Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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IRISH IN THE PROS McFadden look like a Pro Bowl-cali- ber runner, despite having shaky QB play for half of the season," Pro Foot- ball Focus wrote. Eifert was a scoring machine for the Bengals in 2015 as part of a dy- namic offense that fell off after sig- nal-caller Andy Dalton suffered a season-ending injury. He caught 52 passes for 615 yards and 13 touch- downs despite missing three contests due to injury. "After an average rookie season and a sophomore campaign lost to injury, this was the first glimpse we had of the talent that made Eifert the No. 21 overall pick of the draft in 2013," Pro Football Focus wrote. "It was overall an excellent season punctuated by a few poor games that really hurt his overall grade. "At his best he looked like a le- gitimate matchup nightmare for de- fenses, with the ability to go down- field, as well as better blocking performances than most receiving TEs manage these days." MLB NOTES • In Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell's first season as the permanent manager of the organi- zation, the club started 15-21 and was ahead of only the Cincinnati Reds in the difficult National League Central. "It has been a lot of fun," he told The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "I love what we're doing. I love the challenge of it. The day to day of it is challenging and the bigger picture has been a challenge, also. "You have to think about the long term, too. When you get to the ballpark, you're thinking about day to day. When you're away from here, you're thinking about the long term." • The Orioles selected Pat Connaughton in the fourth round of the 2014 MLB Draft. He boasted a 2.51 ERA in six games the rest of that summer for the Orioles' low-Class A club. After Connaughton finished his collegiate career on the hardwood last spring with an Elite Eight appearance, the Portland Trail Blazers took him in the second round of the NBA Draft. For at least the time being, Connaughton has opted to give basketball a try. He averaged 1.1 points and 0.9 rebounds in 4.4 minutes per contest during the regular season. He averaged 1.3 minutes in six postseason con - tests before Portland was eliminated by the Golden State Warriors May 11. He expects to return to baseball eventually. "In my mind, I will pitch in MLB," Connaughton told The Baltimore Sun earlier this year. "I want to achieve that. That's a dream of mine. "I don't know when it will be, but a lot of pitching is based on how many bullets are in your arm compared to your age." MLB PLAYER UPDATE Through May 16 • John Axford (Played at Notre Dame from 2002‐05), RHP, Oakland A's: Has pitched in 14 games out of the bullpen with a 3-1 record, five holds and 3.38 ERA … Has tossed 16 innings, allowed 15 hits and two walks, and fanned 10. • Jeff Manship (2004‐08), RHP, Cleveland Indians: Has posted a 0-0 record with three holds and 4.22 ERA in 14 relief appearances … Has allowed 13 hits and six walks while striking out six in 10 2 ⁄3 innings. • David Phelps (2006‐08), RHP, Miami Marlins: Has notched a 2-2 mark, two saves, eight holds and 1.57 ERA in 20 relief outings … Compiled 27 strikeouts while sur- rendering 14 hits and nine walks in 23 innings. • A.J. Pollock (2007‐10), OF, Arizona Diamondbacks: Has been placed on the 60-day disabled list after suf- fering a fractured right elbow in a home-plate collision during an exhibition game in April … Not expected to resume baseball activities until July at the earliest. • Jeff Samardzija (2003‐06), RHP, San Francisco Gi‐ ants: Owned a 5-2 mark and 2.88 ERA through his first eight starts … In 56 1 ⁄3 innings of work, he has whiffed 47 batters while allowing 50 hits and 13 walks. ✦