MEMPHIS, TN - FEBRUARY 20: Jaren Jackson Jr. #20 of the Utah Jazz waves to the fans after his tribute during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on February 20, 2026 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Jazz snatched defeat from the jaws of victory and lost 114-123. Depending on who you ask this was either a masterclass in tanking, or an embarrassing implosion. This game also featured many familiar faces for both teams, (Hello Kyle Anderson, and Taylor Hendricks) as well as an emotional homecoming for Jaren Jackson Jr.
Ace Bailey– B
Ace had arguably the most memorable play of the game from a Jazzman when he caught a beautiful lob from Collier and threw it down. He dropped 20 points, with 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and a block on the night. His shot from deep wasn’t falling tonight, going 2-9, but he had some good looks from deep. He’s still only 19 (which I just recently learned) and will continue to develop and grow as a player. I think I speak for all Jazz fans when I say that I’m very excited to see the player that Ace will become.
Cody Williams–C-
Really tough shooting night for Cody. He only had 5 points in 37 minutes, and had four turnovers. He did rebound the ball well tonight though, posting a team high 9. He also had a really impressive defensive moment when he shut down a three on one.
Isaiah Collier –A-
Collier was awesome yet again. Lead the team in scoring and assists with 24, and 5 respectively. His speed will never cease to amaze me. His defense tonight was also impressive as he had four steals, and two blocks.
Kyle Filipowski –B-
Two of Flip’s five turnovers came inbounding the ball tonight. He did have some impressive defensive moments and 20 points so it certainly wasn’t a bad game for him. He’s proven to be a capable backup big man and should be a really nice piece for this Jazz team when they are competing for a playoff spot next season.
John Konchar–B
Making his first start as a Jazzman, the former undrafted free agent looked solid in front of his former team. While he is still yet to knock down a three as a member of the Jazz, he did have a productive game, especially on defense. He had 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals. He plays hard, and knows his role.
Brice Sensabaugh–C-
Brice Sensabaugh is an enigma. One game he will look like a high end starter, the next he will look like a low tier bench player. In a game where you would figure he would be one of the go to guys on offense he was largely invisible. He shot poorly from deep (1-4) and had 3 turnovers. He still managed to score 9 points in limited playing time, but I feel that its a bad sign that he’s not getting on the floor as much as he seemingly should. Maybe I have it wrong and the reason that he’s not playing as much is because we want to lose, but guys like Collier and Flip have been playing well and don’t seem to have any limits on their playing time. Sensabaugh also received a tech after he didn’t get a foul call on a play where he absolutely got fouled.
Vince Williams Jr. –B-
Solid night for the former Grizzly. He plays with a lot of hustle, and had a ridiculous pass to his former teammate. He dove for a loose ball, secured it, and passed it while seated, to Konchar for an easy layup. He didn’t have the best night shooting the ball, going 2-7, but who really cares? He plays hard and is so much fun to watch, and at this point in the season thats all that really matters.
Oscar Tshiebwe –B
In 14 minutes he grabbed 6 rebounds, 2 points. It’s too bad we didn’t get to see more of him, but he got in foul trouble which limited his minutes tonight.
Blake Hinson – A
Hinson was awesome tonight. In his second ever NBA game he managed to impress. He was perfect from deep, and had 4 boards. He also set his career high in points with 13. Hinson plays with a lot of hustle and like I said in my last player grades article that I think he could definitely serve as a depth piece here, or for another team.
Elijah Harkless –B+
You know exactly what you’re going to get from Harkless every time he steps onto the court: hustle, and defense. Tonight was no exception as he played hard for his 7 minutes of action.
Kevin Love –A
The veteran only played 5 minutes in this one, but he was great, making both his three pointers, (one of which was an and-one) and also dishing out 3 assists.
Jun 2, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb (62) emerges from the dugout to warm up before facing the San Diego Padres at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images | D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images
Writing out Logan Webb’s statline just now made me giggle. A 2.60 FIP in 207 innings? That’s not real. That’s silly. On the other hand, that sort of feeling generally defines the feeling of Logan Webb pitch. A guy who has been so dominant as a groundball pitcher that it almost feels like a fluke. And then he goes and leads the National League in strikeouts in 2025 and posting the best K/9 of his career. It’s hard not to land from the bird’s eye view of his year and think, “He can do everything!” So, it felt appropriate to (finally) end our season reviews with him.
He is the best and, certainly, the most important Giant. The perfect Giant. If the team did not have him, then in any season post-2021 there would’ve been no thought or even hope that they could contend. Certainly not for the division (for the truly delusional set of fans out there) and not for the third Wild Card deep into September (the median hope). The franchise has come to count on his innings. He is a load-bearing talent, even as ownership has all but expressed resentment over having to pay him.
2025 didn’t add to or even cement Logan Webb’s reputation across the industry or San Francisco. He did that at some point near the end of 2023. Instead, the season was yet another reminder that the Giants have a genuine talent in the fold and they’d do well to get him back into the postseason as quickly as possible. For fans who can still remember the championship era, it’s very hard not to go absolutely wild imagining how Postseason Webb might look, leading a team that has a lineup with Rafael Devers in it.
Was it a perfect season? Not exactly. In February, Steven Kennedy wrote this detailed analysis of Logan Webb’s changeup, a critical pitch in his arsenal that had faltered in 2024.
Obviously, Webb has expressed frustration with how the pitch performed last year. Though the league took some serious strides, it wasn’t just an improved plate approach that sent the pitch spiraling. Something was off. Something was weird, an apt word for the change-up’s mercurial nature. On the surface though, there was nothing noticeably problematic. Nothing as obvious as lack of command, leaving the pitch up in the zone, or throwing with his left arm instead of his right. Webb did mention to Andrew Baggarly that he made a minor grip adjustment to “restore some of its familiar fading action.” Though the induced movement between 2023 and 2024 seem pretty comparable, there is an inch-and-a-half of lost horizontal run evident in the year-to-year numbers.
Oh, wait, no Webb wound up totally fixing the changeup, getting the veritcal movement (6.1”) right back in line with 2023 (6.2”) and plussing the run value from +1 in 2024 to +11 in 2025. Admittedly, it was +30 in 2023, but still, that’s a massive improvement year over year. Also, Statcast’s Run Value is context-dependent, meaning the situation matters, so there’s perhaps a little bit of evidence that, despite executing the pitch better than the year before, the league has adjusted and can recognize it better or understand how it moves or simply knows when in a sequence he’s most likely to use it.
As great as the final line was, it’s worth pointing out that Webb’s total arsenal run value wound up just +12. That’s not just the changeup (+11), but the sinker (+7), the four-seamer (+0), the sweeper (-2), and the cutter (-4). The total run value of his arsenal was +23 the year before and +29 the year before. That’s a definite trendline worth keeping an eye on over the course of the season.
This review wouldn’t dare suggest that the Giants’ ace is on some sort of decline… even if he had the second-worst second half of his career. I mean… it was still pretty good, but here are some numbers:
I mean, look at that… it’s terrible, right? What a collapse.
