Month: August 2026

Yankee Stadium (New York) – In the build-up to Sunday’s first pitch, Aaron Boone didn’t know how the Yankees would get through the game. It was an exhausting and pressure-packed weekend in the Bronx, featuring a four-game series between the Red Sox and Yankees with everything on the line. It culminated with the division rivals playing three games in two days following Saturday’s doubleheader and Sunday afternoon’s matinée. There are quick turnarounds, and then there’s playing 36 innings of baseball in 45 hours. As if the schedule wasn’t intense enough, the Yankees and Red Sox entered the rivalry series just two games apart in the AL East. New York owned the edge, with Boston breathing down its neck. The rivals entered Sunday’s finale with the season series tied 6-6. The winner of Sunday’s game earned home-field advantage in a potential wild-card series between the Yankees and Red Sox. The stakes had never been higher. For both squads dreaming about October, Sunday’s finale was the biggest game of the season thus far. Here are four takeaways from a dramatic weekend at Yankee Stadium: The Yankees didn’t mess around on Sunday. They embarrassed the Red Sox in a 16-1 blowout win that solidified their position with home-field advantage should they meet again in a wild-card series to kick off the playoffs in October. The Yankees created real distance in the standings, increasing their lead to four games over the Red Sox – which is really five games, given the tiebreaker implications. Boone credited his players for coming into the finale with “a pep in our step,” especially after Saturday’s day/night doubleheader. New York’s skipper was also working with a taxed bullpen, so he needed his starting pitcher to dig deep on Sunday. Right-hander Will Warren answered the call. The 27-year-old stepped up and pitched a shutout into the eighth inning. After the Yankees lineup broke out for an offensive performance that more closely resembled an NFL score, the club only needed one other pitcher, left-hander Tim Hill, to finish the game. “I think I was fearless in the zone,” said Warren, who struck out seven Red Sox hitters. Boone termed Sunday afternoon the best performance of Warren’s career, and the righty agreed. Before the series finale, Boone and Red Sox manager Chad Tracy both tried to downplay the importance of winning the home-field edge. Boone said that, of course, he’d prefer to have it, but he also believes that oftentimes the industry tends to “overstate the venue.” The Yankees skipper reiterated that his club plays fantastic on the road, and he’s right. The Bombers actually have a better record on the road (41-28, .594) than they do at home (37-31, .544) this year. The same should be said about the Red Sox, who are much better on the road (40-30, .571) than they are at home (34-32, .515). Tracy said he didn’t want his players stepping on the field Sunday being inundated with the pressure to win for the tiebreaker advantage. He told his clubhouse to treat the finale like any other game and essentially forget about the stakes at hand. Of course, telling them that is one thing. Players actually believing it and moving on from those thoughts, though, is another. This was a weekend to forget for the Red Sox, but they’re refusing to let go. Center fielder Cedanne Rafaela’s non-catch in the fifth inning Sunday rattled Boston to the point where the team let it become the reason for its demise. In a tight, scoreless game, Rafaela attempted a sliding catch on a line drive off the bat of Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm, but umpires on the field ruled that he didn’t actually catch the ball; he trapped it. The Red Sox challenged the call, and after an official replay review, the call stood. Chisholm was awarded a single, and the Yankees had runners on first and second with nobody out. Red Sox southpaw Ranger Suarez, who had started to settle in by the fourth inning, was thrown off by the call. He promptly allowed three of his next four batters to reach base, including a massive three-run home run to outfielder Heliot Ramos that capped a five-run rally for the Yankees. Rafaela, meanwhile, was still stewing over the non-catch in center field. He paced back and forth, agitated, and when he made a fair catch on a routine fly ball later in the same inning, he made a show of dropping it into his glove to emphasize that he caught it. “I didn’t even have to watch it,” Rafaela said postgame. “I know I made the catch. I know when a ball drops and a ball don’t drop. And I know I made the catch.” Added Suarez: “Everybody was surprised by that call. That was a game-changing play.” Boston’s body language and energy changed completely after that play. A five-run deficit was not insurmountable with four innings still left to play — especially given the troubling state of affairs in the Yankees bullpen. But the Red Sox gave up. Later in the game, they even allowed Chisholm to steal second and third without a throw and no one covered the base each time. The team’s deflated attitude was compounded by its several sloppy plays on defense throughout the series in the Bronx, including three defensive errors in Saturday’s doubleheader. Rafaela’s non-catch was a controversial call, no doubt. That it wasn’t overturned was frustrating, of course. But the Red Sox have to be able to shake it off, move on, and realize there’s still a game to play with everything on the line. Instead, later in Sunday’s series finale, Rafaela didn’t even bother to run to first on a ground ball he hit to second. It took nearly four weeks and a left-handed starter on the mound, but it finally happened. On Sunday, Ramos slugged his first home run since being traded from the San Francisco Giants to the Yankees, and it was no cheapie either. Ramos took Suarez deep for a three-run home run in the fifth inning of the series finale and broke the game open for New York. “I was super emotional. I’m an emotional guy,” Ramos said. “I needed this. I’ve been working hard in the cages trying to figure it out, trying to get my groove back. … Just knowing that I belong here. I know I can do it on the big stage. I can help this team. That’s all I want to show.” Ramos, who grew up idolizing former Yankees legends Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Bernie Williams, was incredibly fired up to get the monkey off his back after 20 unbearable games without a home run in his new pinstripes. Ramos connected on a 75 mph curveball from Suarez, and it left his bat at 107 mph before landing 416 feet away in left field. He all but flew around the bases in what must have been the fastest home-run trot of his career. “Heliot’s home run was massive,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “I thought he was going to do a cartwheel around third.” Given the stakes of Sunday’s finale, and the pressure to deliver but continuing to struggle since being traded, the unbridled joy that carried Ramos into the Yankees dugout was completely justified. Moments like that are why Yankees general manager Brian Cashman acquired him from the Giants. It was just bad timing as New York faced a steady stream of right-handers for three weeks, until the Red Sox came to town this weekend and put three left-handed starters on the mound. Ramos reached base seven times, including four on Sunday, against Boston. The Yankees offense is much more dominant with a slugging Ramos who’s recaptured his rhythm at the plate. While both division rivals were publicly understating the importance of their clash in the Bronx, their transactions and urgency in bringing back key players gave away their true feelings. The Red Sox activated outfielder Roman Anthony and shortstop Trevor Story from the injured list on Sunday, and both players instantly got back in the swing of things, which will be crucial to Boston’s stretch run. Anthony ripped a leadoff double to right field in his first at-bat since May 4. He went 2-for-4 on the day. Story, too, went 2-for-3 with a run scored after missing 93 games with sports hernia surgery. Red Sox fans were upset that designated hitter Mickey Gasper was sent down to Triple-A to make room on the roster for Roman and Story. That’s an understandable reaction, since Gasper was batting .423 with a 1.115 OPS and five home runs, 12 RBI and nine walks in 11 games since getting called up on Aug. 17. Gasper helped the Red Sox keep their momentum going to continue their incredible turnaround since sweeping the Yankees at home on June 25. “It’s not like heroes are coming back,” Story said before their 16-1 loss on Sunday. “We’re not looking at it that way. These guys have put in the work and done the things and performed on the field to get us to where we’re at, and we’re just coming in to help that.” The Yankees activated left-hander Max Fried from the injured list for Game 2 of Saturday’s doubleheader. He spent the minimum 15 days on the IL with recurring elbow inflammation, and he picked up where he left off. Fried allowed one earned run on three hits against Boston and struck out four in an abbreviated outing of 3 ⅔ innings pitched while he ramps back up from the two-week layoff. Fried has a 2.80 ERA in 90 innings and 16 starts this season. Speaking of Yankees reinforcements, outfielder Aaron Judge is inching closer to his much-anticipated return from a fractured rib. The slugger has been on the IL since the end of May, and he’s joining the Yankees on their road trip against the Angels and Padres this week to ramp up his rehab under the medical staff’s supervision. Judge is expected to see velocity sometime soon, and Boone said he’s getting more “entrenched” in his ramp-up. Judge and club officials have been pleased with his progress so far, which has included running and hitting off a tee, though a return date has not yet been announced by the Yankees.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Vince Young anointed the Philadelphia Eagles the NFL’s “Dream Team” during training camp before the start of the 2011 season. Young — then serving as a backup quarterback — put a hex on head coach Andy Reid and his team’s Super Bowl aspirations, as the stacked Philadelphia squad that included Pro Bowlers in quarterback Michael Vick, running back LeSean McCoy, wide receiver DeSean Jackson, defensive end Jason Babin and cornerbacks Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie fell woefully short of meeting the hype, starting the year 4-8 and finishing out of the playoffs at 8-8. Well, the Los Angeles Rams are this year’s version of that group. The Rams became the heavy favorites to win the Super Bowl after making a trade for Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett in June. And they got even more loaded on Sunday, with future Hall of Famer and three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald coming out of retirement to join Garrett on L.A.’s loaded defense. With those high expectations in mind, we take a closer look at the 10 most loaded rosters since 2000. In our evaluation, winning matters here, but also the talent level of some of the more prominent players on each roster. In a game they were considered slight underdogs, the Eagles made quick work of Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs to earn head coach Nick Sirianni’s first Super Bowl win. Jalen Hurts outplayed Mahomes, taking home Super Bowl MVP honors. Saquon Barkley had one of the best years by a runner in league history, topping the 2,000-yard mark during the regular season. The Eagles fielded one of the best offensive lines in the league, led by offensive tackle Lane Johnson. Philadelphia finished with six players reaching the Pro Bowl and a 14-3 record, tied for the most wins in franchise history during the regular season. Philadelphia defeated teams by an average of 14 points a game, including clocking the Chiefs by 18 in a Super Bowl that wasn’t as close as the final score indicated. Tom Brady moved on from New England to join innovative offensive head coach Bruce Arians in Tampa Bay in free agency, and the change to a warmer climate paid off for the GOAT. Rob Gronkowski came out of retirement and joined his close friend in Brady with the Bucs. Tampa Bay also added running back Leonard Fournette and receiver Antonio Brown in free agency. That group joined an already talented Tampa Bay roster that included Mike Evans, Tristan Wirfs, Chris Godwin, Antoine Winfield Jr., Devin White, Lavonte David, Shaquill Barrett, Ndamukong Suh, Jason Pierre-Paul and Ronald Jones II. At 11-5, the Bucs earned an NFC wild-card berth, winning two out of three games on the road and ultimately becoming the first team to win the Lombardi Trophy in their home stadium. Tampa Bay kept the Kansas City Chiefs from repeating as Super Bowl champs with a lopsided, 31-9 victory. Speaking of Kansas City, Mahomes and the Chiefs broke through and won the first Super Bowl for Reid, slotting in here at No. 8. I chose this group because it includes Mahomes, Travis Kelce, four-time first-team All-Pro Tyreek Hill and Chris Jones all playing at an elite level in the prime of their careers. All four players made the Pro Bowl this season and remain on Hall of Fame trajectories late in their careers. I also liked the balance of this group, which ranked in the top 10 in total offense and total defense. Mahomes showed his clutch gene in the playoffs. Mahomes’ clutch performances included comeback wins in all three postseason contests, which included overcoming a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl. The Colts rode one of the most prolific offenses in league history to the team’s lone Super Bowl victory with head coach Tony Dungy. Led by Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, the Colts finished second in the league in points scored, second in total passing yards and third in total yards. To go along with that potent offense, Indianapolis was buoyed by a hammer of a hitter at safety in Bob Sanders and perhaps the best edge rusher duo in the NFL with Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney, giving the Colts a pair of the best closers in the league for a team that usually led in most of their games. Kicker Adam Vinatieri, Manning, Harrison and Freeney are in the Hall of Fame, while Wayne and Mathis have been finalists. It’s hard to pick just one roster for New England because the Patriots had so many dominant teams under head coach Bill Belichick, but this group stands out because they finished one game away from perfection. They would’ve been the first team since the 1972 Miami Dolphins to finish the regular season and playoffs with an undefeated record. But, of course, Eli Manning earned his first one of two Super Bowl victories and Super Bowl MVP honors over Tom Brady that year. Still, with Brady, Hall of Famer Randy Moss and Wes Welker, the Patriots were a juggernaut on offense, averaging a league-leading 37 points per game and scoring on 53% of their drives. And the defense also held its own, led by linebacker Teddy Bruschi, nose tackle Vince Wilfork, Mike Vrabel, Asante Samuel and Hall of Famer Richard Seymour. The Giants squeaked into the postseason at 10-6, but made a magical playoff run led by their defense to win the Super Bowl. But the talent was always on the roster, as New York started the following season as the defending Super Bowl champs with a 10-1 record. Hall of Famer Michael Strahan, linebacker Antonio Pierce, Osi Umenyiora and cornerback Sam Madison served as the catalysts on defense. Offensively, Manning engineered an offense that included Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer, Jeremy Shockey, Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw. The Rams have four potential Hall of Famers in Myles Garrett, Matthew Stafford, Davante Adams and Donald. Led by one of the best offensive minds in the game in head coach Sean McVay, the Rams have put together one of the most balanced offenses in the league, with Puka Nacua and Adams outside, and the one-two punch of Kyren Williams and Blake Corum in the backfield. The 38-year-old Stafford is protected by two top-notch guards in Steven Avilla and Kevin Dotson. But with the addition of Myles Garrett, along with cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson this offseason, Los Angeles now has a defense that, in terms of talent, matches the offense. And expect general manager Les Snead, the author of “F’ Those Picks,’ to make a move at the trade deadline to improve this roster even more, trading premium picks for premium players if there’s a void on this already loaded roster. Created by defensive-minded head coach Pete Carroll, Seattle’s Legion of Boom defense led the Seahawks to the franchise’s first Super Bowl victory. Middle linebacker Bobby Wagner, trash-talking cornerback Richard Sherman, defensive linemen Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril and Brandon Mebane, and safeties Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor anchored the defense. Marshawn Lynch served as the engine on offense, while quarterback Russell Wilson proved clutch at the end of games, with Carroll creating a positive mindset for this group to flourish. Wagner and Sherman are a good bet to make the Hall of Fame, while Wilson will be in the conversation. The Ravens had one of the best defenses in league history, led by charismatic linebacker Ray Lewis. During their run to the Super Bowl, the Ravens held opponents to a league-low 10.3 points per game. Rod Woodson, Shannon Sharpe, Jonathan Ogden and Lewis all reached the Hall of Fame. Chris McCallister, Rob Burnett and Sam Adams were other key contributors to an all-time defense. Offensively, Trent Dilfer took over for an ineffective Tony Banks midseason to efficiently guide the offense, and head coach Brian Billick leaned on young bruising running back Jamal Lewis to carry that group, controlling the clock and limiting turnovers. The Ravens were dominant, beating every team in the postseason by double digits, including a 34-7 victory over the Giants in the Super Bowl. The Bucs had, in my opinion, the most dominant defense of the decade, with four Hall of Famers on that side of the ball in Warren Sapp, Ronde Barber, Derrick Brooks and John Lynch. A fifth, pass rusher Simeon Rice, has also been a semifinalist for the Hall of Fame. Tampa Bay’s defense was coached by legendary defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, whose coaching tree includes Pete Carroll, Mike Tomlin, Gus Bradley and Raheem Morris. Head coach Jon Gruden handled the offense, with game manager Brad Johnson, running back Michael Pittman and receiver Keyshawn Johnson scoring enough points for this defensive-led team to win it all for the franchise’s first Super Bowl victory. Gruden’s brother Jay Gruden, Rich Bisaccia, Rod Marinelli, Tomlin and Morris all went on to be head coaches in the NFL. Jeremy Bates served as an offensive coordinator at different stops in the league and Joe Barry served as a defensive coordinator at several NFL stops. Honorable mentions: 2016 New England Patriots, 2009 New Orleans Saints, 2012 San Francisco 49ers, 2004 New England Patriots, 2015 Denver Broncos.