Setting Up 2025

I hate the break it to the haters, but Gerrit Cole was never going anywhere.  I saw plenty of fantasy scenarios that had all of these hypothetical teams that Cole could sign with after he opted out and became a free agent, as if that was ever actually going to happen.  Cole opting out wasn't a surprise.  It's what the Yankees expected, in fact.  The expectation was always that he would opt out and the Yankees would void the opt out by adding an extra year at the end of his deal.  Cole deciding at the last minute to opt out of the opt out was the only curveball thrown into the equation.

Judging by the comments from both sides, Cole didn't actually want to leave and the Yankees didn't want to run the risk of losing him, but the deadline of five days after the World Series was simply too quick to make a decision.  Cole literally made his last start of the season on Wednesday!  He and the team, fresh off a World Series appearance, then had to immediately decide about the opt out.  Neither side felt comfortable about that, so they punted and opted to give themselves more time rather than meeting an arbitrary deadline.

So, all of those articles listing the options the Yankees should consider if they lost Cole weren't realistic.  Because it was never going to happen!  If push came to shove, they were giving him the extra year.  Now, they have plenty of time to negotiate a new contract (or not, since there are no other opt-outs in the deal, which runs until 2028).

With everything settled regarding their ace, the Yankees are now free to move on to their other offseason priorities, of which there are many.  First and foremost is re-signing Juan Soto.  It's obvious that he's the Yankees' No. 1 priority.  And what happens with Soto will shape their entire offseason.  In fact, it already has.

Soto isn't the only Yankee who became a free agent the day the World Series ended.  So did Gleyber Torres.  And Alex Verdugo.  Anthony Rizzo had a team option.  It was declined, making him a free agent, as well.  None of that was unexpected.  And of the three, I can only see one of them possibly back in Pinstripes next season.

Rizzo's team option was $17 million or a $6 million buyout.  It seemed fairly obvious for most of the season that the $6 million buyout would be the choice.  Rizzo's age and level of production made that all but a certainty.  Is he worth bringing back on a cheaper deal, though?  I wouldn't be opposed to it.  Say, for something like two years, $25 million.

Although, it does appear that the team is ready to move on from Rizzo.  There are younger, cheaper options, both in free agency and in the Yankees' system.  And they know they're gonna have to pony up for Soto, so if they can save money somewhere else, first base seems like a logical place.  (And, don't forget, DJ LeMahieu is still under contract for next season.)

Fans weren't happy that Alex Verdugo got the nod over Jasson Dominguez in the postseason.  Next year, that won't be a problem.  When the Yankees traded for Verdugo, the whole idea was that it would only be for a year.  He was a pending free agent and Dominguez was coming off Tommy John surgery.  The plan was always for Dominguez to take his place alongside Judge and Soto in the Yankees outfield in 2025.  (If Soto leaves, it'll still be Dominguez and Judge, with the third outfielder TBA.)

Then there's Gleyber Torres.  If the circumstances were different, the Yankees would make a much stronger effort to keep him.  I have no doubt they'll make him an offer.  I just don't think that offer will be high enough to compel him to stay in New York.  Torres is well-positioned to cash in as a free agent.  Someone else will pony up with money the Yankees can't or won't be willing to match.  Especially since they know they can just move Jazz Chisholm Jr. to second, which is his natural position.  Or leave Chisholm at third and bring in a cheaper free agent to play second.

The bullpen also figures to see a massive makeover with Clay Holmes, Tommy Kahnle and Jonathan Loaisiga all becoming free agents.  Luke Weaver will be returning after the Yankees picked up his $2.5 million team option.  That's not a surprise.  It's a cheap, team-friendly deal for a guy who was effective for them and figures to play a big role again next season.  As for the others, I don't see any of them coming back.

You know my feelings on Clay Holmes.  The guy's not a closer, despite their insistence that he was, and he's certainly not good enough to be as overused as he was (seriously, why did he pitch in all five games of the World Series?).  Still, somebody's gonna pay him.  That might be the Yankees.  He's the most likely of the three to return.  I think someone else will be willing to give him more, though.  Whether it's dollars or years or both.

Kahnle will almost certainly be throwing his 65 straight changeups for another team next season.  He simply didn't give the Yankees enough to warrant coming back.  Ditto about the oft-injured Loaisiga.  The Yankees won't miss him.  They'd rather have someone who isn't on the injured list!

This is a team that desperately needs an actual closer.  Even if they re-sign Soto, they'll still have enough in the budget to sign one.  And perhaps a starter, too.  That's an area of need that they were able to mask during the regular season and AL playoffs, but was badly exposed during the World Series.  Making another run at Blake Snell wouldn't necessarily be a bad idea.

One thing's for sure.  The Yankees will look much different next season.  Gerrit Cole and Luke Weaver will be back.  Juan Soto hopefully will, as well.  Gleyber Torres, Anthony Rizzo, Alex Verdugo and all those relief pitchers, though.  I doubt any of them will be back.  Especially since they're not the priority.  Soto is.