Okay, in all seriousness, though, that second half saw him throttled by the Blue Jays in Toronto (11 hits in 6 IP with 4 ER and just 1 strikeout), blasted by the New York Mets in Oracle (8 hits and 6 ER in 4 IP), frustrated by the Padres in Oracle (8 hits and 4 ER in 6.1 IP with just 3 K), and bookending this trio of letdowns during a key run of games were a pair of pastings by those Los Angeles Bums.
The Giants wound up winning the game where allowed 6 earned runs in 5.1 innings against the Dodgers in Oracle on July 11th, and that was a game where Webb seemed to run out of gas. With an 8-2 lead in the 6th, he hit Mookie Betts, gave up back-to-back doubles to Will Smith and Teoscar Hernandez and then gave up a 2-run home run to Michael Conforto. Okay, well, you know what? Michael Conforto was a corpse for all of last year except when he played the Giants, so, maybe I won’t hold that start against him.
The September start in Oracle, when the Giants had managed to recover a bit of their record and headed into the contest 75-72 having won game one of the series, was perhaps an even greater letdown. The Giants scored 4 in the bottom of the 1st to jump ahead 4-1, but then in the 5th, he walked Mookie Betts to lead it off, gave up a single to Freddie Freeman, then a walk to Max Muncy, and that was that. Jose Butto came in and did not do the job, and Webb would get tagged with 6 earned runs on top of 10 hits in just 4 completed innings of work.
He’d turn it around five days later in Dodger Stadium, holding Los Angeles to just 2 runs (1 earned) in 7 innings of work, but as ace-y as he was all season, as truly great as he was overall, there were still some unfortunate hiccups along the way against superior opponents.
That’s probably been the knock against him over the years: he might be the Giants’ ace, but he’s not necessarily an ace in the way the industry thinks of one. For his part, he was 4th in NL Cy Young voting this year, the fourth year in a row in which he’s gotten Cy Young votes, but unable to crack the finalists list (Paul Skenes, Cristopher Sanchez, Yoshinobu Yamamato). He was an NL All-Star for the second straight season and won his first Gold Glove, too. For the third straight season, he led the National League in innings pitched and it was also the second time in three seasons that he led MLB in innings pitched.
An indication that he’s a perfect San Francisco Giant is in this note: two of his three best games of the season, according to Bill James’s Game Score (which Baseball Reference tracks), wound up being Giants losses:
April 7th against the Reds in San Francisco (Game Score: 79). He struck out 10 in 7 shutout innings and walked 0. The Giants lost 2-0.
June 2nd against the Padres in San Francisco (Game Score: 77). He struck out 7 in 8 shutout innings and walked 0. The Giants lost 1-0 in 10 innings.
Now, you might see that and think back to all of the tough losses Logan Webb has suffered throughout the years and think, “Well, sure. He’s the new Matt Cain.” And that’s a fair starting point. But Matt Cain never had the strikeout-ability that Logan Webb did or the ability to suppress home runs at the same level. So, I’d say he’s note quite Matt Cain. He’s certainly not Tim Lincecum, of course… or… the 2010-2011 versions of Tim Lincecum are an awfully interesting comparison. Which isn’t to say that we’ve been watching the next Tim Lincecum. No, what I mean to say is that we’ve been watching some third thing, a perhaps “holy” fusion of Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum, a freak of his own flavor, frustrating hitters with groundballs when they’re not whiffing.
If you disagree with that imagery or assessment, I would hope you’d agree with me at the very least that he’s as important to the Giants as both of those pitchers were during their heyday. He compels the Giants to act — or stand pat! Why bring back Carlos Rodon? We have Logan Webb. Why stay entangled with Blake Snell? We have Logan Webb? Who needs Kevin Gausman? We’ve already got Logan Webb. Is that decision-making sound? Probably not, but Logan Webb keeps backing up their kinda nutty plan every single year. “Yeah, okay, maybe Robbie Ray doesn’t have to be that good or maybe Landen Roupp doesn’t have to become a #2 starter because we have Logan Webb.“ He’s so great that he simultaneously strengthens the team and papers over its weaknesses.
When you put it all together, it’s no wonder the Giants have pinned their entire present on Logan Webb. Every year, he shows the team that he’s perfect.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 20: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers brings the ball down the court during the first half of a basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on February 20, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers extend their win streak to seven after a narrow win over the Charlotte Hornets.
All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
Donovan Mitchell
32 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals
Mitchell started this game 4-15. But, as we’ve seen all season, Mitchell turned it on when the Cavs needed him most. He shot 5-8 the rest of the way and finished with his 100th 30-point game as a Cavalier.
Grade: A–
James Harden
18 points, 8 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal
Harden is dishing the rock with efficiency since joining the Cavs. He had another 8 assists tonight as the Cavalier offense feels more potent than it’s been all season with him at the helm. We only wish he could have grabbed a few more rebounds or been sharper off the ball defensively.
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Jarrett Allen
26 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block
Allen hasn’t let up on any opponent for weeks now. He put his head down and attacked the paint over and over again tonight as the Hornets didn’t have enough bodies to stop him. If he hadn’t hauled in 14 rebounds, the Cavs would have lost this one. Bravo, Allen. This aggression has been a joy to watch.
Grade: A+
Jaylon Tyson
5 points, 1 rebound
Tyson’s role has changed significantly now that Harden is here. That means we’ll likely have to adjust how we grade him. He simply isn’t getting as many opportunities. That said, Cleveland could have used a better effort on the glass.
I’m convinced that Ellis can clone himself and appear multiple places at once. That’s the only way to explain some of the defensive plays he comes up with.
Grade: A–
Thomas Bryant
2 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 blocks
Bryant had some highs and lows. His block in the third quarter was electric, but he might have been a step too slow for a fast-paced matchup like this.
Grade: B-
Dennis Schroder
8 points, 3 assists, 3 steals
Schroder continues to be a pest. He came up with two big steals in the second half and has given the Cavs bench an edge that they’ve been missing.
Grade: A-
Sam Merrill
10 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
Merrill had more success tonight. He hit 2-of-4 three-point attempts and had a nice backdoor cut early in the first half.
Grade: B+
Dean Wade
8 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal
Wade hit consecutive three-pointers in the fourth quarter to close this out. He hasn’t missed a shot since returning from the All-Star break.
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 19: Alondes Williams #31 of the Washington Wizards celebrates after a play against the Indiana Pacers during the second half at Capital One Arena on February 19, 2026 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards defeated the Indiana Pacers, 131-118 on Friday night at Capital One Arena.
This game began as one where the Wizards were losing for much of the first half, even into the second. The Wizards were losing by as many as 15 points at one point in the second quarter. But in the fourth quarter, Washington shot over 70 percent from the field, forced 7 turnovers and scored 11 points off of them and ultimately came up with the win.
Alondes Williams scored 11 of his 25 points off the bench to lead the Wizards to victory. He was also the leading scorer overall. Sharife Cooper also added 18 points, also off the bench for Washington.
For the Pacers, Jay Huff led with 22 points.
