Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 375

Jung Hoo Lee joins SF Giants on the road as shoulder rehab ramps up

MILWAUKEE — Almost three months after undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery, Jung Hoo Lee’s rehab is ramping up, and the Giants decided to mark the occasion by inviting the 25-year-old outfielder to join them on their remaining road trips.

“Everybody’s all for having him on the road with us right now,” manager Bob Melvin said. “He’s going to be with us for a while. He’s great to have around. Always in a great mood. It can get a little lonely when you’re just at home doing your rehab all the time and only see the team sporadically, so it’s good to have him here.”

In the past week or two, Lee has been cleared to start running and lifting weights, indicating that his left shoulder is fully healed from the June 4 procedure to repair the labrum he tore crashing into Oracle Park’s center field wall in their May 12 game against the Reds.

The operation performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache came with an approximate six-month rehab timeline, and Giants trainer Dave Groeschner said Lee was right on schedule. Lee is expected to report for spring training in February with no limitations.

Since suffering the injury, Lee has stayed in San Francisco to focus on rehab while the team is away. However, the organization determined that a couple of extra hotel rooms for Lee and his interpreter, Justin Han, were worth the cost to help their $113 million investment prepare for next season and beyond.

“What can I say? I’m just happy to be with the team,” Lee said, with Han interpreting.

With Han by his side a few hours before first pitch Tuesday, Lee leaned over the railing of the visitors’ dugout. Han snapped a few photographs on his phone while Lee scoped out American Family Field for the first time under blue skies. With its roof closed Wednesday, he directed his gaze up toward the lattices of steel beams.

Born and raised in Korea, Lee is new to every major league stadium. But they won’t be next year.

“Even if I’m not playing baseball, still going to new stadiums gives me a vision of how I can play next time when I’m back here,” Lee said. “So it’s good to be here.”

After taking it all in, Lee went to the left-field grass, where the Giants’ pitchers underwent their daily conditioning.

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Lee has begun running and stretching with the pitchers before games. He is in the weight room three days a week and dedicates two days to his upper body.

In 37 games before suffering the injury, Lee displayed bat-to-ball skills and defensive ability, indicating he was adapting well to his first taste of the majors. In the trainer’s room, the Giants have only gained more confidence in their investment.

So independently motivated, Lee has required hardly any oversight in his rehab. When the training staff gives him a task, it gets done.

Off the field, the time away has allowed Lee to get settled in San Francisco. And breeze through his Netflix watchlist.

“I’m a homebody,” he said. “Go into Netflix and search ‘K-Drama.’ I’ve watched everything.”

High School football game of the week: Monterey, Alisal have lofty goals going into opener

MONTEREY >> Both Alisal and Monterey high football teams ended their seasons last year with a loss to an eventual state champion.

Then again, rehashing last season is not on the agenda. It’s in the rear-view mirror as both Alisal and Monterey are chasing new visions.

“The program was chasing history last fall,” Alisal coach Francisco Estrada said. “This year, it’s not about chasing history, it’s about accomplishing it. We know we can play at an elite level.”

On the heels of a single-season school record for wins, the Trojans will open their season Friday when they visit Monterey at Monterey Peninsula College.

With the aid of a pair of upsets in the Central Coast Section playoffs last year, Alisal set a school record for wins with 11 before falling in the Division III finals to Palma, which went on to win the State Division 4A title.

Bumped to the Gabilan Division, the most competitive division in the Pacific Coast Athletic League, last season didn’t derail the Toreadores, who equaled their win total from the previous season with eight before succumbing to State Division 4AA champion Soquel in CCS Division II semifinals.

“Last year is long gone,” Monterey coach Alex Besaw said. “Even if we ended the year on a win, you don’t want to think about last year. We’re trying to find our identity for 2024.”

Estrada, who is in his first season as the Trojans head coach, has made it no secret that his long-term goal is for the program to land in the Gabilan Division.

“We want to see how we respond both physically and mentally,” said Estrada, a member of the Trojans’ first-ever league title team in 2003. “We have to be able to adapt and respond.”

Once members of the old Monterey Bay League in the 1980s, the two teams last played each other in 2013 with the Toreadores prevailing 47-14.

If a season opener wasn’t enough to create an adrenaline buzz, it’s also homecoming week for the Toreadores – the earliest on record.

“It’s a year that’s come on really quick,” Besaw said. “But fall break is a bigger distraction. I’m 0-2 on fall breaks. I have tried two different strategies. Neither worked.”

For the record, Besaw is 2-0 in homecoming games since taking over as the head coach in 2022. He’s 2-0 in season openers as well, outscoring two teams 83-0.

While both coaches exchanged film from their scrimmages last week, both know that each kept it simple and got a lot of players involved in game-type situations.

“Even with the exchanges, we know their packages were pretty basic,” Estrada said. “With all the personnel returning, I don’t think Monterey’s offense is going to change much.”

Estrada was talking about the Toreadores’ firepower on offense, starting with quarterback Preston White, who has thrown for nearly 5,000 yards in the past two seasons.

A linebacker as a freshman, the 6-foot-2 White has thrown 55 touchdowns in his last 25 varsity games for Monterey, leading them to a section final appearance in 2022 as a sophomore.

“The great thing with Preston is he came in with me two years ago and was quick to grab the schemes,” Besaw said. “All he’s doing is building off that. Our install period is evolving.”

Kavon Collins makes big plays for Monterey. (Don Fukui — Herald file)

White has a handful of targets on the outside, starting with Herald co-Offensive Player of the Year Kavon Collins and his school-record 69 catches and nearly 1,100 receiving yards.

