ESNY’s Tuesday Morning Shootaround
Let the dancing begin!
As baseball goes crazy in the opening days of Spring Training, Tuesday brings us the start of March Madness. The first two play-in games in this year’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament are on TruTV this evening.
Here’s what we’re watching tonight:
- CBB: Texas A&M-CC vs Texas Southern — 6:40 PM ET
- CBB: Indiana vs Wyoming — 9:10 PM ET
- NBA: Nets @ Magic — 7 PM ET
- NHL: Ducks @ Rangers — 7 PM ET
- NHL: Islanders vs. Capitals — 7 PM ET
- NHL: Devils @ Canucks — 10 PM ET
deGrom heading to market?
When he spoke with the media for the first time in Spring Training, Mets ace Jacob deGrom answered the big question that could have been a cloud over the entire 2022 season immediately: yes, he will opt out at the end of the season and become a free agent.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean he wants to leave. He just wants the bag.
Jacob deGrom says "the plan" will be to opt out of his contract after the season, but he wants to be in constant contact with the Mets about returning:
"I love being a Met, it would be really cool to be one for my entire career." pic.twitter.com/yV1lGNsAiu
— SNY (@SNYtv) March 14, 2022
That’s awkward
Last year, new Yankees’ third baseman Josh Donaldson called out Gerrit Cole for a perceived drop in spin rate after MLB took action against the use of performance enhancing sticky stuff. The two nearly fought last year. Now, they’re teammates.
On Monday, Donaldson met with the New York media and spoke about clearing the air with Cole. How do you think this conversation went?
Josh Donaldson on his conversation with Gerrit Cole: pic.twitter.com/dBgttBYx5v
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) March 14, 2022
60-piece for KAT
Karl Anthony Towns went off last night, scoring 60 points with 17 boards in the Timberwolves’ 149-139 win over the Spurs. The big man hit 15 of 16 from the line and was 7-11 from downtown in a career performance.
And he apparently got some strong advice from his coach late in the game.
https://twitter.com/Timberwolves/status/1503604995270266881
It’s a business
The big news on Monday was the trade the Atlanta Braves made to acquire All-Star first baseman Matt Olson. Olson was in camp with the A’s when the news broke, and spoke with their media about it.
Matt Olson was pulled back from today’s workout due to the impending trade. His thoughts on the trade to Atlanta: pic.twitter.com/lZ1zyWegXZ
— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) March 14, 2022
Braves manager Brian Snitker was speaking with media in their camp when the news broke. Talk about a tough spot!
Brian Snitker was talking to the media when news broke that the Braves traded for Matt Olson.
Here is his reaction ⬇️
(via @ZachKleinWSB)pic.twitter.com/sOpRZOOM6i
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 14, 2022
And Cristian Pache, one of the top prospects now in the Oakland system, shared his emotions about the deal.
https://twitter.com/cristianpache25/status/1503440399687458821
Tab has written about MLB, the NHL and the NFL for more than a decade for publications including The Fourth Period, Bleacher Report and La Vida Baseball. He is the author of two books about the Chicago Blackhawks and has been credentialed for the MLB All-Star Game and postseason and multiple Stanley Cup Finals. He is the co-host of the Line Drive Radio podcast.
