The National Basketball Referees Association (NBRA), the official union of NBA officials, responded to the controversial traveling no-call by Minnesota Timberwolves guard LaMelo Ball, indicating that it should have been ruled as an infraction.
“For everyone asking, ‘how is this legal?’ It’s not!” the NBRA posted Thursday, Oct. 22 from its social media account. “He gathers with his right foot on the floor and would be permitted two steps by rule (left-right). He takes four steps after gathering the ball and travels.”
The play occurred with 8:19 left in the second quarter of Minnesota’s game against the Miami Heat. With the game tied at 39, Ball slipped past a screen toward the right side of the floor. Ball picked up his dribble and then took a gather step by shuffling to his right. The issue is that Ball then took four lateral steps before beginning his shooting motion. He would go on to lace the 3-pointer, one of his five successful conversions on the night.
For everyone asking, “how is this legal?” It’s not! He gathers with his right foot on the floor and would be permitted two steps by rule (left-right). He takes four steps after gathering the ball and travels. https://t.co/dSitGeRNSD
When reached for comment on the no-call, the NBA referred USA TODAY Sports to the statement issued by the NBRA.
This was the latest controversial traveling no-call early in the 2026-27 season. On opening night Tuesday, Oct. 20, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shuffled his pivot foot on a converted field goal, drawing a number of critical comments from fans and viewers on social media.
During the preseason, Boston Celtics guard Hugo González was on his way to an uncontested layup on a fast break when he collected the ball at the 3-point line and then took five steps before laying it in. That play was also not called for a travel.
The NBA and its officiating staff review every play during the season and assess the enforcement of its rules, so they may opt to take a closer look should they deem it a larger issue. At this point, however, the gather step and travels have not risen to that level.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 17: Nick Martinez #28 of the Tampa Bay Rays throws a pitch during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians in game four of the American League Championship Series at Progressive Field on October 17, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last offseason, Nick Martinez was seeking an opportunity with a team that would allow him be a starting pitcher. Now, he is starting the first game of the World Series for the Tampa Bay Rays as they take on the Milwaukee Brewers.
Tampa Bay signed Martinez just prior to Spring Training, Martinez was excited by the prospect of getting the chance to showcase himself as a full-time starting pitcher, “I’ve always believed that I can be a starter from beginning to end.”
Over the course of the regular season, the now 36-year old Martinez more than proved himself as he delivered an All-Star season for Tampa Bay. Over the course of 31 starts, Martinez compiled a 3.10 ERA | 3.96 FIP with a 15.1 K% and league leading 3.6 BB% over a career high 180 innings pitched. Thus far in the postseason, Martinez has only appeared in two games, allowing three runs on seven hits over 9 IP.
First pitch is slated a little after 8:00pm Friday night
After a day off on Wednesday, the Montreal Canadiens returned to work Thursday morning at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard. Owen Beck, sent down to the Laval Rocket after the loss to the San Jose Sharks, was called back up; the team also announced that captain Nick Suzuki will miss 2 to 4 weeks with an upper-body injury. The centerman had not missed a single game since he entered the NHL, meaning his iron man streak will end at 546 games.
Suzuki blocked a Michael Kesselring shot late in the third frame against the Sharks. It’s hard to imagine the Canadiens without Suzuki; we haven't seen the Habs without him since 2019-2020, and he plays a key role at even strength, on the power play, and at times when down a man. That leaves Martin St-Louis with a real puzzle.
Who will skate with Juraj Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield? The Canadiens have other centre options: Phillip Danault, Alex Newhook, Jake Evans, Oliver Kapanen. None of them are bona fide first-line centers. Danault was the Habs’ first-line pivot when Brendan Gallagher and Tomas Tatar completed the top unit, but that was six years ago. As good as Danault is, he's gotten older and isn’t what he was then. Furthermore, he pivots the new French Connection with Alexandre Texier and Zachary Bolduc; can St-Louis afford to break them up?
Kapanen, who’s been skating on the wing since returning, should go back to center, but where? On which line? If Ivan Demidov were back, you’d likely try to rekindle that chemistry, but he’s not yet and he’s not even traveling with the team as confirmed by the team’s PR. This isn’t surprising since he’s still wearing a walking boot.
Should Alex Newhook get a look as a first-line center? Perhaps leaving Kapanen with Josh Anderson and Chris Kreider? Those wingers have speed, and Kapanen has a knack for getting to the right spot for scoring chances.
Evans could also be in line for a promotion; when Kapanen faltered in the playoffs, he landed on the second line with Demidov and Newhook. But Evans has never scored 22 goals in a season.
At practice, St-Louis chose Kapanen to center Slafkovsky and Caufield, a tall order for the youngster, but he has played with the big Slovak before. As for the coach, he is confident that the Finn can make it work:
It's a next-man-up opportunity to keep things going. He'll play with two offensively talented players, as he did all last season; his game won't change. He'll complement those guys and do his job.
