Mar 18, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) reacts during the second half against the Atlanta Hawks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
To some of us, it may sound like an echo from a not-so-distant past. How do we protect our superstar and franchise player from constantly getting hit and banged up – and carrying too much of the load?
“Health is the biggest thing,” Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said a few days ago about Cooper Flagg. “We’re looking for Cooper to come out of this (season) healthy.”
The focus is on injury prevention and finding ways to save his energy. In order to do that the coaching staff wants Flagg to take a new approach – or at least refocus his offensive game a little.
“Because he plays hard, because he attacks, he gets hit a lot, so that’s one of the areas that we want to make sure that he gets better at.”
And Kidd has a specific thing in mind that could help limit the amount of hits and bumps Flagg receives during the course of a game, but also save his energy: more shooting beyond the arc.
“He feels comfortable shooting it off the dribble,” Kidd said about Cooper Flagg. “We would like for him to get a little bit better at catch-and-shoot. Less energy spent, less banging.”
Sound familiar?
In many ways, this is not a new situation in Dallas. Not long ago, the calls for Luka Doncic to avoid getting banged up constantly were loud in the media and among fans. Back then, everyone wanted Luka Doncic to take more catch-and-shoot threes, as well. The issues were similar, but the question remains:
How do you save the energy of the franchise player and decrease the amount of times he gets hit and banged up during a game?
Back on January 1st, 2023, Jason Kidd talked in similar fashion about how Luka Doncic’s next step should be to learn to play in a way that would put less stress on his body:
“After that New York game, I wanted to see – could we say a Klay-type game where he had 5 dribbles and had 70 points? That’s the next step for him, to understand how to pick the defense apart without putting so much stress on his body.”
Jason Kidd on Luka Doncic's next step: "After that New York game, I wanted to see — could we say a Klay-type game where he had 5 dribbles and had 70 points? That's the next step for him, to understand how to pick the defense apart without putting so much stress on his body." pic.twitter.com/AuR0lolceL
And in yet another repetition of past struggles in Dallas, fans and media alike have been calling out the referees for not protecting Cooper Flagg. The same sentiment was very prevalent around Doncic for most of his career.
But isn’t this an issue with all stars, especially in that rookie year? you might ask. And the answer could very likely be yes. But that doesn’t mean that we should just accept the status quo.
There are ways to protect stars, superstars and even rookies. Jason Kidd knows what he’s doing, he understands that catch-and-shoot threes would help decrease the hits which Flagg receives every game.
But that’s not the only solution. Running plays that encourage more catch-and-shoots, forcing the rookie to sometimes settle for the shot, would help.
Making sure there’s always players around him to share the physical load (or upgrade the roster to accommodate it), and a playmaker to set the table on offense.
And then there’s simply standing up for Flagg more during games from the coaches, reminding referees, pushing back, taking a tech sometimes to prove a point. All of this could make a big difference. Same in the press conferences after. Make sure the focus is on this issue, shape the narrative.
Look, I get it, I’m not a refs complainer either. But when you see how other coaches go to war for lesser incidents and often end up with a better whistle down the road, you have to consider starting the conversation. Here’s a good example of how Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr always campaigns on behalf of his players.
STEVE KERR: "I'm pissed off. I wanted to go to Vegas. We wanted to win this Cup. We aren't going because of a loose ball foul 80 feet from the basket with the game on the line. I've never seen anything like it in my life. That was ridiculous. Thank you."pic.twitter.com/lO5S2qJVlK
As it did with Doncic, it is now beginning to take a toll on Cooper Flagg. In last night’s game against the Atlanta Hawks, Flagg was clearly more agitated – both complaining more and showing bad body language, which seems to be an increasingly regular occurrence as the season wears on.
Obviously, this is a problem for the coaching staff to solve. They never really figured it out while Luka Doncic was in Dallas, but that doesn’t mean they won’t find a way to help Cooper Flagg.
It’s easy to sit behind a screen or in the arena and be an expert on how other people should do their jobs. It’s a different thing altogether to maneuver the situation on the floor in the moment it’s happening. Everybody who has played real and competitive basketball and coached knows that.
But the Mavs have to find a way to protect their franchise star one way or the other, and a concerted effort might be more effective than leaving the responsibility with the player.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 19: Ryan Rollins #13 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball during the game against the Utah Jazz on March 19, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks played what was definitely their worst game of this season, getting blown out by the 20-48 Utah Jazz, 128-96. Along with their play itself, this was also the team’s worst game from a body language standpoint, and that’s saying a lot. The Jazz, who, make no mistake, are going to extreme lengths to lose, simply couldn’t suck as much as the Bucks, no matter what they tried. Yikes. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.
Maybe the worst game from Turner all season? Completely irrelevant all game on both ends. I hesitate to use the word “soft” these days, but this was pretty soft from the big man. Couldn’t assert any will on the game against dudes who, let’s be honest, are not even close to being NBA centres.
Got out in transition a few times, but same as Turner: irrelevant.
Grade: D-
AJ Green
11 minutes, 0 points, 0/4 FG, 0/4 3P, -13
Had multiple bad mistakes on defence as an off-ball defender, and couldn’t find his shot either. Been a rough stretch for AJ.
Grade: D-
Ousmane Dieng
24 minutes, 13 points, 5/7 FG, 3/4 3P, -27
Hit open shots, but made very little impact as a passer (apart from one nice skip pass). Also got dominated a few times by physical defenders. Being physical is going to keep popping up on the scouting report for those defending Ous until he proves he can beat it.
Made some early impact, but this was one of the few games this year where Bobby looked like the player he has been in seasons past. Looked slow and lethargic on both ends, getting blown by more than his standard this year. Also got beasted by Andersson Garcia way too many times on the boards; this was Garcia’s fifth game.
Grade: C-
Pete Nance
13 minutes, 0 points, 0/2 FG, 0/1 3P, -14
Nothing from a bloke who usually finds a way to make an impact on some level. That said, he didn’t get any real run until the fourth quarter, making it tough to find a rhythm.
Grade: F
Jericho Sims
17 minutes, 2 points, 3 rebounds, 1/1 FG, -9
Jericho feeds off others making plays for him, and so when the likes of Rollins, Kuzma, and Dieng don’t produce in that area, it has a negative impact on Sims.
Cam’s stat line doesn’t look too bad, but I actually thought he was pretty horrendous from a process standpoint. His turnovers were ghastly. Plus, he didn’t play a lick of defence.
Grade: D+
Taurean Prince
16 minutes, 6 points, 2/5 FG, 2/5 3P, -4
I’d apply much of my “critique” for Sims—that his player type only works if the playmakers do their job—to Prince. That said, he did make a smooth self-created corner three.
Grade: C-
Gary Trent Jr.
17 minutes, 4 points, 1/5 FG, 1/5 3P, +0
GT just couldn’t hit shots, but he took the right ones. Was clearly trying to show the coaches that he was fighting like all hell on defence, though, which I appreciated.
Grade: C-
Doc Rivers
Part of me feels like the players came out with no want to play with any sort of intensity, and that’s not on Doc. But the number of guys the Jazz played who simply weren’t NBA players (or were fringe players at best)… you simply have to find ways to assert your dominance over them. I don’t recall Turner getting one look in the post against a 10-day guy. Advantages like these were almost never exploited, and that falls on the coach.
Grade: D
Garbage Time: Gary Harris, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Cormac Ryan, Andre Jackson Jr.
Inactive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Porter Jr., Alex Antetokounmpo
Bonus Bucks Bits
Bless Lisa and Marques… they tried their hardest to keep the vibe at least somewhat upbeat.
We got our first look at Cormac Ryan, who scored on his first NBA shot attempt (a three, of course).
