<\/p>\n
This is an article version of the CBS Sports HQ AM Newsletter, the ultimate guide to every day in sports. <\/em>You can sign up to get it in your inbox every weekday morning here<\/em><\/a>.<\/em> <\/p>\n The MLB season is a long grind for both players and fans. Whether your team is battling for a playoff spot or just working through a rebuild, there’s nothing worse than spending a 162-game season watching a joyless squad grind nine innings at a time. Give me a bat-flipping, fist-pumping, dugout-celebrating team over a ruthlessly efficient machine any year. As a White Sox<\/strong> fan, I call back to the 2005 World Series champions as one of my favorite sports seasons of all time because the squad was a quirky group of outcasts who put it all together in a season where every game felt like an adventure. <\/p>\n With the idea of joyous play in mind, Matt Snyder put together MLB’s All-Fun Team comprised of the most entertaining players to watch at each position. As a White Sox fan caught up in MuneMania, here’s what Snyder had to say about his first base pick, Munetaka Murakami<\/strong>, who is the human embodiment of baseball’s three true outcomes. <\/p>\n For months, NFL fans eagerly await the NFL Draft, taking in endless mock drafts and dreaming about which game-changing talent their team may draft to lead them closer to the promised land. Then, in a matter of days and with a flurry of picks and trades, it’s over. Now comes the time to reckon with the decision of your team’s leadership. Whether they did what you had hoped or not, did they make the team better? <\/p>\n We’re all aboard that train now, and the CBS Sports team has plenty of insight, including looking at the best draft pick for each NFL team<\/a><\/span>\u00a0and what each team’s selections said about the state of the franchise<\/a><\/span>. We also identified the five players selected who are the best scheme fits<\/a><\/span>, with the highest chance of having an immediate impact on their new teams. Finally, we broke down each team’s biggest positional need after the draft<\/a><\/span>. <\/p>\n Drew Mestemaker<\/strong> was one of the most coveted pieces in the transfer portal. The former North Texas<\/strong> quarterback delivered impressive numbers last season, making him an enticing choice for any school that wanted a proven signal-caller under center. However, Mastemaker handled his transfer differently than most, with FBS’ leading passer delaying his decision until after UNT’s Dec. 27 bowl game, only a few days before the portal opened on Jan. 2.\u00a0 <\/p>\n Despite power conference teams such as LSU<\/strong>, Oregon<\/strong> and defending national champions Indiana<\/strong> inserting themselves in the race, Mastemaker always seemed destined for Oklahoma State<\/strong>. Chris Hummer took a look at Mastemaker’s portal journey<\/a><\/span>. <\/p>\n \u26be Rockies at Reds<\/strong>, 12:40 p.m. on ESPN \ud83c\udfc0 Five things to know Thursday <\/h2>\n
\n
\u26be Do not miss this: Most fun MLB players to watch? <\/h2>\n
\n Getty Images
\n <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
“How about this division of hits for the 26-year-old MLB rookie from Japan: 12 home runs, zero doubles, zero triples and 14 singles. Basically, he’s just here to drop bombs, and we’re all better for it.”<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \ud83c\udfc8 NFL Draft fallout continues <\/h2>\n
\n Getty Images
\n <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \ud83c\udfc8 A look at how Oklahoma State landed Drew Mestemaker <\/h2>\n
\n Getty Images
\n <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
“That gave Oklahoma State the inside track in the push for Mestemaker. After all, that staff took Mestemaker, a high school receiver, and helped transform him from a walk-on to an All-American candidate.”<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \ud83d\udc4d\ud83d\udc4e The best (and not-so-best) of the rest <\/h2>\n
\n Getty Images
\n <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \ud83d\udcfa What we’re watching Thursday <\/h2>\n
\u26bd UEFA Europa League: SC Freiburg at Braga<\/strong>, 3 p.m. on Paramount+
\u26bd\u00a0UEFA Europa League: Aston Villa at Nottingham Forest<\/strong>, 3 p.m. on Paramount+
\ud83c\udfc0 Knicks at Hawks, Game 6<\/strong>, 7 p.m. on ESPN
\ud83c\udfd2 Stars at Wild, Game 6<\/strong>, 7:30 p.m. on TNT
\ud83c\udfc0 Celtics at 76ers, Game 6<\/strong>, 8 p.m. on NBCSN
\ud83c\udfc0 Nuggets at Timberwolves, Game 6<\/strong>, 9:30 p.m. on ESPN
\ud83c\udfd2 Oilers at Ducks, Game 6<\/strong>, 10 p.m. on TNT <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n