Rock & Roll It podcast: Asia Cup nostalgia, Pakistan as pioneers, and more
Andrew Fidel Fernando joins our podcast crew to go down memory lane
ESPNcricinfo staff25-Sep-2025
Andrew Fidel Fernando joins our podcast crew to go down memory lane
ESPNcricinfo staff25-Sep-2025
As they prepare to lead India and England in a crucial clash, their shared legacy at Mumbai Indians adds intrigue to the contest
S Sudarshanan17-Oct-2025The difference is stark as you get off the main road and enter the bylane to reach the media gate at the Holkar Stadium in Indore. It’s distinctly quiet, free of the honking and the bustle of vehicles. Quite the contrast. Much like Nat Sciver-Brunt and Harmanpreet Kaur at training on Friday, ahead of the crucial game between India and England.Sciver-Brunt was everywhere. She was partaking in catching and fielding drills one moment. And the next, she was spot-bowling in one of the two training nets. Then she was bowling to Tammy Beaumont and Sophia Dunkley, before batting in the adjacent net against throwdowns and the England bowlers. Not long after, she changed out of her training kit to fulfill broadcast commitments. It was a packed schedule for the England captain on a hot afternoon in Indore.By the time Harmanpreet and her team strode in, the sun had given way to a dark, cloudy sky. The floodlights came on almost right on cue. There was a drizzle just before India’s arrival and so they chose to train in the enclosed Amay Khuraysia practice arena just behind one of the east stands. Harmanpreet was a picture of focus. She batted in pairs with Jemimah Rodrigues and faced a variety of India bowlers. India used two pitches in the facility – a red-soil surface and a black-soil one. She batted on both of them for close to 90 minutes. After that, she bowled to Deepti Sharma for a bit.Related
Edwards 'disappointed' but not 'concerned' by England's batting
India vs England – A World Cup game with plenty of jeopardy
India need to fix flaws ahead of tougher challenges in World Cup
Ticket sales begin for World Cup semi-finals
'For Theo' – a century for Sciver-Brunt, a celebration for the Sciver-Brunts
Harmanpreet and Sciver-Brunt have had many match-winning partnerships in the WPL for Mumbai Indians (MI), who have won two titles in three seasons. As MI captain and vice-captain, they have plotted the downfall of many of Harmanpreet’s India team-mates, including Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues. But come Sunday at the Women’s World Cup, the duo will be in opposite camps, plotting to take the other down. England, with seven points, are yet to lose a game in the tournament; India have only four points in four matches after suffering losses in their two previous games.Harmanpreet will also be up against Charlotte Edwards, who left her job as MI coach after three years to take charge of England. India and England played a bilateral series in July with the MI leadership split across both teams, but this next game is the one that matters most. A full house is expected in Indore.”In my 15-16 years of coaching, whenever I have had a chance to work as an assistant coach, my best experience was under Anju [Jain] at Bangladesh. After that, I would definitely take Charlotte’s name,” MI batting coach Devika Palshikar tells ESPNcricinfo. “She is tactically brilliant. She gave us a free hand, our roles were quite clear. In a short tournament like the WPL, it is important to keep the players in a good space mentally. Charlotte is really good at that.”Edwards seems to have had a similar impact on England’s players. Linsey Smith, who has opened the bowling several times in T20Is, was asked to do the role in ODIs for the first time, and she delivered. Emma Lamb had not batted outside the top order in domestic cricket, but she was backed to do a middle-order role, partly because England also need batters who can bowl spin.Harmanpreet Kaur hugs then-MI head coach Charlotte Edwards after WPL title win•BCCI”Charlotte doesn’t put pressure on the results,” Palshikar, who helped bridge the language barrier at MI, said. “It is always about the process. She gives small, specific targets to players. For example at MI, [openers] Hayley [Matthews] and