Posts

Posted on

Knicks’ magical NBA title run a once-in-a-lifetime event for New York fans

In order to understand the street-shaking eruption and unified joy that enveloped New York when the Knicks won the NBA title on Saturday night, you have to consider everything that came before it. 

Even though it became clear over the last several seasons that the Knicks winning it all for the first time since 1973 was at least a possibility, it actually happening has altered the brain chemistry of the city. 

Despite the belief that it could happen, there were still looks of disbelief on many people's faces when it actually did.

Now let's rewind for a bit to remember how the Knicks got here...

There was triumph (twice) in the 1970s, some modest playoff success in the early 1980s, the arrival of Patrick Ewing that eventually made the Knicks a title contender again in the 1990s, and then two decades of near-irrelevance, with the only positive blip during that time being the Carmelo Anthony years that maxed out in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 2013.

As someone who grew up on the 90s Knicks, my early fandom was pockmarked by the near misses of a tough, resilient team, and the fact that Michael Jordan and the Bulls were almost always standing in the way.

There was 1993-94, when the Knicks took a 3-2 NBA Finals lead to Houston but couldn't stop Hakeem Olajuwon (who got his hand on John Starks' potential title-winning shot at the end of Game 6).

There were Reggie Miller's eight points at the end of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Pacers, and New York's loss in Game 7 of that series when Ewing's finger roll just wouldn't go down.

I thought the 1996-97 Knicks would've had a real chance to take down Jordan's Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals, but they didn't get there because their roster was decimated by suspensions after a fight P.J. Brown of the Heat started at the end of Game 5 in the semifinals. 

The 1998-99 run to the Finals was incredible, but the Knicks never really stood a chance going up against the Spurs' Tim Duncan and David Robinson without the injured Ewing.

From the point the Knicks lost the title in 1999 until their recent run of serious contention in 2022-23, New York bringing a title back to the Garden felt like a pipe dream.

Then Jalen Brunson arrived and changed everything.

Jun 10, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) reacts in the fourth quarter against the San Antonio Spurs during game four of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden.
Jun 10, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) reacts in the fourth quarter against the San Antonio Spurs during game four of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. / Brad Penner - Imagn Images

And when it started to feel possible that the Knicks had something special brewing, Brunson sacrificed $113 million dollars in order to help Leon Rose keep building around him.

As the Brunson Knicks started to ascend, in came Josh Hart and OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges. By the end of this regular season, with their core surrounded by a tremendous supporting cast and led by head coach Mike Brown, it felt like it could finally be the Knicks' time.

But at the start of the playoffs, even after the Knicks proved over the last several seasons that they had what it took to be a serious contender, they were still doubted.

The Celtics and Cavaliers had better NBA title odds than New York when the playoffs began, with it feeling especially absurd that Cleveland's odds were better.

After the Knicks dispatched the Hawks in the first round, it was "the 76ers aren't Atlanta, how will the Knicks stop Tyrese Maxey?"

After the Knicks swept the Sixers, it was "the Cavaliers are a different animal."

After the Knicks steamrolled the Cavs, it was "the Eastern Conference was weak -- the Western Conference Finals are the real NBA Finals."

But this Knicks team was deep, united, and super talented. Most of all, they were selfless and impossible to keep down. They had proven by the point they reached the Finals against the Spurs (and months before, really, as I wrote after covering their close loss to the Thunder on March 5) that they could beat anyone. 

And they did.

Jun 13, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) celebrates with his teammates after the Knicks defeat the San Antonio Spurs during game five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center.
Jun 13, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) celebrates with his teammates after the Knicks defeat the San Antonio Spurs during game five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. / Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

During the Finals against the Spurs, anywhere you went in the city became a watch party. 

It wasn't just the overflowing bars. It was the gas station/burger joint showing the game as hundreds of people gathered in the street. It was the game being projected onto the side of a building in the West Village as throngs filled the streets below.

The partying, jubilation, and incredible scenes we've witnessed in every neighborhood in the city have been a sight to behold. But it's the togetherness and unity of the people celebrating that has been the most special aspect of all of this.

It's the strangers hugging one another. Ecstatic fans helping the sanitation workers do their job after the clincher. People from all walks of life dancing with each other in an incredible spectacle of spontaneous community in the streets.

In a way, it's like the city is holding up a mirror to this Knicks team and vice versa. There is a certain attitude and swagger about New York City, it's true. But there's also togetherness. And it's been on display these last few weeks as millions have rallied around a team like never before.

That's because the Knicks are the only team that can truly unite the whole city.

The Mets and Yankees can't, because the fan allegiances are split. The same goes for the Jets and Giants. As far as the Rangers, their fans greatly outnumber Islanders supporters, but hockey is the clear fourth sport in the city.

The Knicks? They are New York City.

This moment? Once in a lifetime.

The Canyon of Heroes awaits.

Posted on

Yankees Birthday of the Day: Andy Pettitte

Oct 5, 2024; Bronx, New York, USA; Former New York Yankee Andy Pettitte throws the first pitch between the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals before the game during game one of the ALDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images

When putting together a team, general managers should have an eye on today, of course, but also on the long-term outlook of the franchise. Some players will be considered key cornerstones several years. Sometimes, teams can get a decade-plus of quality performance from a major leaguer if they are extremely lucky. In the specific case of Andy Pettitte and the Yankees, we are talking about 15 campaigns of steady, reliable play.

