The QPR goalkeeper Pierce Charles made a stunning double save from a Jarrod Bowen penalty in stoppage time to secure a 1-1 draw at West Ham. The 21-year-old, who kept four clean sheets and saved a penalty for Northern Ireland over the international break, pulled off more heroics to deny the Hammers top spot in the Championship.
Bowen had already equalised for West Ham, cancelling out a hugely controversial first-half penalty from Nicolas Madsen. But the Hammers captain saw his spot-kick saved and Charles then somehow pushed the rebound from Arne Engels on to the crossbar.
He played in a career-high 82 regular season games – one of the league’s 18 Iron Men in 2025-26 – started more than half (43) of the regular season and nearly played as many minutes last season (2,061) as he did in the previous four seasons of his NBA career combined (2,569).
The two-year, $12 million contract signed with the Lakers during the 2025 offseason was looking like a steal for the franchise for the first half of the season.
But then LaRavia started slumping.
His perimeter shot went from reliable to suspect, with the Pasadena, CA native shooting 26.2% on 3-pointers during the final 23 games of the regular season.
Jake LaRavia (12) has regained confidence in his jump shot. NBAE via Getty Images
LaRavia’s offensive aggression dipped along with his shooting percentages.
And after being a focal point in the rotation the entire season, his playing time in the playoffs diminished, including receiving a pair of DNP-CD’s (did not play – coach’s decision) in the Lakers’ final two playoff games of their second-round sweep to the Thunder.
“This summer was a summer reflection and intentionality for me,” LaRavia said. “The second half of the season last season was not the way that I intended it to go. You hit mental lapses in the season. I hit a mental lapse last season and I wasn’t able to shake back from it. And as a professional athlete, that can happen, but when you play on this stage, that can’t happen. So this summer, a lot of it was just mental reflection for me and working on that side of the game.
“The other thing was just working on my jump shot because that was the biggest thing. I’m going to come out every game, I’m going to play hard. I’m going to play defense. I’m going to crash and I’m going to rebound. But consistency with the shooting was a very big thing for me.”
Jake LaRavia continues to bring defensive hustle, along with his tweaked shooting form. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
LaRavia’s reflections, which include daily journaling, are paying off during the Lakers’ preseason, with the 2022 first-round pick being one of the more consistent performers.
After Thursday’s win over the Kings, LaRavia’s averaging 12.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists so far during preseason.
Most impressively, he’s shooting 53.8% (7-of-13) on 3s so far after making tweaks to his jump shot. He has worked with Lakers coach JJ Redick, one of the best shooters in NBA history, and assistant coach Beau Levesque on his form during the summer.
“Jake had a really nice base and foundation to shoot with, so it wasn’t like he was completely revamping his shot,” Redick said. “It was small tweaks. And ultimately the tweaks don’t matter if they don’t give you confidence. And so I feel like he’s shooting the ball with a lot of confidence right now, and he feels confident in his shot.”
The hope is that LaRavia will maintain his confidence even when the results aren’t in his favor.
The 24-year-old understands he’ll have shooting slumps.
It’s the nature of an 82-game regular season.
But the hope is that the physical, and mental, changes will yield more consistent results for LaRavia outside of when he is or isn’t making shots.
“One thing that kind of changed for me this year was focusing more on the input rather than the output,” LaRavis said.
“So not really focused on my makes or my misses, but am I doing everything in my control to give myself the best opportunity to make the shot? So as far as the output goes, I’m not really concerned about how many shots I’m making right now because at some point I’m gonna also miss shots. But as long as the input stays the same, then I’ll be consistent.”
But the Dodgers playoff legend refused to reveal the identity of said player. Instead, Muncy discussed a detail that shocked him about the now-viral video.
“I’m not gonna tell you who it was. I know who it was, but I’m not gonna tell you,” Muncy said.
Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy (13) celebrates after defeating the Atlanta Braves in game four of the NLDS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Truist Park. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Muncy asked Foul Territory’s AJ Pierzynski about the player’s fashion choice, beyond his bare butt.
“So, on that note, jockstraps with no sliders underneath?” Muncy said.
“That, to me, is one of the weirdest things about that is there’s no sliders underneath. This got way off topic real quick. Sorry about that one.”
