My goal in this job is to tell you what’s happening — to cut through all of the nonsense of modern sports and get down to brass tacks.
But ideally, I would tell you what’s going to happen.
Looking back? That’s not impressive. But accurately looking into the future? That’s next-level.
So let’s give it a shot. Here are three predictions for the upcoming week:
» We’re looking out into the future here, but after two weeks of training camp, it’s Jimmy Garoppolo’s starting quarterback job to lose.
And while I wouldn’t bet on him losing it ahead of Week 1 — Kyle Shanahan seems hellbent on Lance starting on the bench — I do think the competition for the starting job becomes serious this week.
Thank the Kansas City Chiefs’ defense for that.
Here’s the prediction: Garoppolo will only play one series against the Chiefs in the preseason opener on Saturday at Levi’s Stadium. Then Lance will enter the game, with some first-stringers still hanging around.
I imagine Lance plays at least a quarter of football, and the results will be such that no one can deny that he needs to see serious — not special package — first-team reps, setting off some real fun for the remainder of August.
And who said the preseason doesn’t matter?
» I suppose this prediction could become a weekly staple, but the Warriors won’t be making a trade this week.
Of course, there are rumors — and I use that word lightly — that the Warriors are interested in trading for Ben Simmons or Pascal Siakam. And remember Bradley Beal rumors? I suppose those are still floating around out there, too. Maybe this week they have a grand reprise.
Regardless, there won’t be a trade this week.
Even with the Summer League successes of Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody, the Warriors’ two lottery picks, nothing will move on the trade front, because there isn’t much of one.
Perhaps Simmons or Siakam will be moved before the season, but the Warriors aren’t going to be the destination. The team has too many questions about fit with both players and they’re a textbook-perfect case study on the endowment effect, which is where people and businesses overvalue assets that they already own.
If something serious starts to develop, I’ll let you know. In the meantime, Warriors fans, sit back and take ‘er easy — it’s not worth stressing over something that won’t be happening.
» These are the dog days of the baseball season, but this is the perfect time for the Giants to go onto a run. Heading into Monday’s off-day, they hold a four-game lead on the Dodgers and a 7.5-game lead on the Padres.
They need to add at least a game to that cushion by the end of the week.
The schedule works out for the Giants — they have a home-stretch that includes games with the Diamondbacks and Rockies this week. The Giants need four, preferably five, wins from that.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers have three against the red-hot Phillies — in Philadelphia — and the Padres pull the Marlins, who will throw the impressive Zach Thompson and bewitching Sandy Alcántara in the series.
September is going to be brutal for the Giants. The more pressure they can take off themselves now, by beating up on inferior teams, the better served they’ll be.
My bet: they heed the message I know Gabe Kapler is giving them and take care of business.
