Chris Paul spent some of the best years of his career with the Clippers. USA Today Sports
“What’s interesting about that whole situation is, it’s probably one of the most disrespectful things that I’ve endured,” Paul said on the “Build or Break” podcast.
“I’ve been through a lot of wild stuff in my career, and having older kids and a wife who’s very tapped in, and they know the daily goings on as far as that team and that organization. Obviously I was upset, but my family, my people, everybody…”
“I think just because of the investment we made in the team for as long as we have, and to see the way stuff was handled. What it lets you know is that no matter what you do or what you’ve done, nobody cares.”
Chris Paul says the Clippers’ handling of his exit was one of the most disrespectful things he has endured
“What’s interesting about that whole situation is, it’s probably one of the most disrespectful things that I’ve endured”
Chris Paul was cut by the Clippers in December during what was supposed to be his final NBA season. NBAE via Getty Images
He spent parts of six seasons with the Clippers, earning five All-Star selections with the organization. But that wasn’t enough for the Clippers to retain Paul for the entire 2025-26 season.
In December, Paul was notified he was cut in the middle of the night during a road trip in Atlanta. Lawrence Frank, Clippers president of basketball operations, said the team parted ways with Paul because of the dismal 5-16 start and overall underperformance from the team.
Chris Paul discussed the Clippers’ decision to cut him during his retirement season. Getty Images
But there was reportedly friction within the organization regarding Paul’s vocal leadership style and tension with head coach Tyronn Lue. Paul attempted to host events for the team to bond, such as a Halloween party and a suite at the Rams game, but had little turnout.
The Buffalo Sabres could go a number of different ways as the NHL is in the midst of trade season following the NHL Draft and the opening of free agency on July 1. With the departure of winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram, GM Jarmo Kekalainen is expected to seek out offensive reinforcements to make up for the 44 goals lost by their departures.
We are continuing to look at potential options for the Sabres, now that veteran Patrick Kane has returned with Chicago. Some of the possibilities are not going to match Tuch’s stats, but any additions could provide some relief to the pressure that youngsters Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich, or Noah Ostlund will be under to make up the deficit.
Kekalainen ideally is looking for someone who could make up as much of the 60-to-70 point production that he lost with Tuch, or someone who can fill the leadership gap and/or add some snarl and sandpaper to the middle-six, either before the start of the season or before the NHL Trade Deadline.
Veteran Mats Zuccarello was surprisingly not brought back by Minnesota last season, after playing seven seasons with the Wild. The 39-year-old has remained remarkably productive when most of his contemporaries are retiring. Playing alongside Kirill Kaprizov, the diminutive winger has averaged 63 points over the last five seasons and last season posted 54 points (15 goals, 39 assists) in 59 games, along with nine points in eight playoff games.
Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff is familiar with the winger, as he was an assistant in New York from 2017-19 while Zuccarello was with the Rangers. He signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Kings on July 1, with a $1 million base salary, $5.5 million in performance bonuses, and a full no-trade clause.
The Kings are considered a club that will challenge for a wild card spot in the Western Conference, but if they struggle, it is possible that GM Ken Holland will shop his rentals (Corey Perry, Joel Armia, Darcy Kuemper, and possibly Drew Doughty) before the trade deadline.
ROAD WARRIORS: The Cubs are 38-31 on the road this season, including 6-5 in first games of road trips. They are only 10-12 on Friday but 6-5 on Friday on the road. They are 37-30 against teams that had a winning record going into games but 15-17 on the road. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
GET ON THE BOARD FIRST: The Cubs are 48-20 when they have scored first, including 23-12 on the road. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
HITS vs. K’s: They won last night despite making only three hits while striking out seven times. They 18-44 with fewer hits than strikeouts, 10-3 with the same number of each and 51-15 with more hits than whiffs. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: Shōta Imanaga, Nate Pearson and Porter Hodge combine on a no-hitter against the Pirates at Wrigley Field, the first Cubs no-no at home in 52 years. The Cubs win the game 12-0 as Dansby Swanson and Pete Crow-Armstrong both homer and have three hits. It happened two years ago today, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2024.
