Froemming's sons told The Athletic and Associated Press that Froemming fell at his home in Wisconsin on Tuesday and hit his head on the hardwood floor. He was taken to a hospital in Milwaukee, according to his family, before succumbing to a brain bleed that medical personnel were unable to stop. Froemming had been on blood thinners.
Froemming worked 5,163 MLB games, which is the third-most games by an MLB umpire, over 37 consecutive baseball seasons beginning in 1971. Among those games, he worked five World Series and was on the field for 11 no-hitters.
Froemming was behind the plate for no-hitters by Milt Pappas (1972), Ed Halicki (1975), Nolan Ryan (1981) and José Jiménez (1999).
Froemming retired in 2007, when his total games worked stood second behind Bill Klem’s 5,373. Both Froemming and Klem were surpassed by Joe West, who worked 5,460 games before he retired in 2021.
Following his retirement, Froemming served as a special assistant to the league’s vice president on umpiring.
RIP MLB UMPIRE BRUCE FROEMMING
The 1st matchup he called B/S for was Tom Seaver vs. Pete Rose in 1971 & he worked long enough to call Reds games with Joey Votto.
Here’s every final out for the record 11 no-hitters he called. He was on home for Pappas, Halicki, Ryan, Jimenez. pic.twitter.com/OvjUwdAVwh
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - FEBRUARY 26: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots a three point basket during the first quarter against the Miami Heat at Xfinity Mobile Arena on February 26, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A franchise record and a big standings win in one night — what a treat.
The Sixers outlasted the Miami Heat 124-117 Thursday night. They are now 33-26, still in control of the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference.
Tyrese Maxey dropped 20 in the first quarter, breaking Allen Iverson’s franchise record for made three-pointers, and led the Sixers with 28 points and 11 assists. Joel Embiid put up 26 and 11 boards on 8-of-20 shooting despite picking up some banged up ribs in the second quarter.
VJ Edgecombe, again coming up with big clutch baskets despite some quiet stretches, finished with 19 points and eight rebounds, shooting 8-of-12 from the floor. Bam Adebayo led all scorers with 29.
The Sixers were only down Paul George (suspension) and Johni Broome (meniscus tear) while the Heat were only down Nikola Jovic.
Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.
First Quarter
Embiid opened this game much more aggressively than the previous one, muscling his way to the basket for two easy layups before knocking down a three. He was the hub of everything early, scoring or assisting their first 14 points scored in the half-court. His two-man game opened up Maxey for a three and he also threw a nice pass to Dominick Barlow cutting to the block.
As he’s done a lot of as of late, Quentin Grimes knocked down a three very quickly after checking in for the first time. Two turnovers in a row, one that saw him get stripped and the other a bad post-entry pass, helped the Heat erase the early Sixers’ lead. Whether this was the first time all year he had a short leash, or Nick Nurse wanted to go big with both Jabari Walker and Trendon Watford, Grimes’ first shift only lasted a little over two minutes.
Once he made his first two threes, it seemed like Maxey wanted to get breaking the franchise record for made threes over as quickly as possible while keeping the offense somewhat organized. He made his fourth three of the quarter to pass Allen Iverson with a little over a minute left in the first. While the Sixers couldn’t stop themselves from fouling Miami, Watford’s foul on Jaime Jaquez at least gave the fans a chance to give Maxey a nice round of applause. He added on another three and a trip to the line, but that only had the Sixers up by one.
After taking a hard foul on the first play of the quarter, Embiid was favoring his side for the remainder of his shift. He was still able to score with ease, even getting down the floor and up for an alley-oop, but Edgecombe threw an errant pass. Even if the Sixers weren’t getting stops, they took over control of the pace to start the quarter, with Edgecombe beating most of the Heat back on defense nearly every time down the floor. He was also hobbling a bit after completing an and-1 on one of those fast-break possessions.
That nick Edgecombe took didn’t seem to slow him down at all. On top of his three transition drives to the hoop, Maxey hit him with a lob as well. It looked like he was playing with more confidence as the quarter wore on, especially after hitting a grenade three to beat the shot clock.
Miami starting the night cold from three helped the Sixers defense a lot. They basically just had to keep the Heat out of the paint to get stops. Two quick makes followed by another Grimes turnover was just the shot of life they needed as the Sixers were starting to build a lead. Embiid was able to settle things, drawing two shooting fouls on the swipe through move. Grimes redeemed himself with a corner three to give the Sixers a 16-point lead at the break.
Third Quarter
Seriously, what do they do at halftime? The Sixers didn’t pay for it too much immediately, but it took them nearly four minutes to score in the second half. They seemed to let a loose ball or two speed them up, either hoisting a contested three or trying to drive through the whole defense.
The timeout Nurse called didn’t stop Adebayo or Tyler Herro from catching fire from three, nor did it really get the Sixers’ offense back on track. They hit a couple kick-out threes but Maxey and Embiid weren’t able to cook the same way they had been. Adebayo was on such a three-point surge Miami briefly took their first lead of the night.
That second three from the Sixers at least stopped the bleeding for a moment. After Kelly Oubre Jr. sunk that one, he and Maxey strung two good drives together for baskets. After Cam Payne and Barlow hit their first threes of the game, an Adem Bona putback appeared to end the quarter on good vibes, pushing the lead to seven. Maxey thought he was fouled on the miss that caused the putback and got T’d up after a very heated conversation.
For the second straight quarter it took the Sixers a couple minutes to score and Miami capitalized with a 7-0 run to tie it up again. A Payne three to end that was much needed, but not as much as Edgecombe scoring his first points since the second quarter.
Still favoring his midsection quite a bit, Embiid looked like a different player in the second half. He had multiple passes he just couldn’t corral and his shots not even coming close were a result of him not being able to bully his way to spots as easily. He went to the bench with 6:48 to go at a timeout. While Edgecombe and Oubre both hit jumpers coming out of that timeout, Miami responded with two threes on their ensuing trips down the floor.
Maxey and Edgecombe were finally able to break the Heat’s zone consistently as the game wound down, which was good because Embiid continued to sit on the bench. After a pair of Maxey free throws, he kicked to Oubre for an open three to put the lead back up to four. Edgecombe impressively secured the rebound on the Heat miss, but the Sixers ensuing basket was waved off due to basket interference from Bona.
Perhaps it was the interference call that did it, because Embiid replaced Bona after that possession. After Herro missed a contested three, the Sixers got another kick-out three, this time it was Embiid and he drilled it to put the game away.
Here's a sentence that should scare the rest of the NBA: The Oklahoma City Thunder are getting healthy.
Shai Gilgous Alexander, who missed nine games with an abdominal strain, is not on the injury report and is expected to return to the Thunder rotation on Friday night against Denver.
The reigning NBA MVP, Gilgous-Alexander is the frontrunner to repeat, averaging 31.8 points, 6.4 assists, 4.4 rebounds per game shooting 39% from 3-point range.
Oklahoma City kept its head above water, going 5-4 with Gilgeous-Alexander out (Jalen Williams missed seven of those games, and there are a host of other injuries on the team). The Thunder retain the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, but the red-hot Spurs are now just two games behind them and have a much easier schedule the rest of the way (OKC has the second-toughest remaining schedule in the league). Oklahoma City and Detroit are now in a race for the No. 1 overall seed in the league (the Thunder lead by a half-game as of this writing, but the Pistons have one fewer loss).
His return comes in time both for his chance to play enough games to qualify for postseason awards (he can only miss six more games this season) and to keep the Thunder as a top seed — a huge advantage with how loud their arena is during the playoffs.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Elina Aarnisalo scored 20 points, Lanie Grant added 15 points and 21st-ranked North Carolina ended its two-game losing streak by beating Virginia 82-70 on Thursday night.
Reserve Nyla Brooks scored 11 points, and Nyla Harris and Ciera Toomey each scored 10 for North Carolina (24-6, 13-4 ACC), which shot 58% (29 of 50), including 67% (16 of 24) from 3-point range.
Kymora Johnson scored 22 points and Romi Levy 15 for Virginia (19-9, 11-6).
North Carolina built a 9-0 lead and carried it to 15-8 at the end of the first quarter. The Tar Heels opened its offense in the second, outscoring Virginia 13-5 over in the first 4 1/2 minutes of the quarter to build their lead to 28-13. North Carolina led 40-23 at halftime.
North Carolina maintained its double-digit lead through the third until Levy made a 3-pointer with 6:57 left to get the Cavaliers within 66-57. After trading baskets, the Tar Heels went back to their double-digit cushion with an 8-2 run and were never threatened again.
North Carolina reached 13 conference wins for the second straight season — the first time in school history to hit the mark in back-to-back seasons.
Virginia is sporting its first 19-win season in the four-year tenure of head coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton.
Up next
North Carolina: Hosts 12th-ranked Duke in a regular-season finale on Sunday.
Recently, we here at The Hockey News Buffalo Sabres looked at two trade candidates from the Calgary Flames.
Now, in this latest edition of the Sabres trade targets series, let's look at two Philadelphia Flyers who could be good fits for the Atlantic Division club.
Owen Tippett
Owen Tippett has been a popular name in the rumor mill this season, and he would have the potential to be a very nice addition to the Sabres' roster. The 27-year-old forward would give the Sabres another skilled forward to work with in their top nine and would be an obvious choice for their power play if acquired.
Tippett would be more than a rental for the Sabres if acquired, as he has a $6.2 million cap hit until the end of the 2031-32 season. In 57 games this season, he has recorded 19 goals, 16 assists, and 35 points.
Noah Juulsen
The Sabres need another depth defenseman with experience, and the Flyers have a decent option in Noah Juulsen. The 28-year-old could work well on the Sabres' bottom pairing or even as an extra defenseman.
Juulsen would not be a big addition to the Sabres' roster, but he would give them another much-needed right-shot defenseman. In 43 games this season, he has recorded one goal, nine points, 90 hits, and a plus-2 rating.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Jorge Polanco has some time to work on the finer points of playing first base — but not too much time, with Opening Day less than a month away.
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The veteran infielder took another step in that direction Thursday, playing in a simulated game at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie as he looks to get more comfortable as part of the Mets’ shortstop-filled infield.
“It was a little different at the beginning,’’ Polanco said.
That’s to be expected, as the Mets are rolling the dice on Polanco moving to the corner spot — likely backed up by Mark Vientos and Brett Baty, who are also inexperienced at the position.
Jorge Polanco runs drills at first base during a Mets’ spring training practice at Clover Field on Feb. 20, 2026, in Port St. Lucie. Corey Sipkin for NY Post
Vientos played first base in a 5-0 win over Houston at Ballpark of the Palm Beaches and made a pair of nice plays. Baty, still working his way back from hamstring tightness, also took part in the simulated game and is expected to get time at first base in a Grapefruit League game soon.
Polanco, who Carlos Mendoza said would be used as a DH, said he spoke with Carlos Santana to get some first-base pointers.
Polanco said Santana advised him about the mental challenges of his new position and his responsibilities from pitch to pitch, which are considerably different than they are in the middle of the infield.
Perhaps the most challenging plays, according to Polanco, will be those that involve decision-making, like when to go for a ball hit to his right or let the second baseman get it.
“You’ve just got to go do it,’’ Polanco said before channeling Ron Washington: “Everyone says first base is easy, but it’s harder than you expect,’’ Polanco said. “But this is the perfect time to get ready.”
Tyrone Taylor, somewhat of an afterthought in the early part of spring with Luis Robert Jr. set to take over in center field and Carson Benge grabbing most of the attention in right, slammed a three-run homer after getting the start in center. … Luis Torrens had a pair of hits.
With Francisco Lindor still out with a fractured hamate bone in his left hand, Ronny Mauricio got the start at shortstop Thursday, and Marcus Semien said he was impressed with Mauricio’s communication in the middle of the infield.
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Amelia Hassett scored 15 points on five 3-pointers to lead No. 16 Kentucky past Auburn 63-56 on Thursday night.
Hassett was 5 of 8 from the floor and posted six rebounds and two blocks. Clara Strack notched 12 points, five rebounds and two blocks — after entering second in the nation with 75 blocks, having already broken her own Kentucky program record of 73 blocks set last season.
Teonni Key had 11 points and nine rebounds for Kentucky and Morgan Tonie also scored 11 to go with four assists.
The Wildcats (21-8, 8-7 Southeastern Conference) held a 35-27 lead at the half after starting the game on a 14-3 run. The lead shrunk to six in the third quarter, before another 14-3 run ballooned it to as much as 19. The Tigers closed the game on a 14-2 run over the final 5:47.
Khady Leye had 20 points, eight rebounds and two steals for the Tigers (14-15, 3-12). Harissoum Coulibaly added 13 points. Kaitlyn Duhon had five steals, driving a 17-8 turnover advantage and 15-9 margin on points off turnovers.
The Wildcats outrebounded the Tigers 37-26 and shot 46% (24 of 52) to the Tigers' 39% (22 of 57).
Up next
Kentucky ends the regular season on Sunday, hosting No. 3 South Carolina.
Auburn finishes its regular season slate with a trip to Arkansas on Sunday.
A video montage congratulating the Rangers’ five Team USA representatives from the Winter Olympics — who all were part of the run in Milan that ended with the country’s first gold medal in men’s hockey since 1980 — had just finished playing Thursday, recognizing Miller, Trocheck, head coach Mike Sullivan (USA head coach), assistant coach David Quinn (USA assistant coach) and president and general manager Chris Drury (USA assistant general manager) — with Drury, the architect of this disappointing Rangers season and retooling, getting booed loudly during the proceedings.
The ceremony, something that has been replicated throughout the NHL as players rejoined their respective teams, lasted around four minutes before the Blueshirts’ 3-2 overtime loss to the Flyers.
Sullivan’s speech from inside the American locker room pregame played on the scoreboard. Highlights from the gold-medal game, too. And then Trocheck and Miller were both shown receiving their gold medals.
Vincent Trocheck, who won a gold medal for Team USA, is greeted by the fans before the Rangers’ game against the Flyers on Feb. 26, 2026. Robert Sabo for NY Post
MSG crowd chants ‘U-S-A’ as J. T. Miller, Vincent Trocheck, Mike Sullivan, Chris Drury & David Quinn get a standing ovation after Team USA brought home gold. pic.twitter.com/3SL24ickeU
“The celebration before the game is a special moment for a lot of us,” Sullivan said. “Certainly proud of the accomplishment that the Olympic team was able to win the gold medal. We’re particularly proud of J.T. and [Trocheck] and the contribution that they had in helping us win over there. Those guys were instrumental in so many ways.”
Trocheck and Miller were key pieces of a penalty kill unit that went 18-for-18 throughout the tournament. Across the entire men’s hockey tournament, Trocheck finished with the third-highest faceoff percentage.
And Thursday, the celebration for Team USA’s medal — which stretched from Milan to Miami to the White House, morphing into a political controversy along the way — reached their home venue.
In a season where the Rangers’ focus has shifted to what’s next, Brendan Brisson became the latest to get a chance.
The 24-year-old and former first-round pick — part of the return in the March trade that sent Reilly Smith to the Golden Knights — was recalled from AHL Hartford to practice with the Blueshirts during the Olympic break and made his Rangers debut Thursday.
He skated on the third line alongside Noah Laba and Conor Sheary while also logging time with the second power-play unit. Brisson, who previously appeared in 24 NHL games across two stints while with the Golden Knights, collected 13 goals and 23 points in 46 games with the Wolf Pack.
Gold medal winners Vincent Trocheck (right) and J.T. Miller, along with head coach Mike Sullivan, are honored by the Rangers in a pregame ceremony on Feb. 26, 2026 before the Rangers faced the Flyers. Robert Sabo for NY Post
“I’m just gonna try to go out there [Thursday] and be good in the system, be good in the details of the game and if I get a chance, hopefully generate on it, produce on it,” Brisson told The Post before the Rangers’ 3-2 overtime loss to the Flyers.
Forward Brett Berard was assigned to the Wolf Pack and goaltender Hugo Ollas was assigned to ECHL Bloomington Bison before the game.
Gotham Sports App, which is the direct-to-consumer streaming branch of MSG and YES Networks, can now be purchased through Prime Video, the company announced. It serves as the streaming space for Rangers, Islanders, Devils, Yankees, Knicks, Nets and Sabres coverage.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Liv McGill had 28 points, six rebounds and eight assists, Laila Reynolds added 14 points, and Florida beat No. 19 Mississippi 74-67 on Thursday night for its first victory over a ranked opponent this season.
Florida (17-13, 5-10 SEC) snapped a seven-game losing streak in the series.
McGill found Reynolds for an alley-oop layup in transition for a 63-51 lead early in the fourth during a 12-1 run.
But Ole Miss scored the next nine points, with two 3-pointers from Tianna Thompson, to get within 65-60 with 4:13 left. The Rebels would not get closer that five points the rest of the way as Me’Arah O’Neal and McGill combined to go 4 of 4 at the stripe in the final 1:16 to secure it.
Florida (17-13, 5-10 SEC) shot 59% from the field and outscored Ole Miss 46-20 inside the paint. McGill made a layup early in the third quarter to break Florida’s single-season scoring record, passing Tonya Washington’s mark of 631 points.
Thompson set career highs with 25 points and seven 3-pointers for Ole Miss (21-9, 8-7). Cotie McMahon added 15 points and Christeen Iwuala had 10. Latasha Lattimore, the Rebels' third-leading scorer, was injured in the third and did not return.
Florida closed the first half on a 15-5 run to take a 40-37 lead into the break. McGill led the Gators with 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting. Ole Miss went without a field goal for the final five minutes of the first half.
Up next
Ole Miss: Returns home to play Texas A&M on Sunday in a regular-season finale for both teams.
Florida: Goes on the road to face No. 23 Georgia to conclude its season.
___
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With the trade deadline looming and a championship window still wide open, the Colorado Avalanche find themselves in a familiar position: aggressive, calculated, and unafraid to swing big. Cap space is available. A former Stanley Cup hero could be within reach. The question isn’t whether the Avalanche can make a blockbuster move — it’s whether they should.
Nazem Kadri taking a hard hit from Winnipeg Jets forward Adam Lowry earlier this season.
Cap Space Creates Opportunity
The Avalanche wasted no time getting to work once the Olympic trade freeze lifted. In a decisive move, Colorado shipped longtime defenseman Samuel Girard and a 2028 second-round pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenseman Brett Kulak.
Kulak made his Avalanche debut in a 4–2 victory over the Utah Mammoth at Delta Center, and the early returns were solid. But the real win may not have been on the ice — it was on the balance sheet.
By moving Girard without retaining salary, Colorado cleared significant cap space. The Avalanche now sit with approximately $8.74 million in flexibility, giving general manager Chris MacFarland the financial breathing room to pursue something far more ambitious.
The Nazem Kadri Question
Reacquiring Nazem Kadri would be more than a nostalgic reunion. It would be a competitive statement.
Kadri was instrumental in Colorado’s 2022 Stanley Cup run, producing a career-best 87 points (28 goals, 59 assists) in 71 regular-season games before delivering timely playoff heroics. After the Avalanche were unable to retain him, he signed with the Calgary Flames, where his production has remained respectable — though not quite at his Colorado peak.
At 35, Kadri is no longer the dynamic force he once was. But context matters. Calgary sits near the bottom of the Pacific Division at 23-27-6, and Kadri has made little secret of his dissatisfaction with the direction of the franchise. A return to Denver could reignite both his production and his edge.
Kadri, slotted as a third-line center, could give the Avalanche enviable depth and matchup flexibility heading into the postseason.
But if Kadri demands to play the second-line role, that could become a serious issue. Brock Nelson has excelled in the role and is having a career-best season along with just capturing Olympic gold in Milan, the first gold medal for the United States since 1980. The last thing you want to do is have an angry player who's locked in on a long-term deal.
But if Kadri is willing to be the third-line center, it could be a solid fit.
The Veteran Blueprint: Brent Burns
Age alone is not a disqualifier in Colorado.
Just look at Brent Burns.
Brent Burns is having a tremendous campaign for Colorado. Credit: Ron Chenoy
At 40 years old, Burns is authoring an impressive campaign, tallying nine goals and 18 assists for 27 points in 56 games with a career-best +30 rating. While plus/minus is no longer a favored analytic darling, it remains an indicator of on-ice impact — and Burns’ number speaks volumes.
His previous high-water mark came during the 2013-14 season with the San Jose Sharks, where he became a franchise cornerstone and later captured the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2017 as the league’s top defenseman.
Burns is in Colorado for one reason: to win another Stanley Cup. If he can defy the aging curve, the Avalanche may believe Kadri can do the same.
The Real Cost of a Reunion
The complication, as always, lies in the asking price.
Colorado’s identity is built on depth — and dismantling that depth could be counterproductive. Parker Kelly is enjoying a career year and serves as a vital locker-room presence. If Calgary demands Kelly, that may be a nonstarter.
The Flames may want to steal Parker Kelly away from the Avalanche. Credit: Rob Gray
A package centered around Ross Colton and a draft pick could be palatable, but a rebuilding Flames organization will likely demand more. Top prospect Mikhail Gulyayev would certainly intrigue Calgary’s front office.
The Avalanche must determine whether sacrificing future assets — and potentially disrupting team chemistry — is worth a short-term surge.
If Not Kadri, Then Who?
If Kadri proves too costly, an alternative exists in Ryan O’Reilly.
While not the fleetest skater at this stage of his career, O’Reilly remains elite in the faceoff circle and thrives in the hard areas of the ice. His three-goal performance on January 16 at Ball Arena was a reminder that his instincts and net-front prowess remain intact.
Former Avalanche forward Ryan O'Reilly. Credit: Brad Mills
Colorado’s playoff needs are clear: win draws, grind in traffic, score the ugly goals when space evaporates.
O’Reilly fits that description.
Championship Windows Don’t Wait
What this ultimately comes down to is urgency.
The Avalanche’s championship window is not closed — but it is not infinite. With a core still in its prime and veterans pushing for one more ring, Colorado must balance boldness with prudence.
Cap space gives them options. Familiar names stir emotion. But championships are not won on sentiment.
Avs fans would love to see this again. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas
As the trade deadline accelerates toward its climax, all eyes turn to CMac — and whether the next move will be a calculated tweak or a seismic swing.
Because in Colorado, second chances can lead to parades.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 26: Chad Stevens #39 of the Colorado Rockies greets third base coach Andy González #81 after hitting a home run during the fifth inning of the spring training game against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium on February 26, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Earlier today, the Colorado Rockies absolutely pounded the San Francisco Giants.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - SEPTEMBER 29: Mo Bamba #11 of the Utah Jazz poses for a portrait at Redman Studios on September 29, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
According to Shams Charania (through agents), the Utah Jazz have signed Mo Bamba to a 10-day contract.
7-footer Mo Bamba is signing a 10-day contract with the Utah Jazz, Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports and Greer Love tell ESPN. Bamba spent time earlier this season with the Raptors and has averaged 17 points, 11.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks for the Jazz’s NBA G League affiliate. pic.twitter.com/zjzVIstqaO
This likely comes because of the loss to Jusuf Nurkic, who is out for the season. Bamba was on the Jazz roster to start the season and now makes his return. We’ll see if this will turn into a larger contract, but we may be seeing multiple 10-day contracts as the season goes on.
Bamba has not been able to find a home in the NBA, and it’s unlikely this is a long-term thing. That said, Bamba is a true center, something the Jazz do not have on their roster. This allows the Jazz to use their young players with a true center in certain lineups. The closest thing they have to that right now is Kyle Filipowski, but he doesn’t look like a long-term fit at center for Utah. We may not see Bamba at all, but it is a nice option for Utah to get a lineup on the floor that vaguely resembles what we might see next season.
PHOENIX — In the hypothetical scenario presented to him, Dave Roberts wasn’t the manager of the Dodgers.
He was a reporter assigned to cover the team, and he had an itch to stir things up.
What would he write about?
“It’d be hard to stir things up in this camp,” Roberts said.
In the hypothetical scenario presented to him, Dave Roberts wasn’t the manager of the Dodgers. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Didn’t Roberts want to inject some excitement into spring training by, say, suggesting that Roki Sasaki could be demoted to the minor leagues?
Roberts cracked up.
“That ain’t going to happen,” he said.
Welcome to the Most Boring Spring Training Camp in the major leagues.
There are no controversies, no serious concerns. The lineup is basically set. There is only one starting position up for grabs, and that’s to be the left-handed-hitting half of a platoon at second base until Tommy Edman recovers from ankle surgery.
Welcome to the Most Boring Spring Training Camp in the major leagues. Getty Images
The Dodgers are built to withstand the loss of any player in the regular season, which explains why Roberts is nonchalant when speaking about how Blake Snell is still just playing catch.
The team is slow-playing Snell this spring, knowing it has a rotation that also includes three other Cy Young-caliber starters: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow. They have enough starting pitching depth in the likes of Sasaki, Emmet Sheehan, Gavin Stone, Justin Wrobleski and River Ryan to reach the postseason. The real season starts in October, and all the Dodgers care about is that Snell is healthy by then.
Mookie Betts? He’s also being slow-played so that he can recover from a grueling World Series run. He won’t appear in his first Cactus League game until Sunday or perhaps early next week, but so what? The Dodgers have the luxury of playing the long game.
There are some questions about the degree to which Betts, Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernandez can fight off the effects of age. But any of them returning to peak form feels more like a luxury than a necessity in the wake of the addition of 29-year-old All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker.
The other high-profile acquisition, closer Edwin Diaz, has introduced a feeling of stability to what was the team’s greatest weakness last year, the bullpen. The group looks as if it would be a strength, as Diaz’s presence in the ninth inning will allow Roberts to deploy the other relievers in favorable situations.
Speaking of Roberts, the once-polarizing manager is now a three-time World Series champion who is in the first season of a four-year extension he signed last year. Roberts is enjoying whatever the opposite of the hot seat is.
There are some questions about the degree to which Betts, Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernandez can fight off the effects of age. Getty Images
The Dodgers are stable, and they’re really good.
About the only developing story is about Sasaki, the second-year fireballer from Japan. Regardless of what he does, Sasaki won’t elevate or sink the Dodgers. His ongoing saga is fascinating because he’s a generational talent, not because of how he will affect the team in the short term.
The Dodgers have a $400 million payroll, and that has bought them enormous margins for error. Another way to look at their situation is that a lot has to go wrong for them to not win the National League West.
“I like it in the sense that it’s peaceful, but it’s very intentional,” Roberts said. “I think if you watch our guys work through the day, it’s very thoughtful and intense and yet very fun. I think that’s sustainable.”
The Dodgers have a $400 million payroll, and that has bought them enormous margins for error. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Dodgers had to move up and shorten spring training in each of the last two years because of season-opening trips to Japan and South Korea. Yamamoto, Diaz, Will Smith and Hyeseong Kim will depart soon to join their respective national teams for the World Baseball Classic. Ohtani has already left.
Ohtani’s exit dramatically reduced the number of reporters in camp, as many of the Japanese journalists who were here followed the two-way player to Japan. Then again, it’s not as if any players are looking for extra space to horse around.
“Guys are focused on getting ready,” Roberts said. “Guys are smart. They don’t want distractions. We don’t need them.”
As for stirring anything up, Roberts said, “Good luck with that.”
AUSTIN, TX - FEBRUARY 22: Pitcher Dylan Volantis #99 of the Texas Longhorns screams and pumps his fist after a strike out to end the inning during the college baseball game between Texas Longhorns and Michigan State Spartans on February 22, 2026, at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, TX. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The No. 3 Texas Longhorns are set up how head coach Jim Schlossnagle prefers — tuned up after an eight-game homestand at UFCU Disch-Falk Field to open the 2026 season before heading to Houston for the BRUCE BOLT College Classic at Daikin Park for three games starting on Friday.
Still undefeated, Schlossnagle expects the Longhorns to face some adversity this weekend, even more so than the self-imposed adversity of playing from behind in several games to start the season.
“Everybody has a plan until you get punched. So I’m sure we’ll take some punches this weekend, and I’m looking forward to seeing how guys handle the different environment,” Schlossnagle said on Thursday.
Last year, when the Longhorns traveled to Globe Life Field to open the season Shiners Children’s College Showdown, Texas bounced back from an extra-inning loss to Louisville on Friday with wins over Ole Miss and No. 17 Oklahoma State.
“You have the season opening, you have the new coach thing going, and then you’re in a big league stadium against great teams, so there were a lot of sped up heart rates last year. Two things you’re always dealing with in competitive sports are adrenaline and adversity,” Schlossnagle said.
Now the coaching staff has a greater level of familiarity with each other, there’s more talent on the team thanks to highly-ranked high school signees and talented NCAA transfer portal additions, and the Horns have built a sustainable culture within the program. They’ve also played those eight games to start the season instead of opening in a classic.
“It is nice, certainly, to have games under your belt any time because experience matters,” Schlossnagle said.
So while the Texas head coach has some concerns about his team playing on grass for the first time this season, which he expects will cause an adjustment period early in the weekend, something he’s used to seeing from the Longhorns when he coached at other programs.
“That’s going to be something that will be interesting to see how it plays out,” Schlossnagle said.
To help prepare his infielders, Schlossnagle took them up to Dell Diamond on Wednesday to work on their fielding on a natural surface.
When Texas opens the classic against No. 9 Coastal Carolina on Friday, the Horns won’t have to face ace Cameron Flukey, who is projected as a top-10 prospect in this year’s MLB Draft, has a stress fracture in his ribs that is expected to keep him out for two months. Also out is left-hander Hayden Johnson, a key bullpen piece for the Chanticleers last season who earned preseason All-Sun Belt recognition. Another preseason All-Sun Belt pitcher, right-hander Ryan Lynch, is yet to make his first appearance for Coastal this season due to injury.
Expected to start in Flukey’s place is sophomore right-hander Luke Jones (0-0, 2.35 ERA), who allowed two runs on five hits in 3.1 innings last Friday in a win over VCU.
“We’re preparing for the guy that we’re going to face right now and he’s got outstanding stuff as well. I don’t think there’s another pitcher in the country similar to Flukey. So it’s definitely going to be different, but we’re still facing a great team, and still have to go play the game,” Schlossnagle said.
Coastal Carolina is coming off an appearance in the national title series last year in Kevin Schnall’s first season after taking over for Hall of Famer Gary Gilmore, under whom Schnall served as associate head coach for nine seasons and as an assistant for two seasons prior to three years as an assistant at UCF.
Pitcher Jacob Morrison and catcher Caden Bodine, stars on the 2025 team, were both selected early in last year’s MLB Draft, but in the outfield, Dean Mihos is back for his senior season and is batting a team-leading .424, and newcomer Rex Watson, a San Diego transfer, is hitting .381. Both have on-base percentages of .500. Designated hitter Trace Mazon is the only other hitter for Coastal batting over .300 at .371.
As a team, the Chanticleers haven’t hit particularly well so far with a .260 batting average, seven home runs, and a .402 slugging percentage through eight games. On the mound, Coastal Carolina has been much better with a 3.80 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 71 innings while holding opponents to a .216 batting average.
Picked to finish 11th in the 14-team Big 12, Baylor enters the weekend 5-3 on the season with five home wins, including a midweek 14-4 win over Texas State. In the Round Rock Classic at Dell Diamond last weekend, however, fourth-year head coach Mitch Thompson’s team lost to two ranked teams in Oregon and Southern Miss while also dropping the Saturday matchup against Purdue.
Preseason All-Big 12 selection Travis Sanders, the team’s shortstop, is leading the Bears with a .448 batting average and first baseman Tyce Armstrong is hitting .323 with four home runs, three of which were grand slams in the season opener against New Mexico State, only the second time in college baseball history a player has accomplished that feat in a single game.
The Baylor staff has been solid with a 4.02 ERA and 1.41 WHIP with opponents batting .274 against them.
In the weekend finale, the Horns face the Buckeyes and right-hander Pierce Herrenbruck (1-0, 2.70 ERA). After a weekend sweep of Saint Louis in Florida, Ohio State lost two games to Louisiana Tech in the Grind City Classic before winning two against host Memphis.
The Buckeyes are batting .242 as a team, led by center fielder Miles Vandenheuvel at .391 and designated hitter Mason Eckelman at .346. Outfielder Noah Furcht is hitting .364. Although Ohio State was not picked to finish in the top six of the Big Ten, the pitching staff has been a strength with a 3.77 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP with opponents batting .232.
First pitch for Texas is scheduled for 7 p.m. Central on Friday and Saturday, times that will likely be delayed, and at 2 p.m. Central on Sunday. All three games will stream on Astros.com and the Astros YouTube channel.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 14: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks at a press conference during 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend at Intuit Dome on February 14, 2026 in Inglewood, 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 GettyImages License Agreement. (Photo by Ryan Sirius Sun/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It looks like Adam Silver wants to have his cake and eat it, too. Yesterday, I wrote about Tony Jones reporting that the NBA was sending its own doctors to verify the injury to Lauri Markkanen.
Today, Tony Jones apologized for getting something wrong. Apparently, they are just going to verify the MRIs, which is apparently standard practice, but not sending their own medical personnel to Utah.
Lauri Markkanen is undergoing his MRI, I’m told, so the Jazz should have results coming. The NBA is evaluating the results, as standard practice. They did not send medical personnel to Utah. That part I got wrong. My apologies.
This is the second time the NBA has made a point of critiquing the reporting on what they are doing. If you don’t remember, they critiqued Rick Carlisle, saying they didn’t do what he said they did.
Reached out for comment on this:
“Coach Carlisle’s description of the process that went into the decision to fine the Indiana Pacers is inaccurate,” a league spokesperson told @YahooSports. “An independent physician led the medical review. In addition, the Pacers’ General… https://t.co/2TX97UsawR
Obviously, Tony Jones was contacted by someone, which led to his apology today. It’s not clear what to think at this point, but given how the NBA has been going about things, I have a hard time believing anything they say. Or finding any fault with Jones at all.
Putting the he-said he-said behind us, it’s an absolute scabby mess that the NBA keeps picking at. It’s a bad look for the league and for Silver’s leadership to continue creating a PR disaster like this, all for some momentary gains with threats to Utah and Indiana. For what? games with their best players on the floor to manufacture some bogus competitiveness? What if they focused on the upcoming playoff race instead of two small-market teams that they never push anyway? It’s not like Utah or Indiana had any notable number of national games.
The best thing for Adam Silver and the NBA to do right now is to stop. That’s literally all they have to do. Let the Utah Jazz do the things that so many other teams have done for so many years. Do your job and cover the competitive games going on as we speak, rather than trying to harm the future of teams doing what’s best for them.
