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Hacksaw’s Monday Bonus Podcast..1:30pm
You Tube Channel-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton
Hot Topics on Table-Stay for Fans Forum
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“THINKING OUT LOUD”
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Lots of Items to Comment On:

PADRES…Finally a few hits, against Cleveland minor league pitchers, and the Friars win a game, stopping this terrible (1-10-1) Cactus League skid.  Gavin Sheets hits a 3R-HR finally.  Jason Heyward with an RBI single.  But then Cleveland’s rookie pitchers retire 17-in a row.  Two weeks out from the start of the season and alot of guys still not hitting.  As good as the starting pitching has looked, especially Nick Pivetta’s back to back shutout dominating outings, Matt Waldron seems lost again.  Two bad outings, and a really poor outing vs Giants (1.1inn-4R-4H-4W-2WP).  Mastering the knuckleball is still not there.

DODGERS…Hit the pause button on Shohei Ohtani’s pitching rehab work, not that there is anything wrong, only that LA wants him to fully concentrate now on ramping up as a DH for the early start to the season in Japan in a week and a half.  The Dodgers, who had 23-pitchers on their spring training staff, admit not everyone is ready for opening day.  Ohtani will not pitch till May 1st.  Dustin May may be headed to the bullpen after rocky outings.  Evan Phillips and Michael Kopech will start the season on the DL-not in the bullpen.  And Blake Snell is right now Blake Snell…lots of pitches..short outings…spring ERA (7.71)

ANGELS..They signed alot of street free agents.  Best so far in spring, longtime starting SS-Tim Anderson-ex Marlins-White Sox, hitting (.280)…P-Kyle Hendricks-ex Cubs-three strong outings in a row…C-Travis D’Arnaud.

YANKEES..Bad news everywhere.  Elbow nerve concerns for pitching ace Gerritt Cole.  Possible season damaging elbow surgeries for Giancarlo Stanton.  Big likely blows in New York.

METS..Juan Soto has praised the NY rotation, but now they have lost Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea for the start of the season.  NY is in trouble

LAKERS….Got bombed in Boston, the start of a tough stretch of games ves the best teams, and now they lose LeBron James with a groin strain.  The LeBron-Luka Doncic pairing looks to explosive, but most of the (11-3) run was against weak teams.  Now they have to go play Milwaukee-Denver-Oklahoma City-Houston without LeBron, and with Rui Hachimura-Jaxson Hayes also ailing.

LAKERS..Can you really compare the Lakers with (53-10) Cleveland, the Oklahoma City crew (53-11), 45-win Boston or even Denver (41W)?

AZTECS..Heading to the Mountain West tourney, as a 4th seed.  A dangerous team right now, if Magoon Gwath is ready for the opening round next Thursday.  A troubled team is they have to play tourney games without him.

UCSD..What a season, going (28-4) and going in as the number 1-seed in the Big West Tourney, and likely no longer a bubble team if they get to 30-wins by Selection Sunday.

USD..What a disaster, the Toreros basketball season.  Steve Lavin goes (6-27) and really needs players and NIL-financial support from the university.

CHARGERS..The roster purge continues.  First Joey Bosa is cut loose.  Now RB-Gus Edwards.  Wonder if OG-Trey Pipkens exits next.  Team has cap room, but also has 26-free agents to resign.  And does not draft till the 22nd pick in the first round.  GM-Joe Hortiz has lots to accomplish.

RAMS..Seems like a sad parting with WR-Cooper Kupp as a high priced cap casualty.  He is no longer a 20M a year player, and will have to rework his deal.  He could be good short term rental for a quality team, but not at the current price tag.

RAIDERS…Trading for Geno Smith-exiled in Seattle?  Wow.  Lots yards, lots of turnovers.  Would you rather have him than Aaron Rodgers or Kirk Cousins.  First surprise move out of what will be a number of moves Pete Carroll and the new leadership will execute.

SDFC…The biggest story out of the gate in MLS soccer, this (2-0-1) record after a road win in Salt Lake City.  What a pickup, the acquisition of Danish forward Anders Dryer, who has 3-goals in 3-matches for FC.
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Hacksaw’s Great Sports Weekend Podcast
You Tube Channel-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton
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“NFL-LET THE BIDDING BEGIN”
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Where will the next Saquon Barkley acquisition come from?
Beware you don’t make a Deshaun Watson magnitude mistake.

