Good morning, all and happy first day of spring, which arrives in the northern hemisphere at 10:46 AM ET.

The World Baseball Classic turned out to be a grand slam this year and now there is talk of moving the WBC to the summer. Is this a good idea? I break it down in the video and podcast.

Here are some other thoughts as we wander through March:

* March Madness is in full swing, as VCU stunned North Carolina in a first round game last night, winning 82-78 in OT. The win was especially delicious for coach Phil Martelli Jr. (son of the legendary coach Phil Martelli), who is in his first season as the coach of the Rams. I can assure you, they were dancing in the streets of Richmond, after this one. Meanwhile, many brackets have been busted, following the dramatic comeback victory, mine included.

* Number One seed Duke was not going to lose to Siena, though the Blue Devils trailed by double digits at the half and rallied for a 71-65 win. But, although Siena deserves credit for giving Duke a run for its money, it does give me pause for concern, as I have Duke as one of my Final Four teams. We shall see.

* I’m liking these coaches wearing ties and jackets in this tournament, although the two coaches I saw donned in such attire were witnesses to their teams’ losses. I’m guessing this won’t start a trend.

* That smile you see emanating from Park Ave. in NYC is that of MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. The TV numbers for the WBC championship game Tuesday night between eventual winner Venezuela and the U.S. went through the roof. An audience of 10.23M watched on Fox and Fox Deportes. Not only was that a record for the WBC, but outside of the World Series, it is likely no MLB postseason game will attract those numbers this fall.

* That is going to be quite a crowded quarterback room for the Minnesota Vikings now that Carson Wentz has returned to the team. He will be joining Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy.

* Longtime Mets radio voice Howie Rose announced his retirement, effective at the end of this season. Rose, 72, grew up a Mets fan in Queens. He started out calling Mets games on television in 1987 and has been the club’s lead radio voice since the early 2000s. In a video released on social media, Rose said the perfect ending to his career would be a ride down the Canyon of Heroes, followed by being the MC for the Mets World Championship celebration in front of city hall.

That is going to do it for today’s newsletter. Thank you for being a subscriber and have a fantastic Friday!

DAN

Good morning, all and Happy March Madness Thursday!

If you are a college basketball fan, it does not get any better than this. Now that the preliminaries (First Four) are out of the way, the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament swings into full gear today. I break it all down in the video and podcast.

Here are some other thoughts on this Thursday after St. Patrick’s Day:

* Now that labor peace seems to be at hand for the WNBA, how soon before the stories crop up about this being the last season for the Connecticut Sun in the Nutmeg State? I’ll bet before the weekend is out, one of the local media outlets will be reporting on this story.

* By the way, here is the statement released by the WNBPA about the deal reached with the owners:

* The winner of the previous year’s Masters gets to pick the menu for the champions’ dinner, held at Augusta, during Masters week. Here is Rory McIlroy’s choice:

* Justin Ishbia, who will take over majority ownership of the Chicago White Sox in the early 2030s, is on the verge of buying a 47-acre rail yard from Amtrak, near the southwest corner of the Loop, according to reports. Word is that will be the location of a new stadium for the White Sox, who are determined to once again prove there is more than one MLB team in the Windy City.

* Sportico has come out with the latest valuation of MLB franchises and the Yankees are still the most valuable club at $9.4B. The two-time defending champion Dodgers come in second at $9.04B. The least valued big league club is the Miami Marlins at $1.45B.

* Speaking of the Dodgers, they have released the Opening Day menu at Dodgers Stadium and it includes bone marrow tacos. I don’t think so.

Enjoy your March Madness Thursday and thank you for reading the newsletter. It means a lot.

DAN

Good morning, all! It’s hump day!

Venezuela has won its first WBC title in its first appearance in the finals, with a thrilling 3-2 win over the U.S. in Miami. In a game dominated by pitching, the U.S. trailed 2-0 in the last of the eighth, before Bryce Harper slugged a dramatic two-run homer. Venezuela came right back in the ninth, as Eugenio Suárez broke the deadlock with an RBI-double.

Major League Baseball is considering more rules changes to improve pace-of-play, and once again the minor leagues are serving as the testing ground for the proposals. I break it down in the video and podcast.

Here are some other thoughts one week before the opening of the MLB season:

* I had a Division I men’s college basketball coach tell me, if his team was on the bubble, he would much rather be in the NCAA Tournament’s First Four rather than a number 15 seed, because it gave his program more exposure. It is tough to disagree with that. Think about it. You have eight teams vying to play in the first round on Thursday or Friday as the lowest seed, yet on Tuesday and Wednesday nights (Each night has two games), your school is showcased as the only game in town on national TV. On Thursday or Friday your team is lost in the mix. If your goal, as a coach, is to gain your program notoriety, taking that first step on the Tuesday or Wednesday before the first round of the tournament, is not the worst scenario.

* Sportico is reporting Shohei Ohtani is getting $125M this season just from sponsors. What a world.

* UConn women’s basketball is a huge revenue generator, according to the Sports Business Journal. SBJ reported the 2025 program produced $8.5M of total revenue, a 7% increase from 2024 and almost double from 2023. Cha-ching!

* The WBC semifinal between the U.S. and Dominican Republic may have been opposite the Academy Awards and on second tier cable TV channels (FS1 and Fox Deportes), but the game shattered WBC ratings nonetheless. The numbers show the average audience for the game on Sunday night was 7.37M. That figure marks one of the ten largest baseball audiences of the last year, including MLB’s 2025 post season. It will be interesting to see what last night’s numbers for the WBC finale between the U.S. and Venezuela produced.

That is going to do it for today’s newsletter. Thank you so much for being a subscriber and have a wonderful Wednesday!

DAN

Top-o-the-morning all and Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

If there is a way to make money, the multibillion dollar Dodgers will unearth it, even if it means an end around so as not to corrupt an iconic name. It leaves you to wonder if the Yankees and Red Sox will be next. I break it down in the video and podcast.

Here are some other thoughts on this St. Patrick’s Day, 2026:

* Yes, I have already gotten the jump, having a delicious corned beef sandwich yesterday. Will have another one today.

* As the U.S. prepares to play in tonight’s WBC final against either Italy or Venezuela, Aaron Judge is correct to say the WBC is “Bigger and better than the World Series.” Judge mentioned how passionate the fans are, as one of the reasons he believes this, and he is correct. Even though some players on teams such as Venezuela, Italy, Mexico, etc. may be from the United States, they have ties to the other teams. Plus, baseball in countries such as Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, is hugely popular. The format of the WBC itself, lends to the excitement. Once a team emerges from pool play, it is win or go home. Every game, from the quarterfinals through the semifinals and the finals, is the seventh game of the World Series. That is why there is so much excitement and that is why television ratings for the WBC have been strong. Enjoy tonight’s finish.

* I have filled out my NCAA men’s tournament bracket:

* Check this out. An 81-year-old man wants to tryout for the Savannah Bananas:

* Turns out the NCAA selection committee found a compromise by picking Miami of Ohio to participate in the play-in round of the men’s basketball tournament. Miami was 30-0, before losing in the first round of the MAC Tournament last Thursday against Massachusetts. Normally, only the winner of a mid-major conference tournament advances.

* Rumblings are the NBA will launch the process of adding two expansion teams with Las Vegas and Seattle the front runners. If the NBA returns to Seattle, I hope the team resurrects the Supersonics name.

* Do you like the pitch clock in MLB? I do. But batters have found a way to slow the game down a bit, by being permitted a stoppage in play once, during each at bat. I have always thought this should not be permitted, and in fact, it has become customary for batters to request a time out during each at bat and that has added to the average time of games. Well, MLB is going back to the minor leagues as a testing ground again this season with numerous changes, including the time out request, during an at bat. In low-A ball this season, batters will not be allowed to request a time out, unless there is a special circumstance and in AA ball (Where I broadcast with the Hartford Yard Goats) hitters will still be permitted the one time out request per at bat, but the minute they step out of the box the pitch clock starts again, whereas before it did not. And pitchers will be permitted just one throw to a base, not two, before a balk is called if the runner is not picked off. Bring it on!

That is going to do it for today’s newsletter. Thank you for being a subscriber and have a splendid St. Patrick’s Day!

DAN

Good morning, all and happy Tuesday!

Anyone who thought the Kansas City Chiefs would go into rebuild mode and wait a couple of years before returning to contending status, is sadly mistaken. The Chiefs are in it to win it, off their latest free agent signing, as I discuss in the video.

Congratulations to Bill White:

The former St. Louis Cardinals great (He also played for the New York Giants and Philadelphia Phillies), New York Yankees broadcaster (He, Phil Rizzuto and Frank Messer made quite the broadcast team) and first minority to become a league president (He was president of the National League), has received a well-earned, might I add overdue recognition.

Here are some other thoughts on the second Tuesday in March:

* Here is another reason why MLB is making a major mistake if both sides go to the mattresses in their next labor negotiations. ESPN reports record ratings for spring training baseball games. Translation? Fans are yearning for baseball. Now is not the time to upset the apple cart. Get a labor deal done and embrace the fans’ enthusiasm for a sport that is on the upswing.

* I still say Mark DeRosa will manage a MLB club someday. He checks all the boxes.

* USA vs. Japan in the WBC. Judge vs. Ohtani. Now you’re talking the perfect prelude to the launch of the 2026 MLB season.

* Tua Tagovailoa to the Falcons. Not surprised the much-maligned Dolphins QB hooked on with another NFL team. Call it blind loyalty, but I still think he can be a successful NFL quarterback.

* In case you are wondering, the New York Football Giants signed punter Jordan Stout to a record, three-year, $12.3M deal.

* Let the New York to Tennessee train begin. Former Giants WR Wan’Dale Robinson and TE Daniel Bellinger head to Tennessee, reuniting with Giants head coach Brian Daboll, now the Titans OC. Also going to Tennessee is ex-Giant CB Cor’Dale Flott.

That is going to do it for today’s newsletter. Thank you for subscribing and have a terrific Tuesday!

DAN

Good morning, all! Happy Saturday!

In the video and podcast, I wrap up my preview on the MLB season with a review of the American and National League eastern divisions. Enjoy!

Here are some other thoughts on the first Saturday in March:

* Fans are apparently embracing the Buffalo Bills new stadium. Michael Petro of the Buffalo News reports the Bills have raised almost $260M in Personal Seat Licenses. PSLs are when you plunk down big money to have the right to buy a season ticket. The $260M is 15 percent more than what the Bills had projected.

* Ouch! Caleb Wilson, a star freshman for the North Carolina Tar Heels, will miss the rest of the season, following surgery on his right thumb. Wilson broke the thumb in practice on Thursday - Are you ready for this? - while dunking the basketball. UNC faces rival Duke tonight at 6:30 ET on ESPN.

* Of the more than 14,000 fans who responded to a poll on The Athletic website, 68 percent support a salary cap and salary floor in MLB. Bruce Meyer, interim director of the MLBPA had a predictable response to the result: “We’re very cognizant of the fans, and actually think a salary-cap system is worse for fans, because it basically prevents teams that want to make their team better from doing so.” Buckle up. It is going to be a long ride into oblivion, once the current owners-players agreement expires on Dec. 1, 2026.

* It appears as if the AFC champion New England Patriots are out to rebuild their offensive line and it does not involve a left tackle (Will Campbell). ESPN is reporting the Patriots have traded center Garrett Bradbury to the Chicago Bears for their 2027 fifth-round pick. Bradbury signed a two-year deal with the Pats last March and started all 17 regular-season games and all four playoff games for New England. Word is left guard Jared Wilson will play center in 2026.

* Several reports indicate that unless the Las Vegas Raiders can trade QB Geno Smith, they will release him when the new league year begins next Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET. And not a minute sooner. Meanwhile, the websites are having a field day, speculating Smith’s possible return to the New York Jets. Next week could be an interesting one in the NFL.

That is going to do it for today’s newsletter. Thank you for subscribing and have a wonderful weekend!

DAN

Good morning, all! It’s Friday!

Continuing my preview of the upcoming MLB season, I look at the central divisions in both the American and National Leagues.

Here are some other thoughts on the first Friday in March:

* This is about the time of year I begin to pay attention to the NBA and word is Jayson Tatum could be returning to the Boston Celtics tonight against Dallas. You recall Tatum was supposed to miss the entire season, after going down with a torn Achilles last May. His recovery, however, has been quicker than expected and if he returns and is a force, the Celtics will be a force too. Put it this way, Tatum’s return is not good news for the New York Knicks.

* Several reports indicate Providence College men’s basketball coach Kim English has been told he will be out, after this season. English owns a 42-50 record in three seasons as Friars coach, unacceptable at that basketball-crazed school. Rumors are swirling that Richard Pitino could be in line to succeed English. Pitino says he is happy at Xavier. Remember, his dad, Rick Pitino, once coached at Providence.

* There is something about the Arnold Palmer Invitational that gets the golf juices flowing. You know the Players Championship is next and before you know it, here comes the Masters. Bring it on!

* The NFL’s new league year does not start until Mar. 11 but reports are the Buffalo Bills have acquired WR DJ Moore and a 2026 fifth round draft pick from the Chicago Bears for their 2026 second-round pick. The Bills are in it to win it next season, and picking up Moore is a worthwhile gamble.

* The owner of the Carolina Hurricanes is selling 12.5% of his NHL franchise. Tom Dundon needs the dough because he is leading a group to purchase the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers. The Hurricanes are valued a $2.66B.

* Then there is Lin Bin, Chinese billionaire, who made his fortune as co-founder of the consumer electronics firm Xiaomi. Reports are he is buying a one-percent stake in the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins are valued at $12.5B. Yikes!

That is going to do it for today’s newsletter. Thank you for being a subscriber. It means so much!

DAN

Good morning, all! It’s hump day!

As promised, I begin my look at MLB’s teams and how they will perform in the 2026 season, which launches three weeks from today. The first video examines the western division clubs in both the American and National Leagues. There is one correction I would like to make. In passing, I stated the Seattle Mariners lost to the Detroit Tigers in the ALCS in seven games. That, of course, was incorrect. The Mariners lost to the Blue Jays in seven, in what was an exciting championship series.

Here are some other thoughts on the first Wednesday in March:

* The NFL’s deadline to slap a franchise or transition tag on players arrived at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday and the Colts QB Daniel Jones snagged $37.83M for being listed with a transition tag. Jones becomes the first QB to receive a transition tag since Jeff George of the Falcons in 1996.

* So what’s the difference between a franchise or transition tag? Glad you asked. Jones can still negotiate a contract with other teams, but the Colts get the chance to match that offer. Had Jones been franchise tagged, any team that wanted to sign him would have to give up two first-round draft picks to the Colts.

* Not surprised the Cardinals parted ways with QB Kyle Murray. Could the New York Jets be in Murray’s future?

* What is it with these ballplayers? Reports indicate that Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Johan Rojas has tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and faces an 80-game suspension. Where are the agents for these players? I know you cannot be with these guys 24/7, but it amazes me how much of this nonsense still happens.

* Then there is Jurickson Profar. The Atlanta Braves outfielder is staring at a 162-game suspension for a second PED violation, according to sources. Profar missed 80 games in 2025 for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

* It just didn’t work out for New Britain, CT native Tory Verdi. The University of Pittsburgh fired their women’s basketball coach Tuesday. Verdi had landed the high-profile Pittsburgh job, after turning around the University of Massachusetts women’s hoops program. Verdi was nothing but gracious to me in the two years I broadcast the UMass women’s games. Here’s wishing him nothing but the best.

* In case you are wondering, the World Baseball Classic gets underway tomorrow. Here is the schedule:

Enjoy!

That is going to do it for today’s newsletter. Have a wonderful Wednesday and thank you for being a subscriber!

DAN