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As we inch closer to the start of spring training, the Mets began rounding out their bench, adding Albert Almora and Jonathan Villar on modest deals over the past few days. Corey Oswalt and Brad Brach were DFAd to make room on the 40-man roster for the new additions.

Well start with Almora, who was non-tendered by the Cubs earlier this offseason. Once a top prospect, Almora was a below average but playable hitter early in his career who could play a decent centerfield. The defense is still roughly there, but his offense has significantly declined in the last three years. His exit velocity (which was never particularly strong to begin with) and LD% both slipped in 2018 and 2019, and his 2020 was a total disaster as he unsuccessfully tried to lift the ball more and just wound up striking out instead.

Is his offensive profile salvageable? Possibly, but expecting anything more than a DRC+ in the 90-95 range from Almora is unreasonable at this point, even if he was once a prospect of some regard. Its worth noting that his best season with the Cubs came under Chili Davis, who is now the Mets hitting coach; perhaps that connection is a reason for optimism. Almora has also historically hit lefties better than righties, a platoon split that should prove useful given the Mets left-hand heavy outfield mix.

Villar is the more interesting signing of the two, simply because he has an elite skill - speed. Since he became a full time player in 2016, only Billy Hamilton has stolen more bases than Villar, who has swiped 176 bags with nearly an 80% success rate over the past half-decade. Hes shown no signs of decline in that department as hes moved into his late 20s either, registering 56 steals in 70 tries over the past two seasons.

The rest of Villars production is much more a mixed bag. Hes been a viable hitter at times - 101 DRC+ in 2016, 94 in 2019 - and a disaster at others - 63 in 2020, 64 in 2017. He hits for occasional power, but has a career ISO under .150. Nominally, he can play both middle infield spots and saw some time in centerfield last year for the Marlins, but hes a negative defender anywhere but second base (though its worth noting the sample size for his CF defense is extremely small).

Its those warts that have led to Villar being traded three times in the last three seasons, then left out in the cold in free agency. At the same time, those warts make Villar a compelling bench option. Worst case, he brings defensive flexibility and a single elite skill that can be leveraged off the bench. Beyond that, theres the 3-WARP level upside hes demonstrated if everything clicks, making him someone who could more than adequately fill in in case of injury or even potentially push for a starting spot if an incumbent is struggling.

We could get further into the weeds profiling both these players, but thats likely superfluous when discussing additions of this nature. As a high-level summary, they Mets spent just over $5 million to add both a reasonable backup CF and an exciting utility option who brings an element of speed that the roster was sorely lacking. Having Almora (and possibly Villar, depending on what you think of his defensive potential in center) as the only true center fielder(s) on the roster isnt ideal, but thats more a quibble with the overarching strategy of the offseason rather than these moves specifically.

The Villar signing is an easy A, a cheap gamble on upside with utility even if things dont work out. As for Almora, the grade isnt quite as good. Other options were better defensively (Jake Marisnick) or brought more usable offensive skills to the table, be that speed (Delino DeShields Jr.), a more leverageable platoon split (Kevin Pillar), or just a generally better bat (David Dahl). A lot of this comes down to personal preference or your opinion on what Almoras upside is, and ultimately these are minor concerns over a marginal roster spot. Because of that, the Almora signing still earns a B-.

Original post:
Grading the Mets recent bench additions - Amazin' Avenue

Its been a long, contentious winter. Debates raged on aboutrules of the game,when the season will startandhow many games it will include. Some issues are settled and some hardly feel that way.

Regardless, teams are, in fact, reporting to spring training this week, which means there's no better time to debut way-too-early 2021 MLB Power Rankings.

There are still some notable free agents on the market that could sway teams fortunes. But as the dying embers of the hot stove burn out, heres a breakdown of where every team stands.

Notable acquisitions: SP Wil Crowe, prospects

First baseman Josh Bell and starter Joe Musgrove are gone from last years league-worst team, and their trades netted the Pirates only significant offseason additions. Gregory Polanco, whose $11.6 million salary accounts for nearly 30% of Pittsburghs payroll, should be gone by the trade deadline. This team is a heavy favorite to claim the No. 1 pick in the MLB draft for the second straight year.

Notable acquisitions: SP Mike Foltynewicz, DH Khris Davis, SP Dane Dunning, OF David Dahl

The Rangers enter 2021 in full-on rebuild mode. Face of the franchise Elvis Andrus is gone, as is staff ace Lance Lynn, who posted back-to-back top-six finishes in Cy Young Award voting over the past two seasons. The only position player who projects to be an above-average regular is Joey Gallo, whos a prime candidate for a midseason trade. Texas hasnt lost 100 games since 1973, a streak thats in serious danger of being snapped this season.

Rob Schumacher/USA TODAY Sports

Notable acquisitions: SP Austin Gomber, RP Robert Stephenson

The Rockies appear headed for a painful rebuild as shortstop Trevor Story seems like a natural candidate to follow Nolan Arenado out the door. Will manager Bud Black, 63, want to stick around for a teardown?

Notable acquisitions: INF Freddy Galvis, SP Flix Hernndez, SP Matt Harvey

The Orioles hung around on the periphery of the playoff race for much longer than anyone anticipated in 2020, but still endured their fourth consecutive losing season. Regulars from last seasonJos Iglesias, Alex Cobb, Hanser Alberto and Renato Nezare gone, and there havent been substantial additions to the major league club. Adley Rutschman Watch will likely be the most compelling part of 2021 for Os fans.

Notable acquisitions: OF Nomar Mazara, OF Robbie Grossman, C Wilson Ramos

The Tigers lost at least 98 games each year from 201719 and were on a 97-loss pace in 2020. An optimist would point to that trend as progress, though expect much of the same from Detroit in 2021. Starting pitchers Matthew Boyd and Spencer Turnbull could be trade candidates by midseason, though the development of young arms Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal and Matt Manning will be the key story line to keep tabs on.

Notable acquisitions: SP James Paxton, SP Chris Flexen

The Mariners finished just two games behind the Astros for a playoff spot in 2020, though still ended up with an uninspiring 2733 record. A lack of pitching depth and a weak lineup will hold Seattle back in 2021, though watching Kyle Lewiss follow-up act after winning Rookie of the Year will sure be entertaining.