Yastika [Bhatia] have to take care of the powerplay. After that Nat is there, and she and Harman [Harmanpreet] can have a good partnership.”Apart from Edwards and Sciver-Brunt aside, England also have another person from the MI support staff in their camp – Benji Hoppitt, the performance analyst. Palshikar calls him “a mastermind who helps us trick opponents”. Edwards and Hoppitt also worked together at Sydney Sixers in the WBBL and Southern Brave in the Hundred.”Benji has very good insights. He is thorough. He is the best analyst I have worked with so far. We now know why Charlotte and Benji work together everywhere!”All this is not to say England have the inside track on India. Harmanpreet has been on the international circuit for over 16 years. Perhaps no one moved the needle as much as she did with her 171 not out against Australia in the 2017 World Cup. And even at 36, few can match her for power with the bat.”Harman is very experienced,” Palshikar says. “She’s played on Indian soil for close to 20 years. So she knows about the grounds and other things. And she is tactically sound and assured.”Palshikar and Edwards also worked together to help Harmanpreet play attacking cricket from an earlier point in T20 cricket, a move that helped MI lift a second title earlier this year. “Her consistency at the WPL is unmatched,” Palshikar says. “The way she plays freely, I actually see a different Harman with us. She has been given a free hand and the confidence reflects.”Her routines also help her a great deal. She knows how to keep herself mentally and physically fit. She is very professional. She knows to cut off from the outside world, she is thorough in keeping a minimum screen time ahead of games. That is something for youngsters to see and learn.”A sub-plot to this great MI divide is a Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) duel. Luke Williams and Smriti Mandhana, head coach and captain of the title-winning team in WPL 2024, are also in opposite camps. Williams is Edwards’ assistant while Mandhana is India’s vice-captain.Palshikar was India’s assistant coach when Mandhana played her first T20 World Cup in 2014. The pair also worked together at Ratnagiri Jets in the Women’s Maharashtra Premier League (WMPL) earlier this year.”I was lucky to work with Smriti at WMPL,” Palshikar says. “I last worked with her in 2014. The Smriti of 2014 and now the Smriti of 2025 – oh, I was so impressed with her. I have worked with so many players. But [Harmanpreet and Mandhana] are true legends. After Mithali [Raj] and Jhulan [Goswami], India will forever have these two legends.”
كشف الاتحاد الإسباني لكرة القدم، عن حكم مباراة برشلونة وأتلتيكو مدريد، المقرر خوضها غدًا الثلاثاء ضمن مباريات بطولة الدوري الإسباني لموسم 2025-2026.
ويستقبل برشلونة خصمه أتلتيكو مدريد على ملعب “سبوتيفاي كامب نو”، وذلك في إطار مباريات الجولة التاسعة عشر للدوري الإسباني “الليجا”، والتي تم تقديم موعدها بسبب إقامة كأس السوبر الإسباني في يناير.
ويتولى الحكم ريكاردو دي بورجوس إدارة مباراة الثلاثاء بين برشلونة وأتلتيكو مدريد، وسيتولى بابلو جونزاليس فويرتيس إدارة تقنية الفيديو المساعد (فار).
وكان الحكم دي بورجوس قد أدار مباراة الأحد في مونتيليفي بين جيرونا وريال مدريد، والتي انتهت بالتعادل 1-1.
الحكم كان محل انتقادات من ريال مدريد، في المؤتمر الصحفي الذي أعقب المباراة مع مدربه تشابي ألونسو وأيضًا عبر قناة النادي.
ويأتي ذلك بسبب ركلة جزاء لم تحتسب لصالح رودريجو لاعب ريال مدريد، ولم يتم الرجوع لتقنية الفار، مما تسبب في انتقادات للحكم.
طالع | تشابي ألونسو: تصرف الفار مع رودريجو مثير للدهشة.. ولن ألوم لاعبي ريال مدريد
سبق وأدار دي بورجوس مباراة لبرشلونة فاز بها على خيتافي 3-0 في الجولة الخامسة من الموسم الحالي.
كما أدار مباراة أتلتيكو مدريد التي فاز فيها 1-0 على أوساسونا في الجولة التاسعة من الدوري الإسباني هذا الموسم.
اقرأ أيضًا | غياب غامض لـ أراوخو قبل مواجهة برشلونة وأتلتيكو مدريد.. واجتماع مع ديكو يزيد الشكوك
وتولى دي بورجوس إدارة مباراة برشلونة وأتلتيكو مدريد في الموسم الماضي، والتي انتهت بهزيمة البلوجرانا بنتيجة 2-1.
كما أدار مباراة الإياب على ملعب ميتروبوليتانو، حيث فاز برشلونة 4-2 في الجولة 28 من الليجا، وهذه هي المرة الرابعة التي يتولى فيها دي بورجوس فيها مباراة بين الفريقين.
وكان الحكم خلال مباراة ذهاب نصف نهائي كأس ملك إسبانيا في موسم 2016-2017، والتي فاز بها برشلونة 2-1.
