4 Takeaways From Italy's World Baseball Classic Win Over Mexico

Italy went 4-0 in Pool B, upsetting Team USA and steamrolling opponents in a surprising dominant run.
Vinnie Pasquantino crushed three homers in one game — the first player in WBC history to do it.
Italy’s win over Mexico knocked Mexico out and effectively saved Team USA’s spot in the quarterfinals.

Sports

March 12, 2026 at 2:47 AM

Team USA advanced from Pool B (3–1) and meets Pool A winner Canada in a Houston quarterfinal Saturday — good matchup to watch this weekend.
Italy’s 9–1 win over Mexico sealed the group; Italy now faces Puerto Rico in the other Houston quarterfinal.
Players to name-drop in small talk: Kyle Schwarber (team-high six hits), Gunnar Henderson (.500 batting), and Paul Skenes (4 scoreless innings, 7 K).

Sports

March 12, 2026 at 2:19 AM

Canada beat Cuba 7-2 in San Juan, advancing past the WBC first round for the first time and knocking historic Cuba out.
Team USA’s fate now hinges on the Italy‑Mexico result — certain Mexico wins would eliminate the U.S. despite its star-studded roster.
Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela is a blockbuster quarterfinal (Soto, Guerrero Jr., Tatis Jr., Acuña Jr. and more) — could set up a marquee rematch later.

Sports

March 12, 2026 at 12:18 AM

U.S. intelligence says Iran’s leadership remains largely intact and in control despite nearly two weeks of heavy U.S. and Israeli strikes — even after the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran’s Assembly of Experts has named Khamenei’s son Mojtaba as the new supreme leader, and the IRGC and interim leaders still appear to hold power.
The U.S.-Israeli campaign faces limits — rising oil costs and domestic pressure, questions about how to topple the regime without a ground invasion, and U.S. reports that Kurdish militias lack the firepower to change the balance.

War and Conflicts Politics

March 11, 2026 at 11:08 PM

Cowboys traded DT Osa Odighizuwa to the 49ers for a 2026 third-round pick (No. 92) — despite signing him to a four‑year, $80M extension last offseason.
Odighizuwa is a high-pressure interior rusher (52 pressures, 20 QB hits last year) and should help shore up San Francisco’s struggling pass rush.
The move clears roughly $16M of 2026 salary-cap space for Dallas as they reshape the defense (after adding Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark, Rashan Gary and Jalen Thompson).

Sports

March 11, 2026 at 10:57 PM