With both the Mets and Nationals having nothing to play for in the dog days of the season, it gives both clubs an opportunity to shake it up and test some things out with an eye towards next year.
That's why the Mets will be giving Brett Baty a look at shortstop in Saturday afternoon's contest.
"Where the season is right now, for us, this serves a purpose for 2027," manager Andy Green said. "Brett has been incredibly valuable bouncing around the field from a roster-construction prospective, as you look towards the future his ability to defend at short when Francisco [Lindor] needs a day off gives us flexibility if it's a viable solution.
"These games don't have playoff implications for either team, so we don't feel like we're necessarily shorting the industry by doing it at this point in time, and it serves a purpose for us towards the future."
Baty has appeared at shortstop three times this year, but this will be his first career start at the position.
The 26-year-old infielder has continued taking groundballs out there throughout this season, and that's something that Green and the Mets expect to carry into spring training next year.
"Very much so," the skipper said. "I've had the privilege of coaching a lot of really good big-league infielders, [bench coach] Kai [Correa] has, and [third base coach] Tim Leiper has as well -- we all see in him the athleticism necessary to defend the field there on a fill-in basis -- Brett's incredibly athletic."
Baty will also continue to see reps in the outfield, despite the emergence of Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing really digging into his playing time out there.
"Brett very much could still slide to the outfield depending on what happens," Green emphasized. "You look around baseball and the best teams have someone like this who has the athleticism to do all of these things -- he's found a great measure of comfort at that as the year has gone on and we've seen his bat wake up and get loud.
"A loud bat for someone who can defend all over the field is incredibly invaluable -- you never know what hole you are going to have fill from different injuries in a season, so him being prepared to fill as many holes as possible for us could set us up really well heading into next year."
Baty has now added 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, LF, and RF to his toolbox.
Lenni Hämeenaho got his first taste of the NHL last season, making his debut with the New Jersey Devils and getting a brief glimpse of life at hockey’s highest level.
A second-round draft pick in 2023, the organization showed patience with Hämeenaho as he adjusted to the pros in North America, delaying his NHL debut until mid-January.
After that night, the Finnish winger played 33 NHL games, scoring two goals and finishing his rookie season with eight points.
After the season ended, Hämeenaho met Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe for his exit interview, and the message from coach to player was simple: It would be a big mistake to leave and make any assumptions about what his future looks like.
“He has got to put in the work and continue to get better,” Keefe said on Thursday. “If he was going to make any sort of assumption, the one that I told him to make is that we are going to be a better team when he returns than the one that he played 30 games for.”
Since returning to New Jersey, Hämeenaho has skated alongside either Riley Tufte and Colin White or Ben Steeves and Matyas Melovsky. The common thread among all four players: each was slated to begin the season in the American Hockey League with the Utica Comets.
With offseason additions of Anthony Mantha, Luke Evangelista, Evan Rodrigues, Amadeus Lombardi, and Jesper Boqvist, it was clear Hämeenaho would head to Utica.
“There is more competition,” Keefe said. “There is more depth. That would be the biggest thing that [Hämeenaho] and others are trying to navigate and find their way through.”
In two preseason appearances, Hämeenaho picked up one assist. He averaged 17 minutes and was credited with one shot on goal, three blocked shots, two hits, and one giveaway.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“What ends up happening when you play in the (NHL) like he did last year was that I have seen him do it at the level, and I know some of the things he is capable of,” Keefe said. “That will always serve him well, and I think that has helped his confidence when I have talked to him, and when I have watched him.”
With the Comets, Hämeenaho will play top-line minutes in all situations, which is exactly what he needs to develop. It will serve him better than sitting in the press box or playing a limited role every few games.
“The goal every off-season is for the team to improve, and I think we have done exactly that,” Keefe said. “Because of that, it is that much more difficult, but it is all part of being a young player in the league. You maximize every opportunity that you get to show well and earn a spot, be it right away or be the first guy called up.”
Now the question is whether Hämeenaho will see NHL minutes this season, when the Devils currently have Jesper Boqvist and Stefan Noesen skating as extra forwards with the NHL group.
The Comets will open their season on Friday, Oct. 2, against the Providence Bruins in Rhode Island.
