Ethan Hartley

Polo G – Hall of Fame, Album Review

Chicago rapper, Taurus Tremani Bartlett, aka Polo G, recently released his third studio album, Hall of Fame, a little over a year after his sophomore album The Goat ascended him into the mainstream hip-hop/rap scene. But not enough love is given to his first studio album, Die a Legend, which was the main stone that built his career for early fans to fall in love with his music. An argument could be made that this is still his best album even with the recent release of Hall of Fame, something that will obviously be talked about later on. Polo G is one of many rappers that is part of the Columbia Records young core, others include 24KGolden, Fivio Foreign, The Kid LAROI, and Lil TJay, but Polo G easily stands out in this group as not only the rapper with the most to still prove, but also with the most traction.

The Goat incorporated a lot of piano elements throughout the production of the album, a unique component to a rap scene that is currently filled with trap rap artists. It certainly worked in Polo G’s favor since he’s soared in popularity. But it created an interesting question of what is exactly next for his still young music career? His lyricism also brought a different perspective to the game. In a genre filled with rapping about money, sex, boasting, guns, and drugs, Polo G actually uses his verses to rap about more contextual and meaningful topics. “We come from poverty, man, we ain’t have a thing” from Pop Out is one of Polo G’s most popular bars in his young catalog. There is certainly a lot to look out for on Hall of Fame in terms of what exactly Polo G’s direction will be for the future in what can be seen as a pivotal moment in his discography.

On the surface, I am not one to be super picky about album covers. But compared to the last two, I was shocked to see Polo G bring a more colorful picture to his visual catalog. Personally, I wasn’t all that crazy for it but it is just something worth noting and doesn’t make a huge impact on the review. I liked the list of features that Polo G collected for Hall of Fame. Those names include The Kid LAROI, Lil Durk, Lil Wayne, Scorey, G Herbo, Rod Wave, DaBaby, Young Thug, Roddy Rich, Nicki Minaj, Fivio Foreign, and Pop Smoke. I also liked that Polo G had a 50/50 split between songs that included features and those that didn’t. Overall, it was a great mix of sound from all different eras and genres of the rap spectrum.

Breaking down the actual album, there are a lot of pros and cons on the album. The opening third of the album was a mixed bag of tracks. I enjoyed the start with Painting Pictures and RAPSTAR. However, No Return was a low point in the opening third. The Kid LAROI didn’t bring anything worthwhile in his feature despite being responsible for the hook of the song. There were some tracks such as Broken Guitars, Go Part 1, and Zooted Freestyle that didn’t add much to the album notwithstanding the opportunity to do so. Another track I enjoyed was Clueless. While it was just a carbon copy for a New York drill song, the track did an excellent job bringing back the Pop Smoke sound that has been lost since his untimely death. DaBaby’s feature on Party Lyfe also came as a surprise. For him becoming more of a meme by the month, DaBaby showed that he can be a versatile artist within different genres of rap. He’s now had two back-to-back solid features, the first being Kanye West’s Nah Nah Nah. Finally, I thought the track For the Love of New York with Nicki Minaj was incredible. The chemistry between the two of them was shown off immediately. The back and forth energy between the two and how they bounced off their verses was great as well.

Overall, I would give this album a 5.7/10 with some of my favorite tracks being Toxic, Blackhearted, GANG GANG, For the Love of New York, Party Lyfe, and Clueless. I enjoyed that Polo G continued to stick with different musical elements while mixing in some trap beats. This continues to push him away from the mainstream that’s typically filled with trap beats alone. Hall of Famecertainly brought a different perspective from what we are used to seeing from Polo G, specifically on his first two full-length albums. It is important to recognize that he is trying out different musical elements to expand his musical repertoire. However, the negative side of this is that Polo G is fading away from his roots that played a huge role in his rise to fame. I wasn’t crazy about the use of more guitar elements in his production compared to the piano sounds that are common in his works. But at the end of the day, Hall of Fame did make some lasting contributions to Polo G’s young and ever-expanding catalog. It will be very intriguing to see what new ingredients he brings next to the table for his next full-length album.

Where Should DeMar DeRozan Go Next?

After the San Antonio Spurs failed to come out of the play-in with a playoff spot against the Memphis Grizzlies on May 19th, a lot of questions arose for the San Antonio Spurs in terms of what’s next. However, there is no bigger question for this team than what’s next for their franchise player, DeMar DeRozan, who will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1st. He will have plenty of offers for where he would like to play basketball for the coming seasons.

First, let us break down the situation he was in this past season. The Spurs are still in the awkward position that they aren’t entirely sure what they want to do. They had multiple opportunities to trade DeRozan over the offseason and at trade deadlines. But instead, they chose to keep him to the point where his current contract with the team will expire. In terms of the roster, the timeline doesn’t entirely match for DeRozan. He is the number one playmaker, averaging 6.9 assists per game which leads the team, and he’s the closer too. DeRozan finished this season averaging around 22 points, four rebounds, seven assists, and just short of a steal per game. Also, he shot, 49 percent from the field, 27 percent from beyond the arc, and 88 percent from the free-throw line. These are around the averages that he produced last season with the most significant changes coming from an increase in assists and free throw percentage.

The big issue is that DeRozan will be 32 next year and most of the players coming in next year will be in their early to mid-20s, indicating that this team may be trending towards a restructuring of their roster with the young players they already have. Dejounte Murray (25), Derrick White (26), Keldon Johnson (21), Lonnie Walker (220, Jakob Poeltl (25), and Devin Vassell (20) make up a solid group of young players but most still have a lot more room for improvement in their game, especially the younger players in the group.

The other huge question for DeRozan when considering his options are the coaching. There have been speculations for years if Gregg Popovich would be retiring at the end of the season. These rumors only increased after the Spurs missed the playoffs for the first time in 22 years. This is also now the second consecutive season that the Spurs have missed the playoffs. It is not entirely outlandish to assume that Popovich could retire this offseason. That could be a huge factor in whether DeRozan stays in San Antonio.

Let’s assume DeRozan has already made up his mind and he would like to leave. Where exactly are the best fits for him? The Heat, Mavericks, and Knicks are all options that fit the needs of what DeRozan provides and fits their timeline. Miami is in need of a third legitimate star after the acquisition of Victor Oladipo didn’t work out after injury. The Mavericks are also in need of a third star and another closer and playmaker to help take off the weight that Luka carries every game. The Knicks are in need of a star and wing closer as well. There may be some other surprise teams who make a run for DeRozan as well but these are three realistic options that make the most sense for now.

My best guess is that he chooses to sign with the Dallas Mavericks. Not only is this the best fit for DeRozan because he will be the number two option while surrounded by shooters and bigs who have the ability to stretch the floor, but it is also a short transition for DeRozan in terms of distance. He will also fill out the big three in Dallas that they have been searching for years since acquiring Kristaps Porzingis. Kemba Walker, Bradley Beal, and Terry Rozier were all players that Dallas was known to go after but were unable to strike a deal.

This off-season will be important for everyone, as DeRozan’s impact will shake up a lot of rankings wherever he ends up. But at 32 years old, DeRozan is still playing some of his best basketball while trying to stay ahead of a league that’s always changing. He’s become much more a facilitator and playmaker than the inside scoring guard he was with the Toronto Raptors. DeRozan will without a doubt be in line for another major paycheck, but the biggest question will be who he signs the dotted line with in July.

What’s next for the Flyweight Division?

After Brandon Moreno’s incredible submission win against Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 263, many questions loom about what is next for Brandon Moreno as he anticipates his next opponent for his title defense. The Flyweight division has already dealt with its fair share of drama much differently than the rest of the UFC. At one point, Dana White almost considered cutting the division entirely because of the lack of talent coming through the rankings after Demetrious Johnson left the UFC. Thankfully, Henry Cejudo saved the division by bringing his loud mouth attitude and flashy knockouts.

Brandon Moreno has plenty of options in front of him for who he could fight next, and a lot of them make sense as well. However, two realistic options make the most sense right now. The first one being Askar Askarov. After going to a draw with Moreno in his UFC Debut, Askarov has been unbeaten in his following three fights. In fact, he hasn’t been beaten at all other than the draw in 2019. Askarov is coming off of a dominant win against Joseph Benavidez at UFC 259. He’s also had big wins against Alexandre Pantoja and Tim Elliot. He easily sets himself up for his first title shot in the UFC.

Another realistic opportunity is a trilogy with Deiveson Figueiredo. A lot of things went wrong for Figueiredo that he should have focused more on. These issues likely stemmed from his tough weight cut. Figueiredo finally came for his weigh-in about a minute before the deadline. This tough cut affected his performance from the start. Figueiredo was much less aggressive and commanding. It was obvious the weight cut affected his energy, which led to his defeat in the third round. But Figueiredo did technically defend his title back in December at UFC 256, just not in the most ideal way possible. This poses the clause for a trilogy in the future, and after the first two fights gaining as much attention, it is not a bad move for the promotion either.

However, there is the idea that Figueiredo may move up and compete at 135 pounds because of his tough weight cut. There are pros and cons to this proposal that affect Figueiredo and their respective divisions.

A major pro for Figueiredo is that he would reduce the amount of weight he is forced to cut, which will effectively enhance his performance. However, Figueiredo’s departure in the Flyweight division would remove a big-time contender in a division that already lacks talent. His addition to the Bantamweight division also gives them another top contender in an already stacked division, especially towards the top. Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling still need to have their rematch, which likely won’t happen until the fall after Sterling’s neck surgery. There’s also TJ Dillashaw’s return against Cory Sandhagen in July. Rob Font just came off a huge win against Cody Garbrandt. Jose Aldo is also scheduled to fight Pedro Munhoz in August. The only possible fight that would make sense is against Cody Garbrandt, especially since they were supposed to fight in Figueiredo’s first title defense.

Another possible fight option is the winner between Alexandre Pantoja and Brandon Royval. That fight is expected to happen on August 21st. Alex Perez and Joseph Benavidez still fit into the mix somewhere. They will both need at least two wins to enter the title picture, especially since both are coming off of losses. Cody Garbrandt still talks about moving down to 125. He could enter the title picture even without a fight. Kai Kara France isn’t far away from a title shot either. Henry Cejudo, who recently retired, has also gained some traction as a possible opponent. But realistically, it will either be Askar Askarov or Deiveson Figueiredo if he chooses to stay at 125. Nonetheless, Brandon Moreno is the new flyweight champion and brings the exact opposite attitude that Deiveson Figueiredo did. Moreno is considered to be one of the nicest fighters on the entire roster and his overcoming of adversity will be cemented in history. From being seeded last on TUF to being cut from the roster to winning the belt after two amazing battles with Deiveson Figueiredo. Moreno looks to have a tough but bright future ahead of him.

