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Tag: world-series

  • ‘Can’t be right’: Joe Biden, sports world fume at WNBA No.1 draft pick Caitlin Clark’s ‘jarring’ payday

    ‘Can’t be right’: Joe Biden, sports world fume at WNBA No.1 draft pick Caitlin Clark’s ‘jarring’ payday

    Is that all she’ll get?

    That was the overwhelming response to basketball fans realising Caitlin Clark would earn just A$119,000 in her first season as a professional player.

    Clark, 22, was selected first in the WNBA Draft on Tuesday (AEST) amid expectations she will have a transformative effect on women’s professional basketball.

    The Indiana Fever made it official, taking the Iowa Hawkeyes star with the first pick.

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    Clark fell just short of winning an NCAA title with Iowa but has already taken women’s basketball to another stratosphere, breaking the record for the most career points by a college player, male or female.

    Her long range sharpshooting ability has attracted a growing legion of fans and earned comparisons to the NBA’s all-time three-point leader Steph Curry.

    Clark will earn A$527,000 over four years, per the league’s collective bargaining agreement.

    In comparison, Australia’s Liz Cambage is reportedly earning more than A$1 million for a season in the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association.

    The WNBA’s salaries mean Clark will make significantly more money from endorsements, which already include Nike, Gatorade, State Farm and Panini.

    Clark recently declined a A$7.8 million offer from rapper Ice Cube to play in his BIG 3 league.

    Caitlin Clark was taken with the No. 1 pick by the Indiana Fever. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
    Clark made the WNBA Draft a must watch event. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    ESPN journalist and current contributor to The Atlantic Jemele Hill took to X on Tuesday in a lengthy post about the situation that the WNBA faces and responded to critics who bashed what the league was paying its newest star, Clark.

    “I’m already annoyed by this conversation because for years, WNBA players have fought for more money,” Hill wrote.

    “And when they were outspoken, so many of y’all told them to shut up or reminded them how they had no value The NBA has had 50+ years of investment, media coverage, etc. After 27 years, the WNBA will not be the current NBA. So stop comparing them.”

    Hill went on to point out that WNBA players compete for four months and are given free housing and cars as part of their deals before suggesting that the lower salaries were “why so many women’s players play overseas to boost/supplement their income.”

    “Weaponising this information against WNBA players is another form of misogyny,” Hill said.

    “These women have been dreaming of playing professionally in front of American audiences their whole lives,” Hill continued. “Instead of clowning and reminding them of what they’re not — buy the merchandise, go to the games, and watch the games on television.

    “Very easy to criticise when most of y’all couldn’t get paid to compete at anything.”

    Hill had been complimentary of Clark’s play and said she believed it would translate to the WNBA, but she also criticised the way that Clark has been held up by the media.

    She shoots like Steph Curry but will make a pittance in the WNBA. Photo: Steph Chambers/Getty Images/AFP.Source: AFP
    Clark will make more money from endorsements. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Still, Clark’s impact on women’s basketball has been hard to deny after a record 2.4 million people tuned in to ESPN on Monday to watch the WNBA draft.

    That number was higher than last year’s MLB draft on ESPN/MLB Network and the NHL draft, which also aired on ESPN.

    Michael Rubin, CEO of merchandise seller Fanatics, said Clark had the highest selling jersey on draft night of any athlete in any sport in the company’s history.

    US sports commentator Bill Simmons on his podcast said Clark has already had an effect similar to “sports shifters” Tiger Woods, Conor McGregor and the Williams sisters in elevating their respective sports to the mainstream.

    The WNBA’s relatively paltry salaries have been criticised by commentators and even US President Joe Biden weighed in.

    “Women in sports continue to push new boundaries and inspire us all,” President Biden wrote on X.

    “But right now we’re seeing that even if you’re the best, women are not paid their fair share.

    “It’s time that we give our daughters the same opportunities as our sons and ensure women are paid what they deserve.”

    Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson wrote on X: “These ladies deserve so much more … Praying for the day.”

    Today show host Hoda Kotb said on Tuesday: “They’ve already sold out games. She had the highest ratings, her teams and the Final Four had the highest ratings — higher than the World Series, higher than the NBA. So, I was like, what is she going to get paid? Because finally, you can get a real paycheck. Then I saw it and was like, this can’t be right.”

    Co-host Jenna Bush Hager added: “Honestly the gap is so jarring … We’re talking about equal pay. That ain’t even close.”

