If you can believe it's been that long, John Tavares left the New York Islanders via free agency eight years ago via free agency to return home to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
In those eight years, things have worked out quite well for the Islanders, while things did not go anywhere near how people envisioned for Toronto.
Eight years later, the NHL is a very different place. The fallout from Tavares' departure, coupled with Artemi Panarin's free agency the following year, has become crystal clear.
Teams no longer put themselves in the spot the Islanders did. If a superstar is on an expiring contract, teams are finding out two summers ahead of time if an extension is going to happen or not.
Brady Tkachuk, who becomes a free agent in 2029, told the Ottawa Senators after the 2025-26 season that he would not extend his contract.
The Senators quietly then put together a blockbuster trade with the Florida Panthers, the only team Brady would accept a trade to.
Ottawa acquired three first-round picks and one second-round pick in the trade. They immediately used one of the picks to acquire William Eklund, an established young NHL winger with production to replace Tkachuk.
Still, despite getting a massive haul in return, the Senators and their fans circled Wednesday, October 21 on their calendar. That's the day Tkachuk would return to Ottawa.
That day came Wednesday night, and it's the closest thing to what the Islanders and their fans did to Tavares and the Maple Leafs back in the winter of 2019.
Some of the first period chants that Sens fans had for Brady Tkachuk...
Ottawa then began to steam roll the Panthers. Before the night ended, the score read 5-1 Senators.
It was a cathartic night for the Senators and their fans. They reveled in letting Tkachuk, who publicly declared loyalty to Ottawa, hear about what his secret trade request meant to them.
Therein lies the biggest difference between the Senators' situation and the Islanders' back in 2018-19.
Ottawa landed three premium assets and replenished their roster. They've got a strong core on paper anyway, led by Tim Stutzle, Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot.
The Islanders got nothing. Tavares said nothing but that he wanted to be an Islander, only to walk out the door for nothing.
The Islanders had Calder Trophy winner Mathew Barzal, but when the season began, they were the odds-on favorite to finish last in the entire NHL.
Lou Lamoriello, Barry Trotz, and the whole 2018-19 Islanders' squad proved everyone wrong, but at the time, it felt like Tavares' decision to leave doomed the Islanders for a decade.
Ottawa's ability to gain assets for Tkachuk can be traced back to Tavares leaving Long Island.
It changed the game. Teams no longer trust the public word of their players. Teams don't want to be the next Islanders, the team that believed its star would stay.
That's the biggest difference between the Senators and the Islanders.
Colson Montgomery isn’t about to change his swing — but after a record 227 strikeouts in 2026, there are times he should. | (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Colson Montgomery wasn’t about to change his swing.
Not when the Chicago White Sox shortstop was approaching a record no batter wants. Not when his strikeout total climbed past some of baseball’s most notorious free swingers. And certainly not when the same approach that produced all those swings and misses had also delivered 31 home runs.
The 24-year-old believed one swing could change a game. Shortening his stroke, even with two strikes, wasn’t part of his plan.
“I’m not a finished product by any means,” Montgomery told MLB.com in September. “It’s one of those things you have to accept.”
By season’s end, Montgomery had struck out 227 times, surpassing Mark Reynolds’ previous major league record of 223 set in 2009. It was a dubious distinction in an otherwise memorable season that helped carry Chicago into October.
But Montgomery’s record was only part of a much larger story.
Across Major League Baseball, strikeouts have transformed from an outcome hitters once desperately tried to avoid into an increasingly accepted consequence of an offensive philosophy built around power, patience and hitting the ball in the air.
For the White Sox, that philosophy produced one of the American League’s most productive offenses.
It also helped bring their season to an abrupt end.
In five American League Division Series games against Cleveland, Chicago struck out 75 times, the most ever in a Division Series. The Guardians recorded 21 strikeouts in a 2-0 victory in Game 5, setting a major league record for a nine-inning game. Not a playoff record, but a record never matched in any nine-inning MLB game, ever.
The White Sox had gone from chasing a championship to chasing pitches they couldn’t hit.
THE PRICE OF POWER
Montgomery’s record-breaking season illustrated the complicated relationship between strikeouts and offensive production.
His 31 home runs and 87 RBIs made him a dangerous presence in Chicago’s lineup, even as his .197 batting average and 227 strikeouts demonstrated how difficult consistent contact had become.
For Montgomery, the solution wasn’t necessarily changing the mechanics of his swing. It was changing how he approached each opportunity.
“You get what you focus on,” Montgomery says. “I feel like if you sit there and you are focusing on striking out all the time, you are probably going to get more of that stuff.”
The reasoning reflects a broader philosophical shift in baseball.
Rather than simply trying to put the ball in play, many hitters prioritize pitches they can drive with authority. Modern hitting instruction emphasizes exit velocity, launch angle and swing decisions — the combination of recognizing a hittable pitch and delivering a swing capable of producing damage.
A fly ball hit at an optimal launch angle can clear the fence. A weak ground ball, even when successfully put into play, frequently becomes an out.
But the pursuit of harder contact can create a difficult trade-off. Hitters trying to elevate the baseball may develop swings with more upward movement, while pitchers increasingly attack with high-velocity fastballs, breaking pitches and changing speeds.
The result can be more home runs, but also more empty swings.
White Sox hitting coach Derek Shomon acknowledged the concern while explaining that the reasons behind strikeouts matter as much as the totals.
“I would be sitting here lying to you if I’m OK with strikeouts,” Shomon told MLB.com in September. “No one is.”
Shomon said the organization evaluates whether strikeouts result from chasing pitches outside the zone, missing hittable strikes or making poor decisions with two strikes.
The challenge is reducing those failures without eliminating the aggressive approach that made Chicago’s offense successful.
A CENTURY OF CHANGING EXPECTATIONS
For much of baseball history, striking out was relatively uncommon.
Hitters were expected to protect the plate, shorten their swings with two strikes and make pitchers rely on their defense. Contact was considered a fundamental part of offensive success.
That philosophy gradually changed as hitters and organizations began placing greater value on walks, extra-base hits and home runs.
Statistical analysis reinforced the importance of reaching base and hitting for power. Meanwhile, improvements in pitching velocity, pitch design and bullpen specialization made simply putting the ball in play increasingly difficult.
In 2026, major league teams averaged 8.38 strikeouts per game, compared with 8.36 in 2025, according to Baseball-Reference. Although the increase was small, the modern figures remain substantially higher than those of earlier generations.
The distinction is important: Baseball is not necessarily experiencing a new annual strikeout record, but it continues operating in an era in which a team striking out eight or nine times per game is ordinary.