Well. Personally, if I were making the decisions for the Cubs, I would not have Shōta Imanaga make this start. He’s been back to bad Shōta lately, with a 7.13 ERA and 1.528 WHIP over his last four starts, with eight (!) home runs in 17.2 innings, yikes. But also 23 strikeouts over that span, so who knows?
Imanaga has not faced the Marlins since 2024 and that team has had a major makeover since. Only one current Marlins player, Otto Lopez, has ever faced him, and Lopez is 0-for-5. Maybe that will be helpful for Shōta. We can hope, anyway.
This is Janson Junk’s sixth MLB season but his first as a fulltime starter and the results have been meh: 20 starts (21 games), 4.11 ERA, 1.301 WHIP. He doesn’t strike out a lot of guys (16 percent K rate) but doesn’t walk many either (6.4 percent walk rate). So Cubs hitters should look to put the ball in play.
His only career appearance against the Cubs was two innings of relief two years ago when he was with the Brewers. Junk was with Milwaukee in 2023 also, so Craig Counsell might have some familiarity with him.
Please visit the Marlins site Fish On First. If you do go there to interact with Marlins fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
Shortstop Francisco Lindor has had one of his worst defensive seasons, but Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns sees it as an aberration and has no doubt about the veteran’s place in the team.
“No question,” Stearns said on Friday when asked if he had any questions about Lindor being the Mets’ everyday shortstop for the 2027 campaign.
“Certainly a few more mistakes than we’re accustomed to seeing,” Stearns said bout the defensive miscues that raised the question about Lindor. “I think a lot of the underlying stuff is still pretty good. And uncharacteristically, he just hasn't completed a lot of some of the plays that he normally completes. I really don't think there's anything more in there than that.”
Through 82 games and 708.1 innings at shortstop this season, Lindor has committed 10 errors, with a minus-5 defensive runs saved, minus-2 outs above average, and a minus-1 fielding run value. He ranks in the bottom 10 among MLB shortstops in all four of those categories (minimum 500 innings). But Stearns sees Lindor returning to being closer to a top 10 defensive shortstop like he was in 2025.
“I think we're going to be looking at a shortstop next year who completes those plays at the rate we’re usually seeing him complete. So I'm not concerned about that one,” the Mets’ top baseball man said.
Of course, age and health are a factor. Lindor, who turns 33 in November, had a tough run of luck this year with a hamate bone injury that required surgery in February and a calf strain that held him out for two months from April to June. Stearns figures that it is "possible" the time out early impacted his play, but that’s something Lindor would never admit to.
'Francisco's never going to use that as a crutch," Stearns said. "But observationally, he has had such a disjointed season. And at every step along that, he has wanted to come back as quickly as possible to help the team. And that's the right decision, but there are tradeoffs there.
"And it's possible we're seeing some of those tradeoffs defensively."
The club will also hope that a better run of health will help him rebound in the batter’s box, as well. The numbers are down from recent years when Lindor ranked as one of the team's best hitters, as he entered Friday with 28 extra-base hits and 36 RBI with a .231/.316/.424 slash line for a .739 OPS (106 OPS+, 107 wRC+).
And Lindor is performing better of late, which could speak to the idea that missing time early in the year impacted his ability in all facets of his game. The notoriously slow starter is batting .244 with 10 home runs and 24 RBI and a .802 OPS in 43 games since the All-Star break.
The Mets have Lindor signed through the 2031 campaign at $32.5 million for each of those seasons.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 12: The on-deck circle of the Philadelphia Phillies before a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citizens Bank Park on April 12, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The logo is being used for the team's City Connect uniforms being worn for the first time. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A pivotal four-game series against the Atlanta Braves begins on Friday night with both teams will having their ace on the mound.
Cristopher Sanchez gets the ball for the Phillies. He’s coming off a start where he pitched seven shutout innings against the Angels.
With the 2026-27 season almost here, former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph is still an unrestricted free agent.
Joseph still being unsigned at this point in the summer comes after he spent the 2025-26 season with the Vancouver Canucks. In 31 games with the Pacific Division club during last season, he posted one goal, six points, and a minus-16 rating.
With Joseph having a decent amount of NHL experience, the possibility of him landing a professional tryout (PTO) from an NHL team before the start of the season should not be ruled out. He could be a decent depth addition for an NHL club if he earned a contract for the season.
Joseph appeared in 171 games over two stints and five seasons with the Penguins, where he recorded eight goals, 30 assists, 38 points, 114 blocks, and 186 hits. He also had the best season of his NHL career with the Penguins in 2022-23, as he set career highs with five goals, 16 assists, and 21 points in 75 games.
Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see where Joseph ends up landing. At just 27 years old, he should be able to find a new home, whether it is with an NHL team or overseas.
The 2026-27 NHL season is rapidly approaching, as it is now September.
However, with the new campaign getting closer, a former Chicago Blackhawks forward is still looking for his next contract: Brandon Saad.
Saad still being a free agent comes after he had a tough 2025-26 season with the Vegas Golden Knights. In 49 games with the Pacific Division club last season, he recorded just three goals and nine points. This comes after he had 13 goals and 30 points in 72 games split between the St. Louis Blues and Golden Knights during the 2024-25 season.
While Saad had a tough year in 2025-26, the possibility of him landing at least a professional tryout (PTO) from an NHL team should not be ruled. He has had a solid NHL career and could be a decent addition for a team that is looking for more forward depth and experience.
Due to this, it would not be particularly surprising if Saad is able to land a PTO or even a contract from an NHL team by the start of training camps. If not in the NHL, he could be a nice addition for an overseas club if he wants to continue his career.
In 428 games over seven seasons and two stints with the Blackhawks, Saad posted 114 goals, 127 assists, 241 points, and a plus-27 rating. He also won the Stanley Cup twice with Chicago.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MAY 17: Donovan Mitchell #45 and Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers react during the third quarter against the Detroit Pistons in Game Seven of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on May 17, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cavaliers fans and fans across the country.
We asked, you answered. Fans once again expect the Cleveland Cavaliers to have multiple All-Stars next season.
Nearly 60% of voters predicted that Cleveland will have two All-Stars. Another 21% went above and beyond, voting that three or more Cavaliers will make it to the big game.
The rest of the pie includes 20% of fans who said only one Cavalier will make it — while 2% of fans might need to cheer up a bit. Zero All-Stars would mean disaster.
If the majority of fans are right, then this would be the third time this decade that Cleveland has had more than one player in the All-Star Game. Both Jarrett Allen and Darius Garland made it in 2021, while Donovan Mitchell was joined by Garland and Evan Mobley in the 2025 season.
Mitchell, of course, has made it each season that he’s been in Cleveland.
I assume most fans have Mitchell as a lock to be in the game again. From there, fans are expecting either Mobley, Allen, or James Harden to join him. Though one of the comments suggested Sam Merrill as a dark-horse contender.
I can’t say I agree… but I’d be thrilled if that was the outcome.
Mobley is the most likely candidate to join Mitchell, in my opinion. The former DPOY played at an All-Star level for the second half of last season. All he needs is to stay healthy and confident, as the rest of his game speaks for itself. He’s an elite defender with a budding offensive game that should continue to be an emphasis for Cleveland.
Harden also makes sense as a candidate. He has the reputation of a first-ballot HOFer. That means the barrier for entry is a bit lower, as voters will be more willing to reward him yet again if he’s having another productive season.
This would be Harden’s 12th All-Star appearance if selected next season.
Allen is more of a reach. Though injuries could open the door for him. I’d say the same for Peyton Watson, who would need to make a huge leap in order to be considered for the game.
