Liam Hanley Articles - Page 4

Over the last three years, no MLB team has had more regular-season wins than the Los Angeles Dodgers. LA’s 320 victories are 25 more than the second-place Braves during that span. Yet all the Dodgers have to show for it is an NLCS appearance and two NLDS exits. Despite their postseason struggles, the Dodgers have […]

After an aggressive offseason in which the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Russell Wilson and Patrick Queen while trading Kenny Pickett, the team made its intentions clear during the 2024 NFL Draft. The Steelers took three offensive linemen with their first four picks, with the only non-lineman being Michigan wideout Roman Wilson. In the later rounds, Pittsburgh […]

Even before the season began, rumors swirled about the Boston Red Sox trading away veteran closer Kenley Jansen. The 36-year-old was an  All-Star last year — converting 29 of 33 save chances — but with a $16 million salary and an expiring contract, Jansen is unlikely to stay on a Red Sox team struggling to stay […]

Amidst the Oakland Athletics’ on-field struggles and off-field turmoil, rookie closer Mason Miller has provided fans with some solace. On the mound, his stuff is as unhittable as anyone in the Majors. The electric right-hander has 55 strikeouts in just 29.2 innings, notching 12 saves in 13 chances in the process. Miller blows opponents away […]

Three seasons ago, the White Sox were a 93-win team with World Series aspirations. But through a series of injuries and overall decline, the club saw that win total decrease to just 61 victories in 2023. The team could be even worse this season. The Sox set a franchise record with a 14-game losing streak, […]

The Philadelphia Phillies, a club known more in recent years for its postseason success rather than its regular-season win totals, has flipped the script this season. Philadelphia’s 44 wins are the most in the National League and good enough for a 7.5-game lead atop the NL East. Yet, even with this hot start, there is […]

A 101-win team a year ago, the Baltimore Orioles have shown no signs of slowing down in 2024. The team is off to a 39-22 start — a better winning percentage than in 2023 — but finds itself 4.5 games back in the AL East due to an even better opening stretch from the New […]

The Miami Marlins were a playoff team in 2023, winning 84 games and reaching the postseason in a non-COVID season for the first time since their World Series victory in 2003. This 15-win improvement was a surprise after a 69-win campaign in 2022, but it has become clear that the club is not interested in […]

Over the last three years, no MLB team has had more regular-season wins than the Los Angeles Dodgers. LA’s 320 victories are 25 more than the second-place Braves during that span. Yet all the Dodgers have to show for it is an NLCS appearance and two NLDS exits. Their only World Series title of the […]

In 2023, the Kansas City Royals tied a franchise record with 106 losses. It was the club’s seventh straight losing year and was the bottoming out of a rebuild that seemed permanently delayed. But, this year, with the help of Bobby Witt Jr., Salvador Perez, and Seth Lugo, among others, the team unexpectedly finds itself […]

A 16-win decline in 2023 saw the Cleveland Guardians go from AL Central champs and an ALDS squad to the team’s first season with less than 80 wins since 2012. But after these struggles, this plucky ballclub has bounced back meaningfully in 2024. The Guardians own the American League’s second-best record at 39-20, giving the […]

The deadline to stay in the 2024 NBA Draft is officially over. Players like Johnny Furphy and  Bronny James remained in the draft, while Mark Sears and Alex Karaban returned to Alabama and Connecticut, respectively. The deadline also impacted the transfer portal, as Jamir Watkins and Wooga Poplar — available players in the transfer portal, […]

After the drama of an offseason that included the departures of franchise cornerstones Corbin Burnes and Craig Counsell, the Milwaukee Brewers have responded with one of the best starts in franchise history. The club is 36-23 — seven games ahead of the second-place St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central. Despite this success, the team […]

After the offseason addition of former Las Vegas Raiders QB and four-time Pro Bowler, Derek Carr, the New Orleans Saints entered 2023 as favorites to win the AFC South title. After a season with considerable ups and downs, the Saints fell short of that goal — narrowly missing out on a playoff spot after a […]

After 10 years without an NBA playoff series win, the Indiana Pacers have ensured the wait was worth it this postseason. As the number six seed, the Pacers took down the Milwaukee Bucks in the First Round, then defeated the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals before falling to the Boston Celtics in […]

After the offseason addition of former Las Vegas Raiders QB Derek Carr, the New Orleans Saints entered the 2023 season as the favorites to take home the AFC South title. After a season with considerable ups and downs, the Saints fell short of that goal — narrowly missing out on a playoff spot after a […]

Nothing is guaranteed in sports, and the Arizona Diamondbacks — which reached the World Series in 2023 — have realized that reality in 2024. The defending NL Champs are just 24-26 to begin the year in the tough NL West as they build off last season’s playoff success. One player who has embodied these early […]

The Houston Astros nearly made it to the World Series for the third straight time in 2023, narrowly falling four games to three to the Texas Rangers in the ALCS. With lofty expectations for the reigning AL West champs in 2024, Houston has not started the season convincingly. Despite a surprising breakout year from pitcher […]

The 2024 season was always going to be difficult for the Toronto Blue Jays as they battled for a playoff spot in a competitive AL East. Last year, the division sent three teams to the playoffs and is just as deep this season. The Blue Jays were one of those three playoff teams but have […]

