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In the past, the New York Mets have been open about their willingness to listen to offers for Noah Syndergaard, as with other players. But some rival evaluators believe the Mets will trade the right-hander before the July 31 deadline.
"It's beyond listening," said one. "They want to move him."
Rival evaluators also believe that the Mets are serious in their willingness to swap closer Edwin Diaz, who was the centerpiece of the team's pricey deal with Seattle.
Syndergaard, 26, won't be eligible for free agency until after the 2021 season, and some teams have interest in him partly because of that two-plus years of control -- but largely it's because of his talent.
The San Diego Padres have talked to the Mets in the past about Syndergaard and envision the right-hander as the ace of a developing rotation. The Padres' farm system is loaded, creating lots of middle ground for San Diego to structure a deal.
The Astros are in the market for a starting pitcher to augment their 2019 team, and with Gerrit Cole headed to free agency in the fall, Syndergaard could be a fit for Houston.
Syndergaard has been erratic this season -- with a 7-5 record and 4.33 ERA -- but it seems unlikely that would deter possible suitors. Clubs like the Astros usually acquire players having created a plan to augment their performance. This is what Houston did with Charlie Morton when the team signed him to a two-year deal, and what it did with Justin Verlander after landing him in a trade at the end of August 2017.
The Braves, Yankees and Phillies are among the other clubs in search of starting pitching right now, but it seems highly unlikely the Mets would complete a deal with any of those division and market rivals.
The Dodgers are among the teams looking for elite relief help -- and Diaz certainly fits that description -- to help address the team's only real problem area.
Become the ITTF’s official merchandising partner!
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) is soliciting bids to become its first ever merchandising partner. The project involves the design and development of a comprehensive worldwide merchandise solution for the ITTF, including the development of a procurement, inventory and distribution strategy, the operation of an e-commerce/ online store and event merchandise platform.
The e-commerce platform will be the premier global source for “all things table tennis” and will allow table tennis brands to incorporate their products and services into the ITTF merchandise store.
At the same time, a coordinated event merchandise program will be developed to allow the ITTF to maximise event-related merchandise opportunities through e-commerce and on-site sales.
In order to provide a unique user experience, the ITTF merchandise program will be integrated into the wider ITTF data strategy across multiple platforms, allowing for targeted content to drive sales and engagement. Among the platforms mentioned are the ITTF’s official website (ITTF.com), livestreaming (itTV) and ticketing sites, as well as the ITTF’s multiple social media channels.
About the ITTF
The ITTF currently holds over 80 international table tennis events per year, seen live on TV in over 110 countries and currently has over 3 million social media followers.
Over the past decade, the ITTF has overseen the sport’s significant growth in terms of commercial value, global participation, world-class events and followership.
Naturally, fans play a fundamental role in the growth of the sport and their ever-increasing social presence shows great promise for table tennis in the e-commerce space.
Next steps
Proposals should be submitted before 15 August 2019 and include all required information as follows:
- Company Background
- Key Clients
- Strategic Vision
- Financial Proposal
- Implementation
- Implementation Timeline (which would see the launch of the ITTF’s e-commerce platform by no later than 15 October 2019).
Please click here for further information before sending your proposal via email to ITTF Marketing Manager, Mr. Seet Cheng Howe.
2019 ITTF World Hopes Week & Challenge kicks off in Oman!
Under the watchful eye of ITTF High Performance Manager Massimo Costantini and Head Coaches Jing Junhong (SGP) and Liu Jiayi (ENG), assisted by Mohamad Atoum (JOR) and Adnan Fawkhergi (OMA), 31 players and 23 coaches will convene in Oman for a six-day training camp, followed by the World Hopes Challenge on 31 July. Throughout the week, players will be evaluated by the coaching team on attributes of performance during training and competition.
Based on this, six to eight players per gender will be selected to continue on the expanded Hopes pathway and enter the Hopes Squad, attending certain follow-up activities throughout the next season that will grant the opportunity to qualify to the 2020 ITTF Hopes Team and attend the 2020 ITTF World Cadet Challenge. Selected players must demonstrate qualities of sportsmanship, such as training ethics, respect for other players, coaches and teamwork in order to progress. The winners of the Challenge competition will automatically earn a spot on the Hopes Squad.
