Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 345

SF Giants must win out to finish .500 after loss to Cardinals

SAN FRANCISCO — Jerar Encarnacion homered and the Giants earned an early lead, but rookie starter Landen Roupp had an uncharacteristic blow-up, pitting San Francisco in too deep a deficit.

While playing from behind, the Giants squandered a couple chances, then couldn’t create any more during the late innings in a 6-3 loss. To finish .500 on the season, the Giants (79-81) must win each of their final two games at Oracle Park.

“Definitely not the way I wanted to end it,” Roupp said after his final 2024 start. “But I think overall, it was a pretty good season, just getting my feet wet. Definitely some improvements I’ve got to make, and I look forward to doing that this offseason.”

Mathematically eliminated from the postseason, the Giants have played their best ball of late. In September, San Francisco went on its longest winning streak of the season and put together a historically productive 9-2 road trip. Matt Chapman, the 2024 Willie Mac Award winner, is approaching the franchise’s first 30-homer season since Barry Bonds and young players like Tyler Fitzgerald, Heliot Ramos, and Ryan Walker are contributing regularly.

But the momentum didn’t carry into Friday night.

Roupp, the rookie righty who has impressed in the second half, served up a run in the first inning on two singles and a walk. Roupp entered the night with a 10-inning scoreless streak over two five-inning starts.

San Francisco responded in the second with a mammoth blast from Encarnacion. The right fielder smoked a 1-2 hanging curveball from St. Louis starter Miles Mikolas over the Giants’ bullpen in center field. His fifth home run had an exit velocity of 108.8 mph and carried 430 feet.

San Francisco added another run after Encarnacion’s blast, as Mike Yastrzemski drove Brett Wisely home with a double off the right-field bricks.

But with a 3-1 lead, Roupp imploded.

The rookie surrendered a solo home run to center to Lars Nootbaar in the third inning and then couldn’t get out of the fourth. A costly balk led to a game-tying double off the wall in left field from Masyn Winn. Winn then came around to score on a single past Brett Wisely, putting St. Louis up 4-3.

Pitching coach Bryan Price paid Roupp a visit with two outs in the fourth. One pitch later, Nolan Arenado ripped a ground-rule double into the left-field corner, ending Roupp’s night. He said postgame that he plans to work on a cutter and four-seam fastball in the offseason to protect against hitters sitting on the curveball he threw 41% of the time.

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Taylor Rogers inherited Cardinals on second and third from Roupp, and he couldn’t rescue the starter. A Nootbaar triple off the southpaw added two more earned runs to Roupp’s line (3.2 IP, 9H, 6ER, 4K, 2BB) and put the Giants behind, 6-3. And by then, the Giants’ offense was cold.

“I mean look, it certainly looks like he’s got all the makings of a starter,” manager Bob Melvin said of Roupp. “They made him work pretty hard today, got some hits off him. I don’t know if they sat on some pitches. His command wasn’t as good tonight, even though he walked (only) two.”

Roupp’s start was a completely different story than his second half. Since August, Roupp had a 0.89 ERA in 30.1 innings before the Cardinals matchup.

Instead, he put the Giants in a hole. Matt Chapman, awarded the 2024 Willie Mac Award pregame, doubled to put runners on second and third in the third inning, but San Francisco came up empty. A lack of hitting with runners on base, a common bugaboo this season, prevented the Giants from scoring any runs after the third inning.

San Francisco went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position overall — and 0-for-0 in that situation over the last three innings.

Camilo Doval, the embattled former closer, tossed a 1-2-3 seventh for his third straight scoreless inning — perhaps turning the corner on an otherwise disastrous season.

Even if finishing .500 is a tangible goal, eyes in San Francisco have been turned to 2025 for weeks now. Doval rediscovering his All-Star stuff could go a long way next year, when everyone starts 0-0.

“I know this season didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but we’re building here and we’re going to finish strong,” Chapman said after accepting the Willie Mac plaque. “And next year, we’re going to start something and we’re not going to stop.”

SF Giants’ Matt Chapman named 2024 Willie Mac Award winner

SAN FRANCISCO — Matt Chapman, in his first year with the Giants, was named the 2024 Willie Mac Award winner.

Voted on by players, coaches, training staff and fans, the Willie Mac is the most coveted team award the Giants annually present. Past winners include Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner, Brandon Crawford, J.T. Snow, Mike Krukow, and Matt Cain.

Named after Willie McCovey, the award started in 1980, making this the 44th anniversary of the honor bestowed on the most inspirational Giant.

“It means a lot,” Chapman told reporters pregame. “I think the more and more I learn about it, the more I see the significance of this award and how important it is to this organization. The fact that it’s voted on by people that I care about and they care about me like that, it’s pretty cool.”

Chapman, 31, has hit 27 home runs with three games remaining and ranks in the top 10 in the National League in wins above replacement. He has played 151 games, just about every night, and earned a six-year, $151 million contract extension with his steady two-way production. He leads the Giants in hits, doubles, homers, RBI, walks, runs, extra bases, total bases and games played.

One of the game’s best defenders, Chapman could very well win his fifth career Gold Glove award this season.

Chapman joins current Giants Thairo Estrada (2023), Wilmer Flores (2022), LaMonte Wade Jr. (2021), and Mike Yastrzesmki (2020) in the Willie Mac club. Yastrzemski and Wade stood on the field for the pregame ceremony, joining Snow, Marvin Bernard, Dave Dravecky and other former winners as McCovey’s family presented Chapman with the plaque.

“I know this season didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but we’re building here and we’re going to finish strong,” Chapman said after accepting the award. “And next year, we’re going to start something and we’re not going to stop.”

This month has been particularly eventful for Chapman. He’s on a hot streak, having hit six home runs in 17 games, inching toward breaking the franchise’s 20-year drought of a 30-homer season. The Giants have played their best ball, albeit after they’d been eliminated from the postseason. He and his wife welcomed their first child and he inked the richest deal the Giants have handed out since Posey’s 2013 extension.

“It’s a cherry on top of a great month,” Chapman said. “Obviously it’d be better if we were going to the playoffs — that’s my goal and I’m going to work this offseason to make that possible next year. But besides not making the playoffs, it’s been a great month with my daughter and the contract and getting this award. I feel blessed.”

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– The Giants reinstated Randy Rodriguez from the injured list and optioned Mason Black, officially ending Black’s season after he made his last start this week. Black pitched in nine games, including eight starts, posting a 6.44 ERA.

– Giants skipper Bob Melvin, who managed the A’s for 11 seasons, said he watched the entire Athletics’ home finale at the Coliseum from his home.

“It just ended up being one of those days you’ll never forget,” Melvin said. “And certainly an emotional day. I can’t even imagine what I would’ve felt like being there, it was hard enough watching it on the couch.”

– San Francisco must win two of its last three games to finish the season .500. In Farhan Zaidi’s tenure in San Francisco, the Giants have had three losing seasons, a .500 campaign and the record-setting, 107-win 2021 run.

Going against the current: What separates Monterey from other aquariums

EDITOR’S NOTE: As the Monterey Bay Aquarium counts down to its 40th anniversary in October, The Herald is doing a series of stories taking a closer look at the history, research work and behind-the-scenes management of the region’s most popular attraction. Today a look at the different approach the founders took to the Aquarium’s exhibits and business practices. To read previous articles in the series visit https://www.montereyherald.com/tag/aq... 

MONTEREY >> As marine biology students and teachers, the braintrust that would later become founders of the Monterey Bay Aquarium were well acquainted with aquariums and zoos around the world.

When first discussing exhibits to feature, Aquarium staff weren’t sure if a live kelp forest would work or draw interest from guests because it hadn’t been done before. Now, the Kelp Forest is one of the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s most recognizable exhibits. (Arianna Nalbach – Monterey Herald)

But looking at the abandoned Hovden Cannery in the 1970s, perched over the bay on Cannery Row, they decided to take a different approach to what had been done before.

“It was a pretty radical idea to decide to do a whole aquarium just about this bay, because aquariums and zoos both were historically created as menageries. They were collections of animals from around the world,” said Aquarium co-founder Julie Packard. “And we were told by various colleagues at the time, how can you have interesting exhibits if you don’t have any colorful tropical fish, or a lot of aquariums of dolphins, for example. You need marine mammals or marine mammals shows. We had a totally different idea in mind.”

From the beginning, the Monterey Bay Aquarium was different from its counterparts – and it’s not just because of the animals they chose to exhibit. Forty years since opening, the Monterey Bay Aquarium continues to run against the current, but also inspire other aquariums and zoos to follow.

“Founded by biologists not interested in marketing,” said Hank Armstrong, the Aquarium’s first public relations director.

Creating new exhibits, in new ways

Packard explained the invertebrates, algae and the “small, squishy thing” typically don’t get a lot of focus in aquariums but thanks to its location, the Monterey Bay Aquarium was able to highlight these stories. “We are able to pump very rich, unfiltered seawater into our building,” unlike inland aquariums that use synthetic seawater. While the rock walls may be artificial, the things growing on it have come through the seawater system organically. “That’s why it looks very natural.”

Paul Clarkson, the Aquarium’s director of husbandry operations also highlighted the uniqueness of Monterey’s approach to exhibits – especially with the Kelp Forest tank.

“Back in 1984, conceiving of a live kelp forest exhibit at that time was unheard of. There was less than unanimous confidence that it was going to work out,” he said. “Some of the sentiment was one: how on Earth are you going to do that? Nobody’s been able to do that before. And two: who’s going to be interested in that? Nobody wants to see kelp forest, people want to see dolphins and sharks.”

The institution took a massive risk, basing one of their central and biggest tanks on the kelp forest, but it paid off. “Here we are 40 years later, it’s one of our most popular and most recognizable exhibits,” Clarkson said. “It’s a remarkable opportunity for visitors to see what’s right off our back deck here,” and 40 years later, it is still considered a groundbreaking exhibit people won’t get an opportunity to see anywhere else.

Clarkson also shared a similar story for the jellyfish exhibit. When the Monterey Bay Aquarium opened, no public aquariums in the United States had jellyfish tanks. Many aquariums thought visitors wouldn’t be interested in them and instead would want to see the “big, charismatic animals,” like sharks or otters.

The first jellyfish exhibit in the United States was brought to the Monterey Bay Aquarium in 1985. Clarkson explained the Aquarium again took another big risk, creating their first temporary exhibit of jellyfish in the late ’80s and, like the Kelp Forest exhibit, it was incredibly popular with visitors.

“It inspired lots of other American aquariums to invest in jellyfish husbandry and care and exhibits,” Clarkson said. “To this day, you can see the influence of Monterey Bay Aquarium jellyfish work from the ’80s all throughout aquariums in the state and the world. A lot of this work has inspired others.”

Monterey is also very different from other aquariums structurally. Walking into the Aquarium, you are immediately greeted with massive windows and a breathtaking view of the bay.

“I mean, the best exhibit here at Monterey Bay Aquarium isn’t even in the Aquarium,” said Packard. “It’s looking out at the bay.”

Everyone agreed the building design would have a big focus on the outside and allow in lots of natural light, something vastly different from the traditionally dark aquarium.

“You can experience (the animals) inside the building and learn about them, and then you can go outside and see them in the wild, which is remarkable,” Packard said. “There’s no other aquarium here in the U.S. that has that.”

The Monterey Bay Aquarium has made a commitment to zero plastic being used in its stores and hasn't had single-use bags in 20 years. Starting in 2022, all of the stuffed animals sold in stores are made out of 100% recycled plastics. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)

The Monterey Bay Aquarium branded Monopoly game was the first one to be made with zero plastic. From the packaging to pieces, everything is plastic-free. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)

The Monterey Bay Aquarium has made a commitment to zero plastic being used in its stores and hasn't had single-use bags in 20 years. Starting in 2022, all of the stuffed animals sold in stores are made out of 100% recycled plastics. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)

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The Monterey Bay Aquarium has made a commitment to zero plastic being used in its stores and hasn't had single-use bags in 20 years. Starting in 2022, all of the stuffed animals sold in stores are made out of 100% recycled plastics. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)

ExpandA difference in mindset and a commitment to ocean conservation

Perhaps what separates Monterey the most from other aquariums was the founders’ mindset. Instead of going for the traditionally big-ticket aquarium attractions and guaranteed money-makers, the founders were committed to telling the story they wanted to tell, how they wanted to tell it and educating Aquarium guests on ocean conservation.

“What motivated them was not revenue in any way shape or form,” said Armstrong. Instead, the Aquarium was motivated by protecting the ocean and educating guests on how they too can make an impact.

The Aquarium’s dedication to ocean conservation was instrumental in helping protect the California coast and getting global policies put in place to protect the ocean.

“The aquarium was absolutely essential to building a case for making Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary,” said Leon Panetta, who represented the region at the time in Congress and played a large role in establishing the Sanctuary status. “I was able to turn to Julie Packard and the researchers and get the backup that I needed in order to make a case for why Monterey Bay was unique enough to make it a marine sanctuary.”

“I think the aquarium and Julie Packard have been very important to the whole argument of why we need to have a strong national ocean policy, and why it’s important that we protect our oceans,” Panetta said.

Lura Migdal, the district manager of operations for SSA Group – the Aquarium’s embedded food and retail vendor – has worked closely with the Monterey Bay Aquarium for the last 10 years to eliminate single-use plastics from their cafe and stores.

“It has been 10 years of changes, which is awesome, that’s the cool part. You never stop changing,” said Migdal. “You’re always trying to make it better and make it more in line with the mission.”

All of the vendor partners the Aquarium works with have made commitments to zero plastic shipping. All of the food in the Aquarium’s cafe is sourced locally from California partners and small businesses, with about 35 partners in the county.

In the Aquarium stores, there is zero plastic packaging, no plastic toys and all of the plushes have used 100% recycled plastics since 2022. The Aquarium hasn’t had single-use bags in 20 years. But it extends further than just the Aquarium’s direct impact – they wanted to change the industry.

“The Maryland Zoo went plastic free in their retail after they heard we were doing it … A lot of our aquariums are bringing in the same products that we’re bringing in that don’t have the plastic, which is awesome,” said Migdal. “It’s huge to be able to make that impression.”

Migdal said she is always eager to help other aquariums, zoos and retailers make the same changes as Monterey to make their products and their businesses more sustainable, but is just as excited to talk about conversation on the individual level.

“This is something that we get to educate and hopefully change (guests’) mind on buying a plastic bottle the next time. That’s huge, to be able to say they came to the aquarium they saw this cool metal bottle or aluminum bottle, and that stopped them from buying hundreds and hundreds of plastic bottles. That would be the best part of my day,” said Migdal.

“All the work we’ve done here, we can share,” said Migdal. “We want everyone to know how to do it.”

Warmer weather headed to Monterey Peninsula

Monterey County residents can expect warmer weather this weekend, perfect for going outside as the county prepares for another tourist weekend.

On the Monterey Peninsula, Saturday is forecast to be mostly sunny with a high near 69 and calm wind in the afternoon. In the evening, the temperature will drop to the mid-50s, a trend that will likely last through the week.

Those temperatures are expected to be higher for those living inland and in Salinas.

Residents can expect “warm and beautiful weather into this weekend ahead of another warm-up early next week. Potential for a day or two of impactful heat and elevated fire danger Monday and Tuesday. Pattern trend leans toward temperatures decreasing but remaining warm late next week,” according to notes from the National Weather Service Bay Area.

Sunday morning is expected to be partly cloudy in the morning then clear up for a sunny day. Highs are forecast to be in the mid 60s to lower 80s with calm winds northwest from 5 mph to 10 mph.

Even warmer weather is expected on Monday and Tuesday with sunny days in the 70s to 80s and cooler nights in the mid-50s.

The National Weather Service report notes that “comfortable temperatures will continue Sunday as the trough influence remains, but there is high confidence that another warming trend will ensue on Monday through midweek, peaking Tuesday. High temps 10-20 degrees above normal can be expected Tuesday.”

Wisconsin Supreme Court says Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s name will remain on swing state’s ballot

By SCOTT BAUER, Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Friday that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s name will remain on the state’s presidential ballot, upholding a lower court’s ruling that candidates can only be removed from the ballot if they die.

The unanimous decision from the liberal-controlled court marks the latest twist in Kennedy’s quest to get his name off ballots in key battleground states where the race between Republican Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris is close. Kennedy’s attorney in Wisconsin, Joseph Bugni, declined to comment on the ruling.

The decision came after more than 418,000 absentee ballots have already been sent to voters. As of Thursday, nearly 28,000 had been returned, according to the Wisconsin Elections Commission.

Kennedy suspended his campaign in August and endorsed Trump. Earlier this month a divided North Carolina Supreme Court kept him off the ballot there while the Michigan Supreme Court reversed a lower court decision and kept him on.

Kennedy filed a lawsuit in Wisconsin on Sept. 3 seeking a court order removing him from the ballot. He argued that third-party candidates are discriminated against because state law treats them differently than Republicans and Democrats running for president.

He pointed out that Republicans and Democrats have until 5 p.m. on the first Tuesday in September before an election to certify their presidential nominee but that independent candidates like himself can only withdraw before an Aug. 6 deadline for submitting nomination papers.

Dane County Circuit Judge Stephen Ehlke ruled Sept. 16 that Wisconsin law clearly states that once candidates file valid nomination papers, they remain on the ballot unless they die. The judge added that many election clerks had already sent ballots out for printing with Kennedy’s name on them.

Bugni had argued that clerks could cover his name with stickers, the standard practice when a candidate dies. Ehlke rejected that idea, saying it would be a logistical nightmare for clerks and that it is not clear whether the stickers would gum up tabulating machines. He also predicted lawsuits if clerks failed to completely cover Kennedy’s name or failed to affix a sticker on some number of ballots.

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“We emphasize that we are not making any legal determinations on our own regarding the claims made by Kennedy and we are not agreeing with the circuit court’s legal conclusions on those claims. We simply are unable to make such determinations, given the inadequate briefing presented to us,” the five justices wrote in six-page opinion.

Conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley wrote in a one-page concurrence that while she doesn’t disagree with the five other justices that Kennedy’s arguments were underdeveloped, keeping Kennedy on the ballot will confuse voters and could tilt the outcome of the election.

“Voters may cast their ballots in favor of a candidate who withdrew his candidacy, thereby losing their right to cast a meaningful vote,” she wrote. “Ballots listing a non-candidate mislead voters and may skew a presidential election. In this case, the damage to voter participation in electoral democracy is real.”

The court’s third conservative, Annette Ziegler, joined Bradley’s concurrence.

The presence of independent and third-party candidates on the ballot could be a key factor in Wisconsin, where four of the past six presidential elections have been decided by between about 5,700 to 23,000 votes.

In 2016, Green Party nominee Jill Stein got just over 31,000 votes in Wisconsin — more than Trump’s winning margin of just under 23,000 votes. Some Democrats blamed her for helping Trump win the state and the presidency that year.

Pro basketball: Salinas’ Day to become Golden State Warriors public address announcer

SALINAS – Big league dreams don’t always have a timetable.

So it is understandable if Brian Day is still letting what has transpired in his life sink in.

“I only wish my dad was still around to see this,” said an emotional Day recently.

The 1982 Salinas High graduate will be the public address announcer this coming year for the Golden State Warriors.

“It hasn’t sunk in,” Day said.

Day has spent the past 12 years as the public address announcer for the Santa Cruz Warriors, where he became a fan favorite with his personality on the mic.

New Golden State Warriors public address announcer Brian Day of Salinas. (Courtesy photo)

Yet, last season when the Golden State Warriors were in need of a PA announcer for their final three games, Day received a call he will never forget from Executive Director of Game Experience Kevin Dhillon.

“I was asked ‘can you?’ — before he could finish the sentence I said ‘yes,’” Day said. “If it had anything to do with Golden State, I was on board.”

The 60-year-old Day was Golden State’s public address announcer for the final three games and would have been their PA guy had the Warriors advanced in the playoffs.

Over the summer he did six Summer League games at the Chase Center, still uncertain what his status was going forward.

“I knew I was just filling in last year,” Day said. “So I treated it like any job. I guess my audition was the three games and the summer league.”

That’s because there was no tryout like there was 12 years ago when Day beat out 86 potential candidates for the public address announcers job in Santa Cruz.

“I didn’t look at those three games like I’d get this gig,” said Day, who began his career doing football games at Salinas High in 2016. “But I didn’t do anything to screw it up.”

Because Day wasn’t notified that he was being offered the job until recently, he had already signed on for a 13th season in Santa Cruz.

The plan is for Day is to do both this coming season, as only three games overlap over the course of a six-month NBA season.

“It’s 68 games,” Day said. “For me, it’s not a difficult drive. I go to the Bay Area a lot for business. Sometimes I’m in and out of San Francisco before the commute traffic even begins.”

A former radio station DJ, Day began doing public announcing for Salinas High for football and basketball games nearly two decades ago – and still occasionally makes a rare appearance.

In fact, he will be the PA announcer on Oct. 24 when Salinas hosts Arroyo Grande.

“Being a DJ was a total fluke,” Day said. “When I started doing games at Salinas, I had fun with it. I’ve always said I have a face for radio.”

In between moonlighting as a public address announcer in the NBA, Day is a sales manager for Blackthrone Spas in Salinas, where drives up to the Bay Area four times a week.

Getting the job in Santa Cruz in 2012 changed Day’s life. With his weight ballooning to nearly 500 pounds, he began making life changes.

“I have a 9-year-old grandson,” Day said. “The weight had crept up on me. I could hardly walk. It was time to get healthy. I had to make sacrifices, even to this day.”

Day, who stands a shade over 6 feet, has dropped over 200 pounds, with an emphasis on maintaining his health.

“I’ve been able to keep it all off for over a year,” Day said.

Day, who swam and played water polo and baseball at Salinas, had actually tried out for the same job with Golden State nearly five years ago — was even a finalist for the position.

“I didn’t do anything wrong,” recalled Day. “But I knew I didn’t nail it. So I worked on my craft much more. I’ve had aspirations of getting up there.”

Day won’t have the same freedoms that he has in the G-League with Santa Cruz. The NBA is more rigid in what it wants and doesn’t want from its public address announcers.

“When I came up to do my first game, they told me ‘you do some crazy things in Santa Cruz,’” Day said. “You get the crowd going. You won’t be doing that up here.”

One of the first people Day met when arriving last season was owner Joe Lacob. He has had interactions with Stephen Curry when he used to drive down to Santa Cruz to watch his brother play.

“I can tell you this, everyone I’ve met in this organization has been great,” Day said. “I couldn’t tell if they were having a good day or bad day. It’s a great environment.”

Day also met one of his childhood heroes in Rick Barry, who led the Warriors to their first title in 1974 in the Bay Area.

“I remember we talked about golf,” Day said. “Everyone in that organization is like regular people. There’s something special about working for a team you grew up rooting for.”

Arriving more than three hours before a game to go over his duties and put together a game plan has become a routine. The morning of games, there’s a sense of nervous energy.

“I get antsy,” Day said. “When I wake up in the morning, I’m ready to go. I’m usually done with my job by 2. There’s a lot of stuff to read during the game that I have to clean up.”

Among the things Day is looking forward to seeing is LeBron James clap his hands with powder before a game in front of him.

“I’m just watching guys play basketball,” Day said. “I have a little bit of an ego. You can’t be shy and be behind a microphone. There are only 30 of these jobs in the NBA. I will be the oldest rookie in the NBA.”

49ers list Hufanga, Williams as questionable with Samuel, Elliott, Winters

SANTA CLARA – Deebo Samuel said he is “right where I’m supposed to be,” meaning his comeback from a calf strain has him poised to return from a one-game hiatus and play Sunday when the 49ers host the New England Patriots.

Samuel officially is listed as questionable, as are two other key starters who were added Friday to the injury report: left tackle Trent Willliams (toe) and safety Talanoa Hufanga (ankle).

Such a designation means players have a 50 percent chance of playing; Christian McCaffrey was questionable before the opener before going on Injured Reserve with Achilles tendinitis that led to last weekend’s treatment in Germany.

Also questionable are linebacker Dee Winters and defensive tackle Jordan Elliott, the latter of whom rolled his ankle in Thursday’s practice, the same one in which coach Kyle Shanahan said Hufanga got hurt enough to sideline him from Friday’s light walkthrough.

Williams also skipped Friday’s session, though he watched from afar. Shanahan said a “sore” toe is hindering the three-time All-Pro left tackle who also missed Wednesday’s session, though an illness was listed for that.

Initially expected to miss two weeks, Samuel returned in a limited role the past two practices. “I’m right where I’m supposed to be. With the information given, the timeframe held up pretty well,”  Samuel said. “I came back feeling good, and at practice it was still feeling good, so we’ll see.”

GOOD TO GO  

Tight end George Kittle (hamstring) is fully expected to return from a one-game hiatus. He did not play in Sunday’s 27-24 loss at the Los Angeles Rams, nor did Samuel with a calf strain that figured to keep him out two games.

Quarterback Brock Purdy required an MRI on Monday because of back soreness but was not limited in practice all week.

Winters (ankle) participated for a second straight day, and wide receiver Jacob Cowing returned after missing Thursday’s session while ill.

OUT AND IR-BOUND

Ruled out were linebacker Curtis Robinson and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave. Robinson tore an anterior cruciate ligament in a non-contact punt-coverage drill Thursday. Hargrave sustained a triceps tear Sunday.

Both players figure to go on season-ending Injured Reserve, and such transactions could come as soon as Saturday when the 49ers typically elevate two players from the practice squad.

McCAFFREY UPDATE

The 49ers hope to start running back Christian McCaffrey’s rehabilitation on Monday, Shanahan said after confirming the star running back underwent treatment last weekend in Germany. General manager John Lynch described McCaffrey’s issue as “bilateral Achilles tendinitis.”

“God willing, the thing has quieted down and we can build him back up in a really smart and thoughtful way,” Lynch said on KNBR 680-AM. “With Christian, we’ve got to be cognizant. Of course we want him back. He’s a game-changer for us. But we want him back healthy. We’ll take the necessary time for that. How much it takes, I don’t think anyone knows right now. We’ll start that process, kind of reconvene … and we’ll get a plan together.” Lynch said McCaffrey sought treatment overseas after doing thorough research, “and we blessed it and we’ll leave it at that.”

PATRIOTS INJURIES

Left tackle Vederian Lowe (knee) got ruled out by the Patriots, along with cornerback Alex Austin (ankle) and guard Michael Jordan (ankle). Questionable are linebacker Anfernee Jennings (shoulder), cornerback Jonathan Jones (shoulder), guard Sidy Sow (ankle) and offensive tackle Caedan Wallace (knee). Removed from their injury list were cornerback Christian Gonzalez, tight end Hunter Henry, guard Michael Onwenu, and safety Jabrill Peppers.

AIYUK’S SHORT-GATE

Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk wore red gym shorts for Friday’s warmups before reluctantly pulling them off to reveal regular black shorts, following a talk with Shanahan. “I wish I could wear different shorts (too),” said Shanahan, noting the uniform issue is not a fineable offense.

PEARSALL PRACTICE PLAN

Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall is expected to resume practicing next week for the first time since being shot in the chest Aug. 31 by an attempted robber in San Francisco. Once cleared to practice, Pearsall will enter a 21-day window for the 49ers to evaluate him, though he would be eligible to play as soon as the Oct. 6 home game against Arizona.

“All signs are indicating he’ll be OK to do that,” Lynch said. “We’ll judge him throughout this weekend and have some more markers to hit. Getting him back in practice will be a big deal.”

Pearsall is on the Non-Football Injury List and does not count toward the 53-man roster. “Ricky’s doing really well,” Lynch added. “He’s put in the work. He’s very eager to get back but it’s our job to make sure he’s ready. He’ll be a great addition. We drafted him for a reason.”

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Horoscopes Sept. 27, 2024: Avril Lavigne, move toward a fresh start

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Lola Kirke, 34; Avril Lavigne, 40; Anna Camp, 42; Tamara Taylor, 54.

Happy Birthday: A change will give you a new lease on life. Take the initiative to make things happen instead of waiting for someone to kickstart your next adventure. Gather information and align yourself with people who share your concerns. Don’t let financial pressure be your demise; sell off what you don’t need, take a minimalist approach and move toward a fresh start. Take control instead of being controlled. Your numbers are 5, 17, 21, 26, 35, 43, 49.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Take the necessary precautions, but don’t shy away from a physical challenge that makes you feel alive. Channel your energy into something that offers rewards, and give your undivided attention to ensure you come out on top. Play to win and embrace forward motion. 5 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Choose where you spend your time and energy carefully. It’s important not to exhaust yourself or deplete your budget for someone or something that isn’t worthwhile. Prepare, strategize and execute your plan with purpose, and be intent on pursuing what’s best for you. Positive change is within reach. 2 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You can be open to suggestions, but it is only necessary to be receptive if you like what you hear. Someone will take advantage of you if you let them. Focus on what makes you happy and surround yourself with supportive people. Walk away from users, abusers and indulgent temptations. 4 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Consider your plans and actions before moving. Talk to an expert, get the facts and figures, and consider what’s best for you physically before you decide what to do next. Time is on your side, and discipline and attention to detail will be in your favor. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): A passionate approach to whatever you pursue will give you the necessary momentum to reach your destination. Go all in, and don’t look back. Be vocal about what you want, and don’t settle for less. Write your story and complete each chapter with a cheerful ending. 3 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Care less about what others do or say and more about what matters to you. Wrap your head around what you want and focus on making your aspirations a reality. Anger wastes time; use your energy to take on meaningful responsibilities that offer exciting prospects and happiness. 3 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Put your energy into something tangible and get things done. Time management and attention to what matters will help you achieve what you desire. Be true to yourself and your beliefs; the opportunity will come your way if you put in the time and effort. 4 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Push yourself toward better health. Get physical, and change your lifestyle to ensure you achieve your goals. It’s up to you to implement positive change and follow through with your plans. Don’t blame others when you’re the one in control. Do what’s right and best for you. 2 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Listen, observe and make choices that satisfy your needs. Follow your passion, your heart and your dreams instead of being someone else’s workhorse. Look for opportunities and incorporate your experience and skills into your subsequent pursuit. Your intelligence and charm will help you come out on top. 5 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Question everything. Consider your needs and be innovative in your approach, and you will discover what works best for you. A change may appear unattainable, but you will overcome any obstacle with ingenuity and force. Trust your instincts, and you’ll be able to use your skills impeccably. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Keep your finger on the pulse and run the show. Take the initiative to budget for what you want and to let go of what you no longer use or need. You have choices; with each, a new opportunity will unfold if you believe in yourself. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Cut to the chase and advocate on your behalf. There is no room for error, excess or letting someone steal your thunder. Step up and make yourself and your choices clear. Using discipline and intuition will help you reach your objective. Romance is on the rise. 3 stars

Birthday Baby: You are compassionate, helpful and energetic. You are intuitive and innovative.

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

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

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Warriors are far from finished product entering training camp as Dunleavy prizes flexibility

SAN FRANCISCO —  The Warriors are ready for Monday’s media day and training camp in Hawaii shortly thereafter with the offseason in their rearview.

The summer’s action, or inaction, has amounted to the departure of franchise icon Klay Thompson, the additions of Kyle Anderson, De’Anthony Melton and Buddy Hield, a one-year extension for Steph Curry and the hiring of assistant coaching Terry Stotts and Jerry Stackhouse. Those are the broad strokes for a team that finished 10th in a Western Conference that only looks more loaded this year — albeit with a respectable 46 wins.

The decision-makers know they must maximize what’s left of a 36-year-old Curry’s superstar play, and reportedly tried to swing trades for Paul George and Lauri Markkanen. General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. and head coach Steve Kerr are happy with the team ahead of the season, particularly its depth, but it’s clear that there remains work to be done.

“We’re probably as impatient as a franchise as you can be right now given our time horizon and all that,” Dunleavy said Thursday at a news conference. “But there’s a fine line between impatience and undisciplined. I think I feel good about the discipline that we held this summer and the roster we built and the growth from within that we’re going to have.”

Dunleavy, entering his second season as general manager, is operating from a position of relative strength. He executed a historically complicated trade that netted Hield and Anderson for Thompson, selected stretch-center Quinten Post with the 52nd overall pick after several draft-day moves, dipped under the prohibitive first salary apron and maintained Golden State’s best trade assets.

Golden State has a chance to come together, coalescing around a revamped defense and tweaks to Kerr’s motion offense. It also has the chance to turn into something quite different with an in-season trade or two.

“You’re always looking to get better, improve your team,” Dunleavy said. “I think we’ve got a lot of ways to do that. We’ve got a lot of good basketball players, and then on top of it, we’ve got most of our assets. We’ve got ways to improve. We’ll be aggressive. That’s kind of always been the deal here, at least as long as I’ve been here.”

One of the biggest cases for the Warriors to make a big trade is their apparent lack of a No. 2 scorer next to Curry. It was an issue last year and the offseason additions don’t address it.

If Dunleavy and Kerr are to be taken at face value, the organization seems to have a preference as to who steps into that role.

“I’m expecting a big year from (Andrew Wiggins),” Kerr said. “I think there’s also a void that is left by Klay’s absence that we need to fill. That’s a lot of points to score. But it also means we have to rethink how we’re doing things, and Wiggs will be featured for sure. He’s a guy who’s proven. He’s a 20-point-a-night guy, and we’re going to be relying on him heavily.”

An All-Star two years ago, Wiggins averaged a career-low 13.2 points per game last season. Kerr said he looks fantastic and at 29 years old is still in his physical prime.

“He sounds very motivated,” Kerr said. “He’s very much at peace. I think he’s in a place where he knows the last couple years have been tough for a lot of reasons, and I think he’s primed to get back to where he was a couple years ago.”

Other candidates to step up as a reliable second option include Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski, the team’s brightest young pieces. Kuminga made a significant leap last year, bumping his scoring average up to 16.1 points per game and Podziemski was a first-team All-Rookie selection who will be empowered to create even more with the ball in his hands.

Balancing different lineup combinations among a dozen capable players, as he did with Team USA in the Olympics, will be Kerr’s job. He says starting lineup spots are up for grabs. The team is fully healthy, and the coach can treat the roster like a meritocracy in training camp and as the preseason progresses. Young players could emerge as consistent two-way players, the offseason acquisitions could all fall into place and contribute and Draymond Green could keep himself available.

Or, the front office could eventually consolidate depth and future draft capital for an external talent upgrade.

“I think this team can be really good,” Dunleavy said. “Hard to put a number on how good we can be. … It’s probably a wide range of outcomes. But if things don’t go well, the good news is we’ve got a deep team. We’ve got other ways to pivot. We’ve got optionality.”

Notable

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— Dunleavy said that the team has had positive dialogue with Kuminga, Moses Moody and their representatives about potential contract extensions. The deadline for reaching an agreement with either player is Oct. 21.

“Regardless of whether we get something done or not, we want those guys here,” the GM said. “Just because you don’t get an extension done doesn’t mean they’re not going to be here for a long time. We’ll still have their rights in free agency if we can’t come to an agreement by the 21st.”

— Tacking on an extra year to Curry’s deal was a “no-brainer” for Dunleavy. Curry, whom Dunleavy tabbed the greatest face of a franchise in sports, will earn $62.6 million in 2026-27.

— One key for the Warriors, Kerr and Dunleavy agreed, is revamping the defense. Dunleavy said Golden State must be in the top seven “at least” defensively, and Kerr is focused on addressing a transition defense he said “fell off the map.” Anderson, Melton and a healthy Gary Payton II should help, but the Warriors have a way to go; they finished 15th in defensive rating last season.

Greenfield man sentenced to more than 30 years for running someone over to avoid arrest

SALINAS >> A Greenfield man has been sentenced to 30 years to life for for murder, after he intentionally ran a man over with a car to avoid arrest according to a press release from the Monterey County District Attorney’s office.

Paulo Cesar Alcaraz Ortiz, 27, was sentenced to 30 years and eight months to life for running over Guadalupe Garcia, assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, evading a peace officer causing death, unlawfully driving a stolen vehicle and resisting an executive officer.

On Nov. 16, 2021, Ortiz was in a car stolen from a friend’s parent. A police officer tried to contact him, but he refused to obey orders and began a high-speed flight from arrest, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

On several occasions, he attempted to strike pedestrians with his car and missed, the District Attorney’s office said. At one point, he rammed a police car to avoid being caught.

Finally, he targeted Garcia with an intent to kill him the press release said. He missed in his first try, but, following the fleeing man through a field, Ortiz drove over him, killing him. Police vehicles rammed the car Ortiz was in, then dragged him out of the car. He told police that he believed killing Garcia would cause the police to stop chasing him or make them shoot him.

The District Attorney’s Office reported that Garcia was a well-known and beloved member of his community.

Ortiz was sentenced by Judge Andrew Liu after hearing from members of Garcia’s family.