The Wizards’ next game is on Sunday against the Charlotte Hornets. Tip off is at 6 p.m. ET. At least for now since there is a chance of a snowstorm. See you then.
Feb 20, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) dribbles against Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) during the second quarter at the Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers pulled out an impressive 118-113 victory over a surging Charlotte Hornets team on the second night of a back-to-back. It wasnt pretty for the entire 48 minutes. Cleveland struggled to defend the three-point line and clear defensive possessions, but they executed well enough offensively to get the win. That’s all that matters in a game like this.
The Cavaliers controlled most of the first half. They won the first quarter by 10, pushed their lead to 14, and then settled for a six-point advantage going into the break.
Charlotte roared back in the second half. They retook the lead in the third quarter due to shooting 8-15 from beyond the arc in that frame. They pushed their advantage to four before the Cavs reasserted control.
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Cleveland wasn’t able to create much separation in the fourth, but they also never let Charlotte off the mat. The offense continued to generate clean looks in the half-court thanks to their dynamic backcourt of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. Combine that with an energized Jarrett Allen, and you have the makings of an elite offense.
Meanwhile, the Hornets weren’t able to get their outside shots to carry them in the fourth as they did in the third quarter. They went 2-15 from three, and their offense simply ran out of gas. This led to the Cavs winning the final frame 28-24.
Allen continued his string of impressive play. He set the tone early by scoring 11 of his 26 points in the opening quarter. Even though he wasn’t scoring as much over the final three quarters, his activity never wavered, which led to him finishing with 14 rebounds and a block.
Mitchell and Harden once again worked well together in crunch time. Harden had the reins as the play initiator, while Mitchell was able to find opportunities to score when the ball came his way. This led to Mitchell scoring 13 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter. Harden finished the evening with 18 points on 6-14 shooting to go along with eight assists.
This wasn’t a perfect game by any stretch. The Cavs once again struggled to clear defensive possessions. This led to the Hornets compiling 37 second-chance points and gathering 44.6% of their missed shots (97th percentile). Many of these were due to the Cavs not being able to corral long rebounds off missed triples. This is an area where Evan Mobley’s absence (injury management) was sorely missed.
Kon Knueppel’s three-point shooting kept the Hornets in the game. He went 7-15 from beyond the arc en route to a game-high 33 points. Lamelo Ball and Brandon Miller both contributed 18 points apiece.
Even though there were areas to improve, this was a solid win. The Hornets are better than their record indicates. They came into this one winning eight of their last 10.
The Cavs have won their seventh in a row and 12 of their last 13. They were playing well before the trades, but have taken that to a new level since.
Cleveland will look to keep their strong play going. They head to Oklahoma City to take on a shorthanded Thunder team on Sunday afternoon. Tip-off is at 1 PM.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 25: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns watches from the bench during the first half of the NBA game against the Denver Nuggets at Footprint Center on December 25, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The All-Star break is in the rearview, and as the schedule tightens and teams around the league start fine-tuning rosters and jockeying for postseason position, every night carries a little more weight. That reality applies to the Phoenix Suns as well, who currently sit seventh in the Western Conference. If the season ended today, they would be hosting a Play-In game, living in that uncomfortable middle where urgency never really lets up. Like so many teams right now, Phoenix is still chasing something close to full strength while trying to stay competitive in the standings.
That task did not get any easier on Thursday night. Devin Booker exited the first game back from the break in the second quarter and never returned. Hip soreness was the initial explanation, one that felt manageable in the moment. But the injury report for Saturday’s matchup against Orlando tells a clearer story. Booker has been ruled out with a hip strain, officially removing him from the lineup as the Suns try to navigate the early stretch of a tightening schedule.
Suns injury report for tomorrow:
Grayson Allen – QUESTIONABLE (Right Ankle Sprain) Cole Anthony – OUT (Not With Team) Devin Booker – OUT (Right Hip Strain) Haywood Highsmith – OUT (Right Knee Injury Management)
You could see something was bothering Booker while he was on the floor, even if there was no single play that clearly set it off. Nothing obvious, nothing dramatic, simply a player who did not look right. Regardless, Booker finds himself back on the injury report once again. He has already missed time this season with a sprained ankle and a strained groin, and now a hip strain joins the list. Notably, each of those injuries has involved his right leg.
Recovery timelines for something like this can vary depending on severity, which makes projecting an exact return tricky. The hope is that it does not stretch beyond a couple of weeks, though that remains to be seen as the team monitors how he responds.
With this latest absence, Booker has now missed eight of the Suns’ last 11 games. Over that stretch, Phoenix is 4-4 without him, and 5-7 in the 12 games he has missed overall this season.
Grayson Allen, who has already missed the previous four games, is listed as questionable. He popped up on the injury report unexpectedly before tip-off against San Antonio, another reminder of how unpredictable this season has been from a health standpoint. Allen has appeared in 35 games during what has been an injury-riddled year for him.
Dillon Brooks will return from suspension, which helps stabilize things on the wing, but the Suns are still searching for footing as the calendar keeps moving and the postseason edges closer into view. Availability remains fluid, lineups remain unsettled, and the margin for error continues to narrow with every passing game.
Peoria, AZ - February 20: Wandy Peralta #58 of the San Diego Padres pitches against the Seattle Mariners during a spring training game on February 20, 2026 in Peoria, AZ. (Photo by Photo by K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images via Getty Images)
The days of trying to get a glimpse of a Michael King throwing session or Manny Machado participating in fielding drills are over. It is time to play baseball, as the Cactus League schedule kicked off today.
The next month is crucial for the San Diego Padres, as it leads up to hosting the Detroit Tigers on Opening Day, March 26, at Petco Park. The Friar Faithful hope this season’s roster will play with an edge.
But before the season opener, the Padres have three questions to answer:
Who is starting at 1B and DH?
The Friars have plenty of candidates (Nick Castellanos, Ty France, Miguel Andujar and Gavin Sheets) battling for these two positions in Peoria. The front office plans to let the Cactus League schedule unfold before deciding which player will be in the lineup to open the 2026 season.
Everyone has their own personal favorite for each position, but producing in Cactus League games will dictate who is starting on Opening Day. If I have to predict an early leaderboard, let’s put Castellanos at first base with France as his late-innings defensive replacement. Andujar and Sheets will platoon at the designated hitter position.
However, all is subject to change, especially if Castellanos has a few fielding mishaps while attempting to learn a new position. Padres manager Craig Stammen may opt to utilize his bat as a full-time DH to start a better defensive infield. No team can survive by giving their opponents extra outs in an inning.
One thing is for certain: Castellanos will have a major role in the Friars’ offense this season.
Who is the Padres’ fifth starter?
Like it or not, the fifth starter will have a pivotal role in the success of the 2026 Padres. The organization added Walker Buehler, German Marquez and Griffin Canning to an already crowded field, as Stammen has a major decision ahead of him.
Most teams prefer an experienced starting pitcher in the fifth starter’s role. They understand how to use their entire pitching repertoire to get batters out and earn a quality start. It may not be pretty, but a veteran starter knows how to avoid overworking a bullpen.
