Worldwide Sports News

Tacoma Rainiers

The Rainiers are in the midst of a major slide, dropping all six of their games this week after winning just one the week prior. Having now dropped eleven games under .500, Tacoma will have to bounce back in the second half if they hope to get a seat in the playoffs this fall.

After missing most all of the season thus far, Miles Mastrobuoni has officially returned to game action and has been rehabbing with the Rainiers this week. Though it’s unclear at the immediate moment if he’s a candidate to earn his way back on to the big league roster immediately following his rehab stint, because he is out of minor league options, the M’s brass will have to make a decision on whether they want to keep Mastrobuoni in the organization. Perhaps his positional versatility is preferable to Patrick Wisdom’s one-dimensional bat-first profile, but already with a glut of lefties, it’s possible the team will prioritize the handedness advantage Wisdom carries for this roster. It’s a storyline to monitor with big league ramifications.

A popular name amongst writers of the site, utility man Brock Rodden hit the IL this week with a hamstring injury. It sounds as though it’s relatively minor and he’ll be out for just a week or two, but already shorthanded offensively, the Rainiers will have to muster up some additional production at the plate if they hope to stop this skid they’ve been on the past two weeks.

Arkansas Travelers

The Travs dealt with some weather problems this week and only managed to squeeze in five of the six games this series, but with some truly dynamic pitching performances from the rotation’s top stars, the two wins they did manage to lock down were must-see TV. Tulsa’s six game win streak has knocked the Travs down to second place in the standings, but just a game and a half back, Arkansas is well positioned to reclaim their spot atop the division and clinch the first half title.

Turning in his best start as a professional, Ryan Sloan worked six perfect innings against Frisco and tallied eleven punchouts, dominating opposing hitters from the very first pitch. The young righthander has been dialed in over his last four starts and features a sub-two ERA across those outings, commanding the zone beautifully and striking out a healthy amount of hitters. Having turned 20 in January of this year, Sloan’s age-adjusted success at Double-A is rather remarkable and makes him one of the best pitching prospects in all of baseball; if his past month is any indication of what’s to come, Sloan could easily pitch his way into the conversation of being a top-ten prospect leaguewide.

Rotationmate Kade Anderson was his usual self on Friday night, working five and a third innings of two-hit baseball. Anderson punched nine tickets on the afternoon and did not surrender any free passes, pushing his K:BB ratio up to a gaudy 67:7 mark for the season. Anderson is arguably the top lefthanded pitching prospect in baseball, and having the one-two punch of he and Sloan puts the Mariners in rarified air with regard to their minor league pitching talent. Most organizations would bend over backwards for one player of their caliber; having two elite pitching prospects waiting in Double-A after promoting an elite 20-year-old shortstop is bordering on an embarrassment of riches, and M’s fans should be incredibly optimistic about the future of this ballclub.

Everett AquaSox

Everett dropped the series four games to two this week, unable to muster up enough offense to best the lowly hops. Everett’s star studded lineup has been central to their success this season, but the usual suspects responsible for the production struggled to find their footing. Hopefully a return to form is in the cards for their upcoming series against a league-leading Eugene squad.

Slugging catcher Josh Caron has been torching the ball recently. Launching three homers in five games this week, Caron finished May with an even .900 OPS on the month and has raised his season mark to .866. Caron’s aggressive approach at the plate has led to him striking out far more than you’d hope to see at the Hi-A level, but if he’s able to maintain this level of pop on his ascent through the minor leagues, his positional value and albeit one-dimensional production might just be enough to get him to the majors in a backup role. It seems likely he’ll finish the season in Everett, but perhaps the M’s prefer to challenge the young backstop with an aggressive promotion to Double-A this summer.

Having officially taken to his new role of backend reliever, Christian Little has been superb for the Frogs this season, and it looks as though a promotion to Double-A is in his not so distant future. Laying claim to a 0.90 ERA on the year, Little worked four clean innings across two outings this week and got the Frogs out of some big spots. A hard-throwing righthander, Little is striking out 35.1% of the batters he’s facing and walking 11.4%, good for a 3.08 FIP. Having already lost Brock Moore to promotion, it seems likely the AquaSox will be losing yet another reliever to the Texas League in the coming weeks.

Inland Empire 66ers

The 66ers only managed to snag a single win this week, dropping the series convincingly to an excellent Lake Elsinore team. It’s been tough sledding for the 66ers in their first year as a Mariner affiliate, and though there have been some breakout performers mixed throughout the roster, it’s largely been a disappointing season. 

Teddy McGraw is back on the mound! Joining the 66ers on his minor league rehab assignment, McGraw logged two clean outings this week as he builds his body back up. McGraw has an extensive injury history and will certainly be handled with an abundance of caution, but when he’s been on the mound, there are very few pitchers in this system that can match his raw ability. Hopefully a move to the bullpen is able to keep him healthy with some more frequency.

Mason Peters continued his dominant 2026 season against the Storm, starting the lone win on the week for the 66ers. Working 3.2 innings and fanning six, Peters lowered his ERA to 1.56 and showed off his dynamic array of offerings all afternoon. His splitter was a true weapon for him and gives him an ideal pairing for his wide assortment of breaking balls. Everett is a tough place to pitch, but considering his level of dominance in the California League, it seems like a promotion is more than justified for the young lefthander.

ACL Mariners

Shortstop Nick Becker launched his first homer of the season this week and raised his OPS up to .846 across his first 20 games. Becker pairs a highly projectable frame with game-changing speed and sits second in the ACL with a flawless 15 bags thus far. Becker’s swing is a bit stiff and probably needs a bit of fine tuning to be fully maximized, but given his immense tools and young age, he remains one of the more tantalizing talents present in this system.

The Atlanta Braves are off to one of their hottest starts in franchise history and with no shortage of reasons for this early success.

Atlanta’s pitching staff weathered injury storms while a resurgent offense is once again among the best in Major League Baseball after a pair of challenging seasons in the run-scoring department.

While marquee players like Matt Olson, Drake Baldwin, and Michael Harris II have thrived over the first two months, a significant portion of the lineup’s overall success owes to roster construction and versatility – two areas that plagued the club in recent years.

No player better exemplifies those qualities than Mauricio Dubón.

“He’s really been a huge part of this early success,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said.

