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Keegan Thompson May Open Season in Iowa as Bullpen Takes Shape – Cubs Insider

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Keegan Thompson May Open Season in Iowa as Bullpen Takes Shape – Cubs Insider


The Cubs have proven off fairly an array of hard-throwing relievers with sick stuff this spring, although developments with a few of their incumbent pitchers might make bullpen development harder than initially thought. Along with how particular person pitchers look in Mesa, the membership has to weigh the worth of minor league choices and the truth that they’ve nonetheless acquired only one lefty reliever on the roster.

One of many largest complicating elements up to now has been the disappointing efficiency of Keegan Thompson, who was slotted right into a aid position previous to the beginning of camp. Thompson’s fastball velocity isn’t the place the Cubs would really like it to be and his secondaries haven’t been as crisp, so there’s a definite chance that he’ll go to Iowa to work some issues out.

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That leaves Adbert Alzolay as the first lengthy reliever, which wouldn’t be unhealthy in any respect aside from the truth that the staff would favor to raised shield the rotation. One very sturdy chance to affix Alzolay is Javier Assad, who has pitched very effectively for Mexico within the WBC and whose fastball is within the higher 90s at this level. Assuming Hayden Wesneski earns the fifth rotation spot, Assad ought to get an opportunity within the bullpen over Adrian Sampson.

Brandon Hughes is that lone lefty within the ‘pen and he’s been lower than nice this spring, which begs the query of why the Cubs by no means introduced in backup. Jed Hoyer teased an addition a short while again and all indicators appeared to level to Zack Britton as a match, however I assume the cash simply hasn’t labored out. Mark Leiter Jr. put up nice reverse splits and might be used as a pseudo-southpaw, however he’ll need to be given a roster spot.

After all, Britton would have required a spot as effectively and one might be cleared by transferring somebody to the 60-day IL.

There are another attention-grabbing choices to make with Cam Sanders, who I’d personally prefer to see make it, and Jeremiah Estrada. Each might have to attend, as Sahadev Sharma writes that they’re each “in all probability ticketed for Triple A” to open the season. Michael Fulmer ought to earn a bulk of the save probabilities, assuming his teammates put him able to take action, however there are a number of others who may take the ninth in given conditions.

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All we actually know for certain is that the Cubs have a whole lot of choices, lots of which can proceed to bubble up from the minors. For the primary time in years, there’s a way that every part doesn’t need to go completely proper to ensure that the employees to succeed.





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Latest Iowa high school volleyball rankings reveal regional pairings

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Latest Iowa high school volleyball rankings reveal regional pairings


It was an important date around the state for volleyball teams in Iowa, as the latest rankings were released and regional pairings in all five classes were revealed.

The two come into play once regionals reach the championship round, as the higher-ranked team will serve as the host for those games.

All five No. 1 squads remained the same, as Ankeny Centennial (Class 5A), Cedar Rapids Xavier (4A), Mount Vernon (3A), Denver (2A) and Ankeny Christian (1A) held serve.

New teams to the Top-15 include Iowa City West in 5A, Ballard in 4A, Wapsie Valley in 2A and Stanton in 1A. The entire 3A poll remained the same while Sidney made one of the biggest climbs, moving to ninth from 12th in 1A.

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Regional play for 1A and 2A begins Oct. 21 with 3A, 4A and 5A starting Oct. 22. The state tournament is scheduled for Nov. 4-7 in Coralville from the Xtream Arena. Complete regional pairings can be found on Bound.

Class 5A

1. Ankeny Centennial; 2. Pleasant Valley; 3. Ankeny; 4. West Des Moines Dowling; 5. Indianola; 6. Waukee Northwest; 7. Cedar Falls; 8. Cedar Rapids Prairie; 9. Waukee; 10. Iowa City Liberty; 11. West Des Moines Valley; 12. Sioux City East; 13. Iowa City West; 14. Iowa City High; 15. Linn-Mar.

