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Chicago Cubs news — Boyd, Happ, Hoerner, PCA, Swanson, Hollowell

Today’s Reflections

I don’t want to run through the play-by-play, as Al has covered it all thoroughly. But I’d be remiss:

Matthew Boyd — it wasn’t pretty or dominant, but all that matters is that he (and the defense) got out of jams, and the important two numbers: one run allowed over seven innings. What a battler!

Ian Happ — The throw on the double play from left was money, and the slide at home in the 10th was epic.

Nico Hoerner — I’ve gotten in the bad habit (I guess understandably) of allowing a lot of Nico’s plays make me think of Ryno. But there are exceptions, like the throw between the legs to first earlier this year. And Friday night’s play behind second and snap throw to third to get the runner — that was beyond elite. I don’t really think Ryno would have pulled off that combination during the play. Yet another play of the year by Nico?

PCA got the Cubs on the board. And good job directing Happ to slide to the inside of the plate.

Dansby Swanson’s single got the first run in the 10th. Honorable mention to Seiya Suzuki for the bases-loaded walk that turned out to be the difference in the game.

And Gavin Hollowell picked up his second career save Friday. With the insurance run, he concentrated on the three outs needed, not the placed runner on second. Three outs on five pitches. Hard to beat that.

Not much offense, but thanks to Boyd, he kept the Cubs in the game by going deep into the game by allowing just one run. And for Hollowell for slamming the door.

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Friday’s Game Stories:

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Food For Thought:

Norman Jeffrey Healey (March 25, 1966 – March 2, 2008) was a Canadian blues, rock and jazz guitarist, singer and songwriter who attained popularity in the 1980s and 1990s. When he was almost one year old, Healey lost his sight due to retinoblastoma, a rare cancer of the eyes. His eyes had to be surgically removed, and he was given ocular prostheses.

Healey began playing guitar when he was three, developing his unique style of playing the instrument flat on his lap. When he was 15, Healey formed the band Blue Direction, a four-piece that primarily played bar-band cover tunes. Shortly thereafter he was introduced to bassist Joe Rockman and drummer Tom Stephen, with whom he formed a trio, the Jeff Healey Band. They received a write-up in Toronto’s NOW magazine, and soon were playing almost nightly in local clubs, such as Grossman’s Tavern and the famed blues club Albert’s Hall (where Jeff Healey was discovered by guitarists Stevie Ray Vaughan and Albert Collins).

Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.

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Swanson: Hall of Famer Joe Torre passionate about going to bat for kids at risk of family violence

Joe Torre, joined by his wife, Ali, and daughter, Andrea, are saluted before a Dodgers game for his foundation's work.
Hall of Fame manager Joe Torre is joined by his wife, Ali, and daughter, Andrea, at a Dodgers game earlier this season. The Dodgers recognized Torre and his Safe at Home Foundation, which is committed to supporting kids exposed to domestic violence. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

Some people don’t need an introduction.

Joe Torre, for one.

You know him. Baseball icon. Hall of Famer. The only big leaguer with 2,000 hits as a player and 2,000 wins as a manager, he steered the New York Yankees to four World Series championships — and the Dodgers to consecutive National League West crowns and NLCS appearances in 2008 and 2009.

So you’re well-versed on Torre’s baseball bonafides, but you might not be aware of the most meaningful part of his legacy: He’s spent the past 24 years helping people who actually would need to be introduced to him.

Kids who are too young to know Torre the player, manager, color commentator — but who can, unfortunately, relate with what he went through when he was their age. Kids who, like him, are growing up afraid and anxious because of domestic violence at home, and who need what Torre didn’t have — somewhere safe to go to for help.

Since 2002, Torre and his wife, Ali, have been behind the expanding the Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation. Across the nation, they’ve set up safe spaces in schools, specialized classrooms that feel more like living rooms and that are manned by professional counselors trained in domestic violence intervention.

San Francisco Giants assistant manager Ron Washington hugs Joe Torre before a game at Dodger Stadium on May 14.
San Francisco Giants assistant manager Ron Washington hugs Joe Torre before a game at Dodger Stadium on May 14. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

They’re at schools in New York, Cincinnati, Tahiti and in L.A., at Bellflower Middle/High School and John Adams Middle School, John H. Glenn High and McKinley Elementary School, Palisades Charter High, Santa Monica High, Waite Middle School and Washington Preparatory High.

And they’re open to all, whether you’re a kid experiencing violence or you want to be able to help peers who are.

This past year, the foundation says it reached more than 28,000 students. And since it began, more than 425,000 young people, families, schools, and communities.

These Safe at Home spaces are all named “Margaret’s Place,” in honor of Joe’s mom, who was for years the victim of his father’s violent ire.

“It’s a tough subject to talk about,” Joe Torre said. “But you can’t run away from it.”

He did, though. He’s 85 now, but until he was 54, Torre didn’t reveal that baseball had been his refuge when he was growing up. He didn’t tell anyone that when he was a kid, if he saw his dad’s car in front of his house, Joe would go to a friend’s house and wait until he left for his job as a New York police detective. Joe didn’t share memories like he would later, of seeing his big sister, armed with a knife, standing between their mother and their father, who was going for his pistol.

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Joe Torre poses swinging a bat prior to a game in 1971.
St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Joe Torre poses swinging a bat prior to a game in 1971. (Dave Pickoff / Associated Press)

He didn’t recognize what those traumatic experiences he’d tried to bury did to him, not until he started to talk about them.

“I thought I was born with this shyness and this nervousness,” Torre said before a Dodgers game in May, when the club introduced him and Ali and players and coaches wore T-shirts during batting practice that read: “Everyone deserves to be safe at home.”

“During my playing career,” Torre continued, “if we lost a game and I didn’t get any hits, I’d beat myself up. I was fortunate, I had a good career, but there was always something missing. I really probably could have enjoyed it a lot more than I did.”

