Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Kevin Korchinski is one of several promising youngsters in the Original Six club's system. The Blackhawks are hoping that the 2022 seventh-overall pick will become a big part of their blueline in the future, as he has good upside and skill.
With Wyatt Kaiser out due to injury, Korchinski was recently called up to the Blackhawks' roster with Sam Rinzel from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs. With this, Korchinski now has a big opportunity to show the Blackhawks what he can do with the NHL club.
Korchinski has only played in two games this season with Chicago, where he has recorded one assist and a minus-2 rating. This was after he had one goal and one assist in just 16 games for Chicago in 2024-25. With this, he has not seen a ton of time on the Blackhawks' roster after playing in 76 games with Chicago during his rookie year in 2023-24.
If Korchinski stands out during this latest chance on the NHL roster, it undoubtedly should help his chances of sticking around on the Blackhawks' roster. As a result, there is no question that the left-shot defenseman has an exciting opportunity in front of him, and it will be fascinating to see what he can do with it from here.
In 45 games this season with the IceHogs, Korchinski has recorded two goals, 21 assists, and 23 points.
Feb 20, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Miami Heat guard Pelle Larsson (9) is fouled by Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher (10) in the third quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The Atlanta Hawks returned to State Farm Arena to begin a significant stretch of home games but fell to a disappointing 128-97 defeat to the Miami Heat on Friday night. Onyeka Okongwu led the scoring with 22 points, with CJ McCollum and Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 20 points. For the Heat, Tyler Herro played his first game since mid-January, scoring 24 points. Bam Adebayo added 17 points as seven Miami players hit double-figure scoring efforts.
The Hawks were in a rest-disadvantaged situation heading into this contest. Having been on the road and captured an impressive win in Philadelphia on Thursday night, they would have returned late to Atlanta that night, while the Heat were already waiting for the Hawks. This was Miami’s first game after the break, and they opened the game like a team who were playing with a rest advantage, running out to an 11-3 start before quickly establishing a double-digit lead in the first quarter.
The Hawks missed a number of shots that could have easily swung the other way (such as three-point attempts from Zaccharie Risacher and Okongwu), but what was a common theme throughout the night was Atlanta’s poor defense in the paint, where Miami scored 72 points.
A few instances from the first quarter: Adebayo is easily able to beat Okongwu on the drive and beats him to the rim:
As if often the case this season, if Okongwu is forced to rotate or step up, it leaves a gaping hole at the rim where teams can exploit the Hawks’ lack of size at the rim. Risacher is easily beaten on the perimeter, forcing Okongwu to step up, which allows Norman Powell to toss a lob to Kel’el Ware, who is easily able to finish with Okongwu out of the picture:
Really, really poor from Risacher here to put the Hawks in a vulnerable position. I have no idea what resistance he thinks this is, but Powell just gets by him as if he wasn’t there (which he may as well have not been on this possession).
A poor defensive sequence from the normally positive Alexander-Walker, who falls behind too easily on the give-and-go exchange from Herro and Kasparas Jakučionis. Herro easily getting by as Alexander-Walker gets caught trying to reach in, and Herro recognizes the opportunity to get ahead of Alexander-Walker, who tries a desperate slap-down to try and salvage the possession as Herro hits the runner:
The Hawks fell behind by 15 points in the early stages of the second quarter before the Hawks were ignited by an 11-point McCollum quarter that saw the Hawks actually tie this game. McCollum hit three three-pointers, as the Hawks hit seven threes in the second quarter alone to reign in the Heat. However, a disappointing end to the quarter saw the Hawks fall behind by six points heading into the locker room as Adebayo gets the better of Okongwu again at the rim for the basket:
The third quarter played out similarly to the first quarter: the Hawks missing shots while offering little resistance to prevent Miami from scoring. This play just over two minutes into the second half sums it up, as Davion Mitchell strolls by Jalen Johnson for the score at the rim, leading to a timeout:
This was only the Heat’s second basket of the quarter, but after a poor, off-balance shot by Okongwu in the lane followed by…I don’t even know how to kindly describe Jalen Johnson’s defense/effort on that possession. The Hawks are on the second night of a back-to-back, but you cannot use that excuse for that type of defense coming out after halftime in a game/against a team the Hawks actually need to win more than others.
This is a team the Hawks are competing with for a play-in spot, and that kind of defense from Johnson — the team’s leading player — is absolutely unacceptable, especially from a player who is more than capable of being an excellent defender. However, since his growth in offensive responsibilities/capabilities, his on-ball defense has taken an absolute nosedive, and that play really sums up the drop-off.
The Heat re-established their double-digit lead, and while a quick run brought that back down to six points, the Heat didn’t take long to push their lead back out to double digits. The Hawks continued to struggle offensively, shooting 9-of-27 from the field, including 1-of-7 from Johnson in the third quarter alone.
