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Hughes-Approved: What The Vancouver Canucks Promoting Adam Foote Means For Their Captain's Future

Adam Foote (Bob Frid-Imagn Images)

When it comes to securing a head-coaching job with the Vancouver Canucks, a vote of confidence from Quinn Hughes goes a long way.

On Wednesday, the Canucks announced they chose Adam Foote to be the franchise’s 22nd coach. Local reporter Rick Dhaliwal added that Foote’s deal is for three years.

It’s a promotion for Foote, who joined the Canucks staff as an assistant when Rick Tocchet came on board in January 2023. His contract was up this spring, and when Tocchet decided to move on, it was widely assumed that Foote would join him at his next job. 

But in the end, Foote beat out a field that included AHL bench bosses Manny Malhotra of Vancouver’s farm team, the Abbotsford Canucks, and Marco Sturm of the Ontario Reign. This is Foote’s first NHL head-coaching position.

While the Canucks are going through a good deal of organizational upheaval, a promotion from within on the coaching side delivers a degree of stability. 

It may also be the team’s best path toward achieving its most important near-term objective – keeping Hughes happy and getting him signed to a long-term contract extension rather than seeing him want to leave as unrestricted free agency approaches in 2027.

At 25, Hughes is already arguably the greatest player in Canucks franchise history. He was also a big Tocchet fan – and that admiration extended to Foote, who has been responsible for the team’s defense.

“I believe that with Rick and Footy (Tocchet and Foote) and the way they coach and structuring how we are defensively, if we add another player or two and have some guys within our group play better next year than they did this past season, I think we can be a really, really successful team,” Hughes told Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre late in the season. “We're very structured, we don't give up much, we have maybe the best goalie tandem in the league, and we have a great D-corps and others that are coming that will help us.”

When Tocchet and Foote arrived in Vancouver, the Canucks had given up 3.96 goals a game during the first 46 games of the 2022-23 season, under coach Bruce Boudreau. They were surrendering 32.2 shots per game, and their penalty kill had a grim 65.9 percent success rate. 

The Canucks got their goals against down to 2.70 in the 2023-24 season, while giving up 28.6 shots a game. This year, that number dropped to 26.8, and the penalty kill climbed to 82.6 percent, while their goals against sat at 3.06.

Those numbers came despite significant injuries on the blueline. 

Hughes was limited to 68 games. His regular partner, Filip Hronek, played 61. Tyler Myers played 71, and Derek Forbort played 54. 

The Canucks strengthened their defense by acquiring Marcus Pettersson in the aftermath of the J.T. Miller trade, and rookie Elias ‘Junior’ Pettersson quickly established himself as a reliable, physical option after he made his NHL debut in January. 

With Kevin Lankinen also helping to stabilize the team in net during Thatcher Demko’s injury issues, the Canucks are strong on the back end. 

Foote’s promotion suggests the organization feels he deserves credit for that turnaround.

“He has worked extremely hard the past few years, gaining our players’ respect and trust for his strong communication and honest, straightforward opinion,” Canucks GM Patrik Allvin said in Wednesday’s media release. “He knows this group better than anyone else we interviewed and has inside knowledge and understanding of what it will take to get us back to where we want to be. 

“Adam brings structure, accountability, and a detailed-orientated approach to his coaching, a process that will send a clear message to our group about the way we want to compete, practise and play hockey.”

The Canucks Have A Big Problem If Their Youngsters Weren't As Prepared To Compete As J.T. MillerThe Canucks Have A Big Problem If Their Youngsters Weren't As Prepared To Compete As J.T. MillerAfter the Vancouver Canucks cratered their season, fans sought answers from those responsible for it. 

A Toronto native, Foote was a second-round draft pick of the Quebec Nordiques in 1989. He played 1,154 NHL games over 19 seasons with the Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche and Columbus Blue Jackets. His hard-nosed defensive style helped the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 1996 and 2001.

Now 53, Foote began his post-playing career as a development consultant with the Avalanche, then spent 1.5 seasons as the head coach of the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets. 

The Canucks will introduce Foote officially to the media on Thursday at 2 p.m. ET.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

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Ruben Amorim ‘far from quitting’ despite Manchester United’s poor form

  • Coach clarified claim he could quit after West Ham loss
  • ‘What I am saying is we must perform or they will change’

Ruben Amorim has insisted he is “very far from quitting” Manchester United, the head coach moving to clarify his suggestion after Sunday’s loss to West Ham that he could walk away.

After the 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford that left his team in 16th Amorim stated that if next season started with the same dismal form it may be time for “new persons to occupy this space”.

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'I Can't Sleep Without Hockey": Artyom Levshunov Is Ready For More

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The Chicago Blackhawks have a lot of bright prospects in the system. Some of them played pro in 2024-25, and more played in other leagues around the world. 

One of those top prospects is Artyom Levshunov, who Chicago selected second overall in the 2024 NHL Draft. He spent most of the year with the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL before making his NHL debut in the back half of the season. 

Once he made his debut in the NHL, he didn't go back down to Rockford until the regular season was over. In the Calder Cup Playoffs, Levshunov was a top defenseman on the team who played in all situations. 

His shining moment of the season was his overtime winner in game one of the playoffs against the Chicago Wolves. He took steps offensively while continuing to work on his defensive game. 