Multiple educational sessions in the evenings will complement the practical training element, offering the participating coaches the opportunity to share experiences and learn from best practice examples. Leading on from the online coaching course “Early Talent ID and Hopes Stage Planning 2019”, which was offered on ittfeducation.com prior to the activity and included the opportunity to prepare an assignment, one of the educational sessions is reserved for the coach who prepared the best presentation.
The Hopes Programme is a series of activities at national, regional, continental and world level featuring education, training camps, competition and talent identification. The Hopes Programme is part of a seamless High Performance pathway that offers training and development opportunities for players from U11 to U21 and their coaches.
Click here for a list of qualified players.
Main draw places the reward, Huang Yan-Cheng attracts attention
Hard earned but in both the men’s singles and under 21 men’s singles events, the 16 year old reserved his place in the main draw.
In the men’s singles, facing host nation opponents, he beat Kim Song Il (7-11, 11-6, 13-11, 11-6), before overcoming Kim Hak Yong to reserve first position in the group (11-9, 11-5, 6-11, 9-11, 11-7).
Somewhat differently, in the under 21 men’s singles competition, on the second day of action, he experienced defeat at the hands of DPR Korea’s Ham Yu Song, the top seed (11-9, 11-8, 11-7) but secured second place as a result of the previous day having beaten India’s Mudit Dani (11-5, 11-9, 12-10) and Ryu Kuk Bin (11-5, 11-6, 11-9), like Ham Yu Song from the host nation.
Players finishing in first and second positions in each group in the under 21 men’s singles event advanced to the main draw; in the men’s singles, only first place guaranteed progress.
A place in the main draw of the under 21 men’s singles event for Huang Yan-Cheng, it was the same for colleagues Huang Yu-Jen and Feng Yi-Hsin as it was for Iran’s Amir Hossein Hodaei; all three ended the day in first positions.
Meanwhile, in the women’s singles, the player to stand out from the crowd was China’s Gu Ruochen. After being extended the full distance by DPR Korea’s Kim Mi Ra one day earlier (11-5, 9-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-6), a straight games win in opposition to Chinese Taipei’s Cai Fong-En (11-2, 11-3, 12-10) secured first place.
Disappointment for Chinese Taipei but there was success in the under 21 women’s singles event. Similarly in a competition where finishing in the first two places in the group stage ensured progress, Chen Tung-Chen progressed as did Norway’s Ilka Duval.
Play in the main draw commences on Friday 26th July.
In the men’s singles events, Feng Panfeng beat compatriot, Zhai Xiang, to secure the class 3 title; Cao Ningning accounted for Chinese Taipei’s Cheng Ming-Chih to emerge the class 5 champion.
Similarly, in the women’s singles competitions, Liu Jing claimed the class 1-2 title by repeating the feat of the gold medal contest in Rio de Janeiro; she beat Korea Republic’s Seo Suyeon (9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7), a result that meant the silver medallist of three years ago had to settle for third place a group organised event behind Thailand’s Chilchitraryak Bootwansirina.
Good form from Liu Jing; it was the same in class 5 from Zhang Bian as it was in class 8 from Mao Jingdian. At the final hurdle, each accounted for a colleague; Zhang Bian beat Pan Jiamin (11-5, 5-11, 11-3, 11-3), Mao Jingdian overcame Huang Wenjuan (11-5, 11-6, 11-7).
Success for Rio gold medallists but there was a casualty; in class 9 an all Chinese final witnessed defeat for Liu Meng at the hands of Xiong Guiyan.
Medal winners progress
Passports to Tokyo, it was the same for other Rio medal winners who had progressed to the third day of action. In the men’s singles categories, Korea Republic’s Joo Youngdae beat colleague Kim Hyeonuk (2-11, 11-7, 14-12, 11-13, 11-6) to secure the class 1 title. Likewise, bronze medallists Thailand’s Rungroj Thainiyom and China’s Yan Shuo had cause to celebrate. Rungroj Thainiyom accounted for China’s Huang Jiaxin to emerge the class 6 winner, Yan Shuo overcame Japan’s Katsoyshi Yagi (11-7, 7-11, 11-8, 12-10).
