Bold and risky is in the eyes of the beholder. Baseball is often characterized as "hidebound" because there's a lot of predictable actions when it comes to hirings and firings, to say nothing of the rules. I'd actually argue that the rules don't need a big makeover because they're pretty damn good just the way they are. It's people's attitudes that need adjustment.
I'm certainly willing to see how Vitello works out before asking for his head or even offering an opinion. Then again, my consumption of the SF Giants is limited to what I see on TV/streaming and online. I'm not rushing out to buy tickets.
The open questioning of the hire in the press is manufactured because first and foremost, journos have to sell clicks and attract eyeballs. Second, they really don't know how to approach opinion making re: Vitello's hire or even what this says about Buster Posey as the Giants' POBO. That uncertainty makes for some anxiety amongst the scribes and the talking heads. Loosen up, Dexter. You might learn something.
So, journos are willing to let the reading and viewing public guide them. But not before they throw out some factoid and see how people approach it.
I'll have started to form an opinion towards the end of March. I might even have an opinion by the end of May. Then again, maybe not. I might just enjoy the uncertainty and the ride. Let's see what happens.
As Shayna Rubin and Susan Slusser noted in their joint byline article in this morning's SF Chron, NCAA baseball has a 56-game regular season with 4 games a week over a 3+ month period. Compare and contrast with MLB's 162-game regular season with 6 or 7 games a week over a 6-month period.
Yes, the rules of play will have lots of overlap, but the vast differences in the seasons alone, invites skepticism about making the jump to MLB from the college ranks. Add in dealing with players who often earn more than the skipper and there's another level of difficulty.
The 60 some game schedule (these level programs are going to conference and the NCAA tournaments) vs a longer season is a factor.
I was more referring to the fact that in the new college sports arena, just like football and the pros, top level baseball programs have players that are better paid than all but a first round draft choice in the MLB draft will be. Coaches have to budget and manage that, as well as the transfer portal/college free agency.
As to the seasons, while it is still under the radar of most people, they also manage their players' positioning and use in summer leagues, and then there is fall ball. It is NOT the college format you remember from even a few years ago.
We have first hand experience with an up and coming in the minors coach who came back to college, and initially struggled mightily with the step up. And he got his team to Omaha this year, so he is navigating it.
But the increased significance of each game (never mind series) at the NCAA level, where a win % that would put you in the playoffs at any professional level will get you fired in the NCAAs, is a challenge.
Top level college programs have to be looked at differently than they were not so long ago. That doesn't mean this will work in SF, but it is not that ridiculous of a reach, and certainly well worth monitoring.
There's a difference between coaching college kids and professionals. See Pitino, Mike Montgomery, Bobby Petrino, Chip Kelly. Not too many have succeeded in transitioning to the Pros. Baseball may be different so we'll see.
I wonder if this is something Cal football should be doing. Not bringing up a high school coach, but swinging for the fences. Not going with a retread. Though in this case, the Giants aren't even hiring [edited] a pro assistant coaches.
A swing for the HS fences (ie., short). I do not like this idea at all. There was a time when Bob Ladacouer, who built De La Salle into perhaps the greatest HS football dynasty ever, would have his name come up annually for jobs. But he didn't budge, prolly because he knew he had a competitive/talent advantage in HS football that he wouldn't ever approach in college ball.
Top 10-15% HS programs now are still far behind most NCAA programs, but are also still miles ahead of the Gerry Faust days. At the same time, the bottom ~30% of high school is behind those days (glorified after school day care programs, and that is true across the board, not just in premier sports).
The "gravity of Cal football" discussed recently is still likely to result in results ranging from 73-79 and 79-73.
FBI announced in their press conference that players on the "Toronto Rangers" were involved so I'm guessing everyone involved will be free to attend your July 4th cookout.
"The individuals allegedly involved in running the illegal poker games — some of which include members of the Bonanno, Gambino and Genovese crime families — are accused of rigging contests in their favor. Individuals reportedly used secret cameras, contacts that could read marked cards and X-ray tables, among other methods, to cheat other players out of millions.
