The Columbus Blue Jackets are back at home for a brief two game homestand and will face the Florida Panthers tonight at 6:15 PM.
Florida Panthers - 2-2-2 - 6 Points - Loss 2 - 6th in the Atlantic
Columbus Blue Jackets - 2-2-0 - 4 Points - Loss 1 - 6th in the Metro
Teams Notes Per CBJ PR
After being out for pre-season and the Jackets’ first two regular-season games, Damon Severson made his season debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 9, scoring a goal and an assist (1-1-2).
The Blue Jacket lead the league in faceoff % with a 58.6% win %.
Columbus is currently 5th in the Metro, 13th in the East, and 25th in the league.
Player Notes Per CBJ PR
Charlie Coyle has 10-7-17 in 33 career GP vs. Florida with 6-4-10 in 17 career home games against the Panthers.
Danton Heinen has 4-9-13 in 24 career GP vs. Florida, with points in four of his last six matchups (1-3-4).
Matthew Knies has 3-3-6 in 12 career GP, including three multi-point games that have all occurred on home ice (6 GP).
Sean Monahan has 8-7-15 with five multi-point efforts in 22 career matchups and has notched 5-5-10 in 11 career home contests vs. Florida.
Valeri Nichushkin has collected 2-4-6 in 13 career games vs. Florida, with all points in his last four meetings against the club.
Cole Sillinger has 3-2-5 in 11 career GP, and has goals in two of his past four against Florida (2-1-3).
Carson Soucy has picked up 1-1-2 in back-to-back games against Florida and has notched 4-2-6 in 13 career matchups.
Blue Jackets Stats
Power Play - 20.0% - 19th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 75.9% - 23rd in the NHL
Goals For - 12 - 24th in the NHL
Goals Against - 14 - 14th in the NHL
PanthersStats
Power Play - 9.4% - 28th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 74.1% - 24th in the NHL
Goals For - 12 - 24th in the NHL
Goals Against - 17 - 21st in the NHL
Series History vs. ThePanthers
The Blue Jackets are 27-21-8 Overall, and 17-7-4 at Nationwide Arena vs. Florida.
Columbus has picked up points in four straight games against Florida (1-0-3), with three of the past four games having gone past regulation.
Who To Watch For ThePanthers
Matthew Tkachuk leads Florida with 3 goals and 5 points.
Lars Eller leads the Panthers with 3 assists.
Jacob Markstrom is 2-1-1 with a SV% of .904%.
Akira Schmid is 0-1-1 with a SV% of .868%.
Injured Reserve & Other Injuries
Dante Fabbro - Broken Hand - IR - 4 Games Missed
Isac Lundestrom - Achilles Surgery - LTIR - 4 Games Missed
Ivan Provorov - Lower Body - IR - 4 Games Missed
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 16
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be simulcast on The Blue Jackets Hockey Network and 97.1 The Fan, with Steve Mears behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
TV: CBJHN (Spectrum HD Ch. 320/1320; IP Ch. 349; Prime Video, Fubo)
Next Up For Columbus: The CBJ take on the Florida Panthers tonight at 6:15 PM
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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 12: William Contreras #24 of the Milwaukee Brewers rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game two of the National League Championship Series at American Family Field on October 12, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Meet the Mets
Anth0ny DiComo identified three Mets prospects who could find themselves making a big impact for the 2027 squad.
Tim Britton analyzed the effect that a salary cap would have on the Mets and explored the different types of teams that the organization could build with different budgets.
Pete Sblendorio looked at the team’s biggest questions ahead of the winter.
Danny Abriano ranked the top five priorities for the Mets heading into the offseason.
The Mets could be open to a change at second base next season, but it would cost them.
Joe Patorno wondered if the Mets may have missed out on the real architect of the Brewers in Matt Arnold.
Around the National League East
Mark Bowman wrote about the Braves’ five biggest offseason questions.
Cole Weintraub identified some of the key dates for the Phillies entering an uncertain offseason.
Dillon Lawson has been named the Marlins’ hitting coach.
Around Major League Baseball
The Brewers overcame three deficits to pick up a 7-4 win in Game 2 of the NLCS over the Dodgers and tighten their grip on the series, as they look to prevent Los Angeles from a three-peat.
The game turned on its head during a 12-pitch at-bat between Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Jake Bauers, which wore out Yamamoto and led to him being knocked out of the game in the third inning.
Paul Casella highlighted some key takeaways from Game 2 of the NLCS, including the continued struggles of the Dodgers’ superstars and William Contreras coming through for the Brew Crew.
The Guardians rallied past the Rays in Game 1 of the ALCS with two runs in the eighth and three in the ninth, resulting in a 7-3 victory.
José Ramírez caused havoc on the basepaths, which was a key to helping the Guardians picked up their fourth straight win.
Will Leitch wrote about some storylines to keep an eye on in both the NLCS and in the ALCS.
Ramírez is relishing the second chance to bring Cleveland to the World Series after failing to do so in 2024.
Anthony Berry talked about the 2021 trade that sent Junior Caminero from the Guardians to the Rays, and wondered how it happened in the first place considering how much of a steal if seems to be in retrospect.
Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue
Linus Lawrence ranked the Mets’ biggest LDS moments.
If you find yourself bored and missing baseball, or just want to connect with your fellow Mets fans in a fun way, join the Amazin’ Avenue offseason book club, beginning with The Worst Team Money Could Buy.
This Date in Mets History
Unfortunately, the Mets have not had a lot of luck on games played on October 13, having lost playoff games on this date in 2024, 2015, 2006, 1999, and 1973. The worst of which has to be Game 2 of the 2006 NLCS, which I’d still argue is the most heartbreaking loss and the biggest “what if?” game of that series.
African Grand Prix will take place at new track near Kigali
Stefano Domenicali: ‘Today is a landmark moment for F1’
Formula One has confirmed Rwanda will join the calendar having concluded a 10-year agreement for the meeting to be hosted on a purpose-built circuit, with the first race set for the early 2030s. It will mark the first time F1 has raced in Africa since 1993.
The meeting, to be known as the African Grand Prix, will be held on a circuit in Bugesera, approximately 40km south of the capital Kigali and represents a successful conclusion to the sport’s long-held ambition to return to the African continent championed by Lewis Hamilton.
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 06: Austin Riley #27 of the Atlanta Braves throws to first for an out in the fourth inning during Game Three of the National League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Once again, the Braves are entering an offseason where many questions need to be answered. And unfortunately, many of those questions will be focused on how reliable talents already with the Braves will be moving forward. That of course spotlights all the injuries that some of the Braves most promising your arms have went through over the past few years, thus leading to the question of how many arms must the Braves acquire.