As Atlanta won 40 of its first 60 games, Dubón drew starts at five different defensive positions, serving primarily as Atlanta’s starting shortstop over the first six weeks while Ha-Seong Kim recovered from an offseason hand injury.

Acquired from the Houston Astros in exchange for slick-fielding but light-hitting shortstop Nick Allen over the winter, Dubón quickly established himself as an essential member of his new team and one of general manager Alex Anthopoulos’ savviest moves.

Dubón, who turns 32 in July, was already known for his excellent fielding, having won a pair of gold gloves at the more recently established utility position, a category introduced in 2022.

“I always told my wife that if I can just play one position, I know I can win a gold glove,” Dubón said. “Then Rawlings came up with the utility gold glove, and I ended up winning two of those. It’s something that I take pride in. For me, it’s always just trying to help the team win.”

Dubón’s knack for chipping in at the plate has also impressed the Braves over the first two months.

Though his season slash line of .250/.307/.370 may not jump off the stat sheet, Dubón has been at his best with runners in scoring position. He is batting .327 with a .920 OPS and 27 RBIs in those 54 plate appearances and quickly established himself as one of the team’s best clutch hitters.

Having a versatile player to plug in anywhere is a weapon that makes Weiss’ job that much easier. In addition to playing multiple defensive positions, Dubón has also started at least one game in every spot in the batting order except for third already this season.

“He just keeps performing regardless of where he’s at,” Weiss said. “That’s not easy to do. There’s a really short list of guys that can do what he does – a guy that can play major-league caliber, really gold-glove defense at shortstop, and then go do the same in center field or left field.”

In his career, Dubón has appeared in at least 20 games at every defensive position except for catcher, the one spot he has yet to see action. He’s played outfield the most, with 365 games, followed by 214 at second base, 137 at shortstop, 53 at third base, and 26 games at first base.

Though most players typically like to have a single position to call home, Dubón has moved around to great effect in his eight-year career with the Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros and now with Atlanta. He has come to realize that the ability to play anywhere makes him one of the most valuable players on any team he suits up for.

“Early in my career, people told me that it has value, then the arbitration process comes and it shows that it doesn’t,” Dubón joked about his defensive versatility. “Then little by little you start playing, winning games and meaningful baseball, (and) it does matter. It’s something that I’m proud of. It’s pretty cool being one of the unique guys in the league that is able to do that.”

Building a well-rounded roster has opened more than a few doors for the 2026 Braves, giving Weiss plenty of levers to pull throughout the game. It is one of the many reasons the club has authored 20 come-from-behind wins, the most in MLB this season.

Dubón was picked up over the winter, the first of a series of moves to create a capable group of reserves. Atlanta then signed veteran outfielder Mike Yastrzemski to a two-year deal with the aim of improving a position group which was among the least productive in baseball a year ago.

Other newcomers include infielder Jorge Mateo, who is swinging the bat well and can play multiple positions while providing elite speed off the bench, as well as spring-signing Dominic Smith, who quickly showcased his value at the plate in the designated hitter spot.

Adding all of that up, the Braves are sitting on one of the best reserve pools since the days of Martin Prado, Omar Infante, Eric Hinske and the like from about a decade and a half ago.

Though Kim is back from injury and back in the fold at shortstop, his slow start at the plate continues to create opportunities for at-bats for Mateo. Dubón, meanwhile, has played more outfield with Harris and Ronald Acuña Jr. each hobbled by leg injuries at different times – and with Jurickson Profar unavailable thanks to a 162-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs, his second in as many years.

Weiss has done a fine job of finding opportunities to let his reserve and role players contribute this season. Unlike some of the others, Dubón isn’t as dependent on matchups and platoon splits because he can provide great defense wherever he plays. That along with his penchant for being involved in rallies will lead Weiss to be creative about keeping his super-utility guy in the mix somewhere.

“I’d imagine looking down the road that he’ll bounce around a little bit more, because I want to keep him involved,” Weiss said. “He’s a plus defender all over the field and there aren’t guys out there like that. And he’s gotten huge hits for us, clutch hits. Seems like every time he comes up in a big spot, he comes through.”

Beyond the tangible impact he is having on the Braves, the bilingual Dubón also comes highly regarded as a quality teammate and competitor – a player who helps keep the entire club connected. Those “glue guys” as they are known in the game are critical pieces of a winning team.

“It’s high energy every day,” Weiss said of what Dubón brings. “He’s very well-liked in there and language is never a barrier with him. He connects with all the groups, and that’s important. I talk about winning players and he’s certainly that. He’s got the winning pedigree. He was a big part of a championship team in Houston. I’ve said this before, but that goes a long way with me. He’s been a great addition.”

Dubón, who won the 2022 World Series with the Astros is a big proponent of the team culture the Braves have established and believes that an unselfish kind of baseball can pay serious dividends over the course of a long season.

“I think everybody knows each other and we’re playing for each other,” Dubón said. “We have fun going out there and that’s the biggest thing. Everybody gets along and everybody goes out there and is having fun right now. Everybody is pulling for each other. If one guy doesn’t do it, the other guy will… At the end of the day, we want to win, and we want to win a World Series. I think the biggest thing is trying to help each other out.”

The 2026 Kansas City Royals are an indisputably bad baseball team. On pace for an eye-watering 102 losses, they have one of the worst bullpens and one of the worst offenses in baseball. They run into a bunch of outs on the bases. They have lost 16 out of their last 19 games one month after losing 11 of 13. This isn’t just a good team playing poorly. We crossed that Rubicon a long time ago.

The big question: why? Why is the team bad, especially when lots of people thought that the Royals would be competitive – maybe even a playoff team – this year? Well, after such a protracted string of losing, general manager J.J. Picollo finally talked to MLB.com about all the losing. And wouldn’t you know it, but no one’s at fault here. Everyone’s doing great. According to Picollo, the front office accomplished their goals in the offseason.

“We felt like there’s a core here that we could rely on for offense,” Picollo said. “Surrounding them with a deeper, better group and more balanced group was the goal. I think we did that.” 

Oh, and it’s not the coaching staff at fault either, either. They’re doing a great job, and besides, changing staff in the middle of the year doesn’t do anything, silly. 

