There is nothing more sad or more dangerous than the memory of a great player. Once a player is retired those memories are cherished and should be. We remember the best moments and hold onto those memories like a child holds onto its favorite toy. When a player is still active those memories can be dangerous. They could potentially blind you to what is. Whatever we may think of Jose Altuve, we should come in with eyes wide open.
We have been using bases per out to keep track of where players are in terms of production. The big league average is .676, but as we have seen when looking at catchers and first basemen in the American League that the big league average is hardly ever relevant when looking at specific positions. Altuve is a second baseman and should be compared with other second basemen. It becomes dreadfully important that we see him for who he is and not who he was.
The out is the blood currency of the sport. Pitchers are trying to get them and hitters are trying to avoid them. We measure effectiveness in the amount of damage one accrues or avoids depending on if they are a pitcher or a hitter. Bases per out are calculated by adding total bases, walks, stolen bases, and hit by pitches and dividing them by total outs. Like we said, the big league average is .676, but we will likely see something radically different when looking at American League second basemen. As a reminder, we are taking all players that have played second base and have accrued at least 120 outs.
Outs
TB
BB
SB
HBP
BPO
Travis Bazzana
185
55
31
12
2
.751
Jazz Chilsohm Jr.
253
123
37
26
1
.739
Ezequiel Duran
220
121
22
7
1
.686
Luke Keaschall
236
104
34
12
10
.678
Richie Palacios
155
67
24
8
3
.658
Chase Meidroff
260
128
37
2
2
.650
Michael Massey
171
95
14
2
0
.649
Ernie Clement
254
150
12
2
0
.646
Vaughn Grissom
145
72
17
0
4
.641
Cole Young
264
134
25
2
7
.636
Jose Altuve
228
110
29
2
1
.623
Oswaldo Peraza
205
98
9
11
6
.605
Ben Williamson
156
62
19
7
1
.571
Jeremiah Jackson
165
81
4
2
1
.527
Maricelo Mayer
168
64
16
3
3
.512
Tristan Gray
131
55
9
2
1
.511
Jeff McNeil
218
80
21
1
4
.486
Mean
200.8
96.4
21.2
5.9
2.8
.629
Median
205
95
21
2
2
.641
Every data set is unique and second base is very different from catcher and first base. In this case, the lower scores are driving the mean down. So, in this case the median is higher than the mean. As per usual, the components of the median don’t match up to the number that is actually in the middle. Unlike the other positions, a majority of the second basemen were close to the mean and median. Mathematicians and statisticians would call that range.
These fancy terms are all very nice, but what do they actually mean? In the case of Jose Altuve, his numbers come in a little below the mean and median. However, he is close enough to the mean and median that a few hot days at the plate would drive him to the median and above. Altuve is essentially in the accumulation portion of his big league career. He is collecting hits, home runs, doubles, runs, and RBI needed to vault him higher on the all-time second base list. We have seen this before. This was Craig Biggio in his last three seasons.
The primary question is how quickly the decline will continue. Right now, Altuve has the appearance of a mediocre second baseman. Will he plateau there or will the decline continue. As philosophers might say, objects in the rearview mirror are clearer than the ones in the windshield. No two players’ career arcs are exactly the same. What we can do is look at the decline in recent seasons and guess what that could mean beyond this season.
Outs
TB
BB
SB
HBP
BPO
2023
260
188
44
14
5
.965
2024
465
276
47
22
7
.757
2025
465
260
55
10
4
.708
2026
228
110
29
2
1
.623
The 2023 numbers were a bit out of context. It was a shortened season for him due to injury. The other seasons post the pandemic 2020 season were similar to 2024 and 2025. In other words, the decline is here. There is always the possibility for a bounce back season, but that becomes less and less likely with each passing season. If baseball is interrupted or canceled in 2027 then you can bet that such a bounce back is unlikely to happen.
Fortunately, the Astros structured Altuve’s contract in such a way that they anticipated this. He is due 30 million in real dollars this season and next. He will make 13 million in 2028 and 2029. So, when he will likely be at his worst he will be making less money. Give Altuve and the Astros some credit for recognizing that. Still, the future is not necessarily bright.
The 2026 ESPYS will gather notable names from the sports and entertainment world to celebrate the year in sports.
The award show, hosted by ESPN, is an annual event that honors and recognizes some of the recent successes and moments created by the stars in their respective sports.
The NBA will be well represented with Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson in attendance. Brunson helped lead the Knicks to their first NBA Championship in 53 years earlier this year.
Gymnasts Simone Biles, track star Allyson Felix and Alpine skier Lindsey Vonn are among the Olympic gold medalists expected to make an appearance. Vonn crashed during an event at the Winter Olympics that resulted in her fracturing her tibia and breaking her right ankle on Feb. 8.
Vonn also developed compartment syndrome that required her to have surgery that saved her leg from being amputated. Vonn had decided to ski in the Olympics just a week before tearing her left ACL on Jan. 30, during an event in Switzerland.
Who will be honored at the ESPYS this year?
Former NBA player Jason Collins will be posthumously honored with the 2026 Arthur Ashe Courage Award. In 2013, Collins became the first openly gay active player in the four major American pro sports leagues. Collins died of brain cancer on May 12 in Los Angeles. He was 47 years old.
Who's performing at the ESPYS this year?
The ESPYS will feature musical performances from rappers Ghostface Killah, Slick Rick and hip-hop group De La Soul. The Savannah Bananas are also slated to perform.
How to watch the 2026 ESPYS
The ESPYS will air live from David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York on Wednesday, July 15, at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT). The show will air on ABC and be streamed on ESPN+.
When and where is the 2026 ESPYS being held?
When: Wednesday, July 15
Time: 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT)
Where: David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center (New York)
Jul 14, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Raisel Iglesias (26) pitches during the sixth inning for the All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
The 2026 All-Star Game has come and gone, and the American League defeated the National League 4-0. Though the final score was not ideal, the Atlanta Braves had five All-Stars, four of which played. Ozzie Albies, Drake Baldwin, Matt Olson, and Raisel Iglesias each made an appearance.
Albies and Baldwin earned the starts for the National League but were unable to spark the offense, while Olson went hitless after entering later in the game. Iglesias, meanwhile, turned in one of the better performances of the night for Atlanta, tossing a scoreless inning in his first career All-Star appearance. Chris Sale did not pitch, as the National League managed just three hits in the shutout loss.
The Braves have just a few days left of the All-Star break before hosting the Texas Rangers.
More Braves News:
Here is everything you need to know about the Braves’ draft picks and their sign-on value.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 14: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Mets signs his name prior to the 96th MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Meet the Mets
Danny Abriano listed five storylines to watch for in the second half of the Mets season.
Mets first-round draft pick Carson Wiggins has officially signed with the organization.
The Mets’ ineptitude has made it more difficult for the league and fans to celebrate Juan Soto’s greatness.
Around Major League Baseball
Mike Trout made his long-awaited return to the All-Star Game on his home turf, and it was incredibly meaningful for the veteran outfielder.
MLB owners have given their support for major league players to play in the 2028 Olympics, but there are more factors complicating that possibility.
Jordan Walker hopes his Home Run Derby win inspires black kids to get into baseball.
A 1-of-1 Shohei Ohtani rookie card sold privately at auction for over $3 million.
Willson Contreras has made it clear he would likely reject any trade the Boston Red Sox try to include him in.
The All-Star Game red carpet featured MLB stars dressed to impress, with many of the outfits carrying some personal meaning to the players.
One such outfit was Jacob Misiorowski’s, with the young star’s jacket featuring an image of his beloved dog.
Justin Verlander appeared at his final All-Star Game last night, and his incredible legacy is one to remember.
Junior Caminero came out unscathed after getting hit by a pitch on his hand and having to leave the All-Star Game.
The American League won the game early, with the game-winning run coming in the first inning of a 4-0 shutout against the National League.
All-Star Game MVP Cody Bellinger and Ben Rice became the first Yankees teammates to each have an RBI in the Midsummer Classic since Roger Maris and Tom Tresh in 1962.
Despite being a open-and-shut victory for the American League, there were plenty of wonderful moments from the whole game.
Linus Lawrence took a look at the former Mets participating in this year’s All-Star Game.
Linus also assembled an All-Star team full of former Mets who never made an All-Star team.