BACCELLIERI: Deadening the Baseball? MLB's Done It Before

Notable acquisitions:RP Joakim Soria, INF Asdrubal Cabrera

The Madison Bumgarner contract already seems to be weighing down this roster, and there are four more years ahead. Arizona probably wont finish in last place again, but the D-backs are leagues behind the top two teams in the NL West. Starter Zac Gallen deserves your attention, regardless.

Notable acquisitions:INF Enrique Hernndez, INF Marwin Gonzalez, SP Garrett Richards

The Red Sox traded away Andrew Benintendi earlier this month, signaling the continuation of the clubs rebuild process. Bounce-back seasons from J.D. Martinez and Rafael Devers would go a long way toward boosting Bostons chances at contention, particularly with a rotation that leaves a lot to be desired, at least until Chris Sale returns at some point midseason.

Jasen Vinlove/USA TODAY Sports

Notable acquisitions: OF Adam Duvall, RP Anthony Bass, RP Dylan Floro, RP Adam Cimber

Miamis young rotation and revamped bullpen could end up carrying the Marlins to another surprising run toward October, making this ranking look far too unkind. But this is the weakest lineup in the NL East, and theyll need to prove last years 60-game success wasnt a flash in the pan a few years ahead of schedule.

Notable acquisitions: OF Andrew Benintendi, 1B Carlos Santana, SP Mike Minor, RP Greg Holland

The Royals did well this winter to add significant pieces to its big league roster, assembling a lineup that has the looks of a well-balanced unit. Kansas Citys starting rotation is not as far along as its offense, though the development of Brady Singer is a key focal point.

VERDUCCI: The Royals Are Betting Andrew Benintendi Will Bounce Back

Notable acquisitions: INF Tommy La Stella, SP Alex Wood, RP Jake McGee, SP Anthony DeSclafani, RP Matt Wisler

The Giants still need to cycle out the veterans from their World Series core before this team has a full Farhan Zaidi look to it. More than anything the team needs a minor league season to further develop its top prospects like Joey Bart, whose rocky 2020 debut has him ticketed to start 2021 in the minors. The admirable refusal of the front office to fully tank means theres still enough talent here to hang around the edge of the playoff race for a while.

Notable acquisitions: RP Sean Doolittle, RP Jeff Hoffman, UT Dee Strange-Gordon

Though the Reds were shut out by Atlanta during their two-game postseason foray, the club's offense appears to be the strongest aspect of this roster. Losing Trevor Bauer significantly lowers Cincinnatis ceiling, and the teams bullpen could again be a liability.

Notable acquisitions: SS Elvis Andrus, RP Adam Kolarek, RP Sergio Romo

Last seasons AL West champs will look pretty different in 2021. Gone are key contributors Marcus Semien, Liam Hendriks, Robbie Grossman, Joakim Soria and Khris Davis, putting Oaklands three-year playoff streak in jeopardy. A full season from Matt Chapman would greatly help, as would a rebound from first baseman Matt Olson. Theres starting rotation talent in the form of Jess Luzardo, Frankie Montas, Sean Manaea and A.J. Puk, but the group as a whole has yet to put it all together.

Michael McLoone/USA TODAY Sports

Notable acquisitions: 2B Kolten Wong

Brandon Woodruff and Corbin Burnes are among MLBs most underrated starters, while Josh Hader and Devin Williams combine for perhaps the most dominant back-end of a bullpen in baseball. A watered-down NL Central is there for the taking. But Wong is the only addition of note to an offense that doesnt measure up to other National League contenders.

Notable acquisitions: OF Joc Pederson, SP Zach Davies, SP Jake Arrieta, SP Trevor Williams

Chicagos core started to look stale last season. If that was just collective bad luck in a shortened season, the Cubs could give this group a last hurrah before Kris Bryant presumably leaves in free agency. Bringing back Arrieta in an attempt to recapture 2016s glory still leaves this rotation short on strikeout artists sans Yu Darvish, however, meaning batted ball luck could dictate a wide range of outcomes.

Notable acquisitions: SP Matt Moore, RP Archie Bradley, RP Brandon Kintzler, RP Jos Alvarado

Only four teams (Dodgers, Braves, Padres, Yankees) scored more runs last year than the Phillies, who retained J.T. Realmuto and Didi Gregorius and should be a force on offense again. The rotation was also a top-10 unit by ERA (4.08). If the Phillies are to make the postseason for the first time since 2011now the second-longest drought in the majors the most straightforward route is the bullpen improving from historically inept to merely average.

APSTEIN: Did MLB Use Juiced Balls in 2020?

Notable acquisitions: OF Eddie Rosario, SS Amed Rosario, OF Andrs Gimnez

It might be a bit of a surprise to see Cleveland rank this high after trading Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco while letting Brad Hand and Carlos Santana (among others) walk in free agency. Retaining reigning Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber and MVP runner-up Jos Ramrez certainly helps, and theres enough depth elsewhere that Cleveland could contend for the division despite having the lowest projected payroll in the majors ($36.6 million).

Pool Photo/USA TODAY Sports

Notable acquisitions: SP Jos Quintana, SS Jos Iglesias, RP Raisel Iglesias, SP Alex Cobb

The Angels had numerous roster holes to address this offseason and filled them exclusively via one-year deals or trades for players a year away from free agency. That approach should serve first-year general manager Perry Minasian with flexibility for 2022 and beyond, though it will likely leave this years club somewhere in the middle of the pack. This is a critical point in Shohei Ohtanis attempts to thrive as a two-way player.

Notable acquisitions: SP Luis Patio, SP Chris Archer, SP Rich Hill, SP Michael Wacha

The defending AL champions lost quite a bit from last years club, most notably starting pitchers Blake Snell and Charlie Morton. Theyve opted to go the patchwork route to rebuild the rotation, making the health of staff ace Tyler Glasnow all the more crucial. Tampa Bays lineup and bullpen depth should still be strengths.

