NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 19: The New York Mets officially retired Carlos Beltran’s No. 15 jersey and inducted him into the Mets Hall of Fame before their game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field on September 19, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Meet the Mets
The Mets soundly defeated the Phillies 10-3, feasting on Philadelphia’s beleaguered bullpen in a memorable day at Citi Field that began with Carlos Beltrán’s number retirement ceremony and ended with Howie Rose signing off the Mets radio broadcast for the last time. It contained another piece of history too: Carson Benge recorded three hits—including a home run—to break Pete Alonso’s record for most hits by a Mets rookie in a season.
Greg Prince of Faith and Fear in Flushingreflected on Carlos Beltrán’s place in Mets history and his place among other Mets who have had their numbers retired. Benge’s twelve three-hit games are also a Mets rookie record.
When asked about the Mets’ managerial job, Carlos Beltrán was noncommittal, stressing that he enjoys his current role in the front office. But he left the possibility open that he would interview for the position.
“We’re going to add certain voices to the front office that are going to be helpful,” Mets owner Steve Cohen said during an in-game interview yesterday—not necessarily meaning a general manager.
The Mets activated Cionel Pérez from the injured list and optioned Cameron Weston ahead of yesterday’s game, in which Pérez appeared.
Christian Scott and Andrew Painter were high school teammates. Yesterday, they faced off against each other in the major leagues.
After the game, Howie Rose signed off for possibly the last time. Gary, Keith, and Ron paid tribute to the Mets’ iconic radio announcer as well.
Around the National League East
After the Mets tagged Orion Kerkering for four runs in his outing yesterday, the Phillies optioned him to Triple-A as their bullpen woes continue.
Ethan Salas came through with a pinch-hit, walk-off hit to lift the Padres over the Marlins 7-6 in ten innings.
The Nationals played an extra-inning game as well, overcoming four errors and two blown leads by the bullpen to defeat the Cardinals 8-5 in eleven innings.
Ronald Acuña Jr. hit a go-ahead grand slam in the Braves’ 6-3 win over the Astros.
White Sox general manager Chris Getz recently said, “As a whole, we felt like we’ve been playing with house money. What an opportunity for these guys to go out and compete [in meaningful late-season games].”
Yes, that’s the wrong color Sox, but I’ve been thinking this exact same thing as a Red Sox fan. After the way the 2026 season kicked off, I can hardly believe we’re here, primed to clinch the second Wild Card. The months of April through June almost feel like a bad dream I once had, but no, they really happened: the team played bad baseball right out of the gate, Alex Cora was fired, Chad Tracy took over as an interim manager, and players who were seen as massively important to the Red Sox chances—Garrett Crochet, Roman Anthony, Trevor Story, and more—were quickly lost to long-term injuries.
Fans were calling this one of the worst Sox teams they had ever seen. I was one of them. I had written off the Red Sox completely by the time my birthday rolled around in mid-April. I publicly wrote how painful it was for me to recap my assigned games. It looked like it was going to be a loooong season.
Now, with a shrinking magic number, they can comfortably count on the second Wild Card spot. Given what the team has been through, to be here feels incredible. This is gravy, as they say. It feels like we—I’m collectively speaking of the fans, the players, the interim coaches—are playing with nothing to lose.
The early-season chaos elevated Chad Tracy and his interim staff unexpectedly from posts across the minor league system. If things had gone according to plan, they wouldn’t have even been in the majors. There was clearly pressure, of course, with all eyes on them. But there was no immediate turnaround. The team was still bad, almost all the way through June. There’s a kind of freedom in that. Screw it, right, because what else can you say? Well, the team rose up from the ashes of poor play and IL casualties. Big contributions from unexpected heroes like Caleb Durbin, Jake Bennett, Anthony Seigler, Andruw Monasterio, Tsung-Che Cheng, Nick Sogard, and Mickey Gasper helped make this summer magical. This is the embodiment of house money, like Getz said.
House Money Vs. Real Money
The paradox here is that it may feel like house money for the fans, the players, and the interim coaching staff. Meanwhile, success is absolutely a high-stakes corporate mandate for John Henry and FSG.
The truth is, John Henry paid the toll, in real money. The 2026 season was not some accidental, low-budget miracle. FSG spent historic amounts of money and other currency (prospects!) to construct the core of this team.
For the front office, this season’s success isn’t house money—it’s an expected return on investment. From the luxury tax perspective, the Red Sox should be here. Henry has paid handsomely for them to be here. He didn’t authorize roughly a quarter-billion dollars in new commitments over the last year for nothing.
So if we’re talking house money, well, it’s John Henry’s house. He bought the house—built the whole casino, in fact—and financed the chips we’re all playing with. But the irony remains: the team living inside Henry’s casino played most of the summer with the kind of scrappy abandon that comes from having snuck in through a back entrance.
They’re a different team now, of course, since players like Story and Anthony have returned from the IL, and there may be more additions too, with Crochet and Tanner Houck possibly assuming roles as relievers. Those returns have changed the roster, and so has Tracy’s strategy of resting players and reserving energy for the playoffs.
But let’s see where this house money can take us. It’s still burning a hole in my pocket and I know I’m not the only one.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 19: Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits an RBI double scoring Alex Freeland #76, to take a 4-3 lead, during the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium on September 19, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
2026 looked to be a lost season for Mookie Betts, as an oblique injury cost him a month’s worth of time. At the All-Star break, the Dodgers shortstop was limping to the tune of a .235/.293/.416 slashline with 11 home runs and 31 RBI over 60 games.
Since the second half of the regular season began, Betts has turned into his 2023 MVP-runner-up self, as he’s slashing .290/.364/.452 with 11 home runs and 36 RBI over his last 56 games. Betts has been on a tear his last three games, as he’s hitting .833 with five extra-base hits and five RBI, highlighted by a four-hit, three-double game on Saturday in the Dodgers’ 10-4 win over the San Francisco Giants.
Betts has hit all around the lineup, going from as high as leadoff to as low as the six hole, but Betts has been certifying himself as a force at the top of the lineup during this final homestand. Betts spoke with David Vassegh of SportsNet LA about his torrid stretch at the plate hitting at the top spot following Saturday’s win, noting that the return of Shohei Ohtani will directly impact where he hits everyday.
“It’s fun. Like you said, I’ve done it for so long, but that man Shohei— he deserves what he gets. We all know where he needs to hit in the lineup.”
