Inter Miami CF

Opinion: Completely Overanalyzing Inter Miami’s Loss To FC Barcelona

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Fort Lauderdale, FL – Inter Miami played FC Barcelona in what was supposed to be a celebratory event.

Miami’s 6-0 loss to Barca’ should’ve been understandable. Barcelona is a world-class side with world-class players, and for the majority of the game, the Herons looked overmatched.

The crowd was rocking, the stadium was full, and for the most part, the event went well. But, after the final whistle, it got a bit ugly.

From tweets calling the organization, “a joke” to very prominent soccer writers getting their obligatory quippy jabs in, the borderline vitriolic social media backlash to what was meaningless friendly is bizarre.

Based on Phil Neville’s post-game comments, it seems like the Englishman took the result well, despite his pregame comments, and saw it as a lesson for him and the group:

That begs the question, why has this game been blown out of proportion?

Much Ado About Nothing?

Inter Miami has had its sins – plenty of them, but in the last year and a half, they’ve started the process of atonement. They’re currently in 9th place in the Eastern Conference and have even taken on a new ethos:

Miami’s start to MLS life was tough. They fell short of the self-imposed expectations and came out of the starting block stumbling.

The media is very unforgiving, especially in football circles. The club’s poor first two years of existence will be held over their head by a plethora of national and local soccer writers. Any minor screw-up or abnormally bad result will be scrutinized, dissected, and heavily torn apart more so than the average team; being a David Beckham-owned club, it comes with the territory. Fair enough.

But, this friendly against Barcelona shouldn’t be one of those occasions.

At the end of the day, the match should’ve been taken for what it really was: A savvy business decision by Inter Miami and a great opportunity to get some reps against one of the biggest clubs in the world.

Plus, they’re not the only MLS club hosting mid-season friendlies against tough European opponents.

Is it as big as hosting a US Open Cup Final or MLS Cup Final? No way! Was this the biggest game in club history? When it comes to the quality of the opponent on the pitch – certainly! Both things can be true!

In the end, winning silverware is Miami’s main goal. They’ll get there – eventually.  But, in the meantime, playing a mid-season friendly isn’t a death sentence. An exhibition match was just that, an exhibition. It gave the club good exposure and some younger players a useful experience.

The team will now shift their focus to NYCFC this Saturday with the hopes of climbing further up the Eastern conference table. By then, all the hubbub surrounding this match will die down, and the think pieces on Twitter will cease. There will be other mid-season friendlies for people to watch, and the MLS season will roll on.

Inter Miami CF

Three Observations From Inter Miami’s Wild Win Vs Charlotte FC

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Fort Lauderdale, FL – Despite a rain delay preventing the start of the game in a timely manner, Inter Miami showed that they “have that dog in em'” by coming from behind to beat budding rivals Charlotte FC in a 3-2 victory.

It was a tale of two halves for Phil Neville’s men.

In the first forty-five, the Herons looked predictable. They allowed Charlotte to get on the scoresheet early courtesy of two Yordy Reyna goals – one of which is nominated for MLS Goal of The Week.

The second forty-five, however, was a different story.

Neville made the correct substitutions and tactical tweaks to get the best out of his players. In the end, his decisions paid off.

Here are three observations from Miami’s colossal comeback win vs Charlotte FC.

Pozuelo Brings Flexibility

Alejandro Pozuelo was everything Inter Miami needed and more. The Spaniard only had a few training sessions under his belt, but his impact was immediate.

Lining up in central midfield along Gregore and Jean Mota initially, the 30-year-old made the best of what was a poor first half for Miami.

Pozuelo was doing exactly what enganche‘s in this league do – find and manipulate space; unfortunately, his teammates couldn’t quite find the connection.

Of course, there were some moments of technical brilliance from ‘Poz’ where Miami could’ve scored, but, there was a lack of ruthless finishing in the final third.

Looking at their first half passing map told the whole story: There wasn’t enough space in the middle for him to seamlessly connect with his teammates to have a proper impact:

That all changed in the second forty-five. Neville brought on Bryce Duke and Gonzalo Higuain to give Miami more control down the middle, then he instructed Pozuelo to push out wide.

