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The India coach also hailed Washington Sundar for his “unbelievable composure and temperament”

Saurabh Somani07-Mar-2021India completed two landmark series wins on the trot when they won by an innings and 25 runs in the fourth Test against England in Ahmedabad, having come from behind to first beat Australia away and then England at home. The wins, by 2-1 and 3-1 margins respectively, came with India having to battle a slew of injuries and absences of first-choice players – particularly in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia – while also facing a steeper equation to make the World Test Championship final due to the revised rules caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.The injuries and the pandemic-enforced larger squads meant several players got opportunities they otherwise might not have, and head coach Ravi Shastri was full of praise for how the younger players – particularly Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar and Axar Patel – had come through. Shastri spoke at length on each one in a media interaction on Sunday, a day after India had won the fourth Test to seal victory against England.Related

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Rishabh Pant
Pant had arrived in Australia with “a lot of baggage” that he had to shed, physically. He was spoken to “in no uncertain terms” about what he needed to do, and Shastri said the wicketkeeper-batsman worked harder than anyone else in the squad, with the results visible.”At 21, 22, 23, I had similar success. I had hundreds overseas so I can relate to what these guys have done,” Shastri said. “When you are young and don’t carry baggage, you’re not afraid. It’s only when the baggage comes, when you become known quantity and the pressures from the outside come in that you have to perform all the time, that’s when life starts. As it started with Rishabh Pant on this trip.”He came with a lot of baggage. It showed in his size. And he had to lose that baggage, which he did. He worked his backside off to lose it. And I tell you, he has trained harder than anyone in the last two months. And the results are not just for him to see, it’s for the world to see.”Pant has enjoyed a hugely productive Test season, topping India’s run charts with 544 runs in seven games while also showing great athleticism with the gloves. More than the runs, it was the game-changing nature of his innings that caught the imagination. He made 97 in Sydney as India held on for a draw, 89* to lead a historic fourth-innings chase in Brisbane and a brilliant counter-attacking 101 in the series-clinching Test in Ahmedabad.”When you have a naturally brilliant match-winner of his ability playing to potential, there’s no greater sight in cricket,” Shastri said. “I think in the last two months what he’s done to win matches for India, there’ll be players who won’t do it in a lifetime and would have never done it in a lifetime. At the age of 21 to pull of magic like he has done, after working as hard as he has… to then show in his wicketkeeping. Like yesterday, I think his keeping was outstanding on that wicket.”When you add the runs, the match-winning efforts, the keeping improving and the hard work he’s put in – like I mentioned yesterday, he was told in no uncertain terms that this game demands respect. You’ve got to respect the game much more than what you do – and which he did. He addressed it. He’s reaping the rewards now. Outstanding. Simply outstanding.”Washington Sundar and Axar Patel came into the Test side as injury replacements, but stepped up when given the chance•BCCIWashington Sundar
When asked if Sundar – brought in as a bowler but who showed great batting chops – reminded him of himself, Shastri said the 21-year-old offspinning allrounder was much more talented, and that he should be batting in the top four for Tamil Nadu, his state side. Before his debut in Brisbane, Sundar hadn’t played a first-class game for Tamil Nadu for three years.”Washington Sundar, unbelievable composure and temperament,” Shastri said. “I mean, for someone who – yes at Under-19 he was an opening batsman – to see that kind of body language, unfazed by the best bowlers in the world in the toughest situations as in Brisbane, [the first Test against England in] Chennai, here [in Ahmedabad] was unreal.”I think he has far more natural ability than I had. Definitely, he should be batting in the top four for his state. No question about that. If I have to have a word with any of the Tamil Nadu selectors or the captain, with DK [Dinesh Karthik] or something of that sort – I think he should be batting in the top four. He’s good enough. He belongs there. He has the ability and he can get a lot of runs. And at the same time if he can focus on his bowling, India could have a very good No. 6 in the future, even overseas. Someone who can get you a 50, 60, 70 and then can bowl for you about 20 overs and pick up 2-3 wickets. That was my role overseas and I think he can do that role easily, and even better.”Axar Patel
Patel played only three Tests against England, but made an impact in each one, ending up with 27 wickets at a scarcely believable average of 10.59. An allrounder at the domestic level, Patel’s runs tally overtook his wickets tally only in the first innings of the fourth Test, when he made 43 in a century partnership with Sundar that put the match beyond England.Shastri said Patel, 27, wasn’t a “youngster” per se, and would have got his opportunities much sooner if it wasn’t for injuries. Patel’s Test debut came in the series against England, but he has already played 38 ODIs and 3 T20Is, having first represented India in 2014.”Axar Patel, seasoned campaigner, I wouldn’t call him a youngster,” Shastri said. “He’s been around the Indian team for years, he’s been very unlucky with injuries. A lot of other players have got opportunities because of his injuries, including the likes of [Ravindra] Jadeja, including the likes of Krunal Pandya – because he’s been injured.”This is the time when he was injury free, and he made the most of it. But try and think, India playing in India without Jadeja – he’s one of the best allrounders in the world, arguably the best allrounder in the world. He didn’t play, someone else grabbed an opportunity. Now when he comes in and the three play together, there’ll be some fun. In India, especially.”

