by Chris Sama ’27 on October 23, 2025

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After losing to the Los Angeles Chargers in week six on Oct. 12, the Miami Dolphins picked up their fifth loss of the season, making them 1–5 overall. In a post-game press conference, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa criticized his teammates for being late to, or even missing, player-only meetings as a major factor contributing to their losing streak. Tagovailoa described it as a leadership issue that needs to be addressed so the team can fix “the little things.”

While Tagovailoa meant well, he faced a lot of public backlash for airing out their issues as a team instead of privately addressing them, which could cause more scrutiny for certain players.There were also criticisms regarding Tagovailoa himself and his performance in the game and season overall. Coach Mike McDaniel publicly stated that the message had been received by the team, but wasn’t appropriately delivered. Tagovailoa apologized three days later during a Dolphins media conference, saying that he “made a mistake” and that he’s “owning up to it right now” as his emotions got the best of him. He further explained that it wasn’t right for him to address private issues to the media, and that these issues start with his leadership, character, and decision-making. 

On Sunday, Oct. 19, the Dolphins faced off against the Cleveland Browns in Ohio, who now have a 2–5 record and lost 31–6. This is such a bad loss for the Dolphins that it is rumored McDaniel could get fired. This victory broke a 12-game streak for the Browns of scoring less than 17 points. The Browns capitalized on four turnovers from the Dolphins that ended up as touchdowns, including one of three interceptions thrown from Tagovailoa. The only other team that the Dolphins have beaten was the New York Jets, who remain winless so far this season, showing serious concerns for the future of the Dolphins. 

Their chances for making the playoffs this season are now extremely low, and McDaniel is scrambling to get the team back to its former playoff caliber. Coach McDaniel had high expectations this season as he had led the Dolphins to the playoffs twice, including in 2022 when Tagovailoa had two major concussions and sat out for some regular season and playoff games. He is primarily known for being a great offensive coach, but after Tyreek Hill suffered a season-ending knee injury during their win against the Jets, he has struggled to get the offense to its full strength. McDaniel has a lot to prove in these upcoming games, and based on Tagovailoa’s comments, has to instill more discipline in his team. 

The Miami Dolphins play the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Oct. 26, and the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, Oct. 30. If they win these two games, there could be some hope for the Dolphins, but looking at the current state they’re in now, it seems unlikely.

by Izzy Mignardi ‘27 on October 9, 2025

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Walking across campus on Wednesday, Oct. 1, you might have seen a proud, beaming fan wearing a Red Sox hoodie, laughing with their friend on the way to Ryan Business School. Twenty feet later, you might have seen a girl with downcast eyes wearing a “New York or Nowhere” trucker hat. Nothing can divide a group of college-age students like playoff baseball.

After the Yankees lost the first game of the series to the Red Sox, some baseball enthusiasts thought the Red Sox had secured the series, since no team has lost Game One and gone on to advance to the ALDS or NLDS since the three-game format was introduced in 2022. Nonetheless, the Yankees won Game Two and Game Three, becoming the first team to break this streak.

Game One started with the Yankees taking the lead in the second inning with a solo home run by Anthony Volpe. An RBI by Masataka Yoshida at the top of the seventh gave Boston the 2–1 lead, which was solidified by Alex Bregman with an RBI double, ending the game with a 3–1 win by Boston. Boston’s Garrett Crochet dominated, allowing only one run and pitching a career high of 117 pitches. Chapman loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth, but the Yankees failed to score. Max Fried pitched well but was replaced by Luke Weaver, who gave up a two-run single, double, and a walk.

Both Ben Rice and Jazz Chisholm didn’t start in Game One, but are credited with helping the Yankees win Game Two. Rice hit a two-run home run early in the game. Trevor Story tied the game 2–2 in the third inning, and later in the sixth hit a solo home run to tie the game again at 3–3 (after Trent Grisham scored on an RBI single by Aaron Judge, which dropped out of Jarren Duran’s glove). In the eighth, Austin Wells hit an RBI single, allowing Jazz Chisholm to score, giving the Yankees the final 4–3 lead.

The stakes were high in Game Three: win or go home. Rookie pitcher Cam Schlittler pitched a historic game: eight shutout innings, 12 strikeouts, no walks. Although from Massachusetts, he’s proven to be a true Yankee. He said, “I woke up and I was locked in. I knew exactly what I needed to do and go out there, especially against my hometown team. As I told Andy [Pettitte] yesterday, I wasn’t going to let them beat me.”

All four of New York’s runs came in the fourth inning; Amed Rosario and Anthony Volpe each with an RBI single, and Austin Wells hit a grounder to first base, where Nathaniel Lowe errored, which allowed the two more runs. The Yankees thrived on the defensive end, too, particularly with Ryan McMahon’s incredible catch as he flipped over into the Sox dugout.

So, Friday morning rolls around, and the girl in the “New York or Nowhere” hat has more pep in her step despite the hangover from last night’s celebration. The kid in the Red Sox hoodie says, “Good luck in Toronto,” and laughs.

The Yankees will need it. They now face the Blue Jays, and again lost the first game of the series with a devastating score of 10–1.

This article was written prior to the games on Oct. 4 and 6.

by Chris Sama ’27 on October 9, 2025

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The 45th Ryder Cup matches, held from Sept. 26–28 in Farmingdale, New York were eventful; team Europe won the Ryder Cup on U.S. greens, and the crowd’s conduct was very controversial. The Ryder Cup is a highly prestigious golf tournament that takes place every two years, with the best players from America and Europe facing off on their respective continents. This year, the Ryder Cup was held on Long Island, giving Team U.S.A. the home advantage. The atmosphere is electric, drawing a wide crowd of golf fans from around the world. Players are chosen for each national team based on rankings and performances. Bethpage Black is regarded as an exceptional golf course and is especially known for its difficulty. The tournament had Team U.S.A., with captain Keegan Bradley, against Team Europe, led by captain Luke Donald. Team Europe had consistently won its matches, with the majority of the matches being close between the two teams, but ultimately won 15–13. Europe had taken the lead early on, with them just barely clinching the tournament after the Singles on Sunday. Players such as Justin Rose, Shane Lowry, and Rory McIlroy played exceptionally well to lead Team Europe to victory. This was the closest Ryder Cup victory since 2012, when Europe won by one point. Europe has proven itself in the 2000s, winning five of the last 10 Ryder Cups in America. Although the matches were well played, the crowd’s conduct at Bethpage Black in Long Island was unhinged. Rory McIlroy, a European player, particularly faced numerous accounts of verbal abuse, as well as his wife, regarding personal information and his golf career. The crowd started chants such as “F— you, Rory,” and poured beer on his wife. Even the MC was leading some of these chants, which subjected the PGA to a lot of criticism. The CEO of the PGA later apologized for the crowd’s conduct, since it was extremely impolite. Security had to be increased to the point where state troopers were involved in crowd control. The Ryder Cup is known to be very competitive and energetic. It’s a highly partisan event and a patriotic one for Americans, and it’s common for American fans to heckle the European players. There is always a competitive atmosphere, but this year, the line was drawn; it went past competitiveness and became personal and unprofessional. Fans were ejected from the tournament, and the MC, Heather McMahan, forcibly resigned after leading the aggressive chants. Although most of the spectators were well-behaved and were able to appreciate some of the highest levels of golf globally, the disrespectful behavior of the crowd overshadows the excellent performances of the players.

by Flagg Taylor ‘27 and Chris Sama ’27 on September 25, 2025

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Providence College Investigates: NBA

Nuggets: Flagg Taylor

For the past decade, the Western Conference has been stacked with all-star talent, and this year is no different. However, the team that had the best offseason didn’t go out and get stars; their front office added much-needed depth and versatility to both ends of the floor. The Denver Nuggets made smart moves to continue to build around their star, Nikola Jokić. Jokić has proven in 2023 that with the right players around him, he can dominate the league and bring championships to Denver. By no means were the Nuggets a bad team last season, but they were certainly not at the standard of their championship team in 2023. The Nuggets’ signings this summer completely refreshed their roster, making them stand out among last season’s successful teams. The Houston Rockets, who finished No. 2 in regular season standings last season, made a blockbuster trade for Kevin Durant. The Oklahoma City Thunder, the current defending champs, retained their squad.  I believe we will see another historical season from Jokić with all the roles around him filled, and therefore great success from the Denver Nuggets. 

The first key signing for the Nuggets was the acquisition of Bruce Brown, who was a member of the 2023 championship squad. Brown will bring back championship experience— he has guaranteed chemistry and acts as a great glue guy. He is a gritty defender, shoots the ball well, and is a smart player: the perfect guy to come off the bench to provide energy and experience. 

