Left Coast Sports Babe

You think you’re having a bad day. You could have Baker Mayfield in your fantasy football league.

–

It’s been a few years since Sergio Romo left SF to sign with the Dodgers. And while Giants fans will always remember him fondly we won’t miss those hanging sliders.

–

Why I love Jessica Mendoza on ESPN covering baseball. When Max Muncy hit a very high pop fly in the rain, she calls attention to the fact that, maybe because of the weather, he ran it out at full steam, and would have been on 2nd had it dropped.

–

Redskins fired Jay Gruden after an 0-5 start. He was the 5th coach under Dan Snyder, who bought the team before the 1999 season. None of them have had a winning record.
New slogan? “Washington Redskins – a fine-tuned machine owned by a stable genius.”

–

Now James Harden trying to calm the waters after Rockets GM Daryl Morey tweeted support for Hong Kong protestors “We apologize. You know, we love China. We love playing there… They show us the most important love.”
Translation, there is no love more important than the love of $$$$.

–

As NBA genuflects before China and Chinese money who’s in charge of keeping Gregg Popovich and Steve Kerr away from reporters?

–

That moment when your QB rating is 13.4 and it’s still higher than your team’s point total.

–

Well, give Trump credit for some economic stimulus. After Nickelback demanded he take down their song “Photograph” as part of his anti-Biden tweet, Billboard said downloads for the track surged 569%,

–

Marco Rubio, Jim Jordan and Roy Blunt are now saying Trump telling China to investigate Joe Biden was just a joke.
Right, like “Russia, if you’re listening…”

–

One bit of good news for the planet today. Reportedly Jared Kushner will lead Trump’s impeachment defense.

Trump claimed today his poll numbers went up “17% in the past few days.” Is he talking about a poll of the voices in his head?

–

Lots of managers deciding to throw top starters into relief roles in 2019 MLB playoffs. – The Nationals’ Patrick Corbin reminded us, it’s not as easy as Madison Bumgarner made it look.

–

Alden Gonzalez of ESPN pointed out Dodgers against Nats in NLDS Game 3 “had 8 RBIs by players who fell behind in the count 0-2, the most by any MLB team in a game all season.”
And SF Giants pitchers were somehow not involved.

–

Atlanta Braves now saying they “look forward to a continued dialogue with those in the Native American community” after the season. This after Cardinals reliever Ryan Helsley, who is Cherokee, said it was “a shock” to hear the tomahawk chop chant at Sun Trust stadium.
Now, Helsley IS a rookie. But the Braves have only been doing the chop chant since 1991. Can’t imagine how anyone would be surprised.

–

Just guessing anyone who bet on the Saints goal of being 3-3 with Brees out for six games might be feeling okay tonight.   

–

Houston Texans had scored 78 points in 4 games. They scored 53 against Falcons today.
Their offense went through Atlanta faster than Sherman.

–

Ben Roethlisberger, who’s out for the year, was fined $5k ffor wearing an Apple Watch on sidelines. Good to see NFL has their priorities in order.

–

Dallas coach Jason Garrett was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct,in the Cowboys’ loss to Green Bay today, specifically for “abusive language toward an official.”
Owner Jerry Jones’s response “Oh, I hope the little darling didn’t hear something he hadn’t heard before.”
Sometimes I wonder, how has Jones not been offered a job in Trump administration?

–

Wow, Trump sounds so old & over the top unhinged tonight on Twitter half expect him to go outside and scream at Secret Service agents stationed outside to get off his White House lawn.

–

Is there ANYONE who has worked in Trump administration who still has their reputation intact?

Astros pitchers are, mostly,  making opposing batters all look like SF Giants hitters at Oracle Park this season.

Gerrit Cole struck out 15 over 7⅔ shutout innings.  But then Roberto Osuna loaded the bases with no out, gave up a run, walked the bases loaded again with one out, and was pulled before Houston finally won, 3-1.  Maybe mean bitch karma has at least mixed feelings about someone suspended 80 games for domestic violence.

–

Four games into Rutgers’ season QB Art Sitkowski and RB Raheem Blackshear have opted to redshirt, basically meaning this season doesn’t count for them.
You can do that, asked most of the Miami Dolphins?

–

Who knew “next man up” would end up being Stanford’s quarterback slogan? #Nerdnation

–

Wildest story of the morning might be Glenlivet coming up with alcoholic tide pods. By comparison this seems strangely sane in the Trump era.

–

Pretty sure history will be much kinder to Mitt Romney than Donald Trump.

–

Trump now says he “didn’t want to make the call” to Ukraine’s President ” The only reason I made the call was because Rick (Perry) asked me to.” So is he claiming Perry thought Zelensky should try out for DWTS?

–

Trump now blaming former Texas Governor and DWTS alum Rick Perry, saying he “didn’t want to make the call” to Ukraine’s President- ” The only reason I made the call was because Rick asked me to.”
Five words. “Damn I miss Molly Ivins.”  (For those who forget, she called him “Governor Goodhair.”)

