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.