Lil Baby and Lil Durk – The Voice of the Heroes, Album Review

Two rappers of the mainstream world come together to make an album that has been highly anticipated for the past few months. That would be Lil Durk and Lil Baby coming together to make The Voice of the Heroes, an album that they respectively pushed back a week for the release of DMX’s Exodus. Chicago and Atlanta’s sound come together to create another collaboration album between these two artists. Lil Baby’s and Gunna’s Drip Too Hard was a solid project that solidified a solid 2018 summer of rap music. Lil Durk also has a collaboration album with Tee Grizzley back from 2017. Bloodas was an underrated album four years ago but generally looked over when talking about the best albums during that year. The Voice of the Heroes had some quiet hype before its release but a highly talented track on paper.

Breaking down the actual album, there are fewer features than expected considering there are 18 tracks that total around an hour of music. But the features included aren’t bad at all. The list includes Travis Scott, Meek Mill, Young Thug, and Rod Wave. I also thought it was hilarious that Brooklyn Nets player, James Harden, was named an executive producer for this album due to some of the tracks being recorded in Harden’s home studio. I would be curious to see how much Harden actually helped on the album or if it is more of a symbolic tribute since Lil Baby and Harden are known to be good friends. Breaking down the tracks, Voice of the Heroes and 2040 were well-made tracks. Lyricism and production were both fire and this is where I felt that the album was most well rounded. Things start to decline with Hats Off and Who I Want. These tracks came in with a typical trap beat and Lil Baby and Lil Durk seem to put verses together that don’t seem to flow back and forth. It’s almost like these were meant for different tracks and they were just put together.

I also didn’t think the Travis feature was anything special. His voice with the auto-tune didn’t pop out as much as it usually does on the album and only continued to trend in this direction till Please. I was glad to see that some other genre elements were included on another track on this album. I enjoyed the R&B components incorporated throughout the entire song. But unfortunately, not much variety was included throughout the rest of the album. I thought the rest of the features were only decent as well, despite being big names. Unfortunately not many of the other tracks have all these elements peaking at the same time. There were many tracks where the lyricism was top tier but the production was mediocre and vice versa. The rest of the album eventually hit a point where it all started to sound the same.

Overall, I would give this album a 4.8/10 with my favorite tracks being Voice of the Heroes and Please. I felt the production was much better on The Voice of the Heroes but the duo’s lyricism and creativity has stayed about the same as prior albums. Some have pointed out that Lil Baby’s flows on these tracks are nearly identical with some from his prior albums, as recent as My Turn that was released in early 2020. Lil Baby especially has done a better job at proving his versatility with his lyricism. He really showed that on Drake’s Wants and Needs and J Cole’s p r i d e . i s . t h e . d e v i l. I wouldn’t call this a regression for Lil Baby, but there isn’t anything throughout this album that shows any advancements in his musicality. Nonetheless, this album still fits the definition of “mid”, a project that isn’t garbage but a project that doesn’t bring anything new or better to the hip-hop/rap genre.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Week 11

The key to winning your fantasy baseball league is not how well you draft, but the players you add off waivers. This is extremely important because securing hidden talent and call-ups could replace those late-round selections, even mid-rounders, that aren’t having the best season. Here at NFS, we provide the best picks for players you should grab off waivers now before it is too late. As always, both opportunity and performance are taken into consideration for these players. All players listed are rostered below 40 percent on ESPN. Learn to think like a NERD!

Hitters

J.P. Crawford, SS, Seattle Mariners
J.P. Crawford was a former top prospect for the Philadelphia Phillies. But after being traded to the Seattle Mariners for Jean Segura. Since then, Crawford has done a great job of making improvements every season. He’s now hitting a career-high in batting average at .274. In his last 10 games, he’s been through the roof. He’s hit .421 with a homer, seven RBIs, and six runs scored. The Mariners are still building a core that can compete with the best of the best but if Crawford continues to make these excellent improvements, he’ll be a franchise cornerpiece. For now, he is a must-add in all league formats.

Miguel Andujar, OF, New York Yankees
After being the AL Rookie of the Year runner-up and hitting 92 RBIs in 2018, Miguel Andujar fell off the face of the earth with his production, and many thought he would never return to that form ever again. However in 2021, with a lot of injuries to the Yankees roster, Andujar has been allowed to re-earn his spot in the starting lineup. in his last 10 games, Andujar has hit .297 with four homers, five RBIs, and nine runs scored. Andujar’s next step is to work on earning walks. For now, Andujar is worth adding in most league formats, his role will be interesting once some players come back from injury.

James McCann, C, New York Mets
After being a big-time free agent signing for the New York Mets, James McCann is having one of the worst seasons since his 2019 All-star season that earned him the massive contract in the first place. he has done a bit to reclaim some of the hype coming into the season. In his last 10 games, McCann has hit .333 with three homers and 10 RBIs. McCann is the most in-demand player on this list because of his position and already being owned at a high rate. He should be picked up immediately if you are in need of a catcher.

Yandy Diaz, 3B/1B, Tampa Bay Rays
After an impressive 2020 season where he hit over .300, Yandy Diaz was a quality sleeper candidate for 2021 but has failed to live up to the expectations. Through 60 games, he’s only hit around .230 up until recently. In his last 10 games, Diaz has hit .289 with a homer and seven RBIs. He’s also done a good job managing his walk-to-strikeout ratio, currently maintaining a 1:1 ratio in those same games. Diaz will have to prove his run is sustainable in order to become a quality pickup. But for now, Diaz is worth keeping watch on radars for the time being.