Notable acquisitions: 3B Nolan Arenado

The Cardinals boast more depth throughout the roster than any of their division rivals, putting them in a good position to win the NL Central crown if we do indeed get a full 162-game season. Arenado and top prospect Dylan Carlson should add much-needed pop to the lineup, though it's probably not enough to outlast the Dodgers and Padres in October.

MARTELL: Is the NL Central Really the Cardinals' to Lose?

Notable acquisitions: OF George Springer, INF Marcus Semien, RP Kirby Yates

The nomadic Blue Jays returned to the playoffs in 2020 and have the look of a contender after offseason signing George Springer and Marcus Semien. Toronto should have one of the leagues best offenses, though the pitching staff leaves a bit to be desired beyond Hyun-Jin Ryu. A return to form from Kirby Yates would be critical in stabilizing the back end of the bullpen.

Notable acquisitions: 1B Josh Bell, LF Kyle Schwarber, SP Jon Lester, RP Brad Hand

The Nationals are prime bounce-back candidates after using free agency to patch up various holes that appeared during their championship hangover. The return of 2019 World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg wont hurt, either.

Notable acquisitions: RP Pedro Bez, C Jason Castro, RP Ryne Stanek

Houston hasnt added much this offseason, and the departure of George Springer will undoubtedly hurt. But retaining Michael Brantley was significant, and this is still one of the best offenses in the game. Pitching-wise, Framber Valdez and Jos Urquidy look like burgeoning stars to go along with the steady Zack Greinke and Lance McCullers Jr. The Astros were an underachieving bunch last year, and in a division that lacks any really impressive clubs, theyre the safest bet to emerge as front-runners.

Wendell Cruz/USA TODAY Sports

Notable acquisitions: SS Francisco Lindor, C James McCann, SP Carlos Carrasco, SP Joey Lucchesi, RP Trevor May, UT Jonathan Villar, OF Albert Almora Jr.

Steve Cohen has bankrolled the rapid construction of a World Series contender in Queens. It may be tough for New York to snap Atlantas three-year NL East reign, but even if theyre relegated to the wild-card game, who else would you want on the mound besides Jacob deGrom? The only question mark is a bullpen thats tortured Mets fans the past few seasons.

Notable acquisitions: RP Alex Colom, SS Andrelton Smimons, SP J.A. Happ

The Twins won a tight battle for the AL Central last season, and their offseason acquisitions have outweighed their departures. Though theyll miss Eddie Rosario, who was surprisingly nontendered and ended up in Cleveland, theres still plenty to like about this lineup. Minnesotas bullpen ranked third in the majors in fWAR last season and loses some key pieces from that unit, butAlexColom should help offset those departures and stabilize the relief corps in close games.

Notable acquisitions: RP Liam Hendriks, SP Lance Lynn, OF Adam Eaton

The White Sox snapped an 11-year playoff drought in 2020, and theyve gotten better during the offseason. Theyve upgraded at closer from Alex Colom to Liam Hendriks, while Lance Lynn provides another top-end starter to go along with Lucas Giolito and Dallas Keuchel. Youngsters Luis Robert and Eloy Jimnez appear destined for stardom, and having reigning MVP Jos Abreu in tow makes this one of the best lineups in the league.

Notable acquisitions: SP Charlie Morton, SP Drew Smyly

Adding two veteran starters should do wonders for a team that nearly advanced to the World Series despite starting Max Fried, three rookies and a reliever against the Dodgers in the NLCS. Still, the Braves did not improve as much as several other contenders around the league and may be hard-pressed to repeat their superb hitting. Atlanta also has the weakest bench of any team with championship aspirations.

Notable acquisitions: SP Corey Kluber, SP Jameson Taillon, RP Darren ODay

Its remarkable the Yankees were able to succeed to the degree they did last season given the injuries and underperformances from key players. The band has more or less returned for 2021, and the offense should be elite if they can get something close to full seasons from Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. New Yorks pitching has enough depth that the club doesnt need to rely on Corey Kluber, but a resurgence from the two-time Cy Young Award winner would give New York one of the best staffs in baseball.

Orlando Ramirez/USA TODAY Sports

Notable acquisitions: SP Yu Darvish, SP Blake Snell, SP Joe Musgrove, RP Mark Melancon, INF Ha-seong Kim, C Victor Caratini

The Padres have precisely one homegrown player (Dinelson Limet) on their projected 25-man roster. That speaks to the absurd amount of wheeling and dealing carried out by A.J. Preller since taking over as GM in 2014. The result is the most talented Padres team in franchise history. Unfortunately, theyre not the most talented team in their division.

SELBE: How Close Are MLB's Title-Less Teams to Winning the World Series?

Notable acquisitions: SP Trevor Bauer, RP Corey Knebel

The Dodgers dont have quite as much organizational depth following the departure of Joc Pederson, Kik Hernandez and several relievers, but this franchise is still the envy of the other 29 teams. Los Angeles countered San Diegos remarkable upgrades by signing Trevor Bauer and will also debut David Price in its rotation. Whoever wins the National League West should enter the playoffs as the favorite to win it all.

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MLB Power Rankings: All Eyes Are on the Padres - Sports Illustrated

The Associated Press

The voters inThe Associated Press men's college basketball pollare lined up with the committee that will select the NCAA Tournament field when it comes to which five teams are the nation's best.

Agreeing on the order beyond that isn't as simple.

Top-ranked Gonzaga and No. 2 Baylor remained atop Monday's latest AP Top 25, where they have been for all 13 polls this season. And after Illinois rose one spot to No. 5, that put the top of the AP poll in sync with theinitial rankings of the top 16 seedsreleased Saturday by the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee.

Among teams that didn't lose last week, AP voters were a bit higher on No. 7 Virginia (seeded ninth), No. 9 Oklahoma (12th), No. 11 Iowa (13th) and No. 12 Texas (15th) following wins that came later Saturday. In addition, Alabama rose three spots to No. 8 in the AP poll to pull closer to the committee's seeding of seventh overall shortly before the Crimson Tidescored 115 pointsin a win over against Georgia.

