Kimi Antonelli third and extends championship lead
Max Verstappen won the Singapore Grand Prix with a commanding run from pole to flag to take his first victory at the Marina Bay circuit on the occasion of his 250th race.
He comfortably beat the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc into second place with championship leader Kimi Antonelli third. Defending world champion Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were fourth and fifth for McLaren and Lewis Hamilton sixth for Ferrari. Antonelli’s Mercedes teammate George Russell came through to take ninth place, having started 19th on the grid.
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 30: Jalen Brunson #11 talks to OG Anunoby #8 and Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round 1 Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on April 30, 2024 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
No Knicks basketball on Sunday; what did you expect on the day we all have for resting and disconnecting? (As if I ever do lol)
However, New York folks keep logging practices and sending quotes out to the world for us to enjoy.
Here’s the latest from Tarrytown before Monday’s clash against the LaMelo-Ant Wolves.
"It's great that you're able to get vets like him into camp, because you get to know them. You never know what to expect if you don't really know somebody. You get to know their personalities just as much as you get to know their game. He's been doing a nice job."
On receiving an invitation from former Giants head coach Tom Coughlin:
“When he asked me to come by the event, I actually called my dad. I said, ‘Hey dad, I just spoke with Tom Coughlin and going to go do this and this,’ and my dad got excited, too.
“I’ve always been a fan of his from afar. … What he did was really, as a coach, was remarkable. And that’s what I knew him as back then. To go through a year at 9-7 [in 2011] and [10-6 in 2007], to me that’s what a season is about. You figure stuff out over the course of the year. You may not be in first place all the time, but you’re preparing for the postseason. And both those teams, in my opinion, they did it textbook.
“They took their lumps, they figured out how to get through the challenges and adversity throughout the course of the year and when it was time to go for it, they did it.”
On the differences between his personality and Tom Coughlin’s:
“His presence and demeanor were almost the opposite [of me]. I’m a little goofy, he’s more serious, he’s not goofy at all. And you can feel his presence.”
On Bruce Brown’s performance at camp and the effort he’s shown while competing for a roster spot:
“He’s been doing a nice job. He was with the group [against the Wizards on Thursday] — him, Jaden [Akins], Tyler Nickel, James Wiseman and [Pacôme Dadiet]. Those guys made a couple of mistakes, but man, they played hard. And I’m not just saying hard defensively. Even offensively, getting to their spots in transition, moving the basketball, touching the paint.
“And then defensively, speaking on Bruce, he was great on the ball. … Watching him still do those things, knowing that he’s fighting for a spot, with the success he’d had in a year, he’s still embracing his journey, is a lot of fun to see because he’s going about it the right way.”
"Everything's going to work out. I'm not really too stressed over it, putting too much into it. Obviously, we have high expectations. It's good we're able to just focus on the season and keeping it moving."
On the Knicks postponing contract extension negotiations:
“Everything is going to work out. I’m not really too stressed over it. I’m not putting too much into it. We have expectations, so it’s good we are able to focus on the season.”
On how contract uncertainty will affect him throughout the season:
“There will be days where we don’t think about it. There will be days where it’s top of the mind. We’re humans.”
On why he isn’t frustrated by the lack of a contract extension:
“No, because at the end of the day, I’m still under contract in New York. We have a hell of a team that’s going to try and repeat. [And] I’m in an amazing situation off the court, so it’s not frustrating.
“Obviously, you want to get some of those things done, but if it doesn’t, it’s nothing where you lose sleep over. We’re blessed to be out here playing basketball for a living.
“So, you know, it’s not frustrating. You just got to make sure you’re able to block out the noise and whatever rumors that whoever, a random person said, their sources said, et cetera, on Twitter. Just got to block that out and keep it moving.”
On the differences between Mitchell Robinson and Andre Drummond:
“It’s tough to replace someone like that. Obviously, an amazing rebounder, amazing defensive player. Drum, he gives you a different look. Offensively, a way better passer than I thought he was. He’s extremely light on his feet, obviously can knock down shots.”
"He's going to be professional. Not just him – everybody. Everyone's going to be professional and continue to do their jobs."
Jalen Brunson was asked how he expects Josh Hart to handle not getting an extension done with the Knicks before the start of the season: pic.twitter.com/RQmIDyFgze
On Josh Hart remaining professional despite his contract uncertainty:
“He’s gonna be a professional. Not just him — everybody. Everyone’s gonna be professional and continue to do their jobs. No matter what the situation is, things are gonna happen. There’s always gonna be a roller coaster every season. Ups and downs emotionally. No matter what, when we’re out there on the court, we’re gonna have each other’s backs.”
On preventing contract negotiations from becoming a distraction for the Knicks:
“There’s only potential distractions when you read and believe what people are saying. No matter what’s being said, no matter what’s being talked about consistently or not, you believe what you wanna believe, you hear what you wanna hear. It’s on us as teammates and individuals and professionals to understand what the nature of it is. People are gonna talk about it. So we gotta control what we can control and do our jobs.
“We’re gonna have each other’s back, regardless. We’re human, as well. There’s gonna be days we have good days, bad days, whatever. I think the way we won was just because of how connected we were as a group, so we gotta keep that.”
On when he realized Andre Drummond had long-range shooting skills:
“When he made three threes last year. I remember that. I was questioning myself, like ‘Where did this come from?’ That’s what happens when you work on your game.”
