Baseball is a very confusing sport.

Fernando Tatis Jr has a .295 slugging percentage, which is bad, but he’s hitting the ball harder than anyone in the sport, which is good. Are we supposed to think he’s off to a bad start or an unlucky one?

There are also confusing rules. On Monday night, a ground ball in the 9th inning appeared to be clearly foul. The umpires ruled it fair. Online arguing - pardon the redundancy - ensued. Regardless, Mason Miller’s streak ended against the Cubs.

So what’s the deal? The Official MLB Rule Book suggests that was a foul ball. But wait! Apparently there’s something called the “Umpire Interpretation Manual”, which I had never heard of until today. There's precedent for that being a fair ball. Similarly seemingly obvious calls have led to online discussion in previous seasons. So…WTF?

Thankfully, AJ Cassavell from MLB.Com is here to set us straight, despite feeling exhausted by the subject. We also talked about Mexico City, Manny Machado and what to make of Tatis’s ridiculously high exit velocity and ridiculously low launch angle. Per usual, AJ delivers.

San Diego FC lost. Again.

A player was shown red. Again.

New opponent and different player but all-too familiar themes for SDFC fans. Four straight losses and seven red cards in 13 matches. What is happening?

This is all uncharted territory for San Diego Football Club. The current winless & losing streaks are unprecedented in the Club’s 43-match regular season history. Something something about the weight of expectations, or whatever. But it hasn’t been pretty for the past six weeks. In Houston, there were signs of improvement from the team in buildup play and on the defensive side but the attack was nonexistent. Injuries and red cards have certainly taken a toll (Ian Pilcher just played for the first time since Toluca; Sergeant hasn’t played since etc) and the red card suspensions have had a knock-on effect.

Is Portland the right opponent at the right time?

SDFC didn’t lose to Portland in 2025. The Azul y Chrome was, officially 3-0-2 (w-l-d) in the five meeting last season, losing the PK shootout in G2 of the MLS Cup Playoffs opening series. San Diego outscored PTFC 12-3 in those five matches. Oh, and Portland’s record away from Providence Park is - how should we say? - atrocious.

(Time for a glass-half full moment:

If SDFC wins on Saturday, they will have 14 points in their first 10 matches - the exact point total they had through Matchday 10 in 2026.)

In this podcast, I talked about a few key moments from Wednesday’s match, Mikey Varas going 3-4-3 for the first time and why Saturday night feels like a pretty massive moment.

My guest is Adam Susman of The Timbers Review. Adam covers the Timbers from top-to-tail and does a tremendous job taking fans inside the Club. Enjoy this Pod and don’t forget to tune in Saturday night at 6PM for the Kickoff Show with actual kickoff at 6:40. You can listen to Adrian Garcia Marquez and myself with the call on San Diego Sports 760, the IHeartradio App and on AppleTV by switching to the “Home Town Radio Call” in the lower righthand corner of your screen.

This is the “Coach’s Conversation with Head Coach Mikey Varas”, recorded ahead of Wednesday’s match against Houston Dynamo. These previews are heard on the SDFC Kickoff Show on San Diego Sports 760 and the IHeartRadio App. Our pregame coverage starts 30 minutes before kickoff for most matches.

We talked about the Club’s decision to travel straight from Salt Lake to Houston, what went wrong in the first 10 minutes against RSL and how Mikey manages a mistake that turns into a viral moment, like the howler for Duran Ferree last match. Mikey isn’t on social media but his players are. Interesting stuff.

We also talked about the subs and what stands out about Dynamo so far.

Join Adrian Garcia Marquez and me on the radio for every MLS match and a reminder - you can listen to our radio broadcast on AppleTV for all home matches by locating the “Home Radio” option in the lower right corner of the broadcast.

(This is the audio-only version of Monday’s MartyTimeTV / Section 1904 joint venture. You can find and subscribe to this podcast on Apple and Spotify and right here on Substack by clicking the button below. To watch this episode, click here.)

Timing is everything!

Just as we started recording Wednesday’s show, news broke.

Lucas Giolito. Padre.

Marty and I were joined by our friend, ESPN’s Eric Gomez, and we talked about the Giolito addition and what it says about ownership, the health of the rotation and the next steps for the Padres' newest arm.

Eric was initially invited to offer some advice to those traveling to Mexico City this weekend for the Padres / Diamondbacks series (or anytime, really). Want to know the top foodie locations, taco shops and cafes? Eric has you covered. Plus and few do’s and don’ts for your trip to a phenomenal city.

We then turned our attention to the World Cup, now just 50 days away and how the USMNT and El Tri seem to be headed in different directions. The USSF is losing key figures while Mexico is announcing FC Barcelona legend Rafa Marquez as the next head coach. There doesn’t seem to be much enthusiasm for the U.S., with a reported 30,000 tickets still unsold for the opener against Paraguay. Blame FIFA and the dynamic pricing or just a melancholic attitude towards the team?

There have also been a few controversies about transportation , whether Iran will participate while warring with the United States, requests for a moratorium on ICE arrests and myriad issues that have made headlines. Will any of this matter when the ball starts rolling? We discussed.

Plus, SDFC takes on the Houston Dynamo tonight, and we took the opportunity to talk about Héctor Herrera’s impact on the sport and the region. The Tijuana-born legend is back with the Dynamo and has been a key contributor this season.

Tonight’s broadcast starts with the Kickoff Show at 5pm, with actual kickoff scheduled for 5:40. You can hear the call with Adrian Garcia Marquez and myself on 760am or the IHeartRadio App. We also have a postgame show - SDFC Extra Time - immediately following the match and will hear from Head Coach Mikey Varas when his post match press conference begins.

(This is the audio-only version of Monday’s MartyTimeTV / Section 1904 joint venture. You can find and subscribe to this podcast on Apple and Spotify and right here on Substack by clicking the button below. To watch this episode, click here.)

Darren and Marty are back and focussing on the Padres news both on and off the field. After a few minutes discussing television wardrobes and makeup, we talked about the weekend of information-gathering regarding the Padres reported sale to Jose Feliciano Jr.

Marty made her way to Anaheim for clubhouse reaction to the sale from Manny Machado and we discussed the report that Sycuan is partnering with the purchasing group. We also talked about the weekend protests against Chelsea Football Club, a team that Jose Feliciano Jr and his partners own, and what that might mean to fans here.

(Including the pic we discussed from the fan protest at Stamford Bridge)

Attention was then turned to the product on the field and we read some listener responses to the question - “Why are the Padres good?” We appreciate the replies and talked about many of them, from Stammen vibes to Mason Miller and guys not named Machado or Tatis making things happen.

Finishing out this show, Marty and Darren discussed San Diego FC’s most recent loss, with some reasons why this team has hit the skids and how close they might be to turning their fortunes around. It’s been a bit forgotten that in April of 2025, the team also lost three straight matches before turning their season around. Also, with one win in their next two matches, this team will be level on points (14) with last year’s record setting pace.

Next match is Wednesday against the Houston Dynamo. Pregame coverage on San Diego Sports 760 and the IHeartRadio app starting at 5PM.

Here's this week's “Coach’s Conversation with Mikey Varas”, recorded ahead of Saturday’s match against Real Salt Lake. These previews are part of the SDFC Kickoff Show on San Diego Sports 760 and the IHeartRadio App. Pregame coverage starts 30 minutes before kickoff for most matches.

Why is Mikey so confident things will turn around? How difficult has it been to analyze this team when it’s often playing a man down? We discussed that and more.

After San Diego plays Saturday’s game in Salt Lake, SDFC will travel straight to Houston for a midweek match against the Dynamo. Kickoff Show at 5PM with actual kickoff just after 5:30 on Wednesday.

Join Adrian Garcia Marquez and me on the radio for every MLS match and a reminder - you can listen to our radio broadcast on AppleTV for all home matches by locating the “Home Radio” option in the lower right corner of the broadcast.

You can also listen to our postgame show, SDFC Extra Time, at the conclusion of each match.

It was early and I was connecting for my weekly Ben and Woods hit when I got a text from Jared Diamond of the Wall Street Journal.

A very good morning indeed, as news quickly spread to Padres fans in San Diego and all across Major League Baseball. The Padres are reportedly being sold to Jose E. Feliciano Jr and his wife, Kwanza Jones, for a staggering $3.9 billion. You can read the story here.

Jared was kind enough to join us on MartyTimeTV and the Section 1904 Podcast and provided detail on his report and explained how Jose Feliciano Jr is personally buying the Padres. Him, not his Private Equity firm - Clearlake Capital - and why that’s important. Things are not so great for the owners of the London club at the moment. Should Feliciano Jr be judged by the current climate at Chelsea FC and RC Strasbourg and the fan backlash expected this weekend or will ownership here be different?

We also learned important background information about Feliciano Jr and his wife and their plans to move much of their family philanthropy to San Diego after the acquisition becomes official. Lots to like and easy to hear similarities to Peter and Sheel Seidler.

Is this all a Trojan Horse for Clearlake or some other Private Equity company to come through the door at some point and break the Padres into parts for profit? Maybe. Maybe not. As Jared Diamond said, “it’s too early to be pessimistic”.

We’ve been through some things in San Diego. Here’s hoping the next chapter in Padres history picks up where the previous one left off. Maybe Peter’s legacy will, ironically, move forward once the Seidler Bros sell the team. Time will tell.

Enjoy today’s show and if you’d like to watch this conversation, click here.

Darren and Marty are back and talking about Fernando Tatis’s exhaustion over Eddie Vedder questions and how Luis Campusano has decided to not give a fuck. Padres have won six straight and will try to make it seven on Wednesday night. (For more on the Pivetta injury situation and Padres reported interest Lucas Giolito, check out the latest Friar Territory episode)

We also talked to golf reporter and author Alan Shipnuck, whose new book - Rory, The Heartache and Triumph of Golf's Most Human Superstar - is now available wherever you find books these days. Shipnuck talked about his motivation to write a book about Rory and how the Northern Irishman expressed his unwillingness to contribute to the book, including a tense and very public confrontation at the 2025 U.S. Open. We also discussed Rory’s success at Augusta National and how he’s become a very polarizing figure for golf fans during the PGA Tour / LIV Golf war - and what role Rory played in the PGA Tour closing in on victory over LIV.

The show ended with a few minutes about the Diana Russini story, her resignation from The Athletic and if we should expect any consequences for Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel. (Spoiler: we don’t)

(This is the audio-only version of Tuesday’s MartyTimeTV / Section 1904 podcast. If you’re interested in watching this conversation, click here)

MLB.Com’s AJ Cassavell stopped by the show to talk about the options for Nick Pivetta (this was recorded before the IL announcement), and whether it makes sense for Fernando Tatis Jr to play second base. AJ also gave us some insight into covering a rookie manager and how Craig Stammen has grown into the role.

There was also some discussing about the “elite” Padres bullpen looking a bit wobbly and which lower-leverage arms could be called upon to replace Jeremiah Estrada.

Towards the end, it was a hopeful Liverpool fan (AJ) talking to a confident Barcelona fan (Darren) about Champions League comebacks that didn’t actually happen as they’d hoped. I should probably have just edited this part out but we’ll take our medicine like adults.

Feel free to point and laugh.

(This is the audio-only version of this show. While we had our share of technical issues on YouTube today, as always you can watch the unedited version of this show on MartyTimeTV by clicking here. You can also find this show and all shows on ApplePodcasts and Spotify)

Many things happened in local sports this past weekend. Not only did the Padres sweep the Rockies, but they supplied plenty of subplots as well. From their new City Connects to the daily lineup changes and - maybe most shockingly - two-time Platinum Glove winner Fernando Tatis Jr playing a couple of games at second base. Who saw that coming and what does it mean?

And then there was the dark cloud that floated in at the end of their five game winning streak, which was Nick Pivetta exiting his start with “elbow stiffness”. What’s next for Pivetta and where might the Padres turn for a replacement, if needed?

Then there’s San Diego Football Club being naughty again. Pretty sure there’s a post on this page titled “SDFC Seeing Red”. Listen to that, if you missed it and hear what Mikey Varas has to say before this past weekend’s loss to Minnesota United. Pulling out of this red card tailspin is proving more difficult that than anticipated, with another suspension looming for this week’s match against Real Salt Lake.

We also get into some Masters talk - really a preview of Tuesday’s show, when longtime golf reporter and Rory: The Heartache & Triumph of Golf’s Most Human Superstar author Alan Shipnuck joins us on the next episode of the MartyTimeTV / Section 1904 Podcast.