Over the weekend, the IceHogs were eliminated by the Milwaukee Admirals in overtime of a winner-take-all game five. It was a great run for the young team loaded with talent. 

When the team held a final media session on Tuesday, Levshunov was very passionate about his love for hockey. 

"I can't sleep without hockey," Levshunov said with a smile. He fully admits that he doesn't know what to do when he isn't playing the game he loves. Skating, training, and working out are part of his off-season plans. He will spend the summer working on all of this in Florida. 

It is one thing to have a ton of talent. It is another to take that talent and combine it with the motivation needed to be a great player. 

As far as his first year pro, Levshunov was outstanding. Learning how to play defense at these levels is an incredibly difficult challenge. His development curve was what it needed to be in year one. For beginning the year injured, he found a way to make it work. 

Next season, it is likely that Levshunov spends the entire year in the NHL. He didn't look out of place in 2024-25 so another summer of work should help him turn the corner to become a consistant contributor.

Will he be the team's number one in the long term? Sam Rinzel and Alex Vlasic are in the mix with him as well, which is a great problem to have. 

With the positive vibes that Levshunov brings to the table, he will find himself playing meaningful minutes on a much better team. This "hockey obsessed" attitude will help him reach that goal of becoming a big-time player. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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What's next for Hicks after Giants pitcher's rough start?

What's next for Hicks after Giants pitcher's rough start? originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — This is Jordan Hicks’ second season as a starting pitcher, but still, this is all new to him. 

When Hicks started to struggle last year, the Giants didn’t have any conversations about the big-picture implications. He had been a godsend for a banged-up rotation, and the Giants knew he would run out of gas at some point in his transition from bullpen life. When it happened, it was what they had planned for. 

But this, a 6.55 ERA through nine starts, is not what they expected. And as they head to an off day after their fifth loss in six games, it seems time for a serious conversation within the walls of Third and King.

After an 8-7 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, manager Bob Melvin wasn’t ready to go there, at least not publicly. 

“The game is just over,” Melvin said when asked about Hicks. “I thought his stuff was pretty good again. It’s hard groundballs that find some holes. At some point in time you’d think they would be hit at somebody, and then [Hayden Birdsong] came in and he didn’t have his best stuff, either.”

If Wednesday’s game was the start of a shift, it wasn’t a clean one. Birdsong, the next man up, warmed up in the second as Hicks put himself in a bind, but the veteran limited the damage. When the first two runners reached in the third, Melvin came out with the hook.

Birdsong immediately gave up a three-run homer, with two of the runners belonging to Hicks, who was charged with five earned. Another homer put three runs on Birdsong’s line in his three innings of work.

For Hicks, it was the fourth time in nine starts that he allowed at least five runs. But he said he’s not worrying about his spot in the rotation. 

“At the end of the day I’m just going to go out there every time and put my best foot forward. That’s really all I can do,” Hicks said said. “Shut the page, shut the book on the bad outings and then grow from the good ones. I take the positive from the bad games. I feel like there was a high percentage of groundballs today and that is ideal for me as a groundball pitcher — it just didn’t find the guys. 

“You’ve just got to live with it and move on.”

That’s been the story of the season for Hicks, who is fourth in the majors in groundball rate. He has been hurt by a high .344 batting average on balls in play, and he’s not fully equipped to get more swing-and-miss to try and limit the damage. On Wednesday, there was just one whiff on 28 sinkers. That’s a pitch that’s meant to induce weak contact. 

“I got a lot of groundballs. There was a lot of finding holes, obviously that’s not ideal,” Hicks said. “That’s unfortunate. That’s how baseball goes sometimes.”

Hicks said he doesn’t dive into advanced stats, but if he did, he would find reasons for optimism. His expected ERA based on batted ball data is about three runs lower than his actual ERA. His FIP is 3.48. 

There are reasons for the Giants to believe much better days are ahead. But it was hard to focus on them when Melvin had to get his bullpen — which includes two starting pitchers — going with no outs in the top of the second. 

That led to a disappointing loss on a day when the lineup put up a late charge. The Giants trailed by six at one point, but Jung Hoo Lee’s homer got them within a pair and a bases-loaded walk put the winning run on second in the ninth. The comeback fell short, though. 

“We’re not getting our timing right,” Melvin said. “You think you score seven runs, you have a chance to win the game, but we gave it up early.”

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

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Fantasy Baseball Steals Report: Francisco Lindor, Jose Ramirez, and Jackson Chourio turn on jets

As stolen bases continue to rise league wide, I will be here every Wednesday to help you track important stolen base trends so you can find more speed for your fantasy teams.

Stealing a base is as much about the opposing pitcher and catcher as it is the actual base runner themself. So, being able to spot which teams and pitchers specifically are being run on most frequently will help you to figure out who can swipe some bags over the next week.

Last week, I highlighted the Marlins as a team to target when searching for stolen bases and they continue to allow them at a breakneck pace.

MLB: Spring Training-Pittsburgh Pirates at New York Yankees
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Bubba Chandler, Ryan Weathers, and Hunter Dobbins
There may be another ace in Pittsburgh soon

Before we get to this week’s important trends, here is the stolen base leaderboard over the past seven days.

Player
SB
CS
Jackson Chourio
5
0
José Ramírez
4
1
Francisco Lindor
3
0
Mike Yastrzemski
3
0
Bobby Witt Jr.
3
0
Wyatt Langford
3
0
Xavier Edwards
2
2
Austin Riley
2
1
Evan Carter
2
0
14 Others Tied
3
0

It’s nice to see Jackson Chourio pick it up on the base paths after a slow start to the season there. Same with Francisco Lindor.

