Browsing: built

How Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki are set up for success in Dodgers’ uniquely built infrastructure

Lajina HossainOctober 17, 2025

When Yoshinobu Yamamoto arrived in Glendale, Arizona, for his first spring training with the Dodgers, fresh off signing the largest free-agent contract for a pitcher in MLB history, his new team quickly realized a minor problem.

The issue was not with Yamamoto himself â€” the then-25-year-old hurler was as good and as generationally talented as advertised â€” but with his interpreter, Yoshihiro â€œHiroâ€ Sonoda.

Most dedicated Asian-language interpreters in MLB have a baseball background. Giants slugger Jung Hoo-Leeâ€s interpreter, Justin Han, worked for a team in the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) interpreting for the handful of American players making the cross-Pacific leap. Chicago Cubs All-Star Shota Imanaga has Edwin Stanberry, who played at the Division II level and spent a year playing independent ball. Tomoyuki Suganoâ€s guy, Yuto Sakurai, worked in baseball operations for the Toronto Blue Jays and San Francisco Giants before joining the Orioles.

But Sonoda was a very different story. He had no significant experience in baseball. The listed job history on what appears to be his Linkedin page is oddly scarce and includes only one other vaguely described occupation: â€œFilm Lighting.â€ The specifics of Sonodaâ€s hiring â€” organized by Yamamotoâ€s agency, not the Dodgers â€” are hazy, but a story from Sonodaâ€s alma mater stated that he received the job after an open search.

[Get more Los Angeles news: Dodgers team feed]

Whatever the circumstances, Sonodaâ€s lack of baseball background posed an interesting challenge for the Dodgersâ€ player development group: How could they convey complex concepts to their $325 million player if the linguistic bridge between the two parties was unfamiliar with the very concepts that needed to be conveyed?

â€œYou’re going through two people,â€ Dodgers coach Chris Woodward explained to Yahoo Sports. â€œSo the interpreter has got to know just as much as the player, or the interpreter might misinterpret what you’re saying.â€

The solution? Baseball boot camp.

All throughout that spring training, the Dodgersâ€ battalion of ball-knowers put Sonoda through a hardball crash course. Pitching coaches Connor McGuiness and Mark Prior, alongside director of pitching Rob Hill, inundated the intelligent but unprepared former lighting engineer with the intricacies of the sport that now dominated his waking hours.

â€œWe kind of flooded him with a ton of information,â€ McGuiness told Yahoo Sports back in May. â€œStarting very basic level, all the way up to pitch data, classifications, getting him the Driveline [certification]. Making him follow [media members] so he can hear basic terminology. We got him to follow Pitching Ninja on Twitter and Lance [Brozdowski] and all these guys that are talking about this stuff. It’s just like, â€˜Hey, when you’re taking a dump, like, sit there and watch. How do they talk? What are the words they’re using?â€â€

Slowly but surely, Sonoda sponged up the material.

That story is but one example of how the Dodgers have crafted an infrastructure that helps Japanese players dealing with significant cultural and linguistic barriers get the most out of their abilities.

The presence of Will Ireton, who serves as the primary interpreter for the other two Japanese Dodgers, two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani and rookie flame-thrower Roki Sasaki, also played a massive role in helping Sonoda and Yamamoto get up to speed.

Ireton joined the Dodgers organization in 2016 as the interpreter for pitcher Kenta Maeda, and he moved into baseball operations in February 2019. He remained behind the scenes in a variety of positions until the start of the 2024 season, when it was discovered that Ohtaniâ€s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, had stolen nearly $17 million from the superstar. Since then, Ireton has become best known as the English-speaking worldâ€s conduit to the gameâ€s most important player, but he shoulders numerous other responsibilities as the teamâ€s â€œdirector of Japanese player operations and strategy.â€

“Honestly, it’s been incredibly helpful to have a guy like Will Ireton around, who’s kind of done all of it,” McGuiness said.

Ireton, effectively, is fluent in three languages: English, Japanese and baseball. Thatâ€s why he always accompanies Prior during in-game mound visits with Ohtani, Sasaki and Yamamoto. Heâ€s typically present whenever any of that trio throws bullpens or flatgrounds before games to help ensure that pitch-data information gets relayed effectively. Ireton wears a multitude of hats for the Dodgers: confidante, media consultant, cultural liaison, player development analyst and, of course, interpreter. He has played a significant role in many of the franchiseâ€s maneuvers in the Japanese market, from the onboarding of Ohtani to the recruitment of Sasaki.

The Dodgers have built a unique infrastructure to help their three Japanese superstars thrive in L.A. (Amy Monks/Yahoo Sports)

Ohtani, now in his eighth big-league season, has grown less dependent on Ireton when it comes to interacting with teammates and coaches. Yamamoto, whose sister is an English teacher in Japan, is somewhere in the middle, while Sasaki, still a rookie, remains more reliant on an interpreter.

Communication has been particularly important with the 23-year-old Sasaki, who, given his age, was much less of a finished product than most of his countrymen when making the leap to MLB. Overflowing with talent, Sasaki underperformed in his final two years in NPB. During his free-agent sweepstakes, he specifically asked interested clubs how they intended to help him recapture his fastball velocity. The Dodgers and their renowned player development apparatus, unsurprisingly, made a strong pitch.

Still, it took some time for Sasaki to build trust in his new employer. The tumultuous nature of his rookie season, which saw him hit the injured list in May due to a shoulder issue, further complicated matters. But L.A.â€s pitching group was intentional about taking a relatively hands-off approach with their new phenom during the first chunk of this year. It is, after all, easier to implement mechanical, strategic changes if the player first experiences failure his own way.

â€œAny new player that you acquire, it takes a little while to build up trust. We didnâ€t try to push it too early,â€ Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman told The Athleticâ€s Fabian Ardaya about Sasaki. â€œWe knew that he was a guy that was accustomed to doing things a certain way, and we were going to embrace that.â€

Through the process, the Dodgers trusted their infrastructure â€” specifically, their ability to navigate a cultural and language barrier to help a pitcher improve. It was something they had accomplished successfully the year prior with Yamamoto, helping him overcome a relatively underwhelming first half during his debut campaign in 2024. And this year, the club also deftly steered Ohtani back to being the frontline arm heâ€d been in Anaheim for so many years.

