Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo put the World Series trophy up in the window of his home to pay homage to what should’ve been Major League Baseball’s opening day.
Or at least that’s what he wants y’all to think. Don’t you believe that. Not for one second. Because, let me tell you, I know a grade A flex when I see one. And, buddy, this is a grade A flex. And a flex that we should all be able to truly appreciate.
In sports, we always seem to want our idols to be humble — especially in baseball. But you know what? Humility stinks. It’s boring. We’re all stuck in the house right now and bored already as is. We don’t need more boring.
What we need is this. I bet you he hopes the Astros saw this tweet.
This is an ever-so-subtle way of calling the rest of baseball’s losers. And it’s amazing. Shoutout to Mike Rizzo for bringing the fun back even when we don’t have any games being played.
The NCAA voted to allow schools to provide spring-sport student-athletes an additional season of competition and an extension of eligibility
On Monday, big news came as the NCAA voted to allow schools to provide spring-sport student-athletes an additional season of competition and an extension of their period of eligibility due to the impact of spring sports because of the coronavirus.
This news came after the NCAA suspended all spring sports, including championship games, earlier this month.
This is what the NCAA had to say regarding this decision:
Members also adjusted financial aid rules to allow teams to carry more members on scholarship to account for incoming recruits and student-athletes who had been in their last year of eligibility who decide to stay. In a nod to the financial uncertainty faced by higher education, the Council vote also provided schools with the flexibility to give students the opportunity to return for 2020-21 without requiring that athletics aid be provided at the same level awarded for 2019-20. This flexibility applies only to student-athletes who would have exhausted eligibility in 2019-20.
Schools also will have the ability to use the NCAA’s Student Assistance Fund to pay for scholarships for students who take advantage of the additional eligibility flexibility in 2020-21.
Division I rules limit student-athletes to four seasons of competition in a five-year period. The Council’s decision allows schools to self-apply waivers to restore one of those seasons of competition for student-athletes who had competed while eligible in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 spring season
The Council also will allow schools to self-apply a one-year extension of eligibility for spring-sport student-athletes, effectively extending each student’s five-year “clock” by a year. This decision was especially important for student-athletes who had reached the end of their five-year clock in 2020 and saw their seasons end abruptly.
“The Council’s decision gives individual schools the flexibility to make decisions at a campus level,” said Council chair M. Grace Calhoun, athletics director at Penn. “The Board of Governors encouraged conferences and schools to take action in the best interest of student-athletes and their communities, and now schools have the opportunity to do that.”
The Council also increased the roster limit in baseball for student-athletes impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the only spring sport with such a limit.”
It’s also important to note that winter sports were not included in the decision.
KNOXVILLE — Tennessee’s baseball team started the 2020 season 15-2.
The Vols were set to open SEC play March 13 at South Carolina before the season ended abruptly due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Third-year Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello discussed his team and the shortened season — a campaign that showed the Vols defeating No. 1 Texas Tech and fans packing Lindsey Nelson Stadium in support throughout 14 home games.
“Vol Nation is a pretty powerful group,” Vitello told Vols Wire.
Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire
Last year Vitello guided the UT program to its first NCAA postseason since 2005. Energy and excitement surrounded the program entering the 2020 season — something that was lacking upon his arrival in 2018.
“There was a buzz this season and I thought there were a lot of things that went in the right direction last year,” Vitello said. “You felt like when we first got the job we were just kind of a footnote. Baseball goes on, but it hasn’t done this in the past. We just wanted to be part of that group. I think we have done that.
“I think what showed was that two of our best crowds were basketball game days and we were fortunate enough to get spillover fans that went to the basketball game and wanted to see what we had going on. Then two, there were other days that were not tied to basketball and we had really good crowds, especially for weather that was not incredibly attractive for people to come sit and watch.”
Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire
The Vols finished 40-21 and competed in the Chapel Hill Regional of the NCAA Tournament last season. It was an improvement on a 29-27 first-year campaign in 2018 for Vitello.
Through only 17 games in 2020, Vitello saw his team continue to provide “significant change and progress in the right direction” for the Tennessee baseball program.
“This year was one that I thought was a group of guys that was going to catapult us into a category that we wanted to be in, a program where top recruits could consider us. A program where we should expect to be in the postseason, not just celebrated, but expected every year. One that has everyone’s attention on social media, one where we get very good SEC-level crowds at our games. I feel our group did that for the 17 games — the time they were given the opportunity to play — and then the rest was put on hold.
“Everyone is frustrated with the situation. There are so many unknowns in the world, and in the sporting world the one thing you can look at is that we did miss out on a little bit of progress. In those 17 games there was significant change and progress in the right direction by that group.”
Saturday the Orioles outfielder released the following video on Twitter, thanking fans for all their well-wishes and messages during this tough time
Former Notre Dame baseball player and current Baltimore Orioles outfielder Trey Mancini underwent surgery this week to remove a malignant tumor from his colon. There is no word on how long he’ll be sidelined, not like that feels important at this point.
Saturday the Orioles outfielder released the following video on Twitter, thanking fans for all their well-wishes and messages during this tough time.
Just wanted to reiterate how grateful I am for everyone during this time. Looking forward to seeing you all soon. For now, stay safe and healthy! pic.twitter.com/822b4Lqf74
There is now no chance for the Texas baseball and softball programs to continue play at a later date this season.
Rather than cancelling the season entirely, many were hopeful that the Big 12 Conference would leave the door open to continue play in a few weeks for the baseball and softball programs.
Unfortunately, that’s not the case. According to Kendall Rogers of D1Baseball.com, the Big 12 officially announced that there would be no games played for the remainder of the season.
SOURCES: The @Big12Conference has canceled the remainder of its college baseball season. The league had hoped to continue in a few weeks. Not anymore. It’s done. #Big12
Both programs were off to an impressive start to the 2020 season. Texas baseball ended with an overall 14-3 record and was one week away from starting conference play. The Longhorns were scheduled to travel to Norman on March 20 to face the Oklahoma Sooners.
Several baseball teams within the Big 12 looked stout throughout the early part of the season. There was a legitimate chance for six teams to represent the Big 12 in the postseason. Texas Tech, Texas, Oklahoma and TCU finished atop the final conference rankings, with Oklahoma State and West Virginia close behind.
Arguably the most dominant team in all of Texas athletics this season, softball ended the year with an impressive 24-3 overall record. In her final appearance on the mound last week, senior Miranda Elish pitched a perfect game. Texas defeated the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams in the nation on back-to-back nights, which propelled the Longhorns to the No. 1 team in the nation according to Softball America.
Not only was Texas softball in a great position to take home the Big 12 conference title, they were a favorite to win the College World Series.
The NCAA officially announced the intent to add an extra year of eligibility to seniors who were not able to finish out the season. The details remain in the works, but having a chance to finish their collegiate careers on their own terms is a great place to start.
The public health and safety is top priority amid the Coronavirus outbreak, but it’s understandably an emotional period for college athletes who have dedicated countless hours into this season.
