June Swoon Ends Yankees' Ben Rice's AL MVP Bid
June Swoon Ends Yankees' Ben Rice's AL MVP Bid
Yankees first baseman Ben Rice is struggling without right fielder Aaron Judge in the lineup.Michael Rosenstein|
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New York YankeesThe numbers never lie. And that's not a good thing for Yankees first baseman Ben Rice.
Through the first two months of the season, Rice looked like a legitimate American League MVP candidate. He ranked among the league leaders in home runs and topped the majors in OPS, solidifying himself as one of baseball's top sluggers.
Then right fielder and three-time MVP Aaron Judge landed on the injured list with a fractured rib. And Rice's season went off the rails.
Ben Rice isn't cooking
The 27-year-old slugger is just 2-for 28 over his last eight games and went hitless in the Yankees' lost weekend in Boston as the Red Sox completed a four-game sweep of New York for the first time since 2018, capping off a forgettable June.
Rice is hitting just .202 in June without Judge in the lineup. Yes, he has slugged five home runs this month but still sports an underwhelming .658 OPS with The Captain on the injured list. As a result, the Yankees surrendered first place in the American League East to the Rays, and Rice's MVP candidacy went up in smoke.
Rice's AL MVP odds sit fourth at +1600 on FanDuel Sportsbook, significantly behind the Astros' Yordan Álvarez (-150), the Athletics' Nick Kurtz (+260) and the Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. (+650). Barring a miracle second-half performance, it's safe to see that the Yankees slugger's slump has put an end to his bid.
Rice misses Aaron Judge
Judge's aforementioned injury is one factor going into Rice's declining MVP argument.
“I don’t see guys pressing, including Ben,’’ Yankees hitting coach James Rowson said, according to the New York Post's Dan Martin. “When you miss that caliber of hitter Judge is, it’s an adjustment period for everyone. Guys have done a good job stepping up without Judge, and you’re gonna have stretches like this.”
A quick look at the home run leaders in the majors shows Rice tied for fifth with 22 taters. But he's dropped to eighth in OPS (.928). And his slide comes despite former MVP Paul Goldschmidt exceeding all expectations. The 38-year-old slugger is providing cover for Rice, hitting .323 with eight home runs, 22 RBIs and a .960 OPS in June.
Before going down, Judge and Rice had dreams of chasing each other for MVP and aiming to become the first set of teammates with 50-home-run seasons since Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris slugged their way to the 1961 World Series title.
ESPN projects Rice will hit 43 home runs, but without a target return date for Judge, Robin will have to carry the load while the Caped Crusader recovers.
Rice forced to do the heavy lifting
“Ben is already a threat in this league, with or without Judge,’’ Rowson said, per Martin. “Pitchers' game plan against Ben Rice. Maybe it’s tougher for him now, but he’s capable and ready for it. We’ve got to bounce back.”
The Yankees are just 3-7 in their last 10 games and 12-12 without Judge in the lineup, leaving them in second place in the AL East. But New York owns a healthy lead in the AL Wild Card standings and FanGraphs gives the club a 98.2% chance of making the playoffs.
Look, there's plenty of season left for Rice to rally and carry the Yankees' struggling offense. But without Judge (and Giancarlo Stanton, for that matter) in the lineup, the first baseman is showing he's not ready for the prime-time spotlight that comes with an MVP award.
Odds update periodically and are subject to change.
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MICHAEL ROSENSTEINProfessor and award-winning multimedia journalist with three decades of success leading newsrooms, control rooms and classrooms.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