Not only did Pettitte post some really solid regular-season numbers over the course of his long career, but he also became a postseason hero who is at or near the top of multiple October leaderboards. A big part of the late-90s dynasty, the left-hander won five World Series with the Yankees, made three All-Star teams, and has a plaque in Monument Park..

For his invaluable contributions in numerous title-winning squads and his incredible consistency over the years, we ranked Pettitte tenth in our Top 100 Yankees list.

Born: June 15, 1972 (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
Yankees Tenure: 1995-2003, 2007-13

Pettitte was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 54 years ago, to parents Tommy and JoAnn Pettitte. His family moved to Texas when he was eight-years-old, which probably played a role in his decision many years later to leave the Yankees for the Houston Astros after the 2003 campaign. He grew up in the Lone Star State, attending Deer Park High School in Deer Park, Texas, where he started showing off his talent on the mound. Like many baseball players who made it to the bigs, he also showed promise in other sports. In Pettitte’s case, football, where he was an offensive and defensive lineman.

With the help and support of his father, Pettitte developed a love for baseball at a young age. He looked up to Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens as a young fan, and the latter would become a teammate and friend of his in the majors.

After graduating from high school, Pettitte went to San Jacinto College North in Houston, instead of a traditional four-year program. He lasted until the 22nd round of the 1990 MLB Draft, where the Yankees scooped him up, in part because everybody thought he would go to college. The left-hander never had top velocity and was considered “chunky,” “lumpy,” and “pudgy” at the time, per the Society of American Baseball Research (SABR).

Before joining the Yankees, he had an excellent year at San Jacinto College and, under the guidance of coach Wayne Graham, became more disciplined, gained strength, lost weight, and developed a sharp focus on the mound.

BBA-ORIOLES-YANKEES-PETTITTE-HEAT

Pettitte signed with the Yankees a year later, in 1991, and started his journey as a minor league pitcher, throwing a knuckleball that his new battery mate, Jorge Posada, couldn’t consistently catch. He developed in the Yankees’ minor league system until 1995, when he made his MLB debut. That year, he would unofficially become part of the Yankees’ emerging crew of talented homegrown players that would eventually be known as the “Core Four”: himself, Posada, Derek Jeter, and Mariano Rivera. Those four players would be the backbone of New York’s upcoming dynasty.

Between April 29 and May 13, 1995, Pettitte was used as a reliever with mixed results. Then, he got a chance to start in late May and never looked back, finishing third in the AL Rookie of the Year race. Little did he know that he was about to make history.

The following season, 1996, would probably be the most memorable of his career. He led the league in wins with 21, posted a 3.87 ERA, finished second in the AL Cy Young race, and helped the Yankees win the World Series for the first time since 1978, beating John Smoltz in Game Five.

The 1997 campaign was Pettitte’s best in pinstripes from a statistical angle. He posted a 2.88 ERA in the burgeoning steroids era, racked up 7.2 fWAR, and finished fifth in the AL Cy Young voting. The Yankees would exit the postseason against Cleveland, though.

In 1998, however, the Yankees would start a three-year run of winning every World Series with Pettitte as one of their aces. That year, he won the last game of the Fall Classic with 7.1 scoreless frames against the Padres.

In those three years from 1998 to 2000 that resulted in three straight championships, Pettitte posted a rather underwhelming 4.42 ERA, but was always available and raised the team’s floor. He saved his best for October, when the lights shone brightest: his 3.26 postseason ERA over that span was key to every one of the championships that made up the Yankee dynasty.

As you can imagine, the southpaw was a huge part of the late-1990s, early-2000s rivalry with the Boston Red Sox. He earned a win in the unforgettable 2003 AL Championship Series, helping the Yanks advance to the World Series, where he contributed a minuscule 0.57 ERA in a losing effort.

He wasn’t a part of the squad that inexplicably lost four straight games in the 2004 ALCS because he joined Roger Clemens in Houston as both Yankee hurlers signed with the Astros. For Pettitte, it was a homecoming, and it allowed him to play a World Series in front of his people, even though they lost to the Chicago White Sox.

After three seasons with the Astros, Pettitte returned ahead of the 2007 campaign. In 2008, he witnessed the final act of the old Yankee Stadium, as the Yankees missed out on postseason baseball. They would return to the grand stage in 2009, though, as Pettitte helped them win the Fall Classic with a 4.16 regular-season ERA and an even better 3.56 postseason ERA.

Pettitte initially announced his retirement in February 2011, spending a year away from the game before coming back to wrap up his career with a solid 2012 (2.87 ERA) and 2013 (3.74 ERA).

He is, without a doubt, one of the most respected Yankees of all time. Nobody has won more postseason games than him, and he retired with a 3.81 ERA in the playoffs.

Pettitte finished his eighth season on the Hall of Fame ballot with 48.5 percent of votes, needing to reach at least 75 percent in two remaining attempts. Perhaps he doesn’t have the rate stats or individual awards to be a no-doubter member of the Hall, but he does have the legacy and the totals.

After his career, Pettitte has focused on becoming a baseball dad, but he did rejoin the Yankees in the summer of 2023 to be an advisor. He was also the pitching coach of Team USA in the 2023 and 2026 World Baseball Classics (WBC).