Chris McShane delivered this week’s Mets Minor League Players of the Week.
Steve Sypa wrote profiles for two more 2026 Mets draft picks: eleventh-round pick Kuhio Aloy and twelfth-rounder AJ Krodel.
Allison McCague released the Position Player Meter for the last two weeks of Mets baseball.
This Date in Mets History
Mets lefty Jon Matlack had a great day in 1975 at the 46th All-Star Game, but Mets right-hander (and broadcasting legend) Ron Darling wasn’t quite as lucky on this day 35 years ago.
Bronx, N.Y.: New York Yankees' Aaron Judge celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off two-run home run in the 9th inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on the afternoon of May 24, 2026 in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Thomas A. Ferrara/Newsday RM via Getty Images) | Newsday via Getty Images
The 2026 All-Star break is upon us, and while a handful of Yankees have enjoyed the festivities in Philadelphia this week, now is a good time to look back on a first half gone by. Through 96 games this season, New York sits three games out of first place in the AL East, and although this season has already proven to be an up-and-down venture, the Yankees haven’t gone without their big moments at the plate.
With the schedule empty until Friday night, let’s take a short stroll down memory lane and look at the biggest Yankee hits from MLB’s designated first half of the 2026 season.
April 7: Rosario’s second homer of the gameputs ’em ahead
By win probability, Amed Rosario’s game-tying blast from early April is the biggest home run of the 2026 season to this point for the Yankees (0.53 per Baseball Reference Stathead), giving the Yankees the lead against the A’s. It was his second of the season, the second of the game, a second-deck blast that snuck inside the foul pole, and the climax of a big eighth inning that led New York to victory. With runners on base late in the game, the bench bat’s swing was among the biggest so far in 2026.
In a high-scoring thriller against the Angels, Trent Grisham’s game-tying blast in the ninth inning was the most important hit of the evening. Down by two runs with a runner on in the ninth, against Los Angeles closer Jordan Romano, Grisham rocketed a ball into the right field seats, sending the Bronx into a frenzy, and adding to the chaos of this eventual 11-10 victory. The Bombers won later in the ninth, when a wild pitch from Romano allowed the walk-off run to score.
This was a tough series for Jordan Romano, a familiar punching bag for the Yankees. Two days after their first dramatic win, the Yankees were once again trailing in the ninth against the Angels. This time, down by a run with to runners on, Caballero shot a ball into the left-center gap, while both runners went for a hit-and-run. With an aggressive send, in all fairness, Austin Wells just barely scored from first base, locking in yet another dramatic win to grant Caballero one of this season’s most thrilling moments at the plate.
Any win against the team you’re looking up at in the standings is a big one. This particular one, with an Aaron Judge walk-off blast sealing the deal, could eventually loom large in a divisional race that may stay close until the end. Stuck in a scoreless tie in the bottom of the ninth on May 24th (a battle between Ryan Weathers and Drew Rasmussen), the Captain stepped up and delivered his fourth career walk-off home run, and gave the Yankees about as important a win as they come. The fact that we know now that Judge did this with a stress fracture in his ribs makes it all the more remarkable.
In a game that easily could have gone down as a disappointment, Jazz Chisholm’s go-ahead homer shifted the tide in the ninth inning. His two-run shot off of Matt Krook turned the Yankees’ deficit into a lead, and set the stage for more big hits throughout the weekend against the Nats. Although Jazz’s season has not gone exactly to plan, the 2025 All-Star is no stranger to providing big moments with the bat.
After a 12-pitch at-bat, Ryan McMahon’s RBI double down the line in right changed the vibe for the Yankess in the Trop. Trailing 1-0 at the time, and in the midst of a real offensive slump as a team, McMahon’s double snapped them out of it, and prompted a much-needed six-run inning for New York. Their eventual 12-4 win in this one was a much needed pounding against the rival Rays.
Yes, we are being creative to get this entire inning of 11 hits and 13 runs from that preposterous Yankees vs. A’s game at a minor-league park in West Sacramento. Perhaps most amusingly, the A’s actually pitched well outside of this frame, holding the Yankees to a walk on a baserunner that was quickly erased (and no hits). It’s just that this inning was an utter disaster for Mark Kotsay and company.
The Boston Red Sox have given chief baseball officer Craig Breslow much to ponder with the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline looming.
Less than a month ago, they were obvious sellers as the worst team in the American League. They then proceeded to win 14 of 16 games, including nine straight heading into the All-Star break, putting themselves back into the playoff conversation.
Boston will begin the second half just a half-game back of the third AL Wild Card spot. While its 46-48 record doesn’t scream “contender,” the AL is wide open. Only the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Guardians, and Texas Rangers are above .500.
Upcoming series against the Rays, Orioles, and Toronto Blue Jays will likely determine Breslow’s deadline approach. If the Red Sox pick up where they left off and stay hot, Breslow will be urged to invest in this year’s team for a postseason run.
If Boston does indeed buy, here are five potential trade targets who would fit the club’s needs:
Zach Neto, SS, Los Angeles Angels
AP Photo
Zach Neto is under team control through the 2029 season.
Undoubtedly the priciest and least realistic trade target on our list, Neto would check several boxes for Boston. Right-handed power? Check. Middle-infield help? Check. Multiple years of control? Check.
The Red Sox reportedly “took several tries” to trade for Neto during the offseason. L.A.’s asking price was understandably high, but there’s a chance it has come down with the club owning the worst record in baseball (38-59). The 25-year-old shortstop is by far the Angels’ most valuable trade chip, and with the organization still not making any progress toward contention, it might be time to cash in.
Neto is slashing .235/.326/.453 with 19 homers and 45 RBI in 94 games this season. He posted WARs of 5.1 and 5.3 in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
Gleyber Torres, 2B, Detroit Tigers
Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
Gleyber Torres is expected to return from the injured list shortly after the All-Star break.
Torres hasn’t played since June 15 due to an oblique strain, but the veteran second baseman is set to return from the injured list shortly after the break. He began his rehab assignment on Monday.
While he wouldn’t be the franchise-altering addition that Neto would be, Torres could still help the Red Sox make a run in the second half. The three-time All-Star would fit in nicely as a power-hitting middle infielder. He has hit at least 24 homers in a season four times in his nine-year career, including a 38-homer campaign in 2019. He had a .790 OPS in 43 games this season before his injury.
Torres’ contract expires at the end of this season, so he should be reasonably affordable as a rental coming off injury for a struggling Tigers club.
Luis Arraez, 2B, San Francisco Giants
Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Luis Arraez has made huge strides defensively at second base this season.
Arraez has been among the few bright spots for the 41-55 Giants. The four-time All-Star and three-time batting champion has continued as arguably the best contact hitter in baseball after leading MLB in hits the last two seasons.
In addition to his usual success at the plate, Arraez has taken a huge step forward defensively this season at second base. Once considered a terrible defender, the 29-year-old suddenly ranks near the top of the league in Outs Above Average (10) and Defensive Runs Saved (8).
While Arraez wouldn’t be the slugger that most Sox fans covet, he’d still bring a significant boost to Boston’s lackluster offense. He hardly strikes out, consistently gets on base, and comes through with runners in scoring position (.345 avg. with RISP this season).
Like Torres, Arraez is set to hit free agency after this season.
A.J. Minter, RP, New York Mets
Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
A.J. Minter has been a bright spot out of the bullpen for the lowly Mets.
The Mets have been a dumpster fire this season, but Minter has been lights out in his 19 relief appearances. The 32-year-old southpaw owns a 1.42 ERA and 0.842 WHIP with 17 strikeouts and just one walk this season.
Contenders can never have enough bullpen help down the stretch, and the Red Sox could use a left-handed reliever after designating offseason addition Danny Coulombe for assignment. Minter would be a rental.
Ryan Jeffers, C, Minnesota Twins
Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
Ryan Jeffers would give Boston right-handed pop at the catcher position.
The Twins are only three games back in the AL Central and currently tied for the third Wild Card spot, so it remains to be seen whether they’ll sell off pieces ahead of the deadline. If they do, Jeffers would fit in nicely with Boston as a power-hitting catcher who can also DH when needed.
Carlos Narvaez has taken a significant step back after impressing as a Red Sox rookie last season. Connor Wong has bounced back, but his ceiling is limited. Jeffers would be a strong upgrade over both options, though he’s a free agent after this season.