الجدير بالذكر أن دي بورجوس أدار 33 مباراة لبرشلونة، حقق خلالها الفريق 27 فوزًا وتعادلًا واحدًا وتعرض لخمس هزائم، وأدار 35 مباراة لأتلتيكو مدريد، محققًا 24 فوزًا و7 تعادلات وأربع هزائم.
Manchester United have made a "concrete" approach for Elliot Anderson, who is being valued at an eye-watering amount by current club Nottingham Forest. Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim remains keen on signing a new central midfielder in 2026 as he continues to try and build a squad capable of challenging for the biggest honours again, and Anderson is reportedly near the top of his wishlist.
A bowling blitz from allrounder Ash Gardner powered Sydney Sixers to an 11-run win that snaps Hobart Hurricanes’ undefeated start to the WBBL.Her side chasing 148 for victory, Elyse Villani helped Hurricanes overcome some middle-order wobbles and take control at Bellerive Oval. The hosts required 19 runs from the last three overs with four wickets in hand.Related
Lanning century leads Stars' domination over Sixers
Wilson trumps de Klerk in Thunder's big win over Heat
Gardner had been expensive, going at 1 for 34 across her first three overs, but was thrown the ball with Saturday’s game hanging in the balance.The Sixers captain dispatched of Hayley Silver-Holmes as she attempted an audacious sweep shot before also collecting Molly Strano’s stumps as she attempted a hero shot of her own on the next delivery.Lauren Smith mistimed Gardner’s last ball of the over and picked out Sophia Dunkley at extra cover, leaving Hurricanes with only No. 11 Linsey Smith to partner Villani.When Smith skied to midwicket off Lauren Cheatle, Hurricanes were all out on 136 and left to wonder how the game had slipped so quickly out of their hands.The victory ended Hurricanes’ winning streak on five – their equal-longest in WBBL history – and helped Sixers bounce back from a disastrous 111-run loss in a rain-affected last start against Melbourne Stars.Earlier, the summer’s leading wicket-taker Heather Graham came up with WBBL career-best figures to help consign the Sixers to 147 for 9 at the close of their innings.That was no mean feat after the visitors won the toss and looked in command during a 75-run opening stand between Dunkley and Ellyse Perry.Dunkley notched her second half-century of the summer after surviving a scare on 7, the third umpire ruling her bat came down in time to thwart Lizelle Lee’s stumping effort.But Sixers’ innings never hit the same heights after Dunkley lobbed Graham’s slower ball out to Rachel Trenaman at long on.Only Gardner joined Perry and Dunkley in passing 50 as the Sixers lost 4 for 6 to finish their innings with Graham on song. Graham had her four-fer by collecting Erin Burns’ stumps as the veteran stepped back and mistimed her shot.
تحدث تشابي ألونسو، المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ريال مدريد عن خسارة فريقه أمام مانشستر سيتي ضمن منافسات دوري أبطال أوروبا.
وخسر ريال مدريد أمام مانشستر سيتي بثنائية مقابل هدف في المباراة التي جمعتهما أمس، الأربعاء، ضمن منافسات الجولة السادسة من مرحلة الدوري لبطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.
وقال ألونسو، في تصريحات عبر صحيفة “آس”: “لا أحد منا يلوم نفسه، لقد حاولنا حتى النهاية، بدأنا بشكل جيد وتقدمنا في النتيجة لكن في بعض الأحيان تكون الانتكاسة مؤلمة أكثر وهذا ما حدث”.
وأكمل: “في غضون عشر دقائق، من ركلة ركنية وركلة جزاء، تقدموا في النتيجة، في وقت كانت فيه المباراة قوية وتنافسية لكننا استقبلنا هدفًا، لم نسيطر على تلك المواقف جيدًا ثم حاول الفريق مرة أخرى، سواء كان ذلك جيدًا أم سيئًا، فقد حاولنا حتى النهاية وأتيحت لنا فرص لكننا افتقرنا إلى اللمسة الأخيرة لتسجيل هدف، ليس لدي ما ألوم أي شخص عليه”.
وأضاف: “عندما تكون في موقف حرج ليس فقط من حيث أدائنا بل أيضًا بالنظر إلى المباراة السابقة والإصابات التي نعاني منها حاليًا، تشعر بأنك أقل تماسكًا وهذا ما سمح لهم بالعودة بسرعة كبيرة”.
