The Mets second baseman, acquired from Texas in exchange for Brandon Nimmo this offseason, is looking not just to help solidify a revamped infield, but also get back to the type of hitter he was in 2023.
Since then, his struggles at the plate have been well-documented, and though the Mets don’t need Semien to get back to that All-Star level, a resurgence at the plate by a 35-year-old can’t exactly be counted upon.
But if he plays defense like he’s capable of, the Mets will take it.
Losing Francisco Lindor to hand surgery for a stress fracture in his left hamate bone slowed the duo’s learning curve in the middle of the diamond, but with Lindor set to begin fielding drills as soon as Friday, their work can begin in earnest.
“It sounds like his hand is feeling pretty good,” Semien said. “I’m looking forward to seeing it because he’s one of the best in the game. He’s a person I can learn from on the defensive side as well.”
Marcus Semien celebrates after hitting a solo home run in the third inning of the Mets’ 5-0 spring training win over the Astros on Feb. 26, 2026, in West Palm Beach, Fla. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Though each of them has plenty of experience, they want to figure out the nuances of playing together before the regular season begins.
“It is [important],’’ Semien said of the duo building chemistry. “Both of us are veteran players. We’ve played a lot of baseball in our careers, but playing together and getting a feel for how it is to communicate. What balls can I get to and what balls he can get to and making sure we’re standing in the right places is something we should do as quickly as we possibly can.”
He has no doubt that with new infield instructor Kai Correa, as well as Tim Leiper, they’ll be able to get on the same page.
Marcus Semien hits a solo home run in the third inning of the Mets’ spring training win over the Astros. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“We’re gonna be a good combination,’’ Semien said.
At the plate could be a different story, but Semien’s homer in a 5-0 win over the Astros on Thursday at Ballpark of the Palm Beaches was a positive sign.
“When he’s healthy, we know there’s a lot of things he can do, not only defensively, but offensively,’’ Carlos Mendoza said.
The manager added there’s been an adjustment to Semien’s posture that should help his swing path, and Semien said he and the coaching staff are “looking at whenever I was at my best and, ‘How do we get back to that?’ They’re working relentlessly to do that.”
And he’s hoping being around offensive minds like Lindor, Juan Soto and fellow newcomer Bo Bichette will help.
“Those guys are great to get feedback from,’’ Semien said. “Those conversations are gonna happen all year. This is a good place to be as a hitter.”
Vibes were high at Hohokam Stadium today. After four straight losses and an off day, the A’s came out of the gate hot, scoring six of their seven runs in the just the first two innings!
On the pitching side, Jack Perkins was a standout. His two innings to start the game were perfect. No walks. No hits. A strike out for good measure as well as a fastball that sat around 96 mph. Pretty good! It was nice seeing him bounce back after a rough go around against the White Sox. I guess he was still flushing all that Mr. Pibb out of his system.
After a solid inning from Mark Leiter Jr. in the third, A’s pitching took a little bit of a dive. While Wei-En Lin isn’t guilty of surrendering any runs, his two free bases and low velo on the heater were far from encouraging. After his day was over, three straight innings, from the fifth to the seventh, saw the Rangers chip away at their deficit. The first came courtesy of a Tyler Wade home run. The former A took future former A Joel Kuhnel deep to right field, followed by two more runs in the sixth and seventh off of Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang. The righty had a rough day at the yard. Four hits were offered up including a Marco Torres dinger to center. Thankfully, things took a turn for the better after that. The last two frames saw Nick Hernandez and Brooks Kriske collectively hold the Rangers to no hits on three strikeouts.
Offensively, nine hits were racked up by the green and gold, with the bulk of that production coming from a couple of fan favorites. Brent Rooker, Tyler Soderstrom, and Darrell Hernaiz each turned in 2 for 3 days at the plate. Rooker’s single to left put the A’s on the board early in the first. The newly acquired Jeff McNeil would then add to the total by knocking in Soderstrom with a nice little two-bagger to follow. Speaking of Soderstrom, in the last half of the second, the lefty picked up two RBIs off of a single to center. One batter later, B-Rook connected on a slider located on the outer half of the plate, which resulted in his first home run of the spring.
Eight of those nine hits by the green and gold were off of Rangers starter Cal Quantrill. After he was yanked in the third, A’s bats went a tad quiet. The last of bit of noise by the A’s took place in the fifth, thanks to a couple of Rangers’ errors and aggressive base running by Jeff McNeil, who went first to home with some pep.
