“There’s just a lot of little things when you see Mo play that make you go, ‘Oh my gosh, wow.’ And all those things, when you add them up to a possible opportunity, it gives you more confidence as a coaching staff to throw him out there and say, ‘OK, let’s see what’s going to happen.’”
On Diawara’s feel and instincts:
“In the summertime, you started to see his feel. His feel for the game is uncanny for a guy who is 6-foot-8 or however big he is and how young he is. Everything you try to teach him, he tries to absorb it and works very hard. He’s long and a pretty good defender … getting better. Just a lot of little things that you watch and go, ‘Oh, wow.’ All of those things, when they add up to a possible opportunity, it gives you more confidence as a coaching staff to throw him out there.”
On Diawara’s offensive freedom:
“If you’re wide open, let that thing fly. If not, try to touch the paint and kick it out. He doesn’t have the leeway that obviously the other cats on the floor have to be able to go create a shot for himself. Now, having said that, one of the things that Mo has, and I’m amazed at for a young guy, he has a pretty good feel of where his open teammate is. Like, he’ll drive and it’s not like Chris Paul or Magic Johnson where they’ll drop a dime and everybody says, ‘Whoa.’ But if he touches that paint, that pass is getting there on time, on target and it’s like a laser. So he’s got a really good feel of where everybody is and his height and passing ability, he’s able to make timely passes that look simple, but are really hard, especially for a young guy. So he’s got a little more freedom in terms of drive and kick than a lot of younger guys might have at that time.”
Jeremy Lin with the 8-point dagger to win it for Team Giannis because of course 🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️ pic.twitter.com/MsteI89LMw
On the relationship with his sister, who drew him into basketball:
“We never played one-on-one. When I started really playing basketball, she stopped. We were never on the court together.”
On choosing basketball over soccer once he discovered hoops:
“I was like, ‘That’s the perfect match.’”
On specializing to stay in the NBA:
“I felt like if I wanted to have a long career in the NBA, I had to be good at something. So, I got to specialize in something. Three-point shooting and defense. Those are things that are going to make me stay in the league for the longest.”
On believing in his progression:
“Because I trust my work, and I’m not working for nothing.”
Jeremy Sochan to wear 20?
Sochan’s agency just posted this graphic of Sochan wearing 20
“In camp, I thought he was going to be real good. He’s young, raw and inexperienced. He’s good defensively, and he’s an even better shooter than I thought. It always looked good, but now it’s going in. I think he’s a good decision-maker in the pocket. He’s athletic and can finish at the rim, get guys involved. I love where he’s at, and he’s continued to work.”
On Diawara’s improved shooting:
“He’s an even better shooter than I thought. I always thought the shot looked good, but now it’s going in.”
On Diawara coming out of shell:
“Now that (Yabusele) is gone, he doesn’t really … all he did was speak French to him. Now that (Yabusele) is gone, hopefully that forces him to come out of (his) shell a little bit more. He’s part of the guys. We’ve got to get him more acclimated to rookie duties.”
On missing his pregame ritual after the passing of his mother:
“Usually, her ritual with me was, I’d be doing my warmup lines, we’d run out, we’d go into our two lines, and we’d start doing our layup lines. My mom made it her thing to stand next to the stanchion and just wave at me. It felt great, being your mom’s there, nothing can be wrong. She got me. I remember that first game back in Minnesota, I kept looking and kept thinking someone’s gonna show up, and no one’s gonna show up, so it was a different feeling.”
Carmelo Anthony on Chris Paul's retirement: "It's CP man. We can't downplay our Point God. We in his building (Clippers Intuit Dome)…Forget all the narratives…he's been CP…I just want him to get the flowers he deserve…certified legend in this game" pic.twitter.com/ob9SHUHbDH
Mar 5, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; For the first time in Boston Celtics history, two teammates scored over 40 points in a game, Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9), 41 points, and guard Payton Pritchard (11) ,43 points as they joke around after their win over the Portland Trail Blazers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images | Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
This year’s NBA All Star game will be Jaylen Brown’s 5th. Jayson Tatum has been in 6 himself. Newcomer Nikola Vucevic appeared in two.
If they are back at normal health next season, I would expect to see Brown and Tatum back in the game. But will there be a 3rd member of the team to join them? And if so, who might that be?
The obvious choice would be Derrick White, who has been knocking on the door of the honor for a few years running. He’s clearly deeply valuable to this team, but too often his best attributes are subtle and don’t get the attention that they deserve. His shooting touch was a bit off early this season, so that probably doomed his chances. Perhaps a hot shooting winter next season could earn him a spot.
