The Seattle Mariners have undoubtedly turned things around under new hitting coach Edgar Martinez. Since Martinez took over the position in late August, the team has become arguably the best offense in the game.

The approach looks simpler and Martinez has been praised by several M players for his ability to socialize and pass on information.

The question now is: Will Martinez be back in 2025?

According to a great article by Adam Jude of the Seattle Times, we don’t know yet.

By all accounts, he had only planned to assist full-time through the end of this season.

The door is open to him if he wants it and the organization would welcome him back with open arms. There’s a chance he could return in a hybrid role – perhaps he could assist with the homestand, easing the travel load.

If Martinez doesn’t return, finding a new full-time hitting coach will be one of the first priorities of the offseason – and that process has already begun for the Mariners, according to MLB sources.

The lasting legacy of the 2024 Mariners? The fact that they wasted the greatest starting rotation in franchise history:https://t.co/QCxolKW7S5

— Adam Jude (@A_Jude) September 27, 2024

It would be understandable if Martinez didn’t want to play full-time again next season. After all, he played in the major leagues for 18 years and served as the M’s hitting coach from 2015 to 2018. He has more than 20 years of professional seasons under his belt, and at age 61, he may just not want to go through the rigors of a baseball season.

However, if the organization can keep him in line – and not step on the toes of those who work full-time – that seems like a win.

Jude’s article also mentions that Julio Rodriguez has adapted well to working with Martinez – and his numbers reflect that. If you can get your best player to buy in and be happy, that seems like a win too.

The Mariners are 83-77 and will face the Athletics on Saturday night at 6:40 p.m. PT.

NEW PODCAST AVAILABLE: The latest episode of the Refuse to Lose podcast is out, with Brady Farkas talking about the M’s officially exiting the playoff race and the massive missed opportunity in 2024. He also discusses Seattle Sports 710 anchor Mike’s controversial comments. Salk is joined by outspoken M critic Aaron Levine of FOX 13. CLICK HERE:

Colosseum Memories: Did you know that a former Mariner holds the longest recorded home run at the Oakland Coliseum? CLICK HERE:

GO ON? This popular rumor site has predicted that the Mariners will trade Jorge Polanco this offseason. CLICK HERE:

Continue to follow our Inside the Mariners coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and following Teren Kowatsch and Brady Farkas on “X” @Teren_Kowatsch and @.wdevradiobrady. You can subscribe to the Refuse to Lose podcast by clicking HERE:

(This story has been updated to add new information.)

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Nick Saban wore Georgia football’s number while building Alabama into college football’s premier program for 17 years. He went 8-2 against the Bulldogs and won eight of the last nine games.

Here comes new Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer for his first matchup against a program that has won two national titles since Alabama won its last.

Tonight, No. 1 Georgia plays No. 4 Alabama at today’s Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

“We have to do our part to make the environment special and bring our fans to it,” DeBoer said.

Last week was a rough outing for the Saints, and fantasy owners felt it from several players as well. Alvin Kamara and Chris Olave had the best days of all against the Eagles, but this week is a completely different story. New Orleans is currently dealing with a lot of injuries, which makes some games this week risky. Here’s my advice for the Week 4 fantasy football approach.

Be sure to stop by Fantasy coverage from Sports Illustrated with Michael Fabiano for all your needs this football season.

Alvin Kamara (Probable 14.24 points)

Despite how difficult it was to run the ball last week, Kamara’s extended touches ended up scoring double-digit points for fantasy owners. Because of the hip and rib injuries, I don’t expect him to have 29 touches this week, but he will play and compete. He’s a must watch every week until you see him out of the lineup.

Rashid Shaheed (expected 11.71 points)

Shaheed was hidden last week and fantasy owners weren’t expecting it. He’s probably the safest receiver playing this week (see Olave advice shortly) and has a chance to rebound in a nice way. It will be fascinating to see how New Orleans approaches this game offensively, and Shaheed could see increased targets as one of Carr’s main targets.