It was a productive day at the ballpark indeed. Lots of positives. A few negatives. Overall, a good showing for the squad – – a departure from the four straight less than desirable performances we all had been subjected to. Tomorrow’s game against the Kansas City Royals will provide the A’s their first chance at back to back wins in the Cactus League this year. It’ll also be the first start for Jeffrey Springs in 2026! Let’s see if the A’s can keep things chugging!
NOTES:
Before today’s game, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported that the A’s have made an extension offer to Stickman Nick Kurtz. One would have to belief it’d be the largest contract in A’s history by far. What are your predictions for its total and do you realistically see the A’s locking up the first baseman this season?
Former A’s broadcaster Glen Kuiper will be filling-in on a handful of San Francisco Giants games this season. This would mark his first return to the booth since his firing back in 2023. Damn shame it’s with the Giants :/
A’s have circled March 8th as Jacob Lopez’s return to the hill. The lefty suffered a left elbow flexor strain at the end of the 2025 season. So far, his spring has mostly consisted of live BP’s and sides. If everything goes according to plan, his first outing will be against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 04: Derrick White #9 and Baylor Scheierman #55 of the Boston Celtics share a laugh against the Washington Wizards during the second half at Capital One Arena on December 4, 2025 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 Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
DENVER — The Celtics finished their West Coast roadtrip with an impressive 3-1 record, tallying double-digit wins against the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, and Phoenix Suns, before running out of steam in a loss to the Denver Nuggets.
Afterwards, Jaylen Brown noted that a 3-1 record on a four-game trip wasn’t “half-bad” while attributing most of the Celtics’ struggles in Denver to some uncharacteristic poor shooting (like Joe Mazzulla, I’ll give some credit to the Nuggets for playing a pretty superb game).
I’m on my flight home from Denver, and we have had lots of basketball coverage and reporting on the site throughout the trip, so I wanted to share a few more casual observations from my past week on the road!
Celtics fans are literally everywhere, in every city
Celtics fans made their presence known in all four cities of this West Coast trip — San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Denver — which is pretty much par for the course.
I’ve been on the road for the past two seasons, and have been pretty underwhelmed with the home crowds at Chase Center (in SF) and Crypto.com Arena (in LA).
But, this trip, the road fans stood out to me more than ever before.
In LA, we saw Jaylen Brown egging on Celtics fans who were kicked out of the arena in the waning moments of the Celtics’ blowout.
Baylor Scheierman is from a small town in Nebraska!!!
Baylor Scheierman became the butt of a team-wide joke after candidly answering my question about what it was like to play against LeBron James and the Lakers. Scheierman reflected on the experience
“It was a dream come true,” he said. “Being from a small town in Nebraska, I had a lot of hometown friends & family that were taking pictures of the TV screen, sending it to me, ‘You’re on the court with LeBron James. LeBron James is guarding you.”
Asked Baylor Scheierman about going up against LeBron & the Lakers:
“It was a dream come true. Being from a small town in Nebraska, I had a lot of hometown friends & family that were taking pictures of the TV screen, sending it to me, ‘You’re on the court with Lebron James.’” pic.twitter.com/IpL1IyEghT
I posted the clip on Twitter/X, and Hugo Gonzalez (who Scheierman is extremely close with) replied to it, poking fun of how often Scheierman brings up the fact that he’s from small-time Nebraska: “Could we please stop spamming the “I’m from a small town in Nebraska”????“
@playforhim3 could we please stop spamming the “I’m from a small town in Nebraska”????
Scheierman, meanwhile, was quick-witted in his response, taking a shot at the fact that Gonzalez was long-destined to be a pro while Scheierman had a more unlikely journey: “Little brother, we weren’t supposed to all be here.”
Hermanito, no se suponía que todos estuviéramos aquí.
As I got the Twitter notifications, I laughed at the exchange because I thoroughly enjoy the friendships that emerge on sports teams. They were my favorite part of being on a sports team, and they’ve been my favorite part of covering them over the past three years. I’ve also written extensively about Baylor and Hugo’s very close relationship, and I have enjoyed being in the locker room this year and hearing their constant banter.
Later that night, the Celtics blew out the Phoenix Suns, 97-81, and vibes were extremely high (I wrote about the play of the season here).
Then, Sam Hauser, who tallied 16 points in the win, began his media availability by noting he was “from a small town in Wisconsin” with Scheierman within earshot. Derrick White later noted he was “from a small town in Colorado.”
I actually (jokingly) apologized to Scheierman for setting him up for the slander, because I do frequently ask players about the emotional / pinch me side of being in the NBA. Case in point: on Tuesday night, I also asked Neemias Queta about representing Portugal in the NBA, and what that experience has been like.
Asked Neemias Queta what it’s been like to represent Portugal this year:
“That's always something surreal for me to like, being from Portugal and living in the NBA world, and just being able to go out here and compete at the highest level every night.”
The Scheierman/small-town Nebraska stuff was all in good fun, and the ongoing bit highlighted to me the growing camaraderie on the team — so I thought I’d share it here!
Everyone is cheering on Ron Harper Jr.
Harper Jr. is on a two-way contract, but he’s not your average two-way. It’s obvious to anyone who steps foot in the Celtics locker room that he already gets along pretty well with many of the guys on the official roster, and that’s likely in part because he’s pretty deep-rooted with the Celtics.
He was on the 2024 Celtics Summer League team with Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, and Neemias Queta, and was at Celtics training camp in both 2024 and 2025.
Harper started in place of Jaylen Brown in Phoenix when Brown was sidelined with a right knee contusion. From the jump, I noticed that Brown was extremely animated whenever Harper did anything on the floor, and was coaching him up when he was on the bench.
I asked Jaylen about Ron on Wednesday night, and he shared his ongoing message to Ron: “Confidence — just let it fly.”
“At times, you can see he might be thinking about it a little bit,” Brown said. “Ron is one of the best shooters on our team, and teams are leaving him open. Tonight, they were choosing to leave him open, he just has to step in and knock it down, like he’s been doing his whole life.”
Asked Jaylen Brown what’s stood out about Ron Harper throughout this roadtrip:
“Ron’s one of the best shooters on our team.”
Said teams were leaving him open and that it’s all about instilling him with confidence pic.twitter.com/OFDNScJMLE
“He cares about the details,” Joe Mazzulla said. “Obviously, the offensive stuff — he can make shots, he can think, he can play. But defensively, just competing, understanding the details, executing the game plan, taking pride in defense… He just loves basketball.”
Those are just a few of my fun notes from this West Coast swing — I’ll try to do more of these journal entry-style posts when I’m on roadtrips moving forward!
Forward Taj Gibson, 40, has agreed to a deal to join the Memphis Grizzlies, his agent told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Feb. 26.
It will be the 17th season for the USC product. He's played with seven different NBA teams during his professional career, including last season with the Charlotte Hornets. He started 11 of the 37 games he played in.
He can play as a power forward and center.
Gibson adds a veteran voice to a Grizzlies’ roster that was among the youngest in the league to start the season.
The Grizzlies and forward Kyle Anderson also reached a buyout agreement, according to Charania.
How old is Taj Gibson?
Gibson is 40 years old and will turn 41 on June 24.
If he plays for Memphis, he will become the 35th player in the league’s history to play in an NBA game after turning 40.
Taj Gibson stats
Gibson has averaged 8.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game in 1,002 games played.
DALLAS, TX - MAY 26: Kyle Anderson #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves handles the ball during the game against the Dallas Mavericks during Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on May 26, 2024 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Slo-Mo is back!
On Thursday, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that Kyle Anderson has agreed to a buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies and plans to sign with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Kyle Anderson has agreed to a contract buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies and plans to sign with the Minnesota Timberwolves after clearing waivers, sources tell ESPN. Anderson spent two seasons with the Timberwolves (2022-24) and gets an opportunity to rejoin the West contender. pic.twitter.com/lzdq2lDayL
It is not the first time Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly has signed the 12-year veteran as back in the summer of 2022, the Wolves signed Anderson to a two-year $18 million deal. Anderson fills the 15th and final roster spot for Minnesota and is eligible to be added to the playoff roster.
Slo-Mo had other potential opportunities to join a contending team, according to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, but decided to rejoin a Wolves organization that both believed in and treated him well in the past.
Anderson played a monumental role during the 2022-23 season in getting the Wolves to the playoffs in what ended up being a turbulent season following the trade for Rudy Gobert. Anderson that season averaged 9.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game while also providing leadership for a young Wolves roster both on the court and in the locker room.
Slo-Mo’s production dipped during the 2023-24 season, in which the Wolves made their first Western Conference Finals in 20 years. The most notable decline was his 3-point shot, which went from 41 percent the season prior to under 23 percent, a number that remains the outlier for his career.
