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“Questions worth Asking-What’s Next?”

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The outcome of the vote in San Diego felt like a punch in the stomach.

The Stadium vote, that saw SDSU-West campus proposal get voted in, while Soccer City’s proposal was washed away.

The 54%-46% victory margin for SDSU was very impressive. Political clout, business leadership, civic backers, and a normally silent alumni group rallied to push thru the massive proposal that gives a mandate to the city, to negotiate now with SDSU’s hierarchy. An Aztecs stadium, a river park, additional dorms, research-faculty buildings, all part of campus expansion.

The 69%-31% rejection was a devastating setback to Soccer City, which started with so much momentum. Mike and Nick Stone spent a ton to sell their message of what they felt was the potential of a new Soccer-Aztecs stadium, an MLS expansion franchise, retail development and land for an NFL stadium. Rejected across the board.-

The vote was one thing, but now the tougher part, getting answers to all types of questions.

SDSU is facing a 550M-price tag to buy the 253-acres of land they want for campus expansion. They say it will be a public-private financing plan. How? Who?

What is the fair price for the undeveloped land? Will the Mayor and City have a different value than SDSU’s wants and wishes?

Does SDSU buy up land in parcels, stadium first, dorms-research building later? We talking a 3-year plan, a 5-year plan, decades long plans?

Does SDSU pick up the 6M per year maintenance fee for the crumbling SDCCU Stadium, as Soccer City had proposed?

Is SDSU going to pay the 11M cost of razing the old cement structure, once the new stadium is built?

Who pays for the cost of the River Park they say they will develop, and when will that happen in terms of construction timeline?

What becomes of the empty Chargers Park, vacant for two years now, one that SoccerCity was going to buy and operate? Does it go to the AAF-San Diego Fleet-spring football league team, or it it too expensive for them to open up the doors?

Does San Diego State bring in separate developers for the stadium, retail, the dorms, the research building, and what kind of money do the developers bring with their proposals?

Would Soccer City , still wanting an expansion franchise, in Major League Soccer, return to the table and try to become a partner with SDSU, and help fund the stadium? Of course, who owns the stadium, who runs the stadium, who reaps profits from the stadium?

Will the MLS, on an expansion kick, still look favorably on the 3.5M-San Diego-Tijuana market and wait to see what type of deal gets done, and who pays for what? They did wait for David Beckham, 7-years worth of delays, because getting the FC-Inter Miami soccer deal done.

Will student fees be part of any SDSU contribution to their share of the cost of the academic-athletic facilities?

Can the Mayor, his tenure now damaged by the Chargers defection and the inability to get an expansion soccer team, come back to the table, and try to make any stadium plan part of the city-county wide financing coalition?

We now have a different type of leverage game out there don’t we? Will SDSU try to get the land at a reduced price because of the voter mandate, it’s their land?

Does City Council fight back and battle Mayor Kevin Falconer, now that Democrats sit in 6-of-8 seats on that council, and not allow him to make a bad financial deal?

How long will the stadium construction projects drag out considering all the environmental entanglements that are part of that property?

Will the business execs, who backed SDSU-West, now become part of the financing plans to help the university make this massive project come together?

This story isn’t over.

And now the word ‘burden’ replaces the word ‘vote’.

The burden on the city to make a good deal. The burden on the university to deliver on all the dynamics they promised during the campaign.

Lots of questions, now we seek answers.

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“Padres-Decision Day Coming on Roster-Building a Winner-Ending the Losing.
1-Man’s Opinion on Sports
www.leehacksawhamilton.com

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Let the winning begin. Easier said than done with this Padres franchise.

Hope springs eternal. Not here, not yet.

Padres rebuild has not been as painful as the Houston Astros retooling. Not as long as the Cubs downtrodden ways. But this has been a long period of time.

The offseason is now officially underway. Free Agency has just opened, the 40-man roster limits will be set shortly. The GMs meetings are underway in Carlsbad. The Winter Baseball meetings come next month.

So what do the Padres do after a 3-season composite record of (205-281). some 76-games under .500?

They need to open spots on the roster for the young players they must protect. They need to find some quality veteran starting pitching. And they may have to move some salary as trade bait to improve the roster.

1-Man’s Opinion on who they are, what they should do, if I were king.

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Wil Myers…He has had one solid half season in San Diego, that all star year. The rest of the two and a half years has been filled with injuries, slumps, spurts, position changes and errors. As gifted as he is, he is a man without a position. The corner outfield spots are a challenge, 3rd base is even worse. I thought he played better at first base, but that’s not an option. Now after saying all the right things when he signed his big money contract we find he likes playing, does not seem to have a fire in his gut, isn’t a leader-but a follower. There’s something missing in his wiring. Trade him to the American League for a good pitcher.