Evan Carter has returned to the majors and quickly stolen two bags, which bodes well for his fantasy value moving forward.

Austin Riley had stolen just three bases in his last 300 games played prior to this past week. Those two bags are completely shocking.

Now, here is the overall stolen base leaderboard on the season.

Player
SB
CS
Oneil Cruz
16
1
Luis Robert Jr.
16
5
Bobby Witt Jr.
14
4
Elly De La Cruz
14
4
Pete Crow-Armstrong
13
3
José Ramírez
12
3
Xavier Edwards
11
4
Jarren Duran
11
3
Victor Scott II
11
1

Luis Robert Jr. just went a full week without being caught stealing. They said it couldn’t be done and they were wrong.

Xavier Edwards jumping onto this list is great, he just needs to find a way to be more efficient.

Next, here are some players that we’d hoped would be more aggressive or efficient on the base paths.

Player
SB
CS
Jonathan India
0
2
Marcus Semien
1
1
Luis Rengifo
1
2
Seiya Suzuki
1
2
Caleb Durbin
1
1
Jo Adell
1
0
Brandon Nimmo
1
1
Kristian Campbell
2
1
Masyn Winn
2
2
Willy Adames
2
2
Jackson Holliday
2
3
Ian Happ
2
1
Jose Altuve
3
3
Bryan Reynolds
3
2
Nolan Jones
3
2

There are oddly a lot of second basemen on this list. Kristian Campbell was distinguishing himself before this recent cold spell. Jackson Holliday is pushing hard for 10-team viability and a bit more efficiency on the base paths could help get him there.

It’s hard to roster Caleb Durbin when he’s not hitting and not stealing any bases. There’s a chance he could be headed back down to the minors soon.

Now, let’s go over the most important stolen base trends over the past week.

Fantasy Baseball Stolen Base Targets

I’ve deservedly picked on the Marlins for a few weeks in a row, so they’ll get a break despite still being the easiest team to run on this season by far. Also the Rays, who have maintained their hold as the second-worst team against the run game.

Otherwise, the Braves, Athletics, and Astros are teams to target when seeking stolen bases.

Sean Murphy’s return from the injured list was meant to stabilize Atlanta’s weakness here, but base stealers are 24-for-28 against him in just 23 starts behind the plate so far this season. Coupled with them also being 20-for-23 in just 17 starts by Drake Baldwin, we’re not seeing much resistance by them to the run game.

Their problems are exacerbated by Chris Sale’s unwillingness to hold runners on. He’s tied with Sandy Alcantara for most stolen bases allowed by any pitcher and has four more than the next closest left-handed pitcher.

While he’s caught the fourth-most innings, the Athletics’ Shea Langeliers has allowed the most steals of any catcher with 36. Yet, he’s known for his strong arm and has one of the best pop times in the league according to Baseball Savant.

Rather, many of the A’s pitchers struggle to hold runners on. Jeffrey Springs has allowed the fourth-most steals for any pitcher this season and it allows base stealers to get the biggest jump on him compared to any other starter in baseball. Osvaldo Bido and the injured JT Ginn have also struggled in this department.

Langeliers, Carson Kelly, and Yainer Diaz are the only catchers that have thrown out fewer than 15% of would-be base stealers who have been behind the plate for more than 250 innings.

Diaz has taken more of a lionshare at catcher for the Astros this season with their intention of Yordan Alvarez playing the field less often. While Alvarez has been on the injured list, Diaz has been their designated hitter in three of nine games.

Yet, that may not matter when streaming steals against them because back-up catcher Victor Caratini has only thrown out 6% of would-be base stealers this season.

Perfect Week for Mets

The Mets didn’t run a whole lot out of that gate with just 19 total stolen bases in April. That was 19th-most among all teams. However, they went a perfect 10-for-10 over the last week.

Both their lack of steals and very recent uptick has come from Lindor finding his stride. He stole just two bases in April and already has four in May. We’re only about halfway through this month so far.

Otherwise, Luisangel Acuña’s regular playing time has added a level of dynamism that the Mets have lacked for some time. His 10 stolen bases are just a bit off the full-season leaderboard above and he’s only been caught once.

On the other side of the ball, Luis Torrens deserves his flowers again for what he’s doing at catcher. He threw out two more base stealers this week, which gives him seven on the year while only six have been successful. He is the only catcher who’s caught at least 150 innings this season to have a caught stealing rate better than 50%. He’s a revelation.

It’s worth noting that the tandem of catchers Torrens replaced on the Mets last season – Tomás Nido and Omar Narváez – haven’t caught a base stealer yet this season in 10 tries combined.

Guardians Sneak Attack

The Guardians have been middle of the pack this year in terms of stealing bases and the Milwaukee Brewers, led by William Contreras, have been one of the most difficult teams to run against.

So, naturally, Cleveland stole five bases against them in one game last week without being caught.

José Ramírez stole three himself off the battery of Contreras and Freddy Peralta including third base two separate times. Steven Kwan and Angel Martínez chipped in with one each as well off reliever Bryan Hudson.

This was not a close, tight game either where the Guardians were seeking the tying run. They had a 3-0 lead after the fourth inning and cruised to an easy 5-0 win. They simply saw an opportunity and took it.

