NEWS » Thurston has hailed his State o

Sometimes in baseball, we need to look down, not up. We need to look south, not north. We need to turn our gaze away from the usual suspects -- the Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, the ... aw, you know who we mean.So today, lets stare at the basement.We know theres hope for the teams that just finished in first place. But is there hope for the teams that just finished in last place?Weve spent the past week asking that question to people all over baseball, especially in the wake of this sports new labor deal. We exempted the Atlanta Braves, a team moving into a new ballpark. We also exempted the Minnesota Twins, a franchise that just installed what is essentially a whole new group at the top of its baseball operations department.But that still left four fascinating last-place teams with lots of questions about where theyre going, how theyll get there and how the new labor agreement could affect them (or not). Those teams would be the Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Rays and Cincinnati Reds. Youve heard of them, right?So lets buckle them all into our hot seat and hook them up to our cool new gizmo -- the Hope Meter. Do they have hope on the field? Do they have hope off the field? Its time to answer those questions, in order of impact on the franchise, for all four teams.Oakland AthleticsHope Meter off the field: 3 (out of 10)Were guessing you havent read the fine print in the labor deal. So you should know theres something amazing in it: The As had a giant target spray-painted all over their crumbling stadium.For years now, theyve been surviving by cashing enormous revenue-sharing checks, even though they play in the sixth-largest TV market in America. But not for long.Its incredibly rare for any labor agreement to single out one team. But it happened in this agreement. The As will lose 25 percent of their revenue-sharing money next year, 50 percent in 2018, 75 percent in 2019 and all of it after that.Why? Because everyone in baseball clearly thought it was time to send them a message: Build. That. Stadium. Already. Or else!Too many folks in the game obviously saw the As as a team that felt no pressure to get out of its current rut. So only two things can happen now: (1) They make a deal to build a ballpark somewhere in Oakland, with Jack London Square or the Coliseum area as the likely sites; or (2) they sell the team -- and someone else tackles this mess.But no matter which of those two winds up happening, this is a franchise with very little hope of generating a whole lot of revenue in the short term. And thats not good.Hope Meter on the field: 3Lets just say losing has never been Billy Beanes favorite thing. So the As have never taken a ride down Tanking Trail. Theyve always tried to figure out some way to compete. And theres a book and a major motion picture with more details, if youre interested.But executive vice president Beane and general manager David Forst now find themselves in a place unlike any theyve ever been. Since losing the 2014 wild-card game, the As are 51 games under .500. Theyre coming off back-to-back last-place finishes for the first time since 1997-98. And Keith Law rates their system as being so thin that they could be three to four years from restocking.Theyve had very little luck in trying to sell high this winter on players such as Sonny Gray, Ryan Madson or Sean Doolittle. They blew through their international signing pool, so theyre all but out of business on that front for the next two years. And now comes the really bad news: Suddenly, theyre on the verge of having no money, as those revenue-sharing payouts disappear.So where does that leave them? Treading water, thats where. Until they get their ballpark nightmare resolved, they appear more interested in spending what dollars they have on scouting and player development than on the big league roster. And this whole season is beginning to look like a giant Who Trades for Sonny Gray Sweepstakes.San Diego PadresHope Meter on the field: 2We always hesitate to use that magic word, tanking, to describe any franchise. But folks on other teams -- not to mention nearly every agent on the planet -- seem to share none of that hesitation when they talk about the current version of the Padres.Theyre the poster child for tanking, said an exec. They get millions of dollars in revenue sharing. They spend none of it on players.Well, thats not exactly true. Theyre going to spend $28 million next year to pay players who used to play for them. But thats $2 million more than their projected payroll for players who will play for them in 2017, according to baseball-reference.com. We count 15 players in baseball who average more dollars than that per year in their current contracts -- by themselves.Theres also this: There might be 12 people in America who could name the Padres starting rotation if the season started today. Thats because the five names in it would most likely be Luis Perdomo, Christian Friedrich, Jarred Cosart, Cesar Vargas and the newly signed Jhoulys Chacin. OK, so its likely theyll sign at least one more bargain-bin free-agent starter to bump another name or two out of there. But its still safe to guess you wont be getting this rotation mixed up with that of, say, the New York Mets.So does this constitute tanking? We offered Padres general manager A.J. Preller the opportunity to dispute that label. He took us up on it.He described his position players as young, prospect-laden and guys with the ability to be impact big leaguers. So his team has made a conscious decision, he said, to give these guys an opportunity to play in the big leagues rather than fill our roster with stopgap players. He also promised that as these players develop into a group that is close to winning, ownership is