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Hacksaw’s Monday Bonus-Podcast
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“PADRES–WHAT SHOULD YOU THINK”
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So we have started the Padres season with a bit of a thud infront of all these sellouts at Petco Park.

We know about needing patience to sort thru the injury situations in the starting rotation of the pitching staff.  1-tough outing does not mean the season is headed for bad times if your name is Nick Pivettta or Michael King or Walker Buehler.

Take the big picture approach to see if they stay healthy, if there is improvement.

But what about the batting order.

Please remember history in 2025 won’t you?

Not a great hitting team last summer.  Negligible power.

Then a post season in which everyone stopped hitting and the season run seemed to burn to the ground.

And this spring, a rather anemic set of statistics in the .500-Cactus League season the Friars played.

 

And here we are, in the middle of this series opening game against the Giants.

As I write they have just 2-hits against San Francisco; this after showing little offense in losing 2-of-3 to the Tigers.

As of this hour, these are the batting averages of the guys in the Padres batting order:
..Cronenworth (.214)
..Machado (.182)
..Merrill (.154)
..Castellanos (.145)
..Sheets (.000)
..Campusano (.000)

A small sample size-for sure.  But a trend that started last summer, runs thru the spring, and now into the regular season.

Collective team batting average at this hour (.188).

Not sure what to make of all this, except to say, it is a 162-game schedule.  But they sure are not hitting.

Swinging Friar…more like Swing & Miss Friars.

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Hacksaw’s Monday-Bonus Podcast…Monday 1:30pm
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Hot Topics-Stay for Fans Forum
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“TIGER WOODS–ON A BINGE”
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Tiger Woods is in the headlines again, like he has been for virtually all of his career and his life.

Honors, accolades, riches, trophies, wins, endorsements, global success.

Everything a super star could want, and now it has all caught up with him.

There’s Tiger Woods, a must-get quote at every press conference.  Tiger’s record setting wins, the 15-Grand Slams, the torching of historic courses with his sub par scores.  Tiger and his red shirt-Sundays, surging to the top of the leaderboards, roaring past challenges, stacking big wins on big wins.

Tiger-the master marketing guy: buy my Buicks, buy my clubs, by my clothing line.

And now it is over.  The 7-surgeries on his back for career long injuries.  The knee surgeries for his chronic problems.  The near amputation of his leg, the aftermath of a shattered leg in an auto accident.

And now it’s over.  The great days, the big wins, all pushed to the side by his addictions.

It started with being a gross adulterer that led to an ugly divorce.  Then the auto accidents, triggered by drinking, pain medications and sedatives.

He lost all his sponsors and became a borderline outcast, a media tired of one story considering the stories they have to cover now.

Time for anyone-everyone to question his judgement, his honesty.
Time to question, not the player, but the person.

Years later he still hopes you will buy his lies.

Friday’s 2pm DUI-rollover accident, a byproduct of pain killers or sedatives.  Out speeding-buzzed….at 2pm in the afternoon when he hit a truck.

In 2021, the high speed horrible crash-flipping his SUV twice, shattering his leg, and then talking his way out of a Celebrity arrest, where they never investigated alcohol-drugs or possible tests.  Call it a coverup and he was driving this way at 7:30am.

The other incidents involved him being buzzed and falling asleep at the wheel-engine running.  And of course the end of his Trophy marriage when his wife discovered all the women he was spending time with, away from the wife and his kids.

Addiction is a complex issue, especially when his denial is part of the equation.  Equally troubling, Tiger the entrepreneur has alot of influential people in his inner circle, and this has gone on for years and no one calls him on it.  His closest people might be allies, but they are his enablers too.

Age 50, busted relationships with women, busted body by abuse of drugs-alcohol, and now busted reputation, for we know who the great golfer was, but we see the great deal of problems he has created with his messy personal life.

Lucky he has not killed himself yet.  Lucky he has not killed anyone else with all these accidents.

Tiger was fun covering when he get on his binge on the course.
Tiger has become a sad figure  with the binges his personal life has taken him on.

Don’t want to hear about the next press conference so Tiger can talk about another  golf comeback.  Don’t care about the next line of golf shirts or clubs, or the course you might design in Scotland.

