Goals for the Red Sox infield in 2026

Feb 22, 2026; Fort Myers, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox infielder Caleb Durbin (17) is congratulated by infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa (2) after he scored during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at JetBlue Park at Fenway South. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

At this point each season, everything is fresh and new, and nearly anything seems possible. For the Red Sox infield, the mystery of what the season holds is even more intriguing because the Red Sox have an almost completely new-look infield.

For the most part, the players are new to each other and to Fenway: Willson Contreras, Caleb Durbin, Isiah Kiner-Falefa (bench), and Andruw Monasterio (bench) are all new to the Sox. All but Kiner-Falefa have arrived from the National League. Durbin and Marcelo Mayer, the starting third and second basemen, are still new-ish to MLB, with both returning for just their second year in the big leagues. Mayer, in particular, is an unknown quantity since his first season was cut short by injury.

Trevor Story holds a special place in the infield; at this point, he’s the only infielder who returned from the 2025 team and is not on the IL or in the minors. As such, he’s the anchor, though even he brings some question marks with him related to health and age.

What are these infielders capable of, individually and as a group? With as many unknowns as there are, it would be foolish to make predictions but there are certainly goals.

Stabilize the Infield Defense

This is foundational goal and must be considered a bare minimum for the season. Veterans Story and Contreras will lead the way here, facilitating the transition out of the chaos of recent seasons.

The organization’s new focus on defense will be stabilizing in its own right because it’s given the front office a mission. By signing a number of glove-first utility players, the team should be able to significantly reduce the errors that have plagued them for too long, and shut the revolving door on the procession of Quad-A players who were needed due to poor roster construction and lack of depth.

Stay (or Get) Healthy

This might be considered a stretch goal, as injuries are a way of life in professional sports and the Red Sox have had their share recently.

Romy González and Triston Casas could be contributors this season but they begin the season on the IL, recovering from their respective surgeries (shoulder and knee). Brendan Rodgers, who wasn’t likely to make the MLB roster anyway, is likely out for the season due to surgery.

With Story and Mayer, who have been defined in many ways by their injuries in recent years, fingers are crossed. For Mayer especially, finishing the year on the field—something he hasn’t done since 2021, the year he was drafted—is crucial. He has never played more than 100 games in a season as a professional and needs to prove what he’s capable of. He will surely want to shut down the speculation, which only reignited when he experienced “soreness” late in spring training.

Unlike recent years, there is a versatile bench to draw from—to allow Alex Cora to execute his matchups, to keep starters fresh, and to step in when infield injuries arise.

Manufacture Enough Runs to Quiet the Talk About the Missing Power Bat

This is absolutely a stretch goal.

This task doesn’t fall only to the infield, of course, but since first and third base are typically seen as power-hitting positions, the battle lines are drawn. Contreras has amassed 172 HRs in his career, though never more than 24 in a season. His bat is one of the strongest on the entire team, not only among infielders, which speaks to the lack of overall power. There are other ways to score runs, of course, but in working to create those opportunities throughout the batting order, they find themselves operating outside of the long-time Red Sox identity. Contreras has decent power and hits to the gaps. His goal is to hit close to 20 homers and consistently drive in runners with doubles off the wall, or other well-placed hits.

Willson Contreras’ 2025 Hits Spray Chart shows a significant number of hits to left field, as well as all over the outfield.

Durbin (.256/.334/.387) is known for slapping singles, not for pop. He has speed and baserunning smarts, with 18 stolen bases in 2025. His part of this collective goal? Continue to get those hits, work walks, and turn on the speed to stretch some of those hits into another bag. Once he’s done that, the mission becomes swiping bases and racing home to score. He seems like a player who would find his groove in this hard-working, keep-the-pressure-on style of play.

Story rebuilt trust with Red Sox Nation and resurrected his career in 2025, as he hit 25 homers, drove in 96 runs, and stole a career-high 31 bases. At 33 and with his injury history, it’s unclear if he can maintain that pace, though he has spoken about managing his routines as a means of staying healthy and fresh. He will need to do just that and be a major offensive contributor, as he was last year.

Mayer has plenty of room to grow at the plate, slashing .228/.272/.402 with eight doubles, a triple and four home runs in 44 games. In the small sample size of 136 plate appearances over 44 games, he struck out 41 times (a rate of 30%) and walked eight times (a rate of 5%). Alex Cora has challenged him to improve his batting eye and plate approach, and in many ways, Mayer can only improve from here.

When González returns later in the season, he will hopefully be ready to do his share by mashing off the bench. Casas’ future in the infield or on the roster is unclear at this point, but if there’s any hope that he can resume the production he’s showed flashes of, he’ll be welcomed back with open arms.

Later this week, the infield will get the chance to prove itself in real games that matter. The foundation is there to build on, and the infield looks better, on paper at least, than any the Red Sox have rostered in several years.

Brighton 2-1 Liverpool: Premier League – as it happened

Danny Welbeck and Yankuba Minteh were the stars of a deserved win for the Seagulls, as Liverpool once again stumbled in their pursuit of a Champions League spot

Arne Slot speaks frankly to TNT. “You cannot compare a home game, a Champions League night against Galatasaray, to Brighton away … but you have to take the positives … we know we face a different opponent today … we have to be even better to get a result here today … [Brighton] have good players … their manager is always able to come up with a very good game plan … his players are able to execute that plan … very intense … only play once a week … they can train on that game plan … it is important to have two very good goalkeepers and we have that … there is hardly any room for error any more … we have made quite a few errors this season … the main ones was dropping points in extra time … now we are in this situation … though I don’t think we have to win eight, we have to play every game as a final … get the most out of the game possible … let’s see what it is today.”

In last week’s episode …

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Dodgers remain patient with Roki Sasaki

Mar 3, 2026; Goodyear, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) talks with coaches during the fourth inning of the game against he Cleveland Guardians at Goodyear Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images | Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

Roki Sasaki has struggled with command this spring training, all while adding new pitches to his repertoire. The Dodgers have been exceedingly patient with the 24-year-old right-hander, insisting all spring that he will start the season in the starting rotation, rather than get optioned to the minors to continue his work in progress.

Bill Plunkett at the Orange County Register talked with manager Dave Roberts and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman about the plan for Sasaki:

“There’s obviously a big gap between Triple-A and the big leagues,” Friedman said. “With certain really talented young players that we really believe in, we think that last mile of player development is generally better served at the major-league level.