Eric Hosmer…Alot of money for 23M per year average, for a solid player-but not as superstar. Good leader, gold glove, hits for some power, but really overpriced. Wasn’t much of a difference maker, and not sure why there was urgency to sign him now while you were going to lose. They need lots more around him.

Hunter Renfroe..Became a complete player last year, a near five tool guy and should be a cornerstone guy in right for the next group of years.

Manny Margot…Erratic second big league year, but does not mean he cannot bounce back. Still needs work on defense, and not sure if he is ideal leadoff guy, but way too early to give up on.

Franmil Reyes…The surprise of an otherwise dreary summer. Works hard in the outfield, where he used to be a plodder. Swings with power, cut down on strikeouts, but limited with glove. If he is your right fielder, then what becomes of Renfroe? I’d keep him unless you found an American League team that would DH him, and has a pitcher you could get in a trade.

Franchy Cordero…Mystery man coming off surgery. Tremendous wrist quickness, can run the bases and chases down balls. Not sure he could be everyday player with his bat, but worth keeping.

Jose Pirela…Professional bat, defense a challenge, a man really without a position. Better suited to go back to the AL and get another pitcher for him.

Travis Jankowski…Swiss Army knife player with attitude,edge, speed, lots of positions. Keep him.

Christian Villanueva…He can hit some, he does strike out, 3rd base can be a challenge, not much at other infield positions. A strong insurance policy player with some home run power. Go another year.

Corey Spangenberg…Plays everywhere, plays hard, limited in productivity, but everyone needs solid 25th man on the roster.

Freddy Galvis…Did not hit like I thought he would, but then again he’s not playing in the band box in Philadelphia. Tremendous glove, grinder of a player. Would like to see him stay, but will he ask for 10M next year? Don’t think the Padres give him that, but should find a way to keep him for a couple of years.

Luis Urias..2nd baseman of future, a bit overwhelmed on offense at end of the season.

Javy Guerra…Just a guy like so many of the other guys who have been on and off this roster. No one drafts guys hitting (.125).

Francisco Mejia…We saw flashes with the bat, sometimes too with glove. Looks awful slight in build to be an everyday catcher. Might be a man without a true position, but he stays there behind the plate.

Austin Hedges….Will grind all day-every day. You get the glove, the arm, the attitude, the intelligence. You might not always get offense, but in rotation with Mejia, why not?

AJ Ellis…Can you afford to keep 3-catchers on the roster. He might really have a career as a coach in waiting. Tough decision with him, for him with the other two sitting infront of him on the roster.

Carlos Asuaje…At one point I thought he belonged here, but really substandard 2018 season at bat sent him back to the minors multiple times. How many utility guys can you have on the roster?

Alex Dickerson…Guess we’ll really never know. He opts out rather than go back to the El Paso-AAA roster. Two years of surgery, two years of rehab. Maybe now too many players infront of him in the outfield. Would have thought he owed some loyalty to the Padres for the two years they tried to help him rehab.

Allen Cordoba…Lost year after his Rule 5-year. Likely lower minors guy to have to prove himself again. Unprotected.

Greg Garcia…Longtime Cardinals utility man, not a difference maker as everyday player, leave him out there, then see if he can outplay other utility guys in spring training.

Luis Torrens…With catcher logjam ahead of him, liked his glove, has to show he can hit, and will likely if no one takes him in the minor league draft. Tough decision on protecting him on 40-man roster.

Clayton Richard…Bellweather of a bad staff. As hearty a leader as he is, his ERA was over 5.00, he had a stretch where they won 1-of 11-starts this year, and 1-of-18 last year. What’s there to protect? DFA him, make a deal to bring him as a non roster player in the spring and you can always add him back on. Unprotected.

Dinelson Lamet…It will take patience for him to come completely back from elbow surgery, but he seems to have all the ingredients to be really good. Mature beyond his youthful years, with vibrant stuff.

Luis Perdomo…Becomes a make or break year for him. Good first season, plateaued second season and then erratic third year. One more chance.

Joey Luchessi…Superb rookie season with great maturity and potential for growth. Most impressive thing, a lot more good innings and outings, than bad innings and beatings. Says a lot about his intangibles.

Eric Lauer…Ditto in the makeup of Luchessi and will grow better with more starts. Kid left-handers what you build around.