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Kon Knueppel will miss all of training camp and, very likely, the start of the season after injuring his left hamstring, the Charlotte Hornets announced. He will be reevaluated the first week of the season (the week of Oct. 19).
OFFICIAL: Kon Knueppel suffered a left hamstring injury and Grant Williams suffered a right hamstring injury during offseason on-court activity. Both players will miss our preseason games and be re-evaluated during the first week of the regular season.
Knueppel's teammate Grant Williams suffered a right hamstring injury and also will be out for the entire preseason, to be reevaluated the first week of the season.
Knueppel finished a close second in Rookie of the Year voting last season to his former college teammate Cooper Flagg. Knueppel, 21, averaged 18.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, shooting 42.5% from 3-point range, and was the first rookie in league history to lead the NBA in total 3-pointers made (273, an average of 3.4 per game). Knueppel showed last season he was more than just a shooter, he'll have more responsibilities in the Hornets' offense, but he won't get as many easy-look 3-pointers as he did last season without Ball's passing.
Williams didn't start playing last season until January as he recovered from a torn ACL, but during the Hornets' strong close to the season he was a regular part of the rotation. Williams averaged 7 points per game and shot 38.8% from 3-point range, which mattered because 73% of his shot attempts came from beyond the arc.
Los Angeles Lakers public address announcer Lawrence Tanter is seen during an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017, at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Tanter passed away at the age of 76. MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Tanter was a huge part of the in-game experience.
His smooth, silky baritone voice echoed throughout the arena for 43 years before he suffered a stroke in March and moved into an advisory role in June.
The way he said each player’s name. The way he said Lakers girls. The way his voice became part of the tapestry of Los Angeles.
Tanter was behind the scenes but front and center. He was 6-foot-7 but in the shadows. He had been part of the Lakers’ organization since 1982 but was unrecognizable to most.
But his impact was deeply felt.
Tanter was a part of 10 Lakers championships. He made calls for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James and Luka Doncic.
Johnson called him “the sound of the Lakers franchise,” adding that he was “an integral part of many Laker championships, right alongside us players.”
James added that he “made home games SPECIAL.”
Former Laker and current radio analyst Mychal Thompson said, “Maybe God’ll use LT’s voice to announce new arrivals to heaven.”
Announcer Lawrence Tanter poses for a photo prior to a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets at STAPLES Center on Nov. 3, 2015, in Los Angeles. NBAE via Getty Images
Behind the scenes in the media room at Crypto.com Arena, he was a friendly face with a warm smile. He greeted reporters, including once telling this writer that he liked the way she carried herself. It meant a lot to her.
Flea, the bassist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers and a Lakers super fan, wrote on X that Tanter always talked to him about jazz at games. Flea added that he’s “a great vibe dude” as well as “the best announcer in the NBA.”
He was kind. He cared deeply about his work. And he had the respect of everyone in the arena.
James, who’s arguably the greatest player of all time, would salute him before every home game because he believed Tanter deserved his flowers.
One of Tanter’s most memorable moments came after Los Angeles was heartbroken following the death of Kobe Bryant in a helicopter crash in January 2020.
When the Lakers played their first game following that tragedy, Tanter paid homage to the five-time champion who spent his entire 20-season career with the Purple-and-Gold.
He introduced all five starters using the same line.
“Number 24, 6-6, 20th year out of Lower Merion High School, Kobeeee Bryant.”
It was powerful. It was memorable. It was moving.
Tanter seamlessly knew when to stand out and when to blend in. Some other public address announcers around the league are bombastic. Tanter was melodic and understated.
As the Lakers enter their 80th season and try to win their first championship since 2020 behind superstar Doncic, one thing will be sorely missing at home games.
UNSPECIFIED - CIRCA 1900: Zoology - Reptiles - Thorny devil or lizard (Moloch horridus). (Photo By DEA / C. DANI I. JESKE/De Agostini via Getty Images) | De Agostini via Getty Images
Back-to-back daily Notes posts are all you need to know to start believing the season is right around the corner, starting with Monday’s media day. Can’t wait!
Karl-Anthony Towns’ contract situation remains the biggest storyline entering Knicks training camp. SNY’s Ian Begley reported the Knicks and Towns have remained in regular contact throughout the offseason, with discussions described as positive and the organization making clear it wants Towns in New York long term. However, no agreement is imminent.
Salary-cap expert Yossi Gozlan told Begley that extending Towns, Hart and McBride while also planning for future Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby extensions will require difficult financial decisions unless the salary cap rises faster than projected or James Dolan changes his stance on going over the second apron.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Tim MacMahon believe the two sides remain far apart financially, with the former saying there’s “tens of millions” separating them and MacMahon suggesting the gap could even be eight figures annually.
The Knicks’ final roster spot remains one of training camp’s biggest competitions, with Begley expecting veterans Bruce Brown, John Konchar and Ochai Agbaji to battle for a wing spot while Drew Eubanks and James Wiseman compete for the reserve center role. Unless New York sheds salary in a trade (looking at you, Paco), only one of those five veterans is likely to make the standard roster.
Keeping it Begley, the pundit also expects rookie Tyler Nickel to receive one of the remaining camp spots and believes Kevin McCullar will eventually earn a place on the roster as well.
Jalen Brunson shared the defining moment that shaped his basketball career during an appearance on the “Things No One Tells You” podcast. His parents told him he could only choose two of three priorities: school, basketball, or a social life. You know what happened next.
Jalen Brunson says his parents made him choose between basketball and a social life
“My parents told me when I was in high school that I have three things to choose from. I have school, I have basketball, I have my social life to choose from. And I can only pick two of the… pic.twitter.com/uCf30XV3Ec
Salty ESPN “analytics pioneer” Dean Oliver isn’t buying the consensus on Brunson’s standing among the league’s elite. While ESPN’s Top 100 panel ranked Brunson No. 6 overall, Oliver said his statistical models place the Finals MVP “around the No. 25 range” and argued New York media attention inflates public perception.
“I love Brunson’s game, but his lofty ranking benefitted not only from recent bias but also from the New York media bias. (That bias might also help you forget that Brunson missed the shot in the most iconic image from the Finals, when OG Anunoby swooped in for the putback game-winner to clinch Game 4.)
“The metrics place Brunson around the No. 25 range heading into the season. That’s not a huge gap. He’s elite, just not No. 6 — at least not during the regular season.”
Stephen Curry has agreed to a two-year, $116 million extension with the Warriors that includes a player option for the 2028-29 season. Curry, set to turn 39 midseason, still had one year left in his deal, meaning he could get to complete a nicely rounded 20-season career in The Bay if he retires at the end of his next pact.
Greg Oden admitted he never expected to be selected ahead of Kevin Durant in the 2007 NBA Draft and actually wanted to return to Ohio State.
North Macedonia great Pero Antić can only joke about making the Rising Stars Challenge at age 31. “I was already a falling star. Everyone was laughing, including my mom and dad.”
Reed Sheppard is fully embracing the Nacho Libre comparisons after his media day photos went viral 😂📸 pic.twitter.com/Crs5BTUjmZ
When it comes to making roster moves, the Mets are unmatched. On the penultimate day of the season, the team has optioned left-handed reliever Jefry Yan to the minors and called up right-handed reliever Chayce McDermott to take his place on the active roster.
Known for his enthusiastic and elaborate strikeout celebrations, Yan made his major league debut with the Mets this year and wound up throwing 20.1 innings with the team. In that time, he had a 4.87 ERA and a 4.82 FIP with 26 strikeouts and 15 walks.
McDermott had brief stints with the Orioles and Dodgers before the Mets picked him up this year, and he’s thrown 5.1 innings with the team at the major league level. In a total of 7.2 innings with the Mets and Dodgers this season, he has a 5.87 ERA and a 6.49 FIP. In 41.1 innings in the minors, he has a 3.92 ERA and a 3.82 FIP.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 27: Grayson Allen #8 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket against Walker Kessler #24 of the Utah Jazz during overtime of their game at the Delta Center on October 27, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka and head coach JJ Redick spoke at length on several topics at Thursday’s season-opening presser. A central theme was personnel. They wanted to recruit players whose profiles match Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves at their primes.
Acquiring a new big-man anchor and younger athletes this offseason will help implement a more aggressive defensive identity than last year.
Despite winning 53 games, the Lakers finished with the tenth-worst defense. Every other 50-win team finished at least in the top seven, except the Nuggets (21st) and the Cavs (15th).
An identity shift will begin this season at the center position with Walker Kessler.
“I think Walker’s a perfect fit for Luka and [Reaves],” Redick said. “Just in terms of his rim protection and really being an anchor for our defense. It’s an area we’ve struggled with.”
Struggled is an understatement. The Lakers ranked second-to-last in opponents’ shooting percentage at the rim last season, giving up 72% in the restricted area. Not unrelated, the team traded away starting center Deandre Ayton and backup big man Jaxson Hayes was not re-signed.
While the Lakers offense has clear direction with Luka and Austin leading the charge, the defense now does too. Players will all be funneled toward Kessler at the rim.
The gap in rim protection is canyon-sized. LA got 1.8 blocks per game total out of their main centers last season, while Kessler averaged 2.4 himself in his last healthy campaign. He pairs elite timing with a quick jump and a 9’5” standing reach to erase attempts like the one shown below.
His addition alone instantly turns the Lakers from a poor rim-protection team into an elite one. This is predicated, of course, on whether they can keep the big man near the basket.
“I know we have switched a lot one through five the last two years,” Redick said. “That has been by necessity.”
The hopeful advantage of one-through-five switching is to negate any screen action. It can help slower foot players, since chasing over and around screens takes a lot of effort, and switching conserves energy.
Good offenses took advantage by controlling the terms of engagement. They consistently got the matchup they wanted with little to no resistance and forced LA’s big man out of the paint.
Watch below as the switching scheme the Lakers go to on Christmas Day lets Kevin Durant find Ayton with ease. He backs up helplessly, giving Durant the space to knock down his patented jump shot.
Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura and Luke Kennard were all in the top eight of minutes last year and now are on different franchises. Smart was the only one with a defensive reputation, but he turned 32 with a ton of playoff miles and needed to be load-managed.
Superstar LeBron James, who turns 42 in December, also walked in free agency, bringing a brand new perimeter and forward rotation.
“We have the guys who can pick up full court, guard, and be disruptive,” Redick said. He specifically named Ziaire Williams,Matisse Thybulle, Adou Thiero and Quentin Grimes as main contributors in this area.
They all bring different styles and skill sets, with Thybulle having the highest pedigree as an NBA All-Defensive member for two seasons. Together, they form a rotation of defensive playmakers and attackers.
Williams and Thybulle led their respective teams in deflections a year ago and having an elite center behind them gives them the freedom to play more aggressively, knowing protection is there.
The Lakers will hope screen navigation is a strength this year, with players fighting over and bothering the league’s top playmakers. They have the personnel to get deflections and force turnovers as shown below, a place they were middle of the pack last season.
Ball pressure and great rim protection are synergistic on the defensive end and accentuate each other.
The starting backcourt won’t be asked to do that, given the offensive burden on their shoulders. Even so, they need more consistent effort and attention to detail on that end. There’s no world where the Lakers have a good defense without Luka and Reaves contributing.
Reaves has shown to be a strong “chaser,” navigating off-ball screens effectively and staying attached to his man in different actions. Depending on who the fifth starter is, he likely will be the one the Lakers put on speedy guards.
Luka’s effort has increased and is better than his reputation suggests as he led the Lakers in deflections last season, but he still has major room for improvement. With a slimmer frame, there’s optimism for more consistent investment.
With LeBron out the door, they are the two leaders, and setting the tone begins with them.
Pelinka stressed that he built this roster through the prism of what Luka needs and Redick’s basketball philosophies. Adding Kessler and moving toward a younger, more athletic roster should shift the defense from passive to more active.
“With this group, probably the first time in my three years here that I feel like the pieces actually fit together,” Redick said.
Jefry Yan's season has officially comes to an end.
The Mets optioned the left-hander to the minors to bring in Chayce McDermott for Saturday's game.
Yan joined the big-league roster midseason after they dealt all of their big bullpen arms.
The reliever showed some of the positives he put on display with Syracuse but ultimately faltered, being optioned back to the minors after allowing runs in each of his last four appearances from late-August to early-September.
He eventually rejoined the squad and enjoyed some success, putting together 5.1 scoreless innings before allowing a pair of runs while serving as the opener for the first time in his career on Friday.
Yan finishes his season with 4.34 ERA and 1.67 WHIP over his first 17 MLB appearances.
It's a bit tough to see him back pitching for the Mets in meaningful games early on next season, but perhaps he'll be able to compete for a spot with the state of their bullpen.
This is McDermott's second stint with the Mets since being acquired from the Dodgers at the deadline.
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 18: Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) walks off the field after a strike out in the fifth inning during a game between the Seattle Mariners and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 18, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
I missed that one in the Chinese New Year list of animals. I remembered the sheep, rabbit, and snake, and then completely overlooked the “didn’t see that one coming” creature (possibly symbolized by a dead chicken in the road who crossed not noticing the approaching Toyota).
When anyone refers to baseball as “the most unpredictable of games,” 2026 provides a fine template. It also offers a useful reminder of the limited value pre-season predictions, projections, and prognostications hold. You may not have cared for the last sentence but please, give p’s a chance.
Exhibit A: The AL West
Much has been made of the AL West’s mediocrity and it reached a crescendo Friday night when both the Astros and Rangers lost (to teams with over 90 losses). Each club suffered its 81st loss in the process, ensuring they will not finish the season with a winning record.
What one of them will finish with, however, is a division crown. This means had the A’s been able to assemble a .500 team they would lining up their post-season rotation as we speak.
Exhibit B: The Sunken Mariners
Missing from the AL West showdown are the Mariners, who were practically unanimously picked to waltz away with the division title. Most projections had them winning somewhere between 88-94 games and had they gone, say, 91-71, they would have taken the division by 10-11 games.
Instead Seattle sputtered, treaded water, and sunk like the Holey Mariner, entering the final weekend 74-86. Inexplicably, Cal Raleigh followed up his historic 60 HR season by batting .169/.271/.310 in the first half of 2026, including a woeful May in which he hit .056/.128/.056 (2 for 36 with 2 singles) and a 41% K rate.
#2: Seattle Mariners (90 wins) #4: Toronto Blue Jays (88 wins) #6: New York Mets #8: Detroit Tigers #12: Baltimore Orioles (86 wins) #15: Kansas City Royals #17: San Francisco Giants (83 wins)
#21 on the list with a projected record of 79-83? That would be your Tampa Bay Rays, predicted to finish in the AL East cellar and offered a 23% chance of making the post-season at all.
In fact the Rays hold the American’s League’s best record at 97-63, sitting 18.5 games ahead of the Orioles and 19 up on the Blue Jays — the team ESPN figured would win 9 more games than the Rays). So they were only off by 28 games.
Individual anomalies also abound. I could have made quite the fortune had I been gutsy, flown to Vegas, and put my life savings on Carlos Cortes out homering Vlad Guerrero Jr. I mean there’s still 2 games left but the A’s LFer/reliever is leading 10-9. That’s partly because Guerrero Jr. is getting “out homered at home” 2-1 by Alika Williams.
So next spring, or whenever MLB and MLBPA cry “PLAY BALL!!!”, don’t be too quick to assume you know what’s going to unfold in 2027. Expect the unexpected and only then will you be right. It might just be the Rockies’ year.
“But it turned out awful nice, I’ll tell you that — 16 years. You know, I lasted more than I thought I would. Boy, what a life. I really enjoyed every minute of it. Even when I was horseshit, I still liked it.”
As he approached his 100th birthday in 2025, Bobby Shantz took the opportunity to reflect on his career in baseball. More than 60 years since he’d hung up his cleats, he still had the mind of a ballplayer, reminiscing about the legends he played with and against with vividness and vibrancy. But he also had the perspective of a man who’d been on a long journey — and was grateful for every stop along the way.
Robert Clayton Shantz Born: September 26, 1925 (Pottstown, PA) Yankees Tenure: 1957-60
Shantz grew up in the suburbs in Pennsylvania. A small kid (his height peaked at 5-foot-6 as an adult), the young Bobby distinguished himself through pinpoint control and all-around athleticism. After his high school coach refused to let him pitch due to his size, a youth baseball manager saw Shantz working out his curveball and decided to give him a shot on the mound. He joined the Army in 1944 and continued to hone his craft on Army baseball teams while stationed in the Philippines, competing against big-leaguers and building confidence in his ability to go pro.
Upon his return to the States, Shantz continued to impress in semipro ball but struggled to find any takers among MLB teams due to his stature. Finally, after a couple of teammates with connections in the Philadelphia A’s organization put in a good word, Harry O’Donnell, a scout with the team, signed him to an A-Ball deal. He immediately impressed, winning 18 games in 28 starts and striking out nearly a batter an inning. The next year, at the age of 23, he made the leap all the way to the big leagues, where he would be managed by none other than Hall of Famer and baseball lifer Connie Mack.
In his first three seasons in Philly, the southpaw established himself as a strong contributor, pitching around league average and making his first All-Star team in 1951. But it was the following year that would be Shantz’s campaign for the ages. Seemingly out of nowhere, he emerged as the best pitcher in baseball, winning 24 games, posting a 152:63 K:BB ratio, recording a 2.48 ERA, 9.4 rWAR, and taking home the AL MVP. The career year was aided in part by the use of a knuckleball Mack had forbade him from employing but his new manager, Jimmie Dykes, encouraged.
In the ‘52 All-Star Game, Shantz struck out the side in his only inning of work, including punchouts of Jackie Robinson and Stan Musial. His newfound stardom even netted him a guest spot on the Ed Sullivan Show.
As is so often the case after a superlative season like Shantz’s ‘52, the pitcher took a step back in the years that followed. As he struggled with injury and inconsistency, he went 13-26 with a 4.42 ERA over the next four years, failing to recapture his peak form on floundering A’s teams as the franchise moved to Kansas City. After the ‘56 campaign, the A’s traded their former MVP to the Yankees as part of a 13-player trade. Shantz was a man reborn, leading all of baseball with a 2.45 ERA in ‘57 and earning his first All-Star berth since his MVP season.
Shantz also took home the very first AL Gold Glove for a pitcher, his first of eight such awards earned between both leagues. The man’s legacy as one of the greatest fielding pitchers has never been in question. “I’ll occasionally hear a guy introduce me and say, ‘He was the best fielding pitcher in baseball,’ and I’ll say, ‘No, Bobby Shantz was,’” said Jim Kaat, winner of 16 Gold Gloves himself. “He didn’t win a Gold Glove until ’57. Had they given them out starting in ’50, he would have had 16 or 17 as well.”
Shantz made the only World Series start of his long career that October, taking the ball in Game 2 against the Milwaukee Braves. He struggled, allowing four runs (three earned) in three innings, but rebounded well in Game 4, tossing three scoreless innings in relief to keep the Yankees in a game they’d eventually tie up in the ninth.
Shantz spent three more years in pinstripes, eventually transitioning to a bullpen role, where he pitched well as a proto-closer. Despite finding his greatest individual success in Philadelphia, Shantz would later recount that his time with the Yankees—who won a championship in 1958 and the pennant in three of his four seasons there—was the most rewarding of his career.
After the ‘60 season, the Yankees left him exposed in an expansion draft. Shantz was selected by the Washington Senators, who flipped him to the Pirates. He’d spend the final four seasons of his career in a state of perpetual motion, pitching for five different teams as a trusted reliever. After the ‘64 season, at the age of 39, Shantz retired. The 5-foot-6 non-prospect who was rejected repeatedly at the start of his career had stuck around for 16 years in the big leagues.
Shantz retired back to Pennsylvania, where he managed a restaurant and co-owned a bowling alley. In 2010, Pottstown High School renamed their baseball park Bobby Shantz Field in honor of their famous alumnus.
As the years have gone on and he’s passed the century mark, Shantz has increasingly become the “oldest living” designee in many areas — oldest living MLB MVP, oldest living A’s player, and on down the line. He’s accepted this status with grace and humor, giving colorful interviews and staying connected to the game he loves.
100-year-old former AL MVP Bobby Shantz autographs his baseball card 75 years later…pic.twitter.com/ZBDhqKw3HG
On the occasion of his 101st birthday, we celebrate the oldest living Yankee, Bobby Shantz. We’ll let him take us out in his own words: “I had a great life. Jesus, great life. Boy, I’d like to do that all over again.”
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 23: William Contreras #24 of the Milwaukee Brewers and Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies look on during a game at Citizens Bank Park on September 23, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We are all aware of the reputation Philadelphia has when it comes to underperforming athletes in this city. There are “boo birds” out en masse if a player does something that the city thinks isn’t up to their standards. Last night, against Tampa Bay, the fans were restless as scoring chance after scoring chance went wasted, frittered away by an offense that is so clearly pressing it’s barely funny.
When that ire is thrown from the stands, the suspects are usually the ones that have underperformed seemingly since the day they arrived. Trea Turner has been the subject of many a negative comment both in these parts and at the stadium in person. Alec Bohm frequently hears from the people when one of his cold streak appears out of nowhere. Much people’s current distaste has been directed at the currently 0 for his last 32 J.T. Realmuto, all of that completely justified.
However, there needs to be some criticism lobbed at the leadoff hitter. Kyle Schwarber has not just been ineffective lately, he’s been pretty ineffective for a while now.
The supposed fulcrum of the Phillies offense has been off for not just a little bit now. If we’re looking at recent runs, Schwarber’s last 14 days has seen him hit .143/.345/.262 with one home run. Stretch that back even 28 days and the line doesn’t really get all that much better (.185/.333/.380). His basing his entire offensive profile on hitting home runs is great and worth all the accolades he has been given in the past, but his dry spell is costing the team dearly.
Now, the entirety of the offense is currently to blame for their predicament. Meant to clinch a playoff spot earlier this week, they have found themselves in the position where missing the playoffs entirely is truly on the table and the cluster of the roster to blame is the offense. They have simply disappeared. When an All-Star starter disappears from the planet as far as production at the plate (Brandon Marsh’s wRC+ since 7/1 is 33), that is going to have an effect on the offense. When the catcher joins him in offensive ineptitude (Realmuto’s during that same time is a very not nice 69), that’s two hitters of nine that are just anchors on a lineup and what they can do.
But having a leadoff hitter that doesn’t do what he’s supposed to do is also a weight that is hard to ignore. Schwarber since 7/1 has hit .205/.336/.413, a paltry amount compared to what we have seen from him in the past. He’s hit 15 home runs in that time frame, which is great since the rest of the lineups has seen little power outside of him, but again, it’s not up to his standard.
And there are the strikeouts.
Holy cow, the strikeouts. He’s not nearly as strikeout prone as someone like Colson Montgomery, the young White Sox slugger that just whiffed his way to the MLB strikeout record for a season. But Schwarber truly looks lost at times at the plate, that he’s just unable to make contact when it is needed most. Two things that have been noticeable is that he’s not squaring the ball up
and he’s hitting the ball on the ground a lot more often.
It’s enough to make one wonder if there is something deeper at play, some kind of injury that he has been hiding that will require something done in the offseason.
There could be a few changes in mind to help with the malaise of the offense as a whole. Batting order changes, substitutions, something that can be used to shake up what looks to be a dormant group of hitters. Something in these final two games that maybe kickstart something drastic. Panicking? Maybe, but panic mode is probably in order right now.
What would really help is a leadoff hitter that was doing his job and right now, Kyle Schwarber is not doing that.
David Bernstein: a fine is not sufficient if appeal fails
Khaldoon Al Mubarak, the Manchester City chair, has spoken for the first time since the club was found guilty on virtually all counts of breaching Premier League financial rules, saying “nothing has changed” and “our confidence and intent in proving the club’s innocence is just as strong as when this began”.
News broke on Friday that City had been found guilty on all but one of the 115 charges laid by the Premier League in February 2023, charges the club have always strenuously denied.
SACRAMENTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 25: Christian Walker #8 of the Houston Astros hits a home run in the fourth inning during the game between the Houston Astros and the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on Friday, September 25, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Don Collier/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Magic Number remains at two, with two games remaining. A’s 6 Astros 5
In front of 9,012, Hunter Brown wasn’t spectacular; in fact, he was slightly above average for much of the night. By the time Brown’s pitch count hit 100, he’d exit with a body of work showing four issued walks, one each during each of the opening three frames. Along the way, there were plenty of missed targets, a pair of hits and Brown’s visual frustration.
Brown would exit in the 6th inning with 2 on (courtesy of an error by Jose Altuve that sabotaged a double play) and 1 out for Bennett Sousa. However, they wouldn’t be stranded for long. Sousa faced three batters, failed to register any outs and the runs began to pour in. The initial damage coming on Michael Stefanic’s two run pinch-hit RBI single. The wheels came off after that.
At one point, the A’s strung together four consecutive hits. By the time it was all said and done, they’d send 10 men to the plate, scoring 6 runs and in the process, busting things wide open. Brown was charged with two runs.
There were a few bright spots, the first coming from the bat of Christian Walker. Walker would take an inside fastball 425 feet to left field in the fourth inning which initially gave Houston a 1-0 lead. For Walker it was his third home run on this current road trip, his 28th for the season.
Cam Smith also used the long ball, hitting his first homer in roughly two weeks, making things 6-2.
In the Top Of the 8th, things would get interesting. A’s reliever Geoff Hartlieb failed to find the strike zone to the tune of loading up the bases. LaMonte Wade & Isaac Paredes drew walks with an Alvarez single sandwiched in between.
Luis Medina was dreadful as the next reliever, validating the anemic nature of the A’s bullpen. Jose Altuve would bring home Wade on a sacrifice fly, his 47th RBI of the year. Yainer Diaz scored Alvarez with a single to left, giving him 44 RBI on the year. Medina would then throw a wild pitch, scoring Paredes. The Astros put three up on the board, but it wasn’t enough.
With the loss, Houston is now 79-81.
Odds & Ends:
Yordan Alvarez now has 109 walks on this season.
The Astros will face Jack Perkins on Saturday Night. First pitch will once again be 8:40pm CDT. Perkins has a record of 3-12 on the season with an ERA of 5.90.
Former Astro, Justin Verlander will make his final career start on Saturday for the Tigers. It will be Verlander’s 557th time taking the mound.
Pfaadt Battles Hard, Diamondbacks Close to Within One Game of Philly Brandon Pfaadt was far from his crispest, most dominant self on Friday. He worked most of his night with runners all over the bases. He still managed to gut out 7.2 innings, allowing only four runs in what will not go down as a quality start in the books, but was everything Arizona could ask for and then some to take game one of the season’s biggest series.
What Happened to Corbin Burnes and What is Plan B for Saturday? Burnes was throwing a bullpen between his last start on Sunday and scheduled outing on Saturday, but it just did not feel right. General manager Mike Hazen said Burnes was not feeling pain, but the ball was not coming out right to where Burnes felt he could help the team. Burnes underwent an MRI in Phoenix on Friday and will receive a second opinion after landing on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation. The Diamondbacks, facing a do or die situation in game two of the series against the San Diego Padres, look likely to use Ryne Nelson as an opener for a full-on bullpen game on Saturday.
Diamondbacks’ Postseason Push Takes a Turn and a Moreno Update Diamondbacks’ backstop, Gabriel Moreno exited an Arizona rout of the Padres on Friday with tightness in his leg. Manager Torey Lovullo reports he expects Moreno to be fine and has pencilled him in as the team’s DH to rest the leg. Meanwhile, the team will be calling up another catcher to make sure they still have two available for the final two games of the regular season.
Sanchez DFA’d, Moreno Injured The Jesus Sanchez experiment did not last long. It may well have finished the season if Gabriel Moreno had not left Friday night’s game early, due to tightness in his leg.
Hear me out phillies fans…
We purposely lose out and let the dbacks make the playoffs, because with their hot bats they are GUARANTEED to sweep the braves in the wild card round. Even if the phillies make the playoffs, we aren’t winning shit anyways. So let’s purposely let the…
What to Watch for in MLB’s Final Weekend Playoff races will be determined. A Triple Crown is on the line. Gabriel Moreno tries to edge out Arraez for the NL batting title and more.
The updated NL Wild Card race with 2 games to go after the Diamondbacks win their 6th straight game.
Why Another 100-Loss Season is not Deterring Colorado Fans Colorado has lost 100+ games for the third season in a row now. However, despite crossing the century mark for losses yet again, the team also posted a doble-digit improvement in the winning ways.
How to Watch Justin Verlander’s Final Start Justin Verlander, future first-ballot Hall of Famer, one of only two players to ever tally a Rookie of the Year, MVP, and Cy Young Award, will make the final start of his career today. This is indeed the end of an era.