So when Sasaki, after a handful of poor Triple-A outings in late August and early September, approached the Dodgers looking for help, the team was willing and able. A week of introspection and video review at the teamâ€s spring training facility with Hill, the pitching director, led to a key mechanical adjustment that unlocked Sasakiâ€s lost velocity and led to his shocking ascension into a playoff game-changer for Los Angelesâ€ undermanned bullpen.

“The goal was to come back fully healthy and just fully ready to pitch again,” Sasaki told reporters via an interpreter during the NLDS. â€œI was cognizant that there could be that possibility that I may not pitch in the regular season again. There’s been a lot of support staff, coaching staff, the people around me who helped me get to where I am today. So, yes, very grateful for that.â€

Although Sasaki struggled in NLCS Game 1 against Milwaukee, his overall postseason numbers are fabulous: 7 innings, 1 earned run, 2 hits, 6 strikeouts and, most importantly, just 2 walks. Meanwhile, Yamamoto, who was an All-Star this season, looks like one of the best pitchers on the planet, fresh off the first complete game in the MLB postseason since 2017. And Ohtani, once again fully healthy and overpowering on the mound, has a chance to pitch the Dodgers to an NLCS sweep in Game 4 on Friday at Dodger Stadium.

Itâ€s all a testament to the juggernaut the Dodgers have built.

Yes, the bottomless cache of money helps, but this organization also deserves credit for its ability to get the most out of the players it recruits. The Dodgers are intentional about the environment they foster for their Japanese players, both in the locker room and in their relationships with coaches. After all, Los Angeles’ well-renowned coaches are only as good as their ability to communicate. Thatâ€s the secret sauce. So much of coaching and player development is meeting the players â€” and their interpreters â€” where they are.

Even if that place is on the toilet.

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Basketball

12-Team, 9-Cat Fantasy Basketball Mock Draft 2025-26: Paolo Banchero leads team built from 12th pick

Lajina HossainOctober 9, 2025

Fantasy basketball season is here, and the best way to prep for your drafts is to mock, mock again and mock some more!

Drafting out of the No. 12 spot in a 12-team league offers the benefit of back-to-back picks to start your build, but it comes with its own set of challenges. The top-tier players have been selected, and your two picks will be the only ones you have until your next two picks nearly two full rounds later.

I completed a mock drafting from this spot to show how it might play out. Here are the results and brief analysis.

Round 1

1. Nikola JokiÄ‡ (DEN – C)

2. Victor Wembanyama (SAS – C)

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL – PF,C)

4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC – PG)

5. Luka DonÄiÄ‡ (LAL – PG,SG)

6. Cade Cunningham (DET – PG,SG)

7. Anthony Davis (DAL – PF,C)

8. Karl-Anthony Towns (NYK – PF,C)

9. Anthony Edwards (MIN – PG,SG)

10. Devin Booker (PHX – PG,SG)

11. Trae Young (ATL – PG)

12. Amen Thompson (HOU – PG,SG,SF)

Round 2

13. Jalen Williams (OKC – SF,PF)

14. James Harden (LAC – PG,SG)

15. Domantas Sabonis (SAC – C)

16. Kevin Durant (HOU – SF,PF)

17. Donovan Mitchell (CLE – PG,SG)

18. Stephen Curry (GSW – PG)

19. Evan Mobley (CLE – PF,C)

20. Tyrese Maxey (PHI – PG)

21. Jalen Brunson (NYK – PG)

22. Alperen Sengun (HOU – C)

23. Chet Holmgren (OKC – PF,C)

24. Jalen Johnson (ATL – SF,PF)

Drafting from the 12 spot with back-to-back picks, my options are wide open, but there is some strategy involved here.

With the clear-cut top options off the board, I turned my attention to the slew of quality second-rounders. Having the 12th pick means I get two players and donâ€t get to draft again for 23 more picks. Taking Thompson and J-Dub here may look like a slight reach, but I value them more highly than any of the other players taken in the same range, and neither would have gotten back to me at Pick 36.

My first two picks lean into a build thatâ€s punting three-pointers, but I try to make up some ground in that category later in the draft. Iâ€m already off to a solid start with rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and FG%. Iâ€m not too shabby in the scoring department with this duo, but points wonâ€t be at a premium after my selections in Rounds 3-4.

Round 3

25. LeBron James (LAL – SF,PF)

26. LaMelo Ball (CHA – PG,SG)

27. Scottie Barnes (TOR – SG,SF,PF)

28. Jaylen Brown (BOS – SG,SF)

29. Josh Giddey (CHI – PG,SG)

30. Pascal Siakam (IND – PF,C)

31. Jamal Murray (DEN – PG,SG)

32. Bam Adebayo (MIA – PF,C)

33. Derrick White (BOS – PG,SG)

34. Franz Wagner (ORL – SF,PF)

35. Ivica Zubac (LAC – C)

36. Paolo Banchero (ORL – PF,C)

Round 4

37. Cooper Flagg (DAL – SF)

38. De’Aaron Fox (SAS – PG,SG)

39. Desmond Bane (ORL – SG,SF)

40. Trey Murphy III (NOP – SF,PF)

41. Jaren Jackson Jr. (MEM – PF,C)

42. Kawhi Leonard (LAC – SF,PF)

43. Dyson Daniels (ATL – PG,SG,SF)

44. Deni Avdija (POR – SF,PF)

45. Jimmy Butler III (GSW – SF,PF)

46. Ja Morant (MEM – PG)

47. Zion Williamson (NOP – SF,PF)

48. Myles Turner (MIL – C)

Banchero is expected to take another step forward in Year 4 after a tremendous 2024-25 campaign in which he averaged 25.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.6 blocked shots and 1.9 three-pointers. His shooting percentages werenâ€t elite (45.2 FG%, 72.7 FT%), but Banchero offered a ton of value as a scorer, rebounder and facilitator. His dual eligibility as a PF and C makes him an excellent and versatile selection, but he will need to improve his percentages and defensive contributions to pay off his Round 3-4 ADP.

