Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 132

Koss’ grand slam leads SF Giants’ three-homer day to break cold spell

SAN FRANCISCO — Christian Koss, in his words, “panicked a little.”

Koss had just hit his first career home run, a grand slam that flipped a deficit into a lead. Oracle Park erupted; Koss blacked out. As Koss trotted, Willy Adames stood waiting. Adames, the Giants’ resident curator of good vibrations, initiated a multi-step handshake. Koss, wearing an ear-to-ear smile, forgot the choreography.

“It’s all right,” said Koss, his smile having yet to fade. “We’ll get the next one.”

Adames, a hype man at heart, didn’t mind in the slightest. Neither did his teammates, a group suddenly invigorated with new life after stumbling into play with a four-game losing streak.

Koss’ slam represented the first of three homers the Giants hit against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the other two off the bats of Adames and Jung Hoo Lee — on Korean Heritage Night, no less. It was a cathartic swing that paved the way for a 10-6 win, their first in their new City Connect jerseys and their ninth win in nine attempts when Robbie Ray toes the slab.

“You definitely don’t draw up a grand slam as the first one,” Koss said. “Even in that situation, I wasn’t really trying to put a big swing on it. I was trying to stay out of a double play and elevate something. I put a good swing on it.”

“He’ll never forget that moment,” Ray said. “He’ll be telling his grandchildren about it.”

Given how recent days unfolded, the Giants were in need of someone to get their dugout fired up. They were swept by the Minnesota Twins over the weekend, their offense scoring one run apiece on Friday and Saturday. Manager Bob Melvin shook up the lineup on Monday, but that new-look order mustered just one run.

Koss’ swing also arrived at a timely juncture in the course of the game. Ray allowed three runs in the first on four consecutive hits. At the end of one inning, the Giants were looking at the possibility of a fifth straight loss right in the face. Koss gave them a lead they’d never lose. Following the game, he traded a couple bats with the young fan who made the catch in exchange for the ball.

“We were just going nuts,” said Robbie Ray, who allowed three runs over six innings with a season-high nine strikeouts. “It was an awesome moment. You could just kind of feel in that moment that he was going to do something. He’s come up in situations like that and gotten base hits and moved guys. He put a great swing on it and it found the seats and we were just losing it.”

Added Lee through team interpreter Justin Han: “That home run brought in a different vibe, a different energy in the dugout.”

From there, his teammates padded the lead. Adames, who was dropped from second to sixth in the lineup on Monday, hit his own homer, a two-run shot for his fifth of the season. The struggling LaMonte Wade Jr. followed up with a single, then scored on a wild pitch. In the eighth, Lee provided the dagger with a three-run shot, a home run made possible by Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo’s gambit.

With a base open and left-hander Joe Mantiply on the mound, Lovullo intentionally walked Heliot Ramos to get to Lee. The move made tactical sense. Ramos has a career .920 OPS against lefties while Lee, entering play, had a .466 OPS in May. With the “Hoo Lee Gans” cheering him on in the upper deck, Lee provided the dagger in the form of a three-run homer, his first home run at Oracle Park this season.

“When (Matt Chapman) got out, I was thinking in my mind that I felt like the Diamondbacks were going to face me instead of Ramos,” Lee said through team interpreter Justin Han. “I went in there and I just wanted to help out the team by scoring a run. I never thought it was going to be a big run like that.”

Amidst the long balls, Ray rebounded from the first and held the Diamondbacks scoreless over the next five frames en route to recording his fourth consecutive quality start. With several pitchers unavailable — right-hander Tyler Rogers and left-hander Erik Miller pitched on Sunday and Monday — Ray kept Melvin from further depleting the bullpen.

Camilo Doval was the only high-leverage reliever that Melvin used on Tuesday, but he found himself in danger of allowing his first run in more than a month — and blowing the game in the process.

With the Giants leading, 7-4, the Diamondbacks loaded the bases with one out against Doval, setting the table for the top of their order. With no margin for error, Doval used a 100.2 mph cutter to induce an inning-ending 1-2-3 double play off the bat of Ketel Marte to end the threat and extend his scoreless streak to 15 games.

“You give up three in the first, it’s not ideal,” Ray said. “At that point, you’re trying to get as deep as you can into the game, save the bullpen, give your team a chance to win, keep us in it. It felt like we had some good at-bats and were just waiting for that one breakthrough. We got it and were able to shut it down after that.”

What does reinstatement of Pete Rose, Shoeless Joe Jackson mean for Barry Bonds?

SAN FRANCISCO — Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred announced on Tuesday that he has removed Pete Rose, “Shoeless” Joe Jackson and other deceased players from the league’s permanently ineligible list.

The decision paves the way for Rose and Jackson — two of baseball’s greatest players whose legacies were tainted by gambling — to gain admittance to the Hall of Fame.

