He has been putting up video game numbers for so long that we’re almost inured to them in the same way our olfactory senses stop responding to a constant smell.
“Obviously he’s one of the best scorers to ever play this game, if not the best,” Antetokounmpo said. “Not right now. Of all time. I feel like some people are scared to say that. But it’s got to be out there.”
Dončić has led the league in scoring twice and is on pace to do so a third time. He’s averaging a blistering 38.3 points per game, 8.3 points more than second-place Stephen Curry. Here are the points Dončić has put up in the last five games: 42, 45, 37, 41, 52.
Yet somehow we’ve never thought of Dončić as an all-time scorer.
That needs to change.
While Curry is the consensus greatest shooter ever, different players have been thrown into the conversation for all-time greatest scorer, including Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain and even Kevin Durant, the latter of whom is a beacon of consistency but isn’t going to regularly explode for 50-plus points.
Dončić deserves to be in that club.
Luka Doncic (77) of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles during a game against the Miami Heat at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Monday, Nov. 2, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
He has a career scoring average of 29.32 points, trailing only Jordan (30.12) and Chamberlain (30.07).
And Dončić is only 27 years old. He’s still in his prime. He’s only getting better.
Before JJ Redick became the Lakers’ coach in June 2024, he said Dončić “has the best brakes in the fu–king world” on his former podcast, “The Old Man & The Three.”
“What he does is there’s a constant change of pace,” Redick said. “He’s on-balance. He’s trying to get you off-balance. Once you’re off-balance, he’s still on-balance, he changes his pace.”
In layman’s terms: Dončić is impossible to guard.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) drives past Miami Heat guard Klay Thompson in the second half of an NBA game in Los Angeles, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026. AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra knows that all too well. When asked about defending Dončić ahead of Monday’s game, he pretty much intimated that it’s a fool’s errand.
“It’s not going to be two defenders on him or even three,” Spoelstra said. “You’re pretty much going to go through your entire roster.”
Dončić is an offensive wizard. He’s a savant. He makes scoring look easy. And it’s time for him to be considered among the all-time greats.
He’s averaging a historical 1.07 points per minute. The only other player who surpassed 1.0 was Chamberlain, who averaged 1.04 points per minute in 1961-62.
Luka Doncic (77) of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against the Miami Heat on Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. NBAE via Getty Images
And Dončić is scoring at an extremely efficient rate, averaging career highs in field-goal percentage (49.7) and 3-point percentage (42.7). He’s also third in the league in assists with eight per game. Heck, he’s even playing defense.
He’s having one of the best starts in NBA history, becoming the third player to score at least 225 points through his first six games, alongside Jordan (1985-86) and Chamberlain, who did it twice in 1961-62 and 1962-63.
Jordan led the league in scoring 10 seasons and is widely considered the greatest player of all time. Chamberlain averaged 50.4 points per game during the 1961-62 season and is the only player to score 100 points in a game.
The greatest scorer of all time is not an easy debate to enter. But in the modern NBA, does anyone compare to Dončić? And historically, Dončić is already etching his name into the record books.
New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. walks to the dugout after the 9th inning of ALDS Game 3 against Tampa Bay at Yankee Stadium, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026.
Jazz Chisholm’s fate with the Yankees seems to be decided.
The Bronx Bombers extended a $23.15 million qualifying offer to closer David Bednar on Monday, but did not offer one to the free agent infielder — neither move coming as a surprise considering the way 2026 panned out.
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The campaign was a rough one for Chisholm, who didn’t produce the results the organization or he expected, and could result in the second baseman signing a pillow contract.
Chisholm’s talent has been displayed at times, but has been overshadowed by the lack of consistency and concentration, which is likely part of the reason for the expected split.
The Yankees could still re-sign him as a free agent, but that appears unlikely.
Chisholm has expressed a desire to remain with the Yankees going forward.
Following the Yankees’ loss in the ALDS, he told reporters, “This is where I want to be.”
If it is the end of his tenure in The Bronx, it came with boos from Yankees fans, which seemed to confuse Chisholm.
New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. walks to the dugout after the 9th inning of ALDS Game 3 against Tampa Bay at Yankee Stadium, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“It doesn’t hurt, it’s just confusing because it’s the playoffs and we’re trying to win games,” he said after the Yankees were swept by the Rays in the ALDS. “So you’re booing a guy that’s playing currently trying to help the team win. You’re hearing boos instead of trying to hype guys up. But at the end of the day, it didn’t hurt me because I’ve seen Aaron Judge get booed here too.”
And one former major league general manager believed that the “baggage” was too much for the Yankees to want to bring Chisholm back.
“[Ketel Marte] and free agent Jazz Chisholm, I love both their talents, don’t get me wrong,” Jim Bowden said Monday on Foul Territory. “But I put them kind of in that box where I’m just not sure that’s what I want to win with. I’d rather go younger, rather go with less baggage, rather go with more hard-nosed consistent players that come to the ballpark every day and play the game the right way, where I don’t have to have all the issues come involved.
“I don’t have to worry about teammates guiding them, I don’t have to worry about lollipops being licked at second base. … I just don’t want any part of that. These jobs are hard enough as it is, it’s hard to win games as it is. So I’d probably pass on both.”
