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Brewers Notes: Pat Murphy, Sal Frelick, and Cooper Pratt on World Series Game 2 victory

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 24: Fans celebrate after Sal Frelick #10 of the Milwaukee Brewers hit a solo home run against the Tampa Bay Rays during the sixth inning in game two of the 2026 World Series at American Family Field on October 24, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images

For the World Series, we’re bringing you some of the key quotes and storylines from each game following the postgame press conference.

Pat Murphy

The Brewers erased an early 4-0 deficit to win 5-4 and take a 2-0 series lead. Murphy again spent most of the press conference discussing what impressed him most, including rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt. Pratt made an error on the first play of the game that snowballed into the Rays’ four-run first inning, but he bounced back to deliver a go-ahead RBI single in the bottom of the seventh.

“That speaks to Cooper, what type of individual he is, being able to hang in there when things didn’t go great for him early, even early in that at-bat. That guy is super tough on right-handers. For him to put that ball in play, we spent a lot of time on that reliever and talking about how to face him. He’s outstanding, and Coop just put together a great at-bat, a great teacher for every young person in the room that the game doesn’t start a certain way, doesn’t mean it has to end that way.”

As a follow-up, Murphy was asked about this team’s mentality and its ability to come back from deficits over and over again:

“We’re down to the end of the season here. They’re going to tap us on the shoulder here at some point and tell us no more. Guys just, they don’t give up. They believe, and they don’t give up. They just keep going. That’s a great club across the way, it really is.”

In a game full of quality at-bats, Murphy shouted out several, starting with Brice Turang.

“His day didn’t start exactly the way he wanted. He had a line drive caught, but he put together four quality ABs today. Numerous guys (did). Sal put together four quality (at-bats), hit four balls on the screws today. Bauers put together quality (at-bats). Chourio gets two knocks. Contreras two knocks.”

Another at-bat Murphy highlighted was William Contreras’ RBI single in the first inning.

“It’s a huge at-bat. Huge at-bat. We set (Contreras up), and he came through with a knock, and then Mitchell got a big knock. That first inning meant something that we bounced back against a pitcher that good. I mean, that guy (Rays starter Drew Rasmussen), he’s as good as there is out there. We got his pitch count up and got him out of there.”

Murphy had high praise for Aaron Ashby, who pitched the final 1 2/3 innings of the win, comparing him to legendary relievers Goose Gossage and Rollie Fingers.

“He does what it takes. It’s unconventional. Multiple innings in relief. It’s Goose Gossage-like. I guess we had a guy like that here too, Rollie.”

He was also asked about starting pitcher Logan Henderson, who gave up four runs (three earned) in that first inning.

“I think he was a little jittery again in the first inning. I think in his mind he thinks he’s tired because it’s the end of the year and it’s a lot, but this is where you’ve got to learn that lesson that you’ve got a lot left. You pick yourself up. You’ve got a lot left. He’s got to come to that realization because we need him going forward.”

Finally, Murphy was asked if he’s a “big Sal fan,” referring to Frelick. Murphy responded by saying he named his son’s dog Sal.

Sal Frelick and Cooper Pratt

Frelick, who hit the game-tying home run in the sixth, and Pratt, who hit a go-ahead single in the seventh, broke down their performances after the game.

Frelick on his approach against Tampa Bay reliever Ian Seymour prior to the home run:

“He’s pretty much a sinker guy. Was fouling them off. Missed a few good ones. And then late in the at-bat, he started throwing four seams and kind of caught me by surprise. Was able to spoil a few of those and was just really hoping, because I had seen the sinker earlier, that he would maybe leave one over the plate, and yeah, he did.”

Pratt on baseball being a redemptive game:

“I need to be better defensively, but it’s always awesome when you have an opportunity to kind of redeem yourself and make up for it. Yeah, probably wasn’t the best swing, but it did the job and gave us the opportunity to score a run. I’m not going to complain.”

Frelick on this team’s comeback mentality:

“It seems like we’ve had a lot of experience with it in the postseason so far. It feels like kind of down early almost every game so far. I’m not sure what the actual numbers are on that. Our offense is built to kind of chip away and wear on pitchers, which I think can be good when you’re trying to come back. At the same time, if we’re up, it’s the same exact approach.

I think just having an offense built like that is really good for when you’re down. Again, today we go down four. We know how good that guy (Rasmussen) is over there. Let’s just wear on him, see if we can get him out of the game, get to their bullpen and really break the thing open.”

Frelick on being a competitor:

“I don’t know, I just grew up playing a ton of different sports. I wasn’t always the most gifted athlete. Murph will tell you firsthand that it’s never pretty watching me take a swing or run or field or whatever it might be. I just always felt like that was where I was able to get my edge was just kind of turn everything into a competition. Put myself in the box and iso me and the pitcher. Or on defense, just iso me and the ball. How can I beat it?

I just feel like that’s how I’ve always played. I know Murph always tells me I can’t look flashy, I can’t look cool. That’s not me. He doesn’t want that. Not that I do either, but I’m glad that he allows me to play that way.”

And Frelick on Pratt:

“Just to highlight this guy real quick… has a little mistake early in the game, doesn’t slam a glove, doesn’t hang his head, nothing. Comes off the field and later in the game has a big at-bat and maybe swings at a ball or two, locks it back in. This is a rookie, like people forget. This is our shortstop. This is a rookie, and we trust him. I just hope that if there’s people, young kids watching, that was just really cool for me to see. Coop has grown up a lot — I don’t know if you would have done that maybe your first game, but it’s cool to see.

I just hope everybody understands how hard that is, especially in the moment. All you want to do is throw something or get mad, but you’ve got four at-bats. I was just proud of that.”

Frelick and Pratt on whether they thought Frelick’s deep fly out in the seventh inning had a chance to make it over the fence:

FRELICK: “Did you think it was gone?”

PRATT: “I thought it had a chance or at least off the wall.”

FRELICK: “I’ve never hit a homer that I thought was gone, so, no, I didn’t.” (Laughter.)

PRATT: “It looked good off the bat.”

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Pistons vs. Sixers preview: Detroit gets first look at new Sixers era

MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 23: John Collins #20 of the Detroit Pistons and Klay Thompson #11 of the Miami Heat wait for a rebound in game between the Detroit Pistons and the Miami Heat on October 23, 2026 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. 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 Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

It will be a battle of early-season undefeated teams as the 2-0 Detroit Pistons will visit the 3-0 Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday evening at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Both teams hope to contend for the Eastern Conference title, and both teams went about it in very different ways. The Pistons kept a young core intact, and their biggest move of the offseason was adding journeymen John Collins and Isaiah Joe. The Sixers, meanwhile, swung a huge trade of Paul George for Jaylen Brown and then convinced a little-known player named LeBron James of winding down his career in Philly.

Game Vitals

When: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Watch: TV: TV20 Detroit | Streaming: DAZN-Detroit
Odds: Pistons +1.5

Analysis

While this stands as a great test for the Pistons, they will not have their full complement of players. Jalen Duren has already been ruled out for tonight and the next two weeks with a hamstring injury suffered against the Miami Heat. The Pistons might also be without star defensive forward Ausar Thompson, who sustained an ankle injury against the Heat.

Duren left that game early in the second quarter and Thompson exited early in the third, and the Pistons were still able to cruise to victory over the Heat. But the Sixers should be a different story.

The good news with Duren out is that the Sixers are also expected to rest Joel Embiid after the big man notched a triple-double against the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday. LeBron, who sat out that game Saturday, is expected to suit up.

The Pistons know that Paul Reed is more than capable of making winning basketball plays whether in a starter or reserve role. More interesting, and potentially worrying, is what the Pistons will do with their backup center minutes. I imagine it will be an opportunity for the organization to look at John Collins as a backup five. It also is another opportunity for the Pistons to become the prolific 3-point shooting team nobody thinks they are.

Without Duren and Thompson, two non-shooters, potentially replaced in the starting lineup by Reed and Isaiah Joe (or maybe Javonte Green), and having Collins play minutes at the five, expect a lot of five-out action. Last season, the Pistons attempted just 30.9 threes per game (29th in the NBA). It’s early, but through two games, they are hoisting 39 per game. After tonight, they could rank in the top five in 3-point shooting volume in the NBA. Weird.

Projected Lineups

Detroit Pistons (2-0)

Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Isaiah Joe, John Collins, Paul Reed

Philadelphia 76ers (3-0)

Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, Adem Bona

Question of the Game

How many 3-point attempts for the Detroit Pistons tonight?

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Yaxel Lendeborg is delivering hope even as the Warriors stumble

Golden State Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg (1) drives towards the basket as Memphis Grizzlies forward Cameron Boozer (27) defends during the second quarter of their NBA in San Francisco, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. (Photo by Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

Being a young-player fan in the Bay has been a creative writing exercise for a while now. How many times has Dub Nation squinted at a flash in the third quarter of a blowout and built a whole career out of it? I’m thinking of Anthony Randolph truthers. We argue about the thin line between bad player fits and organizational rigidity . I’ve written plenty of those columns myself. The future was always the thing we got to talk about while the present belonged to Steph.

That’s why the first week of this season has felt strange. Generally most (good) teams let their rookies learn on company time, getting their feet wet without absorbing massive responsibility. The Warriors’ rookie Yaxel Lendeborg is already punching time on the clock with the season on the line.

Through three games, Big Yax is averaging 18.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists in about 34 minutes a night, and he’s hitting 44.4% from three. He opened with a steady 12 in Los Angeles. Against Memphis, he put up 18 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and three steals. Then in Phoenix, he hit six threes on his way to 26.

Now, let’s just take a step back and activate gold blooded homerism. Hey Stathead, how many players in Warriors history have averaged 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists for a season?

  • Wilt Chamberlain (1963–64, age 27): 36.9 points, 22.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists
  • Kevin Durant (2016–17, age 28): 25.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists
  • Rick Barry (1972–73, age 28): 22.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists
  • Nate Thurmond (1967–68, age 26): 20.5 points, 22.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists

That’s four Hall of Famers, with none none of them rookies. Three games doesn’t put Yaxel in that room, buuuut it’s a funny room to have him standing outside of, don’t cha think?

And for the blistering fireball of skepticism I’m sure awaits for me for daring to dream, let’s clarify that none of this is garbage-time production. Coach Steve Kerr is giving him starter minutes in close games because the team needs what he does right now. With Yaxel, I keep catching myself skipping the projection step entirely, because he’s already answering the questions I’d normally spend three years asking when checking out a prospect.

And it made me think of when James Wiseman was drafted and thrown into the fire on a depleted team. In December 2020, Klay was out with the Achilles, and the Warriors handed a 19-year-old the starting center job on opening night. Remember how Coach Kerr praised Wiseman at that time?

The Warriors are just three games into the season, but rookie James Wiseman has been the obvious choice when it comes to exciting storylines. “Now imagine doing that while playing three college games, then not playing at all for over a year, and then not having training camp. It’s insane. What we’re asking James to do is insane. He’s handling it beautifully.”

James Wiseman (2020–21, first 3 games, age 19): 14.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 0 assists, 1.3 blocks, 1.0 steal in 24.0 minutes, shooting 46.9% from the field (15-of-32), 83.3% from three (5-of-6) and 64.3% from the line (9-of-14)

Wiseman scored 19 in Brooklyn, then had 18 points and three blocks on Christmas in Milwaukee. I remember how that felt. The Warriors were getting blown out, but a 7-footer galloping to the rim gave us something to believe in. Every good night was a promise, and we were all collecting promises.

Yaxel arrived with the job already posted, and there’s a reason the Warriors felt comfortable posting it. He’s 24. He went from a warehouse job to junior college, then to UAB and Michigan, before the Warriors took him 11th. He’s had five years of college basketball to figure out who he is. Wiseman had three college games.

So these NBA three games don’t prove Yaxel was the better prospect as they show two very different starting points. Wiseman was a raw idea the Warriors hoped would turn into a player. Yaxel already arrived as a player, and nobody knows yet how much bigger his game can get. With Wiseman, you fell in love with the ceiling and with Yaxel, you’re watching the floor and noticing it’s already pretty high.

Wiseman’s story went sideways for reasons no three-game sample could have predicted. He tore his right meniscus at the end of his rookie year and then missed the entire next season. The early flashes were real but they just never got the runway.

Here’s the part that keeps nagging at me. The Warriors are 0-3. For years, the problem with Warriors rookies was timing. The kids weren’t ready yet, and the Steph clock doesn’t wait. The whole plan was to keep winning with the vets while the young guys caught up. Now the Warriors finally have a rookie who doesn’t need to catch up, and they’re still losing because of injuries and age. In Phoenix he was plus-5 in a nine-point loss. The rookie has held up his end of the deal more or less for three straight games, and the deal still isn’t closing. He’s still got a ways to go, duh. He’s shooting 66.7% at the line, and he turned it over six times against Memphis. His helpside defense has been trash according to his coach.

But still, as far as a rookies go, there’s a lot to like so far with Big Yax. For years, the question was whether the Warriors’ young players could help Steph win now. Three games into Yaxel’s career, the question is whether the Warriors can win while he’s helping them.

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Flyers Make More Roster Moves with Injury News Looming

As the Philadelphia Flyers eagerly anticipate the return of numerous injured veterans, another roster move has been made, freeing up a spot in the lineup if needed.

On Sunday, the Flyers announced that forward Jacob Gaucher has been re-assigned to the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms, where he'll get back to playing in a top-line role next to top center prospect Jett Luchanko.

With Gaucher off the NHL roster, the Flyers have exactly one spot available on their 23-man roster, with key veterans Travis Konecny, Cam York, and Owen Tippett candidates to be activated from injured reserve to fill the spot.

Konecny, 29, is yet to resume skating and has been out for the Flyers since Oct. 8. The Flyers' two-time 30-goal-scorer is likely at least a week or two away from a return at this point.

As for York, though, the 25-year-old has returned to full participation in practice for the Flyers, skating on a defense pair with Rasmus Ristolainen during Friday's session at the Flyers Training Center.

Ristolainen, of course, made his return against the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday afternoon, playing for the first time sinec Oct. 3.

Flyers Place Well-Respected Tough Guy on WaiversFlyers Place Well-Respected Tough Guy on WaiversThe Philadelphia Flyers have cut Garrett Wilson in anticipation of reinforcements returning from injured reserve.

Tippett has been considered day-to-day by the Flyers since suffering an upper-body injury in a game against Detroit on Oct. 15, and given that Gaucher, a forward, is the latest to leave the club, it certainly seems as though Tippett is next in line to come back from injury.

Tippett, 27, has been dealing with his injury for some time now, according to head coach Rick Tocchet, and the speedster finally got to a point where it was better to sit out and rest, having absorbed a heavy check from defenseman Moritz Seider in the Detroit game.

Of note, Gaucher served as the Flyers' fourth-line center for Saturday's game against Anaheim, slotting in between Denver Barkey and rookie winger Cole Knuble.

Previously, Gaucher had played wing next to Sean Couturier and Michael Bunting for the Flyers, though lines have regularly been in flux with the team's nine-game winless start, followed by a three-game win streak.

Although Tippett has largely struggled for the Flyers this season, scoring just one goal, one assist, and two points in nine games, his presence will surely be welcomed back by a Flyers team that has been featuring Noel Acciari in a top-six role as of late.

Tippett has scored at least 27 goals for the Flyers in three of the last four seasons, and if he can get going again, the Flyers will be much more likely to dig themselves out of the Eastern Conference's basement going forward.

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What To Make Of The Washington Nationals Catching Unit

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 31: Keibert Ruiz #20 of the Washington Nationals looks on prior to the game between the Miami Marlins and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Monday, August 31, 2026 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Alyssa McDaniel/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Entering 2026, the catcher position was one the Nationals were dying to get more production out of, as their catching room ranked dead last in fWAR in 2025 with -1.3. Keibert Ruiz had steadily been declining ever since being extended in early 2023, and Drew Millas and Riley Adams each had something to offer in a backup role, but probably not in a starting role. The acquisition of Harry Ford for Jose A. Ferrer in the offseason provided the Nats with a little more long-term clarity about the position, but probably not an immediate solution.

Turns out, the answer to the Nationals’ catching woes was just a commitment to better coaching; with the new staff in charge, the Nats’ catching room took a major leap, going from last in fWAR in 2025 to 17th in 2026. Now, as the Nationals enter a critical offseason for setting them up for success in the near future, let’s take a look at the Nats’ catching unit as a whole, and make sense of where playing time makes the most sense to go to in 2027.

Keibert Ruiz

Keibert Ruiz took the biggest leap of perhaps any National under the new coaching staff in 2026. He hit .280/.316/.443 with 10 home runs and a 105 wRC+, making him five percent better than the league-average hitter after adjusting for league and ballpark. His 1.9 fWAR was a considerable improvement from his -1.1 mark in 2025, and made him a completely viable starting catcher option for the Nats.

The defensive improvement mattered just as much. In 2025, Ruiz finished with minus-six blocks above average, plus-one caught stealing above average, and minus-nine framing runs. Those numbers illustrate why catching defense requires more than counting runners thrown out. His throwing was respectable relative to his opportunities, but other parts of his game remained costly.

In 2026, Statcast credited Ruiz with plus-two catching runs, including plus-three framing runs, zero blocking runs and minus-two throwing runs, along with a positive ABS contribution. Blocking runs and blocks above average are different measures, but the broader improvement is clear. Ruiz became a more complete catcher, even with room to improve against the running game.

Ruiz’s contract went from practically unmovable last season to now not bad value, and raises the question of if another team called the Nats with an offer for Ruiz, should they consider it? Ruiz certainly now looks like at least a decent platoon option behind the plate, but the presence of some other catching options in Triple-A could make him expendable depending on how the front office feels.

Harry Ford

Ford’s first season with the Nats was hardly a declaration that the position belonged to him. In 38 major-league games, he hit .190/.314/.350 with three home runs and an 87 wRC+. His Triple-A performance also fell short of expectations: a .223/.370/.335 line and 96 wRC+.

There were encouraging details beneath those numbers. Ford walked in 14.4 percent of his major-league plate appearances, showing that his patience could survive the jump. But getting on base cannot carry the entire offensive profile. The Nats need more consistent contact and damage when he swings.

Ruiz and Ford are a sensible catching platoon, as Ruiz performs better against righties and Ford performs better against lefties. Still, Ford may need to take a step forward either offensively or defensively in 2027 to guarantee his starting role moving forward.

Maxwell Romero Jr.

Romero delivered the loudest power numbers of the group, hitting 23 home runs across Double-A and Triple-A while batting .253/.364/.515. He reached Rochester in July, putting himself close enough to matter in the 2027 discussion.

Minor-league production does not automatically translate into major-league success. Nevertheless, that combination of power and on-base ability deserves consideration at a position where the Nats have struggled to generate offense.

Romero should enter spring training with a chance to push the established options. Depending on how Romero performs, Ruiz may become a luxury rather than a necessity for the Nats, one they could move to upgrade other areas such as the pitching staff. At minimum, he gives the Nationals another potential answer if injuries or poor performance disrupt their plans.

Where do Drew Millas and Caleb Lomavita fit?

Millas faces a tougher argument after hitting .185/.277/.262 with two home runs and a 53 wRC+ in 50 games. A backup catcher can survive below-average offense, but that level of production leaves little margin elsewhere. He looks more like depth than someone the Nats should pencil into its preferred tandem.

Lomavita remains a longer-term consideration. He hit 14 home runs with a .244/.311/.453 line and 102 wRC+ at Double-A. The power increased considerably from his six-homer 2025 season, though his overall offensive production was only slightly above league average. His season also ended on the injured list.

Entering 2027, Ruiz offers the strongest immediate case, Ford remains the key development priority, and Romero supplies intriguing pressure from below. For the first time in a long time, the Nats seem to have some solid options for how they move forward with their catching unit, rather than hoping for the best from what they had.

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Preview: Former Avs Colton, Drury Set to Face Colorado for First Time in Nashville

The Colorado Avalanche will take on the Nashville Predators Sunday evening at Bridgestone Arena, and two familiar faces will be waiting on the other side.

Ross Colton and Jack Drury are set to face their former team for the first time since leaving Colorado in the offseason.

Neither departure was exactly simple. Colton was traded to Nashville alongside goaltender Isak Posch in a cost-cutting move that brought goaltender Magnus Chrona and two draft picks back to Colorado. Drury, meanwhile, was dealt with forward Chase Bradley and a draft pick in exchange for Fedor Svechkov and Zachary L’Heureux. Drury’s situation was a little more complicated, as the restricted free agent turned down multiple contract offers, leaving Colorado with limited options.

Nathan MacKinnon following Colorado's 6-3 win over Tampa.

Still, both players left their mark on the Avalanche. Drury was a reliable fourth-line center who brought defensive responsibility and consistency, while Colton provided a physical edge and timely scoring. After a disappointing regular season that saw him benched for Colorado’s first two playoff games, Colton found his game again and delivered some much-needed bite when the stakes were highest. Unfortunately, even that wasn’t enough to save the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avalanche from a second-round sweep at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights.

Colton finished his Colorado tenure with 42 goals and 51 assists in 214 regular-season games, adding three goals and six assists in 23 playoff appearances. Drury, who arrived in Colorado as part of the Mikko Rantanen trade with Carolina, recorded 15 goals and 21 assists in 115 regular-season games. He also chipped in four goals and three assists in 20 playoff games, including a huge goal in Game 3 against Vegas that gave Colorado a 3-0 lead before the Avs let the game slip away late.

Now, both will get their first crack at their former club in Predators colors.

Avalanche Looking to Keep the Offense Rolling

Nashville enters Sunday’s matchup at 3-3-4 through 10 games, while Colorado is looking to build on Friday’s 6-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning after dropping its previous two contests.

And yes, Artturi Lehkonen — not Nathan MacKinnon — leads the Avalanche in goals. Lehkonen has found the net nine times in 11 games, while MacKinnon continues to do MacKinnon things with seven goals and 13 assists for a team-high 20 points.

MacKinnon has two goals and four assists in his last five games against Nashville, while Martin Necas has recorded one goal and two assists over his last five meetings with the Predators. Lehkonen, meanwhile, has been a thorn in Nashville’s side throughout his career, piling up seven goals and seven assists against the Predators.

For Nashville, former Avalanche forward Ryan O’Reilly is coming off a hat trick against Colorado in the teams’ most recent meeting on January 16. Filip Forsberg has scored 20 career goals against the Avs in 43 games, including three in his last five, while Steven Stamkos has 12 goals against Colorado in 31 career matchups.

So, if the Avalanche defense was hoping for a quiet night, that probably isn’t happening.

A Goaltending Reunion, Too

The expected matchup in net is Scott Wedgewood against Justus Annunen, adding another layer of intrigue to an already familiar-feeling game.

The two goaltenders were traded for one another in a series of moves following Colorado’s acquisition of Mackenzie Blackwood in exchange for Alexandar Georgiev. Now, they’ll face off against their former organizations, with both looking to make their old teams regret letting them go.

Wedgewood has posted a 2.23 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage in seven career games against Nashville, giving Colorado a steady option between the pipes. Annunen, meanwhile, lost his only career appearance against the Avalanche despite turning in a respectable .925 save percentage.

With former teammates on both sides, a couple of familiar goal scorers and a goaltending matchup with a little extra history, Sunday’s game has plenty of potential storylines.

The puck drops at 6 p.m. local time from Bridgestone Arena. And for Colton and Drury, it’s their first chance to show the Avalanche exactly what they’re missing.

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Jalen Duren injury update: Pistons All-Star will miss time with hamstring injury

DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 20: Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons looks on during the game against the Boston Celtics on October 20, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Detroit Pistons will be without their All-Star center for at least two weeks as the big man sits with a right hamstring strain.

Duren had started the season hot, lighting up the preseason and scoring 22 points and securing nine rebounds in Detroit’s opening-day win against the Boston Celtics. He played just 10 minutes against the Miami Heat before suffering the hamstring strain early in the second quarter.

The injury is a blow to a young big man who was eager to prove he was worth the $200 million deal he signed this offseason with Detroit, and will test Detroit’s big man depth. The Pistons traded away backup center Isaiah Stewart this offseason. That left Paul Reed to go from fan favorite third-string center to fan-favorite backup center, and now he gets a chance to be a fan-favorite starter.

Technically behind him will be Tolu Smith, who is in Detroit on a standard deal after showing promise as a two-way player the past few seasons. However, it is more likely that the Pistons will move to shift starting power forward John Collins into more small-ball five minutes while Reed rests.

Collins has had an up-and-down start to his Pistons tenure, and I guess this will be a great extended opportunity to see just how well Collins can hold up (or not) as a five in Detroit’s defensive system.

Pistons forward Ausar Thompson also suffered an ankle injury against the Heat, and he is listed as questionable against the Philadelphia 76ers.

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Freddy Peralta was beloved in Milwaukee. Now he stands in Brewers’ World Series path

ST. PETERSURG, FL — He’s one of their best friends, a beloved former co-worker, who now lives and works 1,200 miles away from Milwaukee.

They’ll forever cherish their memories together and still speak of him as if he’s family, but they realize it’ll be altogether different when they see him again Monday.

You see, he now is the enemy.

The Milwaukee Brewers, halfway to achieving their dream of winning the first World Series championship in franchise history, know that Freddy Peralta, now employed by the Tampa Bay Rays, is a huge obstacle standing in their way.

The Brewers will face Peralta on Monday at 8 p.m. ET at Tropicana Field knowing that if they win, they’ll have a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven World Series, an advantage that has never been squandered in World Series history.

And if the Brewers lose, it could flip the World Series script in a hurry, with the Rays having the best home-field advantage in baseball and certainly capable of winning three games in a row at "The Trop" and forcing the Series back to Milwaukee.

The Brewers, who traded Peralta last winter believing they’d have no prayer of keeping him as a free agent, now face the possibility of having Peralta ruin everything. They traded him to the New York Mets, believing it would be the last they’d see of him after he looked like a shell of himself with his struggles in Queens. Only now to see Peralta become resurrected after being traded to the Rays at the deadline and resurface as one of the finest pitchers in the game.

It leaves Peralta feeling a bit awkward with Brewers fans wildly cheering him during pregame introductions before Game 1, thanking him for everything he did while with the Brewers, and wishing him well in his future endeavors. Yet, with one commanding performance, they could be cursing him all winter, enraged that the Brewers ever traded him away.

"It is a little weird," Peralta says. "I've been trying to focus on what I have to focus on because even when I came out for practice, all the people, all the fans here (were) showing me some love, screaming my name. When I went to the bullpen last night, they were telling me, 'We still love you.'

"It's amazing, I just have to be professional and keep everything in the right direction."

A whole lot easier said than done facing some of his best friends in life.

Peralta, 30, spent the first eight years of his major-league career with the Brewers, becoming a two-time All-Star, winning 70 games, striking out 1,153 batters, and becoming an ultimate teammate and fan favorite. The Brewers wanted to keep him, but talks of a contract extension went nowhere so they traded him to the Mets.

Who’d imagine they’d now be facing him at the most critical time in the franchise’s history?

"I love that kid, man," Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. "I just do. This kid is just joyful. It's just a beautiful spirit that comes to do his job. He doesn't look at himself as better than others. He's just a great teammate. If you can't be around him for a while and not feel warm."

Rays pitcher Freddy Peralta reacts after the third inning of Game 6 of the ALCS at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida on Oct. 19, 2026.

The feeling is mutual, Peralta says, who can’t stop raving about his experience in Milwaukee, knowing that if the Rays don’t win the World Series, he’d at least be thrilled for his buddies.

"I was very happy for them," Peralta said. "I texted some of the guys wishing them the best and they answered back telling me, 'We want to play against you guys because we want to see you.'

"But I want to make something clear. When I'm on the mound, I see everything like a competition. … I know that sometimes you have people that you love on the other side, but you have to do what you have to do. Then everything takes care of itself."

Certainly, this is a different Peralta than the one who struggled so badly with the Mets. He went 17-6 with a 2.70 ERA last season with the Brewers, but in New York, he was just 5-9 with a 4.99 ERA, struggling to even pitch five innings in starts.

What in the world happened?

"Sometimes," he said, "I ask the same question myself. I don't try to make excuses. I was feeling really good physically. I was trying to give the best of myself as always. I prepared how I should be preparing. But I don't know, for some reason, things weren't going my way. I was feeling bad because I couldn't do anything for them. I wasn't able to perform well over there. …

"I think that it was a lot of things going on for me and for the team too because we weren't playing well in general, and we were trying to make adjustments."

And, yes, besides the adjustments he made on the mound, it sure helps going from a flawed, defensive-challenged team like the Mets to the powerful Rays, who have one of the game’s best defenses.

"That's a huge part, man," Peralta said. "Sometimes I tell myself, just whatever I'm going to throw, just put it in the sun. Just looking for the hitter to hit the ball because I trust all the guys I have behind me. It’s been working pretty well."

Oh, to say the least.

Peralta is 7-0 with an 0.81 ERA over his last seven starts, including a 0.79 ERA in three postseason appearances, earning the American League Championship Series MVP.

"When I got traded here, I just felt different," Peralta said. "For some reason I got here, and I felt like myself again."

The Rays made several key adjustments with Peralta, pitching exclusively out of the stretch, tweaking his stride, using a higher arm slot, moving him to the third-base side of the pitching rubber. Voila! His fastball got faster, hitting 99.4-mph on the radar gun in the ALCS – the fastest pitch of his career – with 71 of his 99 pitches fastballs in his Game 2 start against Cleveland.

"We see that he’s in his element, man," Murphy said. "That’s Fastball Freddy."

Says Rays manager Kevin Cash: "I feel like he’s kind of come back to being Freddy Peralta with us."

Yep, the same Peralta that could derail the Brewers’ plans for a clinching in St. Petersburg, with Peralta still holding out hope that he can still make one postseason start on that same mound that was home for so many years at American Family Field.

"I know how special it is to pitch on this mound here in Milwaukee," Peralta said. "I would like to pitch here during the postseason."

To do so, that would require a Game 7.

And for the potential of a Game 7, it would require Peralta to shut down his former teammates Monday night, giving the Rays a chance to still make this an intriguing series.

"Crazy," Peralta said.

He broke into an expansive grin, and smiled.

No further words were needed.

Follow Bob Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Freddy Peralta was beloved in Milwaukee. Now he stands in Brewers’ World Series path

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Alex Tuch Powers Capitals Past Former Club, Sabres Lose Third Straight

The Buffalo Sabres have continued to put forth incomplete efforts this season, that is costing them valuable points in the standings. The Sabres have dug themselves early holes in most of their first 11 games, but the club uncharacteristically took an early lead, before squandering it in the second period in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on Saturday. 

Former Sabre Alex Tuch scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner with 1:18 remaining in overtime, to hand Buffalo their third straight loss. Jack Quinn and Josh Doan staked Buffalo to a 2-0 lead, but Tuch and Dylan Strome erased that lead, and Strome scored his second of the game to give Washington the lead after 40 minutes. Noah Ostlund tied the contest in the third, but the Sabres were outshot in the game 34-21. 

"There were mistakes  by  both  teams.  They  capitalized  on  a  couple  of  ours,  and  I  thought  we  could  have  capitalized  on  a  couple  of  theirs  late," Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff. " I  thought  we  possessed  it  for  a  while (in overtime)..  We  just  didn't  make  the  right  decision  on  a  couple  plays.  I  thought  we  could  have, tried  to  get  some  subtle  picks  in. The  play  on  the  goal,  we're  still  in  man-on-man  coverage,  and one  of  our  forwards let  go. 

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Owen Power off to strong start for the Sabres

Tuch, who leads the Capitals with seven goals, got a fortunate bounce off of a Buffalo player past goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen late in the first, and scored from the slot to give Washington the win. 

"I  thought (Alex) played  well.  I  guess  you'd  have  to  say (he was)) pretty  fortunate  on  the  first  one." Ruff said. " I  think  he  had  one  or  two  looks  in  the  game,  but  I  thought  he  played  well.  I  just  expected  him  to  play  well,  and  I  thought  he  did."

The Sabres were without forward Jiri Kulich, but Ruff indicated that he was feeling better after getting hit with a puck in the face at practice on Friday. The 22-year-old is hoping to join the club for the California leg of their four-game road swing, but will have to pass tests in Buffalo before reuniting with his teammates. The head coach also indicated that with Alex Lyon still not ready to play, backup Colten Ellis will see action in one of the three games against San Jose, Anaheim or Los Angeles. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo 

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Suns’ point guard rotation warrants patience after two games

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 24: Devin Booker #15 of the Phoenix Suns passes the ball around Will Richard #3 of the Golden State Warriors during the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 24, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Warriors 131-122. 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Well, that didn’t take long, did it? It appears that Devin Booker is the primary point guard on this team rather than Jalen Green. It’s Point Book SZN once again, isn’t it?

“Settle down, Voita! We’re two games in!” I know, I know. But I am here to observe and report, and therefore I am reporting what I have observed through the first two games of the 2026-27 season. Ultimately, the fact that the sample size is so small has merit. We don’t know what this team is yet. Nor do they. But that doesn’t mean that I’m going to sit on my couch until game 20 on December 20 to note what is occurring.

This past offseason, there were rumors floating around that the Phoenix Suns wanted to see more facilitation out of Jalen Green. And that would be the ideal scenario for the organization because, after all, they have Devin Booker. He’s a shooting guard, and if you can put him alongside somebody capable of taking the reins and running the offense, Booker becomes an even more potent player. He can navigate off-ball screens, find himself open for catch-and-shoot opportunities, and operate within the spaces a shooting guard typically occupies.

But wanting something to happen doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to occur. And through the first two games of the season, it appears that Point Book remains.

Again, I recognize that it’s a small sample size. Perhaps it’s a matter of survival, with the Suns prioritizing getting a win on the board before fully integrating Jalen Green into the point guard role. And you’ll have people tell you that in the modern NBA, there really isn’t such a thing as a true point guard, to which I agree. But if the goal is to have Jalen Green become more of a facilitator, the early returns aren’t particularly encouraging.

Because it’s Devin Booker who possesses a 27.3% assist percentage, while Jalen Green sits at 11.4%. It’s Booker with a 1.5 assist-to-turnover ratio, compared to Green’s 0.8. Booker has generated 22 points off assists, while Green has generated 9. And when it comes to potential assists, Booker has 7 compared to Green’s 8.

The funny thing is, when you look at Collin Gillespie, who’s coming off the bench with the second unit, his numbers are better than both of them. Gillespie currently possesses a 28.2% assist percentage and a 1.83 assist-to-turnover ratio. His 28 points generated off assists lead the team, while his 11 potential assists rank second, one behind Miles Bridges.

Note the graphic above represents 3 minutes on the Gillespie/Booker/Brooks/Bridges/Maluach combo. And a glorious 3 minutes it was.

It’s too early to start banging the drum for Collin Gillespie to be in the starting lineup alongside Devin Booker to alleviate some of the responsibility on Booker’s shoulders. But as we saw Saturday night against the Warriors, that’s going to be a significant burden if Booker has to score 43 points every night to help this team win while also serving as its primary facilitator and distributor.

As the season progresses, we’ll have more opportunities to see what it looks like when Jalen Green assumes more of those facilitation and distribution responsibilities. From there, decisions can be made. Because remember, this is a year of evaluation for Jalen Green. How does he respond to the role being asked of him? And how does he handle the adversity that comes with it when success in that role doesn’t immediately follow?

It’s going to take time and repetition for the organization to fully understand his skill set and how it complements the players around him. The fan base? We’re not nearly as patient. We see something that isn’t working, pound our fists on the table, and demand that it be changed. If there’s anything we’ve learned over the years, it’s that things don’t necessarily work that way. This isn’t a video game where you can simply swap players in and out. It takes time, the management of personalities, and a willingness to provide players with opportunities rather than making decisions based on knee-jerk reactions.

But this is another footnote in the collection of things we’re observing throughout the season. And through two games, this is where we stand.

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What if the Yankees could amnesty a contract?

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 25: Giancarlo Stanton #27 embraces Ryan McMahon #19 of the New York Yankees after scoring during the second inning against the San Francisco Giants on Opening Day at Oracle Park on March 25, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

A few days ago, our good friends at The Good Phight in a similar boat—a star-studded, expensive squad that failed to live up to expectations—featured an article that resonates with every team of this profile, one discussing the hypothetical scenario of being able to amnesty a contract. After all, what big-market team is complete without the looming presence of at least one regrettable long-term deal, paying a former star a sum that’s not justified by their current production but more so the back of their baseball card? Read about it here as they argue for the merits of moving on from Aaron Nola in Philly.

Encouraged to run with the idea, we’ll look at who the Yankees would attempt to offload in a scramble to recoup some spending cash, having finished the 2026 season with a payroll of $313 million. First and foremost, as expensive as the Yankees’ active payroll is, the number of long-term commitments isn’t as large as you might expect. The likes of Gerrit Cole, Giancarlo Stanton, and Carlos Rodón all see their contracts end in two years or fewer, and those signed to long-term deals are essential to this team’s current contending window: the likes of Max Fried, Aaron Judge, and Cody Bellinger. In years past we might have had our pick of options in this exercise; happily, it’s slim pickings now.

Out of that group, the only one who arguably could get amnestied is Stanton, whose recent chapters of his Yankees tenure have been spent primarily on the injured list—sincerely placing in jeopardy the notion of him at any point being able to produce consistently in the Bronx. Before getting to Stanton’s contract, there is one more player who could feasibly fit as an amnesty candidate, even if his contract is only on the books for one more year: third baseman Ryan McMahon.

To assess which of these two gets the nomination neither would like, we must assess their respective contracts. Stanton is owed $25 million in 2027, of which $10 million will be covered by the Marlins. Stanton has a team option for 2028 worth $25 million, with a $10 million buyout, the exact figure the Marlins owe the Yankees for that year as well. In essence, the Yankees owe Stanton a minimum of $15 million. McMahon is entering the final year of his deal in 2027, with the Yankees owing their starting third baseman $16 million.

It’s not as simple as looking at those figures; although the Yankees may owe Stanton one million less, the luxury tax figure for his deal in 2027 is $22 million. Ultimately, that’s the number that would theoretically count toward whatever version of the tax exists next year, making moving on from Stanton a more appealing option than McMahon from a financial point of view.

On the field, Stanton seemed to move from an asset whose regular-season reliability is extremely questionable to one whose likeliest scenario is that of being a non-factor after spending nearly all of 2026 hurt. Given his postseason impact and reliable skill when healthy in recent seasons, Stanton would need very little to compete with McMahon here. However, even that very little seems unlikely to come at this point, or at the very least, it’s not a reasonable gamble to make.

For all of his faults, McMahon is still capable of bringing a plus glove at third, even if 2026 was a down year for him defensively. Push comes to shove, you might look at him as a reasonable bench option. With or without McMahon, the Yankees can look at third base this winter. Without Stanton, you free up the DH position to rotate and keep players fresh or acquire a standout bat—not to mention the extra money in the budget given the luxury tax figures. Put it all together, and the choice becomes clear that the contract to wipe clean would be Stanton’s.

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Joe Marchant recalled to England training squad for Nations Championship

  • Sale centre returns after ending his two-year spell in France

  • Gloucester’s Will Joseph also in Steve Borthwick’s 36-man squad

Joe Marchant has been recalled to England’s training squad for next month’s Nations Championship as Steve Borthwick faces injury disruption to his midfield options.

Marchant receives his first England call-up since the 2023 World Cup after his two-year spell at Stade Français ended with his return to the Gallagher Prem with Sale this season, making him available for selection once again.

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Nets vs. Pacers: Brooklyn returns home looking for first win

CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 24: Egor Demin #8 of the Brooklyn Nets celebrates after scoring during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on October 24, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavs defeated the Nets 125-121. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Brooklyn Nets are still searching for their first win of the 2026-27 season, and they’ll have to find it on tired legs.

Brooklyn nearly erased a 22-point deficit in Cleveland on Saturday, outscoring the Cavaliers 41-29 in the fourth quarter before falling 125-121. The Nets return to Barclays Center on Sunday to face the Indiana Pacers in the second game of a back-to-back.

Meanwhile, sixth-overall pick Mikel Brown Jr. won’t be active for this one. He’s already on a minutes restriction and it looks like the Nets will keep him out of second night of back-to-backs for the foreseeable future. He rolled his ankle in the preseason.

But is there something else we should be keeping an eye on? In today’s injury report, the Nets listed Mikel Brown Jr. out with “Back, Injury Management.” He missed time during training camp due to a rolled ankle, but this is the first we’ve heard anything related to his back. Brown Jr. missed 12 games including the NCAA tournament last season in Louisville. Should we be worried?

Indiana arrives in Brooklyn coming off their own 16-point loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

Game Info & How to Watch

  • Matchup: Brooklyn Nets (0-2) vs. Indiana Pacers (1-1)
  • Time: 6:00 PM ET
  • Location: Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York
  • TV/Streaming: YES Network and DAZN

Nets-Pacers Injury Report

Brooklyn Nets

  • Mikel Brown Jr. — OUT
  • Tyler Bilodeau — OUT

Indiana Pacers

  • T.J. McConnell – OUT
  • Johnny Furphy – OUT
  • Ben Sheppard – OUT
  • Braden Smith – DOUBTFUL

Check the official injury report closer to tip-off for any updates.

The Game

The Nets showed fight in Cleveland with the comeback. We can’t call it a win, but we can call it encouraging.

Julius Randle is averaging 28 points, seven rebounds, and six assists through two games, while Michael Porter Jr. is averaging 27 points and seven rebounds. Brooklyn trailed by double digits most of the game, but these two kept Brooklyn afloat. That’s also when Egor Dëmin and Mikel Brown Jr. joined in on the fun.

Day’Ron Sharpe fell into foul trouble for a second consecutive game. He picked up a sixth foul – a flagrant – with 6:54 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Nets aren’t built with much size at the five after Sharpe. In the season opener, the Charlotte Hornets shot 17-of-22 at the rim. Brooklyn followed with a good effort on the boards on Saturday, but they still lost the paint battle 46-30 and came up with one blocked shot compared to Cleveland’s 10.

The Indiana Pacers feature a star-studded frontcourt with Pascal Siakam at the four and Ivica Zubac at the five. It’s certainly something to watch out for as the Nets try defending the paint — with a ton of weight on Sharpe.

Player to Watch: Ivica Zubac

First and foremost, it’s good to see Tyrese Haliburton back on the court and playing well. He’s always a player to watch and we all know that. For this particular match, keeping Zubac off the glass is a task that’s about 7-feet too tall. Brooklyn has struggled to contain bigs in recent years.

Zubac’s size and rebounding make him a difficult matchup for Brooklyn, particularly with the Nets struggling to protect the rim and contain opposing centers. Indiana can stretch the floor and put pressure on Brooklyn’s interior defense, forcing the Nets to account for both perimeter movement and Zubac’s presence around the basket.

If Day’Ron Sharpe gets into foul trouble again, Brooklyn could struggle to defend Zubac inside and limit Indiana’s second-chance opportunities.

Hornets center Moussa Diabate finished with 17 points, eight rebounds (five offensive), and five steals against the Nets. Cavs center Jarrett Allen logged 21 points, eight rebounds and two blocks on 7-of-8 shooting in yesterday’s game.

Zubac is star and he’s shown it thus far, averaging 12.5 points, 13 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots per game. Brooklyn struggles here most — it only feels inevitable Zubac gives them trouble.

Will Mikel Brown Jr. & Egor Dëmin play more together?

Jordi Fernández was asked whether he had seen enough from Brown and Dëmin together to want to use that pairing more often when Brown’s minutes restriction allows it.

His answer offered a glimpse into how he approaches lineup decisions (H/T Brian Lewis):

“Yeah. The way I would explain this is when you’re coaching the game, if you’re coaching thinking you want to play certain guys together, it’s when usually you’re doing it for the wrong reasons. And a lot of times you have to coach the game feeling the game,” Fernández said. “Obviously you have a preparation, you look at their matchups, their sub patterns, yours, your lineups, and you have an ideal way of how you want the game to go. But then when the game goes, there’s fouls, there’s guys that play better, worse. Then you have to start coaching the game and see who can guard this guy or all these things. And I think then the game flows.”

Then…

“Then that’s when I felt like it was a good moment to play together. Did I plan it? No. But a lot of times it’s how basketball is. We have all this preparation, the coaches do a great job putting all these pages and film and so forth. But then at the end of the day, you have to react to a lot of things that are not controllable in the game. And that’s why I know that I’ve gotten this question before, would I like to play them together? Yes. But if I’m just thinking about playing them together, I may not do what’s best for the group at the moment. So that’s the way I feel.”

From The Vault

On this date in 1964, The Rolling Stones made their first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show

The Stones opened with Chuck Berry’s “Around and Around” and fans screamed so loudly that Sullivan struggled to speak over them, repeatedly asking that the crowd quiet down. CBS received complaints after the broadcast and Ed Sullivan reportedly said: “I promise you they’ll never be back on our show. It took me 17 years to build this show and I’m not going to have it destroyed in a matter of weeks” and wrote to them, “I would like to learn from you, whether your young men have reformed in the matter of dress and shampoo.”

So much for that. The Rolling Stones went on to make five more appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show through 1969… and they’re still making music.

Read More: Fear the Sword, Sports Illustrated, SB Nation NBA, New York Post, New York Daily News, Clutch Points, Nets Wire, Nets Insider, SNY, Yahoo Sports, CBS Sports, Steve’s Newsletter.

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Sunday Open Thread

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 24: Fans celebrate after Sal Frelick #10 of the Milwaukee Brewers hit a solo home run against the Tampa Bay Rays during the sixth inning in game two of the 2026 World Series at American Family Field on October 24, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images

There is no Jays news and I’ve got nothing to talk about, so lets have an open thread.

We had the second great World Series game in a row last night. I like watching baseball (or any sport) when I have no rooting interest. After a season of caring about every Jays game, I like watching without sweating the outcome. I have a friend who keeps telling me I need to pick an NFL team, but I’d rather just watch. If there is a good play, I’m happy.

I can watch almost any sport. I guess cause my dad would watch almost any sport. But he always picked a team, and that team was always getting robbed by the referees. I get now that it was stress relief, and likely healthier than yelling at his son, but it made watching sports hard. He got so worked up about it. I took to leaving the house when sports were on.

Every now and then, I feel that kind tension building up in me while watching the Jays, but I can bring it back down. As much as sometimes I hate an umpire’s call, I know they aren’t trying to mess with the Jays. The world isn’t out to get a team because I cheer for them.

Anyway, use the thread to discuss anything you like. Maybe the ugly orange/red jerseys the Texans are wearing in the game I’m watching. Or anything else.