On Mike Brown’s personality:
“I think you’re always getting the real Mike Brown.”
Recent reports asserted that the second apron is hurting “lower” and “middle” class players. That’s untrue. Since the implementation of the second apron, the number of players on team rosters has remained the same and annual salaries have increased by nearly $1.3 billion…
On the NBA’s second apron hurting middle-class players:
“The new CBA is good for max guys, new free agents and rookie extension guys. The middle guys, it kind of sucks for us. There’s not a lot of people getting that full midlevel.”
Adam Silver
On reports and Bruce Brown’s claims that the second apron hurts lower- and middle-class players:
“Recent reports asserted that the second apron is hurting ‘lower’ and ‘middle’ class players. That’s untrue. Since the implementation of the second apron, the number of players on team rosters has remained the same and annual salaries have increased by nearly $1.3 billion resulting in pay increases of approximately 30% for all classes of players.”
PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 6, 1974: Ron Cey #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers slides into second base against the Pittsburgh Pirates during Game 2 of the National League Championship Series on October 6, 1974 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Herb Scharfman/Sports Imagery/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers on Sunday begin playing in their 18th National League Championship Series, a round that first began in 1969. The first NLCS for the Dodgers was in 1974, when Walt Alston’s Dodgers made their first postseason appearance since 1966.
This was the first full season of The Infield for the Dodgers, with National League MVP Steve Garvey at first base, Davey Lopes at second base, Bill Russell at shortstop, and Ron Cey at third base. They won 102 games, which stood as the best record by a Los Angeles Dodgers team for 43 years, but even then it took until the penultimate day to finally clinch the NL West over the Cincinnati Reds.
Tuesday, October 1 was clinching day for the Dodgers, who were in Houston to play the Astros while the Reds were in Atlanta. Cincinnati’s game ended first, and when the Braves prevailed that clinched the division for the Dodgers. It took a few minutes before fans watching Dodgers-Astros on television could see the reaction from the visiting dugout, much to the chagrin of Paul Henninger of the Los Angeles Times:
It’s ironic that the tape-delay, which has plagued baseball fans all season long on Monday nights, had to figure one more time, and on a channel that proclaimed it would bring us LIVE coverage until the Dodgers clinched the division. Everybody could treasure the glorious moment when it happened — LIVE, that is.
Dodger fans were all geared for it last Tuesday night. Channel 11 was telecasting the Dodgers game from the Atrodome. They knew the Reds were trailing. Doggett as on TV when word came. The Reds lost! Quick, cut to the Dodgers’ dugout to see the players’ reactions LIVE when they heard. Hey! They got the news! Davey Lopes was seen leaping for joy and … Vin Scully turns up on the screen frying sausage. What’s happening? Hurry up, Vinnie, flip those (deleted) links over, get on with it.
Then to compound this awful boo-boo, after the taped commercial somehow got in the way, after the initial excitement subsided, KTTV put on a tape-delay of the dugout frolics we missed. It was like reading yesterday’s newspaper. For shame, KTTV.
A different time
In the first 16 years of the League Championship Series (1969-84), the series was best-of-5, and home-field advantage alternated by division each year. It worked out that 1974 was the NL West’s year for home-field advantage, which matched up with the records, as the Dodgers were 102-60 and the Pittsburgh Pirates were 88-74.
But home-field advantage back then meant the team with the supposed advantage would first play two games on the road before coming home to play up to three games. So the Dodgers had to go to Pittsburgh first to open their playoffs.
Night games weren’t as prevalent for the postseason back then, and every game of the NLCS and ALCS were played during the daytime. Also, the schedules weren’t staggered, with both the NL and AL playing games on the same days.
1974 LCS schedules
Saturday, October 5: Dodgers at Pirates, 10 a.m. PT; Orioles at A’s, 1 p.m.
Sunday, October 6: Dodgers at Pirates, 10 a.m.; Orioles at A’s, 1 p.m.
Monday, October 8: A’s at Orioles, 11 a.m. PT; Pirates at Dodgers, 12:30 p.m.
Tuesday, October 9: A’s at Orioles, 11 a.m. PT; Pirates at Dodgers, 12:30 p.m.
Wednesday, October 10: A’s at Orioles, 11 a.m. PT; Pirates at Dodgers, 12:30 p.m.
Based on local newspapers at the time — Bob Cox in the San Pedro News-Pilot, Morton Moss in the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, and Henninger of The Times — the television coverage of the postseason was also much different from today. All NLCS games were televised locally in the Los Angeles area by KTTV, with Vin Scully and Jerry Doggett on the call, using the NBC video feed.
The national NBC call of the NLCS, which was also available locally, had Jim Simpson and Maury Wills on the call. NBC also called the ALCS, which made for a baseball doubleheader on the network on Saturday, with the main NBC team of Curt Gowdy and Tony Kubek calling the ALCS. But on Sunday, NBC had NFL football with the Oakland Raiders playing the Cleveland Browns in the 10 a.m. PT slot so they didn’t show Game 2 of Dodgers-Pirates.
Games 3-5 of the LCS had the two games closer together, and NBC’s coverage plans were to televise the first game (A’s at Orioles) in full before joining Pirates at Dodgers in progress. But KTTV locally had every NLCS game live.
