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By Marc Lawrence
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Thursday, Mar 26 |
THE EVIL EMPIRE
As Prince J. Grimes of the USA TODAY put it, “Happy False MLB Opening Day. The New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants opened the season last night before every other team gets started today and tomorrow. Baseball is back."
So too is the Evil Empire.
Not talking about the Yankees, who haven't won a title since 2009. Much to the delight of countless fans.
But don't revel too much in New York's drought, because a new evil empire is upon us. And it goes by the name Los Angeles Dodgers.
It’s doubtful the Dodgers have reached the status of hate the Yankees had in the late 90s and early 2000s when "The Boss" George Steinbrenner was alive and snatching up every top free agent that hit the market.
But they'll get there soon enough if they keep up what's been happening the last decade. Because not only are the Dodgers spending money like they print it, they're winning. A lot.
The Dodgers have made the playoffs 13 straight years, with five National League pennants in that span and three World Series titles, including the last two.
And they're favored to win it again this year with +225 odds that aren't particularly close to the field. LA would be the first team to three-peat since Steinbrenner's Yankees from 1998-2000.
That's why the Dodgers are becoming a team people either love or hate. They're full of star power, including the two-time reigning NL MVP Shohei Ohatni, who returns to full-time two-way status in 2026, and they feel inevitable. And you know what? It's so good for baseball, just like the Yankees were. They raise the level of competition around them. And they give people a reason to show up.
Which is where this might get rough for fans ready to see LA's reign end. If the Dodgers can't be stopped by anyone in the NL, the Yankees at +1000 odds are considered the next best challenger. And they've been on the doorstep for several years now.
The fall of the new evil empire might just mean the resurrection of the old one. |
ON TODAY'S SCORECARD
CLAMPING DOWN
Since 2002 when Ken Pom starting charting teams’ offensive and defensive efficiency, Sweet 16 teams that allowed 125 or fewer total points in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament have gone a sizzling 109-51 SU / 96-64 ATS.
LET THAT MARINATE.
That’s a 60% ATS clip over 20+ years — not just noisemaking, but profitable.
And here’s where it gets loud:
• Defensive Yield = 125 or fewer points = 62.5 PPG allowed
• That’s the same zip code where national champions live and breathe
WHY IT CASHES:
• Defense travels
• Tempo gets dictated, not negotiated
• Shooting slumps don’t matter when stops show up; and even more dangerous when these teams are catching points.
After all, the teams are controlling games. Those who allow 130-plus points are teams surviving them. If they haven’t allowed more than 125 points – or 62.5 per game – yet, they’re not about to start now.
This year’s contingent of Sweet 16 Defensive Clamp carriers toting the 125-point hammer include: Houston (104 points allowed), Saint John’s (118), Nebraska (119), Duke (123), Arizona (124), and Illinois (125).
So, when a team shows up in the Sweet 16 with that kind of clamp capability... they’re not riding the wave — they’re creating it.
Beware the 125-point hammer. | |
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GRINDING OUT THE PROFITS
WHAT'S GOING ON HERE
The Guardians don’t score much or carry a high payroll, but they’ve made the playoffs seven times over the past decade thanks to a front office that keeps developing young talent.
Stephen Vogt has won Manager of the Year in both of his seasons with the club.
Then there are the Pittsburgh Pirates who are coming out of irrelevance and into the limelight, with BetMGM reporting they are the most bet team to make the 2026 MLB postseason.
The oddity is the team hasn’t had a winning record since 2018.
Bettors picked the Pirates to win the NL Central more than they chose any other team to win a division.
Here’s how the Pirates' preseason odds to make the playoffs have looked for the past 10 years.
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2026: +220 (TBD)
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2025: +400 (missed)
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2024: +450 (missed)
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2023: +1,500 (missed)
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2022: +1,500 (missed)
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2021: +10,000 (missed)
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2019: +550 (missed)
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2018: +800 (missed)
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2017: +185 (missed)
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TRENDING TODAY
ACADEMY AWARDS |
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The 2026 MLB season began last night and here is how Sports Illustrated sees the major awards playing out.
AL Cy Young: Garrett Crochet, Red Sox SP
The majors’ reigning strikeout king also led all pitchers last year in xFIP, a strong metric for predicting future success.
AL Rookie of the Year: Kazuma Okamoto, Blue Jays 3B No ordinary rookie, the 29-year-old averaged more than 30 homers in his last eight seasons in Japan and will earn $15 million this year.
AL Manager of the Year: Craig Albernaz, Orioles Baltimore’s offseason spending spree has set up the first-year skipper to guide the O’s from last place to the postseason.
NL MVP: Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers SP/DH
It’s a safe bet to pick the guy who’s won an MVP award in four of his last five seasons, especially now that his mound work will increase.
NL Cy Young: Paul Skenes, Pirates SP
Skenes had an ERA half a run lower than anyone else in the NL. Perhaps this year he’ll get enough support to improve his 10–10 record. |
PERCOLATING
HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE
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Jeremiyah Love pledges to NFL teams he brings "no type of trouble" off the field.
Love had 3,000 yards, 40 touchdowns, and finished third in Heisman voting at Notre Dame and he impressed at the NFL Combine and is projected as a top running back draft pick.
Fresh off of a Heisman finalist campaign at Notre Dame, running back Jeremiyah Love is ready to hear his name called early in the 2026 NFL Draft next month.
Love made it clear that there won’t be any drama with him off the field. He said that other than football, the only things he likes to do are play video games and watch anime. Love pledged to never give teams any off-the-field trouble.
“You draft me, I’m not doing too much other than football,” Love said. “After a game I’m going home, playing video games… and watch anime… I’m a simple guy… I’m not going to cause you no type of trouble.”
And chew on this, if you will: Love actually put up better numbers in 2025 despite playing four fewer games than the year before.
At the NFL Scouting Combine he cemented himself as the top running back, posting a blazing 4.36-second 40-yard dash time.
It’s no longer a question of whether he’ll be a first-round pick, but how high a team looking for a dynamic backfield threat will be willing to draft him. |
STAT OF THE DAY
20-0 |
Nebraska Cornhuskers record this basketball
season after its first 20 games.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY |
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"Someday' is a disease that will take your
dreams to the grave with you."
- Tim Ferriss |
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