MLB Power Rankings: Brewers on the rise, Rangers fall
More Videos
Published
1 year agoon
By
adminMidway through September, the 2023 playoff picture is quickly taking shape.
The Braves became the first team to secure a postseason berth this past weekend and followed that up by clinching the National League East with a win over the Phillies on Wednesday night. The Orioles and Dodgers are not far behind Atlanta, and a handful of other teams are comfortably leading their respective divisions.
Two division races in the American League remain close — the AL West and AL East — while the NL wild-card race will seemingly go down to the wire. What else might the final weeks of the season bring?
Our expert panel has combined to rank every team in baseball based on a combination of what we’ve seen so far and what we already knew going into the 162-game marathon that is a full baseball season. We also asked ESPN MLB experts David Schoenfield, Bradford Doolittle, Jesse Rogers and Alden Gonzalez to weigh in with an observation for all 30 teams.
Week 23 | Second-half preview | Preseason rankings
Record: 96-50
Previous ranking: 1
After going 18 games without a home run, Matt Olson is on fire once again, hitting eight in a 10-game stretch that culminated with his 51st home run Tuesday, tying Andruw Jones’ franchise record set in 2005. The Braves also passed the 2019 Dodgers for the most home runs in NL history and are on pace to beat the 2019 Twins’ major league record of 307. Kyle Wright made his first start since May but gave up six hits and six runs in three innings against the Phillies, generating just two swinging strikes out of 62 pitches. The Braves would love for Wright to give them another starting option for the postseason, but he’ll need to see his stuff tick up. — Schoenfield
Record: 91-54
Previous ranking: 2
By this time next week, we might know whether the Orioles have a hammerlock on the AL’s top playoff seed, or if they are going to be mired in a down-the-stretch dogfight with the Rays for the AL East crown. With the way the standings are shaping up, the division champ will land that top playoff seed and all the comforts that go with it — a first-round bye, home-field advantage, etc.
Starting today, the Orioles and Rays clash at Camden Yards in the first of four games that’ll take us through the weekend. If the Orioles can win three or four, their hold on the division lead will be rock-solid. Otherwise, it’s a battle. Either way, this is the matchup this season has been building toward for Baltimore. The Orioles have actually been a better road team this season but make no mistake: Opening the playoffs in the ALDS round in Baltimore would be huge for this breakout team. — Doolittle
Record: 88-57
Previous ranking: 3
The Dodgers called up a 25-year-old right-hander named Kyle Hurt on Tuesday for two reasons: He can provide multiple innings out of the bullpen, and he strikes out a lot of dudes. Hurt, acquired from the Marlins as part of the Dylan Floro trade of 2021, struck out a whopping 145 batters in 88⅓ innings in Double-A and Triple-A and did precisely what the Dodgers hoped he would in his major league debut. He entered the eighth inning to face Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto and Manny Machado and retired all three in order, then came back out for the ninth and struck out the side to seal a victory over the Padres. Hurt might still be a long shot for the Dodgers’ postseason roster — he was sent right back down to the minors on Wednesday, in fact — but he could provide precisely what they’ll need given that they’re not expecting to get much length from their starting pitchers in October. — Gonzalez
Record: 90-57
Previous ranking: 4
The Rays have been dealing with crushing player absences all season and that trend continued last week when starting center fielder Jose Siri went on the injured list with a hand fracture. Siri’s season isn’t necessarily over but Tampa Bay will have to navigate most, if not all, its remaining schedule without him. Siri has become kind of the prototypical role player for the Rays — they always seem to be able to leverage the things he does well, while ignoring or working around his flaws. In Siri’s case, he hits homers (25, second on the team) and plays elite defense (10 outs above average). The Rays could get Manuel Margot back soon; he just began a short rehab stint as he works his way back from elbow trouble. Siri has had a better 2023, but he and Margot are roughly equivalent in bottom-line production overall, even if the shape of their games is different. Still, that’s the Rays. They tend to have an answer for every problem. — Doolittle
Record: 83-64
Previous ranking: 5
The Astros continue to confound. After ending August with a resounding sweep of the Red Sox at Fenway Park, Houston began September by getting swept at home by a Yankees club mired in a kind of catatonic stupor. Then they went up to Arlington and clubbed a revved-up rival in the Rangers by a three-game score of 39-10. Then, after taking two of three from the Padres, the Astros lost two straight — scoring just two runs — at home to the A’s, who have been firmly in last place in the AL West since April 7. Houston is as healthy as it’s been all season and we probably can dismiss all of this as “it’s baseball.” But it’s still confusing. — Doolittle
Record: 81-64
Previous ranking: 9
