Send in your questions hot takes and predictions for this week’s episode of The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast to discuss everything Pistons. Submit your take in the comments section here or on Twitter to @TheRealWesD3 and/or @RobbieBettelon. If you’re on BlueSky, you can also send to @RobbieBettelon.bksy.social.
Join us live on Friday night as Wes and Robbie give their own hot takes, and they want to react to yours as well. What predictions would you like to add to the show? What hot take do you have for the upcoming season? Let us know!
Plus, The Pindown has a phone line where you can leave a message and hear your voice on the show. Call (313) 355-2717 and leave us a voicemail with your question. Please try to keep the message around 45 seconds or less so we can fit everyone into the show.
The podcast will be uploaded to all audio platforms the following morning.
On this day 43 years ago, White Sox Triple-A affiliate the Denver Bears swept their way to the American Association title. (By the way, that’s Oklahoma City’s Mike Jirschele, current Sox third base coach Justin’s dad, making an unsuccessful tag of Denver’s Jim Smith.) | Denver Post via Getty Images
1927 With a 11-1 loss in the nightcap of a doubleheader in Washington, the White Sox began a 12-game losing streak, which remains tied for the fifth-longest in franchise history. The South Siders came into the game at a respectable 65-68, but losing 15 of 20 to end the season dumped them down from 30 to 39 1⁄2 games off of the pace in the American League.
The last-season collapse also started a streak of nine straight losing seasons — by far the longest stretch in team history. The White Sox, in fact, had only suffered back-to-back losing seasons once in the first 29 years of team history.
1930 Future Hall-of-FamerLuke Appling made his White Sox debut. It was the start of the legacy of great Sox shortstops, which would include Chico Carrasquel, Luis Aparicio and Ozzie Guillén.
Appling went 1-for-4 in a 6-2 loss to the Red Sox.
1939 With a 5-1 loss to Detroit in the opener of a doublheader, White Sox hurler Johnny Rigney saw his 11-game winning streak snapped. The righthander hadn’t lost since June 30 (and in that, a complete game defeat yielding just one earned run), throwing 117 innings to a 1.92 ERA, 2.81 FIP, 1.051 WHIP and .198 opponents average. Ironically, the winning streak came on the heels of a five-game losing streak for Rigney.
For the season, Rigney had a 3.70 ERA (129 ERA+), 3.28 FIP, 1.335 WHIP, 4.5 WAR over 35 games/29 starts and finished 20th in AL MVP voting.
1954 Paul Richards, one of the greatest managers in club history, resigned to accept a dual position of general and field manager for the Baltimore Orioles. Richardswas the man credited with turning around the fortunes of the franchise in 1951 with his aggressive running/pitching/defense philosophy. White Sox pitcher Billy Pierce called Richardsthe smartest manager he ever had. Richards was also credited with turning around Nellie Fox, helping transform him into a very good hitter.
Richardsleft because the White Sox were not willing to give him a multi-year contract extension or a raise, and because of personal disagreements he had with GM Frank Lane. Marty Marion, who had just retired after 13 years in St. Louis playing for the Cardinals and Browns, replaced Richards.
1967 Coming off of two straight losses to the Tigers and in danger of falling out of the pennant race,Joe Horlen threw a 6-0 no-hitter in front of 23,625 fans at Comiskey Park.
White Sox second baseman Wayne Causeysaved the no-hitter with a grab of a smash up the middle off the bat of Jerry Lumpe in the ninth inning. Causey’s throw just nipped Lumpe at the bag. Horlenhit a Tiger and another reached base on an error, but other than that he was perfect on the afternoon. Horlen got Dick McAuliffe on a ground ball to shortstop Ron Hansen for the final out of the 12th no-hitter in White Sox history.
Rookie Cisco Carlos then shut out Detroit, 4-0, in the second game, vaulting the Sox right back into pennant contention, just 1 1⁄2 games off of the lead. It was the last time in franchise history the White Sox threw doubleheader shutouts.
1976 Nolan Ryan struck out 18 White Sox in a Angels 3-2 win at Comiskey Park. Chicago rallied to tie the game, 2-2, in the bottom of the sixth, after a walk to Jim Essian, a single by Jim Spencer and a two-run double from Jorge Orta. Two more walks (Ryan had nine in the game) loaded the bases with two outs, but Alan Bannister popped out to right field to end the threat. California came right back during their next bats to take the lead, on a run-scoring double.
Ryan finished strong, striking out the final five White Sox batters he saw in the game, but only after loading the bases again in the eighth inning.
Also, it was on this day the White Sox activated 52-year-old Minnie Miñoso, making him an active player in the majors for his fourth decade. He would make his season debut in the next day’s game.
1977 White Sox pitcher Wilbur Wood tied an AL record by hitting three Angels hitters in a row, in the first inning of the club’s 6-1 loss at Anaheim. With two out and a man on, Wood hit Dave Kingman, Don Baylor and Dave Chalk.
1981 The White Sox purchased Jerry Hairston from the Mexican League, where he had played for almost four full seasons after having been sold by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Hairston was a third round pick of the White Sox in 1970 and saw his first five seasons in the majors on the South Side.
The outfielder was brought back to Chicago mainly in a sub/pinch-hitting role, the latter at which he truly excelled. The White Sox kept him in uniform until 1989. He finished his career with 94 pinch-hits, not far behind the all-time AL leader, Gates Brown, with 107.
1983 White Sox Triple-A affiliate the Denver Bears completed a sweep to win the American Association title. The club was skippered by Jim Mahoney, and had finished the regular season 73-61. The offensive environment at Mile High Stadium and in the American Association in general led to some gaudy offensive numbers for the Bears, as 11 of their 15 batters on the season boasted an OPS better than .800; conversely, just two of 14 pitchers kept their ERAs to less than 4.00.
While many of the players on the Bears roster did make the majors, none had consequential careers, with the closest such players being Daryl Boston and Joel Skinner — unless you count end-of-career reliever Al Hrabosky, pitching in his last pro season.
DALLAS, TX - JUNE 25: President Masai Ujiri and Morez Johnson Jr. of the Dallas Mavericks pose for a photo on June 25, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, 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 Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Now that the Dallas Mavericks’ roster is 99% set with a little more than a month before the start of the 2026-27 season, one thing that has been on my mind is who is going to be in the rotation on day one. While there are some familiar faces, a third of the roster is brand new.
Returning Players: Kyrie Irving, Cooper Flagg, PJ Washington, Daniel Gafford, Caleb Martin, Max Christie, Dereck Lively II, Naji Marshall, Moussa Cisse
New Players: Tarik Biberovic, Sergio De Larrea, Morez Johnson Jr., Santi Aldama, Marcus Sasser, Zaccharie Risacher
Six new faces may not seem like much turnover, but when you consider that Lively and Irving were non-factors last year and Cisse was on a two-way contract, over half of the playable roster is new this season.
On top of that, the Mavericks have a brand new front office and coaching staff. I don’t know much about Dusty May yet. I do know that he is considered an analytics darling and has shown a willingness to adapt his game plan to the roster in front of him, something that was evident in his rotations at FAU and Michigan.
Looking at the limitations of this roster, shot creation and playmaking, while improved from last year, still stand out as the biggest weaknesses. Is May going to prioritize those areas? Or will he lean into the size and shooting the Mavericks have added throughout the offseason?
Unfortunately, we don’t have those answers yet. But I’m going to do my best to look at this roster through the eyes of Dusty May and rationalize what I think he might do.
So, who is going to play?
Looking at last year’s data for Mavericks players who appeared in at least 50 games, here is how the minutes were distributed:
Cooper Flagg: 70 GP, 33.5 MPG
P.J. Washington: 56 GP, 31 MPG
Naji Marshall: 74 GP, 29.5 MPG
Max Christie: 77 GP, 29.1 MPG
Brandon Williams: 66 GP, 22.2 MPG
Daniel Gafford: 55 GP, 21.7 MPG
Klay Thompson: 69 GP, 21.7 MPG
Ryan Nembhard: 60 GP, 19.5 MPG
Caleb Martin: 58 GP, 14.8 MPG
Dwight Powell: 63 GP, 12.3 MPG
This isn’t a perfect representation of the rotation, especially when you get to the final few players, but it gives us a starting point for this thought experiment.
I would normally lock Dereck Lively into the rotation, but from what I’ve seen, I don’t believe he will be ready to go on opening night. For now, I’m leaving him out.
