Shohei Ohtani wasn't able to get a win on the mound in Game 4 of the World Series as the Dodgers lost at home to the Blue Jays, 6-2, but he has still had an epic run in the postseason and remains two wins away from winning his second title with Los Angeles.

Ohtani's stardom has only grown since he joined the Dodgers in December of 2023 and another championship would add to his legendary status in a sports city that has grown used to seeing its various teams winning on the biggest stages.

Magic Johnson knows all about that as he led the Lakers to five NBA championships during his Hall of Fame career. The now part-owner of the Dodgers was on Fox's pregame show on Tuesday night where he was asked by Derek Jeter how "Ohtani mania" compares to previous sports stars that played in Los Angeles.

"You’ve been here, you’ve seen stars," Jeter said. "L.A. makes stars, stars come to L.A. You’ve been here yourself. Kobe, Shaq, Gretzky came to LA. How does Ohtani mania compare to those other guys?"

"It’s the same other than they didn’t own a country," Magic said with a laugh. "See, because he owns Japan. The same impact—the fans love him. I think it’s more like Kobe and the type of impact he’s made on the field and off the field. He’s a humble young man and he’s serious about becoming the baseball player we’ve ever seen."

Here's that pregame segment:

That's some pretty high praise from Magic, as Bryant is one of the most beloved athletes to ever play in Los Angeles.

Ohtani was huge in the marathon Game 3 win on Monday night, hitting two home runs and two doubles before being intentionally walked three times in his final at-bats.

He then got the start on the mound in Game 4 and while he wasn't able to get the win he showed everyone just how special he is and how much of a competitor he is by throwing six solid innings just hours after playing in one of the best games in World Series history.

Game 5 is back at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday night, which means Ohtani will have one last chance to make some more magic in front of his home fans.

If Los Angeles is able to beat the Blue Jays two more times, Ohtani mania in Los Angeles will hit another level.

There might still be plenty of the season to go, but West Ham United look like they are in real trouble.

Nuno Espírito Santo was able to get something of a new manager bounce away to Everton, but since then, the team have lost to Arsenal and Brentford and remain in the Premier League relegation zone.

Moreover, while the former is understandable, the performance at home against the Bees was hugely worrying.

Therefore, to ensure the club can arrest their terrible form against Leeds United, Nuno needs to make a number of changes to the team, such as dropping Tomáš Souček.

The changes Nuno needs to make at West Ham

Starting at the back, Nuno needs to replace Kyle Walker-Peters and Oliver Scarles with Aarron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf.

The former would offer more protection on the right-hand side, and the latter would add far more explosiveness and ingenuity to the left.

For example, the former Slavia Prague gem already has three league assists to his name in eight games, and the equalising goal against Everton came about because of his brilliant crossing.

There needs to be dramatic changes up top as well, with Lucas Paqueta moving back into the ten position and Callum Wilson starting up top.

The Brazilian was utterly anonymous in the false nine, and while he’s not been in brilliant form this season, he’s still one of the Hammers’ most creative players and therefore has to be somewhere he’ll see more of the ball.

Moreover, with the former Lyon star in the middle, Nuno can move Crysencio Summerville back out to the left.

This should have a significant impact on the side, as while the Flying Dutchman lacks somewhat in terms of actual output, he is an incredibly direct and tricky winger who can move opposition defenders around.

Additionally, with Diouf behind him, the left-hand side could be a seriously productive area of the pitch for the East Londoners.

Finally, Andy Irving has to be dropped in favour of the far more mobile, exciting and technically complete Soungoutou Magassa.

The young Frenchman still has a lot to learn at this level, but unlike the Scotsman, he’s blessed with “pure athleticism” and can “spray passes wide out to the wings” according to respected analyst Ben Mattinson.

With that said, there is one more change Nuno should make to the team – a change that would see him drop Souček.

The West Ham star who should start ahead of Souček

Now, it should be said that while he should be dropped from the starting lineup for the game against Leeds, there is certainly still a space in the squad for Soucek.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

After all, the Czech international is someone you can trust to give his all for the team whenever he’s on the pitch.

However, as was abundantly clear against Brentford, that isn’t enough to be starting anymore, as his dire lack of athleticism is a problem, as is his less-than-impressive passing range.

Therefore, if Nuno wants to help start a new, more exciting and progressive chapter at the club, he should look to start academy gem Freddie Potts alongside Magassa.

It would certainly be a young and relatively inexperienced pairing, but even then, it would be better than what fans have seen so far this season.

For example, Mattinson has described the academy product as a promising midfielder who is “so smooth on the half-turn and composed under pressure.”

On top of that, he is also someone who can get the ball up the pitch quickly for his side, thanks to his impressive “passing range and powerful carrying.”

