Hey, They May Really Count!

I needed a break from doing Christmas decorations so I thought I would put some of my thoughts together in this blog.

Warriors

For the last couple of years on this site, we have called the regular season exhibition games at least for the Warriors.  This year it could be different.  'The Town' or 'The Bay' or 'the Warriors' or the 'Great Wall of China' or whatever they are without Curry they have proven to be a little better than some mediocre teams in the NBA as long as Durant scores over 40 points.

Curry is due back in a few days so everything should be okay.  The problems is he is still 30 years of age and subject to other injuries.  I would not be surprised if he misses another 15 - 20 games before the Playoff Season begins. Therefore, they need to win as many games as possible while he is playing because they are not the same team when he is injured.   Last year 48 wins were needed to make the playoffs.  Some years less wins make it.  Can the Warriors get 48 wins?  Every game counts.

On the positive side Cousins is due back shortly.  It will take him time to get into NBA shape but when he does the Warriors may be a different looking team.  I think this is needed for the Warriors to win the NBA championship as we predicted at the start of the season.


Ruben Foster

Foster was the big news for the Niners this last weekend.  Those that remember this blog predicted such an event a year ago.  We wrote that even before Foster 'beat the rap' they had lost a player because Shannan would drive up to Levi Stadium on a Sunday morning and find the Santa Clara County Sheriff's car waiting.  It happened in Miami not in Pruneville with the same girlfriend.  The Niners had no choice but to cut him.  It wasn't a real great shock to the team since he has been one of many disappointments this year.  He has been picked up by Washington commonly known as 'the Swamp', a city that should fit Ruben's life style just fine.

There is legislation to revise the prison rules that has the support of both parties and the President.  Its a feel good law.  Give everybody a second chance.  Foster had millions of reasons to shape up and he could not do it.  Are we asking for more trouble in our cities? Just asking!

The 49ers

We have been wrong about the 2017 draft.  The number 3  overall choice the tackle from Stanford has played like a 5th round choice.  Only the tight end #85 you see catching one pass after another on Sunday television has been outstanding.

In the Kezar Stadium days the 49ers before the new Governor of California, when Mayor of San Francisco, lost the team to Santa Clara, Monte Stickles number 85, a great end from Notre Dame, played TE for the Niners.   He earned the name "Cement Fingers" with a large group of fans. In those years we used to meet at the Shadow Box Cocktail Lounge on California Street after the game and cement fingers was always a major topic.  After one game guess who dropped in? Number 85 himself.  Needless to say the topic of conversation changed.

College Football

The big playoffs are coming.  You know the fix is in.  Alabama will beat Georgia to make room for The Ohio State University to make the final four.  If Georgia beats Alabama will it be Bama or 'The OSU' joining Clemson and Notre Dame?

The last weekend of college football was really something.  LSU lost 74 - 72  and one paper made a mistake and put the score under college basketball.  Then Ohio State scored 63 points on Michigan the best defensive team in the nation.  That rumble you might have heard was "Woody" Hays turning over in his grave.  His great Ohio State teams of the past rarely scored 63 points in a season.

I could not believe that some university teams actually put the American Flag emblem on the back of their helmets.  Who is kidding who?

Because both of my daughters graduated from USC, I became a Trojan since my school the University San Francisco dropped football after the 1951 season some 67 years ago.  Following the Trojans has been an adventure since Pete Carroll brought them back to national prominence.  Since then they have dropped slowly and this year almost hit rock bottom.  I am glad they did not receive a bowl bid after their horrible play against Ohio State last year in the Cotton Bowl which earned Helton the Trojan coach a hefty 5 years contract.  That's the reason he didn't get fired.  They could not afford it.  Attendance was way down.  Part of the problem was that many Trojan season ticket holders lost their seats this year due to the remodeling of the ancient Olympic stadium.  In addition they played many after 7 pm games which is hated by just about everyone.  I am a Saturday afternoon traditionalist and don't get a thrill of watching the third quarter at 10 o'clock at night.  Those games are even longer because the networks halftime show are stretched in order to review all the games of the day.

With this years bowl games to be decided soon, I remember it was the Sugar Bowl not inviting the USF 1951 team because  they had two black players, Burt Towler and Ollie Matson.  For that reason USF without the funds to continue,  dropped football.  That the story.   But is it?

In the prior 1950 season USF played both California and Stanford.  The Cal game played before less than 100 people destroying all the fruit in Strawberry Canyon and was titled the 'Mud Bowl" because it poured all during the game.  I doubt if they would have played the game today because university officials would be afraid the players might catch a cold.  Stanford beat USF 55-7 down on the farm in a game I witnessed in person. So why didn't these two great secular schools schedule a Catholic School in 1951?  They both beat the Dons in 1950.

The Dons were blackballed.  They only played 9 games in 1951 and two of them were against San Jose State.  The schedule included Camp Pendleton Marines and San Diego Naval Training Center.  I don't know what the Dons could have done if the communist had not won World War II.   No Pacific Coast Conference (Stanford, Cal etc) )team was on the schedule.  But Santa Clara who had no black players, had four conference opponents in their first five games.  Under pressure the conference always pointed out they were not prejudice because Jackie Robinson played half back for UCLA in 1938.  Look at the football programs of the 1940s and early 50s and there are no black players own any conference team.  So don't just blame the prejudice of the south for the demise of USF football after the 1951 season.  The Pacific Coast Conference rejected St. Mary's and Santa Clara from any televisions appearances so it was very soon after the Dons dropped the sport that Santa Clara and St. Mary's followed.    They were the heart of football in the Bay Area.  Santa Clara won the Sugar Bowl games in 1936 and 1937 and the Orange Bowl in 1950.  St. Mary's won the Cotton Bowl in 1938 and lost the Sugar Bowl game in 1945.

I believe there were something like ten players from the the 1951 USF team drafted in the NFL.  Three of them Ollie Matson,  Gino Marchetti and Bob St. Clair are in the Hall of Fame along with Pete Rozelle.  Rozelle was a 1950 graduate of USF and handle the publicly for the team in 1951.  He was then hired by the Rams and it wasn't too many years later that he was elected Commissioner of the NFL.  He is credited in negotiating the television contract that propelled the NFL into greatness that even those dummies with their phony law degrees, who run the show today, cannot destroy. Read that Tampa Bay gave away free tickets to get people to come to the 49er game last Sunday.

Rozelle is perhaps even more known than another USF 1947 graduate of that era Pierre Salinger who was press secretary to presidents John F.  Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson.

Then in the middle 50s led by black players Bill Russell and K.C. Jones and others they became the basketball champions of the NCAA  and football was a distant memory.  Today when you see USF, you read University of South Florida and conference titles are only a pipe dream belonging to Gonzaga and St. Mary's.