This saw some cheeky combination play between the young American and the Spaniard. They interchanged effortlessly, with Duke sometimes going on the left, and Pozuleo tucking inside. The constant movement eventually was too much for Charlotte; after some good pressing by the Herons, Duke was able to play a nicely threaded through ball to Emerson Rodriguez to see the game out:

It was only Pozuelo’s first game in pink and black, but – if the result means anything – it’s certainly a sign of things to come.

Center back Merry-Go-Round?

With Damion Lowe picking up a yellow for a nasty foul in the 12th minute, the Jamaica international will miss Miami’s upcoming match against NYCFC.

The biggest question heading into the weekend is who will start in his place.

All signs point to Christopher McVey. McVey has played every minute of Inter Miami’s 2022 campaign and he’s the most natural fit to slot over in Lowe’s absence.

His center-back partner? Well, that’s a tad more difficult. Neville has the option of starting either Ryan Sailor or Aime Mabika – both equally impressive young players.

Looking at their stats below could provide a clearer picture.

Both players are excellent at blocking and clearing the ball – though Sailor has a slight edge on the latter. Mabika has a better pass completion percentage, while Sailor is better at winning aerial headers.

NYCFC away will be a difficult game. In the end, Neville will probably choose the player who is better equipped to play in such a demanding environment like Yankee Stadium – especially if this guy sticks around for one last game.

Higuain The Super Sub?

Last but surely not least, Gonzalo Higuain may have found a role that suits him on this team: A super sub.

The 34-year-old may not have the legs to start a full 90, but his football brain has never left him. The run he made to score Miami’s equalizer was vintage Pipita. 

The pass from Gregore was even better.
Higuain has scored two goals in Miami’s last two matches – both off the bench.  Could this be the role the former Argentina international gets comfortable in?
That’s up to Phil Neville at the end of the day, but, it’s definitely a role that gets people’s heads turning.

Table tennis betting at Mostbet bookmaker

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Table tennis betting is betting on the outcome or any other outcome within a ping pong match. This discipline is very dynamic and unpredictable, so players prefer to bet on ping-pong in live mode. As for popularity, table tennis is far from being as popular as tennis, but still has its own audience.

What you need to know about ping pong betting?

The game itself appeared a long time ago and has already managed to gain popularity all over the world. It can also be noted that table tennis has a number of well-established rules, but the rules of the match may vary somewhat depending on the event. For example, at the Olympic Games or World Championships, the regulations provide for a match for 7 sets (up to 4 wins), while at less status events it is customary to play a match for 5 sets (up to 3 wins, respectively).

So, here’s what you need to know about tennis betting when betting at bookmakers:

  • Ping pong is a single (sometimes doubles) sport. This means that the player, his physical form, psychological state, motivation and skill are of great importance.
  • Table tennis is a dynamic game, which is very difficult to predict in advance. The course of events can change in minutes. This is often used by betters playing live, who try to react to a change in the situation faster than bookmakers, while the odds have not yet been adjusted.
  • Unlike lawn tennis and volleyball, in ping pong the serve does not matter so much, as the players take turns every two serves. It all depends on the skills and abilities of specific players.
  • Top championships, athletes and ping pong experts are concentrated in Asia. This discipline is very popular there, including in BC. In Russia, table tennis is treated with great respect, but more on an amateur than a professional level. Therefore, to predict the upcoming event, the best option is to study the rating of players, personal meetings, statistics on the results of recent events.

Do not forget that you can get table tennis bets at the most favorable odds only on the site mostbet-bd-2.com

 

Table tennis betting

As for the rates themselves. Firstly, it should be noted that table tennis has not a very large list in Russian bookmakers. Somewhere more, somewhere less. To find a suitable bookmaker option, it is best to use the bookmaker rating on the BettinCafe information portal website, which contains only the most reliable and trusted bookmakers.

Secondly, the tactics of betting on ping-pong can be very different depending on the mode in which the user bets: in Prematch or Live.