Pitchers

Tucker Davidson, SP, Atlanta Braves
With the Braves dealing with injuries throughout their entire rotation, Tucker Davidson has been given an opportunity to show his production. He’s done a solid job in making a case to stay in the rotation. Through three starts, Davidson has maintained a 1.53 ERA through 17 innings of work. Davidson has also done a solid job at working with a 2:1 walk-to-strikeout ratio. Davidson’s role is still to be determined once the injured players return. But for now, he is a top-quality pitcher to pick up on the waiver wires for the time being.

Vladimir Gutierrez, SP, Cincinnati Reds
Vladimir Gutierrez is one of the many quality pitching prospects that the Reds have in their farm system. He was recently called up at the end of May and has produced some great starts already. In his first three starts, Gutierrez is 2-1 with an ERA of 2.65. He’s also struck out 13 batters over 17 innings of work. Gutierrez has the potential to fill a key role that the Reds need after Trevor Bauer left in free agency and with the struggles of Luis Castillo. Gutierrez is worth adding in all league formats. The next couple of starts will be key for his outlook for the rest of the season.

Zach Davies, SP, Chicago Cubs
After two excellent seasons in Milwaukee and San Diego, Zach Davies was traded to the Chicago Cubs as a key piece in the Yu Darvish trade. That same magic hasn’t transitioned over to Chicago for Davies, as his ERA was as high as 11.05, after having a 2.73 ERA with the Padres. However, his recent starts have started to look more typical for Davies in 2020. He’s thrown back-to-back shutout starts, bringing his ERA down to 4.01. Davies is worth adding in most league formats. His next few starts will be key if he can retain his consistency.

Erick Fedde, SP, Washington Nationals
After being a key call-up for the Washington Nationals in 2017, Erick Fedde has consistently brought down his major stats since his debut. Recently, he’s even performed better than his career-low 3.86 ERA he is pitching in 2021. He has also pitched back-to-back shutouts in his last two starts. The Nationals’ rotation has struggled this season outside of Max Scherzer. Fedde’s production and consistency will be key over the next month. For now, Fedde is worth watching on the radar, potentially worth taking a flier if none of the other pitchers are available.

UFC 263 Predictions

The UFC returns with their next pay-per-view at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona. The card in paper is filled with a ton of action-packed fights including two title fight rematches in the Middleweight and Flyweight divisions. The card also includes the return of superstar, Nate Diaz, and plenty of other anticipated fights. Ethan Hartley and Frank Bartunek give their expert opinions and predictions on who will come out on top in the main card.

Previous Records:

Ethan Hartley: 4-1
Frank Bartunek: 3-2

Paul Craig vs. Jamahal Hill

Frank Bartunek

Jamahal Hill comes into this fight undefeated in his MMA career, with his one blemish being an overturned knockout victory. Hill is an exciting knockout artist, while Craig has proven to be a solid veteran in the UFC for 5 years now. Craig has not suffered defeat since 2 years ago this month and currently finds himself one spot ahead of Hill on the top 15 UFC Men’s Light Heavyweight rankings. Craig has finished all of his fights, but in the brief time that I have seen Hill, he seems to be just too explosive.

Official Prediction: Jamahal Hill wins

Frank’s Bet: Jamahal Hill to win by KO/TKO

Ethan Hartley

Jamahal Hill is a rising undefeated prospect in a light heavyweight division that is mostly filled with established fighters other than one or two newcomers in the rankings. He’s entered himself into a crossroads battle against Paul Craig, an 11-fight UFC veteran. But Paul Craig is not one to mess with. He’s unbeaten in his last five fights and is only three years older than Hill. However, I’m going to buy into the Hill hype. His heavy hands are not one to mess with and he still has plenty of time to elevate his game. Paul Craig will certainly be a tough challenge and his toughest fight yet. However, I believe that as long as Hill can keep this fight on the feet, not giving an advantage to Craig’s submission game, then this could brew a solid win for Jamahal Hill.

Official Prediction: Jamahal Hill by KO/TKO

Demain Maia vs. Behal Muhammad

Frank Bartunek

The first of two Welterweight fights at UFC 263 contains, dare I say, a UFC legend? Maia probably doesn’t cut it by just a little bit, but he certainly has had a great career. The 43-year-old is coming off a first-round knockout defeat, though, and even worse, it was over a year ago. Unfortunately for Maia, it doesn’t get any easier in this one. Muhammad comes into this fight with a chip on his shoulder after the eye poke suffered at the hands of one of the top UFC Welterweight fighters, Leon Edwards, back in March. Look, Maia is an all-time submission specialist. He always has a chance because of that history, but let’s face it. He’s very old, and he has to be rusty. On the other hand, we have a hungry Belal Muhammad. 2+2 will always = 4.

Official Prediction: Belal Muhammad wins

Frank’s Bet: Fight goes the distance: YES

Ethan Hartley

Despite being 43 years old, Demain Maia has defied father time to prove he can still compete with the best of the best. While never winning the title, with only two appearances, Maia is a legend nonetheless with over 30 appearances in the UFC. Fast forward to 2021, Maia suffered only his second TKO loss to Gilbert Burns in his last fight which was over a year ago. On the other hand, Behal Muhammad has a clear chip on his shoulder after his opportunity to fight a top-ranked fighter was stripped due to an illegal eye poke from Leon Edwards back in March. I see Behal making a statement win to advance his career to a new level, which he has failed to do so in prior opportunities.

Official Prediction: Behal Muhammad by Unanimous decision

Leon Edwards vs. Nate Diaz

Frank Bartunek

Diaz hasn’t fought since 2019, and he will be facing the 3rd ranked UFC Welterweight in Leon Edwards. Edwards has not lost since 2016 to some guy named Kamaru Usman. Ever heard of him? Yeah, exactly. This fight is the real deal. Diaz may not be in the top rankings, but he has a reputation that speaks for itself. Diaz has and can be beaten, but Edwards better bring his A+ game if he wants to do it. Edwards is so close to grasping a title fight, and he has to be hungry to prove himself after the eyepoke of Muhammad. Diaz is awesome and a really bad dude in the octagon, but Leon Edwards is just too good here.

Official Prediction: Leon Edwards wins

Frank’s Bet: Leon Edwards to win by KO/TKO

Ethan Hartley

Nate Diaz is one of the biggest superstars in the sports of MMA, there is no doubt about that. His personality and the mentality of never backing down will be a staple to this sport forever. But when it comes to him as a fighter, it pains me to say that he is out of his prime. He’s 3-3 in his last six fights and he’s 1-1 in the last two years. Not to mention both of those fights came in 2019 and he hasn’t fought since his loss for the BMF Belt against Jorge Masvidal. Leon Edwards is in the prime of his career despite only fighting once in the last two years. You can tell from his one round against Behal Muhammad that octagon rust has not affected him. This win against Nate Diaz will and should put him next for a title shot over Colby Covington as his unbeaten streak will push to 10 with his last loss coming to Kamaru Usman in 2015.

Official Prediction: Leon Edwards by Unanimous Decision

Deiveson Figuerido vs. Brandon Morano

Frank Bartunek

Our first championship bout comes in the Flyweight division. This is also a part 2 fight, with the last title fight between the fighters ending in a controversial draw. Figueiredo is a fantastic fighter, with his MMA record being 20-1-1. He has also finished his last 4 wins, with 3 submissions. With all of that said, he absolutely has a real, legit FIGHT on his hands. With a nickname like “The Assassin Baby,” Moreno is one of the most lethal fighters in the fight game today. I believe Figueiredo is the superior fighter, and he has been dominant. However, nobody is perfect. I think an upset may be on the horizon with this one. (Also there’s nothing like betting with + odds)

Official Prediction: #ANDNEW Brandon Moreno wins

Frank’s Bet: Brandon Moreno moneyline

Ethan Hartley

This is easily the toughest fight to pick on this card. We all saw what happened back in December. It was an absolute brawl, but let’s not forget that Deiveson Figueiredo technically would have won if it wasn’t for the point deduction after his second kick to the crotch against Brandon Morano. I love both of these fighters, not only for their personalities but fight styles as well. I have to favor the champ with the history of how rematches like these go. Figueiredo is fully healthy and he isn’t cutting weight again for the second time in less than a month like in December. Cutting weight has been something that Figueiredo struggled with in the past due to his natural bigger size for a Flyweight and while he made weight for both cuts, not having this one be three weeks after is a huge advantage. I expect another finish by Figueiredo in this fight.

Official Prediction: Figueiredo by Submission

Israel Adesanya vs. Marvin Vettori

Frank Bartunek

“THE MOMENT YOU’VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR………IIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTSSSS TIIIIIIIMMMMMMMEEEE!!!” It’s the main event. It’s the Middleweight Championship. It’s Israel Adesanya, who has one career MMA loss…and it wasn’t even in his own division. It’s Martin Vettori. He hasn’t lost since the last time he fought Adesanya, which was 6 fights ago, AND it was by split decision. Some say that Vettori has not earned this shot, but let’s face it, this fight NEEDS to happen just based on what went down the last time these two met in the octagon. This is such an interesting matchup to look at. Vettori will come out of the gates aggressive in my mind. He could possibly use the game plan that Jon Blachowicz used against Adesanya, which a lot of people have been mentioning, but that won’t work here. He does not have the size advantage that plagued Adesanya in his last fight. Vettori is a great fighter that will put up a fight here, and obviously, anything can happen, but Israel Adesanya was 20-0 for a reason before he took that out-of-division fight.

Official Prediction: #ANDSTILL Israel Adesanya wins

Frank’s Bets: Under 4.5 rounds

Adesanya to win by KO/TKO

Ethan Hartley

After coming off his loss against Jan Blachowicz, Israel Adesanya now moves back down 185 to defend his title for the third time. He faces Marvin Vettori, best known for his wrestling, for the second time in his MMA career. The narrative fits best that the first fight ended in a split decision and Vettori hasn’t lost since that fight. The problem with Vettori, while he has very convincing wins, the talent of the fighters isn’t out of this world. He has an upset win over Jack Hermansson but then won against a fill-in that was Kevin Holland. I think his lack of experience against a top contender will serve as a disadvantage. However, I think this fight will go the distance as Vettori has never been finished in his MMA career. But Vettori will be Adesanya’s toughest match yet in the middleweight division. Israel Adesanya is one of my favorite fighters on the planet. His best bet to win on Saturday is to keep the fight on the feet and defend the takedowns. His quickness and precision will be trouble for Vettori to handle.

Official Prediction: Adesanya by Unanimous Decision

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Week 10

Hitters

Jonathan Schoop, 2B/1B, Detroit Tigers
After being an All-Star in 2017 with the Baltimore Orioles, Jonathon Schoop would continue to play for three more rosters after not being able to keep his production consistent. Schoop now finds himself with the Detroit Tigers where he hopes to turn his career around while still under 30 years old. He has recently been on an incredible hitting streak that has included two multi-homer games. In his last 10 games, Schoop has been hitting .444 with six homers and 11 RBIs. He’s also had an OBP of .524 and an OPS of 1.524 which are both through the roof. Schoop should be added immediately in all league formats while he continues to shred.

Hunter Renfroe, OF, Boston Red Sox
After a horrible 2020 season with the Tampa Bay Rays, Hunter Renfroe was sent to the rebuilding Boston Red Sox to help their shortage of outfielders after trading Andrew Benintendi to the Kansas City Royals. Renfroe’s number has dramatically improved since the trade and has of late he’s been a hitting machine. In his last 10 games, Renfroe has hit .455 with two homers, three RBIs, and ten runs scored. His role has changed from a power hitter with high strikeout percentages to a contact hitter who has helped the Red Sox bring in runs. Renfroe should also be picked up in all league formats while the bat stays hot.

Odubel Herrera, OF, Philadelphia Phillies
After a suspension lasting two years due to a domestic violence incident, Odubel Herrera has made a comeback to the majors with the Philadelphia Phillies due to lackluster play from the centerfielder position. His recent batting and fielding production have made him look like the everyday centerfielder that the Phillies have desperately been looking for. In his last ten games, Herrera has hit .283 with two home runs, five RBIs, and nine runs scored. Herrera should be added in deeper formatted leagues and watched on radars in the more traditional formatted leagues.

Amed Rosario, SS/OF, Cleveland Indians
After being one of the players involved in the Fransisco Lindor trade, Amed Rosario now finds himself with the Indians who are trying to reload their roster with new stars. While Rosario is obviously no star, he has recently done a solid job filling the Lindor role to the best of his abilities. In his last ten games, Rosario has hit .308 with a homer, six RBIs, and seven runs scored. He also has two stolen bases in those same games. Rosario is not quite at the level where he should be picked up in all league formats. But for now, he is worth keeping on the radar if he can prove himself has a more consistent hitter for the Indians.

Pitchers

Tarik Skubal, SP, Detroit Tigers
Tarik Skubal is one of the many pitching prospects that the Tigers have been trying to develop over the recent seasons. His major development has been what many have hoped for after an average 2020 season. However, in 2021, he has recently put together some solid starts that are quickly rising his stock. In his last four starts, Skubal has pitched a 2.14 ERA with 37 strikeouts over 21 innings pitched. And despite currently leading the league in losses, he is actually 3-1 in those same starts. With the combination of his upside and excellent strikeout command, Skubal is worth picking up in all league formats.

Ross Stripling, SP, Toronto Blue Jays
After earning an all-star appearance in 2018 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ross Stripling has struggled to maintain that same production which eventually led to him being traded to the Toronto Blue Jays last season. 2021 has been a much more productive season for Stripling especially as of late. In his last three starts, Stripling has maintained a 1.06 ERA with 14 strikeouts over 17 innings. He also earned a 2-1 record in those same starts. Stripling is also worth adding in all league formats as he starts to regain his consistency for a rising Blue Jays franchise.

Logan Gilbert, SP, Seattle Mariners
Logan Gilbert was a highly praised prospect in the Mariners farm system for seasons prior but finally got the call to the big leagues in May. In his first two starts, he struggled but quickly regained control in his third and fourth start. In those latest two starts, Gilbert managed a 3.60 ERA with nine strikeouts over 10 innings pitched. That is certainly a small sample size but it is still encouraging to see those numbers from a prospect entering the majors less than a month ago. Gilbert is worth keeping a watch on radars as he will likely be added quickly due to his status as a big-time prospect.

Brad Keller, SP, Kansas City Royals
Brad Keller had an excellent shortened season in 2020 after an average 2018 and 2019 season. His progression made him a quality sleeper selection before the 2021 season. That didn’t live up to expectations right off the bat as he earned an 8.06 ERA in his first six starts. that has completely turned around over his next six starts after that. Since then, he’s managed a 3.82 ERA with 35 strikeouts over 33 innings of work. Keller is a solid sleeper pick-up if none of the other options are available. His next few starts will be important if he becomes a cash grab or simply an average pitcher at best.

Sophomore Slumps of the 2021 Season

The shortened season brought us an intriguing perspective on player development. We saw a slew of prospects being called up much earlier than expected including one pitching prospect from the 2020 draft immediately playing in the majors. Fast forward to the current day, there are a handful of those prospects in their second season falling short of expectations in their first full season in the majors. Here are three of the biggest regressors of the 2021 season.

Alec Bohm, Philadelphia Phillies

Alec Bohm out of Wichita State was the third overall selection in the 2018 MLB Draft. He was best known for his strong power hitting and being a magnet for walks. His 2020 campaign was out of this world, finishing as a top finalist for National League Rookie of the Year. In that season, he finished with a .338 batting average along with four home runs and 24 RBIs. This season so far, in about 40 more plate appearances, his runs, homers, and RBIs are all very similar. His numbers worsen with strikeouts, which is at 61 compared to only 34 last year. They also plummet with batting average, which is down to .212. His OBP is also down from .400 to .258. And he’s being walked less, 16 walks from last year to 13 this year thus far. Once a promising young player, Bohm is in desperate need to run around his production if the Phillies would also like to have some team success this season.

Ryan Mountcastle, Baltimore Orioles

Ryan Mountcastle was a late call-up last season, appearing in just barely half of the team’s games this season, but showed serious promise to make him a key franchise cornerstone for years to come. He’s been only trending in the opposite direction since the 2021 season started. In 2020, Mountcastle finished with a batting average of .333 along with five home runs and 23 RBIs. What’s most impressive is that he actually finished with more hits than games played, 42 to 35. 2021 has been nothing but awful for Mountcastle. His batting averaging is down to .240 and his strikeout to walk ratio is up from 2.73 to 9.14. Mountcastle has recently hit four home runs in his last five games, so hopefully, this becomes the turnaround that he needs. However, nonetheless, this is a start that Mountcastle would like to forget about as he hopes to live up to the potential set by his phenomenal first season.

Devin Williams, Milwaukee Brewers

Devin Williams was a surprise winner for the 2020 National League Rookie of the Year as a setup pitcher due to Josh Hader’s established role as the closer for the Brewers for the past couple of seasons. But the numbers in 2020 back it up for Williams. He managed a 0.33 ERA with a 4-1 record over 22 innings pitched. He actually allowed only one earned run throughout the entire season. That has been the exact opposite in 2021. Williams currently has a 4.22 ERA in the same amount of innings. His ERA was as high as 13.50 earlier in the season. While it is likely that Williams’s role will likely stay the same, he’ll still have the rest of the season in order to continue his high production as a setup reliever with closer potential for a Milwaukee Brewersteam trying to readjust their roster.

Sixto Sanchez, Miami Marlins

Sixto Sanchez has the most unique situation out of all players on this list. After a solid 2020 season where he finished 3-2 with a 3.46 ERA, Sanchez has yet to pitch this season and the information on why he hasn’t pitched doesn’t entirely match up. Sanchez coming into the season had a false positive COVID-19 test and a visa issue but those are issues that were quickly resolved. What hasn’t been resolved yet is the right shoulder inflammation that Sanchez has been experiencing since Spring Training. He has thrown simulation games but continues to experience discomfort which is why he hasn’t even made any minor league appearances to adjust his conditioning. This is likely a mix of the Marlins being cautious with one of their many prize prospects. But nonetheless, this is not what you want to see for a second-year player who had the potential to become an ace for the Miami Marlins. It is still currently unclear when Sanchez may return to the rotation if he ever does in 2021.

Kyle Lewis, Seattle Mariners

Kyle Lewis had an outstanding shortened season that earned the award of American League Rookie of the Year. In 2020, Lewis finished with 11 homers, 37 runs scored, and 28 RBIs in 58 games while also maintaining a .262 batting average. Compared to Bohm and Mountcastle, Lewis’s numbers haven’t dropped off nearly as much. But Lewis has already dealt with two injury stints that have landed him on the injured list. Lewis has only played in 36 of the possible 59 games the Mariners have played this season. He’s also only hitting .248 with five deep balls and 11 RBIs. Hoping for s short IL stint, Lewis still has plenty of time to turn this slow start around but it certainly not the start he would like to have after continuing his high expectations since being the 11th overall selection in 2016.

DMX — Exodus, Album Review

After the recent passing of legendary New York rapper, DMX, the hip-hop/rap world was devastated, especially by the way he passed away. DMX’s drug problem was a known issue to the entire community. There’s a commonly told story where DMX talks about the first time he smoked weed and the person that gave him the blunt that was laced with crack without his knowledge. DMX would, unfortunately, end up passing from a drug overdose on April 9th after a hard battle on life support. May Earl Simmons forever rest in peace as he will go down on one of the most influential rappers not only out of the New York area but in the entire world.

That being said, posthumous albums have become increasingly popular over the last couple of years. Mac Miller’s Circles and Juice Wrld’s Legends Never Die are two of the more popular posthumous albums from 2020. While it is generous for many to come in to give the fans one last album after an unfortunate death, these kinds of albums tend to struggle to live up to the same kind of sound. Certainly, the artist’s voice is featured on all the tracks like an ordinary album. But it often sounds like unreleased verses are slapped on top of beats that don’t entirely match up with the artist’s theme. So expectations going in for Exodus were certainly optimistic. It is also worth mentioning that this is a reunion for DMX and Def Jam Records, who haven’t released an album together since 2003 with Grand Champ.

Looking at this album on the surface, there are a lot of major names involved. DMX’s long-time friend and legendary producer, Swizz Beatz, was named the executive producer. Beatz did an excellent job bringing in some of the biggest names in rap currently. He also did an excellent job bringing together artists from different eras and different sub-genres of hip-hop. These features include THE LOX, JAY-Z, Nas, Lil Wayne, Moneybagg Yo, Alicia Keys, Bono, Westside Gunn, Conway the Machine, Benny the Butcher, Snoop Dogg, Exodus Simmons, Denaun, Usher, and Brian King Joseph. Pop Smoke was supposed to be featured on one of the tracks but issues between teams prevented that from happening. Beatz was also responsible for doing most of the production for the album as well.

Breaking down the actual album, it starts with a very dark and sinister opening track, That’s My Dog. While the beat was incredibly produced, it seemed the chorus especially lacked. Another top-tier track was Bath Salts, which brings back a 2000s vibe with out-of-this-world features from Nas & JAY-Z. Alicia Keys also had incredible vocals on the track Hold Me Down. More love needs to be given to the track Hood Blues, which features the trio of Westside Gunn, Benny the Butcher, and Conway the Machine from Griselda Records. The Griselda trio has been gradually rising through the New York scene but hasn’t hit their big breakout just yet. Not only are they appearing on the album of a highly recognized rapper who they come from the same area as, but they absolutely destroy their verses. I would rank their verses at the top out of all the appearances on this record.

