MESA, Ariz. — Turns out that Spencer Jones can crush homers in the Cactus League, too.
After a strong spring in the Grapefruit League, Jones made the trip west with the Yankees and put an exclamation point on his big league camp, belting a pair of home runs after coming off the bench in a 15-6 loss to the Cubs.
“Really good to see,” manager Aaron Boone said. “The homers, yes, but just the more consistent quality of the at-bat has been there, and that’s been noticeable all spring.”
Jones, who now has hit six home runs this spring, went deep against two members of the Cubs’ projected bullpen. Facing setup man Phil Maton in the seventh inning, Jones turned on a changeup and drilled it 372 feet to right field. Then he went the other way against Jacob Webb in the ninth inning, which came off the bat at 104.5 mph.
New York Yankees center fielder Spencer Jones #78, at bat in the 2nd inning. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The 24-year-old outfielder is set to start the season back at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (alongside Jasson Domínguez), where he played 67 games last year, now trying to keep cutting down on his strikeouts to put himself in a position to impact the big league club when it has a need.
“More competitive at-bats, game after game, whether there’s results or not,” Boone said. “Even in some where, ‘Man, it’s a tough matchup for him,’ he’s put together really good at-bats. He’s grown too.”
The Yankees were still trying Monday to finalize where Luis Gil will begin the season — either in the bullpen or the minor leagues after being the odd man out of their four-man rotation.
The club does not need a fifth starter until April 11, and Gil seems more likely to stay built up in the minors as opposed to piggybacking out of the bullpen, though Boone was not yet ready to commit to that Monday.
Hanging in the balance are the final bullpen spots, which could bump from two to three if Gil starts in the minors, with Cade Winquest, Brent Headrick, Jake Bird and Osvaldo Bido all still in contention.
Winquest, the Rule 5 pick, was the only one of those who pitched Monday, continuing his uneven spring as he gave up two runs on two hits and a walk across 1 ²/₃ innings.
A handful of Yankees veterans and pitchers flew to San Francisco on Monday night ahead of Wednesday’s Opening Day, while the rest of the team stayed back for one more exhibition against the Cubs on Tuesday. … Monday and Tuesday marked the Yankees’ first spring training games in Arizona since 1951, when they swapped spring training sites with the New York Giants. That year, the Yankees worked out in Phoenix while the Giants worked out in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Mar 4, 2026; Fort Myers, Florida, USA; New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone (17) walks back to the dugout after making a pitching change in the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox at JetBlue Park at Fenway South. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images | Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
The Athletic | Chris Kirshner: (subscription required) Who sets the Yankees’ lineups? The predominant assumption among fans is that the front office and their analytics department has the final say. Not so, says Aaron Boone. He, Brian Cashman, and bench coach Brad Ausmus all claim that Boone sets all of his lineups himself, and that the front office has never once dictated a batting order. They even refute the theory that each game’s lineup is a synthesis of three lineups – Boone’s, Ausmus’, and the front office’s – claiming that it is a collaborative effort between Boone and Ausmus, with the analytics department only occasionally serving as an advisor, and only “major decision (s)” being run by Cashman (and Hal Steinbrenner). Boone and Ausmus are surprisingly candid about their approach to lineup construction in this piece, providing plenty of insights about the plethora of factors they consider when setting the order for each game. I don’t know if their stated modus operandi will assuage your fears or provide even more fuel for the “fire Boone” movement, but either way, this is well worth your time.
Sports Illustrated | Joseph Randazzo: One name was missing from the Yankees’ four-man rotation to start the 2026 season: Luis Gil. The Yankees are reportedly still weighing whether to option him to the minors or use him as a piggyback starter in the early days of the season, but in any case, he does not have a rotation spot. Randazzo argues that the Yankees made the correct decision, as Gil still needs to work on some issues, and starting the year in Scranton (should he be sent down) wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, as it would provide him with an opportunity to start games consistently. He also points out that Gil would also be the first arm up in the event of an injury befalling the rotation, so it’s likely that he’ll get another crack at securing a rotation spot. I’m sure the Yankees at this point would rather have Gil be a depth piece rather than a load-bearing component of their starting corps, but here’s hoping Gil recaptures some of that 2024 magic and steps up when the team needs him to.
MLB.com | Will Leitch: MLB’s power ranking of all 30 teams dropped yesterday. Sitting at number one is, to the surprise of absolutely nobody, the Los Angeles Dodgers. I guess signing Kyle Tucker is a good way to address a middling outfield, and as bullpen upgrades go you could do worse than Edwin Díaz. Our beloved Yankees are ranked fourth, with Aaron Judge being Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole returning to the mound named as highlights in the dedicated blurb. Personally, I think there are enough positives besides those two – a full season of Cam Schlittler, Carlos Rodón returning with a healthy elbow, and Ben Rice building on a breakout 2025 – to rank them even higher, maybe even just below the Dodgers. Maybe I’m drinking too much of that Kool-Aid, but I think this year’s Yankees have the goods to go toe to toe with just about any other team.
MLB.com | Manny Randhawa: MLB.com also dropped their staff predictions for the league leaders in the following categories: batting average, home runs, and stolen bases for hitters, and ERA, strikeouts, and saves for pitchers. Aaron Judge is the only Yankee that was the top vote-getter for any category, in his case home runs. Yeah, I could definitely see that happening. Judge also garnered votes for the AL batting title, which would have been an incomprehensible statement prior to 2022, but is totally reasonable as things stand now. Elsewhere, David Bednar was the runner-up pick for the AL saves leader, and I would note that he actually posted better peripherals in 2025 than the top vote-getter, Andrés Muñoz of the Mariners, making him a strong pick. The only other Yankee receiving votes for any category was Jazz Chisholm Jr. to lead the league in stolen bases. Hopefully Jazz can make good on his stated goal of posting a 40-40 season.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 10: Pete Crow-Armstrong #4 of Team United States rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run against Team Italy in the sixth inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic at Daikin Park on March 10, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Tonight, ESPN’s Jeff Passan broke the news that Cubs fans have been waiting for.
