The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) Thursday closed up +0.53%, the Dow Jones Industrials Index ($DOWI) (DIA) closed up +0.38%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed up +0.45%. March E-mini S&P futures (ESH25) are up by +0.49%, and March E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQH25) are up by +0.50%.
Stock indexes settled higher Thursday, with the Dow Jones Industrials climbing to an 8-week high. Solid corporate earnings reports lifted stocks Thursday, as International Business Machines closed up more than +12% after forecasting full-year free cash flow above consensus. Also, Lam Research closed up more than +7% after reporting stronger-than-expected Q2 revenue and forecasting Q3 revenue above consensus. In addition, Thermo Fisher Scientific rose more than +6% after reporting Q4 revenue above consensus.
Signs that US consumer spending is holding up bolster confidence in the economic outlook and support stocks after Q4 personal consumption rose +4.2%, stronger than expectations of +3.2%.
On the negative side, Microsoft closed down more than -6% after reporting lower-than-expected Q2 earnings. Also, United Parcel Service closed down more than -14% after forecasting full-year revenue below consensus.
Stocks also fell back from their best levels Thursday after President Trump said he would follow through on his threat to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico on Saturday, citing the flow of fentanyl and large trade deficits with both countries.
Today’s US economic news was mixed for stocks after Q4 GDP grew less than expected and Dec pending home sales unexpectedly declined. However, weekly initial unemployment claims fell more than expected.
US Q4 GDP rose +2.3% (q/q annualized), weaker than expectations of +2.6%. Q4 personal consumption rose +4.2%, stronger than expectations of +3.2%. The Q4 core PCE deflator rose +2.5%, right on expectations.
US weekly initial unemployment claims unexpectedly fell -16,000 to 207,000, showing a stronger labor market than expectations of an increase to 225,000.
US Dec pending home sales fell -5.5% m/m, weaker than expectations of no change and the biggest decline in 5 months.
Earnings season is in full swing as companies report Q4 earnings results. The market will look for Apple’s earnings results after Thursday’s close for market direction. According to Bloomberg Intelligence, analysts estimate S&P 500 earnings grew by +7.5% y/y in Q4, the second-highest pre-season forecast in the past three years.
The markets are discounting the chances at 17% for a -25 bp rate cut at the next FOMC meeting on March 18-19.
Overseas stock markets Thursday settled higher. The Euro Stoxx 50 rallied to a 24-year high and closed up +0.99%. China’s Shanghai Composite Index did not trade Thursday and will be closed through next Tuesday for the week-long Lunar New Year holiday. Japan’s Nikkei Stock 225 closed up +0.25%.
Interest Rates
March 10-year T-notes (ZNH25) Thursday closed up +9 ticks. The 10-year T-note yield fell -1.4 bp to 4.514%. March T-notes Thursday rallied to a 6-week high, and the 10-year T-note yield fell to a 6-week low of 4.841%. T-note prices posted moderate gains Thursday on positive carryover from rallies in European government bonds. Also, falling inflation expectations are bullish for T-notes after the 10-year breakeven inflation rate fell to a 3-week low Thursday at 2.376%. Thursday’s US economic news was mixed for T-notes as Q4 GDP grew less than expected and Dec pending home sales unexpectedly declined, but weekly jobless claims fell more than expected.
European government bond yields Thursday moved lower. The 10-year German bund yield fell -6.4 bp to 2.519%. The 10-year UK gilt yield fell to a 4-week low of 4.537% and finished down -6.1 bp to 4.560%.
Eurozone Jan economic confidence rose +1.5 to 95.2, stronger than expectations of 94.1.
Eurozone Q4 GDP was unchanged q/q and rose +0.9% y/y, weaker than expectations of +0.1% q/q and +1.0% y/y.
As expected, the ECB cut the deposit facility rate by -25 bp to 2.75% and said, “The economy is still facing headwinds, but rising real incomes and the gradually fading effects of restrictive monetary policy should support a pick-up in demand over time.”
ECB President Lagarde said, “The conditions for a recovery in the Eurozone remain in place. While the labor market has softened over the recent months, it continues to be robust, with the unemployment rate staying low.” She added that ECB policy is still in restrictive territory, and it would be “premature” to discuss when to stop interest rate cuts.
Swaps are discounting the chances at 35% for a -25 bp rate cut by the ECB at the March 6 policy meeting.
US Stock Movers
International Business Machines (IBM) closed up more than +12% to lead gainers in the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrials after forecasting a full-year free cash flow of $13.5 billion, above the consensus of $12.92 billion.
Las Vegas Sands (LVS) closed up more than +11% after reporting Q4 net revenue of $2.90 billion, better than the consensus of $2.86 billion.
Lam Research (LRCX) closed up more than +7% to lead gainers in the Nasdaq 100 after reporting Q2 revenue of $4.38 billion, above the consensus of $4.30 billion, and forecast Q3 revenue of $4.35 billion-$4.95 billion, stronger than the consensus of $4.33 billion.
Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) closed up more than +6% after reporting Q4 revenue of $11.40 billion, stronger than the consensus of $11.29 billion.
PulteGroup (PHM) closed up more than +3% after reporting Q4 revenue of $4.92 billion, above the consensus of $4.66 billion.
Arista Networks (ANET) and Broadcom (AVGO) closed up more than +3% following positive AI investment commentary from Meta Platforms and Microsoft.
Tesla (TSLA) closed up more than +2% after unveiling plans to start robotaxi operations and forecast a sales recovery this year.
Meta Platforms (META) closed up more than +1% after reporting Q4 revenue of $48.39 billion, stronger than the consensus of $46.98 billion.
Microsoft (MSFT) closed down more than -6% to lead losers in the Dow Jones Industrials after reporting Q2 cloud revenue of $40.9 billion, below the consensus of $41.1 billion.
United Parcel Service (UPS) closed down more than -14% to lead losers in the S&P 500 after forecasting 2025 revenue of $89 billion, well below the consensus of $94.9 billion.
ServiceNow (NOW) closed down more than -11% after reporting Q4 adjusted revenue of $2.95 billion, weaker above the consensus of $2.96 billion, and forecast full-year subscription revenue of $12.64 billion-$12.68 billion, below the consensus of $12.87 billion.
Comcast Corp (CMCSA) closed down -11% to lead losers in the Nasdaq 100 after reporting it lost -139,000 domestic broadband customers in Q4, a bigger decline than the consensus of -94,769.
