Adam Schein doesn’t want to hear a peep from Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns during his team’s historic skid.
On Friday’s episode of “Schein Time,” The Post host ripped Stearns and the Mets, saying that it’s the exec’s fault for assembling a flawed team.
“You know what I would do?” Schein said. “I would honestly, if I’m David Stearns, not say a damn thing. Your roster, that you put together, is atrocious. It is shades of the ’62 Mets, an expansion team.
New York Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns speaks to the media before a game against the Athletics at Citi Field, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Queens, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“And you spent all that money haphazardly, foolishly, on this flawed, embarrassing, pathetic, poorly put together roster.“
"David Stearns spent all that money haphazardly, foolishly, on this flawed, embarrassing, pathetic, poorly put together roster." – @AdamSchein
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) May 1, 2026
Schein then dug into the lack of success from the Mets’ pitching staff despite their large payroll this season.
“$350 million with two pitchers,” he added. “I mean my goodness. David Stearns should wear a bag over his head. That is awful. You signed Devin Williams, Luke Weaver. You got rid of my guy, Pete Alonso.”
Schein’s fiery remarks came after Stearns confirmed that manager Carlos Mendoza’s job is safe for at least the near future despite the Mets’ abysmal start.
During Friday’s episode of Post Sports’ “Schein Time” on YouTube, Schein ripped Stearns and the Mets, saying that it’s the GM’s fault for assembling a flawed team. Brian Zak/NY Post
“We know our record is not what we want, and we know we are capable of more,” Stearns told MLB.com on Friday. “We don’t view this as a manager problem, and we don’t intend to make a change.”
New York Mets pitcher Luke Weaver reacts as he walks back to the dugout against the Washington Nationals after giving the Nats the lead in the 8th inning at Citi Field in Queens, New York on April 30, 2026. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
The ’62 Mets — which lost a then-record 120 games — started that season with a 12-19 mark.
Speculation about Mendoza’s job security sparked after the Red Sox fired Alex Cora and the Phillies axed skipper Rob Thomson earlier this month following disappointing starts from both teams.
“It’s hard for all of us,” Mendoza told reporters following Thursday’s 5-4 loss to the Nationals. “We’re in this together, it’s not easy, but we have got to keep going.”
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MAY 01: Danny Jansen #9 of the Texas Rangers celebrates scoring a run in the third inning while playing the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on May 01, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Texas Rangers scored five runs while the Detroit Tigers scored four runs.
The Rangers escaped the dank, musty confines of The Shed and immediately started scoring some runs. That included a real first inning, lead-grabbing unicorn with Josh Jung plating the game’s first tally with a two-out RBI single to show that his torrid April was no fluke.
With the early lead, an even rarer unicorn arrived as Danny Jansen homered to kick off a three-run top of the third for the Rangers. Jansen had notably struggled in April but started out May with a solo shot for his second so far with Texas before Jung again singled in a run and Joc Pederson produced a run with a sac fly.
Unfortunately for the Rangers, the Tigers were pretty eager to score runs too with tonight’s starter MacKenzie Gore burning through a ton of pitches before exiting after just 3.2 fairly ineffective innings.
With Gore struggling to finish off hitters, the infield again had an issue catching a pop up that eventually came back to bite Texas with Detroit putting up a three spot of their own in the bottom of the fourth and then scoring the tying run one inning later.
With the game now tied and the Rangers in danger of wasting a 4-0 lead, Jake Burger and Alejandro Osuna hit back-to-back doubles to bring in the go-ahead and eventual game-winning run.
After Gore exited, the bullpen did a great job once again with Cole Winn, Jalen Beeks, Tyler Alexander, Jakob Junis, and Jacob Latz combining to allow just one run over 5.1 frames with Latz picking up the save.
With the win, the Rangers are back to .500 as the season’s second month gets underway.
Player of the Game: While Jung picked up where he left off in April with two hits and two RBI, plus it was nice to see some production from the bottom of the order with Burger collecting two hits, Osuna hitting the game-winning double, and Jansen homering.
Up Next: The Rangers and Tigers will play the second game of this series with Texas turning to RHP Kumar Rocker opposite RHP Keider Montero for Detroit.
The Saturday evening nationally televised showdown from Comerica Park is scheduled for 6:15 pm CDT and will be aired on FOX.
Upon the Red Sox axing Alex Cora, a former player summarized the situation with a bizarre analogy.
“It’s like s–ting your pants and changing your shirt,” the former Red Sox player anonymously told sports reporter Rob Bradford.
