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Happy Birthday Cecil Fielder, Danny Cox, Brian Tallet, and Jeremy Jeffress

MARCH 1985: Infielder Cecil Fielder #23 of the Toronto Blue Jays plays first base during a game. Fielder played for the Blue Jays from 1985-88. (Photo by Bernstein Associates/Getty Images) | Getty Images

We have a few birthdays today.

Cecil Fielder turns 63rd today.

Is Prince sending him a card? I’ve read that they aren’t exactly close, and there are some troubles because of Cecil’s treatment of Prince’s mother. Cecil was a similar player to Prince, both big slugger types. Prince was the better player, but Cecil wasn’t bad himself.

The Jays acquired Cecil in a trade with the Royals for Leon Roberts, but unfortunately for Cecil, he came up around the same time as Fred McGriff, and Fred was the better player. The Jays also had many DH types, so Cecil got in a few games in 85 and 86 and then was the platoon DH in 87 and 88.

He had his best year with the Jays in 1987, batting .269/.345/.560 in 175 at-bats over 82 games. He hit 14 home runs that season. Then in 1988, in about the same number of at-bats, he hit .230/.289/.431 with 9 homers. Seeing that he wasn’t going to get playing time with the Jays, Cecil signed with the Hanshin Tigers in Japan and played there for a year before signing as a free agent with the Detroit Tigers.

He had his best seasons with the Tigers, hitting 284 home runs over the next seven seasons. 1990, his first season with the Tigers, he hit 51 home runs and came in second in the MVP vote. He also came in second the following season when he hit 44 homers.

Next, he went to the Yankees from Detroit, then the Angels and Cleveland for his last season at 34. Saying he was a big man doesn’t do him justice. He was pretty round, more or less the same build as Prince.

He was never a high-average hitter, topping out at .277 in 1990. His career average was .255, but when he did hit, he hit the ball a mile. He finished with 319 homers in his career. He would take a walk when offered one and had a decent on-base numbers, but his job was to drive in runs, and he did that well. He had five seasons of over 100 RBIs and, from 1990 to 1993, drove in 132, 133, 124, and 117.

For the Jays, well, he came up at the wrong time. He wasn’t the player Fred McGriff was, and his size and lack of conditioning didn’t endear him to the team. But the Tigers could overlook that and got a heck of a player for seven years.

It is Danny Cox’s 67th birthday today.

Danny came into the majors with the St. Louis Cardinals, playing for them for the first six years of his career. He had a couple of terrific seasons as a starting pitcher for them, going 18-9 with a 2.88 ERA in 1985 and then 12-13 with a 2.90 ERA in 1986, but he threw 461 innings between the two seasons. Unsurprisingly, that number of innings led to elbow troubles later. As a result, he ended up missing the entire 1989 and 1990 seasons. He returned to the majors in 1991 with the Phillies but wasn’t the same pitcher he had been before his arm troubles.

The Jays signed him as a free agent and made him a reliever in 1993. In our second World Series season, Danny was an essential part of our bullpen, going 7-6 with a 3.12 ERA in 44 games. He pitched 5 shutout innings in our ALCS win over the White Sox. He did have a rough outing in Game 6 of the World Series against the Phillies, being part of a 5-run Phillies 7th inning that put the Phillies up 6-5. But that just set things up for Joe Carter to hit the biggest home run in Jays’ history, so we can forgive him.

Danny’s arm troubles reappeared the next two seasons, and he wasn’t as good. So 1995 was his last season in the majors. He has worked as a minor league manager and pitching coach after his retirement.

Happy Birthday, Danny.

Brian Tallet turns 49 today.

This one makes me feel old.

Tallet played in the majors for nine seasons. Well, parts of nine. Three or four of them were full seasons in the majors. Six of the nine seasons were with the Jays.

As a Blue Jay, he pitched in 215 games, with 31 starts. He had a 4.75 ERA.

We traded for Tallet in January 2006 from Cleveland for Bubbie Buzachero (an ‘80s baseball name, but unfortunately, he never made the majors; I’d love to hear Buck say his name).

In 2006 we used him as a lefty out of the bullpen. Manager John Gibbons didn’t use him as just a LOOGY. He pitched 2 innings or more in 10 games and more than an inning in 16 games. He was quite valuable, appearing in 44 games with a 3.81 ERA, including 3 wins and 4 holds. Gibby used him mostly in losing efforts.

He had much the same role in 2007, putting up a 3.47 ERA in 48 games. Again, pitching multiple innings was often used, mainly when we were behind. In 2008, he had a 2.88 ERA in 51 games.

He was the third or fourth lefty in our pen. We had B.J. Ryan, Scott Downs, and Jesse Carlson (a favourite of mine), so he rarely got into high-leverage spots.

In 2009 he started the season in the bullpen, but he was in the rotation by the end of April. We tried many guys in the rotation that year. Roy Halladay and Ricky Romero headed the rotation. Beyond those two, we had several pitchers with ERAs over 5 who made multiple starts. Tallet made 25 starts and 12 relief appearances. As a starter, he had a 5.41 ERA with a 7-8 record.

He was back in the pen the following year, pitching in 34 games, with 5 starts and a 5.32 ERA.

Brian became a free agent after the 2010 season and signed with the Cardinals. He played there for half a season and then came back to us in a multi-player trade. The big-name player coming to Toronto was Colby Rasmus, while those heading to St. Louis included Octavio Dotel, Edwin Jackson, Corey Patterson, and Marc Rzepczynski. The Cardinals were on their way to the playoffs and needed bullpen help. The Jays were on their way to a fourth-place finish and wanted a player with offensive upside. Tallet and another pitcher, P.J. Walters, were throw-ins to fill out our pitching staff.

The Jays released Tallet in September. He’d go to the Padres and Pirates but didn’t pitch in the majors again.

We think of him as an innings eater, but he was pretty good for his first three seasons with the team. We had a stacked bullpen, and he couldn’t work his way into a high leverage spot.

Happy Birthday, Brian.

Jeremy Jeffress turns 39 today.

Jeffress has played 11 seasons in the MLB. He’s had some good years (27 saves for the Brewers in 2016, and he had a 1.29 ERA in 73 appearances for the Brewers in 2018, and some less good seasons, where his excellent ‘stuff’ couldn’t overcome his inability to find the strike zone.

He was a Blue Jay for a short time. We picked him up before the 2013 season and DFAed him a few days into the 2014 season (the team DFAed him for Chad Jenkins, which, looking at their careers, was a huge mistake). He cleared waivers but chose free agency and did well for himself. The Jays gave up on him too quickly, but then I’m impressed by guys who can throw 100 mph.

He pitched in 13 games, with a 3.29 ERA, 13.2 innings, 16 hits, 8 walks, and 16 strikeouts.

Career Jeffress has a 3.08 ERA in 414 games. In 424.1 innings, he’s allowed 377 hits, 163 walks, and 370 strikeouts.

Before this season, he signed with the Nationals but was released before the season started.

We interviewed Jeremy back here, and we talked to his agent Joshua Kusnickhere. His agent has been a friend to the site.

Happy Birthday, Jeremy.

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Avalanche Prospects Steal The Show And Give Jared Bednar Plenty To Think About

For Colorado Avalanche fans, Sunday night offered a little bit of everything — established NHL regulars, intriguing prospects and perhaps a glimpse at what the next generation of the organization could eventually look like.

And while the veterans naturally command most of the attention, it was the kids who stole the show.

Beckett Hamilton, the 18-year-old third-round pick, scored in his preseason NHL debut. So did Taylor Makar, the younger brother of two-time Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar, giving both prospects a memorable first taste of preseason NHL action.

Gavin Brindley, who is at least a fringe contender for a spot on the opening-night roster, provided another highlight, finishing off a scintillating 2-on-1 rush after Nazem Kadri found him for one of the easiest backdoor tap-ins he may ever have.

Then there was Ilya Nabokov.

The highly touted goaltending prospect out of Russia made his North American debut and stopped 16 of 17 shots after taking over for Mackenzie Blackwood, who opened the game by stopping all seven shots he faced.

Colorado's youngest players repeatedly gave Avalanche fans something to watch and it certainly did not go unnoticed by head coach Jared Bednar.

Brindley, in particular, was impossible for Bednar to miss. The young forward immediately caught the Avalanche head coach's eye and remained one of Colorado's most noticeable players throughout the night.

"I noticed (Gavin Brindley) right away — the competitiveness, the speed of the game, his skating," Bednar said, via Avalanche beat reporter Jesse Montano. "He's quick all over the ice. He was relentless on pucks."

Those same qualities were evident in Makar, who Bednar grouped alongside Brindley after seeing both young forwards make an immediate impact.

"I put Taylor Makar in that same category," Bednar said. "Funny, they both end up scoring too because of the same type of thing — quickness, effort, competitiveness."

Bednar also singled out T.J. Hughes for his work on the power play, where the young forward has displayed impressive vision and timing to consistently create offensive opportunities, something he has showcased throughout optional skates and training camp.

"He kind of stood out, especially on the power play," Bednar said. "Smart, just moves it apart, you know, with great timing to the right guy, made a bunch of offensive plays."

Nabokov rounded out an impressive night for Colorado's young players, making several key saves after taking over in net and showing Bednar plenty to like in his first North American appearance.

"Nabakov was great in goal too," Bednar said. "No chance on the first one, makes a big save. The rebound comes to him after, like, a couple turnovers and an extended, tired group out there."

Blackwood, meanwhile, quietly did exactly what the Avalanche needed to open the game, stopping all seven shots he faced before the goaltending change.

"Blackwood was really good too," Bednar said. "For the first half, he wasn't tested that much, but made a couple huge saves right before he got, uh, before we made the switch."

The performance was particularly interesting considering where Colorado's young talent has landed in preseason prospect evaluations.

The Avalanche entered the season with one of the NHL's least-regarded prospect pools. Corey Pronman's pipeline rankings for The Athletic placed Colorado 32nd out of 32 teams, while Utah was ranked fifth by Daily Faceoff in its 2026-27 prospect pool rankings.

One preseason game obviously does not erase an organizational ranking, nor should it. But Sunday provided an encouraging glimpse at a group that has been questioned throughout the offseason.

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10 Days Until Opening Night: The History Of Jersey #10

The Columbus Blue Jackets have 10 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #10. 

Let's take a look.

Serge Aubin - 2001-2002 - Drafted by Pittsburgh in 1994.

Aubin played 154 games for the Jackets and had 60 points.

He left for Europe in 2006 and played in Switzerland and Germany until he retired in 2012. 

He's currently the head coach for SC Bern of the Swiss National League. 

Trevor Letowski - 2004-2006 - Drafted by Phoenix in 1996. 

Played 154 games for the Jackets and had 60 points.

He finished his career by playing two seasons in the KHL. He is currently an assistant coach for the Montréal Canadiens, where he's been since 2021. 

Duvie Westcott - 2007-2008 - Westcott was undrafted and signed by the CBJ in 2001.

Wescott played in 201 games for the Blue Jackets from 2001 to 2008. He scored 11 goals and totaled 56 points. Wescott was described as "a gritty defenseman with a solid all-around game. Has good passing ability and power-play skills." 

After playing for Columbus, Wescott went to Europe and played the next seven seasons in the KHL, DEL, and Swiss National League. He retired in 2015. 

Kris Russell - 2009-2012 - Drafted by Columbus in 2005.

Russell played 288 games in Columbus and had 79 points. He was traded to the St. Louis Blues on November 11, 2011, in exchange for Nikita Nikitin. 

He went on to play 912 NHL games and total 254 points. After playing 6 seasons with the Edmonton Oilers, Russell retired in 2022. 

Marián Gáborík - 2013-2014 - Drafted by Minnesota in 2000. 

Gáborík played only 34 games as a Jacket and had 22 points. He was traded to the LA Kings on March 5, 2014, in exchange for Matt Frattin. He officially retired in 2021 after playing 1,035 career games.

One scout said of Gáborík, "One of the best skaters in the world, Gáborík is known for his explosive speed. He is a highly offensive winger and, thanks to good hands and an extremely sharp shot, an excellent finisher. On the downside, Gaborik doesn't always think team-first and has also had issues with commitment to defensive play."

Mark Letestu - 2013 - Undrafted out of Elk Point, Alberta.

Letestu was traded to Columbus by Pittsburgh for Columbus's 4th-round pick on November 8, 2011. He played in 255 games in two different stints with the CBJ, scoring 44 goals and totaling 102 points. He also played 64 games for the Cleveland Monsters during the 2018-19 season, where he scored 50 points. He would play his last NHL game on October 13th, 2019, for the Winnipeg Jets.

In 2021, he was hired as an Assistant Coach by the Monsters, where he served until 2025. In the Summer of 2025, he was hired by the AHL's Colorado Eagles to be their head coach. For this upcoming season, he has joined the Vegas Golden Knights as an asst. coach. 

Jack Skille - 2015 - Drafted by Chicago in 2005. 

Skille played 61 games for Columbus and had 12 points. On July 6, 2013, Skille was signed as a free agent by the CBJ, but the following summer, he left in free agency. On October 5, 2014, Skille was claimed off waivers by Columbus, where he would play in 45 games. He left Columbus again and would play a season in Colorado and a season in Vancouver. 

In 2017, he left for Europe, where he played in Russia, Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. He retired in 2021 and went into coaching. He was the skills coach and the Director of Skills Development for the ECHL's Utah Grizzlies franchise. 

He's currently an asst. coach for the Schwenninger Wild Wings of the DEL. 

Alexander Wennberg - 2017-2020 - Wennberg was drafted in the 1st round of the 2013 NHL Draft as the 14th overall draft pick.

Wennberg came to North America and made his NHL Debut in 2014. After having three decent seasons, including a 59-point year in 2016-17, Wennberg was signed to a six-year deal on September 1st, 2017. 

Tom Wilson would seemingly derail Wennberg's career in the 2018 playoffs when he laid a devastating check on him. The next two seasons, Wennberg would only total 47 points. In October of 2020, the CBJ would buy Wennberg out, making him a free agent. The Jackets are finally about to make the final buyout payment to Wennberg this year. 

In addition to playing with the Florida Panthers since leaving Columbus, He's played for the Seattle Kraken, New York Rangers, and San Jose Sharks. After the 59-point season he had in 2016-17, Wennberg hadn't scored more than 38 points in a single season until last year's 55. 

Jordan Schroeder - 2018 - Drafted by Vancouver in 2009.

Schroeder played 21 games as a Jacket and had two points. He left for Europe in 2019 and retired after playing in Sweden in 2025. 

Dmitri Voronkov - 2024-2026 - Drafted by Columbus in 2019. 

The big Russian forward played 211 games and has 113 points in his first three seasons. 

He will be looking to add on to that this season if he can stay healthy. He was challenged to come into camp this year and be in better shape. All indications are that he did just that. He will be counted as one of the young players to take another big step this season to help the Jackets into the playoffs. 

There are 10 days until opening night at NWA. 

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Weekly Cupcakes: Sakic commits to remaining Avalanche GM

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 09: Gabriel Landeskog #92 of the Colorado Avalanche is recorded by TNT during the NHL/NHLPA North American Player Media Tour at City National Arena on September 09, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Colorado Avalanche News

  • Brett Kulak excited for stability with Avalanche after ‘tough’ year. [Col Hockey Now]
  • Brent Burns debuts new look ahead of 23rd NHL season. Avalanche defenseman brings clean-shaven beard, new teeth into training camp. [NHL]
  • Joe Sakic to remain as Avs’ GM on full-time basis. [TSN]
  • Should Nazem Kadri play wing for the Colorado Avalanche? [DNVR]
  • Mackenzie Blackwood enters the second year of his $26.25 million contract with something to prove after Scott Wedgewood’s breakout season turned Colorado’s goaltending situation into one of the team’s biggest questions. [The Hockey News]
  • The $21 million decision that changed everything. When the New York Rangers tried to pry Joe Sakic away from Colorado in 1997, the Avalanche faced a decision that would alter the franchise’s future. [Sports Illustrated]


News Around the League

  • ‘Want to get this right’: Cheveldayoff not rushing Hellebuyck situation. [Sportsnet]
  • Where are the players from the Hockey Canada scandal after acquittal? [Toronto Star]
  • Parents of NHL prospect hospitalized after collapse at team workout say he’s a ‘fighter’. [CBC]
  • Is hockey still Canada’s sport? [Macleans]
  • Germany’s hockey league upset at the NHL’s plan to play games there. [TSN]
  • One player for 17 picks: how family and finances forced hockey’s Biggest trade. [The Athletic]
  • One prospect to watch in the preseason from every NHL team. [The Score]

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Islanders Anxiety – Episode 379 – Promo Code: “Barzal Thriving”

Mike and Dan return for Season 11 to run through some summer news on and off the ice, the Islanders’ first preseason game, and their super specific predictions for the season. Mike and Dan return for Season 11 to run through some summer news on and off the ice, the Islanders’ first preseason game and their super specific predictions for the season.

From the outside, it didn’t look like the Islanders did much this offseason. But sickos like us know that’s not the case. There’s a new captain, a new assistant GM, a new minority owner, a new (actual human) winner of the third jersey design contest, and a new streaming home for the team with the worst name we’ve ever heard. There’s also a “luxury item” the team might be able to see again this season. Sadly, the news isn’t all good, as Mat Barzal will miss most of camp with inflammation. At least, that’s what we think this weirdly-worded release says. We also say good bye to a guy we talked about A LOT last season. Uh, good luck to everyone involved.

In the second half, we “recap” the Islanders 2-1 preseason loss to the Devils and get used to Pete DeBoer’s plainspoken pressers, which are a welcome change. We also look at some recent articles featuring Matthew Schaefer being awesome and the Islanders getting a fair, if realistic shake from an outlet that usually doesn’t. Finally, we give some predictions on games, moves, awards, celebrities and other stuff we see happening around the Islanders and the NHL this season. We also pay our respects to late NHL coach and broadcaster Barry Melrose.

Thank you all so much for listening all these years. We’re lucky and grateful that our show has now passed the decade mark, which is rarified air for podcasts. We’re looking forward to bringing you our offbeat observations about this team for a long time.

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Three up, three down: Sept. 14 – 20

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 19: Alec Bohm #28 of the Philadelphia Phillies bats during the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Saturday, September 19, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Mooney/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

A 3-3 week that felt like they lost every game is not exactly how I thought it would go. Playing the Mets in New York always felt daunting, especially if they knew they could damage the Phillies’ playoff hopes in any way they could, but splitting two games in Washington just can’t happen this time of year.

Three up

Alec Bohm – It’s striking how well Bohm has been doing with runners in scoring position since the All-Star break. Since July 14, Bohm has come to the plate 73 times with runners in scoring position. He has posted a 185 wRC+ in those situations, driving in 35 runs, which is tops among all players with at least 25 plate appearances with runners in scoring position. This week was another week where he seemed to continue piling up the RBI opportunities and delivering. This bodes well for the playoffs.

Luis Arraez – Listen, Arraez has been a disappointment since his trade from the Giants. There was an initial injection of energy when he arrived, which happened to coincide with the offense taking a new approach at the plate of patience, something he is not known for. The defense has not been this massive butcher show it was expected to be with all of the switching around of positions, but generally, he has not been that good. Yet he had a good week this week, hitting .300/.407/.450, bringing in five from the cleanup position. He’ll move on to yet another team once the season is over, but this week was at least one example of why the team brought him in in the first place.

Jose Urquidy – This will likely be the last time Urquidy’s name is mentioned on these here pages. There will be an end of season report card of course, but as far as game action is concerned, there won’t be much more to tell. However, signed off the street and thrown into the bullpen game fire, Urquidy gave the Phillies exactly what was needed on Friday night against the Mets: bulk innings where he was effective and kept the team in the game. The offense’ recent allergy to scoring more than three runs did not help him, but it was at least nice that he kept it close.

Three down

Orion Kerkering – Listen, I know in these past couple of days, I’ve been rough on Kerkering. He has deserved it. There is no real reason for Kerkering to remain with the organization beyond the 2026 season. His demotion, in a time when they need really any reliever that possesses a pulse to throw critical innings, to a team in Lehigh Valley that actually won’t suit up again this year should tell you all you need to know about what the organization thinks of him. The merciful thing to do would probably have been to move on from him once the 2025 playoffs were concluded, but the Phillies possessed an “I can fix her!” mentality when it came to his career. The stuff he has warranted such action, so the plan to have him remain was sound, at least on paper. There was even a decent argument to be made that he should have been dealt at this past trade deadline. However, at this point, even the stuff isn’t really that great and his headspace is clearly not where one would want it to be. He just needs to be somewhere else.

J.T. Realmuto – It’s a good thing he’s beloved by the pitching staff because his offense is doo-doo. Zero for eighteen this week, but hey! Three walks! This is getting to the point where he’ll be the highest paid backup catcher in the league in 2028, if he isn’t released before that.

Kyle Schwarber – Hey, uh, Kyle? Anytime you want to start hitting the ball would be nice. I know the strikeout record is about to be placed in your personal trophy case any day, but some offensive production would be helpful. Walks are cool, of course, but you know what is cooler? Home runs. They’re cool. You should try hitting those again.

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Insider Reveals Why Formenton Chose Oilers Over 2 Other Interested Teams

NHL insider Darren Dreger reports that the Edmonton Oilers were not the only team interested in forward Alex Formenton. In fact, he was likely offered a contract instead of a professional tryout (PTO) because at least two other teams were prepared to offer him a guarantee.

Dreger was a guest on The Nielson Show and said: "There were other teams that wanted to sign Alex Formenton: Carolina Hurricanes, Vegas Golden Knights, I was told, had considerable interest in Formenton, and Edmonton."

Why did he choose the Oilers? Of all his options on the table, why did Formenton choose to go to a Canadian team where the market would undoubtedly push back on the signing?

Dreger says it was about friendship.

"So, Formenton chose Edmonton mostly because of his history with Evan Bouchard. They are really good buddies, and more obviously, the time he spent with D.J. Smith when D.J. was in Ottawa." 

Formenton was aware that him landing with an NHL team would cause a stir. It would land even more loudly in Canada, where he was part of a 2018 Hockey Canada team that was acquitted of sexual assualt. Still, he wanted to be around people he knew, people that would support him as he navigated that would come with the challenges of rejoining the NHL. 

Oilers Roll Past Jets 5-2 in Preseason Opener, Babcock Praises Favorite LineOilers Roll Past Jets 5-2 in Preseason Opener, Babcock Praises Favorite LineEvan Bouchard’s playmaking and Ryan Shea’s sparkling debut ignited Edmonton's offense, while Alex Formenton impressed coach Mike Babcock in a dominant, high-scoring display against Winnipeg.

That support was on display early: the first time Formenton met with the media, Bouchard stood off-camera in the background, watching the entire interview. 

Had Formenton gone to Vegas -- who had previously signed another member of the 2018 team in Carter Hart -- or Carolina, where they were Cup winners but don't have the most passionate hockey market, his signing would have made the news, but not like it did when he came to Edmonton. Formenton chose a support system and a chance to win over his other options. 

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NBA Offseason: Anthony Edwards Recruited Jonathan Kuminga to Wolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves made a splash late in the offseason by signing former Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks forward Jonathan Kuminga to a two-year deal worth $12.4 million. Kuminga has a player option for the 2027-28 season and is expected to be the team’s starting power forward going into the year.

The Wolves needed a power forward after trading Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets and Naz Reid to the Charlotte Hornets earlier in the offseason. That glaring need for a power forward lasted nearly two months, but Anthony Edwards wanted to ensure that the position was covered. According to reports, he was instrumental in the recruitment process to get Kuminga to the Twin Cities.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – MAY 14: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shakes hands with Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors after winning Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Target Center on May 14, 2025 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. (Photo by Ellen Schmidt/Getty Images) | Getty Images

“Anthony was really instrumental in recruiting him to come here,” Wolves general manager Matt Lloyd said in an interview with the StribSports Daily Delivery podcast. “We had had several conversations with him, his representatives, from [head coach] Chris Finch, to [president of basketball operations] Tim Connelly, to [basketball operations assistant] Alonzo Gee… everything just kind of came together.”

Edwards’ involvement in getting Kuminga to the Wolves is a strong sign of his leadership for the team. With Randle and Mike Conley Jr. gone, and Rudy Gobert taking a step back, this is undoubtedly Edwards’ team, and he is certainly taking on that role. This type of leadership is needed if Minnesota wants to take the next step as a franchise.

Edwards has earned the right to be able to recruit players to the organization and pick who will work best around him. The goal is for him, Jaden McDaniels, Kuminga, and LaMelo Ball to be part of the nucleus that gets the Wolves to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.

Canis Hoopus community, how do you feel about Kuminga joining the Wolves? Let us know in the comments section below.

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What to expect from DJ Herz’s return to the Washington Nationals

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 02: DJ Herz #74 of the Washington Nationals reacts after pitching against the New York Mets during the sixth inning at Nationals Park on July 2, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Entering the 2025 season, the pitcher I was most excited about was DJ Herz. He was coming off a rookie season where he flashed immense upside and looked like a key cog in the Nats rotation. One of the first articles I wrote for this site was about how high DJ Herz’s ceiling was. 

However, things have not gone according to plan since then. After showing diminished stuff in Spring Training, it turned out that Herz needed Tommy John Surgery. He missed all of the 2025 season and was on the sidelines to start 2026. Following three rehab starts in June, Herz had to hit the shelf again due to a flexor strain. After building back up, Herz is back and will make his return to the big leagues tonight against the Tigers.

This is a start that I am really looking forward to. Despite posting a 4.16 ERA in 88.2 innings as a rookie, his underlying numbers were much more promising. Herz posted a 3.71 FIP, a 3.85 xFIP and 3.30 xERA. The lefty was also a strikeout machine back in 2024.

Herz’s bread and butter is his fastball/changeup combination. As a prospect, he was known for his changeup but his fastball really stood out in the big leagues. It does not have crazy velocity, but the pitch generated a 30.5% whiff rate due to shape and deception. Against righties, Herz paired the heater with a nasty changeup. When he faces lefties, he relies more on his slider.

Command was a major question mark for Herz in the minors, but his 9.4% walk rate in the big leagues was much better than expected. There were starts where he battled command issues, but there were also nights where he was pinpoint. When Herz was locating, he tore through lineups. His 13 strikeout performance against the Marlins was insanely dominant.

After major surgery and a set-back, we will see if Herz has the same sort of crispness. Even if he does not, it would not be a reason to panic. The real test for Herz will come next year. This is just a good way to get his feet wet.

When Herz was on rehab, his stuff was not quite as loud as it was in 2024. In AAA, his fastball has been sitting around 92 instead of the 93-94 range we saw in the past. Early in his rehab assignment, he would be around 90-91 early in games before finding some extra velocity later in his outings.

However, he has been trending in the right direction. Herz averaged 92.7 MPH in his last rehab start where he threw 65 pitches. It looks like he is starting to find his best stuff. That is part of the reason he is getting this opportunity down the stretch.

Hopefully this outing can be a springboard for Herz as we enter 2027. I will also be intrigued to see how deep into the game he will go. As stated, he threw 65 pitches in his last rehab start. With that in mind, I would imagine he will go about 70-75 pitches. 

Regardless, it will be amazing to see the southpaw back on the mound. Ever since the Nats acquired him in the Jeimer Candelario trade, Herz has been a pitcher who has really intrigued me. Between his unique fastball, his nasty changeup and his deception, I have always thought there was something there.

Now we will get to see him back on a big league mound for the first time in two years. Just as it was for Josiah Gray, this was a culmination of a long process and an exciting day.

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Astros Prospect Report: September 20th

HOUSTON, TEXAS - JUNE 03: Zach Cole #16 of the Houston Astros scores on a wild pitch in the eighth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Daikin Park on June 03, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The final day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below. Check out the previous day’s recap here.

AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (74-75) lost 3-1 (BOX SCORE)

Hendrickson started for Sugar Land and went 3 innings allowing 2 runs. He was relieved by Alexander who went 5 innings allowing 1 run. The offense got on the board in the 7th on a Delgado RBI double. The offense was unable to score again as Sugar Land dropped the season finale 3-1.

AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (62-76) SEASON OVER
A+: Asheville Tourists (43-87) SEASON OVER
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers – CAROLINA LEAGUE CHAMPS

Today’s minor league starters:

SL: SEASON OVER

CC: SEASON OVER

AV: SEASON OVER

FV: SEASON OVER

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Carson Lambos Facing Pivotal Wild Training Camp: 'I Want A Lot More'

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Carson Lambos isn't one of the youngest players at Minnesota Wild training camp anymore.

The 23-year-old defenseman has spent the last two seasons developing in Iowa, made his NHL debut last season and has now reached a different stage of his career. He wants to establish himself as an NHL player.

And Lambos knows this is an important camp to show he is ready for more.

"I'm definitely not in that group of super young players anymore," Lambos said. "So, I think I can be more assertive with my game, make more plays, and yeah, really make an impact out there."

There is another wrinkle this time around. Lambos, Minnesota's first-round pick (No. 26) in the 2021 NHL Draft, would need to clear waivers to be assigned to Iowa.

That gives the Wild a decision to make, but coach John Hynes was specific about what he wants to see from Lambos as he attempts to prove he belongs at the NHL level.

"I think Lambo is a very good skater. He's very competitive. I think he defends well," Hynes said. "I think it's the puck play, just making sure that he goes back. He's efficient with his puck movement, efficient with the puck play, good decisions with the puck."

Hynes said he wants to see Lambos' skating become a factor, along with physicality, defending and particularly his puck movement.

Those areas align with how Lambos evaluates his own game.

"There's feedback, and then there's like a self-analysis as well," Lambos said. "And I just think I got to make a bigger impact in different ways, whether that's physically, but also when I get the puck offensively, trying not to let the play die on my stick, or getting up the ice and supporting that way.

"Keeping close gaps, and just being, you know, I've said it a few times here, but like assertive is a big word for me, just trying to do that."

The word assertive came up repeatedly when Lambos described the player he wants to become.

His role in Iowa has expanded significantly over the past two seasons. Lambos has played heavy minutes, faced opponents' top lines and received difficult defensive-zone assignments. He believes those responsibilities have helped mature a game that was once built heavily around his skating and offensive ability.

"Playing lots of minutes, facing top lines, a lot of D zone draws, that kind of thing, I think it matured my game a little bit," Lambos said. "Just trying to be more assertive. Winning battles, killing plays, and being someone that is leading in all facets of the game."

But Lambos doesn't believe becoming a more dependable defensive player means the offensive part of his game has disappeared.

"I don't think that's something I've lost," Lambos said. "There's a lot of times where you've been defending a lot, and that's just something you're forced to do. I don't think it's something I've lost. I haven't died or quit on that part of my game, and I think I'm looking to grow it here at the pro level a little bit."

Lambos finally got his first taste of the NHL last season, appearing in one game for Minnesota.

It was an important milestone, but not one he spent the summer celebrating.

"It was definitely a great experience to have, but at the end of the day, it's one game, and I want a lot more than that," Lambos said. "The mentality and mindset stays the same regardless of how much I do or don't play. I think I'm still just trying to strive to get to this level on a full-time basis."

That's the opportunity in front of him now.

With a shorter training camp and fewer preseason opportunities, Lambos knows there isn't much time to slowly work his way into form. Each practice and preseason appearance carries additional importance.

"It's more about the mentality going into every game, like not wasting a day, and every game is so huge," Lambos said. "I'm just trying to really do whatever I can, and at the same time not doing too much.

"I think just sticking within my game and what I know I'm good at, but also trying to drive the play a little bit and being a prominent force out there."

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Former Rangers center Kevin Hayes retiring after five games in KHL

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows New York Rangers' Kevin Hayes reacts after scoring his first NHL goal, Image 2 shows New York Rangers' Kevin Hayes (13) celebrates scoring a goal in an NHL hockey game

Former Rangers forward Kevin Hayes, the two-way center who spent four-plus years on Broadway at the start of his career, retired after just five games in the KHL, he announced in a statement posted by the league Monday.

“I have decided to end my hockey career,” Hayes, 34, said in the statement. “I can no longer play at the level I am capable of because my body does not allow me to perform at my best. And I cannot accept not being in top form.”

After logging 28 games in Pittsburgh last year, Hayes inked a deal with AK Bars Kazan in August. Less than a month later, he retired without recording a point in his five games.

He skated 13:10 during the team’s most recent game on Sept. 18, and AK Bars Kazan’s next game was set for Monday night.

New York Rangers’ Kevin Hayes (13) reacts after scoring his first NHL goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game at Madison Square Garden in New York, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014. Paul J. Bereswill

Hayes was an All-Star in the 2022-23 season with the Flyers, and he had stints with the Jets, Flyers, Blues and Penguins after the Blueshirts sent him to Winnipeg in 2019.

Throughout the early stages of his career, though, Hayes carved out a key role with the Rangers after originally getting drafted by the Blackhawks — No. 24 overall in 2010 — but signing his entry-level deal with the Blueshirts instead.

Hayes collected 87 goals and 216 points across 361 regular-season games with the Rangers, along with another two goals and 10 points in 34 playoff games. 

He delivered plenty of vintage moments, too. As a rookie, his overtime winner in Game 4 of his first postseason series gave the Rangers a 3-1 series lead over the Penguins.

New York Rangers’ Kevin Hayes (13) celebrates scoring a goal in the third period of an NHL hockey game at Madison Square Garden in New York, Monday, Dec. 8, 2014. Paul J. Bereswill

In the next round, his game-tying goal on the power play in the second period of Game 7 paved the way for Derek Stepan’s heroics against the Capitals.

But Hayes, a former Boston College star, was ultimately sent to the Jets at the deadline in 2019 in exchange for a first-round pick, Brendan Lemieux and a conditional fourth-round pick that never amounted to anything — since the Jets didn’t win the Stanley Cup that year.

Hayes went on to skate in 861 total games across his NHL career, finishing with 193 goals and 470 points.

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Mammoth Falter in Third Period as Avalanche Pull Away in Preseason Clash

For two periods Sunday night, the Utah Mammoth looked like the team in control.

Utah dictated the pace for much of the preseason matchup, spending long stretches with the puck and keeping the Colorado Avalanche from finding much rhythm offensively. But a few costly mistakes in the third period changed everything, turning what had been a competitive game into a 4-1 Avalanche victory.

The Mammoth entered the final period tied 1-1, having done plenty to keep one of the NHL’s deeper lineups in check.

Colorado opened the scoring in the second period when Beckett Hamilton found the back of the net, but Yegor Borikob answered to keep the game even heading into the final 20 minutes.

The Avalanche received solid goaltending throughout the night. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped all seven shots he faced before yielding the crease to highly touted prospect Ilya Nabokov, who turned aside 16 of the 17 shots he saw.

Utah’s Sebastian Cossa matched that effort early, looking composed in his first preseason appearance with the Mammoth. He tracked the puck well, handled traffic in front of him and consistently directed dangerous rebounds away from the middle of the ice.

The Mammoth also got encouraging performances from several of their young skaters.

Caleb Desnoyers looked comfortable in his first preseason action, playing a responsible game at both ends of the rink and winning 66% of his faceoffs. The fourth-overall pick from the 2025 NHL Draft also showed his willingness to compete physically and make plays away from the puck.

Gabe Smith’s line was another bright spot for Utah. The group repeatedly created pressure in the offensive zone, held onto possession and generated several chances throughout the night. Smith scored Utah’s lone goal.

Then the game began to slip away.

Gavin Brindley put Colorado ahead early in the third period before Brock Nelson added another, giving the Avalanche breathing room as Utah struggled to regain the control it had enjoyed for much of the night.

Taylor Makar, the younger brother of Avalanche superstar Cale Makar, added the final blow to seal the 4-1 victory.

The score ultimately favored Colorado, but the night offered plenty for Utah to take away. The Mammoth controlled the puck for much of the game and showed flashes from several young players. Once the mistakes started piling up, however, the Avalanche were more than happy to make them pay.

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Zach Ehrhard, Alek Thomas key Oklahoma City win in finale

Oklahoma City's Zach Ehrhard drives in a run during a minor league baseball game between the Oklahoma City Comets and the Albuquerque Isotopes at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City, Friday, March 27, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co

The Oklahoma City Comets closed out their regular season with a 2-1 win over the El Paso Chihuahuas (Padres).

Center fielder Alek Thomas had two of Oklahoma City’s eight hits, and his triple drove in the winning run in the eighth inning, allowing the Comets to finish at 89-50, the best record in the Pacific Coast League.

Player of the day

Outfielder Zach Ehrhard hit his 30th double of the season and walked. He scored both runs for Oklahoma City on Sunday, padding his PCL-leading total to 120 runs scored on the season. Ehrhard finished his season hitting .291/.400/.472 with 20 home runs, 28 steals, and 94 walks.

Erhard’s 120 runs scored are the most by a Dodgers minor leaguer since Albuquerque Dukes outfielder Lemmie Miller scored 122 runs in 1983.

League leaders

James Tibbs III led the PCL in walks (108), extra-base hits (65, tied with Rockies prospect Zac Veen), and total bases (278), and was second in home runs (30), RBI (107), and runs scored (109).

Ryan Fitzgerald led the PCL in hits (172), including one on Sunday, and doubles (35), and was third in RBI (102). Ehrhard (155) and Tibbs (150) were second and third in hits.

Cole Irvin, who pitched Saturday, led the PCL in ERA (3.33) and wins (12), and his 137 2/3 innings ranked second, two outs shy of the league leader.

Keeping options open

Hyeseong Kim was hitless in four at-bats on Sunday, and finished his regular season hitting just .262/.330/.345 in Triple-A. That was good for only a 79 wRC+ before his 0-for-4 Sunday, after hitting just .259/.323/.328 with an 83 wRC+ in 43 games with the Dodgers this season.

Still, the Dodgers aren’t yet ruling out Kim as a potential speedster off the bench, with the ability to play both middle infield spots well in addition to time in center field and even at third base in Triple-A this season.

“My expectation is he will be here in the off week, and potentially be in the conversation for the postseason because he has the ability to run, play defense, and steal a base,” manager Dave Roberts said Sunday. “I don’t think his offense has been consistent. For us, the at-bat quality that Alex Freeland has been giving us has been very good, he gets on base. For Hyeseong, just trying to find something consistent and to perform consistently. To be quite honest, he just hasn’t been as consistent as he can be, but if he can get more consistent with the bat, he can be a big piece.”

Transactions

Emmet Sheehan was called up to the Dodgers, as was reliever Kyle Hurt. Right-hander Seth Halvorsen was optioned to Oklahoma City.

Sunday score

Oklahoma City 2, El Paso 1

The week ahead

Pacific Coast League championship

Game 1, Tuesday: Oklahoma City at Las Vegas
Game 2, Wednesday: Oklahoma City at Las Vegas
Game 3*, Thursday: Oklahoma City at Las Vegas
*if necessary

If the Comets win the PCL title, they would advance to play in the Triple-A championship next Saturday, September 26 on MLB Network, playing the International League champion, a battle between Rochester and Memphis.

