Are the Lakers a Playoff Team?

The Lakers hit some roadblocks during the last week or so as they have stumbled against the league's elite -- the San Antonio Spurs and the Golden State Warriors.  After playing the Spurs in a tight game (the Lakers were within 4 points during the 4th quarter), the veteran Spurs were just too good and too solid for the young Lakers.  The Lakers rebounded by beating Russell Westbrook and the OKC Thunder at home, with Nick Young hitting a game winning 3 pointer with seconds left to thwart a rather gallant comeback by the Thunder.  But then injuries hit, with D'Angelo Russell tweaking his left knee, Julius Randle with a hip pointer, and Nick Young with a bruised, nearly broken toe.  Ultimately, 2 more losses back to back against the Warriors in Oakland and then back at home at the Staples.  Angelenos are pretty sure this is just a temporary slide due to injuries so we won't get too concerned.  It will give other a shot to step up from the "bench" and succeed, such as Jordan Clarkson and Brandon Ingram.  Clarkson has already proven himself but Ingram really has a chance to gain some solid experience.  He hasn't shot particularly well, but has defended really well and made very good passes.  I don't think anyone is really noticing his point production too much because he has looked very much like he belong on the court.  I'm looking forward to him continuing to succeed because this Lakers team is fun to watch! Going into tonight's game against the Atlanta Hawks, they are 8-9 and out of the top 8 in the West by a hair.  Once their guys get healthy, anything is possible. Go Lakers!

Excitement in Laker Town

Despite tonight's loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Los Angeles Lakers have given Angelenos a taste of the future in their young core of players.  Their new free agent additions of Timofey Mozgof and Luol Deng, combined with the young nucleus of Julius Randle (former no. 7 pick), D'Angelo Russell (former no. 2 pick) and Brandon Ingram (recent no. 2 pick), and the Lakers are rolling.  Their bench is one of the best in the game today, with Lou Williams (former 6th man of the year) and Jordan Clarkson leading the 2nd team.  Ingram is coming off the bench and learning from Deng, who was brought to the Lakers to help manage the locker room and to provide a steady, consistent voice and reassurance to these young Lakers.  A nice surprise has been Nick Young, whom many thought would have been shipped off to another team during the offseason given his "issues" with Russell.  Young has been terrific, providing an accurate 3-point shooter to the team's first unit and...surprise surprise....lock down defense?  Credit that to new Lakers head coach, Luke Walton, who has been fantastic in his first 11 games, going 6-5 to start the season.  These Lakers are not an easy W for any team and I look forward, along with all other Laker fans, for a great season to come!  Playoffs?

Wrong

Apparently, I was wrong.  I've been wrong before -- sure.  But this time, I had the backing and justification to support my mind-set.  The SF Giants in 2016 were the best and worst team in the major leagues.  How many teams can you say that about?  But they had a core of players who were part of 3 World Series wins in the previous 5 seasons (2010, 2012 and 2014). Not only was 2016 an even year, they had a legendary coach in Bruce Bochy who is generally regarded as one of the best at managing a bullpen.  In today's baseball, it's tough to win a World Series, let alone 3 in the last 5 years.  Consistency, experience and grit are some of the key things needed to win. But on top of that, a little bit of luck doesn't hurt.  

The Giants were down 1-2 to the Chicago Cubs in the NLDS after defeating the NY Mets in the wildcard.  With a lead of 5-2 going into the top of the 9th inning, Bruce Bochy decided to pull Giants left-handed starter Matt Moore, who pitched superbly in the game, and opted for his bullpen to give his starter a much deserved rest.  Given Bochy's pedigree and experience, few doubted this move.  At least initially.  The Giants were at home, had the momentum on their side, and were already packed and ready to go to Chicago for the game 5 in this best of 5 series.  3 more outs and this one was on to Wrigley.  Unfortunately, the baseball gods were not on the Giants, as 5 relievers combined to give up 4 runs and ultimately, the game.  This time, the Cubs moved on and the Giants unpacked their bags.

I should have known that their league worst bullpen would fail them yet again.  It was as if the writing wasn't on the wall during the 2nd half of the season.  Torture they are.  But they will be back in 2017 with an overhaul of their bullpen and eager to convince the rest of the league that they still have unfinished business.  Once a fan....always a fan!

