaffirmed the club’s ambitions: “The main objective of this club is to win the Champions League."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportChelsea showdown next

Barca travel to London knowing the stakes could not be higher as a win keeps them alive in the race for a top-eight finish. But, with key players still sidelined, including Pedri, Hansi Flick will hope Raphinha can deliver immediate impact off the bench or from the start. The winger is expected to receive more minutes after featuring as a substitute for just nine minutes against Athletic Club.

Following Chelsea, Barca face a demanding run of fixtures across La Liga and Europe as the calendar intensifies in December. Raphinha’s fitness, rhythm, and confidence will be pivotal in determining whether the Catalan side can rediscover the attacking consistency required to navigate this period successfully.

As far as Arne Slot’s Liverpool are concerned, there hasn’t been much to write home about this season.

It’s been difficult, for a great number of reasons, and the Reds have slumped to five defeats from six matches in the Premier League. They say it’s too early to make such calls at this stage of the campaign, but Liverpool simply cannot be considered as title contenders unless something significant shifts in the coming weeks and months.

Physicality and control. Two central tenets of any Premier League midfield worth their salt, and especially so for Liverpool. However, Slot’s side have lacked both in equally concerning measure for much of the term so far.

And with that in mind, we can’t help but recall the days of Gini Wijnaldum in the middle of the park, for the Dutchman is very much missed right now.

Why Gini Wijnaldum left Liverpool

Wijnaldum has plied his trade away from Anfield for four years now, and it’s perhaps fair to say that Liverpool have not replaced his profile in the years since. The 35-year-old was very distinctive in his style for the Reds.

Liverpool signed Wijnaldum from Newcastle United in 2016 after their relegation from the Premier League. Wijnaldum was among the standout Magpies that year.

He was an attacking midfielder and had put four past Norwich City early in the campaign, a bright flicker in a dark year on Tyneside. However, Jurgen Klopp fashioned the Dutchman into an industrious, press-resistent central midfielder, part of an energetic centre that charged Liverpool’s glittering success of the past decade.

Though Wijnaldum didn’t score often for the Merseysiders, he came up trumps on a few occasions, alright, and scribed his name into the record books when bagging a brace off the bench on that night against Barcelona.

So cool and composed and calm on the ball, Gini was the metronome in the middle. To think that he played in advanced roles with consistency during his days with Newcastle and PSV Eindhoven before that is a marker of Klopp’s tactical brain, successfully reshaping into something that produced fewer show-stopping moments but contributed more greatly to the Liverpool project.

Liverpool miss him, for sure, but there’s a member of Slot’s squad who is beginning to show signs of the Netherlands man’s former qualities.

Liverpool's new version of Wijnaldum

Slot’s own ‘version’ of Wijnaldum might not be stylistically the same, but he’s playing a versatile and yet singular role for the Anfield side this season.

Enter Dominik Szoboszlai, the shining light of Liverpool’s dreary campaign so far.

The Hungarian has been hailed by reporter Lewis Steele as being Liverpool’s “player of the season” so far. Admittedly, the bar isn’t high, but Szoboszlai ranks highly across the whole of Europe in regard to individual efforts, having matured into a leader as well as a tireless source of energy and a technically proficient technician.

To say that he’s come on leaps and bounds would be quite the understatement, and this with Liverpool struggling to muster any kind of form.

Klopp oversaw the £60m signing of RB Leipzig’s talented playmaker in 2023, beating Newcastle to his signature. Szoboszlai has ebbed and flowed in a Liverpool shirt, criticised at times for his lack of end product. At the end of Klopp’s reign, Szoboszlai fell out to the fringes, starting only one of the final six Premier League fixtures of the term, and was hooked at half-time during a miserable home defeat to Crystal Palace before that.

Matches (starts)

36 (29)

11 (11)

Goals

6

1

Assists

6

1

Touches*

46.1

82.6

Accurate passes*

29.6 (86%)

52.1 (87%)

Key passes*

1.6

1.5

Dribble (success)*

0.6 (55%)

0.8 (60%)

Recoveries*

3.7

6.1

Tackles + interceptions*

1.4

2.7

Clearances*

0.4

2.5

Duels (won)*

2.8 (43%)

4.2 (51%)

Since Slot has taken to the dugout, Szoboszlai’s role has changed some, and that has become crystal clear this season, for he has never been more involved, never more entrusted with a starring role in the side, hailed as a “proper leader” and Liverpool’s star man by content creator Jonathan Morley.

Szoboszlai is a player whose skill and tenacity out of possession, his intelligence and vision and ability to do the right thing at the right time, make him a unique and priceless part of a system. Wijnaldum-esque, perhaps.

