The Warriors journeyed into the NBA’s deadliest jungle without their superhero, and it didn’t take long to realize they were easy prey.
While the Warriors were missing their first 11 shots, the white-hot San Antonio Spurs were scorching the nets, taking an 18-0 lead from which Golden State never came close to recovering in a 123- 85 walloping on Friday at Frost Bank Center.
It was such a lopsided affair that the Spurs pulled their starters in the third quarter.
The absence of Golden State scoring leader Stephen Curry (right oblique tear) was felt throughout, as the Warriors struggled to score in the paint, the terrain of 7-foot-5 Victor Wembanyama, and from beyond the arc.
Two-guard LJ Cryer rang up 20 points to lead the Warriors in scoring, with none of his teammates reaching double figures.
The best thing the Warriors did, with Draymond Green the primary defender, was contain Wembanyama, who finished with12 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks.
The big Frenchman was more than covered by his teammates, especially Stephon Castle, who posted a game-high 32 points.
Here are three observations from the kind of night the Warriors never want to revisit:
Cooked to a Crisp in Minutes
Whatever plan the Warriors took into the game was shredded within three minutes.
When coach Steve Kerr called his first timeout with 9:33 left in the first quarter, his team had missed its first four shots while the Spurs made five of their first six for a 12-0 lead. Golden State finally scored on a Gui Santos layup six minutes into the game.
The Spurs’ 18-0 opening run was a San Antonio franchise record and, according to the stat mavens at Elias, the Warriors’ worst start to any game since the league instituted such stats in 1997.
The quarter closed with Warriors trailing 38-14 after shooting 20.8 percent from the field, 25 percent from deep. They were outrebounded 17-10 and outscored in the paint 16-4. Their starters – De’Anthony Melton, Brandin Podziemski, Will Richard, Draymond Green, Yaxel Lendeborg – scored four points, shooting 1 of 14 (7.1 percent) from the field.
It was, for the Warriors, 12 minutes of the ugliest kind of foreshadowing.
Brutal Start for Lendeborg and Podziemski
With Curry, averaging 27.8 points per game, out for at least several weeks, much of Golden State’s scoring burden falls into the laps of Lendeborg, the No. 2 scorer, at 21.7 points per game, and Podziemski, the No. 3 scorer, averaging 17.3 per game.
Facing a defense tilted their way, Lendeborg and Podziemski combined for six points in the first half – three fewer than two-way guard LJ Cryer managed off the bench – each shooting 1 of 8 from the field.
Lendeborg struggled mightily, finishing with a season-low three points on 1-of-13 shooting from the field, including 0 of 2 from beyond the arc while committing three turnovers. He was minus-40 over 24 minutes and at times was visibly frustrated.
Podziemski fared slightly better, totaling eight points on 2-of-11 shooting from the field, including 2 of 5 from distance. He was minus-24 over 22 minutes.
This is the first of many games in which Golden State won’t have Curry, and it happened to come on the road against the hottest – and best – team in the NBA. It’s reasonable to believe Lendeborg and Podziemski will recover.
If not, the Warriors will be in more trouble than they could have imagined.
Warriors’ Bench Wades into Challenging New Reality
Through the first 12 games this season, Golden State’s bench was among the most productive groups in the NBA, ranking third in bench scoring at 45 points per game. That bench is not this bench.
But Brandon Williams, the team’s top bench scorer at 10.4 points per game, is sidelined by a hamstring strain and will be reevaluated next week. The No. 2 bench scorer, Melton (10.1 points per game), entered the starting lineup Friday to replace Curry and likely will stay there.
With Al Horford’s 3-point shot MIA (1 of 11 over the past four games), it’s suddenly a deeply compromised bench; no other reserve averages more than Niang’s eight points per game.
These changes punch a massive a hole in the team’s depth and force the two-way trio of Cryer, Graham Ike and Malevy Leons onto the court.
The Warriors’ much-touted numbers are, at least temporarily, not a strength. Those healthy enough to play suddenly find themselves in bigger roles than they’ve known.
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 26: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Evan Phillips (59) delivers a pitch during the MLB game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves on August 26, 2026 at TRUIST Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
There’s a wind of excitement and intrigue swirling around Braves Country at the moment after the Atlanta Braves became the first team to make a big splashy signing this offseason with the addition of Evan Phillips to their bullpen. It’s a move that appears to be in line with what the Braves have usually done with their relief pitching signings since Alex Anthopoulos got the reins of baseball operations since he hasn’t been afraid to hand out relatively big money to relievers — no matter what the market may look like.
Still, it’s certainly an interesting time for Phillips himself, as he will not only be returning to the organization that drafted him all the way back in the 2015 MLB Draft but he’ll also be playing in a city that he currently calls home as well. He mentioned in his media availability on Friday afternoon that he does live in Atlanta during the offseason and he admitted that once it became clear that it was a possibility that he could join the Braves, both he and his wife were “really excited about that possibility.”
“The Braves were right there at the top of our list alongside a couple of others,” stated Phillips when he was asked by Mark Bowman of MLB.com about where he was hoping to land during this offseason. “It went the way that it did and we couldn’t be more excited.”
He also talked about how this is his first “real crack at” free agency after how things went last offseason due to his injury. In that vein, I asked Evan Phillips about how important it would be to be able to focus on just getting better and improving during the offseason rather than having to focus on rehabbing.“
“This’ll be my first offseason not having to focus on a rehab in two years,” explained Phillips. “I had the [shoulder injury] at the end of ‘24 that kept me out of the World Series…then the Tommy John rehab was a bit more intensive.”
“[It’s good to] just to be able to get home and get back with my routine for the offseason and immerse myself with the guys here in Atlanta and see what they might have for me.”
Again, it’s pretty important to note that it’s certainly a bit convenient that he’ll be able to continue focusing on what’s important while not really having to switch up his base of operations. It’s one of those things where it doesn’t seem all that important but from a human perspective, it’ll probably be huge for Phillips when it comes to being able to benefit from that convenience.
With that being said, the reality of the upcoming labor war is also sure to play a factor in just how much offseason work Evan Phillips will be able to get in with the coaching staff and overall organization here in Atlanta nd he mentioned that as he continued to answer my question to him.
“I know we’re pushing up against the deadline on December 1 so that might accelerate some of those conversations that we won’t be able to have through the rest of the winter,” admitted Phillips. “[Still,] I’m just looking forward to it. I’m so ready to get with this group and get to work and see what they might have for me.”
Indeed, it’s going to be intriguing to see just how much Braves pitching coach Jeremy Hefner and bullpen coach J.P. Martinez will be able to get out of Phillips now that they’ll be able to work with him going forward. Again, they’ll be up against the gun a bit but I’d also imagine that Phillips will be able to figure out a way to keep improving while on his own during the dark portion of the offseason — however long it may take.
