The Sportsletter - Vlad & Dad ⚾️

BY JEFF YODER

JULY 11, 2023 |  SUBSCRIBE  |  WEB VIEW

Good Morning,

It’s a great day for more baseball and a father-son story that is everything we love about sports. Sixteen years later, Vlad Jr. is the Home Run Derby king, just like pops. It's AL vs. NL when the All-Star Game takes center stage tonight. Play ball…

Letter Rip!

  HR DERBY   

Like Father, Like Son

Photo: Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images

Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Wins 2023 MLB Home Run Derby, Joins Vlad Sr. (2007) to Become First Father-Son HR Derby-Winning Duo

The 2023 MLB Home Run Derby was one for the ages Monday in Seattle. A two-time champion, hometown hero and the son of a HR Derby legend filled out the lineup to send a barrage of dingers into the night sky amid a packed T-Mobile Park — 341 homers to be exact. At the end of it all, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. stood victorious. The Blue Jays slugger topped Mookie Betts in Round 1 (26-11) and hometown favorite Julio Rodriguez in the semifinals (21-20) before clinching the title against Randy Arozarena (25-23). And one of the greatest HR Derby possibilities became reality — like father, like son.

Vlad & Dad — HR Derby Champs

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Vladimir Guerrero Sr. are the first father-son duo to each win a Home Run Derby in MLB history. Vlad Sr.'s HR Derby win came in San Francisco just 16 years ago (2007) as a member of the Angels. It was a special moment for a father-son baseball story. Vlad Jr. looked into the camera during a post-event interview and said, “Dad, we did it!” Vlad Sr. tweeted a congratulations. All the feels.

When all was said and done, seven of the eight sluggers put on a show — Mookie Betts (11 HRs) was the only batter who never got it going.

Full HR Derby Results

1st Round

#7 J. Rodriguez (SEA) def. #2 P. Alonso (NYM): 41-21

#6 V. Guerrero Jr. (TOR) def. #3 M. Betts (LAD): 26-11

#1 L. Robert Jr. (CWS) def. #8 A. Rutschman (BAL): 28-27

#5. R. Arozarena (TB) def. #4 A. Garcia (TEX): 24-17

Semifinals

#6 V. Guerrero Jr. (TOR) def. #7 J. Rodriguez (SEA): 21-20

#5 R. Arozarena (TB) def. #1 L. Robert Jr. (CWS): 35-22

Finals

#6 V. Guerrero Jr. (TOR) def. #5 R. Arozarena (TB): 25-23

2023 HR Derby Fun Facts

• Most HRs in a Round: Seattle’s Julio Rodriguez set a derby record with 41 homers in the opening round.
• 1st Toronto Winner: Vlad Guerrero Jr. is the first Toronto player to win the HR Derby since the event began in 1985.
• Most HRs in Final Round: Vlad Guerrero Jr.’s 25 final-round HRs broke Pete Alonso previous record (23).
• Most HRs Overall: Despite Guerrero Jr. winning with 72 home runs, Arozarena hit more total through three rounds (82). That’s the second-most overall in Derby history behind Guerrero Jr.’s 91 when he finished runner-up in 2019.
• Biggest Blast: Luis Robert hit the longest homer of the night at 484 feet. He accounted for six home runs beyond 440 feet in the semifinals.

Watch: Vlad Guerrero Jr. Wins 2023 MLB Home Run Derby

Hats off to all the sluggers, and congrats to Vlad Guerrero Jr.! Next up on the MLB All-Star slate is the All-Star Game itself (Tonight, 8:00 pm ET, ESPN).

Read More

B/R: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Celebrated by Fans, Father After 2023 HR Derby Win

SI: Blue Jays Star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Flexes His Power in Home Run Derby

USA Today: Gerrit Cole (Yankees) & Zac Gallen (Diamondbacks) Named All-Star Starting Pitchers

  TENNIS   

Eubanks Wows at Wimbledon

Photo: Clive Brunskill / Getty Images

American Christopher Eubanks Stuns #5 Stefanos Tsitsipas; #1 Alcaraz, #6 Rune Rally to Reach Quarterfinals

The Round of 16 is in the books at Wimbledon, and one giant underdog is still swinging into the men’s quarterfinals. American Christopher Eubanks is playing spoiler after taking down #5 Stefanos Tsitsipas. The 27-year-old from Georgia Tech also ousted #12 Cameron Norrie in the second round. His challenge grows in the quarterfinals with a showdown against #3 Daniil Medvedev on Wednesday, but Eubanks is making waves. Elsewhere, Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune overcame first-set drops to advance, and the top-4 women’s players are still going strong. Quarterfinals are up next.

Men’s Singles Highlights (Round of 16)

#1 C. Alcaraz def. M. Berrettini (3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3)

#3 D. Medvedev def. J. Lehecka (6-4, 6-2, W/O)

C. Eubanks def. #5 S. Tsitsipas (3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4)

#6 H. Rune def. #21 G. Dimitrov (3-6, 7-6, 7-6, 6-3)

Women’s Singles Highlights (Round of 16)

#2 A. Sabalenka def. #21 E. Alexandrova (6-4, 6-0)

#3 E. Rybakina def. #13 B. Haddad Maia (4-1, W/O)

#6 O. Jabeur def. #9 P. Kvitova (6-0, 6-3)

#25 M. Keys def. M. Andreeva (3-6, 7-6, 6-2)

Today’s Schedule (Quarterfinals)

W: #4 J. Pegula vs. M. Vondrousova (8:00 am ET)

W: #1 I. Swiatek vs. E. Svitolina (8:30 am ET)

M: #8 J. Sinner vs. R. Safiullin (9:15 am ET)

M: #2 N. Djokovic vs. #7 A. Rublev (9:45 am ET)

Read More

AP News: Georgia Tech’s Eubanks Stuns Tsitsipas to Reach Wimbledon QFs

CNN: 16-Year-Old Mirra Andreeva Loses to Madison Keys After Controversial Point

  CFB   

Fitz Gets Blitzed

Photo: Michael Reaves / Getty Images

Northwestern Fires Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald After Reports of Hazing & Team Culture

Just days after Pat Fitzgerald was suspended for two weeks following Northwestern’s hazing allegations, the school fired the 48-year-old football coach on Monday. A former Northwestern player reported the program’s hazing activities geared toward underclassmen within the football program. The initial report was made in 2022, and a private six-month investigation concluded last week. A story by The Daily Northwestern revealed the details that included sexualized locker room behavior and an unsafe culture that, the former player says, Fitzgerald was aware of.

What Changed? Suspension vs. Firing

The initial reports (last Friday) found little evidence to back up that Fitzgerald was aware of the hazing and behaviors that frequently occurred despite the former player's allegations, ultimately resulting in a two-week suspension as a minor slap on the wrist. That changed when university president Michael Schill made a decision based not on what Fitzgerald knew, but what he should have known as the leader of his program.

Fitzgerald spent 26 total seasons with NU amassing a record of 110-101 over 17 years as the head coach. He was set to be the fifth-longest-tenured coach in college football this season, and he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008.

Read More

CBS Sports: Northwestern Hazing Proves Meathead Culture Still Permeates Football

Yahoo! Sports: Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern’s Rapid Fall From Grace Appears to be a Lesson in How Not to Handle Modern Crisis

  STORYLINES    

🏀 Latest Intel on Lillard Trade

The framework of a trade for Damian Lillard to the Heat requires plenty of additional draft picks and teams, but most believe it’s inevitable. Here’s the latest… (Bleacher Report)

⚾️ Day 2 of MLB Draft

Only time will tell on the hundreds of new players selected in the draft, but it's never too early to start judging. Here are the winners of losers of Day 2. (CBS Sports)

📝 NY Times Sports Shift

The New York Times is getting rid of its sports department and will instead rely on sports coverage from recently-purchased website, The Athletic. Here’s what it means. (ABC News)

  NEWS   📰 

• Larry Nassar, Former USA Gym Doctor Convicted of Sexual Abuse, Stabbed Multiple Times in Prison (Yahoo! Sports)
• Lake Tahoe Minor League Hockey Team Owned by Tim Tebow Approved for Expansion in ECHL (ESPN)
• Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama Says He’ll ‘Disappear From Media’ During Rest of NBA Offseason (SI)

• Pistons & Isaiah Stewart Agree to 4-Year, $64 Million Extension (B/R)

• Chiefs Superfan Arrested After Allegedly Robbing Banks Across Central U.S. (CBS Sports)

  SCHEDULE   🗓️ 

Tonight's Must-Watch List

MLB All-Star Game

Tonight (8:00 pm ET)

Wimbledon Quarterfinals

W: #4 J. Pegula vs. M. Vondrousova (8:00 am ET)

W: #1 I. Swiatek vs. E. Svitolina (8:30 am ET)

M: #8 J. Sinner vs. R. Safiullin (9:15 am ET)

M: #2 N. Djokovic vs. #7 A. Rublev (9:45 am ET)

Download The Sportsletter's Must-Watch Calendar

  POLL   📊

Poll Results

Yesterday, we asked: What do you think of the NBA’s new in-season tournament (The NBA Cup)? The team is skeptical. As are we.

Don’t Like It — 56%

Like It — 44%

  THE TEAM  

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

Product Manager: Matthew Cahill

Lead Designer: Joe Stella

Assistant Writer: Marissa Kasch

Social Media: Aaron Yorke

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