I'm 83

Last Week

The two doctors that I  saw last week both said that I was in very good health based upon a number of blood results and could continue writing my sports blog.  They both agreed that because I am able to socializes on occasion with a beautiful girl 57 years younger then myself might be a contributing factor. (See photo February 23, 2017 issue).  I have a growth on my right ear and saw one doctor hoping to get a referral to a plastic surgeon.  Instead I need to see my dermatologist which won't be until the end of May.  My doctor doesn't seem worried so I have not going either.  Only one problem three people have already called me Dumbo.

Being able to date a young girl 57 years younger seems almost impossible.  But it isn't when you look at the facts.  When I go to buy a bottle of liquor I am asked for my id.  That means the clerk is not sure that I am even 21 years of age most likely because I am clean shaven. Many young males grow beards today so they can look 80 years of age.  Its called the Copy Cat generation. Yes, I am aware that it is a state law to check everybody's id who  purchase a bottle of liquor.  In other words someone in power in  Sacramento who hates drinkers decided to use his or her  power to harass those who drink.  Remember the legislators in California are liars.  The latest example is the new Transportation Act that will increase the cost of gasoline about 10 cents a gallon plus raising vehicle fees. This is done under the pretense to fix our roads. For 67 years I have been paying a tax at the pump to keep up the roads.  It is now admitted that much of that money has been used to pay off cronies by the fact that they say this time 'we mean it'.  With money they plan to collect the cost per pot hole is about $100,000.  If you believe these liars then you deserved to be Dumbo.

New Name

Comcast Sports is now called NBC Sports Bay Area.  Even at 83 I earn something new almost every day.  The other day I learned that NBC stood for National Broadcasting Corporation.  I always though the B stood for Baloney because they were always so full of it. They have added one new show The Happy Hour which stars Johnson, Papa and Ratto a very good trio who know and discuss sports.  They spit in the face of Jesus Christ a couple of  times.  That's to be expected on NBC. During the  first week they learned that they could drink legally on the air.  Their  first show this week didn't even mention drinking.  In other  words someone  who hates drinkers got to them so the show isn't as much fun.  It takes place during cocktail hour so it was fun to have a drink with them as they discussed sports.

Greg Papa brought up the fact that the crowds at Oracle Arena this year to see the Warriors play have been much quieter.  They are no longer the loudest in the NBA.  The trio discuss some possible reasons one being that they use to tear down the rafters when Curry made a 40 footer to close out a quarter.  Now they expect him to make it.  At least they are not booing him if he misses.

Another factor might be that corporations have many of the  tickets and they give  them to their clients.  Its possible that some of the clients do not know a tennis racket from a basketball.  Or maybe they don't recognize the Warriors when they are not wearing their Chinese Communist uniforms.

Ratto pointed out what we have been saying for years.  The fans are starting to  figure out that most of these games mean nothing.  They are paying hundreds of dollars to see a warm up game.  It has to be said that in almost all occasions the Warriors play an very entertaining game.

The Season Begins

After 82 warm up games and about 10 pre warm up games, the NBA season finally tipped off over the Easter weekend.  I was attending a very nice Easter dinner thrown by a very good friend in my area so I missed the Warriors first game victory.  From what I have heard it seems that the Warriors are out to revenge last years collapse.  If they keep up that attitude and stay reactively healthy they should win the 16 games necessary for the NBA title.  Preventing a second game let down is crucial for this series.

The AL West

We mentioned that we would comment on the AL West race this year because some of our blog members follow the A's, Angels or Rangers.  At  this point of the season they are all under .500 with the Astros taking an early  commanding lead.  I noticed in the past that the Western Division race can change dramatically.  The teams seem to have long winning and long losing streaks which in most years makes the race dramatic.  Its way too  early to see what will happen this year.

Winter Workshop

Every January many of the major league  managers attend a few days workshop in Florida to learn the latest trends in the game.  This year it focused on the number 2 batter in the lineup being one of if not the best hitter.  Obviously Bochy attended and so did Madden of World Champion Cubs.  It was conducted by a professor of statistics from Princeton who also has degrees from Yale and Harvard.  The strategy should be evaluated at the end of the season but so far the trend has been very negative.  Belt is bating second for the Giants and every time I look at the Giants game I see him walking back to the dug out after striking out.  I hate to say this but he seems to get worse every year.  Then if you remember the star third baseman of Cubs Bryant who led the Cubs last year is now batting second.  So far he is hitting.212 and the World Champions are playing sub .500 baseball.

Length of Games

After  the first couple of weeks of the season baseball games are averaging 3 hours and 5 minutes.  Many of the commissioners ideas to speed up the game were rejected by the players union as if the players are paid by the hour not by salary. Concession stands are booming. 

