Brendon McCullum has been sacked as the England men’s Test coach, with the England and Wales Cricket Board opting for a completely fresh start for the side following the recent retirement of the red-ball captain, Ben Stokes. The decision came one day after McCullum guided England to the top of the T20 rankings, and he will continue to coach the men’s white-ball teams.
McCullum said he was “gutted” after being told his services are no longer required, and he will not be involved in preparations for the three-match series against Pakistan in August and September, by which time the ECB hope to have appointed a replacement.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9: Darryn Peterson #22 of the Utah Jazz looks on during the game against the Washington Wizards during the 2026 NBA Las Vegas Summer League on July 9, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After years and years of mundane basketball, Jazz fans finally had something to be anticipating. A #1 vs. #2 pick matchup that headlined the NBA. Of course, our own Jazzlings were on the back-end of this event, but this is nothing to hold your head over. Utah is back, and they’re getting the attention they rightfully deserve.
Coming into Las Vegas, Peterson took the world by storm when he played his first two heaters in front of a familiar crowd at Salt Lake City. Even if it was just Summer League, Peterson’s skill set was obviously the most translatable at the NBA level. Not even Cooper Flagg or Wembanyama stepped into the league being this polished offensively. But after a flight to Nevada two nights later, Peterson just didn’t have the same pzazz that he did when Jazz fans were cheering for him back in the Beehive State.
Jamir Watkins had his own fill of Summer League action. Of course, he would have regularly fouled out in the first quarter if this were a standard regular-season game, but Summer League rules allowed Watkins to bypass this and record an additional three fouls his way; one more foul left to spare. The byproduct of this was Darryn Peterson’s own low nine fouls and eight turnovers — Jusuf Nurkic will have a word with pesky guards about that type of defense in October. Wizards stole the crown, as well as the buzzing media that have now deemed Dybantsa a league of his own.
But Peterson’s struggles in his Las Vegas debut were completely blown out of proportion. Social media was filled with settled debates that had already decided Dybantsa was the better prospect. This isn’t to say Peterson should ignore these mistakes; he still needs to improve on his passing angles and looked physically overwhelmed. How much of those struggles are due to the extra physicality that was allowed in Summer League remains up for debate. The fans had already turned off their televisions by the time Peterson started to heat up.
Another aspect that was underestimated was Utah missing their rookie standout Ace Bailey, who had been dealing with back spasms that have now kept him out of multiple games spanning across the hoops in July. The Jazz, without a doubt, missed his elite shot-making and defensive versatility on the floor against Dybantsa. He remains questionable coming into tonight.
The 92-88 loss in Las Vegas has likely already halted Utah’s chances of winning a Summer League Championship, barring a miraculous run, meaning the priority has now shifted to scouting for Exhibit-10 or training camp deals. Darryn Peterson and third-year Cody will likely play a game or two more, then it’s time to hand over the keys to Tamar Bates and Jaxon Kohler.
Never mind the buzz, nor the competition. Darryn Peterson now has a chance to let off some steam against the newly built LA Clippers, currently still employing Kawhi Leonard per NBA policy, after LA circumvented the cap back in 2022 that now prevents him from being traded up North.
He’s not one of the flashy headliners of the draft like AJ, Darryn, Cam or even Caleb Wilson, but babyface Keaton Wagler will have the ball in his hands as much as the Jazz hand it to Peterson. His first game against the Kings was a blunder — he only managed to rack up 7 points, 2 rebounds and an assist on 14.3% from the field. He was offensively outplayed in every aspect by 7th pick Darius Acuff. We dare not speak on anyone’s defense from that Thursday night.
Their 50th pick from last season, Kobe Sanders, had recently re-upped with them on a four-year $11.2M deal. Baba Miller was another name that LA added at 36th overall. Cam Christie is starting to contract Cody-syndrome; his older brother Max has proved to be a reliable perimeter shooter in the NBA, while Cam himself logged few minutes in his first two seasons. Now he’ll likely have a chance to anchor the Clippers’ 3-point spacing. LAC may still be a little too old for anyone’s liking, but they still have something materialised in their youth, moving on (hopefully) from the Kawhi era.
For Utah, they’re ready to let off some heavy hits after a frustrating opener. Can Darryn Peterson bring back the efficient hoops from Salt Lake City? Is Ace Bailey going to make an appearance? Can any of the other players earn themselves a training camp deal with a showout performance? For the love of all that is holy can we stop using Cody Williams as a primary option? All these questions may have an answer this Sunday night.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 06: William Kyle III #45 of the Los Angeles Lakers is guarded by Maliq Brown #15 of the San Antonio Spurs at Chase Center on July 06, 2026 in San Francisco, California. 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 Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Former Blue Devil Maliq Brown was in action Saturday night for the San Antonio Spurs in Summer League play, and the Spurs gave him 24 minutes, and he produced: Brown got 8 points and 8 rebounds, 4 of them offensive, and also had 2 steals and 1 block. Clearly, he’s making an impression.
Also making an impression: on Friday night, Cameron Boozer squared off against former UNC star Caleb Wilson, scoring 23 points (7-12/1-1), and pulling down 6 rebounds, while passing out 4 assists.
Wilson had a great game as well, with 35 points (12-21/7-11), and 5 rebounds.
However, Boozer stripped Wilson in the open court and took the ball in for a dunk, and even better, got the last laugh, as Memphis won, 97-96.
Also making a serious impression: on Friday, Trevor Keels burned Milwaukee for 14 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals, and on Saturday, vs. Orlando, he exploded for 32 points (12-19/6-10), including 12 points in the fourth quarter alone.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 11: Commissioner of Major League Baseball Robert D. Manfred Jr. announces Jake Schaffner as the 20th overall pick by the Boston Red Sox during the 2026 MLB Draft presented by Nippon Express at Pennsylvania Convention Center on Saturday, July 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Day 1 of the MLB Draft is in the books. If you’re internet smart, you know that the Red Sox completely blew it by going way underslot with their first round pick and then failing to use that savings by going overslot on either of their next two picks. If you’re actually smart, you know that attempting to evaluate an MLB draft any sooner than at least two years after draft day is for suckers. But it’s still fun.
Draft Day 2 kicks off at 11:30 with the fifth round. The Sox will have the 22nd pick in the fifth and sixth rounds (#156 and #185) and then the 21st pick in every subsequent round until the draft ends at round 20. Today’s proceedings are not on TV, but you can stream them on MLB.com
If you prefer to watch prospects who are already in the pipeline, the annual Futures Game kicks off noon and will be broadcast on NBC/Peacock. Franklin Arias will start at shortstop for the AL, while Anthony Eyanson will be in the pen.
Talk about players who won’t be in a big league lineup for years to come and whatever else you want in this space. Be good to each other and go Sox.
Los Angeles, - July 11: Pitcher Blake Snell #7 of the Los Angeles Dodgers works out on the mound prior to a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 11, 2026. Snell who is is currently on the 60-day injured list recovering from elbow surgery as he underwent an operation in mid-May to remove loose bodies from his left elbow. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
The Dodgers’ starting rotation has been one of the best in all of baseball this year in spite of the numerous injuries they’ve dealt with.
Young right-handers Gavin Stone and River Ryan have yet to make their season debuts at the big-league level, while guys like Landon Knack are just now making their season debuts well over three months into the season. Tyler Glasnow has been out since early May, while former two-time Cy Young award winner Blake Snell has just one start at the big league level this year.
For Snell, who has amassed just three innings in 2026, it’s been another lost season so far, but his return is in the near distance. Sonja Chen of MLB.com notes that Snell threw live to hitters for the first time since undergoing elbow surgery, and the southpaw is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment after the break.
The next step for Snell should be a rehab assignment, manager Dave Roberts said, likely beginning the first weekend after the All-Star break.
“He says he feels better right now than he did when he returned before,” Roberts said of Snell, who has made only one start for the Dodgers this season after beginning the season on the injured list with left shoulder fatigue.
As for Glasnow, Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register notes that there’s numerous setbacks where the right-hander feels good about throwing until he doesn’t. Glasnow was able to throw a fastball-only bullpen on Friday.
After tossing six innings in a loss on Saturday, Yoshinobu Yamamoto will not be pitching in this year’s All-Star game with his teammate Justin Wrobleski taking his spot on the NL All-Star team, per Chen and Jacob Gurvis of MLB.com.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Yamamoto said. “It would be better if I was able to pitch … because I [would] enjoy the atmosphere, and the whole show.”
Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic notes that Kiké Hernández is expected to return to the Dodgers following the All-Star break should all go well with his rehab. Hernández has appeared in just two games this season, collecting hits in all four at-bats including a home run.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 10: Rasheer Fleming #20 of the Phoenix Suns dunks the ball during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on July 10, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Who: Phoenix Suns (1-0) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (1-1)
When: 12:00 pm Arizona Time
Where: Cox Pavilion, Las Vegas, Nevada
Watch: Arizona Family Sports, ESPN2
Listen: KMVP 98.7
The Phoenix Suns showcased their elite level of size and athleticism (for Summer League) against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night in a dramatic come-from-behind victory. There was the predictable summer league slop in the first half with both teams struggling to get any type of rhythm on offense, but the second half looked a little more like NBA-style basketball. The three young franchise building blocks all performed well, which should be exciting for Suns fans, because Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, and Koa Peat need to develop for the long-term health of the organization.
Maluach, Fleming, and Peat also showed their flaws. Maluach committed seven turnovers, Fleming was 0-for-4 from 3 and passed up multiple wide-open looks, and Peat didn’t take a 3-point shot, along with his shot mechanics looking questionable at best. This trio is extremely talented, but also flawed, and summer league is the perfect place to improve upon these flaws.
What was most exciting about watching this trio was how well they played defensively and how dominant the interior defense was. The second-half defense was the catalyst for the Suns coming back from down 16 and ultimately leading by as many as 10 points in the second half. All three players blocked shots, forced turnovers, and ultimately suffocated the Trail Blazers offense. How this trio improves on offense collectively is the biggest storyline to watch for the rest of summer league.
Probable Starters
Suns
Khaman Maluach
Koa Peat
Rasheer Fleming
Koby Brea
Darius Brown II
Pelicans
Hunter Dickinson
Jalon Moore
Micah Peavy
Kobe Bufkin
Markquis Nowell
Injury Report
Suns
Nothing reported
Pelcians
Nothing reported
What to Watch For
The Suns will not face any high-level prospects from the Pelicans, as both Jeremiah Fears and Derek Queen are not playing in summer league. Instead, it will be against a group of college All-Stars with Hunter Dickinson, Markquis Nowell, and Micah Peavy leading the way, along with Kobe Bufkin, a former first-round pick. The Suns have a size and athleticism advantage and should dominate the glass and the paint against the Pelicans.
In their game against Portland, Phoenix committed 20 turnovers, with Maluach turning it over seven times himself. Look for Maluach and the Suns to eliminate many of the sloppy plays they made against the Blazers, and for the Suns’ core trio, plus Kobe Brea, to play much more connected and error-free. Speaking of Brea, he struggled from the floor against Portland, and it was Jevonte Cook who scored 21 points off the bench for Phoenix, including a prolific 3-point shooting performance. Can Brea bounce back after a slow first game?
Prediction
As little value as there is in the final score of these summer league games, this Suns team can, and should, dominate the Pelicans because of their athleticism. The Suns win this game 93-80, and Kobe Brea will lead the team in scoring. But the story of the game will be Koa Peat putting up another repeat performance that makes him look like one of the biggest steals in the NBA draft.
Well, what can you say when a pitcher, making his second start of the season and coming off a horrible season debut, is absolutely brilliant? Well, the Cubs hitters helped — 12 of the Cubs’ 16 strikeouts came with Hunter Greene on the mound. But credit is given where credit is due.
That said, the Cubs were outhit 13-4. The hot Seiya Suzuki had two of those, including a double, but with no one on base, they were for naught. And the Cubs, who have been recipients of plenty of walks of late, only managed one Friday.
Yes, Shōta Imanaga gave up yet another solo shot, but he stranded the other seven baserunners while striking out five. There is an article below that points out his big flaw, but gives him credit in every other facet of his game.
But. The bullpen. As shown below, it was easy come, easy go for Jake Woodford. He’s the reliever that turned Imanaga’s effort to dust, giving up a triple and three-run home run that turned a 1-0 game that wasn’t that close into a rout that might as well been 20-0. Thanks so much for stopping by, Jake.
*means autoplay on, (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. The powers that be have enabled real sarcasm font in the comments.
Charlie Wright (MLBRumors): Cubs Designate Jake Woodford For Assignment. “Right-hander Jake Woodford has been designated for assignment by the Cubs, the team announced. Reliever Phil Maton is back from the injured list to take Woodford’s spot in the bullpen.”
Joey Ricotta (OnTapSportsNet): Who Can the Cubs Trust in the Bullpen Right Now? “The Chicago Cubs have a bullpen problem; there is no other way to put it. Where they stand and how they can improve the situation.”
Christian Willisohn (born January 22, 1962 in Munich ) is a German blues pianist and singer. His musical career began in 1980 in Munich clubs; In 1986 he gave up his profession as a stonemason and sculptor. In 1987 he played with Zora Young for the first time in the US. Since then he has played with many international blues musicians. Today he performs throughout Europe with classics and original compositions with texts by his wife, Alexandra Mayer.
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.
The Denver Post’s assigned spot in the Coors Field Press Box | Renee Dechert
I spent last weekend at Coors Field covering the San Francisco Giants-Colorado Rockies series for Purple Row, and I was glad I did because a lot happened.
On two days, Goodman’s father, Robert, threw batting practice to his son, who hoped to be invited to participate in the Home Run Derby on Monday. Goodman was ultimately not invited, but it was still pretty cool to watch a father-son BP. That said, you had to be at Coors Field to see it.
The clubhouse was open, and players answered questions as did manager Warren Schaeffer. Rockies’ 2022 first-round draft pick Gabriel Hughes (No. 12 PuRP) made his MLB debut.
Here’s Kyle Karros discussing his monster home run on Sunday. The controlled swagger is a beautiful thing.
Ultimately, the Rockies took the series from a struggling Giants team. They are becoming a better and even a fun baseball team. They have scored an MLB-high 132 runs in the eighth inning or later. How is that not the good stuff for baseball fans?
If the Denver Post had a reporter there to cover the series, I never saw them.
Since Patrick Saunders left The Post, a pastiche of offseason sports beat writers has been in the clubhouse finding material for some scattered feature stories. For example, Nate Peterson spent an afternoon talking with Marlins fans at Coors Field about their experiences with a losing team.
The Post now takes game recaps from the Associated Press. It’s not unusual for those recaps to go up the next day as opposed to immediately after the conclusion of a game, as they did before. I can’t speak to what happens on the road, but in Denver, the AP has two sports writers with one covering each Rockies game. When the game is over, the reporter goes to the winning clubhouse for comments.
Don’t get me wrong: I’m a big fan of The Post’s sportswriters, but writing occasional feature stories and farming out game recaps doesn’t seem like a best practice.
Besides, when the Denver Broncos report to training camp, and the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche start their early-season work, how much time will those beat writers devote to their occasional Rockies feature stories? Listen, I don’t blame them. These reporters really good at their jobs, and that involves working their beat.
When a beat writer works with a team, they spend a great deal of time with players, coaches, and front office staff developing relationships. They build trust and learn off-the-record information that allows them to write more-informed stories. But it’s in that work — so much of that tedious standing around and asking questions — that the real reporting happens.
I suspect if you were to ask a sports editor at The Post about this decision, they would tell you that the Rockies are a bad team, and they just don’t drive enough traffic. Hey, I write for a Rockies site. Believe me: The entire staff of Purple Row is very aware of how little traffic the Rockies have driven in recent years.
But that’s changing.
The Rockies are an exciting young team with stories driven by compelling players and a front office trying to rebuild connections. I can’t speak for The Post, but our site traffic is up, in part because of an improved team and in part because Purple Row is committed to covering the Rockies, even if our resources are considerably more limited than those available to The Post.
That said, even if the powers that be at the Denver Post decide that the Rockies baseball team doesn’t particularly matter, surely they would feel compelled to cover the business side of the Rockies. Like any professional sports franchise, the Rockies are a big business that navigates the uneasy relationship between taxpayer money and owner financial interests.
If nothing else, surely The Post would be interested in what will probably an MLB lockout when the season ends. Given that Rockies owner Dick Monfort is a key figure in trying to get a salary cap — something that would fundamentally change the sport — surely The Post would want someone working that story now.
It is deeply unsettling that that the Colorado Rockies may well receive less attention from The Post for the rest of the season than they will perhaps devote to some high school football programs.
I reached out to The Post for a comment on the publication’s plans for the Rockies beat, but I did not receive an answer.
So here we are.
What’s to be done?
Me, I’m going to cancel my subscription.
Believe it or not, my Denver Post subscription costs more than my subscription to the New York Times. I can read AP gamers anywhere. Better yet, I can read gamers on Purple Row, where we write our own recaps that are published at the conclusion of every game.
I hate to do it. I believe that what newspapers do in local communities is vitally important. But it’s difficult to see The Post as doing anything other than dropping the ball when it comes to covering the Rockies.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 11: Commissioner of Major League Baseball Robert D. Manfred announces Jackson Flora as the fourth overall pick by the San Francisco Giants during the 2026 MLB Draft presented by Nippon Express at Pennsylvania Convention Center on Saturday, July 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The MLB Draft is now a mega event, so welcome to Day 2! On Saturday, the Giants made their first five selections, taking UC Santa Barbara pitcher Jackson Flora with their first-round pick, prep pitcher Carson Bolemon with the compensation round pick they grabbed in the Patrick Bailey trade, prep pitcher Kade Waechter with their second-round pick, Rutgers outfielder Peyton Bonds (nephew of Barry) with their third-round selection, and Hofstra pitcher Carlos Martinez with their fourth-round choice.
Today, they’ll make 16 more selections, with the No. 15 pick in rounds 5-20.
You can follow all the action from yesterday and today by watching our draft tracker, which will give you info on all 21 picks. I’ll also have a few write-ups throughout the day. And if you want to watch the draft, well … here’s how to do so!
Carson Coleman of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders delivers a pitch during a Minor League Baseball game at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, United States, on May 23, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
Carson Coleman knew what was happening. It was hard not to know.
He was aware as he entered the game on June 5th at NBT Bank Stadium in New York against the Syracuse Mets that teammate and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders starting pitcher Brendan Beck had not allowed a hit through the first seven innings. Although the other relievers in the bullpen were trying to honor that baseball superstition of not mentioning a no-hitter, subconsciously they were talking about it.
Coleman got a groundout and two strikeouts in the bottom of the eighth to take the no-hitter into the ninth. There, he retired the first batter on a groundout, then walked the next batter. But his first pitch to Kevin Parada was hit on the ground to shortstop George Lombard Jr., who flipped to second baseman Jonathan Ornelas, who threw to first baseman Seth Brown for a game-ending 6-4-3 double play.
The seventh no-hitter in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre franchise history was complete.
“Doing it for two innings was definitely more nerve-racking,” Coleman said. “At the end of the day, you just go out and treat it like any other outing. It was awesome, exciting, especially for it to end on a double play and then celebrate with the guys and Beck. It was an awesome accomplishment for him.”
This was the second no-hitter Coleman was involved in as a member of the New York Yankees organization. On Sept. 28, 2022, he got the final three outs for the Double-A Somerset Patriots as they won the third and deciding game of the Eastern League Championship Series over the Erie Seawolves with a 15-0 victory.
That one was a little less stressful because of the lopsided margin. Starting pitcher Randy Vásquez went eight hitless innings with one walk and eight strikeouts. The Patriots scored nine runs in the bottom of the first inning to seize immediate control. Jasson Domínguez led the offense, going 3 for 4 with two walks, two home runs and six RBIs. Coleman entered in the top of the ninth and, although he hit the first batter he faced with a pitch, he got a fly out, popout and strikeout to end it.
“It had been a really good season for me that year. I was more excited to hopefully be the guy to finish our championship, let alone a no-hitter,” Coleman said. “I just went out there and made pitches the best that I can and hopefully it came to fruition. Obviously, there can be a jam-shot single which you, as a pitcher, that’s not a bad thing, but it’s a hit. That’s baseball. There’s a lot of luck to it.
“But the championship was a lot of fun, especially throwing to Austin Wells as the catcher. Me and Austin both signed in 2020 and he’s one of my best friends. To finish off the no-hitter with a strikeout in the championship game and embrace one of your best friends and celebrate with that team which was a great group of guys was a lot of fun. Probably the best baseball memory I have. But the one with Beck is still awesome.”
Randy Vasquez and Carson Coleman combined on a no-hitter AND Jasson Domínguez mashed two homers and plated six runs to give Somerset its first Eastern League championship: https://t.co/Yswu9vQkmvpic.twitter.com/idPWA495TO
The Tampa Bay Rays selected Coleman in the 33rd round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of the University of Kentucky, but he did not sign with them. The Yankees signed him in 2020 as a nondrafted free agent and he pitched for Low-A Tampa in 2021 before splitting time in 2022 with High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset.
Coleman underwent Tommy John surgery in 2023 and missed all of that season. In 2024, he was taken in the Rule 5 Draft by the Texas Rangers. However, he never threw a pitch for them. At the end of his rehab from the right elbow surgery, he had a hard time recovering from workouts or bullpen sessions. It turned out he had a rare nerve entrapment issue and needed another surgery that put him out for 10 more months, causing him to miss all of the 2024 campaign as well.
When Texas didn’t keep him on its roster, the Yankees had first dibs since he was a Rule 5 selection and they took him back.
“I think they were excited to have me back, I was excited to be back,” Coleman said. “I love this organization, they’ve been more than great to me. I definitely am going to give my whole heart to this organization, I owe a lot to them. I’m trying to make them as proud as possible. Obviously I wish things would have worked out in Texas because it was a big-league opportunity. But it’s exciting to be back.”
Last season was the first time he was back on the mound since closing out that no-hitter in the championship game for Somerset in 2022. Coleman appeared in a combined 17 games at four levels and had two saves, one hold, a 1.59 ERA and struck out 15 in 17 innings.
“It was great. I felt so happy to be out on a baseball field,” Coleman said. “Rehab is lonely and it’s a long road. Going back out, I could have gone five innings and given up 40 runs and obviously would not have been happy, but that’s where my head was at. I was back on the mound and that was such a big accomplishment after two and a half years. And last year went really well. I only threw like 20 innings and gave up just a run or two. All things considered, that was really good getting back into it.
“First time in Triple-A this year. First normal spring training I’ve had since 2022. New level, new challenges, so it’s been a good experience. It’s been a dream.”
Since combining with Beck on the no-hitter in Syracuse, things have been spotty for Coleman. He retired all four batters he faced to get the win in relief at Indianapolis on June 23rd and threw two scoreless innings to earn a save against Norfolk on June 30th. But in six appearances and 8.2 innings, he has allowed seven runs and 11 hits with six walks and eight strikeouts.
For the season, Coleman is 1-0 with one hold, two saves, and a 4.73 ERA in 24 games. He has 32 strikeouts in 32.1 innings. He has inherited 18 runners and allowed just three to score. Since April 18th, none of the seven runners he has inherited have scored.
“Until the month of June, overall I felt like I was making some good steps,” Coleman said. “I’ve kind of been like a coin flip this last month. A lot of it is the game of baseball. After missing a lot of time due to injury sadly last year and early this year, I think a lot of it is getting my feet back underneath me. So I’ve kind of been mindful of that. Now it’s just learn from your failures and try to do better. Take it a day at a time and try to stack some good outings together. That’s the game of baseball, especially as a reliever.”
The best advice Coleman has received in baseball was to leave it in the showers, whether it was a good outing or a bad one.
“Despite any rough outing that’s discouraging, I know it’s part of the game,” Coleman said. “If you get two outings a week and they both don’t maybe go the way you want, it obviously can get you in the dumps sometimes. But I can’t even tell you what I did in my last outing.
“When I was in college or even now, in the role of a closer, say I had a save. I’d see my parents and they’d be so happy and like ‘Great job!’ and I’d be not in a bad mood, but even keel. They’d be like, ‘What’s wrong?’ and I’d be like, ‘It’s good, it’s over with, I’ve got to do it again in two days. Maybe even tomorrow.’ Move on, it’s not worth taking home with you.”
Coleman is continuing to work on the little things that make the difference between a good outing and a rough one.
“It’s a long year – 150, 162 games,” he said. “As a reliever, maybe you’re going to get 50 outings. Just try to make the most of those 50 outings as good as possible.”
BOSTON, MA - JUNE 17: Assistant Coach Amile Jefferson of the Boston Celtics smiles after the game against the Dallas Mavericks during Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals on June 17, 2024 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It was a bit surprising, at least to us, when Amile Jefferson left Duke for the Boston Celtics, but it’s clearly worked out well for him.
Currently, the Celtics have him coaching their Summer League team in Las Vegas, and that’s just a chance to learn more.
In this article, he talks about learning from former Duke coach and GOAT Mike Krzyzewski, and also what he’s learned from Joe Mazzulla and his other colleagues with the Celtics coaching staff.
Boston is playing in Las Vegas, and a nice side benefit of that this year is that there was a Brotherhood gathering in Sin City.
NAGQU, CHINA - JULY 04: A herd of Tibetan antelopes graze on the Luquetang grassland on July 4, 2026 in Nagqu, Xizang Autonomous Region of China. The Tibetan antelope is a national first-class protected animal in China, mainly inhabiting alpine grasslands, meadows, and cold deserts at altitudes between 3,700 and 5,500 meters. (Photo by Li Lin/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images)
The first half of the SummerKnicks’ tenure in Las Vegas is over. That’s cause there is no way they make it to the knockout stage. And hey, not that we care! On to the links and notes.
The Knicks dropped to 0-2 in Summer League with a 70-49 loss to San Antonio, which brought them closer to the prospect of having an 82-0 season once real basketball starts next fall. No Scenes from Russell, so here are some notes from boxscore-watching G2.
Rookie flamethrower Tyler Nickel again led the SummerKnicks, scoring 16 points and making four more threes. He is now 10-of-21 from deep through two games, shooting 47.6 percent from distance, and one of only three players to hoist at least 10-plus threes per game in Las Vegas. Not counting Caleb Wilson (one-game sample), Nickel has the second-best 3P% among dudes launching more than 8 3PA per game.
Fellow neophyte Jack Kayil made his debut and finished with 12 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals in 21 minutes. He started slowly, then hit consecutive threes and showed some burst. Most importantly, however, was what Kayil said after the game, with the rookie still dead-set on staying in the USA instead of getting back to Germany: “My goal is to play in the NBA. That’s why I went into the draft.”
Pacome Dadiet followed his 20-point opener with 13 points on 4-of-12 shooting and another rough night from deep. He is now 2-of-13 from three through two games. There are flashes, but the efficiency is nowhere to be found, and I doubt anybody can predict, let alone know, what’s next for the Frenchmen.
Mohamed Diawara’s SL outings have been much worse, but our own Michael Zeno let everybody know Mo’s struggles are a “big nothingburger.”
Lots of folks asking about Liam Robbins this weekend in the comments. 0-for-2 yesterday, no freebies, two boards, one dime, five turnovers, and six personal fouls in 13 minutes. Overall, a minus-14 plus/minus.
I have no clue if it’s an SL rule to only use a maximum of 15 players in a single game, but I find it hilarious you don’t find time for two dudes in a 70-49 meaningless game and hand out a couple DNP-CDs to them at this stage. Condolences to Treysen Eaglestaff and Jaden Akins.
The New York Post’s Stefan Bondy said after Saturday’s game that he “wouldn’t be surprised” if Kayil stays with the Knicks. We’ll see, but if you ask me, this little dude is for some reason starting to be a bit too much of a pain on the rear. Nothing to do with his game, don’t get me wrong, but he and his comments ever since he got drafted are not giving me good vibes at all—I might be dying alone on that front.
Staying with what might or might not happen next season, remember the Knicks still have a couple of roster spots open and to be filled before (or nearly) the regular season start. That’s why they may still explore a bigger center move during the season, which is the question CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn tried to answer on Friday. A possibility to get there:
“It wouldn’t be terribly surprising to see the Knicks dangle Deuce McBride in such a trade, either. They’re loaded with guard depth, and McBride is entering the final year of his team-friendly, three-year extension. If the Knicks are going to shop for a bigger name, it might make more sense to do so during the season, when filling out roster spots is cheaper and they’d therefore have a bit more flexibility to trade for someone making actual money.”
Jose Alvarado Sr. gave the New York Post a wonderful look at his son’s journey from the Roberto Clemente projects to becoming an NBA champion with his hometown team. Worth the damn full read. Here’s a little quotable I found extraordinary (yes, you can also find golden nuggets in the photo captions!).
Alvarado Sr. knew the Knicks would win Game 5 of the Finals due to the significance of the number. “He got traded on the fifth. His daughter’s birthday is on the fifth. He’s representing the five boroughs. We live on the fifth floor,” he said.
OAKAAK DaQuan Jeffries will play for EuroLeague newcomers Besiktas next season. As incredible as it sounds, and even if he only logged 2.7 MPG, DQJ appeared in 17 (!) games during the 2024 (!!) season. These are the final point differences in the games he played: 44, 25, 24, 22, 21, 21, 19, 18, 17, 14, 11, -1, -9, -14, -17, -22, and -23. He logged seven seconds in that one-point loss.
New Lakers franchise player Austin Reaves praised the Knicks’ chemistry as the key ingredient for their championship. Too bad for Austin, LA decided to literally start from scratch this summer.
ESPN gave San Antonio an A+ for Wembanyama’s five-year, $252 million extension. Meanwhile, the NBPA is mad and “not a fan” of Victor Wembanyama’s discount deal (he gave up possibly $50 million, including escalators, while Jalen Brunson left $113 million on the table).
NBPA executive director David Kelly admitted the union should have fought harder against the apron system during the last CBA negotiation, arguing the mechanism is decimating teams and forcing decisions that are based on cost control. At the end of the day, Kelly said that players should not have to “carry the burden” of keeping rosters together.
Ja Morant introduced himself to Portland as not a “bad guy,” hinting that guns are not in his pockets anymore, wanting a fresh start, and proclaiming his love for nature. I see those clips, and I want to love Ja. Can’t wait for this new chapter to start.
The Bucks re-signed Gary Trent Jr. to a four-year, $64 million contract extension coming off a vet-min deal and his worst season ever. Yes, you read that right, and that’s why there are already calls for an investigation over potential cap circumvention.
The Aces get a 48-point win over the Mercury, the largest win in franchise history 👏 pic.twitter.com/tXNYcK8bDo
HOOVER, AL - MAY 21: Pitcher Liam Peterson #12 of the Florida Gators celebrates closing out an inning during the SEC Baseball Tournament Quarterfinals game between Florida Gators and Alabama Crimson Tide on May 21, 2026, at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama.(Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Guardians beat the Marlins and selected four players in the first four rounds of the 2026 major league draft.
Patrick Bailey doubled in some key insurance runs late yesterday. Since June 1st, Guardians catchers have had a 118 wRC+ which is crazy. Bailey has a 120 wRC+ in high leverage spots for his career (44 in mid-leverage, 75 in low leverage). That shouldn’t be sustainable but, hey, I won’t complain if it is. Steven Kwan is closing in on a month’s of 110 wRC+ play, so let’s hope that continues. However, his defense is just always good and Travis Bazzana and Kwan combined on an insanely high baseball IQ play yesterday:
“6-foot-5, 225 pounds and throws from a steep vertical arm slot. He throws a high-carry four-seam fastball that averages around 96 mph and has been up to 100. His fastball has clear plus traits and power, but he needs to improve his command to avoid throwing middle-middle heaters that get hit hard. All three of his secondaries are standout swing-and-miss pitches. A high-spin slider in the upper-80s is his go-to secondary and a clear plus offering with sharp biting action that helped him generate a 51% miss rate. He throws the pitch nearly half the time against righties. Against lefties, Peterson will mix in a mid-80s changeup and a curveball around 80 mph. While Peterson has less confidence and feel for his changeup and curveball, they are also potential plus pitches that vex hitters when he can consistently put them over the plate. Peterson has tinkered with his arm slot over the years and is a below-average strike-thrower. He has obvious upside potential as a starter, but will need to make strides with his control and command to stick in that role.”
“Schmidt has a 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame and an easy, repeatable delivery that features a three-quarters slot and a consistently balanced finish. He has a starter’s operation and advanced feel to spot a three-pitch mix. After touching 97 mph on the 2025 circuit, Schmidt pushed his fastball up to 98 during his senior spring season and was consistently throwing the pitch in the mid 90s. He attacks the zone with his fastball and can locate it to both sides of the plate to get ahead in counts and set up his secondaries. Schmidt’s 78-82 mph breaking ball is his go-to secondary and a slurvy in-between offering that varies between a curveball and slider. He throws it with solid movement and shape to build on, and scouts believe he’ll be able to add a harder true slider in the future. Against righties, Schmidt is confident in a mid-to-upper-80s changeup that he sells with great arm speed and has above-average potential.”
“He’s a 6-foot, 190-pound outfielder with dynamic speed and one of the best center field gloves in the class. Broussard missed time early in 2026 with a hamstring injury but hit .344/.436/.472 in 44 games while stealing 25 bases. Broussard has an old-school leadoff skill set, with a hit-over-power profile and plenty of speed. He added a bit of strength and traded some contact for power in 2026 but still profiles as a 50-55 pure hitter with below-average game power. Broussard has an upright and open setup, with a leg kick to get his swing going. He makes solid swing decisions, keeps his strikeouts in check and has a downhill bat path that is more conducive to groundballs and low line drives. That approach and swing should work for his tool set, because Broussard is a 70-grade runner who creates pressure on infield defenses and opposing batteries. He’s a high-volume and efficient basestealer who went 56-for-64 (88%) in two years at Houston. Broussard is one of the better center field defenders in the class.”
“He’s a 6-foot-2, 220-pound lefthanded hitter with a buttery smooth lefthanded swing and sound approach. He has a quiet setup and a low-maintenance swing with a slight uphill path but an all-fields approach and a knack for the barrel. He can drive the ball with solid power to both gaps and has gotten to consistent pullside home run power with metal bats, but his wood bat track record is more limited, and his raw power could be more conducive to a hit-over-power profile. That could make his defensive profile a challenge, as Lewis is a below-average runner and more of a first base defender than a third baseman. He was Wake Forest’s primary first baseman in 2026, and might be able to handle an outfield corner, but his value will primarily come from the damage he’s able to do in the batter’s box.”
You can read Baseball America scouting reports here. You can also listen to their post draft podcast and at the very end of it, minute 56, they rave about the Guardians’ draft. So, that’s good!
Rounds 5-20 resume today at 1PM ET on MLB Network and the Guardians wrap up pre-All-Star Game play at 1:40 PM ET, looking for a sweep of the Marlins.
AROUND MLB:
The Twins and White Sox won and Tigers and Royals lost.
FAWNSKIN, CA - JUNE 12, 2026: A paddle boarder goes bow fishing with his dog on board on a picturesque summer day on the North Shore at Big Bear Lake on June 12, 2026 in Fawnskin, CA. (This was photographed from a distance on a boat therefore I couldn't get the man's name) (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The Braves have certainly put fans through the ringer after the hottest first two months ever. A June swoon has somewhat leveled off into a 5-6 July with JR Ritchie set to finish off the first half. The team is reeling after several injuries. We asked internally if the team could use the time off. I don’t know about the Braves, but I know I need a break.
I am ready for a break from the starting rotation, which consists of Chris Sale and the giant The Price is Right wheel. I am ready to be away from the ugly side of the bullpen. I am tired of Walt Weiss consistently placing games at the mercy of the ugly side of the bullpen. I am ready for a break from this offense and its fits and starts. And I’m definitely tired of this fanbase and their fits and drive-by not-so-very-hot takes.
So are you ready for a break? Will you be ready to jump back in and play starter roulette and the Tim Hyers Batting Approach of the Day on Friday? Well sure, if we must. What else are we gonna do? We want to keep up with college football and track all 105 perma-free-agents on your favorite team’s roster? Are we following the Falcons eternal drive to 8-9? Any CFL weirdos in here? Don’t mind me, I’ll be over here playing Mario Kart with my kiddo until we get back.
