That’s not how the Miami Heat wanted to start their season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Heat were blown out at home in his franchise debut Wednesday night by the Timberwolves 131-106.
After the home opener, Antetokounmpo immediately called for better play from himself and the makeshift roster around him following the stunning offseason trade.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (7) of the Miami Heat looks to pass the ball during a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Kaseya Center in Miami on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
“We got to trust each other. When things don’t go our way, we got to dig in. We didn’t do that tonight,” Antetokounmpo told reporters. “Our effort has to be better. It starts with me. My effort has to be better. I set the tone.”
Antetokounmpo arrived in Miami with a completely new squad, as the Heat traded Tyler Herro and more to the Bucks after he had spent his entire career in the Midwest.
The former Buck poured in 35 points and six rebounds, though he didn’t get much help from his supporting cast, and the team’s defense was an even bigger issue.
Minnesota, debuting a new look in its own right with the addition of LaMelo Ball, shot 42 percent from 3-point range on 50 attempts.
Ball had 21 points while Edwards went scorched earth, scoring 45 points in the season opener on 29 shots and 9 of 17 from deep.
“They have two players that can make shots that make your spirit get defeated. You got to keep playing through that,” Antetokounmpo said. “When [Edwards] made shots, we got discouraged, and the game got easier for them. When guys get going, we have to be more physical with them.”
Head coach Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat looks on during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
There are plenty of issues for the Heat to figure out, starting with depth, as Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal had some jokes about the roster.
“You take away Giannis, Bam [Adebayo], Klay [Thompson], and [Andrew] Wiggins, name me three Heat players,” Barkley asked the crew of Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and O’Neal.
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13), forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (7), and guard Davion Mitchell (2) react during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, in Miami. AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell
O’Neal joked that he could name Herro, now in Milwaukee, and coach Erik Spoelstra to show the team has little behind its starters.
Meanwhile, former player Jeff Teague, who is a popular basketball personality, said he’s out on Miami.
“I’m done with the Heat,” Teague said after the loss. “I didn’t know they were gonna be playing Milwaukee basketball still. I didn’t know they’d take the Milwaukee Bucks and put them in Miami.
“(Giannis) still doing the same s–t. I’m good.”
It’s a big reaction to the first game of their season, but the Timberwolves are a projected Western Conference contender and they exposed some Heat flaws Wednesday night.
Apr 8, 2023; New York City, New York, USA; Exterior shot of Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
Meet the Mets
What does the Mets’ offseason timeline look like now that the World Series and offseason are almost upon us?
Shohei Ohtani won’t require surgery on his knee or arm and the Dodgers expect him to pitch next season.
Yankees GM Brian Cashman agreed to a contract extension since owner Hal Steinbrenner believes the players are the reason for the team’s playoff failures.
A sports bettor in Ohio has been banned from all state gambling facilities after he made violent threats against Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 12: Dustin May #21 of the Milwaukee Brewers reacts in the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game two of the National League Championship Series at American Family Field on October 12, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The temptation was too great. I had to do it. I thought of the idea of writing a point-counterpoint on who to root for in this World Series first. I was going to make a sincere effort to make an argument for both teams. I came up with my headline. And then I realized no matter how good of an argument I came up with, I would end up saying root for the Rays, and most Cardinals fans would say that, and I thought that stating the obvious right off the bat would be fun. And then I physically could not bring myself to write more. I tried to enter a bunch of spaces to fool you into thinking that was all I wrote, but that wouldn’t hit the same. So there you have it. Hopefully that is still up when you read this (I’m posting this 30 minutes later)
The Brewers and Rays matchup appears to be breaking people’s brains, because I have somehow seen multiple people earnestly claim this is a win for the anti-analytics crowd. Analytics does not mean strikeouts people! It’s using data to gain the upper hand. These are possibly the two greatest organizations at doing that. Just because they have some old school players does not make this matchup into one of two teams facing off who spurn analytics.
In theory, if we ignore the divisional component of this matchup….there’s really no reason to root for one over the other. They have very similar arguments. Low payroll, small market, very well-run for years, no championships ever, best team in their league, plays fun baseball, like as alluded to above, even old school fans will like both teams. If the Brewers were in the NL East, I’d have a very difficult time picking one.
Why the Brewers
If I’m being completely honest….. Milwaukee the city deserves a championship way, way, way, way, way, way more than Tampa Bay. As an anti-teams moving fan, Tampa Bay should frankly move. They don’t get any support at all and they’ve been good for years. Like half of Florida roots for other teams, because they didn’t grow up in Florida. I won’t be rooting for the Brewers for reasons you’ll see later, but like this is a very tempting reason! It’s why I won’t be mad if they win.
Tampa has this reason too but…. it’s time. I did not root for the White Sox, because I felt like them winning it this year would be jumping ahead of the line. Their organization has not been run well enough to deserve a ring. They weren’t good enough this year to deserve a ring. On the flip side, Milwaukee has certainly had one coming. Their collective play the past 10 or so years should have a ring at some point. It’s like how the Cardinals deserved a ring in 2006 even though the 2006 Cardinals did not. The organization deserved it. Just like the Brewers.
They were the best team. Frankly, best regular season team who isn’t a big market who has never won is a much easier rooting interest than we ever get in the World Series. Of course literally of those things apply to the Rays.
The National League was light years ahead of the American League and the championship should probably go to an NL team to accurately represent the 2026 season.
Why the Rays
Here’s my number #1 schadenfreude reason: for the purposes of the rivalry, we kind of need them to not win so that the trade can become the next Lou Brock trade. Which really isn’t a good comparison because in that time period, players didn’t have free agency and both players the Cardinals gave the Brewers will be free agents (that they won’t resign). JoJo Romero has been about as good as advertised, Dustin May has not. The Brewers winning the World Series means they won’t give a shit if Josiah Ragsdale wins two MVPs for the Cardinals. Them not winning the World Series? Kind of feel like it’d be their Marcell Ozuna trade. I don’t have a problem with the Brewers and yet this evil fan in me can’t help but root for this outcome.