“Obviously, a person no longer with us cannot represent a threat to the integrity of the game,” wrote Manfred in a letter to attorney Jeffrey M. Lenkov, who petitioned for Rose’s removal from the permanently banned list in January. “Moreover, it is hard to conceive of a penalty that has more deterrent effect than one that lasts a lifetime with no reprieve.

“Therefore, I have concluded that permanent ineligibility ends upon the passing of the disciplined individual, and Mr. Rose will be removed from the permanently ineligible list.”

The decision, which comes after Rose died in September 2024 at 83, would allow Rose, Jackson and others to be considered for the Hall of Fame by the Historical Overview Committee.

Rose and Jackson would be part of the Classic Baseball Era (before 1980), meaning the earliest they can be inducted is 2028. That said, there is no guarantee that either will be elected.

Barry Bonds, for example, remains eligible for the Hall of Fame as part of the Contemporary Baseball Era after failing to be elected by the BBWAA. In December 2022, Bonds received fewer than four votes from the 16-person “veterans’ committee” — well short of the 12 votes needed to be inducted.

During his period of eligibility on the normal ballot, voters declined to elect Bonds, MLB’s all-time leader in home runs. Bonds maintained that he never knowingly used steroids in his career, but admitted to using substances provided by his trainer, which turned out to be steroids. He was a major figure in the investigation into BALCO, a Bay Area company that provided steroids to major leaguers.

Some figures in the local sports community lauded the decision and expressed hope that Bonds might someday be inducted.

Bill Duby, who runs the Golden State Grind, an elite developmental program for young players in Contra Costa County, said the reinstatement comes too late.

“While I’m glad to see Pete Rose finally reinstated by Major League Baseball, it’s deeply disappointing that this recognition came only after his passing,” Duby said. “Sadly, knowing MLB’s track record, one can’t help but wonder if this was always part of the plan — to punish the man, not just the actions.”

Tony Dress, a coach at Diablo Valley College, applauded the decision: “Awesome!,” he said in an email. “Opens the door for Bonds to get in and should in my opinion! The numbers don’t lie! I am not big on the Hall being the morality police.”

Beginning in 2025, candidates on Era Committees who don’t receive at least five votes will not be eligible for the following ballot.

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“I don’t know why you wait until now, but I guess it is what it is,” said Giants manager Bob Melvin. “The guy was a great player. I’m glad he’s finally getting recognized in that light.”

Rose, MLB’s all-time leader in hits (4,256), voluntarily agreed with Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti to a permanent ban on Aug. 23, 1989, following an investigation that concluded Rose bet on the Reds as both a player and manager. Manfred previously rejected Rose’s petition for reinstatement in 2015.

In addition to gambling and a five-month sentence to a minimum security prison for federal income tax evasion, Rose was accused of statutory rape in 2017. When questioned by a female reporter in 2022, Rose replied, “It was 55 years ago, babe.”

High School boys golf: Stevenson three-peats as CCS champions with 13 stroke win

MONTEREY — It’s not like the moment has been too big for Calvin Etcheverry. Rather, he is on a team that arguably has five of the top 15 golfers in the Central Coast Section.

Still, sizzling the first nine holes Tuesday at the CCS golf championships at Laguna Seca Golf Course put an unfamiliar name near the top of the leaderboard for Stevenson.

“Our program gives kids an opportunity that are young to be in these big moments,” Stevenson coach Justin Bates said. “It carries over in subsequent years. Our younger kids showed up today in the biggest way.”

Etcheverry carded a team and career low 3-under 68 Tuesday, leading the Pirates to their third straight CCS title at Laguna Seca, securing a 351-364 win over runner-up Palo Alto.

“I was surprised a little bit with my score,” said Etcheverry, who was the CCS runner-up. “It’s been a rough few weeks. A lot of it was mental. I wasn’t as confident as I needed to be. Today I built that confidence back up.”

Etcheverry’s score was six strokes better than last week’s round at the CCS regionals. As a team, Stevenson shot 11 strokes better, with four players compiling better scores than last week.

Etcheverry wasn’t the only sophomore that came up with perhaps his best effort of the season as Zachary Hawkins fired a 2-under 69, finishing in the top five along with senior Luke Brandler.

“Our goal today was not to try and do too much,” Bates said. “See where the rounds are headed in the first four holes and use that to base your decisions on how to play your holes. I don’t need everyone to shoot 8-under par.”

Owners of 14 consecutive Pacific Coast Athletic League Gabilan Division titles, the Pirates, who were playing at Laguna Seca for a third consecutive week, shot a season best 4-under par as a team.

“What we’ve done the last few years has been super special,” said Brandler, who is headed to Princeton next fall. “I’m super proud of the teams we’ve had. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Last year’s medalist at the CCS finals, after setting a course record at Laguna Seca with a 9-under par 62, Brandler settled for fourth overall with Hawkins.

