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Padres Roster–Ready–Good Enough?”

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Bring on the 2019 National League season.

Say goodbye to 2018 and put that (66-96) record in the rear view mirror.

The Padres are ready for the Giants on Thursday as the four game season opens the schedule. The bigger question is whether the roster is ready for the season.

A look at the lineup.

ERIC HOSMER….That’s a lot of money (23M) to pya for a singles hitter who hits an occasion home run. He gives you a near Gold Glove performance on defense. Maybe last year was an aberration, moving to a new team, new league, but then he followed that with a (.250) spring training. He’s better than that, at least has been in the past.

IAN KINSLER…Ex-Red Sox multi-position player, who had a solid spring (.364) with some power. Will be the starting second baseman, and maybe becomes a vocal leader on what has been a fractured clubhouse. Seems like a good acquisition, from talent standpoint and chemistry-clubhouse angle too..

FERNANDO TATIS….He made his way onto the roster with his glove and his base running, not necessarily his (.250) spring training average. The most impressive thing about him, is not just skill, but attitude. In each of the past two years, he has had slows starts, then made adjustments and really posted great minor league numbers. We’ll see how he holds up against major league pitching. If he gets overwhelmed, you can let him go back to El Paso and play, but he earned this.

MANNY MACHADO…What skill, with bat and glove, and when you consider the monster numbers he put up in a horrid situation with the Baltimore Orioles, you are even more impressed. Only time will tell whether he wants to be a leader, or just an independent contractor. Some will say he is a dirty player, based on what he did in the postseason during the playoffs with the Dodgers. They need him to do lots of things, including pull together the Latin influence in the clubhouse. History says a really good bat in the lineup akes everyone around him in the batting order better. Let’s see if that helps the rest of the Padres lineup.

HUNTER RENFROE….He had a breakout season last year, but has moved around, right to left back to right. Surprised at the poor spring (.184), and the big question whether he needs to play everyday to stay sharp, and whether he needs to be a one position player?.

WIL MYERS….They gave him lots of money two winters ago, and haven’t really gotten value in return. It’s almost as if he is a man without a position. Where is the player who captured our fancy two summers ago, and slugged his way into the All Star game at Petco Park. He hasn’t been the same player since Matt Kemp was traded away. And now three years into his career here, we still don’t know if he has a true position to play. This is a puzzle. Staying free of nagging injuries would help..

MANNY MARGOT…A strong spring, now they need a good start to the season. He did it in 2017, and was a disappointment in 2018. If he’s not playing everyday, then it’s because he lost the job. The (.304) spring training stats were good.

FRANMIL REYES….A strong second half, followed up by a solid (.324) Cactus League from a guy who was out there on the open market two winters ago. Is he a better defensive player than last summer? We shall find out. He looks in better shape. Full-time or platoon-we await that answer too?

TRAVIS JANKOWKSI….Tough break losing him for 3-month with the fractured wrist. A pigpen type player, uniform always dirty, creating runs when on base, chasing-diving for flyballs, stealing bases. Tough setback for him and his team.

FRANCHY CORDEGO….Big, lanky, aggressive, very quick wrists swinging the bat. Lots of ingredients, but yet to find the recipe for success in the majors. You see spurts and say wow, then you see strikeouts and a low batting average and worse on base percentage, and say ut-oh, too many holes in his game. Same story this spring. Lots of questions to be answered..

AUSTIN HEDGES…You know his value working with the pitching staff. We’ll see if his offensive metric can stay consistent going forward. Rock solid player, if not always a complete player, because of his bat.

FRANCISCO MEJIA….He can hit, but can he do all the things you need done behind the dish. He hit his way onto the roster, but the big question, better served to sit and learn from Hedges, or play everyday in El Paso? We’ll see what the first month of his season is like..

JOSE PIRELA…Professional bat, can wear different gloves, though he’s not hear because of defense. Everyone needs a utility man.

GREG GARCIA….A journeyman who has been good enough to stick around and be ready if someone needs a day off or someone gets hurt

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“Padres Roster Cuts-Not Easy”

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A tough 48-hours ahead for the Padres decision makers, to get down to the 25-man roster before opening day on Thursday with the Giants.

What I see….what I think…about the team’s biggest question mark.

STARTING PITCHING…They will likely have one of the youngest rotations in baseball this spring (24Y), but anything, potential, is better than what we saw last year (5.03-ERA) from the starters.
Joey Lucchesi, Eric Lauer, Chris Paddack, Matt Strahl will anchor it. All four had really good Cactus League outings. Unresolved is what happens at number five, and who you trust if you having injuries to the top four in the rotation.

..Logan Allen-does not appear ready with a (15.43-ERA) this spring and a couple of bad outings the last two times out.

..Cal Quantrill-in 12 innings this spring, 13-runs allowed-21 hits allowed and lousy defense behind him. Does not appear dominant yet with too many baserunners on board.

..Bryan Mitchell…they’ve been trying for a year plus to unlock the mystery of his talent without any consistency from appearance to appearance. Demoted out of rotation (4.85-ERA) they might have to give him the ball since there is no one else they can trust, and not sure they can really trust him.

..Robbie Erlin…the metrics as a starter are not as good as a reliever, but in an emergency, you can use him as your fifth guy in the rotation once in awhile, but long-term, hasn’t showed any dominance.

THE KIDS..Who’s ready, who’s not, who knows?

..Jacob Nix-headed for the DL to start the season-but has shown some flashes-but likely needs more minor league seasoning.

..Nick Margavecius-the most consistent of the guys competing for the 5th spot with (4.50-ERA) but has not pitched much above AA-how big a jump is it?

..Luis Perdomo-has regressed and is gone to El Paso dragging with him a (12.59-ERA) and the mystery question, what happened to all the promise we saw in the first year and a half in San Diego?

..Brett Kennedy-the lat strain in the shoulder has put him on the shelf for six weeks, but his late season appearances last year did not give you an indication he could get the job done at the major league level.

BULLPEN… seems set with the return of Kirby Yates, anchored by setup men Craig Stammen, Phil Mason, Trey Wingenter and Robert Stock. The long man has to be Robbie Erlin, who hasn’t shown much consistency as a starter.

There are choices among others to fill out the staff.

..Brad Wieck…is behind the curve right now recovering from his battle with testicular cancer.

..Jose Castillo…a tough loss, on the 60-day DL with arm problems, but likely back June 1st.

..Aaron Loup…1-bad outing, but as a situational guy, left-hander vs left-hander, his (2.84-ERA) should merit consideration.

..Sammy Solis…does not appear ready and the question is he really healthy and sound…a bad year in Washington followed up by a couple of bad outings with the Padres (15.43-ERA) in Arizona. A great uncertainty unless he is willing to go to El Paso to figure it out.

..Adam Warren…could be a real addition here, based on track record other places, and a (2.08-ERA) in limited appearances in the spring. Might be a bargain acquisition.

..Eric Yardley…no one is talking about him at all, but those were 9-innings of work in Cactus League without an earned run allowed. A likely ticket though back to farm system at least to start the season.

ON THE OUTSIDE…Dallas Keuchel is still available as a free agent signing. The Indians are still shopping either Trevor Bauer or Corey Kluber. Miami’s Dan Straily just became free after the Marlins DFA’d him. But the Padres seem intent on staying within to answer the questions still about pitching.

We’ll know by Wednesday night, who goes, who stays, and who gets slotted for what roles.

A good Cactus League spring, but not a complete pitching staff yet.

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“NFL-Lots to Discuss-Decide”

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It may be March Madness week. It may be the opening week of the baseball season. But it’s a busy time in the NFL, possibly a controversial time too.

The NFL owners meetings start Monday in Phoenix, and all attention will be front and center on the owners and the Competition Committee, where the faith in the officials and the credibility of games is in question.

The NFL has mandates to make the game safer, with radical rule changes on tackling, late hits, head blows and changes in the kickoff rules.

There’s more work to be done.

And now they must also fix the leakage from blown officials calls that seriously impacted games at the most important times of last year, post season play. End result, the Saints lost a chance to the Super Bowl on a terrible non-call.

Now significant proposals to change instant replay, with proposals from the Competition Committee and from clubs. Here’s the list of ideas and my reactions.

OVERTIME…Proposed-Each team gets a guaranteed possession to win the game. If the score is tied after the two possessions, it goes to sudden death. Eliminate the coin toss now since each team gets a possession. Good call-balance the playing field. (Vote Yes.)

INSTANT REPLAY-PASS INTERFERENCE…Allow a coach to challenge a flag that is thrown for pass interference. Replay, using slow motion can show who initiated the contact. It is a gray area, but the proposal is “only” for flags thrown. If there is no call, you cannot challenge to have a late flag thrown. (Vote Yes.)

INSTANT REPLAY-PERSONAL FOULS….Allow coaches challenge to flags thrown for hits on QBs-WRs and defenseless receivers. Again can be used only for flag thrown, not for a player where a call is missed. (Vote Yes)

INSTANT REPLAY FOR ALL PENALTY CALLS….Coaches say it would not slow the game down because they can only risk replay challenges at cost of losing timeouts. Don’t think this would ever work. (Vote No.)

ONSIDE KICK RULE…A team would be permitted to use this in final 4-minutes of game, having a 4th and 15 play instead of the dangerous on-side kick. If they get the 15-yards, they retain possession. If they do not make the play, other team gets ball at original line of scrimmage. It’s a radical rule change, but it is being discussed to remove another dangerous play where injuries are high.
(Vote Yes)

SKY JUDGE…Add 8th official to each crew in the booth, with the power to tell referee to pick up flag or throw a flag for a missed call. It sounds logical to help officials on the field but the NFL is leery of making calls from booth that then make refs on field look bad, or intimidate them by having someone look over their shoulders on each play-they’d get gun shy. Real concern it would slow the game down a lot. (Vote No.)

INSTANT REPLAY-NON CALLS…This involves pass interference, helmet hits, personal fouls. This is the aftermath of what happened in the Rams-Saints game. A coach will be able to challenge to review a play that should have been flagged but did not. Again, coaches have only so many challenges or timeouts to risk, but at the most important time of the game, its biggest plays, this should be implemented. (Vote Yes.)

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“March Madness-Maddening Times”

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I bet you had fun filling out your NCAA basketball brackets.

Let’s see if your brackets are bent out of shape by the time we get to Sunday night.

That’s become a way of life and very ;much part of the early rounds of the NCAA tournament.

This year, like other years, like many Marches of decades ago.

Opening night, it happened again.

Tiny Wofford College did it to Seton Hall’s Pirates, leading at one point by 13-points..Wound up hitting 13’s Wofford, do you know where it is? A religious based school in South Carolina. The Terriers they re called.

Murray State ambushes Marquette. The Racers led by a late developing star and a wicked defense that held Marquette to 32% shooting. Bet you didn’t know Murray State’s nickname did you? The Racers, named after the horse racing industry.

There were a bunch of scares on opening night too. If New Mexico State hits its two free throws in the final (:01) they are playing not Auburn. St Mary’s was roaring back till it ran out of time against Villanova. Belmont turns it over on the final possession and loses to Maryland.

How does a 16-beat a number 1-seed? How can a 2-seed get taken out by some guy seeded 15th?

The NCAA history book is full of nights like that.

UMBC (Maryland-Baltimore County) did it to Virginia last year.

In the past, Florida Gulf Coast, known as Dunk City, bounced Georgetown’s Hoyas out of the tourney a couple of years ago.

Lehigh, with future NBA guard CJ McCollum, somehow beat Duke of the ACC.

Princeton’s slow down offense made a mess of UCLA years back in a stunning win.

George Mason dispatched Jim Calhoun and U-Conn one spring.

Santa Clara, led by Steve Nash, yes that Steve Nash, took out Arizona.

The one and done rule may have something to do with it. Freshman, with one foot out the door, and their mind on big money and the NBA, get whacked by smaller teams, who have señor lineups, playing well together, can pull off wins like that. A group of 5th year seniors have shocked the bluechip laden rosters.

The 3-point shot has become a great equalizer too. If you can put together a roster of strokers from beyond the arc, you can change the chemistry of a tourney game. You might not go to war with them on the boards, or handle them physically, but if you can drills the deep outside shot, you can win. Look at the box scores, there are nights the little guys will hit 13-3’s and the other guy goes home. It takes lots of two’s to beat a pile of 3’s.

Oh yes there are blowouts too, the big guy buries the little guy, as Gonzaga proved in its destructive win over Fairleigh Dickinson of New Jersey.

Weekend one is always wild. By next weekend the bulk of the upsets will be over, but that’s what makes March Madness so attractive.

But for 1-night, Fletcher McGee was a star, a difference maker. 7-3 point baskets later, he and Wofford celebrated a stunning win. It happens every time this year.

So, yes your brackets may be all bent out of shape by Sunday night when the first weekend is completed, but it’s worth watching and following.

It’s March Madness-what else did you expect.?

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“USD Basketball–You Never Know”

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The beautiful campus up on the hill, the one with the Catholic school religious affiliation, is hurting again.

USD, touched by another athletic scandal, none of its own making, but stained none-the-less.

A really classy place, with what appears to be a proper balance between athletics and academics.

USD may call itself Division 1, but it is really Division 3-in philosophy, with a touch of Ivy League class.

and now it finds its name dragged into the gutter again, a second time, by disgraced basketball coach Lamont Smith.

USD touched by this academic entrance scandal involving the Newport Beach business, funded by rich families, with the intent of getting the children of those families admitted to elite schools they were not qualified to enter.

Bribery for special admits is probably the simplest way to describe the scandal that has rocked places like USC, UCLA Stanford, Yale and more. And now the school on the hill too.

Allegations that fired basketball coach Lamont Smith may have taken 110,000 from William Singer’s Newport Beach Academic center, to falsify documents, to admit a son and a daughter, of an LA family. Allegations the family paid over 400,000 to get the special admits onto the campus, and that Lamont Smith was the conduit to the university.

The same Lamont Smith, who rebuilt the basketball program over the last two years, that resulted in a 20-win season and a berth in the NIT tournament.

But a year ago this month, he was fired after being arrested on a domestic abuse case, in the team hotel, on the road in Oakland, with a woman who was not his wife.

A week later he was gone from USD, without a farewell, without really an apology.

He wound up at Texas El Paso as an assistant. And now hours after his name was linked with the USD scandal, he has been terminated at UTEP too.

End of credibility, end of career likely.

All this coming years after the school’s all time leading scorer Brandon Johnson was arrested and convicted, along with another assistant coach, in a point shaving scandal in Johnson’s final year at the school.

For all the hard work done, by then Athletic Director Ky Snyder, and current AD-Bill McGillis, it must be gut wrenching to have their schools name dragged into the sewage of scandal.

Snyder hired Smith. McGillis stood by Smith as they tried to rebuild the program. And now both have been betrayed.

They were fooled, they were lied to, about Lamont Smith’s character. Shocking in that Lamont Smith played at USD and reportedly had quality credentials coming back to his Alma Mater.

You never know about people sometimes. Sadly, an innocent USD, now knows about one of its own.

Bad situations for a really good school, led by good people, now having to deal with all this, because up on the hill…..”you never really know-do you?”

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