The instructional and developmental nature of the Arizona Fall League allows minor league players to supplement their regular season or add needed experience beyond injury-shortened seasons.
The third week of the six-week AFL season resulted in the Peoria Javelinas, the AFL team employing eight Padres prospects, playing five games with a 4-1 record. They currently are in third place in the six-team league with a 9-7 record and 1.5 games back of the Scottsdale Scorpions.
Padres in the lineup
Outfielder Alex McCoy, the Padres No. 26 prospect, played in three games and got his first start as a first baseman in the AFL. Predominantly a corner outfielder, McCoy played some first base in college and in two games this past season with the Single-A Fort Wayne TinCaps.
He is being exposed to some upper-level pitching in an effort to improve his swing and miss against better pitchers and their offspeed and breaking pitches. So far, McCoy has adjusted well in his climb through the first two minor league levels but cutting down his strikeouts and whiffs will be his biggest challenge.
He is hitting .256 for the Javelinas with a .989 OPS. He leads the team with four home runs and 11 RBI. He also leads the Javelinas with 17 strikeouts.
His 345-foot, 118.2 mph home run had the highest exit velocity on a home run this AFL season. Fourth highest in AFL play since the Statcast era began in 2015.
Infielder Justin DeCriscio is struggling so far with the Javelinas. In his nine games played, he is hitting .167 with a .624 OPS, has a double, a home run, and eight RBI.
Catcher/DH Ty Harvey is also working to improve his average and his slug, sitting at .182 for both; he has no extra-base hits in 11 games played with five RBI but is 9-for-9 in stolen bases.
Padres pitchers
RHP Kannon Kemp has started three games and pitched 8.2 innings with a 5.19 ERA. He has three walks and 11 strikeouts.
RHP Winyer Chourio continues to struggle with his control, throwing 8.2 innings over three starts with seven walks and six strikeouts, and a 5.19 ERA.
Righty reliever Francis Peña has appeared in five games and 5.1 innings pitched with a 0.00 ERA. He has two walks and four strikeouts.
Lefty reliever Igor Gil has appeared in three games and 3.1 innings pitched with a 5.40 ERA, with three walks and four strikeouts.
Righty reliever Jordan Valenzuela has four innings across four games with a 6.75 ERA, allowing a walk with three strikeouts.
Padres News:
Outfielder Jase Bowen did not do much at the plate in his inaugural season in San Diego, but he was a threat on the base paths and a solid defender. Lincoln Zdunich of Gaslamp Ballgives Bowen his grade for the 2026 season.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 24: Jaime Jaquez Jr. #24 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 24, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to Winners & Sinners, our new weekly feature that reflects on the week that was. With Giannis wearing enemy colours and a new, youthful Bucks corps leading the charge, this season presents the unique opportunity to see just who is the Most Valuable Buck (MVB). But that’s not the only “award.” Each week, we’ll hand out the following:
Defensive Belt: Ring the bells, this one’s a fight! Want to take home the belt? Get stops. But it’s more than just that. The “Defending Champion” wears the belt until a “Contender” takes it.
The People’s Champ: Awarded to the Brew Hoop commenter of the week. Win it because of a wry comment in a game thread, an insightful fan post in The Feed, or simply in acknowledgement of all your hard work posting. It’s our shoutout to you.
Run That Back: If this was a magazine, Run That Back would be a tear-out poster. It’s the highlight of the week.
Sinner(s): Think of this as Brew Hoop’s Razzies. It’s a chance for catharsis, calling out what needs it.
If… Then…: A forward-looking conditional statement. If you continue to read this article, then you’ll see what I mean (please do).
Now that you know the categories, let’s see the recipients!
MVB
It’s got to be Jaime Jaquez Jr., right? Tyler Herro has certainly put up a great argument, posting 23.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG, and 5.3 APG—and he’s quickly converting this writer into a fan. But after exploding against the Bulls he was relatively quiet against the 76ers. Meanwhile, Jaquez has been Milwaukee’s most consistent player. In addition to his 20.7 PPG (on 61% shooting!), Jaquez is contributing 8.7 RPG and 3.7 APG while playing with the sort of effort that Taylor Jenkins has preached all offseason.
Defensive Belt
Defending Champion: Vacant.
The Contenders: Kyle Kuzma, Jaime Jaquez Jr.
The Decision: Look, there haven’t exactly been any All-Defensive pushes to start the season, but the Bucks’ starting forwards have shown the most grunt (I’ll leave GRIT to retired janitor). Kyle Kuzma was the only semblance of a roadblock against Anthony Davis and has hit the glass hard, pulling down a team-leading 27 rebounds, including 21 on the defensive glass. He gets the nod.
The People’s Champ
naveed2000s takes the cake for this one, putting on a Woj Shams mask to drop news of the Golden State Warriors’ interest in trading Kristaps Porziņģis to the Bucks—before we could even think about getting a newser out. Kudos to you, naveed. Catch the scoop and join the conversation here:
Run That Back
Herro curls around a Myles Turner screen, catches and rises up—fluid, like Lake Michigan. Splash! And the harm. He converts on the two-to-make-one flagrant free throw too. It should’ve been the momentum moment to spur the Bucks to victory; the first of a long list in Herro’s Bucks lore. Instead, it’ll have to settle for this week’s highlight moment.
Sinner(s)
Meat Loaf said two out of three ain’t bad but in the NBA it’s a prerequisite—you need at least two of talent, smarts, or effort to truly succeed. At the moment, Ware has the talent. The know-how and the motor are works in progress. Thankfully, Jenkins is a teacher. Then again, so is Erik Spoelstra. The real question, then: does Ware know the difference between hearing and listening? If his performance against the 76ers is anything to go by, the answer is a resounding “Yes!”
Myles Turner, on the other hand, has been flat-out bad—7.7 PPG and 4.3 RPG, shooting below 40% from the field—to go along with 3.0 turnovers per game, while coming last on the team in plus/minus (-11.0) and offering little in the way of a paint presence. It’s time to hit the confessional.
Otherwise, the fourth quarters have been capital “R” Rough for the Bucks. Through three games, they’ve been outscored 98-73. Turn that around and they’d be sitting pretty.
If… Then…
If Ryan Rollins doesn’t start finding his offensive groove soon—which includes turning off the blinders so that he can run the team more effectively—then Taylor Jenkins might be wise to turn even more to Kasparas Jakučionis. The young Lithuanian has starting point guard written all over him.