Up Against the Ropes

Just when everyone is about to count out the SF Giants, the Giants respond.  They have done the unthinkable during their last 3 World Series runs, winning several series where they were down 1-2 (in a best of 5) or 1-3 (in a best of 7).  This is the torture the Giants put their fans through.  As they won their last 4 games of this year's regular season to put them in a position to win the Wild Card, then actually win the Wild Card on the heels of the legendary Madison Bumgarner.  Bumgarner threw a gem in a 3-0 complete game shutout over the NY Mets.  The Giants seem to play their best baseball when they are up against the ropes -- when everything is on the line.  This is the difference between the Giants and every other team in major league baseball.  Admittedly, I acknowledged that the Giants were terrible in a post last month.  I meant it.  But I knew better than to count out the Giants from the playoffs.   With Bumgarner out to pitch game 3 against the Cubs and Bruce Bochy in the dugout, being down 0-2 doesn't seem to bother me so much.  I know they will come out to play on game day.  Win or lose, the Giants won't go down without a fight.

So....go Giants!  Do what you gotta do and just get it done.  Let's win our 4th ring since 2010!

NL West is Heating Up!

The MLB season is winding down over the next week.  My last few posts have been pretty negative on the SF Giants.  The fact is, I'm just bitter.  They were supposed to be so much better this year than they have played.  Don't get me wrong, the baseball season is a long one and it is extremely difficult to maintain momentum for the full season, but that is the mark of a successful and winning team.  This is simply not the Giants year and that is fine.  It is an even year and it should have been (as superstitious yet equally silly as that sounds), but it looks like another team will take home the trophy this year.  For a current look at the standings and wild card predictions, go no further:  NL West Wildcard.  Perhaps we do have a chance, but I'm not holding my breath.  I will do my best to keep calm.

The Giants Are Terrible

I can't watch anymore.  Too much torture is okay when you're winning, but the Giants have simply found a way to outdo themselves.  So unless they sweep the Dodgers this week, they can pretty much kiss their season goodbye. In what was supposed to be a promising season with key pitcher acquisitions (Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija), the Giants seemed to have given up.  I am losing hope, so much that I actually was invited to go to a Dodger/Giants game this week at Dodger stadium and declined.  Don't get me wrong - I love the Giants and always will.  I'll never love another baseball team more than the Giants, but I just can't watch them anymore this season.  Right now, they are probably snickering in their locker room about how they're going to win the rest of the games this season and show everyone how little faith we have.  I wish that were so, but if so, why be so dramatic?  Just win regularly like every other winning team.  It's much easier to stomach their season.  The Giants Are Terrible.

Oh, and by the way, it's time to bench Santiago Casilla!  He has been horrible!!

Somebody read my mind!

Right Where We Want You

I admit that I'm an optimist.  I filter out the bad and look for anything good that can be used to explain why something may or may not happen.  Why focus on negativity when all it will do is bring you down.  Ok, so now that all of that is out of the way, I want to focus on the 2016 San Francisco Giants.  My favorite life-long team, I have followed them through thick and thin since I was a child.  From 1B Will Clark to LF Barry Bonds to C Buster Posey to SP Madison Bumgarner, there have been some legends to don the black and orange.  I even omit Hall of Famers Willie Mays and Willie McCovey from this conversation because they were a bit before my time.  So the question is, where are the Giants going this year. At the All-Star break, the Giants seem destined to win another World Series in what would be their 4th since 2010.  Something superstitious about even years, having won 2010, 2012 and 2014, the Giants were devouring every team in their path, leading the majors with a 57-33 record in the first half.  Since then, they have fallen out of first place by going 20-32, and that is after just sweeping the last place Arizona Diamondbacks.  What has happened to them?  Their roster is solid and they still lead the wildcard, but they have seemingly lost their balance and their mojo.  Their offense stalls when they need to score a run and their bullpen falters when they have the lead.  They have lost too many 1-run games in the 2nd half and just have not been able to find the answer.  The Giants are simply slumping and have lost their way.  Or have they?  The Giants usually like to torture their fans when they win.  Why win convincingly when you can make the games more interesting?  Who will be the guy to step up this year?  Their last 3 titles were won because of gritty performances from unexpected contributors.  From my vantage point, I think the Giants have the national league right where they want them.