The allrounder has recovered from a hand injury to bring the Thunder back to full strength

Andrew McGlashan30-Jan-2021Daniel Sams has been passed fit to play in the BBL Knockout final against the Brisbane Heat, giving the Sydney Thunder a significant boost and returning their middle order to full power.Sams suffered a bone and tendon injury in his right hand when he fell awkwardly fielding off his own bowling against the Hobart Hurricanes earlier this month and missed the last three regular-season games which saw the Thunder qualify third in the table.While they covered for his absence effectively in the bowling attack through Brendan Doggett’s impressive form at the back-end of the tournament, Sams’ batting has been a point of difference for the Thunder this season.Related

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He is striking at 191.34 from seven innings for his 199 runs – propelled by his thumping 65 off 25 balls in the group match against the Heat – placing him second overall for the season behind team-mate Nathan McAndrew. He has been a key part of the Thunder’s strong performance in the Power Surge – the two overs of fielding restrictions which can be taken by the batting side after the 10th over – where they lead the way with a run rate of 12.69.Sams himself has scored 69 runs off 31 balls during the Surge, which places him fourth behind team-mate Ben Cutting at the top (91 off 40), Brisbane Heat’s Jimmy Peirson (82 off 50) who will be in the opposition on Sunday and Jordan Silk (79 off 45) from the Sydney Sixers.”All the stuff that I needed to [do] yesterday, I was able to tick it off without any problems really. We’re actually a little bit surprised with how good it’s turned out,” Sams said. There’s a little bit of awareness of pain. But, I’ll be able to go out there and bat as I usually would.”ESPNcricinfo LtdSams has also taken 10 wickets with his left-arm pace but it was his ability to be at full tilt with bat in hand that was the main decider over his fitness”His batting was the main thing we looked at,” Thunder coach Shane Bond said. “There’s always a couple of risks that are associated with an injured hand, so the main concern was his batting. The good news is he had no problems and is ready to go.”Sams’ availability will leave Bond with a tough selection decision after the impact Doggett has had with the ball and the all-round skills that McAndrew brings to the side.”It’s a good headache,” he said. “It’s nice to have a fully fit squad at this time of the season. It’s an unusual situation, but it’s definitely welcome.”In terms of our bowling, I think in the last three games we’ve started to really see our game plan come to fruition because we’ve bowled really well. If we can do that again in this game it will be great.”Our batting has been good and consistent throughout the tournament, but it’s tremendous to see that our bowling has picked up.”The two group matches between the Thunder and Heat were shared one apiece. The Thunder chased down 179 with seven balls to spare at Manuka Oval – the venue for the Knockout – thanks to Sams’ brilliance, and then the Heat successfully chased at the Gabba although Sams again made an impact with 37 off 18 balls before having to be subbed out with concussion.

Looking to go one better than last season by securing promotion to the Premier League, Leeds United have reportedly made their first move to sign an in-demand free agent for Daniel Farke and his side.

Leeds transfer news

Since promotion failure, the headlines have centred mostly around the potential exit of Crysencio Summerville, who won the Championship's Player of the Season award in the last campaign. Linked with the likes of Liverpool, Newcastle United and Chelsea ever since, the Dutchman is likely to have a big decision to make this summer, as Leeds look to keep hold of their prized asset.

Alas, as the Summerville rumours continue, Leeds have been linked with fresh faces coming the other way. Recent reports have linked the Yorkshire club with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Oliver Skipp and pending free agent Daniel Jebbison. The latter would be a bargain deal and one that the Whites could follow up with yet another free transfer.

According to Graeme Bailey for HITC, Leeds have made checks on Ryan Sessegnon who is set to become a free agent at the end the month following the expiry of his current Spurs contract. Leeds are reportedly joined by West Ham United, Rangers, Fulham, Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, Real Betis, Monza, Como and Atalanta in a packed race to secure the full-back's signature this summer.

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By
Dan Emery

Jun 26, 2024

Sessegnon, once a huge prospect at Fulham, has seen his career derailed by injuries in recent years and is in desperate need of his fresh start to go to plan. Given that the 24-year-old can play in any position on the left-hand side, he could quickly prove to be an important asset for Farke and Leeds if they complete their move in the coming months.

