Barcelona have come under fire after dozens of Camp Nou construction workers protested against alleged illegal dismissals and possible deportations of nearly 50 foreign employees. The union-led demonstration arrives just weeks before the stadium’s much-anticipated reopening, piling pressure on the club and its construction partners amid renewed scrutiny.
Protests erupt over alleged exploitation of foreign workers
Tensions are rising in Barcelona as the redevelopment of Camp Nou faces new controversy. On Tuesday, dozens of construction workers gathered outside the stadium to protest the alleged dismissal and potential deportation of around 50 foreign employees working under irregular conditions. The protest, organised by Spain’s CCOO trade union, accused contractors Limak and Ekstreme Works of attempting to send undocumented workers back to their home countries “without any guarantees.” Union representative Carlos del Barrio claimed many had endured extreme working conditions, telling : “Some of them have been working twelve hours a day, seven days a week, for more than a year.”
According to the union, the workers, who “do not have papers” are being dismissed without fair treatment or compensation. “The moment they set foot on Turkish territory, their ability to defend themselves will be diminished,” Del Barrio added.
He urged the club and authorities to intervene, calling on Spain’s government to activate emergency immigration regularisation measures and ensure all affected workers are registered with Social Security.
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Union slams Barca for ‘turning a deaf ear’
The CCOO union has accused Barcelona of ignoring repeated appeals to address the workers’ situation. Del Barrio told reporters that the issue had already been raised with the Labour Inspectorate, claiming the club “turned a deaf ear” to the union’s demands. “We are aware there is a lot of pressure to open the stadium, but what cannot happen is to do it at the expense of workers’ rights,” he stated.
The Catalan giants have yet to issue an official comment, but the controversy adds to previous criticism of the Espai Barca redevelopment project. In 2023, the club faced backlash for alleged irregular labour practices but insisted the issues were being “rectified.” The club’s construction partner, Limak, has also faced scrutiny in the past over workers’ rights and environmental controversies in Turkey, heightening concerns about the management of the Camp Nou rebuild.
Broader fallout and reputational impact
The timing of the protests couldn’t be worse for Barcelona, with the reopening of Camp Nou just weeks away. The redevelopment, which has been plagued by delays and cost overruns, is already running 317 days behind schedule as of mid-October 2025.
The CCOO’s allegations have raised questions not only about contractor oversight but also about the club’s ethical responsibility. Institutional vice-president Elena Fort had previously acknowledged “minor anomalies” in the project’s labour practices but denied the existence of systemic abuses.
Still, critics argue that Tuesday’s demonstration proves those issues have not been resolved and may yet damage Barcelona’s global image just as they prepare to welcome fans back to their historic home.
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Camp Nou reopening faces uncertainty amid mounting tension
Barcelona are reportedly set to return to Spotify Camp Nou on November 22, when they host Athletic Club in La Liga. Before that, the club have announced a first-team open training session at the stadium on Friday of this week, expected to draw 23,000 fans in what will serve as a major operational test. However, the workers’ dispute could complicate those plans. Should the contractors halt work or fail to meet legal requirements, further delays to the reopening cannot be ruled out.
The club’s ambition to stage a celebratory comeback to Camp Nou has already been undermined by persistent setbacks from missed deadlines to logistical challenges and this latest controversy may yet overshadow the long-awaited return.
For now, all eyes are on the union negotiations and government response, as Barcelona attempt to balance progress on the Espai Barca project with growing calls for justice behind the scenes.
Fast bowler Zaman Akhter has become the latest Gloucestershire player to agree a move away from the club after signing a three-year deal with Essex.Zaman has featured for England Lions after impressing with his pace for Gloucestershire. He made his first-class debut in 2019 for Oxford MCCU before gaining a second chance through the South Asian Cricket Academy, leading to a county contract at the age of 24.Essex are currently third from bottom in Division One of the County Championship and beginning a process of reshaping their squad after the return of Chris Silverwood as director of cricket before the start of the season.”We are really excited to bring ‘Zum’ into the group,” Silverwood said. “He is a player we’ve had our eye on for a while and we really believe his quality will add and strengthen our bowling group.”I look forward to working closely with Zaman over the winter period when we prepare for the 2026 season, integrating him into the squad and our plans for the season ahead.”Zaman is the fourth Gloucestershire quick to announce their departure in recent weeks. Ajeet Singh Dale will join Lancashire at the end of the season, while Tom Price and Dom Goodman are making the switch to Sussex. Long-serving batter Chris Dent has also announced his retirement.Zaman said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining Essex. It’s a great club with a rich history and a strong winning culture, and I can’t wait to get started.”I’m really looking forward to contributing on and off the field, learning from some outstanding players and coaches. Speaking to Chris Silverwood, it’s a really exciting time and hopefully I can thrive at Essex to help contribute to their future success.”