All this said, multiple All-Stars would bode well for Cleveland’s title chances. FanDuel currently has them eighth in title odds. That would definitely improve if they entered two or more stars next season.
ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 03: Evan Carter #32 of the Texas Rangers celebrates with teammate Wyatt Langford #36 and Cody Freeman #39 after the Texas Rangers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays at Globe Life Field on Thursday, September 3, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Kelcee Skoug/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for September 4, 2026 against the Tampa Bay Rays: starting pitchers are Trevor Williams (opening for Kumar Rocker) for the Rangers and Nick Martinez for the Rays.
Texas looks to build on yesterday’s success game. Our old pal Nick Martinez is facing his former club for the first time since 2023, when he made two relief appearances against the Rangers within three days of each other, and for just the third time in his career.
The lineup:
Pederson — DH
Seager — SS
Langford — LF
Nimmo — RF
Duran — 2B
Burger — 1B
Carter — CF
Freeman — 3B
Diaz — C
7:05 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are -113 favorites.
With the Montreal Canadiens' rookie camp getting closer, the Habs have now revealed their roster for it.
Here is the full list of prospects who will be attending the Canadiens' rookie camp this year.
Canadiens' Forwards
Dillan Bentley
Alexander Donovan
Kody Dupuis
Aleksandr Legkov
Braydon McCallum
Josh Nadeau
Mavrick Rousseau-Hamel
Thomas Rousseau
Wesley Royston
Tyler Thorpe
Parker Trottier
Alexey Vlasov
Braidy Wassilyn
Canadiens' Defensemen
Jean-Samuel Daigneault
Aiden Dubinsky
Brayden Klimpke
Andrew MacNiel
Kale McCallum
Luke Mittelstadt
Owen Protz
Canadiens' Goaltenders
Francesco Lapenna
Arseni Radkov
Mikus Vecvanags
The Canadiens' rookie camp will kick off on Sep. 11 and go until Sep. 15. It will feature both practice days and two games.
The Canadiens' rookie camp participants will first face the Winnipeg Jets' prospects on Sep. 12 before taking on the Ottawa Senators' youngsters on Sep. 13.
This will be a great opportunity for these young players to show the Canadiens what they can do. It also indicates that the Habs' season is getting closer, so this is certainly an exciting time of the year.
LOS ANGELES - 1991: Brad Davis #15 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket against the Los Angeles Clippers during a game played in 1991 at the Los Angeles Sports Arena in Los Angeles, California. 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 1991 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Since we’re in the part of the offseason where there’s not really anything Dallas Mavericks to talk about (I wish I had the juice to cover FIBA, but I do not), I thought I’d poll our commenting fanbase on the origin period of their fandom. And somehow I ended up surprised!
Of the commenters who are regulars at this point in the off season, it seems that nearly 6 in 10 are what I’d consider “Old School” Mavericks fans. The team was founded in 1980 and perhaps lumping in 80’s and 90’s fans into one is too big a swath, I assumed many of the locals here on Mavs Moneyball would be Diurk guys.
That we have so many active commenters that are older is actually something I am heartened to hear. Half of our writers are youths, so if you dear readers stick around to give us some perspective on the long arc of Mavericks history, I appreciate that.
35% of respondants are Dirk-era fans. Another massive swath of people who became MFFLs because of everyone’s favorite German. I fall into this category. It was 2000-2001 where I really got into the team. Catching a team on the rise can be a truly formative experience.
Then we have 3% each for the Luka era and Flagg era. Anyone Luka Doncic adjacent tha stuck around after Nico traded him is a hardcore fan. I don’t blame those for traveling with Luka, what Dallas did to him will never not be insane. Welcome to the newbie Flagg fans, we’re glad you’re here.
I have rarely had a post lately where the results surprise me like this, I really did think the bulk of people would be Dirk fans. We’ll be back to Dallas basketball stuff soon enough though, with more than one story eeking out at a time.
