Notes on My Sports Teams

San Francisco Giants second baseman Joe Panik has agreed to a contract with the team. I was a bit worried that my guy from the Hudson Valley New York area would sign with another club.  Joe has contributed not only his impeccable infield skills to the team, but he brings that ol'skool blue collar type of player who would play the game for peanuts. 

The 27-year old is far from the kid who joined the team in 2014 and helped them earn their third world series championship in a five year period. The kid is now a veteran with a calming presence in the infield. He's a part of the winning chemistry that makes the Giants a threat to win it all every year.

There's a time to move on from aging players who's skills begin to diminish after giving they're all to a team. Joe Panik is not in that bracket of players just yet. I'm so glad the Giants organization see the benefits of keeping the kid and trusting in his great baseball skills. Every team needs a kid like Double Play Joe; one who seems to never get old and plays for the love of the game. 

To be honest I believe we have two; Hunter Pence, the loveable Giant that all us fans will hate to see go someday, is still a Giant as far as I know. Pence is the will and soul of this team. He's starving and ready to go hunting for another championship this upcoming season.  

Giants also welcome third baseman Evan Longoria to the 2018 lineup. Longoria is 32-years old but still has some pop in his bat and one heck of a glove.

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Cable

Marvel Comics

Oakland Raiders Install Cable.  That's right Raider Nation, the Raiders have brought back two former head coaches for the 2018 season. Newly announced head coach Jon Gruden will be installing Tom Cable as the new offensive line coach of the Raiders. Cable has been with the Seattle Seahawks since being cut by the Raiders after the 2010 season. He's a reputable O-line coach and someone who's worked with other Gruden hires. The fact he was in Seattle during Marshawn Lynch's beastly runs there is hopefully a hint that Beast Mode will be returning to the Raiders next season.  Welcome back coach.

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Golden State Warriors, with Steph Curry, blow a 27 point lead but find a way to hold off the resurgentToronto Raptors in a 127-125 victory. Another impressive game from second year forward Kevon Looney. The Warriors got careless in the second half and let up off the gas. That gave the Raptors, with always dangerous shooting guard DeMar DeRozan (42 pts), enough fighting fuel to make a run and force the Warriors to scrap and claw for every basket and rebound the rest of the way. It also made Warriors coach Steve Kerr raise his level of intensity  and re-ignite a fire in his players that had been almost totally extinguished in the second half. The Warriors barely pulled this one out. It was good to see them muscle their way toward victory.

Warriors have improved their season record to 35-9, best in the NBA.