BREAKING: Center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and the Chicago Cubs are finalizing a long-term contract extension, sources tell ESPN. Crow-Armstrong, coming off a 30-30 season and a Gold Glove, will get a big payday as the Cubs lock up a franchise-caliber talent.
We have no details as of yet on the length of the deal or how much money Pete Crow-Armstrong will get. Bob Nightengale reports that it will be more than $100 million, which is a safe report, honestly.
Pete Crow Armstrong, who bet on himself when he rejected the Cubs’ extension offer of a year ago, watches his patience pay off as he and the Cubs close on a $100-million plus contract extension. He’ll be second-highest paid Cub behind only Alex Bregman.
Most observers have used the extension that Corbin Carroll signed with the Diamondbacks before the 2023 season as a point of reference: eight years and $111 million. However, there has been three years of contract inflation since then and PCA has accomplished more at this point than Carroll had before 2023, so I’d expect whatever Crow-Armstrong signed to be north of that.
Crow-Armstrong has said before that he loves Chicago and that he wants to be a Cub long-term. The Cubs have indicated that they’d like him around for a while. It looks like both sides got their wish.
We will update this article as more information becomes available.
PORT ST. LUCIE — For now, Craig Kimbrel is choosing Mets purgatory.
The 37-year-old, longtime shutdown reliever, who was informed Sunday that he will not be on the Opening Day roster, will remain in the organization and stay in Florida in hopes that his stuff will improve and a spot on the club will open.
Kimbrel could have exercised an opt-out from his contract. If a major league opportunity arises with another team, he would be free to pursue it.
But the plan for the time being is for Kimbrel to continue throwing, try to build his velocity and “stay ready” if the Mets need him, he said.
Mets pitcher Craig Kimbrel (46) throws in the fourth inning against the Washington Nationals during Spring Training Clover Field, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“My goal was to make the Opening Day roster. I am a little disappointed in that, but that is all on me and what I showed this spring so far,” Kimbrel said Monday at the team’s spring facility. “It really came down to roster moves and how they wanted to construct it. … It was going to be a tough job to get onto this team. A lot of great arms and just so many spots.”
Kimbrel was competing for the final spot in the bullpen, which will go to lefties Bryan Hudson or Richard Lovelady (or a reliever who shakes loose from another camp).
Kimbrel allowed three runs on four hits and five walks in six innings while striking out five in the Grapefruit League. His four-seam fastball averaged 92.5 mph. He said he wants to work on “consistency” and strength to juice that number.
“If I can get my fastball velocity up a little bit, I think that makes everybody feel a little bit more comfortable,” said Kimbrel, a potential Hall of Famer. “I can pitch with what I got right now, but we’re in a game where guys are throwing 100 miles an hour out of the bullpen.”
Kimbrel said reporting to Triple-A Syracuse “might be an option” down the road, but he is hopeful he will have a major league job before accepting a minor league assignment.
Why is he staying with the Mets?
Craig Kimbrel (46) reacts in the fourth inning against the Washington Nationals during Spring Training. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“Very pleased in what I see around here,” Kimbrel said. “The Mets have treated me with the utmost respect the whole time I’ve been here. I’ve been very transparent with that work relationship. … I just feel pretty comfortable where I am right now. I still feel like there’s an opportunity here at some point.”
Carson Benge will be the Opening Day right fielder, but the final spot on the bench is still being decided.
The Mets will bring infielder Vidal Bruján, outfielder Jared Young and catcher Ben Rortvedt to New York with them before deciding who will be their 26th man. It is possible none make the team and the Mets claim a player who is cut from another camp.
“We told them that this is probably going to [go] all the way to the end,” manager Carlos Mendoza said.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 23: Luis Rengifo #13 of the Milwaukee Brewers reacts in front of Elly de la Cruz #44 of the Cincinnati Reds after hitting a double in the second inning against the Cincinnati Reds during the exhibition game at American Family Field on March 23, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
29 down, one to go for the Brewers’ spring season. The Milwaukee bullpen combined for a gem and the bats looked ready for primetime as the Brewers thoroughly defeated the Reds, 9-1, on Monday night at American Family Field in Milwaukee. It was the first of two final tune-up games against the Reds before the Brewers open the season against the White Sox on Thursday.
Aaron Ashby started this game but didn’t make it out of the first inning. Clearly on a pitch count, he was pulled with two on and two out in the first after 26 pitches—he’d walked two, struck out one, and gotten Elly De La Cruz to fly out. Blake Holub came out of the pen and struck out Eugenio Suárez to end the inning.
After Ashby’s mild hiccup in the first, the rest of the Brewers’ projected opening day bullpen mostly mowed down the Reds. Holub had a nice outing as he pitched a perfect second inning as well, and then literally every other pitcher (in addition to Ashby) that is expected to make the team’s bullpen pitched an inning. Six of those seven innings were scoreless. The only blemish was during Easton McGee’s inning, when TJ Friedl doubled and then scored on a Ke’Bryan Hayes single. Otherwise, DL Hall, Jared Koenig, Grant Anderson, Abner Uribe, Ángel Zerpa, and Trevor Megill combined for six shutout innings with only two hits allowed, two walks, and four strikeouts.
That’ll do it this spring for the opening day bullpen, as obviously none of them will pitch in tomorrow’s last spring game. The whole group will presumably be available Thursday.
As for the hitters, they looked ready, too, for the most part. The Brewers struck first in the second inning when Christian Yelich singled, Luis Rengifo doubled, and Jake Bauers walked to load the bases, and after a Sal Frelick strikeout, David Hamilton doubled in Yelich and Rengifo. Bauers scored, too, when Garrett Mitchell grounded into a run-scoring fielder’s choice.
Brice Turang (who all five of your friendly BCB writers chose as this year’s team MVP) led off the bottom of the third with his third home run of the spring. The Brewers had some traffic on the bases in the fourth, when Frelick led off with a double, went to third on a Hamilton single, and then scored when Tyler Stephenson threw the ball away trying to catch Hamilton stealing second. Hamilton scored, too, when Mitchell hit another RBI groundout.