Matt Strahm…Wildcard in the bunch. Liked him as a setup reliever. They may like him more as a starter, after protecting-limiting him this past season post-knee surgery. Upside. Cannot believe Royals gave up on him for three guys they traded for, and cut loose.

Robbie Erlin…Took 18-months to get him back from surgery, but was crafty-grittiy-determined. Maybe more long reliever than back of rotation guy. You need arms like that somewhere on your staff. Protect him.

Jacob Nix…Pushed to major leagues because of mess with rotation, obviously not ready, but has stuff. Maybe part of El Paso rotation to start next year. Of course you protect him.

Brett Kennedy…Seems like a Class 5-A player, good enough for Pacific Coast League, not good enough for major leagues, yet. Maybe take a risk and send him off the 40-man list.

Bryan Mitchell….Do you believe what you see, these end of season decent starts compared to the mess they had for the first two thirds of the season. If you leave him unprotected, maybe somebody else takes him and helps him figure it out. I wouldn’t protect him and keep a prospect rather than a suspect.

Kirby Yates…He is your closer-like. I like his fierce competitor makeup. Maybe not equal of the traded Brad Hand, but good enough.

Craig Stammen…You need arms who want the ball everyday. A real find off the stockpile. Ideal workhorse setup man.

Phil Maton…Parts of two seasons shows he can pitch here, but not sure if he is a difference maker in the bullpen. Keep him on the 40.

Jose Castillo…I like the size, the stuff, the demeanor. Wasn’t as consistent at the end, but showed me enough to want him as a setup guy-long guy.

Robert Stock…Pitched better than I thought he would, with velocity and ball movement and seemed fearless, so deserves longer look

Brad Wieck..Cup of coffee at the end of year, pitched well. Intrigued by the size, all arms, legs, and here’s the ball on top of you. Worth protecting going forward.

Troy Wingenter…In big picture, did more good things than bad, and has room to grow.

Rowan Wick…overmatched, needs time back in El Paso. Off the 40-for now.

Kaz Makita…1-trick pony, either headed back to El Paso or to Japan. Experiment failed.

Colin Rea…So much expected, then so many health issues. Is he back? Can you take a risk? Will someone else take that risk? How do you evaluate among the other pitchers you have to consider. Leave him out there.

Colton Brewer….Here and there pitched okay, but nothing dominant. Do you see enough upside to protect him?

Miguel Diaz…Has pitched well at most levels, and has upside, so you have to protect him.

Walker Lockett…Has shown much coming up thru the system, has not show enough with Padres, but kid pitchers develop on different timetables. I’d keep him protected.

Carter Capps…Opted out of contract. Never regained what he used to be. Thought he owed Padres for carrying him for 2-full seasons of rehab in minors.

Summary….I have 30-I’d protect, so that opens slots for lots of minor leaguers. I’d want some of the unprotected back, but not at the cost of losing some of my prospects. Richard-Ellis-see me in February. I’d keep Galvis, trade Myers-Pirela.

There should be enough slots to protect the Rule 5-guys eligible for the draft. That means keeping the young arms Chris Paddack, Anderson Espinosa, Pedro Avila and Trevor Megill, plus Ty France and Austin Allen.

A year from today, the next wave of kids they have to protect will be up for discussion, Fernando Tatis, Hudson Potts, Cal Quantrill, Logan Allen and Michael Baez.

It’s a nice problem to have, this talent level. It might not be easy, but it sure beats losing, which the Padres have done a lot of in the last 10-years.

If I were king, that’s what I’d do at Petco Park.

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“Election Day-How Are You Voting”

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It’s Red-vs-Blue Day across America.

The mid-term elections, the battle for House-Senate seats.

Can the Democrats take back from the Republicans?

Will all the issues that President Donald Trump has created-confronted, lead to additional support, or will this be the beginning of his end?

Here in San Diego, there are important measures, but in my venue, my neighborhood, my wheelhouse, all things about the San Diego Stadium ballots are front and center.

The crumbling Qualcomm sight, the need for a new stadium, the effort to bring and expansion franchise for Major League Soccer, the need for land to build a Western campus annex for San Diego State, the River Park, Mixed use retail, and academic and apartment buildings, are all part of the presentations.

This has been a war of words between ‘Soccer City’ and ‘SDSU-West’. Both ballots carry merit and come with complications.

Soccer City has many of the components the SDSU-West package has.