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Perhaps Aaron Donald spent some of his retirement downtime binge-watching the documentary “The Last Dance.” The critically acclaimed series chronicled the inimitable career of Michael Jordan, of course, and concluded with an aging MJ resolutely leading the Chicago Bulls to a sixth championship at 35 years old. That final achievement, which capped off a second three-peat following a 17-month retirement, has preserved Jordan’s legacy as the predominant choice for the greatest basketball player of all time. Donald, as a Super Bowl champion, three-time Defensive Player of the Year winner, eight-time All-Pro and 10-time Pro Bowler in his 10 NFL seasons, already has a strong case for being the greatest defensive player in football history. While some might argue for Lawrence Taylor or Reggie White as the defensive G.O.A.T., No. 99’s return to a squad loaded with stars will give him a chance to add to his legacy with even more individual and team hardware. After sitting out the past two seasons, the 35-year-old Donald signed with the Rams on Sunday and joins a frontline featuring not only the best defensive player of today in Myles Garrett, but also a pair of young, athletic pass-rushers in Kobie Turner and Byron Young. The quartet should challenge the “Fearsome Foursome” as the best defensive line in franchise history, while also perhaps making a case as one of the most disruptive units of all time. While Deacon Jones, Merlin Olsen, Rosey Grier and Lamar Lundy are certified legends based on their dominance in the 1960s, the Rams’ new-look frontline could prove just as formidable with four pass-rushing phenoms in the starting lineup. Garrett will dominate the headlines after arriving in a blockbuster offseason trade and recording an NFL-record 23 sacks last year to win his second defensive Player of the Year award. But those developments surely overshadow his effectiveness against the run and tenacity off the edge and how amazingly consistent he’s been. The five-time All-Pro has eight straight seasons with at least 10 sacks, including 14 or more in each of the past five seasons, and is averaging 16.5 tackles for loss per season. Measuring 6-foot-4, 277 pounds with freakish athleticism and a dazzling array of moves that would make him a tough guard as an NBA small forward, the 30-year-old Garrett commands double-teams on nearly every snap, leading to more one-on-one opportunities for his talented teammates. While the pairing of Garrett and Donald will undoubtedly create problems for opposing offenses, the Rams’ defensive supporting cast is just as capable of wreaking havoc at the point of attack. Turner has tallied 24 sacks and 27.0 tackles for loss over his three seasons, exhibiting a businesslike game built on effort, energy and heavy hands. He outworks and outlasts blockers at the line, leading to a handful of sacks on hustle plays. Not to be outdone, Young has totaled 27 sacks, 32 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and 61 quarterback hits over three seasons. As a high-motor defender with outstanding first-step quickness and violent hands, the fourth-year pro can win with finesse or force off the edge. Young plays at a breakneck pace and wears down opponents with his “junkyard dog” mentality. With Turner and Young perfectly suited for their new roles beside Garrett, Donald can step in as a designated playmaker on the inside. Despite his advanced age and rustiness following a two-year hiatus, the future Hall of Famer can make his impact operating on a low pitch count that preserves him for the stretch run and postseason where his closing skills are needed. Just as he finished off Super Bowl LVI against the Bengals with fourth-down pressure, Donald will have plenty of chances to register a save out of the bullpen as Garrett’s sidekick on the inside. The duo’s wide array of skills will test the creativity of offensive coordinators tasked with formulating an effective pass protection plan against the Rams’ upgraded frontline. Given the tighter coverage that will also manifest in the secondary with Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watkins now manning the outside cornerback spots, L.A.’s defensive line should have more time to harass those quarterbacks who are forced to chase points after watching a scoreboard explosion from Matthew Stafford and Co. For a team operating under a “Super Bowl or bust” mentality, the addition of the reigning Defensive Player of the Year had already made the Rams the prohibitive favorite to hoist the trophy in their home stadium — again. With Donald now coming back to spearhead the charge, the eventual gold jacket recipient might add more accolades to his exceptional résumé and perhaps cement his legacy as the G.O.A.T. Just like Mike.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports