![UNSUNG GENIUS: Dissecting Dusty Baker's bullpen brilliance for his sabermetric critics](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/f92541a9b3ac7eaa9a37480550d7754e.jpg)
UNSUNG GENIUS: Dissecting Dusty Baker's bullpen brilliance for his sabermetric critics
Dusty Baker “ought to be part of the conversation around MLB’s best-ever managers,” concluded Neil Paine from FiveThirtyEight after studying the most overachieving managers, and “shouldn’t need a ring to validate his career.” Agreed. Let’s go further....
![Geno Smith was always a starting QB](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/e7f7567a848c386c57af4917497291ad.jpg)
Geno Smith was always a starting QB
If you think Geno Smith’s performance Monday night was a fluke, you haven’t been paying attention....
![QB guru Jim Caldwell is Exhibit A in Brian Flores lawsuit, we’ve got the receipts](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/541c130f4a3d35ec631aee01fb7cf746.jpg)
QB guru Jim Caldwell is Exhibit A in Brian Flores lawsuit, we’ve got the receipts
Before we get into Brian Flores lawsuit against the NFL, let’s get something straight: The brilliant Jim Caldwell has been the best available coach for four straight years, especially for teams developing young quarterbacks....
![To hell with ESPN for trashing Geno Smith as his teammates praise ‘phenomenal’ performance](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/5c047383573b86879547ddabeac49ade.jpg)
To hell with ESPN for trashing Geno Smith as his teammates praise ‘phenomenal’ performance
Some people watch NFL games, and others just read about them. If you are in the latter category and visited ESPN’s website or saw its article on Twitter, your opening frame and video would be this:...
![Lamar Jackson’s FIRST 1000 passes mark NFL’s greatest QB start ever — seriously](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/2ae52b739b6d518bd16392f9792f6c6c.jpg)
Lamar Jackson’s FIRST 1000 passes mark NFL’s greatest QB start ever — seriously
On Sunday Lamar Jackson completed a pass on 4th and 19 to set up Justin Tucker’s record 66-yard field goal. This came one week after leading the Ravens to a thrilling 36-35 comeback win against the Chiefs....
![Giannis' NBA title and KD’s big toe are latest examples of media’s ‘Winner Myth’ fallacy](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/f1f5f9de6ef02e570c246727d28c3136.jpg)
Giannis' NBA title and KD’s big toe are latest examples of media’s ‘Winner Myth’ fallacy
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s performance in the NBA Finals to beat the Phoenix Suns was epic. ...
![Why players and coaches love Cam Newton, but Patriots fans don’t](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/dm1teumyxxjx4ndiasbu.jpg)
Why players and coaches love Cam Newton, but Patriots fans don’t
There is a deep Cam Newton divide in New England....
![Jackie Robinson would be condemning police terror and white America were he alive today](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/lt6rpglu8bescpmjfg8n.jpg)
Jackie Robinson would be condemning police terror and white America were he alive today
Yesterday was April 15th, Jackie Robinson Day, baseball’s annual event of empty tributes to cover up the fact that 90 percent of teams refuse to hire Black or Hispanic executives or managers despite Jackie’s dying wishes. ...
![Jim Caldwell talking to us about Matt Stafford is the perfect time for us to talk about Jim Caldwell](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/ggu4cgyysvrfcq8obtq0.jpg)
Jim Caldwell talking to us about Matt Stafford is the perfect time for us to talk about Jim Caldwell
What can the Rams expect with Matt Stafford?...
![Dwayne Haskins sacrificed for NFL Nepotism of Scott Turner, Norv’s Son](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/gijqck9q8cxo5btntkku.jpg)
Dwayne Haskins sacrificed for NFL Nepotism of Scott Turner, Norv’s Son
New Washington Football Team Head Coach Ron Rivera made one of the riskiest hires imaginable going into 2020. Despite inheriting a young developing quarterback in Dwayne Haskins, he hired Scott Turner as his offensive coordinator, a man who has never won a single game in that capacity....
