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“QUESTIONS WORTH ASKING”

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PADRES..Record setting attendance and revenues the last two years, and yet ownership wants to keep the budget at (170M) even if that means having to remove as many as 5-players from the roster, while upgrading a few other contracts.  Don’t the Padres fans deserve to see the payroll go up considering how they have supported this team two summers in a row, a team that has yet to get to the World Series?

DODGERS…Stunning story, the creative financing they have done, with the revelation the franchise has included deferred money in 7-contracts of marquee players, with a total value owed of 1B-plus dollars that will start to be paid in 2028-thru-2046.  Bills will come due and that’s lots of additional money owed on top of the payroll they will have in those years.  Can they operate with this business model longterm?

ANGELS..Arte Moreno says his payroll for his playoff starved team will go up.  They have been the most active team, bringing in 6-low money fee agents to fill holes on the roster.  Big deal.  None of the signings makes this team a playoff contender, after a 99-loss season.  Why is a rich man always shopping at Dollar General for players?  Sign some quality proven talent?

THE GOLDEN BAT…I hate gimmicks  and this one takes the cake.  Rob Manfred and owners propose a ‘Golden At Bat’..where a team can use one of its best hitters, one time, in a rally, to get an extra at bat outside of his normal spot in the order.  Shohei Ohtani could bat in the 8th inning, then hit out of turn in the 9th one time, to try and win the game.  Isn’t that stretching the integrity of the game too far?

FREE AGENT DECISIONS..They are coming maybe early this weekend.  You excited to see where Juan Soto winds up?  Willy Adames? Corbin Burnes?  Or more excited to see if there is a Nolan Arenado fire sale trade?  Or waiting to see if the Dodgers have another signing or trade to spring on baseball?

JUST ASKING DEPARTMENT…You tell me.  Is it good if we just have 5-big money teams in baseball, with mega payrolls, and 25-other teams just drifting without the chance to compete for the star talent out there?  Does HARD SALARY CAP need to be installed to save the game?

Your turn, your opinions invited.

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