Max Muncy is well aware of whose cheeks were out before the Dodgers started popping bottles… pic.twitter.com/GmE6EU65yJ
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani, right, celebrates winning Game 4 of baseball’s National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves. AP Photo/Mike StewartLos Angeles Dodgers players celebrate winning Game 4 of baseball’s National League Division Series. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
The Dodgers celebrated their NLDS victory over the Braves on Wednesday night, but their biggest task lies ahead. The NLCS matchup between the Dodgers and Brewers is slated to be one for the ages as both teams are deep in every facet.
Muncy is expected to play a big role for the Dodgers as the team chases its third consecutive World Series title. Against the Braves, Muncy hit his 19th postseason home run for the Dodgers, a franchise record.
Who is the Lakers’ biggest X-factor outside of their Big 3?
There are nine new players.
We know Luka Dončić is an offensive wizard who’s a top-four NBA player. We know Austin Reaves is a borderline All-Star. We know Walker Kessler is an elite rebounder and rim protector who’s ready to run through a wall for the Lakers.
Luka Doncic (77) of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after scoring during the first half at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. Corey Sipkin for NY Post
But we also know that the best teams in the league are deep.
We know that if the Lakers are going to make any noise in the playoffs, they need a cadre of fresh legs. They need guys who are willing to star in their roles.
So, who’s the team’s dark horse? Who’s the unsuspecting player who could make a major difference?
It could be Sandro Mamukelashvili, a playmaking forward who’s already putting his stamp on the team. He’s a great scorer. He can fill in the slack when Doncic or Reaves needs a rest.
It could be Matisse Thybulle, who’s a talented wing stopper and is going to be looked at to fill the hole Marcus Smart left behind.
It could be Jake LaRavia, who’s apparently made leaps this offseason as a defender and scorer.
It could be any number of guys, ranging from the young and athletic Adou Thiero, to the 3&D-skilled Quentin Grimes, to the three-level scorer Collin Sexton.
But there’s one name that keeps coming up. Everyone mentions him. Everyone has been struck by him.
Ziaire Williams has surpassed everyone’s expectations in training camp.
Los Angeles Lakers’ Ziaire Williams speaks to the media during media day Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, in El Segundo, Calif. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Heading into this season, the Lakers have been lacking one apparent thing: an athletic and high-flying perimeter defender.
Williams fits that bill. And he’s looking for a fresh start. That could be a powerful combination.
The 25-year-old Williams is entering his sixth season and is now playing for his third team following being selected as the 10th overall pick by the Grizzlies in the 2021 draft.
Williams has a 6-foot-10 wingspan. He’s physical. He’s scrappy.
The 6-9 forward’s defensive skills shined at moments during his last two seasons with the Nets, who failed to reach the postseason. But the tanking Nets only won 46 combined games the last two years. That doesn’t exactly inspire lockdown defense.
Things will be different with the Lakers.
Los Angeles Lakers’ Ziaire Williams (11) plays defense during an NBA preseason game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California, Monday, October 5, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
They need his skill set. Doncic wants to win his first championship. The 17-time championship Lakers are tired of not getting past the second round of the playoffs the last three seasons.
Williams fits the bill. If he can be a pillar of stability in his role for the Lakers, he could help propel them to another level. He needs to be aggressive. He needs to transform into the athletic perimeter disruptor they desperately need.
He has quick hands. He has good timing. And now he’ll have protection behind him, with Kessler patrolling the paint down low. He can take risks. He can take gambles.
So far, training camp brought the best out of Williams.
Austin Reaves (15) of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates during Game 3 of the second round of the NBA playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, May 9, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Lakers coach JJ Redick even had to modify a recent practice because things became so physical. Guys are competing for the final two starting spots. They’re eager to prove themselves to their new coach.
“It was a dogfight, but that’s how it’s supposed to be,” Williams said Oct. 1, flashing a smile. “Guys competing. It was good, though.”
Williams said “there’s not really anything I’m not comfortable with” on the defensive end, something that’s music to the Lakers’ ears.
The Lakers need someone who’s young, hungry, athletic and willing to take on the challenge of guarding some of the league’s top wings.
Williams has shown glimmers of his potential.
