Retired NBA veteran and current ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins believes star Warriors forward Jimmy Butler must be more aggressive in the Western Conference semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves, with Steph Curry indefinitely out with a Grade 1 hamstring strain.
Perkins’ take comes one day after Butler finished with a role player-esque 17 points on 6-for-13 shooting with seven rebounds and four assists in Golden State’s 117-93 Game 2 loss to Minnesota.
“It’s the line LeBron [James] told Luka [Dončić] – ‘Don’t fit in, fit out.’ Jimmy, they need you to fit out now,” Perkins said on Thursday night’s post-game edition of ESPN’s “SportsCenter.” “You’re not the second option, you’re not the Robin – you’re the Batman. Thirteen shot attempts are not going to cut it; minimum 20 shot attempts going into this game. And that has to be the message delivered from Steve Kerr and Draymond Green in order for them to stay afloat, if Steph Curry returns.
“Jimmy is going to have to be aggressive. I love when he’s a point forward and they’re clicking on all cylinders, but to be on the road in Game 2, you look for your guy – your franchise guy, your No. 1 option – to set the tone early; Jimmy didn’t do that, but I believe he will do that at home [in] Game 3 or Game 4. We will be talking about Jimmy Butler. He will be going viral because he will have a 40-piece night.”
The six-time NBA All-Star earned the “Playoff Jimmy” nickname for his postseason prowess. But Butler didn’t look like his old Miami Heat self for the Warriors in Game 2.
Without Curry, who won’t return until Game 6 at the earliest, per ESPN’s Shams Charania, Golden State needs Butler to ditch his Robin act for Batman. Butler showed in the first-round series against the Houston Rockets that he is capable of scoring 25-plus points – a feat he did three times in the opening round – and must make that level of production the norm while Curry is out.
Butler, who was too unselfish in Game 2, can’t approach the rest of the series as a pass-first facilitator, which he worrisomely described after Thursday’s loss.
“I don’t have a burden or expectation,” Butler told reporters postgame about potentially feeling pressure to score with Curry sidelined. “I don’t. I play basketball the right way. I will continue to play basketball the right way. If that time comes where your people that are saying whatever, [I’m] supposed to score 40 or 43, whatever the case may be, I’m capable of it. I can do it, but I love making sure that my guys are comfortable, passing the ball to them, taking the right shots at the right time.
“But we’ll talk about it, if that may be needed. Who knows.”
Perkins talked about “it.” And Dub Nation and probably the entire basketball world “knows” Butler must activate “Jimmy Buckets” mode.
The real question, however, is whether the 35-year-old, who repeatedly has expressed gratitude for being a sidekick in the Bay compared to a centerpiece in South Beach, has another legendary, team-carrying run left in the tank.
We’re getting into the meat of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and The Hockey Show is elbow deep.
This week, hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork welcomed one of their favorite hockey broadcasters that both grew up watching.
NHL on ESPN host and play-by-play voice Steve Levy was kind enough to join the show and discuss the latest happenings in the playoffs, including the red-hot Edmonton Oilers and tightening series between the Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals.
Steve also spoke about longtime friend and colleague Barry Melrose, and the boys all discussed their favorite This Is SportsCenter commercials.
As for this week’s wins and fails of the week, we had polite chirping by Canadian fans, a historic run by Edmonton and a collective fail for one an embellishment call that had everyone scratching their heads.
Roy and Dave then get into the latest on the Florida Panthers, who trailed the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-0 in their best-of-seven second-round series.
You can check out the full show in the video below:
Vegas Golden Knights forward Pavel Dorofeyev will travel with the team to Edmonton with a chance to play.
The 24-year-old winger has been injured since Game 5 of round one against the Minnesota Wild and has been slowly working his way back to full health. In five playoff games, he's scored one goal and two points.
"He's going to travel. He skated this morning and is doing much better. He has a chance for tomorrow with the news we got today. So that's encouraging," said HC Bruce Cassidy.
In his absence, Victor Olofsson has stepped into the lineup, recording two power play goals in a losing effort in Game 2.
Currently, Dorofeyev's injury is undisclosed, which has made it difficult for people outside of the team to understand the extent of the injury.
Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.