As it turned out, both the Dodgers and A’s closed out their LCS in four games, not needing to play Wednesday.
There would not be an NLCS MVP award until 1977, but two Dodgers stood out for a potential 1974 NLCS MVP. Don Sutton allowed one run in 17 innings in his two starts, both wins, with 13 strikeouts, and Garvey hit .389/.421/.778 with two home runs, a double, and five RBI in the four games.
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 10: Gavin Williams #32 of the Cleveland Guardians pitches during Game Five of the American League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the Chicago White Sox and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Saturday, October 10, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
We’re down to four.
The Guardians managed to escape a 2-0 series deficit and will move on to face the Rays starting Monday night. Meanwhile, the NLCS starts tonight with what might be a pitching matchup for the ages at 5:00 pm PST on Fox.
Happy Sunday everybody!
In Mariners news…
I like to imagine being the viewer who never saw this story, sees this question, and is left on their couch thinking, “he did WHAT??”
Tarik Skubal and Jacob Misiorowski will go head-to-head tonight in Game 1 of the NLCS, and according to Mike Petriello it’s one of the best pitching matchups we’ve ever seen, and he has the numbers to prove it.
Phillies President of Business Operations Sam Fuld was reportedly offered the position of President of Baseball Operations for the Athletics but elected to decline the offer and will remain in his current position in Philadelphia.
VANCOUVER, CANADA - OCTOBER 10: Nimari Burnett #25 of the Toronto Raptors dunks the ball during the game against the LA Clippers during a 2026 NBA Preseason game on October 10, 2026 at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 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 Jordan Jones/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Following hectic offseason drama surrounding Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers, leading to the trade that ended up bringing The Klaw back to Toronto, the Clippers and Raptors have been in plenty of headlines together. The new eras of both clubs met up on Saturday for the NBA Preseason in Vancouver, where Toronto took down Los Angeles, 114-106.
While Rui Hachimura continued to prove that he plans to have an offensive breakout year with LA this season, putting up 14 points, the Raptors, in large part, relied on RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, who are attempting to prove they can be valuable role players around Kawhi and Scottie. In 23 minutes, Barrett put up 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Immanuel Quickley had 18 points in 19 minutes, with a respectable 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Colin Murray-Boyles was a leading offensive leader as well, going into the second half with 9 points. CMB is a special defensive player, but if he can continue to work on his offensive game, the sky’s the limit.
The Raptors played some of their best basketball in the first quarter, holding the Clippers to only 18 points as a team. A player who got fans riled up, many of whom have never even heard his name before — Nimari Burnett — made fans loud when he hit a corner three that bounced off the backboard before landing home late in the first quarter. Burnett, the 6’5” undrafted player from this year’s 2026 draft class on an Exhibit 10 contract with the Raptors, put up 10 points on 4 of 6 shooting from the field and 2 of 3 from three-point range.
Burnett’s surprise performance was a nice boost for the team in the first quarter, but the team’s offence definitely picked up speed starting the second quarter. Barnes asserted his presence in the paint, especially evident through his 10 rebounds. The new Raptor, Kyle Anderson, was scoreless in his offensively lackluster performance; however, he made great heads-up defense and even passing plays, like his touch pass to Jakob Poeltl late in the second quarter. The ball movement in general last night was mesmerizing and quite clean, with only 15 turnovers compared to Los Angeles’ 20. Regarding Poeltl, all his buckets came from nice positioning on the court. However, he only had 9 points, 3 of which came from his 3 out of 6 performance from the free-throw line. Poeltl continues to seem not present enough to be the centre of this basketball team, especially only ending the night with 4 rebounds.
Another player with a noteworthy performance was Jamal Shead. In 19 minutes, he scored 13 points and 2 assists, and displayed nothing but good defence. His steal around the 4-minute mark in the second quarter, leading to a pass straight to Jaden Bradley — who had a productive game himself — is an example of his incredibly high basketball IQ.
The game culminated in a slight slump from the Raptors in the second half of the game, but they got the job done. The preseason has been more than a valuable experience for the Raptors to find out who will fit on this team and what their roles will be.
Maxime Raynaud will miss at least the next two weeks with a right knee injury, the Kings announced Sunday.
An MRI revealed a right patellar subluxation — a partial dislocation of the kneecap — and the second-year center will be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks.
The Kings announce a minimum two-week absence for Maxime Raynaud after an MRI confirmed a right patellar subluxation in his knee. pic.twitter.com/tnIt3mcein
Raynaud left the Kings’ 111-106 preseason loss to the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center with 2:32 remaining in the second quarter.
Raynaud went down while setting a screen on Steph Curry for rookie guard Darius Acuff Jr. The 23-year-old big man took contact to the outside of his right knee and was taken to the locker room in a wheelchair.
Kings center Maxime Raynaud goes down with a right knee injury, eventually carted off the floor at Chase Center in the second quarter.
Teammates & coaches show support, including Ben Simmons who remained with him while he was down. He looked to go knee-to-knee with Stephen… pic.twitter.com/Dja4VkmvCF
With Raynaud’s reevaluation date on Oct. 25, he will miss the beginning of the 2026-27 regular season. The Kings open the campaign on Oct. 21 against the Clippers in Los Angeles, return to Sacramento for their home opener against the Portland Trail Blazers on Oct. 23 and host the Memphis Grizzlies on Oct. 25.