Too often, young starting pitchers are thrown into this role with no knowledge of how to pitch out of trouble. They stumble in their starts and leave a mess for the bullpen to clean up. Too many outs to record that reduces the effectiveness of the relievers moving forward through the season.
It is unclear if one of the losers in the starter competition will become the long-man out of the bullpen. Stammen does not have to make that decision at this time. It may come down to whether the pitcher has experience as a reliever.
The goal is to find a fifth starter who can exceed their 2026 innings threshold. Whatever direction the Friars go, they have enough quality candidates to choose from.
Will the final bench spot go to a glove or a bat?
The 2025 Padres bench can be characterized as a veteran group that struggled with offensive production. This year’s bench seems set with names from the first base and designated hitter competition. Other candidates include Sung-Mun Song and Luis Campusano, but Stammen has a tough decision for the final bench spot.
Often, the choice comes down to what the roster needs: a good glove or bat. Ideally, you want a seasoned veteran who is versatile enough to play multiple positions. Still, the candidate must be able to contribute at the plate.
Stammen’s decision may hinge on the number of relievers kept on the roster for the first few weeks of the regular season. With multiple off days, the Friars may be able to keep an extra position player on the bench. But that luxury will be short-lived.
The winner of this competition may not be known until the team is introduced to the Petco Park crowd.
No More Mister Nice Guy Dylan Carey goes yard. | Nebraska Athletics
In what was an evenly matched contest from the get-go, it was the little things that made a difference In Nebraska’s 4-2 loss to Louisville. Ty Horn and Ethan Eberle faced off, both of them coming up with huge pitches when they needed them. Both of them have pitched better than they did today, but what was on display was their toughness, which is fun to watch.
Horn was probably the sharper as he made big pitch after big pitch with runners on base throughout his five innings. The defense came up big as well with timely double plays and picking runners off base. With his pitch count running up, Horn came out for the 6th inning, but surrendered a lead-off double to cleanup batter Kade Elam. Coach Childress decided that his day was done and Horn walked off to a standing ovation from both fan bases.
Nebraska did not have a problem putting runners on base. They did not go three up, three down until the final inning. They had a chance to break it open in the top of the second as they loaded the bases with one out and Mac Moyer smoked one down the third base line. Bayram Hot, playing the hot corner for the Cardinals, made a diving grab on the grounder, hustled to his feet to step on third and fired it across the diamond just a split second before Moyer’s foot hit the bag.
The Big Red did strike first in the third with two outs and Joshua Overbeek and Dylan Carey hitting back-to-back singles. Designated hitter Cole Ktchens then got a single of his own to put the first run of the game up on the scoreboard.
The strikeout was Horn’s best friend today as twice he struck out Cardinals batters with two runners on base to end an inning. The double he gave up to Elam was his 80th pitch, which is plenty this time of the season.
Dylan “No More Mister Nice Guy” Carey added to the Cornhusker lead in the fifth with a home run the opposite way over the right-center field wall. Casey also singled in the third and doubled in the seventh.
With Horn out of the game, lefty Caleb Clark came in to hold the fort. Clark pitched well last weekend, and frankly, he didn’t pitch horrible today. However, the Baseball Gods have once again used Clark as their voodoo doll.
He walked the first batter he faced, but the base was open, so no harm no foul. Up came Jax Hisle, who hit a sharp hopper right back at Clark. Double play baby! No, that’s not what happened. The ball got to Clark really fast yet he rushed the throw to second base, sailing it to the left field side way out of reach of Carey. Lucas Moore, scored and there were two runners on and no outs.
The bullpen jumped into action and the Cornhuskers tried to buy time with visits to the mound. Clark gave up a single and the bases were loaded. This was make or break time for the veteran lefthander from Canada. He induced a pop up to Overbeek to get the first out and then Coach Childress opted to go right on right, bringing in Ryan Harrahill, who also pitched well las weekend. He got his first batter to pop up to third and Cornhusker fans rose to their feel to help him get the third out. It was not to be. The number nine batter in the lineup, Griffin Crain, ripped a double to put Louisville ahead 3-2.
The Cardinals added a run in the bottom of the seventh on a solo home run by Tague Davis, and that was basically all she wrote. Both teams went three up, three down the rest of the way and Louisville added a 4-2 victory in their win column.
Louisville is a strong baseball program, and most definitely the best team Nebraska has faced this season so far. Nebraska fans that are also College World Series fans are familiar with the Louisville Cardinals as they have made a number of appearances under Head Coach Dan McDonnell, who is in his 20th season leading the boys from Derby City. In fact, they played in one of the semifinals last year at The Chuck.
The Cornhuskers will be back at it tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. against the Kansas State Wildcats. There were a lot of purple fans piling in after the game but the bet is more Nebraska fans will show up tomorrow.
Notes:
I bagged on Jeter Worthley last weekend regarding the fact that teams were able to steal second base relatively easy. Lucas Moore swiped on in the first inning, but Worthley evened the score in the third inning, nailing him with a throw overturned on review. Actually, the throw was there in plenty of time. The tag was higher than one would like to see.
The DJ, or whatever you call the guy responsible for the music in a ballpark, at Globe Life Field was incredible. Good tunes throughout, and the right song at the right time. Aaron and I chuckled when Dylan Carey came to the plate and his walkup song was the 70’s Alice Cooper rocker No More Mister Nice Guy. Usually, media people send walkup songs and other music to these tournaments, so if Carey really did choose this song, my hat is tipped to him. Why? Because he has been too nice of a guy! We actually saw a little emotion out of him today as well.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 10: De'Aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots the ball against Lebron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter of the Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinal at Crypto.com Arena on December 10, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As far as rebuilds go, the Spurs have managed a relatively quick turnaround. From tearing things down to the studs in 2023, to reaching legitimate contender status, it’s been a quick three years. Currently, San Antonio sits poised and firmly cemented in the two seed of the Western Conference, on a 58-win pace, which would be quite the jump from 34 only one season ago.
But this is the NBA. There’s the regular season, which is all fine and good, but what matters is the playoffs. And there’s a commonly held belief that in order to truly contend for a championship, a team needs to taste defeat in the playoffs first. They need those “playoff scars.”
So how true is that? For those teams that managed to invert their regular-season status, what does history say about doing the same in the postseason?
Taking a look at the modern era, since the turn of the century, history tends to favor teams knocking on the door of the Finals to just barging in. Very few teams have gone from not making the playoffs to even making the Conference Finals the very next year, but it does happen.
The prime example is the 2008 Celtics. Boston hadn’t entered the postseason in two years, but general manager Danny Ainge managed to put together what many call the first super-team of the era—adding the talents of Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett alongside Paul Pierce. It not only ended the Celtics playoff drought, but it brought them their first championship since 1986.
Then there are the 2021 Phoenix Suns. Phoenix hadn’t sniffed the playoffs since 2010, but then managed to make the finals in 2021. This was following an undefeated run in the Orlando bubble, which still did not grant them a playoff birth. In the offseason, they traded for Chris Paul, Monty Williams coached his ass off (finishing 2nd in Coach of the Year voting), and they went on a run.
Next are the 2020 Lakers. They flipped a six-year playoff drought into a championship in the bubble. This was their second year with LeBron James, and their first year with Anthony Davis.
James adds to the list with the 2015 Cleveland Cavaliers. After adding him in free agency and trading for Kevin Love, the Cavs kicked off a four-year run of meeting Golden State in the Finals. This, after they hadn’t even won more than 33 games since 2010.
Finally, the 2024 Indiana Pacers round out the list. The Pacers had been absent from a postseason appearance for three years until making a leap to the Conference Finals. This new success was attributable to the development of star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, as well as the addition of star forward Pascal Siakam.
And that’s the list. Overall, there is a small trend. All of these teams have added major talent and are usually built around a generational great.
While history shows us that most deep playoff runs follow at least a first or second round exit the year prior, the precedent is there for a deep run, provided the team has the right pieces.
This Spurs team has the right pieces. They have a generational great in Victor Wemanyama and have the new addition of De’Aaron Fox. This is on top of the talented role players built around them. It won’t be easy, but it’s quite possible that San Antonio breaks the trend and adds itself to the above list.
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 15: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots a three point basket during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on January 15, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
Charlotte Hornets v Los Angeles Lakers
Are the Lakers a mediocre shooting team? Or are they a team with good shooters who are underperforming beyond the 3-point arc?
The answer to those questions will be a defining factor in the Lakers’ post-All-Star break success, which starts with Friday’s home game against the Clippers.
The Lakers entered Friday ranked No. 21 in 3-point percentage at 35%, worse than last season’s 36.6% 3-point shooting (No. 14) and the previous season’s 37.7% (No. 8).
Are the Lakers a mediocre shooting team? Or are they a team with good shooters who are underperforming beyond the 3-point arc? NBAE via Getty ImagesThe answer to those questions will be a defining factor in the Lakers’ post-All-Star break success, which starts with Friday’s home game against the Clippers. NBAE via Getty Images
While their perimeter shooting has been a factor in the offense not performing as expected, there are reasons for optimism that their outside shooting will be a strength in the final “sprint” of the regular season.
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The Lakers shot 37% from beyond the arc in their 19 games leading into the break, which ranked No. 7 across the league, despite their player availability being in flux for most of that stretch after previously being one of the league’s worst shooting teams (33.9% in the first 35 games).
As one of the more prolific pull-up 3-point shooting teams (12.2 attempts, fifth most in the league), which are naturally tougher and lower-percentage shots than catch-and-shoot 3s, the Lakers will fight an uphill battle with their raw 3-point percentage.
But if they can maintain the 37% shooting on catch-and-shoot 3s they shot over the last month (an average mark) instead of the 34.8% they were previously shooting (an abysmal number), then they should sustain the recent 3-point success.
And there are plenty of reasons why they should be able to.
Most of the Lakers’ higher-volume shooters are underperforming on catch-and-shoot 3s this season vs. their previous few seasons, including Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia.
Even Luke Kennard, the league’s most accurate 3-point shooter, significantly underperformed on his catch-and-shoot looks in the four games he played with the Lakers entering Friday.
Most of the Lakers’ higher-volume shooters are underperforming on catch-and-shoot 3s this season. Getty Images
The underperformance on catch-and-shoot 3s started to turn in the Lakers’ favor before the break.
And with the team overall becoming healthier, there’s confidence they’ll be able to sustain being a solid-to-good shooting squad, even if players who’ve shot better than expected (like Rui Hachimura) begin to regress to their mean.
The Lakers have shown they don’t need high-level 3-point shooting to perform well offensively.
They remain elite inside the arc and getting to the free-throw line.
But sustained 3-point shooting can be the difference between them being a good-to-very good offense like they have been so far and elite like they’ve been projected to be.
And they’re on the precipice of getting to that level.
Just over half the ball/strike challenges were successful on the first day of spring training games Friday as Major League Baseball prepared for the first regular-season use of the automated ball-strike system — the so-called robot umpires.
Thirteen of 23 calls were overturned during the five games, MLB said, which came to 56.5%.
There were an average of 4.6 challenges per game and 2.6 overturned calls per game.
Seven challenges were made of plate umpire Alex MacKay's calls during Arizona's 3-2 win over Colorado, and six were successful. The Diamondbacks had four of five decisions reversed and the Rockies were 2 for 2 in challenges.
MLB experimented with the ABS system during spring training last year and teams won 52.2% of their ball/strike challenges (617 of 1,182) challenges.
Each team has the ability to challenge two calls per game. Teams that waste their challenges get one additional challenge in each extra inning. A team retains its challenge if successful, similar to the regulations for big league teams with video reviews, which were first used for home run calls in August 2008 and widely expanded to many calls for the 2014 season.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 30: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors hugs general manager Bob Myers after the Warriors defeated the Kings 120-100 in game seven of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Golden 1 Center on April 30, 2023 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors returned form the All-Star break on Thursday night, and lost 121-110 to Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics. But before that game happened, I put out a call for mailbag questions … and Dub Nation didn’t disappoint! You all came through with some great questions. Hopefully my answers can do the questions justice.
SkinnyButt
From what you’ve seen of Will Richard so far, do you think with some work on his shooting and handles he could provide us with a reasonable facsimile of Melton in case we’re unable to sign him for next season?
There are certainly some key differences in their games, but yes, I think that’s fair to say. I think it’s asking too much to expect Will Richard to be able to match De’Anthony Melton’s value as early as next year, but reasonable facsimile? Yeah, I think that’s very doable.
Melton has skill with the ball in his hands that is far above what Richard is currently capable of. It would be a major win if Richard is ever able to penetrate the defense, get to the rim, playmake, and score in isolation the way Melton does; and if he does get there, it probably won’t be for a few years. But he can make up some of that with his transition offense and his cutting, and I don’t think it’s unreasonable to hope he is as good of a shooter and defender as Melton is, as early as next year.
The biggest issue is that Richard is, in my eyes, fundamentally an off-guard, whereas Melton is a combo guard who is quite comfortable running the point. Unless the Warriors are comfortable letting Pat Spencer be a 20-minutes-per-game backup point guard, they’re going to need to make sure they have someone on the roster other than Steph Curry who is comfortable (and talented) with the ball in his hands, and I don’t think that’s Richard.
scotmac
What will it take for the warriors to get OUT of the play-in tourney? ok:
* Porzingis will have to stay healthy, fit the system well, and play VERY well.
* Steph will have have to….well, play like steph and not get injured
* Dray will have to consistently play good OFFENSE
* And they will need to OVERALL play good defense
That seems like a LOT to ask for.
This isn’t a fun answer, but I think it’s an honest answer: the key to the Warriors rising into one of the top six spots in the Western Conference is for someone on another team to get injured. The Warriors are five games out of the sixth seed, with only 26 games remaining. With Jimmy Butler III out for the year and Steph Curry out for, at minimum, a handful more games, I don’t think it’s realistic for Golden State to play their way out of that deficit.
