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'Great man, great person'

DENVER — Cincinnati Reds bench coach Freddie Benavides was a minor-league coordinator when Walt Jocketty left the St. Louis Cardinals to join a Reds front office in 2008 for an organization that hadn’t seen the playoffs in more than a decade. Benavides knew what was next. “He comes in from winning a World Series with […]

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1 month ago

April 26, 2025

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Benavides knew what was next.

Walt Jocketty with Jay Bruce at the media conference announcing Bruce's six-year contract extension in December 2010. Hiring future Hall of Fame manager Dusty Baker was also among Jocketty's impactful moves with the Reds.

“He comes in from winning a World Series with the Cardinals (in 2006), stepping in with instant credibility,” Benavides said. “He started putting those teams together. Signing guys. And wasn’t afraid to trade.”

Two years later, the Reds won their first division title since 1995 — the first of three playoff teams in four years.“Great man. Great person,” said Benavides, who first worked with Jocketty when Benavides was a player with the Rockies in the 1990s and stayed in touch over the years.“It was tough to hear the news today.”Jocketty, one of the most respected front office figures in baseball for decades, died Friday night after a long illness. He was 74. Walt Jocketty, center, with owner Bob Castellini and GM Nick Krall, served as the Reds’ president of baseball operations from 2008-2016 and had been an executive advisor to the owner since. The Colorado Rockies, who brought Jocketty as an assistant general manager in 1993, planned a moment of silence before Saturday’s game against the Reds.“He came in here and we won. We were in a drought and he brought us the playoffs,” longtime clubhouse manager Rick Stowe said. “He was a great boss. He’d take us out to dinner, wanted to get to know us better, knew everybody’s families. “He could really read people. He knew people. He was great.”Jocketty served as the Reds’ president of baseball operations from 2008-2016 and has been an executive advisor to the owner since.He inherited the just-hired manager, Dusty Baker, the future Hall of Famer, forging a winning partnership, took over general manager duties in April and by August had traded popular, aging sluggers Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn. The next year he traded for future Hall of Fame third baseman Scott Rolen. He signed homegrown slugger Jay Bruce to a six-year extension as he reached arbitration. And made Joey Votto the highest-paid player in franchise history with a 10-year deal, all but assuring Votto would spend his entire career as a Red.“When I got here Walt was still pretty involved,” said pitching coach Derek Johnson, who joined the staff from Milwaukee after the 2018 season. “Just a guy that everyone had a ton of respect for.“As I got to know him, it was pretty clear the guy had seen a lot, done a lot, and really meant a lot to the Reds. He’s definitely going to be missed.”Jocketty, who was born in Minneapolis and went to the University of Minnesota, began his career as a big-league executive in 1980 as owner Charlie Finley’s director of minor league operations and scouting for the Oakland A’s. He’s credited with overhauling the farm system that produced much of the talent on Tony La Russa’s Bash Brothers playoff teams later in the decade.After joining the Cardinals as general manager during the 1994-95 labor shutdown, he brought La Russa to St. Louis and built teams that won seven division titles, two NL pennants and a World Series during a 13-year run in St. Louis – assuring his place in baseball history.“If you’ve been around baseball at all for the last 30 or 40 years, you know Walt’s had a pretty big impact on the game,” Johnson said. With the Reds, he earned The Sporting News’ Major League Baseball Executive of the Year award in 2010, his third time earning that honor (also 2000, 2004).“He was a good solid guy and a good baseball guy,” said Reds bench coach Brad Mills, who had known Jocketty since managing in the Rockies minor-league system, and who stayed in touch over the years, including recent phone conversations.“He loved the game,” Mills said. “He loved watching guys improve. He loved signing guys and getting them in to play.“I really thought the world of Walt.”

Sports

Four Badgers advance to NCAA Outdoor Championships

Story Links COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Wisconsin men’s track and field saw four student-athletes – Adam Spencer, Jalen Williams, Andrew Casey and Patrick HIlby – earn top-12 finishes at the NCAA West First Round on Friday to advance to the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships next month. STELLAR […]

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55 minutes ago

May 31, 2025

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COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Wisconsin men’s track and field saw four student-athletes – Adam Spencer, Jalen Williams, Andrew Casey and Patrick HIlby – earn top-12 finishes at the NCAA West First Round on Friday to advance to the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships next month.

STELLAR SPENCER

Spencer, a 2024 Olympian, was the first Badger to advance to the NCAA outdoor championships on Friday thanks to a runner-up showing in the second section of the 1500 meters.

Spencer was smooth throughout the race, moving into the front of the pack midway through the competition before cruising to a time of 3 minutes, 46.78 seconds.

The senior will compete in the semifinals of the 1500 meters at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships on Wednesday, June 11 at 6:21 p.m CT.

JOLTIN’ JALEN

Jalen Williams kept his standout season rolling, clocking a 45.78 in the 400 meters quarterfinals to punch his ticket to the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Racing in heat two, Williams placed third to automatically qualify and finished eighth overall in the event.

The Big Ten runner-up will compete in the 400 meter semifinals at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships on Wednesday, June 11 at 7:41 p.m.

800 PAIR PUNCH TICKETS TO EUGENE

Parick Hilby and Andrew Casey are headed to the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships after producing clutch performances in the 800 meters at the NCAA quarterfinals. Both Badgers ran personal bests of 1:47.30. In Heat One, Casey took fourth, 11th overall, to clinch a time qualification in the event. This will be the Lakeville, Minnesota, native’s second appearance at the outdoor national competition in the 800 meters. Freshman Hilby won his heat, placing tenth overall to snatch his first individual national qualification.

The pair will compete in the semifinals at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships on Wednesday, June 11 at 7:58 p.m.

Bob Liking wrapped up his legendary career as a Badger in the 5000 meters as the senior was eighth in his section and 14th overall, finishing the 12 ½-lap race in 13:36.69, narrowly missing out on advancing to the NCAA outdoor championships. The St. Charles, Illinois, native was UW’s Big Ten Medal of Honor recipient, one of the highest honors given by the conference. Liking was a four-time Big Ten Cross Country Champion and a five-time All-American during his time as a Badger.

Matan Ivri was 24th in the 5000 meters in 13:50.93 as it marked the first time Ivri has competed at the NCAA West First Round. Rowen Ellenberg was close behind in 13:55.15 to finish 29th in his final race for the Cardinal and White. The 2020 Big Ten Cross Country Freshman of the Year earned three All-Big Ten honors during his time for UW.

Christian de Vaal and Johnny Livingstone also made their NCAA West First Round debuts for UW, finishing in 32nd and 35th, respectively.

After advancing in the shot put on Wednesday, Joseph White came close to advancing in the discus on Friday. The Kenosha native ultimately finished in 18th thanks to a mark of 186 feet, 11 inches (56.98m). Jake Schaefer capped off his junior campaign with a 24th-place finish in the discus thanks to a mark of 183-6 (56.98m).

Nick Gilles wrapped up his redshirt freshman season with a 39th-place finish in the steeplechase. The Penn Relays runner-up clocked in at 9:15.87.

UP NEXT: Five UW women will be in action on Saturday during the final day of the NCAA West First Round. Taylor Kesner and Zonica Lindeque will throw the discus at 1 p.m., while Kyla Saleh will high jump at 3:30 p.m. CT. Emma Kelley will race the quarterfinals of the 800 meters at 7:05 p.m. and Leane Willemse will close out the competition in the 5000 meters at 8:10 p.m.

The Wisconsin men will send seven student-athletes – Cole Hooper (hammer throw), Jason Swarens (shot put), Joseph White (shot put), Williams (400 meters), Casey (800 meters), Hilby (800 meters) and Spencer (1500 meters) – to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, June 11-14, in Eugene, Oregon. UW’s seven men are the most the program has had since 2013.

NCAA West First Round

Friday, May 30, 2025

E.B. Cushing Stadium

College Station, Texas

400 Meters

8. Jalen Williams – 45.78 Q

800 Meters

10. Patrick Hilby – 1:47.30 Q PB

11. Andrew Casey – 1:47.30 q PB

1500 Meters

13. Adam Spencer – 3:46.78 Q

5000 Meters

14. Bob Liking – 13:36.69

24. Matan Ivri – 13:50.93

29. Rowen Ellenberg – 13:55.15

32. Christian de Vaal – 14:01.34

35. Johnny Livingstone – 14:03.76

Steeplechase

39. Nick Gilles – 9:15.87

Discus

18. Joseph White – 186-11 (56.98m)

24. Jake Schaefer – 183-6 (55.94m)

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Sports

Please welcome a new writer to Devils in Detail

Editor’s Note: At Devils in Detail, we pride ourselves on delivering the highest quality coverage of all things Sun Devil athletics, and that means keeping an eye out for elite talent to join our team. With that said, we are excited to add Andrew Hayslett to the roster. Please give a warm welcome to Andrew. […]

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1 hour ago

May 31, 2025

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Hello, Sun Devil fans! My name is Andrew Hayslett, and I am excited to join Devils in Detail as a contributor! I just completed my sophomore year at Arizona State, as I am studying sports journalism. I am already looking forward to being back in the fall.

I have lived my entire life in the Phoenix metro area as a casual Arizona State fan. My first ASU game was a memorable one; it was the monsoon game against Southern Utah, which was delayed for a few hours. I did not stay to watch the game, but I was hooked on ASU sports from that point on. Throughout my two years at ASU, I have attended games for 10 different Sun Devil sports.

In my sophomore year, I joined one of the student-run clubs, where I wrote articles about the Sun Devil water polo team. I was then chosen to cover ASU baseball and football, and was fortunate to cover the Big 12 Baseball Championships. I wrote previews, game recaps and sidebars, which will be the type of articles I will write here, along with breaking news and features.

I believe it is an exciting time for Sun Devil Athletics as the majority of ASU teams have recently made the NCAA postseason. I look forward to covering the defending Big 12 champions in football and volleyball. I’m also excited to cover ASU hockey, baseball, softball, men’s and women’s basketball.

Follow my X (formerly known as Twitter) as I frequently provide updates for Sun Devil Athletics there. Forks up!

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Arkansas men’s track and field qualifies 18 athletes in 10 events for NCAA Outdoor Championships

Arkansas men’s track and field qualifies 18 athletes in 10 events for NCAA Outdoor Championships | Whole Hog Sports Advertisement Advertisement Link 0

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May 31, 2025

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Arkansas men’s track and field qualifies 18 athletes in 10 events for NCAA Outdoor Championships | Whole Hog Sports

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2025 Southern Arizona Beach Volleyball Pairs

Share Tweet Share Share Email Salpointe. (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson) DIVISION II SEMIFINALSSalpointe Team TOP PAIRSChloe Zhang, Sr./Amelia Bartfalvi, Jr. SalpointeKallie George, Sr./Ameila Cutting, Fr. Ironwood Ridge COACHES OF THE YEARJalynn Ransom, SalpointeBill Lang, Ironwood Ridge FIRST FLIGHTChloe Zhang, Sr./Amelia Bartfalvi, Jr. SalpointeKallie George, Sr./Ameila Cutting, Fr. […]

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May 31, 2025

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