 Ping-pong pre-match bets are not as relevant as live bets, but they also have a right to exist. Basically, this is a classic set of bets on the outcome, on the handicap and on the total.

 bet-on-ping-pong-mostbet

Exodus is a classic with two possible outcomes of the event. As a rule, in the betting line it is written as P1 and P2. Some bookmakers offer to bet on the outcome of a particular game.

Handicap – with a significant advantage of one of the players, you can bet on the handicap. In ping pong, it is customary to bet on three types of odds:

Handicap on the outcome (according to the points scored);

Handicap by games (for example, up to 3.5);

Handicap in a specific game (also by points scored).

Total is one of the most popular bets in almost all sports. In table tennis, it is customary to bet on the following types of total:

Total total (total number of points per match);

Total total of games (total number of games played per match);

Total points in a particular game (the total number of points within the selected game);

Individual total (the total number of points of one player (pair) for a match or a specific game).

Before betting on the total, the better should definitely find out the rules of the event, which involves a certain number of parties – up to 5 or up to 7.

Max Meyer Marlins

Max Meyer Gets Marlins Promotion

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The Miami Marlins made fans, and perhaps more importantly, one of their top prospects very happy on Thursday night. The team posted a video of Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp manager Daren Brown relaying the news to Max Meyer that he’d received the call to pitch at the MLB level with the Marlins.

 

Meyer recently worked his way back from a ulnar nerve irritation injury before getting this well-desvered call. He will reportedly make the start for the Marlins on Saturday at home versus the Philadelphia Phillies, a team Miami’s chasing the in the Wild Card race.

Marlins (Finally) Call Up Max Meyer

The Marlins find themselves three games back of the final NL Wild Card spot after splitting a four-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates this week. Miami (43-45) continues to deal with injuries and ineffectiveness among their pitchers outside of Sandy Alcantara and Pablo Lopez, which only added to many Marlins fans clamoring for Meyer’s call. The timing here coincides with a pivotal three-game series with the Phillies before the All-Star break.

Max Meyer finally getting the call from the Marlins puts one of baseball’s top pitching prospects on display. MLB Pipeline lists Meyer as Miami’s No. 2 prospect, behind only 19-year-old phenom Eury Perez. He’s MLB Pipeline’s No. 21 prospect overall.

With Triple-A Jacksonville, Meyer dominated competition for stretches of the season. His first six starts the season, prior to the issues surrounding his injury, saw Meyer post a 1.72 ERA over 31.1 innings pitched. He allowed just six earned runs over those six starts, registering 39 strikeouts along the way. Meyer handled Atlanta Braves slugger Ronald Acuña Jr. during that stretch.

It’s clear that the ulnar nerve irritation, which eventually landed him on the IL, affected his next two starts. Meyer adjusted his approach and mechanics to deal with the discomfort, ultimately to disappointing results. But after a month to heal and recuperate, Meyer found his form once again with Jacksonville.

During his rehab stint in Jupiter, Meyer told MLB.com: “I’ll get my shot, and I’ll be up there for a long time.”

In the four starts before this Marlins promotion, Max Meyer looked ready. He went 18.1 innings with 21 strikeouts and just four earned runs (1.96 ERA). Opponents managed a meager .119 batting average against in those starts.

Meyer’s Path to the Majors

The Marlins selected Max Meyer with the third overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft out of the University of Minnesota. He was the first pitcher off the draft board and started his time in Miami’s system with Double-A Pensacola in 2021. (There was no minor league season in 2020.)

With the Blue Wahoos, Meyer earned the Double-A South Most Outstanding Pitcher award. He did so following a season where he registered a 2.41 ERA and 113 strikeouts over 101 innings.

In 2022, Meyer made 12 starts for Triple-A Jacksonville, posting a 3.72 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with 65 strikeouts over 58 innings. He averaged 10.1 strikeouts-per-nine-innings, registering a 28.4 percent strikeout rate along the way. He induced ground balls at a 50 percent rate this season, and kept his walk rate to just 8.3 percent.