I wouldn’t start a Saints tight end this week. I think they can get more work, but given the deficiencies on the offensive line, they could be used more for blocking against the Falcons.

There is no Demario Davis this week as he will miss his first career game with a hamstring injury. Pete Werner is the top player this week if you’re looking for a linebacker but are also considering Willie Gay Jr. D’Marco Jackson is a free agent available and he wants to take Davis’ snaps. Chase Young and Carl Granderson are also among your top players on the defensive line, as they will often be trying to beat Kirk Cousins ​​on the day. Bryan Bresee is also sneaky with his production early in the season.

The Saints have been able to force some turnovers in all of their games this season and hopefully that trend should continue. Tyrann Mathieu and Alontae Taylor would be the two best bets for the secondary.

Taysom Hill (expected 2.47 points)

I know. I know. Taysom Hill hasn’t been successful this season, but this feels like the week that changes. Why? Take these two things into account. First of all, Alvin Kamara is injured, as I mentioned earlier. They don’t want him to get 29 touches of the ball again. The other thing would be that the offensive line would also be in disarray. New Orleans would be wise to give Hill the ball in both the running and passing games, and he has had some success against Atlanta in the past. Here he can create a variety of looks and be successful with them. Put it this way. The Saints need him to beat.

More than 220,000 Augustans are without power after Hurricane Helene barreled through the area Friday morning.

The Category 4 storm made landfall Thursday night along Florida’s Big Bend coast. Helene brought tropical storm-force wind to the Augusta area (30-40 mph winds with 65 mph gusts).

While the National Weather Service noted there was potential for wind from 58 to 73 mph, a hurricane-force wind gust of 82 mph was observed Friday morning at Augusta Regional Airport.

First responders reported numerous trees falling on houses, cars and roads – prior to car wrecks in the aftermath of the storm.

The following shelters are open, according to the City of Augusta:

• Salvation Army Center of Hope: Capacity for 130 people, with five family rooms. Contact Olga Gonzales at 706-504-6792.
• Garden City Rescue Mission: Room for 60 men. Contact Patrick Feistel at 706-724-6960.
• Augusta Rescue Mission: Accommodates single men. Contact Chris Jones at 706-564-1834.

Is it possible to steal a movie from George Clooney and Brad Pitt, two of the matinee idols of our time? With “Wolfs,” Austin Abrams proves you can.

The 28-year-old star, previously perhaps best known for dancing shirtless onstage to Bonnie Tyler’s “Holding Out for a Hero” in an extravagant musical sequence in HBO’s “Euphoria,” finds himself back in “Jon.” Watts’ Apple TV+ comedy film again in a kind of pull-out mode. Here, wearing only his underwear and a pair of crew socks, he runs through Lower Manhattan trying to evade two fixers (Clooney and Pitt) who struggle to clean up his mess until nightfall.

In the big-budget, but minor-key comedy written and directed by Watts – in a return to adult films after his stints on the Tom Holland “Spider-Man” films – the charismatic Abrams is referred to in the script simply as a “child.” .” At the beginning of this one-night film, it is assumed that he is attacked and dead after a failed one-night stand with a prosecutor (Amy Ryan). Enter Jack (Clooney) and Nick (Pitt), rival fixers who, due to a logistical confusion that turns out to be a deliberate strategy by their boss (Frances McDormand, only heard in phone conversations), have been disposed of the body and put on the evening train back. But the boy emerges from the drunken stupor of his car alive, if not quite as well, and reveals, in at least one rambling, nervous one-take monologue, what really happened to the prosecutor.

In an endless, breathless rant with clever comic timing, Abrams reveals that Kid got involved in a drug heist for the thrill of the story. And in a performance reminiscent of Griffin Dunne’s manic turn in another New York night movie, Scorsese’s “After Hours.”

