Britain's King Charles III greets Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, during an audience at Buckingham Palace in London on March 16, 2026. (Photo by Aaron Chown / POOL / AFP via Getty Images) | POOL/AFP via Getty Images
It is time for my favourite post of the year. It is fun to read about where everyone who comes here is from and their answers to the various questions.
Your mission, if you choose to accept, is to copy and paste these questions into the comment thread and give us your answers.
Name:
Location:
Favourite Current Jay:
Favourite All-Time Jay:
Favourite Non-Jay:
Favourite Blue Jays Prospect:
Metaphysical Position on the Diamond:
Ballpark I’d Most Like to Visit:
Favourite Baseball Movie:
What was the best thing about your past year:
When Not Bantering, I:
On Twitter or BlueSky, I am:
Baseball Card Back Fun Fact:
Walkup Music:
Name: The One and Only Billy Shears
Location: Calgary. Surrounded by guitars and a mess. Or a mess of guitars.
Favourite Current Jay: Addison Barger
Favourite All-Time Jay: Depends on the moment. Let’s go with Jesse Barfield
Favourite Non-Jay: Former Red Sox outfielder Dwight Evans
Favourite Blue Jays Prospect: JoJo Parker, if his walk-up music isn’t ‘Get Back’, I’ll have to pick someone else. Jojo was a man who thought he was a loner, But he knew it couldn’t last
Metaphysical Position on the Diamond: Second base. Moved over from short since my arm isn’t good enough to make that Metaphysical throw from the hole. Me and Bo, if we stand close together, you couldn’t tell us apart.
Ballpark I’d Most Like to Visit: Right now? Tokyo Dome. And I hope to get to in a few days.
Favourite Baseball Movie: Still Bull Durham. “Don’t think, it hurts the team”
What was the best thing about your past year: We had a vacation to Africa, that was amazing.
When Not Bantering, I: been playing tennis a lot, squash some and trying badminton, because why not.
On Twitter or BlueSky, I am: @bluebirdbanter
Baseball Card Back Fun Fact: I have my name on a bowling trophy. And no, it wasn’t for a record low score.
Walkup Music: Oh I don’t know, how about All Just To Get To You
Name: Tom M
Location: Calgary
Favourite Current Jay: Vlad
Favourite All-Time Jay: Jose Bautista
Favourite Non-Jay: Francisco Lindor
Favourite Blue Jays Prospect: I’m about to list 40 of them
Metaphysical Position on the Diamond: Crafty junkballing lefty starter
Ballpark I’d Most Like to Visit: Fenway
Favourite Baseball Movie: Bull Durham
What was the best thing about your past year: I got published as lead author on an academic paper for the first time
When Not Bantering, I: take pictures, develop pictures, sometimes run marathons.
On Twitter or BlueSky, I am: silent
Baseball Card Back Fun Fact: I can tell the difference between butter and I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter
Walkup Music: Work to Do, Average White Band
Name: Colin C
Location: Edmonton
Favourite Current Jay: Alejandro Kirk
Favourite All-Time Jay: Carlos Delgado
Favourite Non-Jay: Bobby Witt Jr
Favourite Blue Jays Prospect: Gage Stanifer
Metaphysical Position on the Diamond: Guy who sits on the ball bucket and heckles the ump
Ballpark I’d Most Like to Visit: PNC Park
Favourite Baseball Movie: Major League
What was the best thing about your past year: vacation to Mexico
When Not Bantering, I: Run around with my kid to all her different activities, play baseball and travel back and forth to Winnipeg a lot. (Editor: Because the mosquitos in Edmonton aren’t big enough??)
On Twitter or BlueSky, I am: A lurker
Baseball Card Back Fun Fact: Have played baseball in 3 different Arizona Spring Training complexes.
Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell (11) and Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy (49) shake hands before the National League Division Series game on Saturday October 4, 2025 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. | Jovanny Hernandez / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Brewers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
In this week’s Reacts survey, we asked fans who they think will win the NL Central in 2026. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it really came down to two teams: the Brewers and the Cubs.
Here’s what the results showed:
The Brewers, who have won the division in each of the last three and four of the last five seasons, came away with 74% of the vote, with the Cubs coming in second at 22%. The Reds garnered 2%, while the Pirates and Cardinals each picked up 1%.
After a franchise-best 97-65 record last season, the Brewers return most of their roster, with the notable exceptions of Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers (traded to the Mets), Caleb Durbin, Andruw Monasterio, and Anthony Seigler (traded to the Red Sox), and Isaac Collins and Nick Mears (traded to the Royals). They also lost Rhys Hoskins, Jose Quintana, Erick Fedde, and Danny Jansen in free agency.
In terms of additions, the Crew added a lot of young guys, primarily through those trades. That includes pitchers Kyle Harrison, Shane Drohan, and Brandon Sproat, as well as utility players in David Hamilton and Jett Williams. The Collins/Mears trade also netted them another lefty reliever in Ángel Zerpa, and they added Akil Baddoo, Gary Sánchez, Luis Rengifo, and Reese McGuire in free agency.
Is this a team that can stay atop the NL Central for the fourth straight year? Weigh in in the comments! Thanks for participating in our Reacts survey, and be sure to use FanDuel Sportsbook for all of your sports betting needs.
Brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.
SARASOTA, FL - MARCH 20: Ethan Anderson #57 and Joseph Dzierwa #67 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrate after the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium on Friday, March 20, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning Birdland,
The final day of spring training has arrived! Huzzah! Kind of.
At 1 p.m. today, the Orioles will host the Phillies for their last game down in Florida. It will be broadcast on MASN and the Orioles Radio Network. Then, they will head north for a home-and-home of exhibitions with the nearby Nationals over the two days that follow. So, technically, they have a couple more “pre-season” games left on the docket before they actually open the season against the Twins on Thursday. But still, it feels like a significant landmark as we suffer through the final days without regular season baseball.
Friday featured the third annual Spring Breakout prospect showcase. The Orioles youngsters faced off with the Red Sox squad in a game in which the O’s prevailed 3-1. MLB.com’s Jake Rill recapped the action, but here are some of the highlights:
Trey Gibson started and tossed three shutout innings.
Joseph Dzierwa got the win and struck out eight over his three clean frames
Reed Trimble had two hits and stole two bases
Nate George and Ike Irish each doubled once.
How much can be gleaned from a single game full of well-regarded young players? Almost nothing at all. But it’s fun! And the final days of spring can be pretty dull, so it continues to be a welcome addition to the mix.
