A changed landscape

The San Jose Sharks were one of the best hockey teams in the NHL, culminating with their high-water mark of appearing in the 2016 Stanley Cup finals, and heck, even the Oakland A’s were coming off a playoff appearance in 2014 and the San Jose Earthquakes — well, they were still the woebegone Earthquakes.

But now? It’s tough being a fan of Bay Area teams right now, whether it’s title runs being derailed, a team clinging to a mostly bygone era, a team showing no change, one leaving and another having no real impact in the Bay Area.

Since we’re in football and hockey seasons, let’s start there.

San Francisco 49ers

It can be hard to be seriously upset at this team. They’ve appeared in the NFC championship game four times in the last five years and have made two Super Bowl appearances.

And yet here we are — seven weeks into a season in which the 49ers were finally supposed to bag that sixth Lombardi Trophy and yet, it’s never felt so far away.

The team has been wracked with injuries, which is a part of the game, but also explains why things have been so difficult. Quarterback Brock Purdy looks like he’s feeling the pressure of having to be everything to everybody as talk of a $60-million-a-year contract is bandied about.

While the loss to the Kansas City Chiefs this past Sunday was disappointing, it’s not as big as the looming game with the Dallas Cowboys. Because the 49ers are competing for an NFC playoff spot with Dallas — not the Chiefs. While I think the 49ers are still a playoff team, barely, I don’t think they can contend for a title this year and that Super Bowl window may be closing.

San Jose Sharks

So much glowing optimism coming into the season. The team got a jolt with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft to team with the No. 2 overall pick a year ago. Add in a highly regarded goaltending prospect and things were looking up for the boys in teal.

And they have entered the 2024-25 season with another massive thud. After Wednesday’s 3-1 loss to Anaheim, the Sharks have yet to win a game and have just two points with a pair of overtime losses.

That No. 1 draft pick, Macklin Celebrini, got hurt in is his first game and has been out since. Will Smith, the No. 2 pick in 2023, has appeared in six games without a point.

It’s hard to ask players who are still teenagers or in their early 20s to go toe to toe with full-grown, professional hockey players, so the growing pains could be literal for the Sharks this season.

Golden State Warriors

Despite the tribulations the last couple of seasons, this year’s version of the Warriors has a smell of fresh air. While no longer legitimate title contenders, Golden State seems like it’s hungry again.

The last two seasons have been marred by violence and moping. Draymond Green punching former teammate Jordan Poole two years ago and then getting suspended for nearly a quarter of last season because of a headlock on Rudy Gobert and later slugging Josef Nurkic.

Last year was exacerbated by a clearly unhappy Klay Thompson, who simply couldn’t come to grips with the fact he was a shell of his former self and the Warriors were done overpaying for him.

But with Thompson now in Dallas and a significant roster overhaul with, there is hope the team can gel more quickly this season and contend for a top-7 spot in the playoffs and avoid the play-in tournament.

As long as Green can keep his hands to himself.

San Francisco Giants

Like the Warriors, there is fresh energy in the Giants’ front office as they have jettisoned Farhan Zaidi and tabbed Giants’ legend Buster Posey to take over as president of baseball operations.

It’s one of the few positive developments for an organization that has been the definition of average the last half a decade — the 107-win, 2021 season notwithstanding.

To paraphrase Dean Vernon Wormer from the movie “Animal House”: boring, slow and nameless is no way to go through a baseball season.

There were some positive developments last season with the emergence, especially, of Heliot Ramos. But can he keep it up for his sophomore year? What about the rest of the young bats and pitchers? Can they take a step forward in 2025?

That remains to be seen, but at least Posey gives Giants fans some hope to which to cling — until he actually does something.

The A’s and San Jose Earthquakes

I’m lumping these two together because they have one common denominator: they are both owned by John Fisher, the worst owner in sports and he’s impacted two organizations and two leagues.

I haven’t used “Oakland A’s” in a headline since they officially announced their decision to leave for Las Vegas — after a multi-year stop in Sacramento. While the A’s showed some interesting talent (that will dealt away as soon as possible), the Earthquakes appear to be a lost cause. No buzz whatsoever. Games are never on television, unless you subscribe to Apple+, which has MLS broadcast rights.

You thought the Giants and Sharks have no-name players? I couldn’t name one Earthquake, I have no idea who the coach is, I don’t really have any want to find out any of this information and last week they set the record for most goals conceded — ever — in an MLS season.

John Fisher — sell.

Nathan Mollat is in his 24th year covering high school sports in San Mateo County for the San Mateo Daily Journal. He can be reached by email: nathan@smdailyjournal.com.