The first rookie comes off the board at 37, and he goes to me. Flagg is expected to take on a sizeable role in Year 1, and he could be utilized even more on offense while Kyrie Irving is out. Flagg represents an elite, two-way talent who can rack up points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocked shots. Taking him at 37 is a bit of a reach, and Iâ€m probably grabbing him at his ceiling. Nevertheless, I want to get him on my team for the tremendous upside, and he wonâ€t be available when itâ€s my turn to pick at the 5-6 turn.

Round 5

49. Kristaps PorziÅ†Ä£is (ATL – PF,C)

50. Joel Embiid (PHI – C)

51. Brandon Miller (CHA – SF,PF)

52. Austin Reaves (LAL – PG,SG)

53. Lauri Markkanen (UTA – SF,PF)

54. Miles Bridges (CHA – SF,PF)

55. Nikola VuÄeviÄ‡ (CHI – C)

56. DeMar DeRozan (SAC – SF)

57. Josh Hart (NYK – SG,SF,PF)

58. Jalen Duren (DET – C)

59. Walker Kessler (UTA – C)

60. Deandre Ayton (LAL – C)

Round 6

61. Ausar Thompson (DET – SF,PF)

62. Jarrett Allen (CLE – C)

63. Zach LaVine (SAC – PG,SG)

64. Darius Garland (CLE – PG)

65. Coby White (CHI – PG,SG)

66. Paul George (PHI – SG,SF,PF)

67. Payton Pritchard (BOS – PG)

68. OG Anunoby (NYK – SF,PF)

69. Brandon Ingram (TOR – SG,SF,PF)

70. Isaiah Hartenstein (OKC – C)

71. Rudy Gobert (MIN – C)

72. Immanuel Quickley (TOR – PG,SG)

The purpose of mock drafts is to learn. Trial-and-error is the name of the game, and admittedly, this is a bit of an error. While there is nothing inherently wrong with selecting Ayton at 60, I didnâ€t need to grab him. Paolo Banchero is eligible at Center, meaning I could have pivoted to a player with PG eligibility – a position with which this team is scarce on depth. I addressed Center depth later in the draft with Jakob Poeltl, who is a fine pick a couple rounds later. Live and learn.

Iâ€m happy to grab Thompson at 61, but he is far riskier than his â€œbreakoutâ€ moniker implies. Like his brother, Detroitâ€s Thompson is an athletic phenom, capable of scoring in transition and elevating at the rim on offense and adept at disrupting opponents on the defensive end. He doesnâ€t have an outside shot, and playing time is still questionable given how many minutes heâ€s played in his first two seasons. A bump in court time and additional usage as a playmaker would do wonders for his fantasy value.

Round 7

73. Andrew Nembhard (IND – PG,SG)

74. Jordan Poole (NOP – PG,SG)

75. Tyler Herro (MIA – PG,SG)

76. Julius Randle (MIN – PF,C)

77. Michael Porter Jr. (BKN – SF,PF)

78. Norman Powell (MIA – SG,SF)

79. Anfernee Simons (BOS – PG,SG)

80. Bradley Beal (LAC – SG,SF)

81. Jrue Holiday (POR – PG,SG)

82. Jalen Suggs (ORL – PG)

83. Jalen Green (PHX – PG,SG)

84. Cam Thomas (BKN – SG,SF)

Round 8

85. Jakob Poeltl (TOR – C)

86. Christian Braun (DEN – SG,SF)

87. Donovan Clingan (POR – C)

88. Matas Buzelis (CHI – SF,PF)

89. Mark Williams (PHX – C)

90. Bennedict Mathurin (IND – SG,SF)

91. Cameron Johnson (DEN – SF,PF)

92. John Collins (LAC – PF,C)

93. RJ Barrett (TOR – SF,PF)

94. Kel’el Ware (MIA – PF,C)

95. Onyeka Okongwu (ATL – C)

96. Shaedon Sharpe (POR – SG,SF)

Thomas is my favorite player in fantasy basketball this season. Heâ€s a certified bucket coming off the best statistical season of his career. Thomasâ€ would-be breakout campaign was hampered by injuries, and heâ€ll surely be hungry to get back on the court in 2025-26. Thomas should also have some additional motivation after going through lengthy contract negotiations with Brooklyn that ultimately led to him accepting a qualifying offer. Heâ€ll be playing for pride and for a new contract. Watch out.

As mentioned earlier, I didnâ€t need to reach for Ayton at the end of the fifth round. I had Banchero, and Poeltl was available three rounds later as a strong, later-round center option. Heâ€s coming off the best season of his career and just inked a big extension with the Raptors. Torontoâ€s center depth is bare, so fantasy managers should expect big minutes and solid production with a discount price tag on draft day.

Round 9

97. Mikal Bridges (NYK – SF,PF)

98. Devin Vassell (SAS – SG,SF)

99. Santi Aldama (MEM – PF,C)

100. D’Angelo Russell (DAL – PG)

101. Tobias Harris (DET – PF)

102. Herbert Jones (NOP – SF,PF)

103. Andrew Wiggins (MIA – SG,SF)

104. Nic Claxton (BKN – C)

105. Alex Sarr (WAS – C)

106. Naz Reid (MIN – PF,C)

107. Draymond Green (GSW – PF,C)

108. Kevin Porter Jr. (MIL – PG,SG)

Round 10

109. Kyshawn George (WAS – SG,SF)

110. Nickeil Alexander-Walker (ATL – SG,SF)

111. Keegan Murray (SAC – SF,PF)

112. Dereck Lively II (DAL – C)

113. CJ McCollum (WAS – PG,SG)

114. Zach Edey (MEM – C)

115. Aaron Gordon (DEN – PF,C)

116. Wendell Carter Jr. (ORL – C)

117. Jeremy Sochan (SAS – PF,C)

118. Jaden Ivey (DET – PG,SG)

119. Jaden McDaniels (MIN – SF,PF)

120. Bobby Portis (MIL – PF,C)

KPJ is penciled in as Milwaukeeâ€s starting PG, and weâ€ve seen his tremendous upside in flashes throughout his career. Porter Jr. had some good moments in Cleveland before moving to Houston and breaking out at the end of the 2020-21 campaign. Injuries and off-court issues have prevented him from being on the court more during his NBA tenure, but if he can stay healthy and out of trouble in 2025-26, he should be able to post respectable numbers. KPJ averaged 17.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.7 steals across five starts between the Clippers and Bucks last season.

