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“Lakers Fans-Having a Ball-Lakers Find a Baller”

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He is humble, he is vibrant, he is selfless, he is exceptional.

Lonzo Ball has given a good accounting of himself for the Lakers, as they get ready to play in the NBA Summer League championship game in Las Vegas.

Take away opening game jitters, and that (2-15) shooting night, you have seen enormous upside in the 2nd pick in the draft.

He is averaging 16 points a game….7-rebounds and 8-assists per game.

His all-court vision and his rifle passes to any and all teammates is spectacular.

His quickness and his length to create plays off the dribble has been exceptional.

He is not a complete player, but then again, at age 19, who is?

His shooting percentage is in the 37% range, but this is just the first time he’s matched up with some NBA rookies.

He gets lost on defense, has not shown the ability to physically fight thru picks, and seems a step or two slow on pick and rolls.

But then again, he is a 1-and-done player who got his first taste of big time competition and really overwhelmed foes in the Pac 12-Conference.

His conditioning seems above the line, and he has averaged almost 32-minutes a game with the Lakers rookie.

His biggest challenge, will his unorthodox jump shot, fired from chest high, become an issue when he starts to play against the big boys? And that promises to be a real challenge against fast twitch and physical defenders he will be facing in the association.

And yes, it is against summer league competition, most guys he is beating won’t be in anyone’s camp come September.

But it’s a start, and it’s not just Lonzo as the storyline on the Lakers.

Big forward Kyle Kozma is averaging 24 a game. Vander Blue has come out of nowhere to get a contract, and is averaging 17 a game.

So the Lakers look forward to camp, with possibly 3-hot rookies to join the young vets on the roster, Brandon Ingram, Larry Nance, Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson.

It’s too early to say ‘Showtime’ is back, because Lonzo has yet to lineup against Chris Paul, James Harden and all the other firepower guys in the NBA.

But the explosive plays have been spectacular to see, and the noise from his father is seemingly gone too. Positives all the way around.

Lakers fans are having a ball. And the Lakers look like they have drafted a baller.

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“Lakers Fans-Having a Ball-Lakers Find a Baller”

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“Lakers Fans Having a Ball-Lakers Have Drafted a Baller”

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He is humble, he is vibrant, he is selfless, he is exceptional.

Lonzo Ball has given a good accounting of himself for the Lakers, as they get ready to play in the NBA Summer League championship game in Las Vegas.

Take away opening game jitters, and that (2-15) shooting night, you have seen enormous upside in the 2nd pick in the draft.

He is averaging 16 points a game….7-rebounds and 8-assists per game.

His all-court vision and his rifle passes to any and all teammates is spectacular.

His quickness and his length to create plays off the dribble has been exceptional.

He is not a complete player, but then again, at age 19, who is?

His shooting percentage is in the 37% range, but this is just the first time he’s matched up with some NBA rookies.

He gets lost on defense, has not shown the ability to physically fight thru picks, and seems a step or two slow on pick and rolls.

But then again, he is a 1-and-done player who got his first taste of big time competition and really overwhelmed foes in the Pac 12-Conference.

His conditioning seems above the line, and he has averaged almost 32-minutes a game with the Lakers rookie.

His biggest challenge, will his unorthodox jump shot, fired from chest high, become an issue when he starts to play against the big boys? And that promises to be a real challenge against fast twitch and physical defenders he will be facing in the association.

And yes, it is against summer league competition, most guys he is beating won’t be in anyone’s camp come September.

But it’s a start, and it’s not just Lonzo as the storyline on the Lakers.

Big forward Kyle Kozma is averaging 24 a game. Vander Blue has come out of nowhere to get a contract, and is averaging 17 a game.

So the Lakers look forward to camp, with possibly 3-hot rookies to join the young vets on the roster, Brandon Ingram, Larry Nance, Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson.

It’s too early to say ‘Showtime’ is back, because Lonzo has yet to lineup against Chris Paul, James Harden and all the other firepower guys in the NBA.

But the explosive plays have been spectacular to see, and the noise from his father is seemingly gone too. Positives all the way around.

Lakers fans are having a ball. And the Lakers look like they have drafted a baller.

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“NFL-It’s Always About the Money”

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The NFL gets richer and its franchises keep adding value. A way of life in pro football thanks for their TV contracts.

The Chargers, Rams and Raiders, were all formally updated from the leagu eoffice about the price tag to move into a new market.

It is costing the Chargers and Rams (645M) each to move into Los Angeles. The payments will be spread out over an 11-year period.

It will cost the Raiders (378M) to leave Oakland, heading to Las Vegas, again with payments spread out over the next decade.

Each NFL will get a big check thanks to the relocation. 30-clubs will each get 55M as their share of the Chargers-Rams transfers.

The Raiders move gives the other 31-teams an additional payday of just over (12M)

Meanwhile the decision by Team Spanos to play home games in the Stub Hub Center at Carson, will cost them additional money.

Because of weather delays in Inglewood, the Chargers will spend 3-full seasons in the 30,000-seat soccer stadium.

