⚾️ Axios Sports: Moneyball

Plus: The wildest sport you've never heard of | Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Open in app View in browser   Presented By SiriusXM   Axios Sports By Jeff Tracy · Feb 22, 2023 👋 Good morning! Happy Hump Day. Today's word count: 1,817 words (7 minutes) Let's sports...     1 big thing: ⚾️ The uncomfortable reality of arbitration Data: MLB, CBS Sports; Table: Simran Parwani/Axios Spring training is underway, but that normally joyful return to the diamond may be a bit clouded for the 19 players who just went through one of MLB's strangest annual traditions: arbitration. State of play: This year's arbitration window concluded last week, and just six of the 19 players who fought for a higher salary won their case. That .316 winning percentage was the players' lowest in a normal season* since 2012 — though it's not as if the winning players necessarily feel great about what they had to endure, either. How it works: Every offseason, players with between three and six years of MLB service time are eligible for arbitration — a process wherein teams and players each present a salary number for the upcoming season and then argue for it in front of a panel of arbitrators. Arbitration can be avoided: Just 33 of the 200-plus arbitration-eligible players this year passed last month's deadline without inking a contract, and 14 of those 33 settled before having to go to arbitration. But the 19 players who had arbitration hearings were forced to engage in the uncomfortable dance of not only arguing why they should be paid more, but also listening to their teams argue why they should be paid less. Between the lines: Among those who went to arbitration were 2021 NL Cy Young Corbin Burnes, 2022 AL batting champion Luis Arráez and 2022 All-Stars Kyle Tucker, Max Fried and Ryan Helsley. Not exactly replacement-level players. Providing that kind of value for your club only to hear them explain why you deserve less money can be quite the gut punch. What they're saying: "There's no denying that the relationship is definitely hurt from what [transpired] over the last couple weeks," said Burnes, who led the league with 243 strikeouts for the Brewers last year. The big picture: While the mechanics of arbitration often yield uncomfortable outcomes, the players' union has no interest in doing away with it. "Salary arbitration is a right that generations of players have fought for and defended," a union spokesperson told The Athletic ($). In fact, the union tried negotiating for players to reach arbitration sooner during last year's lockout, while the league proposed replacing it with a merit-based algorithm. Ultimately, it remained unchanged. The bottom line: Baseball is a game, but MLB is a business, and that's perhaps never more apparent than during arbitration. *Not counting 2022, when the lockout forced arbitration to occur during the season.     2. 🏀 Hoops star allegedly provided murder weapon Crimson Tide freshman Brandon Miller and head coach Nate Oats. Photo: Brandon Sumrall/Getty Images   Alabama star freshman Brandon Miller allegedly provided the gun that was used to kill a woman last month in Tuscaloosa, a police investigator testified on Tuesday. The latest: During Tuesday's preliminary hearing, the investigator testified that Miller brought the gun to the scene at the request of his now-former teammate Darius Miles (not the former seven-year NBA vet). Miles and Michael Davis were arrested and charged on Jan. 15 with the murder of Jamea Jonae Harris, 23. Miles was removed from the team after his arrest. Both have said they were acting in self-defense. State of play: Miller, a projected top-five NBA draft pick, has not been charged with anything. When asked why, Tuscaloosa Chief Deputy District Attorney Paula Whitley told AL.com that "there's nothing we could charge him with [according to the law]." What they're saying: Alabama head coach Nate Oats apparently knew about Miller's involvement long before the hearing. "We knew about that," Oats said at his regularly scheduled press conference on Tuesday, adding that the program has been "fully cooperating with law enforcement the entire time." "Brandon hasn't been in any type of trouble," Oats added. "Wrong spot at the wrong time." Later on Tuesday, Oats walked back his "unfortunate remarks" from earlier in the day, apologizing for his statements that "came across poorly." "In no way did I intend to downplay the seriousness of this situation or the tragedy of that night," said Oats. "My prayers continue to go out to Jamea Harris' family." The big picture: Any fallout for the Tide pales in comparison to Harris' tragic death. But if Miller is ultimately forced to miss any time amid the investigation, it could upend what has so far been the No. 2-ranked Alabama's best season to date.     3. 