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Elephant Rumblings: Midweek Update

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 26: Zack Gelof #20 of the Athletics celebrates a single in the bottom of the seventh inning against the Houston Astros at Sutter Health Park on September 26, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Justine Willard/Athletics/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Welcome to Wednesday, A’s fans.

The 2026 World Series matchup is set. The National League champion Milwaukee Brewers and American League champion Tampa Bay Rays, who posted the best records in their respective leagues this season, will clash for the Commissioner’s Trophy. The winner of the best-of-seven series, which begins Friday in Milwaukee, will capture its first title, while the losing team’s drought will continue.

The small-market standard-bearers rely on stellar coaching, player development and analytically driven, cost-efficient front offices to compete against big-market opponents with higher payrolls. Milwaukee and Tampa Bay’s success has led other teams to poach baseball operations executives from these organizations in hopes of replicating their success.

For example, on Monday, the Athletics announced Taylor Smith as their new president of baseball operations. The 31-year-old began his career with the Rays before serving as an assistant general manager with the Boston Red Sox since 2024. The A’s are not the only team looking to these well-run organizations for their next general manager. Brewers Assistant General Manager Matt Kleine is one of the leading candidates for the Houston Astros’ general manager opening.

The prospect of an owner-imposed lockout beginning on Dec. 1 will likely affect the pace of the free-agent and trade markets, with some players signing early and others choosing to wait until a new labor agreement is in place. The Athletics have an offensive core capable of making a playoff run, but desperately need pitching help. If he declines his player option and hits the open market, starter Clay Holmes could be a particularly good fit for the Green and Gold, given his elite ability to induce ground balls.

However, it remains unclear whether owner John Fisher will give Smith the financial resources needed to make a splash in free agency. Players may also spurn the A’s once again because they understandably do not want to play at a minor league ballpark.

If that happens, the team should turn to the trade market. From established players such as Zach Gelof and Shea Langeliers to less-proven youngsters such as Joshua Kuroda-Grauer, Tommy White and Max Muncy, the A’s have a surplus of hitters, some of whom could be traded for pitching in the right deal.

What should Smith do first as he looks to help the Athletics go from last to first in the AL West? Who is your dream A’s acquisition this winter?

A’s Coverage:

MLB News & Interest:

Best of X:

How should the A’s fix this problem before next season?

Construction continues at the A’s Las Vegas ballpark.


The 2026 World Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays has a chance to be an all-time classic. Who do you want to win their first title?

Update on how some Athletics prospects are faring in the Arizona Fall League.


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Who you got in the World Series, Brewers or Rays?

MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 11: Fans look on prior to Game One of the National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Sunday, October 11, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Denis Kennedy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The World Series kicks off in two days. And some number of days after that, we will have debutant champion in Major League Baseball. Yes, for the first time since 1980, the World Series is being contested by two teams that have never won it before.

So who are you rooting for?

This is an easy decision for me. I’ve spent time in both Tampa and Milwaukee, and I’ve gone to games at both ballparks.

Milwaukee is one of my favorite mid-size cities in the whole country. It’s downtown is essentially a miniaturized replica of Chicago’s. It’s outer environs are dotted with great little neighborhood bars where patrons play a game called Stump, which entails nothing more than hammering a nail into a giant tree stump — it’s delightful. And, while it can feel way too dark and heavy on the grayscale, Miller Park is fun place to watch a game, thanks to fact that almost always filled to near capacity with fans who know baseball and are into it.

Tampa, on the other hand, is an overgrown strip mall with only one cool neighborhood that’s miles away from their perpetually empty dump of a stadium.

Let’s go Brew Crew.

Use this space to talk about the World Series, delightfully absurd bar gams, or whatever else you want and, as always, be good to one another.

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Mariners News: Josh Barfield, Drew Rasmussen, and Jacob Misiorowski

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 15: Manager Rocco Baldelli #5 of the Minnesota Twins looks on against the New York Yankees on September 15, 2025 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Good morning everyone and happy Wednesday!

We’re still two days away from the start of the 2026 World Series, but we’ve got all of the latest news you need to know as you get your day started.

In Mariners news…

Around the league…

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A few thoughts about the Cubs and Shōta Imanaga

It occurred to me recently that while I’d done an article in this series about most of the Cubs who will be free agents or who have options, I hadn’t done one on Shōta Imanaga.

So, here’s that article.

The Cubs had a complicated five-year deal with Imanaga signed before the 2024 season which they opted out of after his mediocre, injury-plagued 2025 season, making him a free agent. Then they made him a qualifying offer. Reports after he accepted it said the Cubs were “blindsided” by that; they didn’t think he’d take it. Supposedly this helped prevent the Cubs from (for example) signing free-agent right-hander Dylan Cease.

Cease had a really good year. Granted and stipulated.

Imanaga had… well, a good year. It wasn’t as good as his 3.0 bWAR 2024 season, but it was better than his 2025 season. He is who he is: A “crafty” left-hander who doesn’t throw really hard, but pounds the zone and doesn’t walk hitters (5.2 percent walk rate in 2026, 4.6 for his three-year MLB career). Even without great velocity, he still strikes out a fair number of hitters (24.6 percent in 2026, 23.6 for his career).

The home runs are what makes him frightening every time he takes the mound. He allowed 35 long balls in 2026, far more than he did (27) in 2024 in almost exactly the same number of innings.

The thing is, Imanaga goes through times of dominance and times of suck.

Look at this:

First nine starts of 2026: 2.32 ERA, 0.902 WHIP, five HR in 54.1 innings
Next four starts: 10.80 ERA, 1.523 WHIP, 12 (!) HR in 21.2 innings
Next 10 starts: 2.06 ERA, 1.112 WHIP, eight HR in 56.2 innings
Next four starts: 7.13 ERA, 1.528 WHIP, eight HR in 17.2 innings
Last five starts: 2.25 ERA, 0.792 WHIP, two HR in 24 innings

Out of Imanaga’s 32 starts, 24 of them were really good. Like, Cy Young contender good. The other eight were just horrific.

How does this happen? How can a guy utterly dominate hitters two-thirds of the time and throw batting practice the other third?

It’s not home vs. road. Imanaga posted a 3.90 ERA in 19 Wrigley starts and allowed 21 HR in 110.2 innings there. On the road: 3.53 ERA, 14 HR in 63.2 innings. He was somewhat better in day games (3.18 ERA, 11 HR in 68 innings) than night games (4.15 ERA, 24 HR in 106.1 innings). Those are more or less equivalent to his career splits.