Finally, while he does lack top-flight experience, the Barking-born ace did incredibly well on loan in the Championship with Portsmouth last season.

He ended up making 38 appearances for the side, of which 36 were starts, scoring one goal, providing four assists, and helping keep the club in the second tier.

Appearances

38

Starts

36

Minutes

3108′

Goals

1

Assists

4

Ultimately, it would be bold, but given how poorly West Ham are performing, Nuno needs to be bold, and therefore, he should start Potts against Leeds.

Nuno can finally drop Paqueta for West Ham teen with "the world at his feet"

With Paqueta playing so poorly, Nuno should do something bold and bring in the exciting West Ham gem.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 22, 2025

Nottingham Forest have now made an approach to sign a “fast” £22m defender, with Sean Dyche replacing Ange Postecoglou in the City Ground hotseat.

Forest make contact to sign centre-back as Dyche joins

Postecoglou’s awful stint as manager came to an end on Saturday, following a 3-0 home defeat against Chelsea, in which Forest once again struggled defensively, having also shipped three goals at home against FC Midtjylland at the beginning of the month.

Evangelos Marinakis perhaps has one eye on the January transfer window, given that the Tricky Trees are at risk of being drawn into a relegation battle, having taken just five points from their opening eight Premier League games.

With the City Ground outfit currently in the bottom three, it would perhaps make sense to bring in a manager with a proven track record of guiding teams to safety, and Dyche has just that from his time at Everton and Burnley.

Nottingham Forest's most expensive sales of all time

The biggest departures from the City Ground.

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Charlie Smith

Oct 9, 2025

Dyche has agreed to join Forest on the condition they give him a long-term deal. He is of course well-known for a more defensive style of play than Ange, which means the 54-year-old may be keen to bolster his options at the back in January, and a new centre-back has now emerged as the first target.

That is according to a report from Spain, which reveals Nottingham Forest have now accelerated contact over a move for CA Osasuna defender Enzo Boyomo, who has caught the eye with his spectacular performances for the La Liga side.

Boyomo has a €25m (£22m) release clause included in his contract with the Spanish club, and Osasuna would not consider a sale for any less, given his importance to the side, but there is certainly no shortage of interest from England.

Fulham and Brighton & Hove Albion are also in the race, alongside the Tricky Trees, with the three Premier League clubs said to be in pole position for his signature.

"Fast" Boyomo could be solid addition to Forest's backline

Forest are likely to be happy with their current centre-back options, given that Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo formed a formidable partnership in the Premier League last season, with the duo missing just three games between them and helping secure European qualification.

However, should the new manager be keen to bring in more depth, there are signs the 24-year-old could be a solid signing. When asked to describe his own game after arriving at Osasuna, the Cameroonian said: “I think I’m a calm center-back, with good ball control, and I think I’m also fast.”

Not only that, but the France-born defender is also strong at winning back possession, placing in the 88th percentile for tackles per 90 over the past year, when compared to other centre-backs.

At £22m, Boyomo would be an affordable signing for Forest, who are clearly in need of a fresh injection of quality after a very poor start to the campaign.

Juventus are now reportedly keeping close tabs on Chelsea right-back Malo Gusto as they attempt to solve their defensive problems under new manager Luciano Spalletti.

Heading into the November international break, those at Stamford Bridge have reason to be optimistic. They bounced back from a 2-2 draw against Qarabag in style on Saturday, putting three past a managerless Wolverhampton Wanderers side. It was the Blues at their best, with Joao Pedro, Pedro Neto and unexpected goalscorer Gusto all getting on the scoresheet.

The dominant victory sets them up for the perfect return when they visit Burnley after the international break. It’s a game that Chelsea should win to commence an all-important week which then features games against Barcelona and Arsenal. Victory in those two would suddenly spark interesting questions about the Blues’ ambitions.

As things stand, Enzo Maresca’s side are third in the Premier League and six points behind leaders Arsenal. If the Club World Cup winners are to be serious title challengers then victory over the Gunners is a must at Stamford Bridge.

The January transfer window is also worth keeping an eye on. Those in West London are rarely shy when it comes to splashing the cash and they’ve already been linked with moves for the likes of Crystal Palace star Daniel Munoz.

The right-back is one of the best in his position in the world and would instantly hand Reece James plenty to think about and hand Gusto quite the problem. The Chelsea man has already lost his place to James this season and rumours are now arriving about his own future.

Juventus now tracking Malo Gusto

Serie A giants Juventus are now tracking Malo Gusto, according to reports in Italy relayed by TuttoJuve. The Italian club are looking to solve their right-back problem and have identified both the Chelsea star and Atletico Madrid’s Nahuel Molina as 2026 targets.