    — With NY Post, AFP

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  • WAGS at the World Series: Madisyn Seager leads the celebrations

    WAGS at the World Series: Madisyn Seager leads the celebrations

    Winning the World Series is the stuff of dreams for every aspiring baseball player, but despite the Texas Rangers claiming the prize, the players were not the ones celebrating the hardest as their wives and girlfriends (WAGs) showed them how it’s done.

    Madisyn Seager, wife of Corey Seager (who won World Series MVP), led the WAGS in the celebrations which featured lots of tequila and dancing from glimpses viewed on social media as they partied with their loved ones and their teammates.

    Mrs Seager was filmed kneeling as someone poured tequila straight down her throat, before she jumped up and started to clap and jump around as she showed herself to be the life of the party.

    Madisyn Seager downing Don Julio 1942 at the Texas Rangers’ World Series afterparty

    “Madame president showing me up bc I almost puked on myself when she made me do this,” Claire Smith, who posted the video, wrote on Instagram.

    Smith also took to Chase Field with a pair of goggles on at the conclusion of the contest whilst she captioned her Instagram ‘story’ with, “now let’s party mfkerssss”.

    Brenna Karwich, who is coupled with Nathaniel Lowe, was cheered as she danced on a table in a shirt with the name of her man on it. They also shared a dance to ‘1, 2, Step’ by Ciara in a different clip.

    Claire Smith and Kenzie Heim at the Texas Rangers' World Series afterparty

    Claire Smith and Kenzie Heim at the Texas Rangers’ World Series afterparty

    Rangers win World Series

    Bottom of the ninth in the biggest baseball game on Earth. Arizona Diamondbacks are down to their last out. If Josh Sborz gets a strike, it’s over and the Rangers win. He delivers the ball… STRIKE THREE CALLED! The Texas Rangers are world champions for the first time in history!

    After 162 regular season games and 17 postseason matches, the Lone Star state finally claimed their first World Series and got some much needed bragging rights over the Houston Astros, whom they eliminated in the American League Championship Series.

    Claire Smith celebrating at Chase Field

    Claire Smith celebrating at Chase Field

    One who felt the emotions was Lowe, the Rangers first-baseman, who was on the field when Sborz got the season-ending third strike on Ketel Marte.

    “This is a special group,” Lowe said in an emotional toast to his colleagues. “There are good ships and wood ships, ships that sail the sea.

    “But the best f-king ships are friendships and championships.”

    The Rangers headed into Game 5 with a 3-1 series lead, knowing that a victory would seal them their desired prize.

    Nathaniel Lowe gives a speech

    Nathaniel Lowe gives a speech

    And perhaps the nerves got to them at first as it took them seven innings before they finally got their go-ahead run as Corey Seager came home to score from third base thanks to Mitch Garver‘s up-the-middle base hit.

    They then sealed the deal in the ninth after a hit from Jonah Heim gave him and his team two runs battled in and a 3-0 lead, before a home run by Marcus Semien extended that lead to 5-0.



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  • Texas Rangers win 2023 World Series, ending a 62-year drought

    Texas Rangers win 2023 World Series, ending a 62-year drought

    Nathan Eovaldi pitched six gutsy innings, Mitch Garver broke a scoreless tie with an RBI single in the seventh and the Texas Rangers are World Series champions for the first time in their 63-season franchise history after beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-0 in Game 5 on Wednesday night.

    Marcus Semien homered late and the Rangers, held hitless for six innings by Zac Gallen, finished a record 11-0 on the road this postseason by capping the Fall Classic with three straight wins in the desert.

    In his first season with Texas, manager Bruce Bochy won his fourth title 13 years to the day after his first, which came in 2010 when the Giants beat the Rangers. He also won it all with San Francisco in 2012 and 2014.

    One night after Texas took a 10-run lead by the third in a Game 4 snoozer, it finished baseball’s third all-wild card Series by outlasting the Diamondbacks in a white-knuckle pitchers’ duel, piling on four runs in the ninth for good measure.

    Gallen took a no-hitter into the seventh before giving up an opposite-field single to World Series MVP Corey Seager, whose weak grounder found a hole. Rangers rookie Evan Carter – all of 21 years old – followed with a double into the right-center gap. Garver then delivered the first run, pumping his fist as a hard-hit grounder got through the middle of the infield to score Seager and make it 1-0.

    Garver was 1 for 17 at the plate in the World Series before his huge hit.

    “Everything I’ve ever worked for is for this moment,” Semien said. “Gallen was unbelievable tonight. But we came through. Once Corey got the first hit, everybody kind of woke up. Pitching was unbelievable.”

    The Rangers tacked on four more runs in the ninth to break open the game. Semien’s two-run homer off Paul Sewald made it 5-0. The outburst was typical of the Texas offense, which scored at least three runs in an inning 13 times this postseason.