Former Detroit Tigers player Chet Lemon throws out a ceremonial first pitch before a game against the Chicago White Sox on June 5, 2016, in Detroit. Lemon, who played for both teams, died Thursday. (Duane Burleson/Associated Press)
Chet Lemon, a product of Los Angeles Fremont High during its heyday who became a three-time All-Star outfielder and a World Series champion during a 16-year major league career, died Thursday at age 70 after a decades-long fight with a blood disorder.
Lemon was a first-round draft pick of the Oakland Athletics at age 17 in 1972 and starred with the Chicago White Sox from 1975-81 and the Detroit Tigers from 1982-90, finishing with a .273 batting average, 215 homers, 396 doubles and 884 runs batted in.
He was the center fielder on the Tigers' 1984 World Series championship team — making a spectacular catch to cement a Game 3 victory over the San Diego Padres — and became a favorite of eventual Hall of Fame manager Sparky Anderson.
“After watching Chester the last several years, I have to say without a doubt, he’s the best center fielder I’ve seen in my 31 years in the game,” Anderson said in 1984. “Chester is a Pete Rose type. He never complains. He’s always there and he plays each game as if it were the seventh game of the World Series. Chester doesn’t know any other way to play and that’s his greatest asset.
Detroit Tigers right fielder Chet Lemon takes a low-five from teammates as he returns to the dugout after hitting a home run on April 22, 1982, in New York. (Ray Stubblebine / Associated Press)
"Combine all that with his little-boy desire to want to play every day and it is no wonder Chester has all those fans who sit in the bleachers in the palm of his hand.”
“The Detroit Tigers join all of baseball in mourning the passing of Chet Lemon,” the Tigers statement read. “While he was a World Series champion and All-Star on the field, perhaps his biggest impact came off of it. That includes creating the Chet Lemon Foundation and dedicating much of his post-playing career to youth baseball development. Our thoughts are with Chet’s family, friends and all those he coached, mentored and inspired.”
Former Tigers catcher Lance Parrish was one of several former teammates who remembered Lemon fondly.
“Chet was the kindest of men and always had that great smile on his face,” Parrish said in a statement. “He was also a fierce competitor on the baseball field and a great teammate. I loved him like a brother.”
Detroit's Chet Lemon races to first to beat the throw after grounding to San Diego shortstop Garry Templeton during Game 3 of the World Series at Detroit's Tiger Stadium on Oct. 12, 1984. (Ron Heflin/AP)
Chester Earl Lemon was born in Jackson, Miss., on Feb. 12, 1955. He was the oldest of Ralph and Gloria Lemon's four children and the family moved to Los Angeles when Chet was a child. Fremont High was a City Section power that produced a string of major leaguers including Bob Watson, Willie Crawford, Bobby Tolan and George Hendrick under legendary coach Phil Pote.
Pote had become a scout with the A's by the time Lemon graduated from Fremont and they made him the 22nd overall pick in the June draft. Lemon hit well in the minor leagues but was a poor fielder at third base and shortstop. The A's traded him to the White Sox in 1975 while he was in triple-A.
"I was ready in 1975 but had nowhere to play," Lemon told White Sox Interactive. "I was an infielder and Oakland had guys like Sal Bando and Bert Campaneris in those positions. I had heard a lot of talk about teams being interested in me. When I found out about the deal, I thought it was a great move. I was finally going to get my chance — and in a big market as well.”
The White Sox moved Lemon to center field and he flourished, cracking the starting lineup in 1976, setting a still-standing AL record with 512 putouts in center field in 1977 and making the American League All-Star team in 1978 and '79.
“It was a great feeling to be recognized as one of the best players,” Lemon said of his All-Star selections. “What also was nice was getting to know the other guys. You realize that they are all just like you."
Lemon's best season came in 1979 when he led the AL with 44 doubles and set career highs in batting average (.318) and RBIs (86). He also led the league in a less glamorous category: hit by pitches. It was the first of four seasons he was hit more than any other batter in the league, and he was plunked 151 times during his career, ranking 25th on the all-time list.
"I don’t think I realized I was that close to the plate,” he said. “You know, I actually didn’t mind being pitched inside. I felt I could always turn on pitches. If you look at my hits, like all those doubles, I think you’ll find that I went down the left-field line in most of them."
