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With the season looming and the parade of bad news from Spring Training (despite the Braves being 2026 Spring Training champions, heh), I wanted to throw this out there as a question that you, ultimately, will be scored and evaluated on. Chances are, you have strong opinions on this topic; here’s your chance to get something (or not) for your convictions.

The Braves currently project to have MLB’s tenth-most productive rotation. This is based on a lot of very good Chris Sale, three-fourths-of-the-season’s worth of above-average Spencer Strider, an effective Reynaldo Lopez that basically hangs around for four months, a good second-half-ish from Spencer Schwellenbach, among the other guys doing some stuff (Grant Holmes, Bryce Elder, Hurston Waldrep). That said, the tenor of pretty much all conversation regarding the Braves and their rotation is highly negative, more akin to “Will the rotation injuries cut off a comeback attempt before it even begins?” than anything else.

Of course, a rotation does not a team make. While no team can do this for a whole season, I’m reminded of the silliness of June 2023, where the Braves had something like the worst rotation production in MLB (second-worst FIP- ahead of only the Rockies), but went 21-4 because they just obliterated other teams even more soundly than their own Jared Shusters were getting wrecked. So, without mincing words too much, the following outcomes are possible:

A. The rotation is good

For purposes of discussion, let’s say “good” is tenth or better in MLB in fWAR when it’s all said and done. The variants here are:

• A1: The rotation is good, and the Braves make the playoffs.
• A2: The rotation is good, but the Braves miss the playoffs (probably due to offensive deficiency, but could also be due to weird one-run game stuff, or poor defense, or a disastrous bullpen).

Note that for this variant, and the ones below, health is automatically baked in to rotation quality, as more injuries will lead to the Braves plumbing the depth chart even further, and presumably getting less fWAR for their efforts when doing so.

B. The rotation is meh

Let’s say “meh” is somewhere between 11th and 20th in MLB in fWAR. Let’s also expand the variants a bit:

• B1: The rotation is meh, the Braves make the playoffs, and the fWAR differential between the Braves’ rotation fWAR and the tenth-ranked team’s fWAR would have any implications for playoff rounds (i.e., the Braves would have a top-two record in the NL with added fWAR up to the tenth-best rotation).
• B2: The rotation is meh, the Braves make the playoffs, and the fWAR differential noted above would not have any implications for playoff rounds.
• B3: The rotation is meh, the Braves miss the playoffs, but would’ve made the playoffs if they had extra wins equal to the fWAR differential between their rotation and the tenth-ranked rotation.
• B4: The rotation is meh, the Braves miss the playoffs, and would not have made the playoffs if they had extra wins equal to the fWAR differential between their rotation and the tenth-ranked rotation.

Which of course, leaves us with…

C. The rotation is bad

Same deal here as for the category above. “Bad” is, of course, what’s left: a bottom ten performance by fWAR.

• C1: The rotation is bad, the Braves make the playoffs, and the fWAR differential between the Braves’ rotation fWAR and the tenth-ranked team’s fWAR would have any implications for playoff rounds (i.e., the Braves would have a top-two record in the NL with added fWAR up to the tenth-best rotation). This is the June 2023 option.
• C2: The rotation is bad, the Braves make the playoffs, and the fWAR differential noted above would not have any implications for playoff rounds.
• C3: The rotation is bad, the Braves miss the playoffs, but would’ve made the playoffs if they had extra wins equal to the fWAR differential between their rotation and the tenth-ranked rotation.
• C4: The rotation is bad, the Braves miss the playoffs, and would not have made the playoffs if they had extra wins equal to the fWAR differential between their rotation and the tenth-ranked rotation.

Basically, I’m asking you to first pick your prognostication for the rotation (category/letter), and then select the implication of that prognostication, if any, for the standings at the end of the season (subcategory/number).

And, as all of these, let’s see some confidence attestations, too. Pair your selection of one of the ten variants above with a confidence number from 1 to 5, where 5 is “I am sure this will happen” and 1 is “I have no idea whatsoever what will happen but picked something to participate.” No partial confidences, a whole number that is 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 only.

Anyway, have at it. I’m curious to see where this ends up.

Henry Bolte might have been the MVP of the A’s 2026 camp and even though he was optioned before the end of spring training he has put himself squarely on the map for an early call up whenever there is a need in the outfield. I sat down with Bolte on Saturday, March 14th, to discuss his approach, his progress, his personality, and what he thinks of Cindi. Unfortunately, we ran out of time just before we got to the Cindi part but enjoy the rest.

Nico: My understanding is it’s Henry BOL-tay.

Bolte: That’s right.

Nico: So I’m going to get that right and earn brownie points. K, first question…the reputation that you came with as a minor leaguer was that you were very cerebral and that maybe sometimes you out thought yourself or got in your own head, that’s what we heard a couple of years ago. I’m curious what your assessment is. Was that accurate or who are you as a person trying to become a hitter?

Bolte: Yeah, I think there’s definitely a mental aspect to it. You know, sometimes it can be too too much. I always joke sometimes the simpler or more stupid in a sense you can be at the plate — not actually but the more simple you can make it at the plate a lot of the times you can have a little more success or it becomes a little bit easier simplifying things .

So I think yeah that’s that’s something to balance: you want to have a good approach, being be informed going up to the plate with what you’re dealing with, but then at the end of the day you got to go compete. It’s kind of a battle at the plate every time, so you want to make sure that that’s the main focus.

Nico: So before we get more into the baseball, let’s continue on with the person. I would love to know who you are, who you were as a kid. Obviously, any wacky stories are appreciated, but just like, what is your personality and what is it that you bring to hitting and defense?

Bolte: I kind of did a little bit of everything when I was younger in terms of sports (but) baseball stuck for me as the main sport. I played seriously, like high school and then even middle school. But when I was younger, I was trying to do a little bit of everything. My parents were super supportive of getting me out and trying different stuff, do whatever, play different sports, be active.

And so in that I was always competing with my friends, my brother, whatever it was, being competitive. So that’s something I think I’ve carried out through my life. It’s just become part of my life. me so it’s something that I bring to the field, and yeah I think that’s that’s something from being a young kid just trying everything. It’s kind of shaped me a little bit for who I am now.

Nico: Older brother?

Bolte: Yes yeah.

Nico: So were you often playing with older kids?

Bolte: Not a ton but like maybe stuff around the house with him. I had my own age friends and there was a good friend group that I kind of went through and played as a young kid all these sports with. So not too much, but here and there, yeah.

Nico: So the reason I ask is that as a professional that’s pretty much been your lot, which is you are always competing against guys who are older, because you were drafted out of high school. What has that been like in terms of your confidence, in terms of your growth?

Bolte: I think it’s an adjustment, you know, it’s an adjustment for anyone coming into professional baseball, purely just off of how many games you play, the day-to-day is much different than certainly high school, college, I would imagine the same. But yeah, it’s an adjustment. It’s maybe a little bit more of a shock or a ‘sink or swim’ thing for a high school kid at least.

You kind of have to get in and it’s just the reality that you’re playing against older kids now for a little while and so it’s something to just figure out. And so I think it helps you grow, anytime you’re around players who are better than you. You know, it’s that way in baseball and in life. You want to be around people who are at the level you want to be at, and it’ll kind of push you to be better. So I think it’s always a good thing.

Nico: Now coming into this spring training, you’ve always had pretty much the same strength and weakness profile, which is really toolsy, exciting prospect, strikes out too much. And what I wanted to know is from a more personal point of view, it can’t feel good to have a high K -rate when that’s what you’re working on, and you’re making adjustments. And it has improved every year, but it’s always been that. dark cloud hanging over. What has that been like for you, just on a personal level?

Bolte: You always want to be a well-rounded player, so anything that you have that’s an area for improvement you want to work on. That’s a funny one because I think it can be a thing that works against you to focus too much on it. So there are times where trying to cut down on swing and miss leads to more. And you want to take at bats with the intention of doing damage and putting up a good at bat. And that’s really the focus.

So that’s been, the last couple of years, the real focus of going into at bats, of just trying to have a quality at bat and win the at bat. And the result will take care of itself. You’ll find that that is the focus. You’ll strike out less. And then not worrying about it. It’s you want — to put the ball in play and make things happen on the field and give yourself a chance. But at the end of the day, sometimes you’re going to strike out and sometimes it can be a product of doing damage. If you look up and there’s guys punching out and putting up good numbers, it’s not as big of a deal.

So I think if you can produce still, you don’t want to want to punch out, but you don’t want to focus on it too much, because if you can go out there and put up a good at bat, produce good things will probably happen. And that number will probably be be down.

Nico: So now you fast forward to spring training. Your stats are starting to look like a misprint. {Bolte was hitting .375/.419/.675, with 3 HR in 40 AB, when he was optioned.} I mean, it’s really amazing the spring you’re having. Has something changed? Has something shifted? Is there something you can point to to say, “Hey, this is why now I’m doing the damage that I’ve been talking about?”

Bolte: No, I think just just keeping that that mentality of going out there and trying to win every at bat and really every pitch individually. You know if you keep that focus, you’re able to turn the page quicker from pitch to pitch, at bat to at bat, and keep a fresh mindset. I’m going up there trying to treat every at that like I’m 0 for 0 on the spring or on the season, you know first at bat, so really just just being in the moment being present and thinking about those things and and what you can control has been huge for me.

Nico: There’s an interesting thing if you look at your Statcast page look at your metrics, and I don’t know how much you look at those things but the only thing that’s in a really low percentile even beyond like ‘swing and miss’ or ‘strikeouts’: in the 1st percentile is ‘pull air’. Like you just don’t hit fly balls to left. I was wondering if you were aware of that — I haven’t had a chance to see you hit very much to to know what is behind that.

Bolte: I mean I think historically, going back to that that thing of trying to figure out some of the context stuff and take good at bats, I’ve always been one to try to let the ball get deep and I can I can work really well to the to the opposite field and have success there. But you do want to pull the ball for sure.

And that’s been a thing I’ve been trying to do: get on time, pull it a little bit more, which this spring has been great. I’ve gotten some balls in the air to the pull side, which have been great. I think last year in Vegas, it was down a lot. Wrist was bugging me. It was hard to kind of swing the way I wanted to, I felt like. So I think that impacted it, at least for those, whatever, 34 games, 35 games I played there.

So it’s been there, but definitely an area to work on. And I think that comes with just being on time. and kind of catching the pitches where I want to. And then that’ll take care of itself.

Nico: It’s interesting because I think, I didn’t see this in the Statcast, but I think you do pull balls on the ground. It’s just interesting. You don’t lift balls that you pull. Do you look at that stuff? Like, is that part of your being cerebral or no?

Bolte: No, I don’t. I don’t see that stuff too much. Honestly, I don’t really have access to it or know where to where to get most of that. But, you know, I’m not I’m not too concerned with where I’m where I’m hitting it or all that. Really just trying to go up there and hit the ball hard. If you can make solid contact, chances are good things will happen. Whether it’s middle of the field, pull, or opposite field, just barreling the ball is really my focus.

Nico: So I talked to Max Muncy around this time last year, and he was not expected to make the team. And we talked about sort of where he saw this season going. Next thing you know, he’s on the opening day roster. So here we sit now. You’ve had a great spring, yhere is a depth chart. We know who the outfielders are. How are you seeing where you stand as far as the season starting and the season progressing?

Bolte: Yeah, I mean I’ve tried not to focus too much on that and really just take it day to day and play. I feel like I’m probably in a similar situation as Muncy was last year: I’m probably not slated to make the team to start, but that’s how it is, not something that I was kind of expecting. I was coming out here to kind of play freely during the spring and just perform and get ready for my season. Because the goal in the long run is to get up (to) the big league team and help them win and be an impact player and be there for good. So just however I can be most prepared to do that is my main focus.

Nico: Well, and we know that the team has a starting right fielder who’s coming back from surgery, has a starting center fielder who’s had trouble staying on the field. So there’s always opportunities that present themselves unexpectedly. Defensively, I’d like to get a sense of how you see yourself as an outfielder comparing left field, center field, right field and what you feel like your strengths and weaknesses are right now.

Bolte: Um, I mean I grew up playing center field when I started playing outfield in high school. So I love playing center field, it was always my favorite. I’ve kind of split time between center and right professionally, so I’ve gotten really comfortable in right field. Comfortable in left field too — I feel good in all three spots, so that’s what’s good, is that I’ve gotten a good mix of all of them. And so, yeah, like you said, wherever there’s an opportunity, being ready in any of those three spots is great. And if the team needs someone in left, center or right, I want to be able to be the guy who can go in and fill that spot.

Nico: So between center and right, say, from which angle do you feel like you get the best reads, best jumps, are the most natural outfielder?