Did I win the tip or am I running back on defence? Share your winners and sinners in the comments.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 27: JJ Wetherholt #26, Masyn Winn #0 and Jordan Walker #18 of the St. Louis Cardinals celebrate the team's 4-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on April 27, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The World Series is making its way South with the midwest avian population but my sports focus somehow still centers around the St. Louis Cardinals and football, both fantasy and NFL. Nothing against the Brewers, Rays, or the game of baseball, since I do think this Fall Classic is going to be as fun as it gets without having a team in the race.
Even without much happening around the Cardinals, you are all here with us and ready to jump in with your thoughts and feelings around the organization. Chaim Bloom does not tip his hand too often, so trying to predict the actual path he will take this offseason is difficult. He does do well to taper our expectations, saying things in a way that keeps us from hoping for big spending in free agency. I do think this allows us to pencil in much of the 26-man roster, outside of speculating a couple trades here and there.
Assuming that Bloom will leave much of the offense and starting rotation untouched, I wanted to take a look at how these guys should be expected to perform next season. In the most recent VEB and articles pods, I stated a couple times how 77 wins is now the baseline for success in my mind while also understanding the win column does not tell the whole story. Because I expect minimal changes, unfortunately, I could see next season’s record sitting near what we saw in 2026 since the team outperformed most preseason win totals.
Cardinals key contributors have to take another step forward in 2027 season
To get in front of it, I do not expect the Cardinals to trade Ivan Herrera or Leo Bernal this winter, or move on from Masyn Winn for someone who can provide more offense. I foresee Joshua Baez getting I have more than 50% confidence that Nathan Church will be starting in center on Opening Day and I will give a slight edge to Blaze Jordan over Thomas Saggese at third. I think Saggese can (and should?) take Jose Fermin’s role of “super utility guy who somehow starts too many games” to take advantage of his full skillset. However, my confidence in either of those spots being locked up already is low, so I will not figure them into my 2027 thoughts just yet.
This leaves me providing my way too early expectations for JJ Wetherholt, Jordan Walker, Alec Burleson, Ivan Herrera, Leo Bernal, Joshua Baez, and Masyn Winn.
Tier 1: Trustworthy
Wetherholt, Burleson, Herrera
The first two names probably come as no surprise but adding Herrera to the trustworthy list may be a slight shock. The 2025 season was supposed to be a stepping stone for Herrera, but too much time behind the plate and a huge workload may have prevented that leap forward. Even with a slightly disappointing campaign, the hopefully full-time DH was still an above-average bat who can produce runs in different ways.
Assuming that Wetherholt and Herrera bounce back into full health for 2027, this past year may actually be the baseline for both of these players. I am hopeful that the Cardinals staff limits the amount of times a player is in the lineup despite injury, even if they are not at risk for additional damage. Any discomfort can cause a change in mechanics, limiting consistency and potentially creating bad habits. That could have been the case for these two in the dog days of the season, but I think this duo and Burleson will create a scary top of the lineup.
Burly has improved every season of his career and after leading all of MLB in RBIs last year, I am still hopeful for another jump. As he continues to prove his value with the glove at first base, I am holding out for multiple seasons of 30+ homers and a .270 or better batting average before his time in St. Louis is up. The first baseman is a proven clubhouse veteran who still has plenty of time left in his prime to continue to make his mark on the organization and be the grizzled voice for the next contending Cardinals team.
Tier 2: Do it again
Walker and Bernal
A lot was said about Walker’s second half and I hate to use it as an excuse, but he was another player who was playing through discomfort for little or no reason. With the Cardinals out of it, Walker continued playing near everyday as he looked to end his breakout campaign with a 30 homer season and a 3.0 fWAR or better. The injury was said to not have long-term effect on the outfielder, but we saw him fall back into bad habits in September. The All-Star actually hit .305 in August, despite participating in the Home Run Derby, but his final month average dipped to .172, which made his overall second-half stat line look worse than it truly was.
Walker was able to continue to have success on the bases in the final few months of the year, still swiping nine bases to get him into the 20/20 club. Assuming the time off from the daily grind will allow Walker’s hip to get back to full health, the 2027 season will be another big one for him. Baseball card numbers aside, if Walker could put up another 20% or better than league-average season, he will slide into Tier 1 before next season ends.
Moving to Bernal, he could have fit into either of the final two tiers but his debut was so impressive I had to keep him above the last one. My hope is that the switch-hitter plays in 130 games at the big league level next season, which would mean the Cardinals made a catching decision elsewhere on the roster and Bernal was able to stick around for a full major league season. In just 24 games, Bernal hit .284 with a 124 wRC+ but he also saw regression in his plate discipline and defense.
The second part would have been enough to put him into Tier 3, but he looked so darn good at the plate that asking for more from a rookie catcher felt unfair. I believe that the glove will be just fine for the two year fielding award winner in the minors as he gets more comfortable with major league hitters in the box and adjusts to the pitching staff’s stuff. Bernal will play most of the season as a 23-year-old in 2027 and I believe he could be an early leader for Rookie of the Year if he can repeat his offense over a full year while playing a premium position.
Tier 3: Show me more
Winn and Baez
Jumping to Baez first, he showed plenty at the plate in a handful more games that Bernal but falls a tier below the catcher. The left fielder’s .510 slugging percentage was a welcomed addition to the lineup, especially after finally putting an end to the revolving door of players at that spot before his debut. Before going down with an oblique injury that coincidentally ended his season without the Cardinals having to make a playing time decision, Baez hit seven homers, seven doubles, and stole two bags to put his season totals to 41, 29, and 23 respectively. If Joshua Baez could just do it again while at the major league level, we would be in a great spot in St. Louis.
While the 17 homer jump from 2025 is an amazing feat, Baez also saw his K-rate jump back towards the concerning numbers that made him tumble down prospect lists before his resurgence. He also saw his overall average drop about 40 points from his prior year, but that could be easily explained by the outfielder playing at two higher levels than he did in 2025. The main reasons I threw Baez into Tier 3 are his plate discipline, both with contact and patience, and his fielding. I am not asking him to change his overall approach in the box, but a little more bat on ball is a decent sacrifice if it means 35 homers instead of 40. In the grass, he put up a -2 Statcast run value in 24 games on defense and looked awkward tracking down the ball. I will hope his route running improves as he spends more time in just one outfield spot.
Speaking of defense, Masyn Winn does not have anything else to prove at shortstop to make me believe he is a major league capable defender. In order to get me back in on him as an everyday player for at least the next five seasons, though, I have to see a big jump with the bat. Another player that ends up in the lineup despite being nicked up on an annual basis, there has always been something to point to for why the shortstop’s bat has not progressed to the levels we saw in the minors. Even with the injuries, Winn’s metrics have not changed much since his rookie season, so I have started to become more pessimistic on his offensive future.
Chaim Bloom recently spoke to Jesus Baez being more than capable of handling shortstop and the prospect’s offensive skillset is more intriguing than Winn’s was in the minors. The title of this tier was originally Last Chance and only had Winn in it, but he is still just 24-years-old and I cannot let myself be all the way out on a player I had so much positivity around. I am officially out on my 20/20 prediction, but I am not out on his ability to be a .270 or better hitter since he was able do that in the upper levels of the minors and nearly reached that number as a rookie. If Winn does not hit to a 90 wRC+ or higher, I am not saying it is time to send him packing, but I would definitely be more hesitant to loosen the pursestrings to keep him in St. Louis beyond his rookie deal.
Let me know if you would place any of these guys in other spots, although these are my own tiers that are titled in a way to fit my storylines. Feel free to also predict what you think will happen with Nathan Church or third base. Lastly, in case you missed it, I had an interview with Cardinals pitching prospect Michael Watson that was tons of fun. Kareem was also on the pod and it was a ton of fun to dig into the year at Springfield at the talent on that roster. I linked that below for your viewing and/or listening pleasure. Thanks as always!
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 14, 1980: Philadelphia Phillies mascot, the Phillie Phanatic, congratulates pitcher Ron Reed (#42, center) for striking out a Kansas City Royal batter for the final out of Game 1 of the 1980 World Series on October 14 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Royals 4 games to 2 to win their first World Series in club history. (Photo by James Drake/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Since there is an off day today for the World Series as everything picks up and heads to Tampa Bay, it’s a good time to think about the Phillies and their own World Series history.
Playing in eight different versions, the Phillies have a 2-6 record in them, famously winning in 1980 and 2008, losing in 1915, 1950, 1983, 1993, 2009 and 2022. The guess here is that many of you don’t really remember much of what happened in the 1915 or 1950 versions, but the other five have had several different things happen that were memorable.
What is your favorite memory from any of the World Series that the Phillies were participants in? Obviously the last out of the ones that won are going to stick out, but for me, I’ll always remember 2009 Game 3 version. I was sitting in the 200 level of Citizens Bank Park, about even with the right field wall. I will never forget that Alex Rodriguez’s “home run” hit that camera and should have been ruled a double.
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 22: Manager Pat Murphy #49 of the Milwaukee Brewers speaks to the media during the 2026 World Series workout day and media availability at American Family Field on Thursday, October 22, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Aaron Gash/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Milwaukee is cooking, y’all. After winning 103 regular season games, they blew through the Padres in the Division Series, swept the Dodgers in 4 games in the Championship Series and currently have a 2-0 lead in the World Series. They’re 5-1 in one-run games, so they’re not exactly blowing teams out. But with their bullpen sporting a 1.41 / 2.79 / 3.62 line in 44 and 2/3 innings through Friday’s game, they are extinguishing any late game challenges.
So will the Brewers ever lose again this year? Fangraphs have the Rays slightly favored for the next two games. A Robert Gasser – Freddy Peralta matchup has the Rays with a 53% win probability. The Shane Drohan – Griffin Jax matchup has a similar 52.2% Rays win probability? So Tampa Bay isn’t cooked just yet. Only the 2005 White Sox and the 1999 Yankees have won the World Series with only one loss in the Divisional Era. But to avoid adding a third, the Rays do need to get started soon.
Bournemouth humiliated Manchester United to leave Michael Carrick on the brink, while Liverpool beat Brighton, Newcastle won at Palace and Hull drew with Brentford
Otherwise, Carrick goes for ballast in the midfield, with Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba, which makes sense, but in front of him, there’s a palpable lack of magic. Matheus Cunha, hooked at half-time in Como, drops out, with Amad one of the least dreadful when he came on, coming in on the right. His numbers tell us he’s not the standard required, but he offers good out-of-possession work and gives the team balance, such as it is, the only dribbles in a team severely lacking one v one ability.
Otherwise, Mason Mount, every manager’s favourite, is relocated to the left, while Bryan Mbeumo continues up front in the absence of Benjamin Sesko – which tells us plenty about what Carrick thinks of Joshua Zirkzee, despite his goal in midweek.
Denton Mateychuk(2) opened the scoring for the Blue Jackets, and Adam Fantilli(3-PP-GWG) finished off the Vegas Golden Knights just 59 seconds into the OT period to send the VGK home with a third straight loss. The win by Columbus also stops a 2-game losing streak.
Goalie Cam Talbot played exceptionally well, picking up his second win of the season by stopping 26 of 27 shots from the high-powered VGK.
Columbus was able to keep up with the Golden Knights for the most part and was able to grind out the win.
Keep an eye out for those types of wins going forward.
Team Notes Per CBJ PR
Columbus improved to 3-0 this season when playing past regulation (all at Nationwide Arena).
With last night's win at Nationwide Arena, the Blue Jackets have now earned points in six of their nine (5-3-1) franchise home games against the Golden Knights.
The home team improved to 7-2-2 in the last 11 games of the series after last night's overtime win by the Jackets.
Columbus scored first for the sixth time this season after netting the opener at 11:51 into the game. It’s the fifth straight time at Nationwide Arena that the club has scored the first goal of the game.
Last night's game was the third instance (second at Nationwide Arena) that the game was decided past regulation in the all-time series between the clubs. Columbus improved to 2-1 in the extra frame after tonight’s overtime win (MR: Jan. 30, 2025, 2-1 OTW at VGK).
Final Stats
CBJ APP
Player Stats & Notes
Denton Mateychuk scored his 2nd goal and had 6 blocks. He leads CBJ defensemen in goals in 2026-27. He is now tied with John Carlson, Rasmus Dahlin, and Mattias Samuelsson for seventh among NHL defensemen in even-strength goals since the beginning of 2025-26 (14).
Adam Fantilli scored his 3rd goal and only won 28.6% of his faceoffs. He scored the third overtime game-winning goal of his NHL career and his seventh game-winner overall last night. He has tallied goals in two of the past three contests overall (2-0-2).
Kent Johnson picked up his 2nd and 3rd assists of the season. He tallied his first multi-assist game of the season with two helpers last night to give him 3-2-5 in his last six games played this season. He has notched points in five of the seven games played at Nationwide Arena in 2026-27 (3-3-6). He extended his point streak against Vegas to three straight games (1-3-4) and has 1-4-5 in five career matchups.
