Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 235

Mortgage the future? Warriors’ central question looming as deadline approaches

TORONTO — Below .500 for the first time, the existential topic of how much future the Warriors can or should sacrifice to lift the present is as relevant as ever.

With a 104-101 loss to the lowly Raptors, the Warriors have hit a low point on their season. Steph Curry recorded 26 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in the loss, but Golden State failed to execute down the stretch.

The Warriors (19-20), in Curry’s words, are mid. After starting the season 12-3, they’ve free-fallen out of the playoff picture and through spells in which they’ve lost their soul, edge and competitive spirit. They’re still trying to figure out who they are, but at this point, there’s scant evidence that the current roster can compete for a championship.

Enter the age-old question: how can the Warriors maximize what’s left of Curry’s championship-level prime?

Neither Curry nor Draymond Green want the team to make what they deem a desperation trade.

“There is a responsibility on keeping the franchise in a good space and a good spot when it comes to where we leave this team when we’re done,” Curry said at his locker in the Scotiabank Arena.

“Doesn’t mean that you’re not active in any type of sense to (improve). If you have an opportunity where a trade makes sense or in the summer a free agent makes sense, you want to continue to get better. Nobody wants to be stale or be in a situation where you’re passing up opportunities. But it doesn’t mean that you’re desperate, just flinging around assets all over the place because you want to do something.”

Curry said Mike Dunleavy knows they want to win and he’s working the phones like any good general manager does. Asked if he’s comfortable with the level of activity three weeks away from the Feb. 6 deadline, Curry said that the expectation, as always, is to be in the loop as the team monitors options.

Curry’s comments came on the same day Green was quoted in a Yahoo Sports article saying they and head coach Steve Kerr are aligned in disagreeing with “mortgaging off the future of this organization.”

“Bad teams do that,” Green told Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports. “Bad organizations do that. We’re not neither one.”

Before Monday’s loss, Kerr was asked about the challenges of keeping a dynasty alive. A member of the Chicago Bulls teams that won six titles and the four-time champion Warriors, he’s as much of an expert on the topic as anyone.

Nothing lasts forever, Kerr said. It’s the reality of sports and life.

“You want it to last as long as possible and you put every ounce of effort into making that happen as best you can,” Kerr said. “And these runs (you’re talking about), they happen because of Michael Jordan and Steph Curry, these once-in-a-generation players. And so, you ride those guys as long as you can, as long as they’re capable. Then you’ve got to move forward and everything changes.”

The Warriors’ championships came 10 years ago, in 2017 and 2018, and again in 2022. Runs like theirs rarely happen for good reason. Players get old (and expensive in a salary cap league). Superstar challengers emerge and the game changes around you.

Golden State had the rare opportunity to extend their championship window with the No. 2 overall selection in 2020. They chose James Wiseman.

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One of the reasons the Warriors were able to make their surprise run in 2022 was the emergence of Jordan Poole, a late first-round pick who panned out. But shortly after they paid him, in the summer of 2022, Green punched him in practice, derailing the trajectory of his career, his future with the team and the organization’s path.

Since the 2022 championship, the Warriors have lost in the Western Conference Semifinals and got eliminated in the play-in game. This season appears headed for a similar fate; the Warriors rank 15th in net rating and are have lost 17 of their last 24 games.

Now, the Warriors’ young core is Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski and their future first-round picks (they have all of their own through 2029, with picks eligible for trade in alternating years).

That’s essentially the future in question when it comes to mortgaging versus cashing in for a hypothetical win-now trade. The Warriors tried to acquire Paul George and Lauri Markkanen over the summer; both are having poor seasons. They’re reportedly not viewed as a viable option for Jimmy Butler. The next possible move is unclear.

Curry turns 37 in March. He’s still one of the most productive players in the league, ranking in the top 15 in advanced metrics like box plus-minus (ninth) and value over replacement player (13th). Green remains one of the most versatile, impactful defenders in the league.

They’re still capable. But for how much longer?

“I think that’s where we are right now,” Kerr said. “Steph is still playing at a really high level. The last couple years, we’ve been fighting like crazy and competing to just stay in the game. Last year, 46 wins wasn’t even enough to make the playoffs. So it’s gotten tougher and tougher. But we’re fighting, and we’re going to keep going until we’re not going anymore.”

Warriors fall below .500 for first time this season with loss to Raptors

TORONTO — The Raptors proved what has been fairly clear for the past six weeks or so: the Warriors aren’t a good enough team to pencil them in over anyone.

The Warriors are leaving The Six with their woes — and what Steve Kerr called as frustrating a loss as Golden State has had this year.

“We are not disciplined enough to win these close games,” Kerr said. “And every game is going to be close right now. We probably play more close games than anybody in the league, so we have to win in the margins. We’re not winning in the margins, and that’s coaching.”

Steph Curry forced a tough 3-pointer with 40 seconds left down one, leading to a breakaway for Toronto in crunch time. Then after they got the stop they needed, Buddy Hield air-balled a 3 that would’ve sent the game into overtime.

The Warriors (19-20) led by as much as nine in the fourth quarter, but Curry and Co. couldn’t fend off Toronto in a 104-101 defeat. The Raptors now have nine wins and the Warriors, for the first time all season, are below .500. They’re now 11-13 in clutch games.

Curry registered 26 points, seven assists and seven rebounds in the defeat. Raptors reserve Chris Boucher, a former Warrior, torched Golden State in the fourth, scoring 17 of his 18 points in the final frame.

“Everybody’s frustrated,” Kevon Looney said. “We want to win. We don’t want to be a .500 team.”

Before the game, Steve Kerr and some Warriors were talking about how in 2021, the Raptors smacked Golden State, 130-77, in Tampa Bay. It was during the pandemic and marked one of the lowest points of Kerr’s 10-year tenure. Nico Mannion, James Wiseman and Jordan Poole were the only Warriors to log at least 30 minutes and postgame press conferences were masked over Zoom.

The Warriors won a championship the next year. Now they’re trying to scale up the mountain again, fighting against harsh conditions. The peak looks higher and higher every day.

Their step down the mountain Monday came without Draymond Green, who was ruled out with an illness and lingering back injury, as well as Jonathan Kuminga and other rotation regulars.

Andrew Wiggins, playing in his first game in his hometown of Toronto since 2018, hit a pair of early 3s, but the other Warriors struggled to make the Raptors pay for selling out on Curry.

Davion Mitchell, nicknamed “Off Night” for his tenacious on-ball defense, top-locked Curry anywhere he went.

Several Warriors offensive possessions went nowhere, with the ball swinging aimlessly around the perimeter. Golden State has had a bottom-10 offense for six weeks and even the poor opponent didn’t make them look improved. The Warriors made one field goal in the last four minutes of the first quarter and scored seven points in the first five minutes of the second period.

When Curry returned, the Warriors went on a 14-2 run. As usual, everything changes when he’s on the court. With two minutes left in the half, he pulled up from the edge of the Raptors logo.

The Warriors’ starters gained some separation to begin the second half, with Wiggins losing Scottie Barnes on a crossover and sticking a 3 to make it 65-59. Golden State’s small starting-five was probably its most productive unit of the night.

Curry kept fueling the Warriors’  offense, making goggle eyes after finding Kevon Looney for a layup with a left-handed dime.

Lindy Waters III buried back-to-back 3s in the fourth, but the Raptors stayed within striking distance as Boucher punched in a vicious dunk and splashed a 3.

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Curry checked in right after Wiggins bailed out a gross possession with a miracle 3, with 4:40 left in a tied game.

The two-time MVP passed Allen Iverson on the all-time scoring list with a deep 3 before freeing Kyle Anderson for foul shots with a back-screen.

But Boucher, who scored 17 fourth-quarter points, rainbowed in a 3 to knot the score with 2:50.

Anderson hit the 3 that Toronto left him open for, but a Boucher layup kept the Raptors within one. An Ochai Agbaji layup over Curry gave Toronto a 102-101 lead with 1:33 remaining.

Curry has been one of the most clutch players in the league this year and throughout his career, but misfired on a tough 3. Toronto tracked down the long rebound and leaked out for the easiest basket of the game — and what ended up being the game-winner.

The Scotiabank Arena crowd erupted as Hield’s contested 3 hit only the bottom of the net, and the Warriors’ season possibly hitting a new bottom with it.

“It’s on everybody,” Wiggins said postgame. “From the first person to the last person. Everyone can help out. Everyone can step up. The only way we’re going to get over this thing and change the outlook is if everybody, from the first person to the last person, gives a little more.”

Canada ready to buy more American products to appease Trump’s tariff threat, ambassador says

By ROB GILLIES

PALM DESERT, Calif. (AP) — Canada’s ambassador to Washington said Monday that Canada is prepared to buy more from the United States, including its next fleet of submarines, to appease President-elect Donald Trump’s concerns about the U.S.-Canada trade deficit.

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The ambassador also dismissed Trump’s talk of Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state, saying that’s how Trump negotiates.

“He has a negotiating style which involves positioning himself in the best way he can for discussions. I think that is what this is,” Hillman told the AP.

Trump continues to erroneously cast the U.S. trade deficit with Canada — a natural resource-rich nation that provides the U.S. with commodities like oil — as a subsidy.

Hillman noted Canada buys more from the United States than any other country but is prepared to buy more.

“We are happy to source what we can from the United States. And we have some big military procurements coming up for example, replacing our entire submarine fleet,” she said. “Maybe those are some purchases that can happen from the U.S.”

Hillman said 70% of Canada’s military procurement is American sourced. That includes a plan to purchase 88 F-35 fighter jets.

Alberta’s Premier Danielle Smith said earlier Monday she favors appeasing Trump by trying to narrow the trade gap, saying the solution is that Canada finds ways to buy more American goods. Smith visited Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s home in Florida, over the weekend and spoke to Trump.

Hillman has said the U.S. had a $75 billion trade deficit with Canada last year but noted a third of what Canada sells into the U.S. is energy exports.

Hillman said trade with Canada supports over 8 million jobs in the United States and Canada is the number one customer to 36 U.S. states. She said Canada provides a lot of primary materials that go into U.S. manufacturing.

“Adding 25% tariffs to those products will raise the price for Americans almost immediately,” Hillman said. “And at a time when the cost of living is challenging, when food prices are high, it seems like the wrong direction to go in.”

Hillman also reiterated that Canada will retaliate if tariffs are placed on Canadian goods and that will mean a cost for Americans.

“Canada will respond,” she said. “Therefore your number one customer will make American products more expensive and Canadians will probably look for alternatives to those products.”

Hillman said Canada is not interested in a trade war but said it will be hard for the Canadian government to not respond if the U.S. government makes choices that hurt Canadians.

She said it doesn’t make sense for Trump to reverse what he accomplished in his first term when he renegotiated the free trade deal with Canada and Mexico.

“We are 99% tariff free with the United States, 99% tariff free. And that tariff level is as a result of the USMCA,” Hillman said, referring to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. “That was negotiated by President Trump. He achieved that success so why would we backtrack from this success that he achieved in his last administration. It just doesn’t make a lot sense.”

Hillman gave Trump credit for accelerating Canada’s plans to increase security at the border. Trump initially threatened to impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian goods if the government does not stem what Trump calls a flow of migrants and drugs in the U.S. — even though far fewer of each crosses into the U.S. from Canada than from Mexico, which Trump has also threatened.

Canada now has a billion plus border security plan.

“We have moved really quickly, I’ll be honest, because President Trump focused the mind to put together a full package of improvements,” Hillman said.

Hillman said also said the U.S. and Canada are in a “generational struggle” with China, a powerful adversary. Trump has been clear about the economic and security threat that Beijing poses, she said. The ambassador said Canada has the energy America needs to drive the artificial intelligence revolution.

“That is really not possible, based on our experts and American experts, without greater cooperation with Canada through oil and gas, through nuclear, through hydro electricity,” Hillman said.

“If we are working at odds then frankly China wins. China is trying to drive us apart. That is clear. They look for every opportunity to do so. That’s not good for us, our citizens and Americans.”

49ers interview Broncos’ assistant for special teams coordinator opening

The 49ers interviewed a second candidate Monday for their special teams coordinator job: Chris Banjo.

Banjo, 34, was an assistant special teams coach this past season for the Broncos, who lost Sunday in a wild-card game in Buffalo. He joined the Denver coaching staff in 2023 after ending his playing career, working under special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica.

The former safety and special teams ace played for the Packers, Saints and Cardinals in an NFL career that spanned 2013-2023 after going undrafted out of Southern Methodist.

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He is the second outside candidate to interview for the job after the 49ers announced Sunday that they had spoken to Jeff Modkins, a Lions special teams assistant.

Coach Kyle Shanahan said last week after firing three-year special teams coordinator Brian Schneider that former defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen, who was removed from that job last week, could also be a candidate for the special teams position.

The 49ers also announced Monday they’ve interviewed Iowa State assistant Noah Pauley for their offensive coordinator’s job. Pauley, who was a receivers coach at North Dakota State while ex-49er Trey Lance was the quarterback, spent the past two season as Iowa State’s receivers coach and passing game coordinator.

Shanahan said last week that Klay Kubiak would officially become offensive coordinator after essentially filling the role with the 49ers last season. However, the NFL reportedly told the 49ers they needed to interview two minority candidates outside of their staff to fulfill Rooney Rule requirements before announcing a hire.

The 49ers announced late last week that they had interviewed former Jets coach Robert Saleh and Lions defensive backs coach DeShea Townsend for their defensive coordinator opening. Saleh held that job with the 49ers under Shanahan from 2017-2020.

Draymond Green out for Warriors’ game at Raptors

TORONTO — Steph Curry and Andrew Wiggins are back, but Draymond Green won’t suit up for Golden State’s game north of the border on Monday night.

Green, 34, will miss his second straight game and sixth overall. He’s listed on the official injury report as out with a left L5-S1 disc injury and an illness. He missed morning shootaround because he was feeling under the weather.

Green also missed the Warriors’ most recent game — against Indiana on the second night of a back-to-back.

“It’s always a concern,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. “A couple years ago, the ’22 season, he missed 15-20 games when the back flared up. We just have to stay on top of it.”

Kerr added that he doesn’t think this particular injury is similar to the one that sidelined him then, although the impacted discs on the injury report are the same that were herniated.

Averaging 8.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game, Green remains pivotal for the Warriors on both ends of the court. When the team has been at its best this year, his defensive versatility and edge have helped shape its identity.

The eight-win Raptors still don’t pose a significant threat even without Green. Curry is set to return after a one-game absence and Wiggins is available after missing the back-to-back for personal reasons. Golden State started small, with a five-man unit of Curry, Wiggins, Dennis Schroder, Buddy Hield and Trayce Jackson-Davis.

Still, the Warriors aren’t in a position to take any opponent for granted.

Last week, Green told his teammates in the locker room that he believes they’d lost their soul and edge at some point over their rut. He took responsibility for that shortfall in particular.

“I told them, it’s all my fault,” Green said. “I’ve got to get my edge back. And then we’ll have our edge back. When you have times when you need to address the team, if you can’t address where you’re failing, nobody’s listening to you. So you’ve got to address first where you’re failing. That’s obviously an area that I own. When you own something, own it. And I haven’t. And we’re struggling in it, and I’ve got to be better. And I will be.”

The Warriors enter the Raptors matchup at 19-19, technically in 11th place in the Western Conference. Golden State split the first two games of its current winter-weather road trip, with a win over Detroit and a shorthanded loss to the Pacers.

“Still in the same spot,” Green said after the win over the Pistons. “Trying to figure it out, trying to get back to our winning ways like we were earlier in the year. One win doesn’t change it. So we’re still in the same spot, having to re-figure out who this team is. We kind of lost our edge. When you lose your edge in this league, everything else follows that right away. We’ve been in a crappy spot the last month or so, month and a half. And we’re trying to correct that. One win doesn’t change that.”

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— Gary Payton II scrimmaged on Sunday in Toronto and went through a workout the day of the Raptors game, Kerr said. He’s nearing a return from a calf strain.

— Brandin Podziemski’s timeline is less clear. He said Sunday that he doesn’t know if he’s close to coming back. The second-year guard, rehabbing an abdominal strain, is running at full speed but not scrimmaging. With head of sports medicine and performance Rick Celebrini, Podziemski is re-teaching himself how to run properly.

— In an interview with Yahoo Sports, Green said that he, Kerr and Steph Curry are in lockstep in terms of not wanting to mortgage the team’s future for the present.

“Bad teams do that. Bad organizations do that. We’re not neither one,” Green said.

The forward has been consistent about feeling a part of the organization at large and wanting to shepherd the next generation of Warriors basketball.

Asked about the challenges of keeping a dynasty going, Kerr said it’s inevitable for everything to end at some point.

“You want it to last as long as possible and you put every ounce of effort into making that happen as best you can,” Kerr said. “And these runs, they happen because of Michael Jordan and Steph Curry, these once-in-a-generation players. And so, you ride those guys as long as you can, as long as they’re capable. Then you’ve got to move forward and everything changes. I think that’s where we are right now. Steph is still playing at a really high level. The last couple years, we’ve been fighting like crazy and competing to just stay in the game. Last year, 46 wins wasn’t even enough to make the playoffs. So it’s gotten tougher and tougher. But we’re fighting, and we’re going to keep going until we’re not going anymore.”

Kurtenbach: Top free agent Roki Sasaki said no to the SF Giants. Of course he did

Roki Sasaki isn’t coming to the Giants.

Of course he isn’t.

And, frankly, shame on anyone who suggested that he would.

Like every competent team in baseball, the Giants were in on the hot-shot Japanese free-agent pitcher, who, like Shohei Ohtani before him, is limited to signing a minor-league deal with a Major League team.

That massively discounted rate allowed every team to sign him.

And I suppose the Giants had an opportunity to sign him, too. Then again, so did the White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays.

But if money is not a factor and every team is in the mix, who in their right mind would think that the Giants would land this elite-level prospect with an 80-grade splitter and a 102-mile-per-hour fastball?

The Giants cannot land free agents without overpaying the market. What did San Francisco have to sell to Sasaki without the possibility of an overpay?

What do the Giants have to sell to anyone besides Buster Posey’s vision?

I don’t hold any of this against Posey. He’s been on the job for 15 weeks. That’s not enough time to fundamentally change the entire organization.

But that’s the burden he took upon himself when he pushed out Farhan Zaidi and took over as the director of baseball operations.

And has anything truly changed since I wrote that these were the “Same ol’ Giants” in late October?

Have you felt a vibe shift, as the kids would say?

Sasaki’s inevitable rebuff is a much-needed reminder that the Giants’ problems cannot be solved by signing one big-money shortstop (this time, with him passing the physical) or a pitcher older than Tim Lincecum.

No, this is a mess a decade-plus in the making, if not longer.

And worse yet, it might take just as long to correct.

Don’t be gaslighted or propagandized into thinking anything different: The Giants can no longer be considered one of baseball’s top organizations.

That’s if they ever could be considered part of that ilk.

Financially, they’re exceptional. It’s a hell of a business they have going along the water.

And when it comes to history and tradition, the Giants are downright steeped.

But Major League Baseball is a league of haves and have-nots. The Giants, for instance, bring in 50 percent more revenue than the Marlins, and the Yankees more than 100 percent more than the Reds.

Yes, there are tiers in the big leagues, and while the Giants might be flush with cash, they are not playing at the top among the New York teams, the Dodgers, Braves, Phillies, or even the Padres.

They’re the best of the rest — hanging out with Arizona, Seattle, and the Rangers.

The “second-choice” markets, if you will.

That’s not to say that those teams cannot be successful. It’s only that you shouldn’t expect consistent excellence from those squads.

No, that’s reserved for the teams with great farm systems, star players at the big-league level, innovative infrastructures, and an unfettered willingness to go over the luxury tax line with payroll. How many of those things can the Giants boast right now? Can they even claim one?

I’ve heard all the excuses—the external factors explaining why the Giants have fallen to this level; why they couldn’t build upon their early 2010s successes.

California taxes aren’t an issue for the Dodgers or Padres — don’t let anyone tell you they’re an issue for the Giants.

The city itself is an easy, go-to excuse. And it’s a valid one if you’re working a real job, too. But last time I checked, the Bay Area and San Francisco are teeming with millionaires (and billionaires). Are they all suckers, or does the market cater well to them? (Little would we know about all of that.)

The weather? I’m reading that it can be changed. The Giants should consider investing in that technology with all the money they’re saving by not being a luxury tax team.

Forgive me, but perhaps the Giants’ woes are due to the fact that they don’t have the kind of operation that stacks up with the best. And in this faux salary-cap sport, why go play for a team that’s content with second place? (Or third?)

So, how does Posey solve the problem?

A little bit at a time. No one player is going to shift the Giants’ fate — not even Bryce Eldridge — but more of his ilk, whether built or bought, can put the Giants in a position where signing a player like Sasaki is a luxury, not a necessity.

It’ll be then — and only then — that the Giants will be attractive to such players.

For SF Giants’ Justin Verlander, passion to pitch still burns bright

There is little that Justin Verlander hasn’t accomplished on the diamond. His resumé, one that will land him in the Hall of Fame, features an MVP, two championships and three Cy Youngs, among other accolades. He’ll officially enter his 20th major-league season on Opening Day, a testament to a longevity that few players can boast.

He doesn’t know when he will retire. Veterans have told Verlander, who will be 42 in February, that he will know when he knows. As he enters his first year in San Francisco, he knows that time is not now, and that pitching until he turns 45 remains a goal.

“I think you can tell that the passion is still there,” said Verlander, who joins the Giants on a one-year, $15 million deal. “The fire is still burning.”

“You don’t get to the level of greatness that he’s accomplished in his career without having the utmost fortitude and desire to be the best,” said president of baseball operations Buster Posey. “When I think about pitchers of this generation, to me, Justin’s at the top.”

Verlander, currently unsure what number he’ll wear next season, has been a model of consistency for nearly two decades, but he enters his first season in San Francisco having freshly endured the worst season of his career. Due in large part to neck and shoulder injuries, Verlander turned in a 5.48 ERA over 90 1/3 innings, far below his standard of excellence.

As bad as last season went, Verlander said he learned from the experience and feels he has addressed those physical issues.

In response to his shoulder injury, Verlander altered his offseason throwing program. Instead of resting for several weeks, Verlander continued throwing once the season ended and estimates he is currently throwing around 92 mph. He described the shoulder issues last year as his own fault, but currently feels “miles ahead of where I was last year.”

“I’ve always been somebody who sets down the ball and don’t pick it up again for a few months,” Verlander said. “I’ve always been lucky that I just pick it up and start throwing. Well, at 41, that caught up with me. So, that was an adjustment I’ve made.”

Along with the shoulder, Verlander shared he was unaware that his neck had been an underlying issue for years until an unspecified “event” finally occurred in 2024. Verlander compared the neck ailment to when he underwent core muscle surgery in ’14, which forced him to learn how to take care of his body.

“You never want an event to occur, but sometimes you need that to happen to point you in the right direction,” Verlander said. “I really believe that’s what occurred. It notified me that there was a problem there, and as I’ve been addressing that, I’ve noticed a lot of other significant beneficial changes in my body that have led to better mechanics.”

With better health and better mechanics, Verlander and the Giants are hoping for better results. And as Verlander approaches his 20th major-league season, he wants to prove he can still pitch at a high level.

“I don’t think I can defeat Father Time; no one can,” Verlander said. “But I think the groundwork that I’ve put in and the work ethic that I’ve had since I’ve been in this game has afforded me, hopefully, on the backend, some extra time.”

Given his clout, Verlander’s impact stands to extend beyond his statistical value.

The right-hander joins a rotation featuring a plethora of young arms such as Kyle Harrison (23), Hayden Birdsong (23), Landen Roupp (26) and Jordan Hicks (28), all of whom could benefit from Verlander’s tutelage. Verlander drew upon his own experiences, recalling when he was a 23-year-old rookie sharing a rotation with 41-year-old Kenny Rogers.

“I didn’t really think that I would pick up much from him, but when I look back at it, I think you just kind of pick up stuff from being around guys that have learned to be in the game that long — whether he was taking an approach to be a mentor or not,” Verlander said of Rogers.

Verlander described his younger self as being a “horse with blinders on” who tried to do what was necessary in order to be successful. As he’s aged and become a father, Verlander believes he’s taken those blinders off and been more willing to help his teammates.

For all the talk of mentorship, Posey didn’t want anyone to forget that Verlander is here to help anchor the rotation, too.

“I’ve even seen in the media so far all the value add that he’s going to bring with the younger arms. That’s most definitely true. We believe that. But first and foremost, we all see this guy pitching at the top of the rotation and being very, very good,” Posey said.

The Giants will need Verlander to pitch well if they are to have any chance of competing in the NL West, especially given that Roki Sasaki will not be signing in San Francisco. Verlander’s unwavering passion for the game remains clearly evident. The coming season will tell whether he can parlay that fire into another productive season — and continue his march towards 300 career wins.

“Buster had texted me after everything went down and said, ‘Wouldn’t it be something if you won 300 games in a San Francisco uniform,’” Verlander said. “And God, wouldn’t that be something?”

Horoscopes Jan. 13, 2025: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, an enthusiastic approach and sympathetic attitude will buy you time, loyalty and insight

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Liam Hemsworth, 35; Orlando Bloom, 48; Patrick Dempsey, 59; Julia Louis-Dreyfus, 64.

Happy Birthday: Pay attention. Be ready, willing and able to step in and take over. An enthusiastic approach and sympathetic attitude will buy you time, loyalty and insight into how to zigzag your way to the front of the line. A simple minimalist solution will save money, making you the hero. Maintain the balance, integrity and showmanship of a leader, and forge ahead. Partnerships and commitment look promising. Your numbers are 7, 10, 19, 27, 32, 34, 45.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Take what you can get and run with it. Opportunity is your responsibility. Broaden your scope, interact with those with a grip on what lies ahead, and put your ego and emotions aside as you build a future that aligns with your beliefs. A financial gain is within reach. 2 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Stand up, be counted and make your presence felt. Use your intelligence, charisma and voice to persuade others to inch toward your beliefs and long-term plans. Make personal or professional changes quickly and efficiently. Discipline, determination and desire will curb results in your favor. Self-improvement will pay off. 4 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Be open to what’s trending. The more options you have, the better you’ll do. Diversify and give others a reason to believe in you and what you offer. Think big, but don’t make promises you can’t deliver. Justice will not follow if you are all talk and no action. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Dress for success and make yourself seen and heard. Presentation is worth the effort when dealing in the age of technology. Don’t fall behind when keeping up means the difference between success and failure. Research, ask questions and attend demonstrations and seminars that point you in a positive direction. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Work quietly behind the scenes until you perfect what you want to pursue and convince others to follow suit. A heartfelt dialogue that paints a vivid picture will help you gather support, but don’t expect the road ahead to be smooth. Change will be incremental and require some pressure. 3 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Get involved at ground level and work your way up. Understanding what the people at the bottom need and want will help you gain the confidence of those who can make or break you. Build coalitions with those who share your insight and offer incentives to make you a star. 4 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You’ll hit barriers if you are aggressive. Be a good listener and base your words on what others want to hear. Keep moving about and spreading your objective to anyone willing to listen to you. Those closest to you will be your greatest allies and critics; heed what they say. 2 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Pay attention to how you feel and look. If you want to put your best foot forward, find out what’s important to those you want on your team and offer incentives. Your patience and persuasive dialogue will win the support and favors you require to reach your target. 5 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Be careful what you wish for and who you discuss your secrets with. Hold your cards close to your chest and keep assets safe from those trying to pry into your business. Someone you least expect will disappoint you and stand between you and what you are trying to achieve. 3 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): A take-charge attitude will play in your favor. Be willing to listen and assign others to do what they do best. Organize, participate and pull everything together, and you’ll gain approval. Confidence and sticking to a budget will pay off. Positive change is coming your way. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Concentrate on what matters to you. Use your imagination, offer suggestions and bring about change. Opportunity begins with you, so don’t let someone steal your spotlight. Be brave and stand behind your word. Truth matters, but living up to your promises will carry you to the finish line. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Visualize what you want and formulate a plan that positions you to rise above any controversy or interference you encounter. Choose your path and wear whatever badge you pin on your chest proudly. Believe in yourself and pursue your dreams. 5 stars

Birthday Baby: You are proactive, insightful and commanding. You are flirtatious and charismatic.

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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49ers interview Detroit assistant for special teams coach

Jett Modkins, a special teams assistant for the Detroit Lions since 2021, completed an interview Sunday with the 49ers to be their special teams coordinator.

Modkins, 39, has been the assistant to Detroit special teams coordinator for the past four seasons. The 49ers fired special teams coordinator Brian Schneider after three seasons last week.

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Coach Kyle Shanahan said moving deposed defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen to the special teams opening was a possibility if Sorensen was amenable. There’s also the issue of interviewing a minority candidate for the position, of which Modkins qualifies.

Shanahan said last week the plan was to elevate passing game coordinator Klay Kubiak to offensive coordinator. The 49ers made no announcement regarding the hire, and CBS Sports reported the 49ers were required under the Rooney Rule to interview two diverse external candidates.

The 49ers are also in the market for a defensive coordinator and have already interviewed two minority candidates in Robert Saleh, their former defensive coordinator from 2017 through 2021, and DeShea Townsend, who is a defensive backs coach also with the Lions.

Modkins is the son of Minnesota assistant coach Curtis Modkins. Jett Modkins played at Glendale (Arizona) Community College and Kent State and spent the 2020 season with Denver as the Broncos’ diversity coaching intern.

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