It’s time. The Rays have been a well-run organization for much longer than the Brewers have and the Brewers have been well-run for a pretty long time at this point! On top of that, they’ve already lost two World Series in the past 20 years. They’ve gotten right on the brink, tasted it and lost. By this made-up metric, they deserve it more than the Brewers.
They were the best team. I am a weird neutral fan in the playoffs. Because I have a hyper-specific set of criteria for who I want to win if it’s not the Cardinals and somehow both the Brewers and Rays qualify. If it’s a team who has won too much, I don’t want them to win. If it’s a team I don’t feel like is very good, I don’t want them to win. So they have to be a great team, but not a perennial great team, and oh yeah it can’t be a team I already hate (I have never liked this modern version of the Phillies, and while I want to blame it on 2022, that’s not why. I don’t have a good reason. I have never wanted them to win the championship for reasons I’m not totally clear on. It’s not even the fans. At least not specifically.)
This Timeless Ticket scandal is very bad vibes for the Brewers. If you don’t know the story, 10 years ago, fans could buy a “Timeless Ticket” and they bought it for $1,000. I believe they got to go to a certain number of regular season games, but also could use this ticket to get the “best available” at any playoff game. Well the “best available” was not exactly what they were offered, but a 400 level seat. Well it was deemed best available by the organization.
By that some token, Brewers owner Mark Attanasio was interviewed recently asking why baseball needed a salary cap when baseball is in a great place and two teams like this are in the World Series. I know a lot of you are for the cap, but that’s not why I’m listing this here. He said “it’s been 44 years, and there’s a sense in the community that it could be another 44 years” and whether nor not you agree with the cap, I think this is a very stupid thing to say on the eve of playing a World Series. There had to be a better way to make this argument.
But really, it’s mostly the trade. I want that to be a sore spot for Brewers fans for years to come.
Could Cardinals have gotten this player?
Alright, let’s play a game. I’m going to highlight some players, and then show how they were acquired by that team. In theory, at that time, could the Cardinals have gotten that player instead? What would it have taken? Some of these will require incredible hindsight, I’m guessing most will.
Christian Yelich – I would imagine so if the Cardinals had more patience. Yelich wasn’t available at the time the Cardinals traded for Marcell Ozuna. In theory anyway. But instead of trading for the guy coming off a career year, let someone else trade for him, and wait for Yelich to become available. Does require a little bit of hindsight I suppose because Yelich being available wasn’t a sure thing. I don’t know if the Cardinals would be willing to pay the price either. Despite the return for him not doing anything, they were in fact great prospects at the time. Ironically Zac Gallen and Sandy Alcantara might not have been good enough prospects for Yelich. This would be a very interesting alternate reality.
Brice Turang – drafted two picks after Nolan Gorman so yeah. And I’m bringing him up specifically because he was also drafted out of high school. But from the draft stuff I read about Turang…. he sounded dangerously like Pete Kozma. Didn’t work out that way of course. But if you removed the names, and then in the upcoming draft, had to pick between Turang’s profile and Gorman’s…. most of us are falling for Gorman again.
William Contreras – I mean it would have been nice to have been gifted him for essentially for free because the Braves decided they didn’t want Contreras anymore when they got Sean Murphy. Everyone knew the Cardinals needed a catcher. I doubt the Cardinals were interested because Contreras’ defense was not good at the time – the Brewers cleaned it up, although after that initial season, I hadn’t realized he’s basically an average defender. But still that’s way better than he was with the Braves. Cardinals could have been that third team I’m pretty sure.
Joey Ortiz – Realistically, I don’t think so. He was in the Corbin Burnes trade. The Cardinals didn’t have a Corbin Burnes after the 2023 season.
Trevor Megill – Yes definitely. The Cardinals go after a bunch of guys like this, most don’t turn into him. Terrible with the Cubs in 2021, claimed off waivers by the Twins, he was pretty solid, but had a not very good ERA. Didn’t make Opening Day roster in 2023, was absoltuely terrible in AAA, Twins gave him to the Brewers at the end of April for a PTBNL who hasn’t made the majors and they unlocked the elite reliever in him. But the process of getting him is not really any different than the Cardinals getting George Soriano.
Yandy Diaz – I guess, though he was part of a really strange deal. He was in a three-team trade with the Guardians and Mariners. The Rays didn’t believe in Jake Bauers – on the Brewers now funny enough – so they traded him to Cleveland. In return they got Cole Sulser and Diaz. Cleveland also got Carlos Santana and traded Edwin Encarnacion and a draft pick to the Mariners. Diaz was 27 at the time with no position and had a grand total of 120 PAs as a good hitter. He would not have stopped the Cardinals from getting Paul Goldschmidt and probably not Nolan Arenado either since he wasn’t a good defender at 3B. I’m not sure he lasts that long on the Cardinals even if they do trade for him given those two facts and that he wasn’t great in 2021.
Junior Caminero – Here’s another one involving the same types of teams. Caminero was traded for Tobias Myers, who was 22 and on the verge of the majors – except Cleveland sold Myers before he ever made the majors. Caminero was coming off his DSL season, so this is your Yordan Alvarez trade. Myers ended up on the Brewers and was traded with Freddy Peralta to the Mets. Peralta is now with the Rays.
Victor Mesa Jr. – I imagine so. He came into the season as the 44th ranked prospect in the Rays system by Fangraphs. He was traded for a DSL prospect. One not ranked particularly high in the Marlins system.
Bryan Baker – Yes, he was traded for a draft pick last deadline. Not sure it would have been well-received considering he was a 30-year-old mediocre reliever (or so it seemed) at the time, but yeah the Cardinals could have done it.
I mean yeah pretty much anybody in the bullpen could have been acquired, cheap teams acquire their bullpen cheaply.
Other interesting note: Ace Drew Rasmussen for the Rays was part of the return for shortstop Willy Adames. I mentioned Bauers originally came up as a Ray.
