Alex House Articles - Page 3

Jose Ramirez, an elite bullpen, sound defense, savvy base-running and good vibes have enabled the Cleveland Guardians to excel in the Stephen Vogt era. But “Guards ball,” as it is proudly labeled, could still use a tune-up. A burst of power can go a long way on a club that ranked 29th in both slugging […]

When a program loses a reputable head coach to a bigger job, a sharp decline is always a possibility. Cincinnati basketball has not fallen into the abyss since Mick Cronin left for UCLA in 2019. The Bearcats have not had a losing season in the last seven years, winning 20 or more games three times […]

Fresh off a brutal 2024 MLB campaign, which followed consecutive early playoff exits, Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins and manager John Schneider were drowning in scrutiny. Fans had grown exasperated and demanded swift change. The duo entered what felt like a make-or-break 2025 season, and they came out of it with a huge […]

It took a game and a half, but Duke basketball finally looked like its overpowering self in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The Blue Devils awakened from their extended slumber and asserted themselves in the final 15 minutes of Saturday’s 81-58 victory versus TCU. They should now go into the Sweet Sixteen with renewed confidence, and […]

Because Tom Brady is co-owner of the Las Vegas Raiders and an NFL broadcaster for FOX, he probably does not get many opportunities to roast active players. Though, when the seven-time Super Bowl champion reenters competition mode, he has no problem unleashing his savage side. Young Jayden Daniels learned as much on Saturday. Before Brady […]

Despite a 20-plus-year age gap between them, Tom Brady and Jalen Hurts actually have quite a bit in common. Both men were overlooked entering the NFL Draft, albeit to differing degrees (Hurts was a second rounder, and Brady went in the sixth). They both shined in the Super Bowl but sometimes get less credit than […]

The Pittsburgh Pirates have immense faith in No. 1 MLB prospect Konnor Griffin, otherwise they would not discuss the possibility of signing him to a nine-year, $100-plus million contract extension before he even takes a big-league at-bat. But faith does not always override patience. The Buccos are not ready to call up the teenage shortstop […]

Robbie Avila is more than a cool nickname or a fun March Madness story. He may not have eye-popping numbers or a deep NCAA Tournament run on his résumé, but the 6-foot-10 center out of Oak Forest, Illinois had a substantial impact on two largely forgotten programs. During a time when players use mid-majors as […]

Saint Louis’ celebrated March Madness journey ended versus the No. 1-seeded Michigan Wolverines on Saturday afternoon, but the Billikens did not exit the NCAA Tournament without producing a couple more memorable moments. Redshirt junior Kellen Thames kept his head up amid a sizable second-half deficit and went right after Big Ten Defensive Player of the […]

The Pittsburgh Pirates made a concentrated effort to surround Paul Skenes with more talent this past offseason, but they understand the situation that lies ahead. Re-signing the National League Cy Young is extremely unlikely. The franchise will probably lose its biggest star to a historic contract, or management will try to get a big haul […]

The Milwaukee Brewers always have a backup plan. A team with their payroll can only sustain success by thinking two or three steps ahead of the competition. Their blueprint is predicated on assembling a talented and deep starting pitching rotation. When the time comes to pay one of these hurlers, management is prepared to promote […]

When WNBA Players Association vice president and Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier ripped into league commissioner Cathy Engelbert, many fans braced themselves for an ugly war at the negotiation table and a delayed start to the 2026 campaign. Despite the lingering tension, both sides continued to talk. Extended deadlines underscored the gap, but it also […]

The Minnesota Twins signed three-time All-Star closer Liam Hendriks, steady left-handed reliever Andrew Chafin and competent utility man Gio Urshela all to minor league contracts in the offseason, but they will enter the new MLB campaign without any of these veterans in their organization. Hendriks was granted his release after Minnesota informed him that he […]

The Minnesota Timberwolves (43-27) are walking the tight rope with just three weeks remaining in the regular season, sitting two games behind the Los Angeles Lakers for third place in the West and one game clear of the Denver Nuggets for sixth. This group has advanced to the conference finals from both of those positions, […]

The Los Angeles Angels could not find a spot for Chris Taylor on their MLB roster. Despite an adequate showing in spring training, the veteran utility man and two-time World Series champion was informed that he would not be on the club for its Opening Day road game versus the Houston Astros, per longtime reporter […]

BYU basketball had grand ambitions of reaching the Final Four for the first time in program history. They had an NBA-minded head coach in Kevin Young who had just guided the Cougars to the Sweet Sixteen of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Projected top-three NBA Draft pick AJ Dybantsa chose Provo, Utah over everywhere else. Dynamic […]

Although no true giants were slain, the first day of the 2026 NCAA Tournament still produced an abundance of thrills, history-making moments, stellar performances and a massive scare. March Madness can hypnotize even non-sports fans, as it unites people of all interests and demographics with a potent blend of mounting drama, athletic excellence and child-like […]

The NBA MVP conversation has primarily revolved around last season’s winner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, three-time recipient Nikola Jokic and Defensive Player of the Year favorite Victor Wembanyama, but Luka Doncic is forcing voters to acknowledge his own candidacy. The five-time All-NBA First-Team selection has been astounding while leading the Los Angeles Lakers through an eight-game winning […]

LeBron James has embarrassed Father Time over and over again during the last several years, but the 41-year-old defied all logic in Thursday’s 134-126 win versus the Miami Heat. Following consecutive victories against the Houston Rockets in the Toyota Center, the Los Angeles Lakers arrived in South Beach at approximately 4 a.m local time. Athletes […]

When a team suffers an excruciating and inexcusable loss on a big stage, fans will look for every reason imaginable to eviscerate the head coach. That anguish cannot be mended during a postgame press conference, but it can certainly be magnified. Following an improbable implosion versus No. 11 seed VCU in the opening round of […]

VCU basketball needed to win the Atlantic-10 Tournament in order to punch its ticket to The Big Dance, so the Rams know what it is like to play under desperate circumstances. One could even say they thrive in such conditions. The No. 11 seed in the South Region embodied its signature resilience in a stunning […]

Longtime head coaches like Tom Izzo do not succeed in modern college basketball without having a good sense of humor. If the 2000 national champion let NIL contracts and the chaotic transfer portal consume him with rage, he probably would have already joined some of his other contemporaries in retirement. Izzo kept things light following […]

John Calipari has seen star freshmen buckle under pressure before, but the Arkansas basketball head coach enjoyed a worry-free 97-78 win versus Hawaii in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. He watched his top two teenagers excel in their first taste of March Madness, looking completely prepared for the rowdy environment in Portland, […]

Tramon Mark has experienced plenty of memorable moments during his six-year college career (redshirt and COVID). As a freshman, he helped Houston reach the Final Four for the first time in almost 40 seasons. He posted 26 points and nine rebounds in an NCAA Tournament game two years later. He dropped 35 and nailed the […]

Venezuela did not arrive to the World Baseball Classic championship in a magical carriage, nor was the team wearing a glass slipper. This was not a typical Cinderella story, as a regular season MVP, World Series MVP and several All-Stars all gave the squad loads of credibility. This group always had the potential to go […]

Aaron Judge appeared to exorcise his playoff demons last October, but he finds himself under relentless scrutiny again amid his struggles in the World Baseball Classic championship. The Team USA captain and New York Yankees superstar has yet to make an imprint against Venezuela, as a stunning upset looms large. The United States’ loaded lineup […]

Maikel Garcia enjoyed a breakout MLB campaign with the Kansas City Royals last year, finishing in the top-15 for American League MVP voting and earning his first career Gold Glove Award. He is intent on maintaining his elevated form in 2026. The young third baseman is helping his native Venezuela inch closer to its first […]

Seiya Suzuki limped off the field after attempting to steal second base in last Saturday’s World Baseball Classic quarterfinals matchup versus Venezuela. He then watched his country suffer an upset loss hours later. Needless to say, it was a rough weekend for the Japanese outfielder and designated hitter. He got some better news on Tuesday, […]

Fans have been waiting to see Caitlin Clark in a Team USA uniform since she was left off the roster for the Paris Olympics. Furthermore, the 2024 All-WNBA First-Team selection missed most of last season with lower-body injuries. The 2026 women’s FIBA World Cup qualifying tournament has satisfied people’s desire to watch Clark compete and […]

The Chicago Cubs do not have perfect clarity when it comes to the injury status of Seiya Suzuki, but they can at least take solace in knowing that he avoided the worst-case scenario. Manager Craig Counsell revealed that the outfielder/designated hitter suffered a minor PCL strain, per Marquee Sports Network. The team plans to treat […]

The Carolina Panthers’ offseason will likely be defined by the substantial amount of money they invested in their defensive line, but re-signing an important special teams contributor can certainly have a sizable effect as well. Pro Bowl linebacker-turned-general manager Dan Morgan has reached an agreement with punter Sam Martin on a two-year contract, per “The […]

Teenager Matthew Schaefer has shown an astonishing amount of composure during his rookie NHL season, as he continues to make a massive impact on a New York Islanders squad that was an afterthought last season. But emotions are bound to be high for Tuesday’s showdown in Scotiabank Arena. The No. 1 overall pick and Hamilton, […]

Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson and Makai Lemon headline the 2026 wide receiver class for many fans, but teams who are looking to find a first-round steal in the 2026 NFL Draft may zero in on KC Concepcion. The 6-foot pass-catcher displayed outstanding playmaking skills for Texas A&M football last season and is one of this […]

Many people went into Sunday’s semifinals matchup between Team USA and Dominican Republic with the expectation that the winner would essentially be guaranteed the World Baseball Classic championship. It is obviously risky to make such an assumption, especially since Venezuela is loaded with talent and Italy has already beaten the Americans once. Ergo, there will […]

Detroit Tigers fans moved through the offseason in a state of acute stress, as Tarik Skubal speculation dominated winter conversations. But the Framber Valdez signing displaced the future concerns with present excitement. The 2022 World Series champion should form a powerful one-two punch alongside Skubal at the top of the starting pitching rotation. That is […]

The Dominican Republic and United States entered the World Baseball Classic semifinals on completely different trajectories. While the former demolished their opponents and captivated fans with their infectious enthusiasm and undeniable swagger, the latter lost to Italy and drew criticism for what some people thought was a lack of passion. The D.R. did not just […]

If both Duke and Michigan win their respective conference championship games, the selection committee could find itself locked in a tense debate over who should be the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. But Arizona basketball deserves respect as well. The Wildcats have a strong claim as the top team in the country, […]

Vinnie Pasquantino might have just inadvertently made an enemy in South America. The Team Italy captain and Kansas City Royals first baseman got ahead of himself during an interview following Saturday’s big 8-6 win versus Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals. “I don’t know how many people would’ve picked the Dominican Republic, Japan, […]

Team Italy crashed the party on Tuesday when it stunned the United States. It made itself comfortable after thumping Mexico on Wednesday. And now Francisco Cervelli and company have every intention of making the World Baseball Classic their own after earning an 8-6 quarterfinals victory over Puerto Rico on Saturday. The Azzurri are just one […]