Sixth-ranked Houston (seeded eighth) didn't play after the committee released its rankings.

Oregon (12-4), which won it's third straight game on Saturday with a victory against Arizona in Tucson, received votes but remains outside of the AP top 25. The Ducks did rejoin the USAToday/Coaches Poll at No. 25.

MORE: Ducks win a thriller at Arizona

THE TOP TIER

Coach Mark Fews Bulldogs received 59 of 64 first-place votes in the new AP Top 25, while Scott Drews Bears claimed the other five. Next came three straight Big Ten teams, starting with No. 3 Michigan and No. 4 Ohio State as the other No. 1 seeds in the selection committee's rankings.

Illinois climbed to the top 5 for the second time this season, the other coming in late November, for the program's highest ranking since reaching No. 1 during the 2004-05 season. The Illini dipped to No. 22 by January but have won five straight, including against Iowa and No. 21 Wisconsin.

RISING

No. 14 Creighton had the weeks biggest climb, jumping five spots after aweekend winover Villanova. The Bluejays have won six of seven since a Jan. 20 loss to Providence.

No. 11 Iowa climbed four spots after a pair of Big Ten wins, first against a ranked Rutgers team at home. Then came Saturday's30-point win at Michigan State, the worst home loss in coach Tom Izzo's tenure with the Spartans.

In all, 11 teams climbed from last weeks poll.

SLIDING

No. 20 Missouri took the biggest tumble, falling 10 spots after losses at Mississippi and at home to Arkansas in Southeastern Conference play last week. The Tigers had cracked the top 10 last week for the first time since December 2012.

No. 15 Texas Tech fell eight spots after losing at home to No. 13 West Virginia, while No. 10 Villanova fell five spots after its loss to Creighton.

MORE: Duarte's return sparks Oregon past Arizona State

STATUS QUO

Beyond the top four, No. 18 Virginia Tech, No. 21 Wisconsin and No. 22 Loyola Chicago also remained in their positions from last week.

WELCOME

Kansas' streak-breaking absence from the AP Top 25 was a short one.

The Jayhawksfell out of last weeks pollfor the first time in 12 years. But they immediately beat a ranked Oklahoma State team to start the week, then added two wins over Iowa State to jump back in at No. 23.

Kansas was one of three new additions to this weeks poll, joined by No. 24 Arkansas and No. 25 San Diego State. It marked the Razorbacks first appearance since January 2018, while the Aztecs spent two weeks in the poll in December.

FAREWELL (FOR NOW)

Oklahoma State (No. 23), Purdue (No. 24) and Rutgers (No. 25) fell out of the poll.

CONFERENCE WATCH

The Big 12 led the way with six ranked teams after having a national-best five teams in the NCAA selection committees rankings. The Big Ten was next with five ranked teams, while the SEC had four and the Atlantic Coast Conference had three.

More:
Despite three straight wins, Oregon remains unranked in the AP men's basketball poll - The Register-Guard

Hulu has a handful of new additions on tap for March, including a time-loop shoot-em-up and Season 2 of one of its more popular animated offerings.

Boss Level (March 5), an original movie directed by Joe Carnahan, is a tongue-in-cheek, action-packed spin on the Groundhog Day-like time-loop trope, with a former special-forces op (Frank Grillo) facing an endless stream of assassins from the moment he wakes up every morning. Mel Gibson and Naomi Watts co-star.

Solar Opposites (March 26), the twisted (and very adult) animated series from Justin Roiland and Mike McMahan (two of the folks behind Rick and Morty) returns for a second season, as an alien family tries to adapt to life on Earth.

Also of note coming to the Disney DIS, -0.70% -controlled streaming service: Soleil Moon Fryes child-star documentary kid 90 (March 12); a new season of FXs Sons of Anarchy spinoff Mayans M.C. (March 17); and Genius: Aretha (March 22), the latest installment in the NatGeo series, this time focusing on Aretha Franklin. Both will stream a day after new episodes air on cable.

Read: More streaming pick at Whats Worth Streaming

Heres the complete list of whats coming to Hulu, as of Feb. 16 (release dates are subject to change):

March 1Charles & Diana: 1983 (2021)The 13th Warrior (1999)50/50 (2011)A Very Brady Sequel (1996)As Good as It Gets (1997)Attack of the 50-Foot Cheerleader (2012)Attack the Block (2011)Beloved (1998)Blow (2001)Brooklyns Finest (2010)Cocktail (1988)Demolition Man (1993)The Descent (2006)Dolphin Tale (2011)Dolphin Tale 2 (2014)Employee of the Month (2006)Enemy of the State (1998)The Forbidden Kingdom (2008)The Ghost Writer (2010)The Great Debaters (2007)I Can Do Bad All By Myself (2009)Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009)In the Line of Fire (1993)Judge Dredd (1995)The Last Face (2017)Malcolm X (1992)McLintock! (Producers Cut) (1963)The Nanny Diaries (2007)Neil Young: Heart of Gold (2006)The Ninth Gate (1999)Pandorum (2009)Patriot Games (1992)Predators (2009)Pretty Woman (1990)Priceless (2016)Rushmore (1999)Scrooged (1988)Shine a Light (2008)Silverado (1985)Sliver (1993)The Social Network (2010)The Spirit (2008)Stargate (1994)Starsky & Hutch (2004)The Terminal (2004)Tokyo Rising (2020)The Tourist (2010)Traitor (2008)Vertical Limit (2000)Wedding Crashers (2005)The Whole Nine Yards (2000)Young Frankenstein (1974)

March 2Debris: Series Premiere (NBC)The Voice: Season 20 Premiere (NBC)Top Chef: Complete Season 17 (Bravo)

March 3New Amsterdam: Season 3 Premiere (NBC)

March 5Boss Level (Hulu Original)Ammonite (2020)Beirut (2018)Iron Mask (2019)

March 6Storks (2016)Triggered (2020)

March 7Proxima (2019)

March 8Good Girls: Season 4 Premiere (NBC)Shipwrecked: Complete Season 1 (Banijay)

