A late-February slow news day
The Olympics are over, the World Baseball Classic hasn't started, Spring Training is glorified practice, and the NBA is busy fighting amongst itself. Not every day has a ton of news.
It’s going to be a short newsletter today. Not because I don’t want to write anything, but because there’s just not a ton of news today. I think it’s most of the news world clearing out to not get steamrolled by tonight’s State of the Union address.
We’re also in that weird time of Spring Training where you want to react to what you’re seeing in front of you, but you know that these guys are mostly just working off rust and getting into shape. If they don’t care about the results, wouldn’t it seem foolish for me to make a big deal about them?
There’s another Padres Spring Training game today around noon, a time that I thought I would love for baseball to come on my television but a time that has actually made it quite difficult to sit down and watch. I don’t think they play an evening game until next Friday.
Now, onto the links….
San Diego Padres
JP Sears struggles, Miguel Andujar homers, as Padres’ get spring win over Brewers - San Diego Union-Tribune
Miguel Andujar did what the Padres are hoping he does plenty this season when he lined a home run off a left-handed pitcher in the fourth inning. Andujar, signed this month to a one-year contract that guarantees him $4 million in large part because of his .807 career OPS against lefties, just cleared the left field fence against Drew Rom, who made eight big-league starts in 2023 before missing all of 2024 and most of ‘25 following shoulder surgery. … The only other major leaguers to reach base (in 18 plate appearances) were Ramón Laureano and Fernando Tatis Jr., who both walked, and Luis Campusano, who lined a pinch-hit single. The 15 position players on the Padres’ 40-man roster have combined to go 10-for-62 (.161) through four spring games. … First baseman Ty France, in camp on a minor-league deal, singled twice in three at-bats.
Here are the 18 most important Padres to watch in spring - MLB.com
The way I see it, there’s no player more important to the Padres’ success this season than Musgrove. He’s one of the clubhouse’s most vocal leaders and a San Diego mainstay. He’s also 33 and coming off Tommy John surgery. The variance in potential outcomes feels massive. If Musgrove is back to the dominant pre-surgery version of himself, the top of the Padres’ rotation looks formidable. (So far, so good: Musgrove looked sharp over two scoreless innings in a back-field sim game against Mariners hitters on Saturday.)
Odds & Ends
2027 QB Gunner Rivers, son of Philip, commits to NC State - ESPN
Four-star quarterback Gunner Rivers, son of NC State legend and eight-time NFL Pro Bowler Philip Rivers, has committed to the Wolfpack, he announced Monday on social media.
Rivers is ESPN’s No. 11-ranked pocket passer and No. 142 overall prospect in the 2027 cycle. A 6-foot-3, 200-pound junior at Alabama’s St. Michael Catholic High School, he committed to his father’s alma mater over reported offers from Auburn, Boston College, Miami and South Carolina.
‘Money May’ or ‘Pretty’ broke? The real drama behind Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao 2 - Yahoo Sports
Considering the ability Pacquiao displayed against Barrios, it’s clear to see why he is still in the game. But the timing of Mayweather’s return is intriguing.
Earlier this month, Mayweather sued his now-defunct broadcast partner, Showtime, and its ex-president Stephen Espinoza, claiming they, with the help of Mayweather’s former adviser, Al Haymon, concealed and diverted revenue from his earnings through boxing. In the suit, Mayweather alleges breach of contract, fiduciary duty and unjust enrichment, seeking $340 million in damages.
Debate, confusion and a ‘message’ sent: Inside the NBA’s call with GMs on tanking - The Athletic
The exchange between Silver and Marks, and a few other moments, highlighted the tension between team executives trying to strategize rebuilds under the league’s current rules and a Silver administration concerned by the appearance that the integrity of the sport is being threatened by the practice of losing on purpose to improve draft odds.
There was a noticeable shift in Silver’s tone and demeanor on this particular issue, according to the three executives who spoke with The Athletic, with one of them saying, “He sounded more like Stern than Silver,” referencing Silver’s occasionally brazen predecessor David Stern, who was known for telling owners, general managers, players and reporters exactly what he thought, with choice words.
Kash Patel Thinks He’s On The Team - Defector
As if Patel’s presence in the locker room wasn’t degrading enough, he also managed to get Donald Trump on speakerphone. You can really hear Trump perk up knowing that he’s been given access to a sympathetic audience that will definitely laugh at his jokes. Watching these dorks beam at Trump’s voice, and laugh along to his crack about needing to invite the women’s team to the White House, will quickly drain any warm feelings you might have had for them following their victory.
German FA chief ‘not really’ looking forward to World Cup following Guadalajara violence - The Athletic
Mexico vs. South Korea and Uruguay vs. Spain are among the fixtures that Guadalajara is slated to host. The Estadio Akron is also set to stage a World Cup play-off tournament between New Caledonia, Jamaica, between March 26-28.
Asked by German newspaper the Augsburger Allgemeine whether he was looking forward to this summer’s tournament, which Mexico will joint-host alongside the United States and Canada, Rettig said “to be honest, not right now.”
The State of the Union We Chose - The Ringer
What defines the past 400 days is not just the stories of those this administration has deemed to be insufficiently American. It’s what’s behind them.