“I have a lot of confidence in our staff,” Picollo said. “You can go back and look at all the historical research on changing coaching staffs. There’s not a lot of strong data on changing coaching staffs mid-season leading to what you need to do. It appeases the fanbase because you’ve made a change, but we have to be logical in our thinking.” 

We’ve already established that the front office did a great job assembling the team, so player quality isn’t the issue here. What about player attitude and teamwork and camaraderie? The good news is that’s not a problem, either.

“Is the work getting done?” Picollo said. “Are the [coaches’] conversations productive with the players? Are they still eager to get to the ballpark and learn and work and play? Are they motivated? Right now, all of my observations are: Yes, they are. If anything, they’re saying, ‘I’ve got to be more accountable, I’ve got to be better. I’m the one not executing.’” 

At this point, we’re getting pretty thin on reasons why the Royals are on a 102-loss pace in June. According to Picollo, it’s not the front office, it’s not the coaches, and it’s not the players. No one is responsible for the state of Royals baseball right now. So if no one is responsible, something else must be at fault. And I fear we are going to hear more and more excuses about this being an injury-bit season, especially after Maikel Garcia’s hamstring injury from Saturday’s game. 

It is true that the Royals have had their fair share of injuries this season. Closer Carlos Estévez pitched one game this year and has been sidelined with injuries since. Second baseman Jonathan India had season-ending shoulder surgery at the end of April. Starting pitcher Cole Ragans first went on the injured list in early May and had a setback during rehab. Fellow starting pitcher Kris Bubic went on the injured list in mid-May, too. Newly acquired reliever Matt Strahm hit the injured list in mid-May, as did Nick Mears a few days ago. And though we don’t know how long Garcia could be out, hamstring injuries are fickle and he could be out anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months. 

But I don’t buy this excuse and you shouldn’t either, even though I’m sure the team will use it for why they’re selling at the trade deadline and at the end of the year when the Royals finalize a 90-something loss season. 

The main reason is that the Royals have had objectively fewer injuries compared to other teams. Spotrac keeps a list of total players, total days, and cash total per days missed for the injured list by team. Kansas City ranks 20th in total players on the IL (10, median of 14), 20th in total days missed on the IL (392, median of 518) and 19th in cash total per days missed ($8.49 million, median of $11.1 million). 

And the other reason is that most of the guys who have landed on the injured list are players who the Royals should have expected not to stay healthy all year. Estevez is 33 and his fastball velo has been declining since 2022. Strahm is 34 and his fastball velo has also been declining since 2022. India’s shoulder injury was well known to the club, and he’s only averaged 131 games played per year prior to this season. Ragans only made 13 starts last year. Bubic only made 20 starts last year. 

Are injuries a factor to this season? Yes they are. But the Royals don’t play in a vacuum; they are playing other teams who are also dealing with injuries, and most other teams have had more injuries. But the Royals have backed themselves into a corner here with answering the core question of why they’re bad. According to Picollo, the Royals may have the second worst record in all of baseball despite a solid roster, good coaching, and prepared players. It doesn’t add up.    

Red Sox prospect update: Franklin Arias hype train is still rolling originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Do the Boston Red Sox have their shortstop of the future in top prospect Franklin Arias?

If that question prompted an eye roll, we understand. We asked the same question when Marcelo Mayer was in Boston’s farm system, and the No. 4 overall draft pick hasn’t yet lived up to his lofty expectations in the majors. While Mayer has been an outstanding defender wherever he’s been asked to play on the infield, his bat has been a disappointment.

There’s reason to believe Arias will be different. Throughout his minor-league career, Mayer never had the numbers that Arias is putting up this season. Left-handers have always given Mayer trouble, but Arias has hit well against both lefties and righties.

It shouldn’t be long before Arias is promoted to Triple-A, and we shouldn’t rule out a potential MLB debut later this year. Here’s a closer look at how he and the rest of the Red Sox’ top 10 prospects (via SoxProspects.com) have fared so far in 2026:

1. Payton Tolle, LHP

2026 stats: 2-0, 3.00 ERA, 1.067 WHIP, 4 BB, 19 SO (three starts at Triple-A Worcester); 2-2, 2.61 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 11 BB, 46 SO (seven starts for Boston)

Tolle has been excellent so far in his second stint with the big-league club. The 23-year-old has been one of Boston’s most consistent arms since being called back up last month, so it shouldn’t be long before he graduates from these prospect rankings and becomes a mainstay in the rotation.

As good as Tolle has looked, he’ll be even better once he takes the next step with his off-speed stuff. He threw 54 four-seam fastballs, 26 sinkers, and 11 cutters with only two curveballs and one changeup during his most recent start vs. the Atlanta Braves.

The sky is the limit for Tolle if he can start getting hitters off balance with his secondary pitches.

2. Franklin Arias, SS

2026 stats: .331/.402/.624, 12 HR, 31 RBI, 15 BB, 22 SO (41 games at Double-A Portland)

MLB ETA: Late 2026

Franklin Arias has done nothing but rake this year in Portland. The 20-year-old wasn’t known for his pop before this season, but he has already set a new career high with 12 homers while keeping his OPS above 1.000.

MLB prospect evaluators have taken notice, including Keith Law of The Athletic. Law put Arias at No. 3 in his top 50 MLB prospects list.

While it’s Arias’ power that has helped him earn national recognition, his plate discipline remains elite. He’s struck out only 22 times with 15 walks in 179 plate appearances. In the field, he still looks like a future Gold Glove shortstop.

It probably won’t be long before Arias earns his promotion to Triple-A, and if all goes well there, we could see him debut in the majors later this year.

3. Anthony Eyanson, RHP

2026 stats: 1-0, 1.35 ERA, 0.660 WHIP, 9 BB, 50 SO (five starts at High-A Greenville; three starts at Double-A Portland)

MLB ETA: 2027

Eyanson was promoted to Double-A Portland after dominating in his five starts at High-A Greenville. The 2025 third-round pick out of LSU has stayed sharp with the Sea Dogs to earn the No. 21 spot in Law’s top 50 prospects list.

Eyanson, 21, is rising through the minor league ranks even quicker than Tolle did in 2025. He also has a more complete arsenal than Tolle with a high-90s fastball, a wipeout slider, a killer 12-6 curveball, and a splitter he has utilized more recently and found success with.

If he continues to perform at this level, Eyanson could get the Tolle treatment and join the MLB club sometime in the second half.