As for the fact that Kapanen will also be playing on the first power play unit, St-Louis added:
He's always had potential offensively. It's not the first time he's been on the power play, but with the injuries, it gives him an opportunity. We had to juggle that a little bit, and we think it can help us. He has a good shot, and he's very predictable for his teammates.
Many will have sighed with relief to see Kirby Dach wasn’t given yet another top-six opportunity. He may have improved the details of his game, but he hasn't done anything to earn a top-six spot and doesn’t play with the required commitment and intensity. Promoting Kapanen helps preserve the combinations that have worked well so far this season.
Suzuki’s absence will be a real big test for the Canadiens; how long can they make do without their leader and top-line center? Could Kent Hughes be forced to go out and get another center? The Canadiens’ GM doesn’t like to trade from a position of weakness, and other GMs would see him coming…
After a year of being bombarded with information about the lack of competitive balance in baseball, the 2026 World Series will feature the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers. It’s quite the twist from a sport that has made a relentless case that only big market teams can win in the Postseason, but baseball will always baseball and this year’s curveball is the first World Series since 1980 where a team who has never won before is guaranteed to hoist the Commissioner’s Trophy at the end of the day.
It does seem worth clarifying the terms of what we mean by a “small market.” After all, according to the Sports Business Journal the Tampa-St. Petersburg media market is the 11th largest media market in the country despite the Rays fielding a team with the 28th largest payroll in baseball according to Spotrac. Meanwhile, Milwaukee boasts the 19th ranked payroll in MLB in the smallest media market in MLB. It’s all rather complicated as you can see here:
Team
Payroll
Payroll Rk
Media Market Rk
Postseason 2026?
# of Postseason Appearances since 2017
World Series Wins since 2017
New York Mets
$346,736,805
1
1
N
2
0
Los Angeles Dodgers
$339,319,244
2
2
Y
10
3
New York Yankees
$308,336,780
3
1
Y
9
0
4th Tier Luxury Tax
$304,000,000
n/a
Philadelphia Phillies
$291,951,676
4
5
Y
5
0
3rd Tier Luxury Tax
$284,000,000
n/a
Toronto Blue Jays
$276,130,679
5
N
4
0
2nd Tier Luxury Tax
$264,000,000
n/a
Atlanta Braves
$262,962,842
6
7
Y
8
1
Chicago Cubs
$249,319,956
7
3
Y
5
0
1st Tier Luxury Tax
$244,000,000
n/a
Houston Astros
$239,763,783
8
6
Y
9
2
San Diego Padres
$218,252,715
9
30
Y
5
0
Boston Red Sox
$207,988,016
10
10
Y
5
1
Detroit Tigers
$202,081,991
11
14
N
2
0
Arizona Diamondbacks
$192,670,027
12
12
N
2
0
Texas Rangers
$191,262,798
13
4
N
1
1
San Francisco Giants
$190,174,131
14
9
N
1
1
Los Angeles Angels
$182,509,023
15
2
N
0
0
Seattle Mariners
$169,556,014
16
13
N
2
0
Baltimore Orioles
$167,039,211
17
29
N
2
0
Kansas City Royals
$150,429,892
18
35
N
1
0
Milwaukee Brewers
$146,206,320
19
39
Y
8
0
Cincinnati Reds
$128,223,748
20
38
N
2
0
Colorado Rockies
$121,526,751
21
17
N
2
0
Minnesota Twins
$115,748,036
22
16
N
4
0
Pittsburgh Pirates
$106,728,501
23
28
N
0
0
Chicago White Sox
$103,330,141
24
3
Y
3
0
Washington Nationals
$101,639,888
25
8
N
2
1
Athletics
$98,948,812
26
20
N
3
0
St. Louis Cardinals
$96,396,498
27
24
N
4
0
Tampa Bay Rays
$95,615,469
28
11
Y
6
0
Miami Marlins
$83,298,123
29
18
N
2
0
Cleveland Guardians
$74,459,014
30
19
Y
7
0
Or maybe it isn’t all that complicated. There has been Postseason success at the top of this table (the Dodgers) in the middle of this table (the Astros, Red Sox, Rangers and, begrudgingly, the Brewers) and towards the bottom of this table (the Nationals, Rays, Guardians and, as much as it pains me, the Cardinals). There are small market teams spending a lot of money relative to their actual, literal, media market size and teams spending a fraction of what you’d expect relative to their market. Some of those teams are winning. Some of those teams are losing.
Perhaps it’s more about how effectively teams use the resources they have than a total amount of spending by any individual team. To that end, a number of front office watchers have been compiling data about the size of R&D departments and/or scouting departments across the league that have led to a number of interesting conversations on social media:
Took a stab at this. See thread for sourcing & explanation of discrepancies.
