Minnesota Twins' centerfielder Torii Hunter catches a ball hit by Detroit Tigers' Randall Simon in the second inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on 10 September, 2001. AFP Photo/Jeff KOWALSKY (Photo by JEFF KOWALSKY / AFP) (Photo by JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
Twenty five years ago today, the world irrevocably changed. There was “the world before 9/11” and “the world after 9/11”. On September 10, 2001, the Minnesota Twins played their last game in that old world.
Opening up what was to be a four-game series at Detroit’s year-old Comerica Park, the Twins sent Joe Mays to the mound to oppose the Tigers’ knuckleball-ing starter Steve Sparks.
The visitors got on the board first in the top of the second inning when a Corey Koskie triple was paid off via a David Ortiz sacrifice fly. 1-0 MIN.
A similar sac from Brandon Inge tied the contest in B3, plating Damion Easley. 1-1.
In a sequence that probably would have netted some early defensive work with manager Tom Kelly the next day were the world’s trajectory not about to wobble, errors from Koskie at 3B & Cristian Guzman at SS gave DET a 2-1 lead in B5.
Fortunately, a T8 leadoff single from Luis Rivas eventually came around to score on a Koskie RBI knock. 2-2.
After Mays finished eight strong frames (4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K), the Twins would complete the comeback in T9. This time it was Torii Hunter hammering a leadoff triple and trotting home on a Matthew LeCroy sac fly.
“Everyday” Eddie Guardado entered for the save and punched out both Tony Clark & Randall Simon before inducing a game-ending fly out from Shane Halter.
Your Final: Minnesota Twins 3, Detroit Tigers 2.
That night, 19,456 fans attended a baseball game. They ate hot dogs, peanuts, & Cracker Jack and guzzled soda & beer. They were treated to a tight back-and-forth sporting contest. The Twins moved to within 6 games of AL Central front-running Cleveland (spoiler alert: MN wouldn’t catch them).
The next time the Minnesota Twins baseball club assembled on a diamond was September 18, 2001—and it was a different world.
Twenty five years later, let’s remember that monumental moment in history, reflect on its significance, and hopefully learn the right lessons going forward so as not to let that particular strand of history ever repeat itself.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - JULY 11: Dewayne Staats speaks prior to the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Saturday, July 11, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Carlee Calfee/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Rays are in the midst of one of their most successful seasons. As the road trip continues at “The Trop”, we sit down exclusively at The Crawfish Boxes with a familiar face and friend, the one and only Dewayne Staats. He’s called over 7,000 games and has been with Tampa Bay since their inception back in 1998.
Q: How much have the Rays benefited this season being pushed in their divisional race by New York?
A: I actually think the Yankees benefit from being pushed by the Rays. Regardless of how the race ends, I really think this club has been focused on its own performance: self critical, self pushed, self accountable. It very well may come down to the final week in the Bronx.
Q: This upcoming weekend should feature some quality baseball from both sides who each are expected to reach and play significant games in October. What do you expect this weekend?
A: Astros are a test every series they play. The Rays play the schedule one series and one game at a time. There is plenty of respect for the Astros talent, which serves as a motivation for the Rays.
Q: Are there any weaknesses on this Rays club beyond starting shortstop?
A: This roster has been really interesting as and perhaps a throwback a decade or two ago. Not just home runs and strikeouts, but a roster depending on a variety of baseball talents. The top three or four hitters in the lineup sport extra base hit power/production. Beyond that is a ‘manufacturing’ of runs utilizing a variety of skills including speed, moving runners, being smart and aggressive. Like most teams, overcoming injuries is always present. Athleticism and versatility has helped this team.
Q: Finally, what would say to Houstonians who grew up with you in their living rooms back in the 70’s & 80’s calling Astros Games?
A: My years in Houston were a dream come true. I was a Colt45/ Astro fan growing up in the Midwest listening to Gene Elston. Gene answered my letters and was a major figure in me pursuing a Major League Baseball career. He was a very special force in my life. My daughters were born in Houston. We own a place there as well as Florida, and still have great family and friends there including Todd Kalas.
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 08: Adael Amador #1 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the third inning during the game between the Colorado Rockies and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, September 8, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Urakami/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Entering this season, Adael Amador had played in 51 games for the Rockies since making his MLB debut on June 9, 2026. During that time, Amador yo-yoed from Triple-A Albuquerque and Colorado, putting up impressive numbers for the Isotopes, only to struggle with the Rockies.
In June, Purple Row’s Skyler Timmins even wrote about what the Rockies should do with their highly touted prospect who couldn’t seem to crack the MLB code. Skyler discussed the value of trying out Amador in the outfield in addition to second base, giving more versatility to the switch hitter. It seemed more likely than trading Amador, especially without a Rockie having locked down the starting spot at second base and the team valuing utility players.
Perhaps all Amador needed was more time to develop with the Isotopes. Still just 23 years old, Amador hit .264/.367/.428 with 21 doubles, three triples, 11 home runs, and 62 RBIs while drawing more walks than strikeouts — 61 to 48 — in 94 games. A seasoned second baseman who can also play shortstop, Amador also added some time in left field to his resume.
After just 12 games, in 40 plate appearances, Amador has posted 12 hits — including three homers and two doubles — with 10 runs scored, 10 RBI, seven strikeouts and four walks. He’s hitting .333/.400/.639 with a 1.039 OPS.
It’s a night-and-day difference from his previous stints with the Rockies.
After parts of two seasons in 2024 and 2025, in 164 plate appearances, Amador combined for 26 hits, including eight doubles and one homer, scored six runs, drove in 10 runs, struck out 33 times and walked 12 times. He hit .176/.242/.250 with an OPS of .492.
In nearly every metric, Amador’s 2026 numbers reflect a completely different player.
