More rankings: Top 250 | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | C | OF | SP | RP
[Baseball 2015 from Yahoo! Fantasy Sports: Join a league today! ]
FantasyPros aggregates and analyzes fantasy baseball rankings and projections from 100+ sites.
When the NCAA banned players from rolling their jerseys up under their pads for the 2015 season, Ezekiel Elliott endorsed a petition to reverse the rule. After all, the Ohio State running back was one of the players the rule effects, as Elliott likes to roll his jersey up.
Thursday, he called the rule "silly."
"It does seem like a silly rule,” Elliott said via the Toledo Blade. “But it's something you can't make a big deal about. It's just a jersey. I love the game of football, and that's such a minute detail. It's funny to see how much the fans love it.”
The petition he retweeted has over 9,000 signatures. And one of them is Elliott's. He said with a laugh that his name was on it.
He also said that he got the cast off his injured left wrist on Monday. Elliott spent the entire 2014 season with a broken wrist and carried the ball exclusively in his right hand. After the cast's departure, he said it'll be a six-week process of getting mobility and strength back in the wrist. So while he's slowed for spring practice, he'll be ready for the 2015 season.
"I can feel [my wrist] getting better but right now it is really small and real weak and I have a little bit of pain here and there and the bone is not fully healed," Elliott said via BuckeyeGrove.com. "Like I said, I still have six more weeks until I am 100-percent."
He was also a bit understated when describing the near-700 yards he accumulated in the final three games of the season as Ohio State won the national title.
"I think I finished on a good note," Elliott said. "The whole team came out and we were just a different team those last three games, we got better every week with the line blocking like that it was pretty easy to do what I did."
For more Ohio State news, visit BuckeyeGrove.com.
- - - - - - -
Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
Potential first-round pick P.J. Williams, a cornerback out of Florida State, reportedly was arrested for DUI Friday morning according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Albert Breer.
From @RapSheet and me: Per the Leon County jail, FSU CB PJ Williams -- a prospective 1st-rounder -- was arrested for DUI at 3:08 AM today.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) April 3, 2015
Williams had worked out well at Florida State's pro day this week, although scouts came away knowing that fellow Seminoles corner Ronald Darby was the better athlete of the two. The 6-0, 194-pound Williams did test well at the NFL scouting combine with great numbers with the vertical (40 inches) and broad jumps (132).
Now scouts, GMs and NFL teams have more to consider. Williams' arrest this close to the draft could raise big red flags for teams, and his stock could tumble.
Williams had another run-in with the law in October, according to the New York Times, leaving the scene of an accident but appeared to get off light from police with only traffic tickets issued.
Although it's not considered an incredibly deep crop of cornerbacks, it would be shocking to see him taken high now, and it could push him to the third day of the draft.
- - - - - - -
Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Eric_Edholm
There have been a few LaRon Landry photos through the years in which you stop, stare and also have questions about how he got as big as he did.
Landry, the former Indianapolis Colts safety known for his massive physique, was suspended four games during last season for a performance-enhancing drugs. Then he was suspended 10 games in March, again for a PED violation.
And while he is an NFL free agent, suspended for a couple failed PED tests, Landry retweeted this photo that he was included in:
Thankful for the chance to get some work in at the gym with @MrLandry30 http://ift.tt/1F8Vxwk
— Jován L. Swann (@_jswann) April 2, 2015 I can't post the responses to this tweet because they're not all family friendly, but go ahead and read them if you want to take in a few comments on how Landry got that big.
I suppose Landry can't put away the guns to take photos, but this one probably isn't going to dispel the reputation he has.
But if Landry can't find another NFL team, maybe he could get in on this ad campaign:
- - - - - - -
Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdowncorner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab
Grandstanding: A Yahoo Sports podcast
Subscribe via iTunes & Leave A Review
At long last, it's here: the Final Four, and oh, what a Final Four it is. Kentucky going for 40-0. Wisconsin hoping to win its first title in three generations. Duke looking to solidify itself as the greatest program of the last quarter-century. Michigan State eager, and able, to spoil everyone's dreams.