In his 35 minor league starts, Meyer pitched to a 2.77 ERA and 1.11 WHIP, recording 199 strikeouts in those games.

Meyer sports a repertoire of three pitches, including a dominant, wipe-out slider many scouts called the single best pitch in the 2020 draft. His fastball velocity sits in the mid-to-upper-90s and has touched triple digits. This third pitch is a changeup, which the organization wanted to see him develop ahead of his promotion.

There’s been some talk of Meyer ultimately being a bullpen arm, but the Marlins maintain they view him as a rotation piece.

“I see Max as a starting pitcher,” Marlins amateur scouting director DJ Svihlik said on Wednesday. “We knew when we selected Max, there was that reliever-starter conversation. Any starter of that caliber with that kind of two-pitch combination can go into the back of a bullpen.”

Svihlik did note: “I see Max as a playoff starter.”

A spot on Miami’s 40-man roster opened recently when the Baltimore Orioles claimed reliever Louis Head off waivers. The Marlins need to add Meyer to the 40-man prior to his scheduled start on Saturday.

More on Marlins Prospects

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Guide to Live Betting on the NFL

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NFL games are fast and furious, which make them ideal for live betting, especially when live bets are so easy to place. In fact, when it comes to betting, many see NFL games as perfect candidates for a wager. 

 

On its website, the NFL, reporting figures from the American Gaming Association, informed visitors in 2021 that more than 45 million Americans had said they planned to bet on NFL games this year. There are many different types of bets these punters lay down, however, we are here today for a rather engaging type of bet.

Below is a look at some of the different live bets you can place on the NFL, plus a discussion of tactics you can use for more successful live betting.

 

The different types of live bets you can make

 

Live betting offers a range of advantages, the main one being that you can follow the action and place the right bet at the right time. If you’re on the ball, you can also wager on a certain income before the sportsbook has time to change the odds. Here are some of the live bets you can make:

Money line

A money line bet is a straightforward bet on who you think will win the game. As the game goes on, you’ll see the money line change. The advantage of this type of bet is that you can place more than one bet as the game twists and turns. 

 

Point spreads

The point spread is the advantage or disadvantage the sportsbooks give to the opposing teams and the number is based on the margin of their victory or defeat within a specific timeframe. One of the advantages of point spread betting is that you’re betting against the spread, rather than on a straight winner, and it’s easier for an underdog to come through for you. You can also win more money because of this.

 

Second half

The second half line bet is an excellent way to mitigate risk. Suppose you’ve already laid your wager on the favourite, but now the underdog looks like it’s going to fight its way back and reduce the difference between the two teams. Your second half bet could be on the underdog, guaranteeing that one of your bets will win. 

 

Totals

This is a straightforward bet. You’re simply betting on whether the total number of points will reach a certain number or not, or fall short of it. Totals betting is a popular type of bet and keeps you in suspense until the end. The advantage of a totals bet is that you can bet on anything that’s countable, providing you with lots of flexibility in what you can bet on.

 

Parlays

You don’t have to bet on just one live game, however. If there’s more than one game being played, you can live bet on several at once, all as part of the same bet. If one bet fails, however, you lose the whole bet. It’s a risky type of bet but will pay handsomely if it comes off.

 

Tips for live betting on the NFL

Naturally, when you place a live bet, you want to win (or maybe you’re just in it for the excitement!). Here are some tips for live betting on the NFL:

 

Watch the game

This may sound elementary, but it needs to be said. You can’t tell if a team is mounting a comeback and make a live wager if you’re not actually following the game as it happens. If you can’t follow the game, place your bet before it starts.

 

Decide upon your strategy

One of the most important things you can do is determine your strategy before the game. Decide which bets you’re going to focus on. The common ones are the money line, the point spread and the totals. If you focus on multiple aspects of the game, it will be harder for you to spot the signs or events that will help you to gain an advantage when you place your bet. 

 

Know the team’s best quarters

Before the game, research into the teams’ games and see if you can identify a quarter in which they consistently seem to perform better in some way. This is useful knowledge you can use to your advantage when making a bet.