While the Toreadores will line up four-receiver packages, the ground game helped catapult them into the postseason behind tailback Enobong Wirth and his more than 800 rushing yards.

“I’d like to think of my offense as a dynamic offense,” Besaw said. “I do not want to keep the same playbook. I’m always looking for new ways to add wrinkles and be more deceptive and break tendencies.”

While Alisal lost over 2,000 yards in rushing offense, the return of Kiki Jacinto and Jayden Durate gives the Trojans two of the more explosive running backs in the county.

Both were on display at last week’s scrimmage against Alvarez when each broke free for long touchdown runs. Last fall Durate turned 34 carries into 508 rushing yards – 15.1 yards a carry.

“From what I saw, I didn’t see a need to go back to last year’s film,” Besaw said. “Alisal has a completely different identity. It looks like a whole new offense in how they want to get after it and attack defenses.”

During a school record seven-game winning streak last season, defense set the tone for Alisal, which held six opponents under 20 points, allowing just 6.8 points in the first half during its run.

“What we learned last week as coaches is this group has a lot of fight,” Estrada said. “There are conversations about our depth chart. We have a lot of guys that are ready to compete.”

Experience is what Besaw will draw upon as 18 seniors have been a part of the program since their sophomore seasons.

“A little maturity comes with that in terms of what game day procedures are like and pregame warmups are like,” Besaw said. “But there will always be some uncertainties.”

As explosive as Monterey’s offense was last season, the defense created its own identity with the return of all-county linebacker Soakai Funaki and defensive tackle Elijah Fisher.

Funaki, who will also be used as a running back, recorded 130 tackles last year and a team-high 10 sacks. Flanking him will be Ahmon Willis.

Alisal’s Jayden Duarte is one of the more explosive runningbacks in the county. (Donald Fukui — Herald file)

“Ahmon had a great off season,” Besaw said. “He’s very strong with good instincts. He made some big plays in the scrimmage. So did our defensive end Jayden Brown.”

Watching Alisal in person at the scrimmage only reinforced what Besaw already felt he knew about the personnel.

“Alisal is a tough bunch of kids,” Besaw said. “They are physical. They have good size up front. They have explosive plays in their running game. They like to run counter and zone.”

The emergence of Hector Politron at quarterback has opened up the Trojans attack.

“He gives us a pocket presence,” Estrada said. “He was throwing darts in the scrimmage. We feel we have the speed to match up with their skill guys.”

Estrada understands that with a new offense, there is a growing element that comes with creating a new identity.

“We’ve gone away from the veer and triple option,” Estrada said. “Considering it’s year one, there’s a learning curve. Years in the system is always a benefit.”

WEEK 1

Thursday’s results

Gonzales at Rancho San Juan, late

Carmel at Christopher, late

Friday’s games

Alisal vs. Monterey at Monterey Peninsula College, 7 p.m.

Palma at Live Oak (Morgan Hill), 7 p.m.

Watsonville at Greenfield, 7 p.m.

Sacred Heart Prep at Seaside, 7:30 p.m.

Alvarez at North County, 7:30 p.m.

North Salinas at Sobrato (Morgan Hill), 7:30 p.m.

Sacred Heart Cathedral at Soledad, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday’s games

King City at St. Francis, Watsonville, 12:30 p.m.

Pacific Grove vs. Marina at MPC, 2 p.m.

San Luis Obispo Classical Academy vs. Trinity at Pacific Grove, 2 p.m.

Byes: Salinas, Stevenson.

THE HERALD’S TOP 10 

1. Carmel: The consensus is the Padres belonged in the Gabilan Division. Facing a NCS champion and a CCS runner-up in the first three weeks will give us a better indication.

2. Salinas: Owners of the second longest league title streak in county history at six, the Cowboys are 38-2 during their run of Gabilan Division supremacy.

3. Soquel: Six years ago, this program was in the Santa Lucia Division. Now the Knights are the defending State Division 4AA champions that will go into the season owners of 10 straight wins.

4. Monterey: The options on offense are endless. The defense is nasty. The concern will be how the Toreadores hold up depth-wise in the trenches with the smallest numbers in the Gabilan Division — roster-wise.

5. Palma: State Division 4A title aside, there is no more impressive streak in the section — maybe the state – than the Chieftains’ run of 39 straight playoff appearances.

6. Hollister: As long as there is only one high school in Hollister, the amount of riches in terms of talent remain lofty. The ‘Balers have not missed the postseason since 2008.

7. Alisal: Seldom does a program coming off a school record for wins and a CCS finals appearance alter its schemes, unless it is looking to take another step forward and fearless in thinking outside the box.

8. Aptos: Was last fall a blemish on a remarkable two-decade run, or is there a changing of the guard among teams in Santa Cruz County?

9. Scotts Valley: Two key injuries will be difficult to replace for the reigning Mission Division North champions, who already have one of the smallest rosters depth-wise.

10. North Salinas: The single biggest improvement in the win column last season, the Vikings felt there should have been at least two more wins.

On the bubble: Greenfield, Alvarez, Seaside, Pacific Grove, Monte Vista.

*Note: If there is one team to watch as the season progresses, don’t sleep on North County.

Monterey County Fair brings back livestock shows

MONTEREY >> The 88th annual Monterey County Fair is around the corner, set to start Thursday and runs through Monday at the Monterey County Fairgrounds in Monterey.

The event brings traditional fair food, community events and showcases and lots of opportunities to hear live music.

One of the highlights of any fair is the carnival, and this year’s will feature more than 30 rides from Helm and Sons Amusements. Some of the standouts include the 70-foot-tall Century Wheel and the PLUR Roller Coaster.

There are also rides for young children like The Cool Bears, which features four giant bears that they can sit and spin in.