The remark immediately went viral after Bradford posted it to X on Sunday, and the source of the comment has now been revealed.
Josh Beckett of the Boston Red Sox reacts after getting out of trouble in the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park on September 16, 2011 in Boston, Massachusetts. Getty Images
Former Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett made the wild comment, with Bradford revealing the news while hosting the righty on his “Baseball Isn’t Boring” podcast on Friday.
Beckett spent seven seasons with Boston and was on their 2007 World Series championship team, along with being a teammate of Cora’s for two years.
He added that he believes that Cora was the perfect coach to continue leading the Red Sox.
“I know A.C. [Alex Cora] really well and I thought he was the perfect guy to be there, and he kinda [stabilized] that ship. As we know in Boston, it’s 162 one-game seasons, and you can’t have a guy running that ship who can’t understand that.
“I know A.C. was perfect was that. Who they get next, they could be perfect for that as well. But I felt that saying kind of fit for this year.”
Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora walks back to the dugout after a mound visit during a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Monday, April 20, 2026, in Boston. AP
The Red Sox sit at the bottom of the AL East with a 12-19 record, and fans are pointing to ownership for the team’s problems.
Shortly before Boston’s game against the Astros on Friday, a small plane circled around Fenway Park with a banner reading “FIRE CRAIG! SELL THE TEAM!”
The banner was targeted for the Red Sox’s chief baseball officer, Craig Breslow, and their principal owner, John Henry.
Breslow fired Cora on April 25 following a 17-1 road win over the Orioles, with Chad Tracy taking over as the interim manager.
Cora, however, has made it clear that he will not be managing another club at least for this season, telling The Post’s Jon Heyman that he wants to spend more time with his family.
“I accepted to be a full-time dad,” Cora texted The Post.
The indoor setting of Tropicana Field should have been a welcome sight for the Giants, whose arrival in Florida was delayed by a rain-induced doubleheader that could not have gone worse.
An air-conditioned and drama-free affair Friday against the Rays didn’t treat them any better.
There was no risk of being walked off for a third consecutive game as the Giants never held a lead or got on the scoreboard at all, in a 3-0 loss to begin the second leg of their road trip.
Giants pitcher Robbie Ray surrendered solo home runs to Yandy Diaz and Junior Caminero on Friday. Getty Images
Robbie Ray surrendered solo home runs to Yandy Diaz and Junior Caminero, while Shane McClanahan proved to be too much for the Giants’ meager lineup, which didn’t help its cause by erasing one of its six hits on the basepaths and two more via double plays.
The Rays went around the diamond to keep the Giants from scoring with runners at the corners in the fifth with an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play on a sharply hit grounder from Jerar Encarnacion, and Heliot Ramos bounced into another rally killer after Patrick Bailey singled to lead off the sixth.
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The shutout was the Giants’ seventh in their first 32 games, the most in the majors and only four off their total from all of last season. Their 3.25 runs per game are also the fewest in the majors.
What it means
After being walked off twice by the Phillies to seal a three-game sweep, the Giants fell to 0-4 on the road trip. Their fourth loss in a row matched a season-long streak that they had already reached twice before.
Facing one of the toughest southpaws in the sport, the Giants’ struggles against left-handed pitching persisted against McClanahan, who held them scoreless for six innings on only 73 pitches.
San Francisco fell to 2-7 against left-handed starters this season and 19-35 dating back to the start of last year, worse than any team besides the Rockies (9-38).
Who’s hot
Ray hasn’t allowed more than three runs in any of his seven starts. He limited the Rays to only four hits over 6 1/3 innings, but two of them went over the fence — his second time surrendering more than one home run this season. Aided by the Rays’ contact-happy approach, it was also his second start without issuing a walk and his second-deepest start of the season.
The Giants’ Luis Arraez had a rough day in the field and on the bases Friday. AP
Who’s not
Third base coach Hector Borg made another glaring mistake, giving Luis Arraez the green light to go for three on his ball into the right field corner in the fourth. Rather than a runner on second and one out, the Giants suddenly had nobody on and two away, and went down quietly.
Borg erred late in the second game of Thursday’s doubleheader, holding the would-be go-ahead run at third in extra innings despite the ball deflecting off a defender’s glove and into no-man’s land.
Up next
The Giants have stopped each of their past season-long losing streaks from reaching five games. That task will fall on the shoulders of RHP Landen Roupp (5-1, 2.55 ERA), who has allowed only one earned run over his first three starts away from Oracle Park. First pitch is scheduled for 3:05 p.m.