The NFL presents some amazing opportunities for live betting, and players can mix things up by betting on different aspects rather than just straight outcomes if they wish. Following the tips above will also help you to bet more successfully. Why not give them a try and see how they work for you?

5 Fun Facts About The Breeders’ Cup

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The Breeders’ Cup is without a doubt one of the most popular and famous events in all of horse racing. Sure, the Triple Crown is pretty big, but it doesn’t even touch on the infamy of the Breeders’ Cup. 

 

There have been so many horses and jockeys who have performed amazingly at this event, and we anticipate even more in the future as we start to consider 2022 breeders’ cup top picks. 

 

But, there is much to the history of the Breeders’ Cup, and much to know. So, before hooves hit the track, let’s indulge you. Saddle up and ride through these fun facts!

 

Our Fun Facts

 

Here are 5 fun facts about this incredible race that will have you galloping to place your next bet.

 

#1. It’s Always Been Held In The U.S., Except Once

 

The Breeders’ Cup has always been a U.S. event, although there was one year this is untrue for. It has only ever been held outside of the United States on one occasion since its inception. 

 

Back in 1996, the Breeders’ Cup was run in Canada, at the Woodbine Racetrack in Ontario. 

 

#2. The U.S. Has The Most Winners.

 

While horses come from all corners of the globe to compete in this race, the U.S. has seen the most winners. The U.S. is the homeland of a majority of Breeders’ Cup champions, having nearly 300 winners overall. 

 

Just behind the U.S. is Ireland, Great Britain, and then France, Argentina, Germany, Canada, and Japan. 

 

When we consider the places best known for horse racing, these countries are no surprise, but we should be proud of having the most winners! 

 

#3. Only One Horse Won The Classic 2 Times

 

Of the entire Breeders’ Cup the most elite race is the final, which is the Breeders’ Cup Classic. It is a grade 1 race that is for only thoroughbreds of 3 years plus. The horses need to run a distance of one and a quarter miles on a dirt track. 

 

There is only one horse that has won the Classic two times, named Tiznow. He won in 2000 and 2001. Tiznow was a legend, winning 8/15 of his starts and taking home nearly $6.5 million in winnings. 

 

Of course there have been other big wins for this horse, such as the Affirmed Handicap. But, this was probably his greatest.

 

#4. Santa Anita Has Held It The Most

 

The Breeders’ Cup is not a stationary event, it moves and is held in different locations. Of all the popular locations, it has been held in Santa Anita park the most. 

 

Santa Anita park is in Arcadia, in the state of California, and has held the Breeders’ Cup 10 times, which is more than any other track has. 

 

Churchill Downs has the second most with 9 Breeders’ Cup races. 

 

Belmont Park has also held this race, although it is better known for the Triple Crown. 

 

#5. The Biggest Winning Jockey

 

All jockeys are great but Mike Smith kind of takes the cake. He is one of the most famous jockeys in the world at this time. He has over 5,600 wins overall and has won 26 Breeders’ Cup Classic races. 

 

This is more than any other jockey, and also more than any horse. 

 

He has also won the Triple Crown in 2018 on Justify, and make himself known as the oldest jockey to ever win this race, he was 52 when he completed this feat. He is followed closely behind in this by Velazquez, Bailey, and Dettori. 

Victor Oladipo: The Secret Weapon Among Heat Speculation

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As the 2021 trade deadline passed by, the Heat pretty much labeled Victor Oladipo as the potential X-factor down the stretch of the season. The Heat made that move to put them over the top heading into the post-season, but that experiment only lasted 4 games before he went down with injury.

Consequently, he had a similar label this past year with his return date looming late in the season. The potential X-factor to put this Heat team over the top before their late run. He had some ups and downs, but ultimately came up big in his 8 regular season games and 15 playoff games.

But now we find ourselves in round 3, and could he still be that X-factor piece once again?

I believe even moreso.

In terms of on-court fit, it wasn’t the cleanest the entire playoff run. A bit of taking turns from lineups including Tyler Herro and Jimmy Butler, while the Herro-Dipo bench insertion took some time getting used to.

When the three-point shot was falling, which wasn’t too often in the post-season for the entire Heat squad, it changed the dynamic of their half-court offense. We know what he can do as an attacker, and the isolation/shot creation flashes is what makes me think so highly of this re-signing.

But it isn’t just about his own skill and development, it’s about his role with the team that’s around him. And yet, that got me thinking, depending on every scenario out there for this Heat off-season, he plays a valuable role in each.

First off, when eyeing the big fish Kevin Durant, who is currently number one on the Miami Heat’s agenda, there are certainly many different packages being thrown around. A Tyler Herro headliner would be a tough sell for a player of that caliber, but if you throw the farm in a trial run to keep Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo intact with Durant coming in, that wouldn’t leave much else left on the roster.

At that point, it’s pretty much the least of your worries, but it would also hypothetically mean Victor Oladipo is still on the squad as the team’s 4th best player. He’d play the starting two-guard next to that big 3, in a pretty ideal role with much more versatility on the offensive end.

Since Oladipo can’t be traded until halfway through this upcoming season, many of these big off-season trades mean they still have that weapon locked into their current plan.

Moving onto the second bullet point on the Heat’s checklist, there lies Donovan Mitchell. Reports currently flying around that the Jazz are now fielding some offers for the young guard, while it’s well known that Mitchell would like to play in Miami if he were to leave Utah.

So, a deal would most likely look something like Herro, Robinson, young assets, and a whole lot of picks. As Herro would be on his way out, it’s important to note that Oladipo was on the sideline closely monitoring Herro’s 6th man of the year season, which parallels perfectly with the Dipo conversation.

“Hey Vic, we now want you to fully play the Herro role.” With Mitchell slotting into the starting lineup at that point, it would give Dipo the full reigns of the bench unit to run things the young crew of Vincent, Strus, Martin, etc. (Side note: I know many would be worried about starting back-court defense with Mitchell, but man that’s some defense off the bench.)

Flowing into the last option, it’s actually pretty similar to the Mitchell stuff. Let’s just say the other trade names don’t materialize and stay put for now, we now turn to internal developments.

In my eyes, Tyler Herro is the starting shooting guard of the Heat if he’s still on the team by training camp, but that’s not to say Victor Oladipo won’t put up a fight for that spot. Yes, the contract Miami gave him was his best option, but there’s an idea that he will be able to compete for big time roles such as a starting position.

Once again, I do believe it would go to Herro in that scenario, meaning Dipo can consequently have the 6th man reigns of full offensive control, which is solid in theory.

Scanning the Miami Heat’s current roster, one thing sticks out majorly: the team’s guard room is crowded. Too crowded.

Kyle Lowry, Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, Victor Oladipo, and potential summer league guys at the bottom of the roster like Marcus Garrett or Jamaree Bouyea on a two-way.

You may be saying, “Well it’s the same guard room as last year,” but that was only the case late in the season. To begin the year, Oladipo wasn’t healthy, Vincent and Strus types weren’t fully trusted, and Robinson was the comfortable starter.

Things change, and I expect things to change yet again. Just speculating, but that list of guards is a clear signal to me that something is coming in some capacity.

And whatever that may be, Oladipo will have a clear-cut role instead of the jumbled up confusion from this past season. Dipo will be meeting with Coach Spo after Summer League to talk about things like this, and that might just make all the difference in whatever direction the team elects to go.

 

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Miami Hurricanes land four-star LB Raul Aguirre, add to loaded class

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The Miami Hurricanes had a big Tuesday as they were able to land a commitment from 2023 four-star linebacker Raul Aguirre.

Aguirre  is the ninth overall linebacker in the 2023 class, and the ninth overall player in his class from the state of Georgia per the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He had a variety of offers on the table, some from the best programs in the country. He had offers from Alabama, Florida, Ohio State, and Arkansas in addition to Miami.

Aguirre measures in at six-foot-two, 220 pounds. He was recruited to the program by Charlie Strong.

What can he bring to the Miami Hurricanes?

