Jalen Brunson is taking another legendary step, joining Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Charles Barkley in another rare milestone for an NBA career:
Brunson will host the season opener of Saturday Night Live on Sept. 26 with musical guest KATSEYE.
Brunson became a New York legend and icon as the NBA Finals MVP, leading the Knicks to their first title in 53 years last June, setting off wild celebrations around the city that might still be going on. With plenty of Knicks fans on staff with SNL, this was not going to be a hard sell.
Technically, this does come a few days after the start of Knicks training camp, but like anybody was going to tell Brunson no here. If there was one thing I would be sure of, it's other Knicks appearing on that show in some capacity.
The list of professional athletes who have hosted Saturday Night Live is long and storied, and includes Joe Montana and Walter Payton (as co-hosts in 1987 before the Super Bowl), Wayne Gretzky, Dion Sanders, Derek Jeter, Jeff Gordon, Tom Brady, Michael Phelps, Peyton Manning, and Travis Kelce, just to name a few. Charles Barkley has hosted four times.
In addition to the broadcast on NBC (11:30 p.m. ET / 8:30 p.m. PT), "SNL" streams live on Peacock. Stream every season of SNL now on Peacock.
The St. Louis Blues have had little trouble finding NHL-caliber players in the early rounds of the NHL draft as of late.
On their projected opening-night roster, four players were selected by the Blues in the first round, but another five were acquired via trades or free agency. Additionally, the Blues have first-round picks like Otto Stenberg, Theo Lindstein, Zach Dean, Adam Jiricek, Justin Carbonneau, Tynan Lawrence, and Maddox Dagenais waiting for their opportunity as former first-round picks.
But another late-round pick has put his name on the map. That is none other than Matvei Korotky.
Selected in the seventh round (211th overall) by the Blues in the 2025 NHL draft, Korotky was impressive in his sophomore season in the KHL with SKA St. Petersburg, scoring 14 goals and 27 points in 43 games.
Standing 6-foot-2, 198 pounds, Korotky is a skilled center with a heavy shot. His shot is likely his best offensive trait, as he doesn't need much time and space to show it off. In his KHL rookie season, Korotky notched five goals and nine points in 30 games.
But he is more than just a shooter, which should excite Blues fans. Korotky has power-forward traits and is willing to engage physically when the opportunity presents itself. But maybe more importantly, Korotky hounds down pucks on the forecheck.
With his speed and energy, Korotky often forces turnovers and creates instant offense. But as he has developed, Korotky has become more comfortable skating with the puck in transition. Using a combination of skilled hands and power, Korotky drives the puck to the net or slot, as he is always looking to move the puck into high-danger areas.
The now 20-year-old was likely a near throwaway pick as they gambled on some positive traits Korotky possessed. That gamble is looking to pay off early, as those traits- his shot and forechecking- have continued to develop while he has rounded out his game.
Korotky is likely still a ways away from competing for an NHL spot, but he is an interesting prospect who could, down the road, become a useful NHL player for the Blues or a trade chip.
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The “Savage” rapper admitted in a recent interview with InStyle that her split from the former Golden State Warriors superstar has caused her to “feel like I’ve been put through the washing machine and the dryer with tins, shovels, and a cactus.”
Music artist Megan Thee Stallion kisses her boyfriend, Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson, at the end of a game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Megan began dating Thompson last year, and for months, they looked to be on the path of marriage. The two were constantly together, and she even showed up to a number of his NBA games to cheer him on from a courtside chair.
However, in April, Megan announced the pair had separated, writing in an Instagram post that Thompson had cheated on her.
During her chat with InStyle, Megan called the whole situation “very rough.”
Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson, right, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers’ Rodney Hood defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, in Los Angeles. AP
“How do I want to say this gently?” she said. “What’s meant for you is always going to work out. And if something is constantly making you feel uncomfortable, just on edge all the time, you probably are not supposed to be there.
“God will always make you uncomfortable when something is not meant for you. I think I just kept trying to make pieces fit that didn’t belong, trying to fit myself into someone else’s life. I was losing myself a little bit. I am now in the space of finding me again.”
Megan added that she’s now seeking a relationship in which she and her boyfriend are on the same pedestal.
Megan Thee Stallion performs onstage during night 3 of the 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture at Caesars Superdome on Sunday, July 2, 2023, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Getty Images
“I cannot be minimized,” she said. “I will not be behind any man. I will have a partner. I will be equals with my partner. I’m never gonna take the backseat to anything. So just going forward, I think I’ve just learned this is the type of person that I want to be with, this is what I will tolerate, this is what I won’t tolerate. And if you can’t take that, we just gotta respectfully go our separate ways.”