And then, there is the matter of the now years long issue of the Braves offense under performing. A major factor in that is the decline of Austin Riley, someone the Braves must get going again to truly get back toward contention. In an offseason where there already is so much uncertainty around the game itself, the Braves have their own questions to answer.
(Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NLCS now shifts to the West Coast, after the Milwaukee Brewers took the first two games of the series at home, pushing the Los Angeles Dodgers into unfamiliar territory as they trail two games to none in the series.
But more unfamiliar territory could follow.
Benching superstar Shohei Ohtani.
The slugger continues to struggle at the plate, and Ohtani endured an 0-for-4 night with two strikeouts on Monday after going 1-for-3 with a single in Game 1. Ohtani entered the NLCS having gone just 2-for-13 against the Atlanta Braves, and now sits at 3-for-20 this postseason with a trio of singles, along with three walks.
That is good for a slash line of .150/.261/.411.
Speaking after the game, manager Dave Roberts had this to say about the team’s superstar, as quoted by The Athletic:
“Yeah, I mean, obviously it hasn’t been good. He doesn’t feel great. I think for me, it’s having a conversation with him tomorrow, kind of try to figure out what’s best for him, what’s best for us. He certainly has earned that conversation and deserves it.
“I’ll have (that conversation) with him tomorrow.”
Our own Eric Stephen, who “has practice in Robertsese” as he described it, declared early Tuesday morning “that means Ohtani won’t be starting in Game 3 on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium.”
How did we get here, with the Dodgers contemplating sitting none other than Shohei Ohtani in a must-win playoff game?
Ohtani has been dealing with several injuries this season, starting with a left knee issue which caused him to miss some starts on the bump in the summer, and to miss the All-Star Game together as he sought treatment for the knee ailment.
But a right bicep issue followed, and he was eventually put on the IL in September with that issue, and the team shut him down as a pitcher on September 7.
Yet, Ohtani’s performance at the plate had begun to dip well before September. he began the year hot at the dish, slashing .293/.403/.549 with 22 home runs ahead of the All-Star break.
Over the second half of the season, Ohtani slashed just .245/.325/.447 with eight home runs. And when you dive into those numbers a bit more, the dip in performance looks even steeper. After slashing .273/.330/.557 in July, with six home runs, he slashed .241/.322/.472 in August, with six more homers.
Over eight regular season games in September and October, he slashed just .200/.333/.233, without a home run. His last homer came back in the middle of August, a blast against the Colorado Rockies on August 18. In that three game series at Coors Field, Ohtani went 5-for-14 with three home runs and five RBI.
However, since that game Ohtani has gone 14-for-90 without a home run, and with just a single RBI. That is good for an average of .156, and an OPS under .490.
Digging into Ohtani’s numbers a little more, and watching his at-bats, you can see the struggles at the plate. His swing speed has dipped — according to data from FanGraphs his bat speed on line drives is 74.8 miles per hour, down from 76.0 last year and a high of 77.7 during the 2023 season — as has his exit velocity. After averaging an EV of 93.3 mph this season, his lone hit in the NLCS came off the bat at just 74 mph:
Shohei Ohtani comes through with a single in the 6th inning.
And his approach on this single helps tell another part of the story.
As noted by The Athletic, Ohtani has tried to shorten his swing, and take balls to the opposite field rather than trying to pull or drive balls to the right side. That is because he’s struggled to catch up to fastballs and pull them, as you can see on this strikeout from the first inning Monday night, when he swings through a 95-mph four-seam fastball up in the zone from Logan Henderson:
Henderson ends the top of the 1st with a strikeout of Ohtani
That approach leads to moments like this from Monday night, when Ohtani tries to go the other way on a ball off the plate and looks … unlike the Ohtani we are used to seeing:
JoJo Romero strikes out Shohei Ohtani, who had a hard time holding onto the bat pic.twitter.com/oYILwD38cj
At the start of that at-bat? Ohtani actually showed bunt, something else we are not used to seeing from the slugger.
Speaking ahead of the NLDS Ohtani, through team interpreter Will Ireton, had this to say about his swing:
“It feels really good overall. I do feel like my swing is in a better place, feels smooth, and just a little tweaks here and there, and I’ll be ready for tomorrow.”
And on the injuries:
“I haven’t been able to get a good grasp of the root cause of all this. I think that process is going to happen during the off-season when I’m going to have a little bit more time to be able to address it. But as of now, it’s something I’m just going to have to manage.”
However, he also talked about “transparency,” regarding how he is feeling physically:
“ I think the discussion became more about like what’s best for the team. Is it something that I can play through, and if that’s best for the team, sure. But I think we both came to an understanding where the decision to be on the IL came from the fact that it’s probably best for the team for me to recover and be able to focus on the postseason.”
And that might be the focus of the upcoming discussion with Roberts. As noted by Stephen early Tuesday morning, there’s “been an open question of how forthcoming Ohtani has been with his injuries as well.” But the player we have seen so far this postseason has been struggling at the plate, and with the Dodgers facing a two-game hole in the series, that could lead to a difficult decision for Roberts and the rest of the organization.
If Ohtani is indeed out of the lineup to start Game 3, Josue De Paula is likely the “top candidate” to replace him, according to The Athletic. De Paula, who was called up from Double-A Tulsa in mid-September, went 10-for-31 with a home run in limited action for the Dodgers, slashing .323/.500/.581. That was good enough for the team to add him to the postseason roster and he has a pair of walks in three plate appearances, including one on Sunday night in Game 1.
The Dodgers are set to meet the media later today during the off day before Wednesday’s pivotal Game 3.
Meaning we might learn more about Ohtani’s status in a few hours.
Alphonso de Lamartine (who surely we all know and revere) wrote in his 1854 documentation of the French Revolution, “History teaches all things, even the future”. While the great Frenchman was writing of something with greater consequence than the Jazz’s projection for the 2027 season, the principle stands – if we would like a forecast for this upcoming season, we need only to understand the success of some of the team’s historical parallels.
Now, this is not a perfect science. For starters, the NBA is rapidly evolving; a team in 2026 cannot craft wins from the same formula that a team in 1986 could. Additionally, the game is complex enough that you will never find a 1-to-1 comparison for a player by scouring the history books. This is to say that the task is more strenuous than finding the team with the 1980s version of Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George.
So, instead of drawing specifics from NBA history, we are going to look for general principles that link teams together. For example, the primary lesson that we learn from the French Revolution is not that we need to bolster the fortifications of the Bastille, but that when the government upholds unfair economic structures, people may seek radical change. The concept is timeless, even if the particulars of the playing field shift with time. So, while the Utah Jazz will undoubtedly shoot more three pointers than any of the team historical comparisons I discuss today, that difference in playstyle does not negate the concepts of basketball that connect the eras. Teams have needed and will continue to need playmakers, shooters, defenders. Teams that win the possession battle have been and will continue to be successful. Teams with a dynamic, creative coach have and will continue to exceed expectations. There is no historical team with Darryn Peterson and Ace Bailey, but that fact does not impede our ability to learn from history.