Next up is Payton Pritchard, who has thrived now as both a starter and reserve for the Celtics. He scores at multiple levels despite his comparatively diminutive size. He takes care of the ball and has a knack for getting buckets when the team most needs it (in particular at the buzzer in dramatic fashion).
Or could someone else leapfrog both of them? Neemias Queta perhaps? Sam Hauser? Perhaps one of the young wings takes a major step forward. What about Hugo Gonzalez? I know these are all long, long shots, but you never know. Ok, any of those guys sniffing the All Star game next season is a bit of a reach next season, but what about in a few years?
So what do you think? Who’s at the All Star game next season?
ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 10: Adolis García #53 of the Texas Rangers juggles then catches a fly ball off the bat of Nick Castellanos #8 of the Philadelphia Phillies during the second inning at Globe Life Field on August 10, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Let’s assume for a second that Nick Castellanos finds gainful employment this offseason. It’s a likely supposition since he was still an above average hitter by wRC+ not long ago and likely would be unburdened of the yoke of outfield defense by whatever team decides to sign him. Wherever he goes, he will ultimately be compared to the player that is replacing him in Adolis Garcia. Together, the Phillies are spending ~$30 million on that position this year, paying one to stay and one to go away.
They will be linked all season, so let’s put our guesstimation hats on. Who will have the better season by WAR: Castellanos or Garcia? It’s going to be something worth following all year, from up close and from afar, to see if the money spent was done so wisely.
ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 18: Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves makes a catch during the ninth inning against the New York Mets at Truist Park on June 18, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As you may know, MLB will use an automated ball-strike system in nearly all games this season. Teams only get two of these in the first nine innings of a game, which isn’t nearly enough. If an umpire misses less than five ball-strike calls in a game, it’s a very good effort. So they probably have a strategy for using their challenges. They will need one to use it effectively. We already know how Chris Sale feels on the subject. He’s borrowing a page from a Braves pitcher from yesteryear.
#Braves Freddy Garcia: "I don't panic. I just make pitch."
I feel that emotion and it may play into what the Braves want to do. He’s going to (A) let the catcher to decide on a close call and (B) bank those calls for later in the game. What I think you want to avoid from a pitching standpoint is having a third strike being called a ball and having it immediately hurt you. Did the Braves benefit from this situation last year? Yes, twice it happened where the Braves hit a home run. This is Drake Baldwin on the Fourth of July.
The Braves had 88 third strikes called a ball. They yielded two home runs. If you think you have the hitter struck out, that would be a good time to ask. 88 times over the course of a year would be 27% of your challenges. But that’s if you spot every error. In reality, your odds of overturning may be closer to a coin flip. So that’s over half your challenges. I would run the query the other way (Braves pitching versus opponent hitting) but it’s a tougher task. That is, until I can quit being lazy and fully upgrade my data collection.
Notice here that we’re not considering the game’s leverage here. In a close game late, a challenged third strike feels like a given. But trying to grab an out, whenever you can get, it seems like a good idea too. What we’re also not doing is considering how the Braves use innings and score instead of leverage when it comes to bullpen selection, and that might extend to this as well.
There’s lots more to consider. But there’s 400 of my words. So how will the Braves employ ABS this season? I yield back the balance of my digital ink to the commentariat.
According to The Hockey News' Stefen Rosner, former San Jose Sharks forward Scott Reedy has signed a professional tryout with the Bridgeport Islanders of the American Hockey League (AHL).
Reedy has yet to play a game this season at any level, but that should change with the former Sharks forward landing this PTO with Bridgeport.
Reedy spent this past season with the Nashville Predators' AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, where he had four goals, five assists, nine points, and a plus-1 rating in 25 games. This is after he had five goals and seven points in 12 games during the 2023-24 season with the Texas Stars.
Reedy was selected by the Sharks with the 102nd overall pick of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. The 26-year-old forward played in 35 games for the Sharks during the 2021-22 season, where he recorded seven goals, two assists, nine points, 14 hits, and 26 blocks. Reedy has not played at the NHL level since.
Reedy spent the majority of his time with the Sharks organization down in the AHL with the San Jose Barracuda. In 93 games with the Barracuda over three seasons from 2020-21 to 2022-23, he recorded 28 goals, 20 assists, and 48 points. This included him setting AHL career highs with 18 goals, nine assists, and 27 points in 38 games for the Barracuda in 2021-22.