Val Nichushkin recorded his 4th assist. He has posted helpers in three of the past four home games this season (0-3-3). He improved to 6-5-11 in 25 career games against Vegas, with 4-3-7 in his past eight contests against the Golden Knights.
Charlie Coyle got his 7th assist. He has points in back-to-back games (1-1-2) as well as points in five of his past six contests this season (1-4-5). He improved to 5-8-13 in 18 career games against Vegas, including 1-4-5 in his last six matchups.
Zach Werenski had 3 shot and 2 blocks.
Cam Talbot stopped 26 of 27 shots, including 2 shorthanded.
Team Stats
The Jackets went 1/3 on the power play.
The Columbus PK stopped the only power play Vegas had.
Columbus won 54.7% of the faceoffs - 35/64
The Blue Jackets had 26 hits and 14 blocks.
Next Up For Columbus: The Blue Jackets are on the road to take on the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night.
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MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 24: Freddy Peralta #51 of the Tampa Bay Rays looks on from the dugout during Game Two of the 2026 World Series presented by Capital One between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Saturday, October 24, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Speaking of one such pending free agent, Freddy Peralta was once again asked about the approach both the Mets and Rays took with him and pushed back against the notion that the teams tried to get him to make the same fixes, calling their strategies “a little different.” When (again) asked why things didn’t work out with the Mets, Peralta said, “Sometimes, I ask the same question myself.”
Mets prospect Boston Baro connected for a home run on Thursday in the Arizona Fall League for the first time in a game environment since July 27, 2025, as he tries to come back from his various injuries stronger and with more pop in his bat.
Around the National League East
MLB Trade Rumors compiled notes from around the NL East, including Joel Sherman’s reporting that Pat Murphy was a finalist for the Mets’ managerial search in 2019, the Marlins’ philosophy if they have to spend more money to reach a hypothetical salary floor, the progress of Phillies’ infield prospect Aidan Miller, and more.
The Brewers rallied from behind after going down four runs in the first inning to complete a thrilling 5-4 Game 2 comeback win against the Rays last night to go ahead 2-0 in the World Series. Sal Frelick hit a game-tying homer in the sixth and rookie Cooper Pratt laced an opposite-field RBI single in the seventh to put the Brewers ahead.
William Contreras is becoming a superstar this October, writes Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Brewers closer Trevor Megill spoke to Tyler Kepner of The Athletic about having to grind out an extra out after replay review overturned what would have been a game-inning double play in the ninth inning of Game 1.
October 25 is perhaps the single most important date in Mets history because it was on this date in 1986 that the Mets played the most famous game in franchise history, where a ball dribbled between Bill Buckner’s legs to complete a miraculous victory and set the table for Game 7.
ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 17: Jarren Duran #16 of the Boston Red Sox looks on in the dugout during the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Thursday, September 17, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Courtney Kramer/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Yet another piece of corroborating evidence for the “everything is about us all the time even when it’s not” theory! The biggest play in last night’s World Series game was so Massachusetts coded that it could’ve been settled via a fist fight over a space-saver in Southie rather than in the batters box, as Lexington’s Sal Frelick homered off of Westborough’s Ian Seymour to tie the game in the sixth. Things could get awkward when they reunite for offseason training back home in Waltham in a few weeks time. Hopefully Frelick does the gentlemanly thing and brings Seymour a peace offering in the form of a Dunkin iced. (Peter Abraham, Boston Globe)
And if that’s not enough of a local connection for you, how about this? Both Andy Freed and Jeff Levering, the principal radio play-by-play voices for the Rays and Brewers respectively, worked in the Pawtucket Red Sox broadcast booth before getting the call to the bigs. (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)
Of course there’s another broadcasting newbie working the World Series this year: Payton Tolle, who has been serving as a correspondent covering the important issues, like what’s on the menu in the parking lot at Brewers’ tailgate parties. He also took some time out to answer fan questions online. Here are some of the highlights, including further confirmation of my “all mustaches lead back to Tom Selleck” theory. It’s been a good World Series for my theories. (Max Ralph, MLB.com)
If we really want a World Series with local connections, though, nothing would be better than the Red Sox actually making it back to the World Series. So what lessons can the Sox take from the Rays and Brewers? (Sean McAdam, MassLive)
Thankfully, one lesson the Sox don’t need to learn is how to put together a stellar defensive outfield. Both Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu took home the Fielding Bible Award for their respective positions. This is particularly notable because these awards combine the American and National Leagues, meaning Ceddy took down Platinum Glove favorite Pete Crowe-Armstrong for the center field nod — though he needed a tiebreaker to do so as they actually tied mathematically. (Shanthi Sepe-Chupuru, MLB.com)
Will Jarren Duran be a part of that outfield in 2027? Duran is still arbitration eligible. And while his 2026 production was so poor that many are wondering whether he’ll be non-tendered, that’s unlikely. However, “it’s widely expected that the Red Sox will look to deal him this winter,” writes one insider. (Sean McAdam, MassLive)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 04: Josue De Paula #95 of the Los Angeles Dodgers in action at bat against the Atlanta Braves in game two of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 04, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Nothing beats Father Time, and that includes an aging Dodgers core.
Seven out of the nine regulars within the Dodgers lineup are on the wrong side of 30, with Andy Pages being the only regular under the age of 27. Players such as Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy are both entering the twilight of their careers, and Mookie Betts will turn 35 years of age during the 2027 season.
The Dodgers have plenty of prospects waiting for their chance to shine at the game’s highest level, and outfielder Josue De Paula is the cream of the crop of young talent. The team is hoping to increase his playing time in the outfield as opposed to his fill-in at designated hitter this past season, and that could mean a change of scenery for an aging player such as Teoscar Hernández, per Sonja Chen of MLB.com.
If De Paula can turn himself into a viable everyday left fielder, it could bring about some of the greatest change in what could be a transitional offseason for a Dodgers roster looking to get younger. De Paula’s rise would at the very least reduce Teoscar Hernández to a more limited role, and at most prompt the team to find a trade partner for the veteran outfielder.
Dodgers owner Mark Walter is a controversial name within the Los Angeles sports world, and Major League Baseball is now monitoring him amid a federal probe, notes Valentina Martinez of the California Post. Walter briefly became owner of the Los Angeles Lakers until he sold the team to both Josh Kushner and Bob Iger for a record $12.5 billion.
“As always when we have an investigation, external law enforcement, whatever, we monitor that and that’s where we are right now,” Manfred told reporters.