Season
Age
WAR
G
PA
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
SB
CS
BB
SO
BA
OBP
SLG
OPS
OPS+
2024
21
-0.4
10
36
35
1
6
1
0
0
0
1
0
1
6
.171
.194
.200
.394
6
2025
22
-1.2
41
128
113
5
20
7
0
1
10
1
1
11
27
.177
.256
.265
.521
40
2026
23
0.4
12
40
35
10
12
2
0
3
10
0
0
4
7
.333
.400
.639
1.039
183
Obviously, 12 games isn’t very many in a season known for the grit required to grind out a 162-game marathon. But Amador has done better in this set of games than he has during any other time in his MLB career. After posting a strikeout rate of 21.1% in 2025, Amador has dropped it to 17.5% this season. He’s also increased his walk rate exponentially each season from 2.8% in 2024, to 8.6% last season to 10% in 2026.
Another big change is in the power. After hitting one homer in 148 at-bats in his first two seasons, Amador has connected for three in 32 at-bats this year. That includes a solo shot off New York Yankee Cam Schlittler on Tuesday.
Amador has provided much-needed depth as the Rockies have faced some infielder injuries in August and September. He was first called up on Aug. 12 when Kyle Karros went on the 7-day concussion list. Before being sent back to Albuquerque on Aug. 21, Amador went 3-for-10 with five runs scored, a double, a homer, six RBIs and three walks and five strikeouts in five games.
After a short stint back with the Isotopes, Amador was called up again thanks to MLB’s expanded September rosters. He then benefited from the opening created by Willi Castro’s left heel inflammation that put him on the 10-day IL on Sept. 2. In seven games in September, Amador has gone 9-for-26 with five runs scored, four RBIs, two homers, a double, three strikeouts and one walk. It started with a bang with a solo homer in his first game back.
Amador’s bat has been so effective that Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer slotted him in at DH on Thursday night in New York vs. the Yankees. He went 1-for-4 with a strikeout in the 10-3 loss.
Embodying a true “next man up” mentality, Amador has taken advantage of his opportunities. With 16 games remaining this season for the Rockies, Amador is trying to prove that 2026 represents the real Amador. In doing so, he may be auditioning for second base and utility for next season.
He’s battling Connor Norby, who’s had an impressive start with Colorado since being acquired in the Victor Vodnik trade with the Miami Marlins on Aug. 3. Norby was called up on Aug. 10 when Tyler Freeman went on the IL. As of now, they’ll be contending with Castro — who has one year remaining on his two-year, $12.8-million deal — for second base and utility jobs.
If Amador can keep up his impressive August and September, he’ll be one step closer to proving he was worth the hype when the Rockies signed him out of the Dominican Republic in 2019 when he was just 16.
After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning, the Isotopes struck back to tie the game in the second when Chad Stevens walked, Bryant Betancourt singled and Conner Capel hit a sacrifice fly to plate Stevens. Reno rallied back to score runs in the bottom of the third and fifth innings to go up 3-1. In the sixth, Roc Roggio hit a two-out single and moved to second when Stevens walked. Betancourt, who recorded two of Albuquerque’s five hits, followed with an RBI single to cut Reno’s lead to one. But that was the end of the would-be comeback. Eiberson Castellano suffered the loss, dropping to 4-4, after giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts in 3.1 relief innings.
Little did the Yard Goats know that when Braylen Wimmer singled on a ground ball to right field to lead off the second inning, it would be their only hit for the night. The second frame seemed promising when Wimmer then stole second, but then Wimmer was picked off. Dyan Jorge then reached base on a fielding error and also stole second base, only to be stranded when Jack O’Dowd struck out. Matt Antico was hit by a pitch and stole second in the sixth, but was left there. O’Dowd drew a walk and Antico was hit by a pitch again to give Hartford two more base runners, but they were also stranded. Hartford was outhit 13-1 by the Patriots. Jackson Cox took the loss (2-4) after giving up two runs on four hits with three strikeouts in three innings.
The lefties are coming back. Jose Quintana hasn’t pitched for the Rockies since May 24, while Kyle Freeland hasn’t been on the mound for Colorado since Aug. 19. Quintana has missed most of the season with a left elbow strain, while Freeland was sidelined with cervical radiculopathy. Both played for the Yard Goats with Quintana throwing two scoreless innings and Freeland adding three more on Wednesday night. Freeland is expected to rejoin the Rockies soon, while Quintana is expected to have at least one more rehab start.
As long as the Rockies have played at Coors Field, which started in 1995, Joyl Watkins has been serving up hot dogs at the corner of 19th and Wynkoop. But this season will be his last as the vendor has decided to call it a career.
With the Women’s Pro Baseball League playoffs in full swing, I just wanted to share some articles I wrote after making the trip to Springfield, Ill. to see some games in August. This one is about the swagger of the league and comes with a playlist of walk-up songs. Here’s another one on some women’s baseball history.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 18: Kam Jones #39 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on July 18, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
And we’re off, starting with a familiar face to the people of Milwaukee. Look, as we sit here today, Jones’ path to NBA minutes seems miles away, given that he has to beat out ~15 guards to even get a sniff. Still, as a pure value play, it was worth the Bucks taking a flyer on someone who not only has NBA bona fides as a former early second-round pick, but also a tangible connection to the city, having played at Marquette—and Fiserv Forum, specifically—for four years.
Unlike most players in his position, Jones already has substantial NBA experience, having gotten a chance to play a decent amount on the Pacers last season (yes, the team was also ruthlessly tanking, but let’s just ignore that). Even after beginning last year with a long stint on the sidelines dealing with a back concern, the 24-year-old appeared in 37 games and posted averages of 4.4 PPG and 3.2 APG. He didn’t shoot the ball well—40.2% from the floor and sub-30% from three—but still, that is great experience for a rookie (even if he may well have been tactically deployed as a tank commander some of the time).