Still, Phillips is excited to get going and he’s also feeling pretty confident about continuing to bring the stuff that he had in Los Angeles with him to the mound in Atlanta. “New velocity highs for me in my career at 32, I never would’ve thought,” stated Phillips when he was asked by Bowman about his results after Tommy John surgery. “It’s not something I was chasing. I’m fortunate it’s gone that way because it opens up what I’m able to do even more. I’m just really excited to maintain some of those things that I’ve learned and see if we can bridge that across the next few years.”
Phillips will (hopefully) have three years to continue proving that for the Braves going forward and hopefully they’ll be three productive years here in Atlanta’s organization. He’s coming back home in more ways than one and hopefully this second go around ends up being the one that everybody remembers, rather than another footnote. We’ll see what happens, though.
Pat Murphy wasn’t off by much. Just a couple hundred miles and five stops on the Acela train line.
The Milwaukee Brewers manager’s touching hot mic moment with star first baseman Jake Bauers after the World Series intimated that Bauers was going to be a "rich (expletive)" and implored him to remember how they got down in Milwaukee when Bauers is "on that (expletive) Yankees team and playing for yourselves."
Bauers' departure from the champion Brewers was somewhat expected. The club rehabilitated his career from the verge of retirement after cycling through six organizations, four at the major league level, before Bauers figured things out in Milwaukee.
Yet the Brewers remain viable by keeping it moving and not placing bigger-dollar bets on 31-year-olds who might end up platoon players. The split was amicable, and so, too, is Murphy’s relationship with the Yankees.
Pat Murphy and Yankees: No hard feelings
As many observers could ascertain, "the Yankees" were a figurative term in Murphy’s address to Bauers, the stand-in for "any team with considerably more resources than the Brewers." In this era, the New York Mets or Los Angeles Dodgers are far more spendy than the Yankees, who have not won a World Series since 2009.
"He took the time to realize that he said something that he regretted, that he's caught on a live mic," Cashman told reporters Tuesday at the general managers' meetings in Las Vegas. "He wanted to take the time, track us down over here at the lowly Yankees to make sure he would apologize for that, so that meant a lot to me."
Jake Bauers' journey: How Milwaukee saved his career
Bauers didn’t totally break the bank. But it's a nice raise for a guy who admitted to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that he was on the verge of retiring a couple years ago but needed health coverage for his expectant wife.
Bauers made $2.7 million in his final year of arbitration eligibility, a hard-fought journey to free agency. It took him nine years to reach six years of service time, a slog that included no major league appearances in 2020 or 2022.
Yet he found a comfort level in being uncomfortable in Milwaukee, under Murphy.
"I'm super grateful they traded for me. Super grateful to be here these last three years," Bauers told USA TODAY Sports as the season wound down. "At the same time, I think playing here can be a little bit uncomfortable, compared to some places.
"There's a lot of things that the staff, starting with Murph, and also the players in the clubhouse – we don’t let slide. That's a big key to our success. At the same time, it can be uncomfortable at times if you're not willing to face the man in the mirror."
Red Sox: What role will Jake Bauers play in Boston?
In Boston, Bauers may wear a lot of hats – and gloves.
The Red Sox already have an All-Star first baseman in Willson Contreras – brother of William, Bauers' World Series MVP teammate in Milwaukee. Yet there are plenty of at-bats to have at DH and Bauers also played 16 games in left field for the Brewers last season. He will bat somewhere in the middle of the lineup and is a nice hedge against any enduring health woes involving young left-handed slugger Roman Anthony.
The Red Sox are known to be shopping left fielder Jarren Duran, who is elite defensively but in an enduring offensive slump. Fenway Park’s tight quarters in left would be a passable place for Bauers to roam.
He'll aim to add thump – he broke out with 26 homers a year ago – to a Red Sox lineup that finished 18th in the majors in OPS. More important, he will have the gravitas that comes with being a World Series champion – and NLCS MVP.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 09: Dejounte Murray #5 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts during a break in play in the third quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on November 09, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Over the first eleven games of the season, it has not all been sunshine and rainbows for this Suns team. They have seen injuries, rebounding issues, and lapses on both ends of the floor. This has brought them to a 5-6 record, which lets them beat the bad teams but struggle against the good ones. As Espo from PHNX said the other night, they are basically in basketball purgatory right now, and some things need to change. Regardless of whether it’s a lineup switch, plugging in Jordan Goodwin or Collin Gillespie for Jalen Green, or potentially a trade on the horizon.
Devin Booker showed up and show d out but the win left something to be desired. pic.twitter.com/YUvk3gYjXM
In last night’s contest against the Charlotte Hornets, we saw Jalen Green benched and not finish the game. This move allowed the Suns to regain their lead and still win a game they should have controlled the whole way. Since Green hasn’t been playing well in the lineup and has been forced into this playmaking role, many are making him the scapegoat for the team’s early-season struggles.
While they are right to put most of the blame on him, it is not entirely his fault, as sometimes the bigs have trouble rebounding or some of the forwards are not locked in defensively.
No Green, no Bridges in the clutch. That’s saying something, isn’t it?
This is where Green has become a devalued asset across the league, as they now know he cannot fit with this starting lineup, and the Suns will likely switch things up as we get closer to the deadline. With Green still 24, some lottery teams will likely be willing to take a chance on him and let him shine with their club. For the Suns, today’s news may have made that landing spot clearer.
Dejounte Murray of the New Orleans Pelicans has requested a trade. I’ve highlighted him multiple times as a good target for the Suns for many reasons, but now that his value is depleted and he’s on the market, this is the perfect trade for both teams. Both teams have an asset with depreciated value that could help the other franchise, and everyone seems to be catching on.
New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray wants a trade from the franchise, and his agent Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul and team officials have started working on a resolution for the one-time All-Star, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/OoozAwcqvN
They’ve also been linked to Murray via Chris Haynes in this tweet. Haynes was the first to address locker-room concerns via the Suns, saying many felt the team needed a true point guard. Well, Murray could come in and fill that role as a better fit for the starters, but also mesh into the defensive identity that Jordan Ott wants to bring to this Phoenix team,
The Phoenix Suns have registered interest in New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray who has let it be known that he seeks a change of scenery, league sources tell me.
Murray, who has a $30.8 million player option next season, would accept it heading into next offseason but at 30, doesn’t seem to want a long-term, expensive deal. On the other hand, Green is young and looking to extend long term. With Booker’s contract coming up, plus the Brooks extension and a potential Bridges extension, and Beal’s dead money, it doesn’t seem feasible to pay all four players, especially when they look this bad on the court together.
Green is also the same player option as Murray, just at $36 million, and is making that same amount this season, so not only would you save $4 million this season and $6 million next year, but you would save yourself from a pain-inducing contract negotiation. It is clear Green can’t be a starter given his recent play, and Murray, who has been a head case in NOLA, may be the same, but it’s an unknown.