But the Los Angeles Lakers are one of the teams six games ahead, and they’ve dramatically outperformed their net rating (which is significantly worse than Golden State’s); if LeBron James or Luka Dončić misses some time, they could tumble down. The Minnesota Timberwolves are also six games up on the Dubs, and they would fall apart entirely if Anthony Edwards suffered an injury.
Hopefully those things don’t happen. But I don’t see the Warriors getting further than the No. 7 seed without a whole lot of help.
Warriorrallis
Will a coach finally stand up and tell Dre and Steph to knock off the one handed whip pass to nowhere
Last game Dre had only two turnovers and played an all around great game and Steph is golden no matter what he does but it would be nice
I don’t mean this to sound patronizing, but I think sometimes fans aren’t aware of how much coaches and players talk about things. Steph Curry and Draymond Green making careless passes that result in turnovers is something that Steve Kerr has probably talked with them about thousands of times. It probably gets mentioned in almost every film session. Sometimes there’s a sentiment among fans that because something hasn’t been fixed, that no one is addressing it, and that’s not the case. Kerr has called out those two in the media a notable number of times for careless passes … and it’s safe to assume that any criticism Kerr is levying through a presser is something that has been said to the player at least 10 times.
The reality is, this is who Curry and Green are. It’s a weakness in their respective games — one of the few weaknesses, in Curry’s case. But it’s also a situation where you can’t always have the good without the bad. They are exceptional playmakers, and it’s probably not realistic to ask them to cut back on the careless passes while maintaining all the good ones.
Spartan83
I think many people would agree that world championships are often won first by the front office…
if you go back to 2009, the Warriors had a stretch where they drafted Stephen Curry (2009), Klay Thompson (2011) and Harrison Barnes + Draymond Green (2012). We all know what that group did to produce a decade-plus of excellence that none of us will ever forget. I like to refer to these as the Jerry West years.
The next critical draft stretch for the Warriors was 2020-2021 when the Dubs had picks 2, 7 and 14, which produced James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody… I don’t think we need to say much more about this absolutely critical stretch to restock for additional championships. I referred to these as the Bob Myers years.
So here’s my question for the Mailbag: Now that we’ve had a few years of separation, what will Bob Myers legacy ultimately be?
Bob Myers’ legacy is simple: he is the architect of the greatest stretch of basketball in Golden State Warriors history, and one of the greatest dynasties of all time. When all is said and done, that’s how he’ll be remembered; and it’s how he should be remembered.
First off, let’s clarify some facts. Myers was hired a month before Jerry West was. West had no involvement with the Warriors when they drafted Steph Curry; he wasn’t hired for another two years. He had a role in drafting Klay Thompson in 2011, but so did Myers, who was the assistant general manager at the time, and a very respected voice in the organization as he was viewed as the heir apparent (a voice that was part of the team hiring West, it should be noted). Myers was promoted to GM in 2012, before the draft … meaning he was the man in charge when they selected Draymond Green and Harrison Barnes later that year. So if you want to call those the Jerry West Years for narrative’s sake, that’s fine, but just remember that Myers had as big — and I’d argue, a much bigger — role in acquiring the dynastic trio as West did.
More importantly, Myers played an absolutely critical role in building the dynasty. He was the primary person involved in the — at the time, unpopular — decision to fire Mark Jackson after a successful season, and against the wishes of his own players. And he was the primary person involved in hiring Steve Kerr. That sequence of events is, after drafting Steph Curry, the most important move of the century for the Warriors. The dynasty doesn’t exist without that, nor does it exist without the slick maneuvering to add Andre Iguodala and the signing of key veterans like David West and Shaun Livingston, or his role in acquiring Kevin Durant. The shocking 2022 championship doesn’t happen if Myers didn’t use Durant’s departure as a chance to overpay D’Angelo Russell for the sake of maintaining a salary slot that he then used to add Andrew Wiggins … to make no mention of drafting Jordan Poole, a move that drew criticism at the time, and for a full year, before paying massive dividends en route to a trophy.
There were some bad moves, but those are going to happen when you run a team for well over a decade. I don’t criticize him as much as others do for the Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody picks, and I think if you glance at the history of the No. 7 and No. 14 slots, you’ll offer him some grace there, as well.
It wasn’t a perfect tenure, but it was a great one. And it should be remembered as such.
LacobsMoney
Sounds like Curry’s knee needs more time to heal. Say he misses 5+ more games and maybe it leads to shutting him down.
Rather than admittedly say tank and avoid a fine from Silver, at this point is it all bad if the dubs drop to 10th or 11th in west?
This draft could line up to be very deep and potential stars available in the back half of the lottery especially if Lendeberg, Ament, Wagler, Carr etc are available in picks 10-15. Dubs need to develop a future all star. That player is not on the roster now. Others could also see it as a better asset to trade for Giannis.
I think most people would prefer that the Warriors get a lottery pick rather than lose in the play-in tournament, that’s for sure. It would massively help them in their retooling efforts, either as an opportunity for talent or as a trade chip.
That said, there would be a downside, apart from the lost revenue of a potential series. If the Warriors fall out of the play-in — which would require a lot of losses — then that means they’re playing awful basketball, and that’s a bad sign for a team trying to compete next year. It means Kristaps Porziņģis is either injured or not playing well, and that hurts their plans. Ultimately, the best outcome is that they play good basketball that offers confidence for their 2026-27 plans. But a lottery pick is a very nice consolation prize if they fail.
hewhoisnt
Thoughts o Nic Batum or Kyle Anderson if they hit the buyout market? Batum can bring shooting and still can play defense. Anderson can actually play off the bench since all 3 of the warriors centers can shoot, and can bring his high IQ and solid defense, plus familiarity with the warriors previously.
I love both of those players for the Warriors. That said, I’m not sure that veterans who are known entities should be their target in the buyout market this year, since they’re not contending. I like the idea of them using the market as an audition for less proven players who could play a role on next year’s team, like Lonzo Ball.
nelllieballler
I’m a big fan of Gui Santos, and am happy he’s been making the most of his time on the court. What does he have to do the rest of the year to show that he belongs in the league as a starter, and what is his ceiling? Or is he on the Eric Paschall / Anthony Lamb trip?
I think Gui Santos is already better than Eric Paschall and Anthony Lamb, to be honest. Paschall was really a one-trick pony: a north-south scorer who couldn’t defend or shoot threes. And Lamb was a guy who never really played well, he just provided energy and effort when Steve Kerr was desperate for some. Santos, with his solid defense, smooth three-point shot, and ability to score in transition or with cuts, is already a better player, I’d say.
My guess is he’s a few years away from being an honest-to-goodness starter. He just needs a little more seasoning so that the game can slow down for him. Let’s not forget that he’s only 23 years old, and has barely played 1,600 career minutes. In minutes terms, he’s played one full season at fewer than 20 minutes per game. There’s a lot of growth left for him to do.
Onepunman
Who are the candidates for the first round pick?
