Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 400

Even if SF Giants’ rotation is ‘best in baseball,’ can it lead them to the postseason?

CINCINNATI — Before Blake Snell took the mound Friday night, Bob Melvin was asked if there was any doubt in his mind that the two-time Cy Young winner would even be pitching in a Giants uniform after Tuesday’s trade deadline.

“It never crossed my desk that we were going to trade him,” the Giants’ manager said. “I’m sure there were a million calls on him, but I never really got the feeling that we were going to trade him.”

While president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi listened to offers, none apparently were serious enough to consider harshing the manager’s vibe by raising the possibility of trading one of his top starters, who had just begun to round into the form they had waited months to witness.

Only hours later, Zaidi’s discerning strategy paid off as Snell authored the Giants’ 10th no-hitter since moving to San Francisco in a brilliant 114-pitch effort to beat the Reds, 3-0. In fact, the thinking by the club’s top decision maker to ride their starting rotation altogether is looking pretty smart after accounting for Logan Webb’s complete game shutout two nights prior.

“Off to a good start,” Melvin smiled Saturday afternoon.

Webb and Snell became the first pair of teammates to toss back-to-back shutouts since Adam Wainwright and Shelby Miller did so for the Cardinals on May 10-11, 2013. It hadn’t been done by two Giants pitchers since Jason Schmidt and Liván Hernández in 2002.

Both those teams eventually went on to claim the National League pennant before eventually losing in the World Series.

Coincidence?

“Oh, wow,” Melvin said, tapping his bat on the dugout bench. “Well, we have that to look forward to.”

Realistically, both teams were better positioned than these Giants by this point in the year, even with a smaller postseason field. The 2002 Giants were 10 games over .500 and a game out of the lone wild card spot. The 2013 Cardinals were playing at a 95-win pace and went on to capture the NL Central.

Melvin has said the Giants’ playoff hopes begin with getting back to .500, which they will try to do behind Kyle Harrison on Saturday for the first time since they were 29-29 on the last day of May. Only one thing left for the rookie lefty to do after Webb tossed one shutout and Snell one-upped him with a no-hitter.

“At least throw another shutout, right?” Melvin joked.

More seriously, he continued, “You’re not going to get too many complete games like that, but especially for the younger guys — (Hayden) Birdsong and Harry — it’s like, ‘Hey, these things are doable.’ I think everybody wants to pass the baton and move forward. It’s a lot to ask for a guy like Harry to go nine innings, but here recently he’s been a lot more efficient and, for me, on his way to pitching a little bit deeper in games.”

Fewer and fewer starters are pitching deep into games these days as the game trends toward specialization and maximization. Snell might be the perfect embodiment of the modern pitcher; finishing off his no-hitter, he recorded more outs in the eighth and ninth inning (six) than he had in 201 previous career starts combined (five).

Snell became the third pitcher to throw a no-hitter this season, and it is becoming increasingly exclusive company to even complete nine innings. The pair of Giants pitchers became the 22nd and 23rd to toss complete games this season, putting MLB on pace for its fewest on record with the exception of the 60-game 2020 season.

As recently as 2015, the year before Snell broke in, there were 104 instances of pitchers going the distance. The final full season of Melvin’s playing career, in 1993, featured 371, or more than 10 times the league is on pace for this year.

Related ArticlesSan Francisco Giants | SF Giants’ run of shutouts ends in 6-4 loss to Reds San Francisco Giants | San Francisco Giants | Blake Snell no-hitter: SF Giants’ 10 no-nos since moving west San Francisco Giants | Dominant Blake Snell tosses 10th no-hitter in SF Giants history to beat Reds San Francisco Giants | Mark Canha, Jerar Encarnacion join SF Giants as team seeks offensive spark

All that to say, the Giants’ starting pitching — as good as it might be — can only take them so far.

Since Snell’s return to the rotation on July 9, the group has just about lived up to Zaidi’s billing as “the best in baseball.” Their starters’ 2.96 ERA over that span ranks first in the National League, trailing only the Mariners (2.40) and Rays (2.44).

Their bats, however, have produced four total runs while picking up their past two wins, and dating back to the day of Snell’s first start back, they have been held to four or fewer in 14 of their 20 games. Despite possessing the best rotation in the National League, they went just 11-9, far off the pace it will require to leapfrog four teams and make up the four-game deficit for the final wild card spot they faced entering Saturday’s game.

“You’re not going to get too many complete games like that,” Melvin said. “That part of it is probably going to be hard to replicate. But coming out of the deadline, and a lot of talk about our rotation, to get off to a good start like that, it’s a nice feeling.”

49ers’ tackles adapting without Trent Williams — and against Nick Bosa

SANTA CLARA — Nick Bosa went in hot pursuit of Brock Purdy. The goal line was a few yards away, Purdy kept his feet racing, and he threw the ball away once there was no more room to roam.

Bosa’s relentless chase paid off, and it began with him darting past this training camp’s first-string left tackle, Jaylon Moore. Earlier in Saturday’s practice, Bosa lined up at left defensive end, cut past right tackle Colton McKivitz, and hurried a Purdy pass that safety Ji’Ayir Brown intercepted.

