ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Washington Capitals defenseman Vincent Desharnais is expected to miss 4-6 weeks after undergoing a successful appendectomy.
The team said Friday he had his appendix removed on Thursday.
Desharnais, 30, is nine games into his first season with the Capitals after signing a four-year, $16.8 million contract with them as a free agent. He has three assists and is averaging more than 19 minutes of ice time.
The Laval, Quebec, native previously played for Edmonton, Vancouver, Pittsburgh and San Jose and helped the Oilers reach the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.
Dalton Knecht signed a deal with the Knicks. AP Photo/Jeff Chiu
The former Tennessee sharpshooter had a promising start to his career in LA, averaging 9.1 point per game on 37% 3-point shooting his rookie year.
The 25-year-old seemed to fall out of favor with Lakers coach JJ Redick, though, and he was an afterthought off the bench during the Lakers’ two playoff series against the Rockets and Thunder — totaling 18 minutes across five games.
“Every moment, every lesson, and every opportunity helped me grow not only as a player but also as a person,” Knecht wrote in a good-bye letter to Lakers fans.
“Things may not always go the way we expect, and sometimes life takes us in a different direction. Leaving this chapter behind is never easy, but I will always be grateful for the opportunity to represent one of the greatest franchises in NBA history. The love, the support, and the memories will always mean something special to me.”
Former Knicks forward Kevin McCullar Jr. practices at the Madison Square Garden Training Center in Greenburgh, N.Y., Wednesday, April 23, 2025. Robert Sabo for NY Post
The Knicks waived Kevin McCullar Jr. to make room for Knecht, according to multiple reports. McCullar Jr. had spent the past two seasons with the team, playing in 25 total games and averaging 2.2 points per game.
Center James Wiseman, a former No. 2 draft pick, snagged the Knicks’ final roster spot after an impressive camp and preseason. The team appears to have faith in Wiseman, 25, developing after disappointing runs with the Warriors, Pistons and Pacers.
Exasperated Sixers fans seemed to aim their frustration at the halftime performer as Philadelphia trailed the Cavaliers by 24 during their home-opener Thursday night.
The act, Light Man, who performed an LED light and prop routine, was booed loudly as he took center court at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.
“Well, the Sixers are down 24. This talented, creative gentleman got booed a big portion of his act,” play-by-play announcer Mike Breen said on the ESPN broadcast as Cleveland led, 69-45.
“They’re just not in the frame of mind for this kind of entertainment. But he’ll get another chance, hopefully.”
Kyle Neubeck, a Sixers reporter for Phly Sports, said the reaction from the Philly crowd was a first for him.
Fans booed the halftime performer during the Sixers-Cavaliers game as Philadelphia was down by 24 points on Thursday, October 22, 2026, in PA. X
“Tonight’s halftime act got outright booed, which is definitely a first for me covering the league,” he said in a post on X.
LeBron James and the Sixers turned things around in the second half and cut a 29-point deficit to 10 in the third quarter before completing a 114-106 comeback win to improve to 2-0.
The 41-year-old James finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. He also had three steals.
Philadelphia 76ers’ LeBron James, left, tries to get past Cleveland Cavaliers’ Tyrese Proctor during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, October 22, 2026, in Philadelphia. AP Photo/Matt Slocum
After the game, James was asked about President Donald Trump comments — that the NBA legend is a “disgrace” for not staying still during the national anthem — on opening night in New York.
“It must be a slow news day at the office, you know? Slow news day in the office,” James said as he chuckled.
Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey finished with a team-high 32 points with six assists, while center Joel Embiid scored 24 points on 8-of-16 shooting.
Dalton Knecht (4) of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against the Golden State Warriors during a preseason game at Chase Center in San Francisco, California, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
“Knicks are among the teams with interest in former Laker Dalton Knecht, per league sources familiar with Knecth’s market. Knecht was waived prior to regular season. He’s eligible to sign a two-way deal. @TheSteinLine said earlier MIN had interest in Knecht,” Begley wrote in an X post.
It isn’t surprising to hear that teams are interested in signing Knecht, as he’s just two years removed from being one of the top prospects in the 2024 NBA Draft (the Lakers selected him with No. 17 pick in that draft).
Two of these teams being the defending champion New York Knicks and the Minnesota Timberwolves, who many believe are among the favorites to win the Western Conference this season. That suggests Knecht has a good chance of landing on another quality roster.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Dalton Knecht (4) walks toward the bench during the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, in San Francisco. AP Photo/Jeff ChiuLos Angeles Lakers player Dalton Knecht (4) poses during media day at the UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California, on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Knecht found himself on the outside looking in at Los Angeles’ roster this past offseason after averaging 7.1 points and shooting 36.8% from three-point range across two NBA seasons.
Just when they needed him the most, Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond is beginning to heat up.
