TULSA, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 19: Jake Gelof #6 of the Tulsa Drillers celebrates with Zyhir Hope #13 after hitting a two-run home run in the third inning during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Catching up on Friday highlights in the Dodgers minor leagues, and a pair of major leaguers tackling third base this week in Triple-A.
Player of the day
Tulsa third baseman Jake Gelof homered twice and doubled on Friday night, part of his three-hit, three-run, three-RBI night.
The Comets rallied late after falling behind 5-0 early, but it wasn’t enough in a loss to the Round Rock Express (Rangers).
James Tibbs III walked twice and hit a two-run home run, his league-leading 18th of the season, and played his third straight game at first base after four weeks of being limited to designated hitter duties. Tibbs has seven home runs in his last 10 games.
Tommy Edman played his first game at third base on this rehab assignment, during which he’s also played three games at second base, plus once each in left field, center field, and at DH.
Two big innings sank the Drillers in a high-scoring loss to the Amarillo Sod Poodles (Diamondbacks), who scored five runs in the fifth and three more in the seventh.
Josue De Paula doubled, singled, walked, and drove in a run. Mike Sirota homered and walked in the loss.
High-A Great Lakes
Two two-run home runs were more than enough for the Loons in a shutout win over the Lansing Lugnuts (A’s). Nico Perez hit the first home run in the first inning, and Jose Meza joined him in the fifth.
Great Lakes pitched a shutout, but it was a wild ride for piggyback pals Brooks Auger and Jacob Frost. Both pitchers walked five batters to bookend the game, with Auger striking out four in his four-inning starts, and his single allowed was the only hit of the game for Lansing. AAfter five up and five down by Matt Lanzendorfer in between, Frost walked five and struck out three in his 3 1/3 scoreless innings to earn his first professional save.
Class-A Ontario
The Tower Buzzers scored in five consecutive middle innings to beat the Stockton Ports (A’s).
Mairo Martinus, playing third base on Friday, doubled twice and singled. Easton Shelton homered, walked twice, scored two runs, and drove in a pair.
Transaction
Triple-A: Veteran catcher Seby Zavala was released. The 32-year-old non-roster invitee in spring training hit .196/.323/.353 with two home runs in 62 plate appearances for Oklahoma City, with 12 starts at catcher and four more at first base.
Jun 5, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers fans celebrate between innings during the game against the Cleveland Guardians at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images | Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images
May 2, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) drives on Boston Celtics guard Hugo Gonzalez (28) during the second quarter of game seven of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images | Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
FeltonX
What’s the difference between an offense centered around Brown and an offense centered around Tatum?
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not the best X’s and O’s guy. Thankfully there are lots of great minds writing for this site. However, my feel for it is that Tatum is better at distributing the ball (including setting up the play, bending the defense, and taking advantage of what the defense gives him). The downside is that he is sometimes a little too deliberate, holding onto the ball instead of making decisive decisions. Brown is a bit more decisive but that can get him in trouble if he guesses wrong and while he’s improved as a distributor, he’s not as adept at it as Tatum is.
Some have defined it as Brown being a play-finisher while Tatum is more of a play-maker. That might sound dismissive, but you need both and they’ve obviously had success together. So why not feature both?
Hurdler17
Would it be worth it to use a TPE and picks for Dort at 18mil or Hartenstein at 28 million. OKC has to start paying JDub and Chet, and these bench guys have a team options and are paid way more than they would get in the open market probably.
From OKC’s perspective I could see Dort being a cap casualty, so he’ll be on the market. With that said, I don’t think he addresses the Celtics needs. Hartenstein would be exactly what we’re looking for, but I find it hard to believe that OKC will let him go. Especially after Chet’s most recent impression in the playoffs. Also, does OKC really need more picks? I guess they are good currency if they are in the future, but at some point you have to trade them or use them.
ArmenianCeltsFan123
Would you be open to trading Sam Hauser, a pick, and another player (maybe a sign and trade with Vucevic) in exchange for Myles Turner who would fit into our TPE? You’d be doing right by Hauser to send him back to his hometown and you’d open up some room for the younger core to get more rotation minutes. I also like the idea of a veteran, playoff-tested center who can spread the floor and is a decent rim protector. Of course this only works if Milwaukee is heading for a rebuild.
Mindful we’d be taking on some additional money in that deal but with some maneuvering I think you’d still be able to pull it off and stay below the luxury tax without breaking up the Jays or trading D White. Welcome your thoughts.
First of all, Turner fits right into the TPE, so you technically don’t have to include any other salaries going the other way. Of course, the Celtics would probably want to cut costs, so they might end up sending out Sam Hauser and/or other assets in a hypothetical trade.
I think the consensus on Turner is that his best days may be behind him. He has theoretical value as a stretch big that should be able to defend, but I don’t know if that’s the guy the Celtics need. He certainly isn’t going to solve the “attack the rim with layups and dunks” issue.
Good, creative thinking though. I might prefer someone like Nic Claxton if he’s available. Or preferably someone a little cheaper.
overseasfansince1984
I’ve posted this before and would appreciate your opinion. It seems to me that the era of dominant big wings is over in the modern NBA. Every contender is now built around a skilled guard and a shooting big, with wings relegated to being 3-and-D players. I don’t have a definitive answer to this question, but is it wise to double down on having two big wings as your best, and most expensive, two players, or should we consider following the new trend?
It is an interesting question. I would pose a question back: Is it more of a guards/bigs era, or is the shortage of elite big wings creating a situation where other positions have to step up? The Celtics won a title 2 years ago with two big wings. OKC’s title was based on a point guard and a very high quality wing (and an elite defense).
I still think that having elite wings is something that all 30 teams would prefer to have. The Celtics have 2 of them and we shouldn’t overlook that or overthink it. The next objective is to build the roster around them.
The more challenging thing (and not really part of your question) is how do you build a roster around two wings making close to $60M each? There’s the rub.
The Next Banner
The best thing that ever happened to the 29 teams chasing the Oklahoma City Thunder may have been the rise of the San Antonio Spurs.
That sounds great for San Antonio, but how does it help everyone else, especially the Boston Celtics?
I think of it like Final Jeopardy. If the leader has $20,000 while second place has $9,000 and third has $8,000, the game is essentially over. The leader can play conservatively because no one is close enough to force a difficult decision. But if second place has $15,000 instead of $9,000, the leader is suddenly forced to take risks. Those risks create opportunities for everyone else.
The NBA is obviously more complicated than a game show, but the principle is similar. My theory is that the Thunder and Spurs may push each other into making roster moves and strategic adjustments designed specifically to beat one another. In doing so, they could become more optimized for that matchup while becoming slightly less optimized against the rest of the league.
If that happens, the existence of a true rival could create opportunities for every other contender.
Thoughts?
Really creative question, thanks for this. I think I follow your logic. In short, by pushing OKC to “solve” the Wemby problem, they may expose weaknesses that non-Spurs teams can exploit. I’ll add that the Aprons and Tax Threshold will have a say in that process as well. The Celtics were forced to make strategic cuts and Boston is a big market. I can only imagine what kinds of financial decisions the Thunder need to make now. Granted, they have the picks to help make things happen and a great GM. So we’ll see.
It is, perhaps, a little easier in the East since you know that you’ll only have to face Wemby if you reach the Finals and (cue the cliche) “anything can happen in a 7 game series.”
All that said, these things evolve quickly. Just 11 months ago everyone assumed that OKC was the major puzzle to solve for the next 5 years. Now we’re on to the next thing. I tend to think that (ironically, given Brad’s comments) the key to solving the Wemby problem is elite outside shooting. But I guess we’ll see.
Katahdin
What are your thoughts on a trade with Detroit for Stewart? The Celtics need another center and toughness. Detroit needs shooting. Hauser plus picks with Stewart coming into the trade exception?
Great minds think alike. I’ve proposed the same (or a similar) deal in the past. I don’t remember if I wrote about it in an article or whatever, but it makes sense. Beef Stew is certainly a guy that puts pressure on the rim. The Pistons could use some more shooting. Both teams win? Same logic could apply to several bigs that could be on the market.
CelticsWest
What are realistic developmental targets in 26-27 for the students/grads of Celtics University? All of em: Neemi, Walsh, Baylor, Hugo, RHJ, Amari, Shulga, and even John Tonje.
Ok, let me put on my best fortune teller outfit and gaze into my crystal ball.
Queta: You can’t teach size, and Neemi has the dimensions of an old-school center with enough athleticism to play in the modern NBA. I’m done doubting him, he’s a legit starting center for a contender right now. I don’t think he’ll develop into an All Star, but then again he doesn’t need to.
Walsh: I worry about his offensive feel, but you can’t argue with his defensive impact. I’m sure he’s putting up thousands of 3 pointers a day in his offseason workouts. If he can master that skill, he could have a long career as a 3-and-D wing.
Baylor: Oh man, what’s Baylor’s upside? In his mind it is probably Michael Jordan. I would settle for Aaron Neesmith. Don’t read into that comparison too much, I was just trying to think of level-of-impact, not necessarily play-style. He’s probably a good enough Hauser replacement (less shooting % and more playmaking) if they decide to move on from Sam.
Hugo I refuse to put a ceiling on, if only because I have no idea what his upside is. He certainly trends more defensive, but he’s got some good feel for the offensive end as well. I think he has the talent to be a starting wing but in Boston he’ll likely be stuck behind the Jays for the foreseeable future and that’s ok.
The rest are all in the “roll of the dice” category. Any of them could be a rotational player next year with starter upside down the line. Any of them could be out of the league just as quickly. We’ll see. I think Harper is my favorite, but I’m also rooting for Amari because of his size.
357Dust
Who can they realistically get for DWhite? Tweaking around the edges isn’t good enough. AND if they are not breaking up the Jays then the most valued piece around the league has to be DWhite even with slippage – no one really wants to trade DWhite but they broke him with this Chuck a Three and by not allowing him to play the best version of himself they have diminished his impact.
The last 2 playoff exits should not be dismissed, ignored or just brushed aside. So the real question is what is the playstyle they want to move forward with. Are they on the same page? Is it we prefer dunks or is it chuck a three or finding 2 on 1’s and creating 2 on 1’s and seeking out 2 on 1’s – if we want to do this chuck a three thing – then go acquire more shooting and really commit to this. Otherwise cut the crap and play the right way – but the problem is Tatum prefers to play 30 feet from the basket which really doesn’t fit what Brown and White do best which is play in midrange or at the basket……so pick a lane and figure it out.
They cater to Tatum and they are a prisoner of his DNA and as long as this is who he is – we will have 2024 and that is about it. Toss in the new ownership group more concerned with the bottom line and taxes (mostly avoiding them that is) then it really will be hard to look like we did in 2024. Brad has his work cut out for him and anxious to see how this all unfolds.
This reads more like a statement than a question, but I’ll take the first question and start there. I think the Celtics could get a lot for Derrick White if they decided to trade him. I wrote about this earlier and submitted De’Aaron Fox as an option, though that might be less realistic with them in the Finals. White is basically a fringe-All Star level player, who’s worth is nearly impossible to measure with stats. We already lost Jrue Holiday and Al Horford, two critical glue type pieces to our title. I think the dropoff from losing White would be noticeable if not easily defined or measured.
With all that said, the team is going to need to make difficult decisions with the cap and tax and if they aren’t breaking up the Jays, the next biggest salary to look at is White’s. So nothing can be dismissed out of hand.
Mitchs Dad
Do we take statements of ownership and management at face value or do we read between the lines? In other words are the Celtics prepared to spend (if so, when?)
Actions always speak louder than words. We have yet to see the new ownership group have a chance to show their actions as Wyc and the previous group did. I tend to think that they’ll follow the same gamplan. If the team is good enough to contend, and there’s a reasonable pathway to that goal, I do think they’ll spend. But I wouldn’t expect them to go deep into the tax for marginal upgrades or questionable salaries.
If Brad can present them a plan that makes sense, I think they’d be willing. But time and actions will tell.
MPLBaller
I don’t understand why the Celtics have to avoid the repeater tax in the 2026-27 season, can’t they do that in the 2027-28 season. It seems to me, this would a be a wasted year under the premise of saving $$. They have a 27 million dollar TPE to use, tradable contracts in White, Hauser and any other the young players out side of Hugo. Plus they will need to pay Pritchard if the Celts want to keep him. Why not swing for the fences this year and worry about the 27 season to be under the cap.
Good question, and I’ll once again stress that I’m not a cap expert, but I do love reading and listening to Keith Smith, so I’ll give this a shot. Keep in mind that if the team wants to avoid the repeater tax, they have to be below the tax line in 3 out of 4 years. Since they were tax payers the previous 2 years, this past year is year one of that scenario. If they blow through the tax this year, then that would put a lot of pressure on the team to either contend immediately (not out of the question) or drop below the line for the following 2 years.
I think everyone assumes they’ll try to duck the tax based on their actions of the past year (dipping below the line with all the offseason and trade deadline moves). However, as stated above, if the team is convinced that they are ready to contend, I would imagine that they’ll at least be willing to entertain options to pay the tax going forward.
poindexterregan
There’s talk OKC might be looking to move Chet Holmgren. We need a bone-fide big, any interest here if we can’t get Giannis?
Chet didn’t exactly cover himself in glory in the Spurs series. Of course, playing against an alien can do that to you. That said, he’s still an elite level defensive big with upside on the offensive end. If he’s available, the price will be high. And speaking of price, keep in mind he’s set to be paid a lot on the extension that is set to kick in this summer, starting at $41M per year.
If he’s really available, he’s an interesting option to consider. I just wouldn’t hold my breath that he’s available at a reasonable price.
RyderRanger
There seems to be a glut of wings on the team. A good thing in some ways but not realistic for all to develop and fit. So who goes and who stays? I got the impression Brad REALLY likes Hugo, and at 20 years old I see them wanting to develop him for sure. But then you’ve got Walsh, Scheierman, Harper jr etc. If they keep 2 of them, which other guy sticks with Hugo? My guess is Scheierman, what is yours?
I think Scheierman seems to have the most well-rounded game, so I think he has a leg up. I’m not ruling out the other two though, especially when you factor in their ages. As I mentioned elsewhere, Walsh has a way to go on offense, but his defense makes him work keeping around. Decisions become harder on guys like that when they approach their next contract. At some point you have to either commit or give his spot to someone else with better upside. For that reason, I think Walsh is the most likely to be included in a trade if they need to make salaries work.
c’s the day
Are we too excited (and biased) about our young bench? Who truly projects to be a contributor, journeyman, or out of the league?
We covered some of this ground in some of the other questions above, but briefly I think Hugo can be a starter (or high level sub behind the Jays), Scheierman can be a contributor, Walsh and Harper have to show more if they want to be more than a journeyman. Garza has value as a 3rd string center, but shouldn’t be the first big off the bench (at least in the playoffs).
BirdStealsTheBall
I still believe in this team. We’ve got two elite wings in JB and JT. Tatum is going to come back this year better than ever. We’ve got an All NBA 1st team defensive player in D. White whose shooting is likely to return to the mean next year. We’ve got former sixth man of the year Pritchard and a whole bunch of young guys with huge upside. Queta is a solid back up center. We are one decent center away from being contenders. I have faith.
Preach on. At a minimum this team needs to address the center position, but we’ve known that for the past year. I think we also need some depth at point guard. We know that Brad wants to attack the basket more and I think that will require some roster management, but can also be a point of emphasis for the core of the team right now.
I think ultimately we overachieved a bit in the regular season and found out in the playoffs just how valuable guys like Jrue Holiday, Luke Kornet, and Al Horford were to the playoff success of this team. That’s not easy to replicate, in particular with a younger bench. However, our young wings will grow from this year’s experience and we’ll see how the rest of the roster fills out. It should be an interesting offseason and a fun season coming up.
Dylan Harper hasn’t looked like a rookie on the NBA Finals stage, and he certainly didn’t sound like one after the San Antonio Spurs fell behind 0-2 in the series against the New York Knicks.
After scoring 16 and 15 points in the first two games, Harper remained unfazed, telling reporters, “It's not the first to win two. We can’t really hang our heads on that.”
Now, with the series shifting to Madison Square Garden, the New Jersey native gets a homecoming of sorts. The Spurs enter Game 3 as 2-point underdogs, but my Spurs vs. Knicks predictions and NBA picks expect Harper to rise to the occasion in front of a familiar crowd.
UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight!
Spurs vs Knicks Game 3 prediction
Who will win Spurs vs Knicks Game 3?
Knicks: There were plenty of patches of orange and blue in San Antonio the past two games. You can only imagine just how nuts MSG is going to be for Game 3. New York continues to show its veteran composure in this series, playing its best in the crunch while watching the wheels come off the young Spurs.
The extra day off helps those aging legs recharge, including Jalen Brunson’s tender knee, and the Knicks will once again win the war when it comes to hustle points.
Spurs vs Knicks best bet: Dylan Harper Over 12.5 points (-112)
Dylan Harper went from rookie to floor general in Game 2. He recorded his most minutes and his third-most FGAs of the playoffs – save for OT in Game 1 against OKC.
More importantly, he was the catalyst for the San Antonio Spurs’ late run, scoring nine of his 15 points in the fourth quarter by attacking the rim and drawing fouls. His mix of speed and strength is a handful for even the New York Knicks’ stingiest defenders.
Mitch Johnson is now trusting Harper in crunch time, and his Game 3 projections hover around 14 points, given a similar workload.
COVERS INTEL: Harper’s usage climbed from 17.9 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals to 20.8 in Game 2. He was second on the team behind only Victor Wembanyama when it came to usage and points percentage in graded clutch time (final five minutes).
Spurs vs Knicks Game 3 same-game parlay
The Knicks just won’t die. Or better yet, the Spurs don’t have the killer instinct to put them away. New York is locked in from the starters to the bench, fighting for every 50/50 ball and thriving under pressure.
San Antonio, on the other hand, sees its wheels wobble in the clutch, as evidenced by careless turnovers and poor offensive rebounding.