That pressure on Purdy underscores an obvious aspect of camp: the 49ers aren’t the same without left tackle Trent Williams, who’s entrenched in a contract holdout.

“Yes, you miss him, but at the end of the day that’s between him and upstairs,” McKivitz said.

There’s no time to dwell on it. Saturday’s two-hour session provided McKivitz and Moore ample chances to improve. The 49ers’ offense might have to depend on those bookend tackles.

Meanwhile, Bosa feasted on them — a welcome reminder he’s in camp. Last year, Bosa held out awaiting his own deal, which came just days before the season opener.

“Having Nick back this camp, it’s been a big help for me, and Jaylon as well. It’s just been great having him there,” McKivitz said. “Hopefully Silverback (Williams’ nickname) will be back, but that’s his deal. We’re just getting better where we’re at right now.”

McKivitz is entering his second season as the starting right tackle. He speaks confidently, he’s more positive, and, heck, he’s an off-field celebrity having co-starred in a John Deere commercial this offseason, to which he mischievously notes he had more lines than Purdy.

“I never thought maybe I’d be here Year 5,” McKivitz said. “To be here and in that leadership role, to be vocal, it’s something I’m ready for, to take control of that. With Trent not being here right now, it’s something hopefully me and Jake (Brendel) take control of and tell younger guys how we want (the) room to look like and how the line to play.”

After giving up three sacks to T.J. Watt in last season’s Week 1 baptism in Pittsburgh, McKivitz worried about his job security, only to be reassured by coach Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers’ front office that the job is his. He was rewarded in March with a one-year, $7 million extension through 2025.

“There’s a lot of talk about left tackle, the run, and how great Trent is,” McKivitz said. “Obviously he’ll be the best. But there’s going to be some good football coming from the right this year.”

While offensive line coach Chris Foerster commended McKivitz for taking pride in “getting better at everything,” Moore was heralded for his pass-blocking ability while the run game presents a stiffer challenge.

“Not that he doesn’t like to run block or can’t, it’s just as how he’s made up, his body type,” Foerster said of Moore (6-foot-4, 311 pounds). “He’s not as explosive, quick or gets under people as well. But he’s always done a good job, always been proud of him.”

Williams’ training camp holdout has spanned nine practices – and $50,000 in daily fines while he awaits a contract adjustment that’s commensurate to his three-time All-Pro reign. There’s been no signs of an imminent deal, and coach Kyle Shanahan offered no update Friday. Williams kept in touch with Foerster while staying away from the voluntary offseason program in the spring. Once training camp started, that line of communication went mute.

Williams may be away but his game film remains a tool that Foerster said he can teach with – “pros and cons” — for backup tackles, including Moore, Brandon Parker and Chris Hubbard.

“It’s like every other player. Trent just has some more elite plays than other guys,” Foerster added. “And as the years have gone on, maybe those have been a little less, but still a very consistent performer and a great player. Obviously one best in this generation.”

MASON ‘AN ANGRY DUDE’

Jordan Mason got just as many touches Saturday as Christian McCaffrey (11 apiece) in yet another sign the 49ers want to see what he can bring in his third year. Mason defined his running style as, “just an angry dude running, full of steam, trying to get first downs and then touchdowns.”

That anger surfaced Saturday with a retaliatory shove of linebacker Ezekiel Turner, who initially sent Mason to the turf on a reception. “I love when people hit me. It turns me into another person,” Mason added. “If you hit me and, like you all saw today, it turns me up a bit.”

That Mason caught that pass in the first place reflected the work he put in this offseason, when he bought a JUGS machine and had his father serve up passes to catch back home in Gallatin, Tenn.

“If I want to be something close to Christian, I have to start catching something. That was me investing in myself,” Mason said.

Related ArticlesSan Francisco 49ers | 49ers’ Patrick Willis provides insight on how he overcame poverty at Hall of Fame induction San Francisco 49ers | How are the 49ers’ free-agency additions looking at camp? Yiadom leads the pack San Francisco 49ers | 49ers camp: Top 10 observations at practice as Pearsall impresses San Francisco 49ers | Kurtenbach: Three under-the-radar 49ers camp battles San Francisco 49ers | Date set for Frank Gore’s overdue enshrinement to 49ers’ Hall of Fame

ODUM ON KICKOFF RULE

While George Odum admirably fills in at safety during Talanoa Hufanga’s knee rehabilitation, Odum still has an impact as one of the NFL’s best special teams players. His thoughts on the new kickoff rule: “There’s going to be more bullying, more contact. You have to get off the block. Quick reactions. Not hesitating or thinking. It’s a ‘see ball, get ball’ type of game. That’s what I’ve been doing. Running through somebody’s face and getting off the block, that’s what I do.”