Ace Bailey was a flamethrower, dropping a career-high 33 on 7/17 from three. That’s a lot of threes.
The Jazz were on the second night of a back-to-back, and played just eight guys.
The experience of watching your team get blown out by a tanking team is truly unique. I mean, the Jazz were already tanking hard, but I want to say Will Hardy gave it an extra push at one point by subbing out all of the best players who were playing all at once, but it quickly became evident that the Bucks were just too bad on the night for Utah to steal the L.
Just flagging that the Pelicans—having won consecutive games against the Clippers over the last two days—are now just four games “ahead” of the Bucks in the tank standings.
Up Next
The Bucks play again tomorrow against the Phoenix Suns. Catch the game at 9:00 p.m. CDT on NBA TV or FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.
Steve Borthwick will be reprieved by the RFU’s review but there are other factors at play from the makeup of his backroom team to the conveyor belt of English talent
The Rugby Football Union’s review into England’s least successful championship for 50 years is already up and running with an alacrity that would impress Louis Bielle-Biarrey. And one detail seems clear: barring something spectacular, Steve Borthwick will still be coaching the team this summer. As one well-placed insider put it: “This review is about supporting Steve to make improvements. If change is needed change is needed but it’s not about punishing him. He’s absolutely going to be in post this summer, there’s no question about that.”
ARLINGTON, TX - MAY 23: Oklahoma pitcher Kyson Witherspoon (26) screams after closing out an inning during the 2024 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship game between Oklahoma and Kansas on May 23, 2024, at Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Red Sox fans have been spoiled by the rosters of recent Spring Breakout games. That’s what happens when your farm system is stocked with some of the very best prospects in baseball.
The spring breakout roster isn’t quite as loaded this year. Here’s the team that will be in the dugout against the Orioles prospects tonight, per MLB.com:
PITCHERS (9) Jay Allmer, RHP, NR Jake Bennett, LHP, No. 7 Anthony Eyanson, RHP, No. 10 Patrick Galle, RHP, NR Marcus Phillips, RHP, No. 9 Reidis Sena, RHP, NR Juan Valera, RHP, No. 5 Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, No. 4/MLB No. 84
CATCHERS (3) Nate Baez, C, NR Franklin Primera, C, NR Gerardo Rodriguez, C/1B, No. 27
INFIELDERS (9) Marvin Alcantara, INF, NR Franklin Arias, SS, No. 2/MLB No. 31 Josue Brito, INF, NR Yoeilin Cespedes, 2B, No. 18 Freili Encarnacion, INF, NR Henry Godbout, 2B, No. 11 Hector Ramos, SS, No. 23 Mikey Romero, INF, No. 13 Dorian Soto, SS, No. 8
OUTFIELDERS (6)
Enddy Azocar, OF, No. 12 Miguel Bleis, OF, No. 17 Allan Castro, OF, No. 25 Justin Gonzales, OF, No. 6 Harold Rivas, OF, No. 20 Nelly Taylor, OF, No. 22
Even if we don’t have a Roman Anthony or Marcelo Mayer on the roster, we do have two elite prospects in shortstop Franklin Arias and pitcher Kyson Witherspoon. We’ve seen Arias make cameos in each of the last two spring trainings, but this will probably be the first look most Sox fans get of Witherspoon. They will likely be the center of attention.
But the guy I’ll be watching for is another shortstop: Dorian Soto. Soto is an 18-year-old who has yet to make his stateside debut. It’s irresponsible to draw any conclusions from the .307/.362/.428 slash line he put up in the Dominican Summer League last year. But he’s a switch-hitting infielder with a big frame (he’s already 6-3) and huge offensive upside. He’s not going to make an impact in the big leagues any time soon, if he ever does. But it should be fun watching him climb up the ladder, so he’s the guy I’ll be paying the most attention to. Who’s yours?
Talk about prospects, whatever else you want, and, as always, be good to one another.
Since their inception in 1962, lots of incredible players have donned the orange and blue. Below, the Mets all-time 26-man roster is unveiled.
But first, some rules...
In order to be eligible for the team, a player must have spent a chunk of his career in Queens and experienced a solid part of his peak during that time. That means Pedro Martinez and Nolan Ryan won't be in the starting rotation, and Willie Mays won't be patrolling center field. Meanwhile, Juan Soto doesn't yet qualify.
And now, the Mets' all-time team...
Starting Lineup
Catcher: Mike Piazza
Aside from the ace of the pitching staff, this was the easiest call to make.
While there is sentimentality when it comes to Gary Carter -- who was a co-captain with the Mets, helped them win the 1986 World Series, and is a Hall-of-Famer -- the answer is Piazza.
The greatest hitting catcher ever, who has a Mets cap adorning his plaque in Cooperstown, Piazza hit .296/.373/.542 with 220 homers in 972 games over eight seasons in Queens, was the backstop during two of their most exciting playoff runs, and has his No. 31 retired.
First Baseman: Keith Hernandez
A true difference-maker on both sides of the ball, the arrival of Hernandez via trade in 1983 helped revitalize the franchise.
Hernandez was a clutch performer, team captain, and heart and soul of the mid-to-late '80s squad. Like Piazza's No. 31, Hernandez's No. 17 is retired.
Both Carlos Delgado (who hit 104 homers in four seasons with the Mets) and John Olerud (whose departure after 1999 hurt in a big way) deserve to be mentioned here, but neither played with the Mets long enough to challenge Hernandez for this honor.
Pete Alonso, a five-time All-Star who hit .253/.341/.516 with 264 homers (the Mets' all-time record) in his first seven big league seasons, would've almost certainly grabbed this spot if he remained with the team beyond 2025. But his departure to the Orioles via free agency keeps Hernandez at the top.
Egardo Alfonzo / Eileen Blass, USA TODAY via Imagn Content Services, LLC
Second Baseman: Edgardo Alfonzo
Part of the Greatest Infield Ever with Olerud, Rey Ordoñez, and Robin Ventura, Alfonzo was the perfect sidekick to Piazza in the late '90s-early 2000s, and put up one of the best offensive seasons ever by a Met.
In 2000, Alfonzo slashed .324/.425/.542 with 25 homers and 40 doubles for a Mets team that made it to the World Series.
Unfortunately, injuries started to derail Alfonzo's career after the 2002 campaign.
Jeff McNeil, a batting champion and Mets mainstay for eight years, once looked poised to overtake Alfonzo. But his offense regressed over his last few seasons in Queens before he was traded to the A's.
In his first five seasons in Queens, Lindor has slashed .273/.342/.475 with 141 homers, 148 doubles, 117 stolen bases, 503 runs scored, and 445 RBI.
During that span, he has been one of the best defensive shortstops in baseball and finished top 10 in MVP voting four times.
When it comes to electricity on the field in a Mets uniform, there was nothing quite like Jose Reyes from 2005 to 2011, when his mix of speed and extra-base power combined to make him one of the best players in baseball.
But this is now Lindor's spot.
Mets 3B David Wright / USA TODAY Sports
Third Baseman: David Wright
The Captain and a career Met, Wright was on a Hall-of-Fame trajectory when injuries -- including chronic spinal stenosis -- derailed his career when he was in his early 30s. Even with that, he has received enough Hall of Fame votes during his first three years on the ballot to remain on and merit future consideration.
Wright is the Mets' franchise leader in most offensive categories, and his final career totals (even weighed down by his final injury-plagued seasons) are spectacular.
Wright hit .296/.376/.491 with 242 homers, 390 doubles, and 970 RBI in 14 seasons, and his No. 5 was retired during the 2025 season.
Left Fielder: Cleon Jones
An integral part of the 1969 Miracle Mets, Jones spent 12 of his 13 big league seasons in Queens, hitting .281/.340/.406 in a shade under 1,200 games played with the team.
Jones also caught the final out of the 1969 World Series in left field, clenching it moments before thousands of fans rushed the field.
Barring something strange happening, this will be Juan Soto's spot at some point. But he doesn't have the Mets track record just yet.
Arguably the greatest two-way player in Mets history, Beltran was one of the best fielding center fielders and an elite all-around hitter during his time in Queens from 2005 to 2011.
Beltran's smooth style was a joy to watch, and his 2006 season -- when he slugged close to .600 and crushed a then-team-record-tying 41 homers -- was incredible.
He is now back with the team in a front office capacity.
Beltran was recently inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame, and he will be wearing a Mets cap on his plaque, becoming just the third player ever (along with Piazza and Tom Seaver) to have that distinction.
The Mets will be retiring Beltran's No. 15 during the 2026 season.
Right Fielder: Darryl Strawberry
A Rookie of the Year and seven-time All-Star with the Mets during his eight seasons in Queens from 1983 to 1990, Strawberry's sweet left-handed swing electrified Shea Stadium and helped New York turn the corner on the way to contention.
In a different world, Strawberry stays with the Mets after the 1990 season instead of bolting for the Dodgers, avoids off-field issues, and continues on his course to the Hall of Fame.
In this world, we'll have to settle for his still-tremendous Mets career that included a club-record 252 home runs.
His No. 18 is now retired.
***
*With the designated hitter now in the National League, we'll eventually add a DH to the starting lineup of the all-time team. But we're not there yet.
New York Mets pitcher Tom Seaver(41) poses for a portrait at Crosley Field / Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Starting Rotation
1. Tom Seaver
The Franchise, Seaver was not only the best Mets pitcher ever but one of the best pitchers in the history of baseball.
Seaver won three Cy Young awards with the Mets (1969, 1973, and 1975), and helped lead New York to the World Series title in 1969 and within a game of a title in 1973.
In 12 seasons with the Mets, Seaver had a 2.57 ERA and 1.08 WHIP while fanning 2,541 batters in 3,045.2 innings.
2. Jacob deGrom
Unlike Seaver, deGrom came out of nowhere -- a converted shortstop who was initially called up to help the bullpen in 2014 but instead immediately became one of the best starting pitchers in baseball.
Winning back-to-back Cy Young awards in 2018 and 2019, deGrom became the first Met to accomplish that feat. And then he got better, with his fastball routinely hitting triple-digits and slider reaching as high as 96 mph.
In nine seasons with New York -- with the final two being marred be injury -- deGrom's numbers were staggering: A 2.52 ERA, 0.998 WHIP, and 1,607 strikeouts in 1,326.0 innings.
DeGrom had a chance to supplant Seaver as the ace on this list, but that went out the window when he left via free agency following the 2022 season to join the Texas Rangers.
Still, deGrom's No. 48 should be retired at Citi Field when his career is over.
Dwight Gooden / RVR Photos - USA TODAY Sports
3. Dwight Gooden
The "K Korner" was born at Shea Stadium when Gooden burst onto the scene, and he spun two of the most dominant seasons ever in 1984 and 1985.
In '85, Gooden won the Cy Young after putting up this ridiculousness as a 20-year-old: 1.53 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and 268 strikeouts in 276.2 innings.
Like Strawberry, it's hard not to wonder what could've been with Gooden, whose battles with substance abuse began to severely impact his career in 1987.
Also like Strawberry, Gooden's number was recently retired.
4. Jerry Koosman
Seaver's wingman, Koosman -- whose No. 36 was retired in 2021 -- was a force in his own right during the 12 years he spent with the Mets from 1967 to 1978 -- posting a 3.09 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in over 2,500 innings.
His most dominant stretch came from 1968 to 1971, and included tossing a complete game in Game 5 of the 1969 World Series as the Mets won their first title.
5. Sid Fernandez
Fernandez is often overlooked, but he shouldn't be. And he eked out David Cone for this spot.
During his 10 seasons with the Mets from 1984 to 1993, Fernandez and his "rising fastball" posted a 3.14 ERA and 1.11 WHIP while striking out 1,449 batters in 1,584.2 innings.
Fernandez wasn't in the Mets' 1986 postseason rotation that featured Bob Ojeda, Dwight Gooden, and Ron Darling, but he made arguably the most important relief appearance in team history in Game 7 of the World Series against the Red Sox.
Taking over for Darling with the Mets trailing 3-0 in the fourth inning, Fernandez fired 2.1 innings of no-hit ball while walking one and striking out four to keep New York in the game.
Edwin Diaz screaming Mets pinstripes night game October 2022 / Brad Penner - USA TODAY Sports
Diaz, who persevered after a rough first season with the Mets in 2019, spun one of the best seasons any reliever has ever had in 2022.
In 62 innings over 61 appearances, Diaz -- utilizing his dastardly fastball/slider combination -- posted a 1.31 ERA (0.90 FIP) and 0.83 WHIP with 118 strikeouts (an eye-popping 17.1 per nine). Following the season, he signed a five-year extension that made him the highest-paid closer ever.
From 2020 to 2025, Diaz was a dominant force for New York, with a 2.36 ERA (2.15 FIP) and 0.97 WHIP while striking out 439 batters -- a rate of 14.6 per nine.
Setup Man: Billy Wagner
During his three full seasons with the Mets, Wagner was his regular unbelievable self, firing 100 mph fastballs as he posted a 2.37 ERA and 1.05 WHIP while striking out 230 batters in 189.2 innings.
Jesse Orosco pitching against the Red Sox in the 9th inning during Game 7 of the World Series at Shea Stadium Oct. 27, 1986. Mets Vs Red Sox 1986 World Series / Frank Becerra Jr/USA TODAY / USA TODAY NETWORK
Middle Relievers: John Franco, Armando Benitez, Jesse Orosco, Jeurys Familia, and Tug McGraw
The kid from Brooklyn, Franco had a 3.10 ERA in 14 seasons with the Mets and amassed 276 saves along the way, eventually becoming a setup man during a career that lasted 21 years.
Benitez gets a bad rap and will never be forgiven for blowing Game 1 of the 2000 World Series, but he was mostly dominant as a Met. Look at his numbers. Seriously, go look.
Orosco was splendid during his eight seasons with the Mets, posting a 2.73 ERA and closing out the NLCS and World Series in 1986.
Familia had a 3.27 ERA over 10 seasons with the Mets (with a brief trip to Oakland in the middle of that stint) and led the league with 51 saves in 2016.
McGraw was one of the glue guys for New York from 1965 to 1974.
Long Reliever: Rick Aguilera
Aguilera was a starter/reliever hybrid for the Mets from 1985 to 1988 before becoming a full-time reliever in 1989 and eventually moving on to the Minnesota Twins, where he became one of the best relievers in baseball. He's the perfect man for this job.
Bench
Before discussing the bench, it should be pointed out that the original version of this roster had a bench that was made up of players who were often used in a reserve role -- not the next best player at each position. You can see that version here.
But, since so many clamored for a bench that was the next best player at each position, it's below.
Mets Gary Carter jumps into the arms of Wally Backman after the Mets defeated the Boston Red Sox in Game 7 to win the World Series at Shea Stadium Oct. 27, 1986 / Frank Becerra Jr/USA TODAY / USA TODAY NETWORK
Catcher: Gary Carter
This was the easiest bench selection to make.
Carter's tenure in Queens spanned 1985 to 1989, and he was a four-time All-Star during that time. He had huge seasons in 1985 and 1986 (when he finished in the top six in MVP voting each year), and was part of the heart and soul of the '86 championship squad.
First baseman: Pete Alonso
With Alonso's Mets tenure over, he takes this spot.
The other main candidates were John Olerud and Carlos Delgado.