وتابع: “في مثل هذه المباريات، عليك ألا تستقبل الكثير من الأهداف وقد فعلنا لكن ذلك لم يكن كافيًا لهم، قلبوا النتيجة لصالحهم، كانت لا تزال لديك فرصًا للتسجيل، بعضها في الشوط الثاني لكننا لم نستغلها”.
اقرأ أيضًا | فرص ريال مدريد في التأهل لدور الـ16 من دوري أبطال أوروبا بعد الهزيمة أمام مانشستر سيتي
وأتبع: “صافرات استهجان جماهير برنابيو؟ مررنا بلحظات كثيرة، بعضها كان تشجيعًا ودعمًا حتى النهاية، لقد بذلنا قصارى جهدنا ومن الواضح أننا غير راضين عن أدائنا الحالي لكن ليس لدي أي لوم على اللاعبين، ولا ألوم الجماهير أبدًا فهم شاهدوا الكثير ويعرفون الكثير عن هذا الأمر”.
وحول الجدل التحكيمي، استطرد: ” في الهدف الأول، منعوا كورتوا قليلًا، حسنًا هذه لقطات أفسرها بشكل مختلف من وجهة نظري، الحكم رآها كذلك، وكان قراره حاسمًا، لا أعرف لم أتمكن من مشاهدتها مرة أخرى”.
وعن عناق رودريجو له بعد تسجيل الهدف: “أنا سعيد جدًا لأجله لأنه كان يمر بفترة صعبة ولم يكن يلعب كثيرًا واليوم كان رودريجو رائعًا، لعب بشكل ممتاز، وكان له تأثير كبير على مجريات المباراة وسجل ذلك الهدف وهو أمر في غاية الأهمية بالنسبة له، من أفضل الأشياء التي حدثت اليوم أننا رأيناه يلعب وظهر جيدًا للغاية ثم هناك دعم الجماهير والفريق، كل هذا موجود ومعًا سنقلب الأمور رأسًا على عقب، أنا ممتن لذلك”.
واسترسل: “أكثر ما أعجبني هو أداء رودريجو، رؤيته بتلك الجودة الفردية وتلك القدرة على المراوغة، بالإضافة إلى الهدف، كان أمرًا إيجابيًا للغاية”.
وعن حالة مبابي: “من المبكر جدًا معرفة ما إذا كان سيكون متاحًا لمباراة الأحد، من الواضح أنه لم يتمكن من اللعب اليوم، افتقدناه اليوم كثيرًا رغم أننا أتيحت لنا فرص كافية لتسجيل هدف ثاني لكنها لم تدخل المرمى”.
وبسؤاله حول تواصل فلورنتينو بيريز، رئيس ريال مدريد معه أجاب ألونسو: “لا لم نلتقي”.
حول ما قاله بيب جوارديولا عنه في المؤتمر الصحفي قبل المباراة، أوضح: “نحن نعرف بعضنا البعض جيدًا وهو يعلم جيدًا ما كان يقوله ولا داعي للتعليق على تصريحاته”.
وأتم: “قلق حول مستقبلي؟ أركز على المباراة القادمة، الأهم هنا هو ريال مدريد، الأمر يتعلق بالفريق واللاعبين وكيف يمكنني مساعدتهم، الأمر لا يتعلق بي أبدًا”.
MatériaMais Notícias
O zagueiro do Flamengo, Fabrício Bruno foi citado como o terceiro zagueiro que mais atuou nos últimos 365 dias. Os dados foram divulgados pelo Observatório de Futebol do Centro Internacional de Estudos de Esporte (CIES Football Observatory).
continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFora de CampoGerson recebe chuva de críticas por atitude em Palmeiras x Flamengo: ‘Ridículo’Fora de Campo22/04/2024PalmeirasEmpate com o Flamengo mostra que Palmeiras precisa de mudanças entre os titularesPalmeiras22/04/2024BrasileirãoAssista aos melhores momentos do empate entre Palmeiras e FlamengoBrasileirão21/04/2024
➡️ Tudo sobre o Mengão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Flamengo
Segundo o instituto, o atleta esteve em campo por 5622 minutos dentro do intervalo citado. Fabrício só ficou atrás do Gil ex-Corinthians e atualmente no Santos, e do Fidel Escobar, do Saprissa (Costa Rica).
O top-5 do CIES termina com o palmeirense Gustavo Gómez e do argentino Otamendi, do Benfica. Todos os jogadores da lista estão atuando pelas suas seleções. A exceção é o Gil, que se transferiu para o Santos nessa temporada e a maioria dos seus minutos foi contabilizado enquanto ainda estava no Corinthians.
continua após a publicidade
Dos jogadores selecionáveis, o rubro-negro foi o último a ser convocado. Fabrício foi contratado pelo Flamengo em 2022, e já soma 109 jogos e cinco gols pelo clube.
Tudo sobre
FlamengoFutebol Nacional
Abbas, Pennington claim three wickets each as Somerset are bowled out for 438
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay30-Jul-2025 Nottinghamshire 189 for 2 trail Somerset 438 (Rew 166, Abell 156, Abbas 3-60) by 249 runs Captain Haseeb Hameed’s third century of the season helped title-chasing Nottinghamshire build a solid foundation in reply to Somerset’s 438 on day two of their Rothesay County Championship clash at Trent Bridge.Hameed, who struck 15 fours and two sixes, also passed 1,000 first-class runs for the season with the same shot that completed his hundred. He had earlier shared a stand of 101 for the second wicket with Freddie McCann (48).At 189 for two, though, Nottinghamshire, who began this round one point behind Division One leaders and defending champions Surrey, still have much work to do, trailing by 249 runs even after third-placed Somerset lost their last seven wickets for 100, Mohammad Abbas (three for 60) and Dillon Pennington (three for 71) sharing the bowling honours for the home side.Somerset’s 438 all out – while a total not to be sniffed at after being asked to bat first – perversely still felt like fewer than Somerset probably should have accumulated on a pitch with little in it for the bowling side, given that they had been 338 for three before Tom Abell’s demise shortly before Tuesday’s close,Abbas excepted, Nottinghamshire had not been at their best with the ball on the opening day. They looked better for a night’s reflection, yet most of the damage suffered by Somerset was to some degree self-inflicted.Of the four wickets to fall in adding 58 before lunch, nightwatchman Jack Leach cut the first ball of the day straight to backward point, after which James Rew fell into a trap set on the leg side as his impressive 166 ended with him athletically caught behind pulling.Tom Banton, chasing a wide one, and Archie Vaughan, nibbling outside off stump, gave Joe Clarke two much easier catches in his latest tour of duty keeping wicket, this time because Kyle Verreynne is back home in South Africa for an awards ceremony. Migael Pretorius popped back a tame return catch for Calvin Harrison soon after lunch.Craig Overton’s 31 not out was the third highest score in an innings dominated by Rew’s 313-run fourth-wicket stand with Abell (156). Jake Ball, the former Nottinghamshire quick, made 24 against his old mates before chipping back a catch to Liam Patterson-White after 41 were added for the last wicketOpening a Nottinghamshire innings for the 100th time together – matching the feats of Chris Broad and Tim Robinson, and Darren Bicknell and Jason Gallian as the only opening pairs to reach that milestone for the county since 1960 – Haseeb and Ben Slater were quickly parted, Slater falling to the eighth ball of the innings, shouldering arms to a ball from Craig Overton that clipped his off stump.Yet it took another 28 overs for the Somerset attack to make a second incision. McCann was looking to match Hameed, who had just completed an 87-ball half-century, when Ball offered him a delivery wide of off stump. It was a boundary for the taking to the short side of the square but he flashed at the ball and it took the edge, Rew having no problem taking the catch.If this represented a potential opening for Somerset, though, it was not one that offered any more than a glimpse of light, as Hameed and Clarke negotiated a safe passage through the 25 overs that remained.Hameed survived a chance on 91, albeit a difficult one, when he drove a ball back hard at Pretorius, who instinctively flung out a hand but could only prevent runs. The Nottinghamshire skipper celebrated his reprieve by lofting Vaughan’s off spin down the ground, not cleanly but with enough power to beat the fielder and the boundary for his second six, then patiently waiting on 99 to drive the same bowler to the long-on boundary for his 15th four and his 18th first-class century.
CSK and KKR are best placed to break the bank for Cameron Green, but a new IPL rule prevents the player from being paid more than INR 18 crore
Nagraj Gollapudi03-Dec-20258:03
Will KKR go all-out to get Cameron Green in?