In this article, I will attempt to find three teams from NBA history similar in construction to the 2026-2027 Utah Jazz. One of these teams will be the worst-case scenario; where has a team gone wrong with a make-up similar to Utah? Another will a more likely, closer to 50th percentile outcome; if we simulate Utah’s season 100 times, what type of success will we most often encounter? Finally, a best-case scenario; if everything clicks, just how good can this team be? As I look for comparisons, I will not be taking age or career trajectory into account. For example, none of these teams need to have a player with as much potential as Darryn Peterson, but we are trying to find a team with a player that plays like current Darryn Peterson. Finally, before we jump into things, let me reiterate one more time – none of the team or player comparisons I make are 1-to-1, so do not come for my throat if the historical player that I say plays the Lauri Markkanen role is, in your opinion, better or worse than Lauri Markkanen. We’re just trying to have a good time.
Worst case outcome: 2006-2007 Milwaukee Bucks
MIAMI – MARCH 24: Mo Williams #25 of the Milwaukee Bucks takes a breather with teammate Michael Redd #22 against the Miami Heat on March 24, 2008 at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2008 NBAE (Photo by Victor Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Record: 28-54
Key Players: Michael Redd, Mo Williams, Andrew Bogut
Offensive Rating: 107.0 (12 out of 30)
Defensive Rating: 111.7 (29 out of 30)
Season Outcome: Lottery
This was the most encouraging aspect of my historical studies – it was very, very difficult to find a team with the Jazz’s level of talent that truly failed. The Bucks are the team that with the least clean comparison to the Jazz. That isn’t to say that I’m totally off-base here. This is a team who found offensive success with fairly limited playmaking and the lack of a tier 1 star. Additionally, this is a team that simply could not hang defensively, even with the presence of a genuine defensive anchor (Andrew Bogut was young, but already quite impactful on that end). Michael Redd fills the Lauri Markkanen role as a sturdy wing who devastates teams with off-ball scoring. Mo Williams functions as the Keyonte George: a smaller guard who is additive to a good offense but who can’t keep one afloat on his own. Charlie Bell, the teams starting shooting guard, was a solid off-ball shooter with some playmaking juice (about what I’m expecting from DP in year one). The Bucks had solid offensive pieces, but it wasn’t enough to build a genuinely competitive team.
The holes in this comparison are admittedly obvious. For one, the comparison between Andrew Bogut and Jaren Jackson Jr. is a major stretch. Even if Bogut was already effective as a defender in his rookie year, and thus filled the archetype of a real anchor on a bad defense, the offensive gap is so substantial – who knows how good the 2007 Bucks would’ve been if Andrew Bogut was stretching the floor and giving them a fairly efficient 20 points per game? On top of that, the Bucks bench was not nearly as impressive as what I project the Jazz’s to be. A current dilemma the Jazz seem to be facing is having too many competent bench wings (Sensabaugh, Green, Okogie, Svi, Ace, Hinson). I think the majority of those guys would be getting a guaranteed 20 minutes off of the bench for Milwaukee. That is especially true when taking the Bucks’ injuries into account – Michael Redd missed 29 games, Mo missed 14, Bogut missed 16, and backup power forward Charlie Villanueva missed 43. This, again, is encouraging. A team that I view as less talented than the Jazz still needed to suffer significant injury to end the season with only 28 wins – the season before, when Redd played 80 games, the Bucks found a way to sneak into the playoffs. The fact that it is difficult to find an unsuccessful team that was both (a) healthy and (b) as talented as the Jazz is history’s way of teaching us that teams like the Jazz tend to win games. If everything goes wrong (Lauri injured, Keyonte taking a step-back, only minor improvements from Ace), sure, maybe the Jazz fare like the 2007 bucks, but the former’s advantages of the latter makes that seem unlikely.
Summary: A loose comparison built off the precedent an off-ball scoring wing, effective point guard, and defensive anchor failing to lead to wins. Jazz are much stronger on the margins, and the Bucks have no answer for Jaren Jackson Jr.
Median outcome: 1997-1998 Minnesota Timberwolves
MINNEAPOLIS – 1998: Kevin Garnett #21 and Stephon Marbury #3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves pose for a 1998 photo in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1998 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Record: 45-37
Key Players: Kevin Garnett, Stephon Marbury, Tom Gugliotta
Offensive Rating: 107.8 (7 out of 29)
Defensive Rating: 107.1 (23 out of 29)
Season outcome: Lost to the Supersonics in the first round, 2-3
The parallel here is much stronger. This Timberwolves team built a strong offense off of ball movement – they ranked 3rd in the league in total assists in 1998, and averaged the 2nd most points per game without any one scorer reaching 21 PPG. Similarly to what many of us are predicting with the Jazz, this offensive cohesion did not translate to defensive success, even with the presence of an anchor like Kevin Garnett (who was young, but still an all-star).
There are cleaner player comparisons among these two teams, as well. A young Garnett is a solid 90’s equivalent of Jaren Jackson Jr. (with some additional rebounding juice) and Tom Gugliotta, with his floor-spacing (to the deep mid-range, but still) and off-ball movement, being reminiscent of Lauri Markkanen. Backcourt ballhandling duties for the Timberwolves were very much reserved to their two point guards – Stephon Marbury and Terry Porter – which is similar to the offensive load we can expect Keyonte George and Isaiah Collier to carry when they are on the court. Anthony Peeler provides some of the passing and shooting and Darryn Peterson, Sam Mitchell brings the defensive intensity of either Okogie or Green, and like the Jazz, the T-wolves employed a few very large players whose primary goal was to be imposing and pull down rebounds. Eras shift the roles a bit, but the general ideas of players permeate across both squads. There are some key differences between the team (Nurkic is more skilled a center than any of the Minnesota bigs, and Garnett+Gugliotta are much better passers than their Jazz equivalents), but their core principle of “shot creating guard dishing to two forwards who are most effective at the receiving end of plays” is very comparable.
The result of the Timberwolves season is very telling. First, I believe it emphasizes the importance of Lauri Markkanen. Tom Gugliotta went down with injury near the halfway point of the year, and the added offensive pressure put upon the rest of the players really hurt their proficiency. I watched some of their first round series against the Supersonics, and I could tell that without their stabilizing offensive force, newly overtasked players began to flounder. It is not some novel observation that a team losing their leading scorer will struggle, but I did find it interesting that the same held true in a context similar to Utah’s; losing a scorer, even if they are primarily off-ball and your attack is balanced, can be very difficult to overcome. Still, this team fought until the very end, and put up a strong fight against the heavily favored Supersonics. If they had another ballhandler, the story might’ve gone differently. However, with Marbury forced to fend for himself against the incessant pressure of Gary Payton, he put up horrendous efficiency, and Seattle was able to advance.
