May 4, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. (13) hits a broken bat single during the eighth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Among Yankees regulars, only Austin Wells and Ryan McMahon had a lower wRC+ than Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s 72 mark before Wednesday’s game against the Orioles. To say that the second baseman’s season has been a disappointment to this point would be an understatement.
Before taking the field on Wednesday, Chisholm’s slash line was at .200/.280/.320 with four home runs, 11 stolen bases, and a 29.2 percent strikeout rate in 168 plate appearances. As you can see, his production is down across the board. You can tell Jazz is frustrated by how things are going, and he recently acknowledged that he’s “not swinging well.” He did say, however, that he’s working hard to get back on track. Chisholm summed up his slump, probably without knowing he did.
The strikeout rate is higher than last year’s 27.9 percent, but the difference is not that big between this year and last. The most worrisome development about Chisholm’s 2026 campaign has been his horrible contact quality metrics, and that suggests that, well, he’s really not swinging well. It might be a timing issue, a mental block, or a mechanical problem, but his batted ball metrics are awful, probably as bad as they have ever been.
The main issue is that Chisholm is just not barreling the ball. A year after ranking in the 91st percentile in barrel rate with 15 percent, he is at 5.9 percent, in the 30th percentile. That’s a huge dropoff. Additionally, Chisholm’s 35.3 percent hard-hit rate is well-below average and significantly down in comparison to last year’s 43.3 percent.
In 2025, the mercurial second baseman had a .346 xwOBA. This season, it’s down to a stunningly low .263. A whopping 94 percent of the league has a higher mark than that. His .481 expected slugging percentage last year is considerably higher than 2026’s .312.
So far, Chisholm’s contact metrics are so bad that xwOBA even thinks he has been a tad lucky. That .263 mark is lower than his .274 wOBA. His 73 mph average bat speed is not too much lower than his 73.9 mph in 2025, so the power is still there.
If he’s healthy, the Yankees have enough reasons to believe he will eventually figure things out and the talent will speak for itself. Chisholm is, at least, stealing bases and playing solid defense. But the team needs him to hit, too. He appears to be having a particularly bad time with breaking pitches — after posting a .326 xwOBA last year against this specific pitch type, he is at an alarmingly low .205 in 2026. Additionally, Chisholm might be too passive at times. His zone swing percentage is at 60.7, the lowest since his rookie season by a considerable margin, and his first-pitch swing percentage is at 31.5, his lowest mark since 2023. It’s all about having good takes, working the count, and putting up good hacks on hittable pitches, so he should eventually get to where he wants to be. A little more aggressiveness should also help him.
Expecting Chisholm to be a 72-wRC+ hitter when he finished the last two years at 111 and 126, respectively, would be foolish. However, denying that he has a lot of work to do to get his best swing back would be, too. Baseball is a game of constant adjustments, and Chisholm will need to spot the problematic areas and work on them to improve. He’s too good to be this bad, if that makes sense.
A sweep moment finally arrived for the Mets, with their shiny new toy as an integral component.
It took until their 14th series this season. The Mets had been swept four times during that stretch, but their own sweep aspirations were unfulfilled.
Thursday they brandished their bats for the second time in three days since rookie A.J. Ewing’s arrival from Triple-A Syracuse. Their three-game sweep of the Tigers was complete with a 9-4 victory at Citi Field.
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Ewing blasted his first major league homer as part of a barrage that let the Mets begin contemplating the upcoming Subway Series in a positive mindset. Brett Baty, Mark Vientos, Juan Soto and Marcus Semien also went deep on a day the Mets established a season-high with five homers.
Ewing, a 21-year-old outfielder, had a major league debut series to remember — which included reaching base four times in his first game Tuesday, scoring the winning run in the 10th inning a night later then clearing the fence for the first time in Thursday’s third inning.
“He brings the energy that we need, he’s a young core [player], a really humble kid,” Soto said. “He’s showing every aspect of the game.”
Rookie Mets center fielder A.J. Ewing hits his first career home run during the third inning against the Tigers on May 14, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostA.J. Ewing wears an orange construction hat as he celebrates his home run in the Mets dugout on May 14, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
It doesn’t hurt that another rookie, Carson Benge, has been among the team’s hottest players. A night after providing the game-winning RBI in the 10th inning, Benge added a 2-for-5 performance Thursday and owns an .888 OPS in May.
“They are going to get on base, they are going to grind at-bats, they are going to put the ball in play,” manager Carlos Mendoza said of the rookie tandem. “They are going to make pitchers work and once they get on, they are going to put pressure on the defense. They are having fun. They are playing, and that is contagious.”
Just maybe, the Mets (18-25) have found the boost they need to get their season on track. Winning at least two games in Queens against the Yankees this weekend might bolster that notion.
Mets starter Nolan McLean reacts after striking out Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle to end the top of the seventh inning on May 14, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
It’s certainly the right time for the Mets, who have begun the month with eight victories in 12 games, to play their interborough rival.
“Not just the Subway Series, but the whole season, we have just got to keep the momentum going all the way to October,” Soto said. “Definitely it was a start we didn’t want, but it’s the right time to get hot.”
The positives from this series included three comeback victories and 22 runs scored — the team’s most this season in a three-game series.
Mark Vientos points to the Mets dugout after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning against the Tigers on May 14, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“There’s a lot to like,” Mendoza said. “We won in a lot of different ways.”
Nolan McLean, after a rough first inning, got the Mets through the seventh. The rookie right-hander allowed three earned runs on six hits and three walks with seven strikeouts.
McLean sank the Mets into a first-inning hole by allowing a three-run homer to Gage Workman. McLean surrendered a walk and a single before giving up his fourth homer of the season and second in as many starts.
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Ewing began the comeback by homering against Keider Montero leading off the third. Last season, Ewing homered just three times in 485 at-bats over three minor league levels.
“I think [homers] can be part of my game,” Ewing said. “I don’t think it’s going to be my identity. I spray the ball, hit a lot of line drives and put myself in position to get on base a lot. But when I catch stuff out in front, I think that can happen, for sure.”