With the Mets rom 1997 to 1999, Olerud slashed .315/.425/.501, which included batting .354/.447/.551 in 1998. Olerud's .354 average in '98 is the Mets' single-season record.
Delgado slugged 104 homers for the Mets from 2006 to 2009.
Jose Reyes / Kirby Lee - USA TODAY Sports
Infielder: Jose Reyes
A typical Reyes season during his peak meant a high batting average and on base percentage along with 15-to-20 triples, 30-plus doubles, 55-plus stolen bases, and the daily sight of him turning singles into doubles and doubles into triples.
The gear Reyes hit when rounding second and heading to third was a sight to see.
Outfielder: Brandon Nimmo
If not for the recent trade that sent Nimmo to the Rangers, he soon could've found herself in one of the starting outfield spots on the all-time team.
In 10 seasons with the Mets, Nimmo hit .262/.364/.438 (.802 OPS) and was one of the clubhouse leaders.
Cliff Floyd was also in the conversation here, as was Michael Conforto, whose Mets tenure is woefully underappreciated.
Pinch-hitter: Rusty Staub
There's an argument here for Matt Franco, and a case could be made for Lenny Harris. But the pinch-hitter on the Mets' all-time team is Le Grand Orange, who spent two chunks of his terrific career with the Mets -- one in the 70s and another in the 80s.
March Madness officially kicked off on Thursday, March 19.
When the cameras went to the studio analysts for CBS and TNT Sports, some fans were shocked to see Ernie Johnson not present along with Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith, the longtime loved trio of "Inside the NBA," but also regulars hosting the NCAA Tournament.
Instead of Johnson, former NFL player turned "CBS Mornings" host, Nate Burleson, replaced Johnson with his hosting responsibilities. The former wide receiver also does football analysis in the studio with CBS and has been one of the commentators for Nickelodeon's Super Bowl broadcast for kids.
But why was Johnson not present for the opening of the NCAA Tournament and who is Burleson? Here's what you need to know:
Where is Ernie Johnson?
Johnson took on the lead role as the host last year, following the death of the legendary Greg Gumbel in December 2024.
However, this year, Johnson requested additional time off, necessitating the need for CBS to bring in a brand new host.
“At my request, I will take a step back from working the first two weeks of March Madness,” Johnson said to NJ.com in a statement. “I appreciate the support from TNT Sports, along with my CBS Sports colleagues. We have a tremendously talented broadcast team, and I look forward to hosting our studio coverage from the Final Four in Indianapolis.”
Johnson is set to return for the Final Four and championship game in Indianapolis on April 4 and 6.
Who is Nate Burleson?
Burleson, 44, was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on Aug. 19, 1981. His father, Al, was a defensive back in the CFL. His brother, Kevin, played in the NBA.
After attending Nevada for college, Burleson was a third-round pick in the 2003 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. He enjoyed an 11-year NFL career with the Vikings, Seahawks and Lions, finishing his career with 457 receptions for 5,360 yards and 39 touchdowns.
Burleson began his broadcasting career soon after his playing career ended in 2014, as an analyst for NFL Network. In 2021, the responsibilities for the two-time Sports Emmy Award winner grew as he expanded his work with CBS. He served as the first color commentator for Nickelodeon's NFL Wild Card game and as a host of CBS' reality show "The Challenge: All Stars."
PORTLAND, OREGON - FEBRUARY 24: Donte DiVincenzo #0 of the Minnesota Timberwolves controls the ball against Jerami Grant #9 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the game at the Moda Center on February 24, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. The Minnesota Timberwolves won 124-121. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Portland Trail Blazers Date: March 20th, 2026 Time: 7:00 PM CDT Location: Target Center Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network – North Radio Coverage: KFAN FM, Wolves App, iHeart Radio
The Timberwolves spent so much of this season making the simple feel complicated that when they finally take care of business the way they’re supposed to, it almost catches you off guard.
No Anthony Edwards. No Naz Reid. Second night of a back-to-back. A team that has spent months occasionally tripping over its own shoelaces in games it should control. And yet on Wednesday night, Minnesota handled the Utah Jazz like a mature, serious basketball team that understood the assignment, respected the opponent enough to not mess around, and went out and got the win.
The Wolves had already done the hard part Tuesday night by surviving the Phoenix Suns without Edwards and creating some desperately needed breathing room between themselves and the play-in line. But that win only meant something if they could follow it up 24 hours later against a tanking Utah team that, by all appearances, is more interested in ping pong balls than victories. We’ve seen too many versions of this season to assume Minnesota would automatically connect those dots. We’ve seen the Wolves beat a good team, feel great about themselves, and then immediately face-plant into a game they had no business losing. So the fact that Wednesday never really felt in doubt was meaningful.
The Jazz were missing multiple starters, but even against an opponent that compromised, Minnesota still had to show up and execute, especially without its best player and without Reid’s usual offensive spark off the bench. To the Wolves’ credit, they did. They played like a team that has finally realized there are only so many games left to mess around with before the standings lock in and the consequences get real.
Ayo Dosunmu stepped into the lead guard role and looked comfortable doing it. Julius Randle continued the strong stretch that has quietly started to build over the last few games. And Rudy Gobert, facing his former team, was an absolute menace. He defended the rim, vacuumed up rebounds, got involved offensively, and took advantage of Utah’s lesser frontcourt.
Now comes the next test, and this one won’t be quite as forgiving.
Portland rolls into Target Center next. The Blazers are young, scrappy, and still jockeying for position in the Western Conference play-in picture. Portland has already proven twice this season that it can make life uncomfortable for the Wolves. Opening night required Anthony Edwards heroics just to avoid a miserable start to the season. The most recent meeting at the end of February was a clutch-time three-point affair that required 34 points from Edwards. Clearly Portland won’t be intimidated by the Wolves, especially now that Ant is out.
With the schedule about to turn ugly again, this is one they absolutely have to bank. Starting Sunday, the Wolves walk into a three-game stretch against the Celtics, Rockets, and Pistons. That is not the time to be looking back at a missed opportunity against Portland and wondering why you made life harder than it needed to be. It’s still unclear whether Edwards will be available for any of those games, and that makes Friday night all the more important. Against a team Minnesota is more talented than, on its home floor, with a chance to extend the streak to three and stack more cushion before the fire gets hot again, there really isn’t room for excuses.
So with that, here are the keys to the game.
#1 – Continue keeping the ball moving.
One of the more interesting developments during Edwards’ absence is how much more democratic the offense has looked. When Ant is on the floor, there are naturally going to be stretches where the game tilts toward letting the superstar cook. That’s part of having an All-NBA-caliber player. But without Ant, the Wolves have been forced to find offense the old-fashioned way through ball movement, spacing, cuts, extra passes, and trust. The results have actually been encouraging. The lanes open up. The role players stay engaged. The defense has to chase instead of load up. Against a young Portland team with active legs and plenty of energy, Minnesota can’t let the offense sink into isolation sludge. They need to keep sharing it, keep whipping it side to side, and make the Blazers defend for the full possession instead of standing around and waiting for one guy to go one-on-one.
#2 – Gobert needs to keep feasting.
Utah showed again how valuable it is to get Rudy involved early and often, not just because of the points, but because of the emotional effect it has on his whole game. When Gobert feels like he’s part of the offense and is getting touches around the rim, it seems to light up everything else. He rebounds harder. He rotates quicker. He defends with more edge. Minnesota should absolutely continue leaning into that. While Donovan Clingan can certainly be a nuisance, this still ought to be another game where Gobert can dominate the paint, create second-chance points, and turn the basket area into a no-fly zone. If the Wolves are getting high-efficiency offense from Rudy while also getting vintage paint protection, they’re a much more dangerous team, even without Edwards.