In the fifth, William Contreras hit a homer down the right-field line into the bleachers, and Andrew Vaughn led off the seventh with the biggest hit of the night, a 109 mph, 432-foot bomb to left. The Brewers’ last run came in the eighth, when the ice-cold Garrett Mitchell—who went just 1-for-4 tonight but only struck out once (looking) and knocked in three runs—hit a 108 mph RBI double.
Almost everyone in the Brewer lineup had a good day; the exception was leadoff hitter and designated hitter (I don’t think this will happen much once the games count) Jackson Chourio, who was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. But everyone else in the starting lineup had a hit save for Bauers (who was 0-for-1 with a walk), and several of the players who came in as subs later had nice nights too. Notably, Hamilton was 2-for-2 with a double and two RBI, Vaughn (off the bench) was 2-for-2 with a solo homer, and Rengifo, Frelick, Mitchell, Turang, and Contreras all had extra-base hits (doubles for the first three, homers for the latter two).
Wrap them up, let them chill tomorrow night, let’s get the games started.
The final game before the regular season is tomorrow at 4:10 p.m., again at American Family Field. Brandon Sproat will get a chance to make his last warm-up before his Brewers debut comes on Sunday. The Reds have not announced a starter.
PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 17: Manager Craig Stammen of San Diego Padres on the field during Spring Training workout at Peoria Sports Complex on March 17, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. The players are wear green hats in honor of St. Patrick's Day. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Padres fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Spring Training has come to a close for the San Diego Padres and the rest of Major League Baseball will soon join them as they return to their home cities. Teams will have a few days to make final roster decisions before the 2026 season kicks off on Opening Day and the hunt for the postseason begins.
The Padres played 32 games throughout the spring season and although the final 26-man roster has not been officially announced, much of the Friar Faithful have an idea of who will be on the field and in the dugout when San Diego hosts the Detroit Tigers at Petco Park on Thursday at 1:10 p.m. PST.
Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball wrote in January about the Steamer and ZiPS projections for the Padres for the 2026 season. With a new manager and an incomplete roster, the projections were skeptical toward San Diego. Steamer projected 80 wins and ZiPS projected high 80s to a 90-win season.
The Friar Faithful have been able to see the team perform throughout the spring, some in person, some via Padres.TV or other media outlets, so they have more information than Steamer and ZiPS had when they gave their projections. The Padres Reacts Survey question this week on Gaslamp Ball is asking respondents to make their predictions about where San Diego will finish in the win column in 2026. Results of the poll will be provided later in the week and at season’s end, Gaslamp Ball will revisit the projections to see if the Padres are higher, lower or right where the majority of readers expected them to be.
Next up are four arms, some holdovers and some new entrants. and each finishing the year at a different level of the minors.
36. Ryan Jennings, RHP, age 26 (DOB: 8/22/1999), grade: 35, 2025: 16th
The Blue Jays’ 2022 fourth round pick out of Louisiana Tech, Jennings has had an up-and-down transit through the Blue Jays system. He popped up in his draft spring after a move to the bullpen allowed him to run his fastball up into the mid-90s and touch 99. In 2023-24, he missed significant time with injuries and his velocity fluctuated though the results were generally good with particularly dominant results in 2024.
Jennings has the arsenal of a starter, with three secondaries that have at least flashed potential. His primary swing and miss weapon is a gyro slider in the mid/upper 80s, paired with a short power curve around in the low-80s. As a starter he also used a mid-80s changeup which flashed swing and miss potential, but which has been largely shelved with his move to the bullpen.
While he had success as a starter, the hope was that a move to the bullpen would allow the stuff to play up consistently, particularly the fastball velocity. That didn’t come to pass in 2025, as he sat but also topped out in the mid-90s. Additionally, the strike throwing backed up as Jennings walked 43 in 58 innings (with another eight HBP). That was a letdown on the heels of 2024, and while the potential keeps on the backend where he previously tended to be, another year like that will really call into question his major league potential.
Signed in 2022 by the Red Sox out of the Dominican Republic , Batista was one-third of the return for Danny Jansen in 2024. At that point he had yet to pitch outside of a complex league, but the Jays bumped him up to Dunedin where turned in four promising outings and returned for 2025.
In 2025, he worked as a swingman, throwing 85 innings to pedestrian results (4.96 ERA) but with intriguing underlying numbers (83 strikeouts against 26 free passes). Once again, his undoing was the long ball, yielding 15 home runs.
As with the performance, broadly speaking it’s the same story as a year ago in terms of stuff. Batista’s fastball sits 92-94, his best off-speed a change-up that flashes plus with some feel, and rounded out with an inconsistent slider (85-87). He’s still just 21, so it’s still possible there’s more in there at least in terms of refining secondaries, but absent that there’s a lot pointing towards a future in relief. Accordingly, while the grade and ranking remains similar to last year, the upside tail is pared back.
An undrafted free agent out of Louisiana State in 2024 where he pitched to undistinguished results over four years in various roles, the Jays appear to found a real gem. Debuting in 2025, Coleman’s 36% strikeout rate in Dunedin was interesting, but not that unusual for an experienced SEC pitcher facing a lot of teenagers and came with some control issues.
It was the latter half of the year that proved an even bigger step forward in Vancouver. Against a more appropriate level competition to serve as a measuring stick, not only did the strikeout rate tick up to 40% but he threw more strikes as well. The resulting 1.40 ERA anchored Vancouver’s bullpen down the stretch.
Coleman’s arsenal is as promising as the results. A low slot lefty, it’s tough for batters to pick up the ball. His fastball velocity has jumped up into the mid-90s, and he’s got a good frisbee slider and change-up to complement that. Neither are truly stand out beyond the tough arm angle, but it’s more than enough to overwhelm lower level hitters and should be enough to keep better hitters off balance. To that end, looked good in several Spring Training outings
There’s an obvious major league role for a lefty with good stuff, and at the rate he’s taking steps forward it may be sooner than later. If everything clicks he could end up on the higher end of relief outings, providing some upside, but there’s also a relatively higher floor.
