James doesn't want ‘instant oatmeal' as he starts his Sixers chapter

James doesn't want ‘instant oatmeal' as he starts his Sixers chapter  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The four-time NBA champion, four-time MVP and man of many nicknames settled in Monday morning for his opening Sixers press conference. He picked up the customary name card at the podium and removed it.

“You guys know who I am, right?” LeBron James asked with a smile. 

Indeed, no one in the room had any confusion about James’ identity and illustrious résumé.

The more interesting matter was his new reality as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers. James signed a minimum-salary deal this summer because he believes the Sixers can contend for a title. 

“We all want to put the work in,” he said. “That’s the most important. Guys can go around talking and saying these things should happen, but nothing will happen unless you actually put the work in. We’re all speaking the same language. It’s going to start every single day, just getting one percent better every single day starting tomorrow (at training camp). Everyone’s excited to be here and that’s exciting to be a part of.”

On paper, James should add world-class passing, late-game problem-solving and all sorts of intriguing options for head coach Nick Nurse. 

He saw no need to go into much detail about his role at media day.

“Whatever the team needs me to do,” James said. “I think the luxury of my game is I can do everything. Literally, I can do everything.”

When the Sixers’ postseason ended last year with a 30-point Game 4 loss to the Knicks at Xfinity Mobile Arena, no one expected to welcome both James and Jaylen Brown as teammates over the summer. 

Even for Tyrese Maxey, who’s worked out with James for years, grown close with the 22-time All-Star and pitched the Sixers in free agency, the shock hasn’t fully dissipated. 

“I think now it’s just really, really weird,” Maxey said. “I see him in the summertime every year, but to see him here in Camden, New Jersey at the facility with a Sixers jersey on, it’s cool. It’s a cool experience.” 

Tongue in cheek, Joel Embiid downplayed his role in James’ decision.

“As far as Bron, I didn’t talk to him. I didn’t recruit him,” Embiid said. 

He eventually cracked and let out a laugh. 

James described Embiid as “one of the most talented guys that we have in the world.” There’s no doubt he sees plenty of championship ingredients in Philadelphia.

He also has no expectation that wins will appear with a snap of the fingers. James was the first of many Sixers to stress sacrifice. 

“Sometimes in sports, people hear ‘sacrifice’ and automatically, people start thinking (negatively) about it,” he said. “It’s not a negative thing. You can sacrifice one or two more shots that gives you one or two more bursts of energy in the fourth quarter to slide over and take a charge. Or it gives you one or two more bursts of energy to get an offensive rebound. … Or an extra two bursts of energy to run back on defense and get a chase-down block. Some things that don’t show up in the box scores. So it’s not a negative when people say, ‘OK, you have to make a sacrifice or your role may change.’ 

“If we’re trying to do something special, which I believe we are, then it’s a positive. So many guys that have been in our league over the course of my career have never made a sacrifice … and they average 20 points, 22 points a game. And they’ve had one or two postseason appearances and zero postseason wins. If that’s the way you want your career to be, then that’s fine. Everyone has different goals. But I don’t think anybody in the locker room has that feeling and wants their career to be like that, or we wouldn’t be here.”

To James, big names alone are insufficient. 

“I think the best way to expedite it is obviously the floor, the practice court,” he said. “That helps. The film sessions help. The bus rides, the plane rides, the camaraderie, those things help. It’s going to take time. I think people, sometimes they don’t really want to work and everyone wants instant oatmeal. You just put the oatmeal in the bowl, you put the water in, you throw it in the microwave, and in a minute and a half, you’ve got something to eat. You’re ready to go. 

“If you want to do something special, it takes time and it takes every single day doing things that you may not want to do. It’s the same thing over and over and over. … You have to fall in love with doing things that are uncomfortable. And if we can do that, then we can be a great team. 

“If we don’t do that, then we’ll be like, ‘Oh man, that was a great team on paper and we had a lot of great talent … and we lost in the second round.’ I don’t want to do that. I didn’t leave my family to lose in the second round. I know that for sure. So work needs to be done and I’m ready to put the work in.”

Clippers Brandon Ingram has surgery on partially torn Achilles, will miss start of season

It's been a rough summer for the Clippers and their fans, and unfortunately, the start of training camp didn't mean a reprieve from bad news.

Brandon Ingram has undergone surgery to repair a partially torn Achilles in his foot and will miss the start of the season, Clippers interim president of basketball operations Trent Redden announced at the team's media day, via Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints. Redden added that surgery on Ingram's heel in May also addressed this issue, which is a partial tear, and the recovery time is about six months shorter than a more complete Achilles tear.

Still, Ingram is out for the start of the season and will be reevaluated around that time.

Ingram has battled injuries throughout his career but is coming off a mostly healthy season in which he was an All-Star with the Raptors, averaging 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. Ingram, along with Darius Garland at the point, are seen as floor raisers for this team.

Because it's the Clippers, there was other injury news as well. Bradley Beal has recovered from his hip surgery but is now dealing with knee inflammation and won't be ready for the first part of training camp. Big man Yanic Konan Niederhauser is progressing from a foot injury but will not be ready for the start of the season. That is on top of the previously announced surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff for Jordan Miller, which will sideline him until around the All-Star break.

On a positive note, Darius Garland said he was fully healthy and had recovered from injuries that had limited him for a couple of seasons (including to 45 games played last season).

THN Writers Predict Wild Alongside Hurricanes As Frontrunners For Presidents Trophy

The results are in, 39 of our reporters and editors voted on a wide-array of questions related to the upcoming NHL season, including who will win the Stanley Cup and other major individual awards. 

Some other fun questions like which coach will be fired first, who will experience buyer's remorse and which city will be awarded the next franchise — and more!

With the season fast approaching and the Minnesota Wild playing its first game on Thursday, it is time to see where the Wild slotted in predictions.

Minnesota ranked first in the Presidents Trophy ranking along with the defending Stanley Cup Champions Carolina Hurricanes.

Out of the 39 writers, the Wild and Hurricanes totaled 16 votes (8 each) for a tie of first place. They were followed by Colorado, Florida, Edmonton, Dallas and Tampa Bay.

The Wild finished third in the Central Divison behind Dallas and Colorado last season and finished seventh in the NHL with a 46-24-12 (104Pts) record. The Avalanche won the Presidents Trophy last year with a 55-16-11 (121Pts) record.