Larry Holder of The Athletic writes about pro wrestler Arik Cannon, who was lucky to find a one-of-one Shohei Ohtani “Game for the Ages” card. Cannon hopes to sell the card in the hopes of paying off his father’s debts.
“In August 2023, we lost my mom to cancer, and it’s been really, really rough on my dad,” Cannon said. “So the first thing I’m going to do is I’m going pay off all his debt. And then I don’t know what my other options are at, but it’ll be more than enough to take care of him. Whatever’s left over for me, I’m probably just going to put it away and make sure that I don’t become one of those cliché Powerball winners that had money and now it’s gone.”
CONTINUATION OF THE “WHAT IF” WOLVES SERIES. IN THIS SERIES, I PLAY THE ROLE OF TIMBERWOLVES OVERLORD AND GO BACK IN TIME AND RIGHT SOME OF THE WRONGS OF OUR FAVORITE FRANCHISE. SINCE THIS IS THE TIMBERWOLVES, THERE ARE A LOT OF WRONGS. THIS SERIES MAY GO ON FOREVER.
“What If” Wolves Volume 5: From no playoff success to title favorites. This one crushed me.
With the addition of LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves, my fandom has gone to another level. A level that I have not experienced since the spring of 2004. Let’s take a trip down the old memory lane for a history lesson on how we could have prevented the biggest heartbreak in my life – well, the biggest heartbreak since I got turned down during the couples skate at CheapSkate way back in the early 90s.
The Timberwolves’ first season started in 1989. They were terrible and didn’t even make the playoffs for their first seven seasons. The Wolves’ best record during this stretch was 29-53. 29-53!
The first playoff appearance for this woeful franchise came at the end of the 1996-97 season. Kevin Garnett would go on to lead the Wolves to seven straight first-round exits. It was painful. Then the magical 2003-04 season happened.
The 2003-04 season was the best time to be a Wolves fan. They finished the season as the best team in the Western Conference with a record of 58-24. KG was named the NBA MVP in a landslide. The roster was much improved with key additions of defensive specialists Trenton Hassell and Ervin Johnson, key bench guys in Fred Hoiberg and Michael Olowakandi, the sharp-shooting Wally Szczerbiak, crazy wing Latrell Sprewell (editor’s note: name your kids after him and they’ll become editors!), and the motor that ran everything, point guard Sam Cassell.
Best record, MVP, solid role players, and Flip Saunders doing some coaching magic on a nightly basis. Rolled through the regular season and marched through the playoffs, this team was destined to raise the Larry O’Brien.
Then, Sam Cassell decided to do a little dance in honor of Perdro Cerano and share with everyone that he had the largest cajónes in the NBA.
Rumor was that the “Big Balls Dance” that Cassell performed led to a hip avulsion fracture. This “fracture,” along with a previous back injury, caused Sam to miss most of the Western Conference Finals versus the Los Angeles Lakers.
Wolves got rinsed 4-2. Title dreams gone. The team would then fall apart, leading to the Wolves missing the playoffs for the next 13 straight seasons.
I was absolutely crushed when the Wolves lost to the Lakers. But I can’t wait for Ant and Melo to lead us to the championship (even though they will win it all this year!), so the “What If” Wolves will right this wrong and take away Cassell’s dancing shoes.
Like the tiny town in Footloose, dancing is hereby outlawed for this franchise.
Not today Mr. Bacon | CBS via Getty Images
The real Timberwolves acquired Sam Cassell along with center Ervin Johnson from the Milwaukee Bucks for Anthony Peeler and previous “What If” Wolves subject Joe Smith. Spree was acquired from the Knicks for Terrell Brandon (who would never play ball again due to his knee issues) and Marc Jackson, who would be rerouted to the Philadelphia 76ers. To round out the roster, Trenton Hassell would be signed as a free agent after being waived by the Bulls.
This team was a monster. Nobody could score on this group. KG barked defensive orders, and everyone followed along. Hassell lived up to his defensive stopper moniker. Sprewell flew around the court grabbing steals that lead to vicious breakaway dunks.
Offensively, they were no slouches either. Cassell ran the show, KG hit turnaround jumper after turnaround jumper, and Fred Hoiberg came off the bench with his form-perfect jump shot.
They were top ten in both offense and defensive ratings. Again, this team was a monster.
MINNEAPOLIS – FEBRUARY 3: Kevin Garnett #21, Sam Cassell #19 and Latrell Sprewell #8 of the Minnesota Timberwolves goof around on the bench during a game against the Orlando Magic on February 3, 2004 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTICE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo By David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)<br><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
The regular season was a breeze for this group despite a bunch of injuries to key players in Wally, Troy Hudson, and others. KG finished his MVP year with averages of 24.2 points, 13.9 rebounds, 5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 2.2 blocks. Cassell joined Garnett on the All-Star team. Hoiberg even got some Sixth Man of the Year votes.
Previous Wolves teams would have folded in the playoffs. But something about this group was different. The Wolves made quick work of the Denver Nuggets, beating them in 5 games. Cassell (20.6 pts), Sprewell (19.8 pts), and Garnett (25.8 pts, 14.8 rebs, 7 asts) could not be stopped.
The Wolves finally won a playoff series.
I cannot explain how it felt to finally get a playoff win. It wasn’t excited or joy, mostly just a type of relief.
The second round would turn into one of the greatest series in NBA history (don’t argue with me on this one). The Sacramento Kings were the fourth seed, but they were far better than that number suggested.
The Kings finished with a 55-27 record. A lot of NBA pundits even thought they could win the whole thing as their roster was stacked with All-Stars, an All-Defensive player, and a crazy solid bench. The series would go back and forth leading up to a historic Game 7. Do yourself a favor and go watch this game right now. KG had a career defining game with 32 points, 21 rebounds, 4 steals, and 5 blocks. KG would not be denied in this game. But the Wolves playoff run would be altered in the second game of this series.
With just under 30 seconds left in Game 2, the score is 89-88, Wolves up one. Cassell drives baseline against defensive stalwart Doug Christie, pulls up for his patented mid-range jumper, and nails it.
Wolves go up three with 24 seconds left. Sam Cassell is overjoyed and proceeds to do his dance. Cassell scored 59 points in the first two games against the Kings. After the dance, he averaged just 13.2 points per game, with his lowest total of three coming in Game 5.
Something wasn’t right with Sam. That’s what happened in real life. But we do revisionist history around here with the “What If” Wolves. Here is how it would have gone down if I was in charge.