“I’m a little disappointed with how I played personally,” Brandler said. “I made a few mistakes. Ultimately, what I shoot doesn’t matter as much as what the team does. That matters more to me than anything else.”

Brandler, who was the first player in for the Pirates, went back out to catch the later rounds of Hawkins and Etcheverry, becoming a fan of their efforts.

“I’m super happy for all the boys,” Brandler said.

If the Pirates are to achieve their goal of chasing a state title in three weeks at Poppy Hills, they will need another team effort when they compete on May 27 at the Northern California tournament at Berkeley Country Club, where the top three teams advance to state.

“NorCal is a different beast,” Bates said. “It’s a challenging course. We’ve played OK there. It’s hard to replicate what we do at Laguna because we spend so much time there. That’s why we go on the road and play at unfamiliar courses.”

The last time Stevenson tested its mental fortitude at a different venue, it finished third among 60 teams from throughout the United States in Palm Springs.

Bates looked at that tournament as a turning point in the season, as the Pirates put together their best team performance of the year prior to Tuesday’s section finals.

“I’m so happy we have the depth we do,” said Bates, who has guided Stevenson to nine CCS titles in the last 15 years. “We do not have to rely on just the guys at the top. This was truly a team effort.”

Etcheverry, who was the Pirates last golfer out on the course, was consistent with his putting over 18 holes. When he sank a pair of putts for par early in his round, his confidence shot up.

“I was sinking six to 10-foot putts in the first few holes,” Etcheverry said. “I was steady and consistent. I’m on a good track. I don’t need to make too many changes.”

The same can be said for Hawkins, who has seen his score go from a 75 at the league finals to a 73 at last week’s CCS Regionals — to Tuesday’s four-stroke improvement.

“My short game was working,” Hawkins said. “On the front one, I didn’t really mess up much at all. There was a lot of pressure. I wanted to break 70. Now it’s about keeping the good spirits and leaving everything that’s bad behind me.”

Brandler, who was the medalist at the league finals and CCS regionals, will get back in the lab to correct what he called mental mistakes on the course.

“Absolutely, the mistakes are correctable,” Brandler said. “I had a few bad swings. A lot of it is mental. I’ll work all week to make the changes necessary.”

Steven Lai finished with an even par 71 for Stevenson, while Johshveer Chadha finished with a 73, both having improved from the previous week.

Joining the Pirates as an individual qualifier will be Carmel’s Julien Cho, who shot a 2-under 69 to earn one of the four individual spots.

While the Padres finished in a tie for third with St. Ignatius of San Francisco, they lost on a tiebreaker for the third and final team qualifying spot, shooting 367.

Cho, who shot a 76 at last week’s CCS regionals, felt if he shot even par on the back nine, he’d put himself in a position to make a run at one of the individual spots.

“Basically, my game plan today worked well,” Cho said. “I just wanted to be even on the back nine. I knew I could play the front nine well. My swing was on. I was making putts. I think I missed just two fairways.”

Teammate Cullen Pritchard shot a 1-under to finish in a tie for the fourth and final individual qualifying spot, but fell in a one-hole playoff with three other qualifiers.

Following the pair for the Padres were Jonathan Chen (73), Carson Varney (77) and Colin Dean (79). Trinity’s Eric Li (73) and Salinas’ Alex Jarvis (76) competed as individuals.

Hegseth’s plan to cut senior military jobs could hit more than 120 high-ranking officers

By LOLITA C. BALDOR

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s plans to slash the number of senior military leaders across the services would cut more than 120 high-ranking officer jobs in the active duty and National Guard, including as many as nine top general slots.

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Based on the percentages outlined by Hegseth and his senior staff, 20% of the 44 authorized top active duty general and admiral jobs would be eliminated, along with 10% of the more than 800 one-, two- and three-star positions, according to numbers compiled by The Associated Press.

The cuts — about nine positions among four-star generals and 80 jobs across the other leadership levels — would affect dozens of active duty officers scattered across the five services as well as those who are in joint command jobs, such as those overseeing Africa, the Middle East and Europe. The changes would eliminate 33 senior National Guard positions.

The cuts are part of a broader government-wide campaign to slash spending and personnel across federal agencies that is being pushed by President Donald Trump’s administration and ally Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.

According to Hegseth and others, the intent of the military job reductions isn’t to reduce the overall size of the force but to thin out the higher ranks and offset those cuts with additional troops at lower levels. While the overall number of service members may not drop, the salary costs will be lower.

Some Democratic members of Congress have criticized Hegseth’s plans as an attempt to politicize the military and oust leaders that don’t agree with the Trump administration. The changes also come as the world is roiled by conflicts, including the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, and as the U.S. has troops deployed in Syria and elsewhere.