Baty hit a two-run homer in the fourth that tied it 3-3. Soto stroked an RBI single in the fifth that gave the Mets the lead. Benge singled and stole second to ignite the rally. Vientos launched a two-run homer that gave the Mets a 6-3 lead. It was the fourth homer in 10 games for Vientos, who owns an .843 OPS over his past 12 games.
The Mets celebrate their sweep over the Tigers. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Hayden Senger, on a safety squeeze, bunted in a run in the sixth that extended the Mets lead to 7-3. The knockout punches were delivered by Soto and Semien, who each homered later.
“We have been struggling for a while, I have too these last couple of [starts],” McLean said. “But I wouldn’t say we ever got down on ourselves in here. You come and watch the work these guys are putting in and we know how good our clubhouse is, and that is all that matters: what we think of each other. We’re not worried about anybody else.”
CHICAGO – Illini fans have been patiently waiting and wondering if Illinois’ second-highest scorer last season will be back for one more.
After David Mirkovic, the Ivisic twins and Jake Davis all announced their plans to return to State Farm Center for the 2026-27 season, veteran guard Andrej Stojakovic followed in their footsteps and stated that he’d be coming back to Illinois for one more year as well.
But Stojakovic entered his name in the 2026 NBA Draft, and after a few impressive workout sessions, the reality is that neither Illinois fans nor Stojakovic himself will know the definitive answer until May 27.
“The more we get closer to that deadline, I’ll know more,” Stojakovic said. “I think the group around me has done a really good job of kind of evaluating and staying level-headed no matter what kind of feedback we hear.”
During the Combine’s media availability Wednesday, Stojakovic mentioned that making it to the NBA has been a dream of his since he was young.
“I’m in the draft with both feet in right now,” Stojakovic said.
#illini Andrej Stojakovic said he is "both feet in right now" with the #NBADraft process, but having the option to return to Illinois and compete for a Final Four again is "extremely special. Just have to make the right decision."
And the Illini staff is right there beside him, supporting him every step of the way.
“They’ve all shown tremendous belief in what I can do, especially throughout this process,” Stojakovic said. “Something that, you know, the staff has been by my side with. And I’m sure they’ll be by my side no matter the decision.”
Andrej looks at the decision as a win-win.
“I think I’m in a special situation where my option to go back to school is one of a kind,” Stojakovic said. “Not many people in this combine have the option to go back to a Final Four team with most of the guys returning.”
But even with a big chunk of the roster returning, Stojakovic knows that Keaton Wagler and Kylan Boswell won’t play another minute at State Farm Center.
“We see each other at the hotel. Um, it still hasn’t hit me that, you know, if I do decide to go back to school, they won’t be in the same locker room as me.”
Although Andrej is bought into the NBA Draft, his main factor in his decision is to go wherever he’ll be able to grow the best. If he decides to stay in Champaign, it’ll be a season of proving what he can do and coming back even more ready for the draft next year.
A major point of growth for Andrej, whether it be at the college level or in the NBA, is his shooting percentage. It’s also one of the only concerns that the NBA has about Stojakovic.
“I’ve been very, you know, upfront and realistic with that,” Stojakovic said. “Going back to school is another chance where I can go prove that, you know, shooting the ball is one of my strengths.”
But Stojakovic’s early career revolved more around his shot than driving to the rim. Illinois changed that.
“Growing up in high school, I was always viewed as a shooter in my class. You know, especially going to Illinois, they kind of unleashed a certain mindset for me to go to the rim. They saw something in me,” Stojakovic said.
“The size we had as a team this year kind of allowed me to, you know, space the floor and drive because we had bigs that could shoot the ball. That was something that we were comfortable with going to in a lot of the games.”
So, why did Andrej announce his return to Illinois if he was uncertain?
“Announcing coming back to Illinois was more so, having a plan either way. I love Illinois, I loved it this year, and if I do go back I’m looking forward to hopefully making more history with the team,” Stojakovic said.
“But yeah it’s just for my peace of mind, knowing that obviously it’s a dream of mine but there is a chance I’m gonna go back and I’m looking forward to participating in another Final Four hopefully.”
Regardless, he won’t forget about the historic year with a special group.
“I think we’d all love to take a moment and embrace it at some point. If I go back, I’m looking forward to seeing everybody playing at State Farm once again,” Stojakovic said. “And I know moving forward for the rest of our lives when we go back there, it’s going to be all love.”
ATLANTA, GA - MAY 12: Mike Yastrzemski #18 of the Atlanta Braves rounds the bases during the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kathryn Skeean/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves are going for a sweep against the Chicago Cubs, which would cap off a fantastic six-game stretch if the Braves were able to pull it off. Things went well enough against right-handed Cubs starter Colin Rea in the first game and after shaking things up against the lefty Shota Imanaga in the second game, the Braves are going back to their usual lineup meant for right-handed pitchers.
That means that Mike Yastrzemski and Dominic Smith are back in the lineup and Drake Baldwin is catching. Here’s the rest of the lineup:
As I mentioned in the title, this lineup is identical to the one that they trotted out there for their matchup against the Cubs on Tuesday and hopefully, it’ll be just as successful. Mike Yastrzemski in particular was successful, as he picked up two hits (including a homer) and three RBI on Monday and then he added on another big hit as a pinch-hitter in Wednesday’s win. He’s doing pretty well against the Cubs in this series and here’s hoping that he can keep it up. Dominic Smith will also be looking to pick up where he left off on Monday, which is when he delivered a four-hit game. His pinch-hit effort was unsuccessful on Wednesday but maybe we’ll see something different here on Thursday night.
Here’s the lineup for the Chicago Cubs, which was released just under an hour after this post was originally published. Thanks, Cubbies.
The Cubs will have played three games here and will have put out three different lineups so far. Nico Hoerner remains in the leadoff spot, Alex Bregman, Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki each move up a spot, Matt Shaw makes his first start of the series in right field, old friend Dansby Swanson moves up to his highest lineup position so far this series in seventh, Miguel Amaya becomes the third different starting catcher for the Cubs in this series and Pete Crow-Armstrong moves down to ninth like he was on Tuesday. The only constants has been Michael Busch batting sixth. Fascinating.
What do y’all think? Does Atlanta’s lineup look good enough to complete a sweep?
