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Hacksaw’s Monday Bonus Podcast
You Tube-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton
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“JUAN SOTO-MR MONEYBAGS”
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The Mets got what they wanted.
The agent Scott Boras got what he wanted.
The player Juan Soto got it all too, 15-years.. 765M total…51M-year.

The Yankees lost a big. bat.
MLB’s spread between the haves and the have nots-has widened.

The agent calls him a ‘centurion’..someone you may never see again.
The Mets call him a likely savior.
The Yankees view him as a traitor.

It’s the business of baseball right now.
Baseball free agency has become ‘show me all of your money’.
But it’s not just here, it’s the NFL, the NBA, the NHL.
Hell it’s even in college athletics too, under the banner of the NIL.

So what are the Mets getting?  A big time bat with big time power.
A career (.285) hitter with 205-home runs at age 26.
But they are also getting a defensively deficient outfielder.
A heavy-lumbering base runner.
A less than cannon of an arm too for a corner outfielder.

Compare the intangibles if you will.  Compare Soto’s style and personality.
Look at the heroics of Freddie Freeman of the Dodgers.
Watch the fire in the belly and the camaraderie of Mookie Betts’ clubhouse.
See the professionalism of Clayton Kershaw.

Soto is one dimension.  A bat, alot of power, an aggressive person at the plate.
Soto is self-centered.  Not much of a team player.
Not much of a leader in the clubhouse.

Compare this slugger with the other modern day phenom, Shohei Ohtani.
Compare the personalities, no comparison.
Compare the overall focus-not the same.
Compare the dimensions, bat vs a DH and soon to be a pitcher again.

And look at baseball history.  Can you say Soto is equal to the legends of the game, like Hank Aaron, Willy Mays, Mickey Mantle?

He’s more Reggie Jackson in terms of slugging style and demeanor.  Not to say that is bad, but it means he is not a complete player.

I dealt with Soto in that Padres clubhouse during the 2-lost seasons, and I found him to be aloof, boring, betting on himself and not paying much attention to anything-everything around him on his team.

Some good baseball, some crummy baseball too.  Not much accountability.  Tomorrow is another day, all the while he was hitting (.226) for half a season.  Granted the second year was better, but it was as if he was in a payroll drive, even if the team was not in a pennant race.

All his comments made me believe I was listening to super agent Scott Boras, not a team leading slugger named Soto.

The Mets are excited.  The Yankees are peeved.  The fans are going crazy, loving it or hating it.  The NY tabloids are all over it, hero, villain and more.

The money is absurd, but that is what is being paid everywhere in sports.  You just really wonder if the Mets really know the depths of the player they just gave all this money to.

Maybe it does not matter to owner Steve Cohen, whose bank account is worth 22B.  Maybe luxury tax payments don’t phase him.  Maybe he doesn’t care about team chemistry and clubhouses.

Juan Soto left a World Series team for a payday with a team that has alot of holes alot of places on the roster.  He had turned down a record (440M) offer in Washington, that led to a trade, that led to the collapse of the Nationals franchise, that plunged it into rebuilding-which takes forever.

Sure he is happy and will make alot of corporate comments about glad to stay in New York.  Don’t know that he is bothered by media pressure either in a big market.  Will be interested to see how he handles it, if he has an off season, or the team he chose, turns out to not be very good.

Juan Soto has closed the book on his free agency.  Interesting to see what the rest of his big money career looks like.  And what kind of person he becomes after the person-player we saw in San Diego.  Next chapter coming up.

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Hacksaw’s Monday Bonus Podcast..1pm
You Tube Channel-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton
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“A GREAT FOOTBALL WEEKEND”
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Did you get your money’s worth of football this weekend?
Did college football’s final Saturday wind up like you thought?
How cool were some of the games in the NFL?

