Disgusted!

The Super Bowl

I was hoping to get this Blog out before the Super Bowl but I was in the Bay Area attending  a Mass of Remembrance with relatives.  My blog would have predicted the Chiefs winning by eleven. LIAR! I was thinking of saying the 49ers will win by three touchdowns.  I was amazed and disgusted with their collapse.

As I mentioned in a previous blog, if you are not going to win The Super Bowl lose early in the playoffs.  But the Niners lost late and history predicts years of frustration and new coaches await the team.  It will take years to forget Sunday!  If you would like a glimpse of next years team just look at the Rams games this year.  Teams do not build upon Super Bowl losses.  Up until 2019 when New England beat the Rams, the 1972 Dallas Cowboys were the only team in NFL history to win the next year after losing a Super Bowl. So it was believed with New England's win the jinx was broken.  Maybe for a year but look at Patroits now who got eliminated early this year and are trying a find a way to keep their 42 year old QB happy without giving him a ten year contract.

Forty Niner fans still remember the 2013 Super Bowl when an unprepared 49er team blew the game to the Ravens.  The results of that loss had devastating results for years.  The fact that the owner and coach hated each other didn't help.  The Niners had four plays to get a TD from a few yards out to win the Super Bowl but did not have a play for a QB noted for his running to score.  Give me a break!

But this year the 49er thrived on their successful running game.  That why we forgot about Jimmy Garoppolo who we wrote about early in the season that he is not the answer at QB. He panics and can't throw a long pass as evident by his horrible performance in the Super Bowl.    Why did he forget he had the best TE on his team and not pass to him.  Look for a mobile QB NOW!

George Kittle caught a beautiful pass just before half which would have seen up a field goal and give the Niners the lead and half time.  But he was called for pass interference. Who can explain pass interference?  Don't expect the NFL to have an answer.  They have been playing for 100 years and we now have 6 camera angels to determine a completed forward pass.  Use to be simple --- hits the ground incomplete doesn't hit the ground complete.

After his Super Bowl play calling plays for Atlanta a few year ago, Shanahan now has the reputation of blowing Super Bowl games.  Well deserved!

Andy Reid on the other hand can now add a Super Bowl championship to his resume.  It is not easy being a head coach with many unexpected problems he has to solve.  At the right is a picture of the Coach with my granddaughter Emi.  Both the UofA women's soccer team and the Chiefs were staying at the same Silicon Valley Hotel.  The Wildcats were in town to play Santa Clara and San Jose State while the Chief would be playing the Raiders in Oakland.

You might remember reading about the fact that the Chiefs kicker had fungus on his toe and was questionable for the game.  All the reserve NFL kickers were already signed for the weekend so the Chiefs became desperate.  Reid knew there were  kickers in town --- the UofA Womens Soccer team.  Some tried out and like Emi but could not hit the fifty yard field goal consistently enough. Reid called on his medial staff to make a check of the kicker.  They discovered that he had not cut his toe nails in three months.  The coach ordered him to go to Happy Nails and they cut his nails and like a miracle his fungus was gone.  And you wonder why he is a great coach.


Warriors

In our last addition the Warriors had just won four straight and were on their way to be the best of the worst for drafting.  Well my cousin three times removed handles tickets for some 500 season ticket holders.  He happened to hear about a phone call Kerr got from upstairs.  Now he did not hear this himself.  But the Warriors were breaking in a new secretary and she happened to know one of  the staff.  That staff member's secretary works right next to Kerr's office.  The door to the office was open and she heard the phone and Kerr picked it up and she could hear words like "What the hell are you doing?" He got the message and the Warriors have lost something like 10 out of 12 and are now back in the thick of the race to have the worst league record to increase their odds to get the top pick in the draft.

Giants

The Super Bowl is over and it is  Winter Training Time with Giants players reporting new week and the first training game in a few short weeks.  The Giants are signing minor league players almost everyday so it will take a few weeks of winter training to sort out who might make the team.

A New Year

Hi Everyone,

Let me first wish all of you a very happy and healthy new year and hope you had a very blessed Christmas and that Santa was good to you.  Some kids do stupid things like saying they don't believe in Santa anymore.  I never did.  I think I was 14 when I started wonder a little but why give up a good thing? I was too smart to do that and has it paid off throughout the years.  Santa may not always be dressed in his red and white outfit and come bye sleigh to Southern California but a Lexus will do.

My thoughts on our three major teams.

The Warriors and the NBA

Currently the Warriors have won four in a row and after being the worst team in the league the first part but could end up being the best of the worst and even though the top brass have been scouting the top college stars the more wins the team gets the less the chance of getting a future member of the Hall of Fame in the draft.

Steve Kerr has done an excellent job and the players are playing hard because they either want to stay with the Blue Bag city team or get picked up by another team.  They are playing for their NBA careers.

The Warriors would have to play almost at the pace the 73 win team did a few years ago to make the playoffs this year.    We are guessing it would take 48 wins to make the playoffs; could be 50 or 46 but the sake of argument we will settle with 48.  They currently have 9 wins.  That means they will need to win 39 of the remaining 49 games to make the playoffs.

I don't see the Warriors throwing games for the sake of a higher lottery chance so they could become the best of the worst with the return of Curry and Thompson, really a horrible drafting position to be in.

Those of you who have read my blog for couple years know how I have harped on the NBA regular season being a waste.  What is the major study in the NBA this year?  How to make the regular season more meaningful.  Wonder where they got the idea?!

I was asked if I know how the attendance has been.  My cousin three times removed and a Warrior  employee told me that it hasn't been bad.  My cousin once removed who run the a Giant souvenir stand at MoMos across from Oracle was given the same opportunity to open a Warrior stand near Chase.  He checked with the restaurant manager and learned that crowds have not been as expected.  My thought is to tell the A's, new owners of the Oracle Arena, not to tear it down quite yet.


The 49ers

Two years ago when Lynch and Shannan were hired we said they were the answer for the 49ers.  They have proven the prophecy.  A promising season last year was diminished when Jimmy Garoppolo was injured.  This resulted in the 49ers getting the second player in the draft and they chose Nick Bosa the great defensive lineman from Ohio State who has solidified an already very good line.  It also allowed Shannan to coach a college all star game.  This is where he discovered Emmuel Sanders and noticed that nobody could cover him so he became the Niners second draft choice.  What gems!

I wrote when the 49ers lost in OT to Seattle earlier in the season that they could have run out the clock and settled for a tie.  Yes, they would have criticized.  But they were terrible in the second half and should have been thrilled with a tie.   Their record would now be 12-2-1 and Seattle would 10-4-1.  Sunday's game wouldn't matter and the Niners would have the bye in the first round the playoffs.

I have been asked what I think of the 49ers.  I am not sure they are the best team in the NFC but they can play with any teams which they have proven this year.  They would probably split 10 games with New Orleans and Seattle and take 7 out of 10 from Green Bay.  They have a good a chance of any NFC team to make the Super Bowl.  But if they not going to win the Super Bowl lose early.

If there is best team in the NFL, I would say Baltimore but can they get by New England and the Chiefs with their QB can give any team fits.


The Giants

Time is running short.  Little over six weeks until spring training and Giant fans aren't happy.  The team has lost four of their top stars from last year and have not replaced them.  The Giants looked at their situation and noted that most of their money is going to declining players such as Longorio, Posey, Crawford and Belt.  The Giants are not going to repeat the same mistake again.  Don't look for 31 year old veterans to get big 5 year contracts.  The Warriors will be in the same perdictament in two years.   Like the gold miners of the 1850's, the Giants will be looking for that diamond in the rough.

I am really shocked that baseball is changing the rules so that a relief pitcher has to  pitch to 3 batters unless an inning ends.  Now they are getting serious about saving the game.   Bochy got out just in time and what is Dave Roberts of the Dodgers going to do?


The Monday Night Football Pool

A few members of our blog I believe still play the MNF Pool.  Each Monday Night game is chosen at the start of the season and given from 17- 1 point for the game. The total is 153 points.

After playing the game for about 20 years, I won $125. last year coming in third place 3 points behind the winner who won $1500.

This year I accumulated 140 points and tied for 5th place with a few others which netted me $48.  The winner who got $1440.  had 142 points and three players tied for second with 141 points. So close yet so far.  Then I started thinking.  I lost the Seattle game mentioned above.  I wonder how many players above me earned points for a Seattle win?  If the game was tied everybody loses so I'm beginning to think that Shannan cost me a few buck.  If he wins the Super Bowl, I will forgive him.


HAPPY NEW YEAR!

30 Years and Older

I am over 60 years of age and wonder how 30 year old athletes can be so vulnerable to sickness and injury in this day and age of workouts and medical advise.  

49ers

I would have gone for the tie.  With about 1 1/2 minutes left in overtime, the 49ers took control the ball in their own territory.  Seattle was out of time outs.  Run out the clock and be happy with a tie.  The offense hadn't done a thing in the second half.   But no,  that would be unpopular.  The result is a loss to a division rival and perhaps a playoff spot.  So instead of running, the 49ers excuse for a QB threw three passes, the first two could have been intercepted if the Seattle defenders ever learned to catch.  So once the Seahawks got the ball back down the field they came kicking the winning field goal.

The Niners were exposed big time.  True they were missing some key players but it was also true they got a few back.  Injuries are part of the game.  Robbie Gould the Niners 36 year old outstanding place kicker was injured and out of the game.  A winning field goal was missed in overtime and 49er fans have a strong argument that they would have won if Gould was available.    The prune pickers schedule gets much more difficult now with many of their weaknesses expose.  We can dream of a  12-4 season but be thrilled at 11-5.

The Warriors

Our last article answered their season when we wrote it depended on injuries.  That was right on!   Not only are they looking at a lottery pick but maybe even the first ones since the team executives are spending their time supporting college basketball.

I am sure it was just a coincidence but Curry was injured on LGBT night.  Do you think maybe God was a little upset?

In the early going the Warriors can hardly win a game but some of the new players are showing potential.  It's a great opportunity for them.  I wonder what advise Jerry West could have provided if they renewed his contract a few years ago but they didn't and  now he consults with the Clippers.

If you think this is the last injuries to Curry, Thompson and Green you are sadly mistaken.  They are over 30 and they will not be able to play in the neighborhood of 30 games in each of the coming seasons.  Other Warriors are hurt even the 19 year old.   One wonders what they learn about keeping themselves in shape at our universities.  One also has to wonder why a know-it-all-owner of the Warriors would sign 'old men' like Curry, Thompson and Green to a long term contracts?  He really had no choice. Letting any those three go would have been a pr nightmare.  So the owner was really stuck.  The results being the Warrior salary being dominated by injury prone players limiting access to other players.


The Giants

The team is in place with the naming of a new General Manager Scott Harris and Gabe Kapler as manager.  What direction will they take?  I have no idea! Will there be purge of over 30 year old players and the Giants decide to go young?  Did they tell the new GM that then could only sign left handed pitchers?  No righties are welcome in this socialists haven.

I was upset that they are keeping triple alley because it is unfair to the batter.  I remember last season Bob Brenly the ex-Giant and current D-Back commentator saying it would be a shame to lose the most exciting play in baseball.  Yes, it is sure exciting when a Giant hits a triple.  Of course it really gets more thrilling to watch the next batter pop up, then a strike out and ground out.  Real exciting!

The End and the Start

Bruce Bochy left as a hero - The 49ers are unbeaten - the new Chase Concert Hall Opens for basketball and the Sharks are Lousy

Sharks

Thought this year I would follow hockey a little closer since the Sharks always seem to have a good team and in most years a very good team.   Not this year!  The only good news is that it is a looonnng season.  After losing 5 out of 6 in the pre season they dropped their first four league games, I thought they might be the first hockey team to go winless for the season.  But surprise they beat the Blackhawks 5-4.  What a relief! In both games against Vegas they gave up short handed goals.  That's embarrassing!

49ers

I am not sure the Niners deserve to be unbeaten.  Their game against the Steelers was comedy of errors but the Steelers gave the ball back to the Prune Pickers late the 4th quarter which led to the winning TD.   The running game against Cleveland was exceptional.  But injuries are starting to take hold with the two starting tackles and great blocking fullback out for awhile.  This will make the game Sunday against the Rams a real challenge.  Nick Bosa the #1 draft choice from Ohio State has been a terror on defense and made a good defense even better.  A real strength!

In the last issue we mentioned Bob Fouts a 49er announcer during the early days.  One of my blog members CG from the East Bay reminded me that he was famous for his spoonerisms and mangling names.  There was great concern when the Niners drafted Tucker Fredrickson.  I heard that Bob Fouts passed away recently.  Some of you may remember Don Klien from Hawaii who also passed away. He was the radio announcer for the Seals after WW II.  I believe he also did some 49er games.

Warriors and the NBA

Listen to Green, Curry and Thompson and the GS Warriors will be right on top at the end.  This could be true if everyone stayed healthy.  But the NBA is a long grueling season that is tough on all the players and especially those over 30.  How healthy they stay will determine their season.

The new Chase Concert Center has now hosted two Warrior games.  The Lakers blew out the city of blue baggers and then they bounced back against the Timberwolves with Curry having one of those great nights.  Can Curry carry them the playoffs?

The NBA doing the work of the devil forced North Carolina to pull a bathroom piece of legislation under the threat of moving the All Star game. The socialist leaning NBA sees no problem with China and showed theirs true colors which aren't red, white and blue. Listening to tv reports it is Nike who controls the NBA.

The Giants

Larry Baer President of Giants sent out his end of the year letter which was very positive for next year. If I read the letter in August I would have agreed.  But the Orange and Black played so poorly in September my initial thought was to get rid of the 40 players and start over again.

Bruce Bochy was a great manager because the players liked him and played for him.The key for any managers success today. I didn't always agree with Boch with his left - right strategy.  In fact in a recent  September game the Gains were leading 3-2 in the 9th with the bases loaded and one out.  Boch brought in a left hander who I never heard of and threw four pitches striking out the batter looking very impressive. I never would have taken him out.   Bochy had to bring a right hander and he quickly threw four pitches in the dirt forcing the tying run across the plate.

The Dodger players loved Dave Roberts for the same reason the Giants loved Bochy.  That is until they lost to an very inferior Washington team.  The big move was bringing in Clayton Kershaw in relief.  A couple of quick homers and Dodgers were wondering what happened.  I learned long ago that it was not good idea normally to use a starter in relief.  I always remember Ralph Branca coming in to pitch for the Dodgers and giving up the hit 'heard around the world' to Bobby Thompson in 1951.  But I also remember a guy named Bumgarner relieving  for the Giants to win a World Series. His was little different since he came in the game early almost like he started it.

I don't know how many moves Zaidi will make.  He made over 60 during the season wearing out 4 sets of tires on the Greyhound buses.  I am assure it won't be the 40 suggested above but it could be substantial.  It is impossible to predict what will happen.  But my thoughts are:

Sign the Astro pitcher Gerrit Cole who is the brother-in-law Brandon Crawford forcing the Giants to keep him as their shortstop.  This would anchor the starting staff of Bumgarner, Cueto, Samardzija and perhaps Beede.  I would have released Beede years ago but he was a #1 draft choice so they kept him and he pitched some good games last year.

The relief staff would be Smith, Watson, Morona (if recovered from his injury) and Anderson.  Anderson with that horrible hair seems like he has an attitude problem.  He flopped as a starter but when Bochy put him in the 8th or 9th inning with the game on the line he looked like a different pitcher.  Sign two veteran relievers and hope for the best. The submarine reliever Rogers looked  impressive.