May 14, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets second baseman Marcus Semien (10) scores a run against Detroit Tigers catcher Jake Rogers (34) on a bunt by Mets catcher Hayden Senger (not pictured) during the sixth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
I would start this recap by talking about the importance of the Tigers avoiding a sweep, and how they need to come together to prove they are a better team than what we’ve been seeing from them, but that’s just stating the obvious at this point and the Mets are starting Nolan McLean, who totally dazzled viewers in the World Baseball Classic. So what I’m saying is that every game could be anything and we’ll just see what happens. Keider Montero was on the mound for the Tigers and he’s been having a respectable season so far, so let’s cross our fingers and just go with it.
Colt Keith got a one-out walk in the first, followed by a single from Riley Greene, who has been a real highlight in this series. With two outs, Gage Workman came through with a home run to score three.
Despite his heroics in the top of the inning, Workman was quickly charged with an error in the home half that allowed Carson Benge to get safely to first. Three outs (including one challenged one by Bo Bichette) followed, ending the threat by the Mets.
The Tigers went 1-2-3 in the top of the second. In the home half with one out, Brett Baty got a walk, but he was very quickly eliminated in a double-play off the bat of Marcus Semien.
With two outs in the third, Riley Greene continued his incredible efforts this series with a single, but the Tigers weren’t able to convert the baserunner. The Mets did manage to get one back, though, in the home half as A.J. Ewing got a solo home run to start things off. Three outs followed, but the Mets had started to chip away at the lead.
Gage Workman continued to have one heck of a game, starting the fourth with a leadoff double. Zach McKinstry then singled, sending Workman to second, but he was called out at the plate. It was pretty clear from both replay and the naked eye that he was safe, but when the Tigers called for a review, the call on the field was upheld. A.J. Hinch then got ejected for having it out with the umpires about the insanely incorrect review play. This series has just been crazy with umpire nonsense. A double play ended the inning. With two outs in the home half, M.J. Melendez walked. Baty then homered, bouncing a ball off the orange outfield line. The call of a homer was reviewed, but upheld, and the game was tied. Marcus Semien followed that up with a single. The final out of the inning came on a crazy good catch by Kevin McGonigle who practically ran a half-marathon to snag the ball.
Wenceel Perez got the fifth going with a leadoff single. There was a pickoff attempt of Perez at first, and he was ruled safe by the Mets, who challenged. Somehow, this call was overturned. Did someone hire some Etsy witches to curse this team or something? Jake Rogers then walked. Wonder if someone wants to challenge that and have it overturned, too. Really, the only thing the Tigers had working in their favor at this point in the game was that McLean wasn’t at his best, showing shaky command. Yet, Keider Montero, who barely gave up any home runs all season, gave up two in one game. So no one is really playing their best, are they? The Tigers didn’t manage to convert any baserunners, but the universe conspiring against them didn’t help. The weirdest series ever continued. Benge got a one-out single, then stole second. Initially, he was called out, but the Mets challenged and it was overturned. With two outs, that was it for Montero. He went 4.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 2 HR on 70 pitches. Certainly not his best outing. Tyler Holton came out of the bullpen to replace him. A Juan Soto single scored Benge. Then, because this game and series are what they are, Mark Vientos homered, putting the score up to 6-3 for the Mets. The Tigers finally got out of the inning, but they’d have a long way to go to get a win at this point.
Riley Greene took a leadoff walk in the sixth. After that, they went down in order, though, leaving Greene stranded. Enmanuel De Jesus was the new Tigers pitcher in the home half. With one out, Semien walked. A.J. Ewing then singled, continuing his impressive debut series. Semien moved up to third. Hayden Senger played the coward’s game with a sac bunt, scoring Semien. With the second out of the inning De Jesus was done. Brenan Hanifee came in and got the final out of the inning. The Mets were up 7-3.
In the seventh, Spencer Torkelson was hit by a pitch, but even with a free baserunner, the Tigers couldn’t make anything happen. Heading into the home half, Juan Soto got a leadoff home run. With two outs after that, the Tigers switched over to Ricky Vanasco, who got the final out of the inning.
McLean’s day was finally done after seven innings, and he was replaced by Tobias Myers. With two outs in the eighth, Dillon Dingler got a solo home run. The Tigers would have to settle for just the one run, and then as the game headed to the home half, the Mets got it right back with a leadoff home run off the foul pole by Semien. With two outs, we had to take a break so Benge could have someone put in eye drops for him. Maybe the drops helped, because he singled. Bo Bichette then walked, but the Mets weren’t able to bring any additional runs in.
Craig Kimbrel came in for the Mets for the top of the ninth. He got the Tigers out in order and the series limped over the finish line.
PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 14: Chase Dollander #32 of the Colorado Rockies leaves the game with medical staff in the second inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on May 14, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Colorado Rockies were unable to replicate their offensive production from Wednesday, but the major concern from their 7-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates lies with a concerning injury to their most promising starting pitcher. The Rockies finish the road trip with a 2-4 record and two series losses.
Danger for Dollander?
The Rockies hoped for another strong outing from Chase Dollander, especially three games into a schedule of playing 16-games straight. Unfortunately, the fireball righty departed in the top of the second with an apparent injury.
The day didn’t start well as Oneil Cruz kicked things off with a double in the top of the first inning that dropped because of a miscommunication between Jordan Beck and Brenton Doyle. Cruz then scored on a single from Bryan Reynolds to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead. The next batter, Ryan O’Hearn, belted a two-run home run to center field, making it 3-0 with one out. Dollander managed to escape the inning with a couple of pop-ups, but lasted just two batters the following inning after giving up a double to Endy Rodriguez and walking Jared Triolo. Dollander shook his arm after walking Triolo, and out of caution, Warren Schaeffer pulled him from the game, turning the day into a bullpen affair.
It was later announced that Dollander departed with right forearm tightness and will undergo some more testing in Denver.
Early Game Bullpen Brigade
Brennan Bernardio replaced Dollander in the second with two on and nobody out and managed to quickly record three outs to escape the inning. Bernardino started the third inning, giving up back-to-back singles and inducing a weak groundout in front of the plate for the first out of the inning.
Victor Vodnik then entered the game and walked Marcell Ozuna to load the bases. Rodriguez followed up with a two-run single to center field to extend the Pirates’ lead 5-0. Cruz later drove in another run on a groundout to short to make it 6-0 before Vodnik struck out Brandon Lowe to end the inning.