So here’s the thing. If you have a guy like this on your staff and he’s the fourth or fifth starter, I think you could live with that. Personally, I think Imanaga (and Seiya Suzuki) help the Cubs’ profile in Japan and that’s not nothing; for one thing, it might help other NPB free agents choose the Cubs.

Imanaga’s original five-year deal was going to be worth $53 million, with incentives that could have brought it to $80 million — a $16 million annual average value. He has made $44.525 million over the three years he’s been with the Cubs. I would not be opposed to offering Imanaga a two-year, $36 million deal to return, an AAV of $18 million. That would bring his total Cubs earnings to just over $80 million, which I’d think would satisfy both parties. Imanaga was 100 percent healthy in 2026 and was the only Cubs starter who didn’t miss a start.

Bring him back, I say. What say you?

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The Roger Nelson Comeback

Roger Nelson, Kansas City pitcher, is bumped after beating Chris Chambliss, of Cleveland, to the bag for the out in 6th inning action. Chambliss hit grounder to first baseman John Mayberry who tossed ball to Nelson covering first. Indians won, 2-1.

I’ve written about former Royal pitcher Roger Nelson on several occasions. For some reason, I’ve been fascinated with his career arc.

He was originally signed by the Chicago White Sox in 1963. His minor league career with the Sox gave no clue to the magic hidden in his right arm. After five seasons moving through the Sox system, Nelson sported a 25-28 record with a cumulative ERA of 4.04, a record that hardly made him out to be a top prospect.

He made his debut on September 9, 1967, against the Detroit Tigers. He hit the first batter he faced, Bill Freehan, then retired Hall of Famer Eddie Matthews on an infield popup.

He made four more appearances that summer, the last coming on September 27 against the Kansas City Athletics in a game at Municipal Stadium. Once again, he hit the first batter he faced, pitcher Chuck Dobson, before retiring Ted Kubiak on a groundout to first.

In the offseason, Nelson was part of a six-player blockbuster trade with Baltimore, with the principals being Don Buford and Luis Aparicio. Future Royal John Matias went to the White Sox, while Bruce Howard, father of future Royal David, moved to Baltimore with Nelson.

Nelson got into 19 games with the 1968 Birds, throwing 71 innings, including six starts. He put up a sparkling 2.41 ERA, which was enough to catch the eye of Cedric Tallis. When Baltimore left him off its protected list, Tallis made Nelson the No. 1 overall pick in the 1968 expansion draft.

Nelson made the second start in Royals history, going five innings on April 9, 1969, against the Twins in what became a 4-3 Royals win in 17 innings.

Nelson was much better than his won-loss record indicated in 1969. Even though his record was only 7-13, he made 29 starts, throwing 193 innings to the tune of a 3.31 ERA.

Unfortunately, arm troubles beset Nelson, and he was only able to throw 43 combined innings in 1970 and 1971.

Nelson wasn’t even in the Royals’ plans for 1972 and had to make the team out of spring training. How long ago was 1972? Fifty-four years, if you’re counting.

Fifty-four years before 1972 would have been 1918, which marked the end of World War I. That makes me feel old.

The hit movies in 1972 were The Godfather and Jeremiah Johnson. The radio was playing “American Pie,” “Lean on Me,” “Candy Man,” and “Baby Don’t Get Hooked on Me.” Richard Nixon was president, and the U.S. still had troops in Vietnam.

Nelson had a strong spring training and made the team as a bullpen arm. He was outstanding, making 15 appearances and throwing 25 innings while striking out 23 batters with a terrific 1.44 ERA.

Manager Bob Lemon finally gave Nelson a start on July 4 in a game against Detroit at Municipal Stadium, and he responded by throwing a complete-game, four-hit shutout. Somehow, someway, Nelson’s arm healed enough for him to harness his enormous potential.

The Detroit win kicked off a pitching run as good as any in Royals history.

Nelson made 18 more starts in that magical summer and finished with 10 complete games and six shutouts. Nelson blanked the White Sox on July 27 and the Angels on July 31 with a three-hitter. This gave him three shutouts in July alone. He threw a three-hitter against Texas on August 11 and a masterful one-hitter against the Red Sox on August 23. The Red Sox game scored a 93, which remains one of the top-scoring games in Royals history.

He closed out his tour de force with a two-hit amputation of the Rangers on October 4 in a game that was notable for being the last ever played at Municipal Stadium and the last game for Ted Williams, who was manager of the Rangers.

Nelson lost eight games in that stretch, with four of the losses coming by one run and two coming by two runs. The Royals scored only 20 runs in those eight losses, despite Nelson pitching brilliantly.

Nelson set four single-season pitching records that summer that still stand today. His record of six shutouts in one season will probably never be broken. He’s also in the top 10 in several other single-season categories.

It remains, arguably, one of the best pitching seasons by any Royal, ever, which is saying something when you look at some of the guys who have pitched for Kansas City. Drago. Busby. Splittorff. Leonard. Saberhagen. Cone. Appier. Greinke. Big names, all.

In the summer of 1972, Roger Nelson, a guy who looked like your high school science teacher, was as good as or better than all of them.

In the offseason, Cedric Tallis shocked everyone by trading Nelson and one of his best hitters, Richie Scheinblum, to Cincinnati for Wayne Simpson, a pitcher with enormous potential but a bum arm, and Hal McRae, a utility player who was still recovering from a gruesome broken leg.

Thank God the internet didn’t exist in 1972, because Tallis would have gotten roasted. Like most of his trades, this one worked out just fine. Nelson’s arm problems resurfaced, and Scheinblum lost his hitting stroke. Simpson had a couple of good starts in Kansas City, but his Royals career lasted only 16 games. The real prize was McRae, who not only developed into one of the game’s best hitters but also infused the Royals with some much-needed toughness. McRae, of course, was one of the Royals’ all-time greats and ended up in the Royals Hall of Fame.

Nelson appeared in 28 games for the Big Red Machine between 1973 and 1974, toggling between starting and relieving.

He even threw 2 1/3 hitless innings against the New York Mets in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series in 1973.

Nelson had another excellent but short run of success in 1974. On May 15, he held the Giants hitless for seven innings. He ended up going 8 2/3 innings and giving up only two hits. In his very next start, six days later, he gave up only three hits in seven innings of work against the Dodgers. He closed out that stretch on May 26 with a complete-game, six-hit win against the Padres. Alas, the arm woes returned, and Nelson was only able to throw 21 more innings before the season ended.