The NFL free agent window is about to go up with an array of veteran talent that can help flip struggling franchises.  But for each signing comes a different challenge.

Guys coming off injuries.  Guys facing huge paycuts-unwilling to accept that.  Aging players.  Young players who have not panned out.

Trust me, what the Eagles accomplished with Saquon Barkley’s 2,000-plus yard season is the exception to the rule.  What is happening in Cleveland, a Browns team saddled with an oft-injured Deshaun Watson, grossly overpaid, troubled, now hurt, with salary cap implications for 5-more years, is a real red flag.

Here’s a look at hot names teams will take a look at:

SAM DARNOLD..An amazing first and only season in Minnesota, the 4,000-plus yard-35TD campaign.  But he regressed at the end of the season, and the Vikings illustrious season was washed away by interceptions, fumbles and sacks.  Darnold resemembed the QB who washed out with the Jets than what he was September into December in Minnesota.  Guess the big question, would you spend (35M) a year on his track record?

AARON RODGERS…All things great  appear in the rear view mirror from his Green Bay days.  He wore people out with his attitude and his demands as a supposed New York Jets leader.  He must take a major paycut to land somewhere else with the reality, it might not be his team but a coaches team.

RUSSELL WILSON..A great run with Seattle and Denver but he looks aged, slow, and the late season collapse in Pittsburgh was ugly.  Not much time left on the clock.

DAVANTE ADAMS…He can still play, but it will come at a steep discount price.  Teams need veteran wide receivers and he can catch and run.  He could sign early.  Bet he has choices.

CHRIS GODWIN..He strung together 3-very dominant seasons in Tampa and then saw his 2024 wiped out by a knee injury.  That becomes a negotiating chip for teams from outside . Tampa Bay who wants him back, but the price tag will not be what it once could have been.

TY LOCKETT…Lots of miles on the Seahawks veteran, and likely a short term contract, but 14-yards a catch shows he can still produce despite being north of 30-years of age.

JOEY BOSA…Earned alot of money and was a difference maker when healthy.  But he had injuries in 7-of-9 seasons with the Chargers.  He will take a paycut from his (25M) with the Bolts.  Spirited bidding about to begin.

JOSH SWEAT..1-of two big play Eagles contributors will go somewhere else.  Solid against the run, a speed burst in pass rush mode.  His future still ahead of him.

MILTON WILLIAMS…Might be the best and youngest inside DT to hit free agency.  Surprise Philadelphia could not-did not resign him.  He will get a payday based on promising play.

RONNIE STANLEY…So few left tackles on the open market, because they are the gold standard.  Rock solid but coming off two years of injuries.  But he will get offers to leave Baltimore.

CAM ROBINSON..Former 1st round pick also coming off back to back injury years.  Let go by the Jaguars, then not re-signed by the Vikings.  Who knows?

MECHI BECTON..Hi first round Jets draft pick, who failed, but moved inside to offensive guard and had a very strong season.  Still might be a gamble.

NICK BOLTON..Another player allowed to go on the open market, which means if the Chiefs want him back, the price goes up.  But why not sign him before the window opened?

KHALIL MACK…Steady, strong willed, seldom injured, with one likely last contract  left in his career.  Chargers-Bears may have to battle each other on a final payday.

CARLTON DAVIS..The ex Lions-Bucs cover corner has had injury issues so his longterm value has been reduced, but he can pay.

DARIUS SLAY..One last go round for this warrior but his price will have to come down too  His leadership style carries alot of credibility.  The Eagles elected to go young at the position.

Let the bidding begin.
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Hacksaw’s Great Sports Weekend Podcast-Thursday 1:30pm
You Tube Channel-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton
Hot Topics on Table–Stay for Fans Forum
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“PADRES SEARCH FOR BATS”
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Let’s just be upfront about where the Padres are right now.
Three weeks left in spring training.
A team loaded with talent that is (1-9-1) in its last 11-games

Bringing along their starting pitching slowly.
A team spot playing it’s top players, some of whom are coming off injuries.
A team still searching for pitching depth, the right catcher, and bench guys.

I understand all that, but 3-weeks into the Cactus League, with all these guys getting all these opportunities, the Padres do not have many answers yet.