Now, it’s no secret that Jones’ game is slower and relies heavily on feel and craft rather than power and athleticism, but he performed well at Summer League playing that way. Will it work in the NBA? I have my doubts. I referenced Jones struggling from three last year with Indy, but it’s worth noting that he shot nearly 37% from deep throughout his four years as a Golden Eagle. If the Memphis native is to have any chance of locking in a future in the association, he’ll need to rediscover that form, given the other concerns. If Jones can get his shooting to that level, defenses will need to play him tighter, and it’ll open up his passing game, which is a legit strength of his (200 assists in his senior year).
Ultimately, if I were to look into a crystal ball and predict Jones’s future right now, I’d lean toward him having a really solid overseas career; I just find it tough to picture a long-term NBA future given his size, lack of burst, and unproven shot-making ability, but I’d love to be proven wrong. It would be terrific for someone with this man’s connection to the city to succeed there at the highest level. He’d be true fan favourite.
OK, we’ll catch you Monday morning with the next one…
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 9: Pat Spencer #61 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 9, 2026 at Chase Center 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Every day, we’ll take a closer look at another member of the 2026-27 Phoenix Suns, examining what they bring to the roster and what their role could mean for the season ahead as we count down to training camp and the preseason.
Pat Spencer
Point guard, 6’2”, 205 pounds, 30 years old, 3rd season
Wanted: a player considered one of the greatest college lacrosse players of all time, who somehow turned 1 year of college basketball into an NBA career. Must possess grit, toughness, tenacity, and the willingness to make every possession feel like a bar fight. Oh, and one hell of a savage mustache.
That’s right, Pat Spencer is who the Phoenix Suns signed this offseason when they brought him in on a two-way contract. He’s somebody who set the NCAA men’s lacrosse record for career assists before ultimately making his way to the NBA. Spencer originally attended Loyola University Maryland, where he played lacrosse. But after graduating, he still had a year of basketball eligibility, so he transferred to Northwestern for the 2019–20 season.
Since then, he’s worked his way through the G League, spending time with the Capital City Go-Go and Santa Cruz Warriors before earning meaningful minutes with Golden State last season. It was enough to catch the attention of the Suns.
Spencer may not be someone who regularly impacts the NBA roster, but he can be a foundational piece for the Valley Suns. He can set the table for others, bring toughness and organization to the floor, and help reinforce the identity Phoenix wants throughout the entire organization.
Last Season
GP
MIN
PPG
RPG
APG
STL
FG%
3PT%
FT%
OFFRTG
DEFRTG
+/- (TOTAL)
66
18.6
7.2
2.4
3.5
0.7
42.7%
35.7%
77.2%
112.1
115.6
-95
The Golden State Warriors were riddled with injuries last season, with their players missing a combined 330 games, the eighth most in the NBA. And when injuries happen, opportunity follows. That’s where Pat Spencer’s story really began.
He played 10 games in November without making a start. Then, on December 6, he made his first NBA start of his career. By February, Spencer appeared in 10 games and started seven of them, eventually forcing Golden State to convert his two-way contract into a standard deal out of necessity. All told, Spencer played 66 games for the Warriors last season, starting 14 and averaging 18.6 minutes per game. He finished seventh on the team in total minutes and third in assists with 232.
His best game of the season? On February 5, Spencer went 6-of-10 from beyond the arc, scored 20 points, grabbed six rebounds, and added four assists in a 101–97 victory. The opponent? The Phoenix Suns.
Contract and Roster Context
Spencer signed a two-way contract with Phoenix and will become an unrestricted free agent next summer, with the Suns not retaining his Bird rights.
What He Brings
Pat Spencer is the type of player every organization should want in its system. He proved last season that, when called upon, he can step in and provide productive basketball. He isn’t elite in any one area, but the collection of skills he brings can serve as a positive foundation for an organization that doesn’t need to rely on him every night to be successful.
It’s kind of like building a house. You have the foundation, the frame, the electricity, the piping, and the aesthetics. Spencer is like the piping. Absolutely necessary, rarely noticed, and built to hold up over time.
He brings energy, a touch of playmaking, a smidgen of shooting, and reliability in the areas that don’t always show up in a box score. Those intangibles matter. And he’s the type of player you want in your system because he helps reinforce the larger vision of the organization.
For the Phoenix Suns, that identity is built around toughness, tenacity, playing hard on both ends of the floor, and refusing to quit. That is where Pat Spencer shines. He may not have great size, elite athleticism, or a particularly high ceiling as a player. But he has that dog in him, and that can benefit both Spencer and the organization at the G League level, and whenever he is called upon with the big club.
What Needs to Improve
Pat Spencer is limited, and that is the primary reason he can’t be counted on for a larger role. He isn’t a big guard. And while we’ve seen throughout NBA history, and even on this current roster, that size can sometimes matter more in the heart than on a physical attribute sheet, it’s still nice to have a little bit of it.
Spencer has limitations as an isolation scorer against elite length and athleticism. Put a quality point of attack defender on him while he’s trying to facilitate, and you can jam him up rather quickly. That forces him to rely more on basketball IQ, angles, and opportunities rather than on breaking down defenders one-on-one.
He also isn’t a great shooter. Spencer is a career 33.9% three-point shooter, though that comes on only 65-of-192 from deep, so the volume isn’t massive. Defensively, there is no doubt he plays aggressively and with a chip on his shoulder. But he can still struggle with rotational instincts and off-ball awareness.
There are multiple areas of his game that can improve, from finishing to shooting consistency to defensive rotations.
Prediction
I don’t think we’ll see much from Pat Spencer this season, and ultimately, that could be a good thing. It would mean the Suns stayed relatively healthy and didn’t have to reach into their G League treasure chest and pull out Pat “The Pipe” Spencer. Yeah, I just made that nickname up. And I like it!