Saturday was a rough outing for left-hander Tarik Skubal as he allowed four earned runs while striking out a season-low three hitters over five innings.
Despite the atypical night for Skubal, his offense was able to generate six runs after his final pitch, giving him his fourth win as a Dodger. When speaking with Vassegh following the game, Skubal gave all the credit to the offense and bullpen for carrying the team the rest of the way.
“Obviously, I wasn’t very good today. The offense, defense and bullpen picked me up big time, and that’s what good teams do— they pick each other up, and win series and win baseball games. Hats off to them.”
Mirjam Swanson at the Los Angeles Times writes about Tyler Glasnow and the ability to trust himself as the playoffs loom near. Glasnow was solid on Friday against San Francisco, allowing just two runs while striking out 10 hitters.
“Today was a step in the right direction,” said Glasnow, the formerHart High star, before leaving the clubhouse in flip-flops. “I’d rather kind of feel it, work through some stuff, and have a good one right before playoffs.
“I think I’m in a good spot right now.”
Jack Harris of the California Post has a positive update regarding Shohei Ohtani, as the two-way superstar did base running drills and used the Trajekt Ark pitching machine in the cage. Hitting coach Aaron Bates notes that Ohtani has been really good with the machine, and the next test will be how he performs in live batting practice.
“In the cage, in a controlled setting, he’s been really good. It’s 100% intensity,” Bates said. “Once he gets out to the field, if he does a live BP or something like that, and the intensity ramps up, it’ll be a good test to see what happens. But in the cage, in the controlled setting, he’s been really good.”
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 11: Rafael Devers #16 of the San Francisco Giants hits a grand slam at Oracle Park on September 11, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Andy Kuno/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
Another week of San Francisco Giants baseball comes to a close today, so it’s time to pick our favorite highlights of the week!
Mine happened to take place a little over a week ago, but since I pre-write these I made the executive decision that my week includes the previous Friday. Which is a good thing because Rafael Devers hit a grand slam in last Friday’s game against the Padres. Grand slams and splash hits will almost always be my picks for highlights of the week.
What was your favorite highlight of the week?
What time do the Giants play today?
The Giants wrap up this road series against the Los Angeles Dodgers this afternoon at 1:10 p.m. PT.
Baseballs grouped at Sheboygan Lutheran, Thursday, May 9, 2024, in Sheboygan, Wis. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
Triple-A: Charlotte Knights (CWS) 10, Norfolk Tides 6
Juaron Watts-Brown’s final start of the season did not go well. He lasted just three innings and gave up seven runs. The Knights had a four-run first that included a three-run homer. Watts-Brown gave up three more runs in the third inning another home run, plus two walks thrown in. His final line: 3 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 4 BB, 1 K. In 10 games with the Tides, Watts-Brown had a 10.22 ERA.
The bullpen allowed three more runs, but Dietrich Enns and Albert Suárez pitched two scoreless innings apiece. Enns was perfect with just 23 pitches. Suárez allowed a hit and a walk, but struck out three.
On offense, the Tides had a two-run first inning in a Creed Williams sac fly and Bryan Ramos double, which came after Enrique Bradfield reach on an error and Jud Fabian walked.
In the third inning, Enrique Bradfield manufactured a run almost all on his own. He singled, stole both second and third, and scored on a groundout by Aron Estrada. He had three stolen bases in the game giving him a season total of 44. He’s been caught just six times.
The final three Tides’ runs scored on home runs from Ramos and Sam Huff.
Ramos and Peyton Eelees both had a two-hit game. Estrada and Willems were hitless.
I would like to say that Clay Holmes’ game Friday night wasn’t that bad when he left the game. However, end the end, it WAS a bad game.
Holmes allowed only three hits over 5.1 innings with four strikeouts, but five big walks doomed him. He had a rough first three innings as the Cubs trailed, 3-2, at that point. He received a boost in the fourth with a two-run Cub inning for a 4-3 lead and Holmes responded with two good innings.
But it all fell apart in the sixth. Holmes left after he filled the bases with three walks with one out. Javier Assad was in a tough situation, but didn’t put out the fire as he allowed one-run and two-run singles as the Reds took a 6-4 lead and held it for the duration.
Offensively, the Cubs built their 4-3 lead with an RBI-single by Carson Kelly, a solo home run by Ian Happ and a two-RBI single by Seiya Suzuki. Michael Conforto had an empty 3-for-4 game. Kelly later had another single, a walk and a HBP. Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson each singled.
The Cubs had the opportunities, with nine hits and four walks, but they went 2-for 10 with RISP.
I appreciate your reading.
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Jeff Agrest (Chicago Sun-Times): Michael Busch’s caught-stealing caps Cubs’ frustrating loss to Reds. “Happ homered in the third inning, continuing his pillaging of Great American Ball Park. So why on earth did Michael Busch try stealing second base with two outs and Happ representing the tying run?”
Carson Wolf (Just Baseball): How Should the Cubs Stack Up Their Playoff Rotation? “The Chicago Cubs have several options for their postseason rotation, but which starters should get the ball in a postseason series?”
Carson Wolf (Just Baseball): When Do We Buy Into Tyrone Taylor’s Shocking Heater? “Tyrone Taylor has quietly been a major force for months. Here’s what’s powering his surge and why it may be worth buying into.”
Matt Sullivan (Sporting News): Cubs’ Ian Happ faces major problem with upcoming free agency. “”The big problem here for the four-time Gold Glover is that he’s a switch-hitter who is totally broken from one side,” Snyder writes. “As a right-handed hitter, Happ is slashing .150/.223/.276 with 48 strikeouts in 127 at-bats.”“
Bill Ladson (MLB.com): Swanson returns from left oblique strain for Cubs’ final stretch. ““Since that time frame, I felt really good and figured some things out as far as what is going to work for me offensively — hopefully for the rest of my career,” he said.“
Matt Sullivan (Sporting News): Why beloved Cubs outfielder’s free agent stock being high could be a problem. “”There had previously been concerns that he might need to become a full-time designated hitter, and instead he now grades out as above average in the field,” Snyder writes. “His stock is high heading toward the offseason.”“
Joshua Barnes Howell, known as Peg Leg Howell (March 5, 1888 – August 11, 1966), was an American blues singer-songwriter and guitarist, who connected early country blues and the later 12-bar style. He was one of the first recorded artists of the Atlanta blues scene during the pre-war period, and he was also one of the first blues musicians to ever make a race record.
