San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
Tatis deal good for Padres, city and baseball
Sez Me …
Peter Seidler is not some imprisoned criminal collecting unemployment checks.
(Jealous?) Critics are wondering why and how the Padres’ owner can be doing what he’s doing, spending like a hoodlum with a stolen debit card, in the nation’s 27th-largest market, Mayberry By The Sea.
Simple. He wants to, and he can.
It used to be every day was Black Friday for the Padres. Standing in line at Wal-mart. Rummaging through Gimbels basement and consignment stores, looking for bargains — or maybe a five-finger San Diego Discount. Farm barren.
Now, just like that, they no longer are Fred Mertzes and Jack Bennys, but strolling Rodeo Drive, and not window shopping. Money burning holes in the pockets of their Brunello Cucinelli slacks, they’re going in. And buying.
Playing off George Costanza: Is that wrong? Are they outkicking their coverage?
What?
Just what do you want, people?
With the $340 million extension of effervescent Fernando Tatis Jr., coupled with the $300 mil thrown two years ago at Manny Machado, the Pads now have more money invested on the left side of their infield than they did in combined player salaries for the first decade of this century ($571 million, or thereabouts).
But of course, because we have become a nation of fools, not everyone can be happy about it, as though their taxes have been raised.
I’ve actually heard from media people desperate to look more stupid than they usually are, that the Tatis deal is “bad for baseball.”
Why? Is it because the great majority of MLB teams sat on their wallets this offseason and did absolutely nothing to even attempt to improve themselves?
Sure, COVID sucked millions out of franchises in 2020. But the owners are billionaires. If they don’t like it, they should get out of the business.
I’ve heard it’s bad for the Padres.
How?
The Padres no doubt lost millions in 2020. Seidler may not be the richest boss in baseball, but he can bear this, lifting the team’s 2021 players salary to $180 million or so — or he wouldn’t be doing it.
Think of it as house hunting. You see one you can afford and another you can’t. Which do you buy?
People get upset when their teams don’t spend money and then complain when they do.
Get over it. It’s not your dough.
The Pads have had so many owners who have pinched quarters hard enough to splinter Washington’s teeth. Now it’s: “Who’s this guy with the nerve to spend like a sheikh?”
We’ve had the C. Arnolt Smiths, Tom Werners and Jeff Moorads. And the Spanoses and Donald T. Sterlings.
That was better?
I’m sure there are former Padres GMS and managers who are losing it over what’s going on now. Most never had a chance.
We should have a parade for Seidler, who doubles as a champion for the homeless.
Of course the great majority of fans are thrilled about Tatis, knowing the game’s most exciting personality could be here for his ballplaying life.
Mr. Padre, Tony Gwynn.
Señor Padre, FernandoTatis Jr.
This is an incredibly good thing for the Padres, San Diego, and I can’t fathom why it isn’t good for baseball.
And, remember, they have a whole lot of produce remaining on the farm. Preller never stops maneuvering, and has taken full advantage of the passive and penurious franchises.
Small market be damned. As Seidler says: “There’s nothing we can’t do.”
Owners here rarely have dared to be great. Peter Seidler is double-daring everyone in his path — especially the team 120 miles north . ...
People wonder if Tatis can be the face of baseball playing in this market. Well, Mike Trout, universally considered the best player, works in the nation’s secondlargest market, and nearly 100 percent of the American people wouldn’t recognize him if he walked into their house. …
As great as he is, Trout doesn’t have the Tatis flair — or personality . ...
Tatis has six tools — he can hit for average, power, field, run, throw, and matinee idol — but he’s played in 143 games. The least we can do is hold off hiring a sculptor for the statue. …
If Tatis comes close to reaching his potential, by the end of his term his contract will be chump change. …
LT, Ed Reed, Troypolamalu and Steve Hutchinson are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. They all began their NFL careers after Tom Brady entered The League. …
Russell Wilson wants to remain a Seahawk but presents a list of teams he’d be willing to delight with his presence. We have inflated the quarterback position beyond the size of their heads. …
Know how many QBS have won Super Bowls in this century? Twelve. …
Leaders don’t quit . ...
Bill Polian says when he ran the Colts he had a first-round grade on Brady. So why not take him in the fifth round? What a crock. …
Unable to come up with something suitably racist, the Washington Football Team will keep its name for another season . ...
Stink O’ The Week Sezment: Quarterbacks are being taken advantage of. No one making $40 million doing anything is being taken advantage of. Donnas, Primas. …
QBS are like Jimmy Carter, lusting after other women . ...
From Jim Trotter: “Ten of the 32 NFL head coaches are sons, fathers or brothers of current or former NFL head coaches.” ...
The Mountain West might be worth leaving even if it means you have no one to play. …
RIP, Doug “Moosie” Wilkerson. A terrific player on probably the most underrated offensive line in NFL history . ...
Players hate going to the NBA All-star Game — as they should — and get upset when they’re not invited. …
To think: Some NBA “experts” actually think the Lakers are better off without Anthony Davis.…
About Lebron playing too much. In 1961-62, when Wilt averaged 50 points a night, he also averaged 48.5 minutes a game . ...
I watch little NBA, but Utah has the best record because it actually plays the best basketball. …
We’ve got raw sewage continuing its flow into the ocean off San Ysidro, but we’ve put a rover on Mars, where I assume pollution is minimal (although maybe not by the time we get through with it). …
No, but Ham & Eggers and Bicycle Mayor II needlessly run bike lanes up W. Washington Street hill and remove valued parking places serving India Street’s restaurant row. …
They say it takes between 90 seconds and 4 minutes to determine whether you like someone. No wonder strangers don’t talk to me very long. …
So Sacramento’s Ham & Eggers will consider a proposed law ordering department stores not to separate toys, clothes, etc. by gender? Whatever minds we have left have been lost. …
Meanwhile, they’re distributing COVID vaccine by pack mules. Priorities, you know . ...
Japan has appointed a Minister of Loneliness. I assume he will have no staff.