The Oakland A's

A new stadium for Oakland and a community development for the Coliseum area.  I wish them luck and hope they succeed.  It would be a wonderful addition to the area.  When I drive the Nimitz pass the stadium I use to think to myself in about 15 years they're will be about 20 apartment buildings on this site being so close to BART.  If this property was in Irvine, CA  you can bet your last dollar it would be all apartments. Hope I am wrong and the A's are right.

The Giants

The new Head of Baseball Operations for the Giants is not going to make a deal for the sake of making a deal.  I think the first one will be a surprise.  Zaide has many challenges with over priced players and no trade contracts.  This however is his strength.  Give him a little time.

Is it Over?

The Warriors

It has become very evident even if it wasn't before that this is Curry's team.  Without him even with their outstanding talent they are a playoff team but not a championship team. Curry is already hurt and it is expected he will out for a couple more weeks which was unexpected.  When the coach tried to explain the reason for the extended time, he forgot to mention that he is over 30 years of age.  He missed many games last year and this will not be his last injury this season.  He has to stay healthy when the season really begins with the playoffs for the Warriors to have any chance.

The big news of the week was the Green-Durant blow-up before the overtime of the Clippers game. From watching the Houston game it looks like they are talking and communicating on the floor.  At least for the moment the distraction has been neutralized.  The problem will linger and its anybody guess with such a long season, what effect it will have on the teams play.

The question remains--- Is it over for the Warriors?


The Giants

The Giants new head of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi certainly has the resume to be very successful in his new job.  As we have detailed in the past it will not be easy with so many overpaid players and no trade contracts.

All the players will be evaluated using Zaidi's system so many might be saying to themselves, Is it over for me?  The answer is most likely yes in good number of cases, but it will take a season or two to complete the weeding.  I look for the Giants to make a big trade soon with some surprising and  unexpected names gone before Santa Claus arrives.


The 49ers

It's been over for the 49ers since #10 went down with season ending injury.  The season has turned out to be very disappointing with so many of us having high expectations.   What is disheartening is the fact that many players have not lived up to expectations.  It easy to use the injury to #10 as an excuse, but realistically they were not a playoff talented team.

The World Serious

The Series

The Boston Red Sox were the best team in baseball with 108 wins and easily winning the American League Championship series as well as the World Series.  What is really amazing they won without Pablo Sandoval.  Remember they released him last year about half way through the season even though they are paying most of his salary while he is playing for the Giants.

One of the big stories was Dave Roberts being booed by Dodger fans for decisions he made during the series.  When he became manager of the Dodgers I wrote on this blog that I though they made big mistake.  Roberts philosophy of baseball was not mine. When runners were on first and second with none out he would always bunt putting all the pressure on the next batter.  I observed too many times that the runner on third never scored because the defense had all the options in their favor.

 I was wrong about Roberts.  He has become a very good manager because he is well liked and the players play for him 162 games a year.  In todays game, that is the most important attribute.

The biggest controversy came in game 4.  Not one Boston hitter got to second base against Hill during the first six innings with the Dodgers leading 4-0. But out he came and to the delight of most Giant fans the Sox won easily 9-6.  Kershaw was ready for game 5, Ryu would pitch game 6 and the real standout Walker Buehler would be ready for game 7. So Hill wasn't being saved  except for perhaps spring training.

I never was a believer for changing a players routine for the playoffs.  Kenley Jansen who always pitched in the ninth inning was asked twice to pitch the eighth.  In both cases he gave up home runs.

In game 1,  I watched Pedro Baez mow down two Red Sox batters with a blazing fast ball.  They didn't come closes to hitting the ball.  I could not believe Roberts took him out because a left handed batter was next to bat. He is another Bruce Bochy.  I could never take a pitcher out when he was looking so great.  I don't understand.  The inning concluded with Nunez hitting a 3 run homer off of Wood.  Remember Nunez was not good enough for the Giants who traded him to the Sox for two well known Giant players Shaun Anderson and Gregory Santos.  It was smart trades like this that made the Sox the team they are today along some selected free agency signings and having four first rounders and two second rounders on the team is also a great asset.

I give the Dodgers credit they did not take the easy way out and blame Trump.


Warriors

The Town is off to a flying start in its final year at Oracle.  Curry has been on fire along with Durant and now Thompson has shaken his early season slump.  He has had slumps like this in the past but usually during the middle of the season when it is not as noticeable.

What's the difference this year compared to last?  St. Jean says on the post and pre game shows that last year they were in slow motion.

The Warriors survived the pre season in September, made it through October and now we are just starting November and they are still healthy.  Lets hope they remain in relatively good shape through December, January, February, March, April, May and June.  Good luck!

Steve Kerr was quoted as saying that Cousins knows his deal with the Warriors is only for this year because of the salaries of the other players.  My question is --- What happens if Durant moves on?  That leaves a lot of bucks that could possibly sign Cousins. Durant has been rumored back to OC, Seattle, Los Angeles and New York.  Take your pick.


William McCovey

Like all Giant fans, I was saddened by the death of Willie McCovey. It wasn't a shock because we knew his health was failing.  What thrills he gave us with Russ Hodges calling "Bye Bye Baby" and Lon Simmons expressing "Tell it Good-bye".  One of the last times I saw "stretch"play was at Wrigley Field  Chicago in 1978 when I believe he was 39.  He was close to a grand slam record.  He came up with bases loaded in about the fourth inning of one the most exciting baseball games I ever saw and he skied a ball that unfortunately was caught again the ivy in right field.  It was still a thrill for us.  That game was marked by two rain delays in which the Cubs were leading after five and the umpires could have easily called the game and the Cubs would have won.  It was nerve racking because we never knew when the game was going to end.  But instead the game was called because of darkness (Wrigley had no lights).  There were different baseball rules for games called because of darkness which in this case allowed it to be completed the next weekend at Candlestick with the Giants winning.

The 49ers

Last Sunday in Arizona the 49er again showed that they know how to lose a game blowing a big lead in the 4th quarter.

The once great football 49ers-Raiders rivalry that began at the Oakland Alameda Coliseum on September 3, 1967 died at Levi Stadium on All Saints Day.  It was dying a slow death anyway but I know when the Niners play at Vegas thousands of San Franciscans will  flock to the gambling palace of the world.

The 49ers brought out their secret weapon to surprise the Vegas bound team.  Nick Mullens  a qb off the practice squad who finished 16 for 22 and had a 151.9 passer rating, the highest for a quarterback with at least 15 attempts in an NFL debut since the 1970 merger.  Let's not get too excited until we see how he does against the New York Giants next week.  The Raiders offered very little resistance.

It was reported that Mullens studied hard to prepare himself for this opportunity.  He was ready and made the best of it.  This is a lesson for backup qbs in college and pros to be ready to take advantage of an opportunity.