“That said, even with our established guys it’s one of continued player development. Now for some guys, that’s more on the margins. For other guys there’s more involved. But we believe very strongly that he is going to be a very successful major-league starter. Just how quickly that comes to be is a fair question. Obviously we’re going to pour everything we can into making that happen sooner rather than later and we’ll go from there.”

Friedman talked with Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times about a number of topics, including organizational goals:

I wouldn’t say our mindset is all that different. But obviously, when you’re in a moment in time with an incredibly talented roster, I think the mindset is, ‘Don’t sit back on your heels, be aggressive, and don’t be nonchalant about the opportunity that we have in front of us.’ And so it’s more the idea of pressing an advantage and being aggressive on that front.


Santiago Espinal, who was selected to the Dodgers roster on Wednesday, will earn a $2.5 million salary this season, per Fabian Ardaya at The Athletic.

Alden González at ESPN wrote about how restrictions on pitcher usage constrain the potential of the World Baseball Classic, and that the Olympics potentially providing a road map for moving the WBC to midseason wouldn’t necessarily solve those restraints.

Janie McCauley at Associated Press previews the National League West.

Major League Baseball on Thursday announced that Polymarket is now the league’s official prediction market exchange, which is definitely a group of words that make complete sense together. Gabe Lacques at USA Today wrote about the potential pitfalls:

Manfred himself even has some control over the market.

The No. 2 search result after “2026 win totals” on Polymarket is “New MLB (collective bargaining agreement) by Dec. 1?” While Manfred has telegraphed a lockout by that date, the market believes there’s a 49% chance a deal will be struck between MLB and the players’ association by then.

Why Michigan vs. Saint Louis could be March Madness thriller we've been craving

Follow all of Saturday's NCAA Tournament second round games with USA TODAY Sports' live updates.

BUFFALO, NY — The connection between Michigan and Saint Louis starts with coaches Dusty May and Josh Schertz, who once met up in Boca Raton, Florida, with plans to quickly watch film but ended up spending 10 hours talking shop inside May’s former office at Florida Atlantic.

“He's an absolute basketball junkie,” May said. “He's a savant. I've learned so much from him.”

They are coaches cut from a similar cloth: May and Schertz are film-chewing basketball devotees who started as head coaches on lower levels — FAU for May and Lincoln Memorial and Indiana State for Schertz — before ascending to Saturday’s second-round matchup in the Midwest region between the No. 1 Wolverines and No. 9 Billikens.

And they have constructed two teams built in similar ways, with similar styles and a desire to set the pace with fast-tempo offensive playbooks designed to push the score up, up and up.

“They kind of play like us, to be honest with you,” Michigan guard Roddy Gayle Jr. said. “Very similar to us. Honestly, I look at it like, how do we guard ourselves?”

Added forward Yaxel Lendeborg, “We really run the exact same way. I feel like that’s a blessing and a curse for us.”

There is almost no doubt that Saturday’s matchup will be among the most frantic and high scoring in this year’s tournament. Look for fireworks when Michigan meets Saint Louis, and look for each team to chase the 100-point mark in deciding which will advance out of Buffalo and into the second weekend.

“We have a lot of things in common,” said Michigan center Aday Mada. “We both know what kind of shots we want. We have a good efficiency on offense. We play at a high pace. I think we are pretty similar teams.”

The numbers tell the story:

  • Saint Louis ranks eight nationally with 87.7 points per game. Michigan ranks 10th at 87.2 points.
  • The Billikens and Wolverines were two of the three teams to score 100 points in Thursday’s tournament action, along with No. 3 Illinois against Pennsylvania.
  • The Billikens rank fifth in field goal percentage (51.2%) and Michigan ranks sixth (51%).
  • Michigan is fourth in assists per game (18.7) and Saint Louis is seventh (18.6).
  • The Billikens rank 19th in the country in adjusted tempo, according to KenPom.com, while Michigan ranks 22nd.
  • Both offenses love to attack the rim. Saint Louis scored 66 points in the paint in routing No. 8 Georgia 102-77, while Michigan dropped 52 points in the paint in a 101-80 win against No. 16 Howard.

But the teams are not quite the same, and it’s in these differences — and in how each responds to the other’s subtle advantages — that the matchup will be decided.

Saint Louis is far more adept from 3-point range, and much more willing to let things fly from deep. The Billikens are second nationally in 3-point percentage (39.8%) and 12th in long-range makes per game (10.9). On the other hand, Michigan are 114th in attempts (25.1) and 85th in 3-pointers made per game (9.1).

The Billikens are also even more effective in transition than the Wolverines. Saint Louis averages 16.9 fastbreak points per game, sixth in the country, while Michigan ranks 78th at 12.4 points per game on the break.

“If it gets to a game where it’s like a shootout, then we might not get the edge on that,” Lendeborg said. “Because that’s what they like to do. So we’re going to have to do the best we can to run them off the 3-point line and make them finish over our size.”

That’s easier said than done — just ask Georgia, which wilted early in its blowout loss and was looking for the exits before the end of the first half.

But the Wolverines do have two built-in advantages. One is the team’s obvious edge in talent, with former top-ranked recruits such as point guard Elliott Cadeau and two potential NBA draft lottery picks in Lendeborg and forward Morez Johnson Jr., who had a team-leading 21 points against Howard.

Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg looks to pass the ball during the first-round NCAA Tournament game against Howard at KeyBank Center in Buffalo on March 19, 2026.

Another is experience with facing an up-tempo offense: Michigan defends its own scheme every day in practice, at minimum giving the Wolverines the stamina to handle the Billikens’ frenetic pace.

“It’s going to be easier for us because we’re going to defend things that we’re used to defense every day in practice,” Mada said. “But it’s going to be a tough game, because they’re really, really good and really talented.”

That goes both ways, though, since Saint Louis practices against the same style. And there’s no doubting the Billikens’ confidence after rebounding from a 4-4 close to the regular season.

“We’re so talented offensively, we can play with anybody,” Saint Louis forward Brady Dunlap said.

Michigan players pinpointed the “extremely important” key, said Gayle, of setting the tone early and getting off to a strong start. Saint Louis never trailed against Georgia and led by 14 points with seven minutes left in the first half, eventually pushing that edge to 17 points at the break and as much as 40 points in the second half.

