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Hacksaw’s Thursday Podcast
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“PADRES–CHANGING OF THE GUARD”
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What a week of news with the Padres.
What a reaction in the community.

First the hiring of Criag Stammen as manager.
Now the stunning farewell, with the Seidler Family announcing the franchise is ‘4-Sale’

An ever-changing landscape of activity from the front office at Petco Park.

The announcement comes 48-hours after USA-Today reported the team has money issues.
The decide to sell came months after President Erik Greupner said ownership was here to stay.

Alot of diverse reaction within the first hours after the announcement was confirmed.

The emotion of the fans was everywhere.

MONEY GRAB…The Seidler’s have hiked up ticket prices 57% in 5-years, many believe to recoup all the money that legendary owner Peter Seidler allowed GM-AJ Preller to burn thru.  The 3.43M-fans, a record season, did not seem against paying the prices for the wins  and good times at Petco Park.

FINANCES..I find it hard to fathom they have cash flow problems, but they are facing big pay bumps and long guarantees for 8-veterans.  Not going deep in the playoffs cost them additional revenue the group of years.  The high payroll and the luxury tax adds up.  The big issue, the erosion of the 60M a year TV rights fee years ago, and despite going to MLB, they are getting 50% of those fees in recents years.  That’s alot of money gone missing-yet to be remade.

BETRAYAL..Why the turn-around?  Reality probably.  A non baseball family has decided to exit the sport they have no experience running.  Peter Seidler’s vision of greatness has pretty much arrived, just short of getting to the World Series.  The franchise could bring a massive payoff, in excess of 2B-which is quite a haul compared to the 800M-purchase price when Peter took over control of the team.

FANS & MEDIA…The pushback has been strong and that is understandable, because it is a surprise.  But the Seidler accomplishments have been superb considering what San Diego has experienced in the past decades.

WHAT’S NEXT..Set aside the rumblings of labor trouble in 2027.  Record revenue, attendance, TV ratings, this is now a viable franchise.  This ownership group should call Stan Kroenke, sports empire owner of the Rams-Nuggets-Avalanche-Soccer-So Fi Stadium, to see if he is interested.  Joseph Tsai, owner of the Brooklyn Nets, has expressed interest in baseball.  So has Jeff Bezos.  Anybody want to talk to young phenom Theo Espstien about becoming part of ownership.  You’re not buying Miami-Tampa-Pittsburgh.  This is a red-hot commodity under the Seidler banner.

HISTORY…It should write nothing but favorable reviews of this ownership group.  What they did on the field.  What they did in the community.  It is San Diego’s team.  San Diego’s heart.  The Padres own the town emotionally and financially now.  It is because of Peter’s vision.  History should remember Ray and Joan Kroc, saved the franchise from moving to Washington, DC.  John Moores and Larry Lucchino rallied the team from the terrible Tom Werner era, and the Moores’ money and the Lucchino brilliance brought us Petco Park.  And the Seidler family created an aura linked to big time baseball, big time stars, big money contracts, and big crowds at the corner of Tony and Trevor in the Gaslamp district.

TOMORROW…There is always hope.  There is always next year.  There should be a special thank you for what the Seidler stewardship meant to Padres baseball. The measure of a man is not just what he accomplished but whom he touched, influenced and changed.  Peter Seidler checked off all the boxes.   View him, and them. as ‘Forever Friar Friends’.

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=========Hacksaw’s Thursday Podcast..1:30pm
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“NFL–MID SEASON REPORT CARD”
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We are headed to the final push for playoff spots in the NFL.
A mid season report card of the teams and the divisional races:

AFC-EAST
..Patriots..You knew the culture would change with Mike Vrabel coming in.  Was not so sure we saw the explosive growth of 2nd year QB-Drake Maye and an offense’s growth. (350YPG)..Defensive unit is healthy and robust

..Bills..They seem to have every component to be a Super Bowl team..but too many Sunday’s it seems Josh Allen has to carry too much of the load..Defense has improved…Win over Chiefs impressive.