Before the games tip off in Indy on Saturday, we've got your thorough preview right here. We welcome Jeff Eisenberg of Yahoo Sports' The Dagger blog to give us a run-down of the games, the coaches, and What It All Means to college basketball.
We start by asking if this is the best Final Four since 1991 (2:43 mark). We follow that with a breakdown of Kentucky-Wisconsin. Can anyone beat Kentucky? (5:13 mark) After that, it's over to Duke-Michigan State, the battle of Krzyzewski and Izzo (19:11 mark). We close off with a few big-picture questions, including which coach could mold five random players into a team the fastest (25:14 mark).
Thanks for listening to the Grandstanding podcast. Hit us up on Twitter (@kevinkaduk and @jaybusbee) Facebook (Kaduk here, Busbee here) or via the hashtag #grandstanding. See you next ep!
____
Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter.
And keep up with Jay over on Facebook, too.
INDIANAPOLIS — Nigel Hayes has become one of the breakout stars of this NCAA tournament, not only for his play but also for his entertaining press conference hi-jinks.
Now on the big stage of the Final Four, the Wisconsin forward was at it again on Friday morning. He called for the microphone during Frank Kaminsky's presser for winning the USBWA's Oscar Robertson Player of the Year award and identified himself as the "Badger Beats Writer, Intersquad Relations."
Here's the video of his question:
First question for Frank Kaminsky at the Oscar Robertson Trophy ceremony comes from @NIGEL_HAYES of the "Badger Beat" http://ift.tt/1CkAp4i
— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) April 3, 2015 The Badgers, who attended their teammate's press conference en masse, weren't done there. Forward Sam Dekker went next, asking Kaminsky who his favorite teammate was (answer: "everyone").
An actual Wisconsin beat writer then asked a question, drawing boos from the team.
Hayes has made plenty of headlines the past few weeks for testing the knowledge of the NCAA stenographer and for making a funny slipup in front of a live mike. We'll see what else he has in store for the media corps during this weekend in Indy.
- - - - - - -
Kevin Kaduk is a writer for Yahoo Sports . Have a tip? Email him at kevinkaduk@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
Had things gone according to plan, Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Archie Bradley would have excelled last spring, flummoxing hitters, earning a spot in his team's early season rotation. He would now be entering his second year in the majors, an obvious breakout candidate.
[Yahoo Sports Fantasy Baseball: Sign up and join a league today!]
But things only rarely go according to plan with young pitchers. Bradley had a shaky spring in 2014 — perfectly allowable, given that he was only 21 — then he struggled at Triple-A Reno to open the year. He landed on the DL in late April, sidelined by a flexor strain in his pitching elbow, and ultimately finished his season with a not-so-appealing stat line: 4.45 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 8.1 K/9, 5.3 BB/9.
Bradley had some nice moments in the Arizona Fall League, however, introducing a slider, rediscovering his mid-90s velocity. He entered spring training in 2015 still ranked among (though not atop) the game's best pitching prospects. Bradley has been excellent in six Cactus League appearances this time around, posting a 1.61 ERA and 1.16 WHIP.
On Wednesday, Archie one-hit the Reds over six innings.
On Thursday, Arizona dealt Trevor Cahill to Atlanta, opening a spot in the big league rotation.
Bradley is far from a can't-miss prospect (if such a thing exists), and walks have been an issue at every stop. No one should expect immediate dominance, or instant fantasy relevance. He'll be pitching in a hitter's park, backed by a sketchy lineup.
Still, this is the same guy who delivered a brilliant 2013 season across two levels (14-5, 1.84 ERA, 9.6 K/9), and he's enhanced the pitching arsenal. In fantasy leagues of unusual depth, Bradley is worth a speculative add — particularly if you can afford to take a bench-and-watch approach in April. This is a talented young pitcher coming off a tremendous spring. If you were interested last year, there's no reason you shouldn't invest today.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers found himself again discussing Raheem Sterling’s future.
As Brendan Rodgers sat down to have his say, it was easy to forget that Liverpool have a critical game against their top-four rivals Arsenal.
Instead, there was only one issue on the agenda, brought about by Raheem Sterling’s television interview 24 hours earlier.The interview in which he suddenly seemed happy to discuss that unsigned £100,000-a-week contract, assert he is a trophy-hunter rather than a money-grabber and, perhaps most alarming of all, admit he is flattered by interest from tomorrow’s opponents from north London.
Instead of talking about the race for a Champions League pot of gold, Rodgers found himself again discussing the subject of Sterling’s silver.The response seemed well prepared, a message of solidarity combined with a show of strength.
Sterling is going nowhere was the emphatic statement. And if there were any suggestion from the 20-year-old that Liverpool need to convince him they can match his ambition, the message from Rodgers was equally clear: count yourself lucky to be here.
‘Arsenal is a fantastic football club, of course, but this is Liverpool, one of the great clubs of the football world,’ said the Anfield boss ‘It’s an honour for Raheem to play here at a club like Liverpool in front of our great supporters and he understands that. He sees that.‘If Raheem has said his ambition is to win trophies and be successful, then it’s perfectly aligned with what we’re trying to do.’
There was a reminder to Sterling and his representatives that his stock has risen on the back of the work Liverpool have done with him and the faith Rodgers has placed in the player.He is, Rodgers remarked, not yet the finished article. Not yet of the same calibre as Luis Suarez who eventually got his move away from Merseyside.
‘Now, as a 20-year-old, no he’s not at that level,’ said Rodgers. ‘Raheem has been involved with the first team for two-and-a-half years and the player he is today — and he still has a lot of improvements to make — is because of the environment and what we’ve created here.
‘He’s still got learning and development to make on and off the pitch. We feel this is a great place for him. We’ll very much focus on trying to make him the best player we can.‘He’s a young player who has developed a lot and that’s because of one reason, which is Liverpool. So we’re quite relaxed on that and we’ll concentrate on his football, hopefully. ‘For us it’s really about continuing to nurture the development of a young player who has made huge strides and someone who we believe we still have a lot of input into his development to come so he can be consistently a player playing at the top of his game.’
There is a growing feeling that Sterling and his representatives are attempting to force Liverpool’s hand and orchestrate a move back to London, where Arsenal and Chelsea would welcome him home with open arms.
Certainly the mixed messages over the contract stalemate in recent months have been confusing. Is it about money? Is it about trophies? Is it about Sterling’s best position?
The latter, according to Rodgers, should not be an issue. Most important of all is that Sterling is a first-team regular getting the kind of opportunities that young players do not elsewhere.
The manager drew comparisons with Steven Gerrard. ‘Every player will have a position to play,’ he said. ‘I pick the best team and what is key for him — and I’m sure he understands — is that he’s getting the opportunity to play.
‘If you look through this league and in Europe, there aren’t many playing at 17, 18, 19 or 20.‘Every player will want to play but he only needs to look at Steven Gerrard in his time here. He played in a back three, as a wing back, right back, left back, central midfield, as a No 10.
‘It doesn’t bother me. I pick the best team and he will probably sit back, reflect and think he is playing, which not many young kids are.‘He’s a boy who genuinely loves his football. He’s played all over the field for me but he understands and respects the opportunity that he’s had to play all over the field. It’s been great for him and his career.’
There is little doubt that Sterling’s interview has been unhelpful in the extreme, but there remains a determination at Anfield to keep the player onside and head off a contract crisis.
To that end, Rodgers struck a conciliatory tone yesterday.‘We speak regularly with Raheem and I just see him work and work well,’ Rodgers said.‘He’s been injured and there is probably a bit of frustration there because he’s not been totally clear and he’s a boy who just loves to play, train and be on the field.