What I like about the F-S Investors, is the ideas of building the Soccer-Aztecs Stadium, and turning it over to SDSU in five years. And setting aside a 5-acre parcel, so that if an opportunity arises to get an NFL team back here, the land would be available to build on the Qualcomm sight, with an outside developer coming in to do it. They would also take on the cost of maintenance of the current stadium till the new one opens, then pay for the tear down-fall down of the old Chargers Stadium.

What I don’t understand is the big picture for SDSU-West, where is the developer for all the outside parcels they need to make this work, and where is the money is going to come from, to make this work.

Both sides will have to negotiate with the city for the ‘fair price’ of the land they would purchase. Knowing the history of the state university system, I wonder how they are ever going to get a deal done, considering the pace it takes them to buy pencil and papers, much less come to a decision on a fair price.

I think Soccer City has all that experience in their pocket, and knows land values. Someone has to prove to me SDSU has that expertise and commitment for all the components they put in their fancy brochures.

San Diego State, which hasn’t put a penny into the Qualcomm sight over the years, has a history of walking around with its ‘hand out’-give it to me because we are a University.

Simply put, the ballot should read.

Stadium & Retail (Soccer City)….vs Stadium & Academics (SDSU West).

The ballot that gets over 50% wins. If neither wins, then the city can take the land, put it out to bid to any and all developers.

Mayor Kevin Falconer is headed to his final years as city leader. Maybe this can be his parting calling card. He didn’t lose the Charges, in fact he came damn close to getting a deal done. Maybe he owes the city this type of accomplishment.

And a different idea to ponder.

And maybe the is the best result of all. The Mayor getting both Soccer City and SDSU back to the negotiating table, and working out a ‘win-win’ for both entities. Maybe lease a piece of the land to Soccer City….and a chunk of land to sDSU-West for their buildings. Maybe instead of selling the land, renting it, continue income streams for the city.

Agree-or-Disagree?

How are you voting?

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“Chargers-Pretenders-Now-Contenders”

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It was ‘Big Play Day’ on Sunday in Seattle.

The Chargers had to face a jacked up Seahawks sellout crowd, a Pete Carroll inspired team, and deal with the memory of the late beloved Seattle owner Paul Allen.

It doesn’t matter where Philip Rivers plays, because of his ‘refuse to lose’ approach to all things NFL football. It wound up being a gritty (25-17) Chargers win.

It didn’t matter his team had to start drives at its own 5-5-6-15-16-17. More field position to work with.

It didn’t matter they had to go silent count most of the day, with the noise meter registering 104 at Century Link Field.

It didn’t matter about the history of failure up there, where the Bolts were (6-16) in the Pacific Northwest dating back to the Don Coryell-Dan Fouts 1981-season.

He had a healthy Melvin Gordon running tough.

He had wide receiver Keenan Allen running circles around linebackers and corners and safeties.

When they were done, Rivers had firmly put his team into the AFC playoff picture, with a chance to get a home football game in the futbol stadium they play in.

Rivers threw for an economic (228). Gordon rumbled for (113Y). Allen had 8-catches for (124) and added in a couple of big jet sweep runs.

The Chargers were brazen. They ran sweeps from their own 5-yard line. They spread the ball sideline to sideline.

They covered well, made Seahawks QB-Russell Wilson hold the ball, scramble, and take 4-sacks along the way.

Like anything else in a street fight, and that’s what this game became, it became messy. There were 22-combined penalties in all. Seattle’s offensive line took 7-of them and took itself out of good field position and subtracted big plays.

Young DB-Desmond King returned some kicks, and hauled a pass back 42-yards for a backbreaking fourth quarter interception-TD.

Yes the Bolts may have gotten some breaks. There was a phantom Seattle offensive pass interference call on what they said was a Seahawks pick play deep in Chargers territory. Didn’t see it that way.

Seattle got a flag on OT-Justin Britt, who came to the aid of his running back, who was being mugged by 4-Chargers because of a slow whistle. It hurt alot.

Mike Williams spin-o-rama catch down the sidelines, sure looked as if his heel stepped out of bounds, the refs-replay didn’t seem to think it happened that way.

Pete Carroll will have enough of a stomach ache from this bad home loss, but it will worsen, if the NFL sends him note this week, ‘we erred’ on a couple of those calls.

Nothing is ever perfect for the Chargers. They should not allow K-Caleb Sturgis back on the plane. Instead just give him a bus ticket home, with the memory of 10-missed kicks this year, including 6-point after attempts. And that’s in just 8-games so far.

The secondary still gives up pass plays, takes holding and pass interference penalties, but as long as that quarterback is there, you have to start to believe this could be a special season.