New York is not dependent on Jalen Brunson to carry the team, as long as he’s there to hit those backbreakers. Madison Square Garden gives the Knicks a hefty home-court edge, and the bright lights of Broadway blind San Antonio’s youngsters.
Mikal Bridges was huge in the second half of Game 2. With the Spurs blitzing Brunson, Bridges’ mid-range stroke was the Spurs’ kryptonite. He was steady on 8-for-13 shooting and anchored a third-quarter surge with Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns on the bench.
His Game 3 models flirt with 15 points.
Spurs vs Knicks SGP
Knicks moneyline
Dylan Harper Over 12.5 points
Mikal Bridges Over 13.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Brunson Burner!
Bridges continues to pick up the scoring slack with Brunson under fire, but the Knicks’ point guard still does damage from outside.
The Over 2.5 triples has been my "white whale" prop in this series, as Brunson has had plenty of open looks from long range but can’t get past two makes.
Home cooking helps in Game 3. Towns had four dimes on seven potential assists in Game 2, and his ability to stretch the floor and pass over smaller defenders helps him repeat that feat in Game 3.
Spurs vs Knicks SGP
Knicks moneyline
Mikal Bridges Over 13.5 points
Jalen Brunson Over 2.5 threes
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 3.5 assists
Spurs vs Knicks betting trend to know
New York is 28-15 ATS as a home favorite on the year, including 5-2 ATS in the playoffs. The Knicks are 11-2 SU and 8-5 ATS as home chalk hosting Western Conference foes. Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. Knicks.
Spurs vs Knicks odds for Game 3
Spread: Spurs +2 | Knicks -2
Moneyline: Spurs +110 | Knicks -130
Over/Under: Over 215.5 | Under 215.5
How to watch Spurs vs Knicks Game 3
Location
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date
Monday, June 8, 2026
Tip-off
8:30 p.m. ET
TV
ABC
Spurs vs Knicks latest injuries
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Cliff Fletcher was the first general manager of the Atlanta, now Calgary Flames, assuming the duties ahead of their inaugural season in 1972. In Georgia, the Flames qualified for the playoffs in six out of eight seasons, with the exceptions occurring in 1972-73 and 1974-75.
He continued to run operations when the franchise relocated to Calgary, Alberta, in 1980. The Flames advanced to the playoffs for 11 consecutive seasons under his watch, with two Stanley Cup Final appearances in 1986 and 1989.
Thanks to impressive trades and brilliant drafting, Fletcher constructed rosters that won more than 40 games a year from 1984 to 1991. Moreover, when the Flames hoisted the Stanley Cup for the only time in the spring of 1989, they featured a lineup built around several future Hall of Famers.
According to NHL Trade Tracker, Fletcher made 59 trades with Atlanta and 67 with Calgary, giving him 126 trades over 19 seasons with the organization. After news of his passing on Friday, June 5, 2026, we wanted to revisit his biggest deals as general manager of the Flames.
5. Trading Brett Hull (Mar. 7, 1988)
Flames acquire Rob Ramage and Rick Wamsley
Blues acquire Brett Hull and Steve Bozek
Brett Hull made his NHL debut during the 1986-87 season, the same year he debuted with the Moncton Golden Flames, netting 50 goals and 92 points in only 67 games. As a regular in Calgary's lineup for the 1986-87 season, Hull would score 26 goals and 50 points in 52 games.
Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Fletcher dealt the future Hart Trophy winner and 741-goal scorer on Mar. 7, 1988, along with Steve Bozek, to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Rob Ramage and netminder Rick Wamsley. Within three seasons of the deal, Hull would score 86 goals, the third-highest total ever recorded in a single season, before winning a few Stanley Cups in the back half of his career with Dallas and Detroit.
4. Acquiring Doug Gilmour (Sept. 6, 1988)
Flames acquire Doug Gilmour, Steve Bozek, Michael Dark, and Mark Hunter
Blues acquire Tim Corkery, Mike Bullard, and Craig Coxe
Doug Gilmour was a seventh-round pick (134th overall) of the Blues in 1982 and was a routine 20-goal scorer early in his career, reaching a career-high 42 in 1986-87. Fletcher acquired him for the first time, in a pre-season blockbuster on Sept. 6, 1988, involving seven players.
During the Flames' run to the Stanley Cup in 1989, Gilmour tallied the third-most playoff points (22) and had the second-most goals (11), earning the only championship of his career. After three and a half seasons, with 69 goals and 252 points in 266 games, Fletcher, then general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, acquired Gilmour in a ten-player deal in 1992.
3. Acquiring Joe Mullen (Feb. 1, 1986)
Flames acquire Joe Mullen, Terry Johnson, and Rik Wilson
Blues acquire Eddy Beers, Charlie Bourgeois, and Gino Cavallini
Ahead of the 1986 NHL trade deadline, Fletcher acquired future 500-goal scorer and three-time Stanley Cup winner Joe Mullen in another deal with the Blues. At the time of his acquisition, Mullen already scored 30 or more in three consecutive seasons, reaching 40 in his first full season in Calgary.
When the Flames won the Stanley Cup, Mullen not only led the team with 16 goals, but he also led all playoff scorers. Over parts of five seasons with the club, he scored 157 goals and won two Lady Byng Trophies en route to a future Hall of Fame induction.
2. Trading Kent Nilsson (June 15, 1985)
Flames acquire Minnesota's second round pick in 1985 and second round pick in 1987
North Stars acquire Kent Nilsson and a third round pick in 1986
There's an argument that Kent Nilsson was one of, if not the best player, in the Flames' first few seasons in Southern Alberta. In one season with Atlanta in 1979-80, he scored 40 goals and 93 points in 80 games before shattering his own record the following campaign with 49 goals and 131 points. As of 2026, Nilsson's single-season points record remains unchallenged.
After six seasons, where he produced an eye-popping 562 points in only 425 games, Fletcher dealt his star to the Minnesota North Stars with a third-round draft pick.
Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Interestingly, the Flames received two second-round picks from the North Stars, which turned into Joe Nieuwendyk (1985) and Stéphane Matteau (1987). Once Nieuwendyk became a regular in the Calgary lineup in 1987-88, he scored 51 goals in consecutive seasons and was a key player in the team's 1989 title run.
As the Flames captain in 1994-95, Nieuwendyk held out for a better contract offer before a trade to the Dallas Stars. Of course, everyone remembers this deal because it brought Jarome Iginla to Stampede City.
1. Acquiring Lanny McDonald (Nov. 25, 1981)
Flames acquire Lanny McDonald and a fourth round draft pick in 1983
Rockies acquire Don Lever and Bob MacMillan
Despite the long list of superstars to skate at the Saddledome, many with Hall of Fame-worthy resumes, there will only be one Lanny McDonald. Debuting at 20 with the Maple Leafs, he was a multi-time 40-goal scorer before moving to the Colorado Rockies when Fletcher came calling.
During his first full campaign in Calgary, McDonald would set a franchise record with 66 goals in 80 games, remaining the only skater in team history to surpass 60 goals in a single season.
By the next season, McDonald earned a promotion to team captain, sharing the honors with teammates over the final six seasons of his career. In his final year, 1988-89, his final goal was his 500th, and when the season came to an end, he held the Stanley Cup over his head, one of hockey's most memorable moments.
In the almost 40 years since retiring, McDonald has been a lovable ambassador for the game and the Flames, endearing himself to Southern Alberta through charity work.
Honorable Mentions
Fletcher was known for making big trades and was never afraid to trade his captain. When looking back at the history of players who wore the "C" in Calgary during his tenure as general manager, he traded five of them.
Tom Lysiak - traded to the Chicago Blackhawks on Mar. 13, 1979
Jean Pronovost - traded to the Washington Capitals on July 1, 1980
Brad Marsh - traded to the Philadelphia Flyers on Nov. 11, 1981
Phil Russel - traded to the New Jersey Devils on June 20, 1983
Brad McCrimmon - traded to the Detroit Red Wings on June 15, 1990
On top of all these blockbuster deals involving some of the biggest names of the 1980s and 1990s, there's one trade that meant almost nothing in 1990 but would go on to alter NHL history.
On June 16, 1990, Fletcher dealt away three draft picks to the New Jersey Devils: a first-round pick (20th overall) and two second-round picks (24th and 29th overall). In the exchange, the Flames acquired the 11th overall pick, which they used to select Trevor Kidd, and the 32nd overall pick in the second round, which they used to select Vesa Vittakoski.
Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images
The Devils used their two second-round picks to select David Harlock and Chris Gotziaman, but used that first-round pick to select the NHL's all-time winner, Martin Brodeur.
Could anyone imagine the alternate histories of both the Flames and Devils if Brodeur had ended up in Calgary instead of New Jersey?
Do you have a favorite Fletcher trade? What about a trade you didn't agree with? Let us know in the comments.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 5: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks to pass the ball as Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks plays defense during the game during Game Two of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 5, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
There have been 80th NBA Finals to date, including the 2026 edition of the title series.
Only three times in history has a road team gotten them started by going up 2-0.
The Knicks are part of that group, and reading the golden pages of the Association about those two prior cases, it’s guaranteed they’ll end up winning the chip. Ooh-weeeee!
