SAN FRANCISCO, CA - SEPTEMBER 27: Justin Verlander #35 of the San Francisco Giants pitches during the game between the Colorado Rockies and the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on Saturday, September 27, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Kavin Mistry/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
We are less than a week away from San Francisco Giants pitchers and catchers reporting for Spring Training, which might be the best news I’ve heard in a year.
The organization has been busy over the last week, signing Harrison Bader and Luis Arráez, so it’s not an unfair assumption that there might still be moves to be made.
Earlier this offseason, the organization made statements that seemed to indicate that they were likely set with the rotation. However, the rumor mill is indicating that they might be planning a reunion with Justin Verlander for another season.
Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report in particular predicts that the team is the most likely landing spot for the 42 year old right-hander on a short-term deal.
As with any rumor, I’ll take this one with a grain of salt, but it is worth examining. Because it definitely feels like something they would do.
Personally, I wouldn’t mind it, depending on the specifics of any potential deal. While the team has already made moves to bolster the rotation over the off-season, it couldn’t hurt to have an additional arm for when someone inevitably gets taken out by the Marlins Death Fog or Coors Field.
Despite a rocky start to the 2025 season (a lot of which seemed to be truly awful luck), Verlander ended the year with a 3.85 ERA and FIP, with 137 strikeouts to 52 walks in 152 innings pitched. I’ll take another season of that, if the price is right.
May 11, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Reese Olson (45) throws a pitch against the Texas Rangers in the first inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images | Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
The Detroit Tigers aren’t entirely running it back for 2026, but aside from adding Kenley Jansen, Kyle Finnegan, and Drew Anderson, we’re heading toward an Opening Day roster that is little changed form the 2025 edition.
There are reasons for optimism based on the club’s run as one of the top 3 teams in baseball from August 1, 2024 through August 1, 2025. However, those last two months of the season, and really from the All-Star break untll the end of the regular season, really soured the brew and left many wondering if the first half was just an extended hot streak.
My key reason for optimism, is that the Tigers actually have some top shelf prospect talent due to pitch in over the course of the season. That was sorely lacking in 2025 until Troy Melton gave them a boost down the stretch last year.
Still though, this is a fairly young roster, particularly in terms of impact players. Riley Greene is 25 years old and was mashing at a near MVP pace in the first half last year until he fell apart after the break. Spencer Torkelson is 26 and finally put together a complete season without any extended slumps. Colt Keith is 24 and has settled into the major leagues pretty nicely as a hitter, but he hasn’t started producing the power he was expected to bring to the table. Reese Olson has two good partial seasons under his belt heading into his age 26 season. Troy Melton is 25 and will open the season as a big leaguer for the first time.
You get the point. A lot of the Tigers more talented players are in that 24-26 year-old window when good players typically hit their prime years. Some may already be there, but the potential for some breakout seasons is certainly present as well.
Who’s your guy in 2026? Who on the 40-man roster would you bet on to be the breakout player for the Tigers this year?
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 01: Jordan Beck #27 of the Colorado Rockies is tagged out by Willy Adames #2 of the San Francisco Giants on a stolen base attempt in the first inning at Oracle Park on May 01, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
THIS IS A GUEST ROCKPILE BY CORY COHEN (@cocomajobo.bsky.social)
A lot has been written about the many ways in which the 2025 Colorado Rockies were not very good at baseball.
Most of the reasons come down to the usual suspect of poor talent that cannot easily be fixed. There is, however, one aspect of the team’s terrible performance last year that can, theoretically, be addressed without needing to overhaul the roster: good ol’ thievery.
Last year, the Rockies did steal 87 bases, which ranked a totally forgettable 23rd in the league. The problem is, they were caught a whopping 39 times en route to that total. That comes out to an abysmal 68.5% success rate, which ranked dead last. The second worst were the Kansas City Royals — a full 4% above them. Meanwhile, the New York Mets led the league all the way with an 88.4% success rate (more on them later).
The first instinct when seeing these numbers is to assume that the team was just slow.
In fact, the ‘25 Rox were pretty darn fast. All six players who got at least 100 opportunities had a sprint speed above the league average mark of 27.0 ft/sec. As a team, they ranked third in terms of average sprint speed at 27.9 feet per second behind only the Milwaukee Brewers (28.0 ft/sec) and Philadelphia Phillies (28.1 ft./sec).
So, if they’re fast, what makes them so bad at stealing bases?
There’s a ton of factors that contribute to something as messy as this, but let’s take a look at one that’s surprisingly simple.
Here’s Tyler Freeman attempting to run on Merrill Kelly:
Before the pitch, Lindor is already in motion, but Freeman remains static. By the time of the pitcher’s first move, Freeman only has a 10.7-foot lead while Lindor has already achieved a 15.5-foot one. That’s not even getting into how Lindor’s momentum lends itself to an easier time committing to the sprint.
Granted, Lindor is pretty fast (only 1.1 ft/sec slower than Freeman), so he’s perhaps an imperfect example, but you know who isn’t? Juan Soto.
After joining Lindor’s Mets, Soto started practicing an approximation of his patented home plate shuffle at first base. He proceeded to steal 38 bases in only 42 attempts despite sporting only the 549th sprint speed in the majors. The Mets as a whole had an average lead of 13.1 feet on stolen base attempts, which was comfortably the highest in the league, to go along with being last in sprint speed. That combination of furthest lead but slowest speed led to, as mentioned above, the best stolen base success rate in the game.
The Rockies average lead of 10.6 feet, on the other hand, was down at 24th — only 0.2 feet further than the league-worst Chicago White Sox.
Baseball Savant’s clip archive is full of stolen base attempts similar to the Freeman example above. Sometimes the pure speed of someone like Doyle allowed them to get away with it. Far too often, though, nearly everyone on the team from Ezequiel Tovar, to Jordan Beck, to even Zac Veen just ran themselves into an out using this technique.
What’s more, that lack of aggression does not actually appear to have saved the Rockies from being picked off. In ‘25, the New York Yankees (who Soto does not appear to have shuffled for at first base for in ‘24) were the only team to suffer more pickoffs than the Rockies while having a longer average lead on stolen base attempts. This is, perhaps, indicative of the runners having enough information on the pitcher to know when it’s safe to commit but the main point is that the formula isn’t as simple as: more lead distance equals more pickoffs.
What does this mean for this year’s Rockies?
Simply that their base stealing problems are solvable with the current roster. The foot speed is in place. With a few tweaks to their plan of attack and, dare I say, a little bit more confidence, they have the ability to turn at least this one weakness into a possible strength.
Come Opening Day, I know I’ll be watching first for any hints of Soto-esque shuffling.
Keith Law’s take on the current state of the Rockies farm system is tepid but optimistic about the combination of raw talent and a new front office. In terms of individual players, he is high on both Roldy Brito (3rd) and Jackson Cox (4th). On the flipside, Law throws some cold water on the idea of Roc Riggio as more than “an emergency call-up” long term and appears to be lower than the consensus on Cole Carrigg (17th) because he “hasn’t really made any adjustments since the Rockies took him in the second round in 2023.”
Part of a series MiLB is running in celebration of Black History Month that looks back at standout Black baseball players for minor league clubs. This is a fascinating group of names that places former RoY/Cy Young/MVP Don Newcombe alongside Curtis “Big Rig” Terry, who only had thirteen games in the majors but absolutely raked for Spokane in 2018 en route to Northwest League MVP. Most notably for this crowd, Jay Gainer, whose only big league time came as a member of the Rockies in their inaugural season, makes the honorable mentions.
The Rockies AA affiliate announced on Monday that they’ll be hosting a couple throwback games using one of their old team names on May 27th & 28th. The New Britain Rock Cats, as they will once again (briefly) be named, was far from the first identity of the club as Declan Walsh explains. With the now Yard Goats having had three team names, multiple major league affiliates, and many northeast cities as their home, it makes for a fun quick read.
The Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues tend to play low-event games against one another.
With both teams playing at a snail’s pace, my Blues vs. Stars predictions expect more of the same tonight.
Let’s break down my NHL picks for Wednesday, February 4.
Puck drop is set for 9:30 p.m. ET from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, with the game airing on TNT.
Blues vs Stars prediction
Blues vs Stars best bet: Under 5.5 (+110)
The Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues have played each other three times this season, and 16 total goals were scored in those games (5.33 per), and two stayed Under the number.
It’s not just the lack of goals that stands out, but the process that has led to it. Their games featured an average — yes, average — of 44 total shots on goal. The highest output we’ve seen was 50, and the Blues won the battle 26-24.
A lack of shots is not a coincidence. The Blues rank 27th in 5-on-5 pace this season, while the Stars come in at 31st. Both teams play painfully slowly and are methodical with and without the puck.
The Stars rank fourth in goals against per game and control matchups on home ice, making it difficult for the Blues, who sit 30th in scoring, to find the net.
While the Blues have struggled to keep the puck out, they actually rank Top 6 in 5-on-5 shot suppression and expected goals against over their last 10 games.
It won’t be easy for the Stars, who sit 28th in 5-on-5 scoring rate during that span, to create looks.
Expect another low-event matchup between these Central Division foes.
Blues vs Stars same-game parlay
Miro Heiskanen has averaged 2.4 shots on goal and cleared this line in 76% of his home games. That includes a multi-shot performance against the Blues in the only meeting in Dallas thus far.
Going the other way, Jimmy Snuggerud has ramped up his shot volume, averaging 2.7 shots on 5.9 attempts over his last 10, well above season averages of 2.1 shots and 4.7 attempts. He’s taking on a bigger role with so many key players sidelined.
Blues vs Stars SGP
Under 5.5
Miro Heiskanen Over 1.5 shots on goal
Jimmy Snuggerud Over 1.5 shots on goal
Blues vs Stars odds
Moneyline: Blues +185 | Stars -225
Puck Line: Blues +1.5 (-130) | Stars -1.5 (+110)
Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-130) | Under Under 5.5 (+110)
Blues vs Stars trend
Seven of the past 10 head-to-head meetings have gone Under the total. Find more NHL betting trends for Blues vs. Stars.
How to watch Blues vs Stars
Location
American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
Date
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Puck drop
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
TNT
Blues vs Stars latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
MILWAUKEE, WI - SEPTEMBER 28: Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Devin Williams (38) pitches during a game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the New York Mets at American Family Field on September 28, 2024 in Milwaukee, WI. (Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
This post is part of a series of daily questions that we’ll ask the community here at Amazin’ Avenue throughout the month of February. We hope you find the questions engaging and that our prompts can spark some fun conversations in the comments. We’ll see you there and plan to have staff chiming in, too.
Do the Mets need to sign more relievers before the 2026 season begins?
NBA trade season is in full swing, and the Boston Celtics are in the thick of the action.
The Celtics made a significant trade Tuesday, reportedly sending Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick to the Chicago Bulls in return for big man Nikola Vucevic and a second-round pick. But president of basketball operations Brad Stevens still has time to make more moves before the NBA trade deadline on Thursday at 3 p.m. ET.
After Boston’s win over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night, Celtics Insider Chris Forsberg broke down the additional flexibility Stevens and Co. gained by trimming about $6 million in salary (Simons is making $27.7 million this season, while Vucevic is making $21.5 million) and ducking under the first apron of the NBA’s luxury tax.
“They’re now off the first apron, which essentially unlocks one key benefit: If a player is waived who is making more than the mid-level exception — about $14.5 million — the Celtics can now make a play for that person,” Forsberg explained on the Celtics Talk Podcast with co-host Kayla Burton.
“Most of the time that’s minimum deals, but the Celtics actually have some trade exceptions if they needed to (take on) more (salary). … Long story short, they could make an aggressive offer towards a player who maybe was an All-Star in the past, but for whatever reason has been waived by their team.”
Forsberg is referring to the buyout market, where players who are released as a result of trades are free to sign with other teams after Thursday’s deadline. More often than not, those players are aging veterans who weren’t making a significant impact for their other teams. But there are diamonds in the rough, as the Celtics themselves proved in 2008 when they signed P.J. Brown and Sam Cassell, who were important depth pieces on a championship team.
As Forsberg pointed out, it’s also possible Boston makes another deal, with end-of-the-bench big man Chris Boucher a likely trade candidate.
“There’s probably another shoe to drop,” Forsberg said. “It’s not hard to put these pieces together. Chris Boucher was unlikely to be here long-term … so we’ll see what happens from here.
“They could look on the trade market. They still have plenty of exceptions. They have plenty of means. They might crawl back onto the first apron depending on how much salary they take on, but they could figure that part out. With the fact that Boucher’s money will come off, it should clear enough money to make some moves.”
So, which type of player should the Celtics target, either in a small trade or as a buyout signing? Forsberg lobbied for a steady veteran guard who can bolster the backcourt behind Payton Pritchard and Derrick White.
“The comp I would always use is a Kris Dunn type: a veteran guy who plays defense, can be a secondary ball-handler, spell Payton and Derrick at times,” Forsberg said. “(He’s) probably not going to play a ton of minutes in the postseason, but if you could get somebody like that on a minimum deal or end-of-season money, then it’s just another body to navigate both the end of the regular season and potential spot minutes in the postseason.
“Sometimes those guys catch lightning in a bottle.”
Dunn is set to take on a larger role with the Los Angeles Clippers after they traded James Harden, so he might be staying put. But one name to watch is veteran guard Mike Conley, who is expected to be bought out or traded by the Bulls after a three-team trade that sent him from Minnesota to Chicago.
While Conley’s best days are behind him at age 38, he has a wealth of playoff experience (108 postseason games played) and would provide experienced depth.
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR - SEPTEMBER 03: Jurrangelo Cijntje #7 of the Arkansas Travelers pitches prior to the game between the Amarillo Sod Poodles and the Arkansas Travelers at Dickey-Stephens Park on Wednesday, September 3, 2025 in North Little Rock, Arkansas. (Photo by Braeden Botts/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Last week I took an early look at the Cardinals projections, and before I take a look at the Cardinals again (think of last week as a preview of the final Cards projection article) I will look at the NL Central from the bottom up. And that starts with the bottom of the ocean floor, where resides the Jolly Roger. Arrrrrrrrr, me mateys.
The criteria I will use will be to simply look at each team in the NL Central’s 15 strongest players, with at least 5 rotation pitchers and top bullpen pitchers only. Plus the best of the bench. This could vary by team, because each team will have different strengths… i.e. sometimes I’ll look at a team’s bench more, or a team’s bullpen, whichever is projected to be better. But I won’t be going too deep here. 20 players total per team. Outside of that and you get into fringe players and guys that won’t be receiving too much playing time.
The Pirates
Uber-prospect Konor Griffin will be joining Paul Skenes as the other big star on the team (potentially). He looks really good out of the gate though, with a 3.5 WAR projection by ZiPS, I’m not sure what’s going on here, but he was last at AA level. Listed as a shortstop, he could be their best position player even if he’s not quite ready. And that sort of sums up the Pirates lineup for you. Now keep in mind, Griffin’s defense is where he should be getting all this value from, not his hitting, at least looking at projections for his 19 year old debut season. Really don’t know how many games he will play, but if they don’t bring him with after spring training, it’s probable he won’t debut until he’s 20, but that’s only a few months away.
Oneil Cruz is your #2 Pirate position player, or #1 if Konor Griffin is to remain in the minor leagues. That 3.5 Griffin WAR projection is over 128 games, so results may vary according to playing time.
Anyhow, Cruz, with his big time power and 30% k rate are set to be at 2.8 WAR. Just a little above average hitter and average defender with a good arm.
Projected first baseman Spencer Horwitz looks like he could possibly be the Pirates best hitter, projecting out to be at 2.2 WAR, according to ZiPS. Second baseman Nick Gonzalez is a below average hitter but an above average defender projected to be at 2.1 WAR.
Outfielder Jake Mangum looks like he won’t be much of a hitter either, probably below league average, but another good defender. 1.9 WAR.
Jared Triolo is also a below league average hitter but good defender over at third base. I see a pattern emerging.
Outfielder Jack Suwinski isn’t very good at fielding but has some potential on offense, but not a whole lot. 1.6 WAR. Rafael Flores Jr is listed as another first baseman but only projects out to 1.5 WAR. They have a guy with a great baseball name in Duce Gourson that could be another 1.5 WAR guy. I am not including him in the rest of the article because he’s at AA level, and is not projected by Depth Charts or The Bat X.
Outfielder Dominic Fletcher is projected by ZiPS to be at 1.4 WAR. And the Pirates offseason move was to acquire Brandon Lowe, who is projected to be at 1.4 WAR also, about a league average hitter.
So by now you have an idea of the Pirates main position players, who are very defense forward with a cleanup hitter who is probably good for only 23 home runs because he has strikeout issues. His batting average is expected to be at .237. It shouldn’t be hard for the Cardinals to at least have more power than this lineup, again. At least we aren’t as powerless as the Pirates. Hopefully. That will require us to hit home runs to make up for the loss of Willson Contreras.
So with defense as a potential strength, the Pirates expect to frustrate at times with run prevention, especially with ace Paul Skenes on the mound. Somewhat surprisingly to me, ZiPS projects Skenes to be right at 5 WAR in 2026. Last year he was at 6.5, so I would think the floor is at 5, but hey, I hope ZiPS is right!
Mitch Keller is a pretty good pitcher but an unexciting #2. He is projected at 2.3 WAR and had 2.5 last season. All the rest of the Pirates pitchers are projected at less than 2 WAR, with Bubba Chandler and Braxton Ashcraft projected to come closest to being 2 WAR pitchers. Color me unimpressed by this rotation, unless Skenes completely goes off. That’s exciting but, still probably not enough to overcome this overall roster. It must really suck to be a Pirates fan:/
Their bullpen looks ok but not really a big strength either. So let’s move on to comparing ZiPS to some other projection systems that I trust more than the others.
The Bat X has Konor Griffin at 88 games, much less than the other projection systems expect. I think they will probably just rush him to the majors, as long as he impresses in spring training. At least, that’s what it seems like in early February. It’s important to note that the three projection systems I’m looking at are all having him playing different numbers of games.
It would seem that the Pirates have a platoon at 2B now with Nick Gonzalez and Brandon Lowe, who project out to be about the same WAR when looking at a consensus of projections. Otherwise I’m not sure why they acquired Lowe. The Pirates could also platoon at 1B with Spencer Horwitz being a left handed hitter and Rafael Flores Jr being a right handed hitter.
Just a quick analysis of these projections’ data, shows that ZiPS is more optimistic about the Pirates position players, while The Bat X thinks they’ll flat out kind of suck. You have Fangraphs Depth Charts in the middle. The opposite is true when looking at the starting rotation concerning The Bat vs ZiPS. ZiPS might be underrating the Pirates rotation a bit or just too pessimistic. Skenes surely is going to be worth more than 5 WAR this season, right? I think 6 WAR seems like a better guess.
While the Pirates rotation definitely blows the Cardinals out of the water with a pirate cannonball, the Cardinals projected position players are going to be more valuable, even without Brendan Donovan in the lineup. And outside of Paul Skenes, their rotation isn’t THAT good (our’s just doesn’t look very good on paper right now). Maybe I’ll change my tune on that after looking around some other rotations, but I was expecting to be a little more impressed.
This was an interesting article to write, with Konor Griffin probably being a big player to watch in 2026. Or do you think Pittsburgh will give him more time in the minor leagues? With the Pirates defense and pitching combo, they could be pretty annoying this year if Griffin ends up hitting like a big leaguer. That will more likely be a season or two down the line, but now you know what to expect… the Pirates lineup might not be quite as bad in 2026, and will probably be better than that in the not too distant future.
1976
‘76 was my first full year around the sun. Little did I know how utterly confounding the world is. Perhaps the most poignant movie of the year that year was this movie called Network. It was so far ahead of its time it is still a legendary flick.
“there is only IBM, Dupont, and Exxon”
Network was quite ahead of its time! It needed to be said again. It is a very quotable movie, and was a dark look at some turbulent times (not all that different from now, really), focusing on media ethics, all the while laden with acidic humor. I mean, check out this quote:
Howard Beale: All human beings are becoming humanoids. All over the world, not just in America. We’re just getting there faster since we’re the most advanced country.
I guess I was becoming a humanoid in 1976. But, you have got to get mad!
Howard Beale: All I know is, you’ve got to get mad. You’ve got to say, “I’m a human being, goddamn it. My life has value.”
Does this sum up the human condition? I don’t know, but learning to become human has its ups and downs. People go into drone mode for a bit, then put their foot down. It’s a constant process of re-evaluating behaviors, both in others and yourself. A balancing act between memory and impulse.
Howard Beale: You’re beginning to believe the illusions we’re spinning here, you’re beginning to believe that the tube is reality and your own lives are unreal. You do. Why, whatever the tube tells you: you dress like the tube, you eat like the tube, you raise your children like the tube, you even think like the tube. This is mass madness, you maniacs. In God’s name, you people are the real thing, WE are the illusion.
Is this why I started to blog? Not about tv, but just about being on the internet? I just don’t know anymore, Howard!
Howard Beale: This is not a psychotic breakdown; it’s a cleansing moment of clarity.
Oh ok, I feel better now. I do, however, completely agree with this:
Howard Beale: Television is not the truth. Television is a goddamned amusement park.
Yes, entertainment runs the show. And capital, of course. There is plenty more to be said about what Network touches upon, and please let me hear your comments on this movie! I will say no more about it in this article.
Taxi Driver and Rocky were two other top tier movie releases in 1976!
1976 was the 200th birthday of the USA. Jimmy Carter defeated Gerald Ford in the presidential election. Stagflation was “in”, which meant a stagnant economy with high inflation and high unemployment numbers. It was a time of transition after Vietnam and the Watergate scandal.
On January 27th, the US vetoed a UN resolution that would make Palestine an independent state. Apple computer was formed. The Atari video game Breakout was released. Tim Heidecker was born on Feb 3rd!I cannot believe that Tim is older than Lance Berkman! Who was born Feb 10th. Heck, I cannot believe I’m older than he is too! Guess Lance will be 50 soon.
In baseball, the Reds won their 2nd world series in a row in 1976 by sweeping the Yankees. The Reds also swept the Phillies! No wonder they called it the Big Red Machine. They just steamrolled in ‘76. There was a lockout in 1976, but it only lasted March 1-17, and it didn’t affect the regular season. The NL won the all-star game that year.
Our beloved Cardinals were not good back then, but neither were the Cubs. The Expos won 55 games and finished in last place, but that was the only team the Cardinals were better than, finishing 3 games behind the Cubs in 5th place, with the Phillies, Pirates, and Mets all fielding really good teams the 1976 season. Back then, there was an East and West and the Cardinals were in the East. Six teams per division.
The Royals George Brett finished behind the Cubs Bill Madlock for the batting title, Madlock batting .339! Mike Schmidt had 38 home runs, leading MLB. George Foster of the Reds had the most RBI. The Cardinals had a bright spot in John Denny leading the NL in ERA at 2.52! Somehow I don’t think I ever heard of the guy. The Mets Tom Seaver lead MLB with 235 Ks!
Joe Morgan and Thurman Munson were the MVPs that year, Morgan’s 2nd in a row! Righty Jim Palmer and lefty Randy Jones won the Cy Young Awards. Jones had won 16 games by the All Star Break, setting a record! On July 20, 1976, Hank Aaron hit his final blast, #755.
On July 24, 1976, Lyman Bostock of the Twins became the 4th Twins player to hit for the cycle, while batting 4th, going 4 for 4, scoring 4 runs, and knocking in 4 RBI! It was the first time he was batted at cleanup. What.
On August 8th, the White Sox wore shorts during the first game of a double header at Comiskey Park. I’m not sure why I included that, other than I thought it was a little random and absurd.
1976 was the 9th season in a row that Tom Seaver pitched over 200 strikeouts. Incredible! On September 10, Nolan Ryan fanned 18 White Sox hitters for a complete game 3-2 win.
October 3rd was the last game of Hank Aaron’s illustrious baseball career.
The Cardinals attendance was way down that year, showing I suppose that fans actually don’t show up when the team and the economy are bad. St Louis expects a good product.
Ok, enough random factoids, it is time for my top 10 albums of 1976!
Top 10 Albums of 1976
#1 Goblin – ‘Roller’ Italian proggers Goblin went on to have a very busy, even convoluted music career creating scores for 70’s and 80’s horror movies, but their roots were in prog rock, and Roller gives you the blueprint to their sound. It’s a bit more straight up prog rock than soundtrack, but it showed what they could do and a wild career and extensive cast of musicians resulting in the band fractioning, mutating, evolving, etc. There really is so much to say about this band. If you love cheesy but good vintage horror movie soundtrack sounds that incorporate both guitars and synthesizers, accompanied by an amazing rhythm section, you must check out the Goblin discography. They most frequently collaborated with Dario Argento.
P.S. I own a copy of this album on vinyl, which I bought at Amoeba Records while I was on vacation. It is one of my most prized possessions.
#2 Truth and Janey – ‘No Rest For The Wicked’ I don’t know what there is about this obscure proto-metal band from Cedar Rapids, IA, but I keep coming back to this album over the years. Picking up where Sabbath left off with Sabotage, we hear Truth and Janey pick up the torch while blending in a vast array of classic rock influences. However, if you told me this came out today as a new stoner rock band going for a vintage sound, I might believe you. A timeless sound of rock n’ roll cranked through double stacks. Truth and Janey plays with a swagger that few can match, almost entering Jethro Tull territory. I don’t own a copy of this on vinyl, but wish that I did. I grew up not too far from Cedar Rapids and never heard of this band until the youtube era. And because of google, I just learned that Iowa has a rock and roll Hall of Fame! I did not know that. Truth and Janey were of course inducted.
#3 Heart – ‘Dreamboat Annie’ I absolutely love this album. Another one that I own on vinyl. Just a fantastic listen, one of my favorite guitarists and two of my favorite singers in the world. Classic songs composed perfectly. Heart’s first two albums are among the very best rock albums ever recorded, in my opinion.
#4 Magma – ‘Udu Wudu’ weirdo prog funk from France… Magma created a whole new genre of music which blended prog rock, jazz fusion, classical, disco, funk, opera, and the avant garde: a genre called Zeuhl. Yes, this was before Ghostbusters. The primary unifying element of Zeuhl is not only progressive music but also an entirely made up language that exists in each band. This might sound like French, but usually it’s a made up language called Kobaïan. They have a lot of albums and you’ll just have to find your favorite one. This one leans more on the funky as the mid 70’s are apt to do. Some of them have beautiful choirs. One of the best live bands I’ve ever seen! And they brought a full band with multiple singers, organ player, etc.
#5 Dr. Aftershave and The Mixed Pickles – ‘For Missus Beastly’ this funk rock obscurity my perfectly sum up the times of the mid-70s… music like this could be heard everywhere. However, I find this album exceptionally catchy and well produced for the times. While the music performances are super fun but also virtuosic, really well rehearsed, creative, etc. I might end up wishing I had ranked this album higher up, it’s a recent find! I found that the beginning track kind of stole the show, but the whole thing is very uplifting.
#6 Rush – ‘2112’ I cannot believe that I am ranking this album this low, but there will always be some that think I’m ranking this too highly. My fandom of obscure funk bands has risen more quickly than my fandom of prog rock, which plateaued a while back now. Still love it, but not likely to do prog rock deep dives to find new stuff. Anyhow, I still love the classic prog rock album 2112 and think that it is still extremely influential, but they have so many other albums that I like even more than this one, I have to temper my fandom a bit. At times, this album sounds a bit silly, but I digress. I love Geddy Lee, Neil Peart, and Alex Lifeson. And this album will always be a classic, straddling the lines of concept album, longform prog rock, and art rock. Would love to have seen them live on tour with this in the 70’s! But I was an infant then.
#7 Zappa – ‘Zoot Allures’ the link here is to side one of this album (in that classic vinyl sound, the following links will be in remastered form), because the opening tracks of “Wind Up Working In A Gas Station”, “Black Napkins”, and “The Torture Never Stops” are among Frank Zappa’s top tier creations. I’d even go so far to say that Zoot Allures has one of the best opening three songs of almost any album! Track 1 sums up his humor, energy, and athletic musical mastery, Track 2 showcases Frank’s in the moment guitar shredding and more trippy side perhaps better than any other song, & Track 3 is one of his nastiest but most laid back funk tracks. On side 2 of the vinyl, title track “Zoot Allures” is another really fun, top tier instrumental guitar track. I could deal without the rest of the album, but these four tracks are so damn good it makes the list.
#8 King Tubby – ‘King Tubbys meets rockers uptown’ I like this King Tubby album more than last year’s one (1975), and also more than the other really good King Tubby album from 1976! You know this is good stuff. But, 1976 has stacked really good albums. No knock against King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown! Total mood music down really well and well produced. Mid 70’s was a time of emergent heavy metal, funk, prog rock, and of course, the emergence of dub reggae. An important cultural and technological development in music production techniques.
#9 Sun Ra – ‘Cosmos’ I had never heard this particular Sun Ra album, but his discography is vast! I love this album Cosmos because it emerges is spaced out free jazz side with a more 70’s funk meets jazz fusion sound. Its production however is not that smooth mid 70’s production, the bass is in your face, the drums sound pretty raw, and the whole thing more like a live recording, like many Sun Ra albums, but this one is especially intense, you can tell they are probably playing louder than usual. Every Sun Ra album is another adventure, and there are many to encounter.
#10 Chrome – ‘The Visitation’ It is not easy to believe that this album is from 1976. Chrome were always on the bleeding edge of punk, industrial metal, and weirdo psychedelic art rock, but from the get go is impressive. I have to tell you guys, this year was a lot harder to rank than 1975 and I don’t think it’s going to get any easier going forward. Chrome were proto everything and their debut is no exception, at times I am like what is even going on here but it always makes sense somehow.
Album of the year 1976
And to close this out, here is some Jurrangelo Cijntje video!
The Tyler Schweitzer Army showed up in full force, just 11 ballots into his Prospect Vote time. Better late than never, right? Schweitzer crushed the competition, earning 18 of 42 (18%) votes:
This is Schweitzer’s worst of four showings in our Vote, as readers ranked him higher in 2023 (18th), 2024 (23rd) and 2025 (14th).
Past No. 35s in the SSS Top Prospect Vote 2025 Voting lasted only 31 rounds 2024 Voting lasted only 34 rounds 2023 Voting lasted only 24 rounds 2022 Voting lasted only 17 rounds 2021 Caleb Freeman (36%) 2020 Seby Zavala (37%) 2019 Ti’quan Forbes (42%) 2018 Alex Call (40%)
Schweitzer is the 20th pitcher of 25 players to advance, as well as the ninth left-handed starter:
Newcomer Caden Connor finished in a tie for seventh, with two votes. Shortstop and 2025 draftee Colby Shelton joins the ballot for this round.
South Side Sox Top-Voted White Sox Prospects for 2026
Alexander Albertus Third Baseman Age 21 2025 high level Arizona Complex League (Rookie) Age relative to high level +0.4 years Overall 2025 stats 8 games ▪️ 0 HR ▪️ 2 RBI ▪️ .333/.520/.444 ▪️ 3-of-3 (100.0%) SB ▪️ 6 BB ▪️ 3 K ▪️ 1.000 FLD%▪️ 0.3 WAR
What can you say further about Albertus? He seems to have great tools but an uncanny ability to stay off of the field (just eight games in a season-plus in the White Sox system). In 2025, he was assigned to Kannapolis but was … wait for it … injured. He lasted just eight games of ACL rehab before hitting the IL-60 again.
Aldrin Batista Right-Handed Starting Pitcher Age 22 2025 SSS Prospect Vote ranking 6 2025 high level Winston-Salem (High-A) Age relative to high level -1.2 years Overall 2025 stats 2-0 ▪️ 7 games (2 starts) ▪️ 14 IP ▪️ 5.79 ERA ▪️ 17 K ▪️ 7 BB ▪️ 1.429 WHIP ▪️-1.2 WAR
Batista was our No. 6-voted player in last year’s poll and top righthander — and then disaster struck, as he started the third Dash game of the season on April 6 and then was out more than four months with a stress fracture in his right (pitching) elbow. His return in late August was iffy, with three poor relief appearances of five. But he ended the season with a scoreless (two-inning) “opener” start, which hopefully reverses the curse for 2026.
Ryan Burrowes Second Baseman Age 21 2024 SSS Prospect Vote ranking 23 2025 SSS Prospect Vote ranking N/R 2025 high level Winston-Salem (High-A) Age relative to high level -2.0 years Overall 2025 stats (Low-A/High-A) 111 games ▪️ 6 HR ▪️ 39 RBI ▪️ .255/.342/.355 ▪️ 47-of-53 (88.7%) SB ▪️ 39 BB ▪️ 110 K ▪️ .976 FLD%▪️ 1.1 WAR
It feels like Burrowes has been around forever, and he’s still only 21 years old (and playing at a level significantly younger than his age). His first taste of High-A ball went pretty well, as his baserunning seems to have no trouble translating at any level. The hit tool is solid, although he continues to struggle with contact — a no-no for a speed-over-power guy.
Caden Connor Left Fielder Age 25 2025 high level Charlotte (AAA) Age relative to high level -2.3 years Overall 2025 stats (High-A/AA/AAA) 126 games ▪️ 7 HR ▪️ 64 RBI ▪️ .272/.358/.366 ▪️ 13-of-16 (81.3%) SB ▪️ 60 BB ▪️ 81 K ▪️ .982 FLD%▪️ 1.9 WAR
Like Ryan Galanie, it’s hard to know what to make of Connor. The end of the 2025 season, at Charlotte, marked the first time in his pro career that he’s not played old for his level. But aside from a dip in July, Connor hit well all season and didn’t get dunked underwater at Charlotte. Theoretically with a weak White Sox outfield, the sky’s the limit for him in 2026.
Reudis Diaz Right-handed relief pitcher Age 20 2025 high level ACL (Rookie) Age relative to high level -2.1 years Overall 2025 stats 1-1 ▪️ 1 SV▪️ 21 games (4 finishes) ▪️ 27 2/3 IP ▪️ 2.28.ERA ▪️ 18 K ▪️ 8 BB ▪️ 1.084 WHIP ▪️1.2 WAR
Who? You’re forgiven for being unfamiliar with an extremely young arm who hasn’t yet gotten out of rookie ball, but our No. 77 prospect a year ago (then a starter, repeating the DSL and killing it) made a successful adjustment Stateside. He’ll return to starting in 2026, likely getting his feet wet in Arizona and getting a promotion to Low-A in the second half of the season.
Ryan Galanie First Baseman Age 25 2025 high level Birmingham (AA) Age relative to high level +1.3 years Overall 2025 stats (High-A/AA) 119 games ▪️ 11 HR ▪️ 94 RBI ▪️ .276/.327/.422 ▪️ 14-of-17 (82.4%) SB ▪️ 35 BB ▪️ 79 K ▪️ .995 FLD%▪️ 1.1 WAR
It’s been a slow but steady climb for this 13th-rounder in 2023. The good news here is, with the caveat that Galanie has always competed older than his level, Galanie has found some footing. While his power/slugging numbers are merely OK, he drove in 94 runs in 2025. He disappeared a bit in the playoffs for Birmingham (just four hits in six games, with five walks as well) but started every game in the march to a second consecutive Southern League title for the Barons.
Jairo Iriarte Right-Handed Relief Pitcher Age 24 2025 SSS Top Prospect Vote Ranking 19 2025 high level Charlotte (AAA) Age relative to high level -4.3 years Overall 2025 stats (Rookie/AAA) 3-3▪️ 1 SV ▪️ 37 games (5 starts, 9 finishes) ▪️ 48 IP ▪️ 7.13 ERA ▪️ 50 K ▪️ 37 BB ▪️ 1.917 WHIP ▪️ -0.8 WAR
The 2025 season was an utter disaster for Iriarte, who went from prospective South Side rotation member to lost in space. The righty, who made his brief debut in the majors in 2024, both lost the plate and misplaced his strikeout power. The Brian Bannister Pitching Lab has its work cut out here, for sure.
Javier Mogollón Shortstop Age 20 2025 high level Kannapolis (Low-A) Age relative to high level -1.4 years Overall 2025 stats 51 games ▪️ 5 HR ▪️ 19 RBI ▪️ .220/.347/.387 ▪️ 15-of-21 (71.4%) SB ▪️ 30 BB ▪️ 56 K ▪️ .971 FLD%▪️ 1.0 WAR
An ascending star just one year ago, we have to tap the breaks a bit on Mogollón after a lackluster first full season of minors ball. While still young for his level and managing to keep his head above water in a new league every season of his career, Mogollón’s undeniable hitting in Rookie ball fell off significantly with the Cannon Ballers. However, how much of that was due to battling injury is undetermined, as Mogollón was shelved for what turned out to be the season on July 2.
Yobal Rodriguez Right-Handed Starting Pitcher Age18 2025 high levelDSL White Sox (Rookie) Age relative to high level -1.5 years Overall 2025 stats0-3 ▪️ 13 games (10 starts) ▪️ 30 1/3 IP ▪️2.97 ERA ▪️ 33 K ▪️ 13 BB ▪️ 1.022 WHIP ▪️ 1.2 WAR
Rodriguez is a rare DSL pitcher, not for his relatively light innings load, but as a primary starter — and at just 17 years old (Yobal turns 18 on February 9). Inasmuch as it’s tough to project anyone out of the DSL, especially pitchers, you could hardly have hoped for more from him in his pro debut.
Colby Shelton Shortstop Age 23 2025 high level Kannapolis (Low-A) Age relative to high level +1.6 years Overall 2025 NCAA stats 45 games ▪️ 7 HR ▪️ 35 RBI ▪️ .377/.458/.606 ▪️ 6-of-9 (66.7%) SB ▪️ 21 BB ▪️ 24 K ▪️ 2.7 WAR
Shelton is more of a slugger than a speedster, with the usual caveats about whether he will stick at shortstop. His credentials are impressive, playing full-time in the SEC in all three of his college years (one at Alabama, two with Georgia). Given the crowded field for the White Sox at shortstop, Shelton’s defensive ability will mean very little provided he can keep clubbing.
Round 24 of voting was the last of 2023 (we did not do an actual wrap for the voting, but Jordan Sprinkle ended up being our final pick), and the full archive.
The Florida Panthers are running out of time if they want to defend their back-to-back Stanley Cup wins.
With only 27 games remaining on their schedule, the Panthers know they have quite a bit of work to do in order to catch up to the teams currently holding Stanley Cup Playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.
Entering play Wednesday, Florida has racked up 59 points in their 55 games played.
That total has the Cats sitting nine points behind Wednesday’s opponent, the Boston Bruins, who hold the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Florida holds one game in hand on the Bruins, which may or may not come in handy, depending how the next 10 to 15 games go for the Panthers.
Having the healthiest lineup possible for the next two games will go a long way toward Florida procuring all four possible points.
That means we’ll be closely monitoring the status of Panthers forwards Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand and Anton Lundell.
All three are considered day-to-day and we could all or none of them in the Cats’ lineup on Wednesday night.
“There’s a chance they all play tomorrow, there’s a chance none of them play tomorrow,” Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice said after Tuesday’s practice at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale.
Florida is scheduled to hold an optional morning skate ahead of the Bruins game, so there’s a chance Maurice could have an update at that time.
Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Wednesday’s clash with the Bruins:
Photo caption: Jan 11, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) moves the puck against the Boston Bruins during the second period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - JUNE 17: Frank Cairone pitches on the mound during the 2025 Draft Combine game between Team Stars and Team Stripes at Chase Field on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jill Weisleder/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Just a few short weeks ago, 18-year-old Brewers left-handed pitching prospect Frank Cairone was hit head-on by a vehicle that ran a stop sign in his home state of New Jersey. Cairone was airlifted to a hospital where he was treated for serious injuries.
