The Peterson Principle: 8/29/2016

Tim Peterson

Tim Peterson

By Tim Peterson

With the high school season now underway it’s going to be all football all the time. But first a quick word on baseball. Just need to get this out of the way.

I didn’t like the Dodgers’ A.J. Ellis deal at all. It doesn’t matter If Carlos Ruiz was batting .400, the intangibles that Ellis brings to the table don’t show up in a box score. To a man, every player on the Dodgers related to Ellis, including Clayton Kershaw, who was reportedly his best friend. He was the ultimate clubhouse guy, giving the younger players advice and the older players encouragement.

Joe T.'s High School football novel is available through Amazon.com “A literary snapshot of what goes on over the course of a high school football season…an awesome read and a story that truly will transcend time.”—Jim Singiser, AD/HC Arroyo Knights Football “Thrill, dread, anxiety, love, agony, success, and failure; basically all the emotions you feel as a football player/coach as you do in life, all wrapped up in a single book.”—Marc Paramo, HC Rosemead Panthers Football “I read the book and really enjoyed it a great deal. I would think coaches and parents could Learn a lot.”—John “Coach” Kentera, former sports talk host at Mighty 690 & Mighty 1090

Joe T.’s High School football novel is available through Amazon.com
“A literary snapshot of what goes on over the course of a high school football season…an awesome read and a story that truly will transcend time.”—Jim Singiser, AD/HC Arroyo Knights Football
“Thrill, dread, anxiety, love, agony, success, and failure; basically all the emotions you feel as a football player/coach as you do in life, all wrapped up in a single book.”—Marc Paramo, HC Rosemead Panthers Football
I read the book and really enjoyed it a great deal. I would think coaches and parents could Learn a lot.”—John “Coach” Kentera, former sports talk host at Mighty 690 & Mighty 1090

It’s not like the Dodgers were struggling. They had overtaken the Giants in the N.L. West. Why break up the chemistry for a catcher that is already 37 years old and most likely will be gone after the season anyway?

Chemistry. Some say it doesn’t matter but wasn’t that part of the reason that the Dodgers shipped Yasiel Puig to Oklahoma City? Apparently nobody liked Puig. Everybody liked A.J. Ellis. I don’t get it.

Okay, now on to more important stuff.

**

First game jitters were evident all over the place this past weekend. There were seven turnovers at the Northview-Charter Oak game including four by the Chargers. Despite winning big Los Altos coughed it up twice and San Marino once and in the Arroyo-Covina contest, which apparently resembled a cat named Frankenstein, the Knights alone gave the ball away seven times. Yes, seven times. I’m sure Jim Singiser’s team heard about that loud and clear after the game.

I guess I can understand “first game” explanations but haven’t the teams been practicing all spring and summer to avoid these very mistakes? On the bright side it can only get better. Right?

**

Ted Clarke wanted to return to the San Gabriel Valley and he got his wish with a head coaching gig at Gladstone. You have to wonder if he’s still happy to be home after the Gladiators were shellacked by South El Monte 40-7 Friday night. And while it’s not always a bitter pill to swallow to get blown out by a superior team, some would argue that the Eagles might not be one of the top three teams in the Mission Valley League. However you have to start somewhere and knowing Clarke and his coaching history, G-Stone will resurface soon.

**

Azusa Pacific opens the season this Thursday night at home against West Texas A&M. Although the Cougars look ready to go it will be interesting to see who Head Coach Victor Santa Cruz starts at quarterback. Andrew Elffers (Maranatha) and Chad Jeffries (Glendora) have been battling for the starting spot all summer. Last year the two split time as Elffers threw for 648 yards and rushed for 483 while Jeffries had 1473 yards passing and 449 rushing. Will the two platoon again? Who gets the nod in the opener? We’ll find out Thursday.

**

I’m keeping Saturday September 3 free so I can kick it and watch UCLA-Texas A&M followed by USC-Alabama. No I’m not making any predictions. Don’t worry UCLA fans I didn’t “overhear” anything else this week at USC practice.

Tim can be reached at tim@midvalleysports.com or on Twitter @tspeterson40.

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