#3 – Ayo and Bones need to push pace and fill the backcourt void.
This is where Edwards’ absence, while obviously not ideal, may actually be giving Minnesota something useful. Dosunmu is getting a chance to settle in, get real on-ball reps, and figure out where he fits in the ecosystem. Bones Highland is getting the kind of meaningful minutes that can either sharpen him or expose him, and lately it’s been more of the former. Both guys have the ability to get downhill, push tempo, and provide enough scoring punch to keep the offense from collapsing into one-dimensional sludge. The Wolves don’t need either player to become Anthony Edwards, but they do need both of them to keep taking advantage of this runway so that when Ant does come back, Minnesota has a clearer, deeper, more useful rotation heading into the playoffs.
#4 – Jaden McDaniels has to stay aggressive offensively.
Jaden’s touch count and assertiveness always seem to swing the overall feel of the team. When Jaden is just hanging out, taking the occasional catch-and-shoot three, and treating offense like a side quest, the Wolves become much easier to guard. But when he’s cutting hard, getting downhill, and using his length to get into the paint for high-efficiency looks, the offense starts to breathe differently. Without Edwards, those extra opportunities are there for him. McDaniels needs to look at those openings and attack them.
#5 – Julius Randle needs to keep being the leader.
The Phoenix game felt like the loud reminder that Big Julius can still carry an offense. The Utah game felt like the quieter confirmation that he doesn’t always need to score 30 to control things. He was active defensively, jumping passing lanes and creating transition opportunities, and he played with the kind of composed force this team needs from him. Portland is not Utah. This game will require more from him. The Blazers won’t just fold because Minnesota put on their jerseys. If the Wolves want to finish off the four-game season sweep of Portland and head into next week’s schedule gauntlet with momentum, they will need an A-game from Julius again.
That’s the story of tonight. It’s not glamorous. It’s not some giant statement game. It’s not a nationally televised heavyweight fight where the whole league is watching. But it’s the kind of game real teams bank instead of letting it slip away. For a Wolves team trying to hold its place in the standings while waiting for its superstar to heal, that matters every bit as much as the flashy ones.
The encouraging thing is that, over the last two games, Minnesota has looked a little steadier and more mature. That doesn’t mean all the problems are gone or that the identity crisis is over, but it does mean the Wolves have a chance to make something useful out of Edwards’ absence. It’s an opportunity to integrate Ayo more fully, to give Bones real rhythm, to remind Gobert and Randle how dominant they can be, and to build the kind of collective momentum that can matter in April.
Now they just need to not step on their shoelaces again.
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 16: Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers jogs on the field during a Spring Training game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Camelback Ranch on March 16, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Mookie Betts is entering the 2026 season off the heels of a career-worst year offensively and he is determined to get back to his MVP form. Even with all the accolades, of which include winning four World Series titles, he still demands more of himself. That also factors into the way he trains.
His teammate, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, has always had a very unorthodox training regiment, which features javelin tosses and arched back exercises. In an attempt to broaden his horizons, Betts has started to take a page out of Yamamoto’s book by throwing javelins as well, which he has credited as having opened his mind and game to a new perspective, per Jack Vita of the Los Angeles Times.
“I’m not fully in his whole routine,” Betts said of Yada, who is often referred to as Yada Sensei. “But I wake up every morning and do my stretch routine that Sensei showed me, throwing the javelins every day. I think throwing javelins is the reason why I can make a play in the hole like that and throw it in the air on a line. I’m really grateful for Yoshi and Sensei, because they have definitely changed my perspective, changed my life, changed my game.”
The changes have resulted positively so far, as Betts is slashing .304/.385/.478 with a home run through 26 plate appearances this spring while continuing to improve defensively at shortstop.
The Dodgers play the Chicago White Sox as part of this year’s spring breakout, and the name drawing the most hype out of the Dodgers’ system is their no. 1 prospect, outfielder Josue De Paula. Jim Callis of MLB.com also highlights right-hander Marlon Nieves as someone to keep an eye on for Saturday’s game, with the Dodgers vice player of player development raving about his potential.
“Marlon flew under the radar, even a little bit internally,” Rhymes said. “Once he went to Rancho and was pretty dominant there, that was eye-opening. His stuff is really good. His cutter and slider are excellent pitches, and that two-seamer has such velocity. He has a real feel for execution and manipulation. He’s a hell of an athlete, such an easy, whippy thrower.”
The 20-year-old right-hander logged 84 innings between rookie ball and Single-A Rancho Cucamonga, posting a 2.79 ERA and 1.119 WHIP with 94 strikeouts and 44 walks.
The New York Islanders went up against a desperate, desperate Ottawa Senators team on Thursday night, and that ultimately was their downfall in a 3-2 loss.
From the moment Senators captain Brady Tkachuk asked Islanders captain Anders Lee to fight, you knew just how badly Ottawa wanted to get the energy flowing.
While the Islanders found themselves with a lead twice, Ottawa's desperation fueled comebacks before a will for two points saw Tkachuk smack home the winning goal with 11.1 seconds in regulation. The result wasn't a shock. That doesn't make it any less devastating.
The Islanders were playing for overtime, given how critical just one point was to staying in a playoff spot.
The Senators needed two.
And they played like it.
“Maybe a little bit of just trying to hang in there and get a point and get to overtime,” Islanders forward Mathew Barzal said postgame. “Credit to them. Tonight was a must-win for them, and they showed it.”
Ottawa outshot the Islanders 11-1 in the third period.
Brayden Schenn's goal at the 2:02 mark of the third period was the only shot of the frame. The Islanders' shelling up rather than playing aggressively is something we saw more often over the last few seasons, but rarely this season. There's a difference between sitting back and being forced to.
Last Saturday, in the Islanders' 3-2 win over the Calgary Flames, they were under siege for most of the third period but held on to the lead.
That's a big difference from being tied. The Islanders learned a valuable lesson: Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Ottawa took a chance by being aggressive throughout the third period and in the dying seconds, when they could have easily killed the clock for a game-deciding one-point lead, with the chance for two.
Over the next 13 games, they can't be outmatched desperation-wise.
Welcome to this edition of the Vancouver Canucks post-game analytics report. This recurring deep dive breaks down the analytics behind each Canucks game as recorded by Natural Stat Trick. In this article, we look back on Vancouver’s most recent 6–2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Canucks were heavily outplayed by the Lightning on Thursday night. Tampa Bay won the even-strength scoring chances battle 27-20, while also picking up a win for even-strength high-danger scoring chances by a count of 11-7. Overall, it was a disappointing effort from Vancouver, who have not won back-to-back home games all season.
The heatmap shows why the Lightning were able to have success on Thursday. Tampa Bay owned the Canucks crease, with three goals being scored from in tight. In the end, the Lightning were able to win battles in front of Kevin Lankinen all night, which is why they were able to put up six on Vancouver.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, March 19, 2026, Natural Stat Trick
To wrap this game up, Victor Mancini had a strong night from an analytics perspective. During his 15:34 at even strength, the Canucks held an 8-2 shots advantage and won the even-strength scoring chances battle 8-4. At this stage of the season, it is positive to see a young player stepping up, as Mancini could be a part of Vancouver's upcoming rebuild.
Mar 19, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tom Willander (5) checks Tampa Bay Lightning forward Anthony Cirelli (71) in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
The Canucks continue their homestand on Saturday when the St. Louis Blues visit Rogers Arena. These two teams have already played twice this year, with each picking up a road win. Game time is scheduled for 4:00 pm PT.
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, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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Happy Friday everyone! We’ve moved on from the World Baseball Classic to some extent (though we do have some reactions to it below), and we’re now entering the final week of Spring Training (where has the time gone??). With less than a week left before we have regular season baseball, we do still have some fun things going on, with Spring Breakdown.