The most important moves this offseason for the Nuggets were two key trades. The first was a one-player swap with the Sacramento Kings, trading away Dario Šarič and acquiring Jonas Valančiūnas. Valančiūnas is an underrated veteran big and will be the perfect backup for Jokič, a role that was completely unfulfilled last season. Valančiūnas will allow Jokič to rest and still provide a big presence down low. The second trade—the Nuggets’ best acquisition—was getting Cameron Johnson from the Nets. The Nuggets gave up Michael Porter, Jr. and an unprotected first-round pick in 2032. Johnson will be an immediate upgrade from Porter. He can shoot the ball just as well, but provides a much bigger presence on defense. Johnson is one of the best “three and D” players in the NBA. 

The Nuggets’ offseason was extremely intentional, and they succeeded in building a highly versatile roster around Jokic while retaining key guys like Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon. It will be a tight race for first in the West between the Nuggets and the Thunder. 

Knicks: Chris Sama

The Knicks improved greatly this offseason and solved some key problems that could lead them to a championship. Their new head coach, Mike Brown, is a good replacement for the former head coach, Tom Thibodeau. Brown revived the Kings—after they faced 16 years with no playoff appearances—by developing their best players, like De’Aaron Fox, into stars and establishing a solid offense. Brown is best known for his defense with prior teams he coached, most notably leading the Cavaliers in 2007 to the finals against the Spurs. Although LeBron was the only star on this roster, Brown was able to get this team to the finals by emphasizing paint protection and prioritizing help defense. Brown fits perfectly with the Knicks, alongside stars like Karl Anthony Towns, who Brown could develop into a great rim protector. Although the Knicks have had relatively consistent depth, with key role players on the bench in the past seasons, such as Miles “Deuce” McBride and Josh Hart—who later became a starter—Thibodeau did not utilize his bench as much. Last season, the Knicks were last in both points off the bench, with 21.7 per game, and bench minutes, with 63.5 per game. Brown is known for developing players to have greater roles, which will give the starters more time to rest and be healthy for the remainder of the season, especially when it matters for the playoffs. Although Thibodeau was a great coach who brought the Knicks to the playoffs four of his five seasons coaching them, Brown has an established track record with playoff performance as a veteran coach, and he fits well into the Knicks’ culture. The Knicks also signed some key players this offseason, namely Jordan Clarkson, who has averaged roughly 17.1 points per game in the 2024-25 season. Veteran guard Malcom Brogdon provides depth for Jalen Brunson and Clarkson, and is a reliable playmaker, averaging 4.1 assists per game. In short, Brown becoming the new head coach of the Knicks, as well as picking up important role-players to give the Knicks even more depth, is why they have had the best offseason this year. The Knicks needed a more well-rounded team as they were overly relying on starters such as Brunson, who faced a series of minor injuries last season, and Mitchell Robinson, who injured his ankle. Less pressure on the starters, developing players into becoming better defenders, and a more consistent bench could definitely lead the Knicks to a championship.

by Izzy Mignardi ’27 on September 25, 2025

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Serious controversy was sparked on Sept. 14 after Travis Kelce and Tyquan Thornton wore “Free 4” shirts in solidarity with their teammate Rashee Rice. Rice was suspended for the first six games of the NFL season after he caused a high-speed car accident on the highway.

Back in March of 2024, Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice was responsible for a six-car pileup on Route 75 in Dallas. Rice was driving over 115 miles per hour in his Lamborghini SUV, racing a Corvette. After excessive maneuvers and high speeds caused several crashes, Rice fled the scene on foot, neglecting to check on those injured, including a three and four-year-old. 

In July, he pled guilty to charges of collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway, causing bodily injury. His sentence includes five years on probation, during which he will have to spend 30 days in Dallas jail. He also owes $115,000 in restitution, as well as $1 million in a civil settlement to victim Kathryn Kuykendall. Rice’s lawyers say he recognizes “that that was a stupid mistake,” and that going forward, he is going to better himself by volunteering with children and local pastors to educate people on the dangers of reckless driving.

Rice released a statement reading, “I deeply regret the actions I took that day and the harm they caused others. This was a moment of immense failure on my part.” 

Victims, lawyers, and football fans were outraged when Kelce and Thornton wore the warm-up shirts at last week’s game. Kuykendall’s lawyer, Marc Lenahan, said, “Rashee isn’t Nelson Mandela or Pepe Mujica, men who fought for what they believed in. There is evidence that Rashee was going 119 mph in a $1,749 per day Lambo rental that had pot and a pistol in it, on a highway on Easter weekend.” Lenahan continued by explaining that if his teammates really supported him, they would lend him the money to help pay his victims, who are still awaiting reparations. Additionally, others on social media are equally angered by the stunt. Sportswriter Ben Cummins described how Kelce should feel “embarrassed” for wearing a shirt that is so “illogical.” 

Chiefs Coach Andy Reid defended his players, saying, “I just think that those guys, they love the kid and want him to feel part of it in their own way. I really don’t think it’s anything more than that.” While the team clearly sees this as an effort to support their teammate, most others read it as disrespectful toward the victims and dismissive of his actions. They argue that had Rice not been a successful football player, the reaction would have been quite different.

The Chiefs are currently 0–2 without Rice. He will be eligible to play again on Oct.19.

by Pippa Jones ‘28 on September 25, 2025

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As we head into the second month of the Premier League, the predictions of this season’s victor begin to roll in. Reflecting on last season’s stats, it’s not shocking Liverpool is still at the top of the leaderboard, closely trailed by Arsenal. Liverpool kicks off the season with 15 points through an undefeated five-game start. Throughout these games, Liverpool netted 11 goals, only conceding five, with Mohamed Salah leading the pack with four goals. Right behind Liverpool is Arsenal, who has 10 points so far throughout their three wins, one draw, and one loss. Across their five games, Arsenal has scored 10 goals and only conceded one, with Victor Gyökeres netting three goals. Coming in No. 3 is Tottenham, who, having an unfortunate season last year, have begun to redeem themselves by being at the top of the board. Just trailing Arsenal is Tottenham with a record of three wins, one draw, and one loss, netting eight goals and conceding one throughout. 

Their top scorers are Brazilian superstar Richarlison and Brennan Johnson, each with two goals. The top scorer in the Premier League, unsurprisingly, is Erling Haaland from Manchester City. With a solid start to the season, the Norwegian has already netted five goals, though Manchester City has fallen to an unimpressive No. 8. 

A big upcoming game is the infamous derby game, showcasing No. 2 Arsenal and No. 3 Tottenham on Nov. 22 at Emirates Stadium, home of the Arsenal Gunners. On Nov. 9, Liverpool travels to Anfield Stadium to face Manchester City for another high-profile match. With Tottenham losing their star player Son Heung-Min, fans are wondering what players to watch out for. Mohammed Kudus from Ghana is a budding star who was acquired by Tottenham Hotspur for a £55 million, six-year contract from West Ham United. Most known for his attacking midfield play, Kudus has already recorded two assists in the match against Burnley, a promising replacement to fill the big shoes of Son. Liverpool’s star player, Mohamed Salah, is going on his ninth season at Liverpool. Known for his speed and his consistency of goal scoring, Salah looks to make as big an impact as ever. Salah is a favorite for the Golden Boot and Ballon d’Or awards already this season. Arsenal’s ace is Bukayo Saka, who has won Arsenal player of the season for two seasons in a row. The attacking midfielder has recently been sidelined due to an injury, though it was determined not to be as bad as fans feared. It is known that Saka did not play in the match against Manchester City on Sept. 21, as coach Mikel Arteta is taking a cautious approach to having his star player make a full recovery. 

The top teams to look out for are Manchester City, Chelsea, and Brighton. Manchester City finished last year in third and are predicted to make a comeback, despite falling behind so far. Currently sitting at No. 6 is Chelsea. Finishing last season at No. 4, Chelsea is a dependable team consistently succeeding within the league. Finally, Brighton finished at No. 8  last year but has gained some new impactful players, such as 18-year-old Charalampos Kostoulas.

by The Cowl Editor on September 3, 2021

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by on May 6, 2021

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Two Greats Share Valuable Pieces of Advice in Being Successful

Scott Jarosz ’21

Sports Staff

On April 26, professional tennis player Serena Williams joined Providence College alumna and NBA broadcaster Doris Burke virtually to take part in a conversation that was broadcasted to the entire PC community. This conversation was part of a series of virtual events hosted by PCe entitled “Friartown Features.” Throughout the conversation, Williams and Burke shared many valuable insights that made this event well worth attending.

