Roki Sasaki favorites emerging with Yankees, Mets fighting uphill battles
NY Post
Both the Yankees and Mets were given meetings with superstar Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki but both surely understand they’re not the favorites here.
The Dodgers remain favored, followed by the Padres.
The Dodgers established themselves as the team for Japan’s stars, but Sasaki’s admiration of Padres ace Yu Darvish and a clear path to be their ace gives them a shot.
The Mets could sell their recent pitching successes and the Yankees their long history of winning.
But it’ll be a shock if he doesn’t land on the West Coast.
The Cubs and Rangers, with histories of success with Japanese stars, also received audiences.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan developed a reputation for managing egos and personalities, as well as fostering sincere relationships with his players, over his decade with the Penguins.
President Donald Trump seemed to confirm he once broke up an elevator fight involving former NBA great Kobe Bryant.
SAINT PAUL, Minn. — With the Rangers hovering over the bottom of the NHL standings, it’s easy to root for whatever outcome would most likely lead to general manager Chris Drury announcing Gavin McKenna’s name on the draft stage at KeyBank Center in Buffalo this June.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — When the Rangers started the 2025-26 season, Noah Laba and Matthew Robertson were the only first-year players on the Opening Night roster.
SALT LAKE CITY — It’s easy to forget about the quiet, which in Knicks World means Leon Rose. We’re approaching five years — amazingly — since the team president answered questions from the independent media, and I’ve always maintained that’s poor practice because it avoids responsibility. If there’s no public explanation behind a move or a goal, there’s no accountability if it doesn’t work out.
PORT ST. LUCIE — The Mets’ 2025 failing (one of them anyway) might be their big strength now.
The discourse has gone on for two seasons now. But it doesn’t exactly match reality.
Where were the grownups for Team USA?
The Rangers reconvened after the Olympic stoppage wanting to find some successful combinations that had been largely absent through much of a disappointing last-place season.
SALT LAKE CITY — There was no sugarcoating an ugly first-half performance from the Knicks in the locker room, and the harsh words during the break helped spur a comeback in Wednesday’s 134-117 victory over the Jazz.
Team USA’s fate is out of its hands.
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Jasson Domínguez’s first-inning at-bat against Tanner Banks on Tuesday featured a different result and a different swing than “The Martian” had been accustomed to against lefty pitching.