Vanessa Bryant posted a photograph of her daughter, Gianna, on Instagram Friday on what would have been Gianna's 20th birthday.
“Happy birthday to my sweet baby angel, Gianna," Vanessa said in the post. "Words can’t express how much I love and miss you mamacita. Mommy loves you so much!"
Gianna Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash six years ago along with eight other passengers, including her father, Kobe Bryant.
The crash happened en route to Kobe Bryant's Mamba Sports Academy in Newbury Park, California, where he was scheduled to coach his daughter's team.
— Kobe Bryant Stories & Motivation (@kobehighlight) May 1, 2026
Vanessa Bryant's post had comments with heart emojis from basketball players such as Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu.
Other notable names such as Olivia Munn, Ciara and Kelly Rowland also left comments of support.
Kobe and Gianna have been honored with a statue that sits in front of Crypto.com Arena, which was unveiled in August 2024.
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 24: Angel Martínez #1 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates with Rhys Hoskins #8 at home plate after hitting a two-run home run in the third inning during the game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Friday, April 24, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Colton Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
NEW YORK — Walks are up 7.3% as pitches in the strike zone dropped markedly and the average time of games increased by 5 minutes through the first full month of Major League Baseball’s initial season with robot umpires.
Average attendance increased 2.8% and the big-league batting average went up by one percentage point to .243. Home runs are being hit at the same rate as last year and stolen bases and success rate dipped.
The Automatic Ball/Strike System has upheld 53.4% of challenges (1,030 of 1,928), with catchers far more successful than batters.
Walks are up from 6.8 per game through April of last year. Over a full season, the average would be the highest since 2000 and the ninth highest in major league history, but walks have declined since the season’s start and averaged 6.98 per game from April 21-30.
“I think it’s the same thing that happened in the minor leagues. So I don’t think this is unexpected at all,” Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said Friday. “I think it’s our job to make those adjustments.”
Pitches in the strike zone were 47.3% of offerings according to MLB Statcast, down from a record high 50.6% last year. Since tracking began, the previous low of 47.5% was in 2019 and 2020.
This year is down from 50.1% through April 30 last year and the second lowest through the first full month, above only 47.2% in 2010. Statcast switched its measurement to the ABS version of the strike zone this year.
“The strike zone was always the umpire behind home plate, his representation or judgment of the strike,” Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said. “I think now is the first time ever we actually have a clear strike zone.”
Instead of using the cube strike zone in the rule book, ABS calls strikes solely based on where the ball crosses the midpoint of the plate, 8.5 inches from the front and the back. The top of the strike zone is 53.5% of batter height and the bottom 27% rather than the rule book definition of the top as the midpoint between the top of the shoulders and the top of the uniform pants, and the bottom as the hollow beneath the kneecap.
Strikeouts have increased slightly to an average of 16.9 per game from 16.6 through April last year and scoring is up slightly to 9 runs per game from 8.7.
Hitters have succeeded on 46% of challenges (409 of 890), catchers on 60.6% (605 of 997) and pitchers on 41.5% (17 of 41), leaving the fielding team at 59.8% (621 of 1,038).
“I do think that the catchers have a better vantage point just because they’re directly behind the zone,” Tampa Bay catcher Nick Fortes said.
Arizona manager Torey Lovullo, a former infielder, anticipated catchers’ success.
“I think emotion gets involved on every level with every player. I think the catcher probably has the least emotion,” Lovullo said. “I think with the pitcher, there’s a head jerk, the body’s moving, you don’t get a great look at it.”
Teoscar Hernández of the Los Angeles Dodgers is 4 for 4, the most successful challenges among batters who are at 100%. Miami’s Agustín Ramírez is 0 for 5, the most misses among batters with no successes.
Catchers with the best success rate among those with at least 10 challenges are Seattle’s Mitch Garver (10 of 11), Detroit’s Dillon Dingler (13 of 15) and the Chicago Cubs’ Carson Kelly (12 of 14). Kansas City’s Carter Jensen (3 of 10) and Houston’s Christian Vázquez (4 of 13) are the lowest.
Among umpires who have worked more than two games behind the plate, Willie Traynor (95.3%) and Edwin Moscoso (95.2%) had the best accuracy rate, according to taptochallenge.com. Paul Clemens (91%), Chris Segal (91.1%) and Dan Iassogna (91.1%) were the lowest.