🏒 Boston's record pace Data: ESPN; Chart: Axios Visuals The Bruins (43-8-5) have 91 points through 56 games, tying the NHL record for the fewest games to reach the 90-point mark. Why it matters: They're on pace for 63 wins, which would break the record of 62 currently held by the 1995-96 Red Wings and the 2018-19 Lightning. The intrigue: The B's have played the 11th-hardest schedule so far, but have the 9th-easiest schedule remaining. Maybe 63 wins is conservative?     A message from SiriusXM Stream SiriusXM now and get 3 months for free     Stream more than 425 channels on your devices for free on the SXM App, including expertly curated ad-free music, live sports, personalized stations and more. Next steps: Sign up now to get 3 months free. Cancel anytime. Learn more about the offer and start streaming. See offer details.     4. ⚡️ Lightning round Karim Benzema celebrates one of his two goals. Photo: Pedro Castillo/Real Madrid via Getty Images   ⚽️ Madrid crush Liverpool: Real Madrid beat Liverpool, 5-2, on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 matchup, which doubled as a rematch of last year's final (also a Madrid win). Five is the most goals Liverpool have ever conceded in Champions League play. 🏀 Emotional upset: Michigan State upset No. 17 Indiana, 80-65, on Tuesday in the Spartans' first home game since last week's shooting that left three students dead. ⛸️ WADA seeks ban: The World Anti-Doping Agency seeks a four-year ban for figure skater Kamila Valieva, saying on Tuesday it will appeal the Russian Anti-Doping Agency's decision to impose no sanctions on the teenager whose doping violations threw the results of the 2022 Olympics team event into disarray. 🏀 McMillan fired: The Hawks fired head coach Nate McMillan on Tuesday. Atlanta (29-30) is eighth in the East, just 3.5 games out of the No. 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff spot. 🏏 England makes cricket history: England scored the most runs (213) and won by the largest margin (114) in the history of the Women's T20 World Cup in their victory over Pakistan on Tuesday.     5. 🥍 Lacrosse, but faster Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images   The Premier Lacrosse League's fifth season doesn't begin until June, but its new Championship Series — utilizing the much faster "Sixes" format — kicks off this afternoon. Details: From today through Sunday at an indoor facility near Washington, D.C., the top four teams from last year's regular season will compete in a six-on-six tournament (instead of 10-on-10) with rules that foster fast-paced, high-scoring games. Smaller field: Instead of 100 yards by 60, it's 76 by 39. Shorter shot clock: Instead of 52 seconds, it's 30. Quicker restarts: Instead of a faceoff after every goal, the goalie initiates play right away. The big picture: Sixes was introduced in 2021 by World Lacrosse in an effort to grow the sport and make it more appealing to the younger generation, largely with an eye toward pushing for inclusion at the 2028 Olympics. Format/how to watch: The Whipsnakes, Chrome, Archers and Atlas will play a round robin over the next three days to determine the semifinalists, with every game streaming on ESPN+ and two airing on ESPN2. The championship, on Sunday morning, will air on ESPNU. Go deeper: 10 storylines to watch (USA Lacrosse Magazine)     6. 🎶 Chart du jour: The Super Bowl effect Data: Luminate; Note: Includes streaming data on all major platforms for songs where Rihanna is the primary artist; Chart: Axios Visuals Rihanna didn't get paid for her performance at the Super Bowl halftime show, but that doesn't mean she hasn't reaped the benefits of her long-awaited return to the stage. By the numbers: Streams of Rihanna's music more than tripled in the aftermath of her performance, Axios' Emily Peck writes. And it wasn't just her music that saw a big boost. The Super Bowl-themed products at Fenty Beauty — her makeup brand — largely sold out within days of the game, and searches for the brand increased more than 800%. She has also gained 4 million Instagram followers, upping her total to 144 million — the 27th-most on the platform. Go deeper: Rihanna's massive post-Super Bowl gains (Forbes)     7. 