La Liga star now dreams of Chelsea move as BlueCo gain advantage

He’s enjoying an impressive campaign.

By
Tom Cunningham

Nov 9, 2025

Gusto has started just six of Chelsea’s 11 Premier League games so far this season, but Maresca reiterated that he is one of his “main players” after he scored his first goal for the club against Wolves.

The versatility that Maresca praised has seen Gusto play both right and left-back as well as right-midfield throughout his career, and while that added depth is value from a player on £45,000-a-week, he’s been unable to make any of those positions his own at Stamford Bridge.

As James continues to keep the Frenchman out the side, it will be interesting to see whether he makes a decision about his Chelsea career if Juventus come calling. A move to the Italian giants, even amid their current struggles, wouldn’t exactly be a major downgrade for Gusto.

Chelsea launch move to re-sign Antonio Rudiger; he's made Real Madrid decision

Arsenal have now reached out to the representatives of a former Man United star who’s come into his own since leaving Old Trafford, according to a new report this week.

On the field, Mikel Arteta’s side are preparing for a crucial North London derby against Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal

Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal

While the Premier League title frontrunners boast an imperious record against their rivals on home turf, Arsenal will be without star defender Gabriel Magalhaes, among others, after the Brazilian limped off against Senegal with a thigh injury on international duty.

Nothing but a win will do for Arsenal, who are both looking to claim the local derby bragging rights and steer clear of second-placed Man City.

Off the field, sporting director Andrea Berta continues making plans to strengthen the squad in future windows, despite spending nearly £270 million last summer on eight major signings to bolster Arteta’s title charge.

Arsenal hold talks with Scott McTominay's camp after Napoli resurgence

According to TEAMtalk, Scott McTominay’s remarkable renaissance in Serie A has triggered a transfer scramble among Premier League heavyweights, with Arsenal one of the latest clubs to hold discussions with the midfielder’s representatives ahead of a potential summer move.

The 28-year-old has been sensational since joining Napoli from Manchester United in a £26 million deal last year, notching four goals and an assist already this season, and his transformation from a United squad player to Serie A superstar has been nothing short of extraordinary.

McTominay won the Serie A MVP award for the 2024/25 season and earned a Ballon d’Or nomination, helping Napoli to secure their fourth Scudetto, establishing himself as a club icon in just one remarkable campaign.

More recently, his stunning overhead kick against Denmark, arguably one of the best Scotland goals ever scored, sent Steve Clarke’s side on their way to an historic 4-2 win over the Danes which confirmed their place at next year’s World Cup.

Last season, he made 34 Serie A appearances, scoring 12 goals and providing four assists, obliterating expectations for a player who was considered surplus to requirements in Manchester. José Mourinho has even called McTominay “one of the best midfielders” in Europe.

Antonio Conte views the Scotsman as his midfield ‘linchpin’, and TT report that Arsenal have sounded out McTominay’s camp alongside the likes of Tottenham, Everton and even his former club. However, any potential suitors face a significant hurdle.

Napoli have set a gargantuan price tag, with any bid below £71 million set to be dismissed out of hand.

While McTominay will require a hefty investment on Berta’s part, it is clear to see why Arsenal have taken an interest, with the in-form star’s future poised to be at the centre of debate over this next year.

Doubt has flooded the environment as the Stokes-McCullum cult credo reaches its fiery endgame

Andrew Miller08-Dec-20256:09

‘Australia have sat back, waited for England and pushed them over’

The Ashes are not yet over, but Bazball most emphatically is. It died, to all intents and purposes, with Ben Stokes’ shockingly frank admission after another crushing defeat, that his team of mindset-driven genre-benders have been found wanting in the heat of a battle that their entire ethos had been geared towards.Specifically, it received its terminal diagnosis under the floodlights on the third evening at the Gabba. England’s display up to that point had been deeply flawed, not unlike so many other Tests of the Bazball era, but this abject passage of play – six wickets in a session, when the daylight resumption promised a flat deck and rich rewards for any batter who could apply themselves – was its point of no return.Theologists have spent thousands of years examining belief systems, watching their rise and fall, and who rightly knows what gives some concepts more stickability than others. England don’t even acknowledge that their curious but compelling cult is actually a thing, let alone that it has a universally recognised name.Related