A broken left hamate has limited Jeffers to 39 games this season. He has looked great when healthy, slashing .292/.404/.538 with seven homers and 29 RBI.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 13: Jordan Walker #18 of the St. Louis Cardinals poses with his father Derek after winning the 2026 Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park on July 13, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jordan Walker is a tough subject for Cardinals fans 2024-2025. The outfield, outside of stalwart Lars Nootbaar, had been a barren place. Jordan Walker was to at least partially fill the void from the lack of reinforcements after the tragic death of Oscar Taveras. He impressed with the bat as a rookie, and then went missing in action 2024 – 2025. Walker was expected to do much fron the begining.
Jordan Walker was born in Stone Mountain, GA in 2002. Jordan was selected 21st overall in the 2020 draft and is now 24 years old, signed through 2026. What will happen is anyone’s guess.
Accolades and Accomplishments
Selected in the first round of the 2020 MLB draft, 21st overall
1st player born in 2002 to debut in MLB, making the 2023 Opening Day roster at under 21 years of age
only Albert Pujols and Joe Medwick hit more home runs in Cardinals franchise history than Jordan Walker during his rookie age 21 season!
Tallied the first ever Cardinals hit outside of north America, in London vs the Cubs on June 24, 2023!
the Cardinals top prospect 2022-2023
5 hits September 1st, 2024 vs the Yankees
17 game hitting streak June 6th through 29th in 2023
Home Run Derby Champion 2026
After a promising rookie season in 2023 where Walker had a line of .787 OPS and 16 HR in 117 games, while still learning the ropes in right fielder, Jordan began to tank in 2024 where he spent a bulk of the season at AAA and was a below average MLB player over 51 games.
That was not the low, however. In 2025 Jordan Walker would knock through his floor and find himself the worst MLB player with at least 350 PA, worth -1.3 fWAR. There were five worse players somehow, with less plate appearances than Walker. What a year!
Jordan Walker has now matched his total plate appearances of last season, where he was unworthy of playing time. Over that same amount of playing time, it is astonishing to report that Jordan Walker is worth 4 more WAR than last season, already!
Walker’s 143 wRC+ and .380 wOBA are in the top 15 of MLB players, and are the best ratings for hitting among the Cardinals. His 22 home runs is tied with Ohtani crammed into an expanded top 10 MLB home run hitters. And no one really saw this coming. Not this big of a turnaround. The only question is if Jordan will steal 20 bases this year.
Jordan Walker is no longer a liability to strike out, and is the Major League leader in RBI. The 6’ 6” 24 year old has so much history ahead of him, a legend in the making. After just over half of a miraculous turnaround season, Jordan Walker’s career numbers are now above average as far as wRC+ and WAR go.
A work in progress 2026
courtesy baseball savant / statcast info
I think Walker should just let what he is doing this year ride, but if anything he could work on his chase and whiff rates, and improve on striking out, while taking a few more walks. Post-All Star Break tweaks! Of just keep doing what you’re doing…
1992 in Music (Heavy Metal Edition)
As I work my way through the years, researching albums I have both heard and not heard, I have found myself stuck in the year 1992. This third part covering over 50 albums total, will sum up my research and experience in 1993 music releases. In past weeks, i have covered 15 albums a week, 30 albums total, which excluded heavy metal music. But now’s the time to unleash the fury that is heavy metal 1992.
Sleep – ‘Holy Mountain’ one of the best heavy metal albums of all time, despite it being a vintage throwback to 70’s Sabbath… it is done so well on every level that it is my heavy metal album of 1992. The precursor to bands High On Fire and OM, and Sleep’s best album by several light years.
Melvins – ’name redacted’ (excerpt from album) the Melvins most sludgy album of all and perhaps their most exemplary release, named after a popular cleaning product that made them remove the name from the release, or sometimes calling it “Lice All” …full of epic heaviness and avalanches of sound, perhaps my favorite Melvins of all!
Nocturnus – ‘Thresholds’ one of those bands that were so ahead of their time but made it sound classic at the same time, defining a new subgenre: progressive death metal with keyboards! Masterpiece.
Eyehategod – ‘In The Name of Suffering’ New Orleans legends melding roasted southern Black Sabbath sounds with hardcore punk and whatever you want to call what the Melvins did in the late 80’s. I find this more punk than metal, but it’s up to the ear of the beholder. Some call it sludge.
Morpheus Descends – ‘Ritual of Infinity’ my big find that I had never heard before, magnificent!
As you can tell, death metal was all the rage in 1992. What an absolutely stacked year full of unending amounts of awesomeness. I ran out of time this week, so I couldn’t really describe all of that, but you just have to hear it anyway. Nothing out there like heavy metal from 1992.
Thanks for reading! I wish I had more this week but I have been busy watching the home run derby and all star game for the first time in years!
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 09: Patrick Sandoval #43 of the Boston Red Sox delivers a pitch against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Rate Field on July 09, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Boston Red Sox, for lack of a better term, have been pitching their dicks off. You know this is typed and not a live performance, right? Like, you could ask someone for a better term or at least think on it for a little while, Jake. Fine. I lied. It’s not because I lack a better term. In fact, I could think of countless. I just think pitching their dicks off sounds funny, so it’s staying in. Lay off. Stop talking to yourself and get to the point. Fair enough, let’s talk pitching.
Despite injuries ravaging the staff (Sonny Gray is the only pitcher from the opening day rotation still on the active roster) the starting pitcher seemingly works into the sixth inning or later every night, giving the team a chance to win the game. The latest pitcher to join the rotation is Patrick Sandoval.
Last Thursday, Sandoval made his first appearance in two years against the White Sox, throwing 4.1 innings, surrendering one run on five hits while striking out five and walking one. The outing was short, but for a first start in two years, I’d give him passing marks. Plus, the way the rest of the rotation has thrown the ball makes it easier on the bullpen, who were able to give the final 14 outs to secure the victory.
The question, as always, is: was the outing legit, or was it a case of good luck? Last week, I broke down Sandoval’s arsenal and was skeptical about how effective he would be. My major concerns were his changeup shape and the walks that have plagued him throughout his career. Those walks, in large part, are due to a four-seam fastball that doesn’t miss bats and is punished when thrown over the plate. On Thursday, he walked only one man and featured his four-seam 25% of the time, making it his third most-used pitch.
It worked in his first outing, for a few reasons. One of which was his fastball command.
For the most part, he kept his fastball at the top of the zone and above. A few leaked down over the plate, two of which went for hits, but he was largely near the top of the zone. The velocity was a pleasant surprise as well, reaching 96 mph a few times. Extra velocity is never a bad thing, but first-start-in-two-years-adrenaline might have had something to do with the extra oomph.
While the pitch worked in his first outing, it’s not a plus offering. The velocity helps, but if it settles in closer to 93 mph as expected, the location becomes that much more important. Even on Thursday with good location and higher velocity, it only returned 1 whiff on 12 swings. Because of that, he’ll need to find ways to keep hitters off of it, which means throwing strikes with his other pitches.
Wow, Jake, what a great segue. It’s almost as if you thought about the flow of the article and the order in which you’d relay the important information. What a nice thing to say, thank you. Here’s a look at his slider, which was his most-used pitch.
Unlike the fastball location, this isn’t what we’re looking for. The zone rate is low at 35%, and hitters weren’t expanding the zone either. Those factors, along with the one swing and miss returned, combined for a 50% strike rate. For a pitch leading his arsenal, that isn’t going to cut it. During his best years, the strike rate sat between 65 and 70%, though the swinging strike numbers were much higher.
If you’re looking for a reason to believe in his slider, allow me to give you one. Of the pitches he showcased on Thursday, the slider looked the most different from his previous seasons. The current shape has more lift and presents closer to a cutter. Hopefully, with time, he finds the feel for the pitch and can better locate on the glove side. The shape and velocity should allow it to play against both sides of the plate, but location will ultimately determine its effectiveness.
I’d like to talk about his changeup now, but I don’t have a natural way into it as I did above. That’s okay, Jake. We knew that was coming because we’re educated baseball fans. You’re right. You are smart fans. There’s no need for handholding.