Between Dollander and the two relievers, the Pirates were quite effective in putting the ball in play, and it threatened to place a heavy burden on the bullpen, but the Rockies were able to get length out of Tanner Gordon to survive the day.
Go-Go Gadget Gordon
It’s been a crazy couple of days for Gordon after he was optioned back to Albuquerque on Tuesday and had to turn around and quickly return to Pittsburgh after Jimmy Herget was placed on the injured list. With the transition to a bullpen game, it became clear that Gordon was going to have to eat some innings, and he delivered on the day.
Gordon ended up tossing four innings, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out five batters and allowing one walk. He threw 69 pitches, 47 for strikes, inducing two groundouts and four flyouts. Calm and composed, Gordon worked through the seventh, giving way to Juan Mejia in the eighth. Given the circumstances that arose for the game, Gordon lifted a potentially great burden from the shoulders of the Rockies’ pen.
Steel City Blues
The Rockies’ offense wasn’t able to get much of anything done at the plate. They managed to score two runs on just five hits while striking out seven times. They did manage four walks, but they were unable to string together hits like they had done Wednesday night.
The runs came in the fourth inning after TJ Rumfield and Willi Castro managed to draw back-to-back one-out walks against bulk reliever Carmen Mlodzinski. Troy Johnston then managed a two-out, two-run double to get the Rockies on the board, trailing 6-2 at the time.
Still, some promising things are happening for the Rockies’ offense. Rumfield continues to impress as he drew a pair of walks, Johnston remains very clutch with runners in scoring position, and Ezequiel Tovar is slowly coming along with some excellent at-bats.
The Pirates exemplified what the Rockies are trying to do contact-wise on offense, as they totaled 12 hits with four players collecting two or more.
Up Next
The Rockies head back home to welcome Nolan Arenado and the Arizona Diamondbacks to town. Kyle Freeland (1-4, 6.00 ERA) looks to rebound from a couple of rough starts. He will face off against Merrill Kelly (2-3, 7.62 ERA) who has also had a rough go of it to start the season.
The Mets came back from an early 3-0 deficit to beat the Tigers, 9-4, on Thursday afternoon at Citi Field and complete a three-game sweep.
Here are the takeaways...
- With the score tied, 3-3, two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, and Carson Benge on second base (after he lined a single and swiped a bag), the Mets pounced.
First, Juan Soto stroked a single up the middle to drive in Benge and put New York up, 4-3. Mark Vientos followed that up by launching a no-doubter of a two-run homer deep into the seats in left field to increase the Mets' advantage to 6-3.
The Mets added on in the sixth, seventh, and eighth.
In the sixth, after Marcus Semien walked, A.J. Ewing cracked a single that moved Semien to third base. Hayden Senger then dropped down a perfect sacrifice bunt/safety squeeze that brought Semien home to make it 7-3, Mets -- with Senger beating out the play to reach first base.
In the seventh, Soto led off by drilling a homer to center to increase the lead to 8-3.
In the eighth, Semien roped a leadoff shot off the foul pole in left field to up the advantage to 9-4.
- Leading off the third inning, Ewingjumped on a 1-0 pitch from Keider Montero and sent it over the right field fence for his first big league homer to trim New York's deficit to 3-1 -- the ball came off his bat at 110.5 mph.
Aside from Ewing's jack, the Mets' offense was kept in check by Montero over the first 3.2 innings. But they staged a two-out rally in the fourth. After MJ Melendez walked, Brett Baty smoked an opposite-field homer that tied things, 3-3.
- It was an inauspicious start for the usually-dominant Nolan McLean, who struggled with his command and didn't have his usual swing-and-miss-stuff in the first inning.
After a one-out walk followed by a single, the Tigers capitalized with two outs when Gage Workman lofted a three-run homer that landed just over the wall in left-center field to give Detroit a 3-0 lead.
Those were all the runs Detroit would get.
May 14, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Nolan McLean (26) pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning at Citi Field. / Brad Penner - Imagn Images
McLean, who battled with his command throughout and didn't have his best stuff, fought through seven innings where there was constant traffic on the bases -- his only clean frame was the second.
In the seventh, McLean closed his outing in emphatic fashion, striking out Jake Rogers swinging and Kevin McGonigle looking to end the inning before unleashing a primal scream as he fist-pumped while making his way off the mound.
McLean's final line: 7.0 innings, three runs, six hits, three walks, one hit batter, seven strikeouts. His ERA for the season is 2.92.
- Ewing became the first player in Mets history to have a triple and home run (in either order) for his first two career hits, and just the seventh MLB player in the last 20 seasons to accomplish that feat (h/t Sarah Langs).
Tanking will be at the top of the agenda when the NBA owners meet later this month, and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is out doing public relations for his latest "fix" to the issue that bothers the league office and some content creators more than fans of the teams doing it.
The proposal, called the "3-2-1" system, would expand the lottery to 16 teams (or 18 in some versions) and is named after how many ping pong balls each team would get, depending upon their finish — with the worst three teams getting two balls while the teams that finish 4-10 would get three. Silver said why he thought this was a good idea when appearing on Stephen A. Smith’s radio show on Sirius XM (quotes via Tim Bontemps of ESPN).
"What we've essentially done, and we have a proposal that we're going to be bringing to our team owners at the end of May, and that is to create essentially a system of flat odds, so that you have no particular incentive to be bad. There's even something we're calling draft relegation, that if you're one of the bottom three teams in the league, you'll actually have worse odds than teams that sort of are four through up until teams make the playoffs."
The new proposal would also grant more power and leeway to Silver and the league office to punish teams it deems to be tanking. That happened this year when the league fined the Utah Jazz $500,000 for trying to skirt the tanking regulations by playing their stars 20 minutes in a game but benching them in the fourth quarter. (Utah adjusted, came up with injuries for their guys, and just sat them all game.)
"And also ultimately additional authority for the league office that if we do see that type of behavior where there's a sense that teams aren't going all out to win, that we can actually take away draft lottery balls, we can change the order of the draft. Teams have to know it's not just about paying a financial fine, which they may think is worth it in order to get a top pick, but that it'll directly impact their ability to get a top draft pick."
Tanking was particularly intense this season — with nine teams actively not looking to win games by the end of the season — because this is a particularly deep and strong draft class. That is not expected to be the case the next couple of seasons, at least, because the next two draft classes are not expected to be particularly strong. The league could have done nothing, and there would be less tanking next year.
The league's 3-2-1 proposal breaks out like this:
• The teams with the three worst records in the league would fall into a "relegation zone" and be penalized by only getting two lottery balls, not three like other teams that missed the playoffs. Those three teams would have a 5.4% chance at the No. 1 pick, and could fall as far as 12th in the draft.
• Other teams that missed the playoffs — teams four through 10 at the bottom of the standings — would get three lottery balls and an 8.1% chance at the No. 1 pick.
• Teams that finish as the No. 9 and 10 seeds in each conference will each get two lottery balls.
• Teams that lose the 7-8 play-in for each conference get one lottery ball (2.7% chance of landing the No. 1 pick).
• Teams cannot win the No. 1 pick in consecutive years or have three consecutive top-five picks (as an example, this would not have allowed the Spurs to draft Dylan Harper No. 2 last season, pairing him with Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, both top-five picks).
• This system would expire in 2029, at which time it could be extended, modified or scrapped entirely.
• There are reports that teams expect there to be less trading of first-round picks as part of packages to get star players because the value of those picks feels diluted. Teams will want to see how the new system plays out (or what it will look like in a few years) before moving picks as they have in recent years.
While the 3-2-1 plan may disincentivize a "race to the bottom" to get the best lottery odds, this system of more teams and flatter odds also means the teams struggling to win games because they don't have enough talent on the roster will find it harder to get that talent through the draft. For many smaller and mid-market teams, the draft is the best and only way to get the kind of talent that makes them a top-four team in the conference; free agents are not going to flock there.
Silver is concerned about how tanking turns off fans, but another way to lose an entire market of fans is for their team to keep losing or being mediocre for years because they can't get the talent to win and have lessened hope of doing so.
The NBA Board of Governors is expected to pass this plan when it meets later in May.
Last week, Roman Kantserov ended his contract with Metallurg of the KHL. This was a play made to come to North America and play for the Chicago Blackhawks.
On Thursday, the Chicago Blackhawks announced that his deal is official. He will play pro hockey on North American soil in 2026-27. Kantserov's entry-level deal will carry a cap hit of $1.075 million for three years.
it's officially official, everyone say 'hi Roman!!'
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) May 14, 2026
There is a chance that he starts in the American League with the Rockford IceHogs, but all signs point to him playing in the National Hockey League with Chicago. In fact, he may be given an early opportunity to play in the top six right away.
Kantserov is an intriguing prospect, as are most young stars coming out of the KHL. In 2025-26, he led the league in goals and had one of the best seasons a player of his age (or younger) has ever had.
With a young core already in place and developing, Kantserov fits right in as he will be 22 right before the 2026-27 campaign begins. As a former 2nd overall pick in 2023, he is the perfect age and has the skillset to match his peers.
Is it going to take some time for Kantserov to adjust to playing in North America both on and off the ice? Of course it is. However, the tools and resources are there for him to make that transition properly.
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Steve Kerr is returning as Warriors coach for two more NBA seasons, but it appears he won’t have his top assistants beside him.
Terry Stotts and Jerry Stackhouse are leaving the franchise, ESPN’s Anthony Slater reported Thursday evening, citing sources. Both men are interested in pursuing head-coaching opportunities, per Slater.
The Warriors are losing their top two assistant coaches.
Terry Stotts and Jerry Stackhouse are departing the franchise, sources told ESPN. Their contracts expired and both are interested in pursuing head coaching opportunities.
Both Stotts and Stackhouse joined Kerr’s staff before the 2024-25 NBA season, after the Warriors coach’s former top assistant, Kenny Atkinson, accepted the Cleveland Cavaliers’ head-coaching job.
Stotts brought over a decade of head-coaching experience with him to Golden State and helped provide structure to an offense led by superstar Steph Curry.
This past season, Stotts humorously took the postgame podium for Kerr after the coach was ejected from a Jan. 5 game, telling reporters he was “saving Steve some money.”
Per Slater, Stotts told ESPN he is leaving the Warriors on good terms after informing Kerr late in the regular season that he didn’t intend to return.
“I enjoyed my time with Steve, the staff and players,” Stotts told Slater. “My two years there were fulfilling. Nothing but well-wishes.”
Stackhouse, Kerr’s defensive-minded assistant, former NBA player and ex-Vanderbilt coach, was known for holding Warriors players accountable — especially Draymond Green — during his time with Golden State.
The Warriors also lost another assistant, Chris DeMarco, midseason after he became head coach of the WNBA’s New York Liberty.
Golden State currently is in the early stages of searching for replacements for Stotts and Stackhouse, Slater reported.
The Warriors finished the 2025-26 season with a 37-45 record as the Western Conference’s No. 10 seed, before their campaign came to an end in the NBA play-in tournament.
In a series of moves the last few days, the Brooklyn Nets gained a new assistant general manager and lost their head scout. The moves are typical of this time of year and don’t seem to be related.
The Nets promoted Makar Gevorkian, their capologist the last several years, to assistant GM joining long-time front office veterans B.J. Johnson and Andy Birdsong. Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls hired Acie Law IV, the Nets player personnel director, for a similar position in the Windy City. The job is essentially the organization’s top scout.
The changes may not end there. Steve Hetzel, Jordi Fernandez’s No. 2 assistant coach, is seen as a leading candidate for the New Orleans Pelicans open head coaching job Hetzel also got recent mention as a possibility for the Trail Blazers top spot.
Gevorkian, who’s close to Sean Marks, has held a number of jobs related to the salary cap and has been part of trade discussions over the past several years. Having recently completed his sixth season with the Nets, Gevorkian joined the franchise in 2020 as a basketball operations assistant. He went on to serve one season as a salary cap and strategy associate and two seasons as the director of salary cap before being promoted to his most recent position, vice president of basketball operations alignment & strategic planning, in 2024.
Gevorkian, 32, is a lawyer. He graduated from the prestigious University of Chicago Law School where was a researcher for Appellate Court Judge Richard Posner, seen as one of the top legal thinkers on the federal bench. Prior to joining Brooklyn, he had worked at one of Silicon Valley’s top law firms, Wilson Sonsini. He also holds a bachelor’s degree from Loyola Marymount in economics and a minor in applied mathematics
Gevorkian only joined the Nets organization in 2020; he began his professional career with a law degree from the University of Chicago and was an associate at two white-shoe law firms, only to join the Nets as a basketball operations assistant. He has since climbed the ranks in Brooklyn and was promoted this summer by general manager Sean Marks to a higher-ranking position in the front office running the Nets’ cap strategy planning, as the franchise navigates a new forward-looking path.
Said Sean Marks of the hire: “Makar’s strategic, forward-thinking mind, along with his comprehensive knowledge of the league’s salary cap structure, have made him a valued voice within our front office and we are excited to elevate him to this well-earned role.”
The Nets press release didn’t detail what parts of the front office would be Gevorkian’s responsibility. Johnson and Birdsong have essentially served as Mr. Outside and Mr. Inside, with Johnson responsible for the team’s outward facing aspects and Birdsong managing team operations.
Meanwhile, Law is leaving after a year in the job as director of player personnel, aka top scout. He arrived last season from Oklahoma City where he had been director of amateur scouting. Although neither Nets nor the Bulls have made any announcements yet, beat reporters in Chicago suggested that Law’s hire shouldn’t be surprising. Bulls newly minted GM Bryson Graham is filling out his front office and Law and he have been good friends going back to their days playing together at Texas A&M.
The timing however is surprising. It’s expected that Law will be in the Chicago Draft Room on June 23-24 rather than the Nets but no official word.
Law’s replacement as top scout will be the team’s fourth in four years, following J.R. Holden, Drew Nicholas and Law. One name suggested by league sources is Matt McDonald, currently the general manager of the Long Island Nets who also has some scouting responsibilities and was previously the Nets scouting operations coordinator.
Earlier this week, another veteran Brooklyn international scout Richard Midgley was named assistant GM of the California Berkeley men’s basketball team. Midgley credited the Nets and Marks with providing valuable experience. He and Marks traveled together to Australia on a scouting tour last year.
“My time with the Brooklyn Nets, learning from Sean Marks and the front office group there, was incredibly valuable,” Midgley added. “The perspective I gained — especially in roster construction and organizational alignment — will stay with me as I step into this role at Cal.”
Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville speaks to the media ahead of Game 6 against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Facing elimination for the first time this postseason, the Anaheim Ducks have home ice in Game 6 against the Vegas Golden Knights. Game 5 came down to a pair of special shots from the Golden Knights' Pavel Dorofeyev, who won the game in overtime.
Ducks forward Ryan Poehling left the game in the first period with an upper-body injury due to a hit from Brayden McNabb and did not return. He is out indefinitely. McNabb had a hearing with NHL Player Safety on Wednesday afternoon and was given a one-game suspension.
With Poehling out, Jansen Harkins is expected to draw back in after being a healthy scratch in Games 4 and 5. Mason McTavish is expected to center the Ducks’ third line, with Jeff Viel and Cutter Gauthier flanking him.
May 6, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Jansen Harkins (24) shoots and scores an empty net goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period of game two of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
“I think all year long, you share responsibility,” Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville said. “A lot of times, the guy coming in there doesn't have to be that guy, but I think everybody can absorb—whether it's more quality ice time or more ice time or you don't play as much, I think we adapted to the situations quite well. Everybody's excited about getting the chance to play more. (McTavish) might get more middle. We’ll see.”
“He’s just a tremendous part of this team,” Tim Washe said of Poehling. “But we’ve got some guys stepping up here. Everyone’s got to be at their best and help the team out any way they can.”
“It’s a hard role to fill,” Leo Carlsson said. “But we have a lot guys who can do it, too, so I'm not too worried.”
After registering eight points in the Ducks’ first round series against the Edmonton Oilers, Carlsson had just two points and a minus-3 rating through five games. His linemates Chris Kreider and Troy Terry have just two points apiece as well. Their line was guilty of not getting the puck out of the defensive zone prior to Dorofeyev’s overtime winner.
May 12, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson (91) shoots against the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period of game five of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
“Vegas plays tight defensively,” Quenneville said. “They don't give up much. (That line is) targeted and then for (Vegas) to be aware of them of being out there. But they've seen that throughout the whole season. And obviously the attention grows come playoff time. I think that tonight, we're gonna need them to be a factor. You don't have to score, just want to make sure that your line's going to be generating and spending some offensive zone-possession time and solid in the defensive structure.”
“Just need to play a little more simpler,” Carlsson said. “Breakout easier. They’re on us on breakouts, too, but just play a little bit simpler in the o-zone and (on) breakouts, too.”
Troy Terry, Alex Killorn, Jackson LaCombe and Mikael Granlund were all absent from Thursday’s morning skate, but all four are expected to be in the lineup for Game 6. Radko Gudas (lower-body) participated in morning skate once again, but Quenneville said that he is not likely to play in Game 6.
Golden Knights forward Mark Stone is again out with a lower-body injury that he suffered in Game 3. With McNabb serving his one-game suspension, Kaeden Korzcak will draw back into the lineup.
