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“What If—In October?”

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I tried to imagine what it would be like to experience all this.

You are a Yankees fan in New York, where the team broke all of its home run records this year.  You name it, Judge-Stanton-Gregorious-Sanchez-Voit-Gardner-Andujar.  There’s always someone to take you yard any at-bat, anytime in the game.

At Minute Maid Park in Houston, the Astros fans get to see as good a 3-man rotation as baseball has, in Verlander-Cole-Greinke.  And when it’s not the arms, it’s the bats, Altuve-Correa-Springer-Bregman and so many more.

In Tampa Bay, what few fans there are, with the 2nd best worst attendance in baseball, but with a tremendous young team of talent, the Rays play great ball at Tropicana Field.

Minnesota, in that shiny new stadium, constructed a team of big-dangerous bats, and gave the Twin Cities fans a 100-win team…flashing back to times of Rod Carew-Tony Oliva-Harmon Killebrew and more.

We all know the hated Dodgers, with a batting order that wears you out, and a rotation almost equal to anyone in baseball.  A franchise that draws nearly 4M per year.  This has been going on, this winning, dating all the way back to Ebbetts Field in Brooklyn.

St Louis is one of the best baseball cities in history, with its amazing tradition that goes back to the Gas House Gang days thru the Bob Gibson-Stan Musial era, to today.

Braves baseball has had such great stretches of time, from Hammerin Hank Aaron thru the Smoltz-Glavine-Maddux-Bobby Cox games.  And now they have rebuilt the team for the umpteenth time.

Washington treats its Nationals Park fans to a tremendous starting rotation and put a different type team together after Bryce Harper left.  Imagine running out the likes of Strasberg-Scherzer-Corbin in a 3-game series.

The Athletics got edged out in the wildcard game for the second year in a row, but built another 90-win team that hit homers and played A’s ball and won a lot.

Heck, the Red Sox and the Cubs, playing in the shrines that are Fenway Park and Wrigley Field, give their paying public superb baseball each summer, even if this was not a playoff season.

I mention all that, because if you are a baseball junkie, and if you ware watching these playoff games, you are drawn to the electricity in these parks.  The fanaticism of the fans, wearing their colors, bringing their signs, screaming the chants.

Winning and drawing fans go hand in hand.  Once you get inside the park, the atmosphere is so exciting it makes you want to come back.

I think back to early in the season at Petco Park, when the Padres had that (11-5) start to the campaign.  Home games were like being at an NFL playoff game.  The noise, the bedlam, the singing, the cheering, the hoping.

Had to believe this turned into another typical San Diego summer, hot, humid, and last place baseball.  So many promises, so many expectations, and another year of let downs.

You get a taste of it, you want it all the time.  That was my experience watching the Padres-Yankees World Series, in that short span of time with Gwynn-Hoffman-Caminetti-Kevin Brown and that bunch.  You never forget the excitement and the awe of that short era.

That is why it is so important for Padres ownership to get this next managerial hire right.  To get someone with leadership skills, who commands respect, and has a history of structure and success.

The Padres are a lot closer to success than they are to more failure.  Think of what it is like right now to be an Orloles-Tigers-Royals-Pirates fan these days.

Time to get something done and await the results.

Just think of what you see at Yankees Stadium, in St Louis, in Washington, or at Dodgers Stadium, as distasteful as that might be.

Think of the Gaslamp Quarter, a daylong party. Think of the noise level at Petco Park. Think of the electricity created that yard, and what that type of baseball energy  would mean to the community.

The Padres are about to bring back the brown.  It would be nice if they brought us winning baseball in 2020.

San Diego fans are awaiting the chance to go crazy at the yard.  Be like these other cities.

What If?  What would it be like to be there?

You know, play in October.

