DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 14: Colorado Rockies President of Baseball Operations Paul DePodesta looks on during batting practice prior to the game between the San Diego Padres and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Monday, September 14, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Casey Paul/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
As the postseason rages on, other teams like the Colorado Rockies are already looking ahead to 2027.
This offseason will bring a lot of reflection on how the current roster is constructed and potential moves to help the 2027 squad. A major part of that is looking back at how 2026 went and the right process forward. For the first time in a long while, the Rockies will take an important first step with a press conference today from the front office.
Over the last several years the Rockies hid from the public after the season. When there were having press conferences with general manager Jeff Bridich and manager Bud Black, things always boiled down to, “The players need to just play better.”
Not exactly a model of accountability.
Well, the improved communication from Paul DePodesta and company this year has been refreshing. Now, they have a chance to address the media about what went well, what went wrong, and what needs to happen next as part of the climb to contention.
Now, let’s get to some news from the Rockies and the league!
Rockies News & Links
6 Realistic MLB Trades That Could Happen In 2026-27 Offseason | Bleacher Report — The offseason will be full of hypotheticals and mock trades. Kerry Miller proposes that the Texas Rangers try to trade for Hunter Goodman. In Miller’s trade proposal, the Rockies would receive right-handed pitching prospects Caden Scarborough and AJ Russell, and catching prospect Malcolm Moore.
2027 Rockies Will Have One Major Strength That Might Surprise You | Rockies on SI — Dickens also pinpoints the outfield as a major strength for the Rockies heading into 2027. With Jake McCarthy and Cole Carrigg locked in, along with Mickey Moniak, and the option of Condon as an outfield option, there is a chance for a lot of production.
MLB insider says Cubs are ‘unlikely’ to re-sign .841 OPS outfielder | Yahoo! Sports — The Chicago Cubs have a pair of outfielders becoming free agents. Unfortunately, they are likely to only be able to sign one of them. Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki will be popular free agents for teams and the Cubs are hoping to at least retain Happ if possible while potentially losing a bidding war for Suzuki.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - AUGUST 27: Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on August 27, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Having lost home-field advantage after a Game 2 defeat, the Dodgers head to Atlanta needing at least one win to bring the series back to Dodger Stadium. Following heavy bullpen involvement in the previous matchup, it is all about the starting pitchers—Chris Sale and Yoshinobu Yamamoto will meet each other for the first time since Sale’s complete-game win over the defending champs back in late August.
A hero in last year’s postseason, Yamamoto makes his 2026 playoff debut with his team already facing a tricky situation, especially if the offense can’t find a way to string hits together more successfully. The Dodgers visit Truist Park, having yet to record a hit with a runner in scoring position in the first two games of this National League Division Series.
One relevant factor in the decision to have Yamamoto pitch Game 3 of this series is just how dominant he has looked on the road this season, with a 1.77 ERA in 12 starts away from Dodger Stadium. Yamamoto’s only road loss since the start of June came in that pitcher’s duel against Sale, in a game in which there was really no way of beating the Braves’ left-hander, who held the Dodgers scoreless through nine.
Assessing potential lineup decisions, the Dodgers sat Muncy against a lefty opener in Game 2; he came in during the game and homered in his second straight playoff appearance. It’s also worth pointing out that Miguel Rojas got a hit in his only at-bat, likely leading to another instance of Muncy coming off the bench.
OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 6: Torii Hunter #48 of the Minnesota Twins looks on against the Oakland Athletics during game three of the American League Division Series at McAfee Coliseum on October 6, 2006 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The last weekend of the 2006 season was magical for the Minnesota Twins. After chasing the Detroit Tigers all summer, they final caught—and overtook!—the Kitties on the season’s final day. This afforded the 96-66 AL Central champion Twins the opportunity to stay home and welcome in the 93-69 AL West champion Oakland Athletics for the ALDS.
As I began getting into the swing of my junior year at the University of Minnesota-Morris, I rearranged my entire schedule to make sure I was in front of my 21” dorm room TV for every pitch.
Game 1 (10/3/06)
Enthusiastically energized by the wild finish, 55,542 Dome denizens came out for the postseason opener—a premiere Johan Santana vs Barry Zito pitching matchup.
Undergoing a career-revitalizing season (39 HR, 114 RBI, 140 OPS+) after leaving the Chicago White Sox, the “Big Hurt” Frank Thomas gave the A’s an early lead with a T2 solo home run, followed closely by a Marco Scutaro RBI double. 2-0 OAK.
Rondell White returned the dinger favor with a B7 blast off Barry—but before much momentum could materialize it was Thomas again crushing Jesse Crain to keep Homer Hankies in laps. 3-1 OAK.
Fighting back in B9, Michael Cuddyer led off with a triple. Alas, nothing further than a Torii Hunter RBI groundout materialized as the Athletics nabbed a 3-2 win a 1-0 series lead.
The pitching matchup certainly lived up to the billing—with Zito (8 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K) just slightly better than Santana (8 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 8 K) in the column that matters most.
Game 2 (10/4/06)
55,710 more of Twins Territory hermetically sealed inside the Dome for what would have been a Francisco Liriano bump turn if not for injury.
Instead, the baseball went to Boof Bonser—who coughed up RBI knocks from Scutaro (him again) & Jason Kendall in T5. 2-0 OAK.
This time, though, the Twins fought back almost immediately! In B6, back-to-back jacks from Cuddyer & Justin Morneau off A’s SP Esteban Loaiza knotted the score at two apiece.
But then came the moment that would define this series:
In T7 with one on and two out, Mark Kotsay roped a sinking liner into shallow CF. Torii Hunter raced in to snag it—the whole fanbase knew he would.
Until he didn’t…
In a short 5-game ALDS, this was the moment where it felt like things had slipped away. Oakland would add on another run for the 5-2 final margin.
Game 3 (10/6/06)
Shifting to the Coliseum, Minnesota sent Brad Radke to the bump. Gritting it out through a torn labrum, the longtime Twins vet gave it all he had—but it simply wasn’t enough (4 IP, 3 ER). Home runs from Eric Chavez and Milton Bradley proved the decisive blows.
A Hunter homer and White RBI single gave a gasp of hope—extinguished when the wheels came off in a 4-run B7 OAK inning off Dennys Reyes & Crain featuring a bases-loaded walk to Nick Swisher and a Scutaro 3-run double.
Athletics 8, Twins 3 was the last-out tally.
A season-long division title chase that lasted from Game 1 to Game 162 was snuffed out in just 96 hours.
The overriding feeling in Twins Territory at the time was “if only Liriano had been here” (and/or if Radke had a fully-intact shoulder) this would have been “the year”.
Adding insult to injury: the A’s would go on to be swept by the Detroit Tigers—the team the Twins eclipsed in the regular season—in the subsequent ALCS.
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 15: Pitcher JT Quinn #22 of the Georgia Bulldogs pitches during the Spring Classic college baseball game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on April 15, 2025 at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
It’s rare for the Mike Elias-led Orioles to use a moderately high draft pick on a pitcher. But that conventional wisdom went out the window a bit in the 2025 draft, when they selected Joseph Dzierwa and JT Quinn with a pair of second round picks just 11 slots apart. Based on how the duo has performed in the pro ranks to this point, maybe it’s something the organization should consider doing a bit more often.
Dzierwa is the better known player at this point. The lefty is the highest draft pitcher of the Elias era. His big year has vaulted him up the prospect charts, and it is possible that he could help the big league squad as soon as next summer.
Quinn came out of the draft as something of a developmental arm. The Tampa native began his college career at Ole Miss. There, he was a starter as a freshman, then a reliever as a sophomore. The talent was evident, but the outcomes were not (6.83 ERA in 2023, 8.84 ERA in ’24). He went looking for a new home going into his crucial junior campaign, and found a spot at Georgia, where he would nestle into a swingman role.
Transferring to another SEC school unlocked something for Quinn. He maintained his high strikeout (12.3 K/9) and walk (4.3 BB/9) rates, but this time was also limiting hard contact (5.8 H/9). That created a bit of buzz for him going into the Cape Code league that summer, where he boasted a fastball that sat at 95 mph just before the draft and struck out 25 batters across 14 innings. The Orioles liked what they saw, plucking him with the 69th overall pick.
Quinn’s first professional action had to wait until this year, and boy was it a good showing. Across two levels he had a 3.39 ERA while striking out 129 over 116.2 innings. He appeared as a starter in 25 of his 26 outings and seems poised to continue his development in the rotation, for a while anyway.
The Orioles skipped Quinn right over Low-A Delmarva, and instead sent him to High-A Frederick to begin the season. That was already a sign that they expected this guy to move fast through their system, regardless of the role he eventually locks down.
Things came pretty easily to him with Frederick. His ERA by month from April through June was 2.70, 3.77, and 2.73. His batting averages against were similarly solid: .224, 220, and .185. It was in July where he hit the skids a bit. He allowed 20 runs (17 earned) across 18.1 innings. That was the result of a .321 batting average against, including six home runs.
But clearly that was a moment from which Quinn was able to grow. He bounced back to start August, allowed one earned run across 11.1 innings in his first two starts of the month. That was all the proof the Orioles needed to give him a promotion to Double-A Chesapeake for the final few weeks of the season. Quinn’s season totals with Frederick were quite good. He struck out 10.19 per nine and (crucially for him) walked just 2.69 per nine. Home runs were an issue for him at one point, but it didn’t seem to be a continual problem.
After his promotion, the 22-year-old cruised through his final five starts of the season with the Baysox, never allowing more than two runs in any one outing and pitching to a 1.96 ERA over 23 total innings. The walks did creep back up (4.70 BB/9), but he kept the ball in the park (0.78 HR/9) and laid a nice base heading into 2027.
Quinn’s repertoire is electric. He sits 95-97 with the fastball and has flirted with triple digits. His mid-80s slider is considered his best pitch, breaking hard away from right-handed hitters. There is an upper-70s curveball that isn’t particularly effective at this point, but serves to keep hitters off balance. And he has been working on a changeup throughout the season that is still in its early stages.
There are questions about whether Quinn can stick as a starter moving forward. Command was a concern for him coming out of college, and he will likely need to prove that at every level. And while his arsenal of pitches shows promise, it is still largely a fastball/slider mix where his fastball isn’t as dominant as you would expect it be given the velocity on the offering. The introduction of that changeup is a big deal for him because if he can make it into a weapon, then he becomes more viable against left-handed hitting.
The 116.2 inning workload he took on in his first pro season is a big one. It appears he came out of it healthy as well. He didn’t hit the IL at all this year and consistently made his weekly start all season long. An ability to get out to the mound with regularity is as important to his development as the pitch shaping. Recurring trips to the shelf would be another sign that his future could belong outside of the rotation.
For now, the Orioles are treating Quinn like a starter, and he has shown enough development in 2026 to keep him in that role for the time being. But there are prospect experts that believe he fits better in a relief role long term, mostly due to his lack of a third legitimate pitch and history of limited command. That decision is something the Orioles will likely hold off on for as long as possible. This is the organization that successfully turned Kyle Bradish into a starter despite some scouts thinking he fit best in the bullpen, and they also held off on moving D.L. Hall to a relief role for years before it was evident that it needed to happen. They won’t be rushed here.
Quinn is likely slotted for a return to Double-A Chesapeake to begin the 2027 campaign. He threw just 23 innings at the level in 2026, and his 1.35 WHIP would indicate that he has more work to do. If he can impress and stay healthy for a few months there, then he should be ticketed for a promotion to Triple-A Norfolk at some point. There is an outside chance that the Orioles would consider a big league debut for Quinn late in ‘27 as a reliever, similar to what they did with Luis De León this past season, but that shouldn’t be considered likely. His main goals for next season will be changeup development, improved command, and a promotion to Norfolk.
SAN DIEGO, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: A general view of Petco Park prior to Game One of the National League Wild Card Series presented by AbbVie between the Chicago Cubs and the San Diego Padres on Tuesday, September 29, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
The 2026 MLB Playoffs continue today with both NLDS games.
This is a rare time where I am not, necessarily, writing in the past. Which is pretty exciting for me. I mean, I am still writing this the day before, but there were no NLDS games on Monday so I can actually give up-to-date information for once! We gotta take our wins where we can.
So, let’s get into it!
First up, the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers will take on the Atlanta Braves at 3:00 p.m. PT. The series is currently tied 1-1. This game will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1/Fox One with national radio coverage on ESPN Radio. As of the time this is being written, the Dodgers intend to start right-hander and reigning World Series legend Yoshinobu Yamamoto against Braves left-hander Chris Sale.
After that, the visiting Milwaukee Brewers hope to knock out the San Diego Padres at 6:30 p.m. PT as they currently have a 2-0 series lead. All broadcast information is the same as above. The Brewers will start right-hander Dustin May against Padres right-hander Nick Pivetta.
Personally, I hate rooting for the Braves but I am contractually obligated to root for the not-Dodgers and they fit the bill. I’m also rooting for the Padres, because more baseball!
Spaniard beats Jiri Lehecka 7-6, 6-4 after shaky start
Jannik Sinner out for rest of year with knee injury
Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jiri Lehecka in the final of the Japan Open to win his first individual title since February. Playing only his third tournament since returning from four and a-half months out with a wrist injury, Alcaraz recovered from a shaky start to defeat Czech Lehecka 7-6, 6-4.
It is a second title in a row in the Japanese capital for Alcaraz, who showed patchy form at times but finished with a strong performance. The Spaniard told Sky Sports: “I’m really happy to be able to lift a trophy again. It’s been a while and obviously it’s extra special after my injury.
We polled writers within the USA TODAY Network who cover Big Ten schools for their preseason predictions, all-conference teams and preseason awards ahead of Big Ten media days, which run Oct. 8 in Rosemont, Illinois.
It was a two-horse for the top spot between Michigan State and Illinois, with the Spartans edging it out by one point (280-279).
Jeremy Fears Jr. was selected as preseason Big Ten Player of the Year and was the only unanimous All-Big Ten pick. Here's a look at how our writers think the 2026-27 season will shake out in the Big Ten:
Big Ten basketball preseason poll, predicted order of finish
Michigan State
Illinois
Michigan
UCLA
Nebraska
Purdue
USC
Ohio State
Indiana
Iowa
Wisconsin
Maryland
Minnesota
Oregon
Washington
Northwestern
Rutgers
Penn State
2026-27 preseason All-Big Ten basketball team
FIRST TEAM
* denotes unanimous selection
Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State*
Pryce Sandfort, Nebraska
David Mirkovic, Illinois
Elliot Cadeau, Michigan
Nolan Winter, Wisconsin
SECOND TEAM
Trey McKenney, Michigan
Andrej Stojakovic, Illinois
John Mobley Jr., Ohio State
Pharrel Payne, Maryland
Rodney Rice, USC
Also receiving votes (listed by vote count): Coen Carr, Michigan State; Markus Burton, Indiana; Aiden Sherrell, Indiana; Tomislav Ivisic, Illinois; Nikola Kusturica, UCLA; Trent Perry, UCLA; KJ Lewis, USC; Tariq Francis, Rutgers; Stefan Vaaks, Illinois; Alijah Arenas, USC; Daniel Jacobsen, Purdue; Braden Frager, Nebraska; C.J. Cox, Purdue; Cade Tyson, Minnesota; Omer Mayer, Purdue; Eric Dailey Jr., UCLA; Jaylen Petty, UCLA; Anthony Thompson, Ohio State; JP Estrella, Michigan; Jacob Cofie, USC.
Big Ten basketball preseason Player of the Year
Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State
Fears averaged 15.2 points and a league-leading 9.4 assists per game last season on way to a first-team All-Big Ten selection. He landed on numerous All-America teams last year and enters the 2026-27 season on shortlists for national player of the year.
Also receiving votes: David Mirkovic, Illinois; Trey McKenney, Michigan.
Big Ten basketball preseason Newcomer of the Year (non-freshman)
Stefan Vaaks, Illinois
Brad Underwood sure does love him some European. This 6-7 Estonian transfer from Providence averaged 15.8 points per game last season and led the Big East with 91 made 3s (at a 35% clip). The Illini lost their top 3-point shooters from last season (Keaton Wagler and Ben Humrichous), so Vaaks fills a key void.
Also receiving votes: Markus Burton, Indiana; KJ Lewis, USC; Aiden Sherrell, Indiana; Jaylen Petty, UCLA; Moustapha Thiam, Michigan.
Big Ten basketball preseason Freshman of the Year
Anthony Thompson, Ohio State
A top-10 national recruit, Thompson is the highest-ranked Buckeyes recruit since Jared Sullinger in 2010 and the program's first McDonald's All American since D'Angelo Russell in 2014. The 6-9 Ohio native has a 7-3 wingspan averaged 24.9 points and 7.9 rebounds and has range that extends to the 3-point arc.
Also receiving votes: Nikola Kusturica, UCLA; Christian Collins, USC; Quentin Coleman, Illinois; Bab Oladotun, Maryland.
Poll participants: Nathan Baird (IndyStar), John Steppe (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel), Tyler Tachman (Des Moines Register), Connor Earegood (Detroit News), Adam Jardy (Columbus Dispatch), Zach Osterman (IndyStar), Jordan Mendoza (USA TODAY), Sam King (Lafayette Journal & Courier), Jerry Carino (Asbury Park Press), Chris Solari (Detroit Free Press), Graham Couch (Lansing State Journal), Michael Niziolek (Bloomington Herald-Times), Tony Garcia (Detroit Free Press), Chad Leistikow (Des Moines Register), John Leuzzi (USA TODAY Network), Craig Meyer (USA TODAY Network).
Dial has shifted, especially for Fleming’s Test side, before winter tours of South Africa, Bangladesh and Australia
Last year, England’s winter started in New Zealand, where preparation for their first game in any format for nearly a month amounted to two relaxed training sessions, a cultural welcome ceremony involving local Māori elders and, before that, a team-bonding mini-break in Queenstown.
“Obviously there was a bit of golf played and a few drinks here and there and team meals and whatnot,” Harry Brook said of that trip. “It was just about trying to spend a bit of time together. They’ve got some amazing golf courses and we were lucky enough to get on a couple of them. A couple of the other lads managed to get out and enjoy Queenstown. Everybody had a lot of fun.”
On Monday, NHL legend Alex Ovechkin announced that this will be his last season in the NHL before retirement, meaning that the Philadelphia Flyers will stake claim to an honor nobody else can.
Ovechkin, 41, will face the Flyers for perhaps the final time in his NHL career on April 10, 2027, when the Washington Capitals sniper visits Philadelphia in the last game of the 2026-27 regular season for both teams.
Of course, the Capitals and the Flyers could always meet in the playoffs at some point, though the way the Flyers have played to start their season, that seems pretty unlikely.
But, if the Flyers don't give any other reason for excitement in Game 84, true hockey fans will turn up to see the send-off for The Great 8, the greatest goal-scorer in NHL history with the all-time record of 929 goals and counting.
"It's sad, but it is what it is. We have an unbelievable team for this year and 82 games left. Let's make the playoffs, let's have fun and enjoy the moment," Ovechkin said, addressing his teammates in the locker room in a video posted by the Capitals on social media.
Averaging an NHL career low 13:10 of ice time through Washington's first two games, Ovechkin has one assist and one shot on goal thus far, taking a backseat to newcomers like Jordan Kyrou and Alex Tuch as the Capitals aim to make his last season count.
Ovechkin's impact against the Flyers
Alex Ovechkin has 54 career goals against the Flyers. (Photo: Daniel Kucin Jr., Imagn Images)
It goes almost without saying that Ovechkin has long been a thorn in the side of the Flyers during a storied NHL career that has spanned 22 seasons and 1,575 regular season games and counting.
Fifty-four of Ovechkin's 929 career goals have come against the Flyers, according to Statmuse, and the star Russian winger owns 86 points in 82 career games against Philadelphia overall.
Flyers captain Sean Couturier and Ovechkin have played each other 50 times over their respective careers, with Couturier scoring 13 goals, 20 assists, and 30 points in those games, while Ovechkin posted 28 goals, 14 assists, and 43 points.
Another blast from the past: Flyers GM Danny Briere played Ovechkin in the regular season 29 times, scoring 10 goals, 12 assists, and 22 points in those games, whereas his Capitals counterpart potted 22 goals, 13 assists, and 35 points.
The playoffs were a different story, though, as Briere produced six goals, five assists and 11 points to Ovechkin's four goals, five assists, and nine points in seven games, when the Flyers went the distance to defeat the Capitals in the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs.
As long as physical health allows, Briere will be in the house as Couturier and the Flyers welcome Ovechkin to Philly for one last regular season game.
On Monday, Washington Capitals legend Alexander Ovechkin announced that the 2026-27 season will be his last one in the NHL. After 22 years on this side of the pond, the Great 8 didn’t say he would retire, just that it would be his last year in the NHL. In other words, he’ll likely head home and spend some time in the KHL, as so many Russians do when Father Time catches up to them.
At 41, the Capitals captain isn't as productive as he once was, but he remains a legend of the game and the all-time leading goal scorer. Once, people wondered whether he could beat Wayne Gretzky’s regular-season goal total of 894, and he did in 2024-25. He could still beat Gretzky’s all-time goal-scoring record. The Canadian has 1,016 goals if you include the playoffs, whereas the Russian has 1,006. It would take a fantastic postseason for the Caps, but it’s far from impossible. When Washington won the Stanley Cup in 2017-18, he scored 15 goals in 24 games.
As things stand, Ovechkin has 929 goals and 759 assists for 1688 points. In 22 seasons, he has faced the Montreal Canadiens 63 times, scoring 44 goals and adding 32 assists for 76 points. He's been a thorn in the Habs’ side over the years, and it’s fair to say the Sainte-Flanelle won’t miss him.
Fans may miss him, though, because he remains an impressive player to watch on the ice; who doesn’t remember his breakaway challenge at the All-Star Game in Montreal in 2009? The Tricolore will face him three times this season; the first two duels will be in Washington on October 14 and January 19, and once in Montreal on February 13, at 1:00 PM. As always on Superbowl weekend, the Bell Centre will host a couple of matinee games, and if you’ve yet to see Ovechkin play in person, this will be your very last chance to watch him take on the Habs. If your kid has never seen him play, there’s your chance.
Right now, very few tickets remain for that game, and the cheapest one is at $269. Secondary-market prices will likely rocket up. Still, Canadiens fans will no doubt salute the end of Ovechkin’s career beautifully in February, and it will be yet another marquee moment at the Bell Centre.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 4: Mascot The Coyote of the San Antonio Spurs high fives fans during the 2026 NBA Finals Legacy Project in San Antonio on June 4, 2026 at the Denver Heights Community Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
This month marks the ten-year anniversary of a partnership between the San Antonio Spurs and Methodist Healthcare. Per a Spurs press release:
The San Antonio Spurs and Methodist Healthcare celebrated the 10-year anniversary of their longstanding partnership, marking a decade of working together to support families and strengthen the San Antonio community through meaningful programs, special events and memorable milestones. To commemorate the anniversary, the organizations unveiled a limited-edition co-branded blanket that will be given to newborns at Methodist Healthcare hospitals this year, while supplies last.
Dan Miller, President and CEO of Methodist Healthcare, stated,
“For the past decade, our partnership with Spurs Sports & Entertainment has been about a shared commitment to South Texas. Whether it’s bringing joy to a patient on one of their hardest days, connecting with and learning from our care teams, or helping our community make informed choices about their health, the Spurs have been there alongside us. We’re grateful for their partnership over the past 10 years and look forward to all we can continue to do together for South Texas.”
From tradition such as the “baby races” to Spurs summer youth basketball camps, the partnership has created many memorable experiences. Over the years, Spurs players and coaches have made appearances at Methodist facilities bringing joy to patients during challenging times.
Frank Miceli, chief commercial officer at Spurs Sports & Entertainment, added,
“Methodist Healthcare is an outstanding example of what it means to be a mission-driven organization, with its world class doctors and staff working tirelessly to improve health outcomes in our city and provide comprehensive family care. Over the past ten years we’ve seen our partnership come to life in so many special ways, through youth sports, patient visits and more, and we look forward to many more years of working together to positively impact the health and happiness of our San Antonio community.”
Here’s hoping the relationship continues to spread goodwill for another ten years!
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PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 5: VJ Edgecombe #77 and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers goes up for the rebound during the game against the New York Knicks on October 5, 2026 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The new-look Philadelphia 76ers kicked off their preseason Monday night hosting the New York Knicks.
Well… sort of the new-look Sixers. As there tends to be for preseason, there were a number of absences, some more major than others. Joel Embiid, LeBron James, Tyrese Maxey, Anfernee Simons, Dominick Barlow and Adem Bona all missed the opening contest. Important to note though that Simons (muscle tightness), Barlow (back) and Bona (foot sprain) were the only ones out dealing with actual injury, according to Nick Nurse.
But that still left plenty of players to get early glimpses of in the Sixers’ preseason debut, which Philly won 120-97 (if you for some reason care about preseason game scores). Let’s watch some highlights and talk about it.
Jaylen Brown: good at basketball
First player reel of the 2026-27 Sixers (pre)season goes to Jaylen Brown, who looked absolutely dominant offensively on the floor tonight.
Brown looked absolutely dominant in his time out on the floor in the first half of this one, racking up 22 quick points in the first half (16:51 played) and showcasing an array of his skills from footwork in isolation to finishing at the rim to long-range shooting and his midrange pull-up.
To put it simply, he looked like the player that anyone who has watched the Celtics in recent history knows he is. He took the rest of the night off, deservedly so.
VJ Edgecombe looking like VJ Edgecombe, but better
VJ Edgecombe looks like an improved, stronger version of the player we got to know in his rookie season. Some shooting inconsistency, but good buckets and great assists fill his reel from tonight's preseason matchup.
There was already so much to like about Edgecombe after his excellent debut NBA season, but now he only seems to have gotten better — and stronger. The young guard still uses his footwork, not necessarily his strength and size, to get right through opposing defenses, but his noticeable bulk-up over the offseason has given him increased body control finishing in the air through contact. That was something that was a bit difficult for him in year one. His confidence leading an offense and as a passing guard looks to have improved over the summer as well, with Edgecombe making a number of really nice assists in this one.
Sure, it’s just preseason — the disclaimer we have to make for all of these observations — but VJ is playing with a ton of confidence and it’s not hard to see why.
(His night was also done at halftime.)
Jabari Walker doing a lot of things right
Last player reel for the night is a quick one for Jabari Walker, who really impressed me tonight with his long-range shooting and aggressive/effective rebounding.
Throughout this one, Walker was looking like a very viable small-ball five — no small task when pitted against Karl-Anthony Towns. Getting in the correct positioning to come up with rebounds on both ends (11 boards) combined with some very smooth shooting from long range (3-for-5 3PT) made for an impressive outing from Walker that has definitely earned him a closer watch as we continue through this preseason campaign.
Catch up on the whole game
In case you missed this one, here’s the full reel of highlights from throughout the contest. One game down, many to go! Welcome to the 2026-27 season.
In case you missed the Sixers preseason opener, here's the full highlights from the win vs. Knicks.
No LeBron, Embiid or Maxey tonight… but we got plenty of Jaylen Brown, Edgecombe and more to fill the reel! 👇 pic.twitter.com/R3bFHvmj8G
DENVER, CO - MARCH 25: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets shoots the ball during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on March 25, 2026 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. 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 Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
I still think the Nuggets will be good.
I do not know if they are as good as the name recognition makes them seem.
Jokić is so dominant that it is easy to overlook how questionable the rest of the roster looks, and this offseason did not really fix any of the things I was worried about.
Denver Nuggets: Over/Under 47.5 wins
Over: -130 Under: +105 To win NBA Championship: +2500 To win Western Conference: +1300 To win Northwest Division: +900
Last season: 54-28, third in the West, lost in the first round
Key additions: DeMar DeRozan, Marvin Bagley III, Alpha Diallo, Trevon Brazile, Bryce Hopkins, Lonnie Walker IV Key losses: Peyton Watson, Tim Hardaway Jr., Bruce Brown, Jonas Valančiūnas
My outlook on Denver is pretty bleak compared to what the name recognition suggests. They did not fix the bench. If anything, I think they made it worse.
Peyton Watson is the loss that bothers me most. He gave them size, athleticism, and defense off the bench, and Denver sent him to Cleveland after failing to work out a long-term solution. Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown are gone too, meaning a second unit that was already a problem lost multiple players who could actually be trusted.
And I do not think the replacements make a ton of sense around Jokić. DeRozan is still good, but he is 37, lives in the midrange, and needs the ball. Denver already has Murray and Jokić creating most of the offense, and putting another non-volume three-point shooter around Jokić is not exactly how I would be trying to maximize him. Bagley is another weird one. He can score and rebound, but he doesn’t space the floor and isn’t the kind of defensive center who gives Denver a completely different look behind Jokić.
The Christian Braun problem is still there too. Denver gave him a huge extension before last season, then watched his production fall from 15.4 points on 39.7 percent from three in 2024-25 to 12.0 points and 30.1 percent from three last year. He also missed almost half the season. The Nuggets are basically betting that he just becomes the previous version of himself again.
Then there is Gordon. He is incredibly important to everything Denver does, but he dealt with hamstring problems throughout last season and then had calf tightness in the playoffs. At 31, I do not think you can just assume he suddenly plays 75 healthy games. That matters because this roster is not deep enough to absorb injuries the way better teams can.
Oklahoma City is still loaded. San Antonio is ridiculous. Minnesota is good. Houston is good. Even Portland is getting better. Denver plays in one of the toughest divisions and conferences in basketball.
Jokić will win them a ton of games on his own. That is why I am not projecting some collapse. But 45 or 46 wins, a playoff spot, and another season where Jokić covers up a lot of structural problems feels completely realistic. At plus money, that is enough for me to understand the under. But 45 or 46 wins, a playoff spot, and another year where Jokić masks a lot of structural issues feels completely realistic. At plus money, I can understand the under.
CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 28: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers poses for a portrait during media day at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex on September 28, 2026 in Camden, New Jersey. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
“I think I’m going to stay in this new life for as long as I can,” I wrote back in April.
In retrospect, my Sixers soul probably just hadn’t spent enough time inside Grant to become active. Curses can have an incubation period. Nobody tells you that during a body swap!
When I wrote my last article in Grant’s body, the Celtics had just beaten the Sixers by 32 points in Game 1. Jaylen Brown was still in Boston. LeBron James lived safely across the country. I had escaped Philadelphia sports misery and landed inside a devilishly handsome Celtics writer with only mild lower-back pain.
By Game 4, Boston led 3-1. The swap was looking and feeling great.
Then I covered Game 5 at TD Garden and watched the Sixers stay alive from press row, a very professional place to experience the first symptom of a spiritual emergency. I took notes and tried not to stare too long at the Philadelphia celebration happening below me.
For Game 6, I went to a Boston pub in the Jaylen Brown jersey I had just bought. Philadelphia won again. A man beside me said, “they’ll take care of it at home,” like he was confirming a dinner reservation.
For Game 7, I was back inside the Garden with a credential, watching my former team become the first in NBA history to erase a 3-1 deficit against the Celtics.
Somewhere in Philadelphia, Vinny, my longtime neighbor, was probably dancing on a parked car. My landlord Joey had likely converted the laundry room into a members-only playoff lounge. My cousin Bobby’s favorite call-in show must’ve been fielding proposals to rename Broad Street to Edgecombe Avenue.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 02: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics embrace after the 76ers defeated the Celtics 109-100 in Game Seven of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at TD Garden on May 02, 2026 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. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Back in Boston, I was supposed to be writing about how the Celtics lost three straight. I had a theory, but I wasn’t sure Jeff would publish it.
What if I was the problem?
Maybe Philadelphia’s misery never belonged to the teams. Maybe decades of anxiety and misplaced trade-machine confidence had attached themselves to my soul and followed me into Grant’s bloodstream. Meanwhile, the real Grant was trapped inside my old body in Philadelphia. What if Celtics luck had traveled with him?
I tried to dismiss it. Teams have come back from 3-1 before. None had ever done it to the Celtics, a detail I buried beneath the Mike’s Pastry boxes piling up in Grant’s kitchen. But one historic collapse could be an accident, right?
The curse gets ambitious
Then, on July 1 around dinner time, a flurry of expletives rose through the floorboards from the apartment below.
I grabbed my phone.
Jaylen Brown had been traded to the Philadelphia 76ers.
The room tilted. Grant’s Jaylen bobblehead nodded from the shelf like he knew this was coming. I turned it toward the wall. It kept nodding, which I understand is how bobbleheads work. I still felt personally attacked.
Philadelphia got Jaylen Brown. Boston got Paul George, draft picks and a group therapy exercise centered around the word “optionality.”
Then the Sixers went on to add LeBron James. Because of course they did.
I leave Philadelphia for six months, and the franchise assembles Maxey, Brown, LeBron and Embiid. Meanwhile, all I got during my time there was a confetti cannon malfunction, burner accounts and the chance to believe Markelle Fultz would rediscover his jumper.
Vinny must be unbearable. Joey has probably added “championship proximity” to the list of fees beneath our lease. Bobby may already be painting the parade route directly onto Broad Street Edgecombe Avenue.
I considered contacting Grant. The swap had involved Twitter, lightning and an argument with a Celtics fan. Recreating two would be easy. The lightning required research. I paused my fifth consecutive viewing of Back to the Future, leaving Doc Brown dangling from the clock tower, to read what Jaylen Brown had said at Sixers training camp.
He explained that he was learning a new defensive vocabulary and needed to “download” his brain into a different algorithm. Tyrese Maxey said he had to reprogram his mind after years of viewing Brown as the enemy.
Jaylen Brown on learning the team's new defensive terminology and system. "Whole new system, whole new calls. I gotta download my brain, different algorithm, to make sure I'm not calling the wrong stuff because the names are different." pic.twitter.com/6xxq7M8r57
“I guess what everybody always says around here,” Brown said. “Trust the process.”
Three months. That is how long it took Philadelphia to get Jaylen Brown to say “trust the process.”
I spent years saying those words, mainly to myself in the mirror through tears and a forced smile. Jaylen had been there for one fiscal quarter and was already quoting from the Book of Hinkie. He spent a decade helping Boston beat the Process into powder. Now he was distributing pamphlets.
Then, in his Sixers preseason debut, Brown scored 22 points in 17 turnover-free minutes. By the time his third three went in, I was Matthew McConaughey behind the bookshelf in Interstellar, desperately trying to send my April self one message through spacetime: AVOID LIGHTNING.
At this point, calling it a curse felt less like superstition and more like basic pattern recognition. I opened seventeen browser tabs devoted to indoor lightning generation and local electrical codes.
Unfortunately, the Celtics might still be good
Over the next few days, however, something strange began happening around me.
Nothing.
Celtics fans were still optimistic. Optimistic! At a time like this!
Nobody enjoyed watching Brown leave, and even the trade’s defenders needed a long inhale before saying “financial flexibility.” But the city had not collapsed. My neighbor had convinced himself George was about to have his healthiest season in years. The kid down the street discussed Chris Cenac Jr.’s ceiling like she had conducted his pre-draft workout. A man on the T asked why I wasn’t higher on Hugo González. I hadn’t said anything about Hugo González. Apparently, that was the problem.
Tatum was back. Derrick White was ready to rebound. Payton Pritchard looked primed for another leap.
Joe Mazzulla, of course, wasn’t ready to join the preseason group hug. As Noa Dalzell reported from Charleston, he offered the kind of disclaimer usually omitted from team-building exercises.
“Every team you lead is the most together team right now,” Mazzulla said. “Because we haven’t traveled. No one’s gotten benched. No one’s been on a losing streak. No one’s gotten blamed in the media. No one’s had to go stand in the corner for 10 minutes and not get the ball.”
That sounded suspiciously reasonable.
The Celtics haven’t proved anything yet. Neither have the Sixers. Beneath all the offseason noise, both teams are 0-0.
For Boston to succeed, George has to stay healthy. Tatum has to look like himself. Boston must replace what Brown provided. Still, the Celtics won 56 games last season while spending most of it without Tatum. White and Pritchard remain, and the younger guys are starting to look like players Mazzulla can wholeheartedly trust.
This was an irritating discovery. I had assumed Celtics fans were confident because nothing truly bad ever happened to them. Now several bad things had happened, and they were walking around like the Celtics had merely chosen a higher difficulty setting.
Boston had given them plenty of reasons to be miserable this summer. They were excited anyway. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d let Philadelphia off that easily.
The 76ers just had the offseason I used to sketch on napkins after my second drink. Part of me is desperate to get home, but another part remembers what being a Sixers fan does to the human brain.
New players only give Philadelphia fresh material. The first time Embiid puts his hands on his knees to catch his breath, someone will announce that he spent the summer doing nothing. A missed Brown rotation will become evidence of a chemistry problem. LeBron will leave an empty seat between himself and a teammate, and by halftime Sixers Twitter will have decided he wants that guy traded for Bronny.
Give us the greatest roster ever assembled and we’ll still wait for the ceiling to cave in. We may even start arguing about which player caused it before anything has actually fallen.
CAMDEN, NJ – SEPTEMBER 28: Jaylen Brown #7, Joel Embiid #21, LeBron James #23, Tyrese Maxey #0, and VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers pose for a portrait on NBA media day on September 28, 2026 at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex in Camden, New Jersey. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
I looked at the weather app still open on my phone. Was I really trying to get struck by lightning so I could go back to worrying about Joel Embiid’s conditioning?
I closed it, along with every tab answering “Can a lightning bolt be manufactured safely indoors?”
Grant, if you are reading this in Philadelphia, cancel the trip to the clock tower. I hope you kept my fish alive. The plants in your place looked doomed before any of this became my responsibility, so that’s on you.
I hope you enjoyed the celebrations after the 3-1 comeback. I remain furious that you got Jaylen Brown and LeBron the moment I left town. If Philadelphia wins a championship while I am trapped inside a CelticsBlog writer, I will pursue every available legal remedy.
But the Celtics might still be good. Worse, I think I want to find out.
I’m not saying I’m never going back. I have learned my lesson about saying things like that.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 30: Vance Honeycutt #25 of the Baltimore Orioles poses for a photo during the 2026 Arizona Fall League media day at Scottsdale Stadium on Wednesday, September 30, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Happy Tuesday, Camden Chatters!
The postseason continued last night with the American League teams back in action. In the AL Central ALDS, the Chicago White Sox staged a come-from-behind victory with three runs in the sixth inning to go ahead and stay there. Guardians’ starter Gavin Williams struck out 11 but lasted just five innings. The Guardians head into Chicago facing elimination, which is a shame. I don’t have a strong rooting interest for either team, but it would have been nice for the home team fans to see a win. I guess there’s always game five!
The AL East ALDS is not going well for the Yankees. After the Yankees were almost no-hit in game one and lost 1-0, they fell apart defensively in game two. Having watched a lot of Orioles baseball, I am familiar with bad defense, and I am confident in saying that the Yankees looked terrible. The Ray pulled off the win and have a 2-0 series lead. Tomorrow the Yankees could be swept in front of their home crowd.
While the AL is off to travel, the NL is back tonight. They’ve switched cities, so the Dodgers/Braves are in Atlanta with the Brewers/Padres in San Diego. The Padres are down 0-2, so they need a win to stay alive. The Dodgers and Braves have split the first two games.
Us Orioles fans have to settle for the Arizona Fall League. The Peoria Javelinas, the team hosting Orioles prospects, lost last night 10-7. But it wasn’t Vance Honeycutt’s fault. The center fielder had two hits, including a home run, and walk. He also stole a base.
Ike Irish and Brandon Butterworth are also off to a quick start. Irish, who missed much of the regular season with a torn meniscus, has three hits in two games, including a home run. And Butterworth has hit two doubles and has taken three walks in three games.
Two pitchers in the Orioles system have also appeared in the first three games. Do you remember Braxton Bragg? He had TJ surgery in July 2025 and didn’t pitch in 2026 until now. He pitched three shutout innings on Sunday with three hits and two strikeouts. And Kiefer Lord struck out four batters in two innings on Saturday.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have five Orioles birthday buddies. Matt Wotherspoon’s (35) two-game MLB career happened with the Orioles in 2019. Radhames Liz (43) pitched in 28 games for the Orioles from 2007-09, then got another chance in 2015 with the Pirates. “Sweaty” Freddy García (50) played for seven teams in his 16-season career, including 2013 with the Orioles. Greg Walker (67) played the first 841 games of his career with the White Sox and the final 14 games with the Orioles in 1990. And Joe Frazier (not that one) played for three MLB teams in 1956, including the Orioles.
On this day in 1966, the Orioles defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-0 to take a 2-0 World Series lead. Jim Palmer pitched a complete-game shutout with four hits and three walks. The Orioles scored four runs off Sandy Koufax, but only one was earned as the Dodgers made a whopping six errors.
In 1969, the Orioles defeated the Minnesota Twins 11-2 to sweep the ALCS. Once again, Palmer pitched a complete game. He scattered 10 hits and two walks. The offense had 18 hits, with every non-Palmer batter picking up at least one. Paul Blair had five hits, including two doubles and a home run.
In 1973, the Orioles won game one of the ALCS over the Oakland Athletics, 6-0. Would you care to take a stab at who pitched the complete-game shutout? The Orioles scored three runs against Vida Blue in the first inning on RBI hits from Tommy Davis, Earl Williams, and Mark Belanger.
In 1974, the Orioles again played the A’s. This time, they lost. Dave McNally allowed two runs in 5.2 innings and the bullpen allowed three more. Thanks to key errors, one from Bobby Grich and one from Frank Baker, four of the runs were unearned. Baker had come in to play shortstop after Belanger was pinch-hit for.
In 1979, the Orioles defeated the California Angels in game four of the ALCS to earn a World Series berth. This time it was Scott McGregor with the GGSO. Ken Singleton had three hits and two RBI. Pat Kelly hit a three-run homer.
In 1983, the Orioles tied the ALCS 1-1 with a 4-0 win over the Chicago White Sox. Mike Boddicker struck out 14 as he, you guessed it, pitched a CGSO. Gary Roenicke reached base four times with a home run. Cal Ripken had two hits.