For an individual hitter, that environment has changed the definition of an acceptable offensive performance.
A player can strike out 200 times and still provide significant value through walks and home runs.
For the White Sox, nobody embodied that contradiction more dramatically than Munetaka Murakami.
MURAKAMI’S DISAPPEARING CONTACT
Murakami’s first season in Chicago offered a striking example of how tremendous power can coexist with prolonged offensive struggles.
The Japanese slugger finished with 35 home runs, 77 RBIs and 92 walks, helping anchor a White Sox lineup that scored more runs than any other American League team.
But he also struck out 196 times in 454 at-bats, a staggering total for one of Chicago’s most important hitters.
His struggles became especially pronounced during August.
Murakami struck out 46 times that month while hitting five home runs. From August 5 through September 3, he recorded 45 strikeouts in 101 at-bats, meaning nearly 45% of those official at-bats ended without a ball being put into play.
By mid-September, the slump had deepened. Murakami was hitting .095 with 50 strikeouts in his previous 95 at-bats — more than half.
Yet he continued drawing walks, demonstrating that patience and the ability to make contact are not necessarily the same skill.
“There’s always good times and bad times throughout the season,” Murakami said through interpreter Kenzo Yagi in September. “It’s really important just to keep focusing on the approach every single day.”
The numbers raised a difficult question for Chicago: How much swing-and-miss can an offense withstand before its power becomes insufficient?
During the regular season, the answer appeared to be quite a lot.
In October, it was considerably less.
WHEN CONTACT BECOMES EVERYTHING
The White Sox entered the postseason with 776 runs, 211 home runs and an American League-leading 589 walks. Their offense was built to create opportunities, work counts and deliver game-changing swings.
Against Cleveland, however, those opportunities increasingly disappeared.
In Game 3 of the ALDS, seven Guardians pitchers combined for 19 strikeouts in a nine-inning game, then a postseason record. Three days later, Cleveland shattered that mark with 21 in Game 5, as Guardians starter Gavin Williams struck out 12 batters over 5 2/3 innings, carrying a no-hitter into the sixth.
Chicago finally threatened when Miguel Vargas drew a two-out walk to load the bases. Murakami stepped to the plate with an opportunity to change the game.
Instead, Cleveland reliever Erik Sabrowski struck him out on five pitches.
It was one of four strikeouts for Murakami that night. Andrew Benintendi also struck out four times.
Chicago finished the series with 75 strikeouts, an average of 15 per game. Cleveland’s pitchers surpassed the previous record for a five-game postseason series … by 11.
For White Sox manager Will Venable, the issue wasn’t simply hitters expanding the strike zone.
“I thought it was less about chase and more about being attacked in the zone and swing and miss in the zone,” Venable said after Game 5.
The difference is significant.
Plate discipline is frequently measured by whether hitters swing at pitches outside the strike zone. But a hitter can make the correct decision to swing at a strike and still fail to make contact.
Against Cleveland, Chicago’s inability to connect with pitches inside the zone became a defining problem. Venable acknowledged that the outcome ultimately came down to the most basic element of hitting: putting the ball in play.
For a team built around power, patience and offensive production, it was a painful reminder that none of those strengths matter when the bat never meets the baseball.
A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO TWO STRIKES?
The question facing Chicago heading into 2027 isn’t whether Montgomery and Murakami should abandon their power, but whether the White Sox can preserve that power while developing a more adaptable offensive approach.
Situational hitting becomes especially important with runners in scoring position, when a productive out, sacrifice fly or ground ball to the right side can help manufacture a run.
A strikeout provides no such opportunity.
With two strikes, some hitters shorten their swings, widen their stances or focus on making contact rather than producing maximum exit velocity. Others refuse to sacrifice the mechanics that generate their power.
Montgomery has made his position clear: His game is built around the possibility of changing the scoreboard with one swing, and he believes that ability is worth protecting.
Venable has supported that outlook, emphasizing Montgomery’s contributions rather than allowing his strikeout record to define his season. But Cleveland exposed the limitations of relying on damage without enough contact.
After the season-ending loss, Murakami acknowledged that the White Sox would need to learn from their first postseason experience together.
“We are still a very young team,” he said through Yagi. “We have to learn from our experience here and then bring that to next year.”
That education may begin with a deceptively simple lesson: Baseball’s modern offensive revolution has demonstrated the value of hitting the ball harder, higher and farther — but when a season comes down to one swing, sometimes the most valuable thing a hitter can do is simply make contact.
Amid a shower of deafening boos, Brady Tkachuk flashed a cheeky smile.
Once an Ottawa fan favorite, the Senators faithful instead greeted Tkachuk as if he was Public Enemy No. 1 in his first game back since requesting a trade before ultimately being shipped to the Panthers in June.
It made for a rather awkward scene Wednesday night, with a tribute video instead turning into an outpouring of angry emotions, capped by Tkachuk seemingly embracing the villain role by smiling from ear to ear while he raised his stick in acknowledgment of the reaction.
Brady Tkachuk is booed after his video tribute and he is loving it
“Were they ruthless?” he joked to a reporter about the reception after scoring Florida’s only goal in a 5-1 road loss. “It was good, shows the passion that they have. One chapter closed and, like I said, just an exciting, new chapter that we’re living in. It was nice be in front of that passionate fan base.”
Tkachuk, 27, had served as one of Ottawa’s stars for eight years after being drafted fourth overall in the 2018 NHL Draft before a series of events changed his standing with the Ottawa fan base.
After the Hurricanes swept the Senators in the first round, Tkachuk, who had signed a seven-year, $57.5 million extension and became team captain, stated publicly his commitment to the franchise.
Brady Tkachuk (8) of the Panthers salutes the crowd during a break against the Senators during the first period Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026 in Ottawa. NHLI via Getty Images
Behind closed doors, though, he asked to be traded and the opportunity arose to play alongside older brother and fellow NHL star Matthew Tkachuk with the Panthers.
The Senators ultimately traded him in June for four draft picks, including three first-rounders.
He pushed back Wednesday against a notion that he asked for a trade after being urged by his brother and his father Keith, a former NHLer.
“There’s professional, personal reasons why I wasn’t going to re-sign here,” he said before Wednesday’s game. “A lot of those things remain private … Just happened to work out this way.”
Brady Tkachuk Ottawa Senators jerseys sit on the ice during the third period of an NHL game between the Senators and the Panthers in Ottawa, Ontario, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. Tkachuk now plays for the Florida Panthers. Getty Images
He added: “There was some stuff out there that wasn’t true and I guess questioned where my mind has been at for the last little bit. That was probably the hardest part of this process, with how untrue that was … I’m excited for this next chapter and the future memories that will come with that.”