That winning streak is now at 5-games, flashing back to the Martyball or Boss Ross era.

Of course LA fans, whatever number who may wear Chargers colors, don’t know anything about that. In San Diego we recall all the special Sundays, but feel badly, since these Sundays we now have are empty.

It only counts as one win, and there are still some big games to come. But you’d rather be dealing with this, than dealing with what Buffalo-Jacksonville-Giants-or Browns fans are dealing with.

It was interesting, on Sunday morning, NBC sports referred to the Chargers as “LA’s-B-Team” making positive references to the formerly unbeaten Rams. The insults keep coming at Team Spanos.

For one day however, because of Rivers and his pals on offense, the Chargers look like playoff contenders, no longer pretenders.

I wonder if anyone in LA, where they love the Rams, LeBron James, and talk about the Dodgers leadership, will notice. Rivers and the Bolts offense keep winning, and trying to send those messages of who they are, how good they’ve become.

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“Chargers-Now We Find Out”
1-Man’s Opinion on Sports
www.leehacksawhamilton.com

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It’s been a good season, at least on the field for the Chargers, though not necessarily off the field.

But Sunday we see how really good they are. They finally play somebody good, the Seahawks, in Seattle, where that home team is really good, playing before the sellout crowds known as the 12th Man.

The Chargers finished up last year strong, but that was thanks to playing the 3rd easiest schedule in the league. They’ve had a solid (5-2) start this year, with what few hard games they had interspersed with with bad teams. Thank goodness Cleveland and Buffalo are in the league.

But despite the nice record they’ve posted since November last fall (11-3), there are doubters out there about how good they really are. I’m one of them.

The Chargers went (2-5) vs teams with winning records last year. They’re (0-2) this season, having been smoked by Kansas City and then waxed by the Rams early on. Until you’ve started to beat good people regularly, going (2-7) means you haven’t prove anything.

Philip Rivers starts his 200th straight career game, chasing Brett Favre’s all time mark of (297). His stats are extraordinary (17TD-3 Int) and hardly any sacks.

Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekler have combined for (1283) all purpose yards, catching and running.

Rivers has down the field big play receivers in Tyrell Williams (21YPC) and Mike Williams (18YPC), plus the ever reliable Keenan Allen.

There is firepower everywhere, but the Bolts are not playing the slugs in the league going forward.

Seattle, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Baltimore are all ahead.

The Bolts have gotten wins against teams with a combined record of (9-28), again thanks to some bad people at the front end of the schedule. Going forward, the people they start playing, who are winning, have a combined record (24-13).

On top of all that is the venue and the team they play. The Seahawks defense is ranked 5th in the league. They go get quarterbacks (19-sacks), they pound opposing QBs (39-hits) and they take it away (16-turnovers). They’ve lost by 2-3-7 earlier in the season.

And the Pete Carroll factor weighs in with a (92-56) record as their head coach in the Northwest.

His once famous “Legion of Boom” defense is gone. Richard Sherman, Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril, Kam Chancellor, and Sheldon Richardson left in trades, free agency or retirement. Earl Thomas is gone for the year with a broken leg. There are 8-new starters on the defensive side of the ball, and look what Carroll has them doing.

The Kingdome used to be a nightmare of a place to go play, an insane asylum, back in the day. Century Link field is damn tough too, especially with the memory of the passing of owner Paul Allen still in everybody’s heart and mind.

The Chargers are (6-16) in games in Seattle, dating back to 1981, including having lost 6-of-the last 8-times then went to Puget Sound.

Rivers, a spectacular player and person, wills his team to win, ‘refuse to lose’ is my tag for him. But they may not have enough on both sides of the ball, regardless of how fearless he is.

It’s stunning, a future Hall of Fame quarterback like this, surrounded by an ever changing cast of players, has just 1-playoff win in 11-years. Think about that stat. My biggest fear is coming true, all the records, like Dan Marino, without a sniff of the Super Bowl or a ring. Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger, his draft mates, have multiples of them.

Seattle is a tremendous NFL city. The Chargers play football in a futbol stadium, where they are ignored by the media, mocked by opposing fans, and feel like they play 16-road games a year.

Sunday is a starting point to prove how playoff worthy they are. Or it might be the beginning of the same old-same old.

Rivers has never wilted in the heat and the hate that is Arrowhead Stadium or in Denver. But this may be tougher.

The Seahawks and its 12th man-fan mentality in the stands will be some challenge, as we find out whom the Bolts really are.

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