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Yankees' Gerrit Cole begins throwing program

Gerrit Cole took a big step on his road to recovery on Monday, throwing 20 pitches off of flat ground.

Manager Aaron Boone confirmed the news, which was first reported by YES Network's Meredith Marakovits.

"He’s done a good job with rehab," Boone said. "This is one of those cool markers along that way that’s significant to hit, so excited for him."

The Yankees ace underwent Tommy John surgery on March 11, opting for the internal brace procedure that could potentially shorten his recovery time.

The 34-year-old appeared in two spring training games for the Yankees this year, and it was clear something wasn’t right, as the former Cy Young winner allowed seven earned runs on seven hits over 6.0 innings of work. Cole ended up having season-ending surgery just five days after his final spring start.

"It’s a big one, first day throwing," Cole told reporters on Monday. "Been building up to it for a few weeks so it’s nice to get outside and get it accomplished and have it go well."

The right-hander also mentioned that it "felt really good" to be out there and that he was "fairly accurate."

While it's great to see Cole throwing again, he still has a long way to go before pitching for New York once again. Nevertheless, he'll continue his throwing program through the rest of the season before shutting it down again entering the offseason phase.

"This initial progression should take at least a few months so we’re right at the beginning of it," Cole said.

With Cole missing the entire season, free agent addition Max Fried has stepped into the ace role nicely, pitching to a 2.94 ERA with a 1.10 WHIP. It’s clear, however, that the Yankees have missed Cole, who has pitched to a 3.12 ERA and made three All-Star Games in a Yankees uniform.

The Yankees currently find themselves in third place in the AL East, and hold just a half-game lead over the Cleveland Guardians for the third and final Wild Card spot.

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Why Mike Sullivan And The Penguins Parted Ways Leading To Rangers Hire

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The New York Rangers were able to hire one of the most highly regarded coaches in the NHL this offseason, Mike Sullivan. 

Why was Sullivan even available in the first place? 

Sullivan coached the Pittsburgh Penguins for 10 seasons and won two Stanley Cups, as most of his tenure was greatly successful. 

However, toward the end of his time in Pittsburgh, the Penguins began to struggle. 

The Penguins have failed to reach the playoffs over the past three seasons and haven’t even won a playoff round since 2018. 

While Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas didn’t necessarily feel that the recent lack of success was Sullivan’s fault, he felt it was time for both the Penguins to have a fresh face behind the bench and for Sullivan to find a new coaching destination. 

“He and I met last Tuesday — just about where we’re at, where we’re going, the road that we see to get there, the challenges that lie ahead,” Dubas said in April. “In my mind, and there had been a few stretches during the year where I (felt) this as well … where maybe someone could be a great coach and it was just time for them to go elsewhere.

“Use whatever analogy you want: Sometimes the class needs a new professor; sometimes the professor needs a new class.”

There were rumblings throughout the 2024-25 campaign that the Penguins and Sullivan could part ways, and Dubas admitted he had that possibility in his mind for months before the end of the season.

“There were times throughout the year that I thought it just may be time,” Dubas said of Sullivan. “It’s a lot to ask of somebody, when they’ve done such a long and successful job here, to be managing that and continue to transition the team, too. Off the top of my head, I don’t know that there’s an NHL coach that’s done that.”

Longtime NHL Reporter Believes There's One Clear Option For The Rangers' CaptaincyLongtime NHL Reporter Believes There's One Clear Option For The Rangers' CaptaincyThere’s one player who’s beginning to gain momentum for the New York Rangers' captaincy. 

Shortly after parting ways with the Penguins, Sullivan signed a five-year, $32 million contract with the Rangers, making him the highest-paid coach in NHL history. 

Meanwhile, the Penguins hired Dan Muse to replace Sullivan, who served as a Rangers assistant coach for the past two seasons under Peter Laviolette.