The slow ball has always been Sandoval’s best pitch, and it continued to be on Thursday. He threw 18 of them, getting four whiffs, four called strikes, and two outs on three balls in play. He kept the ball down and away, and hitters couldn’t lay off. While a changeup alone can’t carry his whole arsenal, a changeup of Sandoval’s quality can do a lot of the heavy lifting. He can throw it in the zone for called strikes, but needs chases and whiffs to continue to be effective, which requires his other pitches going for strikes. The fastball managed to be good enough in his season debut, but it’s something to monitor going forward.
Here’s an example of what his changeup can do for him. Sandoval only got to four 3-ball counts on Thursday, but didn’t give in by throwing a fastball over the plate in three of them. In the bottom of the fourth, with a runner on first and nobody out, Sandoval went to 3-2 against Junior Perez. Sandoval doesn’t want to give Perez a free pass and put a runner in scoring position, but he still turned to his changeup rather than his fastball. Perez is looking for something hard and swings over it for strike three.
Sandoval’s changeup is his best pitch, and his ability and willingness to throw the pitch for a strike in any count is key in keeping hitters off his other pitches.
One sample is hardly enough to making a sweeping determination on how Sandoval’s season will go, but it did give us a look at what he’s trying to accomplish. I’m skeptical about his ability to locate his fastball and slider consistently to take some of the burden off the changeup. Given the mixture of injuries and young arms on the roster, they’ll need Sandoval to provide a few starts down the stretch to keep arms fresh if they continue to push for the postseason, so he’ll continue to get opportunities and try to earn himself some money in 2027.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 14: Cody Bellinger #35 of the New York Yankees poses for a photograph with the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award after the 2026 MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park on July 14, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2026 All-Star Game festivities have come and gone. The dust has settled, and for the first time since 2024, the American League came away victorious by shutting out the National League 4-0 at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday.
Scoring was scarce on Tuesday, as the four runs the AL scored came in only two innings. Former Dodgers MVP Cody Bellinger had the deciding hit in his first All-Star Game since 2019, driving in two against Cristopher Sánchez. As a result of him driving in half of Tuesday’s final score, Bellinger was awarded with the All-Star Game MVP honors, becoming the first Yankee to do so since his teammate Giancarlo Stanton in 2022.
From being atop the baseball summit, to the pitfalls he experienced with the Dodgers in 2021-22, to reviving his career with the same organization his father played for, Tuesday marked a full-circle moment for Bellinger, as he envisioned being in the All-Star game regularly following his first three big league seasons, writes Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.
“I was like, ‘Oh, I’ll be here every year,’” Bellinger said. “It took a long time to get back. It’s such a competitive league. It’s hard to be an All-Star. Health, performance, it all has to come together.”
Another former Dodger, though lacking the hardware Bellinger earned in Los Angeles, added the exclamation mark for this year’s Midsummer Classic. Miguel Vargas tattooed a 433 foot home run into the second deck of the left field bleachers against Justin Wrobleski, bringing the score to its final mark. With his home run, Vargas now joins Frank Thomas and Magglio Ordoñez as the only White Sox with a home run in the All-Star Game.
Vargas spoke with Tom Verducci of FOX Sports following the game, noting how making his All-Star debut felt just like his big league debut with the Dodgers back in 2022.
“It’s an unbelievable experience. I have no words to describe it, but I’m glad to be here and be around all these superstars.”
Last year, I noted that Andy Pages was a noticeable snub from last year’s All-Star Game. The situation was rectified this year with Pages being an actual starter, but it seems I wasn’t alone in my assessment last year. Freddie Freeman noted prior to Tuesday’s game that Pages should have been an All-Star last year as well, per Sonja Chen of MLB.com.
“It should be his second. I think he should have had it last year,” said Freddie Freeman, who will be in the NL’s starting lineup alongside Pages at his 10th All-Star Game. “Andy has been great for a couple years now. So I’m glad he’s getting the recognition. I’m glad the fans are gonna get to see him in Philadelphia.”
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 12: Blake Hinson #25 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket during the game against the LA Clippers during the 2026 NBA Summer League game on July 12, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Writing this preview, I am in quite the dilemma. I intend to drum up anticipation for the Jazz to play the Spurs this Wednesday at 7:30 PM MDT. However, I do not intend to mislead the reader by making it seem that this game matters more than it does. I’m rooting for each of these players, but smart money says that none will ever play a significant role for the Utah Jazz during their professional basketball career, given that our more established players (Ace Bailey, Darryn Peterson, Cody Williams) have each presumably called it quits (I think there’s a chance Cody plays one more game).
The Spurs have had a relatively successful Las Vegas Summer League so far, with 2 wins and 1 loss. As for players to watch, Carter Bryant would be the big name if ends up playing. I wasn’t as wowed as others by his performance during the Spurs finals run – his defense didn’t slow down Shai as much as some singular defensive possessions would make you think, and the offense was legitimately very debilitating. He has tons of room for improvement, but it will be worrying for the Spurs brass if he has an inefficient game against a unexciting Jazz Summer League squad. Tarris Reed is the other player on this Spurs team that I believe has a chance to play meaningful minutes during this upcoming regular season. Luke Kornet was uninspiring for long stretches during their playoff run, and rebounding was a constant issue. Tarris Reed has the potential to compete for the backup center position from day one. He was drafted 26th overall after an impressive collegiate career at Michigan and UConn. In his senior season, he was one of the best big men in the country and led the Huskies to the National Championship game. Jonas Aidoo has been a strong player on both ends throughout Summer League, and will have his work cut out for him against a mature, NBA-ready big man.
Nevertheless, even if none of the Jazz players have the same pedigree as Bryant or Reed, I believe they each have (varying degrees of) potential to win their uphill battle and eventually carve out a role in the NBA. Blake Hinson showed some serious play-finishing chops to end the 2025-2026 season, with his size combined with his dynamic shooting. He’s disappointed me throughout Summer League so far, but it is to be expected that his playstyle is not the most consistent – it’s a make-or-miss league, and Hinson really relies on making his shots and doesn’t provide much when he isn’t. However, the Jazz are in need of a big forward in the reserves (especially if the regular season version of Cody Williams plays anything like he has in Summer League), and Hinson has time in the system – he has a realistic path to filling a real niche. If the Spurs play Carter Bryant (a big, athletic, disruptive forward defender), he will likely be slotted to guard Hinson – if Blake can get any momentum against Bryant, it would do a lot to confirm that he’s a legitimate NBA player and not just a shooter who got hot at the right time.
One player we won’t be seeing any of is Utah’s newest two-way signing, Trey Alexander. He had a scary fall at the end of the Jazz’s win against the Bulls, which led to him being stretchered off the court in a neck brace. Thankfully, it has been reported that he has been diagnosed with a rib contusion – painful, to be sure, but probably the best case scenario for the circumstances. We will likely have to wait till October to see Trey suit up for a Utah-based team, be it the Jazz or the Stars.
Many people were concerned last night after Trey Alexander was taken off the court on a stretcher and visibly in pain.
The Jazz tell me Alexander has been diagnosed with a left rib contusion.
When analyzing Summer League games, it’s important to know what to look for – outside of the aforementioned Hinson and Alexander, here is one question to answer for each of Jazz’s players who have seen any significant amount of playing time in the Las Vegas Summer League. I’m not sure which will play against the Spurs, but this should cover all our bases.
Max Abmas: Does he have the capability to get to the rim against athletic defenders? It’s a tough outlook for this non-defending, sub 6 foot guard, but he can give himself a punchers chance with consistent paint pressure.
Jonas Aidoo: How will he hang against Tarris Reed, who has about 25 pounds of weight over him?
Tamar Bates: How comfortable is he with the ball in his hands? He’s known for his outside shot and has shown good energy, but can he combine those to attack closeouts or burst out of the pick and roll?
Matthew Cleveland: Can the rangy defender show confidence on his outside shot? In a one-game sample, whether he makes them is less important than how comfortable he appears when taking them.
Eric Dixon: Does the surprisingly agile forward use his weight to create efficient offense? So far, he’s been too quick to settle for tough jump shots.
Anderrson Garcia: How does his defense look in an isolation setting? I’m consistently impressed with his off-ball help and activity on the rebounds, but is he the type of player we can put on a hot opposing scorer?
Hayden Gray: Does he have the capability to get his own shot from the pick-and-roll? I like his decision making on both ends, but he may lack the physical tools to put the necessary pressure on the defense.
Justin Harmon: Nearly the inverse of Gray – can Harmon make plays for others in the pick-and-roll? He’s shown flashes as a shooter, driver, and defender, but he is point guard sized, and will need to playmake if he wants a real role.
Kylor Kelley: Can he be impactful on the glass? In college, he was a dominant shot blocker, but his rebounding always left something to be desired – both are necessary if he wants a role as a rim-runner at the NBA level.
Jaxon Kohler: How is his positioning on defense? He’s strong, and energetic, and has good touch, but I would like some more tape on whether his positive traits actually translate to positive defense.
Bez Mbeng: Is he comfortable dribbling the ball more than 2-3 times? This is a similar story to Harmon – he’s guard sized, and has yet to show consistent guard skills.
Orlando Robinson: How comfortable is he with his outside shot? That was one of the most tantalizing pieces of his profile while back at Fresno State – if he projects as purely a rim-runner, he doesn’t have the necessary athleticism to be too intriguing. However, if the shot is a genuine part of his game, there may be a spot for him.
Cody Williams (a man can dream): Can he be more than “potential” on defense? The length is there, and the strength has obviously progressed, but he rarely accomplishes anything beyond looking like a good defender. If he can be a legitimate difference maker as a big wing on defense, there’s a clear role for him on the regular season team.
What are you looking out for from this best-of-the-rest Jazz Summer League squad in their game against the Spurs? Sound off below!
Jul 14, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Bryan Baker (43) reacts with Chicago White Sox third baseman Munetaka Murakami (5) after getting the win after the All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
The Tampa Bay Rays — rightfully so, given their dominance in the American League thus far — had a strong showing at the All-Star Game this week, chief among them Junior Caminero.
Home Run Derby
At still 23-years young, which I feel the broadcasts should have mentioned even more often than they frequently did, returned to the Home Run Derby he placed second in last year, and in the opening round belted 13 homeruns — only 12 of which counted after some umpiring worthy of the FIFA World Cup when his final belted longball was not recognized of having wrapped around the foul pole down the left field line — as the Rays third baseman boasted the quickest and clearly strongest swing of the Derby, per the HitFX making the rounds on twitter throughout the Netflix live event. Nine of his homeruns travelled over 420 feet, and he maxed out his exit velocity as an astonishing 116 mph.
Caminero was easily on to the second round in a Derby full of new limiting rules that seemed destined to shorten the Derby to an hour long affair with just 20 swings allowed per athlete in the opening round, and with that number decreasing in later rounds, but like many under pundits I shouldn’t have worried. It was a strong showing for MLB.
Despite being one of the last players to hit in the opening round, Caminero was perplexingly asked to step up first in the second round when other players benefitting from an hour’s rest, a decision so strange I suspected the cameras to cut to Gianni Infantino sitting between Rob Manfred and Mohammed bin Salman.
The Home Run Derby is a test of endurance, and Caminero stepped up courageously despite the lack of rest, and proceeded to belt 5 of 15 over the fence in Philadelphia, including a 491 foot moonshot that would be the longest longball of the night.
It was not enough to stave off eventual winner, St. Louis’s Jordan Walker, whose winnings from the tournament purse would outweigh his own annual salary, and who also benefitted from some good fortune ripped from the World Cup headlines, as his pitcher mistakenly grabbed one of the regular baseballs — as opposed to the infamous magenta magic balls that represent the final opportunity for competitors — on his Derby winning blast.
Caminero was the starting third baseman on the following night in a night full of pomp and circumstance to honor America’s 250th birthday, my favorite being a giant document mirroring the Declaration of Independence that each starter signed as they were announced on the field. In the DRB slack chat during the game, Brett Rutherford agreed on the hilarity given the document was being signed by, “a bunch of dudes who aren’t American,” to which I responded: “Neither were any of the signatories at that moment if you think about it.”
Caminero would bat the runners around in his first plate appearance, and then suffer another cruel twist of fate in his second at bat when National League pitcher Pat O’Brien — a relatively surprising pitcher to be selected in the first hour given the notoriety up and down Dave Roberts’s bench — ran a fastball up and in on Caminero, striking him in the hand.
Good news for Junior Caminero! X-rays came back negative for the Rays slugger pic.twitter.com/TrmD1GCvag
Caminero held his composure well, then sprinted to the dugout where x-rays were announced as negative for any fractures. Per Enrique Rojas of ESPN, translated from Spanish, “Junior Caminero said he’s fine, that he had a big scare, that the pitcher called him to apologize, and that he plans to play on Friday, when the Rays’ season resumes.”
Two Rays pitchers would be called upon later in the Classic, starting with Nick Martinez — making his first All-Star Game appearance just shy of his 36th birthday, a well earned honor for a veteran who has stepped in as a leader in the Rays clubhouse.
Martinez’s clean appearance helped the American League rack up 15 strikeouts on the night, a feat that was not missed by Martinez postgame:
“Obviously not easy to do,” said Rays starter Nick Martinez, who threw a 1-2-3 fifth. “Hat’s off to these guys, and I’ve got a lot of guys to thank for speeding them up so that I could use my changeup.” [mlb.com]
Rays closer Bryan Baker would be called upon to close out the four-nil victory worthy yet again of a World Cup result, facing the final two batters of the game, and who’d quipped previously that he was accustomed to spending his time on the beach during the All-Star Break.
I would be remiss to not mention the joy I felt seeing any Rays pitcher find success in this stadium, which has haunted me since 2008’s painful World Series loss that hurt all the more for the sting of unfairness and poor weather that haunted those games in Pennsylvania.
Baker’s battery mate was former teammate Adley Rutschman, which led to some appreciative perspective from the Rays reliever post game, and which adds necessary perspective. For some of the players in this game it’s yet another honor for one of the game’s best (it was Mike Trout’s 12th appearance this summer), but for others it’s a once-in-a-lifetime honor. Both are moments to be savored.
Bryan Baker: “We were both saying how much we miss each other and how fun it is to get to work with each other. I said, this could possibly be my last All-Star Game. He’s probably going to come to a lot more, so I’m really going to enjoy this one." https://t.co/MfRH7eI0EE
Post game, Rays co-owner and CEO Ken Babby took to twitter to add fuel to the fire building for a new Rays stadium, which must be a requirement for the Rays to someday host the All-Star Game, given that this franchise remains the only one to never receive that honor.
With all eyes on the @MLB All-Star game tonight, all of us @RaysBaseball are committed to bring this moment to Tampa Bay. Let’s make this dream our reality. Let’s make this happen! pic.twitter.com/kBTzqMG7ki
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 05: A general view of the MLB 2026 All Star Game Logo during the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Athletics on May 5, 2026 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
We are officially in the dead zone of the All-Star break, so I thought today we could discuss some of our favorite All-Star Game related memories. They don’t have to be specific to the San Francisco Giants, goodness knows the pickings have been slim on that front for a while. But mine is, at least.
I think my favorite All-Star memory is from the 2016 season, when Brandon Belt was in the running for the last fan vote (or whatever they were calling it back then). Myself and several other members of the McCoven were working overtime to solicit votes from the wider baseball community. This was back when you used to be able to vote with hashtags on social media, so every post mattered.
The winner was expected to be announced on a Saturday, when I already had tickets to the Giants game that day. It was also the NBA Finals, if I remember correctly, so it was a crazy time to be coming back to the bay for a visit.
The night before, I had scheduled an obnoxious amount of social media posts to publish throughout the morning, because I wasn’t going to be around to do it manually and I needed to get those precious, precious votes cast any way I could.
I had actually just boarded the ferry in Vallejo when Belt was announced as the winner of that vote for the National League. Man, there was no better place to be than on the water, beer in hand, and surrounded by celebrating Giants fans. And getting to be there in person for that game, where they announced that Belt would be on the All-Star team for the first and only time, will always be one of my favorite memories.
Welcome to Inside the Suns, your weekly deep-down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team. Each week, the Fantable — a round table of Bright Siders — gives their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.
Fantable Questions of the Week
Q1: There has been some speculation about the Suns possibly trading Jalen Green for Dejounte Murray. What is your opinion of this idea?
zenzino: This one doesn’t irritate me like some other ideas. I still say ‘pass’, though.