March 9Absolutely Ascot: Complete Seasons 1 & 2 (All3Media)Dress to Impress: Complete Seasons 1 & 2 (ITV)

March 11Game of Talents: Series Premiere (Fox)

March 12Cake: Season 4 Premiere (FX)Farewell Amor (2020)kid 90 (Hulu Original)

March 14Buddy Games (2019)

March 151 Night In San Diego (2020)Constructing Albert (2017)Here Awhile (2019)Intersect (2020)Missing 411: The Hunted (2019)Naughty Books (2020)Pink Wall (2019)The Pretenders (2018)The Relationtrip (2017)Sister Aimee (2019)The Stand: How One Gesture Shook the World (2020)Tracks (2019)

March 16Staged: Complete Season 2 (BBC Studios)

March 17Mayans M.C.: Season 3 Premiere (FX)

March 18Trolls: TrollsTopia: Complete Season 2 (Hulu Original)Identity (2003)

March 19Hunter Hunter (2020)

March 20Catfish: The TV Show: Complete Season 8 (MTV)

March 22Genius: Aretha (National Geographic)

March 23Breeders: Season 2 Premiere (FX)100% Wolf (2020)

March 25Collective (2019)

March 26Solar Opposites: Complete Season 2 (Hulu Original)Into the Dark: Blood Moon: Season 2 Finale (Hulu Original)Fire Force: Complete Season 2 (Funimation)The Hurricane Heist (2018)

March 30Vikings: Complete Season 6B (History)

March 31Pooch Perfect: Series Premiere (ABC)

March 16Pigeon Kings (2020)

March 30The Cooler (2003)

March 31A Very Brady Sequel (1996)American Gigolo (1980)As Good as It Gets (1997)Attack the Block (2011)Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery (1997)Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)Blade Runner: The Final Cut (2007)Blood Diamond (2006)Boogie Nights (1997)Bully (2001)Chaplin (1992)Charlottes Web (1973)Coneheads (1993)Dead Poets Society (1989)Demolition Man (1993)Double, Double, Toil and Trouble (1993)Employee of the Month (2006)Enemy of the State (1998)Eves Bayou (1997)Firewalker (1986)Foxfire (1996)Frozen (2010)Good Luck Chuck (2007)Guess Who (2005)Hondo (1953)Hot Shots! (1991)I Can Do Bad All By Myself (2009)Igor (2008)In the Line of Fire (1993)Johnny Mnemonic (1995)Love and Basketball (2000)Mars Attacks! (1996)More Than a Game (2008)New in Town (2009)Night at the Museum (2006)Push (2009)Rushmore (1999)Silverado (1985)Sliver (1993)Species (1995)Stargate (1994)Starman (1984)Stephen Kings Graveyard Shift (1990)Superbad (2007)The Arrival (1996)The Brothers McMullen (1995)The Chumscrubber (2005)The Duff (2015)The Mexican (2001)The Rules of Attraction (2002)The Three Musketeers (2011)The Tourist (2010)The Truman Show (1998)Tooth Fairy (2008)Triumph of the Spirit (1989)Vampire in Brooklyn (1995)War (2007)Waynes World 2 (1993)Wedding Crashers (2005)West Side Story (1961)Zappa (2020)

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Here's what's coming to Hulu in March 2021, and what's leaving - MarketWatch

Apple today introduced the second betas of iOS and iPadOS 14.5, building on the extensive feature set that was introduced in the first betas.

Changes in the second beta are more minor in scale than what we saw in the first beta, but there are still new additions that are worth highlighting. Below, we've rounded up the changes that we've spotted in the second beta.

As highlighted by Emojipedia, iOS 14.5 introduces several new emoji characters including heart on fire, mending heart, exhaling face, face with spiral eyes, face in clouds, along with different gender options for people with beards. There are also new couple emojis that have new skin tone mixes.

Reports suggest that the second beta of iOS 14.5 may fix the green tint issue that some iPhone owners have been experiencing. Some iPhone 12 models exhibit a gray or green glow, an issue that Apple said it was investigating back in November. For some users, there are improvements, but for others, the issue still appears to exist so it's not entirely clear whether the beta definitively addresses the tint.

There's a vague mention of charging an iPhone with a "battery pack" in the iOS 14.5 code under the optimized charging section. It's not clear what Apple is referring to with "battery pack" since existing battery options made by Apple are Smart Battery Case. It's either unusual wording for the case or a hint of a future iPhone 12 battery pack. "To improve charging efficiency and maximize available battery life, the battery pack will keep your phone charged at around 90%," reads the text.

On the 8th-generation iPad, the 4th-generation iPad Air, the 2nd-generation 11-inch iPad Pro, and the 4th-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro, Apple has added a new privacy feature that's designed to mute the built-in microphone whenever the Smart Folio is shut.

This will prevent apps from accessing the microphone when the tablet is not in use, with the feature also working with other MFi smart cases. Apple first introduced this feature in the 2020 iPad Pro models, and is expanding it to additional models.

There's a new Shortcut action for taking a screenshot that can be incorporated into various shortcuts, plus new actions for locking the orientation of the iPhone and switching between cellular data modes. With the Voice & Data mode action, there are options to select 5G, 5G Auto, and 4G network options.

There are new slide gestures in Apple Music for adding a song to the Now Playing queue or adding it to the Apple Music Library. When long pressing on a song, there are also new options to "Play Last" and "Show Album." In the Library, the download button has been replaced by three dots that can be tapped to access a whole range of options for a song. The actions are the same as the actions that are available when long pressing on a song title anywhere in the Music app.

The first iOS 14.5 beta tweaked the software update text to say "Your iPhone is up to date with all of the latest bug fixes and security enhancements," but iOS 14.5 beta 2 walks that back. Now it just reads "iOS is up to date," which may be placeholder text for a future change.

Apple has tweaked the look of App Store Privacy labels to make them easier to distinguish in Dark Mode.

There are a handful of changes to the underlying code that don't necessarily reflect new feature implementations at this time, but could potentially serve as an indication of what's coming in the future. There are also a few smaller changes and tweaks that we've included below.