..Miami..Tua has had an up and down season..devastating loss of Tyreek Hill..Defense not very good…Fired the GM-coach axing likely end of season

..Jets..Disaster of season has led to firesale of a roster..Have stockpiled 8-picks in first and second round over next two years..Has to be a QB coming..Hard to believe an NFL team could have a starting QB throw for 45-49-54 in 3-games this year..that’s Justin Fields’ resume this year

AFC-SOUTH
..Colts..Shocking surprise of season..Daniel Jones looks so different with a good OL infront of him, Jon Taylor at RB, and a miix on defense.  Now they add Sauce Gardner in the secondary.  Could go a couple rounds in the playoffs.

HOUSTON..Half a season to fix a disappointing team..The offensive line is a mess, the run game substandard, and the QB-beatup.  The defense is superb.

JAGUARS..A quick start but injuries have hit and they have tailed off.  Stunning how much Trevor Lawrence has tailed off with a poor QB-rating and now no WR to throw too..Travis Hunter now gone for year.

TITANS..A very tough learning curve season for QB-Cam Ward…You see spurts of great throws, but not enough around him and a new coach coming in the off season.

AFC-NORTH
..Baltimore..Injuries wrecked the first half of the season, now half a season to get healthy and get into postseason.  Can Harbaugh rally this?  Can Lamar Jackson stay healthy?

..Pittsburgh..Aaron Rodgers’ arrival has not meant much..Not alot of playmakers on a pedestrian offense..The defensive secondary has been shabby and aside from sacks, they have not played consistently…Alot of heat on Mike Tomlin.

..Bengals..Typical Mike Brown-Zach Taylor season…Joe Burrow gets hurt-no run game-bad offensive line-turmoil on defense…Nothing changes unless ownnership changes.

..Browns..A disaster of a season-and very little has to do with Kevin Stefanski-coaching..The Black Hole at QB issue continues starting with Deshaun Watson’s injuries-contract..and now the drafting of Dillon Gabriel-Shedeur Sanders…The OL continues to be a mess…Wasting a superb defensive season-again…How about this stat..the Browns have had 41-different starting QBs since 1999’s return of the franchise.

AFC WEST
..Chargers..Justin Herbert vs the World…Season damaged by the loss of both OTs, and injuries to 7-different offensive lineman plus the loss of both top running backs..Good start sidetracked by injuries..How Herbert is still standing is stunning..Tough games still to come.

..Chiefs..Patience has paid off, now the injured-suspended are back..Really need a run game..Defense has rallied back…Might be another Super Bowl run in them…Guess the era is not over.

..Broncos..Mystery team…Fierce defense, sacks, 3rd down conversions…Bo Nix not as explosive in 2nd year and team still missing down the field big plays and need a pass catching tight end…An up and down year.

..Raiders…Massive disappointment…Cannot run football despite Ashton Jeanty..cannot protect turnover prone QB-Geno Smith…Traded away top speed receiver…defense lost alot of veterans on back seven…Not what anyone expected from a Pete Carroll led team.
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NFC EAST
..Eagles..Made 4-trades around the deadline to fill holes they created in free agency…they are now hitting on all cylinders…Hurts-Brown-Smith-Barkley..the Tush-Push OL..cannot be stopped…Defense has re-emerged too.

..Cowboys..Dak Prescott brilliant first half but they don’t play enough defense-so all the big plays to CD Lamb-George Pickett and their TEs are wasted..The deadline deal for Quinnen Williams along with Ken Clarke-helps but secondary is leaky.

..Washington…QB-Jayden Daniels..5-injuries in two years..WR group never got healthy..loss of Austin Ekeler and defense looks like it has quit.

..Giants..There is promise with Jaxson Dart plus Skattebo and Nabers, coming off surgery, but defense has been a disappointment and there will be a new coach coming in.

NFC NORTH
..Lions..The beat just goes on and on for Dan Campbell..What a great roster…Who would think Jared Goff would put up the kind of numbers he has..The defense makes life miserable and they are doing this in a really tough division.

Packers…Jordan Love has grown so much as a leader but now his wide receiver-tight end group is wiped out by injuries…Micah Parsons has added to a great defense…but depth is a problem.

