Category: Sports News

Worldwide Sports News

Posted on

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Paul George suspension opens up opportunity for Kelly Oubre Jr.

We’re just two weeks out from the All-Star break, and “silly season” is right around the corner. To prepare for these end-of-season shenanigans, most of the players listed in this week’s column play for teams who aren’t expected to make the playoffs.

Moussa Diabaté and the surging Hornets are an exception, and so is Collin Murray-Boyles, who continues to play well for the fourth-seeded Toronto Raptors. This week’s top add, Kelly Oubre Jr., is set for big minutes with Paul George suspended until at least March 25 due to violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy.

Ace Bailey is getting hot after a slow start to his rookie campaign, and Ty Jerome wasted no time getting back into the action in Saturday’s season debut. Dylan Cardwell’s role continues to grow, and Kyle Kuzma should stick with the starters until Giannis Antetokounmpo is available again.

Below are the top fantasy basketball waiver wire adds for Week 16.

 Want more fantasy coverage and Rotoworld player news in your Google feed?

Add NBCSports.com as a preferred source to see more Rotoworld insight, betting analysis, and breaking player news across NFL, NBA, MLB, and college football.

→ Watch an NBA doubleheader on Peacock on Monday night, as the Timberwolves take on the Grizzlies at 7:30 p.m. ET before the 76ers square off against the Clippers at 10 p.m. ET!

Priority Adds

1. Kelly Oubre Jr.
2. Ace Bailey
3. Saddiq Bey
4. Moussa Diabaté
5. Dylan Cardwell
6. Ty Jerome
7. Jarace Walker
8. Collin Murray-Boyles
9. Kyle Kuzma
10. Day’Ron Sharpe

Saddiq Bey, New Orleans Pelicans (41 percent rostered)

Bey is right on the fringe of being featured in this article due to his surging roster percentage, but he’s been too good to ignore. I’ll include him for one last week before he’s taken in more than half of Yahoo! leagues. Over his last six games, Bey has averaged 25.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.5 steals and 3.2 triples across 32.2 minutes. He's been a strong source of points, steals, triples and boards, contributing across the board and offering top-10 per-game fantasy value over the last week.

Kelly Oubre Jr., Philadelphia 76ers (31 percent rostered)

Oubre Jr. has started eight straight games with averages of 15.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.4 blocks and 2.0 triples. He posted a 19/10/4 line on Saturday, and more big games could be on the horizon. Paul George is serving a 25-game suspension, which clears the runway for Oubre Jr. to take on an expanded role. Oubre Jr. had standalone value with PG available, but he gets a significant boost with this expanded opportunity.

Ace Bailey, Utah Jazz (29 percent rostered)

The rookie has started 11 straight games, and he’s turned up his production over his last seven. In those seven games, Bailey has posted 16 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.6 blocks and 2.0 triples across 30.3 minutes. Bailey has shot 47.5% from the floor and a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line. The No. 5 pick is heating up, and fantasy managers should add him while they can.

Moussa Diabaté, Charlotte Hornets (27 percent rostered)

Diabaté continues to see big minutes as Charlotte’s starting center, averaging 30 minutes across his last five outings. In that span, the big man has averaged 12.6 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.6 steals and 1.0 swats while shooting 73% from the floor. Ryan Kalkbrenner's run with the first unit is over, and it appears to be Diabaté's job to lose.

NBA: Denver Nuggets at Milwaukee Bucks
Fantasy Basketball Week 16 Schedule Primer: The trade deadline is here!
Deadline week is also the final full week of play before the All-Star break.

Kyle Kuzma, Milwaukee Bucks (26 percent rostered)

Kuz has taken on an increased workload with Giannis Antetokounmpo on the sideline, averaging 17.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.3 triples across 33.3 minutes over his last three games. He ranks 101st in per-game fantasy value over the last week, and he should remain with the first unit until Giannis returns.

Collin Murray-Boyles, Toronto Raptors (25 percent rostered)

After a four-game absence, Murray-Boyles has started three straight games and logged 28.3 minutes per tilt. In those contests, he’s averaged 6.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.3 swats while shooting 50% from the floor. His value as a scorer and rebounder has been minimal, but he’s been elite on the defensive end, and fantasy managers should pick him up if he was dropped.

Ty Jerome, Memphis Grizzlies (21 percent rostered)

Jerome made his season debut in Saturday’s loss to Minnesota, and he made an impact right away. The offensive-minded guard started the game and posted a 20/1/6/1 line with two triples in just 19 minutes. Cam Spencer was on a roll, but Jerome’s immediate insertion into the starting lineup and surprisingly productive night were not expected. Jerome put up some monster lines for the Cavs last season, so Saturday’s showing is not a fluke.

Jarace Walker, Indiana Pacers (17 percent rostered)

Over his last five outings (four starts), Walker has posted 16.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.8 steals and 2.2 triples across 27.6 minutes. The stretch big shot 52.6% from the floor and 76.5% from the charity stripe in that span, offering serviceable efficiency. Walker looks like he’s found a permanent spot in the starting five, and he’s doing enough in multiple categories to be rostered in standard leagues. Add him while he’s still available.

Detroit Pistons v Cleveland Cavaliers
2026 NBA All-Star Game reserves: Anthony Edwards, Donovan Mitchell in, who got snubbed?
The teams included first timers such as Jamal Murray and Jalen Duren, while LeBron is in for the 22nd time.

Day’Ron Sharpe (12 percent rostered)

Over his last six games, Sharpe has averaged 8.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.2 blocks across 19.2 minutes. He continues to come off the bench behind Nic Claxton, but Sharpe is a great source of rebounds, steals and FG% who is widely available. He’s got tremendous upside for bigger numbers if Claxton is forced to miss time or if Brooklyn gives him a longer look down the stretch of another lost season.