The big league Birds were also in action on Friday. They traveled to Tampa for a face-off with the Yankees, where they lost 3-1.
It was a pretty grim showing for the O’s offense, which collected just three hits, three walks, and struck out 11 times. Pete Alonso doubled, Douglas Hodo tripled, and Samuel Basallo had the lone RBI.
Things were better for the pitching staff! Zach Eflin tossed 5.1 shutout innings and struck out seven while throwing 70 pitches. It seems like he might be ready for Opening Day after all? Dietrich Enns got the final two outs of the sixth inning, and Rico Garcia worked yet another shutout frame. The only pitcher to get knocked around was Cohen Achen, a 24-year-old that has appeared in just two games above Double-A.
Outside of the game action, there are likely to be a flurry of roster moves around the league this weekend. Teams will start to make final cuts. Usually a few minor surprises crop up, which could make some bench or bullpen pieces available. The Orioles, like many teams, aren’t entirely settled in those departments. So, it is possible that a new name or two could make their way onto the Opening Day roster. But nothing has been reported on that front just yet.
Links
Buck Britton happy to be back on Orioles’ coaching staff after wild first season in majors | Roch Kubatko Britton as well as many of the pitching coaches are back despite the rocky 2025 for the big league club. Some level of continuity on the coaching staff seems like a wise choice for Craig Albernaz and the broader organization. Although Albernaz has gotten nothing but rave reviews since joining the club, connecting with every single player in a clubhouse is difficult. Having a few familiar faces around should help to bridge any gaps that exist.
Orioles’ Dylan Beavers: Scratched from lineup | CBS Sports Beavers was supposed to play against the Yankees on Friday. Instead, he sat out with right knee discomfort. There has been no reporting on the severity of the problem. It could be nothing. We should know more today.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
Chadwick Tromp turns 31 today. He was one of the many catchers to don an Orioles uniform in 2025. Ultimately he only played in six games for the Birds.
Jimmy Yacabonis is 34 years old. The righty spent parts of three seasons from 2017-2019 on the Orioles pitching staff, accumulating a 5.75 ERA over 101.2 total innings.
The late Tommy Davis (b. 1939, d. 2022) was born on this day. He played 18 seasons of big league baseball, including a four-year stint in Baltimore from 1972 through ‘75.
This day in O’s history
2018 – Just before Opening Day, the Orioles add former Rays hurler Alex Cobb on a four-year, $57 million deal.
Well, that was no bueno. At least the televised game started out well. I made a bad coin flip and started out listening to the Reds game. Boyd wasn’t exactly good Friday night. Taillon wasn’t much better. Miguel Amaya had some juice. Al will have details at 8 a.m. CT.
“I’ve suggested to the hitting coaches that they stay away from him,” Counsell said. “I did have a meeting with the hitting coaches at one point this spring. I called them all together, and they got a little nervous. I said, ‘You guys should stay away from Ballesteros.’
“Joking, you know, but they got the message.” — Patrick Mooney.
Four and a half games left, including the Spring Breakout Game. Cub Tracks is not in favor of ST night games. Or Eugenio Suárez in the Central.
*means autoplay on, (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. The powers that be have enabled real sarcasm font in the comments.
Andy Koval (WGN9*): PHOTOS: Cubs unveil new food for 2026 season at Wrigley Field. The teams’ respective 2026 journeys begin on March 26, when the Cubs will host the Nationals at 1:20 p.m. CT at Wrigley Field on Opening Day.
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.
Kyle Freeland will take the ball for the Rockies on Opening Day in 2026 — the fifth Opening Day nod for a pitcher who has quietly built one of the most unique résumés in franchise history. By Baseball-Reference, he is already the Rockies’ all-time leader in WAR among starting pitchers (19.2), a reflection of both longevity and effectiveness in baseball’s most difficult pitching environment.
And yet, that same metric — WAR — is part of why Freeland is so often misunderstood.
Because here’s the reality: WAR doesn’t always evaluate pitchers at Coors Field particularly well. And Freeland is one of the clearest case studies of that disconnect.
His 2018 season is the most extreme example. FanGraphs credited him with 4.1 WAR. Baseball-Reference credited him with 8.4 WAR. Same performance, radically different value depending on the model.
That season stands out — an outlier peak — but it doesn’t stand alone. Freeland has put together multiple solid seasons in Colorado, just not always at that elite level.
Why Coors breaks clean metrics
Most public pitcher WAR (Wins Above Replacement) models rely on two approaches:
FIP-based WAR (FanGraphs) — built from strikeouts, walks, and home runs.
Both work well in most environments. At Coors, they don’t.
At altitude, air density is roughly 15–20% lower than at sea level. Pitch-tracking research shows fastballs can lose roughly 2–3 inches of movement in Denver.
Movement isn’t just reduced: It’s altered. That makes generating swing-and-miss more difficult and increases reliance on contact.
So pitchers adapt.
Freeland doesn’t overpower hitters — and that’s exactly what WAR tends to undervalue.
2018 shows the disconnect
Freeland’s 2018 line:
202.1 innings
2.85 ERA
3.67 FIP
4.1 fWAR
8.4 rWAR
That gap between fWAR and rWAR isn’t small — it’s philosophical.
One model saw a pitcher without dominant strikeout numbers. The other saw elite run prevention.
At Coors, Freeland threw 93.2 innings with a 2.40 ERA — not just surviving, but thriving.
Coors isn’t just hitter-friendly
Coors is often called “hitter-friendly,” but that undersells it.
Park factors are averages — one adjustment applied broadly.
It interacts with pitch shape, contact quality, and decision-making in ways that don’t scale cleanly. Two identical pitches can produce completely different outcomes depending on where they’re thrown. Even the humidor reduced but didn’t eliminate these effects.
In Colorado, the numbers rarely tell the whole story.
The skill that gets missed
Freeland’s profile won’t jump off the page:
Modest strikeout rates
Solid command
Heavy reliance on contact
But his value shows up differently:
Weak contact
Ground balls
Avoiding letting one inning break everything
At Coors, that last skill might be the most valuable.
WAR rewards outcomes that translate cleanly across environments. Freeland’s value comes from handling one that doesn’t.
There’s also a perception gap — call it the Coors credibility tax.
A 4.30 ERA in a neutral environment looks like back-end production. At Coors, that same performance can resemble mid-rotation value or higher.
If the Rockies are building around pitchers like Freeland, the question isn’t just whether they’re good enough: it’s whether we’re measuring them correctly.
So what is he actually worth?
On paper, a ~2 WAR pitcher looks replaceable.