I feel Murray, who has been frustrated with the Pelicans this season, will buy into the Suns’ culture once he gets here. As we know, the Pelicans are bad and lack a clear direction for building. They view Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III as high pieces but not the building blocks of their rebuild. It seems like there are three timelines: Jones and Murphy III, Zion Williamson, and Murray as the vets who can help with a playoff push, and then you’ve got Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen as the young building blocks. Getting a young player like Green may not be the best fit, but it would give him a chance to return to his scoring form and try to become their number-one offensive option.
Dejounte Murray called Pelicans head coach Jamahl Mosley a bitch after he hit a three 🍿
For the Suns, this move frees up some money and gives you a player who can hopefully buy into the culture and help alleviate some of the pain for your best player. Murray isn’t coming in as a game-changing secondary option, but if he can buy into the team role and do the little things, he could find some great success in this starting lineup. Murray was an all-caliber defender in San Antonio, and yeah, he’s had many injuries, but I still think some of that player is still in him if he gets to Phoenix.
Ultimately, time will tell whether the Suns make this move or switch their starting lineups first. One good thing to know, though, is that Murray wants out, and the Suns look like one of the only teams that would need a true point guard. With both Green and Murray at their lowest values and on similar contracts, it seems a one-for-one deal could be the easiest thing for both parties. That said, the Pelicans front office doesn’t have the best track record with trades, so maybe the Suns can get something else thrown in for taking on their disgruntled player, since Green hasn’t made his frustrations as obvious as Murray’s. Could the Suns try to get a pick back in exchange for a younger asset? That’s something I’d like to see them try to pull off, alongside bringing in Murray to give them more flexibility in the long term.
Dejounte Murray has "strong interest" in joining the Phoenix Suns, per @sam_amick
His camp has been hopeful for a swap involving Jalen Green, but team sources on both sides recently said no talks had taken place. pic.twitter.com/z5BlT2vPK2
What are your thoughts? Is Dejounte Murray someone you would like the Suns to go after? Is there another piece you think would be a better fit? Ultimately, given what assets the Suns have to trade, this may be the best option they can pursue without hurting their depth too much, and I’d like it to materialize.
AUSTIN, TX - MAY 02: Texas Longhorns head coach Jim Schlossnagle looks on during the SEC college baseball game between Texas Longhorns and Mississippi State Bulldogs on May 02, 2026, at UFCU Disch - Falk Field in Austin, Texas.(Photo by Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
On Thursday, the Texas Longhorns signed 18 high school baseball prospects as part of the nation’s No. 2 recruiting class in the rankings by Perfect Game and Baseball America.
“We’re really excited about this group of student-athletes and what they bring to our program,” Texas head coach Jim Schlossnagle said. “They are talented players who have the work ethic, character and competitiveness we look for at Texas. We believe each of them has the ability to make an impact on our program, both on and off the field. We’re looking forward to getting them to Austin and helping them grow as players and people.”
In recent years, the shorter MLB Draft has resulted in more top prospects heading to college, like right-handers Sam Cozart and Brett Crossland in the 2025 class, but the top prospects remain likely to sign — Schlossnagle’s recruiting philosophy, also employed by other top programs, is to hope a several of those players head to the Forty Acres instead of professional baseball.
Pitchers
George Ferguson | RHP | 6’4, 218 | Abilene: A physical, frontline starter candidate, Ferguson is ranked as the No. 3 overall prospect in the class by Perfect Game. His fastball has reached 96 mph with an expected jump in 2027 that Ferguson pairs with advanced feel for his secondary offerings. Power arms ranked that highly are virtual locks to sign after the draft.
Grant Sperandio | RHP | 6’2, 210 | Houston Memorial: A top-50 national recruit and MLB High School All-American who is graduating early to join Texas in January 2027. He stuff is instant-impact and SEC-ready, headlined by a blazing fastball that tops out in the high 90s. Getting Sperandio to campus early without having to worry about the draft is a major coup for Schlossnagle.
Lukas Waite | RHP/OF | 6’2, 205 | San Diego (Calif.) Patrick Henry: Another All-American and explosive two-way athlete. On the mound, he works with afastball in the low to mid 90s and sharp breaking pitches. Waite’s speed — he runs a 6.22-second 60-yard dash — could complicate the decision about where he plays, but he’s listed as a pitcher here because of that explosive fastball.
Easton Sarmiento | LHP | 6’4, 180 | Chino Hills (Calif.) Ayala: A top-100 prospect nationally, Sarmiento is one of the highest-upside left-handers in the country because he pairs a projectable, athletic frame with a low-90s fastball and a plus slider.
Ryder Renfro |RHP | 6’3, 215 | Kingwood: A physical right-hander with a low-effort, repeatable high three-quarters delivery and a starter profile. His four-pitch mix features a fastball up to 93–94 mph with high spin (over 2600 rpm), a mid-70s sweeping slider, a curveball, and a changeup that fades. Those are attributes that will make him a prospect to watch when the draft arrives.
Cooper Vais | RHP/OF | 6’1, 200 | Arvada (Colo.) West: The top-ranked prospect in Colorado, Vais is a high-ceiling two-way athlete, touching 92 mph on the mound with a sharp curveball and repeatable mechanics, while showing high-level exit velocities and 6.63 speed as a position player.
Luke Armijo | LHP | 6’1, 200 | Whittier (Calif.) La Mirada: A polished California southpaw sitting just outside the national top 100. He features a quick arm with a fastball already reaching 92 mph, giving him a projection as a potential early contributor.
Hayden Anderson | LHP | 6’5, 220 | West Des Moines (Iowa) Waukee: An imposing, physical left-hander with a classic starter’s build. He operates with a fastball up to 90 mph and a developing changeup, offering significant velocity projection as he matures in Austin.
Beckett Berg | RHP | 6’5, 195 | Sherman Oaks (Calif.) Notre Dame: A tall and long-limbed right-with a high-upside frame, Berg may need time to boost his fastball velocity in the Texas strength and conditioning program.
Infielders and catchers
Lubin Rincon SS/3B | 6’3, 180 | PearlandThe Bennett School: Ranked No. 12 nationally by Perfect Game and No. 1 in Texas by Prep Baseball Report, Rincon is a premier left-handed hitting shortstop and major MLB Draft follow. Rincon boasts a prototypical frame with smooth actions capable of playing anywhere on the infield. Signing with Texas will be a footnote on his professional baseball journey.
Selvin Garrett | MIF | 5’11, 170 | Buda Johnson: A top-100 national prospect known for his high-level athleticism and consistent in-game production. He is a plus runner with clean defensive actions who projects to stick at shortstop while handling the bat with growing impact. Garrett is a player the Longhorns would really like to get to campus.
Hank Rippy| INF | 6’2, 185 | Austin Anderson: A local standout and draft follow ranked inside the top 10 in Texas, Rippy features excellent hands defensively, a quick arm, and a simple, repeatable left-handed swing that produces huge exit velocities with pull-side power. Texas is likely to need a hometown discount to get Rippy to the Forty.
Hudson Holt | 3B/SS/OF | 6’2, 200 | Rockwall: A versatile multi-positional athlete capable of playing third base or the outfield with an advanced all-field hitting approach at the plate.
Matthew Fernandez | C | 5’11, 175 | Miami Lakes (Fla.) Columbus: The lone catcher in the class, Fernandez is a durable backstop who projects as longterm depth behind the dish.
Outfielders
Grant Westphal | 6’2, 205 | Leawood (Kan.) Blue Valley: Ranked No. 65 nationally and No. 1 in Kansas, Westphal is a physical left-handed hitter with massive offensive impact — 107-mph exit velocities, 6.58 speed, and a fluid swing that drives the ball into all gaps. Those are tools that MLB scouts could fall in love with.
Luke Gladchuk | 6’0, 185 | Aledo: An All-American ranked No. 66 nationally, Gladchuk brings some juice as a center fielder with 6.48-second speed, a 99-mph outfield arm, and fast hands from the left side that that generate hard line-drive contact. A power surge this spring could vault him up draft boards.
JJ Utash | 6’4, 215 | Gilbert (Ariz.) Williams Field: A top-100 prospect possessing some of the loudest raw power in the entire class — prototypical SEC physicality produces posted exit velocities over 106 mph from the right side. Utash also boasts a strong arm.
Ira Rootman | 6’3, 195 | Los Angeles (Calif.) Harvard-Westlake: A speedy outfielder from the California powerhouse has a smooth swing with effortless power and plus ability in the field. Ranked just outside the top 100, Rootman could be an instant-impact player for the Longhorns.
Austin Reaves’ injury update wasn’t as dire as it could’ve been.
Lakers coach JJ Redick said Reaves has a bruised left heel. Reaves had X-rays that were negative after Wednesday’s win over the Bucks. Reaves and the Lakers’ medical staff determined no further imaging was needed after seeing how Reaves felt Thursday morning.
Reaves is day to day, according to Redick.
Austin Reaves shouldn’t be sidelined for long. NBAE via Getty Images
While it’s unclear whether Reaves will be available when the Lakers play the Suns on Sunday, Friday’s news was a sigh of relief for the franchise.
Austin Reaves suffered a heel injury during the second half of the Lakers’ win over the Bucks on Wednesday. AP Photo/Aaron Gash
He motioned to the bench around the 5:20 mark of the quarter for him to come out of the game, with the Lakers making multiple subs while Reaves walked to the back.
The Lakers ruled Reaves out for the remainder of the game midway through the fourth quarter, saying he had a heel injury.
Austin Reaves’ hot start to the season hit a hitch with his heel injury. NBAE via Getty Images
Reaves recorded 18 points, five assists, three rebounds and three steals in 25 minutes before leaving the game.
The 6-foot-5 guard entered Wednesday as the league’s No. 15 scorer, averaging 25.3 points (50.8% from the field, 41.3% on 3-pointers), 4.6 assists and 3.4 rebounds in the team’s first nine games.
Among players averaging at least 20 points per game, Reaves and Warriors star Steph Curry were the only ones to reach that scoring threshold while also shooting at least 50% from the field, 40% on 3-pointers and 90% on free throws.
While Montreal Canadiens Cole Caufield made history Thursday night by becoming the first Hab to score in eight consecutive games against the Boston Bruins, the team also achieved an impressive feat. The 5-2 win over the divisional rival meant that the Sainte-Flanelle got at least a point in its last 12 games. That hasn’t happened since the 1992-93 season, when the team won the last of its 24 Stanley Cups, which was an unexpected one as well.
What’s even more impressive, though, is that all those games were played without Russian sophomore Ivan Demidov, a key part of the Canadiens’ core. Furthermore, six of those games were played without team captain Nick Suzuki, while defenseman Mike Matheson also missed a sizeable chunk of matches. While some will say the results were skewed by great goaltending, mainly from Jacob Fowler, the fact is that the goaltender is an integral part of the team; it’s not a cheat code.
How many games can the Canadiens take that sequence to? Time will tell, but getting Demidov back would certainly help. While the Habs haven’t spelled out a new target date for his return, they announced this week that he would take part in a public signing session on November 22. That signing session was meant to happen earlier this season, but it was postponed because of his injury. Therefore, logic dictates that he should be back in the lineup by then; otherwise, he wouldn’t have committed to a signing session.
Montreal has five games left until then: the Avalanche and the Flyers at home, and a three-game road trip in three days against the Rangers, the Devils, and the Stanley Cup champions, the Carolina Hurricanes. That’s bound to be a challenge, especially with the back-to-back games against the Devils and the Canes. When will Jakub Dobes come back in net? Will he be able to keep the streak intact? The next few games promise to be very interesting.
If you follow me on TikTok or Twitter you may already know this about me, but for those who don’t: I am a BIG NBA Cup supporter. We #RespectTheCup in this house. I am also a big soccer (or as I call it, footy) fan, so I was already prone to enjoying these in-season tournaments. When it was announced I actually think that I was one of the only ones in my content creation circle, and certainly the only one in my friend group, to be 100% on board with the idea.
While Adam Silver has had more missteps in the last few years than I would prefer, he knocked it out of the park with the NBA Cup. As mentioned above, I think that there are ways to improve the tournament, but even in its short existence, it has brought much needed excitement and punch to the early portion of the NBA season.
The Utah Jazz haven’t had the season that any of us would have envisioned, and while starting 1-11 is quite the hole to put ourselves in, the NBA Cup allows us to strive towards a real goal outside of “development.” Even more important than presenting an opportunity to lift up some hardware, getting all the way to the NBA Cup Final would prove that this team is ready to compete one day.
The NBA Cup’s lineage is relatively short, but in its brief history we’ve been able to see some truly great basketball teams compete for the prize. If we take a trip down memory lane, we will notice something almost immediately — the teams that make it are/were threats to the rest of the league.
These weren’t flukes, they were mistakes; if you made it to the Final, you were a team with the aspirations and the roster to play basketball in June.
2023-2024
The inaugural NBA Cup Final was a success by every single metric there is. The game drew 4.58 million viewers between ABC and ESPN, the arena in Las Vegas hosted over 19,000 fans, and the Final featured one of the most exciting teams in the league at the time in the Indiana Pacers and the one of the most well known brands in all of sports in the Los Angeles Lakers, of course led by LeBron James – one of the most recognizable athletes in the world.
While the Lakers weren’t world beaters at this time, being three years removed from a championship, the year prior this squad lost in the Western Conference Finals to the ever dangerous Denver Nuggets. On the other side of the bracket, Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers were the talk of the town. Haliburton was coming off of an All-Star campaign the year prior and the Pacers were just so fun to watch. The matchup also presented an opportunity for there to be a “passing of the torch” moment, but LeBron had other plans.
