Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 6.22.25
I doubt they were going to beat LSU twice, but a horrendous display of a “look at me” home plate umpire in Game 2 of the College World Series yesterday. Both Coastal Carolina’s head coach and its first base coach got ejected in the first inning of an elimination game in the finals. You have to have a little more patience than that, especially in an environment that’s basically a LSU home game…Both coaches now get to miss the first two games of next year, unless the NCAA comes to its senses (and fires home plate umpire Angel Campos, who got run out of MLB).
You’ve got to feel for Tommy Fleetwood, who coughed up a two-stroke lead over the final four holes at The Travelers, leading to a Keegan Bradley win. Fleetwood has 42 top 10 finishes on the PGA Tour, but has yet to win an event. He seemed a certainty late Sunday afternoon, when Bradley was 50-1 to win standing on the 16th tee.
NBA and NHL Drafts are both this week. I expect the NHL’s “decentralized” draft to last one year. Each team will remain in its home market, and meet with the player they pick in a virtual reality room. It works for the NFL and NBA I guess but…scouts and team PR reps will miss late nights at the bar…
The Pacers gave it a valiant effort in Game 7 once Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles. You’ve got to feel for Haliburton, a native of Wisconsin. He played Game 6 with a calf injury and probably shouldn’t have, and then this. At some point, teams will save the players from themselves. Twenty five years old and a devastating injury for a team that will one day decide they don’t need him anymore. Also wild that three of the top Eastern Conference guards (also Tatum and Hilliard) suffered Achilles tears in the NBA post-season.
Lynx Keep Rolling, Sans Collier
No Napheesa Collier, no problem for the Lynx. Minnesota broke open a close game in the fourth quarter behind 29 points from Kayla McBride and 18 from Courtney Williams. The Lynx starting backcourt combined to shoot 17-for-26.
With Collier out with a back injury, the Lynx moved to 12-1 on the season. No other Western Conference team has fewer than four losses.
Minnesota visits Washington on Tuesday. That’s also the day that tickets for the Lynx’ Commissioner’s Cup championship game against Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever go on sale.
Twins Swept by Brewers
It’s been a tale of three seasons for the Twins, who were beaten in a three-game sweep by Milwaukee that culminated with a 9-8 loss yesterday. Byron Buxton hit two homers, the Twins rallied from a 9-3 deficit after the fifth inning, but couldn’t push across the tying run in the ninth despite having runners on first and second with one out.
Since their 13-game winning streak ended, the Twins have lost six series in a row and eight of nine.
And there’s no magic potion for this team, at least with Pablo Lopez out. It’s amazing how a guy who plays once every five days can set the tone, but they’re a totally different team with him injured.
After Danny Coulombe “opened” yesterday, David Festa probably earned himself a ticket back to St. Paul after allowing eight runs and 11 hits in four innings.
It’s gotten so bad for the Twins pitching staff that position player Jonah Bride has found himself on the mound four times in the last 15 games.
The Twins host another very average team, the Seattle Mariners, for four games this week amidst the raindrops.
Tell a friend to sign up for The Takeout today: https://cutt.ly/5jc87CG
Sponsor The Takeout
Sponsorship packages are available! The Takeout is a great spot to advertise your small business. Get thousands of eyeballs on your product every month. E-mail ryanstanzel@gmail.com
NETWORK PARTNERS