NFL sources say that move means the Chargers will likely see gross revenue from their 10-home games drop by 33M per year over the next 3-seasons. That’s 99M less in total income over the next three seasons, compared to had they stayed in San Diego.

Sources say the Chargers will not get all the parkingconcession revenues either….both of those money slots going to Carson for the rental.

In addition, averaging 30,000 per home game, rather than the accustomed 65,000-they would normally get at Qualcomm Stadium, means another big dropoff in revenue weekly.

The Chargers also had to write a check of 12M as the payoff of their Stadium-Chargers Park lease also.

And Spanos reportedly burned thru (15M) over the last group of years, trying to design a new stadium and for the failed ballot measure on the downtown stadium.

Of course the move of the team was all about driving the value of the franchise up, once they move into a new stadium in 2020.

Anybody want to bet by 2020, Team Spanos will have put the franchise up for sale and will exit the NFL? Why?

Oh by the way, anybody ever-ever believe the words of Roger Goodell, or influential owners like Bob Kraft-Bob McNail-Jerry Jones, when they keep mentioning words “we care about the home markets”? The home markets, the ones who lost their franchises in the middle of the night.

Because the NFL is always about the money, even for owners who are losers.

The Spanos family had only 12-winning seasons in 33-years in San Diego…but they will get a big payday going away.

Ain’t America great?

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Baseball-Mid Season Report Card”

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We start the 2nd half of the season on Friday night, and it promises to be a dogfight for postseason playoff spots. Yes the Dodgers and Astros are dominating the two leagues, but the races are wide open virtually everywhere else, and that could mean 7-teams fighting for the wildcard slots heading into the final weeks of the season. The surprises and disappointments follow.

(SURPRISES)

Arizona….A real bounce back season…Maybe health more than anything else…Zack Grienke is back to form…Robbie Ray is no longer a suspect-prospect but a solid frontline arm…Paul Goldschmidt remains a star…A ton of relievers…Wondering how good they would be if AJ Pollock could stay healthy and Yasmani Tomas could put together a 50-game spurt.

Rockies…Some first half by Bud Black…In first place for an extended chunk of the season, though a June swoon knocked them down a notch….But Black did this with half a pitching staff…Now Jon Gray his ace is back from the foot injury, and there is hope Chad Bettis might return to from cancer treatments…Big question, can they continue to play well with half a season to go?

Yankees…Aaron Judge has driven them up the standings, but they have spurts where lots of other guys can hit home runs too…They stayed in the pennant race despite a bunch of nagging health issues with pitching, and some struggles out of the bullpen…Don’t think we have seen the complete Yankees team yet.

Astros…They’ve been building towards this, and are now on a pace for 109-wins-some accomplishment when you consider they lost 305-games over 3-years while tearing the franchise down….The batting order will mash, and that could makeup for some shortcomings because of injuries to the pitching staff…They hit everywhere, from Minute Maid Park to your yard too.

Nationals…Lots of firepower and some solid starting pitching…Bounceback year for Ryan Zimmerman has been a plus and the emergence of Treu Turner has been special…Look for them to make a deal to get a key player at the trading deadline too…In need of a reliever and maybe an insurance policy starter.

(DISAPPOINTMENTS)

Cubs…They are surely not what we saw last year…The pitching staff looks worn out, from Jon Lester to Jake Arietta to John Lackey…All those innings may have taken a toll….Yes the Rizzo-Bryant chunk of the batting order can be dangerous, but it’s not as dominant as a year ago…Something is missing-chemistry-leadership-fire…Ben Zobrist-Jason Heyward-guys who left…it’s just not the same team.

Red Sox…Yes they are chasing for top spot in the AL-East, but they miss David Ortiz…and David Price and Rick Porcello are not dominating as they were a year ago…Still time for them to rally to join Chris Sale for what could be the best Big 3-in anyone’s rotation…The Bosox can slug..can they pitch?

Giants..Maybe we should have seen this coming…Pitching staff falters…..Injuries tear apart the lineup….no next young star coming out of the farm system…But to go from 3-World Series rings to dead last in the division is a shocker….May need to rebuild shortly.

Mets…The Tabloids are going crazy about the organization, the leaders, the players, the training staff…but this failure is nothing more than injury driven….They’ve had 6-of their top 7-pitchers go down with injuries and suspensions…David Wright never came back…and nagging injuries to key bats have withered the roster…Wait till next year to get all the arms back on the mound.

Orioles…All bats, no arms, and a prime example of what happens when this team stops hitting…Bump in the road for Buck Showalter, though they have to come up with more arms if Chris Tillman is no longer what he used to be because of ailments…Still think they have a hot streak in them, just don’t think they have enough pitching.

Cardinals…For the first time in a long time, just not the same franchise…Lots of mileage of the pitching staff….maybe too many miles on veteran everyday players…Injuries to Dex Fowler, the loss of free agent Matt Holliday and pitching ailments have taken a toll.