I'm guessing a full season of Quinn Hughes and the breakouts of Matt Boldy, Brock Faber and Jesper Wallstedt played a big reason in everyones prediction.

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Josh Hart trolls Jalen Brunson over ‘SNL’ performance

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Jalen Brunson smiling on the

Josh Hart didn’t sugarcoat a thing.

During the Knicks’ media day on Monday, the 2026 NBA champion shared his thoughts on Jalen Brunson’s “Saturday Night Live” debut over the weekend.

“I think his performance was fine. I don’t think he has a future in acting,” Hart said with a bit of a smirk, which drew laughs within the press conference room.

Brunson, the NBA Finals MVP, became the first Knick to ever host the historic sketch comedy show on Saturday to kick off the show’s 52nd season. Hart was in attendence for Brunson’s big moment alongside fellow Knicks starters Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby.

New York Knicks guard Josh Hart speaks to the media during media day at the Knicks training facility in Tarrytown, New York, Monday, September 28, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

During Brunson’s monologue, each of the Knicks had their own shining moment.

The three-time All-Star called on each of his teammates for a question. Hart used his camera time to comment that he is a fan of Brunson’s podcast, “The Roommates Show,” which the two co-host together and he asked if his captain took a $113 million pay cut in July 2024.

“Is that money still up for grabs?” Hart asked.

The two went on to throw jabs at each other, including Hart’s viral goosing of Brunson during the team’s NBA Cup triumph.

From left, Mikal Bridges, Karl-Anthony Towns, host Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart of the Knicks appear during the monologue on “Saturday Night Live,” Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. Will Heath/NBC via Getty Images
Host Jalen Brunson is pictured during the monologue on “Saturday Night Live” on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. Will Heath/NBC via Getty Images

Hart and his wife Shannon were later seen on their way to the “SNL” after-party at the Crane Club in New York.

Brunson also invited up Stephen A. Smith played by Kenan Thompson up to the stage, showcasing him as one of his doubters on his way to an NBA title.

The Knicks beat the Spurs in five games to soldifiy their first NBA title in 53 years. The hysteria over the feat took over New York in June and has continued through the offseason, prompting a hosting gig for Brunson.

The Knicks are set to return to the Garden on Oct. 20 to tip off the 2026-27 season against the 76ers.

Celtics enter 2026-27 season with strength in numbers

BRIGHTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 15: General Manager Brad Stevens of the Boston Celtics speaks to the media during a press conference on September 15, 2026 at The Auerbach Center in Brighton, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

During a question for Brad Stevens to open up the Celtics’ 2026-27 media day, the Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn was searching for a specific word. 

It’s a term Stevens used often during the first press conference following the Jaylen Brown-Paul George trade, quickly becoming a buzzword moving forward that you may or may not be sick of hearing. 

Optionality. 

Washburn called it a “Brad Word.”

“That’s a Brad word. Sweet,” Stevens said with a smile and a hint of sarcasm. 

Now, it’s a word to describe the Celtics entering the new season, who have spent the summer creating financial flexibility while adding piece after piece to build a team that can both sustain success through an entire regular season and win at the highest levels of the postseason. 

For the 2026-27 Celtics, depth is king. 

“The balance right now is that you do have to have that depth piece to be good,” Stevens said. “The way that the game is played, how much ground you have to cover, how versatile you have to be up and down your roster is really important.” 

Stevens related the need for a deep team to his days coaching at Butler, where a roster’s talent at the top could make up for a lack of depth on the back end. 

“I think most coaches would tell you, especially when I was in college, it’d be like, I’m good with seven or eight guys, and we can figure out how to navigate it with the rest, but that’s just not the way you can win in this league, so I’m really interested to see how the depth is utilized as an advantage,” Stevens said. 

The 82-game endurance test underscores a need for playable talent outside of the core rotation. Just 18 of 582 players contributed in all 82 games last season, making iron men, especially star-caliber iron men, a rarity. 

The teams that can adjust on the fly and put together a productive rotation regardless of that night’s injury report are the ones that’ll see the most positive results in the conference standings. The Celtics, who last year had 10 five-man regular season lineups generate 50+ minutes, are well accustomed to molding into a new look on a night-to-night basis. 

“The one thing I know about Joe, and one thing I know about our players, is that they all know that their opportunities will be plentiful, and if they’re not coming today, they’re coming down the road just because that’s the way this works,” Stevens said. 

Throughout the 2025-26 season, Joe Mazzulla showed no fear changing up his starting five, right down to the last game of the season, when he inserted Ron Harper Jr., Baylor Scheierman and Luka Garza into their Game 7 lineup against the 76ers after Jayson Tatum was announced as inactive. 

Speaking on the changes to the team’s philosophy since their roster shakeup, Mazzulla doesn’t have an answer yet as to how things will look. It’s a constantly evolving answer that will take time to figure out. 

“How can we take advantage of the strengths and the talent that we have? How can we take advantage of the offseason and the work that the guys have put in to become better players, and turn that into an offensive and defensive philosophy? I don’t know that I have that answer on day one. I think your team naturally grows, and you’re always learning about your team,” Mazzulla said. 

One question posed to Jayson Tatum asked if he considered it “his team” this year. It’s not a simple question to answer, according to Tatum, who will undoubtedly be the central figure on the floor tasked with handling the acclaim and scrutiny that comes with a six-month regular season.

“We don’t have the same roles, we all bring something different on a daily basis to make the group better,” Tatum said. “It’s not just saying it’s my team, I’ve got 14 other teammates that I’m going to lean on, and we all need each other to be better every single day.” 

Whether it’s a new face from the draft or free agency, a player working on a two-way contract, or a Boston mainstay you’ve seen countless times before, the Celtics will have up to 18 players in green on opening night. It’s best to be prepared for any one of them to check in with a chance to make a difference. 

Hugo Gonzalez is dressing for the job he wants

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MARCH 30: Hugo Gonzalez #28 of the Boston Celtics reacts against the Atlanta Hawks during a game at State Farm Arena on March 30, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Since the Boston Celtics added Paul George to the roster, there have been concerns about his ability to stay healthy. After all, this is a player who suited up for 78 regular-season games over two seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers. We’re all basketball fans here, so let me put that in percentages: in George’s two seasons with the Sixers, he played in 47.6% of their regular-season games.

Fortunately for the Celtics, wing depth is not an area of need. In fact, it’s the one area where Joe Mazzulla has an abundance of talent to call upon. So, should George be forced to miss time, either due to injury or minutes management, there’ll be numerous young wings waiting to make the most of any additional opportunity.