The play that best represented what Slo-Mo brought to the Wolves during his two seasons in Minnesota came in Game 4 of the 2024 West Finals when Anderson called for Anthony Edwards to pass to an open Karl-Anthony Towns in the corner, simultaneously screening off the defender as the Wolves avoided a sweep at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks.
Anderson will likely see a somewhat limited role the rest of the season in Minnesota, but can provide extra defensive depth at both the wing and the center position, a role he played a lot during his first stint with the Wolves. Slo-Mo will surely also provide added leadership both on and off the court as he reconnects with former teammates Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, and Mike Conley.
Slo-Mo could join the team as soon as Sunday against the Denver Nuggets, according to Chris Hine of the Minnesota Star Tribune. The Wolves’ next game at home takes place Tuesday against the Grizzlies, where Anderson is likely to see a sizeable ovation from the Target Center faithful.
Feb 26, 2026; Dunedin, Florida, USA; Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) hits a RBI double in the second inning against the Florida Marlins during spring training at TD Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images | Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
Marlins 8 Blue Jays 7
When I had to leave the Blue Jays had this one well in hand, but they gave up 4 runs in the 8th and 2 more in the 9th and lost.
Pitchers:
Kevin Gausman: 1 inning, 1 hits, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts. A nice start to his spring.
Tyler Rogers: 1 ining, clean, 2 strikeouts.
Yariel Rodriguez: 1 inning, 2 hits, 1 earned, 2 walks and 1 strikeout. I’ve seen him twice this spring and he hasn’t impressed. He’s going to have to be a lot better than this to get back on the 40-man roster.
Spencer Miles: 1 inning, 1 hit, 1 earned, 2 walks and 1 strikeout. It wasn’t a good outing, but he got to 98 mph on the fastball. He’s making a case to be on the team.
Gage Stanifer: Got two outs, no hits, 3 earned, 2 walks 2 strikeouts, 1 hit batter.
Geison Urbaez: One out, 2hits, 1 earned,
Michael Plassmeyer: 1 innings, 3 hits, 2 earned, 1 k. Got the loss.
Hitters, Starters:
George Springer: 0 for 2, walk. His first game of the spring. No need to panic. He’s done this before, he knows he doesn’t need to play in every spring game to get ready:
Daulton Varsho: 2 for 2, walk, double. Hitting .625 this spring.
Vladimir Guerrero: 1 for 3, RBI. .286. And stole a base. I wish he wouldn’t try to steal, but stole it easy.
Addison Barger: 0 for 3, RBI, 2 strikeouts. .000.
Alejandro Kirk: 1 for 2, double, walk, strikeout. .222.
Kazuma Okamoto: 1 for 3, double, 2 RBI, strikeout. .333.
Ernie Clement: 0 for 3. .500.
Andrés Giménez: 2 for 3, home run, double. .222.
Myles Straw: 1 for 2, walk. .250.
Others:
Eloy Jiménez: 0 for 2, strikeout. .500.
Rafael Lantigua: 1 for 1. .500.
Je’Von Ward: 0 for 1, strikeout.
Riley Tirotta: 0 for 2, strikeout. .125.
RJ Schreck: 0 for 2, strikeout. .222.
Brandon Valenzuela: 0 for 2. .200. Looks good behind the plate. I”ll bet that we see him in Toronto at some point this season.
Charles McAdoo: 0 for 1. .333. He’s impressing me with his defense at third.
Cade Doughty: 0 for 1.
Josh Rivera: 0 for 2, strikeout.
Josh Kasevich: 1 for 1. .571.
Carlos Mendoza: 0 for 1.
The Jays are now 1 and 4 this spring. It doesn’t look like they going to win the Grapefruit League Crown again this year.
Tell us who has impressed you this spring, so far.
PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 23: Mark Williams #15 of the Phoenix Suns dunks the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on December 23, 2025 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Los Angeles, CA - November 03: Los Angeles Dodgers Owner Mark Walter during a celebration of the Los Angeles Dodgers back to back World Championship at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Monday, November 3, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Can the way a baseball team operates be successfully imitated in basketball? Lakers fans are about to find out.
Not only is their new majority owner Mark Walter in charge of the Dodgers, but he’s also bringing some of those talents to the Lakers. Lon Rosen is now the President of Business Operations for the Lakers after spending the last decade-plus with the Dodgers.
The plan, according to Pelinka and sources, is for the Lakers to expand its front office around the president of basketball operations by reforming its college scouting staff, building a modern pro scouting department and adding to its existing analytics department. The goal is to mirror the Los Angeles Dodgers’ successful front office, which has mastered player identification and development, in addition to working with a seemingly unlimited payroll.
