Hightower
wears 54
@text1:
Patriots rookie linebacker Dont’a Hightower has chosen a jersey number, and it’s a number familiar to Pats fans. The 2012 first round draft choice will be wearing No. 54, the same number worn by retired linebacker Tedy Bruschi, one of the all time great and most popular Patriots players of all time.
Hightower’s number, however, is newsworthy for different reasons. No. 54 was worn by offensive guard Brian Waters last season. The Patriots were hoping to see Waters in action this season but he is currently on the physically unable to perform/did not report list. Waters is not injured but has not yet reported to the Patriots.
The fact that Hightower is wearing the Pro Bowl guard’s old number makes it seem less likely that he will return to the Patriots this season, which is not good news for the team as he is an excellent addition to any offensive line in the league.
Hot Harper
Washington National’s 19-year-old Bryce Harper is starting to heat up again. He hit just .222 in July and .243 in August, but entering yesterday he was 13 for 37 (.351 batting average) with three homers and eight RBIs in his past nine games.
Rizzo vs. A-Gon
Is Anthony Rizzo already better than Adrian Gonzalez?
Rizzo is one of the players who Boston traded to San Diego in exchange for Gonzalez.
Who knows whether or not Rizzo, who’s now with Theo Epstein’s Chicago Cubs, is better or will end up better than Gonzalez. But with Gonzalez gone to the Los Angeles Dodgers, surely the Red Sox wish they could have had that trade back.
In 25 games last month, Rizzo, who turned 23 on Aug. 8, blasted seven home runs and knocked in 17 runs while hitting .330 with a .375 on-base percentage and .567 slugging percentage.
In 59 games this year entering yesterday, he was batting .291 with 10 homers, 31 RBIs and a ,336 on-base percentage.
-Compiled by Nick Curcuru
and Christopher Smith