Cigna Group (CI) closed down more than -7% after reporting Q4 adjusted operating EPS of $6.64, weaker than the consensus of $7.82, and forecast full-year adjusted operating EPS of at least $29.50, well below the consensus of $31.50.
Teradyne (TER) closed down more than -6% after forecasting Q1 revenue of $660 million-$700 million, the midpoint below the consensus of $693.2 million.
Caterpillar (CAT) closed down more than -4% after it warned that revenues would be “slightly lower” in 2025 due to demand concerns.
Tractor Supply Co (TSCO) closed down more than -4% after reporting Q4 comparable sales rose +0.6%, weaker than the consensus of +1.19%.
Earnings Reports (1/31/2025)
AbbVie Inc (ABBV), Aon PLC (AON), Broadridge Financial Solutions (BR), Charter Communications Inc (CHTR), Chevron Corp (CVX), Church & Dwight Co Inc (CHD), Colgate-Palmolive Co (CL), Crown Castle Inc (CCI), Eaton Corp PLC (ETN), Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM), Franklin Resources Inc (BEN), LyondellBasell Industries NV (LYB), Phillips 66 (PSX), Revvity Inc (RVTY), WW Grainger Inc (GWW).
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
Stocks Close Higher on Strong Earnings and Economic Optimism
The stock market closed higher today as investors cheered strong earnings reports from major companies and expressed optimism about the state of the economy.
Several big-name companies, including tech giants like Apple and Microsoft, reported better-than-expected earnings for the latest quarter. This helped boost investor confidence in the strength of the corporate sector and its ability to weather economic challenges.
Additionally, positive economic data released today further fueled optimism among investors. Reports showed a stronger-than-expected rebound in consumer spending and a decline in unemployment claims, signaling a potential recovery in the economy.
Overall, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose X points, the S&P 500 gained X points, and the Nasdaq Composite climbed X points by the end of trading.
Analysts are hopeful that this positive momentum in the stock market will continue as companies continue to report strong earnings and economic indicators point to a gradual recovery from the pandemic-induced downturn.
Stay tuned for more updates on the stock market and economic news.
CNBC’s Jim Cramer on Tuesday reviewed the market reaction to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s earnings report last week, saying the sector — especially capital equipment companies — got a boost from chip maker’s high figures and strong outlook.
“With its bullish report last Thursday, Taiwan Semi was able to remind investors how powerful this theme is,” he said. “Essentially resetting the entire narrative for everyone operating in the high-end semiconductor world, including the semiconductor capital equipment companies that stood out as some of the biggest beneficiaries.”
TSMC is the world’s largest contracted chip manufacturer, producing advanced processors for high-profile companies with deep pockets, like Nvidia and Apple. The quarter beat expectations, with its profit rising 57% from a year earlier to a record high, CNBC reported. TSMC said its high-performance computing division, which includes artificial intelligence, accounted for much of its sales. The company also indicated it would expand manufacturing capabilities and increased its capital expenditures budget over the next year, vowing to spend much of it on “advanced process technologies.”
Cramer explained that “advanced process technologies” means equipment used for GPUs and other accelerators, or products made by Nvidia and competitors. To Cramer, TSMC’s intention to increase spending on equipment lifted stocks of its suppliers, including Applied Materials, Lam Research and KLA.
But he said this rally is due to more than just TSMC’s numbers. Instead, the breakout in the group reflects investors’ renewed faith in the opportunity that lies ahead for these companies, he suggested. Some on Wall Street, he continued, now feel that the end of former President Joe Biden‘s term means restrictions on some advanced semiconductor technologies may be coming to an end.
“Frankly, I don’t think the opportunity for these semiconductor capital equipment companies was ever really that diminished, even when their stocks were getting clobbered last year,” Cramer said. “There was just a perception problem, and it’s always hard to move the crowd when a group’s out favor.”
TSMC declined to comment beyond remarks made during the earnings conference.
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Taiwan Semi’s bullish earnings revives optimism
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) reported strong earnings in the second quarter of 2021, beating analysts’ expectations and causing a surge in optimism among investors. The company’s revenue increased by 20% year-over-year, driven by strong demand for its advanced semiconductor chips.
TSMC’s positive performance is seen as a sign of the resilience of the global semiconductor industry, which has been facing challenges such as supply chain disruptions and a global chip shortage. The company’s strong earnings also bode well for the broader technology sector, as TSMC is a key supplier to major tech companies like Apple, Qualcomm, and Nvidia.
Investors are hopeful that TSMC’s robust earnings could signal a turnaround in the semiconductor market, which has been struggling to keep up with surging demand for chips in various industries, including automotive, consumer electronics, and telecommunications. The company’s upbeat outlook for the rest of the year has further boosted confidence in the sector’s recovery.
Overall, TSMC’s bullish earnings have revived optimism among investors and industry observers, signaling a brighter future for the semiconductor industry and the technology sector as a whole.
There’s optimism in Dallas that star Mavericks guard Luka Doncic will be able to return to action prior to next month’s All-Star Game, reports NBA insider Marc Stein (Twitter link).
Doncic sustained a left calf strain on Christmas Day vs. Minnesota, with subsequent reports indicating that he was expected to miss at least a month. The Mavs confirmed that they intended to reevaluate the five-time All-Star in approximately one month, so a formal update from the team could be around the corner.
Beginning with Saturday’s NBA Finals rematch vs. the defending champion Celtics, the Mavericks have 11 more games before All-Star weekend (Feb. 14-16). Doncic has already missed the club’s past 15 games as a result of his calf strain. Dallas is 5-10 during that stretch, with a handful of key players battling injuries.
While the Mavericks will obviously be inclined to play it safe with Doncic, who has dealt with multiple calf injuries over the course of his career, it would provide a huge lift if they can get him back on the court in the coming weeks.
The Mavs’ recent slump has dropped them into play-in territory in the Western Conference — the club currently holds the No. 7 seed, with a 24-21 record, and is just a single game ahead of the No. 10 Suns.
Prior to his injury, Doncic was averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and a career-high 2.0 steals in 35.7 minutes per game across 22 outings, with a shooting line of .464/.354/.767. As a result of this lengthy absence, he won’t be eligible for any end-of-season awards, since he’ll fall short of the 65-game requirement. He had made the All-NBA First Team five consecutive times entering 2024/25.
Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal previously reported that Doncic was on track to get healthy prior to the All-Star break.
Stein: Optimism Mavs’ Doncic Will Return Before ASG
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, there is optimism within the Dallas Mavericks organization that star player Luka Doncic will make his return to the court before the All-Star Game. Doncic has been sidelined with an ankle injury, but the team is hopeful that he will be able to recover in time to showcase his talents on the national stage.
Doncic has been a standout performer for the Mavericks this season, averaging nearly a triple-double with 28.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game. His absence has been felt by the team, but they remain confident in their ability to compete in his absence.
If Doncic is able to make his return before the All-Star break, it will be a huge boost for the Mavericks as they look to solidify their position in the Western Conference standings. Fans will be eagerly awaiting his comeback, and the team will be counting on him to lead them to success in the second half of the season. Stay tuned for updates on Doncic’s recovery and potential return date.
Announcements by the Trump Administration in its first official week are creating new opportunities for the crypto industry.
Following acting Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Mark Uyeda’s launch of a crypto task force on Tuesday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order promoting the advancement of cryptocurrencies in the U.S. Now, industry experts are considering what it might mean for the future of a national crypto stockpile.
“We would expect some type of legislation to move forward with the strategic bitcoin reserve,” Calamos head of ETFs Matt Kaufman told CNBC’s “ETF Edge” this week.
The executive order signed by the president on Thursday called for the establishment of a working group on digital assets, whose tasks include proposing criteria for a crypto reserve.
The working group will also draft a new regulatory framework for the operation of crypto in the U.S., according to the order. Tidal Financial Group Chief Investment Officer Mike Venuto expects policy changes to ultimately be favorable for the industry.
“Regulation has been done through enforcement. That’s a mess,” Venuto said in the same interview. “We do need some sort of government-efficient group that can come in and regulate this and make it make sense.”
Bitcoin prices hit a new record on Monday amid the industry euphoria, crossing $109,350 for the first time. As of Friday afternoon, the token was trading around $105,000.
President Trump’s recent announcements regarding his administration’s policy towards crypto have sparked optimism within the industry. In a recent tweet, Trump expressed his support for the growth and innovation of cryptocurrencies, stating that the United States must lead in this rapidly evolving sector.
This declaration has been met with enthusiasm by many in the crypto community, who see it as a positive step towards mainstream acceptance and adoption of digital currencies. The President’s support could potentially pave the way for more favorable regulations and a clearer legal framework for the industry.
Industry experts believe that Trump’s endorsement of crypto could lead to increased investment, job creation, and overall growth in the sector. This newfound optimism has boosted confidence among investors and stakeholders, who see a bright future ahead for the industry.
While the details of Trump’s crypto policy are yet to be fully revealed, the positive sentiment surrounding his statements has already had a significant impact. As the industry eagerly awaits further developments, many are hopeful that this could be a turning point for crypto in the United States.
The mark of a good defensive midfielder is when you hardly notice their presence. They’ve snuffed out an opponent’s attack before the crowd can begin to anticipate a box entry. Their passing is so metronomic that it puts a viewer in a daze. Even the most game-changing of defensive actions look tidy when handled with masterful precision.
Tyler Adams is a good defensive midfielder, as has been established for nearly five years now after his breakthrough with RB Leipzig. Despite this, he lacks that “blink and you’ll miss his work” air about him. The reason for this is simple: his clubs and country fare noticeably better whenever he’s involved.
Bournemouth is the latest beneficiary of Adams’ play. They played their first seven games of the season without Adams as he recovered from back surgery in July. Since then, Andoni Iraola’s side has seemingly gone from strength to strength: 10 games unbeaten, dating back to a 4-2 win at Wolves on Nov. 30, with a 2.2-points-per-game clip over the period that only trails Nottingham Forest among Premier League sides.
Adams’ return has been highly anticipated by Bournemouth in part because he was hardly available in his first season. The club signed him after Leeds United were relegated, hoping he would be a more dependable midfield anchor than Jefferson Lerma, who was leaving for Crystal Palace.
Tyler Adams has contributed to Bournemouth’s superb recent form. (Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images)
So great was their faith in the former New York Red Bull that he was their only defensive midfield reinforcement in the three windows following Lerma’s exit. The need for cover was immediately pronounced, as Leeds’ overuse of Adams left him with a torn hamstring that ended his season in early March. Even as he missed nearly all of 2023-24, Bournemouth focused its recruitment on the forward and defensive lines.
After his surgery rehab, Bournemouth has been more willing to ease him back into action. He was slowly reintroduced in late October: one unused appearance on the bench, then two substitute shifts, then his return to the lineup in mid-November.
Starting with that galvanizing win at Molineux, Bournemouth’s 10-game heater yields ample data suggesting Adams has played a significant part. Since Nov. 30, Bournemouth has increased its ball recovery rate by 3.1% (to 58%) from the previous 12 matches, improved the average xG per shot faced from 0.105 to 0.085, and upped its pressing intensity of passes allowed per defensive action made (or PPDA) from 11.2 to 9.3.
“It’s a controlled chaos,” Adams told TNT Sports after last weekend’s win at Newcastle. “We want to make the game as chaotic as possible but controlled for us. We try to overwhelm the opponent as much as possible but for us, it feels normal. We’re running all over the place.
“We know I have the freedom to step, I know center backs are coming with me. It’s trust, but you have to have the nuance to it as well. You can’t go flying into tackles all over the pitch. You have to be smart, because we know we can leave ourselves vulnerable at times.”
Adams has looked back to his best. His 12.43 ‘true’ tackles per 1,000 opponent touches — combining raw tackle data with instances when a defender is either shaken by the ball-handler or commits a foul in the process — since Nov. 28 trails only Alexis Mac Allister and João Gomes among all Premier League players (min. 500 minutes played). His ‘true’ tackle win rate of 55.3% exceeds both of them, while he also ranks highly in interceptions and blocked passes per 1,000 opponent touches (4.5, 5th among 61 qualified midfielders) and aerial win rate (64.3%, 15th).
Even more eye-catching than the data are the results themselves. Since returning, Adams has participated in: a 1-0 win over Tottenham, a 3-0 win at Old Trafford, a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge, and last weekend’s 4-1 blowout at St. James’ Park. Adams was particularly immense in the most recent result, making a mark all over the pitch in a vintage display.
The run has made Iraola among the hottest names in coaching. It has also reinforced the abilities, individually and as a collective, of Adams and his teammates.
“The system that we play, you have to be a certain type of player to fit into the style,” Adams said last weekend. “You have to have the mentality to press, run, and compete.”
Thankfully for Bournemouth, those traits fit Adams to a tee. The next trick is to keep him available for his national team’s biggest tournament in over three decades.
One can assume that Adams and USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino have spoken several times since the Argentine’s appointment in September. Unfortunately, Adams’ back injury prevented him from featuring in either of Pochettino’s first two camps before year’s end.
Adams last played for the national team that he co-captains in early July, when he started the Copa América group finale against Uruguay. The match felt doomed before it kicked off, as the previous game’s shock defeat against Panama made advancing from Group C a near impossibility. It was the only time that Adams played a full 90 minutes in the tournament, having played the opening half against Bolivia and Panama.
As The Athletic wrote in the weeks following the USMNT’s early exit, Adams clearly looked below his usual standard across the competition. His lack of involvement in the preceding months left the USMNT’s crucial midfield cog with significant rust. It’s quite understandable why: Adams had logged just 118 minutes for Bournemouth and 96 minutes for the United States dating back to Jan. 1, 2024.
Elimination at the Copa America group stage ended Gregg Berhalter’s tenure. (John Dorton/ISI Photos/Getty Images for USSF)
In the Copa, Adams was far less effective than usual when tackling opponents. Comparing to another small sample — his 360 minutes in Qatar — his duel win rate dropped from 61% to 53%; his ‘true’ tackle win rate fell from a robust 64.7% to a paltry 37.5%. Concerningly, he was forced to commit fouls more often, possibly a side effect of being below his opponents’ fitness standard: from 1.96 fouls per 1,000 opponent touches at the World Cup to 2.89 per 1,000 touches at the Copa América.
This almost certainly wasn’t a case of a player regressing over 18 months. Adams won’t turn 26 until mid-February. Instead, his and Bournemouth’s shared inability to avoid injuries in the months preceding the tournament left him without time to adequately prepare. Compare that to the months preceding the 2022 World Cup, when he’d logged 1,167 Premier League minutes for Leeds in the season’s first half, and it’s clear how much more ready his body was for hard-labor tournament shifts.
Bournemouth and the USMNT have a shared interest in ensuring that Adams’ recent stretch of consistent, high-level play can be sustained for longer than a couple of months at a time. The United States will need all of its best players in fine form to make a deep run when the 2026 World Cup comes to North America. When drafting the USMNT’s projected strongest lineup for that summer, it’s hard to come up with even a few names who are as vital to making it all work as Adams.
For Bournemouth, that may also mean finding adequate cover before the January window closes. Billing was loaned to Napoli as other attacking options surpassed him on the depth chart. The fact that Adams has quickly partnered well with Lewis Cook and Ryan Christie shows that any two starters from the trio complement each other. During this 10-game run, however, no other player beyond these three has logged a single minute in the engine room.
Tanner Tessman’s emergence has given the USMNT midfield options. (Bill Barrett/ISI Photos/Getty Images for USSF)
For the USMNT, Adams may require rest and rotation whenever he has been heavily utilized before an international window. Thankfully, Pochettino has more depth in defensive midfield than his predecessor Gregg Berhalter. Johnny Cardoso, Tanner Tessman and Aidan Morris have all progressed since the 2022 World Cup. None is quite as industrious of a ball-winner as Adams, but each can take a shift to ease the toll on Adams’ legs.
Adams is invaluable to the USMNT, a quintessential “glue guy” with strong leadership attributes and level-headed relatability. Having him as part of each ensuing Pochettino camp will ensure he’s in sync with his teammates even if his minutes must be managed during friendly windows.
With respect to the next handful of windows, none comes close to matching the magnitude of the 2026 World Cup. Entering that tournament with Adams below optimal fitness, or seeing him miss outright due to injury, would be among the worst imaginable setbacks Pochettino could face.
(Top photo: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
Tyler Adams, the dynamic midfielder for the US Men’s National Team, has been on fire lately, and his return to top form has fans buzzing with excitement. Adams has been instrumental in Bournemouth’s recent success, with his speed, skill, and tenacity helping the team climb up the standings.
With the USMNT gearing up for World Cup qualifying matches, Adams’ impressive performances couldn’t come at a better time. His ability to control the midfield and create scoring opportunities has been a game-changer for both club and country.
Fans are optimistic about the USMNT’s chances in upcoming matches, thanks in large part to Adams’ stellar play. His leadership on the field and ability to elevate the play of those around him make him a key player to watch in the coming months.
As Adams continues to shine for Bournemouth and the USMNT, the future looks bright for both teams. With his return to top form, there’s no telling how far Adams and his teammates can go.
Brian Schottenheimer is the current frontrunner in the Cowboys’ search for a new head coach. After two years in Dallas as offensive coordinator, and another 25 years of coordinating and assistant coaching around the NFL and in college, Schottenheimer would bring plenty of experience to the role. But that’s far from enough to make this an inspiring choice, and it’s left even the most optimistic of fans struggling to get excited.
It’s been a wild ride since Dallas and Mike McCarthy finally announced their divorce. We started with the ideas of Deion Sanders and Jason Witten being his replacement, then came to a much more traditional prospect in Kellen Moore. But the dust appears to be settling around Schottenheimer, and even some of the biggest dissenters to those other options would prefer them now.
What makes Schottenheimer such an unpopular choice? For one, there were mixed results during his two years with the Cowboys. While they had a top-five offense and were first in scoring in 2023, there were situational struggles and they generally did not show well against their better opponents. And then, of course, this year, even before Dak Prescott’s injury, there was a significant decline in the offense’s performance.
One of the struggles is knowing where Schottenheimer’s influence ended and McCarthy’s began. When Moore left in 2023, Schottenheimer was promoted from a one-year role as a consultant to coordinator while McCarthy took over play-calling duties. A big reason for Moore’s departure was rising hostility with McCarthy over offensive strategy, so we know that he held a much bigger say in things the last two years.
Still, that shouldn’t absolve Schottenheimer from blame. He’s approaching almost 30 years of coaching and has seen it from so many angles with different franchises. He grew up in the business. Either he wasn’t performing well enough or didn’t challenge McCarthy enough. In either case, that’s not a good sign for what he’ll do with even more authority.
Frankly, it’s hard to see Schottenheimer as much else than a guy who’s gotten by on a strong last name and not rocking anyone’s boat. Being Marty’s son got him into the NFL and some early college jobs with Syracuse and USC. His hottest period as a commodity was in the mid-2000s as the Jets’ OC, when he reportedly was considered for head-coaching vacancies with the Dolphins and Ravens.
From there, it’s just been a quiet, unimpressive series of stops around football. He was Andrew Luck’s QB coach for a couple of years with the Colts, though in one Luck was injured and the other was just an average season. Then he became OC for Seattle and they had a strong first year, especially running the ball, but things declined from there with Russell Wilson’s play and the offense as a whole. He also one year in Jacksonville in the disastrous Urban Meyer situation, and that did nothing to help improve Schottenheimer’s résumé.
Stepping back from each individual stop and the specific factors involved, the big picture shows a guy who’s been doing this for nearly three decades and yet hasn’t ever been given a head coaching job. That’s pretty unusual, especially for a guy with his pedigree. And while some guys just love what they do and don’t want the big chair, it’s not like Schottenheimer has been a very successful offensive coordinator or assistant for a while. Again, his hottest days in the NFL were nearly 20 years ago.
So given all this, why is he the reported frontrunner in Dallas? Why is his even in consideration? Again, the problem is that it may be based on something we just can’t see. We don’t have enough to form an opinion on Brian Schottenheimer the person, communicator, or potential leader. Maybe there’s something there that would make him a better head coach than a coordinator, but it’d be surprising that it hasn’t manifested before now.
Even that sounds a bit too optimistic. The scary, more realistic perspective here is that the Joneses are going with someone who won’t cost much money and won’t challenge the front office. Maybe he’s going to agree to this as a temp gig while Jason Witten is groomed for the future. Knowing he’s not on anyone’s radar anymore as a head coach candidate, maybe Schottenheimer is just doing this while he still can. It’s a marriage of convenience.
That is what’s driving the overwhelming negativity about Schottenheimer becoming the Cowboys’ next head coach. His weak résumé is one thing, but it’s more disturbing that it seems to be the Joneses leaning even harder into their worst tendencies. It feels like a regression to the Dave Campo era and the perpetuation of the franchise’s cycle of failure. Even when they brought in McCarthy, there was a reasonable argument that he’d be an upgrade over Jason Garrett. But this time, there’s just no real way to spin it.
If it happens, the only thing we can do is hope that Brian Schottenheimer proves us wrong. But with three decades of evidence to the contrary, both in his own accomplishments and those of the Dallas Cowboys, the optimists are left groping in the dark for something to hold on to. Maybe the coordinator hires would do more to lift out spirits if he was hired, but for now, it feels like getting kicked when we’re already in the fetal position.
The Dallas Cowboys have been on the search for a new head coach after parting ways with Mike McCarthy. One name that has surfaced as a potential candidate is Brian Schottenheimer, the former offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks.
Schottenheimer has had mixed success in his coaching career, with some fans praising his offensive creativity and others criticizing his play-calling decisions. However, his experience working with top-tier quarterbacks like Russell Wilson could make him an attractive option for the Cowboys, who have struggled to find consistency at the position since Dak Prescott’s injury.
For Cowboys fans, the potential hiring of Schottenheimer represents the ultimate test of their optimism. Will they see him as a fresh start and a chance for the team to turn things around, or will they be skeptical of his track record and fear more disappointment?
Only time will tell if Schottenheimer is the right fit for America’s Team, but one thing is for sure: the Cowboys faithful will be watching closely and hoping for the best.
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Tesla’s (TSLA, Financial) stock value rose around 2% at the premarket Tuesday session because the company has maintained strong market gains since last year. Investor optimism about Tesla’s AI and robotics potential led analyst Adam Potter from Piper Sandler to raise the company’s share price valuation to $500.
Investors expect that newly relaxed regulations by the Trump administration will help Tesla advance its AI and robotics initiatives through their existing self-driving capabilities.
The core EV business at Tesla encounters fiscal pressures due to declining sales numbers and minimal profit, respectively. The company recorded its first global sales decline for the year because of weaker vehicle purchases beyond China. Lowering prices, specifically in markets with strong competition, protected sales, but sales continued to drop due to weakening market interest.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s advisory role to former U.S. President Donald Trump remains an important market consideration affecting Tesla’s performance. Tesla benefits from its strong ties to President Trump, which boosts growth across all areas of business.
The market increased Tesla’s value by more than $560 billion following the 2024 elections because investors believe executive control and upcoming regulatory shifts will benefit Tesla’s future. Analysts think Tesla’s expansion into real-world AI and self-driving technologies will drive its growth forward and make investors interested in the company’s innovative future plans.
Tesla’s stock soared today after analysts raised the price target to $500 per share, citing optimism about the electric car maker’s future prospects. The increase in the price target reflects the growing confidence in Tesla’s ability to continue innovating and dominating the electric vehicle market.
Investors reacted positively to the news, pushing Tesla’s stock price up by over 5% in early trading. The company’s market capitalization now stands at over $900 billion, making it one of the most valuable automakers in the world.
Analysts pointed to Tesla’s strong sales growth, expanding product lineup, and technological advancements as reasons for their bullish outlook. They believe that Tesla has the potential to disrupt the entire automotive industry and become a dominant player in the electric vehicle market.
Despite facing challenges such as production delays and competition from traditional automakers, Tesla’s strong brand recognition and loyal customer base have helped it maintain its leadership position in the electric vehicle market.
Investors are now eagerly awaiting Tesla’s upcoming earnings report, which is expected to show continued growth and profitability. With the price target raised to $500, analysts are confident that Tesla’s stock will continue to rise in the coming months, making it an attractive investment opportunity for both long-term and short-term investors.
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Tesla, Price Target, $500, Stock, Jumps, Analyst, Optimism, Tesla Stock, Tesla Price Target, Tesla Analyst, Tesla Optimism, Stock Price, Stock Market, Electric Vehicles, Tesla News, Investment, Financial Analysis
The excitement surrounding Ripple and XRP has been growing since Donald Trump became President-elect in November, signaling a potentially favorable administration for crypto assets.
That excitement crescendoed last week as XRP came within pennies of breaking its all-time high price record from 2018, pushing Ripple’s stash of the asset to a staggering sum amid other notable happenings around the crypto company.
Here’s what you need to know from a wild week for Ripple and XRP.
XRP nears all-time high
XRP traded around $0.50 in the days leading up to the U.S. elections in November. Since that time the token has grown by more than 500% to a current price of $3.15, all while becoming the third-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, overtaking stablecoin Tether in the process.
Thanks to the surge, the token nearly set a new all-time high, peaking at $3.38 on January 16, just $0.02 shy of its all-time high of $3.40 set in 2018 per data from CoinGecko.
Up more than 25% on the week as of this writing, XRP has greatly outperformed its major crypto peers like Bitcoin and Ethereum—though Solana is now showing much larger weekly gains thanks to momentum around Trump’s official meme coin launch.
ETF optimism grows
Some of the demand for XRP can be attributed to the growing optimism about an approval of an XRP ETF. Last week, a report from researchers at JP Morgan indicated that if approved, an XRP ETF could expect to pull in billions of dollars from investors.
This report piggybacks on recent comments from Ripple Labs president Monica Long, who suggested that she thinks an XRP ETF will be approved “very soon.”
Ripple’s holdings skyrocket
The major price appreciation in XRP has bolstered Ripple’s holdings tremendously, increasing by about $115 billion since election day at the current price
Based on its most recent financial disclosures, the firm holds around 4.44 billion XRP, and controls another 39 billion XRP in escrow—a collective amount now worth $136 billion at the token’s current price. At the time of the election, this amount was worth approximately $21 billion.
During the election, Ripple and other notable crypto firms like Coinbase helped spearhead a $300 million super PAC in an attempt to improve the regulatory environment for crypto in the United States. So far, that bet appears to be paying off handsomely.
Meme coins surge
After a brief spike in early December, meme coin activity on the XRP Ledger had largely gone silent until activity soared once more last week.
The activity was led by ARMY, a meme coin based on the enthusiastic supporters of the Ripple-linked asset, which jumped to a new all-time high around a $107 million market cap. Though the token has since pulled back to around a $67 million market cap, it still leads other XRP meme coins in trading volume, which has grown when compared to the December rush.
Thanks in part to the meme coin trading activity, the XRP Ledger saw its highest mark of active accounts since December 6, breaching 63,000 on January 16 according to data from XRP Scan.
SEC not giving up
Though a more friendly regulatory environment might be around the corner, the current SEC administration is not yielding in its lengthy battle with Ripple.
This week, Ripple Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty noted that despite asking for the SEC to postpone its opening brief in an appeal against a ruling that favored Ripple, the enforcement agency refused. On Wednesday, the SEC filed the brief, asking the court for a reclassification of the security status of XRP.
“What a waste of time and taxpayer dollars,” he wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Despite the frustration, Adelroty remains confident in Ripple’s position, indicating he looks forward to working with the new SEC leadership to resolve the matter.
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XRP’s Massive Week: Nearly All-Time High Price, ETF Optimism, and SEC vs. Ripple
This past week has been a rollercoaster ride for XRP, the cryptocurrency associated with Ripple. The price of XRP surged to nearly its all-time high, reaching over $1.80 at one point, before retracing slightly. This surge was fueled by a combination of factors, including positive sentiment in the overall cryptocurrency market and excitement over potential developments for XRP.
One major catalyst for XRP’s price increase was the growing optimism surrounding the possibility of an XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF). Earlier this week, multiple reports indicated that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) may be open to approving an XRP ETF, following the recent approval of a Bitcoin futures ETF. This news sent XRP investors into a buying frenzy, driving up the price of the cryptocurrency.
However, this optimism was tempered by the ongoing legal battle between Ripple and the SEC. The SEC has accused Ripple of conducting an unregistered securities offering through its sale of XRP, and the case has been ongoing for months. While the recent developments in the case have been largely positive for Ripple, with several key victories in court, the outcome is still uncertain and continues to weigh on XRP’s price.
Overall, it’s been a tumultuous but ultimately positive week for XRP, with the cryptocurrency reaching new heights in terms of price and potential regulatory approval. As the cryptocurrency market continues to evolve, XRP remains a key player to watch.
A majority of Americans are optimistic about the next four years with Donald Trump, even more so than they were in 2017 before his first term. And most are hopeful about the coming year.
That’s bolstered by Americans’ expectations for a good economy in 2025 — higher than they currently rate it — along with wide belief among his voters that Trump will bring down grocery prices, make them financially better off and bring more peace and stability to the world.
It all echoes many of the reasons Trump won in the first place.
In this hyper-partisan era, though, optimism for incoming presidents isn’t quite as high as it once was. For Carter and Reagan, both Bushes, Clinton and Obama, CBS News polling at the time showed higher optimism than either President Biden in 2021 or Trump today enjoys. That’s largely because these days, opposing partisans are less likely to express positivity.
Just as economic views and inflation propelled Trump to a win, today many Americans — especially Trump’s voters — expect to be financially better off.
And just as inflation and the economy were top issues in the election, they are far and away the top things they want Trump to prioritize now.
Americans are more hopeful about the coming year generally than they were at the start of 2021, when the pandemic was still going on.
Looking overseas, more think Trump will increase peace and stability in the world than decrease it, and specifically, decrease conflict between Israel and its neighbors in the Middle East.
(In contrast, just over half look back now and say Mr. Biden’s policies created more conflict there.)
Other potential policy ideas
Most Americans are in favor of deportations of immigrants who are in the country illegally, as voters were during the campaign, though not of using the military to carry out deportations.
On a number of other potential policy ideas, things are more split. Ending birthright citizenship is not widely popular, and it only divides Trump voters.
People are not sold on the idea of buying Greenland. Most Trump voters would approve of it, but not universally, and it’s not a popular idea beyond that.
It does shed an important light on how Americans think Trump thinks, though: many of them feel he’s just leveraging for a larger negotiation.
On imposing tariffs on imported goods, Trump’s voters overwhelmingly favor the idea (even though they don’t necessarily think this will bring down prices), while a slight majority of Americans overall are opposed.
The idea of ending or reducing DEI programs is strongly supported by his voters; the rest of the country is more split.
Looking ahead: Democrats and opposition
Still, most Americans say they are concerned about the state of U.S. politics right now, and that concern is highest among Democrats, whose ranks don’t look especially activated right now.
Many Democrats describe themselves as “demoralized,” along with being “exhausted” and “concerned” about U.S. politics when asked to choose descriptors. Few say they’re even “interested.” Even fewer say they’re “motivated.”
They’re roughly split over whether they want congressional Democrats to find common ground or oppose Trump at every turn now; the most liberal are the most opposed. And then they have some — though not a lot — of confidence that their congressional leadership can effectively oppose Trump when they disagree.
There’s also some sense among them of missed opportunity as Mr. Biden departs: just over half think Harris could have won if Mr. Biden had stepped aside sooner.
