Chalk Talk

Connor Shanahan ’24

What have been the major factors for the Phillies’s World Series run?

Austin Bouvel: “Definitely Bryce Harper, I think he will win MVP this year. The Phillies have done a great job of building a team around him, and he is their best hitter. Other players like Kyle Schwarber, Rhys Hoskins, and Jean Segura have also stepped up to the plate with crucial runs. I also think the pitching for the Phillies has been really good, with Zach Wheeler being the main pitcher, and surprisingly Jose Alvarado and Seranthony Dominguez from the bullpen have also made great plays from the mound. Overall, the Phillies are looking really good, and I hope they continue this winning streak as they start the World Series.”

Jack Logan: “The Phillies have been winning because they’re hot. Everyone from big names like Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber to lesser players like Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh have all contributed in the lineup, and are playing well above where many expected them to. Also, pitching has been better. The bullpen has pitched much better than they did in the regular season and starters like ranger Suarez and Zack Wheeler have been crucial to winning games. Another thing they have going for them is Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies are 5-0 in the postseason at home, with two of those games clinching the NLDS and NLCS.”

Anonymous: “The Astros have supreme depth at starting pitcher and have some hard throwing arms in the bullpen. It will also be very difficult for the Phillies to hold off the Astros’ strong lineup especially when they can always tell which pitch is coming. 

How does the Christian McCaffery trade affect his fantasy value?

Gautam: “There is no question, it absolutely raises his value and Fitsum as Panthers fan and avid football watcher has an excellent explanation.”

Fitsum: “In terms of the next two or three weeks, it lowers his value because obviously as a NFL player in the dynamic offense that 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has created, there is a lot to learn, it is a very complicated offense. He has to learn the playbook and everything. But for the fantasy playoffs and in dynasty leagues, Kyle Shanahan is so, so intelligent on how to use his players. He turns average players into great players. What do you think he can do with a great player?”

Ronak: “I don’t think this will be very good for Christian McCaffrey. In Carolina, he played for a trash team who would either run it only to him or whenever any quarterback would try to throw the ball, they would just check it down because they had no success throwing more than five yards. But on the 49ers, in an actually well built offense, I think those touches will find themselves more elusive.”

Colin Schlitt: “He is on my fantasy football team and honestly, I didn’t know how to feel when Cristian McCaffery got traded to the 49ers. I mean I think he has more opportunity there but there is a little more competition like he will have to compete against running backs like Jeff Wilson Jr. and Elijah Mitchell. But he is in a better offense and I know he has a better quarterback in Jimmy Garoppolo who is much better than he who shall not be named.”

How do you feel about the 76ers slow start?

Brendan Schlitt: “I just think that they have had some tough matchups. We can’t really put an excuse on the Spurs loss which sucked. But I think we really put up a good fight against the Bucks even if we choked the lead away, but then again you have to take into consideration that they’re playing against Giannis who is arguably the best player in the league. I am happy with how James Harden has performed and it is very promising. I think he exceeded a lot of expectations. However, our depth and bench has not been performing well as we have been forced to play our starters, most of whom are on the older side, for the entire game so they are getting winded and can not keep up in the second half.”

Rohan Sivakumar: “I think the 76ers’ heavy dependence on Harden’s ability to create offensively reduces their offense to a basic level, something teams will catch onto quickly. The sixers may be successful in spurts, but the problems will take a while to sort out.”

Which High School sport is better to watch: Rugby or Football?

Khoa Tran: “Rugby. I’m sorry. The crowds in South Africa just get way more hype. Friday Night Lights crowds suck. People got to show up to the dome, and like actually cheer for their team because I know we win them and that’s great and all but you still got to be there to support. The South African crowds just got rowdy bro. Look up South African rugby chants; they go hard. The crowds are just better because why, you guys suck and you need to step it up.”

Rob Forrest: “The atmosphere was much better in South Africa. More people, more energy, it’s a lot more, the crowds are going against each other. So it’s not like it’s just the home team there. Rugby is also more entertaining to watch, fully. More big hits, more fast pace.”

Rohan Sivakumar: “I think football is more entertaining as a high school sport because of the nature of the game. The stop-and-go, play-by-play structure of football allows the opportunity for the big play to get the student section going, while the free flow of rugby could potentially be seen as monotonous.”