Baseball has to get real.  The biggest delay in the games comes from relief pitchers.   They are all taught to delay, throw to first, call out the catcher to discuss dinner, all to  make the batter anxious.
There were 98 relief pitchers used last Sunday in the majors.  No wonder the games are so long.

Baseball instant replay looks so stupid.  Baseball needs to clarify the purpose so as not to ruin the game with people in New York after five or six brandies trying to call a play.  The purpose should be to correct the obvious errors not try to get every play right by looking at six different angles for five minutes.  This can be done by someone like the official scorer watching a replay in the press box for 30 seconds.  If he can't decide then the play stands as called.  No challenges by the managers.  If the official see a possible error on a call a red light flashes on the scoreboard and the result  is rendered in 30 seconds.

The Giants

Its hard to get excited about this team.  Something is missing.  I know they have numerous problems but it is hard to pick the major one.  Super Z one my blog members from Pleasanton told me last  winter that Giants pitching was weak.  I had the opinion that it wasn't bad.  Its bad! Hitting is horrible.  Again this year they lack power and need  more batters that drive the ball between the outfielders with authority.  Its lacking.  Losing Posey for a week has hurt.  He got beaned by a fast ball thrown right at his head.  Now he is a foul  tip away from possibly ending a career.

I am not a fan of Bochy's lineup..  Span leads off and they have no other choice.  Panik is a natural #2 hitter and if he stays healthy will lead the team in batting.  Why he is batting # 8 is a complete mystery to me.  They have Belt batting second I suppose so he might get more fast ball and he keeps striking out.  Pence is no #3 hitter.  Strikes out too much.   Needs to  bat #6.  Posey best bet is #3.  If the Giants had a choice they would leave #4 spot vacant.  Crawford probably the best answer.  Fifteen homers from your clean up man is not going to do it.    As mentioned before Nunez has the potential to be a very good hitter but he thinks of himself before the team.  Parker almost killed himself Saturday crashing into the left field wall making a great catch.  He is out 8 -12 weeks.  He wasn't hitting anyway. His play reminded me Pete Reiser a Brooklyn Dodger center fielder who was noted for crashing into the wall at Ebbets Field.

49ers and the UofA

I read not too long ago that former USC quarterback Matt Barkley had signed with the 49ers.  He will be one of about four qbs trying to make the team.  The 2013 photo at the right shows Matt with my granddaughter Emi Knous.  When this photo was taken Matt had just decided to stay his senior year at USC a decision as history has proven that cost him  millions of dollars.

Emily in the meantime will enter the University of Arizona next January on a soccer scholarship.  She has already broken one record at the UofA.  Her athletic scholarship award has more academic money included then any other athlete in the history of the school.  That makes the soccer coach very happy since she now has more money to recruit additional players.

The World Baseball Championships

The World

I was informed a few days ago by a friend  that the United States won the World Baseball Championship.  I guess I missed that great news.  I asked where the parade was held; Broadway in New York, Pennsylvania Avenue Washington DC, Figueroa Los Angeles or Market Street San Francisco.  He told me that there was no parade because it would not be politically correct. In other words after the US won everyone said,  So what! 

The Giants

Obviously I have a bias against  the WBC.  That being said I can blame the Giants first loss on the WBC.  The three Giants that were on the US team, using a different training schedule, were goats in the first Giant loss. The Giants had taken a one run lead in the top of the ninth with the bases loaded and one out.  Posey could not get a run in as he popped up to short right and Crawford grounded to the catcher which believes me is tough to do. Then there new closer Melancon with dollar bills flowing out of his uniform got belted all over the lot in the bottom of ninth sending the DBack fans home happy.

Notes. . . The relief staff is already in shambles.  Only one left hander reliever made the squad Ty Blach and he should be their fifth starter. . . I can't believe Gorkys Hernandez batted for Parker in the sixth inning.  Jarrett should be embarrassed. . . Hernandez even making the team and Cain being the fifth starter makes be believe the Giants do not want to win the pennant this year. . .A printer I know in SF told me that he got an order for 1000 16x20 cards saying 'Bring Back Casilla'. . . Bumgarner two home runs probably cinch his job as #1 pinch hitter. . . The big star of the spring Chris Marrero of course did not play. . . The Giants need a couple of wins

The AL West  

I was able to watch portions of the Rangers game and the A's Angel game and here are my observations after the first game of the season.

The Rangers were leading and lost the lead which was not a surprise.  Their infield is made up of 50 or 60 year looking old men with beards so it is not surprising they tired at the end.  It is easy to see why Gillette  is not one of their sponsors.

The Angels have Mike Trout.  The Angels have Mike Trout.  The Angels have Mike Trout.

Oakland has Khris Davis two home runs and Santiago Casilla who got the save.

The Warriors

There is no question the Warriors are on a roll because their opponents are tired and worn out and saving themselves for the playoffs.  They swept through Texas which was highlighted as the two most important games of the year.  B.S.  It meant as much as the Giants winning their last two spring training games in Arizona..  Have to have that first seed.  Really?  The second seed will play Memphis who just lost to the Lakers.  I just hope they don 't run out of gas in June like last year.  I  kept reading about cutting the playing  time of the stars.  That's more B.S.

The NCAA tournament

The NCAA Basketball tourney mercifully finally came to an end with North Carolina beating the Zags   I didn't know they played an AAU team with Zags across the uniform fronts, for the title.  Oh1 It was Gonzaga University.  Could have fooled me.  It probably fooled thousand across the land.  A great opportunity to get your school name in front of millions and they have Zags.  They blew it!   I had my old Bing Crosby records out to  play after the game if the Bulldogs had won.  For those a little younger,  Bing was an Gonzaga graduate and without his $ contributions the school probably would not even exist today.  Basketball recruiting for teams in the league with Gonzaga like USF, Santa Clara, Loyola Marymount and U of San Diego should pick up.  No excuses now!

The LPGA

Sunday was a black day for golf. Lexi Thompson a brilliant young women's golfer was penalized 4 strokes on Sunday afternoon for not replacing a ball properly on Saturday.  The infraction was emailed in by a viewer on Sunday.  The officials checked the video and access the penalty.  Why a 20 hour delay?  Then looking at the replay they had one camera from an angle to determine if the ball was misplaced.  Watching baseball replays you know that some plays are very close and one angle the runner looks safe and another angel he looks out.  The same could have easily been true for this situation. Granted Lexi was very careless replacing the ball which was just a foot from cup and she paid the price.  I just believe there needs to be statue of limitations on replays.  Without the penalty Lexi would have won easily but if the infraction was reported Monday would they have taken the title away from her? If there is to be penalty it should be accessed before the player starts the next round.  Thompson lost in playoff to So Yeon Ryu.

Oakland Stadium

This is our last article on stadium issues in the AL West.  In previous posts we have chronicled how both Texas and the Los Angeles Angels have solved their problems.  Oakland seemed like an impossible situation but with the Raiders moved to Lax Vegas approved the A's now will soon have a baseball only facility which they requested.

The A's did have a potential list of four locations to consider.  They went through this exercise when Jerry Brown was mayor and he basically told them to 'go shove it'.  This current list did not include 40th and San Pablo in Emeryville. That was the home of the Oakland Acorns of the Pacific Coast League for years when Oakland was a real baseball town  In fact at the end of  World War II they built bleachers in right and center field to handle the crowds  The right field line said 300 feet so there many home runs to right field.   A few of our readers might remember Roy Nicely a great defensive shortstop for the Seals but he was lucky to hit .200.  One Sunday afternoon he even hit a home run to right center field.

Emeryville Ball Park

As a kid it was always a treat to go to a game in Oakland getting off the Key System train at San Pablo Avenue and walking over a few blocks. In those days the lower deck of the Bay Bridge was reserved for trucks, busses and the trains  There were no stations like Bart.  You just got off in the middle the street and hoped for the best. 

Will the A's be satisfied with the Coliseum site without football?
I am sure they will want a new stadium like most sport teams.  Will the Coliseum site be satisfactory?   Or will they also move like the Raiders and the Warriors?
I can visualize in about ten years 10,000 apartments on this site.

Problems in Vegas

In the past decade or so Indian Casinos have grown up all over the United States making it very easy for people to enjoy gambling.  I have been amazed how Vegas has meant the challenge and continue to grow.  I am little surprised that Vegas took on a declining industry like the NFL. Vegas makes their money at the table.  You might notice that shows on the strip are limited to 1 hour 40 minutes.  That brings up one problem that Raiders and the NFL have not addressed.  It was reported that Vegas was willing to change the time rule and allow 2 hours and 40 minutes for the game which sometimes takes four hours.  The city does not want people sitting in a stadium when they should be at the tables.  One possible solution that was suggested was to put a slot machine at every seat.  Might work!

Game at AT&T

I will be attending the Giants game against the Rockies on Wednesday afternoon June 28th with my cousin Joan a rabbit Giants fan.  We plan to have lunch on the patio of MoMos stating about 11 a.m.  If you are in the area or planning to attend the game stop in and say hello.  Would love to see you.