Former Cardinals section
Brewers – Dustin May, JoJo Romero – the aforementioned trade that is making me root against the Brewers
Rays – Richie Palacios, Ryan Vilade, Steven Matz – Palacios for Andrew Kittredge, Vilade was a waiver claim, and Matz was a free agent.
Fortunately, MLB now has a video review system to minimize the impact of missed calls. In its first year of implementation at the major league level, the Automatic Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System seems to have been an overwhelming success.
While the number of replay challenges available for each manager increases from one to two in the playoffs, the ABS challenge rules are unchanged from the regular season. Each team begins the game with two challenges and keeps any challenges that are successful. If the game goes to extra innings, teams receive an additional challenge if they don't have any left at the start of an inning.
ABS statistics for 2026 regular season
Pitchers and catchers were generally more successful than batters in getting umpires' calls overturned during the 2026 regular season, according to Baseball Savant.
Successful regular season challenges
FIelders (catchers + pitchers): 3,358 of 5,792 (58%)
Hitters: 2,328 of 4,765 (49%)
Interestingly, hitters for the two teams in this year's World Series, the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers, had the worst results of any teams in the majors when challenging a strike call.
While their 46% success rate wasn't last overall, the runs above average they lost by challenging were the lowest in MLB. (Brewers -3.2 runs, Rays -3.9 runs)
Conversely, the two teams' pitchers and catchers were among the majors' most effective, with the Brewers gaining 2.2 runs above average (seventh overall) and the Rays gaining 1.6 (eighth).
In this year's postseason, those trends have continued − with hitters from the Brewers (-0.3 runs above average) and Rays (-1.1) ranking dead last among the 12 playoff teams, while their pitchers and catchers (Rays +0.6, Brewers +0.5) ranked first and second.
Brewers' strategy for challenging balls and strikes
Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy recently told USA TODAY Sports the Brewers have a rating system – 1 to 5 – regarding best and worst times to challenge, one they have refined for the playoffs.
“As long as you can identify what we call fives – good times to challenge, changing the at-bat,” he says. “But do you change an at-bat with two outs, nobody on in the second inning? It’s kind of identifying leverage and taking a chance there."
I wasn’t born a White Sox fan. In fact, I was raised to cheer for that other team on the North Side, despite growing up in the heart of White Sox territory.
My earliest baseball memories involve Wrigley Field, the 1984 Cubs and Leon Durham. My dad, a liquor truck driver, even nearly ran over Harry Caray one afternoon as the legendary broadcaster stumbled out of a neighborhood establishment. That’s about as Chicago as a childhood can get.
But I was always a little Sox-curious.
I remember being fascinated by the 1983 “Winning Ugly” team and sitting in the Golden Box seats at old Comiskey Park for a game against the Detroit Tigers. Still, it wasn’t until the fall of 1989 that my transformation into a die-hard South Sider became official.
While attending Mark Twain Elementary on Chicago’s Southwest Side, I earned three free White Sox tickets for perfect attendance. My mother, being the resourceful woman she was, made photocopies. Somehow, those three games turned into 27. My best friend and I would hop on the Archer Avenue bus, transfer to the 35th Street bus and spend our afternoons and evenings at Comiskey Park. To this day, I can still hear Nancy Faust playing Fine Young Cannibals on rainy days here in Omaha, Neb.
By 1992 and 1993, I was dating an Andy Frain usher, which meant sneaking into practically every home game after the sixth inning. And yes, I was there when Bo Jackson launched his unforgettable home run as the Sox clinched the 1993 AL West title.
Since then, my loyalty has never wavered. I’ve held partial season tickets, including during that magical 2005 season, driven hundreds of miles to catch games and even missed the first day of school as a teacher to attend Pope Hat Night. Yeah, I’m that kind of fan.
Although I was born on Chicago’s North Side at Kiddleland, I’m a South Sider through and through.
Professionally, I spent 16 years working as a journalist in Illinois, Indiana and Florida before transitioning into education in 2012. Since then, I’ve taught English, journalism, photography, newspaper and social studies. Today, I’m a high school journalism adviser in Omaha, Nebraska.
Away from the ballpark and classroom, I’m the proud father of two boys who attend Illinois State University. As a proud Southern Illinois University Saluki myself, I’ve learned to tolerate having a couple of Redbirds in the family. But no matter where life takes me, Chicago’s South Side will always be home.
The White Sox have given me plenty of reasons to question my sanity over the years, but never my loyalty. After all, being a Sox fan isn’t supposed to be easy. If it were, everyone would do it.
Hometown: That’s hard to pinpoint. I grew up in Cicero/Berwyn/Garfield Ridge. I owned a home in Plainfield and lived throughout Florida (Stuart/Fort Pierce/Daytona Beach/Jacksonville), and now I reside in Omaha.
How did you join South Side Sox? I was sent an email by Brett Ballantini early in October after he saw some of my work at Sox on 35th and asked if I would be interested in joining.
What is your favorite type of writing or coverage at SSS? Although I love to cover games, I do enjoy writing feature stories. I’m looking forward to seeing what challenges await me this upcoming year.
If you could have any job in baseball, what would it be and why? I would love to work in media relations and handle the press releases and press packets.
White Sox fan since 1983ish. However, I will say, I was all-in by 1986.
First White Sox memory: I remember bits and pieces of the 1983 team, but I was still so young. I truly remember some of those late 1980s teams with Bobby Thigpen, Ivan Calderon, Carlton Fisk, Dan Pasqua, Ozzie Guillén, etc.
Favorite White Sox memory: Easy, the 2025 World Series championship. I will say, being at the game when the Sox clinched the division in 1993 was great, and so was being at the Blackout game in 2008.
Favorite current White Sox player: This team has grown on me, for obvious reasons. However, I don’t know if I’ve attached myself to one player yet. It’ll get there.
Favorite White Sox player ever: Either Frank Thomas or Paul Konerko. I could go with Mark Buehrle. I’d love to say Ken Griffey Jr. (but that’s only because he’s one of my all-time favorites).