As for how the single life is treating her, Megan said she’s learning that “being by yourself is OK.”
“Like, I ain’t smiled so much in so long,” she said. “Like, I’m outside twirling in the grass like, ‘Wow, it’s a beautiful day outside!’
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 16: Tacko Fall #99 and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics warm up before the game against the Denver Nuggets on February 16, 2021 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
I’m back this week and ready to answer your Sixers-related questions.
It’s been relatively quiet, but the Sixers did make a series of Exhibit 10 signings. For those unfamiliar, an Exhibit 10 deal is essentially a training camp contract with an added financial incentive for the player to join the signing team’s G League affiliate. So, these guys will likely end up in Delaware suiting up for the Blue Coats, but it’s worth noting the Sixers have an open two-way spot and an open standard spot (though they can’t fill the latter until December).
The four players include the 7-foot-6 Tacko Fall, Jameer Nelson, Jr., the son of Sixers executive Jameer Nelson, Saint Thomas, who spent last season with the Blue Coats, and Dillon Jones, the former first-round pick and two-time NBA champion with the Thunder and Knicks. Since none of the aforementioned players have more than four years of NBA experience, they’re all technically two-way eligible. While this could be a competition for that final slot, the Sixers could still look at outside candidates as well.
Hit me in the comments below and I’ll do my best to answer as many questions as possible.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 11: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the first half against the Washington Wizards at Rocket Arena on February 11, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
All-time great players achieve that status by continually defying norms, yet Father Time remains undefeated.
James Harden will be remembered as one of the ten best guards in league history when all is said and done. His peak as a one-man offense in the 2010s with the Houston Rockets hasn’t been topped by many; neither has his incredible longevity. He’s 189 assists away from becoming the only player besides LeBron James to rank in the top ten all-time in both points and assists. But even all-time greats have an expiration date.
Harden’s game has aged gracefully over the last handful of years. He isn’t the one-man offense he was in his prime, yet he has continually found ways to fit into and elevate groups as a supporting piece.
That carried over this past season to Cleveland. The Cavaliers played their best in the playoffs when Harden was on the floor. His ability to orchestrate the offense and take over late in games when needed is one of the reasons why the Cavs were able to advance to the Conference Finals for the first time in eight seasons.
If we judge his new contract on how he just played, this would be a good deal for Cleveland.
Every dollar matters in a salary cap league. That’s especially true for a team like the Cavs that has been doing everything in its power to cut costs after spending last season in the second apron. However, you aren’t going to get a guard playing at or near an All-Star level that isn’t on a rookie deal for cheaper.
To evaluate the contract, let’s first try to pinpoint where exactly Harden is from a skill perspective going into this season.
Player ranking guides shouldn’t be taken as gospel truth, but they do provide a general consensus for where someone stands in the league hierarchy. Currently, The Ringer and NBA 2K27 have him as the 31st-best player. HoopsHype lists him as the ninth-best guard.
This is in line with where some of the catch-all stats have him as well. Dunks and Threes’ actual estimated-plus minus has him at 38th (93rd percentile) last season. Basketball-Reference’s catch-all stats view him a little more favorably, as he was 21st in player efficiency rating (20.7), 19th in box-plus-minus (3.9), and 14th in value of replacement player (3.6).
How much stock you want to put into any of that is up to you. What we can comfortably say is that ranking him as the 31st-best player in the league is completely reasonable.
Now, let’s look at where he stacks up in annual value on his contract. Harden’s contract is expected to start just below $30 million for this upcoming season and should escalate to $34.9 million on the third and final year of his deal.
The $29.7 million he is expected to earn next season would give him the 64th-highest annual salary in the league. That placement is good value for what you’re expecting to get from him, especially considering the quality of many of the players making more than him. Jimmy Butler ($56.8 million), Trae Young ($49.5 million), Zach LaVine ($50 million), Domantas Sabonis ($45.5 million), and Brandon Ingram ($40 million) are all set to make $10 million more than Harden next season. This list puts into perspective how bad some contracts are, and how this isn’t one of them, based on how Harden has been playing.
However, that evaluation is contingent on Harden still being at or near his recent level. NBA history suggests that he won’t continue to do so over the next three years.
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 3: James Harden #1 and Chris Paul #3 of the LA Clippers looks on during the game against the Miami Heat on November 3, 2025 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Finding a recent comparison for Harden is difficult. Few guards have sustained the consistent level of play for as long as he has. One that comes to mind is Chris Paul.
Catch-all stats are flawed, but they can be used as guideposts for where a career is going. Harden finished 32nd in ESPN’s Player Efficiency this past season at age 36. At the same point in his career, Paul ranked 38th.
Paul made his final All-Star appearance at age 36. He was coming off another impressive season, helping lead the Phoenix Suns to 64 wins. There wasn’t much in his game at that time that would suggest he would begin to decline. That inevitably started during his age-37 season.
Paul was still good at 37. His overall points, assists, and efficiency were down from the year before, but he was still a high-quality player. However, a closer look at some of the advanced stats would suggest a noticeable drop-off that would continue
Paul went from 38th to 76th in ESPN’s Player Efficiency Rating between his age-36 and age-37 seasons. That slide continued as he finished 148th in Player Efficiency Rating during his age-38 season and then 170th in his last full season at age 39.
Harden has more size than Paul, which should help him age better. However, there’s no denying the simple fact that we don’t typically see good guard play from guys at this point in their careers.
There aren’t many examples of someone playing at or near an All-Star level at age 37. Only 12 players in league history have been on an All-Star team at age 37. The list keeps getting smaller the older you get. Only five players have been All-Stars at age 38 (LeBron, Tim Duncan, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), and just three at age 39 (LeBron, Jordan, and Abdul-Jabbar).
More to that point, it’s rare for 39-year-olds to even be in the league. There are only three currently rostered players who will be 39 or older at the start of the season: Mike Conley, Al Horford, and LeBron.
Just because there isn’t a historical precedent for guys playing at a high level in their late 30s doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Last season, Kevin Durant made the All-NBA Second Team, and Steph Curry was still playing at an elite level at age 37. Both are expected to be All-Star-quality players again this upcoming season. Harden certainly has the talent to follow in their footsteps.
Overall, history isn’t on Harden’s or the Cavs side. A significant drop-off in play comes for everyone at some point. That’s true even for all-time great guards like Harden. Odds are this happens for Harden sometime over the lifetime of this new contract.
Still, this is a deal the Cavs felt they had to make. They mortgaged future money in 2028 for more flexibility now to get out from under the second apron and execute a sign-and-trade for Peyton Watson. Neither of those things would’ve been possible if Harden had simply opted in to his $42.3 million player option.
Now, we’ll wait and see whether or not this short-term gamble ages like Harden’s gas station wine or a French Sauvignon Blanc.
DETROIT, MI - MAY 12: Tanner Houck #89 of the Boston Red Sox pitches during the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Monday, May 12, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Monica Bradburn/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
With Greenville and Salem being done for the year, all eyes are on the teams closest to the Major Leagues as the Red Sox make a mad dash towards October. This year played out a bit differently, as many of the guys that may be able to make a difference on this team offensively have already sniffed the bigs for at least part of the season. Even in a bullpen game, the arms kept it close with 13 Iron Pigs (Phillies AAA) strikeouts. A lot of the commotion on the box score was courtesy of Braiden Ward and Mikey Romero, who each tallied three hits. Ward finished a home run shy of the cycle on a night where the only home run of the game came from Lehigh Valley’s Otto Ward, a birthday boy today.
However, even more than the blown save and subsequent walk off the WooSox suffered in Allentown, the most eyebrow-raising thing on the box score was both Kristian Campbell and Romy Gonzalez being replaced (they were both hitless, but Hickey’s pinch for Gonzalez came after just one at-bat.) Romy has been tearing the cover off the ball in Triple-A, and a move may be coming in several different directions. Connor Wong may see his time with the team coming to a close with Willson Contreras about to return to the team and Mickey Gasper swinging to catcher with a promotion of a defensively capable Gonzalez, or there may be some smoke to the rumors of a struggling Andruw Monasterio packing his locker up, though that report was days ago now. Nevertheless, it’s that time of year to make sweeping conclusions of a footnote in a box score and speculate the implications upon a team trying to make an October run.
Speaking of guys that might make an appearance in some capacity on a team rolling through their magic number before a playoff birth, Tanner Houck made his first pitching appearance since a 2025 Tommy John surgery. It was pretty apparent through his uphill battle to be seen as a decent rotation piece to begin last season, he was playing through an injury. He was very serviceable in 2024 and was a borderline ace in a season where this team lacked one, or at the very least a reliable front of the rotation guy worthy of his first All-Star selection, and it’s really good to see him on the mound again.
These well wishes didn’t fare Houck very well as he allowed a run by walking two to start the fifth inning, but Dalton Rogers also got tripped up by this Binghamton (Mets AA) lineup and he’s been pitching all year. Joe Vogatsky came in and gave the offense enough time to get back on track, and boy did they, as the team had seven different hitters record an extra-base hit including a key one in the 8th inning from Ronald Rosario as his 14th of the season put the Sea Dogs up for good.
Tuesday’s game was named “Anything Can Happen Day” by the team, and even with this team continuing to hit and winning despite three offensive errors, nothing too crazy over a run-of-the-mill game occurred. But there’s plenty to celebrate in a late go-ahead home run to start the last series of 2026.
Sep 8, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers second baseman Hao-Yu Lee (50) hits during an at bat in the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Detroit Tigers (66-79) vs. Minnesota Twins (69-76)
Time/Place: 1:10 p.m., Comerica Park SB Nation Site:Twinkie Town Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: RHP Keider Montero (9-8, 3.52 ERA) vs. RHP Zebby Matthews (9-9, 4.69 ERA)
The Carolina Hurricanes announced on Wednesday that the team has signed RFAs Cayden Primeau and Justin Robidas to contract extensions, while also bringing back UFA Skyler Brind'Amour as well.
The three were all key contributors for the AHL's Chicago Wolves last year, who made it to the Calder Cup Final before losing in five games to the Toronto Marlies.
Primeau, 27, was signed to a two-year, one-way deal that will pay him $850,000 in 2026-27 and $975,000 in 2027-28.
The netminder posted a 21-11-7 record last year, with a 0.916 save percentage, a 2.41 goals against average and four shutouts. He then went 9-9-0 in the playoffs with a 0.913 save percentage.
Even though Primeau is expected to play this upcoming season in the AHL, the two-year, one-way deal acts as a bit of deterrent for other teams that may look to claim him as he'll be owed both money and term.
Robidas, 23, signed a one-year, two-way deal that will pay him $850,000 at the NHL level and $100,000 at the AHL level, with a guarantee of at least $125,000.
The 5-foot-8 forward had 23 goals and 60 points in 58 games with the Wolves last season and tacked on an additional seven goals and 16 points in 21 playoff games.
Brind'Amour, 27, signed a one-year, two-way deal that will pay him $850,000 at the NHL level and $125,000 at the AHL level, with a guarantee of at least $225,000.
The son of Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour, Skyler had 16 goals and 34 points in 68 games with the Wolves last season and added two goals and four points in 21 playoff games.
All three players will have to go through waivers if reassigned to the AHL.
With the three signings, the Hurricanes only have one outstanding free agent left to work out a contract with that being Russian blueliner Alexander Nikishin.
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Kawhi Leonard got off with a slap on the wrist while the NBA brought the hammer down on the Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer for circumventing the salary cap to pay him more.
An agreement was in place to trade Leonard to Toronto, but the Raptors put that on hold, waiting to see the outcome and punishments from the NBA's investigation (they would have been on the hook if Leonard were suspended, for example). Now that the report is (largely) finished and the punishments handed down, the trade can move forward.
So why hasn't the trade happened yet?
First, the trade absolutely will go through, multiple league sources told NBC Sports. That is considered a given. Nobody is pulling out of this deal, both because it would crush reputations to agree to something and then pull out, and also because both sides get things they want out of this trade.
Why the delay in making it official? A couple of reasons. One is that there is no real deadline pressure to do it right now, so long as it gets done in the next couple of weeks, before training camps open Sept. 22.
The other reason: the Clippers have to reorganize their front office in the wake of the suspensions — including president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank — something first reported by Marc Stein at The Stein Line. The expectation is that general manager Trent Redden will step into the big chair for the Clippers for six months, but that is not yet formally in place.
With the Clippers scrambling a little bit to get their ducks in a row, the trade has yet to go through. Expect it to become official in the coming weeks.
As a reminder, that trade sends Leonard to the Raptors, while the Clippers get Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-rounders, two first-round pick swaps and a second-round pick. Make no mistake, the Clippers want this trade to go through, they now need and are counting on those picks after having five of their first-round picks taken away by the league. The Raptors want Leonard, who, paired at forward with Scottie Barnes, forms an interesting and potentially dangerous team in the East.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 08: Gabriel Moreno #14 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates with Blake Walston #48 after defeating the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on September 08, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Diamondbacks News
Corbin Burnes Makes 2026 Debut Against Royals Three pesky at-bats really put a damper on just how far the pitch-limited Burnes could go in the game, but he still turned in three shutout innings en route to the Diamondbacks going 10 games over .500.
The Good and Not So Good from Burnes’ Return Hopefully, by the next time Burnes makes an appearance, he will have found the feel for his curve, which was largely an entirely uncompetitive pitch for him on Tuesday night.
Per @nickpiecoro Corbin Carroll will remain out of the lineup today with low back discomfort and receive imaging on Thursday in Phoenix. https://t.co/VwLe4rETjk
The 2026 MLB Number Tracker Tracking the magic and tragic numbers as the season heads into the final stretch. The Diamondacks and Padres both currently have a magic number of 17.
Both Leagues Have Plenty to Untie There are still numerous outcomes for the playoff picture, but at lest the teams involved are coming into focus. Might this expanded playoff format and new schedule format result in two wild card teams from the NL having a better record than two of the division winners in the AL? Possibly. Will this be a season where a tea (or teams) with a losing record make the postseason?
With the New York Rangers, Pavel Dorofeyev is entering unfamiliar territory.
As a member of the Vegas Golden Knights, Dorofeyev emerged as an elite goal scorer over the past two seasons, recording 35 goals in the 2024-25 campaign and 37 the following season.
However, throughout his tenure in Vegas, the Golden Knights have always been a team filled with superstar talent and big-time names, including Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner.
After being traded to the Rangers this offseason and signing a seven-year, $77 million contract, Dorofeyev is now expected to be the main driver of the Blueshirts’ offense.
That comes with a lot of pressure, something he wasn’t exposed to with the Vegas Golden Knights despite his impressive offensive production.
The 25-year-old forward expressed his readiness to take on this new challenge during the player’s media tour.
“If you fear that type of challenge, you just have to be a man and accept the challenge and do your best to just just be the same way,” Dorofeyev said. “I don’t have to change much.”
The Rangers have missed the playoffs two years in a row and have gone through a tremendous amount of overhaul as a team.
The direction of the franchise has fluctuated from competing to retooling.
While the addition of Dorofeyev shows Chris Drury’s desire to make the Rangers a younger team, it also indicates his eagerness to become competitive again and push for the playoffs as opposed to going into a prolonged rebuild.
Dorofeyev believes in this Rangers core as currently constructed.
“We have a great group of guys,” Dorofeyev said. “We have a lot of skill, a lot of potential, and we're gonna work hard to be good. We're gonna put that effort together.”
The Russian native instantly becomes an instrumental piece to the Rangers’ main nucleus of players featuring Igor Shesterkin, Adam Fox, J.T. Miller, Vladislav Gavrikov, and Mika Zibanejad.
Through conversations with these players during the offseason, Dorofeyev believes he’s better equipped to fit in with his new team going into a critical training camp.
“When I got traded, I knew them (Shesterkin and Gavrikov) before,” Dorofeyev said. “We were in touch a little bit. Not just necessarily Shesterkin and Gavrikov. I can easily talk to J.T., Mika, Lafrenière. We are all on the same page.”
Shifting into an entirely new role, Dorofeyev will have to embrace the bright lights and expectations of New York, and time will only tell if he’s prepared to take on that challenge.
With less than three weeks left in the regular season, Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez has a chance to etch his name in history as he pursues a Triple Crown, the rare feat in which a player leads his league in average, home runs and runs batted in.
Entering Wednesday, Sept. 9, Alvarez leads the AL in batting average (.311) and ranks second in homers (38) and RBIs (95), as the Astros cling to first place in the AL West. His 38 home runs are already a career high and he's sure to smash his career-best 104 RBIs.
There have been fewer than 20 Triple Crown winners in MLB history, most recently the Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera in 2012. Prior to Cabrera, it had been 45 years since a player had accomplished the feat, the Boston Red Sox's Carl Yastrzemski in 1967.
Alvarez faces stiff competition in all three categories, with the Tampa Bay Rays' Chandler Simpson (.307) and Yandy Diaz (.306) also in contention for the batting title. Alvarez trails the Rays' Junior Caminero (39) by one home run entering Wednesday's games, and Baltimore Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso (97) by two RBIs for the AL lead.
Can Alvarez finish strong to join the exclusive club? Here's where the 29-year-old stands:
CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 17: Joey Hamilton #50 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitching during a MLB game against the Chicago White Sox on September 17, 2000 in Chicago, illinois. (Photo by Ronald C. Modra/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Today marks Joey Hamilton’s 56th birthday. Coincidentally, it’s also my middle son’s birthday—happy birthday, Tommy!
Joey arrived in Toronto as part of one of the worst trades of the Gord Ash era. The Jays sent Woody Williams, Carlos Almanzar, and Peter Tucci to San Diego in exchange for him. Dave Stewart, who had just joined the Jays as assistant GM after serving as the Padres’ pitching coach, strongly recommended Joey. Stewart had played with him, saw something special in his demeanor, and believed he was destined to be a star.
In his four full seasons with the Padres, Joey averaged over 200 innings a season, posting a 55-44 record and a 3.83 ERA.
However, Joey led the NL in walks the season before the trade and was never a high strikeout pitcher. Ash should have recognized that a pitcher with a 1.39 strikeout-to-walk ratio was unlikely to thrive in the AL East.
In his first year as a Jay, he went 7-8 with a 6.52 ERA in 18 starts. The following season, 2000, he spent most of the year on the DL, making only six starts for the team. 2001, Joey was 5-8 with a 5.89 ERA when the team released him on August 3rd. It is tough to let go of a guy you are paying $7.25 million to, but JP Riccardi had no trouble admitting Gord Ash’s mistakes.
All in all, the Jays paid $17 million for just 14 wins—not exactly what you’d hope for from someone expected to replace Roger Clemens.
“I think he’s just coming into his own,” Stewart said. “What I like about Joey is that he is a real, real strong competitor. And, I still think there’s room for growth.”
“We have in Joey Hamilton a pitcher who can go in the front end of our rotation,” Toronto general manager Gord Ash said.
Woody Williams went on to win 104 more games in his career. Almanzar had a few decent, though inconsistent, seasons, while Tucci never made it to the big leagues. Gord Ash, meanwhile, was eventually fired.
The Reds picked up Joey, and he pitched for them during the remainder of the 2001 season, all of 2002, and made three appearances in 2003 before being released. As a Red, he went 5-12 with a 5.90 ERA over 46 games (21 starts).
He finished his career 74-73 with a 4.44 ERA in 242 games (209 starts). It was a solid career, though the best years came before his time with the Jays.
Anyway, happy birthday, Joey—I hope it’s a great one.
It’s also Edwin Jackson’s 43rd birthday.
Edwin was a Jay for about 10 minutes back in 2011. He arrived from the White Sox along with Mark Teahen, Jason Frasor, and Zach Stewart.
But he was quickly traded to the Cardinals, along with Octavio Dotel, Corey Patterson, and Marc Rzepczynski, in exchange for Trever Miller, Colby Rasmus, Brian Tallet, and P.J. Walters.
The Jays picked him up again from the A’s off waivers in May 2019. He made eight appearances (five starts), posting an 11.12 ERA (and people complain about Mitch White). The Jays released him at the end of July. The Tigers then signed him, and he had an 8.47 ERA over 39.1 innings, which marked the end of his career.
He finished with a record of 107-133 and a 4.78 ERA in 412 games (318 starts).
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 08: Ty France #25 and Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres celebrate after defeating the Washington Nationals at Petco Park on September 08, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres turned back the clock, making a signature comeback that they haven’t in quite some time. The Friars were down 4-1 against the Washington Nationals heading into the eighth inning. They were issued three consecutive walks before Manny Machado tied the game with a two-run single. Then, Luis Campusano hit a bloop single to right field for the winning run. Adrian Morejon nailed down the save immediately after, slamming the door on the Nats.
They’ll go for the sweep this afternoon for the first time since they did so against the Minnesota Twins over two weeks ago. Despite that, the Arizona Diamondbacks remain a half game ahead of the Friars. San Diego will need to keep their momentum going in order to best the division rivals.
Taking the mound
Jackson Kent (WAS) v. Walker Buehler (SD)
Kent has made five starts this season for Washington. It’s his first season in the big leagues, to poor results. Kent owns a 5.55 ERA through 24 1/3 innings pitched. That being said, his last 12 innings have been good, surrendering just four runs.
His biggest problem has been command. Kent has yet to walk less than three batters in a game, walking a total of 19 in five starts. Those command struggles have led to massive run prevention issues. If the Padres can stay patient in the box, they’ll have plenty of opportunities to get runners on base.
Buehler has been one of the best pitchers for the Padres this season. His stat line wouldn’t tell you it (4.56 ERA, 1.34 WHIP), but he’s been the most valuable pitcher on San Diego’s staff behind Michael King. It is reflected in the stat line from his last seven games. In Buehler’s last 36 1/3 innings, he owns a 2.97 ERA.
The veteran righty has revitalized his game down the stretch. Buehler had a tough blip in the middle of the season, but has rebounded in a big way. If Buehler can continue that successful streak, it’ll mean one more weapon for the San Diego starting rotation.
Batter up!
The offense was incredibly quiet for the first half of Game 2, but they made use of their biggest opportunity. After receiving three consecutive walks to lead off the eighth inning, the Padres scratched a run across with a sacrifice fly before Machado tied the game. They’ll need to continue that level of situational hitting in order to make the playoffs.
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
Jake Cronenworth, 2B
Manny Machado, 3B
Ty France, 1B
Jackson Merrill, CF
Luis Campusano, C
Dustin Harris, LF
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Ethan Salas, DH
Salas is likely to be in the lineup today after Freddy Fermin started yesterday’s game. He’s yet to record his first hit, but reached base in the series opener for the first time in his young career. If he can contribute anything to the Padres during their stretch run, it will be a huge help for the Friars.
Relief corps
The bullpen locked it down, for the most part, with Randy Vásquez, Yuki Matsui, David Morgan and Adrian Morejon combining to pitch 3 1/3 innings of one-run ball. That said, Vásquez gave up a crucial double upon entering the game, but those runs were charged to Mize.
The Friars have options for the series finale today, with Griffin Canning, Kyle Hart, Mason Miller, Wandy Peralta and Bradgley Rodriguez available for this afternoon. San Diego has a wealth of arms, along with an off day on Thursday. That should give them enough arms to pitch a win versus Washington.
(Original Caption) Eighth Game Of The World Series. Waite Hoyt.
Brooklyn-born Waite Hoyt, aka the Schoolboy Wonder, did not have to wait long for his stardom to be born. With a story that feels like it was written by Walt Disney himself, Hoyt pitched his way into the Hall of Fame and broadcast his way into the hearts of the Midwest.
Waite Charles Hoyt Born: September 9, 1899 (Brooklyn, NY) Died: August 25, 1984 (Cincinnati, OH) Yankees Tenure: 1921-1930
The legend begins when Hoyt was just 15 years old and still at Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn. It was then that, for a whopping $5 bonus, the New York Giants signed the teenager to a professional baseball contract. This signing earned him the aforementioned nickname “the Schoolboy Wonder.” Hoyt’s professional journey would really kick off in the spring of 1916, as he played at various levels of the minor leagues.
The following year, Hoyt participated in spring training with the Giants and earned his first big league call-up at just 18 years old in July of 1918. He struck out a pair, pitching a 1-2-3 inning. The Giants tried to send the young pitcher back to the farm, but the teenager refused and quit baseball outright.
After his contract expired with the Giants, Hoyt signed with the Red Sox and got in writing that the team would allow him to start a game within days of him reporting to the club. Hoyt spent the rest of the 1919 and the 1920 season pitching for Boston. In December of 1920, the Red Sox traded Hoyt along with Harry Harper, Mike McNally, and Wally Schang to the New York Yankees for Del Pratt, Muddy Ruel, Herb Thormahlen, and Sammy Vick. It was yet another in a string of masterful moves made by former Red Sox manager-turned-Yankees GM Ed Barrow to build up an eventual champion (even beyond the famous Babe Ruth deal).
The Roaring Twenties were not ready for a 20-year-old Hoyt in pinstripes.
The 1921 campaign was a good one for Hoyt. On his new team, he went 19-13 with a 3.09 ERA and completed 21 of his 32 starts. The Yankees made it to their very first World Series that year and played Hoyt’s former team, the National League rival Giants — their Polo Grounds landlords. Hoyt was sensational, tossing three complete games and not allowing a single earned run. However, the team fell to the Giants 5 games to 3; Hoyt got hit with a hard-luck 1-0 loss in Game 8 with the one unearned run on a first-inning error by shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh.
Hoyt and the team had similar success in 1922. Although most of his numbers regressed slightly, Hoyt still impressed with a 19-12 record and a 3.43 ERA. The Giants again beat the Bombers in an all-Polo Grounds Fall Classic, this time with a sweep in all but name (Game 2 was called a tie after 10 innings due to darkness) as the World Series shifted back to the seven-game format after the best-of-nine format that was used from 1919-21.
The stars finally aligned for the Yankees as a team in 1923, their first at Yankee Stadium. Hoyt continued to be a solid pitcher, going 17-9 with a 3.02 ERA. For the third straight season, though, his inning totals declined, as did his strikeouts. The Yankees made the World Series and faced the Giants for the third consecutive year. Hoyt got the ball for Game 1 but gave up four earned runs in just 2.1 innings in his only appearance. Despite the tough start, the Yankees ultimately won the series in six games, giving the franchise its first championship.
Suffering perhaps from a World Series hangover, Hoyt and the team did not fare as well in the 1924 or the 1925 seasons. 1925 was possibly Hoyt’s worst in pinstripes. In his down year, Hoyt went 11-14 with a 4.00 ERA. The team failed to reach the World Series in either season, and with Ruth ailing, the ’25 campaign was their only year under .500 between 1919 and 1964.
Hoyt had a solid season in 1926, and the team bounced back to win the AL pennant. In what can only be called entering the zone, Hoyt went 15 innings over two starts and only gave up two earned runs in the World Series. However, the Cardinals prevailed over the Yankees in seven games. Little did anyone know, but Hoyt’s performance would be a precursor for his best two seasons in the big leagues.
Now 27 years old, Hoyt finally took the step from Schoolboy Wonder to ace in 1927. That season, he posted a career-best and league-leading 22 wins and 2.63 ERA across 256.1 innings. Hoyt completed 23 of his 32 starts on the year. The Yankees’ Murderers’ Row finished with a record of 110-44 and went on to completely dominate the Pirates to sweep the World Series. Hoyt got the win in the Fall Classic opener with 7.1 innings of workmanlike ball in a 5-4 victory.
The good times kept on rolling in 1928. Hoyt set a career-high with 23 wins and had a 3.36 ERA across 273 innings. After another great season, the team was back in the World Series, this time facing the Cardinals. Hoyt tossed a three-hit gem in Game 1, earning the win, and worked another complete-game victory in Game 4 to complete the club’s second consecutive World Series sweep and avenge the 1926 loss to St. Louis.
After two brilliant seasons, Hoyt took a step back in 1929. He posted an ERA of 4.24 in just over 200 innings of work. Hoyt was not much better to start the ‘30 season. Amid the declining performance, he was traded to the Tigers mid-season.
In 10 seasons with the club, Hoyt posted a 157-98 record with a 3.48 ERA in 2,272.1 innings. Hoyt logged over 200 innings in nine different seasons as a Yankee. The team won six pennants and three World Series with him as one of the staples of the rotation.
Hoyt played in the majors until 1938. Over that time, he bounced between the Tigers, Athletics, Dodgers, Giants, and Pirates. In 1931, while with the Athletics, Hoyt appeared in another World Series, but the Cards got the better of him again, toppling Philly in seven games. Outside of pinstripes, his best season came in 1934 with the Pirates. That season, he went 15-6 with a 2.93 ERA.
When he finally hung up his cleats, Hoyt finished his career with a 237-182 record and a 3.59 ERA. At the time of his retirement, Hoyt held the record for the most World Series appearances by a pitcher with 12 and shared the record for the most World Series wins with 6.
Even though he was not playing anymore, Hoyt could not stay away from baseball for long. Famed for his storytelling ability with teammates, Hoyt immediately sought work in radio in New York and started hosting short sports commentary and post-game shows in 1938. His big break in broadcasting came in 1942. That year, Hoyt landed the play-by-play voice of the Cincinnati Reds, and he held this position continuously for 24 seasons until his retirement from full-time broadcasting in 1965.
On August 16, 1948, the news broke on-air that Babe Ruth had passed away. In what has become legendary, Hoyt proceeded to deliver an unscripted, two-hour-long eulogy for his friend and former teammate. Later that year, Hoyt’s “Babe Ruth As I Knew Him” was published.
After pitching for 21 seasons and spending 24 years in the booth as a broadcaster, Hoyt was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969. A vaudeville performer, funeral director, painter, and writer, Hoyt lived a full life while spending most of it battling alcoholism. Hoyt passed away in 1984.
Happy birthday, Schoolboy, and thank you for the stories!
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