Brewers manager Pat Murphy called Brian Cashman following his comments about the Yankees after Milwaukee won the World Series.
The Brewers skipper was speaking with The Post’s Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman when he was asked about the comments that got caught on camera and circulated on social media.
“I called Brian Cashman right away when I heard it got out,” Murphy said on the latest episode of “The Show with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman.” “I picked up a phone and called Brian right away, and had a good conversation. And the best I could try to explain that I wasn’t talking about the 2026 Yankees.”
Murphy explained that his comments to Brewers star Jake Bauers, who is a soon-to-be free agent, in the wake of Milwaukee’s first World Series title had been a long-running joke between the star and team skipper, related to his pending free agency and how he would forget everything he had learned with the Brewers.
“After every celebration, I’d shake his hand. I’d say, ‘You rich so-and-so, you’re going to leave us,’ ” Murphy explained. “We’re not going to be able to pay you. You’re going to leave us and you’re going to forget all about how we did things. … I would just give him this rhetoric every time.”
Jake Bauers played with the Yankees in 2023 before being traded to the Brewers. SpectrumNews/X
But the comments were not meant to be directed at the Yankees or claim this year’s squad was selfish, Murphy said.
“I was just referring to the teams that have a lot of high-paid, long-contract players,” Murphy said. “That sometimes it’s harder to get all those guys together to play together. And I used the Yankees because I knew Jake was with them before. … I regret saying it, but that was Jake and I’s humor behind the scenes and I got caught.”
It didn’t appear that Murphy realized he was being recorded during that moment on the field after Bauers had presented the Brewers manager with the game ball from the final out.
Brewers closer Trevor Megill suggested that Murphy regretted the comments during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” last week.
Murphy did not go into detail about the conversation between himself and the Yankees general manager, but called Cashman a “good guy.”
New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman speaks during a news conference in New York, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
“You’re going to be a rich f–ker. Just remember when you were on that horses–t Yankees team and you guys were all playing for yourself? Just remember, say, ‘This is the way we used to do it,’ ” Murphy is heard saying in the now-viral clip.
Bauers appeared to enjoy the comments in the video and was laughing as he hugged Murphy after giving him the game ball.
Bauers played one season with the Yankees in 2023 before he was traded to the Brewers in November 2023.
Brian Burke pulled off some franchise-altering trades as GM of the Vancouver Canucks. Notable moves included trading for the picks to draft Daniel and Henrik Sedin and acquiring key players like Ed Jovanovski, Sami Salo, Dan Cloutier, Brendan Morrison, and Trevor Linden. One name not on the list is Miikka Kiprusoff, who, according to a new podcast appearance, almost became the Canucks' starting goaltender.
On the latest episode of 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman & Kyle Bukauskas interviewed both Brian and his son Patrick Burke. At around the 25-minute mark, Friedman asked Patrick if there were any trades his father regretted. Burke chose a trade that didn't happen, which would have landed Vancouver a future Vezina winner.
"I remember him and Dave Nonis negotiating aggressively on Miikka Kiprusoff when they were in Vancouver and not quite getting the deal across the line," said Burke. "And if I remember right, because I was sitting next to them at the table, (Nonis) was trying to pull together a conditional pick. Which, at the time, it's very common now, but teams didn't do it much. You know, if the guy plays X number of games, or his goals against is this or we make the playoffs, it goes from a third to a second or whatever it was. I think it was just getting too convoluted, but I remember Kiprusoff being on the table in Vancouver and years of goaltending problems in Vancouver that that may have solved. At the time, he was an unknown. It was a big swing, but I remember sitting there, listening to the negotiations and then, two years later, kind of gone, 'Oh, that would have been nice.'"
While Burke did not reveal exactly when this deal would have happened, it would have occurred before the start of the 2003-04 campaign. This is because Kiprusoff was traded from the San Jose Sharks to the Calgary Flames on November 16, 2023. At the time of the trade, Kiprusoff had played three seasons with the Sharks and posted a 14-21-3 record.
Kiprusoff would develop into one of the best Finnish goaltenders in NHL history. He recorded 319 wins and won the Vezina Trophy in 2006. The Canucks would have to wait a few more years before getting their franchise-altering goalie, as in 2006, Dave Nonis acquired Roberto Luongo from the Florida Panthers.
Apr 6, 2013; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Calgary Flames goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff (34) during the third period against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena. The Vancouver Canucks won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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Nov 1, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Arizona Cardinals linebacker Josh Sweat (10), defensive line L.J. Collier (91), safety Budda Baker (3) and linebacker Baron Browning (5) celebrate a sack during overtime at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cardinals fans and fans across the country.
Happy Tuesday one and all.
The Arizona Cardinals are now 3-5 and their offense found their footing for one quarter and a little more on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.
In doing so they benched Jacoby Brissett and moved to Gardner Minshew for the time being.
Now the question is, does this change the confidence you have in the direction of the Arizona Cardinals?
Also, should the Cardinals at 3-5 and not completely out of the NFC Playoff picture be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline?
I gave one caveat to being sellers still, keeping Budda Baker, because I know that is a contention for some in the fanbase still.