George is one of the players I highlighted in Rotoworldâ€s Staff Favorites article. The young and athletic George is a versatile wing with the ability to get hot from downtown and make a major impact on defense. He played solid minutes for Washington a season ago, but his playing time could increase in Year 2 as the team continues its rebuild. Bilal Coulibaly is dealing with a thumb injury and will miss time early in the season. That opens the door for George to be a starter on opening night. If he can build momentum from the jump, he could parlay early-season success into a quality campaign.

Round 11

121. Donte DiVincenzo (MIN – PG,SG)

122. Dennis SchrÃ¶der (SAC – PG,SG)

123. Keyonte George (UTA – PG,SG)

124. Jaylen Wells (MEM – SG,SF)

125. Lonzo Ball (CLE – PG,SG)

126. Quentin Grimes (PHI – SG,SF)

127. Brandin Podziemski (GSW – PG,SG)

128. Reed Sheppard (HOU – PG,SG)

129. Toumani Camara (POR – SF,PF)

130. Klay Thompson (DAL – SG,SF)

131. Malik Monk (SAC – SG)

132. Kon Knueppel (CHA – SF)

Round 12

133. Jonathan Kuminga (GSW – SF,PF)

134. Cason Wallace (OKC – PG,SG)

135. Stephon Castle (SAS – PG,SG)

136. Chris Paul (LAC – PG)

137. Aaron Nesmith (IND – SF)

138. Jabari Smith Jr. (HOU – PF,C)

139. Davion Mitchell (MIA – PG)

140. Ty Jerome (MEM – SG)

141. Yves Missi (NOP – C)

142. Tari Eason (HOU – SF,PF)

143. Kyle Kuzma (MIL – SF,PF)

144. Brook Lopez (LAC – C)

Another rookie comes off the board as I grab Charlotteâ€s Kon Knueppel. The Summer League MVP is poised to see big minutes for the Hornets in Year 1. Elite, long-range shooting is his calling card, but heâ€s a hound on defense and a guy able to get teammates involved with his quality, playmaking abilities.

No player had a more tumultuous offseason than Kuminga. After a bizarre 2024-25 season in which he was taken in and out of Golden Stateâ€s lineups for reasons that still arenâ€t inherently clear, Kuminga dealt with trade rumors and contract disputes with the team for months. He finally agreed on a two-year deal, but the prevailing thought is that the Warriors will use him as a trade piece after heâ€s eligible to be traded in early 2026. Heâ€s playing for his next deal, and the Dubs may look to give him ample playing time as an audition. Heâ€s a risky pickup here, but there is plenty of upside.

Round 13

145. Daniel Gafford (DAL – C)

146. P.J. Washington (DAL – SF,PF)

147. Kyle Filipowski (UTA – PF,C)

148. Isaiah Collier (UTA – PG,SG)

149. Zaccharie Risacher (ATL – SF,PF)

150. T.J. McConnell (IND – PG)

151. Scoot Henderson (POR – PG)

152. Ace Bailey (UTA – SF)

153. VJ Edgecombe (PHI – SG)

154. Dejounte Murray (NOP – PG,SG)

155. Jay Huff (IND – C)

156. Dylan Harper (SAS – SG)

I debated grabbing Kyrie Irving here but opted to go for a player who could be an immediate contributor. Harperâ€s path to meaningful minutes isnâ€t clear given the competition for playing time at guard with Deâ€Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, but the No. 2 pick surely wonâ€t spend the entirety of his rookie season on the bench. Thereâ€s upside here, and thatâ€s what the final round of fantasy drafts is all about. If Ace Bailey hadnâ€t been taken four picks earlier, he would have been my selection. Given how good heâ€s looked in the preseason, I highly doubt heâ€ll be available this late again.

My team

1. Amen Thompson (HOU – PG,SG,SF)

2. Jalen Williams (OKC – SF,PF)

3. Paolo Banchero (ORL – PF,C)

4. Cooper Flagg (DAL – SF)

5. Deandre Ayton (LAL – C)

6. Ausar Thompson (DET – SF,PF)

7. Cam Thomas (BKN – SG,SF)

8. Jakob Poeltl (TOR – C)

9. Kevin Porter Jr. (MIL – PG,SG)

10. Kyshawn George (WAS – SG,SF)

11. Kon Knueppel (CHA – SF)

12. Jonathan Kuminga (GSW – SF,PF)

13. Dylan Harper (SAS – SG)

Strengths: Defense, rebounding, FG%

Weaknesses: Three-pointers

I grabbed several quality defenders here, so my team is good to go with steals, blocks, rebounds and FG%. Three-pointers have been punted, though we may have a few surprisingly competitive weeks in that category if Cam Thomas, Kyshawn George and Kon Knueppel go off.

Ultimately, this is a risk/reward build. Jalen Williams is a safe selection, but there are question marks everywhere across this roster. Will the Thompson twins break out? Will Paolo Banchero improve his percentages and defensive numbers enough to make his early-round selection worth the cost? Rookies are always an unknown, and despite the buzz around Cooper Flagg, his early success is far from a guarantee.

Picks 7-13 are full of big swings, but they could all be home run selections. Safe picks have never been my forte, so this final roster is certainly indicative of my draft style.

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Hockey

How the Ducks have built the NHL’s next great Western power

Lajina HossainOctober 9, 2025

Ryan S. ClarkOct 9, 2025, 07:00 AM ET

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IRVINE, Calif. — “My first few years, this place was a nightmare.”

Any set of eyebrows that are within earshot of what Chris Kreider has just said are immediately raised, because this is his response to a question about what allowed the Anaheim Ducks to become more of a desired destination now than they had been in the recent past.

“I mean, the whole Cali trip was awful,” Kreider said.

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This is when Kreider becomes a storyteller and a comedian, sharing what it was like to play the Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks and the Ducks three times over the span of a four-day California misadventure.

The Kings were filled with “monsters” — because all but three players on their roster were taller than six feet, while weighing an average of 210 pounds. The Sharks were their own special kind of hell because they had Brent Burns, Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton.

“Burns pinned me against the boards and I thought, ‘I’ll move my feet, the refs will see I can’t go anywhere and I’ll draw a penalty,'” Kreider said. “That’s when I looked down and my feet weren’t touching the ice. I’m 6-3, and I was playing at 230 pounds. Brent Burns just lifted me off the ice.”

Then there’s what happened in Anaheim.

“I don’t think I ever touched the puck when I was in this building,” Kreider said. “It was [Corey] Perry and [Ryan] Getzlaf and whoever they were playing with at the time. … I got the ‘honor’ of matching up against them a few times, and I was called into the coaches’ room after that trip. I got told that my game wasn’t where it needed to be.”

Reliving such fun times is what makes Kreider point toward the stalls that belong to teammates like Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier and Jackson LaCombe.

“You look at those guys,” Kreider said. “There’s going to be a day in the near future where [opponents] are saying the same thing about them.”

That, in Kreider’s mind, is why the Ducks are a destination again. But are they a playoff team?

“From my perspective, the expectation is to make the playoffs,” Ducks GM Pat Verbeek said. “So, your answer to that is yes.”

AFTER MISSING THE PLAYOFFS for seven straight seasons, there were questions about the Ducks’ trajectory. However, they’ve developed one of the NHL’s best farm systems through strong drafting — and are now answering those questions. They missed the playoffs last season, but finished with 80 points — their highest total in six years.

This past offseason was one of the most pivotal in franchise history. Verbeek and his staff traded John Gibson and Trevor Zegras — two players who at separate times were the face of the Ducks. They added veterans like Mikael Granlund and Kreider, while signing members of their young core to long-term contracts.

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Verbeek also fired coach Greg Cronin after two seasons, and hired three-time Stanley Cup winner Joel Quenneville, who had guided the Chicago Blackhawks to those three titles but hadn’t coached in nearly four seasons. Quenneville resigned from coaching the Florida Panthers in October 2021 and was banished from the league in the wake of an investigation that concluded the Blackhawks mishandled sexual assault allegations raised by former player Kyle Beach against video coach Brad Aldrich during the team’s 2010 Stanley Cup run. The NHL lifted Quenneville’s ban in 2024.

Trading Gibson and Zegras. The decision to add more veterans. The belief that their young core is ready to do more. The entirety of what it means to hire Quenneville, a decision that has led to criticism in some circles.

Verbeek is not alone in thinking that this could be a pivot point in the team’s arc of contention.

“The last couple years, we’ve gone into it like, ‘We might have a good team. It’s going to be this young guy’s first year or that young guy’s first year.’ It was almost a question of, ‘If this guy steps up, we could have a good team,” Ducks winger Troy Terry said. “I think this year we still have some young players but they’re experienced now and we’ve seen what they can do now. There are less questions of ‘If this and this happens, we should be a good team’ and know we should be a good team.”

Troy Terry has soldiered on through the Ducks’ recent lean years, and is optimistic on the team’s direction moving forward. Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire

MARTIN MADDEN IS the Ducks’ assistant GM and director of amateur scouting. He’s overseen the team’s amateur scouting setup since 2008, and has drafted 56 players who’ve reached the NHL. That includes their entire seven-player class from 2011 that included Josh Manson, William Karlsson, Rickard Rakell and Gibson.

All those homegrown players that make up the Ducks’ young core — including Lukas Dostal, Mason McTavish, Olen Zellweger, LaCombe and Terry — were all drafted by Madden. Following Verbeek’s hiring in 2022, they added Pavel Mintyukov and Carlsson to that list of draftees, while trading for Gauthier, selected fifth overall by the Flyers in 2022.

“We came up with a philosophy on the players that we want to draft and we proceeded to try and execute that as closely as possible given the fact there are variables like if a guy is there and if not, you might not have a choice,” Verbeek said. “That’s how we’ve gone about it. The other part is making sure you get to pick high. You know you’re going to find some gems later in the draft. But you have a better chance of finding them if you’re picking high.”

Leo Carlsson was selected second overall in the 2023 NHL draft. Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Madden and Verbeek outlined that they wanted prospects who were competitive, smart and had a strong work ethic. They found those players, while acknowledging that every prospect would develop differently.

For every player like LaCombe, who played four years of college hockey, there were others like Carlsson who played against professionals in Sweden or McTavish who played in the OHL and the AHL in the same year they reached the NHL.

There was also a game plan on finding the right players with experience to fill out the roster. Verbeek went after veterans who had either won Stanley Cups, such as Alex Killorn, or those who’ve made numerous deep playoff runs such as Granlund, Radko Gudas, Jacob Trouba and Kreider.

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Verbeek pitched those veterans on playing a significant role in building something substantial, establishing a foundational culture with a homegrown core that has a chance to be special.

“I was an older player too, and you can see it and feel it when you play with those [young] players,” Verbeek said. “So I feel that was something that was attractive for those players.”

One example of that is the dynamic between Carlsson and Granlund. The Ducks drafted Carlsson with the No. 2 pick in 2023, with the expectation he could become a two-way, top-line center. They signed Granlund this offseason so they could have a proven two-way, top-nine anchor down the middle.

The Ducks placed Carlsson’s stall next to Granlund’s at the practice facility — a place where teams spend the most time of any venue. It allowed the duo to foster a relationship, and has allowed Carlsson to get instant feedback or seek immediate advice.

“It’s pretty simple. [The Ducks’ veterans] just want us to play our game and they’re giving us awesome tips,” Carlsson said. “Sitting next to Granny [in the dressing room], he gives me tips too and I just listen and take it all in. Then you take it into your game and it’s knowing you’ll be fine.”

Mikael Granlund was signed this offseason, adding another veteran voice — and scoring option — to the roster. Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

Like anything, there is a balance. Kreider and Trouba, who were part of a rebuild with the New York Rangers earlier in their careers, each explained what it means to be a veteran. Trouba said it’s about passing down what you’ve learned, while also being a sounding board because there is so much to learn about how to navigate the NHL.

Kreider added how while it’s important for those veterans to have a voice, they also want those young players to speak their minds.

Yet the player with the firmest grasp on what this means for the Ducks is Terry, the 28-year-old who is the team’s longest serving member. Terry said watching the front office continue to draft and develop homegrown talents proves the organization is more than committed to building a long-term winner. Adding those veterans amplifies that belief.

“It sends the message that we do have the guys here now that can make that push and at minimum, fight for a playoff spot,” Terry said. “I think just the moves that were made help our team a lot but it helps send the message internally that it’s time to really take that next step.”

That also includes another move that Verbeek and the Ducks’ front office made that could be a defining decision in more ways than one.

THERE ARE ON-ICE QUESTIONS that Quenneville must answer given that he hasn’t coached for four seasons. There are off-ice questions, too, about what he says he’s learned from his role in the Blackhawks sexual assault scandal.

The second-winningest coach in NHL history said when he took the Ducks job in May that he is a changed man. How has he actually changed? What are he and the Ducks doing to make sure they don’t land themselves in a situation like the Columbus Blue Jackets who acknowledged in 2023 they made a mistake in hiring Mike Babcock?

Quenneville and Verbeek were asked about it multiple times in the early portion of Quenneville’s introductory news conference. Months later, the Ducks continue to face questions.

Joel Quenneville has faced a number of questions since being hired by the Ducks, and that may continue at least through the early part of the 2025-26 season. Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire

A team source told ESPN that the organization believes in being transparent when it comes to anything related to Quenneville, including their process for choosing him along with what they did in the years before hiring Quenneville to make the organization a safe environment for all employees.

“A lot of the people I worked with were very helpful in how to deal with, how to be aware and how to address these situations,” Quenneville said. “We talked about this on the first day of training camp, about what my takeaways were from the last four years. A lot of people taught me important things … and the one thing I want to apply is that it’s not going to happen on our watch.

“The awareness factor — be it staff, players, one another. Let’s make sure that we’re all aware that any instances of bad behavior are addressed and identified and that accountability is there and that trust and support is there. I think that the most important thing for me and for us is that your safety is the priority.”

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Verbeek said that the education and programming that Quenneville went through over the last three years in his work with advocacy groups is something that the Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli, who have owned the team since 2003, have also done for several years. Verbeek said that the Ducks are providing “constant education,” while adding they’ve done education refreshment every two years.

Verbeek said that the training the Ducks provide has created practices and protocols that are in place which allow them to recognize warning signs as a preventative measure.

Quenneville said the time he spent talking to sexual assault survivors about their experience reinforced why those situations can “never happen again.”

“I can’t be in a position to even think about letting it happen again,” Quenneville said. “I learned I should have done more things. I should have asked more questions. I should have been tougher in some meetings to find out more. I’ll take ownership of that and I know that it won’t happen again.”

The NHL determined that Quenneville along with then-Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman and then-executive Al MacIsaac were ineligible to work for other teams, and the Blackhawks were fined $2 million for having inadequate policies in place. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman lifted the ban in July 2024. The league noted the “sincere remorse” by Bowman, MacIsaac and Quenneville for their “unacceptable” response to the allegations.

Bowman was the first of the three to return to the NHL in summer 2024 when he was hired as the GM of the Edmonton Oilers.

ON THE ICE, there were several items that allowed Quenneville to succeed with the Blackhawks. Among them were how he found ways to consistently elevate the team’s young core, led by Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Jonathan Toews.

Seeing what the Panthers had with Aleksander Barkov, Aaron Ekblad and Jonathan Huberdeau reminded him of the Blackhawks, which is what made South Florida appealing. The Panthers have built around Barkov and Ekblad, before trading Huberdeau to get Matthew Tkachuk en route to winning consecutive Stanley Cups in 2024 and 2025.

Although Quenneville was eligible to return in 2024-25, he didn’t land a job but still closely followed the NHL. Quenneville said he was living in Florida when Verbeek, who was his former teammate back with the Hartford Whalers, reached out to pitch him on the possibility of coaching the Ducks.

“Before that, I was looking at, ‘Where could I go if there was an opportunity?'” Quenneville said. “From what I saw and from what everyone told me, that this is the place to come. This is a team that’s ready. They got a lot of the right pieces.”

The Ducks could very well be on the precipice of playoff contention again. Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

Quenneville enters this season 31 wins away from 1,000 for his career. He’s second on the NHL’s all-time wins list behind Scotty Bowman, with 1,244. The games and Stanley Cups he has won makes him one of the greatest coaches in league history, and easily the most high-profile coach the Ducks have ever employed.

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Part of the reason why Quenneville has succeeded is his ability to teach and connect with young players. During his first season with the St. Louis Blues, defenseman Chris Pronger set a career high in points, and did so while operating as a 22-year-old captain. In his first season in Chicago, several players — like Kane, Keith, Toews and Seabrook — also set new career highs. It was a similar pattern in Florida with Barkov and Ekblad.

Could he do the same thing with the Ducks’ young core in 2025-26 and beyond?

“It’s exciting, but obviously, it’s all on me though when it comes to playing better,” Carlsson said when asked about the prospect of improving under Quenneville. “The thing is he’s proven to younger guys that he’s about giving us a fair chance, and I’m excited for that. He’s just a coach that makes your game better, which I love.”

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MLB playoffs 2025: Blue Jays rookie Trey Yesavage shuts down Yankees to put Toronto up 2-0 in ALDS: ‘I’m built for this’

Lajina HossainOctober 6, 2025

The first start of Trey Yesavageâ€s 2025 season took place in front of a paying crowd of 327 people. Two tickets, according to the Jupiter Hammerheadsâ€ Instagram page, could be purchased for the low, low sum of $15.

And considering how Yesavage pitched that night, it was probably a good thing that so few ball fans rolled through the turnstiles at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, Florida. Making his minor-league debut for the Low-A Florida State League Dunedin Blue Jays, the 2024 first-rounder walked six hitters across 3 2/3 disjointed innings, surrendering just one hit alongside two unearned runs.

Nothing about that inauspicious performance could have foretold how Yesavageâ€s campaign would unfurl.

[Get more Toronto news: Blue Jays team feed]

On Sunday, less than six months removed from that humdrum showing against the Hammerheads, Yesavage shined on a slightly bigger stage. With 44,764 souls packed into Torontoâ€s Rogers Centre, the 22-year-old righty absolutely tyrannized the New York Yankees in Game 2 of the American League Division Series.

Facing the sportâ€s best lineup this regular season in just his fourth big-league start, Yesavage did not allow a single hit across 5 1/3 masterful innings. Leaning on a dastardly split-finger fastball, he punched out 11 and walked just one. He struck out the side in the third and the fourth. The Yankees swung at 31 of his 78 pitches and whiffed 18 times. The Blue Jaysâ€ offense backed up his brilliance by scoring 11 runs before the end of the fourth inning.

“I was just doing what I feel comfortable doing, throwing splits late in the count, and it just so happens they were swinging and missing at a bunch of them and chasing them down,” Yesavage said postgame. “I didn’t change anything.”

New York knocked around the underbelly of Torontoâ€s bullpen once the rookie starter hit the showers to make the 13-7 final score look somewhat respectable. But for all intents and purposes, Game 2 was a complete and total domination, one that gave the Jays a commanding 2-0 lead as the series shifts to the Bronx.

The Yankees are the 72nd team in the division series era (since 1994) to lose the first two games in a best-of-five series. Only eight of the previous 71 rattled off three straight victories to swipe the series. New York, in fact, was the most recent club to accomplish the feat, back in 2017 against Cleveland.

In Game 3 on Tuesday, theyâ€ll have Carlos RodÃ³n, who threw well in wild-card Game 2, on the mound. Heâ€ll go up against 2020 AL Cy Young winner Shane Bieber, acquired by the Jays at the trade deadline. New Yorkâ€s big-swinging offense is certainly capable of authoring a turnaround, particularly with the Bronx home-field advantage at their backs, but the assignment is daunting nonetheless.

The Yankees find themselves in such a predicament, in part, because Game 2 starter Max Fried, sensational in his October pinstripes debut last week against Boston, didnâ€t have his typical crispness on Sunday. A two-run tank in the second from Toronto third baseman Ernie Clement got the scoring started. The Jays plated three more in the third on a walk and a trio of hits. The fourth brought more trouble for Fried, who allowed the first two hitters to reach before Yankees manager Aaron Boone ended his afternoon.

Two batters later, reliever Will Warren conceded the hammer blow, a spine-tingling grand slam from $500 million man Vladimir Guerrero Jr. that gave Toronto a commanding 9-0 lead and brought an entire country to its feet.

Guerrero, who also went yard in Torontoâ€s 10-1 Game 1 victory, is now 6-for-9 through the first two games of this set. Daulton Varsho smoked two homers of his own in Game 2, finishing the day 4-for-5 with four RBI and four extra-base hits. George Springer clapped a solo shot as well. Everybody in the Jaysâ€ starting lineup reached base except for Isiah Kiner-Falefa.

But the day belonged to Yesavage, who walked off the mound to a well-earned standing ovation from the raucous home crowd.

“This has got to be cloud nine,” he said afterward. “I couldn’t imagine a better feeling right now.”

His performance served as a capstone to what was already a remarkable ascension up the minor-league ladder for the East Carolina University product. Yesavage appeared for all four of Torontoâ€s affiliates on the farm this season. He pitched against Mighty Mussels, Dust Devils, Yard Goats and IronPigs. He resided in three states and two countries, living out of a suitcase while collecting passport stamps and strikeouts.

â€œI’ve experienced a lot this year,â€ he said during his media availability Saturday. â€œThis is my fifth team I’ve been with. I’ve met the entire organization. But being here in this spot, I couldn’t have drawn it up any better.â€

Toronto called up the precocious hurler in September for something of an October test run. And Yesavage passed with flying colors, looking completely undaunted by the intensity of big-league ball. Statistically, he performed well in the three starts he made down the stretch, but the Jays were particularly impressed with his demeanor. They believed he could handle the pressure-cooker of postseason baseball.

His showing Sunday proved them right.

Asked how the energy of October compares to the high-stress playoff starts he made as a star pitcher in college, Yesavage offered a compelling, revealing answer.

â€œI would say it’s kind of the same. Having to go out there and perform at your best to help your team win a championship. At the end of the day, you have the same goal. It’s to win. Granted, there’s going to be a lot more fans here, and there’s going to be a lot more energy surrounding this place, but I’m built for this.â€

Built for this indeed.

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How All 12 MLB Playoff Team Rosters Were Built For 2025

Lajina HossainSeptember 30, 2025

Image credit:
Jose Ramirez (left) and Steven Kawn (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

Building a successful MLB playoff roster requires being open to acquiring talent through any and all means. And this year’s postseason rosters feature players who took many different paths to success.

The Brewers, for example, picked up infielder Isaac Collins as a minor league Rule 5 pick in December 2022. At the time, it looked like just a useful MiLB roster addition. But Collins kept hitting and getting on base, and this year he proved to be a very valuable part of the Brewers’ outfield.

In Boston, waiver claim Romy Gonzalez helped the Red Sox fill the hole created by Triston Casas’ injury while MLB Rule 5 pick Garrett Whitlock is a key part of the team’s bullpen. Reds center fielder TJ Friedl was also a very astute pick-up as a non-drafted free agent.

And while MLB free agents like Shohei Ohtani, Bryce Harper, Max Fried and Cody Bellinger are vital to their teams’ playoff hopes, under-the-radar MiLB free agent acquisitions like Tobias Myers, Gavin Sheets and Jake Bauers have also contributed.

With that diversity in mind, we’re presenting a look at how all 12 MLB playoff teams were built this season. Since all rosters are not officially set (and teams with first-round byes wonâ€t set them until the end of the week), we are using the final 28-man rosters from Sunday.

For this exercise, we are looking at the way the team acquired a player initially. For example, if a player was originally acquired by trade and then re-signed as a free agent, weâ€re treating that as a trade acquisition.

Also, for Japanese and Cuban free agents, we are treating those as international signings. If you’d rather consider those players as MLB free agents, add another free agent signing for the Blue Jays (Yariel Rodriguez), one for the Red Sox (Masataka Yoshida), one for the Cubs (Seiya Suzuki), one for the Padres (Yuki Matsui) and three for the Dodgers (Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki and Hyesong Kim).Â

How 2025 Playoff Teams Were Built

It may surprise you, but the largest proportion of 2025 postseason rosters are not players who were drafted and signed or signed as MLB free agents. Instead, these players were mostly acquired via trades. More than one out of every three players on 2025 playoff rosters were acquired by trade.