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“Teams in Town–Time for Trauma”

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CHARGERS….The early season woes continues for a team many thought could be an AFC-power.  They lose to the winless Denver Broncos.  Quarterback Philip Rivers throws another interception in the end zone. RB-Austin Ekeler fumbles at the goal line going for a score-again.  The defense gets gashed for big runs and gives up some big plays thru the air early.  RB-Melvin Gordon plays for the first time since ending his holdout and looks out of sync, breaks off no big plays, and takes playing time away from the productive Ekeler.  .And another kicker misses another field goal as the teams kicking woes moved into the 3rd straight fall.  Rock solid C-Mike Pouncey exited the game with a neck injury, continuing a trend of losing a starter a week.  You hope he is not out long.  How bad was it Sunday.  Against an (0-4) team that came in with no sacks and no takeaways, the Chargers turned it over 3-times, gave up sacks and hits, and went 8-striaght possessions without scoring an offensive touchdown.  Not good, not good at all.Oh by the way, a lot of Broncos fans show up in Carson for what was supposed to be a Bolts home game, leading the CBS-broadcast crew, led by Jim Nantz-Tony Romo to talk multiple times that the Chargers have ‘no home field advantage’.  They’re not winning and week by week the Dean Spanos decision to vacate San Diego for what was supposed to be the riches of the LA market look like a disaster-growing,season by season.

AZTECS….Rocky Long has been know for great defenses.  What we saw Saturday night might be the best outing his crew has had in his years in San Diego.  When they were done in the lopsided win in Ft-Collins….SDSU’s defense put up staggering numbers.  3-interceptions…1-fumble recovery…4-sacks…2-4th down stops including a goal line stand..holding the run game to (2.6YPC)…and possibly the most athletic back seven SDSU has ever seen from the linebackers and secondary.  It was as if SDSU had 13-men on the field.  They were everywhere.  And this was against a Rams team that was averaging )501YPG).  A (4-1) record ou too the gate, but there should be concern on the 2nd floor of the Fowler Athletic Center.  But there is something they must consider, In those coaching offices, they have to find a way to uncover a more explosive offense.

USD….They look poised to make a run for another Pioneer Conference championship.  The Torerors QB-Reid Sennett, who threw for (341Y-3TD) in a win over Marist of New York.  He now has 12-TDs in 4-games…enroute to a 30-TD season if not more, and possibly a berth in the 1-AA playoffs.

UCLA…How low can you go?  The Bruins are (1-5).  Chip Kelly is (4-14) as head coach.  They just lost to lowly Oregon State, in the Rose Bowl, or rather got their heads handed to them by the Beavers.  Hard to believe, the man who built Oregon into a national power, with a (46-7) record in Eugene, can’t recruit any longer, can’t design an offense to succeed, and has a pitiful defense.  An amazing fall from grace, with no explanation as to why this is happening.  Is UCLA going to be patient?  Will they eat the contract?  How far down is this program?

USC….They’ve now gone thru 3-quarterbacks at Heritage Hall this season, wiped out with injuries.  Clay Helton is holding onto his job by a thread, and the Athletic Director Lynn Swann, has already been removed by the new incoming President.  Not a good atmosphere to operate in right now.

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“Aztecs-Backs Against the Wall”

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It’s hard to understand how San Diego State’s football season could be in jeopardy, despite their (3-1) start

But it looks that way, feelsthtway, tastes that way right now,as the Aztecs get ready to head to Colorado State on Saturday.

The joy of the impressive win at UCLA has now been wiped away by home field loss to Utah State.

SDSU is still an unproven product on the field, especially the offense.  They struggled in the 6-0 win over 1AA-Weber State.  They dug themselves a huge hole in the Utah State setback.

Luckily for them Colorado State has its own set of problems,losing their passing star quarterback Collin Hill for the year,struggling on defense, and sitting at (1-4)t trying to save their season.\\

SDSU has the teeth of the schedule ahead of them, Wyoming, Fresno State, Hawaii and BYU. That’s why Saturday in Ft-Collins might be a must win game for both the Rams and the Red & Black.

Coach Rocky Long’s comments from his .weekly press conference:

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..Our bye week was productive week, bye week, got lots of things done.
..Colorado State is very exploding football team.
..The Rams areaxthletic, explosive

..This is not a desperation game despite where we are in the conference.
..Players don’t like to practice without playing..they want to play a game.

..Rams present real issues for our defense..they are balanced
..They have two backs, run it well, and can throw it a lot.

..Worried about having to slow them down and not let the game get away.
…They jumped out infront of Utah State with turnovers-give offense momentum.

..Juwan Washington is making progress and might play Saturday.

..CSU has had turnovers bunches, and it makes a difference in your record.
..There were four turnovers in their game.

..Pay to Play proposal doesn’t kick in till 2023
..Expect it to change dramatically..

..NCAA Transfer portal…lots of players are transferring in.
..It has created a lot of situations no one expected for programs.
..Now kids supposed to redshirt-are applying to transfer-shopping themselves.

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“Game On—The NHL Is Back”

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It’s the opening weekend of the NHL season, and it seems it was just days ago the surprising St Louis Blues were hoisting the Stanley Cup, upon completing their rise from last place to the Center Ice Cup presenation.

Lots of new faces in new places.  A look at Hockey Storylines on opening night.

KINGS….GM Rob Blake has his hands full.  Lots of age, lots of big contracts, lots of problems.  Anzi Kopitar, Jeff Carter, Drew Doughty, Jon Quick.  That’s it, that’s the core of this roster.  Stuck with bad contracts for aging players Dustin Brown and Ilya Kovalchuk, and with a lot of plug-in players across the rest of the roster, this might not be enough for a good season.  Who is going to score goals?  They had just 2-players pot more than 20-goals last season.  And the new goal scorers they brought in, Russian-Nik Prokhorkin and junior star Jarret Dolan, have already been dispatched to the AHL.  And the defense was poor all year too.  What a challenge for incoming coach Todd McLellan.

DUCKS..A team in transition is what new coach Dallas Eakins inherits.  He has a team that didn’t score goals last year, just 1-20-goal scorer.  They have star goalie John Gibson, captain Ryan Getzlaf, and the foreign legion led by Jakob Silfverberg and Rikard Rakell.  They won’t have the leadership though of Ryan Kesler, veteran wing Corey Perry, or Patrick Eaves, gone by virtue of injury-illness-free agency.  What they do have will be 5-high draft picks, all who played well for the San Diego Gulls.  We now await the jump of Troy Terry, Sam Steele, Max Jones, Maxime Comtois and Issac Lundestrom.  All made the opening night roster.  Are any of them ready for the NHL?  Gone are 3-other young defenseman many thought would be the foundation of the team going forward.  They traded away Shea Theodore, Brandon Montour and Marcus Pettersson.

Around the  NHL, plenty of storylines to watch from the teams who will be in the playoff hunt:

BLUES…Vlad Tarasenko, Ryan O’Reilly and rookie goalie Jordan Binnington are the stars, but the team chemistry was what got them to raise the Stanley Cup.  They added blue liner Justin Faulk to the group.  A 1-year fluke or a really good team coming together?

TAMPA BAY…Scored all those goals last year then got run out of the playoffs in the opening round.  Lots of firepower in Steven Stamkos-Nikita Kucherov-Brayden Point-Tyler Johnson and now they add Patrick Maroon and Kevin Shattenkirk.  They are on a mission.

TORONTO…Time to win, since it’s only been 1967 when the richest team in hockey won the Cup.  Mitch Marner-John Tavares-Auston Matthews lead a brigade of goal scorers.  Added to the defense, Tyson Barrie and a full year out of ex-King Jake Muzzin.  This could-should be their year.

SAN JOSE…The era should not be over, for they look to be the complete team.  A healthy year from Erik Karlsson is a must, but they are rock solid with Tomas Hertl, Logan Couture, Timo Meier and Brent Burns.  Gone however is sniper Joe Pavelski and winger Gavin Nyquist and their 50-goals. A cup finalist, definitely.

DALLAS…They had goal scorers last year and now they add gifted veteran Joe Pavelski and Corey Perry.  Last year goalie Ben Bishop was brilliant…can he repeat?  The Stars could be there too.

LAS VEGAS…The core group is ready for year three, and they have goal scoring and veteran goalie Marc Andre Fleury still together.  Now they get Mark Stone for a full season to make a difference.  A thin line between very good and great.

NASHVILLE…All they do is win, though last year was a bit of a setback.  Now they add high priced goal scorer Matt Duchene.  The Predators are in the mix.

BOSTON…Really good, really gritty but starting to stockpile a lot of age and miles on their scoring lines.  Ten guys who scored double digit in goals.

CAROLINA…They battled to keep young goal scorer Sebastian Aho, have snipers and defense, but you wonder about goaltending?

COLORADO…They’ve been building for sure, and they bring in feisty Name Kadre, from the Leafs,  and rookie 1st round pick Cole Makar to add something to the Nathan McKinnon led team.  Goalie Philip Grubauer takes over between the pipes.

CALGARY…The Flames have firepower with Johnny Gaudreau, Elias Lindholm, Matt Tkachuk, Matt Giordano.  Now we see if old dog veteran Milan Lucic can find the fountain of youth and contribute goals and toughness.

EDMONTON…So much talent around Connor McDavid, but the Oilers just have not won.  Veterans James Neal and Markus Granlund come on board to see if they can push this team deep into the playoffs.   They need steady goaltending and they have not had that recently.

NY RANGERS…They won the off season bidding war for free agent Artemi Panarin, and they have the 1st round pick Kaapo Kakko on the number one line, and they signed free agent D-Jacob Trouba.  Could be good rather than be an underachiever.

PITTSBURGH…Hard to believe any team that has Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin upfront would be struggling to make the playoffs.  But the Penguins have salary cap and depth problems.

CHICAGO…Such a good run with all those Stanley Cup rings, but they got old and have not added much.  Toews-Kane and Crawford are all that are left from the glory years.

WASHINGTON…Tough year last year for Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Kuznetsov, getting ousted from the postseason.  The top six goal scorers and top four defenseman are back, as is goalie Brayden Holtby.  Can they bounce back?

WINNIPEG….They solved the contract mess with Patrick Laine and Kyle Connor, but the cap issues and personal problems have cost them four defenseman, including Dustin Byfuglien.  This is a team at a crossroads.

ARIZONA…Young team of unknowns, now adds veteran goal scorer Phil Kessel to the roster.  Might make a playoff push.

MONTREAL…The Habs have been building, but the health of goalie Carey Price will likely be the difference between being in or out of the playoffs, after a near miss last year.

NEW JERSEY…The Devils had the busiest off season of all, adding hot draft pick Jack Hughes, trading for defender PK Subban, and gritty free agent Wayne Simmonds.  Waiting in the weeds out there at the Meadowlands, this team bears watching.

VANCOUVER…Spent big money a year after the Sedin twins retired.  Three great young players upfront in Elias Peterson, Brock Boeser and Bo Horvat.  Now we see if JT Miller-Michael Ferland-Tyler Myers-Jordie Benn make a difference.

NY ISLANDERS…A superb season with a group of unknowns last year, as Barry Trotz’s team outworked everyone, but they did not add much in the off season, and likely won’t ambush anyone this winter. But a group of hard-workers for sure.

BUFFALO…Jeff Skinner and Jack Eichel scored goals, but did not have enough around them.  We see if all these young draft picks, led by Rasmus Dahlin and Rasmus Ristolainen are ready to be stars.

MINNESOTA…Too much front office turmoil, and doubts about old school coach Bruce Boudreau.  Who knows about Zach Parise-Ryan Sutter and friends.

PHILADELPHIA…The Flyers have a star in the making in goalie Carter Hart, and they have people to put the puck in the net, in Courterier, Vorachek and Giroux, but do they have enough? It has been a strange struggle over the past couple of seasons.

COLUMBUS…Coach John Tortorella doesn’t like losing, so you can imagine his demeanor after watching three top free agents exit I big money deals.  His favorite phrase ‘are you all in’…..now replaced by ‘they’re all gone’.

DETROIT…Made the Wings famous by mining Europe for all those years, but now everyone goes there.  The best player might be their GM-Steve Yzerman, so that’s not good.

FLORIDA…Mediocre was not very good, so they bought themselves a big time goalie in Sergei Bobrovsky.  New coach Joel Quenneville inherits high scoring Aleksander Barkov and three other snipers, but he will have to mandate better play from his defense infront of that new goalie.

OTTAWA…New coach DJ Smith comes in with a very young roster.  The rebuild is going to take time.  Pity the heart and soul of the team, goalie Craig Anderson.  You wonder how long it is before Owner Eugene Melynk sells the team.  It’s never been the same since the passing of GM-Coach Bryan Murray.

Drop the puck, let’s go play….Game On !

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“Charters–No Luck-Bad Luck”

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If they didn’t have bad luck, they would have no luck at all.

The NFL injury report for the coming weekend goes are due out on Wednesday, and you wonder how much longer this can go on.

Philip Rivers is still standing at quarterback for the Chargers, but finding enough healthy people to put around him remains a challenge week-by-week.

The Bolts get a winless(0-4) Denver Broncos team this weekend at home, but you just wonder how many more injuries this team can take before it all collapses around them?

The siege of major injuries started in preseason camp, with the revelation of the blood clots plaguing LT-Russell Okung.  Season threatening, it has now become career threatening, as to whether will ever play again.

Then FS-Derwin James went down with a fractured foot, necessitating surgery, that will keep him out till at least week eight, if not the rest of the season.

Starting corner Trevor Williams never got healthy in camp from knee problems, and is gone on season ending IR.

Safety Adrian Phillips, their top nickel back, is gone with a broken forearm.

And oft injured LB-Denzel Perryman is hurt again, this time with a concussion.

His running mate, fellow LB-Jatavis Brown, can’t stay on the field. This time, anon going ankle injury.

Rookie safety Nassir Adderly, the second round draft pick, got hurt in OTA workouts, is just back, but yet to crack tq play with any regularity.

All that on the defensive side of the football.

And now the injury bug has gone across the hallway into the meeting rooms of the offense.

Hunter Henry, the young star TE, cannot get out from the injury clouds that have impacted his career.  A fractured kneecap will take him out till mid season, if not longer.

His backup Virgil Green has been dry docked for weeks with a groin.

And now the third TE in the group, Sean Caulkins, is gone with a ruptured Achilles, on a fluke play, going down untouched after catching a pass, turning up field and then going down.

Mike Williams had a knee injury and now a back injury, and just cannot stay on the field.

The third wide receiver Travis Benjamin has another nagging injury for the their year in a row, this a hip pointer.

Veteran journeyman WR-Donnie Inman came here, caught a few passesandnow has a quad injury.

The young power running back Justin Jackson, productive in cameo appearances, is down with a calf injury, things that do not heal quickly.

And who knows when we will see kicker Michael Badgley, groin injuries being what they are, slow to heal..

Add it up, and that’ 16- significant injuries, and we are just four games into the 2019 NFL season.

The Bolts are losing a quality player a week, and there just aren’t enough players around to step up and replace those going down.

They are struggling to find the right mix of “43” players to suit up on game day.

Here comes Denver, and their season is going down the drain too, with lots of ailing players.

Just think of the body bag count with the Chargers, and think of the absurdity of the new proposal made by the owners to the Union, increasing the schedule to 17-games next year.  Does anybody think this is a good idea?

The Chargers can’t, shouldn’t, and likely won’t support that move.  But money talks, and people walk, and change their votes.  The added dollars to each club can’t on the field and play.

The Bolts have the teeth of the schedule ahead of them yet.  You wonder when the weight of the injuries, will cause the team to fall down completely.

If the Chargers didn’t have bad luck, they’d have no luck at all.

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