I think only the tails matter: ATH, ARI, ATL, COL are low (not good!). TBR, NYY, NYM, DET, CLE are high (good!).
As Lance Brozdowski notes in the above thread, it’s a little complicated to just pull these results. Some teams have better visibility into the size and roles in their departments than others, including the Cubs, who were one of the big movers as people honed in on this particular metric.
But again, this doesn’t overlay with MLB Postseason success or failure either. Yes, the perennially successful (although still zero rings to show for it) Rays are at or near the top of both lists, but the Braves and Astros are near the bottom.
It’s enough to make you wonder if success in the October is just a crapshoot in baseball. Admittedly, a crapshoot you have a much better chance of being a part of if you’re deploying resources wisely, but a crapshoot nonetheless.
One thing that hasn’t changed this Postseason: ticket prices to the Fall Classic are outrageous, especially in Milwaukee where they’ve been waiting 44 years for a chance to play in the World Series. Getting into a World Series game in Tampa Bay or Milwaukee is going to set you back some cash, regardless of the spending habits of the team you’re cheering for:
Has there ever been a greater disparity between regular-season and World Series ticket prices?
The Brewers' World Series get-in price is now 125x their typical regular-season get-in.
When the MLB season began in February, few predicted the final two teams standing in October would be the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers. While many will frame this as an old-school Fall Classic matchup, these clubs are both powered by two of the largest scouting and analytics departments in baseball. Though they emphasize contact and speed on the field, the Rays and Brewers have long been at the forefront of pitch design, tech integration and data-driven strategies.
Follow along with all our team’s bets in the Bet Tracker.
World Series Betting Preview
For only the sixth time in the Wild Card era, the top team from each league will clash in the World Series. Even more remarkable, this marks the first time since 1980 that two franchises both chasing their very first World Series title will face off, guaranteeing a milestone moment no matter who emerges victorious in this strength versus strength matchup. It all sets up a truly historic Fall Classic.
Bookmakers opened the Brewers around a -160 favorite, which implies a 61.54% win probability. While I expected Milwaukee to be favored, I figured we’d see an opener closer to -125 (55.56% implied win probability). Not only did bookmakers disagree with me, but the market has as well – we’ve seen the Brewers get bet all the way up to -175/-185. As of now, I haven’t bet a side in this series, and I’m not sure I will. While I’ve fired on a couple of series props that I’ll share, I’ve had much more success betting props game by game this regular season and postseason.
Offensively, these clubs have similar approaches and results. Neither team’s philosophy is to continuously sell out at the dish; instead, they rely on putting the ball in play and utilizing speed on the basepaths. They’re both in the bottom 10 in home runs – Tampa cranked 169 (22nd) and the Brewers launched 152 (29th) – but both rank top five in stolen bases and wRC+. One of the bigger differences in their offense is their strikeout rate: Milwaukee ranked 14th at 22%, while the Rays posted the lowest punchout rate in the majors at 18.8%. Overall, the Brewers averaged the second-most runs per game (5.09) and led the league in scoring at home at 5.49 runs per game, while Tampa averaged 4.51 runs per game, ranking 12th in MLB.
On the pitching side, we’re expecting a lower-scoring series as game one opens with a full-game total of six.
Milwaukee is led by 24-year-old runaway Cy Young favorite Jacob Misiorowski. Misiorowski led the majors in punchouts with 252 and posted a 1.80 ERA while going 16-5 in regular-season starts (where the Brewers went 22-8 overall). Milwaukee is 24-8 in his games if you include the postseason, despite the fact that he hasn’t been asked to pitch deep into outings. While the Rays’ bats boast the lowest strikeout rate in the majors, they’ll be facing a Brewers staff that posted the best K-rate in baseball at 25.8%.
Rosters and rotations haven’t been announced yet, but I’m expecting the Brewers to roll out the following rotation:
1. Jacob Misiorowski
2. Logan Henderson
3. Robert Gasser
4. Some combination of: Dustin May/Shane Drohan/Bullpen
Drew Rasmussen has been the Rays’ ace, posting the seventh-best FIP in the majors at 2.71. Rasmussen went 16-5 for Tampa, and the Rays went 21-9 overall in his starts. Unlike Misiorowski, the Rays have gotten real length out of Rasmussen this postseason. He’s thrown 21.0 innings across three starts with a 1.29 ERA, leading Tampa to two wins in those three outings. One of the biggest surprises of this playoff run has been Kevin Cash’s willingness to push his starters deeper into games. Cash will always be remembered for pulling Blake Snell in the sixth inning of Game 6 during the 2020 World Series while he was shoving, but the Rays manager has largely ignored the third-time-through-the-order penalty so far this October.
