ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 01: Dominic Smith #8 of the Atlanta Braves is tagged out by Trea Turner #7 of the Philadelphia Phillies during the fourth inning in game three of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on October 01, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Halfway to Halloween. Halfway to the World Series matchup being decided.
Happy birthday to Rodney Scott, and a mighty host of others.
Today in baseball history, in 1971 – In the World Series, Brooks Robinson drives in Frank Robinson in the 10th inning of Game 6 to give Baltimore a Series-tying 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Pittsburgh’s Roberto Clemente does all he can to win the game single-handed. Stranded after his 1st-inning triple to the wall in left center, his 3rd-inning solo shot puts Pittsburgh up, 2-0. All of Clemente’s offensive contributions notwithstanding, the reason the game reaches extra innings is his defensive gem in the bottom of the ninth, a no-look, one-hop strike from Memorial Stadium‘s right field corner, 310 feet away, to catcher Manny Sanguillen, preventing the runner at first, running on contact on Don Buford‘s two-out double, from even attempting to score. By extending the game, Clemente’s throw will force Baltimore’s best player, Frank Robinson, to win this game with his legs, challenging the arm of centerfielder Vic Davalillo on two consecutive plays. In doing so, Robinson tears his left hamstring and aggravates an already damaged right Achilles tendon, and other stories as well.
1923 – Soon after Babe Ruth receives his World Series winner’s share of $6,160.46, insurance agent Harry Heilmann, who beat Ruth for the batting title by ten points, sells him a $50,000 life insurance policy. Beneficiaries are Mrs. Ruth and adopted daughter Dorothy.
2011 – The Cardinals complete their very unlikely run to the World Series by beating the Brewers, 12-6, in Game 6 of the NLCS at Miller Park. Series MVP David Freese opens the scoring with a three-run homer off Shaun Marcum in the 1st, but the Brewers once again manage to chase the Cards’ starter early, scoring four runs off Edwin Jackson in two innings.
2017 – The Yankees notch their first win in the ALCS by defeating the Astros, 8-1, in Game 3 at home. Three-run homers by Todd Frazier and Aaron Judge help New York build an 8-0 lead by the end of the fourth, and they cruise from there as CC Sabathia is the winner over Charlie Morton.
1492 – Christopher Columbus‘ fleet anchors at “Fernandina” (Long Island, Bahamas).
1577 – Francis Drake sights land in the Philippines after crossing the Pacific Ocean aboard the “Golden Hind”.
1901 – Booker T. Washington and his family are invited to dine at the White House with Teddy and Edith Roosevelt, prompting condemnation from the South.
1909 – In his fourth title defense, Jack Johnson knocks out Stanley Ketchel in the 12th round at Mission Street Arena, Colma, California, to retain his heavyweight boxing crown.
1962 – Cuban Missile Crisis begins as US President John F. Kennedy is shown photos confirming the presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba.
1968 – Americans Tommie Smith (gold, 19.83, WR) and John Carlos (bronze) famously give the Black Power salute on the 200 m medal podium during the Mexico City Olympics to protest racism and injustice against African Americans.
1985 – Intel introduces the 32-bit 80386 microprocessor chip.
2023 – Model of a Star Wars X-wing Starfighter used in a “Star Wars” film sells for over $3 million from the collection of Hollywood model maker Greg Jein.
Sep 10, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; General view of the helmet used by the Milwaukee Brewers before the start of the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images | Stan Szeto-Imagn Images
Greetings, Brew Crew Ball community. You can now call them, for the first time ever, your NL Champion Milwaukee Brewers! How about that series? We’ll have plenty of time to discuss things as we await an AL Champion, with the World Series set to begin in Milwaukee on Friday, October 23.
Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-baseball sports, the Brewers, you name it. As long as it’s appropriate and is allowed by our moderators, it’s fair game here.
DALLAS, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 22: Santi Aldama #7 of the Memphis Grizzlies shoots the ball as Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks defends during the first half at American Airlines Center on November 22, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. 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 Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I just want to put this out there right up front. Something about the way the Dallas Mavericks are handling Santi Aldama’s recovery from an undisclosed(?) injury is telling me we should be more patient than we think we must with the player and more skeptical than we usually are about anything the team says about his status as the season approaches.
Something smells awfully funny here. Even under the Masai Ujiri/Gina Miller administration (campaign slogan: “You can trust us this time. We promise.”), this team will find a way to remain somewhere on the spectrum between coy and disingenuous about injuries like these, and that “undisclosed” designation is our first clue.
What exactly is not being disclosed here? Everyone knows about the knee issues that limited Aldama to 43 games last season. Everyone knows about the arthroscopic stem cell shot procedure he underwent in March to try to relieve prolonged pain in that knee. Did Aldama injure something else after arriving in Dallas? Is the knee issue still nagging, six months after the procedure? Either way, the outlook is murky at best.
The Dallas Morning News reported recently that “it appears they’ll take the same [patient] approach with Aldama [as they are with Dereck Lively II’s recovery timeline].” He did not suit up for either of the two preseason games in Macao, China, and it seems less and less likely that Aldama will be ready to go when the regular season starts.
The Mavericks sent AJ Johnson, a top-20 protected 2030 first-round pick via Golden State, and two future second-round picks to Memphis for Aldama. The deal was folded into a six-team trade that became official on July 8.
Big question
Which brings us to the biggest question surrounding Aldama’s arrival in Dallas for the upcoming season. With such a vague recovery timeline in place, when can Aldama realistically be expected to be a meaningful contributor for the Mavericks, and what role does he fill when that time comes?
The question lurking behind the question is, did the Mavericks trade for someone destined to become the second broken seven-footer taking up a roster space, or is this actually going to work? The fact that so much is being kept under wraps does not portend well at this point. Again, we’re going on seven months with this knee issue at this point.
Aldama brings shooting and size, the ability to stretch the floor and be a weapon along the perimeter. He scored 14 points per game last year in the 43 games he managed before the knee issues flared up. He shot nearly 48% from the floor and 35% from 3-point range. He can be dangerous, but will it pan out in any sort of meaningful way for the Mavericks? It’s hard to say when the team won’r say anything about him.
Best case scenario
The dream season for Aldama is only missing the first five games of the year, taking the next step offensively and getting more than seven rebounds per game this year. He played in a career-best 77 games in 2022-23, his second year in the league, so getting to 70 this year would be amazing. Forcing his way into the lineup for around 25 minutes a night would be ideal, too. Under those circumstances, Aldama would maximize his potential without being exposed as a potential liability against bigger, more physical frontcourts.
“Lineup versatility: He gives us a different dimension if we want to go with it,” first-year Mavericks head coach Dusty May said of Aldama. “An elite shooting lineup. But Santi’s not just a shooter. He can really close out. He’s learned to play against perimeter guys — shotmaking, driving, getting to the paint. That will be one of the many pieces we have to put together if we’re going to be really good.”
Worst case scenario
The worst case for Aldama is if the knee injury is something larger than the Mavericks have disclosed and it limits him from playing in half the games this season. He’s a role player on the rise, but only if he gets in enough games to make an impact. If he doesn’t, sure, that leaves more minutes for Morez Johnson Jr., but it makes the Mavericks’ second unit more one-dimensional. It limits the threat from beyond the arc, which is something this team drastically needs to be better at this season. Adding one or two shooters in Kyrie Irving and Sergio de Larrea is nice — much needed. But building a roster with shooting depth is really what the doctor ordered.
