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“Monday Morning Memos”

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Take a memo to the teams in town.

PADRES….There has been a lot of bad baseball played here over the decades of the Friars, but more than anything else, has there ever been such a bad letdown as we have just experienced.  The sad-sack season, the one the started with great expectation is over, and how big a disappointment was this?  Last place baseball, big money players who became underachievers, too many kid pitchers all on the roster at the same time.  The manager lost his job, the coachi9ng staff will likely be the next to go, and major decisions away when it comes time to post the 40-man protected list for the Winter Meetings.  There will be changes, have to be on this roster.  You wonder whom they hire as manager next.  I would have never ever believed, after all the signings of talent, the ranking of the farm system, that this team would wind up in last place, but that’s what happened by season’s end.  15-losses in the final 17-games.  Discouraging to say the least.

CHARGERS..The record stands at (2-2),but the Bolts have not played a quality 4-quarters of football yet.  Sunday’s game saw Miami rise up to the challenge and put a scare into the Chargers for at least a half, and had Miami not committed 4-self destructive major penalties in the first half, they might well have had the lead, and kept the lead.  Lots of football to be played, Melvin Gordon will likely play next week, but the injury toll on the roster keeps climbing.  Seven starters missed practice this past week leading into the Miami game, and 3-more starters suffered injuries win the win over the Dolphins.  Oh by the way, they start playing real people, real quick on this schedule.

AZTECS…SDSU football comes off the bye week and moves back into conference play next weekend at Colorado State.  SDSU is (3-1), but is coming off the surprise loss to Utah State.  The bigger surprise story is how many Mountain West teams have posted wins over Power 5-Conference schools this early season.  Keeping the Aztecs healthy will be the difference maker between a strong bounce back season, or another disappointment.

AZTECS…Pre season basketball practice has begun, but nothing feels the same up on the Mesa.  All the skill talent of the past couple of years are gone, missing the NCAA tourney again was a disappointment, and there are empty seats lots of places in Viejas Arena.  There will be a truckload of transfers on the floor this year, and it remains to be seen how quickly they all jell.  You get the sense the program has slipped off the town’s radar, for the buzz is gone.

USD…The tiny, yet very successful 1-AA program, continues to be a power in the Pioneer Conference.  In what was supposed to be a rebuilding season at the skill position, the Toreros appear to have a gem in senior QB-Reed Stinnett, who waited his turn.  His numbers thru the first month of the season are impressive, and if he throws the ball the next 6-weeks like he did the first 3-weeks, this could be a playoff team again.

USD…That was a nice run they had in basketball thanks to the transfer Isaiah Pinero and others.  Now Pinero is headed to the Sacramento Kings-NBA camp, and four starters in all are gone.  Big challenge for the coaching staff to find the next wave of talent to keep this team on the radar in the West Coast Conference.

GULLS…A do-over, a rebuild, a new look coming to the AHL team.  At last check 9-key players from last year’s team have departed.  Some will be with the parent NHL-Ducks in Anaheim, a number have moved on to other NHL teams.  New coach Kevin Dineen will almost be starting from square one, compared to what former coach Dallas Eakins had to work with, all those high draft picks the Ducks selected.  Too early to say it will be a long season, but it will. be a different season for sure.

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