It’s safe to expect Tampa to deploy the following starters:
1. Drew Rasmussen
2. Freddy Peralta
3. Nick Martinez
4. Griffin Jax
I’m unsure what order the Rays will use Martinez and Jax, but both will be crucial in a seven-game series. The Rays chose to use Ian Seymour out of the bullpen against the Yankees and Guardians despite him being a rotation staple this season. He could featured in either role, having already logged 7.1 postseason innings – only one fewer than Misiorowski.
Things get a little trickier when looking at the bullpens.
Kevin Cash seems to have a tight circle of trust in the relief corps, relying heavily on four arms: Ian Seymour, Bryan Baker, Tyler Wells and Cam Booser, who have combined for 22.1 innings. I do wonder if we’ll see starting pitchers get game action on their throw days. We saw the Nationals do this during their 2019 title run with a thin bullpen, and Freddy Peralta has already made a relief appearance, throwing nine pitches over two-thirds of an inning in Game 4 of the ALCS against the Guardians.
On the other side, Pat Murphy has leaned heavily on his high-leverage arms because his starters haven’t provided length. He’s already extracted 35 innings from Aaron Ashby, Abner Uribe, Trevor Megill, JoJo Romero and DL Hall. Ashby, in particular, has been unhittable, posting a 0.00 ERA while striking out 11 batters over 12.1 postseason innings.
Given variance in sports, it’s not often that we see the clear two best teams throughout the year get to battle it out for a championship. I don’t really have a strong opinion on who will win the series, I’m mostly rooting for maximum baseball with a seven-game series.
Pick: Rays in Six
I mentioned above a couple series props I looked at. I’ll mostly be betting some batters under props and pitching outs props but I did fire on one prop already.
Series Prop
Chandler Simpson 2+ Steals in the World Series (+125, DraftKings)
While the Brewers’ pitching staff and catcher William Contreras excel at controlling the run game, Simpson ranked second in the majors with 46 stolen bases. He should start every game for Tampa, even against a lefty.
"I said the two things I didn't want to hear was, 'We're too small' or 'We can't do this," Attanasio said Thursday, Oct. 22, a day before the club opens World Series Game 1 against the even lower-revenue Tampa Bay Rays.
"I actually kept trying to say we were a mid-market team even though clearly we weren't."
Yet Attanasio's side hustle these days is his ranking on the owners' labor relations committee, as the league prepares to lock out the players in December during collective-bargaining agreements centering on the leagues' desire for a salary cap.
And so even though one of the Rays or Brewers will win a World Series championship without benefit of a salary cap that pervades every other major sports league in the USA, Attanasio does have a party line to toe.
"I think the system that's being proposed, which is similar to other leagues in terms of revenue-sharing system, not only will help us compete but more importantly all of the other teams with lower payrolls too," he said.
"Which is something also I think the fans want."
While nearly two-thirds of the league – 19 of 30 teams – have reached a World Series since 2008, including the three-time AL champion Rays, Attanasio believes the Brewers and others like them need more help.
"I used to use the words punch above our weight, and the payroll and whatnot affects that," says Attanasio. "Still, with some of the metrics you point out, I think we still have among the smallest media revenues, including this year, but we're able to get to a No. 19 or 20 type out of 30-team payroll because of that (fan and community) support that we get.
"We put all of our resources back into the team."
In a sense, Attanasio was giving a how-to for other, smaller markets to follow. The Rays and Brewers are both consistently lauded for getting the most out of players and positive workplace cultures. It seemingly is something almost any team can do.
The Brewers and Rays got here without any help. Come December, and into February when CBA negotiations get even more contentious, Attanasio, at least publicly, seems poised to offer that helping hand to larger-market teams like Pittsburgh who have come nowhere near the Brewers' track record of eight playoff berths in nine seasons.
"I think the fact hat two teams like the Brewers and Rays - we hear all the time we play baseball the right way - I think that's good for baseball," he says.
"So whatever that means relative to revenue systems or otherwise, I think if you have a more competitive set, you can have more exciting baseball."
Former governor of Alaska and his girlfriend, Sarah Palin, confirmed the news.
“Obviously, it’s a big loss for all of us,” Sullivan said before the Rangers took on the Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena that night. “The Rangers organization, in particular. We know he was a very popular Ranger. I had the privilege to play with Ron as a teammate for a year in the International Hockey League. A great man and a terrific hockey player.”
Sullivan and Duguay overlapped as teammates during the 1990-91 season with the San Diego Gulls.
While Sullivan was at the start of his playing career, breaking into the NHL in October 1991, Duguay was nearing the end and ultimately played parts of five seasons with the Gulls.
Former Rangers star Ron Duguay died Thursday after a battle with colon cancer. He was 69. NHLI via Getty ImagesRangers head coach Mike Sullivan looks on during the first period of a game against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y., Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“I grew up watching some of these guys when he played with the Rangers and I had the opportunity to play with him and Charlie Simmer,” Sullivan said. “Two guys that had pretty, pretty successful NHL careers. It was the International Hockey League back in the day, for those of you guys that are old enough to remember it.
“I was in awe of those two guys because I grew up watching them play in the NHL. Just to have the opportunity to be one of their teammates was a great thrill for me as a young player.”
Dylan Garand will make his sixth consecutive start on Thursday night, but Sullivan is wary of the rookie netminder’s workload.
“I think he’s handled it fine,” Sullivan said earlier this week. “He didn’t play the full game in Jersey. Big picture, we have an eye on what the schedule looks like and how we’re going to try to utilize our goaltenders, but right now, we think he’s in a good place.”
Defenseman Sean Durzi, who missed practice on Wednesday for “maintenance,” participated in morning skate and was slated to play against Toronto.
Among players who have taken a minimum of 175 draws entering Thursday’s slate of games, two Rangers — J.T. Miller (3rd, 57.3) and Mika Zibanejad (5th, 55.4) — rank in the top five for faceoff win percentage in the NHL.
In anticipation of some positive injury updates, the Philadelphia Flyers have made another roster move, placing a well-respected tough guy on waivers to open up a roster spot.
On Thursday afternoon, the Flyers placed forward Garrett Wilson on waivers, which will clear the path to return for either Travis Konecny or Owen Tippett, who are currently on injured reserve.
Wilson, 35, appeared in two games for the Flyers this season, recording no points, and also played in three games for the club last season.
Wilson's three games last year were his first at the NHL level in seven years; the veteran enforcer last skated on NHL ice back in the 2018-19 season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, when he scored two goals, six assists, and eight points in 50 games, and scored one goal in four playoff games.
Should the longtime tough guy clear waivers, the Flyers will assign him back to the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms, where he's served as captain for each of the last three seasons.
A well-respected leader, Wilson has worn an 'A' or 'C' on his sweater every year since the 2014-15 season, with the exception of his one-year stint with the Toronto Marlies in 2019-20.
Flyers getting reinforcements?
Oct 15, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Philadelphia Flyers right wing Owen Tippett (74) gets set during a face off in the first period against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
With Wilson leaving the picture one way or another, it would certainly seem as though the Flyers are bracing for reinforcements in the form of Travis Konecny or Owen Tippett.
Tippett was placed on injured reserve on Monday, but the designation was retroactive to Oct. 15, requiring him to miss seven days. Once Wilson's transaction is processed, the Flyers can now activate the top-six winger.
Tippett was previously deemed day-to-day after suffering an upper-body injury in a 2-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Oct. 15.
As for Konecny, Kevin Kurz of The Athleticrecently reported that Konecny is expected to begin skating soon as he looks to return from his lower-body injury.
Konecny, who has played only five games for the Flyers this season, blocked a shot off his ankle in a 2-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Oct. 8, and has been out of commission since.
In the absences of their two key forwards, the Flyers have enjoyed breakouts from Matvei Michkov, who has stepped up in a major way, and Cole Knuble, who scored his first two NHL goals to power the Flyers to a 3-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night.
Alex Bump has returned to the NHL after a prolific AHL cameo, and Denver Barkey is finding his legs again after missing a good chunk of training camp and the early portion of the season due to injury.
Suddenly on a three-game win streak, the Flyers are beginning to get healthy at the right time.
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 01: The Washington Nationals formally introduce their new Washington Nationals President of Baseball Operations, Paul Toboni at Nationals Park in Washington, DC on October 01, 2025. (Photo by Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
The looming lockout hangs over baseball like a dark cloud at the moment. All indications point to no CBA agreement being reached by the December 2nd deadline. Once the sport is locked out, no moves can be made. That means there could be a flurry of activity before December 2nd.
According to industry insiders, that seems to be a likely outcome. There is precedent for this as well. Back in the winter of 2021, both Corey Seager and Marcus Semien signed with the Rangers right at the lockout buzzer. Super agent Scott Boras also hinted at this taking place.
From @ByMcCullough: MLB’s lockout is coming. Before it arrives, baseball insiders expect a free-agent frenzy. Unlocked and free to read. https://t.co/MJdFIEQii9
With this in mind, could the Nationals make an early strike on the market. It is certainly possible. If this is the year that the Nats want to spend, getting it done early would be a wise move. You do not want to get beaten to the bunch in a fast moving market. The lockout creates a soft deadline of sorts.
The Nats can take advantage of that soft deadline in a number of ways. This market could create a sense of desperation on the trade block as well. As we all know, CJ Abrams’ name has been on the trade block for about a year now. If the Nats want to move Abrams, getting it done before the lockout would be smart business. Insider Robert Murray listed Abrams as a player who could get moved before the lockout.