The Swedish forward, who hadn't scored in his first eight games of the campaign, now has three goals in his last two outings, including a pair of goals in Thursday evening's 5-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena.
According to head coach Todd McLellan, Raymond is looking like his old self, putting himself in the right places on the ice to make the most of his offensive chances.
“He put himself in good spots tonight to score; I thought he did that last game," McLellan said afterward. "Even when he mishandled the puck a couple of times three or four games ago, he was in the right spot.
So now, he's feeling good, the confidence is back where it should be, and hopefully he takes off.”
There was a moment of concern on the part of the Red Wings when goaltender John Gibson was announced as unavailable for the third period due to an upper-body injury.
That meant that Michal Postava, who had recently been called up from the American Hockey League affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins, earned his first NHL action; he finished with seven saves on the eight shots Vancouver fired his way.
“He had something in his eye," McLellan said of Gibson. "They're still looking at it, and so the EBUG is dressing, Michal's told he's going to play, and away he goes. Did a real good job, happy for him, and congratulations, you're in the NHL now.”
The good news is that Gibson's eye issue isn't expected to be serious.
The Red Wings will continue their road trip on Saturday evening with a tilt against the Calgary Flames, which will be their final game at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
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On the cusp of a World Series crown, a former Yankees phenom turned flameout is not ruling out a return to where it all started.
Catcher/designated hitter Gary Sanchez, a member of the 2026 National League champion Brewers, is preparing to face his one-time AL East foe, the Rays, in the World Series in search of his first career championship.
At 33, the well-traveled slugger has been with six different organizations in the five years since his Yankees career unceremoniously ended in 2022 with a trade to the Twins.
Gary Sánchez of the Brewers looks on during batting practice prior to Game 2 of the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Monday, October 12, 2026. Getty Images
But once the World Series wraps up, “El Gary” — who has spoken fondly of his at-times tumultuous career in the Bronx — is not ruling anything out.
“I’m still playing, and you never know,” Sanchez said in an interview with Jomboy Media’s JoezMcfly. “I’m a free agent [this offseason] and life takes many turns. You never know.”
A highly touted prospect in the Yankees’ system, Sanchez took the Yankees and MLB by storm in 2016, going on a torrid stretch over the last two months that nearly earned him Rookie of the Year honors.
Among his exploits, Sanchez earned Player of the Month honors for August and became the fastest player in MLB history to reach 11 career homers.
He followed that up by establishing himself as one of the team’s most feared hitters, posting a pair of 30-plus home run seasons and making two All-Star teams from 2017-2019.
New York Yankees’ Gary Sanchez looks to the scoreboard after striking out in the eighth inning and going 0 for 5 in the Yankees’ 5-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox in a baseball game in New York, Friday, Sept. 30, 2016. AP
“You know, I had my best years in the big leagues with the Yankees,” Sanchez said. “Many fans will remember me for a long time, and I set records for the franchise too.
“I will be mentioned for a long time and it’s the team I played with the longest, so thank you for all the support.”
However, defense, hustle and ability to make consistent contact made Sanchez a polarizing figure in New York, cutting into his playing time and, ultimately, his Yankees tenure.
Since his departure, Sanchez has settled into a role as a right-handed power bat off the bench, making stops with the Twins, Mets, Padres, Orioles and now the Brewers for a second stint.
In 86 games this season, Sanchez slashed .209/.349/.422 with 12 home runs and 38 RBIs.
His lone postseason at-bat resulted in a crucial walk, setting up Jackson Chourio’s walk-off single in Game 2 of the NLDS.
Sanchez’s once-suspect defense has seen improvement since leaving left New York, but he appeared behind the plate for 43 games this season while splitting the rest of his time between DH and first base.
The Yankees were reportedly in the market for a right-handed catcher this past season but ultimately did not make a trade, instead rolling with veteran Ali Sanchez down the stretch.
Entering an offseason that is likely to see a lockout, predicting any moves is difficult, but Sanchez appears more than open to a second act in the Big Apple.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 22: Tyrese Maxey #0 and LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers react against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was 50 years ago Thursday that Julius Erving made his Sixers home debut at the Spectrum in his first NBA game.
Dr. J was still in his prime at 26 and coming off three straight ABA MVPs while playing for the New York Nets. Erving began that season coming off the bench and only played 16 minutes in a 121-118 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on opening night.
While LeBron James is closer to the twilight of his career at 41 years old, the excitement was palpable as the unretired Matt Cord introduced arguably the greatest basketball player of all time as a Philadelphia 76er for the first time.
“It was everything that I dreamed of and more,” James said at his overpopulated locker stall postgame.
James got the whole Philly experience — including being booed by his own fans as the Sixers found themselves down 29.
“Got the boos. That was amazing. We deserved it,” he said. “And then we got the cheers and almost blew the roof off this thing tonight — in a good way. It was a hell of a night.”
Philly is a basketball town, but its relationship with its professional basketball team had soured to the point of apathy. Even the goodwill from overcoming a 3-1 deficit and defeating the rival Boston Celtics in the postseason for the first time in over 40 years subsided after a sweep by the New York Knicks.
The offseason was littered with questions that had no easy answers. The franchise was locked into two separate timelines. Daryl Morey extended Joel Embiid and signed veteran Paul George to a max deal. He also drafted two young guards in Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. On top of that, there was work to be done to build a deeper bench.
New president of basketball operations Mike Gansey transformed the roster in short order by pulling off the shocking blockbuster to land Jaylen Brown from the Celtics, which led to his pursuit of James. None of it felt real. It still kind of doesn’t.
The Sixers aren’t supposed to have nice things. The vibes are so high, fans are waiting for the other shoe to drop. What hellish response to all this positivity will come from this monkey’s paw-ridden franchise?
But there wasn’t time to get to that negative space Thursday … well, at least not in the second half.
As the Sixers mounted their comeback, they looked almost unstoppable. Comebacks are a frequent occurrence in the modern NBA. With the three-ball becoming king and analytics ruling the day, teams will play the math game and start bombing away to cut into a big deficit.
But this comeback was unique in that the Sixers were abysmal from deep. They were just 7-of-25 from three on the night. They clawed away at the Cavs’ lead by playing aggressive defense and getting out in transition. It feels like a winning formula for Nick Nurse’s group. If they can force turnovers and get stops, good luck stopping them on the break.
Through two games, it’s been an interesting offensive ecosystem. There’s still work to be done, but you could see in the second half how organically it went, with each star having their moment. Joel Embiid had one in the fourth quarter, his first true flurry of the young season. It helped put the Sixers in front.
At one point, a “Trust the Process” broke out as Embiid was at the line.
We don’t need to rehash this guy’s entire journey from navicular bone fractures to start his career until now, but what a ride.
“I’ve been here for a long time,” Embiid said. “That was probably … not the best night, but that was probably a top-five night for me since I’ve been in Philadelphia. That was great. I have no words. That was amazing. Obviously, we don’t want to be down 29 points like we were early on. We got a few boos, but then again, they came right back up to support us. But that was probably [one of the] top-three nights for me since I’ve been here.”
Erving would work his way into the starting lineup that first season and finished fifth in MVP voting. More importantly, he led the Sixers to the NBA Finals, helping stake them to a 2-0 series lead over the Portland Trail Blazers. Sixers fans of a certain age will remember the heartbreak that followed.
A Finals trip would be a strong introductory season for James in Philly. Hell, the franchise’s first Eastern Conference Finals berth in over 25 years would be nice.
For now, it’s simply two wins, but the word “special” is being thrown around a bunch — with good reason.
Even at 41 and in his 24th season, it was a special night for LeBron James.
“This is my fourth time being able to have a home opener for a different franchise,” he said. “It’s great to be able to go out and just do what I love to do and just be well received. My daughter was here. She turned 12 today. They put her name up and told her happy birthday on the jumbotron. They sat courtside. That was super cool, man. Mom was here as well.
“So, super special for me to be able to have moments like this in this building, in this city, probably one of the best sports cities in the world, along with a couple other cities, but Philly is damn sure right up at the top. So I’m happy to be here. Extremely happy. I’m happy to be with these boys in this locker room. Hopefully, we continue to do something special throughout the season.”
CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 22: Taijuan Walker #99 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Kyle Sheridan/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
It would be unfair to blame Taijuan Walker for the 9-19 start and the firing of Rob Thomson, who was released after five miserable performances in the middle of the 10-game losing streak.
However, it is not unfair to use Taijuan Walker as a symbol of their biggest problem in 2026: failing to roster enough depth across the entire organization to overcome even minor injuries. They missed Zack Wheeler for 26 games to start the season and knew it was happening the entire offseason. Their starting pitching depth began and ended with Taijuan Walker during that time.
They did not face many significant rotation injuries the entire season. The starting rotation of Wheeler, Cristopher Sánchez, Jesús Luzardo, Aaron Nola, and Andrew Painter made 146 starts of a possible 162 during the season. There were only two instances where a rotation injury came into play, to begin with Wheeler, and the end of the year with Jesus Luzardo. Both were clear disasters.
Taijuan Walker pitched five games with the Phillies and they lost four of them. If you can read, you can see that they didn’t lose every single game he appeared in.
On April 11, Walker pitched five innings of two run ball with and recorded six strikeouts against the Arizona Diamondbacks. A perfectly solid outing for a number five starter, that is moving to the bullpen when their ace returns. They Phillies used five other pitchers to get through the game, including Orion Kerkering and Brad Keller, who did not last with the team the entire season for completely unrelated reasons.
Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper homered off Brandon Pfaadt, leading to a 4-3 win after Jhoan Duran closed out the ninth.
That one outing would end up mattering. If Walker put together one more stinker in a Phillies loss, both the Phillies and Diamondbacks would end up with the same record at 87-75. The Phillies do not make the playoffs and don’t have the privilege of getting body slammed by the Atlanta Braves in October to end the season.
In a way, Taijuan Walker is a massive part in the Phillies making the postseason. Think about it.
What went wrong
On a Wednesday night in Wrigley Field, Rob Thomson and the Phillies came up with a full-proof plan to fix Taijuan Walker. An opener.
Kyle Backhus would open against the top of the Chicago Cubs order, which included Nico Hoerner, Alex Bregman, and Seiya Suzuki in the top four. Walker would come in for bulk relief and the Phillies would pull off a crazy concept of winning a baseball game in April.
The Phillies lost this game 7-2, falling to 8-16 and were on the brink of firing Rob Thomson. Backhus surrendered a run in the first, Walker gave up five in bulk relief, and Alan Rangel came in to finish the final three innings to preserve the rest of the bullpen.
The Backhus-Walker-Rangel game is the lowest point in the losing streak. There is nothing else. How in the world did the Phillies think this was a strategy to deploy in a Major League Baseball regular-season game? How?
Just a complete failure from everyone, whoever you want to blame. It’s on them.
I will never forget the Backhus-Walker-Rangel game. Neither should you.
Final grade: F
This grade is not even as much about Taijuan Walker and how things went. As I stated earlier, he was a big part in the Phillies making the postseason.
This is on the organization for not providing enough pitching depth. They hung onto Walker for 22.2 innings because they had no other viable plan if a starting pitcher got hurt. It’s an organizational F. It’s more of an F on Dave Dombrowski and the entire Phillies organism than it is on Taijuan Walker.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 20: Riley Adams #15 of the Washington Nationals poses for a photo during the Washington Nationals Photo Day at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on February 20, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Adams is 30 years old but has played in only 263 MLB games. So it’s safe to say that, no, he has not proven himself capable of sticking on a big league roster. At the plate, he struggles to make contact big time, posting a career strikeout rate of 32.5%. Only two qualified hitters in all of baseball had a higher strikeout rate than that last year and one of them, Colson Montgomery, just set the all-time record for most strikeouts in a single season. It’s really, really hard to make it in the big leagues when you whiff that much. And in Adams’s case, it doesn’t help that he’s not known to be particularly special with the glove; he’s relatively adept at controlling the running game, but grades out as a poor framer.
But what Adams does have is a very quick bat and some serious power. During his last stint in the big leagues, which came with the Washington Nationals in 2025, Adams popped 8 dongs in just 286 plate appearances. That’s not quite what Mickey Gasper did this year, when he went crazy with 10 in 225, but it’s not all that far off. And like Mikey, Adams is a terror against AAA pitching; he put up a .273/.389/.506 slash line with 16 homers in 82 AAA games this past season.
When I said he has serious power, I meant it. Here he is launching a ball completely out of the park during a spring training game:
And here he is showing off his arm:
What’s he doing in his picture up there?
Tipping his cap and saying “I think my work here is done” after once again saving the backyard of a home in La Jolla, California from the ravages of pampas grass using his pioneering dry ice removal method.
What’s his role on the 2027 Red Sox?
This is a depth signing. In all likelihood he’ll have the same role on the ‘27 Sox as Jason Delay had on the ‘26 Sox, which is to say, no role at all. But having said that, there is something to like in that bat, and the Red Sox have a very recent history of getting gold out of 30-year-old journeyman catchers with power. That doesn’t mean you should expect him to do what Mickey Gasper did this year — you should never expect to see that ever again , actually — but it does mean that you should keep an eye on him.
TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 21: Caleb Wilson #8 of the Chicago Bulls dunks the ball during the game against the Toronto Raptors on October 21, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Quite a few Carolina fans by now heard about former Tar Heel Caleb Wilson’s first NBA regular season game with the Chicago Bulls. The talented forward finished his outing against the Toronto Raptors with 16 points, four rebounds, three steals, a block, and nine (!!!) turnovers. The detail that made everyone’s jaw drop is that he finished with a franchise-record -45 plus/minus, which as one could imagine triggered a lot of conversation.
I got to watch Wilson’s first game as a Bull, and my honest take is that his debut was indeed pretty bad, but the plus/minus is a bit misleading. So, let’s discuss three takeaways from Caleb Wilson’s official “welcome to the NBA” game.
Wilson’s teammates had an equal hand in his tragic plus/minus
Before we even touch anything that is specifically focused on Wilson, let’s talk about how his teammates helped make his plus/minus ended up as bad as it was. Bulls starting point guard Josh Giddey had an awful night on the floor, and it’s honestly not even really worth getting into his numbers. Giddey at times had tunnel vision on the floor, had some really goofy turnovers, and it was all made worse by the fact that he only made one of his 10 field goals. It shouldn’t be much of a secret that Wilson needs a good point guard by his side as he acclimates to the NBA, but he did not get that Wednesday night.
