Author: jeremy2878

49ers preview: Jimmy G has practice to throw into sea of forgetfulness

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mercurynews.com photo: San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo tunes up at practice on Tuesday, Aug. 6th is expected to see some action on Monday Night Football Aug. 19th in Denver after sitting out last Saturday.

By Jeremy Harness

SANTA CLARA — Either the defense had a lights-out practice, or quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo had one of the worst in recent memory.

Garoppolo’s return from and ACL tear he suffered last September has been rather low-key up to this point, but during Thursday’s practice against the starting defense, he was a victim of Murphy’s Law.

To this point, 49ers fans are hoping that this is just a part of getting all the kinks out before the regular season starts and not part of any long-term issue. At one point in the live scrimmage, Garoppolo threw five straight interceptions.

Yes, you read that right. Five.

Straight.

Interceptions.

Now if there is a positive to take out of this, it’s that the starting defense is starting to show its teeth, something that did not happen very often during a 2018 campaign that saw the team finish near the bottom in takeaways.

The defense is a bit short-handed, as Dee Ford has been dealing with knee tendinitis but is expected to return next week, per reports. Meanwhile, top draft pick Nick Bosa suffered a high ankle sprain and will miss the entire preseason, and his status for Week 1 is in doubt because of it.

Simply put, the 49ers will need to improve on defense this season if they are going to contend for a playoff spot in a very tough NFC. Another positive sign came last Saturday, when the mostly second-string defense held the Dallas Cowboys’ offensive starters to a field goal after being backed up inside their own 10-yard line.

The 49ers will hold joint practices with the Denver Broncos on Friday and Saturday before they square off for a preseason game.

MadBum stifles Phillies 5-0

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Photo credit: @McCoveyChron

By Jeremy Harness

SAN FRANCISCO — After three straight days of famine at the plate in front of their faithful home fans, the Giants on Thursday returned to the feast that had been their calling card during their major resurgence following the All-Star break.

The bats were shut down by the Washington Nationals, but they bounced back in a big way against a pitcher who had entered the game on a real hot streak. Starter Aaron Nola (10-3) had entered the game having only given up two runs over his last three road starts, but the Giants capitalized on a third-inning rally to down the Phillies, 5-0, at Oracle Park.

Equally remarkable was Giants starter Madison Bumgarner (7-7), who blanked the Phillies’ bats with seven shutout innings and gave up only one hit in the process while striking out three, which would qualify as his best outing of the season.

His contributions were not limited to what he did on the mound, either. He also got a key hit in the third inning to help ignite the rally that would push the Giants ahead as well as drawing a pair of walks.

“He did it all tonight,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “I felt good about him going tonight, because he’s so good at figuring things out when it doesn’t go well. He put in a lot of work in between starts, to get where he needs to be.”

Upon taking over for Bumgarner, the bullpen kept Philly off the scoreboard, as Trevor Gott and closer Will Smith, who picked up his 28th save of the season on Thursday with a perfect ninth, combined to surrender only a walk.

After two quiet innings, the Giants broke through in the third off Nola. Brandon Crawford and Bumgarner started the inning with back-to-back hits before Brandon Belt drove Crawford in with a single to break the scoreless tie.

Mike Yastrzemski went the other way and carried it all the way to the left-field wall, and when Jay Bruce couldn’t play the carom off the wall, Bumgarner and Belt were able to score rather easily, and the Giants had a 3-0 lead.

Bumgarner lost his no-hitter in the sixth, when Cesar Hernandez pinch-hit for Nola and promptly ripped a single up the middle.

With two out in the sixth, the Giants – particularly Kevin Pillar – took advantage of a pair of Philly mistakes to tack on another run. Pillar reached base on a fielder’s choice, and as he stole second, he forced a bad throw from catcher Andrew Knapp that sailed into center field and allowed him to scoot on to third.

After he walked Crawford, reliever Nick Pivetta uncorked a wild pitch that rolled to the backstop, which Pillar used to scamper to the plate and give the Giants a 4-0 advantage. Yastrzemski added to that lead with one mighty swing of the bat, pulverizing a Pivetta fastball and sending it into the arcade in right-center for a solo homer.

“You pull for these guys (like Yastrzemski),” Bochy said. “He spent a lot of time in the minor leagues, and finally gets called up, and he hasn’t been in awe of anything.

“He’s been like that since Day 1. He’s just a nice all-around player.”

49ers get ready for first preseason game

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Photo credit: ninersnation.com

By Jeremy Harness

The 49ers will be playing in a football game Saturday night at Levi’s Stadium.