The best MLB trade candidates before the lockout, per @ByRobertMurray
– William Contreras – Jeremy Pena – Steven Kwan – CJ Abrams – Zach Neto – Reid Detmers
Paul Toboni has proven to be an aggressive deal maker early in his tenure with the Nats. This market place could be frenzied, and I think Toboni will be involved. I am not sure what moves he will make, but I would bet that the Nats do something big before December 2nd.
Everyone knows a lockout is coming, so front offices will be well prepared for this. Based on what I know about Toboni, he probably has a model for about 50 different scenarios. The Nats have been preparing for the time between the end of the World Series and the start of the lockout for months now.
Making the team better before there could be totally different rules to the game is something I think Toboni will aggressively pursue. So buckle up, because I think the Nats could be active in these next six weeks.
This lockout truly could be a game changer. Jeff Passan has been saying that there is a real possibility that games are missed. If I had to make a prediction, I think we will have a 100 game season next year. Once games are lost, the two sides will need each other in the end.
Jeff Passan on the upcoming CBA negotiations, via @FOS:
"It’s what makes this so scary, I think, for baseball long-term. It’s a possibility that they are going to remain in their corners and no one’s going to want to come meet in the middle. And when that happens, the… pic.twitter.com/LsA7dR7JTz
The looming lockout sets the stage for a drama filled start to the offseason. Some fans complain about the slow pace of MLB free agency, but I think names could be flying off the board quickly this offseason. We will see how active the Nats end up being, but I would be surprised if they did not make at least one major move before the lockout freezes the sport.
The Calgary Flames return to the Scotiabank Saddledome on Thursday evening to take on a Minnesota Wild team that has found its stride early in the season.
The Flames have shown signs of turning things around, picking up two wins in their last three games. They’ll have their hands full against a Wild club sitting at 6-2-2, led by the NHL’s hottest goal scorers.
Kirill Kaprizov has been off to a torrid start, leading the league with 11 goals while riding a seven-game point streak. The Flames will need to find a way to slow him down if they hope to keep their recent momentum going.
Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Thursday’s matchup also marks a return to the Dome for a pair of familiar faces. Blake Coleman and Olli Maatta will face their former team in Calgary for the first time since being dealt to Minnesota at last season’s trade deadline, a deal that brought Blake Middleton to the Flames.
Jones has been making the most of his time in the AHL, recording seven goals and nine points in seven games with the Wranglers this season. He’ll have an opportunity to carry that production into the NHL as Calgary looks to keep its offence moving in the right direction.
Devin Cooley is expected to get the start in net after delivering a 34-save performance in Calgary’s most recent win against the Carolina Hurricanes. With Minnesota bringing plenty of firepower into the game, another strong outing from Cooley could go a long way toward helping the Flames pick up another two points at home.
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 21: Marcus Sasser #8 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots the ball during the game against the Houston Rockets on October 21, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks got blown out 128-110 against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night in their season opener. The game was actually quite competitive for three of the four quarters, but an abysmal second quarter saw the Mavs largely get dismantled. Only able to muster a paltry 12 points while yielding 38, Dallas couldn’t overcome the second quarter swoon despite outscoring Houston by 14 points in the second half.
Cooper Flagg looked amazing in a 32-point effort and his pairing with Kyrie Irving – who dropped 15 points of his own on 6-of-9 shooting – made for some enjoyable basketball. Aside from Flagg and Irving, Naji Marshall put together a solid game off the bench (16 points, 6 assists and 2 rebounds), but the performances largely fell off from there. Then there was Marcus Sasser.
Sasser was acquired in the large six-team deal that also netted Dallas Santi Aldama and Tarik Biberovic back in July. He was well-regarded when he entered the league during the 2023-2024 season with the Detroit Pistons, but saw his role progressively dwindle as his tenure in Detroit went on. His minutes per game dropped year-over-year, and along with that, his points, assists and rebounds per game decreased year-over-year as well. The emergence of Cade Cunningham certainly didn’t help Sasser’s cause, but what he would bring to the Mavericks remained a question mark.
A Red Oak, TX native, Sasser played college ball at the University of Houston, so even though the season opener was a road game, Sasser surely felt right at home. It’s reasonable to believe the venue contributed to his comfort level, but after missing the first three preseason games, his performance on Wednesday night was more than impressive.
First Quarter
With 6:50 remaining in the first quarter, Sasser checked in for Max Christie. Just over a minute later, he dished his first assist to P.J. Washington. 30 seconds after that, he canned his first shot; a three-pointer. He then checked out at the 3:37 mark.
Second Quarter
Sasser got about five minutes of burn and managed to get a steal in what proved to be a nightmare quarter for the Mavs. Even with little statistical output, he looked poised on the floor and showed he could orchestrate a bit.
Third Quarter
Sasser checked in, again for Christie, with 6:48 remaining in the frame and played out the quarter. He committed a foul, then drilled a three and showed off his midrange game with a made floater from 14 feet out.
Fourth Quarter
Coach May must have liked what he was seeing as the Mavs chipped away, because Sasser opened the fourth quarter. He missed his first shot from 19 feet, then canned another three. He then hit another floater from 12 feet, got fouled and hit the free throw for a personal six-point run. He had a heat check with a missed three on the next possession, but that was the last time he would miss a shot. He checked out, then returned with four minutes left in the game. From there, he committed a turnover, then grabbed a rebound which he turned into another three-pointer five seconds later.
On the night, Sasser dropped in 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting (4-of-5 from deep), and had a single rebound, assist and steal. All this in just under 24 minutes of play. Is it reasonable to expect this type of performance every night, or was this a byproduct of playing back in his old college town? We have 81 games left to find out, but what we saw Wednesday night was very promising. The Mavericks are somewhat guard-light and we should expect Irving to have his fair share of rest games throughout the season. They are going to need a true guard who can both fill that gap and otherwise come off the bench as a viable sixth man. After the small sample size of Wednesday, it’s not difficult to imagine Sasser bringing the heat in the second unit, and it’s especially intriguing to think of what he may be able to do alongside Marshall if the latter continues to come off the bench.
The cherry on top? Sasser had this to say about his highly efficient performance: “I feel like I could have played better defensively, especially impacting the ball a little more.”
Sasser has an insane 6’7” wingspan relative to his 6’1” height. The physical tools are there for a rangy defender, and the fact that his focus was on what he could have done better, as opposed to what he did well, also bodes well. Dallas may have unearthed a hidden gem from the team’s own backyard in Sasser.
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SAN ANTONIO, TX - OCTOBER 20: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on October 20, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Spurs are tied for last place with a bunch of bad teams. Other winless teams the Spurs are tied with include the Bulls, Bucks, Nets, Pelicans, Suns and Kings. Not a group to be associated with. The Spurs are also tied with the “world champion New York Knicks”. Feels odd to write those words after 53 years. And because of Tuesday’s night’s game, the Spurs main rival is undefeated on the season.
And yes, the Spurs’ best player had a dreadful offensive game against the Thunder. Near the end of the second quarter, I asked my friend who was watching the game with me, “Does Victor have a basket yet?” The answer was “no”. And he didn’t actually make a “shot” all night – his one basket came in the second half on a dunk off a lob pass.
And yes, the Spurs second-longest tenured player, Devin Vassell, scored only 7 points in 31 minutes, on 25% shooting. Perhaps being forced to defend OKC bigs like Holmgren on the other end was a bit draining?
And yes, the Thunder’s best player had a great offensive game. I was surprised to see that the box score had SGA at only 13 for 27 from the floor. It felt like he didn’t miss any. It also felt like a bunch of shots were punctuated with “and one!” Which always sucks.
And yes, the Thunder’s bigs looked pretty good. Punching bag Chet Holmgren outscored Victor Wembanyama 14-12 and blocked his shot at least once, looking not at all like the cowering Chet from last season’s WC Finals. And the Thunder new kid, Aday Mara, played a very effective 12 minutes, making three times as many shots as Victor, and doing something never before seen: blocking a lob-dunk by our Frenchman. The Spanish dude might be a problem going forward.
And the Thunder defense looked very strong, not missing Lu Dort at all. Alex Caruso was his usual pesky self on D and also nailed both of this three-pointers. SGA was also great on D, getting three steals and three blocks – he is clearly ahead in the MVP race thus far in the season. (Though Anthony Edwards may want a word.)
Based on all of that, the consensus among the media, and presumably everyone who watched the game, is that the Thunder dominated the Spurs, “They just wanted it more”. An understandable conclusion, especially because of how the Thunder ended last season, having to watch the young Spurs emotionally celebrate after Game Seven of the Western Conference Finals on their own floor. And then hearing about it all summer.
I agreed with the consensus until I calmed down and looked at the box score, as coaches (and former coaches) like to do.
When I look at the box score, I first look at extra possessions by each team – turnovers and offensive rebounds. The Spurs had two more turnovers (13-11) and the same number of offensive rebounds (10). OKC took two more shots from the field, but the Spurs shot five more free throws. The Spurs also shot a bit better on those free throws – 88% t0 80%. On two-point shots, the Spurs shot better – 26-56 as opposed the Thunder’s 27-64. The Spurs also took more threes, 37-31. You can see where this is going. OKC won the game by 12 points because they shot significantly better on threes. They made four more threes than the Spurs on six less attempts. I checked my math with AI, and confirmed that four more three pointers equals 12 more points – the margin of victory in the game.
OKC outshot the Spurs from three largely because Jared McCain came off the bench to go 6-8 from three, with Caruso chipping in his two. If McCain shoots his career average, he only makes three three-pointers, not six. If Caruso misses one of his two, he is still at 50%. And if both of those things happen, OKC has 12 less points, the margin of victory in Game One of Eighty-Two. Not coincidentally, McCain was a game-high plus 20 in his 22 minutes, Caruso plus 16 in his 25 minutes.
All in all, despite the final score, with everything that went wrong for the Spurs and everything that went right for the Thunder, the game was actually quite even. So after carefully analyzing the box score, I felt a bit better about Tuesday night.
And then I looked at the Knicks-76ers box score, and felt worse again. Jalen Brunson shot 6-19 from the floor after seemingly making all his shots against the Spurs in the Finals. OG Anunoby went 1-10 from three, after shooting a bazillion percent from three (actually 50%) in the Finals. Now I am unhappy again. Stupid box scores.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 02: Matt Olson #28 of the Atlanta Braves tosses the ball to first base against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 02, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves, who won the NL East and defeated the Phillies in the Wild Card Round this season, had one of the their players honored today.
Matt Olson won Fielding Bible award today. Olson, who is a National League Gold Glove finalist with two others at first base, is number one in both leagues for this award. The Fielding Bible is voted on by a panel of experts and presented by Sports Info Solutions.
First base: Matt Olson, Braves In a very tight race with the Padres’ Ty France, Olson wins his sixth Fielding Bible Award at first base, surpassing Albert Pujols for the most won at the position. He’s now tied for second most all-time (Yadier Molina, Andrelton Simmons), trailing only Mookie Betts’ seven.
Matt Olson has been saving the Braves from poor throws since he started. But where he has really excelled this season are plays away from the first base bag. Matt Olson ranks number one by Fangraphs’ defensive adjustments to WAR. He’s also number one at first base with 12 outs above average.
In addition to the sixth Fielding Bibles, he owns three Gold Gloves. He looks to be the overwhelming favorite for a fourth one. Congratulations, Matt.
OAKLAND, CA - 1990: Todd Benzinger of the Cincinnati Reds during the 1990 World Series against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California. (Photo by Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images) | Sporting News via Getty Images
Sad news in the world of the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday as former 1B and 1990 World Series hero Todd Benzinger has died at age 63. The Reds helped relay the sad news earlier in the day, and tributes to him and his contributions for one of the greatest seasons in team history began pouring in.
The Cincinnati Reds are saddened by the passing of former first baseman and 1990 World Series champion Todd Benzinger.
Todd will be remembered with great affection and gratitude for his place in one of the most memorable chapters in Reds history. Our deepest condolences go out… pic.twitter.com/h3P6UWTNn1
Benzinger was Reds Country through and through, a native of nearby Dayton, Kentucky and a product of New Richmond (OH) High School eighteen years down the line. Originally drafted by the Boston Red Sox, he was shipped back to Cincinnati during the offseason before the 1989 season in a deal that sent Nick Esasky and Rob Murphy, among others, the other way. He popped 17 homers in his first year with the Reds as their primary 1B, though by the end of the 1990 season rookie standout Hal Morris had cut into his regular playing time.
That moved Benzinger into the role of pinch-hitter and defensive replacement at 1B, as he was considered by Lou Piniella to have the superior glove to that of Morris at the time. Given that Games 3 and 4 of the 1990 World Series were hosted by Oakland of the American League – at the time the only way an NL club could have usage of the DH spot – that put Morris at DH and Benzinger at 1B for one of the most memorable moments in Reds history.
October 20, 1990: The Reds secure a 4-0 World Series sweep over the favored A's to become the 4th MLB team to ever win a wire-to-wire title! #RedsVaultpic.twitter.com/LJSBBhdu4O
With 2-out in the Bottom of the 9th, Nasty Boy Randy Myers got A’s 3B Carney Lansford to pop a ball into the extensive foul ground at the old Oakland Coliseum, and Benzinger drifted deep into the grass to track a ball that those of us alive at the time would swear stayed in the air for a generation. Yet when it finally returned from the stratosphere, there was no hesitation – no nervousness displayed, no foible – as Benzinger made the generation-altering catch look as routine as if it’d been in spring training down in Plant City.
1990 has felt like a lifetime ago to so many of us who were lucky enough to grow into our Reds fandom with that team, and that weighs even heavier with the news of Benzinger’s passing today. After his playing days ended, he stuck around southern Ohio and even managed the Dayton Dragons for a time in the late aughts. He was known to be a frequent contributor to coaching at the youth level and – when Redsfest was a more regular thing – was almost always around to participate and catch up with fans.
We here at Red Reporter offer our condolences to Todd’s family and all those he touched over his 63 years, including former teammate Rob Dibble.
So sorry to hear of the passing of my teammate and friend Todd Benzinger. We were lucky enough to catch up with him recently. He was a great teammate who tolerated all of our bullshit. RIP Benzo. @Redspic.twitter.com/hohCpwqSTB
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 20: The sneakers worn by Jordan Walsh #27 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Detroit Pistons on October 20, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