While baseball fans complain about the Dodgers’ wealth, a lot of their success stems from their ability to identify and develop players. Corey Seager and Cody Bellinger won back-to-back National League Rookie of the Year Awards in 2016 and ‘17.
The Dodgers continue to develop young prospects like Josue De Paula, who will likely impact the team’s success in the future. This is why the Dodgers are considered by many baseball experts to be one of the best organizations at developing homegrown talent.
There are also players like Chris Taylor and Max Muncy, who were miscast or misused with other franchises but landed with the Dodgers and became key pieces to winning teams. In a sport with a salary cap like the NBA, being able to identify those types of players is even more valuable than in baseball.
The Lakers have found plenty of quality players in the draft before, from top picks like Lonzo Ball to undrafted players like Austin Reaves. Recently, though, they missed on their first round selections, such as Jalen Hood-Schifino, and Dalton Kencht is out of the rotation and viewed as a negative asset by NBA scouts.
Given that the Lakers let go of the Buss brothers, who were integral to the scouting department, bringing in new people is a top priority. Tony Bennett has recently been brought on as an NBA Draft advisor, the first publicly announced hire for the team’s scouting department.
The idea of copying the Dodgers’ dynasty and applying it to the Lakers is exciting, but basketball is an entirely different sport.
The Lakers can’t spend on players like the Dodgers under the NBA’s CBA. They can, however, spare no expense on all other hires. Being aggressive in providing the franchise with as many top resources as possible will give them the best chance of success.
Things might be changing all around the Lakers front office, but at the top, it will remain the same.
The Lakers will need people who understand NBA basketball and its politics at the highest level for this to work anywhere near as well as it has for the Walter’s baseball team. Perhaps that’s the role Pelinka can thrive in.
Hopefully, the number of new people like Bennett and the workers Walter trusts, like Rosen, can blend to make something special in downtown Los Angeles. And soon, the baby Lakers will be a sign that the front office is winning in the margins while its star players rack up victories on the floor.
MILWAUKEE — A substantial tumble since New Year’s Eve hasn’t diminished Mike Brown’s belief in a Knicks championship.
But the coach understands there are factors beyond talent that will help hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy.
“I truly believe it [that we are championship team],” Brown said Thursday. “Now, having said that, there are things that have to go right. You got to be playing your best basketball. You have to be connected. The things that I talk about. You got to sacrifice. If you got guys on your team that aren’t sacrificing, you could be in trouble. Because it’ll mess with your connectivity. Which is huge. You got to have a competitive spirit. You got to want to compete every night. And you got to believe. You got to keep believing. Even when things are going bad. Even when you go through stretches of 2-7 or 2-9. You got to believe not just in the process — because it is a process — but you got to believe in each other. And then at the end of the day, in anything you do, starting with me, everybody has to be held accountable.”
Mike Brown of the New York Knicks reacts one the baseline during the first half when the New York Knicks played the Houston Rockets Saturday, February 21, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, NY. Robert Sabo for NY Post
The Knicks (37-22) haven’t looked the part of a title contender over most of the past two months, amassing a pedestrian 14-13 record starting Dec. 31. Heading into Thursday, it was tied for the NBA’s 18th-best winning percentage during that stretch — and it included bouts of ugly defense, disjointed vibes and blowout defeats against the East’s top dogs. The No. 1 Pistons (48-13) have created space in the standings that feels insurmountable, while the Celtics (38-20) surpassed the Knicks for No. 2.
Lately, New York, just a half-game above Cleveland for No. 3 in the conference, has been more pretender than contender.
Before New Year’s Eve, though, the Knicks were 23-9 and NBA Cup champs. They carried the look of an NBA Finals team, after nearly reaching that point last year. So the talent has shown it’s capable, and there’s a public mandate from owner James Dolan to at least win the East.
But Brown, who was on the coaching staff of four NBA championship squads in San Antonio and Golden State, said the Knicks need to quickly find the other stuff first — sacrifice, accountability, competitiveness.
“Those things, which are our standard, are huge for us,” Brown said. “Those things are not necessarily what the outside world can see. The outside world sees the shots, the points, the defense and all that. If you want to win a championship, you gotta have a team that’s talented. We have that. Can we make sure we maximize and embrace our standard every time we step on the floor? And if we can, that’s what’s going to get us over the hump.”
All those opponents are top six in their respective conferences.
It’ll be a good test of Brown’s “standard.”
