The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1279712
46 THE WOLVERINE SEPTEMBER 2020 BY AUSTIN FOX T rey Burke's career had been trending in the wrong direction in recent years, with the 27-year-old having spent time with three different NBA organi- zations since the start of the 2018-19 season. He was waived by the Philadelphia 76ers Feb. 6 and signed by the Dal- las Mavericks for the sec- ond time in his pro tenure July 1, after playing in 25 games with them last year. In his first outing back against Houston July 31, the former Wolverine racked up 31 points while connecting on 8 of 10 three-pointers. "After Burke said he wasn't surprised at what he did against Houston, he added that his teammates and the coaching staff en- couraged him to play that way," James Herbert of CBS Sports wrote Aug. 1. "Burke said they were 'telling me that's who I am, that's why they brought me back.'" He followed it up with a combined 11 points in his next two games, but then turned in four straight double- digit scoring performances from Aug. 6-11, helping lead Dallas to the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference playoffs in the process. The 12.0 points per game Burke averaged in eight regular-season af- fairs with the Mavericks may not be eye-popping numbers, but it's the second-highest scoring total he has posted with any team since his soph- omore NBA campaign of 2014-15. The MLB JAKE CRONENWORTH'S CAREER OFF TO A SIZZLING HOT START At just 26 years old, San Diego Padres rookie utility infielder Jake Cronenworth's career has gotten off to the kind of start most players dream of. His .302 batting average and .947 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) both ranked third on the team. "Until he cools off, Cronenworth can provide that much-needed of- fense," Nick Stevens of CallTo- ThePen.com explained while discuss- ing the offensive value the rookie has brought to San Diego's lineup. "As a bonus, he has successfully limited his strikeouts since becoming a pro- fessional and has routinely posted double-digit walk rates." FORMER WOLVERINES ON MLB ROSTERS Through Aug. 17 • James Bourque (Played at U-M from 2012-14), RHP, Washington Nationals: Made the reigning World Series cham- pion's opening-day roster … Tossed 1⅓ scoreless innings in two appearances out of the 8-12 Nationals' bullpen, but was sent down to the team's alternate train- ing site in Fredericksburg, Va., on Aug. 6. • J a k e C r o n e n w o r t h (2013-15), INF, San Diego Padres: Batted .302 with two home runs and six RBI in his first 18 games as a utility infielder for the 12-12 Padres … Accu- mulated five doubles, two tri- ples, a .362 on-base percentage and a stellar .947 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage). • Rich Hill (2000-02), LHP, Minnesota Twins: Picked up a the win after pitching five scoreless innings in his first start for the 15-8 Twins … Placed on the injured list Aug. 4 with shoulder fatigue, but was expected to return to the mound in late August. • Ryan LaMarre (2008-11), OF, Chicago Cubs: Has spent the entirety of the 2020 cam- paign at the 14-7 Cubs' alter- nate training site in South Bend, Ind. • Clayton Richard (2005), LHP, Chicago White Sox: Signed to a minor league deal by the 12-11 White Sox Aug. 3, but was still at the organization's alternate training site in Schaumburg, Ill., as of mid- August. The NBA CARIS LEVERT PUTS ON A SHOW IN THE REGULAR-SEASON FINALE Brooklyn Nets guard Caris LeVert poured in 37 points, dished out nine assists and grabbed six rebounds in his club's final regular-season game Aug. 13, albeit in a 134-133 loss to Portland. The performance caught the atten- tion of the basketball world that night, including that of longtime NBA star Dwayne Wade. "Caris LeVert is a young monster!!!" Wade tweeted out, after the 25-year- old connected on 16 of 29 shots (55.2 percent). The scoring total was tied for his second-highest output of the season, MICHIGAN IN THE PROS Trey Burke's Second Stint With Dallas Has Revitalized His Career In eight regular-season contests with Dallas, Burke averaged 12.0 points a game, which would've marked his best scoring output since 2014-15. PHOTO COURTESY DALLAS MAVERICKS