IPL mini auctions have had record paydays for overseas players in the past, and Cameron Green could take that trend forward come December 16.Green has been tipped to become the most expensive buy at the upcoming IPL auction because both Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who have the highest purses (INR 64.3 crore and INR 43.4 crore respectively), are expected to put in strong bids for the allrounder.In 2023, Mitchell Starc was bought by KKR for INR 24.75 crore, minutes after Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) acquired Pat Cummins for 20.5 crore, making him the first player to breach the INR 20-crore mark at an IPL auction. Those overshadowed the INR 18.5 crore Punjab Kings (PBKS) had bid for Sam Curran in the previous mini auction in 2023.Related
IPL 2026 auction – De Kock added in 359-player shortlist, Green part of first set
Green in line for IPL payday; Maxwell, Moeen opt out
At the 2023 auction, Green became the second-most expensive buy when Mumbai Indians (MI) had bought him at INR 17.5 crore. MI went on to trade Green to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) a year later for the same price. In his two IPL seasons so far, in 2023 and 2024, Green has played 29 matches, scoring 707 runs at a strike rate of 153.70.He has listed himself at the maximum base price of INR 2 crore for the latest auction.While he could become a millionaire again, it won’t cross INR 20 crore, since the maximum fee cannot exceed INR 18 crore. This will apply even if the bid is higher than that number.That is because of the new “maximum fee” rule that the IPL brought in last year to address the collective concern of franchises that some overseas players were registering exclusively at mini auctions to exploit the supply-demand imbalance. Consequently, the IPL put in the maximum-fee rule where the overseas player cannot be paid more than INR 18 crore, which was the highest slab for franchises retaining players ahead of the 2025 mega auction.Cameron Green winds up for a big hit•BCCIIf the bid exceeded the INR 18-crore mark, the additional money, the IPL said, would be utilised by the BCCI for player welfare. In a note to franchises last year, the IPL said: “Any overseas player’s auction fee at small auction will be lower than the highest retention price [of INR 18 crore] and the highest auction price at the big auction. In case the highest auction price at the big auction is INR 20 crore, then INR 18 crore will be the cap. If the highest auction price at big auction is INR 16 crore, then the cap will be INR 16 crore.”The rule in place going forward is that the auction for the player will continue as normal till the player is sold, and the final auction amount will be charged to the auction purse. “The incremental amount over INR 16 or 18 crore, as the case may be, will be deposited with BCCI. The incremental amount deposited with BCCI will be utilised towards players’ welfare.”The maximum-fee rule, though, will not be applicable to Indian players, who will get the actual bid money, which will be deducted from franchise purse.A total of 77 slots are available to be filled at the auction including 31 for overseas players. There are 16 capped Indian players in the longlist, which will be pruned once franchises submit their final wishlist to the IPL by December 5.
SEATTLE — Max Scherzer had not pitched in 22 days, had been left off the Division Series roster of the Blue Jays, had stumbled to the finish of the regular season with a 9.00 ERA in his final six starts and had enough physical maladies over the past two seasons—back, shoulder, triceps, hamstring, thumb, lat, neck, etc.—to mimic a 41-year-old weekend pickleball player, not the 41-year-old three-time Cy Young Award winner that he is. His start in Game 4 of the ALCS had the trappings of a tour of a 1970s band: cutely nostalgic, but nothing more.
Then he started warming up in the T-Mobile Park visiting bullpen and something magical happened. The ball flew out his hand with ease and power. He spun the ball with precision. Toronto pitching coach Pete Walker could hardly believe what he was watching.
“I knew when he was warming up it was going to be good,” Walker said. “He wanted this one bad and you’d probably ask anybody in that clubhouse and they, they felt it, too. When he was warming up, I felt some of the hairs that are barely there on my arm standing up because I could tell he had it.”
What we do in the prime of our work is what most defines us. It is the first paragraph of our obituary. But sometimes it is what we do in the twilight of our careers, long after a reputation has been earned, that burnishes the oeuvre, if not creates a legend of its own. Late career greatness has the added emotion of bittersweetness, born from the uncertainty that it may well be the last of it.
Scherzer had one of those nights. He defied age, time, injury and, almost comically, his own manager. He threw harder than he had in two years. He had the best curveball of his life. He stomped around the mound like a young lion. He pitched two outs into the sixth inning to earn his ninth career postseason win, but first one in six years, as Toronto evened the series at two games each with a second straight pounding of the Mariners, 8–2.