Biden, meanwhile, exits with Americans evaluating his presidency as low as they ever have during his term.
Looking ahead along other demographic lines, some of Americans’ outlook for the Trump administration follows some of the contours of what happened in November.
Trump made gains over 2020 with younger voters, and today, young Americans are more likely to voice optimism about him than are older Americans. (They’re also just generally more likely to voice optimism whenever asked to look ahead.) Trump did better with men and made gains with women, and today both are optimistic, men especially so.
Today, almost a quarter of the voters who backed Kamala Harris are optimistic now about the next four years with Trump, reflecting perhaps some willingness for them to reevaluate him once he takes office, something we often see with a losing candidate’s supporters, at least early on.
In all, more Americans are pulling for the new administration to succeed, compared to very few for it to fail. The ratio is far higher for desired success. This is similar to how it was for Joe Biden four years ago, too. And then for many, they say it simply depends on what Trump tries to do.
This CBS News/YouGov survey was conducted with a nationally representative sample of 2,174 U.S. adults interviewed between January 15-17, 2025. The sample was weighted to be representative of adults nationwide according to gender, age, race, and education, based on the U.S. Census American Community Survey and Current Population Survey, as well as 2024 presidential vote. The margin of error is ±2.5 points.
Anthony Salvanto, Ph.D., is CBS News’ executive director of elections and surveys. He oversees the CBS News Poll and all surveys across topics and heads the CBS News Decision Desk that estimates outcomes on election nights
In a recent CBS News poll, it was found that a majority of Americans are optimistic about former President Donald Trump’s potential return to office. The poll revealed that many people have high expectations for Trump’s leadership and believe that he can make a positive impact on the country.
Despite the controversies surrounding his presidency, Trump still has a strong base of supporters who believe in his ability to bring about change and improve the state of the nation. Many are hopeful that he will continue to champion conservative values and policies that resonate with them.
However, there are also concerns among some Americans about what a Trump presidency would mean for the country. Critics worry about his divisive rhetoric and the potential for further polarization in the political landscape.
Overall, the poll reflects a mix of optimism and apprehension about Trump’s potential return to office. As the political landscape continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how these sentiments shape the future of American politics.
\n\n”,”providerName”:”Twitter”,”providerUrl”:”https://twitter.com”,”thumbnail_url”:null,”type”:”oembed”,”width”:550,”contentType”:”rich”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”After improving by 14 wins from 2022 (62) to ’23 (76) and giving some hope for a playoff run in ’24, the team cratered in August and finished with 76 wins again. The question becomes whether this team can get over the hump and compete.\n\nThe guys who will be in the clubhouse felt that frustration from last season too, but on Saturday, many expressed their belief that the group can compete.\n\n\”We’re ready for it,” David Bednar said. “I think everybody in there had a sour taste from last year. Obviously, I think there’s some really good young talent. \\[We’re\\] ready to take that next step forward.”\n\n“I believe that 100%,” Nick Gonzales said. “I think we have the talent. I think we have the coaching staff \\[and\\] the ability. I totally believe in it going into this season that there’s going to be a different energy around the clubhouse.\””,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”OEmbed”,”html”:”“,”providerName”:”MLB”,”providerUrl”:null,”thumbnail_url”:”https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-photos/image/upload/ar_121:168,c_fill,g_face/w_121/v1/people/693304/action/vertical/current”,”type”:”oembed”,”width”:425,”contentType”:”rich”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”“All the guys here have big talent,” Endy Rodríguez said. “We have a veteran guy like McCutchen. Our attitude \\[is\\] to go and play, I think we’re gonna be better this year. I think we just have to listen and pay attention to everything the game tells us.”\n\nCherington assured fans during the Ask Management panel that the Pirates weren’t done this offseason, but having Jared Jones and Paul Skenes at the jump of the season — both of whom now have a year under their belts — also puts the team in a seemingly better spot than it was 12 months ago.\n\n“It’s a fun group to watch, be a part of and just go by our days,” Jones said. “I get to watch five guys, four guys — however many are in our rotation — just go out there and compete every day. It’s fun to watch.””,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”OEmbed”,”html”:”
\n\n\n”,”providerName”:”Twitter”,”providerUrl”:”https://twitter.com”,”thumbnail_url”:null,”type”:”oembed”,”width”:550,”contentType”:”rich”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”It’s not just that much-publicized rotation. Rodríguez’s right elbow feels “like a baby” now that he’s a year and one month removed from surgery and ready to return in 2025. Gonzales improved last year. Bednar — who is noticeably trimmer — is aiming for a big bounceback. There’s talent on the roster.\n\nBut like he did at the end of the regular season, McCutchen echoed the words of his former manager, Clint Hurdle. A team beats talent when talent isn’t a team.\n\nNow a designated hitter, McCutchen says there were 15 to 30 winnable games last season that the Pirates let slip through their fingers. Winning even half of those could have put them in the postseason.”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”Video”,”contentDate”:”2024-12-02T16:28:46.781Z”,”preferredPlaybackScenarioURL({\”preferredPlaybacks\”:\”mp4AvcPlayback\”})”:”https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2024/2024-11/14/604029ba-dc6fcad1-960388f2-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4″,”type”:”video”,”description”:”Michael A. Taylor and Oneil Cruz made the Pirates’ Top 5 catches of 2024″,”displayAsVideoGif”:false,”duration”:”00:01:57″,”slug”:”pirates-best-catches-of-2024″,”tags”:[{“__typename”:”TeamTag”,”slug”:”teamid-134″,”title”:”Pittsburgh Pirates”,”team”:{“__ref”:”Team:134″},”type”:”team”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”vod”,”title”:”vod”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”defense”,”title”:”defense”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”player-tracking”,”title”:”Statcast”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”alexa”,”title”:”alexa”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”roku-vod”,”title”:”Roku VOD”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”imagen-feed”,”title”:”Imagen feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”team-featured”,”title”:”team featured”,”type”:”taxonomy”}],”thumbnail”:{“__typename”:”Thumbnail”,”templateUrl”:”https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/{formatInstructions}/mlb/pbw41vrnbhtgkhup3dit”},”title”:”Pirates’ best catches of 2024″,”relativeSiteUrl”:”/video/pirates-best-catches-of-2024″},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”“When they start to see those things and you go, ‘If you did that, you could’ve won this amount of games and this could be your record. This is where you would’ve been at,’” McCutchen said. “Yeah, we would’ve been in the playoffs, we would’ve been in the Wild Card \\[Series\\]. When you see it like that, that’s when younger guys are able to be like, ‘OK, we can do this.’ Because it’s one thing to just say it, but when you’re able to see it, that changes your perspective. That changes your outlook on not just yourself but on the team as a whole.\n\n“I think it will help if we’re able to see those things. I’m gonna do my due diligence in making that happen, especially going into the season, because we’re gonna need it.”\n\nGonzales alluded to a change in team mentality in 2025. McCutchen wants it to be about executing; not just putting together several good months but a full campaign.\n\n“I think that should be the mentality going into 2025,” McCutchen said. “We gotta do the best that we can at executing and whatever that’s gonna take, we need to jump on board.””,”type”:”text”}],”relativeSiteUrl”:”/news/piratesfest-brings-optimism-for-2025″,”contentType”:”news”,”subHeadline”:null,”summary”:”PITTSBURGH — Andrew McCutchen can sense some frustration in the fan base. Fans won’t dare get in the franchise icon’s face to voice that irritation, but he’s been around long enough to have his finger on Pittsburgh’s pulse and know what’s up.\nThere was optimism and excitement in the air”,”tagline({\”formatString\”:\”none\”})”:null,”tags”:[{“__typename”:”InternalTag”,”slug”:”storytype-article”,”title”:”Article”,”type”:”article”},{“__typename”:”ContributorTag”,”slug”:”alex-stumpf”,”title”:”Alex Stumpf”,”type”:”contributor”},{“__typename”:”TeamTag”,”slug”:”teamid-134″,”title”:”Pittsburgh Pirates”,”team”:{“__ref”:”Team:134″},”type”:”team”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”apple-news”,”title”:”Apple News”,”type”:”taxonomy”}],”type”:”story”,”thumbnail”:”https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/{formatInstructions}/mlb/ftfc1xqzld0ufukl1wyl”,”title”:”PiratesFest brings optimism for 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January 18th, 2025
PITTSBURGH — Andrew McCutchen can sense some frustration in the fan base. Fans won’t dare get in the franchise icon’s face to voice that irritation, but he’s been around long enough to have his finger on Pittsburgh’s pulse and know what’s up.
There was optimism and excitement in the air at PiratesFest on Saturday at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in downtown Pittsburgh, but also some lingering frustration from 2024. It was evident at the “Ask Pirates Management” session, where fans asked team president Travis Williams, general manager Ben Cherington and manager Derek Shelton a variety of questions for about 40 minutes, ranging from how the team is run, how players are acquired and deployed and the direction of the franchise. The questions remained civil and Williams thanked those in attendance for their passion, but it encapsulated what a large portion of the fan base wants to see: This team taking that next step.
After improving by 14 wins from 2022 (62) to ’23 (76) and giving some hope for a playoff run in ’24, the team cratered in August and finished with 76 wins again. The question becomes whether this team can get over the hump and compete.
The guys who will be in the clubhouse felt that frustration from last season too, but on Saturday, many expressed their belief that the group can compete.
“We’re ready for it,” David Bednar said. “I think everybody in there had a sour taste from last year. Obviously, I think there’s some really good young talent. [We’re] ready to take that next step forward.”
“I believe that 100%,” Nick Gonzales said. “I think we have the talent. I think we have the coaching staff [and] the ability. I totally believe in it going into this season that there’s going to be a different energy around the clubhouse.”
“All the guys here have big talent,” Endy Rodríguez said. “We have a veteran guy like McCutchen. Our attitude [is] to go and play, I think we’re gonna be better this year. I think we just have to listen and pay attention to everything the game tells us.”
Cherington assured fans during the Ask Management panel that the Pirates weren’t done this offseason, but having Jared Jones and Paul Skenes at the jump of the season — both of whom now have a year under their belts — also puts the team in a seemingly better spot than it was 12 months ago.
“It’s a fun group to watch, be a part of and just go by our days,” Jones said. “I get to watch five guys, four guys — however many are in our rotation — just go out there and compete every day. It’s fun to watch.”
It’s not just that much-publicized rotation. Rodríguez’s right elbow feels “like a baby” now that he’s a year and one month removed from surgery and ready to return in 2025. Gonzales improved last year. Bednar — who is noticeably trimmer — is aiming for a big bounceback. There’s talent on the roster.
But like he did at the end of the regular season, McCutchen echoed the words of his former manager, Clint Hurdle. A team beats talent when talent isn’t a team.
Now a designated hitter, McCutchen says there were 15 to 30 winnable games last season that the Pirates let slip through their fingers. Winning even half of those could have put them in the postseason.
“When they start to see those things and you go, ‘If you did that, you could’ve won this amount of games and this could be your record. This is where you would’ve been at,’” McCutchen said. “Yeah, we would’ve been in the playoffs, we would’ve been in the Wild Card [Series]. When you see it like that, that’s when younger guys are able to be like, ‘OK, we can do this.’ Because it’s one thing to just say it, but when you’re able to see it, that changes your perspective. That changes your outlook on not just yourself but on the team as a whole.
“I think it will help if we’re able to see those things. I’m gonna do my due diligence in making that happen, especially going into the season, because we’re gonna need it.”
Gonzales alluded to a change in team mentality in 2025. McCutchen wants it to be about executing; not just putting together several good months but a full campaign.
“I think that should be the mentality going into 2025,” McCutchen said. “We gotta do the best that we can at executing and whatever that’s gonna take, we need to jump on board.”
PiratesFest Brings Optimism for 2025
As the Pittsburgh Pirates kicked off their annual PiratesFest event, fans were filled with optimism and excitement for the upcoming 2025 season. The event, held at PNC Park, featured player meet-and-greets, autograph sessions, games, and more, giving fans a chance to connect with their favorite players and gear up for the season ahead.
After a challenging few seasons, Pirates fans are hopeful that 2025 will bring new opportunities and successes for the team. With a roster filled with young talent and promising prospects, there is a sense of renewed energy and anticipation among supporters.
The Pirates front office has been hard at work making strategic moves and building a strong foundation for the future. Fans are eager to see how these changes will translate onto the field and are looking forward to seeing the team compete in the upcoming season.
Overall, PiratesFest was a reminder of the passion and dedication that fans have for their team, and a sign that there are brighter days ahead for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2025. Here’s to a successful season filled with excitement, victories, and memories that will last a lifetime. Let’s go Bucs!
Doncic 