I’ll be honest, I’m not a very knowledgable draft guy, and it’s early, so I don’t have a good sense yet. But in the latest SB Nation mock draft, Ricky O’Donnell has the Dubs taking Baylor guard Cameron Carr, who has a long wingspan and a slick three-point shot. Seems about right.
The King
Dear Santa, all I want for the rest of the year is to beat the Lakers in the playoffs. Is that possible 😉
It’s very difficult to envision, less because the Warriors are incapable of beating the Lakers, and more because the logistics of it just don’t line up. The Warriors are play-in bound, meaning if they make the playoffs, it will be as the No. 7 or 8 seed. The Lakers don’t have a realistic shot of reaching one of the top-two seeds. That means that, for the Warriors and Lakers to even face each other in the playoffs, the Dubs would have to escape the play-in tournament, beat either the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs in a seven-game series, and hope that the Lakers both land in the right spot in the bracket, and pull off a first-round upset of their own. None of that seems likely.
There’s better hope for the teams meeting in the play-in tournament, though I doubt that happens, either.
Togna Balogna
Who is the player hated on the most by the “fans” and why is it Podz?
Who would win in a game of pickleball and why is it Pat Spencer?
Who actually goes around SF and enjoys the culture it has to offer, and why is it Gui?
Seriously though…
Will Moody’s lack of a first step mean he has hit his ceiling on offense?
If you ask the internet, I’d say Draymond Green is more hated than Brandin Podziemski. Pat Spencer is surely great at pickleball, but I’m picking Steph Curry over anyone in any hand-eye coordination dominated sport. Gui Santos is definitely the guy who enjoys SF the most, though I imagine Al Horford is up there as well. They’re hitting up different spots, but I imagine they both are relishing what the city has to offer.
As to your actual question … I don’t think Moses Moody has fully hit his ceiling, but it’s close. I think we can give up on him ever being a guy who can take his defender off the dribble to create a shot. But I do think he could add something of a low post game to his arsenal. Maybe Jimmy Butler III can teach him a thing or three.
Nylake
Yo Brady, do you think that the Warriors will fill out the remaining roster spot? If we are to fill it out, who are your preferred candidates??
I touched on this earlier, but I would like them to use the spot on someone who they might be considering signing this summer, and want to give a test run in the system to. Lonzo Ball is a great fit in my eyes, as he constantly keeps the ball moving and plays great defense. He could thrive in the Warriors system, but we’ve said that about a lot of players who struggled, instead. If they can find out now, instead of after giving him a guaranteed contract for next year, then that’s a win.
Cosmo4gsw
It’s easy to picture Porzingis’s floor: he remains unplayable and retires or signs elsewhere as a free agent. Brady, what do you think is a realistic ceiling for him? I would say a return to all-star form after he signs a very team-friendly long term contract, leading to a championship next season, assuming Jimmy also returns to form.
I definitely think Kristaps Porziņģis can return to All-Star form, and it’s worth noting he never fully lost that form, he just lost the ability to stay healthy. In his All-Star season, Porziņģis had per 100 possessions averages of 34.7 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks, while shooting 39.5% from three-point range; last year, his averages were 33.9 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks, while shooting 41.2% from deep.
There are really just two questions for Porziņģis: can he stay on the court, and can he fit a system that has stymied plenty of good players in the past.
I will say, I don’t think him signing a long-term contract is particularly feasible. I’d be very surprised if he signs — with the Warriors, or with anyone else — for more than two years. He’s just in that awkward spot where he’s too talented to take a long-term deal at a discount, but too injured to be offered a long-term deal that’s not at a discount. I do think he’ll stay on the Warriors, and it could become a long-term thing if he stays healthy. His minutes will likely always be monitored, so I think the ceiling is an All-Star level talent who is only playing 25 minutes a night.
Splashalishous
Hello Brady, could you explain the coaching philosophy behind guard heavy line ups, particularly 4G line ups. In particular, how are these line ups supposed to succeed against young long athletic teams. For the life of me, I can’t see any logic to this.
The boring answer is that they work. The Warriors have had a lot of success with four-wing lineups. The NBA, as a whole, has had a lot of success with four-wing lineups, and it’s why you see players like Moses Moody and Scottie Barnes sometimes being classified as power forwards when you’d be inclined to call them shooting guards. Where the Warriors struggle from a lineup construction standpoint is that their guards and wings aren’t as athletic as the rest of the league’s, and they don’t shoot as well, either. But, for the most part, that still offers better results than throwing out two-big lineups and getting run off the court.
9ergold: What’s your over/under on # games played out of remaining games to end of regular season for …
Steph
Kristaps
Al
Dray
Melt
Seth
Great question. There are 26 games left. Here are my over/unders for games played:
It’s been four months since the Seattle Mariners played a baseball game. Four months can feel like a long time. A lot happened: the holidays came and went, various roster moves were (and weren’t) made, Rick Rizzs announced his impending retirement, the Seahawks won the Super Bowl, nearly the entirety of the Winter Olympics have happened… et cetera. Still, despite how much has happened, just 123 days have passed since the Seattle Mariners last played a baseball game.
“123 days” feels like a lot less time than “4 months”. I’m not sure why — maybe just a quirk of human bias and perception. For most of the last month, I’d identified more with the “4 months” side of things. It seemed like forever since we had baseball. To have gone from each day being punctuated with the joy of the 2025 Mariners, to each having no clear punctuation at all… well, they call it the bleak midwinter for a reason.
Today, though, it felt like baseball never left. From the moment this morning that the Mariners posted the first lineup card of 2026, all the way through the last pitch that non-roster invitee Nick Davila delivered to close out the ninth inning, today was a continuation of the excitement, joy, and momentum of 2025. Peoria Sports Complex looked and sounded like it was at capacity. Nary a patch of grass in the outfield was unoccupied, and every exciting moment on the field was answered by a chorus of jubilant cheers.
It helped that the Mariners’ starting lineup was mostly comprised of their actual projected Opening Day lineup. The same cannot be said of the pitching, as the team looks to more slowly bring their big-league staff up to speed. Non-roster invitee Dane Dunning took the bump for Seattle. Dunning, who projects to be a (hopefully unneeded) depth piece for the Mariners this year, ended up throwing 1.2 scoreless innings after working around some early traffic. His fastball, which last year averaged a hair above 90 MPH, sat around 89 MPH for most of the day. The presence of full Statcast numbers in Spring Training this year is fun. However, as I scour Dane Dunning’s February 20th velocity and vertical break, searching for meaning, it occurs to me that the availability of these data may not be optimal for my mental health. Verdict: Dunning looked fine.
The rest of today’s pitching staff for Seattle was comprised mainly of Guys on the Pile. One highlight was newcomer Cooper Criswell, acquired from the Red Sox over the offseason. Criswell, a soft-tossing righty, induced three strikeouts over two innings, including a particularly nasty one of Manny Machado.
Another familiar face was Troy Taylor, who looks to bounce back from a disappointing 2025. Taylor’s velocity was great: he was already up and over last year’s average speed of 96. Less great was a hung sinker that Romeo Sanabria whacked 416 feet over the center field fence.
