……..(Baseball)……….

Padres-W-Rockies (4-0)..Jordan Lyles takes perfect game into 8th inning…Eric Hosmer 2R-HR…Calros Villanueva 2R-HR…Padres (17-27) ….

Padres…Travel day…open 10-game road trip in Pittsburgh on Thursday.

Padres..DL-P-Joey Luchessi-hip-glute problems…will miss 1-start..has (3.23-ERA)

Padres..Recall 2B-Carlos Aguaje…did not bring pitcher up because would have to clear spot on 40M roster to callus Cal Quantrill.

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Dodgers-L-Miami (4-2)…Brian Anderson 2-RBIs for Marlins….Alex Wood falls to (0-4) gives up 9-hits……LA (16-25)…lost (8-of-9 fall into last place.)…

Dodgers-Miami…Wednesday matchup…Walker Beuhler (2-1)-vs-Caleb Smith (2-4).

Dodgers…Team President Andrew Friedman says no major trades are planned….says Dave Roberts is right leader for team…no shakeups on roster…improvement comes from within.

Dodgers…Option 3B-Kyle Farmer..OF-Tim Locator to AAA

Dodgers..Activate 3B-Jurtin Turner…2B-Logan Forsythe from DL.

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Angels-L-Astros (5-3)..Jose Altuve 3-R double in 8th inning…Justin Upton 2R-HR for Halos…Angels bullpen gave up 4-runs…. Angels now (25-17)…Astros (27-17).

Halos-Houston…Wednesday matchup…Garrett Richards (4-1)-vs-Caleb Smith (2-4)

———–

(Scoreboard)

Yankees-Washington…Game suspended in 5th by rain…will continue tonite…Tyler Austin 2R-HR for Yanks..NY (28-12)…Nationals (24-18)

Milwaukee-L-Arizona..Doug Descales HR for Arizona…Brewers (25-18)…Diamdonbacks (25-17)

Phillies-Orioles…Rained out….Baltimore (12-28)

Pirates-W-Whis Sox..Josh Bell 2-doubles-3RBIs….Chisox (10-28)

Indians-L-Tigers…Detroit 5R in 7th inning…Trive blew (5-1) and (7-3) leads…Cleveland (20-21)

Mets-W-Toronto…Amed Rosario RBI single..RBI double….NY lost (9-of-12)

Red Sox-L-A’s….Mark Canha 2R-double…Steven Piscotty HR…Boston (28-14)

Cubs-W-Atlanta…Ben Zobrist RBI single in 9th…Braves (25-16)

Cardinals-L-Twins…Bobby Wilson 2R-HR

Tampa Bay-W-Kansas City..CJ Cron 2R-HR for Rays…Royals (13-29)

Texas-L-Seattle…Jean Segura RBI single in 8th for M’s….Rob Chiniors 3RBIs for Rangers

Reds-L-Giants…Brandon Belt HR…Pablo Sandoval 2R-single…Cincy (14-29)

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(MLB)

MLB….Suspends Mariners 2B-Robbie Cano-80G-positive test for diuretic in his system…Cano will not appeal….took a prescription for internal bleeding from a licensed doctor in the Dominican Republic.

Boston…Red Sox P-Steven Wright reinstated after 16G-suspension for domestic abuse…lost 94,000-in salary.

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(Injuries)

Arizona..OF-AJ Pollock-sprainted thumb…hitting (.293)
Royals..DL-1B-Luca Duda-arch injury
Giants..DL-2B-Alec Hanson-hamstring.

Yankees..Send 1B-Greg Bird on rehab
Reds…Rehab assignments for P-Anthony DeScalfini….P-Michael Lorxenzen
Cardinals..P-Alex Reyes sent out on rehab
Giants..P-Madison Bumgarner begins throwing off mound

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(Roster Moves)

Giants..Callup OF-Austin Slater from AAA.

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…….(Basketball)……

(Playoff Scoreboard)

Boston-W-Cleveland…..Boston wipes out 14-point lead…survives 43P-nite from LeBron James….Celtics hit 5-shots in a row in 3rd quarter rally…..held Cavs to 39P in second half….Cleveland shot 36% from floor in 2nd half….went (3-17) from 3-point line in 2nd half…..James scored 21-in first quarter….Cavs G-JR Smith took flagrant foul shoving Al Hereford in back in midair-opening gates for Celtics to pull away……Celtics lead (2-0)

Golden State-Houston….Warriors lead (1-0)…..heading into Wednesday game.

NBA Lottery…Phoenix Suns win letter after (21-61) season….Sacramento Kings will choose 2nd….Atlanta Hawks get 3rd pick….Memphis chooses 4th…..Dallas will select 5th…..LA Clippers lose big-will draft 12th-13th……

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………(Hockey)…………

(Playoff Scoreboard)

Washington-L-Tampa Bay…..Victor Hedman Goal-2 Assists…Lightning dominate late in game pull away for road win….Caps lead series (2-1)

Winnipeg-at-Las Vegas…Game 3-of series…Golden Knights have home ice advantage.

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…..(Football)………..

Chargers…OG-Forrest Lamp-has undergone 2nd knee scope after ACL surgery last season….yet to cleared for workouts.
Chargers…WR-Mike Williams-last years 1st round pick…disappointed Charges fans who are ‘haters’ because he missed last year with injuries.

(Roster Moves)

Rams..Sign FA-QB-Luis Perez-led West Texas AM-Commerce to Division II title.
Rams..Sign FA-RB-Larry Rose-ex Tennessee
49ers..Sign FA-CB-CJ Goodwin-ex Arizona
Browns..Sign FA-OG-Anthony Fabrain-ex Colts

Green Bay..Visit with FA-WR-Dez Bryant-ex Cobohs.
Jets..Visit with FA-S-Ken Vaccaro-ex Saints
Bills..Visit with FA-WR-Russell Shepard-xs Redskins

Colts…Release CB-Kenneth Acker

Houston..OT-KJ Malone-retires after minicamp…played at LSU…son of NBA star Karl Malone

(NFL)

Eagles..RB-Jay Ajayi sued for 25,000-for damaging rented home in Los Angeles he stays din for 5-days after Super Bowl.
49ers..LB-Reuben Foster to appear in court on 3-felony cases on Thursday

Eagles..LB-Brandon Graham to miss all OTA’s..ankle surgery

Carolina….David Tepper-part owner of Steelers…purchases Panthers franchise from Jerry Richardson for 2.2-Billion.

Orrin Hatch…Congressman preparing presentation for Federal regulations for sports betting on all professional games.

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……(General)…….

BBC…Hires Jurgen Klinsmann to be in studion analyst for World Cup games.

Arsenal…Retiring coach Arsene Wenger-says he will not coach in EPL…but wants to coach abroad next year.

Arsenal…to interview Mike Arteta-Manchester City assistant for vacant head coaching job.

England…Veteran goalie Joe Hart-Mabchester City-left off World Cup roster…..G-Jack Butland-Stoke City….Jordan Pickford-Everton-may replace him on roster

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“Gambling on Sports-Over-Under-Trouble?”

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The NFL used to control everything. Snap their fingers, and things got done. Make a strong statement, and people got in line.

Not anymore.

The Supreme Court changed all that with its (7-2) vote to overturn a law that made sports gambling illegal across the country.

In the specific ruling, the Court sided with New Jersey that the ban was unconstitutional, and that this was a state’s right issue, not a federal law.

And now the states will scramble to determine how to put state-wide gambling into effect. How to operate it, how to write the rules about it, and how to tax it.

And the tax rules are the sales pitch why state’s will move on this quickly, for profits and revenues. Every state in the nation needs additional revenue streams. Taxing 150B in bets will provide that.

Nevada no longer has a monopoly on this industry. It will be everywhere, from race tracks in New York, to casino boats on the Mississippi, to the Indian based operations on reservations.

It is estimated gambling, via Vegas, or thru street corner bookies, has become a 150B-business. Want a cut of that?

Pro sports on going statements about protecting the integrity of their games is utmost of importance. But in all likelihood that is empty rhetoric, especially in today’s games, where all the players make enormous amounts of money.

Of course we have had scandals, dating from the 1919 Black Sox World Series scandal, to Pete Rose banishment from baseball, to the suspensions of Paul Horning and Alex Karras for betting, to the Boston College and CCNY point shaving scandals, and the referee issue with Tim McGonaghey.

The NBA, NCAA, NHL have all had varying opinions on legalized gambling on games. Only the NFL was steadfast in its fight to prevent it.

Now the NFL, and everyone will take a different stance.

I predict Congress will be asked to develop parameters, and then the NFL and the other leagues, will demand an ‘integrity fee, a right to collect a share of the tax revenue raised in each state from gambling revenue streams.

The NFL, forever and ever, told people what to do. Now they want to profit after being told what they could no longer do, ban betting on the games they play.

Now the sports leagues want their share of the money you bet, on their product, the games they play, you will bet on.

What’s the over-under on that happening.

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“Padres-As the World Turns”

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Ripping pages out of my baseball notebook.

PADRES..

Clayton Richard…on the brink of possibly being demoted, for having just 3-wins in 18-starts dating back to last year, he rallies for two pretty good starts, and finally a win, the 10-striekout Sunday victory over the Cardinals. It looks from press row, as if he is changing his slot rotation, from pure sidearm to more three quarter. Will see if he can continue to string good outing together. Over his last 15-innings, 3-runs allowed, and 18-strikeouts.

Chase Headley…The Padres are eating the 13M contract, and will release him this week. Unable to get on the field, because the team needed to find out about 3B-Chris Villanueva, Headley never found his rhythm. He hit (.115) for the season, though (.411) as a pinch hitter. He will be picked up in the next month by someone in need of a two position player, at a very affordable price, for San Diego will pay the rest. He leaves disappointed he didn’t do more, doesn’t leave angry, and will wait a phone call to see where he goes next. He does not believe he is done at age 34.

Christian Villanueva…All-April, nothing in May and now questions everywhere. 9-homers, and (.345) batting average was impressive out of the gate. Since then, an (0-36) pothole and some shaky defensive play in the field. The Padres still don’t know what they have.

Team Bad Elbow….it’s everywhere. Hunter Renfroe on the DL…Austin Hedges on the DL…Wil Myers on the DL….all with elbow issues, all related to swinging the bat. Questions for new hitting coach Matt Stairs, who may be asking too much from these hitters. Too much weightlifting, too much batting practice, too many changes in how they hold the bat. Somebody needs to check all this out. That and the strikeouts continue, continue and continue.

Adam Cimber….This has been a surprise, going out of nowhere to pitch so well, and so much out of the Padres bullpen.

Robbie Erlin…A strong comeback after missing 16-months with elbow surgery. Solid innings, a few shaky outings, and the hope they manage his innings out of the bullpen going forward at least this year.

Freddy Galvis….I guess I ask the question how could the Phillies let this guy get away. What a strong glove at shortstop, what an amazing amount of ground he covers. What quickness. Not hitting for any power like he did in Philly, but he plays everyday.

Manny Margot…Time for him to rally back from a tough 7-weeks, not playing as well as a year ago, with a sub .200-batting average up till this week.

Carlos Asuaje…Ditto for him. The guy that was in the .280s for much of last year, is in the .190s this year, and now is in a rotation at 2nd base. They need him to be what he was last year.

Franmill Reyes….Here comes the next young one…The El Paso power hitter (.346-14HR) reportedly to be called up from the minors…not what I’d call open tryouts, just kids doing well in the minors, to get a cameo-look see….Not even Mid-May and auditions for next year beginning.

San Diego….A (16-26) record, not something I thought they would give us out of the gate, and a long way to go.

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“NHL Playoffs-Fast-Fun-Fascinating”

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The NHL playoffs, so much fun, so different than the regular season. Intense, invigorating, endless action.

NHL hockey has taken off around the country. New markets, from the sunbelt to the desert, have grabbed the attention of the fans.

Here in Southern California, both the LA Kings and the Anaheim Ducks have hoisted the Stanley Cup. Both team’s games are piped into this market on TV.

And now we are headed to the NHL Eastern and Western Conference playoff finals.

Two teams you know and would recognize. Two teams you wouldn’t know, made up of strangers. But they all earned this trip to the conference finals.

Hockey purists appreciate the greatness of the sniper that Alexander Ovechken has become for the Washington Capitals, since coming here from Russia. The Caps have depth, and hot goaltending in Braden Holtby.

Tampa Bay is four wins away from going back to try to claim another Cup. First it was with Vinny Lecavalier and Brad Richards. Now they might do it again with this generation’s superstar Steve Stamos and their own Russian star Nikita Kucherov. The franchise is something special on the Suncoast.

Out West, the expansion Las Vegas Golden Knights, paid 550M entrance fee, and in that first year, were given access to a load of young players. William Karlsson went from an unused piece with the Ducks, to a 43-goal scorer in year one in Las Vegas. The most familiar name on that expansion roster was Penguins goalie Marc Andre Fleury, who has posted 8-shutouts this year. They are deep and damn good.

Winnipeg has been building for this for years, all the suffering of losing their franchise, regaining a team, and then constructing a winner. Big skaters, big bodies, and hot goalies. The Jets won 3-times in Nashville, including Game 7-to get to the finals. They not only won their first post season playoff series in 31-years, and then parlayed that into a trip to the conference finals. The era of Hull-Hedberg-Nilplson, the Winnipeg Jets of the WHA days, has now been surpassed by what has just happened.

Pittsburgh, with all its glittery stars, got knocked out.Toronto is gone, Boston is ran out of gas. Edmonton was a huge disappointment, The Kings and Ducks were one and done.

A changing of the guard in the NHL, well at least in the West. The NHL product on ice might be at its highest point, since the Original 6-era from way back in the day. It’s been fast, fascinating, and we’re not done yet. Another playoff round and then the Stanley Cup finals. Stay tuned, it’s not over. And that’s great for hockey fans.

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“Mr. Padre–A Plus Player-A Plus Person”

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A night to remember, recall, never forget .

It’s another night in a likely another losing season. That’s what Padres baseball is right now, till all the young players arrive.

But on this night, a Wednesday at the Stadium, the conversation wasn’t about last place, the Washington Nationals, or even the upcoming weekend when they salute the Padres team that went to the World Series.

It was a night to remember “T”…Tony Gwynn. It was his birthday, May 9th, and a night to think about all the facets of Tony Gwynn’s career and life as a Padre.

You can pull up any stat you want, and you realize his greatness.

The gold, shining in the light, on his Hall of Fame plaque in Cooperstown.

The silver slugger bats for all those years.

The (.338) career batting average. The fact he hit over .300 in 19-of his 20-seasons with the Friars, the only year being the rookie season.

The amazing (.394) season in 1994-where he flirted with the magical .400-mark, established by people like Ty Cobb and Ted Williams.

The lifetime hit total of (3,141).

There were equally impressive (.370-.372) seasons.

The (.338) on base career mark. The OPS number of (.847), not bad for a non power hitter.

How about the fact he struck out just 434-times in 10,232-plate appearances.

15-All Star berths. 7-Batting titles. 5-Gold Gloves.

There were winning seasons, lots of losing season, and the joy the odd year when Padres ownership put good players around him, Ken Caminiti, Wally Joyner Kevin Brown, Greg Vaughn, Ricky Henderson..

There were a litany of good managers, bad managers, good GMs’, great owners and awful owners, but thru it all, there was Tony Gwynn’s loyalty to the franchise, the fans, his adopted home and his alma mater SDSU.

Pick the greatest moments, and the memories come flooding back.

Hit 3,000th hit -in Montreal, before lots of empty seats, with very little fanfare anywhere beyond the 619-area code.

Jumping up and down, like a little kid on Christmas morning, after scoring the winning run in an All star game.

The pride in Cooperstown in his Hall of Fame speech.

The smile on his face when he talked about the excitement of going to play the World Series in the House that Ruth Built, Yankees Stadium.

The statements bypassing bigger paydays for free agency, to remain here.

The illustrious moment, honoring a wheel-chair bound Ted Williams, at the All Star game at Fenway Park in Boston..

Yes, there were sad moments. Loss after loss. The pain of the personal bankruptcy and agent problems. And of course the sadness of the cancer, once, the cancer again.

But on this night, we remember the specialness of Tony Gwynn.

And outside Crown Jewel that is beloved Petco Park, the beauty of that monument, in his favorite pose, the magic swing for another base hit.

I close my eyes and lots of things come back involving #19.

The guy, on the first swing of the first day of spring training in Yuma, slapped the first pith thru his patented 5.5 hole.

I remember the laugh, always the laugh. I relish the smile, always a smile. I hear his voice, always his voice, bouncing off clubhouse walls.

I remember his kindness to fans, opposing players, and the working media.

Tony Gwynn got it. Got it as a great professional player. Got it as his responsibility to be a leader. Got it as to dealing with the media.

Somewhere up in heaven, I think I can hear him still arguing hitting with Ted Williams.

Tony Gwynn….A-Plus Player. A-Plus Person. A really nice night to remember, maybe the most special athlete I have had the honor of dealing with.

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