Nuno Espírito Santo’s Herculean task of keeping West Ham United in the Premier League this season could be about to get much harder.
On top of having to arrest the East Londoners’ terrible form, the Portuguese manager could be without the brilliant Lucas Paqueta once the winter window opens.
At least, that is according to recent reports claiming that the Brazilian wants to leave the London Stadium before the campaign is over.
However, it might not be all doom and gloom, as the academy could provide West Ham with the perfect replacement.
West Ham's Paqueta solutions
If Paqueta really is set to leave in January, then Nuno has to start looking at possible solutions as soon as possible, and the good news is that he might already have a few in his squad.
For example, while it would be a bold move, the manager could start giving the young Luis Guilherme more opportunities to play and start in attacking midfield over the next month.
After all, while he is looked at as more of a winger at the moment, he is no stranger to playing in the ten, having done so in Brazil and even for the Hammers before.
Moreover, even though he is nowhere near the finished product just yet, respected analyst Ben Mattinson has described the 19-year-old prospect as a player who “thrives on transitions” and can “turn past players with ease” thanks to his “elite ball manipulation.”
On top of that, while he’s not the most shot-happy player, when he does let one off in a dangerous area, it’s often of “high calibre.”
Like Guilherme, Nuno could also move summer signing Mateus Fernandes back into an attacking midfield role, which is an area of the pitch he spent plenty of time in during his time with Southampton.
With all that said, there is another young player, someone who might be the most exciting of all, who could be West Ham’s perfect Paqueta replacement.
West Ham's perfect Paqueta replacement
There are certainly other options when it comes to replacing Paqueta for West Ham, but perhaps the most exciting one would be to play George Earthy.
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Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Yes, it would undoubtedly be something of a gamble to hand the 21-year-old prospect far more game time than he’s ever had before, but he’s one of, if not the most exciting, players in the club’s academy.
Moreover, before his recent injury, his record in the youth sides was nothing short of incredible.
For example, in 60 appearances for the U18s, totalling 4804 minutes, he scored 25 goals and provided 18 assists, which is an average of a goal involvement every 1.39 games, or every 111.72 minutes.
Then, upon moving up to the U21s, he has scored 17 goals and provided 13 assists in 51 appearances, totalling 3444 minutes.
Earthy’s Junior Record
Team
U18s
U21s
Appearances
60
51
Minutes
4804′
3444′
Goals
25
17
Assists
18
13
Goal Involvements per Match
0.71
0.58
Minutes per Goal Involvement
111.72′
114.8′
All Stats via Transfermarkt
In other words, he’s averaging a goal involvement every 1.7 games, or every 114.8 minutes, which is more impressive when taking into consideration the fact that he mainly plays in attacking midfield.
However, it’s not just the output that makes the young prospect so “priceless,” in the words of coach Steve Potts, but his overall game.
For example, according to Mattinson, he’s become a “creative left-footed #10 with good ball manipulation and retention” who “does well in tight spaces.”
On top of his efforts in the academy and the technical foundation, which should serve him well in the Premier League, the youngster also has a decent amount of senior experience.
For example, he spent last season on loan with Bristol City and ended up making 40 appearances across all competitions.
Ultimately, even though it would be something of a gamble, West Ham should look to play Earthy in place of Paqueta if he ends up leaving, as he could be a future superstar.
West Ham brewing Noble 2.0 who knows "what it means to wear the shirt"
The academy product might be able to add some much-needed fight and heart back into Nuno’s West Ham side.
يستضيف الرئيس الأمريكي دونالد ترامب، النجم البرتغالي كريستيانو رونالدو في البيت الأبيض اليوم الثلاثاء، قبل أشهر قليلة من انطلاق منافسات كأس العالم 2026.
وتستضيف الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية وكندا والمكسيك، منافسات بطولة كأس العالم 2026، والتي تنطلق في شهر يونيو المقبل.
وبحسب ما ورد في صحيفة “ميرور” البريطانية، من المرجح أن يتم مناقشة إقامة مباراة ودية بين البرتغال والولايات المتحدة الأمريكية قبل كأس العالم.
ويشير التقرير إلى أن ثلاثة مسؤولين في البيت الأبيض أكدوا زيارة رونالدو المخطط لها في نفس اليوم الذي يلتقي فيه ترامب بولي العهد السعودي الأمير محمد بن سلمان، ومن غير المعروف بعد ما إذا كانت هذه الاجتماعات مرتبطة ببعضها البعض، كون البرتغالي لاعبًا في صفوف النصر السعودي.
