https://www.sports-central.org/ en-us Copyright 2026 Wed, 03 Jun 2026 12:48:27 -0500 Thu, 04 Jun 2026 15:26:17 -0500 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=6.8.8 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss With the MLB owners and the union trading proposals on how to evade what would be a devastating lockout, people are starting to wonder what a 32-team MLB would look like. And while SC's Anthony Brancato would prefer to hold off on the speculation, 32 does sound like a good number, as both the NFL and NHL already have that number.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/06/03/expansion_realignment_in_baseball.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/06/03/expansion_realignment_in_baseball.php MLB Wed, 03 Jun 2026 12:48:27 -0500 SC's Jeff Kallman examines the first proposals; or, salvos, if you prefer.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/06/01/mlbs_coming_cba_the_battle_begins_sort_of.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/06/01/mlbs_coming_cba_the_battle_begins_sort_of.php MLB Mon, 01 Jun 2026 11:47:53 -0500 Three games won by walk-off home runs this weekend. SC's Jeff Kallman couldn't resist noticing a unique group of explosives turned up missing — by one.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/05/25/walk-off_sunday_almost_louder_than_bombs.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/05/25/walk-off_sunday_almost_louder_than_bombs.php MLB Mon, 25 May 2026 12:14:48 -0500 In this edition of the Slant Pattern, SC's Kevin Beane tells you how to stop worrying and love the expanded playoffs in college basketball and football. It's coming eventually whether you like it or not, so you might as well get used to the idea.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/05/21/how_to_stop_worrying_and_love_the_expanded_playoffs.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/05/21/how_to_stop_worrying_and_love_the_expanded_playoffs.php Slant Pattern Thu, 21 May 2026 11:12:41 -0500 The returns from last week's release of the 2026 NFL schedule would appear to be awesome for the Cowboys, Packers, and Cardinals, but not so awesome for the Texans, Eagles, and Lions. But will these teams take advantage of the breaks they have gotten, or overcome the obstacles that have been imposed upon them?]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/05/19/thoughts_on_release_of_2026_nfl_schedule.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/05/19/thoughts_on_release_of_2026_nfl_schedule.php NFL Tue, 19 May 2026 13:05:18 -0500 MLB hyped it as Rivalry Weekend. SC's Jeff Kallman couldn't resist watching and, in a few instances, marveling at what he saw.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/05/18/some_rivalry_weekend_ups_and_downs.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/05/18/some_rivalry_weekend_ups_and_downs.php MLB Mon, 18 May 2026 11:02:23 -0500 While SC's Ross Lancaster won't be rooting for the Thunder in the West Finals. He's come to the conclusion that they're the type of heel the NBA needs. He also discusses how the Thunder might line up alongside the most despised teams in NBA history.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/05/13/embrace_it_thunder_are_nbas_new_supervillain_.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/05/13/embrace_it_thunder_are_nbas_new_supervillain_.php NBA Wed, 13 May 2026 11:49:08 -0500 Every time a game turns into a 5-2 slog with 12 strikeouts and three meaningful plays, the same reflex kicks in — blame the bullpen, blame the starters, blame the pitching. It's an easy narrative. Pitchers look dominant, so they must be the problem.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/05/12/stop_blaming_pitching_mlb_offenses_are_real_problem.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/05/12/stop_blaming_pitching_mlb_offenses_are_real_problem.php MLB Tue, 12 May 2026 09:14:06 -0500 SC's Jeff Kallman says au revoir to the winningest manager in Braves history.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/05/11/bobby_cox_rip_come_on_kid_you_got_this.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/05/11/bobby_cox_rip_come_on_kid_you_got_this.php MLB Mon, 11 May 2026 11:13:11 -0500 In this week's edition of the Slant Pattern, SC's Kevin Beane gently contemplates a mid-spring Thursday night baseball doubleheader on ESPN.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/05/08/musings_on_espns_mlb_coverage.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/05/08/musings_on_espns_mlb_coverage.php Slant Pattern Fri, 08 May 2026 11:46:31 -0500 The NFL has "re-seeded" its playoffs since at least 1990, including the 1982 season that was defaced by a strike. And did they have to endure any kvetching because of it? SC's Anthony Brancato confidently assures that neither will the NBA or the NHL.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/05/07/nba_playoffs_proving_to_be_doubly_unfair.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/05/07/nba_playoffs_proving_to_be_doubly_unfair.php NBA Thu, 07 May 2026 13:38:26 -0500 Well, April didn't bring a lot of showers. May hasn't been yielding too many flowers, yet. But take what we can get over weekend one. Even if a few thorns showed up among them. SC's Jeff Kallman observes MLB's April closing/May opening weekend.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/05/04/april_into_may_a_few_thorns_in_the_flowers.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/05/04/april_into_may_a_few_thorns_in_the_flowers.php MLB Mon, 04 May 2026 11:45:35 -0500 It's time for 20 horses to do something that they have never done before, and at a distance over which the vast majority of them will never run again. Only one horse will emerge victorious. SC's Anthony Brancato tries to shed some light as to who that horse might be, or won't be.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/04/28/which_horses_can_handle_derby_distance.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/04/28/which_horses_can_handle_derby_distance.php Other Tue, 28 Apr 2026 13:37:49 -0500 Manager Alex Cora, five coaches. Beheaded. And this hot Red Sox mess wasn't their making, says SC's Jeff Kallman.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/04/27/as_the_red_sox_turn_the_saturday_massacre.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/04/27/as_the_red_sox_turn_the_saturday_massacre.php MLB Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:07:07 -0500 SC's Kevin Beane tells you what's going on in the world of men's heavyweight boxing, particularly at the top, in the U.S. (stock down), the UK (stock sadly up), and this weekend in this edition of the Slant Pattern.]]> https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/04/23/heavyweight_boxing_pulse_check.php https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2026/04/23/heavyweight_boxing_pulse_check.php Slant Pattern Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:26:41 -0500