‘You have seen what can happen with players and representatives, but I can only speak openly and honestly with Raheem. He has made it clear he is happy and hopefully he can do his talking on the field.‘My concentration is on working with the player. He is a young man. He has had trauma in his life and he is a tough boy and you see that in how he plays, but he is still very young. He still needs guidance and help — that is pretty clear.’ – Daily Mail
If Kentucky manages to win out and go 40-0 on the season, will the 2014-15 Wildcats join the conversation of greatest teams of all time? Maybe so. In the latest episode of our ongoing Grandstanding video series, Yahoo Sports' Jay Busbee and Kevin Kaduk kick around the greatest tournament teams in NCAA history. UCLA? Michigan? Kentucky? Duke? Michigan? We know all of these schools and more have a long legacy of outstanding teams, but which specific ones were the best? We've got our take right here.
Thanks for checking out the video. Let us know what you think! Hit us up on Twitter (@kevinkaduk and @jaybusbee) Facebook (Kaduk here, Busbee here) or via the hashtag #grandstanding. And find our Grandstanding podcast on iTunes right here.
____
Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter.
And keep up with Jay over on Facebook, too.
Installation of Coastal Carolina's teal field has begun and yes, it's really, really teal.
We have 50 yards and an endzone. #TealTurf http://ift.tt/1IawuPL
— CCU Chanticleers (@GoCCUsports) April 3, 2015 The school announced plans for the teal field in January and installation is about halfway done.
While the teal is striking, our first impression is that it's not as garish as Boise State's blue turf or Eastern Washington's red turf. Maybe it's because teal is the closest of the three to green? It honestly doesn't look like too much of a departure from the old Astroturf that dominated playing surfaces in the 1980s.
What do you think? We look forward to seeing the completed project.
- - - - - - -
Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
It's official, Rob Gronkowski can do it all.
The most dominant tight end ever is doing Gronk things all offseason (still a few months to go, too) after winning a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots. Thursday's stop was a Los Angeles Angels game, as they played an exhibition against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Gronkowski was asked to throw out the first pitch.
You never know how these things will go. Gronk is a ridiculous athlete but I don't think anyone knew how well he could throw a baseball. He played football and basketball in high school. I don't think anyone figured he'd pull a 50 Cent or anything, but there was no telling if he could get it anywhere near the plate.
We were expecting a spike, but we got a strike! @RobGronkowski bringing the heat to @Trouty20 in tonight's 1st pitch. http://ift.tt/19SgWBu
— Angels (@Angels) April 3, 2015 Hey now! Gronkowski threw one of the better first pitches you'll see, which just proves he's not of this Earth. The first pitch was caught by Angels outfielder Mike Trout, and it's rare that Gronk will be in a conversation and not be the best athlete in the group (but if you don't know Trout well, he's Willie Mays 2.0). Trout told Fox Sports West that Gronkowski told him he was going to spike the baseball, mimicking his touchdown celebration, but threw it instead and it "almost hit me in the face." Quite a heater Gronk has. The two sponsor the same sports drink and became fast friends in quite a collection of athletic ability.
Gronk and Trout team up for ceremonial first pitch and fun in #Angels dugout, via @JillPainter http://t.co/WWfe9lsZaH http://ift.tt/19SgWBE
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) April 3, 2015 Then, of course, Gronk just hung out with the Angels in the dugout during the game because who doesn't want to hang out with Gronk these days?
@stoolpresidente @FeitsBarstool Gronk chilling in the Angels dugout with Trout because it's the Summer of Gronk. http://ift.tt/1DEOizZ
— Ryan Crook (@ryancrook) April 3, 2015 - - - - - - -
Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdowncorner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab
The battle for Champions League places is still a "rat race", Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal said.
London - The battle for Champions League places is still a “rat race” with eight games of the Premier League season left, Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal said.
United have beaten Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool in their last two games, producing their best form of the season to consolidate fourth place in the table, five points ahead of the chasing pack.
They host Aston Villa on Saturday and, with matches against the top three sides to come before the end of the season, United cannot afford to drop points against a side who are 16th in the table, three points clear of the relegation zone.