He will be able to bring sure tackling and good instincts to the Miami defense. As soon as the football is snapped, he is immediately able to identify the ball carrier and make a play. This allows plays to be stopped before they even develop.

One of Aguirre’s best strengths is run defense. In red zone situations, he can fill gaps quickly and stop running backs from gaining extra yards.

Overall, Miami is getting a hard-hitter and a player that is quick. He is not a one-dimensional player and that’s exactly what you need in today’s game. He is a good fit for the game of football today. Linebackers now have to be fast and quick in addition to hard-hitters, Aguirre has all of those traits.

This has been a very strong month for the Miami Hurricanes in terms of recruiting. Miami now has the seventh overall class in the country per the 247Sports Team Rankings. They have been able to do a good job of getting impact recruits on both sides of the football.

Miami has landed four recruits in the month of July, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them nab at least one more. The momentum in recruiting is strong right now, and the program has done a good job capitalizing on it.

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Miami Hurricanes

Miami Hurricanes: Five-star edge defender Jayden Wayne commits

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The good news continues on the recruiting trail continued for the Miami Hurricanes. They landed five-star edge defender Jayden Wayne on Saturday.

Wayne is the fifth overall edge defender in the 2023 class, and the 10th overall player in his class from the state of Florida the 247Sports Rankings. He has a numerical ranking of 95.

He was recruited to Miami by co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Rod Wright. Defensive line coach Joe Salave’a was the secondary recruiter.

What can he bring to the Miami Hurricanes?

Wayne will bring a massive boost to the Miami Hurricanes edge-rushing presence. He measures in at six-foot-four, 270 pounds already. He is extremely quick, and is a nightmare for offensive lines to guard. His speed burst is something that is the most noticeable when looking at his highlights. As soon as the ball is snapped, it’s like he is shot out of a cannon. He immediately uses that quickness to wrap up the quarterback.

The edge rusher position is one that has become a stand-alone position. Nowadays, elite programs have a dominant edge rusher. With how offensive- minded the game of football is today, it’s a necessity. Miami wants to take the next step. They got a player that can help them do that.

Edge rusher has been a priority for the Miami Hurricanes. We saw them rectify the problem for this year with a couple of transfers, and a promising recruit in Cyrus Moss. Wayne’s commitment takes it to a whole other level. This is a player that can be a staple of the defense for years to come.

Furthermore, this speaks to the recruiting job that the coaching staff has been able to do. They identified a weakness, and they have filled it. Not only have they filled it, they have landed an impact player.

Miami now has the ninth overall recruiting class in the country per the 247Sports Team Rankings. Wayne gives Miami their third five-star commitment in the class.

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5 Takeaways from the Marlins Series Split vs. Angels

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The Miami Marlins (39-41) had their six-game winning streak snapped on Wednesday night as the Los Angeles Angels (38-45) came to play for a cross-league series.

Miami split the two game series, winning Game 1 by a score of 2-1 and losing Game 2 by a score of 5-2. 

The stars were showcased during those two games as a couple of perennial all-stars, Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, came to town to play against the fish. 

The seats at LoanDepot Park were filled up which was a surprise for a midweek series. But also, how could you not watch these once in a lifetime players in person? There were many Japanese fans that showed out to the park to not only watch Ohtani, but also because the Marlins were celebrating Japanese Heritage Night during Tuesday’s game. 

Although the Marlins didn’t get the series sweep, it was still a very entertaining couple of games to watch from both sides.

Here are five takeaways from the series.

 

Sandy paints another masterpiece

Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara had another one of his lights out performances.

Alcantara took the mound in the first game of the two-game series and he knew that this wasn’t going to be particularly easy. 

Although Alcantara was facing an Angels offense that suffered the most strikeouts per game in the MLB at 9.66, he still had to get through Trout and Ohtani. 

Of course for Alcantara, that was not a problem. 

Alcantara ended up having arguably his best outing of his career where he pitched through eight innings, gave up just two hits, and struck out 10. Out of those 10 strikeouts, two were to Trout. Ohtani didn’t have a hit as well against Alcantara. 

If you’re fooling those two talents even during the third time through the order, then that’s when you know there’s something special. 

Alcanatra continues to make his case for the National League Cy Young Award and he is pretty much the favorite at this point in time if he keeps putting up these incredible numbers. 

 

Garrett Cooper is slowly becoming one of baseball’s best hitters

Marlins first baseman Garrett Cooper is the definition of consistent. 

Game after game, Cooper has been big for Miami when they needed that big hit or a ball in play.

And the numbers show that he’s been getting better and better as the season progresses. Cooper’s batting average has increased to an incredible .311 which ranks as the 12th-highest in baseball. His on-base percentage of .377 puts him ninth in the National League. 

Although Cooper didn’t have a great two games, only producing one hit, he did come up clutch when the Marlins needed him. 

In the bottom of the third inning during Game 1, Cooper hit a 3-2 pitch just over the left field wall for a home run that gave the Marlins a 1-0 lead. 

During the first inning of Game 2, Cooper hit a sacrifice fly that also gave the Marlins a 1-0 lead. 

It just goes to show that when the Marlins need him, Cooper produces the big hit. 

 

Marlins shutdown Trout

Miami didn’t let Trout get hot during his short stay in Miami. 

The three-time MVP was just 1-for-7 and struck out four times during the two-game series. 

It’s definitely odd to see a player of that caliber struggle that much over those couple of games. It’s like he couldn’t see the ball well at LoanDepot Park, but he did say the same exact thing in Houston during their last series where he struggled to hit the ball as well. 

Maybe it has nothing to do with Miami’s pitchers and has more to do with himself. Miami’s lucky that they got scheduled to play the Angels during a time where Trout is cold because if he was playing like his usual self, I don’t see how the Marlins split the series. 

I’m not discrediting the Marlins pitching staff by any means, but seeing a player like Trout have those struggles at the plate makes you wonder how much of a factor is his mental approach as opposed to the pitcher he’s going up against. 

 

There’s no answers when facing Ohtani

The Marlins offense looked clueless against Angels starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani. I mean CLUELESS.

The only time the batters really got to Ohtani was in the first inning where they racked up a couple of hits and ended the inning with a 1-0 lead.

At that point, many were probably thinking that the offense had a plan against Ohtani and maybe they could get him out of the game before six innings.

Well, the opposite of that ended up happening. 

Ohtani pitched seven innings and struck out 10 batters while allowing just two hits and no earned runs. During that span, Ohtani managed to retire 15 straight Marlins hitters. 

I mean, Ohtani’s tough for a hitter to figure out. He’s got five pitches: fastball, curveball, slider, cutter, and splitter. 

The splitter is his strikeout pitch and is arguably one of the best in baseball. Hitters are batting just .115 against that pitch and it doesn’t help that Ohtani also throws a 100 mph fastball. Having those two combined, along with the curveball and slider, makes it tough for any hitter to have success against this generational talent. 

“He never seems to get rattled”, Marlins manager Don Mattingly said about Ohtani. “Pretty impressive tonight seeing him for the first time.”

 

The winning streak comes to an end 

Miami’s winning streak has sadly come to a close. 

Their six-game winning streak started back when they won against St. Louis, the Washington Nationals for four games, and the Angels during the first game of this series. 

Although their winning streak came to an end, there’s still a ton of positive things that came out of it. 

First, Miami has gained some serious ground in the race for that final Wild Card spot. The Marlins are now just three games back of that spot which is crazy because last week, all people were thinking was to trade our players and start fresh for the next season. 

Will the Marlins actually become buyers at the trade deadline? It’s something that Marlins fans aren’t very used to seeing. 

After the winning streak came to an end, Miami is just two games back of .500. A record they haven’t seen since April. 

But, if the Marlins want to make it to the postseason, they’ll have to start beating teams that are above .500. Because that’s where the real test is at. And they definitely can’t afford losing a series against a poor team. 

Miami’s up for a big test as they head to New York against the Mets (51-31) for a four-game series from Thursday through Sunday. 

 

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