It was reported last week that Contreras is playing through a fractured finger on his catching hand. Maybe that had something to do with this game, maybe it didn’t. Regardless, his caught stealing rate dropped from a league-best 59% to 35% after just one game.

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Marlins at Cubs Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for May 14

It's Wednesday, May 14, and the Marlins (15-26) are in Chicago to take on the Cubs (25-18). Ryan Weathers is slated to take the mound for Miami against Jameson Taillon for Chicago.

The NL Central-leading Cubs have won the first two games of the series. They won 5-2 in the first and 5-4 in the second. Justin Turner's walk-off double secured the win for the Cubs.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Marlins at Cubs

  • Date: Wednesday, May 14, 2025
  • Time: 7:40PM EST
  • Site: Wrigley Field
  • City: Chicago, IL
  • Network/Streaming: Marquee Sports Network, FanDuel Sports Network Florida

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Marlins at the Cubs

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Marlins (+181), Cubs (-220)
  • Spread:  Cubs -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Marlins at Cubs

  • Pitching matchup for May 14, 2025: Ryan Weathers vs. Jameson Taillon
    • Cubs: Jameson Taillon, (2-2, 4.53 ERA)
      Last outing (New York Mets, 5/9): 4.0 Innings Pitched, 5 Earned Runs Allowed, 9 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Marlins at Cubs

  • The Cubs went 9-6 (.600) at home last season with Jameson Taillon starting
  • With Jameson Taillon as starting pitcher 5 of the Cubs' last 6 home games have gone under the Total

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Marlins and the Cubs

Rotoworld Best Bet

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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday's game between the Marlins and the Cubs:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Chicago Cubs on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Miami Marlins at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

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How the Mets have improved on suppressing the running game this season

On the Mets’ recent trip to Arizona, Francisco Lindor made a buzzworthy play at second base in the ninth inning, slapping an eye-popping tag to nab a Diamondbacks runner trying to steal second base in a tight game. It was a moment made for a social media clip, an example of Lindor’s wonderful hand-eye coordination and baseball savvy.

But the result of the play, a caught-stealing, also underscored what’s become an important part of the Mets’ defense this season – suppressing the running game. 

The Mets used to be an easy mark for opposing teams looking to swipe a base – they gave up the fifth-most steals in MLB last season and the fourth-most in 2023. Now, at a time when recent rule changes make it easier than ever for runners to steal, the Mets have made themselves much tougher on basepath crime, thanks to an emphasis by Carlos Mendoza and his coaching staff and efforts to improve by both their pitchers and catchers.

Entering Wednesday’s games, no team had thrown out a higher percentage of runners attempting a stolen base than the Mets, who have caught 14 of 33 would-be bag burglars (42.4 percent). The MLB average is 22 percent. Two years ago, the Mets caught just 13 percent of runners trying to steal. They were at 20 percent in 2024, a season that started with a series in which the Brewers stole with abandon, embarrassing the Mets.

Only the Royals have allowed fewer stolen bases per game (0.18) than the Mets (0.44) this season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. And the Mets have, by far, the largest decrease in steals-per-game in MLB from 2024-25.

“Mendy, from last year, he was really on this,” said Francisco Alvarez, who has thrown out 4-of-15 (26.7 percent) this season. “Like, ‘We gotta get better throwing people out.’ So we feel like we’re doing a pretty good job now and the pitchers, they’re doing a pretty good job, too.” 

“The running game is definitely something that can get overlooked,” added reliever Ryne Stanek. “Obviously, with trying to figure out pitch shapes and the execution of pitching, in the moment, with the pitch clock, things happen fast. So I think having an actual, intentional focus on the running game is good. 

“And I think it really helps that we have two catchers who can throw the hell out of the ball.” 

Alvarez has certainly improved after he threw out only 17.5 percent of runners last season. This year, his average “pop time” (1.88 seconds) to second base and his average velocity on throws are both in the top 10 in MLB, according to MLB’s Statcast. He recently threw out Pete Crow-Armstrong, an elite runner, and the pop time on his throw to nab Alek Thomas in Arizona – the Lindor tag play – was measured at 1.82 seconds -- the fastest of Alvarez’s career, according to SNY contributor and MLB's Sarah Langs.

Alvarez says he’s worked on transferring the ball from mitt to hand and he’s gotten encouragement and help from everyone from catching instructor Glenn Sherlock to Luis Torrens, his catching partner.

“We talk,” Torrens said. “Now he enjoys that part of the game. He has a really good arm and he always throws over 85, 86 (miles per hour) and that’s impressive. He feels proud of being a catcher for the New York Mets.”

“He’s a great thrower,” Alvarez said of Torrens.

Indeed. Since 2024, Torrens has thrown out 48.8 percent of runners trying to steal, the best mark in MLB among catchers with at least 200 innings behind the plate. This year, he’s thrown out 53.8 percent (7 of 13) and recently nabbed Arizona’s Corbin Carroll, who has 94 steals since the start of 2023.

“I’ve said it and I want to keep saying it – once we got Luis last (May), we started seeing the difference,” Mendoza said. 

Hayden Senger, a talented defensive catcher who backed up Torrens while Alvarez was on the Injured List earlier this season, threw out 3 of 5 runners trying to steal and remains a darling of the Statcast leaderboard even though he’s back in the minors.