"Strong" Sessegnon needs next move to go right

After a dream Spurs move quickly turned into a nightmare full of injuries, Sessegnon's next move has to go in the right direction, and as Leeds aim for Championship promotion, Elland Road could be an ideal destination. The former Fulham man, who once earned a Guinness World Record for hitting both posts and the crossbar in the quickest time, would offer Farke instant competition for Junior Firpo.

When he did enjoy an injury-free run in the Spurs side, meanwhile, former manager Antonio Conte had nothing but praise for Sessegnon, saying via Football365: “About Sess, we are talking about now a young player but a reliable player who I can count on for games in the Premier League or Champions League, for every game.

“You know very well I try in every game to make the right decision but in that role I am OK because I have (Ivan) Perisic and Sessegnon, two important players. He improved a lot and I remember very well since I arrived Sessegnon was another player. Now he is a reliable player and he has great confidence. He is strong physically and improved in his quality and technically."

He struggled in white-ball cricket and was moved from opener to No. 7 in the early rounds of the Ranji Trophy last season. Then he turned it around and went on to average 74.18

Sruthi Ravindranath11-Sep-2024N Jagadeesan was pretty sure he was getting phased out of the Tamil Nadu team last season. He was only 28 and was one of the side’s senior players, with eight years of domestic experience. He had broken records at the Vijay Hazare Trophy in the 2022-23 season. But he played only two games in the 2023-24 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and had an average return in the Vijay Hazare Trophy that followed. He was also pushed down to No. 7 from his regular opening position in the first match of the Ranji Trophy. Then, when he got a chance to move up to his preferred opening slot in his hometown Coimbatore, he wanted to make it count. He went on to enjoy his best season, racking up 816 runs in nine games at an average of 74.18, and went on to make the India B side for the ongoing Duleep Trophy.Among the feats he achieved in the Ranji Trophy last season was also facing 400-plus balls in an innings in two consecutive games: he scored 245 not out against Railways and followed it up with 321 against Chandigarh.”I was coming out of a place where I wasn’t considered to be part of the team,” Jagadeesan tells ESPNcricinfo. “In the second game [against Tripura] I didn’t get to bat and the first game [against Gujarat] I didn’t score a lot of runs, I was batting lower down the order too. The moment I went opening, I told myself there’s no way I’m going to let my wicket go.”There was a very much a driving factor after I got settled which kept telling me that ‘you’ve struggled a lot and people have been talking about dropping you, you are not going to be in that situation ever again’. The moment I got settled in, there was another driving factor. I was settled and I was not letting it go. It’s a different high when you know that you actually faced 400 balls because it involves a lot of stamina. My focus levels were really, really high too. I genuinely felt that I didn’t have the patience to play 400 balls. It was the grit.”While Jagadeesan finished the season on a high, TN’s campaign ended on a sour note. After their semi-final loss against Mumbai, Sulakshan Kulkarni, who was the coach of TN at the time, publicly criticised captain R Sai Kishore’s decision to bat first.It was the culmination of a season in which relations between the coach and the players were not smooth and, in that tricky situation, the TN players got a lot closer, Jagadeesan says, praising Sai Kishore’s leadership.During the downtime post the domestic season, Jagadeesan captained the TN Colts team on their UK tour in May for three weeks under coach L Balaji. That aside, he also dabbled in TV commentary during IPL 2024 and the men’s T20 World Cup, which he says was an “eye-opening” experience.”When you’re at the comm box, you have to pay a lot of attention,” he says. “You have to focus on the game and predict…only then you will be able to speak well. I realised even when I’m not playing the game, I knew what the bowlers were going to do by just watching. It was very insightful.”For example, when you’re in the comm box you actually predict what a fast bowler is going to do looking at the field set. You get deeper connections with the bowlers. That helps you while you bat against them as well, because you’ve actually seen what the bowler is going to do. If the thing I predict happens then I can say I’ve learned something out of it. There’s a lot you can learn when you commentate.”Jagadeesan is hoping to harness all of these experiences, and has also set clear goals – which he usually doesn’t do – heading into this domestic season.”The ultimate aim for me is to be part of the Indian cricket team,” he says. “I don’t usually set goals coming into a domestic season, but I think it’s high time I start doing that. In Ranji Trophy where I did not even think I could face 400 balls, I did that. These were the things which I did not even think was possible. Just like how my long-term goal is to play for India, there’s always been a goal for me in my head since childhood which is to cross the 1000-run mark in Ranji Trophy. That’s always been on my checklist.”

