San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Giants Future Hall of Fame Pitcher Will Shape Team’s Culture
The San Francisco Giants are doing what they can to keep pace in a loaded National League West. That’s why they signed Justin Verlander to a one year, $15 million dollar deal in January.
Verlander is a future, first ballot Hall of Fame pitcher that, in many ways, is the last of his kind. He’s the active leader in career wins with 262. Max Scherzer (216) and Clayton Kershaw (212) are next on that list and are Cooperstown bound themselves.
Those are the only three active pitchers with at least 200 career wins. Next on the list is New York Yankees starter Gerrit Cole, who has just 153 career wins.
When looking hard at that list, Cole might be the last pitcher to reach 200 wins for a very long time if he even gets there since he’ll turn 35 in September.
Verlander will turn 42 years old on Feb. 20, and he could be the last pitcher to hit 250 career wins for decades, if not ever.
The game has changed in many ways during his soon-to-be 20 years as a Big Leaguer. For better or worse, how starting pitchers are handled today is radically different than it was when the Detroit Tigers first called up Verlander in 2005.
If any pitcher can produce at a high level after the age of 40, it’s Verlander. That’s certainly the Giants’ hope, but it would be no real surprise if he misses time or struggles like he did in 2024. Even if he has a middling 2025 campaign, production is not the only thing Verlander brings to the table for San Francisco.
“I think he’s going to be really good for us. Then for our younger pitchers to watch him everyday, it’s invaluable,” Giants legend and current president of baseball operations, Buster Posey, said about Verlander’s potential value per Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic.
From 28-year-old ace Logan Webb to 23-year-old Hayden Birdsong, every pitcher in San Francisco camp can learn from Verlander. His habits, his mental approach, everything he does can help shape the next generation of Giants pitchers.
His wealth of experience may actually be a greater value add to the organization than his ability to pitch.
As Posey said, the team would love it if Verlander can be a productive player for the team. But even if he struggles, just having a guy like that around will help make the Giants better, both today and and in the future.
San Francisco, CA
Women’s volleyball professional team headed to San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO – Pro volleyball will soon be coming to San Francisco and this latest team is part of a surge of women’s sports.
League One Volleyball officially launched this year with six teams. Now the league has announced it’s expanding to nine teams, and that one of those expansion teams will be based in the city by the bay.
Three-time Olympic volleyball medalist Kelsy Robinson Cook is on the ownership team for LOVB San Francisco, bringing professional volleyball to the city. “Can tell you it’s going to be amazing,” said Robinson Cook. “Then, when you bring in the fandom of the Bay Area and SF I think personally it’s going to make for an incredible atmosphere.”
Team ownership said starting a team in the Bay Area is a natural with colleges and universities in the region turning out top talent. “It’s the number one sport for women and girls and I think that just speaks volumes as to where we’re headed, not only in club and college, but professionally,” said Robinson Cook.
Pro women’s volleyball is part of a growing list of professional women’s sports teams calling San Francisco and the Bay Area home.
The women’s professional baseball league announced plans for a team in San Francisco. Bay FC and the Golden State Valkyries are already proving there is a market for professional women’s sports.
When pro-volleyball was looking to expand, San Francisco was a natural choice. “You’re seeing Bay FC, the Valkyries, the success that they have, and this market loves sports, and they’ve also proven they love women’s sports,” said Robinson Cook.
San Francisco leaders said the city has already proven that it supports pro-women’s teams, and will welcome professional volleyball. Mayor Daniel Lurie pointed to the city’s rich sports history and enthusiasm to support the home teams. “Now, as we saw with the Valkyries selling out every single home game last year, there is an appetite, there is a fan base, and this new league understands that,” said Mayor Lurie.
At this time, there are still a lot of questions up in the air, including exactly where LOVB San Francisco will play. Organizers say they have a lot of plans in the works to get the team ready to bump, set and spike starting in January 2027.
San Francisco, CA
Body cam footage released in South San Francisco police shooting
(KRON) — The South San Francisco Police Department released video Thursday showing what led up to two officers shooting a man who authorities said was armed with a knife.
On December 8 at around 5:10 a.m., police arrived at the 900 block of Sandra Court on the report of a man under the influence of drugs and making threats to kill himself. When officers made contact with the man, identified as 28-year-old Luis Francisco-Manzo, he initially complied with orders, authorities said.
Officer-worn body camera video shows Francisco-Manzo walking toward officers in the entrance hallway of an apartment complex with his arms raised. A small dog barks as officers give repeated commands. Suddenly, Francisco-Manzo appears in the entranceway next to officers as one calls out, “He’s got a knife.”
Officer Brendan Hart, who has been with SSFPD for eight years, fired a Taser at Francisco-Manzo, but it did not have the intended effect, police said.
Four gunshots are heard in the body camera video. Police said Officer Hart and Officer Martin Corona were the officers who discharged their weapons. Officer Corona has seven years of law enforcement experience with over four years at SSFPD.
Francisco-Manzo was transported to the hospital in critical condition. On Thursday, authorities said he continues to recover in the hospital. No officers were injured in the incident.
The police shooting remains under investigation by the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.
San Francisco, CA
Pedestrian killed in San Francisco hit-and-run crash
SAN FRANCISCO – A hit-and-run crash in San Francisco on Wednesday evening left a pedestrian dead.
Driver fled scene
What we know:
According to the San Francisco Police Department, the crash happened around 6:05 p.m. in the 5500 block of Mission Street. The driver fled the scene after striking the pedestrian.
The victim died at the scene.
Officers have not yet provided a description of the suspect vehicle involved in the incident.
No further details were immediately released.
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