In reality, it’s not that simple.
Freeland is owed $16 million in 2026, with a vesting option tied to innings in 2027. That reflects something the numbers struggle to capture: reliability in a uniquely difficult environment. A pitcher with similar “true talent” elsewhere might not translate to Coors at all. Freeland already has.
Kyle Freeland isn’t an ace in the traditional sense.
He’s something more specific:
A pitcher built to survive — and occasionally thrive — in baseball’s most difficult pitching environment.
Until metrics better capture environmental context and contact management at altitude, pitchers like Freeland will continue to look ordinary on paper and essential in reality.
So the next time you see a WAR total next to a Rockies pitcher, ask:
Is that number telling the whole story — or just the part that survives outside of Coors Field?
The Rockies’ spring training offered a mix of optimism and reality — some encouraging performances, but familiar concerns still lingering. A few players showed growth, especially on the offensive side, yet questions about pitching depth and consistency remain. In the end, the biggest takeaway is that spring can hint at progress, but proving it in the regular season is a different challenge entirely.
Ezequiel Tovar returned to the Rockies fresh off helping Venezuela capture a World Baseball Classic title, bringing both momentum and confidence back to Colorado. The young shortstop embraced the emotional weight of the moment, calling the experience meaningful not just for himself but for his country. Now back with the Rockies, the question becomes whether that energy — and his strong international performance — can carry over into a bounce-back season at Coors.
The Rockies reassigned top prospects Charlie Condon and Cole Carrigg to minor league camp, a move framed less as a setback and more as the next step in their development. Both impressed during spring training, with the organization emphasizing their strong performances and long-term upside. Ultimately, the decision reflects timing rather than talent — and reinforces that both remain firmly in the Rockies’ plans for 2026, even if their debuts will have to wait.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 15: A general view of Oracle Park before a MLB game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the San Francisco Giants on August 15, 2025 at Oracle Park in San Francisco, CA. (Photo by Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
We have officially reached the last weekend before baseball gets back! Opening Day for the San Francisco Giants is right around the corner. So this weekend, I wanted to get one last temperature check before the season starts.
Personally, I’m just excited for baseball to be back. I have a tiny, tiny bit of cautious optimism. I can’t help it. A new season is like the first day of school, full of potential and not yet tainted with disappointment and annoyance. A fresh start. A time where anything is possible because it hasn’t actually started yet.
It’s the best. I’m gonna ride that feeling right into the first series. Maybe even two, depending on how the Yankees series goes.
Welcome to Inside the Suns, your weekly deep-down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team. Each week the Fantable — a round table of Bright Siders — give their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.
Fantable Questions of the Week
Q1: Do you believe the Suns are essentially locked into the 7th seed in the Western Conference standings?
Diamondhacks: Locks are for canals and filing cabinets, but I’ve assumed for a while now that 7 was our most likely slot. We lack top-ready talent and availability to durably compete with WC top 6, but still have a competitive-looking meritocracy in place that elicits motivated performance.
Ashton: Anything can happen, but these last two months do not look good. 9-11 (right? Anybody call that?) since the beginning of February. I do not mind the recent three-game skid as it involved the Celtics and the Wolves, on the road, in a B2B.
So, I am going to say yes, the 7th seed is the ceiling. I am not sure when Brooks can even drive to MMC with a broken hand and a broken driver’s license. Mark Williams finally felt his injury concerns. I just do not see immediate help coming soon.
OldAz: Pretty much. 5 games up on the Clippers with very few left to play, and while they are only 2-3 back of 3,4, or 5, they also are missing 3 starting-level players. 7 seems like a lock, and we need to win game 1 of the Play-In to avoid an elimination game. I also think the Clippers are not hard for the sixth spot because the only difference between 6 & 7 is home court in a single, non-elimination game. Better for them to focus on being healthy for that game.
Rod: I believe it’s more of being locked out of the 6th seed than it is being locked into the 7th. Getting higher in the standings is impossible without a good deal of help (losses) from the teams currently ranked above us but slipping even further back, into the 8th, 9th, or even 10th seed isn’t out of the realm of possibility. The Suns’ remaining schedule is much more difficult than that of the three teams trailing us, and an extended losing streak by the Suns could lead to an even worse position in the play-in games.
Q2: What’s your opinion of where the Suns would be in the Western Conference standings if Jalen Green had remained healthy for most of the season?
Diamondhacks: I suspect we’d have been somewhat worse had Jalen been healthy, and that’s not based on his injury-riddled 2026, where basic holistic stats like VORP (Value Over Replacement) and Win Shares suggest that he’s been our worst performer on the entire roster.
It’s based more on his career best 2024-25, when he still missed the second-most field goals in the NBA. He mitigated that with great athleticism, and was ‘okay’ overall, but still likely a downgrade from our other guards (Gillespie and Booker certainly, probably Allen and Goodwin as well) – from whom he’d presumably grab most of his minutes.
Ashton: I have continually asked for a larger sample size from Green over the season in the Sun’s system, and we have it. He runs hot and cold, just like in Houston. This is not someone that I would trust as a playmaker, and some of the silly midcourt shots state he really does not know his role. Well, this sounds familiar over the last couple of years.
I think he is inconsistent. But I am still willing to say that the Suns would be at least +2 in the win column and maybe more.
OldAz: This is a great question that I really don’t have an answer for. We have seen moments where the Book and Green backcourt looks incredible, but it also has Ott playing too much small ball. That could also just be because of the front-court injuries. Green being healthy all year may also have stunted the emergence of Gillespie. I think they are likely about the same place, but that’s not saying much when 3-6 are only separated by a few games. I believe they would have gone through these current growing pains earlier, but would still be somewhere among this same group.
Rod: Jalen’s had his ups and downs but overall I see him as a positive for the team. As such, I really believe the Suns would at least be fighting to hang on to the 6th seed if he had not spent so much time out injured, and at best the Suns might be in the fight for the 3rd seed at this point. Just having the extra time to figure out how to best utilize his talents earlier in the season would likely have made the team better overall by this time and probably would have added a few more wins…which is currently the difference between the Suns fighting to stay in the 7th spot or battling for one of the 3rd through 6th positions in the standings.
Q3: Should the Suns continue playing with their current starting 5 of Gillespie, Book, Green, O’Neale, and Oso while Brooks and Williams are sidelined?
Diamondhacks: If fans had any idea how much evidence based analysis is brought to bear on lineups, along with internal and external considerations, there’d be a lot less criticism of coaches. At least one would think so…lol. But for someone like me, who just watches the games and loves basketball, to pretend I’m as informed as – or more insightful than – this particular coach is about his players and team dynamics seems a bit like killing a mockingbird.
Ashton: Let’s just roll with it. There are very few options outside of starting Fleming, and any one of them can really heat up at any given time. It would be nice to see three of them heat up at the same time for consistency, but these fourth quarter collapses are disturbing.
That is my short answer. I have some college games to watch, and maybe the Suns turn out to be the NBA Cinderella in the postseason.
OldAz: No. This lineup is simply too small and gets killed by any NBA starting-level center and even marginal power forwards. I don’t mind Oso starting, but I would move Gillespie to the bench to maximize his bench minutes when Oso is no longer available. I would also replace O’Neale with more size. Allen is passable at the wing when he is back, but I believe Fleming needs to be at the PF spot at least until Brooks is back. Williams being back in place of Oso does not change this logic either. Until Dillon Brooks returns, they simply need more size at PF. I would actually go with Dunn and Fleming and rely on Oso to facilitate and Book and Green to carry the offense against other starting lineups.
Rod: At this point, I’d really just move Gillespie to the second unit, put Fleming into the PF spot, and bump O’Neale over to SF. This would increase the starting unit’s size and put Gillespie in a better position to score rather than playing him alongside Book and Green. I know some would prefer Khaman over Oso in the starting 5, but I don’t think he’s ready for that yet. Size has been an issue for the Suns all season long, and I think Fleming has reached the point of at least getting an opportunity to start a few games while the team is dealing with all its injury issues.
As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!
Quotes of the Week
“We’ve just got to learn how to win together. Still a first-year group that’s dealt with injuries and not much time to go through these stretches earlier in the season together and figure out what works.” – Devin Booker
“It’s the cost of doing business sometimes when you’re trying to play physical defense, you’re going to get some ticky tack fouls, but got to find that balance and make smart fouls. Just make it as hard as you possibly can without fouling.” – Haywood Highsmith
“Win, lose, or draw, I’m 100% committed to the grind. We all are. We have the right group to continue to get better, and we’ll do that.” – Devin Booker
“It felt good. I didn’t feel the need to shy away from the ball. If I’m in that situation again, I’ll be ready to shoot them again. I’m not shying away from the ball.” – Rasheer Fleming on the Spurs game
Suns Trivia/History
On March 23, 2017, in a game against the Brooklyn Nets, the Suns had the youngest starting lineup in NBA history with 21-year-old Tyler Ulis, 20-year-olds Devin Booker and Derrick Jones Jr., 19-year-old Marquese Chriss, and 23-year-old Alex Len. The five had a combined average age of 21 years, 14 days. The Suns lost to the Nets 126-98.
On March 24, 2017, in Boston, Devin Booker (20 years old) became the youngest NBA player to score 70 points in a game in a 130-120 loss to the Celtics. By the end of the game, the Celtics’ home crowd realized they were witnessing something special and cheered whenever Booker scored. During this game, Booker also tied Michael Jordan’s record for most free throws made in a half (20) that had stood since Dec. 30, 1992.
On March 26, 1996, Phoenix’s A.C. Green played in his 800th consecutive NBA game – then the third-longest streak in NBA history – scoring seven points and grabbing nine rebounds during the Suns’ 102-98 win over visiting Sacramento.
On March 29, 1970, in just their second season, the Suns upset the Lakers 114-101 in Los Angeles for the franchise’s first-ever playoff win in Game 2, which evened the series 1-1. They would go on to win games 3 and 4 at home on April 2nd and 4th to take a 3-1 series advantage. Unfortunately, the Suns couldn’t get the 4th victory they needed to win the series and progress to the next round of the playoffs as the Lakers won the next 3 games. It was during this playoff series that Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn gave the Suns’ home, Veterans Memorial Coliseum, the nickname “Madhouse on McDowell.”
This Week’s Game Schedule
Saturday, March 21 – Suns vs Milwaukee Bucks (7:00 pm) NBATV Sunday, March 22 – Suns vs Toronto Raptors (6:00 pm) Tuesday, March 24 – Suns vs Denver Nuggets (8:00 pm) Peacock
This Week’s Valley Suns Game Schedule
Saturday, March 21 – Valley Suns vs San Diego Clippers (7:00 pm) Tuesday, March 24 – Valley Suns vs Mexico City Capitanes (7:00 pm) ESPN+ Wednesday, March 25 – Valley Suns vs Mexico City Capitanes (7:00 pm) ESPN+
Important Future Dates
March 28 – NBA G League Regular Season ends March 31 – 2026 NBA G League Playoffs begin April 12 – Regular season ends (All 30 teams play) April 13 – Rosters set for NBA Playoffs 2026 (3 p.m. ET) April 14-17 – SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament April 18 – NBA Playoffs begin
The Florida Panthers played their final game of the season that will start outside of the Eastern Standard time zone on Friday night in Calgary.
Playing their fourth road game in six night, the Panthers put up an admirable fight, but ultimately they lost the game and possibly another key player, falling 4-1 to the Flames.
It wasn’t until nearly midway though the game that someone finally tickled the twine.
On what seemed like an innocent zone entry, a wrist shot from the half boards by Joel Farabee found its way through a screen and past Daniil Tarasov, giving Calgary a 1-0 lead with 12:16 left in the second period.
It took a little over two minutes for the Flames to double their advantage.
A nice backhand pass from below the goal line by Adam Klapka found a wide-open Victor Olofsson, and his one-timer sailed past Tarasov to make it 2-0 with 9:50 on the clock.
Florida finally got on the scoreboard early in the third, when A.J. Greer scored for the second consecutive game, sending a wrist shot from the right circle over the glove of Dustin Wolf to cut Calgary’s lead to 2-1.
That would be as close as the Cats would come.
Later in the period, with Florida killing a long Flames power play, Niko Mikkola was trailing as the Panthers entered Calgary’s zone on a shorthanded odd-man rush.
As Mikkola began to quick turn around to defend after Evan Rodrigues lost the puck, Mikkola collided with Calgary’s Ryan Strome and went down, clutching at his left leg/knee area afterward.
Mikkola hurt, grabbing his left knee after this knee-on-knee collision.
He would need help off the ice and did not return to the game.
Afterwards, Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice did not seem particularly optimistic about Mikkola's injury.
"We'll get him looked at when we get back (to South Florida)," Maurice said. "He plays and competes so hard for us every night, but he's been incredibly durable for us, but that's clearly the story of our season.
"They need him. We're in a tough one right now, so you need those veteran guys around, playing and leading. He's been a dominant man for us all year with the injuries we've had. He's played great for us so we're going to miss him. He's going to miss some time, I believe."
Morgan Frost and Matt Coronato added a pair of late power play goals to cement the victory for the Flames and send Florida home with a 1-3-0 road trip and tied for the ninth-worst record in the league.
Photo caption: Mar 20, 2026; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola (77) get help off the ice after colliding with Calgary Flames center Ryan Strome (22) during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. (Sergei Belski-Imagn Images)
The Toronto Maple Leafs fell to the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 in overtime on Friday. The result was flattering, considering the Hurricanes fired 78 shot attempts at Toronto’s net compared to just 43 from Toronto, requiring Joseph Woll to make 32 saves.
But that didn’t stop Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube from giving a rather poignant assessment of his goaltender’s play. "He's played well, but tonight in the end, I don't think—I know—we need a save, whether it's the OT or it's one of the breakaways. We need a big save there".
Berube was referring to three of the Hurricanes’ four goals. In the second period, Eric Robinson beat Woll on a penalty shot to give Carolina a 3-1 lead. K’Andre Miller restored a one-goal lead later in the frame when he stripped Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly of the puck and beat Woll for a shorthanded breakaway goal.
It’s tough to put a lot of blame on Woll, considering the goaltender has inexplicably started in five of the club’s last six games while Anthony Stolarz remained fully healthy and available. Since March 8, Woll has faced 175 shots, more than any other goaltender in the NHL. Could he have made one or two more saves? Sure. But putting the game on Woll hides the bigger picture: the Leafs were simply not good enough to win this game.
"I feel pretty solid, pretty solid in net,” Woll offered regarding his game as of late. Had it not been for William Nylander’s equalizer late in regulation, the Leafs would have ended the night with no points. Given where they are in the standings, not getting that point certainly would have helped their positioning for the NHL Draft.
Stolarz is expected to get the start against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday in a game that has far more meaning for them than the Leafs, who remain seventh-worst in the NHL based on points percentage (.507). To be fair, finishing with no points would have left them in the same position. However, the loss could come back to bite them if they continue to slide.
Sep 23, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Andre Pallante (53) walks off the field after a pitching change against the San Francisco Giants during the third inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images | Eakin Howard-Imagn Images
Every new season promises new surprises. Teams and players will drastically under- or overperform projections. Part of the fun of being a fan is planting your flag ahead of time and predicting the next breakout or disappointment (less fun).
For example, I think Masyn Winn is going to overachieve every projection system this year and put up a 5 WAR season. I could cite any number of statistics, narratives, or hunches to support my opinion, but the point is that I have a clear picture of how I think his season will go. If it deviates from that picture, I will be surprised or disappointed.
On the flip side, there are players that I simply don’t know what to make of. Nolan Gorman could hit 40 home runs this year or be DFA’d by the All-Star break, and I wouldn’t be shocked by either outcome. This list is subjective, but here are the five major leaguers and five minor leaguers that can’t surprise me in 2026.
Major Leaguers
Nolan Gorman It may be cliché, but this is truly a make-or-break year for Gorman and the Cardinals. He only has three years of team control left, so the idea that he can incrementally improve and work his way back into the long-term picture is not realistic. No, he will need a full-blown breakout in his age-26 season. I don’t see the Cardinals sticking with Gorman into the second half if real changes to his contact and ability to translate his power into games are not evident in the early going. By the All-Star break, Gorman could be a DFA candidate or a core piece of the offense.
Andre Pallante Pallante is such an interesting pitcher because he is elite at managing damage on contact but struggles to generate enough swing-and-miss to be viable as a starter (or reliever). As currently constructed, he has to walk a very fine line to be effective, but if he can add or refine an off-speed pitch to generate swing-and-miss, there could still be upside left. Pallante, with a little more control and a reliable off-speed pitch, is a mid-rotation starter. The Pallante we saw last year is not going to be pitching important innings on a contending club.
Dustin May May’s injury history and inconsistencies have been well documented. He has also had a healthy and impressive spring training, with his fastball velocity up over two miles per hour year over year. If he combines the velocity and stuff from his early Dodger days with his health from last year, the Cardinals will have a massive asset on their hands. Every pitcher carries the risk of injury, but May is one of the few who has legitimate ace upside.
Nathan Church At this time last year, expectations for Church were low to nonexistent. After a breakout 2025, he still might just be a AAAA player or fourth outfielder. Or… he might be Harrison Bader in the outfield and Brendan Donovan at the plate. He is particularly tough to project because he changed his profile to include more power last season in the minor leagues, but then completely faceplanted offensively during his major league time.
Thomas Saggese Saggese has stayed under the radar a bit over the last couple of seasons. He was a top-100 prospect after his excellent 2023 season, but he did not have the pedigree of a Jordan Walker or Nolan Gorman. Still, upside remains, as Saggese has shown himself to be a competent defender at the major league level and is still just 24 years old. The question is whether he can get to the power that he showed in the minor leagues. Saggese excels at hitting balls at the right angles but will need to find more consistency to have real offensive impact.
Minor Leaguers
These are not necessarily all the highest-upside prospects in the system, but they could all be top-100 prospects in baseball, or not even ranked in the Cardinals system a year from now.
Yairo Padilla Best Case Scenario: Padilla moves up to Low-A and starts showing power commensurate with his athletic 6’4” frame and impressive exit velocity numbers. With a good plate approach and athleticism to dream on, Padilla may still be the highest-upside player in the system.
Worst Case Scenario: Padilla has hit for essentially no in-game power in his first two professional seasons. If he fails to impact the baseball again this season, he will start to look more like Jeremy Rivas as a prospect than Fernando Tatis Jr.
Deniel Ortiz Best Case Scenario: Ortiz continues to build on his impressive debut season. Ortiz is a prospect in the same vein as Joshua Baez in that he has excellent batted-ball data (launch angle and exit velocity), but there are questions around his contact ability. Ortiz still has extremely limited experience against high-level competition as a junior college draftee, so concerns about his contact rate against good velocity may be overblown. He improved throughout last season and could be primed for big numbers in the hitter-friendly environment at Springfield once he arrives.
Worst Case Scenario: If Ortiz’s contact issues persist and he cannot handle third base, he will quickly move from top-100 breakout candidate to an afterthought as a prospect.
Chen-Wei Lin Best Case Scenario: Lin possesses a fastball that can touch 100 mph and intriguing enough secondaries that he might stick in the rotation if everything clicks. He never got into a rhythm in 2025 due to injuries and inconsistencies, but he finished with a flourish in his last two Double-A starts, striking out 15 in seven innings. Listed at 6’7”, Lin may need a little longer to develop, but entering his age-24 season, a delayed breakout is still very possible.
Worst Case Scenario: Another injury or walk-plagued year could lead to Lin falling into the non-prospect tier.
Braden Davis Best Case Scenario: Davis gets his control ironed out and rides his spectacular changeup to becoming a top-100 prospect in baseball. Davis was second in the minor leagues in K% while throwing over 100 innings in his debut season, so the durability and swing-and-miss foundation you want to see in a starter are there.
Worst Case Scenario: If Davis’ command does not improve, or his stuff backs up, he will look more like a hopeful reliever than a potential strikeout-oriented mid-rotation starter.
Sebastian Dos Santos
Best Case Scenario: We just lived through the Rainiel Rodriguez breakout season in his first year stateside, so the precedent has been set for DSL players. Rodriguez was ahead of Dos Santos in comparable DSL metrics in wRC+ (185 to 158) and ISO (.338 to .258), but this is still impressive production from a middle infielder who was not known for power coming into the season. To make a real splash, Dos Santos will need to dominate the Florida Complex League and earn a promotion to full-season ball.
Worst Case Scenario: There is essentially no “floor” on a prospect who has yet to play in the U.S., but if the power does not come with him, Dos Santos will be just another player fighting to get out of the lower minors.
We spend all spring trying to project how a season will unfold, but some of the most important outcomes come from the players we can’t confidently project. So who do you have the least feel for right now?
The Spurs recently announced the addition of Native American Heritage Night to their promotional events calendar.
The San Antonio Spurs announced plans for their Native American Heritage Night game, in collaboration with American Indians in Texas at the Spanish Colonial Missions (AIT-SCM), the Lindy Waters III Foundation and Nike N7 on Monday, April 6 when the Spurs host the Philadelphia 76ers. The night will include special in-game performances from Native artists, the awarding of a grant to local community leaders and many more elements that purposefully celebrate and honor the Native community in South Texas and beyond. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. and tickets can be purchased at Spurs.com/Tickets.
Spurs shooting guard Lindy Waters III is an enrolled citizen of the Kiowa tribe is also of Cherokee Nation descent. The Lindy Waters III Foundation’s mission “enhances and supports Native American Indigenous communities through sports, health, and wellness, and leadership programs.”
Lindy Waters III shared,
“As a Kiowa and Cherokee person playing in the NBA, I’m honored to be a part of the Spurs Native American Heritage Night. Events like this honor our ancestors and create visibility for our people. Seeing our cultures celebrated in this arena gives young Native kids the confidence to pursue their dreams and reminds all of us that our voices belong in every space.”
American Indians in Texas at the Spanish Colonial Missions curated the evening’s theme “Sacred Like Me,” with planned cultural storytelling, interactive experiences, and in-arena programming.
Activations include:
Land Acknowledgment Ceremony: Before tipoff, fans are invited to the ULTRA Club at 6:30 p.m. for a land acknowledgment led by a representative from AIT-SCM recognizing Indigenous peoples as the original stewards of this land. The space will also feature a vendor fair with information tables and interactive activities where fans can learn about Native history, culture, and community in San Antonio and discover ways to support Native-led organizations.
National Anthem Performance: Spurs play-by-play analyst Jacob Tobey will give a special performance of the National Anthem to open up the night. A proud member of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, Tobey became one of the first Native American broadcasters in the NBA when he joined the Spurs in 2024 and has used his platform to promote visibility and appreciation for the Native community.
In-Game Performances: Throughout the evening, fans will experience cultural performances curated in collaboration with AIT-SCM, highlighting the diversity and vitality of Native traditions through dance, music, and storytelling during pregame, halftime, and select in-game moments.
Exclusive Jersey: Fans can purchase a custom Native American Heritage jersey, designed by AIT-SCM, at the Spurs Fan Shop during the game. The jersey is available while supplies last, with a portion of proceeds benefiting Native organizations through Spurs Give.
Leaders & Legacies Grant: The Spurs will distribute a $5,000 grant to AIT-SCM in honor of Linda Ximenes, Tribal Council Member and Former Board President of AIT-SCM. The grant recognizes Ximenes and AIT-SCM for their work in providing access, opportunity, education and health programming for Native American communities across Texas. In partnership with Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, Ximenes will also be honored during the in-game Leaders & Legacies tributes.
For information regarding Native American Heritage Night and other promotional games head to Spurs.com/Promotions or text PROMOTIONS to 210-444-5940.
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 01: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on March 01, 2026 in 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 Jordan Bank/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Expectations are the quickest path to disappointment. The Cleveland Cavaliers have learned that lesson the hard way.
Evan Mobley entered the 2025-26 NBA season with a bar that might have been too high to clear. Offseason buzz and previous success led to Mobley becoming a dark-horse contender for MVP. An award that’s exclusively won by the very best in the league.
It turns out Mobley is not that caliber of player. At least not yet. He’s nowhere near the MVP race and won’t even repeat as an All-NBA member this season. Projecting him to make that astronomical leap has backfired — and perhaps dampened what has otherwise been another season of steady progression from the 24-year-old star.
Look at it this way. Mobley is but a decimal point away from averaging career highs in both points and assists this season. Yet, the primary discussion revolves around whether he has taken a step backward in his development. What player flirts with personal bests while also trending in the wrong direction?
That logic doesn’t track.
The reason Mobley’s season has been framed as a disappointment is because of the expectations he rightfully set for himself. That extends to the prediction that Cleveland would once again trample the East following their 64-win season a year ago. The best-case scenario would have seen Mobley leading the MVP race while capping off consecutive campaigns at the top of the conference.
That didn’t happen. Mobely’s numbers have hardly changed while the Cavs are on pace to finish fourth in the Eastern Conference. There’s no denying that this outcome is one of the more disappointing ones.
But does it mean Mobley has actually regressed? Is failing to meet expectations the same thing as actually backsliding in development? I don’t think so. And Mobley has proven there’s still some evolution happening within his game.
Ups and Downs
While bold at the time, the prediction that Mobley could make a superstar leap was not entirely crazy. He had dominated as the third option on a historic offense last year. With injuries plaguing the roster in October, the path was cleared for Mobley to increase his usage and become Cleveland’s hero.
This led to Mobley attempting shots at a career-high rate. His team was force-feeding him the ball early and often, tossing him into the water to see if he would sink or swim. The early results leaned towards the former, with Mobley stumbling out of the gates to shoot just 46.1% from the floor in October.
Gradually, Mobley’s role was shrunk back to where he was before. He took 14.8 field goals per game in October, which decreased to 13.5 attempts in November, then finally down to 12.8 attempts in December — the exact number of shots he averaged last season. The experiment failed, and the Cavs had decided to pull the plug on Mobley taking another step forward.
Or so it seemed.
Would you believe that Mobley’s usage has not only returned, but has actually surpassed where he was in October? Mobley is now averaging 14.9 shot attempts in March, shooting nearly 60% from the floor while averaging 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.8 blocks.
That type of production is more in line with what we hoped to see this season.
Evan Mobley is officially attempting more FGAs per game in March than he did in October – back when the Cavs were first experimenting with increasing his usage
“Evan, I think post All-Star, his numbers are just through the roof,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said. “Not just the raw numbers but the process numbers: paint shots, drive percentage, close-out efficiency. All the stuff we’re emphasizing, it’s great to confirm that he’s trending in the right direction.”
Of course, there are loads of context to go around.
Mobley was attempting twice as many three-pointers (5.8 per game) in October as he is in March (2.9). That shot diet is more in tune with his strengths. He doesn’t need to be Kevin Durant — just be Evan Mobley. Shifting his focus back to being a play-finisher in the paint has brought out the best in him.
He’s also playing next to a more traditional point guard in James Harden than he was during the early portion of the season when Darius Garland was injured, and Donovan Mitchell was running the show. That’s naturally led to easier and more efficient opportunities for Mobley.
Finally, Mobley is enjoying the benefit of playing at center now that Jarrett Allen is on the sidelines. This has granted him more space to operate and has given him the bulk of Harden’s attention in the pick-and-roll. Harden dished out five assists to Mobley in their previous win over the Chicago Bulls. Four of those came in the pick-and-roll.
All of this skews in Mobley’s favor. Yet unlike in October when he was thrown off the diving board — Mobley is actually taking this opportunity in stride. He’s swimming to his strongest stretch of the season and delivering an encouraging sign of life. This is the most Cleveland has leaned on Mobley offensively, and the best he’s responded to that additional weight.
This isn’t to say things are perfect. Mobley’s free-throw shooting has plummeted to 50% in March and a career-low 60.6% this season. He has some soul-searching to do at the line and still has to prove the rest of his success can last more than a few weeks.
But when taking nearly an entire season of work into account, it’s important not to get lost in your preseason expectations. Those are gone now. What’s left is the production on the court. Mobley has course-corrected from a slow start and gotten himself back to one of the better months of his career. That’s the furthest thing from regression.
The ultimate test will come in the playoffs, where Mobley’s performance will give us our conclusion as to whether or not he’s grown. Until then, let’s avoid lazy narratives and continue to monitor his development.
Who:Winnipeg Jets (28-29-11, 67 points, 6th place Central Division) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (34-18-16, 84 points, 2nd place Metropolitan Division)
When: 1 p.m. ET
How to Watch: Locally broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh and TSN3, national feed on NHL Network
Pens’ Path Ahead: The Penguins have two brutal rematches coming up during this three-game homestand, starting with meeting the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday for the second half of a back-to-back. The Pens then get a day off before reuniting with the visiting Carolina Hurricanes next Tuesday.
Opponent Track: The Jets are heading into Saturday’s matinee on a two-game losing streak after dropping a 4-3 shootout decision to the Nashville Predators on Tuesday before getting blown out 6-1 by the Boston Bruins on Thursday.
Season Series: The Jets opened the Nov. 1 matchup between these teams with four straight goals, capped off by Kyle Connor’s short-handed penalty shot, on their way to claiming a 5-2 win over the visiting Pens.
Getting to know the Jets
Projected lines
FORWARDS
Kyle Connor – Mark Scheifele – Alex Iafallo
Cole Perfetti – Adam Lowry – Gabriel Vilardi
Gustav Nyquist – Jonathan Toews – Isak Rosen
Cole Koepke – Morgan Barron – Brad Lambert
DEFENSEMEN
Josh Morrissey / Dylan DeMelo
Dylan Samberg / Elias Salomonsson
Haydn Fleury / Jacob Bryson
Goalies: Connor Hellebuyck / Eric Comrie
Potential scratches: Vladislav Namestnikov, Ville Heinola
Injured Reserve: Neal Pionk, Colin Miller, Nino Niederreiter
The Jets have just three players this season with more than 15 goals, and they’re all in their top six (Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor and Gabriel Vilardi).
Connor Hellebuyck is coming off one of the worst starts of his recent regular-season career after allowing six goals in Thursday’s blowout loss to the Boston Bruin.
Connor Hellebuyck allows 6 goals in a regular season game for the first time since January 10, 2023
The Jets are in a tough spot. They’re technically still in the playoff race (five points back, 14 games remaining). They’re also currently projected to select sixth in the NHL draft lottery by Tankathon. Angling for better lottery odds could be a good move for a franchise theoretically hoping to take advantage of the remaining competitive window around their core of Mark Scheifele (33 years old), Kyle Connor (29) and Connor Hellebuyck (32) by bouncing back next season.
And now for the Pens
Projected lines
FORWARDS
Rickard Rakell – Sidney Crosby – Bryan Rust
Egor Chinakhov – Tommy Novak – Evgeni Malkin
Anthony Mantha – Ben Kindel – Justin Brazeau
Elmer Soderblom – Connor Dewar – Noel Acciari
DEFENSEMEN
Parker Wotherspoon / Erik Karlsson
Sam Girard / Kris Letang
Ryan Shea / Connor Clifton
Goalies: Arturs Silovs and Stuart Skinner
Potential Scratches: Ilya Solovyov, Ryan Graves, Kevin Hayes, Jack St. Ivany, Ville Koivunen
IR: Sidney Crosby, Filip Hallander, Blake Lizotte
Looks like Sam Girard, who has missed five games with a lower-body injury, could draw back into the lineup after taking regular line rushes during Friday’s practice. That’s set to place him back on the second pairing alongside Kris Letang while bumping Ilya Solovyov from the lineup.
Ryan Graves and Jack St. Ivany were both participating in Friday’s practice as well, although they were doing so on the extra pairing.
Erik Karlsson was named the NHLPA’s Player of the Week on Friday for his efforts to keep the Pens afloat on their recent road trip.
👑 Erik Karlsson’s 3 consecutive multi-point outings saw the @penguins defenceman move into the top 10 among all blueliners in points this season, earning himself the honour of NHLPA Player of the Week. pic.twitter.com/NyeZwYLioA
Eastern Conference playoff hopefuls just won’t stop winning. The race is so tight that a regulation loss for the Penguins could mean not only falling out of the top three in the Metro but all the way out of a postseason spot altogether. Here’s a look at the out-of-town schedule to keep an eye on tonight.
Seattle Kraken at Columbus Blue Jackets: 5 p.m. ET
New York Islanders at Montréal Canadiens: 7 p.m. ET
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 17: Bryce Harper #24 of Team USA celebrates after hitting a single in the sixth inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Championship game presented by Capital One between Team Venezuela and Team USA at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The team’s starting rotation is out and it should not be a surprise. Cristopher Sanchez will start the opener and will be followed by Aaron Nola and Jesus Luzardo. Anyone thinking Rob Thomson would keep the lefties back-to-back has not watched Thomson manage these past few years. Not there is much to gain from it, but having them split up keeps with is M.O. he’s had in playoff series past.
Sept 16, 2007; Boston, MA , USA; New York Yankees pitcher (22) Roger Clemens throws a pitch during the 1st inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. The Yankees defeated the Red Sox 4-3. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
The Los Angeles Dodgers are making a farce of the league. After winning back-to-back championships on the back of impossibly stacked rosters, they gave the best free agent on the market almost as much guaranteed money over the next four years than the White Sox, Guardians, and Marlins’ entire 2026 team payrolls combined. It is now a forgone conclusion that the Dodgers will capture their third consecutive World Series title in 2026. When – not if – that happens, expect Major League Baseball to suffer the same consequence that followed the crowning of its last three-peat champions; fans of the other 29 teams, driven to apathy, will simply walk away from the sport, in droves, and nothing will bring them back. Rob Manfred must choose one of two paths. He can stand idly by while baseball dies a slow death, or he can take decisive action to curtail —
Hold on, I’m getting a phone call from my editor. Yes? What’s that? Yeah, I was just writing about how the Yankees ruined baseball with their three-peat. That mass exodus of fans after 2000 was really something, right? Wait, what do you mean that never happened? People kept on watching baseball? 1998-2000 isn’t remembered as a black mark on the game’s history?
Oh. Well, I guess I can still submit this story to the Post.
Overwrought intro skit aside, my actual take is this: the Dodgers aren’t “ruining baseball”. Yes, it is groan-worthy to see the game’s leading financial juggernaut, possessing an already elite roster which just won the World Series, take on even more payroll to acquire a top-tier player. But pretending like it’s an affront to the integrity and health of the game itself is pretty rich, especially if you’re a fan of the Yankees. After all, our beloved team did just that in the 1998-1999 offseason, when they celebrated their historic 114-win championship year by trading for literally Roger Clemens. They won the World Series that year, and the year after that too – and then what happened?
I’ll tell you what didn’t happen – baseball didn’t die. Fans kept showing up to games. In 1998, a total of 70.37 million fans attended MLB games, coming out to an average of 29,285 per game. In 1999, those figures dropped all the way to…70.13 million total and 29,152 per game. I’m sure many non-Yankees fans were disgusted with Clemens being traded to the Yankees, but by and large, that disgust did not translate into a marked decrease in attendance. Likewise, the Yankees repeating as champions in 1999 also did not result in MLB attendance suffering in 2000. If anything, total attendance increased to 72.74 million that season, with the per-game average exceeding the 30,000 mark. It was the first 162-game season to accomplish that feat since the 1994 strike.
TV ratings for the World Series in those years also bear this out. The 1998 World Series garnered a Nielsen rating of 14.1 (meaning that an estimated 14.1% of all households with a TV were tuned in), with total viewership estimated at 20.34 million. In 1999, those figures actually improved to 16.0 and 23.73 million, respectively. And while 2000 did see a marked decrease (12.4 Nielsen rating, 18.08 million viewers), those figures rebounded strongly in 2001 (15.7 Nielsen rating, 24.52 million viewers). If fans of the other 29 teams were sick and tired of having to watch the Yankees play in the World Series year after year, they sure didn’t show it by tuning in to something else.
Now, you may argue that my comparison is flawed, because I’m ignoring the magnitude by which the Dodgers currently outspend the rest of MLB. It’s not just the fact that they have two rings in the bag and are going for their third – it’s that they’re going about it by flexing their financial muscles in a way that few other teams can compete with.
The raw figures seem to support this argument. The Yankees did have the highest payroll in baseball in 1999, but their $88.1 million figure only bested the second-highest spenders (the Texas Rangers) by $7 million or so. They led MLB again with a $92.9 million payroll in 2000, but this time, their lead over the second-place Dodgers was only $2 million. Compared to the Dodgers’ 2026 projected Opening Day payroll of $397 million, which clears the runner-up New York Mets’ payroll by a good $30 million, the 1999-2000 Yankees seem like small fries.
However, such a view ignores both inflation and the staggering increase of spending in MLB as a whole. Relative to their peers, the 1999-2000 Yankees outspent the league on a scale comparable to the current Dodgers. To wit: the 1999 Yankees’ payroll was 8.3% bigger than the next-highest spending Rangers, and 583% bigger than the last place Marlins’ $15.1 million mark. In 2000, the Yankees’ lead over the second-place Dodgers shrunk to 2.4%, but their $92.9 million payroll represented a 593% increase from the cellar-dwelling Twins’ $15.6 million total. Meanwhile, the 2026 Dodgers’ projected payroll is 9% bigger than the second place Mets, and only 543% bigger than the last place Marlins’ $73 million tally. Believe it or not, when adjusted for their respective eras, the scale of the Yankees’ spending during their three-peat years isn’t far apart from what the Dodgers are doing now.
The turn-of-the-millennium Yankees were every bit as villainous as the Dodgers are now, in terms of both their success and the ruthless spending by which they pursued it. And yet, despite the bad guys winning three consecutive World Series (and nearly winning a fourth!), fans kept showing up and tuning in, and MLB did not wane into irrelevance. So, I hope you can see why I’m a wee bit skeptical towards the claim that the Dodgers are ruining the game. This isn’t to say that what the Yankees did and what the Dodgers are doing is necessarily good for baseball. I do believe that a more level playing field would benefit the game (although I vehemently disagree with the idea that a salary cap would solve the issue). I do believe that fans of small and mid-market franchises do have a legitimate gripe against the Dodgers. But Yankees fans? The only sports team in America who was compared to U.S. Steel in their prime, and not as hyperbole? I think it’s best for us to sit this one out.