    Eovaldi pitched out of trouble all night before Aroldis Chapman and Josh Sborz finished it.

    “I kind of joked around: I don’t know how many rabbits I have in my hat,” said Eovaldi, who improved to 5-0 this postseason. “I didn’t really do a great job tonight in attacking the zone. But our defense, incredible again.”

    It’s the first title for the Rangers, whose history dates back to 1961 when they were the expansion Washington Senators. They moved to Texas for the 1972 season and came agonizingly close to a World Series championship in 2011, needing just one strike on two occasions before eventually falling to the St. Louis Cardinals.

    Now, after five stadiums, roughly two dozen managers and 10,033 games, the Rangers are champions.

    It wasn’t easy. Texas led the AL West for a big chunk of the season, but coughed up the division title on the final day of the regular season to rival Houston. The Rangers also weathered injuries to key pieces, particularly ace pitcher Jacob deGrom.

    That 1-0 loss in the regular-season finale at Seattle left the Rangers with the No. 5 seed in the AL playoffs and it sent them across the country to open the playoffs at Tampa Bay, part of two-week trip that took them to four cities – two on each coast. Then Texas got its revenge against Houston, winning a hard-fought series in seven games that brought them to the World Series.

    Finally, the Rangers had to get past the Diamondbacks, who won just 84 games during the regular season but beat the Brewers, Dodgers and Phillies in a remarkable postseason run that finally fizzled.

    Gallen was one of the best pitchers in the majors this season, starting for the National League in the All-Star Game. But the 28-year-old hadn’t been as sharp in the playoffs, with a 2-2 record and 5.27 ERA over five starts.

    That changed on Wednesday. The bespectacled righty was at his best, mowing down the first 14 hitters he faced before walking Nathaniel Lowe. He got some help from his defense in the fourth – shortstop Geraldo Perdomo made a nice grab on a hard-hit grounder from Semien, and Christian Walker was there to snag the one-hop throw to first.

    In the fifth, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. tracked down Josh Jung’s shot into the left-center gap, catching it a few steps in front of the 413-foot sign.

    Eovaldi wasn’t quite as sharp, but still matched Gallen’s zeros on the scoreboard despite walking five, which was his most in an outing since 2013.

    The D-backs had some juicy opportunities to score in the first five innings, but couldn’t convert, going 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position.

    Eovaldi made it through six, giving up four hits and striking out five on 97 pitches.

    Four for Bochy

    Bochy is the sixth manager to win four titles, joining Casey Stengel (seven), Joe McCarthy (seven), Connie Mack (five), Walter Alston (four) and Joe Torre (four). All of them are in the Hall of Fame and when Bochy’s career is over, it seems a given he’ll be enshrined in Cooperstown as well.

    The Rangers have been on track for this moment since Dec. 1, 2021, when they committed more than a half-billion dollars to sign Semien, Seager and pitcher Jon Gray, who delivered a crucial three-inning relief performance in Game 3. Big spending doesn’t always lead to titles – just ask the Mets, Yankees and Padres – but for the Rangers, it worked.

    Then there were five

    Now that the Rangers have finally won their World Series title, there are only five franchises remaining without a championship: Colorado, Milwaukee, San Diego, Seattle and Tampa Bay.

    The Diamondbacks won their only title in 2001.



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  • World Series 2023: How much money would the Rangers get if they win tonight?

    World Series 2023: How much money would the Rangers get if they win tonight?

    The Texas Rangers have been on fire throughout the 2023 Major League Baseball playoffs, showcasing their impressive skills and dominating their opponents. They swept both the Wild Card and Divisional Series, and then went on to defeat their in-state rivals, the Houston Astros, in the American League Championship Series. Now, they have a 3-1 advantage in the World Series over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

    When it comes to the financial aspect of winning the World Series, there is no fixed amount that the champions receive. The money paid out to the winners is determined by the ‘Player’s Pool’ or prize money, which is generated from all the ticket sales during the MLB playoffs.

    The 2023 World Series winners, whether it be the Diamondbacks or the Rangers, will earn a significant portion of this ‘Pool’ money, which will then be distributed among the players and coaching staff.

    According to some estimates, the winning team could receive around $35 million, with each player earning approximately $440,000. On the other hand, the runner-up would receive a lesser amount, with each player taking home around $340,000. Additionally, let’s not forget about the coveted Championship ring, which is valued at approximately $30,000.

    $400K is the average for each champion player

    Each player on the winning team earned an average of $400,000 and received a Championship ring valued at $20,000. Meanwhile, players on the losing team took home a reported $259,000 each. This particular season saw one of the biggest payouts to MLB teams.

    It’s clear that winning the World Series not only brings glory and pride to a team but also has significant financial rewards. The players and coaching staff of both the Diamondbacks and the Rangers will be eagerly looking forward to not only lifting the trophy but also enjoying their share of the ‘Player’s Pool’ money. As fans, we can’t help but be excited to see which team will emerge victorious and claim their well-deserved rewards.



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  • Adolis Garcia injury: Rangers offer update on star slugger after World Series Game 3

    Adolis Garcia injury: Rangers offer update on star slugger after World Series Game 3

    The Texas Rangers won Game 3 of the World Series on Monday night — but the 3-1 victory came at a cost.

    Starting pitcher Max Scherzer was lifted after three innings — after he was hit by a combacker in the bottom of the second — while star slugger Adolis Garcia‘s back appeared to tighten him as he hit a fly ball in the eighth. Texas manager Bruce Bochy provided updates on both players as the Rangers took a 2-1 lead in the series over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

    Garcia going for an MRI

    With two out in the top of the eighth inning, postseason sensation Garcia smoked a fly ball to center field and immediately grabbed at his lower back as he completed his swing. After flying out, Garcia doubled over at first base and was removed from the game, with Travis Jankowski replacing him in right field.

    Garcia, a two-time All-Star, left Chase Field in street clothes, and he will undergo further testing to determine the severity of a suspected oblique injury. Bochy told the media that the Rangers will know more in the next 24 hours. Game 4 begins Tuesday night at 5:03 p.m. local time in Phoenix.

    What about Scherzer?

    Texas‘s pitching plans for Game 4 need to be re-drawn after Scherzer lasted only three innings in Game 3. Tuesday’s projected starter, Jon Gray, had to come on in relief and ended up shutting out Arizona for three innings.

    After the game, Scherzer told reporters that his back “locked up” and prevented him from throwing the ball with any effectiveness. The 39-year-old, a future Hall of Fame inductee, had pitched three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks while recording one strikeout.

    Both the Rangers and the Diamondbacks will lean heavily on their relief pitchers in Game 4. The starting pitchers — or “openers,” expected to pitch an inning or so — will be Andrew Heaney for Texas and Joe Mantiply for Arizona.



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  • Diamondbacks dominate the Rangers at home 9-1 to tie World Series 1-1

    Diamondbacks dominate the Rangers at home 9-1 to tie World Series 1-1

    Game 2 of the World Series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Texas Rangers was a high-paced game from the get-go as the DBacks took the win 9-1 completely neutralizing Bruce Bochy’s offensive strategy.

    Merril Kelly had a great game during 7 innings

    Merrill Kelly pitched three-hit ball over seven innings, Ketel Marte extended his postseason hitting streak to a record 18 games and the Arizona Diamondbacks routed the Texas Rangers 9-1 on Saturday night to tie the World Series at one game apiece.

    Emmanuel Rivera also had a two-run single

    Gabriel Moreno hit a go-ahead homer in a two-run fourth against Jordan Montgomery, and Tommy Pham went 4 for 4 with a pair of doubles.

    Marte added a two-run single in a three-run eighth, breaking a tie for the longest postseason hitting streak with Derek Jeter, Manny Ramrez, and Hank Bauer. Marte has a hit in every postseason game he’s ever played.

    A night after wasting a two-run, ninth-inning lead in a 6-5, 11-inning loss, the Diamondbacks outhit Texas 16-4 and never trailed.

    Emmanuel Rivera also had a two-run single, and rookie Corbin Carroll had a pair of RBI singles. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and 38-year-old Evan Longoria each singled in a run for Arizona, which got its first World Series road win after four losses dating to 2001.

    The Series, just the third between wild-card teams, shifts to Arizona for Game 3 on Monday in the first Series game at Phoenix since 2001.

    Kelly, a 35-year-old right-hander, had an unusual career path. After six seasons in the minors, he detoured to South Korea from 2015-18 before making his major league debut with Arizona in 2019. He went 12-8 with a 3.29 ERA in 30 starts this season and is 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA in four postseason starts.

    Kelly struck out nine, walked none, and went to just one three-ball count

    Kelly struck out nine, walked none, and went to just one three-ball count, allowing his only run on Mitch Garver’s leadoff homer in the fifth.

    Pham, a trade-deadline acquisition from the New York Mets, entered a 3-for-29 skid that included a Game 1 homer. He singled in the second, hit opposite-field doubles to right in the fourth and sixth, and singled in the eighth. He also was picked off second base by Montgomery.

    Montgomery entered 3-0 in the postseason and was coming off a win in relief in Monday’s Game 7 victory at Houston that won the AL pennant, only the second time he pitched out of the bullpen in his big league career. His velocity was down about 1.5 mph from his season average, and Diamondbacks batters failed to make contact on just two of the 37 pitches they swung at.

    Moreno put Arizona ahead when Montgomery left a full-count curveball over the middle of the plate. Moreno lined the ball into Arizona’s bullpen in left-center, giving him four postseason homers and 10 RBIs in 14 games. Pham sliced a two-out double into the right-field corner and scored on Gurriel’s single for a 2-0 lead.

    Arizona added a cushion in the sixth when Alek Thomas doubled to the right-center gap leading off and scored as Longoria, in his first World Series since 2008, hit a hard grounder that got past rookie third baseman Josh Jung and down the line for an RBI single.



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  • Rangers superfan Patrick Mahomes celebrates Adolis Garcia's walkoff HR in Game 1

    Rangers superfan Patrick Mahomes celebrates Adolis Garcia's walkoff HR in Game 1

    Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is a Texas Rangers superfan and he took to X (Twitter) Friday night to celebrate Adolis Garcia hitting a walkoff home run in the 11th inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks to clinch Game 1 of the 2023 MLB World Series at Globe Life Field.

    Mahomes, 28, first tweeted out what everybody was thinking after the walkoff homer: “wild!” He then retweeted a video from the official MLB account of Garcia’s game-winner.

    Patrick Mahomes Sr never forgot his humbling showdown with Ken Griffey JrParker Johnson

    In his “wild” tweet, Mahomes added to flexing emojis and a “World Series” hashtag, which prompts an icon of The Commissioner’s Trophy, given to the MLB champion.

    Garcia’s home run completed a comeback by the Rangers, who trailed 5-3 in the ninth inning, and were able to force extra innings to steal Game 1.

    Patrick Mahomes was born and raised in Texas

    Mahomes was born and raised in Tyler, Texas and attended Texas Tech University. He grew up a Rangers fan and continues to support them when the Kansas City Royals aren’t in contention, as told by the QB a few days prior.

    “I was a big Rangers fan when I grew up, especially those high school years when they were getting to the World Series and (lost) two of them,” Mahomes told the press. “I was able to go to some of those games, so I was a Rangers fan. I guess it’s my team if the Royals aren’t in contention.

    “So I’m happy for them to get to the World Series. Shane Buechele is a big Rangers fan as well. So I texted him when they got there. So it is cool to see. And hopefully, they go out and win at all.”



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  • World Series 2023 Prediction: Who is more likely to win, how many games will be and more

    World Series 2023 Prediction: Who is more likely to win, how many games will be and more

    The 2023 MLB season is shaping up to be an exciting one, with the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks facing off in the World Series. The matchup is being hailed as one of the most unlikely in recent memory, with both teams coming from behind to eliminate last season’s World Series teams, the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies.

    The Rangers are chasing their first-ever World Series title, 12 years after coming within a strike of championship glory. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks are in the World Series for the first time since 2001, when they earned their first and only title.

    Who is favored to win the 2023 World Series?

    According to odds provided by PointsBet, the Rangers are listed as mild favorites to win the World Series, with a -175 odds compared to the Diamondbacks‘ +140. However, oddsmakers expect a competitive series that could go the distance, with the following odds for the total number of games:

    • 4 games: +550
    • 5 games: +275
    • 6 games: +205
    • 7 games: +205

    When it comes to predicting the series winner and the length of the series, a six-game Rangers triumph is considered the most likely outcome, while a Diamondbacks sweep is deemed the most improbable.

    Who could be the MVP?

    In terms of individual player performance, Rangers shortstop Corey Seager and outfielder Adolis Garca are currently co-favorites to take home the Willie Mays World Series MVP Award. Following closely behind are D-backs second baseman Ketel Marte and outfielder Corbin Carroll.

    For Game 1 of the World Series, the Rangers’ Nathan Eovaldi and the Diamondbacks’ Zac Gallen will take the mound at Globe Life Field. The home team is expected to take a 1-0 series lead, with odds as follows:

    • Moneyline: Rangers -170, Diamondbacks +140
    • Spread: Rangers -1.5
    • Over/under: 8 runs

    As for ticket prices for th

    e World Series games in Arizona and Texas, fans can expect to pay a pretty penny. However, for die-hard baseball enthusiasts, it may just be worth it to witness history in the making.



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