Joshua Barnes Howell was born on March 5, 1888, on a farm in Eatonton, Georgia, to Thomas Howell and Ruthie Myrick. During his childhood, he grew up around music, but did not take a serious interest in playing music until his early twenties. He completed school in the 9th grade, and went to work alongside his father as a farm hand.
In 1909, he reportedly stayed up one night and taught himself to play the guitar at the age of 21. He became skilled in pre-Piedmont fingerpicking and slide guitar techniques. He continued working on the farm until 1916, when he was shot during an argument with his brother-in-law, as a result of which he lost his right leg, and had to wear a prosthetic afterwards.
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.
Welcome to Inside the Suns, a deep-down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team, in which the Fantable — a roundtable of Bright Siders — give their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.
Fantable Questions of the Week
Q1: With Williams out injured, who do you give the Suns’ starting center job to?
zenzino: From many comments I’ve seen here, I think that Maluach is a little overestimated and Oso is a little underestimated. Currently, Oso is a better player. Period. Man Man might get the edge on rim protection, but Oso is overall a much better defender with better passing and basketball IQ. Currently.
That being said, I would love it if the coaching staff deemed Man Man ready to start at the beginning of the season. He absolutely has a higher ceiling at the 5 than Oso. I will trust Ott to figure that out and won’t be unhappy if the season begins with Oso as the starter. I’ll just assume Man Man needs a little more time.
I prefer Oso off the bench, and not because I don’t think he’s good enough to start. I like Oso off the bench because I think Oso and CG are really, really good together, and them being part of the 2nd unit makes sense. Stephen at PHNX Suns did a great game tape breakdown video about the tandem, and it is definitely worth watching.
Ashton: I have maintained my stance multiple times that Oso was the firm backup center. Now, he is the Suns’ starting center. Yes, I know, many posters here want their shiny new toy in Khaman Muluch to start. But I am not one of those who believe in KM being the “Second Coming of Center Position” for the Suns. He just plain has to prove it first.
In order of depth chart:
Oso Igadaro
KM – The center, the savior
Small Ball Forwards – of which there are many to utilize in a small ball C offensive scheme. This is where Sheer steps in.
Koa Peat – Okay, I threw that last one in just to mess with you all. But no issues here if he gathers rebounds, draws fouls, and kicks to the outside shooter. But Koa is not a small-ball center. I just like to give him a shoutout when I can.
OldAz: This is an interesting question, as I could make the case for either one. Maluach provides more size and a more traditional center on defense, as well as more shooting on offense. But who is passing him the ball? On the other hand, his ability to step outside on offense provides more room for Green to get to the rim or Book to work to the mid-range. Oso also worked well last season with Gillespie in the second unit.
Despite all this and my repeated disparaging comments about Oso in the past, I think Oso may be the better fit in the starting lineup. He may be smaller and not provide much offense, but he serves as a connector/passer (point center) that could make for a more effective starting 5 overall. KM would also get to develop with more minutes against the other teams’ backups and would benefit from playing more with Gillespie.
My hope is that Ott uses the preseason and training camp to experiment and see which of these options actually works better, but I suspect he trusts Oso more and that he gives him every opportunity to win the job.
Rod: Going into the preseason games, I’d give the starting job to Oso, but give Khaman roughly equal minutes. If Khaman plays well, I’d flip the script after a few games and give him the starting job. If I were Ott, I’d make it perfectly clear to both of them that the starting spot for the regular season is up for grabs and whoever performs the best during the preseason games wins the job.
My main worry is Khaman possibly getting into early foul trouble. Finding the correct balance of aggressiveness and caution on defense can be difficult for younger players, so this is something I’m going to be watching for during the preseason games. If he shows any tendency to get into foul trouble in the preseason, you know that the foul baiters will be hunting him on a regular basis once the regular season games begin.
Q: What do you think of the Duop Reath signing?
zenzino: The fact that this is a ‘training camp competition’ contract makes all the difference and makes it a ‘why not?’ move. We can speculate whether this is a Mark Williams move, a question about Highsmith’s health, or a little of both. I guess we’ll find out in training camp, which is almost here.
Regarding Duop Reath. He’s been around, playing all over the world, and even won a Bronze medal with the Australian team before landing in Portland.
The good: He plays much bigger than he is, which is good because 6’9” is definitely undersized for a center in today’s NBA. He can get hot from outside and could be a floor-spreading big. He has a very workmanlike mentality, which works well with the Suns’ culture they’re working to solidify.
The not so good: He’s not known for his defense, especially in space and team schemes. He’s not a strong rebounder, which is something the Suns definitely need from their bigs. He was quickly pushed to the end of the bench when the Blazers added Clingan and Hansen.
This is a small-margin move to compete for a spot. It all comes down to where the Suns think they need depth. Most assume Jamaree Bouyea will be the odd man out because of how many guards are on the roster. But every one of those guards was needed last season, and that is, in fact, how Bouyea won our hearts.
While not ideal for Reath, he could also be offered a two-way. This late in free agency, it doesn’t look like teams are beating down his door. I just wonder how much runway Kobe Brea and CJ Huntley are going to be given.
I guess we’ll find out soon enough. Can you believe preseason is just over two weeks away?
Ashton: Every time I hear his name, I hear songs from big bands in the 1920’s. Duop Duop…Duop! Do not think this was lie. When I was 16, I was saddled with a crap Sunday radio shift that included a four-hour vinyl rendition of the big band hour. All I had to do was flip the record. I was asleep more often than not.
I am actually impressed that the Sun’s front office moved this quickly to address a need at the backup center position. Keep in mind that all NBA teams were scrambling to fill backup center positions in a trade market with more demand than available talent. Heck, look at the Lakers’ overpay for Walker Kessler as a starting center because “Thiccic” demanded it.
When Reath played Summer League with the Suns in 2022, there was quite a bit of commentary on the board to sign him to a two-way. Then he had a mini-encore breakout with Portland in 2023, who actually did sign the journeyman (and at 30 years old, his airline miles stacked up, making him a true Journey Man). But the next year, he suffered the dreaded injury that no one wants to hear from the center position. A foot fracture. Will Reath be healthy for 2026-27? The jury is out with me. Also, can he knock off the rust from not playing NBA basketball while he was recovering from surgery?