committed to spending money to add players from outside the organization who can put you over the top.Also in their defense, the Padres spent more than $70 million this year on amateur players and a bunch of much-hyped international free agents. And Keith Law rates their system as one of best in baseball. So if you get back to us in three years, theyll have a whole different score on the Hope Meter.But in the meantime, unless they drop plans to charge admission for every game in 2017, this is a team thats almost embarrassing, said one long-time exec. Just two years after an ill-conceived spending spree to win, theyve made a U-turn in the exact opposite direction -- to launch a full-bore pursuit of the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft.Hope Meter off the field: 6Lets round up all the good news first. The Padres play in one of Americas most beautiful ballparks in one of Americas most idyllic cities. They also have one of baseballs best TV deals. And neither of those developments stop them from getting hefty revenue-sharing checks. Its quite a combination -- especially for a team thats all lined up to have a minuscule payroll.But this is also a team that recently fired its president and CEO, Mike Dee. And its a team that had its GM suspended for 30 days for failing to disclose required medical information before making a trade in July that sent pitcher Drew Pomeranz to Boston.And now the Padres find themselves trying to fend off tanking accusations, even though the new labor deal included no measures that would make either tanking or a $26 million payroll illegal.What the agreement does do is mildly discourage tanking around the edges, said one official familiar with it. So how will it do that? By making it more difficult for the worst teams to collect massive bonus pools to manipulate the draft, for one thing. There used to be a gap of nearly $5 million between the slots for the No. 1 pick and the No. 5 pick, for instance. Next year, that difference will be less than $2 million.So on one hand, there is less monetary incentive to be really bad, as opposed to just bad. But on the other, said one exec, you still get the pick. And if you look at the history of the draft, the difference between [the talent of] the No. 1 pick versus the fifth pick is significant. And the only way to get that No. 1 pick is to lose. A lot.Over the past year, weve heard all sorts of ideas for how to discourage tanking, from draft lotteries to soft payroll minimums to rules that would have stripped revenue sharing from teams that failed to generate revenue on their own. This agreement includes none of that. So the Padres are well within their rights to field a low-budget big league team in 2017 that cant possibly win. But that doesnt mean theyre immune to the furor over that strategy in the rest of the industry.Tampa Bay RaysHope Meter off the field: 4The Rays franchise continues to be run by a group of really smart people. So that always beats the alternative. But look at the rest of their division. Look at what theyre up against. Its not just David versus Goliath. Its David versus Four Goliaths.How, asked one sympathetic baseball man, can you continue to ask a bunch of exceptionally creative and bright people to keep searching through their cushions on the couch to see if they can find a few more nickels?Nothing in the new labor deal will keep the Rays from remaining one of the biggest revenue-sharing recipients in baseball. Yet their owner, Stu Sternberg, was still the only owner in the sport to vote against that deal. Which tells you he feels the rest of this agreement didnt do enough to give his team the ability to compete with the behemoths.So for everything the Rays do right, almost 100 percent of their long-term hope is tied to one question. Are they ever going to get a new ballpark? Stop us if youve heard that one before.Outwardly, the Rays continue to project optimism that theyre moving in that direction -- and that they can pair that park, in the next few years, with a new TV deal that will change the face of their franchise.But not everyone in baseball shares that optimism. So is this a team bound for better times in Tampa -- or for a new park in beautiful downtown Montreal? Well have that answer one of these years. But for now, the Hope Meter cant assume anything.Hope Meter on the field: 7Lets give this team credit. It could do exactly what the Padres are doing. But the Rays arent trying to unload Evan Longoria. Theyre highly unlikely to trade Chris Archer. And they just signed Wilson Ramos to a two-year deal.So at least theyre trying to compete. Theyre still likely to trade away Alex Cobb or Drew Smyly in the next couple of weeks, or even both. But theyll have plenty of quality starting pitching remaining, an infield with the potential to generate offense at all four positions and the best defensive outfielder in baseball (Kevin Kiermaier) piling up Web Gems in center field. Theyve also been linked in recent days with free-agent masher Jose Bautista, who lives just across the causeway in Tampa.But their problem now is their problem every year. How much depth can any team amass with a $70 million payroll (or less)? Um, not as much as those four teams theyre competing with. Thats just reality.And how long can they keep this group together? You know that answer. Youve seen that movie. Unless they sell off a couple of more veterans, either at the trade deadline or next winter, theyd be looking at a $100 million payroll in 2018. And that aint happening.When Keith Law looks at their system, he sees more depth than stars. So as long as the Rays are playing baseball inside Tropicana Field, in front of the fewest paying customers in North America, theyre stuck inside the same box that has held them captive for years. And that means theyd better