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But fundamentally, if you believe that there is belief within a system, then there is belief. Cogito Bazball sum, as it were. Right now, there is no sense that England believe in their methods any more. Ergo, the entire philosophy crumbles, or worse. A fiery demise always seemed a plausible endgame.And with it goes every remaining defence of the preparations that went into England’s tour. The cosiness, the togetherness, the lackadaisical attitude to warm-up matches … all of it could be justified by the knowledge that this team, with full-bore mental focus, could be capable of truly extraordinary deeds: specifically of going where their timid, samey forebears could not, and pulling off a series win in Australia for the first time in four dismal visits.That’s not to say, however, that the series has yet been surrendered. Not after a contest in which Stokes and Joe Root were England’s two stand-out performers, it hasn’t.But the circumstances for this team could not be more different from their last 2-0 deficit in an Ashes campaign, at the very height of Bazball in the summer of 2023. Back then, their surety of purpose was intoxicating – nauseating, even, to Australians who still grumble about the pursuit of moral victories – but there was simply nothing that could penetrate their firewall of self-affirmation, not even (at that heady stage of the cycle, at least…) defeat itself.Now, however, if England are to win from here, it can only be through a reversion to type: through a reliance on the sort of miracle-working that Bazball was designed to do away with, with the greats in England’s midst driving every step of the agenda, and with the rank and file falling into lock-step to meet their needs, as Will Jacks did so gamely in the opening session of Brisbane’s final day.Downed under: Ben Stokes conceded his side have not stood up to pressure in Australia•CA/Getty ImagesWhile that seventh-wicket stand was stretching into its fourth hour, we could have been thrust back into the guts of any given show of English resistance from yesteryear: Graeme Hick and Graham Thorpe batting through to the close at the Gabba in 1994-95, for instance, or Paul Collingwood and Kevin Pietersen compiling a similar stand on the same stage 12 years later. Resistance was futile then, as it is likely to be now, as England find themselves hauled back to the standard rules of Ashes engagement, after a three-and-a-half year experiment that is already being derided down under as an absurd flight of fancy.Despite all the I-told-you-sos around England’s under-taxing preparations, there’s not a lot of point in being wise after the event. This was their plan, and they were entitled to stick to it, but only on the assumption that the players were still responding to such a permissive environment. To cut Brendon McCullum some slack, that was more or less the point he was trying to make in his post-match comments: that, in the wake of the Perth defeat, England’s sudden switch from calm visualisation to hyper-intensive net sessions was a factor in their subsequent mental fraughtness. Unfortunately, in the circumstances that have just played out, such a takeaway sounds delusional.Far more revealing was Stokes’s own declaration, that “Australia is not for weak men, and a dressing-room that I am captain of is not a place for weak men either”. He might as well have been priming any number of his team-mates (and Ollie Pope in particular) for their collective launching beneath the bus. But moreover, he was reframing the debate so far as the rest of this campaign must pan out. The kid gloves are off now. Crisis has engulfed this tour, just as it did each the three previous Ashes trips that span Root’s and Stokes’ careers. They’ve never yet found so much as an emergency exit, but those players at the very least already recognise that this is not a drill.There’ll be time enough for affectionate remembrance of Bazball when its ashes have been cremated (through hours of toil in the field) over the coming three Tests. But for now, it’s worth recalling Stokes’ sentiments, in the calm before the storm at the start of 2023, when the team was riding high on nine wins out of ten, and long before its subsequent stack of missed opportunities (P33 W16 L15 since) had begun to chip away at its foundations.

“The sadness for Stokes in particular is that he has been conditioning his team to walk this tightrope for three-and-a-half years. They’ve run towards the danger, they’ve explored their line and taken it “too far”, all with half an eye on a challenge that he was willing to risk losing in order to win”

“I’m at a stage now where I would much prefer to leave a mark on other people’s careers than look to make mine more established,” Stokes told reporters on the eve of England’s last pink-ball Test, against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui. “That’s one of my goals as England captain: to hopefully let some of these guys in the dressing room here just have an amazing career and if I can influence that in any way shape or form then I’ll be happy.”It sounds positively Kumbaya, compared to his latest growl from the trenches. By ceding some of his main character energy – with Root, in spite of some acknowledged struggles, doing likewise – Stokes knew he had the means to make the collective stronger, and guard himself against the burnout that almost ended his career four years ago. There is absolutely no doubt that he achieved his aim, for as long as the vibe endured.And yet, England really hadn’t bargained for the collateral that they’ve picked up along the journey. Their failure to win any five-Test series since 2018 is deeply galling, but if Old Trafford 2023 stands out as the great what-if of Bazball’s first iteration, then their loss to India at The Oval last summer will probably come to be regarded as the moment that crushed the concept once and for all.England’s failure to close out the Oval Test against India now looks like a critical moment in the team’s development•Getty ImagesAt the time, and in keeping with so many of this regime’s ickier elements, the shattering nature of England’s six-run defeat was initially lost in the “isn’t-Test-cricket-great?” narrative. And while images of Chris Woakes’ shoulder-in-a-sling heroism abounded, rather less was made of, say, Jamie Smith’s terrible slog off his third ball of that final day, or Gus Atkinson’s inability to grind his team over the line.Even Harry Brook’s bat-flinging departure attracted less eyebrow-raising than it might have done, thanks to the magnificent century that preceded it. You can’t have the one without the other, was the takeaway he brought down under with him, en route to a truly rank dismissal in England’s first innings at Brisbane for which Australia’s tail went out of their way to shame him two days later.And as for Pope, the vulnerability that has stalked him all year long – from Jacob Bethell’s competing claims to the loss of the vice-captaincy – confirms a fact about the Bazball mindset that hasn’t been fully acknowledged since England’s first attempts to “reset” the approach after their 4-1 loss in India. Bubbles pop when you poke holes in them. The doubts had flooded into the environment months ago – including, in all likelihood, from the white-ball set-up that McCullum took over (to deeply unspectacular effect) before the Champions Trophy in January.The sadness for Stokes in particular is that he has been conditioning his team to walk this tightrope throughout these three-and-a-half years. They’ve run towards the danger, they’ve explored their line and taken it “too far”, all with half an eye on a challenge that he, as captain, was willing to risk losing in order to win.Stokes will not get another shot at repairing his legacy in the country that has so defined his career. After two ill-balanced steps, his team’s challenge is already plunging towards the abyss. England need miracles from hereon in. But when you’re all out of faith, that’s easier said than done.

