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Tag: playoff

College football playoff predictions: Big Ten, SEC dominate the field

Welcome to the 2024 college football season, where this past weekend proved that anything is possible.

Texas – fresh off a bye and owning one ranked win, which happened to be against a Michigan team that now sits at No. 24 in the most recent AP Top 25 Poll – moved up to No. 1 in the AP Poll because the college football axion has officially been activated: Anybody can get their *** kicked, any time, any day.

Arkansas can turn the Vols into a red solo cup of Volunteers. Texas A&M can catch a Mizzou Tiger by his toe and when he hollers, put him in the figure four. Bama can get banged, slumped and dumped by the Commodores.

Call them Vander-BUILT—a Brick House.

Call them the home team as they stand over Alabama and ask, is this your king?

“Thou wast born of woman. But swords I smile at, weapons laugh to scorn, Brandished by man that’s of a woman born.”

That’s Shakespeare in his play “Macbeth.”

Vanderbilt might suffer Macbeth’s ultimate fate. But herald me will sing a song of dreams won on that Oct. 5 date.

Alabama is ranked seventh in the AP Top 25 Poll, and that’s ridiculous. This team lost to Cornelius. Not Sark. Not Kirby. Not Dan. Nobody loses to Cornelius.

Alabama’s loss to Vanderbilt makes Georgia’s loss to Bama look even worse. Keep this in mind: Vanderbilt has lost to Mizzou and Georgia State. Mizzou lost to Texas A&M. Texas A&M lost to Notre Dame. Notre Dame lost to Northern Illinois.

Also keep this in mind: Vanderbilt had never beaten a No. 1, or even a No. 5 team, until this past weekend. With that, Tennessee vs. Alabama on Oct. 19th has turned into a CFP play-in game. The same can be said for Alabama’s matchups against Mizzou, LSU and Oklahoma.

Super Conference bias remains strong

There were nine SEC teams in last week’s AP Top 25 Poll. Five were among the top 10. There were seven Big Ten teams in last week’s AP Top 25, with four in the top 10. That’s a total of 16 teams across just two conferences in last week’s AP Top 25.

Even after a week of unrivaled gladiatorial college football combat, nine teams from the SEC and six teams from the Big Ten make up the top-25 teams in the country.

The Big 12 and ACC might struggle to get a second team into the 12-team field when the selection committee suits sit down to rank teams.

The CFP is wide open

Given Texas is the last undefeated team in the SEC, and there are still nine SEC teams among the top 25 in the sport, a 10-2 SEC team will likely make the playoff.

With Texas A&M’s win against Missouri, Notre Dame is back in the CFP hunt because that win over the Aggies looks even better now, and A&M enters the CFP race, too.

With that, let’s get to my second set of CFP projections for the 2024 college football season:

1. Ohio State
Conference: Big Ten
Record: 5-0

2. Texas
Conference: SEC
Record: 5-0

3. Miami (Fla.)
Conference: ACC
Record: 6-0

4. Iowa State
Conference: Big 12
Record: 5-0

5. Oregon
Conference: Big Ten
Record: 5-0

6. Georgia
Conference: SEC
Record: 4-1

7. Penn State
Conference: Big Ten
Record: 5-0

8. Clemson
Conference: ACC
Record: 4-1

9. BYU
Conference: Big 12
Record: 5-0

10. Tennessee
Conference: SEC
Record: 4-1

11. Oklahoma
Conference: SEC
Record: 4-1

12. Boise State
Conference: Mountain West
Record: 4-1

Now that we have the projected seeding set, let’s take a look at what the first-round matchups would look like:

1. Ohio State: Bye (would then play the winner of 8. Clemson vs. 9. BYU)
2. Texas: Bye (would then play the winner of 7. Penn State vs. 10. Tennessee)
3. Miami: Bye (would then play the winner of 6. Georgia vs. 11. Oklahoma)
4. Iowa State: Bye (would then play the winner of 5. Oregon vs. 12. Boise State)

5. Oregon (Big Ten championship runner-up) vs. 12. Boise State (highest-ranked Group of 5 champion)

A rematch of a thrilling Week 2 matchup? Yes please. Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty barreled through the Ducks’ defense like a spiny blue shell in a wildly-competitive race in Mario Kart. He went blue bombing through Oregon for 192 rushing yards, despite the Broncos coming up just short on the scoreboard, the final result being a 37-34 loss to the Ducks. Jeanty is a blueberry stick of dynamite we can’t wait to see disorient, detonate and explode.

Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty leads all FBS running backs with 1,031 rushing yards through the first six weeks of the season. (Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images)

6. Georgia (SEC championship runner-up) vs. 11. Oklahoma (one of the top-12 teams)

A rematch of the 2018 Rose Bowl with a twist — the better defense is Oklahoma. Gone are the high-octane offenses of the Lincoln Riley era. In is Brent Venables and his dictating defense. With Georgia looking less like a supervillain and more like a level-two henchman, OU might find an offense good enough to challenge the Dawgs.

Oklahoma’s defense is holding opponents to 16 points per game through the first six weeks of the season. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)

7. Penn State (one of the top-12 teams) vs. 10. Tennessee (one of the top-12 teams)

Two programs that were always the most likely to benefit from an extended playoff happen to be going up against one another in this scenario, which is a joy. Add in the fact that this matchup would essentially be making a bold statement about which conference is superior through the middle — SEC vs. Big Ten — and this game becomes one about league pride, as well as a trip to the quarterfinal round.

Penn State has the No. 3-ranked rushing offense in the Big Ten through six weeks, averaging 217.8 yards per game. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

8. BYU (Big 12 championship runner-up) vs. 9. Clemson (ACC championship runner-up)

Historically, this is a game Clemson wins. But given the torrid start to the season by the Cougars, the Tigers might have their hands full. However, since its loss to Georgia to open the year, Clemson has looked more like the program Dabo Swinney has guided to two national titles over the last decade.

Clemson QB Cade Klubnik helped guide the Tigers to a 4-1 record and the No. 10 ranking in the latest AP Top 25 Poll. (Photo by Chris Leduc/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

RJ Young is a national college football writer and analyst for FOX Sports and the host of the podcast “The Number One College Football Show.” Follow him at @RJ_Young and subscribe to “The RJ Young Show” on YouTube.

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October 9, 2024
Rematch of last season’s College Football Playoff championship game highlights Big Ten slate

Things to watch this week in the Big Ten Conference:

Game of the week

No. 10 Michigan (4-1, 2-0) at Washington (3-2, 1-1), Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC)

It’s a rematch of last year’s national championship game that Michigan won 34-13, but a whole lot has changed in the nine months since.

Both head coaches are gone, as Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh left for the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers while Alabama hired Kalen DeBoer away from Washington. The quarterbacks from that game have departed as well after Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. went eighth and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy went 10th in this year’s NFL draft.

The teams combined for three losses by the end of September. Last year, they both carried unbeaten records into the championship game.

Michigan lost 31-12 at home to No. 2 Texas but has won three straight since. Sherrone Moore’s Wolverines are relying on a Kalel Mullings-led rushing attack, as they totaled just 118 yards passing the last two weeks in victories over Southern California and Minnesota.

Washington has lost two of its last three games, including a 21-18 setback at Rutgers last week, as the Huskies endure growing pains under new coach Jedd Fisch.BetMGM Sportsbook still has the Huskies as 2 1/2-point favorites.

The undercard

Iowa (3-1, 1-0) at No. 3 Ohio State (4-0, 1-0).

The Hawkeyes have scored at least 31 points in three of its first four games under new coordinator Tim Lester, a big step forward for a team that exceeded 26 points just once last season and got shut out in its final two games. Ohio State allows the fewest points per game (6.8) of any Bowl Subdivision team. Iowa’s a 19 ½-point underdog, according to BetMGM, and will need another big performance from Kaleb Johnson, who ranks second in the nation in yards rushing (685) and is coming off a 206-yard performance against Minnesota.

Impact players

Penn State DE Abdul Carter had four tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble in No. 7 Penn State’s 21-7 triumph over No. 24 Illinois. He was the first Penn State player to have four tackles for loss in a game since 2018.

Indiana LB Aiden Fisher had 12 tackles in a 42-28 victory over Maryland. He has collected at least eight tackles in each of No. 23 Indiana’s first five games and has a Big Ten-leading 50 this season.

Oregon WR Tez Johnson caught 11 passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns in the sixth-ranked Ducks’ 34-13 victory at UCLA. After setting a school single-season record with 86 catches last year, Johnson already has 33 receptions through four games.

Inside the numbers

Wisconsin will try to beat Purdue for an 18th straight time on Saturday. Purdue’s last victory over Wisconsin came in 2003. … Michigan State coach Jonathan Smith has plenty of familiarity with Oregon – the Spartans’ opponent Friday – as a former Oregon State quarterback and coach. Smith went 2-4 against Oregon as Oregon State’s head coach and was 2-2 in his years as Oregon State’s quarterback. … Purdue QB Hudson Card has thrown as many touchdown passes to the opposing team (3) as to his own over the last three weeks. He has thrown a pick-6 in each of Purdue’s last three games. … Minnesota is allowing just 96.8 yards passing per game, the fewest of any FBS team.

Now don’t get upset

Indiana is 5-0 for only the third time in program history and the first time since 1967. The Hoosiers enter Saturday’s game at Northwestern as a 13 ½-point favorite, according to BetMGM. That number seems a bit large, considering the history of this series. Indiana has lost each of the last eight times it has visited Evanston and hasn’t won at Northwestern since 1993.

___

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October 3, 2024
Top college football games to watch in October with Playoff stakes

As the calendar turns from September to October, the stakes ramp up in conference races for potential College Football Playoff contenders. The season’s first month brought quality nonconference matchups and an SEC classic between Georgia and Alabama. This month establishes separation among the CFP contenders and bowl-caliber squads.

For this week’s CFP breakdown, let’s examine the four types of games that will shape the month. They include those with massive implications, with both teams not only having a shot to reach the CFP but also to host a first-round game or earn a bye. The second category identifies the sneaky-important matchups that have the potential to become pivotal. The third category establishes potential CFP elimination games in which the loser likely falls completely out of the CFP chase. The fourth pits teams with CFP hopes against those who could thwart iconic seasons.

This post highlights eight games — two in each category — while listing 24 games that have the potential to shake up the CFP field.

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Massive implications

Ohio State at Oregon, Oct. 12

Georgia at Texas, Oct. 19

Both games could reach 10 million viewers, which is a major reason both conferences expanded. But more than just ratings are involved. Not only are CFP ramifications at stake, but these matchups also provide a window into how conference championship chases could unfold. The Big Ten battle royale features No. 3 Ohio State at No. 6 Oregon, while No. 2 Texas hosts No. 5 Georgia.

The Buckeyes (4-0) and Ducks (4-0) last played in 2021, and Oregon ran the ball at will with 269 rushing yards in a 35-28 win. Now, both teams are under the Big Ten umbrella and feature former Big 12 transfer quarterbacks (Ohio State with former Kansas State star Will Howard; Oregon with ex-Oklahoma QB Dillon Gabriel). It could be the first of two, perhaps even three, meetings between Ohio State and Oregon.

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Texas-Georgia carries perhaps even more importance, at least for the Bulldogs (3-1). After falling short in a shootout with Alabama, Georgia likely would miss the SEC championship with another loss. Though that wouldn’t end the Bulldogs’ Playoff hopes, it would prevent them from gaining a bye or perhaps hosting a first-round game. As for Texas (5-0), which plays Oklahoma the previous week, wins in both games would just about lock up a Playoff spot based on the remaining schedule.

Others: Oklahoma vs. Texas in Dallas, Oct. 12; Penn State at USC, Oct. 12; Alabama at Tennessee, Oct. 19; Missouri at Alabama, Oct. 26

Boise State has high hopes to win the Mountain West behind the nation’s leader in rushing yards and TDs: Ashton Jeanty. (Brian Losness / Imagn Images)

Sneaky important

Nebraska at Indiana, Oct. 19

Boise State at UNLV, Oct. 25

Only once since 2007 has Indiana won at least seven games in a season. Nebraska is the only power-conference program not to qualify for a bowl since 2016. Both facts could crumble in Bloomington. Should Indiana (5-0) take care of Northwestern this week, the Hoosiers will battle Nebraska (4-1) to reach a seventh victory. Likewise, if the Huskers knock off unbeaten Rutgers, they’ll play IU for a bowl berth. In the big picture, the winner stays in strong contention for a CFP spot. Narrowly, it’s a rich contrast in quarterbacking styles between senior transfer Kurtis Rourke (Indiana) and true freshman Dylan Raiola (Nebraska).

The Group of 5’s top two teams clash in Las Vegas with a likely spot in the Mountain West championship at stake. No. 25 UNLV (4-0) won at Big 12 opponents Houston and Kansas and crushed Fresno State 59-14 last week. The Rebels look like a legitimate CFP team and perhaps not a first-round party favor for one of the top at-large squads. Likewise, No. 21 Boise State (3-1) was a field goal away on the game’s final play from taking Oregon to overtime. The Broncos feature the nation’s leading rusher, Ashton Jeanty. This matchup (and perhaps a rematch in the Mountain West title game) will impact the Group of 5 CFP spot more than any other in the regular season.

Others: Iowa at Ohio State, Oct. 5; Missouri at Texas A&M, Oct. 5; Arizona at BYU, Oct. 12; BYU at UCF, Oct. 26

Possible eliminator

Kansas State at Colorado, Oct. 12

Oklahoma at Ole Miss, Oct. 26

Colorado (4-1) and Kansas State (4-1) once were stalwarts of the old Big 12 North Division, with one or the other competing for the championship in six straight seasons from 2000 to 2005. They’ve met 66 times as Big Eight, then Big 12 foes before the Buffaloes left for the Pac-12 in 2011. Now they’ve returned to the Big 12, and this could mark the league’s most exciting matchup. Colorado features Heisman hopeful Travis Hunter and likely first-round quarterback Shedeur Sanders, and Kansas State boasts quarterback Avery Johnson and several quality receivers. Both teams have a loss, and another one could severely dent their at-large potential.

Oklahoma (4-1) and Ole Miss (4-1) each have a loss, and they could have a second one by the time they meet in late October. If that’s the case, this truly is an elimination contest. Kentucky shocked Ole Miss last weekend, and Oklahoma lost two weeks ago to Tennessee. It’s strange to see these teams meet under the SEC banner, and they’ve played each other just once previously, in the 1999 Independence Bowl. This game promises to have fireworks based on OU quarterback Michael Hawkins’ comeback against Auburn and Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart’s high-flying numbers.

Others: SMU at Louisville, Oct. 5; Utah at Arizona State, Oct. 12; Michigan at Illinois, Oct. 19; LSU at Texas A&M, Oct. 26

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Upset watch

Iowa State at West Virginia, Oct. 12

Florida State at Miami, Oct. 26

The Big 12 once tried to staple Iowa State and West Virginia together as a season-ending series, but it didn’t take. Last year was the first time they hadn’t played since the Mountaineers (2-2) entered the Big 12, but there’s usually a little sizzle when they face off. This year, the No. 16 Cyclones (4-0) are rolling on defense (7.3 points per game), but they’ve lost three of their last four in Morgantown. West Virginia plays 11 power-conference opponents this year and opened with top-10 Penn State at home. It also lost late in a shootout at Pitt. The battle-tested Mountaineers are no pushover and will knock off some Big 12 contenders in October.

Florida State (1-4) easily is the nation’s most disappointing team. At worst, the Seminoles expected to have one loss right now, not four. But if there’s anything that will give FSU juice, it’s a chance to knock off No. 8 Miami (5-0). The Seminoles have won three straight in the series, and there’s nothing like familiarity to bring out the best in a disappointed competitor. Miami barely eked out a win against Virginia Tech when a Hail Mary pass was ruled incomplete after a long video review. But if we’ve learned anything with this series, anything is possible (wide), right?

Others: Pitt at North Carolina, Oct. 5; Notre Dame vs. Georgia Tech in Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium), Oct. 19; Auburn at Missouri, Oct. 19; Michigan State at Michigan, Oct. 26

(Top photo of Texas’ Colin Simmons and David Gbenda: David Buono / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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October 2, 2024
Brewers prove to Mets they would be tough playoff opponent

MILWAUKEE — It is unclear if the Mets will be playing in October, but this weekend began with the club getting a good look at what an October team plays like.

The Brewers run.

They are the aggressor and await others’ mistakes.

They play defense.

They get leads and hold leads.

The Brewers handled the Mets with relative ease on Friday night. Jason Szenes / New York Post

Their position-player group is the third youngest in baseball and performs with the kind of daily energy you would expect from an athletic, up-and-coming club.

A Milwaukee team that is merely middle of the pack in home runs entered play Saturday tied with the Orioles for the fifth-most runs scored in baseball.

“It’s like a football team,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Friday. “We’ve got to be able to beat you in more than one way.”

The Brewers beat the Mets in the series opener Friday at American Family Field in just about every way. They used the long ball in the first inning, when Rhys Hoskins launched a grand slam.

They ran all over the Mets, racking up six steals without getting caught and advancing three more times on two wild pitches and a passed ball.

The Brewers have proven to be a thorn in the Mets’ side this year. Jason Szenes / New York Post

Only the Nationals have stolen more bases than the Brewers this season. It is not just the total number of thefts but where they have come from: Entering Saturday, 10 different Brewers had swiped at least nine bases, virtually everyone a threat.

“We’re going to run every time we’re on base,” Murphy said before taking advantage of Francisco Alvarez and a Mets pitching staff that was too slow to the plate.

The Mets rank 19th in throwing runners out, better since adding Luis Torrens and ditching Omar Narvaez but still not particularly strong.

If Carlos Mendoza’s group finds its way to the postseason, it would not be surprising if teams such as the Brewers exploit them on the bases.

Rhys Hoskins crushed a grand slam against the Mets on Friday. Jason Szenes / New York Post

The Brewers are locked in as the No. 3 seed in the National League and await a matchup with whomever, from the Mets to the Braves to the Diamondbacks, winds up with the third wild card.

If a date with the NL Central champions felt preferable to a face-off with the No. 4 seed Padres a few days ago, perhaps Friday’s game served as a reminder that the Brewers do a lot right.

Playing for nothing because their seed is guaranteed, Murphy signaled he wouldn’t use any relievers on back-to-back days.

After Frankie Montas lasted just four innings — the Brewers rotation is merely OK — Murphy turned to a bullpen that has been the second-best in baseball and didn’t even bother using his best arm in Devin Williams.

Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Devin Williams (38) pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the ninth inning at PNC Park earlier this week. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

Joe Ross, Hoby Milner and Trevor Megill shut down Mets bats for the final five innings, lowering the group’s ERA to 3.16.

Only the Guardians’ 2.59 ERA was better.

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The Brewers rarely blow leads, with the second-best save percentage in the game, and they do not hand over games, which includes excellent defensive work.

Only the Royals entered play with a slightly better grade at Statcast’s Runs Prevented.

At least in the Gold Glove conversations will be Brice Turang (second base), Joey Ortiz (third base) and Sal Frelick (right field).

Brice Turang has been a strong defender for the Brewers. Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Perhaps rookie Jackson Chourio, too, but he has split time at the corner outfield spots.

“We’ve got a bunch of young energy. Young energy that love to play,” Murphy said. “We’re a really good baserunning team. We’re a really good defensive team. … You’ve got to do a lot of different things. Not everybody’s going to be able to do those things, but you can’t put all your eggs in one basket.”

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September 28, 2024
Nicole Auerbach’s Week 4 College Football Playoff projection

Texas jumped up to No. 1 in both the AP poll and my College Football Playoff projection this week, mostly thanks to a shaky overall performance by Georgia in the Bulldogs’ 13-12 win over unranked Kentucky. But it’s also a testament to the strengths of the Longhorns, who already had the most enviable backup quarterback situation in the country coming into last Saturday, with a five-star member of football royalty waiting in the wings behind a Heisman Trophy-caliber starter. Then, Quinn Ewers suffered an abdominal/oblique injury, and Arch Manning was thrust into the game against UTSA.

Manning was — in a word — dazzling. Two touchdowns in his first three plays, including a 67-yard touchdown run . Five total touchdowns. One bonafide star. And that’s what made it easy to slide Texas up to the top spot without knowing exactly when Ewers will return. This team can withstand an injury at the most important position in football. Plus, it’s got a nice win at Michigan as a feather in its cap already — while Georgia was fortunate to escape from Lexington, Ky., without a loss this past weekend. That’s why I’ve swapped the two and plugged Texas into the SEC champion spot and put Georgia as the top at-large team.

Ohio State and Miami remain at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, after the Buckeyes’ idle week and yet another blowout win for the ‘Canes. They’ll stay in their current spots until they face teams that actually teach us something about them. I’ve moved Kansas State into the Big 12 champion slot after an impressive win over Arizona last Friday night. That conference still feels like it could be anyone’s to win, and while that wasn’t a league game — yes, I know, it’s very confusing — it still gives me a better sense of the pecking order of the top Big 12 teams. I’ve kept Utah in the mix as an at-large team because I still believe the Utes, when healthy, are one of the toughest outs in the country. Kyle Whittingham teams don’t beat themselves.