On Mitchell Robinson’s late-game defense on Victor Wembanyama:
“Wemby is iconic. There is nobody like him. He can score from all three levels. He wants the ball. Two big possessions at the end of the game, we put Mitch on him. What I’m proud about more than anything else, Mitch defended him the right way. Wemby is iconic. If he makes a shot, he makes a shot. You’re not blocking his shot. You make him work, you lead with your chest. You show your hands and you embrace those details while trying to guard him and then box out. It started with Mitch and it ended with the other four guys boxing out. So just a heck of a job by Mitch guarding the most iconic player in the world on two possessions to possibly win the game. Phenomenal.”
On Robinson’s steadiness in those late-game moments:
“It’s just how he’s built, man. He doesn’t seem like he ever gets too high. Doesn’t seem like he ever gets too low. We play him for 30 seconds and pull him out. We play him for seven minutes and pull him out, and he’s the same all the time.”
On Robinson doing his job in crunch time:
“He just went and did his job. But that country music probably had something to do with it. I’m a huge fan of country music. So, I think when he listens to country music, he gets the chill vibes, because I know I do.”
On the feeling of the Knicks’ 13-game postseason run:
“It’s an amazing feeling,” coach Mike Brown said, “as a coach to know how mentally tough your team is no matter what the situation is in front of them.”
On the back-and-forth battle in Game 2:
“What a ballgame, a fantastic ballgame. They made a run, we made a run. They made another run, we made another run. Lots of back and forth. We could’ve folded a few times but our guys just kept fighting.”
On the Knicks’ resilience and the joy of coaching this group:
“It’s an amazing feeling as a coach to know how mentally tough your team is no matter what the situation is in front of them. To see them continue to fight and fight and fight and fight, no matter what the score is, no matter how much time is on the clock, it’s just a fantastic feeling. The NBA is tough. You don’t experience what I’m experiencing with this group a ton, and it is a freaking joy to be around.”
On adjusting his coaching approach to fit his players and situations:
“It’s supposed to be like it is. I came in with a great plan. Maybe the plan doesn’t work. Who adjusts, him or me? Me. I adjust. The adjustment’s not enough. Every once in a while, we’re not on the same page. We talk about it. I adjust again. It’s my job as a coach to fit whatever scheme we have on both sides of the floor to all of our players, and if you’re a great player, I’ve got to make a little bit more adjustments or I’ve got to give a little bit more than you do.”
On the team refusing to fold during San Antonio’s comeback attempt:
“We could have folded a few times. But our guys just kept fighting. They kept fighting. And the one thing I told them that you work on connectivity throughout the course of the year for moments like these. And no matter what run they went on, no matter what time of the game, our guys just kept uplifting one another, not just the guys on the floor but the guys on the bench. They just kept uplifting one another throughout the course of San Antonio’s runs.”
On the impact of Knicks fans taking over road arenas:
“It’s huge. During these games against good teams, especially on the road, you want to find places where you can get energy or a little boost of energy at any given time. To have the type of fans that we do that not only bring the energy in the city of New York, on the streets, at MSG, but to have them come and take over a town, take over a hotel, take over an arena and hear them chant ‘Let’s go Knicks!’ or Jalen shooting a free throw, ‘MVP!’, that gives you a boost that you know you have people here supporting you at a pretty high level.”
On Karl-Anthony Towns’ defensive tools and presence:
“KAT is smart. He’s got a good feel. He’s got better feet than what you think. He’s long and he’s strong. Those combinations bode well for a guy defensively. It’s just about embracing it and staying present while understanding the small details of what your job should be.”
"I think our mindset was 0-0, not being up 1-0. Even with what the series is now, next game, the mindset has to be 0-0 again. It's how it has to be. You can't be comfortable, you can't be satisfied with anything."
“We had to do a good job of staying composed in those situations. It’s a credit to the character that this team has. Not being able to fold in situations like that is key to winning games like this. At this stage of the season, things aren’t going to be pretty. It’s going to be ugly. It’s going to be grinded out. It’s simple as that.”
On his late-game steal:
“I saw he wasn’t looking so I just tried to go get it.”
On the Knicks’ nightly resilience:
“That’s who my teammates are, night in and night out. They come and bring it.”
On Karl-Anthony Towns’ impact in the Finals:
“Throughout this run, obviously he’s been playing great [defensively]. I think KAT playing defense, knowing that we have his back, no matter what happens when he’s on the ball or off the ball, to be able to cover for each other, even when mistakes happen, it’s all about not pointing fingers, it’s all about coming together and figuring out what we got to do better the next possession. He’s been pretty phenomenal on both sides of the ball, the things he’s been able to do throughout this entire playoffs. But obviously, here now, he’s been great. But we need more.”
On keeping a 0-0 mindset despite the 2-0 lead:
“Every single day, we try to chip away, trying to be the best team we can be. I think our mindset was 0-0, not being up 1-0. Even with what the series is now, next game, mindset has to be 0-0 again. It’s just how it has to be. You can’t be comfortable, you can’t be satisfied with anything. You’ve just got to continue to push forward.”
On preparing for the Spurs’ next level in Game 3:
“Knowing them, there’s definitely another level. We’ve got to be prepared and ready to match it, be ready to play for 48 minutes and, no matter what goes on throughout a game, just having each other’s back, regardless of what’s going on – who’s on a run, who’s not, who’s up, who’s down. Just making sure that we’re playing together for 48 minutes is really important.”
If you hate KAT, I suggest you reconsider…
"I feel like other than losing a child there's nothing worse you could go through and it builds you up and it strengthens you beyond measure. That's why I got Philippians 4:13 and the date tattooed on my neck. I could do all things… https://t.co/KPZoBmJFIRpic.twitter.com/HgjY7Eotjt
On leaning on experience and execution to beat the neophyte Spurs:
“I have been on the other side where you’re a young team and you’re trying to do a lot to win the game. I think that, for us, we keep leaning on experience and we keep leaning on the word ‘execution’ and I think we did a good job when we needed to, executing, but we didn’t do as well as we wanted to. So, when we get back to New York, we’ll get back to work, we’ll get back to the gym and try to correct the mistakes we made tonight.”
On Mitchell Robinson’s final defensive stand:
“I feel like that last play was a culmination of the game, just downloading information as the game went on and Wemby throughout the game. On the last possession, I think it’s the best defense he’s played on him all day. There was no better time for him to do that. But Mitch is a hell of a defensive player and you expect him to make the best effort defensively. And it just speaks to his resiliency, too, going out here, playing with the injury and coming up with the biggest play of the game.”
On Mitchell Robinson’s uniqueness:
“He’s one of a kind. I don’t know if there’s maybe another Mitch Robinson in the league, I only think there’s only Mitchell Robinson. There’s only one of him. We’re honored and blessed to have him.”
On Brunson’s clutch reputation showing up once again in Game 2:
“For JB, you call it rough shooting nights, I see him hitting the free throw to give us the game. The last game, he hit some of the craziest shots I’ve seen to give us the game … I see Captain Clutch doing what he’s always been doing since I got here … No. 11 can’t be messed with.”
On praying to his mother before the final possession:
“I needed a stop. If you lose a parent…you just look for signs, and I’ll take any sign I could get, and I prayed to her strongly before that possession. A great player got a great shot, but it just didn’t go in. It’s great defense, but I take it as a sign my mom was there with me, so I appreciate her so much. When you go through something like that, other than losing a child, there’s nothing worse you can go through. It builds you up, and it strengthens you beyond measure. That’s why I’ve got Phillipians 4:13 on my neck. ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,’ but I was strengthened on April 13th, when I lost my mother. I’m just grateful to be in this position because I know a lot of friends of mine who are not here to see this moment. So, I’m doing this for them.”
On how the team leans on each other:
“Yeah, each other, this team leans on each other. I think that’s why we’ve gotten here. That’s why we had the success we had during the regular season, even when things weren’t going great because at the end of the day when things do get tough, and the trials and tribulations do present themselves, this team doesn’t disband. They don’t go away from each other. We lean into each other even more. We trust each other even more to get out of the rut. That’s what special teams do.”
On focusing only on winning:
“For me, I’m just happy to be finding ways to win. I’m just worried about the team result, which is winning. … This team leans on each other. I think that’s why we’ve gotten here. That’s why we had the success we had during the regular season, even when things weren’t going great because at the end of the day when things do get tough, and the trials and tribulations do present themselves, this team doesn’t disband. They don’t go away from each other. We lean into each other even more.”
On Knicks fans and the NYPD throughout this postseason run:
“It shows the love our fans have for us, and the passion that they have. I gotta give a shout, too, to the NYPD. All the men and women out there that are not only protecting people, but on the flipside as well. In my personal experience, who are huge fans of the Knicks and support the Knicks fans in their ability to show how much they love the Knicks and being as lenient as possible without causing chaos.”
On maintaining a desperate 0-0 mindset heading into Games 3 and 4 at MSG:
“We’re going to fight until the end. [It’s] 0-0. Stay desperate at all times.”