33. Grant Rogers, RHP, age 25 (DOB: 4/22/2001), grade: 35, 2025: NR
Drafted in the 11th round of the 2023 draft from McNeese State, Rogers has succeeded as a workhorse starter across the three lowest levels with almost 50 starts and over 250 innings over two years. While his peripherals have been solid, his calling card is generating weak contact on the ground.
For a starter, Rogers has something of an unconventional arsenal, at least in today’s game. His two seamer sits in the low-90s, deriving its effectiveness from significant horizontal movement. He complements that with three breaking balls that are more three variants on a spectrum: a mid-80s slider, low 80s curve and upper-80s cutter. Once in a while I’ve seen a change-up but it’s not a factor. None rate as swing-and-miss offerings, they’re part of a mix to keep hitter off-balance.
The question is how this translates to higher levels, and I have my doubts. I don’t know the shape of his breaking balls, and they got hit pretty hard in Spring Training where he got a few starts and decent look. To some extent, the outcome feels dichotomous: either it works and he ends up an inning eating backend (or maybe mid rotation at peak) workhorse starter, or it’s tough to see major league value. Once upon a time, there was a niche sinker/slider pitchability relievers (think Shawn Camp) or longmen, but there aren’t so many in today’s game.
Mar 17, 2026; Mesa, Arizona, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Dylan Carlson against the Los Angeles Angels during a spring training game at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
It’s another week here at BCB After Dark: the hippest spot for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. We’re so glad to see you tonight. Opening Day is just around the corner. Come on in and join us. The dress code is casual. The hostess can seat you now. Bring your own beverage.
BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.
Last week I asked you which experimental rule being tried out in the minor leagues this year would you like to see adopted? A good 39 percent of you voted for “none of the above,” which fits in with baseball fans’ conservative relationship with the rules of the game. But another 26 percent would like to enable automatic check swing challenges and ten percent would like to see the time limits on mound visits more rigorously enforced.
Here’s the part where we listen to jazz and talk movies. You’re free to skip ahead if you want.
Sometimes when you’re stuck for a song, you just have to go with the hits. So today we’re featuring the Jazz Crusaders live in 1968 playing some obscure pop song by an obscure British band called “The Beatles.” This is “Eleanor Rigby.”
(By the way, I saw the Paul McCartney documentary Man on the Run and while it wasn’t great, it was good and reinforces my belief that a biopic of Paul going through his Wings days would be more interesting than re-hashing the Beatles story for the umpteenth time. Paul went through a lot of interesting stuff in the seventies, not the least of which was that he died and was replaced by someone who looked exactly like him except he was more talented!)
The Jazz Crusaders were Joe Sample on piano, Wilton Felder on tenor sax, Wayne Henderson on trombone, Buster Williams on bass and Stix Hooper on drums.
Tonight I’m continuing my countdown of my thoughts on the 2022 BFI Sight & Sound critics poll of the greatest films of all time with the number-nine film, the silent Soviet classic Man with a Movie Camera. Once again, I went on way too long to get in more than one film tonight, so I guess I’m going to have to save Singin’ in the Rain for Wednesday. I’m also going to have write more than just a blurb on Singin’ in the Rain and I don’t want to. So pray for me.
9. Man with a Movie Camera. (1929) Directed by Dziga Vertov.
Man with a Movie Camera is an avant-garde silent documentary that broke all the rules of filmmaking as they existed in the 1920s. Not only is it a portrait of everyday life in the Soviet Union in the 1920s, it also is a deconstruction of the process of making a film. There is no plot and there are no intertitles. The closest thing to a character is the unnamed man with the movie camera.
Director Dziga Vertov felt that the potential of film was being wasted. Cinema of the era, in his opinion, simply aped the conventions of the stage. (To be fair, he had a point.) Vertov wanted a revolutionary cinema (to go with a revolutionary state) that exploited the strengths of film and stripped away the illusion of the filmmaking process.
Shooting for over four years in Moscow, Kyiv and Odesa, Vertov pulled out every trick in the book and probably invented a few more. There are double exposures, split screens, Dutch angles, quick cuts, dissolves, stop-motion animation, slow motion, sped-up footage, photo montages and more. In a different film, using all these tricks would seem like a pointless gimmick but here, they’re the point of the whole film. Cinema can be an art in and of itself.
The film opens with the cameraman, “played” by Vertov’s brother Mikhail Kaufman although he’s actually also shooting the film, setting up his camera on top of a closeup of a camera. The cameraman is here to shoot one day in the life of a Soviet city. Beyond the mundane activities of the day, this is one adventurous cameraman as well. He gets shots on train tracks with a train coming at him head on. He gets shots from underneath carriages. He shoots inside of factories with mechanical parts spinning every which way. Vertov was obsessed with how things look different from different angles or different processes.
Man with a Movie Camera shows the Soviet people going about their business during the day. They commute to work. They work in the factories and Vertov highlights the dance of the metal machinery in fine detail. The go to the beach to relax. All of this is interesting enough, but the scenes of everyday life are interrupted by the process of making the film. People fill a theater to watch the film. The cameraman sets up his shots. The editor, Vertov’s wife Yelizaveta Svilova, is shown putting the film together. The illusion of the film is stripped bare as he quickly and repeatedly cuts back and forth between the life of the city and the life of the film.
To be clear, Svilova is the real hero of this film. This is a tour de force of film editing which managed to take all these incredible images, enhance them with all these special effects and then got them to make some sort of coherent sense and did that with without any intertitles that could explain what was going on. That all of this had to be done by hand is all the more impressive.
Before Man with a Movie Camera, it was generally believed that films couldn’t make the cuts in a film too quickly or the audience would become disoriented. The average shot length of a film in 1929 was 11.2 seconds.Man With a Movie Camera’s average shot length is 2.3 seconds. If there’s a theme in Man with a Movie Camera, it’s motion. Everything is moving. Even the still shots pass by quickly. Dziga Vertov was a stage name that roughly translates into “Spinning Top” in Ukrainian, and the film very much lives up to his name. That constant sense of “go” is what keeps this film from becoming boring. We never linger anywhere.