The Red Sox have found their No. 2 starter.

On Tuesday, they acquired veteran righty Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for lefty pitching prospect Brandon Clarke and starter Richard Fitts. It is a deal that furthers Boston’s pursuit of a deeper playoff run in 2026 by providing a reinforcement behind ace lefty Garrett Crochet.

What follows are grades for each team’s return in the deal to see who came out on the better end of things.

Red Sox Acquire: Sonny Gray

Boston had been desperate to find some rotation help behind Crochet and looked like a potential landing spot if the Tigers made Tarik Skubal available. The Red Sox went a much easier route, landing the 36-year-old Gray, who is a durable three-time All-Star in his own right.

Gray was solid but not spectacular for St. Louis in 2025. He went 14-8, with a 4.28 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP, and 201 strikeouts against 38 walks in 180 2/3 innings. His FIP was 3.39, which shows he was a bit unlucky. While it wasn’t Gray’s best season, he is only two years removed from finishing second in AL Cy Young voting when he went 8-8, with a 2.79 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, and a league-best 2.83 FIP for the Twins in 2023.

The Red Sox are getting a stable No. 2 for their rotation. He’s a guy with a career ERA of 3.58, and has only been over 4.00 twice in the past seven seasons. Additionally, Gray and Crochet are two of the five MLB pitchers who have struck out 200 or more batters in each of the last two seasons, making them a formidable duo. Boston is pushing to take the next step and has added a good arm near the top of its rotation.

To sweeten the deal, Boston is also receiving $20 million to help cover the $35 million Gray is owed in 2026. His contract has a mutual option for $30 million in 2027, but it only carries a $5 million buyout. It’s a manageable contract, and they didn’t surrender a top prospect in exchange.

Grade: B+

Cardinals Acquire: Brandon Clarke, Richard Fitts

St. Louis is pushing to get younger after missing the playoffs for three straight seasons. Gray’s age and contract put him on the outside of the team’s plans moving forward. In exchange, they landed two intriguing arms but didn’t get any true top prospects to add to their impressive farm system.

Fitts has made 15 appearances (14 starts) over two big league seasons and has struggled to keep the ball in the yard. In 2025, he pitched in 11 games (10 starts) and went 2-4 with a 5.00 ERA, a 1.31 WHIP, and 40 strikeouts against 16 walks in 45 innings. He allowed 11 home runs in that time. The former Yankees prospect has a fastball that sits in the mid-90s but tops out around 98, and his slider continues to improve and has some sweep to it.

The prize of the deal is Brandon Clarke. The 6’4” lefty has a fastball that can touch 100, and features an outstanding slider that can sit in the upper-80s. He also features a curveball and a changeup he hasn’t thrown for strikes consistently yet. The Red Sox selected Clarke with a fifth-round pick in the 2024 draft out of junior college, and he made his pro debut in 2025. In 14 starts at two levels of A ball, he went 0-3 with a 4.03 ERA, a 1.16 WHIP, and 60 strikeouts against 27 walks in 38 innings. Opposing batters only hit 1.28 against him. If he can cut down on the walks and straighten out his changeup, Clarke could race up prospect lists.

St. Louis moved off Gray’s contract but also shipped $20 million to Boston and didn’t land a top 100 prospect in the process. They weren’t able to pry either of the Red Sox’s top two pitching prospects, as Payton Tolle and Kyson Witherspoon remain part of Boston’s system. The return isn’t disappointing thanks to Clarke’s upside, but it feels a bit flat.