keep digging for those nickels.Cincinnati RedsHope Meter on the field: 4It wasnt so long ago that the Reds were practically a perennial contender. Remember? From 2010 to 2013, they made the postseason three times in four years, and only five teams in baseball won more games than they did. You could look it up.But it has all unraveled fast, with back-to-back seasons of 98 and 94 losses respectively. And now they find themselves in the ultimate no-win quagmire. Theyre nowhere near ready to contend. But theyve had a tougher time hitting the reset button than most teams.So four players -- Joey Votto, Homer Bailey, Brandon Phillips and Devin Mesoraco -- are gobbling up $62 million of what is likely to be about a $90 million payroll. And they cant move any of them.Votto wont waive his no-trade clause. Bailey is owed $68 million over the next three years and is coming off Tommy John surgery. Phillips has generated no interest. And Mesoraco has been able to catch only 18 games in two years because of shoulder and hip issues.Meanwhile, when the Reds did decide to sell, if it could go wrong, it did. Aroldis Chapmans looming domestic-abuse suspension destroyed his trade value. Deals that would have shipped out Phillips and Zack Cozart both fell through. And they spent two years fielding disappointing offers for Jay Bruce. So only the trade that sent Johnny Cueto to the Royals brought back the kind of return a team like this could rebuild around.They probably should have gotten out front of this, by trading away all their valuable assets when they had that chance, one rival exec said. Instead, theyre doing it halfway. And when you do that . . . it can take six to nine years to get back [and contend].The Reds did go into last season with six of Baseball Americas top 100 prospects, and supplemented that with an excellent draft. But if there are any experts out there who see them contending before 2019, we havent found them.Hope Meter off the field: 6You know, it could be worse. At least the Reds play in a town that loves baseball. They have an excellent TV deal, considering they play in the smallest TV market in baseball. They have a caring fan base. And a ballpark. And an owner who wants to win. And the revenue-sharing checks wont be stopping anytime soon.So this is a franchise that doesnt have to fight any of the battles the Rays and As are facing to survive. It has just made a series of decisions it probably would love to have back. Ten years, $225 million for Votto? Six years, $105 million for Bailey? Six years, $72.5 million for Phillips? The Reds could use a mulligan on all of those, in retrospect.The big difference between big and small markets is the ability to make mistakes, one baseball official said. Cincinnati is one of those markets that couldnt afford to make those mistakes. But they made them. And now theyre paying for them. Cheap Nike Lunar Shoes Wholesale . -- Al Jefferson found a groove just in time for the Charlotte Bobcats. Cheap Nike Lunar Shoes From China .Y. -- Syracuse has turned up the defence at the right time all season, and when High Point threatened to pull off a monumental upset the second-ranked Orange did what they do best with their quick hands and savvy play. http://www.nikelunarcheap.com/ .Y. -- Marcell Dareus and the Buffalo Bills defence made life miserable for Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco. Cheap Nike Lunar . Siddikur, whose previous win on the circuit came in Brunei three years ago, finished his bogey-free round with a birdie on the 18th for a total of 17-under 199. Indias Shiv Chowrasia, who has finished runner-up in this tournament twice, was in second place after a 66. Wholesale Nike Lunar . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. Call it manipulation, call it communication, Johnathan Thurston is a clear admirer of Cameron Smiths ability to deal with NRL referees.As he prepares to lead North Queensland into a blockbuster NRL qualifying final on Saturday against Smiths Melbourne, Thurston has hailed his State of Origin teammate as the best in the game at getting his message across to match officials.Smiths blow-up with referee Ashley Klein during the Storms shock round 25 loss to Brisbane aside, the wily skipper is renowned for his methodical conduct when it comes to referee-captain discussions.Thurston says its something hes definitely tried to take on board from playing alongside and against Smith.Ive tried to. Smithys always been cool, calm, collected, Thurston said.No matter what the scoreboard shows he doesnt show too much emotion.Every referees different. They show the respect to the captains and youve just got to pick your times to talk to them.Theres no better person in the comp that does that than Smithy. If I get that opportunity I need to take it as well.Thurston has declared himself a certain starter for Saturdays clash, despite a corked calf picked up late in last Saturdays 32-16 win over Gold Coast in Townsville.dddddddddddd.The playmaker is also backing prop Matt Scott to prove his fitness despite training separately from the team on Wednesday as he continues to recover from a broken finger.I havent spoken to him since he ran out there but he should be there, Thurston said.The Cowboys depart for Melbourne on Thursday and will have their final training session at AAMI Park on Friday.Thurstons men defeated the Storm at the venue in last years finals series but have been beaten twice by their opponents this season.The Queensland and Australia star says theres no doubt about the challenge that lies ahead.Travelling to Melbourne is always a big challenge. Theyve built a fortress down there, he said.Defensively theyre strong, the best in competition.Its the business end of the year and its a good challenge for us to see where were at both physically and mentally. ' ' '