Lemon was traded to Detroit after the 1981 season for outfielder Steve Kemp. Three years later, Lemon became an All-Star for the third time and helped the Tigers win the World Series for the first time since 1968.
“Chet Lemon is the best center fielder in the game today,” Anderson said in 1984. “He isn’t the fastest, but he’s the best at it because he works harder at it than anyone else.”
Detroit centerfielder Chet Lemon takes a fly from Terry Kennedy to end the Padres half of the seventh inning in Game 4 of the World Series at Tiger Stadium on Oct. 13, 1984. Detroit beat San Diego 5-2. (Lenny Ignelzi / Associated Press)
Lemon continued to produce for the Tigers until 1991 when they released him at the end of spring training. Lemon noticed that it was taking him longer to recover from injuries and went to a doctor.
"I remember saying to myself, ‘Am I getting old?’ because I always took care of myself,” he said. “In spring training 1991 the Tigers discovered that I had too many red blood cells in my body. The Tigers thought the numbers they got were wrong. My stomach was always hurting. I thought maybe I had an ulcer or it was just stress. The doctors couldn’t find out what was causing it. They finally did an ultrasound and discovered that I had tiny blood clots in my portal veins.
"About 30 minutes after they discovered that, I was rushed to intensive care, hooked up to machines and given blood thinners. Not only did I have blood clots but I had too much blood and it was too thick, like a slush."
Lemon nearly died from his blood disorder, polycythemia vera, spending three months in the hospital.
“Just trying to turn over in bed was agonizing," he said. "I was being fed intravenously. I did not want to eat, I couldn’t eat. I lost about 60 or 70 pounds and was down to about 130 pounds.”
Lemon was a Jehovah's Witness and declined to receive blood transfusions. Surgery was ruled out because he was on blood thinners to prevent clots. Still, Lemon recovered and eventually coached high school baseball near his home in Apopka, Fla.
He started the Chet Lemon School of Baseball in Lake Mary, Fla. in 1993, became president of the Amateur Athletic Union district near Orlando, and from 2001 to 2008 coached at Eustis High School, leading the team to a state title in 2003.
Former Detroit player Chet Lemon is presented with a framed Tigers jersey by Willie Horton before a game against the Chicago White Sox on June 5, 2016, in Detroit. Lemon was honored as part of Negro League weekend at Comerica Park. (Duane Burleson / Associated Press)
Future MLB stars Prince Fielder, Zack Greinke, Casey Kotchman, and brothers Rickie and Jemile Weeks trained under Lemon, who also established the Chet Lemon Foundation, which provides support for people affected by strokes and aphasia.
“He was a coach, a friend and a mentor who will be highly missed by many in our Central Florida baseball community,” Central Florida coach Rich Wallace told the Orlando Sentinel.
Lemon suffered strokes in recent years that left him unable to walk or talk. He attended the 40th anniversary of the Tigers' World Series title in Detroit in September 2024. He was in a wheelchair but enjoyed the reunion.
"Chet was a cherished teammate and friend," former teammate and Hall of Famer Alan Trammell said in a statement. "I'm so thankful for the time we spent together last summer when the 1984 team had its 40th reunion at Comerica Park. Today is a sad day for us. He will be dearly missed."
Lemon is survived by his wife of more than 30 years, Gigi, and their daughter, Brianna. Lemon's first wife was Valerie Jones, with whom he had four children: Geneva, Chester Jr., David, and Marcus, who played 11 years of minor league baseball.
Woods, 16, shoots 3-over 75 at Wellington Golf Club
Teenager impoves on last year’s first effort (81)
Charlie Woods failed to get out of local qualifying for the US Open, the second straight year the son of Tiger Woods missed out.
The 16-year-old Woods was among a record 10,202 entries for the US Open. He improved from last year’s score in 18-hole local qualifying, posting a 3-over 75 at Wellington Golf Club on Thursday. That left him seven shots short of being among those who advanced to the 36-hole final stage. A year ago, he shot 81 in the local US Open qualifier.
The Mets will play the remainder of the 2025 season without their biggest bullpen acquisition of the winter, as veteran lefty A.J. Minter is scheduled to undergo season-ending surgery next Monday to repair a torn left lat muscle that ripped entirely off the bone.