Oregon had an important win over in-state rival Oregon State last weekend, a get-right game for its offense after two somewhat lethargic showings. So, the Ducks remain in the 5-8 seed range as the second-best team in the Big Ten to date, followed by Penn State, which sneaks in as an at-large team. Meanwhile, in the SEC, Alabama is rolling behind Jalen Milroe. Tennessee is cruising behind Nico Iamaleava. And Missouri came back to earn a hard-fought victory over a solid Boston College team. All three of those teams should stay in the CFP hunt as the season goes on.

Nicole Auerbach participated in a mock CFP selection exercise last week, learning how to select, seed and bracket the new 12-team Playoff field.

New to my 12-team bracket this week is UNLV. The Rebels are 3-0 on the season for the first time since 1984 with two wins over Big 12 opponents (Houston and Kansas). Barry Odom’s team is one to watch in the Group of 5 race because of both its on-field performance but also the resume it is building that would stack up favorably against top contenders in other Group of 5 conferences. Of course, UNLV would have to win the Mountain West to be in the mix for a CFP bid, but it’s certainly playing well enough to do just that so far this season. So, let’s plug the Rebels into the bracket this week as a new favorite to land that coveted top-ranked G5 champion spot.

A scheduling note: I’ll project the 12-team CFP each week for the rest of the season, and once the selection committee begins unveiling its rankings in November, I’ll analyze them each week as well.

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September 18, 2024
Eddy Alvarez brings an Olympic mindset to Mets playoff chase

TORONTO — Eddy Alvarez was riding a bus with his Triple-A Red Sox teammates over the weekend when he learned he had just been thrust into a pennant race.

Traded to the Mets after clearing waivers, the 34-year-old infielder was selected to the major league roster on Monday and arrived at Rogers Centre eager to assume his role as the team’s extra September position player.

Alvarez — who hadn’t appeared in the major leagues this season — replaced infielder Pablo Reyes, who was designated for assignment.

“It feels like what I was meant for,” Alvarez said before the Mets faced the Blue Jays. “I love this kind of baseball. I have always thought of myself as a playoff baseball player, a guy that could bunt guys over, hit and run, have a good at-bat. The fact this organization saw something in me playing at Triple-A gives me confidence and I want to do everything in my power to help this club for this final push.”

WooSox player Eddy Alvarez earned an Olympic silver medal in speed skating. Rick Cinclair/Telegram & Gazette / USA TODAY NETWORK

Nerves shouldn’t be an issue for the Miami native, who won a silver medal for the United States at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi competing in short track speed skating as part of the 5,000 meter relay team.

He also was part of the 2020 U.S. baseball team that won the silver medal at the Tokyo Summer Olympics held in 2021.

Alvarez is one of only three U.S. athletes to win medals in both the Summer and Winter Olympics.

Jim Thorpe is the only other athlete to play Major League Baseball and win an Olympic medal in another sport.

“It’s one of those stories that is very unique and I love to share it,” Alvarez said. “The Olympic experience for me was something special and not many people get to experience that so if I can share with other players that probably won’t get to experience that, it’s fun.”

Alvarez, who has spent stints in the major leagues with the Marlins and Dodgers, said his skating career provided the discipline he needed to get this far in baseball.

Eddy Alvarez of the United States competes in the Short Track Speed Skating Men’s 1500m qualifying on day 3 of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Iceberg Skating Palace on February 10, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. Getty Images

Catcher Francisco Alvarez #4 of the New York Mets looks on as Adam Duvall #14 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates his second inning two-run home run with teammate Eddie Rosario #8 at Citi Field on July 26, 2024 in New York City. Getty Images

Alvarez’s major league debut didn’t occur until he turned 30.

“These [Olympic] athletes that dedicate their life, everything, their entire day-to-day, their social life, everything for this one opportunity,” Alvarez said. “And some don’t ever get that opportunity. The fact that you have to lock it in for one weekend to be able to represent the country to potentially win a medal, you do get put into high-intensity situations — high-leverage situations. Transitioning that over to baseball has really propelled me in gaining ground and all the time that I have lost.”

Alvarez appeared in 114 games this season at Triple-A for the Red Sox and owned an .811 OPS with 18 stolen bases.

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He gives the Mets an option at second base, shortstop, third base and the outfield.

The Mets need the versatility following Jeff McNeil’s placement on the injured list Sunday with a right wrist fracture that will cost him the remainder of the regular season.

“This is something where I feel prepared and prepared to take on this role, but that [Olympics] journey has elevated my baseball career,” Alvarez said. “If not for my skating journey I probably would not have gotten this far.”

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September 10, 2024