Ducks Projected Lines
Chris Kreider - Leo Carlsson - Troy Terry Alex Killorn - Mikael Granlund - Beckett Sennecke Jeff Viel - Mason McTavish - Cutter Gauthier Ross Johnston - Tim Washe - Jansen Harkins
Jackson LaCombe - Jacob Trouba Pavel Mintyukov - John Carlson Olen Zellweger - Ian Moore
Lukáš Dostál (confirmed)
Golden Knights Projected Lines
Ivan Barbashev - Jack Eichel - Pavel Dorofeyev Brett Howden - William Karlsson - Mitch Marner Brandon Saad - Tomáš Hertl - Colton Sissons Cole Smith - Nic Dowd - Keegan Kolesar
BOSTON, MA - MAY 13: Garrett Crochet #35 of the Boston Red Sox talks with media prior to the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Joe Sullivan/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Starting pitching has not been the Red Sox problem in 2026. And with Payton Tolle performing well and Brayan Bello possibly bouncing back thanks to the use of an opener, the staff has more than held its own in the absence of Garrett Crochet. But Crochet isn’t taking any chances. Yesterday, he completed his first bullpen session since being sidelined with shoulder inflammation. And while he’s not ready to come back just yet, he hopes to skip any rehab assignments and head straight back to the Majors when he is. (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)
Crochet returning without stretching himself out in the minors would not be without recent precedent. Sonny Gray also came right back to the big league team and has been outstanding. (Peter Abraham, Boston Globe)
Exactly how good as the Sox’ rotation been lately? They have a 2.61 ERA in May. “I think pitching is contagious,” said Sonny Gray. “I think hitting is contagious. I think winning is contagious. So, I’ve enjoyed watching our staff, and there’s zero part of me that feels complacent or that feels that we’re there. I feel like when you start to feel that way, it’ll come up and find you. I feel we have a good staff, and I feel like you can definitely build off of one another. We’re just going to continue to push forward because I think we could still get better.” (Jen McCaffrey, The Athletic)
It sure would be nice if Roman Anthony could return from injury, but things aren’t looking great in that regard. He’s due to come off the IL tomorrow, but is wearing a brace and has yet to resume baseball activities. According to Chad Tracy, the Sox are waiting until his grip strength improves before thinking of next steps. (Justin Leger, NBC Sports Boston)
Speaking of injuries, Sox catcher Connor Wong had a little bit of an injury scare last night, when he tripped over Edmundo Sosa’s leg while chasing after a foul pop-up in the eighth inning. “I think he banged on the outside bone part of the ankle,” said Chad Tracy. “They did some quick images. Everything’s negative. He was able to kind of jump on it. Just felt a little discomfort pushing off of it.” (Christopher Smith, MassLive)
And speaking of Red Sox catchers, Sam Kennedy spoke a bit about the recently fired reassigned Jason Varitek. “We have a personal relationship, all of us do, with Tek. We’re gonna give him all the time he needs given what went down. We respect him and appreciate him. There will always be a home for him in this organization. But we’re also gonna respect the fact he’s probably taking some time now, well-deserved time, but we’ll address that at the appropriate time.” (Lauren Campbell, MassLive)
A frustrated John Smoltz called his agent in the winter of 2001 and gave him specific Bronx-themed instructions.
“(I) said, ‘Call the Yankees, tell him I’m going,'” Smotlz recalled to The Post’s Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman on the latest “The Show” podcast.
His agent, though, had made a promise to former Braves executive John Schuerholz that he would circle back to them before any decision would be finalized.
John Smoltz pitching for the Braves in 2007. Anthony J. Causi
Those late talks ultimately swayed Smoltz, keeping him in Atlanta at the “buzzer” rather than joining the Yankees after their Game 7 World Series loss to the Diamondbacks.
Said Smoltz: “That’s how close it was.”
One of the most famous failed Yankees free-agent pursuits involves Smoltz’s ex-Braves teammate Greg Maddux, especially due to the ramifications it would have had for both franchises, and this Smoltz entry is a neat little “What if” to ponder from the early 2000s.
After starting all 356 games in his career through the 1999 season, the Braves transitioned Smoltz to a relief role in the 2001 season in his return from Tommy John surgery.
Over the final roughly six weeks, he served as their closer and tallied 10 saves.
Smoltz entered free agency that offseason wanting to return to the rotation, but the Braves instead wanted him to remain in the closer role.
Atlanta valued said role at three years and $21 million, which he viewed as below his value.
The Yankees, meanwhile, viewed Smoltz as a starter and he said Gene Michael — then the team’s vice president of professional scouting — offered a four-year, $52 million deal.
“The negotiations did not go well in Atlanta,” he said. “I was like, ‘Look, we’re not even close.”
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Atlanta had one ace up its sleeve, though: Smoltz’s desire to remain in Atlanta.
He said he took less each time he stayed with the Braves during his career, but would be “boisterous” about it since he didn’t want to leave.
But the one year and extra $31 million marked quite the gap this time around.
“I didn’t mind taking a little bit less, but this was a little bit crazy,” he said.
John Smoltz pitching at Yankee Stadium in 2005. JASON SZENES for the NEW YORK PO
The Braves ultimately upped their offer to $30 million over three years, which Smoltz accepted.
Smoltz noted that he wanted to be paid the same amount as Mariano Rivera, who made $9.15 that season and would make $9.45 million, $10.5 million and $10.89 million from 2002-04, respectively.
“Mariano Rivera is the best in our business. Nobody’s better,” Smoltz recalled. “But I’m not taking a penny less than him. It wasn’t arrogance, it was just like, ‘I don’t want to be the closer.’
“We ended up working it out at the buzzer.”
Smoltz ultimately served as Atlanta’s closer for the duration of that deal before returning to a starting role in 2005, and he remained with the Braves through the 2008 season.
He finished his career with the Cardinals and Red Sox in 2009.
The Yankees, meanwhile, still added veteran pitching that offseason in the form of Daivd Wells, in addition to signing slugging first baseman Jason Giambi.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MAY 12: A detailed view of the No. 6 on the back of the hat of Walt Weiss #22 of the Atlanta Braves is seen prior to the first pitch against the Chicago Cubs at Truist Park on May 12, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. The No. 6 is embroidered on the back of the Braves hats to honor Bobby Cox, Hall of Fame manager of the Braves, who passed away on May 9, 2026. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Long after Bobby Cox managed his final game on October 11, 2010, and stepped away from the game he dedicated his life to, the news of his passing on May 9 felt like the coda to a magical period in Atlanta Braves history.
As it did throughout a storied baseball career that began in 1959, Cox’s influence still reverberates through the Braves organization. His loss was felt not only by the hundreds of men who played under the legendary skipper for over three decades, but by generations of baseball fans as well.
Current Atlanta manager Walt Weiss counts himself as fortunate to have played for Cox and believes that his legacy and commitment to the game will continue to live on.
“I wish everybody in the game could either play for Bobby or work with Bobby for at least one year just to see how it’s supposed to be done,” Weiss said. “He was different. He was a different type of leader, different type of person, really. He just created loyalty with how he treated people and that respect always came back to him.”
The passing of Cox added to an emotional week for the team as it closely followed the death of longtime owner and media mogul Ted Turner on May 6. Those two men were instrumental to the Braves’ rise to prominence in a true golden era that was the 1990s.
Cox led the team both on the field and the front office during two separate stints in Atlanta, while Turner established Braves baseball as a staple of his television empire on TBS.
As the club memorialized both men on Tuesday at Truist Park, the memories, testimonials and deep reverence shared by many who experienced those years was palpable.
Though Turner led from afar for most players and coaches in the organization, Cox’s fingerprints were all over the design of the team. His death struck a resounding chord for those who experienced life with the Braves during Cox’s time as a stalwart of the organization.
“I think everybody’s done a really good job of just communicating the legacy of Bobby Cox,” Weiss said on Tuesday. “A lot of great stories and just a lot of confirmation about what a great leader he was the impact he had on so many people.”
Though baseball is the ultimate game of numbers and those accomplishments may garner significant glory, Cox received universal praise for his loyalty and belief in his teams. The way he interacted with, utilized, and thereby instilled confidence in his players was second to none.
“He was a great encourager, and he had a knack for always making you feel like you were playing better than you actually were,” Weiss said. “Even in times where you struggled, he went out of his way to make you feel like maybe it wasn’t as bad as you thought. That’s probably the biggest thing I take from him, because I’m always in tune with that.”
Weiss, who is in his second stint as a major league manager, carries the lessons learned during a 14-year playing career with him to this day. The final three of those seasons were spent in Atlanta playing for Cox, who Weiss witnessed balance fiery competitiveness with steadfast loyalty.
Having the opportunity to pay those lessons forward is important to Weiss.
“With guys that are struggling, especially, [I] go out of my way to check in with them,” Weiss said. “I enjoy encouraging guys. I know how hard the game is. Over the course of my career, I struggled at times as much as anybody in this game, so I don’t ever want to forget that. That’s why I think it’s important to be an encourager. You have standards and you want to hold guys accountable to those standards, too, but at the same time you’ve got you got to encourage them. That’s the sort of thing Bobby was great at.”
Striking a balance between the tangibles and intangibles that lead to victory is one of the many responsibilities a major league manager signs up for. Playing for Cox allowed Weiss to gain a deeper understanding of just how much winning can be done in moments when not even a single pitch is thrown.
“Look, at the highest level, the margin of victory is razor thin,” Weiss said. “The difference between first and last place is one win a week. That’s 26 games out at the end of the year. So, you look for ways to create the edge, because it is razor thin. Maybe it’s encouraging a guy or speaking confidence into him so that he plays better ultimately. That’s where the culture comes in. Any way that you can create an edge could be a difference-maker in this game because it’s difficult to win at the highest level. Bobby was always so in tune with those things, and he always had great culture.”
Even though Weiss had already played for great teams and a World Series champion with the Oakland Athletics early in his career, it did not take him long to realize Atlanta’s way of doing things was different. By the time Weiss arrived, the World Series was an annual expectation.
“I remember coming in my first year in spring training as a Brave, because they were in the middle of that run I was thinking, ‘Man, I don’t want to be the one to screw this thing up,’” Weiss said. “So, you get on board and you do things the way that Bobby wanted them done.”
In doing so, Weiss was able to be a part of some special teams during his three-year stay in Atlanta. While the Braves did not realize the dream of becoming World Series champions again, Weiss recognized that he was experiencing something truly rare with Cox’s revered leadership style.
“I think that the greatest compliment I can give him is that in 1999, we lost in the World Series to the Yankees and every guy in the room felt like we let Bobby down,” Weiss said. “I mean, that doesn’t happen in professional sports. A lot of times it becomes self-preservation because it’s such a cutthroat business, but he had that kind of impact where you knew when we didn’t play well. In that instance, we didn’t win the World Series for him, and we felt like we let him down. I don’t know if I’ve ever felt that before and at this level.”
The drive to baseball’s postseason begins when the team reports to spring training. In addition to the physical preparation required over the course of a marathon season, the club sets its intent through intense commitment to one another and the organization.
The Braves franchise underwent a tonal shift when the 1991 club went from worst to first in the National League West and set off a string of events that would establish Atlanta as a perennial contender.
After decades of irrelevance in the standings, expectations changed. So too did the Braves’ standards. Atlanta captured 14 consecutive division titles, won five NL pennants, and defeated the Cleveland Indians to win the 1995 World Series during their incredible run under Cox.
In many ways Cox was an instrument of change, right down to how the team dressed.
“I stand up in front of the club and talk about our standards or rules – I like to call them standards not rules – but and we continue the tradition of taking care of the brand,” Weiss said. “I communicated that on the first day of spring training, how important that is to me and how important it’s been to a lot of people before me. We’re going to continue to respect that and honor it in the way that we wear the uniform, the way that we respect the brand. The brand means something really special to a lot of people. A lot of people have worked hard to make it this brand special and Bobby is at the forefront of that. So, as long as I’m here, we will always honor that.”
That is certainly a fitting tribute to Cox and his legacy.
While the game continues to evolve, the uniform standard remains sacrosanct to the Braves. It was of the utmost importance to Cox. Though his playing days were long behind him, Cox still wore his traditional stirrup socks and metal spikes every single day he put on a Braves uniform. It was a small but meaningful symbol of his reverence for the game.
Even in something as relaxed as the batting practice environment, Weiss believes just as Cox did all those years that the Braves brand is always on display.
“We don’t go out there in t-shirts and cutoffs and that kind of thing,” Weiss said. “We wear the uniform. We’re going to respect the Braves brand. We’re going to wear a hat the right way. Bobby’s thing was that we don’t put the sunglasses over the ‘A’ so that people can see the ‘A.’ We’ll continue to do that. It’s just a respect for the game a respect for the brand.”
With Cox already immortalized in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, his lasting legacy will be one of a man who held a deep respect for the game, fostered relationships, elevated the people around him, maximized talents, and left baseball better than he found it.
“I said this when I got hired, that I was proud that in some small way as it relates to me that Bobby’s lineage continues,” Weiss said. “He’s been foundational to the Braves’ success over the last few decades, so I’m proud of that… I’m proud that in some small way I’m an extension of Bobby.”