Shifting leadership responsibilities

Military officials expect that as various jobs are downgraded — for example from a lieutenant general in charge to a major general or brigadier general — more leadership responsibilities will fall on colonels or Navy captains and other subordinates.

And while many of the job cuts will come through attrition, as senior officers retire or move on, the services say they will have the flexibility to move people into higher priority positions and get rid of less critical posts.

“More generals and admirals does not equal more success,” Hegseth said in a video describing his plan. “This is not a slash and burn exercise meant to punish high-ranking officers. Nothing could be further from the truth. This has been a deliberative process.”

Calling it the “Less Generals, More GIs” plan, he said the department will make “prudent reductions.”

How the cuts will hit the military services

The Army, which is the largest service, is allowed to have a maximum of 219 high-ranking general officers and is expected to absorb a higher number of the cuts, while the Marine Corps will probably see little impact at the very top. There are only two Marine four-star generals, and the tiny Space Force also only has two.

“The Marine Corps, with our general officers, like our civilians and senior executives, is by far the leanest service,” said Lt. Col. Josh Benson, a Marine spokesman. “Due to the already lean nature of the general officers in the Marine Corps, any cuts to Marine general officers will have an outsized impact to the Corps relative to other services.”

He said nearly one-third — or 21 — of Marine generals hold two or three jobs each, and as many as 10 positions are already empty.

Army leaders, meanwhile, have already developed plans to merge or close headquarters units and staff. As many as 40 general officer slots could be cut as a result, officials have said.

The joint jobs would include leaders at regional commands, such as those in Europe, the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East, as well as administrative or functional commands, such as Cyber Command and Special Operations Command.

Under the law, there currently can be no more than 232 of those joint officers, and they’re spread across all the services.

It’s unclear how many of the cuts those jobs would absorb, versus the slots in each of the services. But officials have talked about merging some commands as the Pentagon reviews its overall leadership structure.

In addition to the joint command jobs, Congress stipulates the maximum number of high-ranking general officers in the services: 219 in the Army, 171 in the Air Force, 21 in the Space Force, 64 in the Marine Corps and 150 flag officers in the Navy.

All combined, the services can’t have more than 27 four-star officers, 153 three stars, 239 two stars and 210 one stars.

National Guard review and cuts

The decrease in the National Guard stems from a review done by Guard leaders last year that identified more than 30 positions that could be cut among the 133 general officer jobs spread out across the government. There are about 30 general officers in the National Guard Bureau headquarters staff, and the rest are assigned to jobs in other federal agencies, including the FBI, CIA and the military commands.

Guard officials described their plan to Hegseth and Pentagon leaders, and it was approved. According to officials, it would result in six jobs cut from Guard Bureau staff and the rest from other military and government posts.

The adjutants general who run the Guard in each state are chosen by and work for the governors and so are not part of any cuts. They are largely one- and two- star officers.

Trump’s new pardon attorney says he will scrutinize pardons that Biden issued at the end of his term

By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ed Martin Jr., who will be the Justice Department’s new pardon attorney after President Donald Trump pulled his nomination to be the top federal prosecutor for Washington, said Tuesday that he plans to scrutinize pardons that former President Joe Biden issued on his way out of the White House.

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“These are big moments, and so they have to be able to withstand scrutiny,” Martin told reporters on Tuesday, his last full day as acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.

Biden pardoned his siblings and their spouses in January on his last day in office. He also pardoned Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley and members of the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

None of them had been charged with any crime. The pardons were designed to guard against possible retribution by President Donald Trump.

Trump pulled Martin’s nomination last week amid bipartisan opposition and replaced him with Fox News host Jeanine Pirro, who is expected to be sworn into office on Wednesday.

Instead, Martin will serve as an associate deputy attorney general and pardon attorney. In his new role, Martin also will be director of the “weaponization working group” at the Justice Department.

Attorney General Pam Bondi called for creating that group in February to investigate the work of former special counsel Jack Smith, who led two federal prosecutions of Trump that were ultimately abandoned, and other examples of what Republicans claim to be unfair targeting of conservatives during Biden’s administration.

In announcing his last-minute pardons, Biden said his family had been “subjected to unrelenting attacks and threats, motivated solely by a desire to hurt me — the worst kind of partisan politics.”

“Unfortunately, I have no reason to believe these attacks will end,” he said on the day of Trump’s second inauguration.

Martin told reporters that he believes Biden’s pardons “need some scrutiny.”

“They need scrutiny because we want pardons to matter and to be accepted and to be something that’s used correctly. So I do think we’re going to take a hard look at how they went and what they did,” he said.