That didn’t change until 1995, when he started talking about the domestic violence he experienced. He was surprised, he said, to find himself sharing his story, opening up for the first time at a “Life Success” seminar in Cincinnati, Ali’s hometown.

“Ali, she says, ‘You want to go to this Life Success symposium with me?’” Joe said. “And she’s eight months pregnant with our daughter and I’m not about to say no to anything she asks me to go. So we go in and they separate you, and they put you in groups of six strangers — and I’d just been named manager of the Yankees, so I’m very self-conscious.

“But after a day or so, you’re in it, you know? And then we went home and I called my sisters and asked them questions. Because they always tried to protect me, so I had to drag it out of them … ‘Did dad hit mom?’

“The biggest thing for me was knowing that my dad bringing fear down on the home was what caused my feelings that I was embarrassed to have. Once I went through that, I was able to go deeper.”

Yankees manager Joe Torre bumps fists with catcher Jorge Posada after a win in April 2004.
Yankees manager Joe Torre bumps fists with catcher Jorge Posada after a win in April 2004. (Brian Kersey / Associated Press)

Speaking about what was previously unspeakable helped him cope with his trauma. He said it made him a more empathetic manager and a more confident man. It also made him want to speak out publicly and to encourage others to do the same, to break the cycle of silence.

So they’re getting the word out at — where else? — ballparks. There was the stop at Dodger Stadium in May, and before that, in 2025, seven major league teams had activations at games, as did 63 minor league clubs who hosted a “Safe At Home Awareness Game.”

Because often we do need an introduction, to connect kids with people who can keep them safe, who can assure them they’re not the only ones in their position.

“He’s talked about this many times: If he had access to a program like Margaret’s Place, he wouldn’t have felt like he had to carry this burden alone,” said Rose Robles, the foundation’s senior director of programs. “That was one thing he’s really stressed, he felt he was the only one that was going through this.

“And he would have had some options, some choices for how to respond to what he was experiencing and how to understand it. One thing that we say is that violence thrives in silence, and that is basically what he was experiencing.”

Forty-four percent of the kids Margaret’s Place counselors helped in 2024-25 were dealing with some form of violence at home. Twenty-seven percent have experienced some form of relationship or dating violence. They also help kids who’ve been exposed to community violence or other traumatic events, or who are grieving a traumatic loss.

Dodgers manager Joe Torre pauses for a moment while answering questions in August 2010.
Dodgers manager Joe Torre pauses for a moment while answering questions in August 2010. (Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)

At Bellflower Middle and High School, Principal Jessica Cummings said a Teen Dating Violence Awareness Week and parent workshops focused on fostering healthy relationships increased awareness on her campus.

“We are grateful,” she wrote in an email, “for this partnership and the positive impact it has had.”

Of the students surveyed after receiving services, Safe at Home indicated that 99% reported feeling safer and 93% said they used the tools they learned in counseling.

Torre has absorbed decades of anecdotal feedback too — the knowing nods he sees in the crowd when he’s talked to groups of kids about this, the cameraman who slipped him $20 to put toward the foundation, the interviewer who shared his account of having grown up in a violent household.

“Anyone can become a victim,” Ali Torre said, “Our goal is to intervene and prevent. There are little boys we can have conversations with: ‘You don’t have to repeat the cycle.’ To little girls, ‘There’s an option for you…’

“And Joe has opened a lot of doors for us.”

When you think of Joe Torre, it’s as a former Dodgers skipper. A nine-time All-Star and the 1971 National League Most Valuable Player.

You should also think of him as a champion of children who now know that they aren’t alone, and that they have people who will go to bat for them.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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The latest on Jonathan Kuminga

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: Jonathan Kuminga #0 of the Atlanta Hawks looks on during the game against the New York Knicks during Round One Game Five of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 28, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 (Photo by David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

After a relatively messy 4.5 season saga, Hawks acquired former number seven overall pick Jonathan Kuminga in a swap with the Golden State Warriors for Kristaps Porzingis straight up at last trade deadline.

Could the Hawks get the most out of a talented, but out of favor, forward?

Well, in 16 regular season games with the Hawks, he averaged 12.3 points (58% true shooting) on 22.1 minutes per game. In the six-game Knicks series, those figures were 13.7 points per game (57% true shooting) in 26.0 minutes per game. His overall play was impactful if erratic, and at 24 years of age still, there are many fans of him around the league.

But is Onsi Saleh, the president of basketball operations, one of those fans? Well Saleh did make the decision to turn down his $24.3 million team option for 2026-27.

Now a month later, Jonathan Kuminga remains an unrestricted free agent who has yet to find a home. The Hawks have the ability to execute a sign-and-trade transaction in order to bring back assets this deep into free agency with few teams having necessary cap space or exceptions to take in the forward onto their roster.

While he operated as Atlanta’s sixth man late in the season, there are murmurs Kuminga wants a bigger role somewhere. Additionally, rumors indicate teams aren’t willing to match he and his camp’s asking price.

With that background, what are the prominent insiders saying about the situation surrounding Jonathan Kuminga?

Well, this from Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of the Stein Line substack was posted on July 23, before the Philadelphia 76ers signed LeBron James:

The Cavaliers naturally still badly want to re-sign LeBron — for all of this week’s mounting talk about a second stint for King James on South Beach — and remain hopeful that the 41-year-old Akron native will choose a third marriage with Cleveland over the Heat, Warriors and Philadelphia 76ers.

The expectation thus naturally persists that the Cavaliers, like the Joe Lacob-owned Warriors, will hold off on doing anything else until it is confirmed that James’ second homecoming is out of reach.

That said …

League sources maintain that the Cavaliers are among the teams that have registered interest in former No. 5 overall pick Mario Hezonja. The Real Madrid forward has made it clear that he wants to return to the NBA after playing in Europe for the past six seasons and the last four in the Spanish capital. So add Hezonja’s name to the list of potential fallback options for Cleveland along with Hawks free agent Jonathan Kuminga.

“I think,” said one trusted source, “that we’re going to see eight or nine players sign right after LeBron makes his choice. Maybe more.”

Speaking of Kuminga …

He’ll need help from Atlanta on a sign-and-trade to come anywhere close to last season’s $22.5 million salary, but the latest indications we’ve received suggest that the Hawks are likely to be pretty choosy when it comes to sign and-trade scenarios they’re willing to accept.

Kuminga, meanwhile, is said to be open to an Atlanta return on a short-term deal. The Hawks, though, appear pretty deep at the wing positions after their trade Sunday to acquire Lu Dort from Oklahoma City.

So post-James signing, will the Cleveland Cavaliers offer the Hawks players and/or picks in return for agreeing with Kuminga on a contract? Time will soon tell.

Then, on July 24, Joe Vardon of the Athletic posted in part this update on the Kuminga holding pattern:

Kuminga, though, is more interested in a sign-and-trade deal involving Atlanta because he could earn more money that way. Kuminga is seeking a salary much closer to what he would have earned had the Hawks picked up his option, in the neighborhood of $20 million to $23 million. The two teams most often linked to Kuminga — the Cavs and Los Angeles Lakers — would both need to execute a sign-and-trade to pay him anywhere near that figure. Kuminga could also return to the Hawks on a short contract, and other teams like the LA Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks have been mentioned as potential destinations.

League sources, who spoke on the condition anonymity to discuss ongoing negotiations, said what the Lakers are prepared to offer Atlanta in a trade is underwhelming, whereas Cleveland has potentially more appealing trade pieces. The Cavs have been linked to possible trades of veteran forward Max Strus ($16 million) and point guard Dennis Schröder ($14 million). To execute a sign-and-trade transaction, Cleveland must remain under the NBA’s first salary apron of roughly $209 million, which is why Harden remains unsigned.

What do you think the Hawks should do? Re-sign Jonathan Kuminga or look to the Cavaliers or Lakers for a sign-and-trade? Please let me know in the comments below.

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Blackhawks New Prospect Is A Very Exciting Addition

With the 34th overall pick of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks selected defenseman Xavier Villeneuve. When noting that many expected him to be selected in the first round, the Blackhawks were fortunate that he was still available for the taking once they were on the clock. 

There is a lot to like Villeneuve's game. The 18-year-old blueliner has the potential to emerge as an impactful offensive defenseman at the NHL level. With this, he is exactly the kind of prospect that the Blackhawks need in their system right now. 

If Villeneuve can tap into his full potential later down the road, it would be significant for the Blackhawks.

Villeneuve spent this past season in the QMJHL with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, where he posted six goals, 32 assists, and 38 points in 37 games. This was after he had 12 goals and 62 points in 61 games with the QMJHL club during the 2024-25 season. With this, he has shown a lot of promise as an offensive defenseman at the junior level, and Blackhawks fans should be excited about his future with the club because of it. 

It will now be interesting to see how Villeneuve develops his game after being selected by the Blackhawks from here. 

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Guardians News: Overmatched, Outclassed

CLEVELAND, OHIO - JULY 21: Brayan Rocchio #4 of the Cleveland Guardians hits an RBI single during the third inning against the Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field on July 21, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Guardians look completely out of their depth against the Tampa Bay Rays who are 4-1 against Cleveland this year.

You know, whenever I point out how bad the Guardians hitting is and has been, people say I need to be patient and see how things change once the later draft picks make the majors. So, Ralphy Velazquez, Angel Genao, Juneiker Caceres… but I can’t shake the feeling that they are not going to get the most out of those players. Maybe I have to see Bazzana and DeLauter finish the season strong, first.

Guardians Weekly predictably focused on the seven homer game and Jim Rosenhaus interviewed Grady Sizemore.

Can Parker Messick throw a shutout today? That’s probably the Guardians’ only chance to beat the Rays and Drew Rasmussen.

AROUND MLB:

The Tigers and White Sox lost and the Twins won.

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Why haven’t the Braves looked outside the organization for pitching?

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 20: Victor Mederos #58 of the Atlanta Braves reacts following the Braves 3-2 victory over the San Diego Padres at Truist Park on July 20, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Relax. This is not a scathing post about the Braves’ trade deadline plans. The trade deadline won’t be for another eight days. This is more about my curiosity about where the Braves have gotten their bullpen help to date.

By this time last year, the Braves had acquired seven pitchers via trade. This season, Victor Mederos is the only in-season pitcher acquisition. They had also four others via waiver claims last year. Now, this season you wouldn’t expect the Braves to acquire a lot of players from a waiver claim. That’s one of the (only?) downsides of having one of the best records in baseball for much of the season. They grabbed catcher Maverick Handley from the Orioles, who has largely been injured much of the season. But not a ton of players have flowed their way.

The Braves, for the most part, have been promoting and optioning their minor leaguers and placing players without options into the DFA/minor league deal/selection loop. And hoo boy, with volume and repetition this season. Seeing yet another roster tweet from the Braves is like one of those early morning life affirmations, just like my ankles cracking and seeing streams of work emails. Walt Weiss is more than a little annoyed, as he told Chad Bishop prior to last night’s game. I would reprise it here, but we’ve been over the how annoying the roster rules are with respect to size and number of pitchers.

So why haven’t the Braves looked outside the organization for pitching? Maybe they have and there’s nothing there. I’m not so sure. The Dodgers acquired Sean Halvorsen and his 99 MPH heater and stashed him in Triple-A. Good for the Dodgers, but acquiring Rockies relievers is kind of the Braves thing. Oh well, maybe they’re not interested in bullpen help so much getting an actual number two starter in a week.

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Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo top NBA free agent class for 2027

Conventional wisdom in NBA free agency is that one big signing could swing the pendulum of power, making teams consider backing up the Brinks truck to bring in a player who could fulfill championship dreams, whether those dreams are realistic or not.

The free-agent class of 2027 might actually live up to that thought process, as it has the potential to be the biggest ever, with future Hall of Famers all over the place, ready to cash in.

The jewels of the class are Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo, two players who figure to have multiple years left in their careers, barring injury, of All-NBA type play. They have won a total of five NBA MVP awards and could break the bank by becoming the first players in one of the four major North American sports to earn more than $75 million per season.

Here is a list of the most prominent free agents for 2027 (with players' ages in 2027, free agent status and contract details):

Nikola Jokic (32) — Player option, $62.8 million (Denver Nuggets)

Giannis Antetokounmpo (33) — Player option, $62,786,682 (Miami Heat)

Anthony Davis (34) — Player option, $62.8 million (Washington Wizards)

Stephen Curry (39) — unrestricted

Kawhi Leonard (36) — Unrestricted

Kevin Durant (39) — Player option, $46 million (Houston Rockets)

Kyrie Irving (35) — Player option, $42.4 million (Dallas Mavericks)

Karl-Anthony Towns (32) — Player option, $61 million (New York Knicks)

Jimmy Butler (38) — Unrestricted

Brandon Ingram (30) — Player option, $41.9 million (:Los Angeles Clippers)

Cooper Flagg (20) — Team option*, $15.2 million (Mavericks)

Jalen Green (25) — Player option, $36 million (Phoenix Suns)

Julius Randle (33) — Player option, $35.8 million (Brooklyn Nets)

Rudy Gobert (35) — Player option, $38 million (Minnesota Timberwolves)

Dylan Harper (21) - Team option*, $14 million (San Antonio Spurs)

Paul George (37) — Player option, $56.6 million (Boston Celtics)

Zach LaVine (32) — Unrestricted

Michael Porter Jr. (29) - Restricted

Jrue Holiday (37) — Player option, $37.2 million (Portland Trail Blazers)

Tyler Herro (27) - Unrestricted

Jerami Grant (33) — Player option, $36.4 million (Memphis Grizzlies)

Josh Hart (32) — Team option, $22.4 million (Knicks)

Isaiah Stewart (26) — Team option, $15 million (Detroit Pistons)

Kristaps Porzingis (32) — $20 million (Golden State Warriors)

* Player currently on rookie scale contract

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo top NBA free agent class for 2027

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Gallagher Could Be Robbed Of His Homecoming

According to The Athletic’s Michael Russo, the NHL trade deadline has now officially been set for Monday, March 1. Usually, it is set on a Friday, and we had assumed it would be on March 5th, but this could be a game-changer for one former Montreal Canadiens. Brendan Gallagher’s 14-year tenure with the Habs came to an end after he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks on June 29.

While the writing was on the wall for the respected winger, the divorce didn’t occur in an ideal manner, since the veteran didn’t get to play one last game on the Bell Centre ice to make his goodbyes. His last game came against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the playoffs. He didn’t see the ice in the second round against the Buffalo Sabres or in the third round against the Carolina Hurricanes despite the Canadiens being unceremoniously dismissed by the champions in just five games.

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The next time he steps on the Bell Centre ice, it will be in a Canucks uniform, or maybe not. Vancouver is only set to visit the Canadiens on March 6, after the trade deadline, and since Gallagher is in the last year of his contract, it’s not outside the realm of possibility that he could be traded to a contender before the deadline. If that potential team has already been to Montreal, it would mean Gallagher could miss his long-awaited homecoming.

However, the veteran still controls his destiny as his no-movement clause followed him to Vancouver, so he could block any trade if he wanted to. Speaking to the media at the end of the last season, Gallagher made it clear that he feels like he still has plenty left in the tank, and it sounded like he was even hoping to play beyond this season. Even if that were the case, though, would he want to pass up another chance to chase Lord Stanley’s mug? One has to wonder, after all; that’s what has motivated him to play the game for the last 14 years.

Even if he were to miss his date with Habs fans this season and not get to play another season in the NHL, there is no doubt that the Canadiens will hold a Brendan Gallagher night down the line to offer him the send-off he deserves, no matter how overdue it ends up being.

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The good, the bad and the grumpy: My Wizards summer league takeaways

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 12: AJ Dybantsa #4 of the Washington Wizards shadow boxes with the stanchion of the hop after failing to score a basket while being fouled against the Sacramento Kings in the second quarter of a Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 12, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Here’s the thing with being a cranky old guy — I have to kvetch before I can get to the good stuff.

Here’s my gripe with the Wizards 2026 summer league: they shut guys down. AJ Dybantsa and Will Riley appeared in only two games. Tre Johnson played in just one!

I know the official line. They don’t have anything to prove. No need to risk injury. Blech and blech.

Rookie AJ Dybantsa impressed in summer league. | Getty Images

All these young guys have a lot to prove. Injury risk is minimal, and they’re going to spend the rest of the offseason working out, training skills, and playing tons of pickup games.

Meanwhile, another up-and-coming team with youngsters actually played the youngsters. Third overall pick played all six games (and 177 total minutes) for the Memphis Grizzlies. Second-year wing Cedric Coward got 162 minutes in six games.

Yaxel Lendeborg played 170 minutes for the Golden State Warriors. The Chicago Bulls gave Caleb Wilson four games and 111 minutes.

The Brooklyn Nets gave guys they expect to be in their rotation three or four games for the most part. The Charlotte Hornets went 3-5.

New Cleveland Cavalier Meleek Thomas, who dropped mega points on everyone he faced, played four games.

I’m not saying play guys until they collapse from exhaustion. And to be clear, I don’t know what the “right” way is. My guess is that treating 19- and 20-year-olds like they’re too precious and fragile to even face the risk of summer league competition probably isn’t the best way to engender the tough, competitive ethos the Wizards say they want.

‘Nuff said.

Well…okay, I have one more grumble: allowing 10 fouls per player in summer league. This is dumb. In the NBA, players get six fouls for a 48-minute game. In the NCAA, it’s five fouls for 40 minutes. In FIBA competition, it’s five for 40. In other words, one foul for every eight minutes of action. Then summer league where it’s suddenly double that? Dumb.

The 2026 prize for Prodigious Hacking goes to Aidan Mahaney, who suited up for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He committed six fouls in 15 minutes of action — a rate of more than 19 fouls per 48 minutes (extrapolated, which I’m doing here for entertainment value only).

Washington’s top hacker this summer was Julian Reese at 11.7 fouls per 48 minutes.

Okay, some numbers and thoughts for key Wizards from summer competition (PPA is my all-around production metric — in PPA, 100 is average and higher is better; ortg = offensive rating (points produced per possession used x 100), usg = possession usage percentage; all box score stats are per 48 minutes unless otherwise noted):

  • AJ Dybantsa — PPA: 293 | ortg: 103 | usg: 33.6% — In his 51 minutes of action, Dybantsa showed why the Wizards made him the top pick. Good size, great athletic tools, impressive skills. He scored 50 points in those 51 minutes, and averaged the second most free throw attempts per minute in summer league. Worry point: Just 1-11 from three-point range, which led to the slightly subpar overall efficiency (-2.2 relative to the summer league average).
  • Will Riley — PPA: 216 | ortg: 136 | usg: 26.1% — Shot well from everywhere (67.3% effective field goal percentage) and made frequent trips to the free throw line (more than 10 attempts per 48 minutes). Worry point: Riley’s high PPA is mostly from unrealistic shooting efficiency. His rebounding was below average, his turnovers elevated (just a 1:1 assist-to-turnover ratio), and he had zero steals or blocks in 57 minutes.
  • Tre Johnson — PPA: 87 | ortg: 105 | usg: 32.8% — Got up 20 shots in 28 minutes. Yay, I guess. Worry point: My concern about Johnson in the 2025 draft evaluation was the non-scoring aspects of Johnson’s game. That concern manifested on the floor during the regular season, and it showed up again in summer league (just two rebounds, one assist and a steal in 28 minutes — four turnovers, though).

The rest of the summer league roster will likely be part of the Capital City Go-Go, another team’s G League squad, or perhaps overseas. Some numbers and a thought or two:

  • Norris Agbakoko — PPAL 148 — Great name. Played well in summer league, but it’s tough to see much of an NBA future considering he’s already 26-years-old. Maybe the next Anthony Gill?
  • Chris Livington — PPA: 145 — I was kinda impressed by Livington, who I think might hsve the size and physical tools to be a backup NBA wing.
  • Seth Trimble — PPA: 140 — His summer league looked a lot like his pre-draft eval — impressive defender, good rebounder for a guard, and he shot just 4-15 (26.7%) on threes.
  • Reece Beekman — PPA: 118 — Lots of assists and steals, not much scoring.
  • Domari Monsanto — PPA: 103
  • Julian Reese — PPA: 76 — Rebounded well but struggled to convert inside.
  • Kadary Richmond — PPA: 74
  • Felix Okpara — PPA: 49 — Not too good. Had trouble finishing, meh board work for a big, didn’t block many shots. The numbers that stood out were bad: 5.5 turnovers and 7.6 fouls per 48.
  • John Camden — PPA: 39
  • R.J. Nembhard — PPA: -66

Around the League

  • Most On-Brand Award goes to Cam Boozer, who led summer league in on/off and scored efficiently, got rebounds, set up teammates, and got lots of steals.
  • Brooklyn’s Egor Demin (231 PPA) launched 30 three-point attempts in 76 minutes.
  • Darius Acuff Jr. (Sacramento Kings) and Darryn Peterson (Utah Jazz) each had a 10 PPA in summer league. Remember, in PPA 100 is average and higher is better.
  • Chicago’s Caleb Wilson (133 PPA) shot 13-31 from three-point range in four games. At North Carolina last season, he shot 7-27 in 24 games. He also did a good job on the boards, and generated steals and blocks. Also, 1-in-4 of his possessions ended in a turnover, and he committed more than six fouls per 48 minutes.
  • Favorite summer league name: Boo Buie, who played for Chicago.
  • Cleveland’s Meleek Thomas was officially summer league’s leading scorer at 27.3 per game. His per 48 average was 45.1. Dybantsa (who didn’t qualify for leaderboards because Washington removed him from the lineup) averaged 47.3 — No. 1 among all players, even low-minute guys.
  • Brayden Burries (256 PPA) had a nice summer for the rebuilding Milwaukee Bucks. He shot reasonably well, and produced well across the board (rebounds, assists, steals) while avoiding turnovers.
  • For the Toronto Raptors, YODA favorite Allen Graves (189 PPA) was productive across the board (as he was at Santa Clara). He hit shots from everywhere, rebounded, assisted, generated steals and didn’t commit many turnovers (1.7 ast/tov ratio).

Let me know in the comments if there’s someone in particular you’re curious about.

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Open Thread: Bleacher Reports 50 top trash-talkers

CHICAGO, UNITED STATES: Chicago Bulls forward Dennis Rodman(C) fights for a rebound with Dallas Mavericks center Shawn Bradley(R) and forward Dennis Scott (L) during the fourth quarter, 29 December, at the United Center, in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls defeated the Mavericks 111-105, and Rodman pulled down 27 rebounds. AFP PHOTO Vincent Laforet (Photo credit should read VINCENT LAFORET/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images

There is an art to trash talk. Not everyone can do it. And when some players try, they are sent packing by those more adept at gab jab. My favorite all time trash talk story was when Kevin Garnett admitted Tim Duncan was unflappable, poked in a quiet way, and simply ruined opponents by simply dominating the game.

That said, trash talk is a big part of the game. Curiosity begs the question of from whence it derived. For sure, it existed on playgrounds and neighborhoods courts. Japery development is as much of the game as learning how to free throw. But there was a time when basketball was a “gentleman’s” game. In order to play in the NBA each man had to have a college degree and could not have any tattoos. The men who played in the early days couldn’t fathom the verbal assaults that players endure today. Those days are long gone (can you imagine all the talent unavailable if tattoos were outlawed?) and now smack talk is 100% a art of the game. It is a tool used toward an upper hand…until it crosses a line.

So who are the habitual line steppers whose trash talk was as integral to their game as a fast break layup?

As the summer lingers on, Bleacher Report continues to offer interesting content to fill the days between Summer League and Preseason. They’ve added an installment of the “Top 50 Trash-Talkers Ever” and while some names seem like a shoo-in, there are others who should have possibly ranked higher.

Let’s start with the former Spurs on the list:

#16 Dennis Rodman, who spent two seasons with the Spurs, definitely belongs on this list. He spent so much of his career getting into opponent’s heads. Rodman didn;t just trash-talk, he’d push and jockey for position. During plays, between plays, after the whistle blew, Rodman’s entire technique was to push guys to their limit. The fact that he took pleasure in the confrontation infuriated players from both sides even more.

#18 Chris Paul was hated by Spurs fans hated him for so many years…until he signed on for a year. And that’s what you want in a trash-talker – someone who you hate to play against and love to have on your side. Paul, one of the most celebrated point guards of all time spent years poking at opponents.

#23 Chuck Person, aka “The Rifleman,” was with the Spurs from 1994-1998. The sharpshooter had a propensity to aggravate his opponents, with his shot as well as verbally.

#24 Stephen Jackson had two stints with the San Antonio Spurs. The first from 2001-2003 resulting in a championship. The second from 2012-2013 allowing the Spurs to trade away Richard Jefferson. For those unaware of Jackson’s verbal style and tone, check out his digital video podcast All the Smoke with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson. His partner, Matt Barnes, is #31 on the list, so you can imagine what their show is like.

#43 Like Captain Jack, Vernon Maxwell also had two tenures with the Spurs. The first from 1988-1990, his first two years in the league, and then again from 1996-1997. He was known for his altercations not only with opposing players, but with fans.

As I was sifting through old video footage one thing was consistent. No matter whose name a put next to the words “trash talk” in search engines, inevitably video results consisted of that player in an altercation with Larry Bird. There should be little surprise that Larry Bird is the #1 trash-talker of all time.

You can see the entire list HERE.

Do you agree? Should anyone be added or amended? Were there any names that surprised you? Personally, I don’t see Kevin Durant as more acerbic than Dennis Rodman. I’ve also heard Luka Doncic trash talk and I am curious if cuts as deep when it requires subtitles. Finally, shouldn’t Dillon Brooks be higher on the list considering his trash talk overshadows most other facets of his skill set?

Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.

Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.

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Mavericks fans should embrace the gap year

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 17: Vsevolod Ishchenko #13 of the Dallas Mavericks dribbles the ball during the game against the New York Knicks during the 2026 NBA Summer League on July 17, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 (Photo by Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

In just a few months, new Mavericks President Masai Ujiri and his counterpart, general manager Mike Schmitz, have grabbed this franchise by the ends and, in a single offseason, with one mighty heave, shaken off all the baggage clinging to this team like dust on an old rug. What was once one of the most stable franchises in basketball has undergone such swift and drastic change that it’s nearly unrecognizable. New GM, new coach, new players. This season will not look like any other recent season of Dallas Mavericks basketball. And that’s great news.

With Dallas finally emerging from the shadow of the “AD Era”, perhaps the darkest in the team’s history, fans are being presented with a roster full of new, young faces that fit the timeline of newly minted franchise cornerstone, Cooper Flagg. It signals that this front office is heeding the advice of Ron Swanson. “Never half-ass two things. Whole-ass one thing.”

While there are still some vets on this roster (for now… the LeBron decision may mean more roster changes are still ahead of us), the Mavericks have taken an unmistakably youth-oriented stance. They are clearly taking the first step in rebuilding a roster that has been hamstrung between contending and tanking for too long.

Dallas is taking a gap year

Dallas will not be contending for a championship this season. That much should be obvious, but they’re also not simply going to let this season go to waste. With very little in their war chest of draft picks to work with, Dallas’ new braintrust went to work quickly adding low-risk, high-reward developmental pieces. Outside of ninth overall pick Morez Johnson, who will shoulder much of the upside expectations by virtue of being Dallas’ last lottery pick for the foreseeable future, the calculus for the other newly acquired players nets out to something between “it’d be nice if he panned out” and “if this works they’re going to call us geniuses.”

In true gap year fashion, Dallas seems poised to spend this season “finding themselves.” They’re going to be developing opinions on what kind of team they can or are able to be, which players on the roster fit that vision, or can grow into a role on that team, and clarify where they still need to address team deficiencies.

The freedom to enjoy things

By unshackling your enjoyment of basketball from the binary of the win/loss column, you are free to find happiness in the margins.

“I hope AD can play today.”
“This is a huge loss for the tank standings.”
“Man, screw Utah, we’re tanking too, but not like THAT.”

These are all thoughts that no longer need to enter your mind. Not only is Dallas in a position to focus entirely on player development, but they also don’t even need to worry about winning too much or not losing enough, because we do not own our pick. Every decision made can be in service of making our players better. And in the meantime, things like…

“Awesome, Cooper scored 50.”
“Wow, Morez just threw down the nastiest dunk I’ve ever seen.”
“Dang, Sergio had double-digit assists.”

…are all nuggets of joy that can be enjoyed at face value, with no ulterior motive.

Your new favorite player is already on the team

To that end, one of the beautiful parts about being a sports fan is watching a player develop. Hopefully into the kind of player that one day means your team is a real post-season contender. And, odds are, with how many new names are about to get embroidered onto the backs of these Dallas jerseys, there’s likely a new fan-favorite just waiting to emerge. In the same way Dirk was able to pass the baton to Luka, now Dwight Powell can perhaps pass the baton to Sergio de Larrea. Or Tarik Biberovic. Or Zaccharie Risacher. Or Santi Aldama. Or, hell, why not, Vsevolod Ishchenko!

Dallas is fully committed to throwing every dart they can at the board and rolling with whoever sticks. It’s a great teambuilding tactic for a team that’s going to have to get creative in how they go about adding talent around Flagg this season and beyond.

And there’s something about an unknown — someone with no expectations, rising to not only meet what little you expected of them, but exceed it. JJ Barea, Dorian Finney-Smith, Salah Mejri; the next iteration of that guy is here, and this season is all about finding out who that is. It’s the basketball version of a whodunnit, but instead of a murder, it’s about who’s going to be a Dallas Maverick for the next five to seven years. Whoever it is will no doubt be embraced by this fanbase, hungry to see their team return to relevance after 18 months of the most torturous basketball ever experienced.

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Orioles news: Walkoff win, wild card standings, injury updates

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JULY 25: Dylan Beavers #12 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates hitting a walk-off single in the ninth inning with teammates during the baseball game against the Atlanta Braves at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 25, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Hello, friends.

The Orioles continue their confusing lurch towards the trade deadline. There are eight days remaining and seven games to be played between now and then. Are they the most incompetent bunch of jokers who ever took a baseball field? Sometimes it feels that way. Are they in fact possessed of a strong starting rotation that could help them overcome other deficiencies? That’s a yes. We saw both of these over the course of last night’s game, one that, unlike Friday, the O’s found a way to come out ahead in the end. Check out Stacey’s recap of the game for more of the lovely totals.

This is the wild card picture after yesterday’s games: The Orioles sit 2.5 games back of the Cleveland Guardians for the third wild card spot. The Red Sox have, regrettably for me and perhaps also for you, moved up to WC2 for the moment. The Orioles will have to pass the Guardians, Twins, Astros, and Mariners to get into a playoff spot. They leaped over a couple of those teams with their recent seven-game winning streak and fell right back down when they dropped three of four afterwards.

What’s Mike Elias supposed to do with all of this? The team has a dire need for at least one good reliever, probably two. Based on his track record, he will respond to this need by getting Shintaro Fujinami- or Gregory Soto-level relievers who do not improve very much. I hope that he will surprise me.

The rotation has stabilized into something that should be good enough, though part of that does depend on whether Dean Kremer reverts to his prior season form over a longer timeframe. Then there are several underperforming spots in the starting lineup, but these spots are mostly occupied by players in whom the Orioles are, for better or worse, committed to this season. Like, could they upgrade over players like Coby Mayo, Dylan Beavers, Colton Cowser, or Jackson Holliday? Yes. Do I think Elias is ready to pull the plug on any of them? No.

It’s not a great situation. There are times it’s downright painful watching these guys. I was in the stands on Friday night and I still can’t believe that botched Holliday toss to try to get one out in extra innings that set in motion a chain reaction that saw the Orioles give up four runs in the inning. It’s got to be one of the worst plays I’ve ever personally witnessed. I didn’t list him in the previous paragraph, but they also need to get more from Gunnar Henderson, offensively and defensively, and there’s not a backup plan for what if they don’t.

In all, the Orioles are too close to give up on this thing and they have too many problems to seriously go for it. One way I think they can try to thread that needle is if Elias is able to target players who have control beyond the 2026 season. Those guys will cost more if they are guys who are worth having. It’s a price the Orioles are going to have to pay if they’re going to be reticent to pay for free agents. The O’s need to field the best team they can in what is likely to be the last season where Adley Rutschman is around.

The way the Orioles play in the finale against the Braves is not going to definitively settle what they should or will do. It’s just that if they lose, the hole that they’re in gets a little bigger. They probably need to go 34-23 at a minimum. That feels like a tall order even after they finally got the big winning streak. It’s good that they did that, it’s just that they also need another one.

The series concludes with a 1:35 scheduled start this afternoon. Shane Baz and Reynaldo López are the scheduled starting pitchers.

Orioles stuff you might have missed

Injury updates on Bassitt, Rutschman, Basallo (School of Roch)
Not having any kind of timetable on the two catchers is not great to begin with and it feels worse each time I watch one of the substitute catchers bat. There are also some words here about Creed Willems that could mean anything as far as calling him up soon or later or never.

Orioles infield prospects and a pair of lefty pitchers move up prospect rankings (The Baltimore Sun)
The Sun highlights some recent upward movement in rankings for several Orioles prospects. Hopefully this translates to upward movement in what level of the minors they’re playing in soon. I’m not so sure that either Joseph Dzierwa or Wehiwa Aloy are benefiting from where they are.

‘26 1st round pick Booth always hoped to be drafted by Orioles (Orioles.com)
Booth, who said on MASN last night that he prefers to go by EJ, made a great first impression with anybody who was paying attention at his introduction to the organization yesterday.

After growing up in Mississippi, draft picks Eric Booth Jr. and Kevin Roberts Jr. stay together with Orioles (The Baltimore Banner)
Not to be lost as the draft picks made their first impressions was fellow Mississippian Kevin Roberts Jr. I don’t knwo if he prefers to go by KJ.

Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries

Today in 2024, the Orioles made two trades, sending three prospects to the Rays for Zach Eflin as well as a swap that sent Austin Hays to the Phillies for Seranthony Domínguez. Neither of these worked out in the long run quite how the Orioles probably hoped.

There are a number of former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2023-2025 infielder Ryan O’Hearn, 2018-22 reliever Paul Fry, 2013 two-gamer Alex Burnett, 1988-91 pitcher José Bautista, 1962 outfielder Pete Ward, 1964-65 infielder Norm Siebern, and 1958-62 pitcher/baseball Hall of Famer Hoyt Wilhelm.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: playwright George Bernard Shaw (1856), psychiatrist Carl Jung (1875), novelist Aldous Huxley (1894), filmmaker Stanley Kubrick (1928), Rolling Stones musician Mick Jagger (1943), actress Helen Mirren (1945), actress Sandra Bullock (1964), and The Pretty Reckless singer Taylor Momsen (1993).

On this day in history…

In 1775, the Second Continental Congress established an office that is the ancestor of today’s US Postal Service. The first Postmaster General was Ben Franklin.

In 1847, the nation of Liberia declared independence from the United States. The area had been settled over the previous decades by over 15,000 free African Americans. The US did not officially recognize this until 1862.

In 1948, the United States Armed Forces were desegregated following Executive Order 9981, issued by President Truman.

**

And that’s the way it is in Birdland on July 26. Have a safe Sunday. Go O’s!

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Tigers seek series win over Royals on Sunday

The Detroit Tigers fell short of a series-clinching win on Saturday afternoon, falling to the Kansas City Royals, 3-2, as the offense continues to struggle and the bullpen once again failed to maintain a late lead. It was the 11th-straight game between the two teams decided by one run at Comerica Park.

The Motor City Kitties can still seize a series victory on Sunday afternoon with left-hander Framber Valdez taking the mound. The 32-year-old got blasted his last time out — a game after his best performance of 2026 — allowing six runs on five hits and two walks while striking out one and hitting a batter in just 2/3 of an inning, burying his team in an eventual 11-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Valdez’s second-best outing of the season came the last time he saw the Royals at home back on April 14, when he threw seven frames of one-run ball on four hits and two walks while striking out one. The Olde English D prevailed that day, 2-1, though he did not figure in the final decision.

For the Royals, right-hander Luinder Avila will be making his 11th start (10th consecutive) out of 20 appearances this season. As a starter this summer, the 24-year-old has posted a 5.87 ERA and 5.83 FIP over 38 1/3 innings, surrendering 39 hits (six home runs) and 25 walks while striking out 26 over that stretch.

Avila faced the Tigers in relief on May 8, tossing a scoreless frame, allowing a hit and striking out one batter in a 4-3 win at Kauffman Stadium.

Here is how the two hurlers match up on Sunday afternoon.

Detroit Tigers (50-55) vs. Kansas City Royals (44-62)

Time (ET): 1:40 p.m.
Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
SB Nation Site:Royals Review
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network

Game 106: LHP Framber Valdez (5-7, 4.57 ERA) vs. RHP Luinder Avila (5-3, 4.86 ERA)

PlayerGIPK%BB%GB%FIPfWAR
Valdez20108.118.47.951.94.161.2
Avila1963.020.912.848.64.300.4

VALDEZ

AVILA

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Mets Daily Prospect Report, 7/26/26: Stock up

Triple-A: Syracuse Mets (50-50)

SYRACUSE 8, SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE 1 (BOX)

Ronny Mauricio’s hot streak keeps going, with two more homers in this one to pace the Syracuse offense as they got back to 500. On the other end of the age spectrum, 36-year-old Robert Stock continues to look really excellent as he works back from Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. He’s been good enough that he should probably get some major league time after the trade deadline. Fun story all around.

Double-A: Binghamton Rumble Ponies (35-60)

BINGHAMTON 5, PORTLAND 0 (BOX)

Jonathan Santucci showed both the good and bad aspects of his skillset in this one – six strikeouts, only two hits, and no runs over five innings, but also three walks. Still, that was enough to propel the Rumble Ponies to a shut out win.

High-A: Brooklyn Cyclones (38-55)

JERSEY SHORE 7, BROOKLYN 3 (BOX)

Ugly game for Brooklyn here. The hopes for a late-season surge seem to be gone at this point.

Single-A: St. Lucie Mets (43-51)

FORT MYERS 15, ST. LUCIE 14 (BOX)

St. Lucie gave up eight runs in the first but somehow made a game of it. They scored five in the bottom half and kept it close, ultimately pulling within one on Marco Vargas’ first homer of the season in the bottom of the ninth. That was as close as they’d get though. Randy Guzman homered twice in the loss.

Rookie: FCL Mets (24-32)

NO GAME (SCHEDULE)

Rookie: DSL Mets Orange (21-19)

DSL METS ORANGE 4, DSL METS BLUE 3 / 7 (BOX)

Rookie: DSL Mets Blue (14-25)

DSL METS ORANGE 4, DSL METS BLUE 3 / 7 (BOX)

  • SS John Sanchez: 1-4, 3 K
  • 3B Michalle Mercedes: 1-2, R, 2 BB, SB (6)
  • 1B Jonn Sanchez: 0-3, BB
  • CF Henry Manrique: 0-4, K
  • C Frank Moreno: 0-2, R, BB
  • LF Royner Bravo: 1-3, K
  • RF Emerson Estevez: 1-2, R, E (3)
  • DH Elvis Teran: 0-1, RBI, BB
  • SS Cristopher Jaquez: 0-3, K
  • RHP Anderson Ozuna: 2.1 IP, R, ER, 2 BB, 5 K
  • RHP Esteban Mejia: 2.2 IP, 3 H, R, ER, 4 K
  • RHP Aurelvys Batista: 1.1 IP, 2 R, ER, BB, 2 K (L, 2-1), BS (2)

STAR OF THE NIGHT

Ronny Mauricio

GOATS OF THE NIGHT

Ethan Lanthier

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Phillies news: J.T. Realmuto, OBP, Max Meyer

Jul 25, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryan de la Cruz (41) beats out the tag attempt by New York Yankees pitcher Ryan Weathers (40) at first base during the sixth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Would be nice if the offense did something with runners in scoring position, but hey, beggars can’t be choosers. I think we’d all just take a few hits period.

On to the links.

Phillies news:

MLB news: