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As Barbie continues to break box office records, Mattel is plotting the future of toy-based entertainment and hopefully not taking any of the wrong lessons from the Greta Gerwig film’s success.

“Everybody hopes that when you create a movie that there is going to be a franchise,” Mattel Films head Robbie Brenner told Variety about the MCU (Mattel Cinematic Universe). “That’s the hope — that it goes on and on and it’s a gift that keeps giving. But, in this day and age, you just want to get the first one right.” The future first ones include movies based on Hot Wheels (“grounded and gritty,” according to producer J.J. Abrams), Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots (starring Vin Diesel), and Magic 8 Ball (“a PG-13 thriller”). There’s also Major Matt Mason (this guy) with Tom Hanks, the Peter Farrelly-produced Wishbone, and Thomas & Friends from World War Z director Marc Forster.

The two most potentially promising movies based on Mattel toys are Polly Pocket, written and directed by Lena Dunham and starring Lily Collins, and Barney. “I don’t know that it’s necessarily going to be darker. It’s just going to be unique — more of like a Being John Malkovich or an Adaptation,” Brenner said about Daniel Kaluuya’s “A24-type” purple dinosaur movie.

If Christopher Nolan releases his next thoughtful epic on the same day as the View Master movie, we’ll have another Barbenheimer on our hands. Or maybe Barbie/Oppenheimer was a once-in-a-generation phenomenon, and the reason Barbie is a hit is because it was made by a talented writer and director, not because of the IP. One of the two.

(Via Variety)

Netflix is sitting at a pivotal place right now, which is not unlike what happened to TV and movies during the pandemic. That is to say, content will likely be slowing down in movie theaters due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, and Netflix is here to keep the popcorn flicks going when you are done rewatching Barbenheimer and are actively awaiting Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two. With that spirit in mind, Gal Gadot stars in her own new action film for the streamer, which will also soon include a majority of the The Fast And The Furious films within its back library.

Additionally, new seasons of fan-favorite shows like Heartstopper and The Lincoln Lawyer are coming along with a new batch of Untold sports scandals for the taking. Speaking of scandal, DEPP V. HEARD takes a “documentary” approach to a certain notorious celebrity trial. There also might be the next Squid Game in town (hold tight on that verdict), and another series on the opioid crisis will cover the serious side of the streamer while the temps stay far too hot outside.

Here’s everything coming to (and leaving) Netflix in August.

Heartstopper: Season 2 (series streaming 8/3)

Amid many other series cancellations on Netflix few years ago, this series received a doubled-down renewal after the romance series landed on over 50 Top 10 lists around the globe. This season, Charlie and rugby-guy Nick must continue to navigate their love with prom coming and a Parisian field trip, among all the necessary things that one must do in school. Mostly, though, this is about the romance and friends who circle ’round in various ways.

Heart Of Stone (film streaming 8/11)

Gal Gadot is following up Red Notice (which was the only movie that mattered at one moment) with a new yarn, in which she stars as Rachel Stone (yes, that’s right), who is an MI6 elite agent who happens to also be a secret member of a secret organization that none of her colleagues know about. Jamie Dornan plays the boss agent of Rachel, whose lives begin to collide, of course. This sounds like an action-filled-yet-glossy watch for when the movie schedule gets derailed by the ongoing strikes.

Zombieverse: Season 1 (Netflix series streaming 8/8)

Pay attention to this one because this show could be the next Squid Game. This reality series plops “survivors” into Seoul, South Korea, amid the outbreak of a zombie virus. Various challenges must be completed while the undead remain a constant threat, and we truly are awash with zombie disgustingness these days on TV, aren’t we? No word yet on how this shall be received by viewers of The Walking Dead and The Last Of Us, but it would be mildly surprising if this series isn’t a success.

Painkiller (series streaming 8/10)

Following in on the heels of Netflix’s The Pharmacist and Hulu’s Dopesick, this project presents a fictionalized retelling of the real-life opioid crisis in the U.S. That is to say, prepare for an origin story and ongoing presentation of OxyContin’s disastrous effects upon American lives, along with a dive into the system that allowed this drug to flourish. The story will follow both Barry Meier’s same-named book, along with Patrick Radden Keefe’s New Yorker article, “The Family That Built the Empire of Pain.” Look for Uzo Aduba, Matthew Broderick, Taylor Kitsch, and more on the screen.