The Senators attempted to do right by their former star with the tribute video, which included his off-the-ice ventures, but the fans wanted nothing to do with it.
His former teammates tapped their sticks while he took the ice, but the crowd’s vitriol only grew louder while he did a skate with a sheepish grin to acknowledge them.
Fans throw a former Ottawa Senators Brady Tkachuk jersey onto the ice during an NHL hockey game between the Florida Panthers and the Ottawa Senators in Ottawa, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. Keito Newman/The Canadian Press via AP
Fans later chanted “F–k you, Brady,” “Brady sucks,” and “Little brother,” at him during the game, according to ESPN.
He scored the game’s first goal in the 10th minute, his seventh of the young season, before Ottawa responded with five straight.
“Everyone is entitled to their opinions. Whatever their emotions there may be, they’re entitled to it,” Tkachuk said pregame. “I know, for me, it’s not going to be taken personally. I know how I feel about this city, about this fan base, and how thankful and appreciative that I am. No matter what the reaction’s going to be, it’s not going to change how I feel about this city and this fan base.”
Steph Curry reflected on the absence of Kristaps Porziņģis after the Warriors’ 127-105 season-opening loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
“It’s a hard one, for all reasons,” Curry said Wednesday night. “For him personally, first and foremost, but us as a team knowing you have an idea of who you are coming into a season.”
It is appearing ever-increasingly likely that a world without Porziņģis is the new reality the Warriors are going to have to adjust to going forward. It was reported on Wednesday that Porziņģis is considering retirement in light of his ongoing battle with POTS, a neurological and autoimmune disease. The same report also shared that the Warriors are exploring trading Porziņģis, either as an active player or a retired contract, as his absence from the team has been extended indefinitely — if he even returns at all.
“We always say availability is a big factor for our team with the guys we already have out,” Curry said. “It’s no secret that spot was an important one for us, especially with his skill set.”
The skill set Porziņģis brings to the table was sorely missed during Wednesday’s loss to the Lakers, particularly his rim protection. Los Angeles had 66 points in the paint and shot 57% as a team. Walker Kessler, the Lakers’ starting center, had 26 points on perfect 12-of-12 shooting — including 10 dunks.
“It’s hard to talk about it without even the humanity of it in mind, but it is a tough one to figure out for now, [and] for the future,” Curry said. “You had a good look of what we were supposed to be as a team. We have to overcome that, obviously. We would love to have him here.”
There currently is no timetable for Porziņģis’ return to the court, and nearly everything about his status remains unknown to all parties involved. Porziņģis was away from the team from the start of training camp, then returned to the team facility for the first time on October 13. Porziņģis’ coaches and teammates have described seeing him sparingly, if at all. Porziņģis’ teammates, coaches, and Dub Nation will be wishing him the best and a speedy return to the court — both for his sake and the greater good of the team.
Big wins and help from Tonga needed to reach semi-finals
‘You’ve got to hit the ground running, which we didn’t do.
Brian McDermott has conceded England’s hopes of reaching the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals may already be over, the head coach blaming the tournament’s format and their opening loss to Tonga.
The World Cup has been reduced to 10 teams, down from 16 four years ago. That is largely due to financial reasons when the hosts, Australia, stepped in after France’s withdrawal. That has led to a unique format, with different levels of jeopardy for different countries based on their group.
Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton was visibly overcome with emotion after making a triumphant return from a torn Achilles tendon on Wednesday, Oct. 21, leading Indiana to a 123-120 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans in their season opener.
As he gazed up at the cheering fans in the Smoothie King Center and was asked in the postgame interview how much fun he was having in his return, Haliburton could not hold back his tears as the emotion of the moment overwhelmed him.
"I'm just really thankful to be back out here," Haliburton said, voice trembling with emotion.
Tyrese Haliburton broke down during his postgame interview with Jeremiah Johnson 🥹So good to have you back, 0 💙 https://t.co/w0py2seq2C
In the game against the Pelicans, Haliburton recorded 23 points, two rebounds and 12 assists in 34 minutes.
Haliburton acknowledged that the team still has plenty of room for growth, but expressed optimism about their direction. “We have a lot to improve on and Pacers basketball is coming along,” he said. “I’m really proud of this group.”
This was his first game back since suffering a right Achilles tendon tear in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals on June 22, 2025, a game in which the Pelicans ultimately lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder, who later went on to claim their first NBA title.
That’s not how the Miami Heat wanted to start their season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Heat were blown out at home in his franchise debut Wednesday night by the Timberwolves 131-106.
After the home opener, Antetokounmpo immediately called for better play from himself and the makeshift roster around him following the stunning offseason trade.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (7) of the Miami Heat looks to pass the ball during a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Kaseya Center in Miami on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
“We got to trust each other. When things don’t go our way, we got to dig in. We didn’t do that tonight,” Antetokounmpo told reporters. “Our effort has to be better. It starts with me. My effort has to be better. I set the tone.”
Antetokounmpo arrived in Miami with a completely new squad, as the Heat traded Tyler Herro and more to the Bucks after he had spent his entire career in the Midwest.
The former Buck poured in 35 points and six rebounds, though he didn’t get much help from his supporting cast, and the team’s defense was an even bigger issue.
Minnesota, debuting a new look in its own right with the addition of LaMelo Ball, shot 42 percent from 3-point range on 50 attempts.
Ball had 21 points while Edwards went scorched earth, scoring 45 points in the season opener on 29 shots and 9 of 17 from deep.
“They have two players that can make shots that make your spirit get defeated. You got to keep playing through that,” Antetokounmpo said. “When [Edwards] made shots, we got discouraged, and the game got easier for them. When guys get going, we have to be more physical with them.”
Head coach Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat looks on during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
There are plenty of issues for the Heat to figure out, starting with depth, as Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal had some jokes about the roster.
“You take away Giannis, Bam [Adebayo], Klay [Thompson], and [Andrew] Wiggins, name me three Heat players,” Barkley asked the crew of Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and O’Neal.
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13), forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (7), and guard Davion Mitchell (2) react during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, in Miami. AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell
O’Neal joked that he could name Herro, now in Milwaukee, and coach Erik Spoelstra to show the team has little behind its starters.
Meanwhile, former player Jeff Teague, who is a popular basketball personality, said he’s out on Miami.
“I’m done with the Heat,” Teague said after the loss. “I didn’t know they were gonna be playing Milwaukee basketball still. I didn’t know they’d take the Milwaukee Bucks and put them in Miami.
“(Giannis) still doing the same s–t. I’m good.”