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Projecting Sabres Trade Cost – Tyler Bertuzzi

The Buffalo Sabres should be in the market for an impact top-six forward after dealing winger JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth for defenseman Michael Kesselring and winger Josh Doan. The opening weeks of free agency did not provide GM Kevyn Adams with an opportunity to replace Peterka’s production, and with the two-year deal signed last month with defenseman Bowen Byram, Adams will have to try to acquire a scoring forward with younger players, prospects, and/or draft picks. With just over a month before training camp, the odds are that an addition like that will have to happen during the season. 

Winger Tyler Bertuzzi is a veteran of the Atlantic Division, playing his first seven seasons in Detroit, a short stint with Boston, and one year with Toronto. The 30-year-old is in year two of a four-year, $22 million contract with Chicago, and scored over 20 goals for the second season in a row last season, but the Hawks attempt to build a veteran support group around wunderkind Connor Bedard was a dramatic failure.

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Bertuzzi is one of the few forwards on the Chicago roster that has term remaining, and by the time the Hawks are ready to contend for a playoff spot, he will be past his prime. GM Kyle Davidson or his successor may be looking at a complete reset if the club continues to struggle and could be willing to move out the veteran winger while he still can garner a good return, but his 10-team no trade clause may complicate matters.  

What Would It Cost?

Adams would definitely be attracted by a veteran with years remaining on his deal, especially with the cap going up significantly and Bertuzzi locked in at a $5.5 million AAV. The Hawks are loaded with draft capital, so it is likely that they would prefer a player with some NHL experience or a prospect close to being ready to make the jump. That would mean names like Zach Benson, Devon Levi, Noah Ostlund, or Konsta Helenius.  

 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

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MLB Power Rankings: Brewers and Mariners streaking, reeling Mets fall out of top 10

Featured in this week’s MLB Power Rankings, the final "ace-off" between Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer, the Astros, Padres, and Reds are all getting help down the stretch, the Red Sox keep locking up their young core, the waiting game continues for top prospects for the Pirates and Orioles, and A's rookie Carlos Cortes unlocks the new achievement of "switch-fielder."

(Please note these power rankings are a combination of current performance and long-term projected outlook)

Let’s get started!

Note: Rankings are from the morning of Monday, August 11.

1) Milwaukee Brewers

Last week: 1

The Brewers can do no wrong right now. Capped by a walk-off homer from Isaac Collins against the Mets on Sunday, Milwaukee has won nine straight games and currently find themselves on pace for a 101-win season.

I could show you the walk-off homer from Sunday, but it doesn’t get much better than this picture perfect throw from Blake Perkins to seal Friday’s win.

2) Philadelphia Phillies ⬆️

Last week: 6

The Phillies have won six out of seven to build a 5 1/2 game lead over the Mets in the NL East. Jhoan Duran has been exactly what the doctor ordered as the team’s new closer, as he’s gone 4-for-4 in save chances with just one hit allowed through his first four appearances since the trade from the Twins.

3) Los Angeles Dodgers

Last week: 3

With this blast, Shohei Ohtani became the fastest player in Dodgers history to reach 40 homers in a season. He now has four 40-homer seasons to his credit, which leads all active players. Of course, Aaron Judge is just three homers away from joining that club.

4) Toronto Blue Jays

Last week: 4

One last time for the road? Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw squared off on Saturday for likely the final time in their respective Hall of Fame careers. Scherzer did his part with two runs allowed over six innings, but Kershaw was just a little bit better six innings of one-run ball. What a treat.

5) Detroit Tigers

Last week: 5

Kerry Carpenter is one of the most aggressive hitters in the majors, but it’s working for him. Despite the lowest walk rate among players with at least 300 plate appearances, he’s hitting .361 (13-for-36) with five homers and a 1.313 OPS since returning from the injured list late last month.

6) Chicago Cubs ⬇️

Last week: 2

Rookie Matt Shaw is beginning to find his footing in the big leagues. He’s slashing .328/.349/.770 with seven homers, 15 RBI, three steals, and 12 runs scored over 20 games since the All-Star break.

7) Houston Astros ⬆️

Last week: 9

Can the Astros hold off the red-hot Mariners? At least they have help en route. After Spencer Arrighetti made his first start in four months last week, Christian Javier is set to make his return from Tommy John surgery on Monday. Luis Garcia, also on his way back from Tommy John surgery, is currently rehabbing in Triple-A.

8) Seattle Mariners ⬆️

Last week: 11

The Mariners are rolling. With a sweep of the Rays over the weekend, they’ve now won seven straight and sit just a half-game behind the Astros in the AL West. Cal Raleigh crushed his 45th homer on Sunday as he continues to chase history and perhaps the AL MVP Award.

9) San Diego Padres ⬆️

Last week: 10

The Padres made all sorts of improvements at the deadline, but they also got Michael King back from the IL on Saturday after he missed nearly three months with a throracic nerve issue in his right shoulder. He lasted just two-plus innings his his return, but remains capable of providing a big lift down the stretch.

10) Boston Red Sox ⬇️

Last week: 7

Roman Anthony has shown that he belongs during his short time in the majors and the Red Sox are making sure he sticks around for the long haul. The 21-year-old inked an eight-year, $130 extension last week, which ensures that he will be part of a long-term core which also includes long-term agreements with Garrett Crochet, Brayan Bello, Kristian Campbell, and Cedeanne Rafaela.

11) New York Mets ⬇️

Last week: 8

Losers of seven straight and 11 out of 12, the Mets have been more bad than good for an extended period. They are 18-31 dating back to June 12, with the starting rotation being the biggest issue of all.

On a more positive note, with his next homer, Pete Alonso will pass Darryl Strawberry for the Mets' all-time record.

12) New York Yankees

Last week: 12

Including Sunday’s loss against the Astros, Max Fried holds a 6.00 ERA with 15 walks in 36 innings in his last seven starts dating back to the start of July. Not the best timing for the scuffling Yanks.

13) Cincinnati Reds ⬆️

Last week: 14

The Reds are mostly hanging around in the Wild Card race by virtue of the Mets struggling, but they’ll happily take advantage of the opening. Hunter Greene has a chance to be a major difference-maker for the stretch run as he makes his return from the injured list on Wednesday. The 26-year-old had a 2.73 ERA through 11 starts before going down two months ago with a groin injury.

14) Cleveland Guardians ⬆️

Last week: 15

The Guardians won five straight before falling to the White Sox on Sunday, but still find themselves very much in the mix in the AL Wild Card race. Gavin Williams, who carried a no-hitter in the ninth inning against the Mets last week, owns a 1.63 ERA over his last six outings.

15) Texas Rangers ⬇️

Last week: 13

I’ve watched this play at least 10 times and I still think Adolis Garcia caught this ball. Perhaps in the multiverse, he did?

16) Kansas City Royals

Last week: 16

The Royals opted against selling at the deadline after going 15-9 in July, but they’ve lost five out of their last eight games. They have a chance to make some hay this week with series against the Nationals and White Sox.

17) St. Louis Cardinals ⬆️

Last week: 19

Even after trading their closer, Ryan Helsley, as well as Steven Matz and Phil Maton, the Cardinals are still within striking distance in the NL Wild Card race. They get the Rockies to begin the week before a series against the scuffling Yankees, so there’s opportunity this week.

18) San Francisco Giants

Last week: 18

While the Giants lost to the Nationals on Sunday, Justin Verlander became just the 10th player in MLB history to reach the 3,500 strikeout plateau. Just another accolade in his Hall of Fame resume.

19) Arizona Diamondbacks ⬆️

Last week: 22

The Diamondbacks set a new franchise record with nine consecutive hits in Sunday’s 13-6 win over the Rockies. It helps to face bad pitching staffs like the Rockies and the home Athletics, but the D-Backs are tied for fourth in the majors in runs scored this month.

20) Miami Marlins ⬇️

Last week: 17

It’s probably a little too early to call Jakob Marsee the next Mr. Marlin, but he’s well on his way. The 24-year-old rookie is hitting .419 (13-for-31) through 11 games since his call-up.

21) Tampa Bay Rays

Last week: 21

With four homers in the span of three games last week, Junior Caminero is now up to 32 home runs in his age-21 season. He’s on pace to be the second-ever player on the Rays to reach 40 homers. The only other was Carlos Pena, who slugged 46 homers in 2007.

22) Los Angeles Angels ⬇️

Last week: 20

If you are planning what to watch this week, be sure to tune in on Wednesday, as Shohei Ohtani will face the Angels for the first time as a pitcher. Another Ohtani-Trout showdown? Yes please.

23) Baltimore Orioles

Last week: 23

With the Orioles out of contention, the big question at this stage is when we’ll see prospects like Samuel Basallo and Dylan Beavers.

24) Athletics ⬆️

Last week: 25

Carlos Cortes being a member of the “Athletics” is a little too on the nose. The 28-year-old entered Sunday’s game as a left-handed outfielder before serving as a right-handed second third baseman in the ninth inning.

25) Minnesota Twins ⬆️

Last week: 27

The Twins unloaded a good chunk of their roster at the trade deadline, but they’ve swung the bats well in recent days, most notably from rookie Luke Keaschall. The 22-year-old is hitting .455 (10-for-22) with two homers and 10 RBI since coming off the injured list, highlighted by this walk-off blast on Sunday.

26) Atlanta Braves ⬇️

Last week: 24

The Braves won four out of five from the Marlins, so they are picking up some steam just in time to potentially play spoiler against the floundering Mets this week.

27) Pittsburgh Pirates ⬇️

Last week: 26

We’re all waiting for top prospect right-hander Bubba Chandler, but he’s sporting a 6.94 ERA with 11 walks and five homers allowed in 23 1/3 innings over his last five starts. Is the frustration beginning to take a toll on his performance? It would be understandable if it was.

28) Washington Nationals

Last week: 28

It’s been a struggle for James Wood since the All-Star break, but he delivered back-to-back multi-hit games in victories against the Giants this weekend after hitting just .111 (6-for-54) with one RBI over his previous 14 games.

29) Chicago White Sox

Last week: 29

This might just be a Colson Montgomery space moving forward. His 452-foot homer against the Guardians on Sunday was the longest at Rate Field this season.

Would you believe that the White Sox are third in the majors in runs scored over the past 30 days?

30) Colorado Rockies

Last week: 30

Kyle Karros delivered an RBI single in his first major league at-bat on Friday against the Diamondbacks. Yep, that's Eric Karros' son. Yep, you should be questioning your own mortality.

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Rick Pitino speaks on coaching future, eventual retirement plans

Rick Pitino is entering the 37th season of his career as a head coach in college basketball. However, in turning the age of 73 next month, retirement naturally continues to come up with Pitino. Pitino addressed his future in coaching and eventual retirement in an interview with Jon Rothstein on ‘Inside College Basketball Now’ on […]

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2 Blackhawks Legends Are So Close To Impressive NHL Milestones

The Chicago Blackhawks have a lot of excitement surrounding them heading into the 2025-26 season. There are some young players in the organization hoping to take big steps this season.

There will also be a desire to watch some older Blackhawks legends work their magic in other markets. In particular, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane who are both closing in on some impressive NHL milestones. 

Kane, playing for the Detroit Red Wings, has 492 career goals. His 8th of the 2025-26 season will be the 500th of his Hall of Fame career. He also had 1343 career points, which means that reaching 57 would get him to that 1400 mark. Although it’s not a guarantee, it is an attainable number for Kane, even at his age. 

As for Toews, who signed with the Winnipeg Jets this summer to return to the NHL, he is sitting with 372 goals and 883 points. We don’t know what his production will look like in his return from a two-year hiatus in his late 30s, but he’s 28 goals from 400 and 17 points away from 900.

The points milestone is likely for Toews, while the goals may be tough. He has the pedigree to do it, but he’d have to perform above expectations. 

Although they are in other markets now, Blackhawks fans will always be interested in what's going on with the two legends who gave them so many great moments. Even when Toews and Kane go head-to-head for the first time in the NHL, which will take place in Detroit on December 31st, Chicago will be locked in watching them. 

Almost all of their hockey glory came in a Chicago Blackhawks sweater, and seeing them reach some of these milestones will be special, despite being in different colors. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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Longtime NHL Reporter Believes There's One Clear Option For The Rangers' Captaincy

Danny Wild-Imagn Images

There’s one player who’s beginning to gain momentum for the New York Rangers' captaincy. 

Since the Rangers traded Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks in December, the team has been without a captain, but that could change at the start of the 2025-26 campaign. 

Longtime Rangers reporter and columnist Larry Brooks strongly believes that the Rangers brass should choose J.T. Miller to be the team’s next captain.

“The captain’s sweater is not just another piece of laundry,” Brooks wrote. “It represents the organization’s ethos. The Rangers acquired J.T. Miller to change the team culture. The 32-year-old is hard-edged and can be abrasive. That is the identity the Blueshirts should adopt.”

The Rangers acquired Miller from the Vancouver Canucks this past season, partly due to his immense talent and also because of the energy he brings on a daily basis. 

Miller is known for his competitive and fiery nature, and the goal of bringing him in was to help start a culture shift within the organization that was desperately needed. 

Rangers Rank 10th In The Hockey News’ Exclusive Summer Splash SeriesRangers Rank 10th In The Hockey News’ Exclusive Summer Splash SeriesThe Hockey News’ exclusive summer splash series evaluating the off-seasons of every NHL team is into the final stretch. To put these rankings together, we’ve focused the spotlight on every franchise’s off-season additions, departures, hirings and firings. And we’ve labelled each team as belonging to one of three categories – teams that have improved, teams that essentially stayed the same, and teams that have regressed. 

Making him the captain would demonstrate that the Rangers are fully committed to a change in their overall identity.

It’s unclear when or even if the Rangers plan on naming a captain, but Miller is certainly a candidate to watch out for.

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Canadiens Forward Should Build Off Career Year

Montreal Canadiens forward Jake Evans was among the Original Six club's top stories from the 2024-25 season. The 29-year-old center thrived for the Habs during it, as he scored 13 goals and set new career highs with 23 assists, 36 points, and 126 hits in 82 games. 

Due to his strong play during the 2024-25 campaign, Evans earned himself a four-year, $11.4 million contract extension from the Canadiens back in March. With this, Evans will continue to be a key part of the Canadiens' forward group for multiple more seasons, which is undoubtedly good news for Montreal. 

Now, after putting together a career year in 2024-25 and landing a nice contract extension, Evans will now be looking to build off it. The Toronto, Ontario native showed this past season that he has the potential to provide solid secondary offensive production for the Canadiens, and it would not be surprising in the slightest if he translates that over to the 2025-26 campaign because of it. 

If Evans continues to produce solid offense in a bottom-six role while also being impactful with his strong defensive play, it would be great for a Canadiens team on the rise. We will need to wait and see what kind of year he puts together in 2025-26 from here. 

Canadiens Defenseman Is Interesting Breakout CandidateCanadiens Defenseman Is Interesting Breakout CandidateEarlier this off-season, the Montreal Canadiens re-signed defenseman Jayden Struble to a two-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $1.4125 million. Getting this deal done with Struble was important for the Canadiens, as he is among their most promising young defensemen.