On why he levels up in the postseason’s biggest stages:
“That desperation of trying to be the last team standing, I’m trying to do whatever it takes to help my team to win. Just trying to give it all I got.”
On handling a 2-0 series lead with experience after reaching the same point in 2021:
“Same situation, 2-0, just got to keep level-headed and keep playing desperate. Being here before, knowing how it was gonna be and how much effort you need to give at every single moment.”
On the team’s mental toughness and resilience in the Game 2 win:
“I think the mental — I think that’s what I feel, when we’re resilient, how mentally tough we are. Being up in the fourth by a good amount, and then they made a run and take the lead, and staying resilient, that’s all about the mental focus. We can all get caught up in the crowd and them making that run because they are a really good team, but we just weather the storm, stay together and found a way to win at the end.”
On the Knicks’ defense leading them to a Game 2 win:
“I think it started just defensively getting stops. I think that’s the biggest thing, us getting stops and getting out.”
On Towns’ standing up to physical playoff defense:
“He’s shown me personally — and obviously the team — but he’s shown me personally last year leading up to the playoffs, that first round against Detroit, I think a lot of their goals was trying to punk him. He didn’t let down. He showed that he can do it on both ends at all times. It’s just go time. It’s winning time. It’s that season. I’m trying to go out there and give it all I’ve got for this team, my teammates, the coaches, for the organization, fans.”
Josh Hart was asked "how good does it feel to go back home up 2-0 in the series?"
“It’s 0-0 at this point, as far as we’re concerned. Being up 2-0 means, really, nothing. This team’s going to come out on, what, Monday with an unbelievable amount of energy and desperation and we’ve got to be better.”
On the Spurs’ physicality in Game 2:
“Obviously, for me, too much physicality.”
On his initial reaction to Game 2:
“That was a crazy game… it was an all-around team effort… we gotta be better in terms of execution, we’ll watch film and learn from that.”
Deuce McBride said the Game 2 win was a "relentless" team effort
On what to expect from Madison Square Garden in Game 3:
“Hectic. I’m sure it’s going crazy right now. We heard New York here, down in San Antonio, so … I don’t even know what I’m expecting, honestly. It’s going to be great. I’m excited.”
On the Knicks’ defense being rooted in a team-wide effort:
“Everyone’s capable of playing at a high level defensively because it’s nothing but effort. For him to really lock-in and not just take on the challenge guarding Wemby but being up in the pick and roll, being able to go get rebounds, being able to guard in transition, those things are big.”
"Maybe if they [teammates] listened to it, they'd understand, but they're silly." 😂
On his mindset ahead of the final play of the game and guarding Wembanyama at it:
“I knew we needed stops and I had picked up a few fouls on him. I think, what, three, like early on? So in my mind, I was just like, ‘Defend without fouling.’ So that was kind of like how it went. Just great contest, and just kind of how it went.”
On the feeling of the moment after the final miss:
“It was crazy. Just crazy.”
On reaching the Finals after eight years with the franchise:
“It was crazy. Been here for eight years, now here we are in the Finals. I can truly say I done seen it all. It’s wild.”
On his musical advice for his teammates:
“I love my country music. That’s all I listen to. Dealing with these guys, they don’t listen to it. So that’s why, you know, I got my headphones now. Maybe if they listened to it, they’ll understand, but they’re silly.”
On dealing with Hack-a-Mitch:
“It seems like they just want me off the court. So in my eyes, I feel like I’m a threat.”
OG Anunoby
On being part of a 13-game playoff win streak:
“It’s special. We have a great team, we’re very connected.”
"All bets are off. I don't know. I keep telling myself I'm going to stop being surprised by Knicks fans and what they do and how they show up, so I'm sure it'll be an unbelievable atmosphere"
Landry Shamet says he has no idea what to expect from Knicks fans for Games 3 and 4🤣 pic.twitter.com/oTWKDPKaxP
“They make you work. They make you earn everything. We weathered their storm. We found a way.”
On the 13-game playoff win streak:
“We got Game 3 in Madison Square Garden, that’s what we’re worried about. All those other games are in the past.”
On staying even-keeled after giving up the lead late in Game 2:
“It’s a resilient group. Can’t react too high or low, especially on the road.”
On what to expect from Knicks fans at MSG:
“All bets are off. I don’t know. I keep telling myself I’m going to stop being surprised by Knicks fans and what they do and how they show up, so I’m sure it’ll be an unbelievable atmosphere.”
Jose Alvarado
On what Towns is bringing defensively:
“We’re gonna need him to do what he’s doing to win games. He’s doing an amazing job. He’s being a leader and stepping up and doing what we need him to do defensively.”
"We don't feel like we've played well or up to our standard, at least, in the last two games. New York's played very well and they're a part of that. We're gonna go into Game 3 and if we play our brand of basketball, up to our standard, we'll be just fine."
On Wembanyama’s unacceptable shot volume in the first half of Game 2:
“We’ve had that discussion before and I understand the discourse around it. It’s a little bit of both, but I have to make sure that there’s environments that the ball finds him. I think he’s got to make sure that he can’t rely on that to get shots as well and there are times when I think when he was open on rolls and around the paint and his teammates have got to give him the ball. So I think it’s a combination of all that. But yeah, four shots in a half on this stage is not acceptable.”
On the Spurs’ confidence heading into Game 3:
“We don’t feel like we’ve played well or up to our standard, at least, in the last two games. New York’s played very well and they’re a part of that. We’re gonna go into Game 3 and if we play our brand of basketball, up to our standard, we’ll be just fine.”
On the need for making life tougher for Towns:
“I think he’s played two good games, we’ve still got to make it tougher on him. We’ve had some coverage breakdowns and just keep trying to make great players work for everything they get.”
“I’m still very blurry, and that’s the whole problem. I need to have more poise, more control over the game. I’m not going to go through the whole possessions, but that’s the general image.”
On missing the potential game-winner:
“I liked the shot. I feel like in this moment, you need to shoot to score. In moments like this, it’s like results matter more than process.”
On gifting the Knicks Game 2 with a careless turnover:
“I threw that one away. I messed up. We didn’t play great as a team. We needed to win that game. This game was ours. But at this point, it’s done. Am I going to regret it? Yes, of course. Am I going to use that to fuel me and to fuel us next game? Absolutely.”
On still feeling high from the WCF win over the Thunder:
“Personally, I think I could’ve been better in recovering from the high of the conference finals, but here we are. We can’t change the past now. We’re already focused on Game 3.”
On facing Karl-Anthony Towns:
“What I think of it? It’s very different from previous series. It’s bringing us into difficult areas because they’re good players. He’s a good player. Yeah, I mean, we just need to figure it out, we need to keep working at it… We can do a little bit better; we can do better defensively.”
On his emotions after Game 2:
“Lots of emotions of every type. I mean, not every type, only the negative type.”
On the Spurs’ tendency to dig them into early holes:
“I think we need to put ourselves in better conditions. We’re digging ourselves a hole, that’s been a theme so far.”
“I was looking at him when he first got the rebound. I just started to take off to try to give him some space to dribble up the court. I didn’t see him throw it to me.”
On the difference between guarding Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Brunson:
“They’re very similar in ways. I think Shai is more of a threat to get all the way downhill, all the way to the basket. I think Jalen likes to use angles a lot more, uses probably a little bit more pump fakes than Shai. Mostly it’s angles, trying to get to his spots, not really trying to draw fouls as much, but trying to get to his mid-range and get to spots to where he likes.”
On switching and trusting teammates defensively:
“Obviously, yes, I want to stay on the ball, guard my matchup. At the end of the day, I have nothing but confidence with my teammates on that side of the floor. I don’t want to try and make up things on the spot. We’ve switched that ball screen with me on the ball all year. It’s been successful for us.”
"Obviously, having somebody like KAT is a difficult cover. That's what everybody tries to do, is to pull Vic away from the basket"
De'Aaron Fox talks about the Spurs' issues in guarding Karl-Anthony Towns in this series and Towns pulling Victor Wembanyama out of the paint: pic.twitter.com/cV1bDNpHuT
On shadily fouling Jalen Brunson on a play-to-play basis:
“We’re just trying to make it difficult on him. I think we’ve done a good job in both games. He’s made big shots at the end of games. He’s a hell of a player.”
On Victor Wembanyama’s second-half adjustment:
“We came in and we’re like, ‘we need you to be aggressive.’ That is what it is. He came out in the second half and obviously, he was much better for us.”
On Wembanyama’s final shot:
“He makes that shot nine times out of ten, so I think we had a great possession.”
On guarding Karl-Anthony Towns:
“Obviously, having somebody like KAT is a difficult cover. That’s what everybody tries to do, is to pull Vic away from the basket.”
“Yeah, I think it’s just friendly banter, honestly and truly. Obviously, I’ve known Jose for a while. Yeah, he makes one, he talks. I make one, I talk. That’s just how New York is. That’s how it goes.”
On how New York playground basketball shaped him:
“Figuring out how you can play on those courts, definitely I feel like it translates into playing on the NBA court. Obviously the talent is different and stuff like that. But you take little tidbits, the trash talk, the physicality, perseverance and how to get through and actually win a game. You take those things with you throughout your whole career.”
“The MVP of the Finals is gonna be Karl-Anthony Towns. That man earned his flowers.”
On Towns answering critics and haters:
“He’s been criticized in Minnesota. He’s been criticized in New York. The MVP of the Finals is going to be Karl-Anthony Towns. He has played two of the best games I’ve ever seen a big man play. He was great in Game 1. He was great in Game 2. That man earned his flowers.”
On Victor Wembanyama’s Game 2 performance:
“Wemby’s in shock right now. It’s probably been a long time since he got his ass kicked like this. But right now, big KAT is taking his ass to the woodshed.”
“He’s playing with pace. He’s playing smart. He’s playing inside. He’s outside. He’s controlling the offense with the pass sometimes. And listen, he is just playing unbelievable basketball right now. And I agree with you. If it ended today, he would definitely be the Most Valuable Player.”
Apr 11, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves city connect hat in the dugout against the Cleveland Guardians in the second inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
It was an absolute jam-packed day down on the farm with plenty of action to dive into. From Briggs McKenzie’s outing, to Starlyn De La Cruz having a strong day at the plate in the DSL, there was a ton of solid performances. Let’s dive into it all.
Gwinnett rode a stellar start on the mound from JR Ritchie and a trio of excellent performances at the plate to a win on Friday, getting to one game over .500 on the season.
Across six frames, Ritchie allowed two runs on four hits, but didn’t walk a single batter while striking out six in the process. It was a nice bounce back performance from Ritchie after a disastrous start his last time out in which he gave up five runs in just one-third of an inning.
The Stripers jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
With one out in the frame, Brett Wisely took an 0-1 fastball and promptly deposited it over the right field wall for a solo homer to put Gwinnett on the board. Two batters later, following a Rowdy Tellez double, Brewer Hicklen hit his ninth homer of the year to extend the lead to 3-0 over Norfolk.
While the Tide attempted to claw back by scoring one run in each of the second and fifth innings, the Gwinnett offense continued to pour it on.
Wisely came through yet again in the bottom of the seventh as he doubled into left field to plate both Ben Gamel and Cal Conley to extend the Gwinnett lead to 5-2 on the night.
In the home half of the eighth, Hicklen came around to score on an error off the bat of Jose Azocar to make it a 6-2 game. Later, Jair Camargo laced his second double of the night into the right center field gap to plate Azocar and give Gwinnett the 7-2 lead.
While Ritchie was solid in his own right, the Stripers’ bullpen came through in a huge way. Rolddy Munoz tossed a pair of scoreless inning while striking out four and Ian Hamilton threw one scoreless frame and struck out one in the process.
(26-27) Columbus Clingstones 2, (27-27) Rocket City Trash Pandas 1
Continuing with what could be considered the biggest enigma in the Atlanta farm system, Garrett Baumann put up a very, very strong performance on the mound after what could best be described as a poor performance his last time out.
Simply put, Baumann was excellent on Friday as he struck out seven across 7.2 scoreless innings for Columbus. Compared to his last performance on May 29 in which he gave up five earned runs in 4.1 innings, Friday’s outing was a stark contrast in a positive way.
While Baumann was dominant in his own right, so was the pitching for Rocket City as both offenses were kept off the board through the first nine innings, sending this one to extras.
In the top of the tenth, with David McCabe starting on second base, Jordan Groshans doubled on the first pitch he saw to plate McCabe and give Columbus their first lead — and score the games first run. Two batters later, Logan Braunschweig plated Groshans with an RBI-single to extend the lead to 2-0.
— Columbus Clingstones (@GoClingstones) June 6, 2026
That second run was super important as Rocket City scored a run off of Blane Abeyta in the home half of the tenth inning to cut the Columbus lead to 2-1. However, Abeyta locked in and limited the damage as the Clingstones held onto their narrow lead for the win.
Making his fifth start of the season on Friday, Luke Sinnard had what was easily his best outing on the mound.
The 6’7 righty tossed five scoreless innings, striking out five and walking three in the process. While he has been solid thus far — as he has given up two runs in each of his first two starts for Rome — Friday’s start was his best outing by far.
Offensively, things were much different for the Emperors as they were also held scoreless for a majority of the game. Eric Hartman — to no ones surprise — had an excellent night as he went 3-4 with another stolen base, his 22nd of the season. The only other hits tallied by Rome were two singles, one each from Colin Burgess and Dixon Williams.
Prior to the bottom of the ninth, which would prove to to be very fruitful for Rome, the Emperors got some excellent defense to keep them in the game in the top half of the ninth.
With runners on second and third, John Gil fielded a ball up the middle and managed to fire the ball home to gun down the runner at the plate to keep the game scoreless.
In the home half, Cody Miller played the role of hero as he plated Hartman on a sacrifice fly to give Rome the 1-0 win in what was an absolute pitching and defensive duel.
On another pitching note, Blake Burkhalter continued to dominate on his rehab assignment as he struck out six in two innings of work while allowing just one hit.
(30-25) Augusta GreenJackets 0, (20-35) Delmarva Shorebirds 6
On the one hand, Briggs McKenzie was downright dominant in his low-A debut. On the other hand, he didn’t get any run support in the start either.
The 2025 fourth-rounder was absolutely stunning as he tossed five scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out eight in the process. What is more impressive is he got 11 whiffs and threw a staggering 45 strikes on 66 pitches.
McKenzie’s fastball averaged in the mid-90s while his changeup and curveball were both excellent as well as he showed the ability to work both pitches all throughout the bottom half of the zone.
While it’s only three starts — two of which were in the FCL — McKenzie is carrying an ERA of 0.79 across 11.1 innings to start his professional career.
The FCL Braves came up short in this one as the FCL Rays took it by a 3-1 final.
Wuilinyer Tovar started on the mound for the Braves and put the squad in a bit of a hole from the jump as the Rays plated three runs off him on three hits. He did, however, strike out four batters in the process.
Meanwhile at the plate, Yamvier Carrero carried the offense with three singles and a walk to his credit in this one. John Estevez, who got the start in left field, tallied the Braves’ only RBI on the day with a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth inning.
Top international signee Diego Tornes had a rough day as he went o-4 with a strikeout to lower his batting average to a dismal .180 thus far.
The DSL Braves are still in search of their first win of the year as they fell to the DSL Padres Gold squad by an 11-6 margin on Friday.
On a positive note, Starlyn De La Cruz had a banner day at the dish as he went 1-2 with his first professional homer and three runs scored after he worked a pair of walks in the process. He also drove in two of the team’s six runs in this one while raising his OPS to a team-leading 1.472.
Catcher Jorwin Pukido also had a solid day offensively as he doubled and scored two runs and scored a run in the process as well.
Derek Torres got the start on the mound and it was a bit of a rough outing for him as he failed to get out of the first inning and gave up two runs and five walks across those frames.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JUNE 05: Corey Seager #5 of the Texas Rangers high fives Wyatt Langford #36 after Seager hit a home run during the sixth inning of a game against the Cleveland Guardians at Globe Life Field on June 05, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This will be my last Moose Tracks post for a couple of weeks as I am taking my honeymoon to Greece starting tomorrow! I leave you all in the capable hands of the Lookout Landing staff in the interim. On that note, what is the best vacation you’ve ever been on?
In Mariners news…
Brent Maguire dug into the data behind Bryce Miller’s tremendous start to the 2026 campaign.
Adam Jude at The Seattle Times spoke to Kade Anderson and Ryan Sloan about the special bond they’re forming as the two top pitching prospects in the sport.
According to a recent survey, the Mariner Moose is the sixth-most beloved mascot in Major League Baseball.
Around the league…
Rangers shortstop Corey Seager was activated off the injured list yesterday and promptly hit a home run to snap his 0-for-29 skid.
The A’s are playing in Vegas this Monday — at yet another minor league ballpark — as part of two Sin City series against the Brewers and Rockies. Gabe Fernandez at SF Gate wonders if their arrival next week will cause more harm than good.
Michael Baumann at Fangraphs wrote about immovable contracts and whether they truly are albatrosses or not.
I can safely say that I got the answer to the question I posed yesterday. Well, not exactly. The question I asked was: Is it possible for the team to hit rock bottom and still end up winning the game? If that’s possible, I suppose, remains an open question. The reality is, though the Cubs won Thursday’s thrilling game, it was not rock bottom. On Friday afternoon, the team sunk lower.
I mean, we can be fair and balanced about Friday’s loss. The Giants thought they would field a competitive team in 2026. They did not. But, the remnants of a team they thought would contend are largely in tact. It’s a team that just took back-to-back wins in Milwaukee, the class of the NL Central and one of the best teams in baseball. A loss? That can happen. On any given day, right? I mean, that’s kind of something that football talks about. But it’s the kind of thing that happens every single day in baseball. Probably on 90 percent or more of the days, if we scan all of the final scores, some team is beating some other team with a much better record. If I’m wrong on that number, it’s only because there are so many teams with middle of the road records. As a for instance, ignoring the Cub game, the Mets beat the Padres Friday.
Put simply, these things happen. So that is whatever. But 18-3? The 18 runs in one game is the second-most that any team has allowed this season in a game. The most? 19. Bonus points if you knew that the opponent was also the Giants. So the Giants are at least a team that has been explosive this year. But Wrigley Field isn’t Coors Field. Also, the Cubs aren’t supposed to be the Rockies. One of those teams won a playoff series last year, the other… well, most of us don’t readily remember the Rockies even being in a playoff series. I imagine most of us have a hazy memory about a Rockies team that reached the World Series. And we all remember the Cubs losing a very frustrating Wild Card game against them. More bonus points if you readily knew that was the last time the Rockies played in the postseason.
The Cubs drew a good number of walks against Giants starter Robbie Ray. But they only had two hits during the competitive portion of this game. They ended up with six hits and six walks. But that’s basically never going to work when you allow 19 hits. As per usual, the Cubs got pummeled in the middle innings of this game. It’s not usually 14-1 bad. But if you read John’s stat packs, you’ve seen recently that the Cubs more or less play the first three innings close to even and they win over the last three innings, on the strength of their massive run differential in the ninth inning. But the Cubs have been outscored more in the middle innings than they outscore opponents at the end of the game.
What does it tell us about a team that struggles consistently in the middle innings? Well, some combination of two factors is at play when you allow a lot of runs in the middle innings. Either A) your starters struggle as the lineup cycles to the third time through the order or B) your depth relievers aren’t good. In this instance, the eye test would say both. Ignoring Friday’s game, year to date, Cub starters allow an opponent OPS of .648 the first time through the order, .756 the second and .850 the third.
If the Cubs are going to regroup at this point and make a run, I’m pretty sure they are going to have to start looking for 18 batters out of the starter and getting into the pen. As much as hitting is down across baseball as a whole, Cub starting pitching just doesn’t give opponents anywhere near enough trouble. That kind of usage will likely torch an already suspect Cub bullpen. But then, that beleaguered bullpen is outperforming the starters.
The only good pieces of news about Friday’s game are that no matter how lopsided the game is, it only counts as a single loss. Additionally, no matter how bad you lose, it’s still scoreless the next day when the next game starts. This series can still be won.
The odds that this team is a seller and not a buyer next month are increasing by the day. It’s becoming hard to imagine this team rebounding with any authority. There is plenty of time. I just don’t believe this team knows what to do with it.
Three Positives:
Seiya Suzuki had a home run and drew three walks.
Pedro Ramirez got into the game late and had a pair of singles in two plate appearances. He also scored a run.
Pete Crow-Armstrong had a hit and a walk in three plate appearances.
Game 64, June 5: Giants 18, Cubs 3
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
Billy Goat: Edward Cabrera (-.327). 3.2 IP, 20 BF, 8 H, BB, 8 ER, 6 K (L 3-3)
Goat: Ian Happ (-.093). 0-2
Kid: Nico Hoerner (-.051). 0-3
WPA Play of the Game: Willy Adames’ two-run homer with two outs in the first inning. (.180)
Giants Play of the Game: Carson Kelly singled leading off the bottom of the second, the Cubs down two at t he time. (.041)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 63 Winner: Pete Crow-Armstrong received 119 of 158 votes.
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 5/Bottom 5)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Michael Busch +21
Nico Hoerner/Michael Conforto +10
Ben Brown/Kelly +9.5
Ryan Rolison/Phil Maton/Jameson Taillon/Caleb Thielbar -8
Matt Shaw -10
Dansby Swanson -11
Seiya Suzuki -26.5
Up Next: Game two of the three-game series. Ben Brown (2-2, 1.92) starts for the Cubs. Landen Roupp (5-6, 4.22) starts for the Giants.
Otto Kemp of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs is at bat during a Minor League Baseball game at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, United States, on May 8, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
Let’s see how some of the Phillies’ prospects fared last night in the minor leagues.
Lehigh Valley 4, Rochester 2
The Ottoman Kempire raised its flag in Lehigh Valley once again, this time leading the IronPigs with two hits, one of them being a solo home run. It’s probably past time to admit he’s simply a good minor league hitter, nothing more than that. Also, did you know that Seth Johnson had two more strikeouts? That’s 36 in 24 1/3 innings this year. Something to monitor if a need arises.
Also, imagine being Bryse Wilson. Going from released by the Phillies to re-signing with the team on a minor league deal to pitching four innings of shutout ball for the IronPigs in a span of about 24 hours. The life of a minor leaguer I suppose.
Binghamton 5, Reading 4
This one went extra innings when the two teams were tied at two. Reading had a few hitting highlights on the night, Bryan Rincon continuing his resurgence this year by homering again, his ninth on the year. Kehden Hettiger had two hits on the night as well, including an RBI single in the tenth that scored Dylan Campbell, who had just had an RBI double before him, that gave the Fightin’ Phils a two run lead going into the bottom of the tenth. However, the Rumble Ponies stormed back when Reading reliever Vincent Perozo came in with the ghost runner on, allowed a single to put runners on the corners, then a three-run home run to end the game. Yikes.
Brooklyn 6, Jersey Shore 3
Tough night for the BlueClaws as they drop one to Brooklyn in Lakewood. Kodey Shojinaga was two for three, a double added to his resume. Trent Farquhar and Pedro Leon also doubled, but a rough third inning by Jersey Shore starter Luke Gabrysh doomed the home team. He was not helped by an inning beginning error that was exascerbated by a three-run home run, followed by a solo shot that was the backbreaker. Tough game.
Clearwater 5, St. Lucie 4
Clearwater took another game from St. Lucie last night, but there were two names that popped out. If you haven’t familiarized yourself with Alirio Ferrebus and Ramon Marquez, it might be time to do so. The former hit another home run last night for Clearwater, his eighth on the season, pushing his overall OPS to .936 on the season. It’s time to pay more attention to his prospect status, even if it maybe doesn’t end with his being a catcher. The latter was Marquez, who has continued to build on his season with 5 1/3 innings, only allowing two runs on two hits and striking out nine. This might be another solid arm the team needs to develop properly.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 05: Yandy Díaz #2 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates with teammates after scoring against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at loanDepot park on June 05, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees dropped the opener of their weekend series against the Red Sox on Friday, losing 5-3 with all of the damage done in three consecutive innings against Ryan Weathers. Spencer Jones went 3-for-3 with an RBI in his return to the team following Judge’s placement on the IL and Ben Rice hit his 18th long ball of the year, but the only other offense to be found for New York came on a Trent Grisham solo shot. Not the most encouraging sign of life for a lineup that’ll be without their captain for the foreseeable future, but they’ll get back at it today looking to even the series back up. In the meantime, their rivals had the opportunity to either catch up to them or in the case of the Rays, get a little breathing room.
Tampa Bay Rays (37-23) 6, Miami Marlins (29-35) 0
Tampa controlled this game from the get-go, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning against Ryan Gusto. After a groundout opened the game, Junior Caminero ripped a double out to right and Jonathan Aranda walked to give them runners on. Yandy Díaz hit into a fielder’s choice that put runners on the corners, and Richie Palacios brought them both in as he dropped a ball out into right that deflected off of Owen Caissie’s glove and rebounded out to the wall in center for a triple. Ryan Vilade then singled him home to round out the threat.
That was all the offense the Rays needed, because Drew Rasmussen was dealing against the Fish. Rasmussen tossed seven innings as he blanked the Marlins, allowing just a single hit in the second inning to Javier Sanoja and stranding him with ease after striking out the next two batters to escape the frame. Rasmussen sat down nine Marlins hitters personally, and after he handed the ball over to the bullpen Cam Booser and Cole Sulser combined to strike out five more in the last two innings. Sulser did give up the second and last hit that Miami collected on the night via a leadoff bunt to third, but no rally was forthcoming.
There was more offense to be had for Tampa though, as they struck in each of the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings. Another Caminero double and an Aranda single brought in Tampa Bay’s fourth run of the game, and their fifth came on Cedric Mullins launching a home run to open the next inning. The final insurance run was brought home after a leadoff walk got moved to third via a hit and passed ball before Vilade earned his second RBI of the game with another single.
Other Games
Toronto Blue Jays (30-34) 3, Baltimore Orioles (31-33) 13: The Orioles took it to the Jays, but it didn’t become a blowout until much later in the game. The two teams traded a run in the first inning, Gunnar Henderson launching a solo shot for the O’s while Vladimir Guerrero Jr. lifted a sacrifice fly for Toronto. The Blue Jays briefly took a 3-1 lead in the fifth on a two-run blast from Brandon Valenzuela, but Baltimore took the lead right back with a five-run sixth inning — RBI hits from Adley Rutschman and Jeremiah Jackson set the stage for Coby Mayo to hit a two-run homer to cap it off.
The eighth and ninth inning turned this into a proper blowout. Baltimore scored three in the former thanks to a quartet of singles with a wild pitch in the mix, and then scored four more in the latter when Rutschman doubled home two and a throwing error allowed two more to round third. Brandon Young lasted 6.1 innings for the Orioles, allowed all three of Toronto’s runs, but the Baltimore bullpen clamped down allowing just a single baserunner the rest of the way.
Cleveland Guardians (36-29) 2, Texas Rangers (31-32) 3: For five innings Cleveland was slowly building itself a little lead, scoring one run in the first on a Travis Bazzana solo shot and a second run in the fourth on an RBI single from Austin Hedges to support starter Parker Messick. Messick allowed just a lone single through that point, but in the sixth Texas’ offense woke up: Kyle Higashioka led off with a blast, Wyatt Langford hit a one-out double, and then Corey Seager launched a two-run homer to take the lead away. Both pitching staffs kept the offenses in check from there, with Jacob Latz working around a single and walk in the ninth to secure a two-inning save.
Seattle Mariners (33-31) 3, Detroit Tigers (26-38) 7: Detroit apparently decided to play their best ball of the season against division leaders this week, taking it to Seattle coming off of their sweep of the Rays. The Mariners did take a 1-0 lead in the first, but Detroit answered back with three in the third, first scoring on a Dillon Dingler looped ball that dunked in front of Julio Rodríguez before the center fielder managed to fire it back in quickly enough to get a force out at second. Kerry Carpenter made it easier for the next two to cross, lifting a two-run shot out to right.
The game was locked down at 3-1 Tigers until the seventh, when Seattle got a solo shot from Colt Emerson to get within one but Detroit struck back immediately with a Gleyber Torres two-run double in the bottom frame. The eighth inning was a similar story, the Mariners carving back a run on a Cole Young RBI single only to give back two via a Spencer Torkelson home run.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JUNE 04: Josh Rojas #40 of the Kansas City Royals hits a go-ahead, two-run single against the Minnesota Twins in the ninth inning at Target Field on June 04, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Royals defeated the Twins 8-6. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Anne Rogers writes about a whirlwind day for Josh Rojas on Thursday, with a hit at Triple-A in the afternoon, and the game-winning hit in the big leagues that evening.
“I can’t imagine having a travel day like that,” said Michael Massey, who homered in the fourth inning. “And then having to come in and face a leverage reliever.”
“I think I would have been a little more stressed [getting here] if I hadn’t played a game yet today,” Rojas added. “But I’d already done all my activation. I played a game. I did sit at the airport for a while, but I still felt pretty good. It didn’t feel like I had just woken up out of bed. Obviously, the adrenaline of being in the big leagues, I felt really good just stepping out there.”
“They were like, hey, your flight is in an hour and 45 minutes — we’re going to try and rush you there,” Rojas recalled. “I ended up missing that one and didn’t get there in time. And then, my next flight left at eight o’clock. So I was there for about four hours waiting for my next flight.”
Researching players who appeared in a minor- and major-league game the same day has proven to be difficult, but the Twins’ Matt Wallner did it on May 23, 2023. After playing for the St. Paul Saints in the afternoon, he was promoted to the Twins but made an out in his pinch-hit appearance that night.
Curt Nelson, senior director of the Royals Hall of Fame, noted that former Royals outfielder Lane Adams played for the Braves and their minor-league affiliate in 2017.
Adams had two hits for Triple-A Gwinett in an afternoon game, then got the call to join the big-league Braves that night. He went 0 for 2 with Atlanta.
After blowing consecutive saves, Erceg became a major talking point among the fan base and national pundits. People criticized his subpar season, and it’s led to lingering concerns about his ability to stick in the role as the team’s closer.
“I’m allowing the outside noise to affect me a little bit,” Erceg said. “I talk about that a lot. It’s not allowing the outside noise and not allowing the situation to dictate how I feel out there. And I guess, the last couple of weeks, I’ve allowed it to affect the way I think and I moved down the mound.”
Overall, the numbers don’t paint a picture of a particularly bad outing, but don’t mistake that for me saying Lugo was good or even just a little unlucky. He had trouble putting hitters away, and the Twins didn’t seem to be having trouble with any of his pitches. He had a perfectly respectable whiff rate of 23 percent and didn’t seem to get crushed overall, but it was just an underwhelming performance. One thing that I thought was interesting is that I thought his changeup looked different in the first inning. He threw one to Brooks Lee and then another to Clemens, which sort of caught me off guard when they came up as a changeup.
And sure enough, he was throwing it significantly harder. He averaged 86.2 MPH on it after averaging 84.6 on it this year previously. Additionally, it had a lot more spin. The movement wasn’t that different by the numbers, but there was one, in the fourth maybe, that I thought looked like a totally different pitch. That’s something I do appreciate from Lugo. He will continue to work and work and work, honing pitches. There might be something negative about that, too, if he doesn’t let what’s working keep working, but I appreciate someone who always tries to improve themselves.
Mar 14, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Bryse Wilson (48) throws a pitch against the New York Yankees in the first inning during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Home runs proved costly for two of the Phillies’ affiliates on Friday night, but Lehigh Valley and Clearwater prevailed thanks to some strong pitching performances. The Threshers’ win was their sixth in a row.
Lehigh Valley 4, Rochester 2
Bryse Wilson allowed just one hit and struck out five across four scoreless innings for the Iron Pigs. He’s now thrown nine straight scoreless innings (Look out, Cristopher Sanchez!). Chuck King also pitched well, tossing three scoreless innings in relief to earn the win. Carter Kieboom broke a 2-2 tie with a sacrifice fly in the sixth, and Otto Kemp provided an insurance run with his fourth home run of the year in the eighth.
Binghamton 5, Reading 4
There was extra inning excitement in Binghamton on Friday night. With the game tied at two after nine innings, the Fightin’ Phils took a 4-2 lead in the top of the 10th thanks to a double by Dylan Campbell and a single by Kehdan Hettiger. But after pitching a scoreless ninth, reliever Colin Peluse’s second inning of work didn’t go well. He gave up a single and then a walk off home run to Chris Suerto.
Brooklyn 6, Jersey Shore 3
Home runs were a problem for the Blue Claws against the Brooklyn Cyclones on Friday. Starting pitcher Luke Gabrysh only gave up three hits in five innings, but two of them left the yard. Reliever Danyony Pulido surrendered another home run in his one inning of work. Offensively, outfielder Nick Biddison drove in two with a sixth inning single.
Clearwater 5, St. Lucie 4
Pitcher Ramon Marquez had a good night, striking out nine batters in 5.1 innings. The Mets made things interesting as the game wore on, but the Threshers’ early offense, highlighted by Alirio Ferrebus’ two run home run, was enough to give them their sixth-straight win.
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Sam Antonacci wears bruises from HBPs, but also is a core member of the White Sox bunting brigade. | (Photo by Jayden Mack/Getty Images)
Inside the Chicago White Sox, there are two wolves.
The first is the three true outcome wolf. The South Side Smashing Machine is currently fifth in team slugging, ninth in on-base percentage and fourth in strikeouts. The latter is frustrating at times, as evidenced when Ozzie Guillén’s frustrations boiled over with Colson Montgomery after Wednesday’s 8-0 win over the Twins. My apologies to Ozzie, but I reckon a few bad swings is a fair trade for a 33-30 record, especially when you allow for the second wolf.
Wolf Two is John McGraw’s scientific baseball of the Dead Ball Era — beanings, baserunning and bunts. This is personified by the guys like Sam Antonacci (major league leader with 13 HBPs), Luisangel Acuña (a speed demon, when he manages to get on base), and a group of guys I lovingly call the bunting gremlins: Tristan Peters, Derek Hill, Rikuu Nishida and Antonacci again. These men stand on the broad shoulders of the OG, Chase Meidroth.
This balance has put the White Sox in a unique position: The South Siders are on pace for 219 home runs and 47 sacrifice hits. This puts them within a shout of the first 200 home run/50 sacrifice hit season since the universal DH was established.
The analytics case against bunting is simple: Outs are a finite resource to a baseball team. You’re only guaranteed 27 of them. Don’t give any of them away on purpose, you idiot!
It wasn’t always like that, of course. You can trace the story of baseball through these home run-to-sacrifice ratios. For example, there have been 22 teams who have done the reverse ratio of 200 sacrifice hits and 50 home runs, and 21 of them occurred from 1920-29, the lone outlier being the 1911 Cubs.
Let’s split the difference and look at 100 HR/100 SH teams, sorted by decade:
The analytics revolution put an end to that: 47 teams have hit 200 or more home runs this decade, while no team has had 50 sacrifice hits in a season during the same time period (last season’s San Diego Padres came closest, with 48).
Despite this uptick, the White Sox are the only team with a realistic chance of creating the 200/50 U-DH Club:
I’ve been on the side of abolishing the bunt for more than a decade, but I have to admit I’ve begun to soften with old age (my liver is 84.) The Manfred Man began the bunting renaissance, with the do-or-die stakes of extra innings multiplying the significance of every lone run. Bunting bundled and boldness on the basepaths have been a hallmark from the bottom of the White Sox order this season, as they punch above their weight in the American League. May the wolves and the gremlins live in peace for a thousand years.
COVERS INTEL: Harper’s usage climbed from 17.9 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals to 20.8 in Game 2. He was second on the team behind only Victor Wembanyama when it came to usage and points percentage in graded clutch time (final five minutes).