Raynaud, a 2026 All-Rookie Second Team selection, led Sacramento in rebounding last season at 7.5 per game, so the Kings will be without a valuable part of their rotation early this season.
CHARLOTTE, NC - JANUARY 28: Trey Burke #23 of the New York Knicks handles the ball during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on January 28, 2019 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brock Williams-Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Imagine being 25 years old and having to prove that you are not washed up. I have thought a lot about James Wiseman over the last few weeks. He’s heading (he hopes) into his sixth NBA season, playing for (he hopes) his fourth team. Along the way, he’s suffered at least two major injuries, missed an entire season due to one, and has gone from second pick in the draft to fighting for scraps on the Knicks. The trajectory is sorta Dickensian, lacking only a redemptive third act to complete the tale satisfactorily.
At 25, I was two years into marriage and parenthood and fumbling my way around a professional ladder. The résumé was starting to look okay, though, and the New York Post had not published articles about my failed attempts to fully realize my potential. I had not been accepted and rejected by three NBA fanbases. That would have been quite a heavy yoke for my young shoulders.
Today’s anniversary neatly aligns a similar player with Wiseman on my mental screen: Trey Burke.
Burke was a collegiate star at Michigan, the ninth pick in the NBA Draft, and a member of the league’s All-Rookie First Team, with votes for Rookie of the Year. He was picked ahead of Giannis, CJ, Steven Adams, Timmy, and a few other guys who will still wear NBA jerseys in the 2026-27 season.
Burke had squared off against Chris Paul and Stephen Curry and shown real potential. But after averaging 12.8 PPG in his first year, things changed. Midway through his sophomore season, coach Quin Snyder moved him to the bench in favor of rookie Dante Exum to give the second unit scoring punch and develop Exum. Burke handled the change professionally and exhibited defensive improvement, but his shooting percentages declined. The Jazz missed the playoffs.
Burke’s role shrank further. In year three, he appeared in 64 games with zero starts, averaging 10.6 points, 2.3 assists, and 1.8 rebounds in 21.3 minutes. He thrived, briefly, as a bench scorer while Exum was out, but the mid-season acquisition of Shelvin Mack and Raul Neto’s emergence squeezed him out of Snyder’s rotation. Burke sat for long stretches late in the season (including multiple DNPs), but seems to have upheld a professional attitude about the demotion.
In the offseason, the Jazz traded Burke to Washington. He played backup point guard behind star John Wall under new head coach Scott Brooks. Burke appeared in 57 regular-season games (no starts), averaging 12.3 minutes per game, seeing limited action on a team that reached the semifinals.
Burke was in the final year of his rookie-scale contract. The Jazz had exercised the team option for 2016–17, making the roughly $3.4 million salary fully guaranteed. When the Wizards acquired him, they assumed that guaranteed obligation. After the season, Washington simply declined to extend a qualifying offer (which would have made him a restricted free agent), allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer.
New York signed him on October 11, 2017, then waived him three days later. Three days is barely enough time to learn where a team keeps the extra towels, much less convince an organization to reconsider its opinion of your professional future. Burke joined the Westchester Knicks instead, where the paychecks and crowds are more modest, but opportunity remains for a motivated player with plenty of high-test left in the tank.
He proceeded to average 26.6 points per game, which earned him another contract with the big league club in January. Once back, Burke appeared in 36 games (nine starts) and averaged 12.8 points and 4.7 assists in 21.8 minutes per game while shooting a career-best 50% from the field. He provided a scoring spark and playmaking for a Knicks team ‘in transition.’ His highlights that season included a career-high 42 points and 12 assists in an overtime loss to the Charlotte Hornets. The team finished a dismal 29-53 under coach Jeff Hornacek, but at least Burke gave us something to hang a little hope on.
I was in transition, too. During that time, I Ubered to make extra scratch while enduring the vagaries of a freelance design/marketing/web/writing career. If you needed it, I could do it—and cheap! But at night, I ferried Binghamton University students back and forth to downtown clubs and talked Knicks to anyone who would listen. During those years, if you had a driver who was irrationally optimistic about guys named Dot, Zo, and DSJ . . . might have been me. And yes, I was high on Trey, too, but he didn’t stay long.
In his second year at MSG, Burke played 33 games (seven starts) for New York before being traded. He averaged 11.8 points in 20.9 minutes (35% 3PT). He stood out as a scoring-oriented guard who could run the offense in spurts under first-year coach David (17-65) Fizdale. Then on January 31, 2019, the Knicks traded Burke to the Dallas Mavericks as part of the Kristaps Porziņģis deal (which brought on my briefly beloved Dennis Smith, Jr.).
Burke spent the bulk of his remaining NBA career on second units, primarily with Dallas, but interrupted by a short stint with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2019–20. Post-NBA, he played in the G League with the Stockton Kings (2022–23) and Mexico City Capitanes (multiple seasons), along with stops in Puerto Rico (Mets de Guaynabo and Leones de Ponce), and China (Guangdong Southern Tigers).
Today, Burke is rostered with the Astros de Jalisco in Mexico’s CIBACOPA league. He has been with the team through the 2025–26 season (including the Basketball Champions League Americas), averaging solid scoring numbers as a veteran guard. Basketball-Reference reports that he is 33 years old.