Dylan Cardwell, Sacramento Kings (11 percent rostered)

Cardwell has recorded at least one blocked shot in nine straight games. Over those nine games, he’s averaged 5.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.8 steals and 2.1 swats while shooting 75% from the field. The big man has seen his playing time tick up, logging 22.9 minutes in that span, and he could be in line for even more moving forward. His two-way deal was converted to a standard contract following the De’Andre Hunter trade, and with Sacramento out of the playoff picture, Cardwell could be an end-of-season stud.

Other options:Bobby Portis (40%), Brandin Podziemski (39%), Tari Eason (38%), Jaylon Tyson (33%), Malik Monk (22%), Julian Champagnie (20%), Davion Mitchell (19%), Sam Hauser (18%), Tim Hardaway Jr. (16%), Mitchell Robinson (13%), De’Anthony Melton (10%), Jordan Miller (8%), Dominick Barlow (5%)

Posted on

The Hardest Shot In The NHL This Season Belongs To An Ottawa Senator

A lot of good things happened on Saturday night in the Senators 4-1 win over the visiting New Jersey Devils. The Sens played an excellent game, Linus Ullmark was excellent in his return, and the club won their third game in a row.

But Sens defenseman Tyler Kleven also did something cool. According to NHL Public Relations, the 24-year-old unleashed the hardest slapshot in the NHL this season.

Kleven's shot was clocked at 103.51 miles per hour, harder than shots by the former leader, Boston forward Morgan Geekie (103.03 MPH), and New York Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock (103.01), both recorded back in November.

Steve Warne discusses the recent play of Nick Cousins and if the Sens should re-sign him.
Image

Kleven really stepped into one on Saturday hammering the puck more than eight miles per hour harder than any of his other shots this season. He now stands tied for 10th among defensemen with 20 shots that have been recorded at over 90 miles per hour.

Along with Geekie (2) and Pulock (3), two other NHL players have recorded multiple 100-plus mph shot attempts this season. They are Winnipeg Jets defenseman Colin Miller and Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Louis Crevier (three each). 

Kleven has 10 points in 49 games this season, already matching the total he had in 79 games in his rookie season last year. He's also seen an uptick in ice time, going from 14:28 to 16:46.

Kleven and the Senators return to action on Monday night in Pittsburgh, opening a stretch where they play eight of the next nine games on the road.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News 

This story is from The Hockey News Ottawa. You can visit the site here or click on one of their latest articles below:

Ottawa 4 New Jersey 1: Linus Ullmark Makes 26 Saves In Senators Return
Two-Time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning Attends Senators-Devils Game In Ottawa
Why The Ottawa Senators Should Call Up Top Prospect Carter Yakemchuk
Senators' Difficult Path To The Playoffs: What's It Going To Take?

Posted on

Game Preview: Ottawa Senators @ Pittsburgh Penguins 2/2/2026

PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 30: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins battles against Ridly Greig #71 of the Ottawa Senators at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 30, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

Who:Ottawa Senators (26-21-7, 59 points, 7th place Atlantic Division) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (28-14-11, 67 points, 2nd place Metropolitan Division)

When: 7:00 p.m. eastern

How to Watch: Locally broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh, streaming on ESPN+

Pens’ Path Ahead: The Olympic break is rapidly approaching, the Pens have two more road games (tomorrow night on Long Island, then Thursday in Buffalo) before putting a pin in the NHL season for three weeks.

Opponent Track: It’s high time for the Senators to get it in gear if they want to salvage their season with a playoff run, and they just might be getting that rolling. Ottawa has won three straight games, in impressive fashion by a 16-4 total score over Vegas, Colorado and New Jersey. Overall they’re 6-2-2 in the last 10 games. After tonight, the Sens fly to Carolina to play the Hurricanes tomorrow, so they’ll have to keep those considerations in mind with some lineup/goalie decisions.

Season Series: Ottawa won a 4-0 game back on December 18th in the first matchup of the year. After tonight, the Pens go back to Ottawa on March 26th for the third and final game.

Hidden Stat: The Penguins have not been a good matchup with Ottawa lately. The Sens are 8-1-1 against Pittsburgh since the start of the 2022-23 season.

Getting to know the Senators

Projected lines

FORWARDS

Drake Batherson – Tim Stutzle – Claude Giroux

Brady Tkachuk – Dylan Cozens – Ridley Greig

Nick Cousins – Shane Pinto – Michael Amadio

Stephen Halliday – Lars Eller – Fabian Zetterlund

DEFENSEMEN

Jake Sanderson / Artem Zub

Thomas Chabot / Nick Jensen

Tyler Kleven / Jordan Spence

Goalies: Linus Ullmark and James Reimer

Potential scratches: Kurtis MacDermid, Nikolas Matinpalo

Injured Reserve: David Perron

  • Ullmark started on Saturday stopping 26/27 shots in his first game back from a month-long personal leave of absence for mental health reasons. That battle was compounded by unfounded rumors via social media.
  • Giroux, 38, doesn’t have a contract for next season. Not sure if he intends to retire or not but always a chance for someone in his position that tonight could be his last game playing against the Pens in Pittsburgh. Same could probably be pointed out for the aged former Penguins Perron and Eller in the last year of their contracts and the final visit to Pittsburgh on the season scheduled tonight (although Perron won’t be playing tonight due to injury).

Season stats
via hockeydb

  • Ottawa’s an interesting team in that they’ve put the pieces together with several high draft picks, now it should be time to see what they can do. They’re not exactly young-young for an NHL team (everyone is 23+) and almost all of their core (Tkachuk, Batherson, Chabot, Sanderson, Stutzle) has all been around and together for 4-5-6 seasons now in a lot of cases. It looked like they might have been turning the corner when they qualified for the playoffs last year for the first time since Chris Kunitz bounced them in 2017, but it’s been right back down this season so far.
  • As we’re about to discuss, there’s no mystery why the team is in the position they are in..

Key to the game: Exploiting Ottawa’s goaltending

It’s no exaggeration to say the Senators have had their season derailed by goaltending. Hockey is a complex sport where factors from several different areas all matter and add up, but in this instance it’s pretty simple: the Senators haven’t gotten enough goaltending to be competitive. With such a poor foundation to build upon, it’s just impossible to go anywhere.

Of course, the big hope is that the worst could be behind them if Ullmark is able to play up to his capabilities – he’s been one of the league’s better goalies in prior years with Boston and Buffalo. The physical tools and abilities are there, his step away from the team to get the mental areas under control could be the key to the season at this point for the Sens. They can’t keep up with those types of inputs (best xG defense, worst goaltending) and expect to go far.

That makes for a simple but ruthless game plan for the Pens. Go knock down the confidence. The Pens have been one of the NHL’s best first period teams this year, getting out to an early lead and deflating the confidence of the goalie and whole team would be a clean and easy path to a win tonight. Don’t let them get on track in that area and take advantage of what’s been shaky at best as Ullmark looks to keep building back up, assuming he plays since Ottawa has another game tomorrow. If it’s not Ullmark, then the task becomes picking on an almost 38-year old James Reimer.

And now for the Pens

Projected lines 

FORWARDS

Rickard Rakell – Sidney Crosby – Justin Brazeau

Egor Chinakhov  – Tommy Novak – Evgeni Malkin

Rutger McGroarty – Ben Kindel – Anthony Mantha

Connor Dewar – Blake Lizotte – Noel Acciari

DEFENSEMEN

Parker Wotherspoon / Erik Karlsson

Brett Kulak / Ryan Shea

Ilya Solovyov / Connor Clifton

Goalies:  Arturs Silovs and Stuart Skinner

Potential Scratches: Bryan Rust (serving the third game of his three-game suspension), Kevin Hayes

IR: Kris Letang (broken foot, out at least four weeks), Ryan Graves, Filip Hallander, Caleb Jones, Jack St. Ivany

  • You can tell Evgeni Malkin is gutting it out with his shoulder seemingly giving him more problems with every passing game in the last handful of games. Will he be able to make it to the Olympic break?
  • This will be the last game without Rust playing, at least. And with the inspired way McGroarty has been flying around the team still figures to have some decent options for the rest of the week, even though it obviously would be difficult to replace someone with the weight that comes with having a Malkin-type star in the lineup.
  • After Skinner had perhaps his sloppiest game as a Penguin on Saturday against the Rangers, does the team now turn to giving Silovs two out of the three games in the Mon-Tues-Thurs split? Makes sense as of now.

Winning streak leaders

Not a Crosby or Rakell or Karlsson to be found in the team’s top scorers of the course of their six-game winning streak. The contributions are coming from everywhere, most notably and noticeably from their impressive fourth line of Dewar, Lizotte and Acciari seemingly always putting their imprint on a game. That Mantha-Kindel connection has really been coming through and paying big dividends too.

Posted on

NHL Player Props & Best Bets for Today, February 2: Hughes Takes Aim

There are 10 games scheduled across the National Hockey League this evening. My NHL player props for all the action will include Quinn Hughes, Cole Caufield, and Rasmus Dahlin. 

Read more in my NHL picks for Monday, February 2. 

Best NHL player prop bets today

PlayerBet99
Wild Quinn Hughes Over 2.5 SOG<<-105>>
Canadiens Cole Caufield anytime goal<<+135>>
Sabres Rasmus Dahlin Over 0.5 assists<<-105>>

Get a first bet encore up to $800 — no BET99 promo code neededGet a first bet encore up to $800 with BET99 bonus code COVERSNHL.
(not available in Ontario)

Our best NHL player props for Monday, February 2

Take a look at our best bets and expert analysis below.

Prop #1: Quinn Hughes Over 2.5 shots on goal

-105 at BET99

Quinn Hughes has been fantastic since coming over to the Minnesota Wild, and he’s riding an eight-game point streak. However, there’s not a lot of value in the Over for his points prop, so I’m focusing on Hughes’ ability to put pucks on net. 

The defenseman is averaging 2.72 SOG this season, and he’s cashed the Over in back-to-back contests. Hughes had three shots on target in a 7-3 win over the Oilers on Saturday and had another four last Thursday against the Flames. 

Hughes is averaging 3.08 SOG at home this season, and the Wild will welcome the Montreal Canadiens to Saint Paul this evening.

  • Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, FDSN North

Prop #2: Cole Caufield anytime goal

+135 at BET99

We shift over to the Habs for my second prop. Cole Caufield is having another fantastic campaign for Montreal, which looks poised to make the playoffs. The American has scored 32 goals, which leads the team. 

Caufield ranks third in the league in scoring, and he’s found the back of the net in seven of his last eight appearances, including twice in a victory against the Sabres on Saturday. 

January was huge for the 25-year-old, as he scored 13 goals. He also netted against the Wild last month and will keep it rolling.

  • Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, FDSN North

Prop #3: Rasmus Dahlin Over 0.5 assists

-105 at BET99

Rasmus Dahlin continues to impress as a playmaker for the Buffalo Sabres. He’s registered 33 helpers in 2025-26, and in January, the 25-year-old handed out nine assists. He’s hit the Over in three consecutive outings. 

During that span, Dahlin has four helpers. He had an assist in a loss to the Canadiens on Saturday, and also handed out another helper a couple of days before that against the Kings. 

The Sabres take on the Florida Panthers tonight, and Dahlin has two assists against them this season across two meetings. He’s also tallied 17 helpers on the road.

  • Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: MSG-B, SCRIPPS

These props are available now at BET99, one of our best betting sites.

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

MORE NHL FREE PICKS

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

Posted on

White Sox Discussions: Which loss in White Sox history still bothers you the most?

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 10: Michael Kopech #34 of the Chicago White Sox reacts after giving up a two run home run to Kyle Tucker #30 of the Houston Astros in the third inning during Game 3 of the ALDS at Guaranteed Rate Field on Sunday, October 10, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois.

We are launching a new daily article here at South Side Sox, more prominently than our items that pop up on The Feed. It falls under the category of White Sox Discussions, which you’ll see in a few weeks will also be our new branding for Game Threads.

