Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 126

May 19, 2025

Mitty’s Kris Bubic flirts with no-hit bid in Royals’ 3-1 win over SF Giants

SAN FRANCISCO — Southpaws have presented problems for the Giants all season. None as much as the kid from Cupertino who happened to be wearing road grays with Kansas City across the front Monday night.

Kris Bubic’s career started at Archbishop Mitty, took him to Stanford and, seven years after being drafted 40th overall, he toed the rubber at Oracle Park, where he was so filthy in front of family and friends that it required a retroactive scoring change for the Giants to record their first hit.

Bubic was so dominant that he sent the Giants to their first loss in 10 starts behind Robbie Ray this season.

San Francisco Giants’ Tyler Rogers (71) stands on the mound after giving up a two-run home run to the Kansas City Royals in the eighth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

The two lefties traded zeroes for seven innings before Vinnie Pasquantino took Tyler Rogers deep in the eighth for what proved to be a decisive shot over the right field wall. Pasquantino’s two-run homer was all the Royals would need to send the Giants to a 3-1 loss, snapping a three-game win streak from their sweep of the A’s.

“We’ve seen some good pitchers this year,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said. “That was right up there.”

Ray held the Royals scoreless for seven innings, allowing six hits and one walk while striking out seven to lower his ERA to 2.67. The loss went to Rogers, so Ray’s record remains unblemished at 6-0. The Giants hadn’t won a pitcher’s first 10 starts of a season since they won 11 straight behind Bill Swift in 1992.

Bubic entered the game — his third career start at Oracle Park — with the fifth-best ERA in the majors at 1.66 and lowered it to 1.47 with seven shutout innings. While he doesn’t possess overpowering velocity, Bubic’s five-pitch mix and deceptive arm angle from the left side posed a difficult challenge for the Giants, who fell to 4-11 when facing a left-handed starting pitcher.

“He pitches in, he pitches out, he pitches up, he pitches down, had a couple different breaking balls working, threw his changeup to both sides of the plate. He was really good,” Melvin said of Bubic, who grew up just west of the Lawrence Expressway, across the city line from San Jose.

Bubic estimated he had somewhere between 30 or 40 guests in attendance and took his time catching up with them after the game. He owns a 1.47 ERA in three starts at Oracle Park — and earned his first win Monday — and said pitching at the ballpark where he grew up going to games felt like any other start.

“It’s kind of cool to have it all come full circle because I grew up watching Kruk and Kuip and Jon Miller and Dave Flemming — all those guys,” Bubic said. “I’ve probably sat in every area of this ballpark. … I think having pitched here already twice kind of takes away those jittery nerves at the start of the game.”

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Kris Bubic (50) throws against the San Francisco Giants in the fourth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

The Giants broke through for their first hit between the sixth and seventh innings, when an error on second baseman Michael Massey was changed to a hit, and cracked the scoring column for the first time after both teams had gone to the bullpen.

Both starting pitchers departed after the seventh inning with the score tied at zero.

“You don’t really notice (the score), but just coming into the game you realize you’re going up against a great pitcher,” Ray said. “Maybe that factors into it a little bit, but during the game I’m just going out there trying to put up zeroes. … That was probably the best, maybe the sharpest, I felt my stuff has been all year.”

Bubic had allowed two San Francisco batters to reach base — both bases on balls — when Wilmer Flores dribbled a soft grounder between first and second base. Massey ranged to his left, lost his footing and fumbled the ball. Flores reached safely, and Massey was initially charged with an error, keeping Bubic’s bid intact.

The official scorer, Michael Duca, reversed the ruling between innings, potentially making a controversial scoring change the only thing standing between the local kid throwing a no-no in his hometown ballpark. Upon review, he determined that Massey slipping on the grass prevented him from making the play, and a slip or fall does not count as a physical error in the rule book.

“It is what it is,” Bubic said of the decision. “At the end of the day, regardless of base runners, hits, walks, whatever, to be able to keep putting zeroes up there, that’s ultimately what matters.”

The scoring decision proved less consequential when Casey Schmitt, in his first game back from a left oblique strain, ripped a line drive past third base for a double in the seventh. Schmitt’s two-bagger gave the Giants runners at second and third with one out, but they came up empty after Tyler Fitzgerald rocketed a line drive to Bobby Witt Jr., who snagged it and doubled up Willy Adames from third base.

Jung Hoo Lee made sure the Giants wouldn’t waste another scoring chance once the Royals went to the bullpen in the eighth inning. He ripped a double into right-center that drove home Sam Huff. But third base coach Matt Williams put up stop sign for Heliot Ramos at third, and that’s where the would-be tying run was stranded as Matt Chapman popped up to end the inning.

Up next

The Giants continue their three-game series against the Royals on Tuesday at 6:45 p.m. RHP Hayden Birdsong (1-0, 2.31) will make his first start since moving from the bullpen into the rotation spot formerly occupied by Jordan Hicks. He will be opposed by RHP Michael Lorenzen (3-4, 3.76).

San Francisco Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee (51) makes a catch for an out in centerfield on a ball hit by Kansas City Royals’ Jonathan India (6) in the fifth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants’ Willy Adames (2) sits at third base after being tagged out to end the seventh inning against the Kansas City Royals at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants’ Casey Schmitt (10) can’t make a catch in foul territory on a ball hit by Kansas City Royals’ Salvador Perez (13) in the sixth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee (51) hits an RBI double against the Kansas City Royals in the eighth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee (51) celebrates his RBI double against the Kansas City Royals in the eighth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Ray Robbie (38) walks off the field after the final out of the top of the seventh inning against the Kansas City Royals at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

Kansas City Royals manager Matt Quatraro (33) yells at umpire Jordan Baker (71) after being ejected during their game against the San Francisco Giants in the seventh inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants’ Willy Adames (2) reacts to striking out against the Kansas City Royals in the second inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Ray Robbie (38) throws against the Kansas City Royals in the second inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants’ Tyler Fitzgerald (49) throws to first for an out on a ball hit by Kansas City Royals’ Kyle Isbel (28) in the fifth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants’ Wilmer Flores (41) hits a single against the Kansas City Royals in the sixth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants’ Matt Chapman (26) throws to first base for an out on a ball hit by Kansas City Royals right fielder Hunter Renfroe (16) in the second inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants’ Willy Adames (2) makes a catch for an out on a hit by Kansas City Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. (7) in the third inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee (51) makes a catch for an out on a ball hit by Kansas City Royals’ Michael Massey (19) in the second inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants’ Mike Yastrzemski (5) heads to the dugout after striking out to end the game in a 3-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

Kansas City Royals’ Carlos Estévez (53) celebrates the final out with Kansas City Royals’ Salvador Perez (13) to beat the San Francisco Giants 3-1 at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Show Caption1 of 16San Francisco Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee (51) makes a catch for an out in centerfield on a ball hit by Kansas City Royals’ Jonathan India (6) in the fifth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)Expand

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Published on May 19, 2025 21:09

David Villar’s time with SF Giants likely nearing an end after second DFA

SAN FRANCISCO — Once heralded as the Giants’ third baseman of the future, David Villar’s time with the organization is likely coming to an end.

Villar, 28, was designated for assignment Monday for the second time this season so that Casey Schmitt could be activated from the injured list. If he is not traded, Villar will have the opportunity to elect free agency rather than an assignment to Triple-A Sacramento.

Manager Bob Melvin said it was “hard” to deliver the news, but move didn’t come as a surprise to Villar, who was still at his locker when the home clubhouse opened to reporters before the Giants began a three-game set against the Kansas City Royals.

In between shooting off texts to his agent and sharing a hug with Schmitt, Villar said he enjoyed his time with the only organization he’s ever known but indicated he planned to explore other opportunities if he is given the chance.

“A lot of times that’s all it takes, a change of scenery,” Melvin said of Villar, who lost his primary position when the Giants signed Matt Chapman last offseason and had fallen behind other infielders such as Schmitt and Tyler Fitzgerald on the internal depth chart.

Teams will first have the chance to claim Villar on waivers or work out a trade with San Francisco. If he goes unclaimed and the Giants aren’t able to find a trade partner by next Monday, Villar would be able to become a free agent because he was already DFA’d and sent outright to Sacramento earlier this season.

Villar said he is confident he will hear from other clubs on the open market and would even consider playing internationally, where the opportunities for players at the fringe of major-league rosters are often more lucrative. He said teams in Japan had expressed interest in the past but that the previous regime prevented him from exploring those opportunities.

The Giants fielded calls from interested teams when they designated Villar the first time, before Opening Day, but opted to keep him around in case a need arose on the infield. He was called up three weeks later in their first roster move of the year when Schmitt strained his left oblique in the batting cage, forcing him to miss 28 games before he was reinserted into the starting lineup Monday with left-hander Kris Bubic on the mound for the Royals.

Villar appeared in nine games, recording four hits in 20 at-bats (.200) as the right side of the platoon at first base. A late-bloomer as an 11th-round draft pick out of the University of South Florida in 2018, Villar flashed major-league power, with 15 homers and 17 doubles in 118 games, but failed to produce consistent results, batting .200 with a .683 OPS in 335 career at-bats.