Yankees fans who grew up watching the team in the late 1990s and early-2000s certainly enjoyed the sight of Pettitte working from the left side of the mound. He was never rattled and always seemed in control of his emotions and situations. You don’t see that calm demeanor and the look of a silent assassin that he gave opposing batters very often these days.

Happy birthday, legend!

See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.

Posted on

Red Sox News & Links: Romy Gonzalez set to begin rehab assignment

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 26: Romy Gonzalez #23 of the Boston Red Sox warms up before a game against the Detroit Tigers on September 26, 2025 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

I’m almost reluctant to type this onto the page, because I fear it’s a hope so delicate that discussing it in print could endanger its very existence, but alas: the Red Sox may soon receive a boost on offense. Romy Gonzalez, the Platoon Paul Bunyon himself, will begin a rehab assignment tomorrow with AA Portland. He will play second, first, and DH, in hopes that he can return by the start of the Sox’ next homestand ten days from now. “With the power potential and the thump in the bat, we’ve got to get him involved,” said Chad Tracy. “It could be [against] lefties, it could be [at] DH, he could play second base. There could be certain righties where it doesn’t make sense [to start Gonzalez]. But whatever it is, we know the capability of the bat and the power potential that brings. We’re going to certainly get him involved.” (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)

Romy’s return comes at an opportune time for the Sox, who still have no idea when the other Romy, Roman Anthony, will be healthy enough to swing a bat again. The problem for Anthony? His injury is actually kind of groundbreaking. “I’ve been doing this 32 years. I actually have never heard of a ring finger-isolated CMC ligament tear,” said one orthopedist. “The joints in which the ligaments get injured are usually not the CMC level … They’re at the knuckle or joints within the fingers. If you look up ring finger ligament sprain, you’ll find nothing — zero — because it’s not a common injury.” (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)

Romy Gonzalez will immediately step in and give a boost to what has been the Sox’ biggest weakness in 2026: right-handed hitting. But he won’t be the only source of righty power in the lineup. Willson Contreras has been an absolute beast. “I think the approach of making contact, trying to make contact is working,” Contreras said. “I know that I’m in a good stretch right now, but I’m trying not to overthink or think too much. I’m trying to keep my game simple, make contact and let everything happen.” (Christopher Smith, MassLive)

Given the offensive struggles, it’s fair to revisit the notorious Rafael Devers trade, which happened one year ago today. (Jen McCaffrey, Andrew Baggarly, The Athletic)

Last night’s loss wasn’t solely the fault of the offense, though. While he’s generally a strong rookie campaign, Connelly Early has been faltering a bit lately and is struggling to keep the ball in the park. “I hope those come back to Earth a little bit,” said Andrew Bailey of the homers he’s been giving up. “But when you look at the grand scheme of things, he does generate some whiff. The batted ball quality is a little bit concerning in that the slug is out of the park.” (Ian Browne, MLB.com)

But while last night’s game wasn’t much fun for Sox fans, at least the 5,000 Scottish football fans in attendance got to see some taters. Here’s a closer look at their joyous march to the ballpark. (Justin Turpin, WEEI)

Posted on

The Week Ahead for Atlanta: Can the Braves beat the Miz?

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JUNE 12: Jacob Misiorowski #32 of the Milwaukee Brewers reacts after the final out of the ninth inning in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at American Family Field on June 12, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Misiorowski threw a complete game and allowed only one hit. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images

There’s no place like home and the Atlanta Braves will surely be grateful to have spent some time in their own respective beds instead of what they had to deal during what ended up being a terrible road trip against the White Sox and Mets.

With that being said, it’s not like the Braves are coming home for a cakewalk. The Giants may have a poor record but they’ve been known to spring some upsets this season and the Brewers will be bringing arguably the most talented pitcher in all of baseball to town in the form of Jacob Misiorowski. Atlanta’s going to really have to work to get things back on track, so let’s see what the week ahead has in store for them.

June 16-18: San Francisco Giants

Current Record: 29-43 Projected Record (via FanGraphs): 74-88

On paper, the Braves probably couldn’t have asked for a better opponent to take on upon returning home from a rough road trip. The Giants have been pretty bad this season and outside of Casey Schmitt launching a bunch of dingers, there hasn’t been much for the fans in San Francisco to cheer about — either on or off the field.

San Francisco’s offense has been mostly middle of the road in terms of performance, as they have produced a team wRC+ of 102 off the strength of a team slash line of .257/.307/.416 with a .316 wOBA. As I mentioned before, Schmitt has largely been responsible for the power as he’s currently the only Giants hitter with over 10 homers so far this season. Unless there’s a complete disaster on Atlanta’s part, we aren’t going to be seeing the Giants hitting a ton of balls over the fence during this series.

With that being said, this lineup isn’t full of pushovers, either. Luis Arraez seems determined to continue hitting nothing but singles, Matt Chapman and Jung Hoo Lee have been productive with little-to-no power and Bryce Eldrige has been playing the role of “exciting young player” for the struggling Giants. Atlanta’s pitching staff will have to be on their game to keep this crew quiet and they have to be taken seriously — this same Giants team won a series at Wrigley Field and split a four-game series in Milwaukee against the Brewers (more on them later) so this is not a team to be taken lightly.

Still, the lineup will have to get the job done against a pitching staff that has largely struggled. Considering what ballpark the Giants spend most of their time in, it is honestly kind of shocking that they have the fifth-worst team ERA- in all of baseball (113) along with a bottom-10 FIP- (108). Then you look at what two of their three probable starters for this series have done so far this season and it all makes sense.

Adrian Houser is set to start for San Francisco during the season opener and he’s looked very vunerable on the mound all season. Of the the 13 starts that he’s made so far, he’s given up at least three runs in 10 of those starts. Five of those 10 starts saw him give up at least four runs and he hasn’t had a start of the “three runs or less” variety since May 17 against the Athletics. Meanwhile, Wednesday’s starter Robbie Ray has been a bit better but his stats have been skewed a bit after he got lit up on May 18 against the Diamondbacks for 10 runs on 11 hits. With that being said, the Nationals did get him for five runs on seven hits in his last outing so it’s entirely possible that the Braves might punish him like the Nats did.

Landen Roupp will be a different story, as he’s proven himself to be the top guy in San Francisco’s rotation so far and could really give the Braves some problems during his scheduled start on Thursday. Even if all of San Francisco’s starters do a solid job, the Braves could still turn things around late in the game if San Francisco’s bullpen continues to have issues. JT Brubaker and Keaton Winn have given opposing batters fits but outside of that, nobody else in this bullpen has really stood out as being of the shutdown variety. If the Braves are going to bounce back from that awful road trip, this should hopefully be the series to make it happen.

Tuesday, June 16 at 7:15 p.m. ET (BravesVision, Gray TV)
Wednesday, June 17 at 7:15 p.m. ET (BravesVision)
Thursday, June 18 at 7:15 p.m. ET (BravesVision)

June 19-21: Milwaukee Brewers

Current Record: 43-26 Projected Record: 92-70

Well, there’s no two ways around it: The Braves will probably have a serious fight on their hands once the Brewers come to town. For starters (for lack of a better term), Jacob Misiorowski will likely be starting the series opener against the Braves. In case you’ve been living under a rock, Misiorowski has essentially been dominating hitters so far this season with his near-overwhelming stuff. His heater is five mph above average, his slider and curve are both seven mph above average, and his cutter and change-up are both six mph above average. No matter what he’s throwing, it’s going to have high velocity and it’s going to be nasty. He’s thrown 54.1 innings since May 1 and has given up a grand total of two runs (only one of which were earned) on nineteen hits with just nine walks and a whopping 80 strikeouts.

Miz’s most recent start was astonishing. He pitched a complete game against the Phillies where he only gave up one hit and struck out fifteen batters on 95 pitches (a Maddux!). He was a Kyle Schwarber hit away from what would’ve been one of the more dominant Perfect Games that you’ll ever see. Assuming Milwaukee sticks to their current rotation plans, the Miz will be coming to town and the Braves are going to have their hands full.

Oh yeah, the rest of the team is still pretty good too. At this point, picking against the Brewers before the season to do well is one of those things where I’ll only believe it where I see it because this team has been a buzzsaw so far. Brice Turang has been productive in all facets of the game, old friend William Contreras has been raking, Jackson Chourio continues to be exciting, Jake Bauers is a true threat at the plate and then guys like Garrett Mitchell and Andrew Vaughn are tough to deal with. Even Christian Yelich and Gary Sanchez have been handing out lumps to opposing pitchers so far.

All that has combined for the Brewers to have one of the best offenses in baseball so far. They’ve hit for 107 wRC+ as a team (for reference’s sake, they’re right behind the Braves who have a team wRC+ of 108) and have collectively delivered a slash line of .255/.341/.392 with a wOBA of .326. Their stats are pretty similar to Atlanta’s except the Brewers are getting on base a bit more while the Braves have done a bit more damage in the slugging department. Still, Milwaukee’s offense has been getting the job done in a major way and Atlanta’s pitching staff will have a real challenge on their hands this weekend.

Friday, June 19 at 7:15 p.m ET (BravesVision)
Saturday, June 20 at 4:10 p.m. ET (BravesVision)
Sunday, June 21 at 1:35 p.m. ET (BravesVision)

All stats referenced were from FanGraphs before Sunday’s action so they may be slightly different

Posted on

Opposition research: Owen Caissie

May 23, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins right fielder Owen Caissie (17) runs toward second base after hitting a two-run double against the New York Mets during the second inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Sometimes, prospects end up being better trade chips than actual players. That might be the case with Owen Caissie who has already been part of two prominent trades but has yet to find his footing in the major leagues.

After being selected by the Padres in the second round of the 2020 draft, Owen Caissie was soon shipped to the Cubs as part of their trade for Victor Caratini and Yu Darvish. Once in the Cubs system. he quickly rose the ranks and established himself as a top 50 prospect, being chosen for the Futures Game in both 2024 and 2025.

After dominating AAA in 2025, he was called up to the Cubs in August but struggled in a twelve-game cameo. The Cubs were apparently not overly impressed since they sent him back down and then sent him to the Marlins as part of the deal for Edward Cabrera.

Marlins fans got excited because Maissie played for Team Canada in the WBC and batted .412 with a home run.

The Marlins installed him as their regular right fielder, and his season got off to a promising start when he hit a walk off home run in the third game of the season.

The good times did not continue as he went into a slump shortly after that. After showing some signs of life in May, he’s struggled in June with only two hits in the month so far.

Player development is rarely linear, so Maissie could well turn things around quickly. But as of now, he’s been far more valuable in the transaction column than on the field.

Hating on the Marlins

Would you look at that? The Marlins are at .500 thanks to a group of young players that have showed some promise. Shall we guess how this is ultimately going to end?

That young core might put it together and make the playoffs in the near future. And just as people think the team is ready to be an actual contender, management will start to ship off some of those players because they’ve begun to, or about to get more expensive.

There’s a debate about why the Marlins have been such a failure of a franchise, minus two insanely fluky World Series runs. Does ownership not spend money because the fans don’t support the team, or do the fans not support the team because ownership never spends enough money to sustain success?

It’s likely a little of both, but between the Marlins and Rays, we have a lot of evidence that Florida fans don’t pack the stadium even when the teams are good. The Marlins have had a few owners over the years, and while some of them have been among the worst to ever own a major league team, every one of them has come to the conclusion that its simply not worth spending a ton of money on the team.

Back in 2020, a bunch of their fans got all in my mentions because the Marlins were better than the Phillies in the short season, and they thought they had stolen a future star in Sixto Sanchez. They’ve been quiet ever since.

If MLB ever tried contraction, the Marlins would likely be one of the first teams on the list, and only a handful of people would actually miss them.

Remembering a guy who played for both teams

Billy McMillon

In 1997, the moribund Phillies traded Darren Daulton to the Marlins, so he could finish out his career with a contender. In return, they got outfielder Billy McMillon. I attended “Billy Mac’s” first game with the Phillies, and to my delight, he launched a grand slam in the third inning as the Phillies romped over the Giants.

I was convinced the Phillies had a future star on their hands. They did not.

He would only hit one other home run as a member of the Phillies, but I appreciate the symmetry in that he hit it in his last game with the team.

I don’t know why McMillon spent the entire 1998 and 1999 seasons in the minors – it’s not like those Phillies teams were overflowing with talent – but he never returned to the majors before becoming a free agent after 1999. He spent a few seasons as a quad-A player getting brief stints with the Tigers and A’s before moving on to a minor league coaching career.

Additional thought about the series

The Phillies’ offense had a tough time of it against the Brewers’ top pitchers, but hopefully they can start to hit better against a far less imposing trio of starters in this series:

  • Ryan Gusto is a quad-A caliber player with a 6.00 ERA
  • Former Phillie Tyler Phillips has recently switched from the bullpen to the rotation with mixed results.
  • Sandy Alcantara has improved in his second post-Tommy John season, but he’s far closer to league average than Cy Young winner at this point.

Then again, it isn’t hard to imagine the Phillies’ struggling to score runs against these guys. Apparently, there’s a rule that at least two – if not more – players on the team have to be in a miserable slump at any given time. In the month of June, Trea Turner and Justin Crawford both have sub-.500 OPS while J.T. Realmuto is plodding along with a .167 batting average.

Players are going to go through slumps during a long season, but is too much to ask that the slumps not be so drastic and maybe they could do it one at a time? It’s hard to win games when you’ve got three or four automatic outs in the lineup at any given time.

Posted on

Kings reportedly host NBA draft prospect Darius Acuff Jr. for private workout

Kings reportedly host NBA draft prospect Darius Acuff Jr. for private workout originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Darius Acuff Jr. is one of the biggest names that closely has been tied to the Kings ahead of the 2026 NBA Draft.

Last week, the Arkansas guard reportedly worked out with Sacramento, KCRA’s Sean Cunningham reported Monday, citing sources.

The Kings publicly have hosted pre-draft workouts for several players, such as Tennessee guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Connecticut forward Alex Karaban, Kansas guard Tre White, Illinois guard Kylan Boswell and Louisville guard Ryan Conwell.

Acuff’s reported workout in Sacramento, however, was not made public.

It is no secret that the Kings have had their eye on the 6-foot-3, 190-pound prospect, especially with the team’s desperate need for a starting point guard. Acuff easily could fill that void in Sacramento’s roster, considering his scoring abilities on all three levels and playmaking skills.

In only one season at Arkansas, Acuff averaged 23.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game and shot 48.4 percent from the field and 44 percent from 3-point range in 36 starts.

Acuff’s impressive freshman season earned the Detroit native several awards, including first-team All-America, All-SEC honors and SEC Player of the Year.

With such a strong résumé under his belt, Acuff highly is regarded as one of the top prospects in this year’s draft, making it difficult to imagine that he will remain on the board for Sacramento with the No. 7 overall pick.

Other players who have been associated with the Kings’ No. 7 pick include Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr. and Houston guard Kingston Flemings.

However, if Acuff remains available at No. 7, it would be harder to imagine the Kings passing on a player with his caliber and star potential.

Download and follow The Deuce & Mo Podcast

Posted on

When is Carolina Hurricanes' Stanley Cup parade? What we know

The Carolina Hurricanes won their first Stanley Cup championship since 2006 when they defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 on Sunday, June 14.

It completed a 16-3 run through the playoffs, the best since the 1988 Edmonton Oilers went 16-2. The Hurricanes swept the first two rounds against the Ottawa Senatorsand Philadelphia Flyers, beat the Montreal Canadiens in five games in the Eastern Conference finals and overcame a 2-1 series deficit in the Stanley Cup Finals to defeat the Golden Knights in six games.

The clinching game was at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. When will the Hurricanes celebrate in front of their home fans? Here's what we know:

When is the Carolina Hurricanes' Stanley Cup parade?

The Carolina Hurricanes will hold their Stanley Cup championship parade in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina on Saturday, June 20.

The team said more details will be announced later.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When is Hurricanes' Stanley Cup parade? What we know

Posted on

Mets vs Reds Prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for June 15

Two teams attempting to get back to .500 on the season and out of last place in their divisions meet at the Great American Ball Park tonight when the Mets (32-39) and Reds (33-37) meet for a three game series.

New York has won three of the last four games as they enter the series. The Mets are hitting .237 (24th) as a group this month, but have the eighth-most home runs (19). The pitching staff has carried New York to a 6-6 record this month. The Mets own a 3.81 ERA (4th), the best WHIP (1.09). and second-best OBA (.213).

The Reds have won five of the past six starts with Chase Burns on the mound, which is good news considering Cincinnati is 2-8 in the last 10 games entering this series. In June, the Reds have the second-worst batting average (.218) with the fourth-most strikeouts (112), and second-fewest runs scored (37). The Reds will need another dominant outing from Burns who's recorded 10 straight games with two or fewer earned runs.

Let’s dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Mets at Reds

  • Date: Monday, June 15, 2026
  • Time: 7:10 PM EST
  • Site: Great American Ball Park 
  • City: Cincinatti, OH
  • Network/Streaming: MLB TV

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Mets at the Reds

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: New York Mets (+119), Cincinnati Reds (-143)
  • Spread: Reds -1.5 (+153), Mets +1.5 (-186)
  • Total: 8.5

Probable starting pitchers for Mets at Reds

  • Monday's pitching matchup (June 15): Tobias Meyers vs. Chase Burns 
  • Reds: Chase Burns 

2026 stats: 75.2 IP, 7-1, 2.14 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 88 Ks, 23 BB

  • Mets: Tobias Meyers 

2026 Stats: 33.1 IP, 0-1, 4.05 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 26 Ks, 7 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not

  • The Mets’ Juan Soto is hitting .293 with 58 hits, 15 home runs and 34 RBI over 198 at-bats
  • The Mets’ Marcus Semien is hitting .218 with 56 hits and 60 strikeouts over 122 at-bats
  • The Reds’ JJ Bleday is hitting .266 with 42 hits, 12 home runs, and 30 RBI over 257 at-bats
  • The Reds’ Will Benson is hitting .188 with 18 hits and 38 strikeouts over 96 at-bats

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Mets at Reds

  • The Mets are 30-41 ATS, ranking sixth-worst
  • The Reds are 37-33 ATS
  • The Reds are 42-27-1 to the Over, ranking third-best
  • The Mets are 34-31-6 to the Under, ranking ninth-best
  • The Reds are 16-19 ATS at home
  • The Mets are 15-20 ATS on the road, ranking ninth-best

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Mets and the Reds

Rotoworld Bet Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday's game between the Reds and the Mets:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Reds on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Reds at -1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 8.5

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
Posted on

Monday Morning Minnesota: The “Homers Abound” Edition

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JUNE 13: Byron Buxton #25 of the Minnesota Twins hits a solo home run against the St. Louis Cardinals in the fourth inning of the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on June 13, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Steven Garcia/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It was a middling week for the Twins, going 3-3, wrapping up a three-series run against AL Central rivals with a series loss in Detroit before finishing the week at home with a series win against the Cardinals. In that time, the Twins homered 14 times, with Byron Buxton making his return from running into the wall in the Royals series to hit four homers himself. Royce Lewis, who played five games at first base this week, looks like his Triple-A self with three homers as well. Starting pitching was the biggest source of consternation, with the starters giving up 24 earned runs in 32 innings pitched. For the season, the starters have combined for a 4.61 ERA, eighth-worst in the league. The team goes on a week-long road trip, heading down to Dallas and then Phoenix.

The Past Week on Twinkie Town:

Elsewhere in Twins Territory:

In the World of Baseball:

  • The Yankees have weathered the Aaron Judge storm reasonably well and now hold a one-game lead over the Rays. The White Sox and Guardians are now tied for the AL Central lead, while the Mariners hold a one-game advantage over the A’s. Incredibly, the Twins are still only three games out of the last wild-card spot.
  • Nothing has really changed in the National League. It’s Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Milwaukee in the top three spots. (Eagle-eyed readers will note this is the same exact thing I wrote last week). That being said, while Atlanta has a pretty large lead in the NL East standings, only two games separate the top three teams. The Cardinals, Phillies, and Padres round out the three wild card teams.
  • Geraldo Perdomo of the Arizona Diamondbacks found himself in the middle of the mascot race on Sunday’s game.
  • Jacob Misiorowski has been doing some crazy things this year. His start on Friday was probably the highlight, as he struck out 15 batters in a one-hit Maddux. David Schoenfield at ESPN has more on the historic night.
  • Troy continued its incredible run through the Men’s College World Series, knocking off Ole Miss on Sunday. Elizabeth Merrill at ESPN profiles Trojan star John Boroff, more affectionately known as “Jabe Ruth,” who has been lights out this postseason.

Posted on

Rangers shortstop Corey Seager dealing with mild concussion, says manager Skip Schumaker

Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager was out of the lineup for the third straight game because he’s dealing with a mild concussion, manager Skip Schumaker said before they faced the Boston Red Sox.

Against the Kansas City Royals, Seager was trying to score from first on Brandon Nimmo’s double when he collided with catcher Carter Jensen. He stayed in the game and homered.

Seager missed 19 games in May and early June with lower back inflammation.

He’s struggling this season, hitting just .186 with nine homers and 24 RBIs.

Posted on

Chicago Bulls swoop in, reportedly hire Tiago Splitter away from Portland to be next head coach

The Portland Trail Blazers — specifically new owner Tom Dundon, according to league sources — were unsure about bringing back acting coach Tiago Splitter and giving him the job full-time. They took their time deciding between him and several other finalists, while Dundon was focused on his NHL team, the Carolina Hurricanes, winning the Stanley Cup.

So the Chicago Bulls have swooped in and will hire Splitter as their new head coach, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN and confirmed by multiple other reports.

Splitter will take over for Billy Donovan, who chose to leave to explore other options. This is a quality hire for Chicago.

Splitter came to Portland last season, hired away after leading Paris Basketball to the French Cup. He became a top assistant coach on Chauncey Billups' Portland staff, then, when Billups was arrested as part of a federal gambling investigation, Splitter was tapped to become the acting head coach. In that role, he led them to a better-than-projected 42-40 season and a playoff berth in the West, and helped develop Deni Avdija into an All-Star.

The Portland players respected Splitter. He was a seven-season NBA veteran as a player who won a ring with the 2014 San Antonio Spurs. As a coach, he has shown a strength in player development — something seen in Portland last season with Avdija, Scoot Henderson and others — and something that has to be a priority in Chicago with a roster in flux.

While it seemed logical to keep Splitter in the big chair in Portland, Dundon reportedly wasn't a fan. While Splitter was a finalist for the Trail Blazers' job, he was part of a wide-ranging search by Dundon and the Portland front office to find their cost-effective coach. While that search dragged on, Splitter started talking to the Bulls, and that team's new head of basketball operations, Bryson Graham, liked what he saw. Splitter reportedly beat out Minnesota assistant Micah Nori, Atlanta assistant Ryan Schmidt and Bulls assistant Wes Unseld Jr. for the job.

Splitter takes over a Bulls team with a roster in transition, but led by quality players in Josh Giddey and promising young forward Matas Buzelis. There's a lot of roster changeover coming, but that will give Splitter the chance to build his own culture and playing style.

Posted on

BetMGM Releases 2027 Stanley Cup Odds, Blue Jackets In Surprising Spot

BetMGM has released its 2026-27 odds for the Stanley Cup, and the Columbus Blue Jackets are in a surprising position. 

According to BetMGM's odds, the CBJ are listed at +5000 to win the 2027 Stanley Cup. That's the 16th-best odds in the league. Other teams at +5000 are the Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers. 

The Metro Division has the Hurricanes, Devils(+3000), and Blue Jackets as the top three in the division with the best odds. The Penguins(+6000) and Islanders(+6600) have worse odds than the CBJ. 

The Colorado Avalanche are the best at +700, followed by the champion Hurricanes at +750. 

The teams at the bottom are Vancouver Canucks at +50000, the Flames at +30000, and the Kraken at +20000.

Don Waddell and the Columbus Blue Jackets have some work to do, but clearly, Las Vegas is confident that the CBJ can make the playoffs. 

Can Waddell make the needed moves for this team to compete? We will find out in a few weeks when free agency opens and teams start moving players around. 

Next Up For Columbus: The NHL Draft is on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo, where the CBJ will own pick #14.   

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story.

Let us know what you think below.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Posted on

New details of James Harden’s gun arrest emerge as NBA star’s mugshot released

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows James Harden holding a basketball during an NBA game, Image 2 shows Mugshot of James Edward Harden

A routine traffic stop led to James Harden’s arrest on Saturday, according to local authorities.

A representative for the Houston Police Department told The California Post on Monday that the NBA superstar was pulled over for some kind of traffic violation at 3 a.m. on a downtown Houston roadway.

“The driver of the vehicle identified himself as James Harden” during the stop, the HPD rep said, “and he was taken into custody for unlawful carrying of a weapon.”

Cleveland Cavaliers’ James Harden during the first half of Game 2 in the Eastern Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series against the New York Knicks, May 21, 2026, in New York. AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
James Harden was arrested at 3:41 a.m. on Saturday in Houston.

According to court documents, Harden had a handgun in his vehicle that “was not carried in a holster” while “in plain view.” He was formally taken into custody at 3:41 a.m. and booked on one misdemeanor charge of unlawful carrying weapons.

In Harden’s mugshot, which was provided to The Post by the HPD on Monday, he could be seen wearing a black T-shirt and a stern look on his face.

Harris County records show Harden was released from jail on bond later Saturday morning and given an arraignment date of June 22.

However, the records also show that hearing date was rescheduled on Monday to Aug. 3.

Harden, according to the records, has hired high-powered Texas attorney Rusty Hardin to represent him in the case. Hardin has previously repped several famous professional athletes, including Deshaun Watson when the NFL quarterback was accused of sexual misconduct by multiple massage therapists.

Messages to Hardin and his office for comment on Harden’s case were not immediately returned.

Harden, a former Los Angeles Clipper who currently plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers, has deep ties to Houston — he played nine seasons with the Rockets earlier in his NBA career.

Sources told The Post he had been out at a local hookah lounge with a large group of his friends before his arrest occurred.

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

California Post News: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedIn
California Post SportsFacebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X
California Post Opinion
California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!
California Post App: Download here!
Home delivery: Sign up here!Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!

Posted on

K'Andre Miller Becomes A Stanley Cup Champion While Flipping The Narrative About Himself

Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

K’Andre Miller is officially a Stanley Cup champion. 

The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 on Sunday night en route to their first Stanley Cup since 2006, and Miller played a big part in propelling this team over the top.

Being selected by the New York Rangers in the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft, Miller was projected to be a cornerstone piece of the Blueshirts’ defensive core. 

Despite a breakout 2022-23 campaign in which Miller recorded a career-high 43 points, he was the subject of criticism throughout his final two years in New York, with his inconsistent defensive play causing concern among the fanbase and the Rangers’ management group.

So much so that when Miller became a restricted free agent during the 2025 offseason, the Rangers decided not to give him a long-term contract extension and instead trade the young blueliner to the Hurricanes in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, a conditional first-round pick in the 2026 or 2027 NHL Draft, and Scott Morrow.

The Hurricanes then signed Miller to an eight-year, $60 million contract, a move deemed risky at the time, given his inconsistencies and flaws that had held him back with the Blueshirts.

The 26-year-old defenseman has completely flipped the narrative that plagued him in New York, as over the course of the regular season, he transformed into the sure-fire top-four defenseman that the Rangers once had hoped he would blossom into. 

Throughout the Hurricanes’ playoff run, Miller was one of Carolina’s most productive defensemen, recording nine points, the second most amongst all Hurricanes blueliners, while he led all Hurricanes players, averaging 24:03 minutes per game. 

Shortly after hoisting the Stanley Cup, Miller made sure to mention the criticism he received during his time playing for the Rangers and how he proved all of the doubters wrong in what was a full-circle moment.

“I had a lot of people count me out, had a lot of people talking shit,” Miller told Daily Faceoff’s Jonny Lazarus. “So, I can’t wait for them to see my ring.”

Credit to Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky and head coach Rod Brind'Amour: they saw through some of Miller’s inconsistencies and knew he was the right fit for their structured system. 

All it took was the right environment for Miller to tap into his potential.

“You look at this team and how it’s assembled: the coaching staff, our trainers, everybody was really pulling the same way this year,” Miller said. “It made it really easy coming to the rink and throwing a smile on my face and putting my best foot forward, so a lot of credit to these guys and the organization itself.”

Posted on

The best 22nd picks ever in NBA draft

The best 22nd picks ever in NBA draft  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Is there any chance the Sixers will find a core piece with the 22nd pick in Round 1 of the NBA draft on June 23?

The team sure seems to have snagged one of the top 21st selections ever in All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey. As for No. 22, below is a chronological (and unscientific) rundown of the best players drafted at that slot: 

George McGinnis (1973)

After a series of contract disputes, McGinnis debuted with the Sixers in 1975. Fresh off an ABA MVP season, the do-it-all Hall of Fame forward earned All-Star nods in his first two years as a Sixer and won the Eastern Conference title in 1977. Other notable Sixers picks from the 1973 draft class include Doug Collins (No. 1) and Caldwell Jones (No. 32). McGinnis died in 2023 at 73 years old.

Leonard “Truck” Robinson (1974) 

As his nickname suggests, Robinson was a physical force and a world-class rebounder. The Tennessee State product made his first of two All-Star Games in the 1977-78 season with New Orleans Jazz teammate Pete Maravich. Robinson averaged 22.7 points and an NBA-best 15.7 rebounds that year.

Johnny Davis (1976)

Davis helped the Trail Blazers win it all his rookie season. The speedy guard out of Dayton had his most productive NBA years with the Pacers, averaging 16.4 points and 5.4 assists from the 1978-79 through ’81-82 seasons. Davis went on to coach in the NBA and served as the Sixers’ head coach for Allen Iverson’s rookie year in 1996-97.

Norm Nixon (1977)

Nixon was the starting point guard for two championship-winning Showtime Lakers teams. A two-time All-Star and Duquesne great, Nixon was a serious steal late in the first round. 

Scott Skiles (1986)

Skiles still holds the NBA’s single-game assists record. He racked up 30 on Dec. 30, 1990 in the Magic’s win over the Nuggets.

Reggie Lewis (1987)

Lewis tragically died from a heart condition at 27. He’d grown into a Celtics star with highlights like a 42-point playoff performance vs. the Cavs and a four-block night against Michael Jordan.

Bobby Portis (2015) 

Portis had a rather rocky start to his NBA career with the Bulls, but he ultimately settled into his niche as the Bucks’ beloved sixth man and played a key part in Milwaukee’s 2020-21 title. 

Jarrett Allen (2017) 

Allen was a playoff starting center by his second season in Brooklyn. He made his one career All-Star Game to date with the Cavs in 2021-22.