Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/561665
IRISH IN THE PROS for a few minutes and was expected to miss only one week. • Nose guard Louis Nix played 20 snaps (the second-most on the defense) while starting in the Houston Texans' preseason opener in place of Vince Wilfork, his childhood idol. The Texans hope he can add depth to a quality defensive line. "He had a long rookie year," Houston head coach Bill O'Brien told reporters. "He had a knee issue and a wrist issue. It 's good that he's back out there. He's a good kid. "We know these rookies sometimes go through tough times their [first] year because they're in- jured, through no fault of their own." MLB PLAYERS UPDATE Through Aug. 23 • John Axford (Played at Notre Dame from 2002‑05), RHP, Colorado Rockies: Temporarily lost the closer role in late July before regaining it in mid-August … Has pitched in 44 games out of the bullpen with a 4-5 record, 17 saves and 4.65 ERA … Has tossed 40 2 ⁄3 innings, allowed 43 hits and 24 walks, and fanned 42. • David Phelps (2006‑08), RHP, Miami Marlins: Was placed on the 15-day disabled list with el- bow discomfort Aug. 17, and a week later it was learned that he had suffered a season-ending stress fracture in the radius bone of his pitching arm … Notched a 4-8 record and 4.50 ERA in 23 games (19 starts) before being shut down … Com- piled 112 innings, struck out 77, and surrendered 119 hits and 33 walks. • A.J. Pollock (2007‑10), OF, Arizona Diamond‑ backs: Earned a trip to the All-Star Game as a representative of the National League … In August, he became the second player in Diamondbacks history to notch 30 doubles and 30 steals in one season … Was hitting .324 with 13 home runs and 54 RBI in 118 games played … Ranked first in the NL in runs scored (88), third in stolen bases (33), fourth in batting average and 10th in OPS (.871, which is on-base percentage plus slugging percentage). • Jeff Samardzija (2003‑06), RHP, Chicago White Sox: The free agent to be has had a disappointing season to date with an 8-9 record and 4.64 ERA in 25 starts … The advanced metrics, however, show that his season has simply been average as opposed to bad — his FIP (Fielding Indepen- dent Pitching, a stat that removes factors such as ballpark variability and defensive ability) is 4.02, suggesting that his ERA is worse than how he has actually pitched … In 170 2 ⁄3 innings of work, he has whiffed 127 batters while allowing 179 hits and 35 walks. ✦ George Atkinson (2011-13) RB Oakland Raiders Robert Blanton (2008-11) DB Minnesota Vikings Kyle Brindza (2011-14) K/P Detroit Lions Sergio Brown (2006-09) S Jacksonville Jaguars David Bruton (2005-08) S Denver Broncos Braxston Cave (2008-12) C Detroit Lions Jimmy Clausen (2007-09) QB Chicago Bears DaVaris Daniels (2011-14) WR Minnesota Vikings IRISH IN THE NFL Through Aug. 23 Name (Years At Notre Dame) Pos. Current Team