On the other hand, the Wolverines were unable to put down Howard until about six minutes into the second half. The Bison made 10 3-pointers in the first half, and trailed 50-48 after the first possession out of the locker room.

Controlling the flow of this potential shootout would play into the Wolverines’ most discernable advantage: a defense that ranks among the best in the country. Michigan is second in field goal defense (38.5%), third in blocks per game (5.9) and sixth in defensive rebounds per game (29.0).

In the end, Michigan will do its thing on offense, and so will Saint Louis. Given that neither team is likely to be budged off its preferred style, whether the Wolverines advance back to the Sweet 16 might come down to whether they can get the key stops that will mean the difference in a game destined to be among the most explosive in this year’s bracket.

“We’ve got to lead with our defense,” Lendeborg said. “We’ve got to be disruptive. We’ve got to do the best that we can to kind of knock them down a little bit and play in transition like we always do. If we can do that, then we should be set.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michigan vs Saint Louis a March Madness thriller waiting to happen

Hurricanes Social Media Delivers Troll On Maple Leafs’ 'Fan Day' Following OT Win

The Carolina Hurricanes’ social media team has earned their keep once again. Following their 4-3 overtime victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on at Scotiabank Arena on Friday, the Canes posted a meme on X that cut right to the chase with two simple words: “Say less.”

Accompanying the post was a cleverly edited image showing a Hurricanes representative on the ice directing a Simon Says game with several Maple Leafs players following suit. The text overlay reads “Simon says lose,” punctuated by the Canes logo. 

What makes the troll even more biting is the origin of the base photo. It was captured during the Maple Leafs’ first-ever Fan Day event held the day before the game. The interactive afternoon at Scotiabank Arena featured on-ice activities, player meet-and-greets, and fun games for loyal supporters. In one highlight, players and staff took part in Simon Says, with goaltender Joseph Woll reportedly winning the light-hearted contest. It was a moment of levity amid what has been a trying 2025-26 campaign for a team sitting near the .500 mark and all but mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.

Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis each notched two points, setting the stage for Alexander Nikishin’s game-winning goal just 41 seconds into the extra frame. The Maple Leafs battled back from deficits, with William Nylander potting the equalizer late in the third period. However, for the umpteenth time this season, Toronto came up short in overtime, collecting just one point in a game where collecting zero could have done more to help their chances of keeping their 2026 NHL Draft Pick (top-five protected).

While social media wars are nothing new in the NHL, this one stings a bit more for Leafs faithful because it weaponized their own fan event. The Hurricanes have now taken points in recent matchups, and their social team isn’t shy about reminding Toronto of it.

The Hurricanes have had many memorable moments at Scotiabank Arena over the years, including six years ago when David Ayres suited up as an emergency backup goaltender for the Canes and picked up his first NHL victory. Ayres, at one point, was a Zamboni driver for the organization.

The Annual BBB Introduction Post

Britain's King Charles III greets Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, during an audience at Buckingham Palace in London on March 16, 2026. (Photo by Aaron Chown / POOL / AFP via Getty Images) | POOL/AFP via Getty Images

It is time for my favourite post of the year. It is fun to read about where everyone who comes here is from and their answers to the various questions.

Your mission, if you choose to accept, is to copy and paste these questions into the comment thread and give us your answers.

Name:

Location:

Favourite Current Jay:

Favourite All-Time Jay:

Favourite Non-Jay:

Favourite Blue Jays Prospect:

Metaphysical Position on the Diamond:

Ballpark I’d Most Like to Visit:

Favourite Baseball Movie:

What was the best thing about your past year:

When Not Bantering, I:

On Twitter or BlueSky, I am:

Baseball Card Back Fun Fact:

Walkup Music:


Name: The One and Only Billy Shears

Location: Calgary. Surrounded by guitars and a mess. Or a mess of guitars.

Favourite Current Jay: Addison Barger

Favourite All-Time Jay: Depends on the moment. Let’s go with Jesse Barfield

Favourite Non-Jay: Former Red Sox outfielder Dwight Evans

Favourite Blue Jays Prospect: JoJo Parker, if his walk-up music isn’t ‘Get Back’, I’ll have to pick someone else. Jojo was a man who thought he was a loner, But he knew it couldn’t last

Metaphysical Position on the Diamond: Second base. Moved over from short since my arm isn’t good enough to make that Metaphysical throw from the hole. Me and Bo, if we stand close together, you couldn’t tell us apart.

Ballpark I’d Most Like to Visit: Right now? Tokyo Dome. And I hope to get to in a few days.

Favourite Baseball Movie: Still Bull Durham. “Don’t think, it hurts the team”

What was the best thing about your past year: We had a vacation to Africa, that was amazing.

When Not Bantering, I: been playing tennis a lot, squash some and trying badminton, because why not.

On Twitter or BlueSky, I am: @bluebirdbanter

Baseball Card Back Fun Fact: I have my name on a bowling trophy. And no, it wasn’t for a record low score.

Walkup Music: Oh I don’t know, how about All Just To Get To You


Name: Tom M

Location: Calgary

Favourite Current Jay: Vlad

Favourite All-Time Jay: Jose Bautista

Favourite Non-Jay: Francisco Lindor

Favourite Blue Jays Prospect: I’m about to list 40 of them

Metaphysical Position on the Diamond: Crafty junkballing lefty starter

Ballpark I’d Most Like to Visit: Fenway

Favourite Baseball Movie: Bull Durham

What was the best thing about your past year: I got published as lead author on an academic paper for the first time

When Not Bantering, I: take pictures, develop pictures, sometimes run marathons.

On Twitter or BlueSky, I am: silent

Baseball Card Back Fun Fact: I can tell the difference between butter and I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter 

Walkup Music: Work to Do, Average White Band


Name: Colin C

Location: Edmonton

Favourite Current Jay: Alejandro Kirk

Favourite All-Time Jay: Carlos Delgado

Favourite Non-Jay: Bobby Witt Jr

Favourite Blue Jays Prospect: Gage Stanifer

Metaphysical Position on the Diamond: Guy who sits on the ball bucket and heckles the ump

Ballpark I’d Most Like to Visit: PNC Park

Favourite Baseball Movie: Major League 

What was the best thing about your past year: vacation to Mexico 

When Not Bantering, I: Run around with my kid to all her different activities, play baseball and travel back and forth to Winnipeg a lot. (Editor: Because the mosquitos in Edmonton aren’t big enough??)

On Twitter or BlueSky, I am: A lurker 

Baseball Card Back Fun Fact: Have played baseball in 3 different Arizona Spring Training complexes.

Walkup Music: Bone Cracker

Inside the Suns: Western Conference standings, Jalen Green, the Suns’ starting lineup

Welcome to Inside the Suns, your weekly deep-down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team. Each week the Fantable — a round table of Bright Siders — give their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.

Fantable Questions of the Week

Q1: Do you believe the Suns are essentially locked into the 7th seed in the Western Conference standings?

Diamondhacks: Locks are for canals and filing cabinets, but I’ve assumed for a while now that 7 was our most likely slot. We lack top-ready talent and availability to durably compete with WC top 6, but still have a competitive-looking meritocracy in place that elicits motivated performance.

Ashton: Anything can happen, but these last two months do not look good. 9-11 (right? Anybody call that?) since the beginning of February. I do not mind the recent three-game skid as it involved the Celtics and the Wolves, on the road, in a B2B.

So, I am going to say yes, the 7th seed is the ceiling. I am not sure when Brooks can even drive to MMC with a broken hand and a broken driver’s license. Mark Williams finally felt his injury concerns. I just do not see immediate help coming soon.

OldAz: Pretty much. 5 games up on the Clippers with very few left to play, and while they are only 2-3 back of 3,4, or 5, they also are missing 3 starting-level players. 7 seems like a lock, and we need to win game 1 of the Play-In to avoid an elimination game. I also think the Clippers are not hard for the sixth spot because the only difference between 6 & 7 is home court in a single, non-elimination game. Better for them to focus on being healthy for that game.

Rod: I believe it’s more of being locked out of the 6th seed than it is being locked into the 7th. Getting higher in the standings is impossible without a good deal of help (losses) from the teams currently ranked above us but slipping even further back, into the 8th, 9th, or even 10th seed isn’t out of the realm of possibility. The Suns’ remaining schedule is much more difficult than that of the three teams trailing us, and an extended losing streak by the Suns could lead to an even worse position in the play-in games.

Q2: What’s your opinion of where the Suns would be in the Western Conference standings if Jalen Green had remained healthy for most of the season?

Diamondhacks: I suspect we’d have been somewhat worse had Jalen been healthy, and that’s not based on his injury-riddled 2026, where basic holistic stats like VORP (Value Over Replacement) and Win Shares suggest that he’s been our worst performer on the entire roster.

It’s based more on his career best 2024-25, when he still missed the second-most field goals in the NBA. He mitigated that with great athleticism, and was ‘okay’ overall, but still likely a downgrade from our other guards (Gillespie and Booker certainly, probably Allen and Goodwin as well) – from whom he’d presumably grab most of his minutes.

Ashton: I have continually asked for a larger sample size from Green over the season in the Sun’s system, and we have it. He runs hot and cold, just like in Houston. This is not someone that I would trust as a playmaker, and some of the silly midcourt shots state he really does not know his role. Well, this sounds familiar over the last couple of years.

I think he is inconsistent. But I am still willing to say that the Suns would be at least +2 in the win column and maybe more.

OldAz: This is a great question that I really don’t have an answer for. We have seen moments where the Book and Green backcourt looks incredible, but it also has Ott playing too much small ball. That could also just be because of the front-court injuries. Green being healthy all year may also have stunted the emergence of Gillespie. I think they are likely about the same place, but that’s not saying much when 3-6 are only separated by a few games. I believe they would have gone through these current growing pains earlier, but would still be somewhere among this same group.

Rod: Jalen’s had his ups and downs but overall I see him as a positive for the team. As such, I really believe the Suns would at least be fighting to hang on to the 6th seed if he had not spent so much time out injured, and at best the Suns might be in the fight for the 3rd seed at this point. Just having the extra time to figure out how to best utilize his talents earlier in the season would likely have made the team better overall by this time and probably would have added a few more wins…which is currently the difference between the Suns fighting to stay in the 7th spot or battling for one of the 3rd through 6th positions in the standings.

Q3: Should the Suns continue playing with their current starting 5 of Gillespie, Book, Green, O’Neale, and Oso while Brooks and Williams are sidelined?

Diamondhacks: If fans had any idea how much evidence based analysis is brought to bear on lineups, along with internal and external considerations, there’d be a lot less criticism of coaches. At least one would think so…lol. But for someone like me, who just watches the games and loves basketball, to pretend I’m as informed as – or more insightful than – this particular coach is about his players and team dynamics seems a bit like killing a mockingbird.

Ashton: Let’s just roll with it. There are very few options outside of starting Fleming, and any one of them can really heat up at any given time. It would be nice to see three of them heat up at the same time for consistency, but these fourth quarter collapses are disturbing.

That is my short answer. I have some college games to watch, and maybe the Suns turn out to be the NBA Cinderella in the postseason.

OldAz: No. This lineup is simply too small and gets killed by any NBA starting-level center and even marginal power forwards. I don’t mind Oso starting, but I would move Gillespie to the bench to maximize his bench minutes when Oso is no longer available. I would also replace O’Neale with more size. Allen is passable at the wing when he is back, but I believe Fleming needs to be at the PF spot at least until Brooks is back. Williams being back in place of Oso does not change this logic either. Until Dillon Brooks returns, they simply need more size at PF. I would actually go with Dunn and Fleming and rely on Oso to facilitate and Book and Green to carry the offense against other starting lineups.

Rod: At this point, I’d really just move Gillespie to the second unit, put Fleming into the PF spot, and bump O’Neale over to SF. This would increase the starting unit’s size and put Gillespie in a better position to score rather than playing him alongside Book and Green. I know some would prefer Khaman over Oso in the starting 5, but I don’t think he’s ready for that yet. Size has been an issue for the Suns all season long, and I think Fleming has reached the point of at least getting an opportunity to start a few games while the team is dealing with all its injury issues.

As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!