LeBron finished the game with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists, Anthony Davis had a game of a lifetime with 41 points and 20 rebounds, and Austin Reaves chipped in 28 points off the bench in route to a 123-109 victory. LeBron won the inaugural NBA Cup MVP award, the most recognizable NBA team in the world won the inaugural NBA Cup, and the win reiterated that the Los Angeles Lakers were still going to compete at the highest level.
While I was personally rooting for the Indiana Pacers in this game, they gave it everything they had. Haliburton had a cool 20 point and 11 assist performance while Bennedict Mathurin scored 20 off the bench. It wasn’t the result that they (or I) wanted, but it wasn’t long before they proved to be worthy opponents themselves. Lest we forget that the Pacers could have been one catastrophic injury away from lifting up the Larry O’Brien Trophy the following year in the 2024-2025 NBA Season.
2024-2025
The second iteration of the NBA Cup had quite the shoes to fill, but the NBA Cup Final did not disappoint. While there wasn’t a widely recognizable brand in the Final like the Lakers or the Celtics, there was a massive amount of star power.
The Milwaukee Bucks were just a few years removed from a NBA Championship themselves, and Giannis Antetokounmpo was out to prove that they could still compete. Giannis was, and still is, one of the the world’s best players and one of the game’s biggest names. With Damian Lillard at his side, Giannis was out to prove that the Bucks were still threats to come out of the East.
Over in the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder were taking the league by storm. The year prior the team showed up on everyone’s radar after winning 57 games, and this year turned out to be no different. After it was all said and done, the OKC Thunder won 68 games led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who won his first MVP award, and the crew hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy at the end of the year.
Unfortunately for the Thunder, Giannis and the Bucks weren’t ready to lose this night. Giannis lead the way with a 26 point, 19 rebound, and 10 assist triple-double while Damian Lillard scored 23 points and led the Bucks to a 97-81 victory.
The Power of Friendship didn’t help the Thunder on this night, but they did give it their best effort: SGA scored 21, Jalen Williams scored 18,and Isaiah Hartenstein chipped in 16. While they weren’t victorious this night, they did prove to the world that they could compete with anyone in the league. After making it all the way to the NBA Cup Final, they dominated the regular season and defeated the aforementioned Indiana Pacers in 7 games in the NBA Finals.
2025-2026
The third iteration of the NBA Cup was arguably the best of the three. It also combined the best of both worlds from the previous two matchups: mega star power AND a recognizable brand. The New York Knicks are either the second or third (depending on who you ask) most recognizable brand in all of basketball, and for good reason. They don’t call Madison Square Garden “The Mecca of Basketball” for no reason. To top it all off, the Knicks were coming off of a 51 win season and a Conference Finals appearance the previous year, and Jalen Brunson just made the All-NBA 2nd Team.
Out west the San Antonio Spurs were well ahead of schedule with their roster. Stephon Castle just won the Rookie of the Year award the previous year, they drafted Dylan Harper with the #2 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and Victor Wembanyama had displayed All-World potential despite missing most of the 2024-2025 NBA season with DVT. To a lesser extent compared to the Knicks, the Spurs are also a world wide brand in the basketball realm due to the success of international stars like Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.
With all of the star power and recognizable brands at play, it shouldn’t be a surprise that the Amazon Prime Video broadcast averaged over 3 million viewers. What also wasn’t a surprise is that both teams came to play. The Spurs had 7 players in double figures; Wemby and Dylan Harper combined for 39 points off the bench, while Stephon Castle scored 15 points and dropped 12 dimes as a starter. For the Knicks, their Power of Friendship mantra rang true with 7 players scoring in double digits led by Jalen Brunson’s 25 points and OG Anunoby’s 28 points.
The Knicks came out on top 124-113, but this was just the appetizer for the NBA Finals. In the NBA Cup Final both teams proved that they had what it took to compete at the highest level, and then they both powered their way through the NBA Playoffs to meet in the NBA Finals. Unfortunately for The Baseline Bums, the Knicks prevailed again in a 4-1 series win to secure a championship for the first time in 53 years.
Time and time again, the NBA Cup has proven to be the battleground for future competitors and NBA Championship threats. In all three years of existence, the teams competing in the NBA Cup have either already climbed to the mountain top or they were getting ready to take the league by storm. THAT is what we should be striving for. I think after the 1-11 start it would be very difficult to compete for a Playoff spot (I predicted that we would finish 7th) so we should strive to do something more enticing than another year of developing our young talent.
We had higher expectations for our team, but we’ve had a season from hell when it comes to the injury department: Jaren Jackson Jr. is out until the new year, Jusuf Nurkic will be out for at least another two weeks, and Lauri Markkanen will miss at least a month with his hand fracture. Do I think that it will be difficult to win the games necessary to advance in the NBA Cup tournament without them? Absolutely. Do I think that this is a tremendous chance for our young players to prove what they can do? Without a doubt.
The road will be hard, especially after dropping our first NBA Cup game against the Mavericks 112-100, but I don’t think that our chance to win has been snuffed out. Tonight we play the Houston Rockets, and while they are formidable, they are not unbeatable. After that, the Suns and Nuggets are both very volatile. There is a real scenario where the Jazz go 3-1 in group play and earn a spot in the NBA Cup Quarter Finals. Once we get there, it just takes a hot streak to take us all the way to the Promised Land.
Again, without Lauri or JJJ, the burden will be placed on our younger players and luckily we have the firepower to do it. Keyonte George is good for 20 points a game this year, Darryn Peterson became the first teenager in Utah Jazz history to score 20+ points in four straight games, and Ace Bailey has proven that he is invaluable to this team.
The season has been disappointing so far, but there are reasons to be excited and goals to strive for. There is a lot of basketball left to play this year, and I for one am not satisfied with chalking up this year to another development year. Our goal for the rest of the year should be to win the NBA Cup, because if we can do that with a depleted roster, just imagine what we can do in the 2027-2028 season with a fully heathy squad.
How do you feel about the NBA Cup? How do you think the Jazz will fare the rest of the season? Sound off in the comments below!
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 11: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the game against the New York Knicks on November 11, 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
As the centerpiece of a trade that sent fan favorite Darius Garland to the Clippers, Harden was always going to face an uphill battle.
Now, coming off an Eastern Conference Finals appearance, all eyes are on Harden as he begins his second season with the team. After twelve games, one thing is clear: his performance will determine whether the Cavaliers can improve on last year.
He was at the center of the team’s problems. There were long stretches of minimal effort on defense, and he often looked like he was coasting, barely attempting to bring down rebounds.
Offensively, it was just as bleak: 11 points on 3-9 shooting with four turnovers. Safe to say, the fanbase was ready to drive Harden to the airport and send him to whatever team, or country, would take him.
Then came the Knicks game on November 11.
Suddenly, Harden was energized and putting his mark on the game.
He orchestrated a 115-107 road win at Madison Square Garden and put the offense on his back with 32 points, going 9-for-14 from the field with five threes and 9-11 at the free throw line.
