FanView: 4/21/2026

By Joe Torosian

Kick it!

In a dark way, the Mets did something right…they didn't re-sign Edwin "El Sugar" Diaz.

Literally, it's the only thing that's gone right for the Mets since failing to acquire another starter at last year's trade deadline. 

With the NFL Draft looming and the Rams owning the 13th pick, it might be good to remember that all that glitters is not gold. 

On this day in 2001, the Rams had the 12th overall pick in the draft, and they took the guy who was supposed to be the next Warren Sapp. Damione Lewis was 6-2/301 and a defensive tackle out of Miami—can't miss right?…Lewis not only helped Grubhub eat the fees but also turned into a colossal bust for the Rams.

Talked about this on RamView last night…ESPN posted a hypothetical trade that has the Rams sending #13 to Minnesota for J.J. McCarthy, #18 and #97 overall…Would you do it?

I would.

Next Add Dodgers: I got shot down on this a long time ago…And with Blake Snell projected to be out till the end of May, it's purely speculative… but would the Dodgers ever consider asking Shohei Ohtani to be the closer?

Question for baseball people: Will pitching ever come back to baseball any time soon, or will it continue to be throw as hard as you can, for as long as you can?

Put another way, will there ever be room again for a "crafty-lefty"…? A Tommy John, a Jamie Moyer….? I've got the Yankees Ryan Yarbrough in my head, but that's it.

If the New York Knicks wore uniforms that made them look like the New York Knicks, they might have been able to call on some Madison Square Garden magic before collapsing to Atlanta last night.

The spirits of Willis Reed, Red Holzman, and Dave DeBusschere showed up to help and said, "Where's my team?"

I never thought it possible for Nikola Jokic to miss a shot in the fourth quarter. But The Joker went one of seven last night, and the Minnesota Timberwolves stole a win in Denver.

Loved the Rod Martin story of John Robinson calling Al Davis late in the 1977 draft. Robinson, who coached Martin at USC, convinced Davis to take Martin in the 12th round.

Ron Jaworski is still having nightmares about Martin, who picked him off three times in Super Bowl 15.

Last Add Baseball: My fantasy team is currently in first with a 76-point lead. And I have total faith in Angels' starter Jose Soriano leading me to the flag.

#29—May the San Francisco Giants rot and lie stinking in the earth…

Last Add Raiders: I've never been a Raiders fan, but in the look back at Rod Martin, I realized that in each of their Super Bowl victories (over Vikings, Eagles, Redskins), I was rooting for the silver and black.

I mean, who doesn't love hearing, "The Autumn wind is a Raider…"

The Dude abides…

1,274

2 Chronicles 7:14

jtbank1964@yahoo.com

“RamView” M-W-F

Follow Joe on X: @joet13b

FanView: 4/20/2026

By Joe Torosian

Kick it!

How does the greatest team in MLB history lose twice in Colorado?

I'm sure Dianna Russini will be blamed for it.

Staying in Denver, on the ice, for a moment, I thought the Kings had a shot against the Avalanche.

Not prime time… but you can see them on Prime. Yet Prime only broadcast three of the NBA's eight playoff games this weekend.

But for some reason, it felt like they were broadcasting all of them.

Of the four NBA playoff games played yesterday, the average margin of victory was 22 points.

If you want to see the Atlanta Hawks against the Knicks tonight in Madison Square Garden, a single ticket in the West Balcony will cost you $355.

I'm trying to remember a time, if ever, I've seen Luke Kennard play like the go-to guy he was for the Lakers on Saturday against Houston.

Yes, with all the injuries the Lakers have, he had to be, but I didn't know he could be. I expected to see the spot up three-point specialist I saw with the Clippers—and every other NBA stop of his.

It was one game, and, yes, he hit threes, but seeing him go and get his own shot against the Rockets, along with everything else, may have changed a lot of opinions on Kennard.

My recent statement about no longer being into sports has nothing to do with the New York Mets losing 11 games in a row, or being eight games out of first place in the third week of April.

It must be Dianna Russini's fault. (The new Zola Budd)

#28—May the San Francisco Giants rot and lie stinking in the earth…

The Cincinnati Bengals making moves? Spending money? I hardly recognize them.

I don't know if they're the right players, but the Cincy front office doing anything is a stop the presses event.

Adding, now former New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to their roster in an AFC North that is in flux—to be kind, chaos—to be honest, makes them the favorite.

For the Giants, moving off Lawrence was a good move. They get the 10th overall pick, get rid of a player who is no longer young, his contract, and the headache of dealing with his contract.

In this week's draft, the Giants could get Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles at #5, and USC receiver Makai Lemon at #10. Boom!

This trade definitely has a ripple effect on the Rams at #13.

The Rams need a playmaking receiver, a backup tackle ready to take NFL snaps, and could use an off-ball linebacker in a draft full of off-ball linebackers.

Arizona State wide receiver Jordon Tyson's stock was rising and being linked to the Rams at #13, but the Giants-Bengals deal creates another obstacle between them, Lemon, and Tyson.

Do they trade up? I think they trade back.

The San Francisco 49ers have given left tackle Trent Williams a two-year, 50-rock extension. That's great for him, great for them—if he stays healthy. Williams will be 38 when the season starts.

If it all falls apart...they can say it was all Dianna Russini's fault.

1,273

Luke 5:27-32

jtbank1964@yahoo.com

“RamView” M-W-F

Follow Joe on X: @joet13b

FaithView: 4/3/2025

By Joe Torosian

I make up for what I lack in talent with a terrific ability to grind. 

I realize some of that is in my DNA. I'm pretty good at channeling my spite into productivity. I love to prove a point and demonstrate the folly of ever telling me I can't do something.

Grinding forward means you never worry about your flanks, you never worry about someone else's atta boys or compliments. It's about getting the job done and spiking the football in front of everyone who doubted.

But, you know, even Boxer, in Animal Farm, had his strength give out. When he couldn't do the job anymore, the pigs sold him to the glue factory.

The lesson I learned this week wasn't that my strength will wear out—I've always understood that—but that encouragement is a must to keep going forward.

Fear of failure fuels my spite, which in turn fuels my ability to grind. It's the biggest fear in my life. I fear things like whether my family will be okay, will my church make it, will the sermon be good enough, will camps be successful, will the book sell, and will the podcast grow.

I've been with a lot of people when they died. I've been in the room when a doctor has told someone they're going to die. I officiated funerals with small caskets, and I've experienced things that are other-worldly.

These are scary things, but I was able to grind through them all. All I asked for was the Lord to encourage me. Generally, I was encouraged to finish the task and/or get through the situation. (This didn't mean I wasn't sad for those going through terrible times, but that I was encouraged by the Lord to fulfill what he had given me to fulfill.)

This week, I wasn't encouraged, and thoughts of failure swelled. 

On every front of my life, something was pressing, disrupting, and trying to crush me with doubt/failure.

I was frustrated, a bit angry, and out of energy.

With failure seemingly closing in, I continued to grind. I'd grind until my strength gave out. If I was going to go out, I'd go out with the proverbial empty clip.

Then today, my fourth day of sermon prep for Sunday, the scriptures popped like a Fourth of July blast in the sky. I had my first "wow" moment of the week.

In the prayer time that followed, the Spirit confirmed to me again that I didn't need the atta boys, the clicks, the sales, numbers, more hours, more days, fewer interruptions, or the audible voice of God.

But to remember that the Lord encourages me with His Word. My proximity to Him, His presence in my life, and the accessibility of His scriptures are my encouragement. 

All week, I wanted to be lifted up…All week, I was part of the generation demanding a sign.

What did Sister Vanessa once sing?

"Sometimes, the very thing you're looking for is the one thing you can't see." 

We don't have to plead for something we already have. We can encourage others, but the Lord is our portion, and his mere presence is our encouragement.

I don't know if failure will ever give up on me, but for now, it's been sufficiently beaten back.