August 3, 2026
The MLB Trade Deadline is this afternoon, but the Dodgers have already done their work and acquired the best pitcher in the American League over the weekend. Tarik Skubal is now a Dodger, and their rotation is as stacked as ever! I’m hear to tell you that we do not care about all the complaining going on around baseball. The Dodgers are so much better run than every other organization, and the rest of baseball is just mad about it and wants the rules of the sport changed. We don’t care because these same complainers were laughing at the Dodgers 10 years ago when they were in bankruptcy, and just a couple of years ago when they were losing in the 1st round of the playoffs. Those laughs have now turned into tears. Skubal wasn’t signed by the Dodgers. They traded for him. Anybody could have traded for him. But Milwaukee and Tampa decided not to. As for the Dodgers play on the field, they had a rough weekend against Boston, but they’ll look to turn it around against the Cubs this week. I personally see no reason why Shohei Ohtani should be pitching for the time being. His bat is too valuable to be risked, but I don’t see him or the Dodgers giving up that part of his game. If you’re a Dodger fan you should be ecstatic and enjoy the ride, while everyone else thinks the Dodgers are “ruining baseball”.
The Angels actually made some moves as well at the trade deadline, and they were sensible. They traded Jose Soriano this morning to Toronto for 3 promising prospects. They also traded Logan O’Hoppe and Chase Silseth to the Rangers for a prospect 3rd baseman. Earlier this morning they even traded Jo Adell to Cleveland for a catching prospect. Congrats to John Mozeliak for being able to convince Arte Moreno to let him make some trades that are sensible for the organization. The real question however, is if he can convince him to invest in some scouting and player development. Otherwise, the Halos need to hope that somehow the prospects they acquired can just naturally figure it out on their own.
While I was gone, something else important happened. Lebron James finally made a decision and signed with the Philadelphia 76ers. I hold absolutely no ill will toward the man and neither should you. Lebron brought a championship to the Lakers, and turned the franchise around after one of the darkest times in the history of the franchise. With that being said, I wish him well, as should you, and both sides, the Lakers and Lebron, probably got what they want. The Sixers are going to be a good team, but the Eastern Conference is also loaded so it’s going to be fiercely competitive. As for the Lakers, to me, they have improved, but they still need another wing. Jonathan Kuminga and Peyton Watson are still out there, so I’m still not ruling out one of them being a Laker. Even if that doesn’t happen, the likes of Cameron Carr and Adou Thiero make the possibilities on this team extremely exciting.
Meanwhile, the Clippers still have not executed the Kawhi Leonard trade with the Raptors. This situation has been so poorly managed by Adam Silver. He needs to create some urgency here and start negotiating punishments directly with Kawhi and the Clippers through an arbitrator. Otherwise, the situation is unfairly punishing the Toronto Raptors, and anybody else trying to do business with these two teams. The Clips are downplaying the idea that its a big deal if Kawhi is still on their roster. They are lying though. Having him would still be awkward for all parties involved.
The Rams are back…but one phone call could change everything
Training camp has officially opened.
Matthew Stafford looks healthy.
Sean McVay looks like he drank six espressos before every press conference.
The defense looks fast.
Everything feels normal.
Except…
Everyone is still waiting to see whether Aaron Donald decides retirement was overrated.
Every few weeks someone reports he’s working out.
Someone else reports he looks incredible.
Breaking news.
Aaron Donald has always looked incredible.
The Rams don’t need him to have a successful season.
But if No. 99 suddenly walked back through those doors?
Every offensive coordinator in the NFC West would immediately begin updating their résumé.
USC and Notre Dame finally put the nonsense to bed.
The rivalry will continue in 2030.
Excellent.
Now can everyone stop pretending one school desperately needed the other?
Every time this discussion came up, social media sounded like two people arguing over who did whom a favor by agreeing to go to dinner.
“Notre Dame needs USC.”
“No, USC needs Notre Dame.”
Actually…
College football needs USC-Notre Dame.
Some rivalries are bigger than conference realignment.
They’re bigger than television contracts.
They’re bigger than whatever scheduling spreadsheet someone in a corporate office came up with.
Besides, I have a sneaking suspicion this won’t be the last meeting before 2030 anyway.
With the expanded College Football Playoff, don’t be surprised if these two collide in December long before they line up in South Bend or Los Angeles again.
And honestly?
That would only make the rivalry even better.