–

Susan Collins “I thought the president made a big mistake by asking China to get involved in investigating a political opponent, it’s completely inappropriate.”

So she’s very very troubled?

–

Trump “War Room” on Twitter attacking Hunter Biden for allegedly being paid $50,000 a month by a Ukranian company.
So they’re saying Hunter has to be a fool to take so little money compared to Don Jr, Eric and Ivanka?

As an SF Giants fan, thinking torture is much easier to watch when it’s not YOUR team administering the torture.

–

But NLDS game delayed in 7th in Los Angeles by a beach ball on the field. And some Dodgers fans wonder why SF Giants fans ridicule them.

–

As an SF Giants fan must admit I think Clayton Kershaw is a very decent human being. If Madison Bumgarner signs somewhere else in free agency maybe Clayton can leave Dodgers and team up with him. I could root for that team… (as long as it wasn’t the Yankees.)

–

–

San Jose Mercury news says lawyers representing Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes want to quit because she isn’t paying them. Gosh, and who might have thought Holmes would be dishonest?

–

Agustin Huneeus, a, former Napa Valley vineyard owner was sentenced to five months in prison today for helping his daughter cheat on her SATs and fake being a top water polo player to get her into USC.
One of the wines his winery made… Faust.
#whythereisnosatire

–

“As President I have an obligation to end CORRUPTION.”
Sounds like a great first line for Trump’s resignation speech.

–

This one’s for GOP members of Congress still afraid to say a word against Trump, and especially Bible verse quoting Marco Rubio – from Leviticus 26:36-39
“And the sound of a driven leaf will chase them, and even when no one is pursuing they will flee as though from the sword, and they will fall.

–

It’s after midnight on Friday night and POTUS is not enjoying an evening with his family or watching sports but rather obsessively tweeting about Democratic primary polls. Add Joe Biden to the list of people who lives rent-free in Trump’s head.

Okay, so maybe Trump is a Yankees fan, not a Nationals fan, fair enough. Maybe. But Amy Kobluchar took time to tweet support of her Twins, even though they lost. Trump rants and ignores both NY and Washington wins. #Sad.

How were the Rams supposed to keep a straight face on Thursday night football.

–

Ouch, Braves’ star Ronald Acuna Jr failed to run out a ball tonight that ended up hitting off the wall,  ending up with a single instead of a double.   In an inning where at second base he might have ended up score. Well, not like Braves lost a one-run game or anything.

Oops, never mind.

–

Mets fired Manager Mickey Callaway after he went 163-161 in two years as manager. Orioles fans wonder, did they fire him for overachieving?

–

Watching the Nationals  listless performance today you’d almost think they won a big game the other night, celebrated and then flew cross country….

–

Maybe we should bookmark this when we have a Democrat back in the White House. Mike Pence today “The American people have a right to know whether or not the vice president of the United States or his family profited from his position.”

So Jacob Wohl comes out with this story about a 24 yr-old Marine who had sex with Elizabeth Warren. And Warren has gotten #Cougars2020 trending. Have never liked Elizabeth more.

–

Nobel Peace Prize will be announced next week and British oddsmakers have made Greta Thunberg the favorite. This will make Trump so angry he may start a war.

–

Trump is now retweeting himself. This remake of “Sybil” really s*cks.

–

We’re going to have a nationwide whistle shortage. #IRSWhistleblower

–

Trump this am. “China should start an investigation into the Bidens because what happened in China is just about as bad as what happened with Ukraine.” Meanwhile, China has approved over 30 trademarks for Ivanka, including clothes, child care centers, & yes, voting machines.

Forget a pardon, maybe the lure we really need to get Trump out of the White House is to promise him the biggest resignation parade in history

When a team makes postseason, an exaggerated number of people will claim they were hard core fans who showed up all season. So with Rays wonder if we’ll hear that from over 100 people?

Rays payroll on Opening Day 2019 was $60 million. To put that in perspective it’s about what the Tigers and Mets paid for just Miguel Cabrera and Yoenis Céspedes.

–

Maybe the Rays are onto something for motivation, if the team ends up with a World Series share it might double most players’ salary.

–

Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin wants kids to participate in “Bring Your Bible to School Day. “I would encourage you, please, don’t just bring your Bible to school, but read your Bible. Bring it, share it with others. If you have an extra Bible, bring it and share it with somebody who doesn’t have one, who maybe has never read this book.”
And presumably Jewish kids bring their Torahs, Mormons bring the Book of Mormon, and Muslim students bring their Koran?

–

From my Twitter friend Bridget…. “Trump walked out on the President of Finland because as any woman he’s ever been with would tell you, he’s always done early and he’s never around for the Finnish.”