Class 4A

1. Cedar Rapids Xavier; 2. Sioux City Bishop Heelan; 3. North Scott; 4. Clear Creek-Amana; 5. Lewis Central; 6. Pella; 7. Glenwood; 8. Carlisle; 9. Marion; 10. Adel-ADM; 11. Norwalk; 12. Sergeant Bluff-Luton; 13. MOC-Floyd Valley; 14. Ballard; 15. Grinnell.

Class 3A

1. Mount Vernon; 2. Western Christian; 3. West Delaware; 4. Dubuque Wahlert; 5. Davenport Assumption; 6. Sioux Center; 7. Carroll Kuemper; 8. Mid-Prairie; 9. Cherokee; 10. Wilton; 11. Solon; 12. Anamosa; 13. Roland-Story; 14. Clarinda; 15. Nevada.

Class 2A

1. Denver; 2. Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont; 3. Dyersville Beckman; 4. Dike-New Hartford; 5. Aplington-Parkersburg; 6. South Hardin; 7. Boyden-Hull; 8. Pella Christian; 9. Iowa City Regina; 10. Hinton; 11. Grundy Center; 12. Sumner-Fredericksburg; 13. Wapsie Valley; 14. West Burlington; 15. Shenandoah.

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Class 1A

1. Ankeny Christian; 2. Holy Trinity; 3. Saint Ansgar; 4. Riverside; 5. BCLUW; 6. Janesville; 7. North Tama; 8. Don Bosco; 9. Sidney; 10. River Valley; 11. Akron-Westfield; 12. Stanton; 13. Fremont-Mills; 14. Southwest Valley; 15. Gladbrook-Reinbeck.



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Iowa high school football computer rankings (10/10/2024)

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Iowa high school football computer rankings (10/10/2024)


Week 6 of the 2024 Iowa high school football season has wrapped up, and High School on SI is continuing its weekly computer rankings for the season.

The Dowling Maroons kept their top five placing in this week’s 5A Iowa computer rankings after a thrilling 41-35 victory over Ankeny Centennial. They face a strong Urbandale team on Friday, to keep their momentum going.

The top of the 5A computer rankings stay the same this week as the Bettendorf Bulldogs take home another win, this time defeating Kennedy 33-14. The Bulldogs look forward to Friday, where they will travel to Davenport Central in hopes to hold their place in the standings.

SBLive’s formula was created using its linear algebra-based ranking algorithm inspired by the Colley Bias-Free Ranking Method. Colley’s Method was created by Wes Colley, Ph.D., an astrophysicist at the University of Alabama at Huntsville. He devised his algorithm to help address the subjectivity and controversy regarding BCS college football selections in the 1990s and early 2000s, using a method that used no subjective variables.

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  • FAQ: SBLive High School Football Computer Rankings

Here are SBLive’s latest Iowa football computer rankings, as of Oct. 7, 2024:

IOWA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COMPUTER RANKINGS

CLASS 5A | CLASS 4A

CLASS 3A | CLASS 2A

CLASS 1A | CLASS A

CLASS 8 MAN

DOWNLOAD THE SBLIVE APP

To get live updates on your phone — as well as follow your favorite teams and top games — you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App | Download Android App

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— Ben Dagg | @sblivesports



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Grinnell window manufacturer announces plans to lay off 152 workers in November

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Grinnell window manufacturer announces plans to lay off 152 workers in November


JELD-WEN, a manufacturer of windows and doors in Grinnell, has announced it will be laying off 152 workers effective Nov. 7.

The announcement was made on Iowa’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) site.

The company, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, was founded in 1960 and has 18,000 employees, with operating facilities in 16 countries in North America and Europe with 2023 sales of $4.3 billion, according to the company’s website.

JELD-WEN did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.

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Earlier this year, JELD-WEN announced the closing of its Hawkins, Wisconsin facility, affecting 338 employees, and in Vista, California, resulting in the loss of 110 jobs.



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