I know people are hard up for a point guard. But I think Murray is as much a shooting guard as a point guard and he peaked in the 21-22 season. 33% career from 3 and around 30% the last two seasons. He’s five years older than Green, coming off of a torn Achilles.
This would probably be a 1-for-1 trade. Green’s trade value has never been lower because of an injury season. It would definitely be a ‘buy high, sell low’ situation. This seems like a mid-season trade instead of an off-season trade.
We’ve only seen a glimpse of what a fully healthy Jalen Green can do. I’m not ready to write him off yet. I remember the East Coast road swing when Green & Book were scoring 70+ per game.
Let’s get 50 games where the team is healthy as possible and see what happens. Last season was the only season of Green’s entire career he’s missed a significant number of games so I wouldn’t be surprised if he played all 82 this season. If we’re getting close to the trade deadline and it’s obviously not working with Green, then a trade like this (with added picks) would be understandable.
The Suns included Camara in a trade as an afterthought and now we have a heavy ‘what might have been’ sigh every time we play Portland. I don’t want to watch Jalen Green highlights in a Grizzlies uniform without first giving him a chance here.
And, for the love…, can we please stop trading with the Wizards, Hornets, and Pelicans? How about getting some Thunder or Celtics players?
Ashton: So when I see a question like t I am wondering if Rod is pulling a fast one. He pulled it off social media or SI, things of that nature to create another thought exercise. It turns out I did not have to go far on the search engines to find a top result. This site’s own Bruce Veliz opined on this topic two months ago.
Thanks Bruce! I didn’t have to use AI (I would not anyway in writing), and Mr. Veliz states he would not do it. That link should cover analytics.
Well, count me in on not trading. My main problem with Green was his injuries and not really getting the correct game sample size if he could be an initiator on offense along with Booker. I am not a “johnny-come-lately” (I am not James Cagney either – let’s just see how old some of these posters are) type of person looking for the next shiny toy, so let’s see what he can do with a healthy season in a stable rotation. Yes, Jalen Green is trade bait in some comments, but why? He deserves another season.
OldAz: I get that Green is positionally too similar to Booker, and just about any good player who is more of a PG is going to be a rumored target by Suns fans. That being said, can we stop floating or latching onto proposed trades of a player half a decade older and coming off major injuries that have cost him almost 2 seasons? That team trading said player with recent injury issues might just know something the Suns don’t.
On the other hand, for those who REALLY want to see Jalen Green traded, at least Murray was back for 14 games at the end of last season and did look good for a player coming back from an Achilles injury, an injury others have recovered well from. His previous injury (fractured hand) is a totally different part of the body and seems more like a freak injury. Despite the age difference and not really seeing Green at full strength last season, I guess I could be talked into liking this one IF the Suns were able to do a full and independent assessment of his recovery and future prognosis from the Achilles injury.
Rod: At 30, and coming off a bad injury that sidelined him for almost all of last season, I’d definitely say no to this one. I will say that a fully healthy Dejounte Murray would likely be a better fit for this team than Green but it would take New Orleans throwing in at least a couple of unprotected 1st round picks as part of the deal to get me to seriously consider it…which I seriously doubt they would do. It makes a little sense as Murray would likely be a better fit next to Booker, but there are too many negatives attached to Murray to make it a good trade for the Suns.
Q2: How do you think the Suns SHOULD manage the center rotation and minutes for Mark Williams, Khaman Maluach and Oso Ighodaro this season?
zenzino: I think it should be a fairly even split between Mark and Oso as starters based on matchups. Managing minutes is key for MW, and Oso showed that he is a workable starting center in most instances.
As an overly simplified example, I’d start MW against teams with longer centers and Oso against more physical centers. Obviously, there are more factors to determine matchups, but you get the picture. Playing 60-65 games is fine for MW as long as the coach decides which games and not injuries.
We’ll know a little more about Man Man’s progress after Summer League and pre-season (he looked good in the first game). Like everyone else, I’d love to see him get a lot more playing time this season and be a solid part of the backup rotation. If he’s ready. Unlike many people here, I am trusting the coaching staff to determine that. A big reason Ott was hired was his experience in developing young players. If Man Man is not playing much, it’s because he’s not ready.
We tend to think of MW as the vet. While he has been in the league four years to Oso’s two, he’s only played 23 more NBA games (166 vs 143). While tenure matters, as you can learn a lot just by being around professional players and coaches, it’s still easy to forget that our center rotation is very young. I expect all three of them to get better.
The small ball haters should be prepared to hate. I see a fair amount of small ball happening this season with Bridges and maybe even Sheer at the 5 for significant stretches.
Ashton: I think it was already settled that Mark Williams does not do back-to-back games. But he is the starter in an NBA market starved for trying to find back-up centers. They are at a premium, and I consider Mark Williams to fill that role on most other teams. And let’s face it, he will need his minutes reduced to avoid injury.
Which leads us to Oso and KM. Maluach has a lot to prove in Summer League, and judging by the first game against Portland, I thought he did well. Especially if KM and Peat develop a rapport.
But the obvious answer is that Oso as next off the bench. There is no way to determine minutes due to who plays or not due to injury or rest management or even if a small-ball lineup is utilized. So, let’s go with this in a normal rotation:
Mark Williams: 27 minutes per game (normal health)
Oso Ighorado: 13 minutes per game
Maluach: Rest of the minutes to continue his development in either garbage time, rest management, small rotations, or injury. This one is too hard to set for actual minutes
OldAz: In the first couple Summer League games, KM looks bigger and more under control. I just wonder how much of this is a product of the Summer League competition. To me, Williams is the clear starter this season but should be limited to 20-25 minutes a game to keep him healthy over the long haul. KM should also get as many minutes as he shows he is ready for (again up to 25 or so a game).
The center position is physical and demanding, and we want the Suns center to play fast and with sustained energy, so keeping these minutes on the low end of that range is a good thing. This leaves very few minutes for Oso, which I am A-OK with. There are places that his defensive energy helps, as well as his offensive facilitation. However, I would much rather see him get a few minutes trying to fit on the floor as a PF with KM (since KM can shoot from deep a bit). IMO, if the Suns are playing Oso more than 15 minutes a game as the center, they are in for a very long season.
Rod: I just hope that Ott will be flexible with his center rotation this season, adjusting it game-to-game. Of course, Williams should start (for now), but both Oso and Khaman should be getting minutes in almost every game to keep Mark’s wear and tear down to a minimum. With Oso and Khaman, who gets the bulk of the bench minutes should be determined on which one is having the best night on the court and/or the best fit against the competition.
Two things Ott should always keep in mind are that Khaman needs the reps and Mark needs to keep his minutes down. Sooner or later, one of the three will likely be moved, but until then, I believe they can find minutes for all three even though a three-player rotation at one position isn’t generally viewed as optimal.
Q3: What are your thoughts on Ryan Dunn’s probable role this coming season?
zenzino: This one is tough. Unlike Oso, Dunn didn’t show much progress last year from his rookie year. Which is not to say we won’t see a jump this season. Progress is rarely linear.
However, Rod posted a graphic in the Feed last week showing the net ratings of various lineups. Dunn was in the two highest ones (so was GA, btw). So he has that going for him.
Dunn is not a good generalist, so he needs to be a specialist. If he can’t get his 3-point shot going, he should concentrate on rebounding, defense, and getting downhill. I’ve always thought he should do more slashing and be a lob threat, as much as he loves to throw it down.
If he built his identity around something like rebounding, for example, whenever the team is getting beat on the boards, the coach will think, ‘we need Dunn out there to get rebounds.’
I think he is really going to have to fight for minutes. If Highsmith is fully healthy (like he should be), he is a more experienced defender and a much better 3-point shooter.
In order to get regular minutes, Dunn may need to be the Swiss Army knife and adjust what he can do within his skill set to what the team needs done.
Ashton: Not much. This guy has been like the invisible man to me, to the point that I forget he is on the roster. He was originally drafted by the Nuggets in a complicated 2024 draft trade that flipped him to the Suns with the expectation of a defensive role. And I will say this again, as I have said at that time, there should be no expectations of an Anthony Guy Bennett (former Virginia coach) led defense that develops 3 and D wings in college. They are just defense, no threes.
I am still having a hard time seeing his role. Sure, since we just talked about MPG in Q2, Dunn has averaged north of 19 minutes. His three-point shooting percentage is enough to ask for Grayson Allen back. Defensively? Okay, not bad but not earth-shattering. I will salute that he never seems to be injured on the Suns squad.
But if I read that Dunn was shipped out in a future trade, I would not cry a dry wash river.
OldAz: After a promising rookie season, Dunn just never found his footing with the new defensive scheme last season. That is where Dunn must turn things around to make any significant impact this season. I know his shot is still inconsistent, but his form is not bad, so I still think that is a confidence thing. The best way for him to gain confidence and earn playing time is to fit in and make an impact defensively and on the boards. Triggering fast breaks is also the best way to get into rhythm and gain confidence offensively.
However, with Brooks, Bridges, and Fleming in front of him, the presence of veteran options like Highsmith, along with Ott’s willingness to play smaller wings (Goodwin, or sliding Green or Book to that wing spot for extended minutes), Dunn will have to earn any playing time he gets. Swapping Allen and O’Neale for only 1 player in his way for minutes did very little to help Dunn IMO, as his path to more playing time is 100% on him to perform.
Honestly, I think it is more likely that even if he performs well early, he will be talked about all season as one to include in a deal at the trade deadline to fill whatever Phoenix’s biggest need turns out to be.
Rod: At this moment, I would say that Dunn’s role on the team is trying to carve out a role in the rotation this fall. With the new roster additions, competition for minutes is going to be fierce. So far, Dunn’s been an up-and-down player without a lot of consistency…especially on the offensive side of the court. His defense has been good but not stellar; at best, he’s been a streaky three-point shooter, his ball handling is fair but not really good enough in traffic for him to drive through traffic….sigh.
It sounds like I don’t like the guy, but that’s not the case. He puts in the effort on the court and has a great attitude, but that’s just not enough to get consistent rotation minutes in the NBA…not on a good team. Unless he makes some significant progress in at least one aspect of his game this season, I see his role being a deep depth (3rd string) bench player.
As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!
Quotes of the Week
“The three-pointer is something good but it’s not my main focus…really it’s just the icing on the cake.” – Khaman Maluach
“I always play with a chip on my shoulder.” – Khaman Maluach
Suns Trivia/History
On July 14, 2004, the Suns signed unrestricted free agent point guard Steve Nash to a six-year, $66 million deal to bring their former 1996 1st round draft pick home after trading him to Dallas in 1998 for Pat Garrity, Martin Muursepp, Bubba Wells and a 1999 1st round draft pick.
On July 14, 2009, the Suns signed Channing Frye as a free agent. Frye would play 4 seasons with the Suns, averaging 14.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 38.8% from three on 6.3 attempts. In the summer of 2012, Frye was diagnosed with an enlarged heart, which necessitated him sitting out the entire 2012-13 season while undergoing medical treatment for his condition. Frye’s treatment was successful, and the following season he returned to the Suns’ active roster, playing in all 82 regular season games for the only time in his 13-year NBA career as he helped the rebuilding Suns finish with a surprising 48-34 record, just falling short of making the playoffs in an extremely strong Western Conference.
On July 18, 1999, Joe Proski, the Phoenix Suns’ only trainer in its history to that point, retired, following 32 years with the franchise, 40 years in professional sports, and 41 years as a trainer. His career spanned 2,789 games, including playoffs.
On July 18, 2001, due largely to being charged with domestic abuse of his wife, the Suns traded 3-time All-Star Jason Kidd (and Chris Dudley) to the New Jersey Nets for Stephon Marbury, Johnny Newman and Soumaila Samake. Marbury would play 3 seasons for the Suns, averaging 21.3 points and 8.1 assists per game, although the Suns would only make it to the playoffs once in those three seasons and were eliminated in the 1st round by San Antonio 4-2. In 2004, the Suns would trade Marbury, Anfernee Hardaway and Cezary Trybański to the New York Knicks for Howard Eisley, Maciej Lampe, Antonio McDyess, Charlie Ward, Milos Vujanic and two first-round draft picks. Shortly after that, the Suns traded those 2 1st round picks to the Utah Jazz in a salary dumping move. One of those picks was later used to select one-time All-Star Gordon Hayward.
On July 19, 2001, the Phoenix Suns re-signed Dan Majerle to a one-year, $1 million contract. Seven years earlier, Majerle was traded to Cleveland for John “Hot Rod” Williams, a move the Colangelos later regretted. Majerle would play one final season in the NBA and retire as a Sun.
On July 19, 2017, Brandon Knight suffered a torn ACL while playing pickup basketball in Florida. The news broke a week later on July 25, while hitting the papers for the first time on July 26. Knight would miss the entire 2017-18 season and never play for Phoenix again.
Important Future Dates
July 9-19 – NBA 2K Summer League 2026 in Las Vegas July 15 – Suns vs. Pistons 3:00 PM (local), 6:00 PM (ET) ESPNU The Suns will play a fifth game based on the results of their first four. Late September (dates TBD) – NBA Training Camps open
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 12: Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Sacramento Kings looks on during the game against the Washington Wizards during 2026 NBA Summer League on July 12, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Victor Wembanyama gave NBA fans a good reminder not to overreact to Las Vegas Summer League after the San Antonio Spurs selected him at No. 1 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft. Wembanyama’s summer league debut was a dud as he finished with nine points on 2-of-13 shooting from the field. It’s safe to say Wemby’s career would turn out just fine after he led the Spurs to the NBA Finals in his third season at age-22.
Still, it’s hard to shake a bad first impression for rookies entering the league. Fans want to think their new players are bound to be stars, or at least dependable role players. When rookies disappoint in summer league, it’s still a bummer even it means basically nothing for the long-term outlook of their career.
Here are the rookies who have underwhelmed in summer league so far. If nothing else, it will be helpful to look back on this list if and when these players become solid contributors to show future rookies that a bad start to summer league isn’t that big of a deal.
Aday Mara, C, Oklahoma City Thunder
Mara was arguably the biggest winner of March Madness, going from a player typically projected in the mid-20s to a surefire lottery pick after Michigan’s national championship run. The Thunder selected him at No. 12 overall, and his rim protection plus high-level passing ability felt like a natural fit for their system. I was on the Mara bandwagon in the predraft process, but during my conversations with front office people and other writers I started to notice that he was perhaps the most polarizing player in the class. Some people viewed him as a low ceiling center who should be a fringe first-round pick, while others had him in the top-10.
Mara has struggled a bit away from Michigan’s amazing infrastructure at the start of his summer league run. He’s only shot 46 percent from the field through his first four games, which is pretty underwhelming for a 7’3 guy. His touch has looked shaky around the rim, and there are moments of passivity defensively. There are positive flashes on the tape too of course, like this overpowering drive and dunk, and some of his signature passing to cutters on the move. I do think it’s fair to question Mara’s scoring utility if he struggles to get deep post position because of a high center of gravity, and there’s no doubt he has to earn his early minutes on the defensive end. I’m not worried, but the Mara skeptics have a little more ammunition after this summer league run.
Dailyn Swain, G, Chicago Bulls
I had a front row seat at the NBA Draft Combine scrimmages, and was surprised to see Dailyn Swain on the court. The combine scrimmages are typically only for fringe draft picks, and by this point Swain had already solidified himself as a mid first-rounder. Even more surprising was that Swain did not play particularly well in a setting where he should have been the best player on the floor, showing a slow and hitchy release on his jumper and looking a bit lost offensively. The Bulls were undeterred and selected Swain at No. 15, but his struggles have continued through his first couple games in summer league.
Swain shot 3-of-10 from the floor in Chicago’s opener in Las Vegas, then shot 0-of-9 from the floor in his second game and 0-of-7 from the floor in the third game. The Bulls have indicated that they see him as a ball handler long-term, but he’s clearly struggled to handle against pressure thus far. That would be less of an issue if Swain had a reliable off-ball game, but right now his jumper looks as broken as ever. The Bulls did Swain no favors with this roster construction, failing to put a dependable point guard next to him that could handle against ball pressure and get him some easier shots. Instead, Swain has admitted he’s overthinking every move on the court. There have been some flashes of the downhill driving that popped this past season at Texas, but for now it’s clear Swain isn’t a point guard and needs to put plenty of work in on fixing his jumper.
