The Leafs would've sent their-then top-two prospects, Easton Cowan & Ben Danford, along with a first-round pick in exchange for Schenn.
The story recirculated social media in the last 24 hours, as Easton Cowan has lit the NHL: aflame with six goals and 13 points in 14 games to start the season with Toronto.
Danford, meanwhile, continues to impress in the AHL
The trade the Leafs and Blues discussed would've gone done at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, with Toronto then in place to contend.
One year later, the Islanders acquired Schenn in exchange for a first-round pick (Colorado's), goaltender prospect Marcus Gidlof, Jonathan Drouin, and a 2026 third-round pick (New Jersey's).
The Blues bought out Drouin over the summer.
That package is significantly lighter than what the Leafs would've sent. The Leafs essentially sent a Brock Nelson-level package. A top prospect, first-round pick, and more.
Schenn, 35, has posted three goals and eight points through the season's first 11 games.
In 19 games after the trade deadline last season, Schenn notched six goals and 11 points.
Schenn has been a great add for the team's offense, producing at a solid top-six rate, while also serving as a leader. He is one of the Islanders' rotating alternate captains for the 2026-27 season.
That he then waived his no-trade clause for the Islanders after refusing to for the Maple Leafs?
It says a lot about the Islanders as an organization, a true destination, thanks to Matthew Schaefer.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 27: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins shoots as Colton Parayko #55 of the St. Louis Blues defends in the first period at PPG PAINTS Arena on October 27, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Cycling back through some old stuff, thought this would be a fun little look on an off day. The Penguins played a game a year ago to the day last October 27th. Let’s look at the lineup, and some of the details of that season and see how things have either stayed the same or changed since this point last year.
Pittsburgh downed St. Louis 6-3 last October 27th, to improve their record on the season to 7-2-1. Here was the lineup on the night.
Then, now and as ever, there were some injury absences. Rickard Rakell’s name isn’t seen above, he was out injured. Kevin Hayes, Rutger McGroarty, Caleb Jones and Jack St. Ivany were others unavailable due to injury. Connor Clifton and Philip Tomasino were healthy scratches for the game one year ago today.
What’s changed in a year? Certainly the blueline. Four of the six defensemen who dressed one year ago today for the Pens aren’t currently on the NHL roster, three of them are out of the organization completely. That’s more than the three forwards who have departed the team.
That brings up a common theme with the Penguins: what in the world are they doing with the plan for their defense? That question is only going to grow now that Erik Karlsson is in the final year of his contract. It’s nice the team has added some pieces like Declan Carlile and Kaeden Korczak, but they have a lot of heavy lifting and building to do in terms of adding big-time talent to this spot. That’s been the case for a while, still remains the same today. It’s going to be interesting to see in the next 1-2-3 years what the Pens do to replace Karlsson and Kris Letang for players to take key roles. Presumably, the answer to that question has not been found yet.
Some pieces and faces have changed with the forwards, but it’s easy to see how that group is more or less the same in theory as it was 12 months ago. You’ve got Crosby leading a line, Malkin doing the same, Kindel on a third line and then Dewar+Lizotte as the core of a fourth line. That’s exactly how things have remained this year when everyone has been healthy at the same time, though Malkin has now shifted over to a wing position as his role evolves with age to add a slightly new twist to the mix.
This lineup shows some of the non-linear progression of young players, Koivunen played (as he would in many more NHL games this season) but didn’t have a lot of success at carving out a niche or much production. Fast forward a year and it looks like the pieces are slowly starting to come together for him now. Brunicke was getting his first taste of NHL action and has journeyed from the WHL to AHL in the last 12 months, slow progress but progress nonetheless for a young defenseman. McGroarty, hurt at the start of last season, has experienced similar stops and starts that have so far defined his young career. Ben Kindel, after the Oct 27th game last year, had two goals and no assists in the first eight games of his career – it very much wasn’t known at this point he would go onto be a key player as an 18-year old for a full season but he’s been on the steadiest path of all the young players in the organization.
Overall, it was a team led by veterans last year, as it remains this season. One commonality is a red hot start for Evgeni Malkin. At this time last year, Malkin had 16 points (3G+13A) in the first 10 games. Those numbers are down a bit this season, but Malkin (6G+3A) is the highest scoring forward on the team again on October 27th. Sidney Crosby was off to a better start last year (7G+7A), though it may be worth pointing out that Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell had 15 points in 19 combined games between the two of them last October 27th. Those two veteran wingers only have 10 combined points in 19 games to start this season. Erik Karlsson has been similarly productive, last October 27th he had 9 points (all assists), this year Karlsson has a goal and 11 assists in the first 12 games of the season.
In other news, Crosby scored his 1,700th NHL point a year ago today. He’s up to 1,768 now. This was also the game where a fan fell from the upper concourse of the arena (hope things are well there!) in a story that seems like it happened both just the other day and also 5+ years ago simultaneously.
Last year the Pens were 7-2-1 on October 27th, out to a surprising start. This year the results have lagged with a 5-6-1 record that gives them a lot of work to do following an 0-4 road trip. You can’t really take that trip away and hold the rest up as similar, it counts just the same, but it does show perhaps some hope for the present day that this team can find a way to keep moving through the year in a positive manner like they did last season.
A rejuvenated Sri Lanka routed Pakistan by eight wickets on Tuesday to end England’s hopes of reaching the ODI tri-series final.
Fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka grabbed a career-best five for 34 as Pakistan were skittled for 110 after captain Kusal Mendis had won the toss and elected to field.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are back at home to face the Philadelphia Flyers tonight at 7:00 PM.
Philadelphia Flyers- 3-7-3 - 16 Points - Lost 1 - 7th in the Metro
Columbus Blue Jackets - 4-5-0 - 8 Points - Won 1 - 8th in the Metro
Team Notes Per CBJ PR
The CBJ have earned points in eight of the last nine meetings of the series overall (7-1-1) as well as the past five straight at Philadelphia (4-0-1).
The road team has earned points in 14 of the last 19 in the series since Feb. 20, 2020 (10-5-4).
The clubs have combined for seven or more goals in four of the past eight games at Xfinity Mobile Arena
Player Notes Per CBJ PR
Charlie Coyle has posted 11-11-22 in 36 career games against the Flyers, including 5-3-8 in his last 10 contests.
Adam Fantilli Has posted 1-6-7 in 10 career GP vs. the Flyers with points in five- straight meetings (1-4-5).
Kent Johnson has 3-4-7 in 11 career GP, points in two of his past four games (1-1-2), and 2-3-5 in his last seven contests against the Flyers.
Matthew Knies has 3-4-7 in nine career GP and has points in five of his past six games against Philadelphia (2-4-6).
Sean Monahan has 14-7-21 in 25 career GP, with 4-4-8 in his last 11 overall, and has totaled 6-4-10 in 14 career games at Philadelphia.
Damon Severson has 10-15-25 in 48 career GP, including assists in three-straight (0-4-4) and 3-5-8 in his past eight overall.
Zach Werenski has 9-14-23 in 28 career GP with four multi-point efforts in his last five games (3-5-8).
Jet Greaves has gone 4-0-0 with a .956 SV% and 1.23 GAA in four appearances vs. the club.
Blue Jackets Stats
Power Play - 11.5% - 30th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 71.0% - 24th in the NHL
Goals For - 21 - 32nd in the NHL
Goals Against - 30 - 4th in the NHL
FlyersStats
Power Play - 16.3% - 25th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 82.6% - 11th in the NHL
Goals For - 24 - 28th in the NHL
Goals Against - 41 - 28th in the NHL
Series History vs. TheFlyers
The Blue Jackets are 2-19-3-4 overall, and 14-13-1-2 on the road in Philadelphia.
Columbus went 3-0-0 in 2025-26.
Columbus has won five straight games against Philadelphia and the last three on the road against the club.
Who To Watch For TheFlyers
Matvei Michkov leads the Flyers with 8 goals and 10 points.
Trevor Zegras leads Philly with 7 assists and 10 points.
Goalie Dan Vladař is 2-3-1 with a SV% of .900. His last start was on 10-21.
Joseph Woll is 1-4-2 with a SV% of .904. His last start was on 10-24.
Injured Reserve & Other Injuries
Dante Fabbro - Broken Hand - IR - 9 Games Missed - Skating and could return tonight
Isac Lundestrom - Achilles Surgery - LTIR - 9 Games Missed
Ivan Provorov - Lower Body - IR - 9 Games Missed - Lightly skating.
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 31
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be simulcast on The Blue Jackets Hockey Network and 97.1 The Fan, with Steve Mears behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
TV: CBJHN - Spectrum HD Ch. 320/1320; IP Ch. 349; Prime Video, Fubo. DirecTV Ch. 660 (streaming), 660-1 (satellite). U-Verse (1735/735)
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ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 26: Francisco Lindor and Katia Reguero Lindor pose for a photo during the Roberto Clemente Award presentation prior to game three of the 2026 World Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on October 26, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Meet the Mets
Francisco Lindor was named the recipient of the 2026 Roberto Clemente Award, “the annual recognition of a Major League player who best represents the game of Baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field” according to Major League Baseball. It is considered to be the league’s “most prestigious individual player honor.”
This was Lindor’s fourth time being nominated for the honor, and he becomes the fifth Met since 1971 to be recognized for the honor, and the first since Curtis Granderson in 2016.
Lindor reflected on what it meant to receive the Roberto Clemente Award.
Anthony DiComo looked at some Mets players who made their case for individual awards this season.
In their hunt to improve the team, the Mets should target pitching depth, argued Chelsea Janes.
In her piece, Janes revealed that Clay Holmes is open to a return to the Mets if the contract is right.
Kevin Long spoke to the Mets about a role on the coaching staff but is no longer being considered, as there was not a match between the two sides.
Cubs’ hitting coach John Mallee has also withdrawn his name from consideration for a role in New York, opting instead to stay in the Windy City.
The Mets did reportedly hire Mariano Duncan to the newly-created role of “Major League Coach”, which will Duncan most recently served as the Binghamton Rumble Ponies’ bench coach.
The Mets are holding their annual MetsGiving Food Drive on Thursday, November 12. Swing by Citi Field and donate 10+ non-perishable items to receive your voucher for two tickets to select 2027 home games.
Around the National League East
The Phillies have hired Peter Fatse as their hitting coach.
Spencer Nusbaum analyzed a pivotal offseason for the Nationals and what levers they may pull to boost their offense.
Around Major League Baseball
The Brewers blitzed the Rays 10-1 and now sit one win away from their first ever World Series title.
Milwaukee’s “drag ‘em” approach was on full display in a fifth inning in which they scored eight runs with two outs.
That unprecedent fifth inning was one of many ways the Brew Crew were rewriting the Fall Classic record books.
Jackson Churio became the youngest player to pick up four hits in a World Series game in at least 80 years.
Freddy Peralta made it clear that, while he enjoyed his time as a fan favorite in Milwaukee over the eight seasons, he still sees every opponent on competition.
The Rays are looking to Junior Caminero’s bat and leadership as they try to climb out of their World Series hole.
Joe Maddon took the hill before Game 3, and he called down to James Shields in the bullpen to throw out the first pitch.
Even though the Brewers may win the World Series, their formula may still lead them to trading away the players that helped get them there.
Despite turning down the Phillies’ job, Alex Cora did not rule out managing in 2027.
Micah Noe reviewed Hayden Senger’s 2026 season for the Mets.
This Date in Mets History
On this date in 1986, my parents celebrated their first wedding anniversary by watching (on TV) the Mets beat the Red Sox 8-5 to win the second World Series in franchise history.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 01: A view of a Atlanta Braves baseball cap in the dugout before the game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 01, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Today could potentially the last day of the 2026 season, which will be the case for each remaining game of the World Series after the Brewers dominated the Rays in Game 3. The Brewers are arguably on the verge of completing one of the most dominant postseason runs in recent memory, as they have only lost one game the entire postseason. The Rays will try to keep their season alive tonight in Tampa.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 31: A general view of the Savannah Bananas Show on Arthur Ashe Kids Day during the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sunday, August 23, 2026 in Flushing, NY. (Photo by Brad Penner/USTA via Getty Images) | USTA via Getty Images
The Savannah Bananas have taken the baseball world by storm with their wacky version of the game. On Monday, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced that the Bananas will have a two-game series next spring when the Dodgers are away in Washington to play the Nationals.
Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium will host the Bananas and the Firefighters for games on April 23-24. Enter into a drawing at bananaball.com/tickets by Oct 31 2026 by 8:59pm PST.
Additional details regarding game times and event information will be announced soon.
In other news in the baseball world, Andy McCullough of The Athletic says that for the Milwaukee Brewers to keep winning, they may trade away many of the players that got them there. That is the antithesis of what the Dodgers have been doing. The Brewers are close to winning their first World Series ever after making the NLCS last year.
In other roster news, the normally cranky Dylan Hernandez of the California Post says that the Dodgers could’ve used a player like Miguel Vargas on their team this year, and maybe going forward as the team needs to turn from it’s ‘old’ roster into using their deep farm system.
ST. LOUIS - OCTOBER 27: The Boston Red Sox celebrate after winning game four of the 2004 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on October 27, 2004 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Red Sox defeated the Cardinals 3-0 to win their first World Series in 86 years. (Photo by Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Hello and happy Tuesday everybody. Hope you’re doing well. Happy 22nd anniversary of Game 4 of the 2004 World Series: the night where the curse was officially reversed!
Who needs to talk about the Brewers being on the brink of a title when we already did that 22 years ago and when we can take a trip down memory lane?!
Where were you on this day in 2004?
Little 8-year-old me was at my home in Quincy with my mom. My dad was not at home; he was at Busch Stadium, the lucky jerk. I napped before the game to make sure I didn’t miss anything if that night was the night. When Foulke stabbed that ball before tossing it to Mientkiewicz, I was picked up and swung around living room like I was a goddamn ceiling fan. I remember waiting by the house phone waiting for a call from my old man—he said he would call if they won—for what felt like an eternity. It finally rang, and all I could hear was screaming for about two minutes before I could make out his voice (also screaming, of course). I can still remember it clearly.
Share how you celebrated 86 years of hurt being washed away in the comments below.
TALKING STICK, AZ - OCTOBER 06: Justin Lamkin #47 of the Surprise Saguaros pitches during the game between the Surprise Saguaros and the Salt River Rafters at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 in Talking Stick, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Lamkin was nothing short of perfect in his latest gem for Surprise. The 2025 No. 71 overall pick retired 13 consecutive batters before exiting in the fifth. During the start, Lamkin showcased his newly developed curveball, which accounted for three of his four strikeouts and has been a weapon so far in the desert. The 22-year-old had posted a 2.04 ERA and an 0.93 WHIP through seven starts prior to injuring his throwing shoulder in late May. Back on the field this fall, Lamkin has been back to his stingy ways and has allowed just one run on one hit over his past 8 1/3 frames spanning two outings.
I reject all discourse about the Red Hot Chili Peppers. This song is fun and this music video is fun. Your song of the day is RHCP with The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 26: Garrett Mitchell #5 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrates with William Contreras #24 after scoring in the fifth inning during Game Three of the 2026 World Series presented by Capital One between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Monday, October 26, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
To whoever said that you can’t rely on stringing together multiple hits to win a World Series game, I have a bridge to sell you. All joking aside, the Brewers just authored one of the most comprehensive offensive performances in a Fall Classic in recent memory, all without the ball leaving the yard. They jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third, but it was their eight-run fifth that represented likely the final nail in the Rays’ World Series coffin. Milwaukee annihilated the Rays at Tropicana Field, 10-1, to put themselves one win away from their first ever title and on the cusp of becoming the first team to sweep a Fall Classic since the Giants steamrolled the Tigers in 2012.
World Series Game 3
Milwaukee Brewers 10, Tampa Bay Rays 1
(Milwaukee leads, 3-0)
There has been something of a false narrative surrounding the Rays’ play in the business end of these playoffs. Many are quick to praise Tampa Bay’s sound fundamentals when that hasn’t exactly been the case against the Guardians nor indeed in the World Series against the Brewers. Case in point in the bottom of the first, Chandler Simpson reached on a fielder’s choice but then was caught stealing when he over-slid the bag at second to end the inning — already the fifth out on the base paths made by the Rays this series in just two games plus one inning.
They have also suffered a handful of game-altering defensive misplays or simply not converted certain difficult outs you’d still expect them make, and there was another impactful miscue in the third today. First, however, was one of the best defensive plays by either team this series. Simpson immediately atoned for getting thrown out by making an astonishing catch in the second. Garrett Mitchell drew a leadoff walk and Sal Frelick lifted a deep fly ball down the left field line for what looked like a certain RBI double, but Simpson covered a ton of ground before securing the catch and crashing full speed into the wall just to the right of the foul pole.
But then in the third, Chourio lined a first pitch curveball for a one-out single to give him a multi-hit effort in all three World Series games so far. Jake Bauers followed with a five pitch walk to put a pair on for Christian Yelich, the Brewers captain muscling a humpback liner the other way to left for an RBI single to open the scoring. William Contreras then lined a first-pitch heater the other way, and a momentary lapse in concentration from right fielder Victor Mesa Jr. saw the ball clang off his glove as he went to gather, allowing Chourio to score from second (though Contreras did get tagged out in no man’s land between first and second.)
Despite retiring the side in order in the fourth, by the fifth it became clear that Peralta’s command was gone, 35 of his eventual 87 pitches on the outing getting called balls. This came to a head in that fifth inning, where the Brewers strung together one of the most impressive rallies in recent World Series memory. He issued a one-out single to Chourio and then loaded the bases with two outs thanks to a walk of Yelich and an infield single by Contreras. That spelled the end of his start, Kevin Cash calling on Cam Booser as the first arm out of the Rays bullpen.
Booser’s is one of the most inspiring comeback stories in MLB today, retiring in his 20s before returning to pitch almost a decade in the minor believing his shot in the Show would come. This made it all the more inspiring that the 34-year-old southpaw entered this game having not allowed a run in seven postseason appearances as the Rays’ main setup man, but it all went sideways in a manner emblematic of the Rays punching above their weight all year long only to come crashing back to Earth this series.
Brice Turang came up with the bases loaded and clubbed a sharp grounder off Taylor Walls’ glove at short — again, a tough play but one you would expect the Rays infielder to make — allowing Chourio and Yelich to score. Garrett Mitchell and Cooper Pratt then both ambushed first-pitch fastballs from Booser, Mitchell’s going for an RBI single and Pratt’s going for a two-run double. Frelick followed with a double of his own to plate Pratt and chase Booser from the game without the reliever having recorded an out. Cole Sulser was the next man out of Tampa’s ‘pen and the hit parade continued. David Hamilton lined a single to center to score Frelick and Chourio doubled his fourth hit in as many ABs to bring the speedster Hamilton home all the way from first. By the time the dust had settled, the Brewers had sent 12 men to the plate and hung an eight-spot on the board (the most two-out runs in an inning in World Series history), all ten of their runs scoring without the aid of the long ball from the team that had hit the most home runs in this postseason.
Much was made of the Rays unlocking Peralta after acquiring him from the Mets at the deadline, particularly the historic 2.5 mph jump in fastball velocity in the playoffs, but all that velocity doesn’t count for much if you can’t throw the ball over the plate. He ended his outing having given up five runs on seven hits and three walks before Booser allowed a hit to all four batters he faced to put four runs on his card.
While all this was going on, the story could not have been more different for the Brewers starter. Robert Gasser amazed with his five scoreless innings against the Dodgers in Game 3 of the NLCS to earn the opportunity to make a start in the World Series. The 27-year-old rookie reprised that gem with an even more spectacular performance tonight.
Following a leadoff single by Yandy Díaz in the first, Gasser set down the next 15 batters he faced in order. Unlike the Brewers, the Rays showed zero intention of working deep counts, and Gasser was able to leverage this to his advantage. Many of his first pitches were off-speed or breaking offering just outside of the zone, close enough to tempt the Rays to chase resulting in a lot of harmless contact early in counts. His fastball may only operate in the low-90s, but with more precise command and sequencing than Peralta Gasser kept the Rays lineup completely off balance.
His streak of 15 in a row retired ended with a walk by Mesa to lead off the sixth, but Gasser erased that base runner three pitches later by getting Nick Fortes to ground into a double play. He threw just five pitches in the second, eleven in the third, nine in the fourth, and 13 in the sixth to leave him with plenty of gas left in the tank, but with a ten-run lead there was little incentive to push things further, instead presenting Milwaukee an opportunity to get some game time for relievers who hadn’t pitched much this postseason including the longest-tenured Brewer, Brandon Woodruff. Gasser ended his outing having pitched six scoreless, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out three on 75 pitches.
Mesa would be the Rays’ last base runner until the ninth, Antonio Senzatela pitching a perfect seventh and eighth before Woodruff wrapped up the final frame — a special moment for a veteran pitcher who has missed significant portions of the last four seasons with major arm injuries. He allowed a run on a one-out single from Cedric Mullins and an RBI double from Díaz to put a bow on the Brewers’ comprehensive victory, 10-1.
Milwaukee can complete the sweep tomorrow night at The Trop, which would cap off one of the most one-sided playoff runs in history, the Brewers 10-1 overall this postseason after tonight’s rout in Game 3. First pitch of Game 4 is scheduled for 8:00 pm ET, though neither team has announced a starter at the time of writing.
Game 3 was an example of how the Brewers take one tiny advantage and turn it into victory. Seven straight hits in the fifth inning gave them an eight-run inning on their way to a 10-1 win. The World Series could end tonight.
I appreciate your reading.
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Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): How About Sonny Gray as a Veteran Rotation Option for the Cubs? “Fast-forward to October, and we’re on the cusp of free agency. There, Sonny Gray should be freely available, and the Cubs will have a chance to pursue the long-appreciated veteran righty.”
Brock Beauchamp (Diamond Centric): DiamondCentric’s 2026-2027 Top Free Agents, Ranked. “We offer the top 50 free agents, but over the coming weeks, that list will continue to grow until it’s well over 100 names.”
Thomas Domol (North Side Baseball): It Might Not Feel Like It, But the 2026 Cubs Had a Good Season. “Perception became the North Siders’ reality this year. Expectations drove a narrative that flipped the Cubs’ 2026 campaign into a failure in the minds of many fans. A closer look reveals it wasn’t one.”
Pure soul and blues power: The CD “Soul Serenade” released by the German-born guitarist Gregor Hilden in intense collaboration with the American singer blues and soul singer Johnny Rogers. It represents a captivating, grooving musical travelogue through black soul and R&B. Exciting vocals, guitar played with power and feeling, a diversity of saxophone parts and a strong, yet sensitive band are what make up this group. The arts section of the Frankfurter Rundschau daily and Jazz Podium both declared Hilden to be “probably Europe’s best blues guitarist.”
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - APRIL 06: A young fan of the Tampa Bay Rays looks on as a cownose stingray swims in the outfield Tampa Bay Rays Touch Experience prior to the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Monday, April 6, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good Tuesday morning, Purple Row!
Colorado Rockies fans probably associate “Fishin’ in the Dark” with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and TJ Rumfield, the Gold Glove finalist who has selected the classic hit for his walk-up music.
But with the World Series headed to Game 4 down in Tampa Bay, which has actual fish onsite, it seems appropriate to turn our attention there. And in this scenario, the Milwaukee Brewers, with a 3-0 lead, are definitely doing the fishing.
It probably comes as no surprise to learn that Kristie Ackert ranks the Rockies last. She notes improvement since 2025, but until the Rockies are able to address their issues with the rotation, their World Series odds are slim.
Ryan Spilborghs goes solo in this episode, and it’s worth your time. Seriously, if you don’t click on any other link, click on this one. In it, he views the proposed salary cap from the owners’ perspective and argues that it does not work; rather, a cap would shuffle money around. Spilborghs is clear, though: He’s on the side of neither the owners nor the players. Rather, he’s advocating for baseball.
The Penner Sports Group has expanded its portfolio to include a minority investment in Valencia CF. Worth noting, this is one of Spain’s most historic soccer clubs. And, apparently, some Denver Broncos fans aren’t happy about it.
One of the highlights of this year’s World Series coverage has been reading Michael Baumann for FanGraphs. In this article, Baumann examines why these two teams have been successful with a focus on player development.
Yesterday, MLB announced that Francisco Lindor has won this year’s Clemente Award. He is the fifth Puerto Rican player to receive this honor, and his list of initiatives is extensive.
This is a topic Jared Thomas mentioned in yesterday’s Rockpile. MLB is exploring the placement of outfielders in an attempt to increase the number of hits that drop during a game. Given that the Arizona Fall League has traditionally been one of MLB’s testing labs, it’s worth following this story.
If there’s a team that needs to be looking in the mirror this offseason, it’s the Philadelphia Phillies. One of their first moves is to hire the former Red Sox hitting coach, Peter Fatse.
Musical outro
And with that, I’ll turn it over to the Dirt Band.
Myself, I prefer “You Ain’t Going Nowhere,” but that’s probably a bad choice for walk-up music, so I’ll defer to TJ on this one.
Colby Shelton brought the boom against Mesa, crushing his second AFL homer and driving in four. | (Arizona Fall League/Instagram)
The Arizona Fall League is underway, and Chicago has eight prospects in the Grand Canyon State, headlined by Caleb Bonemer, 3B/SS/OF (No. 2/MLB No. 27). Rounding out the crew are Mathias LaCombe, RHP (No. 17); Colby Shelton, INF (No. 23); Nick Altermatt, RHP; Jonathan Clark, RHP; Grant Magill, C; Tommy Vail, LHP and Garrett Wright, RHP.
The team added Vail after Pierce George, RHP (No. 18), suffered an olecranon fracture in his pitching elbow. While it sounds like an awful injury, he is expected to participate in 2027 Spring Training. Anthony DePino, INF (No. 21), was also originally on the Dogs roster, but instead underwent shoulder surgery. He should also be ready for spring.
The White Sox prospects are suiting up for the Glendale Desert Dogs (5-13), sharing the dugout with hopefuls from the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins, and Pittsburgh Pirates.
Chicago ties Los Angeles for sending the most Top 30 prospects (five) to the AFL.
Peoria Javelinas 3, Glendale Desert Dogs 0 (10/21/26 — 6 innings) The rain put an early end to this one, but the Dogs’ bats never really got started in a 3-0 loss to Peoria. Both teams managed four hits before the game was called after the sixth, but Glendale’s were all singles, with three coming in the second inning and nothing to show for them. Shelton had one of those knocks, finishing 1-for-2 with a strikeout. After a red-hot start to the fall, Bonemer cooled off just a bit, going 0-for-3 with two Ks, while Magill went 0-for-2 with a punchout.
Glendale Desert Dogs 10, Mesa Solar Sox 0 (10/22/26) For once, the Desert Dogs were doing the trampling, piling up 10 runs on 14 hits in a shutout of Mesa. Apparently, Bonemer heard me talking about his bat cooling off and took it personally, going 3-for-5 with three RBIs and finishing a double shy of the cycle. His triple to center came off the bat at 106.9 mph.
Magill added a 1-for-4 night, while Shelton went 0-for-3 with a walk and a sacrifice fly. Chicago’s pitching prospects kept up their fall dominance, with Altermatt, Clark and LaCombe each tossing a hitless, scoreless frame. Altermatt and Clark supplied the punchout party, fanning two and three, respectively.
Glendale Desert Dogs 5, Scottsdale Scorpions 4 (10/24/26 — 8 innings) Bonemer’s AFL farewell was quiet at the plate, but his final numbers should make Sox fans feel pretty good about their No. 2 overall prospect. The 21-year-old went 0-for-2 with two free passes and a K in the Dog’s 5-4 win. He wrapped up 13 games with a .286/.364/.633 slash line, a .996 OPS and three homers over 55 plate appearances, and finished tied for the league lead in extra-base hits (nine) and second in total bases (31). The assignment’s main mission was outfield work, and he got it: eight games in center, three in left, and one in right. There were a couple of adventures along the way, including his lone error in the opener and a fly lost in the sun later on, but the reps were the point. Bonemer was the only Chicago hitter to see action in the win.
On the mound, Wright put his spotless ERA through a stress test. A leadoff single in the seventh was erased by a catcher pickoff, but a walk, single and another walk loaded the bases. Wright punched out the next batter before handing the mess to Cristhian Tortosa, who struck out the final hitter to keep Wright’s 0.00 AFL ERA intact. Vail also joined the fall fun, working a hitless, scoreless inning with one walk and three Ks in his debut.
Mesa Solar Sox 13, Glendale Desert Dogs 12 (10/26/26) Shelton kept his strong fall rolling, but the Dogs came up just short in a 13-12 slugfest. The 23-year-old went 3-for-4 with a walk, four RBIs and two runs scored, including his second AFL blast. His three-run round-tripper gave Glendale a 4-3 lead in the first, and his RBI single in the seventh pulled the Dogs within one. That was as close as they would get, though, as Mesa held on for the win.
(Photo by Luther Schlaifer/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
INDIANAPOLIS — The needle drop hit in the Indiana Pacers’ starting lineup announcement, and the chorus of the “Welcome Back, Kotter” theme song played just long enough for the fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse to fill their lungs with air for what was coming next. The audio flipped again to 50 Cent’s “Many Men,” and Tyrese Haliburton ran out for the home fans for the first time since he tore his Achilles in June 2025, though you couldn’t hear his name over the deafening sound of 17,000 people screaming in unison.
Unfortunately for the home crowd, that was the last time they really got to roar. By the second quarter, the only noise coming from the fans was boos condemning the Pacers for a totally flat performance in a game that was so eagerly anticipated for so long.
The Dallas Mavericks routed Indiana from the start, dropping 44 first quarter points on their way to a 37-point first half lead. The Pacers would rally back a bit in the second half after 19-year-old Dallas star Cooper Flagg exited the game with a shoulder injury, but this was a premium example of a game not being as close as the 16-point final margin would indicate.
“It was one of the best crowds I’ve ever seen here,” head coach Rick Carlisle said after the loss to Dallas. “But a great crowd doesn’t guarantee you anything if you don’t compete the way you need to compete.”
The Pacers needed a big fourth quarter comeback to win their opener against an uninspiring New Orleans Pelicans game a few days earlier. A few days later, the Pacers fully looked like the blitzkrieg offense we expected as they trounced the Nets in Brooklyn. On Monday night, Indiana gave the Milwaukee Bucks their first win of the season in the most jarring result of the new year so far.
“That’s what the NBA is,” Haliburton said after the game. “It’s not all fairytales, sunshine, and rainbows.”
Indiana’s roster remains similar to the one that went to the 2025 NBA Finals, but every year is different, and it leaves this team with new questions to answer from the last time it was whole. That’s especially the case in an Eastern Conference is significantly improved. The idea that the Pacers were going to hit the ground running this season was probably always unrealistic. It’s important to remember that they started 10-15 back in 2024-25 before eventually finding some special chemistry on the way to the Finals.
The challenge for the Pacers right now is using the regular season as a lab to figure out their most existential questions without losing too much ground in an ultra-competitive East. Like every team this early in the season, they have a few things that need deeper exploration.
How Ivica Zubac changes the dynamic
The biggest change from the team Haliburton left to the one he rejoined is the substitution at center. The Pacers let Myles Turner walk because they didn’t want to pay him. That looks like a wise move, but it also forced the team to put its best assets on the table to fill its void at center. Indiana shocked the league by trading for Ivica Zubac at last season’s trade deadline during a lost year, sending out two first-round picks to get him. One of those was top-4 protected for 2026 when Indiana entered the lottery tied for the best odds. When the pick fell to No. 5 and conveyed to the Clippers, it felt like a double loss for a team that just endured a 19-win season without Haliburton.
Ultimately, centers don’t come cheap, and the Pacers had to pay to play in the big man market. Zubac’s skill set is so much different than Turner’s in ways that are both obvious and less intuitive, and Indiana will spend this season tinkering with the best ways to leverage his talent within their system.
Everyone will notice the spacing component. Turner took 8.7 three-point attempts per 100 possessions during his last season in Indiana. Zubac is a total non-shooter who hasn’t attempted a three-pointer the last three seasons. While Turner would pop after setting his screens, Zubac is going to roll, and it takes away some of what made the 2025 Pacers special while giving him a new element with some real benefits.
Zubac is going to play with a lot more power than Turner ever did. His ability to add a component of smashmouth basketball will be welcomed for a team that felt built on finesse even at their best. While the offensive adjustment with Zubac is readily apparent, the defensive end will require some tinkering, too.
Zubac often played in a deeper drop with the Clippers. He was so good at walling off the paint in these coverages that he earned my (fake) vote for 2025 NBA Defensive Player of the Year. The Pacers want their bigs playing more at the level of the screen, which requires Zubac to get up to the touch on ball handlers to see if he can make plays with his hands before retreating back. The Pacers just don’t have the point of attack defenders to viably run a deep drop right now, and it’s going to require an adjustment period from everyone involved.
The reality is that Zubac didn’t look quite as nimble last season with the Clippers before the trade. Now he’s already suffered an ankle sprain against Brooklyn that should keep him out of the lineup in the short-term and could linger beyond that. How the Pacers integrate Zubac is the biggest question they need to answer in their 82-game season, and it’s likely to remain a work in progress for now.
Rick Carlisle is still searching for the right lineup combinations
Carlisle played 11 guys in the first half against Dallas. He played 12 players in the first half against Brooklyn, including a starting lineup switch that subbed out Jarace Walker for Aaron Nesmith. Nesmith was nursing a hamstring injury during the preseason, and his return to the lineup will go a long way toward answering some of Indiana’s biggest questions.
“It’s hard to run when you’re taking the ball under the net the whole game,” Haliburton said after the Dallas loss.
The Pacers can probably bank on a top-5 offense with Haliburton back. How they fix the defense is a much more pressing issue. Through three games, Indiana ranks No. 19 in defensive efficiency, which feels about right despite the small sample. Indiana needs Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard to get after it defensively the same way they were during the 2025 Finals run. They also need to figure out what the bench rotation looks like beyond Obi Toppin as their sixth man, and likely Kelly Oubre — the team’s only real free agent addition this summer — as their seventh man.
T.J. McConnell hasn’t played yet as he recovers from a hamstring strain, and Ben Sheppard is also out with a meniscus tear. Jalen Slawson was firmly on my too good for Summer League list, but his opportunities to add some downhill force and defensive playmaking will still be limited by his two-way contract. Quenton Jackson adds some similar elements as perhaps the most athletic player on the team on a standard contract, and Indiana would benefit from adding his quickness and defensive havoc if it can get around his shooting concerns. Jay Huff was impressive last season filling the center void on a bad team, but Carlisle doesn’t appear to really trust him yet. Every time it feels like Walker could take another step forward as a former lottery pick, he stagnates at both ends of the floor.
The Pacers should be able to count on their top-7, which is more than some teams can say. McConnell’s return will be big, but he took a noticeable step back last season and may be experiencing some age-related decline at 34 years old. Can anyone else on this roster help force more takeaways to get the offense out running? I’m not sure. If Jackson, Walker, Huff, or even Slawson can make it a viable 8- or 9-man rotation come playoff time, Carlisle should be pleased.
It’s still too early to say where the Pacers fit in in the East
The great thing about the East this season is that it really feels like every game matters with 10 teams realistically dreaming of making a Finals run. It’s just important to remember that 82 games is a long, long, long season. Don’t forget that a year ago, the Chicago Bulls started 5-0 before sputtering so much that they blew the team up at the deadline. The Pacers are 2-2 with the easiest schedule in the NBA so far.
The path for Indiana to get back to greatness starts with Haliburton leading this group to a top-5 offense while managing to get the defense into the top half of the league. This was a good-not-great team in 2024-25 before finding an unforeseen level of excellence in the playoffs, which is the exact same thing the Knicks did one year later on their way to a championship. Haliburton is back, but questions remain.
The Milwaukee Brewers are just one win away from clinching their first-ever franchise championship, putting pressure on the Tampa Bay Rays as they head into a do-or-die matchup at Tropicana Field on Tuesday, Oct. 27.
The Rays, looking to keep their championship hopes alive, are turning to franchise legend Evan Longoria for inspiration, as he is set to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
The iconic third baseman was selected third overall by the Rays in the 2006 draft. During his decade-long tenure with Tampa Bay from 2008 to 2017, Longoria collected numerous accolades and consistently delivered standout performances both at the plate and in the field.
His impressive resume includes being named the 2008 American League Rookie of the Year, earning three All-Star selections and capturing Gold Glove Awards in 2009, 2010, and 2017 for his impressive defense. Longoria also finished sixth in AL MVP voting in both 2010 and 2013, and he claimed a Silver Slugger Award in 2009.
Longoria’s legacy is also cemented in Rays history. He is honored with a statue outside Gate 4 at Tropicana Field, commemorating his iconic celebration after hitting a walk-off home run in the 12th inning of the final regular-season game in 2011, a moment that propelled Tampa Bay into the postseason.
Now, the Rays find themselves facing an uphill battle, trailing the series 3-0 after the Brewers dominated Game 3 with a commanding 10-1 victory. With their championship hopes hanging by a thread, Tampa Bay will look to rally as they fight to keep their World Series dreams alive.