Summary: Gugliotta, Marbury, and a young Garnett make up a similar big three to Utah’s Markk, George, and JJJ. While injuries were likely the deciding factor in their season, their lack of ballhandling should be a sign that the Jazz may need to pick up another initiator before they face the pesky hands of OKC or San Antonio.
Best case outcome: 2003-2004 Sacramento Kings
DALLAS – MAY 13: (Left to Right) Mike Bibby #10, Predrag Stojakovic #16, and Vlade Divac #21 of the Sacramento Kings are upset in Game five of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Dallas Mavericks during the 2003 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Center on May 13, 2003 in Dallas, Texas. The Mavericks won 112-93. 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 Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Record: 55-27
Key Players: Peja Stojakovic, Mike Bibby, Brad Miller, Vlade Divac, Doug Christie
Offensive Rating: 110.2 (2 out of 29)
Defensive Rating: 104.9 (21 out of 29)
Season outcome: Lost to the Timberwolves in the second round, 3-4
A man can dream, right?
This is about as good a team that didn’t play defense that there is in NBA history. 2004 Peja Stojakovic is likely the greatest individual season of any Lauri Markkanen comparison. Mike Bibby shows the benefits that can come as Keyonte’s dynamic offense ages and matures. Doug Christie’s union of 3, D, and playmaking could very well be replicated by a rookie Darryn Peterson. Vlade Divac, as a clever ground-bound anchor, likely sees shades of himself if he ever catches any Jusuf Nurkic minutes on TV. Brad Miller was stretching the floor, playing both big positions, and playing positive defense years before JJJ modernized that archetype for Memphis. And even though Bobby Jackson leans more into scoring than playmaking, he and Isaiah Collier effectively fill the same bench change-of-pace role. Fittingly, this Sacramento team that many said was ahead of its time finds its parallel in a 2027 squad.
For some, the success of this team is a mystery. With Chris Webber hurt most of the year (and when he returned, he was really a shell of himself), a traditional #1 scoring option could not be found. Peja led the team in points, but he isn’t a player that you can toss the ball to and ask to create consistent offense. Bibby, Christie, and Miller were all strong players, but were considered to be best when impacted by the gravity of a bigger star. Above all else, the Kings are an example of a team being greater than the sum of its parts, and that formula is what optimistic Jazz fans are betting on this year if the team is to exceed expectations. With a legendary coach and a near-unstoppable high-low, dribble handoff offense (we’ll miss you Jusuf Nurkic), the Kings were able to get the absolute most out of each of their offensive weapons. Go back and watch some of their highlights – some of their sets for Peja are eerily similar to what the Jazz run for Lauri Markkanen. If the Jazz are to make a substantial jump, it will be through the hivemind-esque cohesion exemplified by the Sacramento Kings (before Chris Webber came back from injury, at least).
Because of Webber, it is difficult to analyze the result of the Kings 2004 season. While Webber was out, the Kings had a scorching 42-15 record, or a 60 win pace. When Webber returned, they finished the regular season 13-12. It feels counterintuitive to assume that the Kings would’ve performed better in the playoffs without Webber, but it also seems obvious when you look at the actual results. Something had clicked during the 2003-2004 regular season, and by adding Webber into the lineup was the equivalent of throwing a grenade into the middle of it all. Had things stayed the way they were during those first 57 games, I would not have been surprised at all if the Kings found themselves in the finals playing the Pistons in 2004. Instead, they lost to the Timberwolves, partially because a dilapidated Chris Webber allowed Kevin Garnett to have the best series of his life. Nevertheless, the 2004 Kings provide a proof of concept – this is what the Jazz are gunning for until Darryn Peterson becomes the undebatable superstar that many of us believe he can be.
Summary: The Kings are the precedent. With a roster construction similar to Jazz, they meshed together to the tune of a 60 win pace without Chris Webber, all without a superstar or a strong defense. If it works, it’ll look like this.
Which historical team do you see in the 2026-2027 Utah Jazz? How do you feel about my comparisons? Let me know below!
Milwaukee, WI - October 12, 2026: Los Angeles Dodgers Will Smith lined out in the second inning. The LA Dodgers play the Milwaukee Brewers in game two of the National League Championship Series at American Family Field, Milwaukee, WI on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The Dodgers somehow scored four runs in Monday’s game against the Brewers but it wasn’t enough as the game devolved into a bullpen game and they lost 7-4, and now head home down 2-0 in the NLCS.
Bill Shakin of the L.A. Times ponders if the Dodgers should start playing baseball the way the Brewers are, especially since runs are at a premium. The Dodgers did score some of their runs as gifts from the Brewers, but the timely hitting still remains elusive.
“I don’t think guys are going up there trying to hit home runs,” Betts said. “Guys are going up there just trying to have good at-bats. Sometimes, you get ‘em. Sometimes you don’t. But we are playing against a really good team. We just have to put it behind us and just come out and play Dodger baseball.”
But, as Bill Plunkett of the OC Register points out, it didn’t work. He details the ways the Dodgers scored, and how they needed the Brewers’ help to do so.
Before the game, Plunkett also highlighted how Will Smith hasn’t had any production at the plate up until this afternoon.
“It’s been five games,” Smith said, dismissing the significance of his .053 batting average this October. “Obviously (I) want the results to be a little better. But at the end of the day, it’s five games at the plate. No panic from me. So I’ll be fine.”
Now, it’s been six games and Smith still only has one hit, and his postseason batting average is .043.
“I respect the Dodgers a great deal,” said Murphy. “That’s all there is to it. They’re arguably one of the best teams ever put together. They’re a great team.
“And I’m not going to think about anything but the next game. That’s it. Just one inning, one pitch at a time. Don’t look ahead. Don’t plan. Don’t complain, explain; just keep going.”
That’s what Brewers’ manager Pat Murphy told reporters after the game, as reported by AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. And as Cassavell notes in his article, the Dodgers threw their two top starters and have nothing to show for it.
Paul Casella also of MLB.com points out some keys for Game 3 back in L.A., including how to contain William Contreras, asking where the Dodgers offense will come from, and which bullpen will outlast the other.
The vaunted Dodger bullpen got outdueled by the Brewers bullpen, who has been phenomenal so far this postseason. They threw five perfect innings to finish out the game and seal the win.
The Dodgers have a lot of work to do to get themselves back in this series. Game 3 is at 5pm PT back in Los Angeles.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Rieger Lorenz isn’t wasting any time making his presence felt with the Minnesota Wild.
Just two games into his NHL career, the 22-year-old forward has already displayed the qualities that helped earn him his first opportunity at the highest level.
Speed, physicality, relentless forechecking and a willingness to stand up for himself have all been evident in Lorenz’s first two appearances.
During Monday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights at Grand Casino Arena, Lorenz continued to make an impression, contributing to Minnesota’s third goal and dropping the gloves for his first NHL fight.
For Wild head coach John Hynes, those contributions are exactly what the organization hoped to see from the young forward.
“A lot of speed and a high competitiveness factor on the forecheck,” Hynes said. “I think, I don’t know if you saw it or not, but even I think his first shift in Florida was a forecheck, and he got a point-blank slot shot right there.”
“He’s hard on the puck and very competitive. Seems like he’s responsible and understands how to play without the puck.”
Lorenz’s impact was particularly noticeable on Minnesota’s third goal against Vegas.
After the Golden Knights failed to secure a loose puck, Lorenz used his speed and aggressive forechecking instincts to pressure the play, helping create an opportunity that Bobby Brink capitalized on.
It was the type of sequence that illustrated why Lorenz has been able to make an immediate impression despite having limited NHL experience.
“I felt a little bit jittery in the first two shifts there,” Lorenz said. “So I think, you know, when that loose puck’s there, that’s my job as a forechecker, to go get it. And I was lucky that Bobby made an unbelievable play.”
That ability to create opportunities through pressure is something Hynes has already identified as one of Lorenz’s biggest strengths.
“When you see him, what he brings is, he’s a hard guy, very competitive and hard on the puck,” Hynes said. “But his speed has certainly been a factor as well.”
However, Lorenz’s offensive contributions weren’t the only thing that caught attention Monday.
The young forward also found himself involved in his first NHL fight, showing that he isn’t intimidated by the physical demands of the league.
Lorenz explained that the altercation began after he finished a check and was confronted by his opponent.
“I was trying to do my job. I kind of finished my check up there, and he kind of grabbed me,” Lorenz said. “And I’m always willing to go.”
When asked whether his opponent had initiated the fight, Lorenz made it clear that he wasn’t going to back down.
“I think also, watch the video. I think he kind of dropped his gloves, and then, like I said, I’m not going to shy away from it.”
That willingness to compete physically is something that hasn’t gone unnoticed by his teammates.
Michael McCarron, who knows a thing or two about the physical side of hockey, praised Lorenz for how he handled his first NHL fight.
“Yeah, it was good,” McCarron said. “Lauzon is no weak opponent for your first fight. That’s a big boy. He knows what he’s doing.”
“I thought Rieger did a great job. He stood in there and he’s willing to stand up for himself. He did a great job.”
Beyond the physicality, Lorenz is also making an impression with his maturity.
Following the victory, Lorenz had the opportunity to recognize one of his teammates by presenting McCarron with the team’s postgame helmet.
Rather than focusing on Hughes' two points or Wallstedt's night, Lorenz highlighted the work McCarron had done throughout the game.
“He had some huge blocks. He was a dog in the faceoff dot and also on the forecheck,” Lorenz said. “He had some awesome forechecks for our team.”
“And when we had the momentum against us, I think he went out there and did a solid job to turn it back in our favor.”
For Hynes, that decision offered another glimpse into Lorenz’s character.
“New guy in the organization, but just really good head on his shoulders, sharp kid,” Hynes said. “I think a little bit wise beyond his years. He seems like the kind of guy that just gets it. Whether it’s hockey or a little bit of life or a situation, he seems like he’s on top of things.”
Monday’s game also carried additional significance for Lorenz.
The former University of Denver forward is no stranger to Grand Casino Arena, having previously played in the building during his collegiate career.
Now, he’s experiencing those moments on an entirely different stage.
“It’s pretty cool,” Lorenz said. “It seems like all the biggest moments of my hockey career have happened in this arena. So it’s pretty nice to kind of keep on that train.”
“Obviously, we’re so well supported here in Minnesota, and it’s just a pleasure playing in front of these fans.”
For a player just beginning his NHL career, Lorenz has already provided plenty of reasons for the Wild coaching staff to take notice.
His speed has created pressure, his physicality has added another dimension to Minnesota’s bottom six, and his maturity has impressed both teammates and coaches.
Two games certainly aren’t enough to determine what Lorenz’s long-term role with the Wild will look like. But if his first two NHL appearances are any indication, the young forward understands exactly what he needs to do to stick around.
And he isn’t going to shy away from doing it.
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The Vancouver Canucks (2–5–0) begin the second-half of their six-game road trip when they face the New York Islanders (2–3–0) tonight. Both teams will enter today’s game after suffering losses on the weekend. Vancouver comes into today’s game after suffering a 6–2 loss to the New York Rangers on Sunday, while the Islanders’ last matchup saw them lose 5–3 against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.
One of the biggest storylines following the Canucks throughout their road trip thus far has been their goaltending. From back-to-back performances from Kevin Lankinen resulting in six goals-against, to wacky equipment issues for Leevi Meriläinen, Vancouver’s goaltenders have taken center stage since they made it out east.
Things have been especially difficult for Lankinen, who is currently sporting a 6.88 GAA and .786 SV% through the start of the season. While the goaltender has been given relatively difficult matchups in relation to Vancouver’s schedule (such as starts against the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes), Lankinen’s numbers have been worrisome so far through 2026–27. The fact that the Canucks have looked very much like a team still figuring things out defensively doesn’t help.
It’ll be interesting to see who Vancouver opts to start heading into Tuesday’s matchup, though considering the fact that Lankinen technically hasn’t gotten a full game off since October 3 (as he played in five minutes of Saturday’s 4–1 loss to the New Jersey Devils), it’d make sense for Meriläinen to step in against the Islanders.
Players To Watch:
Jonathan Lekkerimäki
One player who has quietly impressed in Vancouver’s first games of the 2026–27 season is Jonathan Lekkerimäki. The forward has spent the majority of the early season on a line with Elias Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk, with the trio doing a consistently fair job of generating offence for their team. His two goals and three assists are currently tied for third on Vancouver in points.
Bo Horvat
Former Canucks always seem to do well against their ex-team, and Bo Horvat is no exception. Since being traded to the Islanders in January of 2023, Horvat has averaged a point-per-game pace against Vancouver through five matchups. He enters today’s game riding a five-game point streak to start the 2026–27 season, with four of these points being goals.