During the routine physical to complete the trade for Cassell and Johnson, our medical staff discovered that Cassell is running a bit low on testosterone. Now don’t ask me how I know, but increasing your Guy Fuel can have some adverse effects. Cassell was already bald (like me), so no worry about hair loss, but injecting some Power Potion can shrink up your boys (again, don’t ask me how I know this). With Cassell on the gender-affirming treatment to return his testosterone levels to normal, he has been experiencing some shrinkage.
Now, of course, Sam still hits that baseline jumper. But instead of attempting his “big balls dance” and possibly causing an injury, Sam simply high 5’s Ervin Johnson and maybe gets a chest bump from KG. No big balls, no injury. Simple fix.
MINNEAPOLIS – MAY 19: Kevin Garnett #21 of the Minnesota Timberwolves acknowledges the crowd after winning Game Seven against the Sacramento Kings in Game Seven of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2004 NBA Playoffs at Target Center on May 19, 2004 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTICE 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 2004 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The players and coaches from this Timberwolves squad were all convinced that they would have beaten the Lakers if Cassell wasn’t hurt and I fully agree. The Wolves beat the Lakers three out of four times during the regular season (all wins were by at least 10 points) and had the size in Johnson and Michael Olowokandi to match up with Shaq, and Hassell could limit Kobe somewhat.
Conversely, there was nobody on the Lakers who could contain KG or Cassell. LA had Karl Malone and Gary Payton on the team, but both were shells of their former selves. When Cassell went down with his injury in real life, the Wolves were forced to play third-string PG Darrick Martin, or play Hoiberg out of position. The Wolves even had KG bring the ball up on occasion, which I am sure wore him down a bit. This was an absolute worst-case scenario for the Wolves, but since we have Cassell juicing, the injury from the “Big Balls Dance” never occurred.
With a healthy Cassell taking pressure off KG, the “What If” Wolves would defeat the Lakers in five games. Shaq would still have a great series against the Wolves, but he would be the lone bright spot for the Lakers. Kobe Bryant would struggle against the Wolves with Hassell and Sprewell hounding him all series long, plus I am sure that his sexual assault case in Colorado at this time would limit his effectiveness (Kobe would score 42 points against the Spurs after spending all day in court). This loss to the Timberwolves would end up being the true reason why the Lakers broke up the combo of Shaq and Kobe.
Lakers destroyed, on to the NBA Finals versus the Detroit Pistons.
The Pistons were a great defensive team (second-best in the NBA), led by Defensive Player of the Year winner Ben Wallace, but they truly lacked firepower offensively (18th).
I don’t want to dwell on this matchup too much because I believe that this series would have been over in five games. Plus, Coach Flip agreed with me. The lack of offense by the Pistons would be highlighted by the Wolves’ defensive game plan. This Wolves team was just too good on both ends to be denied. KG would go on to win Finals MVP, most likely by averaging a triple-double, and the Wolves would win their first NBA Championship.
MINNEAPOLIS – MAY 3: Kevin Garnett #21 of the Minnesota Timberwolves poses for an MVP portrait at Target Center on May 3, 2004 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 2004 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After winning the first Championship, free agents would see that the Wolves are no longer the dregs of the NBA and start to see Minnesota as a great destination. The Timberwolves go on to win title after title. Sprewell still would leave in the offseason so he could “feed his family”. Cassell finishes his career with the Wolves and takes over as head coach when Flip retires. KG continues to dominate the league, finishes his career in “Minny”, his jersey gets put up in the rafters, and a statue of him dunking on the Kings’ Brad Miller from Game 7 sits outside of Target Center.
Hell, maybe a second statue of him yelling at a teammate gets put up at the practice facility. After all, he is the new owner of the Wolves, so he can do whatever he wants as long as nobody dances.
The game turned out to be more of an adventure than seemed likely when the Wizards took a 21-point lead early in the fourth quarter, but they prevailed in the end, outlasting the Chicago Bulls, 124-120, for their first road win of the season.
The Wizards built that lead with a heady third quarter blitz in which they outscored the Bulls 40-20. After falling behind by 21, the Bulls cut into Washington’s lead, but the Wizards maintained what seemed to be a comfortable double-digit advantage. Chicago rallied over the final three minutes. Washington’s lead dwindled to as little as three points with 23 seconds to play.
Trae Young and Anthony Davis made their free throws at the end to ice the game and escape the Windy City with a victory.
Thoughts & Observations
It’s only three games, so it’s too soon to worry (or celebrate) just about anything, but…I have my eye on Davis’ inefficient offense. He’s been efficient throughout his career and almost certainly will be again. I don’t love the subpar shooting (which might be at least partly attributable to his shot selection) and turnovers.
Last night’s game generated a pace factor of 112, which is pretty doggone high. Washington averaged 101.4 possessions per 48 minutes last season. The only game with more possessions was when Bam Adebayo went for 83 points, and there were shenanigans deployed to help him get there.
This was the best game of the season for Kyshawn George because of 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 blocks. The offensive efficiency wasn’t there (101 offensive rating — about -10 points per 100 possessions relative to league average), and he did have three turnovers (too many). But he defended without fouling excessively and contributed all over the floor.
Bilal Coulibaly is a menace to opposing ball handlers. Or passers. Or those who attempt to shoot near the basket.
There’s a not small part of my brain that thinks when the team is playing its most important games this season, the guy who will be out there with Young, Davis, Alex Sarr, and AJ Dybantsa will be Justin Champagnie. He’s tough, physical, and relentless. Last night, he had 14 rebounds in 26 minutes.
If Tre Johnson ever finds a magic lamp, I hope he uses one of his wishes on an all-around game. His offensive package looks good, and I think he’s going to be a helluva good shooter. I worry that his lack of non-scoring contributions will keep him nailed to the bench.
This was Young’s most in-control and steady all-around game despite getting a technical for flopping. (Which he didn’t deserve, in my opinion. He did fall intentionally, but it looked to me like he was trying to be sure he landed safely with a defender close to him than foul grifting.) Still, 4-10 from deep, 4 rebounds, 9 assists, and just 2 turnovers.
Caleb Wilson looks like he’s going to be terrific soon and have a great career. His score in my stat-based pre-draft analysis was consistent with being the No. 1 pick in nearly any draft. It just so happened that he was in a historically good draft, so he landed fourth. I can’t recall the last time I saw one player attempt so many dunks on opponents, and I loved his athleticism, effort, and joy. The biggest thought I had watching him: I can’t wait to see Dybantsa in action.
The Chicago Bulls were -21 in Isaac Okoro’s 14 minutes.
Just think: The Bulls were +14 in Wilson’s 38 minutes. A bit of math shows the team was -18 in his 10 minutes off the floor.
Four Factors
Below are the four factors that decide wins and losses in basketball — shooting (efg), rebounding (offensive rebounds), ball handling (turnovers), fouling (free throws made).
The four factors are measured by:
eFG% (effective field goal percentage, which accounts for the three-point shot)
OREB% (offensive rebound percentage)
TOV% (turnover percentage — turnovers divided by possessions)
FTM/FGA (free throws made divided by field goal attempts)
FOUR FACTORS
WIZARDS
BULLS
LGAVG
eFG%
53.2%
49.5%
52.4%
OREB%
2.8%
19.6%
27.9%
TOV%
11.6%
10.7%
14.6%
FTM/FGA
0.255
0.301
0.234
PACE
112
101.8
ORTG
111
107
111.1
Stats & Metrics
PPA is my overall production metric, which credits players for things they do that help a team win (scoring, rebounding, playmaking, defending) and dings them for things that hurt (missed shots, turnovers, bad defense, fouls).
PPA is a per possession metric designed for larger data sets. In small sample sizes, the numbers can get weird. In PPA, 100 is average, higher is better and replacement level is 45. For a single game, replacement level isn’t much use, and I reiterate the caution about small samples sometimes producing weird results.
POSS is the number of possessions each player was on the floor in this game.
ORTG = offensive rating, which is points produced per individual possessions x 100. League average so far this season is listed in the Four Factors table above. Points produced is not the same as points scored. It includes the value of assists and offensive rebounds, as well as sharing credit when receiving an assist.
USG = offensive usage rate. Average is 20%. Median so far this season is 17.7%.
ORTG and USG are versions of stats created by former Wizards assistant coach Dean Oliver and modified by me. ORTG is an efficiency measure that accounts for the value of shooting, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers. USG includes shooting from the floor and free throw line, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers.
+PTS = “Plus Points” is a measure of the points gained or lost by each player based on their efficiency in this game compared to league average efficiency on the same number of possessions. A player with an offensive rating (points produced per possession x 100) of 100 who uses 20 possessions would produce 20 points. If the league average efficiency is 115, the league — on average — would produced 23.0 points in the same 20 possessions. So, the player in this hypothetical would have a +PTS score of -3.0.
Players are sorted by total production in the game.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 24: Kel'el Ware #9 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 24, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In an effort most fans would be proud of, the Milwaukee Bucks fell to the Philadelphia 76ers, 127-116, in a game that was much closer than the final score suggests. In the second leg of their back-to-back, the Bucks went to Philadelphia and took it to a team many believe will contend for a title. Every time Philly looked to take control, Milwaukee made a huge play—offensively or defensively—to keep them in the hunt. In the end, though, the 76ers’ talent became too much to overcome. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.
Certainly trending in the right direction, but still not quite at the production level we expect from Ryan Rollins. Kudos to Rollins for getting into an aggressive mindset from the jump, though, with two early attacks on Tyrese Maxey to get him going. I also thought Rollins was pretty damn solid as Maxey’s primary defender, making him work for everything. He’s getting there.
I mean, Herro still shot relatively efficiently, but his floor game was much worse in this one. Whether it was fatigue from the back-to-back—especially after spending so much energy getting the Bucks back into the game against the Bulls—or facing better defenders, Herro was pretty muted last night. The only reason I didn’t put Herro in the D-band is that he wasn’t forcing shots.
Jaquez did much of his usual work inside again, with another efficient night, but as we flagged in the offseason, his ability to make spot-up threes will determine his next contract—4/6 over his last two games. He also proved to be one of the Bucks’ best defenders on Jaylen Brown, even though he was at a speed disadvantage.
An OK game from Kuzma overall. In particular, I liked Kuz’s cutting; he made a really nice diagonal cut in semi-transition to get a layup off a drive by Herro in the first quarter.
I mean, where do you even start with Turner? This was maybe the worst game I’ve seen Turner play in a Bucks uniform; he was actively detrimental to the team for most of the game. To sum it up, MT had a sequence late in the second quarter that went as follows:
Jaylen Brown missed from the right elbow, the ball bounced right in front of Turner, and he let Brown run in and grab his own rebound to put it in;
a minute or so later, Turner caught the ball on the left wing and telegraphed a pass right into the waiting help defenders;
Tyrese Maxey ran in front of him in transition, receiving the ball for the layup;
he telegraphed the ensuing inbound pass, which was stolen by the 76ers;
he fouled Jabari Walker, but not hard enough that Walker couldn’t get the and-one.
Suffice it to say, the big man found himself on the bench to close the half.
As Michael Corleone says in The Godfather, “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.” Ware had some great defensive moments containing drivers in the drop defence, along with blocking shots both in the half-court and in transition. He also ran the floor hard, set good screens, and I thought he took the right three-point shots. I also want to add that Ware sealed smaller players well multiple times, but his teammates didn’t get the ball to him, which was annoying.
Yet another strong game from Jakucionis, who is cementing himself as a key cog on this team. Showed some great craft and touch around the rim, and maybe most surprisingly, was not scared one bit of challenging Joel Embiid. That said, three turnovers for just two assists isn’t ideal.
A solid bounce-back game for Burries, who struggled the night before. When he can get a step on his defender and go to the hoop with a head of steam, good things usually happen—he also hit a nice transition three.
Green made his open threes and mixed in some tough ones, but that wasn’t the news of the day. Did anyone see his hesitation move on the wing, where he exploded to the rim and finished with the same-hand-same-foot finish? Whewwww.
Look, clearly this wasn’t the debut Ament was hoping for. He got called for three fouls in what felt like a minute, then two more for boxing out with the wrong technique. His minutes were just so choppy that it would have been tough to find a rhythm. Ament must learn that his size and length let him defend with a slight buffer and still contest shots; he doesn’t need to get so close to guys or try to steal the ball. That said, we should acknowledge that Ament was tasked with guarding Jaylen Brown, and he did have some nice possessions, including a steal (which was followed by a double-dribble, unfortunately).
Grade: D+
Taylor Jenkins
Again, there’s very little Jenkins can do about 22 turnovers. Maybe you could criticise his decision to throw Nate Ament out there against that team, but Ament needs to get experience somehow, and this season is about development over winning (also, it wasn’t like Ous was lighting the world on fire). Closing with Ware was absolutely the right move. Maybe Herro could have been more of a focal point; he did feel a little too much like an afterthought for my liking, but others may disagree. Overall, though, it’s incredibly impressive that Jenkins had the Bucks push Philly to the brink on the second night of a back-to-back—that’s the story.
Grade: B
DNP-CD: Ousmane Dieng, Caris LeVert, Bogoljub Markovic, Jericho Sims, Gary Trent Jr.
Inactive: Kam Jones, Cormac Ryan, Pete Nance
What We Learnt
The Bucks will win these games if they can just fix their damn turnover problem. They had another 22 in this game, currently ranking seventh-worst in the league.
Bonus Bucks Bits
Jenkins: “Obviously, the record is the record, but we’re making progress on how we want to play. This was a better reflection of what we want to do defensively… I thought we got great looks, just missed some shots. Turnovers put us in a bind, but overall, I love the competitive juice. Just came up short in the end.”
Finally, the Bucks won the paint battle, and did so in a major way, beating Philly 58-26. They also killed the 76ers in fast break points (31-13).
Listen, I’m no Joel Embiid stan, but when healthy, that dude is legitimately unstoppable; easily one of the most skilled big men in NBA history.
Tyler Herro seems to have a cap of around 30 minutes per game. So far, he’s played 32, 32, and 31 minutes. I suspect the Bucks might be doing what the Hornets did last season with LaMelo Ball, where you cap their minutes in the hope that doing so keeps them healthy, thus increasing their value, and then you trade them.
Kel’el Ware welcome back to the circle of trust. Or at least the circle of you’re so absurdly talented I’ll live with the foibles
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 24: Will Richard #3 of the Golden State Warriors pressures Devin Booker #15 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 24, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A win is a win, and in the NBA, they can be hard to come by. You take them however you can get them, up to and including when the opposing team decides to sit the majority of its roster. That’s how the Phoenix Suns earned their first win of the season in their home opener, and it ended up being a pretty important one when you consider they have the Thunder and Nuggets on the schedule next week. Starting 0-2 and heading into those matchups would’ve added even more pressure to a team that’s still trying to figure out who it is.
Because that’s where we are right now, isn’t it? We knew who the Suns were last season. We don’t know who this version of the team is yet. While continuity remains, there’s still plenty of room for players to learn where their teammates are going to be and how they’re going to operate together on both ends of the floor. We witnessed that multiple times Saturday night against the Warriors.
Countless defensive rotations were missed, leading to wide-open shooters. Lackadaisical inbound passes resulted in turnovers. And rebounding? Oh boy, it appears that’s going to be a significant issue for this team throughout the season. When you’re surrendering 16 offensive rebounds to what essentially amounts to the Santa Cruz Warriors, that’s not a talent issue. That’s a size issue. The undersized Suns were getting owned on the glass by a team considered one of the smallest in the NBA. In fact, per Salary Swish, Golden State is the shortest team in the league, while Phoenix sits right in the middle at 17th. It certainly didn’t feel that way Saturday night.
They say you can’t truly know who and what a team is until 20 games into the season, and I believe that. But I also believe each game leading up to that 20-game mark serves as a little quiz, giving us another opportunity to understand the attitude and aptitude of a team.
The good news from Saturday night is that the Phoenix Suns won. Their star stepped up and performed like one, and the team shot the basketball well. Collectively, Phoenix shot 37.8% from beyond the arc and 58.1% from the field. For a team that was anemic offensively against the Portland Trail Blazers, that’s an encouraging sign and a step in the right direction. Defensively? Allowing 122 points to that version of the Warriors is concerning. Getting outrebounded 19–9 on the offensive glass is equally troubling, as is being outscored 26–9 in second-chance points.
So we’ll continue compiling the results of these little quizzes over the next 20 games until we have a clearer understanding of what this version of the Phoenix Suns looks like. Because we knew what last season looked like. And thus far this season? It ain’t that.
Bright Side Baller Standings
The season opener left us with but one real option as the Bright Side Baller. And true to form, the community stepped up and got the vote right. That winner? Mariah Carey. She has become our beacon when everything else is dark, for her 5-octave vocal range is that of a Hero. It’s no Fantasy that Anytime You Need a Friend, after dealing with a Heartbreaker like the Suns did against Portland, she’ll help with those Emotions.
Bright Side Baller Nominees
Game 2 against the Warriors. Here are your nominees:
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 19: Jose Quintana #62 of the Colorado Rockies pitches during the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Saturday, September 19, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Ray Bahner/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Colorado Rockies are dormant as two teams they may look to model their game off of—the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Devil Rays—do battle on the grandest stage Major League Baseball has to offer. The World Series is underway and two teams with smaller payrolls that excel in pitching, small ball, and analytics are both aiming to walk away with their first championship in franchise history.
While the team itself may be dormant—as fans wait for next steps in the rebuild following the firing of Alon Leichman and a looming lockout—that doesn’t mean the players are.
Down in Scottsdale, Arizona, eight Rockies prospects and farm hands are taking part in the Arizona Fall League as part of the Salt River Rafters team. The Rockies’ standout star in Scottsdale isn’t one of their top prospects, though. It’s Jack O’Dowd, a 25-year-old undrafted catcher and infielder who played college ball at the University of Texas. O’Dowd (HM PuRP) was playing independent baseball in the Pioneer League a year ago, but joined the Rockies as a minor league free agent this year and quickly rocketed up the system after starting in Low-A Fresno and ending the season with Double-A Hartford.
Meanwhile, although it’s only October, Winter League baseball has already started in other parts of the World. The Mexican, Venezuelan, and Dominican Winter Leagues have already been playing for a week, while Puerto Rico’s Winter League will start in November.
There are surprisingly few players coming out of the Rockies’ 2026 season playing ball this winter so far, though three prospects are working on building their résumés. Infielder Roynier Hernanzes (no. 29 PuRP) and catcher Bryant Betancourt (HM PuRP) are both playing in Venezuela, while top prospect second baseman and center fielder Roldy Brito (no. 3 PuRP) is playing in his native Dominican Republic.
Farmhands in outfielder Drew Avans and right-handed reliever Patrick Weigel—both of whom spent their 2026 season with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes—are playing international baseball as well. Avans is playing in Mexico while Weigel is playing in the Dominican Republic.
Also playing in the Dominican Winter League is left-handed veteran José Quintana. Having missed most of the 2026 season due to an elbow injury after signing with the Rockies as a free agent, Quintana is working to build himself back up in order to get back to Major League Baseball in 2027.
With that being said, here’s what our staff here at Purple Row had to say this week:
