San Francisco, CA
The Giants Are Writing Their Own Rules
![The Giants Are Writing Their Own Rules The Giants Are Writing Their Own Rules](https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/04/24/multimedia/24kepner-giants-jubo/24kepner-giants-jubo-facebookJumbo.jpg)
The captain of the San Francisco Giants — that’s captain with a capital C, crudely concocted with strips of black tape — reported for obligation this season in a ship bearing valuable cargo. He wore a white captain’s hat with black-and-orange trim, flung his wares starboard and set floor, finally, on a shimmering emerald inexperienced.
“He’s a whole bozo within the clubhouse,” the left-handed pitcher Alex Wooden mentioned of the captain, Brandon Belt, whose impish humor spilled onto the sphere on opening day. Belt emerged from the left-field nook, at Oracle Park, standing at the back of a speedboat pulled by a truck alongside the third-base stands. He tossed baseballs to the gang, then hopped out, grabbed one for himself, and fired the ceremonial first pitch to Supervisor Gabe Kapler.
“They needed me to catch it initially,” shortstop Brandon Crawford mentioned. “I assumed, ‘I’m not going to advertise this any greater than he already is.’”
Crawford is 35, one 12 months older than Belt however a couple of month behind him in service time. They made their debuts in early 2011, when the Giants have been the reigning World Sequence champions, and shortly helped the group win two extra titles. Now, Belt and Crawford are the previous guard, guiding a Giants group that set a franchise file with 107 victories final season earlier than shedding to the Los Angeles Dodgers in an exhilarating division collection.
After a weekend sweep at Washington, the Giants have began this season 11-5. Refashioned as a contemporary contender — data-savvy, coaching-heavy, unafraid to problem conference of their type of play — the Giants are stronger by retaining two pillars of the glory years.
“We had tons of fashions to look as much as, and so they have been superior for us,” Belt mentioned, naming the pitchers Matt Cain and Javier Lopez and the catcher Buster Posey, who retired final fall, amongst his early mentors. “And I feel a number of these guys are the the explanation why we gained World Sequence again then, as a result of we had that nice management. Now me and Craw are in a position to assist these younger guys out and be leaders like these guys we seemed as much as earlier than. And that’s enjoyable for me.”
Belt named himself captain as a lark. Final September, when the Giants landed in Chicago for a weekend collection with the Cubs, he instructed teammates to remain seated till their captain had left the aircraft.
“Simply going for a little bit shock worth,” he mentioned. “They’d by no means heard anyone say that. I imply, it’s simply so ridiculous.”
In Belt’s locker at Wrigley Discipline the following day, his jersey had a “C” taped to it, courtesy of his teammate Evan Longoria. Belt wore it to the dugout — once more, simply as a goof — however Kapler prompt he go away it on for the sport. Belt homered, the Giants gained, and now the taped-on “C” is part of Belt’s legend. Some teammates put on it on a T-shirt in his honor.
“Nothing surprises me with Belter,” outfielder Steven Duggar mentioned. “He’s unbelievable, man. The man will get 9 at-bats in spring coaching, comes out and lights the world on hearth. And he did it final 12 months, too. Unbelievable participant, unimaginable individual.”
Belt missed most of spring coaching with a knee damage however homered on opening day and hit .345 within the Giants’ first three collection. He has thrived beneath Kapler and his expanded teaching workers. Coming into Sunday’s sport, he had slugged .584 since 2020. Solely two hitters, San Diego’s Fernando Tatis Jr. and Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr., had a greater slugging share in that span with a minimum of 500 plate appearances.
The 2022 M.L.B. Season
A season that was doubtful is immediately in full gear.
Belt, who was 2 for five with a triple Sunday afternoon within the Giants’ 12-3 win towards the Nationals, has chased fewer pitches out of the strike zone, serving to clarify the surge, however mentioned he additionally benefited from the teaching workers’s fixed reassurance. The arrogance to keep up his disciplined plate strategy has helped him keep out of lengthy slumps — and introduced an finish to the so-called Belt Wars, a debate amongst followers about his worth.
“Primarily, some individuals in San Francisco actually preferred Brandon and a few individuals have been like, ‘Man, you need to exit of the zone a little bit bit extra to attempt to drive in that run,’” Kapler mentioned. “However what we consider is like, it is a actually, actually glorious offensive profile simply the way in which he’s. So we needed him to know that we worth Brandon Belt precisely as he’s, with no enhancements. And I feel that message freed him up a little bit bit.”
Kapler, who took over for Bruce Bochy in November 2019, confronted a trickier challenge with Crawford, who was coming off his worst season. The Giants platoon at a number of positions, and Crawford, who hit .228 in 2019, appeared unsure of constant in an on a regular basis position.
However after taking part in effectively within the shortened 2020 season, he absolutely re-established himself final 12 months, profitable a Gold Glove and ending fourth in voting for the Nationwide League Most Precious Participant Award. Crawford, who hit .298 with 24 homers, known as it his greatest season.
“I don’t assume my protection had actually declined as a lot as perhaps some sabermetrics have been saying,” Crawford mentioned, “however to get again to Gold Glove caliber protection was massive, and proving individuals incorrect all the time feels fairly good.”
The Giants give Crawford leeway to regulate their infield alignment — generally with solely a look to the bench coach, Kai Correa — if he sees one thing that deviates from the pregame script. However embracing new concepts is crucial beneath Kapler and Farhan Zaidi, the group’s president of baseball operations. Crawford understands that the game should evolve.
“It’s modified on so many ranges — from celebrating on the sphere to how lineups and rosters are put collectively, by analytics and stuff like that,” he mentioned. “However I feel change, all through the course of something, is usually fairly good. If celebrating on the sphere grows the sport extra to perhaps a youthful viewers, nice.
“If any person’s given an opportunity as a result of their analytics have been actually good within the minors — and perhaps in years previous, they’d have been ignored as a result of they weren’t projectable sufficient — that’s good for the sport, too. So I feel, typically, it’s good to see the place the sport goes.”
In some circumstances, although, the Giants have pushed the sport ahead in ways in which irk their opponents. On Friday in Washington, with a six-run lead within the ninth inning, Thairo Estrada tried to steal second base when the Nationals weren’t holding him on. Crawford singled on the pitch, and after Estrada was thrown out attempting to attain, the veteran Nationals shortstop Alcides Escobar barked on the Giants’ dugout.
“They did some issues that we felt like have been uncalled-for,” Nationals Supervisor Dave Martinez mentioned. That echoed sentiments of the Padres the week earlier than, when Duggar stole a base and Mauricio Dubón bunted for a single with a nine-run lead within the sixth.
Most of baseball’s unofficial code of conduct needs to be preserved, Belt mentioned, for the sake of sportsmanship. However there’s a distinction between showboating and easily taking part in the sport, he added — and the Giants simply play.
“I get a number of the unwritten guidelines, and I like the way in which they’re,” Belt mentioned. “However I do agree with the logic that Kap is speaking about right here: We’re not doing this to be disrespectful to different groups. We’re doing this to attempt to win video games, interval. And I do know it doesn’t appear to be that to another guys, however we’re attempting to get deeper into the bullpen, make guys throw extra pitches so perhaps they’re not in a position to make use of them within the subsequent couple of days. It’s not simply going on the market and exhibiting individuals up.”
Crawford mentioned the Giants have been really exhibiting extra respect to their opponents by persevering with to attempt to rating. This, he mentioned, is the message they need to hear: “We will see you guys placing up some runs doubtlessly, which may drastically change the way in which we strategy our bullpen for the remainder of the sport and the remainder of the collection.”
It’s sound logic, even when it hurts different groups’ emotions. In any case, the Giants won’t apologize for the way in which they compete. They’re thriving once more, and Belt and Crawford are thrilled to experience one other wave with a special crew — and a veteran (self-proclaimed) captain.
“There’s actually no place I’d slightly be than San Francisco,” Belt mentioned. “I’m extra passionate in regards to the group now than I’ve ever been.”
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San Francisco, CA
Reports: 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall shot in San Francisco
![Reports: 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall shot in San Francisco Reports: 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall shot in San Francisco](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BNG-L-49ERS-0427-5.jpg?w=1024&h=693)
Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, the 49ers’ first-round draft pick this past spring, reportedly was shot in a robbery attempt Saturday afternoon in San Francisco and is in stable condition, NBC Bay Area reported.
“He’s good. Thank god!!!!” 49ers teammate Deebo Samuel posted on X/Twitter, adding emojis reflecting a prayer and crossed fingers.
Pearsall was shot near Union Square, according to KGO-7’s Dion Lim.
The San Francisco Fire Department was called to deal with a traumatic injury at 3:38 P.M. near Union Square and found two gunshot victims near Geary and Grand Streets, a spokesman told KTVU’s Sal Castaneda, who added that both victims were taken to a local hospital, one in critical condition and one in stable condition. Pearsall’s Rolex watch was targeted in the attempted robbery, Castaneda added, citing multiple sources.
The suspected shooter is in police custody, Supervisor Aaron Peskin’s office told NBC Bay Area’s Gia Vang.
Earlier Saturday, Pearsall signed autographs at a card show at San Francisco’s Cow Palace.
Neither the San Francisco Police Department nor the 49ers immediately returned messages left by this news organization.
Pearsall, 23, is a Phoenix, Arizona native who is entering his first NFL season after playing collegiately at Florida the past two seasons and Arizona State the prior three years.
A shoulder injury has kept Pearsall from practicing the past 3 1/2 weeks, after an offseason hamstring injury delayed his entry into training camp by a week. His left shoulder has a history of partial dislocations dating back to his junior year in college, and he aggravated it in spring practices as well as on Aug. 6.
He’s done conditioning drills on the side as the 49ers prepare for their regular-season opener Sept. 9 against the New York Jets at Levi’s Stadium.
Originally Published:
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco shooting leaves young girl injured, per witness
![San Francisco shooting leaves young girl injured, per witness San Francisco shooting leaves young girl injured, per witness](https://media.nbcbayarea.com/2024/08/34059865556-1080pnbcstations.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&resize=1200%2C675)
A shooting in San Francisco left an 8-year-old girl injured on Friday, according to her father.
The San Francisco Police Department said officers were called to the unit block of Chicago Way at approximately 5:24 p.m. for reports of a shooting. Upon the officers’ arrival, they found a young girl suffering from injuries, although police did not confirm she was shot. Police only said she was transported to a nearby hospital with “life-threatening injuries.”
Police did not provide other information.
However, according to the girl’s father, the family was setting things up for dinner when a bullet came into the house and hit his daughter.
Officers are still at the scene conducting their investigation.
San Francisco, CA
Racist graffiti, noose at San Francisco park tied to dog dispute
![Racist graffiti, noose at San Francisco park tied to dog dispute Racist graffiti, noose at San Francisco park tied to dog dispute](https://images.foxtv.com/static.ktvu.com/www.ktvu.com/content/uploads/2024/08/1280/720/graf2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Noose, racist graffiti at San Francisco park tied to dog dispute
Someone spray-painted racist graffiti and left a noose at a San Francisco playground, days after a dog owner was told her pet wasn’t allowed there.
SAN FRANCISCO – Racist graffiti and a noose found at a San Francisco park happened days after a woman was told she could not have her dog in the playground by the head of a youth organization.
The woman vowed to do everything possible to shut down this group, officials said on Friday during a news conference at the park hours after the vile messages had been painted over.
“That disgusting racial slur that was written all over this building does not define who we are as a city,” said Maria Su, director of the city’s Department of Children, Youth and their Families.
SEE ALSO: Alameda County firefighter accused of racist rant on paid leave
The vandalism at Merced Heights Playground on Shields Street is being investigated as a hate crime and a direct attack on the nonprofit called Youth First.
“This is not tolerated. And it will not be tolerated. We will continue to celebrate Youth First,” Su said.
Renard Monroe, Youth First’s founder and executive director, said that someone had spray-painted “N- First” on the building.
“It was destroyed by hate,” Monroe said. “The N-word. It said, ‘N-word First’ because we’re called Youth First, so they were kind of aiming that word toward our program.”
Officials believe the vandalism is a direct response to an incident at the park last week when a woman with her toddler daughter and their dog were near the playground, in the upper terrace area, where dogs are not allowed.
When Monroe told the woman to take her dog to the lower terrace of the park, where dogs are allowed, she told him, “No (N-word) is going to tell me where to go,” he recounted.
Supervisor Ahsha Safai said, “Then it turned into the N-word. It turned into threats. And the woman said, ‘I am going to make it my job to shut down your organization.’”
Following the threat, state licensing officials visited the park based on an anonymous tip, questioning whether Monroe’s operation was a childcare facility when it is actually an after-school program.
“People show up saying the music’s too loud. And then today he (Monroe) shows up and there’s spray paint and a noose hanging on the door,” Safai said.
Officials said the incident is a grim reminder that there is still division and hatred, even in a city as diverse as San Francisco.
“Everyone that doesn’t believe that racism is still alive – and still alive in San Francisco – it absolutely is. But guess what? We’re not going to be broken by it,” the supervisor said.
While no suspects have been publicly identified, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins assured that once the case reaches her office, “We will do everything to make sure the person or persons responsible for this are held accountable.”
Jenkins said, although the messages were abhorrent, the hate beneath the vandalism can’t be ignored.
“We have to bring attention to it, as much as we don’t want to give what this person did attention, San Francisco has to recognize how much work it still needs to do,” Jenkins said.
Henry Lee is a KTVU crime reporter. E-mail Henry at Henry.Lee@fox.com and follow him on Twitter @henrykleeKTVU and www.facebook.com/henrykleefan.
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