Now he needs to show consistency.
If he can star in his role, the Lakers’ ceiling gets even higher.
Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares was absent from Friday's practice in Las Vegas for personal reasons. He travelled back home to be with his family for the birth of his fourth child, Tucker, head coach Jim Hiller revealed.
With that terrific news for the Tavares family, it also means that the 36-year-old won't be available for the Maple Leafs when they head to Denver and take on the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.
It'll be a big loss for Toronto in terms of the role that Tavares supplied in the lineup. He's scored a goal and three assists in his first five games and is averaging 17:10 of ice time per game so far.
As he's predominantly been the second-line center for his entire tenure with the team since joining in 2018-19, there is an opportunity for others on the roster.
Hiller decided to bump up Nick Paul to the second-line center position, with Easton Cowan and William Nylander as the left and right wingers, respectively. That left a third line with Gavin McKenna, Colton Sissons and Bo Groulx, and Zack MacEwen, Teddy Blueger and Brandon Duhaime on the fourth line. The first line remains the same as in the game against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday.
"I'm just thankful for the depth that we have in the center position," Hiller said after practice. "I think (Paul's) played really well this year. We've really liked him together with Sissons. Whether it's been McKenna or Cowan, they've been solid defensively and been a dangerous offensive line. So, I think both he and Sissons, they're solid two-way players, but there's offense there too. So, playing with Nylander and Cowan, I think that can be a good offensive line as well."
Though Paul is getting a likely short-lived promotion in the absence of Tavares on that second line, he doesn't intend to change his style of play very much.
"I think I just play the same way," Paul said. "Obviously, when plays are there to be made, obviously make them, but for me it's just hard forecheck, turn pucks over and get into their hands and in around the net. So nothing really changes from my game."
Paul has spent some time with Cowan, as they've shared the third line together for a considerable amount of time in this young season, but with Nylander is a different story. At any rate, Nylander thought their first look together at practice went well.
"I think it was clicking pretty good," Nylander said of his line at practice. "I haven't played with (Paul) yet, but I know what he's done in Tampa. I've seen him in the first couple of games here with us. I love the way he plays the game. I think it'll be a lot of fun."
Nylander nodded at Paul's competitiveness and ability to play on both sides of the puck effectively. "A very dependent guy," he said about Paul.
In Paul's first five games, the 31-year-old has put up one goal and one assist, scoring his goal against the Golden Knights, nicking the puck off his shin pad from a Darren Raddysh one-timer.
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Speaking in an episode of “The Zach Lowe Show” that published Thursday, Oct. 8, Haliburton addressed the origin of the rift, which came during the 2025 in-season tournament, which has since been rebranded to the NBA Cup.
It was then that Haliburton hit a big 3-pointer late in a game against the Bucks and then mocked Lillard’s long-time “Dame Time” celebration, by looking at his wrist, mimicking looking at a watch.
“Do I regret it? No, because it was obviously a lot of fun for our organization, and the run we went on in the in-season tournament was a lot of fun,” Haliburton told Lowe. “It just added to it, so it was fun.
“I think what I do regret more than anything is what me and Dame's relationship has become. Because he was a guy who checked on me a lot, early in my career, especially when I got traded. We talked a lot, and I got his permission to be announced as the letter O, because that's his thing."
Haliburton, the No. 12 overall selection in the 2020 NBA Draft to the Kings, was traded midway through his second season when Sacramento shipped him to the Pacers.
The two players have shared several links; both ruptured their Achilles tendons during the 2025 NBA Playoffs and both missed the entire 2025-26 NBA seasons. And both have battled throughout their careers, most notably during Lillard’s two seasons in Milwaukee, from 2023-25.
The Pacers and Bucks, who are Central Division rivals, produced several fiery games in which tempers flared; the Pacers eliminated Milwaukee in consecutive postseasons while Lillard was there.
"I would love to have a conversation, because I just think it became more than it ever needed to be," Haliburton added, referencing the "Dame Time" celebration. "A miscommunication. Put it on me. I was young. In the moment, I was having fun with it, but it was probably a little much, and whatever happened from there happened.