“I think you just see the umpires being really cognizant of the challenges,” Albernaz said, “because I don’t think anyone wants to be embarrassed at their job and get posted up there and see if it’s a ball of a strike.”
The average time of a nine-inning game has crept up to 2 hours, 42 minutes, up from 2:37 through April last year. MLB said it attributes 64 seconds of the increase to the ABS system.
Pitch clock violations through 468 games averaged 0.20 per game, up from 0.19. Of the violations, 0.16 were on the defensive team and 0.04 on batters.
Attendance has averaged 28,545 per game, up from 27,744 through April last year, when the final figure was 29,471 in the third straight season of increase.
Stolen bases have slid to 1.4 per game from 1.6 through April last season and the success rate decreased to 76.6% from 78.4.%.
Even a Sox Park Vienna beef is no match for White Sox ace-in-ascendance Noah Schultz. | Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
Welcome to Noah Schultz Night!
And quite a late night it is, with the White Sox back on the West Coast, taking on the high-flying Padres.
Basically beyond his first inning in the major leagues, Schultz has been spectacular, certainly better than advertised for a 22-year-old whose 2025 wasn’t terribly impressive/marred by injury. A new ace southpaw on the South Side has been born:
Drew Romo is looking more and more like the platoon starter at catcher, or perhaps even the starter outright; the question may be whether Edgar Quero is sent back to Triple-A if and when Kyle Teel returns.
Andrew Benintendi as leadoff staple won’t ever be something the eyes adjust to, but thank Will Venable for at least installing the subdefender at DH instead of left field tonight.
Check out tonight’s game at CHSN or listen in at WMVP-AM 1000, beginning at 8:40 p.m. CT. I’ll be your host tonight, so seeya postgame!
There are nights in the NBA when the game feels secondary to the star power sitting courtside on celebrity row.
Like a kid walking through a museum of modern pop culture, the faces you grew up watching on stage and screen are suddenly right in front of your eyes arguing with referees like it’s a Game 7 of their own lives.
And there’s no stage bigger when it comes to celebrity row than Los Angeles and New York.
Crypto.com Arena, formerly Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, is where the top celebrities in movies, television, music, sports, tech and more flock to watch Luka Doncic, LeBron James and the Lake Show in action.
At Madison Square Garden, the celebrities aren’t scattered around like they are in LA. They’re seated shoulder to shoulder like a front-row orchestra that never misses a note.
So, what would happen if we turned those courtside legends into two separate teams based on their fandom?
Let’s build it and find out.
The Lakers
The head coach of the celebrity Lakers team is easy. Jack Nicholson, the godfather of purple and gold since the Showtime era at the Great Western Forum. He still looms over the franchise like a patron saint. He doesn’t come to games as regularly anymore, but his courtside seats have been passed on to his son, Ray.
Lou Adler (L) and actor Jack Nicholson attend Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics at Staples Center on June 3, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images) Getty Images
Here’s the Lakers’ roster of celebrities to choose from:
Snoop Dogg, Flea (but the entire Red Hot Chili Peppers band), Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Dyan Cannon, Will Ferrell, Denzel Washington, Jack Black, Lou Adler, Michael B. Jordan, Kendrick Lamar, Jimmy Iovine, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Martin Lawrence, Andy Garcia, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Dustin Hoffman, Paula Abdul, Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z, Beyonce, David Arquette, Magic Johnson, Matthew Stafford, Mookie Betts, Odell Beckham Jr., Puka Nacua, Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons, Justin and Hailey Bieber, George Lopez, Salma Hayek, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Halsey, Tom Cruise, Anze Kopitar, Bill Maher, Adam Sandler, Bad Bunny, Emily Ratajkowski, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, Steven Spielberg, Eddie Murphy, Lily Collins, Lil Wayne, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Nicholas Hoult, Brenda Song and Macaulay Culkin, Kate Hudson, Arsenio Hall, Nicholas Braun, Adele, Will.i.Am., Adam Levine and Maroon 5, Sarah Silverman, Jimmy Kimmel, Pat Sajak, Jonah Hill, David Spade, Chris Rock, David Beckham, Robert Downey Jr., Jon Favreau, Two Chainz, Kid Cudi, The Weeknd, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Courteney Cox, Steve Carell, Laura Dern, Chris Ivery, Jay Mohr, Jason Sudeikis, Saweetie, David Harbour, Hailee Steinfeld, Kendall Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Corey Gamble, Kris Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Simon Baker, Lamar Odom, Kourtney Kardashian, Travis Barker, Aaron Donald, Cooper Kupp, Brie Larson, Charlize Theron, Usher, Jamie Foxx, Terrell Owens, Josh Brolin, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Kylian Mbappé, Tyga, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen — and so many more.
The Lakers’ Starting Five
Denzel Washington attends the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder Game in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images) Getty Images
Denzel Washington
Denzel would be your floor general. His voice in the huddle would command attention. Remember his performance in “Training Day”?
Leonardo DiCaprio attends a game between the Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Lakers. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) Getty Images
Leonardo DiCaprio
We came to learn recently that DiCaprio has struck up a secret friendship with LeBron James. The A-lister actor who is regularly seen courtside at Lakers games would be the silent assassin. Black hat and glasses, he’ll show up when you least expect it.
Will Ferrell attends a game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Lakers (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) Getty Images
Will Ferrell
Every team needs chaos, and Ferrell brings it in waves. He’s the emotional spark plug, the guy who takes a charge, dives into the stands and somehow makes it funny and heroic at the same time.
Flea, of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, attends a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images) Getty Images
Flea
Flea and Ferrell are your energy guys. All motion and all heart. Flea could be a defensive menace, like Marcus Smart on the current roster.
Justin Bieber (R) reacts to a play while attending an NBA game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Orlando Magic at Crypto.com Arena on February 24, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) Getty Images
Justin Bieber
Bieber is your 3-point shooter and ball handler. He’s not afraid of the big moment or of the spotlight in Los Angeles.
Getty ImagesGetty ImagesLos Angeles Times via Getty ImagesNBAE via Getty ImagesNBAE via Getty ImagesGetty ImagesGetty ImagesLos Angeles Times via Getty ImagesGetty ImagesLondon Entertainment / SplashNews.comCharles Wenzelberg/New York PostNBAE via Getty ImagesGetty ImagesGetty ImagesGetty ImagesGetty ImagesGetty ImagesNBAE via Getty ImagesGetty ImagesNBAE via Getty ImagesGetty ImagesGetty ImagesGetty ImagesGetty ImagesGetty Images
Bench mob: Mookie Betts, Eddie Murphy, Tobey Maguire, Dyan Cannon, Andy Garcia, Halsey and Dustin Hoffman.
The Knicks
At the Garden, the head coach of the celebrity Knicks is Spike Lee. There’s nobody else. No debate. No discussion. He’s the pulse, the historian, the heartbeat stitched into every era.
Spike Lee attends game six of the Eastern Conference first round playoffs between the New York Knicks and the Atlanta Hawks on April 30, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images) Getty Images
Here’s the Knicks’ roster of celebrities to choose from:
Ben Stiller, Adam Horovitz, Chris Rock, Howard Stern, Jon Stewart, Taylor Swift, Jimmy Fallon, Kal Penn, Ricky Gervais, Paul Simon, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, David Duchovny, Judd Hirsch, Norman Reedus, Adam Sandler, Niall Horan, Al Roker, Timothee Chalamet and Kylie Jenner, Alan Alda, John Mulaney, Drew Barrymore, John McEnroe, Vince Vaughn, Chris Pratt, Jay-Z and Beyonce, John Turturro, Ed Sheeran, Nicholas Turturro, Henrik Lundqvist, Martha Stewart, Mariska Hargitay, Ray Romano, Jeff Garlin, Christopher Meloni, Larry David, Susie Essman, Lorne Michaels, Leon Robinson, Kevin Bacon, Kevin Connolly, Fat Joe, Bette Midler, Maria Menounos, Whoopi Goldberg, Patrick Ewing, John Starks, John Hamm, Edie Falco, Christine Taylor, Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Michael J. Fox, Pete Davidson, Anne Hathaway, Carmelo Anthony, 50 Cent, Emmy Rossum, Bill Murray, Julianne Moore, Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz, Cardi B, Jerry Seinfeld, Leslie Jones, JB Smoove, Stephen A. Smith and more.
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Actor Ben Stiller attends game two of the Eastern Conference first round NBA playoffs at Madison Square Garden on April 20, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) Getty Images
Ben Stiller
Stiller is the glue guy every team needs. No Knicks fan wears wins and losses quite like him.
Timothee Chalamet and Kylie Jenner look on during the fourth quarter Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) Getty Images
Timothee Chalamet
Chalamet is the new wave, the bridge between generations. On the court, he’s young, flashy and effortlessly cool. He’s the player you build a franchise around.
Actor Tracy Morgan sits on celebrity row during the first quarter of a Knicks game. (Photo by Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post) Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Tracy Morgan
Morgan brings heart to this team. He’s real, unfiltered and isn’t afraid to tell his teammates how it is. He’s the kinda player the city will wrap its arms around.
Tina Fey attends Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs between the Atlanta Hawks and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on April 28, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) Atlanta Hawks v New York Knicks – Game Five Getty Images
Tina Fey
Fey is the strategist on the court. She has a sharp mind and even sharper instincts. She’s the player/coach every great team needs.
Jon Stewart looks on in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs between the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden on May 16, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) Getty Images
Jon Stewart
Stewart is the passion and the vocal leader of the team. He’d be the one taking charges and demanding more from his teammates. He’s the grit NYC is built on.
Bench mob: John McEnroe, Mariska Hargitay, Larry David, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, Fat Joe, Michael J. Fox.
Two cities. Two identities. But they both live courtside.
Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostCorey Sipkin for the NY POSTCharles Wenzelberg / New York PostJason Szenes / New York PostCharles Wenzelberg / New York PostGetty ImagesGetty ImagesGetty ImagesCharles Wenzelberg / New York PostBrad Penner-Imagn ImagesCharles Wenzelberg / New York PostUrbanxDivinity / BACKGRIDCharles Wenzelberg / New York PostNBAE via Getty ImagesGetty ImagesRobert Sabo for NY PostCharles Wenzelberg / New York PostCharles Wenzelberg / New York PostCharles Wenzelberg / New York PostJASON SZENES/ NY POSTCharles Wenzelberg / New York PostCarlos Toro/ NY POSTNBAE via Getty ImagesCharles Wenzelberg / New York PostCharles Wenzelberg / New York PostCorey SipkinNBAE via Getty ImagesRobert Sabo for NY PostGetty Images
These lists were composed of more recent celebrities who are seen consistently at games the past few seasons.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - APRIL 25: Starting pitcher Cole Ragans #55 of the Kansas City Royals pitches during the 1st inning of the game against the Los Angeles Angelsat Kauffman Stadium on April 25, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Royals obviously had a very rough month of April, finishing 12-19. They’re still only 3.5 games back of their division leader, though, so if April showers bring May Flowers and the Royals’ talent that many expected would carry them to a competitive season started blossoming, now would be a great time for that to start. Believe it or not, it was a road trip to Seattle at the start of July last year that got them going on their significantly improved second half. They lost the first game on April 30, but won two of the next three in Seattle to split the series before going 15-9 in July. Now, this isn’t July, but it is a road trip to Seattle. So let’s do some positive thinking.
Cole Ragans gets the start in this one for the Royals, and he had one of his most impressive starts ever his last time out, striking out 11 and walking none in a win over the Angels. Now the Angels are a worse team than the Mariners, and they have a worse run differential, but they’ve scored more runs than their Pacific Northwest rivals. So it’s not out of the realm of possibility that he could somewhat duplicate his efforts. Though, like most of his teammates, he’s been significantly worse on the road than at home this year. But maybe that’s just because he still wasn’t completely right in Detroit and New York after getting hit by a comebacker in Cleveland.
He has started against Cleveland twice in his career, once was a 6-inning, 9-strikeout performance in 2024, and the other was during his return-to-the-big-leagues party late last season. That was his first game back from the IL, and he struck out 4 and walked 2 in a 3.2-inning start against Seattle’s finest.
The Mariners will send out Bryan Woo. Woo was one of the 20 best starters in MLB last year, but he seems to have forgotten how to strike people out this year. He’s also giving up a lot more contact in the air and not stranding as many runners. He’s as vulnerable as he’s ever been, meaning that both he and the Royals offense are looking at this like a get-right opportunity.
Lineups
The bottom of the Mariners’ order is unlikely to scare anyone, but that could be said about practically the entire Royals lineup, I guess.
Vinnie Pasquantino makes his return to the lineup after missing the last two games with back tightness. He was taking some really good at-bats before he left Tuesday night’s game, so hopefully he’ll be able to continue that. Jac Caglianone has been promoted above both Isaac Collins and Michael Massey for the night. It might be really fun to watch him and Carter Jensen batting back-to-back, especially if they take some better at-bats than they did in the Athletics series.
Don’t forget that tonight’s game is an Apple.TV Friday Night game, so you won’t be able to watch it without a subscription. There are tons of free trial offers out there, so pick one and then cancel it after the game. But while it’s active, I recommend you give Ted Lasso, Shrinking, Schmigadoon, Slow Horses, and/or The Silo a try. I promise no one is paying me to say that, it really does have a lot of high-quality TV shows!