How about spending time instead working on your addictions? You are about to double bogey away your life and credibility

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Hacksaw’s Great Sports Weekend Podcast
Baseball Pennant Race Preview
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“THE SPORTS ROAD MAP”

Lots of stories to pay attention to, all over the road map.

MARCH MADNESS…Arizona destroyed Arkansas, which does not play defense…The Hogs could not hit 3’s…could not handle Koa Peat and the Cats big guards….Houston was shocked, mugged, pounded by Illinois, a rude ouster for a Cougars team that was highly ranked all year.

FAB FRIDAY..How about these matchups, Dan Hurley-vs-Tom Izzo as UConn meets Michigan State…Then there is Rick Pitino-vs-John Schreyer in the St-John’s-vs-Duke war…And Alabama’s 3-point shooters vs Michigan’s big men.

NBA HOME STRETCH..Which is the real Lakers team, the one that ripped off 11-wins in 12-games and beat some top rated teams, or the one that let lowly Indiana hit 16-3’s and score 130-on them the other night.

PADRES-PIVETTA..Bumpy start  for the Friars and Nick Pivetta…I’d be more concerned that Manny Machado-Fernando Tatis-Jackson Merrill, who did not have good springs, did not hit opening day.  Let’s see what this 3-game weekend series looks like by Sunday.

DODGERS BLUE..Home runs, strong pitching, and LA looks like they are in a different solar system playing games.  Is this a Cy Young Award-and-MVP season for Shohei Ohtani?  Alot of people think so.

ANGELS QUESTION…Biggest one at the Big A-this start of the season is not about Mike Trout’s return to stardom, or if they have enought pitching, but whether if the fans will chant and bring signs to the Stadium that read ‘Arte (Moreno)…Sell the team’.

NFL QUESTIONS WORTH PONDERING…The Raiders want a veteran QB-to mentor likely first round pick Fernando Mendoza, so why is Kirk Cousins visiting the Packers this weekend?  Shouldn’t Pittsburgh issue an ultimatum to Aaron Rodgers-tell me this weekend if you are playing here?  How unique will this Atlanta QB derby be-Tua Tagovailoa-vs-Mike Penix?

HOCKEY HOTLINE..What a spectacular season for the Anaheim Ducks after all this losing in all this rebuilding…a (41-27-4) record, as they reside in first place in the Pacific Division after another comeback win on the road in Calgary.  Pat Verbeek for GM of year, and Joel Qunneville for Coach of the Year.
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**PROGRAM NOTE**..Hacksaw’s Opening Day Podcast-Thursday…4:30pm-Starting Time

MLB Baseball Preview
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“MLB BASEBALL–PLAY BALL”
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It’s the opening week of the season.  A look-see at who wins and why in each division.

(AL EAST)

YANKEES..The big question is not how many HRs-Aaron Judge will hit, but when will Gerrit Cole-Carlos Rodon rejoin the rotation to join Max Fried as maybe the best in the AL..They still finish first.

RED SOX..Upgraded the pitching staff led by Garrett Crochet plus Ranger Suarez, and a really good young batting order led by Roman Anthony-Jarran Duran.

TORONTO..They add Dylan Cease-Carlos Ponce and Kaz Okamoto to a really power laded lineup.  Goodbye Bo Bichette though.  Bunch of age in that rotation.  Was last year a fluke?

ORIOLES…They added lots of HRs in Pete Alonso and Taylor Ward, but the age old question still exists-do you have an ace and enough arms?

TAMPA BAY..Low budgets, keep trading players, trying to get Shane McClanahan healthy for the rotation…Nothing ever changes there, except the new roof at Tropicana Field.
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(AL CENTRAL)

TIGERS..Tarik Skubal-Frember Valdez-adding Justin Verlander-Kenley Jansen puts Detroit over the top.

ROYALS..A possible breakout year with the kid OF-Joc Caglianone, the stars led by Bobby Witt-Vin Pasquatino.  The key, getting Cole Ragans back in that rotation.

CLEVELAND..The star stays, Jose Ramirez, and a bunch of slap- hitters.  Big issues, pitching injuries and depth…Shame on ownership making this a small market team.

TWINS..Firesale of the roster seems insulting.  Joe Ryan and young arm Mick Abel headline a roster that still includes Byron Buxton, but not much else.

WHITE SOX..Rebuilding is really slow.  They have stockpiled alot of young players, plus newcomer Munetaka Murikama and Kyle Teel.  This takes time.
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(AL WEST)

SEATTLE…It is their time.  6-starting pitching, plus closers, and now alot of bats led by Raleigh, J-Rod, Naylor, Arozarena.  Going to be a fun summer up there.

HOUSTON..Japanese pitching phenom Tatsuya Imai joins Hunter Brown, but it is a staff stung by injuries.  How much gas does Altuve-Correa and oft-injured Alvarez have left?

TEXAS..Mackenzie Gore joins Jake DeGrom-Nathan Eovaldi on the mound.  Wyatt Langford and Corey Seager needsto stay on the field.  Is there enough in the lineup?

A’S..A dangerous team with the arrow pointed up and they look like they might arrive, but it is a tough division.  Nice lineup-Kurtz-Soderstrom-Rooker-Wilson-Langlier-Butler-McNeill.  See if the pitching holds up.

ANGELS..99-90 losses the last two years and not much of an off season.  Holes everywhere on the roster and no one knows if Mike Trout will ever be Mike Trout again?  The fans are going to boo Arte Moreno all summer long.
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(NL EAST)

METS..A winter of off season changes-personality-chemistry-pitching wise too.  So long Polar Bear-Pete Alonso, but Soto-Lindor are still there, with the ad-ons of Marcus Semien-Bo Bichette and Freddy Peralta.  The health of Senga and the growth of young pitching will be a key if they are to dominate.

PHILLIES..A great rotation gets better soon if Zach Wheeler rejoins Nola-Sanchez-Luzardo-Walker.  Now you add in the young arm Andrew Painter.  Changes in the batting order and the hope Bryce Harper can bounce back and be a big bat next to Schwarber

BRAVES..Yes Ronald Acuna…lots-more health problems….3-of-5 starters on the DL to start the season, and Jurickson Profar gone for a year.  Just alot of bad luck

WASHINGTON..Rag-tag pitching, a few good young players, not much else, and just lousy ownership.

MIAMI..Injuries hit the pitching staff after they traded starters away.  Sandy Alcantara looks to return to form as an ace.  Aside of Kyle Stowers and Eurey Perez is there anything to get excited about
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(NL CENTRAL)

CUBS..They seem ready to rock and roll….Interesting off season of plug in pitching deals, the arrival of Alex Bregman to go with Suzuki-Swanson.  Hope they have enough depth in the rotation.

BREWERS…Back to back seasons of over achievement, but that pitching staff looks really thin. Can Jacob Misiirowski-Kyle Harrison stay healthy and can Brandon Woodruff reinvent himself.  Maybe you just bang the ball all over Bernie Brewer’s yard and win.

REDS..So young for so many years, and they look ready to turn the corner, and then they lose their ace Hunter Greene for half the season.  Alot of young arms need to step forward.  But that lineup, led by DeLa Cruz-McLain-Stewart-Steer-they are going to hit.

PIRATES..Paul Skenes and waiting for the other young arms to get consistent…The Bucs added some plug in rental veterans who could make a difference-but they need lots more from Oneil Cruz to be competitive.

CARDINALS..A great city and fans but this will be a long hot summer of losing…Total rebuild with virtually no pitching acquisitions aside from Derek May.
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(NL WEST)

DODGERS…The Evil Empire tries to 3-Peat with a Gold Standard pitching staff and a Dodger Blue batting order loaded with guys with big stats and contracts…Kyle Tucker is solid-but won’t need to be the flag carrier…There is some age in that everyday lineup but this team is so good, and even with the issues with Blake Snell-Roki Sasaki, this team is loaded.  Dave Roberts handles such a clubhouse loaded with rich players so well too.

PADRES…They keep coming close but have not gotten there…A superb lineup and batting order, an experienced bench of bats…and baseball’s best bullpen….But they are so thin in the rotation, no margin for more injuries in the starting staff…Key might be-new ownership comes in, and gives the GM more budget space, and AJ Preller trades another hot prospect to get a front line starter to see if they can get to the playoffs against the Dodgers again.  Can this be the year Fernando Tatis puts together a superstar season-they need it?

GIANTS…Fascinating batting order they will run out there..Adames-Chapman-Arraez-Bader-Dever…Is there enough pitching next to Logan Webb in that rotation?

ARIZONA..Worry there is not enough alongside Marte-Perdomo-Carroll, unless there is still gas left in Nolan Arenado’s tank.  Huge durability questions in that rotation too.

ROCKIES..Is this some type of version of ‘Moneyball 2.0’ with Paul DiPodesta and Josh Byrnes teaming up together…Not much of an off season.  Take a look at the rotation and tell me that does not spell 110-losses this season.  Ownership has wrecked what once upon a time was a 4M-attendance market.
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I’m ready-you ready?

“Play Ball”
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“BASEBALL IS BACK”
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1-Man’s Opinion Column…

Website..www.leehacksawhamilton.com

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Baseball is back. It is the green grass, blue sky, baseball under the sun, domed stadiums and designated hitters. Remembering all the history and records of the games, the stars and years gone by.

Baseball is the personality on the field: Teddy Ballgame (Williams), Stan the Man (Musial), Duke of Flatbush (Snider). It’s the M & M Boys, (Mantle and Maris), Sey Hey (Mays), Jackie (Robinson) and Charley Hustle (Rose). It’s the Bambino (Ruth) and the Iron Man (Gehrig), the Georgia Peach (Cobb), Reggie Bar (Jackson) and the Wild Horse of the Osage (Pepper Martin).

Baseball is all about the teams: Murderer’s Row (Yankees), the Gashouse Gang (Cardinals), the Gints (Giants) and Dem Bums (Dodgers). It’s the Lumber Company (Pirates), the Big Red Machine (Cincinnati), the Running Redbirds (Cardinals) and those Fightin’ Phils (Phillies). It’s First in War, First in Peace, Last in the American League (Senators), the Bronx Bombers (Yankees) and the Amazings (Mets).

Baseball is places, too: The House that Ruth Built (Yankees Stadium), the Green Monster (Fenway), the Eighth Wonder of the World (Astrodome), the Stick (San Francisco), Coogan’s Bluff (Polo Grounds), ivy-covered walls (Wrigley Field) and the Fans in Flatbush (Ebbets Field).

Baseball is also about owners: The Boss (Steinbrenner), Charley O (Finley), The Mahatma (Branch Rickey) Veeck — as in Wreck (Bill Veeck) and Cornelius McGillicuddy (Connie Mack).

Baseball is about managers: The Major (Ralph Houk), Smokey (Walter Alston), Casey at the Bat (Stengel), Billy-the-Kid (Martin).

Baseball is about the broadcasters too: Vin Scully, Mel Allen, Jerry Coleman, Jack Buck and Harry Caray.

Baseball is about opening day, when Bob Feller of the Indians threw a no-hitter; Ted Williams hit .446 in career opening days and they threw snowballs, not fastballs at CNE Stadium in Toronto.

Baseball is about the teams of days gone by: the St. Louis Browns, the Washington Senators, Montreal Expos, Philadelphia and Kansas City A’s, the Boston Braves and Seattle Pilots.

Baseball is numbers: 60 (Ruth-HRs), 61 (Maris-HRs), 714 (Aaron-HRs), 254 (Hack Wilson-RBIs), 76 (Barry Bonds HRs), .401 (Ted Williams batting average), 4,256 (Pete Rose’s hit total).

Baseball is bubble gum and trading cards. Father’s taking sons to their first game.

Foul balls, hot dogs and autographs.

Rain outs and bean-balls and out-of-town scoreboards.

It’s lying under the covers late at night listening on a transistor radio.

It’s learning to keep score.

Playing catch with your dad, granddad or uncle.

It’s the smell of the ball park, the crack of the bat, the cheering of the crowd.

Baseball is back and every team, every fan, starts on Opening Day, feeling good.

Angels, Dodgers, Padres — great to see you!

Baseball is back. Welcome back, old friend.

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