Given recent events, there are more and more Crosstown losses to get hot and bothered over. And there have been playoff losses that stung: 1959, 1983, 2000, 2008, 2020, 2021. Some bonehead plays have keyed comical and tragic losses on the South Side. Or maybe it’s a historic loss from 2024, be it No. 107 to break the franchise mark or 121 to set the all-time modern record.

With the team just needing to fall six games worse than .500 to reach the lowest mark in franchise history, there are 9,714 regular season losses and another 32 in the postseason. But which is the one you cannot shake?

Posted on

Monday Morning Texas Rangers Update

Jul 22, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (5) celebrates with Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien (2) after the game against the Athletics at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Good morning.

Evan Grant writes that the Texas Rangers have done the heavy lifting as far as winter roster moves, but there are still a handful of budget free agents that could make sense ahead of spring training.

At The Athletic, Jim Bowden grades each club’s offseason moves and hands out passing marks to the Rangers for their offseason maneuvering.

Matt Snyder ranks and grades the free agent shortstop signings from recent years where Corey Seager’s deal with Texas lands at No. 1. Winning the World Series as World Series MVP will do that.

And, Russell Dorsey checks out the upcoming top spring training storylines for each team with the hunt to get back to October being the theme for Texas this year.

Have a nice day!

Posted on

Which year permanently changed how you watch baseball?

This photo is from Opening Day 2006, with the Braves playing the Dodgers in Los Angeles.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 3: Dodger Stadium is shown during the Atlanta Braves game against the Los Angeles Dodgers during an opening day game at Dodger Stadium on April 3, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. The Braves defeated the Dodgers 11-10. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) | Getty Images

So, I don’t know if I have been doing daily questions for over a year, but it feels like I have.

Meanwhile, a few days ago, the powers that be put together a set of generic questions that can be used throughout the month of February, and shared them with us. Some are redundant with things I’ve probably asked before. Some just kinda feel off to me. But, some, well, they make coming up with prompts easier since, well, I don’t have to. It’s just ye olde copy-paste and off we go.

This is one of those.

I don’t really know what angle people will take when they read it. I guess the most common is, “My team did/didn’t do X, so now I do/don’t expect Y.” But I guess you can be more literal. Like, I have two thoughts in response initially. I also have a ton more if I just think a bit. Here are a few from me:

  • 2015: juiced ball time. Got the gears turning on what building a team meant in 2015 as opposed to the trend towards pitching dominance pre-2015.
  • 2023: first year of the pitch clock. This is really literal but… before the pitch clock, I had a rhythm going where much baseball was watched while working or doing other stuff, and I had pitchers timed pretty well to be able to look up for the pitch and then go back to whatever I was doing in between pitches. The pitch clock completely ruined this; there’s now not enough time to actually do anything in between pitches. Some might say that’s the point, but it’s made it more that now baseball is on in the background while I do things that either prevent me from seeing each pitch, or that I don’t need to look to do (like washing dishes).
  • 2006: Nothing to do with baseball, but this was my first season that started when I was at college. Before 2006, I watched basically every game from 2001-2005 because there wasn’t much impeding me. In 2006 I had to transition to lugging my laptop with MLB.tv around for day games, making arrangements at my part-time jobs to leave before games, and really started watching games as a secondary thing as opposed to appointment viewing.

Anyway, that’s me. What about you?

Posted on

What is something about the Phillies that still bothers you the most?

The Phillies can annoy us. There are things that they do that can get on our nerves, whether it be a questionable decision by the manager during a game (I’m still not over The Bunt), a trade that was made that returned virtually nothing (that’s all they got for Schilling?) or a season that ended worse than what we believed it would be.

So for today’s question, the question: what is something about the Phillies that still bothers you the most? For fans of a different age, this question could be answered different ways. Take me, for example. The Bunt that Rob Thomson called for may not have been the difference in the series against the Dodgers last year, but you have to wonder what might have been had they been able to score Nick Castellanos from second.

Maybe you’re still sore over Cliff Lee being unable to pitch a good Game 2 of the 2011 NLDS, a series that should have seen the Phillies go to, and win, the World Series.

Maybe it’s Black Friday in 1977 where Bruce Froemming had his eyes closed when deciding if Davey Lopes was safe or out.

The possibilities are endless!

Posted on

MLB News: Eugenio Suarez, Riley Greene, World Baseball Classic, Shohei Ohtani, Padres sale

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 08: Riley Greene #31 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Seattle Mariners during the sixth inning of game four of the American League Division Series at Comerica Park on October 08, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Happy Monday, everyone! We’re getting ever closer to pitchers and catchers reporting, and we’re officially in the same month as Spring Training, so the offseason is almost over, and hot stove season is winding down. In fact, the few remaining players still looking for a team are almost entirely starting pitchers, so we could still see some moves from the Tigers before pitchers and catchers report, as the Tigers look to bolster their starting rotation (or their bullpen, depending on what they feel like focusing on).

Still some fun stories to get into to start the week, so we’ll just jump right into it.

Detroit Tigers News

  • The Tigers are celebrating Black History Month by celebrating the players who helped make the team great.
  • Well we could have told anyone this.

AL Central News

MLB News

  • Could be an interesting thing for many players who weren’t able to get insurance (though it’s highly unlikely any team would assume the liability.)
  • Countdown!!!
Posted on

Question of the day: is there room for both Colt Emerson and Ben Williamson on the 2026 roster?

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 08: Ben Williamson #9 of the Seattle Mariners at bat during the game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on July 08, 2025 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Mariners 10-3. (Photo by Evan Bernstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Continuing the experiment where I’m drawing conversations from the Moose Tracks out to give them more space, Husky Mariner asked the other day if there’s room for both Ben Williamson and Colt Emerson on the 2026 Mariners roster. (We’re going to assume Opening Day, optimized roster, in this situation, not the Frankenlineups that sometimes get run out in the dog days due to injury or ineffectiveness.)