Bears..No one is talking about  Caleb Williams growth but this team has made a big jump with new head coach Ben Johhnson…Power run game, group of receivers and tough defense.

..Vikings..Setback of a season because of the QB-crisis and no one knows if JJ McCarthy is the right guy..Phenom talent in Jefferson-Addison at WR…Defense is spotty too.

NFC SOUTH
..Tampa Bay…What a season of leadership and production from Baker Mayfield even with the loss of virtually all his skill guys, and they are not back..Todd Bowles defense is wicked but not enough offense to go deep into postseason.

..Falcons..Michael Penix competes at QB and with Bijan Robinson-Drake London you think there is a ton of talent to make thius work…But the OL struggles and the defense has not done its job consistently…Maybe a .500-record is the best they can be this year.

..Carolina…Some progress with 2nd year coach Dave Canales…They gave Bryce Young a run game and some receivers and the defense plays hard…Not enough overall talent level on roster.

..Saints…Long rebuilding job coming for Kellen Moore…QB-Tyler Shough gets rest of the season to prove himself…Feels like wasting the final years of Alvin Kamara career.

NFC WEST
..Rams..What a package..Matthew Stafford having an MVP season..with lots of firepower around him…Defense is fierce with all these young draft picks…and the mad man leadership of Sean McVay.

..49ers..What a coaching job by Kyle Shanahan…what a mess of injuries…Some fill in job by QB-Mac Jones but just not enough healthy players…Better roster on IR than on the field.

..Seattle..Is this for real?  They keep playing, keep winning.  Sam Darnold has figured it all out, deep threat speed with Smith-Njiba, can run the ball, and a defense that gets after it.

..Arizona..Awful season again with a QB-beset by injuries…Kyler Murray, Marvin Harrison give you hope, bug they cannot keep people on the field and off IR…Hard to believe they would get rid of Murray at the end of the season, but they have not arrived as a team yet under Jon Gannon.
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“AZTECS-FORK IN THE ROAD”
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Ambush on the Islands.
About the only way to describe what happ[ened to San Diego State at Hawaii.

A ‘1-Off’ for what was a red-hot Aztecs football team.
An ‘aberration’ of a bad game.
Nothing more-nothing less.

Now the whole world is fighting for 1st place in the Mountain West Conference again.

And here comes heated rival Boise State, trying to bounce back from a QB injury, a bad beating against  Fresno State, but with knowledge if they win on Saturday here at Snapdragon, they may have clear sailing the rest of the way to the Mountain West title game.

Of course SDSU has the same path, though a road game at New Mexico and asn explosive San Jose State team lay ahead on their schedule.

Coach Sean Lewis at his weekly press conference:
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Not a great evening out on the islands
End result-have to respond to adversity
Find a way to win lots of different ways

Hawaii passion to play exceeded ours
We are unbeaten at home and chances still ahead of us
We are (7-2)-still in first
Turn the page

Aztecs passing offense struggle
Jayden Denegal limited in practice
Losing Bostic at wide receiver
More teams have us on tape-people are defending us differently
Jordan Napier-have to move him around-get him his touches
He is a known entity
We have to find solutio9ns

Boise is 4-1 like we are..critical important-control our destiny
Must defend our home turf
November…two best in league going head to head

Maddux Madsen-Dylan Riley style
Madsen is accurate…special player…so many reps over 3-years
They run 3-backs at you and play the hot hand
Boise is different now post Ashton Jeanty
They are using 3-backs to replace that generational talent

We did not control the Hawaii game at the level we were used to
It was a bad night
We landed at 8-30am Sunday morning…and back at it

We did not control the quarterback…did not plaster receivers
2nd time this year we did not handle the road  well
15-missed tackles..we did not take proper angles to tackle
They flooded zones with speed receivers
We had pick..a 3-and-out…then it got out of control

We had too many 3-and-outs early in the game
Life in this game. can be tough…we have to grow
Not going to get too high over 12-weeks if win
Be pretty miserable if you got low over losses over 12-weeks

Boise and SDSU historically two of the best in the league for 20-years
Our guys know what BSU stands for in the MWC
Trophy is on the line
Fabric of how we are built excites us
Not let his adversity rock us
Test yourself against the best-Boise is that

Post week Hawaii-shorter prep time for this game
We changed meeting times meetings
Gave team Monday off
Alot of rest on delayed plane flight
Get body clocks ready for practice for Tuesday
Was 20-years since I was on a trip like that distance to Hawaii.

