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“Baseball–Winter Meetings-Wild First Day”

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The Winter Baseball Meetings are in high gear in the Gaslamp Quarter.

Free Agent signings, mega trades, and some controversial showdowns coming.

The Washington Nationals started Monday’s opening day with the signing of Stephen Strasburg, the World Series pitching hero, to a (7Y-245M) contract, the highest salary package and average salary for a pitcher in history.

It’s not over, for within hours came reports that the other big free agent, Astros pitcher Gerrit Cole, was prepared to leave and possibly head to the Yankees or the Angels for what is likely to be a new record high (250M) package.

Still out there will be the Giants-Madison Bumgarner, seeking 25M per year, and Nationals 3rd baseman Anthony Rendon, a likely 33M a season bat to somebody’s lineup.

We await to see who throws bargaining chips on the table to start the trade market.

The strangest rumblings in the hallways at the Manchester Grand Hyatt are that the Cubs might be willing to tear their top heavy salaried roster apart with a series of deals that could include star 3B-Kris Bryant.

Once this domino falls, then the other deals fall into place.

Joc Peterson of the Dodgers..the Pirates moving Starlin Marte, the rumored move of Milwaukee closer Josh Vader, and the Padres efforts to shop, move, dump Austin Hedges and Will Myers.

The contracts given to the marquee free agents continue to escalate, winter by winter.

I’d say it’s shocking anyone would give a 31-year old pitcher, like Strasburg, a 7-year contract, but then again, MLB is awash in money from its TV contracts.  And if pitchers go down, odds are some of the salaries are covered by insurance policies.

Think back to yesteryear, when the Steinbrenner’s threw wild money at free agents every winter.  We thought the 217M package David Price signed with the Red Sox was absurd.

People were aghast when all this started with Andy Messersmith, Catfish Hunter and Wayne Garland.  That is when the back in the day dollars were as high as 700,000 a year.  Those were pennies on the dollar to what Strasburg just got.

But this winter meeting session is different than the last couple of years, when the delayed signings of Shohei Ohtani by the Angels, or last year’s mess with Craig Kimbrel and Dallas Keuchel, held up all the other deals.

This started early with Yasmani Grandal, going to the White Sox, and has escalated since late last week.   Atlanta moved quickly to get Giants closer Will Smith, then Cubs starter Cole Hamels.  The Reds landed 3B-Mike Moustakas, and Texas signed Jordan Lyles-Kyle Gibson for the back end of their rotation.

Now Strasburg signs so quickly, it should open up the flood gates for lots of other deals.

The bidding isn’t over, but the trades are to come next, maybe by nightfall..

The ‘Shopping Spree’ is now to replace the ‘Spending Spree’.  A fun time to watch the dealings of big market to small market teams.

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“A Football Weekend Worth Commenting On”

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CHARGERS…..A win is a win even if it is against a deplorable team like the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have seemingly quit on their head coach.  You ever seen so many guys running open on pass patterns?  Giving up 80-yards in a 2-play sequence, 84-yards over 3-plays and 73-yards on 3-snaps should merit a housecleaning in Jaguarland.  Great performance by RB-Austin Ekeler, his (213) all purpose yardage day should merit him a big pay raise.  Joey Bosa had another strong day with a couple of sacks, a pressure and tackle for loss, as he builds out a career season on a team going nowhere.

RAMS…Backs to the wall, they came up big time tearing apart Seattle at the LA Coliseum.  Suddenly the explosiveness that was missing much of the season, re-emerged, probably because Robert Woods, Cooper Krupp, Gerald Everett, Josh Reynolds, Tyler Higbee and Todd Gurley seem healthy.  The defense, which has been shoved around a lot this season, showed up with attitude and an edge, and pressure on Russell Wilson all night.  At times Pete Carroll seemed stunned with the look on his face.

49ers…That was some explosive day in the shootout win in New Orleans.  A 500-yard plus day on offense, just enough to withstand the 5TD day of Drew Brees.  First time the Niners defense looked human, and not dominant, but San Francisco won.

NEW ENGLAND…They may be (10-3) but they don’t look like vintage Patriots football any longer.  Tom Brady has no offensive skill help.  No quality tight ends.  Not many playmakers at wide receiver aside from the mighty mite Juliah Edelman and no running game at all.

KANSAS CITY….Went into Foxboro, jumped the Patriots early, and hung on, snapping New England’s 21-game home winning streak.  Patrick Mahomes does not have all his weapons right now with all these nagging injuries, and the defense is leaky, but they have clinched the AFC-West.

CLEVELAND…Fighting for their playoff life, and maybe fighting to keep their coach, they battered the bad Bengals, but the stench coming out of the locker-room about dysfunction in the offense, players-vs-coaches clashes, and the public second guessing of coach Freddie Kitchens means all is not well on the Lakefront.

BALTIMORE…That was some defensive street fight in Buffalo but they won and that was what was important.  The Ravens defense choked off Josh Allen, the young Bills quarterback, and Lamar Jackson did just enough to guide his team to a critical road win.

BUFFALO…The Bills play hard for Sean McDermott, the defense is so rugged, but they may be a year away yet with the young QB-Josh Allen.  Another draft will help that out.

JACKSONVILLE…If the Bengals weren’t in the league, you’d vote for the Jaguars as being the worst team in the league.  Five straight blowout losses in a row.  All this from a team put together by legendary Super Bowl coach Tom Coughlin.  Interesting to see if ownership fires him, plus the loser of a coach Doug Marrone.

DALLAS….Waiting for the end of the season and the ouster of Jason Garrett, something is really wrong at Valley Ranch.  The kid offensive coordinator Kellen Moore’s play calling leaves a lot to be desired.  How do you have all that talent and sit there with a (6-7) record.

HOUSTON..Go explain this, playing at home, with everything on the line, coming off a big win, the Texans lose at home to troubled Denver and their kid QB-Drew Lock.

DETROIT…This isn’t working out, Another Bill Belichick assistant, failing as a head coach .Matt Patrica’s Lions, without QB-Matthew Stafford, out with that back fracture, are not competitive, and are now (3-9-1).  Don’t know if they’d fire him in his 2nd year, but they are not very good under his leadership.

CINCINNATI….3-weeks left before QB-Andy Dalton gets to leave as a free agent in the offseason…this (1-12) mess in his rear view mirror.

PITTSBURGH…Some coaching job by Mike Tomlin, injuries, suspensions, rookies, ailing QBs, and they are now (8-5).  Who could have thought that when they were (1-4) in September.

TENNESSEE….Some turnaround for QB-Ryan Tannehill.  He is now (6-1) as a starter since replacing Marcus Mariota, who will likely depart as a free-agent.

NY GIANTS….Clocking ticking towards Pat Shurmur’s firing at the end of the season.  Doubt Eli Manning, starting on Monday night, can save him.

ATLANTA….Poor Matt Ryan, having to do it all himself, since the Falcons have so many injuries around him.

CAROLINA…Unfair firing of head coach Ron Rivera, by new owner David Tepper.  Started (6-2) and (4-2) the last two years, then Cam Newton got hurt each of last two seasons, and ten fell apart.  And this is Rivera’s fault.

ARIZONA…Miserable (3-9-1) season for the team around QB-Kyler Murray.  Interesting that GM Steve Keim makes statements about looking forward to rebuilding the defense.  His track record isn’t good, he might not be there for next season.

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“Aztecs Athletics–A Good Time to be an Aztec”

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San Diego State took the next step towards construction of its new football stadium, accepting a 15M grant from a San Diego philanthropist, to be put towards construction of the Aztecs Stadium.  It is the first step forward in the development of the 132-acrxes of land SDSU hopes to acquire to build a new West campus.

Groundbreaking is due in April of 2020…with hopes the stadium will be open for the 2022-footbll season.

They called it a historical day in university history at Thursday’s press conference.

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President Adela delaTorre

Mrs. Dianne Bashor…15M donation to begin funding for San Diego State West Campus.
Stadium and football field will bear name Bashor Field

Adam Day-CSU Trustee

True generosity and large heart of a gift
Lead gift for construction of new stadium
It will lead to bu9ilding for ability to take on 15,000 more students at SDSU
A monumental day for the university.

JD Wicker-AD SDSU

This is an amazing day
This is a huge next step
We will break ground in April 2020
It has been a roller coaster with the complexities of this project
This is a transformational time at SDSU
Toughest thing..fighting perception we couldn’t bring this together
We know the 20-year history of trying to get something done at SDSU at sight
Up next work with CSU-Board of Trustees for bonding of project
We have raised 30M money needed
We need 68M local money to build the stadium
The rest will come from sponsorships-naming rights-skyboxes
I have never taken on a project this big
Our ability to team up with JMI-Legends has been key
They bring experience in construction-sight management-marketing
They are experts in the field and have been invaluable

2-years ago this day-we announced intention to build multi-use stadium
Stadium helps grow football-soccer-lacrosse
CIF championships-concerts and so much more
We celebrate a major milestone
This is lead gift for stadium
We now have 30M pledged towards our stadium
We want to put the shovel in the ground in early 2020
We hope to meet our January timeline with the City for agreement

Adrienne Vargas-VP SDSU

This gift is a reaffirmation that after 122-years the importance of SDSU in our community

Dianne Bashor-Philanthropist

It is a privilege to add to the glory of this university.
The students-people of San Diego will benefit from this stadium and SDSU-West
I believe, when you get things-give things.

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“Padres-Angels-Dodgers–What’s Next Move”

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It’s been a busy 10-days in baseball, in free agency, in trades, and more is about to happen.

Swinging around Southern California to look at these teams, what they have done, should do, might do next.

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PADRES….Active with rumors everywhere they are not done dealing.  The addition of veteran right-hander Zach Davies, coupled with the return to health of Garrett Richards, means veteran experience at the front end of a very young rotation.  There might be value in the bullpen acquisition of Drew Pomeranz, if the forearm issues which plagued him for a couple of years, are gone.  The pitching staff is better right now than it was at the end of the season.  Still be decided, are they bringing Craig Stammen back to team with Pomeranz as a setup reliever?

Next up is the acquisition of Jurickson Profar, once highly regarded, but now headed to his third team in less than one calendar year.  His relationship with AJ Preller won’t mean much if he hits (.211) again, but he has power, and has played well in the past.  Buy low, maybe get high results.

Did they give up on Luis Urias too soon?  I think so, they don’t.  We’ll find out how he does moving over to SS-in Milwaukee.

Next, the impending trades of C-Austin Hedges and OF-Hunter Renfroe.  They better get the right players back in the next couple of trades they make.  Cleveland, Oakland, Atlanta and Washington were all looking for catching help.  That door has closed.  If you move Renfroe are you creating another hole on the roster?

No one wants to take on Will Myers 20M a year contract at this point, but maybe that changes once a couple of the big free agent bats come off the market.  Maybe you add a sweetener, a young prospect, in a Myers package, but what do you get in return?

Deals are coming, betting sooner than later.

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DODGERS….When you draw nearly 4M per season, when you are in the second biggest market in the country…when you keep increasing ticket prices, no one in LA wants to hear you talk about the 208M luxury tax threshold as the reason you don’t want to go sign big name players.  But maybe that changes, if the attitude of agent Scott Boras and his clients change.

The secret meeting with Washington superstar Anthony Rendon, and then his teammate Stephen Strasburg was unique.  The Dodgers might be willing to offer Rendon the highest average deal in baseball, 33M per year, if he’d accept a 3-year deal.  If not him, maybe the same offer Strasburg.  They’d never go to 7-years as Boras has dropped hints.

The Dodgers are shopping power hitting OF-Joc Pederson, and could clear 8M off the books, coupled with the 18M they won’t pay Hyun Jin-Ryu if he exits, and the savings on the Rich Hill contract.  There’s the 33M you could spend of either one of the Nationals.

They have more kids coming in the farm system, still have a great core of players, so maybe letting 3-leave to add the right one, is the game plan they’d like to pull off in the next couple of days.

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ANGELS….Disastrous off season deals, plus bad injuries have knocked the Halos off track.  They so desperately need healthy starting pitching.  They just got one in ex-Orioles first round pick Dylan Bundy, but he has to be the prospect he used to be, rather than the suspect he became pithing at Camden Yards, the one who allowed 71-homers the last two years.  The Halos traded 4-lower pitching prospects to get him for the rotation.

They have the money to make a run at Gerritt Cole, but then again the Boras factor is part of the equation.  It is interesting that last week, Cole made the statement, ‘Boras works for me-I don’t work for him’, so maybe the pitcher makes the choice, not the agent.  Maybe it is more than just a dollar decision.

The Halos need help lots of areas, but if they can land a pitcher first, they can then patch in other needs with so many players available for one year rentals on the open market.

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The winter meetings roll out on Monday.  Bet on more deals being made before all the teams get to town on Sunday night.

The free agent sighings have come at a quicker pace.  The Braves signed Giants relief ace Will Smith.  Catcher Yasmani Grandal went to the White Sox.  Mike Moustakas bolted Milwaukee for Cincinnati.  The Phillies spent a ton on Mets pitcher Zach Wheeler, and Cole Hamels wound up in Atlanta.

This could be the most interesting off season week each of these teams has had in recent years.

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“Aztecs Hoops–Real Deal”

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The march towards ‘March Madness’ begins on Wednesday night in Ft-Collins, as SDSU opens the conference season by playing at Colorado State.

The Aztecs are off to an (8-0) start, coming off wins in the Las Vegas Invitational against Iowa and Creighton.  They have claimed in the basketball ratings services by virtue of the start, and right now are projected to be a 7th seed.  Of course that all changes based on wins and losses in conference play.

And now straight ahead, it’s Colorado State and the start of the rugged Mountain West Conference schedule.

SDSU has not had an (8-0) start since the 2010-Kawhi Leonard team.  They have never played well in Ft-Collins either, going (13-26) in its history, but since the arrival of Steve Fisher and then Brian Dutcher, the Aztecs have won 10-of-14 at Moby Arena.

(Coach Brian Dutcher comments):

..Finished 5-games in 10-days…now just 5-games in month of December.

..Colorado State-much better than thought would be…alot of freshman on same page
..Rams won 4-straight games and this is not hype.

..We have a plan to be better defensively…we worked hard enough to get good
..Offensively we had a lot of pieces..we had to get on game floor and see it work
..Team has grit, coming from 9-or-16 behind to win.

..We have mental toughness to withstand a team’s mental punch..it is a good sign
..We have 5th year seniors..4th year juniors…we have experience and it helps

..Need to get Keshad Johnson- a talented freshman-to get up to speed to get on floor
..We need to get our fast break better…we need to work on our zone defense
..As season goes on-we find strengths we did not know we had-put set plays in.

..Envision 3-transfers-we knew Malachi Flynn can score at a high level
..He is a better passer than I thought…8-10 assist games
..Yonni Wetzell is a good low post scorer with experience..he is hard to defend..passes well
..KJ Feagin still finding his way with this group.

..Fort Collins..we arrive 24-36 hours ahead of schedule…Hydrate players-helps
..We have deep lineup to withstand catching your breath at altitude

..Strange playing conference game so early-interesting twist…this will be our hardest game…usually non conference…conference…then post season…
..Earliest ever opened a conference game on schedule
..We will see their absolute best when we face Rams who have those wins

..There are landmines everywhere on our schedule-regardless of what metrics say
..We have to be prepared if we have injuries…hurdles to still face
..We won 5-games in 10-days…can we win 5-games in the next month

..Certain years- at Colorado State when Tim Miles-Larry Eustachy were there-a very hard place to go play….it will be a good crowd.
..Not being ranked yet doesn’t upset players…we have to stay grounded and keep winning.
..We are scratching the surface of who we could be…lessons to be learned.

..The Mountain West….Utah State is a mystery because of injury…New Mexico beat Wisconsin..Boise beat BYU…Colorado State freshman playing at a higher level.

..Get thru an 18-game Mountain West season-altitude-travel-environment is hard…I watch our team and at times they are running in quick-sand….alitutde is tough….Travel is tough…we don’t charter….Fly to Denver-bus to Ft-Collins….There is a difference between our team and others around the nation in terms of challenges.

…I think our 10-deep depth will help us a lot going against the elements-especially the altitude…

..Beauty of team I have are the guys off the bench role playing well…
..Play to your strengths…play your role…
..Sharing the ball-going to your strength…
..Shooting specialist…defensive personality..we are developing role guys

..Being ranked gives us national identity…you like that.

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(Matt Mitchell)
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.,Playing altitude-very mental aspect to game
..Every team comes out to play hard…wear you out
..Tjams will push the ball and the tempo in altitude
..Moby Arena tough place to breathe-altitude-smoke
..Not worried about altitude nor our toughness
..Don’t have to change how we play because where we play
..Stay mental strong…fight thru if we get tired
..3-transfers-these guys come in with open minds-they want to win
..Definitely tough places to play in MWC-guys ready to go to war
..Winning against Creighton-Iowa has helped us a great deal
..We positioned ourself to be NCAA tourney team-just have to keep winning
..Aztecs positioned to be a 7th seed-but lots of games still left to play
..Our mindset-not worry about past…look at every game individually
..Not being ranked-we continue to win-we will get ranked
..Hottest start since Kawhi Leonard was here-live in moment-achieve something great

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