Dec 19, 2025; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) makes a pad save against the Vancouver Canucks during the first period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
Vancouver Canucks (2–5–0):
Points:
Elias Pettersson: 2–6–8
Paul Cotter: 4–2–6
Jake DeBrusk: 3–2–5
Jonathan Lekkerimäki: 2–3–5
Linus Karlsson: 1–4–5
Goaltenders:
Kevin Lankinen: 1–5–0
Leevi Meriläinen: 1–0–0
New York Islanders (2–3–0):
Points:
Bo Horvat: 4–2–6
Brayden Schenn: 2–3–5
Logan Stanley: 0–4–4
Matthew Schaefer: 0–4–4
Jean-Gabriel Pageau: 1–2–3
Goaltenders:
Ilya Sorokin: 2–2–0
Semyon Varlamov: 0–1–0
Game Information:
Start time: 4:45 pm PT
Venue: UBS Arena
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: KiSS West Coast
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(Photo by Tyler McFarland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There is truly no need for preseason NBA games. The season is already too long with an eternal 82-game regular season slate, followed by four more months of the most intense basketball possible for a team to run all the way to the championship. Yet, there’s still about five more preseason games for every team despite the league’s long history of stars playing themselves into shape and pacing their bodies for the eventual postseason run.
Preseason is mostly useless, but it does often allow young players to get an audition for extended minutes they otherwise wouldn’t be seeing until injuries hit in the regular season. A few younger role players have already made a strong case for themselves during the preseason. Now we wait to see if it will translate to when the games start to matter for real with opening night coming on Oct. 20. Check out our list of NBA breakout candidates for more thoughts on the league’s most promising young players.
Here’s a short list of young NBA veterans who have impressed in the preseason so far. It will be interesting to look back on this list at the end of the year and see which performances were real, and which only happened because it was preseason.
Leonard Miller, F, Chicago Bulls
Leonard Miller put together another great game for the Bulls, his been incredible this preseason.
Chris Finch never gave Leonard Miller a chance at real minutes during his first three years in Minnesota. It’s hard for any second-round pick to earn minutes on a contender, and Miller’s shaky outside shooting made him a particularly rough fit in a Wolves front court that already had spacing issues with Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle. Minnesota didn’t hesitate to part with him to acquire Ayo Dosunmu at February’s trade deadline, and that’s when his career finally started to tick up. The Bulls gave him a shot while they were tanking down the stretch, and Miller immediately proved to be productive, well-rounded player who knows how to use his big 6’10, 220-pound frame on both ends of the floor. Miller continues to impress in the preseason as an opportunistic scorer around the basket, a menace in transition, a quality rebounder, and an improved three-point shooter. Miller knows how to extend advantages with long, coordinated strides to the rim, and he has nice touch in close. He looks far more in control than he did earlier in his career. He’s never looked better than he did Sunday night, when he dropped 26 points and seven rebounds in 22 minutes against the Nuggets on ESPN. It’s fair to still be skeptical of his outside shot, but if he’s made any progress there, Miller’s ability to generation extra possessions and score efficiently should earn him minutes. The Bulls have a major glut of young power forwards after spending their last three lottery picks on Caleb Wilson, Matas Buzelis, and Noa Essengue, but Miller is simply too good to keep off the floor this season.
Brandon Williams, G, Golden State Warriors
Warriors Brandon Williams 19 PTS (7-8 FG, 2-2 3P, 97% TS), 1 AST, 1 STL, +12 in 17 minutes vs. Kings
Williams shined for the Mavericks last season in limited minutes filling in for the injured Kyrie Irving at point guard, and the Warriors did well to identify him as a buy-low free agent target this summer. Golden State has never had a point guard with the downhill scoring juice that Williams provides, and it should make him part of Steve Kerr’s rotation as Stephen Curry’s backup when the season begins. Williams is incredibly fast with the ball in his hands, and he’s slippery enough to keep defenders off-balance on his drives to the paint. His ability to glide to the rim and finish from awkward angles will be his bread-and-butter, and it sets up some easy passing reads for him to kick out to shooters. Williams won’t have much defensive versatility, but he looks pretty good guarding in isolation against other smaller guards, and he’s always quick to loose balls. The Warriors got him for an absolute steal on the veteran’s minimum. It’s fair to question how he fits into Steve Kerr’s offense as primarily a pick-and-roll ball handler, but he gives the Warriors an element they’ve always lacked, and that alone should get him rotation minutes.
GG Jackson, F, Memphis Grizzlies
It’s wild to think Jackson is still only 21 years old with three NBA seasons already under his belt, but that’s what happens when a player reclassifies to skip his senior year of high school. Jackson has never lived up to his recruiting hype at any point since heading to college early, but he’s always had the tools to be a productive off-ball scorer. If his preseason run is any indication, he might be putting it all together. He has 43 points in 46 minutes to open preseason, showing new confidence as an outside shooter while looking like a runaway freight train in transition. Jackson has a huge body for a forward at 6’9, 210 pounds, and he uses it to play a power game on the glass and in the open floor. He’s going to help the Grizzlies get up and down around the slower Zach Edey-Cameron Boozer front court, and he looks more decisive in his dribble-pass-shoot actions. Jackson’s size should make him a factor on the glass, and he no longer looks like a liability as a floor spacer. The Grizzlies are loaded with young talent, and he could be another diamond in the rough.
Asa Newell, F, Atlanta Hawks
Asa Newell has an ability to run into easy points just by using his god given tools. He’s an excellent run-and-jump athlete for a 6’11, 224-pound forward, and he’s kept his motor high in the preseason by moving without the ball and finishing everything around the rim. Newell’s skill set might feel a little outdated in the modern game when forwards are expected to be able to handle and shoot, but Atlanta’s up-tempo system should allow him to find more opportunistic avenues to make an impact. Newell isn’t going to be a creator, but he can put the ball on the floor in small doses to set up spin moves and step-throughs around the basket. His outside shot looked okay in low volume last year, and while that hasn’t been part of his preseason success, it’s something that will continue to be vital for him going forward. He’s a pretty nimble player when he gets in close, and he’s powerful enough as a two-footed leaper that it’s going to hard to challenge him around the rim. It’s still a bit of a question on how Newell fits into this version of the Hawks, but he could have some utility as a garbage man-style player just by keeping his energy high.
Kel’el Ware, C, Milwaukee Bucks
Ware always seemed to be in Erik Spoelstra’s doghouse in Miami, but it’s possible the lessons he learned with the Heat can help him take the next step in his career after being sent to Milwaukee in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade. Ware’s tools have never been a question as a super bouncy big man with a 7’4+ wingspan, and he’s always produced great highlights playing above the rim on both ends. The issue for Ware has been keeping his motor consistent while executing the scheme, but the early returns look good in preseason so far for the Bucks. Ware shoots such an easy ball from three-point range and has the results to back it up with a 36.9% stroke on 5.3 attempts from three per 100 possessions for his career. He started next to Myles Turner in the front court for the Bucks’ most recent game, giving Milwaukee two 7-footers who can space the floor beyond the arc. Ware has a massive catch and block radius when he goes above the rim, and he’s going to gobble up rebounds, blocks, and dunks on his tools alone. He just needs to stay focused enough to earn head coach Taylor Jenkins’ trust. A fresh start could be exactly what Ware needs to take the next step in his career.
Henderson was a bit underwhelming in his first two seasons after being the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, and a torn hamstring delayed his debut until February last season. When he finally returned to the lineup, Henderson looked more comfortable playing off the ball while refining his ability as a shot-creator. Portland is no longer counting on him to be a savior with Damian Lillard and Ja Morant in front of him on the depth chart, but it’s going to be hard to keep him off the floor if he stays on the trajectory he’s currently hinting at during preseason. The game no longer feels too fast for Scoot: he’s more composed making reads as a passer, and he’s more confident shooting it from deep whether it’s off the dribble or on spot-ups. He gets a lot of deflections on the defensive end, and he’s good at challenging shots with his explosion off the floor. Henderson learned he wasn’t going to be able to dominate the NBA on athleticism alone, but he’s in a better spot now that his skill level has started to match his speed and strength. He’s playing for a contract next summer, and if the Blazers don’t want to pay him under Tom Dundon, another team will.
Ron Holland, G, Detroit Pistons
Holland entered a tough situation when he was drafted to a Pistons team that already had two non-shooters entrenched in the starting lineup in Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren. The outside shot has always been the biggest hole in Holland’s game, but it shouldn’t conceal everything else he does well on the basketball floor. Holland has always been a maniac in terms of his motor on both ends of the floor, and it excelled again in his preseason debut, when he amassed seven ‘stocks’ (steals and blocks) in 24 minutes. Forcing defensive takeaways allows him to get in the open floor, where his speed, leaping, and agility can all shine. Holland doesn’t need the ball to make an impact, although he’s not much of a threat away from the ball offensively in the halfcourt. It feels like he may have to move to a different team to really have a chance to stand out, but his defensive projection and transition ability continue to intrigue. It would be wonderful to see Detroit give him a real chance in different lineup configurations to see if his per-minute impact numbers could extend to a bigger role.
PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Michael Forret #39 of the Tampa Bay Rays throws a pitch during the fourth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the New York Mets at Clover Park on March 19, 2026 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Michael Forret isn’t just a pitching prospect. He’s also a potentially fascinating science experiment.
You’ve heard of Rays Pitching Magic, right? The Tampa Bay organization, currently battling for the American League pennant, has a reputation for sprinkling metaphorical pixie dust on their pitchers to suddenly transform them into unhittable behemoths. The Rays have worked their magic both on journeyman major leaguers — witness Bryan Baker morphing from an unreliable middle reliever into the best closer in baseball — and also on prospects, refining flawed youngsters into MLB-quality hurlers.
So that brings up a question. What happens when the Rays get hold of a new prospect from another organization, bolster him with their sorcery for a few months, and then send him back from whence he came? Can their pitching magic hold strong once the player returns to his original organization, or will he inevitably backslide without the Rays’ instructors to help him?
Michael Forret is the case study for that very scenario. The 22-year-old Oriole-turned-Ray-turned-Oriole-again spent just under eight months soaking up Tampa Bay’s wisdom and know-how. Now he’ll hope to bring what he learned back to the Birds, with an eye on potentially making his major league debut next year.
Forret (pronounced for-ETT) has become a sought-after prospect since his humble pro beginnings as the Orioles’ 14th round draft pick in 2023. The North Carolina native was a junior college pick from State College of Florida, a school whose most successful MLB player in history was — and you’re not going to like this — Glenn Davis (19.7 WAR).
Almost immediately in the O’s minors, Forret showed the kind of success that belied his late-round draft status. In 2024, he posted a 3.88 ERA and 11.2 K/9 for Low-A Delmarva and then-High-A Aberdeen, flashing increased velocity from his junior college days. But it was 2025 when he really broke onto the scene. At age 21, Forret dominated High-A to the tune of a 1.51 ERA in 16 games (15 starts) with a sparkling 11.5 K/9 and 0.804 WHIP. He slashed his walk rate dramatically from the previous year, from 4.0 BB/9 to 2.6. He earned a promotion to Double-A Chesapeake and made three excellent starts there as well.
Forret’s 2025 dominance saw him rocket up the Orioles’ prospect chart. He rose to #11 in MLB Pipeline’s O’s prospect rankings, one of the organization’s highest-regarded young pitchers. A year later, he’s #10. “He’s not your typical overpowering starter,” Pipeline writes. “The 6-foot-3 right-hander beats hitters with deception, a deep arsenal and command. There’s some crossfire action in his delivery, making him tough on right-handed hitters.”
The Rays are among the teams who took notice of Forret. And when the Orioles were looking to strike a deal last winter for cost-controlled starter Shane Baz, they ultimately agreed to include Forret as part of the five-player return package on Dec. 19. And so began the youngster’s journey with the developmental wizards in Tampa Bay.
Forret hit the ground running with the Rays, dominating with Double-A Montgomery. In 10 starts with the Biscuits, he was 6-0 with a 2.15 ERA, 1.049 WHIP, and 9.3 K/9. Even with a fastball that averages only 92 mph, Forret continued to demonstrate quality command and deception to get batters out. Writes FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen: “He attacks righties around their hands with the fastball and then dots sliders on the black away from them, while he jams lefties around theirs with cutters and sliders, and then forces them to choose between covering elevated fastballs or his sinking cambio (changeup).”
In June, Forret moved up to Triple-A for the first time, and the adjustment wasn’t exactly smooth. In two of his first three starts with Durham, he was battered for five runs. But he adapted quickly. He posted a 2.89 ERA in his next six starts, holding batters to a .645 OPS, and might have been in the Rays’ plans for a big league promotion late in the season.
And that’s when the Orioles came into the picture again.
At the trade deadline, the Rays were in the market for a setup man, and the Birds’ Tyler Wells was in their sights. The Orioles targeted a familiar face as their return piece. And voila, Michael Forret was back in the O’s organization in a one-for-one swap on Aug. 3.
“Getting the call that I was coming back to Baltimore was kind of a surreal experience,” Forret said in a MASN interview. “I obviously wasn’t expecting that, but I’m super excited to be back.”
So did Forret bring the Rays’ fairy dust back with him to the O’s organization? Well…the early returns aren’t great.
The O’s assigned Forret to Triple-A Norfolk, where he made five starts before the season ended. The results: a 6.35 ERA, 10.3 H/9, and 5.6 BB/9. Batters tagged him for an .804 OPS. Still, in such a small sample size, it’s hard to read too much into those lousy numbers. Forret had one particularly rough outing — an eight-run, 10-hit debacle against Gwinnett — but didn’t give up more than two runs in any other start.
Was Forret getting drastically different instruction from the Orioles’ coaches than he did in Tampa Bay? Not really, according to him.
“Now that I’m back, I’m seeing there’s more similarities than differences,” Forret said. “I think that a lot of what Tampa did was just pitch to your strengths, which was a very similar process to what we do over here. Be in the zone and understand the importance of getting ahead in counts, winning your 1-1 counts. [That] has become a big shift over here and they’re doing the same thing over here now, too.”
But Forret did learn at least one thing during his stint with Tampa Bay.
“I picked up a cutter with the Rays,” he said. “That’s a big pitch for the Rays organization. They want their pitchers throwing cutters. So I tried picking it up after I got traded. Starting getting the hang of it, and then in spring training finally fine-tuned it and everything. And that’s been a nice pitch for me to have this season, just to kind of bridge in between my fastballs and my sweeper [and] my changeup.”
Forret will start the 2027 season at Norfolk (assuming he’s added to the 40-man roster this offseason, and isn’t traded back to the Rays), where he’ll need to prove that his stuff will play against higher-level hitters. The 22-year-old righty has his flaws, and he might not have the highest upside of the Orioles’ stable of pitching prospects. But if the O’s need to dip into the minors for pitching help in 2027, they should make sure they don’t miss the Forret for the trees.
YAY! Cleveland made the ALCS and won Game 1! Go Cleveland!
(This is SO HARD to say, but) YAY! The Brewers won! They beat the Dodgers twice, the Evil Empire, Part II!
GO Brewers! (ouch)
There’s an article below that describes a major change to baseball that is being tested in the AFL — Forcing outfielders to lineup in a particular spot prior to each pitch. This is to promote more extra-base hits. AWESOME!
Why not just eliminate singles — make every hit to the outfield an automatic double!Just think, PCA can set the MLB doubles and triples records by August!
This is stupid. Way back when, when infielders extremely overloaded the hitter’s power side — that was hurting baseball as nearly every ball hit in that direction was an automatic out. It was damaging the game.
Much differently, outfielders cover a much larger area and make adjustments by more that whether the hitters are dominant to one field. For each individual hitter, scouting and spray charts determine if the outfielder needs to move more to the power side, or less. If they need to move deeper, or shallower. It is detailed, studied analysis, not a “Here’s a LH batter — everybody move to the second base side.”
Instead, MLB wants to put a ball and chain on outfielders. Which is surprising, because while I disagree, a large number of people think that snaring a home run over an eight-foot fence is the most exciting play in baseball. If it was a 10-foot fence, sure, that would be really impressive. (I almost went into a diatribe of what I think are more exciting plays, but I digress).
Why not control outfielders like you do video games? Have a coach with a joystick control how effective an outfielder’s play is. (I better be careful — someone may be watching).
Bottom line — the extreme infield shift hurt baseball. Constricting outfielders to certain spots of the field is fixing something that doesn’t need fixing. We have way too many ERAs that are at or above 5.00 already. Is this a “fix” to dominant pitchers like the Miz — while he’s striking out 14 a game, allow almost every ball hit to the outfield will fall for a hit. That would improve baseball!
Bullhockeypucks! Looks like I’ll head out to a AFL game soon (I was going to, anyway). Read the story — more interesting points than I have room to write about. 🙂
I appreciate your reading.
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The Change MLB is Considering That Would Damage Baseball:
Granville Henry “Stick” McGhee (March 23, 1918 – August 15, 1961) was an American jump blues guitarist, singer and songwriter, best known for his blues song “Drinkin’ Wine, Spo-Dee-O-Dee“. McGhee grew up in Kingsport, Tennessee. He received his nickname when he was a child. He used a stick to push a wagon carrying his older brother Brownie McGhee, who had contracted polio. Granville began playing the guitar when he was thirteen years old. After his freshman year he dropped out of high school and worked with his father at the Eastman Kodak subsidiary. In 1940, Granville quit his job and moved to Portsmouth, Virginia, and then to New York City. He entered the military in 1942, and when he was discharged in 1946, he settled in New York.
In the military, McGhee often played his guitar. One of the songs he performed was “Drinkin’ Wine, Spo-Dee-O-Dee”, one of the earliest prototypical rock-and-roll songs. Cover versions were recorded by Wynonie Harris, Lionel Hampton, Big John Greer, Johnny Burnette, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Mike Bloomfield‘s Electric Flag. McGhee continued to make records for Atlantic and created popular songs, but his music career overall was not successful. He recorded a number of rock-and-roll songs, such a “Whiskey, Women and Loaded Dice”, “Head Happy with Wine”, and “Get Your Mind Out of the Gutter”. However, he was unable to make money from his records. He retired from the music industry in 1960.[5] He became ill shortly afterward and died in August 1961 of lung cancer.
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.
DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 12: Starting pitcher Tanner Gordon #29 of the Colorado Rockies talks with catcher Hunter Goodman #15 during the second inning of a game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on September 12, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, Purple Row!
The MLB offseason is all about trade rumors in a typical year, but with a looming lockout and an anticipated busy November, chatter is picking up.
And the Colorado Rockie getting attention is catcher Hunter Goodman. (Hey, 41 home runs and three years of team control have that effect.) Remember all that speculation we did prior to the trade deadline? Let’s get ready to do it all again.
There were questions as to whether the Rockies should have made that move last summer, but given that Goodman’s trade value has only increased, Paul DePodesta’s decision to wait seems like a savvy move. But get ready for the speculation to increase.
November should be a busy (and interesting) month.
In today’s Rockpile, look for an interview I conducted with Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer 10 days ago.
In the meantime, here’s what’s happening today.
Rockies news & links
New York Yankees must trade for 41-HR superstar catcher amid rumors | Heavy Sports — In the wake of the Yankees disappointing postseason performance, Michael DeRosa argues, they need to make changes, and one of them should be acquiring Hunter Goodman. Hey, TJ Rumfield worked out pretty well. What are you offering, Brian Cashman?
Ranking the top 25 MLB trade chips for 2026-27 offseason | Bleacher Report — Goodman comes in at #5. “After a fourth straight 100-loss season, nothing should be off the table as the Rockies explore ways to improve,” Joel Reuter writes. “The asking price will be high given his remaining control, but he might be the most impactful power bat on the market.“
I’m going to start dropping in an occasional podcast given the contracted Rockies coverage we’re seeing. So here are Ryan Spilborghs and Troy Renck discussing the playoffs as recent negotiations between MLB and the MLBPA.