And as the regular season gets closer, all eyes will be on healing players to see how they are faring (we’re watching you, Shohei Ohtani).
There’s a lot of fun stuff in today’s links, including two of the most insane ballpark desserts I’ve ever seen, and a potentially risking pitching decision for the Dodgers. So let’s get right into it.
A legendary game calls for a legendary viewership number as 10,784,000 viewers watched the #WorldBaseballClassic final on FOX and FOX Deportes – the most-watched #WBC telecast ever 🏆
The 2026 WBC averaged 1,294,000 viewers across FOX, FS1 and FS2, making it the most-watched… pic.twitter.com/vfva4lFDRN
Feb 27, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Milwaukee Brewers infielder Jesus Made sits in the dugout against the Chicago White Sox during a spring training game at American Family Fields of Phoenix. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Now in its third year, MLB’s Spring Breakout games are set to take place this weekend across spring training locations. The Milwaukee Brewers will participate in two Breakout games with one scheduled for later today against the Mariners, and another set for Sunday against the A’s. Here’s a quick guide for fans heading into the Breakout slate.
What is Spring Breakout?
MLB Spring Breakout is a four-day event showcasing baseball’s future in 16 exhibition games played across Grapefruit and Cactus League stadiums. In 2027, the showcase will be expanded into a single-elimination tournament format, with champions crowned in both the Grapefruit and Cactus League.
When do the Brewers play?
The Brewers are scheduled to host the Seattle Mariners prospects at American Family Fields of Phoenix on Friday at 4:10 p.m. CT. They’ll then travel to Hohokam Stadium to take on the A’s on Sunday at 3:05 p.m. CT in what could be a matchup of two of the top shortstops in minor league baseball — Jesús Made of the Brewers and Leo De Vries of the A’s.
How can I watch/listen?
Both games will be broadcast blackout-free on MLB.com, MLB TV, and the MLB app, as well as out-of-market on MLB Network and available to follow on MLB Gameday. To view the Gameday for each game, click here for Friday’s matchup and here for Sunday’s matchup.
Who is participating?
The Brewers’ Spring Breakout roster features 15 of the team’s top 30 prospects, as ranked by MLB Pipeline. That includes each of the top four prospects, all of whom are shortstops — Jesús Made (team No. 1/MLB No. 3), Luis Peña (team No. 2/MLB No. 26), Jett Williams (team No. 3/MLB No. 51), and Cooper Pratt (team No. 4/MLB No. 64). The Brewers’ 2025 first-round pick and No. 6 prospect, Andrew Fischer, will also participate after a solid showing for Italy in the World Baseball Classic.
On the pitching side, only two pitchers on the roster are ranked in the team’s top 30, with Bishop Letson coming in at No. 9 and Bryce Meccage coming in at No. 21.
The full rosters are included below:
PITCHERS (11) Ryan Birchard, RHP, NR Jesús Broca, LHP, NR Will Childers, RHP, NR Jaron DeBerry, RHP, NR Brian Fitzpatrick, LHP, NR Michael Fowler, RHP, NR Blake Holub, RHP, NR Tate Kuehner, LHP, NR Bishop Letson, RHP, No. 9 Mark Manfredi, LHP, NR Bryce Meccage, RHP, No. 21
CATCHERS (3) Marco Dinges, C, No. 10 Jeferson Quero, C, No. 8 Matt Wood, C, NR
MESA, AZ - NOVEMBER 09: Blake Mitchell #8 of the Kansas City Royals celebrates with teammates in the dugout after scoring in the second inning during the 2025 Arizona Fall League Fall Stars game between the American League Fall Stars and the National League Fall Stars at Sloan Park on Sunday, November 9, 2025 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Friday 4 p.m. ET — Royals @ Rangers Kansas City had two picks before the second round of last year’s Draft, and both selections are in position to get their first taste of pro competition at age 19 during Spring Breakout. OF/2B Sean Gamble, the 2025 23rd overall pick and the organization’s No. 5 prospect, brings a solid hit tool and above-average speed. SS/3B Josh Hammond, the 28th pick and No. 6 prospect, has some raw power and is also speedy. The Rangers’ roster boasts two-way player Josh Owens (TEX No. 6), who has promise in the box, at shortstop and on the mound.
Also at MLB, Anne Rogers gives us “three things to watch” the last week of Spring Training:
The final bench spot(s)
The position player side of the roster is looking like this right now:
Catchers: Perez, Jensen First base: Pasquantino Second base: Jonathan India Shortstop: Witt Third base: Garcia Outfield: Collins, Caglianone, Kyle Isbel, Lane Thomas, Starling Marte
That’s 11 players with two spots still open. One of those will likely be Massey if he’s healthy. There are still plenty of hitters competing for the final spot, including Nick Loftin, Tyler Tolbert, Drew Waters, Abraham Toro, Josh Rojas, Kevin Newman and Brandon Drury. Loftin, Tolbert and Waters have the advantage of being on the roster already, and Waters is out of options.
A lot will depend on how the Royals feel about the health of their roster overall. If they think they’re going to have to manage at-bats for Collins or Massey early on, there’s a bigger need for a player who could be used for offense more often.
“It’s hard not to notice it but we also had the experience of last year, and we went through the same thing,” Picollo said Thursday in a phone interview. “And I think last year we were a little bit more nervous about it, because we hadn’t been with him before.
“But not only did he tell us that this is how he always starts in spring training, but the other clubs he had been with, our coaches called their coaches and asked, ‘Is this normal?’ And they confirmed it for us.
“So while you would like to see him more in the 91-92 range right now, this is exactly where he was last year.”
With another Royals season on the horizon next week, the publicly discussed options for a new baseball stadium have narrowed to the point that Washington Square Park remains the last one standing…
Washington Square Park has been discussed as a possible stadium site for several years now, but it’s emerged in recent months as the city’s preferred destination, especially with Kansas and Clay County seemingly out of the running.
There has been talk that movement toward a deal was possible before the Royals’ home opener, but a new priority — convincing voters to extend to 1% earnings tax on April 7 — is Kansas City’s priority at the moment.
If the city and the Royals are going to reach a deal for a new stadium at Washington Square Park, it seems like mid-April would be the soonest it could happen.
2.) Kansas City Royals. The Royals were unable to follow their divisional playoff berth in 2024 with a return to the playoffs last year, but they still finished 82-80 after an abysmal start. They have one of the league’s most exciting players in All-Star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., an emerging star in All-Star third baseman Maikel Garcia, a popular veteran catcher in Salvador Perez and plenty of starting pitchers capable of shutting teams down. The big problem for Kansas City for years has been outfield production, and other than signing Starling Marte to a $1 million deal and making a couple of smaller moves, Royals general manager JJ Picollo was unable to make any major improvement. Instead, the Royals will hope that power-hitting Jac Caglianone will improve against big league pitching in his sophomore season. If starter Cole Ragans can return to All-Star form after injuries last season, Kris Bubic can follow through on his breakout year, and the offense can tick up with some help from Caglianone and promising young catcher Carter Jensen, the Royals have a shot to win their first AL Central title since 2015, when they went on to beat the New York Mets in the World Series.
I feel like everyone and their brother is calling for a Caglianone breakout this year, and why not, given how incredibly hard he hits the ball and how well he hit everything up through Triple A. He’s already off to a torrid start this spring between his time with the Royals and his caffeine-laden stint with Team Italy. (I love espresso, but there’s no way my heart or stomach could survive drinking that much.)