In October 1974, the Reds sold Nelson back to the White Sox, who released him in March 1975 before he ever appeared in a game. He hooked on with the Oakland Athletics but spent the summer with their Triple-A team in Tucson before being released.

He was out of baseball and driving a truck for UPS when the Royals called in March 1976 and gave him another shot. He started the 1976 campaign in Omaha, appearing in 52 games and racking up 16 saves before the Royals called him back to the big league club.

After all he had been through, it was a heartwarming reunion. The Royals were on their way to their first Western Division crown, and Nelson made three September appearances. The best came on September 19 at Royals Stadium, when Nelson threw 5 2/3 innings against the White Sox, allowing only three hits and one run. At one point, Nelson turned back the clock and retired 14 consecutive hitters. After the game, Nelson told Kansas City Times sportswriter Sid Boardman, “I ain’t that old. I can still throw it. When you’re 32, you’re not ready for the grave. I’m just glad I was able to contribute to a club going for the pennant. I felt I could pitch longer today, but why try to be a hero? My longest outing before was four innings in Omaha in May. I could feel myself losing something. Why mess around when you got guys like we have in the pen?”

Unfortunately, that game was the high point of Nelson’s reunion with the Royals. A few days later, his car caught fire in the Truman Sports Center parking lot. Then, on Sunday evening, September 26, the Royals flew to Oakland for a critical series against the A’s.

Nelson was mugged outside the team hotel, thankfully losing only his watch to the miscreants. Nelson did take a spill and sprained both wrists during the attack.

The injury ended Nelson’s 1976 comeback, as the Royals left him off their playoff roster.

Nelson returned in 1977 but spent the season in Omaha, making 58 appearances and recording 16 more saves. He never made it back to the majors.

After being released by the Royals, he signed with Pittsburgh and pitched for its Triple-A team in 1978 and 1979.

He called it a career after the 1979 season at the age of 35.

It’s easy to wonder what the Royals’ past might have looked like had today’s surgical techniques and rehab been available. What would the careers of guys like Nelson and Steve Busby, possessor of another electric arm, have looked like? Would Busby have thrown a couple more no-hitters? Would Nelson have remained a Royal for life, which would have meant no Hal McRae as a Royal?

With a healthy Busby and Nelson, would the Royals have displaced the Yankees in 1976, 1977, and 1978? Life is always a series of what-ifs.

There’s an old saying that goes: Life gives us children so death won’t be such a disappointment. I’m not sure I agree with that sentiment, but I do wonder what someone like Nelson feels about being so close to stardom, only to have it dashed by an injury. He’ll always have the summer of 1972, though.

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‘A complete threat’: Rio Ngumoha’s electric display excites Van Dijk and Liverpool

Teenager produced man-of-the-match performance against Villarreal and has learned from Salah, says Reds captain

The shot sailed wide of Peter Gulacsi’s top corner and into the Kop, affording Villarreal much-needed respite at 4-2, but for Andoni Iraola it was a standout moment in a scintillating Champions League display from Rio Ngumoha. To a coach that called for versatility from all of his wingers this summer, here was a significant step forward among many from the 18-year-old at Anfield.

There were questions over how Ngumoha would adapt to playing on the right even before Liverpool increased the likelihood by signing Bradley Barcola for £123m from Paris Saint-Germain. On his fifth start under Iraola on Tuesday, which his side ultimately won 4-3, Liverpool witnessed an answer: quickly, incisively and confidently. The teenager’s willingness to cut inside from the right and shoot from distance with the left foot captured Iraola’s imagination as much as the devastating run that created Alexis Mac Allister’s second goal of the game.

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Mark Allen reveals he made snooker return after 10-week stay in mental health clinic

  • Former world No 1 vows to show ‘fighting qualities’

  • ‘I see the light now that I couldn’t see before’

Mark Allen has revealed he spent 10 weeks in a mental health clinic before discharging himself to play in this week’s Northern Ireland Open. In a long statement posted on X, the 40-year-old said he was “not OK” but vowed to show his renowned “fighting qualities” as he continues his recovery.

Allen’s 4-2 defeat by his friend and compatriot Jordan Brown on Tuesday was his first match since his world championship semi-final loss to Wu Yize in April, when he missed a black off its spot that would have given him the win.

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Joel Embiid made an interesting suggestion about LeBron James – and it worked

NEW YORK — Late in the night, there was a moment of honesty – vulnerability? – from Joel Embiid.

The Philadelphia 76ers locker room had all but cleared out, and Embiid was the last player fielding questions from an atypically large horde of reporters. With a 106-100 victory, the Sixers had just wrecked the coronation of the New York Knicks, who raised a banner here in Madison Square Garden for the first time in 53 years and who, prior to tipoff, had wedged championship rings the size of golf balls onto their fingers.

There were plenty of reasons why the 76ers won their regular season opener Tuesday, Oct. 20. But it was a small, in-game proposal from Embiid that proves the experiment that is the 76ers might just work.

Late in the second quarter, Embiid had picked up his third foul, which came during a four-minute span late in the period. So, at some point over halftime, Embiid told the 76ers coaches that it should be the newly-acquired LeBron James to guard Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns, a six-time All-Star.

This would free up Embiid to play unencumbered. And it shows how dangerous this team can be.

"It changes everything," Embiid said after the game. "I had three fouls. I suggested that to the guys, the coaching staff, cause I just felt like the way that they were coming, I wasn’t – I was just being honest – I wasn’t going to be as aggressive as I should be on defense having three fouls. I wanted to stay on the floor."

LeBron James was superb in his role

LeBron used his size and strength – James actually outweighs Towns by two pounds – to body Towns and jam up the timing and rhythm of New York’s pick-and-rolls. The move gave the 76ers tremendous defensive versatility and stifled the Knicks’ ability to scoop up offensive rebounds, which allowed Philadelphia’s transition offense to flourish.

Towns, in the third quarter, took just one field goal attempt and scored only four points; the Knicks shot 5-of-21 (23.8%) in the period.

This is not unfamiliar for James, who can play every position on the floor. It’s also a tactic Team USA employed during the 2024 Paris Olympics, when James guarded Serbian all-world center and three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokić.

Embiid was also a player on that gold medal squad, and it was Embiid’s foul trouble in the fourth quarter that prompted coach Steve Kerr to deploy the strategy.