Major League Baseball proposed Tuesday, Nov. 3 that a salary cap would be delayed by a year and implemented in 2028, permitting teams to operate knowing what the proposed rules would be in the upcoming Collective Bargaining Agreement, which was immediately scorned by the players union.
MLB proposed a $258.2 million salary cap and a $180.2 million floor, with MLB projecting that it would require 12 teams to increase payroll by $636 million to reach the floor, and eight clubs to decrease their payroll by $528 million to abide by the cap. MLB says that would net an additional $108 million payroll increase league-wide.
MLB also proposed increasing the minimum salary to $1 million for players with at least two years’ major-league service and $900,000 for those with less service; a $30 million increase to their pre-arbitration bonus pool, while also agreeing to the union’s proposal of lowering free agency from six years to five years for players 30 and older, while eliminating the qualifying offer system for free agents.
“We recognize that clubs will need a full offseason to prepare to operate within the cap and floor system,’’ MLB said in a statement. “Therefore, with this offseason already underway, we proposed today to begin the cap and floor system in 2028. This proposal would allow a smoother transition into the cap and floor system without delaying key player benefits … and transactional reform that will reduce roster churn.
“The projected salary cap and floor for 2028 continues to provide more money for major league players while leveling the playing field and giving more teams the ability to participate in the free agent market and retain their homegrown stars so that every fan believes their team has a fair chance to win it all.”
The MLBPA fired back in a response later Tuesday afternoon.
“Coming off another incredible season of baseball, MLB owners continue to propose blowing up the current system and replacing it with one designed to line their pockets and increase their franchise values,’’ the union said in a prepared statement. “Despite MLB’s proposal to delay implementation to 2028, at its core, the negative impacts of the owners’ salary cap remain the same."
“Even with a so-called 'transition year' in 2027, the owners’ latest offer would result in: immediate restrictions to player contract rights; stagnant luxury tax thresholds; a $400M reduction in amateur signing bonuses; stripping current competitive advantages for smaller market teams; rejection of dozens of player proposals on issues from minimum salaries to revenue sharing to rosters and transactions, and many more," the union said.
“Players stand ready to negotiate in good faith toward a new CBA that will capitalize on our sport’s unprecedented momentum and benefit players, clubs, and fans alike.’’
If the salary cap and floor are implemented, the 12 teams that would have to increase payroll would be: the Miami Marlins, Cleveland Guardians, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, Washington Nationals, Chicago White Sox, Minnesota Twins, Colorado Rockies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Athletics, Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers.
The clubs that would have to lower their payroll: Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs.
MLB also said it would agree to allocate the players’ share of the 2026 CBT proceeds to players as a bonus based on service accrued in 2026 ($285,000 to each player that received a full year of service, $213,400 to any player with three-quarters of a year of service, $142,300 to any player with a half-year of service, and $71,100 for any player with a quarter year of service.
MLB agreed to accept the union’s proposal to lower the number of times a player can be optioned to the minors in a season from five to four; exclude foreign professionals when determining whether an eligible prospect will receive a full year of service for finishing first or second in the Rookie of the Year voting, and prohibiting clubs from optioning or outrighting a player during the playing week by implementing weekly rosters.
The current collective bargaining agreement expires at 11:59 p.m. ET, Dec. 1. If no agreement is reached, MLB is expected to implement a lockout, which happened during their last negotiations in 2021, lasting 99 days.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 02: Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets reacts against the Boston Celtics during the second half at Toyota Center on November 02, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Houston Rockets are off to a red-hot start, leading the NBA with a 7-1 record, as well as holding wins over the Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder, and San Antonio Spurs. The team has looked like the same hard-nosed defensive team we have grown used to, but this time with some idea of an offensive plan. In addition, the team is playing within the flow of the offense, not forcing things to Alperen Sengun or Kevin Durant, with the “Stand Around and Watch KD” offense of last year showing less and less of itself. Marcus Smart has been a solid addition so far, and Jabari Smith Jr. seems poised for a career year.
Granted, it’s early in the season, but the Rockets look good right now, and it seems some others might agree. The Athletic released it’s new series of NBA power rankings, and low and behold, who sits atop at the moment but your Houston Rockets. Here’s what they had to say about our boys:
Last ranking: Fourth In the last week: W vs ATL, W at MIL, L at DAL, W vs OKC Offensive rating: 121.2 (first place)Defensive rating: 108.9 (ninth place)
Starters: Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Şengün Key reserves: Marcus Smart, Tari Eason, Reed Sheppard, Clint Capela, Bogdan Bogdanović
Houston’s improved depth hasn’t quite made the defense special, which makes sense. The Rockets don’t have great rim protection, they have a small guard in the starting lineup and their best player is 38. The Rockets tried to get away with lineups without centers in Dallas with Şengün nursing a back injury, and it’s one reason they aren’t undefeated anymore. But this offense has taken off, and Houston is deeper than it has been at any point under coach Ime Udoka.
So with the Rockets cruising, the Thunder hurt and the Spurs off to an up-and-down start, it’s your Rockets who are currently playing the best ball in the NBA. Right behind Houston are the 5-1 Detroit Pistons and the 6-1 Philadelphia LeBrons. I think the Rockets are better than either of those teams, but time will tell. For now, enjoy the the early-season success.
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 4: Dalen Terry #14 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round Two Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 4, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Dalen Terry is on an NBA roster after starting the season on the sidelines.
The former Arizona Wildcats wing has signed a two-year deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The contract comes at a good time for both sides: Terry was without an NBA team after getting by the Golden State Warriors in the preseason, and the Thunder are in need for an athletic swingman after suffering multiple injuries.
Terry is on his third NBA team after playing the first four-plus years of his career with the Chicago Bulls before getting traded to the Philadelphia 76ers.
In 218 career games, Terry is averaging 3.5 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists and o.5 steals per game.
The 6-foot-6 Terry arrives in Oklahoma City following injuries to the Thunder’s Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace. The Thunder are also without big man Chet Holmgren for at least two months.
Terry was drafted 18th overall by Chicago in the 2022 NBA Draft. He comes the 17th former Arizona basketball player to be on an NBA team this season, the third-most of any school behind Kentucky and Duke.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - NOVEMBER 2: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs smiles during the game against the Utah Jazz on November 2, 2026 at the Frost Bank 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 Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s giving midseason.
Somewhere in the second quarter, with the Spurs up one and about to be up more, I realized I wasn’t watching the game. I was, instead, watching myself not watch the game, which is a worse hobby and the one I’m apparently best at. The game was fine. The game was exactly what it said on the label: a nondescript tilt between two teams already headed down different tracks. The shine of October basketball had worn off completely and, like summer turning to fall, the Grind had arrived.
Shocking how quickly that happens.
As a first quarter blowout turned into a 2nd quarter snoozer, my brain began to wander a bit. I could be anywhere in the world right now. A plastic stool in Hanoi, a bowl of pho, a little light rain. A mountain pass in the Andes, thin air, nobody asking me for a take. Man, I should be reading books. Seeing films. I should be the kind of person whose passport has all those cool stamps in it. This one precious life the universe handed me was unraveling in real time as Ace Bailey stepped into a 25-foot pull-up three to cut the Jazz’s deficit to one.
Then Stephon Castle missed a layup and I almost decided to call it a night. It was as annoying as it was unremarkable and I just didn’t need it anymore. I reached for the remote and, as I did, Victor Wembanyama, who a minute earlier had similarly flubbed an alley-oop, grabbed the rebound and tipped it back in. Twenty seconds after Bailey’s three. No celebration. Barely a facial expression.
I’d love to tell you that’s the moment I’d been looking for, but that would be too tidy. What I’d been searching for was a hook. A story, a cause, a catalyst. Anything to hold off the particular ennui of being a fan of a good team. And Wemby wasn’t even good last night, not by any stretch. Five of fifteen. Zero for five from three. Five turnovers. He was in that mode he gets in from time to time where he decides the Key to Victory is to simply chuck it.
The Spurs won by 22 anyway, not because of a miracle but because this roster has more than one way to be competent. The Spurs are, mercifully, more than the sum of their parts.
Not that the parts are bad. Quite the contrary. Dylan Harper scored all 17 of his points before the third quarter was half over. Stephon Castle is an animal. De’Aaron Fox looks like the guy we paid for. Tarris Reed continues to grab rebounds in a way that feels like it’s going to be important (seven in about seven minutes last night). Every wing combination we’ve thrown on the court is its own kind of fun.
I mean, look at Harrison Barnes. A man as old as time itself (he’s four years younger than me) had an insanely active night. He knocked down threes from 29, 25 and 24 feet, he ran around, he caused trouble. Early in the fourth he got tangled up with Brice Sensabaugh, slid across the floor, got back up, and just stared at him while the refs reviewed it in slow motion. I’m told that clip racked up 140,000 views on the world wide web within about an hour.
The thing about the Grind is that it doesn’t have to mean anything, which means that everything within the Grind gets to be exactly what it is. A tip dunk. A well executed outlet pass. An old man staring down Brice Sensabaugh. Like, I didn’t come out of the womb craving the Larry O’Brien trophy. I just was at my breakfast table in 1996 watching Michael Jordan dunk on Rik Smits during a SportsCenter rerun, and some part of me said, with zero strategic vision, “Yes. More of that.” More of that was the entire ask and, frankly, it still is.
Look at us. You and me. Like I said, we could be anywhere in the world right now, but we’re right here with the Spurs and the Jazz on a Monday night in November. The stools in Hanoi will still be there someday, but a precocious superstar, having the worst night of his season, is putting a ball back through the hoop like a child tucking in his stuffed animals for the night.
You don’t have to impress some greater importance on a moment like that to make it mean something. You were there. It’s a part of you now and you got to live it.
Dylan Harper seems almost casually good at basketball. It’s remarkable and breathtaking, these things he’s doing, but it also has that effect of seeming effortless when he’s casually dismantling another team. In the second quarter he stole the ball and in a blink Vassell was dunking off his pass. In the third, he stole it again and Stephon was finishing an alley-oop before I’d even registered it. He added 8 assists and 7 rebounds on top of all his scoring. I find myself almost taking it for granted at this point, and we’ve really only started to scratch the surface of what he’s capable of. Scary to think about! (For our opponents. For us it’s just exceedingly cool and fun.)
I know it’s just the Jazz, grain of salt and all that, but I never get tired of seeing the Spurs get out on the break and run. They won fast-break points 26-9, against a Jazz team that turned it over just 11 times, a season low for Utah, so a lot of that was pure rebound-and-go. They also won the paint 52-36 and opened the game on an 18-2 run. Run for days my boys. Grab the ball and never stop running. Only good can come from this. Open looks from three, easy paths to the rim, potential foul trouble for the opponents. Push that pace. Push that pace. PUSH THAT PACE.
This is not how development works and, to be clear, I don’t know what I’m talking about, but I absolutely crave Tarris Reed minutes. I want him to become a Sasquatch, Godzilla, King Kong, Loch Ness, Goblin, ghoul and a zombie with no conscience. I want basketballs to fear him checking into the game because they’re about to get rebounded to within an inch of their lives.
I love a wire-to-wire win. Next time you hear me complaing about a wire to wire win feel free to come to my house and take an ice cold waterloo out of my fridge as payment for my sins.
WWL Post Game Press Conference
So, you’re a Waterloo Man, eh?
I’m a man of all seasons, to be clear, but right now, yes, I am currently in a Waterloo phase of my Sparkling Water career.
Any particular reason?
There is a particular Black Cherry flavor I’ve grown fond of and I just can’t stay away at this point. It scratches this weird nostalgic part of my brain that yearns for a Blue Sky soda I had in my youth. Do you remember Blue Sky soda?
Vaguely. That had kind of cool cans?
Yeah, the cans were cool. I don’t know. I think I had just never experienced the concept of a soda that existed outside the mainstream world of the Coca-Cola and Pepsi family trees, so when I went on vacation and saw this crazy looking can with a cherry sitting on a cloud it just… broke my brain a little bit and I had to have it.
Did it taste good?
Who could say? I was six years old. I’d left the summer heat in Texas and woken up the next day in a Colorado mountain town sipping an alien soda from heaven. Maybe it was good, maybe it wasn’t, but it stirred something deep in my soul that I think I’ve been searching for ever since.
And Black Cherry Waterloos scratch that itch for you?
They do. Publix also pretty regularly throws them in Buy One Get Ones for me and who am I to turn down a deal like that.
Joe DeMayo and guest co-host Sal Licata deliver the latest episode of The Mets Pod, as free agency has officially begun for the Mets and MLB.
Joe and Sal do the weekly dive on Tarik Skubal's free agency and make their predictions on where they think the ace will land.
The guys also discuss other free agent arms, starters who could be trade targets, and the beginning of the race for Japanese star Teruaki Sato.
Later, The Mets Pod Answering Machine brings up the debate over mid-tier free agent spending by the Mets, Down on the Farm goes long on Joe's all-new Top 30 Mets Prospects List, and the Mailbag poses questions about Jorge Polanco, Marcus Semien, finding more offense at first base, and more.
Be sure to subscribe to The Mets Pod at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
The Office of the Commissioner of Major League Baseball PAC donated $5,000 to former All-Star Mark Teixeira's congressional campaign on June 8, 2026, according to Federal Election Commission filings USA TODAY Sports reviewed. Teixeira's campaign confirmed receipt on June 12. That evening, the San Francisco Giants hosted a Pride Night event, which Teixeira forcefully condemned in the following weeks.
Teixeira, running as a Republican in Texas' 21st District, criticized a warning MLB sent to some Giants players who protested the evening by writing bible verses on their Pride Night hats. MLB said the players violated league uniform policies. Teixeira called the warning an attempt to "silence" Christian athletes.
"I played in the major leagues for 14 years," Teixeira told Fox News on June 30. "We play 162 games a year, we don't have these conversations. We don't take political stances. It's a hard job playing baseball and bringing something like a pride night and forcing players to wear a cap. Whether that was the rule or not, that's what it looked like."
MLB did not respond to USA TODAY Sports' request for comment.
After the controversy, Manfred said the league office would review all donations before "any checks are cut."
"It's hard when you have an organization as large as ours, with as many issues that are impacted by the political process, to be completely out," Manfred said after the Hyde-Smith donation. "We are very cognizant, however, that in today's world, those kind of donations run the risk of being controversial with segments of our society."
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 23: Former New York Yankee Lou Piniella participates during the teams Old Timer's Day prior to a game between the Yankees and the Houston Astros at Yankee Stadium on June 23, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Each year, in addition to its standard Baseball Writers Association of America voting, the National Baseball Hall of Fame extends an olive branch to those either passed over by or ineligible for that process. The Hall gathers what it calls an Era Committee to evaluate these cases through a separate, more limited voting system. Notable Yankees to gain enshrinement through the committee system include everyone from Joe Torre and Casey Stengel to Phil Rizzuto and Lefty Gomez.
The Era Committee rotates between three groups: players whose primary contributions came before 1980; players whose primary contributions were made from 1980 onwards; and managers, executives, pioneers, and umpires from any era. This year, the non-players are up. If that seems like the least exciting of the three options, wait until you hear all the household names and legendary contributors among the eight nominated Monday.