Man with a Movie Camera is a fascinating documentary that both celebrates the illusions of cinema and strips them bare. When it came out in 1929, it was mostly dismissed as a bad joke. It broke too many rules. It was also dismissed in the USSR as a pointless film without a message. Even though the film is certainly propaganda in the way it shows the joys of everyday life in the Soviet Union, it was criticized for emphasizing artistic form rather than revolutionary message. Soviet films were supposed to instruct or inspire the masses but all Man with a Movie Camera did was show how busy and happy everyone was. However, in the years since, it’s been praised for the way its innovative techniques and how it demonstrated that film could be more than just an offshoot of theater or literature.
Would I put it in my top ten films of all time? If you’re asking me if I would put it in the top ten influential films of all time, sure. But “influence” isn’t necessarily what I’d primarily base my vote on. Man with a Movie Camera has no plot and little message. It’s interesting and fascinating. It appeals to the head, but there’s no story to appeal to the heart. By stripping away the artifice of moviemaking, it also strips away our ability to get swept away by the magic of movies.
So I understand why it’s in the top ten. For a film scholar, this is a critical film in their education. It’s probably mind-blowing after watching earlier silent pictures. But for the rest of us, I don’t see why it has to be considered one of the ten best films of all time. That’s not an insult. I can’t see myself sitting down to watch Man with a Movie Camera a dozen times, but it’s certainly worth watching two or three times. Every film buff should watch it at least once. The film world would certainly be the worse without it.
Here’s a trailer for the restoration of Man with a Movie Camera if you just want to get a sense of the film in one minute.
And here’s the entire 67-minute movie. It’s obviously in the public domain, so there are several different copies of it out there. Vertov did not commission any particular music to go with the film, but he did specify that it should be accompanied by something up tempo. This version with music composed by Michael Nyman, who did the score for The Piano, has gotten a lot of praise and I think it’s particularly good. But if you want to look around for music that you like better, you certainly can.
Welcome back to everyone who skips the music and movies.
The Cubs announced today that Seiya Suzuki would start the season on the 10-day injured list after suffering a knee injury in the World Baseball Classic. The Cubs had already announced that he would not be ready for Opening Day, but they hoped that he would be back quickly enough that he could avoid an IL stint. With Suzuki still wearing a knee brace today and with the season starting on Thursday, it was clear that he would miss more than just a couple of games.
The Cubs still aren’t putting a timeline on when Suzuki will return to the team, although Suzuki himself is optimistic and saying his knee feels better every day. He also stressed, and I’m sure the Cubs agree, that they don’t want to rush him back and possibly re-injure the knee.
But even though the Cubs can backdate the IL stint to today (Monday), it still seems like a ten-day minimum is awfully optimistic for Suzuki, considering he’s still wearing a brace. But it also doesn’t seem like something major that is going to keep him out for months, so I’m guessing he’s going to miss the first two or three weeks of the season. Jordan Bastian in the linked-to article speculated that Suzuki could return for a roadtrip to Cleveland and Tampa Bay from April 3 through 8, but I’m guessing that Suzuki is more likely to be ready after the Cubs return to Chicago to play Pittsburgh on April 10. With as much time as Suzuki has missed because of the injury, I think that the Cubs will want him to play one or two rehab games in Iowa or South Bend before returning to the roster. Again, I’m just guessing and I haven’t seen Suzuki’s medicals. But I am sure the Cubs won’t want to push him.
So Suzuki is likely to miss 12 games, give or take a series. Who would you have take his spot in right field until he gets back? The Cubs have already told Chas McCormick that he will not make the Opening Day roster, although they’d love for him to stick around in Iowa. So that leaves four options to play in right for the first two weeks.
The first option is Michael Conforto, who has already been told that he has made the Opening Day roster. Conforto had a heck of a Spring Training in Mesa. Even though Conforto only signed with the team on February 26, he got in 12 games and hit .324 with a .359 on-base percentage. Six of his 12 hits were for extra bases—five doubles and one triple. He’s also left-handed, which helps balance out the lineup.
However, this is the same Michael Conforto who hit .199/.306/.333 in 138 games with the Dodgers last year and got left off the playoff roster. Except, of course, he’s a year older now.
The other option that the Cubs have mentioned is Matt Shaw. Shaw, of course, lost his starting third base job when the Cubs signed Alex Bregman. So they’ve been working him around as a supersub and letting him try the outfield. Shaw has also had a great spring with the bat, hitting .320/.417/.500 with two home runs in 20 games.
However, Shaw has looked shaky defensively out in right field. That’s to be expected—he’s never played in the outfield before. But shouldn’t he get some more practice out there before he gets thrown out into the tough right field of Wrigley in April?
There are two other options. One is Dylan Carlson, who, and stop me if you’ve heard this one already, has hit really well this spring. In 20 games, he’s hit .304/.429/.413 with one home run. He was also someone who was highly-touted as a prospect in the Cardinals system and he delivered with a 3.2 bWAR as a 22-year-old in 2021, his rookie season. But since then, he’s been plagued with injuries, which had led to some poor performances. You know that talent is still in him somewhere and it would a bonanza for the Cubs if he could get healthy and live up to his early promise. On the other hand, the Cubs are his fourth organization in three years and last year with the Orioles, he hit just .203/.278/.336 with six home runs over 83 games.
Finally, there’s rookie and top Cubs prospect Kevin Alcántara. Alcántara would clearly be the best defender of the four choices. He’s a plus defender in center field with a plus arm and he’s played a lot of right field as well. His Spring Training was solid as well, hitting .275/.326/.400 with two doubles and a home run in 13 games. But he also struck out 14 times and only walked twice in 43 plate appearances.
Alcántara also has the advantage, as far as the Cubs are concerned, of a minor league option year. Whereas the Cubs would lose Carlson if he didn’t make the Opening Day roster, Alcántara can be sent down to Iowa.
So who would you choose to play right field until Suzuki returns? Obviously more than one player can start out there based on matchups, but which one of these four right fielders would you give the most at-bats to?
Thanks for stopping by. We’re always glad to have you. Please get home safely. We want you around for Opening Day. Recycle any cans and bottles. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again tomorrow evening for more BCB After Dark.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 26: A general view of Chase Field prior to the MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 26, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Kelsey Grant/Arizona Diamondbacks/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While there has been no formal announcement with regard to the Diamondbacks’ Opening Day roster, by a process of elimination, it currently appears to be set. There are only 13 position players left, so that means a bench of James McCann, Tim Tawa, Jorge Barrosa and Ildemaro Vargas. On the bullpen side, at this point – and unless there’s a late waiver claim – the team will start the year without a left-hander, instead going with this all right-handed selection:
Taylor Clarke
Kevin Ginkel
Andrew Hoffmann
Jonathan Loaisiga
Juan Morillo
Joe Ross
Paul Sewald
Ryan Thompson
To add Vargas, Ross and Loaisiga, there will have to be three 40-man moves made. Maybe Tyler Locklear, Cristian Mena and Blake Walston to the 60-day IL? We’ll see. Anyway, here’s tonight’s line-up:
This feels like it might be the exact line-up (with the obvious exception of Kelly) the team rolls with on Opening Day come Thursday. Meanwhile, the Guardians send up former D-backs Slade Cecconi, whom we dealt to Cleveland in exchange for Josh Naylor. I’m not sure Cecconi will turn into Max Scherzer, but he had already been more valuable for the Indians, than he was as a Diamondback. Tonight, I’m also pleased to see Corbin Carroll back in RF. Jordan Lawlar gets the start in left, though according to Torey Lovullo, whether that remains a consistent set-up, is to be determined.
Whole slew of broadcast choices for you tonight. Those of a visual nature can watch the game on DBACKS.TV, alongside Steve Berthiaume, Bob Brenly & Jody Jackson. On the radio side, Arizona Sports 98.7 FM has you covered, with Chris Garagiola & Tom Candiotti. It’s also being broadcast on La Campesina 101.9 FM in Spanish, by Oscar Soria & Rodrigo Lopez.
GOODYEAR, ARIZONA - MARCH 7: Slade Cecconi #44 of the Cleveland Guardians throws a pitch during a Spring Training game against the San Diego Padres at Goodyear Ballpark on March 7, 2026 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
DENVER, CO - APRIL 28: Ryan Feltner #18 of the Colorado Rockies pitches during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Monday, April 28, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Geneva Heffernan/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Here it is: the penultimate game in spring training 2026.
This evening, the Colorado Rockies welcome the Detroit Tigers to Salt River Fields.
Starting for the Tigers is Jack Flaherty .
The righty has a 7.88 ERA in 8.0 IP. He’s struck out 8, and has a 1.10 WHIP.
Taking the mound for the Rockies will be RHP Ryan Feltner, their final addition to the starting rotation.
Currently, he has an ERA of 9.24 in 12.2 IP. He’s struck out 15 and has a 1.89 WHIP.
TEMPE, ARIZONA - MARCH 05, 2026: Luis Morales #19 of the Athletics throws a pitch during the second inning of a spring training game against the Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium on March 05, 2026 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The Athletics have finished up their spring schedule. With today’s 10-9 win over the Chicago White Sox the regular season is now next. All attention now turns to Friday’s Opening Night in Toronto when our A’s will play some meaningful baseball against the defending American League Champions. There were highs and lows for the team this spring but all of that is now in the rearview mirror as attention turns to getting wins.
But first, the recap from today. Right-hander Luis Morales got the ball for the spring finale looking to have some success before entering the season. The 23-year-old has had a rough go of things during camp and that continued today. Chicago jumped on the young righty from the jump. After loading the bases with two outs Morales gave up the big hit, a bases-clearing 3-run double that gave the Sox the early lead.
That put the A’s in an early hole but on the bright side Morales pitched a clean second and third innings without allowing any more runs. Still, today’s outing was not inspiring and continued his tough spring. There was an expectation after his strong debut last year that Morales had a spot in the rotation more or less sewn up. Morales looks like he’ll still be in the rotation after today’s roster moves but the A’s will want to see some results over his first couple of starts. If these struggles continue it wouldn’t be a shock to see the club make a move sooner than later in regards to his rotation spot.
The White Sox would add on four more runs in the fourth with Morales out of the game. Right-hander JJ Goss got lit up for all the damage, which included four hits and two walks. It was now 7-0 White Sox. Not a great way to start the day.
Meanwhile on the other side of the ball the A’s bats were held in check by Sox left-hander Anthony Kay. Over the first three innings the Athletics had their opportunities against the former top prospect but couldn’t get the big hit to get some runs on the board.
Until the fourth, that is. With Kay still in the game but most of the Athletics starters now out of the contest the A’s got to work against the lefty. A single, a pair of hit by pitches, a sac fly and then a walk gave the A’s their first run of the day and the bases were still loaded. Prospect Drew Swift came to the plate and went after the first pitch he saw from Kay and delivered a grand slam to make this a 7-5 game. Suddenly we had a ballgame.
They were still losing but now that mountainous 7-run lead was a more manageable 2-run deficit. The A’s didn’t wait around, collecting another pair of walks to open the frame. Top prospect Henry Bolte was now at the plate and it was his turn to deliver. He came in clutch, smacking a two-run double to knot this game all up at 7-apiece. They weren’t done there either, pushing across two more runs to take the first lead of the evening. They had come all the way back. Now it was the bullpen’s job to hold on.
For a minute it seemed like these two teams were about to start trading runs the rest of the way. Righty Nick Anderson got tagged for a run in the sixth thanks to several White Sox hits but he managed to keep the rally from getting out of control. The A’s got that run back in the bottom of the eighth, and they’d actually end up needing it too. It took four more A’s pitchers to finish off Chicago, who scored one more time in the ninth to make it a one-run game but the A’s held on for the win, finishing off the White Sox and ending spring with a win.
And that’s all she wrote for spring camp, folks. The A’s finished with a 14-16 record but most importantly the team didn’t suffer a single major injury all camp. That’s incredible luck. It’s not going to last for the next six months but the A’s will be at full strength for Opening Day.
Next time we see our A’s take the field will be on Friday evening in Toronto. Luis Severino is slated to get the ball for the Green & Gold to take on the Blue Jays, his second Opening Day assignment in as many years. The Blue Jays, though they sided Dylan Cease this year, have named Kevin Gausman as their man for Opening Day. Should be a good one, and the first of 162 games over the next six months. Buckle up folks, and get ready for a fun season!
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 27: Entrance at one of the entrances to Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks spring training facility February 27, 2021. (Photo by )"n"n | Denver Post via Getty Images
Detroit Tigers vs. Colorado Rockies
Time/Place: 9:10 p.m., Salt River Fields – Scottsdale, AZ SB Nation Site:Purple Row Media:MLB.TV (Rockies broadcast), MLB+ (Rockies broadcast)
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Ryne Nelson (19) throws to the Cincinnati Reds in the third inning during a spring training game on March 16, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale. | Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The season is upon us! Let’s do a public confidence poll. Ok a scale of 1 to 10, how confident are you going into the season?
James: I would say a 5 or 8. I am supremely confident (8) that Arizona will have a largely average season. That mediocrity will likely result in a very pedestrian finish of something within spitting distance of .500 one way or the other by the end of the season.
Spencer: Solid 4. Arizona is overspending to pretend like they are contenders. I am confident we will spend the year getting the next wave developed in appropriate ways. That means Lawlar getting regular MLB reps. Waldy getting a cup of coffee. Dix, Jones, etc getting their next opportunities with affiliates. But at the major league level? Perdomo will regress to being very good instead of Ohtani level, Carroll will take time to get his power back.
Preston: I’m going with 6. I think the offense will continue to be good; while I don’t expect Perdomo to repeat his season entirely, I think the ABS challenge system might help him turn a few more strikeouts into walks. The defense should be better. But that pitching staff? Ouch. One of us might be able to join it by midseason. (One note on my predictions: going into 2016 I was high on the rebuilt pitching staff. They rewarded my confidence with an 88 ERA+ and a FIP of 4.50.)
A note on Perdomo. In integrated baseball, there have been 64 seasons by a shortstop with an OPS+ of 135 or higher. Nine of those belong to a known PED user, and three more happened in 2020. Another was Rich Aurelia in 2001, on a team of noted PED users. It’s far more likely that Perdomo becomes a one-year wonder than that he joins Corey Seager and Bobby Witt Jr. as the best hitting shortstops in history in a single season (both posted 174 OPS+, Seager in 2023 and Witt in 2024.)
Ben: I’ll say 5.5 simply because the pitching staff as a whole could be an absolute nightmare before the All-Star Break. I think the offense could be a pure, dynamic dream to watch with an excellent balance of speed, contact, and power up and down the lineup. We have to hope that getting Puk, Justin Martinez, and Burnes back at some point will buoy the whole team
1AZfan1: 6. I’m fairly confident we’ll play competent baseball most nights, but I think the bullpen will hold us back from being able to secure 88+ wins (target to make the playoffs). I think April will tell us a lot based on our incredibly difficult strength of schedule and not yet having our TJ arms back. If we’re close at the end of April and our bullpen isn’t a dumpster fire (or it is a dumpster fire but the starting pitching and lineup are good enough to overcome it) without Puk and J-Mart, I’ll bump that confidence level up.
Justin: 6
Dano: Yeah, I’m inclined to go with 6, especially since I just offered up my season W-L prediction and now I see that 1AZFan1 has put a value of 6/10 on broadly what my prediction was. But you know? Screw that. I do genuinely believe, for no good reason very likely, that we are going to overperform expectations this season. So let’s call it a 7!
Makakilo: This season is unusual because of the wide range of possible wins. My view is that the Diamondbacks will win between 81 and 89 games, depending on the health and performances of nearly all Diamondbacks players. Therefore, my confidence that they will reach the playoffs is less than 50%. Nevertheless, there is a realistic chance of reaching the playoffs. My confidence is about 4.
A different perspective on Perdomo. On Tuesday, this AZ Snake Pit article is scheduled to post. It looks at Perdomo’s batting strengths and weaknesses. It talks about four reasons that his 2025 breakout will continue this season.
What’s one prediction you have for this season that you feel is actually likely to happen?
James: Torey Lovullo is almost certain to spend a majority of the season dodging questions about bullpen usage. He really is not currently blessed with an abundance of quality options. Hopefully, as the season wears on, the team will develop and implement some relievers out of the pool of arms they acquired last summer.
Spencer: The team trades away expensive contracts midseason to save money (Gurriel, ERod, etc.). Whether this is because of a straight selloff or younger replacements with upside, I’m not sure. Maybe both.
Preston: We hear more about a player being “this year’s Geraldo Perdomo” than we ever heard about Perdomo last year. Or this year, except in the connection of whatever Dodger or Yankee is outperforming expectations.
1AZfan1: Preston had a pretty good one. I’ll predict this is Torey’s last season with us. I don’t think it’s the right call to let him go because I think there are very few managers who actually add a significant amount of wins to their teams and we are highly unlikely to get one as a replacement, but I imagine that we’ll once again finish the season right around .500 and there will be too much pressure from ownership/public to make a change.
Ben: There will be more than two rookies in the regular starting lineup by the end of the season. I’m not sure who those rookies will be, but there are several intriguing names sitting down in Reno who could contribute at the major league-level soon.
Dano_in_Tucson: We are going to win more games than we lose, and improved performance from our starting rotation is going to substantially be why.
Do you have any crazy, off the wall predictions for this season?
James: I’m honestly not sure that any of my predictions for the season are that off the wall. For the league, I think we may see a record-low for the number of qualified starts in a season. Is that particularly off the wall though, given the direction the game is moving? For the team, I guess I would say my big “off the wall” prediction would relate to Paul Sewald. He was given a guaranteed MLB contract and he has no options remaining. Usually, that would all but ensure he finishes the season on a Major League roster. I am honestly not convinced Sewald manages to make it to the end of the season before being cut loose by Arizona as the youth displaces him.
Spencer: AJ Puk signs an extension.
Preston: The Diamondbacks will have a pitcher named to the All Star Team, but Ketel Marte will not be there. How? After last year’s controversy, expect Marte to opt-out unless he’s truly having a remarkable season. That takes care of the second part of the equation. For the first part of the equation, Ryne Nelson will start the year in the rotation, and he’s pitched like an All Star in the second half of the last two seasons, plus a plethora of pitchers always opt-out. Eduardo Rodriguez looked good in the WBC so he might put together a solid first half, and Zac Gallen has name recognition. There’s also the chance that the league office will want to honor veteran players who are nearing the end of their careers in hopes of getting their support in negotiations and name Merrill Kelly to the team. He’s the best pitcher not named to an All Star team over the last few seasons, so he’s not at all undeserving on that note.
1AZfan1: Dodgers don’t win the division. Last year was closer than we all expected, with the NL West crown legitimately not being decided until the last week of the season. Injuries to the Dodgers pitching staff are a given, then all it takes are a couple poorly-timed injuries to the offense and the Dodgers are looking at a 90-win season. One of the Padres, Giants, or even Diamondbacks, could do better than 90 wins.
Makakilo: The Diamondbacks pitcher with the most saves will not be on the opening day roster.
Ben: Zac Gallen will return to form and get Cy Young votes at the end of the season.
Dano_in_Tucson: Oh, what the heck. I’m leaning into optimism for whatever reason just now, so let me just reiterate a thought I shared after Venezuela won the 2026 World Baseball Classic: bolstered by his crucially important and utterly brilliant start in the final against the US, our favorite hologram, Eduardo Rodriguez, will have an absolute banner year for the Diamondbacks and end the season at least in the conversation regarding who actually was our de facto ace.
When it’s all said and done, which Diamondbacks get awards votes?
James: With Moreno and Carroll starting the season hurt and Marte being a year older at second, I’m not sure that anyone will get votes enough to win anything. Those three players, plus Perdomo, may all receive a few votes for Gold Glove, but I think that’s likely it.
Spencer: Ryne Nelson for Cy Young. Marte and Perdomo for MVP.
Preston: This may be another year where the eligibility changes render someone losing votes. In 2023, Gabriel Moreno would have been a rookie had the rules not changed, and would have gotten plenty of votes. This year, that role is played by Jordan Lawlar, who I don’t predict to be at the level of Carroll in 2023, but will be good enough to get some down-ballot support if he were eligible.
1AZfan1: Alek will get Gold Glove votes, and possibly win it, in left field. I think Lawlar will do well enough to hold things down in center and Alek will be overqualified to play a corner outfield position.
Makakilo: Spencer is likely correct.
Ben: I think Spencer’s predictions are the strongest candidates for awards, but I could see a scenario where Gabriel Moreno stays healthy and makes a push for a Gold Glove at catcher. He was a top-15 player there last year and that was while missing significant time with various injuries.
Dano_in_Tucson: Yeah, I am with Spencer on both of those as well. Also, I agree with 1AZFan1 that Alek Thomas will get Gold Glove votes–assuming, of course, that he hits well enough once the regular season kicks off to keep himself in the lineup most every day.
And what’s one storyline you’re looking at in the broader MLB?
James: Labour strife and what the league does from now through the trade deadline to paint the players in as negative a light as possible. The current CBA prevents the players from scuttling the season the way they did back in 1994, or I would be starting a lottery for when in August/September the season comes crashing to a halt. I still remain firmly convinced that the league is going to miss a significant number of games in 2027. But, if things get any uglier in the early-season or if some sort of controversy develops before the break, I could see the season limping to an end as the 2027 season goes up in flames entirely.
Spencer: Skubal. His reputation was at an all time high after arbitration then hit a low when he only wanted to reap the benefits of the WBC without actually helping (read: doing anything). How he handles that stress will be important for the Mets and Yankees to watch in anticipation of his ability to survive NYC expectations. And if he hurts himself, his big payday is gone and he’ll have to “settle” for a contract beginning with 1 instead of 4.
Preston: The Dodgers. Is it better for them to win again so the players might get frustrated and we avoid a work stoppage, or is it better for them to have a down year so every other owner/fan base can regain some hope? I don’t know the answer, I just know that I am hoping that everything from “Homer at the Bat” befalls that overpaid and overhyped roster.
1AZfan1: The upcoming CBA negotiations top the list for me. I’m hopeful those talks become the most consequential of our generation, introducing some meaningful form of salary cap. Beyond that, I want to see if baseball can capitalize on the incredible WBC and become more popular domestically. Part of that likely depends on the CBA negotiations and whether or not there is a lockout, but baseball hasn’t been this hot in a long time. Can they keep it going or was it just a flash in the pan?
Makakilo: Possible new rules are being experimented with. Does baseball have more rule changes next season?
Ben: It’s hard to ignore the labor situation as it will loom over nearly everything that happens this season – from standings to shadow campaigns by both sides to paint themselves in the most sympathetic light while villainizing the other. I will be most interested to see how the labor situation affects any extensions and midseason trades. I suspect most front offices have a labor stoppage of some kind baked into their projections, but it will be a factor undoubtedly. Dano_in_Tucson: Yeah, it’s the labor stoppage that I can’t imagine isn’t coming at the end of the 2026 season, and the maneuvering and messaging on both sides as we barrel, seemingly inexorably, toward that. I expect it will be enraging, depressing, maddening, and also probably incredibly fascinating, especially for a labor economics nerd like me.
Los Angeles, CA - March 15 : Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) jogs back to the dugout during the first inning of a MLB spring training game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium on Sunday, March 22, 2026 in Anahiem , CA. (Photo by Ronaldo Bolaños/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The Dodgers play their first game at Dodger Stadium since Game 5 of last year’s World Series on Monday, hosting the Angels for the second of a three-game exhibition series.
Roki Sasaki goes for the Dodgers against left-hander Reid Detmers.