He was awful in his big-league debut last year, and I think a big part of that is that he never stayed at any level long enough for opposing teams to adjust to him and force him to adjust back. He also became an extreme groundball hitter, with nearly a quarter of his balls hit in play pulled on the ground — a recipe for a low BABIP. He’s never been that hitter before, and he doesn’t look like that hitter this spring. It’s not sustainable; if he’s really that guy, we all missed on him in the MLB Draft.
Catchers don’t win this award often (Atlanta’s Drake Baldwin last year notwithstanding), in part due to the rigors of the position and the challenges young players can face in managing a pitching staff. Focusing on the defensive side of a player’s game can eat away at their offense.
That being said, Carter Jensen burst onto the scene in his brief cameo last year and has long had a pedigree for offensive dynamism. With franchise mainstay Salvador Perez entering his age 36 season, the Royals could benefit from moving Perez to more DH work and letting Jensen settle in behind the dish. A full season’s worth of plate appearances could produce some eye-popping numbers from the young backstop and add yet another dynamic bat to an ascendant Royals lineup that already features Witt, Maikel Garcia and Vinnie Pasquantino.
Speaking of money: Team Italy’s Espresso Machine is up for auction. Winning bid is over $2000(!) and there are still 3 days left.
I know this might be a small market fan thing, but I can’t consume enough of my favorite team being spoken of in a positive light. And almost from the very start of the World Baseball Classic, praise was being heaped on the Royals that simply didn’t stop and still hasn’t stopped. In some ways, I almost want it to stop. Let them be unassuming and sneak up on everyone. But in way more ways, I hope it never does. Witt didn’t really need to get the attention. He’s just littered with awards in the section on Baseball Reference. He was seventh for the MVP in 2023, second in 2024 and fourth in 2025. He’s won back-to-back Gold Gloves and Silver Sluggers. But the rest? Yeah, I like that the rest have become household names around baseball. In about a week, it’s time to start proving to people that they should remain household names.
Michael Massey, who occupied a spot on my previous roster iteration, suffered what the Royals call a “low-grade” calf srain on March 6. He hasn’t appeared in a Cactus League contest since March 8, when he left after two at bats after trying to play what, at the time, the Royals thought was just tightness. He played in a minor league game on a backfield on Tuesday but I wonder about his fitness this close to Opening Day. Unfortunately, he has quite an injury history.
Tolbert gets Massey’s spot if he’s unable to go on Opening Day. The Royals love their speed guy off the bench.
Speaking of injuries, I was waffling on Collins as he missed about a week of action with back tightness. Then, he took part in a full workout on Tuesday and was declared good to go. The Royals are progressing a bit slowly, holding Collins out of the field and instead having him as the DH in Wednesday’s game where he went 0-3 with a strikeout as the leadoff hitter. While Collins may in fact be the guy at the top of the order for the Royals, his appearance there was more to maximize his plate appearances after missing the time.
Darin Watson is back! The 2026 version of “This Date in Royals History” will feature 1976. Here’s the first entry:
The most-anticipated season in the Royals’ short history finally began with spring training opening in Fort Myers, Florida. Camps had been delayed for roughly two weeks after arbitrator Peter Seitz, just days before Christmas in 1975, ruled that the reserve system that had been in place in organized baseball pretty much since the beginning was not legally valid. As you might expect, this ruling threw the sport into uncertainty. The owners eventually locked out the players as negotiations began with the players’ union on a new collective bargaining agreement, as the old one had expired anyway. But in mid-March, with no agreement yet in place, commissioner Bowie Kuhn ordered teams to open camps.
This was none too soon for Royals fans, who were understandably excited to get the season underway. Kansas City baseball partisans were starved for a winner; remember, the A’s did not post a winning record in their time in Kansas City (1955-1967), with a high-water mark of 74 wins in 1966. More annoyingly to KC residents, the A’s became a juggernaut almost immediately after landing in Oakland, entering 1976 with five straight AL West titles under their belts and three straight World Series titles (1972-1974) on top of that…
Over the next seven months, we will explore the Royals’ pursuit of their first-ever division title, along with the upheaval in baseball following the Seitz decision, which echoes even in today’s game. Of course, we will also check in with the news and culture of 1976, a year that featured Olympic games, a presidential election, and America’s bicentennial.
Witt’s Previous Leadoff Struggles and Other Options
The only issue with Witt being the Royals’ leadoff hitter on Opening Day is that he doesn’t have a great track record at the top of the order. According to Fangraphs splits, in 201 plate appearances at leadoff, he has a .204 batting average, a 0.20 BB/K ratio, a .620 OPS, and 62 wRC+. Leadoff has been his worst spot in the batting order by a significant margin. Except for fifth, which he has only 8 plate appearances, the next-lowest batting-order wRC+ is third at 119.
For context, he has accumulated 2,154 plate appearances in the second spot in the batting order, which is the most of any spot for Witt. He has a 0.40 BB/K ratio, .301 average, .870 OPS, and 136 wRC+ in that second spot in the order.
Thus, manager Matt Quatraro has no reason to move Witt, especially since he has been so good at the No. 2 spot. However, the leadoff spot has been a thorn in the Royals’ side, especially in Quatraro’s tenure as manager.
I had the pleasure of going to New Zealand over the holidays this past year. We made some movie-related stops, mostly Lord of the Rings* stuff, but others, as well. At one point, we had a tour guide who had been an extra in a number of movies filmed there. So we’ll use that as a jumping-off point for our movie reviews this month.
*I don’t think I’ve done the Lord of the Rings (or the Hobbit movies) before, but those would require their own Rumblings.
As a whole, I really want to like these movies. And they’re not bad. The acting is… fine. The effects are… fine. The direction needs work: there are times when it feels more like a collection of highlights than a cohesive story. But they’re not great. And The Chronicles of Narnia should be great.
TLTWATW is the most polished of the three. It sticks to the source material and surrounds the Pevensie children with acting veterans like Tilda Swinton, James McAvoy, Jim Broadbent, and Liam Neeson. It’s not daring, but it generally gets the job done.
Prince Caspian was more Eastern Europe than New Zealand and it loses a lot of its magic. It played more as a dark, brooding young adult movie than light-hearted family fantasy and effectively killed the franchise. Additionally, I’m not sure this series knows what its visual language is: England looks like cheaper Harry Potter and Narnia looks like cheaper Lord of the Rings.
The Dawn Treader is my favorite book, but this was not my favorite movie. It starts out with fast swashbuckling fun and it looks like the director transition from Andrew Adamson to Michael Apted was a good one. But, as the movie goes on, curious decisions are made with regards to which plots to keep and which to shorten and adapt and it loses steam.
As uneven as these were, I had always wished they did all seven. Though we are getting a reboot, of sorts, from Netflix later this year. Though they’re starting with The Magician’s Nephew and using the controversial newer way of ordering the books.
I’m not the biggest Taika Waititi fan and I usually find the fake documentary format tired and restrictive, but this was a hoot. Waititi takes advantage of the format and beautifully sends up reality tv and documentaries. It’s very understated and very New Zealand and those work well together. I was expecting lots of cringe, but there was very little. The intentionally bad effects are executed well to humorous effect. Each time the movie started to feel stuck, a plot like Nick and Stu would pop up to move things along. I enjoyed it thoroughly: it’s a good little comedy.
We go from a nice little comedy to a big, bad science fiction bomb. First the good: WETA probably had a blast doing the effects for this and they look good. And it has Hugo Weaving, even if he’s phoning it in. We get Mildly Annoyed Max (since it’s New Zealand instead of Australia) shoved into a blender with broken pieces from Star Wars, Matrix, Doctor Who, and Terminator. Out comes this slurry of half-baked sci-fi cliches mixed with bad acting. At one point, Jihae stares straight into the camera and says “I’m not that subtle”. That should have been the tagline for this movie.