NFL 2024 (Week 9)

Week 9 of the NFL season started with a surprise.  The New York Jets decided to dress as professional football players for Halloween.  It was their second Thursday-night win of the season.  They're 1-6 on Sundays and Mondays, yet are convinced that they still have a chance at the playoffs "because they have an easy remaining schedule."  Maybe they do.  Mercifully, America won't be subjected to them in prime time every week anymore.

I know I complain about the NFL's obsession with Aaron Rodgers and featuring the Jets all the time even though they aren't good a lot, but the truth is there are plenty of other good teams worthy of being shown in the marquee windows, too.  Which is why I'm glad we got our first Sunday night flex this week with Colts-Vikings replacing Jaguars-Eagles.  More of that, please!  (Or just schedule better, more watchable matchups that are less likely to be flex candidates.)

Thursday Night: Houston (Loss)

Cowboys (3-4) at Falcons (5-3): Atlanta-Jerry Jones is actually starting to feel a sense of urgency.  Or, maybe, the Cowboys just aren't very good.  Whatever the Packers exposed in the playoffs last season has been fully exploited this year, resulting in Dallas having just a 3-4 record at midseason.  Atlanta has moved into the position most people expected of them as the NFC South leaders.  Will they hand the Cowboys a fifth loss?

Dolphins (2-5) at Bills (6-2): Buffalo-With a win, the Bills will have as many victories as the rest of the AFC East combined.  So, they look to be cruising to a division title.  Especially when you consider how collectively bad the Dolphins, Jets and Patriots are.  In other words, Buffalo's journey to the playoffs will be much more comfortable this year than it was last season.  It's midseason, and they can all but lock it up before their schedule gets trickier in the second half.

Raiders (2-6) at Bengals (3-5): Cincinnati-There's still time for the Bengals to get back in the playoff race, but it is running out.  They're benefitting from a down year across the board in the AFC, but still have the Steelers and Ravens in their own division to worry about.  If they have any hope, they need to beat the Raiders at home.  If not, I have a feeling that's a loss that will prove costly as the season progresses.

Chargers (4-3) at Browns (2-6): Chargers-Out of absolutely nowhere, Cleveland shocked Baltimore last week.  Maybe the whole Deshaun Watson situation being resolved (aka, him not being able to play and them playing someone else at quarterback) is exactly what the Browns needed.  We'll find out against the Chargers, who've only allowed 20 points twice all season (and one of those was in Week 1).  I just don't think Cleveland is equipped to win that type of low-scoring game.

Patriots (2-6) at Titans (1-6): New England-Two of the worst teams in the NFL square off in Nashville.  The Patriots snapped their six-game losing streak by doing something they seemingly always do--beat the Jets.  That win gave them momentum heading into one of the few games this season where they'll actually be favored.  And if they beat the Titans, New England will head to Chicago on a two-game winning streak.

Commanders (6-2) at Giants (2-6): Washington-This is weird.  Players evidently WANT to play in Washington now!  What a difference a new culture can make!  Of course, the fact that the team is actually good now doesn't hurt, either.  Last week was their season in a nutshell.  And that was some Hail Mary pass too!  You just get the feeling that something special's happening in Washington this season, and losing to the Giants doesn't seem like something the Commanders will do.

Saints (2-6) at Panthers (1-7): New Orleans-New Orleans scored 91 points in its first two games, both wins.  The Saints have scored 94 combined in their last six games, all losses.  So, those first two weeks were clearly a mirage.  One of those two games was a Week 1 victory over Carolina where they put up 47.  Will they find their offense in the rematch with the Panthers?

Broncos (5-3) at Ravens (5-3): Baltimore-Both of these teams started 0-2.  They're both 5-1 since and sitting in second place in their respective divisions.  Denver has been trending upwards all season on the strength of that tremendous defense.  Let's not get carried away, though.  The Broncos haven't exactly been playing the cream of the NFL crop.  The Ravens, meanwhile, had their five-game winning streak snapped with a shocking loss to the Browns last week.  They're gonna come into this one hungry.

Jaguars (2-6) at Eagles (5-2): Philadelphia-They flexed the Jaguars and Eagles out of Sunday night, mainly because no one wants to watch Jacksonville.  And why would they?  The Jaguars came back from London and gave the Packers all they could handle, but they still lost and fell to 2-6.  The Eagles manhandled Cincinnati and moved to 5-2.  They know Washington isn't going anywhere, so they need to take advantage of a home game against a Jaguars team they should beat.

Bears (4-3) at Cardinals (4-4): Chicago-That loss to the Commanders could really end up hurting the Bears.  Not because of how they lost, as bad as it was, but because of how tight the NFC North race is.  They're gonna need every win they can get, and they gave one away.  The Cardinals, meanwhile, have won three in a row and technically lead the NFC West right now.  So, this is actually a pretty good matchup on paper.  It's a game that they not only both can win, but they both feel like they should.

Lions (6-1) at Packers (6-2): Detroit-If the Packers win, they won't just take over first place in the NFC North, they'll take over the top spot in the entire NFC.  The Lions are still the best team in the NFC, but it's crazy to think of how close the positioning between all four teams in that division is.  It puts a premium on division games so that they don't end up with the 5-seed in the playoffs.  That's the case for both teams here.