Other than that, there isn’t a whole lot to be excited about, because after all, it will be the first preseason game. In other words, it will not count. The starters will only play a couple of series at the most.

Basically, the game, which will pit the 49ers’ rookies and others vying to be a part of the 53-man roster at the end of training camp against those of the Dallas Cowboys, will be a glorified scrimmage, and so will the three other games that the team will play in August.

Jimmy Garappolo, although given the green light this season, is not expected to play Saturday, while C.J Beathard and Nick Mullens will handle the quarterbacking duties against Dallas. Beathard is expected to get the first-half snaps while Mullens, who took over for an injured and ineffective Beathard in the middle of last season, is expected to take over in the second half.

Defensive end Nick Bosa, who the 49ers drafted with the second overall pick in this year’s draft, suffered an ankle injury in practice, and he is expected to have an MRI done later this week. What that means is that he is all but ruled out of Saturday’s game.

There will, however, be a little intrigue at the running back position, as three runners will attempt to state their case to be the feature back when the regular season begins.

Matt Breida raised some eyebrows last season but was hampered by a myriad of injuries that seemed to hang around for much of the year. The club picked up Tevin Coleman, who seems to be a magnet for the goal line, this offseason while Jerick McKinnon, who was lost for all of last season after an ACL tear, returns to the active roster after being activated from the PUP (physically unable to perform) list.

There are still question marks at the receiver position, as Dante Pettis will look to improve on a rookie season that was a bit underwhelming in comparison to the record-setting ways of his college years at the University of Washington.

Rodriguez knocked around as Giants fall to Phillies 10-2

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Photo credit: nbcsports.com

By Jeremy Harness

Dereck Rodriguez was making a spot start on Thursday, and his performance showed why he is not in the starting rotation like he was last season.

The Philadelphia Phillies ripped Rodriguez (4-6, 5.32 ERA) for seven runs – four earned – on eight hits, and the young right-hander lasted only three innings before being pulled. He also walked two and did not strike out a single batter.

Aided by a throwing error by shortstop Brandon Crawford, the Phillies put three runs on the board in the second inning, followed by two more in the third.

Philadelphia kept the heat on in the fourth with a pair of homers that spelled the end of Rodriguez’s day. Cesar Hernandez launched a solo homer before J.T. Realmuto launched one just over the reach of center fielder Kevin Pillar for a three-run shot that gave the Phillies a commanding 9-0 lead.

Phillies starter Jake Arrieta surrendered only a pair of runs – one of them earned – while walking one and striking out five, but he only went four innings and, therefore, did not qualify for the win. Lefty Jose Alvarez came in and gave up only a hit in the fifth and was credited with the win (2-2, 3.00 ERA) instead.

In that inning, the Giants did make a small run, as Brandon Belt and Mike Yastrzemski both had RBI singles to cut the lead to seven. However, the bats then fell quiet again and did not make a serious threat for the remainder of the game.

The Giants did put together 10 hits on Thursday, with four – Belt, Yastrzemski, Donovan Solano, and Stephen Vogt – getting two hits each.

The Giants will now head to Colorado for a three-game series with the Rockies, and it has been a place where the Giants have has more success lately and will need to take advantage of this if they are going to continue to compete for a wild card spot in the National League.

Giants beat Phillies 5-1, say goodbye to hurlers

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Harness

The Giants won on the field on Wednesday, a 5-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies, one of the teams they are chasing for the second wild-card spot in the National League. In the meantime, they were quite busy off the field.

The Giants made a series of deals at Wednesday’s trade deadline that meant the departure of a few pitchers, one of which commanded a fairly-hefty price tag, particularly for the return they were getting.

Reliever Mark Melancon, who was brought in to be the Giants’ closer when they signed him in 2017, waived his no-trade clause and was dealt to the Atlanta Braves for pair of righties, minor leaguer Tristan beck and veteran Dan Winkler.

What’s even better for the Giants is that the Braves are taking on the entire $14 million Melancon is set to make this season as well as the $14 million he is due next year, which is the final year of a contract that was, at the time, considered to be the highest annual value for a relief pitcher in history.

The Giants also said goodbye to another right-handed reliever, as Sam Dyson was traded to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for three minor-league prospects – two righties and an outfielder – minutes before the deadline expired.

In a related note, the Twins also added former Giants closer Sergio Romo, getting him from the Miami Marlins on Saturday.