All the early success might even be discouraging some runners from going, Torrens said. “You can prevent them by throwing people out and, also, then they don’t run on you, right?” Torrens said. 

The pitchers have been doing plenty to deflate opposing running games, too. One scout from another organization who watches the Mets noted that their pitchers have improved their slide-step moves to first base. They are also regularly changing their rhythms on pitch deliveries, which can disrupt the timing of runners looking to snag a bag. 

“I think that’s a big part of their improvement,” the scout said. 

Added a scout from a different club: “When pitchers know they have strong-armed catchers back there, they become more confident and look to help them even more by cutting down their release times to the plate.” 

“For us, it’s just giving the catchers a chance with good leg times, varying our picks and holds, so that runners can’t just pick a spot,” added David Peterson. “It’s mixing it up and giving the catchers a chance to throw guys out when they do go.” 

“We work a lot with the catchers and Glenn Sherlock and he takes a lot of pride in the running game as our catching coach and he's all over it. They’ve got somebody good helping them out.”

The pitch clock, bigger bases and limits on pickoffs have all helped runners who have larceny in their souls. The rate of stolen bases per game is at its highest since 1987, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, and the 2024 season saw the third-most stolen bases in history, according to MLB, and the most since 1915.

“When I first came into the league (2017), hardly anybody ran because they saw it as a way to give away outs,” Stanek said. “Every rule change comes in to increase offense – there’s no real changes to help pitching, ever. So we just have to do our job better and make everything a bit more intentional.” 

There’s still work for the Mets to do, of course. Runners have taken advantage of closer Edwin Díaz in the past – they were successful on 28 of 29 attempts (96.5 percent) in 2024 with him on the mound, including 6-for-6 in the postseason. This year, runners have stolen four bases in seven tries with Díaz pitching, including two by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the ninth inning Tuesday night, so there’s been improvement so far.

That’s something the Mets wanted from everyone involved, from the pitchers who deliver the ball and hold runners to the catchers who throw to bases to the infielders applying tags. Both Torrens and Alvarez made sure to point out that Lindor and Luisangel Acuña have excelled around second base on steal attempts.

“Nowadays, this is an important part of the game,” Mendoza said of defending against the steal. “You know how aggressive teams are, especially in the National League. There’s a lot of teams with speed and they're going to put pressure, they’re going to try to take that extra 90 feet, and we have to be able to control that. 

“It’s never going to be perfect, but we have to stay on top of it.” 

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Mookie Betts' toddler son runs away with first-pitch baseball. It's as adorable as it sounds

Toddler Kaj Betts runs away with the baseball as his mother and sister scramble behind him on the field at Dodger Stadium
Kaj Betts, the 2-year-old son of Dodgers infielder Mookie Betts, runs away with the ceremonial first-pitch ball on his father's bobblehead night on Tuesday at Dodger Stadium. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Now pitching for the Dodgers, Kaj Betts!

Wait, strike that ...

Now running away with the baseball, Kaj Betts!

The 2-year-old son of Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts threw out the ceremonial first pitch on his dad's bobblehead night on Tuesday at Dodger Stadium — but not before making a break for right field with the ball.

Read more:Mookie Betts overcame illness early in the season. Why his swing took time to catch up

Wearing a replica of his father's No. 50 jersey, Kaj had the ball in hand while walking near the third base line and home plate. Betts was jogging into place to be on the receiving end of his son's ceremonial pitch, which was supposed to be thrown from just in front of the plate.

Kaj had other ideas. He took off in a full toddler sprint, with a look of determination on his face as he ran as fast as his little legs could carry him.

At one point, his 6-year-old sister Kynlee nearly caught up with him, but Kaj turned on the jets and eluded her. He made it all the way to the basepath before pausing just long enough for his mom, Betts' wife Brianna, to scoop him up and deliver him back to his designated spot.

Kaj Betts wearing a Dodgers jersey runs away with a baseball, with big sister Kynlee wearing a sparkly dress close behind
Kaj Betts runs away with the ceremonial first-pitch ball, with big sister Kynlee in hot pursuit. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

From there, Kaj delivered an on-target pitch/roll to Betts, who brought the ball back to his son. The adventure-seeking tyke immediately turned and took a step toward the outfield before his pops quickly gathered him for some photos.

The adorable antics were probably the most entertaining aspect of the night for L.A. fans, who then had to watch their team get clobbered by the Athletics 11-1. Betts went 0 for 3 but drove in the Dodgers' only run of the night. In the third inning, Betts hit a ground ball to A's shortstop Jacob Wilson, who bobbled the ball to allow Betts to reach first and Chris Taylor to score from third.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Vancouver Canucks Name Adam Foote As Next Head Coach

Jan 18, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks assistant coach Adam Foote on the bench against the Edmonton Oilers in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

The Vancouver Canuck have their new head coach. The Canucks will be promoting Adam Foote from assistant coach to head coach. Foote will become the 22nd head coach in franchise history, taking over for Rick Tocchet, who left the organization in April.

Latest From THN's Vancouver Canucks Site:

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In a statement, GM Patrik Allvin wrote, "Adam is a strong leader, good teacher and person who knows what it takes to build a great culture and winning attitude. His past experiences on the ice have translated nicely into a coaching style that fits our organization’s goals and vision. He has worked extremely hard the past few years, gaining our players respect and trust for his strong communication and honest straight forward opinion. He knows this group better than anyone else we interviewed and has inside knowledge and understanding of what it will take to get us back to where we want to be. Adam brings structure, accountability, and a detailed orientated approach to his coaching, a process that will send a clear message to our group about the way we want to compete, practice, and play hockey. We are very happy to have him take over as the new Head Coach of the Vancouver Canucks."