4/30/26 – NBA Playoffs Game 6, New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia – New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson #23, fighting with Atlanta...
Mitchell Robinson was not suspended, but his wallet is a little bit lighter.
“The amount of Robinson’s fine takes into account his inappropriate post on social media in reference to the incident postgame,” the league said in a statement.
Mitchell Robinson (23) is pictured during a fracas April 30 when the Knicks faced the Hawks. Charles Wenzelberg
As OG Anunoby took a free throw with the Knicks leading by 50 points with just under five minutes left in the second quarter, Daniels yanked Robinson’s arm.
The alternate angle of this Knicks-Hawks fight is WILD.
A.J. Minter pitches against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field on April 08, 2025 in New York City. The Mets defeated the Marlins 10-5.
ANAHEIM, Calif. — A.J. Minter returned to Queens during the Mets’ last homestand to work out in front of team officials. The next time his teammates see him, he is expected to be an active player.
The lefty reliever’s minor league rehab assignment is set to expire Thursday, so Minter will join the team on this road trip no later than the series that begins in Arizona next Friday, barring a physical setback.
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Minter, who is rehabbing from surgery to repair a lat tear, was scheduled to pitch Friday for Triple-A Syracuse and may then be utilized pitching twice in three days as the final test before his return.
The Mets will welcome that presence to a unit that has underperformed lately.
Most notably, Luke Weaver and Devin Williams — the team’s two biggest offseason relief acquisitions — have struggled in big spots.
Minter arrived before last season on a two-year contract worth $22 million, but appeared in only 13 games before tearing the lat. His velocity has sat in the low 90s in his rehab outings.
A.J. Minter pitches against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field on April 8, 2025. Getty Images
“I feel for the guys here and I want to do my part, whatever that role may be,” Minter said during his visit to Citi Field. “I am confident with myself and know I can get big league hitters out. I just might have to pitch a little bit more rather than throw 97 down the middle and get swings and misses.
“I am confident I can help this team.”
A.J. Minter walks off the field after an injury during the game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on April 26, 2025 in Washington, DC. Getty Images
Infielder Andy Ibanez reported to the Mets and was activated Friday. Eric Wagaman was optioned to Syracuse. Ibanez was claimed off waivers from the Athletics.
Juan Soto had reached base in 16 straight games entering play. It was his longest streak reaching base to begin the season in his career.
WASHINGTON — Jacob Misiorowski did not realize he had a no-hitter intact. Only that he was finding his groove against the Washington Nationals − just as his right hamstring began to grab in the sixth inning.
Misiorowski, perhaps the premium fireballer in this era of unprecedented velocity in Major League Baseball, exited his Friday, May 1 start at Nationals Park with a right hamstring cramp, a malady the Milwaukee Brewers hope is just a mild detour during what's shaping up to be a special season.
Misiorowski struck out eight Nationals in 5⅓ shutout innings of their 6-1 victory, a night that took a very dark turn for Brewers fans when The Miz paused his dominant outing and motioned for head athletic trainer Brad Epstein to come to the mound.
Misiorowski had just struck out the last four batters − needing only 11 pitches to punch out the side in the fifth − and was sitting on a reasonable 85 pitches when he was removed. His season high was 101 pitches, so a solo no-hitter was possibly out of the question at that point.
So a night that was undeniably dominant teetered on a spectrum between historic and disastrous for Milwaukee. And in the end, the diagnosis felt like a sigh of relief.
#Brewers Jacob Misiorowski threw this pitch (slowest of the night at 98.9 mph)
"We feel pretty good about it," said Brewers manager Pat Murphy, who lost starter Brandon Woodruff to the injured list with shoulder inflammation earlier Friday. "We’re not going to test it right now, because we’re afraid he might cramp again. We’re very hopeful. He feels good about it. Hopefully that’s all it was.
"If it’s more than that? We’ve had a few of those the last few days."
Misiorowski, who leads the major leagues in strikeouts (59 in 38 innings), strikeout percentage (37.2%) and whiff percentage (39.5%), had just elicited a swinging strike from Nationals leadoff batter James Wood on a 98.9 mph fastball when Epstein and Murphy visited the mound.
After conferring, Misiorowski was removed from the game and replaced by Aaron Ashby, who an inning earlier knew a no-hitter was brewing, yet had forgotten amid the rush to enter the game.
Misiorowski did not learn he'd just departed a no-hit bid until he was receiving treatment in the training room and heard mention of it on the broadcast.
Ashby retired the final two batters in the sixth, but Daylen Lile broke up the combined no-hitter with a one-out double in the bottom of the seventh.
At 24, Misiorowski is just beginning. And Ashby figures there will be many more nights like this.
"He’s truthfully got the stuff and the opportunity to do that every night, which is pretty special," says Ashby. "There’s not a lot of guys who basically have the chance to do what he does every night. If he can be efficient, his stuff is so good."
Misiorowski, a 6-foot-7, 200-pounder, threw 43 pitches between 100 and 103 mph against the Nationals, striking out eight and walking two. Fifty-four of his 85 pitches were at least 98 mph, including a slider clocked at 98.4 mph.
He came out of the gate firing, averaging 101.9 mph on his fastball in the first inning. That's the fastest average fastball velocity by a starting pitcher in any single inning of any game in the pitch tracking era (since 2008), according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
"It felt like one of the best nights of the year so far, so there’s that positive on the night," Misiorowski said. "Hopefully, that goes into the next start."
Misiorowski spent a stint on the injured list last August when he was diagnosed with a left tibia contusion, yet returned shortly thereafter and pitched through the playoffs for Milwaukee. And he was also removed from his major league debut with a no-hitter intact through five innings when he suffered a freak ankle injury throwing a pitch in the sixth.
He and Murphy both downplayed this malady, though any prognosis or assurance he'll make his next start won't come until he wakes up Saturday and tests out the hamstring.
Misiorowski lowered his ERA to 2.84 and his WHIP to 1.00, on a night he was actually more dominant the second time through the order, retiring the last 11 batters he faced.
"Everything right where I wanted it," he said.
At least until the hamstring barked. Even still, losing a no-hitter, but winning the game and apparently surviving an injury scare is a net positive for one of the game's most fascinating figures.
The NHL Coach of the Year finalists were announced on Friday.
Jon Cooper of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Dan Muse of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Lindy Ruff of the Buffalo Sabres are the three men who are up for the Jack Adams Award, presented to the head coach “adjudged to have contributed the most to his team’s success.
There was no shortage of analysts who believed that Ottawa's Travis Green should get some love for the award, and for the record, playoff performance has no bearing on the voting.
Steve Warne and Gregg Kennedy discuss what happened to the Senators in their first round elimination.
The award is voted on by members of the NHL Broadcasters’ Association at the end of the regular season, so the Senators' disappointing sweep at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes had no bearing on anything.
Green surely got some votes after leading the Senators into the postseason with a 21-6-3 finish to the season, all while dealing with a rough first half, shaky goaltending, off-ice drama and one injury after another down the stretch, especially on his blue line.
The 55-year-old Creston, B.C. native consistently urged the Senators to ignore those outside distractions, which he billed as white noise, and to stick to the process, whether they win or lose. There was nothing particularly innovative about his message. The impressive part was Green being able to get what appeared to be complete buy-in from his players.
Green was probably never going to beat out Cooper, who, remarkably, has never won the award, or Ruff, who helped snap the Sabres' NHL record playoff drought by winning the Division.
But Muse, the rookie head coach of the Penguins, actually finished one point behind Green's Senators. Jack has a soft spot for rookies, though. Muse is the 19th first-year head coach to be voted as a Jack Adams Award finalist.
Only two Senators head coaches have ever won the award. Paul MacLean in 2012–13 and Jacques Martin in 1998-99. Green won't join them this year, but still deserves a ton of credit for keeping Ottawa's weird season on the rails.
Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Check out more great Sens features from The Hockey News at the links below:
NEW YORK (AP) — Mitchell Robinson of the New York Knicks was fined $50,000 and Dyson Daniels of the Atlanta Hawks was fined $25,000, those penalties coming Friday for their roles in an on-court altercation during Game 6 of the teams' Eastern Conference first-round series.
The incident happened with 4:39 left in the second quarter of the Knicks' 140-89 series-clinching win on Thursday night. Both players were assessed technical fouls and ejected.
Robinson and Daniels “became entangled while battling for position during a free throw attempt," the NBA said, and the altercation escalated from there. Robinson merited the larger fine, the league said, because of “his inappropriate post on social media in reference to the incident postgame.”
The fine and ejection will not affect Robinson's availability for Game 1 of New York's Eastern Conference semifinal series against Boston or Philadelphia.