The Giants appear to have gotten some value in trading struggling starter Drew Pomeranz and righty reliever Ray Black to Milwaukee, as they got infielder Mauricio Dubon, a middle infielder who is considered to be one of the Brewers’ top prospects.

They did bolster their middle infield by acquiring second baseman Scooter Gennett, who was a National League All-Star last season but has missed almost all of 2019 with a groin injury. With the move, the future of second baseman Joe Panik, who has struggled with a .231 batting average, appears to be uncertain.

The two most talked-about trade prospects, lefty Madison Bumgarner and lefty closer Will Smith, are staying in San Francisco for the remainder of the season. Smith is currently on a one-year deal that is paying him $4.225 million while Bumgarner is in the final year of his contract, and he is due $12 million.

White-hot Giants could go for it, be buyers at the deadline

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Photo credit: @sfgiants_fanly

By Jeremy Harness

Two weeks ago, the Giants were sure-fire sellers at the trade deadline, as they were in no position co contend and general manager Farhan Zaidi already saying that he plans to rebuild sooner or later.

Now, it appears that the Giants could very well put those rebuilding plans on hold for now, as they have suddenly found themselves in the thick of the National League’s wild-card race following a 17-4 spurt to start the second half of the season.

Zaidi now has a decision to make, and the team’s weekend series against the San Diego Padres will be a very important one, a series that starts Friday night at Petco Park.

Despite the changed state of the team, the Giants could still make the trades that have been widely discussed for most of this season, notable starter Madison Bumgarner and closer Will Smith, and get the rebuilding process off the ground.

On the other hand, they could decide to capitalize on their suddenly-winning ways and add to the roster, and therefore, become buyers at the deadline, which is this Wednesday, if they truly believe that it can make a run in the postseason and make manager Bruce Bochy’s last season a memorable one.

But it appears the moment of truth starts Friday night, when Jeff Samardzija (7-8, 4.08 ERA) takes the hill for the Giants opposite San Diego’s Joey Lucchesi (7-5, 4.27 ERA).

Meanwhile, Bumgarner (5-7, 3.66 ERA) is scheduled to take the ball against Padres righty Chris Paddack (6-5, 2.84 ERA). He has given up nine hits combined in his last six outings, and he has appeared to have flipped the switch and reminded people of the form that saw him carry the Giants to the 2014 World Series crown.

Giants extend streak in marathon vs. Mets

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Harness

SAN FRANCISCO – Madison Bumgarner threw what should have been a complete-game statement win, giving up only one run on five hits and stifling a Mets team that rolled into Oracle Park riding a four-game winning streak.

Because the Giants couldn’t figure out how to get a guy home from third with nobody out – twice, mind you – it went into the books as a nine-inning no-decision as his offense let him down once more.

The Giants turned the tables on the Mets in the top of the 10th, when New York put runners on second and third on reliever Will Smith with nobody out. The lefty then put the brakes on the Mets’ rally, striking out the side to keep the game tied at 1-1.

The bats eventually turned around for the Giants, as they sent what was left of the crowd at Oracle Park home happy after Donovan Solano’s single drove in the winning run in a 3-2 win to extend their winning streak to six games.

Bumgarner’s night didn’t get off to the best of starts, as Jeff McNeil drove his first pitch into the left-center gap for a double, with J.D Davis following that right up with a hard single to left, putting runners on the corners with nobody out.

He got out of the inning with minimal damage, although McNeil ended up scoring after Bumgarner induced Pete Alonso into a double play, giving New York a 1-0 lead.

The Giants had their first crack at getting that elusive runner home from third in the second, when Alex Dickerson led off by launching one into the deepest part of the ballpark – a place called Triples Alley located in the gap in right-center – and wound up with a stand-up triple. After Brandon Crawford and Mike Yastrzemski both struck out, Kevin Pillar popped out to end the inning and blow the chance.

The next shot came in the fourth, as they put together a rally that saw them load the bases with one out. This time, the Giants cashed in, as Pillar lined one into left field, which Davis had to leap to make the catch and save and extra-base hit.

As it stood, Pablo Sandoval, who had led off the inning with a single, tagged up easily from third to tie the game.

The Giants have been especially adept at getting extra-base hits, and they used that to their advantage again in the seventh, as Yastrzemski led off with a triple.

Once again, however, lack of situational hitting on the Giants’ part let them down and kept the game tied. Pillar put the ball on the ground, but he hit it hard and right at third base, forcing Yastrzemski to stay put. The Mets then intentionally walked Joe Panik before Bumgarner – for whom the Giants faithful were on its collective feet in anticipation of his breaking the 1-1 tie – struck out and Brandon Belt flied out.

Giants continue shocking win streak

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Harness

The Giants had been floundering all season, giving every impression that they would not be expected to compete this season, period.

And then this past week happened. The Giants appear to have flipped the switch, and in a stunning turnaround, they have become a different team.

On Wednesday afternoon, they completed a four-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies by virtue of an 11-8 win at Coors Field, which marker their first sweep in Colorado since 2011.

With that victory, the Giants have now won five straight games, the longest streak they have had all season.

Donovan Solano went 4-for-5 on Wednesday, including a solo homer in the sixth inning as well as a run-scoring double in the eighth to give the Giants a commanding 11-5 lead. He now has a batting average of .337. Brandon Belt had three hits, including an RBI single in the seventh.

Shaun Anderson, however, struggled in the warm altitude that is Coors Field in the summer. He gave up five runs on eight hits, walking two and striking out one batter.

The bullpen, as well as the Giants’ resurgent bats, picked Anderson up, however. Derek Holland pitched a perfect 1 2/3 innings and picked up his second win of the year.

Andrew Suarez, however, surrendered three runs over 1 2/3 innings and could not close out the game, after giving up a double and a two-run homer. That opened the door for Mark Melancon, who was originally signed to be the team’s closer but struggled mightily in the role over the past couple of years, to get his first save of the season.

Giants’ future quite murky as trade deadline looms

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Harness

Technically, the Giants are only five-and-a-half games out of a wild-card spot in the National League as the second half of the season kicks off starting Friday. This fact alone is a cause for slight optimism for a great deal of a fanbase that is still sunbathing from a string of World Series titles won years ago.

Here’s a tip: Forget it. The rest of the league is expected to pick up its play – the wild-card leaders are just hovering above .500 at press time – and the wear and tear that the Giants have shown during the course of this young season will be even more prevalent as the summer months roll along.

That’s not to mention the dead weight that is being caused by underperforming players on bad contracts, which new general manager Farhan Zaidi vowed to do away with upon stepping into his new position this past offseason.

His first big task will be the manner in which he handles the trade deadline, which will take place on July 31, a mere three weeks away.

The player that has created the most buzz has been lefty Madison Bumgarner, and to no surprise, there is no shortage of teams that could put a sizable deal on the table. The Twins, Yankees, Braves and Phillies, among other teams, could be possible destinations for Bumgarner, with a move to Atlanta making the most sense.

Besides Bumgarner, there has been more talk surrounding lefty closer Will Smith, who has been perfect in his save opportunities this season and has by far been the most consistent performer on the Giants’ roster. Among teams that could be destinations for Smith are the Washington Nationals and the Oakland A’s, who sorely need help in their bullpen if they are going to make another postseason run.

One thing is for certain, however. The Giants are undoubtedly going to be sellers this time around, and this should be quite interesting and could dictate the team’s roster for years to come.

Sorry offense has Giants in the pits

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Photo credit: @NBCSGiants

By Jeremy Harness

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred has said that the baseballs that are being used in games are not juiced, despite the high number of home runs being his this season.

There is direct proof of this statement: Just watch the San Francisco Giants hit on a nightly basis.

After spending most of the season ranking dead last in home runs hit, the Giants are now 27th out of 30 teams in the majors with only 88 balls going out of the ballpark in the season’s first three months.

They do, however, have the worst batting average in baseball with a team mark of .230, and they rank in the bottom five in every offensive category, with the exception of doubles and triples (they rank near the middle of the majors).

To give you an idea, Kevin Pillar currently leads the Giants with a .256 batting average with 47 RBI. Meanwhile, Evan Longoria leads the team with only 12 home runs, which is not a lot of return for the $14.5 million he is getting paid this year.

That lack of offense has had a direct effect on their overall performance on the field, in what will be Bruce Bochy’s last season as a major-league manager. They have a 41-48 record as they enter the second half of the season, which puts them firmly in the National League cellar and qualifies as the league’s third-worst record, trailing only Miami and the New York Mets.

The NL, however, remains fairly open, and amazingly, the Giants are actually in the hunt for a wild-card spot, as they currently sit only five-and-a-half games out of the wild card. The wild-card leaders, Washington and Philadelphia, are barely sitting over .500 at press time.

This, however, may very well turn out to be fool’s gold, considering the fact that the Giants are expected to be sellers at this year’s trade deadline (more on that tomorrow).