It’s a big reaction to the first game of their season, but the Timberwolves are a projected Western Conference contender and they exposed some Heat flaws Wednesday night.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 12: Dustin May #21 of the Milwaukee Brewers reacts in the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game two of the National League Championship Series at American Family Field on October 12, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The temptation was too great. I had to do it. I thought of the idea of writing a point-counterpoint on who to root for in this World Series first. I was going to make a sincere effort to make an argument for both teams. I came up with my headline. And then I realized no matter how good of an argument I came up with, I would end up saying root for the Rays, and most Cardinals fans would say that, and I thought that stating the obvious right off the bat would be fun. And then I physically could not bring myself to write more. I tried to enter a bunch of spaces to fool you into thinking that was all I wrote, but that wouldn’t hit the same. So there you have it. Hopefully that is still up when you read this (I’m posting this 30 minutes later)
The Brewers and Rays matchup appears to be breaking people’s brains, because I have somehow seen multiple people earnestly claim this is a win for the anti-analytics crowd. Analytics does not mean strikeouts people! It’s using data to gain the upper hand. These are possibly the two greatest organizations at doing that. Just because they have some old school players does not make this matchup into one of two teams facing off who spurn analytics.
In theory, if we ignore the divisional component of this matchup….there’s really no reason to root for one over the other. They have very similar arguments. Low payroll, small market, very well-run for years, no championships ever, best team in their league, plays fun baseball, like as alluded to above, even old school fans will like both teams. If the Brewers were in the NL East, I’d have a very difficult time picking one.
Why the Brewers
If I’m being completely honest….. Milwaukee the city deserves a championship way, way, way, way, way, way more than Tampa Bay. As an anti-teams moving fan, Tampa Bay should frankly move. They don’t get any support at all and they’ve been good for years. Like half of Florida roots for other teams, because they didn’t grow up in Florida. I won’t be rooting for the Brewers for reasons you’ll see later, but like this is a very tempting reason! It’s why I won’t be mad if they win.
Tampa has this reason too but…. it’s time. I did not root for the White Sox, because I felt like them winning it this year would be jumping ahead of the line. Their organization has not been run well enough to deserve a ring. They weren’t good enough this year to deserve a ring. On the flip side, Milwaukee has certainly had one coming. Their collective play the past 10 or so years should have a ring at some point. It’s like how the Cardinals deserved a ring in 2006 even though the 2006 Cardinals did not. The organization deserved it. Just like the Brewers.
They were the best team. Frankly, best regular season team who isn’t a big market who has never won is a much easier rooting interest than we ever get in the World Series. Of course literally of those things apply to the Rays.
The National League was light years ahead of the American League and the championship should probably go to an NL team to accurately represent the 2026 season.
Why the Rays
Here’s my number #1 schadenfreude reason: for the purposes of the rivalry, we kind of need them to not win so that the trade can become the next Lou Brock trade. Which really isn’t a good comparison because in that time period, players didn’t have free agency and both players the Cardinals gave the Brewers will be free agents (that they won’t resign). JoJo Romero has been about as good as advertised, Dustin May has not. The Brewers winning the World Series means they won’t give a shit if Josiah Ragsdale wins two MVPs for the Cardinals. Them not winning the World Series? Kind of feel like it’d be their Marcell Ozuna trade. I don’t have a problem with the Brewers and yet this evil fan in me can’t help but root for this outcome.
It’s time. The Rays have been a well-run organization for much longer than the Brewers have and the Brewers have been well-run for a pretty long time at this point! On top of that, they’ve already lost two World Series in the past 20 years. They’ve gotten right on the brink, tasted it and lost. By this made-up metric, they deserve it more than the Brewers.
They were the best team. I am a weird neutral fan in the playoffs. Because I have a hyper-specific set of criteria for who I want to win if it’s not the Cardinals and somehow both the Brewers and Rays qualify. If it’s a team who has won too much, I don’t want them to win. If it’s a team I don’t feel like is very good, I don’t want them to win. So they have to be a great team, but not a perennial great team, and oh yeah it can’t be a team I already hate (I have never liked this modern version of the Phillies, and while I want to blame it on 2022, that’s not why. I don’t have a good reason. I have never wanted them to win the championship for reasons I’m not totally clear on. It’s not even the fans. At least not specifically.)
This Timeless Ticket scandal is very bad vibes for the Brewers. If you don’t know the story, 10 years ago, fans could buy a “Timeless Ticket” and they bought it for $1,000. I believe they got to go to a certain number of regular season games, but also could use this ticket to get the “best available” at any playoff game. Well the “best available” was not exactly what they were offered, but a 400 level seat. Well it was deemed best available by the organization.
By that some token, Brewers owner Mark Attanasio was interviewed recently asking why baseball needed a salary cap when baseball is in a great place and two teams like this are in the World Series. I know a lot of you are for the cap, but that’s not why I’m listing this here. He said “it’s been 44 years, and there’s a sense in the community that it could be another 44 years” and whether nor not you agree with the cap, I think this is a very stupid thing to say on the eve of playing a World Series. There had to be a better way to make this argument.
But really, it’s mostly the trade. I want that to be a sore spot for Brewers fans for years to come.
Could Cardinals have gotten this player?
Alright, let’s play a game. I’m going to highlight some players, and then show how they were acquired by that team. In theory, at that time, could the Cardinals have gotten that player instead? What would it have taken? Some of these will require incredible hindsight, I’m guessing most will.
Christian Yelich – I would imagine so if the Cardinals had more patience. Yelich wasn’t available at the time the Cardinals traded for Marcell Ozuna. In theory anyway. But instead of trading for the guy coming off a career year, let someone else trade for him, and wait for Yelich to become available. Does require a little bit of hindsight I suppose because Yelich being available wasn’t a sure thing. I don’t know if the Cardinals would be willing to pay the price either. Despite the return for him not doing anything, they were in fact great prospects at the time. Ironically Zac Gallen and Sandy Alcantara might not have been good enough prospects for Yelich. This would be a very interesting alternate reality.
Brice Turang – drafted two picks after Nolan Gorman so yeah. And I’m bringing him up specifically because he was also drafted out of high school. But from the draft stuff I read about Turang…. he sounded dangerously like Pete Kozma. Didn’t work out that way of course. But if you removed the names, and then in the upcoming draft, had to pick between Turang’s profile and Gorman’s…. most of us are falling for Gorman again.
William Contreras – I mean it would have been nice to have been gifted him for essentially for free because the Braves decided they didn’t want Contreras anymore when they got Sean Murphy. Everyone knew the Cardinals needed a catcher. I doubt the Cardinals were interested because Contreras’ defense was not good at the time – the Brewers cleaned it up, although after that initial season, I hadn’t realized he’s basically an average defender. But still that’s way better than he was with the Braves. Cardinals could have been that third team I’m pretty sure.
