The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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SEPTEMBER 2017 THE WOLVERINE 81 MICHIGAN IN THE PROS 33-year-old spent his whole pro career with the Jets, but was recently signed by New England in June after being released by his former team. Harris played at Michigan from 2002-06. The MLB RICH HILL NAMED THE NATIONAL LEAGUE PITCHER OF THE MONTH FOR JULY Former Michigan standout pitcher Rich Hill (2000-02), now 37 years old, is at the top of his game, and he recently earned a huge honor. The Los Angeles Dodgers standout was named the National League Pitcher of the Month for July. This is Hill's second monthly award. He won his first in the Ameri- can League with the Oakland A's in May 2016. Hill finished 4-0 in July and closed the month with a 1.45 ERA, striking out 40 batters and walking only five. He stood 8-4 with a 3.47 ERA as of Aug. 7 and hadn't give up more than three earned runs in a game since mid-June, when he gave up seven at Cleveland. Los Angeles won all six of his starts in July. In a 50-game stretch from June 7 to Aug. 5, the Dodgers ripped off 43 wins — something no team had done in 105 years. "Some guys in the clubhouse prob- ably think I was on that team," Hill quipped about the 1912 New York Giants. "Yeah, I started back in '26 with Murderers' Row." Michigan's other MLB representa- tive, San Diego Padres lefty Clayton Richard, was on the other end of the spectrum in August. He went 0-5 with an 8.77 ERA over seven starts and stood 5-12 with a 5.17 ERA, 100 strikeouts and 40 walks as of Aug. 7. Richard did notch a quality start Aug. 6 at Pittsburgh, allowing four runs (none earned) on five hits and one walk in six innings of a 5-4 loss that resulted in a no-decision for him. He struck out five, and though he allowed four runs on three hits and a hit batsman in the third inning (following an error), he allowed just three base runners in his other five innings. The NBA TIM HARDAWAY JR. IS SURPRISED TO BE BACK WITH NEW YORK Tim Hardaway Jr. was once a New York Knicks castoff. Now he's ex- pected to be a franchise cornerstone after re-signing with the team that drafted him, this time for four years and $71 million. Hardaway averaged a career-high 14.5 points in 27.3 minutes per game with the Atlanta Hawks last season, after posting 10.5 points in 23.5 min- utes per contest in two seasons with the Knicks. "I was surprised," Hardaway, 25, told The New York Daily News. "I was surprised, but also happy at the same time. I wouldn't want to be with any other team. "Obviously there's pressure, but you've got to embrace it. You've got to take that to heart. I'm ready to do whatever I have to do to help this team succeed as a ballplayer on and off the court." The Knicks pursued Hardaway after firing team President Phil Jack- son, the man responsible for dealing him to Atlanta. Asked why he was surprised, Hardaway was candid. "Why not surprised? You play here for two years and then you're gone, and then two years later you get a phone call and it's like, wow, I wouldn't expect it coming from them," Hardaway said. "I would ex- pect it coming from a different team or a different franchise." Hardaway said he wouldn't change his approach, one that made him one of the NBA's most improved players a year ago. "I just have to come in with the same mindset I came in with last sea- son," he said. "I know how much work I've put in the offseason. I know how much work I put in dur- ing the season. Yes, obviously there's pressure, but you've got to embrace it." ❏ Derrick Walton Jr. • NBA Walton, a rookie, signed a two-way contract with the Miami Heat after excelling this summer with Orlando's summer league squad. Two-way deals allow players to move freely between the G-League and NBA, whose teams can now expand their rosters to 17 during the season. Two-way contracts guarantee a player a minimum of $75,000 per season, higher than standard G-League deals, with the ability to earn a pro-rated NBA minimum should a player earn a call-up. Zak Irvin • NBA The graduated senior wing signed a contract with Italian Pro Team VL Pesaro after playing with the Miami Heat's summer league team. VL Pesaro plays in Italian Serie A, considered the highest- level pro league in Italy. Jabrill Peppers • NFL The Cleveland Browns rookie, the team's first-round pick at No. 25 overall, signed his contract with the team in late July. He will reportedly make $10.3 million over four years and is already draw- ing rave reviews from two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Joe Haden, who complimented the safety for his understanding of the game. HEADLINERS Former Michigan athletes in the news this month Hill compiled a 4-0 record, a 1.45 ERA and 40 strikeouts versus only five walks in six July starts, and boasted an 8-4 mark and 3.47 ERA for the season as of Aug. 7. PHOTO COURTESY LOS ANGELES DODGERS