"It was great," Embiid continued. "Another big body to guard the post. (Former 76er) P.J. Tucker was the last one we had where we could do that, that could switch off and guard those bigger guys in the post. Last year we had (Paul George), but you know PG, he did a great job, but he’s a little lighter. Having ‘Bron do that in the Olympics. We’ve done that in the past. That’s a good place to change (things) a little bit."

Vibes high in revamped 76ers' first impression

No team had a bigger offseason than Philadelphia, which also landed Jaylen Brown in a blockbuster deal with the Celtics. And the first impression of the revamped Sixers was mostly positive; the shot distribution was balanced, defensive intensity ramped up when it mattered most and the team committed just 10 turnovers, which had been an issue during the preseason.

But it was James who – as he has throughout his career – did a little bit of everything. He finished with 14 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, one steal and one block. He handled the ball and zipped passes to his teammates. He sprinted out in transition and got to the line. And he was instrumental in helping the 76ers retain their small lead throughout the fourth quarter.

It’s still so very early, and the 76ers didn’t play explicitly well; they hit just 27.5% of their 3-pointers and were outrebounded on the offensive glass by a margin of 14-6.

"I mean, it’s still going to take some time," James admitted. "It’s just one game, but obviously we can learn from the good things that we did, we can learn from the bad things we did tonight."

Though it was but one game, the vibes are high. And as far as first impressions go, these 76ers proved they should have lasting power in a loaded Eastern Conference.

It’s their versatility and adaptability that can make them a legitimate title contender.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Joel Embiid made an interesting suggestion about LeBron James – and it worked

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Six important takeaways from Bruins' first 10 games of 2026-27 season

Six important takeaways from Bruins' first 10 games of 2026-27 season originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins wrapped a successful road trip Tuesday night with an overtime defeat to the Dallas Stars. They went 3-0-1 on the trip and entered Wednesday sitting atop the Atlantic Division and in second place in the Eastern Conference with a 7-2-1 record.

The B’s rank seventh in goals scored per game and fourth in goals allowed per game. The notable offseason additions (JJ Peterka, Will Borgen) and most of the young players have made a positive impact.

The schedule has been a little soft, but the Bruins, to their credit, have taken full advantage of it. They have scored four or more goals in six of their 10 games. They’ve led for almost 238 minutes — ninth-best in the league.

Let’s look at six key takeaways from the Bruins’ first 10 games of the 2026-27 NHL season.

The kids are alright

The Bruins have fully committed to giving their young players a chance to not only prove they belong in the NHL full time, but also be important contributors.

So far, the kids have played fantastic.

Six of the Bruins’ top 11 scorers are age 25 or younger. Nineteen of the team’s 35 goals have been scored by players 25 years old or younger.

Fraser Minten and Matthew Poitras are tied with David Pastrnak for the team lead in goals with four. Minten’s eight points are tied for second on the B’s. He’s on pace to shatter his career high of 35 points set last season. James Hagens has seven points (three goals, four assists) in 10 games. No rookie in the entire league has more points than him.

Hagens and Poitras both scored in Tuesday night’s overtime loss to the Dallas Stars.

Frederic Brunet has been a steady, reliable presence on the blue line and ranks fourth among rookies in blocked shots. Mason Lohrei has made an impact offensively with five points to lead all Bruins defensemen.

The most encouraging part of the Bruins’ early-season success has been the performance of their young players. There will be ups and downs throughout the campaign, but the returns so far have been very impressive.

Elite goaltending

Jeremy Swayman was a Vezina Trophy finalist last season and he’s well on his way to repeating that feat. His .928 save percentage is the second-highest in the league, and his 7.7 goals saved above expected is tied for the third-best, per MoneyPuck. He also ranks fourth-best in wins above replacement (1.28) for goalies.

Michael DiPietro has played only two games in the backup goalie role, but he’s posted a solid .912 save percentage and a positive goals saved above expected. He made 26 saves against the Ducks last week for his first career NHL win.

Overall, the Bruins have allowed 7.13 fewer goals than expected — the best mark in the league and proof that Swayman and DiPietro are consistently erasing the mistakes in front of them.

Swayman is on pace to exceed the career-high 55 starts he made last season. That’s fine, especially if he continues to play at an elite level. But at some point, DiPietro needs to get in a few more games. The Bruins need Swayman to be fresh for the playoff race and any postseason matchups the team earns.

Elias Lindholm bounce back?

The Elias Lindholm signing — a seven-year, $54.25 million contract in 2024 free agency — has not delivered the desired results so far.

However, the veteran center has made much more of an impact this season.

Lindholm has seven points (three goals, four assists) in 10 games. He picked up the primary assist on David Pastrnak’s tying goal in the third period against the Ducks last weekend, and five minutes later he scored the game-winner.

Lindholm has taken the fourth-most faceoffs (190) in the league and has won an impressive 58.9 percent of them. He’s also played well defensively and has proven to be a good fit with Hagens on the third line.

It’s unlikely Lindholm will perform at the level of a typical top-six center. But could he be a very good No. 3 center who makes a positive impact in all situations? For sure.

Power play must improve

The Bruins have the 15th-ranked power play with a 21.1 percent success rate. On paper, that doesn’t seem too bad. But all six of their power-play goals have come in two games — three against the Utah Mammoth on Oct. 8 and three against the Ducks on Oct. 16.

In the other eight games, the B’s have not found the back of the net a single time with the man advantage.

The Bruins have generated only two shots in their last six minutes on the power play over the last two games.

Not only are the Bruins failing to score on the power play, they aren’t earning many chances, either. The B’s rank 23rd in total power-play opportunities and 30th in power-play ice time per game.

The Bruins had the ninth-best power play last season. This year’s roster is better. There’s no reason why the power play should be so inconsistent.

Balanced scoring

The Bruins have relied on David Pastrnak far too much in recent seasons. He’s delivered on his end with four straight 100-point seasons, but no one else on the Bruins has tallied more than 68 points during that span.

The scoring depth has been far better for Boston this season. Six players have scored three or more goals. Ten players have at least two goals. Eleven players have tallied five or more points.

Sturm wanted more offense from his defensemen this season. That group already has six goals.

The Bruins are getting meaningful scoring contributions up and down the lineup. That is perhaps the most important aspect of the team’s hot start and why it ranks seventh among 32 teams in goals scored per game.

Bruins need more goals from Pastrnak, Geekie

David PastrnakJames Guillory-Imagn Images
Pastrnak and Geekie have combined for one even-strength goal so far.

David Pastrnak tallied 100 points last season, but his 29 goals were the fewest in any season in which he’s played 55-plus games. Three of his four goals this year have come on the power play. The B’s need much better offensive production from him at 5-on-5.

Morgan Geekie scored a career-high 39 goals last season. He has one goal this year, and it came on the power play. Geekie also has tallied just 10 shots on net in 10 games. He has one game with multiple shots.

For a player with such a great shot, one per game is nowhere near acceptable. Geekie has never been a huge shot quantity player, but he still needs to be much more aggressive in looking for his own offense.

The Bruins have not suffered much from Pastrnak and Geekie’s lack of 5-on-5 goals because the young players have exceeded expectations offensively. But for this team to reach its maximum potential, veterans like Pastrnak and Geekie must lead the attack.

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Led by a spry Joel Embiid, Sixers’ defense passes first test

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 20: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks shoots a contested jump shot during the third quarter of the game against Joel Embiid #21 and Vj Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden on October 20, 2026 in New York City. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images

While it may have been hard to predict just where the Sixers would shake out in a loaded Eastern Conference, it felt easy to forecast what their glaring strengths and weaknesses would be. They have an overwhelming amount of offensive talent, hopefully enough to overcome defensive issues that can come with relying on aging veterans with shaky injury histories.

You can imagine everyone’s surprise when their first win of the season was going into Madison Square Garden and defeating the defending champions in a grind-it-out slugfest on Banner Night. Both teams shot under 42% from the field and both of them went 33% on their three-point attempts.

It might not have been what the average viewer expected, but it’s the type of performance the Sixers will have to put together often to achieve the lofty goals they have for this roster.

“Defense is what kept us in the game,” said Jaylen Brown after the game. “Defense is what we’re gonna have to continue to hang our hats on. [If] we keep a team around 100, we’ll always have a chance to win, so it’s a non-negotiable — gotta play defense.”

Tyrese Maxey, who finished the game with three big steals as well as three blocks, thought the team was really good at communicating and switching assignments for their first game out there as a new unit.

“It felt pretty good,” Maxey said. “This is a very competitive group. We take pride in being able to switch and kind of guard the yard, and we’re gonna help each other as well.”

The big adjustment the Sixers made in the second half was taking Joel Embiid off of Karl-Anthony Towns and having LeBron James guard the big man. This put Embiid on a non-shooter in Josh Hart, allowing the center to become a roamer.

“It’s kind of common to put a four-man on KAT because there’s so many pick-and-rolls with him and [Jalen] Brunson,” head coach Nick Nurse explained after the game. “That gives you some versatility to play some other coverages.”

That’s a look the Sixers have tried to employ in the past against the Knicks since they’ve acquired Towns — they’ve just lacked the four strong enough to not get pushed around by Towns.

“P.J. Tucker was the last one that we had who could do that, that can switch off and guard those bigger guys in the post,” said Embiid of James’ performance guarding Towns.

Embiid made sure to point out the Sixers have had some good defensive fours since Tucker departed in 2023, they just weren’t quite right for the Towns matchup.

“Last year we had [Paul George], but PG, he did a great job, but he’s a little light,” Embiid said.

For as encouraging as the Sixers cohesiveness on defense was, the best sign of the night may very well be how Embiid was moving around to defend the paint, especially in the second half. After Andre Drummond had a bit of renaissance in the first half, Embiid shut that down in the second. He was navigating around the paint and deterring every Knick shot attempt in a way he hasn’t looked like since 2023.

After the game, Embiid said he told Maxey, “we’ve been going against these guys for the last couple of years, and tonight felt a little different.”

For as many additions as the Sixers made to this roster, what Embiid meant by that statement was how he felt physically. In those previous battles against the Knicks, especially their two playoff series in the past three seasons, Embiid was severely compromised due to varying health issues and it especially impacted his play on the defensive end of the court.

Since he’s come back from the injury caused by the Jonathan Kuminga fall, he just hasn’t been the same paint deterrent he was for his entire career to that point.

After a healthy offseason where he was able to trim down his figure quite a bit, Embiid is feeling great about where he is as a defender, going so far as to say he’ll be back to an All-Defensive Team-caliber player after the game. He hasn’t made an All-Defense team since 2020-21.

“I think a lot of it falls on me. I put it on me,” he said. “If I want to be All-Defense like I used to be, that changes everything for our team. So if I can play that way every single night, which I will, [it] changes everything.”

Another big theme from the Sixers after the game was that it is just one game and they still have a lot to build on. Getting through that building phase all in one piece will be one of the most important parts of it. If the Sixers keep getting that version of Embiid on defense on a regular basis, it gets easier to believe they can achieve all that they want to.

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New Padres owners have work to do

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 07: Owners Kwanza Jones and José E. Feliciano of the San Diego Padres attend game four of the National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewersat Petco Park on October 07, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The 2026 World Series begins on Oct. 23 with Game 1. It is a best-of-seven series and can end no later than Oct. 31. Five days after the end of the World Series is the start of free agency for all players who qualify. Teams have an exclusive window during that time to re-sign their players before full free agency begins.

During this period, qualifying offers are submitted to eligible players, with players having 10 days to accept or reject them.

The General Manager meetings take place Nov. 9-12 and will be much more interesting this year with the impending lockout that will begin if no CBA is reached by Dec. 1 at 11:59 pm with the lockout following the next day.

Owners meetings take place Nov. 17-19. Fans are not sure what to expect from this meeting, as the CBA negotiations will determine whether the owners have any real business to decide.

Nov. 20 is the non-tender deadline for players on the 40-man roster who have fewer than six years of major league experience. If a player isn’t offered a contract by that date, they are free agents.

The scheduled Winter Meetings are Dec. 7-10 and will not take place if the league is in a lockout. Same for the Rule 5 draft and the draft lottery.

A stressful first offseason for the new owners

New San Diego Padres owners José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones are about two months into their ownership of the team. This offseason will not be a normal one in baseball, with a work stoppage a very real possibility.

The last lockout took place in the 2021 offseason. From Nov. 2 to Dec. 2 of 2021, the teams of Major League Baseball went on a rampage, signing players to contracts totaling over $1.9 billion to get in under the lockout. Teams were very busy before the lockout occured.

It remains to be seen if that same attitude will prevail this offseason. With a contentious negotiation sure to take place, it makes sense to get important players locked up before the blackout occurs. If teams wait for the conclusion of the CBA battle, the season will come quickly and signing players will be competitive and pressurized.

What to expect from Kwanza and José

The Padres’ new owners sent a letter to season ticket holders soon after the team’s elimination from the playoffs. It contained their pledge to further the legacy of the late Peter Seidler while continuing to pursue a World Series championship for San Diego. 

“We said we were All IN, ” the letter read in part, “We meant it then. We mean it now.”

“While we felt the sting of this season ending too soon, we gained an even deeper appreciation for the championship dream you’ve carried long before we arrived,” they wrote later in the letter.

They added, “Your faith deserves more than words; it deserves action. We’re committed to earning your trust through the decisions we make and the work we do alongside Padres leadership.”

The key thought could be that their actions need to speak as loudly as their words. So far, their actions have been fun to watch. They attended games, sat in the stands with fans, and interacted. They dressed in team colors, participated in postseason celebrations, and talked to the media during those celebrations. Their enthusiasm and energy were obvious and noted.

What should they do while we all wait to see what happens with the new contract?

In that time between the end of the season and the start of the impasse, action needs to happen to prove to the fan base that they mean what they say.

Locking up Ty France would make a statement

First baseman Ty France has expressed a desire to stay here. He is at the end of the prime years of his career and probably won’t be getting top-tier money. Feliciano and Jones can make a big impression if they direct president of baseball operations A.J. Preller to begin negotiations and try to sign France before Dec. 2. A trade or a free agent signing of a pitcher could also signal to the fans that they are looking forward to 2027 and hope for another playoff run for the Padres.

Both Michael King and Adrián Morejón have big money ahead of them. There is a real possibility that the Padres will not be able to win a free-agent bidding war for either of them. If King opts out of his Padres contract and Morejón rejects a probable qualifying offer from the Padres, a bidding war for their services is almost guaranteed.

The Padres have a glaring hole in the place of a starting rotation for 2027

The first two acts of their first offseason as owners should be to sign France and a starting pitcher or two for whenever the 2027 season begins. Those actions would go a long way toward reassuring the Friar Faithful of their desire to keep the playoff cycle going. We should all understand this won’t be a normal offseason, but the fan base needs some tangible proof that 2027 won’t be a lost season because of labor unrest.

If José and Kwanza give Preller the power to do some work before any lockout occurs, it signals that when the labor situation is settled, the Padres will be busy filling out their roster. 

Getting ready for Spring Training 2027 will be an easier job if some of the work happens early in the offseason. Feliciano and Jones can set a budget and give Preller early success with action soon after the World Series ends.

Padres News:

  • Luis Campusano got some support from new Padres manager Craig Stammen as soon as he took the job and Campusano rewarded Stammen with his best season in MLB.
  • Ethan Salas made his MLB debut at the end of the 2026 season and showed he can play at the game’s highest level, so what should be expected of the young catcher in 2027?

Baseball News:

  • All of the information you need to get ready for Game 1 of the World Series can be found here.
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Highlights: Spurs’ young guards provide spark in loss to the Thunder

SAN ANTONIO, TX - OCTOBER 20: Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs handles the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on October 20, 2026 at the Frost Bank 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 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

After the Spurs lost the NBA Finals to Mariska Hargitay, Timothée Chalamet, and Anne Hathaway, my spiritual sports non-corporeal self went on a mental vacation, like Tom Hanks in Castaway. I filled my brain with movies directed by Michael Bay. It wasn’t the healthiest thing to do, wouldn’t you say?

But when the unchecked optimism of Opening Night went astray some time during the second quarter, a little humble pie might be exactly what I needed. Or just pie. I skipped dinner. But the Spurs. Our beloved Spurs. They just needed to shoot better. It’ll be fine (more on that later). It’s all good.

Stephon Castle led the team with 24 points, along with 7 rebounds while Dylan Harper contributed 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. Victor Wembanyama had a night to forget field goal percentage wise, but he continued his dominance on the defensive side.


There’s an old baseball adage that the first pitch of the season foreshadows how the entire season will unfold. I like to think the same applies to basketball. So in the highlight below, we have the Spurs offense set up in the half court, flowing through Victor Wembanyama, who then finds Devin Vassell wide friggin’ open for the corner three.

That’s it. That’s the season. Spurs shoot 100% from three the rest of the 81 games left and steamroll into the playoffs like this score says, winning in the scoreboard, and keeping their opponents to ZERO POINTS. Elite defense. So if you didn’t read the headline to this article, and you haven’t watched the game, you can stop reading. That’s all folks!

OK, I guess we’re all too smart to fall for the ol’ jump to conclusion (RIP Richard Riehle) without any prior evidence. Sure, the Spurs may have lost this game, but that does not mean we cannot enjoy some highlights amidst the dumpster fire that was the first half of this game, with the exception of this beautiful full-court pass from Dylan Harper to a streaking Stephon Castle.

I watched this entire game with the same energy as that couple calmly sitting outside a Paris cafe while the city behind them was aflame with social unrest. This is fine. It’s all fine.

Dylan Harper literally and metaphorically and poetically, AND metaphysically weaved his way through a field of arms and legs before he found a cutting Luke Kornet for the open jam. Harper picked up where he left off last postseason but is now running with the starters. The three-guard lineup may need some subtle adjustments or we may see Wembanyama running point, Devin Vassell posting up as center, Stephon Castle taking up power forward, and De’Aaron Fox slotting into small forward because what is positional basketball but a social construct.

Speaking of glorious mustaches, we can stop referring to Keldon Johnson as “The Mustang” but rather as “The Mustache” in honor of his new look. Did you know his middle name is “Wilder.” It’s like his parents knew they would have a son who plays basketball with complete reckless abandon, so much so that his celebratory punch sent a 7-foot, 1-inch Luke Kornet tumbling to the floor in the wake of his excitement.

I love Victor Wembanyama. You love Victor Wembanyama. We all love Victor Wembanyama. Let’s take a step back, ignore that our dude went 1-13 from the field, and instead just bask in the glory that he’ll return to sender any ball in his stratosphere, especially if that ball came off the fingertips of that special someone whose name rhymes with Dolph Lundgren.

Seriously, I think (North) Americans liked Dolph Lundgren in Rocky IV more than Wembanyama likes Chet Holmgren. Even the Soviets won a round in that movie, so let’s chalk up tonight as a win for the Oklahoma City Soviets. No, I am not comparing the Oklahoma City Thunder to a one-party Eurasian state dominated by the Communist Party from 1922 to 1991. What I am saying is that the Supersonics should have never left Seattle.

What a pretty pirouette. Just a ravishing rebound. With a picturesque put-back. And such a handsome hustle of a play.

Is my brain still rattled from the fog of an NBA Finals loss followed by a disappointing loss on Opening Night? Nah, I just appreciate alliteration. Can’t a man have hobbies?

Thankfully, the second half Spurs stuffed the first half Spurs into the lockers and came out blazing to get the game more competitive. Also, don’t stuff people into lockers. Hide behind a keyboard like any modern day bully does.

Now is a good time as any to remind everyone that the Thunder are a very good team. Jalen Williams appears to be fully healthy this year, and they have a sniper in Jared McCain coming off the bench. Still a deep, talented team that remains a top title contender. So this second half push by the Spurs was impressive in of itself.


What? A sprinkle of optimism in the first game out of 82? How dare we.

De’Aaron Fox went a little craft beer with this hoppy and bouncy move to the basket, which was so sweet that it would make a bearded hipster blush through his beard and red flannel shirt.

For you, the day Victor Wembanyama went 1-13 from the field was the most important day of your life. But for him, it was Tuesday. Literally. That new Street Fighter movie doesn’t look half bad either.

If you missed the game because you were too busy looking for the old Street Fighter music video starring MC Hammer, Deion Sanders (yeah, I’m not kidding at all), and Jean-Claude Van Damme, here are the full-game highlights:

Aaand here is that aforementioned music video:


Next up, the Spurs take on the Houston Rockets at the Frost Bank Center on Friday, October 23, 2026 .

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The sweeping impact of Warriors' Kristaps Porziņģis gamble

The sweeping impact of Warriors' Kristaps Porziņģis gamble originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

There was too much possibility and hope and potential for the Warriors to dismiss Kristaps Porziņģis, a 7-foot-3 center whose talents would add immense value to their roster. A healthy Porziņģis is an All-Star.

So, they weighed the substantial risk that would come with signing the 7-foot-3 center barely an hour into NBA free agency. They couldn’t wait. Didn’t want to wait. Neither did Porziņģis.

And now the Warriors are paying the steep price that always was conceivable.

Porziņģis, who missed Golden State’s entire preseason with an undisclosed illness, reportedly considering whether he’ll ever play basketball again. He almost certainly has seen the last of his brief connection with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and the rest of the Warriors.

“The Warriors have egg on their faces,” a Western Conference executive told NBC Sports Bay Area Wednesday morning.

Though the Warriors in recent days have privately questioned whether Porziņģis would return, they weren’t ready to give up on the possibility. His offensive skills – 3-point shooting, crafty passing, massive length – would have made him one of the lead characters in the revised offensive scheme under coach Steve Kerr.

Porziņģis, 31, would bring strong value to the defense, too. When associate head coach Frank Vogel, who will coordinate the defense, commented on KP’s potential impact Monday, there was so much trepidation that it felt he was crossing all his fingers.

“That’s obviously the big answer,” Vogel told NBC Sports Bay Area. “We’re still hopeful to have him back, but we’ll see. But that size? You can’t teach size, right? And I’ve always excelled at coaching bigs, working the angles and the commitment to rim protection and doing it without fouling. Doing it non-recklessly. I feel like I could do a lot with him in our defensive system if we’re able to get him back.”

Two days later, the Warriors are basically giving up on having Porziņģis, who might be giving up on his career.

The worst outcome, no KP at all, has landed at the feet of the Warriors. They are now exploring paths to shed the two-year, $40 million contract – $20 million this season, only $3 million guaranteed next season – he signed less than four months ago.

Before Porziņģis played one game, or participated in one practice.

This is a hit to the “five-out” offense that Kerr is committed to implementing. It’s a hit to the explosive partnership that would have been Curry-Porziņģis. It’s a hit to Green, who gets an automatic and not entirely embraced boost in minutes at center.

It’s a hit to, above all, the Warriors being the team they wanted to be this season.

Golden State’s health/performance chief, Dr. Rick Celebrini, was going to have his hands full trying to manage KP through the regular season in hopes of reaching the playoffs. It was a plus that Porziņģis in March expressed full confidence in Celebrini’s restorative powers.

All signs point to those powers being directed elsewhere on a roster that, frankly, will keep Celebrini plenty busy. The most delicate member of the team has one foot out the door. Retirement would surprise no one.

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Can Los Angeles Clippers salvage what is expected to be a nightmare season?

The Los Angeles Clippers will finally get on the court to open the 2026-27 NBA season, after an eventful offseason.

The Clippers will host the Sacramento Kings at the Intuit Dome in the season opener for both teams on Wednesday, Oct. 21.

While there's a lot of uncertainty regarding what this season will look like for the Clippers, it raises the question: can the team salvage what is expected to be a nightmare season?

The organization appears to have fallen on hard times, having been a consistent playoff-contending team to one that likely will drop near the bottom of the Western Conference as a result of its offseason.

The league announced disciplinary action against the team in early September after an external law firm completed enough of its investigation and shared its findings with league commissioner Adam Silver.

The Clippers were fined $30 million and were told to forfeit five first-round draft picks (2029–2033). Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and two of the team’s executives were also suspended.

The Clippers also used the offseason to create a younger roster. The team traded Kawhi Leonard and moved on from Nicolas Batum (37) in free agency, while adding players such as Brandon Ingram (29) and Gradey Dick (22). The Clippers were one of the oldest teams in the league, with an average age of 33.2 years last season.

Ingram will not be available for the season opener, leaving coach Tyronn Lue with the task of figuring out how to get the most out of this team.

“We put in a lot of stuff offensively to see what works for this team and see what will stick and we scrapped a lot of it already,” Lue said. "We are just trying to see what works with this team. 

“We have some new players and guys in new positions, so we are just trying to see what works."

In the first game, Lue wants to get a better idea of what his team is good at and what he can still work on.

Figuring out what can work well could go a long way in determining how this season will play out.

More: Los Angeles Clippers season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction

Can Clippers salvage nightmare season?

The Clippers won’t have the manpower needed to put together a championship run. If the team struggles this season, it might not necessarily mean they have a favorable draft pick to look forward to either. 

The Oklahoma City Thunder maintain favorable control over the Clippers' first-round pick as part of a previous trade.

Instead, the Clippers can look to produce a solid product in order to increase the trade value for some of its players while working some of its younger players into the rotation and gaining experience.

Predicting 2026-27 Clippers’ season

USA Today projects the Clippers will finish near the bottom of the Western Conference with a 31-51 record.

Los Angeles Clippers offseason review

  • Record last season: 42-40 (9th in Western Conference)
  • Playoff finish: Did not qualify
  • Coach: Tyronn Lue (seventh season)
  • 2026-27 title odds: +75000 (per BetMGM)
  • Projected record : 31-51
  • Offseason grade : C+

Key roster additions

  • G Keaton Wagler (draft pick)
  • F Baba Miller (draft pick)
  • F Rui Hachimura (free agency)
  • G Max Strus (traded)
  • F Nick Martinelli (traded)
  • F Johni Broome (traded)

Key roster losses

  • F Kawhi Leonard (traded)
  • F Nicolas Batum (free agency)
  • G Bogdan Bogdanović (free agency)
  • F/C John Collins (free agency)

Clippers injury report

The L.A. Clippers have at least five players who were ruled out for the season opener against the Kings on Wednesday.

OUT:

Brandon Ingram - Right Heel Surgery

Jordan Miller - Left Rotator Cuff Surgery

Yanic Konan Niederhäuser- Right Lisfranc Surgery

Max Strus - Right Plantar Fascia Partial Tear

Bradley Beal - Right Knee Injury Management 

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Can Los Angeles Clippers salvage what is expected to be a nightmare season?

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Finding his way: Caleb Bonemer adds another route to Chicago

Have bat, will travel: Caleb Bonemer is learning the outfield in hopes of finding a faster path to Chicago.

Caleb Bonemer spent the summer giving baseballs a one-way ticket out of the yard. Now, the White Sox are trying to figure out where to put his glove. After a 37-homer season between High-A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham, Bonemer has made a pretty convincing argument that his bat deserves attention. Finding a place for it in Chicago is the next part of the assignment, and some extra mileage in the outfield could help.

That work has continued in the Arizona Fall League, where Bonemer is getting more opportunities to learn the grass while giving Glendale plenty to like at the plate. The Sox haven’t settled on his defensive home, but they’re giving themselves options. With an increasingly crowded infield, that’s probably a good idea.

Bonemer finished the regular season with a .251/.380/.550 slash line and a .930 OPS across the two levels. Along with those 37 long balls, he drew 84 walks in 595 plate appearances, good for a 14.1% walk rate. There’s power here, obviously, but there’s also a willingness to take the free pass when pitchers won’t give him something to hit.

And the production continued after his promotion to Birmingham. That matters. Beating up on High-A pitching is fun, but carrying an offensive profile into Double-A gives the Sox more reason to consider how soon he might help the big league club.

Of course, there’s still some swing-and-miss to address. Bonemer struck out 161 times during the regular season, a 27.1% rate. More than a quarter of his trips to the plate ended without a ball in play, and better pitching will keep testing that part of his game. The goal is to make more contact while keeping the damage that makes him dangerous. The walks help, but getting a hittable pitch and doing something with it will become increasingly important as he moves closer to Chicago.

So far, the fall has offered encouraging results. Through 39 at-bats, Bonemer has hit .282/.349/.590 with a .939 OPS, four doubles, a triple, two home runs and nine RBIs. He has also drawn four walks against eight strikeouts. It’s a small sample, because pretty much everything in the AFL is a small sample. Still, we’ll happily take the extra-base hits.

The more interesting development, though, might be what happens between his plate appearances. Bonemer’s outfield experiment began before he arrived in Arizona. He worked with Doug Sisson in Birmingham in late summer and made his first center field appearance on Aug. 26, giving him some experience before taking the assignment to Glendale. He started nine games in center for Birmingham, handling all 28 chances without an error over 79 2/3 innings.

That makes the AFL an extension of work already underway. One of the biggest reasons for sending him was to get more defensive reps, and he has spent time at all three outfield positions, mostly in center. There’s plenty for the 21-year-old to learn. Reading a ball off the bat, choosing an efficient route and knowing when to call off another outfielder take practice. So does getting the ball back to the correct base without giving runners an extra 90 feet.

Bonemer has one error in eight chances this fall, but that tells us very little about how the transition is going. An error total won’t tell you whether a late jump turned a catchable ball into a double or whether a good route made a difficult play look routine. Those are the details worth watching.

Maybe an offseason conversation with Tristan Peters would help, too. The former Savannah Banana gets some terrific jumps, and Bonemer could do worse than picking the brain of the guy currently patrolling center on the South Side. Peters also complicates any assumption that Bonemer’s assignment comes with a future starting job attached. Chicago’s rookie center fielder hit .265/.337/.437 with a .774 OPS, 12 home runs, 56 RBIs and 31 doubles while making the All-Star team. The Fielding Bible credited him with five Defensive Runs Saved. That’s a pretty solid case for keeping his spot.

The corners offer more questions. Braden Montgomery finished with zero DRS in right and had his struggles at the plate. Sam Antonacci, another infielder learning the outfield, finished at -9 DRS in left. That gives the Sox reasons to keep developing alternatives. It doesn’t tell us which player, if any, Bonemer might eventually replace.

Josh Barfield told Scott Merkin that outfield work adds versatility; Bonemer remains an infielder. Keeping both possibilities alive makes sense. With the big league infield crowded, the outfield could offer Bonemer a quicker route to Chicago, an opportunity he has acknowledged and embraced. A player who can handle multiple positions is easier to work into a lineup, particularly when his bat gives the manager a reason to find room. But he has to be able to handle them. Writing three extra positions next to his name won’t help much if the Sox can’t trust him to play there.

There’s also the trade question. A power bat with several possible defensive homes could interest another organization, and maintaining his infield work preserves those options. That’s a potential benefit of the development plan, though there’s no reason to treat it as evidence the Sox are preparing to move him. For now, there’s enough to follow without trying to predict a transaction or pencil him into the 2027 lineup.

Watch where Bonemer gets his remaining AFL starts. Watch whether his reads, routes and throws become more comfortable as the innings accumulate. At the plate, watch whether he keeps pairing power with walks while cutting down the Ks. Then comes his assignment to open next season, which should give us another clue about how close the Sox believe he is.

Bonemer has already given Chicago a reason to think about finding room for his bat. The work now is making sure his glove gives them somewhere to put it.