اقرأ أيضًا | خلاف سياسي يهدد كأس العالم 2026: إنفانتينو في موقف حرج بسبب ترامب
وتأتي زيارة رونالدو للبيت الأبيض، بعد تصريحاته في مقابلة مع بيرس مورجان، أعلن خلالها رغبته في لقاء ترامب.
وصرح رونالدو: “إذا كان العالم ينعم بالسلام، فهذا هو هدفنا، إنه من الأشخاص القادرين على تغيير العالم أو المساعدة في تغييره، وهذا هو هدفي الرئيسي، لقاء ترامب والتحدث عن السلام العالمي، إذا استطعت تحقيق ذلك، فهو شخص أود حقًا الجلوس معه”.
وحسمت البرتغال تأهلها لكأس العالم 2026، بعدما تصدرت مجموعتها في مرحلة التصفيات الأوروبية المؤهلة للمونديال، وحققت فوزًا عريضًا بنتيجة 9-1 أمام أرمينيا في الجولة الأخيرة.
Christian Pulisic has revealed the “embarrassing” choice that he made for his initiation song at AC Milan. The USMNT star took to belting out Miley Cyrus’ hit ‘Party in the USA’, much to his own disgust. He has also revealed how Luka Modric was able to avoid suffering a similar fate in a group environment by handing out iPhone gifts to his new team-mates at San Siro.
Honorary Milanista: Captain America is thriving in Italy
Pulisic moved to Italy in the summer of 2023 when bringing a four-year, Champions League-winning stint with Premier League giants Chelsea to a close. He settled quickly in new surroundings, registering 15 goals across his debut campaign. That bar was raised to 17 efforts last term.
The 27-year-old has endeared himself to another passionate fan base, with ‘Captain America’ now considered to be an honorary Milanista. He has also proved his worth to those that he shares the field with, although many may have fault to pick with his singing ability.
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Stick to the day job: Pulisic reveals choice of initiation song
Pulisic is not the type to speak his mind on a regular basis, but begrudgingly accepted that he had to stand up and showcase his vocal talents when joining Milan. He still cringes when thinking about that episode and now wishes that he had taken the same approach as Ballon d’Or-winning colleague Modric by putting his hand into his pocket instead.
Discussing his adjustment to life with the Rossoneri, Pulisic told : “I don’t make myself heard vocally; I’m more reserved, quiet in the group. It’s my personality in life; people can see it. But I’ve grown a bit in my career, and I’m not afraid to speak my mind.
“Did Modric give us iPhones as an initiation rite? Yes, I didn’t know this had come out. I don’t know if I should confirm it, but yes. You should sing in front of the team. But when you’re Luka Modric and you’ve won the Ballon d’Or, the Champions League, you can skip that process. And then you don’t say no to new iPhones. It’s a win-win situation.
“My initiation song? It’s embarrassing. I sang Miley Cyrus’s ‘Party in the USA’, I thought it was appropriate. I think I did something similar at Chelsea. It’s the worst moment in the world. I hate it; it makes me cringe. You see people so uncomfortable.”
Documentary star: Why private Pulisic allowed cameras into his life
Pulisic does his best to keep himself out of the spotlight as much as possible – although his ever-growing celebrity status makes that difficult. He does not showcase his life on social media, but did star in a documentary for Paramount+ in 2024.
He added on that venture and keeping his life private: “It’s not that I don’t trust it [social media], but I don’t want to add extra voices about myself. Some people are more adept at sharing their lives, and that’s fine. I’m more of a private person; it’s a personal decision. I don’t check social media much. Sure, you see news and stuff, but it’s easier to delete apps to avoid negative comments.
“I’ve always asked myself, ‘Why did I do the documentary?’. No, come on, it wasn’t that bad. I always made it clear that I didn’t want a big crew following me. It was hard to let people into my life, but it was the right thing to do in view of the World Championships to inspire kids. It was about sharing what I’ve experienced in my career, and it was difficult. I’ve seen almost all of it, but some things are hard to rewatch. Hearing you talk a lot is not something I like.”
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Home World Cup: Pulisic ready to star for the USMNT in 2026
Pulisic will always prefer to do his talking on the field. He is being freed to do that again after recovering from another fitness setback, but has not been included in the latest USMNT squad. He will, however, figure prominently in Mauricio Pochettino’s plans – potentially as skipper of his country – when a home World Cup is enjoyed during the summer of 2026.
Freddie Freeman just won World Series MVP while dealing with an injured ankle. But apparently, he had an even worse injury he kept hidden.
