Scrambling Time

 A few days into free agency and the Golden State Warriors are into scrambling mode.  They've lost Klay Thompson, and they've let Chris Paul go. They failed to complete a meaningful trade.  They've picked up a prospect and a couple of role players but nobody who can replace either of those players, or their roles.  They are going to save some money, though.

So the Warriors are more or less officially a team in transition, both in terms of next year's competition and the team's identity.  Klay was a big part of both, even though in some ways he was becoming a liability. The Warriors won't be the same without him.  Klay may win a ring with the Mavs, he may even turn into their Robert Horry, but he's not going to be happy in Dallas.  I doubt he'll be in the league at all in two or three years.  I hope I'm wrong.

If the Warriors' goal is to extend Steph Curry's career and help him win at least one more championship, things right now seem to be going in the opposite direction.

The Giants are scrambling, too, at least at the front office level, as they reportedly are deciding whether to go into rebuild mode or maintain their core players and compete for the playoffs.  Recently however they've been doing remarkably well on the field for a team that has lost most of its starting pitching to injuries.  These bullpen games are mostly working, and they're seeing some young prospects.  

Is it my imagination or are there more and more injuries in baseball?  This is hurting not only the pitching staff but the lineup, with guys coming back and going out so much that you can't get a fix on the team.

So soon after Willie Mays, comes the death of another Giants great, Orlando Cepeda.  I remember him from his rookie season through the early 60s.  Like Mays, he went on after the Giants to help other teams win championships, despite nagging injuries. He was the first player from Puerto Rico to play in the All-Star Game.  Roberto Clemente was probably the second.

Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Pirates are doing well, behind some exciting young pitchers.  Cutch seems to be thriving at last.