To me, I think either of those players would be given the keys to third and second base, respectively; neither of them are going to be on the roster to be bench players. That creates a series of conditions: in this case, Emerson has supplanted Cole Young at second base, which feels unlikely at this moment in time, although who knows how things will play out this spring. I will say I’m higher on Colt Emerson than I’ve ever been after considering his body of work this past season and spending time with him this weekend at Fan Fest. It’s maybe less of a stretch to consider Ben Williamson being permanently installed at third base, especially after Eugenio Suárez signed with the Reds yesterday, extinguishing the last ray of hope Mariners fans might have been stoking for a good vibes reunion.

This setup leaves Cole Young returned to Triple-A with his options, the platoon of Victor Robles/Luke Raley/Rob Refsnyder/Dominic Canzone taking starts in right field and DH, and Miles Mastrobuoni and Leo Rivas battling it out for the backup infielder/pinch runner role (plus either Knizner or Perada as backup catcher).

The idea of Cole Young sent back to Triple-A is one that’s already a little difficult for me to square given the club’s verbal commitment to Young, but I can easily see a world where Emerson challenges Young, who has a similar profile. Williamson might have the biggest question mark around his bat of the three, but his defensive acumen is such that it’s harder for me to see them going with Young and Emerson at second and third, even if that might provide the best offensive production. The bigger issue I have with this is how heavy that platoon is in right field/DH. Four players for two spots with only Raley being defensively versatile (all outfield positions, 1B) feels like a roster construction flaw. That’s not an issue that has anything to do with Young/Williamson/Emerson, though, so I’ve maybe drifted too far afield from the original question.

Also: Ryan Bliss. How does he figure into all of this?

Speaking to the media at Fan Fest yesterday, Justin Hollander reiterated that the club won’t be predicating decisions based on spring training alone. But it does feel like a monster spring from Emerson and Williamson could force some of these questions.

What is your prediction for the roster battles will see this spring, specifically on the infield?

Posted on

The Orioles are betting on a Colton Cowser bounceback

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 24: Colton Cowser #17 of the Baltimore Orioles runs to third base during a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays at the Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 24, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Just about every member of the 2025 Orioles either underperformed or got injured. Colton Cowser did both, souring what could have been a breakout season. Reports indicate that Cowser will enter 2026 fully healthy, and seems poised to take on the center field job full-time. The Orioles are betting on a bounce back from the former fifth overall pick.

Let’s not forget that Cowser had a pretty great rookie season in 2024. Over 153 games he hit .242/.321/.768 with 24 home runs, 52 walks, and 172 strikeouts. He swung and missed a lot, but made up for it with his ability to take a walk, hit home runs, and play high-end defense. As a result, he finished second in Rookie of the Year voting.

The Orioles went into 2025 with Cowser as their lead-off hitter, a somewhat forced decision following Gunnar Henderson’s injury. But it didn’t seem like Cowser was terribly miscast in the role. He had demonstrated a keen eye at the plate, had enough pop to keep the defense honest, and was rather quick on the bases.

But just days into the new season, Cowser went down with his first injury of the year. Trying to beat out an infield hit in Toronto, Cowser dove head-first towards first base. His thumb went the wrong way, resulting in a fracture that put him on the shelf until early June. This injury to his left hand came just six months after he broke that same hand in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card series, swinging at a pitch that actually hit him.

Shortly after returning from the thumb injury he suffered in Toronto, Cowser fractured two ribs when he hit into the outfield fence attempting to catch a home run against the Tigers on June 12. He sat the bench for the next three days, but then returned to the lineup. This injury, which nagged for the rest of the season, was not revealed until late September.

The final IL stint of the year for Cowser came in August. That is when he missed 11 days due to concussion symptoms, which stemmed from a play in Philadelphia a few days prior. His symptoms were reported as a “mild,” but the Orioles took precautions.

Looking at Cowser’s splits for the year is rather brutal. The only month of positive production came in June, when he hit .250/.310/.550 with six home runs, 14 RBI, four walks, and 25 strikeouts over 22 games. His OPS for every other month was .594 or worse, and his batting average never got above .210 in any other month.

The best Cowser looked was immediately following the three games he sat after fracturing his ribs. From June 16 through 27, he slashed .314/.385/.714 in a span of 10 games. For a few days that pushed his season OPS above .800 and had him looking like the 2024 version of himself.

But that moment was fleeting, and it was a steep decline from there. From June 28 through the end of the year Cowser slashed .180/.257/.336 and struck out 100 times in 69 games. Although he was 13-for-13 on stolen base attempts and walked at a decent clip in that stretch.

Cowser’s nightmarish season had some members of the Orioles fan base asking questions about his future. The team had Tyler O’Neill signed to a big-money deal. Dylan Beavers was emerging from Triple-A. And then early on in the offseason the team went and traded for Taylor Ward. Seemingly, there were too many corner outfielders for not enough spots on the big league roster.

At the same time, the O’s continued their years-long search for a “frontline” starting pitcher. If they weren’t going to wade into the deep end of the free agent pool, it seemed like a trade involving a young, controllable hitter was a viable alternative. Cowser, among others, fit the bill for the type of player to center a deal around.

But theoreticals like that made less and less sense as the offseason progressed.

The Orioles weren’t involved in talks for any significant options in center, limited as they were. Luis Robert was traded to the Mets. Harrison Bader signed with the Giants. The only center fielder the O’s added to the organization was Leody Taveras, a World Series winner with a useful skillset, but far from an everyday big leaguer following two subpar seasons.

Internally, there wasn’t much to speak of either. Beavers could play center in a pinch but not every single day. Reed Trimble was protected from the Rule 5 Draft, and could be an interesting fourth outfielder option. Enrique Bradfield Jr. is likely to get a big league call at some point in 2026, but he still has plenty to prove. His glove and his legs are ready for the big leagues. His bat, on the other hand, needs some work. The 15 games he played in Norfolk last year did little to force the Orioles hand on a further promotion.

That leaves Cowser as the logical solution in center, a position in Baltimore that had belonged to Cedric Mullins for years. Cowser has plenty of experience in the role. He spent 47 games there in 2025, 45 games in ‘24, and 10 in ‘23. That doesn’t even account for his minor league work. While not as sterling as his performance in left field, advanced metrics like his movement in center. He has been worth 1 OAA in each of the last two seasons despite it not being his full-time position. And his throwing arm is one of the most feared in the league. Defensively, it should fit him just fine.

The bigger questions pertain to his bat. Orioles center fielders posted an 87 wRC+ in 2025, putting them in the bottom half of the league. Cowser himself had an 83 wRC+ overall and it dipped to 78 when he played center.

As constructed, the Orioles probably don’t need Cowser to bounce all the way back to his 2024 form, when he had 119 wRC+. They will be relying more on Henderson, Ward, Pete Alonso, and Jordan Westburg for most of their offense. But their center fielder will need to be closer to league average in order to be a viable everyday option. He has shown an ability to do that before, and if healthy he should be able to get there again.

The only worry is that there is no built in safety net for Cowser or the Orioles. They don’t have immediately viable solutions in-house, and there here aren’t many useful center fielders available via trade or free agency. Most, if not all, of their eggs are in the Cowser basket.

As far as bets go, it’s not a bad one. Injuries derailed his 2025 campaign, and by the time he came back the Orioles season was already down the drain. Now healthy and some pressure of expectations relieved, the O’s will be hoping their former top prospect can thrive in a new position.

Posted on

Who got snubbed from the NBA All Star rosters? (daily topic)

INGLEWOOD, CA - JANUARY 25: James Harden #1 and Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers looks on during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on January 25, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The NBA announced their final selections for the All Star game last night. Here are all the selections.

Which begs the obvious question: Who were the snubs?

While this isn’t an exhaustive list, here are some players that were NOT named to the All Star team (in no particular order):

Michael Porter Jr.

Joel Embiid

Kawhi Leonard

James Harden

Josh Giddey

Alperen Sengun

Brandon Ingram

Keyonte George

Lauri Markkanen

Tre Murphy

…and of course Derrick White and Payton Pritchard.

Now remember the rules of this sort of thing. If you are going to call a guy snubbed, you have to name the player(s) you would remove from the squad to make room! (cough-cough-LeBron-cough)

So what are your thoughts? Who belongs on this team and who shouldn’t be on there in the first place?

Posted on

It’s Time for Joan Beringer to Have a Larger Role

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 29: Joan Beringer #19 of the Minnesota Timberwolves wears a shirt that says "Stand With Minnesota" during the national anthem prior to the start of the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Target Center on January 29, 2026 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Thursday night in Dallas looked like one in which the Minnesota Timberwolves were going to play all the hits.

Near double-digit favorites on the road against a severely shorthanded Dallas Mavericks team, anyone who’s followed this team close enough over the last two seasons probably could have predicted how things were going to go.

Dallas Injury Report 1/28 | Mavs PR

With so many players out that Mavs PR needed two tweets in a thread to make sure everyone was accounted for, the Wolves came out of the gate with their typical lackadaisical energy, familiar to fans when they play teams they have no excuse to lose to.

Whether it was poor ball containment, bad closeouts on shots, or poor rebounding by the frontcourt, it was clear that once again, the Wolves were short on sources of energy.

But with 2:44 left in the first quarter, in came Joan Beringer.

A big man that plays basketball like the athletic guy who plays another sport in high school, the Wolves first round pick immediately came in and provided a shot in the arm that seemed to wake up others around him.

Down two points when Beringer entered the game, he went to work. Gliding up and down the floor, the seventeenth overall pick immediately pulled in an offensive rebound that resulted in a Mike Conley three, and ended the first quarter with a well-timed alley-oop from Anthony Edwards.

The Wolves would go on to win the game by 13 points.

As for Beringer? Second on the team with a +11.

Perhaps the Wolves would go on to win without him in the lineup purely due to the talent imbalance on the floor alone.

But perhaps not. With several frustrating performances against subpar teams year after year, Chris Finch finds himself in a spot of continuous searching for someone to pull them out of their lulls of disenchantment. With the usual suspects in the starting five not tending to be takers unless a wave of desperation comes upon them late in the game or in the form of a losing streak, a bench of mixed bag performances is sometimes where he’s forced to go.

I think it’s been found.

MEMPHIS, TN – JANUARY 31: Joan Beringer #19 of the Minnesota Timberwolves drives to the basket during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on January 31, 2026 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

A Feel on the Floor

Like an attacking midfielder on the pitch, the French rookie’s background in playing soccer gives him a clear understanding of floor positioning.

Even though he hasn’t been playing basketball for very long, his experience proves effective navigation of the dunker area on the offensive end, and good drop coverage and shot blocking instincts on the defensive end.

Many times, rookies come into the league behind the eight ball in the NBA from a positioning standpoint because of how structured the college game is schematically, juxtaposed to a more free-flowing pro game. For a team like the Timberwolves who have always tended to lean towards the latter, Beringer’s feel for the game was something that has caught coach Chris Finch’s eye.

“It’s something I noticed about him right away,” he said after a blowout win against the Golden State Warriors on Monday. “At Summer League, I always thought he kinda knew where to be…his spacing, his timing, and he’s actually been a pretty quick learner [in learning the Wolves’ systems].”

It shows in the advanced numbers.

Out of the 13 people Beringer has shared the floor with, he only has a negative net rating with four of them (Joe Ingles, Leonard Miller, Rob Dillingham, and Terrence Shannon Jr.), making him and an additive to most of the lineup combos he finds himself on the floor with in a small sample size.

“He’s a big energy guy, and he helps tremendously,” Naz Reid said after the win in Dallas. “[He gave us a lift] on the glass, blocking shots, catching lobs, that’s what he does.”

There’s something to be said about a percolating chemistry with Reid and Beringer. More importantly, the lift that the rookie’s presence can have with both Reid and a struggling Mike Conley on the floor together.

Hesitant to be taken off the floor by Chris Finch due to his ability to cover ground of defense and bring a mature offensive approach, Mike Conley has been a source of skepticism among fans for his lackluster play this season and inability to generate the offensive lift that he once did. His decline has been steep, but his presence on the floor next to Reid and Beringer has given a sense of optimism in a small sample size.

With all three on the floor together, the Wolves have an 11 net rating.

A similar tale unfolds with Beringer on the floor with Conley and Reid separately as well.

Lineup combination net rating for Mike Conley, Naz Reid, and Joan Beringer | PBP Stats

Simply, Beringer provides the characteristics that Wolves’ bench currently lacks, said perfectly by Reid.

Rebounding, blocking shots, catching lobs, and bringing energy.

To some degree, it’s the Jarred Vanderbilt effect.

On the floor, it’s a shot in the arm.

DALLAS, TEXAS – JANUARY 28: Head coach Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves watches play during the first quarter of the game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on January 28, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. 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 Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Energy Solution

It doesn’t matter who it is, but essentially every player has said it at some point during the season.

This Wolves team, alongside the two that have come before it, tends to come out with an energy level that corresponds to the level of the opponent and the time of year it is.

Some tend to blame this on Chris Finch. I find that misguided.

Finch can only do so much. Confirmed by Anthony Edwards after the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday, his unhappiness with the effort was unable to throw on a jersey and run up and down the floor with the five people out there.

“Nights like this, it’s super hard to find the, not the why, but the energy to put behind it on every play,” Edwards said. “[Finch] said somethin’ like, ‘I’m not gonna let up on y’all. If we bullshit on games like this, I’m gonna be on y’all ass until y’all stop bullshitting’.”

Whether it be Edwards, Naz Reid, Conley, Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert, or even Jaden McDaniels, everyone has called out the inconsistent energy on both ends of the floor.

The one person who doesn’t care who’s on the other end is Beringer. His ability to flip a switch and make plays that others don’t want to make, and at key points of what seem to be inconsequential games, make himself a lever that Finch needs to pull more consistently.

Whether it be his career-high 13 points on the road in Milwaukee with no Rudy Gobert, his immediate injection of life in Dallas, or his near double-double on the road in San Antonio, his youthful ignorance of who’s on the other end and at what point of the season it is inject urgency into the lineup – or make it an embarrassing discrepancy of effort for all to see.

Whether it be for film sessions or fan viewing, it needs to be an audit we see more often.

Posted on

ANALYSIS: Was Brooklyn Nets’ Michael Porter Jr. an All-Star snub?

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 18: Michael Porter Jr. #17 of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles against Norman Powell #24 of the Miami Heat during the first half at Barclays Center on December 18, 2025 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Michael Porter Jr. is averaging 25.6 points and 3.2 assists, both career-highs. Throw in his seven rebounds a night and the fact that he is true-shooting 61.8% (+3.8% over league-average) on a team devoid of other high-end talent, and it seems like an ironclad All-Star case.

Not so. The NBA announced the full list of All-Star reserves on Sunday afternoon; Porter Jr. did not make the cut. Nearly three weeks after NBA PR released full voting results for All-Star starters, it came as a bit of a surprise. In that round of voting, MPJ was firmly inside the cut line among players, fans, and media. Reminder: for all the silliness of the All-Star game format this season, the selection process remains unchanged, and a dozen players from each conference are selected…

Courtesy: NBA PR

The coaches, however, are responsible for selecting the reserves, and they did not deem MPJ worthy of his first All-Star appearance. They did not heed the words of peer Jordi Fernández: “We’ve competed for a lot of games, and he’s a big reason why we’re there. He’s just doing his job, and it’s not about him; it’s about the group. So if you think about his impact on competitiveness, that’s what All-Stars do, and that’s why Mike should be there.”

So, was MPJ a snub? Well, we can’t say that without examining the rest of the field…

The Locks

  • Donovan Mitchell
  • Jalen Johnson
  • Jalen Duren
  • Scottie Barnes

Though 25 points a night ain’t what it used to be, it’s still a steep hill to climb. No 25 PPG scorer (over a full season) has missed the All-Star game since 2017, when Damian Lillard and Karl-Anthony Towns both fell victim to statflation. Of course, MPJ’s averages may fall in March and April, but his scoring output is typically All-Star worthy, even in today’s day and age.

That being said, Porter Jr. was firmly behind these four players in the All-Star race. Only Mitchell is out-scoring Porter, but the other three are simply too impactful on teams much better than the Nets (yes, even the Atlanta Hawks). Moving on.

The Questionables

Pascal Siakam

After a deep-dive, I almost put Pascal Siakam in the category above. The two have similar arguments despite being on 13-win teams, but Siakam is just a little easier to buy.

Brooklyn’s net rating is 11 points per 100 possessions better when MPJ is on the floor; that’s the eighth-highest mark in the NBA (min. 700 minutes). Pascal Siakam is one of the seven guys ahead of MPJ on that list, and crucially, he’s played nine more games (and 338 more minutes) than Brooklyn’s leading scorer. The Indiana Pacers are absolutely horrific — even worse than the Nets — without Siakam, but respectable with him.

If they had played the same amount of minutes, Siakam and MPJ would be neck-and-neck. Siakam is averaging a comparable 24/7/4, on similar usage, but with a 56.4 TS%. However, he has an edge on defense, and though I doubt the coaches went this far down the rabbit hole, Siakam has been considerably better in the clutch.

  • Siakam: 8-14 record in clutch games, 52.1% true shooting.
  • Porter Jr.: 4-15 record in clutch games, 45.2% true shooting.

The case for Porter Jr. rests on his production for a terrible team, hoping not to be punished for the lack of talent around him. Well, Siakam has been as good if not better, played more minutes, and if we’re really going to dive into their impact on winning, Siakam has been better in the clutch for a team that has a better clutch record.

Norman Powell

If Norman Powell and Michael Porter Jr. magically swapped places, the latter would have made the All-Star game. Is that right? Must the Miami Heat — 27-24, sitting atop the Play-In sect of the Eastern Conference — be rewarded with an All-Star?

Powell is having a great season, no doubt. He’s averaging about 24/4/3 on 61.2% true shooting as the unquestioned leader of a Heat offense that was hyped early in the season for their blinding pace and refusal to set ball-screens. Powell has been firing catch-and-shoot threes per usual, but he’s been getting his own too.

Here’s the thing. The Miami Heat have the NBA’s 17th-best offensive rating and the 6th-best defensive rating. Defense drives them. Yes, Powell has been not just great but vital to Miami’s offense, particularly with Tyler Herro playing just 11 games. However…

  • Miami: 111.9 offensive rating without Powell, 117.4 with Powell (+5.5 swing).
  • Brooklyn: 105.4 offensive rating without MPJ, 117.5 with MPJ (+12.1 swing).

The Heat have a tough time scoring (and a slightly easier time defending) without Powell, who leads them to decent offense. The Nets have an horrific offense without Porter Jr., who leads them to decent offense. Credit Jordi Fernández for his creativity if you want, but you can’t vote head coaches to the All-Star team.

Porter Jr. has scored more at a more efficient clip. He’s also created more offense for his teammates, whether you only look at assist numbers or also factor in how his gravity as a shooter opens up cuts for others. No doubt Norman Powell has had similar offensive impact for a much better team, but has he been better than MPJ (in 60 more total minutes)? Not quite.

Karl-Anthony Towns

If the All-Star game were about rewarding year-over-year improvements, Karl-Anthony Towns wouldn’t be making the trip to Los Angeles. He’s been substantially worse than last season, converting twos at a career-low rate and making threes at the lowest clip since his rookie season. Per Cleaning the Glass (which filters out garbage time), the Knicks have actually been slightly better with him on the bench. After a stellar inaugural campaign in NYC, this is a clear step back for KAT.

But he’s still a great player. He’s averaging 20-and-12, leading the league in rebounds per game. Because New York rebounds when he’s on the court, their defense survives; they don’t stop opponents on first chances. While he’s struggling to make shots, opponents still respect his 3-point shooting, a necessary ingredient to New York’s offense.

Has he been better than Michael Porter Jr., though? I don’t think so.

Now that he’s no longer operating with world-class efficiency, KAT has less margin for error on defense. Again, he’s not an outright negative on that end thanks to his rebounding, but because he does little else well at such a premium position, it’s tough to argue his defense has made him a better player than MPJ this season. Especially when…

  • KAT: 23.33 points per 75 possessions on 59.4% true shooting (+1.4% relative to league-average), 1.15 assist-to-turnover, 25.8 usage%, +0.22 net swing.
  • MPJ: 28.95 points per 75 possessions on 61.8% true shooting (+3.8% rTS), 1.30 assist-to-turnover, 30.6 usage%, +11.0 net swing.

Jalen Brunson is the head of the snake in New York. I don’t want to be so reductive as to say any #1 option is better than any #2 option (that’s First Take stuff) but in the case of Michael Porter Jr. vs. Karl-Anthony Towns, it’s clear the latter has been better on offense. Yes, KAT has played about 160 more minutes, but I don’t think minutes + defense are enough to close the gap.

And hey, Pascal Siakam is in the All-Star game. Team success only means so much this year. Advantage: MPJ.

What happened, what’s next?

Erik Slater and I talked about MPJ’s All-Star snub on the latest episode of Locked On Nets…

I would love to avoid homer-ism and call it an “exclusion” and not a “snub” but it’s not my fault the head coaches made the wrong call. If Siakam is in, MPJ should be in. Not because he’s been better than Siakam (he hasn’t, in my opinion), but because it removes the barrier of team success from the equation.

Did something change in the last three weeks, or did the coaches just have far different opinions than players/fans/media? The Nets have suffered some embarrassing blowouts recently, but was that enough to swing opinion? Have Siakam, KAT, and Powell — all in their thirties — just built up that much more goodwill around the league? Or is the Nets’ reputation/brand simply at the bottom of the totem pole?

Whatever the case may be, Porter Jr. still has a chance to be named an All-Star by the commissioner. With Giannis Antetokounmpo set to miss the weekend’s festivities with injury, Adam Silver must select one Eastern Conference reserve to replace him (and, knock on wood, anybody else who gets hurt over the next week or two).

But MPJ may be a victim of timing. Joel Embiid has played just 28 games, but he’s going God Mode right now. LaMelo Ball also has a strong case for a surging Charlotte Hornets team, and like Embiid, has much more name recognition than MPJ.

Michael Porter Jr.’s next chance to get through to Adam Silver will come on Tuesday evening, when the Brooklyn Nets take on the Los Angeles Lakers at home. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.

Posted on

OTM Open Thread 2/2: Happy Truck Day!

Boston, MA - February 3: Boston Red Sox fans pose for a photo with mascots Wally and Tessie during the team's annual Truck Day outside of Fenway Park. (Photo by David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Hello and happy Monday, friends.

It’s not just any regular Monday, though…it’s Truck Day! Did Wally leave you any baseball equipment under your Truck Day Tree this year? Hope your work gives you the holiday today. If not, I guess time-and-a-half ain’t so bad.

While the rest of the sporting world will have its eyes on the Super Bowl in a few days, we’re more concerned about the fact that baseball returns in earnest this month. Pitchers and catchers will report to Fort Myers in eight days, and the full squad follows five days after that. We’re currently eighteen days off from the first game of Spring Training, and the World Baseball Classic will soon follow.

We’re almost there, gang.

Drop whatever you fancy in the comments below. Any plans for The Big Game™ this weekend? Are you gonna be out front of Fenway for Truck Day? What are you most excited for leading up to Opening Day? What is a horse shoe? What does a horse shoe do? Are there any horse socks? Is anybody listening to me?

Be good to each other and go Sox.