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Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Readers sound off on Juan Soto's performance, immigration law and Biden's mental state
Elizabethtown, Ky.: Some have seen Juan Soto's slow start to the 2025 season, looked back to the record-setting contract that was signed and posed the question of whether or not he's worth it. Through the first 20 games of the 2025 season, Soto has a slash line of .225/.368/.408, for a .776 on-base plus slugging (OPS). Somehow, it seems they expected more. Boasting a career .949 OPS, Soto brings so much to the Mets. In his first seven years, he posted a .900-plus OPS six times, and the other season his OPS was .853. With a background like that, it's understandable that many people would think he should be consistently performing at a high level. It's that anticipation, at least in part, that is so significant for this team. Take a look around. The Mets are 13-7 and have a better record than any team outside of the National League West Division. That's good for the third-best record in the major leagues! And if those people feel Soto is underperforming, what will the Mets look like when he comes around? Because he will. In 2023, his slash line through game 20 was .194/.372/.418 for an OPS of .790, and he ended the season with 35 home runs, 109 runs batted in and a .930 OPS. Is Soto worth the monumental contract? It doesn't matter. He's here. He's a Met. Will he live up to the expectations in the long run? I'm betting on his track record, which says, 'Yes!' Timothy Streeter Manhattan: It's scary. While climate breakdown blows the roofs off our homes, floods our cities and incinerates our neighborhoods, the Trump administration and its Republican congressional toadies strive to strip the Environmental Protection Agency and other federal agencies of key climate protections developed over decades by bipartisan lawmakers. Our state lawmakers dominate headlines by dawdling their budget over non-life/death matters (when have you last heard Gov. Hochul pushing to pass the NY HEAT Act?). And our city leaders and mayoral hopefuls repeatedly cite crime and costs, but seldom climate breakdown, as our chief adversaries. Really scary. Lisa Meyer Manhattan: In a recent editorial, you bemoaned the fact that President Trump's EPA has pivoted from protecting the planet to promoting pollution ('Lee Zeldin's Earth Day letdown,' April 23). What's a New Yorker to do? Trump is using federal overreach to harm states like ours that have progressive climate laws. He has pulled the plug on New York's only large-scale offshore wind project in development and is threatening our Climate Change Superfund Act, which charges oil and gas companies a modest sum to help taxpayers in building the climate resilience we are so going to need in the coming decades. Hochul has stood up to the bully for congestion pricing (so far) and she's doing so for offshore wind, or trying to. Good for you, governor! Stand your ground. The people have your back. David Wolfson Howard Beach: One of the primary obligations of the commander in chief is the safety of the men and women who serve in our military. Trump has failed miserably in this obligation by refusing to fire Pete Hegseth, who made a second Signal chat call where secret military plans were given. On this call were his wife, brother and lawyer. There is no doubt that Hegseth is unfit to be secretary of defense. Trump's protection of him comes at the expense of our military. Barbara Berg Slidell, La.: Voicer Tom Saracco defended his 2024 vote for Trump by spouting all the MAGA talking points repeatedly heard on Fox News, OAN, Newsmax and other right-wing media outlets denouncing Democrats and their policies as anti-white. As a white man of nearly 70, I have heard this garbage almost all my adult life. The facts don't support this point of view. Systemic racism in America is a fact, and it's not against white people. Households headed by whites who are high school dropouts have more wealth than households headed by Blacks with a college degree. Was Lloyd Austin — with 40 years' experience in the Army, reaching the rank of four-star general with commands that included U.S. Central Command and U.S. forces in Iraq — a DEI appointment as secretary of defense as compared to Hegseth, who reached the rank of major and was a weekend morning show host on Fox? Gerard Kay Brooklyn: So, Trump is funding two (large) 100-foot poles on White House grounds. I wonder what he is trying to compensate for. Peter Magnotta Manhattan: Voicer Peter McCarthy offers a brain-teaser in his comments regarding Kilmar Abrego Garcia's erroneous deportation. The conundrum: the Supreme Court's jurisdiction is over the U.S., but our president has apparently experienced a palingenesis of Jacksonian defiance, refusing to facilitate the deportee's return. McCarthy refers to Abrego Garcia as an 'illegal immigrant,' but he was in the country with the right to work after an immigration judge issued an order withholding his removal, a proceeding that would appear to establish a more credible fear of being sent to his country of origin than an application for asylum. This likely affords Abrego Garcia rights under the Geneva Convention and protocols, international treaties to which the U.S. and El Salvador are signatories. Since treaties constitute the supreme law of the land, the Supreme Court could probably prohibit payments to El Salvador. If Nayib Bukele remained defiant, the Voicer seems correct in assessing the inefficacy of the court's order. Michele P. Brown Scarsdale, N.Y.: Mayor Adams said he won't have tequila drinks with a gang member ('Eric echoes Don talking points on immigrant's deport to El Salvador,' April 23). I wonder if that means no cocktails with all those friends of his who have been indicted, pled guilty or been convicted of crimes. John Kern Manhattan: All religious leaders, including Pope Francis, have said that we should give compassion and understanding to the less fortunate, but without compassion, our leader labels all undocumented immigrants as unwanted in our country. Many are helping or could help rebuild our crumbling infrastructure. He then directs hatred and fear-mongering against them. He and his buddies laugh and gloat as they fire federal workers. If he fired them all, it would save only 4.3% of our budget. Not one ounce of compassion or understanding was given to these workers. Trump censors certain books and what can be taught to keep federal funding. The courts are disobeyed unless the Supreme Court rules. All of this reminds us of past and present despots in other countries. The only hope is the ballot box in future elections. Leonard Smoke Walden, N.Y.: I just read the article about CBS newsman Bill Owens quitting rather than bowing to the dictator wannabe (' '60 Minutes' legend Owens quits rather than cave to Trump,' April 23). This is yet another blow to free speech by the clowns trying their best to kill democracy. If his successor doesn't stand up to Trump, he or she should be fired. Americans need all the real news they can get. Jake Milite Houston: Joe Biden is no longer president, folks! Talk of his mental acuity or ability to run the country is about scoring political points with an imagined cover-up. Nobody knows when Joe began having cognitive issues, whether he had a diagnosed cognitive issue or its severity, whether his alleged cognitive issues 'ebbed and flowed' (which is what most of his staff talked about), or whether he was on medication that cured him, helped him or was ineffective at points when he was making decisions for the country. It can't be about the economy because the Biden economy was empirically the best in 50 years. It can't be about the southern border because it was Congress that killed the bipartisan border bill. It can't be about his handling of world crises because he basically continued what Trump was doing in his first term, and (except for supporting Ukraine) Trump is now continuing what Biden did. Dana LeJune Charlotte, N.C.: To Voicers Thomas and Constance Dowd: I loved the final sentences in your letter — forget the animosity. It's time to work together for the good of the country or step aside! Where was that sentiment when Biden was president? Barbara Haynes
Forbes
03-04-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
San Diego Padres Field Potent Roster Needed To Catch The Dodgers
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 02: Jackson Merrill #3 of the San Diego Padres (L) shakes hands with ... More General Manager A. J. Preller after announcing a contract extension before the game against the Cleveland Guardians at Petco Park on April 02, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Photo by) The defending World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers are off to a tremendous start. There is no question the Dodgers are the team to beat in the National League West Division. But don't write off the dynamic San Diego Padres. Don't think the Arizona Diamondbacks aren't also gunning for the Dodgers. But the Diamondbacks story is for another day. The San Diego Padres are a fascinating, and intriguing team. The Padres are relentless. The Padres have made consequential moves to position their club for long-term success. Very active in the Major League Baseball free agent market this offseason, the Padres added the following veteran position players, and pitchers to their already credible major league roster: Gavin Sheets-DH-Age 28-Bats Left (Sheets can play the outfield and first base) Jason Heyward-OF-Age 35-Bats Left Martin Maldonado-C-Age 38-Bats Right (will be the likely backup to Elias Diaz) Yuli Gurriel-1B-Age 40-Age 40-Bats Right Jose Iglesias-INF-Age 35-Bats Right Nick Pivetta-RHP-Age 32 Kyle Hart-LHP-Age 32 Each of those new faces adds depth to an already winning roster that features a blend of power, speed, and excellent baseball talents. SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres reacts after scoring a ... More run against the Atlanta Braves on Opening Day at Petco Park on March 27, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Photo by) The Padres have an ideal mix of veterans, with a sprinkling of exciting younger players to create a very complete roster. The Padres just extended the contract of budding star outfielder, Jackson Merrill. It is being reported on that Merrill signed a nine-year, $135 million contract extension lists the Padres estimated 2025 payroll to be $211 million. When a team has a lineup that includes power, speed, and players capable of hitting in the clutch with superb pitching, it is a recipe for success. The Padres push the envelope by stealing bases, going for the extra base, and forcing the opposition to errors. Yes. Relentless is the word. Not to slight the bottom half of the Padres normal starting lineup, but these first four hitters form an extremely difficult quartet of talented, All Star quality hitters. Fernando Tatis Jr.-RF-Age 26 Luis Arraez-1B-Age 28 Manny Machado-3B-Age 32 Jackson Merrill-CF-Age 32 The Padres can put a number of runs on the board before the opposition has a chance to catch their breath. If the offense doesn't perform on a given day, the pitching staff can hold the opposition at bay, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 01: Michael King #34 of the San Diego Padres throws a pitch against ... More the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning at Petco Park on April 01, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Photo by) Michael King-RHP-Age 29 (a converted reliever, who has had tremendous success starting) Dylan Cease-RHP-Age 29 (a potential free agent, Cease is a strikeout wizard) Randy Vasquez-RHP-Age 26 (threw six scoreless innings in his first start this year) Nick Pivetta-RHP-Age 32 (threw seven, one-hit, shutout innings in his first 2025 start) Kyle Hart-LHP-Age 32 (got a win in his first start this season) The Padres also feature an outstanding bullpen, led by closer Robert Suarez. The Padres have structured their pen to include four left-handers, a rare feature in today's MLB. PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 10: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres rounds the bases after ... More hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a spring training game against the Cincinnati Reds at Peoria Stadium on March 10, 2025 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by) The Padres have won their first seven games this season. Their best start in history. The aggressive Padres are structured to keep their team in games, with a roster capable of coming back from a deficit, or avoiding a lengthy losing streak. With their 93-69 record, last year, the Padres finished second in the NL West, behind only the Dodgers. The Padres then lost the NL Division Series, 3-2, to the World Series Champion Dodgers. The net result? The Padres are gunning for the Dodgers. Given the balanced talents of their roster, their motivation to get to the World Series, and the support they get from a sellout crowd almost every game, the Padres should be in the championship chase all the way through the playoffs. There is one potential hiccup for the Padres. Among others, King, Cease, and Arraez will all be eligible for free agency. King has a mutual 2026 option with the club.