DEPP V. HEARD (documentary streaming 8/16)

Let the warring PR sides roll? Surely, you have already heard about this defamation trial that made a spectacle of alleged domestic abuse, and this project promises to dive in to question everything that went down. It remains to be seen whether this will be an even remotely objective project or lean in a more sensational direction. (Take a guess.)

The Fast And The Furious (films streaming 8/1)

As with Heart Of Stone, this news might ease the pain of knowing that some blockbusters probably won’t hit theaters on their original release dates later this year. Several heaping helpings of Vin Diesel and the Fam are coming when a majority of The Fast And The Furious franchise movies arrive on the streaming service. Mind you, this won’t be the complete set, but at least you can revisit a substantial chunk of the movies when no one was going to space.

Avail. TBA
Guns & Gulaabs
Risqué Business: Taiwan

Avail. 8/1
Untold: Volume 3
2 Fast 2 Furious
Bee Movie
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2
Coming to America
Despicable Me
Despicable Me 2
Eat Pray Love
Fast & Furious
Fast Five
The Fast and the Furious
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Friends with Benefits
It’s Complicated
The Jerk
Just Go With It
Lost in Translation
Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted
No Strings Attached
Pawn Stars: Season 14
Poms
Terminator Genisys
Ugly Betty: Seasons 1-4

Avail. 8/2
Mark Cavendish: Never Enough
Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food
Soulcatcher

Avail. 8/3
Head to Head
Heartstopper: Season 2
The Last Hours of Mario Biondo
The Lincoln Lawyer: Season 2 Part 2
Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead

Avail. 8/4
The Big Nailed It Baking Challenge
Fatal Seduction: Volume 2

Avail. 8/7
Gabby’s Dollhouse: Season 8

Avail. 8/8
The Seven Deadly Sins: Grudge of Edinburgh Part 2
Untold: Johnny Football
Zombieverse

Avail. 8/9
Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop

Avail. 8/10
Jagun Jagun
Marry My Dead Body
Mech Cadets
Painkiller

Avail. 8/11
Down for Love
Heart of Stone

Avail. 8/12
Behind Your Touch

Avail. 8/14
Paddington
The Wiggles: Ready, Steady, Wiggle: Season 4

Avail. 8/15
Ancient Aliens: Season 5
Ballers: Seasons 1-5
Jared Freid: 37 and Single
Untold: Hall of Shame

Avail. 8/16
At Home With The Furys
The Chosen One
DEPP V HEARD

Avail. 8/17
My Dad the Bounty Hunter: Season 2
The Upshaws: Part 4

Avail. 8/18
10 Days of a Bad Man
Love, Sex and 30 Candles
Mask Girl
The Monkey King

Avail. 8/22
LIGHTHOUSE
Untold: Swamp Kings

Avail. 8/23
The Big Short
Destined with You
Sausage Party
Squared Love Everlasting
The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On: Season 2

Avail. 8/24
Baki Hanma: Season 2 Part 2
Ragnarok: Season 3
Who is Erin Carter?

Avail. 8/25
Killer Book Club
You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah

Avail. 8/30
Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones
Miss Adrenaline: A Tale of Twins
The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On: Season 2

Avail. 8/31
Choose Love
Karate Sheep: Season 2
One Piece

And it’s your last chance to stream these titles:

Leaving 8/12
Knightfall: Seasons 1-2

Leaving 8/14
Winx Club: Seasons 6-7

Leaving 8/15
Les Misérables

Leaving 8/24
Jobs

Leaving 8/31
A Knight’s Tale
If Beale Street Could Talk
InuYasha the Movie: Affections Touching Across Time
InuYasha the Movie 2: The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass
InuYasha the Movie 3: Swords of an Honorable Ruler
InuYasha the Movie 4: Fire on the Mystic Island
The Italian Job
Mean Girls
Moving Art: Seasons 1-3
Open Season
Open Season 2
Paranormal Activity
The Ring
Salt
Scream: Seasons 1-3
She’s Gotta Have It
Sister, Sister: Seasons 1-6
Sleepless in Seattle

A congressional hearing on UFOS — or UAPs unidentified aerial phenomena — has people losing their mind on Twitter over what initially seems like a conformation that aliens are real. During the House subcommittee hearing, self-proclaimed UFO whistleblower and retired military officer Major David Grusch not only testified that the U.S. government has been aware of alien activity since the 1930s, but it has actually recovered “non-human biological pilots from crashed crafts.”