"But he's a guy who I have looked up to the majority of my life," Haliburton said. "Part of the reason I wear (jersey number) 0 is Damian Lillard. He's a guy I would love to at least be more cordial with again, but it's love, for sure."
This continued with a story NBA insider Zach Lowe shared during an episode of his podcast that was released on Thursday night.
“I have a good Kings story for you… I heard this about a week ago; I’ve called up people who can verify it. It has been verified. They went out to [a] fancy training dinner, team, the whole team, the staff, everything. And at the dinner, Vivek Ranadivé spoke, and he kind of turned the dinner into a roast of lots of people in the room, telling them all the ways in which they have been failing as players, coaches, executives, whatever,” Lowe said.
NBA insider Zach Lowe sharing a story about the Sacramento Kings. (X/@ZachLowe_NBA).
“And I checked with the Kings, and they confirmed the gist of what I would say. Some people were alarmed and were like, ‘This is not going over the way you intended.’ Some people thought, ‘I get what he’s doing. He’s using the fact that we’ve become a media punchline to motivate us,'” he continued.
“He’s not saying, ‘I, Vivek Ranadivé, believe these things about you. But here’s what people say about you. Prove us wrong. But it was described to me as a prolonged roast that landed with some of the audience, and some of the audience not as much.”
Kentucky center Willie Cauley-Stein, right, smiles as he talks with Sacramento Kings majority owner Vivek Ranadive, left, and Kings assistant general manager Mike Bratz after a pre-draft workout with the Kings in Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, June 11, 2015. AP
It would be interesting to hear about this “prolonged roast” from Kings players, particularly the ones who didn’t take kindly to whatever Ranadivé (who has been a Kings owner since 2013) had to say.
Sacramento Kings forward Leaky Black (19) gets poked in the eye by Los Angeles Lakers forward Adou Thiero (1) as he goes for a rebound during the second half of a game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, Oct. 8, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Perhaps not having his dad in the Lakers’ locker room will free Bronny up to showcase more of his personality. It definitely freed him up to showcase his singing voice, which was shown during a Sports Illustrated video clip of the Lakers’ team trip to Slovenia.
Bronny James of the Los Angeles Lakers stands on the court during the second half of a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center in San Francisco, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. Getty Images
The 22-year-old Lakers guard was climbing into a golf cart and belted out, “I just can’t wait to be king!” which is the title of a song from Disney’s “The Lion King.”
Clips of Bronny’s singing have gone viral on social media, and fans are pointing out the lyric’s irony, given LeBron’s “King James” nickname.
Bronny still has a long ways to go before living up to his father’s “King” moniker. After all, he averaged 2.9 points over 8.9 minutes per game during the Lakers’ campaign last season.
But Bronny should have more of a defined role on Los Angeles’ roster this season, in part because his father’s 33.2 minutes per game must be taken by somebody after LeBron joined the 76ers in free agency.
LeBron James of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during a game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on Oct. 8, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Lakers fans would love if Bronny was able to turn these song lyrics he was singing into the truth.
Bronny James of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during a game against the Sacramento Kings at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Oct. 8, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Australia’s latest selection gamble has come under fire after another shaky batting display against South Africa, with Pat Cummins’ call to embrace the “grind” again put to the test.
You may have noticed that there are Major League Baseball games being played in front of packed houses each and every day this week. You may also have noticed that none of them have featured the Cincinnati Reds.
That’s because the Reds, unfortunately, were terrible this year. And terrible teams don’t get to play October baseball.
For this, the first Friday of the offseason, we will turn back to the Red Reporter tradition of listing, because on Fridays around these parts that’s what we do – we list. Here is a likely incomplete list of ways in which the Cincinnati Reds ranked dead last during the 2026 season, a list that tells just about every possible story as to why they aren’t playing in playoff games this week:
These are all the ways in which the 2026 Cincinnati Reds were last, according to FanGraphs. Good thing it was only hitting the ball, pitching the ball, and fielding the ball where they struggled.
* last except for the Colorado Rockies, who barely even exist
** last except for the Colorado Rockies, who barely exist, and the Athletics, who have no home and played in a AAA stadium
A fighting partnership from Matt Renshaw (46*) and captain Pat Cummins (33*) saved Australia from embarrassment before bad light brought an early end to the opening day’s play of the first Test against South Africa in Durban at 3.22pm local time.
Amid the turmoil of the Montreal Canadiens’ defeat to the Nashville Predators, defenseman Adam Engstrom finally earned a spot in the lineup after watching the Canadiens' first three games from the press gallery. The Swede was paired with Arber Xhekaj, and the youngster played on his off side, on the right.
While it wasn't easy, Engstrom made it look effortless, repeatedly picking up the puck on his backhand before quickly getting it back to his strong side. He had some early jitters and committed two giveaways, but both were in the first frame, and he tidied up his play after that.
After the game, the 22-year-old was pleased with his team’s performance despite the loss:
It felt good; we controlled the game, but they got a couple of bounces and scored on their power plays. I mean, we outshot them pretty heavily, so sometimes that stuff happens, and they got the win today, so I think we played a pretty good game.
- Engstrom on the team's performance
Even though it was his first game this season, he ended up on the penalty kill in the third frame after Arber Xhekaj got a 10-minute misconduct at the end of the second frame. That didn’t surprise him:
One of our D who usually kills got in the penalty box, so they needed me, and I’ve been practising PK; I play it in Laval too, so it was nothing special for me.
- Engstrom on playing on the PK
It’s still a big vote of confidence from the coaches, though; they could have gone with four more experienced options: Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson, Alexandre Carrier and Lane Hutson, all of whom logged PK minutes yesterday.
The Swede finished the game with a plus-one rating because he was on the ice when Alex Newhook found the back of the net, even though he wasn’t involved in the play; that also means he wasn’t on the ice for any of the Preds’ goals. He spent 11:49 on the ice and, aside from the early jitters, played well without needing the coach to shield him.
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 12: Kevin Gausman #34 of the San Francisco Giants looks on before Game 4 of the 2021 Divisional Series during Game 4 of the NLDS between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodgers Stadium on Tuesday, October 12, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
With the conclusion of Kevin Gausman’s 5-year, $110 million contract that he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays after the Giants left him on read following the 2021 season, we can now see if the gamble to replace him in the aggregate as the team’s co-ace or, simply, the #2 starter to pair with Logan Webb, worked out as well as ownership expected it to after Farhan Zaidi no doubt offered his recommendation.
It’s important to keep in mind that after the Barry Zito, Jeff Samardzija, and Johnny Cueto deals ($346 million for 21.7 fWAR across 2,407 IP) and the Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain extensions ($153 million for 1 fWAR across 781 IP), the team’s ownership group decided that long-term pitching contracts weren’t good investments anymore and effectively banned them.
Sure, the Giants did wind up signing Logan Webb to a 5-year, $90 million extension back in 2023, but that caught a pitcher just as he was entering his prime rather than pay a premium to get (mostly) the downside of a guy’s career. I’ve already written about how Webb might already be at that point, but the Giants only have two years left on that deal. Kevin Gausman’s free agency started with a big red flag: year 1 of the deal would be his age-31 season. Instead, the team opted to go with short-term solutions while they waited for the farm system to produce the next crop of Logan Webbs or Matt Cains. Did the gambit pay off?
I’ve already checked in on the strategy a few times over the years, including a Giants-Blue Jays Series Preview from July, but that was before the deadline. That post included this graphic, which covered nearly the whole topic —
But now, with the season having concluded and Gausman’s Cubs team eliminated from the postseason, we can now look back and see how the entire strategy played out. AND, also, that this graphic was missing a VERY important pitcher, who I’ll get to in a moment.
Gausman wound up making all of his starts in his 5-year deal, allaying the injury concerns. From 2022-26, he threw 911.1 innings in 157 starts, went 57-53 with a 3.68 ERA (3.93 FIP), 9.65 K/9, 2.33 BB/9, and 1.00 HR/9.
The #2 starter trio of Carlos Rodon (2022), Alex Cobb (2022-2023), Robbie Ray (2024-2026), and Blake Snell (2024) threw 918.2 innings in 167 starts, went 57-42 with a 3.69 ERA (3.31 FIP), 9.8 K/9, 3.1 BB/9, and 0.9 HR/9. Here’s that graphic, refreshed:
Well, by every measure, Gausman won the move. Even in in the traditional counting stats. The Giants saved themselves $1.9 million and lost 6.1 wins above replacement over the last 5 years. Those 5 theoretical wins wouldn’t have amounted to very much in the grand scheme of things — the Giants would still be 391-419 since the start of the 2022 season — but on a weekly or monthly level, Gausman pitching consistently might’ve had a positive knock-on effect with the rotation and then bullpen.
Or, he could’ve gotten injured.
And, of course, the other way the Giants might have eked out a win with this strategy is in the returns they got for Cobb (who was on the IL at the time and hadn’t pitched an inning for the team in 2024) or Ray (to division rival San Diego). But they held on to Rodon and Snell at those respective deadlines. Of course, Snell then threw a no-hitter in his first start after the deadline, but the Giants never seemed all that interested in keeping him at all costs. And the return for Gausman (I know I misspelled Tyl Southisene’s name, but I’m not editing that image again) seems like it could be solid for Toronto as much as the Giants’ returns could be; though, they obviously win by that comparison based on volume alone or simply because they got Jacob Bresnahan.
Now, you could argue that there was a tweak in the strategy starting in 2024, when the team knew Alex Cobb wouldn’t be healthy enough to start the season, and possibly miss a decent chunk of the year. So, they hedged a bit by trading for Robbie Ray (and alleviating some of the dead money owed to Mitch Haniger) and setting themselves up for the next couple of years. They also stayed engaged with Blake Snell until they landed him (perhaps to his and the team’s detriment). So, at some point, the team recognized that money had to be spent on the rotation. But, wow, nearly $34 million for 3 extra wins above replacement across 5 seasons.
To be fair, although the Giants let their fear of age and injury prevent them from committing five years to Kevin Gausman but instead give out shorter terms to four pitchers with age and injury decline in their profiles, they did aim very high and succeeded in bringing in two Cy Young winners and another who was both not 30 and had garnered Cy Young votes the previous year (Rodon). So, it’s not like they pivoted from Kevin Gausman to Adrian Houser and Tyler Mahle.
And you might quibble that Cobb doesn’t belong in this conversation at all. That he doesn’t amount to a co-ace or even a #2 starter. I don’t think that’s true, though. The reporting at the time suggested this was exactly the case. The Giants already knew they had a great one in Logan Webb, and so pairing him with a player of a similar profile helped him get better. So, Cobb belongs in the conversation. And he pitched well in the two seasons he managed to give them (he was an All-Star in 2023).
By the way, Cobb’s All-Star appearance wasn’t the only one of the group’s. Robbie Ray was an All-Star for the Giants last season. Carlos Rodon was an All-Star and got Cy Young votes in his lone Giants season. Blake Snell pitched a no-hitter. No postseason appearances, though, because the Giants weren’t good enough to make it into the lowered standard of the third Wild Card.
Gausman had Cy Young votes in the first two seasons of the five-year deal and was an All-Star in 2023. He didn’t throw a no-hitter, but he did have 3 complete games including 2 shutouts. He also made 8 starts in the postseason (and one relief outing) for Toronto and Chicago, posting a 4.12 ERA in 43.2 IP.
Spending $143.9 million over 5 years to come away with no positive memories but maybe 5-7 years of Jacob Bresnahan dominating at the major league level doesn’t feel like this strategy worked. The Giants seemed to have paid more than it paid out. At the end of the day, that was the concern once it became clear this was the team’s plan, and just because it’s come to pass doesn’t mean it should be shrugged off. But it also shouldn’t be totally condemned, either.
No, not because Cobb, Ray, and Snell spent a lot of time on the IL — injuries are a terrible excuse for sustained poor performance — but because it kinda worked? The Giants basically signed these guys in a pocket of high performance and got out maybe a season too soon rather than be stuck with a long-term contract that’s hard to move… not trying to compare that to Chapman/Adames situation the team now finds itself in, but it is interesting to note.
Wow. I can’t believe I’m not going to talk about the Giants’ decision to move on from Kevin Gausman ever again (unless they bring him back in free agency this offseason). But what do you think? In the final analysis, was ditching Kevin Gausman the right move?
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 28: The sneakers worn by Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round One Game Five of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 28, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