Milwaukee’s big three — Brandon Woodruff, Corbin Burnes and Freddy Peralta — continues to roll as the team heads for another postseason appearance. Decisive wins over the Marlins earlier this week showcased what the Brewers can do in the playoffs: roll out more pitching than most opponents can. Woodruff’s complete game shutout Monday, for example, was a thing of beauty as he gave up six hits while striking out seven in the 12-0 win. The next night it was Peralta’s turn — he struck out nine over 6⅓ innings while giving up just a run on two hits. Then came the NL’s third-ranked bullpen, as Hoby Milner, Abner Uribe and Devin Williams all sport ERA’s under 2.00. That 3-1 win Tuesday showcased the Brewers’ formula for October — though they’ll also certainly take the blowout. — Rogers
Record: 80-66
Previous ranking: 8
The Blue Jays missed a golden opportunity to bury one of their prime competitors this week when they dropped the first two games of a crucial four-game set against Texas. The Rangers entered the series at the Rogers Centre reeling but took the first two games against a Toronto club that had won six of seven and welcomed Bo Bichette back to the lineup. Those two losses not only pushed the Blue Jays back to the brink of falling off the right-now AL playoff bracket but also clinched the season series between the teams in Texas’ favor. Thus, if the last playoff slot comes down to a tiebreaker between the pair, the Lone Star guys will get the nod. It has been that kind of season for Toronto, as the Jays just haven’t been able to put together a prolonged hot streak since early in the campaign. — Doolittle
Record: 79-67
Previous ranking: 10
One of the key players of this postseason will be Phillies closer Craig Kimbrel. As we saw last year, the Phillies have the talent to perform better in October than in the regular season — including beating the Braves — but they’ll likely need Kimbrel to lock down the ninth inning. His postseason history is checkered, however, with a 4.13 ERA and 13 runs in 24 career innings. He was last in the playoffs with the White Sox in 2021 and allowed runs in two of his three appearances. With the Red Sox in 2018, he allowed runs in five of his nine appearances. — Schoenfield
Record: 81-65
Previous ranking: 6
The Mariners temporarily fell back out of a playoff position after an ugly 3-8 road trip against the Mets, Reds and Rays in which they suffered two walk-off losses. Then, in their home series opener to the Angels on Monday, they lost in 11 innings after Julio Rodriguez had tied the game with a two-run home run in the 10th. But wins on Tuesday and Wednesday put the Mariners back into a wild-card spot, one game ahead of the Blue Jays. Rodriguez became the 44th member of the 30-30 club as he continues his torrid hitting streak — he’s now closing in on 100 RBIs and 100 runs and has hit .384 since July 25. — Schoenfield
Record: 81-64
Previous ranking: 7
Texas righted the ship — at least for now — by going on a mini win streak after getting swept by the Astros early last week. The big question for the Rangers, though, is whether they can survive the injuries to Adolis Garcia, Josh Jung and now Max Scherzer, who will miss the rest of the regular season, and possibly the playoffs, with a shoulder injury. Scherzer’s injury certainly makes the job that much harder on the mound, and the Rangers already had pitching issues from Dane Dunning, Nathan Eovaldi and others. The pen has also been a hot mess, compiling a season-long ERA close to 5.00, which ranks in the bottom five in MLB.
Considering all of that, it’s no wonder Texas is in a dogfight in the AL West. At least Corey Seager continues to be a leader on offense. He homered twice and hit .364 last week, which included three hits — two of them doubles — in Tuesday’s 6-3 win over the Blue Jays. — Rogers
Record: 78-69
Previous ranking: 11
The future is now for the Cubs’ No.1 prospect, Pete Crow-Armstrong. He arrived just in time to roam spacious Coors Field, making multiple highlight-reel catches in his first MLB start this week. The Cubs will undoubtedly use him on defense late in games while giving him spot starts down the stretch. It’s possible that could be the plan in October, as Crow-Armstrong’s speed and defense make him a valuable postseason commodity. Meanwhile, Justin Steele continued his Cy Young bid with another good outing last week. In his first two starts this month, he pitched 15 innings while giving up a single earned run. — Rogers
Record: 76-70
Previous ranking: 12
Byron Buxton received a cortisone shot to address inflammation in his right knee. The oft-injured outfielder exited a rehab start for Triple-A St. Paul on Sept. 1, just his second outing for the Saints. Despite this, Twins trainer Nick Paparesta told reporters the club still expects Buxton to return this season. He added that the notion of Buxton patrolling center field, at least part of the time, is still on the table. Obviously, the Twins would have a better shot at reaching their full potential in October if that were to happen. At the same time, if you’ve been following Buxton and the Twins to any extent, you know it’s nothing to count on. Sadly, everyone in Minnesota has plenty of experience in dealing with limbo when it comes to the team’s most talented player. — Doolittle
Record: 76-71
Previous ranking: 14
In a trade market devoid of premium bats, Tommy Pham is standing out as one of the most prized acquisitions. The 35-year-old outfielder has been a major boost to a young D-backs team fighting for a playoff spot, slashing .300/.340/.580 in September and coming up with timely hits, most notably an eighth-inning, game-tying home run in his return to Citi Field on Monday. The D-backs are also raving about his influence in the clubhouse.
“He’s on a quest to make this team better by being himself and sharing information on what he knows through experience he’s got,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo told reporters. “To talk about the consistency of the at-bats, the consistency of the workouts — it’s just setting a standard for what we believe in, and the young players see it.” — Gonzalez
Record: 76-71
Previous ranking: 15
A series loss to the Cardinals over the weekend didn’t help the Reds’ playoff hopes, but they remain firmly in the race for the final NL wild-card spot. Newly acquired outfielder Hunter Renfroe had a rough week, going just 2-for-13 at the plate in an eight-day span through Tuesday. Fellow newcomer Harrison Bader fared better, going 4-for-15 and driving in three runs, while rookie Elly De La Cruz was 3-for-23 with five strikeouts. He’s hitting just .167 in September. This might serve as a reminder that Cincinnati’s best hope is in the future, not the present. — Rogers
Record: 75-71
Previous ranking: 17
The race for the NL’s final wild-card spot remains tight, but the Giants are getting some much-needed reinforcements back. Their rookie catcher, Patrick Bailey, returned from a concussion Wednesday. Ross Stripling, out since Aug. 16 because of a back strain, threw a four-inning simulated game Monday and is seemingly ready to return, based on his public frustration over not yet being activated. Michael Conforto, who suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain Aug. 23, could return to the Giants’ lineup before the end of the week. Conforto was slashing .424/.500/.636 over an 11-game stretch before going down. The Giants, with the majors’ second-fewest runs per game in the second half, would love nothing more than to see him pick up where he left off. — Gonzalez
Record: 75-71
Previous ranking: 16
Series wins over the Dodgers and Phillies were huge, but the Marlins came out of those series and scored one run in two losses to the Brewers, halting any playoff momentum they had. Nobody has pulled away yet in that race for the final wild-card spot, however, so the Marlins are still hanging in there. Let’s give a shoutout to Tanner Scott, who has been the team’s one consistent reliever all season. He’s in the top 10 among all MLB relievers in strikeouts, holds (he also has seven saves) and innings. Most impressively, he’s first in win probability added, just ahead of Alexis Diaz, Felix Bautista and Gerrit Cole. Pretty good company there. — Schoenfield
Record: 73-72
Previous ranking: 13
Barring a miracle run, the Red Sox have fallen out of playoff contention, though their race against the Yankees to avoid the AL East cellar remains a nail-biter. Rafael Devers mashed his 30th homer, a rainbow shot to right, in a doubleheader against New York. He has three 30-homer seasons under his belt even though he has yet to turn 27 years old. Among players who have played at least half their games at third base for Boston, Devers is fourth in bWAR (behind Wade Boggs, Larry Gardner and Jimmy Collins) but he’s far and away the franchise homer leader at the position. His 169 career bombs is 38 more than second-place Frank Malzone, Boston’s regular at the hot corner from 1957 to 1965. Only Boggs and Malzone have had longer third-base tenures for the Red Sox than Devers, who is at seven seasons and counting. — Doolittle
Record: 73-72
Previous ranking: 18
After a brief uptick, the Yankees’ doom-struck season resumed its inevitable course with two more depressing developments. First, starter Luis Severino was lost for the season because of an oblique injury. Overall, it was a nightmarish campaign for the righty as he finished 4-8 with a 6.65 ERA and 6.15 FIP, though he had been pitching much better of late, putting up a 2.49 ERA over his past four outings. And that wasn’t even the real gut punch of the week. That would have to be the news that rookie center fielder Jasson Dominguez was headed for elbow surgery that will probably keep him out into next season. For now, Dominguez’s career numbers are stuck at eight games, four homers and a .677 slugging percentage, but at least they are frozen in a state that can offer fans in the Bronx some hope until he returns. — Doolittle
Record: 69-78
Previous ranking: 19
Yu Darvish, dealing with a stress reaction and a bone spur in his right elbow, announced Tuesday that he had given up on returning before season’s end, shutting down his throwing program in hopes that his arm will ultimately heal without the need for surgery. Manny Machado, however, continues to play. The Padres’ star third baseman has been dealing with a recurrence of tennis elbow for a few weeks, prompting him to spend all month relegated to DH duties. Offseason surgery is a possibility. But for now, barring more intense pain, he intends to keep playing — at least until the Padres are eliminated, which could happen soon. — Gonzalez
Record: 69-78
Previous ranking: 20
Cleveland is now closer to third-place Detroit than first-place Minnesota, so the news that Shane Bieber and Triston McKenzie made rehab starts Tuesday and Wednesday comes a little too late — although at least it’s good news that they’re healthy enough to pitch, a positive sign for 2024 (Bieber will no doubt be potential trade bait in the offseason, however). Indeed, as the season winds down, it will be interesting to see what the Guardians do in the outfield. Their outfielders have hit just 17 home runs — last in the majors by a large margin. Steven Kwan is a likely Gold Glover in left field and has a solid OBP, but they’re going to have to upgrade in center and right. — Schoenfield
Record: 68-79
Previous ranking: 21
Shohei Ohtani missed only two of the Angels’ first 137 games, despite suffering a tear of his right ulnar collateral ligament near the end of that stretch. Then he tweaked an oblique muscle during a rare session of outdoor batting practice Sept. 4 and hasn’t played since. Wednesday marked the 10th consecutive time in which Ohtani tried to get himself ready to be in the starting lineup but couldn’t. He has yet to give up on serving as the Angels’ designated hitter this season, but there is no telling when he will be able to do so again. He still leads the majors in OPS and the AL in home runs, while having contributed a 3.14 ERA in 132 innings as a pitcher. He shouldn’t have to take another plate appearance to lock up his second MVP. — Gonzalez
Record: 66-79
Previous ranking: 23
We’re into the home stretch of Miguel Cabrera‘s career and it’s hard to predict what will happen. Cabrera has struggled badly at times but every so often, a little vintage Miggy emerges, such as in his four-hit game against the White Sox on Sept. 2. There is still time for him to do a little end-of-career chart climbing. At 510 career homers, he’s one shy of Mel Ott for 25th. He’s also one extra-base hit behind Adrian Beltre for 14th. And if that next extra-base hit is a double, it would tie Hank Aaron at No. 13. Even if none of these things happens, the fact that Cabrera is among a group that includes Ott, Beltre and Aaron tells you all you need to know about what kind of career he has had. — Doolittle
Record: 67-78
Previous ranking: 22
Ronny Mauricio continues to impress in his first two weeks in the majors and blasted his first career home run, a 440-foot shot into the second deck in right field. Mauricio has played second base in all his games while Jeff McNeil has slid into left field, perhaps a sign of how the Mets will align things in 2024. McNeil is signed through 2026, but he has now had two less-than-stellar seasons sandwiched around his batting title in 2022, so his bat doesn’t necessarily profile all that well in left field. Indeed, McNeil and Starling Marte could both face job competition in 2024 from DJ Stewart, who has earned a look next year thanks to his impressive hitting the past few weeks. — Schoenfield
Record: 68-78
Previous ranking: 25
Pittsburgh got a much-needed well-pitched game from Bailey Falter in Tuesday’s 5-1 win over Washington. Even with his outing, the Pirates compiled a 5.00 ERA last week. Pitching will be an offseason need as much as anything for Pittsburgh, which features depth in position players but not as much on the mound. Outside of Mitch Keller, it has been a task to find consistent starting pitching. Meanwhile, Oneil Cruz has been shut down so his 2023 was a lost season after he fractured his ankle in April. The Pirates should have a good offense next season if Cruz and others stay healthy, but pitching will be the No.1 focus all winter. — Rogers
Record: 65-81
Previous ranking: 26
Adam Wainwright finally got win No.199 this week, over the AL’s best team, the Orioles. Now, he’ll have a couple chances to get No. 200, first at home then on the road. St. Louis plans to honor him during his final weekend as a Cardinal. It’s about the only thing the organization can celebrate this year. Though, one bright spot has been the progression of outfielder Jordan Walker, whose season-long numbers are looking pretty good right now. He’s hitting .300 with a .945 OPS just this month and is showing signs of being the complete player the Cardinals need as they focus on pitching this offseason. — Rogers
Record: 65-81
Previous ranking: 24
It took a little longer than expected to make the official announcement, but the club has agreed to a multiyear extension with longtime GM Mike Rizzo (to go with the two-year extension given to manager Dave Martinez in August). The Nationals have been more competitive than expected this season as the franchise continues its rebuild.
“I don’t think that it’s a successful season, but it’s a very encouraging season,” Rizzo told reporters. “Nobody wants to win 70 games in a season; we want to win 97 games in a season. So that’s our goal, that’s always been our goal, but this is a good step in the right direction to that.” — Schoenfield
Record: 56-90
Previous ranking: 27
Manager Pedro Grifol sent a not-so-subtle message to rookie outfielder Oscar Colas when he demoted him to Triple-A recently — a rare move for a prospect who needs playing time on a team out of it in September. Grifol told reporters that Colas needed to work on all aspects of his game. The same could probably be said of the whole team, as the White Sox attempt to avoid losing 100 games for the fifth time in franchise history. That’s as many as they lost in 2018 when they were in mid-rebuild. — Rogers
Record: 53-92
Previous ranking: 28
With a blowout loss to the division-rival Giants on Saturday, the Rockies became the third team to be mathematically eliminated from postseason contention, joining the A’s and Royals. They were 51-90 by that point, having dropped 15 of their previous 18 games. With 2½ weeks remaining, the Rockies must go no worse than 10-7 to avoid the first 100-loss season in franchise history. Given how it’s been going lately, that feels impossible. — Gonzalez
Record: 46-101
Previous ranking: 29
Cole Ragans‘ streak of scoreless innings ended at 26 in Sunday’s loss to the Blue Jays. Ragans had allowed just one hit over 5⅔ scoreless innings, but a couple of walks and a few wild pitches culminated in two runs. He walked six in the game, showing his first serious issues with control since coming to the Royals. Batters are hitting just .192 off him in his nine starts with just one home run allowed in 53⅓ innings. Get him for your fantasy team next year. — Schoenfield
Record: 46-100
Previous ranking: 30
The Astros began the week leading the majors in runs scored since the All-Star break, and the A’s had won only one of 10 games against them all season. But Ken Waldichuk followed an opener with six no-hit innings against Houston on Monday, despite striking out only three batters, and JP Sears contributed six innings of two-run ball Tuesday, clinching the A’s sixth road series victory of the season. Justin Verlander offered a tip of the cap afterward, telling reporters, “They’re making good pitches, and their hitters are really locked in right now. They have some good young talent.” — Gonzalez
You may like
Sports
Clemson fires DC Goodwin after struggles vs. run
Published
6 hours agoon
January 6, 2025By
admin-
Andrea Adelson, ESPN Senior WriterJan 6, 2025, 09:49 AM ET
Close- ACC reporter.
- Joined ESPN.com in 2010.
- Graduate of the University of Florida.
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has fired defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin, he announced Monday.
The Tigers’ defense — particularly against the run — took a significant step back in the third season under Goodwin. Clemson allowed an average of 160.6 rushing yards per game — its worst performance since 2011. That includes 292 yards rushing allowed in a 38-24 loss to Texas in a College Football Playoff first-round game last month.
Goodwin was promoted from within in 2022 to replace Brent Venables, who left to become head coach at Oklahoma. In 2021, the last season under Venables, Clemson ranked No. 7 in the country in rush defense (96.3 yards per game) and No. 8 in total defense (310.2 yards per game).
Swinney said he met with Goodwin on Sunday night to inform him of the decision.
“Wes has been a part of our program for 13 of the past 16 years, and he played an instrumental part in all of our success,” Swinney said in a statement. “I love Wes and his family and wish him all the best as he continues his journey. I know he has a bright future ahead.”
Swinney said he hopes to have a new defensive coordinator in place by the end of the month “or sooner.”
“Our staff has been hard at work on our roster, and we look forward to solidifying our defensive coordinator position to help lead this extremely talented group as we pursue our goals for 2025,” Swinney said.
Clemson returns the bulk of its playoff team — including defensive starters T.J. Parker, Peter Woods, Wade Woodaz and Avieon Terrell. The offense looks ready to make another major leap with Cade Klubnik and receivers Bryant Wesco, Antonio Williams and T.J. Moore all returning — making it an absolute priority to get the defense fixed.
Sports
Can the Sabres salvage their season? What must happen to get back in playoff mix
Published
10 hours agoon
January 6, 2025By
admin-
Kristen Shilton, ESPN NHL reporterJan 6, 2025, 07:00 AM ET
Close- Kristen Shilton is a national NHL reporter for ESPN.
The Buffalo Sabres didn’t get that “New Year, New Me” memo. And that’s putting it nicely.
Buffalo spent much of 2024 struggling to gather any positive momentum — and its first outing of 2025 remained painfully on brand. The Sabres held three multi-goal leads over the host Colorado Avalanche last week, only to blow each one — including a 5-3 advantage that evaporated when the tying goal was scored with eight seconds left in regulation. Buffalo’s final fate felt determined well before Devon Toews called game with a breakaway goal in overtime to send the dejected Sabres on their way again.
For an encore, Buffalo turned in an inevitably listless performance against the Vegas Golden Knights two nights later. The promised refresh of a new year disappeared for the Sabres, along with another two points.
This isn’t how Buffalo’s season was supposed to go. It’s also not the first time in (very) recent years we’ve said that about the Sabres.
The hockey world has been waiting on Buffalo to snap its 13-year playoff drought (longest among the four major sports leagues) with practically the same mindset that fans have for Alex Ovechkin‘s chase to overtake Wayne Gretzky’s scoring record — it’s got to happen eventually, right?
Ovi’s accomplishment is increasingly within reach. But Buffalo’s chances of being back in the postseason picture? Those odds seem only to worsen.
The Sabres are eighth in the Atlantic Division, with a 14-21-5 record. A cringeworthy 13-game winless streak made up a majority of the club’s December and, as noted, the Sabres have started slowly in January.
That’s not to say Buffalo hasn’t had its moments, with flashes of a team better than its woeful record. But sustaining success can be as great a challenge for the Sabres as creating it.
Which leads us to the big question: How can Buffalo salvage its season? The Sabres have burgeoning stars on their bench, exciting prospects ready to contribute soon, plus a veteran coach with a history of winning.
So what are the flaws being repeatedly exposed — and can the Sabres fix them without sliding back into another difficult rebuild?
IT’S NOT THE PALM TREES in Florida that attract NHL players. It’s the chance to win. And Buffalo hasn’t proven (yet) that it can offer that same chance.
Still, when Sabres GM Kevyn Adams met the media in early December, he lamented how Buffalo was “not a destination city right now,” with high taxes and a lack of tropical foliage not attracting free agents. Yet, is a lack of talent really at the core of Buffalo’s ills?
Tage Thompson is a point-per-game player. Alex Tuch has thrived since returning to Western New York as part of the Jack Eichel trade. JJ Peterka is growing into a better player each game. And Jason Zucker — a free agent signee last summer — is overachieving in one of his better seasons. The Sabres have a back end loaded with high draft picks, including captain Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, and Bowen Byram. And Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has exceeded expectations in net throughout Buffalo’s myriad struggles this season.
Ability? The Sabres arguably have enough of it to be a playoff contender — or at least to avoid becoming the league’s 29th-place team and Eastern Conference basement dweller.
Since the Sabres’ aforementioned pre-Christmas skid, there have been repeated calls for Adam’s firing, placing blame on Buffalo’s GM for poor roster construction. Adams didn’t make any major changes over the summer — save for signing Zucker — but that decision to stand pat could be coming from ownership.
When Adams maintained in his December news conference that he “believe[s] in the people in this room … I’m going to war with these guys,” it echoed a message from Sabres owner Terry Pegula to the team prior to its game Dec. 17 — the solution for Buffalo was already in the room.
The Sabres responded to that vote of confidence by losing 6-1 to the lottery-bound Montreal Canadiens. To this point, even the ugliest defeats haven’t cost Adams the gig he took over from Jason Botterill in 2020. Yet, Buffalo holds its lowest points percentage since Adams was hired, a fitting bookend to his tenure with the franchise if the team decides to move on.
But It’s not like Adams hasn’t tried to make Buffalo better. He has churned through three head coaches — most recently bringing back veteran Lindy Ruff — traded former captain Eichel for a solid return, and worked the phones to add impact players such as Byram.
The problem is that Adams’ moves aren’t moving the needle. Yes, Buffalo came close to reaching the playoffs with a late-season surge in 2022-23, but close isn’t good enough. Fresh eyes in management could end the Sabres’ spell of stagnation — or it could plummet them into a dreaded rebuilding mode.
What could be the difference there?
Trades. Immediate trades.
APPARENTLY, PEGULA’S PREVIOUS MESSAGE landed on deaf ears.
That doesn’t mean Buffalo’s higher-ups can’t send another to their group with a well-timed, well-executed trade (or two).
There are tiers of potential trade candidates for Buffalo. Pending unrestricted free agents such as Zucker, Nicolas Aube-Kubel or Jordan Greenway could be flipped for a new player. That’s the Sabres’ safe option, though.
If Buffalo is serious about turning things around quickly, then players such as Power, Dylan Cozens and even Byram start bubbling up. All three young skaters have ample runway into the perceived prime of their careers — something Buffalo wouldn’t want to trade away, but could potentially leverage for players better positioned to help the Sabres win now.
Buffalo needs secondary scoring help. Only four skaters — Thompson, Zucker, Tuch and Peterka — have double-digital goals this season, and only Thompson and Zucker have passed the 30-point mark. The Sabres are averaging over three goals per game (13th in the league), but a pitiful power play (17.4%, 25th overall) has been a detriment. Buffalo is also 26th in generating shots on net (averaging 27.1) and too often, its attack falls flat.
Addressing those issues could give the Sabres’ season a second life, and extend Adam’s stay with the organization. Pending positive results, of course.
It would also behoove the Sabres to start seeing more from some of their purported top-tier players such as Zach Benson (drafted 13th in 2023), Jack Quinn (selected eighth in 2020) and especially Cozens.
Buffalo could be criticized for putting too much pressure on such young players (Benson is 19, Quinn and Cozens are 23). But if the Sabres expect to salvage the second half of this season (and beyond), those core pieces can’t continue underperforming.
Quinn has 14 points in 33 games and is minus-14. Benson has just 13 points in 34 games. And Cozens — in the second season of a seven-year contract worth $7.1 million per year — has only eight goals and 20 points in 40 games. Would Buffalo regret giving up on Cozens at this stage when he hasn’t reached his potential? Or is that pliability what might make Cozens a desirable player elsewhere?
It’s a combination of things that should drive Buffalo’s decision-making. Dipping into the team’s prospect pool for trade options isn’t off the table, but might not support the Sabres’ long-term ambitions. Adams sending Casey Mittelstadt to Colorado for Byram last March was a solid move given how Byram has evolved on Buffalo’s blue line. Byram is also a pending restricted free agent, and the Sabres have been built to hold four left-shot defenders under age 25 on their top two pairings (meaning guys on their not-ideal “off” sides).
Then there’s a question regarding the source of the Sabres’ leadership. Dahlin, 24, is in his first season as the club’s captain, a position previously held by veteran Kyle Okposo. Adams traded Okposo to Florida ahead of last year’s deadline, and tried to shore up the Sabres with older acquisitions such as Zucker, Aube-Kubel, Ryan McLeod and Sam Lafferty. Outside of Zucker — who has been on Buffalo’s top line throughout the season — the Sabres haven’t gotten much from Aube-Kubel and Lafferty (a healthy scratch in that loss to Vegas) in fourth-line roles, and it has impacted the pressure placed on Buffalo’s younger options to bear the brunt of the team’s scoring needs.
All those factors — from age, to experience, to what’s required in the present and future — should be taken into consideration if trades become a reality.
And they have to be. Adams can’t be too attached to anyone in the Sabres’ system, whether he acquired them or not. Buffalo can’t afford to give up on this season either. Even if the postseason is out of reach, the Sabres must try to climb the standings and give themselves a greater chance of pulling in some veteran free agents this offseason — the ones not turned off by a dearth of palm trees.
PERSONNEL CHANGES REMAIN a hypothetical for Buffalo. There must be tangible differences in how the Sabres are playing on a regular basis.
The power play has been a sore spot despite Ruff reentering the fold. He and assistant Seth Appert were supposed to make those units momentum-drivers. Instead, Buffalo has just 19 goals with the extra man — tied for fifth fewest in the NHL — and that’s practically negating its decent scoring (fifth overall) at 5-on-5.
But even when the power play is clicking — as it was against Colorado with two goals — Buffalo’s inability to close out quality teams is limiting. There was a stretch at the end of December, when Buffalo won three straight while outscoring opponents 17-5, that showcased what the Sabres might be at their best.
But those victories came against the New York Islanders, Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues, and those first two clubs are also far outside the playoff mix. A 60-minute effort isn’t something the Sabres deliver as readily when facing a higher-caliber foe.
Alex Tuch’s hat trick leads Sabres past Blackhawks
Alex Tuch delivers a stellar performance with a hat trick as the Sabres cruise to victory over the Blackhawks.
Ruff was supposed to cultivate a new identity for the Sabres. He should be bringing Adam’s preseason call for “raising the standard” to fruition. But the 64-year-old bench boss is at a repeated loss as to why his teachings aren’t taking hold.
“It’s on me to solve this,” Ruff said after Buffalo’s 5-3 loss to Toronto last month. “This is the toughest solve I’ve been around. It is on me to get these guys in the right place to win a hockey game. And nobody else. Just me.”
That was the Sabres’ 10th loss amid the 13-game slide. Tuch called it “s—ty.” Byram spoke wistfully of a “magic potion” the Sabres could take to get out of their funk. Goaltender Devon Levi credited Ruff with giving Buffalo “a good speech” in the second period — “it touched me and I wanted to go out there and try to win the game” — but intentions couldn’t match actions.
And therein lies a key to the Sabres saving themselves. It’s their will, effort and mental toughness that can determine how the next few months play out. Because even if Adams shakes up the roster, it won’t have the same effect without a buy-in from the guys already on the team.
Adams thought firing former coach Don Granato and bringing back Ruff would show the Sabres their previous lack of success was unacceptable. The Sabres haven’t rallied. Whatever remedy Buffalo needs to succeed remains a mystery — and it can’t for much longer.
What the Sabres can do is stop wasting time. Buffalo has nothing to lose, and that mentality is a luxury when used properly. Why not take the big swing on a trade? Why not inject a little overconfidence into your team? The Sabres should be exhausting every option to figure out not necessarily how but why — from ownership to management to players — they’ve seemingly held themselves back.
A touch of soul-searching might not fix their fortunes this season. But it might start laying the groundwork for a team better equipped to thrive.
That’s where the Sabres might finally find success.
Sports
Branch Bros. commit to Georgia after USC exit
Published
22 hours agoon
January 5, 2025By
admin-
Pete Thamel, Senior College Sports InsiderJan 5, 2025, 04:31 PM ET
Close- College Football Senior Writer for ESPN. Insider for College Gameday.
Former USC wide receiver Zachariah Branch and safety Zion Branch have committed to Georgia, the brothers told ESPN on Sunday.
The brothers are former top-100 recruits who loom as significant additions for the Bulldogs in 2025. They both have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Zachariah Branch is the No. 9 overall player and No. 4 wide receiver in ESPN’s transfer portal rankings. He earned first-team All-American honors in 2023 while emerging as one of the most electric players in college football.
“I chose Georgia because I felt like the culture was something special,” Zachariah Branch told ESPN. “They have a great coaching staff, the brotherhood within the program, their will to win, being prepared for the next level and being as successful as possible on and off the field was important to me.”
Zachariah Branch can boost a Georgia receiving room that was beset this season by off-field issues and inconsistent play. Georgia led the country with 36 wide receiver drops, per ESPN Research.
“I see their potential as a contender for the national championship and to defend their SEC title in 2025,” Zachariah Branch said.
He accounted for 1,863 all-purpose yards during his two seasons at USC, including two kicks returned for touchdowns in 2023. As a receiver he caught 78 passes for 823 yards and three touchdowns. He tied for the team lead in receptions this season with 47. He rushed for 87 yards and another touchdown during his two seasons in coach Lincoln Riley’s offense.
Zion Branch played in all 12 games for USC as a redshirt sophomore safety this season, recording 19 tackles, 3 pass breakups and 1 sack in a reserve role. He’s the older of the two brothers and dealt with season-ending injuries in both 2022 and 2023.
“I chose the University of Georgia because of its great coaching staff, their pedigree, and the history of the program,” Zion Branch told ESPN. “Georgia has consistently been one of the best programs in college football, and the culture of excellence they’ve built is something I want to be a part of. The coaches are not just about winning games; they’re about building character, fostering growth and pushing players to be their absolute best both on and off the field.”
The brothers joined the Trojans after starring at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas. Zachariah was the No. 7 overall recruit in the ESPN 300 for 2023, and Zion was No. 76 in 2022.
The Georgia receiving room was full of steady players but with no true standout; nobody finished in the SEC’s top 10 for receiving yards. Senior Arian Smith, who accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl but still has a season of eligibility left, led the Bulldogs with 817 yards. Receiver/punt returner Anthony Evans III entered the transfer portal, and Dominic Lovett, who is out of eligibility, led the team with 59 catches.
Zachariah Branch offers rare dynamism and downfield speed that will make him a candidate to be Georgia’s top target in 2025. He scored just one touchdown for USC in 2024 after scoring five as a true freshman — two in the return game, two receiving and one rushing.
The brothers see themselves as contributors toward the program’s bigger goals.
“This team is poised to do something truly special — competing for championships and setting a standard of excellence that few can match,” Zion Branch said. “With the talent that’s already there and the elite-level recruits coming in, the future is incredibly bright. I have no doubt Georgia will not only win a lot of games but also continue to lead the nation in innovation and performance on the field.”
Trending
-
Sports2 years ago
‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports9 months ago
Story injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports1 year ago
Game 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years ago
MLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports3 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years ago
Japan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years ago
Game-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business2 years ago
Bank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway