Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 186

Joel Peguero wins SF Giants’ 2025 Barney Nugent Award

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Joel Peguero needed just one bullpen session to become the talk of camp.

No one, manager Bob Melvin included, could overlook the right-hander who was hitting 101 mph in mid-February. A month after that first look, Peguero has pitched himself into the conversation for a spot on the Giants’ Opening Day roster. Regardless of whether the 27-year-old finally gets his first shot in the majors, he’ll leave camp having made an impression throughout the organization. He has the hardware to prove it, too.

The Giants announced on Wednesday afternoon that Peguero was the winner of the 2025 Barney Nugent Award, an annual honor that goes to the player in his first big league camp “whose performance and dedication in Spring Training best exemplifies the San Francisco Giants spirit.”

“It’s a great feeling,” Peguero said through team interpreter Erwin Higueros. “Winning this award, especially my first (year) in the organization, makes me feel very proud.”

Peguero, the first Giants pitcher to win the award since right-hander Dan Otero, was one of four candidates up for the honor, a list that also included top prospect Bryce Eldridge and right-handers Carson Ragsdale and Juan Mercedes. Following that first bullpen, Peguero has continued to impress by 6 2/3 scoreless innings of relief with eight strikeouts to one walk, consistently hitting 100 and 101 mph on the radar gun.

“God gave me the blessing of being able to throw hard, but it seems like here, in this camp, I’ve been a little bit more consistent,” Peguero said.

“He came into camp and has been the talk of the camp the minute he got here with his bullpens,” Melvin said. “He followed it up in games. Pitched back-to-back last night. Kept his stuff, kept his velo on back-to-back days. It’s been really good, and he’s been very well embraced in the clubhouse.”

Peguero signed with the Tampa Bay Rays in August 2015 as an international free agent but has yet to pitch in the majors, spending time in the minor league systems of the Rays, Colorado Rockies, Washington Nationals and Detroit Tigers. He signed a minor-league deal with the Giants with an invitation to spring training as a non-roster invitee, and performance this spring has him knocking on the door of San Francisco.

The Giants have yet to finalize their Opening Day bullpen, and as things stand, the first six spots will likely go to Ryan Walker, Tyler Rogers, Camilo Doval, Erik Miller, Randy Rodríguez and Sean Hjelle. Lou Trivino, a non-roster invitee, and Landen Roupp, who’s competing for the fifth rotation spot, are strong possibilities to round out the bullpen; Peguero and fellow non-roster invitee Joey Lucchesi remain firmly in the mix as well.

While Peguero isn’t a heavy favorite to make the team out of camp, Melvin said the Giants “certainly not ruling him out.”

“We’ll see where it goes from here,” Melvin said. “We have some other guys pitching well, too, so we’ll see where it goes, but it’s nice to add a name — especially with what he features on the mound — to the mix. That’s a credit to him for not only opening some eyes, but continuing to do it.”

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Peguero has pitched as high as Triple-A for multiple teams but is still awaiting his first call to the majors. He’s got eight seasons in the minors under his belt and is potentially going on nine, but he has faith that this season could be the season.

“I’ve been very close,” Peguero said. “I think this year, with what I’ve been doing, the attention that I’m getting and how I feel, I think that maybe with God’s blessing, maybe this will be the year I can make my debut.”

Birdsong, Roupp, Harrison to pitch in Sacramento

Hayden Birdsong, Landen Roupp and Kyle Harrison, all of whom are vying for the fifth spot in the Giants’ rotation, will pitch in Sunday’s exhibition against the Sacramento River Cats. Two of those three will start — one for San Francisco, one for Sacramento — while the third pitcher will piggyback in relief. Melvin said to not read into who starts for Sacramento versus who starts for San Francisco.

“It’s been kind of cool to follow,” Melvin said. “Like I said, (Harrison) is probably a little bit farther behind as far as his progression, but Roupp and Birdsong have really been fantastic.”

Melvin added that two of those three could make the team out of camp — one as a starter, one as a reliever. Birdsong, who has a 0.75 ERA this spring, is the likelier candidate to make the team as a starter, leaving Roupp as the relief option.

Violent attacks on Tesla dealerships spike as Musk takes prominent role in Trump White House

By JONATHAN J. COOPER and GENE JOHNSON, Associated Press

SEATTLE (AP) — Cybertrucks set ablaze. Bullets and Molotov cocktails aimed at Tesla showrooms.

Attacks on property carrying the logo of Elon Musk’s electric-car company are cropping up across the U.S. and overseas. While no injuries have been reported, Tesla showrooms, vehicle lots, charging stations and privately owned cars have been targeted. In Canada, Tesla was removed from an international auto show over safety concerns.

There has been a clear uptick in Tesla attacks since President Donald Trump took office and empowered Musk to oversee a new Department of Government Efficiency that is slashing government spending. Experts on domestic extremism say it’s impossible to know yet if the spate of incidents will balloon into a long-term pattern.

In Trump’s first term, his properties in New York City, Washington and elsewhere became a natural place for protest. In the early days of his second term, Tesla is filling that role.

“Tesla is an easy target,” said Randy Blazak, a sociologist who studies political violence. “They’re rolling down our streets. They have dealerships in our neighborhoods.”

FILE- Tesla CEO Elon Musk speaks before unveiling the Model Y at Tesla’s design studio, March 14, 2019, in Hawthorne, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

Musk critics have organized dozens of peaceful demonstrations at Tesla dealerships and factories across North America and Europe. Some Tesla owners, including a U.S. senator who feuded with Musk, have vowed to sell their vehicles.

But the attacks are keeping law enforcement busy.

Prosecutors in Colorado charged a woman last month in connection with a string of attacks on Tesla dealerships, including Molotov cocktails thrown at vehicles and the words “Nazi cars” spray-painted on a building.

And federal agents in South Carolina last week arrested a man they say set fire to Tesla charging stations near Charleston. An agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives wrote in an affidavit that authorities found writings critical of the government and DOGE in his bedroom and wallet.

FILE – ATF investigators take apart and document a burned Tesla Cybertruck at a Tesla lot in Seattle, Monday, March 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)

“The statement made mention of sending a message based on these beliefs,” the agent wrote.

A number of the most prominent incidents have been reported in left-leaning cities in the Pacific Northwest, like Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, where anti-Trump and anti-Musk sentiment runs high.

An Oregon man is facing charges after allegedly throwing several Molotov cocktails at a Tesla store in Salem, then returning another day and shooting out windows. In the Portland suburb of Tigard, more than a dozen bullets were fired at a Tesla showroom last week, damaging vehicles and windows, the second time in a week that the store was targeted.

Four Cybertrucks were set on fire in a Tesla lot in Seattle earlier this month. On Friday, witnesses reported a man poured gasoline on an unoccupied Tesla Model S and started a fire on a Seattle street.

In Las Vegas, several Tesla vehicles were set ablaze early Tuesday outside a Tesla service center where the word “resist” was also painted in red across the building’s front doors. Authorities said at least one person threw Molotov cocktails — crude bombs filled with gasoline or another flammable liquid — and fired several rounds from a weapon into the vehicles.

A burned Tesla vehicle is shown at a Tesla collision center Tuesday, March 18, 2025, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

“Was this terrorism? Was it something else? It certainly has some of the hallmarks that we might think — the writing on the wall, potential political agenda, an act of violence,” Spencer Evans, the special agent in charge of the Las Vegas FBI office, said at a news conference. “None of those factors are lost on us.”

Tesla becomes a target for the left

Tesla was once the darling of the left. Helped to viability by a $465 million federal loan during the Obama administration, the company popularized electric vehicles and proved, despite their early reputation, that they didn’t have to be small, stodgy, underpowered and limited in range.

More recently, though, Musk has allied himself with the right. He bought the social network Twitter, renamed it X and erased restrictions that had infuriated conservatives. He spent an estimated $250 million to boost Trump’s 2024 Republican campaign, becoming by far his biggest benefactor.

Musk continues to run Tesla — as well as X and the rocket manufacturer SpaceX — while also serving as Trump’s adviser.

Tesla stock doubled in value in the weeks after Trump’s election but has since shed all those gains.

FILE – People protesting Elon Musk’s actions in the Trump administration hold signs outside a Tesla showroom in Seattle on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Manuel Valdes, File)

Trump gave a boost to the company when he turned the White House driveway into an electric vehicle showroom. The president promoted the vehicles and said he would purchase an $80,000 Model S, eschewing his fierce past criticism of electric vehicles.

Tesla did not respond to a request for comment. Musk briefly addressed the vandalism Monday during an appearance on Sen. Ted Cruz’s podcast, saying “at least some of it is organized and paid for” by “left-wing organizations in America, funded by left-wing billionaires, essentially.”

“This level of violence is insane and deeply wrong,” Musk wrote Tuesday on X, sharing a video of burning Teslas in Las Vegas. “Tesla just makes electric cars and has done nothing to deserve these evil attacks.”

The progressive group Indivisible, which published a guide for supporters to organize “Musk Or Us” protests around the country, said in a statement that all of its guidance is publicly available and “it explicitly encourages peaceful protest and condemns any acts of violence or vandalism.”

Some Tesla owners have resorted to cheeky bumper stickers to distance themselves from their vehicle’s new stigma and perhaps deter would-be vandals. They say things like “I bought this before we knew Elon was crazy” or “I just wanted an electric car. Sorry guys.”

Prices for used Cybertrucks, Tesla’s most distinctive product, have dropped nearly 8% since Trump took office, according to CarGurus, which aggregates used car vehicle listings. The market as a whole remained steady over the period.

The White House vows a crackdown

The White House has thrown its weight behind Musk, the highest-profile member of Trump’s administration and a key donor to committees promoting Trump’s political interests. Trump has said Tesla vandalism amounts to “domestic terror,” and Trump has threatened retribution, warning that those who target the company are “going to go through hell.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi said she’d opened an investigation “to see how is this being funded, who is behind this.”

“If you’re going to touch a Tesla, go to a dealership, do anything, you better watch out because we’re coming after you,” Bondi said Friday on Fox Business Network. In a statement Tuesday, she vowed to “continue investigations that impose severe consequences,” including for “those operating behind the scenes to coordinate and fund these crimes.”

Colin Clarke, a senior research fellow at the Soufan Center, said left-wing political violence tends to target property rather than people. He views the rise of neo-Nazi groups as a bigger security threat at this point.

“It’s not the type of act that I would prioritize,” Clarke said. “Not right now compared to all the other threats that are out there.”

Theresa Ramsdell is the president of the Tesla Owners of Washington state, a club for Tesla enthusiasts, and she and her husband own three of them.

“Hate on Elon and Trump all you want — that’s fine and dandy, it’s your choice,” she said. “It doesn’t justify ruining somebody’s property, vandalizing it, destroying it, setting it on fire. There’s other ways to get your voice heard that’s more effective.”

Someone recently slapped a “no Elon” sticker on the tailgate of her Cybertruck, but she said she doesn’t intend to stop driving her Teslas. Other club members have taken a similar view, she said.

“I love my car. It’s the safest car,” Ramsdell said. “I’m not going to let somebody else judge me for the car I drive.”

Cooper reported from Phoenix.

The best women’s chambray shirts for effortless everyday style

Which chambray shirts for women are best?

Chambray shirts are one of those closet staples that go with everything. Once they became trendy, they never really went out of style. The little details may change from year to year, but the overall look of a chambray shirt can easily be blended into any wardrobe and any style.

For an option that can be worn to the office or out to dinner, Port Authority’s Slub Chambray Shirt is the top choice.

What to know before you buy a chambray shirtPurpose

Obviously, you’re going to buy a chambray shirt to wear it, but consider how often and on what occasions you’ll wear it. Although it’s the type of garment that can be worn on just about every occasion, there are still plenty of options based on when you’ll need it most.

Affordability

Think about your budget. There are a lot of options in the $100-$200 range from both small and luxury brands, but you probably don’t want to spend triple digits on a single shirt. Thanks to their enduring popularity, chambray shirts can be found in every price range to suit every budget.

Quality

Your budget can affect the quality of shirt you can get, but not always. Plenty of companies make good quality chambray shirts at affordable prices, especially if you know where to look. Basic workwear made by companies known for this style of clothing is often more affordable and better quality than high-end luxury brands, for instance.

What to look for in a quality chambray shirt for womenFit

Depending on current trends, it can be harder to find a shirt in the fit you prefer. Some are designed more boxy and can accommodate a greater variety of body types, while some are more fitted. It’s also really important to check how the shoulders fit. The rest of the shirt can easily be tailored however you like, but make sure the shoulders fit right out of the box.

Material

Many clothes nowadays are a blend of organic and synthetic materials, like cotton and polyester. Check out the tags on shirts you already own and consider which are most comfortable. Some people are sensitive to synthetics and would be more comfortable in a chambray shirt that’s 100% cotton. Cotton tends to be more breathable, but it can also be less durable and will fade faster than a synthetic fabric. You might not mind, as faded cotton can also be very stylish, but it’s good to check.

Style

Most chambray shirts are button ups, but they can really come in any style. Button ups are often best for professional environments, while pullovers are a bit more casual. You also might feel more comfortable in one or the other depending on your body type and what you normally wear. Fit can come into play here too, as different types of fits are often used for different types of styles. A boxy fit can be very comfortable and look great over fitted pants. A more tailored look can be very professional for the office. Style can incorporate things like overall length, sleeve type, collar type and many other details.

How much you can expect to spend on a chambray shirt

A chambray shirt could be anywhere from $12-$60 on the low end and many times more for name-brand or sustainably made options.

Chambray shirt FAQWhat is chambray?

A. Chambray is similar to denim but much lighter and softer. It comes in a distinctive weave of both dyed and white threads. It was originally used for workwear but was adopted into fashion and is now a basic wardrobe staple for people of every background, thanks to its versatility.

How often should I clean a chambray shirt?

A. Not as often as you’d think! Clothes, especially higher quality clothes, will last longer the less frequently you wash them. Try a smell check. If it stinks, throw it in the wash on warm or cold and hang-dry it. If it smells OK, you can wear it again.

What’s the best chambray shirt for women to buy?Top chambray shirt

Port Authority’s Slub Chambray Shirt

What you need to know: Made from 100% cotton, this shirt can transition easily from season to season and keep you both comfortable and stylish.

What you’ll love: Port Authority’s shirt comes in a decent and affordable range, from XS to 4XL. Being cotton, it’s lightweight and breathable. It also comes in three different colors if classic blue isn’t your thing.

What you should consider: The small chest pockets aren’t big enough to hold much and may not suit your style.

Top chambray shirt for the money

Chef Works Women’s Chambray Shirt

What you need to know: Designed with the restaurant industry in mind, the Chef Works Chambray shirt is both stylish and durable.

What you’ll love: This shirt can take a lot of wear if you work in a physically demanding job. It’s machine-washable and wrinkle-resistant, so you don’t have to worry about keeping it nice. It also comes in four different colors to match any wardrobe.

What you should consider: It’s a cotton/polyester blend, so it’s less breathable and only goes up to size XXL.

Worth checking out

Gloria Vanderbilt Womens Giselle Chambray Top

What you need to know: With some funky detailing and name brand recognition, this chambray top could be a great statement piece.

What you’ll love: The Giselle top is 100% cotton and comes in a loose fit, offset by creative pleating. Gloria Vanderbilt is a good brand for affordable, quality denim. This top also comes in some fun patterns that make it stand out against solid-colored options.

What you should consider: The sizing only goes up to Large.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

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Horoscopes March 19, 2025: Glenn Close, overdoing it in any area of life will cost you

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: AJ Lee, 38; Bruce Willis, 70; Glenn Close, 78; Ursula Andress, 89.

Happy Birthday: Change is up to you. Participation is your path to discovery, managing your finances, health and legal matters, and implementing a balance between work and play. Overdoing it in any area of life will cost you; place the onus on rules, discipline and knowing when to say no. Head in a direction that addresses any imbalance you currently live with, and contentment will follow. Your numbers are 4, 11, 19, 25, 34, 41, 46.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Surround yourself with people who can pick up where you lack. Knowing your skills and applying your time specifically to what you are good at will show your ability to lead the way and get things done, no matter your situation. Personal improvements, love, romance and socializing are in the stars. 3 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Stay focused on finishing what you start. The less interference, the better; sit in an isolated corner and do your thing. Make positive changes at home that will please someone you love. It’s the gestures and quiet innuendos that will nurture meaningful relationships. Put the bulldozer away and let your subtleness prevail. 3 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Live and learn. Research will help you decipher what’s best and help put you in a leadership position. Take charge, but refrain from making others feel deflated by your choices. You’ll gain ground using complimentary words to entice others to pitch in and help. Do what’s best for the tribe. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Apply your wisdom, experience and understanding to whatever you do, and you’ll gain respect and admiration. Don’t fear change; embrace new beginnings, and enjoy asking questions and keeping up with all the latest technology and help available. Interactions will bring you closer to the ones that can help you get ahead. 5 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Channel your mindset to learning, updating and engaging in relationships with plenty to offer. Be a good listener, figure out what’s best for you and rule out any proposal that doesn’t fit your lifestyle or direction. Change is only worthwhile if it’s beneficial to reaching your goal. Romance and self-improvement are favored. 2 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Count your pennies and rule out purchases you cannot afford. Going into debt for the wrong reasons will lead to stress. Focus on changes at home that are cost-efficient, and pick up knowledge and skills that can help you do for yourself instead of hiring help. Barter when an expert is required. 5 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): A chipper attitude will draw attention and interest regarding your achievements. Let your charm lead the way, approach anyone you feel can contribute and make your desires a reality. Now is not the time to waffle; it’s the time to engage, get things done and take a bow. Personal growth is favored. 4 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Strut your stuff, put your best foot forward and make your initiative known to those you need beside you. A social or networking event will give you the platform to charm others into your sphere and recruit the best of the best to ensure you get the desired results. 3 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Emotions will be close to the surface. Stick to the truth, say what you think and feel, and let your gestures and actions lead the way to solidarity. It’s time to be upfront: Show where your loyalty lies, and take responsibility for the opportunities you desire. Build the future that excites you. 3 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Mix business with pleasure, and you’ll gain ground. How you make others feel will determine who gives back the most. A financial gain or investment you make will put your mind at ease and give you the confidence to pursue your dreams. Don’t deny yourself the chance to take the road less traveled. 4 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You know the rules and have the power to bring about change. Put a plan in place and share what you want to do with those who matter to you. An opportunity to improve your surroundings and lifestyle or physically move is within reach. Focus on financial growth, love and nurturing meaningful relationships. 2 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Take a break, release yourself from responsibilities and give yourself a chance to rejuvenate. The result will boost your energy levels, confidence and productivity, making it much easier to play catch-up and reap the rewards you deserve. Allow yourself “me time,” and it will put a positive spin on your outlook. 5 stars

Birthday Baby: You are reflective, helpful and insightful. You are cooperative and enthusiastic.

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.

Want a link to your daily horoscope delivered directly to your inbox each weekday morning? Sign up for our free Coffee Break newsletter at mercurynews.com/newsletters or eastbaytimes.com/newsletters.

Jimmy Butler’s all-around excellence helps Curry-less Warriors survive second half Bucks surge

SAN FRANCISCO – When the Golden State Warriors traded for Jimmy Butler in February, the team acquired a talent it believed was still capable of carrying a team with title aspirations to improbable wins. 

With Steph Curry on the sidelines in stylish street clothes and sitting out for rest purposes, the Warriors needed Butler to do just that against Milwaukee at Chase Center on Tuesday night. 

The star wing delivered in Golden State’s 104-93 victory over the Bucks 

The 35-year-old Butler scored 24 points, dished out 10 assists and grabbed eight rebounds, asserting himself in the second half and helping stave off a Milwaukee team that had mounted a third-quarter rally from down 14 at halftime. 

The Warriors (40-29) shook off Monday’s disappointing loss to Denver and remained in sixth place in the West, while Milwaukee (38-30) fell to fifth in the East.

The day after Kerr deemed Curry “exhausted,” the superstar point guard sat out the second night of a back-to-back. 

That allowed other Warriors reserves – not just Butler – to have an expanded role in the offense. 

The Warriors jumped out to a 12-3 lead, with Quinten Post floating into space for a 3-pointer and later a dunk on two early possessions, looking plenty spry despite working through a gimpy right ankle. He scored 14 points to finish third in scoring. 

Brandin Podziemski, playing in his first game since Mar. 6 and starting in Curry’s stead at point guard, made two high-arcing triples in a first quarter that saw the Warriors end it with a 32-27 lead. Podziemski finished the night with 17 points in 29 minutes. 

The defense was the real story of the first half though, one the Warriors led 58-44 by the time the second quarter buzzer sounded. 

Milwaukee’s dynamic duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Oakland High alum Damian Lillard were a combined 5-for-17 from the field in the first half. 

Golden State Warriors’ Jimmy Butler III (10) drives to the hoop against the Milwaukee Bucks’ Kyle Kuzma (18) in the first quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) loses balance and the ball after Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (23) blocked his shot to the hoop in the first quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Jimmy Butler III (10) is helped out by teammates Golden State Warriors’ Quinten Post (21), Golden State Warriors’ Buddy Hield (7) and Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (23) after scoring and drawing a foul against the Milwaukee Bucks in the fourth quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Jimmy Butler III (10) dribbles around Milwaukee Bucks’ Gary Trent Jr. (5) in the fourth quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Quinten Post (21) lays up a three-pointer against Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in the first quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Gary Payton II (0) reacts after scoring a basket against Milwaukee Bucks in the fourth quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Brandin Podziemski (2) lays up a shot against Milwaukee Bucks’ Damian Lillard (0) in the second quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) reacts in jubilation after Milwaukee Bucks’ Damian Lillard (0) missed a free throw in the fourth quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Pat Spencer (61) dribbles against Milwaukee Bucks’ Gary Trent Jr. (5) in the second quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (23) defends as Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) attempts to drive to the hoop in the fourth quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Milwaukee Bucks’ Gary Trent Jr. (5) ends up with fans after diving for the ball on his attempt to keep it inbounds against the Golden State Warriors in the second quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Moses Moody (4) grabs the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks in the second quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Jimmy Butler III (10) waits for action during their 104-93 win against the Milwaukee Bucks at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Jimmy Butler III (10) lays up a shot against Milwaukee Bucks in the first quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Milwaukee Bucks’ Damian Lillard (0) drives to the hoop between Golden State Warriors’ Jimmy Butler III (10) and Golden State Warriors’ Gary Payton II (0) in the fourth quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Moses Moody (4) makes a shot against the Milwaukee Bucks in the second quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Jimmy Butler III (10) makes a shot against the Milwaukee Bucks’ Kyle Kuzma (18) in the first quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (23) passes the ball to Golden State Warriors’ Jimmy Butler III (10) against the Milwaukee Bucks in the second quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

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Golden State Warriors’ Jimmy Butler III (10) drives to the hoop against the Milwaukee Bucks’ Kyle Kuzma (18) in the first quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

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The Warriors rotated between Draymond Green, Butler and Jonathan Kuminga as Antetokounmpo’s primary defender to great effect. 

That defensive excellence did not carry over into the third quarter.

The Bucks began the quarter on a 16-4 run that saw team-high scorer Kyle Kuzma (22 points) drop in two 3s.

Kuminga was called for a flagrant foul on Gary Trent Jr. late in the period when he threw Gary Trent Jr. to the floor on a box out. 

The Warriors were suddenly in a game. 

With the Bucks up 76-75 with a second to play in the third quarter, Butler drew a foul on a 3-pointer from the wing. He buried all three free throws to give Golden State a slim lead going into the fourth.

From there, Butler and Golden State retook control of the game with five quick Butler points to open the fourth, but Milwaukee would not go away. 

The Bucks cut the lead to 96-93 with under four minutes remaining on two Antetokounmpo free throws, but a Podziemski 3-pointer, a Payton running layup, and another Podziemski triple padded the lead and secured the win for Golden State. 

Golden State finishes its seven-game homestand on Thursday against Toronto. Curry is expected to play.

Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30), who didn’t play, applauds their teammates’ performance after their 104-93 win against the Milwaukee Bucks at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (23) and Golden State Warriors’ Jimmy Butler III (10) exchange a celebratory hug after their 104-93 win against the Milwaukee Bucks at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Milwaukee Bucks’ Kevin Porter Jr. (3) and Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) walk off the court after their 104-93 lose to the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr and Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers shake hands after the Warriors 104-93 win at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Gary Payton II (0) looks on during their 104-93 lose to the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Gary Payton II (0) gestures after scoring a basket against Milwaukee Bucks in the fourth quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

‘It’s definitely exciting’: Ray remains solid as SF Giants’ frontline starters continue dominant spring

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Spring training stats should always be taken with a massive grain of salt. Small sample sizes, indeed, are never a match for the law of large numbers. That said, it’s hard to ignore how well the Giants’ front end trio of Logan Webb, Robbie Ray and Justin Verlander has fared down in the desert.

A day removed from Verlander’s five scoreless innings against the Chicago White Sox, Ray allowed one run (none earned) over five frames as the Giants beat the San Diego Padres, 4-3, on Tuesday night at Scottsdale Stadium. Collectively, the trio of Ray, Verlander and Webb has a 2.16 ERA with 56 strikeouts over 50 innings in Cactus League play.

“I feel like we’re all in really good spots,” Ray said. “It’s been fun to watch and watch those guys go about their business every day and bounce some things off of each other.  It’s nice to have two other veteran guys that have been around for a while. So, it’s definitely exciting. I feel like if we go out and compete like we know how to — like we’ve been doing all spring — then it’s going to be fun.”

Ray, Verlander and Webb are all at points in their respective careers where results are secondary to refinement. Webb, the , is emphasizing his cutter usage and tweaking his changeup and his mechanics. Verlander is throwing a curveball with additional horizontal movement. As for Ray? He’s continuing to tinker with his changeup, a pitch he added with the help of 2024 AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal.

Ray has not tweaked the grip he learned from Skubal, though he is holding it looser compared to his fastball and slider. The two left-handers talk about once a week, and in the coming days, Ray will have the chance to start against Skubal’s Detroit Tigers in an exhibition at Oracle Park. When Ray sees Skubal in San Francisco, he plans to “give him a big hug and say thank you.”

“He told me that I’m not allowed to throw (the changeup) against them,” said Ray, who has a 1.26 ERA with 19 strikeouts over four Cactus League starts. “I said that every changeup I throw, I’m going to look in their dugout and give them a thumbs up.”

Depending on how things shake out, Ray might have the opportunity to use his changeup against the Tigers in a regular-season game when the Giants travel to Detroit in late May. Last May, by comparison, Ray was still recovering from Tommy John surgery and had yet to appear in a rehab outing. This spring, then, has represented a return to normalcy.

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“It definitely feels better to have a normal offseason and normal spring training, building up a normal progression, not having to jump into the middle of a season. That’s great,” Ray said. “I don’t like to say that I’m working on stuff, but going out there and getting that competitive juice flowing again and going out and trying to put up zeros in a competitive at-bat in competitive innings feels good again.”

Added manager Bob Melvin: “Robbie just looks a lot healthier compared this year.”

Ray, 33, is positioned to pitch in his first full season since 2022 and, presumably, return to consistently toeing the slab every five days. The left-hander made 108 starts from 2019-22, tied with Gerrit Cole and José Berríos for the second-most in baseball during that span (Aaron Nola led baseball with 110). In that same span, Ray was one of nine pitchers to toss at least 600 innings. Ray couldn’t definitively say if he can get back to those pre-surgery marks, but his mindset is firmly set in place.

“I’m just going to go until they say I can’t,” Ray said.

Worth noting

Infielder Casey Schmitt was scratched due to low back tightness. Schmitt is competing with Brett Wisely for the fifth infielder role on the Giants’ Opening Day roster.Matt Chapman had his second multi-error game of spring, committing both a fielding and throwing error. Last year, Chapman, who won his fifth Gold Glove Award, only had two multi-error games all season.Patrick Bailey reached base four times in four plate appearances, totaling three hits and drawing a walk.

Brandin Podziemski returns for Warriors as temporary lead guard

SAN FRANCISCO — Brandin Podziemski is after missing the past five games with a minor back strain, and immediately has a lot on his plate.

Podziemski joined the Warriors’ starting lineup as they took on the Bucks without Steph Curry, who rested on the second night of a back-to-back. Speaking pregame, head coach Steve Kerr described Curry’s fatigue as more emotional and mental than physical, though Curry has also been dealing with a mild back injury over the past week.

Curry’s absence put a fair bit of playmaking and ball-handling duties on Podziemski, the second-year guard. He started alongside Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, Moses Moody and Quinten Post.

The Warriors had Podziemski on a soft minutes restriction of about 25.

Before his back injury in the first minute of the Warriors’ game in Brooklyn, Podziemski had cemented himself in Golden State’s starting lineup. He averaged 14.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in his last eight starts before the Nets contest while often leading the Warriors in plus-minus.

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“There was a really good rhythm to the game for him the last couple weeks before he got hurt,” Kerr said.

With Podziemski back and Curry expected to return on Thursday against the Raptors, the Warriors are at as full strength as they’ve been since acquiring Butler. Kerr said Moody, who has been a two-way revelation, will stay in the starting lineup even when all of he, Curry, Podziemski, Moody and Jonathan Kuminga are available.

“Moses is our starting two guard — or small forward, however you want to look at it,” Kerr said. “Moses, he’s a starting wing, let’s put it that way. And that doesn’t change.”