See something we've missed? Let us know in the comments below and we'll add it.

We have a complete list of all of the features that are new to iOS 14.5 in our dedicated iOS 14.5 features guide, which is worth checking out if you want to know what to expect when the software releases to the public in early spring.

Read more here:
Everything New in iOS 14.5 Beta 2: New AirPods Max Emoji, Green Tint Fix, iPad Security and More - MacRumors

Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority

Its almost that time of the year again, when the new Android developer previews are pushed out to registered users. But we may have already received a first look at the upcoming Android 12 update thanks to XDA-Developers, along with plenty more details.

The apparent screenshots show a light beige look (possibly due to support for theming in Android 12) and plenty of rounded widgets. Its also believed that several privacy-related tweaks and additions are incoming too. So that got us wondering what Android Authority readers thought of Android 12 at this juncture.

We posted the poll on February 10 2021, and 1,099 votes were tallied as of writing. The results show that almost three-quarters of voters are liking what they see at this point. We can see why too, with the privacy features in particular (e.g. camera and mic indicators, and new privacy toggles) being pretty sensible additions.

A quarter of polled readers expressed dissatisfaction with the apparent Android 12 leaks though, but they made up a vocal majority in the comments. These comments point to the possible UI design as being the chief complaint. It seems like early days for Android 12, so its still possible the visual style could change if the screenshots were indeed accurate.

Its also possible some features might be pushed back to a later Android release though, as we saw with Android 11 and features like the double-tap-on-the-back gesture. Heres hoping we nevertheless get that missing feature and much more in Android 12s stable release.

Thats it for our Android 12 poll, thanks for voting and for submitting comments! What do you think of the Android 12 leaks? Let us know via the comments.

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We asked, you told us: You like what you see of Android 12 so far - Android Authority

The Royals farm system continues to improve, but is still ranked in the middle, according to organizational rankings by top talent evaluators. ESPNs Kiley McDaniel ranks the Royals 17th in baseball, Keith Law of The Athletic ranks them 15th, and Baseball America ranks them 14th in lists that came out this month. The rankings are based mostly on evaluations done last year since there was no minor league season, with additions and graduations factored in.

McDaniel used a dollar value to correspond to prospect rankings, adding up each systems value to come up with his rankings. He has the Royals right behind the Yankees and Dodgers farm systems and ahead of the Cardinals. He notes it is a top-heavy system that is ordinary after the top seven, but that theres a real shot Kansas City leaps into the top 10 of next years list after adding the No. 7 overall pick in the draft to its system.

McDaniel ranks infielder Bobby Witt, Jr. as the top prospect in the system and the #17 prospect in baseball. McDaniel notes there are concerns about his ability to make contact, but he has posted big exit velos and he could hit for enough contact and draw enough walks to get to his 25-30-homer power in games while also providing premium value on the basepaths and on defense.

Keith Law likes the investment the Royals have made in college pitching, and he is very high on lefty Daniel Lynch, who he ranks as the top prospect in the system, and the #17 prospect in baseball. Law writes that Lynch has elite stuff from the left side with an improving arsenal with a high-90s fastball, plus slider, and now a plus change up. Law writes that the real test of the system will be how some of their players who struggled in 2019, such as MJ Melendez and Nick Pratt, bounce back after a year focused just on development at the teams alternate site.

Baseball America notes the Royals farm system is still very pitching-heavy, but Witt provides an anchor for a team that still needs to find some more big bats for the future. They have four Royals on their top 100 prospect list, the most Royals prospects that have made the list since 2015. Jackson Kowar comes in at #95 with a plus fastball and double-plus changeup, although they note that his success may depend on getting his curveball to be average. The #14 farm system ranking for the Royals is the highest the farm system has been ranked by Baseball America since 2015.

The Royals will have the seventh pick in this Junes draft, plus a competitive balance pick after the second round, which could help their rankings. Pitching prospect like Asa Lacy, Daniel Lynch, and Jackson Kowar have a chance to graduate off prospect lists this year, but there are some intriguing arms like Jonathan Bowlan, Austin Cox, Jon Heasley, and Alec Marsh that could jump onto radar screens. Outfielder Kyle Isbel could bounce back from injury, and Melendez, Pratto, and slugger Seuly Matias could get on track after a rough 2019 season. The Royals could also get a chance to see what 2020 draft pick Nick Loftin can do, and outfielder Erick Pea could show off his five-tool talent.

More here:
Royals farm system ranked in the middle by talent evaluators - Royals Review

The Checks and Balances Letter delivers news and information from Ballotpedias Administrative State Project, including pivotal actions at the federal and state levels related to the separation of powers, due process and the rule of law.

This edition:

In this months edition of Checks and Balances, we review executive orders issued by President Joe Biden (D) that rescinded executive orders related to the administrative state issued by former President Donald Trump (R). We also examine the reintroduction of the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act (REINS Act) in the 117th Congress as well as new federal legislation aimed at strengthening the nondelegation doctrine.

At the state level, we take a look at a ruling from the Oklahoma Supreme Court that reaffirmed the nondelegation doctrine in the state; executive agency reorganization efforts from governors in Vermont and South Dakota; and two constitutional amendments in Pennsylvania aimed at limiting the governors emergency powers.

We also highlight a new analysis that found a federal regulations-to-laws ratio of 19-to-1 in 2020. As always, we wrap up with our Regulatory Tally, which features information about the 113 proposed rules and 235 final rules added to the Federal Register in January and OIRAs regulatory review activity.

Biden revokes Trump executive orders on the administrative state

REINS Act reintroduced in 117th Congress

Federal legislation aims to strengthen nondelegation doctrine

Oklahoma Supreme Court decision reaffirms nondelegation doctrine

Governors focus on agency reorganization

Pennsylvania voters will decide whether to limit governors emergency powers

____________________________________________________________________________

New analysis from the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) found that the number of regulations issued by federal administrative agencies outpaced on a 19-to-1 ratio the number of laws passed by Congress and enacted by the president in 2020. Congress and the president enacted 178 laws in 2020 while federal agencies issued 3,353 regulations. The same analysis found the following regulations-to-laws ratios over the past decade:

Federal Register

Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA)

OIRAs January regulatory review activity included the following actions:

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Checks and Balances: REINS Act reintroduced in 117th Congress Ballotpedia News - Ballotpedia News

Pitchers and catchers report to the Padres side of the Peoria Sports Complex on Wednesday, the beginning to perhaps the most anticipated season in San Diego in more than two decades.

It was just a few months ago that the Padres, powered by the emergence of Fernando Tatis Jr. and with Manny Machado earning every penny of his megadeal, finally pushed their way back into the postseason. Then General Manager A.J. Preller doubled down on opening the Padres window to contend with arguably the busiest winter of anyone in the game.

He added aces. He re-signed one important bat and reeled in another from Korea. In the last week Preller began addressing the back of the bullpen.

Only time will tell if its enough to unseat the defending World Champion Dodgers in the NL West, but well begin to have a better idea of just how the 2021 Padres will come together as we get a better handle on these five pressing stories heading into camp.

News that Mike Clevinger would require Tommy John surgery further heightened the concern for the health of Dinelson Lamets right elbow/biceps. Both were nonfactors in the postseason. Clevinger will not pitch again until sometime in 2022, but Lamet has undergone platelet-rich therapy and has pushed his throwing program to mound work.

Thats the good news.

The problem is no one can be certain of Lamets health until he begins pitching regularly, which finally will happen in Arizona.

The 28-year-old right-hander returned from Tommy John surgery in 2019 and finished fourth in NL Cy Young voting in 2020, striking out 12.1 batters per nine innings and posting career bests in ERA (2.09), WHIP (0.855) and walk rate (2.6 per nine innings) over a 69-inning, COVID-19-shortened season.

Even without Clevinger, the Padres have no shortage of ace candidates hello, Blake Snell and Yu Darvish and Lamet could be better than any of them if he can pick up where he left off before he walked off the mound Sept. 25 with what turned out to be a playoff-ruining injury.

With some order of Lamet, Snell and Darvish leading the rotation, Joe Musgrove joining the mix and Chris Paddack looking to rebound from a disappointing sophomore season, the Padres rotation, one through five, could be the clubs deepest and most talented yet.

Thing is, the depth beyond that quintet could prove just as important as the season stretches from 60 games back to 162.

No pitcher in the majors threw more than 84 innings in 2020 (Darvish was fifth with 76). Starting pitchers tend to account for 200 innings in a given season and the Padres will have to find a way to get their inning total from 520 last year back to more than 1,400.

Even without accounting for the nagging injuries that pop up in a season, safely bridging that gap Darvish is the only pitcher on staff with a 200-inning season on his resume and that was back in 2013, before his Tommy John surgery could require inserting other pitchers into the rotation at times or even going with a six-man rotation through portions of the season.

Candidates from the 40-man roster to pick up some of those innings include left-hander Adrin Morejn, right-hander Michel Bez and perhaps right-hander Reggie Lawson later in the season as he pushes through his Tommy John rehab. Other names to know that might be further along developmentally than top prospects MacKenzie Gore and Ryan Weathers include right-handers Jacob Nix, Pedro Avila and Nabil Crismatt and left-hander Daniel Camarena.

Speaking of Gore, the Padres said an out-of-whack delivery was predominantly what barred him from making his MLB debut in 2020 like Weathers and former teammate Luis Patio. Well, that and the organizations insistence on keeping Gore one of the top pitching prospects in the game in the rotation.

Having worked almost exclusively at the alternate site in 2020, Gores performance this spring should provide the first real opportunity to gauge just how close he is to contributing this year. The same goes for Weathers, who hadnt pitched above low Single-A when the Padres called him up for the playoffs.

CJ Abrams, the sixth overall pick in the 2019 draft, has played in just two games above rookie-ball but also impressed in last years alternate site work. Other youngsters with a chance to show how far theyve come this spring include 2020 draftees Robert Hassell III, Justin Lange and Jagger Haynes and 2019 second-rounder Joshua Mears.

With Kirby Yates signing with the Blue Jays and Trevor Rosenthal still on the open market, the Padres bullpen will look markedly different than it did after nine relievers pieced together a 4-0 shutout to advance out of the wild-card round.

Left-hander Drew Pomeranz and right-hander Emilio Pagn are the leading candidates to close games, but the Padres have deepened that portion of the roster with the additions of Mark Melancon and Keone Kela, although the team has not confirmed either signing.

Beyond those four, well get a better sense of where left-hander Matt Strahm is coming off another offseason knee surgery, whether left-hander Jose Castillo can finally beat the injury bug and just how close right-hander Mason Thompson might be to contributing. After years of development stalled by injury and inconsistency, Thompson was a fall instructional league standout who pushed his fastball up to 98 mph in short bursts while flashing a power slider.

Another name to keep an eye on is James Reeves, a left-hander acquired from the Yankees for Greg Allen who has been a lefty-killer (.152 lifetime average vs. lefties) over four minor league seasons.

The Padres already had the NLs runner-up rookie of the year when they gave $28 million over four years to Ha-Seong Kim, coming off a 30-homer season in Korea. He was expected to push Jake Cronenworth at second base and bounce between shortstop and third base and possibly even the outfield when the Padres brought back the switch-hitting Jurickson Profar on a three-year, $21 million deal.

Profar played all three outfield spots, second base and first base in 2020 in addition to serving as an occasional designated hitter. Of course, the DH is not returning in 2021, leaving the Padres needing to devise just how to get enough playing time for Profar, Kim and Cronenworth.

Read more from the original source:
Five Padres spring training stories to watch - The San Diego Union-Tribune

FERGUS FALLS, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Otter Tail Corporation (Nasdaq: OTTR) today announced financial results for the year ended December 31, 2020.