Checking your scorecard, their scoresheet and AJ Preller’s roster:

JOSE IGLESIAS..The latest tryout addition…has hit in the past..so it is strange to ask why has he been with 7-different teams in his career?

JASON HEYWARD..Trusted vet, good clubhouse guy, but (0-12) this spring after hitting (.211) for the Dodgers.  Is the bat speed gone.

CONNOR JOE..Multi position guy, some abilities at the plate, but (.231) right now.

YULI GURRIEL..Ex Astros-solid bat  there, but the 40-year old is (2-12) so far.

GAVIN SHEETS..Ex-White Sox prospect with some power, has shown little so far with his (.150) batting average

MIKE BROSSEAU…Pinch hitting guy other places, hitting (.238)

BRANDON LOCKRIDGE..Better right now (.250) than last year but who knows?

FORREST WALL..A few homers here and there, hitting (.263) limited ABs.

EGUY ROSARIO..Extra base hit power, but hitting (.174) now, and is out of options

TERSO ORNELAS..Coming off (23) home run summer in El Paso, hitting (.421)..keep this up-he gets mailing address c/o Petco Park.

OSCAR GONZALEZ..the Yankees-Guardians saw flashes of power but still let him go…so far-okay (.348)

ELIAS DIAZ…Once an All Star but right now (.083)-ouch

LUIS CAMPUSANO..Where has all the promise gone (.182)

MARTIN MALDONADO..Brought his glove, airlines must have lost his bats (.000)

YON PERLAZZO..From Korea, maybe goes back there (.167)

MASON MC COY…Good glove, no bat (.083)

Usually you’d say AJ Preller-Mike Shildt would have some decisions to make on these roster spots. These guys have not done very much, and we are halfway thru spring training, when hitting is ahead of pitching.  Tough roster decisions?  These guys may be cutting themselves.

The search continues.

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“HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE HIS JOB”

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Rob Manfred has his hands full, and he has a limited time to solve baseball’s problems.

On your Bingo Card, you can choose from problems from here, there, to everywhere.

TV CRISIS..The loss of (550M) per year from the ESPN-TV contract is a setback, another piece of TV revenue from the pie deleted from all the teams.  Whether Manfred can find new stakes holders to bring more TV money into the pool is open for debate.  How does he convince NBC or TBS to become a key partner and at what price, is a huge question?

STREAMING..The Manfred-led idea of ‘Team 30’, with MLB creating a super network of streaming games might not come to fruition.  The Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Dodgers, all who have record setting TV deals, are not going to give up that money.  The other 25-teams, led by the Padres, may be  the flag carriers for the rest of the teams heading to the streaming deal, but at what revenue price?

THE SCOREBOARD…Baseball has gone from being a 4B-a year industry to a 12B-a year  pie during the Manfred reign.  TV ratings are at an all time high.  Attendance is at the same high water market.  The Pace of the Game rules have made games quicker and more popular.  There are so many things pointing up.

SALARIES…On a year by year basis, the biggest names get bigger contracts annually, whether it is a 700M haul or a 51M per year deal.  The arrow points up too.

SALARY CAP…It works in all the other sports, but the MLBPA is very powerful and likely would never agree to a cap, even if it goes up each year because the gross revenues have rocketed. This arguing point may lead to a shutdown.

THE UNION..Tough negotiations are ahead with a Union already angered at the negativity being thrown out by owners about changing the CBA.  They have publically ripped owners for not spending on free agents in upwards of 11-cities this past off season.  The Union stance ‘this is not about the Dodgers or Mets, it should be about the Twins-White Sox-Marlins-Rays.

SCANDALS..It was steroids then, and PEDs more recently, and now it’s the scary aspect of Gambling.  You can have rules but not every player follows them, knows them or is smart enough to stay out of trouble that casinos and gamblers can bring.

UMPIRING…You might call it a tough game to umpire, the pitchers throw such nasty stuff.  But it is a strike zone that has gotten so erratic, that we now need computers to help the umpires get the right calls, especially at the most important points of the games or the season, the playoffs.  The ABS system looks to be fully implemented within a year by opening day 2026.

GLOBAL BALL…Fans have been mesmerized by the greatness of Ohtani, and the prospects of Sasaki.  Next up figuring out a way to make a truly Global Draft work for players from all foreign countries, whereby corruption disappears, under the table deals cease, and all prospects are playing by the same rules, from refugees in Cuba to hotshot rookies from the Pacific Rim.

HALL OF FAME..Pete Rose is gone but his legacy to the game has not officially been crowned in Cooperstown.  Now the family of the Reds-Phillies legend, fans and baseball writers  want his name taken off the ineligible list.  But if you do that, then what do you do with Shoeless Joe Jackson from the 1919 Black Sox?  How do you handle the legacy of Barry Bonds-Roger Clemens-Mark McGuire?  The name-calling from whatever decision is made will go on for a long time.

EXPANSION..May be next on the horizon.  This commissioner wants to add two more teams before he retires.  What is the right fit?  Montreal, a second chance, Portland, Nashville, Charlotte, where and for how much?

So we all get amped when the Umpire yells ‘Play Ball’ in a couple of weeks.  A new season, but still alot of old problems yet to be solved.

Would you really like Rob Manfred’s job as Commissioner?
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Hacksaw’s Monday Bonus Podcast
You Tube-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton
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“A MEMO TO MLB UNION”
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To: Tony Clark-MLBPA President
Fr: Hacksaw
Re: Do Your Job

Rock solid comments, critiquing, commenting on the failings, shortcomings of Arte Moreno’s ownership of the Angels.

Mistakes, failures, bad injuries, human tragedies.  The Halos have gone to hell, plagued by everything that could happen to this team.

Some of it is Arte Moreno’s impulsive fault.  Others are just the bad luck of baseball, or the sadness of society.

I will let you draw the line of which side you stand on: the Pujols excessive contract; the Josh Hamilton drug addiction; the seige of injuries to Mike Trout; the bad setbacks to Anthony Rendon; the tragic death of Nick Adenhart; the drug overdose death of Tyler Skaggs; the mistakes to deals with Vernon Wells or Justin Upton.

But as long as you are calling people out, let us make sure you call out the ownership of the Miami Marlins, the Pirates, the A’s, the White Sox and a few others.

Your baseball conversations should not just be about the Dodger Dollars and the Evil Empire ways.  Or what the Yankees and Mets have become.

Next up you should study what makes the NFL so amazingly popular.  Competitive balance.

They have a hard salary cap that goes up 24M a year at last check.  It’s all based on gross revenues, that increase yearly, and get shared from the ‘Everyone wins CBA’.

But they have a floor to spending.  Everyone must spend to approximately 85% of the salary cap.

If all these baseball ownership groups, taking in TV and revenue sharing money, had a floor to spending, it would mean alot of quality veteran players would wind up in Tampa-Miami-Pittsburgh-Detroit and other small markets.  And those Tier 2-pitchers and (.280) hitters would make the Marlins-Rays-Pirates and others much better teams.

You would not have 5-big time teams with big names, with the other 25-staggering to survive.  You’d have better pennant races.an lots more hope for lots more cities, rather than the seasons being over before they start.

Quit bitching about a salary cap.  Spend your time finding a right formula for a floor to spending.

I know you are excited at the record contracts the Mets gave Soto and the Dodgers gave Ohtani etc.  But you also represent the 25th man on every roster.  You represent superstars and the mid-level honest hard working veteran too.

Getting them the chance to earn paydays in Minnesota-Milwuakee and other places is part of your job.

You have two years to create a deal that works for everyone.  Don’t be finger pointing at Rob Manfred nor use words like lockout-work stoppage etc.

Go see the NFL-Union lawyers and find out how they got to share the pie with all the owners.  Find a middle ground that has made money for everyone in the NBA, and even saved he NHL.

Help find a solution to the collapsing Regional Sports TV networks.  Find a bond to help create Team 30-Streaming for all teams to share quality TV revenue.

Solve the crisis or corruption in the global game that gets us to a quality International Draft, as complex an assignment as that might be with different languages and federations to work thru.

You’re on the clock.  Two years left to solve this.  And time to call out every other rich owner pocketing money, rather than putting it back onto the field for the fans.

Baseball, a right of passage in America.  Record attendance.  Record Revenue.  Record TV ratings.  Find a way to keep this going.

No more rhetoric.  The words I want to hear ‘Floor to Spending’.

Regards:

Hacksaw
Your Favorite Sports-Talk Show host
San Diego

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