I’m older, too, and barreling too fast toward 50 for my liking. As a journeyman like Burke, my career has had many unplanned stops. Is Posting & Toasting the writing equivalent of the Guangdong Tigers? I like to think it’s more Westchester Knicks, but you be the judge. I used to get fiercely jealous of others’ success, as if it were a verdict on my own value. Not anymore. Ever an incorrigible optimist, I imagine Burke and some other guys from the class of ‘13 watching Wiseman from afar and rooting for him. Just one more season, kid. Then you’ll break big.
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 27: Umpire Mark Wegner looks on during Game Three of the 2025 World Series presented by Capital One between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Monday, October 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Major League Baseball on .. announced the umpiring crews for the League Championship Series round. For the NLCS between the Dodgers and Brewers, the umpire crew will be led by crew chief Marg Wegner
This is the 26th career postseason series for Wegner, who is in his 28th year as a major league umpire, and his 15th year as a crew chief. He worked the 2025 World Series plus the Dodgers-Phillies NLDS last season.
There are six umpires instead of four during the postseason, with left field and right field added to the standard four infield positions. In the League Championship Series and World Series, there is a seventh umpire added to the crew, providing a day of rest for one umpire each game.
Here are the umpiring assignments for Game 1 of the NLCS on Sunday night at American Family Field in Milwaukee:
Home plate: Edwin Moscoso First base: Wegner Second base: Ryan Additon Third base: Alan Porter Left field: David Rackley Right field: John Tumpane Reserve: Chris Segal
Umpires rotate positions throughout the series, such that seven different umpires will work behind home plate should Dodgers vs. Brewers last the full seven games.
League Championship Series replay officials in New York for the two LCS are Erich Bacchus, Lance Barksdale, and Adam Beck.
City embraced a hostile atmosphere and overwhelmed Liverpool after Ryan Gravenberch’s red card
An update from Will Unwin, who is part of our team at Anfield for today’s game
A group of over 600 Manchester City fans were given a police escort across Stanley Park, chanting as they went about their owners and throwing abuse back at any Liverpool fans who took issue. The message was a clear one of defiance from the hardcore away support.
ARLINGTON, TX - JULY 04: A general view of the Guinness World Records World's Largest Glass of Beer event prior to a Between the Texas Rangers and the Detroit Tigers and the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on July 04, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Gunnar Word/Texas Rangers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Peoria, Ariz. - March 04: Alex McCoy #41 of the San Diego Padres looks on during their spring training workout at Peoria Sports Complex on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 in Peoria, Ariz. (Photo by Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
Cheri Bell does a great job covering the minor league system of the San Diego Padres among many other topics for Gaslamp Ball. Even though the big league club closed out its season just a few days ago, she is already looking ahead to what minor league talent will be showcased in the 2026 Arizona Fall League.
Bell will provide updates on the minor league players throughout the offseason and that will be great for readers looking for content as the sport continues to trend toward a lockout, which will bring a halt to any and all baseball activity at the major league level. The minor league players will not be impacted by the lockout, so get your pens and pencils ready because you may need to take noted as the Padres prospects take center stage in the weeks ahead.
Padres News:
It probably does not need to be said, but Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune wants people to back the Milwaukee Brewers against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 13: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers laughs with Christian Yelich #22 of the Milwaukee Brewers during the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium on August 13, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers are a juggernaut. They’ve finally met their (re)match.
In a regular season marked by broad parity, two teams stood alone. The Brewers won the most games (103) and finished second in fWAR (48.6). The Dodgers won the second most games (100) and finished first in fWAR (53.1). By any statistic you prefer — or even if you prefer to eschew statistics all together — these were far and away the best teams in the majors in 2026. Their collision in the National League Championship Series seemed inevitable from the earliest days of summer.
On paper, this looks like one of the best playoff matchups ever. It’s only the sixth time both teams in an LCS won at least 100 games during the regular season. The most recent examples were in 2018 and 2019, when the Astros played the Red Sox and then the Yankees in the ALCS. Before that it hadn’t happened since the 1970s. That’s to say, this could be an all-time contest of greatness vs. greatness — a rarity in modern baseball.
Of course, this is also rematch. These teams met in last year’s NLCS, in which the Dodgers throttled the Brewers in a four-game sweep. Los Angeles would go on to win their second straight World Series, and spend the offseason once again “ruining baseball” — signing the best free agent, pushing their payroll to new heights, and positioning themselves as favorites for a three peat.
They look just as formidable in 2026. This is one of the best and most well-rounded rosters the Dodgers have taken into the postseason in what’s now their 14th consecutive appearance. They have a deep lineup, the best pitching staff in the league, and have gotten hot at just the right time.
The brief instances where the Dodgers faltered this year — the stretches that limited them to a mere 100 wins — were due to their star-studded lineup under performing. Kyle Tucker struggled mightily through much of the summer, despite handwringing about what his $240 million deal means for the future of the league. Teoscar Hernández’s power disappeared for several weeks, leading him to finish 2026 with fewer than 20 homers for the first time over a full season. And Mookie Betts generated concern that his Hall of Fame career could be over sooner than anticipated. Without production from the core of their lineup, the Dodgers as a team ran a 92 wRC+ in July and August, bottom 10 in the majors.