Rams (3-4) at Seahawks (4-4): Seattle-And you thought the NFC North was screwed up!  Just check out the NFC West!  A half-game separates all four teams, and the last-place Rams can possibly move into first if they win in Seattle.  Winning in Seattle is something that's become much easier for visiting teams this season.  Suddenly, the 12th Man and the Seahawks' home field advantage is no longer much of a factor.  They need to get that figured out.  And soon.

Colts (4-4) at Vikings (5-2): Minnesota-When they flexed this game into Sunday night, the Vikings were still undefeated.  Now they've lost two straight and suddenly find themselves in third place.  They've had 10 days off since their loss to the Rams, though, which should've been enough time to reset.  The Colts should make it a tight game.  They make every game tight.  But expect Minnesota to win.

Buccaneers (4-4) at Chiefs (7-0): Kansas City-The Chiefs haven't even played their best football yet, and they're still undefeated.  Will they finish 17-0?  Most likely not.  But you've gotta be impressed with what they've been able to do this season despite not playing up to the standard they've set.  They've got two big ones coming up against Denver and in Buffalo, so the first loss very well could come in one of those.  It shouldn't come against Tampa Bay.

This Week: 0-1
Last Week: 11-5
Overall: 71-53

World Series Postmortem

The better team won the World Series.  I don't just mean the more talented team, which the Dodgers were.  They also outplayed the Yankees.  They jumped on every mistake the Yankees made and took advantage of every extra opportunity they were given.  They also exposed some glaring flaws that the Yankees had all season, but were able to mask effectively enough against weaker opponents.  The Yankees were the best team in the American League, but, the result of the All*Star Game aside, the National League was the overall better league in 2024.

It's easy to second-guess the decision to bring in Nestor Cortes in the 10th inning of Game 1, but I had no problem with the move.  Sure, he gave up the walk-off grand slam.  Hindsight is 20/20, though, and if it had worked out, then Boone's a genius!  The fact that it didn't makes him a moron?  (Let's not forget the circumstances that led to that situation, too.)

Other decisions, however, can absolutely be questioned!  Sending Giancarlo Stanton, the slowest runner on the team, home from second on a one-hopper to left, for example.  The bullpen management was horrendous.  And the fact that they got terrible starting pitching only exacerbated the problem!

Carlos Rodon and Clarke Schmidt were awful in their World Series starts.  (There was some talk before the series that, with their home/road splits, it might've been smarter to flip them and have Schmidt start Game 2.  That argument actually made a lot of sense.)  As a result, the bullpen was overused and overexposed.  The fact that Boone kept going to the same guys over and over didn't help, either. 

I'm not saying I wanted to see Marcus Stroman pitch in the postseason, but he was your long man and he didn't pitch at all.  The entire point of a long man is to give you innings when you get a short start!  And Tim Mayza only got to pitch once...in the ninth inning of Game 4...because they had a seven-run lead!  Otherwise, it would've been Weaver, who you could tell had absolutely nothing left in the tank at the end of Game 5.  Same thing with Tommy Kanhle.  Seriously, how many consecutive changeups can you throw before the hitters are just sitting on it?

As for the lineup, it's really difficult to say whether the lack of offense was a result of good Dodger pitching, terrible Yankee hitting or both.  I get why some people wanted to see lineup changes, especially in light of the struggles.  Would that have made a difference?  It's tough to say.  The fact that they were playing from behind the entire game certainly didn't help.  Because, yes, they absolutely were pressing.  (And, give the Dodgers pitchers credit for executing better in the big moments.)

Then there was the defense in that fateful fifth inning of Game 5.  Now, let's be perfectly clear about something.  While it's fair to say that inning cost them the game, it's not why they lost the series.  I also thought Volpe made the right decision, just a bad throw.  And I think Rizzo's just as responsible as Cole for the play at first.  Rizzo assumed Cole would be there.  When he saw he wasn't, he could've shown a little more urgency getting to the bag.  (As for Judge, that was just a fluky thing that happened at the absolute worst time.)

Meanwhile, Game 1 could've ended very differently had Gleyber Torres not missed the throw from right field on Ohtani's double, giving him an extra base.  He scored the tying run one batter later.  Without that error, the game doesn't go to extra innings, Freddie Freeman doesn't hit a walk-off grand slam, and the entire series is different.

Defensive and baserunning gaffes weren't exclusive to the World Series.  The Yankees were one of the worst baserunning teams in baseball all season.  And they lost many a game because of bad defense or a bad starting pitching performance or the bullpen blowing a lead.  Sometimes it would be a combination.  Despite all that, they still won 94 games and had the best record in the American League.  In a short series against a team as good as the Dodgers, though, you can't get away with any of that.

Losing the World Series never feels good, but the fact that the Yankees got there for the first time in 15 years despite how fundamentally flawed they were really does speak volumes about the amount of talent they had on that roster.  The Dodgers simply had more talent and played better.  The mistakes that the Yankees were able to get away with during the season they didn't get away with in the World Series.  They got outplayed by a superior team, which resulted in a five-game series loss.