I thought the track Money, Money, Money was the weakest on the album. Not that it needed any serious changes to it but it would have been a lot better if both Pop Smoke and Moneybagg Yo were featured to bring a new wave rap to the album with all the other elements being involved already. The ending to this album hasn’t put me in such an emotional state since good kid, m.A.A.d city – Sing About Me I’m Dying of Thirst. The emotion is set right off the bat with the skit involving a little girl crying about her father. The track Letter To My Son follows through with that emotion incredibly as DMX apologizes to his son for some of the actions he chose and his drug addiction. Finally, the album ends with a prayer from DMX that was featured in one of Kanye West’s Sunday Service performances.

Overall, I give this album a 9.3/10 with some of my favorite tracks being That’s My Dog, Bath Salts, Hold Me Down, Hood Blues, and Letter To My Son. This is one of the only posthumous albums where it didn’t seem like the original artist was left out of the picture. It has a strong start and followed through with a phenomenal ending. The skits are placed nicely and they all have significant meaning rather than coming across as a break. Overall, this feels like an excellent homage after the devastating death of DMX. Everyone featured on this album does an excellent job in maintaining the same kind of theme we’ve seen from DMX while giving him a memoriam and a final call of the Ruff Ryders before we let DMX live on in history, remembering him for the incredible growth he brought to the hip-hop and rap genre as we see it today.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Week 9

Hitters

Pavin Smith, 1B/OF, Arizona Diamondbacks
Pavin Smith is another solid young prospect coming out of the Arizona Diamondbacks farm system. He had a decent 2020 but didn’t make much of an immediate impact. In 2021, his hitting has become much more production to the team especially as of late. In his last 10 games, Smith has hit .400 with a homer and five RBIs. While that hasn’t evolved into much team success for the Diamondbacks, Smith’s upside is worth picking him up most league formats while the continues to build more consistent hitting. His verisitty will also be big in keeping him in the lineup every game.

Evan Longoria, 3B, San Fransisco Giants
Despite being in the league for 14 years, Evan Longoria has done an excellent job to let father not take him over quite yet. His recent stretch has helped the Giants maintain their running for the top spot in a crowded National League West. In his last 10 games, Longoria has hit .342 with four home runs and 12 RBIs. His OPS is also through the roof at 1.101 in those same games. Longoria should be an immediate pickup in all league formats while he has the hot bat despite his age and injury history over recent seasons.

Mitch Garver, C, Minnesota Twins
After hitting 31 home runs in 2019, Mitch Garver essentially fell off the face of the Earth. He was a major bust during the 2020 season and hasn’t shown any signs of his 2019 form since until this last week of games. In his last eight games, Garver has hit .391 with two home runs, four RBIs, and eight runs scored. In those same games, he has also had more walks than strikeouts. His OBP was also at .541 in those eight games. Garver’s future is unknown but it is clear that this is a good start to rebuilding his career. Garver is worth adding in leagues that he available in as he continues to rebuild his hitting.

Brad Miller, 3B/DH/OF, Philadelphia Phillies
Since 2016 with the Rays where he hit 81 RBIs, Brad Miller hasn’t entirely been the same hitter since then. He has been traded multiple times and has been often used as a pinch hitter. 2021 has been one of the best hitting seasons for Miller since 2016. In his last 10 games, Miller has hit .270 with two homers, five RBIs, and six runs scored. His OPS is also at .950 in those same games. What makes Miller a quality pickup is his potential to become the new starting third baseman with Alec Bohm struggling a ton in his second season. Miller is worth monitoring if he can keep up the hot bat and is eventually moved up on the depth chart.

Pitchers

Kris Bubic, SP, Kansas City Royals
Kris Bubic’s shortened season was exactly what he had in mind. He finished with a 1-6 record and a 4.32 ERA in 10 starts. But at only 23 years old, Bubic has plenty of upside and time for improvement. That is exactly what we are seeing in 2021. Thorugh his last six starts, Bubic has managed a .98 ERA with a .163 opponent batting average. Bubic does need to improve on his command and walk-to-strikeout percentage. But Bubic is still worth adding now in all league formats with plenty of time to make corrections to his production.

Logan Webb, SP, San Francisco Giants
Logan Webb has been an extremely underrated pitcher in the majors. part of that has been to his inconsistencies earlier in the season and a 10-day IL stint in mid-May. but nonetheless, his limited production is worth recognition. Not to mention that he is also becoming a much more consistent pitcher for the Giants in recent starts. In his last three starts, Webb has managed a 3-0 record with a 1.06 ERA. His strikeout to walk ratio has been excellent with a 7:1 ratio. Webb’s recent injury will likely have him available in most leagues. but he should be a priority pickup as long as he keeps this high production.

Adbert Alzolay, SP, Chicago Cubs
Adbert Alzolay was mentioned on a previous waiver wire as a young prospect with some high upside but still needed to do some improvements in order to become an elite prospect in the majors. A month later, we are starting to see his improvements take effect on his production. In his last three starts, Alzolay has managed a 2-1 record with a 2.55 ERA. Alzolay’s next step is to become much more dominant in strikeout command. He only has 15 strikeouts over 17 innings of work in those same three starts. Alzolay is worth picking up and stashing now in all league formats.

Alex Cobb, SP, Los Angeles Angels
While most of Alex Cobb’s career is filled with home run highlights where he’s on the opposite side, recently he has actually been pitching some of the best baseball of his career. This could very likely be from the change of scenery as this is his first season with the Los Angeles Angels. In his last four starts, Cobb has kept a 1.89 ERA with a 2-1 record. Cobb’s strikeouts over nine innings are also on track for a career-high. Cobb’s been known to have serious inconsistencies so it is tough to tell what the future is in store for him but while he is on this solid streak of production, he is worth adding in most league formats.