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Most Valuable Intel (6/30/20): Austin Riley’s Future, OKC Film Review, and MORE!
Hot content includes 3B outlooks for all 30 MLB teams, how NFL teams have changed since 2019, and more!
USA TODAY Sports
Today’s hottest sports content highlights significant insights and takeaways regarding topics such as future 3B outlooks for all 30 MLB teams and a film study on the most clutch organization in the NBA. Here’s the Most Valuable Intel to know from the best articles in sports.
FULL ARTICLE: MLB State of the Position 2020: Every Team’s 5-Year Plan at Third Base by Joel Reuter, Bleacher Report
HOT: Every MLB Team’s 5-Year Plan at 3B
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MOST VALUABLE INTEL: 3B Austin Riley’s potential is why Atlanta let Donaldson walk
While the coronavirus has changed many things about the upcoming regular season, every MLB team still has a plan for 2020 and beyond at the third base position. Some franchises have one player that fits the mold for both cases, like the Atlanta Braves. According to Baseball America, 3B Austin Riley was the No. 22 prospect in the league before the 2019 season when he burst onto the scene with seven HRs, 20 RBIs, and a 1.192 OPS in just his first 14 games.
Baseball fans witnessed his ceiling as a big league slugger and his floor as a subpar replacement, displayed by his terrible batting line of .161/.211/.276 with 39 Ks in nearly 100 PAs following the All-Star break. The Braves might not pencil Riley in at 3B on Opening Day due to Johan Camargo’s presence, but after letting premiere power-hitter Josh Donaldson walk in FA, its certain that both the front office and fans recognize his potential as the future of Atlanta’s hot corner.
FULL ARTICLE: Film Study: How OKC’s Three-Guard Lineup Dominates in the Clutch by John Schuhmann, NBA.com
MOST VALUABLE INTEL: OKC’s three-guard lineup gets it done when it matters
One overwhelming reason for the Thunder’s success this season (40-24) is there effectiveness in the final minutes of games. 73 percent of OKC’s victories this year are games that were within five points in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter (second-highest behind the Hornets). Recently copied by the Rockets was the execution of the “small-ball” lineup, which the Thunder perfected by using their three best playmaking guards on the floor at the same time.
When Chris Paul, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Dennis Schroder are simultaneously on the court, they outplay their opponents by a league-leading 28.6 points per 100 possessions in 400 total minutes. Of the three ball-handlers, Schroder could be singled out as the least dominant of the bunch. However, that’s a great problem for the Thunder to have. Using his quickness to take advantage of rotating defenses and his newly improved three-point shot (41.5% 3PM – career high), Schroder is the ideal secondary floor-facilitator for a lineup that emphasizes ball-movement.
FULL ARTICLE: Predicting Every MLB Team’s Breakout Player for 60-Game 2020 Season by Jacob Shafer, Bleacher Report
MOST VALUABLE INTEL: OF Dylan Carlson is set to make his MLB debut in St. Louis as an elite contact-hitter
One enticing reason for baseball fans to be hyped about the shortened 2020 season is the increase in number of players with the potential to have breakout campaigns. Seasoned vets who have years of productive seasons under the belts will have the ability to take it to the next level, while rookies with little or no experience can significantly surpass expectations in the 60-game season.
During 2020 spring training with the St. Louis Cardinals, OF Dylan Carlson exploded out of the gate by going 10-32 with three doubles, a triple, and six walks. In his one season in AAA, the switch-hitter batted .361/.418/.681 in 72 ABs. Now as a 21-year-old who’s ready to take on big league pitching, the 2016 first-round pick could be seeing every-day reps with the installment of the universal DH and the fading of journeyman OF Dexter Fowler.
FULL ARTICLE: 10 NL Players Who Look Better in a DH World by Anthony Castrovince, MLB.com
HOT: NL Players Who Benefit the Most with New DH Rule by @castrovince
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MOST VALUABLE INTEL: PHI Alec Bohm is the young slugger needed to supplement Harper, Hoskins, and Realmuto
Over the last couple of weeks, a few teams have been identified as benefitting the most from the addition of the universal DH. Today, the same fans will acknowledge 10 players that will outperform their expectations as their franchise’s newest DH. Phillies 3B/1B prospect Alec Bohm has yet to make his MLB debut, but has the big league pop and potential to be one of the best sluggers on the roster.
Last year, Bohm torched pitchers across three levels of MiLB. He generated a remarkable, yet replicable triple-slash line of .305/.378/.518 with 21 HRs and 30 doubles over 540 PAs. As Jay Bruce continues to decline as a 33-year-old, Bohm is ready to step in as the DH and next franchise cornerstone alongside Harper, Hoskins, and Nola.
FULL ARTICLE: Better, Worse or the Same: Stacking Up NFL Teams’ Progress in 2020 by NFL Nation, ESPN
HOT: How Every NFL Team Has Changed in 2020 by @ESPN
— Hottest Sports Content (@Sports_Hottest) June 29, 2020
MOST VALUABLE INTEL: The Colts addressed major weaknesses in their WR core and RB committee
With each NFL franchise’s newest set of rookies, free agents, and personnel changes, football fans are pondering the future of their respective teams. ESPN’s NFL writers provided an evaluation for select franchises that have improved, gotten worse, or stayed the same following the 2020 offseason. The Indianapolis Colts are one team that expects to be drastically better both offensively and defensively in the upcoming season.
In addition to bringing in veteran QB Philip Rivers, the Colts replaced TE Eric Ebron with TE Trey Burton, then drafted WR Michael Pittman Jr. (34th overall) and RB Jonathon Taylor (41st overall). The receiving corps and backfield, which already featured WR T.Y. Hilton and RB Marlon Mack respectively, are extremely underrated heading into 2020 as they will be complemented by one of the league’s most stout O-Lines. ESPN further breaks down how certain teams will perform this winter by considering their 2019 regular-season and 2020 offseason success.
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