It was like a batch of cranberries on Saturday…some good..some bad.
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Hacksaw’s Monday Bonus Podcast
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“PADRES MANAGER…HOW HE GOT HERE”
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Everybody has a reaction to what the Padres just did.
The hiring of longtime relief pitcher Craig Stammen has triggered reactions in MLB.

The national media is questioning GM-AJ Preller for hiring someone with no managerial experience for the third times in his decade plus tenure running the team.

And local media was surprised to find out Stammen never applied for the job but was convinced by the GM to go thru the interview process, in essence being ‘talked into the job’.

Was it a reach, or is this a find, to hire a 13-year veteran relief pitcher for a job he has never experienced?

An interesting look at the Monday press conference-courtesy of the AP.
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SAN DIEGO (AP) — Moments after Craig Stammen was introduced as manager of the San Diego Padres on Monday, general manager A.J. Preller turned to the former reliever and light-heartedly said, “How’d we get here?”

That’s something Padres fans and many people around baseball have wondered since Thursday, when the Padres made the surprising announcement that Stammen replaced Mike Shildt. Citing burnout, Shildt retired on Oct. 13 after just two seasons on the job, less than two weeks after the Padres were eliminated in the wild card round by the Chicago Cubs.

The 41-year-old Stammen, just three seasons removed from throwing his last big league pitch, has been with the Padres organization since 2017. Preller felt he had enough good qualities and knowledge of the team to make him skipper despite having no previous coaching or managing experience at any level.

Stammen went from helping interview candidates for the job to becoming a candidate to getting the job. He’ll lead a team that’s made four playoff appearances in six seasons and is led by stars Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado.

He retired in August 2023 after it became clear he wouldn’t bounce back from a shoulder injury sustained during spring training. He became an assistant to the major league coaching staff and the baseball operations department, and he said Preller often asked if he wanted more responsibilities in the organization while understanding Stammen was balancing his job with his home life with his wife, Audrey, and their four young children back in Ohio.

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“He was very coy about it at the beginning.” Stammen said. “We kind of got through the interview process, the beginning of it, and then he put the sales kibosh on me and said, ’I really want you to be a part of the process; I want you to think about being the manager of the Padres.’”

Stammen wasn’t sure about moving his family to California. He had numerous conversations with his wife and others and cited Preller’s continued belief in him, without which “I probably would have not gone down the path as strongly as we did.

“Eventually it got to the point where it was a yes for us. We made some family decisions to make that happen. Once we made that decision there was a peace and a joy that came with it and an opportunity that there’s no way I could say no to. That’s where we said yes and luckily enough and thankful enough, I was offered the job and here we are today, ready to make something happen.”

This is the third time Preller has hired a manager with little or no previous managerial experience. Stammen is the Padres’ sixth manager since 2015, not counting interim skippers.

Preller harkened back to what he’s seen of Stammen since his first season with the Padres in 2017, when he was coming off an arm injury and had joined San Diego as a free agent.

“He’s an elite competitor, incredibly hard worker, very prepared and a natural leader and somebody that as a pitcher was able to touch different elements of our clubhouse and be able to bond and connect with different players in that clubhouse over the course of a seven- or eight-year period here in San Diego.” Preller said.

“Craig has a unique seat, a unique lens. He was part of those building teams and then he’s been able to see it through to the playoff teams and the teams that have won 90-plus games here the last two years. He’s part of some really high highs … Craig starting a playoff game, which is definitely a career highlight, and he also had a front-row seat to some of the disappointments of the last few years, and I think he’s going to carry those experiences with him here in this chair.”

Stammen is best known for starting the deciding Game 3 of the 2020 Wild Card Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, who at the time were managed by Shildt. He pitched 1 2/3 innings as the first of nine pitchers the Padres used in the 4-0 win, which clinched their first postseason series victory since 1998.

Stammen said it will be a “challenge for sure. I’ve got a big learning curve ahead of me.” But he said he has a great relationship with pitching coach Ruben Niebla — was interviewed for the manager’s job — as well as with many of the players who were once his teammates.

“One of the advantages of being a relief pitcher and viewing the game from that lens is you’re always monitoring when the pitching changes are coming,” Stammen said. “Especially in the role I had, I had to be ready from pitch one until the end of the game.”

He said he and Niebla will “be a lethal combo” in making pitching decisions.

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=======Hacksaw’s Monday Bonus-Podcast…1:30pm
You Tube-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton
Hot Topics-Stay for Fans Forum
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“MONDAY MORNING MEMO”
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Lots of stories..lots of opinions if I were writing memos::

PADRES..Alot of national mocking of GM-AJ Preller over the hiring of Craig Stammen as manager…Comments like ‘Quit trying to reinvent the wheel’…and ‘AJ-tries for 3rd time to hire a 1st time manager”

DODGERS..Your heart aches when you read the post by Alex Vesia’s wife on the death of their infant child at birth, as the World Series started…How classy of the Dodgers-Blue Jays players to write ’51’ on their hats for the Series as a sign of solidarity for the Vesia family.  Unless you have buried one of your own infants, it is so hard to actually know this grief.  It never ends.

FREE AGENCY…Here comes the next group of Japanese-Korean free agents in baseball.  Interesting to see what the power hitting 1B-3B Kazu Okamoto and Munetaka Murakami turn out to be.  Each have holes in their offensive game.

ANGELS..The painful and dark Tyson Skaggs drug death trial moves into week number three..with Halos President John Carpino and former players likely on the stand.

CHARGERS-STEELERS…That was ugly, but it was a win…and it fit getting your hands duty in beating the Pittsburgh Steelers…it took a 2nd half  run game from Kamani Vidal, a couple of big Ladd McConkey catches, and a continued pass rush that made Aaron Rodgers look old and his offense archaic…the Bolts are (7-3).

AZTECS..An ambush of shocking  proportions at Hawaii…Sean Lewis got ambushed by formations and a move the pocket quarterback; Rainbow recevers were running open all day; QB-Jayden Denegal was awlful (10-27)…and a team that just never looked like the one that brought a 6-game winning streak on the road played awful

USC..Lincoln Riley’s team is (7-2) and still in the hunt for a playoff spot and getting enormous play from its QB-Jayden Maiava, and now backup RB-King Miller and a deep WR group

UCLA..The hopeless season continues with the blowout loss to Nebraska, and just ahead they have to play at Ohio State.  How bad do you think that might be?

INDIANA-OREGON..Find a way to win on the road, and the Ducks and Hoosiers did.  How wild were those last second wins  at  State College and Iowa City.  And thank goodness for modern day instant replay and video reviews.

CLIPPERS-LAKERS…Wow, nothing fits.  The Clippers are (3-6) and virtually none of the 4-veterans they brought in are contributing.  And the Lakers great nights from Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves don’t count for much, when you trail by 30-in Atlanta to a Hawks team playing without 3-starters.

KINGS-DUCKS..What a start in Anaheim..what a disappointment up the road in LA….the Ducks off to a (10-3-1) start and the kids, led by Cutter Gauthier and Leo Carlsson are scoring tons of goals.  And no one is scoring in LA..and Quentin Byfield has had an awful start after his breakout season.

SDFC…What a season for the MLS expansion team as it finished first in the division and marched into the playoffs.  A bit stunning to see  Page 1-of my UT sports section filled with top to bottom soccer stories on SDFC-the Wave and MLS.  Not the Padres, not the NFL, not the wild weekend of college football, but wall to wall soccer coverage…And a great Sunday win sending SDFC to the knockout round next weekend…Job well done for the product on the field and the promotion of SDFC.
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