Minter has experienced a string of bad luck dating back to last summer, as he suffered a torn labrum in his left hip in August that shut him down and required a cautious ramp-up period this spring. While he made 13 appearances for the Mets in April, he threw in back-to-back games only twice. His last outing came against the Nationals on April 26.
Now, the 31-year-old southpaw is facing yet another unconventional spring training regimen in 2026. His rehab process is expected to last 10-12 months, and only time will tell how long it takes for him to completely heal and pitch at a high level for the big league club again.
"It's super frustrating, because I was starting to feel so good. I wish I knew what caused it," Minter explained before Friday's game against the Cubs. "If I had to guess, I was feeling so good that I gained so much more range of motion in my hips. It was allowing me to get a little more extension on the mound. Maybe it put more stress on my arm, I don't know.
"My velocity was increasing at a pretty rapid rate, that maybe had something to do with it. There's so many scenarios. I wish it wouldn't have happened. The frustrating thing is, I was feeling so good and excited to help this team... But now my thought process is to come back, get my body in the best shape possible, and help the team next year."
Minter signed a two-year, $22 million deal with the Mets in January and wasted no time living up to his value. In his first month with the team, he registered a sharp 1.64 ERA with 14 strikeouts across 11 innings. He also posted one of the game's top strikeout rates (34.8 percent).
While the two-year contract does include an opt-out clause after this season, it's safe to say that the Mets don't need to think about Minter possibly exercising it anymore.
This weekend the NBA world descends on Chicago for the annual NBA Draft Combine, where thanks to a change in the CBA nobody is allowed to skip out — all the top names need to show up and participate to be draft eligible (as well as share medical records). It’s a big change from previous combines.
Here is everything you need to know about the 2025 NBA Draft Combine.
Where is the 2025 NBA Draft Combine
The NBA Draft Combine will occur from May 11-18 in Chicago, at the Wintrust Arena and the Marriott Marquis hotel. This location is an annual tradition.
How to watch NBA Draft Combine 2025
All of the combine’s activities will be streamed on ESPN+. On May 14 at 2 p.m. Easter, there will be a broadcast from the combine on ESPN2, which will also be streamed on ESPN+.
How does the NBA Draft Combine 2025 work?
The NBA has invited 75 players to the NBA Draft Combine, and under the terms of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), all of them have to “attend and participate fully” to be draft eligible. The league has defined “participate fully” as undergoing physical medical exams, sharing their medical history, taking part in the measurements, physical strength and agility testing, and shooting drills. Those players also have to do media interviews and have team meetings.
Every one of the 75 players in attendance will be officially measured for their height (without shoes), wingspan, and standing reach.
Next, there are athletic measures (something the top players used to skip, but no more). The players are measured for their vertical leap — both standing and a running max vertical — as well as being timed through a shuttle run, a lane agility test, and timed on a three-quarter court sprint.
For the NBA front office people who flood into Chicago this week, the most important part of the combine is interviews. That’s when they sit down with top players and others they are interested in and have a formal conversation with them.
The final days of the combine also see scrimmages, conducted by NBA assistant coaches, and not every player has to go through these (and top players will not). These games are a chance for players who are on the draft bubble to catch the eye of a scout or GM, maybe get themselves selected (or put in line for a camp invite and maybe a two-way contract).
NBA Draft Combine 2025 top players
The biggest names in the coming NBA draft will be in Chicago this week. That includes lock No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, as well as the next three on top of draft boards (what order they are selected could be impacted by the NBA Draft Lottery Monday night): Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey from Rutgers, as well as VJ Edgecomb from Baylor.
However, the combine doesn’t move the top of the draft. There will be 75 players in Chicago — more than can be drafted, there are only 59 picks this year — so the combine is a chance for a player farther down draft boards to stand out and help their stock.
The NBA announced today that 75 players have been invited to the 2025 NBA Draft Combine, which will take place from May 11-18 at Wintrust Arena and the Marriott Marquis in Chicago.
Additionally, a select number of standout players from the 2025 NBA G League Elite Camp, which… pic.twitter.com/KlCy4tcvW8
The combine is a chance for a player who has slid to the late first round during the college season to improve his stock, or a player who might be undrafted could have a great scrimmage and draw the interest of a team.
