Sportsman of the Week Ending 8/27/2023

This Blog is a big, if not HUGE fan of track and field and this week provided the most fireworks outside of the Olympics I can remember in a long time.  And it's all about American sprint domination (not to take away from other big golds but let's focus).  American Noah Lyles set the sprint world on fire with not just winning times, but World Class record times at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.  Known to have the 200m locked down, he increased his burst speed (against all odds) to burn the 100m in under 10s.  Well under 10s.  Before winning his third straight 200m World title (ho hum, foregone conclusion) he shocked the 100m field with a 9.83s.  His 200m time was 19.52s.  This made him the first man to sweep the 100m/200m since probably the best overall sprinter in history, former Sportsman of the Week Usain Bolt, in 2016.  Then when he was the anchor on the 4x100m race (for me, one of the most exciting events in all of sports), he became the first since Bolt since 2015.  He's elite and showing it and will likely set the Olympic world on fire next week in Paris.  For now, he is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 8/20/2023

Late summer sports continue to be fun in the sports landscape but again it's baseball that had the story.  Seattle Mariners phenom Julio Rodriguez reset the record books for success at the plate.  Rodriguez absolutely mashed pitching with four consecutive four hit (or more) games.  Four game stretch, 17 hits.  including 2 doubles, 2 home runs, five runs, and 8 RBI.  In the "other" three games that week he was 4-15 (not too shabby) with 3 more doubles.  Oh, and he stole 6 bases.  Probably most important his team went 6-1, taking three huge games from their rival (and defending Champion) Houston Astros in a sweep.  They're going to rattle the postseason and the leader is their superstar, Julio Rodriguez is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!  

Sportsman of the Week Ending 8/13/2023

Another week, another single pitcher no hitter.  I promise you this doesn't happen as often as this normally.  Trade deadline acquisition for the Philadelphia Phillies, Michael Lorenzen notched the third (non-combined) no hitter and the second in eight days as he flummoxed the Washington Nationals over 9 innings for no hits to go along with 4 walks.  He finished with 124 pitches but had a comfortable 7-0 cushion so didn't need to worry about needing bullpen help as long as he kept the Nationals off the board.  The 31-year-old starter has moved across teams the last few seasons but defending National League Champion Phillies welcome him with open arms.  He's 2-0 with 17 IP, 6 H, 2 ER as he may find himself in the playoffs as a key piece of a rotation that took the team within 2 wins of a World Series championship last year.  Lorenzen etches his place in history and is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week! 

Sportsman of the Week Ending 8/6/2023

In a League in which complete games are going the way of the dodo, our Sportsman of the Week navigated a playoff contending lineup while keeping the pitch count in check and left with not only a win, not only a complete game, but a no-hitter.  The second by an individual in 2023.  Framber Valdez of the Houston Astros cut through the Cleveland Guardians lineup like a knife through butter surrendering just one walk which was erased on a double play and faced the minimum.  Part of the endeavor was limiting pitches, so he only struck out 7.  The game was just 2-0 so despite no apparent weakness, a hit or a couple of walks would have submarined the whole outing if not game.  But instead, Framber ensured little drama as nothing was much of a threat besides one ground ball tipping off the pitcher's glove to the shortstop.  No hitters are in the Houston Astros blood, and now it is in Framber Valdez history, the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 7/30/2023

The legend of Shohei continues but it's the first time he's recognized for this honor in this Blog.  The do everything baseball player (literally everything) put on a display this week both on the mound and at the plate.  On the mound Ohtani threw a (2023 rare) complete game 1-hitter to get up to 9 wins and ..  At the plate Los Angeles Angels OF/P Shohei Ohtani continued his torrid pace since the start of June (but was only mildly fiery before that).  He was 6 of 20 (6 of 12 after the first two games) with 3 HR, 4 RBI, and 6 runs scored.  Overall, batting .307 with 39 HR (top 3 in AL for all Triple Crown categories) and it's just the beginning of August.  On the mound, Top 20 AL Wins and ERA and Tied for fourth in strikeouts.  What else to say.  Just waiting for success in the MLB postseason to match his World Baseball Classic success with Japan.  Shohei Ohtani is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!