The Hawks tried to go to McCollum in hopes of another spark, and while he did score seven points in the third, it was not enough for the Hawks as the Heat eased their way into the fourth with a double-digit lead. The same recipe repeated in the fourth quarter as the Hawks offered little resistance in the paint.
Another example shown in this play, as Risacher gets drawn to the middle and loses sight of Jaime Jaquez Jr., who makes the cut behind Risacher and finishes at the rim:
In the end, the Heat shot 68% around the rim, making a total of 34 made baskets around the rim, which is a lot of baskets to concede at the rim:
The Heat eased away from the Hawks, and the game became a rout, a 128-97 loss at home as the chants of ‘Let’s go Heat’ sounded at State Farm Arena. A disappointing return to State Farm Arena after the All-Star break.
In contrast, the Hawks shot 45% around the rim (well below the 60% league average number), and Hawks head coach Quin Snyder was left to reflect on the Hawks’ percentage at the rim, including keeping the Hawks’ awareness on drives and creating better shots and the process of players continuing to learn with the Hawks’ preferred tendencies offensively.
“We talk a lot about having your eyes out,” said Snyder postgame. “Whatever those shots are, not all shots at the rim are created equal, and there’s times when we’re in a crowd, or we’re trying to finish over somebody, we need to make better decisions in that area. We need each other on offense, and the possessions where that happens, you can feel them. We can generate better shots. When we’re not doing that, that’s not our strength, and it’s going to show with our shot quality. That’s something that we just need to internalize, there’s no shame in that. But we have to generate offense together, whether that means running or movement, passing, and that’s gonna be key for us. We’re at a point now where there’s some guys that are learning that, guys are learning new roles. The end game is the same: that’s what it needs to look like. When you see that, there’s some really good possessions where we get good looks and good things happen and then when we’re not that connected, the result isn’t good enough to win a game.”
Jalen Johnson, similarly, highlighted that when the Hawks are at their best when they execute their gameplan, and admitted the Hawks did not do this last night.
“I think when we’re consistent with the game plan and we come out executing the gameplan, that’s when we’re at our best,” said Johnson. “I don’t think we did a good job of executing the gameplan tonight.”
Snyder alluded to the Hawks’ lack of defensive consistency when the ball wasn’t falling for them on the offensive end, when Snyder wasn’t unhappy with how the Hawks were playing.
“In the first quarter we started out, and even though we weren’t scoring, we had a hard time seeing the ball go in,” said Snyder. “I didn’t think we were playing poorly, offensively. We hung in there with our defense, and there’s a point when the toughness that’s required to kind of keep your focus and continue to sustain defensively when you’re not getting… It’s different, missing shots is different than not getting quality possessions. When you don’t get quality possessions, it becomes much harder to defend, and we teetered with that for a while, and then it slipped. Suddenly, it went from six, eight, ten, and bubbled up to high double digits.”
If by ‘hung in with our defense’ he means give up 70+ points in the paint, allow 34 baskets around the rim, many of them with ease, then, sure, you could say the Hawks hung in there. I’d argue that were it not for the second quarter, and that run where Alexander-Walker and McCollum were hitting shots and brought the Hawks to tie the game, this game would’ve been close to a 40-point blowout. On the balance of the first, third, and fourth quarters, this margin of victory I think reflects the game as a whole. The second quarter was, ultimately, the outlier.
“I think the first quarter, we were kind of getting our sea legs back,” said McCollum. “We didn’t get out and run, didn’t get stops, a little sluggish. Second quarter, we got out and ran, Corey got a dunk, got a transition three, got some rim pressure, got some kick out threes from eyes-out. I think that was the difference. We got a little bit of defensive momentum, obviously 29 points in the first, 28 in the second, so got a couple more stops and tried to prevent second chance opportunities. We tried to ride the wave of momentum but couldn’t sustain it.”
McCollum, generally, held a more realistic assessment of the Hawks’ shortcoming last night.
“Defensively, I think we could have been better with our communication, could have been better in pick-and-rolls,” said McCollum. “I think they went to zone to start that fourth quarter, I think that changed the game and they took advantage of some turnovers, some missed shots … and I don’t think we did enough to win. Herro got off, he got too much freedom, too much space in his pick-and-rolls, too much space in his pull-ups. We’ve got to do a better job of getting the ball in. I think a lot of guys hurt us tonight, and I think we didn’t deserve to win this game.”
In a question alluding to the back-to-back situation the Hawks found themselves in, McCollum maintained that despite a lack of rest, the Heat were able to impose themselves easily in this game to take a deserved victory.
“I would like to go to sleep before 3 A.M. last night, but they beat us, it is what it is,” said McCollum. “They came out, they played better than us. They got off to a good start; it was up 8-0. They executed better than us, they got points in transition, they got threes, they got rim pressure, they did whatever they wanted tonight. So back-to-back or not, they did enough to win, we didn’t do enough to win.”
Individually, there were some solid offensive games from Okongwu (22 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field, and 4-of-5 from three), Alexander-Walker (20 points on 8-of-18 shooting), and McCollum (20 points on 8-of-16 from the field). However, struggles from Dyson Daniels (four points on 2-of-7 shooting), and Zaccharie Risacher had a particularly rough game on both sides of the ball (and shot 1-of-8 from the field) which was far from ideal. However, Jalen Johnson shot a woeful 6-of-22 from the field, attempting often to get inside and draw contact and fouls/free throws, but didn’t receive a lot of the calls he wanted.
While Johnson registered a triple-double (16 points, 16 rebounds, 11 assists), he was very much aware of his poor game.
“I don’t really care for no triple-double, I played terrible tonight,” said Johnson. “I just got to be better, and I just got to be better for my teammates, but we have another chance on Sunday to regroup and hopefully string together some wins. We’re home for quite, quite a long stretch, so, the chances are right in front of us. We just got to go out there and get it.”
Johnson registered just two free throw attempts in this game, a stark contrast to the 16 attempts he took against the Sixers on Thursday night.
“Those are two physical teams,” said Johnson when asked about the free throw disparity. “So last night it was just, it’s kind of different with the whistle. Tonight I just try to keep that same mentality and trying to be aggressive. I didn’t draw as many fouls as I would like and get some easy ones going early … this is something you got to adjust to and more importantly, just continue to play through. They’re going to see what they see and they’re human too and they make mistakes. I just got to continue to play through all that.”
Johnson didn’t have a great offensive game, obviously, and while he took some tough shots in traffic, nights like this can happen. While the offense for the Hawks obviously not great (shooting 38% from the field), the defense was of greater concern as they conceded 128 points on 52% shooting. Not to beat a dead horse, it’s the defensive side of the ball you want to see more from Johnson, and where’s so much more capable than he has shown. Johnson’s offense will be fine, and while I think a triple-double isn’t reflective of a good game but instead says a lot to say how impactful he can be despite playing poorly offensively.
All in all, a tough loss for the Hawks. On paper, probably not an unexpected loss on the second night of a back-to-back, but when you watch it unfold, I think it becomes a lot more disappointing.
The defensive effort was really poor and was difficult to watch at times. Miami is good at driving the ball and getting out in transition — a nightmare if, for example, the opposition is shooting poorly, like the Hawks did last night — but against a team that the Hawks are actually looking to compete with and jostle for seeding, the urgency required was absent. It’s one thing to compete and come up short, but the lack of urgency was of greater concern.
The Heat now lead the season-series 2-1, with the last matchup coming on the last day of the regular season. The Hawks, however, may not get close enough for that matter after that loss, now 3.5 games adrift of the Heat for the 8-seed. Not impossible to turnaround, but certainly a challenge.
Good news for the Hawks (27-31), however, is that they’ve got plenty of home games that aren’t back-to-backs, and beginning with the Brooklyn Nets (15-40) at State Farm Arena on Sunday afternoon. A good opportunity for a bounce back at the very least for the hosts.
1990: Oscar Azocar of the New York Yankees in action. | Getty Images
Over 22,000 players have played Major League Baseball. A small fraction of those players are remembered for their on-field accomplishments. An even smaller subset are remembered for their personalities and the joy they brought to the game. Oscar Azócar was one of those special people.
Oscar Azócar Born: February 21, 1965 (Soro, Venezuela) Died: June 14, 2010 (Valencia, Venezuela) Yankees Tenure: 1990
Azócar was scouted by the Yankees out of Venezuela as a pitcher. He fared reasonably well in this role, posting a 3.31 ERA in 171.1 innings, but these were mostly spent in the lower levels of the minors, where the southpaw never showcased the stuff to turn himself into a viable prospect. But, in 1987, during his first season as manager of the Low-A Fort Lauderdale Yankees, a 30-year-old Buck Showalter saw enough out of the young hurler as he took batting practice that the future Yankees skipper engineered a positional switch, moving Azócar to the outfield. He hit .359 in 195 plate appearances that year, rewarding Showalter’s confidence in his ability to swing the bat.
Azócar then began a precipitous climb to the bigs. He was added to Yankees’ 40-man roster on November 8, 1988, alongside more recognizable names including Kevin Maas, Hensley Meulens, and a fellow young outfielder named Bernie Williams. Azócar got his first taste of Yankees glitz the following season when he was a teammate of Deion Sanders at Double-A Albany-Colonie while the two-sport athlete was working his way up to the Yankees. “He brought me a hat,”’ Azócar said while showcasing a Falcons cap before adding, presciently, of the future Pro Football Hall of Famer, “I think he wants to play football, though.”
After hitting .292 in 504 at-bats at Triple-A in ‘89 and ‘90, Azócar got called up in July 1990 to replace Mel Hall, who’d landed on the shelf after pulling a muscle in his thigh. He joined a Yankees team that was floundering, sitting at 31-54 in the standings. On the day the team elevated Azócar, manager Stump Merrill candidly told the press of his team’s woes: “It can’t get any worse.”
It was into this subdued environment that Azócar arrived and, in the context of a near-hopeless team, briefly looked like a savior. The 25-year-old recorded a hit off Royals pitcher Steve Farr in his first at-bat, homered twice in his first week, and, at the end of July, was hitting .386 with a 1.053 OPS in 15 games.
Alongside Maas and Jim Leyritz, Azócar gave hope that a youth movement was taking hold in the Bronx. “They’re going out and playing, and it’s contagious,“ Merrill said. “They don’t quit.” Future captain Mattingly said the trio, along with Sanders, boasted “some serious talent.” Merrill was particularly effusive in his praise of Azócar. “The reason Oscar hits for average is that he doesn’t walk and doesn’t strike out,” the Yankee manager said. “The reason he hits for average is that he uses the whole field, from line to line.” For his part, the rookie was blasé about his first brush with MLB competition. “There’s no difference,” Azócar said. “In the minor leagues, there’s tough pitching, too, just like here. There’s absolutely no difference. The only difference is the people in the stands.”
In his debut, Azócar quickly demonstrated an aggressiveness and verve that both won him praise and limited his ceiling. With “going all the way,” as his mantra, the outfielder played the game at a breakneck pace, both running hard on every play and swinging at nearly every pitch. When asked by his teammates why he ran in from left field at full speed to back up third on routine plays, Azócar offered a simple and earnest reply: “because that’s what I’m supposed to do.”
Despite earning a starting role and, amidst a thin Yankees roster, a shot to stick, Azócar trailed off, hitting below the Mendoza line after his dynamic July and eventually finding his way to the bench. The free-swinger would end the year with an unviable .257 on-base percentage, signaling his limits as a legitimate prospect.
Still, after his extended action the year prior, Topps made a 1991 Yankees card for the Azócar. It would prove an enduring showcase for his childlike love for the game of baseball, showcasing the outfielder balancing a baseball between two bats with a wry smile on his face.
Oscar Azocar? Debatable that he maybe doesn't fit as he did get a chance, but kind of played himself out of the bigs. On the other hand, he hit .386 in his first month in '90, and 12 year old me thought he was going to the HOF pic.twitter.com/GPEMPKBvUx
— Long time listener 🍁 (@Trammell87MVP) July 26, 2024
Despite making it onto a 1991 Yankees baseball card, Azócar wouldn’t stick in the pinstripes that year. He was designated for assignment during the offseason when New York signed Farr, the pitcher against whom Azócar had gotten his first hit, as a free agent. On December 3, 1990, he was traded to the Padres for a player to be named later who became Mike Humphreys, an outfielder who saw limited action during three seasons in the Bronx.
Azócar spent two years in San Diego. He appeared mostly as a pinch-hitter, batting .204 with a .479 OPS. It would be his final MLB action. On the way out, though, he made time to pose for one more iconic Topps baseball card. In this one, he holds his bat tight to his head with an eyes-closed, playful smile upon his face.
After his time in the US, Azócar took his enthusiastic brand of baseball to the Mexican League, where he’d spend eight seasons. As late as 2000, at the age of 35 and eight years removed from his last season with the Padres, he hit .377 with the Guerreros de Oaxaca, finishing third in the batting title race behind fellow MLB castoffs Ivan Cruz and Warren Newson.
Azócar died unexpectedly of a heart attack in 2010 at just 45 years old. He would be 61 today. Despite his brief tenure in the majors, he is remembered for the joy and enthusiasm he brought to the game he loved so dearly.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 10: Mitch Garver #18 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after striking out against the Detroit Tigers during the fifth inning in game five of the American League Division Series at T-Mobile Park on October 10, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good day everyone! It’s Saturday, and we’ve got some news from around the league to share with you.
In Mariners news…
Cal Raleigh played a major role in Mitch Garver’s return to the team.
Mitch Garver is in camp and ready to go. Said Cal encouraged him to give the Mariners a call and the deal was done within 24 hours.
Davy Andrews at Fangraphs provided his analysis of the Mariners’ re-signing of Garver, in which he tries to figure out what happened to the catcher’s once-incredible bat.
Though Jen Pawol will serve as an umpire throughout spring training for the third straight season, she did not get a permanent umpiring job for the regular season.
Bradford William Davis reports that Orioles owner David Rubenstein set himself up to profit from Donald Trump’s mass immigrant deportations.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Luinder Avila #58 of the Kansas City Royals pitches against the Athletics during the ninth inning at Sutter Health Park on September 28, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
“A lot of guys have tough years,” he said, “and you just keep fighting and you learn something from it. You learn from it, you move on and you kind of leave the result in the past.”
Massey is excited for a fresh start at spring training in Arizona, where the Royals played the Texas Rangers in their Cactus League opener on Friday. The Royals will utilize him in more of a hybrid role this season because of how their roster is constructed. It’s expected he will see time at second base and keep working in the outfield, as well.
“He looks great physically,” Quatraro said. “His demeanor has been tremendous. He’s healthy and he’s throwing the ball with great extension and great carry.
“I think in fairness to Bailey, he came over and he was in a tough spot. He was banged up a little bit and we probably saw him at his worst. I think to his credit, the way he’s put that behind him and moved forward throughout the offseason has been tremendous.”
Theoretically, going with a five-man rotation for a full year gives two guys 34 starts and three guys 33. Going with a six-man rotation all year gives everyone 27 starts. Six or seven starts coming off the arm could be the difference between freshness for the playoffs or not. But one thing that I think you have to keep in mind with that six-man rotation is that you do have a deficiency now in the bullpen, so I think the extra rest will have to be used to give starting pitchers a bit of a longer leash. Again, I don’t have the biometrics or anything so I’m just talking here, but if you’re counting on 15-18 outs every night, I think that needs to be bumped up to 18-21.
Matt Quatraro thinks Luinder Avila could be an ace someday.
Asked Q if he sees Luinder Avila as a starter or a reliever:
“Shoot, I see him as a front-of-the-rotation starter down the road.” #Royals
However, Quatraro’s assessment has me reconsidering. Having Avila in the rotation was always a possibility, but “front of the rotation?” Whoa. In order to make that happen, he’s going to have to refine and rely on that changeup a little more. That would give him another weapon against left-handed hitters. If Avila starts attacking hitters with three pitches—curve, four-seam, sinker against righties and curve, four-seam, change versus lefties—that changes the calculus in determining his future role on the big league club. If I were to tell you something to watch this spring, it would be Avila’s pitch mix. Let’s see if he throws the change with more frequency. Could he even add another pitch to the mix? He’s talented enough to pull something new out of the bag.
Feb 18, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets managerCarlos Mendoza (64) gets ready to do a television interview during spring training workouts at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images | Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images
Jen Pawol will be one of the umpires working in spring training, but she still has not been awarded a spot amongst the regular season roster of umpires.
There were a lot of notable breakouts in the Mets’ system last year. Nolan McLean went from an interesting arm in the back third of the top-101 to a potential top-of-the-rotation and the putative favorite for the 2026 National League Rookie of the Year. Jonah Tong started in a similar place and ended up only a little behind McLean, still clearly in need of more polish also one of the best pitching prospects in the game. Carson Benge is now a top-10 or top-20 prospect that’s likely to break camp as the starting right fielder and might be the second favorite for NL ROTY. Will Watson and Josh Wenninger (and also Zach Thornton, before he got hurt) took huge jumps to land in the 75 – 125 range globally. Jacob Reimer and Ryan Clifford took big steps forward.
Amidst all of this, it seems that A.J. Ewing’s significant improvements are being overlooked. Sure, he only hit 3 HR this past season and spent most of his season in the low minors (primarily Brooklyn), and that’s not as flashy as some other performances. What he did do is post a 147 wRC+ across three levels while stealing 70 bases, walking 12% of the time, all while adapting to both a revamped swing and a defensive transition from the infield to center. Oh and he did all of that as a 20-year-old who was originally drafted as an over-slot prep pick in the 4th round and who posted a 102 wRC+ with a nearly 30% strikeout rate in Single-A in 2024.
Ewing now profiles as a 70 or 80-grade runner, one who is a reasonably safe bet to be a plus defender in center and who can play some on the dirt to boot. He’s shown a penchant for great swing decisions, avoiding the passivity issues that plague many other hitters in the Mets system while maintaining strong in-zone contact rates. As for the lack of power, it’s more an issue of intent that anything else right now; Ewing actually hits the ball quite hard, but a lot of that contact goes the other way and/or at low angles (read as – a lot of hard, low line drives). It’s generally easier to teach a guy who already hits the ball hard how to spray it around a bit better rather than the inverse, so it’s fair to project more over-the-fence power in the relatively near future for Ewing.
That’s a hell of a player. As is, the speed, defense, and contact give him a likely floor as a solid regular in center field. If he can actualize more of his power – get to a 10 – 15 or 15 – 20 HR guy rather than the pure contact maven he is now – we’re talking about a potential All Star. He’s also probably closer to the majors than you realize after closing out the season with a successful (though flawed, evidence by the degradation of his walk and strikeout rates) 28 game stint in Double-A with a 133 wRC+.
This is another instance where the actions of the Mets front office are potentially indicative of how optimistic we should be. Ewing popped up in multiple trade rumors this offseason (often times a sign that a player is actually being dangled or asked about), but it was Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat who headed to Milwaukee for Freddy Peralta. The Mets also elected to go with a year-to-year option in center field with Luis Robert rather than make a longer-term commitment, leaving Ewing some runway in the near-to-medium term. And of course, Ewing’s defensive projection aligns very well with the run prevention philosophy that David Stearns espoused early in the offseason.
All of this should paint a big green up arrow next to Ewing in your mind. He’s clearly the 3rd or 4th best prospect in the system, a top-50 prospect in baseball per Baseball Prospectus, and a player who could make an impact as soon as this year. Even with the risk associated with all prospects, that’s the kind of guy you get excited about.
A burner. In a group chat full of “stan” accounts. Speaking poorly of his teammates.
What?
Well, it’s a testament to your poor judgment if you expect emotional maturity from NBA superstars. This man has been exalted for 20 years. Shame is likely less of a variable in his life than it is in yours or mine.
That said, it is imperative (potentially for legal reasons, and if not certainly for journalistic integrity) to note that we do not know if it was Durant.
It does feel like it was Durant, though, doesn’t it?
He had every opportunity to deny it. Deflection without denial is suspect at best. If you suspect your partner of cheating, and when confronted, they tell you, “I’m not here to talk about all that cheating nonsense”…
I have got bad news for you.
Still, speculation is speculative in nature. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t. Here’s the rub:
The Rockets may have to make a choice this summer anyway.
Rockets might reach an inflection point
Theoretically, there are three options:
Do nothing.
Win-now moves
Future-focused moves
If the Rockets win a playoff series, option 1 will likely appeal. The theory that re-inserting Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams into the equation will yield sufficient improvement will carry some weight.
What if they don’t?
I just spilled ample ink on how important Fred VanVleet is. So much as I stand by that, it would be a bit hard to accept that a first-round exit team would be vaulted into serious title contention by his low assist-to-turnover ratio. If the Rockets can’t win one playoff series, it’s hard decision time.
In essence, that means either Antetokounmpo season, or sending Durant to the Hornets team he (allegedly) so openly admires.
Most Rockets fans will prefer the latter route. It’s understandable. There is a prevalent parasocial attachment to the “young core.” It’s human.
The fact that I’m impervious to it may be a subject for therapy.
Here’s a harsh reality check: That young core is getting older. Life comes at you fast. Statistically speaking, NBA players tend to level off, improvement-wise, around year 5, or age 25. Here’s a whole academic study if you need something*
*I only read the abstract, but the information is there.
Alperen Sengun is 23, and over halfway to 24. Amen Thompson is the same age. By now, the Rockets’ front office should at least be considering the possibility that Sengun just won’t ever be as efficient around the rim as his best-case comparisons are. They have to be entertaining the idea that Thompson will never have a workable jump shot.
Ergo, they have to be considering the possibility that they didn’t draft “the guy”.
None of which is to say this choice is easy. This team is still talented. Houston could trade Durant for rotational guys and a first-round pick. They could forge ahead as a perennial first or second-round exit, hoping to strike gold in the draft. It’s legitimately not a bad plan.
Here’s the only strong conclusion I’m looking to draw here: If the Rockets don’t win a playoff series, Option 1 should not be attractive to them. It’s a waste of everyone’s time. If they can’t get that far in 2025-26, something substantive should change this summer.
Spring Training is back! As the frost of a baseball-less winter finally melts away, we’re here to heat things up with picks while every team gets into full swing today.
Take a look at why I’m focusing on a couple of plus-money teams in my MLB picks for Saturday, February 21.
Spring Training predictions for February 21
Picks
Phillies moneyline
+120
Red Sox moneyline
-112
Giants moneyline
+120
Pick #1: Phillies moneyline
+120 at DraftKings
Spring Training games often hinge on bullpen depth and timely hitting which is two areas where the Philadelphia Phillies have been pretty steady this time of year.
With the Toronto Blue Jays slightly favored (around -142) and Philly sitting at +120, the Phillies bring some nice value if their early arms give them solid innings and the offense can scratch across runs.
I’m expecting a tight, competitive game, but Philadelphia’s underdog price and recent edge in the matchup make them a strong moneyline lean against Eric Lauer.
Pick #2: Red Sox moneyline
-112 at DraftKings
Lately, when the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins have met in Spring Training, things have usually leaned Boston’s way, including last year’s 6–5 Grapefruit League win in a pretty similar spot.
Boston’s deeper lineup and balanced position group could give them an edge, especially in key at-bats and late-game situations.
Minnesota is expected to hand the ball to Joe Ryan to start, and they may mix in different bullpen looks early, which can lead to some uneven innings.
Boston, on the other hand, tends to use these spring games to get its regular hitters into a steady rhythm at the plate.
Pick #3: Giants moneyline
+120 at DraftKings
With plenty of young hitters and players competing for roster spots, the San Francisco Giants tend to take a scrappy, opportunistic approach early in the year and that style can really pay off in close spring games when pitching is all over the place.
This one could be a low- to moderate-scoring affair as both Hayden Birdsong and Emerson Hancock, along with the spring bullpen arms, work on finding their best grips and rhythms.
Still, San Francisco’s offense has shown it can put runs on the board against the Seattle Mariners in spring matchups, and at +120, the Giants look like a smart moneyline play here.
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 10: Wilyer Abreu #52 of the Boston Red Sox runs during a spring training workout at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 10, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning! The Red Sox will play actual Major League competition today. We’re getting there, even if the weather outside doesn’t exactly look like baseball season.
For today’s question we’re looking for some optimism: Which Red Sox player will take a leap this year?
There are a number of candidates, thanks to the plethora of young players on the roster. But if, say, Roman Anthony has an all-star season, would that count as a “leap”? He played at an all-star level last year already. On the pitching side, Brayan Bello and Johan Oviedo are well-positioned to make a leap, but there’s no guarantee either one will. Hell, given the pitching depth, it isn’t hard to imagine a scenario where neither one of them finishes the year in the rotation.
Offensively, Wilyer Abreu would probably be my leading candidate. He’s already just shy of all-star caliber and Alex Cora sounds prepared to run him out there against lefties. Ceddy should be considered, of course, but I have a feeling we’re going to spend the next four-five years hoping he finally improves his pitch recognition and becomes a monster.
What say you? Talk about whatever you want and, as always, be good to one another.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 20: Dylan Crews #3 of the Washington Nationals poses for a photo during the Washington Nationals Photo Day at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on February 20, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Washington Nationals baseball is back folks. After six long months, the boys are back in town. It will be a much different vibe from the last time we saw the Nats play though. At the end of September, they were at the end of a long and unsuccessful slog. Now, they are at the start of a new era.
Everyone will have chances to prove themselves and roster spots will be up for grabs. I cannot remember a Spring Training where so much is up in the air. That is only natural because there is a new POBO, a new GM and a new manager. They are going to want to get close looks at these players.
Today, the new braintrust will have a chance to see a lot of different players, as the Nats are playing two games. There is a split-squad, with one group playing the Astros on Nationals TV, while the rest of the team is playing against the Cardinals in Jupiter.
Based on the lineups, the team in West Palm Beach is the stronger one. That team will feature the likes of CJ Abrams, Dylan Crews, Keibert Ruiz and Abimelec Ortiz. The Jupiter team has Harry Ford and other roster contenders like Joey Wiemer and Matt Mervis. Sam Petersen is an interesting prospect at the bottom of that lineup.
We are not going to see much in the way of well known pitching, at least to start. Jake Eder and Shinnosuke Ogasawara will be the starters today. Both are long shots to make the roster, but could get looks at some point this season. The reason they are the ones pitching today just has to do with their throwing schedules. I would not read much into that.
Spring starters set.
Jake Eder opens Grapefruit League play. Shinnosuke Ogasawara starts the split squad game in Jupiter.
More about schedules than roster locks, but baseball is back 👀
However, it is still fun to see the team back on the field. This is the first time we will see the boys back in action in the Paul Toboni era. I am curious to see if we will be able to see any notable changes today. It is much easier to spot changes in pitchers than hitters in Spring Training though.
It is easier to identify changes with pitchers right away. You can see the velocity on the radar gun and the shapes of the new pitches. Speaking of the radar gun, we will have a better read on that this year. Every Spring Training site now has statcast, so we will be able to see all of that data. That is very helpful and it will be something I will follow.
It allows us to track things like the progress of Cade Cavalli’s new sweeper and whether Robert Hassell’s added muscle is allowing him to hit the ball harder. Shoutout to the MLB for adding statcast to all the spring sites.
Another thing statcast allows for is the ABS challenge system. With the challenge system coming to the MLB this season, catchers are going to need to learn what to challenge. Spring Training will give the Nats catchers important reps. Since it is so early, there are no main strategies for challenging. Spring Training will give catchers trial and error opportunities.
Most importantly, baseball is back. I am so excited to watch the first Nats game on Nationals TV. Some people say Ground Hogs day can be the start of spring, but in my opinion, the first game of Spring Training is when spring truly gets underway.
SARASOTA, FL - FEBRUARY 20: Trey Gibson (88) of the Baltimore Orioles delivers a pitch during a spring training game against the New York Yankees on February 20, 2026 at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Orioles’ farm system might be past the point of boasting the consensus #1 prospect in baseball every year. Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday and the like have long since graduated to the majors. But there’s still plenty to like about the Orioles’ prospect pipeline. And there will be no shortage of promising youngsters whose progress we can follow throughout the 2026 season.
The one who most interests me is a guy we got a long look at in the Orioles’ Grapefruit League opener yesterday: Trey Gibson. A year ago, Gibson isn’t someone who was on my prospect radar, considering his unheralded background as an undrafted free agent signing who had just completed his first year of full-season pro ball. But Gibson’s dynamic arsenal and stupendous 2025 season, highlighted by a 1.89 ERA in 10 starts at Double-A Chesapeake, have rocketed him to a status as arguably the Orioles’ best pitching prospect. He’s ranked as a top-100 prospect by ESPN, Baseball America, and FanGraphs. His intriguing arm was on full display against the Yankees yesterday as he pitched three scoreless innings to complete the Birds’ shutout win. Gibson will begin this year at Triple-A Norfolk but has a great chance to contribute to the Orioles’ rotation at some point this year.
What about you, Camden Chatters? Which Orioles prospect are you most excited to follow this season? Is it former first rounder Enrique Bradfield Jr., or 2025 breakout prospect Nate George? A power arm like Luis De León? Perhaps one of last year’s top draft picks, Ike Irish or Wehiwa Aloy? Or someone else? Let us know in the comments.
Peoria, AZ - February 19: Yuki Matsui #1 of the San Diego Padres pitches during a spring training practice on February 19, 2026 in Peoria, AZ. (Photo by K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
The San Diego Padres started their Cactus League season against the Seattle Mariners in Peoria, Ariz. and the game ended with the Friars falling, 7-4. Players often say the result of the game is not the focus in Spring Training, instead they focus on their results. If that is the case, Jose Miranda is pleased after he recorded a two-run home run and a double in his first game with the San Diego organization. Miranda is one of several players looking to make an impression early and often in an effort to make the big-league roster. Thomas Conroy of Gaslamp Ball said the final bench spots are one of the three questions the Padres need to answer before the conclusion of Cactus League play.
Padres News:
Much has been said and written about the depleted San Diego farm system, but the starting pitcher for the first game of spring for the Padres, Jagger Haynes, showed enough potential to elicit a vote of confidence from Lincoln Zdunich of Gaslamp Ball.
Craig Stammen wasted no time differentiating himself from former Padres manager Mike Shildt. Stammen’s first lineup had Xander Bogaerts leading off with Fernando Tatis Jr. batting cleanup. It’s the first lineup and the first game of Cactus League play, but AJ Cassavell of Padres.com thinks it might be a sign of things to come under Stammen’s tenure.
Stammen revealed reliever Yuki Matsui suffered a groin injury during a live batting practice session on Thursday, which could cause him to miss the World Baseball Classic. While Matsui will have to determine how best to rehab and recover from his injury, his bullpen mate Jason Adam continues his quest to return to the field with fielding drills to test the stability of his repaired quadriceps tendon.
Baseball News:
The ABS challenge system was put to the test with the first Spring Training games of the season. Brent Maguire of MLB.com says there were 23 challenges and 13 calls overturned. Two of the overturned calls were made by Luis Campusano and one call that was not overturned was Cal Raleigh who challenged a called ball against Jackson Merrill that was confirmed as a ball.
Pete Alonso introduced himself to his new Baltimore Orioles fanbase with a home run in his first Spring Training action.
Munetaka Murakami almost missed his debut because he was stuck in traffic on his way to the stadium. He arrived just in time to make the start and recorded two hits in the game.
Major League Baseball and Major League Baseball Players Association are each preparing for a work stoppage by setting aside money to deal with a prolonged absence of games.
The Minnesota Twins will officially be without starter Pablo Lopez for the 2026 season after it was reported he will undergo Tommy John surgery next week.
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Pakistan and New Zealand's opening Super Eights match at the T20 World Cup was abandoned on Saturday because of rain without a ball being bowled.
The rain started at Colombo's R. Premadasa Stadium as soon as Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha won the toss and chose to bat first.
The persistent rain eventually led to the umpires calling off the Group 2 game with the teams awarded a point each.
Tournament co-host India plays South Africa in Ahmedabad in the first Group 1 match on Sunday, when co-host Sri Lanka and England meet in Group 2 in Pallekele.
Once the NHL Olympic roster freeze lifts, the Philadelphia Flyers will be a team to keep an eye on. With the Flyers currently being eight points behind the Boston Bruins for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, there is a chance that they will be sellers ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline.
If the Flyers decide to be sellers, they will have some trade candidates to keep an eye on. One of them would be defenseman Noah Juulsen.
Juulsen is a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) and could end up generating some interest leading up to the deadline. It is no secret that contenders are always looking for big right-shot defenseman, and the 6-foot-2 Juulsen fits that description.
Juulsen could be a solid addition for a playoff club looking to improve its defensive depth. The 2015 first-round pick also plays a physical game, so that also could make him an interesting target for contenders.
Juulsen's contract also adds to his appeal, as he has a cheap $900,000 cap hit. With this, several teams would be able to afford him with ease.
Ultimately, with playoff teams always looking for extra defensemen, it would not be particularly surprising if Juulsen generated some interest if the Flyers do not extend him by the deadline. It will be interesting to see what happens with the 28-year-old defenseman from here.
In 42 games this season with the Flyers, Juulsen has recorded one goal, nine points, 87 hits, and a plus-2 rating.
Phillies moneyline
Red Sox moneyline
Giants moneyline