“Everything is geared toward being your best toward the end of the season and going into the playoffs and hopefully throughout that run,” Brown said. “I’ve never been a guy who puts stock in everything and it’s the end of the world if it doesn’t happen in this particular game. That’s not life in general. Things are going to average out to however they need to at the right time. And hopefully after 70 games, or whatever it is, you feel pretty good where you are going into that postseason.”
The Florida Panthers resumed their NHL season on Thursday night when they hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs at Amerant Bank Arena.
It was the first game for Florida following the NHL hitting the pause button for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Prior to puck drop, Florida honored everyone on the ice who was a part of Team USA, a list that included Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk, General Manager Bill Zito and Head Equipment Manager Teddy Richards, as well as Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews who also wore the “C” for the United States.
The four Americans gathered at center ice, where Zito and Richards dropped a ceremonial puck between Tkachuk and Matthews.
It was a very cool moment for the gold medal winners, putting a bow on what was surely an incredible experience.
Later, during a first period TV timeout, Florida took a moment to recognize their other Olympians.
Three Panthers – Brad Marchand, Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett – won silver medals with Team Canada, while three others – Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen and Niko Mikkola – claimed bronze medals while representing Finland.
Florida’s Latvians – defenseman Uvis Balinskis and forward Sandis Vilmanis – as well as Finnish blueliner Gus Forsling, were also honored.
As for the game, the Panthers were already up 2-0 on Toronto when the game reached TV timeout number one.
The Florida Panthers resumed their NHL season on Thursday night when they hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs at Amerant Bank Arena.
It was the first game for Florida following the NHL hitting the pause button for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Prior to puck drop, Florida honored everyone on the ice who was a part of Team USA, a list that included Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk, General Manager Bill Zito and Head Equipment Manager Teddy Richards, as well as Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews who also wore the “C” for the United States.
The four Americans gathered at center ice, where Zito and Richards dropped a ceremonial puck between Tkachuk and Matthews.
It was a very cool moment for the gold medal winners, putting a bow on what was surely an incredible experience.
Later, during a first period TV timeout, Florida took a moment to recognize their other Olympians.
Three Panthers – Brad Marchand, Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett – won silver medals with Team Canada, while three others – Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen and Niko Mikkola – claimed bronze medals while representing Finland.
Florida’s Latvians – defenseman Uvis Balinskis and forward Sandis Vilmanis – as well as Finnish blueliner Gus Forsling, were also honored.
As for the game, the Panthers were already up 2-0 on Toronto when the game reached TV timeout number one.
Tyler Glasnow made his first start of spring training a good one, pitching two perfect innings and striking out four against the Chicago White Sox Thursday at Camelback Ranch. (Norm Hall / Getty Images)
Dodgers right-hander Tyler Glasnow is an admitted overthinker. But you wouldn't know it based on his efficient first spring training start Thursday against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch.
Glasnow pitched two-plus innings, retiring the first six batters before coming out after giving up a single to start the third inning. Using a pitch mix that included a fastball that sat at 97 mph, Glasnow struck out the side in the first inning before recording another strikeout to close out the second. Having thrown just 28 pitches, Glasnow started the third inning and threw three more pitches before coming out of the Dodgers' 7-6 win.
"Very in rhythm," manager Dave Roberts said after the game. "Very efficient, used his entire pitch mix, it was really good. Good to see him get into the third inning. Positive day."
The 32-year-old entering his third season with the Dodgers credits his coaches for keeping his mechanics on point.
"It allows me to just go out and pitch and be athletic," Glasnow said after his outing. "I'm able to just go out and play baseball as opposed to trying to tinker and fix certain stuff."
Though he was plagued by injuries in his second season with the Dodgers, Glasnow finished on a high note, giving up just four earned runs over 21-1/3 postseason innings, good for a 1.69 ERA, pitching as a starter and a reliever. It was Glasnow’s first taste of the postseason as a Dodger, since a right-elbow injury ended his 2024 campaign in August, and was highlighted by his first career save in Game 6 of the World Series.
Glasnow called the experience "great."
"When you go in with all those nerves and that pressure and that excitement, it’s just such an unbelievable feeling to go out [there]," he said last week. "Especially to be a starter and a reliever and just to be thrown into different situations. It was awesome. It was extremely memorable for me, and I’m craving to do it again. And hopefully we can do it again and get a three-peat.”
Looking to build off his impressive postseason, Glasnow enters the season with a newfound confidence.
Last year Glasnow was placed on the injured list because of right shoulder inflammation at the end of April and did not pitch again until just before the All-Star Break. The Santa Clarita native has a long history of injuries — including Tommy John surgery in 2021 — and never has clocked more than 135 innings in a season.
Over the winter he got married and made adjustments that he hopes will better his health. A successful season means staying off the IL.
“Pitching well and staying healthy,” Glasnow said when asked about goals. “Just doing all that and trying to make as many starts as I can, and just executing every start and being healthy in the postseason.”
Mookie Betts to make Cactus League debut soon
With most of the Dodgers’ regulars having made their spring debuts, there is one who has yet to get an at-bat in a Cactus League game: Mookie Betts. Roberts said his star shortstop will not play until Sunday at the earliest.
“It’s load management," Roberts said. "I wanted Mookie to start a little bit later, as far as not getting into spring training ready to go, and kind of use spring training to build up, given it’s six weeks. So, he’s building up nicely. So, he’ll be in the lineup soon.”
Hyeseong Kim departs for WBC
Infielder Hyeseong Kim played his final spring training game Thursday, Roberts confirmed, as the utility man is set to join Team South Korea for the World Baseball Classic.
Kim has been perhaps the Dodgers’ most pleasant surprise of the spring, batting .462 with a 1.154 on-base-plus-slugging percentage, five RBIs and a home run in the sixth inning Thursday, while playing deft defense at second base and in center field.
It's a key development since Tommy Edman will start the season on the IL.
“He’s had a great spring,” Roberts said of Kim. “I think his confidence is continuing to grow. His comfort level, being around the guys. I think he’s taking great at-bats. It was good to see him in center field yesterday. He made a couple of nice plays out in center field. We’re going to lose him shortly. He’s going to go to his team for the WBC, which I’m excited for him. Disappointed that we can’t watch him every day, but he’s had a great spring and looking forward to him having a great WBC and getting back.”
SACRAMENTO, CA - JANUARY 6: Daniel Gafford #21 of the Dallas Mavericks and DeMar DeRozan #10 of the Sacramento Kings hug after the game on January 6, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (21-36) are home for the first time in a month and on Thursday night they host the Sacramento Kings (13-47). Dallas is staring at their least welcomed winstreak in years, defeating the Pacers then the Brookly Nets. The Kings actually beat the Grizzlies this week, which was their first win since one over the Washington Wizards in mid-January. The Kings are bad bad bad bad, but we knew that already
Here’s the main things you need to know:
WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs Sacramento Kings
WHAT: The new Dallas Mavericks finally get to play in front of the home crowd
WHERE: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
WHEN: 7:30 pm CST
HOW: KFAA Channel 29, MavsTV streaming, NBA League Pass
Oh boy what an injury report we have today. On the Dallas end, Cooper Flagg, Daniel Gafford, PJ Washington, and Ryan Nembhard are all out with various maladies. Khris Middleton is going to suit up after hurting his shoulder the other night. Moussa Cisse and Miles Kelly should both see some action tonight as they’re both listed as available.
Unlike the Nets, the Kings have taken to just shutting down guys for the year. Domanta Sabonis and Zach LaVine are out. Russell Westbrook was ruled out for tonight’s game. DeAndre Hunter and Dyland Cardwell are missing the game with various injuries. Keegan Murray has been out with a bad ankle sprain. It’s bleak over there for an already bad team.
I see no way Dallas loses. They have NBA players. The Kings have DeMar DeRozan. It’s gonna be a sad evening of basketball for the hardcore fans out there.
Be sure to chime in with your predictions in the comments!
Consider joining Josh and me on Pod Maverick live after the game on YouTube, we should start LATE. Thanks so much for spending time with us here at Mavs Moneyball. Let’s go Mavs!
Feb 25, 2026; Salt River Pima-Maricopa, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Hyeseong Kim (6) looks on in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields...
PHOENIX –– Hyeseong Kim is building from the ground up this spring.
Last year, the 27-year-old South Korean import did not have the rookie season he wanted. His struggles, however, were hardly unexpected.
Hyeseong Kim is building from the ground up this spring. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
While the contact-first hitter enjoyed great success in his KBO career, he was ill-equipped to handle MLB pitching when he arrived on a three-year, $12.5 million contract last winter.
His swing was too “twisted,” in the words of Dodgers hitting coach Aaron Bates. His inability to adjust to breaking pitches made him an easy target for big-league arms to attack.