4. Kyson Witherspoon, RHP

2026 stats: 0-3, 5.55 ERA, 1.542 WHIP, 21 BB, 36 SO (nine starts at High-A Greenville)

MLB ETA: 2027

Witherspoon’s first professional season probably hasn’t gone the way that he hoped. The first-round pick out of Oklahoma has struggled with his command through his first nine starts at Single-A, though it appears he’s turning a corner.

Over his last two starts, Witherspoon has allowed just one earned run across 9.1 innings pitched. He struck out 10 hitters in that span, including a six-K performance with 19 whiffs on May 24:

Witherspoon still has the ceiling of a future top-of-the-rotation arm. If he builds off his last two starts and improves his command, that All-Star potential should be on display throughout the second half of his season.

5. Marcus Phillips, RHP

2026 stats: 0-3, 9.00 ERA, 1.958 WHIP, 20 BB, 29 SO (Eight appearances, seven starts at High-A Greenville)

MLB ETA: 2028

Like Witherspoon, Phillips has struggled with his command and has yet to showcase his potential in the pros. The 33rd pick in the 2025 draft has walked an alarming 7.5 batters per nine innings this season. He had control issues while at Tennessee as well, so this isn’t totally surprising.

Phillips is a physical specimen at 6-foot-4, 250 pounds. He has impressive stuff, including a high-90s fastball and a wipeout slider that generates plenty of whiffs. There’s a lot to be excited about with the 21-year-old despite his less-than-ideal start.

6. Jake Bennett, LHP

2026 stats: 3-2, 1.83 ERA, 1.049 WHIP, 6 BB, 37 SO (Eight starts at Triple-A Worcester); 1-1, 4.35 ERA, 1.452 WHIP, 4 BB, 4 SO (Two starts for Boston)

Bennett made his big-league debut on May 1, allowing just one run over five solid innings against the Houston Astros. His second outing didn’t go as well, as he let up four runs in 5.1 IP.

Still, Bennett proved that he’s a more-than-servicable starter when Boston’s rotation needs reinforcements. The 25-year-old’s stuff isn’t what anyone would call electric, but he has found a way to fool hitters and put up impressive numbers in Worcester:

7. Justin Gonzales, RF

2026 stats: .287/.371/.480, 7 HR, 27 RBI, 17 BB, 31 SO (40 games at High-A Greenville)

MLB ETA: 2028

The 6-foot-5, 270-pound Gonzales continues to impress in Greenville. The 19-year-old has eight doubles and two triples to go with his seven homers so far this season, and he still hasn’t unlocked his full potential at the plate.

Once Gonzales learns to elevate the ball more consistently, he’s going to be a problem. At his age, with his raw power and impressive hit tool, he might be the most exciting hitter in Boston’s system. He’ll be fascinating to watch as he rises through the minor-league ranks.

8. Juan Valera, RHP

2026 stats: 0-0, 1.93 ERA, 0.857 WHIP, 4 BB, 17 SO (three starts at High-A Greenville)

MLB ETA: 2028

The 19-year-old Valera was one of Boston’s most hyped prospects heading into the season. He reached 102 mph with his fastball while posting impressive numbers across three High-A starts, but he suffered a devastating elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery.

Valera had earned a spot in Baseball America’s Top 100 before his injury.

9. Dorian Soto, SS

2026 stats: .254/.315/.299, 0 HR, 5 RBI, 6 BB, 19 SO (17 games at Florida Complex League)

MLB ETA: 2029

Soto has gotten off to a slow start this season in rookie ball. While the 18-year-old Dominican has exciting upside at the plate, he tallied only two homers last year and has yet to hit one over the fence through 17 games this season.

This shouldn’t be a concern. The switch-hitting Soto remains one of Boston’s most exciting young talents, and it’s just a matter of time before he starts to put it all together.

10. Henry Godbout, SS

2026 stats: .277/.410/.492, 7 HR, 14 RBI, 22 BB, 27 SO (34 games at High-A Greenville)

Before the season, prospect expert Ian Cundall of Baseball America identified Godbout as a breakout candidate for 2026. The second-round draft pick out of Virginia has lived up to the hype.

Godbout has continued to showcase his impressive hit tool, and his power has been a positive development. The 22-year-old maxed out at nine homers with Virginia and already has seven through 34 games at High-A.

The bat-to-ball skills are already elite. If the power is here to stay, Godbout should rapidly ascend through the minors:

Another year, another tough month of May that saw the Athletics struggle and knock us down in the standings. It wasn’t as bad as last year when the team lost pretty much every game that month but it was a tough month for the Athletics regardless. Big changes are on the horizon as the team needs to wake up and slap themselves out of this slump. Will they be able to do that now that the calendar has finally flipped to June?

The upcoming changes are hoped to provide the spark that can flip things around for this team. So what do we have to look forward to this coming month of June? Some questions to ask yourself.

1. How long of a leash does Lawrence Butler have?

The right fielder signed a massive contract extension last year that guaranteed him $65 million over the next five years. At the time he was coming off an impressive second-half of the 2024 season that saw him hit .302/.346/.597 with 20 home runs over the final 73 games that year. He looked like an emerging star and the A’s locked him in before he got any more expensive. He was the second recent A to sign an extension, just a couple months after Brent Rooker got his own deal.

His first full big league season did not go smooth however. While he made it into 152 games and became the first Athletic with a 20-20 season since Coco Crisp, his rate stats fell across the board. Perhaps some of that can be attributed to injury. He dealt with what was at the time diagnosed as a patellar strain in his right knee that ended up being a partial tear, and the stats bore than out. Pre All-Star Butler was hitting .251/.326/.433 but slashed just .203/.268/.351 post-break, and general manager David Forst said he was playing through that issue over the final weeks of the season. He ended up having surgery on that knee (as well as a PRP injection in his other knee) just days after the conclusion of the season.

The hope was that him getting an early start on his rehab and recovery would give him enough time to get ramped up for this season. Instead he was held out of action for the majority of Spring Training, only making it into just four games before the start of the season. He was reportedly facing pitchers and getting at-bats behind the scenes, but that isn’t the same as game action.

The short spring may be a big reason why Butler is hitting just .164 right now. It could be he’s trying to play through an injury to one or both of his knees again, or he just didn’t have a normal offseason so things are out of whack for him right now. Either way it’s getting harder and harder to see him in the lineup on a regular basis when he looks this lost at the plate right now. At the same time it’s hard to see a guy getting paid that much money ride the bench and the staff feel the only way out of this slump is hitting his way out of it. The A’s will need to make a decision one way or another, whether that be an IL placement or asking him to spend some time in the minor leagues to get his bat right. And the A’s would be smart to get to that decision sooner rather than later.

2. What happens at third base when Max Muncy is healthy?

Since injuring his hand back on April 25th after a HBP, the former first rounder has been on the shelf recovering from a fracture. He’s slowly begun to ramp up baseball activities in recent days and has officially begun his rehab assignment. The 23-year-old went 2-for-3 with a home run and 3 RBI on Saturday as the Aviators’ DH before an 0-for-2 showing on Sunday while in the field at third base.

While he’s been out the A’s have given the bulk of the playing time at third base to Zack Gelof, who has taken advantage of his opportunity at a brand new position. The former second baseman is hitting .259/.304/.432 with six home runs and six stolen bases. Perhaps the biggest change for him is he’s not striking out nearly as much as he did the past couple years. He dropped it from 45.5% last season all the way to 24.7%, which would be a career-low for the young infielder. On top of that he’s now got some outfield experience under his belt in addition to learning third base at the big league level. It’s been a successful start to his 2026 season and the A’s would like to keep his bat in the lineup some way.

The way things stand the A’s have a few options. Since both bat right-handed they don’t form a perfect platoon at third base. They could try to continue splitting reps at the hot corner, with Gelof filling in at other positions on days he’s not at third. But that just adds another thing for these young players to deal with.

Another option would be to just give the job to one of them on a full-time basis. Small sample caveat but Gelof has been the better hitter this year between the two. Neither have provided Chapman-esque defense at third so the A’s need production with the bat out of that spot. That said, Gelof is also much more positionally versatile; Muncy has experience at second base, but Gelof has that plus outfield experience now. It wouldn’t be impossible for Mark Kotsay to find spots in the lineup for both of them on any given day, should he so choose.

And a third, perhaps more extreme option would be to make a permanent change at the keystone. Offseason addition Jeff McNeil has had his moments but is only hitting .251/.323/.335 with two home runs this year and the left-handed hitter has predictably struggled against lefties this season. And they don’t make great platoon partners either. Gelof has actually fared better against right-handed pitching in his career. In fact, Gelof is really bad against left-handed pitching, hitting just .167/.244/.257 against them in his career versus a .250/.305/.449 line against same-handed pitching. They could still try out a platoon but history doesn’t indicate that’ll work.

If the A’s are getting ready to shake things up, getting Muncy back into the fold will come at a cost to someone else on the roster. How the A’s balance and juggle playing time on the infield will be fascinating to watch.

3. Can any other young pitchers make an impact for the staff?

The A’s have already promoted one of their top pitching prospects in Gage Jump. They’re set to promote another in Kade Morris, who looks like he’ll be making his major league debut this coming week in the series finale against the Cubs. Mason Barnett has already made his big league debut and pitched for the A’s this year.

The A’s are down two of their three veterans right now, just optioned Jacob Lopez, and are more or less being pressed into giving these younger options their chances. It’s not unheard of for the A’s to get great results from their young pitching that leads them to contention, but with the big bats in the lineup slumping right now the A’s are desperate to get production out of rookies more than usual.

They’ve gotten that and then some with J.T. Ginn, who is looking like he’s breaking out in a huge way for the Athletics. But while Ginn has been a surprising arm, so has fellow righty Luis Morales but for the wrong reasons. A member of the Opening Day rotation, he is now pitching in relief in Triple-A. That’s not the outcome anyone wanted but there’s still plenty of time for him to figure things out and the A’s will almost certainly need him again before this season is through.

Behind them the depth really begins to thin. Righty Jack Perkins has starting experience but has been in a relief roll all season, and not exactly thriving in it. Barnett certainly should be an option again soon enough. We shouldn’t hold our breath for a big promotion for Jamie Arnold. After all, he only has 10 starts in Double-A and while he’s flashed his potential he’s also showing some rookie growing pains. Perhaps he could be a left-handed option out of the ‘pen if the A’s are in contention but unlikely. A more likely name is someone like Braden Nett, who is finally healthy and pitching again for the Aviators. Or perhaps a forgotten name in Luis Medina, who is looking good in the bullpen but was once considered a building block for the rotation.

If the A’s are going to turn things around they’re going to have to do it short-handed for a while while Severino and Civale are hurt. The A’s have spent years accumulating this pitching talent just for this scenario. Now it’s time to see if any of these young arms step up to the challenge in the dog days of summer.

After Babe Ruth made the No. 3 jersey famous, Bud Metheny would become the one of the last New York Yankees to wear the number before it was retired. Outside of being a fun bit of trivia, Metheny would go on to build a legacy far greater than simply being another person to wear an iconic jersey.

Arthur Beauregard “Bud” Metheny

Born: June 1, 1915 (St. Louis, MO)
Died: January 2, 2003 (Virginia Beach, VA)
Yankees Tenure: 1943-46

Metheny was born and lived in St. Louis through his childhood. His family would move to Virginia as he entered his teenage years, and it was there he would star on the baseball team at Calverton High School. Ironically enough, this move was a bit of a homecoming for Metheny as his mother’s family claimed to be descendants of Pocahontas.

After high school Metheny attended college at William & Mary. While playing for William & Mary, the Yankees signed Metheny to a contract that came with an agreement to allow him to finish his degree. Metheny earned his teaching degree in 1939 and would later earn his master’s in education in 1952. His reputation as a good person and star athlete while in college would open doors later in life as well as earn him a spot in the William & Mary Hall of Fame.

Upon graduating, Metheny headed to Kansas City to play in the American Association professional league that summer. A left-handed hitter and outfielder, Metheny impressed to the tune of a .315 average in 95 games. However, this success came at a cost as Metheny injured his knee sliding and missed two months of the season, later requiring surgery in the offseason. This injury would turn out to be the biggest blessing in disguise that Metheny could receive — though it would take some time for that to be realized.