Next White Sox statue: Wait, they’re giving out more? I would think José Abreu would be one, or potentially Robin Ventura. Could A.J. get one?
Next White Sox retired number: Either Abreu or Ventura (although I think I’d go Abreu first).
Future White Sox Hall-of-Famers: That’s a tough one. I don’t know if we’re going to see someone getting into Cooperstown anytime soon. Mark Buehrle: Would love to see it. Joe Jackson: Would love to see it. Paul Konerko: Would love to see it. Chris Sale: Might/Could (but he won’t go in with a White Sox cap). Wilbur Wood: Don’t know much about why he’s been passed up. Nancy Faust: She deserves her own wing!
Go-to concession food at Sox Park: Anything at the park is amazing. Seriously.
Favorite Baseball Movie: Major League. Sure, I can go with the more traditional ones, but it’s the one that I enjoy the most from my childhood.
Favorite Ballpark: Currently? Both San Francisco and Pittsburgh come to mind. I’m on 21 parks right now, and I love the majority of them (even Oakland). Our park has some flaws, but there’s nothing better than watching the Sox play on the South Side.
South Side Sox on the Field: In my past life, I played a little outfield and first base. As I get older, I think my ultimate position would be 1B. However, I don’t know if I would have the power numbers to maintain the position for too long.
True or false: Every jumbled pile of person has a thinking part that wonders what the part that isn’t thinking isn’t thinking of. Ahh, They May Be Giants. Interesting last question. I don’t want to have to think that hard. Being a teacher and surviving each day is tough as it is.
Boston, MA - July 18: Boston Red Sox right fielder Wilyer Abreu reacts to his go-ahead two-run home run in the seventh inning. The Boston Red Sox played the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park on July 18, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
It’s strange to look back at the 2026 season now that it’s over for the Red Sox. We’ve all seen graph after graph showing three sections of bad-good-bad play. We lived the ups and downs. We saw the grinding halt.
Wilyer Abreu won the AL Player of the Week award two times this season: the week ending July 18 was the first. During that “week” which was bridging the All-Star Break, Abreu hit four home runs. He went 0-4 in the first game, 1-4 in the second, then 2-4 (2 home runs), and finally 2-3 (2 home runs).
The multi-homer games were back-to-back with the first coming as part of a double-header against the Tampa Bay Rays to open the unofficial second half. The next on the regularly scheduled Saturday game. This was supposed to be the big test. The Sox had defeated the Angels, White Sox, and Mets and while no one can dispute the White Sox had a great season, even in July the question of “can Chicago keep this up?” was out there. To their credit, aside from the time playing Boston, the White Sox looked every bit the part of a contender until they just ran out of pitching in the ALDS.
Back to the Rays. Tampa Bay made the World Series in 2026. They were the Big Test for Boston in July. Thanks to a rain out the three games had become four against the best team in the American League. But the Red Sox wouldn’t slow down after the ASG, a problem they’ve had in the recent past.
The Red Sox took game one of the doubleheader 10-0, defying the wrath of the “save some runs for game two” gods. Well, they won game two 5-3. That made the winning streak 11 games strong. But they still had two more games against Tampa. And their record was 48-48. No one would blame them if they lost to a team that was 56-41.
And then Wilyer Abreu had a signature game. Yes, it was 2 home runs like he’d just hit the day before. But the stakes were now get the team over .500.
And Anthony Seigler delivered. Look at that energy! Look at that excitement!
Wilyer Abreu is tossing his bat.
He’s shouting.
Seigler is on the warning track, he’s celebrating.
The Red Sox have turned a 6-5 deficit into a 7-6 lead.
Dave O’Brien elevates the moment with a “you’ve got to be kidding me” call that finally puts him into the range of the great Don Orsillo. To be fair to O’Brien, there haven’t always been the moments to elevate, especially in the last few seasons. But this one was so big that Abreu had enough to bring Seigler, O’Brien, and Merloni into the action.
12 in a row for the team. Over .500. Two home runs in back-to-back games.
If he wins a third straight Gold Glove in right field we’ll keep taking about Wilyer Abreu this winter but we shouldn’t stop thinking of how big a part of the turnaround he was.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 14: Max Muncy #13, Tommy Edman #25, Mookie Betts #50, Freddie Freeman #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers look on during a pitching change during the eighth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game three of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on October 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Wednesday, President of Baseball Operations Andrew Freidman that surgery “is not on the table’ for Shohei Ohtani. Eric Stephen covers that development here.
Bill Plaschke of the L.A. Times in his opinion piece thinks that the Dodgers should stop letting Ohtani pitch. He even floats the idea that if Ohtani continues to insist on pitching, the Dodgers should consider trading the modern Babe Ruth.
“Not quite satisfied with how things shaped up on the pitching side at the end of the year,” he said. “This year, I haven’t pitched and I haven’t pitched in the postseason. You know, I haven’t been able to really come to grips in terms of what I’ve learned overall this season. It’s something that I’m going to kind of go back to the drawing board in terms of treatment, training program. and see what I can come up with for next season.”
While trading the two-way player would be a nuclear option, it’s clear the team and Ohtani need to come to a better understanding about what best for the team.
A team that also needs to face the fact their team is aging, writes Maddie Lee of the L.A. Times. Freidman with his usual deprecating manner, commented on that and other issues, such as owner Mark Walter’s financial troubles and how he feels about the Dodgers being at the possible end of their dynasty. As usual, Freidman isn’t worried about any of it.
Bill Plunkett of the OC Register also has comments from Freidman in his end-of-season press conference, including why they’re excited that Ohtani will be returning to the mound in 2027.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic has an opinion piece saying that the small market teams are officially out of excuses is saying only big spenders make the postseason and the World Series. Good news for Dodger fans who have been blamed endlessly for the state of baseball today (she said tongue in cheek).
Good morning, everyone. I hope you are recharging in preparation of the upcoming World Series.
I appreciate your reading.