Hugo Gonzalez will likely be at the front of that line. Heading into his sophomore NBA season, Gonzalez will undoubtedly look to continue his development, earning a larger share of the rotation minutes as a result. As we saw in Summer League, the Celtics clearly have a plan for the young forward, and that plan will likely involve him improving as both an on-ball creator and perimeter threat.

There’s no doubt that Gonzalez can improve away from the spotlight of the NBA floor. Yet the best path forward is usually the one that involves honing your talents against other NBA-level players. Gonzalez clearly understands this concept, as he’s spent all summer working toward playing 30 minutes per night at the highest level, even though he knows that such a significant role is unlikely in the upcoming season.

“I just think that you just need to be prepared,” Gonzalez said when speaking at the Celtics Media Day on Monday, Sept. 28. “Like, if you’re gonna play 30 minutes every night, even though you might not, you need to be prepared for it. So, the night that it comes, you’re just ready for it.”

Gonzalez isn’t the only wing in Mazzulla’s rotation who will look to take advantage of any additional minutes that become available on an ad hoc basis. He is, however, the highest-ceiling talent who can slot into multiple wing positions. Therefore, it’s logical that he’s preparing for such a high-minutes event. Still, that doesn’t mean he’s hoping to benefit from someone else’s struggles.

“I hope PG is available for 82 games,” Gonzalez noted. “We’re trying to build something as a team, not thinking about who’s going to play and when … you just need to be prepared for it so the night that it comes, you’re ready for it.”

The truth is, if George is out of the rotation — for whatever reason — Gonzalez is the most logical stand-in. His defense and effort will ensure Boston’s rearguard doesn’t nosedive, while his (albeit under-construction) tertiary playmaking/shot creation can be serviceable in the right matchups.

George isn’t the only wing Gonzalez could stand in for, though. Jayson Tatum could find himself having his minutes managed at points in the season. There’s a legitimate chance Boston splits back-to-backs, with George sitting one side and Tatum the other. On those nights, Gonzalez — and likely others — would see their minutes naturally increase.

Brad Stevens is constructing a roster full of workaholics. There are a number of high-motor, high-effort young players on the roster this season. Should George, Tatum, or any other veteran need to miss time, there will be someone waiting to get on the court and seize a chance to prove themselves, and honestly? When you have a team with multiple injury concerns, there’s no better way of hedging your bets.

Knicks Bulletin: ‘We’re going to hit adversity… and we’re going to embrace it’

TARRYTOWN, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 30: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks speaks at a press conference during media day at Knicks Training Facility on September 30, 2024 in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The New York Knicks were back in the spotlight Monday morning during Media Day.

Everybody sat at the desk and discussed this and that the other thing, so I had plenty to go through for a first gathering of quotes before I dig deeper to offer more comprehensive bulletins in the next few days.

For now, here’s a bunch of what was said during Monday’s Media Day.

Mike Brown

On turning the page from last season’s championship:

“What we accomplished was amazing…. Keeping your core is always something that’s exciting, especially when that core has had success… but we have to understand this is a new season, new team, and we’re going to face new challenges over the course of the year. We’re going to hit adversity… and we’re going to embrace it.”

On maintaining the Knicks’ standards after winning the championship:

“Regardless of what we accomplished, moving forward, our standard and how we approach our process is going to be really critical for us. We can’t afford to have any slippage in our process.”

On embracing adversity early in the season:

“A lot of people tend to shy away from adversity, especially early on because you get scrutinized. I actually yearn for it. I yearn for it early because I want to make sure we as a group can handle it.”

On experiencing New York’s reaction to the Knicks’ championship:

“My wife and I walked into the Polo Bar, and I was at the bottom of the steps, and everyone clapped.”

On the Knicks’ contract-extension situations:

“We try to talk about everything. We don’t want to leave elephants in the room. Leon and his group have been good. I have a lot of faith in them, the players and agents.”

On the pending extensions for Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart:

“First thing is, we try to talk about everything. we don’t want to leave any elephants in the room. that’s something Leon and his staff have been very good at — some would say the best in the NBA.”

On the NBA’s second apron and how it impacted the Knicks’ offseason:

“When it comes to contracts and second apron, on my grandkids, if you ask me to give you two facts about second apron, I can’t do it. I have no interest. Leon trusts me with stuff on court, and I trust”

On new Knicks center Andre Drummond:

“Watching him in the gym, he’s a little quicker and more explosive than (I) thought.”

On Karl-Anthony Towns’ offseason weight loss:

“I don’t know. I haven’t checked his body weight.”

On continuing to use Karl-Anthony Towns at the elbow:

“We started the season with an offense with him at the elbow. We just did different things.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

On wanting to sign an extension with the Knicks:

“I’ve made it known that I want to play here; I’ve been a fan since a kid. I would like to get one done. I’d like to get it done and step on the floor and feel as comfortable as possible.”

On his comfort level if extension negotiations continue into the season:

“I think in this situation there’s no comfortability to be had.”

On Mitchell Robinson leaving the Knicks and Andre Drummond arriving in New York:

“I was very surprised that Mitch was not going to be back here with us. I think all of us were. Surprise to everybody; thought something would get done there, but we have Andre, someone I’ve respected a lot from afar and someone I’ve been a fan of. One of the best rebounders of our generation. To be able to play with him and also learn a little is going to be awesome.”

On starting over after winning the championship:

“Just get back to the drawing board, start at 0-0. Be hungry, be willing to do whatever it takes again to win it again.”

On losing weight during the offseason:

“I thought my wife thought I looked good. In the offseason, I always lose the weight. I use the offseason to give my body a chance to recover and rest.”

On bringing the Larry O’Brien Trophy to his wedding:

“I couldn’t have a wedding without Larry.”

Jalen Brunson

On losing Mitchell Robinson and adding Andre Drummond:

“It was tough. That’s my guy. I think no matter what I’m happy for him. It’s definitely difficult but you love to see someone advance generational wealth. Getting Andre, we’re execited. I think he can be a big piece to this team.”

On his confidence that contract situations won’t affect his teammates:

“I have the utmost faith in these guys. I don’t know about Josh, we’ll see how he acts”

On playing through his wrist injury during the playoffs:

“It was painful. I played through it. I did what I had to do to make sure I was right. I didn’t think I needed surgery. If that was case, I would have maybe done it sooner. I feel good. We’ll see.”

On what the Knicks learned about needing each other to win:

“As a group, we figured out we needed each other to win. We needed to be on the same page. … It wasn’t necessarily a turning point, you just do what you’re supposed to do every day.”

On how the opening weeks will reveal the Knicks’ identity:

“The first couple of weeks of the season are going to show us who we are.”

On the biggest lesson he has learned about winning:

“Just about not being satisfied, I think is the biggest takeaway moving forward.”

On his championship summer:

“It was the longest, shortest summer ever, but it was well worth it.”

On experiencing a championship in New York:

“I remember when the Yankees were in the World Series and just the electricity the city had. It just made you want to be a part of something like that.”

On his favorite “SNL” skit from his hosting appearance:

“Ask me in like a week, I still haven’t really watched it”

Josh Hart

On returning after the championship summer and pursuing another title:

“The weight of the jersey was extremely light this summer. This morning, it was a bit heavier. I think we’re all excited for the opportunity to do it again. … We’re not satisfied to just get one.”

On the Knicks writing their own history as defending champions:

“At the end of the day we write our own history. It shows the significance of the CBA and the second apron, but at the end of the day, that’s the past and it holds no precedence over what the future is gonna hold.”

On his future with the Knicks:

“I’m a Knick, love to be a Knick.”

On whether he expects to sign an extension before the season:

“Do I think it’s going to get done? I don’t think it’s going to get done. Once start of seasons, I want to focus on playing. I’m sure that’ll add a little extra weight to the jersey.”

On wanting to complete an extension before the season:

“Do I think it’s gonna get done? There hasn’t been much movement or conversation. I would love for it to get done.”

On handling his contract situation:

“At the end of the day, it’s a business. … You never know what’s going to happen. For me, as long as I wear this jersey, I’m going to play as hard as I can. Hopefully we figure it out. … If some of these things aren’t finished by February, it might be a different situation.”

On wanting contract uncertainty resolved sooner rather than later:

“You always want to get it done as soon as possible. You don’t want that trickling into the season. Whenever there’s uncertainty, there’s going to be rumors. At a human level, it can wear people down and impact”

On Jalen Brunson’s “SNL” performance:

“I thought he was fine. He doesn’t have a future in acting.”

Mikal Bridges

On whether teammates’ contract-extension situations could become a distraction:

“I have no input in all that but our guys are resilient and tough and no matter what’s going on, we’ll be alright.”

On his infamous Instagram Live:

“I was just trying to be me a little bit.”

On losing Mitchell Robinson and adding Andre Drummond:

“I think we’re just going to miss Mitch. That’s our guy, one of my good friends. We all love Mitch. We’re going to miss him, but bringing in Drum helps.”

On his favorite part of winning the championship:

“In the moment. Seeing everyone; we know how long the days and seasons are.”

OG Anunoby

On being told he has one of the NBA’s best poker faces:

“I don’t know what that means.”

On Mitchell Robinson leaving and Andre Drummond joining the Knicks:

“Everyone’s sad to see him go, but that’s how it goes in the NBA. Andre’s a great player, played against him for years now. We know he can help us a lot.”

On Mohamed Diawara’s potential:

“Endless upside”

On making an iconic play during the Knicks’ championship run:

“I mean, yeah, I don’t think really about it that much. But I know it was a big play. Makes me happy that I brought joy to everyone. Hopefully do something like that again”

On reviewing his missed shots and improving his jumper:

“I don’t like missing shots, so whenever I’m missing shots, I always review the film, see what I did right or wrong”

On watching his Game 4 game-winning tip-in again:

“Just watching it back, seeing all the excitement from the fans, my teammates, and then KAT getting the tip on the last play”

On the Knicks’ mindset entering the new season:

“Everyone’s excited, energized, ready to go.”

Why A.J. Preller chose Craig Stammen

San Diego, California - September 25: Craig Stammen #14 of the San Diego Padres high fives his players before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)

From 2016 to 2024, San Diego Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller hired four managers. 

Andy Green was the rebuild manager, never intended to be the guy. Then Preller hired his friend from the Texas Rangers, Jayce Tingler. They had their first successful season in the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign. From the start of 2021, it was clear that Tingler was in over his head and he reportedly lost the clubhouse before the end of the year.

Then there was Bob Melvin and a playoff season in 2022 but there were lots of rumblings about disagreements between Melvin and Preller. After the debacle of the 2023 season, Melvin quit to take a job with the San Francisco Giants.

Mike Shildt had been a special advisor to Preller during Melvin’s tenure as manager. He was a logical choice to succeed Melvin due to his knowledge of the organization and an already established relationship with players and team members. He also had a winning record as a manager but a clouded situation regarding his exit from the St. Louis Cardinals organization.

After two seasons of 90 or more wins each year, Shildt walked away from managing, citing the strain on his mental and physical health. After his departure, word came out about clashes with Preller and his coaching staff regarding his management style and his verbally abusive behavior. 

A surprising choice to lead the way

After a lengthy process with multiple interviewees coming through San Diego, former Padre Craig Stammen was announced as the manager for 2026 season.

It’s not a stretch to say there were many surprised, and sometimes outraged, reactions. A good portion of fans and media thought future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols had the job in the bag. At the press conference introducing the new on-field leader, Preller revealed he had to talk Stammen into taking the job. He had originally been part of the interviewing process, not an interviewee.

Needless to say, hiring a first-time manager who had never coached before caused a flurry of anxiety-ridden outbursts from all over the city. The Padres had been to the postseason for two years running. They had two seasons of 90 or more wins along with those two playoff runs. They needed someone who had the experience to take them over the finish line, not start over from scratch.

Preller was betting on an unproven former player that he respected so much he hired him to join the organization as soon as he retired from baseball. Giving him a special assistant role and placing Stammen in the front office, Preller said he always believed that managing was in Stammen’s future, but the Ohio resident and family man didn’t seem to be on board.

It appeared that Preller valued Stammen’s character traits and personality above any coaching experience. He was known as a leader in the clubhouse and the bullpen when he pitched for the team. Preller was gambling that those same leadership qualities would carry him through his rookie season if he had enough support around him.

Stammen is as steady as they come. We saw it when he pitched for the Padres. As a middle reliever, he famously started the “Stammen Game” for the 2020 playoffs and his teammates valued him for that and his quiet leadership.

What went wrong with the other guys

Andy Green being named as the manager for the New York Mets after serving as their interim manager this season highlights the prove-it nature of managing jobs in MLB. 