On Thursday, as the Los Angeles Dodgers basked in the glow of their World Series victory over the New York Yankees on Wednesday, it was revealed their first baseman had been playing with broken cartilage in his ribcage.
On Oct. 3 during a simulated game before the Dodgers would host the San Diego Padres in the National League Division Series, Freeman felt pain in his side. He tried to ignore it. Then the following happened, according to a story from ESPN's Jeff Passan:
Ruben Amorim has stuck by his infamous 3-4-2-1 system at Manchester United and it appears as though it is finally yielding results.
The Portuguese manager has been in charge at Old Trafford for a year now, and although things have not gone exactly to plan, his side have now gone unbeaten in their last four Premier League games.
Amorim has finally begun to settle on his best lineup. That has seen summer signings Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha lock down the two number 10 positions in his system, with Mason Mount providing excellent competition.
However, those two signings have ensured Bruno Fernandes will remain in his deeper pivot role, rather than closer to goal.
Where Fernandes is best suited under Amorim
It has certainly been a topic of hot debate in Amoirm’s year-long tenure in the hot seat at Old Trafford. Fernandes is a number 10 by trade, and played his best football as close to goal as possible, in and around the penalty box.
That season came in 2020/21, when he scored and assisted 29 Premier League goals in 37 games. He was one of the deadliest attackers in world football at that stage. So, you might think it is logical for Amorim to play him as a number 10.
Well, that is not how the United manager sees it. In fact, he explained that his skipper operates in the pivot because he “is the right man to start with the tempo of the play.”
United legend Paul Scholes sees it differently, and says “there is no doubt” Fernandes should be playing as a 10 because he “is the most creative player on the team.”
In 51 games under the tutelage of Amorim, the Red Devils’ number 8 has played 30 games in the pivot, and 21 as a number 10. That certainly shows just how much their manager favours him in a deeper role.
Interestingly, United have another player coming through in a similar mould to Fernandes, and it will be interesting to see where Amorim chooses to play him.
Man United's in-house Fernandes successor
It is clear that Fernandes is viewed as a pivot player by Amorim, despite Scholes’ view and the success he has achieved in previous seasons. With the two number 10 positions nailed down by Cunha and Mbeumo, players may have to adapt.
That could certainly be the case for United academy star Jack Moorhouse. The 19-year-old is currently on loan at Leyton Orient, but has previously impressed for the Red Devils’ youth sides.
It has been an impressive start to life in professional football for Moorhouse. Described as a “deadly” player by United academy page on X, Academy Scoop, the Republic of Ireland U21 international has played 14 games for Orient, scoring and assisting one goal apiece.
As it happens, Moorhouse has already been described as someone who is “ideal for Amorim’s left 10 role” at United by football analyst Ben Mattinson. He has operated behind the striker more often than not for the U23s at the club, too, making five appearances in that role, scoring twice and assisting one.
Interestingly, he’s played a bit deeper for Orient this season, showing excellent versatility. He shone in a box-to-box role against Peterborough United, creating two chances and completing three out of three dribbles.
Moorhouse vs. Peterborough
Stat
Number
Touches
33
Pass accuracy
86%
Ball recoveries
6
Duels won
4/6
Dribbles completed
3/3
Key passes
2
Goals
1
Stats from Sofascore
There are certainly similarities between Moorhouse and Fernandes. Both creative midfielders, they can operate in advanced roles and a bit deeper. It would be intriguing to see where Amorim would utilise him in the first team.
One thing is for sure, the 19-year-old possesses great talent. If the Red Devils are looking for an in-house successor to their “Portuguese Magnifico,” they might be able to find him in their famous Carrington academy.
Carrington's "best talent" is a big Sesko upgrade in the making at Man Utd
Manchester United could yet improve further in attack under Amorim’s wing.
Josh Bohannon’s century goes in vain for Lancashire
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay17-Aug-2025
Josh Bohannon’s 133 went in vain•MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Kent 315 for 8 (Denly 91, Dawkins 85) beat Lancashire 293 (Bohannon 133, Harris 54, Parkinson 3-57) by 22 runsKent Spitfires beat Lancashire by 22 runs in a Metro Bank Cup thriller at Beckenham, despite a magnificent century from Josh Bohannon.Jaydn Denly and Ben Dawkins both hit their highest List A scores, making 91 and 85 respectively as Kent posted 315 for 8.Bohannon, who batted through what looked like significant pain towards the back end of his innings, made 133 from 110 balls, including 17 fours and two sixes, but when he fell to Denly in the 47th over, Lancashire’s last-wicket duo of Tom Bailey and Charlie Barnard needed 30 from the last three overs.Bailey hit the first ball of the 48th for six, but he was run out by Chris Benjamin chasing a non-existent single and Kent had won with 15 balls remaining. Kent’s Matt Parkinson finished with 3 for 57 against his former county, while Marcus Harris made 54.Lancashire chose to bowl but failed to take a vital wicket: Denly was on 2 when he was put down by keeper George Bell off George Balderson. Assuming he’d been caught Denly was out of his ground when he was nearly run out by a shy at the stumps from first slip.The teenage duo responded by putting on a record first-wicket stand of 155 for Kent against Lancashire, with Dawkins making the early running and blazing 50 from 43 balls before Bailey had him caught by Bohannon in the 25th. Kent’s next highest partnership was 36.Bailey struck again in his next over, getting Joey Evison for four and Denly was lbw to Arav Shetty nine runs shy of a century. Benjamin was the next to go for 34, caught by Luke Hands off Charlie Barnard.Harry Singh bowled Harry Finch for 15 and Balderson had Ekansh Singh caught by Joseph Moores for 21.Lancashire might have had even more joy but Shetty somehow dropped an easy caught-and-bowled chance off Jack Leaning when he was on six. Leaning couldn’t cash in however and was out for 17, ramping Balderson straight to Marcus Harris.Grant Stewart clubbed two sixes in the final over but was run out off the final ball for 32 from 17 balls.Matt Quinn struck in the second over of the chase, getting Bell caught by Benjamin at first slip for a duck, but Kent then lost captain Stewart after what looked like a recurrence of a thigh injury, pulling up at the start of what would have been his fourth over. Quinn was also forced off with an unspecified injury.Evison took over and bowled Michael Jones leg stump for 26, but Bohannon and Harris hit back with a partnership worth 96 that was broken when the latter hit Parkinson to the sub fielder Fred Klaassen at cow corner.Parkinson then had Harry Singh caught by a diving Jack Leaning for 5 before Leaning got Joe Moores for 19, just as the 16-year-old was looking set, thanks to a brilliant catch by Ben Compton, also a sub.When Leaning then removed Balderson for a duck, caught by Denly, Kent looked favourites but Bohannon reached three figures after hitting a Denly full toss for four and Shetty was looking good until Parkinson had him stumped by Finch for 27, ending a stand of 54.Denly got Luke Hands for 3 and, with 50 needed from the last five, the 46th went for 11, but at the end of the 47th Bohannon holed out to Evison and was caught by Klaassen on the boundary before walking off to a standing ovation.Bailey responded by whacking the next ball, from Parkinson, for six, but after taking a single from the next ball, Charlie Barnard called a suicidal single and Bailey was run out by Rizvi and Benjamin and Kent were finally off the mark in Group B.
Every year for 24 consecutive years the World Series has given us a new champion. Repeating is difficult because of the expanded postseason, a more even distribution of talent and the democracy of analytics and technology, which can level the playing field in non-monetary ways.
The bottom line is there are many ways to win a World Series—from a sixth seed last year (Texas Rangers) to a one seed this year (Los Angeles Dodgers). But there are some lessons we can learn from the 2024 World Series. For instance, the next World Series champion is likely to have elite power. The past five champions all have ranked in the top four in MLB in home runs. As hits have grown scarcer, the home run ball looms larger in deciding games.
Here is what else we learned from the 2024 World Series:
1. Spin is in
The Dodgers threw 41.2% breaking pitches against the Yankees. Since pitch tracking began in 2008, that’s the heaviest dose of spin by any of the 34 World Series teams.
Los Angeles knew the New York offense was predicated on taking pitches and creating count leverage to force pitchers into the zone with fastballs—and hammering them. The Dodgers did not let that happen.
Los Angeles kept the Yankees off balance by throwing the abundance of breaking pitches. The idea was to constantly change speeds to keep hitters uncomfortable. There was no better example than how Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Blake Treinen carved up Aaron Judge in Game 2 (0-for-4, including three strikeouts).
Judge saw 21 pitches in Game 2. He saw the same pitch a second time in a row in the same at-bat only twice—and whiffed both times. Look how Yamamoto and Treinen yo-yoed Judge with pitches as far apart as 21 mph:
MLB
The Dodgers expertly executed this back-and-forth style of pitching throughout the series. The Yankees were the No. 1 slugging team against fastballs in the regular season. They had an easy time with the Royals and Guardians in the first two rounds because those teams inexplicably threw them less spin than the Yankees saw in the regular season.
The Dodgers gave the Yankees a whole different look. They threw so much spin that when they did attack with fastballs the Yankees were not on time.
This progression of pitching plans against New York says it all: the way to get the Yankees off the fastball was with increased spin:
Yankees Hitting 2024
Spin %
Fastballs in Zone
Regular season
30.7%
.307 (2nd in MLB)
NL division series
26.1%
.347
NL championship series
27.4%
.313
World Series
41.2%*
.211 (5th lowest among past 34 WS teams)
Soto had just one RBI via a Game 2 solo home run during the World Series. / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images2. The Dodgers took Juan Soto off the board.
Before Game 1, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was asked which hitters in the Yankees lineup most concerned him.
“Soto,” Roberts said. Then, looking over the New York lineup card, added, “Soto, Soto, Soto.”
Soto is the best fastball hitter on the planet. Overall in the postseason Soto hit .600 and slugged 1.300 against fastballs.
The Dodgers’ plan for Soto was brutal in its simplicity: never give him a fastball to hit in any meaningful spot. The pennant-winning home run Soto hit off a four-seamer from Hunter Gaddis of Cleveland, one of the most ridiculous pitch calls in recent memory, was fresh in their minds.
The Dodgers threw Soto:
Only 13 four-seamers in the zone out of 110 pitches in the series. Soto was 3-for-3 on those rare heaters. 65% secondary pitches, including cutters. Soto was 1-for-11 against them.58% pitches out of the zone.
Los Angeles preferred pitching to Judge. The plan worked perfectly until Jack Flaherty threw Judge a first-pitch fastball right down Broadway in Game 5.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone accommodated the Dodgers’ plan to take Soto off the board by never tweaking his lineup. He was fully committed to Gleyber Torres-Soto-Judge as the 1-2-3 hitters, a combo that worked well down the stretch. But when Torres and Judge went cold, the lineup remained the same.
Boone could have batted Judge first, with Soto behind him. The Dodgers did that with Shohei Ohtani and the Mets with Francisco Lindor. The idea is to have the whole lineup protect your best hitter, get that hitter to the plate as often as possible and, in the case of Judge just as it was for Lindor, take pressure off a cold hitter by asking him to simply get on base, not produce damage.
Boone said he did think about batting Judge leadoff for Game 4, but opted against it because he did not think it was fair to Torres. But Torres had gone cold. He took the most plate appearances for the Yankees in the series and slashed .143/.250/.333.
With Torres cold and the Dodgers flipping Soto so much spin out of the zone, Soto became a non-factor. He saw four pitches the entire series with a runner in scoring position, including one pitch in the zone. He saw just 10 pitches in the zone with a runner on base.
3. The Dodgers out-executed the Yankees
Years from now people will look at the statistical summary of the 2024 World Series and ask, “How did the Yankees not win?” New York had more hits, more home runs, more walks, more stolen bases, a higher batting average, a better on-base percentage, a lower ERA and a lower WHIP.
To understand why the Yankees lost you had to watch the games. Their fifth-inning collapse in Game 5 was historically awful. But at every turn the Dodgers made plays the Yankees did not. Here are some of the key hidden moments why Los Angeles won the series:
The Yankees were two outs away from winning Game 1, 4–3. Jake Cousins, facing the 7-8-9 hitters, had just retired Will Smith. Lux was hitless in his last 16 plate appearances. Cousins walked him on five pitches, four of which were nowhere close to the strike zone, including a wild high sinker after four straight sliders. The walk virtually assured the lineup would turn over, and when it did, Boone called on Nestor Cortes, who gave up the grand slam to Freddie Freeman.
Batting ninth, Edman drew a four-pitch walk from Clarke Schmidt leading off the third. (Yankees pitchers had some terrible walks, and the Dodgers made them pay.) Edman took off for second on his own on a 2-and-2 pitch, allowing him to reach second and stay out of a double play as Ohtani grounded out. He scored on a bloop single because he broke immediately on a perfect read rather than hesitating to see if the ball could be caught.
With runners at first and second in the fifth, Smith hit a ground ball to the right of Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe. Running from second, Hernández bowed his angle to disrupt Volpe’s throwing lane (perfectly legal). Volpe, sidearm, alligator-armed his throw into the dirt and Hernández’s running lane. Third baseman Jazz Chisholm should have been able to secure the ball on a short hop. But he did not work his glove hand through the ball and dropped it.
Kahnle threw 27 pitches in the series. Twenty-five of them were changeups. The Dodgers swung and missed only once against him.
Seeing the same pitch over and over—not a nasty swing-and-miss pitch at that—gave the Dodgers an edge. Down 6–5 and down to their last six outs, the Dodgers built their series-winning rally on Kahnle changeups: singles by Hernández and Edman on changeups left up in the zone and a walk by Smith on four changeups out of the zone.
After the Dodgers loaded the bases against Kahnle, Boone brought in Weaver to face Lux. The average MLB hitter delivers the runner from third with less than two outs 50% of the time. Lux had done so only 35% in the regular season. Only 12 hitters were worse (min. 20 PA).
This time Lux ripped a 2–2 fastball for a sacrifice fly. The key to this at-bat was that the flyball was deep enough to center field not just to score Hernandez but also to advance Edman to third base. Those 90 feet were huge because Edman scored the series-clinching run on a sacrifice fly by Betts.
The World Series exposed a huge difference between the Dodgers and Yankees: athleticism and baseball IQ. In the regular season, Los Angeles was tied with Detroit for the MLB lead in taking the extra base (49% of the time). New York was tied for last with Houston (36%).
Smith, right, was trusted with more game management responsibilities in his sixth season. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images4. The maturation of Will Smith
In past postseasons the Dodgers were a quick out while relying heavily on analytics-based scripts. “We probably stuck to scripts a little too much,” Roberts said.
This year they gave Smith more freedom behind the plate to call his own game.
“Yeah, for sure. Definitely,” Smith told me. “That was probably one of the things we talked about early in the year. Going off script. But Mark [Prior], Danny [Lehmann], Connor [McGuiness], the pitchers have been great. It's all been a lot of good communication, conversations before games, in game … trying to figure out best ways to change, or redirect, or whatever it is, or kind of stick with the same plan. It's just a lot of people coming together, talking through stuff.”
A good example: Smith freelanced to throw a 3-and-2 curve to Francisco Lindor in NLCS Game 3 with the bases loaded. Walker Buehler had thrown only six full-count curves to lefties all year. Lindor struck out. I asked Smith if that was an example where he felt more empowered to call his own game.
“Yeah, I feel super confident,” he said. “You know, I'm convicted in it. Just as long as the pitcher's convicted in whatever I put down. If they want to shake, that's fine. Just as long as they're convicted, it's fine.”
5. The Yankees pitched Shohei Ohtani tough
Ohtani’s swing in Games 3 through 5 was clearly compromised after he suffered a left shoulder subluxation. Nonetheless, give New York credit for making it difficult on Ohtani with a mix of pitches, especially down in the zone.
On pitches no higher than 25 inches off the ground—about mid-thigh high and below—Ohtani was 0-for-6 in the World Series and 1-for-17 in the postseason.
6. The ballad of Anthony Banda
The first of seven relievers Roberts called on in Game 5 was Banda, who at this time last year was coaching kids at Higley High in Gilbert, Ariz., and wondering if his professional career was over.
Banda was DFA’d last season after one month with the Nationals, his 10th team in 10 years. Nobody wanted him. At age 30, he spent the rest of the season at Triple-A Rochester, where he posted a 7.58 ERA.
“I don't know what I would have done,” he told me. “I would have probably found myself in Mexico playing ball or something. I felt after that last season, getting my butt whooped all season, it was just like, ‘Man, if I can't even get these guys out, what makes me think I can get to the big-league level and get those guys out?’”
Then one day, while working with high school kids, he had an epiphany.
“I had a moment,” Banda told me, “where I even looked to one of the assistant coaches and I was like, ‘Man, I'm telling them the things that people would tell me all the time.’ And I found myself enjoying it. Seeing the kids have fun … It made a lot more sense.
“I mean, watching the kids, the way they were asking questions and going through the practices and understanding that they could do it … and me showing them that they could do it … It was just a lot of fun, seeing all the kids light up.
“That was something where I'm like, ‘Man, this is fun. This is fun. I really love this.’ And I just started training again.”
Banda signed a minor league deal with Cleveland, his 11th team. He made 12 appearances for Triple-A Columbus and caught the eye of the Dodgers. On May 17, the Dodgers became his 12th team. They traded cash considerations for Banda.
His world was about to change immediately. You can talk all you want about all the money the Dodgers have and spend. But the secret sauce to how the Dodgers have built one of the greatest 12-year runs in baseball history is their player development, both in the minors and majors. They are expert at finding undervalued talent in the draft and on other rosters and bringing the best out of those players. Banda is another example.
Banda could always throw hard and had a good changeup, but he had trouble throwing a good breaking pitch.
“I never had a breaking ball really that was consistent enough for hitters to respect,” Banda said.
The day Banda reported to the Dodgers they had him throw a bullpen session while being recorded by a high-speed video camera known as edgertronic, which shows at thousands of frames per second how a baseball leaves a pitcher’s hand. Banda threw his slider, which he threw with a funky three-finger grip.
“Uh, they laughed at me when I showed them,” he said, “because they couldn't believe I was throwing a slider like that. They changed it right away when they saw it.”
Banda’s problem with his slider was due to the natural movement of his hand and wrist. Banda is a heavy pronator, which means his hand naturally turns outward, which is great for throwing a football or a changeup, but not for throwing a breaking pitch.
“I was always told growing up, ‘You’ve got to get the fingers to the front of the ball,’” Banda said. “I just couldn't do it. I was just like, ‘I don't know how guys do this.’”
Dodgers assistant pitching coach Connor McGuiness is the King of Spin. No one in baseball better understands how spin works and how to teach it than McGuiness. He sat down with Banda and showed him edgertronic videos of the breaking pitches of other pitchers who, like him, were heavy pronators.
“They're throwing sliders and curveballs and I'm like, ‘How did they do that?’” Banda says. “They showed me the edgertronics stuff and it just showed that it works off the pronation of your hand instead of getting to the front of the ball. So that’s what really made it click for me and then after that it was just kind of like I got a new toy.
“Yeah, it was fun. It all happened May 19. I wasn't able to see the name of the guys they showed me, but it was a close-up of the hands in a similar arm slot. They have stuff where they can match it with my video. And it was mind blowing when it really, really clicked and I understood it. I was like, ‘Oh my God, this really clicked. I've been taught wrong this entire time.’”
His career was changed. Batters hit .147 against Banda’s new slider, including .125 in the postseason. He threw the pitch 53% of the time in the postseason. It was the toughest slider to hit in the postseason among those thrown at least 60 times.
Banda became one of only five pitchers to appear in four World Series wins without allowing a run (min. batters faced: 14). The others are Rollie Fingers (1972), Mariano Rivera (2009), Joe Kelly (2018) and Will Smith (2021).
World Series Fun FactsFreddie Freeman joined Lou Gehrig as the only players to hit four home runs in a World Series while striking out no more than once. Gehrig had no strikeouts in 1928.Roberts joined Tony La Russa (2011 Cardinals) as the only managers to win the World Series using five or more pitchers in each victory.Roberts is the only manager to win a nine-inning World Series game with eight pitchers, as he did in the clincher.The Dodgers in Game 5 became only the third team to win a World Series game by getting out-homered 3–0 (Blue Jays 1993 Game 4 and Yankees 1949 Game 3). They are the first team to win a clincher that way.The Dodgers are only the second team to win a World Series clincher by scoring seven runs without a homer and no more than seven hits. The other: the 1919 Pirates.Buehler became only the sixth pitcher to win a game as a starter and save the clincher. The others were Grover Alexander for the 1926 Cardinals, Bill Hallahan for the 1931 Cardinals, Gene Bearden for the 1948 Indians, Johnny Antonelli for the 1954 Giants and Madison Bumgarner for the 2014 Giants.The Dodgers hit .184 with runners in scoring position, the worst such average for a team that won the World Series since the 2008 Phillies (.167).Gerrit Cole has made 339 career starts, postseason included. Game 5 marked the first time he allowed five unearned runs. He is only the ninth pitcher to allow five or more unearned runs in a World Series game, the first since Clem Labine for Pittsburgh in 1960 World Series Game 2 and the first ever to do so facing elimination.The Yankees are the first team to lose the final game of the World Series while allowing five unearned runs. The previous high was four, set by the 1911 Giants and matched by the 1925 Senators.
Na semana que antecede o jogo mais importante da história do Fortaleza, a final da Copa Sul-Americana contra a LDU (EQU), no sábado (28), o clube registrou a venda de mais de 7 mil unidades de seu novo terceiro uniforme.
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Elaborada pela fornecedora de material esportivo Volt, a nova camisa do “Laion” conta com referências à cultura francesa e está sendo vendida por R$ 299,00, com descontos para sócios-torcedores.
-Quando chegamos no Fortaleza, sabíamos da grandeza do clube e do grande volume de vendas, mas a torcida nos surpreendeu. Tivemos alguns percalços no início, o que é normal é um projeto deste porte, mas conseguimos mostrar, através de lançamentos especiais e da qualidade dos produtos, como a Volt pode agregar a este crescimento nacional do Fortaleza -, comenta Fernando Kleimmann, sócio-diretor da empresa, que fechou parceria do clube cearense em 2023.
O Fortaleza encara a LDU neste sábado (28), na cidade de Punta del Este, no Uruguai, a partir das 17h, e você acompanha todos os detalhes desta final da Copa Sul-Americana no Lance! (clique aqui e confira).