We wrote that Beathard was a disaster.  He made some nice plays but four or five turnovers a game just doesn't cut it.  So he got benched and made the 49er coach look like a genus.  There wasn't much interest left in this years 49ers but now with a future qb on stage, the fans are starting to say Jimmy who?

Pac 12 Football

Will the Pac 12 representative to the Rose Bowl have 3 losses this year?  I can't figure it out.


The Giants

The silence about the Orange and Black plans for next year is deadly.  I don't think they have a clue!

Global Warming

Seasons

I finally figured out that global warming means no change of seasons.  Last week we had baseball spring and summer, football fall and basketball winter all lumped together into one big television show.

Baseball

I did not see every pitch of every game but it was an exciting week with both the AL and the NL going to a seventh game to decide the championship in each league.  Watching the players on these teams just endorsed my feeing that the Giants are in bad shape for the near future. Red Sox -  Dodgers are the two best teams so the World Series should be very competitive. Although I am not rooting for them, I think the Dodgers will pull it out based on the fact that every team I supported in these playoffs has lost starting with A's and finishing with the Brewers.

49ers

Monday night's game against Green Bay showed that the 49ers know how to lose a game.

Yesterdays game against the Rams was an embarrassment to say the least. Beathard is not a disaster waiting to happen --- it has happened.  He never was taught that your third receiver is out of bounds.  If I was the 49er coach, I would start the veteran they signed from Houston last week.

We wrote last week that Rams were not talking a 17-0 season because they knew they had to play the 49ers twice.  Is this part of the 49er plan to play so lousy that the Rams will be over confident in their second meeting.  I don't believe it either.  When I turned on the television I thought I had the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets game since the game was on the wrong network.   Then I finally figured it out that it was the Rams.

Joe Perry with shadowed number 1950s

The 49ers wore their throw back uniforms from the 1994 Super Bowl Championship team. Many of  the past Niners were in attendance and must have wondered what has happened to our team. Lots of others are wondering the same thing.  Whats interesting about the uniforms is the fact that the team did not startout the 1994 season wearing the shadowed numbered jerseys and white pants.  They wore them that year as a throwback uniform and then asked the NFL permission to wear them the remaiander of the season which was granted.  It was early in the 1950s that the shadowed number jerseys were first worn by the 49ers for a year or two.

The Warriors and the NBA

In the last post I picked the Warriors to finish below the Rockets and the Lakers.  Since I made this public I checked out those teams during the first week of the season.

Granted it is a small sample but the Warriors are on track to win 56 games this season which is still enough to earn the playoffs.  It became obvious to me that it is Curry that will carry the team.  Lets hope he stays healthy for most of the season.  He continues to thrill the crowds with great plays.

Both he and Durant were saved Friday night in Salt Lake City.  Curry who had 31 points missed a layup and then Durant who had 38 missed one of his easy 10 footers in the last seconds of the game with the Warriors trailing.  They were both bailed out by Jonas Jerebko who tipped in the winning    basket at the buzzer.  The Warriors signed Jerebko because they needed someone off the bench who could hit a 3 pointer. To put this in baseball terms,  a player has 4 hits in the game than he is up in the last of the 9th inning with the bases loaded and one out and his team trailing by a run.  The batter hits into a double play to end the game; that's Curry and Durant without Jerebko.

The Lakers

I turned into two Laker games during the week.  The first game against Portland I got to see some the second half.  I was looking for #23.  I finally found him and the plays I saw he never touched the ball.
Then against the Rockets towards the last few minutes of the game and the Lakers trailing by a few points.  First he misses from the top the key then the next time down he drives and misses a five foot hook shot. Then on the third time down he misses a follow up under the basket.  James is #23.

The Rockets

If  I had remembered that Houston signed Carmello Anthony I never would have picked them above the Warriors.  They still have the former House of David star, that long bearded left handed shooting guard, that keeps pumping the ball through the net.  I noticed when he is on the bench the guards in the game keep fighting among themselves for the basketball.  While he was on the bench the bearded wonder leaned over to tie his shoe and the player next to him leaped up to enter the game and while doing so stepped on his beard.  Boy, did that hurt!






  

Predictions

Giants

The Giants surpassed my expectations for the season.  In April I thought they would still be sleeping in the cellar at the end of the season. But no!  They awoke and passed the Padres into fourth place.  In 2017 as you might remember they ended up 40 games behind their rival Dodgers. I predicted at the start of the season they would pick up 15 games on the LA sluggers.  Sure enough if fact, they were only 18 1/2 behind their hated rivals  meaning they picked up 21 1/2 games or 6 1/2 more than I predicted.  Can't ask for any thing more than that!

The 49ers and the NFL

Earlier in the year I wrote on this blog that I thought the  49ers had a very good chance of making the playoffs.  Then injuries to star players destroyed the season.  In fact there is a real good chance they won't even be able to beat Green Bay tonight in the MNF game of the week.

Even though KC Chiefs lost to New England last night their qb has really impressed me.  I would think they would win the AFC title this year.  My only hesitation is that Coach Reed's teams have had a habit of slumping toward the end of the season.  The Rams have look sensational so far this year.  One question is have they peeked too soon? Possibly!  No one in the LA area has predicted a 17-0 season because they realize that their schedule includes two games with the Forty Niners.

The Warriors

I have read that Coach Kerr feels good about the preparation for the season;  typical liberal response.  I watch some their pre exhibition season games and was not impressed.  In fact I thought they were awful.  The Lakers ran circles around the Warrior reserves  pushing them from San Jose, site of the game, to Gilroy.  It was embarrassing.  The Laker reserves were making one 3 pointer after another while Warriors were clanking their free throws off the back rim.  Remember the plan is play the regulars 32 minutes and the reserves 16 minutes.  So these bench sitters are schedule to play 1/3 of each game.

I haven't lost faith and still believe they will win at least 48 regular season exhibition games enough to qualify for the playoffs. They will then win the west and eventually lose to Boston in 6 games in the NBA finals.  You can almost believe this is a prophecy so don't be afraid to hit Vegas.

The Giants First Trade?

A League of Their Own

The Giants are interviewing a woman to take over Brian Sabean's responsibilities.  Listening on Bay Area TV to the discussion, the participants were confusing this job with the general managers job.  Her past experience has been in baseball operations and I would believe if she is employed she would hire her own General Manger and then eventually a new manager.  I am still waiting for the call!

World Series

The Dodgers will be World Champions!

If I am Chosen!

Technical Difficulties

I understand the last post did not get to many of you.  I lost about 25% of my list of names, others did not receive a link and yet others got the post.  If you scroll down you can read it.  The title is "Bochy and Evans Out" my scoop of the year two weeks prior to the announcement about Evans.  I have reviewed my list of names and if someone receives this blog that wasn't on the original list, you can join the group or email me and I will eliminate your name.