📺 Watchlist: SheBelieves Cup finale Graphic: Axios Visuals   The eighth annual SheBelieves Cup ends tonight in Frisco, Texas, with Canada facing Japan (4pm ET, HBO Max) and the USWNT playing Brazil (7pm, TNT/HBO Max) to conclude the three-game round robin. Where it stands: The U.S. (2-0) will win its fourth straight SheBelieves title — and sixth overall — as long as it avoids a lopsided defeat. Brazil (1-1), Canada (1-1) and Japan (0-2) have never won the SheBelieves Cup. Who to watch: Mallory Swanson — married to Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson — has scored in five straight matches, and has all three of the USWNT's goals in this tournament. More to watch: ⚽️ Champions League: RB Leipzig vs. Man City (3pm, CBS); Inter Milan vs. Porto (3pm, Paramount+) … Round of 16, first leg. 🏒 NHL: Blackhawks at Stars (9:30pm, TNT) … Dallas remains first in the Central, but could use a win over last-place Chicago after losing four straight and seven of nine. 🏀 NCAAM: No. 20 Providence at No. 18 UConn (6:30pm, FS1); Tulane at No. 1 Houston (9pm, ESPNU) 🥍 PLL Championship Series: Atlas vs. Whipsnakes (5:30pm, ESPN2); Archers vs. Chrome (7:30pm, ESPN+) 🏒 Women's hockey: Canada vs. USA (7pm, NHL) … The 2022-23 Rivalry Series is tied 3-3 heading into the seventh and final game.     8. ⛷️ The Ocho: Skijoring Source: Giphy Waterskiing is fun, but what if you replaced the water with snow and the boat with a horse? That's skijoring. How it works: Skiers and riders work together to navigate an obstacle course that takes about 20 seconds to complete. Scoring is based on speed, with deductions taken for missing the gates, jumps and rings along the course. The backdrop: The centuries-old activity, named after the Norwegian word for "ski driving," was originally a form of travel for the Sámi people of northern Europe: They would put on skis and let reindeer pull them across the snowy terrain. It made its competitive debut at the Nordic Games in the early 1900s and found its way to North America about a decade later, with horses replacing reindeer. Skijoring — which is also done behind dogs and cars — was even a demonstration sport at the 1928 Olympics, and some are pushing for it to make a return to the Winter Games. State of play: Skijoring events still take place across Europe and North America, with six last weekend alone in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Idaho and Switzerland. 🐎 Watch: The wildest sport you've never heard of (YouTube)     9. 🏀 NBA trivia Photo: Jed Jacobsohn/NBAE via Getty Images   Ahead of tomorrow's NBA restart, seven players are averaging at least 30 points per game, which would be a record if it holds all season. Question: Name those seven players. Hint: 4 West, 3 East Answer at the bottom.     10. 🏈 1 broken streak: Jones over Donald Photo: Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images   Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones was the highest-graded interior defender in the NFL this past season, according to Pro Football Focus. Why it matters: It's the first time since 2013 someone other than three-time Defensive POY Aaron Donald earned that distinction. 2022: Jones 2021: Donald 2020: Donald 2019: Donald 2018: Donald 2017: Donald 2016: Donald 2015: Donald 2014: Donald 2013: J.J. Watt     A message from SiriusXM Get free access to music, sports, news and more     Subscribe to SiriusXM Streaming and get access to 3 months of free: Expertly curated ad-free music. Pandora artist stations. Live sports. Celebrity hosts, comedians and newscasters. Howard Stern and more. More info: Listen on your phone, at home and more with the SXM App. See offer details.   Talk tomorrow, Jeff "Skijoring aficionado" Tracy Trivia answer: Luka Dončić (33.3 ppg), Joel Embiid (33.1), Giannis Antetokounmpo (31.8), Damian Lillard (31.4), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (30.8), Jayson Tatum (30.6), LeBron James (30) 🙏 Have a great day! Follow us for more (@kendallbaker and @jeffreytracy). Friends can sign up here. Thanks to Matt Piper for copy edits. Are you a fan of this email format? Your essential communications — to staff, clients and other stakeholders — can have the same style. Axios HQ, a powerful platform, will help you do it.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. 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