I’m going to break down the worthy cases for each as well as their likelihood for selection, concluding with the three hopefuls that have deep Yankees connections. Before we dive in, some quick housekeeping. Like everything in baseball, the Era Committee process boils down to some crucial math:
The committee gets eight names to review. These names are selected in advance by a separate Historical Overview Committee comprised of 10-12 baseball historians.
The voting block consists of 16 baseball luminaries. While this year’s committee has yet to be announced, as a point of reference, last year’s group contained seven Hall of Fame players, six MLB executives, and three veteran journalists.
Nominees must receive votes from at least 12 of the 16 voters to gain enshrinement.
Voters can only vote for up to three of the eight nominees.
This effectively caps the number of inductees through this process at three, though it is often fewer. Last cycle, Jeff Kent was the only selection of the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee.
If a nominee receives four votes or fewer, they will be ineligible for the next cycle, meaning they’ll have to wait another six years for consideration.
If a nominee receives four votes or fewer on a second ballot, they will be permanently ineligible for Hall consideration. (Of note here: the “permanent” comes with the major caveat that the Hall has changed its committee process before and certainly could — nay, likely will — change it again at some point in the future.)
One other important, more qualitative, point of order lies in the Era Committee’s rules for election. While the individuals lumped into this group are here because their primary influence on the game was determined to come as a manager or executive, their entire career in baseball is in play. As the rules state:
Those whose careers entailed involvement in multiple categories will be considered for their overall contribution to the game of Baseball.
During Torre’s 15 years on the BBWAA ballot, the voters, required to consider only his playing career, never put him on more than 22.2 percent of ballots. But when he came up for consideration on an Era Committee ballot in 2013, the voters were expected to weigh not only his four championships as manager but his nine All-Star appearances as a player in making their decision (he was ultimately selected on all 16 ballots). This provision could prove impactful for some names on this list.
Dusty Baker
Let’s start with one of the big guns on the ballot. Baker recorded 1,981 hits, 242 home runs, and 1,013 RBI — alongside a championship and a pair of Silver Sluggers — in an exemplary, 19-year playing career that fell just a bit short of the Hall’s standard. He then went into coaching, where he made an even bigger mark. Baker is the only man to lead five different clubs to the postseason, picking up three Manager of the Year Awards along the way. The eighth-winningest skipper in MLB history finally clinched his first managerial title with the Astros in 2022, putting the cherry on top of what was likely already a Hall of Fame career. He was among the first Black men to accomplish many of his achievements, staking him to a legacy as a trailblazer as well. For goodness’ sake, the man co-invented the high five; you could make a quirky Hall case out of that alone. Despite the intricacies of the Era Committee process, Baker’s candidacy seems to be as slam dunk as they come.
Next up is another manager with an unimpeachable CV. After a nine-year playing career as a backup catcher, Bochy helmed the Padres for 12 years, leading them to what is still one of only two pennants in franchise history in 1998. He then moved to the Giants, where his 13-year tenure included three championships, the closest the game has seen to a true dynasty since the Yankees of the late ‘90s and early ‘00s. In 2023, he came out of semi-retirement to join a Rangers team in transition and was richly rewarded, leading Texas to their first title in franchise history. The only other two managers to win a title in both leagues: Sparky Anderson and Tony La Russa, who both have plaques in Cooperstown.
Only five other managers have four rings and only five other managers have 2,200 wins; everyone ahead of him on both lists is in the Hall. This year’s field is crowded, and the fact that Bochy is the second-youngest on the ballot might lead some to weigh whether he’ll have more opportunities for enshrinement in the future if he’s passed over this cycle. Still, it’s difficult to imaging leaving Bochy off your ballot.
Joe Maddon
The third championship manager on the list, the biggest feather in Maddon’s cap is leading the interminably moribund Cubs to their first championship in 2016. He was also the progenitor of Rays ball, leading that nascent franchise to its first pennant in 2008 and helping establish the small-market ethos that Kevin Cash has turned into a cottage industry since succeeding Maddon in 2015. Over the course of his career, he won three Manager of the Year Awards, one of nine managers to do so (alongside Baker). He had a painful third act at The Big A, though, leading the Angels to a 130-148 record during parts of three seasons at the helm before he was shown the door, which might leave a bad taste in voters’ mouths. Maddon certainly had a distinguished and impactful career, but his résumé falls a bit short of the Hall standard—especially among this group—and I don’t expect him to get serious traction here.
Sandy Alderson
Moving from managers to executives, Alderson presents a strong case for consideration. As GM of the A’s from 1983 through 1997, he led the team to three straight pennants and one championship. He also became one of the pioneers of “Moneyball” philosophies during his mentorship of future A’s executive Billy Beane. Alderson then moved to the league office, serving as executive vice president for baseball operations during the heart of the steroid era and into its fallout. Following a seven-year stint in the commissioner’s office, Alderson joined the Padres as CEO in 2005, helping the team to consecutive division titles before jumping to the Mets, who developed a horde of arms and won the 2015 NL pennant under his watch. It will be interesting to see how his multi-generational case plays among this group — as remarkable as his career was, a single championship for an executive might hold him back on such a decorated ballot.
Ted Turner
A maverick businessman who bought the Braves in 1976, Turner helped usher in the team’s run of excellence in the ‘90s and ’00s, a period in which Atlanta won 14 straight division titles, five pennants, and one championship. But his largest contribution to the game of baseball writ large was his vision for media.
Turner’s TBS station broadcast Braves games around the country on cable TV, creating not only a legion of fans far from Atlanta but a new model for growing the game. It is completely fair to argue that MLB would not be the same behemoth it is today had it not been for Turner’s efforts. Turner was a controversial figure whose self-promotion and outsized personality rankled some within the game, a factor that could complicate his case. He also passed away on May 6th, which could either garner momentum to memorialize his contributions to the game in this manner or lead to less urgency for his induction compared to living nominees (I suspect the latter).
Sabean has a long history with the Yankees, dating back to his tenure as director of scouting for the club from 1986-90 and vice president of player development and scouting from 1990-92. He rejoined the team in 2023, serving as executive advisor to Brian Cashman until he was shown the door last month. In between, he spent 29 years in San Francisco, serving as GM during both the Baker and Bochy eras and twice earning Baseball America Executive of the Year honors. In a twist of fate, the two managers who served under Sabean almost certainly doom his chances on this ballot; while he would have a strong case most other years, it would be a surprise to see him gain momentum over either.
Lou Piniella
Piniella had a long and distinguished playing career, winning Rookie of the Year honors with Kansas City in 1969 and earning two rings during 11 years with the Yankees.
He was the team’s hitting coach while still on New York’s active roster in 1985 and eventually served as manager for two brief stints in George Steinbrenner’s tumultuous heyday — first from 1986-87 and then again to finish out 1988 following Billy Martin’s last stand.
Piniella then embarked on something of a managerial odyssey. He won his only managerial title during his first year in Cincinnati, 1990, but was out after three seasons. His longest tenure was in Seattle, where he won two of his three Manager of the Year Awards during 10 years in charge of a ridiculously talented club and oversaw both the 1995 squad that saved baseball in Seattle and the 116-win 2001 team. Wanting to manage closer to home in Tampa, Piniella moved to the Devil Rays before finally wrapping up his career with the Cubs, where he won a couple more division titles and took home his third Manager of the Year for a 97-win 2008 campaign. “Sweet Lou” ranks 17th all time with 1,835 managerial wins and is in both the Mariners’ and Reds’ Halls of Fame.
Piniella has had a heartbreaking run with the committee system. Each of his last two times on the ballot (in the 2018-19 and 2023-24 cycles), he fell just one vote short. The famously cantankerous former skipper was magnanimous last time around, thanking the Hall of their consideration in a statement. At 83, despite a crowded ballot, there may be growing momentum to get Piniella over the top. Which leads us to our final nominee.
Bill White
I’d like to redirect our attention to Clause B of the Era Committee’s rules for election. If ever there was a candidate whose “overall contribution to the game of Baseball” need be considered, it’s White. He began his baseball life as a ballplayer, earning eight All-Star berths and seven Gold Gloves at first base during an exceptional career that was too brief to warrant enshrinement on its own. He then embarked on a trailblazing broadcasting career that led him to New York, where he became the first Black play-by-play man for an MLB team. Alongside Rizzuto, White helped form one of the most iconic broadcast duos in Yankees history for 18 seasons. He then served as National League president, the first Black person to hold a comparable title in the major North American sports.
One of White’s final acts in baseball was serving on Veterans Committees (an earlier iteration of Era Committees), working alongside Yogi Berra and Pee Wee Reese to get his old friend, Rizzuto, enshrined. White received the Hall’s Buck O’Neil Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2026 — a worthy honor, but one that could ironically stunt his momentum for full enshrinement.
White fell two votes short of induction on the 2023 ballot and, at 92, must be considered a priority case. While he’s not as much of a household name as several others on the ballot, when evaluating his baseball life in totality — player, broadcaster, executive, and elder statesman — and his remarkable legacy as a trailblazer, you could make the case that he’s at least as deserving as any of his fellow nominees.
Still, if Baker and Bochy are locks, the math for either Piniella or White to show up on 12 ballots gets narrow, especially with other strong candidates like Alderson, Turner, and Sabean potentially in play to siphon votes away. While it’s a reaffirmation of the need for Era Committees that this year’s group of nominees is so deep, at least one of these two legendary Yankees figures will likely be left out in the cold yet again.
HOOVER, AL - MAY 22: Infielder Chris Hacopian #8 of the Texas A&M Aggies watches a fly ball as he follows through on his swing during the SEC Baseball Tournament Quarterfinals game between Texas A&M Aggies and Auburn Tigers on May 22, 2026, at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama.(Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
In the MLB draft, you usually have to wait multiple years to see players reach the big leagues. Even successful first rounders often take many years to reach the MLB and establish themselves. However, I think 2026 first rounder Chris Hacopian has the chance to be an exception to that rule.
Thanks to his unique skillset, I believe the 11th overall pick will be in the big leagues by early 2028. It is unlikely, but honestly there is an outside shot that Hacopian could be a September call-up in 2027. That is how advanced I think his bat is. When you look at the history of advanced college bats, that is not a crazy ETA.
Hacopian’s ability to make contact, hit the ball hard and have a good approach is the foundation of his game. Usually, those traits translate well to professional baseball. There is a reason that Baseball America said that Hacopian was the best pure hitter and closest to the big leagues out of Nats draft picks.
Nationals draft report card ✍️@Nats_PlayerDev reloaded in 2026. Among the standouts?
Chris Hacopian (Best pure hitter, cloest to the majors) Luke Williams (Fastest runner, best athlete)
Back in 2024, we saw a crop of polished college bats in the draft. Just over two years later, many of these players are already standout contributors. Jac Caglianone, Nick Kurtz, Cam Smith and Christian Moore all reached the big leagues in their first full pro seasons. Meanwhile, JJ Wetherholt, Travis Bazzana, Carson Benge and Braden Montgomery all made impacts this season. The Nats took Seaver King, who has been a slower burn, but nobody would have been that surprised if he debuted last season.
These college bats are reaching the majors quicker than ever. We also saw this play out in the 2023 class as well, with the likes of Dylan Crews, Jacob Wilson and Wyatt Langford. The 2025 college bats were not as strong, so they have not moved as quickly.
I think Hacopian will fall into that quick moving category. He has never struck out more than he walked at any level he has played. Even in his 13 games in pro ball, he had 8 walks to just 8 strikeouts. His natural feel for hitting will help him shoot through the minor leagues. Hacopian has tremendous batted ball and contact metrics across the board.
Nats take Texas A&M INF Chris Hacopian in the first round of Keith Law’s latest mock draft. His 2026 numbers:
42 G | 115 wRC+ | 11 HRs | 1.19 BB/K | 3 SB
92nd pctl. Whiff% | 88th pctl. Chase% | 84th pctl. Average EV | 88th pctl. 90% EV
If there was one thing that would slow Hacopian’s progress, it would be his batted ball angles. Hacopian makes a ton of hard contact, but he hits the ball on the ground quite a bit and does not pull it much. In Wilmington, Hacopian had a 48.4% ground ball rate, which is on the higher side, but not alarmingly so. His pull percentage was only 12.5%, which is insanely low. For context, James Wood’s pull percentage for his career is 31.7%, and he is not exactly a dead pull hitter.
Of course, this is a small sample size, but he was more of an up the middle and the other way guy in college as well. I can guarantee you that the Nats are working to get Hacopian to pull the ball more. This regime has shown the ability to help hitters pull the ball more and elevate more.
I think their confidence in helping hitters do that is a big reason why they took Hacopian. If he can do those things, he will be an insanely complete hitter. We could be talking about a hitter that flirts with .300 and hits 25+ homers. Even though he is not much of an athlete and is an average defensive second baseman at best, that profile would still play.
On the occasions we did see Hacopian pull it in the air, good things happened. He only hit one pro homer, but it was an absolute bomb to the pullside. Assuming the Nats can get Hacopian to do that more consistently, the sky is the limit.
In those 13 games, Hacopian hit .275 with a .396 OBP and a .746 OPS in High-A. He might start the season back in Wilmington, but I would bet that he goes to Double-A Harrisburg. His bat is advanced enough to at least hold his own. If he gets off to a fast start, he could even reach Triple-A before too long.
With CJ Abrams future in question, there could be spots available on the Nats infield by the end of the 2027 season. However, I think a 2028 arrival is more likely. It is a small sample, but Paul Toboni has been pretty patient with promoting prospects. I think Hacopian and Eli Willits will be on a similar trajectory and both will be knocking on the door late in 2027 but make their full debuts to start the 2028 season.
Hacopian is a home town kid, who should move through the system quickly. That means we should be hearing a lot about him and I will be writing a lot about him. I can’t wait to see how Paul Toboni’s first draft pick performs in his first full season of professional baseball.
The Winnipeg Jets have placed forward Brad Lambert on waivers Tuesday, marking a pretty sizeable development for the organization's former first-round draft pick.
Lambert, 22, was selected 30th overall by Winnipeg in the 2022 NHL Draft and was once considered among the team's most promising young offensive prospects.
Photo by Ron Chenoy/USA Today
The Finnish-born forward has struggled to establish himself as a full-time NHL player despite showing considerable offensive upside during his time with the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League.
Lambert enjoyed a breakout 2023-24 campaign with Manitoba, recording 21 goals and 55 points in 64 games. However, that success has yet to translate into a permanent role with the Jets.
Lambert has appeared in 11 games with Winnipeg this season, registering one assist while averaging 9:10 of ice time. Through 42 career NHL games, he has three goals and nine points.
The move comes after Lambert was involved in trade speculation last season, with reports indicating the Jets had given him permission to seek a trade.
Lambert will now be available to the NHL's other 31 teams through the waiver process. Should he go unclaimed, Winnipeg would have the option of assigning him to Manitoba.
The Jets are in the midst of a nine-game losing streak and have not won a game since starting the year 4-1-1. They take on the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night in Quebec.
Crunch time has arrived in Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s mission to redeem themselves at next year’s ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.