Pirates' Konnor Griffin celebrates 20th birthday with best game of ML…

Pirates' Konnor Griffin celebrates 20th birthday with best game of MLB career originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Konnor Griffin is pretty much a wily veteran now.

After debuting in the major leagues at 19 years old, the Pittsburgh Pirates' shortstop phenom is 20 now. He celebrated his birthday on Friday, and he did it with the best game of his young MLB career.

Griffin went 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in a 6-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers.

The home run in and of itself was special -- it was the first of Griffin's major league career:

KONNOR GRIFFIN
20TH BIRTHDAY | 20TH MLB GAME
1ST MLB HOMER 🔥 pic.twitter.com/TKk2f28IIo

— MLB (@MLB) April 25, 2026

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Griffin would add a two-RBI hit later in the game to help polish off his night. It was the first three-hit game he's had in MLB, too.

He's also just the third player in MLB history to homer on his 20th (or younger) birthday, according to MLB Network's Sarah Langs.

The first to do so was Buddy Lewis in 1936.

Aramis Ramirez joined that list in 1998.

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And now here's Griffin, whose MLB tenure hadn't quite started with the fervor that many would've hoped for from the top prospect in the sport.

But sometimes, all it takes is one game. Griffin put good at bats together and got good results out of them.

Now a year older, on paper, Griffin may be ready to finally take MLB by storm.

The roaring twenties are on their way for Griffin.

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The sight of Eddie Howe squinting at the interviewer after another lifeless Newcastle United performance was just sad.

This is the man who, just over a year ago, was lauded as a club legend for delivering the first silverware in the living memory of a vast chunk of the fanbase.

He appears worn down by the exhausting task of guiding a talented team to elite expectations, which has taken a visible toll.

Howe’s achievements have raised expectations to unsustainable heights, trapping him in a cycle where success leads only to even harsher scrutiny.

The other reason his work is not recognised is that Newcastle United, under Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund’s ownership, is, on paper, the richest in the world.

Premier League investment rules and a lack of urgency in building a supporting structure have prevented both the assembly of a squad for sustained success and the creation of an executive framework to achieve it.

Much, therefore, has fallen on the English coach’s shoulders, and after nearly five years in charge, he’s starting to look jaded.

It was something Newcastle United club legend Alan Shearer picked up on, too.

"I look at his interview after the game, and I am not sure the fight is there,” said the ex-striker after the Magpies’ defeat to Bournemouth on the Rest is Football podcast.

“It is a very different club now to the one that he would want to go forward. He doesn’t look in a good position.

"As tough as it is for Eddie, I don’t know what is going to happen with him. I listened to his interview afterwards and I watched him on the touchline and I just think is he going to want to go again? Is he going to get the chance to go again?

"There are so many moving parts with it for him. If all things are equal, then yes, I would like him to [stay]. But does he feel as if he is going to have the chance? Does he want to do it again? Are Newcastle going to have to sell?

"If he has money to spend and he doesn’t have to sell, then, yeah. But I looked at the players yesterday, and if that was what they call fighting for their manager, because he is under huge pressure, whether you like it or not, they were terrible. They chucked him under the bus, the players. The performance was c**p from every single one of them.

"It is a tough situation, a tough summer for Newcastle coming up. They have got some big decisions to make. As I am sat here, I don’t see Eddie in charge of Newcastle next season, unfortunately.”

Once a manager’s motivation has seeped away—a point which is difficult to confirm—it’s tough to recover. This challenge is relevant now as the club faces mounting struggles.

Recent results for Newcastle have been dire, but it might not be because the coach has lost the love.

Nevertheless, even the loyal North East fanbase is starting to wonder what life might be without Howe, according to Sky Sports News reporter Keith Downie.

"The situation has not changed since the Bournemouth game but it feels like it’s about 50-50 within the fanbase as to whether they want Eddie Howe to remain in charge,” he claimed.

"Is that uncertainty feeding into the poor performances and the general negative mood? Potentially yes. This isn’t the Newcastle we've seen under the last couple of years, the swashbuckling style.