Duop Reath was buried among a strong frontcourt at Portland. Add in that Rose City’s new owner, “El Cheapo,” sucks and can write a book about how to create a toxic environment while increasing franchise evaluation, and this could be the perfect change-of-scenery scenario for Duop. Okay, he was traded to Atlanta but never played a game and was waived quickly.
So, while I appreciate the depth addition, it really does not move the needle for me on the signing.
OldAz: I always loved him with Portland and what he brought to the game, and despite his age, I love the signing. I knew they needed a third center with Williams going down, but my only hope is that he is truly used as a third center for garbage time and to make sure Maluach and Oso do not get overworked. Maluach needs minutes and every opportunity to fail, learn, and grow. Having an effective third stringer has the potential to eat into Maluach’s minutes when he struggles, and what might be better is to let him struggle and work his way through it. While I love the signing, I really hope Ott navigates this well, with the primary focus being the long-term development of Maluach.
Rod: Reath is an interesting choice and not a move that I saw coming. I really wasn’t expecting the front office to do anything this quickly, but it wasn’t the first time Brian Gregory’s surprised me.
If Reath actually makes the team, I don’t really see him getting many rotation minutes unless there’s an injury or Oso or Khaman gets into foul trouble, so I’m not expecting a lot from him. He does have a respectable three-point shot, though, which means that opponents can’t ignore him.
I’ve heard some fans propose using Fleming as the emergency/third-string center. While that would probably work, I’d rather have him concentrate on learning to play as a power forward in his second year instead of splitting his time between two different positions.
Overall, I like this addition, especially on a non-guaranteed contract. Can’t wait to see how it all works out in the preseason games.
Q3: How badly do you think the Williams injury will hurt the Suns overall?
zenzino: It doesn’t help. Mark’s absence for the last couple of months last season was a significant reason for the Suns’ unremarkable ending.
We haven’t seen him in a minute, so it’s easy to forget how much he added to the team. He ran the floor really well and he got a lot of offensive rebounds and put-backs in a way that Man Man and Oso don’t. Even though Man Man gives us a 7-footer for rim protection, MW is a better overall defender and was much better at moving his feet. Even with a breakout Summer League, Man Man often found himself lost and out of place on defense.
That’s where more experience comes in. The upside is that, whether he starts or backs up Oso, there will definitely be a lot more playing time for Man Man.
I said it last Fantable, and there were objections: get ready for small ball. Especially being down to a two-center rotation, the Suns will be playing lineups with Bridges and even Sheer at the 5, and load up on guards.
Ashton: Did you take the over on the Suns’ season projections on early odds with betting sites? You are going to sweat that bet a little bit more. I just double-checked, and the Suns actually went up a game to 40.5 in total overall wins (DraftKings). I think the loss of Mark Williams is going to be bigger than expected, but apparently, the gambling sites do not think so. I recently predicted on the Fantable that 40 wins sounded about right in the topsy-turvey West, so start considering the under.
I think the impact of losing Mark Williams will be bigger than expected, leaving two centers that could use more time off the bench, who are now thrust into starting roles. Teams will exploit this, and I think Sun fans are going to be seeing more small-ball than they ever have seen before. That is not good.
Look, Williams was hardly the savior in the post, but he was consistent and was certainly missed in the 2025 playoffs. His absence does not make the regular season win total dire, but it will lead to Coach Ott having to come up with some creative line-up solutions. Basically, I expect a different style of play from the “center butterfly effect”.
OldAz: I don’t think it makes a huge impact on their ceiling or their floor. Maybe a couple of games when it is all said and done, and that could be a lot in the tight Western conference, but I don’t think it drops them out of the playoffs entirely. I really like Williams when he is healthy because of his hustle and defensive presence. When paired with another decent forward last season (like when Brooks was healthy), he did well in anchoring the defense. I was hoping for more improvement there with the increased size across the front line.
Now the Suns will be reliant on KM to fill those shoes. Long term, that may be a blessing, but it could be a bumpy ride as he develops. However, with Oso, KM, and now Reath on board, the drop-off in center play is certainly not enough to make that big a difference in their record by the time he comes back and gets back into playing shape.
Rod: I honestly think that depends on how quickly Khaman Maluach adapts to playing meaningful minutes with the big boys. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, his play will determine how much the absence of Williams will hurt the team. We already know about Oso, and I expect him to be a solid contributor, but Maluach is the wild card in the center rotation. If he adapts quickly, they may not miss Williams at all. If not, the Suns could get off to a slow start.
And now the Suns have added another wild card into the mix by signing Reath to a make-good, training camp contract. He may not even make it past preseason, but he could be a solid contributor in certain situations because he adds a credible three-point threat to the center rotation.
Williams will be missed, but I don’t think his absence will have a huge impact on team success unless Khaman can’t handle playing a bigger role.
As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!
Suns Trivia/History
On September 20, 2000, the Suns were involved in the third-largest trade in NBA history, a twelve-player, 4-team deal between the New York Knicks, Seattle SuperSonics, L.A. Lakers, and Phoenix Suns.
In the trade, New York got Glen Rice, Travis Knight, and a first-round pick from LA; Vladimir Stepania, Lazaro Borrell, Vernon Maxwell, a first-round pick, and two second-round picks from Seattle; and Luc Longley from Phoenix. Seattle got Patrick Ewing from New York. LA got Horace Grant, Chuck Person, Greg Foster, and Emanuel Davis from Seattle. Phoenix got Chris Dudley and a first-round pick from New York.
There were a lot of moving parts in that trade, but essentially the Suns got Chris Dudley and a 1st round draft pick for… Luc Longley. Longley’s career stats for his 2 years as a Sun were 7.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 0.6 blocks per game.
On September 22, 2017, the Suns signed former number 1 draft pick (2013) Anthony Bennett to a 1-year non-guaranteed contract. Bennett, one of the biggest number 1 pick busts in NBA history, lasted only 19 days with the Suns before being waived on Oct. 11.
On this day, they also traded a 2018 second-round draft pick to the Memphis Grizzlies for Troy Daniels and a 2018 second-round draft pick (which did not convey). Daniels played 2 seasons for the Suns, averaging 39.4% from three, playing mostly off the bench. Troy’s best game for the Suns was on December 13, 2017, when he led the team in scoring, putting up 32 points (off the bench) in a losing effort (115-109) against the Toronto Raptors.