The Giants

Normally at the end of a baseball year I attempt to project what Giants management should or will do during the winter months.  Since this year we do not know who will be making the decisions, I decided to play the roll as the new director of baseball operations.

The Giants want to remain competitive so they can continue to draw large crowds to AT&T.  The current plan of signing and paying hugh sums of money to declining players like McCutcheon, Melancon and Longoria has not worked and most likely a major reason why the general manager was fired.

The Giants plan is to remain competitive and get young at the same time. Almost impossible!  This is the reason if offered the job, I would likely turn it down by telling them the truth.

Most Giant fans know the team's weakness.  They need at least two big bats in the lineup regardless of position.  That's easier said than done since the previous management has tried and failed in recent years.  Those who have read my posts in the past know that I have complained of the lack of power for years.  I am not just talking home runs but players that can continually hit the ball hard.

This year the Giants hit 133 home runs.  Compared to the major league teams that made the playoffs it is embarrassing; Atlanta 175, Cleveland 216, Oakland 227,Dodgers 235, Houston 215, Colorado 210, Boston 208, Milwaukee 218 and the Yankees 265, two for every Giant one, while breaking major league baseball record. The Orange and Black noted for their triples only beat 3 NL teams with more triples.

Another glaring challenge is the fact that the Giants have number of players who are over the hill and under performing but have  no trade clauses in their contracts or make more money than they are worth making it very difficult to trade them.

Lets review how we can accomplish our goal.

1.  Every player should be on the trade black except perhaps for Posey and a few young pitchers.  The idea is not to get rid of them and trade them for the sake of a trade but to see if value is offered in return that can improve the club and make it younger.

2.  Offer Brandon Belt in a trade.  Chances are we will not get any takers besides a minor league player because of his high salary and the fact he is injury prone. He will most likely be at first next season.

3.  Joe Panik. He is a major disappointment.  Injuries in the past two years plus the shift has really hurt his hitting and for some reason his fielding has dropped off.  Might be able to get a relief pitcher in exchange for him.  Giants have a few young players such as Avelino, Gomez, and Hansen that are possible replacements.

3.  Evan Longoria was a waste at third.  It will be a challenge to trade him for a Class A star. Sandoval being paid by the Red Sox will still be around and I really like what I saw in Ryder Jones before he got hurt.

4.  Brandon Crawford was the All Star shortstop. He batted about .400 in May and June and propelled the Giants into the pennant race.  The rest of the year he is batting about .185.  Now we hear it might have been his knee problem that hurt his batting. He would be very difficult to lose unless the Giants receive a can't miss promising star in return. Lets hope if he returns , he will regain his health because the Giants will need his .400 hitting and his great shortstop play.  

5.  Steve Duggar. Will he be the centerfielder?  The Giants are promoting him as a star of the future.  Sorry, I don't see it to that degree.   He showed improvement at the plate until he got injured.  Will start in centerfield.

6.  Mac Williamson running over the bull pen in left field and crashing into the wall ruined his season.  Would he had slumped anyway?  Will he be cleared to play next year?  His new batting approach showed promise and is worth another try in spring training.

7.  Hernandez, Slater and Shaw all slumped and it is hard to visualize all three of them returning.  Unless the Giants find more  productive outfielders this winter,  they will not be competitive.   The very popular Pence who I wondered why he was on the team this year, was the teams best outfielder in September.

8. Posey will be back behind the plate and the young catcher Aramis Garcia has been the September surprise to be the back up catcher.  Talk of Posey moving to first base is premature.  He has to prove that he can hit more than 5 home runs in a season.

9.  The Giants need to trade Bumgarner.  He is really the only player that can bring some quality young outfielder in return. If they can't get what they need in the trade than he should should return as a starter. 

10.  The bright spot for the Giants is their starting pitching.  Rodriguez, Suarez, Stratton have shown plenty of potential and Holland was a big surprise.  Forget about Samardzija and Cueto.  Considering the staff got very little run support, they did a very good job and most of the younger relief pitchers could return next year. The Giants scored 603 runs this year, the NL average was 709 and the Dodgers scored 804.

The Giants could be younger at second, third in the outfield and behind the plate in addition to their seven youthful pitchers that rounded out the staff this year.  That fulfills one half of our goal to be younger, but the question remains will they be competitive.

I would recommend to management the following:

1. Eliminate triple valley and make it a little more feasible to hit a home run.  AT&T Park will never be a home run paradise because of the heavy air that is normal for most games. 

2.  Move the bullpens from the foul lines before they ruin another players career.  In past posts, I have suggested different locations in the outfield and if things get desperate put them on a barge out on McCovey Cove.

3.  Review the scout's record.  One method I would insist on would be to review the top 50 or so young players in the majors.  Could the Giants have drafted them?  What was the scouts report on these players.  Was he accurate or just miss the boat.  Those that miss the boat too often will catch the next one to Alameda.

I understand the current manager is going to return next year.  That's great!  Hire a new person to run the baseball show than tell him he can't choose a manager. When I am able to bring in a new manager, I would ask his philosophy of playing a regular if  that player is injured.  Belt and Crawford are prime examples this year. Belt's average dropped over 40 points in the last months of the season because he was injured.  He hurt the team.  Now he is going to have surgery.  Crawford hit over .400 in May and June bolting the Giants into the pennant race.  In the other months he is hitting about .185 but still batting. 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th in the order. The players made the decision to play not the manager.  I would insist it be the other way.

The 49ers

Injuries have ruined dreams for 2018 season. The loss of Jimmy Garoppolo was devastating.  He made a stupid mistake to try for an additional yard when it was not needed.  He is not dumb.  He never saw Tom Brady make such a mistake or he wouldn't  be playing at his current age that fast approaching 52.  Garoppolo got emotional and  caught up in the big 49er comeback.  I remember when Pete Carroll coached at USC the opponents would inevitably make a drive down the field at the end the game.  Every drive was assisted  by a roughing penalty or pass interference.  Looking at the replay in most cases one would say, what penalty? When asked about it,  Pete replied officials get caught up in the emotions  of the game also.  

Will they be able to put an offensive lime together for Sunday against Arizona?  I liked the play and effort on the part of quarterback Beathord but how long can he last?

The Warriors

The anticipation of going undefeated for 100 games was ruined in their first game.  Thank goodness, the pressure is off.  They call these current games exhibition games then what do they call the 82 regular season games that preview the playoff season that starts in April after the Giants 2019 season has begun?

The Sharks

Is this  year for the Stanly Cup?   Season begins tonight.

Baseball Playoffs

I am pulling for the A's. I do not have any feeling who will eventually end up the World Series.  The Red Sox look tough in the American League while the National League is wide open.




  

Bochy and Evans Out

The Giants

I just received a report from my very reliable anonymous source that both Giants manager Bochy and General Manager Evans will be terminated at the end of the season. The current 10 game losing streak is the last straw.  My source is a member of the International Federation of Anonymous Sources which is the same groups that provides daily stories to the New York Times and Washington Post.  So, the report must be true.