Over the course of the last year, the Philadelphia Flyers have been seeking out a big-time, superstar-caliber upgrade to their roster, but to this point, they've been unsuccessful in their hunt.
The sensational Leo Carlsson offer sheet, which briefly made the Anaheim talisman the highest-paid player in the NHL, instantly became the story of the offseason, and the Flyers were also reported to have inquired on players like Zach Werenski and Dylan Larkin.
Larkin, to this point, remains with the Detroit Red Wings as the franchise scrambles to appoint a new general manager ahead of training camp, and it's unlikely the club captain gets dealt so close to the start of the season without someone calling the shots and establishing an identity for the rudderless franchise.
As for Werenski, he almost ended up in Dallas, but eventually mended his relationship with the Columbus Blue Jackets... for now.
Back before all the offseason drama, though, the Flyers were one of the teams interested in Quinn Hughes, but the Vancouver Canucks stood them up right out of the gate.
Adding context to previous reporting that indicated the Flyers never made a serious offer to the Canucks for Hughes, it's now been revealed that the Flyers never had the chance, either.
According to The Athletic's Kevin Kurz, in a recent mailbag, "the Flyers were interested in Hughes last season before he was dealt to the Minnesota Wild but were informed the Vancouver Canucks had no interest in moving him here."
Of course, the Canucks sending Hughes to Philadelphia meant arming their former head coach, Rick Tocchet, with a future Hall of Fame defenseman right after he himself chose to leave Vancouver.
NHL insider Pierre LeBrun previously reported that the New Jersey Devils (with Jack and Luke Hughes), Red Wings, and New York Rangers were among six teams that made legitimate offers, with Buffalo and Carolina showing interest, too.
"The Philadelphia Flyers were among the teams that kicked tires but didn’t get to the next level. The Flyers weren’t willing to give up the assets the Canucks wanted, so that took Philadelphia out of being a major player in it," LeBrun had said.
Hughes, 26, is in the last year of his contract and could theoretically still end up in Philadelphia with the Flyer depending on how the cards fall, but it certainly feels as though the Flyers' best chance of snapping him up would have been via trade.
At this point, if Hughes doesn't agree to a contract extension with the Wild, there is only one other place he's going to end up, and that's up the turnpike in Newark, N.J.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 28: Rhett Lowder #25 of the Cincinnati Reds delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on August 28, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Sage Zipeto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Milwaukee Brewers have already won 87 games so far during the 2026 season, and they hold a commanding 8 game lead in the National League Central as of Friday.
The Cincinnati Reds have none of that.
The Reds, who sit 20 games back in the win column of the Beers with just 67, will play host to their division overlords over the weekend for a trio of contests, with Friday evening’s contest featuring Rhett Lowder on the bump the series opener. Milwaukee will counter with lefty Shane Drohan to start, so manager Terry Francona has stacked what remains of his lineup with righties outside of Hector Rodriguez and JJ Bleday in the outfield.
Apparently going with an all-lefty outfield was too much to ask, so Carlos Jorge – who was promoted to the big leagues for the first time earlier in the day – will begin the game on the pine.
First pitch is set for an early 6:10 PM ET, so plan accordingly!
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 04: Konnor Griffin #6 of the Pittsburgh Pirates steals home to score a run against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park on July 4, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Los Angeles Angels vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, September 4, 2026, 6:45 p.m. ET
Location: PNC Park – Pittsburgh, PA
Broadcast: 93.7 The Fan (KDKA-FM), Apple TV / MLB.TV
Pitching Matchup: Ryan Johnson (3-7, 5.48 ERA) vs. Jared Jones (2-6, 4.83 ERA)
Konnor Griffin is officially back after missing nearly two months with a left ring finger injury. The Bucs (69-72) are five games back of the Arizona Diamondbacks for the final wild card spot in the National League. They have won three series in a row for the first time all season and host an Angels team that owns the worst record in baseball (53-87). Griffin is slashing .276/.332/.404 with five home runs and 25 RBIs this season. He’s stolen 20 bases and was on pace for over 50 after swiping 65 in the minor leagues in 2025.