The road to recovery seemed like it could be very long, but thankfully, he seems to be progressing down that road. On Tuesday, Cairone posted a video of himself lightly tossing a baseball against a wall, signifying he’s progressed enough for some light baseball activities.
While there’s clearly still a ways to go until Cairone is ready for game action, considering where he was just a few weeks ago, this is tremendous news.
The full extent of Cairone’s injuries haven’t been made publicly known. The Brewers issued a statement at the time of the car crash, but there’s been no official word on just what all he’s gone through in the aftermath of the accident.
It’s unknown just how long he’ll be out of action, and it’s unlikely we’ll get any answers on that until he makes his way down to American Family Fields of Phoenix for spring training. Pitchers and catchers are due to report next week, but given Cairone’s circumstances, his arrival could be delayed.
The Brewers drafted Cairone with the No. 68 overall pick in the 2025 Draft out of Delsea Regional HS in New Jersey. They signed him away from a Coastal Carolina commitment with a $1.1 million signing bonus. Cairone joined the list of young, projectable, high-upside pitchers that the Brewers have added to their farm system in recent years.
Once Cairone is healthy enough to pitch this season, he’s likely to make his professional debut and start the year with the Arizona Complex League Brewers and ultimately spend time with the Low-A Wilson Warbirds.
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Bleed Cubbie Blue is pleased to present a Cubs-centric look at baseball’s colorful past. Here’s a handy Cubs timeline, to help you follow the various narrative paths.
“Maybe I called it wrong, but it’s official.” — Tom Connolly, HoF Umpire.
Happy Birthday, Dan Plesac,and other stories.
Today in baseball history:
1882 – National League players are now responsible for carrying their own bats and uniforms on road trips. They are also required to purchase and keep clean two complete uniforms, including the white linen ties to be worn on the field at all times. (2)
1893 – The first recorded version of Casey at the Bat, as recited by Russell Hunting, hits the music charts. DeWolf Hopper’s more famous version will not be released until October. (2)
1956 – The Major Leagues vote to establish the Cy Young Memorial Award for the outstanding pitcher of the year. At first, there will be one award for both major leagues. (2)
1971 – CommissionerBowie Kuhn announces former Negro League players will have a separate wing in the Hall of Fame. Due to the controversy the announcement causes, it is decided inclusion in regular Hall of Fame is more fitting and more of an honor for the black former players. (2)
960 – Coronation of Zhao Kuangyin as Emperor Taizu of the Song initiates three centuries of Song Dynasty dominance in southern China.
1789 – First US Electoral College chooses George Washington as President and John Adams as Vice President.
1931 – National League adopts a deader baseball.
1952 – Jackie Robinson becomes the first African American executive of a major US TV and radio station as Director of Community Activities at radio WNBC and TV station WNBT in New York.
Some of these items spread from site to site without being fact-checked, and that is why we ask for verifiable sources, in order to help correct the record.
Just when the Clippers got some momentum, they made a major move? Just when they started winning, they dealt one of their two stars? Just when they were turning heads, they cut their Beard?
James Harden was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Darius Garland. NBAE via Getty Images
The 26-year-old Garland is 10 years younger than Harden. He’s a two-time All-Star in 2022 and 2025. He could be a cornerstone of their future, which they’re clearly looking to reshape in the 2027 offseason.
The move benefits Harden, too.
It gives him a chance to win now alongside Donovan Mitchell, and secure a contract extension that the Clippers weren’t willing to pull the trigger on for a 36-year-old.
Unlike Harden’s previous departures from Houston, Brooklyn and Philadelphia, this wasn’t an acerbic breakup colored by strong-arming and bitterness. Rather, this was a mutually beneficial handshake for both parties.
The Clippers desperately needed to get younger after entering this season with the oldest roster in NBA history, with an average age of 33.2 years old. Meanwhile, Harden, who’s one of the most lauded players in the league to have never won a championship, gets a chance to play for a team that’s in fifth-place in the wide open East, as opposed to ninth-place in the very crowded West.
Darius Garland will attempt to fit into a streaky Clippers team that is currently on a tear. NBAE via Getty Images
The Cavaliers won 64 games last season before being eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by Indiana. For the Cavs, Harden is a savvy vet with lots of postseason experience who could help them break the glass ceiling that has been impenetrable since LeBron James left Cleveland in free agency in 2018.
As for the Clippers, they’re punting this season in hopes for their future.
But let’s be real, they weren’t going to win anyway.
Their 17-5 record following their 6-21 start was exciting. It generated headlines. It was a feel-good story. But they had already lost too much ground to compete in a conference with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Webanyama, Nikola Jokic, Kevin Durant and Luka Doncic.
For the Clippers, this may look like a step backward.
Garland, who’s averaging 18 points, 2.4 rebounds and 6.9 assists through 26 games, missed the Cavaliers’ first seven games of the season while recovering from toe surgery and has been sidelined since Jan. 16 because of an ankle sprain. Harden, meanwhile, has played in 44 of a possible 49 games, averaging 25.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 8.1 assists.
In other words, if Harden is rolling, Garland is strolling.
Harden yet again finds himself on a new team. Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
But this is the first of what will be many important steps the Clippers need to take to rebuild. They failed to make the playoffs in 2022 and they haven’t gotten past the first round of the playoffs ever since. Garland might not be at Harden’s level now, but he has a lot of potential.
It was a smart gamble, even though Garland’s contract is similar to what the Clippers balked at giving Harden. Garland is owed $42.2 million next season and $44.9 million in 2027-28.
For the Clippers, the Leonard-Harden experiment just didn’t work. Leonard has been injured too often. Harden can no longer carry a team. The Clippers are looking forward to 2027 and this is preparing them for their potential post-Leonard era.
Even though Leonard looks like an All-NBA player right now, he’s complicated. He has missed more than 200 games since joining the Clippers in free agency in 2019, as well as multiple playoff series. Not to mention, both he and the Clippers are currently being investigated regarding allegations that a $28 million endorsement deal with the company Aspiration was used to circumvent salary-cap rules.
Leonard is under contract through the 2026-27 season. He’s still capable of tilting the league to his will when he’s healthy. But in many ways, he’s a wild card.
By trading Harden, the Clippers made it clear that they’re preparing for what’s next.
This move was a step in the right direction for both parties, giving both the Clippers and Harden a shot at the futures they desire.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - FEBRUARY 3 : Sean Monahan #23 of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Connor Brown #16 of the New Jersey Devils fight for the puck during the second period of the NHL regular season game at the Prudential Center on February 3, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Maclean/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
Jack remains out:
"He's trying to do everything that he can to get to that point but it's really up to the medical team at this point. They're not confident with where he's at but we'll just see what tomorrow brings." – #NJDevils HC Sheldon Keefe on Jack Hughes https://t.co/8Hg0AYHZrU
It’s over. As with every time the Devils have tried to build some momentum as of late, the team fell flat on Tuesday night. The Blue Jackets took a 3-0 win. [Devils NHL]
“To recap, Fitzgerald either wouldn’t part with the pieces necessary to land the league’s 2nd best defenseman, couldn’t move money to make room, or couldn’t best a package built around players he passed on with higher selections. I don’t know which is worse. Whatever the case, Hughes is excelling in Minnesota and it seems possible – perhaps even likely – he decides to stay long-term. Meanwhile, the Devils sit 15th in the Eastern Conference and very much lack a true No. 1 defenseman.” [Infernal Access ($)]
Hockey Links
“(Barry) Trotz announced his plans to step down as the Predators’ GM in a news conference on Monday, confirming earlier reports that he’ll remain in place until his successor is found. The 63-year-old was adamant the decision wasn’t due to health reasons or because he was (pursuing) another opportunity in coaching — something Trotz did for more than 1,800 NHL games prior to joining Nashville’s front office as former GM David Poile’s replacement in 2023.” [ESPN]
'Pens Owen Pickering handles the puck during the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins home opener on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. (Photo by Jason Ardan/The Citizens' Voice via Getty Images)
It was a perfect weekend for the WBS Penguins, two games and two big wins. Nick Hart from WBSPenguins.com gives the quick glance of the action.
Saturday, Jan. 31 – PENGUINS 4 vs. Syracuse 1 On Crosscheck Cancer Night, the Penguins delivered a feel-good win for their fans. Avery Hayes and Rafaël Harvey-Pinard scored in short order in the first period, and Matt Dumba tallied the emotional apex of the season so far in the second. When it appeared as if Syracuse was building momentum, Gabe Klassen shut it down with a shorthanded goal.
Sunday, Feb. 1 – PENGUINS 6 at Lehigh Valley 2 Six different skaters lit the lamp as the Penguins continued their season-long dominance of the Phantoms. Aidan McDonough got things started, followed by Nolan Renwick midway through regulation. Boko Imama buried a breakaway early in the third period. Then, Hayes and Owen Pickering scored back-to-back power-play goals. Harvey-Pinard rounded out the afternoon’s offense, while Dumba posted a pro-career high four assists.
The story of the week in the AHL was Matt Dumba. The veteran recorded six points (1G+5A) in just two games en route to being named the AHL player of the week. The story gets even deeper and better than that individual honor.
Dumba had a touching moment with a young fan as part of the team’s “Crosscheck Cancer Night” and played an inspired game.
Prior to tonight’s game, Matt Dumba chatted with one of our puckdroppers, Sophia, who just finished her final round of chemo this month.
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) February 1, 2026
It hasn’t been an easy turn or season for Dumba, clearing waivers and being assigned back to the AHL. His game didn’t receive the universal praise that players like Tristan Jarry, Danton Heinen, Ryan Graves and Philip Tomasino got over the last year or so for being incredible players at the AHL level, so it’s nice to see Dumba create at least one really fantastic week.
The other note, at the other end of the spectrum from a veteran like Dumba, is two rookies earning their first career AHL points. 2024 second round pick Tanner Howe made his AHL debut this week after working his way back from an ACL injury suffered last year and picked up an assist in his very first game. 2023 third round pick Emil Pieniniemi, after going through some drama about delaying accepting an ECHL assignment, also finds himself in the AHL these days, and a point-scorer in his second game.
As we mentioned last week, the WBS lineup has been filling up with AHL contracts out of necessity lately and not exactly a bevy of players with bright NHL futures, it’s nice to see former recent somewhat high draftees start gaining a little traction in the AHL as they get to work with careers that could have some NHL potential one day down the line.
There hasn’t been much change in the standings, Wilkes-Barre remains second in the division and likely won’t be leaving that spot for a while in either direction.
The upcoming NHL roster freeze might be worth watching. Pittsburgh could presumably send Rutger McGroarty and maybe even Ryan Graves down to the AHL for the break. One player who won’t be with the AHL Pens much longer is third string goalie Filip Larsson. Sergei Murashov and Joel Blomqvist have been taking up all the ice time, Larsson hasn’t started a game since December 14th so he’s opted to get his contract terminated and move onto the next chapter.
Given the games played column above, WBS isn’t going to be that busy in the upcoming weeks considering they have a division-high 45 games in the books. The AHL Pens only have seven games in the three-week stretch from Feb 5-26 that makes up the NHL roster freeze.
This came across my social media feed recently and I must admit, I got caught up in the scroll. Clickbait aside, there are some interesting trades that made quite a difference for a player or a team.
Some highlights:
#47- Hawks trade Rasheed Wallace to the Pistons (2004). This was an immediate impact as the Pistons won the Championship that year against a stacked Los Angeles Lakers. And the trade was lopsided as thr Hawks made no real gains from the exchange.
#44- Pelicans trade for Dejounte Murray (2024). Murray has struggled to find a home, and injuries haven’t helped. Dyson Daniels has shined for the ATL, making the trade even worse for New Orleans.
#42- Suns trade for Kevin Durant (2023). Just the thought that trading for KD could be a bad thing makes me shudder. While KD is still one of the purest scores, his time to lead a team toward championship seems to have passed.
#40- Spurs trade Dennis Rodman to thre Bulls (1995). This is the first trade listed involving the Silver & Black. While Rodman is the greatest rebounder of all-time, San Antonio seems to be where he decided to let his freak flag fly. But The Alamo City, with its heritage and military background, was not the spot for him to plant it. The Spurs took a hit on the trade in hopes of retaining the Spurs culture through its leader David Robinson.
#35 and #34 both involve Damian Lillard, but Portland is not the loser on either.
#27 Timberwolves trade Kevin Garnett to Celtics (2007). Celtics get a Defensive Player of the Year and a title in KG’s first year. Minnesota got some pieces who never panned out and still seek a title.
#25 Cavs trade the pick that becomes James Worthy (1980). Can you imagine the different trajedctory for the Los Angeles Lakers had they not acquired James Worthy?
#19 Pacers trade Kawhi Leonard to Spurs on draft night (2011). Love him or despise him, he brought a lot to San Antonio in his time with the Spurs. The 2014 Finals MVP impeded LeBron’s three-peat and grabbed a pair of Defensive Player of the Year trophies during his time in San Antonio.
#17 Luka Doncic on draft night. You think that was a bad idea not knowing hoe Trae Young and Doncic would develop, check out #1…
#10 Hornets trade Kobe Bryant to the Lakers (1996). And the legacy begins.
#7 SGA to OKC while Paul George heads to Clippers. It sounded good at the time. No one knew just how Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would blow up. Hindsight.
There were multiple bad trades involving the same teams, or the same players. What does that say about front offices and the longevity of a player? How about those few that traded for franchise legends- Kobe, Dirk, Dr. J, Bill Russell all could have (should have?) ended up on other teams.
Lots to unpack here.
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