Putting those two games back to back is as stark as it is telling of where the Cavaliers are. The team knew the risks and still entered the James Harden business.
This isn’t MVP Harden, and this isn’t the Houston Rockets of the 2010s, but the sentiment still stands: Cleveland is reliant on Harden to make the pieces on this roster gel. When he is at his worst, the ripples spread throughout the entire lineup.
The numbers show just how much his play matters, if not in the way Cleveland hoped. Through his first 11 games, the Cavaliers had a -5.6 net rating with Harden on the floor and a +15.7 net rating with him off it. Whatever his Knicks performance does to those numbers, it was a long way from enough to erase them.
Is this too much to ask of a 37-year-old? Yes. But the Cavaliers knew this was the route they were taking when they traded for Harden and then extended him on a three-year, $97 million deal. At times this season, it has looked like a grave mistake.
Harden is posting some of the lowest numbers of his career: 16.7 points, 5.6 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game. That scoring is about seven points below his 23.6 average last season, and about four below the 20.5 he averaged in 26 games after joining Cleveland. His assists are down more than two per game from last season’s 8.0.
Still, the Knicks game suggests the player fans expect isn’t gone. The problem for the Cavaliers is how to keep Harden engaged and empowered enough that performances like that don’t become few and far between.
It will be a balancing act. Cleveland has to meet Harden at a level of comfort that lets him use his best traits, while melding his heliocentric style with an offense that fits the rest of the roster and lets the ball move more freely. That will take time. The Cavaliers knew this came with Harden, and fans need to understand it won’t be pretty until a resolution is found on the court.
While Ohtani’s 2026 campaign did not meet his lofty standards and he had more free time during the World Series than he has had in three years, his two children and beloved dog, Decoy, surely kept him occupied.
Shohei Ohtani speaking on MLB Network while holding his dog Decoy. (YouTube/@Dodger Blue).
Ohtani appeared on MLB Network on Thursday and was asked about Decoy getting bigger and bigger every time he appears in public.
“Yeah. With my children getting bigger, they continue to give him more and more snacks. So Decoy tends to get bigger as well,” Ohtani said in translated Japanese while holding Decoy.
Ohtani and his wife, Mamiko, have two children together. They had a daughter in April 2025 and a son in June 2026.
It wasn’t all jokes from Ohtani during the interview.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani reacts after striking out against the Milwaukee Brewers during the NLCS, Thursday, Oct. 15 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
He was also candid about how the 2026 season went, as he said, “Honestly, I thought it was a very frustrating season, to be quite honest. Obviously, we did not do that well in the playoffs. Personally, like I said, I was frustrated with my overall performance throughout the season. So in a nutshell, it wasn’t a great season personally for me.”
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani walks to the dugout during Game 3 of the NLCS in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026. AP Photo/Ashley Landis
Injuries also disrupted Ohtani’s two-way season: left knee and right biceps issues ended his pitching work after July 3, and the Dodgers later placed him on the injured list in September.
He’ll be looking for a healthier 2027—and perhaps Decoy can join him for offseason workouts, once the kids are done feeding him extra snacks.
After an injury-shortened 2025, Orlando Patiño came back strong in 2026 to crack our Top 100. | Orlando Patiño/Instagram
Orlando Patiño Right Fielder 6´2´´ 190 pounds Age: 19 First appearance in the South Side Sox Top 100 2026 High Level DSL (rookie) Age relative to high level +0.4 years SSS rank among all right fielders in the system 7 Overall 2026 stats 48 games ⚾️ 2 HR ⚾️ 20 RBI ⚾️ .315/.438/.462 ⚾️ 28 BB ⚾️ 31 K ⚾️ 10-of-12 (83.3% SB) ⚾️ .944 FLD% ⚾️ 1.1 WAR
Patiño was a member of the 2025 international class for the White Sox, and was a bit of a plum pick, inking for $570,000. He hails from the lone hotbed of international talent for Chicago, Venezuela. But don’t let that make you think Patiño was a consolation prize; the White Sox swooped in late to steal him away from the Dodgers, who felt the 17-year-old was already in pocket.
The outfielder’s debut in the DSL in 2025 was mediocre, and trimmed short by injury. But his truncated debut made Patiño’s standout repeat of the DSL look even more spectacular, as he flashed four-tool talent with hopes of power to come. There was nothing about Patiño’s full season down south that disappointed.
Some of Patiño’s teammates, even those specifically roaming the outfield, who are getting more attention among prospect hounds. But, with a nod to the broad takes anyone watching has to take out of DSL play, Patiño looks as promising as any, as he heads to the U.S. for his first ACL season.
CNBC has released its valuations for all 32 NHL teams. As per the report, all valuation figures are in U.S. dollars, with multiple teams surpassing the $4 billion mark for the first time. The Toronto Maple Leafs lead the league at $5.4 billion, while the Columbus Blue Jackets are the lowest-valued team at $1.65 billion.
As for the Vancouver Canucks, they sit 15th at $2.5 billion. According to CNBC, that is up from the $ 2.2 billion reported in 2025. The Canucks did fall in overall position, as they were ranked 12th last year.
2026 CNBC NHL Team Valuations:
Toronto Maple Leafs: $5.4B
New York Rangers: $4.7B
Montréal Canadiens: $4.1B
Los Angeles Kings: $3.9B
Edmonton Oilers: $3.7B
Philadelphia Flyers: $3.6B
Boston Bruins: $3.5B
Chicago Blackhawks: $3.35B
Washington Capitals: $3.2B
New Jersey Devils: $3.1B
Detroit Red Wings: $3.05B
New York Islanders: $3B
Tampa Bay Lightning: $2.7B
Carolina Hurricanes: $2.66B
Vancouver Canucks: $2.5B
Vegas Golden Knights: $2.45B
Minnesota Wild: $2.33B
Colorado Avalanche: $2.27B
Dallas Stars: $2.26B
Calgary Flames: $2.25B
Seattle Kraken: $2.2B
Florida Panthers: $2.15B
Anaheim Ducks: $2.1B
Pittsburgh Penguins: $2B
Nashville Predators: $1.95B
St. Louis Blues: $1.9B
Utah Mammoth: $1.85B
San Jose Sharks: $1.8B
Winnipeg Jets: $1.75B
Ottawa Senators: $1.72B
Buffalo Sabres: $1.7B
Columbus Blue Jackets: $1.65B
Nov 9, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Jonathan Lekkerimaki (88) celebrates his goal with forward Brock Boeser (6) against the Philadelphia Flyers in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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The sandpaper affair is back, and the reason it has hit Australia so hard is because it is sneaky – or basically quite English
Any plans for the weekend? Personally I’m all set. I will be watching the full Pat Cummins sandpaper denial press conference, filmed live on location in Sydney on Friday morning, and now preserved uncut and un-redacted on YouTube.
I will not speed it up, or flick through impatiently only to find myself bogged down in endless adverts for old fat guys doing military calisthenics, and pills that will dissolve the vile writhing parasites that definitely live in my guts.
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The defending NBA Cup champions are in need of a win.
At 7 p.m. ET, Jalen Brunson’s New York Knicks will play their second NBA Cup game of the 2026 season against Pascal Siakam’s Indiana Pacers at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
After losing the first of four group-stage games 98-93 to the 76ers, a second defeat wouldn’t automatically eliminate the squad but could certainly hurt their chances of advancing.
To add insult to injury, the 2026 NBA champs are also coming off a tough 115-107 loss to the Cavs — they can’t even say they “analytically won” — where James Harden dropped 32 points on them.
Indiana enters tonight 4-8 and flying high following their 114-101 victory over the Wizards on Nov. 11. Siakam led the way with 28 points; Ivica Zubac chipped in 20.
Like New York, they are also 0-1 in NBA Cup play.
This evening’s contest will be the first of the year between the bitter Eastern Conference rivals; star Tyrese Haliburton is sitting for the Pacers due to a mild left hamstring strain. He should be back in approximately 10 days.
Prior to tipoff, the last Knicks vs. Pacers game was on March 17; New York won 136-110.
Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch the Knicks vs. Pacers NBA Cup game live for free tonight.
When do the Knicks play again?
The Knicks are back in action tonight, Nov. 13, against the Indiana Pacers.
Knicks vs. Pacers start time
Knicks vs. Pacers will tip off at 7 p.m. ET with coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m.
How to watch the Knicks vs. Pacers NBA Cup game for free
Tonight’s Knicks vs. Pacers NBA Cup game is streaming exclusively on Prime Video nationwide, so you’ll have to be an Amazon Prime subscriber to watch the game.
If you aren’t a Prime Video subscriber yet, you can get started with a 30-day Amazon Prime free trial, including Prime perks like the Prime Video streaming service, free two-day shipping, exclusive deals, and more. After the free trial, Amazon Prime costs $14.99/month or $139/year.
TRY PRIME VIDEO FREE
All 18- to 24-year-olds, regardless of student status, are eligible for a discounted Prime for Young Adults membership as well, with age verification. After a six-month free trial, you’ll pay 50% off the standard Prime monthly price of $14.99/month — just $7.49/month — for up to six yearsand get all the perks.
NBA on Prime: 2026-27 Knicks schedule
The Knicks have 10 scheduled NBA on Prime games for the 2026-27 season, not including any potential NBA Cup knockout games. These are the seven remaining:
This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 08: Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. talks with New York Mets Owner, Chairman and CEO Steve Cohen prior to the 2024 London Series game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets at London Stadium on Saturday, June 8, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The owners are going to lock out the players (again) in December 2026 when the current collective bargaining agreement expires.
You may ask why. Well, I blame two “culprits” who frankly have not done anything wrong in a baseball context: Mets owner Steve Cohen and Padres owner Peter Seidler.
Today is not the day to break down proposals and argue who is in the right and who is in the wrong, and why the owners are a bunch of money-grubbing morons who are going to strangle the sport when it has finally regained a measure of popularity to be the second-banana in American sports again, only behind the behemoth that is the National Football League.
Today is not the day I break down in graphic detail what I really think.
We have time for that trainwreck and to fully explore the anger and stupidity, as well as the slow march that got us here. We have time to discuss the cancers that have been allowed to metastasize and spread that we covered earlier this year.
Now, like a blip on Doppler radar that has grown scarier and angrier on the screen, the oncoming storm lumbers towards our figurative shores. It will come ashore, and it will be bad. But before the doom and gloom, we can take a second to mock the deserving.
This fact just in: I was wrong as to one solitary point. Steve Cohen did not become baseball’s boogeyman; Mark Walter and the Dodgers did. However, we’re not here to talk about the Dodgers. Even with all of the investment in Queens, and Lord, there has been a lot of investment, the New York Mets remain a laughingstock.
It’s like accidentally making a flop in the style of The Producers every year.
Now, on the verge of the imminent lockout that we are powerless to stop, we need to do three things. Today, we are going to present a prebuttal to an argument that I know will persist only to annoy me and highlight folks who are either terribly ignorant or lack any semblance of empathy.
Next time, we’ll present an idea that would make baseball stronger and better for the next century. It’s fan-friendly and would be a generational change, transforming the landscape of American sport forever. Accordingly, this idea has no chance in hell of ever being implemented. Ever.
The owners would hate it. The players would hate it. The traditionalists in the media would hate it. But the fans would probably love it.
Then, we discuss expansion: both how it would look in this new system and what we’re most likely going to get.
Controlling the Message
“It’s millionaires versus billionaires:” this framing of the coming labor dispute is so incredibly lazy.
We have extensively covered that the average player in MLB is not a millionaire, at least not yet. And even if they were, what we are dealing with here is a manufactured labor crisis where management doesn’t want to pay its employees what they are actually worth. For as conservative-leaning as baseball generally is, there’s a movement to socialize the risk for owners, which is my view of the current argument.
Certain sportswriters clearly come from some degree of privilege (guilty as charged here), and that shows in how they discuss labor issues. Invariably, a stinker from Brittney Ghiroli or Jim Bowden at The Athletic usually makes you question your sanity. Although Pedro Martinez, analyst at ESPN, unleashed a corker recently:
“Please, for the fans, both sides, figure it out, a good way to get it done, and do not lock out baseball,” Martinez said.
“I hope the commissioner can see me and hear and the players’ association hears what I have to say. I might be insignificant, but I lived it before. I experienced that before,” Martinez said. “… I was one of the most punished players at that moment because I had talent, and I needed to wait until arbitration to make my money. So I hope they don’t mess it up and they don’t mistreat the fans.”
“Back then, there was a need for other things to change, and they changed for the better. This time, there’s no excuse,” Martinez added in comparing the 1994 strike to today. “On both sides, not the PA, not the owners, not baseball. The fans do not deserve to be mistreated.”
In Boston for the Pedro Martinez Foundation’s 10th annual gala, Martinez said that “honestly speaking, I’m pissed” as he appealed to both players and owners to find a solution.
It’s as if the former Dodger planned to give the perfect segue to present the argument that I shall rebut:
The argument goes, if there is a salary cap in baseball, the owners will pass that savings along to the fans. Because really this salary cap is about the fans. Too many teams have no shot of winning at the start of the year. No one is worrying about the fans!
As to the Math
First, people have argued about trickle-down economics for about fifty years in the United States. As of this essay, this timeframe goes back to Ronald Reagan in 1980, before I was born.
The math ever since, every time it was tried, is pretty clear: it doesn’t work. At all. The richer get richer, the poor get shafted. That’s not politics; it’s math.
No one will highlight the actual regular people until it’s too late. People in operations, marketing, sales, security, and every ancillary person who isn’t a player but depends directly on baseball to operate and have a job. The tour guides, the media people, the medical personnel, the food service people, the parking attendants, the regular people who are forced to sit around or find other work because management is trying to grow their balance sheets.
Wage disparity has grown into an ever-widening chasm between the haves and have-nots, starting in the Reagan Administration and continuing almost in a straight line to now. If you think a salary cap will lower ticket prices, concession prices, or parking prices by a single dollar now, fifty years later with clear, empirical evidence in every other instance that says to the contrary, then nothing likely will sway you short of a shock to the system that breaks past dogma.
Everyone is entitled to their opinions; no one is entitled to their own facts. There are not two sides to every issue.
As to the Cap
Second, baseball already has a salary cap; it’s just a soft cap, with financial penalties. The proponents of the stoppage want a hard cap where teams are barred from spending over a set amount. What these cheapskates want is the reserve clause back in all but name, and their best players being forced to play with one team for the duration of their career in the name of parity, which does not pass the laugh test.
Under the expanded playoff format, every team but six has made the playoffs: San Francisco Giants (2021), Sacramento Athletics (2020), Washington Nationals (2019), Colorado Rockies (2018), Pittsburgh Pirates (2015), and Anaheim Angels (2014).
Also, 13 unique teams have played in baseball’s final four, but sure, the Dodgers have somehow ruined baseball.
Arizona Diamondbacks (2023)
Cleveland Guardians (2024, 2026)
Houston Astros (2022, 2023)
Los Angeles Dodgers (2024, 2025, 2026)
Milwaukee Brewers (2025, 2026)
New York Mets (2024)
New York Yankees (2022, 2024)
Philadelphia Phillies (2022, 2023)
San Diego Padres (2022)
Seattle Mariners (2025)
Tampa Bay Rays (2026)
Texas Rangers (2023)
Toronto Blue Jays (2025)
Yes, the Tony Gwynns and Clayton Kershaws of the world stayed with their respective organizations for their entire careers. The entire notion that homegrown stars are ripped from the fans of so-called small-market teams was perpetuated by Moneyball. Yes, so-called large-market teams overpay for players all the time.
Look at Tarik Skubal. The unspoken truth about the fact that he was dealt in 2026 stems from the fact that the Detroit Tigers tried to lowball him to an absurd degree, making a midseason move all but a fait accompli. Will a player accept less to stay put? Sometimes. What a player won’t and shouldn’t accept is being paid less. A hometown discount is one thing; being paid pennies on the dollar is another, unless you’re Shohei Ohtani, which is both an accounting joke and a gross oversimplification of his contract.
A lot of the discourse surrounding Skubal at the deadline largely missed the mark. Much was said about the Dodgers trading for Tarik Skubal. Some of it was insightful and thought-provoking. However, most of the discourse was devoid of rational thought, said with the emotional maturity of a sleep-deprived toddler.
At the time, there was plenty of excellent coverage here at True Blue LA to sort through that needs no repetition here, only citation.
The default argument that the Dodgers bought Skubal was just silly and a declaration that one does not understand how trades work. Skubal did not have a no-move clause, unlike the also-traded Kevin Gausman. Skubal no more chose to be in Los Angeles than Kyle Tucker chose to arrive in Chicago last year after being traded from Houston.
Skubal was in the last year of his contract, costing about $10 million for the remainder of the year, and any team could have afforded that financial cost.
The Dodgers gave up some prospect depth in Zyhir Hope and River Ryan, but the system retained its prospect depth, particularly in the outfield. The trade of River Ryan for Skubal felt oddly kismet because I had worked on a trade proposal essay in 2024 about that basic deal I had to spike due to Ryan’s injury. A 2024 Dodgers’ team that had a rotation of Skubal-Yamamoto-Buehler-Knack likely would have had a much easier postseason run.
Yes, the Brewers tried to get Skubal with public reports about the packages they proffered to Detroit to no avail. “The Tigers, though, wanted a controllable Major League pitcher in the deal. None of the sources would say who they favored, but Logan Henderson was among the names teams were asking for most often.” In most years, the Brewers’ frugality is their downfall. This year, they won in spite of that trait. Good for them.
As to the Fans
Third, the fans shouldn’t have a say in this dispute. Imagine if, in your work, your customer tried to intervene in how much you got paid at work, arguing you should just take what you get; you wouldn’t stand for it.
That said, the fans do have a way to voice their opinion in these proceedings, once baseball returns: if you’re truly that unhappy with baseball, don’t go, don’t watch. We have a dispute between management and labor. If the customer doesn’t like the price of the service, the customer can stay home, which leads to the unspoken truth: baseball’s antitrust exemption.
If you want baseball, MLB is the only game in town. Even the Savanna Bananas and their ilk are something else. Baseball is a legal monopoly. And frankly, it is long past time for the exemption to die.
Everyone tends to forget that MLB pruned minor league baseball with a figurative ax over the last few years. The MLB draft is a shell of itself, as rounds 21 through 40 no longer exist.
Given the proposals from the league that seeks to further prune the avenues for people to enter the sport, it seems apt to point out the Hall of Famers and other notable players who were fortunate enough to make it when they did, because they are currently out of luck in the current system.
John Smoltz (Round 22, 1985, inducted 2015)
Andy Petittitte (Round 22, 1990)
Mike Piazza (Round 62, 1988, inducted 2016)
Roy Oswalt (Round 23, 1996)
Brett Butler (Round 23, 1979)
Mark Grace (Round 24, 1985)
Paul LoDuca (Round 25, 1993)
Dusty Baker (Round 26, 1967)
Dave Roberts (Round 28, 1998)
Kevin Kiermaier (Round 31, 2010)
Mark Buehrle (Round 38, 1998)
The average fan will not be affected one iota by the strike, as they, we, just lose an entertainment option. Most writers will have to find something else to drive traffic and generate interest in baseball. Most will have to learn or relearn to love the art of long-form essay writing.
Note, I say fan, because there is a segment of regular people who will be deeply affected by the lockout.
I’m shining a light on the people who are already losing their jobs, those people who are caught in the crossfire of management’s unfettered greed: the support staff people in baseball. And the cull has already started.
No one will highlight the actual regular people until it’s too late.
People in operations, marketing, sales, security, and every ancillary person who isn’t a player but depends directly on baseball to operate and have a job. The tour guides, the media people, the medical personnel, the food service people, the parking attendants, the regular people who are forced to sit around or find other work because management is trying to grow their balance sheets.
I’m sure I’ve forgotten or missed someone, and that failure is one of imagination rather than intent.
This oncoming storm is appropriate for the age we are in. The retroclassic ballpark age ended a while ago. We now live in the Faux-Wrigleyville / The Battery Era, where the goal is creating an entertainment/mixed use district that keeps dollars flowing to organizations every day of the year, regardless of whether baseball is in season or not.
The utter rage I feel at these regular people being screwed is the genesis of this essay. Because there is a better way, and baseball will likely never do it. So next time, we’re going to describe the layout ourselves as we engineer the future.