Billups' presence at those games was meant to legitimize them and make "victims believe that they were sitting at a fair table," New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Thursday. Billups was reportedly aware of the scam, per US Attorney Joe Nocella."
Let’s talk about urgency, Dub Nation. When Stephen Curry hosts Nikola Jokić tonight at Chase Center, we’re watching two transcendent champions in a desperate race against two opponents: the Western Conference and Father Time.
RADFORD, Va. – Five different California men's soccer players scored in the Golden Bears' highest-scoring game of 2025 as Cal routed Radford 6-1 on Wednesday night at Cupp Stadium. Cam Wilkerson got the game-winning goal and Luka Lukic scored twice in Cal's second-to-last game of the regular season.
The No. 5 California women's swimming & diving team is back in the pool this weekend to take on No. 3 Stanford and No. 18 Arizona State in a two-day tri-meet. The first day of the meet, which includes the diving events, will take place at Stanford's Avery Aquatic Center while day two will be the Golden Bears' home opener at Spieker Aquatics Complex.
When Cal junior inside linebacker Cade Uluave looks around this season, he won't see many familiar faces. Uluave is the only member of this year's defense that was among the unit's top seven tacklers last season, while only he and Aidan Keanaaina started at least half of the Golden Bears' games.
The No. 4 California men's swimming & diving team will return to the pool in the star-studded two-day tri-meet against No. 3 Arizona State and No. 8 Stanford beginning Friday. Cal divers Jack Clark, Scott Garman, Joshua Thai and Geoffrey Vavitsas will make their season debut at the event.
Restore the spaces and functions lost in the demolition. If construction has been halted by events unseen, direct the restoration of the East Wing with the funds committed for the ballroom construction. If any contributor objects, they get charged with treason.
Different Car show series that started with me watching Wheeler Dealers during Covid. Wheeler Dealers was a series that started in England for about 6 years before coming to the US maybe around 2017. They buy a car, fix it up, and then sell it for a small profit. They go over looking over what is wrong with the car and then buying parts and fixing it up.
A couple of the mechanics have spun off their own shows, one of which is Ant Anstead that was married to Christina Haack from some HGTV shows and then is now involved with Renee Zelleweger.
It also reminds me of Discovery Channel shows from 20 years ago (?) like Monster Garage and Monster House. Monster Garage has a group of mechanics get an old car, design something with Jesse James, then has a week to build up a car. Monster House gets a group of people to remodel a house. The family moves out of the house, doesn't get a say in the final remodel, and sees it at the end of the week.
Task - [15/19 HBO] Series with Mark Ruffalo as an FBI task force head hunting down some violent robbers. They made him look like a middle aged out of shape FBI guy. At first I didn't even realize it was him.
Greetings from Atlanta SGBear! The Helen Oktoberfest weekend? I'll be curious to hear your thoughts. Good timing for mountain leaf color. Try to swing by Lake Rabun if you can talk your crew into it (Lake Rabun Road has best views/easier driving than Bear Gap Rd)- my favorite area of Georgia, so magical. If you think a possibility, I'll give you a good route.
So far, no. 🤞🏼 Flew out SFO-YYZ on Sat 10/04; returned FRA-SFO on Sun 10/19 with no issues other than the bag arrived two days after I did which was on LH in FRA, not TSA.
Flew through Global Entry (CBP) on Sun, but friends returning thru GE Thurs noted extra passport scrutiny for everyone creating unusually long lines.
Departing SFO-EWR on 11/04 so will be interesting to see if there’s fallout due to this week’s missed paycheck.
I have sailed through TSA. Had a 5 hour flight delay last weekend out of PHX but hard to say whether it was ATC, UA staffing or weather. Likely all three.
I took my son last week to visit UW Madison. Hardly any problems. Both at OAK and Chicago Midway, security lines were very light. We did have a 90-minute delay coming home from Midway, but there was no explanation given for it.
Rank 'em: a good meal, a good night sleep, found pocket money, a Cal victory but underperforming
A good meal, found money, sleep, cal win..there is no pleasing me.
1. A good night's sleep,
2. a good meal,
3. found pocket money, and
4. an underperforming Cal victory.
A ranking that shows my age and increasing skepticism.
1. Cal victory .. any kind
2. good meal
3. good sleep .. most nights so nothing to see here
4. found money .. hardly ever happens
A Cal win, good night’s sleep, good meal, pocket money. For me the first two generally go hand in hand.
PRO
Giants hire TN Vols skipper as HC. Bold moves and big risks are needed to pass the Dodgers and Pads
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46685328/sources-tennessee-vitello-finalizing-deal-giants-manager
Bold and risky is in the eyes of the beholder. Baseball is often characterized as "hidebound" because there's a lot of predictable actions when it comes to hirings and firings, to say nothing of the rules. I'd actually argue that the rules don't need a big makeover because they're pretty damn good just the way they are. It's people's attitudes that need adjustment.
I'm certainly willing to see how Vitello works out before asking for his head or even offering an opinion. Then again, my consumption of the SF Giants is limited to what I see on TV/streaming and online. I'm not rushing out to buy tickets.
The open questioning of the hire in the press is manufactured because first and foremost, journos have to sell clicks and attract eyeballs. Second, they really don't know how to approach opinion making re: Vitello's hire or even what this says about Buster Posey as the Giants' POBO. That uncertainty makes for some anxiety amongst the scribes and the talking heads. Loosen up, Dexter. You might learn something.
So, journos are willing to let the reading and viewing public guide them. But not before they throw out some factoid and see how people approach it.
I'll have started to form an opinion towards the end of March. I might even have an opinion by the end of May. Then again, maybe not. I might just enjoy the uncertainty and the ride. Let's see what happens.
What makes people think that Tennessee baseball (and most programs in the SEC) is not professional baseball just because its in a different league?
As Shayna Rubin and Susan Slusser noted in their joint byline article in this morning's SF Chron, NCAA baseball has a 56-game regular season with 4 games a week over a 3+ month period. Compare and contrast with MLB's 162-game regular season with 6 or 7 games a week over a 6-month period.
Yes, the rules of play will have lots of overlap, but the vast differences in the seasons alone, invites skepticism about making the jump to MLB from the college ranks. Add in dealing with players who often earn more than the skipper and there's another level of difficulty.
The 60 some game schedule (these level programs are going to conference and the NCAA tournaments) vs a longer season is a factor.
I was more referring to the fact that in the new college sports arena, just like football and the pros, top level baseball programs have players that are better paid than all but a first round draft choice in the MLB draft will be. Coaches have to budget and manage that, as well as the transfer portal/college free agency.
As to the seasons, while it is still under the radar of most people, they also manage their players' positioning and use in summer leagues, and then there is fall ball. It is NOT the college format you remember from even a few years ago.
We have first hand experience with an up and coming in the minors coach who came back to college, and initially struggled mightily with the step up. And he got his team to Omaha this year, so he is navigating it.
But the increased significance of each game (never mind series) at the NCAA level, where a win % that would put you in the playoffs at any professional level will get you fired in the NCAAs, is a challenge.
Top level college programs have to be looked at differently than they were not so long ago. That doesn't mean this will work in SF, but it is not that ridiculous of a reach, and certainly well worth monitoring.
There's a difference between coaching college kids and professionals. See Pitino, Mike Montgomery, Bobby Petrino, Chip Kelly. Not too many have succeeded in transitioning to the Pros. Baseball may be different so we'll see.
I wonder if this is something Cal football should be doing. Not bringing up a high school coach, but swinging for the fences. Not going with a retread. Though in this case, the Giants aren't even hiring [edited] a pro assistant coaches.