Joey Ortiz – Realistically, I don’t think so. He was in the Corbin Burnes trade. The Cardinals didn’t have a Corbin Burnes after the 2023 season.
Trevor Megill – Yes definitely. The Cardinals go after a bunch of guys like this, most don’t turn into him. Terrible with the Cubs in 2021, claimed off waivers by the Twins, he was pretty solid, but had a not very good ERA. Didn’t make Opening Day roster in 2023, was absoltuely terrible in AAA, Twins gave him to the Brewers at the end of April for a PTBNL who hasn’t made the majors and they unlocked the elite reliever in him. But the process of getting him is not really any different than the Cardinals getting George Soriano.
Yandy Diaz – I guess, though he was part of a really strange deal. He was in a three-team trade with the Guardians and Mariners. The Rays didn’t believe in Jake Bauers – on the Brewers now funny enough – so they traded him to Cleveland. In return they got Cole Sulser and Diaz. Cleveland also got Carlos Santana and traded Edwin Encarnacion and a draft pick to the Mariners. Diaz was 27 at the time with no position and had a grand total of 120 PAs as a good hitter. He would not have stopped the Cardinals from getting Paul Goldschmidt and probably not Nolan Arenado either since he wasn’t a good defender at 3B. I’m not sure he lasts that long on the Cardinals even if they do trade for him given those two facts and that he wasn’t great in 2021.
Junior Caminero – Here’s another one involving the same types of teams. Caminero was traded for Tobias Myers, who was 22 and on the verge of the majors – except Cleveland sold Myers before he ever made the majors. Caminero was coming off his DSL season, so this is your Yordan Alvarez trade. Myers ended up on the Brewers and was traded with Freddy Peralta to the Mets. Peralta is now with the Rays.
Victor Mesa Jr. – I imagine so. He came into the season as the 44th ranked prospect in the Rays system by Fangraphs. He was traded for a DSL prospect. One not ranked particularly high in the Marlins system.
Bryan Baker – Yes, he was traded for a draft pick last deadline. Not sure it would have been well-received considering he was a 30-year-old mediocre reliever (or so it seemed) at the time, but yeah the Cardinals could have done it.
I mean yeah pretty much anybody in the bullpen could have been acquired, cheap teams acquire their bullpen cheaply.
Other interesting note: Ace Drew Rasmussen for the Rays was part of the return for shortstop Willy Adames. I mentioned Bauers originally came up as a Ray.
Former Cardinals section
Brewers – Dustin May, JoJo Romero – the aforementioned trade that is making me root against the Brewers
Rays – Richie Palacios, Ryan Vilade, Steven Matz – Palacios for Andrew Kittredge, Vilade was a waiver claim, and Matz was a free agent.
Apr 8, 2023; New York City, New York, USA; Exterior shot of Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
Meet the Mets
What does the Mets’ offseason timeline look like now that the World Series and offseason are almost upon us?
Shohei Ohtani won’t require surgery on his knee or arm and the Dodgers expect him to pitch next season.
Yankees GM Brian Cashman agreed to a contract extension since owner Hal Steinbrenner believes the players are the reason for the team’s playoff failures.
A sports bettor in Ohio has been banned from all state gambling facilities after he made violent threats against Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider.
Fortunately, MLB now has a video review system to minimize the impact of missed calls. In its first year of implementation at the major league level, the Automatic Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System seems to have been an overwhelming success.
While the number of replay challenges available for each manager increases from one to two in the playoffs, the ABS challenge rules are unchanged from the regular season. Each team begins the game with two challenges and keeps any challenges that are successful. If the game goes to extra innings, teams receive an additional challenge if they don't have any left at the start of an inning.
ABS statistics for 2026 regular season
Pitchers and catchers were generally more successful than batters in getting umpires' calls overturned during the 2026 regular season, according to Baseball Savant.
Successful regular season challenges
FIelders (catchers + pitchers): 3,358 of 5,792 (58%)
Hitters: 2,328 of 4,765 (49%)
Interestingly, hitters for the two teams in this year's World Series, the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers, had the worst results of any teams in the majors when challenging a strike call.
While their 46% success rate wasn't last overall, the runs above average they lost by challenging were the lowest in MLB. (Brewers -3.2 runs, Rays -3.9 runs)
Conversely, the two teams' pitchers and catchers were among the majors' most effective, with the Brewers gaining 2.2 runs above average (seventh overall) and the Rays gaining 1.6 (eighth).
In this year's postseason, those trends have continued − with hitters from the Brewers (-0.3 runs above average) and Rays (-1.1) ranking dead last among the 12 playoff teams, while their pitchers and catchers (Rays +0.6, Brewers +0.5) ranked first and second.
Brewers' strategy for challenging balls and strikes
Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy recently told USA TODAY Sports the Brewers have a rating system – 1 to 5 – regarding best and worst times to challenge, one they have refined for the playoffs.
“As long as you can identify what we call fives – good times to challenge, changing the at-bat,” he says. “But do you change an at-bat with two outs, nobody on in the second inning? It’s kind of identifying leverage and taking a chance there."
I wasn’t born a White Sox fan. In fact, I was raised to cheer for that other team on the North Side, despite growing up in the heart of White Sox territory.
My earliest baseball memories involve Wrigley Field, the 1984 Cubs and Leon Durham. My dad, a liquor truck driver, even nearly ran over Harry Caray one afternoon as the legendary broadcaster stumbled out of a neighborhood establishment. That’s about as Chicago as a childhood can get.
But I was always a little Sox-curious.
I remember being fascinated by the 1983 “Winning Ugly” team and sitting in the Golden Box seats at old Comiskey Park for a game against the Detroit Tigers. Still, it wasn’t until the fall of 1989 that my transformation into a die-hard South Sider became official.
While attending Mark Twain Elementary on Chicago’s Southwest Side, I earned three free White Sox tickets for perfect attendance. My mother, being the resourceful woman she was, made photocopies. Somehow, those three games turned into 27. My best friend and I would hop on the Archer Avenue bus, transfer to the 35th Street bus and spend our afternoons and evenings at Comiskey Park. To this day, I can still hear Nancy Faust playing Fine Young Cannibals on rainy days here in Omaha, Neb.
By 1992 and 1993, I was dating an Andy Frain usher, which meant sneaking into practically every home game after the sixth inning. And yes, I was there when Bo Jackson launched his unforgettable home run as the Sox clinched the 1993 AL West title.