All signs pointed to a successful baseball team in San Diego last year. The San Diego Padres were second in team ERA, fifth in defensive runs saved above average, and above average in runs scored. Yet the club finished 82-80 and missed out on the playoffs. The offseason was also a rollercoaster. In December, the club traded […]

Despite fading down the stretch last season, the Chicago Cubs look to establish themselves as a true National League contender in 2024. The core of the 2023 squad is still together, with the additions of manager Craig Counsell and Japanese pitcher Shota Imanaga — a budding star — to offset the loss of right-hander Marcus […]

In a season where expectations were tempered, the Green Bay Packers impressed even the most optimistic Wisconsin football fans. The team finished the regular season at 9-8, then knocked off the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card Round of the NFL Playoffs before falling just short to the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round. […]

After an aggressive offseason in which the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Russell Wilson and Patrick Queen while trading Kenny Pickett, the team made its intentions clear during the 2024 NFL Draft. The Steelers took three offensive linemen with their first four picks, with the only non-lineman being Michigan wideout Roman Wilson. In the later rounds, Pittsburgh […]

After 10 years without an NBA Playoff series win, the Indiana Pacers have ensured the wait was worth it this postseason. As the number six seed, the Pacers took down the Milwaukee Bucks in the First Round, then defeated the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. This latest victory set up a titanic […]

While year four of the Kevin Stefanski era was far from stable for the Cleveland Browns, the team persevered and established a strong platform for success in the future. The Browns won 11 games and secured a playoff berth despite starting five quarterbacks during the season as Stefanski earned NFL Coach of the Year honors. […]

After several seasons of mediocrity, the San Francisco Giants became big spenders in the offseason. The team gave big contracts to Gold Glove winner Matt Chapman, Cy Young winner Blake Snell, Korean outfielder Jung Hoo Lee, and power hitter Jorge Soler. The results so far have been mixed. The team is 23-25. Chapman has been […]

After a playoff berth seemed certain, the Jacksonville Jaguars ended their season on the outside looking in. The Jaguars were 8-3 at one point, but five losses in their last six games doomed a team that looked to build on their playoff victory in 2022. The team filled many of its needs this offseason. An […]

After a playoff berth seemed certain, the Jacksonville Jaguars somehow ended their season on the outside looking in. The Jaguars were 8-3 heading into Week 13, but five losses in their last six games doomed a team that looked destined to build on their miraculous playoff victory in 2022. The team filled many of its […]

After a playoff berth seemed certain, the Jacksonville Jaguars somehow ended their season on the couch and not in the postseason. The Jaguars were 8-3 heading into Week 13, but five losses in their last six games doomed a team that looked destined to build on last year’s playoff victory. The team addressed many of […]

For the fourth time in five years, the San Francisco 49ers reached the NFC Championship Game in 2023. Under the guidance of head coach Kyle Shanahan, the Niners reached the Super Bowl for the second time during this stretch but still found themselves unable to take home a sixth Super Bowl ring. Much of that […]

After fading down the stretch in 2023, the Chicago Cubs look to establish themselves as a true National League contender in 2024. The core of the 2023 squad is still together, with the additions of manager Craig Counsell and Japanese pitcher Shota Imanaga to offset the loss of right-hander Marcus Stroman. The club is off […]

Year one of the Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, and James Harden era is officially over for the Los Angeles Clippers. The team won 51 games in the regular season, good enough for the number four seed in the Western Conference. But with Leonard unavailable, the Clippers lost to the Dallas Mavericks in six games in […]

While year four of the Kevin Stefanski era was far from stable for the Cleveland Browns, the team persevered and established a strong platform for success for the future. The Browns managed to win 11 games and secure a playoff berth despite starting five quarterbacks during the season as Stefanski earned NFL Coach of the […]

Another year, another early playoff exit for the Milwaukee Bucks. Even with the addition of superstar point guard Damian Lillard alongside the elite duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, the Bucks fell in the First Round of the NBA Playoffs for the second consecutive season despite being the higher seed. With two more years […]

As the Phoenix Suns chased their first NBA Title, the front office got busy in its most aggressive offseason yet. The team traded Chris Paul for Bradley Beal and sent Deandre Ayton to Portland to get Jusuf Nurkic. These moves led to a 49-win season for the Suns but they only managed a six-seed and […]

Despite predictions of a dropoff in 2024, the Milwaukee Brewers have started the season surprisingly well. Last year’s 92-win club lost two of the best starting pitchers in franchise history plus manager Craig Counsell, yet manages to sit in first place in the National League Central. Despite a strong 22-15 start to the season the […]

The Green Bay Packers entered the 2024 NFL Draft with a bevy of picks and used them to great effect. The team took Arizona offensive tackle Jordan Morgan in Round 1 to fill in vacancies on the offensive line and Texas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper to take over for De’Vondre Campbell. It was a strong […]

Another year, another early postseason exit for the Milwaukee Bucks. Even with the addition of superstar point guard Damian Lillard to alongside the elite duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, the Bucks failed to advance past the First Round of the NBA Playoffs for the second consecutive season despite being the higher seed. Milwaukee’s […]

Another year, another early postseason exit for the Milwaukee Bucks. Even with the addition of superstar point guard Damian Lillard to strengthen the elite duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, the Bucks failed to advance past the First Round of the NBA Playoffs for the second consecutive season despite being the higher seed again. […]