The Constitution grants broad pardon powers to presidents and their clemency actions cannot be undone by courts or other officials. It’s not clear what action, if any, Martin believes he would be able to take regarding Biden’s pardons.

Martin said the U.S. Attorney’s office under his leadership already had been “taking a look at some of the conduct surrounding the pardons and the Biden White House.”

Trump also has used the president’s sweeping pardon powers to benefit those close to him. In his final weeks of his first term, Trump pardoned Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in law, Jared Kushner, as well as multiple allies convicted in special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation.

On the first day of his second term, Trump pardoned nearly all of the 1,500 people charged with crimes in the Capitol riot, freeing from prison dozens of people convicted of assaulting police.

Trump appointed Martin as acting U.S. Attorney during his first week back in the White House. Martin oversaw the dismissal of hundreds of Capitol riot cases after Trump’s Jan. 6 pardons.

But his hopes of keeping the job faded amid questions about his lack of prosecutorial experience and his divisive politics. Trump yanked Martin’s nomination two days after a key Republican senator said he could not support Martin for the job due to his defense of Capitol rioters.

“Ultimately, the president decided we didn’t want to keep going forward,” Martin said. “The president of the United States said we have other battles to do, and so I’m excited about that.”

Associated Press writer Alanna Durkin Richer contributed to this report.

Federal grand jury indicts Wisconsin judge in immigration case, allowing charges to continue

By TODD RICHMOND

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A federal grand jury indicted a Wisconsin judge Tuesday on charges she helped a man in the country illegally evade U.S. immigration authorities looking to arrest him as he appeared before her in a local domestic abuse case.

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Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan’s arrest and ensuing indictment has escalated a clash between President Donald Trump’s administration and local authorities over the Republican’s sweeping immigration crackdown. Democrats have accused the Trump administration of trying to make a national example of Dugan to chill judicial opposition to the crackdown.

Prosecutors charged Dugan in April via complaint with concealing an individual to prevent arrest and obstruction. In the federal criminal justice system, prosecutors can initiate charges against a defendant directly by filing a complaint or present evidence to a grand jury and let that body decide whether to issue charges.

A grand jury still reviews charges brought by complaint to determine whether enough probable cause exists to continue the case as a check on prosecutors’ power. If the grand jury determines there’s probable cause, it issues a written statement of the charges known as an indictment. That’s what happened in Dugan’s case.

Dugan faces up to six years in prison if she’s convicted on both counts. Her team of defense attorneys responded to the indictment with a one-sentence statement saying that she maintains her innocence and looks forward to being vindicated in court. She was scheduled to enter a plea on Thursday.

Kenneth Gales, a spokesperson for the U.S. attorney’s office in Milwaukee, declined to comment on the indictment Tuesday evening.

Dugan’s case is similar to one brought during the first Trump administration against a Massachusetts judge, who was accused of helping a man sneak out a courthouse back door to evade a waiting immigration enforcement agent. That case was eventually dismissed.

Prosecutors say Dugan escorted Eduardo Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer out of her courtroom through a back jury door on April 18 after learning that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were in the courthouse seeking his arrest.

FILE – A sign is posted outside of county Judge Hannah Dugan’s courtroom at the Milwaukee County courthouse, April 25, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Andy Manis, File)

According to court documents, Flores-Ruiz illegally reentered the U.S. after being deported in 2013. Online state court records show he was charged with three counts of misdemeanor domestic abuse in Milwaukee County in March. He was in Dugan’s courtroom that morning of April 18 for a hearing.

Court documents suggest Dugan was alerted to the agents’ presence by her clerk, who was informed by an attorney that the agents appeared to be in the hallway. An affidavit says Dugan was visibly angry over the agents’ arrival and called the situation “absurd” before leaving the bench and retreating to her chambers. She and another judge later approached members of the arrest team in the courthouse with what witnesses described as a “confrontational, angry demeanor.”

After a back-and-forth with the agents over the warrant for Flores-Ruiz, Dugan demanded they speak with the chief judge and led them away from the courtroom, according to the affidavit.

She then returned to the courtroom and was heard saying words to the effect of “wait, come with me” and ushered Flores-Ruiz and his attorney out through a back jury door typically used only by deputies, jurors, court staff and in-custody defendants, according to the affidavit. Flores-Ruiz was free on a signature bond in the abuse case at the time, according to online state court records.

Federal agents ultimately captured him outside the courthouse after a foot chase.

The state Supreme Court suspended Dugan from the bench in late April, saying the move was necessary to preserve public confidence in the judiciary. A reserve judge is filling in for her.

Steph Curry ruled out for Warriors’ do-or-die Game 5

The Warriors have officially ruled out Steph Curry from Game 5 of their series with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Golden State must stave off elimination without its two-time MVP superstar in a road environment after losing the last three games since he went down with a hamstring injury in Game 1.