A swing for the HS fences (ie., short). I do not like this idea at all. There was a time when Bob Ladacouer, who built De La Salle into perhaps the greatest HS football dynasty ever, would have his name come up annually for jobs. But he didn't budge, prolly because he knew he had a competitive/talent advantage in HS football that he wouldn't ever approach in college ball.
Ask Notre Dame how hiring Gerry Faust worked out for them. For Cal, 73-79-4 might be good enough. History suggests it would be.
I would hope that we wouldn't tolerate that kind of wheel spinning in the years going forward.
Top 10-15% HS programs now are still far behind most NCAA programs, but are also still miles ahead of the Gerry Faust days. At the same time, the bottom ~30% of high school is behind those days (glorified after school day care programs, and that is true across the board, not just in premier sports).
The "gravity of Cal football" discussed recently is still likely to result in results ranging from 73-79 and 79-73.
Then this move should check the boxes. Whether or not it pays off is to be seen...
Terry Rozier for betting on prop bets for the unders on his own performance
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/46695228/sources-terry-rozier-arrested-part-gambling-inquiry
Chauncey Billups too
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna239306
This whole thing is crazy. Reports that the FBI has found x-ray tables.
FBI announced in their press conference that players on the "Toronto Rangers" were involved so I'm guessing everyone involved will be free to attend your July 4th cookout.
https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/breaking-news/article/trail-blazers-coach-chauncey-billups-heat-guard-terry-rozier-among-over-30-individuals-arrested-by-fbi-for-alleged-illegal-gambling-120646980.html
"The individuals allegedly involved in running the illegal poker games — some of which include members of the Bonanno, Gambino and Genovese crime families — are accused of rigging contests in their favor. Individuals reportedly used secret cameras, contacts that could read marked cards and X-ray tables, among other methods, to cheat other players out of millions.
Billups' presence at those games was meant to legitimize them and make "victims believe that they were sitting at a fair table," New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Thursday. Billups was reportedly aware of the scam, per US Attorney Joe Nocella."
Preview: Curry’s Warriors face Jokic’s Nuggets in Chase Center
https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/warriors-game-previews/104085/preview-currys-warriors-face-jokics-nuggets-in-chase-center
Let’s talk about urgency, Dub Nation. When Stephen Curry hosts Nikola Jokić tonight at Chase Center, we’re watching two transcendent champions in a desperate race against two opponents: the Western Conference and Father Time.
CAL
We can have "Nyce" things: https://www.psucollegian.com/sports/men_basketball/former-penn-state-basketball-pledge-dionycius-bakare-commits-to-cal/article_a956512c-a709-4a2d-844e-841bc90fba12.html
[MSOC] Cal Routs Radford 6-1
https://calbears.com/news/2025/10/22/mens-soccer-cal-routs-radford-6-1.aspx
RADFORD, Va. – Five different California men's soccer players scored in the Golden Bears' highest-scoring game of 2025 as Cal routed Radford 6-1 on Wednesday night at Cupp Stadium. Cam Wilkerson got the game-winning goal and Luka Lukic scored twice in Cal's second-to-last game of the regular season.
[WSWIM] No. 5 Cal Set For First Tri-Meet
https://calbears.com/news/2025/10/22/womens-swimming-diving-no-5-cal-set-for-first-tri-meet.aspx
The No. 5 California women's swimming & diving team is back in the pool this weekend to take on No. 3 Stanford and No. 18 Arizona State in a two-day tri-meet. The first day of the meet, which includes the diving events, will take place at Stanford's Avery Aquatic Center while day two will be the Golden Bears' home opener at Spieker Aquatics Complex.
[FB] Up For A Challenge
https://calbears.com/news/2025/10/22/football-up-for-a-challenge.aspx
When Cal junior inside linebacker Cade Uluave looks around this season, he won't see many familiar faces. Uluave is the only member of this year's defense that was among the unit's top seven tacklers last season, while only he and Aidan Keanaaina started at least half of the Golden Bears' games.
[MSWIM] No. 4 Cal Returns To Pool For Tri-Meet
https://calbears.com/news/2025/10/22/mens-swimming-diving-no-4-cal-returns-to-pool-for-tri-meet.aspx
The No. 4 California men's swimming & diving team will return to the pool in the star-studded two-day tri-meet against No. 3 Arizona State and No. 8 Stanford beginning Friday. Cal divers Jack Clark, Scott Garman, Joshua Thai and Geoffrey Vavitsas will make their season debut at the event.
POLITICS
You're president in 2028. What are you going to do with the ballroom?
I'm going to hold Stephen Miller's trial in there, and then I'm going to raze it to the ground in the most petty way I can think of.
Or Trump's trial in there. And all of his cronies.
Take out all the gold.
Convert it to some indoor basketball courts for the people?
Oh, goody.
Restore the spaces and functions lost in the demolition. If construction has been halted by events unseen, direct the restoration of the East Wing with the funds committed for the ballroom construction. If any contributor objects, they get charged with treason.
That's my petty goal.
They probably won't have been paid anyways.
Hide classified documents in it.
put the bowling alley back in?
or maybe a nice indoor basketball court. do they have one of those already?
A reminder for "never again"
DBD AV CLUB
Different Car show series that started with me watching Wheeler Dealers during Covid. Wheeler Dealers was a series that started in England for about 6 years before coming to the US maybe around 2017. They buy a car, fix it up, and then sell it for a small profit. They go over looking over what is wrong with the car and then buying parts and fixing it up.
A couple of the mechanics have spun off their own shows, one of which is Ant Anstead that was married to Christina Haack from some HGTV shows and then is now involved with Renee Zelleweger.
It also reminds me of Discovery Channel shows from 20 years ago (?) like Monster Garage and Monster House. Monster Garage has a group of mechanics get an old car, design something with Jesse James, then has a week to build up a car. Monster House gets a group of people to remodel a house. The family moves out of the house, doesn't get a say in the final remodel, and sees it at the end of the week.
Task - [15/19 HBO] Series with Mark Ruffalo as an FBI task force head hunting down some violent robbers. They made him look like a middle aged out of shape FBI guy. At first I didn't even realize it was him.
ELSEWHERE IN COLLEGE
Sac State homecoming show gets a bit dicey
https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/chaos-crowd-lil-yachty-concert-sac-state-shutdown-early/
TRAVEL
Greetings from Atlanta SGBear! The Helen Oktoberfest weekend? I'll be curious to hear your thoughts. Good timing for mountain leaf color. Try to swing by Lake Rabun if you can talk your crew into it (Lake Rabun Road has best views/easier driving than Bear Gap Rd)- my favorite area of Georgia, so magical. If you think a possibility, I'll give you a good route.
So far, getting a morning buzz at the ATL airport has been a success.
Has anyone seen delays due to short staffing of TSA or un/under paid air traffic controllers?
So far, no. 🤞🏼 Flew out SFO-YYZ on Sat 10/04; returned FRA-SFO on Sun 10/19 with no issues other than the bag arrived two days after I did which was on LH in FRA, not TSA.
Flew through Global Entry (CBP) on Sun, but friends returning thru GE Thurs noted extra passport scrutiny for everyone creating unusually long lines.
Departing SFO-EWR on 11/04 so will be interesting to see if there’s fallout due to this week’s missed paycheck.
I have sailed through TSA. Had a 5 hour flight delay last weekend out of PHX but hard to say whether it was ATC, UA staffing or weather. Likely all three.
Recently, most of the issues I've had with UA was flying through Newark to visit HSB and No 1.
No, but this.
https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/local-news/virginia/arlington-county/government-shutdown-forces-tsa-lost-and-found-office-to-close-at-dca/
I took my son last week to visit UW Madison. Hardly any problems. Both at OAK and Chicago Midway, security lines were very light. We did have a 90-minute delay coming home from Midway, but there was no explanation given for it.
yesterday at JFK it was 100% fine. i said thanks to the TSA worker who took my photo.