With Asia’s best going head to head in the UAE, here are four contests you do not want to miss

Alagappan Muthu24-Aug-2022The one everybody’s waiting for – Babar vs Rashid
Babar Azam playing fast bowling is a thing of beauty. He is never rushed. It’s as though having things hurled at him at 90mph is his idea of a good time. So naturally, opposition teams will try to take that away from him. But while denying the No. 1 batter in T20Is pace on the ball may appear a sound plan, it doesn’t always produce results. Unless your name is Khan. Rashid Khan. The Afghanistan legspinner has dismissed the Pakistan captain more often (five times) than anybody else in the shortest format, and conceded just 59 runs off 48 balls. In fact, every single time they have met in a T20 match, Rashid has taken Babar out, and if they face off in the Asia Cup , it will be only their second meeting in T20Is.ESPNcricinfo LtdThe one that’s just beginning – Kohli vs Hasaranga
It’s always eventful when Virat Kohli goes up against a bowler who takes the ball away from him. At the Asia Cup, he will come up against another exponent of this art. Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga. Okay, we’re cheating a bit here, picking a legspinner, but come on. They’re rivals turned friends turned rivals again. It’s just too juicy. Kohli and Hasaranga were part of the same dressing room at Royal Challengers Bangalore, experiencing the high of an improbable journey into the playoffs together. In fact, Hasaranga was Royal Challengers’ top wicket-taker this season. Now they are back to plotting each other’s downfall. And it could go either way. Hasaranga is exceptional against right-handers – they make up 86 of his 116 T20 wickets – but Kohli averages 62 against legspin. Hasaranga’s bowled just six balls at Kohli in T20 cricket – for four runs and no wicket – so this battle is only just beginning.The one not many know about – Rajapaksa vs Shadab
When he is not busy retiring and un-retiring from cricket, Bhanuka Rajapaksa is a pretty good wristspin hitter. And that’s bad news for Shadab Khan. These two have faced each other three times in T20 cricket for a total of 45 runs in 29 balls and only one dismissal. Sri Lanka don’t play Pakistan in the group stages but if they do meet in the later stages, this middle-overs bout could prove crucial. Of course Pakistan do have the option of going an entirely different way to handle Rajapaksa. The left-hander is a lot more suspect against offspin, which accounts for 16 of his 28 dismissals to slow bowlers.ESPNcricinfo LtdThe one that’s been on hold – Mushfiqur vs Hardik
The world has seen a lot over the last six years. A virus. A vaccine. New star systems. Something called the Griddy. But you know what’s not happened in 2344 days? Mushfiqur Rahim playing a T20 against Hardik Pandya. March 23, 2016. Bangladesh were on the cusp of knocking India out of their own T20 World Cup. An equation that once read 11 runs off six balls turned into two off three and it was all because of Mushfiqur. He punched the air and screamed into the night, emotion pouring out of him. But Mushfiqur’s celebration turned out to be premature. Hardik was bowling the final over of a T20 defence for the very first time back then. He’s become a much better bowler now(ww).