This is the movie I’m most conflicted about. My initial impression of this movie was that it was a great movie plus 30-45 minutes and that opinion hasn’t really changed on future rewatches. I always enjoy the setup: Black, Brodie, Watts, Kretschmann, and Hanks are all fun. I know that School of Rock is the quintessential Jack Black role, but I love him in this as the con man movie director.
Once they get on the boat, the move just drags through a much-too-long Act Two. We spend too much time getting to know characters who are quickly killed on the island (just to raise the stakes). There’s a bunch of needlessly creepy dramatic tension (now with extra slow motion). You feel like it’s an excuse to show off the animal models and CGI (but they’re not very good). And that’s without even getting into some of the major plot holes.
But then the movie goes back to New York City, and it just works again. Much like The Hobbit trilogy(!), I wish an editor had been able to rein in Peter Jackson. Snip at least 30 minutes from the middle, and this film goes from a mostly enjoyable slog to an excellent movie.
Want an hour of the March Madness Theme with slightly hypnotic graphics? Sure you do
West Michigan Whitecaps' Jaden Hamm (17) pitches against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute, Wisconsin. The Timber Rattlers won 4-0.
I’m a bit stubborn about injuries, particularly with pitchers. One injury riddled season is par for the course for pitching prospects, and we don’t want to move pitchers way up and down the rankings, changing grades constantly unless there’s sustained growth or a sustained issue. Unless a pitcher becomes a regular feature on the injured list, I take it as a matter of course that they’re all going to have an injury year on the path to the major leagues. Jaden Hamm was a borderline top 100 prospect coming into 2025, but he had a pretty brutal year in the injury and performance department. Still, since there was nothing requiring surgical intervention and we don’t really have any information on his injured list stint to work from, we’ll hold on him and expect a bounce back season in 2026.
The Tigers nabbed Hamm with their fifth round pick in 2023, signing the Tennessee native out of Middle Tennessee State for $397,500, just a little under slot value. In college, Hamm was a pretty raw product until his junior year when his stuff made a leap forward. Even so, he didn’t use his high IVB fourseamer to good effect by pitching up in the zone, and that was one of the first big steps for him going from a solid, if unheralded college pitcher to a well regarded prospect. The Tigers sent him out to High-A West Michigan in 2024 with instructions to start pounding the top of the strike zone and no other major changes, and Hamm shredded hitters en route to a Midwest League Pitcher of the Year award.
Hamm’s 30.6 percent strikeout rate was impressive, and he also limited walks and home runs, putting up a 2.64 ERA with a 3.09 FIP. Other than some minor work to tune up his delivery and instructions to throw his fastball up at the top of the zone a lot more, the Tigers hadn’t even tinkered with him much.
Hamm was sitting at 93 mph and touching 96 in West Michigan, and routinely topping 20-21 inches of induced vertical break out of his high arm slot. His 80-81 mph curveball was of the overhand, 12-6 variety with plenty of depth. When he established the fourseamer up, hitters struggled to lay off the curveball, and he got better and better at dropping it off the eye line of the fastball and landing it on the bottom rail for called strikes as the year went along. His circle change had good velocity separation, typically 83-84 mph, and while the movement was pretty pedestrian, Hamm’s delivery and high slot made it difficult to pick up the changeup as well and it really falls off the table. The depth of those secondary offerings, playing off the steady diet of high fastballs, gave hitters fits. Both pitches will flash plus at their best.
All this was enough to get Hamm into the 45+ tier on several sites, with predictions that he’d be a top 100 prospect by the end of 2025. The 6’1” right-hander needed to keep adding strength and flexibility. With long legs for his height and less than ideal athleticism, his delivery was a bit stiff, with a short stride and a long arm path that was sometimes tricky for him to sync up. Hamm reaches his arm back, dips, and then whips his arm over the top and through with a lot extension, rather than keeping it folded and using his drive down the mound to generate his power. It’s a little bit of a throw back. However, while that often triggers a high relief risk tag, location hasn’t been much of a problem for him and he consistently throws strikes and works the ball well to both sides of the plate.
What Hamm needed was to develop a harder breaking ball to give him a weapon in between the 93-94 mph fastball and the low 80’s curve and circle changeup. Hamm and the Tigers worked on a slider last offseason to give him something breaking away from right-handed hitters, and reports indicated him making progress with the pitch and looking good in camp. He threw some good ones in 2025. It started out more cutterish, but Hamm was able to start getting more depth and developing it into a mid 80’s gyro slider. The velocity issues tended to overshadow everything and he still leaned on his curve and changeup in most outings, but the slider looked pretty solid on the rare occasions he leaned into it after returning from injury in August and September.
Things quickly went south for Hamm in 2025 after a few good starts to begin the year. His velocity flucutated wildly for a few starts in May, and we didn’t see many mid 90’s fastballs. He was still getting a similar rate of whiffs compared to his High-A work, but hitters were having a lot more success putting the ball in play with two strikes. Hamm managed to keeping throwing a solid ratio of strikes with all his pitches, but he just looked out of sync much of the time. To his credit he didn’t fall apart, and was rarely wild at all, but he struggled more to put hitters away and he just wasn’t repeating his delivery with the same consistency he had in 2024.
In late June, the Tigers shut him down for a month with an undisclosed injury. He returned for a few short outings in late July, and then settled back in and finished out the season, but never really looked back in form. His ability to get whiffs and weak contact in the air with high fastballs kept him from getting shelled out of games, but from outing to outing his performance was pretty inconsistent and his mistakes were getting hit quite a bit harder. Worse, Hamm was still averaging 89-90 mph in a few outings, and 91-92 mph in his better ones.
The Tigers unwillingness to report on injuries makes the situation tricky to evaluate. Clearly they didn’t have him trying to pitch through an injury, but the velocity drop over the course of the season was striking. If Hamm had shoulder trouble, or if he’d even blown out his UCL, explanations would be simpler. In some ways, his profile would be less affected nationally if there was a straightforward issue to pin the loss of velo and inconsistency on. What is clear is that the fastball velocity has to return or his profile is really going to suffer. He doesn’t have to build up to 95-96 mph all the time to be an effective major league starter. The movement alone plays up quite a bit. But he can’t sit 90-92 mph and thrive as a starter either.
Right now, Hamm’s status is very up in the air. He was young on draft day, and he’s still only 23 years old, so there’s time to put 2025 behind him and get back on track. If his velocity is back up after an offseason’s rest and re-conditioning, it’s game on. Hamm’s distinctive delivery takes some athleticism to time up, and it would help him to keep building strength and flexiblity in his lower half to help power his delivery and smooth out his footstrike.
While the circumstances make him tricky to evaluate heading into the season, the equation here is pretty simple. If Hamm gets his velocity back, the fastball will play in the big leagues and gives him a strong base to work from. Hamm already throws enough strikes to work in a relief role even if he can’t hold up to a starter’s workload consistently. At times he threw some good sliders as he worked on that pitch, and the curveball and changeup give him a solid pitch mix to work with, but the whole profile revolves around having a dominant riding fourseamer for everything else to play against.
For now, we’ll put 2025 in the rear view mirror and wait to see how Hamm looks like spring. If he’s really 90-91 mph now, he’s in trouble, but I don’t want to dump him way down our board and then turn right around and call false alarm if his velo is back where it should be early this season. Without any hard injury information to attribute the down year to, it’s impossible to make an educated guess. He’ll return to Erie and try to settle in there and make the jump to Triple-A late in the season if things go well. If the fourseamer is back in form, Hamm will go right back to profiling as an interesting potential mid-rotation arm with a group of pretty good secondary pitches. That fastball also gives him a nice floor as a potentially dominant reliever as a fall back plan. If the velocity isn’t there and he struggles again, all bets are off and his stock is going to drop like a stone.