Grade: B-

FanSided, in partnership with Louisville Slugger, has released the National League finalists for the Silver Slugger Award. The honor, which as been given out since 1980, recognizes the best best offensive player at each position in each league. This year's list includes MVP candidates and those who have gone on to be postseason heroes.

Here are the 2025 finalists:

First base

Pete Alonso, New York Mets; Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles Dodgers; Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves

Second base

Nico Hoerner, Chicago Cubs; Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks; Brice Turang, Milwaukee Brewers

Shortstop

Francisco Lindor, New York Mets; Geraldo Perdomo, Arizona Diamondbacks; Trea Turner, Philadelphia Phillies

Third base

Matt Chapman, San Francisco Giants; Manny Machado, San Diego Padres; Max Muncy, Los Angeles Dodgers; Austin Riley, Atlanta Braves

Outfield

Corbin Carroll, Arizona Diamondbacks; Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs; Juan Soto, New York Mets; Kyle Stowers, Miami Marlins;Kyle Tucker, Chicago Cubs;James Wood, Washington Nationals

Catcher

William Contreras, Milwaukee Brewers; Hunter Goodman, Colorado Rockies; Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers

Designated hitter

Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers; Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies; Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers

Utility

Alec Burleson, St. Louis Cardinals; Jake Cronenworth, San Diego Padres; Brendan Donovan, St. Louis Cardinals

Team

Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers

Winners for the National League will be announced on FanSided's The Baseball Insiders live stream on YouTube on Nov. 6 at 6:00 p.m. ET, followed by the reveal of the American League honorees—which will be released on Thursday.

He scored 139 to help the team recover from 15 for 5 against Gujarat and set a challenging target

Hemant Brar in Rajkot03-Mar-2020Arpit Vasavada was born in 1988, three years after Clive Lloyd played his last international match. Still, Lloyd and his great West Indies side of the 1970s and 1980s played an instrumental role in Vasavada becoming a cricketer.The story goes like this: Vyomeshbhai Vasavada, Arpit’s father, used to follow cricket commentary on radio in his younger days, and was inspired by the feats of Lloyd’s side. “At that time only, I decided I would make my [future] child a cricketer,” Vyomeshbhai says. Coincidentally, just like Lloyd, Vasavada is also a left-hand batsman and used to wear specs, before undergoing a vision-correction surgery not very long ago.Vyomeshbhai was passionate for cricket but had little talent himself. “When Arpit was three, I used to take him on my bicycle to Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Ground,” he says. “But since I never held a cricket bat in my life, I had to look out for a coach when he grew a little older.”He was working for Indian Railways at that time and one of his colleagues there was Arvind Pujara, Cheteshwar Pujara’s father. So he decided to send his son to him, and it’s there Vasavada learnt his first cricketing lessons.Cut to the present and Vasavada needed to draw from all those lessons to rescue Saurashtra from a perilous position against Gujarat in the ongoing Ranji Trophy semi-final. Coming in at 15 for 5 on Monday, Vasavada had not only denied Chintan Gaja a hat-trick but, in Chetan Sakariya’s company, also took the side to stumps without further damage.If Gaja ruled the third day with a whirlwind 61 and a five-for, Vasavada gave the early signs on Tuesday morning to whom day four would belong. Resuming from his overnight 23, he drove Gaja through the covers for a boundary. Arzan Nagwaswalla too pitched one up in the next over and was given the same treatment. Next ball he shortened his length only to be punched in front of the point.Along with Sakariya, who proved more than a handy ally, Vasavada took the side past 100. The breakthrough for Gujarat eventually came in the form of a run-out when Vasavada called for a risky single but an Axar Patel direct hit found Sakariya short.The run-out left Vasavada on his haunches even though Sakariya was being applauded by his team-mates for his 45. “He was playing so well that it didn’t look like any bowler could get him out, so I was very disappointed,” Vasavada said at the end of the day.At 105 for 6, there was a big task ahead and Vasavada knew it. That was the reason he didn’t even raise his bat after reaching his fifty and acknowledged the standing ovation from his team-mates with nothing more than a reluctant thumbs-up.”At that time, my job hadn’t even started,” he said later. “And anyway personal benchmarks don’t matter much when the team is in such a position. What matters is if you can take the side to a strong position.”With Chirag Jani at the other end, he started the rebuilding process once again. The two were cautious initially but once the ball got soft, they started imposing themselves. Vasavada, who had consumed 108 balls for his fifty, took only 73 more to bring up his seventh first-class hundred, and the third of this season. In fact, he has converted all three of his 50-plus scores this season into a hundred.Soon after Gaja sent back Jani and Prerak Mankad with the second new ball but Vasavada carried on. Along with Dharmendrasinh Jadeja, he added 41 for the ninth wicket. But when Jadeja was dismissed, he went for quick runs, hooking Nagwaswalla for a six and a four before being caught at deep-backward square leg for 139. By then the lead had swelled to 326.All this time, his father was watching him from his fixed spot in the stands. “Now that I am retired, I come here for every game,” he says. When asked why he doesn’t sit in the invitees’ box, he reasons, “It’s much calmer here.”When Vasavada was on 93, there was a huge appeal for caught-behind as he tried to cut Axar. Gujarat went for the review after the on-field umpire deemed it not-out. The third umpire took a long time but there was no conclusive evidence to overturn the decision. Vyomeshbhai, though, was convinced his son hadn’t hit it.As soon as Vasavada reached his hundred, Vyomeshbhai started getting congratulatory calls. Those who were not following the game, Vyomeshbhai called them himself. After all, his son’s knock had made Saurashtra the favourites to face Bengal in the final.