PRACTICE NOTES

Purdy connected on 35- to 40-yard passes to Deebo Samuel and Chris Conley. … Danny Gray, seemingly targeted deep at least once a practice, made a 40-yard catch of a Josh Dobbs throw. … Wide receiver Malik Turner and defensive end Sam Okuayinonu walked off with apparently minor injuries. … Tight end Cam Latu did not practice for the first time this camp, after missing spring workouts and his rookie year with a knee issue. … Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall did not take part in one-on-one action against cornerbacks, but he made multiple catches in team drills after his first target deflected off his hands and to Ji’Ayir Brown for the first of Brown’s two interceptions. … Cornerback Rock Ya-Sin intercepted a Purdy pass in one-on-one action. … Jake Moody made his two field-goal attempts with Kyle Juszczyk serving as the holder in place of Mitch Wishnowsky, who did not practice.

49ers’ Patrick Willis provides insight on how he overcame poverty at Hall of Fame induction

Rather than recount the heroics of a spectacular eight-year NFL career, Patrick Willis used the platform of his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame to reveal a personal portrait of the 30th member of the 49ers to be enshrined.

“I know I did not speak of my football accomplishments, nor did I speak in a way you are used to hearing me,” Willis said adorned in his gold jacket Saturday from the podium in Canton, Ohio. “Today I chose to reveal the more intimate side of Patrick Willis, enabling you to see what has supported me my entire life.”

In a ceremony delayed nearly two hours by rain, Willis was enshrined along with defensive end Dwight Freeney, return specialist Devin Hester, wide receiver Andre Johnson, running back Edgerrin James, defensive end Julius Peppers and two seniors candidates, linebacker Randy Gradishar and defensive tackle Steve McMichael.

Willis, 39, began his career in 2007 with one of the most spectacular rookie seasons any defensive player has ever had, registering 174 tackles, winning the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award and becoming the first rookie linebacker to become an Associated Press All-Pro since Dick Butkus in 1965.

The No. 11 overall pick in the draft out of Mississippi, Willis won the Butkus and Jack Lambert Awards as a senior as the nation’s top linebacker and was a consensus All-America selection.

Reinventing the position from old-school gap pluggers to a sideline-to-sideline presence who excelled against both run and pass, Willis was a Pro Bowler for seven consecutive years, a member of the 2010s All-Decade Team and a First-Team All-Pro five times until a toe injury limited him to six games in 2014.

Willis is one of only four defensive players to be named to the Pro Bowl in each of his first seven seasons, the others being Lawrence Taylor of the New York Giants, Derrick Thomas of the Kansas City Chiefs and Aaron Donald of the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams.

Included in the crowd were former 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh and linebacker NaVorro Bowman of the Los Angeles Chargers — where Harbaugh is the head coach and Bowman an assistant — as well as former teammates such as Frank Gore, Mike Iupati and others.

Surprisingly, Willis retired at age 29, and his moment of clarity served as the opening for his induction speech.

“I still remember my the last play of my NFL career and what I heard inside me,” Willis said. “I heard, `Job well done, my son, my faithful and loyal servant.’ In that moment, I realized I had completed what I had come to do with the time the Lord had allotted me to play in the National Football League. It’s not necessarily how long you play, but how impactful you are.”

Willis’ often understated persona belied the ferocity he brought to to the field. Willis’ sister Ernicka, who spoke in a video presentation before her brother’s bust was shown to the crowd, described him as “quiet but deadly. No one ever knew he was coming.”

Speaking of their childhood, Ernicka said, “Patrick is never going to be able to be compared to nobody else in the league because he was different. A person would have to know where we came from to know why he made it to where he’s at in his life…he was always going to show he can be better than what anybody thought he could be.”

Willis described his upbringing in poverty in Bruceton, Tenn. His mother left the family when Willis was a toddler and his father was an alcoholic. Patrick would care for his sister and younger brothers, serving as an adult at a young age.

“I grew up in the rural south in a duplex trailer at the end of a dirt road with no running water until I was 8 years old,” Willis said. “We lived at the bottom of a hill and my grandparents lived at the top. Every day my siblings and I would carry empty five-gallon plastic buckets up the hill to get water from my grandparents’ house, then carry them back down.

“I remember when I was carrying those buckets, I would tell myself, `If I can make it from here all the way to the house without stopping, I’m going to get stronger.’ No doubt I was getting physically stronger, but I didn’t know at the time I was also building inner strength.”

ICYMI watch @PatrickWillis52's full @ProFootballHOF speech here: https://t.co/08GR7HE9lU #PFHOF24 pic.twitter.com/IPfHFaS2Zj

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) August 4, 2024

Willis said he was watching Monday Night Football at his grandparents’ house as a pre-teen when he imagined himself running downfield making a tackle.

“A moment later, I heard a voice within me saying, `You will. You are special. You have greatness in you.’ I was 11 years old, my vision clear, my future set. I was going to play in the National Football League.”

A source of inspiration was a video of the career of former Chicago Bears great Walter Payton which included testimonials from opponents and teammates including Jerry Rice, Roger Craig and Mike Singletary. In 2008, Willis remembered the video when he walked on to the field at Candlestick Park.

