Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders: Postponed due to rain, doubleheader scheduled for Friday
Double-A Somerset Patriots:W, 5-4 (10) at Portland Sea Dogs
LF Jackson Castillo 1-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 SB CF Garrett Martin 2-4, 1 HR, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB — solo shot in the fourth, two-run double in the ninth DH Jace Avina 1-3, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 SB 1B Nicholas Torres 0-5, 2 K, throwing error RF DJ Gladney 0-4, 1 BB, 2 K 3B Coby Morales 0-4, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K C Manuel Palencia 0-5 2B Connor McGinnis 1-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K SS Owen Cobb 1-3, 1 R, 1 BB
Xavier Rivas 5.2 IP, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K — his longest outing of the year, and second-most strikeouts Michael Arias 0.1 IP, 3 R, 2 H, 1 BB (blown save) Will Brian 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 3 K Hayden Merda 1 IP, 0 R Ben Grable 1.2 IP, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K (win) Chris Kean 0.1 IP, 0 R (save)
High-A Hudson Valley Renegades:L, 1-2 at Rome Emperors
2B Kaeden Kent 1-3, 1 CS SS Core Jackson 0-4, 1 K C Eric Genther 0-4, 1 K 1B Kyle West 0-4, 1 K RF Wilson Rodriguez 0-3, 1 R, 1 BB DH Roderick Arias 0-3, 1 BB, 2 K 3B Enmanuel Tejeda 1-2, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 SB LF Josh Moylan 0-3 LF Luis Durango 0-0 CF Camden Troyer 1-3, 1 K
Luis Serna 7 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HR — back-to-back quality starts, rebounding from a bad first start in June Wilmy Sanchez 1 IP, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K Luis Velasquez 0.2 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K (loss) Thomas Balboni Jr. 0 IP, 0 R, 1 H
Low-A Tampa Tarpons:L, 7-9 vs. Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
SS Jackson Lovich 0-4, 3 K 3B Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek 1-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 K, two fielding errors 2B Hans Montero 0-4, 2 K, missed catch LF Logan Maxwell 1-3, 1 2B, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 SB RF JoJo Jackson 3-4, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 2 R, 1 K CF Willy Montero 0-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K C Engelth Urena 1-3, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB, fielding error DH Ediel Rivera 0-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K 1B Austin Green 1-4, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 K
Thatcher Hurd 4.1 IP, 3 R, 1 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 8 K Pedro Rodriguez 1.2 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 K Matthew Tippie 0.2 IP, 4 R, 0 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 1 K (blown save, loss) — an error kept the inning alive for all four runs, but he didn’t do himself any favors with two walks and a run-scoring wild pitch post-error Jose Martinez 2.1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K
As the Angels' stadium lease approaches its end, what does the future look like for the 150 acres the current stadium sits on? (Photo illustration by Tate Rudisill / Los Angeles Times; photos by Katelyn Mulcahy / Getty Images, Kirby Lee / Getty Images)
Civic pride, sure. But what is it really worth to the city of Anaheim to have its name on the hometown baseball team?
Hundreds of millions of dollars, the city has said. As the Angels’ stadium lease approaches its end, and as Anaheim prepares for negotiations either with Arte Moreno or a potential new owner, it’s worth keeping in mind.
So too is a concept floating around City Hall in Anaheim: What if we could put a new stadium and a youth sports complex next to one another?
It’s leverage: If the Angels’ owner wants to build atop the stadium parking lots, the city can pursue an exemption to a state law that currently restricts what can be built there, which could mean more money for the team and its development partners. In exchange for the exemption, the team name would revert to the Anaheim Angels.
If that’s the carrot, this is the stick: The city would have to approve the zoning changes that could make the land “two to three times more valuable than it is as a parking lot,” Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken said.
Said Aitken: “There are no gifts. For an ownership to truly be a partner to the city in what that property could be, there is going to have to be some realization that Anaheim is not Los Angeles.”
The Angels’ stadium lease expires in 2032, and the team can extend it through 2038. A new owner could move the Angels — or at least leverage the threat of a move — but Anaheim offers a 150-acre site with what every owner in pro sports covets: land around the venue to turn the property into a year-round money-making operation.
The standard ballpark villages include restaurants, shops, hotels, homes, offices and entertainment venues. The Ducks are launching one, called OC Vibe, around Honda Center, and within walking distance of Angel Stadium.
Katie Wright, who books sports events for Anaheim’s tourism bureau, said there would be a market if her city built a sports park.
“The demand for, specifically, soccer, baseball and softball is tremendous,” Wright told the Anaheim City Council in April. “They would be filled every single weekend, I think.”
What Anaheim has that Ontario and Irvine do not: Disneyland down the street for visiting families, a variety of restaurants within walking distance, and hotel rooms aplenty. In Anaheim, 40% of the city’s general fund comes from taxes on hotel rooms.
“With Angels baseball right next to a youth sports facility, to have the synergy of hotels and restaurants, and players interacting with the Little League kids and soccer fields,” Aitken said, “I just think it’s a unique opportunity.”
Everything old is new again: In 1996, Anaheim pitched a youth sports center called the “Little A” in part of the stadium parking lots as part of a ballpark village that never materialized.
What might be in the best interest of the city now might not be in that of the developer, whether that turns out to be the Angels or a real estate partner. While a sports park might drive tax revenues to the city, a developer might pay the most for land used for hotel and retail properties, said Louis Tomaselli, the Irvine-based executive managing director at JLL, a nationally prominent commercial real estate brokerage.
“A youth sports complex would likely be at or near the bottom from a land value perspective,” Tomaselli said.
That’s all part of the negotiation, and for now the city of Anaheim has no party with which to negotiate. That leaves room for all sorts of brainstorming, including Aitken’s curiosity about flanking the development with high-rise residential buildings, similar to the condominiums that have risen next to Petco Park in San Diego. In some of them, you can watch the game from your balcony.
But let’s get back to the value of the Anaheim name on the baseball team.
“A lot of times, we get the question, ‘Exactly where is Anaheim?’” Wright, the Anaheim tourism official, told the City Council. “We’re always fighting to say, ‘We’re not L.A.’”
In 2005, when Anaheim sued the Angels after Moreno slapped the Los Angeles label on the team, the city commissioned experts that testified the name change would cost Anaheim nearly $200 million over the following decade and close to $400 million through 2029. The Angels dismissed both numbers as wildly high, but that is what the city presented in court.
I asked Sean Moran of Los Angeles-based Innovative Partnerships Group for an update. Moran estimated the worth of the Anaheim name at $26.5 million per year — or more than $500 million over the life of a 20-year deal — based on the value of references to the city on game broadcasts, digital and social media, highlight clips, betting sites, in fantasy leagues, and more.
“I don’t think you can put a monetary value on civic pride and respecting your fan base,” Aitken said. “So, if a new owner wants to come in and start fresh and really respect the fan base in Orange County, the name should not even be a negotiating point.
“It should be the first thing you do, out of respect for where this team is located, and the fan base that is so loyal in good times and bad.”
Perhaps. But, if I’m the new owner of the Angels and the city is on record saying its name on the team is worth hundreds of millions of dollars, the first thing I say to the city in negotiations is: You can get your name on the team for that $500 million, which would help me build a new ballpark that could cost $1.5 billion.
Who else could benefit from that? Moreno, as the need for a new owner to pay for a ballpark could lower the sale price.
Even without that exemption from state law, a new owner could pursue a fair amount of development on land Anaheim has failed to develop for 60 years, on a site the city’s own land use plan envisions as “an exciting mix of high energy uses while providing additional housing.” Or a new owner could simply inherit the existing lease and deal with potential development later.
You can start to get the shape of what the bargaining might look like. Avelino Valencia (D-Anaheim), the assembly member who introduced the bill in Sacramento intended to spur the return of the Anaheim Angels name, included a provision that says resolution would take precedence over legislation.
“If there is another outcome that takes place, in negotiations or deal-wise, there would be no need for this, right?” Valencia said.
All of that could be years down the road, so no sense arguing all the finer points now. Aitken promises a series of community meetings first, so that Anaheim residents can share how they envision the future of the Angel Stadium property, with or without a baseball stadium.
This should come up for discussion too: The Anaheim Angels name might be ideal for the city, but what, if anything, should the city give up to get it? The last time the city asked, Moreno just said no. If a new owner would be willing, should the taxpayers of Anaheim consider subsidizing the name?
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski (32) warms up before their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates Saturday, April 25, 2026 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
I’m not breaking news by telling you that Jacob Misiorowski is having a good season. He has made 14 starts (a little less than half of a full season), and here are his numbers, with bolds indicating he leads the NL and bold plus italic indicating he leads the majors:
I want to look a bit deeper into those numbers, and contextualize them within the long history of baseball.
ERA and ERA+
18 qualified starters (meaning they threw at least one inning per team game) have finished a season with an ERA better than 1.34 in AL/NL history. 16 of those happened in the era we know as “Deadball,” between 1900 and 1919. Of the remaining two, one was in 1880 and shouldn’t count: Tim Keefe of the Troy Trojans technically qualified for the ERA title with just 105 innings pitched, in which he had a 0.86 ERA… but Keefe’s teammate, Mickey Welch, threw 574 innings that season, so you understand why I don’t think 105 innings should count as “qualifying.” Both Keefe and Welch are in the Hall of Fame, by the way.
The one pitcher remaining is, as you know if you’re at all a baseball history buff, Bob Gibson in 1968, when he had a 1.12 ERA.
Of course, Gibson’s 1.12 ERA in 1968 was not the same as a 1.12 (or 1.34) ERA in 2026. Let’s take the same parameters—qualified AL/NL pitchers—and sort by ERA+, which includes adjustments for league-wide offense of the era and the ballpark. When we do that, most of the Deadball guys drop out—the top 19, instead of including 16 Deadballers, includes only four.
Gibson is still on the list, at number 10. Keefe is there too, but we discussed him. Guess who jumps to number one in this set? Yes, that would be Misiorowski in 2026. His 307 ERA+ would be the best by any qualified starting pitcher… ever.
The season that should be considered the all-time record for ERA+ by a starter is one that many of you witnessed: Pedro Martínez in 2000. Martínez had a 1.74 ERA in 2000, which ranks “just” 104th all time. But since offense was so jacked up during the Steroid Era, Martínez comes in with a 291 ERA+, the highest single-season mark ever for a qualified pitcher who threw more than 105 innings.
Also near the top is another incredible Steroid-Era accomplishment. Greg Maddux doesn’t just hold the number seven spot on this list, but he holds the number eight spot, too—in back-to-back years. Maddux had a 271 ERA+ in 202 innings in 1994 and a 260 ERA+ in 209 innings in 1995.
Misiorowski, right now, has a better ERA+ than all of them.
FIP and FIP-
Misiorowski’s 1.68 FIP would rank 15th all time, but again let’s get rid of those pesky Deadball pitchers. Do that, and only two pitchers rank ahead of where Misiorowski is right now: Martínez, again, but this time in 1999, and one you’ll enjoy: Corbin Burnes, with a 1.63 FIP in his Cy Young campaign in 2021.
FIP- is FanGraphs’ answer to ERA+ but for FIP and in reverse (lower is better). I’m going to filter out the 1800s because things are weird there, so the record for FIP- after 1900 belongs to Martínez in 1999 at 30. Next is Burnes in 2021 at 38. Third would be Misiorowski, whose FIP- this season is 40.
WHIP, H/9, and HR/9
Misiorowski’s 0.736 WHIP would be the best ever for a qualified starter, a fraction ahead of Martínez in 2000 (0.737). The next-lowest in a post-Deadball, non-2020 season is Justin Verlander at 0.803 in 2019.
Likewise, Misiorowski’s 4.3 hits allowed per nine innings would be a record by far. The lowest total in a non-2020 season is Nolan Ryan’s mark of 5.3 in 1972, which is percentage points ahead of Luis Tiant in 1968, Martínez in 2000, Ed Reulbach in 1906, and… Ryan in 1991. (That Ryan has two of the top five, 19 years apart, is wild.)
For homers allowed per nine, it is important to note that we live in a high-home-run era, so this isn’t approaching any history. But to give a little more context, Misiorowski’s mark of 0.4/9 would be beaten only by Burnes in 2021 and Sonny Gray in 2023 among seasons since 2020.
Strikeouts
Misiorowski probably isn’t going to threaten any strikeout records—Ryan can feel safe that his 383 strikeouts in 1973 will continue to stand as the post-1900 record. (A quick shout to Old Hoss Radbourn and his 441 strikeouts in 1884, the AL/NL record. Of course, he did that in 678 2/3 innings, so his 5.8 K/9 that season are slightly worse than what Jose Quintana had as a Brewer in 2025.)
However, Misiorowski has an outside chance at becoming the first pitcher since Gerrit Cole in 2019 to strike out 300 batters, something that’s happened only nine times this century (Verlander in 2019, Max Scherzer in 2018, Clayton Kershaw in 2015, Chris Sale in 2017, Curt Schilling in 2002, Cole in 2019, and Randy Johnson each year from 2000-02).
But those guys all threw way more innings than Misiorowski will throw this year. Cole’s 212 1/3 innings pitched in ’19 are the least ever for a player who struck out 300 batters. If we sort by strikeouts per nine, Cole jumps to the top (again ignoring 2020) at 13.8 per nine innings, a remarkable number. After Cole, it’s another pitcher this season, Dylan Cease, who is tied with (technically slightly ahead of) Misiorowski at 13.6. Only three other qualified starters have ever finished a season with 13 or more strikeouts per nine: Martínez in 1999, Johnson in 2001, and Spencer Strider in 2023.
Since Misiorowski is merely “good” rather than “historic” at preventing walks, his 5.95 strikeout-to-walk ratio will have to live with being merely excellent; that would rank 80th all time among qualified starters.
But those are whole seasons. What about 14-game spans?
It would be fair to point out that Misiorowski is unlikely to keep this pace all season. So how good, really, are these 14 games, if they’re only 14 games?
There are 42 instances in baseball history of a player striking out 131 batters with an ERA of 1.34 or lower over 14 starts, but many of those are tied up in the same streak; for example, when sorted by strikeouts, eight of the top nine on this list of 42 14-game stretches are all between August 3rd, 1999 and May 17th, 2000 by Martínez, all within the same span.
There are essentially 11 different pitching runs that can match up with Misiorowski’s:
Jacob deGrom in 19 starts from 9/16/2020 to 8/8/2022 (this wraps around a season-ending injury in 2021)
Martínez in 23 starts from 8/3/99 to 6/8/2000
Martínez again, partially overlapping the other: 14 starts from 4/30/2000 to 7/28/2000
Kershaw in 19 starts from 6/6/2015 to 9/19/2015
Kershaw again in 14 starts from 6/18/2014 to 9/2/2014
J.R. Richard in 20 starts from 7/25/1979 to 4/30/1980
Dwight Gooden in 16 starts from 8/11/1984 to 5/10/1985 (the end of his rookie season into his sophomore season)
Ryan in 15 starts from 8/18/1972 to 4/18/1973
Bob Gibson in two overlapping 14-game stretches from 7/21/1968 to 9/22/1968 and 8/9/1968 to 4/19/69
Finally, Rube Waddell in 14 starts from 7/9/1904 to 8/29/1904
A lot of these occur over more than one season, which could allow pitchers to benefit from pitching to batters from non-contending teams who’ve checked out down the stretch.
With that in mind, I want to talk about the season that reminds me most of Misiorowski’s 2026 season thus far, and it is the year in which I have been in the most awe during my fandom: deGrom’s 2021 season.
deGrom didn’t finish 2021 healthy, and I’m going to knock on all the wood right now to ensure that part of his 2021 season does not align with Misiorowski’s 2026. When 2021 started, deGrom was considered the most dominant pitcher in the majors; over the previous two seasons, he’d collected 58 of 60 first-place NL Cy Young votes, and his 2018 season in particular was one of the best of this century. He was third in Cy Young voting in the shortened 2020 season, but he struck out 13.8 batters per nine innings that year, which matches Cole’s record for strikeouts per nine in a full season.
But in 2021, deGrom hit a different level. In 15 starts and 92 innings, he had a 1.08 ERA, which translated to an unbelievable 373 ERA+. He struck out 146 batters, or 14.3 per nine innings. Almost more remarkably, he walked only 11 batters. His 13.27 K/BB wouldn’t just be a record—it would blow away the previous record. Under modern walk rules, no starting pitcher has finished with more than 11.63 K/BB in a season.* Heck, only seven relievers have ever finished a season with a K/BB ratio that high.**
*This is a great trivia question: the record holder for K/BB by a starter is…Phil Hughes, pitching for the Twins in 2014. **One other all-timer actually bettered deGrom’s 13.27 K/BB in another injury-shortened season: Kershaw, in 149 innings in 2016, had 172 strikeouts to 11 walks.
deGrom had a 1.08 ERA, 1.24 FIP, 0.554 WHIP, and a microscopic 3.9 hits allowed per nine innings in those 15 games in 2021. I’d never seen anything like it. He was essentially pitching like the league’s best high-leverage reliever, except he was a starting pitcher. Unfortunately, that took a physical toll, and he managed only 20 starts over the next three years.
I don’t mean to be speculating on Misiorowski’s future health at all, so don’t read into that. The point is, deGrom’s 15-start 2021 season is the closest comparison that I can come up with for what Misiorowski has done in these 14 games, and when deGrom was pitching in 2021, I thought I was watching the most dominant starting pitcher in the history of the game.
What does it all mean?
We have no idea what the future holds for Misiorowski. Maybe he’ll pitch 20 years. Maybe he’ll get hurt. We have no idea.
But right now—not next year, not three years from now, but right now—Misiorowski is pitching like one of the best pitchers ever. And 14 games is a long time; I brought up those nine different pitchers who have had 14-game runs as good as Misiorowski for a reason. Martínez, Ryan, Waddell, and Gibson are in the Hall of Fame. Kershaw will be a near-unanimous selection. deGrom could yet make it, even if his status as a late bloomer and injury issues will make it a complicated case from an innings-pitched perspective. Only Gooden and Richard aren’t major Hall candidates, but there are extenuating circumstances in both cases. Richard’s career was cut short by a stroke suffered during his prime, mere weeks after his aforementioned streak ended. Gooden was considered one of the most talented players ever, but his career was derailed by substance abuse problems. (I could still make a Hall of Fame case, too.)
Misiorowski is a Hall-of-Fame talent. He is pitching at a Hall-of-Fame level, and the only players in the history of the game who’ve been as effective as him over a span this long are all either Hall of Famers or guys who make people say “you should’ve seen ______.”
We have no way of knowing how long this will last, but right now, we are not living in a hypothetical world where Jacob Misiorowski could pitch like Randy Johnson someday. Right now, the only difference between Miz and Johnson is that Johnson pitched for 20 years.
No matter how long it lasts, we should all revel in this, because someday we will say: “you should’ve seen Miz.”
Jacob Reimer of the Binghamton Rumble Ponies reacts before a Minor League Baseball game at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, United States, on June 12, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
Syracuse and Norfolk traded leads early and often. The Mets got out to a 1-0 lead on a Cristian Pache steal and throwing error, but surrendered two runs in the second to go down 2-1. Ji Hwan Bae tied it with a sacrifice fly in the third, and Norfolk took the lead back with two in the fourth. Bae and Pache tied it up with RBI singles in the fifth, and Yonny Hernandez gave the Mets the lead back with a bases loaded walk. Norfolk answered again, for the final time, in the eighth, as Jud Fabian hit a two run home run to give them a 6-5 lead.
Bimghamton had leads of 1-0 (on a Vincent Perozo solo home run), and 3-1 (on a Nick Lorusso two run double), but they could not hold it through the middle innings. The Fisher Cats scored one in the fourth and three in the fifth, giving them a 5-3 lead that would hold. JT Schwartz added an RBI single in the fifth, but the offense dried up after that.
3B Jacob Reimer: 1-3, K
PR-2B Jaylen Palmer: 0-2, R, K, E (1)
RF Matt Rudick: 1-5, R, 2B
CF Jose Ramos: 3-4, R, K
DH Nick Lorusso: 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI
1B JT Schwartz: 1-4, RBI, K
C Vincent Perozo: 1-4, R, HR (6), RBI
SS Wyatt Young: 1-3, BB, 3 SB (8, 9 , 10)
2B Diego Mosquera: 0-2
2B-3B Kevin Villavicencio: 0-2, K, E (2)
LF Nick Lucky: 0-4, 2 K
RHP Bryce Conley: 4.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, L (1-2)
RHP Zach Peek: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
RHP Saul Garcia: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
RHP Brian Metoyer: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP
Well, Brooklyn surrendered three runs in the bottom of the first and that was (mostly) that. They sprinkled five hits across the game (two of which were by Mitch Voit, which is nice to see him continue to rebound after his rough start to 2026), went 0-7 with runners in scoring position, and left eleven on base. Simply put, you are not winning with that little offense.
SS Mitch Voit: 2-5, 2B, K
C Ronald Hernandez: 0-4, BB, K
1B Corey Collins: 0-3, BB, 3 K
DH Daiverson Gutierrez: 1-3, 2B, BB
2B Yonatan Henriquez: 1-4, SB (9), E (5)
CF John Bay: 0-3, BB, 2 K
3B Colin Houck: 0-4, 3 K
LF Trace Willhoite: 1-4, 2 K
RF Sam Biller: 0-2, BB, K
LHP Nicolas Carreno: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 1 K, 2 HBP, L (0-1)
RHP Ryan Dollar: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 WP
RHP Juan Arnaud: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Cristofer Gomez: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
St. Lucie scored two in the third and never looked back. Julio Zayas and Branny De Oleo drove in both runs in that frame, on a single and double respectively. Trey Snyder added one in the third with a double of his own, making it 3-0. Daytona got one back in the next inning, but a five run sixth put the game away for the Mets. They homered three times in the inning, with Francisco Toledo, Antonio Jimenez and Yohairo Cuevas doing the damage.
SS Elian Peña: 3-5, 2 R, 2B
DH Trey Snyder: 1-5, 2B, RBI, K
3B Antonio Jimenez: 1-4, R, HR (2), 3 RBI, BB, 2 K
RF Yohairo Cuevas: 1-2, 2 R, HR (2), RBI, 2 BB
1B Julio Zayas: 1-3, RBI, BB, K
CF Branny De Oleo: 1-4, 2B, RBI, 2 K
C Francisco Toledo: 1-4, R, HR (3), RBI
LF Simon Juan: 1-4, R, K
2B Jeremy Rodriguez: 0-3, R, BB, K
RHP Emilio Obispo: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 WP, W (3-1)
RHP Miguel Mejias: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, H (3)
Nov 4, 2025; Baltimore, MD, USA; President of Baseball Operations Mike Elias introduces Craig Albernaz as the Baltimore Orioles new Manager at Warehouse Bar. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images | Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the Orioles aren’t a very good team. No, it’s true. Film at 11.
If this West Coast road trip turns out particularly poorly for the Birds and knocks them further out of the playoff picture, the O’s could be forced to reckon with the idea of being sellers at the trade deadline next month. It’s a grim prospect that most Birds fans certainly were hoping the team wouldn’t have to deal with for a second consecutive season.
Mind you, it’s not a decision that the Orioles’ front office has to make at this exact moment. They don’t even have to make it at the end of this road trip. But the baseball calendar is moving ever forward and the O’s have about six weeks to prove they’re not a lost cause before the Aug. 3 deadline arrives.
It’s too early to give up hope just yet. But just as a hypothetical, let’s say the worst case scenario plays out and it becomes obvious that the postseason math isn’t going to add up, making the Orioles sellers at the deadline. What exactly would an O’s sell-off look like?
Last year it wasn’t difficult to figure out ahead of time which players would be shipped away. The Orioles had a number of pending free agents, and nearly all of them were indeed traded at the deadline, including Cedric Mullins, Ryan O’Hearn, Seranthony Domínguez, Gregory Soto, and Charlie Morton. The O’s also flipped a few players who still had another season of team control — Ramón Laureano, Ramón Urías, and Andrew Kittredge — to increase their overall prospect haul. And perhaps the most out-of-left-field trade was the Orioles dealing their primary setup man, Bryan Baker, to the Rays, even with 3.5 years of team control remaining. Mike Elias was willing to move any non-core member of the roster if he liked the return enough.
It stands to reason that the O’s would like to follow the same trade recipe if they have another sell-off this year, but it’s complicated. Most of their pending free agents have some issues that might deflate their value. Taylor Ward has been OBP and doubles machine, but his 36-homer power from 2025 has dried up and he’s sitting on just three dingers this year. He’ll still have value and is probably the Birds’ most likely candidate to get dealt, but he’s not going to fetch the kind of prospect haul that will rebuild the organization.
Examining the other free agents to be, there’s Trevor Rogers, who’s sitting on a 5.86 ERA after a massive regression from 2025. He could continue to boost his value if he pitches well between now and Aug. 3, but his career has been so erratic that it’s hard to expect much in return. (Maybe Kyle Stowers. Too soon?) Chris Bassitt has next to zero trade value right now, thanks to his 5.27 ERA and his current back injury. In the bullpen, there’s closer Ryan Helsley, who has barely made an impact due to his month-and-a-half stint on the IL. He also has a $14 million player option for 2027 that the acquiring team might not want to get stuck with. Andrew Kittredge could be on the trade block again. Keegan Akin is a pending free agent, but right now he’s barely pitching well enough to avoid being DFA’d.
Other possibilities for trades are unheralded players who are a year or two away from free agency — your Yennier Canos, your Tyler Wellses, your Leody Taveri. Again, don’t expect any blue-chip prospects in return for those guys.
Would the Orioles dare make a shocking, gigantic trade at the deadline involving one of their heretofore core players, like Adley Rutschman or even Gunnar Henderson? Let me tell you now: it ain’t happening. It’s not necessarily that Elias would never trade those guys, but if he did, he’d almost certainly prefer to do it in the offseason rather than rush into a deadline trade with such seismic ramifications. (There’s also the question of how long Elias will even be the person making these decisions, but that’s a topic for another time.)
So if you’re expecting some kind of massive trade bonanza that will bring in a boatload of young talent to the Orioles, well, don’t get your hopes up. But if we’re lucky, the O’s will play so well leading up to the deadline that any thought of a sell-off will become a moot point.
Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan analyze some MLB players possibly on the move at the deadline, and Taylor Ward makes their list. They peg him as 75% likely to be traded, for whatever that’s worth.
In my mind the only thing that can realistically save the Orioles’ season is Gunnar Henderson returning to his All-Star form. If he’s planning to do so, he sure is taking his sweet time, though last night was a good start.
Turns out the Orioles do have a hot-hitting shortstop in their lineup. It’s just not the one they expected.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Two ex-Orioles were born on this day: catcher Caleb Joseph (40) and first baseman Carlos Méndez (52).
On this date in 2001, Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr. announced he’d be retiring at the end of the season, officially closing the book on an epic 21-year career that changed baseball forever. Cal’s farewell tour saw him lavished with gifts and praise at every ballpark he played in for the rest of the season, capped by his unforgettable finale in Baltimore on Oct. 6. Hard to believe it was 25 years ago.
And on this day in 2007, the O’s fired manager Sam Perlozzo after the team’s 29-40 start to the season. Perlozzo, who had taken the reins in 2005, amassed a 122-164 record during his managerial tenure. He was the fourth of six consecutive Orioles managers who failed to guide the team to any winning seasons. That was a pretty bleak time.
Random Orioles game of the day
On June 18, 2003, the Orioles lost to the Blue Jays, 6-2. Future Hall of Famer Roy Halladay limited the Orioles to two runs in seven innings, with a Jay Gibbons homer his only blemish. All three O’s pitchers — Omar Daal, Willis Roberts, and B.J. Ryan — gave up runs, including a two-run single by former Oriole Mike Bordick. The loss dropped the Orioles to 32-36.
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Eduardo Tait #20 of the Minnesota Twins catches during the first inning of a Spring Breakout game against the Philadelphia Phillies at the Lee Health Sports Complex on March 19, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
With Ryan Jeffers set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason and Victor Caratini on a moveable two year contract, there is plenty of uncertainty at the Twins catcher position going forward. While I would LOVE to see Ryan Jeffers get an extension, it is entirely possible that he hits free agency this winter or is even traded at the deadline if things don’t go well for the Twins over the next month and a half.
A major league baseball team’s plans for the future are in a constant state of change, and with questions rising about the catcher position going forward, the Twins have acquired a trio of intriguing catching prospects over the past 12 months, providing balance to their farm system and giving the organization some flexibility behind the dish.
Eduardo Tait
We begin with the most well-known of the catching prospects, 19-year-old lefty Eduardo Tait, who was acquired at last year’s trade deadline along with Mick Abel for Jhoan Duran. He is my 4th ranked Twins prospect and checks in at No. 42 on MLB Pipeline’s top 100 MLB prospects.
Tait is one of just three teenage catchers to reach High-A this season, and while he is batting just .211 with a .712 OPS, there is elite power potential. Eduardo Tait posted a max EV of 113.8 MPH in Single-A last season, which is off the charts for his age. High fly ball rates and an ability to drive the ball to all fields give him the potential to be one of the most prolific power hitters in the world. Only three teenagers in all of minor league baseball are topping his 11 home runs this season.
Eduardo Tait is a free swinger who has ran extreme chase rates throughout the low minors. Hit tool development will be very interesting as Tait has shown flashes of strong contact skills over stretches of time, but lacks consistency in that area. As a hitter, Salvador Perez is the easy comp for Tait given the light-tower power and aggressive approach with solid contact skills.
He doesn’t run well, and defensively, the blocking and receiving is a work in progress. His arm is plus and he pairs it with strong pop times. It’s tough to tell how the defensive skills will develop at his age, but the bat looks like it will absolutely play. Tait is a long ways out, but with elite raw power already showing up in-game, he looks like a future big league slugger.
Enrique Jimenez
The offensive production of Enrique Jimenez has been a sweet surprise for the Twins since they acquired him in exchange for Chris Paddack and Randy Dobnak last July. After putting up solid numbers in 2.5 seasons of rookie ball in the Tigers org, Jimenez made his Single-A debut shortly after joining the Twins system, and he exploded. He played 34 games in Fort Myers, slashing .283/.450/.540 with 8 homers and a 23.8% walk rate. At 20 years old, he just recently got the promotion to High-A Cedar Rapids, joining fellow catching prospect Eduardo Tait.
Enrique Jimenez is a stocky 5’9” catcher with limited athleticism but a well-rounded offensive profile. He has posted a max EV of 107.2 MPH this year and projects to develop average raw power while his lofty swing and strong pulled fly ball rates allow him to maximize his power output. With the amount of elevation he gets in his swing, some whiff is expected, but Jimenez ran well above-average contact rates in Single-A while his extreme patience and mature approach allowed him to walk more than he struck out.
Defensively, he has an average arm with promising defensive actions behind the dish, giving him a good chance to develop into a major-league caliber catcher if the bat can get there. There’s a more limited ceiling with Jimenez than there is with Tait, but he has already provided exceptional production for his age and has no significant concerns in his profile at the moment. Projects well as a number two catcher in the big leagues.
After signing with the Giants out of Venezuela in 2025 and posting a 135 wRC+ in his first pro season in the DSL, Miguel Caraballo was traded to the Twins in exchange for Daniel Susac, who was a Rule 5 pick by Minnesota earlier that day. At just 17 years old, Caraballo has continued his production in the Florida Complex this season, producing big power numbers as he pushes towards full-season ball.
Caraballo is more lean than the other two, possessing some playable athleticism behind the dish and on the bases. He has a quick-trigger swing with some big loft and good bat speed, very much geared for power. He has posted high walk rates in rookie ball despite some questions about his swing decisions. His hit tool is fringy at best, but the power has enough potential to carry his offensive profile.
Defensively, Caraballo’s receiving is a work-in-progress, but he has a good arm and plenty of time to develop the more technical aspect of the position. His athleticism gives him a higher ceiling there, and could potentially allow him to shift into a corner outfield spot if he doesn’t work out behind the plate. He is a long ways out, but nearing Single-A at just 17 years old. The excitement is beginning to build.
We’re just a few days away from the NBA Draft, and there are multiple storylines headed into Monday.
Will AJ Dybantsa go #1? What will the Oklahoma City Thunder do with two picks in the top 20? Will one of the teams in the top 5 trade out?
But another notable storyline headed into the draft is Jayden Quaintance, who is seeing his stock continue to fall. Some mock drafts have the former Wildcat falling as low as 25th overall after once being viewed as a near-certain lottery pick.
24 players received a green-room invite for the draft, and Quaintance was notably left off the list.
Jeremy Woo from ESPN has Quaintance going 25th to the Los Angeles Lakers, and noted the questions about Quaintance’s medicals could cause teams to pass on him.
“He is unanimously viewed as a first-round talent and is drawing consideration as high as the teens, but where he ends up might be predicated on how team doctors individually view his case,” Woo wrote.
The potential is certainly there for Quaintance to come in and be a strong rim protector off the bat, with the ability to be a lob threat on the offensive end. His defensive ability and potential could be enough for a team to take a chance earlier in the first round, but it looks like Quaintance might have to wait a little bit to hear his name called if things continue at this pace.
Tweet of the Day
J Batt will make $3 million a year as the AD at Kentucky and UK agreed to pay his buyout at Michigan State
He will be one of the four highest paid ADs in the country
Rangers fans, we asked for your views on the departure of Danny Rohl and appointment of Derek McInnes as manager.
Here's what some of you said:
Heather: A true, dyed in the wool Rangers man. McInnes is in the mould of the great Walter Smith. I haven't been this excited for a Rangers team or season in years. Bring on the 2026/27 season.
Kenneth: Well he won't last long at Rangers as it's a different club, team and a different set of expectations. Rangers are expected to win, Hearts try to play to win. I doubt he will last till Christmas. He will be sacked because it's Rangers.
Matthew: Perfect appointment. He feels like the exact thing we've been missing, and his Scottish and Rangers identity is something we've been crying out for. He has proven in Scottish football that he can get the best out of his players, and that he is tactically astute. The most optimistic I've been in a long time.
John: Thanks to Rohl for his work and efforts. He appeared to be a good man and wish him well on his development. We now have a Scottish manager and a Rangers man. I personally would like to see a squad with a heavy Scottish core, the difficulty is offloading those who are surplus to our requirements. If this can be done, we will have a trimmer squad and the means to focus expenditure. Cannot wait.
Michael: Definitely the right man for the job and hopefully an appointment the fans will be patient with. I think he will hit the ground running but with so many squad changes needed, there could still be early issues but McInnes will get it right given a few transfer windows
Dave: The third manager in 12 months, time for someone to be given a good run at it. Lower the expectations of instant success and build a good team. Only then can Rangers hope to make a realistic challenge. I think McInnes could be the man to do it.
The Seattle Kraken’s off-season is underway, and while the Vegas Golden Knights fell to the Carolina Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup Finals, it felt like a good time to launch a new series: Did you know?
This collection will feature articles about the Seattle Kraken, with facts, stories, and interesting tidbits fans may not know—or remember.
The past five seasons have produced several memorable moments. But the most interesting statistic is that, before the inaugural season even kicked off, the team had retired a jersey number.
The number that hangs in the rafters at the Climate Pledge Arena is 32.
The story behind the retired number is that Kraken fans made 32,000 ticket deposits on the team's first day of existence. The team honored its fans by placing the number in the rafters of Climate Pledge Arena before its inaugural game.
At the time, Seattle Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke shared a message with fans before the first game.
"You did it. And we will never, ever forget," Leiweke said to NHL.com. "And tonight, we will retire the number 32. We will never forget what you've done. We will always be reminded that jersey flies from the rafters of this beautiful arena, and we honor you."
The Kraken went on to lose 4-2 to the Vancouver Canucks in their home opener, after falling 4-3 to the Vegas Golden Knights in their first NHL game.
The number not only represents the fanbase but also reflects that the Seattle Kraken are the 32nd team in the National Hockey League, added in 2021-22.
In the last five seasons, the team made the playoffs once, in 2022-23.
Number 32 remains in the rafters of Climate Pledge Arena, though it was never worn by a Kraken player.
Leiweke had one more message for Kraken fans on that historic day: “Let’s go, Kraken!”
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 26: Kris Letang #58 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates in the third period during the game against the Carolina Hurricanes at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 26, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Vitals
Player: Kris Letang Born: April 27, 1987 (Age 39 season) Height: 6’ 0” Weight: 199 pounds Hometown: Montreal, Quebec, Canada Shoots: Right Draft: Third round, 2005 NHL Draft, No. 62 overall, by the Pittsburgh Penguins 2025-26 Statistics: 74 games played, three goals, 31 assists, 34 total points, minus-4 Contract Status: Two years remaining on a six-year. $36.6 million contract with $6.1 million salary cap number
Story of the Season
Letang is the one member of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ big three that has really started to show signs of age and slowing down.
While Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin were still big-time contributors in 2025-26 and providing the Penguins with great value with their contracts, Letang simply did not. He has lost a step in his game and has not yet really adjusted to that, still having moments where he tries to play the way he did at his peak. It is not a good combination. While there were still some moments and individual games where Letang could put everything together and play like Kris Letang, those moments were few and far between.
The good news: Some of those moments came in extremely clutch situations, scoring overtime game-winning goals against both the Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets to help give the Penguins key points in their push for a playoff spot against teams they were competing with in the playoff race. The game-winning goal against Columbus in late November capped off a two-goal third period comeback win for the Penguins that was one of their best wins of the season (and also one of their two multiple goal come-from-behind wins in Columbus this season).
Letang had a solid start to the season in October, recording six points with a plus-8 rating in his first 12 games of the season. He also had a solid December with nine points in 14 games. But his November and March were both especially bad, both offensively and in terms of giving up goals, and played a big role in his overall down numbers for the season.
Regular season 5v5 advanced stats
Data via Natural Stat Trick. Ranking is out of 11 defensemen on the team who qualified by playing a minimum of 150 minutes.
There is not a lot to love here about Letang’s perfomrance.
He did not score a single goal during 5-on-5 play, saw a serious drop in his playmaking with the assists, and was no longer an overly effective player in terms of driving position.
Making things even worse, he seemed to be the common denominator for a lot of his partner’s struggles.
Sam Girard was significantly better and more productive when he was not paired with Letang.
Ryan Shea was significantly better and more productive when he was not paired with Letang.
The only defenseman that seemed to have any meaningful success with Letang this season was Brett Kulak in their 278 minutes of 5-on-5 hockey together.
In other words, the 2025-26 season was finally the season that Kris Letang played like the player that his harshest critics always thought that he was. It only took 18 years, but it happened.
Charts n’at
This chart speaks to the above that the decline has been real for Letang. His decade+ days of being a quality No. 1 defenseman are a memory and his WAR ranking and offensive impact has been in sharp decline lately.
However, not all hope is gone. Letang can still move the puck within the offensive zone really well to create shot and chance assists. He is good with in-zone offense once the puck gets that far. Being so low in exit success rates with the inability to carry the puck as well as failing to deny entries and prevent chances defensively shows some areas that have become drastically limited for Letang in the aging process. He also somehow managed to score zero 5v5 goals this season, a bit of an anomaly considering he’s scored 4-10 5v5 goals each season since coming back from next surgery in 2017.
Even at an older age, Letang’s skating and burst is still reasonably good relative to the rest of the league. As a notorious workout/fitness freak, there’s no doubt that Letang is doing all that he can to keep his body in as top of shape as possible. Gotta give him a lot of credit for that, and all his endless work in the gym has certainly paid off to help him keep some power in his skating, even late in his career.
Highlights
Tanger calls game in his 1,200th 🙌
With his game winner, Kris Letang has the second-most overtime goals by a defenseman in NHL history (13). pic.twitter.com/Kmj5AaISX1
The two biggest questions regarding Letang are whether or not he can rebound in any way this season and find a way to be productive in a smaller role, and whether or not he will actually be on the team next season?
Letang has always seemed like the most likely of the big three to play elsewhere, and the Penguins might be open to moving him and his contract if the opportunity presents itself. That does not seem likely for a variety of reasons, ranging from Letang having a full no-movement clause and having the ability to veto any trade he does not want, as well as the fact there simply may not be a huge market for a 39-year-old defenseman counting more than $6 million per season against the salary cap and coming off arguably the worst season of his career.
Ideal 2026-27
It still seems likely that Letang will be a Penguin, but he is going to need to adjust his style of play and his role is going to need to change. He does not need to be the focal point of the defense or be the player pushing the pace of play, mostly because he does not really possess the skating or skills to do that anymore. If he can play an 18-minute per night role in more sheltered situations, while chipping in the occasional 5-on-5 goal, there might still be something here that they can use. He just needs to know his limitations. The Penguins also need to know his limitations.
Bottom line
Letang is a giant in Penguins history and one of the best, most important players to play for the franchise. There may have been a handful of better defensemen to briefly play for the Penguins (Paul Coffey, for example), but Letang has had the greatest career of any Penguins defensemen with the Penguins. He has won three Stanley Cups here, scoring a game-winning goal in a Stanley Cup clinching game, and consistently been one of the best overall defensemen in the NHL. He is a borderline Hall of Famer. All of that will always be important, even if he is not that version of himself at this stage of his career.
But AI hasn't wavered in terms of the top of the 2026 draft class. Since the draft lottery was conducted last month, and the Wizards, Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies wound up with the top three picks, Microsoft Copilot's AI chatbot has consistently churned out the same prospects for those first three choices when prompted by USA TODAY Sports.
The same is not true for most picks outside of the top four prospects (Dybantsa, Peterson, Boozer and North Carolina's Caleb Wilson). There was again a shift in selections made in the first AI mock draft since the conclusion of the NBA Finals, particularly in the latter half of the first half, based on the latest intel.
Here's a breakdown of Microsoft Copilot AI's latest 2026 NBA mock draft, including the chatbot's reasoning for making each first-round pick:
USA TODAY Sports asked Microsoft Copilot AI to generate a mock draft for the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft featuring only players eligible this year now that the NBA draft withdrawal deadline passed for college players. The chatbot was asked to base its selections on current mock drafts from reputable websites, as well as the latest intel on team needs, prospect analysis, pre-draft workouts and the most up-to-date draft withdrawal news.
Note:AI models still have issues with accuracy as seen in the mock draft below. Of particular note, Microsoft Copilot needed additional prompts after several picks were inaccurately assigned to teams.The average mock draft pick referenced for each player was compiled by USA TODAY Sports using 13 of the latest mock drafts from national websites around the country, including USA TODAY.
1. Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa, BYU
Average mock draft pick: 1
AI analysis: "A franchise-caliber scoring wing with elite shot creation tools, Dybantsa gives Washington the highest ceiling player in the class."
2. Utah Jazz: Darryn Peterson, Kansas
Average mock draft pick: 2
AI analysis: "A dynamic lead guard with two-way upside, Peterson offers Utah a primary initiator to build around long term."
3. Memphis Grizzlies: Cameron Boozer, Duke
Average mock draft pick: 3
AI analysis: "Boozer’s polished offensive game and physicality make him a plug-and-play frontcourt centerpiece."
4. Chicago Bulls: Caleb Wilson, North Carolina
Average mock draft pick: 4
AI analysis: "Wilson’s defensive versatility and upside swing potential fits a Chicago team in talent acquisition mode."
5. Los Angeles Clippers: Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas
Average mock draft pick: 6
AI analysis: "Acuff brings explosive scoring and on-ball creation as a potential franchise point guard in a high-leverage slot."
6. Brooklyn Nets: Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville
Average mock draft pick: 7
AI analysis: "Brown’s scoring burst and rising pre-draft momentum make him one of the top offensive guard bets."
7. Sacramento Kings: Kingston Flemings, Houston
Average mock draft pick: 8
AI analysis: "With multiple guards in the same tier, Flemings gives Sacramento a high-upside playmaker without needing to trade up."
8. Atlanta Hawks: Nate Ament, Tennessee
Average mock draft pick: 10
AI analysis: "Ament’s size, shot creation and upside fit cleanly next to Jalen Johnson as Atlanta prioritizes building around versatile forwards and wing-driven offense."
9. Dallas Mavericks: Brayden Burries, Arizona
Average mock draft pick: 9
AI analysis: "Burries adds perimeter scoring and secondary playmaking to complement Cooper Flagg as Dallas reshapes its offensive hierarchy."
Sebastian Crosa, 12, from Brooklyn, launched a Change.org petition, garnering over 3,000 signatures, begging Governor Kathy Hochul, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the New York Department of Education to cancel school on June 18, amid the state Regents exams, allowing students, teachers and parents to attend the historic Knicks parade in celebration of their 2026 NBA Championship win.
While the Knicks are on parade, Sebastian Crosa will be working to get the grade.
Rather than lining the streets of lower Manhattan Thursday — whooping for the 2026 NBA Champions, led by Jalen Brunson, Karl Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby and his favorite player, Josh Hart — the middle schooler, 12, will be one of the thousands of devastated kids and teachers stuck inside classrooms due to the statewide Regents exams.
The ticker-tape spectacle begins at 10 a.m., with tip-off near Battery Park before moving up Broadway through the Canyon of Heroes to City Hall, where Mayor Zohran Mamdani will present the Knicks with keys to the city.
Sebastian Crosa, a 12-year-old Knicks superfan, is begging city and state officials to cancel school on June 18, allowing students to attend the monumental Knicks parade. Courtesy The Crosa Family
It’s a sight that Crosa likely won’t be able to see in person.
“It’s upsetting because, obviously, we’ve been waiting for this moment a long time,” Crosa, a Brooklyn public school student, exclusively told The Post. “The parade is really important, and everyone should be able to experience it.”
The seventh grader, with a bleeding heart of blue and orange, launched a Change.org petition this week, imploring Gov. Kathy Hochul, Mamdani and the state Department of Education to “cancel NYC schools on June 18 to allow students, educators, and all proud New Yorkers to participate in the parade and revel in this rare and momentous occasion.”
The Knicks secured a historic victory Sunday, trampling the Spurs to be crowned the 2026 NBA Champions. Charles Wenzelberg / NY Post
Crosa, who told The Post he only expected to receive 100 signatures in support of his plight, has garnered over 3,100 endorsements from equally outraged basketball buffs, hoping the powers-that-be have a last-minute change of heart.
But the tween’s formal plea — drafted mere moments after the Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs Sunday, reclaiming the title of world champs for the first time since 1973 — comes as a long shot following Mamdani’s announcement that class, as well as the Regents, will undoubtedly be in session during the ticker-tape festivities.
“I know that many New Yorkers have built their entire lives around this team,” Mamdani said Monday. “And for our students … I will still encourage them to be studying hard for their Regents exam.”
The standardized end-of-course tests are given to high schoolers in grades 9 through 12 as a requirement for graduation.
And while Crosa won’t be taking the exam this year, the Knicks fanatic is expected to be in his assigned seat for a full day of learning Thursday — unless, of course, his petition causes a buzzer-beater miracle the likes of Anunoby’s breathtaking Game 4 winning score.
“I know it might be difficult for them to cancel school [or reschedule] the tests at this point, but I figured the petition was worth a shot,” said the tenacious tyke, a self-crowned “leader” among his peers. “The whole city needs this and wants this. So somebody had to do it.”
Colleen and husband Eduardo wish their boys were free to enjoy the hoopla this Thursday. Courtesy The Crosa FamilyStudents, such as Crosa, are expected to attend a full day of school on Thursday, as statewide Regents testing will be underway. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Colleen, 47, mom to Crosa and younger brother Lucas, 10, says she’s proud her eldest boy is “fighting for what he believes in,” but “disappointed” that he and other students have to fight for their right to party in the first place.
“This generation of kids has gone through a lot of historical events and moments that have been difficult,“ said Colleen, a clinical psychologist. “This is a historical moment of joy, unity and perseverance that they can finally celebrate.
“While I don’t think that these [parade and school scheduling] decisions were made lightly or without thoughtfulness, I am disappointed.”
Crosa told The Post he’s stunned his petition received so many signatures from supporters and fellow Knicks enthusiasts near and far. Courtesy The Crosa Family
She and her Knicks-loving family are not alone.
Peeved parents and educators alike are echoing Crosa’s day-off appeal across the internet.
“This message is for Zohran Mamdani,” began one Knicks extremist, an NYC teacher known exclusively online as @Subwayratmom, in her cyber supplication. “Zo…I feel that you, as the mayor, have the power to either cancel school, cancel Regents or move the parade.
“We have to teach until June 26, and that’s a really long time in teacher years,” she continued. “And we’re ready to be outside.”
Sharon, a mother whose daughter will be neck-deep in Regents testing while more than 1.25 tons of confetti fill the Big Apple skies, separately begged, “Due to this win, all the kids and adults would like to be at the parade. Reschedule the Regents, please.”
Molly Vozick-Levinson, 39, a director at a private preschool in Manhattan, isn’t bound by the do’s and don’ts of the DOE, nor are her students — some of whom are still in diapers — being forced to take state exams.
Still, the lifelong Knicks lover tells The Post that it’s “irresponsible” for city and state officials to “tempt” students to skip the Regents by scheduling the parade on a school day.
Molly Vozick-Levinson, a preschool executive, plans to ditch her desk early Thursday in hopes for a glimpse at Brunson and the Knicks on parade. Courtesy of Molly Vozick-Levinson
“Some kids might be tempted to skip their exams, because they think that they might fail anyway,” said Vozick-Levinson. “It’s a huge temptation: ‘If you skip your exams, making the wrong choice for your education, you will get to do something fun.’
“That just seems irresponsible to me,” said the administrator, admitting, however, that she plans to skip out of work early to revel in the fanfare. “I just want to breathe the same air as the New York Knicks. If I get a glimpse of at least one Knick, I’ll be so happy.”
Laverne Mickens, 53, a fourth-grade teacher and Brooklyn native, not only agrees that locals should skip out on their responsibilities, but she’s encouraging it.
“Take state exam or see the Knicks parade — like, are you serious?” said Mickens, whose husband, Cory, will be in attendance while she cares for their disabled sons. “Skip school and call out of work — this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Mickens urges New Yorkers to skirt their duties and attend the “once-in-a-lifetime” parade. Courtesy of Laverne Mickens
“The last time they won, I’d just been born 53 years ago,” Mickens, a college scholarship specialist, raved. “You don’t know if they’re going to win next year, or if this will ever happen again.
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The NBA championship celebrations are nowhere near over, as New York Knicks will take part in a time-honored NYC tradition for the first time in franchise history.
A ticker-tape parade will be thrown in honor of the champs up downtown NYC’s iconic Canyon of Heroes, where many other championship teams have been celebrated throughout the year. It could end up being the largest in the city’s history.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the parade‘s date shortly after Game 5’s final buzzer on Saturday. In a later press release, the mayor said, “We have dreamed of this moment for generations. This Thursday, our city will rise to the occasion.”
Some celebrity row mainstays, like Spike Lee and Ben Stiller (who confirmed to Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart that he and HBO are working together on a documentary about this season), will be in attendance as well.
Following the parade, the team will receive the keys to the city from Mayor Mamdani in a ceremony at City Hall. The TV voice of the Knicks, Mike Breen, will emcee the ceremony; Alicia Keys is set to close it out with a performance of “Empire State of Mind.”
When is the NY Knicks championship parade? What time does the Knicks parade start at?
Today’s (June 18) Knicks ticker-tape championship parade is expected to begin around 10 a.m. ET.
Knicks championship parade TV channels
If you live in the New York area, you can watch coverage of the Knicks ticker-tape parade on all local news networks — CBS New York, NBC New York, FOX 5 and ABC7 New York — in addition to the Knicks’ TV home, MSG Network.
How to watch the NY Knicks championship parade for free
DIRECTV is our favorite service for watching TV live for free. Right now, you can take advantage of a five-day free trial before saving $30 on your first month. We recommend the Choice plan, which includes all of the local news and sports networks like MSG as part of its 125+ channels.
TRY DIRECTV FOR FREE
If you live outside of the New York area, you can tune in to the Knicks championship parade using the NBC New York News channel with a Peacock Premium Plus ($16.99/month) subscription.
Knicks championship parade route
The Knicks championship parade will start around Battery Park and travel about one mile north up Broadway. The parade will end at City Hall, where a ceremony will take place afterward.
This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
I read something recently quoting somebody else who said your favorite World Cup (the soccer version) is the one that happens when you’re about 8-13 years old or so, because it’s when things still feel magical but before you grasp how cynical and corrupt FIFA is and how the world is in general.
All that aside, if you appreciate soccer at all, then the World Cup — even this bloated, peace-prize-for-toddler-favors version — is still fun as hell, for the coming together of cultures sharing party moments in celebration of a stupid game. Scots taking over Fenway Park, Uzbeks bouncing in a small group surrounded by tens of thousands of Colombians. A DR Congo fan standing still for the entirety of each match. Tourney favorite Spain running into Cabo Verde having its 2010 Jaro Halak moment. Jerry Jones keeling over somewhere, hopefully. (No?)
It will for sure pacify me until the NHL draft and free agency begins, at least.
There’s not a whole lot of news on that front just yet, but it’s coming, surely.
(P.S. Thanks to all for the encouraging words on Bear and the fun nerding out on handedness in Wednesday’s thread.)
Islanders News
Hockey’s just around the corner! Sort of not really but kind of. The prospect camp Blue-White scrimmage is on July 1, and maybe Gavin McKenna will be there after we trade Bailey, Donovan and a 5th to get him. [Isles]
Elsewhere
The Knights have hired their latest coach, promoting their AHL guy. [NHL]
And in their benevolence, they actually allowed fired coach Bruce Cassidy to talk to one team. [Sportsnet]
However, that team was the Maple Leafs, who just hired former Kings coach (and Isles assistant) Jim Hiller. Son of Bourne talks himself into thinking that’s a fine hire. [Sportsnet]
Hiller vows to make the Leafs fun again. [Sportsnet]
TRADE: Buffalo moved up from 27 to 20 in the draft by sending Michael Kesselring to San Jose. [NHL]
Jamie Langenbrunner joins the Predators’ new front office. [TSN]
VALENCIA, SPAIN - APRIL 30: Sergio de Larrea of Valencia Basket gestures during the EuroLeague Play Off Game 2 match between Valencia Basket and Panathinaikos Aktor Athens at Roig Arena on April 30, 2026 in Valencia, Spain. (Photo By Irina R. Hipolito/Europa Press via Getty Images) | Europa Press via Getty Images
The NBA Draft is barreling closer to us. The Cleveland Cavaliers have the 29th pick in this year’s draft. Let’s take a look at who the experts have them taking in our latest mock draft roundup.
Kevin O’Connor’s latest mock draft has the Cavs opting for the 6’5” 20-year-old out of Spain. O’Connor writes:
Keon Ellis and Dean Wade will be free agents this summer, and Max Strus will be in one year. It may be time for the Cavaliers to get a wing — one with more skill — in the developmental pipeline alongside Jaylon Tyson. De Larrea is a tall playmaking guard with major feel and a knockdown jumper who thrives within team concepts. He suffered a dislocated shoulder that ended his 2024-25 season and removed him from draft boards, but it ended up a blessing in disguise since he returned with a bigger role and stronger production for a great team in the EuroLeague. With size, smarts, and defensive versatility, he could carve out a role in the NBA if his international skill can translate.
De Larrea played 28 league games for Valencia this past season. He averaged 9.7 points, 3.7 assists, and three rebounds per game in 18.3 minutes per outing. He did this on .443/.407/.833 shooting splits.
The question here is fit. The Cavs need more options on the wing — no one will argue with that — but they preferably need ones that are 6’7” or over. The Cavs have plenty of undersized wings that are naturally shooting guards, but can shift up to the three. They don’t have anyone whose best position is the three. Even Wade, their starting small forward in the playoffs, is best suited to play a different position.
De Larrea could be the best prospect available at this spot, but it’s fair to wonder whether this team needs another undersized wing.
After making a strong case for himself by putting up three 20-plus-point games in the NCAA tournament, Reed has built momentum on the workout circuit and is trending toward the late first round. His mix of length, physical heft, rebounding instincts and offensive skill make him an appealing plug-and-play role player, and he should appeal to contending teams.
Frontcourt depth is an obvious area of need for the Cavs as they try to maximize their current window, making this an intriguing fit.
Reed averaged 14.7 points and nine rebounds per game while shooting 60.7% from the field for the Huskies.
Having another big would be incredibly useful. The Cavs haven’t really had a competent third center in the Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley era. Reed could be the answer, although it’s fair to point out that he wouldn’t be the cleanest fit.
Ideally, you’d want a third big who could play alongside both Allen and Mobley. For a big to be able to do that, they would need to be able to space the floor offensively. Reed doesn’t do that. He’s taken just seven triples in 136 college games. And as a 58.2% free-throw shooter, it doesn’t seem like this is an untapped skill.
Reed is a good and talented player. He just might not be the most ideal archetype for a backup big, which is becoming a theme in this latest round of mock drafts.
Jonathan Wasserman also has the Cavs taking De Larrea. Wasserman writes:
Sergio de Larrea is currently producing for Valencia in the EuroLeague playoffs, which is why he couldn’t attend the combine.
He’s now put together consecutive years of accurate three-point shooting and strong playmaking rates, and is sure to draw first-round consideration.
Shooting and playmaking are things the Cavs could use. This may be the best bet from a talent perspective. However, it would be nice if the Cavs had more people on the roster between 6’7” and 6’9”.
As of now, it seems like momentum is picking up for De Larrea to be the Cavs’ selection late in the first round.