Golden State Warriors’ Jimmy Butler III (10) passes the ball to Golden State Warriors’ Brandin Podziemski (2) to score a three-pont basket against Milwaukee Bucks in the fourth quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Brandin Podziemski (2) lays up a shot against Milwaukee Bucks’ Damian Lillard (0) in the second quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Moses Moody (4) grabs the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks in the second quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors’ Moses Moody (4) makes a shot against the Milwaukee Bucks in the second quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Trump fires 2 Democrats on the Federal Trade Commission, seeking more control over regulators

By WILL WEISSERT and CHRISTOPHER RUGABER

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump fired two Democratic members of the Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday, intensifying efforts to exert his administration’s control over independent agencies across the government.

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Commissioners Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter both released statements saying they’d been dismissed illegally.

The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. But removing Bedoya and Slaughter potentially frees up more space on the five-member FTC for new commissioners loyal to the White House and its policies.

FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson released a statement on Twitter late Tuesday saying he had no doubts about Trump’s “constitutional authority to remove Commissioners, which is necessary to ensure democratic accountability.”

The FTC is a regulator created by Congress that enforces consumer protection measures and antitrust legislation. Its seats are typically comprised of three members of the president’s party and two from the opposing party.

Commissioners are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. They serve seven-year terms that are staggered to prevent multiple vacancies at once.

The ousted commissioners pointed to past Supreme Court rulings that sought to solidify the body’s independence and only allowed commissioners to be removed for cause.

“The president just illegally fired me. This is corruption plain and simple,” Bedoya, who was appointed in 2021 by President Joe Biden and confirmed in May 2022, posted on X.

He added, “The FTC is an independent agency founded 111 years ago to fight fraudsters and monopolists” but now “the president wants the FTC to be a lapdog for his golfing buddies.”

Slaughter was first appointed to the FTC by President Barack Obama in May 2018 and served as its acting chair in 2021. Biden nominated her for a second term in February 2023. Slaughter said in her statement that the “law protects the independence of the Commission because the law serves the American public, not corporate power.”

“Removing opposition may not change what the Trump majority can do, but it does change whether they will have accountability when they do it,” she wrote.

In 1935, the Supreme Court held that the president couldn’t fire leaders of independent agencies without cause. Otherwise, the agencies would become more political and less independent.

While that restriction was eroded in a subsequent decision that came in 2020, it has largely remained in place.

The firings will likely intensify the legal fight around key questions about the extent of presidential powers — battles that could have consequences for other independent agencies, including the Federal Reserve. But the Trump administration has so far been undeterred in its push to expand a president’s ability to remove such officials at will.

The issue is particularly fraught for the Federal Reserve, an institution that has long sought to protect its independence. Economists and financial markets broadly support an independent Fed because they worry a politicized version would be more reluctant to take unpopular steps to fight inflation, such as raise interest rates.

Trump has signaled he will let Fed chair Jerome Powell serve out his term, which ends May 2026. Yet he threatened to fire Powell in 2018 when Powell raised interest rates, a move that can often slow growth.

The dismissals of Bedoya and Slaughter follow the Trump administration removing several years worth of online “business guidance” blogs published by the FTC under the Biden administration. According to various snapshots from the Internet Archive, more than 350 blog posts published on the agency’s website were taken down as of Tuesday.

The removed blog posts covered a wide range of information, from steps the FTC was taking to prevent harms of AI-enabled voice cloning to an explanation of its lawsuit against Amazon’s Prime subscription program. Blog posts published between 2010 and 2017, under Obama, are still up on the agency’s website.

Nidhi Hegde, executive director of the American Economic Liberties Project, an advocacy group that opposes monopolistic practices, said Bedoya and Slaughter’s dismissals were “illegal and void.”

“Independent agencies like the FTC exist to enforce the law as written by Congress and protect the public interest,” Hegde said in a statement. “Not to be gutted at the whim of a president.”

Associated Press writer Haleluya Hadero in South Bend, Indiana, contributed to this report.

Federal judge blocks Trump administration from banning transgender people from military service

By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge blocked enforcement of President Donald Trump’s executive order banning transgender people from military service on Tuesday, the latest in a string of legal setbacks for his sweeping agenda.

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U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes in Washington, D.C., ruled that Trump’s order to exclude transgender troops from military service likely violates their constitutional rights.

She delayed her order until Friday to give the administration time to appeal.

“The court knows that this opinion will lead to heated public debate and appeals. In a healthy democracy, both are positive outcomes,” Reyes wrote. “We should all agree, however, that every person who has answered the call to serve deserves our gratitude and respect.”

The judge issued a preliminary injunction requested by attorneys for six transgender people who are active-duty service members and two others seeking to join the military.

On Jan. 27, Trump signed an executive order that claims the sexual identity of transgender service members “conflicts with a soldier’s commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle, even in one’s personal life” and is harmful to military readiness.

In response to the order, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a policy that presumptively disqualifies people with gender dysphoria from military service. Gender dysphoria is the distress that a person feels because their assigned gender and gender identity don’t match. The medical condition has been linked to depression and suicidal thoughts.

Plaintiffs’ attorneys contend Trump’s order violates transgender people’s rights to equal protection under the Fifth Amendment.

Government lawyers argue that military officials have broad discretion to decide how to assign and deploy servicemembers without judicial interference.

Thousands of transgender people serve in the military, but they represent less than 1% of the total number of active-duty service members.

In 2016, a Defense Department policy permitted transgender people to serve openly in the military. During Trump’s first term in the White House, the Republican issued a directive to ban transgender service members. The Supreme Court allowed the ban to take effect. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, scrapped it when he took office.

Hegseth’s Feb. 26 policy says service members or applicants for military service who have “a current diagnosis or history of, or exhibit symptoms consistent with, gender dysphoria are incompatible with the high mental and physical standards necessary for military service.”

The plaintiffs who sued to block Trump’s order include an Army Reserves platoon leader from Pennsylvania, an Army major who was awarded a Bronze Star for service in Afghanistan and a Sailor of the Year award winner serving in the Navy.

Their attorneys, from the National Center for Lesbian Rights and GLAD Law, said transgender troops “seek nothing more than the opportunity to continue dedicating their lives to defending the Nation.”

“Yet these accomplished servicemembers are now subject to an order that says they must be separated from the military based on a characteristic that has no bearing on their proven ability to do the job,” plaintiffs’ attorneys wrote. “This is a stark and reckless reversal of policy that denigrates honorable transgender servicemembers, disrupts unit cohesion, and weakens our military.”

Government attorneys said the Defense Department has a history of disqualifying people from military service if they have physical or emotional impairments, including mental health conditions.

“In any context other than the one at issue in this case, DoD’s professional military judgment about the risks of allowing individuals with physical or emotional impairments to serve in the military would be virtually unquestionable,” they wrote.

Plaintiffs’ attorneys say Trump’s order fits his administration’s pattern of discriminating against transgender people.

Federal judges in Seattle and Baltimore separately paused Trump’s executive order halting federal support for gender-affirming care for transgender youth under 19. Last month, a judge blocked prison officials from transferring three incarcerated transgender women to men’s facilities and terminating their access to hormone therapy under another Trump order.

Trump also signed orders that set up new rules about how schools can teach about gender and that intend to ban transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports.

“From its first days, this administration has moved to strip protections from transgender people across multiple domains — including housing, social services, schools, sports, healthcare, employment, international travel, and family life,” plaintiffs’ lawyers wrote.

Associated Press writers Lindsay Whitehurst and Gene Johnson contributed to this story.

Lee’s MRI reveals no structural damage in back, could play on Friday

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Jung Hoo Lee’s MRI on Monday revealed that the center fielder has not sustained any structural damage in his back, and the team is hopeful the center fielder could return to the field as early as Friday, following the team’s off day.

“We’re going to give him through the off day,” said manager Bob Melvin. “So, if that happens, we have two more (games) here, then we have three at home. I think that’s going to be enough time. … He wouldn’t play all those games, but hopefully, he’s able to play after the off day. Sometimes, these things linger on a little bit longer than maybe you’d hope. … I just don’t want to put pressure on him to feel like he has to play Friday.”

Melvin said Lee is dealing with spasms in the mid-to-upper back area, adding that Lee has shown “mild” improvement and will see a chiropractor. Lee won’t need “a ton” of at-bats prior to Opening Day on March 27, but Melvin would feel most comfortable if Lee can play three exhibition games between now and then.

Lee was scratched from Saturday’s lineup due to the back issue after sleeping on it wrong, according to Melvin. He last appeared in a game on March 13.

This spring, Lee has a .300 batting average and .967 OPS with two home runs and five RBIs, often hitting third while LaMonte Wade Jr. bats leadoff. Lee only played 37 games last year due to a season-ending shoulder injury after signing a six-year, $113 million deal. He hit .262/.310/.331 with two home runs, two steals and eight RBIs.

Giants’ High-A team to relocate

The Eugene Emeralds, the Giants’ High-A minor-league affiliate, announced on Tuesday that the franchise plans to relocate after failing to secure a long-term stadium plan.

“After four years of extensive efforts to secure a long-term home in Eugene, the Eugene Emeralds have reached a difficult conclusion: the future of professional baseball in the Emerald Valley is coming to an end,” the team announced in a statement.

The Giants did not provide comment at the time of publication.

Last May, voters rejected a $15 million bond measure to help fund a new stadium for the team at the Lane County Fairgrounds. The Emeralds also considered a “smaller-scale expansion” of PK Park, which also houses the University of Oregon baseball team, but the team did not receive the necessary funding.

The Emeralds, the Giants’ High-A affiliate since 2021, will continue playing at PK Park until they find a long-term stadium solution.

“We recognize that the loss of professional baseball in Eugene is deeply disappointing for many,” Emeralds general manager Allan Benavides said in a statement. “Despite our exhaustive efforts to bring this project to life, we were ultimately unable to secure the unified community support needed for a stadium solution. The Emeralds have been a staple of this community for 70 years, and we are committed to making our final seasons in Eugene truly special.”

The Emeralds have played in Eugene since 1955, while being affiliated with nine different teams over their 70-year existence.