"It feels like some players have checked out, to an extent. Four defeats in a row, eight defeats from 11, and at St James’ Park which has previously been a fortress, five out of the last six matches have ended in defeat.

"I don’t think PIF [the club's owners] will make any knee-jerk reactions. They'll look at the situation at the end of the season, but so will Howe himself and question whether he is ready to go again.

"There is a question over whether he will stay at the club in the longer term, but we won’t get an answer to that question until the end of the season.

"The last one did not go well after spending £250m in the summer, and three out of the five big-money arrivals have not worked.

"Howe has to wear that, he didn’t get his first-choice signings but they were all players still on his list. He was asked a direct question about that a few weeks ago and confirmed that.

"But looking at the big-name stars, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon, who have both been at the centre of speculation about their futures, they’re guys who are going to look to move elsewhere if their ambitions don't feel matched by Newcastle.”

Though these issues are beyond Howe’s control, he must navigate them because there is no alternative leadership.

From the lack of progress in developing the stadium and training ground to the unedifying transfer saga involving Alexander Isak in the summer, Howe is the man who faces the questions.

Now the counterargument would be that this is what any manager at an elite club should expect.

But the brutal reality is that Newcastle United is not there yet, and therefore it is totally unfair to cast such a judgment.

As summer nears, the two parties must decide: commit to one final effort together, or choose to replace leadership and inject new energy into the dugout?

Newcastle’s task will remain steep, and Howe must now confront whether he still has the resolve for a challenge defined by outsized expectations and unstable foundations.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com

Real Madrid are already planning for a major reset ahead of the 2026/27 season, and the focus is not just on results – it is on identity.

Following what has been described as one of the most underwhelming ends to a La Liga campaign in recent memory, the mood around the club has shifted.

Disappointment on the pitch has been matched by growing frustration off the field, making a managerial change almost inevitable.

In that context, according to recent reports from AS, the Real Madrid hierarchy has now clearly defined what they want from their next head coach.

What’s the story?

As per the outlet, the club is placing strong emphasis on personality and leadership.

Real Madrid are specifically looking for a manager who can communicate effectively, handle pressure, and understand the internal dynamics of one of the biggest clubs in world football.

Over the past two decades, Madrid’s most successful periods have come under managers who were able to manage egos, maintain dressing room harmony, and deliver messages both on and off the pitch.

The club now wants to return to that model and most importantly, this does not signal a complete rebuild.

Real Madrid are exploring several opportunities. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

The belief within the club is that the current squad still has the quality required to compete at the highest level.

What is missing, however, is direction and the next manager will be expected to unlock that potential rather than start from scratch.

There are options

As such, several high-profile names have already been linked with the role.

Jurgen Klopp is admired for his leadership and intensity, while Mauricio Pochettino brings experience in developing squads.

However, each candidate presents complications, whether contractual, tactical, or stylistic, which has prevented Madrid from making a quick decision.

More recently, a new name has entered the conversation: Sebastian Hoeneß.

The German coach is gaining attention for his progressive ideas and structured approach, making him an intriguing option as Madrid explore alternatives beyond the obvious candidates.

At this stage, though, no final decision has been made, as Real Madrid are not rushing the process.

With Giménez absent from the squad, Simeone is not thinking about Arsenal for the time being.

Today’s match against Athletic has to help Atleti build confidence for what is coming against Arsenal next week. Simeone knows it, and that is why he is not hiding anything, at least not in the squad list.

Giménez, Nico González, Lookman and Hancko are the main absentees from a squad in which names like Julián, Griezmann and Baena are all included.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

The Chicago Bears surprised many with their all-offense theme of selections on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft, welcoming center Logan Jones, tight end Sam Roush and wide receiver Zavion Thomas to the roster.

While there's no denying their talent and potential, which is why they were drafted, there were concerns about why the Bears failed to address their biggest positional need in this draft through three rounds: Defensive line. Chicago has questions across the line, both along the interior and off the edge, when it comes to stopping the run and pressuring the quarterback.

General manager Ryan Poles has garnered plenty of criticism for his Day 2 moves, but he explained why the Bears ultimately passed on positional needs and opted for the best player available.