Zooming out, the entire team shot terribly from the field, and even worse from three. The Bulls were 4-36 from deep, which was one of the worst three-point shooting performances I’ve seen in a while. To be fair, it was less of a shot quality issue and more of an issue of just not being able to make shots. Wilson also got some quality looks from deep, but he just couldn’t get them to drop. When the whole team is shooting this poorly, it isn’t shocking that Wilson’s plus/minus was ugly, especially since he led the team in minutes with 32. That is all important context when assessing such a tragic game.
Wilson’s body at times moved faster than his mind
Something that we all saw during NBA Summer League at times was Wilson’s body deciding to execute something without really thinking it through. Against Toronto, there were times when the Bulls’ offense was stagnant, and when the ball ended up in his hands he just….tried something. That something didn’t go well more times than it did, and it played a huge role in his nine turnovers. It also seemed like Bulls head coach Tiago Splitter had Wilson on the perimeter a lot in this game, so when he did get the ball in the later part of the shot clock he had a ways to go before he could get to the rim, and his handle just isn’t good enough for that yet when he’s having to get past guys like Scottie Barnes and Kawhi Leonard.
As cliché as it sounds, Wilson just needs the game to slow down so that he makes the right decisions at the right time. It seemed like that was happening during preseason, but he also had his first experience dealing with some of the better defenders in the NBA in the Raptors, so it was a wake up call to say the least. These types of opponents are really good for his development, but this also means that nobody should be surprised if he has another stinker because he is trying to do too much against a playoff-caliber team.
When Wilson stuck to the greatest hits, he played well
Chicago Bulls head coach Tiago Splitter was very willing to let Wilson cook against the Raptors, and while that came with a good amount of bad, it also came with some good. Remember how much Wilson loves to live above the rim? He had a handful of dunks, including his first poster official NBA poster. That mid-range fadeaway he likes to take? It still looks good. His defense? Surprisingly solid against a team that flamed the Bulls.
Focusing on the defense part for a moment, there was a conversation before the season started about whether or not Wilson would be able to be a positive guarding NBA players. It’s safe to say that he will not be a deep negative thanks to his athleticism and length, which is how he ended up with three steals in a block. Even when players scored on him, his defense wasn’t bad at all. NBA All-Star Scottie Barnes drilling shots over Wilson isn’t exactly surprising, and it will happen quite a bit against some of the better players in the league. But he did pretty well for his first regular season game, and over time I expect him to only get better and better, especially when he gets a chance to bulk up next summer.
Finally, it is safe to say that Wilson’s energy that he plays with is still impressive. The Bulls got a steal at one point in the game and Wilson flew down the court faster than I’d seen him run before. He also at one point missed a bunny at the rim and immediately snatched the ball out of the air for a dunk. There was a good amount of positives from his first game, and if you would like a visual breakdown, check out Steph Noh’s film review:
One minute on Caleb Wilson's debut. Ballhandling and shooting were bad, way too many turnovers (9), but there was some good stuff too when I dove into the film. pic.twitter.com/HnY3uE0QdK
All and all, Caleb Wilson’s first regular season game was bad, but that isn’t to say there weren’t positives. There was really only one “good” rookie performance Wednesday night, and that was from former Illinois guard Keaton Wagler. Does it look like Wilson will be a bust? Absolutely not, and quite frankly, one would hope that nobody is thinking that after one NBA game. But this does prove that he is indeed a work in progress, but as long as he is willing to put in the work, he is going to be a really good player in the league for a long time.
NEW YORK - 1912. Birdie Cree, outfielder for the New York Highlanders poses for a portrait in 1912 in Hilltop Park, New York. (Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images) | Getty Images
Before he was Birdie, William Cree was a little man with a big right arm and impressive speed. Born about an hour south of Pittsburgh, like many players of his day, the old-timer had a unique path to the majors, including playing under a fake name to preserve his eligibility.
William Franklin “Birdie” Cree Born: October 23, 1882 (Khedive, PA) Died: November 7, 1942 (Sunbury, PA) Yankees Tenure: 1908-15
After finishing school in Pennsylvania, Cree attended Southwestern State Normal School, where he played football and baseball while earning his teaching credentials. After graduating in 1903, Cree started teaching in the public school system while continuing to play baseball and football. His athletic prowess earned him a scholarship offer from Penn State.
In the fall of 1904, just three days into his Nittany Lion football career, Cree dislocated his collarbone and was out for the season. However, he was healthy and ready for baseball the following spring. After collecting several extra-base hits, the nickname Birdie was born.
Cree actually used a variation of that nickname for his secret identity, presenting himself as Bill Burde, to play amateur baseball for some spending money while still in school. Following the 1907 season, Burde was purchased by Connie Mack and the Philadelphia Athletics.