The livestock show is returning to the fair year. Since 2020, the livestock show has been held at a separate time than the fair, but this year both events will be during the same week.

On Thursday through Friday the livestock show’s JLA Auction will be open to the public. The Livestock Area and barns will be open with some restrictions in place.

There will be exhibit locations in the King City Room, Monterey Room and Community Stage area featuring visual arts, crafts and textiles and art made by high school students.

There will be lots of food options from turkey legs to lamb gyro and the traditional funnel cakes and pretzels for snacks.

Free parking will be available on Fairgrounds Road daily. Monterey Pines Golf Course parking is $25 per vehicle available Thursday through Monday. A golf cart shuttle service at the golf course will also be offered by Monterey Bay Veterans. Fair hours will be from noon-11 p.m. Thursday through Sunday and noon-10 p.m. Monday.

Tickets are $14 for adults (13-61), $11 for seniors (62 and older), $7 for children (6-12). Ride tickets must be purchased separately.

The fair is presented by Montage Health, but each day has a different theme or feature. Thursday is Aspire Health Day with seniors 62 and over, military, and veterans admitted free.
Friday is Kaiser Permanente Kids Day, with all kids 12 and under admitted free. Saturday is Natividad Foundation Day and Sunday is Funday with Blue Pearl Pet Hospital.
Monday is Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino Day.

Hannah Rogge, Financial Planning: Is my charitable donation being managed responsibly?

If you’ve ever made a donation to a charitable organization, you may wonder what happened to that donation. Are any regulations in place to ensure that the funds you entrusted to that charity were invested and spent responsibly?

Fortunately, the answer is yes. The Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act addresses the management of assets held by charitable organizations and provides guidelines for investing and spending from an endowment.

UPMIFA was created in 2006, and has since been adopted by 49 states, including California. Its guidelines apply to institutions organized exclusively for charitable intentions, including organizations established for educational, religious, scientific or literary purposes, or other similar noble causes. Under UPMIFA, charities must create written investment policies to provide a framework for investing the endowment in accordance with the act. These policies include investment strategies that address risk management, monitoring procedures, and processes for the review and amendment of the policies as necessary. Charities must also create clear spending policies that incorporate a number of considerations outlined in UPMIFA.

Charitable organization endowments are typically managed by an investment committee, which may include members of the organization’s board of directors. Members of the investment committee are responsible for overseeing and safeguarding the charity’s assets, but they may not have the financial expertise needed to do so effectively. As such, most investment committees employ financial consultants to manage their investments. While committee members still act as fiduciaries in overseeing the activities of investment consultants, the consultant also takes on the fiduciary duty. Both parties must adhere to the provisions of UPMIFA.

UPMIFA requires the investment committee to invest their endowment assets in the manner expected of a prudent person: with caution, skill and care. Investments must be well-diversified to minimize risk and should be invested with both current and future needs of the organization in mind. The organization should incur only reasonable investment-related costs, and should make reasonable efforts to verify any relevant facts related the investments. The act also provides factors to consider when making investment decisions, including economic conditions, the impact of inflation or deflation, tax consequences (if applicable), the role of each investment within the greater portfolio, the expected total return on the investments, the organization’s other resources and the preservation of capital.

UPMIFA also specifies factors the committee should consider when determining their annual spending from the endowment: many of the same considerations listed above, as well as the intended duration of the fund (often, in perpetuity), the purpose of the endowment, donor intent for the use of the funds and the investment policies of the organization.

California has adopted an optional provision, stating that withdrawal rates greater than 7% of the fair market value of the endowment, averaged over three years, is considered imprudent. While this provision protects against spending down an endowment too quickly, it may impede the institution’s ability to respond to inflation.

Under UPMIFA, charitable organizations may spend a prudent amount from the endowment, even when the value of the fund has fallen below its historic dollar value (such as the value of the initial donation). Previously, organizations with “underwater” funds like this were unable to spend below that historic dollar value and could therefore only distribute current income. This resulted in institutions being unable to fulfill their charitable obligations and incentivized investment committees to invest towards income generation instead of long-term growth. As an example, consider a charity created just before the 2008 financial crisis. It would have seen its investment portfolio drop significantly below the value of any donated funds. Prior to the adoption of UPMIFA, that organization’s ability to fulfill its charitable mission would have been significantly impeded. However, under these latest changes, UPMIFA encourages charities to focus on long-term outcomes and to honor the intent of the donation to support charitable causes despite short-term investment losses.

UPMIFA has provided charitable institutions with the flexibility needed to implement modern investment techniques and adopt more strategic approaches for investing and spending. It also protects donor intent, ensuring that donations support the charitable mission of the institution in perpetuity.

Hannah Rogge is a senior wealth advisor at Monterey Private Wealth, Inc., an independent wealth management firm in Monterey. She welcomes questions you may have concerning investments, taxes, retirement, or estate planning.  Send your questions to: Hannah Rogge, 2340 Garden Road Suite 202, Monterey, CA 93940 or email hannah@montereypw.com.

49ers: Aiyuk’s practice no-show could now spark discipline after medical clearance

SANTA CLARA — Brandon Aiyuk was a no-show at 49ers practice Wednesday. What made that different than this past month’s boycott of training camp sessions is that he has since been physically cleared to get on the field.

Thus, Aiyuk’s ongoing contract saga could lead to fines, estimated at $6,400 for Wednesday’s absence and increasing daily after that, on top of the $100,000 penalty for missing June’s minicamp.

Coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch, speaking an hour before practice, both expressed “hope” Aiyuk would join drills on the field. Instead, Aiyuk was nowhere to be seen as players scattered for warmups, with House of Pain’s anthem “Jump Around” blaring on the field’s loudspeakers.