“I looked to my right, Jerry Rice, to my left, Roger Craig, and right behind me (was) Mike Singletary…it was a surreal moment.”

It was Singletary who slipped the gold jacket on to Willis Friday night.

Related ArticlesSan Francisco 49ers | 49ers’ tackles adapting without Trent Williams — and against Nick Bosa San Francisco 49ers | How are the 49ers’ free-agency additions looking at camp? Yiadom leads the pack San Francisco 49ers | 49ers camp: Top 10 observations at practice as Pearsall impresses San Francisco 49ers | Kurtenbach: Three under-the-radar 49ers camp battles San Francisco 49ers | Date set for Frank Gore’s overdue enshrinement to 49ers’ Hall of Fame

“It as given to me by a leader who taught me linebacker fundamentals and life fundamentals,” Willis said. “Coach, I can hear you now, ‘Pat, you are too high son! Get low.' Or telling the team, ‘Nothing good comes after 10 p.m.’ Thank you, coach for teaching me what it would take to be a champion on the field and off.”

Willis lived with foster parents Chris and Julie Finley starting at age 17 because of neglect, but went off his original script to speak of his late mother at the close of his 16 minute speech.

“Today is your birthday,” Willis said. “We didn’t have the best of relationships, but I love you for getting me here and allowing me to go through life as it has been.”

SF Giants’ Tyler Fitzgerald named National League Rookie of the Month for July

CINCINNATI — After his scorching-hot July, Tyler Fitzgerald was rewarded Saturday with National League Rookie of the Month honors.

The 26-year-old shortstop hit .321 (17-for-53) with eight home runs, two doubles, one triple, 15 RBI and 13 runs scored, leading NL rookies in batting average, home runs and on-base percentage while ranking among the top five in RBIs, slugging percentage, triples, runs scored and walks.

“It’s pretty cool. I didn’t really expect it or anything,” Fitzgerald said. In fact, “I didn’t even really know that was a thing, Rookie of the Month, I’m just finding that out today. …

“To be honest, I don’t really play for that type of stuff. I’m not going to act any different. Not going to be any different. Like, I’m happy about it. But we have a game tonight, so that’s all I’m really focused on.”

Fitzgerald, a fourth-round draft pick out of Louisville in 2019, became the first Giants rookie to earn the honor since Luis González in May 2022. He also joins Buster Posey and Pedro Feliz as past Giants winners, both of whom also took home the honors in July.

All eight of Fitzgerald’s home runs came in a 10-game span from July 9-27, the first Giants player to hit as many homers in such a condensed time since Barry Bonds in 2004. His 11 career home runs at the end of July put him in the same company as Orlando Cepeda and Willie McCovey, the only other Giants with as many homers through the first 46 games of his career.

Related ArticlesSan Francisco Giants | SF Giants’ run of shutouts ends in 6-4 loss to Reds San Francisco Giants | Even if SF Giants’ rotation is ‘best in baseball,’ can it lead them to the postseason? San Francisco Giants | Blake Snell no-hitter: SF Giants’ 10 no-nos since moving west San Francisco Giants | Dominant Blake Snell tosses 10th no-hitter in SF Giants history to beat Reds San Francisco Giants | Mark Canha, Jerar Encarnacion join SF Giants as team seeks offensive spark

“We talked about that in the hitters’ meeting today, and he got a nice little ovation from the guys,” manager Bob Melvin said. “It’s awfully nice because he’s had a heck of a month. Even yesterday, now that we’re into August, to have the type of game he did yesterday, too, it looks like it’s kind of a sustainable thing for him.”

Backing Blake Snell’s no-hit effort, Fitzgerald drove in a pair of runs and contributed three hits, including his 10th home run of the season.

Getting to play in front of about two dozen friends and family this weekend, Fitzgerald said, was more meaningful than the recognition. His fiancee’s family came about an hour and a half from Danville, Kentucky, and his own family trekked five hours or so from Springfield, Illinois.

It doesn’t hurt that his 5-year-old mini Goldendoodle is also back at the team hotel.

“I go back to the hotel and my dog’s waiting,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s pretty cool. He doesn’t make it any easier for me to sleep, though.”

Liza Horvath, Senior Advocate: Lost estate plan

Question: My uncle died and we cannot find his will. We don’t know where he might have kept it, but we know he did something because one of his bank accounts has the name of his trust on it. We called the bank but they say they can’t talk with me until I show them that I am the trustee. I pointed out to the bank that they should have his documents since the account is listed in his trust name. What’s the deal? What am I missing here? Will the local court have copies of his documents? Do you have to register a trust somewhere?

Answer: The whole estate planning “deal” can be a confusing landscape so before I address the crux of your question, let’s clarify what an estate plan is. Generally, when an attorney puts together an estate plan, they prepare a will, a living trust and usually a Power of Attorney for Finances and an Advance Health Care Directive.

If an estate plan includes a trust, then the will is generally just a backup plan for the trust and it is sometimes used to name guardians for children. When I say “backup for the trust,” the will usually says something like, “If I die and have assets that are not titled in my trust, I want them moved into my trust and be distributed to my beneficiaries as the trust provides.” Normally, if you have a trust, the will is not needed because most attorneys assist their clients in making sure assets are titled to the trust so they can be given to beneficiaries as the trust provides.

Your observations are on point when you state you have found an account that is titled to a trust in your uncle’s name. This shows he did, at least at one time, have a trust. Unfortunately, banks usually do not keep copies of trusts despite the fact that an account may be titled in the name of the trust.

Trusts are designed to stay private so they are not registered anywhere and no, the court will not have a copy. Check with your uncle’s bank to see if he had a safe deposit box. Similarly, look for other bank statements to see if there is an expense for a safe deposit box on any of his statements. The fee is annual, so the cost would only appear once a year. Also, check his income tax returns. Safe deposit box fees are tax deductible so you may find evidence of a box on his returns.

Legal fees for estate planning are also (usually) tax deductible so his returns could show an attorney’s legal fees and that attorney may have copies or his original documents. Finally, contact the local bar association and see if they will send an email blast to their members to see if any of them prepared an estate plan for your uncle.

If you are unable to find any documents, either a will that provides for distribution of his estate or a trust, you will be forced to administer his estate as though he died intestate – which means he died without a will. In this case, a probate will be needed, and his assets will go via intestate succession. If your uncle’s parents are no longer living, this means his assets will go to his wife and kids, if any, and if not then to his brothers and sisters. If none of these people are living, then his assets will go to his nieces and nephews.

You may also want to check with the rest of your family or with a trusted friend of your uncle to see what they might know. He may have shared copies or at least some details of an estate plan. If there is someone to whom he outlined the terms of the trust, you might be able to have that person come before the court to state what his trust provided. It is a long shot, but worth exploring.

A word to all of you who have an estate plan, keep your documents in a safe place but make sure someone, preferably your successor trustee, knows where the documents are located. Better yet, give the successor trustee a copy.

Liza Horvath has more than 30 years of experience in the estate planning and trust fields and is the president of Monterey Trust Management, a financial and trust management company. This is not intended to be legal or tax advice. Questions? Email liza@montereytrust.com or call (831)646-5262

Synchronized sensations

Lorri Geiger and Aimee Shea each earned four gold medals at the State Games of America Artistic/Synchronized Swimming Championships in San Diego.

Geiger won the 60-69 year-old solo routine, while Shea captured the 50-59 solo division. The pair teamed up to earn gold in the 50-59 duet competition.

Joining forces with Elena Hoexter, Geiger and Shea won their third gold in the trio routine, and were part of the champion team routine that included Hoexter, Robin Kramer and Leslie Perez Palma.

Kramer and Perez Palma won the 40-49 duet competition, with Perez Palma claiming gold in the 20-29 solo division.

Elena DeCarlo and Elyse DeSalvo were gold medalists in the duet youth event, with Kathrin Reichstadt winning the solo routine. The threesome combined to take silver in the trio competition.

The State Games of America is a multi-sport event based on the Olympic model with state-level medal winners from across the nation taking part.

Lisa Wooninck, Finding Sanctuary: Casting a fishing line in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

With 6,094 square miles of blue ocean and 276 miles of coastline to explore, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary offers countless ways to get into your sanctuary through a variety of recreational activities: a beach walk, boating, surfing, scuba, or fishing.

“We recognize the significant social and economic contributions of recreational fishing and boating to coastal communities, as well as the role fishermen and boaters play in the stewardship of natural resources,” says Daniel Studt, NOAA Fisheries West Coast recreational fisheries coordinator. In 2022, saltwater angling along the Pacific Coast drove $1.1 billion in sales impacts, contributed $663 million to the US gross domestic product, and supported more than 7,500 jobs. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is a particularly important recreational fishing destination on our West Coast,”

Recreational fishers have many options to access the sanctuary, including fishing charters and public piers. Fishing charters often rent gear and sell licenses, making them an easy and reliable way to fish. Except on public piers, fishing requires a license from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Just steps from the Sanctuary Exploration Center is the Santa Cruz Wharf. When walking along the wharf, you often see people of all ages casting a line into the water.  Tina Williams, owner of Santa Cruz Boat Rentals provided some fishing tips.

“Santa Cruz Wharf has a variety of habitats for casting a line – it has sandy bottom in the middle, artificial reef and debris at the end and pilings in the fishing wells,” Williams says. “You can catch jacksmelt, surfperch, sand dabs and if you are lucky, halibut and lingcod bite in the summertime.”

The sanctuary does not regulate fishing and defers to the state and federal fishery managers for management of fisheries. It’s best to inform yourself of the fishing regulations before you throw a line in the water. Different species have their own regulations for location, season, and a catch limit. Knowing what species you are likely to catch helps with making decisions that keep you responsible and the fish safe.

When practicing catch-and-release fishing, ensure you have the right gear for your target species. Barbless hooks and stainless steel gear, free of lead, are best for minimizing injury to the fish and environment. Once a fish is reeled in, keep it in water to minimize air exposure, since fish require water to breathe. Also preserve the protective slime on their skin by only handling fish with wet hands. By keeping fish wet, you help increase their chances of survival after release. It is critical that you recover and properly dispose of all fishing lines to reduce entangling other wildlife, such as birds.