The only other player I believe will be completely out of the rotation on day one is Caleb Martin. His offense, or lack thereof, is ultimately why I think he will start the season on the bench.
My locks for the day-one rotation are Kyrie, Cooper, P.J., Gafford, Naji, Max and Rez.
Assuming a 10-man rotation, that leaves six players fighting for the final three spots. Let’s make the case for each of them:
Moussa Cisse
Cisse was one of my favorite players to watch last season. When I was at games last year, I would spend stretches just watching him. He would contest a shot, fall down, then immediately sprint to the other side of the floor, ready for a pick-and-roll action.
He averaged 4.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 0.5 steals and 1.2 blocks in 38 games while playing just 13.9 minutes per game. He was one of five players to average more than a block per game while playing fewer than 20 minutes per game. The other four were Yves Missi at 1.5 blocked shots in 19.7 minutes, Robert Williams at 1.5 blocks in 17.1 minutes, Mitchell Robinson at 1.2 blocked shots in 19.6 minutes and Adem Bona at 1.2 blocked shots in 17.4 minutes per game.
Per-36 is a flawed stat, especially for high-energy bigs who do a lot of the dirty work, but Cisse’s numbers translate to 11.5 points, 14.7 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 3.1 blocked shots per 36.
What will hold him back is his obvious offensive limitations, along with his tendency to foul. If he can clean up those areas, I believe Moose could develop into a solid rotation player this season.
Zaccharie Risacher
Unfortunately, Risacher didn’t show the year-one-to-year-two progression you would like to see. He went from 12.6 to 9.6 points, 3.6 to 3.8 rebounds, 1.2 to 1.1 assists and 0.7 to 0.9 steals per game, while remaining stagnant at 0.5 blocked shots.
His only notable improvement came from three, where he went from 35.5% to 36.8%.
I believe a fresh start is exactly what he needed, along with a fresh set of expectations. He has said himself that he wants to prove he belongs on the court and earn his minutes.
He has a quick release, can attack closeouts and has shown flashes defensively, but consistency is still the biggest thing missing from his game.
If he can maintain that 37% mark from three, or even improve it with more volume, and utilize his size on the defensive end, I could see him making a legitimate push for a starting spot by the end of the season.
Sergio De Larrea
De Larrea was the star of Summer League. He walks in as probably the best lob passer on the team and one of its best overall passers from day one.
The biggest limitation for him will be his scoring gravity. Nembhard had a very similar problem last year: if you aren’t a threat to score, your playmaking ability becomes significantly less effective because defenses don’t have to respect you as a scorer.
In his last two seasons playing abroad, De Larrea averaged 6.3 points, 2.7 assists and 2.2 rebounds per game on 45/41/77 shooting splits. On the bright side, his efficiency is solid, but it isn’t exactly eye-popping either.
He is young and still has plenty of room to grow. If Dusty May wants to prioritize playmaking and positional size, I can see Larry earning a spot in the rotation early on. But I think it may take some time before he is ready to consistently contribute.
Tarik Biberovic
Watching highlights of Biberovic reminds me of prime Warriors basketball: a bunch of off-ball actions designed to get shooters open and launch threes.
Over the last two seasons, he has averaged 42.9% from three on five attempts per game. And they come in every way imaginable. Stationary catch-and-shoots, highly contested attempts, coming off screens, it doesn’t seem to matter for this guy.
Nothing would bring life to the AAC quite like a Klay three, and I have a feeling Tarik is going to have a similar effect. The biggest questions are whether his defense will hold up and whether he can do enough off the dribble to keep the ball moving when defenses play him tightly.
Either way, I cannot wait for a Biberovic heat check.
Santi Aldama
A lot has been made this offseason of the fact that Aldama was one of just four seven-footers last season who shot at least four threes per game at a 35% or better clip. That is a unique skill set to have, and even more importantly, it is a skill set the Mavericks can actually use in a variety of ways.
Add in 6.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.5 stocks per game, and Aldama brings a ton of versatility to the lineup. If the Mavericks want to play five-out, they can use him at center. If they want to go big, he can slide to the four alongside another center.
Ultimately, his shooting ability could be the lynchpin that unlocks a number of different lineups for the Mavericks this season.
Marcus Sasser
Marcus Sasser had a down year, missing the first 23 games of the season with an injury before spending much of the remainder of the year in and out of the rotation. He posted career lows in every major statistical category last season except for three-point percentage, where he actually set a career high at 41.5%. Sasser brings some much-needed ball handling and self-creation, but as we’ve seen around the league this offseason, his archetype is becoming less valuable.
He competes defensively, but he is still an undersized guard. He can absolutely provide value when the Mavericks need a scoring punch, but I’m not sure that will be enough to earn him a regular spot in the rotation. If the Pistons who also were severely lacking playmaking and shot creation wouldn’t play him, will the Mavs?
So, Who Makes It?
Ultimately, who do I believe Dusty May will employ on game one?
I don’t think Sasser necessarily fits the positional size May appears to be looking for, and that the plan for ball handling will be to utilize Naji alongside the backup point guard.
As much as I love De Larrea and think he will be a good player, I also believe it is going to take some time for his development. His playing time early in the season may be inconsistent as he adjusts to the NBA.
That leaves Risacher, Biberovic, Cisse and Aldama fighting for the final spots.
Risacher is the closest thing to a lock among this group. He brings size, shooting and versatility to the wing, and even if he doesn’t have a breakout season, he should still be a useful bench player.
The same goes for Biberovic. As long as his shooting translates, which I have little reason to believe it won’t, he can provide something this roster desperately needs: spacing and high-volume three-point shooting.
That leaves the biggest question of all:
Cisse or Aldama?
Ultimately, I think Dusty May will lean toward Aldama.
With Gafford anchoring the starting five, Johnson and Aldama can form a sort of bullpen at the big-man spots, with both players capable of sliding between the four and five. The difference is what Aldama brings offensively. His shooting creates spacing that Cisse simply cannot provide right now. That versatility gives Aldama the edge.
So, my projected day-one rotation is:
Starters: Kyrie Irving, Max Christie, Cooper Flagg, P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford
There are still plenty of questions surrounding this roster, particularly when it comes to shot creation and how the offense will function when Kyrie isn’t on the floor. But that’s also what makes this team so interesting. There are a lot of different lineup combinations available to Dusty May, and several players who could force their way into bigger roles as the season progresses.
My day-one rotation probably won’t be the rotation we see by the end of the season. That’s the fun part.
For now, though, this is the group I expect to see when the Mavericks tip off Game 1.
There has been plenty of change with the roster, management, and everything in between over the past couple of years. One of the most impactful changes to the franchise has been the departure of Mitch Marner in July 2025, after playing his first NHL season away from Toronto this past year with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Marner was a representative for the Golden Knights at the NHL Player Media Tour in Las Vegas and was asked about his former team. With the summer that the Maple Leafs had, the topic of their off-season came up.
With such a strong history with the Leafs, playing nine seasons with the club and 657 regular-season games, as well as growing up in the Greater Toronto Area, it's easy to follow what his former team has been up to.
Nonetheless, the right winger has his sights set on the coming campaign with his team, and doesn't hold much weight with what his former team is up to.
"Don't think very much," he said. "I'm just thinking about our team and what we've got to do to be the best we can be."
Marner, born in Markham, Ont. and growing up in Toronto, has become familiar with the local talent. Of that bunch is Toronto-born defenseman Darren Raddysh, whom the Maple Leafs acquired in a sign-and-trade in June.
Marner said he was pumped to see Raddysh get an opportunity for his hometown team after a career-high 22 goals and 70 points last season with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
"I know Raddy quite well, I'm very happy for him," Marner said of Raddysh. "He's worked his butt."
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Every day, we’ll take a closer look at another member of the 2026-27 Phoenix Suns, examining what they bring to the roster and what their role could mean for the season ahead as we count down to training camp and the preseason.
CJ Huntley
Power Forward/Center, 6’10”, 230 pounds, 24 years old, 2nd season
We start our annual player previews at the end of the bench, with second-year big man C. J. Huntley. At 6’10” and now 230 pounds, he provides an insurance depth piece up front. There is a real chance he sees more NBA-level time this year, given Mark Williams’ health history, or that a mid-season trade affects the current deep frontline rotation.