One player to watch is BYU’s Egor Demin, the 6’9” point guard who may be the best passer in the draft, but scouts have questioned his ability to be a scorer and defender at the next level. If Demin can show an improved shot and good athleticism, it helps his cause.
Another is Florida point guard Walter Clayton Jr., a standout who helped his cause during the NCAA Tournament, jumping from a second-round pick to a first-rounder for many teams. How he does at the combine can cement that first-round status, or drop him back.
A lot of players will use the feedback they get from teams at the combine to determine if they should stay in the NBA draft or return to college. Names to watch on that front include Carter Bryant from Arizona, Karter Knox from Arkansas and Drake Powell from North Carolina.
Red Sox owner John Henry, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, and president/CEO Sam Kennedy flew to Kansas City to meet with their disgruntled slugger. Manager Alex Cora joined the group as they discussed Devers calling out Breslow and the team for asking him to make another position switch.
Breslow said Henry did most of the talking during what he called a “productive” exchange.
“There were conversations. John, Sam and I flew out earlier today,” Breslow told reporters at Kauffman Stadium. “It was actually John who spoke directly with Raffy. We felt like it was important based on the situation that unfolded yesterday to come out here and have an honest conversation about what we value as an organization and what we believe is important to the Boston Red Sox. That being great teammates for each other.”
Cora echoed Breslow’s statement before Friday’s game.
“It was a good conversation,” he said. “(Devers) expressed his feelings. John (Henry) did the same thing. The most important thing here is we’re trying to accomplish something big.”
Breslow asked Devers about moving from designated hitter to first base after Boston’s everyday first baseman, Triston Casas, went down with a season-ending knee injury. With Romy Gonzalez and Abraham Toro as the only big-league-ready first basemen in the organization, Devers was among the most sensible options to fill the void.
Although Devers said he wouldn’t be open to playing first base, Breslow noted that the conversations with the three-time All-Star would continue.
Toro is the Red Sox’ starting first baseman for Friday’s series opener against the Royals.
It took the Giants 18 batters Friday night before they picked up their first baserunner — a Christian Koss single — and that perfectly summed up their 3-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.
Twins starter Chris Paddack dominated the Giants, taking a perfect game into the sixth inning before Koss lined a solid base hit to center field with two outs in the frame.
The Giants’ only run of the game came when Matt Chapman connected for his eighth homer of the season in the seventh inning, taking Paddack deep to left.
Paddack, who hadn’t pitched beyond the fifth inning this season, allowed three hits and one earned run in 7 1/3 innings. He struck out six Giants batters.
Jordan Hicks made his eighth start of the season and he pitched well overall, but his first-inning struggles bit him again.
Hicks found himself in immediate trouble, giving up a leadoff triple to Byron Buxton to begin the game and the next batter, Trevor Larnach, brought the center fielder home with an RBI single.
Hicks settled down, giving up runs in the fourth and fifth, but the Giants’ offense couldn’t figure out Paddack, making any comeback attempt futile.
In six innings, Hicks allowed seven hits, three earned runs, while striking out six. He didn’t walk any batters, a positive sign for the 28-year-old.
But Hicks and the Giants will have to figure out how to address his first-inning woes. He entered Friday’s game with a 12.86 ERA in seven starts. He lowered that number to 12.38 after his latest outing, but he still put San Francisco in an early hole.
Overall, Hicks has a 5.82 ERA this season, and while the Giants are committed to let him start games, they might have to consider a rotation change as they compete for an NL playoff spot.
The Florida Panthers will be back on the ice for Game 3 against the Toronto Maple Leafs on May 9. This is a must-win game for the Panthers, as a loss would make them fall down 3-0 in the series, which would be incredibly difficult to climb out of.
While speaking to reporters, including The Athletic's Chris Johnston, Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov shared his mindset heading into Game 3 and made it clear that he and the club are still feeling good despite their tough start to the series.
"It's not the most ideal thing to be down 2-0, but I think the mood is good," Barkov said. "We're happy to be back home. We're happy to play in front of our fans. I'm really excited for tonight's challenge."
While the Panthers have undoubtedly had a shaky start to their series against the Maple Leafs, it is apparent that Barkov is still optimistic heading into Game 3. Being back home should also give the Panthers a boost, and it will be interesting to see if they take advantage of it.
Barkov has been one of the Panthers' top performers this post-season, recording two goals and six points in seven games thus far. This includes scoring a goal in Game 2 against the Maple Leafs. Now, he will look to have a big performance in Game 3 from here.
A win against the Leafs would be huge for the Panthers, as they would make the series 2-1 and would have the chance to tie it back up in Game 4 at home. We will now need to wait and see if Barkov and the Cats can pick up a victory from here.
The skill Michael Conforto has been best at this season is probably the last one he ever hoped to master.
“To be good at dealing with a slump,” the 32-year-old veteran outfielder said, “is not something that you necessarily want.”
Then again, when you’re batting .135 on the season, have a lone single in your last 40 at-bats, and have gone a month with as many as hits as double-play grounders (seven each), there’s little else for Conforto to do right now than grit his teeth, hold up his head and believe that — some day, some how — things will finally turn around.
“This game will kick you down. It will kick you when you’re down. It can be cruel,” Conforto said. “So sometimes, you just have to lean on what you know you are as a player, and all the support you have around you … and keep going straight ahead, keep working.”
After starting his season with a six-game hitting streak, and batting .308 with six extra-base knocks (including two home runs) over his first eight games, the man manager Dave Roberts deemed as his “pick to click” in the preseason instead started firing blanks.
Beginning April 6, Conforto went on a nine-game strikeout binge, fanning 13 total times in a three-for-27 stretch that erased any confidence he had built with his hot start.
Ever since, the game has kept giving him a stiff boot every time he’s tried to get his numbers back up again.
Conforto recorded three hits over six games in mid-April, only to immediately endure an 0-for-31 stretch (including 15 strikeouts) that ranked as one of the 10 longest hitless streaks in the Dodgers’ history in Los Angeles — a rut that even a few games using a torpedo bat to couldn’t snap him out of.
He rolled a single through the infield last Monday in Miami, looking to the heavens with a sigh of relief after his first hit in 10 games. But it didn’t prove to be a spark. Despite feeling better about the competitiveness of his at-bats and the quality of his contact this week, he entered Friday on another 0-for-9 skid, the cruelty of his season reaching new lows in the Dodgers’ loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday.
In his first at-bat, Conforto hit a changeup on the screws, rocketing a 101-mph fly ball to deep center. The drive traveled 397 feet, the second-farthest he has hit a ball this season. But it found the deepest part of Chase Field’s ocean of an outfield, tracked down by center fielder Alek Thomas just in front of the 407-foot marker in straightaway center. He frustratedly gnawed on a piece of gum as he trotted back to the dugout.
His next time up, Conforto smoked the ball again, clobbering a 110.9-mph line drive that represented his hardest exit velocity of the season. Before he was even out of the batter’s box, however, he watched All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte climb the ladder and rob him with an athletic leaping snag, turning a ball with an expected batting average of .860 into yet another out.
After a leadoff walk in the seventh, Conforto got one more chance in the eighth. The Dodgers had a rally going, scoring twice to trim a five-run deficit to three. When he stepped in, he represented the tying run with runners on the corners and one out.
Though he fell behind 0-and-2, he got a good pitch to hit, finding the barrel on an inside fastball for a 95-mph grounder. But once again, Marte was there, fielding and throwing the ball in one turning motion to start a double play that ended the inning.
It was three well-struck balls, for three slump-extending outs.
“I’m definitely frustrated,” Conforto said from his locker postgame. “Happy with a couple hard-hit balls today. Frustrated to be in position to keep a rally going and not being able to beat that ball out. It’s frustrating. It makes me sick.”
Conforto’s overall numbers this season have had the same ill-inducing effect.
The Dodgers' Michael Conforto entered Friday with a .135 batting average, the second-lowest among qualified MLB hitters. (Kyusung Gong / Associated Press)
His .135 batting average entering Friday is the second-lowest among qualified MLB hitters, one point above Washington’s Josh Bell and 35 points worse than anyone else. His .225 slugging percentage is also next-to-last in the big leagues. His .503 OPS and negative-0.6 mark in wins above replacement rank bottom five. His whiff and strikeout rates are well below league-average.