On September 23, 1994, after signing Danny Manning and Wayman Tisdale, the Phoenix Suns traded SF Cedric Ceballos to the LA Lakers for a 1995 first-round draft pick (Michael Finley). Ceballos led the NBA in FG% at 57.6% in 1992-93 and had career highs in scoring and rebounding with 19.1 ppg and 6.5 rpg in 1993-94.
Important Future Dates
Sept. 28 – Media Day Sept. 29 – Training Camp opens Oct. 5 – Suns @ Pistons (preseason) 4:00 PM Oct. 7 – Suns @ Bulls (preseason) 5:00 PM Oct. 10 – Suns vs. Spurs (preseason) 7:00 PM (ESPN2) Oct. 14 – Suns @ Spurs (preseason) 5:00 PM Oct. 16 – Suns vs. Jazz (preseason) 7:00 PM Oct. 20 – 2026-27 NBA Season Begins Dec. 15 – Most players signed to new contracts can be traded Jan. 5 – 10-day contracts may now be signed Jan. 10 – All NBA contracts are guaranteed for the remainder of the season Jan. 15 – All players signed to new contracts can be traded Feb. 11 – Trade Deadline Feb. 19-21 – NBA All-Star 2027
NEWARK, NJ - SEPTEMBER 13: New Jersey Devils Ethan Edwards #73 skates with the puck during a game between the New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils at RWJ Barnabas Health Hockey House at Prudential Center on September 13, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey.(Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Matchup: The New Jersey Devils versus the New York Islanders
The Time: 1:00 PM ET
The Broadcast: Local TV — MSGSN/MSG and DAZN Streaming, NHLN; Radio — Devils Hockey Radio
Shaking Out the Lines and Roles
Yesterday, I did a bit of an overview of the trends going on at Devils training camp. In addition to those lines, the third day of camp featured the first look at special teams units.
And here comes the first look at #NJDevils power play unit thinking:
PP1: Jack, Bratt, Nico, Evangelista and Luke
PP2: Timo, Rodrigues, Mantha, Gritsyuk and Dougie
Mercer looks like he's getting ready to sub in on PP2. But isn't going out with the first run.
Hischier — Rodrigues — Pesce —Hughes Glass — Brown — Siegenthaler — Hamilton Boqvist — Noesen — Dillon — Chisholm
Of course, these players will not all play today. Since it is preseason, the Devils only need to play a limited number of veterans, while the rest of players involved will be from Utica. Most of those players will not necessarily be fighting for an immediate NHL job, but for the right to be called up from Utica at some point during the season in case of injuries. Given the looks in camp so far, the true “battles” seem to be:
Amadeus Lombardi vs. Stefan Noesen vs. Jesper Boqvist for the 12th and 13th forward spots
Anton Silaev vs. Vladislav Kolyachonok vs. Seamus Casey vs. Ethan Edwards for the 7th defensive spot
Nico Daws vs. David Rittich for the 2nd goalie spot
Unless someone else really plays out of their mind during pre-season, this is more or less the spread of possibilities for the Devils in camp. They do not have a ton to worry about, but with the injuries to Bjugstad (long-term) and Kovacevic (short-term?), things are a tad more open than they were a few weeks ago.
The Islanders
Today will be our first look at the Islanders for this season. Per Andrew Gross, the Islanders have been using the following forward lines in practice:
Gross also shared the non-NHL lines and pairings, some of which will be featured in today’s game. But the big stories for the Islanders include Matthew Schaefer being tried out on the right side, largely due to the arrivals of Kashawn Aitcheson and Isaiah George, per Peter DeBoer. But they will also be watching Kyle Palmieri, who is returning from injury after missing most of last season after an ACL repair. Palmieri will turn 36 this season, so his rehabilitation will be something to keep an eye on.
Among the forwards, the Islanders have few newcomers. Matias Maccelli and Victor Eklund are the two to watch. Maccelli had 39 points for the Maple Leafs last season, while Eklund will be playing his first full NHL season this year. Last season, Eklund had 24 points in 43 games for Djurgardens of the Swedish Hockey League before scoring 10 points in nine AHL games along with an assist in his NHL debut. Eklund was New York’s first-round draft pick in 2025.
This policy is being met with widespread contempt, especially given the short notice. For people taking bags off of public transit into Newark, they will be forced into using the lockers at the Prudential Center. Hopefully that does not turn into an absolute disaster.
Your Thoughts
What do you think of today’s game? Will you be watching? Who do you want to see on the ice? Leave your thoughts in the comments below, and thanks for reading.
PHOENIX — When Laz Diaz arrived at Tiger Stadium to make his major-league debut, Sparky Anderson was in the Detroit Tigers dugout, Phil Garner was managing the Milwaukee Brewers, and the lineups were littered with names like Lou Whitaker, Kirk Gibson, Cecil Fielder, David Wells, B.J. Surhoff and Daryl Hamilton.
The year was 1995.
Now, 31 years later, with Tiger Stadium long gone, Diaz will be back in Detroit, this time at Comerica Park, where he is scheduled to be the home-plate umpire Saturday, Sept. 26, when future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander makes his final appearance.
Diaz, who was also the home-plate umpire in Verlander’s first postseason game in 2006 at Yankee Stadium – a 4-3 victory in the AL Division Series – now is calling it a career, too.
Diaz, 63, only the second Latino crew chief in MLB history and a former Marine Corps reserve, is umpiring his final regular-season game Sunday, Sept. 27. He and six other veteran umpires have taken the buyouts and will say good-bye to a game that has dramatically changed.
When Diaz arrived, there were no video reviews. No ABS system. No challenges. No pitch-coms. No mandatory checks for banned substances. No New York review center. No public umpire scorecards.
And no hot mics.
Being a major-league umpire is not only one the most demanding jobs in all of baseball, but also the least rewarding.
"I tell these young guys there’s so much pressure in this game," Diaz tells USA TODAY Sports. "So, if you’re not going to have fun in this game, don’t do it. Do not do it. It’s not worth it. There’s just so much scrutiny and negative stuff now.
"It’s nasty. We don’t get the recognition. Everybody is putting us down. Like with Angel (Hernandez) and C.B. (Bucknor), they got so much criticism, and they’re great umpires. But everything is just so (expletive) negative."
He’s going to miss the people and friends he made over the years, on and off the field, but the game, well, not so much.
"There are a lot of people I’m going to miss, and I made a lot of friends, but what I won’t miss is the game," says Diaz, the son of Cuban immigrants. "Not one bit. It’s just changed so much. There’s so much more technical stuff. It’s kind of restricted us. I mean, everything is black and white now. You can’t manage the game.
"You used to look at the scoreboard, and you’d see a player’s batting average, home runs, RBI and stolen bases. Now, you look up, there’s all kinds of stats up there, exit velocity, launch angle, on-base percentage, OPS. You can’t find anything because it’s all a percentage."
He also came up when umpires weren’t mic’d to notify the crowd of challenges and reviews, leading to embarrassing hot mic incidents. Twice in the the last two months, Diaz accidentally blurted an obscenity in his mic that blared the stadium loudspeakers unaware his mic was still on.
Diaz became a full-time major league umpire in 1999 after playing in the minor leagues as an outfielder and shortstop. His first manager in the minors was Minnesota Twins’ Class A manager Duffy Dyer, who happened to be the Brewers’ third-base coach in Diaz’s umpiring debut. Dyer brought out the lineup card that day, didn’t say anything to Diaz, and it wasn’t until the sixth inning that Diaz finally said to Dyer, "You don’t remember me, do you?"
Dyer: “Am I supposed to?"
Diaz: “Well, I did play for you in 1984 with Kenosha."
Now decades later, it’s coming to an end, with Diaz keeping the nameplate atop his locker after every series, and making sure to thank each member of the grounds crew in every ballpark he visits.
"I like talking to the grounds crew because without them," Diaz says, "we couldn't do our job. We couldn't play this game. I appreciate what they do. They're the first ones here, the last ones to leave, and you know every time they come by, I thank them for doing what they do. You got to give them their props."
Diaz will leave with plenty of memories, from working three World Series, Barry Bonds’ record-setting 756th home run game, Mark Buehrle’s perfect game, games in Australia and the Dominican Republic, WBC games in Japan and Puerto Rico, and the inaugural Field of Dreams Game between the Yankees and White Sox in Dyersville, Iowa.
He still has the lineup card from his first World Series game in 2007 when the Boston Red Sox swept the Colorado Rockies, and plans to keep the lineup card from last game, too.
He’ll fly to his Orlando home after the game Sunday, do some fishing in Puerto Rico, and even has volunteered to help out his wife’s cousin as a deckhand on chartered boat tours.
Just don’t expect him to be at a ballpark any time in the near future.
Or maybe ever.
"I’ve been blessed," Diaz says. "The Lord has definitely blessed me throughout my career. It was a great run.
The Montreal Canadiens hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight at the Bell Centre, and while the Habs had their top six in the lineup, the visitors showed up with a much weaker side, leaving their big guns at home to face the other half of the Canadiens. Habs fans got an entertaining game with a little bit of everything: nice attacking play, big hits, and fights; the crowd liked every minute, including Cole Caufield's overtime game-winner.
While Martin St-Louis’ decision to put Juraj Slafkovsky on the second line to start the preseason might have surprised a few people, the move made the coach look very good in the first game. The three youngsters looked like they'd never stopped playing together and linked up with ease. There’s a predictability there that's hard to deny; they know where they are on the ice. Shots came in from every direction, and without numerous posts, their shot total would have been even higher than seven. Overall, they were the Canadiens’ most visible line.
Speaking about playing with Ivan Demidov, the big Slovak explained:
I know the way he plays; I know what he’s going to do. I feel that’s why it’s working between him and me, because I anticipate what he’s going to do. I think we know where we are; even if sometimes we throw a blind pass or something, we know what moments, which areas, where we are on the ice…I think it’s pretty good, but I feel like there’s so much room to improve; I feel we’re only going to get better.
With Kaiden Guhle being injured to start the season, there’s a job to be won on the blueline, and Arber Xhekaj would love to grab that spot. The hulking blueliner had an interesting game, throwing his body around a lot and logging eight hits. However, at times, that meant he got himself out of the play and was beaten to the net, giving the opponent scoring opportunities.
On the Leafs’ first power-play goal, he finished a check in the corner but let his man beat him to the net. Dobes made that save, but seconds later, Xhekaj pushed his man into the goalie, causing him to lose his stick. He didn’t recover it before Toronto scored. Then, on the Leafs’ go-ahead goal in the second frame, his man got free to set it up from behind the net. This is only the preseason, though, and the coach wasn’t going to hold it against him; he still gave him 21:31 of action, made him kill penalties, even the one in overtime. Commenting on his game, the bench boss explained:
He played to his identity; he played a physical game; he got some reps on the PK; he was good in puck possession. It was a good game for him; he played to his DNA. He’s still a young player. Even though he’s got a lot of NHL experience for his age, the game may have slowed down for him too; it may be easier to make the right reads. Stress normally diminishes for a young player as they gain experience.
On the Jayden Struble – Xhekaj pairing, St-Louis said:
I don’t mind Xhako on the right side; they’re two guys that play a physical game. If Guhles can’t start the season, it’s a scenario that maybe those two play together; some familiarity there, they’ve done it last year. We’ll keep evaluating, but I liked what I saw.
The blueliner seems to have made a conscious decision to shoot more; he tried his luck five times tonight, with two attempts reaching the net. It can only help his case to use that big shot. Yes, he can bring grit and physicality, but he has other attributes he should use as well. Clearly, he’s come to the same conclusion, telling the media post-game that he has to shoot more and can’t always be looking for a pass.
Of course, he was also asked about his brother’s game in Toronto and looked like a proud teacher when he said: it was sick. I was fired up after watching it and texted him right away; it was a sick fight!
As for the top line, it wasn’t as visible as the Slafkovsky-Kapanen-Demidov unit, but it did have its moments. Having just been brought into the fold, it’s not surprising that Chris Kreider needs to adapt to the Canadiens’ style of play; but we’ve already seen some positive signs. His best play of the night might have been a great cross-zone feed to Caufield, who one-timed it right on the post; a little bit of rust is perfectly normal.
Preseason games mean very little, but if this 4-3 overtime win is anything to go by, the Canadiens’ fans are in for another fun season watching their favourites. Montreal’s next game is Monday, when they’ll face the Ottawa Senators in Trois-Rivières.