Today's game is scheduled to be delivered over Facebook was almost censored when it was  discovered that one of the players had a copy of Gregg Jarrett's best selling book, The Russia Hoax  which was found in the locker room. My source did not know how the dispute was resolved.

The challenges of upgrading the Giants is enormous and old favorites like Hunter Pence have to finally go.  I will do a final summary at the close of the season.


The 49ers

The 49ers showed their true colors last Sunday.  They are an 'Only If' team.

Only if we didn't fumble

Only if we didn't miss a touchdown pass

Only if we weren't off sides

Only if we didn't throw interceptions

Only if we didn't lose our starting running back

Only if . . .Only if . . . Only if. . . etc. . . etc . . . etc . . .

At the start of the training period I thought the 49ers had about 70% chance of making the playoffs,  then their $30 million running back Jerick McKinnon was injured in practice twice and out for the season.

It is well known that many teams did not play their regular players in the pre-season to protect them from getting injured.  I have a recommendation for the 'Niners --- Don't practice.

After losing their star back, I figured the Santa Clara team had about 30% chance of making the playoffs.  After last week, the chances are now between slim and no chance.


Monday Night

If you were like me and wasted part of your Monday Night watching the NFL you might have seen that ESPN showed a high school year book picture of Marshawn Lynch as being a clean cut student.  They showed the picture because he has changed so much.  Of course he spent a number of years at UC Berkeley that could have played a part, although the results would have been the same if he attended most any other university.  This is shown to warn parents of college age students that you are spending part of retirement money for your youngster to be educated, so don't be surprised with the final product.

Warriors

Homer with Emily after UCI game

In case you didn't notice the NBA schedule is even longer this year so teams will not have play 8 games in 9 days like in the past.  The Warriors will be playing on September 26.  They won the title in June. Soon the summer league will cover both July and August. They get so much coverage on NBC Bay Area Sports that I am sick and tired of them, when I should be excited about a new season starting.

Arizona

My granddaughter Emily Knous, a freshman on the U of Arizona and starting on the women soccer team which is currently 6-1.  She was featured on the Pac 12 Network this week in the video section.

Its Tough

Giants

Are the Giants still in the  race?     Mathematically they are but it will be tough! They have 53 games left and currently have 55 wins.  Perhaps 88 wins will get them in the playoffs meaning they would have to play 13 games over .500 in the last few weeks.  Possible? Tough for a team that has struggled to be a  .500 team most of the year.  Tough for a team that can't hit and has very little power.

It's been tough losing Samardzija and Cueto to injuries.  Tougher on them whose careers could be over.  Bumgarner is still a good pitcher but not the All Star of the past and why is Melancon pitching in the 8th inning?  It's tough when Panik has been on the DL twice and is hitting 70 points bellow his average plus not fielding his usual.   Longoria won yesterdays game but he has been terrible. The Giants were lucky he was on the DL that enabled Sandoval to produce.   If McCutcheon is going to play right field and hit .255 he needs to hit 25 home runs not 11.  Slater has to show some power.  We thought the new centerfielder Duggar was a .240 hitter.  He hasn't shown us anything to change our mind.

Facebook

To my disgust three of the Giants games were on the anti-First Amendment Facebook this year. The last one against Seattle was not even on MLB.  It was at the time of the broadcast that Facebook's quarterly report being reported that resulted in the stock dropping 19% losing $119 billion to $510 billion.  Tough day for Facebook stockholders.

The Warriors

Living in Southern California the news of a guy named James joining the Lakers was big.  It lasted one day.  Then the Warriors  signed DeMarus Cousins and that became big news even in the south land.  The Lakers knew it was going to be tough to beat the Warriors.  Can Cousins fit in with four other stars?  Various opinions have been expressed in the media.  I did not see my solution published.  Last year the Warriors averaged about 113 points per game.   Just add 20 points per game and Cousins should get his share and fit in without a problem.  That shouldn't be too tough for the stars on the Warriors.

The World Cup

In case you missed it the United States did not win the World Cup this year even with the most compressive recruiting program in the world.  Each boy and girl is given a soccer ball at 6 months and they are on some type of team by the age of 2. Then at the age 5, when the games get serious there are always group of college coach observing and taking notes. If a youngster shows  promise the pressure is on to keep him or her from joining another sport. The competition between different sports is really tough. It seems almost impossible that the U.S. was one of the worst teams the world.

During the Korean War I was assigned to the European battle front to keep the North Koreans from out flanking us.  We were very successful.  I was not successful however from keeping soccer fields being built in the US instead of baseball and softball diamonds.

The Warriors Get Taken

Warriors

Boy, did LeBron James take the Warriors to the cleanser.  There is no other way to describe it.

The Warriors General Manager  Bob Myers announced that Durant could have any contact he wished.    It tied the hands of the Warriors.  They could not insist on a long range contract for Durant

Last week LeBron James calls Durant and it is reported ask him to join him in LA.  Everybody knew Durant could not do it.   He had promised the Warriors he would resign and with his undeserved reputation as a traitor everyone knew it was not possible.

But maybe James didn't ask him to join him this year.  Perhaps he advised him to sign a one year deal and then join the Lakers.  After one year they should be close and by adding Durant they could role to the NBA title in two years. Durant bought it!  He could have had a muti-year contract and now he is risking injury to that could cut his career short.

Durant also insisted that if the Warriors have a parade next year that he have his own bus and not share it with another player.  I loved those double deck open buses that the Warriors rented from Bakersfield.

The Warriors parade was on my tv and I watched portions of it.  I did notice that the players had a great time leaving the buses and greeting the fans.  It was great for them to celebrate.  They deserved it.  It was a long season.  I mean it was a long season.  A long long long season.  A loooong season.  Its too bad they don't go on strike for half the season then it would be perfect.  Or they could cut the season by 20% but that would cost them 20% of their salary.  No way!  So don't feel sorry for those players on crutches during the playoffs.

Mieuli - What have I done?

Could Warrior fans experience an OC Thunder hangover next year? Very possible.  Veteran Warrior fans remember back in the 1960's when Rick Barry jumped to the new ABA to play for the Oakland Oaks.  Franklin Mieuli owner of the Warriors was in a bathtub floating around some ocean when Pat Boone,an investor in Oaks, gave Rick $75,000 to jump.  Eventually after a number of years Rick returned to the Warriors and they succeeded in become campions in 1975.  If Rick had not jumped the Warriors would have had a couple of more flags flying at Oracle.

How much will it cost to watch LeBron play?  I understand the sky view tickets that normally go for $5.00 will jump 100% to $10.00.  These tickets are limited so they will go fast.  When the "the Town" moves to "the City" the price for a comparable seats will run about $950. the only ticket available for under $1,000.  It will include your own personal television so that you can see the game.

I am becoming more impressed with the East Bay fans spirit for the Warriors.  It was those fans who plunked out $8. for a ticket when it wasn't the thing to do to save the team.  Now they are leaving for money to 'the City' that has never financially supported an NBA team.  I thought no way would the fans follow the team across the Bay.  But many are doing it.  Seems like the Blue portions of California real estate prices have doubled and even tripled so they are refinancing their homes to buy season tickets.   If the Warriors make the playoffs they would sell the playoff tickets to pay for the next year.

The Warrior summer team starts play tonight in Sacramento as part of pre-Vegas games.  Then it on to the Ice hockey capital of the west for games and then a tourney.  I can see the summer league lasting 8 weeks starting in about 3 years.

Los Angeles is celebrating.  Although he looks indestructible James is 33 years old and the long hard NBA season one after another can take a toll on anyone.  And what will Coach Walton do when LeBron starts coaching the team like he did in Cleveland?

Shocked!

The Warriors

I picked the Warriors to be eliminated in the first round.  So I'm shocked at the results!  I felt during the season they showed they could not always turn it off and on like they had in previous years.  Curry was hurt and being at the magic age 30, I did not expect him to return.  I wasn't shocked that he played again after missing the start of the play-offs, but I was shocked that he played so well once he retuned.

At the start of the finals Steve Kerr was telling everyone how tough it is to make four straight finals.  Was he setting the fans up for a disappointment in a  fifth attempt?

The Houston Rockets series was really the finals.  They built their team around beating the Warriors. Some may say that if Paul didn't get hurt they would have done it.  Once you turn 33 there is no guarantee of playing time and Paul could not make the final two games.  His age had caught up with him.

The Warriors are really amazing and have changed the game of basketball.  If Curry took the shots in my day that he does today, he would have known as a 'hog' and benched by the coach and hated by his team mates and friends.

When the 3 point line was first introduced it was not used very often.  The Warriors had a special shooter that would come in late in the game if they were behind.  Can't remember his name but he made it exciting on more than one occasion.  Then  basketball move the three point line closer.  In front of the foul line was a  little too much but after some experimenting the line has been set for years.  It is really impossible to compare teams that played before the three point line with teams of today.  It's a different game.

I remember during college about once a week a group of us would go the Sunset gym in San Francisco.  We would get there about 1 pm and since kids did not get out of s school until abut 3 pm we had the gym ourselves for a couple of hours.  We had a ball.  My first shot was always from half court.  I decided at that time if I ever coached, I would have members of the team take about five shots from mid-court when they come on the court instead of doing layups which was common in those days.  I found that in the game the basket always looked close.

It is now time for basketball to move on to the 5 point play --- shots made from beyond half court.  That will really open up the game even further. We  know the Warriors 'hog' is already proficient at that shot.

The Warrior owner keeps promising that they will keep winning. He should have thought of that before he fired Jerry West. They better keep winning because they are moving to a city that has never supported an NBA team.  Why do you think the Blue and Gold moved to 'the Town' on  the Nimitz Freeway?

The big parade is tomorrow in Oakland.   The question is will there be more American flags, Chinese Communist flags or North Korean flags.  In San Francisco it wouldn't even be close.

The 49ers had their run, the Giants also and now the Warriors.  And the Sharks are still the only California NHL team without a Stanley Cup.  Is their time coming?


The Giants

I am shocked at the Giants success this year especially since they lost their top three starting pitchers. Fortunately, the Dodgers, Rockies, D-Backs played like .500 teams to keep everyone in the race to this point.

How can anybody not be shocked at the play of Crawford.  Hit about .180 in April, in the .400s in May and is currently over.500 for June.  Had four of the teams five hits Sunday off the games best pitcher including the game winning homer. He is currently the fourth best hitter in the NL.  He drives ball down he left field line inches fair and then does the same to right field.  When I played table tennis (ping pong), I always dried to hit the ball to the edge of the table.  Crawford would be great table tennis player.

Last year we would be thrilled if the Giants scored 3 runs in a game.  This year they are leading the league in run scores. It been a long time since I remember the Giants hitting the ball so well. Brings back memories of Russ Hodges   For you younger blog members,  Russ was the voice of the Giants during the days of McCovey, Cepeda and Mays.  How did this happen?

The Giants added McCutcheon, Longoria and Jackson.  McCutcheon starting to hit better, I am still waiting for Longoria to get a clutch two out hit and Jackson will be the next outfielder cut.  But the addition of these players extended the lineup and took the pressure off of Posey,  Belt et al and I think they are much more relaxed and are getting better pitches to hit.

Then Hanson came out of nowhere.  He played a lot in spring games usually in the late innings.  I thought he was Class 'A' player putting in time while the varsity went for cocktails and dinner.  What will be his role?

I mentioned in an earlier blog that Melancon has a dead arm.  Not only was I surprised he came off the DL I was shocked how well he has pitched.  It's the best he has ever  performed as a Giant.  If Stickland falters as a closer he will be ready to step into his old role.

When Belt returns and if Longoria has not performed better, I look for Pablo to start a number of games at third.

It still up to pitching.  The youngsters have done a good job.  Who will eventually return?   Can they prevent the relief stafff from being worn out?

Hey how about Pug Rodriguez son pitching for the Giants.  His flowing hair must make some guys swoon and those tattoos are something else again.  No wonder the Giants brought him up

It looks like it will be a very interesting and  exciting last couple of months.


The Sanctuary City

I am 39th on the list to get a head transplant at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach.  You have heard of knee and hip replacements well now we have head replacements for those who do stupid things.  I qualify.

I was in 'The City' primarily to attend a lunch with some of my high school class.  I was also planning to do some research at the SF Public Library.  So I parked at the Civic Center Garage.  To get a parking ticket I needed to roll down my window.  It was then that my 84 year old mind went blank and I forgot to roll up the window.  Yes I was burglarized.  I was shocked!  The amount is way less then $50,000 and perhaps even less in Mexico.

I was having dinner with blog member and cousin Joan L of San Francisco and her husband mentioned to me that I was lucky that they probably would have broken my window.  Once I returned home,  I was telling blog member Rob H of Irvine, my neighbor and a Stanford grad from Mountain View, about the incident.  He has some of his family in the San Francisco area and he told me his son was living in the Mission Delores area.  His car windows were broken three times.  He even tried to leave the glove compartment open to show thieves  that there was nothing but that didn't work either.

Maybe I was smart to keep the window down but then I would be taken off the list at Hoag Hospital and I could use a new head.

The Way It Was

The Warriors

Tonight the Warriors will be playing to save their season.  The playoffs have been like the regular season  ----- hot one night horrible the next which is the reason we picked them to be eliminated during the first round.


The Giants

If the Giants played in a double elimination tournament they would be in the losers bracket.  Colorado is in first place but they would be next to last in other two NL Divisions.  So the Giants have been saved for now.

We can blame the injuries but the other teams have had them also.  'that's the way it is'. Makes one wonder with all these trainers why all of these  players seem to get hurt. If you remember opening day when the players are introduced they line up along the third base line. Years ago you would hardly notice the one or two trainers being introduced.  Did you notice that this year the line-up went all the way to the bullpen.  Back in my era players use to drink beer during the off season come to spring training ten pounds over weigh, use the spring to get in shape, use a 36 ounce bat,  and then play the season.  Bring back the beer!

It is Hard to Believe --- that Larry Baer head honcho for the Giants said that there is no way to add bull pens at AT&T.  I guess being  ultra liberal he doesn't have an imagination or did he read my suggestions in the last  post    He could call the Chicago Cubs and asked what they did.  The bull pens    are under the stands in left field and very popular with the pitchers.  Even starters. sit out in the pen on their day off.  Its been rumored that some players have been sneaking out a  door on to Waverley Avenue and going across the street for a beer during the game.  This has been denied and blamed on fans wearing Cub uniforms. Oh yes,  and watch the Giants on television.  The other evening they're promoting a rugby tournament and players were playing on a barge in McCovey Cove.  How about having two barges made intro bull pens docked along McCovey Cove where all the splash homeruns land?   The environmental Giants would probably want an electric car to transport the pitchers to the mound.  But what if the battery is dead?  Or if the car dies half way to the mound?  Can the players push it off?  Will their union let them?  Major League baseball is very conscious of delaying games.  So this is important.  Maybe the relief pitchers just run through the knock hole gang section to the mound.  Major League baseball is very time conscious these days.

It is Hard to Believe  --- That Gorky Hernandez has won the centerfield job outright.  He had the most bats last year for a player not to hit a home run.  This year he as 3 times as many homers as Buster Posey ---  The Giants are one of top scoring teams this year even with Jackson, McCutchen and Longoria being big flops. ---    that Pence is taking lessons on how to hit.  He never listened to a coach in his life. You have seen it.  Looks like he will never get a hit again and the next time up hits a 430 foot homer.  His time is running out in Sacramento so decision time is approaching. ---  Crawford could not hit a foul ball in April and then May is hitting over. 400. ---  Belt doesn't bunt for hits but is getting great at little pop ups that the third baseman can't reach being hits because of the shift being used on him. ---  the Pacific Coast League played over 180 games during the season and usually carried 9 or 10 pitchers.  Don't even remember a DL in those days.  Of course this is before speed guns and pitchers then could take advantage of barber shops.

The Giant line-up that will never happen because of politics and injuries.

Panik 2b; Hanson lf; Posey c; Belt 1b; MacWilliamson rf; Crawford ss; Sandoval 3b; Hernandez cf

Plans

I will be attending the Giants-Padre game on Tuesday afternoon July 31st in San Diego.  One blog member and possibly more are joining me for lunch.

I will be attending the SI Lunch this Friday.

Ps. My comments on the Warriors got redacted by the FBI.  I am predicting the Warriors to win tonight and game 7.

April fool

NFL Draft

The NFL concluded its most exciting weekend of the season with their annual draft before literally thousands of fans at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.  The Super Bowl game in February was a very close second.  The event was so popular in the Dallas area that secondary ticket prices were averaging over $1,000.  Seats in the top row went for $50.  Fans were offered TVs to watch but most of them had their own phones.

I have great confidence in the 49ers led by Lynch and Shanahan so I feel the 49ers had a very productive draft which we have defined as having at least five of the players drafted contributing regularly to the team success.  I noticed that the staff did not use the term future All Pro or Hall of Fame potential but perhaps they were worried about giving the player too much ammunition when negotiating their contract.

They drafted a right tackle from Notre Dame in the first round then immediately sent the regular tackle to New England in thanks for quarterback deal last fall. The former tackle can be described as a 9-5 time card puncher.  In other words he never made that extra effort to improve.


The Warriors

I wrote last month that if the Warriors did not make it through the first round Kerr's job would be jeopardy.  One of my loyal readers disagreed saying that Kerr had a job for life.  Perhaps, but don't ask the East Bay Warrior fans who are getting stabbed in the back with the move to SF a city that has never proven it could support an NBA team.  How about Jerry West?  Would he have agreed to give a rich long term multi million dollar contract to an injury prone aging player?

The Warriors beat New Orleans in the first game of the second round.  I had predicted that the Warriors would be lucky to win more than two games in the series.  Just looked to me as if the Pelicans were over confident and thought 'The Town' would be a pushover.  I am sticking too my prediction.

I have written in the past on the waste of time the NBA regular season has become. Guess the Warriors read the articles since they really played lousy in most of the games or where they too concerned about dumping Trump?

Don't get wrong I am still pulling for them too win it all.

Easter Lunch

My granddaughter Emily joined us for Easter lunch.  She was in from UofA where she is on a athletic scholarship for girls soccer.   The question came up can we pay for her lunch or is that against NCAA rules.  It was a tough decision because it looked as if due were being spied upon by a gentlemen dressed as a Secret Service agent with his dark suit and tie and sun glasses.  To be safe we made sure that she was seen paying for her own lunch.  The agent try to fool us but he gave himself away by wearing a KGB pin the new more realistic initials for the FBI.


The Giants

The big loser was Greyhound Bus company who had a contract to transport Giants player between Sacramento and AT&T Park.  Even with the enormous price of gas in California its cheaper for the Giants to have the player drive his  own car between cities.  If the player doesn't have a car, the team sends Barry Bonds, a special assistant for the Giants, to pick up the player.  Barry then sends his own driver.

Comments about the Giant players

Cueto -  He has pitched great which has been a big surprise to me.
Ty Blach - Can't complain about his effort every time out.
Dyson -  Just like last year when the Rangers let him go he has finally found his release point.
Melancon - Its now confirmed he has a dead arm as we mentioned  in the last post
Samaridzija - Does he still have a bad arm?
Stratton -  Another big surprise.  Doing a great job.
Strickland -  Get use to holding your breathe in the 9th inning
Watson -  Solid left handed reliever the Dodgers could not use

Belt -  Hitting over .300 with power.  One reason for Giants success.
Crawford -  Great in the field horrible at the plate.
Longoria -  Finally a Giant hitter teams are afraid of.
Panik -  a big loss
Sandoval -  Now he can pitch.  Maybe next time he will throw left handed. He is naturally left handed
Tomlinson.-  Hits the ball where they ain't.

Jackson - Has gotten one big hit
McCutchen  -  Been the hero in about three games;  otherwise not much
Pence -  Got hurt the first day but harmed the team by playing an additional two weeks
Mac Williamson -  Finally called up and hasn't disappointed

The Catchers - Doing a solid job

The Team -  They have sure fooled me. Doing much better than I expected.  Not sure they can contend for the NL West but should be in the hunt for a playoff spot.

AT&T Park has received well deserved great reviews over the years.  The one major criticism has been the bull pens down the fouls lines.  Vince Scully the former Dodger announcer was always very critical.  Last week the Giants developing star Mac Williamson trips over the mound and crashes into the wall.  He stayed in the game and hit the winning homer inn the 7th inning.  But he has been out for the last few games.  Its only a matter of time before the Giants regret not moving the bullpens

I believe. its time to move the bull pens to the outfield like all other.parks in the majors. The Giants just hate to change anything but the time has come.  If they are looking for room here are a few suggestions.

Eliminate the knot hole section under the stands in right field.
Eliminate the Obama vegetable garden in center field.
Eliminate triple valley which is very unfair to hitters.
Eliminate the play diamond for kids near the left field foul poll.

Picture taken at the Giants Angel game on April 20, 2018 at Anaheim Stadium.  Pictured left to right NB a very good friend and blog member, myself and KB another blog member and also an extremely  good friend as well as our chaperon.  First game I have attended where NB's phone was our tickets.  Giants won with MacWillimason hitting his first HR of the season.  Trout homered for the Angels

30 --- It's All Down Hill

It's been about six months since my last post.  With the baseball season about to begin I know a few are interested in my thoughts on the Giants.  This is not a return to a regular blog because I don't seem to have the time or energy to do posts regularly that are worth a thought or laugh.  My time at MacDonald's each week is even in greater demand with the current job market and the supply cut from Mexico

Before getting to the Giants let's review the Warriors and 49ers.

Warriors

Steph Curry's 30th birthday bash has stolen the Warriors headlines.  From the scenes I have seen it looked like a great party.   My question is why?  When I turned 80 I did not want any kind of celebration because I  know its tough to make it through the 80s alive. Hey Steph, let me let you in on a little secret.   Its all downhill from now on buddy! In fact it  started at 29 years 10 months looking at all his recent injuries and  games that you have missed. And it seems to have spread.  'If Steph can get hurt so can I'.  The Warrior injury list continues to grow.

His replacement an undrafted call up from Santa Cruz named Quinn Cook has been sensational  He looks like the second coming of Curry. In order for Cook to make the playoff squad the Warriors would have cut somebody.  The feeling is because Steph has now reached the magic 30, they can't go in to the playoffs without a solid replacement. Cook seems to be the answer.

How far can the Warriors go in the playoffs? Even before all their recent injuries chances of making the finals were less than 50/50. At full strength they will be underdogs to the Rockets who have played great basketball this year.  The Warriors can only hope the Rockets have worn themselves out.  If the Bay City team doesn't make it pass the first round look for Kerr to be on the way out.  Magic Johnson would love to send Walton back to the Warriors.

The Warriors have dropped 'The City' from their uniform logos.  The market value of those 't' shirts has dropped dramatically. They now wear  'The Town' and 'The Bay' regularly.   They have one other shirt 'The Swamp' they have not used.  They had planed to use the red, white and blue jersey in Washington D.C. but Adam Silver the commissioner said no because the Wizards had the same color uniforms.

The 49ers

We said it last year that York made the right choices in Lynch and Shanahan to run the team.  Many others had the same opinion.  They really have been the talk of the NFL moving a horrible football team to respectability so quickly. They know how to evaluate talent to meet their team needs.  This is the approach Bill Walsh used that made his teams so successful.

They are signing a few free agents that can fit into their team.  That's why their draft was so successful last year they knew what talent of look for.  I would be very surprised and disappointed  if they didn't have another solid draft next month.  NFL experts say that  you can't evaluate a draft for three years.  That might be true, but if the 49ers can get five players who contribute regularly to the team in the draft like they did last year,  to me that is a very successful draft.

The 49er signed Richard Sherman an over the hill 30+ year old injured defensive back.  I don't understand.  That's the type of player Bill Walsh use to dump even if he thought he had one year left.  Sherman may work out okay but we won't be All Pro.  Will he last six games before getting hurt?

Until the 49ers lost Foster their great rookie linebacker I thought they were close to a cinch to make the playoffs.  It will be much tougher now.  Although Foster has not been ruled out yet, depending on the District Attorney he can't be relied upon.  I am sure the coach doesn't want to drive up to Levi Stadium on a Sunday morning and see the Santa Clara Sheriffs car waiting

The Giants

The Giants won 13-0 today but I still have not changed my mind.  They will gain about 15 games on the Dodgers but I am not sure that will be enough to get them out of the cellar.

Starting pitching - lousy!  After Bumgarner, we have Cueto.  Last year the excuses were blisters, family, the fact he was now 31 and a lousy team.  Or is he all washed up?  Samardzija was learning how to pitch.  But this spring he had taken another step back. His homerun pitch was in mid-season form.  Ty Blach and Christ Stratton look like they will be starters.  Newcomer Derrick Holland may also get a chance to start.. The other rookie starters the Giants touted in the spring were flops.

Catchers - Posey and Hundley are solid with Sanchez waiting in Sacramento in case of an injury. Hector can expect a few call ups with both  catchers being 30 or older.

Relief Pitching -  If the 33 year old Mike Melancon has a dead arm the relief staff will be fair.  If he can become a reliable closer then they won't be too bad.  Not great, but efficient.  Josh Osich has been a pleasant surprise.

Infield - solid player at every position.  Belt needs to stay healthy.  Not sure Longoria should start in front of Pablo.  His production began to drop once he reached 30 years of age.

Outfield -  It was so bad last year anything would be an improvement.  Pence will move to left field.  I told a few friends that I thought he should retire then he hits a few homeruns in AZ.  I will be surprised if he is not on the DL by the end of April.

Jackson looks like pretty good hitter.  But he is not  the answer in centerfield.  McCutchen will start in right field.  Was a great ball player but I remember last year after he turned 30, when the Giants played the Pirates he was an automatics out. 

The Giants love Steve Duggar for the way he can play centerfield.  He shows promise at the plate but good pitching gets him out.  If he has a solid six weeks in Sacramento, he might be brought up by the end of May. My first impression has him as a career .240 hitter.  Hope I am wrong.
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Chris Shaw could also be up by the end of May if he tares the PCL apart.  He needs time at Sacramento but I look for him to be in leftfield for the Giants sometime this season.

Parker continues to look great one day and horrible the next.  Mac Williamson has been a star all spring and Austin Slater a big disappointment.

The bad news is that the Giants play the Dodgers 10 times in the first month of the season.  They will see Kershaw at least three times.  The good news is that Kershaw  reached his 30th birthday on St. Joseph's day so from now on its all down hill.  Problem is that nobody can see the top of his hill.

Breaking News -  I just read the Giants cuts.  All I can say is 'They don't want to win'.






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