According to Rick Dhaliwal of "Donnie and Dhali", Foote's contract is for three years. This will be the former NHL defenseman's first head coaching job in the NHL. Foote does have some experience running a bench, as he was the head coach of the WHL's Kelowna Rockets during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons. 

While Foote does not have significant coaching experience, players have raved about him since he arrived in Vancouver. One of those players is Quinn Hughes, who will become an unrestricted free agent in 2027. Foote played 1,154 regular-season games in his NHL career, winning two Stanley Cups and a Gold Medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

The Hockey News
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Takeoff Podcast: Daryl Morey discusses NBA draft pick, Joel Embiid health plan

Takeoff Podcast: Daryl Morey discusses NBA draft pick, Joel Embiid health plan originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Episode Summary

This week on the Takeoff podcast with John Clark, Daryl Morey joins from the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago to discuss the Sixers’ strategy after winning the 3rd pick. Plus, Morey talks about what he learned from last season and changing their approach when Joel Embiid makes a full recovery

Episode Notes

00:00 – Daryl Morey
00:24 – Sixers keep the pick
00:56 – 2025 Draft Class
01:46 – Biggest need for the Sixers
02:40 – Sixers staying at 3?
03:03 – Can Embiid keep up as the Sixers get younger?
04:00 – If Joel Embiid comes back…
04:58 – Ace Bailey
05:51 – Embiid’s recovery
07:35 – Learning from last season
09:26 – Roster going into next season
12:23 – Message for the fans
13:47 – Lottery night roller coaster

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Cincinnati Reds pay tribute to Pete Rose a day after he was posthumously reinstated by MLB

CINCINNATI — Pete Rose was celebrated by the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night, a day after baseball’s career hits leader was posthumously removed from Major League Baseball’s permanent ineligibility list.

There were chants of “Pete! Pete!” at Great American Ball Park. There was a pregame moment of silence, and a choir from Rose’s Cincinnati high school performed the national anthem. And No. 14 was everywhere, from the replica jerseys in the stands to the highlights shown on the videoboard.

It was the type of all-out effort that Rose himself would have appreciated.

“This city was my dad,” Rose’s daughter, Fawn, said.

Hall of Fame shortstop Barry Larkin and Eric Davis — who played for Rose when he managed the Reds — shared stories about their former manager during a pregame panel, joined by former Rose teammate George Foster. Members of Rose’s family delivered the game ball before Cincinnati’s 4-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox.

“He played baseball with as much passion and competitive enjoyment as you ever could,” said Reds manager Terry Francona, who played with Rose with Montreal and played for him with Cincinnati. “You wanted to be on his team.”

Rose, who died in September at age 83, played for the Reds in 19 of his 24 seasons, winning two of his three World Series championships with his hometown team. His career was tarnished by a gambling scandal that led to a permanent ban on Aug. 23, 1989.

An investigation commissioned by Major League Baseball concluded Rose — a 17-time All-Star who finished with 4,256 hits — repeatedly bet on the Reds as a player and manager of the team from 1985-87, a violation of a long-standing MLB rule.

Commissioner Rob Manfred announced Tuesday he was changing the league’s policy on permanent ineligibility, saying bans would expire at death. Manfred met with Fawn Rose and Jeffrey Lenkov, a lawyer who represented Pete Rose, on Dec. 17.

Manfred “was gracious, kind,” Fawn Rose said. “Really gave me a forum to talk about my dad, not the baseball player, but the father, the grandfather and really what he means to the (fans) of Cincinnati.”

Pete Rose Jr., who appeared in 11 games with Cincinnati in 1997, said he was angry when he first heard about Manfred’s decision because he couldn’t call his father. But he called the change a step in the right direction.

“Hate to say this, but it’s not going to bring him back,” he said. “If they would have said you’re not going to be taken off the list, but you’re coming back, hey bring him back. But nothing but positives today.”

While Rose’s gambling ban made him a baseball pariah, that was never the case in a city that proudly embraces its status as the home of the oldest major league team. He was almost uniformly beloved in his hometown for his relentless playing style and his connection to the Big Red Machine — the dominant Reds teams in the mid-1970s.

“My dad used to tell me all the stories of how hard he played every time,” said Reds reliever Brent Suter, a Cincinnati native. “You know, never took a play off, always was running hard 90 (feet), sliding headfirst, you know, getting dirty every game. ... This was a guy who just embodied toughness, grit.”

There were long lines at several gates as the crowd of 43,585 filed into the ballpark. A steady stream of fans stopped in front of Rose’s statue for pictures before going inside the stadium.

There was a black tarp with the No. 14 over the pitcher’s mound as the players took batting practice.

“I remember his hustle. The headfirst slides. He was a person with not a lot of talent, but he worked so hard,” said Bob Wunder, 65, of Dayton.

Wunder expressed his frustration with the timing of Manfred’s decision.

“It’s awful. They should have done it when he was alive,” he said. “If I was the (Rose) family, I would say ‘Thanks, but no thanks.’ I’m upset that it had to wait until he passed away.”