That feels like the distant past now. The Dodgers offense exploded in September behind the trio of Tucker, Hernández, and Betts, who combined for a .314/.405/.586 (170 wRC+). With fellow stars Shohei Ohtani, Max Muncy, Freddie Freeman, Andy Pages, and Will Smith, this once again looks like the deepest and most fearsome lineup in the majors. Los Angeles ultimately finished the season with the second best wRC+ (111) and fourth most runs scored (801).
Offense isn’t even the Dodgers strength. They allowed the fewest runs in the majors this year, even with injury keeping Ohtani off the mound in the second half. Yoshinobu Yamomoto, last year’s World Series MVP, leads the rotation following another season of steady excellence. His 2.53 ERA was fifth best in the majors. After him is two-time Cy Young winner in Tarik Skubal, who joined the team at the trade deadline in another “league ruining” deal, adding a second true “ace” to the mix. Then there’s the other two-time Cy Young winner in Blake Snell, who delivered on his particular brand of missing most of the season with injury, walking nearly 10% of batters he faced after returning, and otherwise being completely unhittable.
If one absolutely had to pick a weakness with this Dodgers, it might be the bullpen. There’s not a ton of depth in the middle innings (which is generally not an issue because the rotation covers those innings). But even that appears to be trending in the right direction. Edwin Díaz, after a miserable August following a trip to the injured list, looked untouchable in September, giving the Dodgers four pitchers who could serve as closers on any other team.
Again, this Dodgers roster is powerhouse, and perhaps the best in what may be the final act of their trilogy. But it’s worth pointing out they did not win the most games in the majors in 2026. That distinction belongs to the Brewers, who are just as formidable — and perhaps even the favorites in this all-time series.
Milwaukee, following an abrupt ending to 2025, had murkier offseason. They shuffled pieces subtly at the margins, leaning on their people, processes, and prospects more than big splashes in free agency. The Brewers front office is known as one of the most forward thinking collection of analysts in the league, and they seemed to be betting on themselves. The projections, however, weren’t impressed. FanGraphs projected the them to finish third in the NL Central; PECOTA pegged them at 80 wins. Did the Brewers know something nobody else could see?
Well, the answer was a resounding yes. The Brewers won 103 games, reaching triple digits in the win column for the first time in franchise history. It’s hard to improve on a season where they won the most games in the majors, but they got better in just about every facet, finishing first in run differential and second in fWAR. Again, there’s a good argument they were the best team in the majors this year.
Offensively, the Brewers are a brutal opponent. They work counts, put the ball in ball in play to all fields, and run the bases extraordinarily well. They don’t hit for a ton of power, but they can whittle down an opponent through relentless pressure, as we saw them do against a very good Padres bullpen in the NLDS.
Unlike the Dodgers it’s hard to name a true “star” of the group, but they are no doubt just as deep. Brice Turang finished fifth in the majors in fWAR as the league’s premier second baseman, doing a bit of everything on the field. Jackson Chourio is one of the game’s great young players, having already collected three 20-20 seasons at just 22 years old. Then there’s Jake Bauers, the journeyman first baseman who suddenly broke out at age 31, posting a 143 wRC+ as one of the 10 best hitters in the league. From top to bottom, every batter on this roster provides something, whether that’s defense or base running or platoon production.
In the rotation, Jacob Misiorowski is not so much the Brewers’ ace as the league’s ace — he is definitively the best pitcher in baseball. When he steps on the mound in Game 1, he will set all sorts of “top velocity in the NLCS” records. He is essentially unhittable, with a ridiculous combination of velocity, stuff, extension, and command. Much of the discourse in this series will follow how and when the Brewers choose to use him.
Of course, some of that discourse will be necessary because there isn’t a ton of rotation depth behind Misiorowski. Logan Henderson is a great number two, but Dustin May has struggled since joining the team at the trade deadline. This is where the Dodgers hold the advantage.
Where the Brewers could take that advantage back is in the bullpen. Their relief core is very deep. Trevor Megill and Abner Uribe have been untouchable in high leverage. Aaron Ashby and DL Hall give them excellence from the left side. Much like the lineup, everyone in this group offers something the Brewers can use in the series to keep the Dodgers off balance.
I would love to sit here and give you some “X factors,” or things that I think could sway the series. Maybe it’s Ohtani’s returning to form after coming off the injured list in September. Maybe it’s the sheer quantity of innings Misiorowski can throw. But I’m not sure that such a framing would do this matchups justice. These are two great teams with complete rosters from top to bottom. These are the best lineups and the best pitching staffs — and the best organizations overall — going head to head in a best of seven series. This is the NLCS we’ve been waiting all year for, and now it’s finally here.
LAS VEGAS -- In a city that has embraced Stanley Cup champions, WNBA superstars, NFL personalities and some of the biggest names in professional sports, Ryan Reaves belongs in a rather exclusive category.
Not necessarily among the five greatest athletes to wear a Las Vegas uniform.
But among the five most beloved?
Absolutely.
And it isn’t particularly difficult to make the argument.
Long before the Vegas Golden Knights lifted the Stanley Cup, before the Las Vegas Aces established their championship pedigree and before the Las Vegas Raiders settled into their new home, Reaves helped introduce a different kind of professional sports personality to Southern Nevada.