The Toronto Maple Leafs dropped both pre-season split-squad games against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday. In Montreal, the Canadiens won in overtime with a Cole Caufield game-winning goal. At Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, the Habs took the contest 4-1.
With several players debuting for the Maple Leafs and a new style under a new coach, here are the main takeaways from Saturday night.
1. Gavin McKenna Learning, But Not Afraid
In Gavin McKenna's first pre-season game in the NHL, he logged 20:27 of ice time, three shots on goal, two blocks, a minus-one rating and a minor penalty.
"It was good," McKenna said about how he felt. "Obviously, not the result we wanted, but I think it was a good start. There's lots to work on. It's the first game of the year. A little bit scrambly, but I think as we build, it'll get a lot easier.
"I felt pretty good. I thought I created a bit, but also had a couple turnovers, which I think kind of just happens with nerves. But I think it was a good start, and a lot to build on," he added.
He didn't get on the scoresheet, but he wasn't away from the action and had a handful of chances throughout the contest.
"I thought it was good," head coach Jim Hiller assessed McKenna's performance. "In a game where I didn't think there was a lot of offense from either team, you know, he was in on three or four chances, so you'll take that every day. So, yeah, I thought he was good. Good start for him."
At some points in the game, McKenna was distant from the play. But there is no mistake to be made that he is a confident player who knows how skilled he is. And most importantly, he wasn't afraid to make a pass that would thread the needle, or a rink-wide connector in transition. That's proof of a confident individual, especially in his first game wearing NHL colors.
"If I say one thing to him, just to be a little bit closer to the puck, a little bit closer," Hiller said. "We want him to have the puck. And sometimes in the NHL, you've got to just get right there and surround it and then make plays out of that rather than, you know, waiting and seeing if somebody can get it to you. So he'll figure that part of the game out for either side."
"It's not easy," captain Auston Matthews admitted. "You jump into your first game after a very short two practices and then right into a pre-season game in the NHL. But (McKenna's) going to continue to get better as camp goes on, as he gets more comfortable and adjusts to this pace of play. But, you know, obviously he had moments out there where you can tell just how skilled and how talented he is and what he can do."
Matthews played his first NHL game in a long time. His last appearance was against the Anaheim Ducks on March 12.
With an extended summer of rehabbing and recovering from his major knee injury and surgery, he looks to be much faster on the ice than all of last season.
"I think the first, maybe first half of the first period, definitely felt pretty rusty, but as the game went on, it felt better and better," Matthews said after the game. "As we continue to skate and practice and play one more game, I think just the conditioning of the legs kind of get going a little bit more and transition into game shape a little bit.
"But all in all, I mean, it was a good first game. I thought I had some good moments, good opportunities, and take that and go from there and keep building."
Hiller remembers one notable moment from Saturday's game that stood out to him.
"I thought he was really skating," the bench boss said. "I thought he had the puck, and he looked dangerous. I think if I think of one moment in the game was when he rounded the net, came through, kind of sliced through a couple guys end-to-end. You know, I hadn't seen that a lot out of him last year, and so that was a really positive thing to see. He was moving, carrying the puck. It was dangerous, and the goalie and made a couple really good saves on him."
Matthews recorded one assist, played 22:19 of ice time, a minus-two rating and a game-high of six shots on goal.
Despite all that bodily distress over the past year, the shutdown defenseman looked the part and like his usual self on the back end.
Tanev had three blocks in this game, and also notched 18:23 of ice time. It's also worth noting that he and his D-partner, Jake McCabe, were the only skaters for the Maple Leafs to not finish the game with a minus plus-minus rating.
"To me, being out as much as he did, I would have never guessed," Hiller said of Tanev's first performance since his long-term injury. "Played quite a bit of minutes. You see him penalty kill, he's breaking up plays, he's doing what he does. So, yeah, it's just a really important player for us. It's great to have him back out there."
4. Fight Night In Montreal And Nick Blankenburg Paying The Price
While eyes were on McKenna and the rest of the stars that featured in Toronto, there was a feisty game at the Bell Centre, particularly in the early stages of the contest.
Maple Leafs' Michael Pezzetta and Teddy Blueger dropped the gloves with Canadiens' Lucas Condotta and Ethan Samson, with both tilts coming in the first period of the game. Pezzetta accumulated 17 penalty minutes, including a 10-minute misconduct, with his short night complete with 4:50 of ice time.
Beyond the fisticuffs, Nick Blankenburg, who is on a PTO with the Maple Leafs this pre-season, registered eight blocks against the Canadiens and logged 24:47 of ice time, which was three seconds shy of matching Lane Hutson's game-high 24:50.
The 5-foot-9 defenseman certainly found a way to stand out for the side that Daniel Alfredsson watched over in Quebec.
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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - MARCH 28, 2026: President of baseball operations and general manager Mike Elias of the Baltimore Orioles looks on prior to a game against the Minnesota Twins at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on March 28, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Hello, friends.
The Orioles added another disappointing game on an “honor a part of the team’s history” day with yesterday’s 1-0 loss to the Brewers. You would easily think that Trevor Rogers pitching eight innings while striking out batters would have meant a win on the day that the team hosted the honorary “retire as an Oriole” festivities for Trey Mancini. Alas, no! The Orioles mustered four hits, still more than the Brewers did, and still they lost. Check out Andrea’s recap of the game for more of the not-so-lovely totals.
Any slim postseason hopes have crashed with the losses in the last two games, each of which was stupid in their own way. Even if the Orioles run the table at this point, 82-80 isn’t likely to get them there. They probably won’t be mathematically eliminated before Tuesday. If they play better, they’ll push that back a day or three. They don’t look like they’re going to play better.
The real news from yesterday is that Mike Elias spoke to Orioles media ahead of yesterday’s game and indicated he’s expecting to return, and that manager Craig Albernaz will also return. That probably means there won’t be a David Rubenstein-induced surprise in another eight days.
This is likely not a welcome series of news for people who’ve watched the season play out; I’ve gone in on Albernaz a few times as the season has gone along and did so again after watching Friday’s loss. I don’t think he’ll be better next year. I don’t think he’s going to go home this offseason and think about it and come back as a different guy. We’re stuck with him until Elias is gone. Not much to do but hope for the best even when it’s unlikely we’ll get it.
Elias is, at least, sort of signaling that maybe things will go a little differently in the front office. Recent days have seen the director of player development Matt Blood depart, and analytics guru Sig Mejdal had his title adjusted to reflect more working with technology than overseeing analytics. The idea of hiring a subordinate general manager to Elias has come up again; The Baltimore Banner’s Andy Kostka reported that a source says the O’s are looking for a potential GM with a player development background to complement Elias’s scouting background, with the idea of finding someone from outside the organization who might have different ideas of doing things.
There is some potential here for things to change. Kostka’s source indicated that the Orioles ownership would be involved in the search for front office additions. If this is the way we’re seeing the top level think that things need to go differently – not firing Elias outright but making sure he knows he’s got to try to change how he’s doing things – then that’s a plus. One could certainly view it all cynically and think Elias will just hire somebody who is going to tell him that everything is going great and that he’s doing everything right already.
This is not a ship that can turn quickly. The offseason may afford even fewer chances to turn the ship, since player movement is going to be shut down as soon as the owners collective greed leads to an immediate lockout as soon as the CBA expires in December. If things play out on a similar timetable as the last round of negotiations, there’ll be nothing happening in December and January and early February, no trades or signings. 2027, who knows?
The 2026 Orioles already had their “Iceberg, right ahead!” moment where they could not avert the disaster. The ship is rapidly sinking. The captain is not going down with this ship. They play another game at 7:20 tonight, which will air only on Peacock.
Prospect review: Stiven Martinez might have found something (Orioles On The Verge) Martinez was on my preliminary list for getting a Camden Chat prospect review post, but didn’t end up making the final cut. The folks at On The Verge are a bit more interested.
Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries
Today in 1958, knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm threw a no-hitter in a 1-0 victory over the Yankees. This was the first no-hitter in Orioles history, and the last time in the 20th century that the Yankees were no-hit.
In 1998, Cal Ripken Jr. did not play in a game, ending his consecutive games played streak at 2,632. Atlanta’s Matt Olson is the active leader with 932 consecutive games – 8th place on the all-time list.
There are a few former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2014 infielder Steve Lombardozzi, 1990 outfielder Dave Gallagher, and 1972 pitcher Roric Harrison.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: novelist Upton Sinclair (1878), actress Sophia Loren (1934), and author George R. R. Martin (1948).
On this day in history…
In 1519, Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition to circumnavigate the globe set sail from Sanlúcar de Barrameda in southern Spain. Nearly three full years later, one of the five ships and 40 of the 270 men returned successfully. Magellan did not survive.
In 1946, the first Cannes Film Festival was held. The original plan was for the first festival to take place in 1939. That plan was interrupted by World War II.
In 1973, Billie Jean King was victorious in the “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match against Bobby Riggs.
**
And that’s the way it is in Birdland on September 20. Have a safe Sunday. Go O’s!
Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders:W, 6-5 (10) vs. Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp — thrilling win, but a victory by the Rochester Red Wings left the RailRiders two games back with one to play; today will be the Yankees’ 2026 minor league finale (though the Arizona Fall League is coming up soon)
LF Jarred Kelenic 1-5, 3 K DH Jasson Domínguez 0-4, 2 K C J.C. Escarra 2-4, HR, 2 RBI, BB, K — two-run shot in the fifth pulled Scranton within one 2B Marco Luciano 0-5, K 1B Yanquiel Fernández 0-3, 2 BB, K — scored on a wild pitch in the tenth to win it 3B Tyler Hardman 2-5, HR, RBI, K, throwing error CF Duke Ellis 3-5, SB RF Kenedy Corona 1-4, 2B, RBI, K SS Connor McGinnis 1-3, RBI — sac fly in the eighth tied game at five
Alexander Cornielle 3.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 BB, 4 K, 1 HR — gave up a grand slam in the second Zach Messinger 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K Eric Reyzelman 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K Eli Morgan 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K Chris Kean 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K Justin Topa 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K Edinson Duran 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K (win) — position player comes on and gets the win
D'Andre Smith of the Binghamton Rumble Ponies is present before a Minor League Baseball game at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, United States, on May 15, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
D’Andre Smith with just about the most heroic hit you can have at this point in the season. Down one in the bottom of the ninth with one out, Zack Short worked a walk as the tying run. Smith followed that up with a two-run walkoff homer, keeping the Syracuse season alive. Smith made a stellar play earlier in the game that deserves mention as well, a diving catch in center with the bases loaded that kept the Mets ahead (at the time) in the fifth inning. An all around incredible performance on both sides of the ball, and at a position he’s learning on the fly to boot. The Mets remain a half game back of Rochester in the playoff hunt with one game left to play, and it’ll all come down to Sunday’s regular season finale.
The Marvel Universe continues to expand and reinvent itself. One of their many successes is the various “What If?” plot twists. “What If Doctor strange loses his heart instead of his hands? Perhaps it’s Spider-Man joining the Fantastic Four or “What If?” Ultron actually won?
What if ?
What if the Astros with all of their limitations this season won it all? Sure there’s organizational unrest internally and the product on the field has been disappointing, but could the Astros transform October into Shocktober?
In my lifetime, it’s happened multiple times. Entrenched in our memories is Kirk Gibson’s hobbled AB vs. Eckersley in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, but there’s been countless others.
A year before Gibson’s heroics, the 1987 Twins had a run differential of -20. It was Tom Kelly’s first full season on the job and during the months of July and August that year, they posted losing records. The struggles on the road were even more daunting. In fact, in their World Series matchup vs. the St. Louis Cardinals, they’d drop every contest at Busch Stadium. Yet Minnesota won it all.
The 1990 Cincinnati Reds were remarkably average. After a red hot 9-0 start, they’d merely play .500 baseball over their final 100 games, posting a mark of 50-50. The start to the postseason was even more ominous as they dropped game one of the NLCS at home to the Pirates. The game wasn’t even a sellout. That was on October 4th and by October 20th, they had swept the A’s. Oakland simply had no answers for Jose Rijo.
Remember Josh Beckett? The New York Yankees certainly do. His two-hit complete game shutout at Yankee Stadium shocked the world and brought a title to South Beach in 2003. The Marlins payroll that season wasn’t even $50 million. By contrast, the Yankees spent $164 million.
What If Mattress Mack has to give everyone a free Mattress this Fall?