![The NFL is Blackballing Eric Reid, too](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/fukxu71s5fdkk6sgjqch.jpg)
The NFL is Blackballing Eric Reid, too
On March 29, ESPN ranked its top 15 remaining NFL free agents. Like nearly all NFL free-agent lists, it failed to include NFL free agent Colin Kaepernick....
![Police Terrorize Black Lives Matter Plaza after Media Goes to Bed; Protestors turn to Midnight Yoga](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/h9j5artyfutn4oieryix.jpg)
Police Terrorize Black Lives Matter Plaza after Media Goes to Bed; Protestors turn to Midnight Yoga
Saturday night marked another session of “Midnight Yoga” on Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington D.C....
![Great Kyle Shanahan Interview on Policing, White Privilege and Black Coaches Undermined by Treatment of Kaepernick and Reid](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/kxh7dypiftq8vb44e1s2.jpg)
Great Kyle Shanahan Interview on Policing, White Privilege and Black Coaches Undermined by Treatment of Kaepernick and Reid
The international uprising in response to George Floyd’s murder, police brutally beating protesters in every city and backlash from NFL players suddenly has Roger Goodell, NFL owners, executives, and coaches racing to see who can raise the Black Lives Matter Fists in the air the highest. Responses h...
!['The NFL is Racist': Martellus Bennett Absolutely Shreds Brees, NFL, Media, Coaches in Epic Tweets](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/ujwzsyo7dcjcarqvghgu.jpg)
'The NFL is Racist': Martellus Bennett Absolutely Shreds Brees, NFL, Media, Coaches in Epic Tweets
Black athletes have been calling out big name white stars to step up in response to the murder of George Floyd. What they’ve received is a pathetic, insulting and appalling response from Drew Brees. As part of a backlash by many players and teammates, on a day that ended with a 23-Part Twitter shell...
!['We Need Your Voices' — Black Athletes Question If White Players Give a Damn About Their Lives](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/npzw2we4foul8coofnaw.jpg)
'We Need Your Voices' — Black Athletes Question If White Players Give a Damn About Their Lives
“To my white brothers, I love you. Every race here, I love you,” Stephen Jackson told a Minneapolis crowd. “But it comes to a point now where if you love me and you’re not standing on the side of me, then your love don’t mean shit.”...
![“Save the Bullshit”: Roger Goodell and Jed York Insult Kaepernick with Fake Concern for George Floyd](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/s5ssxawrsfaqhac5ttmq.jpg)
“Save the Bullshit”: Roger Goodell and Jed York Insult Kaepernick with Fake Concern for George Floyd
After Texans wide receiver Kenny Stills read NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s statement yesterday on the death of George Floyd, he could only muster up three words: ...
![Distraught Stephen Jackson’s Pain About George Floyd is Real: White People Need To Listen](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/kzzbey06eckg6qrykkkj.jpg)
Distraught Stephen Jackson’s Pain About George Floyd is Real: White People Need To Listen
The world has seen the gut-wrenching killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin as his colleagues refused to stop a murder in progress....
![Ahmaud Arbery Was 'Unforgettable' Young Man Who Had A Passion For Running And Football](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/eo4q7o8b4dnjaorv1hzd.jpg)
Ahmaud Arbery Was 'Unforgettable' Young Man Who Had A Passion For Running And Football
Ahmaud Arbery was a special player....
![Trayvon's Murder Reignited Athlete Activism, but Ahmaud Arbery and Sean Reed Show Little Has Changed](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/nirslwc7nqebfgovj9aw.jpg)
Trayvon's Murder Reignited Athlete Activism, but Ahmaud Arbery and Sean Reed Show Little Has Changed
The killing of Ahmaud Arbery is Travon Martin 2.0....
![Knicks Held Jordan In Check But Let The Bulls Escape. No, I'm Not Bitter At All](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/mh2scfvyxh1jchbcwbqb.jpg)
Knicks Held Jordan In Check But Let The Bulls Escape. No, I'm Not Bitter At All
“We had a championship team, we really did,” says former Knicks coach Pat Riley in the book Garden Glory. “We just had the unfortunate experience to come around at a time when Michael Jordan was around.”...