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Trade/Free Agency Stories:
Matthew Trueblood (North Side Baseball): 5 Pitchers Who Could Address Cubs’ Shortfall of Pure Stuff This Winter. “In the age of ABS, you can’t nibble and dot your way to glory on the mound. The Cubs need much better raw stuff than they had in 2026. Let’s consider some potential sources thereof.”
Jordan Bastian (MLB.com): Here’s why pitching is Cubs’ top priority this offseason. “Chicago’s front office may make a push to bring back at least one arm from that group, but the whole cast might very well hit free agency.”
Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Cubs Expected to Retain Pitching Coaches, Which Should Not Surprise Anyone. “So unless you believe Hottovy was sneaking into players’ homes in the dead of night to place their arms at awkward angles, thus leading to issues when they threw the next day, it’s hard to blame him for the issues.”
Jason Ross (North Side Baseball): Cubs Don’t Need to React Harshly to Nico Hoerner’s Ugly 2026 Season. “The Cubs extended their homegrown second baseman ahead of the season for six years. Then, he seemingly struggled in 2026. Is this a sign of things to come? Or was bad luck to blame?”
Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Cubs Mentioned as Fit if Guardians Look to Trade Steven Kwan. “Those who’ve wished fervently for the end of Happ’s Cubs tenure will surely love the idea of Kwan replacing him because it looks like a huge upgrade to them on paper.”
Tyler Courtney (LastWordOnSports): Cubs Top Prospects Who Could Make an Impact in 2027. “Technically, a prospect could shoot up the ranks and debut every year, so this will focus on a few of their major league-ready players.”
Celso Salim is an exciting emerging talent in the blues-rock scene, making waves with his remarkable musicianship and electrifying performances. Known for his distinctive guitar style and outstanding slide guitar skills, Celso captivates audiences with exciting compositions and a soulful voice. Influenced by traditional blues and the iconic sound of the 1960s and ’70s, Celso began playing at age 6 and made his stage debut at 14, setting him on an unwavering path. Originally from Brasilia, Brazil, he moved to Los Angeles in 2014, where he swiftly became a highly sought-after guitarist in Southern California’s music scene, establishing himself as one of the region’s most respected artists.
Celso has shared the stage with blues greats Magic Slim, Larry McCray, and Jimmy Hall, and opened for legends such as B.B. King, Deep Purple and Joe Bonamassa. With six solo albums, he earned 3rd place at the 2019 International Blues Challenge and received 5 Independent Music Awards including one for best blues album. Recently, he has toured with Bull Y Los Bufalos and collaborated with guitarists Johnny Stachela and Artur Menezes. His album with Darryl Carriere, “About Time”, was named one of The Big Blues Chart’s Top 100 Albums of 2024. In Brazil, he has developed a robust solo career since 2001 and is also known for his acoustic duo with bassist Rodrigo Mantovani, in addition to collaborating with prominent Brazilian blues groups such as the Ari Borger Quartet and the Sergio Duarte Blues Band.
Lime says its e-bikes are ‘not for jousting’
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 25: Jac Caglianone #14 of the Kansas City Royals hits a single during the fourth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Kauffman Stadium on September 25, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jac Caglianone had an impressive offensive season in 2026, but the focus is, what’s the next step?
Jac Caglianone spent much of the 2026 season making his mark at the plate for the Royals. But after establishing himself as one of Kansas City’s most productive hitters, his defensive future presents an interesting consideration heading into 2027 and beyond.
With much of the Royals’ lineup expected to return next season, Caglianone’s ability to play both right field and first base could provide some flexibility as Kansas City explores ways to improve its roster.
The 2026 season marked a significant turnaround for the 23-year-old, who struggled in his first taste of the Majors in 2025, battling just .157 with a .532 OPS across 62 games. This season, he led the Royals in batting average (.289), slugging percentage (.494) and OPS (.834), while finishing among the team’s top three in runs (72), hits (148), home runs (23) and RBIs (75).
Zion Rose was named the Royals top performer from the 2026 draft by MLB Pipeline.
A surprise pick to many at No. 6 overall, Rose was assigned to High-A Quad Cities out of the gate and was a part of the River Bandits’ Midwest League championship squad, hitting .241/.367/.299 with one homer and an 18/17 K/BB ratio over 23 total games between the regular season and playoffs. His 2026 isn’t done yet, however, and that’s why he’s the pick here. The Royals sent the former Louisville outfielder to the Arizona Fall League to make up for some of the at-bats he missed due to ankle and hamstring injuries in the spring, and entering Wednesday, he’s gone 7-for-23 (.304) with a homer, a triple, six walks through his first six games for Surprise.
Angeibel Gomez was named the 3rd best 17-year-old MLB prospect, by MLB Pipeline
Baseball fans rejoiced when the Royals challenged Gomez, who signed for $2.9 million as the No. 4 international prospect this year, with an Arizona Fall League assignment. Despite being the second-youngest player ever at the circuit, he’s held his own against much older competition and already looks much stronger than his listed 6-foot-2, 173-pound size. The Venezuela native could be a five-tool player down the line with plus plus speed, if he’s able to grow into more right-handed power, as scouts expect. His 1.119 OPS and .653 slugging percentage in the DSL both ranked third among qualified Minor Leaguers.
David Lesky put out part two of what he would do if he was JJ Picollo for a day.
Matthew Swigonski of Kings of Kauffman passed out starting rotation grades for the Royals.
Philip Ruo of Royals Keep points out why the Royals should keep Daniel Lynch IV.
Here is a breakdown on the Rays and Brewers bullpens, on how they are so effective, yet so different.
The story behind the Rays signing Jonathan Aranda.
TUSCON, AZ - OCTOBER 10: Ike Irish #10 of the Peoria Javelinas bats in the fifth inning during the game between the Javelinas and the Solar Sox at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday, October 10, 2026 in Tuscon, Arizona. (Photo by Jill Weisleder/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
With the 19th pick in the 2025 draft, the Orioles selected catcher Ike Irish. Except…not really.