If he does get an opportunity, I expect his role to look somewhat similar to Jamaree Bouyea’s a year ago, although Spencer may not be as effective offensively right away. What he does bring is a different layer, and that could become something worth watching as the season moves along. Bouyea’s contract isn’t guaranteed beyond January, which could eventually create competition for that final roster spot. If the Suns like what they see from Spencer in the G League, and if he performs well in spot opportunities with the big club, Phoenix could eventually have a decision to make: Do you stick with Bouyea? Or do you go with Pat Spencer?
When you look at the three two-way spots, I think this represents an upgrade for the Phoenix Suns. For an organization that didn’t make a ton of moves this offseason, swapping Pat Spencer into the Isaiah Livers spot makes sense. The Suns now have three two-way players who bring three distinct skill sets, and Spencer might be the clearest embodiment of what this organization wants to be: tough, competitive, smart, and willing to do the dirty work.
You build an organization by selecting players who represent what you want to become, and Spencer fits that mold. He may not have a large role with the Suns, but he should have a meaningful one with the Valley Suns. And if his NBA career has taught us anything, it’s that you probably shouldn’t bet against a guy who went from being one of the greatest lacrosse players in college history to earning a spot in the NBA. He’s going to give a shit every single day, and sometimes that’s exactly the kind of player you want in your organization.
Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla isn’t afraid to shuffle his starting lineup.
Mazzulla utilized 23 different starting combinations during the regular season last year, routinely rotating players at the wing position while Jayson Tatum rehabbed from Achilles surgery. Four five-man combinations started at least 10 games apiece; 18 other combinations played two games or fewer.
In Game 7 of a first-round playoff series against Philadelphia, with Boston on the brink of fumbling away a 3-1 series lead, Mazzulla boldly trotted out a lineup that hadn’t played a single minute together all season.
For Day 4 of our Ramp to Camp series, we asked our panel a question that might not have a firm answer: Predict the Boston Celtics’ starting five for the 2026-27 season.
Last year’s opening-night starting five lasted two games before Mazzulla started making alterations. Sometimes coaches land on their preferred lineup right out of the gate, but most years they spend much of the regular season trying to determine the best mixes of personnel.
The Celtics have some interesting choices to make this season, both with the departure of All-NBA forward Jaylen Brown, and the offseason additions of veterans Paul George and Mitchell Robinson.
Our best September guess for the five that will start on opening day in Detroit: Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Paul George, Jayson Tatum, and Neemias Queta.
Pritchard actually posted slightly better numbers over 29 games as a reserve (17.2 PTS, 42.9 3PT%) than he averaged in 50 games as a starter (16.9 PTS, 34.8 3PT%) but both stat lines were jarringly similar (with only 1.2 minutes more per game as a starter). There’s a case to keep him in the Sixth Man role where he’s clearly comfortable.
The pitch might simply be having another scorer/playmaker on the floor for stretches when Tatum might be off the court. The counterargument is that the Pritchard/Tatum combination has been one of Boston’s most successful two-man combos over the past five seasons while posting a +11.6 net rating in 3,196 minutes together.
Boston’s offensive rating is a robust 122.0 with that tandem on the floor. On a team that needs additional scoring options after Brown’s departure, keeping Pritchard and his rim-attacking ways on the court with the starting group feels important to start the year.
George has started 653 straight NBA appearances. The Celtics will certainly tread cautiously with his games played and minutes played but, when available, it would seem they’ll lean heavily on his ability to fill some of Brown’s void on the wing.
Robinson was Boston’s big offseason splurge, but he’s no stranger to a bench role and averaged 19 minutes per game over his final two seasons in New York. His ability to bring energy and play hard in short shifts might be best utilized in a reserve role. Queta should get every chance to maintain the starting job he held down last season, though he must avoid foul trouble that plagued him during Boston’s first-round exit.
The Celtics need to be mindful of how to stay afloat in non-Tatum minutes. But, over the past five seasons, the Pritchard/White/Tatum triumvirate has posted a +14.4 net rating over 1,138 minutes together. The Celtics should want that trio together as much as possible.
Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images
Baylor Scheierman could get his fair share of starts this season.
If the Celtics elect to eventually utilize Pritchard off the bench, we’re intrigued by the idea of a bigger starting lineup while adding another wing like Sam Hauser, Baylor Scheierman, Hugo Gonzalez, Jordan Walsh, or Ron Harper Jr. alongside Tatum and George. The Celtics have some intriguing defensive combos, or can lean on Hauser for his floor spacing.
Ultimately, the more important aspect might be landing on a firm closing five. Which group of players brings out the best basketball in the highest leverage moments? That group almost certainly features Tatum, White, Pritchard, and George when he’s available. Mazzulla is going to have plenty of options for starting and closing five.
And, after Game 7 last season, nothing Mazzulla might decide about how to deploy talent would surprise us.
Jason Levine: Executive Producer, Content Integrations
Derrick White, Baylor Scheierman, Paul George, Jayson Tatum, Neemias Queta
I simply like Pritchard coming off the bench. He gets to be the clear second option with one (or two) of Tatum, PG13, or White resting. I think you have to let Queta start over Mitchell Robinson to begin the season, but that could really change as the season progresses. I like having Scheierman or Hugo Gonzalez start because those guys are high-energy 100 percent of the time, and that’s important to have in the first eight minutes of a game.
Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Paul George, Jayson Tatum, Neemias Queta
Pritchard has been more effective as a Sixth Man, so I could foresee a scenario where he comes off the bench. But the C’s will need his offense with Brown gone. Queta had a breakout season as a starter in 2025-26, so why mess with that? Mitchell Robinson should still see the floor a lot. If Paul George misses a bunch of games, which is a real possibility given his injury history, then I could see Sam Hauser making a bunch of starts.
In summary, I think the Celtics will use a bunch of starting five combinations this season. Joe Mazzulla, as we saw in Game 7 vs. the Sixers, isn’t afraid to mix things up.
Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Payton Pritchard averaged 17.2 PTS and shot 42.9 percent from 3 off the bench last season.
Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Paul George, Jayson Tatum, Neemias Queta
Paul George has started 99 percent of his NBA games after his rookie year, so he’ll start every game he can suit up for this season. I do think coach Joe Mazzulla showed he’ll happily mix and match his starting five as he’ll see fit — nine players started 10 games or more last season, and 16 players started at least one game. And he’ll also pull one of those starters right out of the game if he doesn’t like what he sees in the opening minutes.
Sam Hauser was in the starting lineup on opening night last year but essentially split time as a starter/bench player all year. Jordan Walsh got his run in the starting five, as did Baylor Scheierman — and Josh Minott, and Luka Garza, too. All of that is to say, the starting five may be a bit obvious, but I expect Mazzulla to tinker all season based on current circumstances.
Josh Canu: Editor
Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Paul George, Jayson Tatum, Neemias Queta
I think the best version of the Celtics this season relies heavily on Payton Pritchard in the starting lineup. Without Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum will be seeing a lot of double teams and to make teams pay, Pritchard has to be the best version of himself. He is the one player on the roster that will make other teams think twice about doubling Tatum.
In terms of consistency, with a player like Paul George who misses a lot of games, I would expect Sam Hauser and Baylor Scheierman to get plenty of opportunities in the starting lineup as well this season.
John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Offseason addition Mitchell Robinson is expected to come off Boston’s bench, with Neemias Queta starting at the five.
Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Paul George, Jayson Tatum, Neemias Queta
Perhaps Pritchard will revert to his sixth-man role, but this seems like the most sensible starting five to begin the season. Pritchard started 50 of the 79 games he played in last season, and he excelled in the role with 17.0 points and 5.2 assists per game. He’ll be counted on again to provide a consistent offensive spark with Brown out of the picture.
The only other question mark is the center spot with Mitchell Robinson in the mix, but Robinson should maintain the role he had in New York as the first big off the bench. He’ll provide much-needed depth behind Queta.
Adam Hart: Executive Producer, Content Strategy
Derrick White, Baylor Scheierman, Paul George, Jayson Tatum, Neemias Queta
This starting five creates an impactful second unit that can maintain or grow leads. Putting Scheierman in the starting lineup because he adds a hustle element to the group, and it allows Pritchard to be the lead dog off the bench.
On Friday evening, Philadelphia Flyers rookie camp officially begins with an on-ice training session at the PPL Center in Allentown, Pa., at 4 p.m., and from there, we'll have the two rookie series games on Saturday night and Sunday night.
Top prospects like Porter Martone, Alex Bump, and Denver Barkey will be the headlining acts for rookie camp, and they will joined by 2026 first-round pick Maksim Sokolovskii, who was interestingly included on the training camp roster as well.
Players like Brek Liske, Matthew Gard, Nathan Quinn, and Ilya Pautov, for example, were excluded.
The Flyers may want to just have Sokolovskii under their watch for a while longer, or they intend to have the hulking defenseman play in a preseason game before sending him back to the OHL London Knights.
In either case, fans heading to Allentown or the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees over the next week will have several opportunities to watch Sokolovskii further.
Here's the full Flyers rookie camp schedule as follows:
Friday, Sept. 11: Training session at PPL Center from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 12: Morning skate from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., game vs. Rangers prospects at 7:05 p.m. at PPL Center
Sunday, Sept. 13: Morning skate from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., game vs. Rangers prospects at 5:05 p.m. at PPL Center
Monday, Sept. 14: Training session at to-be-announced time at Flyers Training Center
Tuesday, Sept. 15: Training session at 11:15 a.m. at Flyers Training Center
Wednesday, Sept. 16: Day off
Thursday: Sept. 17: Flyers training camp begins
In just over two weeks, the Flyers will have played their last preseason game against Washington on the 26th, then dive right into the season opener against Pittsburgh on the 30th.
Many roster battles will have to be settled in a short period of time, in which case it helps that the rookie camp roster and training camp roster are mostly separate.
Martone, Barkey, and Bump will see some extra work, of course, but it's fair they put some extra time in for having what are effectively guaranteed roster spots.
Kessel is the first former member of the Maple Leafs to be inducted into the U.S Hockey Hall of Fame since former president and GM Brian Burke was inducted in 2023. Before Burke, it was former Maple Leafs head coach Ron Wilson, who was inducted in 2017.
As for former players, Mathieu Schneider was the last player to be inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame who served for Toronto in their career. He was inducted in 2015.
Kessel represented the Maple Leafs for a large chunk of his career. In fact, it was the longest stop at any destination throughout his 17-year NHL career.
The right winger played six seasons for the Maple Leafs, from 2009-10 to 2014-15. He appeared in a total of 446 regular-season games for the club, scoring 181 goals and 394 points. His best season came in 2011-12 when he notched 37 goals and 82 points in 82 games. Kessel never went on to score more goals in one year.
He also played for the Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, Arizona Coyotes, and Vegas Golden Knights, winning two Stanley Cups with the Penguins in 2016-17 and 2017-18, and one with the Golden Knights in 2023.
Kessel's all-time best campaign was with Pittsburgh in 2017-18 when he scored 34 goals and 92 points in 82 games.
He currently holds the record for most consecutive NHL games played, with 1,064 outings in a row. The 2022-23 season was his last year in the NHL. In total, he's played 1,286 NHL games, scoring a total of 413 goals and 992 points.
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SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 5: Bismack Biyombo #18 of the San Antonio Spurs arrives to the arena before the game against the New York Knicks during Game Two of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 5, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Bismack Biyombo completed his fifteenth season last June. The Congolese big man was drafted in 2011 and spent a large portion of his career with Charlotte. He’s also played for the Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Memphis Grizzlies, and Oklahoma City Thunder before joining the San Antonio Spurs in February of 2025.
Biyombo has not signed on for the 2026-2027 season as of this writing, but he has his sights set on other opportunities, or more directly, creating opportunities.
