Author: JamesMcGhee

jamesmcghee

MLB

Gavin Lux rewards Dave Roberts’ patience with key hits in Dodgers’ win over Padres

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Gavin Lux singled in the fourth inning Wednesday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)Dave Roberts wasn’t quite ready to bench a struggling second baseman Gavin Lux in favor of Kike Hernandezbut Lux was beginning to test the patience of the The Dodgers the manager as his slump dragged on into a third week and the playoffs approached.Lux was one of baseball’s best hitters for seven weeks after the All-Star break, batting .347 with a 1.043 on-base-plus-slugging percentage, seven homers, 14 doubles and 21 RBIs in 40 games from July 20 to Sept. 4. But that bat broke down this month,…

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NFL

NFL Panic Index: Is Travis Kelce Done? And How Bad Are the Cowboys?

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Travis Kelce is at an age where many NFL players have retired. Photograph: Denny Medley/USA Today SportsCincinnati BengalsA slow start to the season is familiar territory for Cincinnati. In six seasons under Zac Taylor, the Bengals have started 0-2 five times. But losing their first three games is new, and the odds are stacked against them now. Only four of 162 teams that started 0-3 have made the playoffs since 1990. The expanded format helps tilt the odds slightly in Cincy’s favor, but not by much.On the positive side, the Bengals looked imperfect in all three games this season, but…

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NHL

Three takeaways from the Red Wings’ 4-2 preseason win over Chicago

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The Red Wings sent a pretty solid team to Chicago for the preseason opener Wednesday night. Eleven of their 20 players spent most of last season in the NHL, including a top line of Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. Detroit won 4-2, with goals from Tyler Motte, Jeff Petry, Lucas Raymond and Olli Maatta.In a preseason game, the process of winning says more about the team than any scoreboard. So, let’s dive into what we learned about Detroit in this game.Austin Watson shows his qualities in the first match of the testWhen he spoke in Traverse City about…

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MLB

Phillies crush Cubs, secure first-round playoff berth

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Phillies crush Cubs, secure first-round playoff berth originally appeared on NBC Sports PhiladelphiaThis time around, there will be no wild-card series for the Phillies.Two nights after winning the NL East title, they clinched a top-two berth and a first-round berth in the playoffs with a 9-6 win over the Cubs. They also needed a Brewers loss, and Willy Adames was pulled at second trying to extend a single moments later as Milwaukee lost at Pittsburgh to seal the game.“I got to see the Pirates’ last out on the big screen and I saw the whole crowd going crazy,” Brandon Marsh…

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