Last Season
GP
MIN
PPG
RPG
APG
BLK
FG%
3PT%
FT%
OFFRTG
DEFRTG
+/- (TOTAL)
4
10.0
3.0
1.3
0.5
0.0
54.5%
0.0%
0.0%
122.4
104.7
+15
Huntley logged 42 total games at 27 minutes per game with the Valley Suns G-League team, combining the tip-off tournament and regular season. Per 36 minutes, he put up 21 points, 11 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, and 3.3 three-point attempts (making them at a 34% clip). That willingness to hoist three’s supported what the Suns scouts saw at Appalachian State, where he put up 3.8 per game. He played in four games (10 minutes per game) with the NBA club, with garbage-time minutes and a small sample size.
Worth monitoring: CJ was held out in the 2026 Summer League with hamstring issues, and those can linger or recur.
Contract and Roster Context
Under a two-way contract for this season, he becomes a restricted free agent in 2027-28.
What He Brings
There are things to like, explaining why the front office gave him another run at one of the two-way contract spots. Physically, he has good length (a 7.5” wingspan). As cited in draft profiles, he continued to demonstrate good hands, as shown by a better-than-average G-League big-man turnover rate of 8.8%.
Power hasn’t been a strong suit, but he’s now at 230 pounds after being listed at a lower weight range out of college. He moves well enough to provide some perimeter defense ability as a potential — albeit lesser — shadow of Oso Ighodaro’s role in this. CJ is better on the offensive glass (11% offesnive rebound rate, above norms for frontline players).
Last year’s player preview highlighted his need to develop offensive flow and spatial awareness. This has developed to some extent in Tempe and should remain a focus. Defensive rebounding is average at best. He is not a pure rim protector. The G-League coaching staff complimented him as a hard worker, as referenced in this short highlight video:
One Key Factor
When given an NBA opportunity this year, Huntley must fit seamlessly into the Suns’ offensive flow while maximizing the core strengths that earned him a chance. Can he move to the right spots at the right time while not disrupting the Suns’ offense?
Prediction
There is a good chance, better than 50/50, that one of the following occurs with effects on the frontline: injuries, trades, suspensions, or depth limitations from rest days. When that happens, CJ will get his chance to play some non-garbage minutes in 5-10 games or perhaps more. His work ethic and attributes will allow him to play at an NBA baseline level and force an interesting decision when it is time to discuss a contract for the following season.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 24: Ryan Rollins #13 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball against Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat during the second quarter at Fiserv Forum on February 24, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The playoffs, the draft, free agency. These are the pinnacles of NBA—and by extension Milwaukee Bucks—fandom. Well, Ranking the Roster isn’t too far behind, especially around here!
An annual tradition, Ranking the Roster has been a staple of Brew Hoop since 2014. Back then, a little-known sophomore won the crown in a vote that showed the community’s collective prescience. In second place came a highly touted second-overall draft pick. You know who on both accounts. Other names of yesteryear include Larry Sanders (fifth), Kendall Marshall (ninth), Jared Dudley (11th), and O.J Mayo (18th). Memories… For a complete nostalgia trip down original rankings lane, click here.
Of course, back then, the rules were slightly different, with fans asked to rank players—and even picks—as “assets” in this hypothetical scenario:
Imagine the NBA was having an expansion draft, and the Bucks were able to “protect” their entire team from being taken by a new expansion organization, except for one player. Whoever is left unprotected will be selected in this hypothetical and totally unfair expansion draft. After this player is chosen, his salary comes off the Bucks’ books instantly, as though he was never on the team at all. Then (and this is important) the Bucks’ future plays out for some number of years, however long you care to imagine, only they no longer have the chosen player on the roster or on the cap sheet.
Over time, like the game we love so dearly itself, Ranking the Roster has evolved too, with the focus strictly on which player is more important to Milwaukee’s success in comparison to his teammates. More specifically, as Van Fayaz reiterated last year, you should heed Managing Editor Emeritus Adam Paris’ advice when making your selections:
Postseason success should be paramount in your mind when considering your rankings. Regular season competency is a bonus, especially if they can help the team get to a higher seed that yields dividends in the Playoffs, but think about how you envision each individual player factoring in when postseason games arrive.
Considering the context of thisyear’s team, with the Bucks tying up the laces on a new pair of kicks as they embark on a rebuild, “playoffs” might be a bit of a stretch (it’s also partly because of this that the “Gut Check” poll portion of the series has been shelved). But they will come down the road. And when that happens, which of these Bucks do you trust?
Before we get to that, let’s revisit the archives (current players only). As noted, Giannis was the first winner in the series and it will come as no surprise that he’s the only Buck to ever hold that title. With his glaring absence from the books, this year we’ll see a first—and there’s no dominant school of thought as to who might fill the relinquished throne, at least as far as I can see it.
Current Player
2025 Rank
2024 Rank
2023 Rank
2022 Rank
Myles Turner
2
–
–
–
Gary Trent Jr.
3
5
–
–
Kevin Porter Jr.
4
–
–
–
AJ Green
6
9
11
17
Kyle Kuzma
7
–
–
–
Ryan Rollins
8
17
–
–
Jericho Sims
11
–
–
–
Pete Nance
18
–
–
–
Tyler Herro
–
–
–
–
Jaime Jaquez Jr.
–
–
–
–
Kel’el Ware
–
–
–
–
Brayden Burries
–
–
–
–
Ousmane Dieng
–
–
–
–
Caris LeVert
–
–
–
–
Kasparas Jakučionis
–
–
–
–
Nate Ament
–
–
–
–
Bogoljub Markovic
–
–
–
–
Cormac Ryan
–
–
–
–
Kam Jones
–
–
–
–
Tyler Herro and Myles Turner have both made the Finals as key players, so you know they at least fit the bill. Then again, Kyle Kuzma has won one. So, I’m not convinced any of those (save maybe Herro) will get my vote. Ryan Rollins made the biggest leap on the team last year—it still baffles me how he didn’t get more Most Improved Player (MIP) consideration—and seems primed to do so again. But Jaime Jaquez Jr. was runner-up for Sixth Man of the Year (6MOY) and has open forward spots beckoning him to take on a bigger role, so that’s no guarantee either. Then there’s Kel’el Ware, who’s got perhaps the highest ceiling on the team and is itching to break out so long as he gets enough minutes (and stops being so curious). Oh, and there’s a tenth overall draft pick who you already know I think has a chance to be, uh, pretty okay.
On the other end of the scale, I’m also eager to see who Bucks fans don’t trust. Kasparas Jakucionis was a sticking point in the Giannis trade, but do you value him as highly as Jon Horst seemingly did? What about been-there-before vets Caris LeVert and Gary Trent Jr., who were key rotational playoff pieces just last year and the year before that, respectively? Or have they soured that much? Only time—and you—will tell. That’s what makes this exercise so fun (and evergreen). Speaking of Green, how the hell is AJ the longest tenured Buck—by two years!? Things really done changed.
One final point. As it stands, the Bucks still have 17 players under contract to go along with two out of a possible three two-way players. So, with teams able to carry a maximum of 15 players during the season, anticipate roster trimming at some point. Until then, treat everyone as if they’re on the team for the year ahead.
Now get your GM hat on and get to work, starting with the first ranking:
Please note that technical changes across SB Nation mean polls must now be created in The Feed, so you will see them both there and in the articles themselves. They are also capped at six options, so we’ll present these as best we can. It’s not perfect, we know, but it’ll work. Thanks for your understanding.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – MAY 12: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves warms up before Game Five of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center on May 12, 2026 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. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Editor’s Note: We’re excited to see our very own Matt Harren, better known as harebear in the comments section, taking the brave dive onto the Canis front page. You’ll be seeing a lot more from Matt this season, so please give him a warm welcome!
During the 2020 NBA Draft, just after the Minnesota Timberwolves selected Anthony Edwards 1st overall, the Wolves traded James Johnson and the 17th pick (Aleksej Pokuševski) to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for the 23rd pick (Leandro Bolmaro), the 28th pick (Jaden McDaniels), and Wolves legend Ricky Rubio.
Then-Wolves President of Basketball Operations Gersson Rosas returned the fan favorite PG less than a year after declaring, “Why didn’t we sign a point guard on July 1st? Because we wanted that point guard,” hinting at the team’s belief in D’Angelo Russell. During Edwards’ first season, he took his first NBA steps under the tutelage of two very different guards.
Since then, Minnesota’s point guard play has remained in flux. For Edwards, each mentor guard has imparted lessons on what to do and what not to do. As the Wolves embark on a new season with another new guard – this time a peer from Ant’s draft class – I wanted to look back at Ant’s growth and the point guards that helped him get there and question what is next if his partnership with LaMelo Ball is to flourish.
Ricky Rubio
It was Rubio who rekindled my love for Timberwolves basketball again, years after the Garnett trade. I was more excited about the return of flashy passes than the Dion Waiters-comped Edwards.
After helping Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell and Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns reach stardom, Ricky was brought in to work his magic with Edwards.
Since his first stint with the Wolves, Rubio was beloved for his ability to raise the level of the players around him. As a pass-first point guard with a limited shot, defenders dared him to let it fly. Despite this coverage, on-time passes still zipped from his fingers like notes from a Flamenco guitar player. Early Ricky cared about basketball and playing with joy.
After season-ending injuries, unexpected trades, and losing loved ones, Ricky became jaded with the business side of the profession. Nevertheless, on the court he played with all of himself. Ant gravitated to that. Per Chris Hine, then of the Star Tribune, Ant spoke about Ricky after Chris Finch’s first win as the Wolves head coach.
“He leads by example and communication. Some leaders, they’re going to lead by example. Some of them lead by talking, but Ricky, he does both,” Edwards said. “He’s the best leader I’ve been around all my life.”
Ricky knew his limitations: an inconsistent shot, subpar athleticism. He could also read the floor better than most and maximize the talents of his teammates. It is not a great leap to think he saw the potential in Ant and laid out the path for him.
Edwards has spent every year since improving. Offseason reporting notes that Ant reached out to Jonathan Kuminga, selling the free agent on his importance to the Wolves. At Jaylen Clark’s training camp, Edwards called Ball and had the campers wish him a happy birthday.
While Edwards is still rising into his prime, he has faced the gauntlet of the playoffs and been dismissed early. His talent is otherwordly, far eclipsing the skills of his first PG mentor, and like Rubio, he knows the summit is only reached when everyone is playing at their best.
Patrick Beverley
During the 2021-22 offseason, the Wolves traded Jarrett Culver and Juancho Hernangomez to the Memphis Grizzlies for Patrick Beverley.
After a career that first started in the EuroLeague before earning All-Defensive honors, along with some suspensions for reckless play — he missed the Wolves’ first game of the season for shoving Chris Paul in the back during the Western Conference Finals — many thought Beverley’s best years were in the distant rearview.
With the very young Wolves, Pat Bev found a group brimming with raw talent and little cohesion. Through unrelenting effort and arrogance disguised as brash confidence, Mr. 94 Feet made the Wolves believe in themselves enough to stop being polite after the whistle was blown.
Beverley played with a chip on his shoulder but held a special place for any team or player he felt slighted by. He loathed Chris Paul after he was sent to the Los Angeles Clippers in a trade for the All-Star Guard. He went through a euphoric episode after helping the Wolves defeat the Clippers, who had dumped him in Memphis, during the Play-In Tournament.
The Wolves were bounced by those same Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs. A few months later, Pat Bev sent to Utah as part of the Rudy Gobert trade.
What he left was a Wolves team no longer just happy to be there. For Ant, each playoff appearance since has put him against the Western Conference team that would eventually reach the Finals. In every one of those series, Ant has played with the full, near-arrogant belief that he was the best player in the series.
Confidence is key. But overconfidence has its downfalls as well, as we can see in the next guard’s tenure.
D’Angelo Russell
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – NOVEMBER 30: D'Angelo Russell #0 congratulates Anthony Edwards #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves after the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on November 30, 2022 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 2022 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
I thought it was going to work.
I fell for the upstart 2019 Brooklyn Nets and D’Angelo Russell.
I was heartbroken when D’Lo chose to sign with the Golden State Warriors over the Wolves.
I nearly let out a yelp of excitement in the middle of a work call when the Woj Bomb dropped.
Golden State has agreed to trade D'Angelo Russell to Minnesota for a deal that includes Andrew Wiggins, a 2021 protected first-round pick and a 2022 second-round pick, league sources tell ESPN. Warriors will send Jacob Evans and Omari Spellman to Timberwolves too.
I was wrong. The cerebral player I thought Russell was, was a facade. A master of after-the-fact analysis, the Ohio State product could accurately walkthrough any segment of the game and tell you what went right and wrong.
When the next game came around, though, it was a coin toss on whether his words would turn into action. He was benched during Ant’s first playoff series against the Grizzlies due to his shot selection, pace of play, and defensive limitations. Taking his place was the smaller undrafted guard Jordan McLaughlin, who outperformed the max-contract player and better executed Coach Finch’s vision.
The next season, the Wolves traded for Gobert. They envisioned Rudy covering D’Lo’s defensive weaknesses and Russell creating lobs from a Rudy pick-and-roll.
None of it came to fruition.
Early in the failed attempt, Russell had come to the conclusion that he couldn’t work with Gobert.The fruit of their partnership withered on the vine. By the trade deadline, the Wolves swapped point guards, bringing in the steady and familiar hand of Mike Conley.
Throughout it all, Ant had a front-row seat to Russell’s behavior. He saw the price of arrogance and what happens when teammates give up on each other.
Ant has clearly prioritized never being in that position. In one breath, he can call out Karl-Anthony Towns to stop fouling — as he did during the 2024 series against the Suns — and in the next, tell President Barack Obama to keep Towns’ name out of his mouth.
Hey, not all of these lessons came from good role models.
Mike Conley
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – MAY 15: Anthony Edwards #5 celebrates with Mike Conley #10 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second quarter of a game against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Six of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Target Center on May 15, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Mike Conley is a pro’s pro. The one-time All-Star was a part of the Grit-n-Grind Grizzlies, the Mitchell/Gobert Utah Jazz, and landed on the Timberwolves in the midst of a failing Towns-and-Gobert double-big experiment. He spent a few games post-trade understanding his new team and their preferences, and then set to work doing what he has always done: involving everyone.
Conley has a preternatural ability to know who hasn’t touched the basketball in a while and the empathic selflessness to get that player the ball in a place where they feel effective. What’s more, this sixth sense for the right play doesn’t need to be flashy. Its often simple, effectively communicated, and leads to trust.
Entering his first full season with the Wolves, he organized the offense, making Rudy effective with lob dunks, finding KAT on the perimeter for threes, and empowering McDaniels and especially Ant to attack, all while putting his body on the line on defense.
His efforts helped the Wolves reach their second-ever Western Conference Finals in 2024, going back again the next year. When he was traded this past February, then traded again and waived, the Wolves were desperate to bring the PG back to help maintain the locker room. He came back to the Wolves searching for the championship that eluded him, the crown jewel in a laudable career.
Ant grew into superstardom, into the team’s leader, into an adult under the mentorship of Conley. He learned how to make the simple play and take what the game gave him. Sadly, the last and greatest lesson Conley, now signed with the Boston Celtics, imparted was simple.
Don’t take this for granted…
Himself
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – MAY 12: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves warms up before Game Five of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center on May 12, 2026 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. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Just before tipoff of the 2025-26 season, the Timberwolves made a starting lineup change. Out was Mike Conley, and in was Donte DiVincenzo. As such, primary ball-handling duties went to Edwards.
This season-long experiment put the ball in Ant’s hands. There it stayed for possession after possession. Somehow, despite it all, he averaged nearly one fewer assist per game.
His opponents sent double teams as he crossed half-court. He’d fight for freedom and burn precious energy that left him sagging on defense. Edwards vacillated between spreading the ball around and chucking, finding success and failure in both approaches. His passes to less capable shooters left his shoulders sagging. His early shot-clock bricks brought the same response from his teammates.
In the second round playoff matchup with the San Antonio Spurs, a hobbled Edwards was hounded. His teammates struggled to offer him effective options and the Wolves were sent home looking for answers.
The Point Ant experiment was a failure. It’s not easy to feed yourself and the team all at once.
LaMelo Ball
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – JANUARY 22: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves and LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets talk in the third quarter at Target Center on January 22, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Hornets won 128-125. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
LaMelo Ball was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets two spots behind Anthony Edwards. Like the Wolves of that era, the Hornets were also mired in year over year ineptitude. LaMelo beat out Ant for Rookie of the Year, and made his first — and at this writing, only — All-Star appearance a year before Edwards. Since then injuries, erratic and unserious shot selection, a steady rotation of coaching changes, and off-court erratic driving has marred some of the shine on the promising 6’7” point guard. That he was traded for Naz Reid (winced as I typed that), a first round pick and some swaps shows just what the Hornets thought of Ball’s future in the league.
For Tim Connelly and Chris Finch, they believe Melo’s ability to see over defenses offers something Ant has never played with, an athletic pass-first point guard who teams have to guard close. Melo should elevate every teammate with his passing. He’ll make some of them feel like superheroes with alley oops. The cost of this for the Wolves, including Ant, is defensive effort to save Melo when he is attacked. When Melo’s passes are too audacious, he’ll need to hear it from his teammates as well as Finch.
While there is excitement about the pairing of two of the league’s best backcourt players, the immaturity label has been used on both of them. Ant has improved each year. He has learned hard lessons from his point guard mentors.
To peel off the immaturity tag, Ant’s next lesson is to become like the mentors who shaped him.
The gripes are legitimate. But there has to be something positive out of these last two days of back-to-back 4-3 losses, and losing the year-long series to the Brewers.
That is — for these two games, the Cubs proved they can hang with the Brewers. The Team Up North was taken to the brink of defeat each time, with the same Achilles heel occurring against the Cubs.
In both games, the team had taken the lead TWICE against the mighty Brewers, only to come up short at the latest point in each game.
In the latest example of “THE DECISION” since LeBron’s, first, second, third (?) time, Craig Counsell Monday had to decide, without either a closer or a dependable eighth-inning reliever, which way to go: Let an exhausted Matthew Boyd, with his fastball having dropped around three miles per hour, go back out to mound in the eighth; let Boyd only face one batter max, or start the inning with Zeferjahn. Zeferjahn had been building confidence in his last few outings, and putting “Z” in at the top of the inning would have given him a fresh start instead of a tremendous increase in leverage. The latter occurred, “Z” crashed and that rolled into Webb also entering in a poor situation.
It was being stuck between a rock, a hard place, and being encased in amber. Probably the only spot we would be in agreement with is that Boyd went a batter too long. However, what were the better options? They aren’t there. Nevertheless, when he left the game, Boyd pitched an excellent game, leaving with the lead, 2-1, having scattered seven baserunners and struck out seven.
The levers were pulled correctly (as best possible) Tuesday. David Peterson did not have a great game (4.1 IP, nine baserunners with four strikeouts). But he somehow did leave the game with the game locked at 1-1 against Jason Misiorowski. After Peterson left after a single and a walk, Trent Thornton provided a strikeout, then was backed up by the defense with a strike from Seiya Suzuki to nail Jackson Chourio at the plate.
After two innings from Aaron Civale, Ryan Rolison had a rough go of it, but the Cubs went into the ninth with the score still tied. After the Cubs took a 3-1 lead, they gave it back. Jacob Webb was in to close the game and was one strike away from chalking up a Cubs win, but to give up a game-tying, two-run home run to Chourio. The Brewers won in the 10th.
The points are — I’ll be positive and say that there is no consistently effective bullpen work. Or I can be real and also just drop the work “consistently”; and there’s a big gap up-and-down the line between the two bullpens. However, this is what the Cubs have and they still kept pace with the Brewers in these two games. There can be some blame on Counsell for the execution of Monday’s game (and I hate going to this easy scapegoat), but the blame is on Jed Hoyer expecting all the bullpen cards would have fallen into place by this point. They still may, but time is almost out and there’s not much that can be done about it.
The offensive stars are PCA, who not only picked up his 41st homer, but added three more stolen bases to improve his chase numbers to 41/36. Pedro Ramirez was 2-for-6 with two runs scored and a solo home run. And Carson Kelly had a huge pinch-hit two-RBI double in the ninth Tuesday to put the Cubs up, 3-1.
Complimentary Starting Pitcher Solo Home Run*
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Jeff Agrest (Chicago Sun-Times): Jacob Webb blows another save before Brewers walk-off Cubs in 10 innings. “No one is walking through the Cubs’ clubhouse door to save the bullpen. “These are our guys,” manager Craig Counsell said. “They’re the guys we’re going to rely on. We’ve got to figure it out.”
2-run walkoff HR (2 outs in 9th) 2-run walkoff HR (2 outs in 9th) 2-run game-tying HR (2 outs in 9th)
He's the only MLB pitcher to allow a game-tying or go-ahead HR w/ 2 outs in 9th in 3 straight save opps (since saves became official in 1969). pic.twitter.com/PdsS8SNgE3
Matthew Trueblood (North Side Baseball): Craig Counsell’s Mystifying Monday Screwup Continues a Troubling Trend. “Ryan Zeferjahn failed in the clutch on Monday afternoon, costing the Cubs a game they needed and had a chance to win. But the more worrisome mistake was made by his manager, before the righty could even take the mound.”
Assorted Hitting/Team Standings Stories:
Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): Dansby Swanson’s Oblique Recovery Continues on Schedule. “If Swanson is able to play in a couple rehab games early next week, it’s at least conceivable he could return at some point during next weekend’s Reds series in Cincinnati.”
Elias Schuster (Chicago Cubs): Cubs Hold Crucial Advantage as NL Wild Card Race Tightens. “The Chicago Cubs are hoping to outright secure the top Wild Card spot, but thy can find some comfort in knowing they have already clinched a few tiebreakers.”
Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Who Was Jiggs Parrott, ‘Worst’ Player in Cubs History? “With Pete Crow-Armstrong chasing down Rogers Hornsby‘s 1929 11.0 fWAR in 1929 as the best single season in Cubs franchise history, I got an itch to see who has the worst season on record.”
Sophie Sherry (Chicago Sun-Times): White Sox beat Cubs 56-48 — in Chicago ballpark arrests in recent years. “Fans have mostly been charged with battery and trespassing, the Sun-Times found. One man ran onto both Wrigley and Rate fields, in one case holding a sign that read “Jesus is Lord.” Another man started a brawl outside of a Sox game after he was caught urinating on a car.“
Jordan Bastian (MLB.com): PCA reconnects with young fan, trades him a signed bat. “The sign read: “Hey Pete! I’m your biggest fan from the Smokies! I have a Javi Báez auto 1/1, I want to give it to you. Want to trade ‘4’ a bat? GO CUBS GO.”“
Williamson’s first recording session took place in 1951 for Lillian McMurry of Trumpet Records, based in Jackson, Mississippi. It was three years since the death of John Lee Williamson, which for the first time allowed some legitimacy to Miller’s carefully worded claim to being “the one and only Sonny Boy Williamson”. When Trumpet went bankrupt in 1955, Williamson’s recording contract was yielded to its creditors, who sold it to Chess Records in Chicago. He had begun developing a following in Chicago beginning in 1953, when he appeared there as a member of Elmore James’s band. During his Chess years he enjoyed his greatest success and acclaim, recording about 70 songs for the Chess subsidiary Checker Records from 1955 to 1964.
In the early 1960s he toured Europe several times during the height of the British blues craze, backed on a number of occasions by the Authentics, recording with the Yardbirds (for the album Sonny Boy Williamson and the Yardbirds) and the Animals, and appearing on several television broadcasts throughout Europe. Around this time he was quoted as saying of the backing bands who accompanied him, “those British boys want to play the blues real bad, and they do”. In 1963 while in London, on one or possibly more occasions he recorded 2 songs in front of a live television audience for the UK regional television folk and blues music series Hullabaloo, presented by the Scottish folksinger Rory McEwen. Sonny Boy took a liking to the European fans, and while there had a custom-made, two-tone suit tailored personally for him, along with a bowler hat, matching umbrella, and an attaché case for his harmonicas.
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 9: Bobby Witt Jr. #7 of the Kansas City Royals throws the Arizona Diamondbacks runner out at first during the seventh inning at Kauffman Stadium on September 9, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Kyle Rivas/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Bobby Witt Jr. hit his 18th homer last night, which was the difference in a 5-2 win over the Diamondbacks
In the fifth inning, D-backs reliever Michael Soroka left a 94.9 mph sinker over the heart of the plate in a tie game. It seemed like a customary get-me-over fastball after Soroka walked Carter Jensen on six pitches.
Soroka looked for strike one. Instead, Witt was ready as he belted a three-run homer over the left-field wall. It was his 18th home run as the Royals took a 5-2 lead and never looked back in Wednesday’s series finale. They won by the same score. The Royals (65-82) finished their nine-game homestand on a high note. The offense scored early after being limited the previous two nights.
Royals rookie Carter Jensen also had a big night. He blasted his 23rd homer and now sits one shy of matching Bob Hamelin (24 homers in 1994) for the club’s rookie record.
Tony Gonsolin made another rehab start last night for Omaha, and it went really well.
Tony Gonsolin tossed five scoreless innings in his third rehab outing for Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday night, another step in what the Royals hope is a path back to the big leagues by the end of the year.
Gonsolin worked around three hits and a walk and struck out two, needing 64 pitches (42 strikes) in Omaha’s win. His next start is scheduled for Sunday with Triple-A, and then the Royals will evaluate whether he’ll continue his rehab or potentially slot in Kansas City’s rotation with two weeks left of the season.
“We’ll see how that one goes,” manager Matt Quatraro said. “Obviously, Monday will be a day off across the board for them, and we have that day off as well [in Houston]. We’ll be able to see what happens at that point.”
Angeibel Gomez is predicted to be the Royals top prospect in 2028.
In an ideal world for Kansas City, this is a tough call for the club by 2028 with Gomez and 18-year-old righty Kendry Chourio each having legit claims to their prospect throne. Signed for $2.9 million in January, Gomez is on a rocket ship after hitting .361/.467/.653 with nine homers and a 19/28 K/BB ratio over 47 games in the Dominican Summer League in his debut season. His power has played in games quicker than most 17-year-olds, and his bat-to-ball skills from the right side have been better than advertised. Gomez could jump several dozen places in the Top 100 by ‘28 if this level of performance carries over stateside.
With record setting heat all throughout the Royals 9-game homestand, Anne Rogers of MLB.com talked about how the Royals players handled it.
Well, Foster Griffin did not show why the Guardians got him last night. After a disastrous, eight run, third inning the Guardians fell too far behind the Orioles to be able to rally a comeback. The Guardians fell 5-9 to the Orioles. At least Chase DeLauter hit a home run in his first game back.
Jun 6, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; General view of a sunset during the game between the Milwaukee Brewers against the Colorado Rockiesat Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Colorado Rockies only have 17 games left in the 2026 season. If they played football that would constitute an entire season. Instead, because they play the marathon that is baseball, these final 17 games may seem inconsequential.
It’s true that the Rockies are eliminated from the playoff race, so in a sense, the remaining games are inconsequential. If we’re being honest with ourselves, though, the Rockies have been realistically eliminated from postseason contention for the past half decade, and there have still been plenty of reasons to watch them play.
There may not be too many games left, but that doesn’t mean the final three weeks of the season won’t provide opportunity for some entertainment. Let’s take a look through the remaining schedule, series by series, to wring out every last inch of exciting baseball before the long offseason (and possible lockout) arrives.
The Detroit Tigers Series
I’m not going to lie: The existence of this series almost scuttled the premise of this entire article.
There’s very little specifically interesting about a late-season matchup between the Rockies and the Detroit Tigers. Both teams are outside of playoff contention, they aren’t division rivals, and the number of former Rockies on the Tigers is limited (unless you’re still a big Tyler Kinley fan).
The Tigers, while they may not have much connection to the current Rockies, do employ the clear frontrunner for American League Rookie of the Year. If the only baseball that you have time to watch is Rockies games, this series will be your one chance to see Tigers rookie shortstop Kevin McGonigle play before taking home the 2026 AL RoY award.
That being said, if you are afraid of how many times the broadcast booth may struggle to pronounce McGonigle, this would be the one series remaining that you wouldn’t be missing too much if you skipped.
The San Diego Padres Series
This four game series against the Padres is the Rockies best opportunity to play spoiler.
The Padres started off strong with an 18-7 April, struggled to stay around .500 in May through July, before turning things around with a 17-11 August. As things stand, the Padres are 78-68 just barely holding on to the third wild card spot in the National League with a half game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
They come to Denver hoping to keep their lead and reach the postseason for the fifth time in the past seven seasons. So far this year the Rockies have been beaten by the Padres in eight out of their nine games, making even a tie in this four-game set seem like a longshot. All that losing, however, would make it even more wonderful if the Rockies are able to eek out some wins against their division rival right at the end when it matters the most.
Besides, when these two teams play, anything can happen.
The Seattle Mariners Series
With their poor play since the All-Star break, it’s possible that by the start of this series, the Seattle Mariners will also be mathematically eliminated from the playoff hunt. Unlike the series against the Tigers, however, there are still some side stories to look forward to.
First and foremost, the Saturday game will feature the unveiling of Todd Helton’s statue outside Coors Field. As with the Larry Walker statue unveiling earlier in the year, Helton is expected to be in attendance for a pre-game ceremony. The club has not announced any other media appearances yet, but Walker was on the broadcast the night of his statue’s unveiling, so it seems likely that a similar appearance for Helton is in the cards.
Join us for a celebration and statue unveiling of Rockies Legends Larry Walker and Todd Helton!
Additionally, the final Friday home game of the season means one last chance to see the Rockies play in the pastel colors of their City Connect uniforms. The previous green City Connects were only in use for three seasons and 2027 will be the third year of the current generation. Given the uncertain status of the 2027 MLB season, it’s entirely possible this is one of the last chances to see the sunset inspired jerseys donned in game.
The Arizona Diamondbacks Series
As with the Padres series, this could be a chance for the Rockies to play spoiler in the playoff race. Unlike the Padres, I have never gotten the sense that most Rockies fans hold much ill will towards the Diamondbacks.
More importantly, we’ll all get to see Nolan Arenado who is potentially on the cusp of his third trip to the playoffs since leaving the Rockies before the 2021 season. Seeing Arenado playing meaningful baseball this late in the season should provide a wistful well meaning bit of nostalgia all by itself.
That being said, the current season series between the Rockies and Diamondbacks sits 4-6 D-Backs. A Rockies sweep of this three game set would push them ahead in the season series. The Rockies have already won their season series against the San Francisco Giants, adding a second NL West team that they were able to best would be a nice consolation prize at the end of another long season.
The Chicago White Sox Series
In 2026, the Rockies have shown progress towards righting the ship after an abysmal 119 losses last year. It has, however, shown that the climb back up to being a competitive team remains steep. Ending this transitional season against the breakout Chicago White Sox, and getting to see Brenton Doyle for the first time since his mid-season trade, is perfect.
The energy in the southside of Chicago, win or lose, will be a preview of what’s possible for the Rockies within the next few seasons. It will be the perfect hopeful send-off for the 2026 Rockies into a pivotal and uncertain offseason.
Jack Mahoney (No. 15 PuRP) started the game for the Isotopes and managed to get through four and two thirds innings with 87 pitches. Mahoney was pulled after allowing four runs on seven hits the final of which was a two-RBI line drive from Jose Fernandez. While it wasn’t a stellar performance on paper, given the running scoring environment of the Pacific Coast League and the fine performance from the Isotopes bullpen, it was enough to get the job done.
At the plate the Isotopes lineup took an early lead on an Edouard Julien two-run double in the first inning and continuously added to that lead throughout the rest of the game. All told the Isotopes scored in six separate innings on a whopping 13 hits and six walks. Five different Isotope hitters collected extra base hits but the star of the game were the aforementioned Julien, who reached base four times, and Sterlin Thompson (No. 16 PuRP) who was a triple shy of the cycle.
Both Jose Quintana and Kyle Freeland set the tone for this game in rehab appearances. The Yard Goats as a whole followed their lead en route to their 65th win of the season.
Quintana started the game and threw two innings in which he only allowed a single and a walk. Freeland took over to start the third inning and threw three scoreless of his own. While Quintana only managed a single strikeout, Freeland collected five in his three innings of work. Connor Staine finished out the final four innings of the game while only allowing three hits and a walk but no runs.
At the plate the Yard Goats got things started early. Jared Thomas (No. 8 PuRP) was hit by a pitch as the first batter of the game and eventually came around to score after a Jacob Humphrey double and a fielder’s choice hit into by Braylen Wimmer. Hartford would rest on that one-run lead throughout the majority of the game until tacking on another couple in the eighth on a two RBI single from Roynier Hernandez (No. 29 PuRP). Thomas would go on to drive in a final unnecessary insurance run with a single in the ninth.
As the Rockies were preparing to visit Yankee Stadium earlier this week, Brendan Kuty of the Athletic was reflecting on the offseason trade that brought TJ Rumfield to Denver from New York. Rumfield himself appears to have been surprised by the deal at the time as he was, at the time, focused on forcing his way onto the Yankees roster despite knowing that he was blocked by incumbent first baseman Ben Rice.
The Rockies attempt to avoid a fourth straight 100 loss season will come down to the final few weeks of the year. Mark Knudson reflects on the Rockies first manager, Don Baylor, and why keeping the fledgling expansion team from reaching that mark was a key focus of his.
In non-Rockies baseball news: The WPBL regular season came to an end this past weekend! Bradley Woodrum did a deep dive on all four teams as they entered the postseason on Wednesday. There’s been a lot of good narrative writing about the WPBL so far in it’s inaugural season but this piece applies a level of numerical analysis we, as baseball fans, have grown accustomed to having access to. Very worth the read whether you’ve been watching the WPBL or not.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 8: Mike Krukow of the San Francisco Giants at the Wall of Fame ceremony at Oracle Park on August 8, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Godofredo Vásquez/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
My life has been in shambles for the past few months, between my day job, life, and the dumpster fire that is both reality and the San Francisco Giants 2026 season I’m just flying at the speed of light and trying to hold on.
Which is why it has taken me until now to stop and really come to terms with just how much it sucks that Mike Krukow will be retiring after this season.
Mike Krukow IS Giants baseball, to me. He and his broadcasting partner Duane Kuiper have been calling Giants games for the vast majority of my life. I literally cannot remember a time before we had their delightful banter, inside jokes, crowd observations, life observations, and excellent baseball commentary.
There’s never been a bad Giants game under their watch, because they could turn even the most dull and lifeless game into one of the most memorable broadcasts you’ve ever heard. Even if they rarely commented on the actual game in question.
Somehow, I always expected that they would retire together when the time came. And somehow, despite the fact that I know how time works, I still always assumed that that time would be at least twenty years away. When I pictured the (ever unlikely) scenario of retirement, it always included a fruity beverage on the beach with the sounds of Kruk & Kuip calling a game. They were going to call games for all of time, if I’d had my way.
But we seldom get our way in reality. So all I can do is be forever grateful for the time we’ve had with Mr. Krukow on the call, and appreciate every bit of time we’ve got left this season.
What are your favorite Mike Krukow-isms and memories?
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 6: Thomas Saggese #25 of the St. Louis Cardinals bats in the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 6, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Bullpen is not a problem long-term
I think most of you know this, but the bullpen is a 2026 specific problem. That isn’t to say that the Cardinals shouldn’t try to improve it in 2027, that isn’t to say they shouldn’t make changes. But bullpen doesn’t really work like other positions. Third base and centerfield are bad this season and thus they are a problem that needs to be figured out long-term. Bullpen is exclusively a short-term position, even when it’s good.
And there are hidden gems. I’m a believer in second half Gordon Graceffo, who has been an entirely different pitcher from the first half. He is on a speed run to have a reasonable strikeout rate by the end of the season by striking out every other hitter whenever he can. If 2nd half Graceffo is 2027 Graceffo, he is a true weapon. Luis Gastelum got off to a slow start and has had a few too many homerable pitches, but he is striking out over 30% of hitters with a reasonable walk rate. If he pitches anywhere close to his 3.03 xFIP next season, he’s another weapon.
Cade Winquest did not pitch well today at all, but it was his 6th career game. He struck out 34.8% of hitters in the minors and had an average walk rate. He also had an over 50% GB rate. The Cardinals need two of those things to translate and he’s a good reliever. (The Ks, the walks, or the groundballs). And of course, the starting pitchers. Maybe it’s Matthew Liberatore, maybe it’s Cooper Hjerpe, maybe it’s Tekoah Roby, maybe it’s Ixan Henderson, I mean I could go on. Whether it’s for innings concerns, or a true move to the bullpen, there will be starting caliber pitchers whose stuff will play up in the bullpen next season and in seasons beyond.
Bullpens are random. Consider that a good thing for the Cardinals and their future. A move or two and this could be a good bullpen next year and I’m not taking crazy pills because that’s just how baseball works.
George Soriano’s Struggles
There has been an emerging narrative that I’ve noticed that George Soriano is struggling because he is reaching career high in games pitched. He has, after all, not had a very good second half, most recently helping to blow a six-run lead to the Giants yesterday. It’s one of the easiest narratives in baseball, guy struggles because he is worn out.
I don’t buy it. I’m sorry I don’t. I think fans desperately want to believe this to be the case, because they think he’s a better pitcher than he is. I acknowledge that not all innings are created equally. I acknowledge that he has appeared in a career high amount of games pitched. I even acknowledge that sometimes high leverage innings can stress out your arm more than low leverage innings. It’s just too easy though. Let’s look at his history.
He was first moved to relief in the middle of the 2022 season. He appeared in 8 games, started 6 of them, at the AA level, but only threw 29 innings. He got promoted to AAA and pitched 47 innings in 32 games. He threw 76 innings in 40 games pitched in 2023 overall. The next season, he became a true multi-inning reliever. He pitched 17 games and threw 25.1 innings in AAA, and in 26 games at the MLB level, he threw 52 innings. Overall, he pitched in 44 games and threw 77.1 IP.
Moving onto to last season, he threw in 29 games at AAA, throwing 42.2 IP. In his MLB time, he pitched in 24 games and threw 36.2 IP. Combined, that makes it 53 games and 78.4 innings pitched. I don’t know guys, he’s not pitching in as many games, but this is about as heavy a workload as you’re going to get from a reliever in 2026. I know they weren’t high leverage, but that is a LOT of innings.
On top of that, his 1st half performance wasn’t really supported by advanced stats. He struck out 21% of batters and walked 9.6% of them, which was “good” for a 4.44 xFIP. He didn’t really allow homers (3.90 FIP) and had a .225 BABIP. Things have obviously gone in the opposite direction in the 2nd half. Before yesterday’s game, he had a 4.03 xFIP and struck out 26.7% of batters (more walks too) in the 2nd half. But he had a .346 BABIP and 6.52 FIP because the home run luck dried up.
His season BABIP is still just .275 so one could argue he’s still getting lucky on balls in play during the season as a whole. He’s been unlucky on homers, but his career rate is 16.9% and his season rate is 14.9% so based on 179 career innings, he’s going to allow a few more homers to leave the park than expected. Too small a sample size of course, but perfectly in line with his career.
He has a career 4.51 xFIP, his ERA on the season is now 4.50. I just think this is who is guys. He’s just gotten to this place in a very strange way. I just find it difficult to buy into this narrative. You could not more perfectly design a reliever more “ready” to throw a lot of innings and in a lot of games than Soriano. It’s just easy to miss that because his stat page doesn’t show the minors unless you seek it out.
Also his struggles this year are easily explainable. He can’t get right-handed hitters out. In 2026, he has a been a true reverse splits guy. Left-handed hitters hit for a .263 wOBA and strike out 26.6% of the time with an 8.4% BB rate. Right-handed hitters hit for a .386 wOBA with a 19.2 K% and 14.4 BB%. That’s season stats. Also might I remind everyone: the first batter Soriano faced yesterday, he induced a weak groundball that’s an out for probably 90% of batters but Jonah Cox has 99 percentile sprint speed, at 30.1 feet per second. He had a .090 xBA. He suddenly does his job if someone slower is batting. Unfortunately, baseball is cruel.
The Stopgap for 3B is Here, it shouldn’t be for CF
The two weakest positions this season have been third base and centerfield, both from players initially seen as a potential long-term answer. The Cardinals should move on from Nolan Gorman, but in the meantime, I actually think Thomas Saggese and Blaze Jordan showed enough in 2026 to keep the spot open for them. Obviously, they’re both right-handed so this isn’t a platoon situation, but with Saggese’s ability to play other positions, and then Blaze occasionally platooning with Alec Burleson, there’s plenty of PAs for both.
And I say this not really believing either is the answer. But that’s okay because I think the answer is in the organization. I don’t know which specific player is, but I would be surprised if there’s not a long-term answer among Saggese, Jordan, Jesus Baez, Deniel Ortiz, and even Raniel Rodriguez maybe. I don’t necessarily think any one of them is a good bet at 3B specifically, but taken collectively, you got to like the odds.
Saggese should be a good defender at 3B, and projection-wise, he should have between a 90 and 100 wRC+. His minor league history suggests there may be more there offensively. He is 25 next season. He is the perfect stopgap option. But we aren’t even completely depending on him. Jordan is 24 next season. He had a 137 wRC+ in AAA and a .317 xwOBA and displayed better than expected defense. Do I buy the defense? No, but I’m intrigued to see more. He has earned more opportunities. These are great stopgap options.
However, I have no idea what to do with centerfield. I am fully out on Nathan Church being a starting centerfielder. Obviously, his offense has been disappointing. He is good at not swinging and missing. That is the extent of his positives as a hitter, at least how he’s played in 2026. Go to his Statcast page, it is bleak. Everything but K% and whiff% is blue. He is 3rd percentile in chase%, 8th percentile in average exit velo, 20th percentile in bat speed, 12th percentile in hard-hit%.
It’s hard to see that kind of profile and see a route to becoming a good hitter. If the Cardinals plan to go into next season with him as a starter, they need to have a serious talk with him about not chasing. Of all the stats, that is the only route for optimism. He was never this extreme and he did hit the ball hard, but Alec Burleson went through this. Just hammer that home. Wait for your pitch more. In the best version of how this could go, him selectively choosing better pitches to hit improves all his batted ball metrics.
But I’m not making him the starting CF if I’m in charge. Like I said, Burleson’s Statcast page was never this bleak so it feels like I’m hanging onto a lot more hope and wishful thinking to think Church will improve to that extent. He’s still on my team next year. I tell him he has to earn back a starting spot. Not chasing is the way to do it, if results follow, you will get your job back. Outfield is one of those positions where everyone gets hurt, so he will still play.
Of course, who the hell is starting if not Church? Certainly nobody in the organization. I don’t want to go the Victor Scott route again. It seems like the Cardinals have moved on anyway. I don’t think Joshua Baez can play CF. I can read War and Peace faster than it will take Chase Davis to adjust to a new level, so I don’t think he’s the answer to our 2027 problems. In the absolute best case scenario, I suspect Josiah Ragsdale is going to have Joshua Baez’s season next year. (They slow cook him and wait until August)
My main point is that I want to attempt to compete. I’m not asking to go all-in. I feel like Saggese/Jordan is an attempt to compete. Running it back with Church is a rebuild kind of move. Just give me somebody who has an okay chance to be good. It’s not like we’re swarming with outfielders in the near term, all the backups right now are literally infielders. In the offseason, I will probably look for an answer to this question.
DALLAS, TX - DECEMBER 7: Ryan Graves #27 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center on December 7, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Glenn James/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Conventional wisdom states that a player with a big salary and years of NHL experience usually sticks with the NHL roster. The Penguins have been bucking that trend lately, starting with waiving goalie Tristan Jarry and sending him to the minors in the 2024-25 season. That continued in a major way last season in 2025-26 when Danton Heinen and Ryan Graves didn’t make the NHL club out of training camp and were waived then sent to the AHL. It wasn’t that long into the season before Matt Dumba and Phil Tomasino were sent in that direction as well.
Some of these players popped back up with the NHL teams at times last year (most notably Graves), some did not. The future is uncertain and getting cut from the team doesn’t have to mean the end of the road for good, but there are clear signals that the Pens value performance and ability over strictly just the contract and statuses of players involved. Being an NHL player in the past hasn’t locked in a spot for the future.
That’s a curious concept to consider when looking at the sheer volume of players that will be in the mix during the quick 13-day training camp. Barring future injuries, some tough decisions will need to be made on a number of cases. Let’s get into some of them.
Ryan Graves – Graves enters year four of a six-year contract on as shaky footing as ever. In the past, one could squint or offer hopeful reasons for improvement like “he’ll be better in year two now that he’s acclimated to the team” or “this year could be different with a new coach and fresh start”. Few reasons for optimism remain given the caliber of play when Graves has been in the NHL lineup lately. Graves would likely have to beat out many or all of Declan Carlile, Ilya Solovyov, Caleb Jones and Owen Pickering for a spot in the lineup. The odds look long to do that based off all evidence to this point. The onus is now on Graves to change the narrative and show he’s worth keeping, as evidenced last year when he was a training camp cut, the team has no reason not to jettison him if he’s not bringing a high enough level of play to be on the roster.
Hendrix Lapierre – The Penguins gave up a third round pick to acquire Lapierre, yet it seems like he’s got some work to do to turn some heads and earn a spot with the club this fall. Lapierre’s career has been in neutral or worse for a couple of seasons now. He might not have the chops defensively to fit into the heavy lift the Pens ask of their fourth liners in terms of d-zone starts and penalty killing. A natural center, Lapierre has floundered in the middle and become more of a wing option. Does he get a look at center? Is there a way to stand out and starting finding a niche somewhere in the lineup? These are unanswerable questions at the moment but loom large in the near future.
Justin Brazeau – Brazeau scored 17 goals last season, yet only five of them over his last 40 games. At the beginning of the year he was playing on a line with Evgeni Malkin and Anthony Mantha, by the end of the season Brazeau was a healthy scratch that was essentially surpassed in the lineup by newcomer Elmer Soderblom. Brazeau could be an important depth piece to have, his issue seems to be that the team keeps adding around him. Andrei Kuzmenko stands in for Mantha this year but the team has brought in wingers Soderblom, Egor Chinakhov and Nick Robertson within the last year. Not to mention younger options like Lapierre, Rutger McGroarty, Avery Hayes and the next guy on the list below. In totality, Brazeau had a career-year and would seem to be a shoo-in for a roster spot. Yet today, that doesn’t sound like a certain proposition. Of course players can’t think in this way, but overall for Brazeau, he might be the biggest beneficiary if an NHL forward gets injured in training camp the way Bryan Rust did last year. At that point, the math could change significantly for finding room to keep Brazeau around.
Ville Koivunen – What to do with the $4 million dollar man? That will be one of the most intriguing situations to watch unfold in Pittsburgh this September. The team clearly has high hopes for what Koivunen might become, the thing is the recent past doesn’t suggest that he is very close to getting there right now. This is where the advanced cap hit offers some benefit – Koivunen could have been a candidate for a top team to pluck off waivers if he had a ‘normal’ young unestablished player cap hit. Most of those teams are completely off the board for that idea now, since they don’t have an extra $4 million in cap space to play around with. Then again, the Pens might not intend to waive Koivunen at all, given his mastery of the American league. Is he bound to be a fill-in player as a scratch? Find a spot in the opening night lineup? Get placed on waivers? Each outcome sounds about as likely as any other at this point.
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What could solve a lot of this is a great camp. Many times people think about that as a young player like Harrison Brunicke or Ben Kindel bursting on the scene and forcing their way into the team’s plans. Such situations are not just reserved for the up-and-comers trying to get on the radar. All four of highlighted players above make a decent salary and all to different degrees have been factoring into NHL lineups in the recent past. They too could be in-line to show out and grab a role at the start of the year.
The big unknown will be the opportunities at hand. Will someone like Brazeau get the chance to start training camp, say on a line with Kindel and Robertson? Or will Brazeau be placed with players more likely with immediate AHL futures? Placement could tell a lot about how the team is leaning, and a brief camp won’t allow for too many chances to explore a tremendous number of possibilities. That’s not to say fates will be sealed at all based on first glimpses – lines and roles are bound to have some amount of fluidity in the early going – but the clock on camp will be moving quickly with only so many practices and exhibition games to force the issue and make an impact.
Former Minnesota Wild forward prospect Graeme Clarke is taking his career overseas.
Frölunda HC announced Tuesday that it has signed Clarke to a one-year contract that runs through the 2026-27 season. The 25-year-old will join one of the top organizations in the Swedish Hockey League.
Clarke spent the 2024-25 season in the Wild organization after Minnesota acquired him from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Adam Beckman in June 2024.
The right-shot forward never appeared in an NHL game for Minnesota, but played 64 games for the Iowa Wild, recording 16 goals and 21 assists for 37 points.
Minnesota moved on from Clarke following that season, and he signed with the Washington Capitals organization. He began the 2025-26 campaign with the Hershey Bears, recording 15 goals and nine assists in 50 games before eventually landing with the Belleville Senators.
Clarke finished the season particularly well in Belleville, producing five goals and 14 assists for 19 points in just 15 games. Despite that strong finish, his next opportunity will come overseas.
Frölunda sporting director Fredrik Sjöström described Clarke as an offensively gifted forward with strong hands and a good shot. While Clarke has primarily played on the wing, the club also noted that he has experience at center.
Clarke said he was pursued by multiple teams in different leagues before choosing Frölunda, which will compete in the SHL, Champions Hockey League and Spengler Cup this season.
Originally selected by New Jersey with the 80th overall pick in the third round of the 2019 NHL Draft, Clarke developed into a productive AHL scorer. His best season came in 2022-23 when he registered 25 goals and 58 points in 68 games with Utica.
He eventually earned his first NHL opportunity with the Devils during the 2023-24 season, appearing in three games. Those remain the only NHL games of his career.
Clarke now heads to Sweden with an opportunity to establish himself in the SHL after parts of six seasons in the AHL.
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