As our students begin this new chapter, I want to take you inside Katanga Elite School and share what these classrooms truly represent.
This school is more than a collection of buildings. It is the story of a promise, a journey, and a belief that every child deserves a future… pic.twitter.com/dnbvq2xqJt
Biyombo shared a post announcing the opening of Katanga Elite School, a bilingual college preparatory school located in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo.
“This school is more than a collection of buildings. It is the story of a promise, a journey, and a belief that every child deserves a future without limits.”
This school is not Biyombo’s first foray into philanthropic projects. Biyombo started the Bismack Biyombo Foundation to initiate a positive impact through opportunities in athletics, education, and health. During the pandemic, they donated around $1 million worth of medical supplies to people in his native Democratic Republic of the Congo. Biyombo also pledged his entire salary from the 2021–22 season towards the construction of a hospital in Congo in honor of his father.
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 19: Tony Bradley #13 of the Indiana Pacers dunks the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 19, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Pacers 113-104. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The New York Knicks have Karl-Anthony Towns and Andre Drummond positioned atop their center depth chart, but the defending champions remain without a traditional third center as training camp approaches and this saga doesn’t feel any closer to an end.
In yet another update on the situation, according to SNY’s Ian Begley, veteran free agent Tony Bradley has emerged on the Knicks’ radar as New York continues evaluating potential additions for its remaining roster spots, with a competition for those expected to take place throughout camp and the preseason.
“One other note on free agent signings ahead of training camp: veteran center Tony Bradley has also been a player on the Knicks’ radar,” Begley reported.
From @IanBegley: “Note on free agent signings ahead of camp: vet center Tony Bradley has been…on Knicks radar. Knicks do not currently have a 3rd center, but strong degree of confidence internally in KAT- Drummond duo”
If you’re like me, you probably though Bradley was 35 already. Turns out he’s only 28!
Even then, and while Bradley would provide an experienced third option behind Towns and Drummond, don’t expect TB (or whoever ends up landing in New York) to find a clear and open path into coach Mike Brown’s established rotation.
Begley noted that the Knicks are comfortable with their current top two options despite the absence of another traditional center, making it even tougher for Mystery Man to get any potential playing time.
“The Knicks do not currently have a third center, but there is a strong degree of confidence internally in the Karl-Anthony Towns-Andre Drummond duo at the position,” Begley reported.
Bradley spent last season with the Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks, appearing in 41 games and averaging 4.0 points and 2.8 rebounds in 11 minutes per game.
The 6-foot-10 center has eight seasons of NBA experience after entering the league as the No. 28 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. Bradley owns career averages of 4.3 points and 3.8 rebounds in 234 regular-season appearances.
Begley previously reported that New York has also shown interest in free agents Drew Eubanks and John Konchar while evaluating its remaining roster openings, hinting at the openness of the Knicks’ brass to land a variety of player types ahead of their title defense.
For now, the Knicks’ next step is opening training camp before they face the Philadelphia 76ers in the first game of the preseason.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 20: Jared McCain #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket against Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks at Xfinity Mobile Arena on December 20, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. The 76ers defeated the Mavericks 121-114. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s really cool when you can see the Brotherhood in real time.
Flagg and McCain are professionals now, of course, and they are used to a higher level of competition.
Even so, they’re playing against some very talented young players, and it’s a good tune-up for the upcoming season.
As for the current Blue Devils, they get a chance to test their mettle against two guys who are among an elite number of players who not only have played in the NBA, but are valuable pieces on their teams.
And that’s an important distinction. Plenty of guys get to the league, and might play for a year or two, but just can’t stick.
These guys have, and they’re helping the younger members of the Brotherhood understand what it takes to get there, and just as importantly, how hard they’ll need to work.
It’s a great partnership on both sides.
This what I’ve been saying do for awhile! Get our guys in the NBA to come play pick up with the current roster 🤷🏾♂️ https://t.co/RPCnKbAIAS
Ever wonder how a sportswriter can end up with 50 pairs of new underwear and two overstuffed suitcases on a short scheduled reporting trip?
I traveled to San Diego in September 2001 to interview and write about Tony Gwynn’s Hall of Fame career coming to an end weeks later.
It was early Tuesday morning, Sept., 11, when the phone rang in my hotel room at the Mission Valley Marriott near Qualcomm Stadium. I groggily reached for the phone, answered, and it was a friend from Atlanta.
“Did you hear what happened in New York?" she breathlessly said. “A plane just crashed into the World Trade Center."
OK, I figured someone accidentally crashed their private plane, thanked her for the call, and went back to sleep.
The phone rang 15 minutes later.
A second plane crashed, into the South Tower of the World Trade Center.
This time, I stayed awake, glued to the TV set like the rest of America.
Commissioner Bud Selig postponed all 15 games that day, extended the postponements until Friday, and then again for three more days until Sept. 17. It was the longest regular-season stoppage, outside of a players’ strike, since World War I shortened the final month of the 1918 season.
Sitting in my hotel room that morning, unable to take my eyes off the TV, I was contemplating what to do next when the phone rang.
It was Gwynn.
He knew I had traveled into town to do a cover story on him for “Baseball Weekly” and we were set to talk at the ballpark.
He asked how I was doing, if I needed anything, and whether I still wanted to do the story.
I assured him I still did, so he invited me to come by his house in suburban Poway, and we’d have lunch.
I pulled up in my rental car the next day, and Gwynn greeted me at the door with blue shorts, a gray shirt, and an orange cap. He plopped down on the recliner in his living room. And we talked.
And talked. And talked. And talked.
We talked for hours. There was no better interview in baseball than Gwynn. There may never have been a better person, either. He was an absolute joy to cover. If you wanted to talk about baseball, Gwynn was there to talk as long as you desired.