That’s why, over the last year, Dodgers hitting coaches have meticulously worked to alter his mechanics.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
First, they focused on Kim’s legs, trying to get the strong-for-his-size, 5-foot-10 infielder to use the ground to generate more power and stability. Then, they honed in on the alignment of his torso and back, making subtle adjustments aimed at keeping Kim squared up to the ball longer.
“He twisted (in his swing) before, where his body would almost get twisted behind his back,” Bates said this week. “Now, we’re basically trying to keep him more square, longer, with the way he loads and swings. Using the ground first and then going ground up.”
So far this spring, the results have been encouraging.
That’s why, over the last year, Dodgers hitting coaches have meticulously worked to alter his mechanics. Getty Images
In four Cactus League games, Kim is batting 6 for 13, punctuating his improvements with a towering home run in Thursday’s 7-6 win over the White Sox.
“What I’ve seen so far from Hyeseong,” manager Dave Roberts said, “has been really good stuff.”
So good, it has put him in position for a more prominent role to open the 2026 season.
Last spring, Kim failed to crack the Opening Day roster, spending the first month of the season in Triple-A. Then, after a briefly auspicious debut that saw him hit .383 over his first 36 games in the majors, his play gradually regressed as his role on the big-league club diminished.
From July on, he hit just .175 while missing time with a shoulder injury. In the playoffs, his only on-field action came as a pinch runner.
“I was not satisfied last year,” Kim said through his interpreter recently, after finishing 2025 with a .280 batting average overall, but only a .699 OPS and a 30.6% strikeout rate that was well above league average.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“I found out some of the things that I needed to work on,” Kim added. “I just want to work hard and make sure that I make the roster right off the bat after spring training.”
A month out from Opening Day this year, Kim is on track to do just that.
He entered camp in a strong spot, having spent the final few weeks of the winter in Los Angeles working with Dodgers coaches on swing changes he said he felt “about 70% comfortable” with by the end of last season.
And with Tommy Edman ruled out for the start of the season, Kim is now making a strong case for a utility role with his spring play –– pushing for playing time at second base (where he could be a left-handed-hitting platoon partner for Miguel Rojas) and in the outfield (where he could be a backup option to Andy Pages in center field).
Kim still isn’t a lock to break camp with the big-league club. He will soon leave Arizona to join Team South Korea for the World Baseball Classic, something Roberts acknowledged will complicate the team’s ability to evaluate him for the next several weeks.
Still, he has already shown the progress the Dodgers were hoping to see after last year.
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“I think he’s closed some of those holes (where pitchers used to exploit him),” Roberts said. “The hitting guys worked really hard on cleaning some things up for him mechanically.”
Even before the start of Cactus League play, Kim impressed in live batting practice sessions against the Dodgers’ talented pitching staff (including an opposite-field home run off Yoshinobu Yamamoto last week).
Then, in what was his final game before leaving for the WBC, he produced his most promising moment yet with his big fly on Thursday.
After falling behind in the count 0 and 2, Kim laid off a couple pitches, stayed square and on-time against an inside sweeper, and pulled a 384-foot home run over the right field bullpen at Camelback Ranch.
“Those are good signs,” Bates said, “when he’s basically letting the ball travel and can make decisions later (on each swing).”
The Dodgers’ final decision on Kim’s role can also wait for now. The team will monitor his performance in the WBC but make no sweeping assessments on his performance in the tournament.
Instead, they will wait for him to return and then keep working on the ground-up swing changes that finally seem to be clicking.
“He’s had a great camp so far,” Roberts said. “The home run was icing on the cake.”
Chelsea must keep their heads at Arsenal, Anthony Gordon faces his old club and a key return for Sunderland
Unai Emery has seen most things in this game but he has never won at Wolves. In three and a half years at Villa, he has lost two and drawn one of his three away games at Molineux. Twelve months ago they lost this fixture 2-0 and this week Emery shared his poor record to stress the difficulty of the challenge facing his side, particularly given they have won just one of their past five matches in all competitions. Emery even mentioned his visit to Wolverhampton with Arsenal in 2019, when his team trailed 3-0 at half-time and lost 3-1. For Emery, there is no better time to break his duck, with the schedule dictating that Villa could move nine points clear of fifth-placed Chelsea, who visit Villa on Wednesday, before Liam Rosenior’s side travel to Arsenal on Sunday. Victory would enhance Villa’s chances of returning to the Champions League but also pile pressure on a direct rival. Ben Fisher
Wolves v Aston Villa, Friday 8pm (all kick-offs GMT)
