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
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