When he was hired in San Diego, Green was the development guy, brought in to guide as Preller built. He would not be given the opportunity to manage a better team and was let go after the 2019 season.

Tingler was definitely Preller’s choice, but the match wasn’t good. The players didn’t respond to his style, and he seemed overwhelmed at many points during the season.

The two experienced and proven managers that Preller hired after that were both very set in their ways. Old-school baseball guys resistant to analytics and to the front office team’s involvement in the clubhouse. Neither Melvin nor Shildt could adapt to what was asked of them.

Preller is unique

A.J. Preller thinks and works outside the box. Like him or not, he is unique in baseball for the way he does his job. There has been a lot of criticism of his approach and his non-traditional way of building a baseball team.

Whether or not you agree with his choices, the Padres are more successful under his guidance and late owner Peter Seidler’s vision than at any other time in Padres history. Much of the credit goes to Seidler for the influx of money into the team. For better or worse, the Padres have a core of players tied to the team for many years, and that is due to Seidler and Preller.

If you stick with Preller, then you stick with his approach. 

What makes Stammen different

Stammen is done with his first regular season as the Padres manager. He has led the team to 90 or more wins for their third season in a row.  They are going to the postseason for the fifth time in seven years.

His rookie season was not without its ups and downs, but he remained constant. His only showing of temper was with umpires. 

Mistakes were made, absolutely. Strategy and bullpen management are never mastered and are always second-guessed. No manager does it right if you ask the fans.

An article written by Kevin Acee and published in the San Diego Union-Tribune on Sept. 22 outlined the meeting that occurred between Preller, Stammen, Josh Stein (Preller’s vice president), and Ruben Niebla. 

In that conversation, the group developed the “pitching chaos” plan that got the team through the two weeks leading up to the trade deadline. The season was slipping away, and thinking outside the box was a must. They cobbled together a map that would take the pitching staff through the two weeks until trades could be made to acquire more pitching. It probably saved the season.

Stammen is not a traditional baseball guy; he is not a seasoned veteran of dugout strategy or coaching. 

He brings his experience as a player, his personality and character, his already established reputation, and the respect he has from those around him.

Probably most importantly, Stammen brings flexibility in thinking. A willingness to go outside the box, try new things, make mistakes, and learn from those mistakes, on the biggest stage possible. His ego is not a hindrance to admitting when he needs to improve. He encourages others to contribute to the whole while guiding the ship with a steady hand.

What the future holds

We don’t know how far this team will go this season. We don’t even know if Stammen intends to stay for another year. 

The new ownership has expressed a desire to win it all. If they put their money where their mouth is, the future could be bright for this organization.

The people leading going forward will be Jose E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones. They will decide who the leadership team will be for next season and beyond.

If Preller remains in charge, it seems likely he will want Stammen to remain. It is hard to argue with what this team has accomplished this season.

Arizona Diamondbacks Decision: Should Mike Hazen and Torey Lovullo go?

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 11: Manager Torey Lovullo (L) and general manager Mike Hazen of the Arizona Diamondbacks meet before Game Three of the Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chase Field on October 11, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The 2026 season is officially in the books, at least as far as the Diamondbacks go. For the third year in a row, it’s a case of, “Close but no cigar”, missing out on the playoffs by less than a handful of games. Of particular note this year, is the situation of manager Torey Lovullo, whose contract has now effectively expired. He signed a three-year contract after the run to the World Series in 2023, but the lack of any extension became an increasingly elephant-shaped object in the room, as we moved through this season. A decision on Lovullo’s future is likely to be made and announced in the next few days, so let’s chew over the possibilities.

The Mike Hazen and Torey Lovullo connection

Perhaps the most obvious factor is, what happens with regard to Diamondbacks’ GM, Mike Hazen. He brought in Torey Lovullo in early November 2016, just a few after taking over, and that has been the situation ever since. It is easily the most stable partnership in franchise history. Lovullo is the longest tenured Arizona manager, and it’s not close: he has managed 1,518 regular season games, which is more than twice as many as anyone else (Kirk Gibson’s 728 is next). Indeed, across all of MLB, Lovullo has outlasted 27 of the other managers present when he was appointed. Only Dave Roberts in Los Angeles and Kevin Cash in Tampa have been in their positions for longer.

Hazen has four General Managers with more tenure than him, but may be on thinner ice than Lovullo. Despite franchise-record payrolls in 2024 and 2025, and not far short this year, the team has not reached the playoffs. There are legitimate questions to be raised about Hazen’s ability at constructing a major-league roster. While he is officially under contract through the end of 2028, it may be that the team is not willing to wait our those two further seasons, and opts to go in a different direction. If a new General Manager is brought in, it’s highly likely he will want the opportunity to pick his own manager.

Mike Hazen’s successes and failures

The bottom line is that, since his rookie success in 2017, the Diamondbacks have reached the post-season only once in the last nine years. Now, it’s undeniably a factor that being in the same division as the Dodgers makes things exponentially harder. They have won over 90 games (or equivalent) fourteen years in a row. Since 2013, they have won over a hundred games more than any other team. At $334 million per year, their TV deal alone is more valuable than all the D-backs revenue. Now resources aren’t everything. But the Dodgers are scarily well-run too, currently having the #1 farm system. Beating that? Good luck. Competing for a wild-card spot is the best-case scenario.

On that basis, Hazen has done well enough, keeping the team in the race four consecutive Septembers. It does seem that a lot of fans forget the horrors of the before times. In the five years before Hazen took over, the Diamondbacks didn’t have a single winning season. 2020-22 were pretty ugly as well. But since then? The D-backs have a .523 winning percentage, sixth-best in the NL, despite only one playoff appearance. Is “there or thereabouts, and hope things break our way” good enough? Many fans on social media would reject that, but I’m more pragmatic. I lived through 2004 and 2021. I have no desire to do so again.

That said, the current GM has failed in a number of areas, most notably on the pitching side. The big ticket free-agent signings in the Hazen era have largely been disastrous: Madison Bumgarner, Jordan Montgomery and (so far) Corbin Burnes, with Eduardo Rodriguez also terrible up until 2026. Even this year, we signed Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly, both of whom underperformed. The farm system has been little if any help. The most productive prospect drafted or signed by Hazen is Ryne Nelson, at a total of just 5.1 bWAR. Next is… Drey Jameson and Brandon Pfaadt (2.2). Then there’s the Arizona bullpen, which until the second half of this year, has been an annual disaster.

The position players have been a better group. Corbin Carroll has been great, and the extensions signed by him and Ketel Marte have already repaid their value. Christian Walker, Geraldo Perdomo and Gabriel Moreno all definitely count on the plus side of the Hazen ledger. But there have been misses as well. While the Twitiots would tell you Pavin Smith is the worst player in baseball, resigning Lourdes Gurriel Jr was a far bigger mistake. Although I will agree, the debacle which was Arizona’s first-base this year might have been key in the team missing the playoffs. Watching Jake McCarthy bat .291 for Colorado was also annoying.

Torey Lovullo’s successes and failures

It’s a lot harder to assess a manager, because it’s very much an “iceberg” position. By which I mean, ninety percent of what managers do, is invisible to fans. We see the pitching changes and the line-up. But the vast bulk of the work that goes on in the clubhouse, forging 26 individuals into a cohesive unit, happens entirely out of sight. When it does come to the surface – as with KetelGate – it’s rarely a good thing. While we still don’t know everything that happened, I feel I can confidently say, that whole situation, from a managerial point of view, was an absolute no-win. There’s no way to navigate that minefield in a way where everyone was happy.

I do think there are times where Torey does seem to have a case of “foot in mouth” syndrome. Most recently, after Saturday’s key defeat in San Diego, Lovullo put rookie pitcher Jose Cabrera into a key game to protect a one-run lead. Cabrera imploded, allowing five runs while recording four outs. Asked afterwards why, Lovullo answered, “I just felt like I wanted to see what Cabrera could do.” This is either terrible bullpen management, or terrible public relations. I’m inclined towards the latter, and suspect he didn’t actually throw the pitcher in there on a whim. But that’s what it sounds like, and perception is often stronger than reality.

It is interesting that those closer to Lovullo typically think more highly of him. Jack, for example, often gets accused of being a Torey mouthpiece. But I think he genuinely does believe Lovullo does a good job, all things considered. This comes from seeing him much closer up than the Twitiots, so should certainly not be discounted. Team president Derrick Hall also publicly praised the manager, saying “This year is probably his best year… I mean, he’s won, six out of 10 years he’s had a winning record. So, I mean Torey’s done a great job for us and he continues to… There’s so many factors, but he’s done a terrific, terrific job this year.”

Of course, votes of confidence from higher up for subsequently fired managers are a dime a dozen. And Lovullo himself recently said he thinks he needed to make the post-season: “The realities of it, when I sit back and I think about it at night, we got to get to this big dance. If we do, things will take care of itself. If it doesn’t, I’m in a totally different evaluation space.” That hasn’t happened, and for now, we can only wait and see what the team decides needs to be done. But if you were in charge of the Diamondbacks, and looking to build for the future, what would you do with Mike Hazen and Torey Lovullo? And if the answer is to move on, who should replace them?

That’s what the poll below is for, and as always, please feel free to explain your reasoning in the comments.

Jayson Tatum isn’t interested in calling these Celtics “his team”

Sep 28, 2026; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) talks to reporters during media day at Auerbach Center. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

There would have been a very easy answer for Jayson Tatum to give at Media Day.

Jaylen Brown is in Philadelphia now, and with him goes at least some of the oxygen that fueled years of “who’s the alpha in Boston?” conversations. Joe Mazzulla is calling this season the beginning of a “new era.” Tatum is entering Year 10 in Boston, healthy again after an offseason spent getting his body back to where he wants it. From the outside, there is considerably less ambiguity than there used to be about who sits at the center of the Celtics universe.

So when Tatum was asked at Media Day whether this was now “his team,” he could have said yes.

Instead, he pushed back on the question itself.

“It’s not a simple thing of, ‘Is this my team?’” Tatum said. “I don’t know if that’s the answer you’re looking for.”

If you were looking for a spicy viral clip, it wasn’t. His actual answer was probably more revealing.

“I understand the roles that we all play on this team. Everybody’s role is different. That’s what makes us a team,” Tatum said. “We all bring something different on a daily basis to make the group better, add towards winning, make this organization better. So it’s not just my team. I got 14 other teammates that I’m going to lean on, and we all need each other to be better every single day.”

There’s an obvious irony to all of this. The Celtics have probably never looked more like Tatum’s team from the outside.

The partnership that defined most of his career is over. In his Media Day press conference, Tatum called Brown’s departure “tough,” acknowledging the business side of the NBA while saying he was grateful for what the two accomplished together.

Now, their separation is going to invite a different kind of attention.

There will be more questions about leadership. More attempts to decipher Tatum’s body language. Probably plenty of nights when every good or bad thing Boston does becomes some referendum on what Tatum looks like without Brown beside him.

But if anyone expected Tatum to respond to all of that by suddenly puffing his chest out and declaring himself the unquestioned owner of the franchise, they probably haven’t been paying much attention.

Tatum has never really taken the bait

“Very comfortable,” Tatum said when asked about taking on a leadership role. “This is Year 10, so just been through it all. Leadership is about a lot of different things. Self-awareness is the biggest one. And awareness of the group. Understanding we all have roles, and that we’re in this together.”

For years, the conversation around Tatum and Brown often seemed determined to force one of them into saying something the other could resent. Who was better? Whose team was it? Could they coexist? Did one need to defer to the other?

Tatum never really played along. Even as he became the more decorated player and eventually the face of the franchise, he rarely seemed interested in turning that into some public declaration of status. Monday was more of the same.

Derrick White said Tatum has become more vocal every year since White arrived in Boston, but he also pointed to the quieter part of his leadership.

“He definitely has his own unique way of being a leader,” White said. “He puts in the work, everyone sees him here … you come in here, like I gotta reach that level.”

That sounds much more like the Tatum Celtics fans have come to know: less interested in commanding a room than in showing up, putting in the work and gradually becoming more comfortable speaking when the moment calls for it.

None of that means his role hasn’t changed. Brown’s departure guarantees that it has.

And perhaps the clearest sign of that change isn’t anything Tatum said Monday. It’s who is now standing beside him. Tatum spent part of his Media Day availability talking about how much he watched Paul George growing up.

“He definitely was one of the guys that, when I was coming up, I used to watch a lot of film on,” Tatum said. “Just that archetype of a two-way player, 6-foot-9, scoring at all three levels.”

George happened to be standing in the back of the room while Tatum said it.

When Tatum finished, the two dapped each other up, with George joking, “That was sentimental.”

There’s something a little strange, and probably pretty cool for Tatum, about that reversal. One of the players he used to study is now joining his team at 36 years old, entering a locker room where Tatum is the established Celtic and George is the newcomer learning how he fits around him.

A new cast around the same centerpiece

George enters Boston as a nine-time All-Star and one of the most accomplished players Tatum has ever played alongside. But George has already talked about his arrival in Boston partly through the lens of what his own experience can offer Tatum.

George said Monday that his years playing beside Kawhi Leonard can help him build an on-court relationship with Tatum. He also talked about Tatum having “a lot on his shoulders.”

George’s comments reveal something the “whose team is it?” framing misses. The hierarchy around Tatum has changed even if Tatum’s approach to it hasn’t.

Brown is gone. George arrives as an older star with experience playing next to another elite wing. White and Pritchard are both carrying larger responsibilities than they were a few years ago, while a collection of younger players are still trying to earn Mazzulla’s trust.

Tatum doesn’t have to announce himself as the leader of that group for everyone else to understand where he sits within it. His language hasn’t shifted dramatically, just the circumstances around him.

He’s also entering this version of the Celtics feeling considerably better physically.

“I feel great,” Tatum said. “Having this offseason to get stronger, get more explosive, or just work on my body in totality. I obviously feel much better than I did this time last year.”

George, who knows something about losing major time himself, said he thinks Tatum had a “tougher injury than I had” and expects the time away to ultimately make him better, forcing him to see the game “through a different lens” and changing his hunger.

There’s a strange symmetry to the relationship now. Tatum once learned by watching George. Now, George arrives in Boston with experiences that may help Tatum navigate a very different stage of his own career.

Of course people are going to ask whether this is finally “his team.” It’s the kind of framing sports conversations tend to demand, even if the person at the center of it has spent years showing little interest in the question.

Tatum didn’t suddenly discover some new philosophy of leadership Monday. If anything, his answer reinforced the one he’s been showing Boston for years.

He knows his role.

He knows how much bigger that role has become.

He just doesn’t seem to need ownership of the Celtics to prove it.

Joe Mazzulla apologies, free throws, and yellow Gatorade: An introduction to Mitchell Robinson

Sep 28, 2026; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics center Mitchell Robinson (4) talks to reporters during media day at Auerbach Center. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Moments after Hugo Gonzalez stepped down from the podium at Boston Celtics Media Day, the door on the righthand side of the Auerbach Center cracked open and Mitchell Robinson poked his head out.

“Oh my god,” he exclaimed, as he saw more eyes looking back at him than he probably expected. There was a special energy in the room from the moment that the monster-truck driving big man arrived (though he clearly hasn’t found a proper parking space for said truck).

His availability fittingly ended in jovial fashion. As Robinson stood up to walk off the podium, he pointed to the yellow Gatorade on the desk and made sure we all knew how nasty it was.

It immediately became clear what sort of personality the Celtics had added when they signed Robinson in the offseason — a radiant one.

They also got quite the player.

“It’s a fresh start,” Robinson said months after leaving the reigning champion New York Knicks to join the rival Cs. “I just want to take the challenge to come here. We played against this team so many times, and they got on us multiple times. You know, and now that I can be a part of it and see how it is over here, I’m loving it so far.”

Unfortunately, it wasn’t just Boston getting on New York. The battles went both ways and Robinson was a huge part of that.

I’m sure the Celtics hated to see that man checking into games — I know I did. His nose for the offensive glass puts an unmatched strain on opposing defenses. You can play 24 seconds of great defense, force a miss, and then Mitch just creates an extra possession with a big board.

Per Databallr, Robinson’s 21.1% teammate miss offensive rebounding rate was the best in the NBA last season. At the same time, the Celtics scored the fifth most points off of second chances. The two are a match made in heaven.

“Mitch is one of the best bigs in the league and super efficient, and you know his ability to impact games,” Joe Mazzula praised. “Yeah, I’m upset that we’re not going to be able to foul him anymore. But that’s just how it goes. So he’s ours, and I think he’s going to make a big impact for us, and also help our Luka [Garza] and Neemi[as Queta]. His experience, and obviously coming off of a championship we can learn a lot from him.”

Robinson shared that Mazzulla wasted no time fostering a connection. The Celtics head coach paid him a visit down in Nashville this summer. The two clearly bonded over Mazzulla’s use of the Hack-a-Mitch strategy in years past, and Mazzulla’s willingness to apologize for regularly exploiting Robinson’s 50.8% career free-throw percentage.

“At first we had a little issue because I’m like, ‘you got to say sorry for fouling me,’ but he apologized.” Robinson joked. “Now we’re on the same team. So, you know, it’s going to be great. Just to build together and stuff like that.”

Robinson made it clear that he appreciates how the Celtics, as an organization, see their players as people instead of just players.

As for the free throws… he’s been working on them. A lot.

“I’ve been shooting a lot of free throws,” he emphasized. “A lot of free throws. I’ve been getting very confident with my free throws, my shooting touch, and stuff like that.“

Phillies lose Luis Arraez for wild-card series vs. Braves

The Philadelphia Phillies will be without second baseman Luis Arraez for their National League wild-card series against the Atlanta Braves.

Manager Don Mattingly told reporters that Arraez, the team's prized acquisition at the trade deadline, will not be on the roster when the Phils play their best-of-three series against their NL East rival.

Arraez suffered a sprained left ankle during Philadelphia's Sept. 24 game against the Milwaukee Brewers. He missed the rest of the final week and finished with a .310 batting average, the sixth time in his eight-year career that he has hit .300 or better in a season.

The injury may also have cost him his fourth career batting title. He finished second to Arizona's Gabriel Moreno, who won the NL crown with a .311 average.

This story will be updated with more information.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Phillies lose Luis Arraez for wild-card series vs. Braves

Witt, Jensen, Caglianone finalists for All-MLB Team

HOUSTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 15: Bobby Witt Jr. #7, Carter Jensen #22 and Jack Caglianone #14 of the Kansas City Royals look on during the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Michaela Schumacher/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Major League Baseball has announced its finalists for the All-MLB Team, with Bobby Witt Jr., Jac Caglianone, and Carter Jensen among the nominees. Fans can vote on the nominees at www.mlb.com/all-mlb/ballot through October 9 with winners to be announced at the MLB Awards on November 11 on MLB Network.

Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. is second among all players in fWAR with 7.0, and leads all shortstops with 23 Outs Above Average. He is tied for fifth among shortstops in runs scored with 94, and leads them all with 45 steals. Other nominees at shortstop include CJ Abrams (Nationals), Mookie Betts (Dodgers), Ezequiel Duran (Rangers), Elly De La Cruz (Reds), Otto Lopez (Marlins), Kevin McGonigle (Tigers), Colson Montgomery (White Sox), Zach Neto (Angels), Geraldo Perdomo (Diamondbacks), and Dansby Swanson (Cubs).

Catcher Carter Jensen set the record for most extra-base hits by a rookie catcher since 1947 with 64. He tied for second among all catchers with 27 home runs and is third in slugging percentage at .467. Other nominees include Drake Baldwin (Braves), William Contreras (Brewers), Dillon Dingler (Tigers), Hunter Goodman (Rockies), Liam Hicks (Marlins), Ryan Jeffers (Twins), Shea Langeliers (Athletics), Gabriel Moreno (Diamondbacks), and Adley Rutschman (Orioles).

Outfielder Jac Caglianone had a torrid August and was named American League Player of the Month then. He hit .289, good for sixth among all outfielders, and he is third in slugging at .494. Other nominees include Wilyer Abreu (Red Sox), Ronald Acuña Jr. (Braves), Randy Arozarena (Mariners), Cody Bellinger (Yankees), Byron Buxton (Twins), Corbin Carroll (Diamondbacks), Jackson Chourio (Brewers), Pete Crow-Armstrong (Cubs), Chase DeLauter (Guardians), Riley Greene (Tigers), Michael Harris II (Braves), Jake McCarthy (Diamondbacks), Jackson Merrill (Padres), Andy Pages (Dodgers), Tristan Peters (Brewers), Ceddanne Rafaela (Red Sox), Juan Soto (Mets), Chandler Simpson (Rays), Seiya Suzuki (Cubs), Fernando Tatis Jr. (Padres), Mike Trout (Angels), Jordan Walker (Cardinals), and James Wood (Nationals). Three outfielders will be selected, regardless of which outfield position they played.

Fans voting on MLB.com and a decorated panel of media members, broadcasters, former players and other officials throughout the game will have equal say in determining the first-team and second-team choices who comprise the 2026 All-MLB Team. All choices will be based on the 2026 regular season, without regard for American League or National League affiliation.

Red Sox News & Links: Payton Tolle to start Game 1 of Wild Card Series vs. Yankees

BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 13: Payton Tolle #70 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates a strike out during the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Sunday, September 13, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Joe Sullivan/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

We’ve known who would be starting in the Wild Card series for a while now, but we didn’t know in what order they’d pitch. And that matters in a short series — a lot. In Cam Schlittler, the Red Sox are going up against the best pitcher in the American League tomorrow night. They need someone who can match his ability to miss bats and quiet both the Yankees lineup and the Yankee Stadium crowd. That guy is going to be Payton Tolle:

It’s been an incredible season for Tolle who, lest we forget, wasn’t even on the Opening Day roster and didn’t make his first start until late April. But over the next five months he endeared himself to Red Sox Nation like few other Sox players in recent memory. He’s even won over Pedro Martinez. “I wish I could have taught myself at an early age how to be like Tolle,” Pedro said. “The guy laughs, the guy pitches, the guy’s a bully. The guy is big, intimidating. He’s got everything. He’s out there to beat you. He’s a bully. I love him.” (Peter Abraham, Boston Globe)

Tolle is a lefty, of course, as is Ranger Suárez… and Aroldis Chapman… and Jake Bennett… and Garrett Crochet… and Erik Miller… and Jovani Moran… and Alec Gamboa. In fact, the Sox had — by far — the most left-handed pitching staff in baseball this year, and the most left-handed pitching staff in almost four decades. This could end up being huge for them this month. (Mike Petriello, MLB.com)

We likely won’t get the final roster until tomorrow morning. But we do know this intriguing nugget: Braiden Ward, the speed demon who has yet to appear in a single Major League game, has traveled to New York with the team. If he does make the roster, his role would likely be limited to pinch-running. But he’s more than ready for that. “If they put me on the bases, especially first base, ninth inning,” he said, “even if a guy’s 1.1 to the plate and a 1.8 pop time (from the catcher), it’s ‘Hey Ward, go steal it. Go figure it out.’ That’s why they put you out there — to go try to steal the bag. If I get the opportunity, obviously I’m going to try to steal it. The other team knows that. It’s no surprise why I’m going to be out there.” (Sean McAdam, MassLive)

As Ward’s quote about catcher pop time demonstrates, information about the opposing team becomes paramount in the postseason. Could the Red Sox be at a disadvantage in that department given their widely publicized smaller scouting staff? “The Sox, who have done all of their regular-season advance scouting lately by video and through in-office data analysis, started their in-person preparations last week when they sent two of their top scouts to New York for the four-game Yankees-Rays series, to check out their expected Wild Card and ALDS foes.” (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)

If you want to do some advance scouting of your own, here’s the series preview from FanGraphs. (Jay Jaffe, FanGraphs)

And here’s what the writers and analysts at one prominent outlet are predicting for the series. (The Athletic)

Jets Claim AHL Standout Goaltender Off Waivers For Backup Role

On Monday, the Winnipeg Jets claimed Washington Capitals depth goaltender Clay Stevenson on Monday, adding the 27-year-old Drayton Valley, Alberta native in what is likely a move to fill their backup role.

Speculation had suggested Winnipeg might look to bring back Eric Comrie, last season's backup, after he was placed on waivers. Instead, general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff opted for new blood, landing the longtime Hershey Bears standout from the AHL.

Stevenson has established himself as a reliable goaltender at the minor-league level over the four seasons since turning pro. He opened his AHL career with a 3-0-0 record, a 1.96 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage in his first three games. Across his AHL career, he is 63-31-11 with a 2.50 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage in 109 starts.

During the 2024-25 season, Stevenson's play earned him his NHL debut, where he faced off against the Pittsburgh Penguins and was solid in a 5-2 loss, stopping 33 of 38 shots. He was recalled again this past season and impressed once more, going 3-1-0 through four starts with a 2.00 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage.

Stevenson now looks at his best chance yet to secure a regular NHL role. For Cheveldayoff, the claim is a low-cost, high-reward addition, and one that gives Winnipeg a fresh option behind its starter as the season approaches.

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