ACQUIREDNUMBER OF PlayersPercentageTrade12436.90%Draft7221.43%Free Agent6017.86%International339.82%MiLB Free Agent298.63%Waivers102.98%NDFA51.49%Rule 520.60%MiLB Rule 510.30%

The Brewers roster the most players acquired by trade with 15. And those trades were more than just peripheral additions, too, as those players helped to establish the core of the 2025 team.

When the Brewers acquired Christian Yelich, they were getting an established MLB regular, although he blossomed further as a Brewers. But in many cases, the Brewers have made trades that were more subtle and later turned into key moves, such as landing players like Freddy Peralta, Trevor Megill, Quinn Priester, Caleb Durbin, Chad Patrick and Andrew Vaughn.

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The Mariners (14 traded players) were right behind the Brewers when it came to making trades. The acquisition of Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez at the trade deadline helped fix holes in the club’s lineup, but it was past moves involving the likes of Randy Arozarena, Andres Munoz, Luis Castillo and J.P. Crawford that played an even bigger role in the Mariners winning the AL West.

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The Most Homegrown Team

The Guardians are, without a doubt, the most â€œhomegrownâ€ of all 12 playoff teams. Cleveland has 18 players who originally signed with them still on their rosterâ€”no other team has more than 13.

And itâ€s not just about numbers to fill out a roster. Between ace Gavin Williams, all-star Steven Kwan and all-time Guardians great Jose Ramirez, the bulk of the teamâ€s star power comes from players who have been part of the Cleveland organization only as pros.

The Guardians could send out a lineup featuring homegrown talent at every spot around the diamond from catcher (Bo Naylor) to first base (C.J. Kayfus), second base (Daniel Schneemann), shortstop (Gabriel Arias), third base (Ramirez), left field (Steven Kwan), center field (Angel Martinez) and right field (Jhonkensy Noel, Jonathan Rodriguez or George Valera).

And with 2022 first-round draft pick Chase DeLauter added to the postseason roster, it only deepens Cleveland’s homegrown persona.

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But teams donâ€t have to be homegrown to be able to make the playoffs on a limited payroll. The Brewers only have six homegrown players slated to be on their roster, and they had the best record in baseball with a bottom-third payroll.

Which Org Produced The Most Players On Playoff Teams?

Thanks to their 18 homegrown players, the Guardians got a nice head start on producing the most postseason players. There are 27 players who first signed with the Guardians on playoff teams. The Dodgers are second with 23, followed by the Padres (20), Mariners (20) and Cubs (18).

Of the 20 Padres players on playoff teams, only six are still with the organization.

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Of the 30 MLB teams, the Rockies are last with three original Colorado players on playoff rosters: Ryan McMahon, Trevor Story and Isaac Collins.

Original TeamPlayersOriginal TeamPlayersCleveland Guardians27Texas Rangers9Los Angeles Dodgers23Athletics8San Diego Padres20Baltimore Orioles8Seattle Mariners20Chicago White Sox8Chicago Cubs18Kansas City Royals8Cincinnati Reds17Pittsburgh Pirates8New York Yankees17Tampa Bay Rays8Detroit Tigers14Miami Marlins7Milwaukee Brewers13St. Louis Cardinals7Arizona Diamondbacks12Atlanta Braves6Boston Red Sox12Washington Nationals6Houston Astros12New York Mets5Philadelphia Phillies11San Francisco Giants5Toronto Blue Jays11Los Angeles Angels4Minnesota Twins9Colorado Rockies3

Teams That Struck Gold In The Draft

Each playoff team features key players landed in the draft, but some rely more on the draft than others. The homegrown Guardians led the way with 12 draftees, but the Reds and Tigers are also particularly well-stocked with drafted talent.

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The Reds feature first-round picks from 2015 (Tyler Stephenson), 2017 (Hunter Greene), 2019 (Nick Lodolo), 2021 (Matt McLain) and 2024 (Chase Burns) on their roster in addition to 2022 supplemental first-round pick (Sal Stewart), 2015 second-rounder (Tony Santillan), 2021 second-rounder (Andrew Abbott) and a pair of sixth-round picks (Graham Ashcraft, 2019 and Zach Maxwell, 2022).

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In addition to the likely back-to-back Cy Young Award-winner in Tarik Skubal (2019 ninth round), the Tigers have 2018 first-rounder Casey Mize, 2019 first-rounder Riley Greene and 2020 first-rounder Spencer Torkelson on their roster. The team also has catcher Dillon Dingler (2020, second round), outfielders Parker Meadows (2018, second round) and Kerry Carpenter (2019, 19th round) and pitchers Brant Hurter (2021, seventh round), Troy Melton (2022, fourth round) and Will Vest (2022, 12th round).

Teams That Nailed The International Market

The Dodgers have the most international signings, but as we noted at the top, three of those are players who were already established in foreign professional leagues. Andy Pages and Edgardo Henriquez are the team’s international amateur acquisitions.

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The Blue Jays have three international amateur signings. It’s hard to do better than the 2015 signing of first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. followed a year later by inking catcher Alejandro Kirk.

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Teams That Hit On MLB Free Agents

The Phillies lead all playoff teams with nine MLB free agents. Philadelphia has made a point of supplementing its roster with stars, and it’s hard to complain about the results. The team’s four most productive position players this season were all free agents: Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto. Though he’s injured, Zack Wheeler has also been excellent.

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The Yankees, meanwhile, have managed to blend homegrown stars like Aaron Judge with a free agent-led rotation. FA signings Max Fried and Carlos Rodon both stepped up this year after Gerrit Cole missed the entire season with an elbow injury. Cody Bellinger proved a vital addition to the outfield as well.

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It Takes All Kinds

The Red Sox are a large-market team, but they also are the playoff team that has acquired players in more diverse ways than anyone else. Their roster consists of free agent signings like Aroldis Chapman, Trevor Story and Alex Bregman paired with international signings (Ceddanne Rafaela), draftees (Jarren Duran), trade pickups (Wilyer Abreu, Carlos Narvaez), Rule 5 picks (Garrett Whitlock) and MiLB free agent signings (Zack Kelly, Nate Eaton and Rob Refsnyder).

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Savvy Traders

The Cubs have a relatively normal roster composition, but the team’s ability to acquire key regulars in trades has gotten them back to the postseason. Landing Pete Crow-Armstrong, Kyle Tucker and Michael Busch in deals gave the team the offensive punch that had been lacking.

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