In the infield Mauricio Dubon showed enough during September to be the second baseman and Crawford will be at shortstop if the Giants sign his brother-in-law.  I still think Longoria is a waste at third although he had a good six week period when the teams was winning.  He is lucky to hit .260 and 20 homers.  His contract will force the Giants to keep him.  That probably the same reason they will have to keep a .230 hitter Belt at first. In a perfect world I would dump both Longoria and and Belt. I got so sick and tired of watching Belt walk back to the dugout after striking out.

Based on their play this year Pillar and Yastrzemski should be starters in the outfield.  The third and fourth  spots would be wide open.  Dickerson started hot but after being on IL he never really recovered.  A good spring and he would be the starting left fielder at least against right handers.  Jaylin Davis the big minor league home run hitter can't hit a major league fast ball.  Too bad because he is real athlete. That position is wide open although the catcher Vogt can play a decent left field as a fifth outfielder.

Dumping Buster Posey would be a pr nightmare so he and Vogt will most likely do most of the catching.

I am sure the 2020 Giants will not be anything like I mentioned above with Zaidi in charge.

B, B and F All in One

F       Football

I am a little late with this blog.  After the Tampa Bay- 49ers game in week one,  I concluded that the the worst team lost, I think! Tampa Bay's play calling certainly benefitted the Niners.  The NFL is out with a 100 year logo.  If the Niners and Bucs game was any example, the league would never have lasted more than five years.

The Prune Growers were much improved in the second week beating a very poor Cincinnati Bengals team that did not resemble their Super Bowl teams of the past. The game gives Niners fans hope for the season.   The team  has a quanity of very good running backs as shown on Sunday    With the first two backs McKinnon and Coleman out the reserves rolled with some quality runs.  The defense like in week one, played exceptionally well.  The 49ers first round draftee Bosa, if he can stay healthy, is a big addition to an already strong and experienced defense. The second rounder Samuel a receiver, looks like a star in the making even though he has made a few mistakes in the first two weeks.

With offensive tackle Staley out I look for the Steelers to get after Garoppolo this coming Sunday.  How he handles it will be a big clue to the 49er success this year. A 49er analyst after the Tampa Bay game inferred that the thought Garoppolo was "chicken."

Dan Fouts, the former Charger, Oregon Duck and St. Ignatius Wildcat has been a  football television analyst for years.  His father Bob Fouts was the voice of the 49ers in their early years.  He was noted for yelling RED DOG RED DOG when the defense would rush their linebackers on  the quarterback which at the time was just beginning to be popular.  Greg Pappa might change it to Black Dog Black Dog this Sunday as the Steelers defense gets after Garoppolo.

I observed some college football on television during the first few weeks.  I could not believe the Northwestern coach decision on his qb and the USC strategy against Fresno State.  It reminded me what a great country we have when one doesn't even have to be smart to make millions.

I noticed that both the NFL and the NCAA helmets have the American flag stuck on the back.  Who is kidding who?!


B      Baseball

The Giants eliminated themselves from the Wild Card race by losing most of their games,  The September Giants look an awful like the early season Giants.   Some players who might have thought they had a spot on the 40 man roster for next year better at least get a few hits in these final weeks.

I was asked by a sports fan on my daily walk around the North Lake in Irvine,  "Who is going to be the new Giants manager?"     My reply was I don't even know who is going to make the choice.  Zaidi who is the head of baseball operations, can hire a General Manager and that person will make the choice of the manager.   Zaidi himself could make the choice which I expect unless he has his new GM picked out.  Zadi would love to have either Melvin of the A's or Roberts of the Dodgers.

Is Bochy protecting his favorites?  Belt and Crawford are playing every day.  Dubon who is shortstop by trade is playing second instead of the Giants evaluating his play at shortstop.   Belt continues to strike out a few times a game but Shaw and Garcia up from Sacramento have not had a chance to play first.

Bochy needs 3 wins to reach 2000 for a career.   The Giants should be able to reach this goal for him.
The chance of being a .500 team are almost impossible.

After the season I will attempt to guess on some of the moves the team will make.  If it is like during the season there could be many more.


B      Basketball

The Warriors first practice game against the Lakers is October 5that the new Chase Concert Center. The "season" begins on October 24th against the Clippers with tickets priced from $240. to $2400.

Ticket prices range wildly.  The Dallas game in December for example is priced from $100. to $1250.

Back in the 1960s I took advantage of this deal a few times.  Seems like yesterday

These prices could change depending on demand just like air fares.  If the Warriors have tickets left with a day to go they might even pay you to attend the game.  Fat chance!  But tickets would be  "cheaper".

I have been thinking of attending he Cleveland game on April 8th for the following reasons:

            -  To see the Concert Hall
            -  It's a replay of a recent NBA Championship series.
            -  It's the next to last home game which the Warriors may have to win to make the playoffs
            -  Prices currently range from $80. to  $403.
            -  The "lower price" tickets have an * by the price indicating that oxygen is available.
            -  The 2020 Giants are home against Arizona that week allowing me to kill two birds with one trip.

The New Giants

The Giants

The Giants played very exciting baseball in beating the DBacks 3 out of 4 in the series over the weekend.  They have joined the baseball fraternity of home run hitters with many players we never had heard of six months ago.  The Giant pre game commentators Saturday night said the lineup that night was the best they had seen with Belt hitting 7th, Crawford 8th and no Posey.  Then Sunday the Giants scored 1 run in their only loss with Posey batting third and Belt fourth.

Are the Giants still in the pennant race?  Almost all responses I receive say no and tell me not to get excited.  If 89 wins will get the Giants into the playoffs,  they can lose only 11 more games in the 12 series they play. They need to sweep at least one series and not lose more than one game in the other ones. Not impossible but with the Giants pitching very improbable.

Krukow commented Sunday that 100 pitch rule has caught up with the teams.   Mike being a starting pitcher from the last century thinks the pitch count is stupid. The relief staffs have been over worked throughout baseball and the high scoring games indicate that most pitching staff now have three or four minor leaguers.

Dickerson has returned from the IL but he is not the same player.  I don't know if it is his injury or if he was just red hot when he first joined the team.

The outfield of Yastrzemski, Pillar and Slater has been great not only at the plate but in the field with some great catches.  Jaylin Davis the outfielder they got on trade day in his first 14 games in Sacramento is hitting. 404 which includes 8 homers and 5 doubles.  He would have normally been brought up but how can you bench the regulars.

Another player they got on trade day Mauricio Dubon is playing ss hitting .302 with 2 homers.  The Giants called up the River Cats ss Ablata Avelino to open the spot for Dubon.  The Giants are looking  to see if they have the replacement for Crawford.  Replacing his bat is not difficult but even though Brandon isn't the fielder he once was,  he still makes outstanding plays and will be tough to replace.

The jury is still out on second baseman Scooter Gennett.  He was on IL most of the season so his hitting is below par but he has shown flashes of being a pretty good hitter.  He has had a hard time laying off a 2 strike pitch in the dirt. As advertised his fielding is only adequate but he has made three big blunders on the base paths.

The 49ers

It sounds strange but anyone who watch the Denver game knows that even though the 49ers won they got slaughtered.  At the beginning of training the question was who is going to be the backup qb but now the question has to be who is going to start. Garoppolo was terrible and he will have to prove something in the last two pre season games.

A few observations . . . A holding penalty on Denver called back a 50 yard gain that prevented the Broncos from scoring a TD in the first half.  A big play in the game. . .  The Broncos lost their 2nd string qb who was playing pretty well so that the ex Stanford Cardinal Hogan the 3rd stringer played most of the second half which help the Niners. . .  When Denver scored to cut the lead to 9 in the 4th quarter, the Broncos went for 2 points with a simple buck in the middle instead of kicking the extra point to make it an 8 point game.  They wanted no part of overtime. . . Coleman the 49ers starting back had a nice run on his first carry and amazingly wasn't hurt. . .  Thought the Niners defense played well.

Welcome Alex

Break In

Let me welcome Alex Rodriquez from ABC Sunday Night Baseball to the fast growing Car Break In Family of San Francisco.  I feel honored to have him as one of our members.  The number in the group has passed 100,000 since San Francisco became a sanctuary city.  Alex's break in was similar to mine losing a camera and electronics valued in the neighborhood of $500,000.   According to the SF Police it is a priority.  Yea, sure it is!   Don't rent a car in the Blue Bag city unless you have a secure garage to park it.  Take street cars, BART, Greyhound, Uber and whatever to get around.

Giants

I wrote last time if the Giants were within 3 games when Dickerson returned they would still have a. chance.  They are currently 3 1/2 behind.  He has not returned as I write this.  The problem has become pitching.  The Giants only have two starters Bumgarner and Samadzija.  Smith, Watson, Moronta and Coonrod are reliable relievers.  The other seven pitchers are usually on a Greyhound computing between Sacramento and San Francisco.  The Giants are signing almost every pitcher released in the majors and sending them to Sacramento hoping for a baseball rebirth.

I flew to San Francisco last Wednesday with my daughter to enjoy the game from the Getty suite.  The Giants were dead but the companionship was great.  Since people have asked me, the Getty suite looks right down the first base line into right field.

I think the Giants made a big mistake in putting in such a large score board in centerfield. All it does is block the view of beautiful San Francisco Bay.  A modernized version the old scoreboard from Seals Stadium would had sufficed.  These stadiums act like babies ---my scoreboard is bigger then yours ha ha!

I was sorry to see Joe Panik leave.  He was given every chance to make a comeback.  He was great Giant and made some memorable plays that made the team a winner.  Not sure if it was injuries or the shift that hurt his game.  Glad he signed with the Mets since he is a New York native.  Always thought he might end up a Yankee because of the short right field fence.  Best of luck to him.

I feel sorry for Steve Duggar who hurt his shoulder at the game I attended.  He was going to be the future centerfielder of the Giants.  He batted in the .230s and was sent back to Sacramento and had just returned to show what he could do.  I don't see him having a chance of making club next year.

To make the playoffs the Giants will most likely have to win 89 games.  Since they have already lost 60 games they can only lose 13 more this season.  Long odds!  They need another July with 17 of 20 wins.

Home Runs

I have also been asked about all the power hitters and home runs.  My thought is if you throw the ball 99 miles an hour and it gets hit it goes further. I understand that pitchers that throw at that speed usually are not as accurate with their location which can lead to more homers.  Baseball used to get their horsehide for their baseballs from Bay Meadows.   Since then they have found a much better quality along the Nile River next to cotton fields.   But come on, you know the real reason for all these home runs is climate change.  What more proof do you need that the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim even had a rain out this season.


Warriors

I attempted to look at the new Chase Arena but could one get a glimpse as shown in the picture.

Homer with Chase Arena in the background 

An attorney with me in the Getty Box told me he was really upset that his firm spent 1 million dollars on tickets for the Warriors.  Heard of another company that paid a million for four years.

It is hard to imagine Chase being like Oracle and all those great fans from the East Bay.  Already I hear people saying that can't afford a Warrior game.

Clay Thompson complained last year after one game saying "Where are the fans?"  Well the people filling the seats will be guests of these companies and many may not know the difference between a basketball and a soccer ball.

Forty Niners

I am sure many of you who were not at Levi Stadium last Saturday night  were glued to your televisions.  Looked a lot like last year with the Niners pulling out an exciting suspense filled game with a win.   I remember reading during the off season that Niners had so many running backs that they won't be able to use them all.  Sure!  They had to sign a second string back off the streets of San Jose the day of the first game.  Injuries mount and is Bola injury prone since he was hurt at Ohio State last year?

Monday Night Football Pool

A few members of the blog play this game.  After many years I finally won I think $150. last year.  Was only a couple of point of winning top prize of $1500.  You pick each Monday Night game ranking each game 17 to 1 point.  Information can be obtained by emailing Mike Willis at uscsucs@sbcglobal.net