On July 27, National Park Trust, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, NOAA Fisheries, and sanctuary staff invited six veterans, two National Guard/Reservists and one active duty Air Force member plus their families on a recreational fishing charter trip out of Monterey. The 40 participants learned tips and tricks for sustainable recreational fishing, wildlife viewing, and were part of the annual Get Into Your Sanctuary weekend. The trip was a meaningful way for us to express our gratitude to these families for their service and sacrifices to our country.

The sanctuary’s goal is to encourage a new generation, across different cultures and lifestyles, to sustainably fish and enjoy the wonders of the sanctuary and all that it has to offer. When conducted safely and responsibly, recreational fishing is a fun and exciting activity.

Horoscopes Aug. 3, 2024: Michael Ealy, put your best foot forward

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Evangeline Lilly, 45; Michael Ealy, 51; John Landis, 74; Martha Stewart, 83.

Happy Birthday: Focus on what matters to you this year, and it will stir your imagination and revitalize your desire to make a difference. Do whatever it takes to physically improve your life and the decisions you make. Emotions will run high, pushing you to distance yourself from people and situations that stand in your way. Don’t live in the past when the present is what matters. Put your best foot forward. Your numbers are 9, 11, 23, 25, 32, 36, 40.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Set a budget and embark on an adventure. Broaden your interests, and tailor your skills and physical attributes to fit your needs. Search for activities that relieve stress and set you on a path that encourages comfort and relaxation. Make romance and emotional well-being your priorities. 5 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Refuse to let stubbornness stand between you and what you desire. Be wise enough to offer equal opportunity and incentives to anyone you deal with today; good fortune will be yours. Anger and arguing will diminish your chance to reach an agreement. Take the high road. 4 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Say no to temptation. Too much of anything will set you back. Stand by and stick to the people who ground you and look out for your best interests, and distance yourself from those who lead you down a path that can cost you. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Rediscover what makes you happy. Participate in events or activities that put a smile on your face or give you that feeling of accomplishment. Test your capabilities and set new standards and goals. Update and hone your skills, and work toward achieving your dreams and desires. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The power of persuasion will work wonders for you if your offer is tangible. Falling short on your promises will lead to financial trouble or verbal abuse. The best way to shine is to adhere to your word and to put honesty and kindness first. An emotional decision is favored. 3 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Choose your words carefully. It will be difficult for someone to misinterpret you if you are specific. Don’t jeopardize your reputation to make a point. Stick to the facts and verify any information you receive. Pay attention to detail and take a disciplined approach to whatever you want to achieve. 3 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Act fast, initiate change and leave the past behind you. Look for opportunities, make things happen and attract attention, support, hands-on help and contributions from people who like your ideas and energy. Stop dreaming and start doing. 4 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Consider what makes you happy and do that. Embrace projects that stimulate your creativity or get your adrenaline flowing. What you accomplish personally will set the tone for what you do next. A positive mindset and action will lead to personal growth and success. 2 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Pace yourself, keep your eye on your objective and challenge yourself to do your best. Handle competitive situations with physical action, not mental disputes. Show everyone what you can do instead of talking about your glory days. Let the past go and build a better future. 5 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Spend more time assessing your emotional, physical and financial health. Implement changes to improve your lifestyle and domestic functionality. Your well-being depends on your attitude and decisions. Take responsibility for your happiness. Enjoy yourself and set aside a budget for socializing, entertainment or romance. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Consider your needs before you comply with someone’s demands. Make equality mandatory, contribute your thoughts and desires, and participate in what happens next. Explore the possibilities, follow your heart and choose what satisfies your soul; you won’t be disappointed. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Reevaluate your goals and ponder how things have changed and the best way to take advantage of your situation. Don’t overestimate the possibilities or take what you hear as gospel. Trust your instincts and intellect, and change only what’s necessary. 3 stars

Birthday Baby: You are imaginative, capricious and friendly. You are outgoing and temperamental.

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

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

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

Blake Snell no-hitter: SF Giants’ 10 no-nos since moving west

Blake Snell no-hit the Reds on Friday night for the 18th in franchise history and the first since 2015. Here are the 10 since the Giants moved west from New York to San Francisco:

June 15, 1963: Juan Marichal vs. Houston Colt .45s

The Giants won 1-0 over Houston as Marichal struck out five, walking two. Chuck Hiller drove in San Francisco’s only run in the bottom of the eighth and Marchal finished it off in the ninth.

Sept. 17, 1968: Gaylord Perry vs. St. Louis Cardinals

Perry outdueled Bob Gibson in a 1-0 win, issuing two walks and striking out five. Ron Hunt’s first-inning home run was the difference. The very next day, Ray Washburn of the Cardinals no-hit the Giants.

Aug. 24, 1975: Ed Halicki vs. New York Mets

The Giants beat the Mets 6-0 in the second game of a doubleheader and the final no-hitter at Candlestick Park. Halicki struck out 10 Mets and walked two, while another reached on an error.

Sept. 29, 1976: John Montefusco at Atlanta Braves

“The Count” allowed only one batter to reach base — a fourth-inning walk of Jerry Royster — as the Giants beat the Braves 9-0.

July 10, 2009: Jonathan Sánchez vs. San Diego Padres

Sánchez did not walk any Padres, but a Juan Uribe error in the top of the eighth spoiled the perfect game. He struck out 11 Mets in an 8-0 Giants win. This was the first no-hitter at the Giants’ waterfront ballpark.

June 13, 2012: Matt Cain vs. Houston Astros – perfect game

Cain’s no-hitter is the only perfect game in franchise history and the 22nd ever in Major League Baseball. He dominated, striking out 14 batters in a 10-8 win. Four and a half months later, the Giants won their second World Series in three years.

July 13, 2013: Tim Lincecum at San Diego Padres

Related ArticlesSan Francisco Giants | Dominant Blake Snell tosses 10th no-hitter in SF Giants history to beat Reds San Francisco Giants | Mark Canha, Jerar Encarnacion join SF Giants as team seeks offensive spark San Francisco Giants | How long are SF Giants’ playoff odds? Handicapping NL wild card race after trade deadline San Francisco Giants | Logan Webb turns page on tough July as SF Giants try to do the same San Francisco Giants | What becoming SF Giants’ full-time DH means for Marco Luciano’s development

Lincecum struck out 13 Padres in the first no-hitter thrown at Petco Park. He threw 148 pitches to finish the job in a 9-0 win.

June 25, 2014: Tim Lincecum vs. San Diego Padres

For the second time in less than a year, Lincecum no-hit the Padres. He struck out six, and only a second-inning walk of Chase Headley kept him from a perfect game as the Giants won 4-0.

June 9, 2015: Chris Heston vs. New York Mets

Heston hit three batters and walked none in the 5-0 win, becoming the 35th rookie to pitch a complete-game no-hitter.

Aug. 2, 2024: Blake Snell vs. Cincinnati Reds

Snell pitched into the ninth inning for the first time in his career, getting the final two batters out on one pitch each as the Giants won 3-0. Snell struck out 11 Reds, walking only three.

Dominant Blake Snell tosses 10th no-hitter in SF Giants history to beat Reds

CINCINNATI — The scent of Champagne soaked the visitors’ clubhouse inside Great American Ballpark late Friday night, 11 glass bottles in the middle of the room signifying there had been something to celebrate.

For about a month now, any ballpark Blake Snell has stepped foot in has been on no-hitter alert until it’s not.

This time, in front of 28,075 on a muggy Friday evening after an hourlong rain delay, there was no reason to stand down. No seeing-eye singles. No mistakes to be taken advantage of. Barely even a first-pitch ball to be looked at. No hits at all, and hardly any contact to speak of, period.

Inserted as a defensive replacement the inning prior, right fielder Mike Yastrzemski leaped and raised both arms in the air as he gloved Elly De La Cruz’s line drive into the right-center field gap for the 27th and final out, before the real celebration began with a mob on the mound that eventually migrated behind clubhouse doors.

Striking out 11 batters and walking three over a career-high 114 pitches, Snell dotted the strike zone with a fastball that touched 98 mph, buckled hitters’ knees with a bendy breaking ball and mixed in a darting changeup to complete the 10th no-hitter in the Giants’ San Francisco era and beat the Reds, 3-0.

“I’m still kind of shocked,” Snell said, processing the first no-hitter of his career while eyeing the highlights flashing across the clubhouse television. “I need to go home, let it sink in.”

Blake Snell #7 of the San Francisco Giants celebrates his first career no hitter after the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on Aug. 02, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images)

It was the first no-hitter by a Giants pitcher since Chris Heston beat the Mets on June 9, 2015, and the first time in 202 career starts that Snell had completed eight innings, let alone gone the distance without allowing a hit.

“That’s as nervous as I’ve been in a long time,” manager Bob Melvin said. “I wanted that for him so bad.”

And it almost felt inevitable.

“There comes a point in time where it’s kind of destiny for him,” Melvin said, “especially the way he’s been throwing.”

Since returning from a groin strain on July 9, Snell has allowed two runs on eight hits in 33 innings with 41 strikeouts. He blanked the Blue Jays for five frames in his first start back, took a no-hit bid into the seventh in their final game before the All-Star break and set a career-high with 15 strikeouts over six scoreless his last time out against the Rockies.

“He’s had the same stuff the past five starts,” said catcher Patrick Bailey, who threw both his arms around Snell in front of the mound after the last out. “That’s the crazy part. It felt like it could have been any of these games. That’s how dominant he’s been.”

An ERA that stood at 9.51 when he landed on the injured list for a second time June 2 has been halved in the span of five starts, to 4.29.

“I knew it was going to turn around,” Snell said. “I didn’t know it was going to be what I just did the last two games.”

Snell’s near-no-no two weeks ago was on Yastrzemski’s mind as the ball left De La Cruz’s bat in his direction.

“He had another bid at it and kind of just fell short on a little bleeder to left,” said Yastrzemski, who took over for Jerar Encarnacion at the start of the eighth inning. “I was just really pulling for him as much as you can and once I went into the game I was hoping to just breeze through it, but if there was an opportunity to make a play, then it was do whatever’s necessary at that point.”

Amid the celebration, Yastrzemski made sure the ball made its way to Snell, who lost his cap in the madness and his cleats to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

As his teammates circled around him, Snell kept his eyes locked on his batterymate, thinking back to a conversation they had soon after he arrived in Arizona during the final week of spring training.

“I was just like, ‘I told you were were going to do it! I told you we were going to do it!’,” Snell said. “We kept talking about how, well, I told him at the end of spring training when I first got here, ‘I haven’t gone nine; we need to go nine this year.’”

“We were joking about it the other day,” Bailey said. “‘We’re going to go nine shutty together.’ I think one of us was like, ‘Why not just throw a no-hitter?’ It worked out perfectly. For him to just keep getting better and better was really cool to see.”

It wasn’t the first time Snell didn’t allow a hit in a start, but it was the first time he took his no-hit bid to the finish line.

On his way to winning the Cy Young with the Padres last season, Melvin pulled Snell after seven no-hit innings and 104 pitches; in 2021, he also departed despite not surrendering a hit through seven innings with his pitch count at 107. In 201 previous career starts, he had never completed more than 7⅔ innings.

“They can’t say it anymore. Complete game, shutout, no-hitter. Leave me alone,” Snell said. “‘You don’t go to the eighth. Don’t go to the ninth.’ You know how good that feels? Just did it. Leave me alone.”

Through seven Friday night, Snell was at 96 pitches. He required a career-high 114 to go all the way, 78 for strikes. He threw first-pitch strikes to all but four batters he faced, including the first 13 to come to the plate through the first four innings, requiring only 11 pitches to strike out the side in the first.

He fell behind 1-0 to the first batter of the fifth inning, Tyler Stephenson, and temporarily lost his command, issuing a pair of walks, but still escaped unscathed thanks to Casey Schmitt’s quick instincts to double up Stephenson after gloving Jeimer Candelario’s 94.5 mph line drive.

The official definition of hard contact is when a ball is struck at 95 mph or harder, and the ball off Candelario’s bat that found the back of Schmitt’s mitt at second base was tied for the Reds’ second hardest-hit ball of the night.

Schmitt fired the ball to first base just in time to beat Stephenson diving back to the bag.

“The only (pitch) they barreled up was the one to Schmitty,” said shortstop Tyler Fitzgerald, who contributed a team-high three hits, including his 10th home run of the season, and drove in a pair of runs. “I faced (Snell) last year. It’s almost impossible. You really have to guess up there.”

Between Snell’s effort and Logan Webb’s complete game shutout Wednesday to beat the A’s — the team’s first back-to-back shutouts by its starting pitchers since Jason Schmidt and Liván Hernández in 2002 — the Giants’ bullpen has gotten, as Snell amusingly observed, “a three-day vacation. I didn’t see that coming.”

It has also meant the Giants have required minimal offensive contributions to start a two-game winning streak, living up to the high expectations leveled on them when president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi declared their starting rotation the best in baseball following the trade deadline.

With three runs on nine hits, the Giants matched their scoring output from their past two games against Oakland.

Related ArticlesSan Francisco Giants | Blake Snell no-hitter: SF Giants’ 10 no-nos since moving west San Francisco Giants | Mark Canha, Jerar Encarnacion join SF Giants as team seeks offensive spark San Francisco Giants | How long are SF Giants’ playoff odds? Handicapping NL wild card race after trade deadline San Francisco Giants | Logan Webb turns page on tough July as SF Giants try to do the same San Francisco Giants | What becoming SF Giants’ full-time DH means for Marco Luciano’s development

While newcomers Mark Canha and Encarnacion made their debuts, it was the Giants’ class of rookies who continued to provide the offensive spark. Casey Schmitt opened a 1-0 lead with a 420-foot solo shot in the second inning, and Fitzgerald singled home Marco Luciano to make it 2-0.

Finishing with three hits, Fitzgerald padded the Giants lead with a second home run — his 10th of the season — to make it 3-0 in the seventh.

“I didn’t even realize it until the bottom of the sixth. I looked up and there were no hits,” Fitzgerald said. “I was more focused on him rather than myself, so I think that helped me a little bit. And then after I lined out in the ninth, I ran back to the dugout because I was like, ‘Let’s go. Let’s get this for him.’”

Notable

It was Snell’s first time pitching at Great American Ballpark, checking off his 30th and final active major-league ballpark.

Up next

After getting an extra day of rest, LHP Kyle Harrison (6-4, 3.69) takes the ball against another former top prospect, RHP Hunter Greene (7-4, 2.97). First pitch is scheduled for 4:15 p.m. PT on FOX.