–

Latest investigation of House Oversight Committee is alleged big prepaid bookings of room blocks at Trump hotels – including by a foreign government – where guests never showed up, but the hotels got to keep the money. And presumably resell the rooms.
So it isn’t enough that Trump DC is the most overpriced hotel in town?

–

Who’d a thunk, especially SF Giants fans, that in the NL Wild Card game,  Drew Pomeranz would outpitch Josh Hader?

–

Weird bit of baseball trivia. Nationals manager Dave Martinez signed with SF Giants for 1993, and was released after 2 unremarkable years. Of course the other free agent signing for Giants in 1993 worked out okay… Barry Bonds.

–

Wonder how Bryce Harper felt watching tonight’s NL Wild Card game?

–

As an SF Giants fan thinking torture is much more fun to watch when it’s some other team’s fan base.

–

A vendor at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium was arrested for using a skimming device to charge a fan $724 for two beers during Sunday’s Chargers-Dolphins game.
$724 for two beers?! That’s almost as big a ripoff as the thousands of $$$ the 2019 Dolphins are charging for season tickets.

–

Ohio State AD Gene Smith said he is against the Fair Pay to Play Act. Maybe since Urban Meyer is gone he doesn’t think his football players will have any need for bail money.

–

Coke is going to start selling “Coke Energy” in the US, with four times the caffeine of regular coke.
Can we all pray they don’t put it in 7-11 soda machines where they sell the “Big Gulp?”

–

A man with a sword killed one person and injured 10 others in an attack at a vocational school complex in Kuopio, Finland.
Imagine the death toll if he had a gun.

–

Ex-Police Officer Amber Guyger found guilty of murder for killing her neighbor Botham Jean in his own apartment. A really sad story. Also sad, as obvious as the case seemed, that it was surprising they actually convicted her.

–

Trump keeps talking about his “perfect phone call.”
If he wants Americans to hear a really perfect phone call, can he call Pelosi to resign?

No tweets from Trump congratulating the Nationals on their dramatic wild card win. He’s probably upset they’re stealing attention from him.

–

Trump tweeting for Louisiana Republicans to vote for either of 2 “Great” GOP challengers to Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards on Oct. 12, “which will lead to a runoff.” If Edwards gets 50% he wins outright.
But if 2 GOP challengers split vote, this increases the chances of no runoff. #Stablegenius

–

Now NY Times is reporting that Trump wanted migrants shot in the legs to slow them down.
Yeah, I can tell why “evangelical” Christians adore this man. #JesusWept

–

Guess it never occurred to Trump if the Democrats were capable of pulling off a civil war or a coup, they’d have been capable of winning the 2016 election?

Worst thing about tonight, without an MLB tie-breaker game, is that a no baseball night is a preview of a long winter.

–

Washington Nationals hosting Wild Card game tomorrow. Since Trump hasn’t praised the local team for making MLB postseason can only assume someone told him manager Dave Martinez is Puerto Rican.

–

Looking ahead, the Bengals play the Dolphins on Dec 22. So sounds like this year Americans will be getting their Christmas turkey early.

–

My friend Scott Russell pointed out that signing Bryce Harper for $330 million helped the Philadelphia Phillies to a “fourth place finish of 81-81, a vast improvement over last season’s third place finish of 80-82.”

–

Angels have fired Brad Ausmus, and there are rumors that they are interested in Joe Maddon. But really, Joe Maddon, the man who loves complicated switches?
To quote “Little Big League” .. It’s the AL, they have the DH. How hard could it be? #Boring

–

Pac 12 and NCAA apparently not happy with California new law. “This legislation will lead to the professionalization of college sports and many unintended consequences related to this professionalism.”
You mean it might jeopardize the conference’s $3 billion TV contract?

–

For those who need a definition of “First World Problem.” – from SF Chronicle article about morale problems at Uber: “Starbucks showed up in coffee dispensers, and craft coffee from Stumptown, a roaster based in Portland, Oregon, went away.”

–

Jeff Flake wrote an op-ed urging other Republicans not to vote for Trump’s re-election “My fellow Republicans, it is time to risk your careers in favor of your principles.”
If only Flake had ever been in a position where he could have, you know, cast a meaningful vote against Trump?

–

First Ukraine, now Australia.  Maybe Italy and England.  Anyone got bingo cards for “Trump foreign government coercion?

–

Apparently the nomination of Chuck Cantenbury, Trump’s pick to head ATF is in jeopardy. Because GOP senators say he isn’t pro-gun enough? For the last 16 years, Cantenbury has only been President of the National Fraternal Order of Police.
Amy Kobluchar said Trump is afraid of the NRA. He’s not the only one.

–

They really have no shame Fox News headline ” Joe, Hunter Biden seen golfing with Ukraine gas company exec back in 2014.”
As Trump and his sons not only are seen at his resorts, they have our military and other foreign leaders pay to stay there….

–

Maybe it would be easier at this point to have a show of hands from all the foreign leaders that Trump HASN’T asked for dirt on opponents