Dylan Tanouye

Bottom of the Ninth: Who has the most to lose?

Welcome back to Bottom of the Ninth! We’re now almost a month into the 2026 MLB season, and we’re starting to get a clearer picture of which teams are contenders and which are pretenders. While 25 teams still have playoff odds above 10%, some have more to play for than others. Keeping with the theme of this column, a large reason for this disparity is the looming potential of a 2027 lockout. With some teams reaching the end of their contention windows, this season may be their last chance to bring home a World Series ring with their current core of players. This week, I’ll discuss the teams facing the most pressure to deliver this season before their windows close.

Bottom of the Ninth: Revaluing the trade market

Welcome back to Bottom of the Ninth! We are now almost two weeks into the 2026 MLB season, and for many fans, including myself, overreactions are running rampant. With over four months to go until the postseason, it’s important to remember that there’s a lot of baseball left to play and plenty of time for your favorite team to turn things around.

Bottom of the Ninth: Baseball’s uncertain future

Welcome to the first installment of Bottom of the Ninth! With Spring Training in full force and opening day now less than a month away, baseball season is officially back, and fans are preparing for the six long months it takes to determine if 2026 will be their favorite team’s year. However, one important question looms over the upcoming season: What will baseball look like after it concludes?

Crossword: Kids These Days

Crossword: Sunny Side Up

Democrats need to start controlling the narrative

In the wake of former Vice President Kamala Harris’ defeat in the 2024 presidential election, Democrats throughout the country have been playing the blame game. With the party unable to develop a coherent message to oppose President Donald Trump’s policies, many prominent Democrats have developed varying strategies to help their prospects in future elections. While some Democrats are using Trump’s policies as fuel to rally their base, others are attempting to moderate their image. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., are holding joint rallies across the country to stand up against Elon Musk and the billionaire class. In contrast, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a potential candidate for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, has started his own podcast where he features many prominent right-wing figures such as Steve Bannon and Charlie Kirk. While Newsom stated that he started this podcast to engage with more conservative voters, he has instead given the far right a free platform to speak with little pushback and even went so far as to agree with their attacks on transgender athletes. This podcast serves as a perfect metaphor for how Democrats are fumbling the hand they’ve been dealt, as Trump’s policies continue to increase prices and take away jobs. Instead of sitting back in the shadows and hoping voters will see them as more moderate than the Republicans currently in power, Democrats need to go on the offensive and prove that they do have a policy agenda that’s better than the status quo.

Crossword: Sweet Tooth

Crossword: Valentine’s Day

Don’t blame the referee, blame the league

As an avid sports fan, I understand the emotional intensity that comes with watching a game, no matter how low the stakes. Whether I’m cheering on my younger brother as he plays a match of youth soccer or watching my favorite professional sports teams, I often feel as emotionally invested as I would be if I were a player on the field. Games that don’t end with a victory for my team often produce an emotional reaction that compels me to find any excuse for the loss. Oftentimes, a significant amount of blame falls on the game officials, whether they are referred to as referees, umpires or judges.

Redefining the Tufts community

If I had to describe why I chose to attend Tufts in one word, I would say it was for the community. I’m confident I’m not alone in this answer either; I hear the word “community” tossed around all the time when students or faculty are asked to describe Tufts. In fact, the first descriptor of the student experience at Tufts on the school’s website is the “welcoming and multidimensional community.” While I’m personally very happy with the community I’ve found here, I think that we need to redefine what the Tufts community entails.