NFL Picks, Week 11

Things are starting to become clearer in the NFL, but, at the same time, the playoff picture is murkier than ever.  Some teams have started separating themselves, but, for the most part, we've got divisions that are tightly bunched with playoff positions changing each week.  It'll only get crazier with so many division games backloaded, too.  And with certain teams that currently aren't in playoff spots lurking.  So, expect a lot to happen the rest of the way.

Thursday Night: New England (Win)

Commanders (3-7) vs. Dolphins (3-7): Washington-The curtain falls on the International Series with the NFL's first-ever game in Madrid.  This looked like a much better matchup before the season than it turned out to be.  Miami shockingly took it to the Bills last week, while Washington has lost five straight and is still without Jayden Daniels.  None of those games have been particularly close.  But those opponents have been a much higher caliber than the Dolphins.  That's why I'm taking the Commanders to end their skid.

Panthers (5-5) at Falcons (3-6): Carolina-Atlanta is right up there on the list of most disappointing teams in the league this season.  People, myself included, figured the Falcons would challenge Tampa Bay for the division title.  Instead, they're 3-6, and they didn't even get a bye following their long trip back from Germany.  They've been far too inconsistent to think the team that beat the Bills will show up on a regular basis.  The Panthers, meanwhile, can find themselves just a half-game out of first place if things fall their way this week.

Buccaneers (6-3) at Bills (6-3): Buffalo-Tampa Bay wasn't given the easiest schedule coming out of its bye.  The Bucs lost to New England last week.  Now they've got Buffalo.  And next week, the Rams.  They could easily lose all three, so it's a good thing they were able to beef up early.  The Bills laid an egg last week in Miami, which really put them in a bad spot since the Patriots don't stop winning.  New England already won this week, so a loss will put them 2.5 games back.  Not insurmountable, but not where they want to be either.  Being a game and a half out is much more manageable.

Texans (4-5) at Titans (1-8): Houston-During their bye week, the Titans saw every other one-win team come away with a victory.  So, they're back in the driver's seat for the No. 1 pick.  That's obviously a fluid situation that might change several times over the rest of the season, but the point remains.  Tennessee's not a good team.  And, to think, this team fired Mike Vrabel, only to see him become a Coach of the Year candidates while making the Patriots "the Patriots" again.  Needless to say, his coaching might not have been the problem.

Bears (6-3) at Vikings (4-5): Chicago-Chicago is a playoff team right now.  It sounds crazy, I know, but the Bears are 6-3 and could be in first place at the end of Week 11.  That could be 7-2 if not for one quarter of their season opener, which was the only good quarter the Vikings played in their first two games.  The Bears are a much different team in mid-November than they were in early September, though.  Last week's comeback against the Giants is proof of that.  Count this team out at your own peril.

Packers (5-3-1) at Giants (2-8): Green Bay-One little loss can have so much impact.  Especially in a tight division race.  The Packers went from first place in the NFC North to third after falling to the Eagles on Monday night.  The good news is this week, they're playing a Giants team that finally got fed up with the blown double-digit leads and fired Brian Daboll.  It's not like that'll make much of a difference against the Packers, though.  (Although, their two wins this season were at home against the Chargers and Eagles, so who knows?)

Bengals (3-6) at Steelers (5-4): Pittsburgh-When these two met in Cincinnati on a Thursday night, the Bengals pulled the upset (while wearing those ridiculous white helmets).  That loss dropped the Steelers to 4-2 and suddenly they were no longer running away with the division.  They're still in front, but it's no longer comfortable.  A win in the rematch can go a long way towards changing that and set Pittsburgh up for the stretch run.

Chargers (7-3) at Jaguars (5-4): Chargers-Don't sleep on either of these teams.  Jacksonville has beaten both San Francisco and Kansas City on the road this season, while the Chargers have really been impressive.  Sure, two of their losses are bad, but they always show up and play well against good opponents (as evidence by their 3-0 division record).  And they just took it to the Steelers last week.  I'm not saying this one will be easy, but I do expect them to go into their bye at 8-3.

Seahawks (7-2) at Rams (7-2): Rams-As this little NFC West round robin concludes, we'll actually have a division leader with sole possession of first place.  Not only that, the Seahawks-Rams winner will likely hold the NFC's No. 1 seed at the end of the week.  Personally, I think the Rams are the best team in the division, if not the entire NFC.  They showed it with an absolutely dominant performance in San Francisco, and they'll show it again at home against Seattle.

49ers (6-4) at Cardinals (3-6): San Francisco-Heading into the season, some people thought Arizona might make the NFC West a four-way race.  That obviously hasn't been the case, with the Cardinals sitting at just 3-6.  One of the reasons for that is an 0-3 division record.  When these two met in San Francisco, it was a one-point game.  I wouldn't be surprised if it's close again.  I'd expect the final result to be the same, though.

Ravens (4-5) at Browns (2-7): Baltimore-For weeks, people have been saying to look out for Baltimore.  The Ravens got off to a terrible start and were left for dead.  Then Lamar Jackson came back and their schedule got easier.  Now, we're staring at Baltimore getting back to .500 and indeed becoming that opponent no one wants to face down the stretch.

Chiefs (5-4) at Broncos (8-2): Kansas City-If the playoffs started today, the Chiefs wouldn't be in them.  Yet everyone knows Kansas City is a dangerous opponent.  First-place Denver can really make a statement here while also opening up a 3.5-game lead on the Chiefs.  So, while this isn't necessarily a must-win, it's a very important game for Kansas City.  The Chiefs won't let go of their stranglehold on the AFC West that easily.

Lions (6-3) at Eagles (7-2): Philadelphia-This was the NFC Championship Game everyone wanted and expected last season, but the Commanders had to go and ruin it!  Now we finally get that Lions-Eagles matchup in one of the most-anticipated Sunday night games of the season.  It's an important one, too.  Detroit's finally in first place, but two of the Lions' three losses were on the road against top teams (Green Bay & Kansas City).  Expect a third road loss to a good team here.

Cowboys (3-5-1) at Raiders (2-7): Dallas-Cowboys-Raiders is always a matchup that will draw a lot of eyeballs no matter how good either team is.  Which is what makes this a fun Monday night game.  Are they the two best teams in the NFL?  Definitely not.  But there's still potential for an entertaining game here.  It's also one that Dallas absolutely cannot lose.  The Cowboys need to start consistently collecting wins if they want to be taken seriously as a playoff contender.

GREY CUP: Roughriders (12-6) vs. Alouettes (10-8): Saskatchewan-It's Grey Cup Sunday!  So, following my tradition, I'll give my two cents (guess I have to start collecting pennies) about the CFL's championship game.  Saskatchewan has been the dominant team in the league all year and is playing in its first Grey Cup game since 2013.  Montreal was a surprise Grey Cup champion two years ago and won the East Final on the road in Hamilton.  I just can't pick against the Roughriders, though.  The game's being played in Winnipeg, which means it'll be a sea of green, giving them a huge home-away-from-home advantage.

This Week: 1-0
Last Week: 7-7
Overall: 94-55-1 

The MVPs, 2025

Judge or Raleigh?  For most of the second half of the season, and especially over the final two months, the AL MVP debate was an almost daily topic.  Raleigh crushed 60 home runs as a switch-hitting catcher for a division winner.  Judge once again put up the otherworldly numbers that are just an average season for him at this point.  If not for Raleigh's season, he'd be running away with a second straight MVP award, and probably unanimously.  But that won't be the case at all.  There's truly some suspense here.

It's probably a safe bet to say Judge and Raleigh went 1-2 on all 30 ballots.  If they were both first on 15 and second on the other 15, it'll be a tie, just the second ever and the first in the American League.  So, it's really a matter of how many voters had Raleigh-Judge and how many had Judge-Raleigh (or if any of the writers put either one third, which changes the math completely and almost assuredly gives the other one the win).  Whoever got more first-place votes is probably the winner.

If Raleigh wasn't a catcher, this vote wouldn't be as close as it projects to be.  But the fact that he is will almost certainly come into play.  As it should.  Raleigh had a monster year offensively while also playing 150 games at the most grueling defensive position and guiding that outstanding Seattle pitching staff.  The Mariners don't win their first division title in 24 years without him.  Not to mention the fact that Raleigh and his home runs were the story for much of the season's second half.  Which is why, as much as I love Aaron Judge and as impressed as I am with the numbers he continually puts up year after year, my AL MVP vote goes to Cal Raleigh.

Spoiler alert with that one!  I usually wait until the end of the post to reveal who my choice for the award is.  Raleigh vs. Judge is the most anticipated and figures to be the most hotly contested of all eight awards up for grabs.  And there's no question they both deserve it.  I'm sure I'm not alone in wishing we'd found out the MVPs first instead of last.  But, it's also fitting to end Awards Week with the one award that actually carries some suspense with it.

Jose Ramirez of the Guardians finished third.  Even he knows that.  But still, finishing third makes you a finalist, and maybe J-Ram will grab that first career MVP sooner or later.  After all, he's in the Judge/Ohtani category for his ability to just go out there and consistently put up 30-home run, 80-RBI seasons while playing Gold Glove caliber defense at third base.  He's a quiet superstar that led Cleveland to another division title.

We know the top three, but who else figures to factor into the AL MVP vote?  Well, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for one.  His signing an extension with Toronto set the stage for the Blue Jays' entire season, and he returned their investment by playing like the franchise player he's paid to be.  A case could also be made for his Toronto teammate Bo Bichette, who could've had 200 hits if he hadn't missed most of September.  And how about a third Blue Jay--George Springer?  Those three at the top of the lineup are a big reason why the Blue Jays went from worst to first in the AL East.

And, even though he's not a finalist this season, that doesn't mean Bobby Witt Jr. had a "bad" year.  Quite the opposite.  He led the AL in hits, actually.  Junior Caminero quietly had a great season in Tampa Bay, and Julio Rodriguez didn't get the headlines that Raleigh did, but he was just as big a reason for the Mariners' first division title since 2001.  Byron Buxton was healthy this season and what a difference it made!  And let's not forget the pitchers.  Where would Detroit have been without Tarik Skubal or Boston without Garret Crochet?

Well, since I already told you, you know the order I've got Raleigh and Judge in.  And I'm good with Jose Ramirez in the 3-spot.  Vladimir Guerrero Jr. goes fourth in my book, followed by Caminero in fifth and Guerrero's teammates Bichette in sixth and Springer in seventh.  Bobby Witt Jr. is No. 8 for me, then Julio Rodriguez, with Tarik Skubal getting a 10th-place vote from me.

In the National League, it's gonna be Ohtani.  Because who else would it be?  He's a unique, generational talent who was finally able to show his two-way gift after being limited to just hitting in 2024 (and winning the MVP).  Ohtani didn't have as many stolen bases this season, but that's because he didn't run as much.  And he obviously brings so much more value to the Dodgers when he's able to pitch, too.  We've seen the difference Ohtani the pitcher can make, and going back to doing both should lock up his fourth career MVP.

Kyle Schwarber's job is to hit home runs.  Which is exactly what he did for a Phillies team that won its division.  The fact that he was able to consistently hit all season really came up big when you consider how many players Philadelphia lost to injury or were just plain ineffective.  Not Schwarber.  He started hitting on Opening Day and never stopped.  He played all 162 games and led the NL in both homers (56) and RBIs (132).  And, it doesn't count for regular season MVP consideration, but will anyone be able to forget the show he put on in the All*Star Game?

When the Mets signed Juan Soto to that record contract in the offseason, it came with the expectation that he live up to the investment.  April was a bit of a struggle, but Mets fans were more than satisfied with their high-priced addition.  Soto was a finalist for AL MVP last season, now he's a finalist in the NL in his first season across town.  He ended up with a .263/43/105 slash line while playing 160 games.  Soto also added another element to his game--the stolen base.  He finished with 38 of them!

There's far less suspense in the National League as in the American League.  I suspect the alphabetical order that was used to announce them as the finalists was the order of finish--Ohtani, Schwarber, Soto.  The real question is whether it was unanimous (it probably was) or if one of the Philadelphia writers threw Schwarber a bone and put him at No. 1.

Now let's talk about the other guys worth being in consideration for some down-vote MVP love.  Starting with Pete Alonso.  The Mets' first baseman wasn't sure he'd be back in Queens after his dalliance with free agency, but the Mets were glad to have him back.  He and Soto formed a formidable pair, and Alonso finished second in the NL with 126 RBIs while hitting a respectable .272.

The Chicago Cubs also contributed a couple of MVP candidates.  Pete Crow-Armstrong was really up there in the conversation with Ohtani early in the season, and he had the Gold Glove-caliber defense to go with his breakout offensive season.  PCA himself would argue that he wasn't even the most valuable member of the Cubs, however.  He'd say it was Seiya Suzuki, and I'd be hard-pressed to come up with a counterargument to that claim.  Suzuki had 32 homers and 31 doubles while driving in 103.

A healthy Christian Yelich showed that he still has the form from when he won this award in 2018.  Geraldo Perdomo quietly put together a 20-home run, 100-RBI season in Arizona.  As did Matt Olson in Atlanta.  And, it's easy to miss what everybody else on the Dodgers is doing because Ohtani sucks so much air out of the room, but Freddie Freeman once again proved that he's one of the top players in the game.  I didn't forget about Manny Machado, either.  Or James Wood, who toiled on a not-very-good Nationals team.

Ohtani's No. 1.  He's in his Barry Bonds Era right now.  The only thing preventing him from winning MVP every year is health at this point.  Schwarber gets my No. 2, with Soto at No. 3.  I'm going Seiya Suzuki at No. 4, then Pete Alonso and Pete Crow-Armstrong.  Perdomo No. 7, Yelich No. 8 (you've got to have somebody from the team that had the best record in the sport), then Olson and Machado rounding it out.

The Cy Youngs, 2025

About a decade ago, there was a big debate about the AL Cy Young and whether it should go to Felix Hernandez of the Mariners or David Price of the Rays.  Hernandez led in virtually every category, but was just 13-12 for a not-very-good Mariners team.  Price, meanwhile, had 21 wins for a Tampa Bay team that made the playoffs.  I was very much in the pro-Price camp.  Hernandez ended up winning the award, a clear indication that won-loss record no longer matters as much to Cy Young voters.

The same debate happened a few years later in the National League.  This time, it was Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer.  Scherzer was the one with the wins, and he did come away with the Cy Young during that stretch when he was the best pitcher for a few years with the Nationals.

Why am I bringing this up?  Because we've got a similar situation this year.  Paul Skenes was the runaway Rookie of the Year last season, and he's quickly established himself as one of the best pitchers in baseball.  His numbers were beyond exceptional...with the exception of his record.  Skenes only went 10-10 this season.  However, the Pirates only scored 11 total runs in his 10 losses, so there wasn't much he could do on that front.  And everyone acknowledges that.  Which is why, despite his record, Skenes is the heavy favorite.  Although, he does face some stiff competition.

If the postseason were included in Cy Young voting, it very well might've been Yoshinobu Yamamoto's award.  He was brilliant in the playoffs...a complete game victory in the NLCS, then going 3-0 in the World Series (now I kinda wish he had pitched in relief in Game 3 so that he could've had a 4-0 record).  It's not like he was a slouch in the regular season, though.  Yamamoto went 12-8, had a WHIP under 1, and was second behind Skenes in ERA.  That 12-year, $325 million investment the Dodgers made in him looks like a bargain!

Then there's Cristopher Sanchez of the Phillies.  Philadelphia's rotation is one of its biggest strengths.  Sanchez emerged as the ace of that rotation this season.  And he became even more valuable when Zack Wheeler was lost for the year in August.  They didn't miss a beat, largely because of how Sanchez stepped up.  He finished the year with a 13-5 record, ranked third in the NL in ERA (2.50), and had 212 strikeouts.  Sanchez was also a workhorse, throwing more than 200 innings.

An argument can be made that Sanchez isn't the only Phillies pitcher worthy of Cy Young consideration.  Because there's also a valid case to be made for Jesus Luzardo.  His ERA was a little high (3.92), but his 15 wins were second in the NL, and his 216 strikeouts were tied for second (with Skenes).  And he was Philadelphia's fourth starter for much of the season!

Others who probably got some down-ballot votes include the Cubs' Matthew Boyd, who was as good as anybody for a few months.  I'm actually surprised Freddy Peralta isn't a finalist.  He was the best pitcher on a Brewers team that won 96 games.  Peralta led the National League with 17 wins, held opponents to a .193 batting average and a WHIP of 1.08, and had an ERA of 2.70.  And Nick Pivetta of the Padres could get some love after finishing with a WHIP below 1 and being one of just six National League pitchers with a sub-3.00 ERA.

At risk of contradicting myself and my prior position regarding won-loss record and the Cy Young, I've gotta give the nod to Skenes.  Had his record been below .500, it would've been a much more interesting case.  I think the fact that he managed to get to 10-10, though, speaks volumes.  Because he was well below .500 for a while.  As for the rest of my ballot, I've actually got the non-finalist Peralta at No. 2, with Yamamoto at No. 3.  Then the Phillies round it out, with Sanchez fourth and Luzardo fifth.

Much like Skenes, Tarik Skubal was the heavy preseason favorite in the American League.  And he could become the first back-to-back AL Cy Young winner since Pedro Martinez in 1999-2000.  Skubal was an ace in every sense of the word.  The best pitcher in baseball, he led the Majors in ERA (2.21), was second in the AL in strikeouts (241) and had a ridiculous 0.89 WHIP.  Most importantly, Skubal always came up big when the Tigers needed him to.

It might not be unanimous like it was last year, though.  Because Garret Crochet had quite a first season in Boston!  This is a guy who'd never started a game prior to the 2024 season.  Now he's one of the best starters in the game!  The Red Sox traded for him during the offseason, then paid him like an ace.  And he pitched like one.  Crochet went 18-5, trailing only Max Fried for the Major League lead.  He struck out 255 hitters, 14 more than Skubal.  And he threw 205 innings.  Exactly what an ace should do.

Throughout the season, most of the talk was about how the left-handed starters were dominating the AL.  Which was true.  Yet a righty managed to sneak in there as one of the finalists anyway--Houston's Hunter Brown.  In a rotation with much bigger names, Brown emerged as the Astros' most consistent starter, and Houston went 18-13 in his starts.  He was second (behind Skubal) in ERA and third (behind Crochet and Skubal) in strikeouts.

Just as I'm shocked Freddy Peralta isn't a National League finalist, I'm shocked Max Fried isn't one in the AL.  For most of the year, he was right up there in the conversation with Skubal and Fried.  Outside of one bad stretch when he was pitching hurt, he was brilliant.  And he stepped up to be the ace the Yankees needed with Gerrit Cole out for the year.  Fried led the Majors with 19 wins and was fourth in the AL with a 2.86 ERA.

There were two Phillies worthy of being in the NL discussion, and there are two Yankees worthy of being in the AL discussion.  Fried and Carlos Rodon were quite the 1-2 punch.  Rodon made 33 starts and went 18-9 with over 200 strikeouts and an opponents' batting average of .188.  Bryan Woo was excellent all year for that outstanding Seattle pitching staff.  And don't forget the closers!  Houston's Josh Hader, Seattle's Andres Munoz and, yes, Aroldis Chapman all put themselves in the Cy Young conversation.

Still, it's Skubal's award to lose.  He went into the season as the favorite to win, which is exactly what he'll do.  The vote could be close, though.  Because in any other year, Crochet might be your winner.  My third-place vote goes to Fried, with, I guess, Hunter Brown slotting in behind him and Carlos Rodon rounding out my top five picks.

The Managers, 2025

Manager of the Year is my favorite of Baseball's annual awards.  Why?  Because there are so many different ways you can win Manager of the Year, and there are usually multiple deserving candidates in each league.  It also depends on how each individual voter defines it. 

Everybody's criteria is different.  And it really is completely subjective.  Who did the better job?  The guy who unexpectedly took his team to the playoffs or the manager of a good team that met those lofty expectations?  Was it the manager of a surprise contender that just missed the playoffs or the team that overcame injuries and roster changes during the season?  Or the team that had the biggest turnaround?  Sometimes it's a combination of those things.

All six of this year's finalists meet one or more of those criteria, as do some others who aren't finalists.  This year, all six finalists led their teams to the playoffs, which certainly wasn't expected of all of them.  Five of the six teams that won their division are represented, with only Dave Roberts missing (for obvious reasons).  Both of last year's winners have a rare chance to repeat, although one of them is a longshot to do that.

Stephen Vogt, last year's winner in the American League, somehow guided Cleveland to a division title.  The Tigers led the AL Central all season.  The Guardians were 15 1/2 back in July and 11 back on September 5.  Yet, thanks mainly to a 17-5 stretch right after that, they caught and overtook Detroit.  They did this without their closer, Emmanuel Clase (who, it's safe to say, will never pitch in the Majors again) and no rotation to speak of.  Cleveland had no business winning the division, but did anyway.

As impressive as the Guardians' season was, though, I think Stephen Vogt finished a distant third in the voting.  Which isn't a knock on him or the job he did this season by any means.  It's more a compliment to the managers of the ALCS participants.  A compelling case can be made for both Dan Wilson, who guided Seattle to its first division title in 24 years, and John Schneider, who took the Blue Jays from last place in 2024 to the World Series in 2025.

This has been building in Seattle, so it wasn't a total shock to see the Mariners finally put it all together.  It was Dan Wilson, in his first full season as a Major League manager, who got them over the hump.  They trailed the Astros, who've owned the AL West for the better part of a decade, in early September.  Then they went into Houston, swept the Astros, and ran away with the division from there.  The Mariners were the best team in the American League for a good portion of the season, and Wilson got them closer to the World Series than they've ever been.

There's a clear winner in the American League, though.  The Blue Jays finished last in 2024 and entered this season wondering if they'd lose Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to free agency.  Vladdy signed a 15-year deal to stay in Toronto and that was just the start.  The Blue Jays were good, not great, in April and May.  Then they swept a four-game series with the Yankees in early June and the rest was history.  Toronto was dominant at home and their lineup was impossible to get out!  It all added up to 94 wins, the No. 1 seed in the AL, and their first pennant in 32 years...with mostly the same team that went 74-88 last season.

While they obviously weren't top three finalists, also worth a mention (since apparently they go five-deep in Rookie & Manager of the Year voting now) are Alex Cora of the Red Sox, Kansas City's Matt Quatraro and Mark Kotsay of the Athletics.  Boston made the playoffs despite completely overhauling the roster in June.  The Royals, who made the playoffs last season, nearly got back, and finished 82-80.  Kotsay, meanwhile, managed a vagabond team that was playing its home games in a Minor League park and kept the A's competitive, finishing 76-86.

To me, it's very clear.  John Schneider is your very deserving winner, with Dan Wilson as the runner-up.  Stephen Vogt was first last year, but will be third this year.  Rounding out my ballot, I've got Alex Cora in the No. 4 spot and Mark Kotsay at No. 5.

Terry Francona was a three-time AL Manager of the Year in Cleveland.  He retired after the 2023 season, but that retirement didn't last long and he was back in the dugout with Cincinnati this season.  Tito (with a little help from the Mets) guided the Reds to their first full-season playoff berth in 13 years.  No one thought the Cincinnati Reds would come anywhere close to the playoffs.  And they did it as an 83-win team that didn't have a single player hit .270 or with more than 25 home runs.

The Phillies were supposed to be good.  And they were.  What was supposed to be a tight race with the Mets was anything but.  They won the division by 13 games and had the second-best record in baseball at 96-66.  It was a collection of superstars that Rob Thomson managed masterfully all season long.  In four years with the Phillies, he's led Philadelphia to four postseason berths and back-to-back NL East titles.

If you'd told me that the Brewers team that got swept by the Yankees to start the season would end up with the best record in baseball this season, I wouldn't have believed you.  Yet there they were.  Finishing 97-65 and putting together a ridiculous 30-5 stretch in July and August.  They were the third-highest scoring team in baseball and allowed the third-fewest runs.  Their run differential was an absurd +172.  And they did it without a single superstar.  That's a credit to manager Pat Murphy, who could become the first back-to-back Manager of the Year since Bobby Cox in 2004-05.

Just like in the American League, that top three hits it right on the mark.  Another NL Central manager must enter the conversation, too--the Cubs' Craig Counsell.  And how about the job first-year manager Clayton McCullough did with the Marlins?  In a loaded NL East, Miami actually finished ahead of Atlanta and improved from 62 wins in 2024 to 79 this season.

So, will we end up with a back-to-back Manager of the Year or a four-time Manager of the Year?  I say four-time.  No one was surprised the Brewers were good.  Everyone was surprised the Reds were!  Another line to add to Tito's Hall of Fame plaque.  My NL rankings: 1. Francona, 2. Murphy, 3. Thomson, 4. Counsell, 5. McCullough.

The Rookies, 2025

We've reached one of my favorite weeks of the year--MLB Awards Week!  This year, they've expanded it even more and are announcing a whole bunch of other stuff with the MVPs on Thursday (personally, I think you should do all that before Awards Week and let the MVP especially have its own spotlight, but I digress).  And as always, Awards Week starts with the announcement of the AL and NL Rookies of the Year. 

Last season, both awards went to pitchers, the first time that had happened since 2011.  This season, there's a very realistic chance that we could see teammates go 1-2 in the AL.  That's happened eight times previously (including the aforementioned 2011 season), most recently in 2022.  It hasn't happened in the AL since 1984.  We saw Yankees Miguel Andujar and Gleyber Torres go 2-3 behind Shohei Ohtani in 2018, but this year's Athletics will one-up that and become the first rookie teammates to finish 1-2 in the voting in 40 years.

Jacob Wilson was the starting shortstop in the All*Star Game, the first AL rookie shortstop ever elected to start by the fans.  He went back-and-forth with Aaron Judge for the AL batting title all season and ended up finishing second with a .311 average.  Wilson also had 151 hits to lead all Major League rookies and struck out just 39 times all season.  He was the odds-on favorite at the start of the year and would ordinarily be an easy call as a runaway winner.  However...

Wilson's teammate Nick Kurtz put together a rookie season that was pretty special and maybe even more impressive.  Kurtz was drafted last year and called up on April 23 after just 32 Minor League games.  All he did was hit .290 with 36 home runs and 86 RBIs, both of which led all Major League rookies.  Kurtz also scored 90 runs.  Those numbers could earn him some down-ballot MVP votes and should just give him the edge over Wilson in Rookie of the Year voting.

The third finalist (aka the guy who finished third in the voting) was a bit of a surprise--Boston's Roman Anthony.  He was only called up in June and played in just 71 games before getting hurt in early September.  The Red Sox went 40-26 in the 66 games he started.  It wasn't just Anthony, it was all those rookies who got called up in the middle of the season.  But Anthony's numbers definitely stand out.  A .292 average and a consistent bat from either corner outfield spot.

Although, for me, Anthony isn't the Red Sox rookie I would've chosen.  I would've gone with catcher Carlos Narvaez.  He ended up wresting away the starting catcher job and played 118 games behind the plate.  Narvaez led all MLB rookies with 27 doubles and added 15 homers.  That's more extra base hits than any rookie other than Kurtz.  While playing catcher.

And let's not forget Will Warren.  He ended up in the Yankees' Opening Day rotation out of necessity, yet he became one of their most consistent starters.  Warren actually tied for the Major League lead with 33 starts and finished the year 9-8.  He pitched much better than his 4.44 ERA, which was mainly the result of a few bad starts.

In the National League, the rookie sensation pitcher this season was the Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski.  He won't follow in Paul Skenes' footsteps and win the Rookie of the Year, though.  But his Milwaukee teammate Caleb Durbin just might.  When Durbin was called up in late April, the Brewers took off.  He was a big reason why.  Durbin stabilized third base and led all NL rookies with 18 stolen bases while belting 114 hits, which included 25 doubles and 11 homers.

Atlanta's Drake Baldwin, meanwhile, put his team in a very interesting predicament.  The Braves already had a starting catcher in Sean Murphy, but Baldwin made it impossible to keep him out of the lineup.  So, he and Murphy ended up splitting catcher and DH duties for most of the season.  Baldwin finished with 19 homers and 80 RBIs while hitting .274.  The fact that he was in the Majors all season is significant, too.

Then there's Cade Horton of the Cubs.  He was called up in May and made 22 starts before a season-ending injury prevented him from pitching in the Wild Card Series.  Horton's numbers (11-4, 2.67 ERA, 1.08 WHIP) were impressive enough before you consider his historically good second half.  From July 11 on, Horton had a ridiculous 1.03 ERA and allowed zero or one run in 12 of 14 starts.  That's Cy Young-caliber pitching!

Agustin Ramirez of the Marlins deserves some consideration, too.  His 124 hits, 33 doubles, 67 RBIs and 72 runs scored were all the most among National League rookies.  Like Baldwin, he was in the Majors all season.  Like Baldwin, he played a premium position--catcher.  Like Durbin, he ended up on his current team after being traded by the Yankees (in this case, the Jazz Chisholm trade, in Durbin's, the Devin Williams trade).

It's really difficult to see how this'll go.  I can see any of the three being the National League winner in what looks like it'll be a very close vote.  I'm not even really sure there's a favorite for NL Rookie of the Year.  So, it's hard to even handicap the race.  It's not like in the AL, where it's a pretty easy call to say the Rookie of the Year played in Sacramento.

If I had a vote in the National League, where would it go, though?  Out of the three finalists, I think I'd give Drake Baldwin the nod.  Atlanta's disappointing season wasn't his fault and his numbers are better than the other two finalists.  I'd actually put Horton at No. 2, with Durbin at No. 3 and Ramirez No. 4.

As for which A gets it in the American League, I've been thinking Wilson all along.  Kurtz's numbers really blow his away, though.  In any other year, I'd say Wilson no question, but I'm putting Kurtz first and Wilson second.  My third-place vote doesn't go to Roman Anthony, however.  It goes to Will Warren, who I suspect finished fourth in the voting.

NFL Picks, Week 10

As we start the second half of the NFL season, the playoff picture has started to come into focus.  Has it, though?  Because it's still jumbled at the top and there are a lot of surprise teams still in there.  The division races will sort themselves out as everybody plays each other (the division games really seem to be backloaded this year), but I'm really curious to see which of those surprise contenders hang around and who falls back to the pack as they start playing tougher opponents.  Maybe we'll start to get a clue about both things this week.

Thursday Night: Denver (Win)

Falcons (3-5) vs Colts (7-2): Indianapolis-After having an incredibly weak strength of schedule to start the season, the Colts' second half schedule is much tougher.  We already saw them lose to the Steelers last week, and that was the start of a span where they play at home once in seven weeks.  This is technically a "home" game, but it's in Berlin, so it's actually the furthest trip of them all.  Their opponent is a Falcons team that still confuses the crap out of me.  Could Atlanta actually show up and play well?  Sure.  Am I banking on it?  No.

Giants (2-7) at Bears (5-3): Chicago-Is this that one year in every five where the Bears are actually good?  They went into Cincinnati last week and won the game of the year so far (sorry, Cowboys-Packers, you were a tie!).  And they currently find themselves tied with Detroit for the last wild card spot.  They've got four games in their gauntlet of a division left, as well as matchups with Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and San Francisco.  Which means beating the Giants at home is an absolute necessity.

Bills (6-2) at Dolphins (2-7): Buffalo-The Bills continued their regular season dominance of the Chiefs last week, beating Kansas City for the fifth consecutive time in the regular season.  That will only matter, of course, if they take care of business against the Dolphins.  Miami has pledged that Mike McDaniel will keep his job at least through the end of the season, but he's probably already getting the boxes ready to start cleaning out his office during Week 18.  They've already started cleaning house, so I think he knows that on Monday, January 5, he'll need to call the movers.

Ravens (3-5) at Vikings (4-4): Minnesota-Lamar Jackson's return has people feeling high about the Ravens again.  Suddenly Baltimore has won two straight with an offense that looks completely different.  Are they a team to watch in the second half of the season?  Are the Vikings?  Don't count out J.J. McCarthy and Co.  Especially after that win in Detroit last week.

Browns (2-6) at Jets (1-7): Jets-This was the game I had circled on the calendar as the Jets' potential first win.  Well, they already beat Cincinnati, so it won't be.  It'll be their second instead.  This is one of the few games this season where it's reasonable to think that.  Although, they also just traded the only players on the team who are any good, so who knows what type of team they are now?  If they don't win this one, though, the next chance for a win might not come until they play Miami in early December.

Patriots (7-2) at Buccaneers (6-2): Tampa Bay-Who would've thought that Patriots-Bucs would be one of the better matchups this week?!  Yet, here we are, with both teams entering the Brady Bowl leading their divisions.  The Patriots, especially, are on a roll.  They've won six straight.  Although, they barely survived against Atlanta last week.  Heading to Tampa against a rested Bucs team coming off its bye is a much different challenge.  I think the winning streak ends here.

Saints (1-8) at Panthers (5-4): Carolina-Carolina got shellacked by Buffalo, then went into Lambeau Field and upset the Packers.  That's a big win not just for the momentum.  They've struggled on the road this season, so it sent a message to look out for the Panthers.  Outside of the Bills game, they've been excellent at home.  There's no reason to think that won't continue against the Saints (who can't lose next week since it's their bye).

Jaguars (5-3) at Texans (3-5): Jacksonville-Jacksonville's kicker sets an NFL record for the longest field goal and no one sees it because it's a FOX regional game in the late window with Chris Myers on the call.  He didn't put any excitement into it whatsoever and didn't even mention that it was a record.  (And the game still went to overtime, so imagine if he hadn't hit it!)  So is life in the AFC South.  Maybe we should start paying attention to the Jaguars, though, they have road wins in Kansas City and San Francisco and would be a playoff team if the season ended today.  They should get to 6-3 here.

Cardinals (3-5) at Seahawks (6-2): Seattle-Can the Seahawks just wear their throwbacks all the time?  Sure, there's a nostalgia factor at play here.  They're just so pretty, though.  Which is something that I can definitely appreciate with so many terrible alternate uniforms being worn.  Anyway, they're doing things backwards this season.  They're undefeated on the road, while both of their losses have come at home, where they're usually dominant.  They'll have to straighten that out as they start this little two-week NFC West round robin by hosting Arizona.  A win and a 49ers win puts the Seahawks in sole possession of first place.

Rams (6-2) at 49ers (6-3): San Francisco-When these two met on a Thursday night in Week 5, San Francisco won in overtime.  The 49ers are actually undefeated in the division and 3-3 against everyone else.  So, this game actually feels bigger for the Rams, who I think are the best team in the NFC West.  This is the beginning of a tough stretch for them, too.  They've got Seattle and Tampa Bay coming up after this.  So, their season could get away from them really quickly if they don't get a win here.

Lions (5-3) at Commanders (3-6): Detroit-A rematch of last season's playoff matchup where the Commanders went into Detroit and shocked the Lions.  They're in a much different state midway through the 2025 campaign, though.  Washington is 3-6 and just lost Chase Daniels to that gruesome injury against Seattle.  I don't see things going much better against Detroit than they did last week.  Not against a Lions team that has bounced back nicely from each of its losses this season.

Steelers (5-3) at Chargers (6-3): Chargers-Last week's Sunday night game was a clunker of a matchup and a clunker of a game.  This week they make up for it with Steelers-Chargers.  Denver already won, so the Chargers are in danger of falling two games behind the Broncos with a loss.  The Steelers, meanwhile, are coming off a big win over Indianapolis and can really make a statement if they go into SoFi and get another.  This is a game you feel like the Chargers have to win if they want to be considered serious contenders.

Eagles (6-2) at Packers (5-2-1): Green Bay-Was last week a trap game for the Packers?  I guess we'll find out on Monday night when they face the Eagles in an important game for playoff positioning.  Philadelphia's in good shape in the NFC East.  Green Bay's suddenly got a race in the NFC North, though.  The Packers are just a half-game ahead of the Lions and Bears (although, it should be noted, they have five division games left).  I just hope we actually see their regular uniforms this week after two straight games wearing throwbacks (and not good throwbacks like Philadelphia's).

This Week: 1-0
Last Week: 7-7
Overall: 87-48-1

Alex vs. A-Rod

Alex Rodriguez has a new three-part docuseries on HBO.  As is often the case when somebody has something to promote, he hit the late-night talk show circuit to discuss the show (as well as that incredible World Series!).  I haven't seen the documentary yet, but I have seen a few of his interviews, and there was one thing about them that really struck me.  They were refreshingly honest.

He had a winning lottery ticket and he knew it.  He was one of the greatest baseball players of his generation and one of the best in history.  A-Rod was bound for Cooperstown.  Then he did something incredibly stupid that completely changed the trajectory of his career.  With that one decision, he threw away his guaranteed place in the Hall of Fame.  And he has no one to blame for that than himself.

So, what's refreshing about that?  A-Rod knows he's the only one to blame and he accepts it.  More significantly, he takes responsibility for the reason why.  There are so many players who are widely assumed to have been taking steroids but have never admitted it.  A-Rod acknowledges that he did.  He made a terrible decision and is suffering the consequences for it.  Consequences that he brought upon himself.

Granted, this isn't the first time A-Rod has admitted his steroid use.  He first did so in a 60 Minutes interview a few years ago.  But still, to hear him be open about the fact that, yes, he did do it and, yes, he regrets it is refreshing.  Beyond that, it looks like it's cathartic.  Telling the truth has lifted an incredible weight off his shoulders.

The documentary is titled "Alex vs. A-Rod," which highlights the dual nature of being a public figure.  In private, he's "Alex," just a man living his life.  "A-Rod" was his public persona.  The superstar baseball player who was as hated as he was beloved.  Reconciling that dual identity can't be an easy thing, and it became so much harder for "Alex" was "A-Rod" was a pariah.

One of the things I'm looking forward to the most about this documentary is how nothing was off-limits.  That's not always the case.  In fact, it too often isn't.  How many "tell-all" documentaries don't really tell us much of anything?  Especially when the athlete in question is involved in the development of the project, it becomes less of a "tell-all" and more a sanitized version of the story that they hope will make people perceive them the way they want.  Not here.  It was no holds barred.  A-Rod and his family told their story.  The full story.  Problematic parts and all.

It's a familiar story by now.  A-Rod was a highly touted prospect, the No. 1 pick in the Draft.  He lived up that promise and then some, turning into a genuine superstar!  During the peak of his career, he was the highest-paid player in history.  He was also a polarizing figure.  Those who loved to hate him felt vindicated after he was suspended for the entire 2014 season.  A-Rod admitted to taking PEDs during his time with the Texas Rangers from 2001-03 (including his 2003 MVP season), which is when public opinion about him first started to turn.  Then he was traded to the Yankees, which made it worse.  Then he came back from his suspension and was a downright villain until his retirement in 2016 (and even for a few years after).

Across three parts, the documentary will cover his entire career arc, from the high schooler who signed with the Seattle Mariners to the highly paid superstar to the guy who retired with the Yankees two decades later a shell of his former self.  And it, of course, deals with his steroid use.  How could any documentary about A-Rod not?  That, unfortunately, has become what defines his career.  For as good a player as he was and the ridiculous numbers that he put up, his 211-game PED suspension and his not being in the Hall of Fame because of it are the first things that come to mind when people think of A-Rod.

If not for the steroid use, A-Rod would've been a sure-fire Hall of Famer.  In a 22-year career, he hit 696 home runs, the fifth-most in history.  He had 3,115 hits and 2,086 RBIs, won three MVPs and two Gold Gloves, and made 14 All*Star teams.  And, of course, he was a member of the Yankees' 2009 World Series championship team.  (It really puts into perspective how long it's been since the Yankees' last championship when you consider the fact that three Hall of Famers--Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, CC Sabathia--and one would-be Hall of Famer--A-Rod were on their most recent World Series-winning roster.)

Much like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, Alex Rodriguez has the numbers that would've otherwise made him a Hall of Fame lock.  His Hall of Fame candidacy is still a major source of debate, as an argument can certainly be made that he belongs in regardless.  Yet A-Rod hasn't broken 35 percent of the vote in the four years he's been eligible, and that doesn't seem likely to change until he falls off the ballot in 2031.  He knows that, too.  And he knows the reason why.

Does Alex Rodriguez think that, based on his numbers, he belongs in the Hall of Fame?  Yes.  But he doesn't have a vote, and he's come to terms with the fact that he's unlikely to get in.  Which is entirely on him.  Craig Melvin asked him about it on the Today Show, and A-Rod's answer was very blunt: "I'm definitely not going in the Hall of Fame.  I knew the rules, I broke the rules, and if that's the penalty, that's completely on me."  You can't help but respect his acceptance and taking accountability (even if the accountability came way too late for some).

What's incredible is how becoming a broadcaster has also rehabilitated his image.  Throughout his career, A-Rod's baseball knowledge was widely respected.  Throw in the fact that he's good looking, and a career in broadcasting seemed like a natural fit.  Which it was.  He started as a game analyst on Sunday Night Baseball and now puts his baseball knowledge and passion for the game on display as part of FOX's highly regarded studio crew with David Ortiz and Derek Jeter.  A-Rod the Broadcaster isn't just smart, he's something A-Rod the Player wasn't for so many.  He's likeable.

None of that makes up for his tanking his own Hall of Fame chances by taking steroids for absolutely no reason whatsoever.  Some people will never be able to overlook that, which is completely understandable.  I hope he touches on his reasons for doing it during the docuseries.  Because he's never really said why.  And, frankly, people want to know!  You had the golden ticket!  Why did you throw it away?!  And for what?!  That question, more than anything else, I hope is answered in "Alex vs. A-Rod."

This documentary probably won't change any minds about Alex Rodriguez.  I doubt there will be any groundbreaking revelations, either.  But, if we can finally get some insight into his reasons for taking PEDs, it'll be well worth the watch.

NFL Picks, Week 9

As the NFL season hits the halfway mark, we have one of the most anticipated games of the year--Bills-Chiefs.  It's a national exclusive in the 4:25 doubleheader window.  Some people wrote articles and blog posts saying how they don't understand why it's not in prime time and how the NFL "missed an opportunity" with that game, but (A) you don't see CBS complaining, (B) each team only gets a certain amount of primetime games, (C) people will watch this one regardless of when it's on and (D) the national doubleheader late game often gets a similar (if not better) audience as the primetime games.  The odd thing about it is how all three primetime games this week pale in comparison to the doubleheader late game, which is clearly the game of the week.

Thursday Night: Miami (Loss)

Bears (4-3) at Bengals (3-5): Cincinnati-I wouldn't have thought it a month ago, but the Bengals have a real chance of getting back in the race.  At least they did before that loss to the Jets (congratulations Jets, you won't lose this week either!).  Which makes this even more of a must-win for Cincinnati.  If they're 4-5, they're in the discussion.  If they're 3-6, they're not.  Same applies for the Bears.  A 5-3 record will look a whole lot better than 4-4.

Vikings (3-4) at Lions (5-2): Detroit-Fortunately, it's not a long trip from Toronto to Detroit.  Because Kevin Burkhardt's gotta be tired after that incredible World Series finale!  You know John Smoltz will be watching too!  Anyway, this is a vastly different situation than the last time these two met in Detroit.  They aren't playing for the top seed in the NFC this year.  In fact, the Vikings are looking like they won't even make the playoffs.  Especially after the Lions beat them to go 6-2 and drop Minnesota to 3-5.

Panthers (4-4) at Packers (5-1-1): Green Bay-That one little blip in Cleveland aside, the Packers have been the most consistently solid team in the NFL this season.  Them having already had their bye and that tie have really thrown things out of whack, though!  After the Eagles and Bucs have their bye this week, things will be a lot less confusing!  Green Bay will be 6-1-1 and clearly leading the way in the NFC.

Chargers (5-3) at Titans (1-7): Chargers-Yes, you have the Jets and Saints, and the Dolphins are sure making a run for it.  But the Titans still, ever so slightly, hold the title of "worst team in the league."  (Getting fired in Tennessee sure worked out for Mike Vrabel, didn't it?)  The Chargers have had some puzzling results this season, but they know they can't lose to the worst team in the league.  Expect them to take care of business.

Falcons (3-4) at Patriots (6-2): New England-Atlanta's at it again.  Every time the Falcons get a big win, they go and lay an egg against a team that has no business beating them!  That's what makes the Falcons such a frustrating team to watch.  You never know which team will show up any given week!  Will it be the one that beat the Bills and dominated the Vikings?  Or the one that got shut out by Carolina and lost to Miami?  In New England, my guess is it'll be the latter.

49ers (5-3) at Giants (2-6): San Francisco-San Francisco laid an egg in Houston and is a half-game back in the division as a result.  They can't afford another bad performance against the Giants.  As if the loss in Denver wasn't enough for a Giants team finally starting to gain momentum, last week was so much more than just a loss to the rival Eagles.  Losing Cam Skattebo for the season was a big blow.  Just for the energy he brings.  I'm very curious to see how both teams bounce back.

Colts (7-1) at Steelers (4-3): Indianapolis-Who had the Colts having the best record halfway through the season?  Anybody?  Bueller?  Bueller?  You can't blame it entirely on their schedule, either.  Not after they went into SoFi and beat the Chargers.  Still, a trip to Pittsburgh is definitely their toughest test this season.  While a Steelers victory wouldn't surprise me in the slightest, I think Indianapolis is ready to make a statement.  And they'll do exactly that.

Broncos (6-2) at Texans (3-4): Denver-There's that one team every year where it seems everything goes their way.  Denver's giving off that vibe this season.  The Broncos are obviously good.  But they could easily be 4-4 instead of 6-2.  And their two actual losses were by a combined three points!  They've thrown a couple blowout wins in there, too, including last week against Dallas, so there's no reason to think they aren't for real.  The Texans will find that out this week.

Jaguars (4-3) at Raiders (2-5): Jacksonville-Jacksonville is actually a legitimate playoff contender.  There's even a shot they can catch Indianapolis if the harder part of the Colts' schedule leads to a few losses.  If they want that to matter and actually make the jump to the next level, the Jaguars need to win the games they're supposed to win.  A matchup with the Raiders falls into that category.

Saints (1-7) at Rams (5-2): Rams-The NFC West race is gonna be tight all season.  I think all three teams involved understand that.  Which is why you need to take advantage of games like this one.  The Rams know that they can't lose at home to the Saints.  One of the three will end up with a bad loss somewhere along the line.  That could be what costs them the division title.  That won't happen to the Rams here.

Chiefs (5-3) at Bills (5-2): Buffalo-This has become the NFL's marquee rivalry over the past few seasons.  Kansas City always finds a way to win their annual playoff meeting, but during the regular season, it's mainly gone the other way.  Last year, the Bills handed the Chiefs their first loss of the season (not that it mattered much in the end), and two years ago they won in Arrowhead.  Expect another battle.  And don't be surprised if the pattern repeats.  The Bills win, get the tiebreaker (if necessary) and knock the Chiefs to 5-4 at the midway point.

Seahawks (5-2) at Commanders (3-5): Washington-Washington's kind of like Atlanta.  You never know which Commanders team will show up.  If they want to make a serious playoff push, though, they need to actually start playing consistently good football.  Which is what the Seahawks have been doing.  Seattle's in a really good position, but needs to keep it going with how tight the NFC West is.  That cross country trip is always tough, but they already won in Pittsburgh this season and the Sunday night thing shouldn't be as jarring as an afternoon kickoff would be.

Cardinals (2-5) at Cowboys (3-4-1): Dallas-We've seen two very different Dallas Cowboys teams this season.  At home, they score 34 points a game.  On the road, they can't score at all (except for a win over the Jets).  And, please, stop whining about needing a pass rusher when you traded Micah Parsons for no reason!  Anyway, they're at home on Monday night, which means they'll actually score.  And the win over Arizona will get them back to .500.

This Week: 0-1
Last Week: 8-5
Overall: 79-42

The Town's Favorite Team

During the World Series pregame show the other day, they had Magic Johnson on the set and the FOX crew asked him whether LA was a "Dodgers Town" or a "Lakers Town."  Magic conceded that while the Dodgers are incredibly popular, especially with their recent run of success, LA is still primarily a "Lakers Town."  Which is probably true.  As much as Angelinos love the Dodgers, they LOVE the Lakers.

Which, of course, got me thinking about other cities and which of their teams they love the most.  For the Dodgers' World Series opponent, it's easy.  I was at a Blue Jays game in July one time and the guys sitting behind me flat out said that they were "just killing time until Leafs season."  So, in Toronto, it's very much Go Leafs Go.  But what about the other multi-team cities?  For some, it's obvious.  For others, not so much.  Let's give it a shot anyway, though.

New York: Yankees-Yes, there are plenty of Mets fans, but even they'll admit that New York is a "Yankees Town" and has been for a while.  The Giants are probably second, but it isn't even really a close second.  Sure, the Knicks get their due when they're good and people occasionally remember that New York has hockey teams.  None of that compares to New York's affection for the Yankees.

Boston: Red Sox-Ditto about the Yankees' biggest rivals.  The Celtics, Patriots and Bruins have all had their runs of success and hold a special place in the hearts of people in New England.  But, even while it's not the blowout it is in New York, that place in the heart is nothing compared to what New England feels for the Red Sox.  I think Fenway's charm has a lot to do with that.

Chicago: Cubs-Just as Fenway's charm gives the edge in Boston to the Red Sox, Wrigley's charm gives the Chicago edge to the Cubs.  Those two teams have similar histories, and a similar significance to fans in their home city.  Even though they're most known for losing, there's something about the Cubs that Chicago's other teams don't have.  Jordan's Bulls probably came the closest, but even then, Chicago was a "Cubs Town."

Philadelphia: Eagles-Even if the Eagles hadn't just won the Super Bowl, they still would've been the choice for Philadelphia.  There's just something different about the Eagles that the Phillies, Flyers and 76ers don't have.  Maybe it's the history.  Maybe it's the rivalries with the three NFC East opponents.  Whatever the reason, Philadelphia loves its football team at a slightly different level.

Detroit: Red Wings-Detroit fancies itself as "Hockey Town."  And they prove it by being the only American city with franchises in each of the Big Four where the hockey team can lay claim as the city's favorite.  They love their Lions, but that seems to be a fairly recent development with the team getting good.  The Red Wings don't need to be good for the fans to show up in droves.

Miami: Heat-The Dolphins have been there the longest and the Panthers have won consecutive Stanley Cups, but neither one has the same hold over South Beach as the Heat.  The Heat are the newest franchise to hold the title in their city, having only been founded in 1989.  They've had a hold over Miami ever since.  Consistently boasting superstars like LeBron, Shaq, Dwyane Wade and Alonzo Mourning has certainly helped them gain and maintain that attention.  Miami's soccer team took a page out of that book and signed Messi, which has led to a massive surge in their popularity.

Washington: Commanders-"Hail to the Commanders" doesn't quite have the same ring to it, but there's no question which team is the favorite in the nation's capital.  Remember the uproar about the name, then the name change?  For the longest time, it was just the Redskins and Senators in DC.  Then the Senators left.  Sure, the Capitals and Wizards are there now, and they eventually got the Nationals, but the Redskins/Football Team/Commanders are still the favorite son.

Dallas: Cowboys-Is there any more obvious choice than this one?  The Cowboys and their iconic silver helmet with the blue star are right up there with the Yankees and Lakers among the most recognizable and popular sports teams globally.  So, of course, they're THE team in Dallas.  And most of Texas.  And a good portion of the surrounding states.

San Francisco: 49ers-Steph Curry and the Warriors have made their case over the last decade and a half.  And the Giants have boasted beloved players like Willie Mays and Barry Bonds throughout their history.  Oakland's seen its two remaining teams.  The one constant in the Bay Area has always been the 49ers.  Even when they're bad.

Minneapolis: Vikings-Baseball and football both came to the Twin Cities in 1961, so this is really a two-horse race between the Twins and Vikings.  It's a close one, too.  It might be the closest of any four-sport cities.  I'll give the slight edge to the Vikings, though.  Mainly because they were founded in Minnesota and the Twins relocated there, so the Vikings' history is entirely in the Twin Cities.

Denver: Broncos-You could make a case that the Avalanche are Denver's favorite team.  They only arrived in 1996, though.  The Broncos have been there since 1960 and were Denver's only major league pro team for a while.  Their long history of extended success certainly helps, too.  So does the fact that they're the only football team in the entire Mountain Time Zone, which means their fan base reaches far beyond Colorado.

That's all of the four-team cities.  But the multi-team cities that don't have all four obviously have their favorites, too.  In Cleveland, it's the Browns.  Pittsburgh has the Steelers.  Atlanta, the Braves.  Houston, probably the Astros.  And Phoenix is no longer a four-city team now that the Coyotes are gone, but the Suns get the nod there.  In Milwaukee, it's no contest.  Packers by a mile. 

Las Vegas is new to the game, but only one of their teams didn't relocate from Oakland.  The Golden Knights are THEIRS.  Seattle's choice would be the Sonics (and will be again when/if they return).  For now, though, I guess it's the Seahawks.  And that covers are two most recent additions to the three-team city club.

Among the two-team cities, it's a little harder since there's definitely enough room for both.  But, I'd say it's the Bills in Buffalo, the Orioles in Baltimore, the Chiefs in Kansas City, the Cardinals in St. Louis, the Bucs in Tampa, the Saints in New Orleans, the Predators in Nashville, the Panthers in Charlotte, the Reds in Cincinnati and the Pacers in Indianapolis.  Finally, we have Salt Lake City, the only two-team major league city that doesn't have a team in either MLB or the NFL.  It's just the Jazz and the Mammoth.  And the Jazz have been there significantly longer, so that's an easy call.

Who Didn't See This Coming?

With sports betting becoming legalized in more and more states and every major league entering into some sort of sponsorship agreement with the daily fantasy sites (seriously, how many different things can be branded "DraftKings" or "FanDuel" in a given broadcast?), it was only a matter of time before the influence of gambling reared its ugly head.  So, it shouldn't have come as a surprise to anyone, then, that Terry Rozier of the Heat is among the figures who was arrested last week as part of an FBI raid that was the result of a multi-year investigation into illegal gambling?  The crime he's being accused of?  Conspiracy to commit wire fraud.  

Rozier played for the Hornets in 2023, and there was suspicious gambling activity regarding his stats in a game against the Pelicans that year.  Rozier removed himself from the game with an "injury," thus ensuring he'd hit the under in points, rebounds, assists, etc.  Because of the unusual amount of wagers coming in, some sportsbooks stopped accepting bets on Rozier that night.  The NBA investigated and didn't find anything that ran afoul of league rules, but this game also drew the FBI's attention and, in their eyes, seems to confirm his involvement in the illegal gambling ring.

There's obviously so much more to come out regarding this case, so I don't want to speculate.  But certain details have emerged.  Rozier and a handful of others allegedly shared non-public information about injuries or when players would be sitting out for other reasons.  That inside information was then spread to a network of bettors, who'd wager hundreds of thousands of dollars on the outcome.

Gambling and manipulating the results has always been a risk for the major sports leagues.  And the influence of gamblers trying to fix games goes back to the beginning of organized sports themselves.  Boxing matches in the early 1900s, and, of course, the Black Sox Scandal in 1919 are just two early examples.  The college basketball scandal in the 1950s.  It even impacted TV quiz shows in the early days of TV!  And, let's not forget, Pete Rose's lifetime ban for gambling.  

That's why partnering with the daily fantasy sites was always going to be a risky proposition.  From a business standpoint, it makes sense.  These are recognized as legitimate businesses that have a vested interest in the outcome, and they have plenty of money available for sponsorships and other opportunities, so working together made sense.  Especially since these sites were still going to do it anyway. 

The thing that makes it even tricker with the daily fantasy sites, though, is that they're so much more elaborate than just who'll win the game and whether they'll cover the spread.  You can make a bet on pretty much anyone or anything involved in the game.  Things like an individual player's stats.  So, they don't need to throw the game in such an obvious way that their team loses.  All they need to do is manipulate their own stats.  Which, frankly, is much harder to notice.  And what makes it all the more challenging to catch.

It isn't just pro sports where they keep an eye on gambling activity.  The potential influence of gambling has always been just as high, if not higher, in college, where athletes weren't paid for their services until recently.  NCAA policy has always been that any form of sports wagering is prohibited for both student-athletes and athletic department personnel.  That was set to change next month, though, when Division I voted to allow wagering on professional sports (while still not allowing it at the collegiate level).

If there's anything positive to come out of the Terry Rozier news, it's that his arrest caused the NCAA to reconsider that provision.  There were already a lot of people uneasy about it and the slippery slope they'd be creating (a lot of these guys will have friends on professional rosters and could just as easily get inside information), and that uneasiness led to the NCAA's decision to delay implementation by a month.  It's unlikely all of this will be settled by the end of November, but that extra month at least gives them time to consider all of the possible ramifications before it goes into effect.  And, by delaying the implementation, that gives them additional time to pull back the rule change.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey sent a letter to NCAA President Charlie Baker flat out calling the decision "a step in the wrong direction" and imploring the NCAA to reconsider.  One of his major concerns was the removal of any guardrails regulating it.  While the NCAA's thought process in allowing gambling was to keep pace with the ever-changing environment, it seems they also caught people unprepared or off-guard (or both!).  Sankey's suggestion was to modify the existing policy rather than eliminate it, which sends the wrong signal and could compromise the integrity of college sports.

So, in a way, it's a good thing this came out now.  Because there are several active cases involving college basketball players, as well.  While the details of these individual cases haven't been made public, there are currently 13 players from six different schools under investigation for "integrity issues" regarding potential gambling violations.  Most of those players have been withheld from competition during the probe.  So, it's much bigger than just Terry Rozier.

In a separate but related FBI sting, Portland Trail Blazers Head Coach Chauncey Billups was also arrested on the same day as Rozier.  Billups did disclose some information regarding Blazers games, but the FBI was more concerned about his alleged involvement in rigged poker games where players were taken for millions of dollars.  The set-up for these poker games, arranged by organized crime figures, looks pretty elaborate.  There were your typical things like marked cards, rigged decks, and players giving signals, as well as X-ray tables.

Players would get lured into these games by the opportunity to play with sports figures.  Billups was one of those sports figures.  His alleged involvement beyond that is unclear, but Billups did bring people in and did play in the games, knowing they were rigged.  That alone is enough to charge him for conspiracy.

What Billups is accused of doing is bad, obviously.  But it's far different than what Rozier allegedly did.  And it needs to be treated as such.  Because, personally, I feel what Rozier did is far worse.  Yes, there were unwitting "marks" who got swindled out of millions in the poker games.  There were far more innocent victims of any stat rigging or other manipulation that was done in those NBA games.  More importantly, it puts the integrity of the entire league at risk.  That's the far greater problem.  And it's one that the NCAA is leaving itself wide open to if they do allow the rule change that permits gambling.

Daily fantasy sports aren't going away.  I agree that it's tough for the leagues to strike a balance.  Sports betting is legal, so you want to have that relationship.  But you also want people to be confident that the games are being played fairly.  Right now, that's a question.  And it'll only get worse if the NCAA does go through with their plans to allow it.  So, perhaps the Terry Rozier situation can serve as a learning experience.  And, if that's the case, maybe some good did come out of it. 

NFL Picks, Week 8

Before I get into this week's picks, I need a minute to talk about this year's newest NFL trend...teams turning into the University of Oregon and having a different uniform for every game!  It's seriously becoming the NBA with the amount of different jerseys and helmets each team is wearing.  Throwbacks are always welcome.  Pat the Patriot and Bucco Bruce will always have a place.  These alternate ones though?  Each new one is worse than the last!

Where do I start?  There are so many bad ones, it's hard to pick.  There's that all-brown monstrosity Cleveland wore.  The Chargers' all-yellow getup.  The Dolphins' homage to the Miami Marlins.  The Lions with that ridiculous blue helmet!  Purdue, I mean the Saints, and whatever that was in Week 1.  They at least make those horrible all-white ensembles some teams have slightly more tolerable.  Anyway, now that I've gotten that off my chest, on to the picks!

Thursday Night: Chargers (Win)

Dolphins (1-6) at Falcons (3-3): Atlanta-Atlanta is turning back to Kirk Cousins this week.  Talk about a quarterback carousel!  That lack of consistency is one of the issues that plagues this team, which looks phenomenal one week, then completely lost the next.  The good news for the Falcons is they're playing a Dolphins team that's as lost in the wilderness as they are.  Expect changes in Miami after (or maybe during) the season.  As for the Falcons, they'll somehow claw their way back over .500 with a win here.

Jets (0-7) at Bengals (3-4): Cincinnati-Trading for Joe Flacco might've saved the Bengals' season.  Because, after that win over Pittsburgh, there's suddenly a real chance.  They don't leave Cincinnati for a month.  They're in the middle of a three-game homestand heading into their bye.  Talk about favorable scheduling!  I was talking with some people this week about when the Jets' first win might come and how many they'll ultimately end up with.  It won't come here.  But, the good news is, they can't lose next week!  (It's their bye.)

Browns (2-5) at Patriots (5-2): New England-Mike Vrabel's really got the Patriots rolling!  They've won four straight and just swept a three-game road trip.  Now, their first home game since Week 4 is against a Cleveland team they should beat easily.  Although, both of New England's losses this season were at Foxboro, including against the Raiders in Week 1.  So, they need to take whatever's been working on the road and translate it into home success if they want to maintain this good start.

Giants (2-5) at Eagles (5-2): Philadelphia-It was just two weeks ago that these two met on a Thursday night and the Giants shocked everyone by blowing out the Eagles.  It looked like that just might be the game where the Giants turned the corner.  Then they went to Denver.  Philadelphia knows all about the Broncos and the fourth quarter.  They rebounded from those back-to-back losses by going into Minnesota and winning last week.  It wasn't pretty, but it got them back on track.  And you know this is a revenge game for them.  Especially since that 34-17 loss at MetLife Stadium is still fresh in their memory.

Bills (4-2) at Panthers (4-3): Buffalo-Did any team need their bye as much as the Bills last week?  They were 4-0 and the last undefeated team in the NFL.  Then they lost two straight and suddenly found themselves in second place.  We'll see if the bye week fixed the problems that New England and Atlanta exploited.  This won't be an easy game, either.  The Panthers have won three straight and are over .500 for the first time in forever.  Sure, two of the wins were over the Dolphins and Jets, but they've been tough at home all season and that seems unlikely to change against Buffalo.

Bears (4-2) at Ravens (1-5): Chicago-I can't believe I'm picking Chicago on the road against Baltimore, but here we are.  It's been that kind of a season for the Ravens.  Everything that can go wrong has.  They have no Lamar Jackson and a porous defense.  The Bears, meanwhile, have won four straight after starting 0-2 and suddenly look like a very legitimate wild card contender.  They haven't exactly played the toughest schedule so far (their schedule is incredibly backloaded), but they should pick up another win here.

49ers (5-2) at Texans (2-4): San Francisco-Like their friends in Baltimore, the Texans are just having one of those seasons.  The 49ers had one of those seasons last year.  But, in true San Francisco form, they've bounced back nicely, and are a surprising 5-2 despite having so many injuries.  The Rams and Seahawks are both off this week, so that three-way tie will be broken with San Francisco either a half-game up or a half-game down and in third place.

Buccaneers (5-2) at Saints (1-6): Tampa Bay-Well, Tampa finally lost.  It took going to Detroit for it to happen, and they were completely outclassed by the Lions.  Their division lead is now down to only one game, but they're still the best team in the NFC South by a wide margin.  They've got a tough stretch coming up after their bye, so it's imperative they take care of business in New Orleans.

Cowboys (3-3-1) at Broncos (5-2): Denver-Suddenly, Denver is the comeback team!  Last week was the Broncos' second crazy fourth quarter comeback to win a game they had absolutely no business winning.  And it's got them at 5-2 when they could (and maybe should) just as easily be 3-4.  Why should we expect that to stop this week?  After all, both of the comebacks came against NFC East opponents.

Titans (1-6) at Colts (6-1): Indianapolis-Daniel Jones and the Colts just keep winning.  And you can't use, "Yeah, but they play in the AFC South" as the reason when they've only played one division game so far.  This is their second, as they complete the season series with the Titans.  The Colts blew them out in Nashville in Week 3.  Why should we expect things to be any different a month later?  Indianapolis is flying high, especially after a dominant road win against a good Chargers team.  Now they get, arguably, the worst team in the league at home.

Packers (4-1-1) at Steelers (4-2): Pittsburgh-Aaron Rodgers is a confusing individual.  He considered Week 1 a "revenge" game even though the Jets really did nothing to him except give him everything he wanted (he also technically wasn't cut since his contract expired).  Meanwhile, he holds no ill will towards the Packers even after whining his way out of Green Bay three years ago.  This is his first time facing the Packers since.  It would certainly be different if this game was in Lambeau, but you know he'll still get all sentimental about it.  And he'll probably have a great performance in a Steelers victory.

Commanders (3-4) at Chiefs (4-3): Kansas City-Don't worry, America!  It was just a one-week break.  The Chiefs are back in a national window!   I kid, of course, but this is the Chiefs' seventh game out of eight either in prime time or the 4:25 doubleheader slot.  It's like the NFL's obsession with putting the Jets in prime time last season.  Anyway, they look like they, just maybe, have finally gotten it going after that shaky start.  As for Washington, I have no idea what's going on, so I won't even venture a guess!

This Week: 1-0
Last Week: 12-3
Overall: 72-36

America vs. Canada

Last year, the Dodgers' starting pitching in the postseason was so thin that they had to do a staff game in the World Series.  They won the series anyway.  This year, their rotation isn't only healthy, it carried them in the NLCS.  So, while last year they went into the World Series hoping their starting pitching would hold up, this year, it's been a strength.  And it's why nobody would be surprised if the Dodgers become the first repeat World Series champion in a quarter century.

They went into the season as the favorites to repeat, but there were definitely times when they didn't look like the Dodgers.  A baseball season is long, though, and the team they've been in October is very much the Dodgers.  They aren't just healthy, they're firing on all cylinders.  Just ask the Reds, Phillies and Brewers about that.  This is the team everyone expected them to be.  And they're playing like it.

As a result, the Dodgers are the first defending champions to get back to the World Series since the 2009 Phillies.  They're looking to do something that hasn't been done by a National League team in 50 years.  Not since the Big Red Machine in 1975-76.  Of the four major men's sports, baseball's the only one that hasn't had a repeat champion this century.  That very well may change within the next 10 days.  Because the Dodgers enter the World Series as favorites.

By "favorites," I, of course, mean the betting favorites.  Since they're the Dodgers and they're here for the sixth time in nine years, most of America has gotten sick of them.  Which means the Blue Jays, who already have all of Canada rooting for them, will be the favorite team for many fans on both sides of the border.  (Just to be clear, I am NOT one of those fans!)

Against the Yankees and Mariners, Toronto did the same thing it's done all season.  The Blue Jays refuse to get out, fouling off pitch after pitch before finally dropping it in for a single.  Then they get the big hit and suddenly they've put up a three-spot.  They're relentless, too.  There are no easy at-bats or easy innings.  And it's 1-9.  The bottom of the order sets the table, then Springer or Guerrero delivers.  And when they get the lead, they just keep adding on.  They're a very frustrating team to play against.

The question mark surrounding the Blue Jays is their bullpen.  In the ALCS, it managed to hold up well enough.  Although, the difference in their bullpen ERA between the four wins and the three losses was pretty staggering!  It shouldn't be a surprise, then, that Toronto relied on starters Chris Bassitt and Kevin Gausman out of the bullpen in Game 7 before turning it over to Jeff Hoffman, who's anything but automatic.  And they rely so much on Louis Vreeland and Mason Fluharty that there's a definite risk of those guys being overexposed...especially against a lineup as stacked as the Dodgers!

Which means that, much like it will be for the Dodgers, starting pitching will be a key for Toronto.  Since the bullpen is their biggest weakness, they need to get length from the starters.  It's no coincidence that when they got it in the ALCS, they won.  After seeing what the Dodgers did against Milwaukee, the Blue Jays' starters know they'll need to match that (assuming the Dodgers rotation does it again).  If they can't, this might be a short series.

One of the craziest stats about this World Series is how the Dodgers played an extra round, but have actually played fewer games during the postseason.  The Dodgers are 9-1 in the playoffs and have been just as dominant as their record indicates.  The Blue Jays, meanwhile, are 7-4 and coming off an intense seven-game ALCS where they never actually led in the series (they were down 2-0 and 3-2).  Although, they did win four out of the last five against Seattle and may have history on their side.  Every time one LCS was a sweep and the other went the distance, the team that went seven games won the World Series.

I wonder if part of that is the whole rest vs. rust factor that's always talked about while the No. 1 and 2 seeds are sitting around for a week waiting for the Division Series to start.  (Remember when that discussion was a whole thing the first few years of the current format?  Yeah, the No. 1 seed has won the AL pennant the last two years.)  Still, though, seven intense games with coast-to-coast travel has to take something out of you.  Fortunately for the Blue Jays, they didn't have to travel again and got to stay in Toronto after Game 7.

This World Series will be one dominated by stars.  People's biggest problem with the Dodgers is how they've built such a high-priced team, but the reason they're spending the money on those guys is for moments like this.  And Ohtani certainly delivered in Game 4 of the NLCS!  That was a performance unlike anything anyone has ever seen before.  Then there was Freddie Freeman with his home run-per-game in the World Series last year.  And Mookie Betts looking for his fourth World Series ring.  It's also funny how half of the Dodgers' postseason rotation pitched against them for Tampa Bay in the 2020 World Series.

Toronto, meanwhile, has George Springer, a proven postseason performer and the 2017 World Series MVP.  You just knew he'd do something when he came up in the seventh inning of Game 7, and he ended up hitting the Blue Jays' biggest home run since Joe Carter.  As well as their own superstar, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.  They came into the season with his pending free agency hanging over the organization.  His decision to sign a 15-year extension is what set this entire season in motion.  And he's been on the same otherworldly level as the Dodgers' stars during the month of October.

When the stars play like stars, it really can be a joy to watch (except when you really dislike one of the teams and badly want them to lose).  And with so many stars on both teams, all of whom have been doing their thing and then some, we could see something really special in this World Series!  After all, the best player in the game is literally leading off the World Series!

For all the stars on both teams, it could be the depth that makes a difference.  We've seen this with the Blue Jays throughout the playoffs.  It's impossible to get Ernie Clement or Addison Barger out, and every rally is started by Andres Gimenez!  Don't count out the Dodgers' role players, either, though.  Yes, they have Ohtani and Betts and Freddie, but how many times has Kike Hernandez authored a postseason moment during this run they've been on?

While the strength of each team is its lineup, I have a feeling it'll be the pitching that decides the series.  When Toronto's bats get going, it's a blowout.  When they don't, the Blue Jays are completely shut down.  That's what the Dodgers did to the Brewers.  The Blue Jays have much more thump and are deeper 1-9 than Milwaukee.  But the Dodgers' 1-9 is also deeper than Seattle's (the bottom half of the Mariners order did absolutely nothing in the ALCS).  That's why, ultimately, it'll come down to the pitching staff.

And the pitching is why I give the edge to the Dodgers.  The rotation's postseason ERA is microscopic!  The Brewers scored exactly one run in each game of the NLCS.  Will they hold the Blue Jays to one run per game?  Probably not.  But, as long as they can avoid those crooked numbers that Toronto loves to put up, they have the advantage.  Especially because the Dodgers have a better bullpen than the Blue Jays.  Toronto only uses the same handful of relievers.  The Dodgers' hitters will figure them out.  That's why their starters need to go deep into the game.

Having home field advantage is huge for the Blue Jays, who play so well at home.  I'd say stealing one of the first two games in Toronto is a key for the Dodgers, but the Mariners won both of the first two games and still lost the series!  Ultimately, it may be the Dodgers holding serve at home in the middle games that matters more.  If they can do that, they'll head back to Canada and finish off the series in Game 6.

Best Available Jobs

After making what looks like it was a serious pursuit of Albert Pujols as their next manager, the Angels have instead hired former catcher Kurt Suzuki, who has no previous managerial experience.  The Angels are the second team to officially fill their managerial opening this offseason.  The first was their AL West rivals the Rangers, who pounced early and locked up former Marlins manager Skip Schumaker a few days after the season ended.

And, while it isn't official let, the Giants also appear close to hiring their new manager.  San Francisco is also closing in on someone with no previous professional managerial experience--University of Tennessee Head Coach Tony Vitello.  We've seen it work in the other three men's major sports, but nobody has successfully made the jump right from college baseball to Major League manager before.  It's a bold move by Buster Posey, who's definitely trying to make his mark as GM.  Whether it'll actually work remains to be seen.

Even though the Angels have moved in a different direction, there's still a chance we could see future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols back in a Major League dugout--this time as a manager--in the 2026 season.  He's set to manage the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, but he obviously won't be able to do that if he gets a Major League job.  And that seems to be a real possibility.  Pujols is interviewing with the Padres.  And that San Diego job is one of the most attractive managerial openings remaining.

Not counting the Giants, there are six openings that are yet to be filled.  Some are definitely better than others, both the situation and the ability to be competitive.  None of the interim managers who completed the 2025 season are in the running for the permanent job with their current team, either.  Those teams are obviously looking for a fresh approach from somebody new.  But those are the jobs that won't exactly be easy.  In fact, they might be the four hardest jobs out there.

Only 30 men have the job of "Major League manager."  So, it's not like they're in a position to be picky.  If they were, though, which job would be the one you wanted if you did have the choice.  Here's how I rate the nine managerial jobs that will be occupied by someone who didn't end the 2025 season in the position with that team.  (For the sake of the rankings, I'm including the 2.5 that have already been filled since they do still represent managerial changes.)

9. Rockies: Bud Black was sacrificed in May, but he wasn't responsible for Colorado's historically bad season, nor was there anything he could do about it.  Whoever takes the Rockies job will be in a similar boat.  They aren't going to be any good next season, so their new manager better be prepared to lose a lot of games.  The front office needs to be prepared for that, too.  Let the new manager build something.  Don't expect success right away.

8. Angels: Suzuki will be the Angels' fifth manager since Mike Scoscia's 19-year tenure.  Frankly, Albert Pujols caught a break here.  Because you don't want this to be your first managerial job.  The Angels have been a mess ever since Arte Moreno bought the team, and it seems like he's very Jim Dolan-esque (which isn't a compliment).  No matter who the manager is, this team consistently fails to meet its own high expectations.  Angels managers are seemingly set up to fail.  Is it just so their inevitable firings can be justified?

7. Nationals: This can be a good job when the Nationals are invested and trying to win.  Right now, they aren't.  It could still be a good opportunity for a young manager, who can develop the talent and still be there when they get good, assuming the organization has the patience for that.  Problem is, with the exception of the Marlins, the rest of the NL East is really good.  And it doesn't seem like that'll be changing anytime soon.  So, there will probably be a lot more losing in Washington for a little while.

6. Twins: Rocco Baldelli had a decent run in Minnesota, but it was definitely time for a change.  This was a tough one for me.  Because the AL Central is such a crapshoot and the Twins have so much talent that it isn't crazy to envision their new manager finding success right away.  After all, we usually see a first-year manager take his team to the playoffs.  Or, they could have a season like this one.  Either way, though, the Twins organization generally shows patience, so whoever it is won't have to worry about immediately being shown the door if they don't win right away.

5. Orioles: Another tough one.  In one respect, Baltimore is a very attractive job.  They were the No. 1 seed in the playoffs in 2023 and have the type of young talent that would make anybody jealous.  It's not crazy to think they can turn it around.  But, they're in the AL East, a division in which each of the other four teams has faced the Dodgers in the World Series since 2018.  Three of those division rivals are big market teams that will always be willing to invest financially in their team, and the fourth is Tampa Bay and miracle-worker Kevin Cash.  Still, though, the Orioles have shown they can win this division, so there's no reason to believe they can't do it again.

4. Rangers: In a lot of ways, Texas is like Baltimore.  The Rangers aren't too far removed from winning the World Series, and they have very talented core group.  Winning in a division that also includes Houston and Seattle won't necessarily be easy, though.  And this does seem like one of the jobs where results will be expected immediately.  Schumaker was the NL Manager of the Year in 2023, when he took Miami to the playoffs.  If he can take the Marlins to the playoffs, that will be the bare minimum the Rangers front office and fans expect.

3. Giants: Beating the Dodgers will continue to be a tall order for the next few years.  The rest of the NL West needs to understand that and adjust their expectations accordingly.  Still, though, this is a great job.  The Giants have shown that they aren't afraid to spend money and go after stars (of which they already have a few).  They'll go all-in.  That also means there'll be pressure to win right away.  Which means Vitello (assuming it's him) will have his work cut out for him.

2. Padres: San Diego rates one spot higher simply because the Padres' recent success with a core that'll remain mostly intact makes this an extremely desirable opening.  This has been a playoff team, and there's no reason to believe they won't be again.  Just making the playoffs might not be enough, though.  Not for a team that's consistently there, but has only one NLCS appearance to show for it.  Whoever comes in will be expected to do something about that.  Which actually sounds like a pretty fun challenge.

1. Braves: It was an easy choice for the most appealing managerial opening.  Everything is set up for Atlanta's new manager to be successful.  The Braves' 2025 season was one of those where everything that could go wrong did, and Brian Snitker paid the price.  His was a mutual parting, though, and he'll remain with the organization in a front office capacity.  Snitker's successor is well-positioned to get the Braves to the playoffs, assuming they have just a little bit better luck in 2026.