Bolte: I don’t know. I think center field everything’s in front of you. so you know side to side it’s you can get a good read on the ball. Right field comes with a lot of just time playing — you know the ball is going to fade on you a little bit more, there’s a lot of more spin from from right hand hitters which you can you just get used to and then you kind of know what to expect. So I don’t know if there’s one that is more natural. I think I’ve gotten used to both of them and it’s just they’re both different looks.

Nico: Last question would be — it’s really open-ended — if there was one thing you could say to fans who are watching you develop, rooting for the team, rooting for you, what would it be?

Bolte: You know, just that I want to come in and be an impact player and kind of this whole process with myself and the staff here has been preparing to win at the big league level and show up and be able to have success at the big league level and stay there.

I mean, I think that’s the main thing. You want to get up there and then stay and have an impact and help the team win. So I think when that time comes, I’ll be ready to go out there and play hard every night. Like we just said, it’s a thing of mine to compete every night and kind of put some pressure on the defense, take an extra 90 feet, run the base as well, and do something little every day to try and help the team win.

It’s looking like sooner rather than later for Bolte, who will start the season at AAA waiting for opportunity to knock…Hope you enjoyed the 5 interviews!

Charlie O. Finley had a lot of crazy ideas during his time as owner of the Athletics.  Some of the ideas, like having a designated hitter for the pitcher, night games for the World Series, ball girls manning the foul lines and brightly colored uniforms were ahead of their time.  He also had radio broadcasts of Athletics’ games piped into bathrooms at the stadium, so people could still hear the action while answering the call of nature.  Seems common sense now, but back then, things were different.

Some of Finley’s other ideas were, shall we say, unusual.  He had a flock of sheep, eating the grass on the berm behind the outfield wall.  He had a shepherd too.  He had a mechanical rabbit named Harvey, who would pop out of the ground and deliver balls to the home plate umpire.  Harvey startled more than one unsuspecting batter.

 He had a Missouri mule, nicknamed Charlie O. (of course) who often traveled with the team and occasionally made a foray into hotel lobbies and restaurants.  Finley was a strange cat.

One of his worst ideas was his conviction that the Athletics were losing so many games (compared to the Yankees) because the right field wall in Municipal was 325 feet away from home plate.  The right field wall in Yankee Stadium, which had been grandfathered in, was a mere 296.  Finley was 100% convinced this was the problem.  Forget that the Athletics couldn’t hit for much power, or that their pitching staff was loaded with sore armed rejects from other teams.  Forget that they probably had at least ten players who shouldn’t have been in the majors at all.

Finley’s solution to this was twofold: The first was to shorten the fence in right to 296 feet to match Yankee Stadium.  Finley called it his “Pennant Porch”.  This stunt lasted all of two exhibition games before Major League Baseball put its foot down and made Finley revert the fence back to 325.  In response, Finley painted a line in the outfield grass and had the announcer bellow “That would have been a home run in Yankee Stadium” every time an Athletic hitter pushed one past the 296 mark.  That stunt died a quick death as well, as opposing hitters were surpassing the line more frequently than Athletic hitters.

The second solution, which was a good one, at least in theory, was to bring in some power hitters.  In that vein, Finley acquired two of the American League’s most prolific long ball hitters, Jim Gentile and Rocky Colavito. 

There’s been ten men named Rocky who have played major league baseball, including one of my favorites, Rocky Bridges.  Rocky Colavito is the most successful of that group. 

On November 18^th, 1963, the Athletics sent the popular Jerry Lumpe, Ed Rakow and Dave Wickersham to Detroit for Colavito, Bob Anderson and $50,000.  Colavito’s salary for the 1964 season also happened to be $50,000.  Remember that tidbit.

By the time he pulled on an Athletic uniform, Colavito was already an established star. 

He had been a high school dropout, signed by the Indians as a 17-year-old, after a workout at Yankee Stadium.  Colavito, known as The Rock naturally, was a strapping 6’3, 190-pound specimen with a cannon attached to his right shoulder.  The Indians scout watched him fire missiles from the outfield and figured they could teach him to hit.  Colavito is often overlooked when baseball scribes talk about who had the strongest outfield arm of all time. Clemente seems to be the gold standard.  Bo Jackson had a cannon.  Dave Parker could wing it. When his head was screwed on straight, Yasil Puig could bring it.  Colavito could throw with any of them.  Colavito could easily throw a ball over the center field fence from home plate.  If that doesn’t impress you, try it sometime.

Colavito got into five games as a 21-year-old, then blossomed into a star at the age of 22.

He became an icon in Cleveland, hitting 129 home runs with 373 RBI in his first four full seasons.  He electrified fans with his strong arm, often gunning down any runner foolish enough to challenge him.

The Tribe crushed their fanbase when they traded Colavito to the Tigers prior to the 1960 season.  The Rock spent four years in Motown and didn’t miss a beat, mashing another 139 home runs and driving home 430. 

When he came to Kansas City for the 1964 season, the Athletics were getting a bona fide star.  The Rock did what he was paid to do, hitting 34 long balls and driving home 102.  His slash was an impressive .274/.366/.507.  He made the American League All-Star team and was worth 4.1 WAR.

Colavito’s best game as an Athletic came on July 22^nd, at Minnesota.  He went 3 for 4 with two home runs and four RBI with 9 total bases, part of a 6 to 4 Athletic win.  Colavito had a fifteen-game stretch in June without a home run and another 14-game dry spell in late August/early September, which probably had Finley questioning his strategy.

The Rocky Colavito experience was short lived.  On January 30^th, KC sent him back to Cleveland as part of a three-way deal with the White Sox.  The Athletics picked up Mike Hershberger, Jim Landis and Fred Talbot.  The Indians sent Tommy Agee and Tommy John to the White Sox.  As David Spade would say, “Daaaanng”.

The Athletics should have just flipped Colavito to the Indians for John and Agee.  Why did the Athletics trade him?  Was it because Finley realized that more home runs didn’t translate into more wins or was it because now Finley would be on the hook for Colavito’s 1965 salary?

Colavito bounced around a bit at the end of his career, first Cleveland, then the White Sox, then off to the Dodgers and finally 39 games with the Yankees in 1968. 

He ended his career with almost 45 WAR and was a nine-time All-Star. 

He did some coaching in retirement and spent several seasons coaching with the Royals.  He was a hands-on participant in the Pine tar game, trying to spirit George Brett’s bat away from the umps and he once got arrested with Royals manager Dick Howser after a traffic stop. I remember seeing Colavito at the Stadium in those days and was always in a state of awe, having heard of his exploits from my father, who was a big Indians fan back in the day.

Colavito was immensely popular wherever he played.  Late in life he struggled with Type II diabetes, which eventually cost him his life.  He passed away on December 19^th, 2024, at the age of 91.

Less than two weeks after picking up Colavito, the Athletics sent their All-Star first baseman Norm Siebern to the Orioles in exchange for the 30-year-old Gentile and $25,000.  So, Finley got two sluggers and essentially had their old teams paying their 1964 salaries.  I can’t think of anything more Charlie O. Finley than that. 

When he was younger, Gentile was a highly thought of, and desired, minor-league star.  He originally signed with the Dodgers but was blocked by Gil Hodges.  Roy Campanella nicknamed Gentile “Diamond Jim” because he thought him a diamond in the rough.  Campy had a good eye for talent.  The Dodgers held onto Gentile, always asking for too much in return, while he destroyed minor league pitching.  He didn’t get a real shot until he was 26, when Baltimore acquired him.  He responded by hitting .292 with 21 home runs and 98 RBI in just 138 games.  He made his first All-Star team, finished second in the Rookie of the Year vote (behind teammate Ron Hansen) and picked up some down-ballot MVP votes.  Over the next three seasons, Gentile was one of the league’s steadiest power hitters.  He led the American League in RBI in 1961 with 141, while bashing 46 home runs.

Giving up Siebern was a big price, having developed into an All-Star himself.  He was a year younger than Gentile and though he had some power (a career high 25 bombs in 1962), he wasn’t quite in Gentile’s power class.

In retrospect, the trade worked out well for both teams.  Over a season and a half (174 games) with Kansas City, Gentile hit 38 home runs and drove home another 93.  He was worth about 2.1 WAR during his KC tenure.  Siebern also made the All-Star team for the Orioles, his last, and over 256 games in Baltimore, was worth 4.5 WAR.

Gentile was a streaky home run hitter, often going 8-10 games without a dinger, then hitting four or five over the next week. 

He had a terrific game against Boston on June 7^th, 1964, at Municipal, going 3 for 4 with two home runs, five RBI and nine total bases.

He duplicated that feat against the Indians on August 30^th.

In those days, the Athletics were in a near constant state of flux.  On June 5^th, 1965, they gave up on their power experiment and sent Gentile to the Houston Colt 45’s for pitcher Jim Hickman and utility infielder Ernie Fazio.  Hickman appeared in 13 games for Kansas City, while Fazio got in 27 games in 1966. 

Gentile toiled in Houston for parts of two seasons before ending his career with Cleveland in 1966, where he was reunited with Colavito.  Gentile played for AAA San Diego Padres of the Pacific Coast League in 1967 and 1968, but finding no takers for his services, went to Japan and closed out his career with one season playing for the Osaka Buffaloes.

He had a solid career, worth 17 WAR and six All-Star appearances.  His numbers would have been better had he not been marooned in the Dodgers’ minor league system during his younger prime.

In retirement, he did some managing in the minor leagues during the early 2000’s.  Gentile remains one of the oldest living Athletics, currently at the age of 91.

The 1963 Athletics hit only 95 home runs (last in the American League) and scored 615 runs.  The pitching staff gave up 704, which kept them in some games.  The 1963 staff gave up 156 home runs, which was middle of the pack in the American League.

The 1963 team finished with a 73-89 record (Their second highest win total while in Kansas City).

The 1964 Athletics, with Gentile and Colavito on board, hit 166 home runs (3^rd most in the league) but only scored 621 runs.  The pitching staff gave up 836 runs, the most in the league by a fair margin.  The 1964 staff gave up 220 dingers, 39 more than the next closest team.  Gulp.  That led to a disastrous 57-105-1 season.   Turns out having a shorter fence or more power hitters wasn’t the problem after all. 

The power bump did nothing for attendance.  The 1963 Athletics drew 762,364, good for 8^th in a ten-team league.  Despite jacking more long balls, the 1964 team only drew 642,478 to Municipal, a 16% decline.

I think about the 1964 season often, with the Royals’ announcement that they are moving in the fences for the 2026 season.  The other team hits too, you know.  Who knows, maybe it’ll work out. 

The Red Sox rotation is set. Garrett Crochet will start the season opener on Thursday in Cincinnati, Sonny Gray will then take the hill for game 2 on Saturday, and in what was a pretty significant announcement today, Connelly Early will get the ball for the series finale on Sunday. From there, Ranger Suarez, the biggest signing of the offseason will start game 4 in Houston on Monday, and Brayan Bello will round out the first swing around the carousel on Tuesday.

Because of a combination of factors, including Suarez’s schedule for Team Venezuela in the WBC and certain matchups in Cincinnati and Houston, the bottom two slots in the rotation were actually filled in before the game 3 starter was determined for Sunday. But this morning, Rob Bradford broke the news that filled in the final piece of the puzzle:

Connelly Early will start Game 3. Oviedo will be in the bullpen.

— Rob Bradford (@bradfo) March 24, 2026

So this is the part of the proceedings where I have to admit I was completely wrong and give my “mea culpa.”

As recently as this month, I was convinced the Red Sox were going to give this rotation spot to Johan Oviedo and send Connelly Early down to Worcester for at least 35 days to start the season to squeeze an extra year of control out of him. This is what a team operating as a “good business” would do. And quite frankly, the Red Sox have operated too much like a good business and not enough like a good baseball team over the last five years.

But I’m happy to report, I was completely wrong! Connelly Early came into camp ready to be a major leaguer, forced the issue by looking great every outing, and the Red Sox, to their credit, rewarded him with the rotation spot on Sunday. Good on everyone (except me)!

This is so refreshing on multiple levels. First of all, there are few things better in life than when young guys on your team enter the mix and prove they can be legit pieces on a potential future championship core. Early is in the process of doing that right now, and I can’t wait to see what he looks like on Sunday as he continues on that journey.

Secondly, and this might be even more important in the grand scheme of things, the Red Sox are acting like a baseball franchise concerned with winning baseball titles immediately. For years, there’s been this eye on tomorrow, and an overall general sense of trying to accumulate as many assets as possible that will eventually be turned out on the world someday.

Well, finally, that someday is today! The Red Sox are putting their best possible rotation on the mound from day one. The Red Sox are trying to get in first place in the division race as quickly as possible and put pressure on everybody else. The Red Sox are acting like a team that knows they have Garrett Crochet in his prime and if they post one of the two best records in the AL they get to go straight to the LDS round where he can pitch twice in five games. This is the type of stuff winning baseball teams do.

Even more impressive might be their decision to not start Oviedo in the rotation. Remember, the Red Sox traded Jhostynxon Garcia (The Password) for Oviedo just three months ago. It would have been so easy for them to say “well, this is the guy we liked in December so this is the guy we’re going to roll with out of the gate now.” Instead, they treated the outings between him and Early like a real competition, and awarded the job based on merit. And yes, I know this is exactly what they’re supposed to be doing, but in a world where things like this are increasingly not the case, it just so refreshing to see it play out this way.

Here’s another benefit for the Red Sox in handing the ball to Early: I’m now specifically extra pumped up to watch Sunday’s game to see him pitch — And I can’t imagine I’m alone in this position either. If that’s true, the Sox have just created a whole additional layer of buzz around this team and really turned Opening Day into Opening week.

Just think about what we’ve got on tap now: Opening Day and Garett Crochet in the Thursday game, our first look at Sonny Gray in a Red Sox uniform in the second game on Saturday, Connelly Early and the newfound buzz in the third, and then the big winter signing in Ranger Suarez in the fourth. After that, Crochet, is coming around again for game 6 in Houston, and the home opener is slated for game 7. That’s a tremendous lineup, and it makes me more excited for the start of a Red Sox season than I’ve been in a long, long time.

The Mets' fortunes have swung wildly over the last four seasons, taking their fans on a roller coaster ride of emotions. 

In 2022, the team was dominant until it wasn't, faltering just enough late to squander the NL East title before bowing out with a whimper in the Wild Card Series at Citi Field after winning 101 games. 

The 2023 squad struggled to the point where there was a midseason sell-off, with Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander among those shipped out.

In 2024, the Mets went on a somewhat miraculous run to the NLCS, sneaking into the playoffs before beating the Brewers in the Wild Card Series, vanquishing the Phillies in the NLDS, and ultimately falling to the mighty Dodgers in the NLCS.

Then came 2025, when New York went from having the best record in baseball on June 12 to out of the playoffs, after a slow burn of a collapse that culminated with them being eliminated on the final day of the season because they couldn't beat the Marlins

It's possible the Mets would've broken up their core even if the 2025 club snuck into the postseason, but their clear flaws and ultimate failure helped give president of baseball operations David Stearns cover to truly transform the roster -- putting his stamp on it in the process. 

With the dust settled, Pete Alonso, Edwin Diaz, Brandon Nimmo, and Jeff McNeil are no longer in New York.

The new faces include Freddy Peralta, Bo Bichette, Devin Williams, Jorge Polanco, Luis Robert Jr., and Marcus Semien.

Stearns adding Peralta, Bichette, and Robert late in the offseason gave a serious jolt to a team that was very much incomplete until their arrivals. And, to this writer, resulted in the 2026 Mets having a better roster than the one they opened the 2025 season with. 

How will that play out on the field?

Here is our preview and prediction for the 2026 season...

What the Mets have going for them

By adding a legitimate top-of-the-rotation arm in Peralta and with Nolan McLean set for a full year in the big league rotation after a late-season cameo in 2025, New York's starting staff is in strong shape at the top.

There are some question marks in the middle and back end, including the health/effectiveness of Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea (who will start the season in a piggyback role). But Senga's stuff was eye-opening in spring training, with his fastball regularly hitting the high-90s. Meanwhile, Clay Holmes and David Peterson should again be solid contributors.

What could help set the 2026 rotation apart from the 2025 one that faltered badly is the quality depth, which includes Christian Scott, Jonah Tong, and Jack Wenninger, and could eventually include Jonathan Santucci. 

Stearns said shortly after the 2025 campaign ended that he wasn't aggressive enough in addressing the rotation's shortcomings during the season, so it shouldn't be a surprise if he turns to one of New York's intriguing depth options quickly should someone in the majors falter. 

The offense should be formidable, though a bit different without Alonso's game-changing power.

However, while the Mets might not hit as many homers as they did in 2025, they should be better when it comes to making contact (with Bichette and Polanco helping to lead the way there).

A potential top-four of Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, Bichette, and Polanco could give opposing pitchers fits. And while the rest of the lineup isn't as established, both Brett Baty (111 OPS+ in 2025) and Francisco Alvarez (122 OPS+ in 2025) are coming off career years. 

A wild card is Carson Benge, who looked the part in spring training and will likely be eased in by hitting in the bottom of the lineup.

The Mets should also be better defensively, due in large part to Gold Glover Semien at second base and Gold Glover Robert in center field.

Yes, Polanco is learning first base and Bichette is learning third base. 

In the case of Bichette, he's a tireless worker and just the latest shortstop to make the transition to third. As far as Polanco, he is a former shortstop and has been getting acclimated to his new position since late last season. He's also replacing Alonso, who was near the bottom of the league last season when it came to both range and arm strength. 

If there's one area of the roster that is a bit of a question mark, it's the bullpen.

Without Diaz, it will be Williams closing games. He's coming off a relatively down 2025, but his underlying metrics and stuff last season suggest his struggles were fluky.

Helping anchor the back end of the 'pen will be Luke Weaver and Brooks Raley, and the return of A.J. Minter (perhaps in the beginning of May) should be a big help.

Still, it feels like the relief corps might be one late-inning arm short. Maybe that arm arrives in the form of hard-throwing prospect Ryan Lambert sooner rather than later.

The Mets will make the playoffs if...

New York has all the pieces to not only make the postseason, but win a tough NL East over the Phillies and Braves. 

The prediction here is that the Braves will rebound after a rough 2025, but will be held back a bit by their injury-riddled rotation. When it comes to the Phillies, their hopes could hinge on the health of Zack Wheeler, who is working his way back from thoracic outlet surgery.

Getting back to the Mets, it's easy to envision their starting rotation being a strength, especially at the top. If it is, the wins should follow. 

Meanwhile, the offense should be very good, and could go up a notch if Robert finds his stroke and/or Benge makes an immediate impact. 

The Mets will also be in very strong position if their top arms in Triple-A excel and force their way up, with two of them -- Tong and Scott -- having tantalizing upside.

The Mets will miss the playoffs if...

For a team like the 2026 Mets that has undergone so many changes, it's always possible things simply don't mesh.

Injuries could also play a factor. Even this early, it's fair to keep an eye on the diminished velocity of Manaea. 

Beyond that, while McLean has some of the best stuff in the league, a lot is being put on him to help lead the rotation this soon. A scenario exists where he doesn't perform quite as well as expected, which would put a crimp in the rotation.

Then there's the bullpen, which seems a bit light and is relying on a bounce back from Williams. 

In a National League that should have the Mets, Phillies, Braves, Cubs, Reds, Brewers, Dodgers, Padres, and others fighting for six playoff spots, some good teams will miss out. 

Final record and playoff prediction

93-69
First place in NL East

The Mets will finish with the second-best record in the NL (behind the Dodgers), earning a bye to the NLDS.

In the NLDS, New York will defeat the Cubs.

In the NLCS, the Mets will beat the Padres.

New York's run will come to an end in the World Series, where they'll fall to the Mariners.

The lab is first and foremost a place where we get to learn more about baseball. As much as I would love to pass myself off as an expert in all things, that would be the height of hubris and would deprive all of us the opportunity to avail ourselves of genuine expertise. As most of you know, Jimmy Price has been contributing here at the Crawfish Boxes for some time. He also has his individual venture called Astros Future. I wanted to learn more about the process of evaluating younger players and how statistics are used to predict which minor leaguers will make it and which ones won’t. Jimmy seemed like the perfect resource to tap into.

The Crawfish Boxes: Most dedicated fans know about the five tools. Has there ever been consideration of adding plate discipline as a sixth tool or should it be folded into the hit tool?

Jimmy Price: Great question. I think it is built into the hit tool right now. If a guy has big power but poor pitch selection, his hit tool will falter. But if someone has great plate discipline and selection, their hit tool could still fall if they don’t make enough contact. I love the idea of rating on just plate discipline.

TCB: As a scouting expert, how do you integrate in person scouting accounts with statistical or empirical evidence?

JP:  Definitely no expert here.. but in person you get to see more and hear more. The sound of the bat, pitches, etc. You get a better feel for movement defensively. I think it’s important to look at both. What you see in person and what the statistics say.

TCB: As someone that focuses on minors and amateur baseball, which numbers do you trust the most in predicting future success?

JP: A few numbers I like to look at… for pitchers, I like to look at BAA. We see prospects have poor command but that is something that can be improved. If your pitches are hard to square up, that’s a good trait to have. For hitters, I’m a big fan of plate discipline. I like to look at BB/SO ratio but then look at their swinging strike percentage. Plate discipline is good but when you decide to swing, you have to be able to make contact. 

TCB: The current regime seems to be collecting toolsy guys that have some swing and miss issues. Is this by design or is it a function of picking lower in the first round and limited bonus pool money?

JP:  I think this might just be the preference for Dana Brown and his crew. Power is hard to teach but I am sure the Astros feel with some tweaks they can make adjustments to help prospects make more contact, or make better swing decisions. Raw tools are a gift that can’t be replicated.

TCB: Who are three or four names you are excited to see this year in the Houston system?

JP:  I would start with Cole Hertzler. I think he is a breakout candidate and may win pitcher of the year in the system. Anthony Huezo is another who had a solid 2025 season and will now be a full-season player. Xavier Neyens will get some actual in-game action which will be great to watch. Lastly I would say Ethan Frey. Great numbers last year and I think he has a chance to be a fast riser. 

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I definitely want to thank Jimmy for joining us here In The Lab. It probably won’t be the last time we tap into him. I know it is shameless cross promotion, but this is an important year for the Astros in terms of their minor league system. The Astros received an extra pick because Hunter Brown finished in the top three in the Cy Young vote and they received a compensation pick because Framber Valdez signed with the Detroit Tigers. Those extra picks also bring extra bonus pool money that will give the Astros some flexibility in signing their draftees. As we get closer to June, make sure to keep tabs on what Jimmy is doing so that you can be plugged into the Astros draft.

While it is certainly common for players to play for multiple franchises in their career, more often than not, they are generally associated with one team. In the case of today’s birthday boy, that association is not with the Yankees. Lee Mazzili played 14 seasons in the majors, less than one of which came with the Yankees, but he did put together some good runs among the game’s best and later came back to coach.

Mazzilli celebrates his 71st birthday on Wednesday (no doubt delighted that it coincides with Opening Day), and though he is not necessarily remembered for his time in pinstripes, the former All-Star is the subject of today’s entry into the series. A long-time big league contributor and a World Series winner, Mazzili’s career is certainly worth recognizing.

Lee Louis Mazzilli
Born: March 25, 1955 (New York, NY)
Yankees Tenure: 1982 (also coached 2000-03, 2006)

Lee Mazzilli was a New Yorker through and through. He was born there, he was drafted out of Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, and is most known for his time with the Mets, while also, of course, dabbling with the Yankees.

He was selected by the Mets in the 1973 Draft, who had enough interest to take him in the first round, with the 14th overall pick. Three years later, Mazzilli was making his MLB debut with the ’76 squad. Although his 24 games that season weren’t anything to write home about, it was the beginning of a decade-and-a-half run in the Majors for Mazzilli, much of which would come with the team that drafted him.

The 22-year-old switch-hitter got his first chance at a starting job in 1977, taking the opportunity given to him by new player/manager Joe Torre and running with it. His production with the bat was forgettable, but he provided solid value as the Mets’ everyday centerfielder. A year later, Mazzilli would begin playing the best baseball of his career and saw his national profile grow — assisted by some natural good looks, to boot. It was just a shame for him that his prime came when the Mets were downright lousy.

From 1978 to 1980, Mazzilli put up three seasons of legitimate All-Star level play while manning one of the more important positions on the diamond. In each of those seasons, the budding star posted a 123 or better OPS+, hit at least fifteen homers, while slashing a combined .286/.374/.437. ‘79 would prove to be the best season of his career, as he posted career-bests with a 137 wRC+ and 4.7 fWAR, as he was elected to his lone All-Star team.

1981 saw a downturn for Mazzilli, as he played in just 95 games due to injury trouble, and when he was on the field, he produced at a below-average rate with the bat. Just before the start of the ’82 campaign, the Mets had decided it was time to move on, as they shipped him off in a trade to the Rangers. He played in 58 games, at roughly the same disappointing level he just had with the Mets, before being traded once again, this time to the Yankees in exchange for former fan favorite Bucky Dent.

Thus began Mazzilli’s Yankees run, though it would not be a particularly long or memorable run. He amassed 144 plate appearances with the Bombers, doing a nice job with them, homering six times and hitting to the tune of a respectable (and much improved) 113 OPS+. Those “Bronx Burner” Yankees were doomed from the jump however, cycling through three managers and finishing under .500 despite making it to Game 6 of the World Series the previous year. That would be the end of Mazzilli’s time playing in the Bronx, as he was traded to the Pirates in December, though not the end of his Yankee story entirely.

Mazzilli spent three decent seasons with Pittsburgh from 1983-85, before being released mid-season in 1986. it was a stretch that also included involvement in a cocaine-related controversy and trial. What likely seemed like a curse quickly turned into a blessing, as he was picked back up by the Mets and played some terrific baseball down the stretch. During the revitalization, he even added a pair of hits in five at-bats during the Mets’ victorious World Series that season. Mazzilli had endured some tough teams, but he was a champion at last.

Mazzili would play the next two seasons in Queens, to highly-varying degrees of success, with the ’88 season showing serious signs of decline. 1989 was ultimately the final season of his playing career, a year in which he played some solid ball split between time with the Mets and a final stop with the Blue Jays.

The above single capped off an up-and-down, but nonetheless impressive 14-year run in the majors. Mazzilli retired with 1,068 in his career, including 191 doubles and 93 homers, as well as 197 stolen bases.

Mazzilli had a few jobs away from baseball in the early 1990s, even appearing in an Off-Broadway show, Tony ’n’ Tina’s Wedding. But the game—and more specifically his old Mets skipper Joe Torre—called him back. Torre had just managed the Yankees to a World Series title in his first season and had the pull to recommend Mazzilli for a minor-league managerial opening in 1997. He accepted and spent two years running High-A Tampa and one with Double-A Norwich.

Soon, Mazzilli was on his way to join the big-league staff, as first-base coach José Cardenal departed Torre’s staff after 1999 due in part to a contract dispute. So Mazzilli took over at first and stayed in the position from 2000 to 2003, winning a World Series over his old Mets in that first year.

Mazzilli became a familiar face to young fans watching the dynasty’s final years of World Series glory, but he’d also built a name for himself as a possible managerial candidate. The Orioles chose him for the job in 2004, but his MLB managerial career lasted only a year and a half. Following a sub-.500 debut, Baltimore had an out-of-nowhere surge to 42-28 at the start of ’05, leading the AL East over the Yankees and Red Sox. From there, they went into an absolute tailspin, going 9-28 to tumble back to irrelevance. Mazzilli was fired on August 3rd after the O’s dropped their eighth in a row.

Mazzilli returned as the bench coach for Torre’s Yankees in 2006, only to be replaced the next year when the Yankees decided to hire Kevin Long as hitting coach and slide Mattingly to Torre’s side on the bench. He’s since worked for SNY and remained a presence in the New York sports scene, making some Old-Timers’ Day appearances as well. Mazzilli will be honored by the Mets in 2026, as he was voted into their most recent Hall of Fame class.

Although Mazzilli’s overall time with the Yankees was brief, his continued his involvement with the club went well beyond his playing days. Mazzilli was, at times, a very good big-league player, and though he won’t be remembered primarily as a Yankee, he certainly made his mark as a New York City native.

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See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.

Astros fans, the wait is finally over. The long offseason has come to an end, and with it arrives something that never goes out of style, hope.

As Opening Day approaches, there’s a noticeable shift in the air. Months of dissecting roster flaws, questioning decisions, and wondering whether this team has done enough suddenly give way to something far more powerful: belief. It’s the annual reset button that baseball provides, where every team starts fresh and every fan dares to dream again.

Despite all the concerns that have been raised about this roster, the start of the season flips a switch. Suddenly, it’s easy to envision this lineup as a force, one capable of producing runs in bunches and carrying the team through tough stretches. There’s renewed confidence that the starting rotation, even with its heavy right-handed lean, can go deep into games and deliver consistent results.

In many ways, the Astros enter this season in a different and somewhat refreshing position. For years, they’ve been the hunted—the team every opponent circled on the calendar. Now, they find themselves among the hunters in the American League. The spotlight isn’t quite as harsh. The expectations, while still present, aren’t suffocating. Doubters and prognosticators have placed them squarely in the middle of the pack, creating an opportunity to exceed expectations rather than merely meet them.

That shift could prove valuable. Without a constant target on their backs, the Astros can focus on simply playing their game. And if they find success early, the narrative can quickly change, from overlooked contender to rising force.

No, this team may not match the dominance of the 2019 roster. But it doesn’t have to. What it does have is enough talent to compete, enough to stay in the mix for a playoff spot and potentially challenge for another division title. This isn’t a rebuilding club or a team destined for 100 losses. Far from it. With a solid foundation already in place, even a couple of key moves by general manager Dana Brown between now and the trade deadline could elevate this group into one of the better teams in baseball.

That’s the beauty of the sport. That’s why baseball endures. It offers something simple yet powerful: hope. The belief that, no matter the questions or uncertainties, there’s always a chance this could be the year.

And now, with first pitch drawing near, that feeling is back where it belongs.

As Thursday afternoon approaches, the excitement builds. The rhythms of daily baseball life return, from checking lineups, to following box scores, tuning in to broadcasts, and living and breathing every pitch. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, but it’s one fans are more than ready to run.

The wait is over, Houston.

It’s time to play ball.

Sweet 16 is in the air in Houston.  

It’s with the Houston Cougars at Toyota Center.

It’s with Jose Altuve stepping into the batter’s box on Opening Day as he embarks upon his 16th year. Many fans will recall his homer on Opening Day five years ago against the A’s.

Of course, every organizational great is rightfully judged by the likes of Craig Biggio, who would represent the city for two decades. In the icon’s 16th campaign, Biggio would post respectable numbers with 14 homers and 55 RBI, though the Astros would fall a game short of winning the old NL Central to the Chicago Cubs.

Speaking of Chicago, Ryne Sandberg was a model of consistency. His 16th season would be his last in the majors.    One wonders what Ryno’s final career totals would’ve been had the last several weeks of the 1994 season and all of 1995 not been wiped out from the lockout.   

Even more Hall of Famer second basemen would patrol the heart of the diamond in the Midwest, with careers of at least 16 years.

By year 16, Joe Morgan was in sharp decline. One of the main cogs of the Big Red Machine in Cincinnati was a shell of his former shelf by 1978, producing 57 less RBI than his 76′ campaign.    

Lou Whitaker, separated from Morgan by some 250 miles in Motown, had a respectable 19 HR and 71 RBI in his 16th season with the Tigers.    Sweet Lou played his entire 19-year career with Detroit, playing 1,918 games together with Alan Trammell.     

Roberto Alomar collected Gold Gloves like Super Mario collects gold coins. An all-around player in his career, there was a three-year span in which Alomar would steal 157 bases.   Along the way, he also played for seven clubs.   If you can name all seven teams he played for, you’re better than most. In his 16th season, he had diminished power and speed, but he still had some decent at bats.

Robinson Cano’s 16th campaign was a nightmare. He’d appear in only 49 games, as suspensions would rain down for PED’s.

When #27 comes to the plate, take a moment to recognize his place among the greats, even at this stage of his amazing career. One day, he’ll join many of them in Cooperstown.

Meet the Mets

The Mets will be wearing a memorial patch on their jerseys for Davey Johnson this season.

The New York Transit Museum will be running a vintage 7 Line train to Mets-Willet Point Thursday morning in honor of Opening Day.

Carson Benge had an excited (and colorful) reaction to being called up to the major league roster.

Mike Puma of the New York Post has predicted that the Mets will triumph over the Mariners in this year’s World Series, and hopefully he has the same success as last season’s predictions.

In fact, the whole New York Post staff made their various 2026 predictions.

The SNY staff made their own predictions for 2026 playoff teams, postseason results, and more.

Laura Albanese paid tribute to her love of baseball, which is deeper than the usual reasons, and graded the Mets’ positions ahead of the start of the season.

Freddy Peralta might be the glue guy the Mets have desperately needed.

A few years ago, Brooks Raley would’ve never believed New York to be his long-term home, but he enters 2026 as the longest-tenured Mets reliever.

After years of criticism about paying too much homage to the former Brooklyn Dodgers and not enough to the history of the team it homes, Citi Field has finally come into its own as the home of the New York Mets.

Around the National League East

The Braves have already run into a roster issue before the season has even started: they might have run the well dry on major league pitching before a single regular season game has been played.

The Marlins have signed outfielder Austin Slater to a major league contract.

The Yankees traded infielder Zack Short to the Nationals for cash.

Around Major League Baseball

After praising employees for speaking up about misconduct, the Detroit Tigers forced a whistleblower out of the organization.

ESPN has a full 2026 offseason chaos guide, to help fans prepare ahead of the start of the season.

The Brewers have traded minor league pitcher K.C. Hunt to the Rays for pitcher Jake Woodford.

Former Met Joey Lucchesi has signed with the Angels and is expected to make their roster.

The new rules for first and third-base coaches has them standing potentially in harm’s way.

The Yankees have finalized their Opening Day roster.

Pete Crow-Armstrong has officially signed a six-year, $115 million extension with the Cubs, buying out the rest of his years of team control and then some.

The so-called “robot umps” are coming, and they’re cool, but they’re certainly not perfect.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

The staff here at Amazin’ Avenue made some bold predictions for the upcoming 2026 season.

Linda Surovich wrote about the potential of Luke Weaver to dominate in the Mets’ remade bullpen this season.

Linus Lawrence brought us the Final Four of Mets Madness and previewed the championship matchup.

Linus also asked the question most Mets fans are worrying about in the bullpen: which Devin Williams is the one the Mets signed to a three-year deal this offseason?

Brian Salvatore previewed Brooks Raley’s 2026 season.

This Date in Mets History

Today is the birthday of two well-known Mets, one whose Mets tenure was famous and another’s whose tenure was more infamous.

With the 2026 coming up on us quickly, let’s have our prediction thread.

1. Give us your guess for the winners in each division.

2. Wild Card teams?

3. Who makes it to the World Series, and who wins?

4. Who gets the major awards in each league? MVP, Cy Young, and Rookie of the Year?

5. Pick a breakout Blue Jays player of the year.

6. Who is the biggest disappointment (can be a team or player)?

7. How many Blue Jays wins?

8. Who will be the Jays MVP and Best Pitcher?

And if you want to make any other predictions.

Over a career spanning 12 seasons, Miguel Rojas has gone from an overlooked bench player in 2014 to hitting one of, if not, the most important home runs in Dodgers history.

Rojas’ legacy as a Dodger icon is now cemented, his ninth inning home run against Jeff Hoffman in Game 7 will be remembered for generations, and he can end his career knowing that his name will be attached to a pair of the most triumphant plays in baseball history. As Rojas enters the 13th and final season of his playing career, he has a lot to be grateful for.

Rojas spoke with Jack Oliver of Jomboy Media, known on social media as Jolly Olive, during the early parts of spring training as to how the veteran infielder feels about his final season. Rojas noted that he is eager to get every opportunity to play, not wanting to have his playing time reduced solely because of his age.

“This year, I have a different perspective, because I’m not afraid to empty the tank anymore. I’m going to have a conversation with Doc, and I’m going to tell him not to be afraid to put me in spots that he always kind of took care for me in the past… I’m going to tell him, ‘Hey, use me as much as you can. Don’t feel bad because I’m one of the veterans…’ I want to take every single opportunity, every single at-bat that I can, and help the team in any capacity.”

Rojas is coming off a remarkable spring where he slashed .362/.380/.532 with two home runs and eight RBI over 48 plate appearances, and with the recent demotion of Hyeseong Kim to Triple-A, he is the most likely candidate to get the starting nod at second base on Thursday.

Links

From one Japanese right-hander on the mound on Monday to another on Tuesday, Shohei Ohtani was masterful against his old team, pitching into the fifth inning while striking out 11 hitters in the Dodgers’ 3-0 loss to the Angels.

After his first full offseason to recover on both sides with the Dodgers, the benchmark for a healthy season is 25 starts for the two-way superstar, notes Courtney Hollman of MLB.com. Should he stay healthy as a part of a six-man rotation, he’s on pace to make 27 starts.

“I do see that as an important benchmark as a starting pitcher,” Ohtani said following his Arizona debut. “Ideally in a situation where everybody makes 25 starts. That’s the ideal situation.”

To little surprise, Ohtani was named as the early season favorite to win his third consecutive NL MVP award by Theo DeRosa of MLB.com.

Max Ralph of MLB.com writes about Kyle Tucker getting used to how the Dodgers celebrate hits, needing a quick 101 lesson from Miguel Rojas on the “hip-lock” celebration.