Right hander Alex Hoppe, who the Mariners also acquired from the Red Sox this winter, had a doubly disappointing afternoon. A dinger surrendered to Jose Miranda might have been bad enough, but the broadcasting team outed Hoppe as a true sicko: apparently his favorite player growing up was Jack Flaherty? First of all, Flaherty is literally 30 years old and Hoppe is 27, so I truly do not know when he would have idolized Flaherty. Secondly, even if the timeline did make any sense, Hoppe is likely the first person ever to idolize Jack Flaherty.
Fortunately, the hitters on Seattle’s side were a lot more interesting than the pitchers. Luke Raley, Julio Rodríguez, Josh Naylor, Leo Rivas, and Dom Canzone each checked in with hits in their first game back (Raley had two). Canzone made a flashy play in right field, laying out for a sinking line drive to rescue Dunning’s first inning. The real story of today, though, was the young guys. Most specifically Michael Arroyo.
Arroyo, a 21-year-old second baseman who just today was revealed to be working out at third base and in the outfield, watched the first pitch he was thrown. It was a changeup on the corner, called a ball. The Padres challenged, and it was overturned. Arroyo fouled off a second changeup to go down 0-2. A third changeup went right down the middle, and Arroyo took it the other way. It looked somewhat innocuous off the bat, but the ball carried, and carried, and carried. 406 feet later, Arroyo had recorded Seattle’s first home run of 2026.
Star prospect Colt Emerson immediately hit a ball in nearly the exact same spot, but it died before reaching the fence.
Arroyo’s very next at bat saw him hit another ball hard to the same spot. This one dropped short of the fence, but Arroyo was left standing on second base for a double. Not a bad showing for the 67th ranked prospect in all of baseball.
The final effort from today that I wanted to highlight was from fellow Top 100 Prospect Lazaro Montes. In the box score, Montes’ day didn’t look overly impressive: 1-for-3 with a single and a strikeout. The single, however, was one of the more difficult ones you’re likely to see.
The at bat in question was against Padres flamethrower Mason Miller, who we all know well from his days with the Athletics. Montes started by working a 2-2 count off Miller — an impressive feat in its own right. Miller responded by dialing up a 101.5 MPH fastball, which he lost control of. The resulting errant pitch nearly decapitated Montes, who had to leap out of the way. With a slight smile on his face, Montes dug back into the box and fouled off another 101.5 MPH fastball. Miller tried to switch it up with a slider, which Montes pulled for a line drive single into right field. Talk about Big League stuff from the 21-year-old.
Countless battles of NRI-on-NRI later, the Mariners were left standing with a 7-4 advantage over the Padres. Sure, the game was meaningless. Though, isn’t every game meaningless in the long run? Everything, even?
With meaning ultimately left as an exercise for the reader, I hope you enjoyed seeing the sunlight today, even if it was through a laptop or television screen. Fewer than five weeks remain until Opening Day and fewer than three until Daylight Savings. We made it.
Numerous programs around the country are virtually eliminated from NCAA Tournament contention, barring a surprise conference championship win. Some athletic directors are already starting to get ahead of the curve and filing away candidates.
Kansas State's Jerome Tang was one of the first major dominos to fall, although there's still discourse between Tang and the school regarding his $18.7 million buyout. Kansas State claims it has bounds to fire Tang for cause, which would invalidate the total.
There are multiple mid-major coaches that are also on the rise and could be next up for Power Four gigs. Names like Saint Louis' Josh Schertz, New Mexico's Eric Olen and Utah State's Jerrod Calhoun have all been wildly successful in 2025-26.
Here's a running list of every head coaching change during the 2025-26 men's college basketball season:
College basketball coaches out in 2026: Full list
This story will be updated live.
Feb. 20: Joe Scott, Air Force
Scott was suspended indefinitely in January while being investigated for treatment of Air Force's cadet-athletes. It was announced Feb. 20, however, that he and the school mutually agreed to part ways.
"Coach Scott's passion for the game of basketball has long been evident in his competitive and direct coaching style. It was this coaching style that guided Air Force Basketball to some of the program's most memorable achievements during his initial tenure at the Air Force Academy," Air Force athletic director Nathan Pine said in the announcement. "This is a different day, and now is the right time for a new voice and a new approach to drive the culture and success of the men's basketball program, aligned with the Air Force Academy's mission of forging leaders of character developed to lead in our Air Force and Space Force.
"We thank Coach Scott for his 10 years of service to the Academy and wish him and his family well."
Air Force went 97-183 in Scott's second tenure as head coach from 2020 onward. He also led the program from 2000-04, taking the team to an NCAA Tournament berth in 2004. - Austin Curtright
Feb. 18: Steve Lavin, San Diego
Lavin won't return to San Diego for the 2026-27 season but will remain as head coach for the remainder of the current campaign. The former UCLA and St. John's coach has a 46-79 record at San Diego in four seasons, and currently holds an 11-17 mark this season.
"As my coaching tenure at USD begins to wind down, I would like to pause and express my heartfelt appreciation to President Jim Harris for presenting this life-changing opportunity in 2022," Lavin said in the announcement. "Teaching and coaching at the University of San Diego has been an experience of unparalleled pride and joy. Specifically, I will carry forward the gift of participating in our players' journeys, and will treasure the relationships forged along the way." - Austin Curtright
Feb. 17: Jerome Tang, Kansas State
Tang led Kansas State to the Elite Eight in his first season at the helm in 2022-23, but it was a downward spiral from there. The Wildcats failed to reach the NCAA Tournament the next two seasons and had a 10-15 record with a 1-11 mark in conference play this season before Tang was fired.
“This was a decision that was made in the best interest of our university and men’s basketball program," K-State athletic director Gene Taylor said. “Recent public comments and conduct, in addition to the program’s overall direction, have not aligned with K-State’s standards for supporting student-athletes and representing the university. We wish Coach Tang and his family all the best moving forward.”
Kansas State is attempting to fire Tang for cause after he called out his players in a press conference after a blowout loss against Cincinnati. - Austin Curtright
Jan. 12: Marvin Menzies, Kansas City
Kansas City announced in January that Menzies would finish out the season at Kansas City but wouldn't be returning for the 2026-27 season. The Roos hired former Maryland coach Mark Turgeon shortly after. - Austin Curtright
SURPRISE, Ariz. — The Kansas City Royals agreed to a minor league deal with catcher Elias Díaz on Friday and said the 11-year veteran will join the big league camp next week.
Díaz spent last season with the San Diego Padres, hitting .204 with nine homers and 29 RBIs in 106 games. It was Díaz’s lowest career average when getting at least 250 at-bats.
Díaz spent his first five seasons in Pittsburgh and the next four in Colorado before the Rockies traded him to the Padres during the 2024 season. The 35-year-old Venezuelan was an All-Star with Colorado in 2023.
Salvador Perez, a nine-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove winner, has been Kansas City’s starting catcher since 2013. Top prospect Carter Jensen, still a rookie after making his debut and playing 20 games last season, is expected to the backup.