Quotes of the Week

“We’ve just got to learn how to win together. Still a first-year group that’s dealt with injuries and not much time to go through these stretches earlier in the season together and figure out what works.” – Devin Booker

“It’s the cost of doing business sometimes when you’re trying to play physical defense, you’re going to get some ticky tack fouls, but got to find that balance and make smart fouls. Just make it as hard as you possibly can without fouling.” – Haywood Highsmith

“Win, lose, or draw, I’m 100% committed to the grind. We all are. We have the right group to continue to get better, and we’ll do that.” – Devin Booker

“It felt good. I didn’t feel the need to shy away from the ball. If I’m in that situation again, I’ll be ready to shoot them again. I’m not shying away from the ball.” – Rasheer Fleming on the Spurs game


Suns Trivia/History

On March 23, 2017, in a game against the Brooklyn Nets, the Suns had the youngest starting lineup in NBA history with 21-year-old Tyler Ulis, 20-year-olds Devin Booker and Derrick Jones Jr., 19-year-old Marquese Chriss, and 23-year-old Alex Len. The five had a combined average age of 21 years, 14 days. The Suns lost to the Nets 126-98.

On March 24, 2017, in Boston, Devin Booker (20 years old) became the youngest NBA player to score 70 points in a game in a 130-120 loss to the Celtics. By the end of the game, the Celtics’ home crowd realized they were witnessing something special and cheered whenever Booker scored. During this game, Booker also tied Michael Jordan’s record for most free throws made in a half (20) that had stood since Dec. 30, 1992.

On March 26, 1996, Phoenix’s A.C. Green played in his 800th consecutive NBA game – then the third-longest streak in NBA history – scoring seven points and grabbing nine rebounds during the Suns’ 102-98 win over visiting Sacramento.

On March 29, 1970, in just their second season, the Suns upset the Lakers 114-101 in Los Angeles for the franchise’s first-ever playoff win in Game 2, which evened the series 1-1. They would go on to win games 3 and 4 at home on April 2nd and 4th to take a 3-1 series advantage. Unfortunately, the Suns couldn’t get the 4th victory they needed to win the series and progress to the next round of the playoffs as the Lakers won the next 3 games. It was during this playoff series that Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn gave the Suns’ home, Veterans Memorial Coliseum, the nickname “Madhouse on McDowell.”


This Week’s Game Schedule

Saturday, March 21 – Suns vs Milwaukee Bucks (7:00 pm) NBATV
Sunday, March 22 – Suns vs Toronto Raptors (6:00 pm)
Tuesday, March 24 – Suns vs Denver Nuggets (8:00 pm) Peacock


This Week’s Valley Suns Game Schedule

Saturday, March 21 – Valley Suns vs San Diego Clippers (7:00 pm)
Tuesday, March 24 – Valley Suns vs Mexico City Capitanes (7:00 pm) ESPN+
Wednesday, March 25 – Valley Suns vs Mexico City Capitanes (7:00 pm) ESPN+


Important Future Dates

March 28 – NBA G League Regular Season ends
March 31 – 2026 NBA G League Playoffs begin
April 12 – Regular season ends (All 30 teams play)
April 13 – Rosters set for NBA Playoffs 2026 (3 p.m. ET)
April 14-17 – SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament
April 18 – NBA Playoffs begin

How are Giants fans feeling going into the season?

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 15: A general view of Oracle Park before a MLB game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the San Francisco Giants on August 15, 2025 at Oracle Park in San Francisco, CA. (Photo by Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Good morning, baseball fans!

We have officially reached the last weekend before baseball gets back! Opening Day for the San Francisco Giants is right around the corner. So this weekend, I wanted to get one last temperature check before the season starts.

Personally, I’m just excited for baseball to be back. I have a tiny, tiny bit of cautious optimism. I can’t help it. A new season is like the first day of school, full of potential and not yet tainted with disappointment and annoyance. A fresh start. A time where anything is possible because it hasn’t actually started yet.

It’s the best. I’m gonna ride that feeling right into the first series. Maybe even two, depending on how the Yankees series goes.

How are you feeling going into the new season?

Saturday Rockpile: The Coors Tax and Kyle Freeland’s WAR problem

MLB: SEP 29 Dodgers at Rockies

Kyle Freeland will take the ball for the Rockies on Opening Day in 2026 — the fifth Opening Day nod for a pitcher who has quietly built one of the most unique résumés in franchise history. By Baseball-Reference, he is already the Rockies’ all-time leader in WAR among starting pitchers (19.2), a reflection of both longevity and effectiveness in baseball’s most difficult pitching environment. 

And yet, that same metric — WAR — is part of why Freeland is so often misunderstood. 

Because here’s the reality: WAR doesn’t always evaluate pitchers at Coors Field particularly well. And Freeland is one of the clearest case studies of that disconnect. 

His 2018 season is the most extreme example. FanGraphs credited him with 4.1 WAR. Baseball-Reference credited him with 8.4 WAR. Same performance, radically different value depending on the model. 

That season stands out — an outlier peak — but it doesn’t stand alone. Freeland has put together multiple solid seasons in Colorado, just not always at that elite level. 

Why Coors breaks clean metrics 

Most public pitcher WAR (Wins Above Replacement) models rely on two approaches: 

  • FIP-based WAR (FanGraphs) — built from strikeouts, walks, and home runs.  

Both work well in most environments. At Coors, they don’t. 

At altitude, air density is roughly 15–20% lower than at sea level. Pitch-tracking research shows fastballs can lose roughly 2–3 inches of movement in Denver. 

Movement isn’t just reduced: It’s altered. That makes generating swing-and-miss more difficult and increases reliance on contact. 

So pitchers adapt. 

Freeland doesn’t overpower hitters — and that’s exactly what WAR tends to undervalue. 

2018 shows the disconnect 

Freeland’s 2018 line: 

  • 202.1 innings  
  • 2.85 ERA  
  • 3.67 FIP  
  • 4.1 fWAR  
  • 8.4 rWAR  

That gap between fWAR and rWAR isn’t small — it’s philosophical. 

One model saw a pitcher without dominant strikeout numbers. The other saw elite run prevention. 

At Coors, Freeland threw 93.2 innings with a 2.40 ERA — not just surviving, but thriving. 

Coors isn’t just hitter-friendly 

Coors is often called “hitter-friendly,” but that undersells it. 

Park factors are averages — one adjustment applied broadly. 

Coors isn’t average

It interacts with pitch shape, contact quality, and decision-making in ways that don’t scale cleanly. Two identical pitches can produce completely different outcomes depending on where they’re thrown. Even the humidor reduced but didn’t eliminate these effects. 

In Colorado, the numbers rarely tell the whole story.

The skill that gets missed 

Freeland’s profile won’t jump off the page: 

  • Modest strikeout rates  
  • Solid command  
  • Heavy reliance on contact  

But his value shows up differently: 

  • Weak contact  
  • Ground balls  
  • Avoiding letting one inning break everything  

At Coors, that last skill might be the most valuable. 

WAR rewards outcomes that translate cleanly across environments. Freeland’s value comes from handling one that doesn’t. 

The Coors credibility tax 

There’s also a perception gap — call it the Coors credibility tax. 

A 4.30 ERA in a neutral environment looks like back-end production. At Coors, that same performance can resemble mid-rotation value or higher. 

If the Rockies are building around pitchers like Freeland, the question isn’t just whether they’re good enough: it’s whether we’re measuring them correctly. 

So what is he actually worth? 

On paper, a ~2 WAR pitcher looks replaceable. 

In reality, it’s not that simple. 

Freeland is owed $16 million in 2026, with a vesting option tied to innings in 2027. That reflects something the numbers struggle to capture: reliability in a uniquely difficult environment. A pitcher with similar “true talent” elsewhere might not translate to Coors at all. Freeland already has. 

Kyle Freeland isn’t an ace in the traditional sense. 

He’s something more specific: 

A pitcher built to survive — and occasionally thrive — in baseball’s most difficult pitching environment. 

Until metrics better capture environmental context and contact management at altitude, pitchers like Freeland will continue to look ordinary on paper and essential in reality. 

So the next time you see a WAR total next to a Rockies pitcher, ask: 

Is that number telling the whole story — or just the part that survives outside of Coors Field? 


What We Got Right and Wrong About the Rockies in Spring Training | SI.com 

The Rockies’ spring training offered a mix of optimism and reality — some encouraging performances, but familiar concerns still lingering. A few players showed growth, especially on the offensive side, yet questions about pitching depth and consistency remain. In the end, the biggest takeaway is that spring can hint at progress, but proving it in the regular season is a different challenge entirely. 

Venezuelan WBC champion Ezequiel Tovar makes triumphant return to Rockies after ‘goosebump’ moments | The Denver Post ($) 

Ezequiel Tovar returned to the Rockies fresh off helping Venezuela capture a World Baseball Classic title, bringing both momentum and confidence back to Colorado. The young shortstop embraced the emotional weight of the moment, calling the experience meaningful not just for himself but for his country. Now back with the Rockies, the question becomes whether that energy — and his strong international performance — can carry over into a bounce-back season at Coors. 

Rockies see top prospects Condon, Carrigg take next steps in solid spring | MLB.com 

The Rockies reassigned top prospects Charlie Condon and Cole Carrigg to minor league camp, a move framed less as a setback and more as the next step in their development. Both impressed during spring training, with the organization emphasizing their strong performances and long-term upside. Ultimately, the decision reflects timing rather than talent — and reinforces that both remain firmly in the Rockies’ plans for 2026, even if their debuts will have to wait. 


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Chicago Cubs news and notes — Amaya, Ballesteros, Boyd, Taillon

Game results:

Reds 8, Cubs 6.

A’s 6, Cubs 2.

Well, that was no bueno. At least the televised game started out well. I made a bad coin flip and started out listening to the Reds game. Boyd wasn’t exactly good Friday night. Taillon wasn’t much better. Miguel Amaya had some juice. Al will have details at 8 a.m. CT.

“I’ve suggested to the hitting coaches that they stay away from him,” Counsell said. “I did have a meeting with the hitting coaches at one point this spring. I called them all together, and they got a little nervous. I said, ‘You guys should stay away from Ballesteros.’

“Joking, you know, but they got the message.” — Patrick Mooney.

Four and a half games left, including the Spring Breakout Game. Cub Tracks is not in favor of ST night games. Or Eugenio Suárez in the Central.

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Food For Thought:

Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.

Orioles news: Orioles prospects best Boston, 3-1

SARASOTA, FL - MARCH 20: Ethan Anderson #57 and Joseph Dzierwa #67 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrate after the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium on Friday, March 20, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Good morning Birdland,

The final day of spring training has arrived! Huzzah! Kind of.

At 1 p.m. today, the Orioles will host the Phillies for their last game down in Florida. It will be broadcast on MASN and the Orioles Radio Network. Then, they will head north for a home-and-home of exhibitions with the nearby Nationals over the two days that follow. So, technically, they have a couple more “pre-season” games left on the docket before they actually open the season against the Twins on Thursday. But still, it feels like a significant landmark as we suffer through the final days without regular season baseball.

Friday featured the third annual Spring Breakout prospect showcase. The Orioles youngsters faced off with the Red Sox squad in a game in which the O’s prevailed 3-1. MLB.com’s Jake Rill recapped the action, but here are some of the highlights:

  • Trey Gibson started and tossed three shutout innings.
  • Joseph Dzierwa got the win and struck out eight over his three clean frames
  • Reed Trimble had two hits and stole two bases
  • Nate George and Ike Irish each doubled once.

How much can be gleaned from a single game full of well-regarded young players? Almost nothing at all. But it’s fun! And the final days of spring can be pretty dull, so it continues to be a welcome addition to the mix.

The big league Birds were also in action on Friday. They traveled to Tampa for a face-off with the Yankees, where they lost 3-1.

It was a pretty grim showing for the O’s offense, which collected just three hits, three walks, and struck out 11 times. Pete Alonso doubled, Douglas Hodo tripled, and Samuel Basallo had the lone RBI.

Things were better for the pitching staff! Zach Eflin tossed 5.1 shutout innings and struck out seven while throwing 70 pitches. It seems like he might be ready for Opening Day after all? Dietrich Enns got the final two outs of the sixth inning, and Rico Garcia worked yet another shutout frame. The only pitcher to get knocked around was Cohen Achen, a 24-year-old that has appeared in just two games above Double-A.

Outside of the game action, there are likely to be a flurry of roster moves around the league this weekend. Teams will start to make final cuts. Usually a few minor surprises crop up, which could make some bench or bullpen pieces available. The Orioles, like many teams, aren’t entirely settled in those departments. So, it is possible that a new name or two could make their way onto the Opening Day roster. But nothing has been reported on that front just yet.

Links

Buck Britton happy to be back on Orioles’ coaching staff after wild first season in majors | Roch Kubatko
Britton as well as many of the pitching coaches are back despite the rocky 2025 for the big league club. Some level of continuity on the coaching staff seems like a wise choice for Craig Albernaz and the broader organization. Although Albernaz has gotten nothing but rave reviews since joining the club, connecting with every single player in a clubhouse is difficult. Having a few familiar faces around should help to bridge any gaps that exist.

Jon Meoli: The Orioles kept their ‘elite’ pitching coaches for a reason. They think there’s a lot to build on. | The Baltimore Banner
Speaking of those pitching coaches…it sounds like everyone is happy that they are back. Trevor Rogers is even quoted in here saying that he was excited for Albernaz provided that he “just doesn’t touch the pitching department.” That’s high praise for a pitcher coming off of one of the best 100-inning stretches in recent memory.

Pair of O’s athletic trainers form all-woman staff for Spring Breakout | Orioles.com
For the Spring Breakout games, the up-and-comers aren’t just the ones in uniform. Even the staff represent the future of the Orioles, or at least the broader baseball world. Pretty neat!

Orioles’ Dylan Beavers: Scratched from lineup | CBS Sports
Beavers was supposed to play against the Yankees on Friday. Instead, he sat out with right knee discomfort. There has been no reporting on the severity of the problem. It could be nothing. We should know more today.

Orioles birthdays

Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!

  • Chadwick Tromp turns 31 today. He was one of the many catchers to don an Orioles uniform in 2025. Ultimately he only played in six games for the Birds.
  • Jimmy Yacabonis is 34 years old. The righty spent parts of three seasons from 2017-2019 on the Orioles pitching staff, accumulating a 5.75 ERA over 101.2 total innings.
  • The late Tommy Davis (b. 1939, d. 2022) was born on this day. He played 18 seasons of big league baseball, including a four-year stint in Baltimore from 1972 through ‘75.

This day in O’s history

2018 – Just before Opening Day, the Orioles add former Rays hurler Alex Cobb on a four-year, $57 million deal.

Brewers Reacts Survey Results: NL Central four-peat?

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell (11) and Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy (49) shake hands before the National League Division Series game on Saturday October 4, 2025 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. | Jovanny Hernandez / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Brewers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

In this week’s Reacts survey, we asked fans who they think will win the NL Central in 2026. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it really came down to two teams: the Brewers and the Cubs.

Here’s what the results showed:

The Brewers, who have won the division in each of the last three and four of the last five seasons, came away with 74% of the vote, with the Cubs coming in second at 22%. The Reds garnered 2%, while the Pirates and Cardinals each picked up 1%.

After a franchise-best 97-65 record last season, the Brewers return most of their roster, with the notable exceptions of Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers (traded to the Mets), Caleb Durbin, Andruw Monasterio, and Anthony Seigler (traded to the Red Sox), and Isaac Collins and Nick Mears (traded to the Royals). They also lost Rhys Hoskins, Jose Quintana, Erick Fedde, and Danny Jansen in free agency.

In terms of additions, the Crew added a lot of young guys, primarily through those trades. That includes pitchers Kyle Harrison, Shane Drohan, and Brandon Sproat, as well as utility players in David Hamilton and Jett Williams. The Collins/Mears trade also netted them another lefty reliever in Ángel Zerpa, and they added Akil Baddoo, Gary Sánchez, Luis Rengifo, and Reese McGuire in free agency.

Is this a team that can stay atop the NL Central for the fourth straight year? Weigh in in the comments! Thanks for participating in our Reacts survey, and be sure to use FanDuel Sportsbook for all of your sports betting needs.


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Niko Mikkola Leaves Game In Calgary With Lower-Body Injury, Panthers Dropped By Flames 4-1

The Florida Panthers played their final game of the season that will start outside of the Eastern Standard time zone on Friday night in Calgary.

Playing their fourth road game in six night, the Panthers put up an admirable fight, but ultimately they lost the game and possibly another key player, falling 4-1 to the Flames.

It wasn’t until nearly midway though the game that someone finally tickled the twine.

On what seemed like an innocent zone entry, a wrist shot from the half boards by Joel Farabee found its way through a screen and past Daniil Tarasov, giving Calgary a 1-0 lead with 12:16 left in the second period.

It took a little over two minutes for the Flames to double their advantage.

A nice backhand pass from below the goal line by Adam Klapka found a wide-open Victor Olofsson, and his one-timer sailed past Tarasov to make it 2-0 with 9:50 on the clock.

Florida finally got on the scoreboard early in the third, when A.J. Greer scored for the second consecutive game, sending a wrist shot from the right circle over the glove of Dustin Wolf to cut Calgary’s lead to 2-1.

That would be as close as the Cats would come.

Later in the period, with Florida killing a long Flames power play, Niko Mikkola was trailing as the Panthers entered Calgary’s zone on a shorthanded odd-man rush.

As Mikkola began to quick turn around to defend after Evan Rodrigues lost the puck, Mikkola collided with Calgary’s Ryan Strome and went down, clutching at his left leg/knee area afterward.

He would need help off the ice and did not return to the game.

Afterwards, Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice did not seem particularly optimistic about Mikkola's injury.

"We'll get him looked at when we get back (to South Florida)," Maurice said. "He plays and competes so hard for us every night, but he's been incredibly durable for us, but that's clearly the story of our season.

"They need him. We're in a tough one right now, so you need those veteran guys around, playing and leading. He's been a dominant man for us all year with the injuries we've had. He's played great for us so we're going to miss him. He's going to miss some time, I believe."

Morgan Frost and Matt Coronato added a pair of late power play goals to cement the victory for the Flames and send Florida home with a 1-3-0 road trip and tied for the ninth-worst record in the league.

On to the Kraken.

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Photo caption: Mar 20, 2026; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola (77) get help off the ice after colliding with Calgary Flames center Ryan Strome (22) during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. (Sergei Belski-Imagn Images)

‘We Need A Big Save There ’: Craig Berube Questions Joseph Woll After Maple Leafs Allow 78 Shot Attempts In Loss To Hurricanes

The Toronto Maple Leafs fell to the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 in overtime on Friday. The result was flattering, considering the Hurricanes fired 78 shot attempts at Toronto’s net compared to just 43 from Toronto, requiring Joseph Woll to make 32 saves.