“It’s definitely a genre that’s interesting to me,” Abrams told IndieWire over Zoom from his home in Los Angeles, a “2001: A Space Odyssey” poster on the wall behind him. “Something like ‘Eyes Wide Shut.’ I love this film, even though I know it’s not always Kubrick’s favorite film. I love the way it’s shot and largely takes place in one night. In terms of how much it would factor into a performance, it’s not necessarily a lot because what are you going to do? Are you trying to reproduce something? I try to just be present to what’s going on around me.”

Abrams had never been to the Venice Film Festival, where “Wolfs” premiered out of competition this year on a particularly sweltering early September on the Adriatic lagoon. “Luckily it cooled down enough at night where it’s still hot, but you sweated a little less, about a quarter cup less,” he said. “It was crazy. It was crazy just being on the carpet with these guys and watching them make the carpet, and the whole day was something you just had to throw yourself into and go with the flow.”

When he first received the script for The Wolves, Abrams only knew that Clooney and Pitt would star. (A sequel is already planned at Apple, with Abrams expected to appear in it.) “Nobody knew anything about it except that Brad and George were in it and that Jon was directing it,” he said. “I had no idea what it was about or anything. All I got was the interrogation scene.”

Abrams said he didn’t do a chemistry read with the actors. “It was a normal audition and then meeting Jon, who I had known for a while through a few other friends… A big part of it was convincing myself that it was possible to do it and with them both boys working together. You see these names and you don’t think it’s even going to be possible. It took me a lot of time to convince myself that it was possible.”

Of the scene in which Abrams runs through downtown New York in just his underwear and socks, he said: “Every night was the longest night. We shot that scene for, I don’t know, three, four weeks, a lot longer than I thought… They just put me in the car and told me to drive the fuck over there and “walk over there,” like that quickly I could. I wasn’t really paying attention to where I was [in New York]. They would close certain parts of the street while leaving other parts open to the public who could just walk around. There are only so many things you can turn off in New York. I would turn a corner and meet normal people. They wouldn’t see any cameras, so they’re just a little freaked out because they see a guy in his underwear walking towards them.”

So basically just another day in New York City.

Meanwhile, Apple scrapped broader release plans, ultimately letting “Wolfs” run in theaters for just a week before making its streaming premiere on Apple TV+ (today, Friday, September 27), and starring big stars like Clooney and Pitt, there’s a film here that could do solid business with a wider theatrical window. Unfortunately, “Wolfs” is part of Apple’s ongoing bet on major projects to attract more subscribers. (Witness the recent streaming success of “Presumed Innocent,” Apple’s bona fide watercooler hit starring Jake Gyllenhaal.) But that would have required Apple to have a strong theatrical partner — like Paramount, which released last year’s “Killers of the Flower Moon.” “ gave a big boost.

“The vision was always for it to be widely distributed and when we saw it, we premiered it the other night and it was great to see it in front of an audience. It played really well,” Abrams said. “People have the priorities that they have that I don’t know or know about, and everyone made the decision that they thought was best for them. The desire was always to see it in the cinema and it actually makes a difference.”

The question Abrams always gets asked is: What’s the deal with the third season of Euphoria? After numerous starts, stops, ups and downs at HBO, the Sam Levinson-created teen drama is now slated to film in January 2025, with the return of leading actors like Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney. How Ethan will be considered by Abrams this season is another question. Ethan was the good-natured boyfriend of Kat, played by Barbie Ferreira, who cut ties with the series after the character was relegated to the sidelines in Season 2 – and that included a tough breakup with Ethan that some viewers felt was betrayal.

Abrams said that while he was “not tired” of being asked about “Euphoria” and the start of the new season, he added, “I just don’t have anything to say about it, simply because I don’t know.” If they do a third season, do I expect to be included in the third season? I would like to be there. I loved working on this project. That’s all I can really say.”