(TEAMS IN TOWN)

Dodgers….Spectacular sprint to the All Star break, winning 26-of-30, and doing it with ailments to Adrian Gonzalez and Justin Turner….Enough starting pitching to compliment the (14-2) Clayton Kershaw….Still no consistent contribution from Yasiel Puig, but that is off set by the Young Lions that Cody Bellinger and Corey Seager have become…Might there be a trade still to come to add another arm to that staff?

Angels…Drifting thru mediocrity…That’s what the franchise has become, saddled with the Albert Pujols contract and the wasted money on past big deals that blewup in their face, Josh Hamilton, Jered Weaver and CJ Wilson. For them to hang around .500 is somewhat of a tribute with Mike Trout having missed 39-games with injury…Likely no sighting of Matt Shoemaker and Garrett Richards in the coming months and who knows about their future health either? A faltering farm system hasn’t helped .

Padres….They had a horrible start, but since have gone (23-20), with an array of young kids showing flashes in the lineup…but offense on a night to night basis is a challenge….The run differential is a disgrace….and now they seem prepared to deal away what quality pitching they have on the roster…Brad Hand-Brandon Mauer-and the journeyman starters….I projected (60-102), and it could be worse if they dump all their pitching, but they have building blocks with Perdomo-Lamet-Renfroe-Hedges-Meyers-Cordoba-Margot. It’s a starting point..

The second half starts on Friday. Enjoy it.

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“King for a Day-in Baseball”

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Rob Manfred is the Commissioner of Baseball.

His sport is making money hand over fist, thanks to a rebirth in the interest of the game, the arrival of the next generation of great players, the growth of talent from abroad.

But for every exciting World Series, All Star game, home run from Aaron Judge or dominant pitching performance from Clayton Kershaw, there are always issues.

And Manfred has his hands full right now.

Pace of Play…Are the games too long? Some think that’s what makes the game so enduring is there is no clock. But the TV partners want shorter games, and are demanding a diminish in dead time. Look for new rules to be inserted next season, despite a push back from the union.

Strike Zone…Manfred may unilatterly invoke a different strike zone next year…raising it to the top of the knee to the letters on the jersey. It would mean the end of the low strike, and more hittable balls, and thus more runs in games.

Umpires….When MLB took over control of umpires during the Bud Selig era, it was to deliver more consistency from the umps working in both leagues. That consistency has drifted away over the last two years, with weird strike zones and constant issues about ball and strike calls.

Pitch Clock…It’s working in the minor leagues, the :20 pitch clock. It will be put into place next year despite the objections of the Union. Games lastted (2:56) in 2014…went up to (3:00) last season, and this year are going a full 3-hours and 5-minutes (3:05) in duration.

Visits to the Mound…This won’t happen because it involves strategy. Ditto for limited catchers trips to the mound, or the number of pitching changes a club can make in an inning. That’s too radical.

The Shift…Teams are figuring it out in year two, and there won’t be any ban on that either, for that is basic stragtegy in the game. Batters are going the other way with swins and its impact is less today than a year ago today.

Instant Replay…They have sped up the process and done a better job this year. Stadiums are so very different, that you still have quirky calls.

Mic the Ump…It is a big debate as to whether fans deserve an explanation form the home plate umpire about the decisions made on instant replay. It would help clarify the rules and aid the fans in terms of knowledge.

Batters Box Rules…It’s still an issue even if a rule was put in place to stop hitters from acting as human rain delays. Enforce it. Prevent them from stepping out of the box to adjust their batting gloves between each pitch.

4-Pitch Intentional Walk…The rules change has meant very little since there are just 1-intentional walks per every four games.

September Callups…Lots of debate last winter but nothing was done to limit teams callups from the minors for the final month of the season, when rosters go from 25-to-40. The debate that was proposed, you can have 40, but can suit up only 28-for the final month of the season, makes lots of sense. They haven’t acted on it yet though.

Disabled List…The decision to go from 15-to-a 10-day DL has helped clubs get healthier players on the roster at a quicker pace.

Concussion DL…Superb decision to put players on a 7-day Concussion disabled list for examination-while replacing him on the roster.

Schedules…Look for this next year. A shorter spring training-who needs 35-games in the Cactus League and Grapefruit Circuit. Next up will be to start the season the last week in March, though scheduling games in cold weather cities might be tough. Adding at least 4-off days during the regular season will be huge in terms of resting players. Do not expect doubleheaders to be part of the schedule.

Global Draft…Nice in theory but is not happening, though the new salary cap rules for international signings has produced a way to prevent the wild spending sprees of clubs over recent years. There’s no way to properly invoke a global draft since the sanctioning bodies in Japan-Mexico and Latin America have such different rules about acquiring players.

Expansion…No progress for a decade or so on the Oakland A’s–Tampa Bay Rays Stadium issues. Manfred admits Charlotte, Montreal, Mexico City, maybe even Las Vegas warrant consideration, but those prospective cities have to build Stadiums before anything would be considered.

NL-DH….Would be nice to have uniform rules for both leagues, but there seems to be no interest to balance it out, and that’s hard to understand. Would you rather see a pitcher (Average BA .092) or an a veteran bat in the twilight of his career (.290) hitting in the NL?

You be ‘King for a Day-in Baseball’ and solve the issues.

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