It has been a different story at the Triple-A level, where Villar was named the Pacific Coast League MVP for slugging 27 homers in 2022. He initially brought the power stroke to the big leagues, blasting eight homers between September and October of that year, and was declared the incumbent third baseman entering the next spring. But he struggled at the plate and eventually lost the job to J.D. Davis, who was supplanted by Chapman before last season.

In 15 games with the River Cats this season, Villar batted .368 with a double and a homer for a .888 OPS.

“I think he had a little different perspective when he cleared waivers, went back down, came with a good attitude, did well (and) got back to the big leagues,” Melvin said. “So I think there’s more of a light at the end of the tunnel for him. The first time you get designated, it can feel pretty ominous. We’ll see where it goes from here.”

Verlander battles pec issue

Justin Verlander remains on track to make his next start, scheduled to come this weekend against the Nationals, Melvin said before Monday’s game.

Verlander, 43, said he was “dealing with something physically” after he issued five walks and required 83 pitches to complete four innings in Sunday’s 3-2 win over the A’s. Melvin expanded a day later, adding that Verlander “had a little pec thing going on” but that “he feels a little better today.”

The Giants are off Thursday before they travel to Washington, D.C., giving Verlander an extra day of rest.

“I think he’s going to take it easy the next couple days and we’ll see how he’s feeling,” Melvin said. “Give it a day or two to calm down and hopefully we’re good to go.”

Also…

Jerar Encarnacion could begin a rehab assignment by the end of the week. Encarnacion, 27, fractured his left hand in spring training and hasn’t appeared in a game this season but will begin swinging a bat on Tuesday, according to the club. He is eligible to be activated from the 60-day injured list on Friday.

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Published on May 19, 2025 17:21

US sends 68 migrants back to Honduras and Colombia in first voluntary deportation

By CLAUDIO ESCALÓN and MARLON GONZÁLEZ

SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras (AP) — The United States on Monday sent 68 immigrants from Honduras and Colombia back to their countries, the first government-funded flight of what the Trump administration is calling voluntary deportations.

In the northern Honduran city of San Pedro Sula, 38 Hondurans, including 19 children, disembarked from the charter flight carrying $1,000 debit cards from the U.S. government and the offer to one day be allowed to apply for legal entry into the U.S.

U.S. President Donald Trump has promised to increase deportations substantially. Experts believe the self-deportation offer will only appeal to a small portion of migrants already considering return, but unlikely to spur high demand. The offer has been paired with highly-publicized migrant detentions in the U.S. and flying a couple hundred Venezuelan migrants to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador.

Kevin Antonio Posadas, from Tegucigalpa, had lived in Houston for three years, but had already been considering a return to Honduras when the Trump administration announced its offer.

“I wanted to see my family and my mom,” said Posadas, who added that the process was easy.

“You just apply (through the CBP Home app ) and in three days you’ve got it,” he said. The flight left Houston early Monday. “It’s good because you save the cost of the flight if you have the intention of leaving.”

Posadas said he hadn’t feared deportation and liked living in the U.S., but had been thinking for some time about going home. He said eventually he would consider taking up the U.S. government’s offer of allowing those who self-deport to apply to enter the United States legally.

In a statement about the flight Monday, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said, “If you are here illegally, use the CBP Home App to take control of your departure and receive financial support to return home. If you don’t, you will be subjected to fines, arrest, deportation and will never be allowed to return.”

Twenty-six more migrants aboard the flight were headed home to Colombia, according to a U.S. Department of Homeland Security statement.

Honduras Deputy Foreign Minister Antonio García said the Honduran government would also support the returning migrants with $100 cash and another $200 credit at a government-run store that sells basic necessities.

Among the migrants arriving voluntarily Monday were four children who were born in the United States, García said.

García, who met the arriving migrants at the airport, said they told him that being in the U.S. without documents required for legal immigration or residence had been increasingly difficult, that things were growing more hostile and they feared going to work.

Still, the number of Hondurans deported from the U.S. so far this year is below last year’s pace, said Honduras immigration director Wilson Paz.

While about 13,500 Hondurans have been deported from the U.S. this year, the figure stood at more than 15,000 by this time in 2024, Paz said.

He didn’t expect the number to accelerate much, despite the Trump administration’s intentions.

Some would continue applying to self-deport, because they feel like their time in the U.S. is up or because it’s getting harder to work, he said.

“I don’t think it will be thousands of people who apply for the program,” Paz said. “Our responsibility is that they come in an orderly fashion and we support them.”

González reported from Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

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Published on May 19, 2025 16:57

Nebraska to ban soda and energy drinks from SNAP under first USDA waiver

By JONEL ALECCIA

Nebraska is the first state to receive a federal waiver to ban the purchase of soda and energy drinks under the benefit program for low-income Americans long known as food stamps.

The move, announced Monday by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, would affect about 152,000 people in Nebraska enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which helps families pay for groceries.

“There’s absolutely zero reason for taxpayers to be subsidizing purchases of soda and energy drinks,” Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen said in a statement. “SNAP is about helping families in need get healthy food into their diets, but there’s nothing nutritious about the junk we’re removing with today’s waiver.”

Six other states — Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Indiana, Iowa and West Virginia — have also submitted requests for waivers banning certain foods and drinks or, in some cases, expanding access to hot foods for participants, according to the USDA.

The push to ban sugary drinks, candy and more from the SNAP program has been key focus of Rollins and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Rollins called Monday’s move “a historic step to Make America Healthy again.”

Details of Nebraska’s waiver, which takes effect Jan. 1, weren’t immediately available. Anti-hunger advocates criticized it, saying it adds costs, boosts administrative burdens and increases stigma for people already facing food insecurity.

The waiver “ignores decades of evidence showing that incentive-based approaches — not punitive restrictions — are the most effective, dignified path to improving nutrition and reducing hunger,” said Gina Plata-Nino, a deputy director at the Food Research & Action Center, a nonprofit advocacy group.

SNAP is a roughly $100 billion program that serves about 42 million Americans and is run by the U.S. Agriculture Department and administered through states.

The program is authorized by the federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, which says SNAP benefits can be used “for any food or food product intended for human consumption,” except alcohol, tobacco and hot foods, including those prepared for immediate consumption.

Over the past 20 years, lawmakers in several states have proposed stopping SNAP from paying for everything from bottled water and soda to chips, ice cream and “luxury meats” like steak.

Until now, USDA rejected the waivers, saying there were no clear standards to define certain foods as good or bad. In addition, the agency had said restrictions would be difficult to implement, complicated and costly, and would not necessarily change recipients’ food purchases or reduce health problems such as obesity.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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Published on May 19, 2025 16:44

Clipboard: Clements in NCAA Regional softball tournament for UCLA

A decision to play her final collegiate softball season at UCLA has paid dividends for Salinas native Jessica Clements, as the graduate student took part in her first NCAA tournament.

Hitting in the leadoff spot, Clements has been a catalyst at the plate all year for the Bruins as the senior center fielder is hitting .360, leading the team in steals (9) and is second in runs scored (61) through 58 starts.

Clements is third on the team in hits (68) and walks (22) and sports a .431 on-base percentage. Hitting from the left side of the plate, she’s hit three homers and driven in 37 runs.

Defensively, the Santa Catalina High graduate sports a perfect fielding percentage in the outfield, having handled all 64 chances this spring.

Clements, who transferred from Cal Poly, was the Big West Player of the Year last spring, becoming the school’s all-time leader in batting average (.411).

A two-time Big West batting champion, Clements was a three-time all-conference first team selection for Cal Poly, ranking fourth all-time in steals and ninth in hits.

Martorella, Santa Clara in NCAA tournament

Salinas graduate Marie Martorella has appeared in 23 games this spring for the West Coast Conference champion Santa Clara University softball team.

Used as a catcher and occasional designated hitter, the junior is hitting .240 with a .305 on-base percentage for the Broncos, who made their first ever NCAA tournament softball appearance this past weekend.

Martorella has driven in five runs, while scoring six for Santa Clara, which set a school record for wins this past season.

Regarded as a defensive demon behind the plate, Martorella has not committed an error all year, while throwing out two runners and starting a double play.

A multi-sport athlete and cheerleader at Salinas, Martorella led Salinas to the Central Coast Section Division II title game in 2022.

Rey helps Central Florida

One of three players to have played in all 56 games this year, Samantha Rey has helped Central Florida earn a spot in the NCAA softball tournament.

Hitting at the top of the order for most of the season, the former Notre Dame of Salinas standout is hitting .270 this spring for the Knights.

Rey is second on the team in doubles with nine, while hitting two homers and driving in 13 runs. The sophomore has also scored 29 runs and walked 14 times for Central Florida.

In the outfield, Rey sports a .968 fielding percentage patrolling either left field or center field, handling 118 of 122 chances.

Last spring, Rey was a unanimous All-Big 12 freshman first-team selection after hitting .321 in 20 starts for Central Florida.

The Herald’s Player of the Year in 2022, Rey hit over .600, earning Cal-Hi All-State honors and Extra Innings first team All-American accolades.

Martinez closes chapter

Playing her final collegiate season, Salinas High grad Natalia Martinez was the only player on the Portland State softball team to start all 52 games this past spring.

Martinez closed a book on her softball career, leading the Vikings in sacrifice flies (5) and runs batted in (26).

The third baseman was second on the team in walks with 16, and homers with two, while scoring 16 runs and compiling 11 extra base hits.

Over her four-year career at Portland State, Martinez hit .258 with 10 homers and 70 runs batted in. She scored 58 runs and compiled 111 hits, finishing with a .345 on-base percentage.

Huihui-Martinez honored

Nicole Huihui-Martinez earned one of the highest sports awards at St. Michael’s College in Vermont, as she was named the George Joc Jacobs winner.

The award recognizes individuals who make an outstanding contribution to athletics at St. Michael’s College.

Returning from an injury that kept her out her entire junior season, Huihui-Martinez helped lead St. Michael’s to the volleyball playoffs this past fall as a defensive specialist and team captain.

During her three-year career on the court, the former Notre Dame of Salinas multi-sport athlete collected 417 digs, averaging 2.10 digs a set. She also had 35 service aces and 72 assists.

A health-science major, Huihui-Martinez compiled a 3.92 grade point average at St. Michael’s, collecting 11 academic awards.

Hartnell’s Harvey to play at Chapman

Hanna Harvey has become the second Hartnell College basketball player to extend her collegiate career, committing to Chapman College in Southern California.

The Panthers 6-foot-4 post player led the team in points last year with 334, averaging just under 13 points a contest. Harvey also pulled down a team-high 198 rebounds.

Durable, the Monte Vista Christian product and Prunedale native played in 28 of the team’s 29 games, shooting a team-high 58 percent from the field.

Earlier this year, teammate and three-time Herald Player of the Year Daeja Hollands signed with St. Martin’s College in Washington as a shooting guard.

Coaches needed

Carmel is looking for a varsity girls volleyball coach, a varsity boys and girls cross country coach, a JV flag football coach and a JV boys water polo coach. Go to http://carmelunfied.org

Salinas is looking for a boys and girls cross country coach, and a girls volleyball coach for this fall. Go to art.hunsdorfer@salinasuhsd.org

Marina is looking for varsity, JV and freshman head coaches this fall for girls’ volleyball. Go to edjoin.org

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Published on May 19, 2025 15:03

Brent Jones catches overdue spot in 49ers’ Hall of Fame

SANTA CLARA – Brent Jones, a three-time Super Bowl champion and one of the most prolific tight ends in 49ers’ history, is this year’s entrant to the franchise’s Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. Hall of Fame.

“Receiving the call from Jed (York) was incredibly emotional for me, something that I will remember forever,” Jones said in a statement through the 49ers. “It is truly the greatest honor of my life to be alongside the legends that comprise the San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame, one of the greatest franchises in all of professional sports. I want to sincerely thank my coaches and the teammates who poured into me and allowed me to be successful on and off the field.”

Jones, 62, is a San Jose native who played at Leland High School and Santa Clara University before entering the NFL in 1986 as a fifth-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Injured in a car accident shortly after the draft, Jones got cut a year later and joined Bill Walsh’s 49ers, becoming a go-to target for Steve Young through the 1997 season as they forged an ever-lasting friendship.

Jones is the 33rd member but first tight end in the 49ers’ Hall of Fame, which is displayed with personalized statues inside their museum at Levi’s Stadium.

He made the Pro Bowl four straight years (1992-95), drew All-Pro recognition in 1992-94, and he won the NFL’s Bart Starr Award in 1998. He’s more recently been at the forefront of the 49ers’ Golden Heart Fund that benefits alumni in need.Related Articles Kurtenbach: The 49ers learned their lesson and corrected last season’s biggest error 49ers make All-Pro Fred Warner the NFL’s highest-paid linebacker 49ers mailbag: Financing a future Super Bowl run with Purdy extension, Warner up next 49ers set to add veteran kicker to compete with Moody Kurtenbach: Brock Purdy’s new contract should make everyone — the 49ers, fans, and especially the QB — happy

Jones’ 11 seasons and 143 games are the most by a 49ers tight end. His 5,195 receiving yards rank ninth in team history, having been passed by fellow tight ends George Kittle (third; 7,380 yards) and Vernon Davis (seventh; 5,640 yards). Jones’ 417 receptions also rank seventh, while his 33 touchdown catches are 11th most.

Jones’ post-playing days have seen him thrive as a CBS Sports’ analyst and in the world of venture capital.

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Published on May 19, 2025 14:56

Trump administration to pay nearly $5M to settle suit over Ashli Babbitt’s fatal shooting in Capitol

By ERIC TUCKER and MICHAEL KUNZELMAN

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has agreed to pay just under $5 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit that Ashli Babbitt’s family filed over her shooting by an officer during the U.S. Capitol riot, according to a person with knowledge of the settlement. The person insisted on anonymity to discuss with The Associated Press terms of a deal that have not been made public.

The settlement will resolve the $30 million federal lawsuit that Babbitt’s estate filed last year in Washington, D.C. On Jan. 6, 2021, a Capitol police officer shot Babbitt as she tried to climb through the broken window of a barricaded door leading to the Speaker’s Lobby.

The officer who shot her was cleared of wrongdoing by the U.S. Attorney’s office for the District of Columbia, which concluded that he acted in self-defense and in the defense of members of Congress. The Capitol Police also cleared the officer.

Settlement terms haven’t been disclosed in public court filings. On May 2, lawyers for Babbitt’s estate and the Justice Department told a federal judge that they had reached a settlement in principle but were still working out the details before a final agreement could be signed.

Justice Department spokespeople and two attorneys for the Babbitt family didn’t immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

Babbitt, a 35-year-old Air Force veteran from San Diego, was unarmed when she was shot by the officer. The lawsuit alleges that the plainclothes officer failed to de-escalate the situation and did not give her any warnings or commands before opening fire.

The suit also accused the Capitol Police of negligence, claiming the department should have known that the officer was “prone to behave in a dangerous or otherwise incompetent manner.”

“Ashli posed no threat to the safety of anyone,” the lawsuit said.

The officer said in a televised interview that he fired as a “last resort.” He said he didn’t know if the person jumping through the window was armed when he pulled the trigger.

Thousands of people stormed the Capitol after President Donald Trump spoke to a crowd of supporters at his Jan. 6 “Stop the Steal” rally near the White House. More than 100 police officers were injured in the attack.

In January, on his first day back in the White House, Trump pardoned, commuted the prison sentences or ordered the dismissal of charges for all of the more than 1,500 people charged with crimes in the riot.

Associated Press writer Alanna Durkin Richer contributed to this report.

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Published on May 19, 2025 14:48

Horoscopes May 19, 2025: Grace Jones, embrace living in the moment

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Dario Franchitti, 52; Polly Walker, 59; Grace Jones, 77; Pete Townshend, 80.

Happy Birthday: Change is possible. Don’t fear the unknown; embrace living in the moment and experiencing what life is all about. Tune in, observe and put your energy into what makes you feel alive and grateful for who you are and what you do. Make your space comfortable and easier to maintain. Stop dreaming, and focus on living a life that offers contentment, self-respect and less stress. Make romance a priority. Your numbers are 9, 13, 20, 24, 29, 35, 43.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Review your investments and revamp your overhead. Updating and setting a budget and allocating funds to pay off debt will ease stress and put you in a better position to follow your dreams. Connect with people in the know who can suggest simple but effective lifestyle changes. 3 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Look for the positive angle and head in that direction. Overanalyzing will hold you back. Focus on what’s heading in a direction that intrigues you, and take your foot off the brake. You are in a better position than you think, and a positive change will energize you to exceed your own expectations. 3 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Keep your eyes on your goal and your circumstances. Someone will embellish information to grab your attention. Before showing interest, research, fact-check and ask direct questions. When in doubt, take a break and concentrate on yourself and what makes you happy. Prioritize comfort, fitness, relationships and love. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Step outside your comfort zone and let your creative imagination help you achieve your dreams. Focus on what’s important, and develop skills to help you achieve something new and exciting. It’s OK to show emotions and to feel passionate about what you want and who you are. An emotional incident will change your perspective. 5 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Seek information to enhance your skills, knowledge and experience, and rethink your purpose, passion and desired position. Life is about choices, harnessing your energy and channeling it into something meaningful. If you love what you do, you will do a good job. Engage in a scavenger hunt to revive and go after your dreams. 2 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Too much of anything will lead to backlash. Choose discipline, harness your energy and apply what you know and can physically do into being and doing your best. Don’t count on others to do things for you or give in to someone pressuring you to do something you don’t want. 4 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You’ll attract takers and givers. Examine who they are, what they want and what you are willing to receive and offer carefully. Indebtedness can affect your ability to do what’s best for you. Weigh the pros and cons, and concentrate on work, responsibilities and not compromising your time, energy or spirit. 3 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Take your mind off all the distractions buzzing around in your head. Turn off the news, get outdoors and engage in activities that challenge you physically and encourage you to pay attention to your health, wealth and emotional well-being. Plan a vacation, join an interest group or cuddle up with someone you love. 3 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): It’s two steps forward and three steps back. Sit back and organize your thoughts, and you’ll get a clear message from your heart regarding what to do next. Opportunity is within reach, but you must take the time to recognize the possibilities. Look over your assets and liabilities, and budget for what you want. 3 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Consider your concerns and set out to make a difference. Volunteer, engage in rallies, gather information and do your part. The people you encounter and the knowledge and experience you gain will change how you view yourself and the world around you. Be kind and do something that makes you feel good. 4 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Put money matters first. Look at how much you earn and where your money goes. It’s time to restructure your lifestyle to fit your budget and reduce stress. Consider unique ways to use your talents, skills and experience to qualify for a better position or simplify your life to lower overhead. 2 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Size down on all fronts. Too much food, expenditures, work, travel, daydreaming or anything else you do in excess will drag you down. Temptation is the enemy, and the best way out of an indulgent lifestyle is through discipline, organization and a plan and budget to structure balance and peace of mind. 5 stars

Birthday Baby: You are poised, engaging and thoughtful. You are unique and helpful.

1 star: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes.2 stars: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others.3 stars: Focus and you’ll reach your goals.4 stars: Aim high; start new projects.5 stars: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.

Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.

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Published on May 19, 2025 03:01

May 18, 2025

Verlander has concerning outing, but Heliot Ramos comes through for SF Giants

SAN FRANCISCO — Justin Verlander came into the season with 262 wins, the most in Major League Baseball.

Depending on how he’s feeling after struggling through four innings Sunday as the Giants came back in the bottom of the eighth inning to beat the Athletics 3-2 at Oracle Park, it may be a while before he gets to 263.

Verlander walked five batters and threw 84 pitches, topping out at 93 miles per hour.

“I was dealing with something physically that I was able to work through,” Verlander said. “It was kind of affecting my velocity and mechanics.”

Verlander, 43, did not want to discuss the specifics of his injury but did say he hoped to make his next start, which could come next weekend when the Giants are in Washington to play the Nationals from Friday to Sunday. The Giants are off Thursday, giving Verlander an extra day of rest.

Verlander (0-3) avoided another loss with help from Heliot Ramos, who drove in the first run in the first inning on a first-pitch home run off A’s starter Jeffrey Springs. Ramos also drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth on a groundball single to left against reliever Tyler Ferguson.

Ramos’ production helped the Giants (28-19) finish a three-game sweep of the Athletics (22-25), their former crossbay rivals, before a sellout crowd of 40,051.

Ramos’ home run was his eighth of the season. Two pinch-hitters figured in a two-run rally in the eighth off Ferguson, with LaMonte Wade Jr. hitting a triple to right center and scoring on Patrick Bailey’s ground single to center.

After a sacrifice bunt by Christian Koss, Ramos’s single put the Giants ahead.

“I know LaMonte has been going through some things, but I think he’s getting great at-bats,” Ramos said. “He’s had a lot of bad luck. And Bailey, I know he’s got a lot of games to come through. After what they did, I felt the pressure to come through.”

The pinch hits by Wade and Bailey were from two hitters who have been at less than their best offensively. Wade is hitting .165, and Bailey is hitting .185.

San Francisco Giants' Heliot Ramos (17) stomps on home plate after hitting a solo home run in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, May 18, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News GroupHeliot Ramos stomps on home plate Sunday at Oracle Park after a first-pitch home run against the Athletics in the bottom of the first inning.

“There’s certain at-bats that can be huge for you,” manager Bob Melvin said of Wade. “He’s had a history of being able to pinch hit, and even though it hasn’t been great for him, I think he’s ready for those types of moments.”

The home run by Ramos left the bat at 111.2 miles per hour, a laser that cleared the fence in center.

“I knew he wasn’t throwing super hard so it was like, if it’s middle-middle, that’s all mine,” Ramos said. “I ran out of the box thinking double or triple. I thought it was going to go off the wall.”

Wade said he was only looking to hit the ball hard somewhere on his triple and has played too long to let the slump get into his head.

“Trust your process. This is my sixth season,” Wade said. “I know the ebbs and flows. You’ve got to keep coming in, put in the work, and trust and believe that they’ll fall.”

After Ramos’ initial blast, Springs retired the next 20 hitters before Matt Chapman singled with two out in the seventh. A’s manager Mark Kotsay then went to right-hander Justin Sterner, who walked Willy Adames before he retired pinch hitter Mike Yastrzemski on a fly to center to retain a 2-1 lead.

In 7 2/3 innings, Springs threw 84 pitches, 54 of them strikes, with no walks and five strikeouts.

After Verlander appeared to right himself in a 13-pitch, 1-2-3 third inning, he ran into trouble after getting the first two outs in the fourth.

“I thought maybe I’d figured out a way to navigate the mechanics and throw the ball semi where I wanted to,” Verlander said. “But the fourth was pretty much more of the same. So that was pretty frustrating.”

Luis Urias doubled over the head of Ramos in left, with Verlander walking the No. 8 and 9 hitters, Max Schuemann and Jhonny Pereda. Lawrence Butler followed with a first-pitch two-run single to center, driving in Urias and Schuemann for the two runs against Verlander.

By that point, Verlander was up to 84 pitches, 41 strikes and five walks. When the fourth opened, Spencer Bivins was on the mound, and Verlander was still looking for his first win as a Giant in 10 starts.

“There are days when you feel better than others,” Melvin said. “At the pitch count he was at, I didn’t want to put him back out there and go well over 100 potentially. I think it was one of those days when he didn’t feel great.”

After Verlander’s departure, Bivins (two innings), Eric Miller, Randy Rodriguez and Ryan Walker held the A’s scoreless, with Walker getting his eighth save. Rodriguez (3-0) was the winning pitcher, with Ferguson (0-2) taking the loss for the Athletics.

Attendance for the three-game series — all sellouts — was 121,611. The A’s, by contrast, have drawn 213,500 in 21 home dates. Melvin managed the A’s from 2011 through 2021.

“The A’s are always the A’s, and it’s always going to be a rivalry here,” Melvin said. “They don’t have Oakland in their name, but it’s still a raucous crowd, probably as we get all year. It’s just different level stuff for me.”

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Published on May 18, 2025 15:25

Biden has been diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer

By JOSH BOAK, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, his office said Sunday.

The finding came after the 82-year-old reported urinary symptoms, which led doctors to discover a nodule on his prostate. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer on Friday, with the cancer cells having spread to the bone.

“While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management,” his office said. “The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.”

Prostate cancers are graded for aggressiveness using what’s known as a Gleason score. The scores range from 6 to 10, with 8, 9 and 10 prostate cancers behaving more aggressively. Biden’s office said his score was 9, suggesting his cancer is among the most aggressive.

When prostate cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it often spreads to the bones. Metastasized cancer is much harder to treat than localized cancer because it can be hard for drugs to reach all the tumors and completely root out the disease.

However, when prostate cancers need hormones to grow, as in Biden’s case, they can be susceptible to treatment that deprives the tumors of hormones.

Outcomes have improved in recent decades and patients can expect to live with metastatic prostate cancer for four or five years, said Dr. Matthew Smith of Massachusetts General Brigham Cancer Center.

“It’s very treatable, but not curable,” Smith said. “Most men in this situation would be treated with drugs and would not be advised to have either surgery or radiation therapy.”

Many political leaders sent Biden their wishes for his recovery.

President Donald Trump, a longtime political opponent, posted on social media that he was saddened by the news and “we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”

Biden’s vice president, Kamala Harris, said on social media that she was keeping him in her family’s “hearts and prayers during this time.”

“Joe is a fighter — and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership,” Harris wrote.

Former President Barack Obama said his thoughts and prayers were with Biden, his former vice president, lauding his toughness. “Nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer in all its forms than Joe, and I am certain he will fight this challenge with his trademark resolve and grace,” Obama wrote on social media.

The health of Biden was a dominant concern among voters during his time as president. After a calamitous debate performance in June while seeking reelection, Biden abandoned his bid for a second term. Harris became the nominee and lost to Trump, a Republican who returned to the White House after a four-year hiatus.

But in recent days, Biden rejected concerns about his age despite reporting in the new book “Original Sin” by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson that aides had shielded the public from the extent of his decline while serving as president.

In February 2023, Biden had a skin lesion removed from his chest that was a basal cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer. And in November 2021, he had a polyp removed from his colon that was a benign, but potentially pre-cancerous lesion.

In 2022, Biden made a “cancer moonshot” one of his administration’s priorities with the goal of halving the cancer death rate over the next 25 years. The initiative was a continuation of his work as vice president to address a disease that had killed his older son, Beau, who died from brain cancer in 2015.

His father, when announcing the goal to halve the cancer death rate, said this could be an “American moment to prove to ourselves and, quite frankly, the world that we can do really big things.”

Associated Press writer Jon Fahey in New York contributed to this report.

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Published on May 18, 2025 13:36

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