The new season is set to feature a time jump – appropriate given the young cast and the fact that Season 2 premiered almost two years ago, in early 2022 – and given Ethan’s split from Kat, there may not be a place for Abrams this time around. Who knows if he would still have contact with his classmates like Rue (Zendaya)?

“One hundred percent. Fully. You got it.”

Abrams will next star opposite Julia Garner and Josh Brolin in “Weapons” from “Barbarian” director Zach Cregger, which wrapped filming last July. Set in a small community in Florida, it revolves around a series of disappearing children with a supernatural basis.

“It has a bit of the same vein [‘Barbarian’]Abrams said. “It follows different people and it’s all intertwined, that kind of style. There’s only so much I can say because I don’t know how they’re going to present it to the public… A big part of what sets Zach apart is his comedy and how sharp and brilliant it is.

Abrams also stars in Ethan Berger’s upcoming “The Line,” in which he portrays a fraternity sworn subject to brutal hazing drills. Looking ahead, Abrams said his goal is to “continue to work with great directors. I would really like to work with some classic directors that I grew up watching. To be able to take on this task and be up to the challenge.”

That would require him to do a lot of homework, but Abrams said, “I Do lots of homework. I try not to talk about these things so much, so I don’t know how they are portrayed. Maybe it seems that way [I don’t]which is a good thing. You don’t want to show homework. That’s the whole point.”

“Wolfs” is now streaming on Apple TV+.

Support local journalism and stay informed with a digital subscription to the Herald-Tribune.

What we know on Saturday:

Longboat Key’s reopening delayed due to discovery of gas leaks

Longboat Key Fire Chief Paul Dezzi said Saturday afternoon that plans to gradually reopen the island were stalled by the discovery of gas leaks.

“We just found out less than an hour ago that we have multiple gas leaks in the north end and we determined that we need to secure those before we do anything to develop the island,” Dezzi said.

Georgia football wide receiver London Humphreys is out against the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Today it was believed that wide receiver London Humphreys could be available for the Georgia-Alabama game as he was removed from the injury report. However, Bulldogs on SI has confirmed that Humphreys did not travel with the team and will not play on Saturday due to illness.

Humphreys’ biggest game of the year was against Clemson, where he had two receptions for 63 yards and a touchdown. He hasn’t recorded any stats since the first week. Additionally, defensive lineman Warren Brinson has been removed from the injury report, Jordan Hall has been replaced out, and Mykel Williams is listed as a game-winning decision.

Georgia vs. Alabama Injury Report:

Georgia

Alabama

Here’s how to watch Georgia vs. Alabama

More news from Georgia:

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The real west on the Hallmark Channel is the story of a widowed mother of two who finds new life after a vacation on a ranch where she meets a sexy cowboy. The film is full of lived-in characters who are funny and warm-hearted, and while the romantic adventures take center stage, there is also a heartbreaking arc surrounding the unspoken grief suffered by the mother and her children after the loss of their husband and father. Often funny with a few poignant touches, it’s definitely a solid entry in the Hallmark canon.

Opening shot: An alarm goes off at 5 a.m. and Rebecca (Kimberley Sustad) doesn’t even hit the snooze button. Instead, she goes for a morning jog, and next thing you know, she’s cooking breakfast for her two sons and telling them they need to get moving to head off to their family vacation at the ranch. Rebecca is an early riser who catches the worm.

The essentials: Rebecca’s defining characteristics are that she is a professor in Boulder (she is a professor of “the Old West”) and a widow of three years. (“I run. And recycle,” she says when asked about her hobbies.) Her older son Noah (Nicholas Holmes) tells her, “You’re great, but it’s been three years since Dad died. “It might be good to find some friends who aren’t your children.” It’s always the eldest’s job to provide the representation, isn’t it?

Noah, a high school student, is applying to college and Rebecca wants them to go on a big family trip to a cattle ranch before he goes to school, but she is caught off guard when he secretly invites his girlfriend Jasmine on the trip . Rebecca is annoyed, but in the good-natured way that Hallmark protagonists are, a kind of zen-woosah that I personally will never experience. Rebecca is excited about this trip because her sister Cassidy (Marlie Collins) and mother Maureen (Lynda Boyd) are also coming, but Cassidy, like Noah, goes off script because it turns out her new boyfriend is there too. [CUT TO: Rebecca’s good-natured annoyance grows.]

When Rebecca decides to buy a cowboy hat to look good on this vacation, she meets a rugged cowboy named Jake West (Lucas Bryant), who immediately intrigues her when he claims he can read people and how he describes him she made the point by simply studying her with his rough, sexy eyes. Rebecca is impressed by his quiet confidence, so they have coffee. Although Jake doesn’t stick around long enough to reveal much about himself, Rebecca is clearly taken with this mysterious stranger. She goes back to the ranch to tell Cassidy and Maureen that she met someone charming, and then Cassidy says, “Wait a minute, my boyfriend just got here.” [CUT TO: The boyfriend is Jake!!] Cassidy says, “Everyone, this is Jake.” Rebecca says, “Ahem. Nice, ‘We’ll meet‘Jake.’

Over the next day or two, Rebecca tries to distance herself from Jake because she’s not the type to steal her own sister’s husband. But for reasons that only exist in movies like this, Cassidy insists that Rebecca meet Jake in person so that Rebecca can reach out if Jake seems like The One. This is obviously bad news for Cassidy, because Rebecca and Jake’s chemistry has gone off the rails and they both start having sexy fantasies about each other, and it’s probably the only time I’ve ever seen real, wet open-mouth kisses on a Hallmark Mouth saw film even though they are just hallucinations? [CUT TO: Me, scandalized.]

There are some obstacles in Rebecca and Jake’s path; Firstly, Cassidy and also the fact that Maureen is trying to get Rebecca together with an old classmate from her hometown, Bobby. The drama that arises from these storylines is pretty predictable, right down to the moment Rebecca and Jake get together at the end.

Our opinion: Most of the time I watched The real westI loved how airy and charming everything was. Every character, from the pragmatic but funny Rebecca to the wise but elusive Jake to the flighty but supportive Cassidy, was fully realized and their characters were likable and fully formed. While the film’s main drama certainly revolves around Rebecca’s quiet resignation to the man she longs for dating her sister, with a Hallmark movie you always knew she would get her man in the end. What I didn’t expect was the emotional resonance that a scene with Rebecca’s younger son Ollie (Azriel Dalman) elicited.

It turns out Rebecca’s life wasn’t the only one turned upside down by her husband’s sudden death three years ago. Near the end of the film, Ollie, an average boy with an obsession with ghosts, runs away without telling anyone to go “ghost hunting” on the ranch. When he is found (by Jake, of course), he explains that he really wanted to find a ghost because if ghosts turned out to be real, he might be able to see his father again. Oof. Rebecca may have been hesitant to move on and look for love again, but as she sees her son also struggling, she realizes that perhaps moving on will be a good thing for all of them. It’s not just one of those throwaway dramatic arcs, but a catalyst for change – in that moment she realizes that she needs to take the reins of her happiness (literally – she rides a horse, to meet Jake and confess her love to him). Thanks to the excellent cast and nuanced dialogue, what could have been predictable and cheesy turns out to be a wonderfully warm and funny love story.

Parting shot: Rebecca, Jake and their family all dance together at one final hoedown at the end of the week.

Performance worth seeing: Linda Boyd, who plays Rebecca’s mother Maureen, brings a gleeful sense of humor to each reading. The film has a number of solid comedic performances, but hers is naturalistic and expertly delivered and reaches the top.

Memorable dialogue: “Nothing worthwhile comes without risk.” “I like to take things as they come. Life is never what you expect, but that’s what makes it interesting.” Jake is usually a quiet man, but he has a tendency to use pithy maxims that sound like fortune cookies.