Metheny added some weight during the recovery period from his surgery and used his extra force to have another solid season in 1940, this time for the Newark Bears of the International League. The Bears would win the Junior World Series that season. After the season ended, Metheny made an effort to shed those pounds from the last offseason and was able to lose around thirty pounds.

However, losing weight would have negative effects on the diamond. In 1941, back with Kansas City, Metheny struggled and saw his batting average drop over 60 points and only hit three home runs which dropped his slugging from .451 in 1940 to .307.

Following the worst season of his baseball life Metheny was able to turn things around in 1942. Now 27 years old and married to his college sweetheart, Frances Davis, Metheny slashed .296/.363/.460 which was good for a .823 OPS. The eighteen home runs that season launched him onto the Yankees’ radar, and they picked him up for the next season.

The 1943 season would prove to be the year that Metheny’s baseball dream would come true. Metheny played sparingly over the first two months of the season, but at the start of the summer he found himself right in the middle of the regulars playing a lot of right field as several of his teammates were selected for service in World War II. Metheny was rejected for military service due to the knee surgery he had a few years prior.

Making the most of his opportunity, Metheny played in 103 games, making 86 starts, while batting .261 with nine home runs. The Yankees would win the pennant and face the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series. Metheny played in two games and got one hit as the Yankees won the series in five games.

Next year would not be as kind to Metheny or the Yankees. Metheny started 128 games between right and left field but saw his average fall to .239. Although he hit a career-high 14 home runs, he also led all American League outfielders with 11 errors.

Metheny held his role heading into the 1945 season and started 126 games, this time all in right field. In his age-30 season, Metheny hit .248 with eight home runs. The Yankees finished fourth in American League, and the writing was on the wall for Metheny heading towards the 1946 season as the Yankees were set to welcome back Joe DiMaggio and others following their service time.

When the club left spring training in 1946 Metheny was with them. However, it did not last long as after three pinch-hit appearances, Metheny was sent down to the minors. He would never play at the highest level again. His final career numbers, all with the Yankees, include 344 hits, 31 home runs, and 12 stolen bases. Two years later, Ruth’s (and Metheny’s) No. 3 was worn for the last time by outfielder Cliff Mapes before the Yankees officially retired the number on June 13, 1948, his final public appearances at Yankee Stadium. The Great Bambino died two months later.

Back in the minors Metheny would spend the rest of the 1946 season through the 1950 season as a player and then a player manager. While still playing in 1947, Metheny was recruited a second time by his old college coach to a teaching and coaching position at Old Dominion University.

It was at Old Dominion that Metheny would build his legacy. Metheny coached the baseball team to a 423-363-6 record in 32 seasons at the helm. He was named the NCAA Eastern Regional Coach of the Year in 1963 and 1964, and in 1980 led the Monarchs over the University of Virginia to win the Virginia State Championship. Additionally, Metheny coached the basketball team to 16 winning seasons and a 198-163 record and served as the athletic director for a time.

After such a long career, Metheny was honored with the baseball complex named after him. This changed in 2024, but the field is still named in his memory. Additionally, Metheny was inducted into the Old Dominion University Sports Hall of Fame in 1983. The baseball team to this day still wears pinstripes at home as a nod to Metheny and his tenure with the Yankees.

When it was all said and done, Metheny was a member of the William & Mary Hall of Fame, the Old Dominion University Hall of Fame, the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, and the American Association of College Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame. On January 2, 2003, Matheny passed away in the afternoon just a few hours after his wife of 61 years passed in the morning.

Happy birthday Bud!

See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.

The Nationals went 16-12 in the month of May. It was the team’s best month since August of 2023. At 31-29, this Nats team enters June sitting over .500 and looking like a team on the rise. I wanted to dive into the biggest factors that are driving this turnaround.

In April, the Nats were a good offensive team, but terrible pitching and defense led to a 12-15 month. Fans wondered what this team would look like average pitching. Well, they have gotten their answer, as the Nats posted a 4.04 ERA in the month of May. The rotation really turned things around, especially towards the end of the month. Pitching was a big reason why the Nats finished the month with three straight series wins over teams with a record above .500.

Veterans Miles Mikolas and Zack Littell had the biggest turnarounds this month. Both looked like over the hill arms who could not stop allowing homers in April. Mikolas and Littell both had ERA’s in the 8’s for the month. However, in May, the pair both posted ERA’s below 3. Blake Butera often had them pitching after an opener, and the strategy has worked.

You also have to credit 30 year old pitching coach Simon Mathews for helping guide these veteran arms. It can be tough for a young first year coach to get through to struggling veterans. However, Mathews has done just that. It is also a testament to Mikolas and Littell that they are willing to accept new information deep in their careers from a guy who is so young.

While the pitching has improved, the offense is still the star of the show. James Wood is the engine of the operation at the top of the lineup. He leads the NL in plate appearances, walks, runs, on base percentage, OPS and OPS+. Wood hit .311 this month, showing an ability to get hits consistently, along with his light tower power. He is playing like a legitimate MVP candidate this season.

As Nats fans, we have been spoiled by all the transcendent young hitters that have come through this organization. We had Bryce Harper and Juan Soto, and now we have James Wood. At 23 years old, Wood is on that sort of trajectory right now. The last item on his checklist is to keep up these kinds of performances for a full season. With the Nats playing more competitive baseball, I imagine it is easier to stay motivated and come to the ballpark ready to roll.

A lot of the things I said about Wood also apply to CJ Abrams. While Abrams does not have the same sort of upside as Wood, the 25 year old is also coming into his own. Abrams has gotten off to fast starts before, but he has never been this good for this long. Through 2 months, Abrams has a .294 batting average with a .933 OPS. 

However, Wood and Abrams were both rolling in April. In fact, both had slightly higher OPS numbers in April compared to May. Despite the Nats two stars “only” putting up OPS numbers in the .900’s instead of over 1.000, the offense was even better.

That comes down to improvement from the supporting cast. This month Wood and Abrams finally got a right handed hitting running mate that was producing near their level. Curtis Mead became a surprise star in the middle of the Nats lineup this month. He posted an OPS over .900 for the month, and on the season, his OPS is over .850.

The former top prospect is earning himself more and more playing time. After the game yesterday, a reporter asked Blake Butera who the last players to leave the stadium are. Butera said that Wood, Abrams and Mead are usually the last three he sees around. This work ethic has helped Mead become a full time player this month. Once Brady House got sent down, he assumed the role as the everyday third baseman.

Mead has helped make this lineup a whole lot deeper. As have guys like Luis Garcia Jr. and Jacob Young who have been productive at the plate this month. Young showcased a whole new side of his game, hitting five home runs in May. Entering this season, Young only had 5 homers in his entire career.

However, the biggest May breakout has to be Keibert Ruiz. As Fangraphs put it, Ruiz rose from the ashes. It is an appropriate way to put it. Ruiz had been dreadful for the last two seasons on both sides of the ball. In April, he was playing better defense, but was hitting just .178 with a .480 OPS. 

The switch hitting catcher totally flipped the script in May though. He hit .379 with a wild 1.107 OPS. After meeting with the coaching staff, as chronicled in a great article by Spencer Nusbaum, Ruiz started swinging harder and hitting the ball with more impact.

Ruiz has always possessed great bat to ball skills, but it did not matter because he did not hit the ball hard. This month he is pulling the ball in the air a ton and hitting it with more impact. That is the reason why he had 12 extra base hits in May. He was just roasting balls down the line, often for doubles or homers.

This is the most fun I have had watching the Nats since 2019. There is a new energy and confidence to this team that you can see. Even when you are in the locker room, you can tell the vibe is getting stronger. The team added a table in the middle of the room, where you often see guys playing chess or cards. Players are always talking to each other about baseball related things or just life things. It is great to see a team come together.

There is a lot of season left, and this team is still a long shot for the playoffs, and unlikely to finish above .500. However, I have optimism that in a couple years, we can look back on this month and pinpoint it as the moment where everything started to come together.

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Holy cow, it’s June! After a frustrating May, I am looking to open this month with a bang.

The board tonight is loaded with mispriced prop opportunities, and I am leaning into some familiar power bats in James Wood, Rafael Devers, and Jonathan Aranda to get things rolling.

Read on for my MLB Player Props and MLB picks for Monday, June 1. 

Best MLB player props today

Player	Pick	Odds
James Wood	Over 1.5 Total Bases	+115
Rafael Devers	Over 1.5 Hits, Runs, RBI	+122
Jonathan Aranda	Over 1.5 Hits, Runs, RBI	-136

James Wood Over 1.5 Total Bases (+115)

Washington Nationals slugger James Wood finds himself in yet another smash spot following his big performance on Sunday. This evening, he draws Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara, who owns a poorly rated matchup ISO and strikeout profile, according to Batters-Box.

The veteran right-hander has also struggled mightily against left-handed hitters lately. Over the last 30 lefties he's faced, opponents have produced a 50% hard-hit rate and a 15.4% barrel rate.

On top of that, Alcantara owns a 26.9% ground-ball rate and a massive 73.1% elevation rate (fly balls plus line drives). Those left-handed batters have generated a .455 xwOBA and .695 xSLG during that span.

Meanwhile, Wood has been absolutely scorching the baseball. Over his last 30 at-bats against right-handed pitching, he's posted a .509 xwOBA while recording a 31.25% barrel rate.

The Nationals' leadoff man also carries the highest arsenal coverage among today's elite-rated hitters on Batters-Box, checking in at 94.5% against Alcantara's pitch mix.

I'd play this prop down to even money, but I wouldn't pay juice for it. Also, don't be afraid to sprinkle a little on Wood to leave the yard in back-to-back games

• Time: 6:45 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Marlins.TV, Nationals.TV

Rafael Devers Over 1.5 Hits, Runs, RBI (+122)

Some people love to argue that "Vegas knows," but when it comes to baseball, I truly don't think they care. Win or lose, San Francisco Giants slugger Rafael Devers should not be +122 to record 2+ hits, runs, and RBI tonight.

"But...but...but he hit three doubles yesterday."

Okay?

Across 228 elite ratings on Batters-Box, Devers clears this number 55.7% of the time. Win or lose, this is a clear misprice.

Devers also owns 83% arsenal coverage against Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Chad Patrick. The Brewers starter has been allowing plenty of hard contact to left-handed bats lately, surrendering a 44.2% hard-contact rate and a 9.3% barrel rate over his last 60 batters faced.

His ground-ball rate also sits below 35%, pushing his elevation rate north of 65%.

If Devers elevates one tonight, there's a good chance it's leaving the yard.

Few hitters are seeing the ball better right now. Over his last 30 at-bats against right-handed pitching, Devers owns a .449 wOBA, a 193 wRC+, and a 59% hard-contact rate.

Give me Devers to leave the yard and clear 1.5 HRR. Whatever you do, don't pay juice on this prop.

• Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: FS1

Jonathan Aranda Over 1.5 Hits, Runs, RBI (-136)

I would like to start out by saying I typically would never pay this much juice on a hits, runs, RBI prop, and would usually default to the plus money on the 2+ bases prop.

However, Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda has a 61.36% hit rate on this prop across his previous 44 elite ratings on Batters-Box. I am willing to trust that over a 43.18% hit rate on 2+ bases. As always, a sprinkle on the home run is in play; he hits this 36.36% of the time at home (22 elite ratings).

Aranda draws Detroit Tigers right-hander Ty Madden, who enters with a poorly rated average-hitter matchup wOBA and hard-contact profile. Madden has also struggled against left-handed hitters this season, allowing a .324 xBA and a .443 xSLG.

Aranda carries nearly 81% arsenal coverage against Madden’s pitch mix. On top of that, he has been crushing the ball over his last 30 at-bats against right-handed pitching, posting a .875 SLG and a .559 wOBA while generating 68.4% hard contact, a 31.6% barrel rate, and a 94.8% elevation rate (fly balls plus line drives).

Aranda is also a strong walk candidate with a 14.3% walk rate this season, which adds to the appeal of the HRR prop. I would not play this any higher than -140, but beyond that range it makes more sense to take the plus money on his bases instead.

• Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Rays.TV, Tigers.TV

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The Dodgers on Monday had two Hernándezes in their starting lineup and two days later they were without both players, losing Kiké Hernández for six to eight weeks with an oblique strain and expected to miss Teoscar Hernández for about a month with a strained hamstring.

As the Dodgers turned things around in the middle of May, the one thing that took a while to return was power. But that all came back in spades this week, hitting 15 home runs in six games at Dodger Stadium, after just 11 home runs in their previous 13 home games.

Couple that with excellent pitching, the Dodgers mostly had their way with the Colorado Rockies and Philadelphia Phillies. They took a no-hitter into the eighth inning on Wednesday, and flirted with a no-no into the sixth inning on Friday. Only a two-out, two-strike, two-run home run off Tanner Scott in the eighth inning on Saturday prevented the Dodgers from a perfect week.

Five wins in six games will have to do, and a 5.5-game lead in the National League West, four games wider than the gap at the start of the week.

Batter of the week

Andy Pages was in the middle of things all week, leading the team in hits, extra-base hits, and runs scored. Plenty of others had cases, with six regulars posting a .911 OPS or higher. Honorable mention goes to catcher Will Smith, who homered twice with a 1.383 OPS, and to Kiké Hernández, who made the most of his four at-bats with two doubles, a home run, and a single, entering the John Hale Zone for the next several weeks.

Pitcher of the week

Just about the entire starting rotation were candidates this week. Eric Lauer impressed in his Dodgers debut, Shohei Ohtani didn’t even allow a hit. Yoshinobu Yamamoto struck out 10 in a scoreless outing. But we’ll go with Justin Wrobleski here, allowing only a solo home run and no other hits in seven innings, with a career high nine strikeouts, finding some extra oomph and success with his four-seam fastball.

Week 10 results

5-1 record
40 runs scored (6.67 per game)
17 runs allowed (2.83 per game)
.827 pythagorean win percentage

Year to date

38-21 record
314 runs scored (5.17 per game)
185 runs allowed (3.17 per game)
.725 pythagorean win percentage (43-16)

Miscellany

New savers: Kyle Hurt earned his first major league save on Wednesday, closing out a 4-1 win over the Colorado Rockies. That was eight days after Will Klein garnered his first save, a 5-4 win over the Padres in San Diego on May 19. Both have been excellent additions to a deep Dodgers bullpen this season, with Hurt coming back from Tommy John surgery in 2024 and Klein building off his late-season success last year and unforgettable World Series outing.

During the previous homestand, I asked Klein what clicked for him late last season, when he had a 41-percent strikeout rate over his final six weeks in Oklahoma City before getting called back up.

“I just kind of said, ‘Fuck it,’ and I stopped caring if guys put it in play. I’d rather them get a single than me walk,” he said. “You’ve got to go out there thinking you’re the best player in the world. I’m going to make you prove you’re better than me and hopefully, most of the time you’re not. Other things happen, like guys make good swings, but more often than not they put it in play. It’s a better outcome than straight-up walking.”

Klein and Hurt this season have combined for a 1.50 ERA in 42 innings, with 46 strikeouts against only eight unintentional walks.

Going deep: Ryan Ward got his second call to the majors this week, and his first time playing as a big leaguer at Dodger Stadium. The 28-year-old played 696 games in the minors before making his major league debut in April, and has 156 minor league home runs under his belt, including 96 home runs in Triple-A for the 2025 Pacific Coast League MVP.

On Sunday, Ward launched a ball 400 feet into the right field bullpen on Sunday for his first major league home run.

Transactions

Monday: Kiké Hernández was activated off the 60-day injured list after missing 53 games, and Santiago Espinal was designated for assignment.

Wednesday: Kiké Hernándezlanded on the IL, and Alex Freeland was recalled. Espinal cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A; he elected free agency.

Friday: Teoscar Hernández was placed on the injured list, and Ryan Ward was called up to the majors for a second time. Espinal re-signed, and Hyeseong Kim was optioned.

Sunday: Left-hander Jack Dreyerreturned from the IL after missing the minimum 15 days, and Paul Gervase was optioned.

Game results

• Monday: Dodgers 5, Rockies 3
• Tuesday: Dodgers 4, Rockies 1
• Wednesday: Dodgers 15, Rockies 6
• Friday: Dodgers 4, Phillies 2
• Saturday: Phillies 4, Dodgers 3
• Sunday: Dodgers 9, Phillies 1

Previous reviews: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9

Up next

May is done, and the Dodgers begin June with the Barry Enright gauntlet, playing four games against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the desert, followed by returning home for a lone weekend against the Angels. The Angels broadcasts of next weekend’s games are all available on over-the-air television, with Friday’s game on KTTV channel 11 followed by Saturday and Sunday on KCOP channel 13.

The Jays and we get a day off. As much as I enjoy baseball, I don’t mind days off. We are using the evening to see a National Geographic lecture. Yes, I’m that old.

So we have time for an OpenThread. Use it to chat about anything you like, within site rules. It doesn’t have to be Blue Jays or baseball.

I have been playing OOTP Baseball and got to the end of the 2026 season. Made it to the Wild Card playoffs, but lost to the Yankees. Starting spring training for the 2027 season, and a few games in, Ricky Tiedemann is injured; Tommy John out for a year and a half. And my closer is gone for the season.

Tiedemann was in my bullpen for the 2026 season, then made four starts at the end of the season after I lost a couple of starters. The game does give you a feel for what it is like to be a GM; you think you have enough starting pitchers, and then Kevin Gausman got injured in April, and I found myself collecting any reasonable pitcher I could. It is almost like real life.

Going into the second season, I hoped to trade off some of the bigger contracts but, just like in real baseball, no one wants players making a lot of money. Likely the worst one is Andres Gimenez, who has three years at $23.5 million and is untradable, and I have Arjun Nimmala ready to join the club at the major league minimum.

Anyway, you don’t have to talk about computer baseball. But then the only other thing I want to talk about is my premier, who wants to trade clean water for dirty coal, but that’s against site rules.

Beyond that, there was a glitch in the ABS system that cost the A’s a strike that should have been a ball. It has worked so well that, I guess, we’ll have to live with the odd problem.

And the Rays, for some reason, signed Craig Kimbrel. He pitched in one game and is injured. I don’t know why they would have picked him up.

Brewers Abner Uribe was suspended for one game for (it is hard to believe I’m typing this) doing crotch chops towards the Cardinals’ bench. And he is appealing it. I know I’m old and all, but shouldn’t there be some level of decorum on the field? I’m totally ok with players celebrating on the field. I think the old ways of never showing happiness on the field is dumb. But I’d have given Uribe a long suspension for that.

Happy Monday.