Since then, my loyalty has never wavered. I’ve held partial season tickets, including during that magical 2005 season, driven hundreds of miles to catch games and even missed the first day of school as a teacher to attend Pope Hat Night. Yeah, I’m that kind of fan.
Although I was born on Chicago’s North Side at Kiddleland, I’m a South Sider through and through.
Professionally, I spent 16 years working as a journalist in Illinois, Indiana and Florida before transitioning into education in 2012. Since then, I’ve taught English, journalism, photography, newspaper and social studies. Today, I’m a high school journalism adviser in Omaha, Nebraska.
Away from the ballpark and classroom, I’m the proud father of two boys who attend Illinois State University. As a proud Southern Illinois University Saluki myself, I’ve learned to tolerate having a couple of Redbirds in the family. But no matter where life takes me, Chicago’s South Side will always be home.
The White Sox have given me plenty of reasons to question my sanity over the years, but never my loyalty. After all, being a Sox fan isn’t supposed to be easy. If it were, everyone would do it.
Hometown: That’s hard to pinpoint. I grew up in Cicero/Berwyn/Garfield Ridge. I owned a home in Plainfield and lived throughout Florida (Stuart/Fort Pierce/Daytona Beach/Jacksonville), and now I reside in Omaha.
How did you join South Side Sox? I was sent an email by Brett Ballantini early in October after he saw some of my work at Sox on 35th and asked if I would be interested in joining.
What is your favorite type of writing or coverage at SSS? Although I love to cover games, I do enjoy writing feature stories. I’m looking forward to seeing what challenges await me this upcoming year.
If you could have any job in baseball, what would it be and why? I would love to work in media relations and handle the press releases and press packets.
White Sox fan since 1983ish. However, I will say, I was all-in by 1986.
First White Sox memory: I remember bits and pieces of the 1983 team, but I was still so young. I truly remember some of those late 1980s teams with Bobby Thigpen, Ivan Calderon, Carlton Fisk, Dan Pasqua, Ozzie Guillén, etc.
Favorite White Sox memory: Easy, the 2025 World Series championship. I will say, being at the game when the Sox clinched the division in 1993 was great, and so was being at the Blackout game in 2008.
Favorite current White Sox player: This team has grown on me, for obvious reasons. However, I don’t know if I’ve attached myself to one player yet. It’ll get there.
Favorite White Sox player ever: Either Frank Thomas or Paul Konerko. I could go with Mark Buehrle. I’d love to say Ken Griffey Jr. (but that’s only because he’s one of my all-time favorites).
Next White Sox statue: Wait, they’re giving out more? I would think José Abreu would be one, or potentially Robin Ventura. Could A.J. get one?
Next White Sox retired number: Either Abreu or Ventura (although I think I’d go Abreu first).
Future White Sox Hall-of-Famers: That’s a tough one. I don’t know if we’re going to see someone getting into Cooperstown anytime soon. Mark Buehrle: Would love to see it. Joe Jackson: Would love to see it. Paul Konerko: Would love to see it. Chris Sale: Might/Could (but he won’t go in with a White Sox cap). Wilbur Wood: Don’t know much about why he’s been passed up. Nancy Faust: She deserves her own wing!
Go-to concession food at Sox Park: Anything at the park is amazing. Seriously.
Favorite Baseball Movie: Major League. Sure, I can go with the more traditional ones, but it’s the one that I enjoy the most from my childhood.
Favorite Ballpark: Currently? Both San Francisco and Pittsburgh come to mind. I’m on 21 parks right now, and I love the majority of them (even Oakland). Our park has some flaws, but there’s nothing better than watching the Sox play on the South Side.
South Side Sox on the Field: In my past life, I played a little outfield and first base. As I get older, I think my ultimate position would be 1B. However, I don’t know if I would have the power numbers to maintain the position for too long.
True or false: Every jumbled pile of person has a thinking part that wonders what the part that isn’t thinking isn’t thinking of. Ahh, They May Be Giants. Interesting last question. I don’t want to have to think that hard. Being a teacher and surviving each day is tough as it is.
Boston, MA - July 18: Boston Red Sox right fielder Wilyer Abreu reacts to his go-ahead two-run home run in the seventh inning. The Boston Red Sox played the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park on July 18, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
It’s strange to look back at the 2026 season now that it’s over for the Red Sox. We’ve all seen graph after graph showing three sections of bad-good-bad play. We lived the ups and downs. We saw the grinding halt.
Wilyer Abreu won the AL Player of the Week award two times this season: the week ending July 18 was the first. During that “week” which was bridging the All-Star Break, Abreu hit four home runs. He went 0-4 in the first game, 1-4 in the second, then 2-4 (2 home runs), and finally 2-3 (2 home runs).
The multi-homer games were back-to-back with the first coming as part of a double-header against the Tampa Bay Rays to open the unofficial second half. The next on the regularly scheduled Saturday game. This was supposed to be the big test. The Sox had defeated the Angels, White Sox, and Mets and while no one can dispute the White Sox had a great season, even in July the question of “can Chicago keep this up?” was out there. To their credit, aside from the time playing Boston, the White Sox looked every bit the part of a contender until they just ran out of pitching in the ALDS.
Back to the Rays. Tampa Bay made the World Series in 2026. They were the Big Test for Boston in July. Thanks to a rain out the three games had become four against the best team in the American League. But the Red Sox wouldn’t slow down after the ASG, a problem they’ve had in the recent past.
The Red Sox took game one of the doubleheader 10-0, defying the wrath of the “save some runs for game two” gods. Well, they won game two 5-3. That made the winning streak 11 games strong. But they still had two more games against Tampa. And their record was 48-48. No one would blame them if they lost to a team that was 56-41.
And then Wilyer Abreu had a signature game. Yes, it was 2 home runs like he’d just hit the day before. But the stakes were now get the team over .500.
And Anthony Seigler delivered. Look at that energy! Look at that excitement!
Wilyer Abreu is tossing his bat.
He’s shouting.
Seigler is on the warning track, he’s celebrating.
The Red Sox have turned a 6-5 deficit into a 7-6 lead.
Dave O’Brien elevates the moment with a “you’ve got to be kidding me” call that finally puts him into the range of the great Don Orsillo. To be fair to O’Brien, there haven’t always been the moments to elevate, especially in the last few seasons. But this one was so big that Abreu had enough to bring Seigler, O’Brien, and Merloni into the action.
12 in a row for the team. Over .500. Two home runs in back-to-back games.
If he wins a third straight Gold Glove in right field we’ll keep taking about Wilyer Abreu this winter but we shouldn’t stop thinking of how big a part of the turnaround he was.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 14: Max Muncy #13, Tommy Edman #25, Mookie Betts #50, Freddie Freeman #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers look on during a pitching change during the eighth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game three of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on October 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Wednesday, President of Baseball Operations Andrew Freidman that surgery “is not on the table’ for Shohei Ohtani. Eric Stephen covers that development here.
Bill Plaschke of the L.A. Times in his opinion piece thinks that the Dodgers should stop letting Ohtani pitch. He even floats the idea that if Ohtani continues to insist on pitching, the Dodgers should consider trading the modern Babe Ruth.
“Not quite satisfied with how things shaped up on the pitching side at the end of the year,” he said. “This year, I haven’t pitched and I haven’t pitched in the postseason. You know, I haven’t been able to really come to grips in terms of what I’ve learned overall this season. It’s something that I’m going to kind of go back to the drawing board in terms of treatment, training program. and see what I can come up with for next season.”
While trading the two-way player would be a nuclear option, it’s clear the team and Ohtani need to come to a better understanding about what best for the team.
A team that also needs to face the fact their team is aging, writes Maddie Lee of the L.A. Times. Freidman with his usual deprecating manner, commented on that and other issues, such as owner Mark Walter’s financial troubles and how he feels about the Dodgers being at the possible end of their dynasty. As usual, Freidman isn’t worried about any of it.
Bill Plunkett of the OC Register also has comments from Freidman in his end-of-season press conference, including why they’re excited that Ohtani will be returning to the mound in 2027.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic has an opinion piece saying that the small market teams are officially out of excuses is saying only big spenders make the postseason and the World Series. Good news for Dodger fans who have been blamed endlessly for the state of baseball today (she said tongue in cheek).
Shohei Ohtani couldn’t make it through an entire season as a two-way player as a 32-year-old.
Chances are, he won’t be able to do it next season as a 33-year-old.
Which is why Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman’s responses to a couple of questions he fielded on Wednesday were particularly alarming.
In retrospect, could Ohtani have been healthier in the playoffs if the Dodgers had managed him differently earlier in the season?
“I don’t know the answer to that,” Friedman said
Considering where Ohtani is age-wise, is it still possible for him to play both ways for a full season?
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani watches from the dugout during the ninth inning of Game 4 of baseball’s National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. AP Photo/Gregory Bull
Because if he wasn’t, that would signal a major problem – specifically, that the Dodgers are detached from reality.
Before they decide how aggressively they will pursue Tarik Skubal or how quickly they want to turn over their geriatric roster, the Dodgers must have an honest conversation with Ohtani about how he can return to being a two-way player without condemning himself to another October in which he looks as if he crawled from a nearby infirmary into the batter’s box.
Such as how them acquiescening to his wish to play through knee and arm injuries was a major reason why he was physically compromised when the games mattered most.
Or how him setting out to be a designated-hitter-slash-pitcher for an entire season is a suicide mission at this stage of his career.
Andrew Friedman, president of baseball operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers, speaks to the media prior to game one of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field in Milwaukee. Getty Images
The Dodgers’ relationship with Ohtani isn’t a typical employer-employee relationship, nor should it be. But the way the team prioritized Ohtani’s desires over common sense this year pointed to there being an imbalance in power that was counterproductive. Friedman’s reluctance to acknowledge Ohtani’s limitations didn’t dispel this notion.
Friedman said the Dodgers’ braintrust would work with Ohtani to come up with a plan to improve his chances of being healthy in the playoffs, but he sounded as if he would be counting on the player’s team-first mentality to resolve the team’s concerns.
“He is awesome about saying, ‘Hey, whatever it takes to help the team win,’” Friedman said. “He means it. Private conversations, public conversations.”
Of course, in Ohtani’s mind, that means him taking on as much as humanly possible.
“I intend on doing everything,” he said in Japanese.
If Ohtani insists on shouldering the same workload he had early this season, will the Dodgers be able to stand their ground?
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani reacts after hitting a three-run home run against the Milwaukee Brewers during the second inning in Game 4 of the NLCS. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
If he is convinced a new offseason training regimen will allow him to go wire-to-wire as a two-way player, will the Dodgers be able to convince him the risks outweigh the potential rewards?
The Dodgers should know by now that Ohtani won’t place any limits on himself.
That’s worked for Ohtani for the most part, as his physical gifts have made it possible for him to overcome the majority of obstacles placed in front of him.
But no athlete has ever defeated the calendar, and this season provided the tangible evidence that Ohtani won’t be an exception to the rule.
By mid-July, Ohtani was shut down as a pitcher because of problems with his left knee and right arm. By mid-August, he was finished as an MVP-caliber hitter.
In the playoffs, he was more of an imagined threat than an actual one, as he batted just .192 and struck out 10 times in 32 plate appearances. He didn’t homer until the night the Dodgers were eliminated.
Friedman sounded as if he knew what had to be done.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani reacts after striking out during the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4 of the NLCS. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“Whether we start a little late …” Friedman said at one point, likely in reference to the idea that Ohtani could delay the start of his season as a pitcher.
And if Ohtani is playing both ways from the start of the season, Friedman raised the question about how the Dodgers are “going to manage that in the first month and then assess things.”
Whatever their thoughts are, the Dodgers have to share them with Ohtani.
They have to be direct.
If Ohtani is as open-minded as Friedman described him, he should understand that they want not only what’s best for the team but also what’s best for him.
Ohtani isn’t 20-something anymore. He has to adjust. The Dodgers have to guide him there, and that starts with them providing him with a candid evaluation of his newfound limitations.
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 21: Jaime Jaquez Jr. #24 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots a free throw during the game against the Washington Wizards on October 21, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. 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 Kenny Giarla/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Well, in a game that truly had it all, the Milwaukee Bucks fell 128-116 to the revamped Washington Wizards. The Bucks were led by “the Heat package,” which combined for 68 points. The final score really doesn’t reflect how the game transpired; frankly, the Bucks controlled most of the contest but just couldn’t turn an eight-point lead into a 15-point lead. Some of that was Washington, but I felt like Milwaukee shot itself in the foot a good number of times by playing frantic and rushed instead of calm and poised.
That said, take a step back and think: “frantic and rushed” is about what you would expect when a bunch of guys who have barely played with each other—including young fellas getting thrown into the fire—suit up for a regular-season game. A beautiful mess, shall we say—I can’t wait to do it all over again on Friday. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.
Editor’s note: this year, we are trialing a more consistent grading criteria (while still allowing for your interpretation)—grades are not rewards for production, they’re judgments of performance against expectation:
A: Exceeding expectations. B: Above expectations. C: At expectations. D: Below expectations. F: Fail (i.e., substantially below expectations; actively detrimental to the team).
Rollins vastly underperformed compared to what we have come to expect from him and rightly rode the pine to close the game. Yeah, he missed some makeable shots—took some bad ones too—but he is also relied on as the team’s best point-of-attack defender, and he failed on more than a few occasions to keep dudes in front of him and navigate screens. I also thought Rollins allowed himself to get sped up going to the basket, which really isn’t like him; he’s usually cool as a cucumber in tight spaces. An out-of-character game on so many levels.
My Prescient Prediction was basically right on. This was the Herro we expected to see in the preseason and, indeed, it looked like he took it up a notch for the real thing. Except when Bilal Coulibaly was on him, Herro got wherever he wanted. Look, we know Herro can score, but the nine assists were the story (and the reason he gets into the B band). Washington paid him a lot of attention in the pick-and-roll, and he was able to methodically locate the open man most of the time. As expected, Herro’s on-ball defence wasn’t great—and I’d like to see him compete 10% more in that part of the game—but I thought he was largely in the right spots off-ball.
Jaquez was nails all game long. He used his size to make plays for himself and others in the paint, especially when Washington tried to hide Young on him—straight to the post! Jaquez also proved a helpful defensive option on the Wizards’ big front line, which might even be a preferable matchup for him than wings or guards. Other than Jericho Sims, who played under two minutes, Jaquez was the only Buck who didn’t have a negative plus-minus—and it felt like it.
Woof. Where do I start? Look, Kuz’s defence was good, and he did have some solid posessions guarding (and fronting) Davis, but his game had no other redeeming qualities. First off, this whole “returning to Washington and embracing the hate” thing is so corny and has to stop—he’s done this every time Milwaukee has played them! You could tell from the jump that this was a game within a game for him. Sure, Kuz wanted to win, but he wanted to be the reason the Bucks won—give me a break! He missed gimmes at the rim, took out-of-rhythm shots, missed a free-throw blockout, and made two of the most diabolical passes I’ve seen. To top it off, as Miggity pointed out, I’m pretty sure Kuz scored a bucket for the Wizards via a controlled tip. Hated almost every second of Kuzma’s game.
Turner’s offensive numbers look fine, but I thought he was woeful on defence. My biggest issue was his lack of urgency and awareness when recovering to rolling big men after showing on pick-and-rolls. He was surely aware that Trae Young loves to throw lobs, yet there were at least three instances where Turner could have easily recovered to his man after showing on screens, only to dawdle, let the big get behind him, and catch a lob. I also thought Turner was straight-up soft on the inside, letting himself get pushed around.
On the one hand, I don’t want to go crazy on a 22-year-old for not being able to physically deal with Anthony Davis. On the other hand, I wanted to see him compete more. I just spoke about Turner lollygagging after showing on screens while his man got behind him—Ware might have been worse. Ware was BBQ chicken for Davis and simply couldn’t be on the court at the same time as him—hence he fouled out in 13 minutes. I felt like Ware was a little lost and sped up on both ends, and it is year three for him now, so you’d hope to see less of that. Still, based on the preseason, I can’t say this sort of game was out of the ordinary. He won’t be playing against an All-NBA centre every game, though, which we need to keep in mind.
Wow. What a game for Jakucionis! So much to like. With this season being a developmental one, giving KJ—who is younger than Brayden Burries—26 minutes on opening night and having him look right at home is huge. Jakucionis handled (and beat) pressure with relative ease, while holding up OK on defence (though Young did catch him too many times). The final thing I want to highlight is KJ’s feel and how he used it to draw a few Young-like BS fouls. People don’t like it, but guards who aren’t elite athletes need to have this in their bag. Swing-throughs, up fakes, accentuating contact—you need it all, and his counterpart at point guard last night is the perfect example.
I mean, you couldn’t have asked for much more from Burries in his first official game. You could tell his heart was racing a bit at the start, but he settled in after getting his name in the books. By the third quarter, Burries was nailing step-back threes with a one-point lead and doing celebrations running back down the court. Also, as we saw in the preseason, Burries is going to get to the charity stripe. Yeah, he got caught in the wrong spots on defence a few times, but that’s to be expected—great first outing.
I thought Ous played… just OK. He had a smooth windmill gather that left our guy Khris in the dust, and his defence was mostly solid, but man, the dude needs to make threes for this to work.
Grade: D+
AJ Green
15 minutes, 6 points, 2/3 FG, 2/2 3P, –10
AJ was AJ. Hit an open three and made a tough one off a wide pindown. Jenkins drew up some action for him out of a timeout, but it broke down. Defence was fine even if he was undersized.
Grade: C
Taylor Jenkins
It’s tough to judge Jenkins too harshly, given it was the first game. The Bucks generated 42 three-point attempts and won the possession battle. He also “played the kids” like fans wanted. Maybe Jenkins could have had the team better prepared for the foul-baiting that Young and (to a slightly lesser extent) Davis were going to do; I did think the refs got sucked into a few horrendous flails by Young, but some were definitely there. Ultimately, I think we could easily be sitting here talking about a Bucks win if a few things had gone differently, so overall, not much to complain about at this point.
Grade: C
Limited minutes: Jericho Sims
DNP-CD: Gary Trent Jr., Nate Ament, Bogoljub Markovic, Caris LeVert
Inactive: Kam Jones, Cormac Ryan, Pete Nance
What We Learnt
Jenkins will lean toward playing the youth, even if it costs him wins and leads to frustrating moments. Good.
Bonus Bucks Bits
Postgame, Jenkins credited his team’s ability to weather multiple storms in the third, but said their inability to keep the Wizards out of the paint and off the free-throw line was what did them in. Mentioned the backside rotations as a key flaw as well.
On Burries: “The shots were great, but I thought he was making good reads… Looked very comfortable. I thought he did some good things defensively… He’s got a lot to learn, but this is great for him to get this exposure right out of the gate.”
As I mentioned, this was a classic game where veterans were playing a rebuilding team, and the refs seemed obliged to call everything in favour of Young and Davis. On one possession, in the bonus, Young “set” a screen (flopped at the slightest bit of contact). The ref saw him on the floor and called it. Really frustrating; you could see the dismay on all the Bucks’ faces.
I’m both very happy that Gary Trent Jr. didn’t play and incredibly worried that it means something is coming down the pike.
Milwaukee did a lot right. They won the possession battle (91 attempts to 86), played in transition (16-9 fast break points), and got strong contributions from their bench (45-39). They just couldn’t handle Washington’s size, got destroyed 70-50 in that area, and, obviously, the free throw discrepancy (41-23).
: NHL on Prime) 