Do we need another format? Why not, as long as it has the power to change perceptions and move the dial

Mark Nicholas25-Jul-2020Eulogies for cricket are much in vogue, at least here in England, where the perception of something gone persists. By assuming a groundswell of opinion around the marginalising of county cricket and the appearance of the Hundred, they suggest something pessimistic or gloomy. Truth be told, English cricket is in pretty good shape, though more needs to be done to encourage the young. The England team interprets Test cricket with bright spirit and an eye for entertainment; the one-day team are the world champions and the T20 side not far from it, but still the idea is spun that county cricket is the embodiment of all that we English are and that the Hundred is all that we are not. It beats me, as it did when T20 got a cold reception all those years ago. Remarkably few people watch county cricket live and the sense remains that those who do have little else in the diary. This is not a criticism – actually, it is rather charming – but it is close to fact.I loved playing the county game and greatly appreciated the loyalists who followed our cause with enthusiasm and warmth – so much so that many became friends. I was surprised at the travelling they did and the long hours spent on days where others might have been stoking the home fire. I remember a game that trimmed the back of April and the first days of May when it snowed. It was Malcolm Marshall’s first for Hampshire (I think) and we took him shopping to buy woollen jumpers, thick socks and shoes. The sight of him wrapped around the lone dressing-room radiator lives in the memory as if it were yesterday. Incredibly, there were spectators there too, waiting for an announcement. About tobogganing?I thought of the 1970s and ’80s as a golden age but down the track, others will reflect on eras of their own as star-spangled. That the game suits the time in which it finds itself might be its most extraordinary gift, a point best illustrated by World Series Cricket in 1978 and the IPL in 2008. Of course, if we have known and loved what has gone before, we take time to adapt. Some of us never do. In the main, though, cricket simply reflects the zeitgeist.There are so many crickets – single-wicket, double-wicket/pairs, T10, T20, 40 overs, 50 overs, 55 overs, 60 overs, 65 overs, three-day, four-day, five-day. There is declaration cricket, French cricket, cricket, indoor cricket, Kwik cricket, cage cricket, tape-ball cricket, continuous cricket, Last Man Stands, and more, much more. Don’t worry about cricket, it is just fine: even Test cricket, which inhabits an untouchable space. Indeed, the game may prefer to avoid nostalgia. After all, the past is far from perfect. Cricket has long been embroiled in controversy – amateur and professional for a start; then racism, class and coercion. No, it is better to look forward than back. To see a future and set fair for its advantages.ALSO READ: 3TC – what worked, what didn’t, and the AB de Villiers questionWhat’s the trick to getting it right? Off the field: kindness and opportunity for all. On the field: bat and ball. Get that balance right and you have a game. You can weight them one way or the other but you can’t exclude one from the other.Last Saturday, the first game of another incarnation was played in South Africa. 3 Team Cricket is the brainchild of Paul Harris – not the left-arm spinner but the former chairman of FNB and now head honcho at Rain, the South African mobile-data company. Harris loves and knows cricket, and while playing cards with his family during the early days of lockdown, began to wonder how the game could reboot itself for kids. Yes, T20 is doing okay but outside of the subcontinent, the game doesn’t burn in the hearts of children as it once did. Harris called Graeme Smith and Mark Boucher and they loved his idea for three teams of eight players each competing in the same match. Initially, the eight players was a Covid-19 thing, as the six fielders could do their bit in zones – cut like slices of pizza around the outfield – and therefore maintain the biosecure environment that was required to emerge from lockdown. Harris wanted cricket to lead the way with something fresh and innovative, something that might catch the attention of the young.He called me and for three hours made his case and I loved it. I just can’t see the downside in the search for something new. Sure, I would prefer Test cricket to remain pre-eminent for ever and a day but it won’t, maybe it already isn’t. If young people are to fall head over heels for cricket, the game must keep evolving until that silver bullet is identified. My enthusiasm for the Hundred was tempered only by the suspicion that the ECB hadn’t gone far enough. In truth, it is T20 shortened and then shoehorned with some different references and punctuation. But it’s the same game. It will now take another year for us to find out if that is to its advantage or not.Get the balance between bat and ball right and you have a game in you hands•AFP via Getty Images3 Team Cricket is a different game, albeit driven by the same aim: to make more runs than the opposition. Or in this case, oppositions. Having two opponents to consider makes the game more cerebral, inviting the exploration of how best to use your own resources against each of two opponents. If England were playing India and South Africa, for example, would you bowl the quicks against India and the spinners against South Africa? And if you do, in which half? And if the answer is the first half and it goes wrong, are you left exposed? Imagine the jeopardy. While two teams to slog it out against one another, the third team can creep up to spring a surprise.Like all limited-overs cricket, 3TC is a one-innings-per-side contest – in this case, of 12 overs per team – but spread across two periods of six overs either side of half-time. The 36-over version, as played at Supersport Park in Centurion, takes a little less time than T20 and marginally more than a Hundred match. The 90-over version of 30 overs per side may be the more suitable format for the best players.I loved the idea so much, I joined the board of 3TC – a board formed to protect IP but which worked pro bono on the development of the game – and had a hand in devising the rules and the format of the Solidarity Cup match that raised three million rand for the South African Hardship Fund.Do we need another format? Why not, so long as bat and ball stay in harmony. In streets, playgrounds, parks and on beaches, I have played ten-minute games and ten-hour games that have been anything from one a side to 12 a side. They all worked wonderfully well. Our search is for the format that grabs and holds the attention of children in a way that relates to their fascination with the world in which they live.We believe that 3TC can do great things for the development of the game; can help the Associate ICC members spread their gospel; can provide an alternative for clubs that struggle to raise teams; can work for pick-up matches; and can thrill children who may not be top dog in an 11-member team but who can play their part in a team of eight, where every little counts. We believe that shared facilities can allow two schools or clubs with limited facilities to benefit from a better-equipped third club. And we believe that 3TC can be cricket’s vehicle into the Olympic Games, the surest sign that global recognition has come the game’s way. Most immediately we plan to review the match and format and then to spread the 3 Team Cricket wings.ALSO READ: Black Lives Matter – South Africa’s cricket elite shows united face in moving Centurion tributeAs for Saturday in Centurion, well… Reeza Hendricks’ Kingfishers dropped AB de Villiers at the start of his comeback innings. This was costly. AB’s Eagles soared ahead, courtesy the maestro himself and a brilliant display of stroke-making from Aiden Markram. After their partnership, the Kingfishers and Temba Bavuma’s Kites were left to play catch-up, which was beyond them, and to battle for second placeIt is worth saying that this was a beta test. Beta minus, in fact, given the lack of any form of pilot, trial or even the necessary preparation time. It went well enough and the players say they enjoyed the originality of the format. The media, in the main, greeted the occasion with warmth, if finding a grumble in the length of the gap between the six-over batting periods. Fair enough. This was deliberately created to allow television to showcase the charities that were to benefit from the sponsorships. In general, 3TC is a fast game with the rotation of batting, bowling and dugout time being managed for its efficiency.The biggest problem, especially for a new format, was the empty stadium. Even the Premier League in England has struggled with the lack of any atmosphere, to the point where matches televised from partisan venues such as Anfield and Old Trafford still feel like pre-season friendlies. Imagine a 3 Team Cricket match that goes to the wire in front of a full house of three sets of supporters. Imagine the commercial opportunities that come with three seats of fans watching on television in different locations at home or around the world.Of course, six fielders made life too easy for the batsmen, and on the slow winter’s pitch, wickets were hard to come by. The reason for six fielders, or eight-man teams, was the agreement made with the government to support the rules of a biosecure environment and ensure the fewest number of people on site as possible. At a high level of the game, both in the 36-over and 90-over version, 3TC will have nine fielders in support of bowler and wicketkeeper. At lower levels, those in charge of matches can agree upon any number of fielders between six and nine, and if necessary, “borrow” from the dugout team, whose interest in knocking over the batting team will be as strong as that of the fielding side.This has the potential to be a game of tactics, patience, nuance and surprise, its unpredictability a trump card. At the end of each match, three captains stand on the podium – one with gold, one with silver and one with bronze. Each of their players will have had a say. Like the Hundred next year, T20 17 years ago, and one-day cricket back in the mists of time, 3 Team Cricket has the power to change perceptions and move the dial. County cricket as we know it, or four-day cricket around the world – though still admirable and essential as the breeding ground for our Test match heroes – will not do that. We must keep looking forward.