Gini was, after all, lauded as being “irreplaceable” for Liverpool by correspondent Richard Jolly. He wasn’t a vocal leader on the field, but the former Netherlands international provided a calming presence, redefined once he settled in on Merseyside and then became a central part of one of the glittering outfits of their age.

Liverpool may not be at the races this season, but there’s a long road still ahead, and with Szoboszlai shaping into an all-action midfielder of the highest class, Slot’s own version of Wijnaldum, there will be hope that the rest of these talented players can recover their levels and match Szoboszlai’s commitment and desire.

His free-kick against Arsenal, sealing victory against Mikel Arteta’s title challengers toward the start of the season, his Man of the Match performances on a number of occasions already, Szoboszlai is the real deal, alright, and when Liverpool do return to form, he might just reach even loftier levels under Slot’s wing.

Szoboszlai has been Liverpool’s standout player this season, and though this has been tempered by the otherwise miserable performances, solace can be found in the knowledge that Slot has unearthed the club’s latest superstar.

FSG sold an "incredible" Liverpool talent & it's a bigger mistake than Diaz

Liverpool are already starting to regret this £15m sale.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 14, 2025

One of the coolest feelings in sports has to be launching a baseball to the moon with the bases loaded in front of a ton of adoring fans. Tennessee freshman Levi Clark experienced that on Saturday when he crushed a go-ahead grand slam in the bottom of the eighth inning that led to the Vols' 7-3 win over Samford.

Clark did what most people would do in that situation: he watched the ball sail out of the park while very slowly making his way toward first base. The home plate ump wasn't a huge fan of that, as he quickly told Clark to get on his way.

First, here's the home run:

Here's a closer look at the ump quickly stepping in:

Not a huge deal but many fans wished the ump would have just let Clark enjoy the moment a little more before rounding the bases:

Prasad, a former vice-president from 2013-16, announced his candidature for the KSCA (Karnataka State Cricket Association) elections in Bengaluru

Shashank Kishore21-Aug-2025Venkatesh Prasad, the former India seamer, has vowed to restore the image of the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, while also committing to improved governance and transparency at the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) if elected at the upcoming elections.Prasad, who served as KSCA vice-president from 2013-2016, announced his candidature for contesting in the board elections, on Wednesday at an event in Bengaluru. His team includes Shantha Rangaswamy, the former India women’s captain, and Vinay Mruthyunjaya, a ex-KSCA officer bearer and member of BCCI’s finance committee.”We would like to bring back international cricket,” Prasad said. “It’s such an iconic venue, Chinnaswamy Stadium, which has been standing for the last 50 years. This [permission to host matches] is something which has never happened. Even our own Maharaja Cup has also been moved out which is not a good thing.”Prasad’s potential re-entry into administration comes at a time when the KSCA finds itself on a sticky wicket. The association has been functioning without a secretary and treasurer since June, after they resigned citing moral responsibility in the aftermath of the stampede around the M Chinnaswamy Stadium premises that claimed 11 lives during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s victory celebration.Police permission for subsequent events have been repeatedly denied, forcing the KSCA to shift the Maharaja T20 Trophy to Mysore. As things stand, it looks increasingly likely Bengaluru will not have permissions in place to host matches during the upcoming Women’s World Cup.Related

'Venky is here to make a difference' – Kumble backs Prasad for KSCA post

Women's World Cup: Navi Mumbai replaces Bengaluru as fourth Indian venue

Bengaluru at risk of losing Women's World Cup games

No police clearance yet for Chinnaswamy to host Maharaja T20

Chinnaswamy stampede: KSCA secretary, treasurer resign citing 'moral responsibility'

KSCA have also run into issues with the local regulatory bodies, including the electricity supply department (BESCOM) that has cut-off power to the venue due to non-compliance of fire safety regulations.Bengaluru was slated to host the Women’s World Cup opener, the second semi-final, and even the final – if Pakistan don’t qualify. Those games appear to be in a limbo after the KSCA has missed multiple deadlines set by the BCCI to secure all approvals.”One of the preconditions whenever the BCCI allots matches, they give us a deadline to get the state government permission. If we don’t get the permission, they will not host the matches,” Mruthyunjaya explained.”In the current situation, as you know that the permission has been denied… What we mean to say is, we are going to work together to see that as and when the match comes to Bangalore, we will put our efforts to get the necessary permissions from the government agencies.”Prasad & team’s immediate priority – if they’re elected – is to address the safety concerns that led to the stampede. A one-member committee appointed by the state government noted serious flaws in the stadium’s design, and deemed it “unfit and unsafe” to host big matches involving large gatherings.Mruthyunjaya outlined plans for a comprehensive review of the Justice Michael D’Cunha report, while conducting all necessary safety audits before seeking government permissions to resume hosting matches.”We would definitely like to review the recommendations of the Judicial Commission with respect to the government agencies,” Mruthyunjaya said. “There will be no compromise with respect to the safety of the fans, safety of the spectators, safety of the cricketers. When it comes to safety, we want to give priority to that.”Prasad also outlined KSCA’s ambitious plans of increasing the Chinnaswamy Stadium’s seating capacity, factoring in all engineering challenges. “We need to work on that. Because as I said earlier, this was built in 1974. I’m sure we cannot take it to 80,000 and so on. So probably another 15,000 more, maybe up to 50,000 and now it’s 34,000-35,000.”Prasad also shared plans of developing a Lord’s inspired cricket museum with interactive exhibits and virtual reality experience to showcase the heritage of Indian and Karnataka cricket.