2020 SUMMARY

(in millions, except per share amounts)

4Q20

4Q19

2020

2019

Operating Revenues

$

226.8

$

215.7

$

890.1

$

919.5

Net Income

$

18.7

$

20.4

$

95.9

$

86.8

Diluted Earnings Per Share

$

0.45

$

0.51

$

2.34

$

2.17

2020 HIGHLIGHTS

CEO OVERVIEW

Otter Tail Corporation achieved outstanding financial results in 2020 despite the economic impacts from the global pandemic. These results are attributable to the collective efforts of employees across all of our operating companies, said President and CEO Chuck MacFarlane. Our Electric segment led the way with a $7.7 million increase in net income primarily driven by capital investments in energy generation and regional transmission projects. Our Plastics segment increased net income by $7.0 million driven by strong construction markets and favorable market conditions driven by supply constraints and rising prices. Manufacturing segment earnings were down $1.9 million primarily due to the impacts of COVID-19 on sales volumes. Our corporate costs increased $3.9 million mainly due to a $2.5 million committed contribution to the Otter Tail Corporation Foundation.

Employees across the organization performed admirably during the year despite the challenges presented by COVID-19.

Otter Tail Power Company executed on a record year in capital spending, driven by two significant projects that marked major milestones in our generation resources transition.

Our Merricourt Wind Energy Center, a $260 million 150-megawatt (MW) wind generation facility began commercial operation in December. The facility generates enough energy to power more than 65,000 homes.

We expect our Astoria Station, a $152.5 million 245-megawatt natural gas-fired combustion turbine generation facility, to be substantially complete in the first quarter of 2021. This facility complements our wind generation with more dispatchable capacity than our soon-to-be retired 140 MW Hoot Lake Plantwith projected carbon emissions 85% less than historic Hoot Lake Plant levels.

Otter Tail Power Company announced in September the $60 million Hoot Lake Solar project. This is a 49.9megawatt (MW) solar farm we plan to build on and near Hoot Lake Plant property in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. The project will include up to 150,000 solar panels and generate enough energy to power approximately 10,000 homes each year. The location of Hoot Lake Solar offers us a unique opportunity to re-use our existing Hoot Lake transmission rights, substation and land after retiring Hoot Lake Coal Plant in 2021.

Otter Tail Power Company continues to enhance its generation mix as it transitions to a cleaner energy future while maintaining low rates in the region for its customers. By 2023, up to 35 percent of our energy is projected to come from renewable resources.

Otter Tail Power Company filed a rate request with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) in November. Investment in cleaner energy generation and smarter technologies primarily are driving this request along with rising costs for providing electric service. In December the MPUC approved our request to begin recovering $6.9 million or a 3.2 percent increase on an interim basis in January 2021 as it considers our overall request to increase revenue $14.5 million or 6.77 percent. Even with this increase Otter Tail Power Company will continue to have some of the lowest rates in the country.

Otter Tail Power Company continues to benefit from strong rate base growth investments. These investments represent over 85 percent of our total capital spending over the next five years and include regulated investments in renewable generation, technology and infrastructure, and transmission assets. We expect this to result in a projected compounded annual growth rate of approximately 5 percent in utility rate base from year-end 2020 through 2025 and to deliver value to customers and shareholders. We continue to make system investments to meet our customers expectations, reduce operating and maintenance costs, reduce emissions and improve reliability and safety.

Our Plastics segment had a record year, maintained production in a time when some competitors did not and continued to see strong market demand as new home and other construction continued through the pandemic.

BTD Manufacturing was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic primarily in the second quarter as many of their customers had temporary plant shutdowns. BTD did an excellent job of managing staffing and inventory during the year to help mitigate the negative impact on sales. The recreational vehicle and lawn and garden end markets did experience a rapid recovery during the third and fourth quarters last year as they began to rebuild depleted inventories.

Our long-term focus remains on executing our growth strategies, which are expected to increase shareholder value. For the utility, our strategy is to continue to invest in rate base growth opportunities and drive cost efficiency within our operating and maintenance expenses, which will lower our overall risk, create a more predictable earnings stream, maintain our credit quality and preserve our ability to pay dividends. Over time, we expect the electric utility business will provide approximately 75 percent of our overall earnings.

The utility is complemented by well-run, strategic manufacturing and plastic pipe businesses, which provide organic growth opportunities from new products and services, market expansion and increased efficiencies. We expect these companies will provide approximately 25 percent of our earnings over the long term.

Our strategic initiatives to grow our business and achieve operational, commercial and talent excellence continue to strengthen our position in the markets we serve. We remain confident in our ability to grow earnings per share in the range of 5 to 7 percent compounded annually from a base of $2.34 in 2020. And we are announcing our 2021 earnings per share guidance to be in the range of $2.39 to $2.54.

CASH FLOWS AND LIQUIDITY

Our consolidated cash provided by operating activities was $211.9 million in 2020 compared with $185.0 million in 2019.

Investing activities included capital expenditures of $371.6 million in 2020 compared with $207.4 million in 2019. The increase in capital expenditures was primarily for construction of Astoria Station and the Merricourt Wind Energy Center (Merricourt).

Financing activities in 2020 included the issuance of $75.0 million in long-term debt at Otter Tail Power Company, $75.0 million borrowed under the Otter Tail Corporation and Otter Tail Power Company Credit Agreements and net proceeds of $49.7 million raised from the issuance of common stock. Proceeds from the debt and equity issuances were used to fund a portion of Otter Tail Power Companys construction program expenditures in 2020. We also paid $60.3 million in common dividends in 2020. Financing activities in 2019 included net proceeds of $99.0 million from the issuance of long-term debt at Otter Tail Power Company and $17.0 million from the issuance of common stock. Proceeds from the debt and equity issuances were used to fund a portion of Otter Tail Power Companys construction program expenditures in 2019 and to repay $12.6 million in short-term debt. We paid $55.7 million in common dividends in 2019.

The following table presents the status of the corporations lines of credit at December 31, 2020 and 2019 :

2020

2019

(in thousands)

Line Limit

AmountOutstanding

Letters of Credit

AmountAvailable

AmountAvailable

Otter Tail Corporation Credit Agreement

$

170,000

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Otter Tail Corporation Reports a 7.8 Percent Increase in 2020 Diluted Earnings per Share to $2.34, Increases Quarterly Dividend 5.4 Percent and...