Via the Associated Press:

Grusch said he was asked in 2019 by the head of a government task force on UAPs to identify all highly classified programs relating to the task force’s mission. At the time, Grusch was detailed to the National Reconnaissance Office, the agency that operates U.S. spy satellites.

“I was informed in the course of my official duties of a multi-decade UAP crash retrieval and reverse engineering program to which I was denied access,” he said.

As lawmakers from both sides of the aisle demanded more transparency and reporting on UAPs from the military, the Pentagon swiftly denied Grusch’s testimony.

“Investigators have not discovered any verifiable information to substantiate claims that any programs regarding the possession or reverse-engineering of extraterrestrial materials have existed in the past or exist currently,” Defense Department Sue Gough said in a statement.

As expected, the UFO hearing sparked strong reactions on social media. Comedian Michael Ian Black couldn’t even bring himself to crack a joke.

“Congressional hearing on UFOs just ended. Serious, diligent. Absolutely stunning testimony,” Black tweeted. “Hard to walk away from this thinking anything other than there’s something profound happening on our planet that we do not understand.”

Others, like journalist Sam Biddle took a more skeptical approach to Grusch’s testimony, which contained some pretty wild claims that should make everyone pump the brakes a little bit.

“It is stunning to me how many people are taking this testimony seriously after he suggested UFOs come from another dimension and were covered up by Mussolini and the Vatican,” Biddle tweeted. “This is nutcase stuff.”

And then, of course, the jokes started flying as folks found themselves awkwardly underwhelmed after essentially hearing that aliens are real.

You can see some of the reactions below:

(Via Associated Press)

The Orlando Magic had a strong close to their 2022-23 season and, as such, came into this summer fairly optimistic about their future. While the Magic could’ve created some cap space to make a big move, they chose a patient approach to this summer, as they are taking the long view with their talented young roster.

Their core is in their frontcourt with Paolo Banchero coming off a Rookie of the Year campaign as Orlando’s hopeful star of the future, Franz Wagner continues to show tremendous promise as a big two-way wing, and Wendell Carter Jr. has thrived since being traded to Orlando from Chicago. The backcourt remains a bit of a puzzle the Magic are trying to sort out, with Markelle Fultz, Cole Anthony, and Jalen Suggs all young guards trying to cement their status as a core piece. That is what Orlando spends this next year figuring out, as they’ll have to start making decisions on extensions in the near future. For now, they’ll be happy with the growth they’ve seen and have cautious optimism for another step forward in 2022-23 with even more young talent coming on board.

Here, we’ll grade out their offseason moves from the Draft, free agency and contract extensions, and trades.

Draft: B-

Orlando had a pair of lottery picks thanks to the Chicago Bulls, and used those to address their backcourt further selecting Anthony Black Jr. at No. 6 overall and Jett Howard at No. 11. Their exact fit is a bit murky, but the Magic took a swing on upside with both as they are still in the mode of adding talent and seeing what sticks at the guard spots. On Draft night, our Brad Rowland gave Orlando a B for picking Black Jr. and a C+ for the Howard selection, explaining those grades as follows.

This was a tricky spot for Orlando. Not only did the Magic enter the night with two of the top 11 picks, but some of the top-rated players remaining on the board were somewhat duplicative with Paolo Banchero and/or Franz Wagner. As a result, Anthony Black is the choice, and he is a versatile, talented perimeter player. Black’s primary question mark on the offensive side is his perimeter shooting, which could be a clunky fit in Orlando, but Black gives the Magic another ball-handler with the size to be a menace defensively.

This is probably the most surprising pick of the draft to this point, but it also makes some sense. Orlando is in need of shooting and, while Gradey Dick was a higher-rated prospect for most scouts, Howard brings size and shooting. His defensive questions could also be insulated within Orlando’s structure.