That's perhaps the biggest takeaway heading into the offseason.  The Yankees have a lot of decisions to make.  Re-signing Juan Soto should and will be the absolute priority.  After the game on Wednesday, Soto was non-committal about his future, but what else would you expect?  He's a Boras client!  Of course he's going to test the open market and find out teams think he's worth before making a decision!  I just hope for his and the interested teams' sake that Boras doesn't make him wait until February to sign!  (My guess is it'll be at the Owners' Meetings in December, which is when Judge signed in 2022 and Ohtani signed last year.)

There's only so much they can control with regards to Soto.  And whether he decides to stay or not will dictate a lot of their other moves over the winter.  Because make no mistake, other moves will be made!  The Yankees got to the World Series, but weren't good enough to win it.  They know they're close, though.  And there's actually a bit of a silver lining to losing the World Series because it exposed the issues (that already existed) the really need to address.

While they liked their starting rotation, it was too inconsistent.  Too many bad starts resulting in needing to get too many outs from the bullpen.  During the regular season, you can work around that.  In the playoffs, you can't.  Cole's a legit No. 1 starter (and, before you start saying "Oh, Cole has an opt-out," yes, he does, but the team can void the opt-out by giving him an extra year at the end of his contract, which is what everyone expects will happen).  Rodon is serviceable, but he's not a No. 2.  They need a second reliable starting pitcher to plug behind Cole in a postseason rotation.

And, I'm sorry, but you need to go get an actual closer!  Clay Holmes is not a closer.  Luke Weaver is not a closer.  You get the closer role settled, that gives you the freedom to play around with different roles for everybody else.  I know bullpen management is a completely different animal now.  Relievers don't have defined roles and managers will go to high-leverage guys in any situation.  Which works as long as they aren't overused and overexposed, which multiple bullpens were during the postseason (just look at what the Yankees did to Clase in the ALCS).

Soto's not the Yankees' only free agent.  They have decisions to make on some other guys, as well.  So, the roster will look very different in 2025.  How different remains to be seen.  But, for as good as the Yankees were in 2024, there are definitely areas where they can improve.  It's up to Brian Cashman to make those improvements.  If he can, there's no reason to think the Yankees can't make it back to the World Series.

Aaron Boone will likely be back as the manager.  That was all but confirmed immediately after the conclusion of Game 5.  Like many, I'm lukewarm about that news.  Because not only was the team outplayed, he was outmanaged by Dave Roberts.  So, add "manager" to the list of areas where the Yankees need to improve in 2025.

What's Old Is New Again

Everyone loves a throwback.  Whenever a team introduces an alternate uniform, more often than not, it's going to be a throwback look.  Throwback jerseys are also among the most popular with fans and are often among the best-selling items both online and in-person, whether it's a franchise legend's name and number or a modern player in the throwback design.

What I've always found ironic/funny about throwbacks is how they only become beloved well after the fact.  You're unlikely to see either of the World Series participants in a throwback design since their classic look is beloved and has been worn for years.  Meanwhile, the teams that do wear throwbacks only have them because they've changed their uniforms and/or logo over time.  Sometimes more than once.  And all those uniform changes are what make people realize that their old logo/uniform, which they hated at the time, may not have been so bad after all.

The NFL just started letting teams wear an alternate helmet again after a few seasons where they were only allowed to have one.  Plenty of teams have taken advantage of that rule change, with many reintroducing a throwback as their alternate uniform/helmet.  Some of throwbacks we've seen this season have included the Eagles' Kelly green, Pat the Patriot, the Seahawks' silver & blue, the Falcons' original red and the wonderful, glorious Buccaneer Bruce!

Sometimes teams even realize that the throwback is their best look.  Case in point: the New York Jets.  When Bill Parcells took over as Jets coach, they introduced new uniforms that were a modernized version of a throwback look to when they won the Super Bowl with Joe Namath at quarterback.  This season, the Jets have new uniforms again--uniforms that were introduced last season as a throwback.  Now, their 1980s-inspired design is once again their primary look.

They aren't the only team that's gone to a modernized version of an old logo as their "new" look for this season.  Two NHL teams have done the same thing.  The Los Angeles Kings went back to their uniforms from the early 90s with slight modifications.  The Kings' Southern California brethren the Ducks, meanwhile, brought back their wildly popular original logo from 1993 with a twist--Wild Wing is back, but in orange and black, not the Ducks' original colors.

Add the Kings and Ducks to an ever-growing list of NHL teams that went back to a throwback design as their "new" primary logo.  The Islanders ditched their fisherman logo and reinstated the Long Island map almost immediately after making the change the first time.  The Sabres brought back their original colors and logo.  The Penguins.  The Senators.  The Wild have paid tribute to the North Stars by incorporating a third uniform with their green & gold color scheme.  Even Utah, during its last few years in Phoenix, went back to the Coyotes' original logo from when they first moved to Arizona.

NBA teams have like five different uniforms each, so it's hard to tell what even is a team's primary uniform.  So, in the NBA, you've got to go by the logo.  And there have been a few in recent years who've also made the change back to a modernized version of their classic logo.  The Hawks and Sixers returned to their logos from the 80s.  So have the Jazz.  Meanwhile, the Warriors used their logo and uniforms from the 70s as the inspiration for their current logo.

It's really prominent in Major League Baseball.  For every team like the Yankees, Dodgers or Tigers, who've had the same, classic look for years, there are the teams who've gone through multiple logo/uniform changes.  And they often end up cycling back to something from their past.

There are countless examples of MLB teams that have readopted an old logo/uniform as their primary look.  The Toronto Blue Jays and Milwaukee Brewers went through several redesigns before realizing that what their fans wanted was a modernized version of their classic logo.  Same thing with the Orioles.  The cartoon oriole wearing a baseball hat isn't just the uniform they wore when they won their three World Series titles.  It's also by far the best uniform set they've had in their history.

Meanwhile, some teams that are perfectly content with their current uniforms while still letting their fans have the nostalgic feeling a throwback brings.  So, the Braves, Phillies and White Sox have found the perfect compromise.  The wear their throwback as their alternate jersey, and they've made sure to keep it in the rotation even though MLB now limits them to five total uniform combinations.  The Mariners even dropped their gray jersey entirely so that they could keep their throwbacks.

Even if they don't go all the way with the logo, it may just be the old colors people want.  The San Diego Padres are brown and gold.  They're the only team that has ever been able to pull it off, and fans were so happy when they brought the colors back.  Same thing with their former city mates.  The Chargers were known for their powder blue.  They brought it back as a secondary jersey at first, then fully embraced their powder blueness.

Then there's the other team that plays in SoFi Stadium.  When the Rams moved back to LA, they promised a full rebrand was on its way once the stadium opened.  They didn't wait to ditch the gold horns from the end of their St. Louis days, though.  At first, they changed them from gold to white, with classic Rams throwback uniforms mixed in.  Except people hated the white horns, so it became just the throwbacks until they debuted their new uniforms.  They even wore their throwbacks in Super Bowl LVIII!

I get why teams change their logos/uniforms.  Sometimes there's a new owner who wants to leave their mark.  Sometimes they just want a new look or to do something fresh.  Sometimes they're opening a new facility and want new uniforms to go with it.  There are a variety of reasons.  But, it's remarkable how many of those new logos/uniforms leave fans longing for the old look that they once hated.

Or maybe it's just that the appreciation for these uniforms has grown over time.  What once was considered "bad" or "ugly" now elicits fond memories and gives a sense of nostalgia.  So, maybe those old uniforms weren't so bad after all.  Because if they were, I doubt people would miss them once they're gone.

NFL 2024 (Week 8)

Believe it or not, we're almost at the halfway point of the NFL season.  And, even though things are starting to sort themselves out, there's still a lot up in the air.  The entire NFC North would be in the playoffs if they started today.  How long can that last?  Will struggling teams that were supposed to be contenders step up?  And can anyone in the AFC challenge Kansas City?  So much left to be answered!

Thursday Night: Minnesota (Loss)

Eagles (4-2) at Bengals (3-4): Philadelphia-Cincinnati has won three out of four, with each of those victories coming on the road.  I wouldn't go around proclaiming that the Bengals have righted the ship, though, seeing as those wins came against Carolina, the Giants and Cleveland.  This week, they're back at home, trying to get to .500 against an Eagles team that absolutely destroyed the Giants last week.  If they do manage to win this one, then maybe I'll start to think that they're on the right track.

Ravens (5-2) at Browns (1-6): Baltimore-Watch the Browns suddenly become better now that their hand has been forced about Deshaun Watson.  They didn't want to admit it to themselves, but he's a huge part of their problems.  Anyway, I'm curious to see how their new offensive dynamic looks against Baltimore.  The real question, though, is whether they can shut down the suddenly potent Ravens offense.

Titans (1-5) at Lions (5-1): Detroit-Order seems to have been restored in the NFC and the Lions don't just lead the North, they hold the No. 1 seed in the conference right now.  That win over Minnesota was close, but those are the types of games good teams win.  Good teams also don't lose games at home to an opponent they're far superior to like the Titans.

Cardinals (3-4) at Dolphins (2-4): Miami-On paper, Arizona is probably the smart choice here.  The Cardinals improved to 3-4 with that last-second field goal in the Monday night ESPN+ exclusive.  The Dolphins, meanwhile, are sitting at 2-4 after scoring just 10 points in a loss to the Colts and don't have much of an offense to speak of.  So, I may be crazy and I'm probably way off to pick them in this one.  I just have a feeling, though, and the Cardinals' having to travel cross country for an early game on a short week is a big reason why.  So, I'm sticking with the Miami pick.

Jets (2-5) at Patriots (1-6): Jets-It's been 24 years since the Jets swept the season series with the Patriots, but that's exactly what'll happen if they get the victory here.  They've actually won two straight against New England and are looking to make it three in a row for the first time since a four-game streak from 1999-2001 (aka, right before Belichick got there and the game where Mo Lewis changed NFL history).  The Jets actually haven't won since the last time they played the Patriots, who, unfortunately for them, they won't face again until the 2025 season.

Falcons (4-3) at Buccaneers (4-3): Tampa Bay-Three weeks ago in Atlanta, the Falcons had that crazy comeback to beat the Bucs on a walk-off touchdown.  If they can win the rematch, they'll have the NFC South all but wrapped up.  It was tough to watch what happened to Tampa's top two receivers on Monday night, too.  Losing both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in the same game is obviously a pretty big blow.  For some strange reason, I can see them overcoming it and taking over the division lead, though.

Packers (5-2) at Jaguars (2-5): Green Bay-Green Bay doesn't really have a choice but to keep winning.  The rest of the NFC North isn't going to, so they have to take care of their own business since it doesn't look like they'll be getting any help from their division rivals.  Jacksonville, meanwhile, is back stateside after its two-week sojourn to London, where they got a win over a Patriots team that they're better than.  They are not, however, better than the Packers.

Colts (4-3) at Texans (5-2): Houston-There are only seven AFC teams with a winning record right now.  The Colts are one of them, which means Indianapolis is currently in playoff position.  They're only a game behind the Texans in the division, but they already lost to Houston in Week 1, so this week is huge for both teams.  Either the Colts tie Houston for the division lead and earn a season split or the Texans take a two-game lead and clinch the tiebreaker, setting them up really nicely for the second half of the season.

Saints (2-5) at Chargers (3-3): Chargers-To say it's been a busy week in LA would be an understatement.  The Rams had a home game Thursday night.  USC was home.  The Lakers and Clippers opened their seasons at home.  The Dodgers hosted the first two games of the World Series.  Now it's the Chargers' turn to close out the weekend.  All of the others won, so they need to do the same in order to keep pace.  Especially since their opponent is a struggling Saints team.

Bills (5-2) at Seahawks (4-3): Buffalo-I don't really know what to make of the Seahawks.  They've looked great on the road, but have been oddly vulnerable at home.  In Seattle's last two home games, the Giants and 49ers, two teams they should beat, both came into what used to be one of the toughest places in the NFL for the road team and gotten.  Yet, despite that, they're still in first place in the NFC West.  The Bills, meanwhile, are on the road for the fourth time in five weeks.  I do like their chances to hand Seattle its third straight home loss, though.

Panthers (1-6) at Broncos (4-3): Denver-Doesn't it seem like a lifetime ago when these two faced each other in the Super Bowl?  Neither one has been any good since then, although the Broncos are definitely headed in the right direction.  Denver's won four out of five after starting 0-2 and is currently holding onto a wild card spot.  Look for the Broncos to make that five out of six against lowly Carolina.

Chiefs (6-0) at Raiders (2-5): Kansas City-The Chiefs aren't going undefeated.  I don't think there's anyone who thinks they will.  They've played too many close games and their division rivals are too good.  The crazy thing, though, is that they haven't really played that well yet, either.  Their last loss, in fact, was against the Raiders last Christmas.  Their next one won't come here.

Bears (4-2) at Commanders (5-2): Washington-They flexed the Caleb Williams vs. Jayden Daniels into the late national window, and with good reason.  It's not just the No. 1 and 2 picks from the draft.  They've both helped immediately turn their teams around.  If the playoffs were to start this week, the Bears and Commanders would both be in.  So, this is actually a good, entertaining one that deserves to be a national game instead of the fourth regional option in the 1:00 window.  The Commanders are slightly better and the game's in Washington so they're the pick.

Cowboys (3-3) at 49ers (3-4): San Francisco-Most people figured that Dallas and San Francisco would be two of the top teams in the NFC when they met on a midseason Sunday night.  Instead, they're both struggling, on the outside looking in at the playoff picture, and both badly in need of a win.  For the 49ers, it can give them some momentum heading into their bye week.  The Cowboys, meanwhile, have had two weeks to think about getting absolutely shellacked by the Lions.  Going to San Francisco won't make them feel better about themselves.

Giants (2-5) at Steelers (5-2): Pittsburgh-Another week, another primetime home game for the Steelers against a crappy New York team.  They beat the Jets fairly comfortably.  Why should it be any different against the Giants?  Although, the Giants have been a better team on the road this season, and one of their wins came in notoriously tricky Seattle.  Still, though, it would definitely be shocking if Pittsburgh loses this game.

This Week: 0-1
Last Week: 9-6
Overall: 60-48

MLB's Dream Series

Major League Baseball has finally gotten the World Series it has long wanted.  The Yankees and the Dodgers.  Two marquee franchises, East Coast vs. West Coast, the two biggest markets, the two biggest fanbases (and the two teams every other fanbase loves to hate), the two winningest teams in their respective leagues renewing a World Series rivalry for the first time in 43 years.  This World Series has everything a baseball fan could ask for and then some!  (If you don't believe me that this is what MLB wants, just check out the ratings for the playoffs so far.  The Yankees and Dodgers making deep postseason runs is good for baseball.  This year is proof of that.)

I haven't even talked about the star power yet.  Judge and Ohtani, the two biggest names in the sport.  One of them is guaranteed to win his first World Series ring.  They both hit 50 home runs this season.  They're both likely going to be named MVP next month.  And they won't be the only MVPs on the field!  There will be five on the field in Game 1 between both teams--Judge, Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Giancarlo Stanton.  That doesn't even include Clayton Kershaw, who's injured and won't pitch in the series.  The current World Series record is four MVPs in one game.

For people of a certain age, a Yankees-Dodgers World Series was a rite of autumn.  Whether it was taking the subway from Brooklyn to the Bronx or flying cross country, it's the classic World Series rivalry.  So many iconic World Series moments took place between the Yankees and Dodgers.  They played each other 11 times in 41 years!  But it's been 43 years since the last time.  That's two generations!  Far too long.

Derek Jeter lamented the fact that he never got to play in a Yankees-Dodgers World Series.  And it's not like both franchises haven't been good since 1981.  The Yankees have won five titles and been to seven World Series since then, while the Dodgers have been to four World Series and won two.  The fates just never aligned for them to meet again in the Fall Classic until now.

This year felt like a make-it-or-break-it season for both teams, too.  The Yankees went 82-80 last year and made a huge trade with the Padres to get Juan Soto, who's a free agent after this season.  After last season's disaster and knowing they might have Soto and Judge together for one season, to say the pressure was on to end the Yankees' 15-year pennant drought would be an understatement.  If not, Aaron Boone was as good as gone.

The Dodgers made their own offseason splash.  They signed Ohtani to the largest free agent contract in MLB history.  They also won the Yoshinobu Yamamoto sweepstakes.  And, for all their regular season success over the past decade, the only World Series they've won in that span comes with an asterisk since it was during the 2020 COVID season.  More significantly, they were coming off back-to-back Division Series upsets against division rivals.  So, yes, the pressure was most definitely on in Los Angeles, as well.

They've both had their moments this year, too.  The Yankees looked unbeatable in April and May, then were God awful for six weeks in the summer before getting their groove back in mid-August.  Down the stretch and in the playoffs, everybody has been healthy (for the most part) and they've looked like that dominant team from April and May again.  And they were certainly the best team in the American League.

As for the Dodgers, I don't really know how they've done it.  They have like 15 starting pitchers, yet somehow all of them are hurt.  They don't even have enough for a postseason rotation!  And they were staring at another Division Series exit after falling behind the Padres 2-1.  Then the Dodgers' offense cranked it into another gear.  They set a record with 43 runs against the Mets in the NLCS.  All of that offensive fire power was on full display.

When these two met at Yankee Stadium in early June, the Dodgers won two out of three.  It was actually the first home series the Yankees lost all season.  There's a huge caveat about that series, though.  Juan Soto didn't play in any of the three games.  The Yankees had Trent Grisham batting fifth in the Sunday night game!  So, that wasn't anything close to the same lineup the Dodgers will be facing in the World Series.  Frankly, that Dodgers team back in June was far different, too.

Most of the pre-series talk has been about the lineups.  And rightfully so!  Why wouldn't it be when you're got guys like Ohtani, Betts and Freeman on one side and Judge, Soto and Stanton on the other?  There's also Tesocar Hernandez, who's unleashed his inner superstar and Kike Hernandez, who turns into a different player in October.  Meanwhile, the Yankees have had Gleyber Torres getting on base like it's nobody's business and Alex Verdugo coming up with big hits.  So, yeah, there should be plenty of hitting.

Both teams also love their bullpens.  Both teams have relied heavily on their bullpens through the first two rounds of the playoffs.  I'd even say some relievers have been overused.  More significantly, I'd say some relievers have been overexposed.  That's a dangerous proposition when you're talking about these two lineups.  We also already know the Dodgers are planning on having at least one bullpen game.  It worked in Game 4 against the Padres.  It didn't in Game 2 against the Mets.

Which puts a tremendous premium on actual starting pitching.  You know both managers will have a quick hook.  At the first sign of trouble, the starter's out of there.  Even if there isn't trouble and Ohtani or Soto's coming up, we're gonna see a lefty reliever.  Unless the starter is rolling.  It's up to Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Clarke Schmidt, Luis Gil, Jack Flaherty, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Walker Buehler to make the decision whether to leave him in an easy one.

Ultimately, I think the Dodgers' lack of starting pitching depth is one big advantage that the Yankees need to exploit.  The Yankees have the best starting pitcher in the series in Cole, and will undoubtedly get more innings from their four starters than the Dodgers will from their three.  The more innings they get from their starters, the better off they are.  Which is true for both teams.  Because as much as they like their bullpens, you don't want to be relying on the bullpen to get 15 outs or more in every game.  Especially with these two offenses.

Starting pitching is advantage Yankees.  The bullpen is probably a slight edge to the Dodgers, especially if they get Alex Vesia and Brusdar Garterol back.  As for the lineups, how can you possibly compare them?  Seriously, in a position-by-position breakdown, how do you decide between Mookie Betts and Juan Soto, the two best right fielders in the game?  And Ohtani might be the only DH that you'd take over Stanton right now.

Top to bottom, the Dodgers' lineup is just a tiny bit stronger.  Their NLCS effort is proof of that.  From 1-9, they don't have a weakness.  The Yankees, meanwhile, have been getting most of their production from their big four (Soto, Stanton, Judge and Torres).  Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Austin Wells, in particular, have had their struggles.  They need one of those guys at the bottom of the order to break out and relieve some of the burden on their big boppers.

We have the two teams with the most wins in their respective leagues.  They're the two best teams in baseball.  I don't think anyone expects this to be a short series.  It's Dodgers-Yankees, why wouldn't it be a classic?  As for who wins, I have no idea.  Either way, I see it going back to LA.  My heart says Yankees in six.  My head says Dodgers in seven.

The Vagabond Rays

Tropicana Field, the Tampa Bay Rays' home stadium, was supposed to be used as a shelter during Hurricane Milton.  Instead, Milton's winds destroyed the roof, ripping almost every panel off completely.  The rest of the stadium, fortunately, wasn't damaged, but the roof obviously needs to be repaired.  Unfortunately, those repairs won't be completed in time for Opening Day 2025.

The Rays have long been in need of a new stadium, and finally got the approval for one earlier this year.  It won't open until 2028, however, which means they'll still be at Tropicana Field for the next three years.  And now, they'll need to find a temporary home for at least the start of the 2025 season.

A number of cities have presented themselves as options for the Rays' temporary home, but Major League Baseball wants them to remain in the Tampa Bay area, near their fanbase.  A teams' Spring Training complexes are in the Tampa area, so they do have options.  How many of those options are actually realistic, though?

Most of the teams whose Spring Training complexes are in the Tampa area have a Minor League team in the Florida State League that play in the same stadium once Spring Training ends.  So, the Rays' using one of those facilities would require adjusting the Florida State League schedule.  I'm not saying it can't be done.  They're doing the exact same thing in Sacramento with the A's and RiverCats sharing that stadium for the next few seasons.  But that was known well in advance, so it made it much easier to work the MLB and Triple-A schedules around each other.

With that in mind, Sarasota could be an option.  The Orioles don't have a Minor League affiliate in the Florida State League, so their complex would be readily available for the Rays.  Or they could use their own facility in Port Charlotte, but that's 100 miles away from Tampa/St. Petersburg.  Is that too far?

One benefit of those Spring Training stadiums is that they're, for the most part, Major League ready.  The pitch clock and replay system have already been installed since the Major League teams need to use them for Spring Training games.  And, even though most Spring Training games are during the day, they do play a handful of night games, so the lighting is in place, as well.  Although, as we saw when the Blue Jays had to start the 2021 season at their Spring Training facility in Dunedin, it's not ideal.

I get the desire to keep the Rays as close to home as possible.  But, if they don't want to use another team's Spring Training facility, it would be easy enough to take an 85-mile trip across I-4 to Orlando.  There's obviously plenty of hotel space and, most importantly, there's a 7,500-seat stadium at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.  The Rays actually used it for part of Spring Training in 2023, so they've called the stadium "home" before.  And it's also hosted Major League games in the past.

Personally, I think Orlando may be the best option.  Especially since no one knows how long it'll take until Tropicana Field is ready for play.  Ideally, they'll be able to repair the roof relatively quickly and the Rays can return home sometime in April or May.  But, that's assuming the roof is the only damage.  Who knows what other damage there is or how extensive?

All of this is complicated by another significant factor.  The Rays are already moving into a new, $1.8 billion ballpark in 2028.  They obviously need to determine the cost of the repairs, but is it worth it to replace the roof on a building that's being torn down in three years anyway?  Especially when the team already has the funding for the new stadium and the City of St. Petersburg, which doesn't have unlimited resources, just dealt with back-to-back hurricanes.  So, it seems very possible, if not likely, that the Rays won't be able to use their home park at all in 2025.

Removing the roof and turning Tropicana Field into an outdoor facility doesn't seem like a viable option, either.  For starters, the stadium is 35 years old, and it was built as an indoor facility with a permanent roof.  That means there's no drainage system, etc.  And it's not like they can just install one!  So, they'd have absolutely no protection from the weather, whether it be rain (it rains a lot in Florida) or the heat (it also gets pretty hot there in the summer).

So, while 2025 is the obvious and immediate priority, we could be looking at a situation where the Rays need to find a stadium solution for more than just next season.  It's entirely possible that they've already played their last game in Tropicana Field and will be vagabonds until their new stadium (which hasn't even broken ground yet) is complete.  And, if this becomes a semi-permanent, multi-year thing, it shouldn't be at somebody else's Minor League facility.  It would be at a place that at least feels like it's their home away from home.

That's why I think Orlando may be the best option.  I totally get the desire to keep them in Florida.  And it'll be easy enough to find somewhere for the Rays to play within their home state.  So, sorry to disappoint you, Nashville, but it doesn't look like you'll be their temporary home.  Especially since Orlando is easy, makes sense and is close enough to Tampa/St. Petersburg that Rays fans will be able to make the trip.  I'm sure there are plenty of Rays fans in Orlando, too, so it would actually make thing significantly easier for them.

There's something else to consider, too.  Despite having the smallest seating capacity in the Majors, Tropicana Field looks empty most of the time.  The Rays don't even sell tickets in the upper deck and cover it with a tarp instead.  If they draw similar crowds to a 7,500-seat stadium, though, it'd look packed!  A seating capacity that low could obviously cause problems should the Rays host playoff games, but you cross that bridge when you come to it.

Obviously, nothing is ideal about this situation.  The Rays finally got the approval and funding for their much-needed new stadium, only for Mother Nature to have her own plans regarding Tropicana Field.  Now, instead of going into the offseason looking for ways to improve on an 80-82 record and fourth-place finish, they have a much more pressing problem.  They need to figure out where they're gonna play in 2025, and possibly beyond.