Asked if discipline would ensue for skipping practice, Shanahan said: “We’ll deal with that when that happens, if that happens.” Lynch echoed those words, and, 30 minutes into practice, he walked alone onto the field as team drills began, which are now closed to the media until next offseason.

“I’m not going to get into our communication again, but at some point, you’ve got to play,” Lynch said.

Aiyuk was to be eased into his first practice since Super Bowl week in Las Vegas. That meant no immediate work against defensive players, but rather individual and position drills.

Aiyuk has not commented publicly since reporting to camp on time and embarking on a “hold-in,” during which he missed practices because of neck and back issues, which Shanahan unconvincingly cited last month.

“I know he’s been cleared by his doctors, so I hope he’s out there practicing today,” Shanahan said.

“He has been cleared, and we’re ready to roll,” added Lynch, noting communication has been ongoing with Aiyuk and his agent, Ryan Williams, who Lynch acknowledged is a close friend of his, but that has not influenced the contract stalemate.

Aiyuk was thought to be nearing a market-rate extension in the spring and as recently as this past week. However, he requested a trade a week before camp opened, and he reportedly rebuffed trade proposals in recent weeks.

Shanahan said he “doesn’t really have any expectations” about whether Aiyuk will be available for the Sept. 9 opener.

The final year of Aiyuk’s rookie contract calls for a $14.1 million salary under the fifth-year option. Should he choose to hold out into the season, he must report for at least six games to earn credit for playing this year, although the 49ers still could retain his rights by using the franchise tag on him next February. His fine could jump to $11,206 for missing Thursday’s practice, then $16,009 for next Tuesday’s, and up to a maximum of $45,769 a day for future practices and meetings.

As for Aiyuk’s conditioning, Shanahan said: “I know what he’s told me. But I want to see it.”

Deebo Samuel and Chris Conley led wide receivers through warmups. That unit was also missing Jauan Jennings (oblique) but did have first-round pick Ricky Pearsall in a non-contact jersey because of a lingering shoulder issue.

WILLIAMS’ HOLDOUT

Lynch offered “no updates” regarding left tackle Trent Williams’ holdout that has drawn over $5 million in fines per the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement. “There’s good communication. We’ve been throwing out ideas to have a breakthrough and it hasn’t happened yet,” Lynch said.

Williams has not spoken with Shanahan in recent days, and each passing day without a contract resolution “makes it harder and harder,” Shanahan said. “I’m optimistic things will work out with Trent.”

Lynch would not reveal whether Williams has threatened to retire if a new deal is not made. Lynch instead unapologetically lavished praise on Williams as a player and leader who arrived in a trade four years ago from Washington. “We value Trent, love Trent, and we want him here, and hope that happens soon,” Lynch said.

GUERENDO, BANKS HEALTH UPDATES

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Monday’s practice took a more dire toll on fellow running back Elijah Mitchell, who aggravated a hamstring injury to the point that team doctors recommended season-ending surgery. Mitchell went on Injured Reserve on Tuesday, a move that Shanahan described as “terrible” for a well-liked teammate.

Left guard Aaron Banks, who recently had pinky surgery, will rejoin team drills next Tuesday when the 49ers return from their four-day break. Others who did not practice were defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos (knee) and linebacker Dee Winters (ankle).

HUFANGA TIMELINE

Safety Talanoa Hufanga made his practice debut today, a day after being activated off the Physically Unable To Perform list. “Will he be ready for Week 1? Not sure,” Lynch said. “Going to be tight. But it was telling to not keep him on PUP.”

DEPTH CHART MYSTERIES

Shanahan said he’s yet to decide whether Brandon Allen or Josh Dobbs is Brock Purdy’s immediate backup, noting that it has been a neck-and-neck race. Rookie Dominick Puni has taken all first-team reps at right guard since Day 3 of camp, yet Shanahan was reluctant to publicly confirm Wednesday that Puni is the starter. “It’s going to be hard to take that from him,” Shanahan said.

ROSTER MOVES

Tight end Eric Saubert, offensive lineman Ben Bartch and cornerback Rock Ya-Sin rejoined the roster a day after being released.

Guard Jon Feliciano (knee) and cornerback Ambry Thomas (forearm) went on Injured Reserve, and defensive end Sam Okuayinonu was waived, in corresponding roster moves.

PRACTICE SQUAD MAKEUP

Perhaps the most notable practice squad signing is veteran safety Tracy Walker III, who figures to be elevated to the game-day roster in Week 1 if Hufanga is not ready.

Tight ends Brayden Willis and Mason Pline also returned with practice-squad assignments, while 2022 third-round pick Cam Latu did not and headed to the Browns’ practice squad, Lynch said.

Rookie Tanner Mordecai was added to the practice squad, presumably to again be fourth in the quarterback rotation. Other practice squad signings: wide receivers Trent Taylor and Tay Martin; defensive tackles T.Y. McGill and Evan Anderson; defensive end Jonathan Garvin; cornerback Chase Lucas; safety Jaylen Mahoney; and, offensive linemen Ben Bartch, Drake Nugent, Sebastian Gutierrez, and Isaac Alarcon on an Internation Player Pathway exemption. One of two remaining practice-squad spots is ticketed for former Carolina Panthers wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr., Shanahan confirmed.

WAIVER WIRE CLAIMS

Three ex-49ers were claimed off waivers: running back Cody Schrader, by the Los Angeles Rams; cornerback Sam Womack, by the Indianapolis Colts; and, offensive lineman Jarrett Kingston, by the Carolina Panthers.

Linebacker Jalen Graham, the 49ers’ final draft pick last year, reportedly joined the Commanders’ practice squad after being waived Tuesday.