Progress, for the women it was somewhat different. In addition to Seo Suyeon; silver medallist in Rio, Li Qian and Zhang Miao experienced defeats at the final hurdle as did Korea Republic’s Kim Seongok. In class 3, Li Qian was beaten by Korea Republic’s Lee Migyu (7-11, 11-6, 11-7, 7-11, 11-9), the player against whom she has experienced defeat two days earlier in the group stage (11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 14-12); meanwhile, in class 4, Zhang Miao lost to colleague, Zhou Ying (11-9, 11-9, 11-9), Kim Seongok suffered at the hands of China’s Wang Rui (11-6, 11-5, 11-2).
Top seeds in form
Notable performances; there were also notable performances by top seeded players. In the women’s singles events, Korea Republic’s Lee Kunwoo beat Iraq’s Najlam Al-Dayyeni (11-5, 5-11, 11-3, 11-3) to claim class 6 gold; likewise, Hong Kong’s Ng Mui Wui secured the class 11 title at the final hurdle overcoming Japan’s Maki Ito (6-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-7).
Titles for top seeds but in the men’s singles event, at the final hurdle, four leading names who owned that exalted position experienced defeats; in class 8 China’s Zhou Shuai was beaten by colleague Peng Weinan (11-4, 11-7, 11-8), in class 9, Japan’s Koyo Iwabuchi experienced defeat at the hands of China’s Zhao Yi Ching 11-13, 6-11, 11-9, 13-11, 11-7). Similarly in class 10, David Jacobs lost to Indonesian colleague, Komet Akbar (11-4, 13-11, 4-11, 11-9), Korea Republic’s Kim Gitae was beaten by Japan’s Takashi Asonabi (11-9, 8-11, 13-11, 7-11, 11-9).
Unexpected outcomes and there were more; in men’s singles class 2 Park Jincheol emerged the surprise winner overcoming compatriot Kang Changyoung (11-5, 12-10, 11-2) in the final. In the women’s singles events, China’s Zhao Xiaojing, who had started play as the no.2 seed, secured class 10 gold at the final expense of Chinese Taipei’s Tian Zhiau-Wen (6-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8).
Next steps
Tokyo 2020 places secured; the next part of the qualification process in the world ranking list for March 2020 followed by the world qualification tournament and Bipartite invitations.
2019 ITTF Asia Para Championships: Entry List
2019 ITTF Asia Para Championships: Draws and Latest Results
Iain Henderson: Ireland forward appointed new Ulster captain
Iain Henderson has taken over from fellow Ireland forward Rory Best as skipper of Pro14 side Ulster.
The versatile 27-year-old, who is currently in Ireland's World Cup training squad, has represented his home province on 105 occasions.
"I'm incredibly proud and excited to be appointed as club captain," he said.
"I had a good chat with [Ulster coach] Dan McFarland and I think we're closely aligned in terms of how we see Ulster moving forward."
Henderson has won 44 international caps and played in four of Ireland's games during the Six Nations Grand Slam success of 2018, while he also featured in 2014 and 2015 Championship wins.
His excellent form at club and international level was rewarded with a call up to the British & Irish Lions tour of New Zealand in 2017.
"When I've captained Ulster on previous occasions, it's been made a lot easier because of the presence of a number of great leaders around me," added Henderson.
"Our squad has a very low age profile and one of the most exciting things for me is seeing the hunger within the group and the players' desire to improve."
McFarland said Henderson "has demonstrated his ability to command respect through his professionalism and talismanic play".
He added: "Iain has a deep love for his province. He understands exactly what it means to wear the Ulster jersey and this rubs off on those around him."
Dale McIntosh: From security staff to facing All Blacks at the World Cup
It has been quite a World Cup journey for Merthyr coach Dale McIntosh.
Four years ago he filled a 2015 World Cup security role, looking after the Wales, France and Argentina squads at the Vale of Glamorgan resort.
McIntosh will travel to the 2019 edition in Japan as the Namibia defence coach.
McIntosh will link up with Welshman and his former Cardiff Blues boss, Phil Davies, as Namibia face the daunting prospect of trying to stop reigning champions New Zealand and South Africa in their pool.
The 49-year-old admits life has changed following his departure from Blues in June 2015.
"My reaction probably would have been disbelief if you had told me then I would be in this situation now, but I always backed myself as a coach," said McIntosh.
"I had been coaching the Blues and it was tough when I left. I took a bit of a kick in the guts. I learned from that, don't regret my time and came away a better person.
"During the last World Cup I was doing security - I was looking after Wales, France and Argentina down the Vale.
"It was different and I enjoyed it. The Welsh squad were my mates, so I was looking after my friends and that was easy.
"I had spent time in the Welsh camp as an invited guest before so it was no surprise to see they were so well organised.
"It was interesting to learn the different cultures of the teams. I saw things I would have not before and was able to measure sides against each other.
"I took a lot from that experience in relation to where I went as a coach and can take a bit of that into this tournament."
McIntosh says "it is an honour" to be involved in the World Cup in Japan after being granted time away by his club side Merthyr, where he will return after the tournament.
Namibia are not expected to win a game in a pool which features the All Blacks, Springboks, Canada and Italy.
Defence coach is perhaps the hardest role of all, but McIntosh says he is not going there to make up the numbers.
"It was not something I had to think over for a long time," he said.
"It's a great achievement to say to your grandkids you have coached in a World Cup.
"It is an opportunity for myself and Merthyr to have one of their coaches at the World Cup. That is unheard of.
"I realise it is a massive challenge but life is about challenges.
"I back myself as a person and coach. We won't reinvent the wheel but will look at minimal changes and areas we can improve.
"The main thing is to get better but personally I would like to win a game. I know how extreme that statement is in a group that includes New Zealand and South Africa, but that's the type of person I am. I don't go anywhere to be second.
"So I don't want it just to be a nice experience. I don't want to be an outsider from Wales who just went there to jump on the World Cup bandwagon. I want people to say he came in and made a difference."
McIntosh has become an adopted Welshman since arriving from New Zealand in 1989 as a teenager and never returning home.
He achieved cult hero status as a no-nonsense number eight with Pontypridd, acquiring the nickname 'Chief', and won two caps for Wales in 1996 and 1997 after qualifying on residency.
But McIntosh admits coaching against his native New Zealand could top the lot as he recalls the inaugural 1987 tournament which the All Blacks won on home soil.
"I will be very proud," said McIntosh.
"My family didn't know where Namibia is in relation to the world map but they don't really care.
"They definitely know where it is now.
"They will be watching on television and will be proud. The All Blacks is all that I lived for in relation to sport. Every time you are playing the All Blacks, you are playing your World Cup final.
"I have huge memories of the 1987 World Cup when I was about 16.
"My childhood hero was Wayne 'Buck' Shelford and he was a massive contributor to that World Cup win and also to New Zealand and Maori rugby."
McIntosh and Davies will be among a string of Welsh coaches at the World Cup, where they will be joined by Lyn Jones and Shaun Connor (Russia) and Kingsley Jones and Gruff Rees (Canada).
It is quite a contrast to domestic rugby, with no homegrown head coach at any of Wales' four regions.
"The talent is there but regional rugby is a tough business," said McIntosh.
"I don't think there is enough trust and faith in some of the Welsh coaches.
"I don't blame the regions, but there is a tendency to look outside when there are some good coaches here in Wales."
Injured Shields leaves England training camp with foot injury
Wasps back-row forward Brad Shields has left England's World Cup training camp in Italy after injuring ligaments in his foot.
The New Zealand-born player, who won eight caps and featured in England's Six Nations squad, had been tipped to make the final World Cup squad.
Eddie Jones' side are in Treviso for intensive training before a warm-up game game against Wales on 11 August.
Harlequins' Alex Dombrandt will replace Shields in the squad.