Saha rode his luck thrice on the way to a gritty 64 which pleased coach Arun Lal

Shashank Kishore in Rajkot12-Mar-2020It took two iffy decisions that reprieved Cheteshwar Pujara in the semi-final of the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy for the BCCI to make clear their intentions of installing DRS for the knockout stages of the ongoing season. But having a “half-baked DRS” – as members of the Saurashtra camp described – has reiterated what was feared: a system that could end up causing more confusion, maybe even leave third umpires guessing.It was one such guess early on Thursday that has perhaps given Bengal a doorway to the title. Understandably, it left Saurashtra disappointed.It was the third over of the morning. Bengal had added just four runs to their overnight 134 for 3, with Wriddhiman Saha on 6. Jaydev Unadkat got the ball to jag back in from around the stumps to beat a half-prodding Saha. As soon as the ball thudded into his pads, Unadkat knew it was out. Umpire KN Ananthapadhmanabhan nodded and Saurashtra celebrated wildly.It looked like Saha didn’t get an inside edge, because he would have immediately reviewed otherwise. He spoke to his non-striker, Sudip Chatterjee, and challenged the on-field call at the stroke of 15 seconds. S Ravi, the third umpire, looked at multiple replays.The square-on angle showed the bat was a touch ahead of the pad, but there was nothing to suggest an obvious deflection. Then he asked for the front-on angle, again inconclusive because there was no drastic change in seam position. Yet, he ruled not out because he thought there was an inside edge. A very thin one, because he “can hear two sounds” even though the visual evidence suggested otherwise. The green light flashed and Saha survived.It was the slice of luck Bengal needed after Abhimanyu Easwaran was given out in a similar manner on Wednesday, the third morning. Easwaran was struck on leg stump at the point of impact, and while the angle the ball was delivered from made it obvious it would have missed leg stump, the absence of ball-tracking meant the TV umpire simply had to look for an inside edge in case of a referral. There wasn’t any and Easwaran was sent back.ALSO READ: Bengal live to fight another day to end 30-year hurtOn the fourth morning, Saha’s reprieve proved to be a vital moment in the game. Saha and Chatterjee, who came together on the third evening at 124 for 3, added 101, more importantly occupying the crease for over four hours and battling through 49 overs, well into the second session. By the time Chatterjee was out jabbing to short leg, Bengal’s deficit had come down to exactly 200.Saurashtra’s camp was guarded, not wanting to get into the DRS debate while the game was still on. In their minds, they need just four good balls to win their first-ever Ranji Trophy title. But their coach gave a peek into the fact that they were hampered by the decision. “We definitely need a full-fledged DRS,” Karsan Ghavri said. “It was a key moment in the game, but we were fully aware of the system in place. Hopefully it will be looked into for the future.”The lbw reprieve wasn’t Saha’s only slice of luck. Immediately in the over that followed the huge lbw appeal, Saha should have been run out for 8 after being sent back while attempting a single. The mid-off fielder failed to effect a direct hit while wicketkeeper Avi Barot, charging in from his position, failed to grab the ball and remove the bails.Then, he was dropped at gully soon after the second new ball was taken in the 83rd over while pushing at a wide delivery. It carried to Vishwaraj Jadeja, who first moved the wrong way to his right before moving to his left. Visibly disturbed by his shin pads, he put in a desperate dive but cuffed the chance. Saha eventually fell for 64, by which time Saurashtra knew Bengal’s lower-order pluck wouldn’t make matters easy.The beauty of Saha’s innings lay in his simplicity: try and get outside the line, not allow Unadkat to threaten his off stump by the one that straightens. And whenever there was a hint of pressure building on him, he found a way to pierce the off side through some of the most gorgeous copybook strokes to not just eat into the deficit, but also relieve some pressure.”It was incredible, the fight he showed,” Bengal coach Arun Lal said. “He hadn’t played any cricket for three weeks. He sat out in New Zealand. To come in here, have one net and bat the way he did showed character. Some of it wasn’t pretty, but you don’t need to be pretty. You need guts, you need to show fight and he did just that.”While these opportunities may or may not have directly impacted Saurashtra, it did give Bengal some leeway, which they maximised to the fullest as the day panned out.Saha’s may haven’t been that fairytale daddy hundred, but in battling through the way he did, he had laid down a marker for Bengal’s lower order to follow.

MatériaMais Notícias

Fluminense e Vasco se enfrentam nesta quarta-feira (14), às 21h30 (horário de Brasília), pela 8ª rodada do Campeonato Carioca, no Maracanã. O Tricolor lidera a competição, enquanto o Cruz-Maltino luta por uma vaga na semifinal do torneio.

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✅FICHA TÉCNICA
Fluminense x Vasco
8ª rodada do Campeonato Carioca

Data e horário: quarta-feira, 14 de fevereiro de 2024, às 21h30 (de Brasília)
Local: Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro (RJ)
Onde assistir: Band, BandSports e Canal GOAT
Árbitro: Bruno Mota Correia
Assistentes: Rodrigo Figueiredo Henrique Correa e Wallace Muller Barros Santos

⚽PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES
FLUMINENSE (Técnico: Fernando Diniz)
Fábio; Samuel Xavier, Thiago Santos, Felipe Melo e Marcelo; André, Martinelli e Ganso; Keno, Arias e Cano.

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VASCO (Técnico: Ramón Díaz)
Léo Jardim; Paulo Henrique, João Victor, Léo e Piton; Medel, Galdames e Payet; Adson, Vegetti e David.

Tudo sobre

Campeonato CariocaFluminenseOnde assistirVasco

The hit by pitch has become so common—and dangerous—that twice last week benches cleared on hits by pitches that were . Even accidental plunkings are putting hitters in a fighting mood.

The Padres and Dodgers confronted each other Thursday after Fernando Tatis Jr. was hit by a 27-year-old pitcher making his major league debut in a 5–0 game. San Diego manager Mike Shildt touched off the bench-clearing episode when he stormed out of the dugout toward Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts.

“Intentional, unintentional, the fact of the matter is I took exception to it,” said Shildt after watching Tatis get hit for a fourth time in seven games by the Dodgers. He’s been hit once in all other games.

The next night, the Angels and Astros went at it after Angels shortstop Zach Neto took exception to getting hit by a Hunter Brown sinker for the second time .

“I know he’s not trying to hit me,” Neto said, “but it’s definitely frustrating.”

Since spring training, Chris Taylor (hand), Sean Murphy (rib), Thairo Estrada (wrist), Andrew Benintendi (hand), Jake Cronenworth (ribs), Paul DeJong (nose), Joc Pederson (hand) and Luke Keaschall (forearm) all suffered broken bones on pitches. Stars such as Corbin Carroll, Bryce Harper and Christian Yelich were fortunate to avoid major injuries on scary hits by pitches.

What’s going on with hits by pitches? Are hitters getting too sensitive? Is this the price for pitchers getting rushed to the big leagues? Are injuries forcing pitchers into the big leagues when they don’t belong there?

It’s time to set aside the myths and sloppy narratives. Let’s examine the facts of the hit by pitch epidemic to find out what’s going on.

1. Hitting has never been more dangerous than these past eight seasons.

The eight seasons with the highest rates of hit by pitches since 1901 are, in order, 2020, 2023, 2021, 2024, 2022, 2019, 2025, 2018. Notice a trend? In 117 seasons from 1901 to 2017, the hit by pitch rate never reached 0.8 per game (both teams combined). Now it has done so eight straight years. (That’s also before and after the sticky stuff crackdown.)

Hits by pitches have become so common and dangerous, it is rare to see a player go to the plate without some kind of armor on their hands, wrists, arm or elbow.

2. The biggest factor in the rise of hits by pitches is the rise of pitch-shaping.

The trend toward lab-grown pitches (tweak their shape and spin) has overtaken pure velocity as the guiding force of pitching. Most pitchers now want to move the ball to both glove side and arm side. That has given rise to more same-side sinkers (i.e., right-on-right two-seamers running in) and off-side cutters (i.e., right-on-left cutters).

Of the 914 hits by pitches this year through Saturday, more have been caused by sinkers and cutters than any other type of pitch. More telling, the rate of HBP from sinkers and cutters is much higher compared to their overall use. Nothing else is close. Sinkers and cutters account for only 23.4% of pitches but 34.2% of HBPs.

2025 HBP by pitch type

Pitch type

No. of pitches

% HBP

% of Pitches

Difference

Sinkers/Cutters

310

34.2

23.4

+10.8

Breaking

281

30.7

31

-0.3

Four-seamers

239

26.1

31.6

-5.5

Off-speed

73

8

13.8

-5.8

“I don’t think [pitchers] pitch in as much as they used to,” says Rangers manager Bruce Bochy, the dean of active managers who is in his 28th season. “So, they don’t quite have that command for that pitch. And a lot of it is elevated in, too. You pitch on that top rail, in with the sinker that gets away from you a little bit, you’re gonna hit somebody. Those are the scary ones.”

3. The youngest pitchers are not the worst culprits.

Pitchers 25 and under hit batters at a 7% lower rate than pitchers 26 to 30 years old.

Hit by Pitch rate by age of pitcher, 2025

Age

Plate appearances per HBP

25 and under

95.6

26-30

88.5

31-35

105.2

36+

105.3

4. That said, there is a general correlation between age and control.

Pitching control metrics by age, 2025

Age

PA per HBP

BB percentage

30 and under

90.2

8.8%

31+

105.2

8.2%

5. Hitters share the blame.

Brown yelled back at Neto that standing close to the plate and “diving” into a pitch puts a hitter in harm’s way. He is not wrong.

Here are the two right-on-right sinkers from Brown that hit Neto:

Those pitches are only 6½ inches off the inside corner of the strike zone, about the width of two baseballs. Neto’s feet are close to the plate and his hands are above the plate as he starts to bring the barrel around.

Where does a hitter look for the baseball? Here’s a clue: Combine that prevalence with the widespread adoption of body armor and you have hitters dismissing the pitch in.

“I don’t think they’re even concerned about it,” Bochy says. “When these hitters are going to game plan, a lot of times they’re looking out over the plate. There's no fear.

“Guys pitched in more than I think what they do now. And these [hitters], they’re just diving. I mean, we have some guys doing it, too. You saw Josh Jung break his wrist [last year]. Guys used to turn or move [away]. But now they’re going right into the pitch. Some guys just have a hard time turning out of the way versus getting their hands going there a little bit.

“You’ve got these pitchers now throwing so hard with that ball running in or that cutter … that cutter is a big pitch and it’s hitting a lot of these guys because they’re committing and then they’re just going right into it.”

6. Randy Arozarena of the Seattle Mariners is the best example of the collision of these pitching and hitting changes.

Arozarena leads the majors in hit by pitches with 13 (tied with Ty France). One pitch clipped his hand and 11 have hit his elbow guard. Six of them have come on right-on-right sinkers.

He has been hit 84 times in his career. Seventy-five of those HBPs (89%) have been above the waist and below the shoulder—mostly off his elbow guard.

Since he first came up in 2019, Arozarena has moved closer to the plate and learned how to keep his protected front elbow in the path of the pitch rather than avoiding it. Here are pitches off his elbow guard over the years where you can see he moved closer to the plate with his feet and, thus, his elbow:

7. Tatis was hit by pure misfires from Lou Trivino and Jack Little.

Those pitches were 24.5 and 15 inches off the inside corner of the plate, respectively.

Shildt overreacted because he doesn’t want to lose his impact hitter to a broken bone caused by bad pitching. Intent didn’t matter. Major league hitters expect major league pitchers to have major league command. Sometimes pitches get away.

Like many modern hitters, Tatis starts with an open stance and steps into the baseball. Over his career, he has been hit 18 times by pitches from righthanders; eight of them on sinkers.

Said a rival manager, “Tatis, you have to pitch him in. I know they’re tired of him getting hit. But, hell, what’s your option? Keep throwing him away and give up damage? Or try to get him out? I don't think anybody was trying to hit him, but he gets hit a lot.”

8. The HBPs of Shohei Ohtani by San Diego, both after Tatis was hit, looked intentional.

Randy Vásquez hit Ohtani in the thigh with a four-seamer on Tuesday, after just missing him with the previous pitch, also a four-seamer. It was only the third lefthanded hitter Vásquez hit in his career with a four-seamer, the first time on a pitch that high.

Two days later, Robert Suarez also hit Ohtani with a fastball. Suarez has thrown 831 four-seam fastballs to lefthanded hitters. The one to Ohtani was the farthest inside of all of them.

Suarez has hit only three lefthanded batters with his fastball in his career. The other two occurred in his rookie season, three years ago.

The count was 3–0. It happened in the bottom of the inning just after Little pegged Tatis.

Cool cat that he is, Ohtani shrugged, took first base without complaint and waved to his teammates the equivalent of, “Let’s move on; nothing to see here.”

MLB deemed it intentional and suspended Suarez three games. Suarez denied it was intentional.

9. Injuries and analytics-based game management have put hundreds more pitchers in the big leagues who about a decade ago would still be in the minor leagues honing their craft.

Just short of halfway through this season, MLB teams already have used more pitchers than in the 141 entire seasons between 1874 and 2014.

The 19th century, I get. But just think about this when you want to understand how fast the game has changed: teams have used more pitchers less than halfway through this season (709) than they did the entire season just 11 years ago (692).

In an interview with Andrés Cantor for Futbol de Primera, Mauricio Pochettino discusses the work behind the USMNT’s recent turnaround – and calls out coaches who have criticized his approach.

U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino has had no shortage of critics in the early months of his tenure. After a rocky start, though, he's finally shaping something that resembles a team on the rise. The U.S. are unbeaten in their last five matches, and with a new culture taking hold – supported by clear tactical tweaks – the sting of the Gold Cup final and Nations League semifinal losses is starting to fade.

But the questions haven’t gone away. There are still debates to settle and plenty of decisions to explain. In a wide-ranging conversation with legendary Argentine announcer Andrés Cantor for , Pochettino tackled many of them head-on. He acknowledged that the job has proven to be a bigger undertaking than he expected, and opened up about roster decisions, culture-building, and why he believes the USMNT should approach next summer’s World Cup believing they can win every match they play.

Here are thefive main takeaways from an enlightening conversation with the U.S. manager…

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  More changes needed than expected

  This may have gotten a bit Eric Cantona-esque from the manager, but he did admit that the challenges in the job were perhaps more apparent than he had suspected. A lot of his rhetoric since he took the job has been about "cultural resets" and problems within the problem. It was no secret that Pochettino was going to be more than just a teddy bear. But what neither side, presumably, realized was just how much things needed to be changed in order for Pochettino to shape the team in his vision. Results take time; the "ship" needed to be steered.

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  Gold Cup changed everything

  Pochettino has faced consistent questions about his squad selection. He has leaned heavily on an MLS contingent and introduced a number of players who might not have been involved in previous cycles. In total, the Argentine has brought 71 different players into camps and handed out several debuts.

  That approach creates opportunities for new faces and also carries the possibility that some players may not remain in the picture long term. Pochettino noted that the strategy has begun to show signs of progress. Aside from the lopsided loss to South Korea, the USMNT have shown improvement since the Gold Cup and are currently on a five-match unbeaten run.

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  'We let him rest'

  Pochettino has also dealt with disagreements with European clubs regarding player availability for international duty. He described the situation as a balance handled on a case-by-case basis.

  Last summer, Christian Pulisic requested time off during the Gold Cup to recover after a long club season. Pochettino acknowledged the request and agreed to give him a break, and Pulisic returned to the squad once he was fit. Chris Richards, meanwhile, joined the U.S. for the Gold Cup before immediately entering Crystal Palace’s preseason. In response, Pochettino left the defender out of the most recent camp to manage his workload.

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  'I would never have criticized a coach'

  One recurring topic when a foreign coach takes over a national team is whether they understand the culture surrounding the program. In Pochettino’s case, some observers questioned whether he grasped the expectations around the USMNT, suggesting his reaction to the Nations League semifinal and third-place losses reflected a lack of familiarity with the U.S. sporting landscape.

  Pochettino rejected that characterization, saying the defeats were difficult for him and formed part of a broader rebuilding process. He noted that winning the tournament would have been positive, but emphasized that his priority at the time was addressing what he viewed as structural issues within the team.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has reignited the drama surrounding Barcelona's Negreira case, as Los Blancos' chief pointed to the perceived injustice in Barca's "best sporting era" coinciding with alleged payments of more than €8 million to referees over a 17-year period. Perez also cited the clear imbalance in red cards issued to the two clubs during the period, stating that the situation is "not normal".

Perez reopens Barcelona's Negreira scandal controversy

Speaking at the latest Assembly of Representative Members, Perez used his speech to attack several major bodies, including UEFA, La Liga and, especially, Barcelona.

As reported by the Real Madrid president took the opportunity to reopen the controversy surrounding Barca’s referee scandal, where La Blaugrana were accused of paying approximately €8.4m (£7.3m/$9.7m) to referees in the Spanish top flight within a 17-year period, between 2001-2018.

The ‘Negreira case’, as it is often known, begun following accusations in 2023. Jose María Enríquez Negreira was formerly vice president of the Technical Committee of Referees (TCA) of the Spanish FA (the RFEF). Negreira received these substantial payments from Barcelona, which the club claimed was in a consultancy capacity as Negreira offered refereeing reports and advice. Both the club and Negreira have denied accusations of bribery being involved, but a case into sporting integrity is still ongoing.

Perez has now relaunched the controversy amidst his claims that the situation is “not normal” and coincides with sporting success in a manner which the Los Blancos chief questioned in his speech.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesPerez questions Barcelona and refereeing scandal in fiery speech

"It’s not normal that Barcelona has paid the vice president of referees more than €8m for at least 17 years, whatever the reason," Perez denounced before the members. "I repeat: whatever the reason, it’s not normal."

He continued to say that Enríquez Negreira held "a key position in the refereeing hierarchy," responsible for referee promotions and demotions. "A period that coincides, coincidentally, with Barcelona’s best sporting results in our country," added Perez.

Perez used charts and data to back up his claims. "Real Madrid had a net balance of two red cards in 2021,” he explained. "And Barcelona, 61 red cards. That’s a difference of no less than 59. On the other hand, during the same period, the balance in Europe is almost identical: +12 for Barca and +13 for Madrid.

"Bayern and Dortmund have the same balance, and so do the major leagues. The red card balance during the Negreira period at Barcelona was +49 and at Real Madrid, -1. Draw your own conclusions."

'Who is going to forget it?'

"Real Madrid is the only club that has appeared in the trial. Four presidents have maintained millionaire payments for 17 years to the vice president of referees,” he stated.

He also pressurised the stance of the TCA president: "Fran Soto has asked us to move on and forget the ‘Negreira case.’ Who is going to forget it? The reality is that they [the referees involved] are still there. It’s a situation that prevents them from acting with neutrality.

"How is it possible that, before the Copa final, the match referee said that referees were going to take action against our club? Before a Copa del Rey final? He should have been removed, and no measures were taken."

The president concluded by pointing towards La Liga’s role in the Barcelona match which was going to be held in Miami. "Not even their captain, Frenkie de Jong, thinks it’s normal," he claimed about the proposition to hold an official match in the US. "And it’s also not normal that La Liga supports two teams, Barcelona and Villarreal, who receive additional financial incentives for playing in Miami. And yet we have to listen to Mr Tebas trying to compare this with the NFL."

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Getty Images SportBarcelona's refereeing controversy goes on

The fact that Perez has taken such a high-profile opportunity to speak out on the case shows its continued importance to the Madrid president at Barca’s arch-rivals.

He feels that the case questions the integrity of La Liga and is not willing to hear La Blaugrana’s explained reasoning for the situation occurring. Whether Barca, La Liga or the TCA will respond to the outburst remains to be seen.