The change in Rose’s status makes him eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame — long a sore spot for Rose’s most ardent supporters — but his Cooperstown induction is far from a given.

Rose’s case would be considered by the Hall’s Classic Baseball Era committee, which next meets to consider players in December 2027. A 10-person panel selects eight ballot candidates with the approval of the Hall’s board, and the group is considered by 16 members at the winter meetings, with a 75% or higher vote needed.

“I know I oversimplify things. But what Pete did as a player, if he’s not in, there is no Hall of Fame,” Francona said. “But I get it. There are some things that ... I’m glad I don’t have to make (those) decisions.”

Jerry Casebolt, 80, of Florence, Kentucky, stopped to get his photo taken in front of the Rose statue before the game. He said he was at the 1970 All-Star Game when Rose bowled over Ray Fosse in a memorable play at the plate, and he also attended the game when Rose broke Ty Cobb’s hits record.

The removal of Rose from the ineligible list was meaningful for him.

“It was great to hear the news,” he said. “Just opening up the gates (to the Hall of Fame), but it’s still questionable. Hope he gets in. Shame he didn’t get to see it.”

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Angels at Padres Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for May 14

Angels at Padres Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for May 14

Its Wednesday, May 14 and the Angels (17-24) are in San Diego to take on the Padres (26-15). Kyle Hendricks is slated to take the mound for Los Angeles against Randy Vásquez for San Diego.

After a 6-4 loss last night, the Angels are now down in the series 2-0. Despite Dylan Cease's stellar performance, Jason Adam picked up the win for the Padres after Jeremiah Estrada gave up two runs and blew the save.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Angels at Padres

  • Date: Wednesday, May 14, 2025
  • Time: 9:40PM EST
  • Site: Petco Park
  • City: San Diego, CA
  • Network/Streaming: Padres.TV, FanDuel Sports Network West

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Angels at the Padres

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Angels (+156), Padres (-188)
  • Spread:  Padres -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Angels at Padres

  • Pitching matchup for May 14, 2025: Kyle Hendricks vs. Randy Vásquez
    • Angels: Kyle Hendricks, (1-4, 5.30 ERA)
      Last outing (Baltimore Orioles, 5/9): 5.0 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
    • Padres: Randy Vásquez, (2-3, 3.76 ERA)
      Last outing (Colorado Rockies, 5/9): 6.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Angels at Padres

  • The Padres are showing a 129% return on investment at home on the Money Line
  • 5 of the Angels' last 6 road trips to the Padres have gone over the Total
  • The Angels are 5-5 in their last 10 road games

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Angels and the Padres

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday's game between the Angels and the Padres:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the San Diego Padres on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Los Angeles Angels at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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No, the Dallas Mavericks will not trade No. 1 pick, rights to Cooper Flagg

The moment the Dallas Mavericks leapt up 10 spots and their 1.8% chance to land the No. 1 overall pick became reality, the speculation began:

Would the Mavericks trade the No. 1 pick and the rights to draft Cooper Flagg? What about sending it to the Milwaukee Bucks as the core of a deal for Giannis Antetokounmpo? What about a team (maybe Utah) that could throw a flood of future picks at them?

No, no, and no.

Dallas will not entertain the idea of trading the No. 1 pick, which seemed obvious — even in the wake of the Doncic trade — but a source confirmed to Tim MacMahon of ESPN.

Sources told ESPN that Patrick Dumont, who just finished his first year as the Mavs' governor, considers the opportunity to be in position to draft a generational talent such as Flagg a "gift." While Dumont has given (GM Nico) Harrison great leeway to run basketball operations, the governor has final decision on all personnel matters.

Mavericks CEO Rick Welts echoed that idea the day after the lottery.

"I don't know who we're going to take, but should we take him, I think his résumé is pretty strong," Welts said. "Every time he's put in a situation that everyone wondered if he could succeed, he's succeeded and then some."

It would be foolish to trade away Flagg, whose projected floor is a multiple-time All-Star and whose ceiling is a top-five player in the league. Even for more of a win-now team, such as the Mavericks with Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, they are not going to trade away that much talent and a bridge to the future.

Now, the San Antonio Spurs with the No. 2 pick are a different story; that pick is expected to be available in something like an Antetokounmpo trade with the Bucks. The win-now 76ers likely will consider trading the No. 3 pick for the right deal.

However, the Mavericks are not listening to trade offers.

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Report: Former Senators Coach D.J. Smith Appears To Be Back On NHL Head Coaching Radars

D.J. Smith’s record during his four and a half years as head coach of the Ottawa Senators wasn’t exactly Jack Adams material. When he was fired by the club 17 months ago, he had started the 2023-24 season with a points percentage of .423, worse than any of the four mediocre seasons that preceded it.

Los Angeles Kings assistant coach D.J. Smith (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)

No one can accuse Smith of not having enough time to turn the ship around. But roster-wise, he wasn’t exactly handed the keys to a Cadillac either, particularly in the early days. Still, given that the Senators returned to the playoffs the year after his dismissal, a change and a new voice were probably needed.

In the “never burn bridges” world of the NHL, no one ever says a bad thing about the outgoing head coach. But in this case, the dialogue from the Senators' players seemed sincere in its disappointment.

“It’s tough,” Tkachuk said on the day of Smith’s firing. “We’ve been through a lot together, from day one to where we’re at now. I wouldn’t be the same person or player that I am now. Really appreciative for everything that he’s done for me. Yeah, it’s tough to see a good person and an unbelievable coach leave.”

Bookmark The Hockey News Ottawa and never miss the latest Senators news, interviews, columns, features and more. 

Smith found work almost immediately as an assistant under LA Kings head coach Jim Hiller, leaning on a former NHL connection. The two men had worked together for four years on Mike Babcock’s staff with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

This season, with Smith looking after the defensemen, the Kings put together the kind of airtight defence that Sens fans could only dream of when Smith was running things in Ottawa. And despite a tough first-round loss to Edmonton (again), it may have resurrected Smith’s reputation as a viable head coaching option.

Make no mistake, it’s a common tactic for NHL agents to lob a well-placed rumour into the media to make their client seem like a hot commodity. But Smith has always been well-respected as a person. His positivity and git 'er dun personality were always appreciated in Ottawa. Sure, he also took heat for being almost too player-friendly and not making his guys accountable for repeated mistakes, but that seems like a relatively easy coaching habit to break.

Now that he's proven he can help run a tight defensive ship, that's an asset a lot of NHL teams are crying out for, so there might just be something to this report.

There are currently six teams with a coaching vacancy or interim situation heading into the offseason:

  • Boston Bruins
  • Chicago Blackhawks
  • Pittsburgh Penguins
  • Philadelphia Flyers
  • Seattle Kraken
  • Vancouver Canucks

Smith would probably prefer not to walk into another rebuilding situation like Ottawa, where the coach, at least to some degree, takes the fall for the performance of a subpar roster. He probably wishes he’d gotten the Ottawa job three years later than he did.

Will The Ottawa Senators Sign Shane Pinto To An Extension This Summer?Will The Ottawa Senators Sign Shane Pinto To An Extension This Summer?Shane Pinto is eligible for a contract extension this summer. As with every deal, the Ottawa Senators would like to be sure they're getting what they pay for.

Of the intriguing situations out there, the Penguins seem like a real possibility. Just like the Kings, Smith has a great connection there, probably better than with any of the other five teams. Pittsburgh’s GM is 39-year-old Kyle Dubas, the former Leafs GM who was in Toronto for all four years of Smith’s time there. Dubas is also a man who tends to lean on past connections.

His first major hire as GM of the Toronto Marlies was his former OHL coach, Sheldon Keefe, in 2015. They had worked together with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. When Dubas ascended to the role of Leafs GM, he eventually fired Mike Babcock in November 2019 and promoted Keefe to the NHL. Smith had just left the Leafs for his new job in Ottawa.

Dubas also fast-tracked former Senator Jason Spezza in Toronto and then brought him to Pittsburgh to be his right hand man with the Penguins.

No matter where Smith ends up, and regardless of how you feel about his time in Ottawa, there will always be interest in a coach from a staff that helped allow the second-fewest goals in the entire NHL this year.

Steve Warne, Site Editor
The Hockey News - Ottawa

Bookmark The Hockey News Ottawa and never miss the latest Senators news, interviews, columns, features and more. 

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Trust In Elite Goaltending Helping Panthers Over Maple Leafs in Game 5 Win

Panthers seek 3-2 series edge before returning home; Maple Leafs aim to bounce back after two road losses.

Image

This is the most important game of the Maple Leafs' season so far, as they've already had two chances to secure a win and move within one victory of reaching the Conference Finals. 

However, the Panthers battled back with two home wins and now could put Toronto on the ropes with a win on the road during game five. It'll be another tight game with both teams looking to win the most crucial game of the series yet. 

For bettors, this matchup provides a chance to capitalize on some of our recent strong trends, like our 36-28 record on our last 64 picks, including perfect records during Game 1 and 4 of the Maple Leafs-Senators series. 

More NHL: Toronto Maple Leafs vs Florida Panthers Betting Guide: Best Bets, Strategies and Future Options

All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Florida Panthers Best Bets:

  • Panthers ML (-145)
  • Under 5.5 goals (-102)
  • Sam Reinhart Over 0.5 points (-170)

Florida has been in these kind of high pressure situations before after making the last two Stanley Cup Finals and have adjusted to playing crucial games and scoring when they need to.

When making it to the Conference Finals last season, the Panthers went on the road with the series tied at 2-2 against the top team in the East in the New York Rangers. Florida scored two clutch goals in third and went on to win the series and then the Stanley Cup. 

These moments they are familiar and comfortable with plus the confidence built from two dominant home wins should propel them into a solid effort for game five.

More NHL: Utah Hockey Club Announces New Team Name

Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is coming off a 23-save shutout, and there’s still anticipation for bigger games out of players like Matthew Tkachuk, who has yet to score, and Sam Reinhart, who has recorded points in just one of the four games so far this series. 

After finishing with almost 40 goals this season, I expect Reinhart to play a much better game alongside his red hot centre in Aleksander Barkov. I wouldn't expect a lot of scoring in this however as the series is starting to tighten up physically, the scores will start to shrink much like the 2-0 win for Florida in game four. 

Toronto netminder Joseph Woll has done everything he possibly can to keep his team in every game and should keep up his stellar play when returning home, where he finished with a 13-5-0 record this season and has yet to record a loss in two home starts this postseason. 

More NHL: Jonathan Toews NHL Return Could Be With Anaheim Ducks, According to NHL Insider