Exciting for sure, with the knowledge that the college playoffs are coming.
And the NFL still has 4-more weekends to go and playoff slots on the line.
Wow.
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CHARGERS-CHIEFS…The Bolts did everything they had to do to win..but did not win…It was not ‘Chargering’ as we have known it..but it was gut wrenching…They hit-chased-flushed-sacked-pressured Patrick Mahomes all night…Justin Herbert was under siege the entire first half and took big hits…The Bolts came back with a jumbo package running the ball-to wipe out a 13-0 deficit and take a 14-13 lead…But Mahomes being Mahomes, hit enough big plays, his backs controlled the fourth quarter on the ground..and Matthew Wright’s last of 4-field goals-hit the upright and bounced in for the game winning kick with (:01) left…KC has won 19-of the last 22-games with the Chargers..Herbert is (2-7) vs Chiefs red…Mahomes is (10-2) vs the Bolts…The Chiefs are not what they used to be..and even with that, the Chargers cannot beat them…A rugged night..a Chiefs win.

 

RAMS-BILLS…Isn’t Sean McVay a spectacular leader?  Isn’t Matthew Stafford and Puka Nacua willing the Rams to wins?  Isn’t Josh Allen a spectacular individual.  The Rams pull off a wild win over Buffalo.  Big play after big play. Amazing defensive plays.  Joah Allen’s 6-TD outing, almost a one man gang on offense.  And (902Y) in offense between both sides.

GREEN BAY-DETROIT…The Lions going for it 5-times on 4th down in that Thursday night game.  The defense was fierce.  Jared Goff was dominant.  A bombastic AFC-North game.

STEELERS-BROWNS..Who could think the way the season started that Mike Tomlin would have his team (10-3).  Russell Wilson very much a comeback player of the year.  The Browns have lost 21-in a row in Pittsburgh.

MIAMI-JETS….Aaron Rodgers throws for a ton (339Y) but it’s not enough and his team is (3-10).  Tua Tagovailoa has his team (6-7) and hitting big plays.  The Jets have lost 9-straight in Miami.

RAIDERS-TAMPA..Hopeless, all these injuries and now a 9-game losing streak and losing another QB-Aiden O’Connell..

MINNESOTA-ATLANTA…Sam Darnold, a career best (347Y-5TD).  Staggering, the four game Falcons losing streak, and the fact Kirk Cousins, in that streak, has 0TDs-8 Interceptions.
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And then there was the college football weekend.

TEXAS-GEORGIA…A Hollywood script, with injured QB-Carson Beck coming off the bench for the final snap in overtime for a game winning TD run, giving the Dogs the win over turnover prone Texas-which had an unusual bad day.

OREGON-PENN STATE…What a show by QB-Dillon Gabriel and that vibrant-explosive Ducks offense.  What a comeback effort from the Nittany Lions and Drew Allar and a Penn State offense that had (292Y) rushing in a loss

CLEMSON-SMU..Quite a Mustangs comeback, but quite a passing day by young QB-Cade Klubnik, whom most people wanted benched at the start of the season.

ASU-IOWA STATE..How about those Sun Devils, winning the league the first time they walked down the Big 12-Conference highway.  A great offense, throwing and running, and a message the Sun Devils are very much a national power.

BOISE STATE-UNLV…They are one field goal (against Oregon) from being unbeaten.  It is RB-Ashton Jenty, it is also a big play pass attack, and a rugged in your face defense.  This is a real deal (12-1) team.

If you were like me, you watched football, all day and night on Saturday, then did it again on Sunday in the NFL.  More to come in the next couple of weeks.

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Hacksaw’s Friday Podcast…1pm
You Tube-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton
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“NFL–TIME RUNNING SHORT
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Interesting storylines heading to week 14 of the NFL schedule.
Time is running out on people

CHARGERS-CHIEFS…Will history repeat itself.  A Kansas City team that has dominated the Bolts, winning 18-of-21 times over the last decade.  This is a different Patrick Mahomes led team,not as explosive, averaging just 2-plus TDs a game on offense.  They have won 9-games by a TD or less.  There are 8-come from behind win.  Travis Kelce has 73-catches, but beyond that, there are so many new pieces, so many injuries too.  The Chiefs defense is giving up just 311-yards per game.  The Bolts are limping into this weekend without much of a run game, with an ailing Ladd McConkey at WR, and a defense that has depth problems at linebacker and in the secondary.  Justin Herbert’s offense has just 3-TDs in its last 27-drives.  This should be the last really tough game the Chargers play.

RAMS-BILLS..LA’s playoff hopes could end this weekend with Josh Allen and the hipowered offense showing up at SoFi Stadium.  Big challenge for Matthew Stafford to meet a Bills defense that is choking off people since mid season.  Huge set of issues for the Rams young defense to cope with.

SEATTLE-ARIZONA…The Cardinals need a win to stay in the hunt.  The Seahawks Geno Smith is is some kind of contract drive, dragging the Hawks into first place in the NFC West.  Arizona plays fierce defense at home and will need to.

49ERS-BEARS…Caleb Williams, some good Sundays, some bad weekends too.  The Niners, destroyed by injuries, have lost Christian McCaffrey, and their playoff hopes look dashed.

BENGALS-COWBOYS..Joe Burrow is having to do it by himself, saddled by a defense, faces a crippled Dallas team.

RAIDERS-TAMPA BAY…QB-Aiden O’Connell comes off a 340-yard passing day, but another East Coast road trip.  The Bucs are so streaky.  It looks like they are wasting away a really strong Baker Mayfield season.

STEELERS-BROWNS…Who could have expected what we saw last weekend.  Jameis Winston throwing for (497Y-4TD)..and Russell Wilson coming up with a (414Y) day.  Both have big time pass rushes, so we could have big plays and big sacks too.

EAGLES-CAROLINA…Bryce Young meet the Mean Green defense.  Enough said.

GIANTS-SAINTS…A combined (6-18) record.  Do we have to play this game?

VIKINGS-FALCONS…Kirk Cousins homecoming game.  The Falcons are playing themselves out of a playoff spot, with a 3-game losing streak.  The Vikings are red hot thanks to Sam Darnold’s comeback season.

JETS-MIAMI…Aaron Rodgers has a (3-9) season on his resume.  Tua Tagovailoa is trying to throw Miami into a wildcard spot, but it’s been a grind, especially on the road.

TITANS-JAGUARS…Just awful, the seasons they have had.  Jacksonville wrecked by injuries.  The Titans with alot of young guys on offense.  Not doing so well.

Enjoy it, some people have to win to stay in races.
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Hacksaw’s Podcast….Friday-1pm-This Week
You Tube-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton
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“AZTECS FOOTBALL–A LONG ROAD BACK”
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Sean Lewis has begun the hike up the hill from a (3-9) season.

His first full recruiting class involves an entire offensive line, a load of big defensive front people, plus linebackers and DBs.

And despite the arrival and strong performance of starting QB-Danny O’Neill, he went out and landed another QB, built along the same lines, 6’1, can throw, can run.

The Aztecs are not done yet.  They signed 18-have 14-more to give and say they will be in the transfer portal effective next Monday.

Still to be seen how many SDSU players jump ship into the transfer portal.  He lost 4-during the season and 4-more have indicated they are leaving.

Coach Sean Lewis comments on recruiting:

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Big People beat up Little People…we signed some big lineman

Our 2024 class was a speed class
2025-we identify 3-big talents in our back yard
Want to keep hometown heroes home

We have alot of work to do now to get them into our system
We sold the vision of what could be
As year went along-people realized they could trust our body of work
Tre White production aided us..people saw what we did

Getting kids to enroll early has become key mindset
Be okay with leaving high school early and get our benefits early
Learn the program..time management skills..go to class for first time
Hit spring football practice ‘on the run’

A couple of offensive lineman will be here early
JP Mialovski-QB-will be here early
Getting QB in early
Getting OL early helps with lifting program

Mialovski-elite leader-took Milliken to heights not seen before
Loves to ball on offense
Could challenge immediately for starters job

Offensive lineman can contribute early..want to give them best experience early
We will vet them out once they get here
Both lines are a priority..found 5-OL with ability and upside
The game is won upfront
OT-Jett Thomas-knew about him last year-was top priority
DT-Sidney Dupuy-comes from great program-high ceiling-has grown-great ability DT
RB-Jordin Thomas-turned out to be late commit..keen talent..came from Fresno State
Size-speed-balance..very high

Recruiting is different…every single kid is important…high school to transfer portal
High school class is top platform
Portal becomes our version of the free agency in college football

I have 14-scholarships left to go get more talent
May use 50% of scholarships to get more players here
2-guys out of first 40-have said they are going into the transfer portal
More exit interviews this week

I want football guys here…and I want guys who want a career beyond football
We talk academics alot about their future
Want a 3.0-GPA for our entire team

Want to keep key players here..willing to talk to them-debate them-if they want to leave
May sign more high school players in February

We will be busy in the portal from Day One.
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Aztecs top recruits:

Aztecs..Sign 18-high school recruits…have 14-scholarships left for the transfer portal that opens next week…Top recruits:
..QB-JP Mialovski-Long Beach..(4365Y-47TD)-2 years
..RB-Jordin Thomas-Stockton (1291R-17TD)
..WR-Jaylon Hawkins-Argyle, Texas..(30TD)
..WR-Marcus Mozer-Ft Collins, Colo (25TD)
..DT-Sid Dupuy-Cathedral Catholic (6’6-250)
..OT-Ash Wnetrzak-Sierra Canyon (6’9-360)
..OT-Jett Thomas-La Jolla (6’4-300)
..OT-Delon Craft-Richmond, Cal (6’6-260)
..OG-Ikbahl Kassium-Corona (6’2-295)
..OT-Chase Duarte-Concord (65-300)
..S-Kai Tufaga-Whittier (6’1-190)
..TE-Jacob Alvarez-Murietta Valley..12TD
..DE-Brian Townsend-Las Vegas (6’4-230)
..S-Chase Shumate-Detroit
..LB-Jerry Washington-Glendale-Az (6’3-240)
..LB-Jeremiah Tuileila-Sacramento (6’3-225)
..LB-Et Pritchard-Pittsburg-Cal
..CB-Braylon Cardwell-Spring Valley ()6’3)
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“QUESTIONS WORTH ASKING”

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PADRES..Record setting attendance and revenues the last two years, and yet ownership wants to keep the budget at (170M) even if that means having to remove as many as 5-players from the roster, while upgrading a few other contracts.  Don’t the Padres fans deserve to see the payroll go up considering how they have supported this team two summers in a row, a team that has yet to get to the World Series?

DODGERS…Stunning story, the creative financing they have done, with the revelation the franchise has included deferred money in 7-contracts of marquee players, with a total value owed of 1B-plus dollars that will start to be paid in 2028-thru-2046.  Bills will come due and that’s lots of additional money owed on top of the payroll they will have in those years.  Can they operate with this business model longterm?

ANGELS..Arte Moreno says his payroll for his playoff starved team will go up.  They have been the most active team, bringing in 6-low money fee agents to fill holes on the roster.  Big deal.  None of the signings makes this team a playoff contender, after a 99-loss season.  Why is a rich man always shopping at Dollar General for players?  Sign some quality proven talent?

THE GOLDEN BAT…I hate gimmicks  and this one takes the cake.  Rob Manfred and owners propose a ‘Golden At Bat’..where a team can use one of its best hitters, one time, in a rally, to get an extra at bat outside of his normal spot in the order.  Shohei Ohtani could bat in the 8th inning, then hit out of turn in the 9th one time, to try and win the game.  Isn’t that stretching the integrity of the game too far?

FREE AGENT DECISIONS..They are coming maybe early this weekend.  You excited to see where Juan Soto winds up?  Willy Adames? Corbin Burnes?  Or more excited to see if there is a Nolan Arenado fire sale trade?  Or waiting to see if the Dodgers have another signing or trade to spring on baseball?

JUST ASKING DEPARTMENT…You tell me.  Is it good if we just have 5-big money teams in baseball, with mega payrolls, and 25-other teams just drifting without the chance to compete for the star talent out there?  Does HARD SALARY CAP need to be installed to save the game?

Your turn, your opinions invited.

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