Let me clarify. They did really select Ike Irish. But they didn’t really select a catcher, even if that was Irish’s announced position at the time.
The native of Grand Rapids, Mich., was a jack-of-all-trades defensively during his three-year career at Auburn University. Irish played 57 games in the outfield, 12 at first base, and, yes, 40 games behind the plate. But even then, one position made his life miserable, by Irish’s own admission.
“I’ve dealt with … the yips, catching, since I was a junior in high school,” Irish told FanGraphs’ David Laurila. “Junior year I had them. Senior year I had them. Freshman year of college. They would come off and on. … I was talking to mental performance coaches. I was doing brainspotting. I was doing everything I could to try to get rid of them. And I couldn’t.”
“When I was catching it was, ‘How the hell am I going to get this ball back to the pitcher?’” Irish continued. “I was throwing three-finger changeups back to the pitcher. I was throwing cutters. I was trying anything. It was awful.”
The Orioles abandoned the charade with haste. Irish made only five professional starts at catcher, with Low-A Delmarva in 2025, before giving up the tools of ignorance for good. This season with High-A Frederick, he played 41 games in the outfield, 23 at first base, and 12 as the designated hitter. And Irish’s eyes are smiling.
“With catching, it never felt like I could play the game with freedom,” Irish said. “As soon as I got away from that position, the game felt free again. … The game has opened up and I can just have fun. I can go out there and hit.”
And boy, can he hit.
Irish’s 2026 season was a revelation at the dish. There was nothing he couldn’t do. He hit for power (16 homers and a .528 SLG). He got on base (.388 OBP). He hit for average (.286). He was a burner on the basepaths (20 stolen bases). Irish came out of the gates hot, with five hits in his first two games of the season, on his way to a 1.039 OPS in April. He slumped to a .521 mark in May, but rebounded in a big way with OPSes of .956 in June and 1.142 in July.
It was a vast improvement over his brief pro debut in 2025, when he slashed just .230/.296/.297 in 20 games for Delmarva. That performance came when Irish was at least nominally still a catcher, which might explain his struggles.
MLB Pipeline, which ranks Irish as the #5 prospect in the Orioles’ system and #95 in baseball, praises his “mature approach” at the plate. “Irish makes hard contact to all fields and hangs in against same-side pitching. He handles velocity and spin, doesn’t need to sell out for power and projects to hit for average with 20-plus home run potential.”
Irish is proud of his ability to hit the ball the opposite way. “The plate’s what, 17 inches long? I feel like I can hit any ball that’s 17 inches the other way on the plate,” he told MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo. “I mean, I like to pull baseballs, don’t get me wrong, but naturally speaking, [the opposite field] is where I’m good and that’s what I like to keep doing.”
Irish’s 2026 breakout earned him a selection to the MLB Futures Game during the All-Star break on July 12. As the starting DH for the American League prospects, he went 0-for-1 with a walk. He then returned to the Keys and started the second half on an otherworldly hot streak, going 14-for-27 (.519) with four home runs and 10 RBIs in five games. Nothing, it seemed, could slow down the luck of the Irish.
And then it all came to a devastating halt. On July 22, while running to second base, Irish tore his left meniscus. The injury required season-ending surgery, and just like that, his remarkable 2026 campaign was over. No warning. No fanfare. Just there one day and gone the next. It truly was an Irish goodbye. (Should I stop doing these?)
But while he didn’t return for the rest of the minor league season, Irish is back to playing baseball in 2026 in the Arizona Fall League. Through nine games for Peoria, he’s hitting .353/.421/.559 with a pair of home runs. Offensive stats tend to be inflated in the AFL, but it’s nice to see he’s swinging the bat well, and most importantly, that he’s fully healthy. “My knee recovered really well and recovered pretty fast, and so when I was running on it and rehabbing it, it felt really good and I felt confident in it,” Irish told Mayo.
Irish’s on-base ability and spray-to-all-fields approach give him the potential to be a top-of-the-order hitter, the kind of guy who’s a real table setter. Which, of course, would make him an Irish setter. (That’s my last one, I promise.)
With his surgically repaired knee doing well, Irish should be able to start the 2027 season with the Chesapeake Baysox for his first taste of Double-A, hoping to continue to produce offensively like he did this season. He’s got a hot bat, a clean bill of health, and he’s free from the burdens of catching. Ike Irish is ready to roll.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 19: Junior Caminero #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates after defeating the Cleveland Guardians in game six of the American League Championship Series at Tropicana Field on October 19, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning!
The World Series is set to begin on Friday. The baseball media world is in full gear preparing their preview pieces and retrospectives on the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays.
The clearest throughline connecting much of the pre-World Series writing is a sense that this matchup is between two clubs that any organization in the game could have afforded to field. The question everyone is asking is this: What are these low-payroll teams doing better than everyone else?
The Rockies, for their part, have started the long trek towards emulating the types of systems that have kept the Brewers and Rays competitive for years. Whether or not they will be successful in mimicking them will take years to determine.
In the meantime, let’s all settle in for some World Series baseball.
For years, the Brewers and Rays have been held up as model organizations in terms of front office decision making because they have been able to remain competitive without ever running above average player payrolls. Now that they are set to face off against one another in the World Series, Kyle Newman breaks down the areas that the Rockies could potentially look to learn from with these two teams. Spoiler alert: A lot of it comes down to allocating more money into the non-player payroll portions of the organization.
Sean Sullivan’s first short stint with the Rockies this season didn’t go as anyone hoped. The soft tossing left-handed pitcher appears to have taken the setback in stride and entered the offseason with a list of things to work on. This piece from Thomas Harding calls out specifically his need to adjust to the schedule of an MLB rotation, find ways to increase fastball velocity, and diversify his pitch mix.
Don Strouble weighs whether a reunion with the Rockies best starting pitcher from this past season would serve the team’s 2027 interests. Given their lack of alternative options and a need to provide some form of stability to the rotation, Strouble argues that another low cost contract with the veteran would be worthwhile.
Every once in a while, you need a fresh set of eyes you experience often to realize what you take for granted. David Young does just that in this love letter to the Denver sports scene. If you have any friends that you want to convince to visit Denver, send them this article.
Ken Rosenthal details how this season’s World Series matchup flies in the face of MLB’s insistence that their economic proposals for the upcoming CBA are motivated by competitive balance concerns. Rosenthal argues that the continued success of the Brewers and Rays should act as a deterrent for other teams trying to blame their own poor performance on the economic disparities in the league. Rosenthal argues that fans of other low payroll teams shouldn’t be asking for a salary cap and instead asking why their favorite team can’t follow the example of the Brewers and Rays.
If you want specific breakdowns of how the players on each World Series roster was acquired by their club, Jim Callis has got you covered. This piece breaks down both World Series team and identifies how they were built. This is the blueprint for lower-payroll clubs.
This is for anyone who wants to really dive into the nitty gritty numbers. Jonathan Vander Lugt compares the aging curves of catchers versus all other hitters and finds a distinct difference between the two. There’s a pile of charts working through the specifics, but what it comes down to is that catchers appear to peak about a year later than other hitters and then decline at roughly the same rate, just delayed by that year. This may be good news for a player like Hunter Goodman, who may end up maintaining his performance at an older age than you’d otherwise expect.
Lastly, just for fun, this is an insightful piece on how plugged into the sport MLB players are when they no longer need to work. Andy McCullough surveyed 101 MLB players and asked if they watched the playoffs when they weren’t in them. The large majority said that they did though with varying levels of attention.
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 11: A general view outside American Family Field prior to Game One of the National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday, October 11, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Denis Kennedy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
The 2026 World Series is set between the visiting Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers. Game 1 is tomorrow night at 5:00 p.m. PT, airing on Fox and Fox One, with national radio coverage available on ESPN Radio.
As of the time this is being written, only the Brewers have announced a starting pitcher, which will be right-hander Jacob Misiorowski. Misiorowski finished the regular season with a 1.80 ERA, 2.17 FIP, with 252 strikeouts to 44 walks in 174.2 innings pitched. This will be his third start this postseason, with his last taking place in the Brewer’s 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on October 11th, in which he allowed one run on five hits with five strikeouts in four and a third innings.
Since there’s not a lot of other baseball content going on, we’ll go ahead and use this BP for Friday as well so we can follow the game here. Personally, I’m rooting for the Brewers solely because they knocked out the Dodgers (and also, I don’t have a huge preference between either team since neither have won a championship before, so National League preference wins out as well.)
Fans watch as Clippers guard Keaton Wagler grabs the basketball during a win over the Kings Wednesday at Intuit Dome. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Associated Press)
Starting over has to start somewhere, and so the Clippers got on with it Wednesday.
Not with superstars or championship aspirations. But with the promise of free parking, a jersey trade-in and a basketball team that is, at least, better than the Sacramento Kings, who they beat 121-96 in both teams’ season opener. Coach Tyronn Lue dedicated the win to suspended team owner Steve Ballmer: “Just want to say thank you for everything. We’re still fighting for him.”
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue directs his players during a win over the Sacramento Kings Wednesday at Intuit Dome. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Associated Press)
Wednesday’s fan appreciation stuff was a swell gesture, as a start. But it wasn’t nearly far-reaching enough.
Not for embattled Clippers supporters who have stuck with the team through thick and thin, sickness and health, in spite of Donald Sterling, the former cheap, racist owner and now Ballmer, the wealthy, over-invested one whose salary cap circumvention cost his team its first-round picks in the 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, and 2033 NBA drafts.
To fans, that was the most consequential part of the historic punishment dealt by the NBA, which commissioned a year-long investigation that determined the Clippers committed audacious levels of salary cap circumvention.
The league also fined the team $30 million, suspended team owner Ballmer and president of business operations Gillian Zucker for a year and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank for six months.
And Leonard? He got a $700,000 slap on the wrist and got traded back to Toronto, where he signed a two-year, $115 million contract extension and on Wednesday, had Raptors coach Darko Rajaković saying he was “super excited for the chance to bring a Hall of Famer back home.”
“That’s one of the most insulting parts of it all, the way [Leonard] was able to walk away scot-free and the fans are left sort of holding the bag,” said San Pedro’s Justin Ratterree, while he tried to dodge raindrops as he waited in line, four hours before tipoff, to trade in his No. 2 Leonard jersey.
Young Clippers fans watch the team play the the Sacramento Kings Wednesday at the Intuit Dome. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Associated Press)
“It’s rough right now. Defending the team this past couple months has been really rough ... and I’ve kind of just given up defending. How can you defend it?”
Even Ballmer stopped doing that, releasing a statement on Sept. 13 that read, in part: “This has been a very difficult time for everybody associated with the Clippers, and for that, I have sincere regrets.
“I want to apologize to our fans, employees, and my fellow NBA team owners for the distraction and distress this matter has caused, for which I accept responsibility as principal owner.
“We are,” he added, “committing to put this chapter behind us.”
Yes, let them try to scrub the memory of Leonard, the intensely skilled and private player who demanded so much of the Clippers when he signed with them as a free agent in 2019. Who made no efforts to popularize the team, missed almost as much time as he worked, and who failed to lead the Clippers to their first championship or anywhere close to it in his seven seasons.
After his trade to Toronto went through on Sept. 23, the Clippers resisted posting the “Thank You, Kawhi” graphic that pro sports teams do when they part ways with a player.
Let them also forget to play a tribute video when Leonard’s Raptors visit Intuit Dome for the only time this season on Nov. 2.
And let the Clippers expand the jersey swap beyond the first 4,000 paying customers at Game 1; there was no official figure available Wednesday night for exactly how many jerseys were traded and how many of them belonged to he-who-must-not-be-named.
The Clippers should keep it going, offer the option all season. Set it up at the Intuit Dome’s Lost and Found — invite fans to exchange the No. 2 jersey of the player whom they lost all respect for a guy they’ve found themselves newly enamored with, likely rookie Keaton Wagler if Wednesday’s exchange was any indication.
Clippers fans also deserve more than having their parking picked up until an hour before gametime, on one rainy workday, on late notice.
They should have their parking at games covered all season — or at least substantially reduced from the typical $70 price that’s already too steep. (The Dodgers didn’t start charging $65 until the National League Championship Series!)
They should do more if they want to continue to draw a crowd to watch a team whose best player is now Darius Garland, whose future is compromised, whose current best-cast scenario — the play-in! — only Clippers fans could love.
Clippers forward Rui Hachimura drives past Kings guard De'andre Hunter and center Domantas Sabonis Wednesday at the Intuit Dome. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Associated Press)
Several fans Wednesday also said they would appreciate improved transparency, including in terms of player injury and availability news.
It’s the least the team can do for these patient people, who will have the type of team that they usually fall hard for, actually — a group of gamers, devoid of divas, punching above their weight.
“All this stuff that’s going on,” Lue said, “you can’t take that out on our players … that’s not their fault, you know?”
It’s not fans’ fault, either. Let’s see the Clippers go above and beyond for them.
The NBA never wastes any time getting back to business. The first day of the season gave us the biggest opening night comeback in league history on Tuesday, and Wednesday’s full slate of games included everything that makes this league such a treat to watch, all the way down to LaMelo Ball getting away with the most obvious travel of all-time in his debut for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Wolves beat the Miami Heat, 131-105, in a nationally televised barnburner as both sides debuted new stars. Ball and the Wolves got the win despite Giannis Antetokounmpo going off for 35 points on 11-of-19 shooting in his first game as a member of the Heat. Ball was solid with 21 points and six assists in his debut, and he helped set up teammate Anthony Edwards for a 45-point scoring outburst.
Everything was going so well for the Wolves that the refs even let Ball take about eight steps on a step-back three-pointer. Did LaMelo just forget he needed to dribble? It sure looks like it, but the refs let him get away with it anyway. Watch the play here:
I usually hate when casual fans harp on uncalled traveling, and then I have to explain the concept of the gather step. Not this time. Ball clearly traveled, but the refs let him do it because the vibes were good, I guess.
The Wolves jacked 50 three-point attempts in their opening night win. Is this team going to great the record for most threes attempted? The 2024-25 Boston Celtics took 48.23 three-point attempts per game, so it’s a high bar to clear. I was very high on the Wolves, ranking them No. 4 overall in my championship rankings coming into the season. This win was encouring for that.
The refs can’t just let players travel like this, because it gives the NBA a bad reputation. This time, the traveling scourges are right. I have no idea how LaMelo got away with this.
PORTLAND, OR - OCTOBER 21: Devin Booker #15 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on October 21, 2026 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. 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 Jaden Coleman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
There are a few tricks of the trade you pick up when you write as much as I do. One of them is keeping a thesaurus nearby, a trusty little companion that helps you find different ways to describe situations, emotions, and perspectives. Sometimes you need a better word to properly articulate what you’re trying to say. And as I sit here holding that thesaurus in my hand, flipping through its pages like a desperate man searching for answers, I cannot find a collection of words that adequately expresses the disappointment and frustration I experienced Wednesday night watching the Phoenix Suns open their season.
Every season opener carries a certain magic. There is hope. There is anticipation. After months of speculation, theorizing, and convincing ourselves that certain players will develop and certain decisions will pay off, the rubber finally meets the road. The basketball starts counting. Reality arrives.
On Wednesday night in Portland, reality arrived driving a car and promptly ran over the Phoenix Suns. Apparently, that wasn’t enough. Reality threw the damn thing into reverse and backed over the mangled corpse for good measure. Perhaps it’s appropriate the Suns call The Morg home.
As the regular season began, nearly everything we feared about this team was on full display. The inability to facilitate an offense. The inability to consistently knock down three-pointers. The inability to effectively rebound the basketball. All of those concerns we spent the offseason discussing came screaming back to life, standing in the middle of the Moda Center like some grotesque collection of basketball nightmares.
And the things we hoped would carry this team through those deficiencies? They were nowhere to be found. The energy we expected never materialized. Instead, we watched technical-inciting tantrums. The leadership and composure we believed would help establish an identity evaporated into chaos. The toughness, connectivity, and collective effort that were supposed to define this version of the Suns seemed to disappear the moment the ball went into the air.
I kept searching for the right word to describe it. Frustrating? Disappointing? Pathetic? Somewhere in the English language, there had to be something that captured the magnitude of what we witnessed. And after exhausting the thesaurus, I kept coming back to one word.
Now, I understand this was Game 1 of 82. If life and decades of watching the Phoenix Suns have taught us anything, it is that the opening game of a season rarely tells the entire story. There will be adjustments. There will be growth. There will be nights when this team looks considerably better than whatever the hell we witnessed in Portland.
But understanding the importance of perspective doesn’t mean we have to ignore what happened in the moment. We are allowed to react. We are allowed to be frustrated. We are allowed to look at a team that scored 12 points in the first quarter while surrendering 43 and wonder how in God’s name an entire offseason of preparation produced that particular brand of basketball catastrophe.
Eventually, things will settle down. The rotations will stabilize. The offense will find some semblance of rhythm. Hell, we might even score a few points along the way. But Wednesday night made one thing abundantly clear. The hope and belief surrounding this team will have to be earned. Every ounce of it. The Suns spent the offseason talking about culture, toughness, accountability, and fortifying their identity. Those words sounded wonderful in September. They looked considerably less impressive when the lights came on in Portland.
Reality is here now. And reality doesn’t give a damn about your offseason optimism.
Bright Side Baller Standings
Jalen Green’s performance in the preseason finale was enough to earn him his first BSB of the season.
Bright Side Baller Nominees
Game 1 against the Blazers. Here are your nominees:
