Cameron outduels Skubal, but Royals still drop second straight

Noah Cameron throws a pitch
Jul 24, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Noah Cameron (65) pitches in the second inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

The Royals dropped yet another one-run game to the Tigers, their fifth in a row. But at least they didn’t give fans any real hope in this one as the Tigers won 2-1.

Here are two things that, had I said them two days ago, would not have made sense. The Tigers scored both of their runs in the first inning and Noah Cameron pitched seven scoreless innings. The Royals chose to use Beck Way as an opener in this one, but he loaded the bases before recording his first out. He almost gave up a grand slam to Riley Greene, but Isaac Collins managed to bring it back for a sacrifice fly. After a ground out, he allowed an RBI single to Hao-Yu Lee.

Noah Cameron looked as good as he ever has as the bulk reliever. He struck out 8 while allowing 2 hits and 3 walks in seven innings. I don’t know if using an opener for him will become the new norm or why it would have such a huge effect on him, but boy it worked tonight. One thing that stands out when looking at his pitch usage and stuff rates is that he really dialed back the four-seam fastball use in this one. For the season he has used it the most of any pitch at 27.2% despite it not being a particularly good pitch. Tonight he only used it 16.5% of the time, less than his cutter and changeup. He usually won’t use his cutter against lefties, but he was all too happy to do so tonight. That’s actually one of the changes I recommended on Royals Rundown earlier this week, so that was pretty gratifying.

Unfortunately, he was in a hole before he took the mound, and Tarik Skubal was on the other side.

In what may have been Skubal’s last start as a Tiger, he struck out 12 Royals – giving him 999 for his career. He also allowed four hits, all doubles. The Royals’ run came in the top of the fourth when Salvador Perez led off with a double and Nick Loftin came through with his own after two outs. The Royals’ other best opportunity came in the third inning when Isaac Collins led off with a double and Michael Massey walked. Tyler Tolbert put down a sacrifice bunt – in the third inning! And the Royals got what they deserved for such tactics when Carter Jensen and Lane Thomas struck out.

If you’re keeping track at home, that’s 7 scoreless for Cameron and 7.1 innings allowing 1 run for Skubal. I say Cameron outdueled him, but honestly it was just terrific pitching by both teams once Beck Way got past his first three batters. But those three counted, and the Royals lost.

In what might be considered a second bright spot, Jac Caglianone was feeling well enough to pinch hit for Starling Marte in the ninth and didn’t show any discomfort while flying out to shallow center.

The Royals will need to win tomorrow afternoon to have a shot at a series split. Michael Wacha (3.66 ERA, 4.37 SIERA) will face off against Casey Mize (2.79, 3.62). The game will be played at 12:10 PM Central.

NBA stars react to LeBron James’ shocking decision to join 76ers

LeBron James stunned the basketball world with his decision to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Of the final four suitors in the free agent sweepstakes, Cleveland and Miami seemed like the most probable landing spots for James. But the NBA’s all-time leading scorer shocked just about everyone with his two-year, $8 million deal with the 76ers.

Several former and current NBA stars reacted to the biggest NBA news of the summer.

Chris Bosh, a former championship teammate, was just as shocked as everyone else to learn of James’ final decision.

“Man, I didn’t see this one coming,” Bosh said in a video posted to his Instagram.

“I didn’t think he was gonna go to Philly, the weather and being cold. I was joking around that the old folks go to Miami and stuff like that. I guess not. The old guys still compete for championships, that’s what it’s about.

“This team is loaded. It was already pretty loaded. Now, I think this takes the Sixers overtop, not only as the favorites to win the NBA championship for next year but maybe for the next couple of years.”

On the Cousins podcast, Vince Carter didn’t mince words about James going to Philadelphia.

“That’s cheating,” Carter said jokingly, “because he doesn’t have to do much and still be him. Now your fifth starter has to guard one of those guys.”

Former Lakers teammate Danny Green was also stunned to hear James chose to sign a deal with the 76ers.

“I was like this can’t be real news, Shams is somebody hacking you, this can’t be real news, you know what I’m saying? Two-years, $8 million to Philly none of that was in the cards for me. So, yeah it was shocking, just as shocking as the Jaylen Brown news probably for me.”

There was also an unnamed former Lakers teammate of the 41-year-old, who told The Athletic he recalled James discussing how seriously he considered signing with the 76ers in 2018 before joining the Lakers.

NBA legend Charles Barkley has been vocal about his opinion on LeBron James. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Even Charles Barkley didn’t hold back in his reaction to James’ decision, going as far to say the four-time NBA champion stacks his team.

“The number one knock on LeBron for older guys like myself has always been, yo, man, you always stacking your team. He stacked it in Miami. He stacked it in Cleveland. He stacked it in LA. Now he’s stacking it in Philly. So that to me, I’m going to still have the same criticism I’ve always had,” Barkley said on The Stephen A. Smith Show.

Other athletes also weighed in on James heading east, especially those playing in Philadelphia.

Eagles star Saquon Barkley welcomed the NBA superstar via social media: “Welcome to the city? Let me know when you tryna tee it up @KingJames. “

Phillies star Bryce Harper, who made a free agency pitch to James last week, heaped high praise for the city and the imminent arrival of James.

“It’s obviously a great city to come play in, fanbase-wise, sports-wise. Feel like the city is in a really good spot with all the teams right now. Just a really good spot to be in,” Harper said.

Despite being the oldest active player in the NBA, James’ influence evidently spreads far and wide. Now, he’ll take his talents to the City of Brotherly Love.

Former Sharks Forward Signs in KHL

Former San Jose Sharks forward Justin Bailey has signed a one-year deal with Kazakh club Barys Astana of the Russian Kontinental Hockey League.

Bailey, who was drafted by his hometown Buffalo Sabres in the second round of the 2013 NHL Draft, joined the Sharks organization during the 2023-24 season. Initially, he signed just an American Hockey League level deal with the San Jose Barracuda, but after a month or so, he earned an NHL deal and was called back up to the NHL for the first time since the 2021-22 season. 

Bailey appeared in 59 games for the Sharks in his return to the NHL, playing bottom-six minutes on a struggling team. He scored five goals, having last scored during the 2017-18 season while still a member of the Sabres organization, and 14 points. At the end of the season, he was named the Sharks' nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, but the award ended up going to Connor Ingram of the Arizona Coyotes.

At 31 years of age, Bailey is heading overseas for the first time in his career. Since departing the Sharks organization, he had been a mainstay in the AHL for the San Diego Gulls, the Anaheim Ducks' affiliate.

Mammoth Donate Traded-In Jerseys to Vegas Golden Knights Foundation

The Utah Mammoth caused quite the stir during the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Before Game 3 against the Vegas Golden Knights, Mammoth owner Ryan Smith celebrated his team clinching the postseason for the first time by offering fans a unique opportunity— a jersey swap. 

“For any Golden Knights fans still left in Utah, come swap your VGK jersey for a new Utah Mammoth jersey on Friday at noon at the Delta Center,” Smith wrote in a post on X / Twitter.

The initiative was wildly popular with Mammoth and Golden Knights fans alike. People showed up in droves to wait in a line that wrapped well around the side of the Delta Center. The jersey exchange began at 12 p.m. MST; by 12:48, the team announced that they’d exchanged all available jerseys.

“Vegas hockey was on TV here,” said Mammoth owner Ryan Smith later that day. “And I think you could see that with the jersey exchange today. Everyone thinks I’m just trolling them, but no— I mean, it’s 50% trolling. But like, I think it’s way more out of respect for how [the Golden Knights have] grown. And I think that’s part of the responsibility, to slide over and let the new group come in, similar to how someone slid over for them to come in.”

If you’re wondering what happened to all those Golden Knights jerseys that fans traded in, we now have an answer.

Ryan Smith and the Utah Mammoth could have profited from the jersey swap, or even furthered the bit by destroying exchanged jerseys. Instead, they gave the Golden Knights jerseys to charity in a way that almost repaid Golden Knights fans for being good sports. The Mammoth donated the jerseys to the Vegas Golden Knights Foundation, an organization that serves as the primary charitable link between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Las Vegas community.

“The collected Golden Knights jerseys were donated by the Utah Mammoth to the Vegas Golden Knights Foundation,” wrote HELP of Southern Nevada in a Facebook post. “The Vegas Golden Knights Foundation then shared them with local nonprofits throughout Southern Nevada, including HELP of Southern Nevada.”

LeBron James on 'Abbott Elementary?' Reactions to superstar joining 76ers

The City of Bron-erly Love has welcomed a new superstar.

The basketball world was holding their breath all summer until Friday, July 24 when LeBron James announced that he is joining the Philadelphia 76ers.

The four-time NBA champion and league's all-time leading scorer was reportedly deciding between Philadelphia, joining Stephen Curry on the Golden State Warriors, a return to the Miami Heat or a comeback to his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Besides the sports world expressing their excitement, Philadelphia rejoiced at the news. The future Hall of Famer will join former NBA MVP Joel Embiid and 2024 NBA Finals champion Jaylen Brown, who was shockingly traded from the Boston Celtics earlier in the month.

Fans also had fun imagining James on a favorite Philadelphia-based sitcom and comparing him to another beloved figure from the city.

Here's the best pop culture reactions to James signing with the 76ers:

Philadelphia music artists are hyped LeBron James is a Sixer

While Philadelphia might be overshadowed by Los Angeles or New York in the music scene, it still has a strong stable of influential artists. Questlove posted a series of Instagram stories welcoming LeBron James. Meek Mill, Tierra Whack and Lil Dicky were also among those who celebrated the 22-time All-Star's announcement that he was going to play in their city.

James Poyser of The Roots had maybe the best response of the day when he made a Threads post saying, "LeJawn James!!!!"

The people want LeBron James on 'Abbott Elementary'

Quinta Brunson's sitcom "Abbott Elementary" is set in Philadelphia and has become part of the city's pop culture DNA. The award-winning show has seen cameos from Bradley Cooper, the Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia Flyers mascot Gritty and Philadelphia Eagles stars Jalen Hurts, Jason Kelce and Brandon Graham. Fans want LeBron to be next.

Brunson herself showed excitement at the NBA's all-time leading scorer joining her hometown team. She posted a series of Instagram stories with James' famous "Can't believe this my life" meme, a picture of them together with the caption "My goat" and a sly emoji in response to a fan who asked if the basketball superstar would appear on the show.

LeBron James is the 'reverse Fresh Prince'

In Akron, Ohio born and raised, on the playground is where he spent most of his days.

Several people on social media pointed out that LeBron James joining the Philadelphia 76ers is a "reverse fresh prince." In opposite order of Will Smith's popular '90s comedy, the NBA superstar went from Los Angeles to Philadelphia.

X user bobcattheUNC posted the final scene of the show where the Philadelphia-bred actor stands alone in the Bel Air living room after the Banks Family moved to the East Coast and suggested James is doing a similar move to his son Bronny. James was influential in getting the Los Angeles Lakers to draft his son.

Philadelphia welcomes LeBron James

People all across Philadelphia were welcoming. Pat's King of Steaks posted on their Instagram story and their rival Geno's Steaks made an elaborate post. Ice cream icon Frankie Two Scoops, the Theatre of Living Arts and the Philadelphia International Airport also expressed their appreciation.

The governor of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro, even declared a LeBron James Day!

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LeBron James on 'Abbott Elementary?' Reactions to superstar joining 76ers

Clay Holmes faces ‘unique scenario’ with Mets future hanging in balance as he recovers from injury

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Clay Holmes (35) reacts as he walks back to the dugout, Image 2 shows Clay Holmes pitching at Citi Field
Mets holmes

Clay Holmes is on the cusp of returning to the mound, but the chances of it being for the Mets seem slim. 

That fact is not lost on Holmes, who addressed the looming Aug. 3 trade deadline on Friday after his first minor league rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse.

In addition to recovering from a fractured right fibula over the past two-plus months, the veteran pitcher has also had to come to terms with the possibility of playing for a different team by the time he is fully healed. 

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“It’s different, for sure,” he said before the Mets opened a 10-game homestand against the Dodgers. “It’s just a unique scenario. I think the timing of just this injury, just the unforeseen kind of circumstances are with the team. I think all that together has just put together a very unique, weird scenario here. Sometimes it’s easy to let your mind wander, and there’s a lot of things out there that you can’t really control. You do know that there’ll be some impact on your future, but I think just as an athlete, especially me right now, I want to be pitching my best, whether that’s here or somewhere else these last two months. 

“I just need to really be locked in on just the things I can do, things I can do on the mound, and hopefully the other things take care of themselves.” 

Clay Holmes has been recovering from a fractured fibula. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST

Asked if extension talks between the Mets and his agent ever went anywhere, Holmes said he didn’t think “there was a ton there.” 

The 33-year-old has a $12 million player option for 2027 and is widely expected to decline in order to enter free agency this upcoming winter. Considering Holmes is one of the few bright spots on the team, the Mets certainly recognize him as one of their top trade chips. 

Holmes posted a 2.39 ERA over nine starts and 52 ²/₃ innings before getting struck by a comebacker on May 15. 

“I don’t know. We’ll see how this week goes,” Holmes said when asked what the next steps in his rehab are. “We haven’t really had a ton of discussion about it yet, but there’s always that part of you that is like, ‘Man, I can pitch in a game. And feel like I can pitch in the big leagues.’ I think some of that’s just kind of how you’re wired as an athlete. So we’ll just see where we’re at, seek everybody’s opinion. Feel good, feel ready to compete, feel like I can compete anywhere. We just see how this week goes to see what’s next.” 

Clay Holmes was one of the few positives for the Mets this season before his injury. Robert Sabo for NY Post

In his rehab start on Thursday against the RailRiders, Holmes gave up two runs on three hits, walked two batters and struck out two over 2 ¹/₃ innings.

He threw 28 strikes over his 51 total pitches. 

According to Holmes, the recovery process was pretty seamless.

He said he met all the timelines that were set before him and felt like there were “no huge roadblocks” at any point. 

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“I think in this timeline of being back, around or before August 1, was definitely ambitious,” Holmes said. “And you know, here we are looking at it. I think just the plan that the training staff has put in place has been great. We’ve executed it really well, and the ankle’s responded really well. It can be a tricky thing when you deal with a non-throwing arm injury because there’s just a balance of being able to keep the arm ready and keeping, in my case, the ankle in a good place and making sure you just don’t really … ankle may be good, but you still can’t over-push the rest of the body. 

“I think just the balance we’ve kept with that has been really good. So I’m really happy where I’m at and how I feel. Very thankful for that.”

Emma Stone films movie scene with Juan Soto at Citi Field in surreal moment

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Woman smiling as she poses with a baseball player and a camera crew, Image 2 shows Man in a blue cap and long-sleeved shirt on a baseball field talking to a woman with long, curly hair
Emma Stone Mets

Juan Soto can add actor to his résumé.

MLB’s highest-paid player was seen filming a cameo in the Mets dugout on Friday for an upcoming baseball romantic comedy called “The Catch,” starring Emma Stone and Chris Pine.

Stone was at Citi Field for the shot, which captured Soto exiting the dugout in a scene for the movie scheduled for release on May 21, 2027. 

Dave McCary, who is married to Stone, is directing the film produced by Universal Pictures. 

New York Mets left fielder Juan Soto (22) reacts after he flies out in the eighth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Citi Field, Sunday, July 12, 2026, in Queens, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

According to The Hollywood Reporter, plot details are being kept close to the vest.

There is word, however, that Stone portrays “the most hated woman in baseball.”

Pine reportedly plays a baseball player. 

Tim Robbins, Sissy Spacek and “Saturday Night Live” breakout star Ashley Padilla have also been cast in the movie.

While Robbins is set to play Stone’s father, Spacek will be playing an aunt. 

Jose Caballero’s pitch clock reality setting in as search for clarity stalls: ‘Ain’t figuring this out’

New York Yankees shortstop José Caballero reacts after being called out on strikes.
José Caballero is pictured arguing with an umpire during the Yankees' July 22 game.

PHILADELPHIA — José Caballero insists he is not mad

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His reaction the last few days to the league tweaking its pitch clock rules (or interpretations) in response to his season-long routine in the batter’s box would suggest otherwise, but even after an off day Thursday, the Yankees utilityman said he was still lacking clarity on what he could and could not do. 

“I’m not mad at anyone,” Caballero said Friday before going 0-for-3 in the Yankees’ 1-0 win over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. “I just want to be a baseball player.” 

Pitch clock rules state that a batter must be in the box and alert to the pitcher by the time there are eight seconds left on the clock. Caballero did that Wednesday (he was actually alert at nine seconds) but was still hit with a pitch-clock violation because, as he has done all season, he spent the seconds before the eight-second mark in the box but looking down until the last possible second. 

Unbeknownst to Caballero and the Yankees, MLB decided to crack down on his tactics beginning Wednesday, restricting hitters from attempting “to deceive a pitcher into beginning their windup or coming to the set position.” 

José Caballero is pictured arguing with an umpire during the Yankees’ July 22 game. Robert Sabo for the NY Post

Caballero, though, does not see it as deception but rather his routine, which meant entering Friday’s game against the Phillies — he did not play the nightcap of Wednesday’s doubleheader — he was still trying to figure out a new routine in the batter’s box. 

“I have to see from when I get in the box,” Caballero said. “We’ll see.” 

On Friday, Caballero seemed to be a mix of despondent and still ticked off as he discussed his new reality. His first four answers to questions on the subject were all one word. He had a brief conversation with the league between Wednesday’s games — he said Mike Hill, MLB’s senior vice president of on-field operations, was on the phone and then passed it to “someone else” — but it only lasted a few minutes and clearly was not satisfactory, in his view. 

Caballero indicated again that he felt like he is getting picked on, but that he would not continue trying to push the issue. 

“They [the league] are above and they control everything,” Caballero said. “We ain’t figuring this out. They say what they had to say. They’re the league, they control [things]. I just have to obey.” 

Aaron Boone said he has also had multiple conversations with Hill about the issue — as he has all season — and indicated they “have to be” OK with where things stood as of Friday. 

Asked if it was worth Caballero continuing to push the issue, Boone pushed back. 



“Worth what?” Boone said. “Worth having a routine and getting in there and being alert at nine seconds? I mean, I’ve heard the thing of, ‘He’s the only one that does it.’ Every hitter is the only one that does something. At the end of the day, they decide the rules. We have to try to comply with them, which we certainly have done, but obviously there needs to be some kind of adjustment, so we’ll do that. 

Aaron Boone argues with an umpire July 22. Robert Sabo for the NY Post

“At the end of the day, it’s about going out there and playing and being productive. That’s what we’re trying to do.” 

To that end, aside from all the back-and-forth with his routine in the box, Caballero has not been productive consistently enough with the bat. Over his last 25 games entering Friday, he was hitting just .193 with a .549 OPS, part of the reason (along with struggles from fellow shortstop Anthony Volpe) why the calls for top prospect George Lombard Jr. have only grown louder in recent days. 

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“Kind of up and down,” Boone said of Caballero’s at-bats over the past month. “He’s had some big at-bats. … I think as a group, we’ve all gone through it a little bit where everyone’s probably capable of a little bit more. We’ve kind of all gone through it a little bit together. As a result, as a team over the last month, we haven’t been as good as we expect offensively. We all need to get going a little bit more.” 

But Boone did not sound worried about Caballero losing his edge — annoying pitchers by playing the game within the game — because of the new rule interpretation. 

“He’s a killer,” Boone said. “He knows how to play and he’ll do what he needs to do to adjust.”

Sabres Grades: Thompson Hits Familiar Plateau, Powers Buffalo To Terrific Season And Grade

Tage Thompson (USA TODAY Images)
Tage Thompson (USA TODAY Images)

The Buffalo Sabres had a roller-coaster season in 2025-26, but their 45-15-5 record at the end of the season resulted in Buffalo’s Atlantic Division title. The Sabres got to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs by beating the Boston Bruins in Round 1, but they lost in seven games to the Montreal Canadiens in the second round. 

But in this year’s collection of TheHockeyNews.com’s grades for Buffalo players, coaching and management will largely be positive. When you finally end your franchise’s decade-and-a-half playoff drought, you earn some positive reactions from fans, friends and media. And that’s what was true of the Sabres this past season.

Buffalo is far from a perfect team, but most, if not all of their players deserve an above-average grade for what they did in 2025-26. And in this particular file, we’re looking at the Sabres’ top player – star winger Tage Thompson:

Tage Thompson

Position: Right Winger

Grade: A

The Skinny: Thompson has been Buffalo’s most important offense-producer, and this past season, he was the Sabres’ top offense-producer, with 40 goals and 81 points in 81 games. That’s not the best point-total in Thompson’s nine-year NHL career – that came in 2022-23, when he generated 94 points in 78 games – but Thompson hit the 40-goal mark last season, doing so for the third time in his career.

Thompson’s salary cap hit of $7.1 million – which runs for another four seasons – makes him one of the league’s best financial bargains. But make no mistake – he’s still under tremendous pressure to get Buffalo deeper in the post-season. And that’s not going to be easy. In fact, in a drastically-improved Atlantic Division, it will be extremely difficult just to get into the playoffs.

Still, if Thompson continues thriving as a play-finisher and a major offense contributor, the Sabres figure to be a playoff team next year. The bigger question about Thompson concerns what he’ll do in the 2027 post-season. This past spring, Thompson generated 10 assists and 15 points in 13 playoff games while earning 19:58 of ice time in his first-ever NHL post-season. Sabres coach Lindy Ruff gave Thompson 19:15 of ice time in the 2025-26 regular-season, also a career-best for Thompson. So he’s made the most of his increasing usage.

This past year was the first year Thompson played 81 games or more, and now that veteran winger Alex Tuch has departed for the Washington Capitals and defenseman Bowen Byram has been traded to the Chicago Blackhawks, they’re going to rely more than ever on Thompson to produce as much offense as possible. 

Thompson will be Buffalo’s top-line winger for the foreseeable future, but if the Sabres are going to push deeper in the 2027 playoffs and beyond, they’re going to need Thompson to evolve into even more of a difference-maker. Five of Thompson’s 25 career regular-season game-winning goals came in 2025-26, and if that number increases next year, the Sabres are going to be even happier with Thompson’s contract than they are today.

Thompson isn’t a top-10 talent in the league, but he ranked No. 32 in this year’s ranking of the NHL top players, and the Sabres are only going to go as far as he and Buffalo’s other core members carry them. Thompson is currently in his peak years, but he’s still got room to grow his game. And if he can elevate to a 50-goal-scorer – which certainly isn’t out of the question for him – Thompson could lead Buffalo to a championship victory.

Thompson did virtually everything asked of him in 2025-26. And although the Sabres’ season ended sooner than they’d hoped it would’ve, Buffalo brass have to be pleased with the Sabres’ season in the macro, and Thompson’s season in the micro.

And that’s why Thompson deserves an ‘A’ from us. He’s delivered on just about every count, and he should get his flowers for helping power Buffalo to desperately longed-for results.

St. Louis Cardinals Game Discussion vs Cincinnati Reds Friday

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - MAY 15: Dustin May #3 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches against the Kansas City Royals at Busch Stadium on May 15, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The St. Louis Cardinals begin a crucial 3-game series against their NL Central rivals Cincinnati Reds Friday night. Dustin May will take the mound for the Cardinals while the villains Reds will start RHP Rhett Lowder. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15pm central time and the TV broadcast will be handled by Cardinals.tv.

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Former Avalanche Stanley Cup Winner Starts New Career at Hockey Powerhouse

Jack Johnson has found his next chapter in hockey, and it takes him back to his home state.

The former Colorado Avalanche defenseman and Stanley Cup champion is joining Ohio State University's women's hockey program as an associate coach, marking the first coaching position of his post-playing career after a brief stint in NHL scouting.

Johnson, who helped the Avalanche capture the Stanley Cup in 2022, spent three seasons in Colorado across two separate stints. While he wasn't the flashiest player on a roster loaded with stars, he became a trusted veteran presence in the locker room and a dependable depth defenseman during one of the most successful stretches in franchise history.

After retiring following the 2024-25 season, Johnson initially stayed in the NHL by accepting a pro scouting role with the Vancouver Canucks in January. That opportunity proved to be short-lived, as he has now departed the organization less than a year later to move behind the bench.

The coaching opportunity also brings Johnson back to Ohio, where he grew up before becoming one of the country's most highly touted hockey prospects. The former No. 3 overall pick in the 2005 NHL Draft played 19 seasons in the NHL, appearing in 1,228 regular-season games with the Los Angeles Kings, Columbus Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks, and Avalanche.

Johnson finished his NHL career with 77 goals and 265 assists, but his greatest accomplishment came in Colorado, where he lifted the Stanley Cup during the Avalanche's 2021-22 championship run.

Now, he'll look to help build another winner.

Johnson joins an Ohio State women's program that has emerged as one of college hockey's premier powers, winning NCAA national championships in both 2022 and 2024. Instead of mentoring NHL veterans, he'll now help develop the next generation of elite players as he begins what could be a long coaching career.

Image

David Stearns makes clear the problem with Mets trading Francisco Lindor

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows David Stearns speaks to Mets reporters on July 24, 2026, Image 2 shows Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) reacts after he grounds into a fielders choice during the 7th inning when the New York Mets played the Chicago Cubs in the second game of a split double-header Wednesday, June 24, 2026 at Citi Field in Queens, NY
David Stearns; Francisco Lindor

This wasn’t a guarantee that Francisco Lindor will remain a Met past the Aug. 3 trade deadline, but David Stearns didn’t suggest the shortstop will be elsewhere, either. 

The team’s president of baseball operations met the media ahead of a 10-game homestand that kicked off with a 4-2 loss to the Dodgers on Friday, and in his 18-minute briefing was peppered with questions about his plans to sell off assets. 

One of those pieces could potentially be the 32-year-old Lindor, a five-time All-Star who has struggled during an injury-riddled season. 

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“I’m not going to rule out or in any specific player on anything,” Stearns said. “I don’t think that’s wise for me to do. What I will say is, we’ve got a group of young players and we’ve got some potential Hall of Famers, future Hall of Famers, that we view as our core. We expect them to be our core.” 

It has been reported that the Mets are willing to listen on Lindor, although actually dealing him is another matter. He is in the fifth year of a 10-year, $341 million contract. Owner Steve Cohen admitted recently during an appearance on “The Show,” The Post’s podcast with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman, that Lindor and Juan Soto didn’t get along a year ago in their first season as teammates, but that relationship has improved. 

Perhaps the biggest thing standing in the way of a Lindor trade is that the Mets, according to both Cohen and Stearns, are trying to win next year. This isn’t a complete teardown. They wouldn’t be better without him, barring an incredible return. Lindor also has no-trade rights as a 10-and-5 player. 

David Stearns speaks to Mets reporters on July 24, 2026. AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

Lindor — who was 0-for-4 on Friday — recently broached the subject. 

“It doesn’t bother me when it’s coming from outside sources. When it’s more inside, that would bother me. But that’s not happening,” he said. “I try to stay away from it. I try not to read it or really talk about it. It’s just an unnecessary distraction. But I am human. I have a family and they all talk and they all hear it. But since it’s not happening in here, it’s OK.” 

It has been a difficult season for Lindor. He has been shaky defensively and was slashing an underwhelming .233/.315/.398 with a .712 OPS entering play Friday. He also has dealt with an assortment of injuries. He has appeared in 47 of the Mets’ 104 games. 

Stearns was asked if he considers Lindor part of the core he mentioned and declined to say, though it seems clear that the two future Hall of Famers he referred to are Soto and Lindor. 

“What I said was we have a group of young players who we’re really excited about,” he said. “We have a core of guys who are likely headed to Cooperstown one day, and we would consider that group of players our core. I’m not going to get into specifics of who exactly they are, who we’re not going to trade right now.” 

Stearns didn’t offer much substance in this press conference, other than to say he’s extremely disappointed the Mets find themselves in this position as sellers and while he has to do what is the best for the franchise, the hope is this deadline will put them in a better spot for next year. 

“We have to be open-minded,” he said. “I’ve been very clear, Steve’s been very clear, that we expect to compete in 2027. We have to keep that in mind. 

Francisco Lindor could be moved ahead of the trade deadline. Robert Sabo for NY Post


“We also have to make moves that we believe are right for the organization. And, so, we’re sitting here nine, 10 days out from the deadline, and we’re not going to close any paths down right now.”

Miguel Rojas on decision to visit Capitol Hill, White House: 'I'm representing the Dodgers'

Sen. Alex Padilla speaks while joined by (from left) Miguel Rojas, Dodgers president Stan Kasten and manager Dave Roberts.
Sen. Alex Padilla speaks while joined by (from left) Miguel Rojas, Dodgers president Stan Kasten, manager Dave Roberts and Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Capitol Hill on Thursday. (Finn Gomez / Getty Images)

Miguel Rojas’ off day in Washington started early. Before visiting the White House, he and fellow World Series hero Will Klein and manager Dave Roberts met with members of Congress on Thursday morning.

“Other than going to the White House, there were a lot of people from California, senators from California that are not just people who work for the government, but they’re Dodgers fans as well,” Rojas said Friday before the Dodgers’ series opener against the Mets. “So it’s pretty cool to give people that watch games and support us throughout the year [an opportunity] to get to see us.”

Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) posted on X, “Think we can do this every year, @Dodgers?” with three photos — one of himself with their back-to-back World Series trophies, another posing with a World Series ring on his finger, and a group shot that included Rojas, Roberts, Klein and Dodgers president Stan Kasten.

Read more:Dodgers visit Trump at White House to celebrate World Series win

Rep. Luz Rivas (D-North Hollywood), whose district includes several San Fernando Valley neighborhoods, posted on social media that she thanked Rojas for hitting his tying home run in Game 7of the World Series.

“Thank you to Miguel and the team for stopping by Capitol Hill,” she posted on X. “We can’t wait to welcome them back again next year (with a THIRD trophy, perhaps?...).”

The Dodgers’ visit to the White House on Thursday frustrated the portion of their fan base that wanted their team to stand up against the president’s anti-immigration policies.

Only two players on the active roster who were part of the 2025 World Series team did not attend: shortstop Mookie Betts, who told reporters he’d rather spend time with his family, and reliever Edgardo Henriquez, who declined to comment via Dodgers PR.

“This is something that I don’t really think about [being] political,” Rojas said of visiting Capitol Hill and the White House. “...I’m representing the Dodgers, and I’m going to these events just because I’m part of the Dodgers, and the Dodgers are deciding to go there. And I feel, as a professional, your job doesn’t just stop when the game is over. You have to do some things outside the field that sometimes are tied to success and to the things that you do on the field. So, for me, it’s a privilege to get the opportunity to go to a place where you will never be if you don’t have success in sports.”

Roberts, who has also talked about separating the visit from politics, kept his review brief.

“It was good,” he said. “It was an honor to be there.”

Ohtani update

Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Saturday, his second since receiving an injection in his left knee at the beginning of the All-Star break.

“That’s the beauty of where we’re at right now,” Roberts said. “We’re not going to push him. There’s constant conversation going on each day. But the main thing is with Shohei and this pitching thing is to remain nimble.”

Even if Ohtani’s bullpen goes well, Roberts said he probably won’t be ready to return to the rotation next week.

“That’s too early,” Roberts said. “I feel good that it won’t be next week.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Rockies play the Brewers’ game in 5-2 series-opening win

Jul 24, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano (11) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

The Colorado Rockies played the Milwaukee Brewers’ kind of game better than the Brewers did Friday afternoon.

Colorado attacked Shane Drohan with hard contact, created pressure on the bases, and turned productive outs into runs. Tomoyuki Sugano used his seven-pitch mix to keep Milwaukee from settling into a comfortable look, while the bullpen covered the final 3.2 innings without allowing a run.

The Rockies built a 4-1 lead by scoring in the first, third, and fourth innings. Christian Yelich and Brice Turang supplied Milwaukee’s only damage against Sugano with solo home runs, but TJ Rumfield answered with a pinch-hit RBI double in the seventh to extend the advantage to 5-2.

Milwaukee made one final push in the ninth with back-to-back singles against Jordan Romano, bringing the tying run to the plate with nobody out. Romano recovered by retiring Joey Ortiz, Gary Sánchez and Yelich to secure the win.

The Brewers entered the afternoon 26-7 in series openers under two-time reigning NL Manager of the Year Pat Murphy. They also entered allowing fewer stolen bases than any team in baseball.

Colorado showed little concern for either fact.

With the win, the Rockies improved to 42-63, while the Brewers fell to 64-39. Sugano earned the victory, Drohan took the loss, and Romano recorded his eighth save on the season, his fourth with the Rockies.

Sugano keeps changing the picture

Tomoyuki Sugano made one sequencing mistake to begin the bottom of the first, and Christian Yelich punished it.

Sugano opened the game with consecutive 87.9 mph cutters. The first missed off the plate, but the second came back over the zone, and Yelich drove it 413 feet to center at 105.5 mph.

Sugano spent the next four innings doing the opposite.

He used seven pitches and refused to give Milwaukee a steady look. His 24 splitters led the mix, followed by 20 sinkers, 18 cutters, and 16 four-seam fastballs. He also worked in six sweepers, six sliders, and three curveballs.

The raw stuff was not unusually sharp. Sugano’s velocity was down slightly, his movement largely resembled his season norms and he delivered first-pitch strikes to only 48% of the hitters he faced. The variety still produced 12 whiffs on 44 swings, including five against the splitter and four against the four-seam fastball.

Milwaukee put two runners aboard with one out in the third, but Sugano retired Yelich and William Contreras to keep the lead at 3-1. He then settled into his best stretch of the afternoon.

Sugano retired the Brewers in order in the fourth, finishing the inning by getting Jake Bauers to chase a splitter below the zone. He carried that momentum into the fifth.

Joey Ortiz saw a sinker, cutter, and splitter in a five-pitch strikeout to begin the inning. Sugano then put the full mix on display against David Hamilton.

He opened with an 82.2 mph sweeper, followed it with a 93.1 mph four-seam fastball, changed speeds again with an 87.1 mph splitter and finished the at-bat with a 92.8 mph sinker.

Hamilton saw four pitches, four different movement profiles and nearly an 11 mph velocity spread.

That was Sugano’s afternoon in miniature. He did not overpower Milwaukee with one pitch; he kept changing the hitter’s picture until there was no comfortable guess left.

Sugano completed another clean inning and had retired eight straight hitters when Brice Turang came to the plate in the sixth. Turang drove a 93 mph four-seamer 434 feet to center at 108.6 mph, but Sugano had kept the bases empty and limited the damage to another solo home run.

Trouble found him as the workload began to show. William Contreras followed with a 103.9 mph line-drive single to center, and Sugano later walked Garrett Mitchell as his pitch count reached 93.

Warren Schaeffer turned to Victor Vodnik with two runners aboard and one out. Vodnik struck out pinch-hitter Andrew Vaughn, then covered first after Troy Johnston fielded Jake Bauers’ high chopper to end the inning without allowing either inherited runner to score.

Sugano came out of the dugout and hugged Vodnik as he walked off the field.

Sugano finished with two runs allowed on six hits across 5.1 innings. He walked one and struck out five. Both runs came on solo homers.

Ninety-three pitches through 5.1 innings was not ideal, but it was also a reflection of how Sugano gets outs. Without much strikeout margin, he had to earn nearly every one of them.

Rockies make Drohan work

Shane Drohan brought better velocity than his season averages, but the Rockies never let the extra life on his pitches become the story.

His four-seam fastball averaged 95.5 mph, while his curveball, cutter and changeup were also up from their normal velocity. Drohan used six pitches and generated 11 whiffs, but Colorado combined hard contact with aggressive baserunning and productive outs.

The Rockies began applying pressure in the first.

Kyle Karros lifted a high fly into no man’s land near the shallow right-field line. Luis Lara, Jake Bauers and Brice Turang converged, but Lara pulled up as the three fielders closed on one another. The ball fell fair, kicked off Lara and skipped back toward the infield, allowing Karros to reach second.

Cole Carrigg followed and was visibly unhappy when a first-pitch fastball above the zone was called a strike. He stepped away, reset and smoked Drohan’s next pitch, an 88.1 mph changeup, for an RBI double to left. The ball left Carrigg’s bat at 100.4 mph and traveled 371 feet.

Hunter Goodman followed with an RBI single, giving Colorado a 2-0 lead before Drohan could settle into the afternoon.

The Rockies struck again in the third. Jake McCarthy lined a triple to right, and Karros drove him home with a sharp single. Lara recovered the ball and threw Karros out trying to advance to second, but Colorado had restored its two-run lead.

The fourth inning showed another way to score.

Willi Castro opened the frame by ripping a 104.4 mph line drive into left field. He then stole second against a Milwaukee team that entered the day allowing an MLB-low 0.35 stolen bases per game.

Troy Johnston grounded out to move Castro to third, and Mickey Moniak lifted a sacrifice fly deep enough to bring him home.

That was the Rockies at their most complete. Hard contact put Castro aboard. His legs moved him into scoring position. Johnston traded an out for 90 feet, and Moniak finished the sequence.

The Rockies have too often watched that kind of opportunity dissolve somewhere between second base and home plate. This time, they moved the runner, put the ball in the air, and took the run.

Drohan still had stretches of control. He struck out six and completed two 1-2-3 innings, including a clean fifth and a scoreless sixth. Colorado was not creating constant traffic, but they scored in the first, third and fourth by repeatedly converting the chances it did create.

Drohan returned for the seventh and walked Moniak in a left-on-left matchup before Pat Murphy went to the bullpen. Schaeffer countered by sending the left-handed TJ Rumfield to pinch-hit for Tyler Freeman against right-hander Grant Anderson.

Rumfield made the move count immediately, lining a double down the right-field line. Moniak scored without a throw, and Rumfield cruised into second with his 22nd double and 53rd RBI.

Drohan’s velocity was up, and his arsenal had enough to miss bats. The Rockies still found several ways to beat him. They hit mistakes hard, stayed composed through difficult at-bats and manufactured a run when the game called for something simpler.

For much of the afternoon, they were playing Brewer ball better than the Brewers.

Bullpen finishes the job

Victor Vodnik inherited two runners from Tomoyuki Sugano in the sixth and kept both from scoring. He struck out pinch-hitter Andrew Vaughn, then covered first on Troy Johnston’s play to retire Jake Bauers and end the threat.

Vodnik followed with a scoreless seventh, and Antonio Senzatela worked around a two-out infield single in the eighth. Senzatela attacked the zone, threw first-pitch strikes to all four hitters he faced and struck out Brice Turang before handing a 5-2 lead to Jordan Romano.

Romano made the ninth uncomfortable.

Andrew Vaughn singled to center, and Bauers followed with a sharp single to right. Romano had thrown first-pitch strikes to only one of the first five hitters he faced, and Milwaukee suddenly had the tying run at the plate with nobody out.

Pitching coach Alon Leichman visited the mound, and Romano found another gear.

Joey Ortiz popped out under the infield-fly rule, Romano blew away pinch-hitter Gary Sánchez for the second out, and Christian Yelich lined out to Johnston in right to end the game.

Romano allowed two hits and was not especially sharp, but he retired three straight hitters once the inning reached its most dangerous point. The bullpen combined for 3.2 scoreless innings, and the Rockies held on for a 5-2 win.

Final thoughts

Tomoyuki Sugano earned his 10th win of the season, improving to 10-4 after allowing two runs across 5.1 innings. He is the first Rockies pitcher to reach double-digit wins since Germán Márquez won 12 games in 2021.

TJ Rumfield delivered the game’s final run with his pinch-hit RBI double in the seventh, then added a single in the ninth. His 22 doubles and 53 RBI both rank second among National League rookies.

Luis Lara wanted no part of the three-body collision that allowed Kyle Karros’ first-inning double, but he showed no hesitation at the wall in the sixth. Lara tracked Cole Carrigg’s drive to right and made a leaping catch at the top of the fence to take away extra bases.

Milwaukee entered the game ranked 30th in MLB in home runs, yet both Brewers runs came on solo shots from Christian Yelich and Brice Turang. The Rockies did not homer, instead scoring five runs through hard contact, baserunning and situational execution.

Colorado went 3-for-8 with runners in scoring position and produced two two-out RBI. Milwaukee finished 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and did not record a two-out RBI.

Willi Castro successfully challenged Milwaukee’s league-best stolen-base prevention in the fourth, swiping second before scoring on Mickey Moniak’s sacrifice fly. Ezequiel Tovar was caught stealing to end the ninth, capping a difficult all-around game in which the struggling shortstop went 1-for-5 with two strikeouts.

Up next

The series in Milwaukee continues Saturday evening, with the Rockies hoping for a better turn from Ryan Feltner. The right-hander enters at 3-4 with a 5.48 ERA across 14 starts and is coming off an especially rough outing his last time out.

The Brewers will counter with left-hander Robert Gasser, who is 2-4 with a 4.91 ERA in 10 starts. First pitch is scheduled for 6:10 p.m. MT.


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Why Vince Carter feels the 76ers adding LeBron James is ‘cheating’

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Joel Embiid (21) and LeBron James (23) Los Angeles Lakers will be in the 76ers starting lineup this season. , Image 2 shows A bald man wearing a white polo shirt with a small flag logo on the chest
lebron vince carter

Vince Carter thinks the 76ers with LeBron James are going to be stacked.

The 76ers and LeBron James agreed Friday to the NBA’s veteran minimum on a two-year deal, capping off a major overhaul to their roster this offseason.

“That’s cheating,” Carter said one day before James was added by Philly on the show “Cousins with Vince Carter & Tracy McGrady.”

Carter clarified by saying, “That’s cheating if he goes there, because he doesn’t have to do much to still be him.”

Carter noted that the 76ers are loaded on a roster that will include Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown and V.J. Edgecombe.

Philadelphia also added Labaron Philon Jr. at No. 22 overall in the draft while also bringing in Dean Wade, Anfernee Simons, and former Knicks center Ariel Hukporti.

Vince Carter on the NBA on NBC set after Game 5 of the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs on May 26, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images

The 76ers are also expected to bring back Adem Bona, Dominick Barlow, Dalen Terry, Johni Broome and Justin Edwards, who will provide depth on the roster.

Instead of asking the 41-year-old James to carry a franchise, Philadelphia can deploy him alongside Embiid, Brown, Maxey and Edgecombe.

James averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds last season with the Lakers, proving he’s still an All-Star-caliber player in production, not just in name.

James was also the Lakers’ most effective player in the playoffs last season, averaging 23.2 points, 7.3 assists and 6.7 rebounds, leading Los Angeles to a Round 2 appearance, where they were without Luka Doncic and had Austin Reaves for six of 10 games.

Joel Embiid (21) and LeBron James (23) will be in the 76ers’ starting lineup this season. NBAE via Getty Images

The Sixers now feature one of the NBA’s deepest collections of proven talent, with a former MVP center in Embiid, one of the league’s fastest young guards in Maxey, an All-NBA-caliber wing in Brown and arguably the greatest player in league history in James.

The 76ers have immediately been bet up to being one of the favorites in the Eastern Conference, along with the Knicks.

Although the 76ers will likely not have James and Embiid for portions of the season due to expected injury management and possible actual ailments, given James’ age and Embiid’s history.

James missed 22 games last season, while Embiid hasn’t played at least 40 regular-season games since 2022-23 and has often faced injuries during the playoffs, as he did this past spring.