‘Poltergeist’ house in Simi Valley finds a buyer after 45 years

The owners of the Simi Valley house from the 1982 horror film “Poltergeist” have accepted an offer on the property just days after listing it for $1.175 million.

But the sales price is still unknown.

Located in the Forest Hills neighborhood, this 2,373-square-foot house has four bedrooms and three bathrooms. It sits on a third-acre-plus lot with a backyard pool and spa.

The house was newly built when it sold in October 1979 for $143,500.

“Well-loved by its original owners, this charming … home is ready to welcome a new family, without the ghostly antics, we promise,” reads the listing, with a wink-wink reference to the film dreamed up by Steven Spielberg and directed by Tobe Hooper.

While it’s sure to bring back vivid memories of supernatural mayhem in a neighborhood of rows and rows of ordinary middle-class homes in mostly barren hills, there is nothing eerie or unsettling feel about the actual setting.

Natural light floods the living room through large windows. The formal dining room leads to the kitchen, which remains as it was on film, but with updated appliances.

A fireplace warms the family room, which boasts a built-in office space but can double as a fifth bedroom.

The upstairs primary bedroom has a vaulted ceiling and spa-inspired bathroom with a large bathtub, dual sinks and a separate shower. There’s also a walk-in closet.

Lauren Murdock of Equity Union is the listing agent.

Barbara Shuler, Intermezzo: Looking at the upcoming events and seasons

Labor Day is here. Time to relax, especially if you have been traveling, attending festivals and Classic Car Week events, watching political conventions, and other hectic summertime activities. It gets busy this time of year. As we shift to fall rhythms, in this column we’ll look at the upcoming 2024-2025 music seasons of three of our major presenters, along with September programs you might be interested in attending.

Monterey Symphony

The Monterey Symphony announced single-tickets sales this month for its new season of five programs at Carmel’s Sunset Center. Music director Jayce Ogren says, “These concerts are filled with audience favorites that show the full power and brilliance of the Monterey Symphony. From Dvořák’s New World Symphony to Brahms’s Symphony No. 1 to Respighi’s The Pines of Rome, each concert is anchored by a masterpiece that is sure to leave you feeling mesmerized and inspired.”

Ogren has invited another roster of excellent soloists to join the ensemble. He says, “We’ll celebrate 100 years of ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ with pianist Adam Golka, collaborate with the dynamic Joyce Yang on Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, and feature Simone Porter in her triumphant return to the Monterey Symphony with Beethoven’s heroic Violin Concerto.”

The Symphony season begins at Carmel’s Outdoor Forest Theater with “Love Letter to Hollywood, Vol. 2,” on Oct. 15 and 16 at 6:30 p.m. Associate conductor Brad Hogarth conducts the orchestra in an exciting program of film music in this beloved Carmel setting, with vocal solos by locally renowned singer Malinda DeRouen.

For music and ticketing details see www.montereysymphony.org/current-season/

Chamber Music Monterey Bay

Chamber Music Monterey Bay dedicates its 2024-2025 season to the memory of internationally acclaimed artist Emile Norman, a longtime supporter of our region’s cultural community, whose trust has made a generous $50,000 donation to the organization. Norman’s passion for the arts and music is legendary and continues long after his death.

On Nov. 9, the Pacifica Quartet will present works by Samuel Barber, George Crumb and Antonín Dvořák. Jan.11, the Isidore Quartet plays pieces by Erwin Schulhoff, Felix Mendelssohn, Gabriella Smith and Maurice Ravel. On Feb. 22, the Juilliard Quartet showcases compositions by Antonín Dvořák, Leoš Janáček and Beethoven. On April 5, rising-star Viano Quartet performs works by Haydn, Florence Price, Kevin Lau, Schubert and Sergei Prokofiev. The season closes May 3 with the Catalyst Quartet and clarinetist Todd Palmer featuring Astor Piazzolla’s Suite del Ángel, David Bruce’s Gumboots, and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Quintet in F-sharp Minor for Clarinet and Strings.

For tickets and more on the 2024-2025 programs see www.chambermusicmontereybay.org/concerts. Enjoy a 30-minute preconcert talk at 6:30 p.m. for insights into the evening’s program. All performances take place at Sunset Center. Call (831) 625-2212 for additional information.

Ensemble Monterey Chamber Orchestra

John Anderson, music director and founder of Ensemble Monterey, has announced that this will be his final season as its conductor, opening the way for new direction and ideas. Wow! It’s hard to imagine the orchestra without the exceptional skill, vision and leadership of this wonderful conductor. He and his wife, choral director Cheryl Anderson, have together created a unique and exemplary legacy for Ensemble Monterey spanning 32 seasons, counting the 2024-2025 Season of Dreams concerts.

John Anderson of Ensemble Monterey. (Courtesy photo)

“It’s time for new ideas and even newer music,” he says. “This Season of Dreams is a season of my own personal dream compositions: either works from our past, which I must do again, or my own `dream compositions’ that we haven’t had a chance to perform but which I must do before my final bow.”

The first program takes place Sept. 15 with “A Dream of Flight,” with Joseph Schwantner’s “Sparrows” the centerpiece, a major 20th-century composition for solo soprano sung by Lori Schulman.. Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite, along with works by Lou Harrison and Gabrielle Pierne, will also be on this program.

Nov. 3 brings “A Dream Fondly Remembered” of works from their repertoire performed long ago to which they say a sentimental goodbye. Górecki’s “Little Requiem for a Polka,” a piece by old friend Stephen Tosh, Edgard Varèse’s “Octandre,” and Charles Ives’s “The Unanswered Question.’ On Jan. 25, “A Sweet Dream” brings Brahms’s Second Serenade, Gustav Holst’s “Saint Paul’s Suite,” and Jean Françaix’s “9 Pièces Charactéristiques.”

The March 25 concert is “A Dream of Tomorrow,” featuring works from young, emerging composers, including Christopher Cerrone’s “The Pieces That Fall to Earth.” Vocal ensemble Cantiamo! joins the orchestra to perform Jocelyn Hagen’s “The Notebooks of Leonardo de Vinci,” a revolutionary new multi-media work rapidly gaining international fame. It will be conducted by Cheryl Anderson.

Performances take place in Monterey at the First Presbyterian Church Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. and in Santa Cruz at the Peace United Church of Christ Sept. 15 at 5 p.m. For tickets and more information see www.ensemblemonterey.org/  or call (831) 333-1283.

Monterey County Pops! Labor Day Concert

The Monterey County Pops! Labor Day program takes place on the lawn of Seaside’s City Hall and is free to the public. It is also livestreamed on Comcast Channel 24 from www.montereycountypops.org. The concert starts at 1 p.m. with a performance by the Monterey Peninsula Gospel Community Choir led by John L. Nash, Jr. The orchestra’s program starts at 2 p.m. and features vocalist Brenda Thomas as soloist.  Eliodoro Vallecillo, principal horn, and his four-piece Mexican Regional Band, 4to Prestigio will also be showcased during this concert. During his teenage years, he was featured as a soloist on NPR’s From the Top twice and has appeared on televised programs, including on PBS from Carnegie Hall in New York.

Musically Yours, Volume Two! with Neiman and Reilly

The Sandbox in Sand City features violinist Nicola Reilly and pianist James Neiman for a charming evening of classical music. The two will present a program of works by Beethoven and Mendelssohn, ending with Schumann’s much-loved piano quintet, joined by Amalia Diaz, Bryan Brash, and Michelle Djokic. Join the fun Sept. 13 from 7-9 p.m. For tickets see www.sandboxsandcity.com/events. This delightful setting sells out fast, so best get your seats early.

 

Horoscopes Aug. 28, 2024: Jack Black, don’t bend to pressure

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Armie Hammer, 38; Jason Priestley, 55; Jack Black, 55; Shania Twain, 59.

Happy Birthday: Visualize what you want to accomplish this year. Make plans, adjust to fit your budget and predetermine the schedule you can handle. Stick to details and refuse to let outside or poor influences lead you astray. Taking safety measures will prove valuable and encourage you to maximize every opportunity and situation you encounter this year. Don’t bend to pressure; trust your instincts. Your numbers are 5, 18, 21, 28, 32, 36, 43.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Take a moment to think. Acting prematurely or due to outside pressure will come back to haunt you. Put your emotions and reason aside and stick to a workable budget. Anger or impulsive actions will not play out favorably. Consider your motives and the outcome you desire. 2 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Don’t jump to quickly into something that tempts you. If you have doubts, do your due diligence first. Put more emphasis on caring for matters that don’t depend on others. Personal gain, learning, professional changes and physical improvements will fare better if you move forward alone. 4 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Network and connect with people with something to offer. If you want change, step up and make it happen. Time spent complaining instead of sharing valid and innovative ideas and plans will result in a no-win situation. Use your power of persuasion to make a difference. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Don’t share too much information. The element of surprise will give you the advantage you need to forge into the forefront. Knowing what you want, sizing up your situation and utilizing the people who can help you make it happen will get you closer to victory. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): A little charm will go a long way. Attend functions, send emails, make calls and connect with those who can help you reach your goal. Talk money, be willing to compromise, and consider comparable and sound suggestions. Don’t be flustered by an oversight; be grateful, fix the problem and proceed. 4 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Monitor what others do and make logical choices. What others allude to will take you on a journey that can cost you financially or emotionally. Look for unconventional ways to use your skills. Keep up with the times, be true to yourself and implement positive personal changes. 4 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You know the rules, and if you don’t, make a quick fix to ensure you have all the right answers. Getting along will have more to do with your capabilities than your beliefs. Leave nothing to chance, and you’ll avoid getting caught in something that impedes you. 2 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Watch out; there are scammers, users and abusers around you. Keep your money and ideas parked someplace safe, and refuse to let anyone pry into your personal life or documentation. Whatever you do, be it an investment, medical issue or joint venture, leave nothing to chance. 5 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Handle partnerships carefully. Be a good listener and make suggestions, but wait to step in and take on someone else’s problems. Pay attention to upgrades, and stay ahead of any competition you encounter. Put your energy into whatever benefits you most. 3 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Control emotional, financial or health matters. Clear up what’s hanging over your head, and you’ll gain peace of mind and a renewed sense of what you want to do next. Take control and live life your way. Love, romance and personal growth are favored. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Treat yourself to something that puts a skip in your step and gives you a vision of what you want to transpire. A positive attitude will help you carry yourself to the finish line with hope and a bright future. Opportunity knocks, so open the door. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Take a break and relax. It’s time to rethink and rejuvenate. Distance yourself from anyone pressuring you to do something questionable. Don’t dismiss what’s important to you or give in to someone taking advantage of you. Consider your needs, keep your thoughts to yourself and do what’s best for you. 5 stars

Birthday Baby: You are fashionable, decisive and opportunistic. You are reticent and underrated.

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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Yastrzemski’s blast puts SF Giants on top in fourth straight one-run game

MILWAUKEE — It was a frustrating evening to be a pitcher Tuesday at American Family Field.

The two starters, Logan Webb and Tobias Myers, had been about as good as it gets in recent weeks, but both were out the game by the end of the sixth inning as the Giants and Brewers traded home runs in the opening salvo of their three-game series.

Mike Yastrzemski’s two-run blast to right field in the seventh was the Giants’ (67-66) third homer of the night — the fifth overall by both sides — and proved to be decisive in a much-needed 5-4 win to keep pace with the Braves (72-60), who maintained their 5 1/2 game advantage for the final Wild Card.

It was San Francisco’s fourth straight one-run game after dropping two of three such contests over the weekend against the Mariners.

“They all have a personality of their own, but we were very aware that every night feels like this,” manager Bob Melvin said. ” … I don’t want to say you get immune to them, but you certainly get used to the intensity of every inning, every pitch and knowing that you can’t let down, if you give up a run you have to come back and do it again.

“We’ve kind of formed that during this stretch, yet it would be nice to have a game where we didn’t have to use our best relievers every game.”

Once again, it was Ryan Walker and Tyler Rogers who got the job done over the final two innings, but the Giants needed even more out of their bullpen. They used four relievers behind Webb, who lasted only two batters into the sixth after none of the Giants’ three starters made it beyond the fourth during their weekend series in Seattle.

Webb removed his cap and wiped his brow after his 14th pitch to William Contreras in the first inning landed in foul territory, just beyond the reach of first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr., then put the Brewers designated hitter on-base with his 15th pitch of the plate appearance. Those 15 pitches were the most that Webb has thrown in a plate appearance in his entire career. He shouted an expletive into his glove that was audible throughout the stadium when he finally returned to the dugout after exhausting 33 pitches to record his first three outs of the night.

The Giants’ workhorse at the top of their rotation understood the circumstances, and his frustration grew with each putaway pitch that didn’t get the job done.

“I wanted to give them as much as I could, unfortunately I just kind of dug myself into a hole in the first inning,” said Webb, who went on to allow four runs on a pair of homers over five-plus frames. “Long at-bats and a long inning. I thought I was going to get through six, but that sixth, I didn’t do very good that inning.”

Even more enraging than losing a batter on the 15th pitch has to be balking a runner into prime scoring position, which is how the Giants opened a 1-0 lead in the third inning against Myers, who entered the game with the majors’ lowest ERA since June 1 but allowed three runs for just the second time over that span.

After Grant McCray singled and stole second, Myers was called for a balk when his cleat appeared to get stuck during his delivery. That put McCray in position to score on a groundout from Wade. San Francisco tacked on two more runs against Myers with solo shots from McCray and Matt Chapman.

“It’s funny,” McCray deadpanned. “I was laughing on my way to third, like, ‘I got you.’”

McCray got him even more in the fifth, sending a 422-foot blast midway up the second deck in right field, a swing that immediately followed a leaping catch by center fielder Blake Perkins to rob Thairo Estrada of a go-ahead home run. Instead, it was the Giants’ rookie center fielder who gave them a brief 3-2 advantage in the fifth.

The Giants asked for a crew chief review to see if Perkins trapped Estrada’s ball against the wall on the other side of the outfield fence but the out was upheld.

“I felt like they should’ve gave him the homer, honestly,” McCray said. “When he came back in, I was like, ‘I got you, Papi, I got your back, don’t worry.’”

The Giants taking the lead for good required a third homer, their final long ball of the night coming from Yastrzemski to take the lead for good. After falling behind 0-2 against reliever Joel Payamps in the seventh inning, Yastrzemski laid off two offspeed offerings outside the strike zone, then drove a 2-2 fastball into the right-field seats for a two-run shot that flipped a one-run deficit into a one-run advantage.

“You get leads in the game in the game, you’ve got to keep them; that’s the job of the starting pitcher,” Webb said. “I did a bad job of that today, but the boys had my back.”

Webb faced two batters into the sixth but didn’t retire either, departing the game after serving up his second homer and allowing the Brewers to take a 4-3 lead. It was Webb’s shortest start since July 25 in Los Angeles, which was also the last time he allowed more than three runs. Webb owned a 0.96 ERA in five starts since, the best mark in the majors over that span, and had gone at least seven in four of those outings.

His homerless streak dated back even further to July 20, a league-leading stretch of 43 1/3 innings entering the night, but he served up a pair of gargantuan blasts to Jackson Chourio and Willy Adames. Webb entered the game with one of the lowest home run rates in the majors — his 0.36 HR/9 led baseball entering play — and hadn’t allowed multiple any of his starts this season.

Chourio, the Brewers’ rookie outfielder, took out a piece of the center-field scoreboard with his 449-foot moonshot that opened a 2-1 lead in the third inning. Adames squared up his two-run shot in the fifth even harder — at 110.8 mph vs. Chourio’s 109.7 mph reading — flipping his bat as he watched the ball travel an estimated 435 feet over the Brewers’ bullpen in left-center field.

“His line gets skewed when you give up four hits the entire time you’re out there and two of them end up being two-run homers,” Melvin said. “He pitched well.”

The Giants’ bullpen, meanwhile, answered the call of duty despite taking on a heavy workload in three tight, high-leverage games over the weekend.

Rogers was required to record the final out of the seventh, then pitched around a leadoff single in a scoreless eighth. Walker was prepared to pitch multiple innings if needed as well, warming in the eighth before entering in the ninth to record a three-out save, his fourth of the season.

Both relievers already top the league leaderboard in appearances and appeared in two of their three games in Seattle, with Walker working two frames Friday.

“It’s not like we haven’t been playing these games every single day,” Melvin said. “It’s uncomfortable having to use guys one-plus (innings), especially guys that are top of the league in appearances, but when it gets down to a situation like that … look, they’ve been so good. We feel good when they’re in the game and we have a lead. It usually works out for us.”

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The Giants were one of three teams to designate Myers for assignment in 2022 before he latched on with the Brewers, where he has been one of the majors’ most effective starters in the second half. In his three-week stint with the Sacramento River Cats, he crossed paths with Heliot Ramos and Sean Hjelle.

Webb’s 15-pitch battle with Contreras in the first inning was one of the longest of the season. The Twins’ Manuel Margot worked a 16-pitch plate appearance against the Rangers’ Andrew Heaney on Aug. 16, which surpassed a 15-pitch at-bat from Nick Castellanos on Aug. 4 for the longest of the season.

Up next

LHP Kyle Harrison (7-5, 4.00) takes the ball against RHP Freddy Peralta (8-7, 3.86) in the second game of the series. With a couple of recent off days and Harrison already at a career-high in innings (117), the Giants opted to give the 23-year-old rookie nine days between starts. First pitch is scheduled for 5:10 p.m. PT.

Kurtenbach: The 49ers are still paying for the disastrous Trey Lance pick

I don’t need to tell you that the 49ers made a mistake by drafting Trey Lance No. 3 overall in 2021.

The team admitted as much last summer, when they traded the bust of a quarterback to the Cowboys for a measly fourth-round pick.

It was a massive swing and a miss — the kind that would usually find a head coach and general manager on the hot seat, if not out on the streets.

Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch feel no such pressure. But that’s not to say the team isn’t dealing with the ramifications of trading up and picking Lance.

The Niners 53-man cut-day roster, delivered on Tuesday, shows the extent of the problem.

Yes, the Niners have superstar players all over the field, but this roster is a mile high and an inch deep.

And it’s made something else crystal clear: Picking Lance was a mistake, but the bigger problem for the Niners was trading those two first-round picks (2022, 2023) in the trade up.

Those were two high-value picks that could have provided starter-caliber players, or, at the very least, worthwhile depth for the roster. The NFL draft might be a crapshoot, but first-round picks stand the best chance of standing out early in their careers.

Without those picks, the Niners’ roster depth is such an issue at some positions that the team has little choice but to add a few reinforcements from the list of players cut by other teams on Tuesday.

Yes, the Niners are going to have to go dumpster diving.

Do the Niners have a Super Bowl-caliber roster? Absolutely. What else will you call a team that has three MVP-caliber offensive players and two guys who can win Defensive Player of the Year?

But will the Niners’ roster still look like a Super Bowl contender after two or three months in this war of attrition we call professional football?

The root cause of this roster depth deficiency is clear-cut:

The Niners simply have not drafted well enough in the last few seasons. And when you’re paying more than a handful of players top-of-the-market salaries, you need to fill out your roster with young (see: cheap) players.

The Niners haven’t done that, and it’s this 2024 team’s Achilles heel.

Now, the Niners’ draft class of 2024 looks promising in practices and preseason games. Ultimately, though, we have no idea if any of their new crop of draft picks is any good — they haven’t played real NFL games yet.

We can, however, speak on the past two seasons — the drafts where the Niners lacked a first-round pick, thanks to the Lance trade.

And those drafts have proven to be a hot mess.

Here’s a list of all the hits from the Niners’ 2022 draft class:

• Purdy

That’s it.

Spencer Burford, Kalia Davis, and Nick Zakelj are fringe roster players at this point, and everyone else has been cut or jettisoned.

The Niners had nine picks in that draft. The only starter — the only reliable player, really — from the class was the last pick.

That’s a disaster. I’d ask where this team would be if Purdy hadn’t hit, but even amid a pessimistic column, it’s too dark to contemplate.

Tuesday’s cuts told us that the Niners’ 2023 draft wasn’t much better. Second-round pick Ji’Ayir Brown has a chance to be a star, and third-round pick Jake Moody is the team’s kicker, but the Niners cut fellow third-round pick Cameron Latu Tuesday, and Robert Beal, Dee Winters, and Darrell Luter are end-of-the-roster guys.

That’s two reliable players in a class of nine players. And, again, one is a kicker.

It all adds up to an abysmal hit rate.

Yes, the 49ers could have botched their first-round picks in 2022 and 2023, had they kept them, but the fact remains that the Niners spent the last two critical seasons playing the lottery at the draft, and they’re no richer for it.

And while I would argue that San Francisco has solid depth in a few spots on this roster — running back, cornerback and wide receiver (particularly after using a first-round pick, Ricky Pearsall, on a wideout this season) — it should be noted that those are the positions that boast the deepest talent pools in the college game.

Are the Niners really good at identifying talent at those spots, or is picking players at those positions something close to foolproof?

Meanwhile, depth on the lines — where games are won and lost in the NFL — remains woeful. The Niners lack enough pass rushers and defensive tackles — they’ll have to add a few off the street.

If Trent Williams follows through on his threat to retire unless the Niners give him a pay raise, the Niners will have the worst offensive tackles in the NFL this season. And there’s no tackle of the future — which could come as soon as Week 1 — on the roster. Meanwhile, Dominick Puni, a third-round pick this season, will start at right guard, but that says as much about the talent vying for that spot as it does about him.

All of this might not matter. It didn’t last year.

Or all of this could define the Niners’ season. It did in the post-Super Bowl 2020 season, when the Niners were hit with a downright comical amount of injuries.

Football is a sport played with an oblong ball. No one knows which way it’s going to bounce. And that’s a good metaphor for the sport, overall.

Last year the Niners had incredible injury luck, posting the fourth-fewest adjusted games lost last season, per FTNfantasy.com’s Aaron Schatz.

Maybe that’s a trend.

But this part is undebatable: given the lack of depth with this roster, it better be.