“BASEBALL TRADE DEADLINE”

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Things change quickly in baseball, at least they have in the last 24-hours.

The Dodgers do deals at the deadline.

The Padres may have changed their mind.

The Angels definitely did.

 

The New York Post and USA Today say Padres GM-AJ Preller has done a ‘U-Turn’ and is now taking offers on 3-of their biggest players, Juan Soto, Blake Snell, and Josh Hader.

The Post’s Jon Heyman says Preller is just doing due diligence to see what’s out there.  USA Today’s Bob Nightingale says ownership does not believe these players fit, and the franchise wants to restock with young players to compliment what would be returning next season.

It’s an admission of mistakes, bad mistakes, by Preller and his people, if they are willing to raise the white flag on a dreadfully disappointed season in only July.

There are all kinds of questions now.  Can the Padres recoup the quality of young talent they traded to Washington for Soto?  The Scott Boras factor comes into play now, who wants to have to deal with Boras and his contract demands a year from now?

Snell, blazing hot, is due to become a free agent at the end of the year, and what kind of value does he bring, considering how well he has pitched since May compared to how wretched he pitched for nearly 3-seasons in San Diego?

Hader is not an enigma and is the top closer who might be on the block, with his free agency starting November 1st too.

In moving all these pieces, the Friars will get enormous young talent in return, some of which will be major league ready.  But what kind of sign does it send to season ticket holders and fans, who have packed Petco with 40-sellout this season?  Is it not an indictment of the baseball people?

These are the people who have twice cleared out the farm system, spent enormous amounts of money on players since departed, and given record setting duration contracts to players who underachieved.

And more for Padres fans and ticket buyers.  Are you going to trust this GM to fix all the mistakes he has made?

 

Meanwhile at Dodgers Stadium, Andrew Friedman is Andrew Friedman.  He trades for Kike Hernandez from

Boston bringing back a multi position player.  Then he deals for Cleveland shortstop Ahmed Rosario, who brings a bat, some part of a glove, and athleticism and fixes a position they have problems at.

 

The Dodgers President has a history of big deals, remembering the Max Scherzer trade.  Now there may be a big deal out there next, the Cardinals Nolan Arenado, a potential deal that could involve 4-bluechip players including pitching, catching and a 2nd baseman going to St Louis.

 

The Angels, the team shredded by injuries, and torn apart in their front office, about what they should do in the Shohei Ohtani situation, made an executive decision.  Arte Moreno decided to go all in, roll the dice, gamble he can re-sign Ohtani,and take on salary to try and get to the playoffs.

 

GM Perry Manasion first traded for veteran hitter Mike Moustakas; then he outbid other teams to get White Sox ace Lucas Giolito and setup reliever Rey Perez, giving up just two lower minor leaguers.  Giolito can go on the open market, but he is from So Cal, so there’s a good chance he stay at Angels Stadium too.

 

We’re not done yet for sure.  But Ohtani is off the market for the time being.  The top starter is off the board.  And the Padres have 3-big names that could be difference makers somewhere else between now and late Monday night.

 

The Dodgers doing what they do.  The Angels trying to do something to salvage the season.  The Padres staggering trying to change course in mid stream of a horribly disappointing season.

 

Here comes the deadline with more deals to be done.

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“AZTECS FOOTBALL-TIME TO WIN”

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San Diego State opens football preseason camp on Friday.
They will likely practice in 100-degree temperatures that afternoon.
Torrid heat, but but maybe not as hot as the heat on Brady Hoke if he cannot turn around SDSU’s slides.

He faces a massive challenge, fixing the QB mess that wrecked last season, finding 3-new starters in the offensive line, replacing 3-defensive line starters who have graduated.

The schedule is fierce, but State plays UCLA-Boise-Fresno-Nevada all at Snapdragon Stadium.  They need to make the new stadium a real home field advantage.

Last year was last year, but there is no doubt the program sagged last year, in the midst of QB injuries, QB-defections, the Matt Araiza mess and a dropoff in attendance at the shiny new stadium.

There has been no offer from the Pac 12-about membership.  They are tied for two more seasons in the Mountain West.

But the new year has brought record setting QB-Ryan Lindley home, as the new offensive coordinator.  3-changes to the coaching staff. The importation of a series of potential starters in the Transfer portal that can, must make a difference.  And an older QB finally given the starting job.