You could be a pimple-faced kid from a local high school, or a grizzled veteran from “60 Minutes,’’ and Gwynn would treat each reporter with identical respect. It didn’t matter how big your newspaper’s circulation was, or whether you were local or national, Gwynn would provide the same access.
He was everyone’s favorite.
This day, with the living room TV showing the heartbreaking devastation in New York, Gwynn had all the time in the world.
“It’s just unbelievable what happened,” Gwynn was saying. “You see it over and over, and still can’t believe it. Life as we knew it before, is over. Life is going to change. And now that it’s going to change, you want to be in a little more control in your life."
Gwynn, who for years talked about wanting a level playing field, felt helpless at times during his own career. He was disgusted by the rampant use of steroids and amphetamines in the game when everyone else was afraid to address the subject. He was constantly at war with agents and officials who ridiculed him for signing hometown discounts to stay in San Diego. He didn’t care what you thought. This was who he was.
But Gwynn was absolutely right.
The world did change overnight.
Security heightened at the airports. Friends and family could no longer escort you to the gate or await your arrival when you got off the plane. Metal detectors were installed at ballparks and bomb-sniffing dogs became regulars in the clubhouse. Teams hired security agents.
Meanwhile, with no flights available and stranded in San Diego, my cover story: “Mr. Padre: Sweet-Swinging Tony Gwynn closes out a Hall of Fame career’’ was written that week. When flights resumed once again, it was up to the my editors to determine the next move.
Go home or cover the biggest story in baseball?
Barry Bonds home run chase
The San Francisco Giants were resuming their season, and Barry Bonds was sitting with 63 homers. The editors suggested staying in California for an extra week. Why not catch the Giants in San Francisco for their three-game series against the Houston Astros, follow the Giants back to San Diego, and then go home?
Made sense. I watched Bonds hit his 64th homer in the series finale against the Astros, but then he went homerless in his first two games in San Diego. I was set to fly home the next day, but in that final game of the series, Bonds hit two more homers for 66.
Now, Bonds needed just four more homers in the final 12 games to tie Mark McGwire for the single-season record of 70, set just three years earlier in 1998 during the great home-run race with Sammy Sosa.
“Uh, you mind staying on the Bonds watch?," my editor asked.
I covered the final 18 games of the Giants’ season, going to San Francisco, back to San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston and back to San Francisco. I watched Bonds tie McGwire’s record in his final at-bat in Game 159 in Houston. And then break it the next day with two homers off Los Angeles Dodgers starter Chan Ho Park for 71 and 72, sending the home sellout crowd of 41,730 into hysterics.
Bonds added one more homer for posterity off Dodgers starter Dennis Springer in the season finale, capping one of the greatest offensive seasons in baseball history, and his fourth MVP award. Bonds hit .328 with 73 homers, 137 RBI, a league-leading .515 on-base percentage, league-leading .863 slugging percentage, league-leading 1.379 OPS and league-leading 259 walks.
It was a season for the ages.
Bonds would go onto win four MVPs in a row, and break Henry Aaron’s all-time home run record in 2007 with myself and a horde of reporters covering the home run chase for nearly a month.
Gwynn, meanwhile, spent the final day of his career in San Diego in 2001 pinch-hitting against the Colorado Rockies in front of a sellout crowd of 60,103. He batted .324, his 19th consecutive season hitting at least .300.
Six years later, Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. were inducted together into the Hall of Fame, drawing the largest crowd in Cooperstown history that still stands today.
2001 World Series among the best ever
Now, with the 2001 regular season coming to an end after Bonds’ record-breaking performance, it was time for the postseason, which was pushed back a week because of the terrorist attacks. It was off to Arizona and St. Louis to cover the National League Division Series. Next, Atlanta and Arizona in the NLCS. Then, the World Series between the Diamondbacks and New York Yankees.
It will be remembered as one of the greatest World Series in history, featuring President George W. Bush throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 3 at Yankee Stadium as the sellout crowd emotionally burst into cheers and tears - followed by three dramatic Yankees wins.
It ended on the night of Nov 4, the latest World Series Game in history, with the Diamondbacks coming back from a 2-1 deficit in the ninth inning of Game 7 with outfielder Luis Gonzalez hitting a walk-off single off future Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera.
Arizona 3, New York 2.
Future Hall of Famer Randy Johnson, who came onto relief to win Game 7 after pitching seven innings and winning Game 6, was the co-World Series MVP along with Curt Schilling, who yielded a 1.69 ERA in three starts.
It was the first and only Diamondbacks’ World Series championship.
And it was the end of the Yankees’ dynasty, after winning four World Series titles and five pennants since 1996.
Finally, after 56 consecutive days on the road, I was going home, taking along perhaps the most underwear ever stuffed in suitcases.
Why so much underwear?
Hey, you know how much hotels charge to do laundry? It was not only more convenient, but also cheaper to simply buy all new clothes.
So, I kept buying and buying, two, three packs at a time. Before I knew it, I had an entire suitcase full, hoping some poor soul at airport security (soon-to-be TSA) didn’t actually have to open the bag when I landed in Minneapolis.
The season was over, and after 40 years covering baseball, one that I’ll never forget.
And, you know what, Gwynn was right.
Life did completely change.
We’ll be reminded of it once again Friday when the Mets and Yankees play at Yankee Stadium on the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks.
I just wish Gwynn were still alive to reminisce about the memories from a quarter-century ago on how the sport of baseball helped heal a nation – and how his kindness and compassion helped a stranded visitor in his hometown.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 31: Axiel Plaz #13 of the Scottsdale Scorpions smiles during an Arizona Fall League game against the Salt River Rafters at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on October 31, 2025 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On this edition of the Pirates Prospect Update series, we take a look at catcher Axiel Plaz, who has been enjoying a nice season with the Greensboro Grasshoppers.
The Pittsburgh Pirates signed Plaz as an international free-agent in the winter of 2022, and since then the Dominican catcher has risen the ranks to being one of the best prospects in Pittsburgh’s system. In his first season of professional baseball he was named to the All-Star team for the Dominican Summer League after hitting .382 with a 1.206 OPS.
What has plagued Plaz has been inconsistent play due to injuries. 2024 saw the 21-year-old catcher limited to just 84 games after suffering numerous injuries. Then in 2025 Plaz was out of action with a broken finger and only appeared 66 games as a result.
The proof is in the pudding when Plaz is healthy however, as he continues to emerge as a strong player at the plate. During his time in Bradenton he ranked near the top in categories like exit velocity, barrel and hard hit percentages. His power continues to develop, but he is capable of hitting to all fields and has changed his approach at the plate which has resulted in far less swing and miss strikeouts.
Now in 2026, Plaz has played the most games to this point in his professional career, currently at 94 with Greensboro. At the plate this year Plaza has knocked in 18 home runs along with 74 RBIs. This season he’s slashing .305/.389/.513 with a .902 OPS. He was also just awardSouth Atlantic League Player of the Week honors.
Plaz has an overall prospect rating of 50, with his defense needing some work if he wants to be a big league catcher one day. His arm is plenty strong, and he’s proven that he’s capable of making hard throws from behind the plate. His defense is subpar though as his receiving has lacked consistency. That being said the Pirates are seemingly still looking for their catcher of the future so there’s ample opportunity for Plaz to move up the ranks and continue to improve in the minor leagues.
Axiel Plaz is the seventh ranked prospect in the Pirates’ system.
Macklin Celebrini is here for the long haul. After finishing his second NHL season with over 100 points and proving his superstar status in the league, the Sharks rewarded him with a five-year, $94 million extension. Now Celebrini enters the season fully focused on hockey and leading the Sharks to the Stanley Cup playoffs.
But Celebrini is not just a hockey player, he is also one of us. Hockey players have a reputation for being focused solely on hockey and nothing else, giving off the vibe that they only really care about being the best players they can be. But sitting down with actor Belmont Cameli in a video for The Hollywood Reporter, Celebrini squashed that notion.
“I think hockey players in general have a bad rap of not having much personality,” Celebrini told Cameli. “Just kind of what the culture has always been with hockey. If you meet some of the guys that play in the NHL, it’s some of the best people you ever meet. Obviously, when the cameras are off and you’re just shooting it with them, just some of the best guys to hang out with. I feel like that doesn’t really get portrayed very well on camera. People don’t really see it.”
Since joining the Sharks as the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 NHL Draft, Celebrini has captured the hearts of many in the Bay Area, quickly becoming a star right before our eyes. Celebrini firmly put himself on the map during the 2026 Winter Olympics, where he finished the tournament as the leading goal scorer en route to guiding Canada to the silver medal.
This offseason, Celebrini made even more history when he was named the cover athlete of NHL 27, making him the youngest NHL player ever to receive that honor.
The Sharks last made the playoffs in 2018-19, and while the team has experienced down years in recent seasons, confidence in this year’s team is sky high — especially if Celebrini stays healthy and continues to play at an elite level. Already being mentioned in MVP conversations, Celebrini will head to training camp on a mission to become the face of the NHL.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 1: Anthony Volpe #11 of the New York Yankees bats in a game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on August 1, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
ESPN | Associated Press: The Yankees recalled Anthony Volpe Thursday in a corresponding move as Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit the IL. The promotion was anticipated after Chisholm left Tuesday’s game with what was later diagnosed as a sprained right thumb. After he was displaced from his starting job at shortstop, Volpe went on a heater at Triple-A and was recently named the International League’s Player of the Week after going 11-for-21 with three homers from September 1-6 while bouncing between shortstop, second, and third. He projects to split time with José Caballero at the keystone in the absence of Chisholm, who has said he expects to return on September 22. Volpe’s return couldn’t have gone better, the newly minted second baseman going 3-for-4 with a grand slam on his first day back.
New York Daily News | Gary Phillips: ($) Will Warren’s start on Wednesday, in which he allowed one run across six innings of work, may strengthen his case for a playoff role. The right-hander, who has a 2.22 ERA over his last five outings, ranks behind some of his more experienced rotation mates but could end up a valuable bullpen piece in October. “He can serve a lot of roles potentially,” said his manager, Aaron Boone. “He’s been incredibly durable, but he’s got weapons, and I do like the tick up in his stuff, which seems to be there the last three, four times out.” As Boone alluded to, Wednesday’s start was Warren’s third straight in which his velocity increased.
NJ.com | Bob Klapisch: David Bednar got a ringing endorsement from an authoritative source on Tuesday. No less than Mariano Rivera praised the Yankees closer while watching him pitch, saying “David reminds me of myself. The thing I love about David is that he goes after hitters, which is what I always tried to do. He doesn’t mess around. And he has the ability to put things behind him – good or bad – and move forward.” When informed of the Hall of Famer’s compliment, Bednar was reportedly moved. “Wow, that’s really great to hear,” he said. “Coming from someone like Mariano, that’s amazing.”
Hudson Valley Renegades | Joe Vasile: Luis Serna just wrapped up an exemplary season for the High-A Hudson Valley Renegades. The 22-year-old, ranked as the Yankees’ 18th-best prospect by MLB Pipeline, led the South Atlantic League in several pitching categories, including ERA (4.32), strikeouts (140), opponent’s average (.224), and WHIP (1.19). (An important caveat — only four pitchers in the league threw enough innings to qualify for the rate stats.) The 140 punchouts also set a Renegades record, surpassing the 138 Drew Thorpe recorded in 2023. “He had a career season for himself without a question,” said Renegades pitching coach Ryan Mossman. “He was throwing more strikes with his fastball and improved his slider quite a bit. [Some changes to his arsenal] made him able to better gameplan for lineups and go out there and execute and dominate the way he did this year.”
Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images
Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
