Empty-handed; Another GOAT Passes; Sabrina Soars
Sometimes you just have to roll the dice.
Words of wisdom for our local San Francisco Giants, who never seem to land the available superstar.
Remember when the Giants were among the favorites to sign Shohei Ohtani? Or Giancarlo Stanton?
Last week it was Juan Soto, a 23-year old generational talent with over two years of team control left. The Giants were never in serious contention and Soto signed with division rival San Diego, who also picked up Nationals' first baseman Josh Bell, third baseman Brandon Drury from Cincinnati and closer Josh Hader from MIlwaukee.
In a year marked by defensive lapses, baserunning errors, nagging injuries, bullpen failures, and runners left on base, you'd think they might have done something.
But the Giants again came up empty handed at the trade deadline, not even making a deal for their coveted pitcher Carlos Rodon, who in all likelihood will not exercise his player option for next year and go shopping for a bigger contract or a contending team.
So they stand pat at 53-55, fast fading from any playoff hopes.
I hope I’m wrong, but the future doesn't look bright for the Giants. The farm system has only one outstanding prospect, left-handed pitcher Kyle Harrison from nearby De La Salle High School. Assuming Rodon leaves, the current staff has only one legitimate big-time starter, Logan Webb. The position players are either too old or too average.
The problem is, when you try to mix and match a bunch of limited platoon players, it will only take you so far. Last year's group had career years, and every move manager Gabe Kapler made seemed to work beautifully.
This season, not so much.
You're not going to beat Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis and Soto or take down Mookie Betts, Freddy Freeman and Trae Turner with Tommy LaStella, Yermin Mercedes and David Villar.
You're also not going to draw many fans.
The Giants' attendance has been falling, and with good reason. There are no major, "must-see" attractions. Buster Posey is gone. Webb only throws every five days, and usually for only six innings. Brandon Crawford is one of the great defensive players in recent MLB history, but he's struggling at the plate and has been hurt all year.
Yankee outfielder Aaron Judge, a California boy who just might hit 65 home runs this year, is going to be available at the end of the season.
I don't care how much money it takes. The Giants should sign him.
GOAT II: Two days after we lost the greatest basketball player of all time, Bill Russell, we lost the best sports announcer of all time.
Vin Scully, the voice of the LA Dodgers for 67 years, died on Tuesday night.
I have no personal memories or stories to share about Scully, but I join the millions who mourn his passing.
His eloquent, soothing, insightful, lyrical style made listening to a baseball game enjoyable and informative. You always felt entertained, you always learned something, and you always left feeling good about the experience, even if your team lost the game.
I doubt we will see—or hear—his likes again.
Anti-Scully: At the other end of the spectrum from Scully is Pete Rose, who was a great baseball player but is a rather unsavory human being and perhaps the worst broadcaster in history.
On Sunday, during a Phillies' broadcast, Rose sat in with the crew and proceeded in the course of a few minutes to describe the "horseshit" on the field, call a player a "son of a bitch" and reference a "cock-high" fastball.
Earlier, a female reporter asked Rose about his alleged relationship with an underage girl in the 70s. Rose admitted to the affair in 2017 but claimed he thought the girl was 16 (the age of consent in Ohio).
Rose’s response to his questioner: “I’m not here to talk about that. Sorry about that. It was 55 years ago, babe.”
Sabrina Superstar: the WNBA’s newest superstar, New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu, from nearby Miramonte H.S. (Orinda) made history Saturday night by becoming the first WNBA player to record 500 points, 200 rebounds and 200 assists in a single season.
Ionescu, 24, is averaging 17.5 points, 7.1 rebounds and 6.4 assists on 41.6 percent shooting from the field this season.
Earlier this year, she became the youngest player in league history to record a triple-double and the first to record a 30-point triple-double when she recorded 31 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists on July 6.
NIL News: In perhaps the most appropriate NIL deal signed so far, Nebraska wide receiver Decoldest Crawford has signed a deal to become the new spokesperson for SOS Heating & Cooling.
You can’t make this stuff up…