“The top four is still a rat race,” Van Gaal told a news conference.
“I said when we had 13 points from 11 games and we were getting a lot of criticism that we would see at the end of the season. We will still see at the end of the season. We still have the top three to play.”
Marouane Fellaini scored the winner for Belgium against Israel on Tuesday and has been an important player in United's recent resurgence following a difficult first season at Old Trafford.
“I didn't meet him until after we came back from pre-season in the United States,” Van Gaal said.
“From the first training session he has done everything I have asked. He has been very open to what I have said and he wants to perform. We can change the system but the way he is playing, I cannot change him,” Van Gaal added.
“He can give a lot of balance to the team.”
Defender Chris Smalling is doubtful after being substituted during England's friendly against Italy on Tuesday due to illness.
Dutch striker Robin van Persie is still injured but England full back Luke Shaw is back in the squad. – Reuters
Neymar is set to be called as a witness along with seven other people in the investigation into possible tax fraud by Barcelona.
Brazilian star Neymar is set to be called as a witness along with seven other people in the investigation into possible tax fraud by Barcelona in relation to his transfer to the Camp Nou.
Radio station Cadena Ser announced on Friday that “according to legal sources, prosecutors will ask him to appear as a witness in the tax fraud case against Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu, the club and former president (Sandro) Rosell”.
According to the same sources, the Madrid court that deals with complex financial cases will accept the request.
Cadena Ser added that the request that Neymar appears in person before the court is justified by the fact that he personally signed nine of the 13 contracts being investigated.
The Catalan club and their former and current presidents are accused of hiding the real cost of the transfer that brought the Brazilian star, now 23, to Barcelona from Santos in 2013.
Prosecutors say Neymar cost “at least 83,371,000 euros” (£61.19m, $90.7m) and not the 57 million initially reported by Barcelona.
A trial could take place in the autumn and might only last a week, Cadena Ser added.
Prosecutors last month requested a prison sentence of two years and three months for Bartomeu and seven and a half years for his predecessor Rosell.
The Madrid court is also calling for a fine of 22.2 million euros ($24.1 million) against the club over the transfer deal.
Judge Pablo Ruz said various contracts produced “were designed to cover or hide the fact that in reality they represented a higher cost for Barcelona” in order to “avoid or significantly reduce the money paid to the tax authorities”.
The cost of the transfer rose steeply when Barca decided to bring forward an initial agreement signed in 2011 for the player to move in 2014 by a year as other clubs, including rivals Real Madrid, attempted to hijack the deal.
Rosell resigned over the scandal in January 2014 with his then vice-president Bartomeu taking charge.– AFP
Facing the daunting challenge of playing Raja Casablanca in Morocco, Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter is confident his side can do the business.
Johannesburg – Facing the daunting challenge of playing their second leg CAF Champions league match against Raja Casablanca in Morocco on Sunday, Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter is confident his side can do the business.
The AmaKhosi went down 1-0 in the first leg at Moses Mabhida Stadium three weeks ago and were working hard to overturn their disadvantage.
“The team has worked hard in training and we are going to Morocco without any fear,” said Baxter.
“We are well prepared for the challenge and shall give everything to give our supporters the result they crave.”
The Premiership log leaders and favourites to win the league title, come off a shock Nedbank Cup exit at the hands of Black Leopards two weeks ago and would hope to put in a strong performance in the top-tier African competition.
Baxter, however, believed his side would be able to change their fortunes.
One concern for Soweto Giants would be the fitness of midfield playmaker Siphiwe Tshabalala. According to the Chiefs medical team the player would have to go through a late fitness test to prove his eligibility for the clash.
Fellow midfielder Ovidy Karuru did not make the trip with the team to Morocco as he was suffering with a hamstring problem.
Kaizer Chiefs marketing director Jessica Motaung was optimistic her players would make the entire nation proud.
“The players go with the hopes and wishes of everyone associated with the mighty Amakhosi. South Africa is right behind them in their quest to do us all proud,” said Motaung.
Raja, meanwhile, would have a number of players returning for the fixture in a bid to strengthen their side.
“All injured players from main squad of Raja Club were back to training on April 1st,” the club said on its website.
“(Abdelilah) Hafidi, (Zakaria) Al Hachimi, (Ahmed) Chagou, (Salaheddine) Aqqal and (Rachid) Slimani take their positions back in the Green team after having received the necessary treatments and the right time to be ready to play.”
The match kicks off at 8pm South African time at the Stade Mohammed V. – ANA
Arsene Wenger admits he is concerned Theo Walcott’s confidence is plummeting after his struggles with England.
Arsene Wenger admits he is concerned Theo Walcott’s confidence is plummeting after his struggles with England.
The Arsenal manager will have a heart-to-heart chat with the forward ahead of tomorrow’s crunch top-four clash against Liverpool.
Walcott was hauled off after 55 minutes of England’s 1-1 draw in Italy on Tuesday night.
It was the latest disappointment in a difficult season for the 26-year-old, who has struggled for game time since returning from a long-term lay-off due to a serious knee injury.
With Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain out of the Liverpool game with a hamstring strain, and Danny Welbeck a major doubt after sustaining a knee injury on international duty, Walcott could well start tomorrow.
But Wenger said: ‘Yes, I’m worried about Theo’s confidence. He’s sensitive and I’m a bit concerned about the damage that game can have on his mind.
‘He’s not completely there yet (after the injury). But being exposed like that, people have a harsh judgment on him that is not deserved because he does well.
‘At the moment he is frustrated, but that is normal. I will speak with him, but I think he is strong enough.
‘I will see what state of mind he is in. We always have a word, if it is a positive experience or a negative experience, you ask, “How did it go?”. We always speak about the last game.
‘He is not fragile mentally, he is strong mentally but he is disappointed because when you come back from an injury you always think you are ready.
‘He needs patience. He is at the moment not in his best mood.
‘He has big confidence in himself and he has gone through some difficult periods in his life and he has always come out with strength.’
Walcott found himself playing in the No 10 role for England in Turin — a role he is not accustomed to.
And Wenger admitted he was surprised to see the pacy forward in such an unfamiliar position.
‘Have I ever seen him play No 10 in training or anything? No,’ said Wenger.
‘Theo’s strength is the quality of his movements, he wants to go to get on the end of things. He’s not a guy who provides.
‘I don’t think it was the intention of Roy Hodgson to play him there. It’s maybe because Wayne Rooney took the initiative during the game to play higher up and tell Theo to drop back.
‘I didn’t see Roy Hodgson in the game stand up to say, “Walcott, you come and play in midfield and Rooney you go up front”. That’s an initiative they took on the pitch.’
Meanwhile, Wenger insists there are fundamental flaws in FA chairman Greg Dyke’s proposal to increase the number of required homegrown players in Premier League squads to 12.
Dyke believes increasing the number of British players in squads will help contribute to a more successful England team.
But Wenger said: ‘I believe we are in a top-level competition and you earn your right through the quality of your performance rather than your place of birth.
‘Secondly, I’m happy to, and would like to contribute to the quality of the English national team, but you have two questions you can raise before that.
‘First of all between 1966 and 1996 there were no foreign players in England and it didn’t improve too much the performances of the national team.
‘Secondly, if between the ages of 16 and 21 the England youth teams win every single competition in Europe then there is something we have to do because they are not getting their chance at the top level.
‘That is not the case, on the contrary. I think between 16 and 21 the English youth teams, until now, have not performed. So that’s the heart of the problem.
‘Let’s get better at that level, then if there is a problem integrating these players in the top teams, we have to do something about it.
‘I think today you have to be very brave to integrate young players in the top teams because the pressure is very high. I still believe when they are good enough, they play.
‘You speak about Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane. Nobody stops the quality, no matter where they are from. So let’s focus on that first.’ – Daily Mail