The team’s injury report submitted to the NBA on Tuesday afternoon confirmed Curry would miss his fourth straight game in the series.

“That’s been the expectation all along,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters Tuesday night. “All I knew is that there’s no way he was playing (tonight), so that was not a surprise to me that we deemed him out.  That was kind of a foregone conclusion.”

The Warriors had hinted after their loss to the Wolves in Game 4 not to expect to see Curry in Game 5.

“No, we’re not going to Superman this thing,” Draymond Green said Monday, adding that it would be up to Curry and sports medicine director Rick Celebrini. “But we don’t need Superman. Play the long game.”

“Even if I wanted to be Superman, I couldn’t,” Curry told Marc Spears of ESPN’s Andscape on Monday while saying he didn’t expect to be available for Game 5.

The Warriors identified Wednesday as Curry’s re-evaluation date when they first announced his Grade 1 hamstring strain had been confirmed by an MRI a week ago, the morning after he pulled up and clutched at his leg during the second quarter of Game 1.

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Curry has been on the sidelines of each game since, sitting on the bench with his teammates and talking with them during timeouts. But without him on the court, they have been unable to generate much offensive flow without the spacing his style of play affords.

Again, the onus will fall on Jimmy Butler and Jonathan Kuminga, the team’s top two scorers since Curry’s injury, to summon enough to force a Game 6 and hope Curry is able to return to the court by Sunday. Butler himself was battling illness on Monday, Green said, as well as a glute contusion he suffered during the first round against the Rockets.

Kuminga, who was out of the rotation before Curry’s injury, provides some direct-line drives for an offense that desperately needs paint penetration, but he does not offer the passing or shooting touch that makes Curry unique.

Horoscopes May 13, 2025: Stevie Wonder, remove taxing situations

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Candice King, 38; Lena Dunham, 39; Stephen Colbert, 61; Stevie Wonder, 75.

Happy Birthday: Envision how you see your life evolving and consider what you can do to speed up the process, gain stability and security, and put your mind at ease. Direct your energy to removing unnecessary or taxing situations instead of letting them build, causing anger and dissatisfaction. Take control and reach for the stars. A partnership looks promising, and physical, emotional and personal growth are favored. Your numbers are 4, 8, 17, 28, 33, 42, 49.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You’ll come across unique investments, budget options or moneymaking ventures. Taking a different approach to money management will change how you handle your day-to-day affairs and lower your overhead. A social event or activity will lead to someone who will enhance your life and your confidence. Romance is in the stars. 3 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Tally up the pros and cons of your situation before retaliating. You’re best to watch what transpires and only strike when you have enough information to win a conflict. Put pent-up energy to good use by entering a competitive activity that stimulates your mind, body and soul — but not your anger. 3 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Travel about. A change will pick you up and push you to consider alternative lifestyles. If you can imagine it, you can find a way to make it happen. Trust your instincts, intelligence and ability to implement your plans. A unique approach to life, love and happiness will pay off. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You’ll receive mixed messages from those you deal with, which can confuse you and cause you to make poor decisions. Verify information, ask questions and only change what you know is easily reversed. A back-out clause is necessary if you plan to sign an agreement. Your focus is to stabilize, not disrupt. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Get in the swing of things, participate and show off your skills, but don’t make promises you can’t keep. Learn, explore and infiltrate groups and organizations that benefit your goals. High energy and quick decisions will put you in a good position. Physical self-improvement and romantic gestures will be pleasing. 5 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Set your sights on what’s tangible and move forward with intelligence and cooperation. A good listener prompts others to accept their suggestions and rely on them more readily. A change of attitude will be well-received, giving you the versatility you require to enforce your ideas. A partnership will offer benefits. 2 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Get the momentum flowing; nothing will stop you from reaching your objective. Expand your mind, interests and connections, and you’ll instinctively speed up the process of being in sync with what’s trending, allowing you to take advantage of opportunities. Home improvements will ease stress, lower overhead and bring you closer to someone special. 4 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Listen, learn and excel. Put your mind, body and skills to work, and you’ll find interesting alternatives to make your life easier. A change is overdue, and discovery is your ticket to new beginnings. Attend functions that contribute to upgrades, support opportunities and make greater use of what you can offer. 3 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Underestimating the extent of a job will be your downfall. Consider what might go wrong and have a plan to ensure success. Time and energy put into learning and preparation will put your mind at ease and help you gain the respect and confidence of others. Self-improvement will offer high returns. 3 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Shift your thinking to keep up with the times. Incorporating concepts that save time and money will give you the edge you need to keep things moving. Sign up for an event, activity or self-improvement venue that will motivate you to implement changes that instill stability. Physical activity will ease stress. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Take the plunge and change what isn’t working for you. Set your sights on saving money, setting doable goals and using your creative skills to benefit you financially. Say no to suggestions and invitations that cost more than you want to pay. Set a budget and boundaries with those using persuasive tactics. 2 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Learn through observation. Taking a fresh approach to an old project will encourage you to finish what you start. A domestic problem is best dealt with before it can escalate into something unmanageable. Debates will lead to anger, not solutions. Keep an open mind to avoid emotional and financial costs. 5 stars

Birthday Baby: You are competitive, sensitive and precise. You are secretive and loyal.

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.

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Kurtenbach: After an embarrassing Game 4 loss, only a miracle can save the Warriors

The Warriors didn’t receive the surprise they needed to win Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal series with the Timberwolves on Monday.

So now they’re going to need something much, much stronger.

Down 3-1 and heading to Minnesota for a close-out Game 5, the Dubs will need a miracle.

Specifically, one of the medical variety.

If the Warriors don’t have Steph Curry on the floor for Game 5 and beyond in this series, there’s no reason to think Golden State is going to win another game.

And even if Curry is back, the Dubs are probably not rattling off three straight wins to advance to the Western Conference Finals.

This team is done.

The half-empty arena with still minutes to play in Monday’s Game 4 said it all.

Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry #30 acknowledges Golden State Warriors’ Trayce Jackson-Davis #32 as he walks off the court after their 117-110 NBA Western Conference semifinal loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

The Warriors didn’t show up to win a must-win playoff game.

Why would fans need to stick around for the full 48 minutes?

Thirteen teams have come back from a 3-1 series deficit in the history of the NBA playoffs.

The Warriors turned a two-point halftime lead into a 20-point deficit going into the fourth quarter.

So no, I don’t think the Dubs will be Team No. 14.

Meanwhile, no one should expect the Chase Center crowd to show up on Sunday for a Game 6. As the schedule currently reads, that contest will not prove necessary unless Warriors team doctor Rick Celebrini has done his finest work to date in returning Curry from a significant hamstring injury in a week.

Which is to suggest you shouldn’t hold your breath or bank on using that ticket.

The list of people to blame for Monday’s second-half catastrophe is long.

Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards (5) celebrates his 3-point basket against the Golden State Warriors in the third quarter of Game 4 of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

First, credit the Timberwolves. Their third quarter was a masterpiece — the kind of frame the Warriors used to put on unsuspecting, lesser teams.

If you had any questions about Anthony Edwards’ superstardom credentials, they were answered on Monday.

Former Warriors coach and NBA announcer Mark Jackson used to say, “Mama, there goes that man.” The only thing missing from Edwards’ performance Monday was that catchphrase on the broadcast.

He was magnificent. The Wolves were fantastic.

Meanwhile, the Warriors’ two remaining stars — Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green — were downright awful in Game 4.

Butler showed up to Chase Center looking tired. He played exactly that way. He was passive at best on Monday, shooting only nine times when he knew well that anything less than 20 shots on a night wouldn’t be enough for the Dubs.

Green suggested postgame that Butler was under the weather Monday.

Golden State Warriors’ Jimmy Butler III #10 shoots a layup in the second quarter of their NBA Western Conference semifinal game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

He’s certainly injured, and the playoffs’ every-other-day schedule doesn’t help.

But Butler was simply not a factor in Game 4.

At least not in a good way. He was minus-27 in the second half.

“He wasn’t as aggressive tonight,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said in a bid to win the regional Obvious Statements Contest.

Green, meanwhile, was a turnstile on defense.

A bad game from either Butler — the team’s offensive engine with Curry out — or Green — the team’s everyday defensive engine — would have been manageable.

For both to happen in the same game?

Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (23) reacts to a referee during their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the third quarter of Game 4 of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

That’s downright insurmountable.

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Jonathan Kuminga’s stellar first half covered up some of the offensive problem. Still, his second half, when Minnesota actually focused on defending him, proved to be a problem in and of itself. Kuminga had seven points on seven field goal attempts in the second half on Monday, posting a minus-19 ranking.

Add in Brandin Podziemski’s all-time awful funk and a never-ending cavalcade of bizarre five-man units (how many different ways can Warriors coach Steve Kerr put together a one-shooter lineup?) and the Warriors didn’t stand chance of keeping up with Edwards, Julius Randle (31 points) and a Wolves team that found third, fourth, fifth, and sixth gear in the second half, and you have a series that shouldn’t be on much longer.

Seriously, what’s the formula for the Warriors in Game 5?

Edwards has solved the Dubs’ zone defense — their neutralizing look.

Furthermore, no one can stay in front of him on the perimeter, opening up his 3-point shot or at least making his dribble penetration easy.

Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards #5 drives to the basket past Golden State Warriors’ Jimmy Butler III #10 in the third quarter of their NBA Western Conference semifinal game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Meanwhile, the Dubs spend offensive possessions passing the ball around until someone has to hoist a bad shot before the shot clock expires, finally answering the long-held philosophy question: Can you be so selfless that you are, in fact, selfish?

Here’s another big question — though this isn’t much of a thinker:

Do you really think that team is winning in Minneapolis?

Even with the Timberwolves almost certain to mess around in comical ways Wednesday (the Wolves closed with rotation players and somehow only won by seven points), there’s simply no reason to believe the Dubs can play competently enough to take full advantage.

That is, unless Curry is in the lineup, which — for the record — you should not expect.

I wouldn’t count on any of it, just like how the Warriors, in the biggest game of the year, couldn’t count on their on-court stars to consistently play like stars in this series.

Then again, if Buddy Hield is right and Curry is, in fact, “touched by an angel… touched by God,” the Warriors stand a chance of a miracle occurring.

Then, we’ll see if Curry can bring a team back from the dead.

Golden State Warriors’ Buddy Hield #7 is fouled by Minnesota Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert #27 as he goes to the basket in the first quarter of their NBA Western Conference semifinal game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Will Warriors get Steph Curry back on brink of elimination in Game 5?

SAN FRANCISCO – Steph Curry to the rescue?

The Warriors cautioned against a hopeful yet hypothetical return of their injured superstar Wednesday night, when they must stave off elimination in their Minnesota return for Game 5 of their Western Conference semifinals.

“No, we’re not going to Superman this thing,” forward Draymond Green said after Monday’s 117-110 home loss. “If he’s in a place where he can play, I’m sure he will. Him and Rick (Celebrini, the Warriors’ director of sports medicine) and everybody will figure that out.

“But we don’t need Superman. Play the long game,” Green continued. “So if he can (play), we know he will. But there’s no pressure. We have to figure out how to win whether he plays or not.”

“Even if I wanted to be Superman, I couldn’t,” Curry told Marc Spears of ESPN’s Andscape while adding he doesn’t expect to be available Game 5.

Coach Steve Kerr refused to entertain whether or not Curry could return Wednesday from a Grade 1 hamstring strain in last Tuesday’s series-opening loss at Minnesota.

“Wednesday, we’ll have an update,” said Kerr, adding that he assumes Curry will make the trip but had yet to confirm that with the four-time NBA champion, two-time league MVP and last summer’s key to the United States’ Olympic gold medal.

In their announcement of Curry’s injury last week, the Warriors identified Wednesday as his re-evaluation date, one week after the MRI that confirmed his Grade 1 hamstring strain.

Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry #30 acknowledges Golden State Warriors’ Trayce Jackson-Davis #32 as he walks off the court after their 117-110 NBA Western Conference semifinal loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Kerr did not ignore the impact of Curry’s absence this series, not after the Warriors made just 37-of-85 field-goal attempts and 8-of-27 from 3-point range Monday night. Super sub Jonathan Kuminga scored a team-high 23 points, but he made only 6-of-13 field-goal attempts; Green made 6-of-14 for 14 points, and Jimmy Butler 5-of-9 for 14 points.

“The series changed with Steph’s injury, so everybody’s shots are going to be more difficult,” Kerr said. “Steph is the guy who breaks the defense down for us and creates that offensive flow. The end result is shots are more difficult for every single guy.”

It wasn’t easy for Curry to sit out as the Warriors lost back-to-back home playoff games in a series firo the first time since the 2019 NBA Finals against Toronto, when Curry & Co. were seeking a three-peat at Oracle Arena.

Monday night, Curry wore a fashionable red jacket and black jeans instead of his No. 30 jersey. He was the last Warriors player off the court, making sure to high-five teammates as they glumly left Chase Center for perhaps the final time this season.

Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) chats with Golden State Warriors’ Buddy Hield (7) during their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first quarter of Game 4 of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

“You can tell it’s killing him not being on the floor but he’s keeping a positive spirit because we need his leadership,” center Kevon Looney said. “Everyone looks to him for his guidance and wisdom. On the floor, he’s trying to coach us up.”

“He’s not silent,” Green added. “He’s communicating with everyone, kind of a voice between coaches and players. You can tell he’s antsy. He grabs the ball and starts dribbling.”

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If Curry can’t return to action Wednesday night, Green said the Warriors must track down every loose ball, get every rebound, push the pace and play better defense.

“You give up 117 points without Steph, you’re likely losing,” Green added. “Everyone has to commit to getting it done on the defensive end.”

Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, an Olympics teammate of Curry, said he wishes he could be playing against him this series had Curry’s hamstring not gotten injured 13 minutes into it.

Said Edwards: “Yeah, man, he’s the greatest. Greatest shooter of all time. I would definitely love to compete against him, man, but he got hurt, unfortunately, and I hope he gets better.”