A native of Saginaw, MI, Williams began playing tennis at a young age and has not looked back since. Now 39 years old, Williams has solidified herself as one of the best tennis players of all time. Throughout her professional career, which began in 1995, Williams has won a total of 73 matches, including 23 individual grand slams.

Her 23 grand- slam victories are the most by a player in the Open Era and are the second-most of all time. In addition to her on-court performance, Williams is highly involved in social activism and charity work. Her outstanding career on the court, as well as her efforts off the court, have established her as a premier role model for people across the globe.

Given her outstanding accomplishments, Williams’ conversation with Burke was an opportunitysomething that many members of the PC community could not pass up. The conversation was designed for Burke to serve as the interviewer and Williams as the respondent. Burke asked Williams a wide variety of questions, to which Williams responded with thoughtful answers. Burke also offered her own input following Williams’ responses.

The conversation began with Burke asking Williams for her biggest piece of advice that has led her to have such an outstanding career. Williams responded, “You have to be willing to put in hours when other people are not. You have to be willing to miss out on something when other people are not.” 

She continued her answer by sharing some additional insights. “I can’t tell you the amount of times I’ve wanted to do other things [instead of working] and now I’m so grateful that I spent my time doing what I had to do, not necessarily what I wanted to do.” Williams’ response to this question gave the PC community an inside look into what allowed her to have such a successful career, which was inspiring to hear.

When Burke asked her about what tennis means to her and whether she strives to earn the all-time record for most grand slam victories, Williams said, “At the end of the day I don’t really care if I’m known [for] how many grand slams I’ve won, I definitely want to be known more for things I did off the court and people’s lives I was able to influence.” An admirable sentiment, this shows how passionate Williams is about making an   impact on the world at large , and how she understands  that there is more to life than on-court achievements such as grand slam titles.

Overall, the virtual conversation between Doris Burke and Serena Williams was an amazing experience for the PC community. Both Burke and Williams have had outstanding careers as women in sports and hearing their input on a wide variety of topics was immensely valuable. 

 

by on May 6, 2021

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European Super League

Liam Tormey

Sports Editor

On April 18, the European soccer community was shaken to its core when it was announced that 12 of the biggest clubs in Europe would be breaking away to form the European Super League, ending the competitive structure of the game all for the pockets of 12 greedy owners.

Real Madrid CF, FC Barcelona, Manchester United FC, Liverpool FC, Juventus FC, and seven more of the most well-known clubs in the world founded the Super League. Florentino Pérez, the president of Real Madrid, was due to be the chairman of the Super League, with owners from other clubs named vice-chairmen.

Talks of a European Super League have been rumored for decades. In theory, the top clubs across Europe would create a league in which they would compete against each other every week. Due to the financial implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, these top clubs have been hit with large amounts of debt, giving the owners an excuse to finally propose this idea. 

Quickly following the news, UEFA, the Union of European Football Associations, and many other domestic leagues, condemned the formation of the Super League, issuing a statement that if the clubs went through with this proposal, there would be major punishments.

Television pundits, fans, and even players and managers took to the press and social media to express their disgust at the proposal. A Sky Sports commentator, Gary Neville, who played for Manchester United for 19 seasons, labeled the formation of the league as an act of “pure greed.”

In the end, the proposal of the European Super League is an act of “Americanizing” the European game. European soccer is so unique because of the opportunity for any team to win it all. The promotion and relegation system across European soccer is not seen within American sports, and it allows for teams’ successes to be rewarded and teams’ failures to be punished. 

After the upheaval from fans, many within the Super League, most notably the English clubs, were the first to apologize to their fans and withdraw from the proposal just three days after the news broke on April 18.

The Super League responded by saying they will need to reshape the project, as they still believe it will enhance the experience of European soccer.

Fans across Europe, particularly in England, have continued to express their disapproval of their owner’s wishes. Large protests outside stadiums have occurred, and on May 2, Manchester United against Liverpool was canceled due to United fans storming Old Trafford in protest of their owners.

This fiasco has shown the power that soccer fans still have in shaping the game. As the famous saying across Europe goes, “Football is nothing without fans.”

 

by on April 22, 2021

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Providence College Investigates: The MLB

The New York Yankees

By Margaret Maloney ’23

Sports Staff

In 2020, the New York Yankees lost a tough battle against the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Division Series, losing three games to two. The Yankees largely missed out on the World Series last year because of their weaknesses in pitching and hitting. These deficiencies have been accounted for in the offseason and will help lead the Yankees to victory in the World Series in 2021. 

On April 1, Yankee Stadium came alive again to watch the Yankees face the Toronto Blue Jays. The game went to 10 innings, and New York fell short with a 3-2 loss. But this first loss of the season does not reflect the potential that the team has to make it all the way. The Yankees’ starting pitcher for this game, Gerrit Cole, has won many games for the team in the past because of his unstoppable pitching.

Sarah Langs of MLB.com puts Cole at the top of tier one in her 2021 starting pitcher rankings. “Cole has 696 strikeouts since the start of 2018, 61 more than any other pitcher in that span,” reported Langs. “He’s posted a sub-2.90 ERA in each of the past three seasons, including a 2.84 mark in 73 innings in his debut season with the Yankees in 2020.”

While Cole did not perform to the best of his ability on Opening Day, this does not mean the rest of his season will continue this way. Gerrit Cole has great potential to be the best pitcher in the league and to carry his team to the World Series in 2021.

Another key player for the Yankees this season is starting second baseman, DJ LeMahieu, who has been their most valuable player for two years running. LeMahieu signed a six-year, $90 million deal with New York in January. He is coming off a season in which he led the American League with a .364 batting average, a .421 on-base percentage and a 1.011 OPS, also pacing the league with a 177 OPS+. 

LeMahieu, so far in 2021, has a batting average of .300, a .382 on-base percentage, and a .799 On-base-plus-slugging-percentage, which predicts a very promising season for him as a baseman and as a batter. LeMahieu will play a crucial role in leading the Yankees to the World Series, and considering his performance so far, he will execute to his full potential.

There is much talk of the Los Angeles Dodgers winning for the second year in a row and continuing on their hot streak. However, the Yankees have a retooled roster of talented players, which will allow them to take home a World Series win.

The Philadelphia Phillies

By Ben Bilotti ’23

Sports Staff

The common picks to win it all this season are the Dodgers, Yankees, Padres, Braves, Mets, and White Sox. While these are all strong choices, I am going to go a different route. My pick to win the Fall Classic this year is the Philadelphia Phillies, a true “dark horse.”

Simply put, the Phillies were not great last season. In a shortened 60-game season, the Phillies finished below .500 with a 28-32 record. However, this was largely due to a flawed bullpen. Last season the bullpen was historically bad, posting a 7.06 combined earned-run average. That is the second-worst bullpen ERA in Major League history. 

The Phillies’ front office recognized this was a clear problem and took action. In the offseason, they acquired Archie Bradley, Jose Alvarado, and Brandon Kintzler, who are all relief pitchers who have had success in the past. The bullpen was not the only area improved, as key pieces were added to the starting rotation as well, such as veterans Matt Moore and Chase Anderson.

It is still early in the season, but, so far, all offseason acquisitions have contributed in a positive manner. These new additions, paired with rotation staples Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler, and Zach Elfin, make up a very serviceable rotation. If all goes well, it could be one of the best in baseball.

The pitching staff is well-rounded and improved, which brings us to the lineup. When everyone is healthy, the Phillies’ lineup is prolific. Players such as Rhys Hoskins, Didi Gregorius, and Andrew McCutchen are all looking to bounce back and contribute. Gregorius and Hoskins have already shown their power strokes are back. The Phillies also have the best catcher in baseball, J.T. Realmuto, who is a top-tier defensive catcher and the best hitting catcher in the game. He can also move down the base paths, proving that he truly impacts the game on all levels.

The Phillies also have Bryce Harper. The narrative over the years is that the $330-million man is overrated. I believe the opposite. Advanced statistics (as well as the eye test) prove that Harper is an above-average player. His average exit velocity, walk percentage, and advanced metrics such as expected batting average all put Harper in the 90th percentile or higher. These statistics are impressive and prove that Harper is going to be a key contributor to the Phillies’ offense.

In the end, even though the Phillies’ odds of winning the World Series to begin the year were very low, I believe they have what it takes to pull it off. Their starters can get quality starts and go long into games. The bullpen has also significantly improved, and the team’s role players look to be filling their spots just fine. When all is said and done, the Philadelphia Phillies will be the 2021 World Series champions.