Could Daniel Farke be the next Premier League manager in line to face the sack?

While Leeds United have picked up a promising three wins so far in the Premier League, fans of the Elland Road giants will also feel that there’s been a lot of other games this season where their side have been outplayed, with their 3-0 defeat at the hands of Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday falling into this category.

The Seagulls tallied up 14 shots on Lucas Perri’s goal compared to Leeds’ weak five on Bart Verbruggen’s largely untested net, as Fabian Hurzeler’s confident hosts never looked in danger of slipping up throughout their comfortable 90 minutes.

Farke will surely have to ring the changes for Leeds’ next Premier League clash away at Nottingham Forest to try and lift his side to bounce back, and to also save his skin, with Brenden Aaronson at risk of dropping out despite scoring a week prior.

Aaronson's poor performance vs Brighton

Aaronson wanted to kick on in the Whites’ first team picture away at the Amex, having been an exhilarating watch throughout Leeds’ 2-1 home win against West Ham United, with his bundled-in opener after three minutes nearly upstaged by an insane solo strike sailing in.

Yet, the Jekyll and Hyde American was way off it on the South Coast to add to Leeds fans’ frustrations surrounding his inconsistent performances.

Come the close of the match on Saturday, Aaronson failed to complete one single successful dribble from two attempts, failed to hit a single meaningful shot at the home side’s goal, and also only won a weak three duels from the ten he attempted.

It’s night and day from his high-octane showing against Nuno Espirito Santo’s men, where he was 100% successful with all his dribbles, on top of winning a hefty eight duels.

Patience must be extremely thin; therefore, when it comes to Farke choosing to pick Aaronson week in week out, knowing that an unbelievable display is often followed up by the number 11 putting in a disastrous no-show.

But, Aaronson is not the only underperformer in the German’s bad books.

Farke must drop 4/10 Leeds star

Brighton ran the Leeds defence ragged all afternoon long, as Jayden Bogle continually failed to lay a glove on the rampaging Diego Gomez, who would finish the one-sided match with two Premier League goals next to his name.

Joe Rodon also looked way below his usual standards, but the Welshman definitely has enough credit in his bank this season alone to demand he’s still in the first team frame, having popped up with two goals from the back.

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

81

Accurate passes

73/78 (94%)

Tackles won

0

Interceptions

0

Clearances

3

Blocked shots

0

Ball recoveries

6

Total duels won

1/3

On the contrary, his centre-back partner on the South Coast in Jaka Bijol, is yet to establish himself as a fan’s favourite, and he certainly won’t have endeared himself to the hardened West Yorkshire masses with his ropey showing against Hurzeler’s runaway hosts.

Indeed, away from spraying the ball about with some assurance, the brand-new Leeds’ number 15 struggled to contain the likes of Danny Welbeck throughout, leading to just one duel being won.

On top of that, Bijol would also fail to go in for a single tackle, leading Brighton to find it easy when carving open the away side’s frail defence at will.

Moreover, the former Udinese man very much lacked the pace and determination to track back when Yankuba Minteh and the aforementioned Gomez ran riot, with Pascal Struijk perhaps the better-suited centre-back option for this showdown.

Leeds fans had been crying out for their £15m summer recruit to start more games, but after his 4/10 afternoon against Brighton – which is the low score that was handed to him post-match by Leeds Live’s Isaac Johnson – he will surely be dropped back down to the bench, for the Dutchman to return to the XI.

Farke will pray that the changes that are made spur his team on to a rare away win against Nottingham Forest next, with a loss at the City Ground only pulling Leeds even closer to the relegation zone.

Farke can unleash Stach by dropping Leeds star who's "not good enough"

Leeds United boss could bring Anton Stach back into the starting line-up by dropping this star.

ByDan Emery Nov 1, 2025