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Arizona Diamondbacks News, 9/21: Nolan clips Yankees

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 20: Nolan Arenado #28 of the Arizona Diamondbacks runs the bases after hitting a grand slam off relief pitcher Brent Headrick #47 of the New York Yankees during the fifth inning at Chase Field on September 20, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Recaps

[AZ Central] Diamondbacks live to fight another day with comeback win over Yankees – With a 2-0 count against Yankees lefty Brent Headrick, Arenado was a smidge in front of a fastball and pulled it barely foul, the ball sailing just a few feet to the left of the foul pole. He didn’t miss on the very next pitch, launching into the left field seats to give the Diamondbacks a 6-4 lead. “It was pretty cool, obviously, a big moment,” Arenado said. “It just felt good to come through. I feel like I haven’t come through a whole lot with runners in scoring position the way I would like to this year. It felt good to give us the lead and help us kind of take a deep breath a little bit.” In the eighth, he made a barehand grab of a Lombard roller and unleashed a perfect throw to first. “He gripped the baseball as he was picking it up,” Lovullo said. “He picked it up with two fingers. I said, ‘Did I just see what I thought I saw?’ He said, ‘Yes, I grip to throw on those types of plays.’

[Dbacks.com] Arenado’s 2nd-chance slam breathes life into D-backs’ postseason hopes – “The fact that we’ve won a lot of baseball games here over the past 10 years and put ourselves in a good position year after year after year to get to the big dance, I’m proud of that,” said Lovullo. “But that’s never the final destination. “If you’re looking at a full body of work, this state should be proud of what these players do and what they accomplish every single day. I know it’s not the 2001 team. We want to get there. I want to give that team company. I want this community, this state to talk about two baseball teams – that 2001 team and then the current team that’s won a world championship. It just takes a lot of work, and we’re going to figure this out.”

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Team news

[SI] Corbin Burnes Blown off Mound in Disastrous 3rd Inning vs Yankees – Burnes has now allowed nine runs in 10.1 innings, for a 7.84 ERA, giving up five homers in the process. His velocity on the cutter, already down to a career low 92.7 coming into Sunday’s game, bottomed out at 90.9. The movement profile on his signature pitch is a shadow of it’s former self as well. Simply put, the cutter doesn’t cut right now. A right-handers cutter, by definition should break glove side. Fully 34% of his cutters thrown heading into today were actually moving to the arm side, not glove side. In Sunday’s outing, 19 of 39, 48% of cutters broke armside. During his peak years that number was about 2-3%, but had crept up to 11-16% in recent years prior to 2026.

[Burn City Sports] The Diamondbacks’ Wild Card hopes come down to these final six games – With six games left on their schedule, the D-Backs are four games behind the Philadelphia Phillies for the final National League wild-card spot and five games behind the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres, who are tied for the top wild-card positions. That leaves the club with one simple task: Win as many of its remaining six games as possible and hope the teams ahead of it give it enough of an opening. The first part is obvious, as Arizona now heads to Colorado to take on the Rockies for three games. Then, the Snakes will head to San Diego for their final three games of the regular season — and possibly the most important ones yet if they’re not eliminated by that time.The second part is harder.

[Sporting News] Nolan Arenado refusing to land on IL for Diamondbacks was a good thing – Arenado has been a solid contributor for the Diamondbacks overall this season, and it would make sense for Arizona to protect the veteran third baseman if he wasn’t 100%. But Arenado didn’t want to hit the injured list, refusing a potential placement on the IL. That refusal has been a major boost for Arizona. Since the start of September, roughly around when the Diamondbacks would’ve asked Arenado to hit the IL, he’s been one of the best hitters in MLB. In 16 games and 56 at-bats, Arenado has 18 hits, seven runs scored, two doubles, five home runs, nine RBIs, seven walks, a .321 batting average, and a 1.031 OPS. [Update: now six HR, 13 RBI and a slash of .317/.397/.650 for an OPS of 1.047]

And, elsewhere…

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[MLB.com] Red Sox clinch postseason spot that once seemed improbable – Five months ago, it was easy to wonder if chief baseball officer Craig Breslow made the right decision when he dismissed long-time manager Cora and dismissed or reassigned six coaches after just 27 games on a stunning Saturday night in Baltimore. There were no regrets or second guesses by Sunday… The road back to contention started with a four-game sweep of the Yankees at Fenway from June 25-28. It continued on July 3, when the Sox began what would become a winning streak of 15 games, tying the franchise record set by the 1946 pennant winners of Ted Williams, Bobby Doerr, Dom DiMaggio and Johnny Pesky. And even after that streak was snapped, the Sox shortly thereafter ripped off another nine-game winning streak, giving them the best 30-game stretch (27-3) in team history.

[AP] Atlanta Braves clinch 7th NL East title in 9 years – “I told these guys winning the division is really tough,” [manager Walt] Weiss said. “I know it’s the first step, but it takes six months to do it. It takes everybody, and we used everybody. Virtually everyone that got an opportunity stepped up and helped us win games this year. Special group in that way. Very close group.” Atlanta has won 24 division titles, tying the Dodgers for the most since the inception of the divisional format in 1969. Atlanta has won the NL East 19 times in 32 seasons.” Just felt like they responded well to certain messages,” Weiss said. “I thought the way they competed was high-level stuff. I felt like the makeup of this team was really good. Coming off a tough year, I think a lot of it was getting them to believe that they were still really good.”

Hungry (2026)

  • Rating: C
  • Dir: James Nunn
  • Star: Madison Davenport, Joaquim de Almeida, Tracey Bonner, Michel Curiel

I get why the makers gave this the title they did – obviously a veiled reference to the game, ‘Hungry Hungry Hippos’. Yet I can’t help feeling they missed an opportunity. I mean, Hippocalypse Now was right there… The storyline is basic. A bunch of tourists go on a cruise, piloted by Rodrigo, looking for alligators. Only, something larger, nastier and more rotund shows up to overturn their boat and leave them stuck up trees, hoping for rescue. Fortunately, the hippo responsible is not the rare tree-climbing variety. Help, in the form of former big-game hunter Walker, is slow to arrive. This allows plenty of time for the stranded tourists to bicker with each other, reveal secrets, carry out poorly-considered actions, and fall out of the trees like so many over-ripe mangoes. 

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