But that didn’t stop Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube from giving a rather poignant assessment of his goaltender’s play. "He's played well, but tonight in the end, I don't think—I know—we need a save, whether it's the OT or it's one of the breakaways. We need a big save there".

Berube was referring to three of the Hurricanes’ four goals. In the second period, Eric Robinson beat Woll on a penalty shot to give Carolina a 3-1 lead. K’Andre Miller restored a one-goal lead later in the frame when he stripped Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly of the puck and beat Woll for a shorthanded breakaway goal.

It’s tough to put a lot of blame on Woll, considering the goaltender has inexplicably started in five of the club’s last six games while Anthony Stolarz remained fully healthy and available. Since March 8, Woll has faced 175 shots, more than any other goaltender in the NHL. Could he have made one or two more saves? Sure. But putting the game on Woll hides the bigger picture: the Leafs were simply not good enough to win this game.

"I feel pretty solid, pretty solid in net,” Woll offered regarding his game as of late. Had it not been for William Nylander’s equalizer late in regulation, the Leafs would have ended the night with no points. Given where they are in the standings, not getting that point certainly would have helped their positioning for the NHL Draft.

Stolarz is expected to get the start against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday in a game that has far more meaning for them than the Leafs, who remain seventh-worst in the NHL based on points percentage (.507). To be fair, finishing with no points would have left them in the same position. However, the loss could come back to bite them if they continue to slide.

Progression or regression? Analyzing Evan Mobley’s mixed season

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 01: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on March 01, 2026 in New York City. 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 Jordan Bank/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Expectations are the quickest path to disappointment. The Cleveland Cavaliers have learned that lesson the hard way.

Evan Mobley entered the 2025-26 NBA season with a bar that might have been too high to clear. Offseason buzz and previous success led to Mobley becoming a dark-horse contender for MVP. An award that’s exclusively won by the very best in the league.

It turns out Mobley is not that caliber of player. At least not yet. He’s nowhere near the MVP race and won’t even repeat as an All-NBA member this season. Projecting him to make that astronomical leap has backfired — and perhaps dampened what has otherwise been another season of steady progression from the 24-year-old star.

Look at it this way. Mobley is but a decimal point away from averaging career highs in both points and assists this season. Yet, the primary discussion revolves around whether he has taken a step backward in his development. What player flirts with personal bests while also trending in the wrong direction?

That logic doesn’t track.

The reason Mobley’s season has been framed as a disappointment is because of the expectations he rightfully set for himself. That extends to the prediction that Cleveland would once again trample the East following their 64-win season a year ago. The best-case scenario would have seen Mobley leading the MVP race while capping off consecutive campaigns at the top of the conference.

That didn’t happen. Mobely’s numbers have hardly changed while the Cavs are on pace to finish fourth in the Eastern Conference. There’s no denying that this outcome is one of the more disappointing ones.

But does it mean Mobley has actually regressed? Is failing to meet expectations the same thing as actually backsliding in development? I don’t think so. And Mobley has proven there’s still some evolution happening within his game.

Ups and Downs

While bold at the time, the prediction that Mobley could make a superstar leap was not entirely crazy. He had dominated as the third option on a historic offense last year. With injuries plaguing the roster in October, the path was cleared for Mobley to increase his usage and become Cleveland’s hero.

This led to Mobley attempting shots at a career-high rate. His team was force-feeding him the ball early and often, tossing him into the water to see if he would sink or swim. The early results leaned towards the former, with Mobley stumbling out of the gates to shoot just 46.1% from the floor in October.

Gradually, Mobley’s role was shrunk back to where he was before. He took 14.8 field goals per game in October, which decreased to 13.5 attempts in November, then finally down to 12.8 attempts in December — the exact number of shots he averaged last season. The experiment failed, and the Cavs had decided to pull the plug on Mobley taking another step forward.

Or so it seemed.

Would you believe that Mobley’s usage has not only returned, but has actually surpassed where he was in October? Mobley is now averaging 14.9 shot attempts in March, shooting nearly 60% from the floor while averaging 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.8 blocks.

That type of production is more in line with what we hoped to see this season.

“Evan, I think post All-Star, his numbers are just through the roof,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said. “Not just the raw numbers but the process numbers: paint shots, drive percentage, close-out efficiency. All the stuff we’re emphasizing, it’s great to confirm that he’s trending in the right direction.”

Of course, there are loads of context to go around.

Mobley was attempting twice as many three-pointers (5.8 per game) in October as he is in March (2.9). That shot diet is more in tune with his strengths. He doesn’t need to be Kevin Durant — just be Evan Mobley. Shifting his focus back to being a play-finisher in the paint has brought out the best in him.

He’s also playing next to a more traditional point guard in James Harden than he was during the early portion of the season when Darius Garland was injured, and Donovan Mitchell was running the show. That’s naturally led to easier and more efficient opportunities for Mobley.

Finally, Mobley is enjoying the benefit of playing at center now that Jarrett Allen is on the sidelines. This has granted him more space to operate and has given him the bulk of Harden’s attention in the pick-and-roll. Harden dished out five assists to Mobley in their previous win over the Chicago Bulls. Four of those came in the pick-and-roll.

All of this skews in Mobley’s favor. Yet unlike in October when he was thrown off the diving board — Mobley is actually taking this opportunity in stride. He’s swimming to his strongest stretch of the season and delivering an encouraging sign of life. This is the most Cleveland has leaned on Mobley offensively, and the best he’s responded to that additional weight.

This isn’t to say things are perfect. Mobley’s free-throw shooting has plummeted to 50% in March and a career-low 60.6% this season. He has some soul-searching to do at the line and still has to prove the rest of his success can last more than a few weeks.

But when taking nearly an entire season of work into account, it’s important not to get lost in your preseason expectations. Those are gone now. What’s left is the production on the court. Mobley has course-corrected from a slow start and gotten himself back to one of the better months of his career. That’s the furthest thing from regression.

The ultimate test will come in the playoffs, where Mobley’s performance will give us our conclusion as to whether or not he’s grown. Until then, let’s avoid lazy narratives and continue to monitor his development.