“If I could tell you exactly why these things happen, it would be a lot easier to come out of them,” Conforto said, somewhat unsure himself of how his numbers have remained so bad for so long. “They signed me because I have good zone [discipline] and an ability to get on base and have some power and spray the ball all over the field. It’s more about just being me and not chasing results.”
Perhaps most frustrating is that Conforto has actually felt more like himself lately.
With Thursday’s performance, he has now recorded a hard-hit ball (one with an exit velocity greater than 95 mph) 14 of the last 21 times he has made contact. He has struck out only twice in his last four games, and continues to draw walks at one of the league’s best rates, his 20 free passes trailing only Shohei Ohtani for the Dodgers’ team lead.
Given the $17 million investment the Dodgers made in him this offseason, and a 10-year career track record of productive (albeit injury-plagued and often inconsistent) offense, he hasn’t been demoted to the bench yet.
Internally, the Dodgers remain hopeful he is on the verge of a rebound.
“He’s obviously way better than he’s been,” co-hitting coach Robert Van Scoyoc said this week. “He’s a quality hitter. Long history of being really good. I think he’s gonna be just fine.”
Still, until the hits start falling, the mental toll of it all will only continue to mount.
“I think we’re right on the edge of getting things back,” Conforto said. “There’s just been a few of them where, you hit it [well], you look up and there’s somebody there. It just seems to happen more when you’re not going right.”
The biggest compliment Dodgers coaches have paid Conforto recently is how he’s handled this unthinkably bad start.
Van Scoyoc described Conforto, a one-time All-Star with the New York Mets whose career has tailed off since missing all of 2022 with a shoulder injury, as a “pro” who is “ready for every at-bat” and “never throws a fit” about his lack of results.
Roberts said it’s still “easy to bet on him because the head is still there, the work is still there.”
“He's just got to keep taking good at-bats, and they'll fall,” Roberts said. “A guy that's been around for so long, I think he can handle this five weeks of adversity."
If it goes on much longer, of course, it could lead to more pressing roster questions.
With both Conforto and third baseman Max Muncy struggling, the Dodgers have lacked much consistent left-handed-hitting depth beyond Ohtani and Freddie Freeman. If neither of them can get going over the next couple of months, it might force the club to evaluate other options as the trade deadline nears.
That’s why the coming weeks seem critical to Conforto. He’s finally hitting balls harder again. He has eliminated some of the indecision at the plate that contributed to his 14 looking strikeouts this season, 12th-most in the majors. He feels like a breakthrough is close, even as his numbers remain at all-time lows.
“Putting together better at-bats, hitting the ball hard, I’ve just got to keep going out there, keep focusing on that,” he said. “Hopefully, [I will] find a couple holes and get it rolling.”
If it doesn’t happen soon, however, it’s fair to wonder if it ever will.
The Warriors entered Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Timberwolves expecting an uphill battle without superstar Steph Curry, who remains out with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain.
However, now entering Game 3 on Saturday evening at Chase Center, Golden State coach Steve Kerr believes that – given the circumstances – the loss might end up being beneficial.
Kerr explained to reporters on Friday why he is confident the Warriors can build on their series-tying loss to the Timberwolves.
“We have to do it based on feel, but we can also do it based on last night and having a tape to watch,” Kerr said about Golden State’s preparation. “That’s why I think that game was very helpful for us. Despite the loss, we learned a lot, the players learned a lot, and I think we’ll have a concrete plan coming into tomorrow that we’ll feel good about.
“And of course, we have to adapt and adjust based on how the game is going.”
There is no scenario where Golden State would want to lose a playoff game by 24 points. But Kerr has to work with and find positives in what he has.
Because of Curry’s absence and the Warriors’ general weariness, Kerr played 14 players, with only two – Jimmy Butler and Brandin Podziemski – surpassing 30 minutes. A direct byproduct, players who need to step up in Curry’s absence, such as Jonathan Kuminga and Trayce Jackson-Davis, flourished, efficiently scoring 18 and 16 points, respectively.
Kerr and the Warriors’ current task is simple: Stave off elimination until, ideally, Curry can return healthy. So, while Game 3 surely will be another chess match between Kerr and Timberwolves coach Chris Finch, at least Kerr has a better idea of who might give Golden State its best shot with the NBA’s all-time greatest shooter in the waiting.