It’s a strange feel at SDSU.  Hoke is (38-26) in 5-years as head coach over two stints, and yet the road has been rocky, the covid season, playing 2-years on the road without a home stadium, and the off the field issues.

Bounce back year needed..for the coach..the program..the alumni too.

Highlites from Hoke’s preseason press conference:

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Brady Hoke:

Really good summer of work with new coaches
We have to finish developing all these young players

My job foster and develop players and as men also in everyday life
Have not won MWC title since 2016 work to be done

Adam Hall is one of best strength coach in country-he pushes our guys
Believe coaching changes will add to our staff
Kurt Maddox is best coach I have ever coached with as coordinator
Excited about Ryan Lindley-it is his offense

From what Lindley did as a quarterback now-blossomed of knowledge of game

This is young team..5-returning starters on defense..7-on offense
I am big believer game is played up front on both sides of ball

We have 26-guys in NFL camps this week-really proud in development

Conference alignment is the elephant in the room
JD Wicker has navigated tough times-he’s done that

Biggest challenge since first year-replacing so many OL-DL
Challenge is there-get excited about it
Fundamentals in football so important
You can overcome issues with techniques and succeed

Miles Murao-transfer-Washington-will work at center and guard
Two defensive tackles-transferred in-will get chance
Tupu Alualui-Sam Tauihalaka-transfers will compete for staring jobs
Have to teach our newcomers the system

Transfer portal got guys who fit what we want to do
JD Coffey-another transfer-does alot of things right

Still want more guard rails on transfer portal-NCAA-Congress working on it
It is all fair for the players-not fair for programs yet-need structure

Cody Moon-pretty active player..brings toughness..has to keep weight up
Good football IQ-runs well..brings alot of energy
Can play lots of positions

Schedule is legitimate..
Ohio U-always had tough guys-won’t be intimidated
Idaho State..new coach-new staff..things we don’t know
UCLA..so excited having them here
Oregon State..coached there 6-years-Jon Smith done a great job

Jalen Mayden-understands the offense now…
Needs to be more decisive and confident in what you are doing
Gonna make mistakes-learn from it

Kyle Crum did a good job in spring..yes we have 4-very young backups…yes we  wish we had another experienced

Ryan Lindley…worked with Mike Leach but think we will be more like Utah on offense-tight ends-running backs

Kenan Christon…Jimmy Beal new coach worked really hard to develop relationships…Kenan has become a real leader…physical weight room help…

Jalen Armstead is ready to go to the next level..Cam Davis-Lucky Sutton-Martin Blake should push for playing time….Have to get them on all the field….I want Lindley to have the players excel in what they can excel at.

Mehki Shaw will likely be starting WR and return kicks

Garrett Fountain very good second half of last season-made alot of plays

We have lots of experience the last two years, guys who came back with Covid year…now most are gone
Very different team but excited what is in those meeting rooms

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“CHARGERS–BIGGEST QUESTIONS”

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They have been building towards this, is this the breakthru year?
The QB is locked down with a state of the art contract-can he win?
The radical coaching staff shakeup, how stunning was that?
Have they fixed the defense?

Here are storylines and big questions as the Chargers take the field.

MUST WIN SEASON…GM-Tom Telesco and President of Football Operations John Spanos have a sub.500 record in leading the franchise they took over in 2013.  They’ve gone (81-86) in that span, have won just 2-playoff games in the decade they have called all the shots.  Their first two head coach hires failed, Mike McCoy-Anthony Lynn.  This hire, Brandon Staley seems close to flipping the script and winning big.  But the shadow of last year’s horrid playoff loss, the blown (27-0) lead that wound up as a loss to Jacksonville is still there.  You have to learn how to win in the post season.  They seem ready.

A MOST IMPORTANT HIRE…You can build a roster thru the draft, thru free agency, even thru trades.  But the biggest off season acquisition might be highly regarded Kellen Moore, imported from the Dallas Cowboys as the new offensive coordinator.  He replaces Joe Lombardi, whose offense stumbled and struggled in the last year.  Moore brings a portfolio of spreading the ball in Dallas, throwing deep, spraying passes to tight ends and running backs, and moving his quarterback around.  He inherits what might be the best offense since the Philip Rivers-LT-Gates days, and maybe as explosive as the Dan Fouts-Air Coryell era.

JUSTIN HERBERT…has arrived as a star, a trustworthy leader, an intellect and a rock tough guy in the huddle and on the field.  Now he has a record (52.5M) contract to go hand in hand with his sparking statistics.Still to come, a playoff win.  His scoreboard does not lie (14,089Y-94TD-35Int-96QBR).  Don’t want to hear any comments about his (25-25) career record.  That is on the organization, not the QB.

IN THE TRENCHES…It has taken time and rehab from injuries, but this looks to be possibly the best offensive line in the AFC-West, if they can stay healthy.  They believe in the combo of Slater-Johnson-Linsley, Salyer and Pipkens.  They have proven they can play, but have not yet played together for extended periods because of injuries.  Now they are ready to break thru the wall.  If this offense is elite, those guys upfront will be part of the reason, if they can keep them on the field.

EKELER AND MONEY…He has been a gem of a find at running back, and has been a cornerstone as to why they are so good on offense.  He will be paid this year if he hits his standards running and catching, then he will be a free agent.  Finding a reliable backup remains the important question, whether that is Ike Spiller or Josh Kelly.

WR WAR..This may be the final time we see this group together because salary cap challenges await.  But this season, from Keenan Allen to Mike Williams, Gerald Everett to Josh Palmer, the return of Jalen Guyton and the emergence of Quenton Johnston, the Bolts have as a good a WR group as you know who (Chiefs).  And it appears they really have depth now, plus Kellen Moore’s playbook

JC-OK…Only time will tell if CB-JC Jackson can fully return from the freak patella tendon tear in his knee last fall.  Only time will tell if his second year is better than a lousy first year, where he seemed lost in coverage, confused by the playbook, and playing a step slow.  On the field he did not look like the ballhawking cover corner we saw prior with the Patriots.  It better workout-they paid him a ton of money.

KID DBS…You have Derwin James, and Asante Samuel and Michael Davis.  After that the door is open to see who claims CB and S-roles.  They are high on JT Woods and Ja Sir Taylor, but until you do it, you are a prospect who is still suspect.

LB LEAVING…Not sure I understand the trade off of bringing in ex Viking-Erik Kendrick, and letting Drue Tranquill walk.  Last year’s Viking defense was horrid.  Still have not seen the consistency you would have hoped for from Kenneth Murray either at LB.  A year prior they let Uchenna Nwosu walk in free agency too.  They are still trying to replace the departed.

BIG MONEY-NOT SO BIG DEFENSE…They are paying Joey Bosa-Khalil Mack a ton of money to go get quarterbacks.  Both have played well in spurts but both had stretches in which they were MIA.  More than anything, they need health to make the front seven work, and that means no injuries inside to Sebastien Joseph-Day and Morgan Fox, and the return to health of Austin Johnson-Tito Ogbonnia.  If they stay on the field, then they fix all the run defense problems.  If they don’t, they are in trouble again.

KICKERS…Interesting matchup in field goal kicking, with Dustin Hopkins and Cam Dicker.  They have been good at finding kickers when injuries have dinged them.

REAL DEAL..We find out quick if TCU rookie Derious Davis is ready to return kicks and punts.  He was dangerous and explosive in college.  We will see how his fast but slight frame holds up to the hits in the NFL.

SALARY CAP HELL…They moved money around, but in the NFL, the salary cap bill comes due.  How will they creatively finance Justin Herbert’s likely 52M per year deal?  Facing 4-veterans with cap figures north of 30M each next season, who stays, who goes?  Will this be the final season we see the Allen-Williams combo at wide out, or the last go round for the Bosa-Mack pass rush tandem?  Better win this year.  Next year’s team will look different when the camp opens.  The Chargers could be over 60M above the salary cap for the 2024 season.

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“How Do You Feel About Saudi Arabia”
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History writes the people behind the 9/11 tragedy were Saudi terrorists.

History will write that a famous Washington Post journalist died at the hands of Saudi death teams.

History knows the price of oil globally swirls around Saudi oil supplies.

History will write about the mistreatment of women in that country.

And now the world of Saudi money has spilled into the sports world with absurd contracts and sponsor money.

From nowhere came the formation of LIV Golf, and the signing of 35-players from the PGA Tour to go abroad for big guaranteed money.  In doing so, the Phil Mickelson-Dustin Johnson-Brooks Koepka following fell off the radar, playing before sparse crowds, with little TV coverage.

Then in the wake of 2-years of failing business ventures, the Saudi’s merge with the PGA by making a 3B-investment in what will be a new global golf venture.

The Saudi money bought a Formula 1-team.  It bought money troubled soccer team, Newcastle United.  It is buying its way into the Formula 1-world.  It has made an investment in the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals.

And it has bid on, and signed players to massive soccer contracts, threatening the well being of leagues and teams.

French star Kei Mbappe is on the brink of a record deal to take leave from Paris St-Germain, a 322M-transfer deal to deliver him to Saudi soccer for one year and a 772M-two year contract that would allow him to transfer to Real Madrid in 2025.

This came after the Public Investment Fund offered soccer legend Lionel Messi a record 336M- deal to come to that country.  He elected to take a creatively financed contract to play for MLS-Inter Miami.

The Saudi Soccer teams have already signed 11-players from the elite English Premier League, tearing teams apart, and creating havoc with the Fair Play Salary structure in Euro soccer.

Formula 1-has limits on spending but Saudi ownership is now running one of their teams.

What’s next, buying an MLB-NFL-NBA team and invoking their rules  despite the collectively  bargained salary cap and luxury tax limits our sports leagues have in place?.

It’s their wealth and they will spend it as they wish.  The issue, are they welcome with the way they do business?  Do you accept it’s just ‘business’ or are you worried who these people are and what they represent?

Blood Money, Sports Washing, lies, deaths, wrongdoings, culture violations.  Is taking their money a validation of who they are?

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“WHAT I SAW ON SUNDAY”

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Interesting weekend.

BRITISH OPEN…You play the guys on the leaderboard…have to cope with the golf course and face the weather.  No problem for PGA-journeyman Bryan Harman.  He had a red-hot putter, stayed out of bunkers and the high rough, and ran away from the field.  If we thought Tiger Woods was dominant at times in the Open, how about Harman’s four days, especially what he did Friday, in the wind.  Four birdies to start the day and then an eagle on 18, to fashion a (65) against the leaderboard and the course.  No one was close to him from that point on, not Rory, Rahm, Xander or others.  And what an awful weekend of double- triple bogeys for Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson, who were on a plane home by Saturday.

PADRES…They come limping home (5-5) on what was supposed to be a crossroads 10-game road trip.  They lose again to a sub .500–team in Detroit on Sunday.  The Fab 4-of the batting order goes (1-14) vs Triple A-pitching.  Not sure what is more appalling about this team, the chronic poor average with runners in scoring position, the .500 record at Petco Park…the 34-losses this year to teams that were .500 or less when they played them, the (0-9) record in extra innings games.

DODGERS…They are in 1st place with half a starting pitching staff, but they are bashing so many home runs they can climb back into games even when the starters don’t do well.  Awaiting the trading deadline to see what they do, and they always do something

ANGELS…8-days to go before somebody in Anaheim has to make a decision on Shhei Ohtani-stay or go.  Historic moment for owner Arte Moreno.  The shadow of the Red Sox trading Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees in 1920 is looming overhead.

CHARGERS…Open training camp and still no contract extension for QB-Justin Herbert.  The price tag will be 50M per year.  Wonder how this gets done.

RAMS..Open training camp with worst roster you can imagine, no cap space and just 3-players you recognize,Matthew Stafford, Aaro Donald and Cooper Kupp.  If Sean McVay did ot like last year’s (5-12) season, how do you think he might handle (4-13) this year?  They spent everything to win a Super Bowl.  Now all those credit card bills are coming due.

PAC 12…The Commissioner says stability and patience will get the job done, and his league will have a superb TV deal shortly.  Then the decision about expansion, with reports there seems no urgency to split the big pie in a new media rights deal with San Diego State or SMU.

MOUNTAIN WEST…Teams are ready to open preseason camp.  Huge challenges for Brady Hoke at San Diego State to prove last year’s lousy-controversial filled season was nothing more than a 1-off, and that the Aztecs can return to dominance.  But they have questions to be answered in the offensive front and replacing the entire defensive line.  I believe last year was a one time bad season.  Hoke has to prove it was.

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