He wasn’t going to lead the league in scoring. He wasn’t going to win an MVP award. And nobody was confusing his offensive production with that of the NHL’s elite.
But Reaves could bring more than 18,000 people to their feet without scoring a goal.
Sometimes all it took was one thunderous hit, a dropped pair of gloves, or that unmistakable grin that told everyone inside T-Mobile Arena he was having the time of his life.
And Las Vegas loved every minute of it.
Now, after 16 NHL seasons, 962 regular-season games and a career built on toughness, personality and an unwavering willingness to stand up for his teammates, the man affectionately known as “Reavo” has officially retired.
And how is retirement treating him?
"Horrible, absolutely horrible," Reaves said with a laugh during an exclusive interview with The Hockey News at the Golden Knights' 10th-anniversary festivities. "I’m bored. I don’t know what to do with myself. Trying to fill the time in the wrong ways. So we’ll see. I’m gonna get going and doing something soon."
One thing he won’t have to figure out is where he’s going to live.
Las Vegas isn’t simply another stop in his hockey career.
It’s home.
<i>Former Golden Knights Pierre-Édouard Bellemare and Ryan Reaves share a laugh on stage during the Golden Knights' 10th-anniversary Fan Fest festivities. <b>PHOTO: Courtesy Golden Knights</b></i>
A City That Embraced Reavo
Reaves arrived in Las Vegas in February 2018, joining the expansion Golden Knights during their remarkable inaugural season and helping a franchise nobody expected to contend reach the Stanley Cup Final.
But the relationship between Reaves and Southern Nevada became something much bigger than hockey.
"This community opened their arms to me," Reaves said. "I started a business here, and then people flooded out to the bars when I was there, pouring beer and really supported that."
His beer business, 7Five Brewing Co., became another connection between the rugged forward and a community that couldn’t get enough of his personality.
And while millions of visitors associate Las Vegas with casinos, nightlife and the Strip, Reaves discovered the city beyond the tourist attractions.
"The people are just so nice here. The city is great," he said. "I don’t think many people know what kind of city really lies outside that Strip. And so, yeah, we fell in love with this place. And right now I’m calling it home for sure."
For the good times and all the hits that rocked The Fortress, thank you and welcome back Ryan Reaves! 🥊 pic.twitter.com/NGnwyA5Dt0
Reaves also witnessed the city’s transformation into a major professional sports market, with the Golden Knights, Aces and Raiders establishing their places in the community and Major League Baseball on the horizon.
"This is obviously a new sports city, but you can see how vibrant the sports city is," he said. "This place loves its sports. It probably took a little longer than it should have, but good on the fans for coming out and supporting everything and really growing the sports in the city."
Perhaps nowhere has that growth been more evident than in youth hockey.
Reaves remembers a market that was still finding its hockey identity. Today, new ice facilities, youth programs and competitive teams have helped establish a thriving hockey culture in the desert.
"You just go around the rinks, the practice rinks and all the new rinks that are being built, and there’s kids everywhere, and they love the game," Reaves said. "The sport’s really growing here, and it’s going to continue to go up as long as the Knights are here."
An Unforgettable Walk Down The Tunnel
Ask Reaves about his favorite memory inside T-Mobile Arena, and he doesn’t immediately mention a fight, a goal or even the Golden Knights’ extraordinary run to the 2018 Stanley Cup Final.
Instead, he remembers the first time he experienced the building as a Golden Knight.
"I think the first time I walked down the tunnel, that John Wick song came out. The place was absolutely erupting," Reaves recalled. "It was the coolest sporting moment I think I’ve seen. Not just playing in, but just being part of, seeing live."
For a player who spent parts of 16 seasons in NHL arenas across North America, that is quite a compliment.
"I just thought the entertainment that this place puts on is like nothing in North American sports," he said. "I always remember that first day walking down the tunnel."
There was another important element to his time in Vegas.
Former coach Gerard Gallant, affectionately known as “Turk,” helped Reaves understand that his value extended beyond intimidating opponents.
Reaves said Gallant’s confidence in him allowed him to become a more complete player, particularly during his second season with the franchise.
"He really trusted me," Reaves said. "We played against a lot of top lines, and he trusted us in all situations. We played 10, 12 minutes as a fourth line, playing a lot of shutdown stuff."
For someone accustomed to limited minutes and long stretches on the bench, that trust changed everything.
"When you’re more involved in the game, you feel better on the ice," Reaves said. "Turk really just allowed me to kind of be myself and play the way I can."
One More Fight? Evander Kane, Of Course
No conversation with Reaves would be complete without discussing the fights.
And when asked whether there was anyone he regretted not dropping the gloves with more often, Reaves didn’t hesitate.
"Oh man, I regret not dropping more with Evander Kane," he said. "I think I got him once, but I regret not getting him every time we played."
That competitive streak apparently hasn’t disappeared in retirement.
In fact, Reaves might have stumbled onto a rather unusual business opportunity.
Teaching other hockey players how to fight.
Reaves said he spent some time this summer working with players on fighting techniques when Golden Knights broadcaster Daren Millard suggested turning those lessons into a camp.
"I’ve actually thought about just flying around and helping teams with, or whoever wants it, just kind of breaking down general basics of what you’re looking for in a fight, how to set your feet, your grabs," Reaves said. "I think it would be cool, but I don’t know if there’s a market for it."
Imagine that.
The same guy who once terrorized opponents with his fists could someday be traveling around the NHL teaching the next generation how to throw them.
Hockey, Television and Fatherhood
Reaves hasn’t ruled out remaining involved in the NHL, whether through coaching, management or broadcasting.
He plans to experiment with television and social media opportunities this season before deciding on a more permanent direction.
"I think I’m going to dabble a little bit in some broadcasting, some social stuff with the NHL, and I’m going to see how I like it this year," he said. "I’m going to spend some time with the family. I’m not going to do anything too permanent."
He also offered a favorable early assessment of the current Golden Knights, particularly rookie Trevor Connelly, whom he skated with during the summer, and first-year head coach Ryan Craig.
"He’s played really well," Reaves said of Connelly. "He looks poised to have a really good season his first year up."
Reaves also praised Craig’s approach and the talent assembled around Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner and Mark Stone.
"This is one of the most talented teams, I think, in the NHL," Reaves said. "The sky’s the limit for this team, as it always is."
But for now, his most meaningful assignment isn’t behind an NHL bench or in front of a television camera.
It’s coaching his son.
"I’m coaching my kid, my son, in hockey a little bit, and I’m just having fun spending time with them right now," Reaves said.
It’s a fitting next chapter for a player whose identity was never limited to the intimidating figure opponents encountered on the ice.
Years ago, Reaves could be seen patiently introducing his young son to skating on the same ice where he entertained thousands of Golden Knights fans attending practices.
Now, instead of worrying about his next shift, his next opponent or his next fight, he can enjoy those moments without the demands of an NHL schedule.
And while retirement may have left Reaves wondering what to do with all his free time, there’s something rather appropriate about where his journey has brought him.
He became one of the city’s most recognizable and beloved sports personalities.
And after 16 NHL seasons, countless fights and memories that will endure long after his playing days, Ryan Reaves isn’t leaving the city that embraced him.
Oct 3, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski (32) reacts after pitching in the fourth inning against the San Diego Padres in game one of the NLDS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The final four teams are set now, the Dodgers and Brewers in the NLCS, the Guardians and Rays in the ALCS. Both series have their quirks about them, the NLCS being a matchup of heavyweights, the ALCS being somewhat one sided on paper.
Who do you think ends up playing each other in the World Series?
Personally, I’m not sure anyone is beating the Brewers this year. They seem to be the most complete team left, which only means the Dodgers are going to steamroll them and whoever they face in the Fall Classic.
TUSCON, AZ - OCTOBER 10: Brendan Summerhill #21 of the Scottsdale Scorpions doubles in the fifth inning during the game between the Scorpions and the River Rafters at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday, October 10, 2026 in Tuscon, Arizona. (Photo by Jill Weisleder/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
For three years, they were two of the best college baseball players in the country and among the best to ever play for Arizona. But now they’re just two of many hoping to someday reach the big leagues.
Former Wildcat stars Brendan Summerhill and Mason White were back in town on Saturday, playing in an Arizona Fall League doubleheader at Kino Stadium. All four teams featured at least one player with ties to Southern Arizona, including a former high school teammate of White’s at Salpointe Catholic and a one-time UA signee from Nogales who bypassed college for pro ball.
“Just being back here is so fun,” said Summerhill, who plays for the Scottsdale Scorpions. “Tucson’s got something in the air.”
Summerhill played center field and batted leadoff in the second game of the doubleheader, reaching base all four times in the 10-2 win over the Salt River Rafters. He had a single and double, walked and was hit by a pitch, scoring four runs and swiping a couple bases.
White, who played shortstop and hit fourth for the Mesa Solar Sox, was 0 for 4 in their 7-3 win over the Peoria Javelinas.
“It was really cool to play here,” said White, who learned he would play in the Arizona Fall League in August. “I never really thought about it until they announced the games here.”
The AFL, an annual monthlong league meant to showcase some of Major League Baseball’s top minor league prospects, has served as a springboard for players to get to the bigs. Former UA catcher Daniel Susac played for Mesa in 2024 and made his MLB debut this past season for the San Francisco Giants.
Summerhill and White just completed their first full season of pro ball, each getting drafted in 2025 after helping Arizona return to the College World Series. Summerhill was a supplemental 1st round pick of the Tampa Bay Rays while White was a 4th-round selection of the Boston Red Sox.
Both played well enough to earn in-season promotions, with White finishing the year at Double-A Portland and Summerhill rising to High-A Bowling Green.
“I hit a lot of the goals that I set for myself, and hopefully to continue that into Spring Training and then next year,” said White, who overall hit .251 with 18 home runs and 55 RBI in 101 games.
Summerhill, who combined to hit .251 with five homers and 45 RBI in 85 games, did not meet the expectations he set for 2026. At the same time, he felt he grew as a player thanks to the way the Rays organization has coached him.
“I hit a lot of the goals that I set for myself, and hopefully to continue that into Spring Training and then next year,” he said. “I think the big thing about the Rays is they …want you to be good at what you’re good at.”
Both Summerhill and White have stayed in touch with former UA teammates and coaches, with Summerhill catching Chip Hale’s ceremonial first pitch between games. White trained and worked out with the Wildcats between the end of his regular season and starting AFL play.