Our call: STREAM IT! The real west is one of the better Hallmark romances I’ve seen this year, and I’ve seen a lot. With a mix of humor and tenderness and endearing but not intrusive characters, it’s two hours well spent.

Liz Kocan is a pop culture writer based in Massachusetts. She gained her greatest fame by winning the game show Chain reaction.

The National Weather Service said Helene had cleared most of western North Carolina as of 11:21 a.m. Friday, but significant impacts, including severe flooding, were expected to continue into the weekend.

Many areas and towns along the French Broad River are experiencing flooding and the river continues to rise.

Landslides are still possible in the mountains, especially until the last rain subsides on Friday afternoon or evening.

Here is some of the damage in the area caused by local social media posts and our staff:

Asheville River Arts District:

The French Broad River reached over 16 feet at 11 a.m. on Sept. 27, flooding most of the River Arts District, seen here from the Haywood Road bridge.

More: ‘The worst storm damage I’ve ever seen’: Helene hits Fletcher and Henderson in historic flooding

Live updates: Rivers are still at flood level on Saturday

More: Due to massive flooding and a mudslide, Interstate 40 between Tennessee and North Carolina is impassable

Tropical Storm Helene: The storm passes, the effects continue, the flooding worsens. Everything you need to know

Landslide near Old Fort:

UNC Asheville:

Asheville: I-40 facing US 74

Boone, northeast of Asheville:

Swannanoa, outside Asheville

Yankin River

Hendersonville:

Marshall:

Charlotte

Outer Banks

This article originally appeared in the Asheville Citizen Times: Check out post-Helene flooding in Asheville and western North Carolina

Balatro is now on mobile! Explore the metaverse on the go with these tips for a seamless experience. Download the app and start your virtual adventure today!

Balatro, the once desktop-bound Metaverse platform, has finally made its way to mobile devices. This groundbreaking step opens up a world of possibilities, allowing users to explore virtual realities, connect with friends and participate in immersive experiences wherever they are.

Balatro is a metaverse platform that allows users to create and explore virtual worlds, interact with others, and participate in various activities. It is a place where imagination knows no bounds, offering opportunities for socializing, gaming, education and even business ventures.

The move to mobile is a strategic move to make the metaverse more accessible. With smartphones becoming an integral part of our lives, Balatro can now reach a wider audience and drive greater engagement.

The Balatro app is available for download from both the App Store and Google Play Store, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of devices.

Navigating the Mobile Metaverse: Tips for a Seamless Experience

• Use the touch interface: The mobile app is designed with intuitive touch controls that make navigation a breeze. Experiment with gestures like swiping, pinching, and tapping to interact with the virtual environment.
• Optimize your device: While Balatro is designed to run smoothly on most modern smartphones, it is recommended that you close all unnecessary background apps to free up resources and ensure optimal performance.
• Customize your avatar: Express your unique personality by customizing your avatar with a wide range of clothing, accessories and hairstyles. Let your virtual self shine!
• Connect with friends: With the mobile app, it’s easier than ever to stay connected with your friends in the metaverse. Join groups, attend events, and explore virtual worlds together.
• Discover new experiences: Balatro offers a wealth of experiences, from attending virtual concerts to participating in interactive games. Leave your comfort zone and discover something new every day.
• Pay attention to battery life: Diving into the metaverse can be immersive, but it’s important to keep battery life in mind. Consider bringing a power bank or charger to ensure uninterrupted adventures.
• Stay safe and protected: While Balatro strives to maintain a safe and welcoming environment, it is important to exercise caution and avoid sharing personal information with strangers. Report inappropriate behavior to the platform’s moderators.

The arrival of Balatro on mobile marks a new era for the metaverse. The platform’s accessibility and intuitive interface make it an ideal starting point for anyone wanting to explore virtual realities. So what are you waiting for? Download the app and embark on your own Metaverse adventure today!