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 27: Gunnar Henderson #2 of the Baltimore Orioles takes the field prior to the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, September 27, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Mooney/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
With Opening Day only 40 days away, we are winding down on what has been a busy Orioles offseason. Punctuated by the big-money signing of slugger Pete Alonso, the 2026 offseason has seen the O’s bring in Alonso, Ryan Helsley, Chriss Bassit, Zach Eflin and Leody Taveras through free agency, while trading for Taylor Ward, Shane Baz, Andrew Kittredge and Blaze Alexander. Mike Elias & Co. haven’t always met Birdland’s hopes and expectations with these moves, but no one can say they haven’t been busy.
The front office pulling the trigger on the Ward and Baz trades may signal an increased willingness to be aggressive in the trade market. Previously, Elias had been accused of clutching too tightly to the prospects he drafted/acquired, instead preferring to make trades using low-level prospects for players with lower upside. Even the hallmark acquisition of his tenure in Baltimore, the trade for Corbin Burnes, cost relatively little in terms of prospects.
The recent trades certainly paint a picture of a bolder, more “win-now” Mike Elias. Acquiring Ward came at the expense of starter Grayson Rodriguez, formerly the top pitching prospect in all of baseball and the presumptive future ace of the Orioles, who missed all of 2025 with shoulder and elbow injuries. The trade for Baz saw the O’s send away four Top 30 prospects, including two of Elias’ top four picks from the most recent draft.
Should the Orioles dip back into the trade market to bridge the gap between “playoff hopeful” and “true contender,” determining who is off limits in trade talks in now harder than before. Gunnar Henderson, as the Orioles’ best player and Top 20 player in all of baseball, surely isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Samuel Basallo and his $67M contract would also undoubtedly be on the no-trade list. The same goes for the recently-signed Alonso.
But are there truly any other no-brainer, must-be-included candidates for an Orioles’ no-trade list? A year ago, it would have been unfathomable to consider trading Adley Rutschman. However, after his battles with injuries over the last 18 months, and the major financial commitment to Basallo, is that still the case? Infielders Jordan Westburg and Jackson Holliday have both shown flashes of All-Star potential. And yet, with Westburg’s own mounting injury concerns and Holliday’s general inconsistency, it’s also hard to label them truly untouchable.
In the outfield, Colton Cowser and Dylan Beavers are the players with the most long-term upside, but is their potential high enough to keep them far away from the trade block? And while I’d personally love to see Kyle Bradish and Trevor Rogers spend the rest of their careers in Baltimore, the front office may not be so steadfast in their admiration for the Orioles top two pitchers.
So we turn it over to Camden Chat’s best would-be GMs. Who are the Orioles you would never trade, no matter what the offer was?
Aug 3, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates manager Don Kelly (12) during the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Baseball is finally back as Spring Training has just begun this week and teams are reporting in to lay the groundwork for the upcoming season. In a lot of ways this is a new look Pittsburgh Pirates team on many levels. Even with the new look however I fear there may be some factors that would cause fans to tune out long before the All-Star break.
Poor team defense hampering the pitching rotation
The heart and soul of the Pirates is the pitching staff. The rotation of Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, Bubba Chandler, Braxton Ashcraft and Jared Jones (eventually) is going to be what elevates this team in the win department. Pittsburgh’s offense was putrid last year, but luckily the organization has added plenty of pieces to help their lineup and offer some more run support for their pitching core.
The downside of adding to this offense is that the Pirates were not able to address any major defensive concerns. Since the Ke’Bryan Hayes trade there has not been another third baseman acquired by the club, leaving that spot to likely be played by Jared Triolo. However, there’s a chance that Triolo will have to play shortstop if phenom Konnor Griffin is not deemed ready for the majors following Spring Training, leaving a question mark at third if that’s the case. The outfield needed some depth added and the Pirates just didn’t sign anyone that moves the needle defensively.
Last season the great pitching rotation that the Pirates had was hampered by the lack of offensive output, and regularly lost close games because of the lack of runs. It will be a disaster if all the Pirates did this offseason is flip the equation on its head and causes the pitching staff to again be hampered by a lineup that doesn’t make the required plays to keep opposing runs in check. ESPN projected that the Pirates will win 80 games in 2026, citing that the team defense will hold this club back from reaching its full potential.
A lack of Konnor Griffin
An argument could be made that Konnor Griffin is the most exciting prospect for the Pirates since Barry Bonds. In his lone season of professional baseball he absolutely crushed it in the minor leagues and at just 19-years-old is in a position to be on Pittsburgh’s opening day roster.
Now if Griffin is not a part of the Pirates immediately following Spring Training, it’s not the end of the world. The organization notably did not elevate Paul Skenes past triple-a until May 11 his rookie year. Sometimes it’s just about seeing how a player adapts to the next level and giving them time to adjust. However, if the Pirates give Griffin the Bubba Chandler treatment I will stop tuning in.
Pirates reporter @KevinGormanPGH of the Trib from Bradenton:
"I think Konnor Griffin is the starting shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Opening Day"
Chandler was infamously not called up until August 22 last season. The top pitching prospect in baseball was stuck in triple-a for most of the year and when he was called up the Pirates were already way out of the playoff race and were obviously not in a position to compete. I understand the idea of maintaining team control as long as possible and earning that extra year of control over a player’s career, but when there is a generational star sulking in the minor leagues it shows that the organization is not serious about winning. Griffin is the real deal, and if he’s not on the Pirates before June 1 I’ll have lost my patience.
Same old same old
For the first time in franchise history, the Pirates are projected to have a payroll over $100 million with FanGraphs projected the team to have a payroll of $105 million. This still puts the team well in the bottom half of the league of total payroll. While the teams with the highest payroll doesn’t always win the World Series, it does at the very least show that the organizations at the top are willing to do whatever it takes to win.
Because of the questionable team culture from previous seasons, the Pirates missed out on marquee free agents like Kyle Schwarber and Eugenio Suarez. Even if the Pirates were willing to pay top dollar, they weren’t going to get top dollar talent because of the preconceived notions surrounding ownership. The same owner that traded away Andrew McCutchen in 2018. The same owner that did not build upon the core of the team that brought the Pirates back to the postseason after 20 straight losing seasons. The same owner that covered up Roberto Clemente’s number with a drink ad. The one constant in this recent history of the Pirates is Bob Nutting, who will be public enemy number one as long as he sits atop his ivory tower as the owner of Pittsburgh’s ball club.
I want to believe in this new era of Pirates’ baseball with Don Kelly at the helm, but having a general manager as average as Ben Cherington and an owner like Nutting makes me fear that nothing has really changed. Groundhog Day just passed, and there’s a real possibility that we will witness the same Pirates’s season that we’ve seen year after year now since the last postseason appearance 2015. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting a different result. I’m already insane enough during the Steelers’ season, and I refuse to be driven insane during the Pirates’ season too.
Bob Nutting has been selling Pirates fans on the same story for almost two decades now pic.twitter.com/uLjcjKpQtU
What do yinz think? Will there be anything that will make you check out from watching the Pirates early on or will you be around for the full 162 games? Let us know in the comments!
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 16: Alex Vesia #51 of the Los Angeles Dodgers walks back to the dugout during Game Three of the National League Championship Series presented by loanDepot between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, October 16, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Alex Vesia threw a bullpen session as did many other Dodgers pitchers on the first official day of workouts at Camelback Ranch in Arizona. Then the veteran left-hander spoke to reporters en masse for the first time since the death of his newborn daughter Sterling in October.
“I was not prepared to not bring my baby girl home, but we’re carrying her with us every day,” Vesia said Friday. “It’s been hard, but we’re doing okay.”
“I like to be loyal and my relationships mean a lot. I’ve created such a relationship with the staff, the front office, the coaches, the medical and training staff, the clubhouse guys,” Muncy said. I just don’t want to create that somewhere else. Being here for my entire career at this point would mean the world to me, and this gives me the chance to do that.“
“The last two seasons changed my career,” Banda wrote. “I’ll always be grateful for my time in LA. This chapter meant a lot to me.”
The Tulsa Drillers, the Dodgers’ Double-A affiliate, unveiled a new alternate uniform for this season, with an oil derrick on the cap and honoring Route 66 on the jersey. From the press release: “A reflection of the infamous Route 66 neons, the blue outline imitates the familiar glow.”
Introducing our Tulsa Connects, where Drillers baseball meets the legacy of Route 66 in its Centennial year. pic.twitter.com/b2E6renBpO
Oct 1, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan (38) stands for the national anthem before game two of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs against the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
We all know Jose Ramirez is the greatest of all-time – but who is your next favorite player on the Guardians?
This is not a question asking you who is next BEST. But, instead, whom does your heart prefer? Who do you like rooting for? Which player matches your personal preferences?
We will have another question about Jose in specific, but for this time, let us know who is your guy outside of Jose.
Let us know why you like that player and help us enjoy their presence on our favorite team in the comments below.
PHOENIX –– Dodgers reliever Brock Stewart described the shoulder surgery that ended his 2025 season last September as a “pretty straightforward procedure.”
But then, while speaking to The California Post on Friday at Camelback Ranch, the right-hander actually explained all that team surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache did to try to remedy his chronic shoulder problems.
“Shaved up a bone spur, kind of took out part of my clavicle, took out the bursa,” Stewart said nonchalantly, hopeful that the rather gory specifics of the operation will finally lead to better health moving forward.
Dodgers reliever Brock Stewart. Getty Images
“It just essentially gave me way more room for the head of my humerus to rotate,” Stewart added. “Feels much better. I can tell inherently it’s very much cleaned up. The throw feels good.”
Stewart doesn’t relish the fact he can rattle off such intricate medical details so fluently. He’d rather not be missing his bursa (a fluid sac that is supposed to protect shoulder tendons) and part of his clavicle (aka, his collarbone).
But over a roller-coaster professional career –– which originally began a decade ago as a depth starter with the Dodgers, plummeted to the nadir of independent league ball in 2020 and has since seen him reinvent himself as a high-leverage reliever whom the Dodgers reacquired at last year’s trade deadline –– recurring shoulder problems have left him little other choice.
If it helps pitch pain-free now, so be it.
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Brock Stewart throws the ball. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
“I’ve pitched in 13 professional seasons, and it seems like half of those seasons I’ve dealt with something in my shoulder,” he said. “So, it is what it is. Hopefully, this took care of those chronic issues.”
Indeed, Stewart is seeking a new beginning this year.
When the Dodgers traded for him last July, the hope was that he would be able to stabilize the club’s struggling bullpen. Despite having a shoulder scope procedure in 2024, he had returned as one of the better right-on-right relievers in the majors over the first half of 2025, posting a 2.38 ERA in 39 outings with the Twins.
But after just four outings with the Dodgers, Stewart’s shoulder flared up on him again, making every throw feel “like a knife was stabbing me.”
Portrait of Brock Stewart, pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, wearing his #48 jersey. MLB via Getty Images
He missed the rest of the year, watching from afar as the Dodgers went on to win the World Series without him.
“Last year sucked, you know, mental warfare,” he said. “The team traded for me, and then I get over here, and I didn’t really help out, especially in the postseason.”
This time, Stewart is hoping to be a key part of the team’s three-peat pursuit.
Though he likely won’t be ready for Opening Day, beginning the spring behind most other Dodgers pitchers as he slowly ramps up and completes his recovery process, he is confident that “I’ll be able to pitch for the majority of the season.”
He said he began a throwing progression at the start of December. He has knocked off many of the “cobwebs” that came with his latest surgical rehab (he also had Tommy John in 2021). And already, he is touching 90 mph in long toss, putting him on track to throw off a mound again within the next two weeks.
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“I think I’m on a good schedule. ElAttrache, talked to him yesterday and he was happy with where I’m at,” he said. “I feel like I can be loose, whippy (with my throws). It just feels clean working through all those ranges.”
Dodgers reliever Edwin Diaz. JASON SZENES FOR THE CALIFORNIA POST
The Dodgers won’t count on Stewart the same way they planned to last year. This winter, they signed new closer Edwin Díaz to anchor the back end of their relief corps. They are also banking on fellow right-hander Blake Treinen to have a bounce-back campaign and Brusdar Graterol to make a strong return from his own shoulder surgery (one that sidelined Graterol for all of last season).
Still, Stewart figures to be important. If he returns quickly enough, he would provide right-handed depth while Evan Phillips works his way back from Tommy John surgery. And if more injuries pop up over the course of the year –– as they likely will for a Dodgers pitching staff coming off two extended postseason runs –– his presence would give the club some veteran stability.
“To be part of a team that’s going for a three-peat and hopefully help them out a lot, couldn’t be more excited,” Stewart said. “Hopefully when I look up at the end of the season, I’ll be able to say that I did help out a lot. Hopefully, I’ll be able to hold up the World Series trophy for a three-peat.”
The conclusion to the 2025 MLB season wasn’t a particularly satisfactory one for Yankee fans, falling well short of the previous campaign in which they made it all the way to the Fall Classic, this time losing to a division rival in the ALDS—the same rival that stole the AL East crown from right under this team’s nose. In the middle of dropping that best-of-five series against Toronto, the Yankees saw their biggest free agent acquisition of the previous offseason absolutely implode on the road—Max Fried could not handle the Blue Jays in Game 2, one the Yankees desperately needed to win after getting their doors blown off in Game 1.
Postseason narratives are particularly sticky with top-level starting pitchers; we’ve already seen Max Fried talk in advance of the upcoming season about using that moment as fuel to motivate a strong sophomore campaign. As much as we might support using such motivation, it’s important to turn the page and, in particular, avoid singling out Fried as one of the primary reasons why the Yankees lost that series.
Without even getting into Fried’s previous (excellent) postseason outing against the Red Sox and the outstanding work he did during the season, the Yankees gave ample evidence before and after that Game 2 that their list of problems was longer than Fried’s struggles. Sure, it’s possible that had Fried been at the top of his game, the Yankees would’ve gone through. However, when you look at the path of each of those four games, the Blue Jays beat the Yankees handsomely in each of their three wins, while New York had to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat to secure their only win. All seven runs the Yankees scored in a Game 2 loss, the one Fried was involved in, came during garbage time innings. It’s not as simple as pointing out that New York only needed a decent outing to compete in that game.
If you take even a small step back, the idea of there being a question mark about Fried’s abilities in the postseason with the Yankees sounds ludicrous when you account for his performance against Boston. Facing Garrett Crochet in Game 1 of the Wild Card round, Fried outdueled his opponent with 6.1 scoreless innings, only for the bullpen to immediately cough up the lead in what turned out to be a loss. The Yankees obviously came back to win that series, and Cam Schllitler got his moment in the spotlight, which is beyond the point—in a pressure-packed moment against the Red Sox in the playoffs, Fried not only did his job but was able to dominate.
Projecting future postseason performances, when the Yankees inevitably count on Fried again—regardless of how the rest of that playoff rotation looks—the confidence level in giving the ball to him will be as high as it was coming into last season. Yes, his numbers with the Braves in the postseason didn’t instill a great deal of confidence, but that wasn’t a concern when he signed. Furthermore, it’s not like he didn’t have his moments, including tossing six scoreless innings at Minute Maid Park to win Game 6 of the World Series, thus clinching the Braves’ first title in the 21st century.
It’s important to head off these narratives, since they can be sticky. One game shouldn’t outweigh a full season of superlative performance (which came under immense pressure after Gerrit Cole went down), especially when a good game from Fried against the Blue Jays would’ve been far from enough to ensure a game and series win. It’s good that Fried is using the postseason as fuel, but it’s just as good to remember that he wasn’t singularly at fault last fall.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MAY 28, 2025: Justyn-Henry Malloy #44 of the Detroit Tigers bats during the second inning against the San Francisco Giants at Comerica Park on May 28, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by George Kubas/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
It’s official: the robot overlords have made it to the major leagues. Back in September, MLB announced that the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge system would be in place for the 2026 season. More recently, they’ve confirmed this change and provided more clarity to the challenge process and the strike zone itself. The full list of rules and regulations around this can be found here; what follows is a summary of the most important aspects.
Fans of minor league baseball should be familiar with the ABS challenge system. In recent years, MLB has used its affiliates as testing grounds for procedural changes like the pitch clock and the extra innings “ghost runner” before implementing them in the major leagues. They’ve done the same with ABS and challenges, which have been used in the minor leagues in since 2022. The system started gaining more traction lately and was demoed in spring training last year. Now, it will be implemented in full for the 2026 MLB season.
It’s important to note that the ABS and challenge process will not be replacing umpires in full, although this technology is capable of doing so under future rules changes. Instead, the challenge system acts as a corrective process. Umpires call the game as usual, and if a player disagrees, they initiate a challenge. The rules surrounding the challenge process are quite interesting, in a legalese kind of way.
How challenges work
The first main rule is that only three people are ever allowed to challenge a pitch: the batter, catcher, and pitcher. No defender can initiate a challenge and neither can managers or coaches. Additionally, the player must initiate the challenge immediately and cannot receive any signal from a non-eligible player or coach before initiating. In fact, if the umpire suspects the initiating player received any external aid, he can reject the challenge.
The second major rule is that teams are allowed a finite number of challenges, in theory. Teams are allotted 2 challenges for a 9-inning ballgame, and an unsuccessful challenge (where the umpire’s call is confirmed) is lost. This does mean, however, that a successful challenge is retained, meaning an infinite number of correct challenges is theoretically possible. This is meant to encourage players to only challenge in situations where the call is either obviously wrong or so important that it’s worth risking a lost challenge for a slight chance of overturning the call. It will be interesting to see how that balances out. At the Triple-A level, many teams have instructed their players only to challenge in higher leverage situatioons so as not to potentially waste their challenges. Major league hitters may be allowed more leeway.
Furthermore, extra innings throw an extra wrinkle into the operation. If, at the end of 9 innings, a team has used and lost both of their challenges, they will be granted one bonus challenge for the 10th inning. If the team loses their bonus challenge and the game continues to the 11th inning, they will receive another bonus challenge, but they cannot stockpile bonus challenges. This means every team starts every inning after the 9th with at least one challenge. If the team saved both challenges from the original 9 innings, they’d keep both challenges into extras but couldn’t earn a bonus challenge until losing both of the originals. So, functionally, there’s no limit once you hit extra innings.
The rules include a handful of other procedures that are supposed to be exhaustive, but something will inevitably come up that isn’t strictly covered here. Teams are required to show how many challenges are left on the scoreboard, both the scoreboard and the broadcast will display a graphic showing the path of any challenged pitch with the strike zone overlaid, and if there happens to be a technical glitch, the challenge system can simply be prohibited until everything’s working again. It’s worth noting that ABS and challenges will be active in every MLB stadium and thus will be used for the playoffs, but not promotional games like the Field of Dreams game or the Mexico City games. The Tigers aren’t scheduled for any of those games, but it’s good to know.
What is the Automated Ball-Strike zone?
ABS itself is going to take some getting used to, for players and umpires as well as fans. The measurements for the automated strike zone are different than the zone that umpires are currently enforcing in a few ways.
For starters, the ABS zone is defined as a two-dimensional cross section down the middle of home plate, instead of a three-dimensional space like umpires call. The ABS zone is also slightly smaller. The top and bottom of the zone will be player-specific based on pre-season measurements. The lower limit is 27% of a player’s height and the upper limit is 53.5% of their height, standing straight up, without cleats. No more “knees to chest” or anything like that. Previously, umpires were instructed to call a zone that ranged from 24.2% to 55.6% of a player’s height, which is quite a bit larger than the ABS zone. The slightly more compact zone, customized to each players’ dimensions should lead to an adjustment period for veteran players and umpires.
It’s also very different than The Box we see on broadcasts. Almost every broadcast has a strike zone overlaid near home plate, but like the yellow first down marker, it’s just an approximation. Unless the producers adjust, this will be even more true now. The Box is set at the front of the zone and is widely understood to be a one-size-fits-all zone used for every player. Whether that’s updated likely depends on the specific broadcast.
This visualization of the called strike heat map compared to the current strike zone box gives you a pretty good idea how umpire accuracy has improved over the last 15 years. Essentially the middle of the zone used to be quite a bit wider than it should be, though the corners are still not called with much accuracy.
Personally, I’m glad to see the challenge system come to the major leagues. Umpires are quite accurate, having improved significantly with game by game feedback on their accuracy over the past decade. I’d hate to remove them entirely, but they’re still human, and even just sneezing at the wrong time can ruin a call. The actual amount of challenges may be lower than you’d expect. However, if teams do as expected and save them for high leverage scenarios and the late innings, their impact on game outcomes may be fairly signficant. It’s going to take some getting used to, as called strikeouts in big spots in a game will see outsized use of the challenges. No doubt teams are furiously strategizing on how to instruct their players to use them judiciously to maximum effect.
There's no doubt that at least one club MUST be looking at this chart (or better, one that includes the inning/score) to strategize ABS Challenges
The ABS challenge setup should eliminate those obvious mistakes without fundamentally changing how the game is played, and I think that’s a strong positive. Umpires will also be allowed to request in-game feedback from the ABS system to judge how well they’re calling the game. That type of feedback has already increased their accuracy in recent years.
How well it’s implemented won’t be known for a while, but the majority of players seem on board. I expect young players exposed to the system at the Triple-A level to have far more initial success than a veteran seeing this zone for the first time. The system has been tested at both the Single-A and Triple-A levels for several years now and will be active in Grapefruit League play again, so it shouldn’t take too long for everyone to adapt.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 23: A general view of play between the Bay FC and the Washington Spirit at Oracle Park on August 23, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/NWSL via Getty Images) | NWSL via Getty Images
Good morning baseball fans!
As we approach Spring Training and the beginning of the season, we’re going to be doing some questions for y’all about your thoughts about the San Francisco Giants and baseball in general!
Today’s question: What are your 2026 predictions that you will stand by all season?
I am not great at making predictions. My predictions tend to be more about what I want to see, not necessarily what I think will actually happen. So I’ll try to make one of each.
In terms of what I would like to see happen this season, I predict Jung Hoo Lee will have an absolutely standout season and make the All Star team. I don’t know if that will actually happen, but it is the prediction I would like to see happen so I’m going with it.
In terms of what I think is likely to happen, I’m predicting that the team will have a below .500 season. I think the fact that they ended last year at exactly .500 was mostly due to having an unexpectedly strong start to the year that fizzled out before the All Star break. I don’t know that that will repeat, and I don’t think this team is meaningfully better than the 2025 team, so I think even .500 might be out of reach. But I hope to be wrong!
What are your 2026 prediction that you will stand by all season?
DENVER, CO - APRIL 28: Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Ryan Feltner (18) pitches during a game between the Atlanta Braves and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on April 28, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Scottsdale, Ariz. – Ryan Feltner had a forgettable 2025 season.
After a brilliant 2024 campaign, the right-hander made just six starts in 2025 before suffering from back spasms. He went on the 15-day IL on May 2 and was transferred to the 60-day on June 15. He made a few rehab starts in June, but was then optioned to Triple-A on July 4 and never returned to the major league clubhouse. In fact, his injury flared up again in late July, which ended his season.
But Feltner isn’t letting an injury-plagued 2025 sour his goals for 2026.
“Last year, my body didn’t hold up quite the way I wanted it to,” he said, “but I did a lot of things in the offseason to prepare me for this year. I spent it at Cressey Sports Performance in Jupiter, Florida. It was a good time. I got stronger – that was my main goal. I feel really healthy right now.”
“I’m super excited (for Schaeffer),” Feltner said.
“I had him in Triple-A as my manager, and I’ve always had great respect for him. I think he’s doing a great job, and he’s already started to move things in the right direction. (And we’d) kept in touch over the offseason and things like that. I’ve known him for a while, so it definitely feels like a positive environment around here right now.”
And as far as the pitching coaches go, Feltner has hit the ground running when he arrived in Arizona.
“I’ve worked closely with the pitching guys for about three weeks now, just being here early, and they were all around,” he said.
“I think they’re excited because I have a very diverse arsenal. I have a lot of pitches that I can throw, and so I think if I’m given the right pitch grip or the right cue or whatever it is, I’m able to throw any pitch.
“We’re kind of shaping my arsenal,” he continued. “It’s going to look very similar, but we’re going to do little tweaks that, I think, shift things in the right direction. So there might be a new pitch coming along. And they’ve been super helpful, even with the mental side as well, just giving me the confidence to be in the zone a lot and attack it.”
Feltner then revealed that he has been working on a cutter.
“I have a fastball. I have a two-seamer. I’ve always had a short slider, which has also doubled as a cutter to lefties,” he listed, “but there might be a designated cutter. We’re still working on it, but it’s still in the process.”
Something new pitching coach Alon Leichman likes to do is call pitches from the dugout, which has been intriguing to much of the baseball world – players and fans alike. Feltner hasn’t experienced it before, but offered his thoughts.
“I think I’ve mentioned it before, but I think the times when I’ve pitched the best are when I’ve really leaned into what the catcher is calling,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter to me where the pitch call comes from. I think [Leichman] has a lot of good information that he can go off of, and if he wants to call the pitches when I’m pitching, I would love that. I think for me, it clears up a lot of mental space. It’s just another thing that I don’t have to deal with, and I can just focus on pitching.”
It’s still early in the season, but Feltner is already feeling a new vibe in the clubhouse as they head into 2026.
“I think [I’m most excited for] the new culture around here,” he said. “I think there’s new energy. You walk through the hallways and there’s music playing. I think it’s a little more relaxed, and I think guys are going to have a lot more fun.”
Which signing are you more intrigued by — Michael Lorenzen, Tomoyuki Sugano or Jose Quintana? What do you think the starting rotation will look like now? Let us know in the comments!