Free Agency/Contract Extensions: B-

The only real move the Magic made this summer was adding Joe Ingles on a two-year, $22 million deal, as they look to bring a veteran presence to a very young locker room. It’s more money than Ingles was going to get elsewhere, but on a short-term deal it’s a price Orlando is happy to pay to bring in someone who has been on very good teams in the past and can help bring along some of the youngsters — while also being a steady hand on the court. They also re-signed Moe Wagner on a two-year, $16 million deal after he had a very solid season in Orlando, averaging 10.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game and providing some frontcourt depth behind Carter Jr. Those aren’t moves that particularly give the Magic a clear path to take a step forward next season, but they also didn’t really need to do that this summer given so many questions linger about their backcourt long-term. Having a ‘B-‘ summer of signings is perfectly fine for a team with very few open roster spots, as they didn’t do anything wild to ruin the progress they’ve made.

Trades: INC

Like the Hornets, the Magic have not made a trade this summer as they want a bit more time to evaluate their young talent before consolidating it. That will have to happen in the fairly near future, as Cole Anthony will be a free agent and Jalen Suggs will be extension eligible next summer, but in the meantime they’ll remain patient and see how this upcoming season pans out. Should they get off to a strong start, they have ample ammunition to make a trade to bolster their roster at the deadline, but for now they’ve been quiet on the trade market.

Sinead O’Connor is dead at 56 year old, according to a report from The Irish Times.

The Dublin-born singer’s debut album was 1987’s The Lion And The Cobra, and overall, she released ten albums, the latest being 2014’s I’m Not Bossy, I’m The Boss. She was best known for her No. 1 single, “Nothing Compares 2 U,” which was originally written by Prince for his side project The Family. O’Connor also stirred up controversy as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live on October 3, 1992, when she protested the Catholic Church by tearing a photo of Pope John Paul II live on air.

This post is being updated.

Do you know a good lawyer? Donald Trump could use one.

The former president, who is facing over 500 years in prison, has been looking for an attorney to represent him as he faces a third indictment for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, to no avail. The hiring process has been difficult because, first of all, Trump isn’t the easiest guy to work with.

Rolling Stone reports that “one attorney who was approached about work declined, [as] they were dissuaded by the lengthy track record of Trump’s personal lawyers suddenly finding themselves in legal jeopardy while working for Trump.” Other attornies are concerned that an association with Trump would mean losing other, less MAGA-inclined clients.

It’s never great when the term “suicide mission” gets thrown around.

Some attorneys who’ve discussed the investigation with Trump and his close associates believe the case is a certain loser for the defense, arguing, among other things, that Trump’s loss at the initial trial is a foregone conclusion in Washington, D.C. The district is a deep-blue area and still carries the memory of the January 6th attack. And in the past several weeks, some of Donald Trump’s top legal and political advisers have been privately calling the job of defending Trump against an indictment in the election 2020 case a “suicide mission.”

I know at least one lawyer who’s free.

(Via Rolling Stone)

Ari Lennox is known to wear her heart on her sleeve. Whether it’s in regards to her fear of flying or about her frustrations in the industry, Lennox never minces words.

Last night (July 25), the “POF” singer took to Instagram to reveal that she’s been sober for the past seven months. During this time, Lennox shares she’s been through ” a lot of sober flights,” and had “A lot of sober conversations.”

She also shared that she doesn’t know if her sobriety will be a forever thing, but she “can’t imagine going back to how things were.”

But for the time being, Lennox is grateful to be present.

“I like doing chill sweet thing,” Lennox said. “I’m a chill b*tch I realized. Accepting help and realizing I’m not the best traveler on my own has been a game changer. So now I have help and that helps. Having help is ok. I like waking up with no hangover or embarrassment. I like waking up with no night terrors and panic attacks from liquor. I’m so raw feeling everything in this world and my coping mechanisms are only healthier now. It’s nice to remember events as they are happening.”

You can see the full post below.

“7 months sober. That’s a lot of sober flights. A lot of sober conversations. A lot of facing things raw and head on. Honestly I don’t know what will happen when I reach a year sober. Don’t know if sobriety is forever or not but I can’t imagine going back to how things were. Passing out in the airport or having my emotions more heightened than needed smh shit was bad. I feel more in control of my emotions. More stable. More happy. More alert. More safe. More accepting of things I can’t control and more responsible with things I can. I have less anxiety socially and when I’m ready to go, I go. I recognize my threshold with things and implement boundaries. I don’t find interest in partying anymore :/ maybe I’m changing and that’s deeper than alcohol. I like doing chill sweet things. I’m a chill b*tch I realized. Accepting help and realizing I’m not the best traveler on my own has been a game changer. So now I have help and that helps. Having help is ok. I like waking up with no hangover or embarrassment. I like waking up with no night terrors and panic attacks from liquor. I’m so raw feeling everything in this world and my coping mechanisms are only healthier now. It’s nice to remember events as they are happening. It’s nice to be present. Sobriety is a very present experience. Also I ain’t have no ass in long over a year. Just casually communicating this to the universe. But yea sure there’s the fantasy of wanting to escape all the intense stress of the world with alcohol cause boy does it work temporarily. But there’s the moment the liquor stops numbing and you’re chasing that feeling to no avail and you wake to see the problems of life still there [heart emoji] so anyway anybody out there also sober? What have you learned on your journey? Love you all so much.”

Drake and 21 Savage are continuing their It’s All A Blur Tour tonight for their third show at NYC’s Madison Square Garden. During one of their performances, Drake treated fans in the crowd to the news that his touring partner and collaborator has a new album on the way.

“Got one more night in New York City,” Drake says. “Make some noise for my twin one time… By the way, both albums on the way. I don’t know if you want me to say that. Both albums on the way.”

Upon the reveal, the crowd cheers. Back in November, the duo released a full collaborative album together titled Her Loss — which also prompted their joint tour. 21 Savage has also stayed busy since then, as he recently appeared on “One Mic, One Gun” from Nas and Hit-Boy’s Magic 2 album that dropped over the weekend.

Last month, 21 Savage also was heard on a feature when Young Nudy’s “Peaches & Eggplants” dropped. (The two are cousins.)

As for Drake, he also brought his mom on stage last night for a special tribute performance of his 2011 song, “Look What You’ve Done.” His album is reportedly titled For All The Dogs, but not much else is known.

Check out Drake revealing that both him and 21 Savage have new albums coming here.

Eighteen year old Samantha Frye has traded college life for entrepreneurship, and she has no regrets.

Frye began working at Rosalie’s Restaurant in Strasburg, Ohio at 16 as a dishwasher, working up the ranks as a kitchen prep, server, then line cook. All while working a second job, sometimes third job.

After graduating high school, Frye started college at Ohio State with plans of studying business or environmental engineering. But when she came back to work a shift at Rosalie’s for winter break, an opportunity arose—the owners had planned to sell the restaurant.

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“I was thinking that maybe [buying] was something I wanted to do,” she told News 5 Cleveland. “I had savings because I was saving for college, so I had quite a bit of money saved away. And I was like, I could possibly do this.”

Frye acted on that gut feeling, and used her college funds to buy Rosalie’s. Now she spends every day at her new business, either in the kitchen, on the floor or in the office meeting with sales reps.

This Ohio diner is under new ownership: an 18-year-old who started out as a dishwasher and is carrying on a legacy of the past. https://t.co/7VShD0O6n0

— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) May 13, 2023

Though Fyre’s mother, Brandi Beitzel, confessed to USA Today that she wasn’t initially “on board” with her daughter abandoning college plans, over time she became very “proud” of her for forging her own path, and applauded her “drive and ambition.”

That sentiment is echoed both by Rosalie’s regulars and staff, who are amazing at the young woman’s drive and confidence.

“I just really think she’s a great example of a young lady that is following her dreams and doing what she loves,” said Leanna Gardner, an employee.

It’s no secret that there are significantly less students attending college—down by about a million since the start of the pandemic. And while there are no doubt potential long term collective consequences to that, with exorbitantly high student loan rates, it’s easy to see why young adults would avoid massive debt for careers that don’t require a college degree.

Luckily, there are more efforts to make college an affordable option being made nationwide, like offering a free two years worth of college to graduating students.

And as Frye is proving by example—not going to college is certainly not a death sentence for one’s future. There are many ways to plant seeds for success. Honestly, college or no college, no matter which path is taken, there will likely be more uncertainty than there are guarantees. Perhaps the best bet then is trust those pings of intuition.