The World Cup takes place in Japan from September to November, with Jones set to finalise his World Cup party the day after the game with Wales at Twickenham.
England will also play Wales in Cardiff and Ireland at Twickenham, before their final pre-World Cup game against Italy in Newcastle on 6 September.
RALEIGH, N.C. – Steve Earwood, who in 1992 realized a lifelong dream with his purchase of Rockingham Dragway, was recognized Tuesday on the floor of the North Carolina General Assembly for his contributions to the state, Richmond County and the city of Rockingham.
Senate President Pro-Tem Phil Berger and State Senator Tom McInnis presented Earwood a certificate of acknowledgement expressing appreciation and gratitude for his 27-year stewardship of the track located on U.S. Highway 1 north of Rockingham.
“It was an honor to have Steve Earwood at the North Carolina General Assembly to recognize him for his contributions to drag racing and Richmond County,” Senator McInnis said. “During (his) ownership of the track, hundreds of millions of dollars have been brought to and invested in North Carolina.”
RELATED: Steve Earwood: Running ‘The Rock’
The 2016 recipient of the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame’s Founder’s Award, Earwood also is a member of both the East Coast Drag Racing Hall of Fame and the NHRA Southeast Division Hall of Fame. He is a founding member of the North Carolina Motorsports Association and has served on the Governor’s Motorsports Advisory Council.
After directing NHRA’s national media program for eleven seasons as Media Relations Director, Earwood was Marketing Vice-President at Billy Meyer’s Texas Motorplex outside Dallas and Vice-President and General Manager of Atlanta Dragway before buying Rockingham.
Under his direction, the NHRA Winston Invitational, which was contested at the track from 1992 through 1998, became the most successful All-Star event in drag racing history leading, in 1994, to his acceptance of the NHRA’s Man of the Year Award in the Southeast region.
His tireless effort to keep the track viable in an ever-changing marketplace and to promote Carolina tourism also led to his acceptance, in 2010, of Richmond County’s Citizen of the Year award.
MOORESVILLE, N.C. – DGR-Crosley announced Thursday that dirt modified racer Kyle Strickler will drive the team’s No. 54 Toyota Tundra entry in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Eldora Dirt Derby at Eldora Speedway.
“I’m really excited for the opportunity to work with David [Gilliland] and the guys at DGR-Crosley,” said Strickler. “I feel like things are coming full circle. My first job in NASCAR was working in a fab shop for a team that David was racing for. He won that year in Kentucky, and that win helped propel him into the Cup Series. So, to say it’s cool that I now have a shot at winning for David is an understatement.”
A regular in a dirt late model, Strickler recently ran in Eldora Speedway’s Dirt Late Model Dream where he started on the pole, led for more than 40 laps before earning two top-15 finishes. Strickler is also a two-time World Short Track Champion at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.
Although he races dirt late models full time, Strickler does have one Truck Series start, which occurred last season at Eldora. In his lone Truck Series start, he was involved in an accident that relegated him to a 31st place finish.
“DGR-Crosley has a lot of really great people within their organization – many of them with a lot of dirt racing experience,” Strickler remarked. “Knowing that I’m going to Eldora in top-notch equipment is a great feeling. The dirt racing community has been so supportive and excited for me to get this opportunity. I’ve had a bunch of individual chip in to make this possible, and I can’t thank everyone enough.”
Jerovetz Shock Service, Donaldson Grading, JRS Competition Finishes, Canady’s Pest Control, Glen Miller Demolition and G-Style Transport have all partnered with Strickler for Thursday’s event.
Strickler will have veteran Crew Chief Frank Kerr coaching from atop the pit box. Kerr, a retired sprint car driver, has won four track championships at Eldora Speedway, four All-Star championships and five Ohio Speed Week championships.
“It’s really awesome that Kyle is racing for us at DGR-Crosley,” said Kerr. “I worked with him a lot early in his modified career, and we won a lot of races together. I’m excited to be reunited with him and work with him on the NASCAR side at Eldora, a track that means a lot to me personally. I think Kyle is going to do a great job.”
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