Jared Jones looks for a bounce-back outing after a difficult August. After recording a 2.00 ERA over five starts in July, Jones followed it up with a 7.40 ERA in the same number of appearances. If the Pirates have any chance of climbing back in the wild card race to realistically track down Arizona or the San Diego Padres, the starting rotation has to be the main focal point.
It’s hard to be an MLB GM, but Chris Getz keeping finding ways to make it harder. | (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
Fall is here, the White Sox sit atop the AL Central, and the scent of a postseason run — albeit likely a very short one — is wafting through the air. Although Chicago fans have been looking forward to a competent team since before Pope Leo was inaugurated, one of the Sox’s latest roster moves highlights several more mistakes made along the way.
On September 1, Tommy Pham officially returned after two years of accumulating a reputation for picking fights and signing with five teams in three years. Pham’s signing brings a twist no one saw coming: He’s now the starting right fielder for a team headed to the playoffs.
If the slow, sarcastic handclap hasn’t begun yet, feel free to start it now.
Temperament and clubhouse concerns aside, Pham has little to offer this team off the bench, much less as a starter. He failed to record a hit in nine games as a Met, and he hardly impressed in his time in the minors with New York and Philadelphia. Somehow, though, the Sox front office must’ve taken a cursory look at his .238 batting average and .773 OPS on the farm and decided he’s better than or the equal of budding Braden Montgomery. Montgomery’s disappointing August is certainly a factor in this seemingly impulsive decision. With his batting average barely better than the Mendoza Line and slugging percentage short of .400, Montgomery’s subpar performance this year shouldn’t be the focus of the outfield. Rather, his hose of an arm should be the reason he’s earned a lineup spot.
Though Pham isn’t expected to take over right field completely, taking reps away from Montgomery is still inexcusable — certainly when the reps are being stolen by a 38-year-old who hasn’t had a good season this decade.
Two more front office decisions will haunt Chicago this year: Refusing to give Michael Turner a chance, and keeping Noah Schultz in a starter role.
Hiding Turner in Triple-A despite him outhitting Korey Lee, Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero is detrimental to the Sox’s reputation and Turner’s self-esteem. Getz’s initial plan was to focus on his young talent, but his contradictory actions at the trade deadline (including the Joey Bart acquisition) show that neither the fans nor players can leave their faith in him. For Turner, it’s a huge slap in the face to be in the minors for four years and the team that drafted you isn’t willing to give you a chance to prove yourself. With a .284 batting average, OPS nearing .800, and fielding versatility behind the dish and at first, Turner could be a quality backup or even starter. Instead, he’s wasting his talent in Charlotte.
The Schultz miss is less obvious, but equally as damaging. For a team that went all-in on Schultz and Hagen Smith as their future lefty rotation staples, the Sox quickly threw their hands up when the former didn’t break out of the gate. Despite tossing two quality starts and five games with fewer than three runs in the majors, Schultz’s poor outings stuck out most. The southpaw got 14 chances to chisel his ERA down to less than 5.00, but it never happened. Instead of sending him down to Triple-A in August, Getz and co should’ve moved Schultz to the pen, where Smith has shined.
The excuse that Schultz always has been a starter doesn’t fly, as Smith never pitched a relief inning in the minors before being called up. Schultz’s lone appearance out of the arm barn for the Knights went beautifully back on Opening Day, culminating in no hits or runs allowed, one walk and five strikeouts in four frames. While there may not be a place for Schultz on the roster now, Schultz’s fate was decided the moment José Urquidy was acquired in August. It was a horrible decision at the time, and seemingly paints starters and relievers in their boxes.
It just goes to show that Getz often loves to take chances on any player — except the ones in his own organization.