Season goal
Can Aldama make himself an indispensable part of the Mavericks’ rotation? Can he continue the upward statistical trajectory his career arc has assumed through his first five years? Can he space the floor and be a part of the equation that keeps opposing defenses from sticking two defenders on Cooper Flagg? These are the things we want to see. He has the ability to be more than just “a guy.” But he’s also a guy who could easily get relegated to the role of “a guy” if things swing a certain way this season.
If he can inch closer to 40% from 3-point range and score at a rate similar to what he did across his 43 games last year with the Memphis Grizzlies, he’ll be a meaningful contributor. If not, he’ll make it easier for the team to avoid picking up his option next season.
Overall
Everything hinges on Aldama’s health, and it’s an uncomfortable place to be as the regular season approaches. Truly, any outcome is on the table for what is essentially a one-year rental with a team option for a second year. You can squint and see whatever you want with this relationship: a chance to step into a meaningful, much-needed role on a team with a chance to improve vastly in Flagg’s second year, or someone who needs two months to get right before settling into a diminished role on a new team.
Hope for the best, sure, but this team’s recent history has also taught fans to prepare for the worst.
SAN ANTONIO - MARCH 10: Manu Ginobili #20 of the San Antonio Spurs wears his "Los Spurs" jersey as part of the NBA's first-ever, fully integrated Hispanic marketing campaign, Noche Latina (Latin Night), during the game against the New York Knicks on March 10, 2010 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 2010 NBAE (Photo by D. Clarke Evans/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Per a Spurs press release:
“The San Antonio Spurs announced the launch of @LosSpurs, a dedicated Spanish-language Instagram account for the organization. The platform will serve as a digital space catered to Spanish-speaking Spurs fans, with curated content, storytelling and fan engagement efforts. Fans are encouraged to follow the @LosSpurs account to catch the latest news from the team, view exclusive content in collaboration with the Spurs main social accounts and receive information on watch parties, giveaways and more.”
The San Antonio Spurs have made concerted efforts to take the NBA to global heights. They invest time, resources, and energy into efforts in Mexico — everything from basketball camps to community initiatives. And a large percentage of their fanbase back here in San Antonio identify as “crazy Hispanic Fans.”
Said Jordan Mandelkorn, vice president of marketing, creative and retail for Spurs Sports & Entertainment,
“Our Spanish-speaking fans are a big part of what makes the Spurs family so special, and we want them to feel connected to the team in the language they call their own. Los Spurs gives us a new way to celebrate their passion, share stories that resonate with them and bring fans across San Antonio, Mexico and beyond closer to the Silver & Black.”
The team’s @LesSpurs account, launched in 2025 to cater to French-speaking fans, is the most followed French NBA team account in the league.
Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.
Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.
DENVER, COLORADO - MARCH 4: Evgeni Malkin #71 of the Pittsburgh Penguins takes a shot on goal against Scott Wedgewood #41 of the Colorado Avalanche in the third period at Ball Arena on March 4, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Who:Pittsburgh Penguins (3-3-1, 7 points, 5th place Metropolitan Division) @ Colorado Avalanche (4-2-1, 9 points, 3rd place Central Division)
When: 9 p.m. eastern
How to Watch: Locally televised game on Sportsnet Pittsburgh and ALT, KTVD, streaming for out of market at ESPN+
Pens’ Path Ahead: The road trip picks up the pace with a game tomorrow night in Vegas, followed by a trip to Utah for Monday night. After that, the Pens return home for the next three games (starting with a visit by Florida to Pittsburgh on Thursday Oct 22).
Opponent Track: This is the third game in four days for the Avs, after a back-to-back with Dallas. Colorado won the first leg of that Tuesday night in Dallas, then fell in a shootout at home. After today comes a two-day break and a trip east to play in Philadelphia on Monday.
Season Series: This is the first of two matchups, the two teams will meet in Pittsburgh on January 12th.
Hidden Stat: Pittsburgh has points in four of its last six trips to Ball Arena (3-2-1), per Pens PR.
Getting to know the Avalanche
Projected lines
FORWARDS
Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Necas
Gabriel Landeskog – Brock Nelson – Nazem Kadri
Jaden Schwartz – Fedor Svechkov – T.J Hughes
Parker Kelly – Gavin Brindley
DEFENSEMEN
Devon Toews / Cale Makar
Brett Kulak / Sam Malinski
Josh Manson / Brent Burns
Noah Juulsen
Goalies: Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood
Potential scratches: Nicolas Roy (lower body injury), Zachary L’Hereux (upper body injury)
Injured Reserve: Logan O’Connor
The Avalanche played an 11 forward/7 defense lineup last game due to a pair of injuries up front. They do have the cap and roster space to call-up an AHL forward if they want or need to if those injuries linger.
Interesting to see the changes made by Colorado in recent years. They’ve lost a few pieces, most notably Mikko Rantanen. However, as a win-now type of team, they’ve loaded up to grab Nelson and Necas, re-acquire Kadri, fill out the depth with Schwartz, Kulak, Burns and Roy.
Overall, the team only has eight players remaining from their 2022 Cup team (MacKinnon, Kadri, Makar, Toews Landeskog, O’Connor, Lehkonen, Manson). A lot of those players are the foundation to build a contender on, now the question becomes whether they’ve built up enough around it to win again in the primes of MacKinnon+Makar. To draw a Penguin parallel, this period for Colorado now isn’t dissimilar to the 2010-15 era for Crosby and the Penguins where they failed to replicate championship aspirations following the first title. Is there a second championship act still to go for this core?
One potentially sore spot for that: the Pens’ late glow-up was enhanced by a wave of rising young players (Murray, Guentzel, Rust, Dumoulin, Maatta, Sheary). Colorado doesn’t have that in their organization, only three U-25 players have dressed in the NHL so far this season, and none in particularly key roles. The Avs have deviated and gone the other direction by going very veteran and adding older players ala Nelson, Kadri and Burns, and spending big future assets in some of those cases to get them. Doesn’t mean it’s right or wrong but a curious way to hold up this Avalanche team to where Pittsburgh was at a similar time in the contending lifecycle.
MacKinnon has been a force this season to average almost two points per game, while also dropping the gloves for two fights. MacKinnon’s never won an Art Ross scoring championship (such is the curse of the age of McDavid) but did take the Rocket Richard trophy last year with an NHL-high 53 goals.
Makar missed a game earlier in the week due to the birth of his twins. New dad strength hasn’t been instant, he was held without a point in his return on Wednesday against the Stars.
Until watching a game last week, I completely forgot that the Avs added Schwartz over the summer as a free agent. The 34-year old had been mired in Seattle since that franchise’s inception in 2021, the 2019 Cup winner with St. Louis could be an important depth player for Colorado.
Colorado’s power play is 16th this season, hitting at an even 20.0%. The Avalanche only have three 5v4 goals (and two more scored in 5v3 situations), and they’ve already given up three goals to shorthanded teams. That could be an X-factor for the Pens, where they’ve only given up two goals this season while shorthanded and scored one of their own while down a player.
Even strength has been the area where the Avs have done a ton of damage, already scoring 26 5v5 goals in just seven games. (By comparison, the Pens rank eighth in this category with 18).
Key to the game: Fast start
Colorado, as expected, looks very strong early in the season. Their 31 goals scored in seven games is the second highest-scoring team per game behind Edmonton. Their 58.8% expected goal share at 5v5 is among the highest in the NHL. They are a strong team that can be dominant.
The Penguins only need to look back about seven months to see how to handle all that. The Pens beat Colorado 7-2 in Denver on March 16th in their last trip to the Mile High City. A key: Pittsburgh scored four goals in the first 14 minutes of the game. Before the Avs knew what hit them, the game was out of reach.
It might be a little much to ask for history to repeat itself there, but the lesson to take is trying to stay ahead of the game. Falling behind would be a make an uphill climb even steeper. That’s why a lot of attention will be on Pittsburgh’s top two lines tonight, they need to make an impact and set the tone in this game. If they can do that starting early in the game, you’d have to like the Pens’ chances. If not, it could be a long night.
And now for the Pens
Projected lines
FORWARDS
Rickard Rakell – Sidney Crosby – Bryan Rust
Egor Chinakhov – Tommy Novak – Evgeni Malkin
Andrei Kuzmenko – Ben Kindel – Nick Robertson
Connor Dewar – Blake Lizotte – Elmer Soderblom
DEFENSEMEN
Declan Carlile / Erik Karlsson
Sam Girard / Kaeden Korczak
Spencer Stastney / Kris Letang
Goalies: Arturs Silovs and Sergei Murashov
Potential Scratches: Hendrix Lapierre, Ville Koivunen and Ryan Johnson
IR: Ryan Graves, Justin Brazeau, Trevor van Riemsdyk
There were some line changes yesterday in practice, Nick Robertson worked his way up to play on Kindel’s line and it looks like Soderblom will be playing for just the third time this season. Koivunen is the odd man out and it could be a second game as a healthy scratch in a row for Lapierre.
The Pens have a goalie decision on their hands with tonight’s game as well as tomorrow night’s tilt in Las Vegas. You’d figure one goalie will play in each night and against a tough team no matter what, the timing of using them has not yet been disclosed.
High-energy practice
The Penguins weren’t pleased after their 5-3 loss to Chicago. They got some work in yesterday to prep for the weekend.
The Penguins did some small-area competition to end a productive practice session.
"Coming off a day off after a game that we're not thrilled with, I fully expected the energy level to be high, and they came in and delivered that," Dan Muse said. pic.twitter.com/DkXPD0lSPX
The Penguins have scored 12 goals in the second period through seven games. Only the Colorado Avalanche, Carolina Hurricanes and Utah Mammoth have more goals in the middle frame so far this season:
Second Period Goals
Team GP 2nd PD GF
Colorado 6 16
Carolina 8 14
Utah 7 13
Pittsburgh 7 12
Vegas 8 12
In addition, four of Tommy Novak’s five points and three of Declan Carlile’s four points this season have come in the second period.
Over the last six games, the Pens have only scored three goals in the first period, conceding six. They’ve also had problems in the third period with a 4-10 combined score in the last six games. However, that middle period has been a big boon for them with a 12-5 scoring edge on the season.
Bath’s co-owner and ‘wily old fox’ on the need for Champions Cup change and the future of the Prem
It doesn’t feel like 16 years since Bruce Craig first shared his vision for Bath Rugby with the Guardian. Back then there were plenty wondering if his extravagant ambitions would be realised and even he describes it as “a long haul” at times. “It has been a lot more difficult than I anticipated. Anyone would have wanted it to happen a lot quicker than it actually has. But anything worthwhile is difficult and takes a long time.”
It has also taught him loads about the inner workings of professional rugby. “I’m not the new young buck on the block I was a few years ago, I’m the old wily fox now.” These days he compares it to a “four-dimensional” puzzle, even for the wealthiest owners. “When you come from business into rugby you probably think there would be a lot of crossovers. But it’s different. In business … it’s a lot easier to get the outcomes.”
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 12: Liam Doyle #12 of the St. Louis Cardinals on the National League Team pitches during the 2026 MLB Futures Game at Citizens Bank Park on July 12, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well, it’s been a few weeks since games have ended and I think it’s time to be done debating about whether or not, or how, the Cardinal 2026 was, or was not, a success. Each will have their own point of view and each has had their say. Many various takes, for sure. One of the things I find myself most hopeful about is the apparent strength of the minor league pipeline. It made me curious about … when did it really start getting better? So, I went back to the 2023 trade deadline to see how recent transactions ended up impacting the longer-term view.
To walk back a little bit in time, here was Baseball America’s top 15 prospects for the Cardinals coming into 2023:
Jordan Walker
TinkHence
Masyn Winn
Mathewe Liberatore
Cooper Hjerpe
Alec Burleson
Ivan Herrera
Michael McGreevy
Jonaten Mejia
Zach Thompson
Leo Baez
Brycen Mautz
Pete Hansen
Interesting. Not a bad group. By and large, they were right on with 11 of them. Not so much Mejia, Thompson or Hansen. Hence and Thompson are injury related and Hansen really is the start of the rest of the list of guys that haven’t (and mostly won’t) make it. Fangraphs had the overall system ranking middling at #15. I can’t find BA’s rank that year or I’d use it.
The 2023 Trades
2023, if you haven’t blocked that nightmare out, was a shocking reversal of fortunes for the Cardinals. They went from pretty good in 2022 to awful in 2023. Many things went wrong. Little went right. That year’s trade deadline was the first capitulation we’d seen from long-term GM/POBO John Mozeliak. Mo’s stated goal was to bolster the farm system. Let’s look at how that turned out.
Jordan Hicks was traded for Sem Robberse and Adam Kloffenstein.
Paul DeJong was traded for Matt Svanson.
Genesis Cabrera was traded for Sammy Hernandez.
Jack Flaherty was traded for Cesar Prieto, Drew Rom, Zack Showalter.
Jordan Montgomery and Chris Stratton for Thomas Saggese, Tekoah Roby and John King.
Rather than pick apart any one player, let’s see how that played out organization wide. First, FA’s post-deadline update reduced the Cardinal’s farm system rank from 15 to 17. Part of this is the result of Walker, Burleson and Liberatore graduating the list, but the net-net is the trades weren’t viewed as bolstering the system as much just partially offsetting losses, but otherwise continuing a pattern of slow decline.
Now, three (plus) years later, only one of those acquired players remains a Cardinal prospect – TK Roby. Saggese and Prieto have graduated from the prospect list but not found footing in MLB. King was a useful low leverage lefty before being moved on. Rom, Kloffenstein, Thompson and Robberse all fell under the sorcerer’s spell and succumbed to injury. Svanson had a remarkably good year in 2025 and a remarkably bad year in 2026, so appears to be a fungible reliever, until proven otherwise. What is Hernandez?
The 2024 Trades
Unlike 2023, the 2024 trade deadline offered the Cardinals the siren song of a potential wild card birth and so they moved pieces off and on the major league roster for a final run for a team that ultimately finished with 83 wins. They really did nothing to improve their longer-term organizational outlook. Actually it did. It made the outlook worse.
In a three-team trade, the Cardinals sent away Tommy Edman and prospect Oliver Gonzalez (who, still at 19 years old, carries a 20 grade for command and a 70 grade for FB), receiving back Tommy Pham and Erik Fedde. Other players were involved from the White Sox and Dodgers side, but no impact to the Cardinals (other than facilitating a trade that did not work out well at all).
In a more traditional deal, Dylan Carlson was dealt to Tampa for Shawn Armstrong.
Fangraphs took a dim view of this and re-ranked the overall Cardinal system down from 17th to 21st in MLB. The pattern of slow decline accelerated as they moved toward the bottom. The Cardinals didn’t have a ton of promotions from AAA that year, so I take from this re-rank that FG had a very dim view of the 2024 Cardinal draft, as well. This isn’t a draft recap, but in retrospect, it appears that only one player from that draft may be impactful (a guy named Wetherholt). Reminder that they did not have a second-round draft pick due to a free agent signing.
The 2025 trades
In looking at this, what I realize is that the first meaningful moves toward rebuilding the prospect pipeline began to happen in July, 2025. Along with the 2025 draft (too soon to evaluate):
Ryan Helseley was traded for Jesus Baez, Nate Dohn and Frank Ellisalt.
Steven Matz was traded to Boston for Blaze Jordan.
Phil Maton was traded to Texas for Mason Molina.
In some combination of draft, IFA and trade acquisitions, the 2025 changes resulted in Fangraphs re-ranking the Cardinal MiLB pipeline from 21st the year prior to 2nd in late 2025. Quite a jump. Then we had the 2025-2026 off-season which saw:
Sonny Gray traded to Boston for Brandon Clarke and Richard Fitts.
Willson Contreras was traded to Boston for Hunter Dobbins, Blake Aita, Yoiker Fajardo
Nolan Arenado was traded to Arizona for Jack Martinez.
In a 3-way trade, Brendan Donovan was sent to Seattle and the Cardinals received Jurrangelo Cijntje, Tai Peete, Colton Ledbetter and a Comp-B pick in the 2026 draft (which became Andrew Williamson).
The 2026 trades
2026 ended up being a fairly quiet year for in-season trades, but was a return to the 2023 priority of enhancing the prospect base.
Dustin May and JoJo Romero were dealt to Milwaukee for Josiah Ragsdale and Alexander Frias.
Lars Nootbaar was dealt to Arizona for Daniel Eagen, Sandro Santana and ultimately (PTBNL) Brian Curley.
The net of these last transactions and graduations (of which there were many) has moved the Cardinals from #2 to #4 on the Fangraphs system rankings, which isn’t concerning given that JJ Wetherholt was among the players falling off the prospect list. What this tells me is that even though a player like Wetherholt fell off, the Cardinals were able to acquire enough new talent via trades and draft to maintain a place among the elite systems, even with Wetherholt graduating.
What can we take from all this?
What can we learn from this series of deals? Well, I suppose one could conclude that Boston and Arizona liked the Cardinals MLB roster better than StL did, and StL liked the Red Sox and Dbacks farm systems better than Boston and Arizona did.
We can observe that the vast majority of talent acquired was of the pitching variety. The later trades (particular this trade deadline) we start to see a shift towards acquiring position players such as Arias and Ragsdale. We can also observe that most of acquired players do not require 40-man protection yet. These are not random outcomes. It was planned this way.
For the most part, I take this whole sequence of trades as confirmation that the talent portion of the rebuild didn’t really begin until the middle of 2025 and gained steam with the POBO transition that occurred later that year. Certainly, the rebuild of the front office, particularly the player develop org began a year or so earlier. But not the talent. My own personal assessment is that the Cardinals have really only accomplished rebuilding the pitching side of the roster and have yet to fully address the position player side. They aren’t without talent or prospects, but I’m not sure they have enough.
Hence, all the questions around Catcher, Thirdbase, Centerfield, etc. I think it possible that they believe the young group of position players they already have, plus the few that are coming might be enough, but I tend to doubt it. Along with teams can’t have enough pitching, they also can’t have enough position players who can hit and they don’t yet have that abundance like they appear to possess on the pitching side. The current situation leaves them too vulnerable to one or two key position prospects flaming out and ruining the whole transition. I believe they will want more and suspect they will have to deal off the MLB roster to get there, as they did on the pitching side.
Shohei Ohtani strikes out with a runner on third base during the seventh inning of the Dodgers' 6-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4 of the NLCS at Dodger Stadium on Thursday night. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Two things can be true: The Dodgers’ season ended prematurely and, for Shohei Ohtani, the offseason couldn’t come soon enough.
Thursday’s elimination — a no-doubt-about-it sweep at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers, who vanquished the Dodgers in the same fashion Ohtani and Co. had summarily eliminated them last season — was apparently the only way to get the two-way superstar out of the lineup.
Now he can get some much-needed rest and recovery, a reality check and, possibly, some surgical procedures to repair the knee and biceps injuries that plagued him this season.
Ohtani didn’t rule anything out in his postgame scrum, several rows deep, in front of his locker after the Dodgers’ 6-4 defeat in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series.
“Hard to tell at this point,” the 32-year-old Ohtani said in Japanese, via interpreter Will Ireton. “It’s something that’s going to be analyzed, discussed over the offseason, and see if that’s a viable thing to do.”
Hopefully, for the Dodgers’ sake and for baseball’s, Ohtani and his team will see their way to a reasonable load management plan. Hopefully they’ll find a viable injury management strategy.
Especially if he continues to pitch, as Ohtani said he plans to: “Yes, definitely, and looking forward to having a better season.”
Hopefully this bumpy season — his first as a Dodger to end short of the championship following the 2024 and 2025 title runs — will make Ohtani better. Wiser. More willing to listen to his body and to communicate what it’s telling him with the ball club that relies on him so much.
“I’ll always trust Shohei,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “He’s the best player on the planet, and he’s not completely healthy. But I just give him a lot of respect for not running from it, still wanting to participate, still wanting to play when he’s not 100%.”
But hopefully when Ohtani’s knee barks next time, he won’t pitch through it. Hopefully when his right arm tightens up, he’ll step out of the box. Even — or especially — if it takes longer than a 15-day IL stint to make him right.
Hopefully he’s learned that irrespective of a sense of duty or pride or a selfish streak, the cold-hitting fact is that a compromised version of Ohtani leaves the Dodgers’ whole team — a $400 million investment — compromised, as it was this postseason.
“I don’t really want to take it for granted for the opportunity to be able to play with these guys,” Ohtani said. “But honestly, I think I’m just very disappointed.”
In eight playoff games against the Atlanta Braves and Brewers, Ohtani hit .192 (five for 26). He struck out 10 times. He didn’t get an extra-base hit or drive in a run until Thursday, in the season finale, which reminded us of Ohtani’s power — he walloped his first home run since Aug. 18, a three-run missile in the second inning that traveled 428 feet — and his pain.
Roberts looked, for a moment, like a genius for continuing to keep Ohtani in the lineup — and to pencil him in as the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter after batting him sixth on Wednesday.
For that one shining moment.
Shohei Ohtani celebrates after hitting a three-run home run in the second inning of the Dodgers' 6-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4 of the NLCS on Thursday night at Dodger Stadium. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
But Ohtani also struck out three times Thursday — made to look foolish in a much-too-familiar way.
The Dodgers needed a healthy Ohtani to deal with a young, hungry ballclub like the Brewers.
To have a chance against a team that was, as Dodgers utility man Kiké Hernández said, “almost playing perfect baseball,” they needed him dialed in and not tinkering, not staying late searching.
They need the version of him that delivered the perfect game a year ago, his three-home-run, 10-strikeout masterpiece that sent Milwaukee home in Game 4 of the NLCS.
“Ohtani is arguably the best player in the world,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said.
“He’s proven that to us. He had the greatest game I’ve ever seen played by an individual player last year against us.”
The Dodgers need that guy striking fear into opponents. Not him striking out, or getting stranded helplessly on base.
Shohei Ohtani tosses his bat after hitting a three-run home run against the Milwaukee Brewers during the Dodgers' 6-4 loss in Game 4 of the NLCS on Thursday at Dodger Stadium. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
And they got a glimpse of that guy Thursday with that second-inning home run, a shot that had him throwing his arms up and screaming toward his dugout, as emotive as we’ve seen him, relieved and exulting after giving the Dodgers a 4-0 lead — and a fleeting expectation that they’d play a Game 5 on Friday.
“It was a lot of pent-up anger, frustration,” Roberts said. “It was the best ball he hit in probably two, three months, and it was a big hit.”
“It was like,” Max Muncy said, “that’s the swing we’ve been waiting for.”
Now we all wait for baseball to return — and then to learn what this season taught Ohtani, one of the most unique athletes in the history of the game.
“Not quite satisfied with how things shaped up on the pitching side at the end of the year,” Ohtani said. “... I haven’t been able to really come to grips in terms of what I’ve learned overall. It’s something that I’m going to kind of go back to the drawing board in terms of treatment, training program, and see what I can come up with for next season.”
Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia reacts after giving up a bases-loaded walk that tied the score in the fifth inning of a 6-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4 of the NLCS at Dodger Stadium on Thursday night. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
The Dodgers’ offseason began at 8:07 Thursday night. Heavily favored to win a third straight World Series, they were swept into winter by the Milwaukee Brewers.
The final score doesn’t really matter, but for the record it was 6-4 Brewers. It wasn’t really that close.
The Dodgers led in every game of the National League Championship Series. They didn’t win any of them. No team has ever done that while getting swept in a best-of-seven series. So while the Dodgers didn’t three-peat, they made history just the same.
“They were relentless with everything that they did,” Dodgers infielder Max Muncy said of the Brewers. “They just strung together good at-bat after good at-bat. That’s usually what we do.
The Dodgers’ starting rotation, the most expensive in history, gave up 16 hits and 13 runs in 18 innings for a 6.50 earned-run average. The bullpen was nearly as bad, posting a 4.50 ERA in 16 innings.
The Brewers’ relievers, on the other hand, were spectacular. Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy went to his bullpen 14 times and just twice did a reliever give up a run. All four victories against the Dodgers and all seven Brewers wins this postseason have gone to a reliever, with the bullpen posting a 1.33 ERA in 40⅔ innings.
“Pitcher after pitcher came in and executed,” Muncy said. “When one of their pitchers faltered, the next guy came in and picked up the slack.”
And each time the Dodgers took a lead, the Brewers waited no more than two innings to cut into the deficit. Milwaukee trailed 4-0 after two innings Thursday. By the top of the fifth, the score was tied. An inning later, the Brewers went ahead to stay, becoming the first team ever with six comeback wins in their first eight postseason games.
“They respond,” Murphy said of his players. “We’ve talked about it all year long. You have a bad week, you have a bad game, you have a bad at-bat, you bounce back.”
“I love the Dodgers. I love their players. They’ve got legendary players,” he continued. “But we came in with a group that would not be denied. They were hungry, very hungry.”
The two-time defending champion Dodgers, meanwhile, appeared to be full. They hit with runners in scoring position as often as they hit into double plays, going four for 27 and stranding 24.
“We had our opportunities. We just didn’t get the job done,” first baseman Freddie Freeman said. “We won two [titles]. We came up short on the third.
Milwaukee's Garrett Mitchell, right, celebrates with Cooper Pratt after hitting the go-ahead home run in the sixth inning of a 6-4 win over the Dodgers in Game 4 of the NLCS on Thursday night. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
“There’s a lot of hurt at the end of the season. Sometimes you just get beat. That’s just kind of how it goes. You have to give credit to the Brewers. They played really good baseball.”
A year ago the Dodgers swept the Brewers in the NLCS. This fall the results were reversed.
“The sadness is we just didn’t accomplish our goal,” Muncy said. “The goal every year is to be the last team standing. This year we had a chance to do something historic, and we didn’t accomplish it. And every single time you’re not the last team standing, it’s heartbreak and it’s failure and it’s not what you’re looking for.”
The Dodgers’ clubhouse was closed for more than 35 minutes after the game, partly to process that heartbreak but also to give manager Dave Roberts and veteran infielder Miguel Rojas, who announced his retirement, a chance to address the team. When the doors finally opened, nearly every player was sitting in front of his locker, most still in uniform, waiting to explain what seemed to be inexplicable.
How did the greatest team money can buy wind up so flat when the stakes were so high?
“We’ve been grinding all season long,” said right-hander Tyler Glasnow, who retired the first 10 Brewers in order, but lasted just one more inning. “No one slacked off at all. Everyone just came in and worked hard. They just played a lot better than us. They were hitting on everything. It wasn’t our year.”
“Not every time it’s gonna be us,” left fielder Teoscar Hernández added through a forced smile. “It’s not fair for us to be doing the same thing over and over every year. Teams are going to learn from their losses the same way we’re gonna learn from this one.
“So hopefully we come back next year stronger.”
Speaking of next year, no one would.
Half the players on the Dodgers 26-man NLCS roster are on expiring contracts. The core of the team — Mookie Betts, Freeman, Muncy, Kiké Hernández and Teoscar Hernández along with pitchers Blake Snell and Glasnow — are 33 or older. The Dodgers could look very different when spring training starts — if spring training starts — in February.
“There’ll come a time when we think about next year,” Muncy said. “But that’s not right at this moment.”
The Dodgers have an extra-long winter to get through first.
(Photo illustration by Tate Rudisill / Los Angeles Times; photos by Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times, Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times, Chris Szagola / Associated Press, Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)
There was supposed to be more champagne, a trophy to raise, and the first World Series three-peat by a National League team to jot down in the history books.
Instead, the Dodgers ran into the team with the best regular-season record. And the Milwaukee Brewers proved they weren’t just some plucky underdog anymore, as they felled a giant on their way to the World Series.
“This is a special group,” veteran third baseman Max Muncy said Thursday night in a solemn clubhouse. “It’s kind of hard to put into words how much this hurts right now. We all know what we did out there; we didn’t play well. But for three years straight, we left it all out there. The train finally ran out of steam, I guess. It just sucks.”
An autopsy of the ousted Dodgers, taken down in a four-game sweep in the National League Championship Series, would reveal several weaknesses — aging stars, Shohei Ohtani’s nagging ailments, an offense that never quite clicked against the Brewers’ overwhelming pitching staff.
Maybe, however, it’s simpler than all that.
Maybe, as Muncy said, the Dodgers just ran out of steam.
“We’ve seen how difficult it is to repeat,” said Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, when they clinched the NL West title. “It’s even more difficult to do it three in a row. We know everyone is coming for us, and we get that. So for us it’s about putting our heads down and doing everything we can to win — hopefully it’s 11 games in October.”
They won three.
“I personally told our guys that there’s no apologies, there’s no sorries,” manager Dave Roberts said. “We gave it everything we had, and it wasn’t good enough. That’s part of life.”
A major aspect of the challenge is simply workload. The Dodgers not only have played more games than any other team the last two years, but their schedule has included grueling travel.
The Dodgers started both the 2024 and 2025 seasons early and overseas, playing in the Seoul Series and Tokyo Series in consecutive years. And both years ended with coast-to-coast travel for the World Series, as the Dodgers won titles over the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays.
The team’s collective age — the Dodgers carried the oldest lineup in the majors this year, according to Baseball Reference, weighted by at-bats and games played — may not have helped. But the roster was deep enough for the Dodgers to absorb injuries in the regular season and still win 100 games.
The Dodgers had mostly returned to health by the postseason, when experience was expected to be an advantage.
“This group, we’ve been through a lot together,” veteran first baseman Freddie Freeman said. “Been all over the world together. Done some really, really cool things in this game together. But we came up short on the three-peat.
“But we’ll keep our heads high, knowing we accomplished some cool stuff and get back at it.”
While Freeman seemed to overcome the knee tendinitis that flared in September, with treatment and a little extra rest, Ohtani still didn’t look like himself entering the playoffs.
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani celebrates after hitting a three-run home run in the second inning against the Brewers in Game 4 of the NLCS on Thursday at Dodger Stadium. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
The Dodgers tend to be proactive in their approach to injuries in the regular season. But as Ohtani battled nagging pain in his left knee and a recurring problem with his right biceps, the team didn’t shut down his attempts to return to pitching until the end of August. And they didn’t put him on the injured list until early September.
The two sides appeared to still be ironing out their lines of communication through the process. Should Ohtani have been more transparent about what he was feeling? Should the Dodgers have taken the decision of whether to keep playing out of his hands?
The lack of clarity on the root of his ailments complicated the balancing act on both sides. And regardless of who should take more of the blame, the result was the same: a compromised version of Ohtani entered the postseason.
It’s not fair to blame the Dodgers’ offensive woes on one player, but his struggles transformed the lineup, even as Roberts dropped him in the batting order to mitigate the effects — up until the last game, when he batted leadoff and hit his first home run in nearly two months.
The Dodgers’ trade deadline acquisition of two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal covered the loss of Ohtani in the rotation. But there was no replacing him on offense.
“I haven’t been able to really come to grip in terms of what I’ve learned overall this season,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. “It’s something that I’m going to kind of go back to the drawing board in terms of treatment, training program. and see what I can come up with for next season.”
With Ohtani struggling, the juggernaut Dodgers looked beatable. And the Brewers rebounded from being swept last year by the Dodgers in the NLCS, to put together a more complete team that not only could win 103 games in the regular season, but also sustain a deep postseason run.
“I’ve watched all their interviews,” Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell said earlier this week. “I’ve noticed how they talk. A lot of one-on-one competition is like a key for them. Even the way that Pat [Murphy] talks and how he talks to the team is way different than last year.”
The underdog schtick from the year before had faded. This time, the Brewers played like they expected to win.
“They played much better than we did,” infielder Miguel Rojas said in Spanish. “It’s a team that has been consistent throughout the year. They deserve it. Congratulations to the Milwaukee Brewers, to that entire organization. They deserve to be in this position. They’re a team that has been special throughout the entire year.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 09: New York Yankees ss, Derek Jeter, gives Manager Joe Torre a champagne shower after winning the 2000 ALDS on October 09, 2000 in New York. (Steve Crandall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 1990s Yankees can rest a little easier after last night, as the two-time defending champion Dodgers were officially eliminated by the Milwaukee Brewers in a convincing sweep. It was a complete reversal of last year’s NLCS, as the Brew Crew exacted revenge for getting swept back then while making history in the process. Now that there will be no more attempt at a three-peat, the dynasty Yankees remain the only team in MLB history to have accomplished this feat in the last half-century, and the chances of their run ending any time soon grow incredibly small considering how long it took for a repeat champion to even emerge.
We’ve got a full schedule ahead of us for today, starting with Andrew going over all the ups and downs of that thrilling conclusion to the NLCS alongside the Guardians picking up the win in the ALCS. John goes over some of the most egregious errors the Yankees made defensively this season, Jonathan takes us back to the days of Tim McCarver on his birthday, Josh ponders the Yankees’ impending free agent class, Jeremy relives the biggest surprises of the season, and Andres evaluates Brian Cashman’s work in 2026 to close out the afternoon slate.
Today’s Playoff Matchups:
American League Championship Series Game 4 (Cleveland leads, 2-1)
Cleveland Guardians vs. Tampa Bay Rays (TBD vs. RHP Nick Martinez)
Time: 8:00 p.m. EST
TV: TBS/HBO Max/truTV
Venue: Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
Questions/Prompts:
1. With the news that the Yankees reportedly aren’t going to offer Jazz Chisholm Jr. the qualifying offer, is that curtains on his time in the Bronx? Is there any chance he re-signs in free agency?
2. Now that the Brewers have made it back to the World Series for the first time since 1982, how good are their odds to win it all against Tampa or Cleveland?
Every yea, all the NBA general managers are given 48 questions in an annual survey about their predictions on the new season. This year is a special occasion as it is the 25th anniversary of the survey. These questions range from best teams, players, coaches, offseason moves and more. The Celtics show up a good amount in this year’s survey, so lets go over it.
Standings Predictions
Starting in the predictions portion of the survey, we have the Eastern Conference standings predictions. With 60% of the vote, the GMs predicted that the New York Knicks would be the first place in the East. This was followed by the new look Philadelphia 76ers in second place and the Cleveland Cavaliers in third. The Boston Celtics find themselves as the fourth best team in the East with 27% of the voters predicting them to finish there. This ranking is an improvement from last year’s survey where the Celtics finished eighth. Boston only received a 7% chance to finish in first place at the top of the East, tied with Cleveland.
Via 2026-27 NBA GM Survey
Coaching
Out of all the categories in the survey, coaching was the one that saw the Celtics appear the most. When asked which head coach was the best manager/motivator, Joe Mazzulla was tied for first place in the voting along with Warriors head coach Steve Kerr and Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra at 23%. When it comes to which head coach makes the best in game adjustments, Mazzulla was voted in fifth place at 7% of the vote while Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle was number one at 30%.
Mazzulla also received votes in the categories of which head coach runs the best offense and the best defensive schemes. The craziest thing to me is out of all the things Joe Mazzulla was voted for, the reigning Coach of the Year in the NBA received zero votes for the best coach in the NBA. Although if you asked Joe, I don’t think he would care.
Via 2026-27 NBA GM Survey
When asked who the best assistant coach in the NBA was, Sam Cassell finished tied for 5th place at 7% while former Celtics senior consultant and current Clippers assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy finished first with 17% of the vote. Cassell has been seen as a hot head coach candidate in the NBA for a while now and has been with Boston since 2023 so its cool to see him get respect from around the league.
When asked which active player will make the best head coach someday, Celtics guard Mike Conley was the winner by a big margin, finishing with 50% of the votes while Derrick White also received votes. Conley was brought in to Boston to be a veteran presence for the young guys on this team and has gotten glowing reviews from every player and coach so far. He also seems to have a great relationship with Payton Pritchard and that is a dynamic I can’t wait to see this season.
Via 2026-27 NBA GM Survey
Players
Next up we have the players portion of the survey where the GMs were asked to name their MVP pick, breakout candidates, and the best player at each position. For MVP, the Spurs Victor Wembanyama is an overwhelming favorite, finishing with 77% of the vote. Nikola Jokic and Anthony Edwards followed him in the rankings but we also saw Jayson Tatum received votes as well.
Coming back from his torn Achilles last season, Tatum looked just as good as he did before the injury, averaging 21.8 points, 10 rebounds, and 5.3 assists in 16 games played last year. This season, Tatum said he had a full offseason of rest and recovery and with Jaylen Brown being traded, we could realistically see Jayson Tatum take a run at the MVP.
Via 2026-27 NBA GM Survey
When asked “Which player is likely to have a breakout season in 2026-27,” the Spurs young guard Dylan Harper was voted number one with 27% of the vote. There was a tie for second place between Maine native and Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg, Raptors forward Collin-Murray Boyles, the Rockets guard Amen Thompson, and Thunder guard Cason Wallace at 17%.
Payton Pritchard was also recognized. Pritchard is coming off a career season last year with career highs of 17.0 points, 5.2 assists, and 3.9 rebounds in 79 games between starting and coming off of the bench. He was also just awarded with a contract extension of 2 years and $44.2 million on October 13th, showing the Celtics strengthened belief in the guard. There is a chance we could see Pritchard running away with the Most Improved Player Award this year and maybe even take a leap into being an All-Star in 2027.
Via 2026-27 NBA GM Survey
In the position rankings portion of the survey, when asked who the best small forward in the NBA was, it was a tight battle between Jayson Tatum and Luka Doncic of the Los Angles Lakers. Sadly, Doncic was voted the favorite at 37% while Tatum finished with 33%. Tatum did also receive votes for the best power forward in the NBA, but that was dominated by new Miami Heat star Giannis Antetokounmpo at 70%.
Via 2026-27 NBA GM Survey
Offseason Moves
When it comes to offseason moves, it feels right the Boston appears a lot throughout this section in one way or another. Boston received some votes when it came to which team made the best offseason moves overall with former Celtic and current 76er Jaylen Brown being voted as the second best player when it comes to making an impact on their new team. Paul George did not receive any votes for any of the categories, which is a little disappointing because he could make a real impact for Boston this season.
The question that was the most interesting to me in this section was the most underrated player acquisition of the offseason. In that ranking, Mitchell Robinson finished in second place with 17% of the vote, only beat of by Tobias Harris of the Spurs at 20% of the vote. Robinson signed with the Celtics back in July after spending 8 seasons with the New York Knicks and even winning a championship with them in 2026. In 60 games last year Robinson finished with averages of 5.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks while being a major presence on the glass and finished 8th in Sixth Man of the Year Voting. We have seen Robinson’s impact on the Celtics throughout the preseason so far and baring any major injury, will be the defensive anchor of this team moving forward.
Via 2026-27 NBA GM Survey
Other Notable Mentions
Starting with the rookies and international portion, Chris Cenac Jr. was tied for fifth place with the Grizzlies Cameron Boozer, the Lakers Cameron Carr, the Warriors Yaxel Lendeborg, and the Bulls Caleb Wilson when it came to the biggest steal of the draft at 7%. The Milwaukee Bucks 30th overall pick Brayden Burries was voted number one at 30%.
Cenac Jr. was the 27th overall pick by Boston out of Houston and it was a surprise that he fell that far. In his freshman season at Houston, Cenac Jr. averaged 9.5 points and 7.9 rebounds in 37 games. At only 19 years old, he has a chance to develop into a legit piece for the Celtics moving forward, especially with Boston’s reputation at developing big men in Big Fella University.
Via 2026-27 NBA GM Survey
When it comes to defense, Derrick White received votes in the category of best perimeter defender in the NBA but no other Celtics appeared on the list in any category. In the miscellaneous section, the Celtics finished in fourth place when it came to which team was going to have the leagues most efficient offense at 13%. Boston also received some votes in the category most fun team to watch but didn’t get any votes for best home court advantage. Finally, Jayson Tatum got some votes when it came to the best leader in the NBA while Jalen Brunson of the Knicks finished number one at 53%.
Via 2026-27 NBA GM Survey
Takeaways
The biggest takeaway I have from the 2026-27 NBA GM Survey is that almost everyone believes there are maybe four contenders in the NBA: the Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks, Antonio Spurs, and Oklahoma City Thunder. Almost every category had one of those four teams as the number one answer.
In a way, it feels like other great teams like the Celtics are getting outshined a little bit. It makes sense in a way but I feel like we will look back on these answers next year and laugh at some of these answers.
For the Celtics, I definitely think they are getting underrated by the league as a whole. Not being voted for almost any defensive categories seems really weird given they were the fourth best defense in the NBA last year in defensive rating and added George and Robinson alongside White who was on the All Defensive 1st Team. I guess just like last season, no one really knows what to expect from Boston, and I hope it works in their advantage to sneak up on teams once again.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 3: Samuel Girard #49 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates with the puck in the second period during the game against the Montreal Canadiens at PPG PAINTS Arena on October 3, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here are your Pens Points for this Friday morning…
The Penguins’ top line of Sidney Crosby, Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell has struggled to produce offense and has been a defensive liability early in the season. Crosby scored twice in Tuesday’s 5-3 loss to Chicago for his first goals of the season, but Rakell remains without a goal. What options does Dan Muse have to try and get this first line out of the dumps? [PensBurgh]
Penguins defenseman Sam Girard, meanwhile, is off to a stronger start this season after overcoming injuries and becoming more comfortable in Pittsburgh’s system. The 28-year-old is producing offensively and playing with greater confidence after a difficult transition period following last season’s trade. [Trib Live]
News and notes from around the NHL…
Detroit Red Wings owner Chris Ilitch has acknowledged fans’ frustration with the team after they booed players and chanted “Sell the team!” during the first few games of the season. [Sportsnet]
Arizona State has hired former NHL head coach Dave Hakstol to lead its men’s hockey program as the university investigates a workout that left 21-year-old defenseman Matthew Mayich on life support. Former coach Greg Powers has agreed to leave the program after being placed on administrative leave. [Associated Press]
The Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired forward Aatu Raty from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forwards Brandon Buhr and Jacob Quillan. [TSN]
The Los Angeles Kings are among the teams exploring a trade for Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. Kings general manager Ken Holland has reportedly gauged the asking price, but Los Angeles is weighing whether to part with a 2027 or 2028 first-round pick amid a slow start. [Sportsnet]
LSU is back for week 2 of fall baseball with another set of scrimmages on deck. Day 1 was on Thursday evening and there was plenty of important info to take from the 6 innings.
Before we get going, I’ll list off the lineups for each team and who pitched. We’ll then transition to some bullet point notes.
Lineups
Gold (visitors)
1.) 2B – Malachi Washington
2.) RF – Angel Laya
3.) C – Omar Serna
4.) DH – Lucas Nawrocki
5.) 1B – Mason Braun
6.) 3B – John Pearson
7.) LF – Jack Ruckert
8.) SS – Parker Loew
9.) CF – William Patrick
SP – William Schmidt
RP – Zion Theophilus
RP – Bradyn Cupit
Purple (home)
1.) DH – Jason Wachs
2.) 3B – Dawson Park
3.) LF – Dominic Santarelli
4.) C – Cade Arrambide
5.) SS – Steven Milam
6.) 2B – Cade Kurland
7.) CF – Nate Davis-Cleary
8.) RF – Eddie Yamin
9.) 1B – Dylan Minnatee
SP – Cooper Sides
RP – Jonah Aase
RP – Jordan Martinez
RP – Ethan Plog
Scrimmage notes
Both starting pitchers were great. Threw a ton of strikes and looked untouchable outside of one swing.
Cooper Sides final line: 3.0 IP / 1 H / 4 K / 1 BB / 35 pitches (25 strikes, 71%)
Sides once again flashed a 3-pitch mix including a fastball up to 96, along with a slider in the mid-80s and a curveball in the mid-70s. It looked like he started to wear down in his third inning, walking William Patrick on only 5 pitches, but he locked back in to battle through. His fastball velocity was down around 94 by the end, but that’s two phenomenal performances through the first two weeks of fall ball for the incoming freshman. It’s easy to see why folks made such a big deal about him passing on the MLB draft to come to LSU.
William Schmidt final line: 2.0 IP / 0 H / 4 K / 0 BB / 27 pitches (19 strikes, 70%)
Schmidt struck out the side looking in his first inning of work. Also showed a 3, possibly even a 4-pitch mix. Fastball was up as high as 97, but the intriguing pitch was an 89-90 mph cutter/slider. We saw him throw a hard slider in the mid 80s last year and a curveball even slower than that, so I’m not exactly sure what it is. It looks good, though, and could take his growth to the next level. Through two performances, though extremely early, he looks as if he can challenge for the Friday night role.
Lucas Nawrocki had a great night and has been the only player to get a solid barrel on Sides through the first two weeks. He blasted a near 400 foot homerun in to the Diamond Deck in right field on a slider. The freshman has true two-way capabilities according to Jay Johnson and we got to see the hitting side on Thursday night.
Nate Davis-Cleary’s speed was on full display once again. He laid down a sacrifice bunt with runners on 1st and 2nd that was perfectly placed between the 3rd base line and the grass of the infield. His speed forced a rushed throw from John Pearson that was off target, allowing a run to score. On the very first pitch of the next at-bat, he stole 2nd without a throw. His speed is a weapon.
Zion Theophilus continued to look improved. He was up to 94 with a filthy slider. It looks like it has potential as one of the best pitches on the staff if he can present it well. His first inning of work was one of the innings that they placed two runners on base to start the inning and after both moved up to 2nd and 3rd, he struck out the side to prevent a single run from scoring. Command slipped in his second inning, but otherwise looked pretty good.
After a super impressive 3-inning performance in his first mound time in 2 years, Jonah Aase came back to earth a little. He was falling behind hitters in his first inning of work, while throwing a lot of offspeed. His second inning was much better, though. The command issues are to be expected for a guy coming back from elbow surgery and not having thrown for so long. Expect more up and down performances as he continues to shake off the rust.
Dawson Park at 3rd base is a luxury. He has all of the talent and ability to start at shortstop, but will likely be at 3rd due to Steven Milam.
Dominic Santarelli is faster than you may think. While he’s massive, he’s athletic and can move. He turned a routine single in to right-center field in to a double with his hustle.
Angel Laya got jammed on a fastball and still hit it just short of the warning track in center field. I’m excited to see more of his power potential. He started in RF, but later moved to CF and that’s when he crashed in to the wall very hard in left-center trying to chase down a ball that hit off of the wall. The thud was very loud and he stayed on the ground for about a minute, sending Head Trainer Isaac Trujillo out to check on him. He got up, walked it off, and stayed in for the rest of the inning, but stayed out of the game for the final inning. He looks like a tough kid.
Malachi Washington has a cannon. He, again, moved to 3rd base after playing the first 4 innings at 2nd. He fielded a slower grounder that called for a stronger throw and he gunned it over right in to John Pearson’s chest, who was then at 1st. He added a hard hit opposite field single later.
Dylan Minnatee is the one who hit the ball that sent Laya in to the wall. It was a rope to the opposite gap and he turned it in to a triple. While his path to the field may be tough during his freshman season, he’s an intriguing player that was one of the lesser-talked about incoming freshman.
John Pearson hit a ball that still may not have landed. He teed off and hit a bomb that just missed to the left of the scoreboard. If it had been about 10 feet to the right, it would have hit the top of the scoreboard. It was a 3-run blast, giving him 4 RBIs on the night.
Jordan Martinez got beat up pretty good tonight. He is another two-way player, reaching up to 94 mph with his fastball. He both pitched and hit last week, so I’d expect him to swing a bat on Friday. His talent is noticeable, though.
Jack Ruckert played much of the night in the outfield, which I find very interesting. With the large influx of infielders, we’ll have to keep an eye out on if this is just temporary to get him on the field for scrimmages or if it’s something they’re testing as a possibility to find more ways to get him on the field in 2027. He’s been swinging a hot bat through the first two weeks and had a great battle with Martinez tonight. Ruckert fouled off 4 straight 3-2 pitches before earning a walk.
Parker Loew and William Patrick both executed perfect hit-and-runs with line drives through gaps on the infield. Loew’s was much-needed after he made an error on a routine groundball at shortstop that allowed a run to score.
Bradyn Cupit worked 2 innings and while he allowed 2 runs in his first inning, he was much improved in his second. He went straight at Cade Arrambide, Steven Milam, and Cade Kurland for a 1-2-3 inning.
Ethan Plog came in for the 7th and after striking out Davis-Cleary, things went a little awry. He gave up the single to Washington, then walked Serna and hit Nawrocki, which is when Johnson called the game.
Defensive movements
Yamin LF to C
Minnatee 1B to LF
Santarellig LF to 1B
Washington 2B to 3B to CF
Davis-Cleary CF to RF
Ruckert LF to 2B to RF
Pearson 3B to 1B
Braun 1B to LF
Laya RF to CF
Player of the night
Lucas Nawrocki finished 2-2 with the 2-run HR, a single, a walk, and a hit by pitch. The homerun was even more impressive considering how good Cooper Sides has been through two appearances.
Next up
LSU will play two more scrimmages this weekend. Friday at 6 pm and Sunday at 4 pm. As always, entry and parking are free to the public. Entry is at gate 2 behind home plate, which opens 15 minutes before first pitch. I will be back out there on Friday for more play by play. Follow me on X @DCBilliotJr to keep up with the action!