Darius Acuff, G, Sacramento Kings
Acuff had a legendary scoring season at Arkansas, but sharp scouts noticed concerns with process on both ends of the floor. The point guard’s shot profile was pretty mid-range heavy, and while his three-point shooting numbers were excellent in the small college sample, they were more concerning if you include the high school data. Acuff’s real questions came on the defensive end, where he didn’t show much effort in addition to having poor tools. These concerns have continued in summer league, where Acuff has posted underwhelming scoring efficiency and ghastly defensive tape while still showing the talent that made him a certain lottery pick.
Acuff hasn’t done anything to show that his NBA defense will be better than the level he showed in college. So far, lazy closeouts, spacey off-ball defense, and a lack of hustle have been all over the tape. It often feels like he’s not actively engaged in the game when his team doesn’t have the ball. There’s going to be a high bar to meet offensively for a guard who is this poor on defense, and Acuff hasn’t been close to it yet. He’s scored 78 points on 82 shots through four games. His decision-making hasn’t been great as a passer either with 18 assists to 14 turnovers. I was way low on Acuff on my mid-season board before he started to win me over by consistently delivering in big games at Arkansas. Will the Kings ever play in any big games while he’s on the team? I hope so, because that fanbase deserves better.
Keaton Wagler, G, Los Angeles Clippers
Wagler hasn’t made anything look easy in summer league. The No. 5 pick has struggled to create separation off the dribble, he hasn’t been a plus with his playmaking, and he’s basically a non-factor on the glass. Wagler’s 8.2 PER is the worst of any top-10 pick through two summer league games despite getting hot in the second half against Utah in his second game. The athletic concerns entering the draft appear to be valid for now. Wagler just doesn’t have a lot of burst as a ball handler, and even some of his effective drives have been pretty ugly. He got dusted by Darryn Peterson on a couple occasions, including on the No. 2 pick’s poster slam where he struggled to get under a screen. With five assists and four turnovers, he looks better suited for shooting guard than point guard at the moment. Wagler has admitted that leaving Illinois’ five-out system has been challenging, and I suspected that would be the case entering the draft. Wagler is naturally going to add muscle to his thin frame as he goes on in the league, and being in an NBA strength and conditioning program should be very good for him long-term. The Clippers can give him both on-ball and off-ball reps this year, and that should be good for his development. When the off-the-dribble shot-making is falling, Wagler looks terrific. He’s far from a finished product, but Clippers fans should still be feeling encouraged long-term.
Christian Anderson, G, Charlotte Hornets
Anderson should have a shot to be Coby White’s backup as a rookie after the Hornets traded LaMelo Ball, but he’s looked pretty far away from being a real contributor during his summer league run. Through three games, Anderson has been unable to catch a rhythm with his shot while struggling with turnovers and not doing much on the defensive end. Anderson had a reputation as one of the draft’s best shooters, but his inability to play to contact inside the arc means he’s settling for a lot of tough pull-up threes right now, which has hurt his scoring efficiency (43.2 percent true shooting). I liked his live-dribble passing at Texas Tech, but the passing windows haven’t been there yet, and it’s resulted in a 6.7 percent assist rate compared to a 20.1 percent turnover rate. Anderson isn’t too big or too athletic, so it’s hard to expect him to be a monster driving to the rim. That means he’s likely going to have to live off tough shots. It’s a good thing the Hornets are one of the best offensive rebounding teams around.
Nate Ament, F, Milwaukee Bucks
While Brayden Burries has been arguably the most impressive rookie at summer league thus far, the Bucks’ other lottery pick Nate Ament hasn’t looked very assertive or effective. Ament has only scored 21 points in 65 minutes, and just doesn’t seem very comfortable getting into his shot yet. He knocked down a couple threes against the Suns, and focusing on spacing the floor and making an impact on defense is probably his best path forward early in his career. Ament has the frame to be a good defender in time, but he’s just not there yet. His awareness is pretty poor right now, and he can struggle with physicality. As long as Ament is a good three-point shooter, he’ll have some immediate utility on offense, and his defense should improve in time as the Bucks continue to beef him up. Until then, just enjoy the Brayden Burries show, Bucks fans.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 14: Ian Cole #28 of the Utah Mammoth scores a third-period goal during a game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Utah Mammoth at Delta Center on March 14, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Eli Rehmer/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Keeping some tabs on the comings and goings by former members of the Penguins this offseason.
We’ll start off with the most recent group of players that officially departed this offseason.
Noel Acciari (Flyers, 2 years, $2.8m cap hit): Acciari getting a better contract than Connor Dewar reinforces the notion the Pens got a good deal there.
Ryan Shea ($4.0m AAV, five years) is Edmonton bound to help fill in for Darnell Nurse.
Connor Clifton is shipping off to Boston, the organization he played for from 2017-23. They drop pretty decent coin to him in a two-year deal worth $2.25 million.
Stuart Skinner will be waiting in the wings for whatever happens with the Connor Hellebuyck situation to help provide depth to Winnipeg after signing a two-year contract with a $2.75 million cap hit.
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For some others whose stints ended a while ago:
Ian Cole, 37, left the Penguins in 2018 after winning two Cups. He’s played for seven teams since then, well let’s make it eight. Chicago grabs Cole for a one-year deal worth $4 million. Shockingly long career for Cole, who keeps finding employment and plugging along.
Speaking of defensemen working on impressively long careers, Erik Gudbranson is sticking around with Columbus on a one-year deal for 2026-27 at $1,75 million. Similarly, Jamie Oleksiak jumps over to Vancouver for two years at a $5.0 million AAV (we sure that Jim Rutherford isn’t still in control there?)
Injuries limited Teddy Blueger to only 35 games last year, but a hot-streak helped him tie his career-high in goals (nine) when he did play. That plus a reputation for solid two-way play was enough to get a two-year contract with a $2.5 million AAV to help with whatever is going on in Toronto these days.
Veteran Conor Sheary is headed back to Buffalo, where he played from 2018-20 on a one-year deal for the minimum ($850k). Sheary is coming off a somewhat successful season with the Rangers (7G+11A in 62 games) after playing most of the previous season in the AHL.
Lars Eller is also at the ‘play for minimum’ stage of his career at age 37 and joined up with Florida.
Vladislav Kolyachonok might end up in the AHL making NHL money this year, but credit to him for getting a one-way contract from the Devils after only playing 13 NHL games last season.
Two-way contracts
The following players will be fighting for a roster spot and getting that NHL-level salary in their paycheck.
Jansen Harkins is taking his game to Tampa’s organization on a one-year deal. Harkins spent the last two seasons in Anaheim.
Acciari going to Philadelphia made some headlines, another former Penguin semi-cult hero will join him there, Zach Aston-Reese. Aston-Reese spent 27 games in the AHL last year and 27 with NHL Columbus, looks like he’ll have a chance to stick on the fringe of the Flyer roster or get some games as a potential injury call-up.
Like Aston-Reese, Vinnie Hinostroza got a two-year commitment, from the Colorado Avalanache in his case.
Phil Tomasino caught on with Ottawa with a one-year, two-way contract. Sam Lafferty and Boko Imama will bring their efforts in the same division to Florida.
Sam Poulin is headed back to Quebec with a one-year deal with the Canadiens that will likely have him playing for AHL Laval.
Still looking
These players are not yet signed and remain as free agents
Anthony Mantha, interestingly enough, is still out there on the free agent market awaiting to join up with a new team. So too is Michael Bunting, coming off a season where he scored 31 points in 61 games with Nashville, then didn’t make much of an impact on a deadline trade to Dallas (three points in 14 total games).
There was some talk that Detroit might re-sign David Perron, yet it hasn’t been finalized.
Matt Grzelcyk turned a tryout into a contract with Chicago last season, he might have to go that route again this fall with a new team.
Vegas announced they weren’t going to bring back Reilly Smith, the 35-year old will have to find a new spot or could be looking at the end of his playing days. Jeff Petry, 38, is another veteran who might be at the end of the line this cycle. The situation looks the same for 39-year old Ryan Reaves, who is just 38 games from getting to 1,000 in his career.
Danton Heinen, Kevin Hayes and Tanner Pearson are all out there too, as is P.O. Joseph who wasn’t qualified by Vancouver.
Andrew Agozzino has ventured onto play in Switzerland next season
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