“You don’t need college to make a decent living, and I think that’s what a lot of people think nowadays,” Frye attests. “Follow your instinct, honestly. If it feels right, just do it.”

This article originally appeared on 5.22.23

The Charlotte Hornets biggest move this offseason has been the sale of the team by Michael Jordan to a group led by Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall. With an ownership change looming over everything this summer, Charlotte chose to mostly stay the course. Their biggest decision was what to do with the second overall pick, ultimately choosing Brandon Miller out of Alabama, and they have otherwise had a quiet offseason aside from re-signing their franchise centerpiece, LaMelo Ball, long-term.

The Hornets have not made any outside signings or trades this summer, choosing to keep their team mostly intact from last year, with the addition of some youngsters, and will use this upcoming season as a chance to see who fits around Ball before some potential larger changes to the roster and organizational structure under the new ownership group. Here, we’ll take stock of their summer so far, handing out grades for their Draft, free agency signings and contract extensions, and work on the trade market.

Draft: B

The Hornets made a pair of selections in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft, taking Brandon Miller at No. 2 overall and adding Nick Smith Jr. at No. 27 overall. Miller’s selection was the more controversial of the two, as taking him meant passing on Scoot Henderson, but the Hornets deemed Miller to be the better fit for how they want to build their roster around LaMelo Ball. While understandable, that tends to knock a grade down a bit when you take fit over best player available — although there were some who rated Miller second on their big board. Miller will provide the Hornets with a shooter and scorer with size alongside Ball, while Smith Jr. offers upside at guard after a bit of a down year at Arkansas battling through injury. On Draft night, our Brad Rowland gave them a B- for Miller and B+ for Smith Jr., with the following explanations for those grades.

It isn’t a surprise to see Miller come off the board at No. 2 overall, but Scoot Henderson is the better prospect, which knocks Charlotte’s grade down a bit. With that said, Miller is a worthy No. 2 overall choice in most drafts with a combination of size and shooting that provides a strong median outcome.

Smith Jr. falling this far would’ve been quite shocking before the season. He struggled, at least relatively, at Arkansas with injury and performance, but the talent is there as a natural creator. Charlotte may not be the perfect place for that skill to blossom, but it’s a good value here.

Free Agency/Contract Extensions: B+

Inking LaMelo Ball to a max extension this summer was a no-brainer, particularly once they made clear their commitment to him in the Draft by taking Miller over Henderson. Ball made the All-Star team as a second-year player and improved across just about every category in his limited playing time a year ago. Provided he’s fully healed from the ankle woes that plagued him last year, he’s worthy of the rookie max and is clearly Charlotte’s franchise player.

The other signing made by the Hornets this summer was more controversial, as Miles Bridges accepted the qualifying offer after not being able to find the long-term deal he wanted (in Charlotte or anywhere else). Bridges will be suspended to start the season after missing all of last year following a domestic violence incident to which he pleaded no contest. Him taking the steps needed to show remorse and begin making amends for that supersedes anything on the court when it comes to re-establishing himself in the league. There’s no doubt the Hornets missed Bridges’ presence on the floor last year, but by only extending the one-year qualifying offer they showed they’re not willing to invest in him fully until he takes the necessary steps over this next year off the court.

There is still one lingering question for the Hornets this summer, and that is what to do about restricted free agent PJ Washington. The big man has not found much of a market and is in a holding pattern as the few teams that could offer him a deal outside of Charlotte are still holding out to see if their cap space is needed to help facilitate one of the blockbuster trades. Meanwhile, the Hornets don’t seem too inclined to give him the deal he’s seeking (as, if they were, that would be done). It’ll be interesting to see whether they’re just refusing to bid against themselves and are just waiting for someone to make an offer sheet, or if they’d be fine letting him walk. Either way, Washington is still left playing the waiting game.

Trades: INC

The Hornets have not been involved in the trade market this summer, choosing to keep things pretty quiet amid an ownership change. They’ll be, effectively, running it back from last year, just with Bridges back on the roster and their two first round picks entering the rotation, as this figures to be an evaluation year before possibly making bigger moves next summer to try and build a more cohesive roster around Ball and company.