The team left him with his amateur club for the start of the 1908 season and they moved him to center field. Before the season was over, Detroit acquired Cree the outfielder, not Burde the shortstop, from the Athletics and then promptly traded him to the New York Highlanders.
In September of 1908, Cree made his major league debut. He appeared in 21 games the rest of the way, batting .269 with two triples. The Highlanders finished the year in eighth place with a 51-103-1 record.
At age 26, in 1909, Cree played his first full season of professional baseball. The Highlanders moved him all over the field as he saw time at all three outfield spots, both middle infield positions, and even made one appearance at third base. Cree hit his first home run, which also happened to be the first home run hit out of legendary Shibe Park in Philadelphia by a right-handed batter. The team improved overall but still finished below .500.
The 1910 season was Cree’s breakthrough campaign. The team finished second in the American League with an 88-63-5 record, in part due to Cree’s improvement. His average increased by more than 20 points to .287, while he hit 16 triples and tied for the team lead with four home runs.
For an encore, Cree followed up his breakthrough season with what ended up being his best campaign. In 1911, Cree ranked in the top five in the American League in several categories and had one of the best seasons in club history by a non-superstar player. His batting average was .348, while he slugged .513 on 181 hits. That included 22 triples, 30 doubles, and 48 stolen bases. His production was good for a 5.6 WAR and a 152 OPS+.
The amazing run peaked and he started to come back down to earth in 1912. That season, Cree still slashed a very respectable .332/.409/.453 but was limited to only 50 games after battling a severe cold to start the year and then getting his wrist broken on a hit by pitch at the end of June. Sadly, Cree was never the same after this injury.
With the wrist injury lingering, Cree battled through the 1913 season. His average dropped to .272, but he still managed to hit 32 extra-base hits in 145 games. This year was the first in which the club was officially known as the Yankees, giving Cree the distinction of having played under both names.
Rocky is the only way to describe Cree’s 1914 season. Arriving overweight and out of shape, Cree was released and briefly played for Baltimore in the International League before the Yankees bought him back. Finishing off the year, Cree hit .309 in 77 games with a 2.9 WAR.
Cree couldn’t lose the weight he had added and then suffered another injury during spring training in 1915. In what would be his final professional season, Cree slashed .214/.353/.276 in 74 games, opting for retirement after the season rather than going down a level into the minors. Cree ended his career having played parts of eight different seasons professionally all with New York. His final career slash line was .292/.368/.398 and a 125 OPS+.
In retirement, Cree worked in banking and took up several leisure activities, such as golf and tennis. He even appeared at a few Old-Timers’ Days as well. But in November 1942, Cree succumbed to an illness just a couple weeks after turning 60.
Happy birthday, Birdie!
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
The Islanders battled back from an early 2-0 hole, forcing overtime after Matthew Schaefer's game-tying goal in the third period.
That goal is Schaefer's first of the season, and the 24th of his career after a 23-goal campaign as an 18-year-old.
That 24th goal as a teenager moved Schaefer into a tie for second all-time in goals scored as a teenaged defenseman.
Schaefer is tied with none other than Boston Bruins' legend, Bobby Orr, the best defenseman in the history of the NHL.
It's an unbelievable stat, one that reminds just how special of a player Schaefer is in every sense of the word.
"It’s crazy to have your name next to him," Schaefer said postgame. "With some of the great things he's done. It’s an honor.”
But, Schaefer knows the records and stats aren't the end all, be all. He wants to get better and he wants to win.
"I don't really look at the records and things like that," Schaefer said. "You just keep playing the game, keep trying to get better. Obviously, there's things you always want to improve on, and at the end of the day, it's a team game, and we're kind of just focused on what we got going in here."
What the Islanders "got going on here" is a team currently third in the Metropolitan Division.
They've also got the fifth-best odds to make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference, according to Moneypuck.com.
The Islanders now ship out for a week-long road trip, looking to stack more wins. They'll face Head Coach Pete DeBoer's old team, the Dallas Stars, Sunday night to kick off the road trip.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 15: Jake Bauers #9 of the Milwaukee Brewers is presented with the Most Valuable Player trophy after his team defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in game four of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on October 15, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I don’t know about y’all, but I’m incredibly excited for this World Series. The Rays and Brewers are both really fun teams, and while neither was the one I was rooting for when the postseason began, they’ve both won my heart to some degree with the way they handled their business so far this October. Ever since the two teams won their spots in the upcoming World Series, I’ve been thinking about how similar they are to each other and to the Royals, and what changes the Royals should be making to be more like them.
Starting pitching matters
There has been a lot of conversation surrounding the playoffs this year about how starting pitchers might be a dying breed. After all, starters have been pitching fewer and fewer innings for years. Then you get to this postseason and the White Sox made it all the way to ALDS Game 5 while using only one pitcher as a starter. The Guardians made it to Game 6 of the ALCS while using only two.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence, however, that the two World Series teams were among the ones who were willing to throw a starting pitcher every single game, even if he wasn’t necessarily the best pitcher available to them. The White Sox raced out to a 2-0 lead in the ALDS on the backs of their relievers but couldn’t keep it going forever. The Guardians decided they’d rather use their exceptionally effective relievers than allow Tanner Bibee to start a single playoff game, and it burned them in the ALCS when all of their relievers were worn out and overexposed. The Padres entered the postseason with the best bullpen in the majors, but they blew two games against the Brewers because they simply didn’t feel confident in any of their starters except Michael King.
The 2014 Royals showed that an elite bullpen performance could get you really far in the playoffs, but one aspect people slept on was that the Royals had competent, though not elite, starting pitching to keep things close for five-plus innings and prevent their relievers from being overworked or overexposed. Who knows how Game 7 of the 2014 World Series might have gone if the Royals had thought to just throw a true bullpen game, but they only got that far because they didn’t try it earlier.
This is actually something people have been discussing since at least 2024, though for some reason teams don’t seem to have taken it into account yet. That article discusses how overusing relievers can have a similar penalty to starters the third time through; ironically, the realization of the “third-time-through-the-order penalty” is what led teams to use their relievers like this in the first place. It sure seems like they’ve swung too hard in the other direction, though. I tend to think letting Tanner Bibee start Game 6 of the ALCS would have led to better results for the Guardians than asking all their best relievers to go out there not just for the third time in the series, but for the third time in three days, likely increasing the familiarity effect.
The lesson from this postseason isn’t “starting pitchers are irrelevant.” Instead, it is “you’d better have and use four competent starters or even the best bullpen will blow up in your face when they have to cover that many innings against the same team.”
Never stop trading
During the ALCS, there was a bit of schadenfreude in the fact that Tampa Bay beat Cleveland with home runs from their two best hitters, Junior Caminero and Yandy Díaz, two players the Guardians traded to the Rays. According to FanGraphs, the Rays have the most players on their 26-man roster in baseball who were acquired by trade – the National League champion Brewers were third. Even more interesting was that NLCS MVP Jake Bauers was part of the Guardians’ return for Díaz, and the Guardians DFA-traded him away, too.
The Royals could spend more, and they might be a better team. I’d actually argue that if the Rays and Brewers were willing to even spend half of what the Dodgers do, given how great they are at roster-building, they’d be able to have an even more dominant dynasty than LA has enjoyed. But if the Royals won’t spend more money, they need to follow the Brewers’ and Rays’ leads in this way – make lots and lots of trades.
A couple of weeks ago, I evaluated how both the Brewers and Royals front offices had done at getting appropriate value in their transactions. One aspect I didn’t properly consider was the types of transactions each team performed, though. I evaluated a total of 69 transactions for the Brewers, 41 of those were trades. The Royals made 55 transactions, and 3o of those were trades. Those are fairly similar ratios, but of the 30 trades the Royals made, only 15 were made for guys who might possibly help beyond a season or two. The Brewers made 27 such trades, a much higher percentage. I don’t think it is a coincidence that one of the Royals’ best trades in recent years was the deal that sent Freddy Fermin to San Diego for Ryan Bergert and Stephen Kolek. That trade helped them in the moment, but it also improved their team for the future. That’s exactly the kind of trade the Rays and Brewers do all the time that the Royals haven’t gotten the hang of.
Besides being willing to make bigger trades, the Royals should just be making more trades, period. People will act like the Guardians should have held on to Caminero and Díaz, but it’s not like the Rays or Brewers never make trades that send useful players away. After all, Bauers debuted with the Rays. And the Rays’ ALCS MVP, Freddy Peralta, was traded away by the Brewers earlier this year! To say nothing of how both teams have made trades in the past that sent valuable pieces away without getting anything good in return.
The Rays traded All-Star Tristan Peters to the White Sox for cash. They traded José Cabellero to the Yankees for Everson Pereira, then released him. They traded Jeffrey Springs and Jacob Lopez to the Athletics for three minor leaguers you’ve never heard of. The Brewers traded Tyrone Taylor and Adrian Houser for Coleman Crow. Until these playoffs, Corbin Burnes for D.L. Hall and Joey Ortiz wasn’t looking great. Honestly, the Peralta and Durbin trades aren’t looking great, either. But neither team lets the fear of failure stop them from doing more trades and recovering from the missteps.
The trades the Royals have made smack of fear in comparison. The Royals need to be bolder and be willing to be wrong if they ever want to have a chance of being gloriously right.
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 21: Trae Young #3 of the Washington Wizards and Anthony Davis #23 of the Washington Wizards look on against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half at Capital One Arena on October 21, 2026 in Washington, DC. 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 Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Toronto Raptors couldn’t have asked for a much better start to the 2026-27 season after dismantling the Chicago Bulls 135-92, the largest home opener win in franchise history. Toronto heads to Washington on Friday looking to carry that momentum against a Wizards team that also opened its season with a win.
Toronto’s return to the court was highlighted by the reunion with Kawhi Leonard, who scored 23 points in his first regular-season game back with the Raptors. Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley also recorded 23 points apiece, while RJ Barrett added 20.
The Raptors established control immediately, scoring 43 points in the first quarter and forcing 27 turnovers. Their defensive pressure and balanced scoring proved too much for Chicago, although Toronto will want to see whether it can maintain that intensity against stronger opposition
TORONTO, CANADA – OCTOBER 21: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors drives against Matas Buzelis #14 of the Chicago Bulls in the first half of their NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on October 21, 2026 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Washington also began its campaign with an impressive performance, defeating the Milwaukee Bucks 128-116. Anthony Davis led the way with 34 points and 12 rebounds, while Trae Young contributed 20 points and 13 assists. The Wizards overcame a slow start with a decisive fourth-quarter run to secure the victory.
Players to watch
Kawhi Leonard will be one to watch after a successful first game in his return to Toronto’s lineup. His two-way presence gives the Raptors another scoring option, while Scottie Barnes’ ability to contribute as a scorer, rebounder and playmaker will be crucial to Toronto’s success.
While the majority of the starting five played well, I would like to see more production from the bench, as I expect them to play a bigger role in this game against the Wizards.
For Washington, Anthony Davis presents the biggest matchup concern after his performance in the season opener. His interior scoring and rim protection could challenge Toronto on both ends of the floor, while Trae Young’s playmaking will be key to the Wizards’ offence.
Young’s connection with Davis could create problems for the Raptors if they allow the duo to dictate the pace.
A player that I was excited to watch is first overall pick, AJ Dybantsa, though he has been ruled out for Friday’s contest.
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 21: Trae Young #3 of the Washington Wizards and Anthony Davis #23 of the Washington Wizards look on against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half at Capital One Arena on October 21, 2026 in Washington, DC. 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 Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Keys to the game
The biggest question is whether Toronto can force turnovers and generate easy points again. The Raptors thrived on defensive pressure against Chicago, but Washington’s combination of Young’s passing and Davis’ finishing presents a different challenge.
The battle inside will also be important. Toronto must find a way to limit Davis without overcommitting defensively and leaving Washington’s perimeter players open.
Meanwhile, the Raptors’ ball movement and ability to get contributions from multiple scorers should help determine whether they can control the game.
Washington will also be looking to improve its perimeter shooting after struggling from three-point range against Milwaukee. If the Wizards find their touch from deep, they could make this a much closer contest.
Prediction
Toronto has the momentum and demonstrated how dangerous its offence can be when Barnes, Quickley, Barrett and Leonard contribute together. However, Davis and Young give Washington a formidable duo that should make things more difficult for the Raptors.
TORONTO, ON- OCTOBER 21 – Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors and Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors share a laugh on the bench as the Toronto Raptors play the Chicago Bulls in their season opener at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. October 21, 2026. Steve Russell/Toronto Star (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images
Prediction: Raptors 114, Wizards 108.
Toronto’s depth and defensive pressure should be enough to secure a second straight win, but I would expect this to be a much closer matchup.
LeBron James went through his usual warmup routine again Thursday night, and then he came out firing.
The 76ers superstar responded to criticism from Donald Trump stemming from his continued pregame activities during the national anthem before Tuesday’s season-opener against the Knicks.
“It’s a slow news day at the office, you know,” James said. “Slow news day in the office.”
LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on prior to a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Getty Images
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer swung his arms and mimed a golf shot during during Avery Wilson’s rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.
“While listening to our National Anthem, LeBron James disrespects our Country,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. “LeBron James should apologize to all of those Great American Warriors and Heroes who died for the American Flag, and all that our Country stands for!”
Ahead of Thursday night’s home opener against the Cavaliers, James was much more subdued during the anthem — not that he or his teammates were taking Trump’s post to heart.
“I think that goes right in with other outside noise we’ve already had,” coach Nick Nurse said before the 114-106 win that improved his team to 2-0. “I keep saying the same thing. All I really care about is getting to the practice floor, getting them in the film room, getting them to the game floor. The focus that they’ve had and the intent and all the stuff like that has been outstanding.”
President Donald Trump gestures during a midterm election campaign rally at Sioux Gateway Airport. AFP via Getty Images
James and Trump have never been shy about trading barbs, with the 22-time NBA All-Star calling the President a “bum” in a social media post in 2017.
Their spat comes as the national anthem re-emerges as hot button issue in sports.
The WNBA’s Valkyries and Dream have garnered attention by vacating the floor ahead of the anthem during the league’s championship series, though both have maintained it was part of their pregame routine long before the best-of-seven series began Oct. 17.
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